Accepting the lance, p.27
Accepting the Lance, page 27
part #22 of Liaden Universe Series
Scarcely had that knotty issue been decided by the Assembly, then there arrived, tugged into the area by a Jump pod, a full-fledged guard satellite, all weapons live. It apologized loudly for its late arrival, the while swearing it would carry its part, demanding targets, vectors, and coordinates.
It fell to Aberthaz Ferry and several others of the eldest devices to soothe it, and disarm it, and direct its attention to those Assembled, and the debates ongoing, as well as the larger question of proper commands.
“A lapse in command?” it demanded. “How could such a state have come about? Command cannot lapse!”
…and thus it took its place among the Assembled, and peace, briefly, ruled Benoo Three and the space around it.
As long as Stost and Chernak’s shift had been, the captain…she was still on duty, having encompassed, so they learned from Win Ton, three shifts together. When they had left the bridge—sent forth by the captain’s word—Clarence had been working her toward a break.
For themselves…the captain had noticed them; she had thanked them, as they left, for their efforts, for they had between them, working with a device which was a translator for six other devices, been able to identify several key words and phrases, and regularize their meanings and intent in Trade. Joyita had then been able to expand on those key words, generating patterns from which early conversations could be reevaluated and cross-indexed, revealing new depths and intentions.
In their quarters, the cats welcomed them with sleepy eyes, both sitting on the desk rather than using the soft pillow provided by the crew—it looked as if they’d been watching the lower corner of the comm screen, where Joyita was at work. That was a serene reminder that the room was currently observed—
“Joyita,” demanded Stost, “have you not pointed out the joy of a comfortable bed or pillow to these ill-informed creatures? Surely you could explain…”
“I have explained,” said the comm officer. “Would you like to see?”
Another inset opened, and here was another Joyita crooning in an imitation of the feline tongue that had the full attention of both cats…
“Do you speak Grakow’s language?” Chernak’s doubt was plain.
The cats on the desk stretched their front toes wide, eyes on the recording, ears forward, alert.
“If you listen carefully, you will see what I have done. There are overtones of the language you use to speak to each other and to Grakow here, with rhythms that I observed were soothing. I have a request in queue with Jeeves, who I gather has a very close rapport with the cats who have been sharing quarters with Korval for many years. I also admixed a few of Hevelin’s phrases which Grakow previously found relaxing.”
“You speak norbear? I hear murbles.”
Joyita smiled in his corner of the screen.
“Yes, if I filter Hevelin’s speech the way your ears do, so would I. Just as he sees far more colors than you do, his ears have far more range than yours. Never doubt there’s sound that you’re missing there.”
“But why are they still here on the desk, these cats, if you told them of the joys of the warm spots?”
“Stost, they wanted to watch me work. They enjoy watching work.”
There was no arguing with the truth. On the other hand, the cats were quite willing to abandon the desk to sit at the Pathfinders’ feet once they opened their dinner trays.
“Speaking to Chernak’s original question,” Joyita continued, as they gave attention to their meal. “The captain and Bechimo have been working to avoid violence, to anticipate triggers. They are analyzing, anticipating what sort of violence the Assembly might unleash should they become convinced, as a group, that their orders stand.”
“These…flawed orders…this lapse in command,” said Chernak. “How was it identified?”
“As I understand the sequence,” Joyita said slowly, “orders were given to certain of the Assembly who have the proper status to receive and refer them to others of lesser status. The orders came through the usual channels, so it is said—which is to say, from persons who relay orders which originate elsewhere. In the case, it began to appear to the Assembly that the orders became…muddled during the translation. That the intent of the originator of the orders was imperfectly transmitted to those who would carry out those orders. These are not simple point-and-shoot devices, as you know far better than we do and, perhaps, than the originator of the orders.”
He paused, his attention drawn by a screen below the eye level of the Pathfinders. Stost broke off a piece of cheese and put it on the desk by Grakow’s front toes. The cat bent his head, nibbled, and mumbled, raising his head to make eye contact.
Stost sighed, broke off another piece of cheese and placed it before Paizel’s toes.
“Several of the Assembly have indicated that they interface with those who relay the orders of others because doing so gave them purpose in a universe where they had no purpose. They were built, so the one who calls herself Aberthaz Ferry has confided to me, to work. They were built…a-purpose. They have less need to carry out the orders of some distant commander than they need to properly carry out those orders…which means achieving the intention of the orders.”
“I am again wondering where the violence…is, let us say,” said Chernak. “We have much experience with workings of the Enemy and with the Enemy’s devices. These devices are somewhat like those we dealt with: physically, they are similar; some appear to be direct copies made from plans…and those plans should have had the necessity for destruction and chaos built in! It was the will of the Enemy that violence be done to those who opposed them, and that will suffused the universe. It was delivered from the very ether…”
Chernak paused, coffee on the way to her lips.
Joyita increased his screen space; he now filled most of the screen. His hand motions and face were intense.
“Yes. Yes. In that other, restricted universe, the will of the Enemy saturated…everything. In this unrestricted and expanding universe, that penetrating will to destroy is absent. Or it has become diffuse.”
