“How was the language course? Implants working?” Freddie asked in Shen.
“Engineer,” Sasha Cochrane said. “Well, everyone seems to call you Engineer, now. The implants are very effective. I think Ser Akad and Ser Dene used you and the four Rats as a test group, which allowed them to improve both their implant program and subsequent training sequences. Our conversational Shen advanced very rapidly, and we’ve added lots of technical and contract terms.”
Sasha seemed to be the spokeswoman for the group. She was a barrister, specialising in contract law, and was very willing to help the Rats formalize an agreement for the Shen Ark purchase. He guessed she was in her early thirties, and Freddie knew from the briefing before his departure that she had worked with one of the top London contract law firms until Sam 32nd had recruited her. Freddie waited for the other newcomers to comment.
Heads nodded in agreement. “Yes,” agreed Gerard Ogden, the second human. His task was to assist with the technical assessments. He was technically well qualified, although Freddie still had reservations, triggered by a vague and undefinable sense of unease. “I agree. Very effective.”
“Likewise,” Colonel Thè nodded. “I’m surprised just how quickly we developed our Shen skills.” Colonel Thè was one of the senior Rat Air Force officers, now on extended leave to work with the Star Team. He would also assist Freddie with technical assessments. “If we could adapt the technology for other learning requirements…”
The youngest member of Freddie’s team nodded her head. “I think it worked very well.” She was called Sammy, although more properly Sammy 13. She was a trainee, and one of the brightest young Rats in London, according to Sam 32nd, her father.
“Very good. We should speak Shen instead of English, to fully embed the concepts. The more fluent we become, the better we can handle Shen negotiations. So, at this stage, does anyone have any problems or needs they can’t resolve?” Freddie waited a moment. “No? Very well. I have Ser Jan’s proposed schedule for this visit. Monday starts a tough week. The weeks following will be no easier. We should work through her draft schedules, make sure we agree, or else go back to her with suggested changes.”
***
Chapter 20
On his return to London, Freddie arranged a private meeting with Sam 32nd. Relatively private, given there were five Rats in attendance. One attendee was Zen 33 and another was Sammy 13. He did not know the others. All regarded him with intense interest when he entered the small study used by Sam 32nd for private meetings.
“Well done, Freddie,” commented Sam 32nd. “Or should I say Engineer? You certainly moved into top gear with your Shen tasks. We now have a veritable encyclopaedia on Shen technology as well as a comprehensive inventory. I apologize for not attending; however, my aides there reported you were well in control and I decided I’d be superfluous. You worried me a couple of times—you’re more of a risk-taker than then I expected. Joining in on the raid and then agreeing to an untested memory implant. I was worried, twice!”
“Sir, I apologize for any stress I may have caused. The risks seemed small. Shen were very confident about their technology, and the raid provided an excellent practical evaluation of the shuttle and its equipment. They have some devastating weapons at their disposal.”
“The Eastern Bloc stepped back very quickly. Their reparations were agreed within three weeks. Oh, they stalled for a little while, just as a face-saving gesture.”
“I didn’t hear—we were just too busy to think about anything outside our schedule.”
“So what do you think? Should we do it?”
“Purchase Shen Ark? Absolutely. Can Rats afford it?”
“Good question. I think we must. I’ll be working with the Capins to determine what we can do. The Shen are being very generous, they do want us to purchase the starship and all its related equipment and technology. I think one of their motives is to ensure that a major temptation is removed from earth nations; they worry about the need to continually protect both the starship and their settlement from possible capture or invasion. Because you and your team members were their guests when they were attacked and because you all went on the raid, the Shen have credited us with a third of the reparations. We will, with your agreement, add the unexpected payment to the funds we are accumulating for the purchase of Shen Ark. Shen are being very helpful, they want us to succeed in this endeavour.”
“With my agreement?”
“Well, Shen stated that part of the amount was for you. I think they want you to buy into their starship.”
Freddie felt a small flare of excitement start to burn. “Yes!” his internal voice shouted. He said, “I certainly would like to do so…if it’s acceptable to you?” He kept his excitement under control—barely. Sam 32nd smiled; Freddie was unable to disguise his underlying reaction.
“Indeed, nothing could please me more. Consider yourself one of the owners. I’m sure Sammy, with Sasha’s assistance, will be able to draw up the necessary agreement. Watertight, of course, so you can’t get out of it.” He offered his hand and Freddie accepted the gesture, sealing the deal with a handshake.
Sam 32nd said, “I have read your reports; however, I’d like a summary from you. Zen has provided me with his view. By the way, Zen is one of my senior Intelligence spooks. I believe he had the time of his life, exploring all things Shen. However, I’d like a quick overview from you.”
Freddie paused. Zen was a spook? He would never had thought the slightly undersized Rat was anything more than what he purported to be, a member of Freddie’s guard team.
