9 Years, 11 Months, 14 Days After Eridani Landing
Olyn, Karskara
Rolling out of the small bed in her apartment Diana dropped to the floor and luxuriated in the cool temperature of the faux stone for a moment. The bruises, scrapes, and cuts covering her body temporarily dulled by the cold. Not waiting for the stone to warm, Diana spread her hands out and pushed herself up.
Raising her legs up off the cold stone and balancing only on her hands Diana lowered herself to the floor and pushed herself back up again.
The light from the system primary began to seep into the room through the small window that adorned the outside wall. Diana ignored it closing her eyes, she continued the exercise routine.
The last of her nano-machines had been filtered out of her body, and their assistance in maintaining her muscle mass or healing exhausted.
The primary responsibility of the small machines was keeping her body space worthy, despite her enhanced genetics muscles would atrophy without constant upkeep no matter what. The added benefits were that the nano-machines made it easy to stay in shape, without them Diana knew she would have to do it the old-fashioned way.
Lowering herself to the ground with one hand behind her back Diana. Finishing the exercises and her room now fully lit by the starlight Diana stood up and looked out of her small window at the alien city, Karskara.
Unlike Jikse, the city outside was not limited to only a few blocks within the center of a decaying world. Olyn was an industrial world, the class B who had once inhabited it long ago turning into class A. None in the Empire felt more attached to the rock beyond the gravity keeping them in place.
Like any city on Earth or Mars the buildings varied in size, from small constructs that would have been impressive in the 21st century to buildings so massive they rivaled what Mars had built. An impressive feat considering the near 10.2 m/s of gravitational force the world had.
Unlike Mars though, there was no massive cable running up into the sky and greenery dotted all the metal constructs. The Martian skyscrapers had been sealed to the environment, and what little plant life that had been grown on the world had been for food.
Walkways connected the buildings, some footpaths open to the elements and others sealed. It was possible to walk from one side of the city to the other without stepping outside Diana knew.
Wildly buzzing through the maze of buildings were transports ranging from small one-person vehicles that reminded Diana of old motorcycles, to what could only be described as floating barges.
Turning away from the alien city Diana quickly began to ready herself for another day under an alien sun.
Olyn, Karskara
Settling into the booth Diana nodded her head at [Orin] and [Hal].
Neither looked up from their Comms, eyes focused on the small devices as data continued to scroll through them. Diana moved to look at her own when an excited voice made her pause and brace,
“Dana!” the small green skinned class B girl with feathers on her head instead of hair ran into Diana’s side, shoving the feathers into her face in the process.
“Good morning [Polka].” Grunted Diana as she tried to lever the small child off her side without harming her.
[Polka] giggled and stepped back from Diana, “You want the next thing on the menu?” She was bouncing on the balls of her clawed feet, vibrating with energy.
Diana smiled, “I do. Can you get it for me?”
The small girl wobbled her head and quickly ran off, expertly navigating through the other B379 in the small shop, her bare feet pattering on the old dirty floor of the establishment that was beneath ground level of the city streets.
Diana looked around at the patrons, it was the usual crowd of B379 and no other species besides the ones at her own table. [Polka]’s species were first-generation class B. [Polka] had been born on Olyn but her parents had been forced to move away from their home world when the Empire had taken if from them.
According to everyone else on the planet, the removal of the class B from their home worlds was standard. The population, whatever remained of the species was split up between the hundreds of industrial worlds like Olyn.
Diana could see the logic of it, splitting the species up. Fracturing and limiting any of the culture they had left, forcing them to homogenize with the Empire’s culture.
“Why do we have to eat here again?” asked [Orin] her voice low as she poked at the food on her plate.
Diana smiled and reaching out picked out what looked like an eyeball from his plate, “I like the variety. If I let you two pick out where we eat we would have the same thing every day.”
[Hal] looked down at his own plate and winced, “I like the same thing every day.”
“You’ll live, besides the Erina have horrible hearing. We could be discussing the assassination of the Emperor and they wouldn’t hear. Not that they would care.”
Diana pointed at one of the B379 who only glanced back at her before returning to his food.
“Don’t say things like that.” Hissed [Hal].
Diana shrugged, “OK, I’ll think it. What did the two of you find out?”
