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Waking up in the cryochamber, still weeks from Alpha Centauri A, had been a shock. Instead of being brought back to life in orbit around a world, a reactor malfunction had thrown the mission into disarray while still in deep space. The damage to the starship Unity had been a serious setback, but, with their usual resourcefulness, the pioneers of humankind had managed to get close enough to the planet to land seven colony pods. The problem was that the pods had spread across the whole of the surface of Chiron and the mission had become fragmented. With much of the technology damaged or missing completely and communications with Sol Base broken, each faction had gone its own way. The only faction following a path anything like the original mission were the Peacekeepers, under Pravin Lal. The UN Chief Surgeon had taken on the leadership of what remained of the UN forces and was working at getting the various factions to cooperate.

As an Academician, an exobiologist, and experienced research manager, Prokhor Zakharov had become the leader of the University faction. He had dedicated himself and his followers to the dual task of studying Chiron and researching the new technologies needed to prosper on the harsh planet.

One of the first, and most important, successes had been the filter membrane. The atmosphere, with its high levels of nitrogen, was unbreathable. The membrane restricted the passage of most of the nitrogen thereby enabling the atmosphere to be breathed. Technicians were constantly working on improvements to the masks, making them smaller and lighter.

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Now, ten years after landing on Chiron, the settlement could be more confident in calling itself a University. The pace of research was picking up, and some of the scientists were even able to spend time on pure research which had no immediate practical value.

Zakharov's eyes drifted across his desk to the hologram of Tania. His daughter had just turned 7 and was a true daughter of the planet. Her long hair was glossy and as dark as interstellar space. Her eyes were a startling blue, reminiscent of a midwinter sky in Zakharov's native Siberia. Knowing no other world, she took the heavier gravity and higher atmospheric pressure in her stride. She'd even reacted less violently when the settlement had been attacked by a Mind Worm Boil. The worms had been fought off by the automated flame-throwers that had been installed after the previous outbreak, but many people had suffered terrible nightmares and flashbacks since. Not Tania; she hated the worms with a vengeance but her life was not ruled by them.

A low buzzing disturbed Zakharov's reverie. Turning back to his desk, he routed the call to the screen of his computer. "Yes?"

Helena Whyte's concerned face looked out at him. "I'm sorry to disturb you Provost, but I have a representative of Gaia's Stepdaughter's on the line."

'Just what I need!' thought Zakharov. "OK put them through. Thanks."

The screen changed and Lady Deirdre Skye smiled at him. "Ah Academician Zakharov. Good of you to receive me unannounced like this. It is rather urgent though; Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang of the Human Hive has begun to flex his muscles. He's insisting that Gaia's Stepdaughter's hand over our knowledge of planetary ecology. He's threatening 'police action' if we don't comply."

"I was expecting this. Not so soon, but expecting it. If you are not inclined to just give the Hive what they want; I'd advise a flat refusal. If Yang starts anything we would support you in your resistance."

"Thank you for the offer. I will discuss the matter with my brothers and sisters in Gaia and get back to you. Deirdre Skye out."

Zakharov continued to stare at the blank screen. He steepled his fingers and rested his clean shaven chin on the apex. Years before, as a member of the Academy of Earth, Zakharov had honed his skills at juggling the disparate needs of various colleagues. While the problems of Chiron were an order of magnitude greater, he was confident that there could be a peaceful resolution to the conflict......(cont)