The Quarry

[Rage Menelas]

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]During the early days of American expansion, Kentucky was at the nexus of three powerful indigenous tribes. These three people-groups fought over that territory ferociously, for it was rich hunting grounds. Ryan was discovering that, unbeknown to 99.9% of her inhabitants, Planet Earth was in an analogous situation.

Charlie's people-group, the Ka'Osafete Federation (pronounced: COSSA-FEET), was a diverse group of humanoids spread out across several hundred habitable planets throughout the sector. They were mostly merchants and explorers. This federation from what Ryan could understand of it was ruled by a representative form of government.

Ka'Osafetti (COSSA-FEH-TEE) interest in Earth was fairly benign. They respected Terran rights to evolve their civilization unhampered by outside influence. And, while not all Ka'Osafetti were moral and good people, the government as a whole seemed to be. It had been in contact with the major powers of Earth for several decades. Consequently, there was a handful of very powerful people down there who knew of the existence of the Ka'Osafetti and trusted them. Accordingly, treaties were signed concerning all issues Terran. (Harvesting, for instance, was a practice governed by treaty.)

Another of the people-groups that used Earth and her vast resources were the Massamertes. These were a group of simian-type creatures very close in appearance to the images of Big-foot and Yeti that Ryan had seen in the media for years... It seemed that their main interest was in unhampered access to the vast wilderness areas as their personal hunting grounds. And occasionally they would pilfer a cow or two from irate Terran ranchers. Left up to them, Earth would remain just as it was indefinitely. They harbored a mild disdain toward backward indigenous populations in general and the humans of Earth were certainly included. Accordingly, they generally took what they wanted without asking, it being beneath their dignity to deal with lessor beings.

The last faction was the most sinister. They were the Daakrere, a group of insectoid-like aliens. These were the apparent bullies of the block. They seemed most interested in warfare and conquest and were very good at both. Only a combined treaty of the Massamertes, the Ka'Osafetti and those Terran power merchants that were 'in the loop' were able to keep the belligerent Daakrere at bay. Unfortunately, these barbarians at the gate were constantly jockeying for position... trying ever more devious devices, ever more Machiavellian methods for gaining the end they so earnestly sought: sole and exclusive possession of the Earth.

By the time the lesson was over Ryan was wishing he could somehow get back into his nice comfortable little bubble of ignorance. He had a feeling that was not going to be possible... and he was right.