pdf file - Notes from An Alien

"Wait, Keloz, I have a new campaign to get rid of the word corporate in discussions of governmental
reorganization."
"Bravo! I will tell those who think you have influence that this is your wish."
The men shared a welcome round of raucous laughter.
"O.K., Zena, the latest. That group of imbeciles that used to run the government are getting so desperate
they tried to forcibly take over the Science Institute, by themselves, of course, since no one listens to what they
say. We gave them a lesson in plasma stunning and set them up in a secluded area where they can use our newest
version of the simulated recreation options—perfect test subjects."
"I agree. Even though they didn't let themselves have their emotions altered artificially, they did a great
job of bringing on endocrine imbalance all by themselves. Do let me see your reports on how they get along. We
just may be able to save them from themselves. What else?"
"We think we have the beginnings of a plan to moderate the swings in weather. It means transporting
people and playing with the plasma fields of the planet in ways we haven't yet risked but the consensus is almost
there for giving it a go."
"What's the worst that can happen?"
"We all die a little faster."
"Alright, what else?"
"We need more food from Anla, uh, Purum."
"How much more?"
"At least half a pound of basics per day per person. Do the math."
"I'll get to work on it. I think I can get an agreement to add three of the smaller LightSails for permanent
duty."
"Also, we'd like to have more meetings with the Settler's Leadership Council. There's a growing number
of people who want to go to Anla-Purum."
"I've heard some comments that could mean two-way citizen traffic. I'll radio more after I consult with
Velu."
"How is your wife?"
"Extremely pregnant and ridiculously happy!"
The Aklans on Anla-Purum continued to minister to the needs of whoever they could reach. They were
still being killed by outraged priests of the Lord's Army and the Faith of Eternity but their selfless actions and
utter lack of fear had its effect on the followers of the two religious groups—a growing number of them simply left
their territories and settled with the Disciples of Faith. The Unholy Lands still raised superstitious fears.
The settlers were constantly busy improving the standard of living for all groups. It was hoped that better
sanitation and basic labor-saving devices would help the most tradition-bound religionists become more realityoriented
as well as speed a population increase.
The Lord's Army claimed 30,000 members. The Faith of Eternity, 13,000. The Disciples of Faith had
nearly one million avowed believers and the Aklans were impossible to count due to their deaths and the
unwillingness of anyone, except Velu and Zena, to venture into the Unholy Lands. One thing was certain: their
martyrdoms seemed to have no appreciable effect on how many were being of service, except that the faces kept
changing.
The settlers claimed some 1,087,000 people.
Exact numbers for any group were also suspect because members of one group became members of
another group with no predictability.
Anla-Purum was, to say the least, in flux.
Anga-Param, on the other hand, still had the technology to keep painstaking track of its citizens.
However, since the former Corporate government had evaporated, the tallying of citizens had become an
indicator, daily, of the remaining population's will to survive. The planet had, at last count, 21,344 people.
War is, truly, hell...
Velu was sitting up during one of the resting spells between her bouts of exhausting labor. Zena stood