“In today’s Samurai highlights, I give you Calamity Jane. She exploded on the scene. Literally. It is how she was named by Mordred. She also was an escort before she became a Samurai, and it shows. You can still find her frequenting night clubs in her home town. It is clear she is sexually active, and her costume is positively fan service. But if you though that naughtiness defined her, think again.

  “Behind the scenes she was working her Samurai magic, expanding her city in secret. When the tragedy of Rock Springs occurred, many thought all was lost. They expected the people would be scattered to the winds. Then she revealed her secret. While there are reports of fast and loose dealing, the result is nonetheless stunning. Sheridan’s population is exploding practically overnight.

  “She is also working with their sister city Gillette. By followed the Sheridan model, their population is also exploding, although not as much. But only because she was working longer in her home town. She had barely started on that city when the lid came off. Her actions look to save over a third of Rock Springs’ population. As she did this, she’s also inspiring six other nearby cities to join her call.

  “Over ninety percent of the population is expected to find a new home in one of the eight cities. This conserves the families and the companies of Rock Springs. In some places, Samurai are regarded as saints. This miracle surely qualifies Calamity for sainthood.”

  – Liberace, two months into the evacuation of Rock Springs

  “Did you catch my stream last week?”

  “No, but when I was told about it, Ysys played me a recording. You know I’m no saint.”

  “Well, maybe a naughty saint. Saving people is our job, and this was a huge save. How the hell did you manage to create that much housing? I saw the image of one of the Arcs. It’s huge. What is it?”

  “It’s just another printer. I kind of went heavy into printing stuff. I built up the size and quality of my printers over time, getting blueprints as I went. I only bought the initial two printers. With them I printed and assembled the others. I now have dozens of class two industrial printers. The biggest issue is feeding them all. I’m currently taking down a small mountain to get the raw material.”

  “I’d heard rumors about that. Doesn’t that get you a lot of rock, but not much metals and other needed material?”

  “You are correct, but apparently I had unlocked a class three catalog that lets me transmute matter.”

  “WHAT!”

  “You heard me, Liberace, class three.”

  “How?”

  “With all my construction, I opened a number of catalogs. But some fighting catalogs were also needed. I was as surprised as you when Ysys suggested it.”

  “I am so jealous. Did it cost a lot?”

  “Oh, yeah, but I’m still swimming in points from the megahive. But I also dropped a lot of points to orchestrate everything and get the evacuation rolling. I’m just glad the other Samurai decided to pitch in. Sheridan and Gillette are already straining under the pressure, but our plans prepared us for the strain. The next few years will be difficult as the people and companies settle down. I pity the other six. They had barely any forewarning before their influxes.”

  “Are you heavily involved in getting everyone to play nice?”

  “Sort of. Council has been meeting every two weeks, and after each meeting, they send me the details on a number of pressing problems. I use my various AIs to gather information, and simulate possible approaches to the problem. I make sure to include several options for each problem, along with the expected result of the approach. Lastly, I indicate which approach I favor, and why. Usually they have a week to read and question me about my report, and then they vote what to do about the problems in the next meeting.”

  “Do they always take your recommendation?”

  “Of course not. I encourage them to make their own decision as to what outcome they want. That choice is theirs. But as they are coming to learn, my projections are uncannily accurate. That makes them bolder in their decisions, since they have come to trust my predictions.”

  “What about Gillette? Do you have a role there?”

  “Yes, a similar one. However, their leadership is significantly different in their approach. So instead of them sending me problems, I comb the polls and news from that city to see what the biggest apparent problems are, and add in some other surveys to find important actual problems. Then I provide a report on those identified problems. It is still up to them what to do about them, but they likewise are learning to trust my reports.”

  “I never knew you were so smart.”

  “I’m not. But my AIs are, and they are designed with running a city in mind.”

  “So you are letting the protectors decide for you?”

  “No. Their AIs are doing the grunt work of processing all the data. But I still decide priorities that I want to achieve. But I do follow their advice in achieving my goals.”

  “What is your end game goal then?”

  “Same as the protectors. A life without fear of the antithesis, without danger from them. One where we choose how we develop.”

