Fall of shadows, p.18
Fall of Shadows, page 18
part #7 of Steven Gordon Series
‘Great.’ He went over to Steven and shook his hand. ‘Looking forward to your big day?’
‘No, scared shitless.’
‘You’ll be fine. Where’s that sidekick of yours?’
‘Buzz?’
‘The other one.’
‘They are both on board the ship.’
‘Not important enough?’
‘Very limited seating.’
Both doctors Gordon jumped a little when a Modloch usher came in and called for Steven and Komoru, while another guided the other Human’s to their seats. They had a hard time absorbing how big they were.
Brian sighed when he left, ‘So that’s a Modloch.’
Mary nudged him. It was then he noticed he was surrounded by aliens. Real aliens. ‘Oh!’
Mary squeezed his arm tight, ‘Isn’t it great?’
He laughed. ‘That’s one way of putting it.’
The Albany Ambassador finally took the stage. He looked pale and visibly trembled. Every species wondered what he would say. Normally his role would have been filled by a representative of the race that initially sponsored the new Federation member’s bid, and more often than not the opportunity was taken to really draw it out; to let their voice be heard. It was the first time that an enemy of the newly accepted race had made such a speech. The gathering went deathly silent.
He lifted his arms and his head, ‘All beings. The Albany would like to formally invite the Human race to join with us in the great Federation.’ His arms and head dropped. After a few seconds, he turned and stepped of the dais. The gathering was left stunned for a moment. The applause was slow to pick up, and never really reached any kind of crescendo before petering out.
Ushers quickly proceeded to place a large lectern on the dais. A master of ceremony laid out the tablets and then invited the council’s president to speak.
He stepped forward on to the dais. The murmuring ceased.
‘This day is a historic moment in galactic history. It is the first time a race of meat eaters have ever joined the Federation. When I first heard of the Human race, I was shocked to discover that any race could live in the solar system with the killer sun. That they were meat eaters was also a great shock. As a race of herbivores, we were always threatened as children to be fed to a race of meat eaters, by our mothers, when we would not behave.’ There was a murmur of laughter throughout the gathering.
‘I was threatened a lot.’ The laughter increased. ‘When the Great Modloch Emperor invited these Humans across the great barrier, I was mortified, shocked, stunned. I wanted to scream “what are you doing?” Now we know why he is known as the Great Modloch Emperor.’ He turned and bowed to Darrick, who gave a small nod of his head in exchange.
‘I didn’t really begin to understand what he saw in Humans until they arrived at my home world with their animals. It showed me what we had lost. After the visit, I spent a long time in our archives, looking through the records of the species that had once inhabited my own world. It was then I truly began to feel their loss. I sat back and wondered why the Humans had bothered to save the other species. I visited them before they left. I watched Humans get inside the cages of animals that could have easily killed them. I saw the love they had for their charges and the love and trust these simple creatures had for the Humans.
‘For weeks, months, I wondered if things could have been different on my world. Alas, I could come up with nothing my ancestors hadn’t already tried. Then I asked myself: why not? Why couldn’t my ancestors preserve those species? The answer was always the same. It is because we are herbivores. Because we need every last piece of soil we have to grow grass. We simply could not preserve them. I am quite sure I am not the only one here who asked themselves this question.’
He saw more than a few agreed with him. ‘So what is it about these meat eaters? What is it that gave them the desire to look after even the wild species on their planet? I have researched and discovered many things. To begin with, the area required to feed one family for a year on my planet will feed a small village of Humans for the same length of time. They don’t just eat meat. They also eat many types of vegetables and fruit. Some of these fruit and vegetables fit into the palm of my hand, yet provide more nutrition than half a bale of hay. What a Human eats in a whole day wouldn’t even half fill my breakfast bowl.
‘They have not been immune to hunger, famine or drought over the centuries. Yet they endured. They improved their agriculture, and as their technology advanced, they practiced birth control, so that the land they had could sustain them. Thus they have been able to better look after their home world, and do with it what many of us have never been able to do: keep the diversity of life, the flora and fauna, to preserve it, for all.
‘It was these things alone that received my vote. Yet we still tested them. We tested their resolve, their political flexibility, and the courage of their fighting men. They not only passed every test, in many they surpassed our expectations. There is hardly a single race within the Federation that has not profited by their bid. Two wars spanning three thousand years between them have come to an end. Hundreds of thousands of miles cut off our trade routes. Two dangerous areas of space now safe for all. A race long since believed extinct, one of the founding races of the Federation, rediscovered and freed from slavery.
