“If no one intends to interfere with events on the planet, why bother with all the tech?” Avery motioned toward the images.
“The hybrid settlements are being used as proof of concept for a series of proposed prisons on and around Rydaria.”
Surprise registered on Avery’s face, but she simply nodded.
“Judge Cleveland’s decision to exile the Nuevo Biotech employees to the planet as well was an unexpected complication,” Sanderson added, his tone sharp and intrusive. “We weren’t consulted before the decision, but it provided us with valuable data.”
Valuable data? Anger sparked within Natalie at the crass simplification. “The judge’s sudden decision to be creative led to the slaughter of hundreds of human males,” Natalie reminded.“The only reason the wolves didn’t wipe out the women as well was because they need mates.”
Avery’s watchful gaze shifted between Natalie and Sanderson. “You said that the data was valuable. What were you able to learn?”
“The hybrids’ predatory nature is not dissimilar to the mindset of violent criminals,” Sanderson insisted. “By watching how the hybrids react to various stimuli, we are able to predict potential problems.”
Natalie wasn’t nearly as confident in the correlation as Sanderson, but she didn’t argue. “All three settlements were established within a twenty-mile radius. The various hybrids don’t get along, so my team expected them to spread out a lot more.” She reactivated the aerial view of the settlements. “This is the feline village.” The location brightened and enlarged, allowing the senators to see details. “Eagle Village is up in the mountains, and the lupine village is barely visible in the trees.” She indicated each settlement in turn. “All three villages have similar defenses and comparable features. The feline village is largest, and Eagle Village has the most technology.”
“All of this was accomplished in three years?” the senator from the Virginias asked.
“Just over four years,” Natalie corrected. “Their progress is impressive, but their treatment of the humans proves that they’re savage. Relocating them was the only option.”
“With no assistance from us, they have not only survived for four years, but they’re thriving,” Sanderson insisted. “I consider this program an undeniable success and strongly advise that we move on to phase two.”
“Before you vote on that proposal,” Natalie cut in. “I have a couple of complications that need to be addressed.”
Sanderson scowled. “None of your updates indicated a problem.”
“This meeting was already on the books, so I decided to update you in person.” Before he could argue or derail the meeting, she rushed on. “One of the eagles is attempting to send a signal off world. His efforts have been unsuccessful thus far, but I’m concerned that it is just a matter of time.”
“Can you intercept the signal, disrupt it or whatever?” an elderly gentleman asked. Natalie couldn’t remember which state he represented. They had been introduced a few months back, but he tended to sit quietly and listen during these meetings.
“I have a ship departing in the morning,” she assured him. “They’ll launch a series of communication satellites capable of dampening any signals sent from the planet.”
“Why wasn’t this done when the hybrids were released?” Sanderson wanted to know.
“All the comm systems on the ships were destroyed. Someone had to fabricate each component and then build the transmitter without a schematic. We had no idea they possessed these skills. It’s an astonishing feat.”
Sanderson crossed his arms on the table in front of him and leaned forward as he asked, “What are the other ‘complications’?”
“There is only one, but it is significant. The wolves continue to attack the other villages in an attempt to capture females.” She paused for a calming breath. The chances of anyone on thiscommittee giving a damn about the bloodshed were unlikely. Still, she had to try. “Hostilities continue to escalate and violence erupts because the ratio of males to females is so grossly disproportionate.”
Sanderson waved away the concern. “Not my problem.”
“Respectfully, Senator, I disagree. When Judge Cleveland sent the Nuevo employees to Rydaria, it compromised the integrity of the experiment. Prison populations are either male or female. This should have been a male-only trial.”
“One of the proposed facilities means to change that,” Lilian Greenwood, the senator from the Westcoast Consortium reminded. She was a sharp-featured woman in her late forties. Natalie didn’t know her well, but they had butted heads a time or two. “I say we allow the chaos on Rydaria to continue. Let’s see how bad it gets.”
“Are you insane?” Avery took the words out of Natalie’s mouth. “The wolves slaughtered every human male on the planet. If they’re left to their own devices, they’ll coat half the planet in blood.”
“That’s very dramatic, Ms. Collins,” Sanderson sneered, “but?—”
“SenatorCollins,” Avery snapped, glaring openly at Sanderson. “Not attempting to defuse the situation is illegal. Rydaria is an official Earth outpost, which means planetary statutes apply.”
“Just because your daddy is a lawyer, doesn’t mean?—”
“Senator Greenwood has a valid point,” Natalie cut in, authority snapping through her tone. If someone didn’t regain control of the meeting, a fistfight might be featured on the evening news feeds. “But I’d like to suggest a different solution. The genderintegrated proposal is the reason I believe the hostilities need to be curtailed. The new facility cannot be approved until the social dynamics have been studied thoroughly. An in-depth study cannot be conducted if the wolves are attacking every night.”
“What are your suggestions?” Senator Greenwood asked.
“Send them more females,” Natalie told them. “Nonviolent offenders would be preferable, but we would need volunteers because their stay on Rydaria would likely be permanent.”
