Read Online Episode VI: Beta Test by Ben Winston - Free Book Online
Authors: Ben Winston
Tags: Science-Fiction
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believed it was only because of our ship design and building abilities. Your offer to us makes that belief seem so shallow and petty. You truly are a friend to my people; all of you are."
Vance cleared his throat. "I was going to wait until the other stuff was finished, but the High Council has already agreed that one of those planets be offered to the Shallan people for themselves, however, they would be free to join in the colonization of the other two as well. In the best case, we will be able to rescue all of the Shallan people as they are right now. If that were the case, we are talking about quite a few people. So, the largest of the three worlds has been offered to them. Naming of the worlds has been delayed until the Shallan Protectorate makes a decision in favor and names the world.
"If they decline, it will be opened to general colonization with an eye to farming, housing for off-planet workers, and administration for off-world industries such as mining and heavy manufacturing.
"While this system has plenty of raw materials for us to begin our various projects, the Centauri system has far more. Regardless of which system we begin in, one of the highest priorities we now have is the mining and processing of raw materials for all the projects. So, while we have the 43rd here to protect us, and while Erik and Ced work to fix the AIs, the rest of us will need to focus on creating the infrastructure to support the multiple and massive mining projects that we need to get underway here.
“While we have been promised assistance with skilled workers from the core worlds, most of the workforce will have to come from Earth. We will need to locate and appoint a mining facilitator and or coordinator to get the ball rolling."
"Pardon me, Sir," Master Thompson spoke. "But I might have an idea for that. You see, there are several companies on Earth that have been driven out of business by foreign markets. Those folks should have just the people we need for this project. All we'll have to do is give them a little extra training, and they should be able to jump right in." Harlan Thompson was one of the primary fighter and spacecraft design engineers from Earth, Master Halflan Therinate asked that he be included in meetings the Shallan ship designer couldn't attend.
"That would be exactly the kind of assistance we would need, Master Thompson. If you would, please make the suggestion to the recruitment manager directly at your earliest opportunity," Vance said, nodding approval for the suggestion. "For the rest of us, we will accept any and all suggestions you can make, but also look to your own departments and crews to see what additions you may want to add to expand your own facilities. Keep in mind that your department won't have to remain here. There has been some discussion about relocating the entire base, at least the military part of it, to the forth planet. If we consider the sheer magnitude of what we have been asked to undertake this expansion will most likely turn this base into a city unto itself." Vance continued by outlining the expectations of Alliance Command as well as the needed expansions each of us would need to either consider or make in order to handle the increased output of the new Alliance facility.
"In short, folks, we're looking at something that will most likely take some time to complete. What is planned here will surpass even what GMASS is. The Arac are a very tenacious and implacable foe. Unfortunately, this war will not be ending anytime soon, nor even in our lifetimes. But we can do what we need to do in order for our future generations to accomplish what we could not; to protect ourselves and our friends from becoming an Aracnise food source."
––––––––
U nited Nations Building
New York City
North American Continent
Planet Earth
Sol System
––––––––
T o say that Earth resisted the changes was a bit of an understatement. While they all wanted the advanced
Vance cleared his throat. "I was going to wait until the other stuff was finished, but the High Council has already agreed that one of those planets be offered to the Shallan people for themselves, however, they would be free to join in the colonization of the other two as well. In the best case, we will be able to rescue all of the Shallan people as they are right now. If that were the case, we are talking about quite a few people. So, the largest of the three worlds has been offered to them. Naming of the worlds has been delayed until the Shallan Protectorate makes a decision in favor and names the world.
"If they decline, it will be opened to general colonization with an eye to farming, housing for off-planet workers, and administration for off-world industries such as mining and heavy manufacturing.
"While this system has plenty of raw materials for us to begin our various projects, the Centauri system has far more. Regardless of which system we begin in, one of the highest priorities we now have is the mining and processing of raw materials for all the projects. So, while we have the 43rd here to protect us, and while Erik and Ced work to fix the AIs, the rest of us will need to focus on creating the infrastructure to support the multiple and massive mining projects that we need to get underway here.
“While we have been promised assistance with skilled workers from the core worlds, most of the workforce will have to come from Earth. We will need to locate and appoint a mining facilitator and or coordinator to get the ball rolling."
"Pardon me, Sir," Master Thompson spoke. "But I might have an idea for that. You see, there are several companies on Earth that have been driven out of business by foreign markets. Those folks should have just the people we need for this project. All we'll have to do is give them a little extra training, and they should be able to jump right in." Harlan Thompson was one of the primary fighter and spacecraft design engineers from Earth, Master Halflan Therinate asked that he be included in meetings the Shallan ship designer couldn't attend.
"That would be exactly the kind of assistance we would need, Master Thompson. If you would, please make the suggestion to the recruitment manager directly at your earliest opportunity," Vance said, nodding approval for the suggestion. "For the rest of us, we will accept any and all suggestions you can make, but also look to your own departments and crews to see what additions you may want to add to expand your own facilities. Keep in mind that your department won't have to remain here. There has been some discussion about relocating the entire base, at least the military part of it, to the forth planet. If we consider the sheer magnitude of what we have been asked to undertake this expansion will most likely turn this base into a city unto itself." Vance continued by outlining the expectations of Alliance Command as well as the needed expansions each of us would need to either consider or make in order to handle the increased output of the new Alliance facility.
"In short, folks, we're looking at something that will most likely take some time to complete. What is planned here will surpass even what GMASS is. The Arac are a very tenacious and implacable foe. Unfortunately, this war will not be ending anytime soon, nor even in our lifetimes. But we can do what we need to do in order for our future generations to accomplish what we could not; to protect ourselves and our friends from becoming an Aracnise food source."
––––––––
U nited Nations Building
New York City
North American Continent
Planet Earth
Sol System
––––––––
T o say that Earth resisted the changes was a bit of an understatement. While they all wanted the advanced
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