Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 481: Hysole

Somehow he had gained more chains and restraints. So as he was escorted down the ramp toward prison he would be held; he was not surprised to find heavily armed guards all along his path. It would seem they were not taking any more chances with him.

The planet he would be imprisoned on was the Victorium Prison planet of Hysole. It was the prison planet that held all of the Victorium prisoners of a variety of crimes. How much freedom they had on the planet depended on the severity of their crime.

Jace was actually being walked from the spaceport where the transport that took him down to the planet landed and toward a bunker where he was going to be taken deep down into the planet’s depths. Far away from any other prisoners or anyone else for that matter.

It was essentially the most secure it could get on this planet. There were a variety of people on the planet getting a similar treatment. Such as a member of the Elder Council that had been captured. Along with a serial killer who had killed over a thousand people before being captured. There were a few more but he only glanced at the information about where he was being held.

On Hysole there were levels. Depending on what security was necessary for those held and the severity of the crime. So a pickpocket would have the shortest sentence and least amount of security. But a murder would have a longer sentence and be held in a more secure section.

At the top of the pecking order on flying bases, controlling the raised areas that served as spaceports, and manning the bunkers that served as way stations were the prison guards and personnel. Almost every single one had combat experience and were typically retired or on suspension from the military as punishment. The Warden was in charge of them, which up until recently was a person. But now the being in charge is an Artificial Intelligence program that used to do a similar job for the Xenar.

Right below them, at the level with least amount of security were those that had been caught committing one or two crimes. They were given free reign of the planet and could just go about anywhere that the guards were not keeping secure. Even visit the more secure areas of the planet. They usually only had an ankle monitor to keep track of them. They were called the Level One Prisoners.

The next level was required to stay in certain areas. They were typically repeat offenders of non-violent crimes and people who committed three or more crimes before being caught. They had to stay in a mandated area and had a shock ankle monitor to keep track of them. They are required to check in with the nearest guard station at least once per month or suffer possible extension of their time in prison. They were still given free reign to roam in their mandated area. These were the Level Two Prisoners.

The next level was where more restrictions appeared. They were people who committed violent crimes of any kind. They had patches of wilderness they had to stay confined to with weekly check ups. A shock and tracking collar that was around their neck or another critical part of their body. These were the Level Three Prisoners.

Then there were the prisoners who committed crimes that had lethal consequences. They had shock and tracking collars as well and were all contained within camps where they had to support themselves and were only provided with the most basic of necessities. They were monitored daily and would be electrocuted painfully if they stepped out of line. This was the Level Four Prisoners.

Next were the Level Five Prisoners. These were the scum of society who had no chance of leaving the planet and were imprisoned for life. They were kept in the pits which were located around the planet. They consisted of people who had killed several people such as gang members, serial killers, or insurgents.

They had shock and tracking collars as well. But they also had a tracking device and explosive implanted near their spine as well. The pits were monitored and watched constantly from stations on the surface. But the guards only sent down food and did not interfere in anything that occurred.

The final and less used level of prisoner were the Level Zeros. They were people who were protected or committed crimes too violent or awful for them to be allowed near other people. Which is why they are usually located deep underground in bunkers with basic necessities. They typically had a wrist device with a built in bomb and tracking device.

But since Jace was not officially charged and was only being temporarily kept here he just had a wrist device that could be used for communication and tracking his location. As he marched down off the space port landing pad he looked at the surrounding area and saw at the perimeter were several people in various colored coveralls that were watching him.

Those would be the other prisoners. The color of the crime depicted the crime they committed. As he walked toward the entrance to the bunker where he would be kept temporarily he noticed a pair of people standing outside of it. One was a gray haired woman with a gnarly burn scar covering half of her face. She was dressed in the formal uniform of the prison guards. But besides that he actually recognized her.

Then there was a Tacole standing next to her who was holding a set of clothes. He was the one that stepped forward. "We will take the prisoner from here." He handed a data pad to his current guards and the prison guards took possession of the chains and then began removing most of them. Leaving on only a pair of cuffs.

"I would not do that. This one is especially dangerous. You know he has tortured people, correct?" One of the guards from the ship pointed out.

Jace scoffed while a few of the prison guards around chuckled. The woman was the one to answer. "We have determined he is not a flight risk. Besides from both his record and reputation, if he wanted to escape he would not need that much effort. Colonel Jace, if you will, please follow us to the elevator. You can get changed as we head down to your cell."

Jace nodded and then followed the Tacole with the woman walking behind him. As he walked the prison guards all began saluting in the Victorium Military pose. But there were a few humans in the mix that did the former Vexical Military salute. He glanced back and could see the confused expressions on the guards that brought him here.

As soon as the door closed as he entered the surface building of the bunker the woman behind him began explaining. "Many of the prison guards and personnel, even the Warden, know that there is something wrong with those charges. Several of us were sent here to be guards because we used excessive force or tortured people. So we recognize the necessity for it sometimes."

Jace smirked as they arrived at an elevator and entered the cabin before the doors closed. "You do as well. I recognized you when we walked up. There were not many on Fenrir’s shortlist for people with an expertise in ’persuasion’ as they used to call it." Jace told her as the woman reached over and uncuffed him.

The Tacole handed him his undergarments and gray jumpsuit. Jace sighed as he began removing his clothes he saw the Tacole look toward the wall of the elevator while the woman watched him with a tinge of amusement in her eyes. "Yes well... I made a mistake in turning down her job offer. Apparently both the Human Militia and the Victorium Military see my expertise as something that is morally subject. So instead of being imprisoned I am stationed here permanently until I have retired."

Jace nodded as he pulled on the gray jumpsuit. "They are forcing you into retirement. Understandable. The Victorium are very... soft when it comes to their tactics. Which is why so many rebellions were able to occur back-to-back. It was also the reason MILD exists now. With that being said, it would be a waste to keep someone as talented as yourself confined to this prison planet."

The elevator doors opened and the woman stepped out and led Jace down the hall to a metal vault door that was open. The Tacole branched off and walked into another hall while the woman led him past the metal vault. Inside was a large open area with multiple areas. A workspace where he could tinker. A study with equipment he could look up information at. A full kitchen and dining area. A bedroom and bathroom. Then the final space was a monitor station with its own bed.

"This seems excessive..." Jace pointed out with a sigh as the giant metal door began closing them in slowly.

"The Warden quickly set up the best amenities for you. There are no cameras in here but I can see the areas leading into this bunker." The woman explained with a grunt of amusement. "As well if it was not obvious I will be rooming for you with the duration of your stay here. But your first court hearing will be in three days."