Collapse pt 5

It had finally happened; Hassina's fragile planetary crust succumbed to the damage brought about by the Empire's intensive mining with catastrophic consequences. Two of the outlying Settlements were wiped out in the space of – local – hours when the walls of brittle rock separating them from a major river course crumbled, flooding the unprepared Households with freezing water. It happened so suddenly, the water rising to fill the area so quickly, all the inhabitants had succumbed to drowning or hypothermia before a rescue attempt could be made...

The Heads of Households and their aides assembled for an emergency Council meeting even as the Effodios were performing the grim task of sealing the accesses to the flooded households. Hassinan are long-lived and their pace of life generally didn't necessitate the need for hasty decisions. The Council in particular was disinclined to rush through its discussions but there was an uneasy sense of urgency permeating this gathering.
      Marldus found himself faced with a churning mixture of shock, disbelief and an irrational resentment that would've made him angry if he hadn't recognised the true fear that was at the heart of it.
      "We have lost a tenth of our population in less than three seasons!" One harsh voice, Innato, was heard above the general tumult. "Why were there no warnings? Why couldn't the Effodios predict this?"
      "Don't blame the Effodios." another snarled, "This is clearly the fault of the aliens."
      "Enough!" Marldus barked and the Council subsided sullenly around him, automatically responding to his authority. "We have had warnings." The Lead Speaker's exhaustion bled through into his tone. "The Feeodoreeans have been presenting us with their findings almost since the moment they set down here." The elder Hassinan continued on into the silence. "And as for the Effodios not realising the extent of the danger, how can you blame them? This... shifting in our planet's skin is hardly natural - and don't forget the warnings they have been able to give! The lives they have been able to save!"
      "You are right, of course, Lead Speaker," this from Sero, Marldus' most prominent ally on the Council, "and we have more pressing things to attend to than laying blame."
      "Indeed," Suffigo, Marldus' elder and main rival, spoke up. "So what are we to do? Am I correct in interpreting the aliens' reports as saying – " he paused to clear his throat, an attempt to disguise the tremor in his voice, " – that there is no hope for our home?"
      The Lead Speaker nodded, holding himself erect, refusing to let his body betray his despair.
      "You are not mistaken, Suffigo."
      There was a collective intake of breath then:
      "What - what can we do?" this from Dimitto, a younger Hassinan, newly appointed to Head of Household with the recent death of his father.
      "I have been in contact with the G'gecks," Marldus said, "they can house us…"
      "You've been in contact with the G'gecks?!" Innato snarled, "For how long? Why have you been going behind my – the Council's back…?"
      "Yes, I have been speaking with them!" Marldus finally lost hold of his patience, "I have been making arrangements for our people's safety because no one else appeared to take the threat seriously!" He regained control of himself with an effort, speaking coldly. "I do not expect any thanks."
      A shocked silence followed the Lead Speaker's announcement, then Sero spoke again.
      "The G'gecks will take us in?" Marldus nodded wearily. "How are we to get there? The shuttles can only hold so many at a time, surely it would take too long?"
      "I suggest we begin evacuations immediately," the elder replied, "and in the meantime move those in the vulnerable outer Settlements inwards to the central, more stable areas. The aliens are beginning their own evacuation using their own transports, I will ask them for help moving our people."
      "Will they aid us?" Suffigo pressed.
      "I believe they will," Marldus replied, "The Feeodoreeans I've spoken to have intimated their – or rather the Empire's – role in our problems. They can't, in conscience, refuse."
      Suffigo would have argued further but the Lead Speaker raised his hand, signalling an end to the meeting.
      "For now there is little we can do but be ready to leave as soon as possible. Go back to your Settlements and prepare. Bring all that you can but bear in mind it may have to be left behind in favour of getting our people to safety. I'll oversee and distribute the emergency placements lists." He looked around the room at the tense, grim-faced males. "We will make every effort to protect as many of our people from further disasters as we can..."

The aliens readily agreed to help with the evacuation, indeed Marldus was cynically unsurprised to find several transports already in orbit around the planet. The Empire, at least, appeared to have taken the Feeodoreeans' warnings seriously. Even with the aliens' help though, getting his people off-planet proved to be a prolonged, agonisingly slow process. The dynamic winds in the upper atmosphere made piloting the shuttles to and from the surface dangerous; that, coupled with the freezing temperatures – it was nowhere near the 'warm' season - amplified the chances of catastrophe.
The planet continued to shudder around its children and despite the increased vigilance lives were still lost in the unpredictable cave-ins and floods of water or lava. But slowly, slowly, the Settlements were siphoned off of Hassina and an entire race found themselves adrift on an alien planet, cut off from everything they'd known, their only connection to their previous life being what they had managed to bundle up and carry with them. Though not everyone chose to leave. A distressingly high proportion of the population – the equivalent of a large Household – stubbornly elected to stay put, trusting to fate and the Hassinan's history of withstanding disasters. Publicly the Lead Speaker accepted their decision, privately he was in despair. It wasn't simply that he knew these people were doomed, Marldus could all too easily see the disintegration of the social order in this act of individuals breaking away from their Households. He urged them to reconsider, promising to make sure there was always a transport and shuttles immediately available should any change their minds.

