If everyone is walking the same path, try another one. If nobody is walking on your path, make sure you are not lost (Ancient saying).
For over fifty Earth years, the planet Betelgeuse VII has been a paradise for transgender people and rare sexual minorities. But the star, Betelgeuse, will soon go supernova. For now, only four people know the truth: the ruling dictator Caligula XIII, its brother Delta, the former dictator Caligula XII and Etna, a transgender who immigrated from the Pleiades. They try to terraform a new planet, ten light years away, which they call Betelgeuse S. However, all this is done in secret. Nobody must know what is going on. If people will find out that the star will explode, the economy will collapse, before enough money can be obtained for terraforming. From the four, only the ruling dictator stays on Betelgeuse VII. The other three are on its moon, where they created an autonomous region.
However, the dictator is in big problems. It was elected for a five Earth years period. After that, it will be judged in a public trial and risk a sentence to death, while a new dictator will be elected. Until then, it has nearly absolute powers, but all things will change soon. There are only two Earth years left... and then, for violation of the constitution, the punishment is death. Many people already sent endless petitions to the dictator to stop protecting the autonomous region of Betelgeuse S.
Every day, during a period of seven hours, people come to the dictator for audiences. Many economical, political, ecological and justice problems are solved this way, since the word of a dictator is the supreme law. The constitution says that the ruling dictator cannot refuse someone going to an audience unless there are too many problems. All this is filmed and made public online. All state money spending is made public. Nothing is hidden. The dictator tried several times to send money the autonomous region, knowing that it will go to terraforming. However, people got extremely angry on this.
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So, how looks a day in dictator's life? Caligula XIII is a transgender hermaphrodite, a former woman who wanted to have both sexes on. This is common in Betelgeuse. With a long yellow dress, it sits on the iron throne, wearing the heavy iron crown on its head. People come to audiences, get an answer and go. From the throne room, the dictator watches all what happens on the planet, through online interactive screens. It has access to a huge amount of data. Four advisers are in the room, ready to help the dictator if needed.
One person enters the room. It appears to be a man, based on clothes and voice. However, on Betelgeuse, everything might be an illusion, since gender of each person is confidential.
"Your highness, would you tell us what is going on the moon? We have clear information that they are buying lots of equipment from the planet. I know you know something".
"No, I am sorry. I really don't know what is going on there", answers Caligula XIII.
"I have information that just a few days 75 spaceships departed to the moon, carrying chemical reactors. They are made to change the oxidation state of heavy metals".
The truth is, the new planet has an excess of some metals, like chromium. By changing the oxidation state, these elements will not endanger life.
"Oxidation state?" asks the dictator, curiously. "I wonder what they're up to. Could this be a sign that they finally start mining asteroids?"
"I don't know. But I think you know and you don't want to tell us".
"You know, since Caligula XII left to the moon, I never talked to her. I have no idea what is going on there".
"Shouldn't it be wise to send an ambassador there?"
"An ambassador to a province of our state? I will consider your point of view. Dismissed!"
"But, your highness, will you ever do something?"
"You know what 'dismissed' means?"
This person exits the throne room and another one enters, which looks like a woman in all aspects, but has the voice of a man.
"Your highness?"
"Yes", whispers the dictator. "How can I help you?"
"Your highness, my children left to the moon and had transgender surgery".
"I see..."
"You know that the law forbids teens to undergo body transformations. This is a violation of the constitution!"
"I know this, but the constitution only applies to the surface of the planet. In outer space, it is no longer valid".
"Since when?"
"Read it yourself. It says: This law is to be applied on the territory of Betelgeuse VII and all its residents. It doesn't say a single word about the outer space".
"Children are too young to think for themselves. They need a parent. Maybe one day they will want to reverse".
"I know very well, but the technology is improving with each day. Soon, transgender people will be able to have a reversal surgery very easy".
"Damn you, bitch! You don't care about my children! All you care is yourself!"
