Little tail of family

Humans two alien women companions discover both are pregnant. Refugees from local war flood the planet he is mining. They grow a civilization, inter-planet relationships, schools, home guard, all w

Joe returned from a day spent working to get the damn extractor to actually extract ore. Mara and Tedla were waiting, fingering their knifes suggestively. Knowing them, he moved very slowly to couch. Hi, whats up? You got us pregnant you b*****d.

They were quite attractive, big almond shaped eyes, green, high cheekbones,, no breasts to speak of but they didn't nurse so what? Avon from home world groomed feathery down to bird like appearance but off world most trimmed to ease use of breathing aids.

Well, this is a new one. As a male of a warm-blooded live birth race, e.g. human, he was having a problem with fatherhood of a semi oviparous offspring, e.g. Avon. They conceived in kinda standard method then laid or gave birth to large leather shelled egg which eventually hatched.

Uh, what? Remember the bad storm when heat was out? And you had us nest the sleeping bags, strip, and share the innermost? Sure, for warmth. And what happened? We survived. Yeah, smart a*s, during night. Joe grinned at memory, we made love. Recreational sex they both screamed. OK, so?

Big sighs, sometimes vigorous recreational sex triggers false pregnancy. We have all physical symptoms and hormone stress, for nothing.

Joe reached over and cupped their barely noticeable pregnancy bumps. He was saying something about trying to help when both woman grabbed his wriUsts hard enough to cut off circulation and got very far away looks in their faces.
`
Mara said with wonder, shes fine, safe, happy, healthy. Tedla, in same awe struck tone said, he's happy, comfortable, safe, healthy.

Joe looked at growing joy and happiness on, he suddenly realized, his children's mothers. Hi dad was a small quiet voice in his head. That night the sleeping bags were next to each other but they taught him the difference in love and sex.

The next morning, their worried voices finally got him up. he felt like he’d been run over. Over coffee. what is the problem.

What do you know of the Avon? Not much, why?

Well, as a race we are one of the most xenophobic known. E,g. Avon is perfect so the Avon are perfect and everybody else is less.

Those who can or choose to leave Avon, even for a 100% copy colony are the Cursed. Those who choose to settle in a non Avon environment are the Double Cursed. Like you two Joe said. Yes.

We are required to provide health transmissions by-weekly. Ours are due tomorrow. When they see them, they will demand our return for treatment. In your case, what would that be? Abortion to preserve racial purity.

The only sound was Joe racking magazines into a blaster. No. End of discussion.

Help me drag the armament from that crashed warship up here.

He was stunned at crap system on canon. Slow, double slow, inaccurate for time taken. He started digging. Most of targeting software was IFF to avoid other Avon ships. Gone. When he was finished, aim, shoot. Fast, simple, worked every time. Once done, converting two other big guns and area suppression was fast and easy.

Avon ship landed two days later. The ladies were ordered aboard. He told them to piss off and come to his ship to talk. They complained, he guessed, he had turned comm off.

As they approached his home, he told them that area denial was active behind ship and not to attempt attack. They smiled, during talks he heard area denial go off. When they looked up, he said I Told You.

Lead from Avon was Purifier. Not a name, title. She demanded women return to Avon. It may have been first tine she had heard the word NO. She threatened. He said if he was loosing, he'd take all the Avon ships with him. And NO

She said Avon would always win. He told her story of Epsilon 443. Crooks, pirates, wouldn't stop. Someone installed motors on 14 mile nickel iron asteroid. Ran it through jump gate. At exit it was 0.4C. Hit Epsilon 443 directly. Epsilon 443 gone. They had more rocks. Did she want coffee? Long long silence. She had heard of 443. Casualties she asked, 100%

Came back to find Mara gone. Got Tedla, weapons, charged onto their ship. Shooting those who didn't cooperate. Found Mara, groggy with some medic pawing at her. Shot everyone. Trapped, using remote Joe turned area denial weapon toward hatch and dumped around 8000 rounds down hall. They walked out. He buttoned up ship and told them to leave or die. Now.

Once gone, he used mining equipment to drag large boulders onto landing area, effectively moving it few hundred yards further away and turning it.

Mara wanted them back so she could kill them. Purifier had showed up and sprayed something in her face, groggy she had been led to their ship, the rest... well Purifier was dead, shot by both Joe and Tedla during assault. Babies were fine.

Next was human medical ship. Joe stopped bright young eager medic heading for ladies with hand out, asked if they were all idiots? Go look up Avon with egg. Read. Learn.

Kid came back, slowly and subdued. Stopped 10 feet from ladies, asked if he could listen to heartbeats. Politely. After a min, they agreed. He could touch one, while other held knife to his throat. What the hell said young officer. Medic said documented record is Avon female with egg taking out three berserker troops and walking away untouched. The combination of female with egg is listed as one of the most dangerous combinations in known space.

Joe picked up the eggs, sat in his rocking chair, and began to tell story. Something about three bears. Everybody could feel contentment and attention of babies. The humans just stood, slack jawed. This is impossible. The Avon blades rose, are you criticizing our children? No, no, not at all, we just don't understand

The next Purifier showed up a day or so later. In a combat shuttle. He did not appear happy to find all the humans. He demanded they board his ship. Being told to FO by two females and a human seemed to violate his sense of rightness. After some discussion and under guard he was allowed to see eggs. From distance. When Joe started rocking them and they radiated comfort and their attention to story, something about princess and pea, he lost it completely, screaming something about abomination and unclean, Mara and Tedla had had enough. Chucked entire party out of ship.

They looked at their blasters, each other, and racked their pistols. Selecting instead heavy weapons bipod mount full automatic versions. The human soldiers just watched, normally those were crew served weapons. They had been glancing at Joe, now with vastly increased respect. He was sleeping with both? He'd knocked both up? At same time? And he was surviving? He noticed he was now always being addressed as Sir or Mr but did not ask

Joe, worried, found Mara and Tedla, said the eggs are getting lumpy! They seemed a little surprised but not worried. Hmmm, quite early for Avon. Hybrid? Both smiled. WHAT!! He said. They are running out of food, what you feel is them. Time to hatch.

The young medic promised his first born to be present. After discussion, he was allowed. Against the wall, out of way. Silent. Joe held boy as he seemed most distressed. All of them held and thought calm. Suddenly, a razor sharp fingernail split a hole in egg. In a moment, a small puzzled face was visible. All spoke and he'd smiled in contentment. Removed, measured, weighted, cleaned, and wrapped in warm blanket, he was asleep. Next, girl. Repeat exactly. Both now warm, cuddled, safe, happy. All parents beaming. Joe had human newborn disposable diapers ready, shipped as hard vacuum packed bundles. During first change, both escape fingernails found, shed. Mara pitched one to human medic, souvenir. He almost fainted. The physical nail and experience guaranteed his masters thesis.

First Human Avon hybrids birth? At least a masters. And several papers.

Between the kids, Mara, Tedla, and whatever Joe could contribute everybody was happy, calm, relaxed.

So, of course the idiot Purifier attacked. Joe first heard the (now) three area denial weapons sweeping everything behind their ship. He walked to armament panel, set all (now) five large guns on Avon combat shuttle. Bang. No more shuttle.

