The Council of Hhearn Trilogy Box Set

by P F Walsh

  Sean thanked Allister for a very thorough job. He instructed him to arrange those three hidden data ports would do no more than signal Captain Flynn that the port had been accessed, and then destroy the memory stick after saving the identity of the maker.

  The next month was full of official duties. Now that Discovery had been thoroughly inspected and cleaned of hidden threats, Sean and Ambassador Henning visited about half of the most developed Council of Worlds member worlds. Nasht-Mer, now having become a fashion celebrity, joined them on almost all of the trips. It was very politic of her since she had not been to most of them. But now, everywhere she went ladies curtsied and men nodded their heads respectfully, she was recognized and tasked with a million questions on fashion and Earth. In a way, the Sean and the Ambassador welcomed this since it drew the crowds away from them creating time to spend analyzing what that world was contributing to the Council of Worlds and Hhearn, and what could Earth offer in trading.

  The Discovery and its upgraded AI was operating perfectly with a new crew although Sean would not say if there was anyone else, he would be adding. He did say he was more comfortable with an engineer on board despite his accumulated affection for Allister, after seeing how an AI could become stalled at a critical time. In addition, Sean thought the Discovery AI was not as skilled as Allister.

  The ship had been inspected, cleaned, and washed down before departure on this tour, it was very comfortable. It was actually a bit more comfortable than the Seeker which was more utilitarian in many respects because of its design intent. The Discovery was also faster, but Sean didn’t know how much faster it could go. Allister’s transfer of software had upgraded the synthesizers and food production to near Earth standards, now at least as good as the Seeker. The AI now seemed a reasonable social clone of Allister and they were all pleased with that.

  After leaving the last planet on their visiting list, they were traveling in ‘no-space’ back to Hhearn from the remotest of the worlds in the Council called Rhhymnet. That world was the least developed in the membership but was making good use of their trading with the other worlds and advancing in development. The leaders did express concerns to them regarding sporadic encounters with momentary glimpses of other unknown ships. In addition, two of their ships never got to their destinations. The crews had been found in escape pods that were sending out a distress code. Neither crew could remember anything of what happened before they woke up in the escape pod.

  The Council enforcement ship searches yielded nothing.

  The four of them were having dinner in the Dining Room of the Discovery while in ‘no-space’ and Sean began to talk,

  “I think we have pretty well covered all the bases in introducing Earth’s new membership to most of the worlds. I am now prepared to turn that ongoing task over to Ambassador Henning”

  “Wally, Captain Flynn, please call me Wally,” chided the Ambassador, “or, I will have to start referring to you as Senior Field Officer Flynn.”

  “OK ‘Wally’ it is. I am now ready to talk about another project that will be either more boring, or more challenging than membership was. This ship represents another whole civilization that we don’t know about. We don’t really know how far away they are located, but the ship seems to have a destination setting for their home planet in the navigation database. It’s encrypted with an encryption even Allister can’t break, so we can’t see what the destination coordinates are. I need to go there.”

  They all looked at him silently until Doris popped up and said,

  “I’m in.”

  Nasht-Mer looked surprised and a bit frightened. She had just found her Life’s Mate and he was talking about going into the unknown.

  “Sean, why can’t we let The Seeker go there first?”

  “Well Nasht, the seeker can’t read the destination coordinates and wouldn’t know where to go. That’s why. The only ship that knows the way is this one. It’s faster, more agile, just as heavily armed, and comfortable. While I am grateful to have this ship literally given to me, I am burdened by the need to take the story and the personal effects back to the families of the crew.”

  “Nasht, the unknown has its own essence of perceived danger because it is unknown. The former crew of this ship set out to overcome that fear and perished not from the unknown, but from equipment failure which appeared to have been deliberately set. We will probably never know the answer to that. We ourselves were attacked in the Seeker on a peaceful mission so staying near home has no guarantees of unlimited safety. There will always be bad guys wherever we go, even on Hhearn.”

