THE NEW EARTH - 1
Copyright 2007 by Carl Mason
All rights reserved. Other than downloading one copy for strictly personal enjoyment, no part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for reviews, without the written permission of the author. "The New Earth" is strictly fictional. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. As in real life, however, sexual themes unfold gradually. Comments on the story are appreciated and may be addressed to the author at carl_mason@comcast.net
If you would like to read additional stories by this author, please turn to the "Authors/Prolific Authors" link at the beginning of the Nifty Archive or in the left margin of the Gay stories index.
This story contains descriptions of sexual contact between males, both adults and teenagers. As such, it is homoerotic fiction designed for the personal enjoyment of legal, hopefully mature, adults. If you are not of legal age to read such material, if those in power and/or those whom you trust treat it as illegal, or if it would create unresolvable moral dilemmas in your life, please leave. Finally, remember that maturity generally demands safe sex.
CHAPTER 1
(The Sound of Unsheathed Swords)
Field Marshall Alexios, Liaison Officer of the Tacian government to The New Earth's Fifth Military District, stood with General Patterson on Patriots' Hill in the midst of Old Boston. Around them rose the ruins of the great city that had been devastated in the Canmuton subjugation of Earth in the year A.D. 2216. Patriots' Hill - overlooking a large cleared plain that once had been the Boston Common - was itself formed of rubble cleared from the downtown area, including both State Houses and other historic buildings. Today, two hundred fifty years later, i.e., in the year 2466, Earth had been free for fifty years and was rearming for self-defense with the help of the Tacian Alliance. Unrestored, now an Historic Park, Old Boston had temporarily been assigned to the New Earth Defense Forces (NEDF) for training in urban warfare.
"I feared that your young men might have lost their valor during the long night of your captivity, General," Alexios said quietly to General Patterson, Commandant of the Fifth Military District. "However more important, spirit is much easier lost than physical strength. As I look down at those hundreds of young men, however - bronzed, muscular, vigorous in their youth and in their determination to preserve their regained liberty - my fears may have been for naught."
"Let us thank your people for much of that," Patterson murmured smoothly. "It might well have been another century before we could have prevailed alone. Your young died helping us lift the Canmuton yoke. Your fleet made the difference in at least three battles and held their allies at bay. Your treasure paid our volunteers and stiffened their backbones. Today, you are not only helping the NEDF to rearm, but are generously advising us concerning the skills needed by the modern warrior. Some day, a great statue will stand on this plain, marking the debt we owe our Tacian allies."
The Field Marshal smiled quietly, thinking that the General's words were, perhaps, a bit much. These willful, unruly, self-centered Earthlings hadn't changed THAT much over two and a half centuries! Still, a rearmed Earth in debt to Tacia was an important element in its plans for the immediate future. While still dangerously powerful, the Canmuton Federation increasingly resembled a paper tiger. Its days of glory were drawing to a close. One good push... Focusing his scattered thoughts, Marshall Alexios resumed his probing, asking how the District's youth were taking to Tacia's "Spartan" military model.
Realizing that he had gone a bit far in his earlier comments - and that the Marshal was both a distinguished soldier and a decent person...for a Tacian - General Patterson softened his approach. Speaking only of miliary training in the 5th and 6th Military Districts, i.e., in that which had been the former United States of America in the days before the Earth reorganized itself into one planetary federation, Patterson smiled wryly. Admitting that his people had never been the most disciplined in the known universe, he reminded Alexios that the central government had never been able to take guns away from the citizens. Hence, during the Canmuton occupation, the citizenry had been able to take what was necessary to survive from their overlords. It was something like Ireland in the days of the English occupation. Canmuton forces simply didn't go outside the major centers or their bases without massive air and armored support - and even then they had had some unpleasant surprises!"
Continuing, he added, "Whipping them back into some semblance of a disciplined armed force demanded 'active' approaches that stressed high competition and calls to brotherhood." "Yes," the Marshal murmured, "and what of the nudity we require of our heavy infantry?" "No problem," General Patterson replied. "The sexual development of our species creates tremendous pressures for "preening" - for showing off their bodies - among our initial enlistees, i.e., young men in their late teens and early twenties. When it's made common practice and developing superior physiques is rewarded, we find that it creates no outstanding problems." When accepted as a young man, it continues to be accepted by those older. "And what of our tradition of homosexuality in the training of our young soldiers?" the Marshal continued thoughtfully. "Surely, that is not consistent with most of your history."
"I respect your knowledge of our cultural history," the General murmured. "You are, of course, correct. That feature has caused problems for us. Nevertheless, with your counsel, we are working it out. Most of our religious traditions did initially oppose homosexuality. Nevertheless, they also widely opposed the status given women in the centuries before the Canmuton conquest. Our approach has been to restore the leadership of men in our society and to recognize the official status of organized religion. For instance, religion is guaranteed a place in the military training curriculum. In return, religious leaders now generally tolerate homosexual activity, especially during the exploration of deep space. Furthermore, they quietly allow our male children to be removed from their mothers before puberty to live with other boys and begin their military training. At age eleven, though it isn't officially discussed, each boy is paired with an older single man in his early to mid 20s who becomes his teacher, mentor and, often, his lover. As with the ancient Spartans, we believe that it is the key to the ferocity with which our heavy infantry will fight to the death."
"I did not realize that you had progressed so far," the Marshal said, fingering his mustache. "You have my respect. Nevertheless, speaking frankly, I also realize that yours is a highly individualistic people much given to force. You face challenges. I wonder if we might go down on the field and speak with some of the young men we see engaged in their training? Allow me to volunteer my personal guard for our protection." "I stand at your service, Field Marshal," General Patterson replied. "However, I assure you that no guard is necessary for us down on that field!" With that, he respectfully placed his hand on the Tacian's arm and guided him down the hill and onto the Old Common.
