<Eridani Landing: 9 years 2 months 25 days>
“Pass the salt would you?” asked Ben.
Rolling her eyes Diana pulled the salt container off of the table and tossed it through the air to him, barely looking up the elder engineer grabbed it and carefully squirted several drops of the extremely salty water on the mass of rice and fried vegetables floating in front of him.
“Why are you guys at the shipyards again?” asked Diana.
Ben and Megan, who as well as being Diana’s adopted parents reluctantly worked as engineering professors on Bellona if only so that they could continue to investigate the alien technology.
Not since the completion of the Canada had they been up in the shipyards, much to their disappointment.
The shipyards were a part of the Fort that was without centripetal gravity, and it housed the few people who had evacuated from the Station above Mars. They were the lifeblood of the Fort, knowing not just how to construct and operate establishments in zero-g but also how to make it comfortable.
The criminal organizations that had operated on the Station and paid head to Diana’s mother were no more, still what was left of them gave her some amount of special treatment a privilege that Diana tried not to abuse.
The favor she had called in this case had been the owner of the zero-g Asian quinine shop delivering an entire table for Diana and her adopted family in the dry-dock. The table was simply a board that their plates and utensils magnetically stuck to but it functioned well enough in zero-g floating in between all of them.
“Operational analysis on the construction of the HSB Russia and HSB China,” said Ben as he swallowed another mouthful of the food floating in front of him, the words barely audible.
Diana gave him a withering look, “You want to tell me what you’re actually doing?” she asked.
Megan grinned and Ben grunted in annoyance.
“I told you she wouldn’t buy it,” said Megan.
Ben ignored her and continued to eat.
“I had a little help, Arik told me what’s being considered by the council,” said Diana.
“Sure sell me out why don’t you,” said Arik appearing on Megan’s tablet which was stuck to the table, her arms crossed pouting.
“You shouldn’t know about the initiative,” said Megan, her voice hardly a reprimand.
Everyone in the small family was proficient enough with technology, and loose enough in the moral sense to have hacked into many places where they technically should not have been. The fact that Arik who was partially responsible for guarding the data was a part of the small family probably didn’t help.
“The Council’s going to announce it tomorrow, but we’ve been planning this for years, and because everyone’s going to be clamoring for answers you guys are going to have to play technical PR for the Council. You wanted to double check on the Canada’s tachyon drive before everything gets announced. Which is also why she’d been docked for the past week and her lead engineer’s been kicked off of the ship,” said Diana.
“What that kid, Derick? He’s good enough I guess, needs to think outside the box a little more often though,” said Ben.
“We had to make sure the tachyon drive works, we’re only going to get one shot at this,” said Megan.
Diana nodded, “I know that. I’m at the top of the list for additions to the crew the ship.”
Megan paused, and glanced over at Ben who had suddenly started to choke on his latest mouthful of food.
“What?!” asked Megan.
Immediately realizing that Arik could have been the only one to provide Diana with the information Megan picked up her tablet rounding on the quasi-AI.
“Why the hell is her name on that list?!”
“Stop shaking me!” said Arik her digital Avatar on the screen bouncing around it.
“Why is she on that list?” repeated Megan.
“They need people who don’t have any cybernetics, and who would be willing to go through some small amount of cosmetic surgery. Diana and the newer trainees are also know enough about the alien language to be semi-fluent!”
“The council wants our people to infiltrate the alien societies?” asked Megan.
Megan shook her head, “Good way to get killed if you ask me,” she sighed and putting the tablet down stabbed her chopsticks into the floating mass of rice in front of her, “Still the more information we have the better. You’re going to have all the fun though playing with alien tech if they pick you,” she said.
Diana smiled, “I’m in the command track though. I don’t get to play with all the tech, I get to tell other people to play with it,” said Diana.
“Once an engineer always an engineer. You’ll have plenty of opportunity.”
~~~
~~~
<Eridani Landing: 9 years 2 months 26 days>
Diana yawned, it was midday and still the Council had not gotten around to their announcement, or at least Daniels hadn’t. He somehow had the energy to drone on about economic forecasts for three hours.
The reporters, of which on Bellona there were only five who performed the duty full time looked equally as interested in the news so far.
The military higher ups in the crowd were impassive, their true emotions about the situation hidden beneath their masks of professionalism. Diana could see one man gently snoring in his seat though. Everyone of importance had been told to report for a special announcement still that only filled a quarter of the Council’s chambers so Diana hadn’t even had to sneak in.
Councilor Daniels finally finished his speech and sat. The reporters and everyone else in the council chambers started to collect their things to leave, the other politicians had already spoken and in nearly ten years the Military Councilors had nothing more to report than standard drills.
