“What would prevent the Vuduri on Earth from going out and looking for the Ark?” Rome asked.
“Well, given this scenario,” Rei said,” that would mean that right now, MINIMCOM and the Ark would be, like, six light years out from Deucado. MINIMCOM, how long would it take you to tow the Ark from that point to Deucado by yourself?”
“Well over one year,” MINIMCOM replied. “Assuming I could do it at all when I was just a tug.”
“Well, we say you could. So no questions there. Nobody is going to go out and search for them, not in interstellar space like that. What would be the hurry? Besides, if they went to look, they’d get to Deucado first and know what was happening anyway.”
“All right, Rei,” Rome replied. “I understand so far. That takes care of Deucado. What about the rest. What were we doing while MINIMCOM was stuck towing the Ark?”
Tomorrow, part 4.
Entry 3-285: October 7, 2015
The Big Lie: Part 4 of 6
Mark Twain once said, "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." Reality just is. It doesn't need to be constructed. So people who lie compulsively or even just making up a little white lie have to think of everything whereas people who tell the truth do not.
Nothing could be more apparent when Rome, Rei and Fridone were trying to construct the perfect cover story at the beginning of Part 3 of Rome's Revolution. The following is part four of six showing how hard it is to construct a perfect lie:
“That part is easy,” Rei said. “We just say we made a beeline for Earth.”
“What is a beeline?” asked Fridone.
“A straight line,” Rei said. He moved the final plate past the one representing Deucado so that, in totality, the arrangement represented a semi-circle. He lined up a knife from the plate representing Keid to the one representing Earth. “That would be our trajectory,” he said, “in the flying house.”
“I understand. That seems simple enough,” observed Fridone.
“There are two problems with that,” Rome said.
“And what are the problems?” Rei asked.
“MINIMCOM, how long would it take us to travel from this supposed drop point back to Earth?” Rome asked.
“No more than three months,” MINIMCOM replied, “assuming you were traveling at maximum speed.”
“So Rei, this means we should have arrived at Earth months ago,” Rome pointed out. “How would you explain our delay?”
“Easy,” Rei replied. “We have MINIMCOM cripple our ship. Make it so that it can only push us along at a speed which corresponds to our arrival time.”
“MINIMCOM, can you do this?” Rome asked.
“Yes,” replied MINIMCOM. “I will simply dampen down the strength of the Casimir pumps. I will make them less effective. The less negative energy you pump out, the lower the projection length of the PPT generators. Thus each tunnel would extend a shorter distance. This would have the net effect of reducing your overall effective speed.”
“That is great, MINIMCOM. I know this will sound strange but given what we have been through, what if we need to go fast for some reason?” Rei asked.
“I will make the changes reversible so that you would be able to re-achieve full speed should you need it,” replied MINIMCOM. “However, I will make the restore sequence available only to the two of you by training. There will be no physical record. No one else will be able to deduce it.”
“That is perfect, MINIMCOM, thanks,” Rei replied. Then to Rome, he said, “What is the other problem?”
“Aason,” Rome said, pointing at their son. “How would you explain his absence?”
Rei stood up and walked over to Rome. He squatted down and put both his hands on her shoulders, looking into her beautiful eyes. He caressed her gently for a moment, marveling at the peace he felt when he was in her presence. Then he took a deep breath.
Rei knows his very next words will upset Rome to her core. Even though it is a lie, it is a thought that Rome will have a very hard time entertaining. Part 5 tomorrow.
Entry 3-286: October 8, 2015
The Big Lie: Part 5 of 6
Mark Twain once said, "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." Reality just is. It doesn't need to be constructed. So people who lie compulsively or even just making up a little white lie have to think of everything whereas people who tell the truth do not.
Nothing could be more apparent when Rome, Rei and Fridone were trying to construct the perfect cover story at the beginning of Part 3 of Rome's Revolution. The following is part five of six showing how hard it is to construct a perfect lie:
“Romey, listen to me carefully,” Rei said quietly. “Please do not get upset, but Aason died at childbirth.”
“What!?” Rome said, “No! Not our baby,” she said. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Not for real,” Rei said. “We are just saying that. He will be safe onboard MINIMCOM with your father. We just say he was stillborn.”
“But even thinking this makes me so sad,” Rome said. “It makes me cry. I would not…” She stopped speaking. Through her tears, a broad smile started to form. “I would be so sad that I would not be able to answer any questions without breaking down.”
“Exactly,” Rei said. “No muss, no fuss. All bases covered.”
“I am so sorry, baby,” Rome said wiping away her tears. She turned toward her son. “It hurts me to even think about this,” she said.
“It will be all right, Mother,” Aason replied. “I understand.”
“All right. Beo?” Rome asked. “What do you think?”
“I think that Rei’s parents did not do such a good job to teach him to always tell the truth. These lies come very easy,” Fridone said with a smile.
“But it will work?” Rei asked.
“It will work,” replied Fridone.
“MINIMCOM?” Rei asked. “What do you think? Any obvious flaws?”
“Just one,” replied MINIMCOM.
“And what is that?” asked Rome.