“Sir, Shen not only have their starship with its very advanced technology, they also have a tremendous inventory of equipment. The ship itself is driven by four star drives. There are two more drives mounted in the bow of the ship and two mounted amidships, either side, for braking and manoeuvring. The inventory lists five spare drives, with numerous additional components. In addition to the four commissioned stealth shuttles, there are a further five unassembled units boxed up and stored on board; these are complete units, with enough spares to build four more. They have numerous other craft, suitable for space, land, air or water. Even a submarine. The inventory just goes on and on. They have what they describe as industrial replicators, with patterns or templates to manufacture almost all the spares or components the starship ever would require. You just need raw material for the replicators and Shen Ark holds close on half a million tons of raw material - iron ore, carbon fullerene and other forms of carbon, some I had never heard of. Also tons of bauxite, silicon—the list is extensive. I think they mined asteroids as they travelled. No gold, silver, or platinum, though; they deposited the more valuable metals with the Bank of England after they arrived. They have manufacturing plants set up to process raw materials—they can produce steel, aluminium, various plastics—to any grade, size, or quantity, using automated processing. Then, using a replicator with a template, all you need do is feed in the raw or processed material and press the button. Their 3D printing equipment, including biologicals which they use in their medical centres, are far in advance of what we have developed on earth.”
He continued as Sam 32nd listened intently. “Their equipment inventory contains an almost excessive quantity of materiel. They have ten spare fusion generators rated at 1.5 to 2.0 gigawatts. They have another two of these installed to provide internal power within the Ark. There is a tremendous variety and quantity of armaments, missiles, weapons, and other military equipment, either assembled or held as spare parts. Computers, small and large, spare chips, a chip fabrication plant, a storage unit plant, communications devices, radar and lidar devices, some equipment for purposes I still cannot define. Various fabrication units to roll, shape, stamp, press, punch, drill, bend or extrude metal and anything else, in addition to what the replicators can produce. Shen Ark’s drives and generators could be rebuilt five times over, based on the lists of spares and components. Of course there are more replicators.”
He stop
ped to draw a breath. “We—Shen and I—discussed the nature of Shen Ark—and really, it is not a starship, rather it is a habitat for a species—or even for multiple species—to travel in space. Shen were prepared to, and did, travel for years—decades or longer—at .75c. Shen Ark was fully equipped to support them on their long journey.”
“You are impressed?”
“Definitely.”
“What’s the downside? What are the negatives?”
“There really only is one, assuming we can fund the purchase. Oh, and assuming we can defend against any attack from the Eastern Bloc or others, while we’re working on the starship.”
“And your concern is?”
“Assimilating Shen technology to a degree where we are totally familiar with it. The crew will need not just to understand Shen language, but also to think Shen.”
Sam 32nd reflected for a long moment. Freddie and the Rats remained silent. At last His Highness spoke.
“Freddie, we’ll purchase Shen Ark. From now on, you are our Engineer and part owner, and you’ll also be responsible for technology, for developing and deploying your bubble warp drive. You’ll come with us; indeed we’ll invite other humans to join us. We can accommodate five or six thousand, perhaps ten thousand, without difficulty. All New Rats and Mice, they must all come with us. There are one or two other ‘new’ species which may want to join us, and we will invite them as well. Not Cats. Never Cats. My people—Rats—shall assimilate Shen technology, Shen knowledge—they’ll become Shen experts.”
“That represents a lot of work,” cautioned Freddie.
“Yes, for everyone. But Shen Ark will be ours. Rats will learn and know every nook and cranny, every wire, every tool. However, first things first. I have to work out how to pay for it!”
“We will find a way. Probably lots of ways,” said Sammy. “Rats—New Rats—are everywhere. We can find, dig and mine every possible source of wealth—whether ore, buried treasure, or specks of platinum in a laboratory, used or discarded, we will gather it.”
“We cannot steal,” warned Sam 32nd. “Everything we use must be ours, without a doubt.”
“We can scavenge,” affirmed Sammy. “If nothing else, we can and will do it. I’ll set up scavenger teams and get all the younglings involved. The impact of a million or more younglings on scavenger hunts across England and Europe should be quite something. We can also extract gold and other precious metals from discarded electronic items—we can set up an e-waste processing plant for that.”
“Agreed. You’re now in charge of scavenging—first find your replacement for the contract negotiations, Rat or human. When you set up your scavengers, don’t focus on just younglings, include adults as well. You should convert some warehouses into scavenger depots, arrange for assessment of scavenged material, and build a small organization to help you. Freddie of course is our Engineer, he will stay immersed in Shen technical details. Zen will be chief spook for the Star Team, a promotion which I’ll validate with his boss. We need to increase security and defence, so I’ll meet with the Capins and get this project properly authorized. Everything we do from now on must support our end target—success of the Star Team. This is going to shake out some projects.”
The first missile exploded against the Embassy entrance door, blasting a massive hole and sending a shockwave into every corner of the building. The second missile, fired seconds later, was destroyed in mid-flight by the Rat’s anti-missile team. They also destroyed the two drones which had launched the missiles, and which were armed with a further two. Rats, supported by almost immediate Shen Ark assistance, traced the drone command centre and destroyed it with one of their own missiles. Later analysis established the drones were of English manufacture and the missiles were the latest model 24Jay3’s, designed and manufactured in the Eastern Bloc and transported to London by a tramp steamer, Eastern Bloc-flagged, one of the few surviving freighters from the pre-Flood era. A mysterious late-night explosion wrecked the drone manufacturing premises. Three days later a stealth shuttle from Shen Ark destroyed the ancient freighter. There were no survivors.
