Vortex incursion, p.16
Vortex Incursion, page 16
Lisa nodded woodenly. It was to be an ignominious end to a meteoric rise in the company’s ranks.
“What about the probe that was observed by the Naiad research teams?” Brendan Burke asked, as he rose from his seat in the gallery.
The TM partners had decided that it would be better for him to represent the partners rather than a councilor’s son or daughter to speak.
Samuel replied.
“Councilors, we’re aware that research teams have shared Densing Array data, which, in itself, is curious,” Brendan continued. “Furthermore, our investigation uncovered that the teams identified an alien probe arriving at the far vortex’s mouth and disappearing into it months later. Then a visitors’ ship arrives, stays briefly, and makes for the far vortex. What are we to make of that?”
“I insist that these media people identify their sources. This is highly privileged information,” Fillery insisted.
“Your response, Citizen Burke,” Claudia requested.
“As with any media organization, our sources are protected under Naiad’s constitution,” Brendan replied.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know any more than that,” Claudia replied.
While Brendan was speaking to the council, the Reflection exited the far anomaly, and Trium signaled the controller to send a ping to identify resources.
As the Reflection transited through the dark for Naiad, Trium reported,
As the scout ship exited the dark, Killian attempted to reach Nira aboard the Quadrant, but he was informed she was on the planet.
Samuel knew that the Reflection had returned from the far anomaly, and an urgent request from the scouts boded nothing good.
“Apologies, Councilors,” Miranda said, interrupting Brendan’s sentence. “I believe the scouts, who’ve returned, will have more pertinent information to share about the far anomaly.”
Nira would have made to exit the chambers. However, Miranda didn’t move. Instead, she extended her hand and lit her holo-vid to relay the conversation to the councilors.
Every comm or implant owner, who heard Killian, translated the SADE-speak. A critical, if not dire emergency, condition had been discovered on the other side of the explored anomaly.
As the alien ship and construction appeared on the holo-vid, Miranda added an image of the Nyslara to indicate size.
Receiving Miranda’s feedback, Killian sent,
The councilors watched the scout ship perform various maneuvers to interfere with the service vehicles.
“Scouts, do you know the purpose of the construction?” James Soisson asked.
Trium’s explanation went over the heads of the councilors, the TM partners, and most of the Alexander’s humans.
Claudia glanced left and right and saw the other councilors ready to question the SADEs. She extended her arms and signaled with hands palm down that they should wait.
In three minutes, the composite vid completed playing for the audience.
This time, it was Miranda who raised her hand and signaled the councilors for patience.
Minimalist and Luther were busy delving into greater detail held on the Reflection’s controller.
Via Escher’s connection to the SADEs, he observed the enormous data flow through Samuel, who handled the bidirectional movement easily.
In the gallery, Minimalist stood and introduced himself to the council. “Luther and I have reviewed the weeks of the scout ship’s recorded imagery,” he said. “Between us, Luther and I have nearly a millennium of engineering experience.”
The councilors tried to hide their surprise, which they did poorly, at more evidence of the SADEs’ longevity.
“We concur with the scouts’ surmise that we’re looking at a massive capacitor,” Minimalist continued. “Furthermore, we’ve an idea what the ovoid intends.”
“The scouts indicated that the ovoid is probably an automated ship,” David Yewall pointed out. “How could it have intentions?”
“My apologies, Councilor, I truncated my logic train,” Minimalist replied. “The race who built the ovoid would have programmed their intentions into the ovoid, which is merely obeying its directives.”
When Minimalist saw the councilor nodding his understanding, he continued. “Luther and I surmise that this race or races know of the existence of anomalies. Furthermore, we think these individuals are isolationists or pacifists, which, in these circumstances, amount to the same thing.”
“This is interesting about the aliens and what kind of creatures they might be,” Fillery interrupted in exasperation, “but what about the sphere’s purpose?”
None of the visitors missed Fillery’s characterization of a technologically sophisticated race as creatures.
Claudia wanted to caution Fillery, but other councilors had also asked questions. It was just that David and James had followed the SADEs’ logic and not been argumentative.
However, Miranda didn’t hesitate to correct Fillery. “Councilor Partus, the nature of the race who constructed the ovoid underlines our logic as to the sphere’s purpose. Now we could have gone about our business and dealt with it, but we’ve chosen to involve you in understanding the challenge. Your patience is required to comprehend what we face.”
Lisa chuckled, which drew the councilors’ attention. “To translate Miranda’s words into cruder form, Councilor Partus, you should shut up, listen, and learn. You truly want the visitors’ help, and you want to stop antagonizing them.”
Fillery stood, pointed a finger at Lisa, and shouted. Unfortunately for Fillery, her voice was drowned out.
The entire contingent of suited figures, whom Escher had linked, stood, lowered their mask-helmets, and sang. While it wasn’t the most perfect of choruses, it was robust and effective at drowning out the councilor.
Lisa turned around. She sought Escher. When her eyes fell on him, she saw his wink, and she grinned.
Claudia stood and held her hands high.
When the gallery quieted, Fillery drew breath to continue her rant, but Claudia cut her off. “I need everyone to cooperate,” she said. “This is no time to snipe at one another.” Pointedly, she regarded Lisa and Fillery with narrowed eyes. Then she indicated Minimalist and requested he continue.