General Yan stood, and cleared his throat to get the attention in the room back. The reporters were the first to notice him, and were for a moment stunned.
“I have a short statement to make regarding a future military operation,” said General Yan.
The reporters were scrambling to get their links back out to record what he was going to say.
“At approximately 1300 hours tomorrow the HSB Canada will be utilizing the drive technology reverse engineered from the alien craft to travel into enemy territory. Her mandate will be simple, obtain more information on the enemy, be it social, political, or technological and identify any weaknesses that can be taken advantage of. With the ultimate goal of returning with information that will allow us to take back the Sol system.”
Diana almost burst out laughing at the scene in the room, the group of touring school children who bored with the meeting had been quietly whispering amongst themselves were now all staring at their teacher whom had let out a small scream at the news, the reporters were gasping for breath, two of them looked like they were about to faint and the other three had already started shouting questions none of them understandable as they tried to talk over one another.
The few civilians in the room who were watching the proceedings of the government were all on their links, and in the background Diana could hear the pounding of feet as the occupants of the government building all converged on the room.
“Well this is going to be interesting,” Said Arik.
Diana smiled and stood up to leave.
~~~
~~~
“You were in the Council Chambers?” asked Derick.
Diana nodded, “Yep. Knew about it beforehand, figured it would be a show. Not sure listening to the economic reports was worth it though.”
“How,” Derick began to ask but then rolled his eyes, “Arik, you know I think that’s just plain cheating. When are the guys on the Fort going to get a helpful AI.”
Arik was everyone’s friend but she had also put a near block on any type of cheating behavior amongst the men on the Station. She attributed her favoritism to the girls having to stick together in what was even after three hundred years of equality on paper still a mostly a male profession, being a soldier.
“When you start behaving.” Said Arik appearing like a reflection in the window display next to Diana and Derick as they floated down the hallway of the Fort walking in step with them.
“I could report you to the Council for the casual attitude towards hacking,” said Derick.
“Then you don’t get me on the Canada with you,” said Diana.
“What you actually got orders?” he asked.
Diana nodded and quickly produced her link, showing him the orders she had received to report to the Canada for her first long term posting. Most trainees on the Fort at her age were still on it simply because the ships they were to be assigned too were still in dry-dock under construction, and they rotated service on those ships that were operational for experience.
Now though the Council was aggregating the most talented on the Canada. From what she saw on the data feeds the revelation that a human ship was for the first time in almost a decade traveling to another solar system, to investigate the enemy of Humanity was being met with mixed results.
Some were afraid to expose ourselves, Humanity was hidden and safe for now. Other knew that the only way we might take back Sol was by understanding our enemy.
Still the matter was not up for debate in any venue except the Council chambers. As authoritarian as the Council could sometimes be direct and expedient action was needed.
Captain Stagg and Commander Young were both in front of the airlock to the Canada.
“Diana, glad to see you,” Said Stagg.
Diana smiled, “I’m glad to be here sir,” said Diana.
“Would you mind coming with us to the Council. We have a matter to discuss with them, your parents are going to be there as well,” said Young.
Diana blinked, “yes, about what?” she asked.
“Arik,” said
“What did she do now?” Asked Diana almost automatically.
“It’s nice to know that’s how you think of me.” Said Arik, “I put in a request with Captain Stagg to join the crew of the Canada. She accepted, technically that is all that should be required. The Council is however refusing to approve the transfer orders,” said Arik.
“By a vote of two to three?” asked Diana.
Arik still in the nearest window nodded.
“So why am I needed?” asked Diana.
“She’s going to end up giving you the video feed of it anyway even if it is supposed to be a classified Council session,” said Young.
Diana put a hand to her chest pretending to be hurt but otherwise didn’t say anything to discredit his accusation.
Continuing up the long spire that served as the docking module for the fort the Canada’s commanding officers, Diana and Derick slowly approached the ring of the Fort. With the spire in the middle going out on either side and acting as the point of rotation for the two artificial gravity rings spinning in opposite directions.
The Council would not be making it up to the Fort, but the main communication link, which utilized a laser pulse communication system for security would be the next best thing.
As they descended on the ladders Diana felt the gravity pick up, and things begin to grow heavy in the familiar sensation. The Fort’s rings had three layers, one at around Bellona gravity, one at Earth Gravity, and the last at just over Earth’s.
The communication hub was on the second level where gravity was at the standard 1 g. Diana didn’t really like Earth gravity, having grown up in weightlessness and other limited gravity environments but she could operate in it.