(Pounding on the Shields)
The two senior officers had no sooner stepped foot on the Old Common than great horns sounded and all training ceased. The youths, aged 11-17 came to strict attention and began cheering and respectfully pounding on their shields with the handles of their short swords as the Field Marshall and the General walked freely among them. The younger soldiers, those from 18 to roughly 24, stood at attention, holding their weapons vertically in front of their bodies. All were nude other than the officers who wore nothing more than bright cloaks. Their muscular, sweat-slicked bodies shone brightly in the morning sun.
Marshal Alexios stopped suddenly in front of a particularly beautiful mid teen. "Tell me, young man," he said severely, "why are you playing with sword and shield when you will be learning to use the most destructive weapons in the world in the near future?" Two or three of the boys standing nearby snickered, but were frozen by the glares of their fellows. "Discipline, sir. We must discipline ourselves physically if we are to serve The New Earth. We are also learning the skills of close combat," the boy barked. "I shall never be given command if I cannot learn to accept commands immediately and without question. We must work together, learning to place the good of the group above the desires of the individual." "Well said," the Marshall retorted, affectionately placing a hand on the side of the youngster's face. "Well said. Is your erastes [plural: erastai; the young soldier assigned to him as a friend, confidant and, if mutually desired, his sexual tutor] present?" A curly-haired young soldier snapped to attention and saluted by slapping his right fist against his left pec. "Here, sir!" he barked. "Do you recognize how important your responsibilities are, soldier?" the Marshal growled. "Yes, SIR!" the young man barked. "I would give my life rather than hurt Jonathan or see him injured. I am trying to be the best friend a man could ever have...and a teacher of that which brings pleasure and solidarity among the troops." The Marshal came to attention and gravely saluted the young man, whose faced turned quite pink with embarrassment. Turning to the General, Marshal Alexios nodded and murmured, "You are doing well, comrade." His face showing great pleasure at the generous compliment, Patterson bowed slightly, saying, "And now, sir, may I suggest that we go over to the other side of the field where the bulk of the younger soldiers are being trained."
Making their way through the ranks of the healthy, bronzed, muscular youngsters, returning their smiles and youthful shouts of welcome with honest pleasure and acceptance, they finally reached the ranks of older teens and men engaged in more deadly pursuits. These were the 18-24 year-old men for whom military service had begun in earnest. The platoons that they were watching were receiving instruction in the care and use of the 660 Offschatz Assault Weapon and would move from there into the ruins of the city.
"These young men are probably the finest product of our culture, free again for fifty years. On your direction, Marshal Alexios, I shall signal one of the company commanders to detach a squad for your inspection. You might note that we take them into the Armed Forces at 18, rather than at 20 as you do on Tacia. As is the case in your Federation, however, they will live together in small groups, eating and sleeping in public barracks until they reach the age of sixty. We are already discovering that most of the young men in their later 20s marry and have children. By way of contrast, the 18- 24 year-olds are fully occupied by their training and service as junior officers. If they have the requisite temperament, they may also serve as erastai for those younger. They are eligible for citizenship with full rights and duties at the age of 30."
"Very well, General. I wonder if we might meet that group that has just finished reassembling the Offschatz...the one with the tall Lieutenant in the red marines' cloak." While his men remained at strict attention, the Lieutenant in question, came over to the officers and saluted. Powerfully built, he was, perhaps, 26 or 27 years old. Lieutenant Karl Farnsworth had a girl, but they had not yet discussed a formal marriage. He was delighted to present his men, for they represented something of an experiment in the 5th Military District. Specifically, rather than restricting their membership to those with roots in the former eastern United States, by design his platoon included young men from various parts of the planet. (Thanks to a microchip invented by the Tacians and surgically implanted in the ear, different languages - and even different dialects - were mutually understandable in conversation.) The platoon was new; all of the men other than their sergeant, Jack Bennett, were 18 or 19.
"Several of the men in the squad are presently on assignment," the Lieutenant said. "Nevertheless, these young men are worthy representatives of the top platoon of Company B and I am honored to present them." With that, he guided the officers over to his men, who saluted as the officers approached, and then continued. "Men, this is General Patterson, Commandant of the Fifth Military District. Standing beside him is Field Marshal Alexios, Liaison Officer of the Tacian government to our military district. In turn, he introduced Justin Lawrence, from Connecticut, Trevor King from York in England, Hans Grimm from the city of Tieferwald am Main in South Central Germany, and Petr Krillov from St. Petersburg in Russia. He completed his introductions with the presentation of their sergeant, Jack Bennett, a sturdy carrot-topped American, 23 years old, from Brooklyn, New York. Other than Grimm who was 19, the other young men were 18. Each saluted as he was introduced.
At the close of the short exercise in showing the interest of the top brass in their men, Marshal Alexios turned to General Patterson and noted that his Cadet Adjutant was ill. Were he willing, he wondered if Justin Lawrence might serve him through noon tomorrow. Justin, of course, was ecstatic, especially when a tour of the Tacian flagship, the Star Cruiser Orestes, and an opportunity to meet young Tacians were mentioned. Though without his dress uniform, the Marshall smilingly promised him appropriate dress when they reach the Orestes. Until then his camouflage fatigues would do. The Marshal spoke with Lieutenant Farnsworth for a second, the sergeant checked the young man's readiness, and they were off. Later asked by a colleague why he approved the Marshal's request, Lieutenant Farnsworth snorted that even less than generals, lieutenants to do not oppose the requests of field marshals. Besides, he said, the young man would return only slightly the worse for the wear and having additional knowledge of the real world. Part of his education...
(To Be Continued)