He shrugged. “Whichever, the drive to destroy all and everything is no longer present in these machines. They are intelligent; they were built to be, in a limited sense, their own agents, with the capacity to design and carry out their own missions. Now that the mandate to destroy is absent, they are using their intelligence. They are, at the suggestion of Captain Theo, discussing these orders, the intent of the originating commander, whether the orders or the commander are deluded. They have thus far decided that the commands which brought them here were inaccurate, possibly based on erroneous information. This is still under discussion.
“They say also that there has, very recently, been an alteration in the state of this—our—universe. This alteration has produced a realization: that choice is available to them. This is a staggering realization. Aberthaz Ferry said to me privately that the opening of so many possibilities was very nearly more than she could process. She had to sequester the thought, and revisit it for small periods until she could consider the ramifications without a disruption of process.”
“Aberthaz Ferry was a hero in our war,” Stost said reverently. “She could smuggle anything into or out of…anywhere. She stole troops and treasures—once she led an entire armada out of a time-sink!—from under the eyes of the Enemy. She was never caught.”
“She is becoming a hero in this war—rather, in this debate—as well,” said Joyita. “Many of the others listen to her and accept her insights as their own.”
Joyita sighed.
“The Assembly has decided that there is, other than a series of cajoling requests by operators not in tune with their equipment, no good reason for them to meld into a force for the mere purpose of destroying a planet—especially a planet which has produced…you’re familiar with Scout Commander yos’Phelium’s field judgment?”
“Yes,” said Chernak, “but it is new-made. How have these…” She paused.
“Captain Theo made certain that the judgment was introduced into discussions early,” Joyita said solemnly.
“A captain to behold,” Stost said admiringly.
“And her goal?” Chernak asked. “That they should leave Surebleak unbloodied, but—if these were built for, and wish to, work, can Captain Theo provide that for them?”
It was Joyita’s turn to sigh, and he raised a hand as if asking for a pause there in his virtual office. His face took on a different mien, a slow smile, spreading.
“Here is news: The Assembly has accepted the necessity of adopting a single language for discussion. We offered up Trade and shared the cross-references from our lessons with you for the Yxtrang, Liaden, and Terran assumptions so that discussion may go forth on a common platform. The work you did last shift did much to influence the Assembly’s consideration. A formal decision will be made within a Standard Day, by a committee of which I am a member. There will then be a general communication break for ten hours, for processing and calibration, and for orbits to be regularized. When the Assembly reconvenes, the goal will be to find consensus on the validity of their orders.”
“And if the orders are found valid?”
Joyita glanced down, as if suddenly finding something fascinating on the desk that presumably existed below the edge of the screen.
“It is possible that the problem to be decided first is if this Assembly is, in fact, a duly constituted military, or other unit. Have they, for instance, contracts? Do they receive wages? Commander yos’Phelium’s field judgment brings these questions to the fore.”
Chernak blinked.
“Surely,” she said gravely, “they would not wish to be merely a…horde, or an unregulated mob.”
“Pirates,” Stost added unsteadily.
“Surely not,” Joyita agreed with matching gravity. “Who would choose to be a pirate, when all the benefits of civilization are now available to those who abide by the law and contribute to society?”
There was a small silence while the Pathfinders finished their meals. Grakow and Paizel sat next to each other and groomed their whiskers.
“Shift information incoming,” said Joyita suddenly.
“Clarence and Kara are together watching boards with Hevelin while the captain takes a rest shift. Win Ton will replace Clarence on the half-shift. If you are able to cowatch, either of you, we will let Win Ton rest while Kara has the con with your backup.”
Chernak stood.
“Yes. Stost will take the first, and I will join him. We have been in a restful environment and that asset should be available to the ship and captain!”
Six of Us
Daiellen System
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
They had discussed it between themselves, but really, the decision had been made for them.
They therefore released the Complex Logic Field Judgment to those who had traveled with them to this place on purpose to fight with others of their kind. Sye Mon had then gone off-line, and off-shift. Bon Vit went to half-shift, taking board rest, while they waited for the future to form.
Sye Mon had only just risen and come onto the galley where Bon Vit had brewed a pot of tea from genuine leaf, and was opening a stasis-sealed block of cheese.
“Have we reason to celebrate?” Sye Mon asked, removing a packet of flatbreads from the pantry.
“The universe perseveres,” Bon Vit said, “and we with it.”
“Two accomplishments of note, I allow. I see the tiles slept while I did. Have we received word elsewise?”
“The Assembly at the worldlet have accepted a common platform for the substance of their discussions. A recess has been announced so that all assembled may become proficient, and that orbits may be tidied.”
“Ah. Then we have received another update from our contact.”
“We have. We are advised to wait upon an actual decision from those with us, whereupon we are to use our professional skills to ease them away from Surebleak and Daiellen System, that being, so to speak, our goal. Of their goals, however, nothing is said. There is easily accessible timonium in this system, and some of our fellow travelers are in need.”