“You done messing with my ship?” asked Stagg as she stepped into the Council communication room where Ben and Megan were already waiting, both of them standing near the transmission podium to operate it.
“I built the thing! You keep messing it up!” said Ben, as he walked over to Stagg and threw his arms around her.
“Blame my engineer,” said Stagg chuckling as Ben leaned over and shook Young’s hand.
“It’s not his fault, the crazy captains are the bane of any experienced engineer,” said Ben.
Derick leaned over to Diana, “I like him.”
“You would,” said Diana.
“I’m putting the Council on.” said Arik, the images of the councilors appeared on the screen spanning the wall, which was placed at such an angle that to be looking at it you could swear you were actually in the council chambers.
“Arik!” shouted Daniels.
The man was not at his seat but rather off to the side a remnant of sandwich in his hands.
“Oops, I thought they were ready, my bad.” said Arik.
The other Councilors were in their seats and throwing the rest of the sandwich away Councilor Daniels quickly made his way to his seat.
“I would like to know why a personal transfer to my ship was denied, it was my understanding that being given virtual autonomous for this mission that all crew decisions were under my prevue.”
Daniels glared at Stagg, “You know perfectly well why it was denied. Arik represents almost as large of an investment as the Canada. She is also a civilian, and although you could request her assignment it is still up to the Council.”
“Does she not have a say in this?” asked Stagg.
“She does, but her obligations to continue operating as the cyber defense for this base is paramount,” said Daniels.
“Councilor, the only experience I’ve had with the alien technology is the memory core inside of the captured fighter and that was not a threat in any way. If I am to learn how to defend our computer systems I need more data,” Said Arik.
Daniels turned to glare at her, on the Fort it looked like she was standing off to the side of the Councilors, and she was no doubt projecting herself in a similar manner to them.
“You’ve interface with the alien computer?” asked General Yan interrupting Daniels before he could say anything else.
“It’s how Mr. Gant found the navigational data.”
The councilors turned to Ben he put his hands up, “I didn’t help her interface with it.”
“You inadvertently activated its wireless functions for .2 seconds when you were running a diagnostic. I was able to then extrapolate its communication protocols and connect with it. I have not found anything more than what has already been presented to the Council,” Said Arik.
“How are we supposed to believe that, you could be compromised, and if not this only proves the point that you should not be allowed on this mission given your disobedience of a direct order!” said Daniels.
Arik cocked her head to the side smiling, “If I am compromised then I become Captain Stagg’s problem and Bellona is safe. As for disobeying direct orders, I am not part of the military, nor did I break any laws in interfacing with the alien technology,” said Arik.
General Yan smiled slightly, “Indeed, although I think an argument could be made that you were breaking the spirit of the law,” the General paused and picked up his tablet, “you also have a very cavalier attitude towards the amount of power you wield inside military computer systems. I have no direct proof, but I do have enough circumstantial evidence to bring you up on several thousand counts of illegal military computer access.”
Arik said nothing, and everyone in the room glanced at one another, her casual disregard for computer conventions and security was well known. Mostly because the way she described it, her consciousness which was constantly in tune with technology and adapted to it. She broke through most computer security purely by accident like tripping and falling through a wall made of wet paper.
The General continued, “We could investigate these charges further, or as a punitive measure you could serve officially in a military capacity.”
“If you’re going to ask me to process fleet maneuver statistics again I think I’ll just take the criminal charges,” Said Arik.
“I was thinking an old fashioned conscription punishment, beat some military discipline into you,” Said General Yan.
Arik appeared to be fighting the grin off of her face, “Are you sure that’s necessary to drop the charges?” asked Arik playing along.
Daniels stood up, “General she is not going to be placed on the Canada,” he said realizing what they were doing as well.
“Then I quit,” said Arik.
“You cannot quit!” said Daniels.
“So I do not have rights then? As different as I might be I am still human!” said Arik.
Daniels looked at her for a moment, and the Counselor Henson sitting to his right shook his head he was one of the more moderate voices of the council usually wiling to flip between the military of civilian interests if convinced.
“I suggest another vote,” said Counselor Henson.
Daniels rounded to stare at the man for a moment but then grinding his teeth together managed to force out the next sentence, “Very well, a vote to allow the asset Arik to join the Canada on her exploratory mission.”
Four of the counselors quickly keyed in their votes, and still grumbling to himself Daniels voted as well, making it a unanimous decision.
“Thank you for resolving this issue Counselor’s,” said Captain Stagg.
Daniels cut the feed.
Arik remained on the screen, and she smiled, “that was fun!”