‘These are just a few of the things Humanity has brought us. By winning this bid for Federation status, they have won the right to preserve their planet and the diversity of life on it, for all time, or as long as the Federation stands. I will now invite representatives from the planet Earth to sign the official treaty.’
He stepped to the side a little. ‘First, Michael Montgomery, the Earth’s planetary representative within the Federation.’ Michael Montgomery stepped up on to the dais and bowed. There were stomps and grunts of approval. ‘Then, the amazing Goodwill Ambassadors from Earth, who also represent the manufacturing base of the planet, Steven Gordon and Komoru Kaizu.’ The reception they received was far more vocal than the President’s and both flushed with embarrassment. ‘Lastly, their military representative, Admiral Baxter.’ Baxter received a different form of applause. There was more foot stomping in unison, and some form of bassy chant.
Steven had to take more than one deep breath before his hand settled enough for him to be able to sign the document. He wished it was on paper. Komoru signed after him and then Admiral Baxter last. The representatives from the Federation then filed up and also signed it.
The President then held up the tablet for all to see.
‘This now concludes the signing of the treaty. Please join me in vocally welcoming Humanity into our family.’
Now they were able to give voice. The whole amphitheatre vibrated with noise.
chapter 42
Steven was still feeling overheated and sweated freely. His parents joined them at the reception. There were hugs all around. Michael Montgomery shook their hands warmly.
‘How does it feel to be the first civilians through the barrier?’
‘More than a little privileged,’ Brian answered.
‘You both deserve it.’
The Earth’s President suddenly felt a presence and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He turned slowly and swallowed hard. ‘Emperor Darrick,’ he bowed hurriedly. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘I just wished to congratulate you in person.’
‘You were a great help sir. Thank you very much.’
‘I considered it more of a friendly boot in the right direction Mr President.’
‘That is true as well.’
‘Excuse me, are you Charlie’s friend?
Darrick’s head twisted slowly downwards, ‘Who would you be to interrupt an Emperor and a President?’
She stuck her hand out, ‘I am Mary Gordon.’
His eyebrows went up, ‘Ah! The one Charlie calls his second mother, and the person he started the PD Company of Earth with?’
She beamed with pride, ‘That’s me, and this is my husband Brian.’
Darrick took her hand and gave it a slight shake. Mary was mesmerised by how large his hand was.
‘It is a pleasure to meet you, Doctors Gordon. Charlie talks about both of you with great affection. Are his own parents here?’
‘I am afraid not.’
‘When you return to Earth, would you please extend a personal invitation from myself for them to visit. We are all family now.’
Mary flushed with pleasure, ‘I am sure they will be delighted.’
‘Your first born has also done very well, and I approve of his choice of mate. She has great strength that one.’
Mary was delighted, ‘Thank you for your kind words.’
‘Will you be staying long?’
‘I am not sure. We will be visiting your city ship soon.’
‘Then please come and dine with myself and my family.’
‘We would be so honoured. Thank you very much.’
‘Let my people know when you have arrived at the city ship. They will make arrangements.’
‘I most certainly will.’
‘Before you go, let me introduce you to Ne´, he is the Grand Commander of the Federation’s military forces.’
Darrick dragged the Gordons away with him. Ne´ was also delighted to meet the Doctors Gordon. He spent ten minutes with them and also extended an invitation to talk about business at a later date. It wasn’t long before both Emperors had to go attend their duties. The Gordons shook hands with both.
Mary sighed as she watched them leave. ‘I think they are so both extraordinarily handsome.’
Brian scratched his head, ‘Beauty, my dear, is in the eye of the beholder.’
Her head snapped round, ‘That is so cruel of you dear.’
‘Not really.’ He lifted his head, ‘Where has Steven got to now?’
‘They are all so big, it makes it hard to find him.’
They eventually spotted him and the President, and went over.
The President turned and smiled, ‘How did you find the two Emperors?’
‘Wonderful,’ Mary breathed.
‘They frighten the hell out of me. Especially the Modloch one.’
‘Are they both Emperors?’ Brian asked.
