Amongst the Stars of Cygnus [Hard Sci-fi Survival]

The heavy door to Davron Federoff's private suite slid shut with a soft, definitive hiss, sealing them off from the rest of the bustling, and in their considered opinion, increasingly disorderly colony. The room was appointed with a tasteful austerity that spoke of understated power – a large viewport offering a panoramic view of the crater and the vehicle yard below, a polished conference table, and comfortable, ergonomic seating.

Davron settled into his command chair at the head of the table, his expression a carefully neutral mask, though a flicker of distaste still lingered in his eyes. Koko took her seat to his left, her posture ramrod straight, her long pinky nails tapping a silent, impatient rhythm on the tabletop. Tamarlyan, Jiang Wei, Dmitri Ganbold, Sasha Borodin, and Mikhail Petrov arranged themselves around the table, their faces reflecting varying degrees of disapproval and strategic calculation. Lodon Zavorokhin and Maximilian stood impassively by the door, silent guarantors of their privacy. Commander Jin Altan, a welcome addition of experienced military discipline, took a seat beside Sasha, his expression mirroring the general sentiment of the room.

"Well," Davron began, his voice a low, controlled rumble, "that was… illuminating."

Koko let out a delicate, almost contemptuous sniff. "Illuminatingly impertinent, Director. Commander Woodward's conduct was… unbecoming. To directly challenge our contributions, to question Director Wei's foundational role in ARI's development, in front of junior staff... it demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of established corporate decorum and hierarchical respect."

Sasha Borodin shifted in his seat, a wry smirk playing on his lips. "She certainly has a… direct approach. One might almost call it aggressive. Hardly conducive to the collaborative and productive environment we were attempting to foster. And this 'report' she demands… outlining our 'practical skills' as if we were applicants for entry-level positions! It's… insulting. Our value lies in strategic capital allocation, in global network management, in shaping the very economic ecosystems that allow for such colonies to exist, not in… tightening bolts or calibrating atmospheric scrubbers."

Jiang Wei nodded, his usually placid features tight with annoyance. "The young woman clearly fails to grasp the scale of our investment. This entire colonial initiative, the Dolya itself, ARI's core systems – these are multi-trillion credit assets, the culmination of centuries of Federoff, Lin and Wei family capital expenditure, of generations of strategic foresight. We own this venture. The colonists, including Commander Woodward, are, in essence, operational assets, human resources deployed to ensure a return on that investment. For them to question our role, to demand we justify our presence here… it's preposterous."

Mikhail Petrov cleared his throat, his voice precise and devoid of emotion. "Legally, Director Wei is correct. The UEC Colonial Charter, Article 131, Section B, clearly defines the primary shareholders and funding entities as holding ultimate proprietary rights over all colonial assets, including personnel contracted or conscripted for the duration of the initiative. While emergency command protocols grant operational authority to the highest-ranking officer, that authority is implicitly subordinate to the overarching interests of the shareholding principals."

"Precisely," Davron affirmed, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. "And it is those interests which seem to be… misunderstood, if not actively disregarded, by the current operational command. This… ethos Commander Woodward seems to be cultivating, this notion that all personnel contribute physically regardless of their intellectual worth or, frankly, their inherent value to the initiative… it is counterproductive. It breeds inefficiency, and implies a dangerous disregard for corpocratic best practices."

Koko tapped a perfectly manicured nail on the table. "Her background is… informative. Midscaler stock from Earth. And the father… Ben Woodward, wasn't it? Some minor Human Resources Cartel franchisee implicated in significant financial irregularities. Embezzlement, fraudulent asset transfers. It's hardly surprising the daughter exhibits a certain… shall we say… unconventional perspective on property rights and corporate governance. A poisoned well, perhaps. The HR Cartel should have exercised greater due diligence in their candidate selection for off-world assignments. Under normal circumstances, they would be held liable for such a poor investment."

Jin Altan, who had been listening with a stoic expression, finally spoke, his voice a gravelly counterpoint to the smoother tones of the others. "She lacks the instinct for command hierarchy, Director. She relies on… sentiment, on personal loyalty. It's a fragile foundation. The crew respects her for her actions during the initial survival phase, but as we transition to a more structured, long-term operational model with an expanded staffing roster, that approach will prove insufficient. She will be unable to maintain personal relations with all of the crew. Discipline erodes. Productivity stagnates. We are already seeing it – this casualness, this lack of strategic long term planning." He exchanged a significant look with Maximilian, who clearly shared his assessment.