Ben groaned, “You just made a hell of a lot more work for us, now we have to move and install you on the Canada?”
“No scratching my case!”
~~~
~~~
Charles grimaced as the reinforcements arrived, the Dancer, and Painter among the ships in the backup fleet. These six ships were the extent of the Empire’s personnel besides a few politicians like Marcus who knew of this Class C species.
The Singer was being repaired, with all available hands working to try and get it done as quickly as possible. It was difficult though, whatever the final attack of the FTL ship had been it was dramatic. Entire sections of the once smooth and streamlined ship had to be cut away from the ship like tumors, too far gone to repair.
“You made a mess of this Charles,” said Byn over the communication channel, the three Captains were in the secure communication vaults of their ships.
“I was put on a leash, trying to obtain the FTL technology this species was using,” growled Charles.
Byn cocked his head to the side, “So not only did you fail to eradicate the failure of a species but you failed your other objectives, Marcus is not going to be happy,” said Byn reveling in the discomfort of his fellow Captain.
“There is still a small colony of them on the red planet, those the species left behind,” said Adria the Captain of the other lead recovery ship.
The three other ships were under the command of less experienced, captains, who were also not privy to unfiltered information that would be making its’ way back to the Empire and the de-facto Emperor Marcus.
“We need to eradicate them,” said Byn offhandedly.
“They might have information on the FTL systems. Flat out destroying them is not an option,” said Charles.
Adria nodded, “I agree, we need to try and salvage something from this mess.”
Byn leaned forward towards the communicator, “These aliens nuked the surface of their spawning grounds! They are monsters capable of doing an immeasurable amount of damage. It’s going to be years before the planet can be colonized! Even with the atmospheric scrubbers working at a max. The whole point of the eliminating Class C species is to remove impure genetics from the Galaxy and give our own people somewhere to expand too. Charles has failed both of these objectives!”
Charles grimaced but didn’t say anything to contradict the man.
“I’ll lead the ground teams to try and secure the FTL technology,” said Adria.
“If you want to roll around in the filth fine. I’m going to assess the damage to the garden world,” said Byn.
He dropped out of the communication channel.
Charles turned to Adria, “Don’t underestimate them just because they are a Class C species. They are persistent,” said Charles.
Adria sighed and gave Charles a look, one that a mother would give a child they were attempting to patronize and calm.
“I’ll be careful. They are a Class C species though, as much damage as they did to your ship I want you to consider that it might not be the species, but the Captain of the ship who is responsible.”
Charles glared at her for a moment, “you think me incapable?”
“You were serving as Captain of a survey vessel, as your retirement. Perhaps you should have stayed there”
“Individuals who knew about the technological deviances of this species had to remain small, so as to not cause a panic in the Empire,” said Charles justifying his actions to her and to himself as well.
“I detected the species, and I was asked to take my position back as a Ship Captain to ensure that the information about a technologically advanced Class C species did not reach the populous, the last time that happened the results were catastrophic.”
Adria nodded, “I am not doubting your loyalty to the Empire Charles, and one would have to be a complete fool to do that. I’m simply saying that retirement might have been the correct choice.”
Charles glared at her for several more moments and then sighed, “Perhaps. Do not discount what I said though, this species is dangerous.”
“I will be careful Charles, without their fleet the remainders are nothing more than colonists on a cold world without a supply line from their home world. Obtaining the information we need will be simple.”
She cut the channel, and Charles let out a sigh. They were stepping into the situation with the same bravado he had. His ship was crippled and the lives of a dozen of his crew were the price he had paid for that error.
“Sir?” asked Yuka.
Charles opened his eyes.
“Yes?” he growled.
“You really need to stop doing this, it’s bad for your health,” said Yuka as she cleared the empty bottles from around the chair.
“It would be worse if I didn’t have it,” said Charles.
Yuka didn’t have a response to that so continued to clean.
Charles stared at her blankly for a moment as she threw the bottles into the recycling container, slowly getting to his feet Charles stumbled into his bedroom.
Thinking that he was making his way to the bathroom Yuka ignored the man, it was like this sometimes he would dip in and out of depressing mood swings every few weeks.
Charles came out of his bedroom a few moments later, a small box in his hands.
He put the small thing down on the side table, “This needs to be cleaned too,” said Charles.
Yuka glanced at him and then back down at the box and gasped, “These are your scripts!” she said.
Charles nodded, and leaning forwards opened the case releasing a small puff of dust, “My deeds and accomplishments for the Empire.”
