A backwater, mudball of a planet that’s home to the galaxies 3rd best interstellar circus comes under attack! -- LatinoThor45
Five hundred years has changed a lot of things. Thousands of years in deep-time colonies has changed so very, very much more. The nature of Circus has evolved. There is no animal exploitation. The trained creatures present are holograms. Artificial intelligences carefully monitored by the CRC and the AI Alliance. They were not that smart, and carefully made to be so.
The most glittering entertainment was the live performances by cogniscents. They were definitely consenting to be there, and happy to show off. Except, when they came to Planet Podunk, they took some time off. The circus itself moved on. Performers swapping out to show off with those who were exhausted and planning to take an extended break to recoup from being "on the road" and work on some new material.
That was the plan, before the Vorax attacked. They thought they were visiting a resort-world where people farmed for the fringe benefits. It looked like a peaceful planet where few people went and few people came from. It looked like an idyllic haven where people went to relax and enjoy themselves. It looked like a soft place of easy pickings. Looks are always deceptive.
They weren't all Humans, in fact, the Vorax decided to attack when there were minimal Humans on planet. With luck, the raiders reasoned, the Humans would be too busy looking after the rest to try attacking in retaliation.
They had no idea that they were attacking a group of trained professionals. People who threw themselves around at high velocities and also threw blades around at high velocities. People who knew how to spit fire, or use the environment around them for shock and awe. Put it this way - there are few other places where there is a strolling path with accomodations for parkour and target practice.
The Humans still present didn't need to defend the more abundant Havenworlders who were planetside. The trained AIs could even perform a few tricks that would impede the raiders to greater or lesser extent. It was, as the common parlance would have it - a hop and pop raid. They hopped in, realised their mistake, and popped off as fast as they could.
They launched a few Chaser Tracker drones just to say, And stay out.
The Vorax learned quickly, but they were still working on beating their own assumptions. One day, in a distant future, they may learn to not attack at all.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / nerthuz]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends!
Send me a prompt [76 remaining prompts!]
