by M E Wise
“I’ll see what I can do to shut them down.” I went to a nearby panel and none of the controls held anything close to what would disengage the drones or give an idea of how many there were. Several bell craft sat motionless along the deck. I could not see beyond them easily but I could make out the upper fin on the dreadnaught. The ship was huge, not cruiser huge but compact and sleek as night. “Stop tip-toeing and sight-seeing Reign!” Cried Dae from across the hangar.
This hangar had two distinct levels and a catwalk above. The first level was a platform like any on Mor’h for landing craft. The second circled above like an observation deck. I made my way to the second one. I climbed a short path and ran into what I thought was a control tower. The panels there were lit up and functioning. I paused for a long moment as I could see across the hangar now. “I can see you from here.” I announced on the COM. “Great.” Dae mocked. The dreadnaught was in pristine shape. I marveled at how it was dark like an opal craft, muted just enough to conceal itself but reflect all around it.
The shape resembled a triangular wedge narrowing toward the front, two hollowed fins rose from above and below like pathways from front to rear. The craft sat on supporting platforms. The dreadnaught was designed to launch and stay in space like the Ku’Gel. She was pitch like a castor bean and just like that deadly Earth plant she will also be named. “The Castor.” I said out-loud. “Still stuck down here. Two friends laying and drooling too.” Dae complained on the COM. “Sorry.” I answered back sheepishly. The commands for the drones were on a different panel and clearly labeled by patterns and positions. “They operate from the floor up. Shutting down the floor detectors.” With a few console commands the floor lights tracing the hangar went dim.
“Moving out of the elevator now.” Dae moved out comically one limb at a time. “I’m good!” She gave a thumbs up. She stopped to check on our companions. “Get your face out of my ass.” Came Brigs big voice over the COM. “Get your ass out of my face!” Came Ben’s muffled whine. I could see them shoving each other about as they regained their composure. “Is everyone fine? No lingering effects?” I asked over the COM.
“Peachy.” Dae said in a quirky manner. “Meet me at the boarding walk!” I ran from my station and made my way around the catwalks to the platform attached to the dreadnaught. I could see Dae and two drowsy men in tow. The Castor dwarfed the Hermes77 and any bell craft multiple times over or more. The side of the vessel opened when I approached. There had to be four or five levels to it. Ports for maneuvering and launch tubes were located in intervals along the surface. I walked in. “Reign! Reign you wait on us!” Dae demanded over the COM.
The domed hangar above barely provided enough space to hold the vessel. I could hear approaching boots pinging on the alloy catwalks. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Ben yelled out. Brigs was silent but impressed, his face gave it away. “Now we can go inside.” Dae scolded.
“I’m going first to make sure there are no more stun drones inside. Give me a moment.” I trailed inside and opened the pressure lock. A gush of very cold air poured forth from inside causing my sensors on the vacuum suit to briefly warn me. The corridor ahead was lined with a trail of lights along the foot path and paralleled above the same. Two or more persons could pass easily. The head space was even high enough for a Tah’l. I could sense panels all around me and I linked giving them new instructions for recognizing our suits signatures. I found this a nice shortcut to hand channeling the different devices. Vacuum suits were genetically coded for much that purpose anyways.
“I find no further security grids.” I said after double checking a wall monitor. “This vessel is ours!” Ben clapped his hands together hard. Brigs belted out a roar and Dae smiled at me in relief. “Let’s clear each floor and link-map the vessel before a maiden flight shall we.” I felt very comfortable in a leadership role on a vessel or on mission. “Sir.” Brigs said before boarding. “Permission to board.” I could tell he was waiting to say that for some time. “Granted.”
He proceeded past me.
The Castor was designed for a light crew but we were stressing the concept. There were five true levels; a hangar and cargo level that could carry six opal craft in nice ported holds with space for a good amount of cargo, an entire crew quarters level with a dozen separate compartments, a maintenance level, followed by a lab similar to the apse labs at the Cresche, finally there was a bridge of sorts in the forward fin and a gunny station as Brigs called it, opposite and below.