What the hell were those the human commander asked. Well, what I've been calling area denial weapons are some king of extremely rapid fire guns. Somewhere around 10 mm laser pulses. The big guns were deck guns for an Avon dreadnought that crashed on this rock a decade or two ago. Somewhere around 150 mm rapid fire laser. 5 of them operational currently

Silence. Human commander said your home out guns my vessel about 3 to 1. Your home out guns everything i know of in this sector.

Next day Joe dug into wreck with assistance of a couple curious human techs. Identified shield components and controls. They took numerous measurements and drew diagrams. Joe unbolted stuff and loaded on his sled. They said with serious research project, they could begin to utilize in a year of so. Joe said, hold my beer. By end of day, he had almost all components laid out and connected. Powered up, to horror of earth techs, it did nothing. Joe, suspecting same mindset, dug into control. Sure enough, if fired on by Avon, it quit. Stripped of all the extra control crap, reduced in size by 70%, increased in effectiveness by 600%. He now had 11. Took one to top of hill behind landing area. Powered up. From his house, he hit it with increasing guns. At 6, it died in flash.

Earth tech looked at him as a crazy person. They took design and components happily. He returned to crash, found parts storage, looted it. Assembled 27 more shields.

Earth commander said, there is now nothing that can threaten this house in entire sector.

Later next day a ship limped in. Requested landing due to damage. Granted. Joe, Tedla, and earth commander walked over. Ship hit, bad, leaking air, no water, injured. Earth medic and Tedla started assistance at once. Joe and earth CO asked what, who, why? They were refugees from Avon-Sabin war. Both sides attacked civilians, neither honored any rules of war.

Ward Captain looked at rocky outcrops with scraggly vegetation and said beautiful, who owns this land. Joe looked at ensign. Could you take him and his senior officers up and show them surrounding valleys please. He told Captain, you do if you want. Pick a few out, move there, mark it, it's yours. You don't want to live next to us, we are target of Purifiers.

Captain looked at him for a long tine, and at Marta and Tedla. Because of your ..... companionship? Partially, mostly our children. He smiled, congratulations. I would love to see surrounding valleys.

The refugees moved into three adjacent valleys, word spread. Dozens of ships seeking safety for families arrived. Joe told then same thing, pick a spot, claim it, don't cause trouble, welcome. Some moved a distance away, hiding. Many wanted to live next to hard a*s who had run off / shot Purifiers.

Number of species was at 15, representing approximately 387 people.

Earth ship watched, realizing they were witnessing a new civilization. Reports were written, shared, read, discussed. Ship dispatched from earth, diplomats. Woman from from first refugee ship was schoolteacher. She started 4 day week school. Kids were trilled. Mara and Tedla packed lunch for kids and sent them over hills to next valley.

And took turns following them. Caught by one of the other moms, she kinda ducked. The woman said why do you think I'm here? Walking alone gives them confidence. Being watched gives us piece of mind

Joe sat most of day thumbing a gravity control device manual, drinking coffee, and chatting with earth tech. Next day, the tech and he welded a shell, enclosed from weather at front, open at back. Very roughly equivalent to ancient human pick up road vehicle. Stress was carried at rack above structure. Joe installed two lifting panels from wreck. Each had approximately a one ton lifting captivity. And a MTBF of 100,000 hours or so, the 100% redundancy gave a MTBF over 29 million. Hmmmm. A third panel would push MTBF to just under 6 billion. His kids n ladies..... installed third panel. Then small push or pull panel for propulsion. Total effort, two days. Drew detailed diagrams and instructions.

Loaded family, flew to school. Lots of very interested folks. All his diagrams and instructions gone, most copied first. Last line said call if you have questions. They did, he was happy to help. He was absolutely fascinated by designs picked. He loved the dragon winged craft done by the old Klab farmer. In two weeks everybody had at least one. It sure beat walking over all the hills carrying stuff.

Next hit was school, with abundance of transportation, several older students discovered the boarding school concept in their reading. These were, as far as it mattered, farm kids and, in many respects, lonely. The idea of living at school, at least part time, trilled them. Lots of discussions, at homes, at meetings, online, followed. Solution, like a lot of their solutions, was theirs. The lady running school would need assistance, teaching and chaperoning. Large unused building at school must be converted to secure dormitories. Separate dormitories. Very separate dormitories. Several of older 'children' were requiring more supervision.

Class would run for 4 weeks. Then live at home, attend daily for 4 weeks. Repeat. This was evaluation. All the refugees working nights had everything ready in 6 days. New school started with surprisingly little problems.

Tedla was pregnant again. And very lovingly greatfull. Mara was not jealous exactly, she just wanted another child. And was enthusiastically working toward that goal. Joe was exhausted.

Exhausted to point of hiding in old wreckage to sleep. Earth crew thought it was hilarious.

He was saved by arrival of second earth ship, battle ship this time. It suddenly got very peaceful around planet.

Emissary from earth asked to visit. Sure. When they arrived, coffee? Thanks. OK, what do y'all want? Frankly, to meet your family. Fine, KIDS, Mara, Tedla...... and here we are. So?

They looked at kids, fascinated. They had not been introduced but were earth's leading xenobiologists. One reached for a child to hear the sound of a knife being pulled from a sheath. One of their security guards made a movement to hear twin blasters go to full c**k.

Disappointed Joe said. Most folks invited into a home know to keep their hands off children. Have any of you idiots even read material on Avon woman and children? My ladies were going to roll your heads out port like bowing balls. And i was going to kill guards. Then i was going to find out if your fancy ship could handle 27 each 150 mm rapid fire laser canon all focused in area over bridge. Wanta bet?

In case you have not figured this out, and given your stupidly, you probably have not. I don't have a reverse. I'm a son of a b***h. If you screw with my family, my very first step is always to kill you.

Now, apologize and you get a very rare second chance. With me. Ladies, not so much. and this time, everybody gets introduced. Young medic entered. Sit Joe said. See we kinda trust him, more than y'all. So, who are you?

Introductions, pompous a*s said, you can see why I must examine the hybrids. You will never touch my children. Try and I will kill you. Said Mara, Joe, and Tedla at same time.

CO of new ship got idiots away before they died. Looked at fantastic collection of, well, things flying in with families. What are those and whats going on?

We were kicking around minimum safe flying transportation and i came up with that. Triple redundant gives you just under 6 billion hours MTBF. Load, around one ton. Everything below lifting block is owner design.

And today is LasSat Joe said. Last Saturday, school reports, switch from attendance school to boarding school or back. Dance. Big feast. Trade day. Medical follow up on all open issues

Boarding school? Laugh, yeah kids discovered concept reading. They think of it as a month long sleepover. To continue, grades must be As or Bs. Some expert said but we have discarded the obsolete ABC system in favor of ..... Shut up said Joe. Parents picked system for their kids. But you should force modern.... I said shut up.

Looking at CO, I'm assuming you did not pick this choice collection of nitwits? Sigh. No. Any chance of replacing them? Working on it.