‘Oh yes, Emperor Ne´ Langus gave up his imperial crown when he became the Grand Commander of all of the Federation forces. They want the Modloch Emperor on the grand council, but he has steadfastly refused. You should never underestimate that pair. They may not be on the grand council, but they both pack an impressive punch, and together they are beyond formidable. They are also best friends, or as near as Emperors can get to friends.’
‘We owe him a lot.’
‘We have already given him a lot.’
‘That is true, I suppose. He hasn’t asked for anything for a while though,’ Brian turned to Mary, ‘Has he?’
‘Not a thing.’
‘Hardly surprising! In the past year he has conquered near a dozen worlds and is now taxing them. Probably doesn’t need all that much. It was Emperor Darrick who forced the council to give us Federation status early.’
‘How did he do that?’
‘By causing a huge humanitarian crisis that they could not cope with. I use the word humanitarian lightly, but I know of no other word to replace it. They took over all the Albany worlds and forced them to evacuate, overwhelming the original home world. Billions became refugees. Many turned to other worlds for help. In the end they asked him to return the worlds to the Albany. Our status as full Federation members was his price.’
Mary blinked a few times, ‘So that’s why it came so quickly. We were on track anyway.’
‘Maybe, but it probably saved us a lot more conflict.’
‘That is true.’
‘Yet I fear we are simply standing on the edge of the precipice. Our young people will be sent out to fight, and we will have little or no say on the matter.’
She could see it concerned the President, ‘Yes, and if our citizens wish to join the Federation, we simply have no say in the matter. That is their right as Federation citizens. I can see many people joining up just for the adventure.’
‘As can I. However, our education system isn’t up to Federation standards. Those who wish to join as pilots or engineers will have to come through our forces first. They aren’t geared up for Humans really, not even grunts.’
Mary smiled, ‘Then there may well be a lot of disappointed people.’
‘Hundreds of thousands, I would imagine.’ He smiled back. ‘We need to educate our educators. We need volunteers to come here to the Federation and go to school here. Hundreds, maybe thousands. The problem is they would have to start right back at elementary school, go through the system again. It could take ten, twenty years.’
‘Not really!’
‘Sorry?’
‘You only really need a few dozen. One for all of the major subjects. They take a lesson, they get the material, they record it. They send the recording and the material home, and teachers here pass it on. Or we could hire educators here and have them teach in a virtual classroom back home.’
‘Can we do that?’
Mary turned to Steven, ‘Don’t you have a virtual class at your academy Steven?’
‘Yes, just the one, once a month. One of the top Modloch professors. He holds a seminar from the Modloch home world. It works quite well now we have the new communication satellites in place. It’s a Modloch system, used to give pupils on distant planets advanced learning from the top professors in the Empire. He answers any questions my junior navigators ask of him.’
The President thought it over for a moment. ‘I may have another suggestion. How many space stations do we have available?’
‘We have three finished, ready for whatever task is required of them.’ Mary supplied him with the answer.
‘What if we tow one across the barrier, into Modloch space? We can invite teachers from all over the galaxy in every subject. Pay them an extortionate rate. They can do this virtual teaching, plus we can invite pupils from Earth. Run it like a private boarding school. We could send educators, pupils, divide it up into different sections.’
The idea took off, and soon they got lost in the discussion.
chapter 43
Charlie and the crew had watched the ceremony on the screen, along with the rest of the galaxy. He felt relief that it was now done. He cast his eyes over his bridge crew, and realised that he was the only incompetent one there. Each of these girls was highly educated and at the top of their game. So why was he in charge of them? It was a question he had been asking himself lately. Much of the time he had no clue as to what they were discussing. The only ones who didn’t seem to notice were the girls themselves. The only thing he had more of was life experience. That, he admitted, he had in buckets.
Buzz appeared and sat beside him. Charlie realised that Buzz was in a similar predicament to the one he was in.
‘That time already Buzz?’
‘Yup, sure is bud.’
Charlie leaned in close, ‘Do you ever get the feeling when you’re sitting here that you are totally outsmarted by these kids?’
Buzz leaned in, ‘Just don’t say it out to loud. If they realise that, we’re in deep shit.’
Charlie laughed, ‘I’ll remember that.’
The rest of the shift began to appear. Charlie stood, ‘I’ll leave it to you Buzz.’
‘Did you see the ceremony?’