“Your nursery,” said MINIMCOM. “If anyone should come aboard and examine your ship, they will know what it was for and they will see that it was used.”
“Well, just having it should not be a problem. Would we not get it ready in advance of the baby being born?” Rei asked.
“I think it would be more effective to just remove it,” replied MINIMCOM. “You will not need it any more as I will prepare facilities for Aason onboard me. It would be simpler to leave no evidence. You just say you took it down because of the sadness it caused by leaving it in place.”
“All right,” Rei said. “We will take down the nursery. Anything else? Do you think the story is tight?”
Uh, they forgot about the third chair in the galley. Tomorrow, the final part of this little story.
Entry 3-287: October 9, 2015
The Big Lie: Part 6 of 6
Mark Twain once said, "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." Reality just is. It doesn't need to be constructed. So people who lie compulsively or even just making up a little white lie have to think of everything whereas people who tell the truth do not.
Nothing could be more apparent when Rome, Rei and Fridone were trying to construct the perfect cover story at the beginning of Part 3 of Rome's Revolution. The following is the final part of six showing how hard it is to construct a perfect lie:
“Yes,” replied the computer/spaceship. “Your suggested modifications make it the simplest story and therefore will take the longest to penetrate with inconsistencies. I will deploy a modest number of star probe relays in this general region. I should be able to detect any ships that are launched to investigate any aspects of your story. I should be able to give you some advanced warning should there be any suspicion of untruth.”
“Star probes are good,” Rome said, “but what about if the Cecetiras show up. Do you think there will be Bridadiras here in time?�
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“This is not a problem,” MINIMCOM said. “I have brought many pieces of Lawlidon with me. After I have seen to your safe arrival on Earth, I will return to this region and begin deploying those as well. They will collect matter so they can reproduce and begin forming a detection shield between the inner and outer portions of the Oort cloud for Sol. In a month or two, we should be ready for an attack.”
“And Asdrale Cimatir?” asked Rome.
“Yes,” Rei said. “The Stareaters. That is the bottom line for everything, in the end.”
“I will use the Lawlidon analogs here as I did on Deucado to deploy VIRUS units. Given enough time and notice, they should be able to attach and deter any such attack as they did on Tabit. It will only take me a few weeks to set up the infrastructure.”
“But without the mutations, right?” Rei asked.
“Yes, without the mutations,” MINIMCOM replied.
“All right then?” Rei asked the assembled group.
Each indicated their approval.
“Okeydokey,” Rei said in English. Then, in Vuduri, he said, “Let us start our work.”
As the conversation was now over, all three got up and went about preparing the ship to stand up to even a detailed inspection. Fridone and Rei set to work dismantling the nursery. Rome had MINIMCOM repressurize his cargo compartment that was currently holding the flying house. Carrying Aason’s high chair, Rome left their ship and made her way to the “new” super-sized MINIMCOM to examine the facilities that he had erected for Aason and her father. She also inspected the galley to make sure that it had all the components she knew they would require. She left the high chair there. After she was satisfied, she came back on board the flying house and reviewed all the sensor logs and other data storage formats to make sure there was no evidence that Fridone or Aason were ever aboard their converted tug.
They think they have all the bases covered? Not even close. Estar picks apart their story in about five minutes. But more on that down the road.
Entry 3-288: October 10, 2015
The Best Mommy
When we first met Rome at the beginning of Rome's Revolution, we had no idea of the kind of person she would evolve into. She was not very skilled at expressing emotion and Rei swept through her world like a hurricane. She adapted to him and she adapted to being Cesdiud and when the time came, she adapted to being a mother. In this case, she had a role model, her own mother Binoda, to follow. But even so, she was learning "on the job" so to speak.
Over the last few days, I presented their construction of "The Big Lie" and one of the things it required was that Rome leave her baby with her father aboard MINIMCOM. Rome thought she was emotionally prepared to do this since it was for the greater good but right at the last minute, her resolve seemed to waver:
Rei and Rome were dressed in their pressure suits, strapped into the high-G harnesses in the cockpit of the flying house. Their instrumentation told them that MINIMCOM had begun pumping the air out of the cargo hold and their ship would soon be sitting in the vacuum of space. The cockpit was sealed up as well even though there was absolutely no reason to suspect a leak. Still, docking and undocking was always hazardous even within a super-ship such as MINIMCOM. When it came to his wife’s safety, there was no such thing as too many precautions.
“Stand by for release,” MINIMCOM instructed.
“Wait,” Rome said. “I am not ready yet. MINIMCOM, I need to see Aason and my father again.”
“Mother, I will be all right. I am with Grandbeo,” said Aason in her mind.
“That is not the point, baby,” Rome thought back. “I need to see you one last time,” she said out loud.
One of the view screens flickered and she could see Aason and her father sitting in MINIMCOM’s cockpit. Judging from their position within it, the cockpit appeared even larger than it had been before and she could see in the background a table and what appeared to be a couch.
“Beo, Aason,” Rome said in Vuduri. “We will call you when we have arranged our affairs and it is time to approach Earth. We will land, make contact with someone, Mea or otherwise, who can help us and then broadcast the situation on Deucado to the Vuduri population in general. Once that occurs, it will be safe for you to join us.”