Ya know captain, that ship of fools you command is sitting around plotting how to grab my kids, all for greater good of course, which WILL kill them. Meanwhile that medic has been treating everyone. He has fat notebook's of detailed medical information on, i think we're up to 19 races. And my kids. Did i tell you he attended births? More notebooks on legions, myths, beliefs represented by the air car designs. He probably speaks 20-400 words in broken language, e.g. pidgin in each of at least 15 languages. He's honest, everyone trusts him. Who again are the experts?

OBTW, we have all his work archived with binary timestamps, you know, in case credit tries to wander.

Come on, I'll introduce you. He led a stunned CO into crowd.

Joe walked around with CO. As everybody was a refugee, guy reinforcing peace was very very popular.

Party went on. Joe was looking for place to nap, alone. Ladies found him, groan. Before he could speak, Mara yelled, I'm pregnant! Happy man, napping man.

CO wrote a number of very long letters with examples. Attached copies of notebook pages. In minim time, a high speed transport arrived. All the experts were loaded over loud objections and shipped. Where, the CO didn't care.

New Head of staff talked to medic. Relieved him of duty and ordered him to write up medical findings. Just medical. Read, critiqued, advised and had him do it over. And again. And again. Submitted. Accepted as complete masters thesis on xenobiological medicine. The first. Hardily endorsed by entire masters evaluation committee. Famous.

Three extremely happy medics arrived to assist. This was career boosting ground setting state of the art medicine. And they didn't have layers of idiots to wade through.

One of the new medics, Chinese originally by appearance, was totally fascinated by structures created by folks. She was studding the dragon boat, for want of a better name, when the old Klab farmer started telling her the history. He said the invaders had destroyed his house, the city, the harbor, and all the boats. But he would win because he would fly his boat in the air of a free world.

But it did not fly like a bird, showing it bank for landing, pull nose up, and settle.

She gathered up her courage, gestured to old man and they walked to Joe's house. He was sitting outside watching them come. She explained the issue and she and farmer 'flew' their models. Joe had been watching her. Doable but lots of grunt work. She just nodded. He said i junked all those functions, just wanted safe, reliable, basic transportation. Come with me. In that pile are sets marked birdxxxx. Model is not important but above 3000 is best. Dig out a set. Any Bird manual. Now, following manual it will show where to install wing, tail, and landing pads. DO NOT FLY. The kit must be fitted to shape. Your shape in not in database. Take ALL the measurements requested, twice. Getting this wrong will kill you. Then you put measurements into program, very accurately.

This is fun part, when computer program rejects something, we start to guess. See, as i increase wing span, these variables go up, record values for every, say 2". When we hit max, we're 9" short. So, using growth rate, add equivalent for 9". Now, feeling lucky? Fly it. At 3' and SLOW. Let's feel response. Trial, adjust, trial, repeat and repeat. You keeping records? Why? Notice interest from all refugees. It this works as you expect. There will be a lot of requests for your time. And you could ask about significance in their cultures.

The farmer had dozed off with his beloved album in his lap. She looked at pictures. Went to ships stores and asked if they had any light strings. Bought 10 or so. Started outlining wings in gold, body in red and silver like his pictures. When he woke he just stood. Tears rolling down his face. He walked to her and hugged her saying the same thing over and over. She didn't understand and found the Sr medic. He looked at her with respect and said he is saying My Daughter, My love,My Family over and over.

That day was LasSat. The usual chaos. The farmers family came early in their box transportation. At dusk, he flew his dragon boat, fully illuminated up length of valley. Banking across a few times, circled, pulled up into a perfect landing in front of school, and settled.

He stood, and in a voice everyone could hear, said now i fly in air of a free world. Pulled his medic beside him, hugged her, raising her arm.

The applause lasted 20 min. Getting to fly his boat seemed to settle him to situation. As Klab, he had typical pure white hair, tall aristocrat (to earth eyes) appearance, violet eyes, and 6 fingered hands, 4 fingers and two thumbs actually.

Head of staff asked if she truly understood significance of the boats in their culture. She did. He said you are relieved, write paper on that significance, including war changes and human impact. Go.

Write, review, reject, analyze, rewrite, edit, change, rewrite, rejected, redo, review, rewrite, submitted. Back on duty. Masters thesis on outside impact on cultural norms. Accepted in a week, unanimous.

And it continued, high honors for medical understanding and treatment of aliens, for spiritual connections, for enhanced agriculture for dietary requirements, for long term support of wounded.

On earth, outrage at attention to those not in academic elite. They were ignored. Refugees continue to arrive. Next LasSat Joe sent rush messages to earth COs. Now please!!!!

Concerned, they gathered ready for anything, they thought. Standing next to Joe were a large numbers of refugees. All serious. Joe nodded to person in front. He said, looking at human CO, you are in charge.

You have opened your world to us. We may not sit around and do nothing, our pride, gratitude, and gratefulness will not allow it. Please enlist us as ground troops.

The earth officers just sat, with their mouths starting to hang open. Joe, enjoying himself immensely, said gentlemen, you have my respect and admiration. However, these officers will need some time. Thank you.

Turning to officers, and this what you get your princely salaries for, I cant wait!!! Walking away laughing.

The officers watched him go. He's enjoying this way too much said CO. . You know, thoughtfully, the person in charge of whats basically a home guard should really be a civilian, not military said a younger officer. Silence. Smiles. Sr commander looked at young officer, now that is the kind of problem solving that gets noticed at promotion time. Much as I would like to deliver the news, write this up, I'll sign it, and you can deliver. You've earned it.

Later, Joe watched young officer trudge up hill. He was still smiling at looks on earth officers faces after dropping that hot potato. Something about young officer bothered him. The row of SR officers watching was a big part of that. When officer git to him, he handed him an envelope. Congratulations Sir, on command of home guard. We can schedule issuing equipment at your convenience.

Well damn. Potato still hot. Hoist with his own petard. He just folded paper, stood, waved at those watching, and went inside.

Mara and Tedla not only did not commiserate with his predicament, they rolled on floor laughing. Toward end of day, he happened to pass earth CO who smiled innocently. Afternoon Commander said earth CO.

Joe said when, not if, SR earth command structure is screaming Did you see what that crazy disrespectful disruptive SOB has done now?! Their next question will be Who appointed that troublemaker!? Got an answer? And kept walking.

Held a meeting of all interested refugees. Area, town, city, whatever it was now represented 27 races, and around 1500 or 2000 people, they guessed. Some guesses ran close to 3000. Earth sent some busybody to take a census but they were run off at gunpoint.

Joe stood, said I'm not military, never have been. Actually I have little use for their rules. Standing around in nice recognizable uniforms to get shot is stupid. If we get invaders, we owe them nothing, they came to hurt our children, our families, ourselves. What i would do is kill them as fast as possible. Is that the home guard you want? YES Was the loud answer.

We are amateurs, we can not fight professional troops and live. In a stand up fight, we die, not enough training, not enough equipment, not enough experience.

We will practice shooting, from behind rocks, from snipers nests, from under farm equipment. The goal is to always always have your enemy ask where did that shot come from?

