Empire turmoil gate ghos.., p.40
Empire Turmoil (Gate Ghosts Book 10), page 40
Z responded.
The Krackus sentients laughed at the idea that their actions were tolerated. The resulting noise was a collision of discordant sounds.
For digital sentients, there was a notable delay in the response.
Z sent.
After evening meal, the protectors met with Commanders Jogthurt, Klathfeng, and Dahjist.
“It’s obvious that the commanders were thoroughly coached,” Klathfeng said. “However, they seemed sincere about what they were saying.”
“The warriors weren’t as careful to repeat the mantras,” Dahjist said. “But it was obvious that they wanted to get planetside, and they were willing to accept any restrictions.”
“Apparently, the Krackus sentients’ separation of Radags succeeded in effectively dividing attitudes,” Jogthurt added.
“I can’t imagine what drove those commanders and those warriors to decide to breach the bridge,” Dahjist lamented.
“Worse, where were the others who could have stopped them?” Klathfeng added.
“Is there any hope for our lost Radags?” Jogthurt inquired again.
“We’ve considered many scenarios,” Z replied. “Unfortunately, the odds of any of them taking place before the commanders and the warriors starve to death are extremely low.”
The commanders had no reason to doubt the protectors’ analyses, and it had the effect of making them think that the unfortunate Radags were destined to perish.
For a while longer, the commanders shared their opinions with Miranda and Z. When they ran out of comments, they regarded the protectors with interest.
“Based on your opinions, we’ll accept all of them,” Miranda said, which brightly cheered the commanders. “However, we won’t inform them of their acceptance for three cycles.”
“Appropriate,” Jogthurt responded. “Let them worry for a few cycles. The decision will sound all the sweeter.”
“You know what this means,” Z prompted.
Klathfeng held up a hand to wave the SADE off. “We’ll be responsible for the actions of these new Radags,” he said, completing the warning. “If they break the rules, they’ll be incarcerated on the AI ship.”
“It’s good that we have an understanding,” Z replied, and the commanders chortled good-naturedly. They were relieved to have achieved their objective and had rescued more of their race.
“Commander Dahjist, how fares your production cycle?” Miranda asked.
Dahjist beamed like a youngling about to be rewarded. “I know you’re aware that our fermentation processes in Baft Namus are online,” he replied. “Quality is good. I’ve recently scored my seventh and eighth agreement with farmers. That secures food production for the entire city.”
“Counting those who are about to join you?” Z inquired.
“Them, their mates, and their younglings, if they were to join them,” Dahjist replied proudly.
“If he swells any farther, he’ll burst,” Klathfeng remarked. The comment sounded harsh, but Klathfeng was grinning at the youthful commander. As it was, he couldn’t have deflated Dahjist’s enthusiasm.
“Why do I think you’re about to propose a new development?” Miranda inquired.
“Because I am,” Dahjist responded.
Both Jogthurt and Klathfeng eyed Dahjist. They hadn’t heard anything about a new idea.
When Dahjist saw the raised eyebrows of his senior commanders, he quickly said, “I just thought of it after speaking with the warriors aboard.”
“Out with it, Dahjist,” Miranda prompted.
“The warriors I talked to lamented that the Krackus had fermented food for them, but it didn’t have the appropriate flavors,” Dahjist explained. “The foods’ acidity was appropriate, but there was much about the tastes that was undesirable.”
“This would be understandable,” Klathfeng noted. “The Krackus served us the same food. I shudder to think about those dishes even now.”
“Continue, Dahjist,” Miranda prodded.
“Our production line, which is modeled on the Krackus design, is quite complex. We make more diverse foods, with more delectable flavors, than anywhere on Darmian,” Dahjist said. “Why not offer it to those outside the city?”
It wasn’t only the commanders who were taken aback by the idea. For ticks of time, the protectors were caught off guard too, but those reactions were quickly swept away.
A discussion ensued about the quantity that could be produced, what would be offered, and how. By the time the conversation died down, it was clear that Dahjist had a winning idea.
29: Return Run
THE STORYTELLER
Peña had collected every available Jatouche tank and Méridien avatar from her Axis Crossing sisters. Then Merlie and she made their way toward the Kilmer-Helgart anomaly aboard the Storyteller.
Sven remained in Axis Crossing space at Peña’s request. She had explained,
Peña had laughed and caressed Sven’s cheek, giving him time to think outside the box.
In response, Sven grinned. he shared.
Sven nodded, embraced his partner, dropped below, and caught a traveler for the nearby Trident, courtesy of Tocknicka.