‘Aye, feels like someone took a load off.’
‘Know the feeling. Later.’
‘Aye, catch you later.’
He had barely sat down in his quarters when Babes got in touch with him.
‘Charlie, you are getting a secure call from the Gisha home planet. It has been labelled urgent.’
He thought about refusing to take it for a few seconds, but realised that Wiola may well call Steven and make a scene.
‘All right, I will take it in the secure room.’
It took him a couple of minutes to arrive. Wiola appeared on screen.
‘Charlie!’
‘Hello Wiola, you look like shit.’
She groaned aloud, ‘Charlie, the baby is ill. He won’t stop screaming. The doctor thinks he isn’t getting enough nourishment from our milk. Help, please help!’
Charlie thought it over for a few minutes, ‘There is milk my friend had to use when his child wasn’t getting enough nourishment from his mother’s milk. It is called SMA Gold Cap. You may get it from the PD company of Earth, there are a few babies on this side of the barrier now.’
‘Can you check for me please?’
‘Give me a moment.’
Charlie made direct call. It only took him a few minutes, and he got back to Wiola.
‘They have some in stock. I am sending by fast freighter, as urgent medical supplies.’
She seemed relieved, ‘Thank you Charlie.’
‘As a matter of interest, where are you keeping the child?’
‘Here in the palace of course.’
Charlie shook his head, ‘How many staff do you have?’
‘Hundreds, maybe.’
‘You have a child that can possibly read minds, and you have it surrounded by hundreds of people. It took me time to learn to cancel out all of the noise. It almost drove me insane before I learned to control it.’
‘Oh! I didn’t think of that.’
‘Do you have somewhere very quiet, out in the country? No staff, or very few?’
‘I do have a country estate, but it still has a lot of staff.’
‘Move into the gardener’s cottage for a couple of nights, or have the child taken there with his Nanny with strict instructions.’
‘How will I know that will be effective?’
‘That’s easy. Send him up in some kind of craft with only the pilot. Just the two of them. See if he settles, and at what height, distance from the ground. You know, think about it, work it out?’
‘From how far away can you hear someone’s thoughts?’
‘A very long way, but it takes time to develop that skill. You have to concentrate. Right now the poor wee thing is probably being bombarded with the thoughts of thousands of people.’
‘No, scared shitless.’
‘You’ll be fine. Where’s that sidekick of yours?’
‘Buzz?’
‘The other one.’
‘They are both on board the ship.’
‘Not important enough?’
‘Very limited seating.’
Both doctors Gordon jumped a little when a Modloch usher came in and called for Steven and Komoru, while another guided the other Human’s to their seats. They had a hard time absorbing how big they were.
Brian sighed when he left, ‘So that’s a Modloch.’
Mary nudged him. It was then he noticed he was surrounded by aliens. Real aliens. ‘Oh!’
Mary squeezed his arm tight, ‘Isn’t it great?’
He laughed. ‘That’s one way of putting it.’
The Albany Ambassador finally took the stage. He looked pale and visibly trembled. Every species wondered what he would say. Normally his role would have been filled by a representative of the race that initially sponsored the new Federation member’s bid, and more often than not the opportunity was taken to really draw it out; to let their voice be heard. It was the first time that an enemy of the newly accepted race had made such a speech. The gathering went deathly silent.
He lifted his arms and his head, ‘All beings. The Albany would like to formally invite the Human race to join with us in the great Federation.’ His arms and head dropped. After a few seconds, he turned and stepped of the dais. The gathering was left stunned for a moment. The applause was slow to pick up, and never really reached any kind of crescendo before petering out.
Ushers quickly proceeded to place a large lectern on the dais. A master of ceremony laid out the tablets and then invited the council’s president to speak.
He stepped forward on to the dais. The murmuring ceased.
‘This day is a historic moment in galactic history. It is the first time a race of meat eaters have ever joined the Federation. When I first heard of the Human race, I was shocked to discover that any race could live in the solar system with the killer sun. That they were meat eaters was also a great shock. As a race of herbivores, we were always threatened as children to be fed to a race of meat eaters, by our mothers, when we would not behave.’ There was a murmur of laughter throughout the gathering.