Sasha Borodin chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "They're acting as if they built this place themselves, out of their own pockets. They forget who provided the ship, the technology, the very cryopods they slumbered in. They are, in essence, living on the resource base funded by our capital. And now they wish to dictate the terms of their employment?"

"And thus, what do we do about Commander Woodward?" Koko asked, her voice sharp.

Davron Federoff allowed a slow, cold smile to touch his lips. "Commander Woodward is an operational asset, currently fulfilling a necessary role. Assets can be managed. Reassigned. Or, if they prove consistently detrimental to the overarching objectives of the initiative… replaced." He let his gaze linger on each of the attendees. "We will work within the established protocols. Make no mistake. This colony, this investment, will be brought into alignment. The natural order of things will be restored."

He paused, then added, his voice dropping to a near whisper, yet carrying an undeniable weight of authority. "They seem to have forgotten who truly owns this world, and everything in it. It is time we politely reminded them."

===

The briefing room was small, sterile, and deliberately neutral. It lacked the warmth of Elisa's office or the imposing formality of Davron's suite. It was a space for candid, difficult conversations. Ervin Sekhon sat alone at the polished table, his prosthetic hand resting motionless beside his real one, when Maximilian Barinov and Jin Altan entered.

Altan offered a polite nod, his posture relaxed but radiating competence. "Reverend Sekhon," he began, his voice smooth and familiar. "It's been a long time. I believe the last time we spoke at length was during the pre-stasis briefings aboard the Dolya."

Ervin returned the nod, a faint warmth entering his eyes. He remembered Jin Altan as a sharp, well-spoken XO, a hardened career officer who commanded respect without needing to demand it. "Commander Altan. It's good to see you reinstated. I trust the process was… tolerable."

"It was efficient," Altan said, taking a seat across from Ervin. "My skills, I am pleased to report, remain intact. My background is in fleet logistics and crisis management. I've overseen resource allocation and operations twice the size of this colony's intended population. I understand the pressures of command under duress."

Maximilian remained standing, leaning against the far wall like a silent observer, letting Altan establish the professional groundwork.

"That expertise is welcome," Ervin said sincerely. "We need all the help we can get."

"Precisely," Maximilian interjected, stepping forward. His tone was not aggressive, but carried an undeniable weight. "And that is why we are here, Ervin. The colony is entering a new phase. The initial fight for raw survival is over. Now comes the long, difficult process of building a sustainable society and navigating… complex political realities. We believe Commander Woodward, for all her tenacity, is not the correct person to lead us through this stage."

He gestured vaguely. "Her handling of the topscaler meeting was… undiplomatic. Her approach to the Provider is impulsive, driven by hope rather than a sober assessment of risk. She does not fully consider the long-term strategic implications, or the opportunities we are squandering."

Ervin's gaze remained steady. "What opportunities, Maximilian?"

"The Provider," Maximilian stated flatly. "It was weak when we found it. Desperate. We are expending colony resources—our fuel, our manufactured goods—to let it rebuild its strength. We should have taken its technology, secured its resources, and dismantled its influence while we held all the leverage. Instead, we are nurturing a potential threat on our doorstep, an unknown alien entity that might turn on us the moment we are no longer useful."

Jin Altan leaned forward, supporting Maximilian's point with data. "Colonel Barinov's concerns are not unfounded. I've reviewed the resource prognoses that Director Ganbold and Doctor Ronningen pieced together. While their work is admirable, the long-term outlook is grim. There will be significant energy and resource bottlenecks within the next three to five years, especially if we continue this… wanton reinstatement of all personnel. Very harsh decisions will need to be made about resource allocation. Decisions about who can be revived, and who must wait. Decisions about whose life is sustainable for the colony. CorpSec is going to be central in managing the fallout from those decisions."

The unspoken threat hung in the air. They were offering him a seat at the table where those life-or-death choices would be made.

"So you are asking me to side with you," Ervin said, his voice quiet. "To support a change in leadership."

"We are asking you to be pragmatic," Maximilian said. "To see the coming crisis and align with the leadership best equipped to handle it."

Ervin remained non-committal, his expression neutral. "If the resource crisis is as severe as you claim, then a wasteful, internal power struggle is the last thing this colony can afford. It seems to me that the only rational path forward is for everyone to work together."