  “I will be recruiting a small, competent crew, no more than six volunteers to go with me, specialists in various areas, engineering, legal, medical, security, and one or two others I have not decided upon yet.”

  “In a way the ship will be continuing its original mission with a new crew.”

  Maja-Ben repeated his earlier offer and that he would like to be part of the crew. Sean answered if he could get an unlimited release from the force, he was part of, he would be welcome, but had to understand and commit that this was an Earth mission, not a Council of Worlds mission. I plan to share everything we find with the Council, but that will be my call as Captain.”

  The silver Discovery ship leapt through ‘no-space’ reaching for Hhearn.

  Back on Earth, there was a veritable traffic jam in orbits around the planet. The permanent members of the Security Council who were now Directors of the IRO, Interplanetary Relations Office had set up shuttle ports similar to the United States and were beginning to receive traders. Business activity had picked up substantially and everyone was pleased with the outcome of joining the Council of Worlds. The United States had purchased all three of the freighters offered for sale, and were in the process of leasing those back to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman to manage along with hiring Hhearn personnel for training pilots, navigators and engineers on operation and maintenance. It was expected that the first training class would be ready for trial flights in another one hundred days since all the trainees were already either commercial pilots, aircraft mechanics, or navigation officers. This made the explanations easier to understand. There was no shortage of applicants.

  Kevbit-Pak, Director General of Economic Development for the Council of Worlds was totally delighted with how well things were going in financial and business transactions. The Earth financial computer systems once interfaced with the Hhearnian system he had brought along and set up was humming along nicely. Kevbit-Pak couldn’t imagine nicer duty than his Earth assignment. The food was delicious and the number of restaurants seemed limitless. Most Earth residents he met were polite, courteous, and knew their jobs very well.

  “Such a dream,” he thought. “I just may immigrate and stay. Now where is that business card of that attractive lady from Goldman Sachs?

  On Hhearn, Sean was finishing up a meeting with the on-site Ambassador Henning.

  “Wally, this is all going very well, do you agree?”

  “Absolutely Sean, the cooperation is wonderful, and I am taking classes to learn Shrep so I can communicate without a translator.” He replied.

  “Great, then you feel comfortable in handling issues while I am gone?” Sean asked.

  “Quite sure. Sean, the new office staff you have and the staff I brought with me have really linked up nicely and I don’t see any bumps in the road. Where are you going?” Wally asked.

  “That’s just it Wally, I don’t know, I just suspect it is far away, and I will be gone for a long time.”

  “Oh, you’re going to find the builders of your starship?”

  “Yes, that’s the original plan, but no plan succeeds its opening moves as you know. They may be very glad to see us, or really angry. There’s no predicting something like this, but I feel obligated to go.”

  “I understand, knowing the story, I think I would feel the same way,” said Wally. “I almost wish I was going with you.”

  There was one mo
re important matter he had to make sure was done well. Sean and Nasht-Mer had gathered all their immediate friends, some new special associates and had a quiet pledging ceremony to publicly certify their bond as Life Mates. On Hhearn, the passage of royal titles passes through the female side of the union, the reverse of Earth. Thus, on their bonding, Sean Flynn became Duke Consort of Mer.

  Following the ceremony, they spent a week in a small cottage along a lakefront on the House of Mer estate, far away from the city and deepened their bond. The only small discomfort for Sean came when the staff referred to him as “Your Grace.” He wasn’t sure he would ever get used to that as those who were born to it, but he was not about to disturb centuries of social behavior. So, he would accept the mild discomfort, which he hoped would decline in time.

  When they returned, they had to face that Sean was going to depart in a few days to find an unknown people. None could speculate on how long this mission would take, but the Council of Worlds had spent trillions on a fleet of Seekers to do such a thing, so there certainly was precedent for the value, aside from Sean’s personal issues of responsibility

  Nasht-Mer was surprised at how much she now felt part of her was leaving. Yet, she knew Sean would somehow make this all happen safely and come back. Of that, she had no doubts.

