by Tony Corden
“We need a closer look. I’ll send a drone out to get a detailed scan of all nine spires. We still need to find the power source and entrance.”
Leah said, “We’ve been here for an hour already looking at this stuff and only have seven left. The survey will take that long, and I don’t want to just sit here. So, let’s go look around the city and see if they left any clues.”
Wisp jumped up and said, “Deal. What suit are you taking?”
“Want to do a fly around on the Influenza A and then a walk with the Black Hole 4.5’s?”
“Oh yes, and hell yes!”
Wisp had her AI move the Betrayal closer to what they thought was the station while Leah headed down to the hangar to make sure the Starfighter was ready. Leah climbed the ladder and took her seat in the captain’s chair. Wisp wasn’t far behind and sat in the other chair which was just in front of and below Leah’s.
Wisp said, “Want me as a passenger or do you have a job for me?”
“Observer works at the moment. We’re looking for anomalies. You have a couple of screens in front of you so maybe put a thermal image on one and a 3D wireframe on the other. Once we’re off the Betrayal, I’ll set the cockpit to full visuals.”
With Gèng’s help Leah manoeuvred her way off the Betrayal and then changed the cockpit to full visuals. The walls, including the floor and the ceiling, became transparent. Leah then set the Influenza A for manual control and accelerated for the Space Station. As she got closer, she slowed and brought the Influenza A near to one of the large spikes that pointed toward the planets. The disc had a radius of three kilometres, and its height was six hundred metres. Leah asked Wisp to read the measurements for the spike. It was circular with a radius of one hundred and fifty metres, and it was centred on the disk’s edge. It was constructed of what looked like a series of five-meter wide metallic bands, and it vaguely resembled a segmented worm. Each successive band had a twenty-five centimetre smaller radius. Wisp said the plot showed three hundred bands which added up to a one-and-a-half kilometre flexible tube. Leah flew along its length and couldn’t see any marks, hatches, or anomalies anywhere on the spike. Wisp said that the twenty-five-centimetre reduction had been consistent and the final radius was seventy-five metres.
Leah said, “Wisp, can you superimpose the first scan images on what we are seeing?”
Wisp did so and they could both see that the original scans had the tubes, or spikes, being almost one hundred metres longer and other than ending sharply they seemed to fade out of sight.
Leah said, “I’m going to fly between the planet and the end of the tube. The first time, I’ll take the Influenza another hundred metres past the scanned ending, and then I’ll gradually move closer in. Make sure we are getting as many measurements as we can.”
She moved the Starfighter well past the scanned edge and then flew through over the end of the tube. As she did, she felt the ship give a little shudder and then they were out the other side.
Wisp said, “We experienced a force pulling us toward the spike. I suggest you don’t do that again.”
“Let me try once more, a little closer in. If the force is larger, then we’ll leave it at that.”
On the second pass, they experienced a noticeably larger acceleration toward the tube. Leah said, “They’re operational, and it looks like the station is powered by gravity somehow.”
Leah flew back to the base of the spike and began to fly in an undulating pattern from one side of the disc to the other, looking for anything that might point to an entry point. Although they saw what were clearly hangar openings and a myriad of other features, nothing stood out. Everything looked shut and there was nothing that seemed out of place. Mapping the edge took over an hour.
When they’d finished, they decided to look at the inner surface before checking the city. Before Leah brought the Influenza A between the station and the portal, she had Wisp show the scan results. Neither of them thought it would be safe to get near the tubes, but they were confident to fly around the outer half. Leah moved in and they continued to scan the surface visually with a whole range of sensors. The surface had a few hatches, antennae, discs, and handholds but otherwise, there was nothing different except a series of rails and groves which circled and crossed the entire surface except for the large clear circles which marked the position of the tubes. Wisp suggested it was a transport system and Leah could come up with nothing better.
They had finished the last circle when Wisp said, “Leah, can you repeat that last circuit? I want to repeat the measurements.”
Leah did and then moved the Influenza A out from between the station and the portal and began to head to the city side.
Wisp said, “Let’s stop for a moment, I want to show you something.”
Wisp brought up the wireframe and enlarged it so that it showed the very centre of the inner surface. Right in the centre was one of the large circular areas. They hadn’t been sure how they opened, but in this one, they could see the mechanism. The solid cover operated on the same principle as the mechanical apertures that had been used in cameras. It was visible because this aperture wasn’t fully closed and the wireframe showed an opening a metre in diameter.
Wisp said, “I think that is the way into the power source for the station.”
Leah nodded and said, “Good catch. Do you want to finish the survey or go have a look?”
“I want to go and have a look, but I think we should finish the survey first.”
“Agreed.”
Leah brought the Influenza A above the level of the station and in line with one of the eighteen features which extended out from the surface. It was trapezoidal in shape and had a base that measured three hundred metres and stood to a height of twelve hundred metres and curved inwards. The width at the top was two hundred and thirty meters. Leah flew around the base of the trapezoid, and it was sixty meters thick. It wasn’t constructed using the same principle as the spikes as its surface was smooth as if it was made as a single piece. Along each of the sides there was a two-meter wide channel that ran from the base all the way to the top. The channel also ran along the top of the disc until it merged with the next trapezoidal shape. The top of the shape was covered with something similar to hangar doors.