"What is happening on the moon is not against the constitution. It is in outer space. I am sorry, but there is no law that allows me to do anything. Dismissed!"
The dictator lights a cigarette, as the next person enters. But this one is someone well known. It is a reporter, also a cross-dresser who looks as a woman, who has been investigating this problem from the beginning.
"Your highness", it says, lowering its head, "I have economical data this time. It appears that the autonomous region of the moon is playing an important role in our economy. with over 10% of our population going there to have body transformations, it drains 27% of our economy. However, the money returns to the planet as they purchase equipment. I have a detailed study. We have reached a dangerous point, where the moon has become an important part of our economy".
"I get your point, Maxa", says the dictator. "I don't have such accurate data, but my understanding is that the moon is boosting our economy too. What is your point?"
"However, I made further analysis. I don't think more then 55% of the population will agree to have body transformations. Their economy was booming because many people wanted to do this, because the law on the planet forbids them to. You know, the minimum age, the five Earth years of waiting".
"Yes, I know the law".
"What I am saying is that in three to four Earth years, their business will start to decline. And as this will happen, their commerce with the planet will decline too. And when that will happen, they will be hit by a massive recession that will stop the economic growth here too".
"That is very wise, reporter", answers the dictator, playing with its cigarette. "But with all respect I have for you, their recession is their problem. Our immediate concern is our own economy, which must not go to a recession, at least in the nearby future".
"And what are you going to do, your highness?"
"Publish your research. Businessmen will know what to do. They will look at the data and find new opportunities. As less people will go to the moon, they will spend money on something else. Some branches of the industry will fall, others will rise".
"Very good, I will do that".
"Dismissed!"
Usually, Maxa is a reporter who attacks the dictator. But not this time. It was far less aggressive. But not all are the same. A few days ago, another reporter came for an audience and things worked like this:
"Your highness, we have clear information that you violate the constitution".
"Ok, I want to see your proves".
"You know them very well. The free state of Betelgeuse is non-divisible. You allowed the formation of an autonomous region on the moon".
"The constitution only applies to the planet itself, not to the moon".
"Well, this is your interpretation. The constitution applies to the territory of Betelgeuse VII, which means the whole territory owned by the state, not the planet itself. When you decided to start the asteroid mining program, basically you annexed the whole stellar system, including the moon, other planets and all asteroids".
"That is your understanding", says the dictator. "The constitution does not say this. It says: The surrounding space, the Betelgeuse system, is a protectorate, where people from other states can pass through and where the constitution does not apply to them. Read carefully".
"The constitution does not apply to them, it means to people from other states".
"No. It means people that are in outer space, outside from the planet".
Then, the reporter says, shortly:
"Your highness, do you fear for your life?".
The dictator does not answer a thing.
"Do you know what is the punishment for not respecting the constitution? It is your death. Death, public execution, that is!"
"I know very well the law. And I know I will be judged soon. But until then, I am still your dictator. Dismissed!"
Another day, someone came and asked for the dictator to put an end to the autonomous region of the moon:
"You have the right to put an embargo. If you block ships to reach the moon, they will run out of business. This will end the conflict".
"I know, but I also understand the consequences. By doing this, we will start a civil war. And also we must acknowledge that the moon plays now a significant role in our economy".
"But what they do is a violation of the constitution".
"Well, it is at the border. The law permits it, still. However, you know that Betelgeuse VII is meant to be a paradise for transgender people. The law forbids the use of surgery, hormones and body transformations under a certain age, a thing that is currently accepted in many places of the galaxy. I think that, what is happening there is something that needed to happen, sooner or later".
"Wouldn't it be better to legalize this on the planet?"
"That will be a violation of the constitution", answers the dictator, sharp. "You know the law, which cannot be changed unless 75% of the population agrees to. And if we have a referendum about this subject, there will not be that many to accept".
"But, right now, there are 75% that don't agree with what is going on the moon".
"I know, but still the majority accepts. Dismissed!"