[Orin] reached into a pocket of her vest and extracting a stimulant popped it into his mouth and chewed on it. “We were up all night looking for what we’ve got.”
“You want to be the one in the ring?” asked Diana, she pointed at the bruise on her face and the half healed cut under her left eye.
[Orin] shook her head, “I’ll leave that to you.”
Diana smiled, “What did you find?”
[Hal] shrugged, “Cherkaya wants you for the security division of Urnap technologies.”
Diana frowned, “security? That’s all either of you could figure out? After a night of research?”
[Orin] blinked slowly blinked, “No. Could you let us explain?”
Diana raised her hands smiling, “Sorry.”
“It’s a guess, but Urnap Technologies has held as one of the companies within the Empire that is able to turn over and integrate new Class B and C technologies into the Empire at large faster than any other. They’ve managed to stay on top for centuries. We figure, they’re not exactly playing fair in the business.”
Diana snorted, “Playing fair in government or business is never the way to win. What does it look like they’re doing?”
[Hal] opened his mouth to respond, but paused as [Polka] returned a tray of food held up over her head. “Here it is Dana! Pickled and broiled Janata! Father says’ it’s not exactly right since there are no Janata, but I like this!”
The girl set the plate down in front of Diana and she nodded, “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll like it, here.”
Diana held out her credit chip to the girl. She smiled the feathers on her head puffing up, grabbing the chip she once again ran off through the shop. Diana turned an eye on the half melted gelatinous looking mass and frowned.
“Continue.”
[Hal] leaned back in his seat, “Take a bite of that first.”
Diana grimaced, using a spoon like utensil Diana scooped some of the food up and quickly ate it. Her entire face scrunched up and she coughed. “Sour, and salty.”
[Hal] smiled and rolled his eyes, picking up the Comm he paged through to another section of the data. “From all we’ve could piece together and the data from competitors over the years, they’re either getting early access to the class B technology most likely from some faction or government, or they are stealing from competitors and sabotaging efforts they’re making. Whatever it is they’re doing, they’re being subtle enough, other firms occasionally develop technological integrations before them. Just not often.”
Diana nodded and too another bite of her food, “That would be how I would play it.” she nodded, “The inside source for new technology is more likely. Sabotage or theft would have been detected a t some point. They don’t have to be exclusive either, I’m betting data manipulation play a large role as well.”
Diana now completely ignoring the taste of the food quickly wolfed down the rest of it as she stared blankly at the wall behind [Orin] and [Hal]. Both returned to their own meals waiting.
“Anything else pertinent?” asked Diana as she took the last bite of her food.
“No. The data’s all tightly controlled. Even what we’ve got here is circumstantial for the most part.” Said [Hal].
“Lovely.” Diana cracked her knuckles and began to quickly type away at her own Comm searching through the public computer networks of the Empire for anything the two might have missed.
The alien computer networks, were less organized than anything that Humanity had ever built. A central directory the only jumping off point to reach any other piece of data in the massive network, and horribly inefficient in terms of data searching and processing the network had all the hallmarks of being heavily regulated.
Data linked to empty files, references were casually omitted, and almost all access was logged. Factual data was all maintained by the government, and corporate pages by companies spanning across worlds wanting to maintain an image.
Slow and inefficient due to the need to integrate hundreds of alien computer systems into one, the system was also incredibly slow, people saying most of their useful data locally.
“Damn it.” Muttered Diana.
“We’ve been up all night doing that.” Said [Hal] looking annoyed.
Diana nodded, “I just wanted to check. All we need is one thread, something on Cherkaya. I’d rather not go into this blind.”
“You might have to.”
“Diana closed her eyes and sighed, “Then here’s hoping it’s worth the time. With my luck, he really does just want me to operate security at some building.”
[Orin] chuckled, “It would be the most secure building on the planet.”
Diana smiled her eyes still closed, “True. Even then, it only means there is something worth protecting inside of it.”
9 Years, 11 Months, 14 Days After Eridani Landing
Bellona Colony
“No.” growled Megan.
James put a pained smiled on his face, “He’s the only one who’s volunteered, and the Council’s given him unilateral power over all of the negotiations. He’s definitely not going to back out now.”
Megan cursed and stomped her foot down on the metal grating of the corridor denting it inwards. Ice that had collected on the ceiling fell to the floor and shattered. Alpha peered down from where on of his bodies was perched on James’s shoulder, “That does not hurt?”