Maximilian's patience visibly thinned. He pushed away from the wall and placed his hands on the table, leaning toward Ervin. "That is not an answer, Reverend. In the coming months, there will be no middle ground. I need to know who is with us, and who is not." His voice dropped, losing its professional veneer and taking on a hard, chilling edge. "And I firmly remind you, this will have serious consequences down the road, when the time comes to decide whose mouths get fed and whose do not."

Ervin met his gaze without flinching. The moment of neutrality was over. He straightened in his chair, a quiet resolve settling over him.

"Then let me be perfectly clear, Colonel," he said, his voice calm but unyielding. "I am with the colony. All of it. And all of its colonists. I am with the way it is being run right now, under Commander Woodward's leadership, because it is a system that values every life, not just the strategically useful ones."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

He stood, his presence filling more of the room than his frame would suggest. "You speak of a coming resource crisis while advocating for a divisive power struggle. You are wasting valuable time that could be spent surveying for new deposits or dealing with the very real threat posed by those alien monoliths that have erupted from the ground. The environment is hostile, the anomalies are an active danger. The only things that have unequivocally worked in our favor so far are the Provider's assistance and Elisa's ability to hold this community together. I fundamentally refuse to participate in tearing that apart. I implore you both—convince the Directors and their new scientists to work with us, not against us."

Maximilian stared at him for a long, hard second. He had his answer. He pushed himself off the table and nodded curtly to Jin Altan. They had heard enough.

As they turned to leave, Altan paused at the door, glancing back at Ervin with a look of genuine disappointment. "You were amongst topscaler circles once, Sekhon. Part of the Jehangir-Shawiri holdings. You should know better than anyone how this ends."

Maximilian clapped a hand on Altan's shoulder, guiding him out. "He fell out of that world for a reason, Commander. Don't worry about it." His voice was low, confident. "Even if Ervin and Valeriya do not vote in our favor, we are still ahead. Let him preach unity. We'll handle the reality."

===

The holographic map of the eastern territories shimmered in the center of Elisa's office, its glowing contours stark against the room's subdued lighting. Red lines traced the projected flight paths of ARI's drones, forming a widening search grid that extended from the last known position of Luo Zuri's convoy as it had headed towards the Provider's settlement. The grid was vast, and disturbingly empty.

"Still nothing, ARI?" Elisa asked, her voice tight with a tension that had been building for hours.

"Negative, Commander," ARI's voice replied from the speakers. "Drones have completed a full sweep of the designated search area, including all adjacent canyons and rock formations where a convoy might seek shelter. There is no sign of the vehicles, no debris, no energy signatures. They have… vanished."

Otto, leaning over the holo-table, zoomed in on the terrain. "They couldn't have just disappeared. Even if they were attacked and destroyed, there would be wreckage. Or crystal growths. Something."

"Unless they were taken," Sigrid added quietly from her seat near the wall. "Or they drove right into another anomaly. We know this planet can make things disappear."

"A remaining possibility," ARI stated, "is that they successfully reached the Provider settlement and have remained there due to an equipment malfunction or dispute with the Provider. To confirm, we would have to dispatch another expedition all the way to the settlement itself."

Elisa rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache forming behind her eyes. "And we can't spare the resources for that right now, not with the western retrieval missions still ongoing." She sighed, running the numbers in her head. "Budget the operational costs for a reconnaissance flight with the Phoenix. Fuel, personnel hours, risk assessment. Let's see what it would take, even if we can't act on it immediately."

As ARI began populating a new screen with logistical projections, the office door chimed. Elisa bade enter, and the panel slid open. Yao Guowei stood in the doorway, his expression impassive, flanked by two CorpSec operatives in full combat hardsuits. Their armor was matte black, their helmet visors opaque, and the heavy rifles they held were not slung, but carried at a low ready.

"Officer Guowei," Elisa said, straightening, a cold knot of apprehension forming in her stomach. "Is there a problem?"

"Commander Woodward, Doctor Ronningen, biologist Ronningen," Guowei addressed them, his voice flat, devoid of any of its previous deference. "You are to come with me. Immediately."

Elisa's eyes narrowed. "On whose authority? And for what reason?"

Guowei did not answer. Instead, one of the CorpSec operatives took a half-step forward, shifting his rifle in a way that was both subtle and a clear, unambiguous threat. The message was clear: there would be no more questions.

