New Eden By: Geo S

 A Stellar Case of Adventure!

This is the story of the Centurion Officers Academy Cadets and the galactic community in which they operate

Background and Setting

Around the year 2100, technological advancements primarily in the energy sector created “free energy” through Nuclear Fusion Reactors which helped shrink CO2 levels to minor amounts. Medical breakthroughs eradicated such diseases as Alzhemier's, mitigated cancers, created an HIV vaccine, repaired brain and spinal injuries, and advanced robotic prosthetic limbs. These accomplishments lead to an era known as the “Golden Age”. A sense of global prosperity pushed the population to roughly 15 billion. Due to this; a great strain was placed on resources particularly food, housing, access to medicine, jobs that were replaced by robotics, and natural environmental degradation. Point blank, the human species could not keep up with themselves. While these technological breakthroughs saw great strides it still faced fierce opposition from traditional industries that were losing their power and market share. These events were the crux of the Resource War. 

While not formerly fought between countries in a military sense although there were battles both traditional and guerilla warfare, the Resource War was primarily fought in boardrooms, courtrooms, corporate espionage, and clandestine dealings and murders along with political assassinations. Many riots took place globally particularly fueled by the last desperate remnants of organized religion turned cult like declaring “holy wars” and condemning various peoples for the current woes. The climax of the war was the socioeconomic and overall collapse of North Korea. This collapse triggered the last and insane leader of the Kim Dynasty to launch a quadruple nuclear strike against Seoul, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and suicidally, Pyongyang. The Pyongyang detonation destroyed the city but the Seoul strike was averted by South Korea Special Forces. The Tokyo strike was shot down in the Sea of Japan, and the strike against Los Angeles was shot down but detonated in the North Pacific Ocean. This was collectively known as “The Four Mushrooms Attack” and the symbolic end of the Resource War in 2125.

Super corporations emerged victorious with vast expansionist plans of global infrastructure, further space exploration, colonization, and being forced to answer to public demand for a reduction in AI and robotic advancement replacing jobs with the threat of further violence. While robots and AI played a pivotal role in society it was written into law to ensure that the human species remained creators, players, and the future/legacy of its and Earth’s future. This would lead to significant gains in human education particularly in STEM fields. Entrepreneur Sir Arthur Morningstar took credit for making Earth’s first contact with an intelligent species in 2153 when receiving radio communication from a star in the solar neighbourhood. This communication would lead to our solar system becoming a member of the “Orion Alliance”. Super corporations were the prime players in space communication, infrastructure, mining, technology, and travel/tourism. The most powerful players being Morningstar Enterprises, Geotech Industries, and Nova Corp. The Orion Alliance is a collection of five solar systems including our own that possessed civilized intelligence and space faring capabilities. Aside from our System there is the Bolero Major Star Kingdom, home of the Bolerians, a technologically advanced humanoid race similar to our own ruled by a monarchy. The Sethares System, home of the Sethareans, a military dictatorship of battle hardened warriors who resemble dinosaurs. The 001 System, a highly sophisticated machine intelligence, and the mysteriously reclusive Apexia System, home of the Apexians who rarely interact directly. Their membership in the Alliance is fragile at best.

Earth’s governments still played a role as they pooled their resources into the revamped United Nations forming the United Nations Space Alliance which would give birth to the now famed Centurion Officers Academy. Earth’s best and brightest, the ambassadors to the galactic community, and primary first line of defense to internal and external global/solar system threats.

The British Columbia based Centurion Officers Academy accepts only 100 cadets a year for a 12 month training program in 100 disciplines across STEM fields, astronaut training, military strategy/tactics, and political science. They will be trained and expected to master the usage of the Geotech Omni Suit, a nanotube fibre suit designed for any environment, atmospheric or outer space. All of their training culminates in the dreaded final exam known as “The Gauntlet”. A fearsome test of physical and mental aptitude. All cadets must be born on Earth or within the Solar System. The program is broken up into 10 teams of 10 with five men and five women to each team. Team names are designated as Alpha, Bravo, Corsair, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Gold, Horus, and Indigo. There are graduation medals for the top teams and cadets. This is the story of the Centurions and the galactic community they operate in.