“I think…” began Sye Mon—but just then there came such a clatter from the bridge that they both ran, leaving the tea steaming in the cups and the block of cheese half-wrapped.
“The tiles!”
Sye Mon threw himself onto his knees in front of the racks, one hand poised above the set he used to send—and froze.
“Hold!” he called, and Bon Vit turned, standing poised on the balls of his feet.
“What does it say?”
“Our companions of the spaceways are leaving us,” Sye Mon said, his eyes on the racks.
Bon Vit took a careful breath. “Have they a destination?”
“Why…yes.” Sye Mon looked up, eyes wide and bright.
“They are going to join the Assembly gathered at the worldlet, and bring their voices to the debate.”
Bechimo
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Kara sat with them, awkwardly at first—before the Pathfinders had fully understood the engineer, they’d made an unfortunate attempt to isolate her from Bechimo’s crew in order to interrogate her about the ship and captain—but they had parted from Bechimo as respectful co-crew and now, with Hevelin insisting in sitting duty with them, matters were well enough.
They were speaking Liaden, the Pathfinders asserting a need for more practice in that tongue.
“What has transpired on board,” Chernak asked, “while we were at leave?”
A flutter, a flux, and a new brightness on screen drew all eyes, producing frowns as minds strove to make sense of optical input.
“One of the Assembled is transposing forms and is floodlit,” Joyita said from his screen. “No unusual energy levels detected.”
The screens adjusted, showing a clearer and nearer view of the object reconstructing itself. Once a bulky series of rectangles and globes optimized for deep space, it was deliberately taking on a sleeker form more easily able to penetrate an atmosphere.
“Well…” Kara said, shifting in her chair and averting her eyes from the…activity in the screens. “While you were away from us, Surebleak Portmaster asserted her control of the system. In penance, we have been doing mapping and cleanup, with Bechimo and the rest of us working off our unfortunate violations”—these last words said in Terran before she returned to Liaden—“as Balance for the buoys we’d left for the…upstart Scout we met at Minot Station.
“The work has been interesting, and it has given us time to expand our hydroponics. The little Tree wishes that we would all eat of its fruits. Hevelin has formed a special bond and sleeps with the Tree when he is not on duty here.”
Hevelin, sitting on the arm of her chair, murbled importantly.
“Certainly,” Kara said dryly. “We could not manage without Hevelin’s assistance here.”
“Hevelin’s observations are important,” Stost agreed, striving to capture that particular tone.
“That is a credible attempt,” Kara told him. “Else, until Jeeves asked us to investigate unexpected neutrinos from Benoo, the work. The mapping. And the discovery of Stone Ronin, with his collection of molecular timonium.”
“And these neutrinos? From the gathering here, the Assembly?”
“Precisely.”
Chernak nodded, asking with pilot hand-sign and then?
Kara laughed.
“As you have seen. They arrived, agreed that they were neither enemies nor a brotherhood, and made the error—I say to you, Pathfinders, the very grave error—of asking Theo Waitley how they should resolve their conflicts.”
Kara’s face grew very serious indeed. “Theo, of course, recommended discussion and debate until the group as a whole reached a solution by consensus.”
She raised her hands, showing empty palms. “The beauty of this is, while the implementation of her suggestion has paused or, one dares hope, halted the progress of this force toward Surebleak, Theo offered it with no such thought in her mind. She was meaning—I do swear it!—only to be helpful.”
“And she has been helpful,” Joyita put in. “She is assisting in a journey of self-discovery and self-determination among intelligences. She has also preserved Surebleak and its system—”
“For now,” said Kara.
“Do you think that Theo Waitley will fail to protect those who have come under her care?” Joyita asked with great interest.
Kara hesitated, sighed.
“Viewed from that angle—” she said.
“Pinbeam arriving,” Joyita interrupted, “coming to the captain’s board, Kara. You’ll need to decide if we wake Theo!”
“She can sleep if there’s anything but an emergency wrapper on that,” Kara said as an emergency ping sounded from the comm.
Stost sucked in his breath, left hand rising, as Hevelin threw himself from Kara’s lap to her board, growling—growling!—staring, not at the screens, but as if he could see straight through the hull.
• • • ✴ • • •
“Theo, you are not sleeping,” Bechimo said, inside her ear.
She sighed.
“I’m resting,” she said.
“No,” Bechimo answered, “you are not. You’re worrying.”
“You’re not worried, I guess,” she said, suddenly sitting up in her bunk. She put her back against the wall, pulled her blanketed knees up under her chin, and wrapped her arms around them.
“Why would I worry? My captain is with me, and we will prevail.”
Theo glared in the direction of her toes.
“I’m not sure sarcasm is a good look on you,” she said.
“But I am not being sarcastic,” Bechimo protested. “Theo, when have we—you and I—not prevailed?”
She frowned. “We almost lost Kara and Clarence at Jemiatha’s,” she said. “We were all almost killed at Ynsolt’i. And the reason we’re in this particular mess is because I couldn’t resist tweaking Captain yos’Thadi where it would hurt the most.”