Launch was completely uneventful. The hangar opened after the ship sent out a launch link and we lifted gently out into space. The amazing engineering functioned much like a bell craft with more systems to monitor. “Supposing the Ku’Gel were a better all-around choice…” Ben contended with Brigs, “which I can’t see that at all, being they are huge glistening Christmas ornaments compared to this slick shade of awesome; why mothball it?”
“The Mor’h don’t intentionally focus on being menacing from what I gather. They are into pageantry and flare. Whoever built this beauty deviated from their norm.” Brigs touted from the central community room of the crew section. Ben was claiming his own quarter space when this discussion started. “So, why?” Ben asked while testing furniture. “Why suddenly change your design? Why adapt a more terrestrial craft that can hide and rival the nefarious humans?” Ben said making an anomalous voice and Mor’h like twitching motions.
“They didn’t.” Brigs quickly assessed. “They were rivaling each other. This vessel is the antecedent to the Ku’Gel. It’s dark, less ornamental and stream-lined. Like an assault vehicle.” Brigs moved about looking for a suitable space. “I think I’ll bunk in the cargo hold.” He said quietly. “Then who’s gonna read me bedtime stories!” Ben moaned like a child.
Brigs passed Dae and I on a sofa-like bed at the center of the community room leaving for the elevator. “Night Brigs!” Chimed Dae. He nodded as the elevator closed and he descended. “How long should we maintain orbit? We have been doing this for hours.” I asked anyone who could add. Dae shrugged. “Ben?” She passed the question.
“We want to monitor hull stress and power fluctuations for a while. We don’t want to be in a ship this large if it goes boom.” Ben said confidently. “Twelve hours or so at pressurization then we will test its maneuverability. And so on.” He tapped at the wall panel. “It would be a lot easier if we had people all over the ship for systems checks.”
“Manning the vessel is something we have to consider a common problem. Something that may not remedy itself in the near future.” I fumbled with figures in my head. “Twelve rooms, two to four per room at maximum capacity. Twenty-four to forty-eight crew is a tough number to come up with.”
“We have near two hundred in the colony.” Dae approximated. “Taiyou would know better.”
“And Mor’h. More Mor’h.” Joked Ben to blank faces.
“Hermes could automate a lot of the systems if we interfaced him with it. But we all know how intolerable he can be. And when did we start comfortably referring to the collective as HE?” Dae offered. “With a perceptive matrix we could monitor the entire ship and be more flexible in how it is staffed. I will consort with S’lei.” Ben and Dae were in agreement. “I will contact her via the link system and in the meantime some of us have families and responsibilities.” Dae jumped up and looked at Ben. “Ready when you are lady!” He motioned for the door. “Brig and I will mind the fort, or ship.” I concluded.
I escorted them to a rear airlock where Ben had docked the Aries. I kissed Dae goodbye and they slipped off into space. “I know I’m not your second Reign. Maybe not even a third or fourth. I just want you to know that I have developed a great deal of respect for you.” Brigs’ voice came bellowing from a corridor nearby. He ducked in from the shadows. “The men I once served held duty like this, before everyone had the Mortalien Menace driving them in mad directions. I will help you win this. Whatever challenge you find. Except the brai
n-stunner kind, I need training or something specialized to deal with that.” Brigs grinned.
“Let’s hope more follow Brigman. We are going to need a lot more than a handful.” I extended my hand and he saluted me instead.
Once again S’lei proved invaluable. She told me she had a perfect solution to my matrix dilemma. She even agreed to visit the vessel, or actually was very interested in the entire scenario. I waited for her to board. Her bell craft swung to dock and made quick connection to the airlock. Mor’h craft had some magnetic response to each other. Ben and I were trying to resolve what it was and apply it to the Aries. A project for another time.
