The fluctuations in the graph started to go back down. The tension within the rope was easing. The greatest danger was over, and the ship had reached an orbit around the new star. All Navigators rustled their wings enthusiastically. The planet, on the other hand, appeared to have quietly accepted its fate. Perhaps it would find a new solar system in a few million cycles. If a star were massive enough, it could draw the planet into a new system. Not the Iks’ home star, however, since it would have long since vanished in an explosion.
The rope tension was reaching its minimum. Something would have to happen now. The rope had to be cut to complete the braking process, or the system comprised of the ship and planet would tumble through space.
The Supreme Navigator gave the command. Nanomachines sped to the end of the rope just above the planet’s surface. They destroyed the structures that had protected the rope until now, and it detached, step by step, until it broke away.
They’d done it.
Two Fronts
The reconnaissance craft drifted at the level of the fourth planet’s orbit. The flight from the fifth planet to here had taken three macropulses—three macropulses that had tested Kasfok’s patience. Since it was not possible to know how good the generation ship’s remote scouts were, he had decided to take advantage of the fourth planet’s current position and hide in its radar shadow. Except for a few remnants, the planet's atmosphere had disappeared long ago, and the planet was a desert. Some scans offered indications that long ago—millions of revolutions around the star before—life had existed there, perhaps even intelligent life. Yet now was not the time to investigate further.
The third planet looked inhabitable, but the atmosphere’s oxygen content was far too high for a Mendrak. Without a protective suit, a Mendrak’s insides would literally burn. And though there was enough water, and it was evident that life had developed there, a close investigation revealed that such development had never gotten beyond dense vegetation and a primitive animal world. The landmass was united in a vast continent that covered almost one half of the planet. In contrast, on the other half there was an ocean, only occasionally interrupted by island chains. The planet was old, and analyses showed that it must have completed more than five billion orbits around its pale-yellow sun without ever having produced intelligent life in all that time.
Kasfok looked ruefully at the image of the planet on the control center’s main screen. The planet may have looked inviting, but it was utterly unsuited to offer the Mendraki a new home because of its environmental conditions. They would have to move on and explore other solar systems until they finally found what they were after. Despite their advanced technology, it would be impossible to transform a planet to meet their needs. The Mendraki survivors had to find the perfect world eventually if they didn’t want to disappear from the universe forever.
The second planet was also an inhospitable place, with a dense atmosphere full of poisonous gases and where life had never developed or even been able to develop.
The entire system was uninhabited, and it belonged to the Mendraki, as Kasfok had vowed. If the aliens on the inner planet did whatever they wanted, however, as soon as they tried to bring the ownership of the Mendraki into dispute, they would have to pay for it.
Radio messages went from the Solstice Bud to six other ships in the net fleet. These were the units whose Shipmasters had long disputed Netmaster Kasfok’s leadership and were in association with Tolkut. Altogether, they formed the nucleus of a possible revolution.
What if Kasfok is right? Though it was not possible to share feelings in the vibrations of the communication thread, and no pheromones could be transmitted via the radio circuit, the position of Shipmaster Doskart’s mandibles communicated uncertainty. The barely perceptible dance steps that the Shipmaster of the Mild Breeze over Endless Forests made with his second pair of legs further evidenced his doubts.
The aliens are intelligent beings, replied Tolkut. It will be apparent to them that the helium-3 supplies of the four gas planets will be sufficient for both species for millennia. Given this, it would be illogical and crazy to risk destroying each other. As little as we know about their abilities, they know just as little about ours. Jumping into battle against an unknown opponent without this knowledge borders on suicide, and I don’t think the aliens are suicidal. They are obviously on a generation ship and are fighting for their species' survival just like we are. In light of all of this, there is no reason for an armed conflict.
Competition is always a reason, Doskart persisted. Evolution favors the fittest. That’s a proven fact.
You almost sound like Kasfok. Tolkut displayed his annoyance with a few pattering steps. Evolution favors those who are more intelligent, and those are the ones who avoid a senseless fight that could lead to their demise. We destroyed our home planet because we weren’t smart enough, Doskart!
I agree with Tolkut, Master Kilmek drummed from the Gusty Winds Rend Every Web. He made a conciliatory gesture with his mandibles and warned, We shouldn’t quarrel. It’s no easy feat to abandon time-honored beliefs. Anger and aggression are wanting to well up inside of me, too. But as Tolkut drummed, we have to rise above our instincts. That is what our intelligence is for. We can... We should not act as our ancestors did any longer. Our responsibility now is to survive, up to the very last of our kind who remain. To do this, we have to explore new paths, unusual paths, and paths that seem strange to us. But the old, well-trodden paths have left our webs in tatters and plunged us into misery. We must be representatives of a new way of thinking for a new age.
Tolkut danced some steps of gratitude for Kilmek’s support, and Shipmaster Doskart lowered his mandibles by a few degrees as a sign of acceptance.