So we will be wasps. Confused looks. You have them, just different names. Small flying bug with very very painful sting. You read stories of air car or ground car full of people and driver is so busy swatting bug they crash and all die. Nods throughout crowd.

Wasp just fly away to do it again.

Now, be honest with yourself. When it comes to shooting are you bad, OK, or good. I ask because we have limited shooting training available and a number of very important jobs that don't involve shooting.

Think of it this way, which is important, shooting the target or escaping to do it over and over. The good shooter or the good pilot?

On the hill stood the earth CO and group of very senior brass on a visit. Sr general turned to earth commander and said, your sure this loose cannon SOB is on our side? Mostly. O, He did lead the expulsion of census taker.

Joe really thought this was make work, he took everything seriously but this was low priority. Then earth ships all pulled out for skirmish elsewhere and it got very real.

Two days later a group of Avon or Sabin combat transport landed. Didn't matter which. Demanding deserters and enemy personal. Stall until after dusk, that night valves opened to mix oil with ammonium nitrate buried under landing field. Explosions rolled ships like toys. 900 or more transports flew over dumping wood, trash, and other flammables on ship. Then more oil. Once lit, everybody watched them roast and waited. As they opened ship to escape, they were shot. A lot. All of them. Zero survivors.

Next day, assault transport landed with 800 professional troops. Marching in column of 8 up valley toward school. The old farmer with his dragon boat came flying up valley, much to troops amusement. Joe noticed the young medic who had helped him crouched in boat. he was standing at bow, in some strange uniform. Hollering about free planet. Joe cocked his head, that was a firing pass. DOWN, he screamed as the war bird opened fire from hundreds and hundreds of laser emitters under wing. He cut an path through middle if their formation, killing or wounding over 690.

Someone shot him and the war bird went down behind school. Joe said nothing. Every home guard opened fire. Remaining formation melted as thousands of rounds hit them. Zero survivors.

Joe and group leaders all walked to school (the kids were up in caves protected by deadly eyed mothers and fathers, his ladies included). The old man was OK, bunged up and with probable broken or strained leg. Shot had hit his control panel (civilian, no redundancy) and crashed.

They turned to very concerned medic, what the hell are you doing here and what did you two do? Well, uh, see, you know the area denial unit you dumped? We figured its problem and wired the emitters to his bird. Joe just stared. You wired 11,000 emitters BY HAND?!?? Remind me not to piss you off. And you are here because? I couldn't leave. Joe shook her hand.

Later, a combat assault craft swooped down in attack, Joe armed his big guns. As he reached for coffee, 14 150mm high speed laser deck guns blew the attacker, and the three running close behind to dust. Zero survivors

By this time, even the dumb ones had realized there was something wrong. Planet was becoming one way, attack units went in, nothing came out. Nothing. And earth units were returning.

CO toured attack sites, trying to estimate losses. He and his staff looked at Joe, how bad were your losses. Well, old war bird pilot has probable broken leg, couple guys got minor burns from cook-in we used on attacking ships but that's about it. Prisoners? Didn't take any. At looks from professional military he said they started it. We just killed them all. Faster, safer. More looks. You need to understand, we're civilians, we feel zero professional courtesy to animals who came to hurt our children. Dead? Good!

They quietly walked back to their ships beginning to understand civilian fighting, not for a cause, not for honor, or pay, but because your family were behind you. Deadly. Serious. Final.

Medic was cashiered for missing sailing and unauthorized participation in battle. Bootleg video of her riding the damn war bird down over enemy troops like avenging Valkyrie lasers blazing surfaced at same time. CO shook her hand, said he wanted 50 like her, very quietly, and let her resign with full honors.

Joe watched smiling. Next LasSat was normal stuff with celebration of freedom on top. Joe stood, banged very big gavel he'd made and announced.

AGENDA: i will continue as adviser to home guard but we need to elect area commanders. I'd advise setting up permanent target and training ranges in each area with all home guards taking 3-4 hours shooting practice a week. Bring a lunch, enjoy. Area commanders should arrange larger exercises. I'm available for consultation. Each area needs to organist that. BANG

AGENDA: We need a board to make decisions about school.
(A ) It's outgrowing the facility, yes already. We've been discussing that and two valleys over is too rocky for real farming, has running water, and occupant will trade for better farmland area as long as his equipment gets moved. I think we should accept BANG
(B) ladies and gentlemen running school are doing a fantastic job. They should be compensated as it has become their full time work. BANG
(C) school, facility, improvements, salaries, maintenance all need funds. We don't have any. BANG
(D) we need an administrator to manage these and other issues BANG
(E) it is NOT ME BANG BANG BANG
(F) Nominations for some one you respect and trust?

Numerous names mentioned. When old farmer was mentioned all other nominations withdrawn, instantly. Joe waited a minute, others? Silence. All in favor? All hands up. Opposed, nothing.

Joe banged gavel last time and said, Mr Administrator? Beaming medic helped him to improvised podium. Leg not broken, badly bruised. Joe shook his hand and gave him the gavel. Sincere applause. Whispered; buried in documents on school are notes, I underestimated income, always start by giving raises.

Joe, Mara, and Tedla all smiled. They had watched farmer and medic go from assistance on building airship, to assistance in completing it, co-pilot in combat, to nurse helping him dress to someone helping him undress, to cohabitants. Cleaned up, he as not nearly as old as he had looked. They both looked very happy. Joe wanted a coffee.

As he walked past earth CO, the officer said smooth. Joe said planning. Neither broke stride.

Yet another diplomatic earth ship landed. Joe was laying on floor, 4 kids crawling all over him, two beautiful women who loved him in kitchen. he was, he felt, the happiest man alive.

Some earth suit came to door and said they had been declared an earth colony and must complete all Identification papers and mandatory physical examination. And school has been declared non standard and would be corrected.

Joe stood, pulled a blaster, and drove twit with shots at his heels back to earth command ship. asked for CO. Said if idiot approached his family again he‘d shoot him. And if he walked around demanding IDs and threatening school, someone would shoot him by end if day.

Turned and walked home for interrupted play time with his kids.

Diplomat started complaining, CO cut him off, I TOLD you, this is not an earth colony, that guy is head if home guard, they killed every invasion or raid during incursion. Not stopped, not captured, killed.

Later, woman started screaming at top of her lungs, a woman's head rolled out of his house into gully. Joe sighed, got his pistol, walked to command ship. As CO gave him a coffee, screaming cut off and second head Rolled out. Kids he asked? Yeah, told them.

In a minute, hysterical terrified, diplomat ran up Incoherent screaming about murder. CO said you idiots screwed with a Avon mother with baby. What did you expect? Look it up.

Joe was watching refugee ship unload. Young kid sidling down side of room, very protective of woman carrying bundle. Woman far beyond tense. This was not good. He signaled to Tedla, she looked at pair, he mouthed kids. She nodded and left, running. As she returned with kids, they slowly approached young couple. closer they could confirm she was Avon. With an egg. Joe was sweating. Disarming run-away nuclear plant was easier. welcome he said, kid took them in and smiled. Tesla said, formally, may we offer you the shelter of our home and hide, with something between mod and bow. The girl, she was very young, just looked at her, clutching, they could now see, a large knife. Scared, terrified actually. Tedla waved kids forward, Your gunna be a mommy!! Squealed one of hers. Girl relaxed fractionally. Tesla led her to basement, Joe had narrowed hall to back bedroom, using wall extensions to create zig-zag entrance preventing grouped assault. Girl looked, bath had no exit, no windows, one door. She sat, relaxed, eyes drooping. Joe told her to lock door, they were going to get some food. He figured she was asleep before he got upstairs.

