Messinants

by S. H. Jucha

  Perhaps we can get an understanding of the dimensions of the overall device and the structural components,” Idrian suggested.

  “I can send you the details of those,” Jessie replied. “As to the completed device, the intravertor will measure forty meters and weigh twenty-eight tons.”

  Jessie’s words brought conversation to a halt. The only one who wasn’t awe-struck was Henry, an ex-mining captain, who’d dealt with ships and equipment that size and larger.

  “You’re trying to cure a planet,” Jessie added, into the silence. “You can’t do it with something the size of an e-cart. And, while we’re at it, you’d better get used to the idea that every intravertor we produce will accelerate the removal of heat from the surface.”

  “That’s if it works,” Rufus said, with disdain.

  “Didn’t the captain tell you to pace yourself?” Jessie asked. “Do you think aliens, who know how to operate a gate system and travel between worlds, wouldn’t know how to build something like this intravertor?”

  Rufus might have replied, except he caught the stares of the other three downsiders. They were none too happy with his clumsy attempts to push his opinions.

  Communications on several minor subjects continued for another two hours before Emerson suggested they break for early meal.

  A sudden thought occurred to Jessie and he announced, “I’ll be dining at the Miner’s Pit. I’ll be happy to comp anyone who joins me, as an apology for my lateness to the meeting.” As he suspected, only Liam and Henry accepted the offer.

  Emerson was surprised that he was left to his own devices for midday meal. The governor and the family heads had closed ranks and excluded him.

  On the way to the Pit, Henry eyed Jessie several times before he asked, “Is it my imagination or are you trying to be helpful one moment and antagonistic the next?” When Jessie grinned at him, Henry said, “I thought so.”

  “You’re stalling, aren’t you?” Liam asked.

  “Yes, and I could use some help,” Jessie replied.

  During their meal, Jessie explained that he was prolonging the negotiations in order to give the governor and the family heads a reason to believe they were getting what they want. “I’m going to act like they’re wearing me down,” he said.

  “For how long?” Liam asked.

  “According to the engineers, we need another three or four weeks,” Jessie replied.

  “I don’t know if my schedule can accommodate that much time,” Liam said.

  “Speaking of your schedule, have you located the two individuals who David identified?” Jessie asked.

  “Oh, yes, within days of receiving David’s details,” Liam replied. “By a phenomenal coincidence, both men died from different accidents on the same day.”

  “Someone works quickly,” Henry said, putting down his utensil and taking a drink, in hopes his appetite would rebound.

  “Someone with a great deal of coin and a lot of contacts,” Jessie added.

  “What angers me,” Liam commented, “is that the trails are so convoluted and grow cold so quickly that my teams can’t tell if we’re dealing with wealthy topsiders or downsiders.”

  “It could always be both,” Henry offered.

  “Back to your plan, Jessie,” Liam said, “Even when you finish negotiations with the family heads about the transport of the intravertor, it doesn’t settle the question of land distribution, which was Lise’s opening statement today.”

  “I couldn’t believe her brazenness,” Henry said, shaking his head. “She wants to balance the deployment of a world-changing device against the domes’ territorial growth.”

  “Lovely piece of work,” Jessie agreed. “Too bad the joke is on her.”

  Jessie was smiling and it caused Henry and Liam to join him.

  “Why are we grinning like fools?” Liam asked.

  Jessie glanced around to ensure he wasn’t overheard. Nonetheless, he leaned in, and the others did too.

  “The intravertor gets delivered by ship or shuttle. It drops down through the atmosphere and embeds itself in the ground,” Jessie whispered.

  “It doesn’t go through the domes?” Liam asked incredulously.

  “Nope,” Jessie said, his grin widening.

  There was a moment of silence before the three men erupted in laughter that drew the stares of every spacer in the Pit.

  Maggie stopped by their table, saying, “Two captains and a major having a good time, and you’re not even drinking. You celebrating?”

  “You have no idea,” Jessie replied, with a wink.