Elisa exchanged a quick, grim glance with Otto and Sigrid. Arguing would be pointless, and dangerous. "Very well," she said, her voice betraying none of the alarm she felt. "Lead the way."

The walk to the headquarters' central hall was tense and silent. More CorpSec operatives were stationed in the corridors, their presence shutting down the usual flow of colonists, creating an eerie quiet. When they arrived, Elisa saw that the main hall had been locked down. All entrances were sealed, guarded by more armed personnel.

Inside, the scene was one of a carefully orchestrated coup.

Maximilian Barinov and Jin Altan stood on the podium near the central holo-table, waiting. The colony's officers were all present, assembled as if for a formal tribunal. Valeriya was there, her face a mask of neutrality. Mei and Ervin had clearly been corralled in the same manner as she had, standing together. The newly reinstated officers—Dinara Kavash, Erimusu Lei, Bai Xue, Heta Zheng, Idris Volkov—stood with a disciplined stillness, their allegiances unknown but easily guessed.

Elisa was goaded by Guowei towards a single chair set apart from the main group, in a corner of the room. The two hardsuited guards took up positions beside her, their silent presence a constant, oppressive reminder of her captive status.

This is it, she realized. They're taking over.

"ARI," she subvocalized, trying to keep her voice from shaking, "Security override. Disarm all CorpSec personnel in this room. Hostile takeover in progress."

A beat of silence. Then ARI's voice, broadcast openly into the hall for all to hear. "Negative, Commander. I cannot comply. A formal procedural challenge to your command authority has been logged by Colonel Barinov and seconded by a majority of the active officer roster. As per Company Colonial Governance Statute 82.4, a vote of confidence is now in effect. Until the vote is concluded, my security directives are restricted to maintaining order."

Elisa's blood ran cold. A majority? She hadn't even met most of them.

Maximilian stepped forward, taking the center of the hall, radiating an aura of absolute control. Curious colonists who had gathered near the entrances were now being firmly but decisively sent away by the guards. This was a private affair.

Dmitri Ganbold, looking uncharacteristically serious, stepped up beside Maximilian. "As per the terms of my initial investment portfolio and my designated operational role," he announced, "I am exercising my contractual right to claim an officer-level position within the colony's active personnel. Please validate my position as the colony's Chief Resource and Logistics Officer."

Mikhail Petrov, standing nearby with his datapad, immediately confirmed, "Director Ganbold's claim is valid under the secondary investment clauses of the Colonial Charter, appendix C. His position is confirmed."

Before the shock of that had even settled, Doctor Bao Vang stepped forward. "Similarly," he stated calmly, "my appointment as Lead Scientist for the Jiang Wei consortium's assets includes a clause for direct oversight, granting me an equivalent lead scientist position on any established colonial scientific or ethical review board."

Maximilian smiled, a cold, triumphant expression. "Welcome to the officer's council, gentlemen." He turned his gaze to Elisa, his voice ringing with authority. "Now, to the matter at hand. As the ranking security officer of this colony, and with the support of the majority of its command staff, I hereby call for a formal vote of no confidence in the leadership of Commander Elisa Woodward."

"On what grounds, Colonel?" ARI's voice inquired, a necessary procedural question.

Maximilian's smile widened. "On multiple grounds. Firstly, violation of Company Colonial Expansion Statute 242, which strictly prohibits the allocation of colony resources to, and the formation of strategic partnerships with, non-sanctioned, competing entities without prior Directorate approval. Commander Woodward's unilateral decision to provide material aid to the competing entity known as the 'Provider' constitutes a clear and dangerous breach of this statute."

He continued, his voice resonating with righteous indignation. "Secondly, gross operational misconduct and endangerment of shareholder investments. Her consistent failure to adhere to established corporate governance principles and her open hostility towards senior directors and shareholders—the very people who funded this endeavor—demonstrates a reckless disregard for the financial and procedural integrity of this colony. She has actively undermined the authority of her investors and fostered an environment of insubordination, directly threatening the long-term economic viability of this colony."

He looked directly at Elisa, his eyes hard as flint. "This colony requires disciplined, experienced, and pragmatic leadership. Not the impulsive, sentimental, and frankly, dangerously naive direction it has been under. The time for improvisation is over. It is time to restore order."

"The vote will now proceed," ARI announced. "To ensure privacy and log security credentials, each officer will be called into the adjacent chamber to cast their vote. Director Ganbold, you are first."