  “Whoa, that’s some goal. Wouldn’t taking a lead in politics make things easier?”

  “Actually, no. Should I enter politics, others would want to ride my coattails or oppose me, just because I was there. I would be labeled power hungry, and others would pigeon hole me to whatever level I started in. Instead, I choose to be a power behind the throne. My power is that of advice, not of control. Some oppose me, but I let my reports defend themselves through their accuracy. By not engaging, I am actually influencing their choices more than if I engaged.”

  “Sneaky. I didn’t know you had that in you.”

  “Well, actually, it was part of the AI’s advice to me about how to achieve my goals.”

  “Hehe. It seems you are too lazy to fail. What about in other matters. How is playing escort going? That many people must be difficult to control.”

  “Oh, they are. But I hired the local PMCs to handle the inner perimeter, which includes keeping the peace. I’m giving them a bonus of improved weapons, armor, vehicles and medicine. Add in their pay, and they are very happy to handle the locals. Meanwhile, the locals are being handled by their own PMCs, so there is a lot more cooperation. The fact that they are moving almost everything not nailed down means they won’t be starting from scratch in a new place. The companies are very appreciative of that.”

  “I’m sure that hive you encountered was another feather in your cap.”

  “Yeah. While the local PMCs were ready to help, the outer perimeter held, and the attack spiders and the dragonfly took care of everything. It also netted another Samurai.”

  “Indeed?”

  “Yeah. One of the towns we passed got caught up in it, and a teenager there got noticed. I’ve got him with a squad of my PMCs riding point. He gets a chance to grow, with support should he bite off more than he can chew.”

  “He got a name yet?”

  “Yeah, I gave him the name of Storm Lord. He uses atmospheric effects to damage antithesis.”

  “Sounds like a ranged Samurai, like you.”

  “Kinda. Range needs space, and hives lack that. I had to add some melee to my mix, when I started clearing hives. He’s not there yet. But I’ll keep an eye on him.”

  “Sounds fun. So what is on the personal front? Anything interesting?”

  “Seeing how the people react, and how I am doing my best to keep families intact, has made me think about my own future family. I want kids, but I haven’t really found someone to share my life with. I’ve even started thinking about going it alone.”

  “You should not go it alone. There is so much to handle.”

  “I don’t mean alone, alone, but rather without a significant other. I have friends I can lean on, such as you, and some I know from before. I also have wealth enough to hire help. But I am still thinking through it all.”

  Suddenly, Liberace stiffened. “I have to hang up. There’s an incursion.”

  “Talk to you later.”

  What is this thinking you are thinking. Is it something I can help with?

  “Perhaps. But you are not human, and may not fully grasp my needs.”

  Even if I don’t understand why you have a need, that does not mean I cannot help satisfy the need.

  “I suppose you are right. I want several kids, but since I am not really feeling for anyone, I expect it will be some random guy who gets me pregnant. I don’t want to rely on luck, or worse, my opinion, on getting superior genes for my kids. While there are services that cater to such designer babies, I feel they are too impersonal. I won’t know who the other person is without digging into their systems, and I won’t do that for mere personal reasons. So I am kind of stuck on how to select the donor.”

  You mention superior genes. How do you determine that?

  “First off, no defective genes. I want to weed out obvious flaws. For superior, I think intelligence is probably the most significant, but I don’t want a slouch at the physical things. Given how many of you AIs choose pseudo Greek names, I’m sure you know what an Olympian is?”

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  Yes. One who personifies the perfection in mind and body.

  “Yeah. That’s what I want my kids to be. But I need good sources of genes for that.”

  As things stand now, you will never achieve that. Your own genes fail that standard.

  “I never thought of that. Well, if I can’t get the best, I’ll just try for the best I can.”

  Actually, the Class II Super Soldier Body catalog for six hundred points and a token has a lot of gene editing and gene therapy. Add in a class two medical scanner, and we can select suitable gene therapy to correct any flaws found. As for sub-par genes, we can essentially upgrade every gene you have to be either the best, or very near it. You will still be genetically human, but the best genes of humanity. As for the synthetic parts, they push you past human limits, but do not affect your genes. So any kid you mother will be fully human on your side.