She turned her attention to the grille built into the control panel. “MINIMCOM, you have the exact formula, correct?” Rome said, cupping her left breast.
“Yes, Rome,” MINIMCOM said with infinite patience. “You do realize this is the twelfth time that you have asked me that.”
Rei grinned wryly. “That’s Mom talking, not Rome, MINIMCOM. Moms are born to worry,” he said.
“Clearly,” replied MINIMCOM.
Rei reached over and touched Rome’s gloved hand with his own. “Are you ready, Mommy?” he asked.
“No. But yes. I am as ready as I will ever be,” Rome replied.
“All right, MINIMCOM, start the separation sequence,” Rei called out.
“Roger,” MINIMCOM said.
I never really explored the whole breast-feeding thing. I think that would have been yet another hole in their story. Oh well, it is science fiction. On with the adventure!
Entry 3-289: October 11, 2015
Moment of glory
As I was building my characters for Rome's Revolution, I gave them all a specific skill set which sometimes overlapped with others and sometimes did not. I had made Rei Bierak an engineer, and athlete and a pilot. These skills served him well as he navigated the treacherous new world of the Vuduri.
Rome was a pilot too. It was not her passion, rather, it was just something that all the Vuduri learn from the Overmind. So when the time came to land on Earth, there was a little bit of conflict as to who exactly was going to pilot the ship down:
“Please wait while I overlay the theoretical on top of the actual trajectory,” Rome replied. She typed in several commands into the view screen and connected several points of arc.
“We have jumped about 90 light-minutes,” she said. “Given the timeline that MINIMCOM constructed for us, that is a little on the slow side. We have to extend our traversal slightly. Use the sequence MINIMCOM gave us to increase the generation interval by 11%. That will force the tunnel to project slightly farther and increase our effective speed post-jump.”
“All right,” Rei said. He used the trim-jets to rotate the tug about its center axis then fired the plasma thrusters briefly to bring them to a complete halt. He rotated the ship back around and then made some adjustments on the nav-computer. He fired up the PPT generators for a longer period this time then blasted them into the tunnel with the plasma thrusters. As soon as they were through, he turned to Rome.
“Well?” he asked.
Rome recalled the macro sequence she had pre-programmed and made some quick readings. A smile crept across her face.
“Perfect!” she said. “50c right on the mark. Very good, mau emir.” She looked at Rei’s face. “For an amateur, that is.”
“Amateur!” Rei said in mock surprise. “I’ve been flying this stupid ship for over a year. I should be getting good at it by now.”
“Technically, it was MINIMCOM who was flying it most of the time,” Rome countered. “And you will recall when we had to make the emergency landing on Deucado, you made me fly the tug down.”
“Whatever,” Rei replied but with no malice. “This part I’m good at so let me have my glory.”
He committed the sequence within the autopilots memory and gave it the command to repeat until they were within 15 light-minutes from the Sun, well outside the orbit of Mars but safely inside the asteroid belt. The actual distance remaining to the Earth would be about 65 million kilometers. This would be far enough away to hopefully avoid immediate detection.
“How long do we have?” Rei asked Rome. “On autopilot, I mean.”
“Approximately eight hours,” she said studying the instrumentation. “That will get us close enough to where the shi
p will require our attention again.”
At this point, they had eight hours to kill. What do you think they did? I carefully phrased it as "they found plenty of what to do."
Entry 3-290: October 12, 2015
Never coming back
One of the core elements of the plot behind Rome's Revolution, was the cultural conflict between the people of our time (the Essessoni) and the people of the future, the Vuduri. When Rei left Earth back in the latter part of the 21st century, he assumed it was a one-way trip and he'd never see the Earth again. Well, he was wrong. And when our heroes finally reached Earth, Rei discovered some emotions that he had suppressed or at least never acknowledged:
Rei craned his neck trying to see the Earth.
“Where is it?” he said finally, somewhat impatiently.
“Where is what?” Rome deadpanned.
“Earth,” Rei said. “Come on, honey, you knew that.”
“Yes,” she said laughing. She pointed her gloved finger at the front windshield. “There,” she said, “that bright blue dot. That is no star. That is the Earth.”
Her fingers flew over the touch screen. Cascading circles collapsed onto a single blue pixel in the middle of the screen. “One more jump should do it,” Rome said. “Then it will be plasma thrusters the rest of the way.”
“Oh boy,” Rei said. “I haven’t been here in 1400 years. I wonder if the place has changed much.”
Rome scrunched up her expression and shook her head gently. The ship rotated about its center axis and fired its plasma thrusters bringing them to a complete halt. Rome disengaged the autopilot.
“All right, Rei, last time,” Rome said.
“Gotcha,” Rei replied. He rotated the craft so that the front faced toward the Earth. A quick press of a button fired up the PPT projectors. Rei punched the plasma thrusters and they were through. There, in front them, like a tiny blue jewel with just a hint of frosting lay what had to be the Earth.
Tales of the Vuduri: Year Three Page 38