Ambulances and emergency vehicles rushed to the Embassy in response to numerous reports of the missile attack. However, Rats would not permit emergency personnel to enter Embassy grounds. The Rats’ Black, Green and other guards, including Freddie’s platoon, implemented a well-prepared coordination plan and took over control of all policing and emergency operations in and around the Embassy. They blocked streets, evacuated nearby buildings, and generally established themselves as the force in command.
Rat commanders, in conference with local London police, explained how allowing strangers into the Embassy would open the door to further attacks. The police agreed, reluctantly; they were unable to guarantee the identities of all the emergency workers, and could not ensure the continued safety of survivors away from the control of Rat forces. Rat Guards then brought in their helicopters and evacuated the injured survivors to hospitals under their continuing protection, away from public access.
Freddie regained consciousness as he was being lowered onto a hospital bed. He was in pain, his vision was blurred, and he could not move his right arm. He tried to struggle, to protest; he wanted to discover what had happened.
“Don’t worry, Sir Engineer,” a soft voice re-assured him. “You’re safe here, in our emergency medical unit. Your arm’s been x-rayed, you have a mild fracture, and we have immobilized your arm until the doctor examines you. We suspect you also have a mild concussion. Doctors will be with you as soon as possible.” The nurse made some notes on a clipboard. Neither she nor Freddie noticed the tiny silver thread which glittered as it dropped from the edge of her hand onto Freddie’s forehead.
Freddie faded into and out of consciousness over the next two hours. He was under continued observation, connected to a monitoring system which was continually forwarding his pulse, temperature, and blood pressure to a central nursing station. He again surfaced into consciousness as two doctors checked his arm. One was human and the other was Rat. The human doctor looked at an x-ray. “Mild fracture,” he advised his companion. “Check—I suspect he has concussion. Probably best just to keep him in bed for now.” He turned to Freddie. “Your vital signs are all positive.” Then he looked at the nurse. “You’re new?”
“Yes, doctor. I’m from the PCN Institute. The hospital called for more help, and I volunteered.”
“PCN Institute—oh, yes, Dr. Krowe, I’ve heard of him. He runs a very interesting research organization, I hear.” The nurse smiled and nodded, and the doctor turned back to Freddie.
The Rat doctor focused a light into Freddie’s eyes, one at a time. He addressed Freddie. “How do you feel?”
The nurse gave him a sip of water when he struggled to speak. “Dizzy. Headache. Arm aches. Ribs feel bruised.”
The human doctor laughed. “I’m not surprised. You need some rest, and we’ll keep you under observation here for probably forty-eight hours. Then you should have some recuperation time, probably a week, ideally two, before you try to get back to normal activities.”
“What about the others? His Highness?”
“Fit to be tied and looking for revenge,” reassured the Rat doctor. “He has bruises, some cuts, nothing serious. Same for his daughter and others who were in the meeting room. You were the worst hit of that group, the blast must have been channelled in your direction by the doorway or even just by the position of chairs around the table. The explosion caused lots of injuries and deaths outside the meeting room. We lost ten Rats.”
The two doctors conferred quietly for a moment and the Rat doctor spoke to Freddie again. “We’ll keep you plugged into the machinery. No painkillers. No sedatives. If you feel extreme pain, something more than mildly bruised ribs, for example, press the button for the duty nurse. She’ll contact one of us, if necessary. We’ll check back in eight hours. You can have visitors. However, the nurses will keep visiting times short. Don’t try to work. We already told His Hig
hness you need to rest. Plan on being here for the next two days and then off work for two weeks.” The doctors each marked up their clipboard notes and left. The nurse puffed up the pillow and followed the doctors out of the room. Freddie rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. Healing sleep claimed him.
***
Chapter 21
Freddie rested his head back on a soft cushion. This was the first time he had been to the Cotswolds and he was enjoying the experience. He also was enjoying the attention of two young ladies and their nursing-experienced mother.
Sasha, when she had heard of his doctors’ prescription for two weeks rest and recuperation, had immediately whisked him off to her parents’ home in Under Wychwood, after she guaranteed His Highness and his two doctors that Freddie would be well cared for.
For almost five years, over a hundred years ago, weather patterns had brought a continual series of storms of unheralded violence to the entire United Kingdom and Western Europe. The storms had been devastating, flattening houses and forests and flooding fields and pastures. Roads and bridges were washed out and countryside casualties had overwhelmed both the emergency services and hospitals. Loss of life had been substantial. Scotland, then an independent country, had almost been wiped out, as had Wales, and their populations had never recovered. Since then, in this region of England, farm and village houses had been gradually restored using local Cotswold stone, forests had been re-planted, and roads rebuilt, and slowly the countryside had been repopulated by people and wildlife. The Cotswold villages were now almost as they had been, providing a picture which was straight from a storybook.
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