Robert took coffee from, Joe he guessed. Just sat. So greatfull to have Daana under cover he couldn’t breath. They had been running for so long. With bigots from both races wanting their baby’s life. The coffee made a clink as it fell from his sleeping hand. Joe just knocked him over on couch, put a blanket over him, and went back to watching refugees.

Robert woke in panic, where, who, Daana! As he jumped up, Daana sat next to him. We are fine, more than fine actually. we have found friends. Actually a kind of family. He relaxed, two Avon herding 4 kids to dinner table, plus a human, Joe. He realized the kids were Avon-human. He stood at door with Joe, watching crowd mixture of many races, kids more so.

After dinner and brief explanation of LasSat, he joined the meeting as it started. Guy in charge recognized Joe. This colony crap has to stop. Nods all around, seems like every time I walk out another twit is screaming colony and I have to, I must, don’t like our school, ID, physical exam of my kids. it’s a waste of ammo.

I propose we declare as independent planet, Freeport. Sign alliance with earth for fleet basing. Buy school books that aren't prejudicial, don’t preach or lie. Trade agreement when we need one, the rest is gone., Lots of nodding.

Administration: All in favor? All hands. Opposed, Silence BANG. So moved. Next, who gets to run this mess, with a grin. Before anyone could speak, Joe hollered The Administrator. Passed by acclamation as he passed administrator he got a real dirty look. Joe said ask around for experience, hire it, delegate. Please, before you kill yourself. There are several folks looking forward to the future ’dad’. Shock, didn’t think anyone knew,? Advice, woman talk. Smile

Various politicians had a fit. They can’t, ifs illegal, we need, they must, we can, on and on. Freeport sent message.

Our home
All welcome
Our rules
Ask before you land
Cause problems, gone
We don’t owe anyone anything

Reactions varied. One combatant said they had right to land and capture deserters. Freeport said last time you forced a landing, we killed all your troops. We have more and better weapons. Come on down! Silence

Robert sat stunned. Independence, revolution, rules published to everyone, government formed, he looked at his watch, 1:25 total. Done. He asked around, They weren't bragging. Every Invasion during last flare up that landed left no survivors

He went to see Joe. Told him I can’t be a freeloader. Can’t farm, no good with pistol or rifle. Can’t fly aircar. How can i help? Were you in military? Yeah but I only worked on main armament, Joe gave him big smile for some reason, come with me. Took him to wreck, told Robert he been salvaging and making it up as he went along, some of the junk targeting he removed, and where. they examined gun emplacement.

Robert’s eyes lit up like Christmas. Joe asked, can you improve this? A bunch Robert said. Tools in cabinet Joe said pitching him keys. Don’t miss dinner. He did. Early next morning he was in their kitchen foraging. Daana found, fed, and bedded him. That afternoon Robert asked if they had extra shield generators. Joe said why, set two up in that hill separated.

I’ve done this, takes 5 or 6 to kill it. Robert smiled. Hit it he said, stop at 5. Joe fired 5 of his ground emplacements at shields. Nothing.

Robert said may I? Hit shield with the gun he been working on. Shield, 4 or 5 tons of rock, and 4 feet of hill gone. Just dust. You had not retuned after removing all their crap electronics. Joe looked at hill top, at him, at hill top and said keep keys, their yours, you are in charge of everything thing above sidearms.

That night, Joe said ever read to your kid? Got a strange look. Go get kid, sit in rocking chair, handed him copy of three bears, said read. Robert and Daana looked at him oddly. When he started reading, They felt the contentment, the happiness, all of Joe’s kids came to join in aura of childhood. Stunned surprise in their faces. Later n Joe said just so you know, that makes Purifiers go completely nuts.

And my record is two eggs, toddler, and 7 neighbors kids.

Later that week Avon or Sabin or whoever sent raiding task force to seize traitors and capture enemies. Said they were in charge and did not ask permission from anybody. Robert opened fire. All 5 ships, attack transports, cruisers, destroyer all gone, balls of flame. No survivors. No one injured.

Week later, other side tried, no pretense, just assault. 3 heavy destroyers, 5 cruisers. No survivors.

Earth battleship returned. CO was welcomed, new exec looked confused. We had reports of major incursion. Joe and a visibly upset Robert said, scrap and wreckage. Robert excused himself, walked home, told Daana to pack, just in case. Exec asked about Robert, showed up at Joe's house with couple of MPs. Robert had two pistols, Daana her knifes. Exec said this is not your business. Joe said under his roof it was. 6 armed neighbors walked in, and ours.

Joe said talk. Exec said Robert was deserter wanted for assault. Joe looked at Robert, and? Robert said enlistment up, we were leaving base, that CO is bigot and raciest. He had me held, called Purifier to get Danna and our child. I busted some heads and we ran. Either of you have witnesses? Robert said hundreds, CO is an a*s.

Exec said but military justice….. is like military intelligence, both hard to find Joe finished. About that time, earth CO walked in and said stand down. I just looked at this case, it’s crap. We would like to offer you reinstatement and back pay,,,,,,

Sir, choice between “Charged? OK We’ll hold you for a few months until you prove your innocent” VS “Charged, free until they prove something” is not really a choice. With all due respect, all of you can FO. CO just shrugged, he’d expected that.

We would like to know how you increased power so much. Robert didn’t look, just raised his voice, Joe, do we need anything from earth at this time, parts, equipment, intel, anything. No. I guess we will continue this conversation when we need to. He and Daana left.

Robert had some kids going through Joe’s junk pile, he did a lot of things well, organizing wasn’t one of them. All the BIRDXXXX were sorted, HAULXXXX, next. Odd. Found Joe and asked him where were the rest. Unsurprised, he said boxes behind basic controls, didn’t want kids getting them. Robert nodded and left. Found matched FIGHXXXX parts and starting drawing. Measuring. Planning.

Got some welding help, built three fuselage air ship. Stubby wings, outboard fuselages holding two of his improved deck guns. Center forward and low was gunner and shield. Higher,with panoramic view was pilot. What appeared to be third person was full sized shield. Triple redundant controls. 5 power cells. Massive push plates. More or less pressurized. Hook ups for standard EV pressurized suites.

Flew to next LasSat. Said eventually they would find someone smart enough to attack where they didn’t have guns mounted. His solution was to meet and kill them wherever they landed, or before they landed.

