Elbow squeeze again. “The discovery of this communication mode would have happened eventually anyway once the Philodor Torki arrived here, but you will have the technology sooner because of this accident.
“The first Comtap chips were already sending a continuous signal pattern, although without any receiving human with a chip sensitive enough to detect the continuous pattern, the signal was not received by them. There was a general destination for the thoughts present, a partial address if you wish to think of it that way, for someone aboard the Beagle. So the four Torki Olts on the Beagle all received your messages.” Now came the important part.
“We can redesign the Comtap chip, and every Olt, and every mind enhancer to employ the same increased degree of quantum entangled sensitivity as do the Olts produced by the Torki from Philodor.”
Pulling at his lip, Mirikami summarized his understanding, “You mean we can have continuous long distance communication when we are in Tachyon Space, not only between Kobani, but with and between Torki and Raspani, using the same individual addressing system that your devices already employ at merely light speed and shorter distances in Normal Space.”
“Yes.” Blue acknowledged. “Except that Kobani, because of your Mind Tap ability, can do more than simply share data and messages. You can share actual thoughts and mental images with those you contact.” He had more to offer for the future.
“Another level of enhancement should be possible, if we can increase the sensitivity of the new style chips by two or three magnitudes. All of the long-range communications via Olts, mind enhancers, and now Comtaps, is via modulation of low energy tachyons, and the links are essentially instantaneous. It appears possible, in principle anyway, to increase sensitivity so that instant Normal Space links of vast range should also be possible. There would be no need for us to physically enter Tachyon Space if we are able to detect the modulation of tachyons from Normal Space.”
Mirikami was deeply impressed. “Blue, you and Coldar have made rapid use of this new discovery. I don't think humans are the only fast thinkers in the galaxy.”
There was one of those quick, shared looks between the Torki and Raspani, then the unmistakable sound of their laughter mixed together. Blubbering lips from the Raspani and a rapid scraping sound from the Torki.
Mirikami knew those sounds. “What’s so amusing?”
Blue answered. “Professor Max Born postulated that our Olt’kitapi chip designs actually modulated entangled tachyons, but due to low detection sensitivity, our devices used low powered light speed radio signals in Normal Space to connect. It was his theory of Quantum entanglement of tachyons that we confirmed via our testing, not our theory.
“It is also his belief that an increase in sensitivity will be possible, to extend instantaneous long-range communications into Normal Space. Your species, at least those with Kobani features of perfect memory and Mind Taps, are rapidly matching us older species in such theoretical matters. We think the Olt’kitapi already understood and used this method of communication.”
Looking to Born, Mirikami saw the slight nod, and small smile that confirmed the Raspani’s statement.
“I see. Congratulations Max.” He turned back to Blue.
“You have been changing the production facilities. Will I, and the people that I take with me on the K1 raid, have the new Comtap chips before the attack?”
Elbow squeeze again. “I don’t know if we can supply everyone you plan to take with you. You did not state the numbers or provide a departure date. We can build and embed dozens of them in Kobani humans in a month of your days. They will also function for your normal human population, without your Mind Tap ability of course. That is exactly how it will function for us.” He gestured to include himself and Coldar, as representative of all Raspani and Torki.
Considering that inclusion, Blue added, “We will also be making new chips for the Torki and Raspani, so that new effort will consume some of our manufacturing productivity.”
Mirikami bowed to them. “Blue, I truly appreciate and support your decision to share this technology with your own people, and I’d even like you to offer the capability to the Prada, if they want to have it. However, unless you are sending fighters with us to attack the Krall on K1 in a month, something I invite you to do, I respectfully request that the bulk of your chip production be largely devoted to the new Comtaps for a month.
“I’ll be asking to place some of my people on various fleet elements of the Planetary Union navy, to better coordinate theirs and our movements when we Jump to attack.” He had yet to discuss this with Admiral Bledso, but believed she would agree.
Both Blue and Coldar shared looks, and probably held a brief private electronic communication. Then Blue responded for them both. “We were not aware the impending attack was coming so soon. You humans always act so quickly. Although we welcome your invitation to allow us to participate, Coldar and I are well aware of how Torki or Raspani presence on any of your ships will expose you to greater risk. Can we be considered for participation on future raids? We owe the Krall for many thousands of years of abuse.”
Mirikami spread his hands in ready acceptance of their claim and request. “I promise there will be an opportunity for your people to participate in attacks against the Krall, which will not risk the degree of violent ship maneuvers as I expect will happen at K1. If any species have earned the right to strike at them, it is you two and the Prada, who have suffered long and greatly. There will be rescue missions for you as well, to recover any of your isolated populations, as those the Beagle discovered on Philodor. One of our ships will escort an armed migration ship, operated by the people you select, and return with you to Philodor for the Torki they left behind.”
