Chaotic futures, p.29
Chaotic Futures, page 29
Where the data records in Wymron’s possession from centuries ago showed some level of activity in a nearby system, these images recorded a much denser settlement.
“The captain entered the dark to gain some imagery of the nearby system,” Luther continued. “He exited the dark on the other side of the system to mask his arrival from the anomaly.”
“Planet. No atmosphere,” Wymron commented.
“We suspect that there must be some precious ores on the planet,” Morgoth replied. “There are hundreds of domes on just the half of the planet viewed. The planet’s surface is probably a warren of tunnels.”
Wymron asked for the Trident’s recording of the area surrounding the domed planet to be played several times, but he made no comments and asked no questions. Instead, he leaned deep into his nanites chair to enjoy the sensations.
Iltaft started the discussion. “I’d like an analysis of the ships we see,” she asked.
“Primarily freighters and civilian transports,” Luther replied. “The Trident’s visit was short, which means there wasn’t time to make a detailed survey of the system.”
“What is our major concern?” Ergatisa inquired.
“It’s this,” Minimalist replied, and the holo-vid projected a grainy image of a small orbital station.
“Which is what?” Ergatisa pressed.
“We suspect it’s a platform to investigate the anomaly,” Luther replied.
“And the Trident exited the anomaly and passed in front of the platform,” Iltaft concluded.
“Unfortunately,” Morgoth conceded.
“Having discovered that the anomaly is open, and that there’s an occupied system on the other side, what is the conclave’s position?” Iltaft asked.
“The answer to your question falls under Commander Tocknicka’s authority,” Minimalist replied. “The gate to Helgart will be ready soon. You can communicate in messages via the dome’s console, or, if you wish a more intense discussion, you can visit him via the gate.”
“Is there any indication of the race on the other side having successfully sent a probe though the continuum?” Iltaft inquired.
“There’s no indication either way,” Luther replied. “However, all indications are that the race is annuals away from being able to send a ship through the anomaly.”
“I would have said that they might never have solved the anomaly’s complexities,” Morgoth added. “Except, we just demonstrated that traveling through the anomaly is possible, and we demonstrated to them the type of ship that can navigate through the energies.”
“Let’s shift to the matter of this continuum’s closing and then reopening,” Iltaft said. “Senior Elder Wymron, we’re faced with a dilemma. The presence of these early spatial disturbances was never announced to the citizenry. Our ancestors closed them, but now we know that they can regenerate. What’s to be communicated to our populace?”
The junior elders were shocked that Iltaft would address Wymron in this manner and with others present. However, Wymron didn’t seem to be bothered by Iltaft’s questioning. They suspected this might be the reason he attended the meeting in Iltaft’s building.
Wymron regarded the conclave. “One reopened. Many?” he queried.
“Having found one anomaly to have regenerated, it stands to reason that the others that you shut down will return,” Luther replied. “However, the length of time for their returns might vary considerably. This is information that we don’t possess.”
“How many continuums have been closed, Wymron?” Iltaft inquired.
“Unknown. Research,” Wymron replied.
“We should know that number before any announcement is made to the public,” Iltaft said, and Wymron nodded his agreement. With that, he rose and made his way out of the conference room and the building.
The conclave members stayed behind.
Temtalum had piloted the traveler, and she was available to return Wymron to the admin building.
The conclave members witnessed the distinctly uncomfortable fidgeting of the junior elders.
The junior elders were nodding hopefully, but one glance at Iltaft said that she didn’t approve.
During the next three cycles, several things coincided.
Wymron’s research was done, and he sent a link to Iltaft.
Iltaft met with Morgoth and the SADEs to review the material. Then two Tridents were dispatched to check the statuses of the eight other continuums that had been disrupted by QASAP ships and closed.
After the meeting, Minimalist informed Iltaft that the gate to Helgart was connected.
A lift of Minimalist’s eyebrows had Iltaft reconsidering her request.
Iltaft nodded. Her grunt held a touch of relief.
The next morning, Iltaft left her house with a small overnight bag. Temtalum was waiting for her.
By now, the presence of a traveler arriving to carry Iltaft to work had become an accepted event for adults. However, the young were still fascinated by the ship that could land and lift without firing engines.
Ergatisa and Lemtaca were surprised not to be invited to the meeting with Tocknicka, and they pondered what that might mean.
After a short flight, Temtalum approached Ambasfor. She eased the traveler into the adjacent dome that accepted shuttles.
Iltaft noted that she’d begun hearing that wish from many conclave members. She hadn’t heard it until it was announced that she was the conclave representative. After about the fifth time, she queried Temtalum.
Temtalum explained.
Temtalum bared her small sharp teeth in a wicked smile.
