PS2 Chronicles - Sandy Jones, Vanu Sovereignty Chief of Research and Development

Sandy Jones, Vanu Sovereignty Chief of Research and Development, Cyssor. June 21, 2845.

         Sandy Jones looked up from his computers to the bank of monitors that lined the wall above his desk. Half a dozen live news feeds flickered across the screens, but there didn't appear to be anything of interest happening. His sister, Genny, a Private in the Terran Republic military, had informed him that a violent conflict was erupting on the island of Searhus.

         Eyes locked on the screens, he nervously thought back to the last conversation he had with her just days ago.

         “Why are you doing this, G?” he had asked her. “There’s no reason you have to join the military. There’s no reason you have to take sides. The Terran Republic, the New Conglomerate... they're both insane, y'know. They’re going to kill each other and take down a lot of innocent bystanders. You don't need to be one of the casualties.”

         Genny laughed. “No reason to take sides? What about your cult of scientists, that's a "side," isn't it? You're out here, rallying around the magic powers of some alien God…”

         “Not a God. Just an alien. Vanu. We know they existed. We’ve excavated their cities, we’ve analyzed their artifacts... And ever since what happened to Briggs we’ve gotten sporadic feedback. Telepathic feedback, Genny. Vanu was real.”

         “Emphasis on the word 'was.' Past tense. They died off, what, a zillion years ago?" She paused to glare at him. "And you don’t DARE correct me. Five hundred years or a zillion doesn't make a hell of a difference when they’re dead. Look, I get it, brother. You're a scientist. You analyze. You poke. You rip the atoms out of whatever the hell you’re researching just to see what happens. Then you do it again and again to see if the results are the same. And for you, that's exciting.”

         “The scientific method. It’s worked since the dawn of science.” Sandy gave a small smile.

         “I know. And I love you for your dedication. But those of us who don’t occupy ourselves with test tubes and equations are getting involved with the rest of the world. We’ve been on this planet for less than two hundred years, and things are already falling apart. We need peace. I believe in that so much, and I want to be part of that process.”

         Sandy gave her that "older brother" look that he knew she hated. “Which is exactly why I’m telling you that you should stand aside and let both sides blast each other until all of the idiots are dead. Then this planet will belong to the rest of us who believe in peaceful research - we want to be at peace, too. Besides, you do know your Terran Republic friends aren’t all sweet innocence and light. They’re dictators of the worst kind.”

         He watched her face flush red with anger. “And are the New Conglomerate any better? They’ve worked against the colonies since day one. They refused to do their jobs unless they were paid and when they realized there was no way they’d go back home, they took off. The Terran Republic wants us to work together…”

         Sandy leaned in and interrupted. “Under their rules and draconian laws. And if you disagree, you are either arrested or executed.”

         Genny continued to talk over her brother as if he hadn’t said a word. “…and the N.C. ran off to build their damn underground cities and let the rest of us rot.”

         “Exactly. For the N.C., it’s all or nothing, and for the T.R., my way or the highway” Sandy said. “Which is why I stay neutral. It’s whywe refuse to get involved with that insanity. Sis, all I want is for you to be safe. Look, why don’t you let me take you to our camp. See what I see. Understand what we’re about. When you’re shown the truth, I know you’ll want to join us.”

         “Sandy, come on, be serious. I love you. Really. And because I do, I already have read about Vanu. I understand him, or it, or whatever. And that’s why I am not going AWOL to watch your friends talk their mystic gibberish.”

         “Gibberish? Genny, you’ve only read the T.R.'s propaganda. You have no idea what Vanu is about. Please. Let me show you.”

         Genny shook her head dismissively. “I’m sorry, but no. I can’t and I won’t. Besides, you and I both know it won’t come down to a real war. They’re talking. They’ll find some compromise. They always do. We’re all stuck on Auraxis so we’ll have to find a way to work together, whether we want to or not.”

         She gave a lopsided parting grin, flicked her brother’s earlobe as like had when they were kids, and had left without looking back.

         Sandy shook his head, bringing his attention back to the news feeds scrolling across the monitors. The reporter looked serious as he spoke, his voice quiet and devoid of emotion.

         “Representatives of both the Terran Republic and the New Conglomerate report that all peace treaty meetings have been cancelled.”

         A video clip featuring figureheads from both the T.R. and N.C. began to roll.

         “There’s no way we can reason with those traitors,” George Harris, the T.R.'s spokesperson spat.

         The New Conglomerate's spokesperson, Diane Draper, responded deliberately. “We didn’t walk from the peace table, George. The Terran Republic did.”

         Harris’ face filled the screen again. “We left because your people ordered your mercenaries to attack T.R. settlements in the Kaorr desert region.”

         “No, you marched in and slaughtered dozens of settlers.” Draper responded.

         “Settlers? They were building weapons of war out there, Diane, and don’t act like you didn’t know it! You terrorists were intending to use them against innocent citizens of the Terran Republic!” Harris yelled.

         The reporter's face replaced the two feuding representatives. “T.R. officials say they deny all N.C.claims and that unless the N.C. leadership is willing to…” He slowly tapered off and touched his earpod; he was receiving new information.

         “We are now getting reports that a large scale battle is taking place on the island of Searhus, in the vicinity of the Kane Prison Compound. Both sides have sworn that the battle will not stop until their opposite numbers are all dead. Our reporters on the scene are replaying information indicating that weapons of mass destruction are being used and that the death toll on both sides is quickly rising. They say… wait… I’m no longer connected with our people on Searhus. All I’m getting is static. It appears communications are--"

         Sandy Jones stared blankly at the monitor screens, now alive only with static. Genny was somewhere in that warzone. He had to know what was happening.

         “Sandy,” a voice coming from behind him called his name. He turned to see Chairman Willis Scott enter the room. “Those fools did it. This planet is now at war.”

         “We’re staying neutral, sir. Aren’t we?” Sandy asked.

         Scott shook his head. “We’re not siding with either of them, if that’s what you mean. But we can’t stay out of this any longer. They're going to destroy all of us, and take the whole damn planet down with them. To save the world that Vanu once ruled so that humanity can reach its full potential, we have to eradicate the threat. Today will declare our sovereignty - a Vanu Sovereignty. If only one force can live on Auraxis, it must be us.”