Plot Synopsis

In the year 2253, the countries of planet Earth remained autonomous. Culturally, society as a whole has essentially eliminated gender and racial divides with insignificant pockets of resistance. Organized Religion has been pushed to a novelty of the past that has small denominations practicing faith in a more ceremonial respectful fashion as opposed to dogma. 

Through both government and primarily private funding, Earth now boasts a space elevator located in the South Pacific that stretches to the International Space Station (ISS) in low Earth orbit. Aside from scientific endeavor's it is now a major tourist attraction. The majority of ships are now built, docked, and launched from space with connecting voyages to all planets in the Sol system each equipped with an orbital Space Station. Luna, Mars, Europa orbiting Jupiter, Enceladus, and Titan orbiting Saturn are also equipped with surface based stations. The asteroid belt is also used for mining. While the International Space Station has a general tourism function, visits to the other stations are more expensive and have a limited scope of tourism. Nuclear Fusion is the current propulsion of choice. Other propulsion such as Antimatter (still in development), Ramjet, and Solar Sails are in use for specific need cases. The Sabre engine has also grown in popularity giving the ability for atmospheric to orbital take off minus rocketry. Earth also operates one of the five Oasis Space Stations. Strategically placed through the Orion Alliance territory as bases of rest, relaxation, and repairs.

In 2253 an adolescent Charlie Sanders Jr. and his younger half brother Geo Sanders visit the ISS as part of a school trip. Charlie is mesmerized and dreams of joining the United Nations Space Alliance (UNSA). Geo is less than impressed. Charlie and Geo are both sons of Army Major Charles Sanders. Sanders Sr. expects his sons to follow in the family military footsteps and attend a military academy after high school. An easy step for Charlie Jr. who wants the same but problematic for Geo who shows little interest

Later on, Charlie Jr. and Geo are both star high school football players. Charlie Jr. accepts an offer to the Air Force Academy. Geo has one more year of high school and has offers from top NCAA schools. Due to his American father (Geo being born in Canada), Geo is pressured to attend West Point Army Academy. After consultation from his mother, brother, and idolizing younger cousin, Geo begrudgingly agrees. The brothers win back to back Heisman Trophies and while Geo is looking forward to a career in the NFL, Charlie Jr. opts to become a space pilot for the UNSA. Geo having to perform his military duty before the NFL is to his surprise offered acceptance into the Centurion Officers Academy (COA) which he, at the urging of Charlie Jr. accepts. 

Natalie Wilshire in Liverpool UK follows in her late father’s footsteps and joins the British Army with hopes of attending the COA which she is accepted into. She doesn’t receive much support from her mother who fears she will end up like her father or her older sister who she has long standing friction with. Her younger brother despite his annoying behaviour is happy for her.

Skyler Robbins is an astrobiology graduate student at the University of Toronto where she is lauded for an algorithm she created on a whim which suggested that Geo Sanders is statistically the ideal Centurion. She doesn’t take the algorithm seriously and is baffled at the plaudits she receives thinking it’s just a PR stunt. She accepts an offer into the COA to work in their Science Department following in her parents footsteps who currently work for the UNSA.

Gaetano “Guy” Delvechio is a star college football player like Charlie Jr. and Greg. He is also an academic all-american who accepts an offer into the COA. The friendly good natured Guy is looking for adventure. Daisy Park from Seoul, Ivan Olshenkov from Kiev, Matthew Kanu from Lagos, the Esperonza Twins Carmen and Carlita from Mexico City, Helen Steiger from Dortmund, and Kelvin Kaino from Samoa are all accepted into the COA along with 90 other cadets. 

Sir Arthur Morningstar III, one of the most powerful and wealthy individuals in the world is the keynote speaker at the Orion Alliance Conference. The event will feature some of the most powerful individuals in the known civilized and intelligent galaxy via in person or holographic representation on time delay. Morningstar III is married to Princess Claire of the Monaco Royal Family. They have one daughter Dutchess Athenia Morningstar and had a young son, Duke Arthur Morningstar IV. Athenia, educated at Oxford has developed celebrity fame for her shameless opulent lifestyle. Despite the beloved reputations of her childhood best friends Francis Boneventure, a lawyer on her father's legal team and model Simone Duvalier, Athenia cannot shake her persistent reputation for snobby cruelty.

