A Small Energy Dispute

He sat veiled in silence, allowing the discussions to continue in the directions they headed. Most of the discussion points on the current agenda weren't anything the First or its allies had an interest in disputing or adding their inclusions to. He wondered if this was all they called him for. Small economic reforms and even smaller initiatives for the commerce the populace of the Last Light already enjoyed? He was hardly self-centered, but he was beginning to think his time was better spent elsewhere. Here, they wasted it at best.

His back pressed further into the cushioned seat of the dais while his mind pressed further into itself, enveloping his thoughts with concerns for the future. Undeniably, the Aud were becoming a greater threat to contend with. In a week, he hadn't read the recent casualty reports from Fort Io's and Rhea's corresponding staff. Before that, he remembered the notes in the margins one of the techs had made: "Although casualties remain within acceptable parameters, it is undeniable the Aud are growing more vicious and self-sacrificing in their attempts to overcome the fort walls. What we save here in manpower, we lose in war material."

The tech had suggested extra shipments of scutumsteel, AWS rounds, and other relevant supplies to the forts, on top of the existing shipment schedule designed by his men to keep the remaining Bastion Outposts standing. They formally needed submission, so as far as he knew, denial awaited those requests. Even then, an oversight like this wasn't the kind of blunder that was excusable. His lined brow added more wrinkles for company.

He could understand the mindset of those staffed back in the Last Light who'd refused the request for additional shipments. Despite common consensus on economic value, humanity's most valuable asset wasn't scutumsteel, nor energy; this contradicted what the Second would have its detractors believe. No, it was humanity itself. So long as the populations of the Bastion Outposts did not decline, there was no reason for the military suppliers to bend to the requests.

It wasn't a matter of biased perspective, either. All those working in an administrative role under the First had retired, in a sense. Every adult in the Last Light had served time in the First Ray; it was a compulsory draft that kept the military staffed and at full capacity. And every adult now employed under the Directory was a veteran, regardless if they'd only stayed in the First for the compulsory ten-year period, or longer than that. They all knew the horrors of skirmishing with the Aud, but more so than that, the horror of lacking critical supplies in a crisis. If anything, he was the one with bias. Not that he could help it. No parent could.

"...regarding that, it's nigh time this meet addresses one such matter still hanging over our heads." In-3's booming throat brought him back to the present. Right on time, too. "I doubt anyone among this congregation can refute that in recent times, the Sixth's energy budget is less justifiable than ever.

"The 6th Headman rose to his dais to bite back with scathing venom. "I also believe all here will find our energy budget is still smaller than every other ray, despite our outsized continued contributions to humanity's future and the war."

"Yes, we're aware of your ray's contributions. None deny the utility of liquid sun or how anti-grav technology revolutionized every facet of our society and war effort." In-3 nodded sagely while his eyes crinkled with mirth and delight. He spread his arms wide like a tamer of animals or some fictitious deity. "But I'm afraid since those days, there has hardly been so little as a qualitative improvement for one of your existing technologies. Are you telling me, telling us all, that this entire time, your research staff have developed nothing?"

6th Headman was ready to respond, his face scrunched and red and his hands gripping the edges of his dais, when the Fourth Headman cut him off. "We know your people have been working on several projects for humanity's military. Yet, given that…" He turned to observe the man sitting behind the tallest dais in the chamber, passively returning his gaze. "Given that information about these projects remains confidential even to other headmen, we can only assume you have yet to deliver results.

"The Prime Beacon rolled his eyes. Few would have caught the action this high, and none were looking when he did. The moment his ray entered the light, it was easy to recognize that In-3 and his allies didn't care for the energy budget of the Sixth in the least. Their now visible relationship with his ray painted a target on their backs, one those against him were determined to strike true against.

Watching the Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh's headmen band together to punish the Sixth and press it into the sediment made him want to wince. He avoided it through sheer will, though he developed an eye twitch consequently. This was his fault. At the beginning of his run as one of the First's leading figures, he'd formed a pact with the Sixth. In return for sponsoring certain legislation now and then that benefited the Sixth, its headman agreed to put his people to work on projects for the military that, yes, remained confidential. Although it was only a matter of time until the other rays discovered their mutually beneficial relationship, it was impressive that the Sixth had kept the details of its confidential projects under wraps for so long.

He supposed he should take responsibility. He'd hardly be holding up his end of the pact if he didn't show his support. So he stood, rapping his knuckles against the side of his dais. The hollow thuds reverberated through the chamber, bouncing around and around before settling down into silence. Though his face remained stoic and politely invested in the matter, his mind hid a wide grin better suited for the maw of an Aud.

"I apologize if I'm unable to follow the talking points; please bear with me, honored representatives." He allowed a corner of his mouth to drift up, pulling the skin taut while a pointing finger traveled the chamber. "Fourth Headman, you're concerned that the energy expenditure of the Sixth will impact the following year's projected agricultural yield. I don't think I've looked into the data much, but haven't your people already reached this year's required quota and surpassed it? It wouldn't be an understatement to predict we will see a population rise with such an abundant surplus."

"And if energy is still a concern, why not turn to your friend and ask for reform there, with his ray?" The finger continued to In-3. "As I recall, the railskipper infrastructure initiative, while successful--congratulations on such fine implementation and planning--was a record high in the last fifty years of the most energy-expensive long-term infrastructure addition to the Last Light. Several times, there have been motions calling for technological reforms to make the railskipper transportation system, no? Reworking the railskipper network for a few districts would greatly ease humanity's combined energy budget."

The finger was nearing the end of its arc. "I would implore you to reconsider the viability of one of your ray's recent ventures, Seventh Headman. Genetic. Splicing." He shook his head like a disappointing child stood before him. "Genetic splicing. I was never one to pay attention in history courses, but I'm certain most of us present can say the last time anyone attempted this was a disaster, and we can say why. The science behind the rampant mental disorders, the disabilities, the growths, we know all of it, why it occurred. We knew it then, and your predecessor shut down the project. No children have emerged from this method yet, and I implore you again to reconsider the revival of this project before a new wave of children cursed with imperfect bodies are born." He shrugged. "It would free up some of your ray's energy budget if reallocations to the Fourth felt necessary, I suppose."

And the finger finally stopped, aimed at a rare sight: someone with hair. The pale blond curls reached to the base of the woman's neck. "Come now, Ch-4. If your ray does have grim projections for humanity's energy budget soon, wouldn't you have an easier time making reforms among your people?" His smile set itself deeper into his face as he finished his address to the Second Headman. In his periphery, he could see the Sixth Headman stare in dismay.

Kill two Aud with a single bullet. That was what he'd taught as a teacher, and it was something he strived to live by now. By preventing the Sixth's energy budget from reallocating to other rays, he would ensure they could continue the development of the military's projects. And by insinuating the Sixth Ray was not part of the coalition between the Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh, they could only accept, assuming that he had won the Sixth over to his coalition of the First, Third, and Eighth. And he had--though not through consent. And though he'd be hearing from the Sixth Headman as soon as this meet adjourned, the representative of the Sixth currently had no option aside from siding with the First, else a vengeful coalition cannibalize his ray.