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Andrew Maloney had been listening to the proceedings with interest. It was his first term as the MP for the Hyde District of Planet New London. He was the stereotypical model of a Royalist politician: pushing 67 and tending towards a weight brought about by rich food and frequent whiskey. He'd served Bretonia his entire life, rising so far as to the position of Bowex's Director of Operations for a short time. That was before retirement and politics, of course.
It seemed his younger successors in Bowex had indeed, as Mr Tammo had said, "put the cart before the horse", but not for the reasons his fellows appeared to be thinking. That was not to say that the idea was without merit, however. He'd been jotting down notes as he listened, bullet points detailing names, suggestions and interjections. He coughed to clear his throat, then stood when the others had finished, leaving a lull in the debate.
He nodded to the few MPs he knew outside the House before speaking. "Ah yes, Mr Tammo. I dare say you've raised a jolly fine number of good points. That's not to say I agree with them, doncha know? I intend to put a few of them to rest right now. The cost of terraforming and settlement would of course rest entirely on the state of the planet itself." He glanced down at his notepad briefly. "As you've said, a survey would be required to ascertain this state. As it happens, the planet has already been surveyed, the results of which being locked away by the State Secrets Act, as you'll find when you search for said information. The government has known about the place for centuries, ever since Bowex's precursors, BE&S pioneered a route to Rhienland." He peered about to see if there were any faces he recognised from Mi5 security briefings in the past. He drew a blank. He'd been out of the loop for so long, he doubted he'd know any Spooks if they were there.
"I say it's past time the Intelligence Services blew the cobwebs off some of their more docile files and let the honourable gentlemen of the Commons have a look at what we're actually discussing. As it happens, Bowex crews have been down to the planet's surface in the past, to supply CRI dig sites. That was before a "rogue" wing of Krauts destroyed our docking ring 20 years ago, of course. There weren't any reports of toxic gasses, fatal radiation, man-eating mushrooms, subterranean cannibals or other hideous dangers my fellows seem so fearful of. The only oddity that was reported was the peculiar scent of egg on the wind. I'd find a flatulent planet disconcerting, but certainly not uninhabitable."
He coughed again, then flipped over a page of the notepad, to peer at another sheaf of his spidery sprawl. "Now, what I do agree upon is the fact that this is not the time to be landing refugees upon the planet's surface. You'd need houses for that. Infrastructure. I say we open Sprauge up to colonisation, after the survey documents have been released by the government, and after Bretonia's nationalised sons have constructed the required colonies and habitats. I shudder to think of depositing refugees on a foreign planet where they'd have to build their own houses and plumb their own water supply.
"When I oversaw the establishment of the Port Jackson colony, we set down a corps of engineers and builders to establish the colony's first tier before we landed settlers. I suggest we take a similar approach here. That said, I feel a number of Mr Hall's proposals are nothing short of ludicrous. These settlements are designed with the sole purpose of rehousing the poor souls fleeing from the Leeds war zone. To have some 30% of our potential population capacity replaced with well fed and wealthy Cambridge ecologists would provoke an uproar, a scandal. Furthermore, the idea that these colonies should be spread out has the potential to be just as ruinous:
"We would have to split our security garrisons in order to protect and provide law at each individual site. We would have to have separate supply chains for each city. We would have to construct entirely new infrastructures for each habitat. As with Port Jackson, a single large city covered by a single shield bastion, fed by a single power plant, protected by a single security contingent and supplied directly from the docking ring is fare, far more viable than a multitude of smaller towns scattered across the planet's surface. That said, I much anticipate what you fellows have to say on the matter. I believe I'll take a seat again. My knees are beginning to hurt." At that, he gently lowered himself to his chair, and steepled his fingers in front of him. Eagerly, he listened for retorts. This had the potential to be most interesting...
Immediatly after Maloney had sat down, Bennet Hall stood up and begin speaking.
"Honorable MP Maloney, perhaps a thirty percent population proportion of scientists to refugees seems a little excessive at the moment. However, a number of scientists will be required to observe the effects of human colonization upon the world and its ecosystems. If even one change goes unobserved, the results could be disastrous to the local wildlife."