‘I was threatened a lot.’ The laughter increased. ‘When the Great Modloch Emperor invited these Humans across the great barrier, I was mortified, shocked, stunned. I wanted to scream “what are you doing?” Now we know why he is known as the Great Modloch Emperor.’ He turned and bowed to Darrick, who gave a small nod of his head in exchange.
‘I didn’t really begin to understand what he saw in Humans until they arrived at my home world with their animals. It showed me what we had lost. After the visit, I spent a long time in our archives, looking through the records of the species that had once inhabited my own world. It was then I truly began to feel their loss. I sat back and wondered why the Humans had bothered to save the other species. I visited them before they left. I watched Humans get inside the cages of animals that could have easily killed them. I saw the love they had for their charges and the love and trust these simple creatures had for the Humans.
‘For weeks, months, I wondered if things could have been different on my world. Alas, I could come up with nothing my ancestors hadn’t already tried. Then I asked myself: why not? Why couldn’t my ancestors preserve those species? The answer was always the same. It is because we are herbivores. Because we need every last piece of soil we have to grow grass. We simply could not preserve them. I am quite sure I am not the only one here who asked themselves this question.’
He saw more than a few agreed with him. ‘So what is it about these meat eaters? What is it that gave them the desire to look after even the wild species on their planet? I have researched and discovered many things. To begin with, the area required to feed one family for a year on my planet will feed a small village of Humans for the same length of time. They don’t just eat meat. They also eat many types of vegetables and fruit. Some of these fruit and vegetables fit into the palm of my hand, yet provide more nutrition than half a bale of hay. What a Human eats in a whole day wouldn’t even half fill my breakfast bowl.
‘They have not been immune to hunger, famine or drought over the centuries. Yet they endured. They improved their agriculture, and as their technology advanced, they practiced birth control, so that the land they had could sustain them. Thus they have been able to better look after their home world, and do with it what many of us have never been able to do: keep the diversity of life, the flora and fauna, to preserve it, for all.
‘It was these things alone that received my vote. Yet we still tested them. We tested their resolve, their political flexibility, and the courage of their fighting men. They not only passed every test, in many they surpassed our expectations. There is hardly a single race within the Federation that has not profited by their bid. Two wars spanning three thousand years between them have come to an end. Hundreds of thousands of miles cut off our trade routes. Two dangerous areas of space now safe for all. A race long since believed extinct, one of the founding races of the Federation, rediscovered and freed from slavery.
‘These are just a few of the things Humanity has brought us. By winning this bid for Federation status, they have won the right to preserve their planet and the diversity of life on it, for all time, or as long as the Federation stands. I will now invite representatives from the planet Earth to sign the official treaty.’
He stepped to the side a little. ‘First, Michael Montgomery, the Earth’s planetary representative within the Federation.’ Michael Montgomery stepped up on to the dais and bowed. There were stomps and grunts of approval. ‘Then, the amazing Goodwill Ambassadors from Earth, who also represent the manufacturing base of the planet, Steven Gordon and Komoru Kaizu.’ The reception they received was far more vocal than the President’s and both flushed with embarrassment. ‘Lastly, their military representative, Admiral Baxter.’ Baxter received a different form of applause. There was more foot stomping in unison, and some form of bassy chant.
Steven had to take more than one deep breath before his hand settled enough for him to be able to sign the document. He wished it was on paper. Komoru signed after him and then Admiral Baxter last. The representatives from the Federation then filed up and also signed it.
The President then held up the tablet for all to see.
‘This now concludes the signing of the treaty. Please join me in vocally welcoming Humanity into our family.’
Now they were able to give voice. The whole amphitheatre vibrated with noise.
chapter 42
Steven was still feeling overheated and sweated freely. His parents joined them at the reception. There were hugs all around. Michael Montgomery shook their hands warmly.
‘How does it feel to be the first civilians through the barrier?’
‘More than a little privileged,’ Brian answered.
‘You both deserve it.’
The Earth’s President suddenly felt a presence and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He turned slowly and swallowed hard. ‘Emperor Darrick,’ he bowed hurriedly. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘I just wished to congratulate you in person.’
‘You were a great help sir. Thank you very much.’
‘I considered it more of a friendly boot in the right direction Mr President.’
‘That is true as well.’
‘Excuse me, are you Charlie’s friend?
Darrick’s head twisted slowly downwards, ‘Who would you be to interrupt an Emperor and a President?’
She stuck her hand out, ‘I am Mary Gordon.’
