Chaotic futures, p.24
Chaotic Futures, page 24
As Temtalum spun the traveler around, she widened Iltaft’s view to encompass a semisphere in front of the ship.
Iltaft watched as the twelve other travelers and her ship created an intricate threading action as they flew toward the planet. Before entering the atmosphere, the other fighters peeled off, and Temtalum dove toward Iltaft’s home.
Iltaft shook her head in amazement. Her advice to the junior elders to learn about their conclave guests was something she intended to stress to her entire office staff.
After arriving home, preparing and eating a meal, and relaxing, Iltaft made notes to herself in her implant. The longer the list became, the more she felt overwhelmed by how much there was to do. Then a thought occurred to her, and she connected to the Quadrant’s controller.
Minimalist imitated the generous laughter of Mickey Brandon.
Iltaft grunted her amusement and sent,
Minimalist, Luther, and Morgoth had consulted earlier with the Trident senior captain. After reviewing the information shared by Iltaft about the previously closed anomalies, he ordered a Trident to exit the formation that late evening and investigate.
The next cycles passed swiftly for Iltaft. She visited the dome’s construction site and was shocked at the rapid progress.
When there was no answer, Iltaft knew it had been. Then she realized her mistake. The conclave might have their preferred destinations, but the Quellers would also have their desires. In fact, she considered that some of the gates could be designated in the future.
In Iltaft’s mind, she recalled Minimalist’s words. Then she sent a message to consult with Luther, Morgoth, and him.
Luther shared privately with his companions.
Minimalist commented drily, which had the conference participants laughing.
A meeting within a conclave hour was agreed, and Iltaft used the time to get a primer from Temtalum. It always threw her off when Temtalum turned in her seat to talk and the traveler flew on. She’d learned that the controller could manage returning to known destinations. In this case, they were headed for the Quadrant.
Aboard the Quadrant, Iltaft sat in a nanites chair beside Temtalum. Due to the Toralian’s close association with her, she was asked to stay.
An engineering holo-vid displayed a massive star map that reached to the overhead five meters up.
Minimalist highlighted the systems with domes, gates, and rings.
Iltaft noted that Earth had acquired three domes.
Then the education about races started and their level of commitment to the conclave. It didn’t take long before Iltaft’s head was spinning. She’d witnessed the number of different races within the Earth’s dome where her journey had ended and begun, but she hadn’t considered the varied societies and histories that each race represented.
Luther paused in the middle of comment, and Minimalist, Morgoth, and he regarded Iltaft sympathetically.
Iltaft replied, shaking her head at her inability to absorb the lecture’s depth.
Iltaft cleared her mind and thought about the upcoming projects that the conclave would provide. She lifted a single digit and sent,
Morgoth complimented.
Temtalum led Iltaft back to their traveler.
On the way, Iltaft received a message with a link. It opened a data folder on the Quadrant’s controller and contained the information she’d requested.
Temtalum regarded Iltaft, baring her pointed teeth.
If it wasn’t for a calendar event informing Iltaft of the return of her office’s first group of admins, she wouldn’t have realized how swiftly the cycles were passing. As she neared the traveler for the trip to the office, she was inundated by a series of links greeting her.
The admins celebrated their connectivity with Iltaft, and the conference link was filled with their revelations about the conclave, its medical tech, and the ships. However, much of their flight time was spent discussing the SADEs and their generosity.
It’s always morning for the SADEs, Iltaft thought, smiling to herself.
The admins’ levity ended when they reached their offices. The junior elders met with them and proceeded to outline how they could coordinate their duties with the apps they supplied. Then they updated the returnees on what had taken place in their absence.
Before Lemtaca and Ergatisa finished with the implanted admins, Temtalum lifted with the second group of admins. She was destined for the Quadrant.
Iltaft chose to take her dedicated ground transport to the admin building to see Wymron. She lamented that neither the senior elder nor his admins carried implants, which would have made the process easier.
Sitting across from Wymron, Iltaft considered how blunt she should be with him. In the end, she decided to start with details.
“Not focused,” Wymron remarked.
“Focused. Not same,” Iltaft corrected, touching her temple.
Wymron considered the gentle rebuke. He tapped his temple to indicate that he’d understood Iltaft’s point. “Admins?” he queried.
“Ecstatic,” Iltaft replied, grunting at the memory of their greeting.
“Wymron?” the senior elder inquired, tapping his chest.
“Yes,” Iltaft replied without hesitation. “And your admins,” she quickly added.
“Consider,” Wymron replied. “News?” he asked.
“Dome, gates, and ring. Four cycles more,” Iltaft reported.
Wymron’s usually composed face displayed surprise. “Fast.” he commented. “Gates assigned?” he inquired.
“Three of ten for now,” Iltaft replied.
“Where?” Wymron requested.
“Earth. Helgart. Omnia,” Iltaft enumerated.
“Omnia?” Wymron queried.
“Conclave financial hub,” Iltaft explained, which satisfied Wymron.
“Other gates?” Wymron continued.
“Study information. Potential allies,” Iltaft explained.
When the privacy screen was deployed, Iltaft knew what was coming.
“Secret files?” Wymron asked.
“Conclave concerned. Possible restoration. Investigation,” Iltaft replied, hoping she’d used the elder speak correctly.
“Conclave restores?” Wymron inquired.
That told Iltaft she had misspoken her last response. “Self-restoration,” she clarified.
Wymron was taken aback by the concept.
Iltaft could only shrug her shoulders and add apologetically, “Conclave.”
Wymron grunted his acceptance. There was too much about conclave knowledge and tech that eluded him.
“Conclave query. Other event prior to QASAP ships,” Iltaft offered.
Wymron appeared puzzled. In response, he opened his hands, indicating that he had no knowledge about such a thing.
When Iltaft rose to leave, she was halted by Wymron’s upraised hand. The senior elder seemed to need time to express his thought, and she waited patiently.
“Iltaft was a good choice. I’m proud,” Wymron said.
It was Iltaft’s turn to be shocked. The compliment was one thing, but to hear Wymron express himself in the citizens’ common style was astounding. Her eyes glistened. She struggled to find the right words, but Wymron took pity on her. With a wave of his hand toward the door, he said, “Go. Do well.”
20: It’s Getting Crowded
WOOT PLANET
IMPERIUM SPACE
The Liberation made two more systems. The first saw the ousting of another batch of Krackus and Radags. The warning to the invaders and mercenaries was the same. Don’t ever return. The second system was a quiet foraging society that hadn’t developed metal casting.
The flotilla quietly slipped away from this latter location, having remained far out from the inhabited planet, while observations were made.
The third stop was different, and Mila got her wish.
After cycles of collecting data, Kelley called his companions to the bridge.
Eyes turned toward Mila, who murmured, “Sorry.”
Gaylene remarked, examining the obvious damage.
When Mila lost the conversation’s thread, she received a quick update from Kelley.
The foursome stared at Derry, who shrugged his Pyrean shoulders. he shared.
Many pairs of eyes regarded Mila. Most of the brows above them were furrowed.
Aboard the sisters’ traveler, Orly connected to Frieda, who was on the planet.
Frieda relayed the data to every sister on the planet. Orly did the same for the sisters working on the warship and at the moon’s foundry.