"I'm willing to acknowledge that the amount I've proposed is more than a bit high, I will change my proposal to lower the amount to ten percent, that should leave enough people to observe the changes, albeit barely."
"As for the idea of spread out, smaller colonies, it would definitely be more tricky to maintain. However, larger cities have larger effects on the local environments. Smaller cities allow the inevitable effects of pollution not be concentrated on one area. This will allow for the effects of pollution not to be too damaging. I believe that the preservation of the planet is more important to both the wildlife and the success of future colonies. That being said, the local flora and fauna may thrive off pollution produced by our ships, and industrial buildings, we'll have no idea until the surveys of the planet are completed. "
"Smaller colonies that are spread out would also have the ability to show us various ecosystems on Sprague, rather than just the one of a main colony. However, without the surveys or data for all we know, the entire planet could be a mass of desert with little wildlife, as it's surface view from space suggests. I will not be voting for this bill to pass if some environmental restrictions are not placed, it will end up a disaster for the planet, which I will do everything in my power as an MP of the Parliament to stop."
Hall sat down, expecting a flurry of replies.
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Maloney rolled his eyes and heaved himself to his feet once more. He'd been hoping for a brief respite to recover before having Mr Hall tackle his impromptu speech. "Having been privy to Port Jackson's annual expenditure reports - the very man who used to sign and approve the budget, in fact - I can tell you that maintaining and powering a shield bastion is incredibly expensive. As is constructing shield towers and fusion power plants to begin with. Bretonia may be wealthy from Gold Exports, but we do not have a bottomless reserve of credits - especially when the cause of this expenditure is entirely needless. In this time of war, we simply cannot afford to have too many of these things sitting around sucking up resources.
"That leaves us with a second option: go without. If you don't have one of these shields sitting on top of a settlement, it is vulnerable to orbital carpet bombing. As I've mentioned several times before, hands on contact with Port Jackson has shown me this is a very real possibility when you've got Corsair savages hanging around. Where normal men might see a newly established colony of the defenceless and homeless as something to pity and protect, Corsairs see little more than victims and targets." The silence lengthened for a moment, Maloney pausing for dramatic effect.
"If I understand you correctly, you are directly demanding that the well-being of sand and straggly patches of grass be placed above the lives of Bretonian citizens. Is that the right of it, sah?" He moved to sit, then remembered something and looked up again. "By all means, oppose this bill with all your might. My honourable colleagues know that this matter will be determined by the will of the Royalists and Federalists. I'd ask that you not overestimate Green influence, sah." Finally satisfied, he sat. This time, he vowed he'd let other - younger - men debate for a while before standing again.
Hall sat for a minute after Maloney finished speaking. He stood up again before as the other MP's were still discussing Maloney and Hall's back and forth and resumed speaking.
"Mr. Maloney. First of all, may I point out that larger settlements require larger shield generators, and thus larger energy costs. Smaller settlements would require smaller generators, and thus the costs of maintaining them would be lesser. While it may be more cost efficient to use one larger generator, I believe it is worth it to have several for the smaller settlements."
"I would not have the colonies go without however, I would have my salary halved, or even quartered before I were to see that happen. Furthermore, when I proposed what I did, I did not do so with the intent to protect the planet over the people. I did so to protect the people and the planet equally, more so the people than the planet if you want to go into technicalities, as the health of the planet will be necessary for the success of the colonies."
"Protecting the environments will allow the colonies there to thrive, both now and in the future, MP Maloney."
"Insults upon my party stance are low, MP Maloney. I have chosen to represent the cause I feel most just in representing. I am both a Royalist and a member of the Green Party at heart, however the Green Party lacks the influence of the parties which you've mentioned, that's true. That is -why- I am a Green MP."
"Perhaps you should argue the merits of the debate, and not those of the debater, Mr. Maloney. It would be much more beneficial to everyone were it that way. Let us not resort to insults."
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Evyn Hunter had entered the chamber during the exchanges between Hall and Maloney, and taken a seat at one of the Armed Forces' four reserved seats. She had been at the opening of the House of Lords just before, but the topic the House was covering required her presence more than the nominations for a new Lord Royal.