In the midst of the controlled mayhem of evacuation, Nonnia went into an earlier than expected labour, giving birth to her son literally moments before being hustled through howling, frigid winds to board one of the aliens' shuttles. A grey-faced Astolan named the infant Donato as the vehicle lifted off from the planet; the child was only just the last Hassinan born on Hassina...

The Lead Speaker stood at the window of his above-ground suite and stared blankly into the G'geckan night. He'd just had word that the last transport's worth of refugees had finally disembarked and were being ushered into their quarters. Marldus willed himself to relax, consciously unclenching his jaw - he had to rest if he was to effectively guide the meeting taking place the next day. The elder sighed, resisting the urge to give in to his exhaustion and lean his forehead against the smooth material of the window. 'Day' and 'night', 'today' and 'tomorrow', these were concepts the Hassinan would need to familiarise themselves with.
       "Lead Speaker," Astolan, keeping his eyes averted from the unnaturally open view, briefly touched his fingers to his leader's forearm, "There is food for you. Do you require anything else?"
       Marldus' lips quirked up in a weary smile; the last thing his aide wished to do was remain here, in rooms that looked out onto an incomprehensibly alien landscape.
       "No, my friend, return to your quarters."
       Astolan inclined his head, expression relieved, and hastened as fast as he could, without appearing to run, back to the marginally more familiar below-ground dwellings. Marldus' smile faded as the door closed silently and he turned without enthusiasm to his meal. He knew he should eat, as he knew he should sleep, but the elder male wasn't hungry now and couldn't imagine himself hungry anytime soon. Perhaps it was the recent tension and stress but he was feeling decidedly unwell.
      Marldus had managed to force down a couple of mouthfuls of the rich meat dish when there came a chime from the entrance to his quarters.
      "Enter."
      The Lead Speaker pushed his food away with a mild sense of anticipation – he'd requested one of his preferred females attend him – only to frown slightly at the sight of Malum standing in the doorway.
      "If I may, Lead Speaker?" the young male limped carefully into the room.
      "Of course! Please, sit down," Marldus hurried to help ease the injured hunter onto the floor cushions. Malum inclined his head in respect and gratitude and made himself as comfortable as he could.
      "What can I do for you?"
      Malum paused.
      "I felt I should... give you warning of my intention to speak at the meeting."
      The Lead Speaker forced down a shiver of apprehension.
      "Oh? What do you plan to say?"
      Malum paused again, obviously hesitant, then lifted clear, quietly determined eyes to the elder's face.
      "I'm going to raise the idea of immigrating to Vejiitasei."
      Marldus nodded, thoughtful.
      "There will be resistance."
      "I expect that." The young male's eyebrow quirked upwards. "But I also propose to – " he hesitated again, " – allow people the choice."
      The Lead Speaker shook his head, hiding his alarm behind an impassive smile. It was as he'd feared, the precedent for division had been set by those remaining behind on Hassina. Marldus mentally shook himself.
      "It's too soon, Malum, we've only just left our home. We're confused and frightened, we need to find ourselves again, we need to stay united."
      Malum lifted his chin.
      "Everything has changed, Lead Speaker, trying to cling onto what was may not be helpful any more."
      "Perhaps you are right," Marldus murmured, "And perhaps you are not. Very well, I will allow the possibility to be discussed at the meeting – if there are any who consider it worthy of discussion – but don't be surprised if no one responds."
      Malum inclined his head again in thanks and made to stand up, politely waving off the Lead Speaker's attempt to help.
      "I must learn to do things for myself if I'm ever to be well again."
      "You always were sensible, Malum," Marldus walked with the younger to the door. "Rest well, enjoy your time with your... family." The Lead Speaker placed the slightest emphasis on the last word - he was well aware of Malum's unconventional intention of staying with his four females and two sons in their own small area, rather than returning to the designated males' quarters. He wasn't sure he approved, it felt too much like another step closer to the fragmentation of the Households.
      Malum flushed a little but grinned; compared to his father's reaction, the Lead Speaker's comment was positively encouraging.
      "I will, thank you."

The location chosen for the meeting had to be changed at the last moment, the original chamber simply wasn't big enough to hold everyone who wanted to attend. All of the remaining Households were represented and there was a higher than normal proportion of females present, all sitting together on one side of the room, separate and distinct from the males. The Lead Speaker obliquely studied the Hassinan assembled before the Council. Fear and anxiety, shock and distress rippled over the tawny faces of his people and he mentally adjusted the proposed tone of his speech. The attendees would be seeking reassurances about their immediate future and as Lead Speaker it was his duty to provide what comfort he could.