  “I can do that?”

  Yes. It will take time, so as not to stress your body too much. I expect we can complete your treatments before the evacuation is complete.

  “Okay. We’ll do that, provided we can find the rest of the solution.”

  Finding the perfect genetic mate?

  “Yes. I already have sex with lots of people when I hit the clubs, so I don’t see an issue collecting genetic material, but how will I know it is not too flawed, or that it is of the best quality?”

  In the medical catalogs, there are tools that collect such as part of genetic sampling. A genetic sampler could be implanted in you, and it will redirect genetic material into it’s containers. While they remain in stasis, they will be examined, and evaluated against your criteria. Then when you want a child, the container can release its material and guide it to fertilize your egg.

  “How can I decide my criteria?”

  The Series 7000 Genetic Sampler is only four hundred points. It can hold ten discreet samples at one time. Each sample can be evaluated, and ranked. Then whenever you have sex, the lowest ranked sample will be sterilized and disposed of to make room for the latest sample. When you want a child, tell it to begin as soon as conditions warrant. It will wait until your body is at maximum ripeness, then deliver the genetic material to fertilize your egg. It will then guard and guide the egg, placing it where it needs to go so it can grow. As it does, it will monitor the fetus, and alert you to any issue. We can even combine it with the gene therapy to fix and upgrade donor genes.

  “Won’t that get the same results as what you do to me?”

  It would if we went for perfection. However, life is too random, so variation helps enable survival. The upgrades would be close, but not perfection.

  “How much would all that cost?”

  It would depend upon what we find in your genes. We’ve already done some upgrades, but they weren’t about fixing bad genes. The more there is to change, the more points you will need to spend.

  “So it could take every last point I have?”

  No. If the scan shows that level of imperfection, gene therapy would not be chosen. Rather a wholesale genetic upgrade would be chosen. It is more expensive and normally not recommended, but there is a point at which it becomes less expensive than gene therapy. Once you hit that, the point usage plateaus. You have more than sufficient points to cover things even they are that bad.

  “With a med scanner that good, I bet it would be desirable for those looking into genetic issues. Get me a scanner, so I can evaluate my own body, but also show others its capabilities.”

  Opened Class II Super Soldier Body catalog – 600 points, 1 token

  Series 7000 Genetic Sampler – 350 points

  New Total – 957236 points, 6 tokens

  I was distracted by the box that appeared, it took me a moment to realize the point value was off.

  “I thought you said four hundred for this?”

  That was for an implanted one, with stasis containers and manipulation tools. The one in your hands does not have that, and so is less.

  “Oh. Well, lets do the scan.”

  Place it on your flesh, and press the sample button. I’ll then have it do the analysis, and should have a report and plan in half an hour.

  “That’s a long time. How come?”

  It is only class two, and it is not designed for speed, but rather accuracy. There are variants that are faster, but they don’t look as deeply, nor detect as many problems. Part of that accuracy is simulating the effect of the genes to see if they will be an issue. By utilizing spare local cybernetic power, it will only take about half an hour. Otherwise, it might need a day or more.

  “Then I shall wait.”

  I headed over to the kitchen, and made myself a snack. Then I went and sat in a recliner and turned on some music and closed my eyes to listen. After a bit, Ysys notified me.

  From the studies your scientists have done, your genetics are fairly average. But you need a large number of repairs and upgrades. Not enough to require the wholesale process, but more than enough to recommend purchase of a gene printer. The Research Nucleotide Sequencer is three hundred points, and can create most of the gene therapies needed. The ones it cannot are available as individual therapies for varying amounts. You need two hundred points worth to complete the upgrade.

  “No need to wait. Let’s get started fixing my genes. Also, I want blueprints for the regular scanner. Looks like there will be a good market for it.”

  Research Nucleotide Sequencer – 300 points

  Assorted Specific Gene Therapies – 200 points

  Blueprints for Series 7000 Genetic Sampler – 3500 points

  New Total – 953266 points, 6 tokens

  However, only one box appeared. Inside was a standard injector, so I used it as indicated.

  “Why only one box?”

