The Scions of Tellus Mater “If I may interrupt General…every action is like throwing a stone into a pond. We Scions like to know where every ripple is headed and how many grains of sand it will erode from distant shores. This push toward the edge of Imperial territory will have repercussions that you cannot yet imagine.” – Lady Ardalis, Master Shaper, in a televised debate on “Terra Tonight!” five years ago. The Scions of Tellus Mater will be the first to tell you that they are the only reason mankind has been able to spread amongst the stars successfully. Getting there is one thing, a scion will tell you, but living on an alien world is when the real work begins. The Scions of Tellus Mater are both a blend of environmentalists, terraformers, geologists and biologists. They are responsible for shaping new worlds to allow mankind to survive there; without destroying the existing ecology. They see it as an art form; sculpting and painting with seed ship and atmospheric processing plants on the largest canvases ever known. One benefit of the teachings of the Scions is that the best of them are adept at taking the “long view” and able to see how the smallest ripple can affect a world, or a people, for generations to come. They are able to also process a massive amount of information, and keep it straight in their heads, allowing them to keep in mind the relationships between a thousand different species at the same time. The Scions have a heavy hand in the politics of the Protectorate, as it is they who truly control which worlds are ready for colonization and have a large say in setting population guidelines. They also reap massive profits from made-to-order terraforming operations, and are key advisors for planning planetary expeditions and even invasions of strange, alien worlds. Enjoy and let me know what you think. See previous posts for other clans of humanity from my Freelancers universe.