Right from the outset the atmosphere of the gathering was unsettled, agitated, with clear lines of conflict appearing as the meeting progressed. There were some who were not convinced they'd done the right thing in leaving their planet – not that anyone seriously proposed returning straight away but G'geckah was so different they couldn't imagine themselves being comfortable here for any length of time. For the most part the Lead Speaker didn't contribute to the discussion, he merely kept control, giving those who wanted to a chance to speak uninterrupted, curtailing sharply any arguments he considered to be fruitless or inflammatory.
      Questions were raised: how could the Hassinan look after themselves? Feed themselves? It was one thing to accept the G'gecks hospitality, quite another to expect them to care for their visitors as if they were children. What were they – the Hassinan – to do with themselves on this alien planet? How would they live? Would they leave the domed G'geckan dwellings to seek out homes of their own? Would they be expected to? Into this seething discussion Malum dropped his suggestion about Vejiitasei.
       "What? You expect us to leave already?" someone called out derisively, "We've only just got here!"
       "That's not what I'm saying," Malum returned, "I'm calling attention to the fact – " there was a subtle emphasis on the word, " – that Vejiitasei seems to be a more amenable place for us to settle."
       "What fact? How do you know?"
       Malum suppressed a sigh – naturally Merces' findings wouldn't have been made available to the general populace. He cast a glance towards the Lead Speaker, who nodded slightly, an indication for him to continue.
       "Two Effodios from the Lead Speaker's Household have recently completed a survey of a suitable area on one of Vejiitasei's continents. There are caves there, deep, stable caves with plenty of room, plenty of water and an abundance of food to be had." Malum found himself the absolute centre of attention. "We could be self-sufficient there, beholden to no one for our livelihoods." The young male grimaced. "As well as that, Vejiitasei's gravity – while still lighter than Hassina's – is heavier than here, closer to what we're used to."
       There were nods and murmurs at this statement – one of the things that was proving hardest for the Hassinan to adapt to was G'geckah's much lighter gravity. "And – " Malum continued, eyes shining, "Vejiitasei's cold season is short. We could live in safety on the surface, if we wished, under the sky."
       The crowd shifted and stirred as this snippet was digested. To live out in the open without fear of freezing? It would be like something out of a fable...
       "But – it's so far away," this timidly from one of the females.
       "Not that far, and truly," Malum shrugged, "what is there for us here? We can't go home."
       "Wait," Innato was frowning. "What were the Effodio's doing on Vejiitasei anyway?"
      "The caves were discovered accidentally by my – by my sister," Malum didn't acknowledge the tightening of his father's face, "Mahrayne recognised the potential, so did Merces and it was she who asked her kin to do the survey."
       Innato scowled, his suspicions easily discernible in his expression.
       "All involved in this 'discovery' are members of the Lead Speaker's Household." The thickset – for a Hassinan – male turned to Marldus. "You knew of this?"
       "I did."
       "Why did you hide all this activity from the Council?!"
       "I did not 'hide' it," Marldus didn't, quite, snarl.
       "You've not exactly been open about it either!"
       "Enough. Please." Sero's clear voice cut across Innato's suspiciously triumphant-sounding outrage. "This wrangling is not productive." The elderly male regarded the ex-hunter. "If the report is to be trusted, Malum, Vejiitasei sounds promising. What are you suggesting we do? Should we simply land at the Empire's door? I don't think the Saiya-jin-no-Ou would be impressed."
       Sero's gentle humour wrung a smile from the injured male.
       "I wish to petition the Emperor myself, for the use of the caves." Malum shrugged, "What happens next depends on that result. The question will be purely academic if Vejiita refuses us."
       Looking around, Marldus could see there was still some deep resistance to Malum's idea but overall the atmosphere in the chamber had subtly changed to something more hopeful. The Lead Speaker allowed himself a small smile; Malum wasn't simply a hunter, he was a leader of hunters and his innate ability to guide and direct would serve him – and the others who would leave with him - well on Vejiitasei. There was no question in the Lead Speaker's mind that Malum, and his 'family', would be leaving G'geckah at the earliest opportunity – it remained to be seen what Astolan would have to say about it all.
       Marldus looked around and noted the signs of restlessness in the assembly. His people were reaching saturation point; they'd heard enough and now they needed time to assimilate the information before making any attempt at rational decisions. The Lead Speaker said as much before he signalled an end to the meeting, rising fluidly to his feet. The Hassinan filed out of the chamber, automatically flowing into their Household groups, talking together in subdued murmurs.
       Marldus headed to his own quarters, not letting his pose of calm dignity waver until he was quite alone. He slumped onto a floor cushion, imagining he could feel the weight of his years tugging him down. No doubt before long all of the Hassinan on G'geckah would know what had transpired in the meeting. And then? Marldus sighed, he was too tired to hazard a guess right now. For the first time since he'd been elected Lead Speaker the male considered the possibility of resigning his position. The thought of passing the burden of leadership to someone else had never been so tempting...