Said he was good engineer, poor pilot. Did anyone want to fly the fighter? Every male between 15 and 35 raised his hand. Earth CO said it was the most deadly thing he had been around. After an hours instruction to couple of guys with military experience, they took it up, holding speed to 1G mark on dash, and blew 13 feet off target mountain. With a single pass. Landed babbling that it had been the most exciting ride of their lives

Two days later, disaster. One of the unfinished fighters crashed, killing two young men. Robert had a screaming fit, not finished, not tuned, they stole control software for wrong model, broke into assembly area to get to ship, if it had been armed the morons could have killed everybody in school. By this time he was almost incoherent, crying, and throwing things. Daana took him to bed.

Then it was Joe and Administrator turn. They were even madder. Joe found and locked up all fighter software. First. And kept all the keys. Administrator revoked all fighter pilots rights until they could have a sit down on common sense and responsibility.

Everyone went to bed, mad, or sad or morning the kids. Or all three.

Next day started with class for fighter pilots, goal was grow up. It lasted until adults were satisfied, 2 days for some, 14 for others. A few uneducable hot-dogs were quietly booted from being pilots

Robert revised fighters so only correct software would activate them. Then put retinal id on ships to stop possibly of joyrides. After some discussion all pilots could fly all fighters. But only pilots.

Meanwhile Joe, Robert, and some (what the hell are they going to do now) technicians from earth ship has been salvaging long rage detection hardware and installing a network around planet.

Months later, warning net went off. Earth ship had heavy maintenance scheduled. Tried to call administrator, line all busy. Then they saw fighters launch from hills surrounding settlement. Pulled vertical and hit 4 Gs. By the time they reached Angles 20, they were at Mach 2. They were among invasion before they were really detected. Started killing ships, each, in 10s, en mass. Sky was brilliant with exploding ships. Invasion tried to withdraw, fighters kept killing them. and kept killing, and kept killing. Earth CO said that was enough. Administrator, Robert, Joe, and the dozen or so area home guard commanders all said, screw them, they came to hurt our families. .

Next major basting run, the know it all’s poured off earth ship like cockroaches. Experts ready to reorganize the school, the home guard, social norms on miscegenation, social norms on marriage, their relationship with organized religion, their entire legal system, in general their entire society.

Home guard rounded them up and dumped in earth ship. Remember what we said about permission to land? They don’t have it. Haul them off and don’t bring any more.

CO seemed embarrassed. Joe and Administrator looked at each other and said you don’t have a choice, right? Right.

After brief discussion, they told CO basing withdrawn. Nice to have seen you. Bye.

CO stuned. But, but, but

Administrator said as it happens, there are a number of fleets needing basking, the Wafd are very interested.

Week later, earth diplomatic courier was requesting landing, learning thought Joe and gave permission. Notified guard for bug control. Ship only had CO and ambassador. Joe had them sit for coffee. They said there apparently been an misunderstanding. Administrator said we told you no more self important nitwits. You said you were going to keep dumping them on us. Where is misunderstanding? You just ignored us. So, no basing.

But they will help……. Stop. We don’t want them. No one else matters. But…. Stop. This is the issue. Our planet. Our rules. Nothing, NOTHING you want or think matters. Our planet. Our rules.

Can you understand that?

That is issue. If you can understand we can talk. If not, leave.?Administrator and Joe left.

The Wafd capstan landed for water, fresh food, R&R, e.g. basing. He approached administrator accomplished by man is simple coat and pants. This is Uncle Thorn. Several if your residents asked me if he was available. We know said Joe, moving water is important your services, He turned to Captain, y'all can set up a pavilion on other side of stream just past overflow parking. That work? that would be great said Captain. And tomorrow is LasSat, right? Yes, good timing. Captain walked Thorn off explaining LasSat.

Ambasisitor said, ’So he gets permission? Joe asked, did you hear him? He started with ‘several If your residents…’. Our folks ASKED, not got dumped on. Watch. As usual, LasSat started with school commendations and promotions. Then general announcements, then food, music, dancing. After announcements, group gathered at pavilion. Most obviously Wafd, some others, and the standard group of seakers. Apparently good time had by all.

Joe left, saying being asked works, try it.

He had a large meeting at his house. Said, I’m too young for this problem. Robert and I live here. Mr Administrator said all of you have same problem. Children aging out of our school. Any new thoughts? Yeah, a man married to a Flores woman (with the long graceful feather like organs on her head) said if my boy gets picked on, called a feather head, he will fight. I know this. Them the twit s will be screaming anti-social tendency, violent, unstable, and the feat of their crap.

Same here from a number of patients.

You all know me, ask the time and sometimes get history of clocks. Bear with me. So, _University_ is derived from the Latin phrase _universitas magistrorum et scholarium_, which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars".

Note it does not mention student loans, bursars, social rules, commonality of belief, or the rest of modern university crap. Just teachers and students.

The [University of Bologna / Università di Bologna which was founded in earth date 1088, is the first human university in the sense of:

being a high degree-awarding institute.
using the word _universitas_ (which was coined at its foundation).
having independence from the ecclesiastic schools and issuing secular as well as non-secular degrees with teaching conducted by both clergy non-clergy grammar, rhetoric, logic, theology, canon law, and notarial law

An important idea in the definition of a university is the notion of academic freedom]. The first documentary evidence of this comes from early in the life of the University of Bologna , which adopted an academic charter, the Constitutio Habita in earth date 1155 or 1158, which guaranteed the right of a traveling scholar to unhindered passage in the interests of education. Today, this is claimed as the origin of "academic freedom. Now, I believe there are a large numbers of scholars across multiple systems who feel modern universities are restricting academic freedom, not physically as such, but mostly through conformity. Massive peer pressure to conform to school policy regardless of personal beliefs.

So, yes, I want to start a rumor that Freeport is starting a free university and is looking for facility. We need to see who, how many, and qualifications of potential applicant's. That is underway.

The topic of cost should be considered. When I casually mentioned our school and possibility of granting advanced degrees, The Waft captain said he would sign up 15 kids, aged 12 and up, on the spot. I just looked at him. Don’t know how rare decent schools are out here? Your teaching by example group living AND independence is unique. He said other groups had looked at recreating it and decided that was cost prohibitive for them. Paying us, however, well, they would love to have that conversation. So, can we recreate that for students who have no home here? Let’s think about our kids, sorry, your kids who are target age range, and see if we can accommodate them. Reconvene next LasSat?

A month later, several of the dads were excited. They said issue is solo, or family sized, living. Group is covered by boarding school months. As our kids transaction to university aged housing, we will have empty rooms and chores needing done. Just like the non-boarding months.

Exchange students live with families, do chores, go to school every day, just like out kids. During boarding school, they live in dorms like everyone else. Cost should be manageable to most families easily. We have spent a number of evenings calculating exact costs. Joe said numbers must be approved by the Administrator. I’m going for coffee.

Administrator was very happy with numbers. He had ranges set up depending on response from area systems. He and fathers council (now a quasi permanent advisory group) wanted to offer program to test response. They a had a minimum number to support a university.

Freeport announced acceptance of exchange system students and cost. Response was surprising, they were maximum student numbers in two days. Prevention of overwhelming outside influence was a worry. They looked at expanding program, new dorms, more teachers, more controls.

Announced closing of enrolment for year. That would give them time to plan, and more importantly to teach new students the culture. Next year, they could absorbed more students.