Dmitri Ganbold, who had quietly discussed with Bao Vang, rose from his chair and walked into the side room. As the door slid shut behind him, Mei, Otto, Sigrid, and Ervin huddled closer together.

"Let's count," Sigrid whispered, her voice barely audible. "The opposition: Maximilian, Altan, Guowei, Kavash, Lei, Xue, Zheng, Volkov. That's eight right there. Plus Ganbold and Vang makes ten. And that's assuming they're all in lockstep."

"They are," Otto muttered, his gaze fixed on the impassive faces of the newly reinstated officers. "They wouldn't have tried this if they weren't certain."

Ervin ran a hand through his beard. "Ten against… who? Us? You, me, Sigrid, Mei… Helena and Kyreth aren't on the officer roll, so they don't get a vote. That's four. Even if Valeriya sides with us, that's only five. Ten to five. He has the two-thirds majority he needs. It's over."

The door slid open, and Dmitri Ganbold stepped out. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the tense cluster of Elisa's allies before he walked directly over to them, his expression one of genuine, almost paternal concern. Mei and Sigrid instinctively shifted closer to Ervin.

"Commander," Dmitri said softly, addressing Elisa but keeping his voice low enough for only their group to hear, "and to all of you. I know this is… a difficult moment. I want to assure you, this is not a personal matter."

"It feels rather personal, Director," Otto countered, his tone dry.

Dmitri sighed, a flicker of what looked like sincere regret crossing his features. "Doctor Ronningen, please. I have spent the last weeks reviewing our logistical frameworks with you. I have seen the numbers. You have performed miracles with what you have, truly. But miracles are not a sustainable resource model."

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice even further. "Look, the models I've run show unsustainable resource depletion under our current trajectories. We're burning through refined metals for fabrication and organic compounds for reinstatement at a rate that our current infrastructure cannot support long-term. We are heading for a critical bottleneck in less than two years. The thorium reactor bought us time, but it did not solve the fundamental problem of scarcity on this world."

"So your solution is a coup?" Sigrid asked, her voice laced with ice.

Dmitri shook his head, looking pained. "My solution is disciplined, experienced management. A more… restrictive hand is needed for resource allocation. Difficult choices must be made. Choices about prioritizing projects, about the rate of revival, perhaps even about… who is essential and who is a luxury we cannot currently afford."

The words hung in the air, chilling and pragmatic.

"You mean rationing life," Ervin said, his voice quiet but heavy.

"I mean ensuring the survival of the colony as a whole!" Dmitri insisted, his composure cracking for a a moment. "If we continue on this path, we will all perish in a slow, predictable decline. Is that what you want? A noble, equitable death for everyone?"

Elisa listened from her corner, her hands clenched into fists in her lap. Dmitri wasn't just spouting topscaler rhetoric. He was using real data, the very data she and Tamarlyan had been struggling with. He was twisting their own grim reality into a justification for his faction's takeover. He was making them sound like irresponsible idealists.

"This isn't about punishment," Dmitri said, his gaze sweeping over them again. "It is about putting the right people in the right positions to make the hard, optimal decisions. After the… restructuring, I will personally ensure that all of you are assigned to roles that make the best use of your considerable talents. Your expertise is invaluable. There will always be a place for you." He sounded so reasonable, so concerned, that it was almost persuasive.

Just then, another officer was called into the voting chamber. Idris Volkov strode past without a glance in their direction.

Otto turned back to Dmitri. "And these 'optimal decisions,' Director… they will be made by whom? By a council of people who have been on this planet for a few weeks? Who view this colony as an asset on a balance sheet rather than a community of people?"

"They will be made by people with a lifetime of experience managing large-scale, high-stakes enterprises," Dmitri countered smoothly. "People who are not swayed by sentiment, who understand that sometimes, for the whole to survive, some parts must be sacrificed. It is a terrible calculus, Doctor, but it is the calculus of leadership."

"That," Ervin said, his voice resonating with quiet condemnation, "is the calculus of tyranny."

Dmitri's face fell, his jovial mask finally crumbling into an expression of pure frustration. Before the argument could escalate further, ARI's voice cut through the tension. "Doctor Ronningen. You may now cast your vote."

Otto gave Dmitri one last, long look before turning and walking toward the voting chamber, his back straight, his decision made. Dmitri watched him go, then let out a heavy sigh, as if the weight of their shortsightedness was a physical burden. He shook his head and retreated to his own side of the hall, his attempt at diplomacy having clearly failed.