  The Research Nucleotide Sequencer will not be of use until the first three therapies have completed. This is because the therapies correct parts that will be required by the sequencer. This first therapy will take several hours to run its course. You will likely have been sleeping several hours when it finishes. Therefore, the second therapy will be delivered in the morning.

  When the sequencer arrived, it looked suspiciously like a printer. “Ysys, is this just another printer?”

  In part, it is. However, it takes a sample of your flesh, and designs the therapy on the fly based on the desired genetic replacement. While you could print the results, your printers are not capable of generating the needed designs. Creating a device that feeds designs to your printers would not save many points, nor is the availability of such printers expected at class two.

  It prepared the first therapy in minutes, and I took the injection. Each morning, I gave it a sample, and I took the injection. As the weeks passed, I noticed my body subtly changing. My skin seemed to glow, and my hair became more lustrous. I also noticed my muscles gaining definition, and my skin lost every minor imperfection I ever noticed. Most curious, I seemed to have lost a small amount of age.

  Finally, the day came, when the sequencer indicated no more therapy was needed. On that day, Ysis asked if I wanted the implant. I agreed and moved to the field medical system’s table.

  Series 7000 Genetic Sampler, implant – 400 points

  New Total – 953286 points, 6 tokens

  The table activated, and I was quickly unconscious. When I woke, Ysys pointed out the interface in my augs. Then we set about deciding my priorities.

  With my logistical resources, the first evacuees went to Sheridan, then to Gillette. This gave us time to make more buildings in all the cities. Since I was running the construction in all eight locations, I was able to add in more installations to feed data to my metropolitan advisor.

  As it turns out, Liberace and Cowboy Bob were Samurai from two of the other cities. With the thoughts from her recent visit, I decided to be a bit more supportive with all the cities. If the local Samurai did not have their own lair, I bought them space in their city and built one for them. For each of them, I also expanded their lair with a class two industrial printer. This way, they could buy their own blueprints, and we all could print from any of these devices with the host’s approval. I also let them print from my selected blueprints just like I let the Family. Speaking of, I extended my Family connection to those cities with more printers like the first.

  In addition to the printing, I started coordinating Samurai and city problems, so that we could address them in common. They all figured out I had some sort of information network, since I began supplying summary reports of problems to both Samurai and Family. But since I didn’t push solutions, and gave decent predictions for likely solutions, these reports soon became part of our ongoing chat session on city issues.

  Liberace, Cowboy Bob, and I wound up buying a number of blueprints for the printer pool, as we were all sitting on a lot of points. These blueprints helped deal with scarcity issues. If we needed a huge amount made, I would see about scheduling time on an Arc printer to make a warehouse’s worth. The three of us actually wound up making a company, Samurai Supply, just for this bulk production.

  By the time I was done with the evacuation of Rock Springs, I had been evacuating it for six months. The eight cities now had ninety three percent of their population. Each of the cities had several Arc printers and many construction spiders. Gillette and Sheridan were weathering the amalgamation reasonably well, but the other cities were being a bit more volatile about it. An unexpected benefit was earning several tokens for saving the majority of the city’s population.

  For the protection of the cities, I had a lot of attack spiders and HTs for Sheridan. I had outright bought three Rock Springs PMCs. One would protect and patrol Sheridan. Another did the same at Gillette. The third took the old Desert Dogs’ assignment in Sheridan, and the Desert Dogs became the PMC that went with the dragonfly. All four got at least one HT and two attack spiders. Almost immediately, the Desert Dogs asked me to add a maintenance facility to their new home. I added a maintenance extension to my hanger at the same time.

  Rock Springs, however, suffered a terrible fate. It was almost completely abandoned. With the population reduced to only two percent of what it was before the big attack, it seemed empty. We couldn’t save those who would not leave.

  What got me out of my funk, moping about Rock Springs, was when a few hives were discovered in the Rockies nearby. Soon, the Devil Dogs and I were headed to Grand Teton National Park in the dragonfly.

  “Major Bryce, we are over the first area now. Please prepare the first drop.”

  “Yes, Calamity. Lieutenant Higgins, you’re up first. Ready your platoon for drop on her command.”

  “Yes Sir!”