**********
The dictator knows very well, that people is against of the autonomous region on the moon. Mass-media is strongly against. Some people believe that the moon is building weapons, others think that they are trying to build their own state somewhere on another planet. But as far, nobody found significant activity anywhere in the Betelgeuse system. At some point, someone speculated that they try to terraform another planet. After these claims, people started to gather in public demonstrations. Online petitions, signed by over half the population, requested for the dictator to take action and force the autonomous region to merge with the state.
But on the other hand, many people went to the moon, for body transformations. Many people agree with what is happening there, even a significant percent of those who demonstrate against the dictator.
Pressure on the dictator is huge. Sometimes, on the road to home, it has to go through people which are standing along the road and shout things like: "Caligula XIII to death" or "Resign! Resign! We want elections now!" Even around its house, people demonstrate, shouting until late in night.
Another problem is the forbidden building, which should be open to public. Each day, after work, the dictator goes there and locks the door. Inside, there is a neutrino telescope, which allows one to see inside the star. Nobody from the outside must know what is in there. The telescope clearly shows that Betelgeuse has a large, inert core, surrounding by a carbon fusing shell. With each day, the core increases its mass and is contracting, until one day it will reach temperature required for neon fusion. The star is fusing heavier and heavier elements, trying to survive... but it will not last long. When the core will be composed of iron, it will finally collapse and produce a supernova.
The dictator can hardly support the pressure. It is numbering the days until the new elections. It is waiting its death, to escape from all this endless stress.
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On the moon, things are far more different. Everything that is forbidden on the planet, is allowed here. Gambling, porn, body transformations, anything. More and more people go there for a vacation or to transform their bodies. However, they have no idea what is going on behind the curtains.
With money obtained this way, Caligula XII, the former dictator and current dictator of the moon, is purchasing a lot of equipment from the planet. And here comes the huge mystery. All the equipment is sent to the moon. From there, other ships come and take it all to various locations, usually remote asteroids. All this is done with people from Betelgeuse. Beyond this, nobody from the planet knows. Automated ships, built on Betelgeuse VII, take the goods to a place outside the stellar system. nobody from the planet could watch cargo freighters that far. There, large interstellar ships from the Pleiades but without any mark or flag on them, take the cargo for a ten light years ride, to the new planet that is being terraformed. There, all cargo is unloaded.
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Down on the planet, things are more different. All the work is done with slaves, purchased from UV Ceti and supervised by mercenaries from the Pleiades. Caligula XII decided to do this because this is the only way people on Betelgeuse VII will not find out the truth. Slavery is a plaque on any human society. Still, the dictator made a compromise: to give freedom to all the slaves once terraforming is completed.
As far, they managed to divert a few comets, to impact the planet, in order to create a small ocean. They altered the Geography, making canyons through high mountain ranges, to allow winds to pass and to form river valleys. Now they are meliorating the atmosphere, water composition and ground structure. The most expensive part is almost done. After a certain point, nature finds its own way. Plants will grow and conquer the land, followed by animals. For now, plants are stored as seeds, waiting for the atmosphere to become breathable. Bacteria and algae has already been released on the planet.
The gamble is that, before Caligula XIII will end its reign, most changes will be done. If things will be like this, nature will conquer the land by itself.
Then, comes another gamble. As far, the ISA (Interstellar Agency) doesn't know what is going on. All terraforming was done with the help of the Empire Of The Pleiades. Both the ISA and the Pleiades Empire received some bribery to shut up. However, things will not remain like this forever. The Pleiades will be tempted to annex the new planet, as a border province. It will be better to declare it to the ISA, so that they will build a base and start interstellar commerce. If the Pleiades take this planet, everything is lost. This huge gamble is on the head of Caligula XII. If things go well, a new state, Betelgeuse S, will form.
The days to new elections are numbered. What will it be? Will terraforming be finished in time? Will the Pleiades annex the new planet? Will Betelgeuse survive long enough?
TO BE CONTINUED