There were seventeen similar shapes spaced around the circumference with five more of the same size and twelve which were smaller. Leah said, “Gèng, show us what it would look like if the ends of the larger trapezoids were extended using the same curvature.”
When Gèng showed the plot, they all met at a point in the centre of the disc. Leah said, “You were right, Wisp. I imagine the smaller ones will do the same thing but not extend the whole distance. Some form of field is formed in the channel, and together they form a dome over the city. Let’s fly in circles around the city, slowly spiralling toward the centre. I’ll keep above the height of the tallest buildings. Let’s see if we can find another anomaly.”
The city was huge and was covered with a whole variety of different but beautiful buildings. The architect had a fascination with curves, towers and open spaces. Many of the buildings had areas that were either large gardens, pools or places to land a vehicle. When they had finished the scan, and the Influenza A was hovering over the eight hundred metre tall central building, they still hadn’t found something which called out to be investigated.
The survey had taken four hours to complete, and they had four hours left before they were due to log out. After discussing it briefly, they headed to the Betrayal which was stationed four kilometres above the centre of the city. Gèng helped land the Influenza A, and Leah and Wisp headed back to the bridge. They wanted to look closer at the opening before deciding whether to look for something in the city or work their way into the station on the other side.
Wisp had just opened the wire view and was expanding it when Gèng subvocalised to Leah, “Leah, George answered me immediately and suggested I talk with Stephen and an independent broker who George recommended. I
gave a very vague outline without mentioning the game or the scenario but asked about investing in shares and playing in games. I did suggest that you may have found something unique. Stephen called in Leon and they all want you to stop what you are doing if possible and meet them in the Tower immediately. I suggest you invite Wisp.”
Leah got Wisp’s attention and said, “Hey, Gèng did some checking on the ideas you had when we first arrived in the ship this morning. Some of my friends think we should meet with them before we do anything else. Would you mind if we have a break for now and meet in the Tower? I’d like you to hear what they have to say.”
What Leah was saying slowly dawned on Wisp as she spoke, and at the end, she nodded and said, “Yep, let’s take a break. I haven’t been to your place for a while. Meet you there in five.”
As soon as she’d finished talking, she disappeared and was followed moments later by Leah.
THE STORK TOWER
Back in the Tower, Leah was about to head down to the lower floor when Gèng appeared and said, “They are all dressed up in business attire. Stephen and Leon are wearing suits, and the broker has a maroon knee-length dress with matching jacket and is wearing high heels. I suggest you dress up. I messaged Wisp and suggested the same thing.”
“What do I have? My fancy stuff is steampunk or Lady Elf. I suppose I could wear what I did to Ascendant.”
“Or you could take my advice and wear the casual white undershirt and charcoal grey trouser and jacket set I’ve designed. The shoes have a short heel.”
Leah nodded and her clothes changed. She folded the jacket sleeves twice and said, “Thank you. Now, before I get downstairs see if you can rustle up several loose bangles for my right wrist and a matching necklace.”
As she stepped off the lowest step, she suddenly felt the weight of the bangles as they appeared on her wrist. Stephen and Leon were sitting with a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties. She was slim and had long blonde hair that reached past her shoulders. She stood as Leah approached, as did Stephen and Leon.
Stephen said, “Leah, this is Ms Priscilla Brenman, she is an independent investment broker who was recommended by George. I have done a background check which I had Reed verify. I have hired her as a consultant, and we have a non-disclosure agreement in place. She is interested in having you as a client. Priscilla, may I introduce Ms Atherleah Carroll who, if she is true to form, will give me another headache and have you working overtime.”
Leah shook Priscilla’s hand and said, “Welcome. I’m glad you could make the time to meet with me.”
She turned and greeted the two men and then said, “Please sit. I’ve asked Wisp to be here as well. She mentioned the idea of shares to me and is a co-discoverer of a potential new element in one of the games we play.”
Just then, Gèng ushered Wisp into the room and Leah went through the introductions, introducing Wisp as Annie Martin and as Wisp.
When they were all seated, Stephen said, “Leah, I wanted to have this meeting straight away because the rules for investing in games are still a bit too flexible and they’re too easy to manipulate by players, companies and regulators. The advice from George and Priscilla is that the earlier you decide to buy, the better. You should keep records of your thoughts and reasons. If you do, then you are in a better place to defend your actions. The closer your play is to your normal, the better. With that in mind, please give us a summary of events in chronological order and include why you think you might want to invest. I’m recording this as evidence for later if necessary.”
“I and some of my friends, including Wisp, play Cosmos Online. Wisp and I have been playing for approximately the same amount of time. I started just over two weeks ago. As a part of our gameplay, I came into possession of some research done by a government of one of the races in the game. When I analysed the research, I found some patterns that identified some star systems that might have a potential for exploration. Due to some out-of-game reasons, Wisp and I have ended up separated from the rest of our team. Two days ago we entered one of the unexplored systems and knew we had guessed correctly. The system has enormous unclaimed resources and an unclaimed space station.”
