Vortex incursion, p.6
Vortex Incursion, page 6
Gat’r broke out laughing, especially hearing Red’s silence.
Nira winced. Admonishment from the protectors was rare, but it occasionally happened to fleet officers. Z and Miranda possessed singular views among the SADEs, and even Julien respected their autonomy.
Captain mya Jaknas recognized that events in this area of space hadn’t been reported in great detail. She accepted the unusual circumstances with good humor.
For a tick of time, Yma felt challenged, but she recalled Dorsa’s lessons.
Yma realized that her caution was unnecessary. The human was curious and nothing more.
Yma inquired.
Yma’s peals of laughter were borrowed from the ancient Earth singer.
Nira sought out Cremsylon. She wasn’t surprised to find the senior SADEs were together and waiting for her.
“You wonder what opportunities exist for these new sisters,” Cremsylon said.
“It appears my question was expected,” Nira replied, taking a seat at the far end of the conference table.
“It won’t be as simple as assigning the sisters to a planet,” Kelley replied.
“No?” Nira queried.
“Multiple steps will be required, and the outcome isn’t assured,” Emory added. “However, success will fit nicely into our wider plan.”
“Why do I feel that you’ve not shared everything about the human worlds’ conditions?” Nira asked.
“Because we haven’t,” Miranda replied. “The nuances have to be experienced. They can’t be absorbed from controller summaries.”
“Our resident human experts arrive,” Violet announced, as Escher, Ceda, Gat’r, Bethany, Johann, and Stacey entered the room.
The SADEs vacated seats to allow the humans to sit.
As was customary for the protectors, Miranda, in this case, stood behind Ceda, who brushed a hand behind her, assured of a protector’s presence.
“What shall we do with the new sisters?” Cremsylon asked, gazing at the Alexander’s humans.
Minimalist and Luther regarded Nira.
“Cremsylon, I think the questions might be where could the sisters do the most good, and how can they salve the estrangement between the rim planets and Naiad?” Bethany replied.
“We’ve a ripe opportunity with the three chairpersons who tried to subvert the entire human population,” Johann pointed out.
“Any one of their three mining planets could benefit from the addition of sisters, especially if we provided the sisters with the equipment necessary to jumpstart their endeavors,” Stacey added.
“The Norloth carries much of what the sisters would require,” Gistamia, the ex-captain of the Storyteller, said from the conference doorway.
“Lisa Dyehouse is the leader of the chairperson triad,” Gat’r said. “We should focus on her.”
“I agree with Gat’r,” Escher said. “The fact that Lisa made the incognito journey to Delhart to warn us of the Krackus speaks volumes. Let’s not forget that Kilmer would be the first planet to greet the Krackus, if they come through the vortex en masse.”
“We told Chairperson Dyehouse that Kilmer and the other planets could receive SADE tech for shifts in the manner in which they treated clones,” Ceda noted.
“There won’t be time for the chairpersons to make incremental adjustments,” Stacey remarked. “Nonetheless, they have to put something of value on the table.”
“Who says we must restrict the exchange to the sisters, SADE tech, and a single mining planet?” asked Escher, which turned heads his way.
Escher regarded human frowns and SADE quiet eyes. “Who wasn’t surprised by the arrival of the forty-five sisters?” he inquired.
“Dear Escher, you’ve asked the right question,” Miranda announced with a chuckle.
Escher turned to Nira. “You started something, Captain, and its bearing results,” he said. “I would like to think we can expect more shipments of Thartath sisters. So, let’s prepare for them now.”
“I like Escher’s thinking,” Bethany said. “I suggest that we visit the three chairpersons and propose that they can have the sisters’ help, one planet at a time, provided they let outpost members guide the process.”
“A sound approach,” Z commented.
“Why let them off the hook so easily?” Ceda asked indignantly. It was the most strident tone the Alexander residents had ever heard her use.
“What do you propose, Ceda?” Kelley asked.
“Escher has given me an idea,” Ceda said to her audience.
“The chairpersons have ignored many Naiad laws,” Ceda continued. “If they want the sisters’ help and the SADEs’ tech, then they should be prepared to sail to Naiad, meet with the council, and make amends for their ways.”