Megan turned her glare on the alien, Alpha simply blinked back at her with two sets of his eyes not fazed.
“Of anyone they could send, why does it have to be Daniels?” spat Megan.
James shrugged, “He’s career politician. One of the few we have that’s not ten years rusty at the task. From what I hear he’s practically salivating at the opportunity to interact with the Chront governments beyond Gerinal.”
Megan scoffed, “I’ll bet. Three world powers to play off, no one to argue with him, and he gets to negotiate from a position of uncontested power. We’ve got almost all the leverage over Chront, he’s going to try and rob them blind.”
“He’s not that bad.”
Megan crossed her arms in defiance of his words, “He is.”
“You’ve not got all of the power!” shouted a voice from down the hall.
Megan rolled her eyes and mouthed several curses, the head of the Vakurian representative popped out of the small meeting room down the hall one hand holding the earplugs she normally wore near the Tanuin. Her ears were twitching side to side, directed down the hall.
“Greetings Ranlin.” Said Alpha.
“Alpha,” grimacing Ranlin quickly pulled small plugs from a pocket and shoved them into her ears, causing them to start wiggling in small circles. The Vakurian did not like dampening their hearing any more than a human would like to wear a blindfold.
James nodded, “You would give the Seninon technology as well? Don’t you have your own politics to deal with?” he asked as the three of them stepped into the meeting room. Gerinal seated at the conference table raised his cup of coffee in greeting.
Ranlin shrugged, “We’re using the Empire’s technology, old technology by their standards but far ahead of the Seninon’s. The politics will be simple, the role of any ship Captain is to support their crew and ensure they survive.”
She paused and sipped her coffee, “One of the hardest things for the fleet is acquisition of raw materials and provisions. We can’t send anything but small ships into the Empire to acquire things, and we don’t dare contact other Class C’s. It’s not gone well in the past, and in most cases, they don’t have technology advanced enough to help. The Seninon might not be able to produce more exotic materials, but refined metals are always needed.”
“Humanity can resource trade as well.” Said James.
“I’m hoping you’ll trade more than resources. Humanities technological growth is atypical compared to all the species I know of. From no presence in space to colonization of another world in less than five hundred years? You’ve bypassed the technology we’ve stolen and have been trying to improve on for centuries.”
James sat down at the conference table and accepted a cup of Martian coffee that Gerinal pushed towards him. Alpha quickly moved off his shoulder, his other bodies skittering up from the floor to sit next to him on the table surface. Reaching out with one small claw he plucked a stale pastry from the middle of the table and quickly began eating, even as he spoke.
“The Human technological progression is impressive, it took the Tanuin nearly a thousand years to develop the tachyon beacon system. Humans bypassed it in only a few generations.”
Megan grunted and sat down at the table, “Dr. Lincoln probably knew about tachyon technology. Her notes and data matched up with what Ben and I extracted from the Empire fighter in some respects. She didn’t see the point in researching something that would take generations to complete, having to send beacons at sub-light speeds to other systems before being able to make a jump.”
Ranlin frowned, “So just ignore it? By all accounts tachyon FTL is far more efficient.”
“Dr. Lincoln, was nothing if not single minded. Her objectives were all that mattered. She wanted FTL in her life time.”
Ranlin nodded, “In any case, the Admirals won’t even think of restricting trade with the Seninon. Captains are going to be begging to gain access to their system if we can get resources from them. Living on ships is taxing, and we’ve had to scrap entire vessels at different points just for the metal they were constructed of.”
Megan bit her lip, “Including Edie? She’ll make these trades?”
Ranlin’s ears slowly moved straight up, “She is the Captain of the Valiant. Her loyalties lay with the crew, and then Humanity. That is the promise she made when she became Captain. If she will trade what Human technology or information she has? I don’t know.”
James rubbed at his eyes, “The Council’s been hoping her position as a Vakurian Captain will give them leverage in your political structure.”
Ranlin’s ears swiveled again and one ear plug fell out. She ignored it a small laugh bursting from her lips. “The Captain hates politics!”
Gerinal weekly smiled, “Those who make the most important decisions often are.”
“Your technology might be useful, but do you understand all of it? Have you gone over every single iota of its code? Know why ever single bolt goes where it does?” asked Megan.
