Progress Report
© 2026 by Walter Reimer


Chen Hlompho gestured at the three-dimensional image of Terra without looking at it, the zebra keeping his attention on Vladmir. The Indochinese leopard studied the image interestedly as the zebra said, “All three atmospheric converters are currently running calibration tests before they begin full operations.”

Flanked by two older furs, the fifteen-year-old Emperor nodded. “That’s great news,” Vladmir said. He glanced at the roebuck to his left. “Director?”

‘M’ smiled. “There is ample security around each site to prevent, ah, ‘malcontents’ from damaging or destroying the converters.” He glanced past the leopard to the thin, almost effeminate-looking wolf on Vladmir’s right. “Comment, Prime Minister?”

The wolf smirked. “None, Director,” he said in a voice that matched his form. He had been the deputy to the previous Prime Minister and had shed no tears when the fox and his family had perished in a shuttle crash on Afrodite. The usual rounds of bargaining and sometimes literal backstabbing had ensued, and he’d ended up on top.

Now that he was in the top job in the Imperial government, he was determined to stay there as long as he possibly could. He’d already revealed evidence of his predecessor’s corruption and had thrown his complete support to the Emperor’s idea of greening Terra. His appearing to be ‘persuaded’ to go along also meant that he could claim a moral high ground while stifling naysayers in the legislature.

It also made all his predecessors look bad, which wasn’t a bad thing.

“When the converters begin operations,” the Prime Minister asked, “what will be next?”

Vladmir glanced at Chen, who instructed the 3-D image to stop and flatten out. Bright spots appeared on the resulting map. “There are areas of contamination that my teams are prioritizing for cleanup or removal.”

“Contamination?” Vladmir asked.

“Radioactive materials, chemicals, and biological pathogens,” the zebra replied. “This area is of particular concern,” he said, gesturing to the site of the onetime capital of the Noramunion. His fingertip hovered over where Atlanta once stood. “The place has been under containment for centuries, and Deus knows what we’ll find when we start surveying.”

“We may have to consider the use of antimatter warheads,” ‘M’ observed, “but that would be a matter for the Admiral-General.”

The Prime Minister’s nosepad blanched. “Surely it won’t come to that.”

“It might, sir,” Chen said. “The use of mutagenic chemicals, pathogens and radiologic weapons - well, we just don’t know. It wouldn’t be as bad as the Astrakhan Goo,” he said, citing an incident several centuries ago when a self-replicating nanobot infestation had to be dealt with by the application of nuclear warheads. The resulting glassy spot was still visible from orbit, if one knew where to look. “But some old mathematical projections are not pleasant reading.”

At the back of the room stood the holographic avatar of Mei, one of Terra’s strategic planning AIs. The sow had a politely neutral smile on her simulated face, her uniform just so, and ready to answer any question.

She was sharing the meeting in real time with the other two AIs, Avril and Shamir. The trine would analyze things afterward.

“Mei?” Vladmir asked.

The avatar vanished, to reappear beside Chen. “Yes, Majesty?”

“Do you have anything to add?”

Mei smiled. “No, Sir. Chen-jih has been working closely with us.”

“Good. The only way we can get this done is by working together,” Vladmir said in a firm tone.