  “Humph, I’ve seen that look before,” Maggie replied. “Now, I don’t want to know,” she added, as she hurried away to greet new customers.

  * * * *

  The meal at the Starlight among the family heads was less cordial than Jessie’s. When Lise took the opportunity to visit the facilities, Dorelyn leaned toward Rufus and said, “I’m rethinking my decision to accept you as a member of the council’s triumvirate.”

  “Too late,” Rufus shot back.

  “Actually not,” Idrian commented quietly. “If you’d read the charter carefully, Rufus, you would have noted an article that said: If two members of the triumvirate believe the third member is not acting in the best interest of the council, they may petition the council to have that member removed for just cause.”

  “So now you’re taking her side,” Rufus accused.

  “No, I’m taking the council’s side, Rufus,” Idrian replied. “We’ve known each other a long time, and I value your friendship, but you’re letting your personal animus toward aliens and this project blind you to the greater prize.”

  “Let me phrase it more bluntly, Rufus,” Dorelyn said. “Stop fighting with Cinders. As the council’s representatives, we’ve two goals. The first is to get Cinders and Harbour to cooperate with us in the deployment of the intravertor. We want those two captains singing our praises when the negotiations are over.”

  “And Dorelyn means the three of us, not Lise, when she refers to our praises,” Idrian added. “That’s our second goal. We’re trying to minimize Lise’s participation. The other side of the table must perceive her as a limited player in the negotiations.”

  “Understood,” Rufus said sullenly. “Just don’t ask me to apologize to Cinders.”

  “Absolutely not,” Idrian said. “It’s one thing to irritate the man; it’s another to appear weak to him.”

  When Lise returned to the group, the triumvirate quieted. “Talking about me?” Lise quipped. Without missing a beat, she sat at the table and said, “I think it’s obvious by the lack of progress in these early discussions that certain people possess the wrong attributes to successfully negotiate a good deal for the domes. I suggest the three of you leave this to me. After all, I believe I understand Jessie Cinders better than any of you.”

  “I was wondering, Lise,” Idrian said, “Who do you think Harbour and Cinders suppose is responsible for the attack on the engineers?”

  “It doesn’t matter, neither she nor anyone else has a clue about who’s the guilty party,” Lise replied.

  “Is that because Jordie tied up every loose end for you?” Dorelyn asked.

  “Maybe it was better that Harbour was too busy to attend this meeting,” Rufus said.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Idrian interjected. “If the captain were sitting across from us, I’m sure she’d bring up an embarrassing subject, like the attack, just to read us.”

  “And I would have loved to have asked her,” Dorelyn started to say before she switched to a sweet entreating voice, “Captain Harbour, did you detect anything unusual when you accused us of trying to destroy Jatouche–Pyrean relations?” Then Dorelyn’s voice hardened, while she continued. “What do you think she would have said, Lise?”

  “The three of you are tiring,” Lise replied in a huff. “You’re welcome to continue your banter. Me, I’m starving and ordering.”

  Dorelyn winked at Rufus. It was an un
characteristic gesture for her, but she was intent on complimenting Rufus on his recovery. They wanted to constantly challenge Lise and demonstrate the strength of the triumvirate.

  When meals were finished, dishes were cleared away, and drinks drained, Lise made to stand, intending to leave the group.

  “A word more before you leave, Lise,” Dorelyn said. She relished the brief flash of irritation that swept across Lise’s face. “You stated that you knew Captain Cinders better than any of us. I wonder what you made of his comments during the meeting.”

  Lise felt this was a perfect opening to demonstrate her superior knowledge, and she lectured the threesome on the finer points of the meeting’s discussion.

  When Lise finished her recitation, her expression was smug. “I’m sure the council can afford the coin to pay for this meal,” she said, rising and sauntering away.

  Rufus whispered a few expletives in Lise’s wake, careful that he wasn’t overheard.

  “What was the purpose of your question, Dorelyn?” Idrian asked.