Responses from qualified PhD and Masters instructors came in, carefully hedged and qualified, understandable given the risks outside mainstream education orthodoxy
Old Teachers
Joe discussed issue with medic. After some thought, I never thought of it but I had a couple professors who were very very careful what they commented on. Specifically in area of campus social life. Example? Selective non enforcement of bulling when “wrong group” is being bulled. Same except more so on racist attacks, either by wronged or, more likely, those using grievances to attack “wrong group”, blame for one gender, belief without proof to the other. Consistent encouragement one race or social construct over all others.

How upset? Very. You know, might be nice to invite some old teachers to see your success..He invited a group,, BCC’s on invites, to his planet. Given his rapid rise to a Masters and their memory of smart kid, they decided to visit. So Drs Smith, Jones, Tom, and Harry were on a earth ship. Carefully not knowing each other. Medic led tour of school, discussed 4 and 4 schedule, casually mentioned, and showed, standardized tests. And left them to watch kids for rest of day. No fights, no screaming, no bulling, no real arguments lower class (lower floors) being tutored.

Dr’s noted constant mixture of races. And lack of any reaction other than than “ooh Bob has a girl friend” kid crap on mixed couples. They walked the valley, school at one end, preliminary construction at other talking to whoever they met. Had dinner with Administrator and Joe’s families. Administrator's wife was about 10 months and due any minute (Klab gestation was around one earth year). Joe herded kids to table as his ladies served. One asked Joe, and you are? Head of home guard and well known SOB. The medic said Joe is one of the earliest settlers here. Oh yes, the birth you wrote about. Joe said I've never liked hiding anything, gesturing to wall. The Freeport declaration hung there.

Our home
All welcome
Our rules
Ask before you land
Cause problems, gone
We don't owe anyone anything

Joe got a copy of his statements about universities, including his beliefs. Handed one to each. Now we are all on same page. We want you to help found University of Freeport. Want some coffee? Take your time, I’m just solving a local problem, you are looking at your complete professional life. Actually, lets talk in the morning.

The professors or Dr’s or whatever you wanted to call them sat at an ignored breakfast with coffee. Lots of coffee. Well, one said, I guess it’s put up or shut up for me. Can they do it, financially I mean asked a second. Yes several said, we were up most of night going over their plains. They have more than enough support from surrounding systems. Their only competition is a two year joke and a couple of church schools. And those are fanatic adjacent.

There are only 4 of us. Don’t be absurd, you well know we would pull dozens. True, and we would all be outcasts to earth academic leadership. The write up Joe did was on the money, I am so eternally sick of the standard crap I could die. I looked at those kids today and saw more desire to learn than I have seen in a decade. And they are smart, and ask real questions.

So, we’d need a rough 4 year curriculum, for each degree we plan to offer. Then detailed first year class plans. That gives us minimum number of classrooms, labs, and instructors. As usual, many classes fill multiple slots.

Or, said Dr Tompkins (Smith) we could explore teaching for the modern world from an independent planet view. Now he had everyone’s attention. Let’s think about an educated person, 4 year, approximately 120 semester hours.

8 semester (24 hours) of Debate
8 of Logic (24)
6 of physiology (we have what, 20 odd races? All students should recognize distress, medical need, and basic culture of ALL their fellow students (18)
1 each of
Trade (future cost of funds, physical location on value, basic ship economic calculations)
Mining (land, equipment, cost of extraction, shipping)
Practical Engineering for Maintenance and Enhancement. This is entry to full engineering curriculum, fluids, dynamics, strength of materials.
Agriculture (land, seed. fertilizer, pesticides, impact on omitting fertilizer or pesticides on yeals and on marketability)
3 additional semesters available as electives for each (3 each)
4 semester hours of Self Defence, decided between Freeport and Individual by a instructor . Range time. Work out in athletic clothes
4 semester (12 hours total) Other Voices (we are going to need a lot of help for non earth statements)
3 semesters (9 hours) Legal Systems Overview, Avon, Sabin, Earth military, Ware, Earth, Klab, and others
6 electives, 18 hours

This is 121 hours. Plus any remedial math, we assume Deferential Equations, and proficiency in ‘trade’, I.e. english. Working knowledge in at least one piglin assumed

They all just sat and looked at him. Wow. Just wow. Classical Knowledge plus Medical plus World awareness plus Physical plus Outside Cultures plus Law. How long did this take. About 15 years. Friends, I am going to do it. If they’ll have me

Administrator and Joe joined them. Dr Tompkins introduced himself and said this is our idea. They looked at his plan, at each other, and said we are going to need help.

They called fathers council to look at idea. First comment was wow, this recognizes real world need to understand making a living. Knowing your neighbors needs is smart. Self defence, both planet and personal, nice. Not a lawyer but understanding, good. Kids who graduate this could take on anybody. Like it.

Administrator and Joe thanked everyone. OK, we can have buildings, including new dormitories And food halls ready next fall. That’s 15 months, perfect. First HS class graduates in 14 months. If we prioritize dormitories, we can accept exchange students around 13-14 months.

Joe, looking at PhDs, y’all be ready? Books selected, ordered, stacked with supplies?

Dr’s stunned, you folks move fast. Robert was passing trough getting coffee and interrupted with “I happened to be at meeting where they got rid of ‘colony’ for good. Independence, revolution, rules published to everyone, Freeport government formed, 1:25 total. This is slow.”

Joe said, so, y’all be ready? We have announcements to publish. They agreed, and left hurriedly to plan. Later, they said they were used to earth time, in that case, ours was a 24-36 month effort.

Freeport released a notice:

Several years ago, Freeport started our consolidated school. Given the zero problems and student test scores well above norm, it has worked very well. Our current problem is there wofold, students aging out of what is basically a high school and insufficient students to fund an advanced school

Opening our school to surrounding systems provided sufficient students. The new buildings, starting with dormitories and dining halls, will be open late this sumner. Both for High School expansion and out new facility

Today we announce the start of University of Freeport open to students who have high school equivalency. A four year residency program

Academic staff and their Curriculum Vitae are attached, including the four Nobel Laureates on staff. They hold Nobel Prizes in
Multi system Economics
Multi racial Physiology or Medicine
Economics Of Multi System Commerce
Multi System Peace
We also list the standard student curriculum.

And it started, cow college, incompetence leading the incompetent, joke, waste of time. And on and on. Carefully ignoring top flight staff. Freeport Ignored.

Next, what do country hicks know of a disputation, of Plato, Aristotle, or Thomas Aquinas?
Response: exactly what your students knew on entry, nothing. Ask again n a couple of years

Meanwhile leadership of neighborhood systems read notice and did due diligence. Having confirmed everything Freeport said, they happily enrolled their children.

They started with the commute month. There were several exchange student who were under impression this was like old earth movie, no work. They were not happy. The messages between students and parents or governments was making progress but problem pretty much disappeared after a Freeport’r kid approximately same age laid it out in basic understanding.
Hey dummy, look around, lots of pretty people, good different food every meal, free education -OR- you can go home, marry one of the, what 3 eligible people, cook and eat same food for rest of your life, work same fields rest of your life. Do whatever you want but we’d all recommend you get your head out.
Problem gone.