  The recruitment of a medical doctor for the permanent crew went quickly and he seemed ideal. Basically, a very skilled medical professional who had become more interested in research than conventional practice. He had set up a lab in one of the storage rooms and would spend his time continuing his lengthy research project with no demands on him other than social, and any injury that may occur. Even then, there was an autodoc table on the ship and he would only have to supervise its decisions and treatment, unless of course, there was no power. Then he would have to revert to conventional practice. The ship now had a complete suite of surgical and medical instruments specified by this new crew member, should they be needed.

  Departure day was here and all those close associates and mates were here for the sendoff. Sean kept looking up the dock area as though he was expecting someone. Nasht-Mer was already there. Doris was saying her goodbyes to Maja-Ben whose State employer declined allowing him to go on the “adventure” as they referred to it. They did not quite believe it made sense to go out into the vast area of the galaxy in a search, when the Seekers had been doing it for over a hundred annuals. What they didn’t know was that Sean had an address to go to, and that bit of information he kept to himself and immediate associates.

  They were milling around wondering what they were waiting for when someone noticed two figures approaching the ship. Surprise rippled through the group including Nasht-Mer and Doris as they recognized two Sisters of Mak’am coming to the ship each pulling a small overnight bag. They floated up to the cargo ramp where Sean was standing, stopped in front of him, bowed, and boarded the ship to the amazement of all.

  “Sean, what are you doing?” Asked Nasht-Mer with a look of concern on her face. “There is no history of the Sisters associating with anyone but themselves. You can’t know what they will be like on a long trip. They can infiltrate minds, well, most people think so.” She was clearly distressed. The rest of the crew emulated her look of concern.

  “Let me explain, I have been to the Mother Den at the Old Mill and met with the Mother Primitia. She was amenable to meet with me, knowing who I was and believing that I had a generous mind and a clean heart. I was the first man to come and knock on the great doors to request entrance in almost two hundred annuals. They let me in under a soul pledge that I would not reveal anything about being inside, or our conversation. I can only say they bring aspects of perceptions and understandings that can be bulwarks against aggressive obstinacy or hostile attacks. And, they are willing to risk traveling with us to help. We don’t know if we will be welcome where we are going, or not. The Sisters will know before it is revealed to the rest of us. That is an advantage that I wish to have. I have been pledged into their care and can communicate with them, but only me.” He paused and then addressed the rest of the crew,

  “If anyone in the crew is reluctant to ship out with us, now is the time to step off the ramp, otherwise we take our strengths, hopes, and resolve to make friends in other galaxies and leave now.”

  Nasht-Mer looked at him and asked, “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I am, I feel we will need them, I don’t know why, but I do.”

  “Then take them with you and stay safe, you are my Mate Duke Flynn I will be only a half person until you come back.” She was emotional as she held him to her tightly, invoking promises from him to avoid risky or dangerous decisions. Sean agreed, all the while knowing no such guarantees could be made.

  None of the crew, while somewhat surprised and a bit uncomfortable, left the ship. All went to their stations to prepare for departure. Only Welly lingered for a minute to ask if he knew whether the Sisters could predict equipment failure? Sean said He didn’t know, and was bemused that at least one crew member was speculating already on how the Sisters might be an asset.

  The Discovery slowly moved back from its docking collar and paused while the collar retracted and collapsed against the dock wall. The ship sat there its silver body shining in the port docking lights. Then it began to move back for several hundred feet until it could turn its nose toward the deep dark and begin its journey. All aboard were excited except the Sisters who were in their darkened cabin mediating. All ashore were full of loss and sadness with a sprinkle of hope and faith.

  The ship picked up speed and became harder to see until it was gone.

  The Council of Hhearn Book 2

  Speak for the dead.

  “I love the name of honor more than I fear death.”