****
A couple of weeks later, the members of what was once called the Inner Circle were holding an impromptu planning session. They were there to discuss some risky revelations that might have to be made to the Planetary Union navy, and by inference passed to the Hub government that the navy served. The risk went considerably beyond what the Kobani might face because of their violation of the prohibition against human genetic modifications. The Planetary Union might pursue legal action against the lawbreakers. Perhaps aggressively, and what affected the Kobani could have an impact on the Koban system.
There was a potential threat to all of the citizens of Haven and Koban, genetically modified or not, because everyone lived in the same system with the Kobani. They would suffer repercussions if the Planetary Union pursued any police or military action against those with gene mods. Even A boycott on trade with the supposed Rimmers, who the PU thought the Kobani were, would impose hardships. Attempts to arrest Kobani in Human Space could quickly escalate into hostilities.
Mirikami had requested this gathering, and he paused to look around the large circular table, considering the mixture of humans and aliens he and Maggi had strategically seated. Humans were in the majority, with only one of them being completely unmodified, one had only clone mods, and nine were full Kobani. Also in attendance were a Prada, a Torki, and a Raspani. This wasn’t a governmental meeting, because the Inner Circle had never been a government at all. This was a discussion, planning, and strategy group.
The members changed over time, but might be scientists, leaders, or merely someone that represented a special interest that needed their views to be addressed. They explored proposals, made suggestions, and expressed differing viewpoints, or voiced their objections.
Because humans, Kobani humans in particular, had made the existence of this assembly even possible, they had more participants in the group. However, there was no voting involved, and recommendations made did not have the force of law locally. The Kobani were those that often faced the risks when a course of action was recommended, so leaders within their ranks were able to express their opinions.
Membership came from citizens living on Haven or Koban, and the three alien races that lived only on Haven. Recommendations of the group could have a
n impact on the remnants of the respective alien species, so they were always present. There were often invited guests, and anyone could ask to observe the irregularly held but announced meetings.
Today, a ripper named Kayla was invited, although the cats normally had little interest in these meetings, and typically displayed boredom. They would often enjoy a gaping yawn that exposed their long fangs. Particularly when they noticed any non-Kobani looking at them with a trace of apprehension. The quick looks away from them was proof, and a reward, that they had made the intimidating impression they enjoyed. The rippers rarely took a place at the table, because they never offered an opinion, nor seemed to have one to offer in any case. They were primarily present as truthsayers.
With frilling and Mind Taps possible, there were social rules to guard an individual’s private thoughts. Although, some specific privacy laws were still being formulated to guard everyone’s rights, being as fair as possible, or in some cases only as fair as practical. With Kobani Mind Tap ability, every citizen could be certain that their true feelings and grievances were at least understood by a Kobani, even if their beliefs were not shared. Ripper frilling was an infrequently used method of verifying that a Mind Tap relay done by a Kobani, between those without Mind Tap ability was unbiased. Kayla was here, if needed, for an independent and unmodified mental link.
A ripper did not embellish or “soften” their own thoughts, and would pass through the untarnished thoughts for which they were merely the conduit. Humans could potentially introduce deliberate modifications of thoughts they relayed, and it might be done inadvertently if they simply held a different opinion. Humans were less reliable than was a ripper in this respect.
Because there was no official standing for the group, its recommendations did not bind anyone into supporting them. Not that universal acceptance of any idea in human history had ever occurred. Now, with alien perspectives added to the mix, it was a wonder they managed to work together at all, and arrive at majority opinions. Somehow, they did, and they always held their meeting in a growing new city, which they had named Xenos.
There actually were participants in this group that did hold elected positions, although they had no more status in this setting than did any of the other members. Today, the office holders at the meeting were the six city council representatives of Xenos itself. Humans, from three different camps formed half of that council, and the other three elected (or selected) members were aliens. Perhaps the spirit of cooperation at Inner Circle meetings was due to the concept the city was named after.
Xenos was an ancient Greek term that referred to guest-friends. Located on Haven, the developing capitol city was intended to host peoples of various cultures, beliefs, and species, with toleration of those differences. If you refused to accept those principles, you could still live on Haven and reside in Xenos, but you couldn’t serve in the government, or even vote on proposals put to the participating citizens of the growing society.
Stewart MacDougal was one of the human representatives on the city council for the growing new capital. He was modified, having accepted clone genes years ago to make living on Koban more comfortable. That was before Haven had been explored and settled. He lived on Haven full time now, working with the Raspani to help them rebuild their society.
There was a completely unmodified human on the city council, Ellen Embry, also a transplant to Haven from Hub City on Koban. She represented the interests of those people that had never yielded in their opposition to the genetic modifications used by the Kobani. Normals were a gradually dwindling minority here, reduced from their previous majority position on Koban in Hub City. Their numbers were dropping even after every one of them had moved to Haven to escape the high gravity and the perpetual risks of Koban. Some older people simply died prematurely, after spending over twenty years in the stressful and ageing conditions on Koban before their move. A few caved it to the advantages the gene mods provided.
