God's Dogs
Chapter 2

Governments evolve to suit the level of consciousness the majority of the population has achieved: tribal, city-states, kingdoms, and empires; therefore, ruled by patriarchs, war lords or city councils, monarchs or democracies, an emperor or a league of worlds.

The League of Worlds replaced corporate rule of those same worlds primarily because a plutocracy or an oligarchy is inherently unstable. Humans require some level of autonomy for economics to flourish, let alone the pursuit of science and the arts.

Encyclopedia Galactica

The stealth cutter Satya landed at the Coyote complex, which was part of the Shentong Temple, nestled in the foothills of the dominant mountain range on Penglai. The Temple occupied a hundred acres on a plateau that overlooked a broad U-shaped valley.

The planet underwent minimal terraforming before it was settled; hence, the limited indebtedness to the corporations. That kept them out of the Corporate Wars until the end, and when Penglai was finally involved, the ancient tradition of warrior monks was revived with some reluctance.

The planet boasted two continents and numerous archipelagos set in broad and active oceans. Two moons chased each other round the sky that kept the oceans active, as well as encouraged a dynamic geology. It was a temperate world, even idyllic in many ways.

The population of Penglai had spread across the entire planet but lived mostly in small rural communities. Each of those was associated with a local temple. The cities that existed served spaceports and administered orbital industry. The planetary government assisted dozens of small states with trading issues, resource development, as well as represented Penglai’s interests to the League of Worlds. Since the Space Navy and Marines protected the interstellar paths, and the Marshals enforced interstellar law, local space was left to local forces, and the planet was responsible for fielding its own militia. Full citizenship was linked to military service, which was usually performed at the end of primary schooling at age eighteen. The local temple was responsible for schooling, and the curriculum after primary school and military training was tailored to the student, either with vocational training or college level academic schooling. Post-graduate schooling was through a university system housed in the cities, and the university system was accredited through the League of Worlds to standardize one's credentials throughout League space.

Quinn led the group down the ramp to the landing pad. Waiting for them was a group of elders and Raina’s family – mom, dad, and younger brother. The high walls of the temple glistened in the background as the sun cast its last light of the day.

Quinn breathed in the bracing mountain air, relaxed into the welcoming qi-field of the planet’s energy, and smiled at the three elders. Acolytes were guiding Raina and her family off to temporary quarters after their group hug was complete.

The Coyote operational elder, Master Lu spoke. “Welcome back.”

Quinn dipped his head in a shallow bow, “Namaste, Masters. Did you recognize the tulku?”

Master Wong replied, “I think so. The last time she was incarnated was when she helped design space habitats, but we’ll have to test Raina to be sure.”

The other elder, Master Chin added, “A sentient A.I. fused with human consciousness provides us with an interesting riddle. Do you have any insights?”

Pax answered, “They are in harmony, like left brain and right brain have accepted a third brain.”

“And the artificial – if we can call it that – brain serves a third function. What do you think that might be?”

“I’m not sure.”

“An interesting riddle,” Moss chuckled.

The others joined in. The Universe was full of surprises. They walked into the building as the Satya took off to return to her berth at one of the space station overhead.

Including Quinn’s team, there were a dozen Coyotes in residence at the operational wing of the main house. The other wings housed the elders and their staff that shared a communal dining hall in the temple complex. Other buildings on the hundred acre plateau included training facilities, various industries with their apprenticeship programs, colleges, and student housing.

On the slopes of the plateau that led to a U-shaped valley, tenant farmers grew various crops and orchards. Chief among those were vineyards that produced wines renown throughout known space.

The team fell easily into the daily routine of the house: two-hour early morning meditation, breakfast, eight hours of training, evening meal, and socializing until lights out.

After a week, Master Lu called the team to his office. It was on the third floor of the admin wing, overlooking the valley. The décor was austere, but finely worked wood furniture graced it. Lu stood from his desk as the team entered, and he guided them to couches and chairs next to a bay window.

Lu’s round hairless face was creased with age and laugh wrinkles. He arranged his summer robe and sat in an overstuffed chair.

“Just so you know. It is she, the tulku. It will take some time for her to adjust to the violent upheaval in her life and replace her way.”

River leaned forward. “And her family?”

“The father is a skilled nano-tech scientist. The mother is a research biologist. Her younger brother shows signs of becoming a musician. We’ve found them work on SpaceLab 4.”

“Raina will stay here?” Pax wondered.

Lu smiled, “She said she’d give it a try.”

“Good to hear,” Quinn smiled back. “What do you need us for?”