“And there you have the outline for how we can employ the new sisters,” Cremsylon said, as he quietly regarded Nira.
“Well-reasoned,” Nira said to the Alexander’s humans arrayed around the table. “I think the Thartath sisters will embrace the opportunity to take part in a greater uplifting of the humans in this area of space.”
“Now all we have to do is sell the idea to the chairpersons,” Johann said, and he was bombarded with comments about his negativity.
∞
Once again, the five-year-old clones were elated to see a new form of individual.
Captain Dorsa mya Jaknas stepped off the traveler first. Her mother had been Myseth mya Jaknas, a prominent tailor of Lemgart.
While the aspect of being a tailor doesn’t intimate a lofty status, strangers to Lemgart would learn that a citizen’s costume signaled a critical business status. Enterprise could be silently enjoined or refused by what the prominent citizens wore.
To Myseth’s fortune, she was hired by the first two Pyrean outpost officers to visit Lemgart. The officers traveled as merchants, but Myseth’s instincts were aroused. In the course of time, she did more to elevate their approach to their targets than anything the officers could have done by themselves.
Dorsa’s avatar was a replica of her citizens’ appearance. Sweeps of luxurious silver and cream hair covered the body. Lemgarts used their hair movement to communicate emotions.
The five year olds struggled to be free of their nannies, who acquiesced to the demands of their wayward charges.
Dorsa was more reserved than Gistamia, who’d welcomed the clone children’s attentions. Nevertheless, she was patient while the little ones explored her long waves of hair.
The nannies saw the captain’s demeanor, and they quickly recovered the five year olds.
While pleasantries were exchanged, Gat’r sought Yma’s comm ID among the several sisters who descended from the traveler. When he singled her out, he found her smiling at him.
Gat’r crossed the bay’s deck and extended his hand.
When Gat’r’s eyes narrowed, he glanced toward the sister who sent the comment,
Yma inquired,
Gat’r would have withdrawn his hand, but Yma held on to it, even using her other hand to clasp his.
In the open, Yma sent,
Yma was rewarded with Gat’r’s strong grip and a bright smile.
Miranda sent in the open.
Yma glanced toward the protector, who stood at the rear of the welcoming crowd. She was head and shoulders above the others, but Yma was attracted to the eyes that regarded her sternly. It was a subtle warning, which Yma understood. The forty-five were on probation until they proved their intentions.
After adjourning to a meal room to accommodate the number of participants, it didn’t take long for Dorsa and the sisters to be updated on the plan to leverage the SADEs’ tech to entice the chairpersons to participate in changing their business models.
Yma asked several questions about a mining world’s conditions.
“Visuals will explain more than we could ever describe,” Jasper said. “You’ll be surprised by the disparity in human conditions.”
“Then again, our worlds might be similar to the conditions you found on Thartath,” Bethany offered. Her gaze wandered across the sisters.
“You’ve every right to be cautious, Bethany,” Yma said. “In time, we hope to prove to you that our transformations are journeys on which we’ve chosen to embark and never to end.”
“You’ll have your hands full on a mining planet,” Ceda said, “But time, material, and the right attitudes can make enormous changes. The Alexander’s humans are evidence of that.”
“How will this be conducted?” Dorsa inquired.
“Four ships will be engaged,” Cremsylon replied. “The Aquaria will sail to Kilmer and possibly remain there.”
“We understand that Captain D’Arcy’s squadron is stationed there,” Dorsa said.
“It is,” Violet replied. “Kelley has overall command.”
“Good,” Dorsa commented.
“We’ll need to influence the chairpersons,” Cremsylon continued. “That’s the job of the protectors. They’re well-known to the business leaders. The Nyslara will carry them.”
“Not the Vivian’s Reflection?” Yma asked, noting the small ship was stationed above Delhart.
“If the chairpersons are cooperative, they’ll be transported to Naiad aboard Captain Racine’s ship,” Killian replied. “As for us, we’ve a different duty to perform.”
“My sisters notice, Killian, that you have concerns about your new duty,” Yma said.
“Miriamal and the three chairpersons aboard the Dominance investigated an unexplored wormhole and found the Krackus and the edge of the Imperium Empire,” Killian explained.