The ninety percent Earth gravity on Haven left them appreciative of how strong the Kobani had felt back on Koban. Here, they were comparatively stronger and a better match against the local wildlife. They discovered they were able to cope even better than the three alien species, who still found Haven to be a bit on the heavy and wild side. The lure of gene mods for speed and strength, as they watched superhuman Kobani children grow to maturity, was tempting.
However, in the end it was mostly vanity and age regression, which was the real draw. Youth eternal was difficult to resist after suffering premature ageing and increasing health problems, which modern med labs alone could not correct. The number of partial converts to the longevity gene mod and nanite rejuvenation placed more of them in MacDougal’s camp, although many still rejected clone and Koban gene mods, at least at first.
The steadfast opponents of any gene changes never failed to remind their now youthful appearing counterparts that they were full-fledged criminals in Human Space anyway, even if they had not accepted the more radical changes. This tactic only served to push some of them into requesting additional changes. If you were considered equally guilty, why not get something in return for that guilt.
Embry preached to her remaining constituents constantly, but her strident words and attitude grated on many. It was hard to side solidly with someone that openly thought your former friends or family members were mutants and criminals, deserving of rejection by God and his church agents, and death at the hands of the Hub government.
Deanna Turner, an early Krall captive was the current Koban representative on the Xenos city council. Whoever held that chair rotated membership with other Kobani, after a yearly election when the previous member often tired of being away from home so much. Returning to Koban after a stint off planet had proven essential to the mental wellbeing of most Kobani, who found other worlds too soft and tame for comfort.
City council membership included a representative of each of the three alien species, and they too were free to change membership on short notice. Wister represented the Prada and would likely do so for many years, unless an even elder Prada wished the position. Geltra spoke for the Torki, but any Torki could reflect the communal thoughts of their population on Haven via their Olts. Wind Song spoke for the Raspani this year, and they held a referendum, much as humans did, but through use of their mind enhancers, since the bulk of the minds of their population was still recorded in storage devices. The aliens were a much less factious lot than was humanity, which surprised no one.
Xenos was being planned from the outset as the capital of the entire Koban system, with hoped for eventual representation from other worlds around different stars, if they could remove them from Krall domination, and safely be repopulated. Should the Krall learn of this opposition, a seed growing on the edge of the large volume of space they controlled, The Koban system would be swarmed, and all of the beings found there exterminated. The same for any world to which they spread.
Eventually, Haven was expected to have a smaller regional capital, administering for only that planet’s citizens. That would have to wait for future growth, assuming the Krall didn’t end the effort early and brutally. Xenos was intended to become the capital of a fledgling galactic republic, which at present comprised one stellar system, having two inhabited planets and four member species.
There already was one center for regional government, located at Prime City on Koban. The overall idea was ambitious, but planning for a future was what optimistic humans always did, and their formerly pessimistic alien allies needed to relearn how to think about a future.
Today, Mirikami was looking for advice, hoping for a consensus but not expecting unanimity. “Gentle Beings, here is the issue we need to discuss today. In order to place Kobani with Comtap chips on navy warships, for them to provide the navy with real-time Tachyon Space communications, we will have to admit that we have this embedded electronic and quantum technology. I don’t think this is a problem by itself, since they know we have other new technology, such as stealth systems
, and our body armor with built in energy weapons. They are aware that we have a mental interface with that armor. However, they don’t know that it’s a unique nervous system, which makes it so effective. This communications technology is certainly new to them and they will want it. Because they have accepted implanted technology in Special Operations troops, this is similar in nature.
“If talking the navy into placing our people on those ships is successful, as I expect it will be, a Kobani on a navy warship will lead to our having to explain something more sensitive than alien chip technology that employs quantum entanglement with tachyons. Such as, why our liaison people won’t require jell filled acceleration suits, such as their Normal human crewmembers do when they go into battle with the Krall. Comments please, starting on my left, and go around the table.” Mirikami looked to Reynolds, sitting on his immediate left, as he sat down.
Sarge was no longer as reticent in speaking his mind in a gathering like this, where he might be asked to act on one of his or someone else’s proposal. Apparently, this new attitude resulted from the confidence that came with being a full Kobani.
He stood up and shrugged. “I was just a ground pounder before, so I don’t know much about the navy. However, I do know a little bit about obfuscation, and it always worked for me. Both on the Krall, and on high-ranking brass of any branch of service. Why not just get inside their jelly-filled tin cans and pretend it’s necessary for us? We can communicate in Tachyon Space from inside those protective acceleration suits. Can’t we keep our physical capabilities secret that way?”
Maggi, sitting on Tet’s right, knew the reason why that proposal wouldn’t work, and said so. “Sarge, those suits are a variation of the newer med labs we’ve had Chief Haveram buying from a Hub company on Mars. That same company also makes acceleration combat suits used on naval ships. Those are equipped with some of the same advanced monitoring equipment their med labs have, to sense if the person inside is unconscious or injured, and in need of nanite treatment. They would certainly detect our superconducting nervous systems and nanotube reinforced bones, and think something is drastically wrong with us, or at least very odd.”
Koban 4: Shattered Worlds Page 46