Yuka leaned forward looking at the small strips of paper, they were written in an ancient form of the Empires language so she could not read all of them, but several were recognizable. The large red square in the center was the most well-known. An emblem denoting a great service to the Empire, one that could only be awarded by the Emperor himself.
“You should take these to a professional, I cannot clean them,” said Yuka, the paper was thin and delicate. The tradition for the acknowledgements to be made of paper went back thousands of years, and the need to great care in their display only proved that one was further devoted to the Empire.
“Nonsense, I’ll do the first one,” said Charles and he reached down beside his chair lofting another bottle of liquor.
Pulling the stopper off he dumped to bottle into the case.
Yuka quickly knocked the bottle from his hand, but it was too late.
“Their, all clean,” said Charles.
“Why did you do that!” asked Yuka, “Those awards! I knew you were in the military, but those were some of the highest awards!”
“That mean nothing,” said Charles as he looked over what was left of the papers, “They mean absolutely nothing.”
~~~
~~~
Vann was having a hard time concentrating, mostly because Syn was prancing around his office modeling her new dress. It was an ornately classical thing, colored a calm green to contrast her deep red skin. Starting at their shoulders the dress draped down over her frame, hiding most of it away beneath the cloth, leaving only her hands, feet, and face bare. The idea was that the only beauty needed was in the face, something of an older tradition but still prevalent for the most part in the modern culture of the Empire.
“Will you calm down?” asked Vann.
Syn looked at him reproachfully for a moment.
“Just because you have no semblance of style does not mean that the rest of us don’t”
“The Emperor’s official attire has not changed in over [500 years] I am not going to change it now.”
“That’s the excuse to change it then, it’s old,” said Syn.
Vann turned to glare at her, “No, and where is that report?” he asked.
Syn quickly produced the report she had been assigned, she was the first member of his Cabinet that he had been able to replace. Her position being that of Public Welfare she was the youngest minister on the board by far, and also happened to be the daughter of one of the more influential Generals in the Empire’s military.
He had done it as a political maneuver, one of his first clumsy attempts at such an action when he was fifteen, still it had turned out well enough Syn’s performance had never been called into question.
“Anything of immediate importance?” asked Vann.
Syn shook her head, “No, at the moment the populace is still following the same patterns as after the other rebellions, the discrimination against Class B citizens is slowly tapering off now that most of the generation inspiring the rebellions is gone, those who are left are the ones who did not fight or were on the correct side with the Empire,” said Syn.
“Well that’s good,” standing up Vann stretched and stepped away from his desk, leaving the report for later.
“Care to join me for a walk? I need to stretch my legs,” said Vann.
Syn smiled and put her hand on his shoulder, “Sure,”
Walking out of the office Vann led her down the ornate stairs of the palace and out into the gardens that surrounded the Royal palace. Further away and just past the gardens was the rest of the Capitol city.
Vann looked over at the minister, she was a stunning specimen of a woman, and her family was impeccable when it came to bloodlines. Still he was not expected to Bond for another decade or so, and rushing into anything without analyzing the politics of the situation was not prudent.
As they began to walk down the steps of the Palace Vann’s communicator buzzed, and an alarm inside of the palace went off. Even with his training it took Vann several moments to place the alarm, a military alert.
Turning around Vann strode back towards the palace, Syn quickly fell in step behind him not saying anything.
“Reece!” said Vann as he stepped back inside.
The bodyguard like always seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
“What’s going on?” asked Vann.
“An antimatter explosion just north of New Kanjit has produced a sizable crater, the origin of the explosion is a military test site.” Said the bodyguard as he listened to his communicator.
“What projects were being run there?” asked Vann.
“I do not know, it is classified. I will need yours or Marcus’s authentication to access the files without going to the Senate,” said Reece.
Vann nodded, and continuing forwards walked into the lawmaker’s wing of the Palace, where Marcus and the other important politicians worked when not in the Senate.
Marcus was already in the corridor, a look of panic on the usually collected Consul’s face, “Emperor!” he said.
Vann looked at the Consul, “Want to tell me what happened?”
Marcus looked as if her were going to refuse but reconsidered, “An accident. I only just got the reports as well.”
“The explosion had an antimatter signature Consul. Why was antimatter research being performed on the home world without my knowing?” asked Vann.
“The tests being run at New Kanjit predate your tenure.”
Vann remained silent waiting for the man to continue.
“The projects were classified at the highest levels and on a need to know basis. Until they produced results there was no need to inform you,” said Marcus.
“You have exactly [three seconds] to tell me what’s going on, or I drag you in front of the Senate for hiding information from the Emperor,” said Vann.
Marcus twitched but nodded his head.