Transportation was issue for a week or so ago until everybody got schedules worked out. Professors, especially those who were meetings students for first time were astounded at fresh, non canned, individual, honest, options expressed freely by all. For most of them this was a challenge. These students asked questions and worse, expected answers. Some Professors were cracking book for first time in decades. They were ecstatic. And, by the way, passing their impressions back to colleagues on earth.

After a month, switch to residency was a non event. No problems, no real issues.

After observation of students outside of school grounds, Joe, Mara, Tadla, Robert, and Daana asked to meet with academic scheduling. Said they had noticed an increase in mixed race dating. They just thought a lot of pain and heartbreak could be avoided if those races that mate for life were identified early in classwork, like first day. After observation and discussion, the change was made Immediately and quietly.

University Accreditation
Next frontier was elitist attack of University Accreditation. By the book, during the accreditation process, experts in the field of education conduct on-site visits to the institution. They assess the quality of teaching, the relevance of the curriculum, and the effectiveness of student support services. Actually it was a bitter group for of losers trying to discredit UF regardless of facts. There was not much they could say about quality of teaching or curriculum support systems as most of the accreditation staff had had same instructors. Instead, they attacked student services

Those usually include
Student Community to connect with fellow students and alumni, UF didn’t bother, After all they lived together in dorm
Career coaches to helps you to achieve your professional goals, this was normally handled by roommate saying “Hey dummy, get cracking or its plowing next semester”
Study Advisors, to plan your study path with our experts help, this was tried, run off by students.
an Admissions Team ready to guide you through every step of the admission process, you are enrolled
a Student office to get academic guidance to maximize your results, huh?
Professors & Lecturers to take time to help learn from industry leaders and experts. It’s called teaching

The experts who entered dorms looking for complaints got run out at gun point and reported for harassment.

Committee members called complained about student attitude, their having individual weapons in their rooms, their ridicule at them being ejected and everything in general.

The Administrator then took great pleasure in telling them that on advice of counsel, all their actions and conversations had been recorded. And the unedited complete set would be released on earth if their recommendations were off. They said that was blackmail. He said correct now get off our planet.

Alarm indicated multiple ships, holding altitude. Attack fighter launch held, all crew ordered into pressure suites. At 85000 feet, lead pilot celled back, stand down, these are junk transports, no weapons showing, kids and families showing at viewports.

More Refugees
Landing permission given, at old school valley.

Passengers were Avon and Sabin soldiers, older officers mostly. Some appeared to be related to refugee families, many were singletons. They just walked off ships and sat somewhere. Looking at nothing, doing nothing, saying nothing.

Joe had watched this from his house. Finally he walked over, found ranking Avon and Sabin officers and motioned them to his porch. Got some coffee, asked what IS THIS?

Talking over each other, they said war was getting worse, they were being ordered to commit atrocities, things they would not, could not do. People in charge, both sides, were crazy. No real opposition, no options. Just leave. Take as many innocents as they could. Whatever happened to them, will their passengers be all right? Joe promised they would be. And you are? Head of home guard, those are my fighters. Ahh, the guy who's been kicking our rear. I will gladly take your word.

Either of you have family that might be on Freeport? Not that would talk to us. Not an answer. All we give willingly. Ok.

Joe contacted the Sabin ship caption, one of the de facto leaders of Sabin community. Told him situation. He said he was on his way. When he arrived, he sat across from Sabin officer said nothing. For a very long time. Finally, one said, Brother. The other said Brother. Joe left them. To talk, of fight, or shoot each other.

There were several Avon with eggs, a clear indication of desperation of escape. Joe grabbed a bunch of kids with carpentry experience and converted a row of temporary overnight accommodations in basement of old school with offset halls, windows boarded up, and individual locks, in a day. His ladies came to help snd they got the egg carriers in hides. Much to everyone's relief.

As the word, and names, spread small groups came to talk, or hug, or scream. But Avon slowly got shorted to relatives or friends. The dwindling remains seemed to have no one, and want no one. Silence snd looking at nothing seemed to be their choice.

Joe escalated, he walked his and Roberts kids across meadow in front of his house. Let them play with balls, infernal earth Frisbee, and climbing ropes in tree everyone was sitting under. This drew neighbor kids, then random kids passing by. Soon silent withdrawn officers were middle of group of chattering, inquisitive, persistent children, of numerous races, many mixed. Smiles, in some cases first in decades, appeared. Names, stories, family members were heard. Their CO looked at Joe with respect. Great interrogation tactic.

Eventually Joe was left with Avon CO. Everyone else from all the ships had be located to at least tolerable facility. Joe thought a long time. Asked Mara and Tedla if he reminded them of anyone from days before they met. Surprised they looked at him harder. Said he could be the Purifier from days when there was only one for planet. Joe asked what they could ask or tell a Purifier that would cause him to break. Long look, Purify a planet. Joe got up, as he left he said you saved your soul.

Hermit
Mara and Tedla flew above the safety cave they used for kids to a high peak with a small hidden depression being used for truck farming. They landed, set out their lunch, and waited. Older Sabin woman walked over to them, and said i remember you, mixed up with that human. Correct, your Avon officer is back. He deserted, took 3 ships of refugees with him. Get in, he just sits and stairs at the past. You can save, or damn him. Woman stood and looked at them in stunned silence. Finally she got in. Mara landed next to her house, pointed to group under tree, and walked inside.

Woman walked up behind the group, said something probably the Avons name. He lunged to his feet, spun with his hand out, and froze. Neither spoke. He finely said Karlla? She lives said the woman. Another flier landed, younger woman stepped out, Mom? she asked. The Avon stood, speechless, his eyes moving between the two women. The younger woman said why are you here, who is this?

Mara, still irritated by mixed up with human crack walked out with her two kids said I'm taking the beautiful results of my mixing with my human to school. Nodding to group under tree, hows your family? Got in aircar, and left.

Karlla said, Mom, family? Is this my father? What, uh, how, how, ah, where? She ran down.

The Sabin woman took a sigh. This was not my plan. This was not how id planned to tell you. This was before current war. I worked in HQ as admin. We became, uh, close. When the anti fraternization laws were passed, i was pregnant. He would have been demoted, we, you and I, would have been killed. There was no way off planet. We decided to hide you by faking your DOB and moving to untraceable location. They were starting to do DNA tests constantly. He relocated his HQ off planet to reduce focus on locals and expand pool to investigate. Miserable solution, but kept us alive.

Then this became destination for refugees and, with inventiveness of a few, she nodded to Joe, solace and hope for resistance. Also too tough to retake. We were trapped, separated. But, again, safe.

He spoke up, war is going badly, decreasing support, increasing losses, desperation by leadership. Overreaction is more, more vicious, and worse violence. To the point desertions are endemic. I grabbed a few ships, loaded, and ran. When i got here, i just stalled. I didn't know what to do, so i just sat and went over the past, and over, and over.

Karlla looked at them, both crying now, and held out her arms. They all stood there hugging snd crying. Mara returned and Joe shock off her next comment, she really didn't like snide comments about her life.


Fin
2025 © Jim Bartlett