“Wisp has had some time in those two days to analyse some of the data. We met five virtual hours ago to discuss the find and Wisp mentioned that she was thinking about investing in some Cosmos Online shares because she’d read that they always go up with a new find of a space station and of habitable worlds. That was when I asked Gèng to contact you. Since then, we’ve done a more intensive survey and have fleshed out a theory about what we have found. We were about to follow our first clue and actually land on the space station when Gèng called to ask us to come here.”
Priscilla said, “I don’t doubt you in any way, but would your feeds clearly communicate the same summary to an independent observer?”
“I think so. As I say, we have a theory which I think is almost certainly true. We arrived at it by connecting the dots from the surveys we’d done. The feeds will communicate our almost total conviction, but it is still a theory.”
Priscilla said, “Wisp, would you add anything that changes the events or interprets them differently?”
“Not really. Up until today I’d thought the survey pointed to some big news and was excited to think I may dabble with a few shares. But if we are right, and I think we are, then if I’m able to buy some legally then I’ll do more than dabble.”
Stephen said, “Priscilla and I talked before you arrived and from what you say, you are both free to buy shares in Cosmos Online based on your knowledge to date. What happens from here on could change that. Atherleah, I hear a lot about you and Dunyanin but almost nothing about Cosmos Online. Who else would normally be told of your find?”
“I’m very, very, private. I would tell Amy but only after we’ve proved it or if we need some help. We’d also usually involve Zack, James and Thad but there are issues with Thad at the moment so I will probably not tell him until those issues are resolved. I hadn’t planned to tell anyone else, even if I buy the shares. I want to keep it a secret for some time. That is my normal play.”
Stephen said, “What about you, Wisp?”
“I’m as private as Leah. Once we prove the theory, I’d probably tell my family.”
Stephen sat back with a big smile and said, “So Priscilla, with that background, do you have any problems with Leah and Wisp investing in Cosmos Online with the personal knowledge they have gained from playing the game?”
“No. I’d like to hear the theory and then maybe offer some advice about the effect it might have on shares. But even if it is a new space station with new species, then the shares will rise.”
Turning to Leah, Priscilla said, “I have a business focus on shares in Virtual Gaming companies. I also play Cosmos Online and have some understanding of how the market will react.”
Leon spoke for the first time and said, “So do I. Now Leah, please tell us your theory.”
Leah smiled and said. “We have found a system with seven planets. Two are habitable, and they have different ecosystems with sentient natives. One of the worlds is a water world, and the sentients are water dwellers. There are two gas giants and an enormous asteroid field which is rich in metals, including heavy metals. There is a space station. It is larger than any so far discovered in Cosmos Online and is either Class IV or Class V. The station includes a circular covered city with an outside area of over twenty-eight square kilometres. The station itself is six hundred metres deep and has a radius of three kilometres. The station is powered by some process which uses gravity.
“Alongside the station is a device that is almost as large and if we are correct, it uses gravity and resources from the gas giants and the system’s star to create a portal which allows ships to travel directly to a number of other star systems. I would say at least eighteen. We found evidence that among the systems which can be reached by the portal are a handful of systems which my research also identified as having po
tential.”
When Leah had finished talking, she grinned at Wisp, and they watched as the other three sat there looking completely stunned. Then before anyone could speak Leah said, “So, Stephen, how is your headache?”
Everyone burst into laughter which released the tension. After he’d calmed down, Stephen said, “It’s more than a headache Leah, it’s a migraine.”
Priscilla said, “Leah, Wisp, you do know that every time you buy shares, there is a risk that you can lose everything. It can happen. I always suggest people only invest in what they believe in and never more than they can afford to lose if everything falls apart. Having said that, if you are right then when the news gets out, maybe tomorrow, or maybe in a week, the shares in Cosmos Online will increase in value, and maybe more than just a little. If you have available funds, I’d say it looks like a good, to great, investment. I can, and will, increase the number of shares I have in the game. Be careful with the information. You can tell your friends but be careful because as soon as this gets out, you’ll have to pay more if you want more shares.”
Leah turned to Leon and said, “You manage my finances, Leon, are you comfortable with the risk?”
“If what you say turns out to be true then I am more than comfortable. I trust you sufficiently that I’ll be investing my own money in Cosmos Online shares straight after I invest yours. Assuming, that is, that you want to.”
Leah turned to Wisp and said, “I’m going to invest. What about you?”
“I will. I did want to know how to find a good broker. I don’t have any experience and would love some advice on how to go about buying some.”
Priscilla said, “I’m hoping Leah will use me as her broker. If she does, then I am more than willing to manage your shares as well. I do get a percentage of the transactions, but I’ll waive them until you reach the minimum level I look for when taking on a new client. If the friends you mentioned want to buy some shares, or if your immediate family do, then I’ll offer them the same terms.”