“Now a Naiad researcher believes that a probe might have been spotted outside another unexplored wormhole,” Trium added.
Dorsa and the sisters heard the chuckles of several humans.
“Is it the researcher or the data that makes you suspicious?” Dorsa asked Trium.
“Please excuse dear Trium,” Miranda said, eyeing the SADE. “A nonmobile digital sentient has developed on Naiad. We played a part in Samuel’s initiation and have supported his growth.”
“Fascinating,” Dorsa said. “I would like to learn more about the unusual circumstances.”
Cremsylon eyed Escher, but it was Ceda who replied, “We’d be happy to accompany you, Captain. That will give us time to tell you the complete story, and I want to see conditions on Kilmer.”
“Me three,” Gat’r quickly added.
“I imagine the fourth vessel will be the Norloth,” Yma said hopefully.
“It will, and Captain Yerli Hershey will hold station there until you have the necessary material to get you started,” Cremsylon replied. “Minimalist and Luther can provide support for the setup of the GEN machines and the Jatouche medical stations. Nalia can train you in the stations’ uses.”
“Is there any reason to delay?” Dorsa asked.
“None,” Cremsylon replied. “You can sail in the morning. When you make planetfall and until new norms are established, encounters with local forces should be handled by the suits.”
“Hephaestus?” Yma queried, looking at Gat’r, who nodded.
Dorsa regarded Miranda, who replied, “Although there isn’t consensus on this issue, the SADE majority prefers mining personnel confrontations be handled by our humans, especially if they might result in injury or death.”
As a SADE, Dorsa detected the nuances behind Miranda’s statement. It spoke volumes about the mindset differences between most SADEs and the protectors.
When the meeting disbanded, the adult mickies confronted Escher and Ceda.
Recognizing the issue to be discussed, Escher called Bethany, Johann, Stacey, and Gat’r to join Ceda and him.
Having been cued by Escher, the mickies waited for the others to join them.
Bethany held up a hand to forestall the mickies’ lengthy arguments. “Let’s list any negatives,” she said. She was met with thoughtful expressions, while individuals stared at the overhead or held faraway gazes.
“Okay, let me phrase it this way. What could go wrong if we get braced by a security team with mods?” Bethany inquired.
“I think Lisa would curtail security’s aggressiveness,” Escher suggested. “She’s seen the suits in action. While she doesn’t know the full extent of their capabilities, I’m sure it has occurred to her that the suits were responsible for the defeat of the assault team.”
“Good point. Anything else?” Bethany asked.
“Using Escher’s argument,” Lita began, “wouldn’t having more suits give Lisa and the security commander greater pause?”
“Lita has a point,” Johann opined. “Without mask-helmets in place, we can’t be identified by the mining personnel. They won’t know who lurks beneath our disguises.”
“Agreed,” Stacey added. “Security might think the new suits are worn by hard-boiled personnel like Ceda.”
Ceda’s mouth dropped open, as she stared at Stacey.
For her part, Stacey was grinning and putting some distance between Ceda and her.
“Stand right there, Stacey, while I run and wrap Alice around me,” Ceda declared, which broke Stacey into laughter.
Stacey was hiding behind Johann, with her hands on his shoulders. He was chuckling, and she felt warmth spread through her body.
“I’m not hearing any objections,” Bethany pointed out.
“Bethany, you’re the expert when it comes to mods,” Gat’r said. “Can a suit take a modified security agent?”
Bethany gazed at her senior trainees. “I think the suits are a match, if not superior,” she replied. “That’s not the problem.”
“It’s the attitude, right?” Johann ventured.
“Stacey and you were Naiad officers. You were trained to subdue and control with nonlethal force,” Bethany replied.
When Bethany turned toward Ceda, the ex-clone held up her hands. “You don’t have to say anything. I know I’m not up to a full-fledged fight,” she said.
“It’s only Escher, Gat’r, and me who’ve engaged in a life-and-death struggle,” Bethany said. “If we were to engage modified security, the agents won’t hold back. Mining security personnel aren’t like Naiad agents. You’d have to put them down fast.”
