Chronicles of Chiron: Reformatting Data Haven | Scene 16

I ask around for Astrid, and it doesn’t take long to learn that she’s talking with some of her close associates in the conference room, one of the larger spaces in Data Haven. I listen at the door before I go in, but I can’t make out much of what the voices are saying. What sticks out, though, is just how muffled they are, more than the door would account for. Someone in there does not want their conversation heard out here. Well, if they want no one in the hall to know what’s going on, then that gives me an excuse to walk right in.

I open the door—lined with a blanket on the inside—as if I couldn’t tell there was a group in here and walk right in. “Oh, sorry! I didn’t realize there was a meeting,” I say innocently. “Astrid, I was looking for you.”

There are a dozen people in the room, some seated at a table, others standing around it. The ones not looking at me have their eyes directed at a map on that surface. Although there are a handful of people younger than me in here, most are old enough to be planetfallers. I recognize some of them from the armed security crew who joined Roze in greeting us upon our initial arrival at Data Haven. They’re wearing holstered pistols now, too, as is Astrid. If Data Haven had an actual government, this would look like a posse planning a coup. There are also duffel bags on the floor in here, but they’re zipped shut, so I can’t see what’s in them. Maybe stolen rations?

This is the first real map I’ve seen here on Chiron, but I recognize it right away. The Morgan domes are to the west, along the coast. On this side of the pass, Data Haven itself is labeled, as well as some of the outlying sites like Tenoch’s garage and others I haven’t heard about. Of more concern, though, is the place labeled “Site Beta” on Morgan’s side of Miasma Pass. West is a dangerous direction to expand in, but Site Beta is within the same dashed line as all the other Data Haven holdings. There’s an insignia drawn on the map, too, as though Data Haven has a proper flag. Morgan’s territory has its own dotted line with domes and a symbol inside it. A tree with a question mark points off the edge of the map east of the Monsoon Jungle; Astrid’s group doesn’t know the exact location of the Stepdaughters of Chiron. The University of Chiron is also missing from this map.

That’s all that I quickly observe in the moment before a stunned Astrid snaps at me, “Mariah, what are you doing here?”

“I was looking for you,” I repeat pleasantly. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re, uh, making some plans. We can chat later, if you’d like. This isn’t anything you need to concern yourself with.”

“If you’re planning settlements on the other side of the pass, then, no, our chat can’t wait,” I reply. Shu-Fen greeted me and Cleve with a pistol already in hand, and we were just in a car. If a bunch of armed people show up, poking around Morgan mining sites, there’s going to be a shoot out. Particularly with an army deploying soon. “You’re going to get people killed,” I tell Astrid. “These types of decisions are why you should be on the new council, not letting them make decisions without your input.”

Astrid slams her hands down on the table. “Listen, whatever this council is, I don’t think it has the necessary will to act. Data Haven hasn’t done hardly anything in all its years of existence. It is long past time for Data Haven to take initiative. We’re going to do it now, and you’re either going to help us or get out of the way. We won’t be pushed around by Morgan or the Stepdaughters or anyone else.”

Is that a personal threat? Surely not. Though she does have quite a bit of company here sympathetic to her ideas… I was not expecting to walk into danger here in Data Haven. I was perhaps too threatening myself earlier—time to reconsider my approach. No shame in changing tacks to make the customer see that they need your product. So instead of arguing with her, I agree with her. “You’re right. Data Haven hasn’t done much other than hunker down. This council is only just now coming into being, so there haven’t been strong leaders like you with a mandate from the people. So let’s talk about what a safe, vibrant Data Haven society looks like while Morgan is still in power over there. Having new settlements on that side of the pass when Morgan forces are planning to come through it in the next month… that’s not going to be safe. I agree that growth makes sense, but not to the west, not right now. When those domes are under more reasonable management, there might someday be opportunity to grow in that way. But until we can nudge Morgan Industries in a healthier direction, it’s not safe to act over there.”

I’ve read her right; appealing for the safety of the settlers seems to have been key. Astrid magnanimously agrees to offer her guidance to the council. I don’t know what her qualm is with Cleve, but I’ve got nothing against her. I just don’t want anyone to die. And if maybe I’ve led her to believe she’ll have more direct power than she actually will… well, that’s fine for now. At least she won’t be sneaking around stealing things and then blundering off into laser fire.