Ranlin placed the earplug back in her ear and frowned, “We have lived on our ships for generations.”
Megan pursed her lips, “That’s a no then.”
“We understand our own ships.” Said Ranlin her voice lowering.
Alpha let out a low warble, “Peace. Megan has a meaning to her words. Human’s understand and can teach not only how, but why something works the way it does for them. They are open to change, very dramatically so but only when the need is explained. The advantage over Empire technology and systems is this understanding.”
Ranlin turned her eyes to him raising her chin slightly, “I am aware of the lengths humans will go to survive Alpha.”
James his eyes meeting the older Gerinal’s who imperceptibly nodded leaned forwards to stop the argument. The doors to the room opened, Councilor Daniels strode in a frown set on his features. “The meeting was not scheduled to start until 0800.”
Alpha locked a set of eyes on the man, “We were eager to move along. This involves the fate of all species here.”
Gerinal smiled and raised his cup, “I wanted my morning beverage.”
Ranlin said nothing, her eyes on the data tablet in front of her.
Daniels sat, “Yes, well I have nothing new to say. All the measures we have been discussing are simply moving towards being more official. I have been given the full authority to manage and authorize the trading of technology and resources on Humanity’s behalf, the negotiations for these trades between both the Vakurian and Seninon will be conducted on Chront until more antimatter becomes available or more expedient methods of communication are implemented. The Council feels the communication lag is still too much of an issue.”
Eyes around the table turned to Megan, she rolled her eyes and taking out her Link moved an image up onto the table. A rough image of the circular accelerator structure on it. “Two months or so. Even with a steady source of antimatter the jumps from here to anywhere else and back are going to be on a weekly basis at most. Only a quarter of the accelerator’s output will be going to the Russia and eventually the China. A second quarter is going to the research division, and the rest is being stored for emergencies.”
Ranlin absentmindedly waved her ears around in a small circle, “Not being able to use tachyon’s is very annoying.”
Alpha let out a small squeak of agreement, “It is. We never had to find a way to operate without them, and neither has the Empire. Should Humanity discover a way to communicate at superluminal speeds without them it is only another advantage.”
“We’re working on it.” said Megan she scratched at her leg, “Dr. Lincoln’s notes and data are a mess though. Every engineer and physicist on Bellona has been looking them over for a decade. All we’ve managed to eke out are improvements to antimatter engines. Best idea so for communication is miniaturizing the engine and power requirements and having a drone that can move back and forth from here to Chront at regular intervals. Right now, it’s the same cost as the Russia making the jump so it’s not worth it.”
Daniels cleared his throat, “Humanity will be trading both technology and cultural data to both the Vakurian and the Seninon. However, the antimatter technology we use will not be shared. That is something the Council was unanimous on.”
Gerinal frowned and spoke before Ranlin could. “The Seninon will of course be happy to pay for any technology that Humanity would like to provide. However, it is my understanding that we are as in much danger as Humanity when it comes to the Empire. Would you hold back technology that would be able to save us if we do not pay what you ask for?”
Daniels smiled, and Megan resisted the urge to punch him.
“Humanity has no wish to see the Seninon die. However, the actions of the Canada and her Captain as successful as they were not something the Council would have approved of.”
Gerinal raised an eyebrow, “You would have stood by and watched us burn?”
Daniels face turned Somber, “The Vakurian by their own admission have done so dozens of times over, and they have far more ships and resources at their disposal than Humanity. We are almost helpless against the Empire, and indelicately my job is to protect Humanity, not every sentient species. Ask the Vakurian for help if you feel you need it.”
Ranlin’s ears went down, “We have technology that the Empire knows how to counter. Even when the Empire invaded our world they were using old ships. Encounters between the ships of the Empire are won by how quickly one side can overwhelm the shields of another. The only advantage we have had is the cloaking technology we developed. Something we believe the Empire has managed to duplicate.”
“Still you did not help these other Class C.” Said Daniels.
“No. We did not.” Shed growled, her ears twitching.
Daniels turned back to look at Gerinal, “We’ve removed the tachyon beacon from your system. With this gone you have time, all we are asking for it fair compensation for any technology we give you. Mostly in the form of raw resources. Luxury goods and media will be traded as well,”
“We have already offered this.” Said Ranlin.