After an orientation at the COA Geo, Natalie, Guy, Daisy, Ivan, Matthew, Helen, Carmen and Carlita, and Kelvin are all assigned to the Indigo Team. The training is grueling and a great strain physically and mentally to the cadets who are put through the ringer courtesy of COA Director Xia Liang and Master Drill Instructor Steve “Quick Draw” McGraw. Natalie quickly assumes team captain status and is hell bent on winning even at the expense of alienating her teammates. Geo shows natural ability but also struggles to keep up and his overwhelmed by the competition which prevents him from reaching higher goals and also makes Skyler look bad as her algorithm results are put into question. She is also lightheartedly teased for perhaps having a romantic bias towards Geo who makes competitive enemies with fellow cadet Curtis “Crusher” Cartwright.

At the Orion Alliance Conference Morningstar III makes the shock announcement that Morningstar Enterprises will be placed in a trust with government oversight to ensure a fair progression to the general public of its vast technology empire thus eliminating Athenia from solely inheriting the corporation. After being mocked by an investor who will be part of the future trust and suggesting sexual favours will help keep her place, Athenia violently assaults him. Also at the conference is the touchy subject of how to split the resource rich planet dubbed “New Eden” among the government and industry elites in the Alliance. As it stands several planets and their respective governments and corporations have interest in colonization operations on New Eden while conservation groups in the Alliance stress minimal if any intervention at all and more time for scientific research. New Eden itself, significantly larger Earth has no humanoid or intelligent species but thousands of animal species some of which are fearsome predators. It is similar to Earth in rotational orientation to its star and atmosphere. An emerging powerful religion called The Children of New Eden is also in attendance at the conference much to the dismay of other attendees. The Children of New Eden claim Eden is “something more” and cite interconnectivity of artifacts on Earth and other Alliance planets indicating Eden as the “True Omnipotence”. They also claim to have strong relationships with the Apexians. 

Stationed on the USS Davey Crocket, Charlie Jr is orbiting New Eden protecting UNSA interests as a fighter pilot of a Nova Corp Star Fighter 1. Charlie Jr. has settled in nicely and enjoys his work carrying out security patrol duties. The prime worry being the Sethareans who maintain a presence on New Eden claiming dominance of the planet. At the COA Geo outshines Crusher in a military drill and makes sure Skyler is there to see it. After a bit of gloating he gets into a physical altercation with Crusher. Skyler is not impressed by Geo’s macho bravado and Natalie dismisses the incident as a needless distraction and chastises Geo for not being team focused but he has the backing of his teammates. Word gets around to other cadets that a fight in the boxing gym between Geo and Crusher is imminent. Quick Draw does not openly support the fight but does not discourage either as it's under a controlled environment and he sees it as an informal test and entertainment. Geo wins the fight narrowly and Crusher nearly kills him afterwards. Crusher is expelled from the Academy and his team, Foxtrot are deducted points. Indigo falls in the points standing and a fuming Natalie openly questions the desire and heart of her teammates. After a pep talk from Director Liang about needing to be liked and not just good, Natalie with the help of Geo rallies their teammates. The science department notes to Skyler that Geo does have the “it” factor about him.

When the Gauntlet arrives, team Indigo pass their mental aptitude test with flying colours and execute the physical portion which is a HALO jump from Low Martian Orbit to a facility where a rescue extraction mission must be completed. Indigo successfully completes the extraction in the fastest time with Greg starring in taking out the most enemy robotic targets. Bashfully, Skyler is quite pleased with Geo’s performance and shows concern for his safety. On the night before graduation Geo and Skyler nearly kiss but Skyler stops short embarrassing a heartbroken Geo. 

On graduation day, Indigo’s performance in The Gauntlet is enough to push them to the Gold medal in the team competition. Natalie and Geo are both in the running for top student but in the end American Apache Nathan Northchild takes the Gold medal with Natalie and Geo taking Silver and Bronze respectively. During the Graduation party Geo and Skyler finally kiss along with Natalie and Guy but Natalie deems it unprofessional and tells Guy to be quiet about it. Unknown to the cadets who are now officers, the celebratory mood coincides with a battle on New Eden. The Sethareans have attacked the USS Davey Crocket. Charlie Jr. is sent into action and becomes a Space Ace with seven enemy bandits shot down but his efforts are in vain as he dies in battle and the Davey Crocket is destroyed. Indigo Team and the other COA graduates celebrate. USS Davey Crocket burns, and Earth is about to be plunged into a military response.