  “To see if Lise knew what she was talking about. She doesn’t,” Dorelyn replied.

  “Could you elaborate?” Idrian asked.

  “The only time Cinders showed true anger was when Rufus displayed his xenophobia,” Dorelyn explained. She held up a hand to interrupt Rufus’ denial. “Other than that, Cinders was playing with Rufus, allowing his comments to derail the conversation.”

  “Why?” Idrian asked.

  “I don’t know, and Lise doesn’t even perceive it. I never liked Markos, but he was a lot smarter governor than this one,” Dorelyn said, staring at the doors through which Lise had exited the cantina.

  -41-

  Drigtik

  After a few days of rest and several tests by the empaths, during the engineers’ waking and sleeping periods, the engineers were pronounced fit to return to work.

  Drigtik had adopted a certain swagger that was noticed by Pyreans and Jatouche. He didn’t laud over his peers. He was simply proud of what he was privileged to experience, which definitely weren’t the horrible dreams. As he said to Olivia, “As much as that gas spun nightmarish images for hours, it was the wonder of being enveloped by the empaths afterwards that was true bliss. While I might have wished for another reason to have received their gifts, enduring the darkness was worth it.”

  “I can’t argue with you,” Olivia had replied. “The empaths freed me from my phobia about leaving the YIPS. Every step of the way, they made certain that I didn’t pay a price for my decision to accompany them to meet you. Personally, it was the best decision I’ve made in many years, and the empaths made it happen.”

  Pete overheard their comments and added his own, “They’ve helped me with my anger over my decorations,” he said, using Tacticnok’s word and lifting his hands to display the scars that extended over much of his arms and upper torso.

  It was the stories brought back to Na-Tikkook by the Jatouche who had experienced Aurelia’s power, during the first encounter with Pyreans, that had driven the desires of others of their kind to experience the empaths’ wondrous emanations. That Drigtik was fortunate enough to experience days of the empaths’ ministrations had given the engineer an elevated status among the Jatouche.

  Tacticnok kept to herself the revelation that she’d experienced a private session with Harbour. On the one hand, she wondered how her father and advisors would react to empaths visiting the Jatouche home world. Assuredly there would be criticism for her treatment of Jittak, but she was prepared for that discussion. If she were given the opportunity to nominate the emissary from the Pyreans to her father’s court, there was only one choice for her. It was Captain Harbour, one of the most powerful empaths.

  * * * *

  Drigtik was in his element during the assembly phase, urging the techs of both races on and double-checking the success of the interlinking process, as the device grew in size. Finally, assembly was taking place in a huge bay that had been previously used for metal ingot delivery. Its bay doors were large enough to accomplish the launch of the device in its completed form.

  Harbour had deliberately tried to stay out of the way of the engineers during the initial phases, but curiosity drove her to take an inspection tour, and Tacticnok accompanied her.

  When the two leaders entered the assembly bay, work came to a halt. Drigtik ordered them back to work and hurried over to attend the two females.

  “Your Highness,” Drigtik said, dipping his head in obeisance. “Captain Harbour,” he added, his eyes glowing in admiration.

  “I think some of my father’s subjects are ready to abandon their home world, if they can inhabit the Belle,” Tacticnok commented.

  Drigtik was only momentarily thrown off balance by Tacticnok’s statement. His enthusiasm for the near-successful completion of the intravertor was his primary emotional driver. “How can I be of assistance?” he asked.

  “I need a beginner’s summary of the intravertor,” Harbour said. “I want to know how it will accomplish its job.”

  “That’ll be my pleasure, Captain,” Drigtik replied and led them over to the massive construction.

  The device rested on its launch sled. The engineering teams had begun final assembly, starting from the aft end, and the structure was three-quarters complete, already measuring about 30 meters.

  Harbour was awed by the enormous size of the intravertor and stood staring at its length, which had yet to reach the end of the sled.

  “Impressive, isn’t it?” Olivia asked proudly, choosing to stand beside Harbour. Pete and Bryan were behind her.