“As isolationists-pacifists,” Minimalist said, “the race or races investigate the anomalies. We surmise that when they find one, they send a probe through. If a civilization is discovered on the other side, they shut the anomaly down.”
“How would a giant capacitor do this?” Claudia asked.
“When the sphere is complete, the ovoid will charge the numerous plates,” Minimalist replied. “Then the sphere would be launched into the anomaly, and its energy released, thereby destabilizing the anomaly. It’s unknown whether this would close the space-time tunnel or simply make it dangerous to use.”
“Then we’d lose an anomaly that we’ve never needed,” Ramiro surmised.
“Maybe, and maybe not,” Luther replied, as he stood. “While we hadn’t previously encountered your anomalies, their nature and anecdotal stories make me think that they might share harmonic resonances.”
“Could you put that into simple human-speak, Luther?” Ramiro requested.
“Put my comments aside, Councilor,” Luther replied. “My conclusion is that if a resonance exists, then arbitrarily disturbing or collapsing one anomaly could cause other anomalies to follow suit.”
“In which case, our worlds would be isolated,” Ramiro concluded.
“Precisely,” Luther replied.
“But you’ve got starships,” Fillery protested. “You could sail humans between the stars.”
“Councilor Partus, we’ve even a better form of transport,” Miranda said. “We use quantum-linked gates for instantaneous transport between distant systems. However, heavy goods would still require freighters, and your worlds, as you know, are great distances apart. The anomalies make them seem closer than they are in reality.”
“Let’s return to the ovoid and the sphere,” Claudia suggested. “They should be our immediate concern. Is there a plan?”
“How much?” Nira inquired.
“Are you going to war?” James asked.
13: Now You See It
EMPTY SPACE
FAR ANOMALY’S EXIT
Two Tridents, a Quadrant, a carrier, and a scout ship entered the far anomaly to deal with the ovoid’s sphere.
Eleven Naiad cycles were spent organizing the collection of ships.
When Captain D’Arcy received Nira’s request, she consulted Kelley. “How much time do you think we have before the Krackus respond?” she asked.
“Based on the last turnaround, I’d think ten to twelve days,” Kelley replied. “However, I don’t expect to receive more probe passengers. More than likely, the fleet commander wants us to visit their space. Negotiations might be protracted.”
With Kelley’s analysis, Dominique felt comfortable sending two of her squadron’s Tridents in response to Captain Racine’s urgent message.
The Quadrant was the Nyslara, which acquired an unexpected passenger.
At the end of the council meeting, Lisa requested permission to travel aboard Nira’s ship.
“For what purpose?” Claudia asked.
“If I’m going to spend annuals in Naiad incarceration, I’d like to see something that will stir my imagination.”
“Captain Racine, do you accept Citizen Dyehouse’s request, and will you ensure that she’s returned to Naiad?” Claudia asked.
“Ser Dyehouse is welcome aboard the Nyslara, Councilor,” Nira replied. “However, I can’t guarantee her return to Naiad.”
“Why not?” James inquired.
“We have to survive the encounter with the ovoid,” Nira replied.
The easy manner in which Nira tossed off her conditional response stunned the council. They hadn’t thought in terms of the fleet’s ships being overwhelmed by aliens.
Furthermore, the council was taken aback by Lisa’s wry smile, and several councilors wondered if the ex-chairperson preferred the ship met with disaster, sealing her fate.
The outpost members received their own surprise.
In response to Nira’s broadcasted message, Tocknicka had replied,
Nira noted that the ship’s ID was the Emergence, which wasn’t listed in the Nyslara’s controller of the carriers found in the Thartath system. She assumed it was an attempt by the sisters to announce a new start. However, she was left with many questions and chose to wait until Tocknicka and the Emergence joined the growing fleet.
When every necessary ship arrived at Naiad, the scouts led the way to the anomaly.
Soon after Tocknicka had arrived, Nira queried him.
Tocknicka replied.
Tocknicka deadpanned.
It took Nira a few seconds to parse the SADE’s quip. Then she burst out laughing. She was so loud that she was grateful to be in her cabin.
Tocknicka said, sounding forlorn.
Nira sent. She’d missed Tocknicka. His wit had always engaged her.
Nira hesitated. Then she sent,
Nira sought to intuit what Julien, Tocknicka, and the other SADEs intended. Then it came to her.
Nira realized that Tocknicka’s question didn’t require an immediate answer. There was much the local humans required to uplift their society. His group of sisters could be kept busy for a century or more.
The only other significant discussion Nira had, prior to the Nyslara’s launch from Naiad, was with many of her passengers. Considering Lisa Dyehouse probably faced annuals of incarceration, Nira had accepted her company.
However, when Nira tried to convince the suited figures to remain on Naiad, she ran into considerable resistance. Thinking to recruit Miranda to help her win the argument, her efforts ran aground.
Nira had several more arguments to try, but Miranda effectively terminated the discussion. The suited humans would share the risk.
The fleet of five ships looped through the anomaly. The captains were dependent on the scouts for direction until they better understood the circumstances.
Killian’s initial course of action was to do nothing.
The ships sailed out of the anomaly’s mouth and decelerated slowly, stopping about five hundred thousand kilometers from the sphere. The huge ovoid was positioned adjacent to the sphere in full view of the fleet.