As Hall finished his last comments, she stood quickly, before Hall could snap back.
"I believe I can provide some insight as to the planet's status. The planet's classification was due to our policy on releasing classified information only when necessary. Due to the events at Planet Sprague twenty years ago, and its current position in Snowdown, which is home to a large amount of conflict, both militarily and diplomatically, we've not seen a reason to release much data concerning the planet. I do have authorization from Lord Fairfax to release the majority of our information on Sprague. Most of the details concerning the CRI digsite remain classified however."
She glanced down at the declassified Sprague reports. "Sprague's atmosphere is breathable and non-toxic, the digsite, for example, did not have an enclosed environment. The entrance could be closed, but was not airtight and the operation was underground only for the reasons that that was the location of what they were researching. The planet does have plant life. We have only a few species of plants researched, during the time the digsite was operational, but observations and reports by the scientists indicates the variety of plant life isn't large, mostly consisting of short grasses and plains. It's a very basic environment compared to a planet such as Cambridge. There is no information available on any sea life, but we do know the planet contains salt water oceans similar to most worlds."
"Determining if any of the plant life is edible to us or the work it'd take to make those from Cambridge capable of growing there still needs to be determined. We do know there is a considerable amount of the surface covered in mesa and plateaus, which could be used as a natural shelter to eliminate the need for shield generators, or at the very least, reduce the amount of space the shields would need to cover. While I would normally agree with the Honorable Maloney, given the ability to use the natural environment to protect settlements, a spread of population would be easier than a single large settlement. Having settlements be partly covered by smaller shields and the rest built into the sides and interiors of these natural formations would add additional security and defense, as well as reduce the overall cost in equipment and energy to power the defensive structures. It would also give the populace an easy location in which to seek shelter should the shields be brought down. As a military officer, I can appreciate the existence, and the need, for a backup plan."
"As for the concerns of harm to the planet's ecosystem, there is both a higher priority and a small problem when considering the colonization process. The lives of refugees is by far the most important aspect of any colonization effort. Furthermore, it would take centuries of heavy pollution to negatively impact a planet's ecosystem. As I'm sure the Green party knows," she nodded at Hall, "tectonically active planets have a natural ability to heal themselves and their environments. Your concerns and restrictions on shipments and trade with the planet are draconian compared to their impact. A dozen ships a week, a thousand, the amount they will contribute to pollution of the planet is incredibly miniscule. New London deals with the traffic of millions and millions of private, corporate, and military vehicles daily, with little negative impact. Given Hydrogen Fuel's nearly non-existent pollutant exhaust, I don't see a reason for any restriction to traffic to the planet."
"To the contrary, I think traffic and trade should be encouraged by any methods we can come up with. As should the exploration and surveying of natural goods found on the planet, in order to provide an income to the planet and reduce the amount of government spending required to make the operation viable. The current war we are in is not likely to last another ten years. The amount of harm we could do to any planet in that time is nowhere near what is needed to cause irreparable damage. Planets exist for millions of years."
"From my first-hand knowledge of the system that the Queen charged me to rule and protect, I think the diplomatic and military problems associated with this project would far outweigh any environmental ones."
Evyn turned towards McDonald. "I think you're misunderstanding my point. The diplomatic ramifications of this colonization should be considered and be present in our minds when making these decisions. The system is a location of large pirate activities, yes, and we did have an altercation with Rheinland as well."
"However, while there is conflict in the system, it is not sufficient as to endanger any population on the planet's surface. As I pointed out, there is more than enough natural protection for colonists, along with our technological protection, to keep them out of harms way. The pirates in the system are only a threat to shipping, not a planet's colonies."
"Furthermore, establishment of this colony wouldn't only be safe from the dangers of the system, but in fact improve the security of the system. With increased shipping and trade within the system comes increased activity from bounty hunters, mercenaries, and corporate escort ships, all of which will hamper pirate activities the more numerous they grow. Take Edinburgh and Newcastle for instance. We know both are hubs for Gaian activity, and know they have bases located somewhere in the two systems, but the Gaians have far less of an impact on Newcastle than in Edinburgh because of the higher population present in the system works as a naturally-occurring security force. This would hold true for Snowdown."
