Halo_ Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe - Eric Nylund [174]
1. There were widely varying standards for recruitment to the Outer Colonies. “Colonization contractors” were more interested in staking claims to valuable resource rights than providing the most-skilled personnel. Some people were illegally conscripted, and others were law-breakers granted pardons if they agreed to go—all of which led to these colonists being less than absolutely loyal to Earth.
2. Some colonists struck out on their own, procuring by legal or illegal means transport to farther-flung worlds, partially or wholly outside Earth’s control.
3. Continued taxes, levies, and restricted trade practices by the CMA increased friction as the Outer Colonies received only a fraction of the benefits they were taxed for.
The situation was a problem of physical as well as psychological dimensions. Mathematically the volume of the sphere increases as its radius cubed, and so the number of Outer Colonies grew. Given such a numerical advantage and the fact that they encapsulated the Inner Core worlds, there was the belief that Earth and her close colonies were literally surrounded by increasingly hostile forces.
Many now think this was a skewed perception, and that given diplomacy and enough time, Earth and her Inner Colonies could have established more harmonious relationships with her farther-flung cousins. Others point out, however, that had there been no military action, the Outer Colonies might have risen to power and threatened the core worlds at the worst possible moment in human history.
All theoretical analysis aside, the United Earth government and her colonies developed new policies and an increased military presence that would provoke further unfortunate responses from the Outer Colonies . . . and lead to an undeclared Civil War.
For that, Earth would need more ships and crews . . . and officers to lead them.
SECTION THREE: LUNA OFFICER CANDIDATE
SCHOOL (2489–2493 CE)
* * *
Cole’s academic record at the Academy at Mare Nubium speaks for itself. He graduated magna cum laude with high degrees of excellence and specialization from the Rutherford Science Magistrate. Apart from minor hazing incidents, and the usual swept-under-the-rug blemishes that are on any cadet’s record . . . there is only one incident of particular note.
During Cole’s junior year, there was a series of incidents with Admiral Konrad Volkov’s daughter: her overnight disappearances from family officers’ quarters located on base, sightings of the young lady in the company of a young man, and the biological consequences of these liaisons.
The scandal culminated publicly when six cadets were brought before a Board of Inquiry.
{Excerpt} Transcription of Cole, P. J. (UNSC Service Number:
00814-13094-BQ) testimony before Board of Inquiry, Academy
at Mare Nubium
JAG Incident Report (local) 475-A \ June 7, 2492 (Military
Calendar) \ Log (video, spatial, psychological enhancement =
TRUE)
FILE *SEALED* (UNSC-JAG ORD: 8-PD-3861), June 13,
2492 (Military Calendar)
Seated Board of Inquiry: Colonel Mitchell K. Lima (UNSC Service Number: 00512-5991-IX), Captain Maria F. Gilliam, JAG officer in residence (UNSC Service Number: 00622-7120-RJ), Frank O. Welker (Civilian Liaison to the Academy at Mare Nubium, Civilian ID#: 8813-316-0955-G)
[Crewman Apprentice Preston. J. Cole is sworn in before the Board.]
COLONEL LIMA: State your name for the record.
CREWMAN COLE: Cole, Preston J., sir.
CAPTAIN GILLIAM: Tell us, Cadet, where exactly you were between 1900 and 2300 hours three days ago?
[Cole remains standing at attention and stares up and to the right. Since Cole is right-handed this indicates he is accessing the visual memory portion of his brain (and not lying).]
COLE: I was on watch duty on Shadow Perimeter Three with Cadets Parkins, Haverton, and Tasov, ma’am.
MR. FRANK O. WELKER: Describe “shadow perimeter three” for me, Cadet.
COLE: Yes, Mr. Welker. Shadow Perimeter Three is