“Correct.” The sergeant looks pleased. She turns back to the whiteboard, so she doesn’t see Lament hold up his fingers, counting down from five as she continues. “Though the Ten Calls formation was once effective against space attacks, today’s weapons are too sophisticated for such methods.”Three, two…“You may remember, during the Battle of Linth, there was a breach—”
There’s a collective burst of groans andAre you kidding me?s. The sergeant appears startled. “I didn’t know you all felt so strongly about Linth. But yes, that breach was a terrible day in Legion history.”
She returns to the whiteboard and continues the lesson. The group chat goes wild.
Vera: LAMENT
Avi: How???
Vera: I TOLD YOU NOT TO
Youvu Hum: Do you play mind games with us, too?
Avi: Teach me your secretssss
Youvu Hum: I think he’s part Determinist.
Vera: I SWEAR ON MY MOTHER’S GRAIN YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS
Jester: You mean grave, Vera.
I try to keep up with the stream of replies, popping off one of my own:Well I for one am impressed.
Lament hasn’t responded to anyone else, but he replies to that. Impressed, huh?
I don’t dare turn around. I don’t look to see what kind of expression might be forming on Lament’s face, whether it’s cocky or amused or what. It doesn’t make a difference. I’m as red as a lobster, and everyone can see.
“Now,” the sergeant says in a tone that signals a change of subject, turning back to face us, “before we break for the day, there’s a new galactic development I need to brief you all on. One that may impact your upcoming missions, and that involves the Determinist movement.”
I straighten in my chair. So far this week, our meetings have only entailed hypothetical drills and duties. Nothing tangible, nothing about the Sixth’s real missions or objectives. I feel a wave of anticipation.
“As you know,” Sergeant Forst starts, “over the past three years, the Determinist leader Ran Doc Min has unveiled his self-invented predictive simulation, and he has begun using this simulation to foretell a number of dangerous planetary events. The accuracy of these predictions—and the man’s charismatic nature—have resulted in massive growth for both the Determinist movement and Doc Min’s power.
“In the past, Doc Min’s future-predicting simulation—which he’s named FPS—has operated on a relatively small scale. It’s predicted things like floods and fires. Tragedies, to be sure, but nothing that could destroy an entire planet, and therefore nothing the Legion has been obligated to investigate. We do sometimes lend aid in these situations, of course. When we have the resources, the Legion will always work with a planet’s local authorities to help save lives. But our main purpose is to protect Romothrida on a large scale, both against threats within our own galaxy and possible dangers from beyond.”
“But now Ran Doc Min’s simulation is hinting at something bigger,” Vera guesses. “Something with the power to destroy entire planets.”
“Exactly.” Sergeant Forst touches her glossy bun, adjusts the collar of her whites. She’s dressed like us in pants, a sturdy flight jacket, and combat boots, with a golden pin on her lapel to denote her rank. She doesn’tlooklike us, though. She looks restrained. Burdened by responsibility.
“Ran Doc Min has proven the accuracy of FPS again and again,” thesergeant says. “It puts the Legion in a difficult position. If Doc Min claims something is coming to harm our galaxy, we are duty bound to investigate, yet to dothat, we first need to speak with the man himself. Unfortunately, all our attempts to contact Doc Min have failed. He refuses to communicate with our representatives, and we can’t confront him in person, because he never appears in public—all his warnings are delivered by hologram. If the Legion reacts to Ran Doc Min’s latest prediction, we’ll validate him in the eye of the public, but we cannot in good conscience validate someone we don’t understand. What is Doc Min’s ultimate goal? Why did he build FPS, and how does it work? Are his motives purely humanitarian, or does he have some other purpose? Uncovering these answers has become our top priority, and my superiors have authorized the use of force to obtain them, if necessary.”
“Because forcing people to give up their secrets has worked so well in the past,” Lament comments dryly.
The Sixers cringe. The sergeant’s face hardens. “The Legion uses established methods to obtain information vital to the safety and prosperity of Romothrida Galaxy.”
“The Legion only ever usesonemethod—”
“If you have a concern—”
“I have more than a concern—”
“Then let us discuss it at an appropriate time, Mr. Bringer.”
Sergeant Forst’s tone has flipped fromI am attempting to be objectivetoThat is enough, young man.She and Lament are glaring at each other like two tigers in a cage, and I look between them, confused. Where is this coming from?
Lament—seemingly ignoring every signal tonot—points at the sergeant. “You know what the Legion’s problem is? They think just because they’re charged with safekeeping the galaxy, any choice they make is the right choice. Like they can do no wrong.”
“You are part of the Legion, Mr. Bringer.”