The airlock opened and the intense smell of blossoms filled the corridor. S’lei’s graceful form proceeded ahead of her Lo’Nar who carried bundles. “We brought fresh fruit and drink for you.” She said politely. “Synthetic stock lacks goodness.” She added. “Thank you so much for meeting me and your gifts!” I often would find myself slipping the word mother into our conversations but resisted. “I have missed you.” I added.
“Please join me for a tour.” I walked forward a bit and she paused. Brigs was at attention outside of the corridor. “Ma’am, welcome aboard.” He greeted. S’lei was very receptive to his new demeanor. “Good season sir. I see you have grown well. Your new roots suit you!” Her pleasantries were hard to ignore. Brigs smiled warmly. “It was seasons ago Reign.” She ran her hands along the panels as we passed. She knew the design but had never set root in the vessel.
“Our people were frightened; their gardens had divided.” She spoke as we walked. Her speech had begun to finally sync to her personality. “So many were lost to the soil of time.” She paused and stood silent. Her large eyes closed and she swayed gently. “I knew many who no longer share our living garden.” She reached into her sleeve. “I have brought you one.”
The matrix was exactly like the Hermes matrix. “Sal’Din was my root parent,” she searched my face for the right understanding, “much like a father.” She presented me the matrix. “He was potentate. Leader of many roots.” Her hands held my hands with the matrix inside. “S’lei you give too much.” Her face smiled and her eyes squinted in assurance, her neck lowered to my height. “His loyalty is as fierce as yours. I have shared with him my own care for your roots. Sal’Din made this decision. Our roots join your own.”
“Let’s find him his new garden.” S’lei motioned the elevator. We all loaded into the elevator and cruised quickly to the bridge. I had already discovered the core of this vessel in my time alone here. The panel opened with a quick link. The mesh of wire to cradle cycled with multiple ports but we only needed one. I placed the matrix in the seat and S’lei placed her hand on my shoulder. The onboard COM thudded with bass tones. “S-S-S’lei,” stuttered a calming voice. “Adjusting parameters-resequencing root Code-S-S’lei.” Again called the voice.
“We are here.” She answered. “Sal’Din we are here.” She shimmered and her aroma grew stronger. “Reign, I have learned many things of your rooting. How may I serve?”
Father. So ashamed. So angry and confused. The heartbeat has stopped. Her heart is silent.
Reign Eternal Chapter 4
The Artemis of Mars
“I mean it Reign.” Dae stamped a foot firmly on the floor. Marta tended to keep out of moments like these. She backed out of the room. “I may stay here and hold the fort but I am certainly not helpless. Why can’t I go into Sol space and find Dr. Drakos? If I’m not expendable, then neither are you.” This conversation was becoming repetitive and unwinnable.
“Every time we delve into the Sol System the risk is growing. The Mor’h give me great latitude to pursue these endeavors because I lead them. It isn’t personal nor am I suggesting you can’t make this mission happen. Call it protocol.” I answered her bluntly. “Don’t give me some bullshit laced military jargon you picked up from Brigs. Or hand me some bureaucratic muck like I’m Taiyou!” Dae was not going to let up on this.
I swiped my hand over the holo panel nearby as I packed. The screen glowed with perimeter monitor feeds. Newly added link-proof sentries were scattered in the distance like a dotted safety net. “Do you see what I am dealing with Dae? All of these tensions are running over. We are in our own belt-array to hide; to protect us or whatever description we wish to apply to measures taken to keep peace! It’s Kog here at home and Pri in Sol or the DHP Union everywhere!” She knew I was just as frustrated as she was. “You come to me and say we have an opportunity to retrieve a doctor or scientist or whomever that has a strong lead on the fix for the Halfer condition, then tell me her last location was Artemis II and expect me not to take the lead? The decision was made. Has been made.”
