Chronicles of Athena Lee Book 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Shortly before our fourth birthdays, our world changed. As a whole, we only were aware of the political change because we were studying government policy and structure at the time. The Cyber Wars and then the push for colonization had made many upheavals in Earth’s governments. Here in the United States, the government had grown less powerful. Its worldwide reputation as a ”voice of reason” was now heard only faintly.

Overseas, the European Union was broken. It was shattered into a thousand small city-states by the Cyber Wars that had raged across the planet. Robotic drones still rampaged in a few areas as one city warred against another for precious resources. The African nations reveled in the bloody strife, and ethnic cleansing had taken the place of the rule of law. The Middle East was surprisingly calm. Many of the wealthy governments in that area had already left on colony ships built specifically for that purpose. The Nation of Israel, in a surprising move, built three massive ships, packed their people aboard, and left. Destination Mars Colony.

Islamic adventurers had gathered on government—sponsored ships and departed to bring Islam to the stars. Millions of people had already left the Earth voluntarily or been sent off to prison worlds by their governments. Why fight over land when there were entire worlds to be conquered?

The United Nations had for more than a century been a political entity past its expiration date. Its ineffectiveness dated from the late 20th century when the blue hat wearing “Peacekeepers” became more joke than real. Too many rules and restrictions prevented troops from effecting change in the nations they helped.

During the Cyber Wars, the UN helped countries secure the peace. Many misunderstandings had to have already occurred before they would step in to help. But with the world so very disorganized and still in conflict in too many areas, it was ripe for a takeover.

The thought of a single—world government had often scared the masses in the past. Wars throughout history had been fought in this endeavor. All of that had been before the chaos of the Cyber Wars. Votes in the security council were taken, armies were marshaled. Military might and hidden powers were about to be revealed.

Almost overnight the United Nations went from an ineffective organization to an effective one. Money and troops poured in from everywhere. To some in the news media, it seemed to be an organized effort by a specific force to take over the planet. Those reporters who announced this theory mysteriously disappeared from public view. Within six months the UN controlled 80% of the world. The only holdouts were Russia and the United States.

>>

My brothers and I watched the political developments as part of our history lessons. We were now four years old. Our basic training was almost complete. Understanding the structure of government helped us to figure out why the colonies needed more control like the countries of the Earth. A controlled system would help to manage resources, growth, industry, and progress. Over and over that lesson was pounded into us both by the academics that taught us and the trainers that beat us.

Arriving back at the dormitories that we called home, we found packets of information on our beds. Enclosed were detailed instructions for both our training and future assignments. I, like my brothers, grabbed my packet and flipped through it, studying it intently. My new assignment was flight school and combat training. Future postings could be anything from front line military to a colony ship pilot. The posted schedule also stated that I would leave in the morning for flight school.

“Anthony, what assignment did you get?”

“I got flight school. How about you?”

“The same. I think most of us are going to the same school. Units two and three are to receive Military training and Unit Four is being sent to Intelligence.”

“Yes, brother Issac said that most of units five and six were being sent somewhere else. He and brother William 07 are going with them.”

I looked at my brother. Unlike me, Anthony was a tall naturally heavyset boy with dark hair. Our genetic studies would say he had Asian or Northern Russian ancestry. I, like many of my brothers, have a slight build with paler skin and hair. The textbooks say that we had come from Northern Europe or the British Isles. None of that really mattered to us. My brothers were my brothers, and I was sorry to see many of them leave.

At that moment Sergeant Slight opened the door to the dormitory and began shouting.

“OK, you have your assignments, now move! I want those beds stripped, and the linens dumped in the hampers. All kits should be packed and ready for inspection no later than 1040 hours. Everyone and I mean everyone is to be in uniform and ready for personal inspection at that time! Do you understand me!”

“Sir, yes, Sir!” We all yelled at the same time.

“Excellent. Now get to work!” The sergeant turned and left the doorway. We secretly called him Sergeant Slaughter, after an animated vid we had seen in the library.

Getting the dorm ready was a team effort. It was already 1000 hours and forty minutes was not a lot of time to pack, get dressed, and police the area. We were ready at 1038 hours when the sergeant returned. With him were several civilians and a strangely uniformed military officer. What we remembered the most about the visitors was the officer’s blue hat.

Sergeant Slight did not introduce the civilians. He and the officer scrutinized the unit very carefully. They checked our uniforms, personal gear, and living spaces. It was almost as if they were looking for something that we could not see. The civilians never said a word to us. They watched us like we were rats in a maze, with the sergeant holding the cheese. Later in life, I would see some of those civilians again.

After inspection, Sergeant Slight introduced the officer. “All right cadets! Listen up, this is Major Johann Ahlf. He is the Commandant of the flight school that many of you will be entering. If your assignment is flight school, you are to shoulder your duffel and line up outside to await transport. Move it!”

As we ran from the room, I mentally said goodbye to my brothers. It would be many years before I saw any of them again.