  Julius Caesar

  Chapter One – Book Two

  The Discovery had left the orbital docking station at Hhearn and was building speed as it moved toward the fringe of the Hhearn solar system to transition into ‘no-space.’ Those left behind had given up trying to see the ship as distance swallowed up its tiny image and the glow of the engine thrusts. Nasht-Mer was enduring mini-floods of emotion at seeing her new mate Captain Sean Flynn, now Duke Consort of Mer, gather his small crew of explorers and fly away into the ‘deep dark’ as he referred to it. Their quest was honorable in its basic essence, to find the home of this ship they found drifting while returning to Earth in a Seeker ship.

  Months before....

  The Seeker ships, a fleet of twenty, were huge explorer ships built by the Council of Worlds to search for other unknown worlds inhabited by sentient life that were reasonably developed, and suitable to be considered for inclusion in the Council of Worlds consortium. A single person of the discovered world was chosen by the Seeker ship’s Artificial Intelligence to represent the newly discovered world before the Council, and to plead for membership. Those worlds which were accepted began a realm of brisk trade and access to advanced technology. Those who were rejected were cast into a ‘vassal’ status, a world taken over by a Council Member world which wiped away all governments and defense assets of the newly discovered world. The inhabitants were subdued, and put into indentured harness with no chance for relief. In the last few episodes of new planets discovered; this had been the assumed outcome.

  Earth had been put to this dispassionate testing, and won membership, attributed to the wile and wit of retired Captain Sean Flynn the Seeker’s random selection to represent Earth. Now, the process of intermingling with other Council worlds for trade and diplomacy was growing beyond expectations as Earth received Council of Worlds (CW) Freighters one after the other to establish trade in foods and fashions that the other member worlds clamored for after viewing Sean’s Presentation to the Council of Worlds for membership.

  Returning to Earth, to report the successful presentation and Earth’s acceptance into membership, the Seeker ship while cruising FTL in ‘no-space’ struck another ship with its particle bow wave knocking them both out of ‘no-space
.’ The other ship had been captive within ‘no-space’ with a disabled drive, and was drifting for over one hundred fifty annuals. The crew, long since deceased, still sat at their crew stations awaiting rescue. Captain Flynn and Doris Lang, a Los Angeles Policewoman on leave and the personal security officer for the Captain, investigated the ship and found the macabre scene. They discovered that the ship had been sabotaged and disabled by a small explosive that severed a critical power conduit. No evidence of who was responsible or why this was done was discernable. The Ship’s Artificial Intelligence, then re-animated, followed its last command from the deceased captain and transferred command over to the senior rescuing officer which was Sean Flynn. After repairing the ship and respectfully committing the crew to a deep space star burial, both ships continued on to Earth with Sean now Captain of two Starships and owner of one by the Laws of Salvage.

  Following Earth’s actual signing of the Council of Worlds Charter, Sean turned to the issue of the salvaged starship and the mystery crew within. He felt very strongly that he should crew the ship and travel to the unknown home world of the ship’s origin. He would bring with him the personal effects of the long-lost crew and the video of their committal ceremony, putting to rest every world’s need to know what happened to their loved ones and service members. Many thought this risky since an unknown culture may establish claims and punitive measures against the new crew, insisting the long-lost ship still belonged to them. Despite that risk, Sean assembled a crew and set out for the ship’s home world called Denknish after re-naming the ship ‘Discovery.’

  The Discovery was an enigma. First impressions were that it was an explorer ship from an unknown civilization. The Seeker’s Artificial Intelligence named ‘Allister,’ an AI with substantially greater intelligence than the on-board Discovery’s AI, opened a digital link to the Discovery and explored every circuit and element of code. In Allister’s report to Sean, the perception of the Discovery shifted more toward a spy ship, or at least a ship on a military mission, than an innocent explorer. The ship’s log, translated by Allister, read like the perfect explorer with visitations to uninhabited planets, soil samples, etc., but other aspects of the ship supported an alternate suspicion. Hidden panels with weapons, on-board sabotage, secret data ports, mysterious machine parts in the cargo hold led Sean and Allister to believe there was a hidden story about this vessel. Sean’s suspicion and hope for a hidden, private Captain’s log never came to fruition. None was found.