  It always amused me how they liked to play up the formality before a fight. As soon as we had a good position in the area, I opened the bay and yelled, “Drop!”

  Higgins took his HT out, followed by two lesser hovercraft. They all had heavy duty hard light armor, but their use was varied. Each would support the other. They also has a small contingent of drones that operated with them. Some recon, some defense, and some attack. The HT was the heavy hitter, but the others were designed to go after the masses. In addition to his platoon, I launched some gods-eye drones for over-watch.

  We repeated this dance two more times, and then I went high so I could support with top cover. Storm Lord was attached to Sargent Johnson’s squad. I wanted to see if he was up to clearing out a hive on his own, but was prepared to come to his aid if needed. Twenty minutes later, Soundbite and Flamer arrived. I sent them to the other two squads, which were assigned to the other hives.

  Despite not doing much directly, I would be getting points from the ammo and weapons I supplied to the PMCs. The other Samurai would be more hands on, and get a lot more points. Even with all all the points I spent on blueprints for the cities, I still had quite a lot. So for this battle, I provided top cover, and tactical support. Three hours later, Storm Lord called.

  “Calamity, Storm Lord here. We have a problem. The antithesis have gone underground, and I don’t know if the HT can follow for very long.”

  “That happens. What do you think you should do about it.”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “You’ve killed a lot of antithesis. You have a few points available to spend, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you have a solution. Perhaps discuss it with your AI.”

  “Oh. I’ll get right on it.”

  I soon learned from the squad what his solution was. He became a concentrated storm. But it took him a few tries before he mastered his new ability enough not to cause friendly fire. Within an hour, it was like he was born to it.

  A few more hours went by, and he again called. “Boss, I have a problem. A big problem.”

  “What is it?”

  “We just got a sight of the actual hive. There are several in the twenties in there, and I don’t have the power to take them down.”

  “Have you asked your AI for advice?”

  “She says my build is better for the lower numbers, and they will probably attack before I can gear up with something I understand.”

  “Have your AI send me a glidepath. I’ll be there as fast as I can be.”

  “Okay.”

  Soon I received the information, and I had the dragonfly fly close. “Major, the craft is in your command.” Then I stepped out on my skypath, and activated my Falcon Wings. They were made of hard light, but combined with a small jetpack on the tips providing thrust, I was able to quickly fly to Storm Lord’s position. I stopped and hovered next to him less than a minute from when he called. The jetpack returned into my weapon harness.

  He was busy throwing wind blades, and hurtling cave debris at speed, but wasn’t affecting the big ones at all. The squad was trying their best, but even their grenades weren’t enough. So I stepped in to get a clear shot, and started shooting my Strykers and taking down the big antithesis.

  “Okay, Storm Lord. I have your back, and the big stuff is down. Take it from here.” I noticed he was staring at my chest. I turned and went behind the PMC squad to guard their rear, to help if needed. Then I looked down and saw the energetic flying had bounced one of my own assets out of my top. I casually fixed it, as though it was normal. Come to think of it, it may be normal, since I just recalled the last rave I attended.

  It took them nearly half an hour to clear out the smaller stuff, but finally, it was down to the central plant itself. The squad gave him a few bombs to place high, and they placed others all about the hive. We backed out, and Storm Lord activated the bombs.

  When the blast died down, I pulled Storm Lord aside. “Mark, taking down a hive is a significant achievement. But you had problems on the way. If you want to actively fight antithesis, I want you and your AI to work out a plan on how to deal with it next time. Now that that’s out of the way, do you plan to stop here, or do you want to clean up the area? Currently, you have a token, and a fair number of points. But if you stay and clear, even though it is not as exciting, you can earn more points and another token. Let the squad know when you’ve decided. I’m heading back to the dragonfly.”

  He nodded, and I turned away and walked out. When I hit open air, I called for the dragonfly to pick me up. As soon as it came in, I walked up into it and went back to my seat. “Major, I have command.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I then activated my cleanup spiders and locusts. They left the ship as a swarm, and started scouring everything within a mile of any antithesis sighting of this hive, same as I had for the other two Samurai. Flamer elected to return, so that the city would not be without a Samurai for very long. We left two days later.