Tolkut was well aware that it took great effort, even for the most progressive Shipmasters in the net fleet, to overcome their aggressive genetics by turning to the strength of their intellect. Throughout the history of the Mendraki, there had constantly been philosophers and thinkers who had demanded that war and violence be abandoned as solutions, but ultimately the Mendraki instincts had been stronger.
The last major conflict on Mendrakia had resulted in a nuclear winter that had wiped out almost all life on the planet. Only the ingenious invention of the wormhole generator had been able to prevent the extinction of their species. The Mendraki who were still alive at the time used all the resources they had available to build 100 escape ships that would give 1,000,000 Mendraki the chance to start over again somewhere, to find a new home.
Their search had now lasted for 20 generations, and only about 200,000 of them were still alive. They were running out of time… Quite possibly, this system was their last chance. Tolkut was firmly convinced that if they did not find a new way of thinking, this opportunity would be wasted.
So we’re in agreement? he asked.
The other six Shipmasters signaled their approval, some more and others less hesitantly.
I’ll sum it up again so that there’s no misunderstanding. Our reaction will depend on what Kasfok has to report after he returns, and which course he wants to follow. If necessary, we’ll remove him from office. We will by no means lead the miserable rest of our kind into an unnecessary and senseless war.
The others agreed again, and then Tolkut ended the conversation. He was aware of the contradiction in their efforts, of the paradox of their plan. If Kasfok decided to use the violent action that they rejected, they would have to proceed with force against him. Violence leads to more violence—this had been shown repeatedly in the history of Mendrakia, as Tolkut knew only too well.
This is unbelievable! Netmaster Kasfok was horrified. They used the planet to slow down!
Threadfinder Jokar, who had accompanied the reconnaissance mission, explained, Less to slow down than to implement a significant change in course.
With a rope? Kasfok couldn’t believe it. What material would be strong enough to withstand the enormous forces that must have resulted from this maneuver?
We don’t know, Netmaster. No material known to us, anyhow. The aliens seem to be more technologically developed than we initially thought.
That was not the insight that Kasfok had hoped for from their mission. So far, everything had indicated that the Mendraki were technologically superior to the inhabitants of the huge generation ship, which would serve to counterbalance the disadvantage of the sheer number. But if it turned out that the aliens were at the same level as the Mendraki—or, worse, even superior to them—this changed everything. It significantly increased the danger they faced.
Which course did the asteroid take after the maneuver? he asked.
The generation ship is now orbiting the sun. In a sense, the planet was used as an anchor to get it on this trajectory. Otherwise it would have been propelled back out of the system.
Has this affected the planet?
Yes, Netmaster! The transmitted momentum has torn it from its previous path. The asteroid’s mass is much smaller than the planet’s, but it was large enough to move it out of orbit. It was thrown into a hyperbolic trajectory that will eventually take it out of the system. However, it is still too early to be able to make precise statements. We need a few pulses more in order to calculate the planet’s new orbit.
The aliens had managed to move an entire planet and throw it out of orbit around its sun! Kasfok was both impressed and extremely worried.
We saw what we needed to see, he decided. We’re returning to the fleet. It’s time to start preparing for an attack.
Yes, Netmaster, Jokar confirmed.
Establish a connection to the fleet, Kasfok added, addressing the radio drummer. We have no time to lose! The Shipmasters must be apprised immediately of the dangerous development. Transfer the collected data to the fleet. I want all ships to be in combat mode when we return.
The reconnaissance craft’s radio drummer made the appropriate circuit connections and connected Kasfok’s communication thread to the system. The Netmaster put his front limbs on the thread and started to drum on it.
Shipmasters, my worst fears have been confirmed! The aliens have put their ship in a stable orbit around this sun. There is no longer any doubt that they intend to stay in this system for a long time. This was a radical maneuver that caused the inner planet to be thrown out of its orbit. We recorded this maneuver and are sending it to each of our ships right now. This not only serves as impressive evidence that they have no qualms about ruthlessly implementing their plans, but also as an indication of an alarmingly high level of technological advancement. Higher than we previously thought.
There can be no doubt that we are dealing with a dangerous enemy—an enemy who will try to steal this system from us. We are fighting for our future. For our survival! This system and its treasures belong to us, and we will not let anyone take it away from us. We are facing a conflict that will decide our future as a species. But we are the Mendraki. We are Warriors. We were born to fight for our rights. And we will win!
Kasfok paused to perform a few emphatic steps that conveyed power, readiness to fight, and determination.
Smells could not be transmitted via radio, but Kasfok nonetheless emitted a dense cloud of pheromones that signaled to every Mendrak his readiness for battle. His mandibles had tensed and jutted out as far as they could. This was the unmistakable sign to an enemy of an imminent attack. This is the moment when our destiny will be determined. I expect every Mendrak to give his life if need be to protect his people. Kasfok knew there would be opposition, that there were sissies in his fleet who would oppose his decision.
He had to use this moment to make the consequences of betrayal clear to them. This is not the time for cowards or defeatists. This is the time for Warriors! Anyone who refuses to join in this struggle for our destiny is a traitor who will be dealt with mercilessly! Those who fail at this time to be indispensable to our fight have no place among our species!