His eyebrows went up, ‘Ah! The one Charlie calls his second mother, and the person he started the PD Company of Earth with?’
She beamed with pride, ‘That’s me, and this is my husband Brian.’
Darrick took her hand and gave it a slight shake. Mary was mesmerised by how large his hand was.
‘It is a pleasure to meet you, Doctors Gordon. Charlie talks about both of you with great affection. Are his own parents here?’
‘I am afraid not.’
‘When you return to Earth, would you please extend a personal invitation from myself for them to visit. We are all family now.’
Mary flushed with pleasure, ‘I am sure they will be delighted.’
‘Your first born has also done very well, and I approve of his choice of mate. She has great strength that one.’
Mary was delighted, ‘Thank you for your kind words.’
‘Will you be staying long?’
‘I am not sure. We will be visiting your city ship soon.’
‘Then please come and dine with myself and my family.’
‘We would be so honoured. Thank you very much.’
‘Let my people know when you have arrived at the city ship. They will make arrangements.’
‘I most certainly will.’
‘Before you go, let me introduce you to Ne´, he is the Grand Commander of the Federation’s military forces.’
Darrick dragged the Gordons away with him. Ne´ was also delighted to meet the Doctors Gordon. He spent ten minutes with them and also extended an invitation to talk about business at a later date. It wasn’t long before both Emperors had to go attend their duties. The Gordons shook hands with both.
Mary sighed as she watched them leave. ‘I think they are so both extraordinarily handsome.’
Brian scratched his head, ‘Beauty, my dear, is in the eye of the beholder.’
Her head snapped round, ‘That is so cruel of you dear.’
‘Not really.’ He lifted his head, ‘Where has Steven got to now?’
‘They are all so big, it makes it hard to find him.’
They eventually spotted him and the President, and went over.
The President turned and smiled, ‘How did you find the two Emperors?’
‘Wonderful,’ Mary breathed.
‘They frighten the hell out of me. Especially the Modloch one.’
‘Are they both Emperors?’ Brian asked.
‘Oh yes, Emperor Ne´ Langus gave up his imperial crown when he became the Grand Commander of all of the Federation forces. They want the Modloch Emperor on the grand council, but he has steadfastly refused. You should never underestimate that pair. They may not be on the grand council, but they both pack an impressive punch, and together they are beyond formidable. They are also best friends, or as near as Emperors can get to friends.’
‘We owe him a lot.’
‘We have already given him a lot.’
‘That is true, I suppose. He hasn’t asked for anything for a while though,’ Brian turned to Mary, ‘Has he?’
‘Not a thing.’
‘Hardly surprising! In the past year he has conquered near a dozen worlds and is now taxing them. Probably doesn’t need all that much. It was Emperor Darrick who forced the council to give us Federation status early.’
‘How did he do that?’
‘By causing a huge humanitarian crisis that they could not cope with. I use the word humanitarian lightly, but I know of no other word to replace it. They took over all the Albany worlds and forced them to evacuate, overwhelming the original home world. Billions became refugees. Many turned to other worlds for help. In the end they asked him to return the worlds to the Albany. Our status as full Federation members was his price.’
Mary blinked a few times, ‘So that’s why it came so quickly. We were on track anyway.’
‘Maybe, but it probably saved us a lot more conflict.’
‘That is true.’
‘Yet I fear we are simply standing on the edge of the precipice. Our young people will be sent out to fight, and we will have little or no say on the matter.’
She could see it concerned the President, ‘Yes, and if our citizens wish to join the Federation, we simply have no say in the matter. That is their right as Federation citizens. I can see many people joining up just for the adventure.’
‘As can I. However, our education system isn’t up to Federation standards. Those who wish to join as pilots or engineers will have to come through our forces first. They aren’t geared up for Humans really, not even grunts.’
Mary smiled, ‘Then there may well be a lot of disappointed people.’
‘Hundreds of thousands, I would imagine.’ He smiled back. ‘We need to educate our educators. We need volunteers to come here to the Federation and go to school here. Hundreds, maybe thousands. The problem is they would have to start right back at elementary school, go through the system again. It could take ten, twenty years.’
‘Not really!’
‘Sorry?’
‘You only really need a few dozen. One for all of the major subjects. They take a lesson, they get the material, they record it. They send the recording and the material home, and teachers here pass it on. Or we could hire educators here and have them teach in a virtual classroom back home.’