At Temtalum’s request, a tech met Iltaft as she exited the ship, and he guided her through the dome to the connector and onto the gate level of the next dome.
Before Iltaft finished her thought, blue light speared the dome, and she journeyed. As she coalesced in the far dome, she experienced a rush of trepidation about inconveniencing the commander. That was quickly soothed by her reception.
The Helgart dome was crowded, but the throng gave way to her, dipping their heads, and touching their chests with open hands.
A console operator sent,
Iltaft was mesmerized by the service she received. She was escorted from the gated dome to the traveler dome. The moment she boarded, the traveler lifted and made for the station. She gave a thought for the other passengers, wondering if that was their destination.
As Iltaft exited the traveler aboard the outpost, an officer greeted her and led her to the commander’s quarters.
Iltaft thought to apologize for interrupting the commander’s duties, but she chose to presume she had the right, even though she didn’t feel like that.
Iltaft warned. Then through what she carried on her device and the discussions stored in her implant, she brought Tocknicka up-to-date on continuum history and the present findings.
Tocknicka chittered when Iltaft finished and relief flooded through her.
Iltaft replied.
Tocknicka replied.
Iltaft’s laughter was so great that it consisted of stuttering grunts that made it difficult for her to catch her breath. She envisioned odd scenarios of Miranda and Z greeting new races. They probably wouldn’t be as bad as she imagined, but her wild thoughts amused her.
Tocknicka chittered.
Iltaft sent. She was happy to speak to Tocknicka about the senior elder’s conundrum. The commander was independent of Queller politics. At the same time, he had a vested interest in ensuring that their new relationship with the conclave developed well.
Iltaft drew breath to answer. Then her mouth briefly fell open before she quickly closed it. She blinked twice, realizing that she had no idea why secrecy was important.
Tocknicka nodded thoughtfully.
Iltaft said, rising. She warmly shook hands with Tocknicka, using both hands as she’d first done with Z.
As Iltaft exited the station, Tocknicka signaled the dome’s console supervisor to contact the Devona dome and order Iltaft’s transport.
While Iltaft descended the station’s levels, she realized that Tocknicka had touched on the same subject as had the conclave trio. Both times, the conclave members had wondered about the events that had established the QASAP ships and had kept the population unaware of the continuum’s discovery. They didn’t believe finding the race on the continuum’s far side was the immediate instigator for the ships and the secrecy.
However, as Iltaft exited into a corridor on the bay level, she walked with a lighter step. The conversation with Tocknicka had been just what she needed. She had a clearer vision of the future. As well, she had some research to assign to the junior elders and her staff. There was much to be learned about Queller history. Admittedly, some of it might not be flattering, but it was necessary to know the truth.
24: Gurderg’s Opportunity
DARMIAN HOME WORLD
RADAGUL SYSTEM
The Axis Crossing sisters had worked feverishly to empower their new projects.
Per Peña’s directives, Merlie, Fatima, Xena, Yma, and Shane negotiated new agreements with the mining planets, except for Delhart. The sisters on the planet would only work for the equivalent time of an employed engineer and for that compensation.
Naturally, many of the CEOs and directors chose to only hire about a fourth of the present sisters.
This suited Peña’s purposes. She was able to relocate nearly two hundred and sixty second-gen sisters to work on the projects she required. This left about a hundred sisters employed by the mining planets for normal work cycles. In the remainder of their time, they were employed by Peña.
Peña’s available sisters were shared between two important projects. Seventy of them started Delhart’s new landing structure, which would sit above the existing shuttleport dome. The others sailed for Naiad. They would construct the new agricultural dome, which would house hydroponic gardens on the lower levels and the prized fruit trees on the upper level.
The sisters at the mining planets had other critical roles. In their downtimes, they manufactured Jatouche tanks and the required supplies.
HS Transport was accruing credits at a ferocious rate. The carriers could move passengers more comfortably and quicker than the Axis Crossing ships. These advantages were in addition to the cost benefits, primarily the price of passage at twenty-five percent less than the traditional ships.
Then there was HS Transport’s luxury ship, the Transcendence. Every Naiad wanted to book passage on the new ship with its spectacular gardens, dining facilities, and elevated services.
When the first hundred Jatouche tanks and associated supplies were ready, Peña prepared for the journey. She had to shift the routes for HS Transport ships to free a carrier.
When Merlie completed her last trip with the Storyteller that ended at Naiad, she started a trip that would take her to five mining worlds. At each planet, the sisters loaded whatever count of the Jatouche tanks they had completed.
Merlie made her last stop at Kilmer, where Peña, Sven, and Elone joined her crew. Then she made for the anomaly to Helgart.
As the Storyteller sailed toward Helgart, Peña reached out to Tocknicka.