Kasfok’s distended mandibles struck each other hard. Every Mendrak was familiar with this gesture, which symbolized the severing of an enemy’s head. The primeval Mendraki had used it in the battle of Warriors against Warriors. Without another word, Kasfok ended the transmission. The net had been cast! War was inevitable, and Kasfok was confident that the Mendraki would emerge victorious under his leadership.
47th of Frien, 298
“Where can I find Lobozinu?” Kimikizu asked the nurse.
He was slightly smaller than herself, and wearing a provider’s apron. Kimikizu was unfamiliar with the ranks of the Provider Caste, which included nurses, doctors, cooks, feather artists, and tailors. Four ribbons fastened the apron around his lower body, so he certainly was no newcomer.
“In the corner there. Do you see the curtain?”
He pointed with his wing to the corner, and she saw something green that must have been the curtain. “Thank you very much, Provider.”
“Certainly. Could you tell me your name?”
Kimikizu gave a start. Did you have to register nowadays to visit the infirmary? “Kimikizu,” she replied quickly. “Have I forgotten something?”
The nurse smiled. “No, not at all,” he said. “Just in case, I wanted to invite you to dinner.”
What was going on these days? It had been months since anyone had invited her out, and now two in a row? Had she changed somehow? Or was it because the Iks had now reached their new home system, and the possibility of building a nest—traditionally, the responsibility of the males—was now within reach?
Kimikizu thought it over. Asking him his name now would signal interest, and to be honest, her ideas for the future didn’t involve sitting on some eggs in a nest, no matter how beautiful the nest.
“Thank you for your assistance,” she said, then headed toward the curtain.
The infirmary wasn’t quite as big as the flying machine hangar, but it was significantly louder. Iks were talking to each other everywhere. There were nurses giving patients advice, and visitors asking about their relatives’ recovery, along with patients engaging in the traditionally popular activity of describing their ailments to one other. The Iks were used to living in groups, so there weren’t all that many dividing walls. Those who were still able sat on roosts, while others spent their time on beds.
Lobozinu’s green curtain was an exception, and Kimikizu would’ve bet that the old woman had insisted. It suited her because she’d always been something of an intellectual. Kimikizu realized, as she went toward the corner, she had subconsciously chosen the old woman as a role model.
The curtain was hanging by cords from the ceiling and formed a closed rectangle. At first Kimikizu didn’t dare to pull it to the side, but it wasn’t possible to knock on a curtain, so she just went ahead. There was Lobozinu all alone, sitting upright in a round nest made of artificial twigs.
“Do you mind if I bother you?” Kimikizu asked.
“I don’t mind, as long as you don’t speak to me formally,” replied the old woman. “I no longer have any official function,” she said, her voice soft but still easy to understand.
“You... you’re all alone?”
Lobozinu laughed. “I sent them all away. They were standing around here, pulling awkward faces. What good did that do me? I may not have long now, but that’s exactly why I don’t need any killjoys around here.”
“That suits you.”
“You think so? What do you mean? This is one of the problems that I haven’t been able to resolve, this matter of what really suits me. Nor have I found the answer to the question, ‘Who am I?’”
This is how she was. With Lobozinu it was easy to quickly wind up having a philosophical discussion. “You never thought about others’ opinions of you. I admire you for that,” Kimikizu said.
“I don’t deserve your admiration, for you are much more talented than I am. I would admire you even if I were a hundred cycles younger.”
“But... you don’t know me at all.”
“I’ve always followed your career, Kimikizu.”
; Kimikizu blushed.
“But I didn’t want to embarrass you,” Lobozinu said. “The fact that I didn’t care about other people’s thoughts wasn’t because I was so strong and confident. There was only one reason. I preferred to occupy myself with my own thoughts.”
“That’s admirable,” said Kimikizu.
“No, not at all,” replied the old woman, her voice growing considerably louder. “It was selfish. I listened above all to my own thoughts and feelings. I know that now. If I were to give advice, which is something I don’t believe in, I would advise you not to make that mistake.”
“Why can’t you give me advice?”
“Oh, come on, that’s clear. You must and will make your own mistakes. If I advise you to avoid a mistake and you inevitably make it anyway, you’ll only be that much more annoyed.”
“That would certainly serve me right,” said Kimikizu.
“No, it would make it hard for you to make mistakes!”
“Isn’t that good?”
“Not at all, Kimikizu. You’d be afraid of your own courage. And I know you’ve got a lot of it. I mean courage, of course, not fear. I hope you were able to try it out on the Explorer ship.”
So it hadn’t been the Supreme Navigator who sent her aboard Norok’s ship. “Then it was you who sent me to the Explorers?” Kimikizu asked.
“Norok is my grandnephew. I raved about you to him. Then he suggested that I get a Navigator. But you were the one who got yourself sent there. I remember this very well!”
“What if I hadn’t volunteered?”
Helium 3: Fight for the Future Page 6