“The so-called emperor is following true to form. His agents subvert local governments through bribes, assassination, blackmail, and the like. A civil war is fomented, and his forces appear to restore order.”

“Annexing that world to the Empire,” Moss commented. “A tried and true strategy.”

“We can do nothing to alter these archetypal patterns,” Lu went on. “We can interrupt some of the more egregious activities these evil conquerors initiate.”

“Our next mission?” River prompted.

Lu nodded. “League Intelligence identified a hit squad on New London. They lost track of them and asked for our assistance.”

Quinn's chiseled face hardened. “Their anti-terrorist teams should be adequate for that job. Why bring us in?”

“There appears to be an informer. Three of their teams have been wiped out.”

Moss groaned. “They want us to ambush the ambushers.”

“Even worse,” Lu allowed, “You’re going to be bait. Wylie’s team, which no one will know about, will do the ambushing.”

“I like Wylie,” River commented.

“You like everybody,” Pax mumbled.

“Sometimes I even like you,” River replied.

Quinn spoke over them, “When do we leave?”

New London was a cooler world than Penglai, and it was more centralized. Cities competed with the rural areas, and the economic competition was high among the eight major states. A strong global government insured the competition remained economic through a rigid judicial system noted for its fair rulings. Even so, factionalism was strong.

Quinn read the background material and worried that the precarious balance in New London would be easy to unbalance. This was a world ripe for subversion. Rigid systems were like that.

The Satya docked at the League space station, a sprawling fortress in high orbit. The team clanged through the airlocks to a welcoming squad of marines. The Coyotes wore their black one-piece skin-suits with no insignia. The marines wore tan uniforms with name, rank, world of origin, awards and deployments, along with duty belts and side arms.

“Sergeant Murphy,” Quinn greeted the stocky red-faced leader. “Good to see you again.”

“Not sure I can say the same about you, Quinn,” was the gruff response. “I still have nightmares about that crazy shit on Homestead.”

“It was troubling.”

“Yeah,” Murphy snorted. “Troubling. Let’s get you to the colonel.”

They marched out of the landing bays to the main corridor, busy with both League workers and citizens at their various pursuits. Then they climbed stairs up two levels to the marine command offices.

Colonel Thompson welcomed them with some nervousness. He probably never had to deal with Coyotes before. Quinn was grateful Sgt. Murphy stayed with them. The marine NCO was a pragmatist that Quinn knew could talk sense into officers.

After introductions, the colonel gestured them to chairs as he sat behind his desk and began.

“We’ve got dossiers on six enemy agents for sure, and we have reason to believe there are up to a dozen more. They’ve killed the moderate politicos, a couple of industrialists, and maybe others. We think they’re planning a coup attempt at Aberdeen – one of the coastal countries. If that goes, then the dominoes start falling.”

“Give us what you have,” Quinn directed. “We’ll insert tomorrow.”

“That’s it?” the colonel demanded. He was a fit, tall man wearing a crisp uniform. Steel gray hair over piercing dark eyes and a square jaw gave him the look of fierce competence. “We need to coordinate our efforts.”

Quinn glanced at Moss, who took the cue and spoke, “It’s simple. The area of operation for us is Aberdeen. Stay out of our way.”

The colonel stood and struggled for words. Before he could speak, Quinn said, “Sergeant Murphy will be our point of contact. If we need to coordinate anything, he’ll let you know.”

The colonel found his voice and blustered, “That’s not how things are done. There are protocols, the chain of command, rules of engagement – ”

“We’re ghosts in the machine,” Moss interrupted with his boyish grin. “Rules don’t apply to us.”

River added, “Think of us as independent contractors. It’s easier that way.”

The team stood, and Quinn held out his hand. “The file?”

The colonel handed it over, and the team along with Sgt. Murphy exited the office.

In the hall, Murphy shook his head and muttered, “Now you’ve done it. He’ll be all over my ass until you guys are gone.”

River took his arm. “Come on, Murphy, you know you enjoyed it. Popping ego balloons is Moss’ specialty, and you had a ring side seat.”

“REMFs deserve it,” Murphy agreed. “But shit still rolls downhill, you know.”

Once they were in the elevator, Quinn asked, “Who is the informant?”

“No idea,” Murphy grimaced. “Too many people in the loop. Could be anybody.”

“I guess we go with what we have,” Quinn sighed. “Are you okay with coming down with us, or do you need to stay here?”

“After that clusterfuck in the colonel’s office? I’m coming with you.”

“Oh, good,” River gushed and hugged his arm.

“You guys are nuts.”