Daniels glanced at her, “That data and information is not yours to give away.”
“It is almost a three centuries old, and it was expressly given to us by a Human.”
“Who had no authority to do so.”
Alpha moved across the table to sit in the center, he glared up at Daniels with all his eyes. “You must do with the Seninon and Vakurian the same thing you have done with us. None of us have time to negotiate. To survive, we must be united.”
Gerinal smiled and tapped on the table, “I agree. Unless Humanity intends to make unfair demands, we will be able to easily meet any material requirements you have. The Seninon might not be as advanced as any other species here, but we can learn, and we very much wish to help beyond simple trade deals.”
Daniels closed his eyes and sighed, “Gerinal, your planet is divided. You speak for one nation,”
Gerinal stood, “I have been given the same authority as you Councilor Daniels. My world is divided, but like the Vakurian, the Tanuin, and Humanity, we wish to survive. None of us will survive by simply trading with one another. We must be a united front.”
The room was silent at that for a moment. James let out a low whistle and Megan smiled.
Daniels shot a glare at the two military officers, “A cooperative initiative can be negotiated. Right now, however the Human Council is only willing to negotiate trade deals.”
“Then what are the Tanuin?” asked Alpha.
Daniels glanced down at him, the man struggled with his words for several moments. “You are guests on our ships and colony.”
James shook his head, “The Tanuin are allies Daniels.”
Alpha let out a squeak of agreement.
“The Vakurian have been allies for centuries, even if neither of us knew it.” said Ranlin.
“The Seninon owe our civilization to Humanity. You do not see us as allies?” asked Gerinal.
Daniels stood, “The Russia will be departing for Chront on time tomorrow. The trade deals for Human technology will be negotiated on your world Gerinal. Other aspects of our relationships can be negotiated there.”
“Of course.” said Gerinal.
Daniels nodded, “If you will excuse me, I need to reconvene with the Council.”
Turning Daniels strode out of the room. The door closed behind him and Megan let out a low chuckle, “Oh perfect. He’s going to use this to get more authority from the Council.”
Ranlin looked at her, “Why do you not wish to commit? Edie and all other Humans on the fleet have been telling us for years that Humanity would welcome us as allies.”
“Over commitment is almost as dangerous as ignoring a plight.” Said Gerinal. He looked at Ranlin and then at the other Humans around the table, “You have only interacted with Humans in the military?”
“Yes.” said Ranlin.
Gerinal sighed, “Then it is comforting to know that even amongst the stars the politics are the same. Military men and women, are and forgive me, on or off.”
“On or off?” asked Alpha.
“They see the world,” Gerinal paused and smiled, “They see the universe as absolutes. The more allies, the better off they will be. More power, is better.”
James nodded, “Black and white. Shades of grey.”
Gerinal considered that for a moment and nodded, “Yes. Consider, if we all ally with Humanity what does this do?”
“It makes us all stronger.” Said Alpha.
Gerinal nodded, “Yes, but what else?”
“We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall hang separately.” Said Megan her voice a monotone.
James shot her a look, “who are you quoting?”
Megan shook her head, “North American president I think.”
Alpha let out a low warble, “Your leaders do not want to commit, fearing that in doing so they will doom what little is left of Humanity.”
Ranlin’s ears went up. “Oh.”
Megan nodded, “Daniels is an ass, but he doesn’t want Humanity to die any more than the rest of us. The Council is vacillating between isolationism, and allying with as many as we can.”
Gerinal sipped at his cooling coffee and grimaced, “It would perhaps be safer to remain hidden.”
James raised an eyebrow, “You’re a negotiator?”
He ignored the comment.
Megan leaned back in her chair putting her feet up on the table, “Isolationism never works, and the Empire has to be pouring everything they have into antimatter engine technology. They destroyed Sol to get it, and we just kicked them out of the Chront system with it. They’d be stupide to not replicate it. I’d rather we have some friends in the galaxy when the do.”
Ranlin looked at the Human engineer thinking, “The Empire takes technology. They very rarely develop it.”
Megan nodded in agreement, “I’ve looked over the technology samples that Artemis sent. I get that, but even so they have the resources of a thousand worlds and at least a trillion people to throw at the problem. I don’t like those odds.”