"Lastly, the establishment of a colony on Sprague would also open up the possibility of a military base within the system for the Armed Forces to use. Currently all our operations within the system are forced to be coordinated from the neighboring Cambridge system, which impedes our ability to properly defend the system from pirate and terrorist threats, as well as colonial ambitions from our neighbor, Rheinland. The Sprague colony would greatly improve my fleet's ability to operate within the system and keep the pirates in check. It would also give us the option of reposition the HMS Norfolk to Sprague's orbit, where it can be efficiently supplied and defended, and where it can assist in preventing any sort of violent action anyone attempts against our colonists."
"Planet Sprague is the least expensive, safest, and most economically viable location for our refugees and colonists. If you truly think the Port Jackson settlement is a better alternative, I suggest you do some hard research into the history of the Corsairs, the Zoners, and the Omega-49 system."
Hall rose to speak again after MacDonald and Evyn had finished their points.
"Perhaps the restrictions I recommended to be placed on trade are a bit, extreme. While H-Fuel does emit very little pollution, we've no idea, or rather I've no idea as I've yet to see those files, how the flora on the planet would react to any amount of pollution. Let it be known that I amend my fourth requirement, I would wish that the trade restrictions I proposed earlier apply only to the first week of beginning the colonization process."
"I would then request that the results of the minute level of pollution be examined, if there are any."
"As for my requirement on mining operations, I would like to amend that as well, hearing about the low amount of plant life would suggest to me that animal life is fairly low as well. That says to me that there's less environment that would be harmed in the attempt. If excavating resources on the planet won't cause any permanent harm to ecosystems, and from what I've heard, any damage will be minimal, then I am going to be removing that request as well."
"I also change my requirements for the scientist percentage and maximum population. I would request that for the first year, ten percent of the population consists of scientists and their employees, after the first year has ended, this restriction should be removed. As for the population, I would now request that there be a maximum of ten settlements, each with a population cap of thirty-five thousand. This cap would remain in place for the six months, and be increased gradually as the need for colonization grows.
"I would agree with Miss Evyn here as well, Sprague would have little to fear from Rheinland, I doubt they'd want for another fiasco to happen, both sides ended up losing during that war. Once a planetary garrison has been established, pirates would also pose minimal threat. Its colonization would also further our control over Snowdown."
"I am for the colonization of Sprague if, my amended points one, two, three, and four can be met."
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Marcus Hastings rose in response to Hall's comments
Hmm... I do think that I can agree with the Honorable gentleman from Cambridge on one point at least; There will need to be a fairly large population of scientists planetside. Why, I would imadgen that one would need at least one scientist per every twenty civilians just to deal with the finnicky task of terraforming! That being said, strict restrictions on population ratios could backfire in the form of long queues for refugees eager to get onto Sprauge. I would suggest replacing such a rule with instead a long-time target of a 1:10 ratio. This would allow for such a mix of people to be acheived, while allowing refugees to resettle first, instead of having to wait for scientiests to willingly relocate to Sprauge.
I beleive the proposal for an underground, or semi-subterrainian complex would be ideal. The bonuses for defense have been illustrated, but there exist many other bonses aswell. Primarily, a semi-subterrainian complex would allow for refugees to have direct access to planetside mining operations as a source of income. Also, I'm sure that many enviormentalists will be pleased to note that a semi-enclosed colony would decrease the effects of the settlement on the outside enviorment. I suggest that the crown hand over the specifics of such a colony to their agents in Bowex and BMM respectivly, who would work to trasport the required materials and construct the new home for refugees. Also, on the subject of the number of colonies, I would... suggest... that people wait until we have constructed at least ONE small colony before we start talking about scattering the whole planet with hamlets, or turning some crater into a metropolis.