Dae held her breath and closed her eyes; she counted at times like these. “Gorgon Pri bombarded that colony himself!” I furthered my point. “One-fucking-hundred.” She said testy and yet still, calmingly. “You are my light. I can’t see without you. Be my eyes here. I have to take care of this.” I walked with her to the edge of the Cresche’s view down on the tiny colony of Little Tengoku. “All of your work, your Ladies and the unwanted affliction the Halfer’s have endured require nothing less than my total attention.” Always, if all possible, leave at a truce.
“I know this. I don’t want to accept it though.” She simmered. “Please. I beg you. Be safe.”
“My baby looks good in a vacuum suit!” Ben bellowed on the COM. “Hush your mouth!” Came Rasha’s voice over the line. A suiting station and several gestation tanks were among many great features in the lab of the Castor. “Thank you both for volunteering!” I said across the COMs while moving between levels. “You are both sure Ahleea and Taiyou can manage Kasai?” I asked nicely. “Certain.” Rasha answered quickly. “We are glad to be of service. Our family owe you and Dae a great deal. In some strange way we owe the Mor’h; past be past.” Wan Sah also joined the crew, she was fitting the vacuum suits for new crewman.
Wan Sah had changed her hairdo creatively to feature a ponytail and strange bangs that rose in a half circle from temple to temple. It suited her quite well. She took her role in the science and medical field very seriously. Wan Sah gained these traits from Dae; helping her express herself less awkwardly than when she tutored me in my adolescence. Brigs found her oddly intriguing, possibly because she took on the role of providing him physicals and the synthetic hormone to help balance his altered biology. And then we have Hermes.
“Our current course of action would seem particularly risky.” Hermes argued with the Sal’Din matrix. “Reign has clear roots to take whatever course of action necessary to achieve primary objectives. Regardless of your prior assignment as Lo’Nor, my matrix is less discombobulated than the Hermes collective. My Lo’Nor matrix is a singular personality with prime directives to my hosts link. Being Reign.”
“Discombobulated?” Hermes whirled. “Sal’Din! You are of great historical note but remember who makes up the collective. Three fifths of my matrix instructed you in philosophy, art and science!” Hermes appeared offended. This perspective confusion has become the dominant trait in the Hermes matrix. So many personalities often made the bridge at times feel very cramped. Weeks of coming into passive aggressive arguments between multiple non-corporeal minds is like being haunted or suffering some kind of mental deficiency. The Duraframe carrying the Hermes matrix doesn’t count as a body, or should it? These questions linger.
“Time until next phase shift.” I sat in a side chair. The design of the Castor lacked a central seat like the profiles of many Earth bridges. The arrangement would seem an intentional design of unity over singular pursuits for personal glory. Such was the way of many Mor’h collaborative behaviors. Sal’Din’s link felt cold and coded still. This wasn’t a fault of his nature; although his personality could be very focused, a matrix like Hermes and shared links with technology interfaces were orderly and precise. “Ten minutes to jump.” The link en
ded quickly and efficiently. I briefly shivered.
“Ten minutes to jump!” I announced over the COM.
The Castor had a very smooth jump transition. It didn’t have the mass of a Ku’Gel to jump over the distance from Sol to Mor’h space but we could make a single jump bypassing several systems at a time. “Hermes?” I found myself asking more questions than I previously did about functions, systems and order. “What is the ratio of Ku’Gel to Castor to Hermes77 jump differences?”
“1-3-10, Reign depending on gravitational stability within the projected system. This means is not an approximation depending on the desired point of rest at the end of the transition from jump to jump.” I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “Good, good Hermes. Thank you.” He then approached my seat and took the seat next to me. He rhythmically fastened the Duraframe, newly cleaned and detailed, securely to the position. “I will continue after the jump.” His lights dimmed.
“That answer was fine.” I begrudgingly strapped in next to the android. The Hermes unit sat facing forward like any person would. Was it puppetry in the programming or the Mor’h captured inside conveying their mimicry through the device? Again a puzzling thought.