‘Can we do that?’
Mary turned to Steven, ‘Don’t you have a virtual class at your academy Steven?’
‘Yes, just the one, once a month. One of the top Modloch professors. He holds a seminar from the Modloch home world. It works quite well now we have the new communication satellites in place. It’s a Modloch system, used to give pupils on distant planets advanced learning from the top professors in the Empire. He answers any questions my junior navigators ask of him.’
The President thought it over for a moment. ‘I may have another suggestion. How many space stations do we have available?’
‘We have three finished, ready for whatever task is required of them.’ Mary supplied him with the answer.
‘What if we tow one across the barrier, into Modloch space? We can invite teachers from all over the galaxy in every subject. Pay them an extortionate rate. They can do this virtual teaching, plus we can invite pupils from Earth. Run it like a private boarding school. We could send educators, pupils, divide it up into different sections.’
The idea took off, and soon they got lost in the discussion.
chapter 43
Charlie and the crew had watched the ceremony on the screen, along with the rest of the galaxy. He felt relief that it was now done. He cast his eyes over his bridge crew, and realised that he was the only incompetent one there. Each of these girls was highly educated and at the top of their game. So why was he in charge of them? It was a question he had been asking himself lately. Much of the time he had no clue as to what they were discussing. The only ones who didn’t seem to notice were the girls themselves. The only thing he had more of was life experience. That, he admitted, he had in buckets.
Buzz appeared and sat beside him. Charlie realised that Buzz was in a similar predicament to the one he was in.
‘That time already Buzz?’
‘Yup, sure is bud.’
Charlie leaned in close, ‘Do you ever get the feeling when you’re sitting here that you are totally outsmarted by these kids?’
Buzz leaned in, ‘Just don’t say it out to loud. If they realise that, we’re in deep shit.’
Charlie laughed, ‘I’ll remember that.’
The rest of the shift began to appear. Charlie stood, ‘I’ll leave it to you Buzz.’
‘Did you see the ceremony?’
‘Aye, feels like someone took a load off.’
‘Know the feeling. Later.’
‘Aye, catch you later.’
He had barely sat down in his quarters when Babes got in touch with him.
‘Charlie, you are getting a secure call from the Gisha home planet. It has been labelled urgent.’
He thought about refusing to take it for a few seconds, but realised that Wiola may well call Steven and make a scene.
‘All right, I will take it in the secure room.’
It took him a couple of minutes to arrive. Wiola appeared on screen.
‘Charlie!’
‘Hello Wiola, you look like shit.’
She groaned aloud, ‘Charlie, the baby is ill. He won’t stop screaming. The doctor thinks he isn’t getting enough nourishment from our milk. Help, please help!’
Charlie thought it over for a few minutes, ‘There is milk my friend had to use when his child wasn’t getting enough nourishment from his mother’s milk. It is called SMA Gold Cap. You may get it from the PD company of Earth, there are a few babies on this side of the barrier now.’
‘Can you check for me please?’
‘Give me a moment.’
Charlie made direct call. It only took him a few minutes, and he got back to Wiola.
‘They have some in stock. I am sending by fast freighter, as urgent medical supplies.’
She seemed relieved, ‘Thank you Charlie.’
‘As a matter of interest, where are you keeping the child?’
‘Here in the palace of course.’
Charlie shook his head, ‘How many staff do you have?’
‘Hundreds, maybe.’
‘You have a child that can possibly read minds, and you have it surrounded by hundreds of people. It took me time to learn to cancel out all of the noise. It almost drove me insane before I learned to control it.’
‘Oh! I didn’t think of that.’
‘Do you have somewhere very quiet, out in the country? No staff, or very few?’
‘I do have a country estate, but it still has a lot of staff.’
‘Move into the gardener’s cottage for a couple of nights, or have the child taken there with his Nanny with strict instructions.’
‘How will I know that will be effective?’
‘That’s easy. Send him up in some kind of craft with only the pilot. Just the two of them. See if he settles, and at what height, distance from the ground. You know, think about it, work it out?’
‘From how far away can you hear someone’s thoughts?’
‘A very long way, but it takes time to develop that skill. You have to concentrate. Right now the poor wee thing is probably being bombarded with the thoughts of thousands of people.’