As for the defense aspects, I would not suggest moving the Norfolk to Snowdown. The crew of the Norfolk have preformed excellently in their duty of defending Cambridge from the Corsair menace, and have become fairly well aquianted with the workings of the Cambridge line. I would much rather see a ship, in need of repairs, brought back from the front lines, refitted, and stationed outside Sprauge. That being said, the tactial aspects of the defense of Sprauge rest with the BAF and the War Cabinet, and I trust in their judgement. Should the Baroness feel that the Norfolk is specifically needed for some reason, I will agree with her.
However, the danger in Snowdown is not one that can be solved with pure military force. We must learn from our nation's dealings with the fiercly independant residents of the Taus that any attempt to displace the people living on the fring of civilization can only lead to disasterous consiquences. I suggest that we attach to this measure a plan to send a diplomatic envoy to all of the residents of the Snowdown system, and by all I mean the Zoners of Freeport One, the IMG and the Federal Republic of Rheinland. We must make it clear that not only is Sprauge Bretonia's birthright, but also that a move to colonize Sprauge does not, in any way signal an intention to annex the Snowdown system fully. I repeat, we must NOT attempt to annex the Snowdown system. Attempting to expand the terratories of the Bretonian empire into the Omegas will only lead to a vile and bitter conflict. We cannot allow this to happen. We must respect the wishes of the peaceful residents of Snowdown, and work with them, not against them, to ensure Sprauge's saftey.
This is an issue of upmost importance. I suggest that this bill be amended with Mr. Board's suggestions, then move to a vote... If there is nothing more to say on the subject.
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Maloney had been taking notes while his fellow members bickered, occasionally tutting as Green MPs spoke. As Mr Hastings finished speaking, Maloney heaved himself to his feet. He thought it best to get a word in before anyone else could beat him to the mark. "My fellows, I feel you are being rather too hasty with talks of fixed proportions of scientists to settlers. Mr Hastings' proposal for a long term 'goal' is feasible, but I still do not believe his numbers are." He frowned for a moment, mentally crunching numbers.
"Let us say we establish a small initial colony of 100,000 settlers - that requires us to employ 5,000 scientists going off the proposed 20:1 ratio, each holding a valid PhD or degree in the relevant fields. I dare say these men would rather refuse to work for a pittance. Let us say they each require a raw minimum salary of... $100,000 per annum; roughly £50,000 in local pounds Stirling." He paused again for a moment, frowning. "That is an additional overall expenditure of $500,000,000 or £250,000,000 per year. More to the point, where do you expect to find 5,000 willing scientists? But no, that is not the crux of the matter."
He tugged on his thin, greying beard before continuing. This part would not be popular. "You all seem rather preoccupied with the idea of terraforming. Why, I believe the whole reason the issue of these scientists was raised was in relation to terraforming. Terraforming is a process monopolised by Planetform, yes? How do you know they are even willing to take this contract? You wish to include terraforming into legislation before you've even contacted those responsible for bringing it about. Bretonia has not been an easy market for Planetform. Harris was hideously late and over budget before the war with Kusari halted process altogether. Ayr is a decade late, and over budget too. Carisle shows progress, but completion is still long distant. Why would they wish to mire themselves further in a fourth project, when two of their current three progress so disastrously?"
"According to the good Baroness and my own men's testimony, the atmosphere is tolerable and causes no ill symptoms in humans. There are natural fortifications which we can construct homes in and fortify. I say we hold off calls for terraforming until we see progress on Planetform's current endeavours. Sprague is located one jump from Bretonia's agricultural breadbasket. We can afford to wait to implement agriculture through terraforming. The route to supply food is both short and safe, protected by the Norfolk's watchful guns. No doubt Bowex and Gateway can cope with that."
"I say we chair this for a vote: do we or do we not allow our nationalised assets to begin the construction of a new colony there? Homes, services, infrastructure. I say we permit the colonisation drive immediately. From there, we can contact Ageira for the construction of a docking ring, and Planetform about the future possibility of terraforming. Douglas can be used as a forward storage point for this endeavour. The landing of refugees can wait until a later date, but there must be a colony for them to move into. I believe I'm done now." Mopping his brow with a handkerchief, he took his seat once more.
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