On the Storyteller’s exit of the anomaly, a Trident controller detected the ship, and a waiting message was delivered to Peña.
Merlie was curious, but she asked no questions.
After launching from the Storyteller, Merlie applied full power from the energy banks. She reached the outer rim with nine percent power to spare. A few revolutions around an ice giant gave her the necessary reserves to reach Helgart.
Landing in Helgart’s shuttle dome, Merlie requested the crate, which was delivered to her cargo traveler by two Earthers guiding a grav palette.
There was no mistaking the shape. It was a standard crate for a Méridien avatar.
Connecting to the crate’s tiny beacon, Merlie discovered it had been sent from Queller space by Minimalist. Now her curiosity was piqued even more.
Merlie chatted with conclave members working the dome, while she waited for her traveler to fully charge its energy banks. When the ship was ready, she launched and made for the far rim. Locating the Storyteller’s controller ID, she made a slight course adjustment.
After crossing the outer rim, Merlie rendezvoused with the Storyteller with power to spare.
Sisters dropped through the ship to aid Merlie unload the crate, but Peña requested that they leave it aboard the traveler.
During the journey to Darmian, Merlie waited for Peña to talk to her about the crate, but that conversation never happened.
Finally, the Storyteller exited the dark outside the system, high above Darmian.
Peña shared.
Peña responded.
After the conference ended, Merlie linked privately to Peña and sent,
Merlie laughed and sent an image of a Radag commander sitting on Janus’s box, while he chatted and spun a wicked-looking knife between his fingers.
Merlie sent.
As the Storyteller arrived above Darmian, Peña sought the protectors, but she was transferred to Nebulon.
A few ticks of time passed. Then Peña and Merlie howled their laughter.
With unloading of the Storyteller underway and Merlie supervising, Peña took the opportunity to investigate her new avatar.
The crate’s tiny beacon was a new version. It detected Peña’s comm ID and released the crate’s locks. Clever, she thought.
Peña opened the lid and removed the upper packing. At first glance, the avatar appeared identical to the one she inhabited. However, as she examined it, she could see the subtle differences.
The synth-skin had a human’s delicate coloring, hinting at the arteries and the veins beneath it.
Peña noted a power supply tucked into a corner. This was odd, as an unoccupied avatar didn’t require power. Prior to transfer, a receiving avatar’s energy banks were fully charged.
Morgoth and the SADEs are trying to tell me something, Peña thought. Then she reached out and touched a cheek, expecting it to be cold. It wasn’t. Her sensitive fingers picked up the same sensations as when she touched Sven’s cheek. The realization made her smile.
Testing other areas on the avatar produced the same results. The body was warm.
Next, Peña prodded the bare stomach. She should have felt the hard ceramic shell. Instead, her two fingers sank in about five centimeters.
The more Peña investigated, the more she discovered what the SADEs and Morgoth had done. They’d entirely reengineered a sister’s avatar. Gone was the exoskeleton. In its place was an endoskeleton, and the exterior had all the attributes of a female human.
When Peña finished her examination, she stood up and sighed. “You’re a beautiful, delicate thing,” she murmured. “You’re safe for me to inhabit in a cabin, but I’m not wearing you planetside.”
Then Peña wondered about having a spare avatar in the cabin when Sven was present. She was concerned about his reaction.
Signaling a grav palette, Peña transferred the now closed and locked crate onto it. Then she directed the palette to her cabin, where she unloaded it and returned it below.
Afterward, Peña caught a traveler headed downside and loaded with Jatouche tanks. It was destined for Stratagul, which is why she leapt off the traveler’s ramp within Baft Namus’s inner wall.
Having witnessed the leap from more than ten meters up, and seeing Peña’s delicate Méridien features, three Radag warriors touched fists to chests and said, “Sister.”
“Greetings, residents,” Peña replied.
“Do you need guidance, Sister?” a warrior asked.
“The protectors are at the outer wall. I’m waiting for them here,” Peña replied.
Then the warriors nodded and returned to their work.
Peña chose to take the opportunity to walk among the Radags and see the new city. She noted the respectful way in which she was greeted. There were some odd exceptions. A warrior, among others, would simply stare at her, while the others touched chests and tipped their heads. It occurred to her that these were the newcomers. They appeared to always be in the company of two or more established residents. It was if they weren’t allowed to be unescorted.
Soon, Peña detected the comm IDs of Miranda and Z drawing near, and she headed for the central plaza, where she expected their traveler to land.