  “That’s hardly the word for it,” Harbour said, watching teams maneuver another section overhead to add to the assembly. Harbour took the opportunity to lay a hand over Olivia’s.

  “I’m fine, Captain,” Olivia said softly, feeling the slightest of power from Harbour.

  “Just checking,” Harbour replied, with a smile.

  “I’m not sure that I’ve fully recovered,” Drigtik offered, hoping for the same treatment.

  Tacticnok chittered a rebuke, but Harbour laughed, gripped his hand, and sent a small touch of warmth his way.

  Drigtik flashed his teeth in appreciation and waved them toward the aft end of the intravertor. As they walked in that direction, Harbour laid a hand on Pete’s neck, seeking the darkness. Much to her relief, Pete exhibited the most positive emotional balance she’d ever felt from him. When Harbour retrieved her hand, Pete sent her a grateful smile.

  “This first section,” Drigtik said, pointing to the aft end of the device, “contains the thermal-seeking tendrils.”

  “What?” Harbour queried.

  “Tendrils are coiled inside this subsection, Captain,” Olivia explained. “When the intravertor embeds itself in the surface, these tendrils are released. They’re a metal hybrid that can be directed.”

  “How?” Harbour asked.

  “Forward of this section is a Jatouche generator,” Bryan explained. “It activates the tendrils and temporarily supplies their energy, which enables the tendrils to spread out beneath the surface. The way they’re formed makes them bend toward heat as they’re uncoiled, much the way plants grow toward light. Once they’re fully extended, the energy flow is reversed. Instead of the generator supplying, it receives. As long as there’s heat, the generator is driven by the tendrils.”

  Harbour shook her head in disbelief.

  “As I said, Captain, incredible technology,” Olivia admitted, in commiseration.

  Harbour glanced toward Drigtik, and the engineer took it as a signal to continue.

  “When our generator’s energy flow is produced by the planet’s heat, the intravertor will be active and require none of its internal energy source. Every function of the intravertor will be operable,” Drigtik explained. “This section above the generator contains the vanes, which have a dual purpose. In their first form, they will ensure the intravertor descends upright and at a predetermined descent speed. After deployment, the blade angl
es and their spin direction will be reversed.”

  “That’s when the intravertor starts pulling in Pyre’s air,” Harbour said. It was one of the functions that Harbour was most keen to understand.

  “Yes,” Pete said, “the air is filtered, removing the dust and noxious gases. Those items will concentrate in the next forward section.”

  “That will be a great deal of material. Where do those materials go?” Harbour asked.

  “In the section that Pete is explaining,” Gatnack said, “the particulate matter and gases are heated and fused together, creating pellets. Those pellets will be spun out at a great distance from the intravertor.”

  “You’re speaking of the need for a huge amount of energy: driving the generator, spinning the vanes, fusing the atmospheric contaminants, and spitting them out,” Harbour summarized. “Will that use up the entire amount of energy provided by the tendrils?”

  “You’re concerned about the excess energy that we intend to transmit as microwave energy to this station, Captain?” Drigtik asked.

  “Yes,” Harbour replied.

  “This is the primary variable, Captain,” Drigtik continued. “Initially, the first intravertor deployed will consume the majority of the tendril energy, if not all of it, while cleaning the atmosphere. As more intravertors are built and launched, the atmosphere will clear and more energy will be available to focus on the YIPS receiver.”

  “Most of this depends on the rate at which we produce intravertors,” Olivia said.

  “Can we make a device by ourselves?” Harbour asked.

  “No, Captain,” Olivia replied. “We can fabricate the shells, the vanes, and many other parts, and we can deliver the intravertor to the surface. However, the tendrils, generator, filtering system, fuser, and microwave transmitter are Jatouche components.”

  Harbour glanced down at Tacticnok, who replied, “To be discussed, Captain.”

  “Between us?” Harbour asked.

  “With His Excellency Rictook,” Tacticnok said.

  “Shall I continue, Captain?” Drigtik asked.