“You’re quite frightened of them, aren’t you?” Mark asked, concerned for his friend.
“Yes, and with good reason.”
“They’re not going to hurt us are they?”
“Good grief no. But they can be a bit - demanding.”
That seemed to Mark to be a very Alan type of answer. He answered your question, but didn’t tell you anything.
“Mark, what we are going to do now must never be revealed to anyone who isn’t one of the People. As far as anybody knows, this isn’t possible, and because of that it’s not something I would normally do. Stand close to me.”
“What are you going to do?” Mark asked, puzzled by this.
“We can travel by what you call ‘blinking’ outside of Mother. We limit its use to in-craft transport, but it works just as well outside.”
“Over what range?” Mark asked.
“There is no range. It is the same technology that moves Mother, but uses a lot less energy of course. You do not have it enabled yet. Now, we are going to the Tolen craft.”
They blinked, and Mark found himself with Alan in a large circular, high-ceilinged room, in the same uniform grey as all the rooms on board Mother. Mark wasn’t sure what he expected to see on the Tolen ship, but he hadn’t expected to be met by just one of the People, dressed in a cream floor-length robe with slits in the sides for their arms.
“Welcome Alan, it is good to meet you again, and welcome Mark, Friend of the People. My name is Crkh Thun Rekh Mohr. Mark, your AI will have translated that to you as phonetically close to your speech as it can. I have reviewed the Human archive Alan created and can tell from your physiology that you will pronounce it with difficulty. I suggest that to make it easier for you to communicate, you instruct your AI to translate it to a simpler name for you to remember and pronounce. By the way Alan, it is a pleasure to review such a comprehensive and well-crafted cultural archive. It is obvious why you are held in such high regard, even among the exalted Archivists.”
“Kate, assign Bob as his alias.” Mark told his AI.
“Thank you Bob.” Alan replied. “I would like to say it is a pleasure to meet you again, but you know you Tolen make us mere People feel uncomfortable.”
Bob nodded, the People’s equivalent of a smile. “Yes, I do know Alan. Mark, we make the People who are not Tolen feel uncomfortable because we are not the same as they are. We are only different in small ways, but enough to make them uneasy. You have nothing to fear from us.”
Mark recalled that since he left Earth whenever he had been told that it was usually followed fairly soon afterwards by a death threat or a punch in the face.
“Come and sit with me. May I offer you refreshment?” Bob led the way to one side of the circular room where padded chairs were arranged around a low rectangular block about one metre wide and two metres long. One of the chairs was the correct dimensions for Mark.
“Mark, If you would provide the hospitality AI with a pattern for your preferred refreshment, I will order it for you and drinks for Alan and me.”
“You have a dedicated hospitality AI?” Mark asked.
“Yes, we always travel in groups and often have visitors. It makes sense for us to have the facility. Archivists always travel alone and rarely entertain visitors on their craft, so they have no need of a hospitality AI.”
Mark uploaded the pattern for tea and a few moments later a section of the table top slid open and two silver flasks and a mug of tea rose up on a small platform.
“Thank you for the tea, Bob.” Mark said.
“I learnt from the archive that it is customary for humans to start a meeting by consuming a drink. That is a very civilised custom, especially from a pre-emergent culture.”
Bob picked up his drink and sipped it. Mark and Alan also sipped their drinks.
After a few moments of silence, Bob spoke again. “You may wonder why I asked to meet with you and Alan.”
“I thought you wanted to meet with Alan and I was just coming along for the ride.”
Bob nodded again. “I rarely get the opportunity to meet Alan, but I do so when I can. You may not know this, but Alan is held in very high esteem among the People and is known well beyond this local cluster of galaxies. I have followed your brief career as a friend of the People Mark. It is very unusual for a pre-emergent to be granted such an honour and unprecedented to recruit a warrior, although I realise that neither Alan or you realised that you are, at heart, a great warrior.”
“Hold on there Bob. I am not a warrior. I never wanted to get involved in that war and any success I have had has been by sheer luck. If I never see a battle again, it will be too soon.”
“You underestimate yourself Mark. I was particularly impressed by the brief account you gave about how you ended the tyrant Tk'ng Dach Rrn.”
“What? He was beating me in a fight so I shot him. I’m not proud of it. In fact, quite the opposite. Frankly, I would rather have been on a far away planet than go through that.”
“You learnt your fighting skills remarkably quickly and beat an opponent who has had hundreds of thousands of years honing their skills. You entered the fight unarmed and knowing that you had no armour. You were badly wounded but continued to fight and made the correct judgement call. You also had the presence of mind to bring back incontrovertible proof of Tk'ng Dach Rrn’s death. Only a born warrior could achieve what you did. A reluctant but committed warrior is worth a regiment of those eager for the fight. You are a reluctant warrior Mark, but you have shown your commitment. I repeat, do not underestimate yourself. Now, the reason that I asked you here was because I wanted to hear first hand from you and from your AI what happened and the effect of the fighting machines technology.”
Mark told Bob everything that had happened and authorised his AI to communicate with the Tolen ship’s main AI.
“Thank you Mark, that is very helpful.” Bob told him.
“What I don’t understand Bob, is why the fighting machines tech worked on some of the Peoples technology - like phase shift armour, my AI’s ability to communicate with the outside world or with me, but it could still sense my need for my concealed weapon and fire it, and do stuff like stop me feeling pain and make me feel good.”
“At the first analysis, the fighting machines technology seems to have suppressed all the Peoples technology which was in use up to the point where we defeated them. Some of your AI’s capabilities are older than that and those functions were suppressed. The containment field weapon and the AI’s interface with some of your neural functions were developed afterwards, so they still worked.”
“As you are getting on so well, would you like to explain your proposal for the planet to Bob?” Alan suggested to Mark.
Mark briefly explained the problem of the enemy continuing to fight, knowing that neither Sally’s army or the Ants took prisoners. He told Bob the planet was available to be used as a prison planet, but they had no one with the skills or capability of securing and running a prison, and just as importantly, no one who was willing to do the job.
“So are you asking if we could take on that task?” Bob asked him.
“Well, it was suggested that you might, but I don’t have any authority to ask you to do anything. You should probably speak to Sally about that.”
Alan interjected. “Nobody has the delegated authority to ask you to do it. If you ask Sally it will give her an element of responsibility for it, which she won’t want. We are the People. We don’t need to be asked and we don’t need to seek permission. This is something good that will save thousands of lives. It’s your decision Bob.”
“It is within the remit we have given ourselves. We have the skills, experience and technology. We will do it. Would you like me to communicate with Sally or would you prefer to?”
“Don’t you need to check with the rest of the Tolen?” Mark asked. “I thought the People always worked by consensus?”
“This is one of the differences that the other People find distas
teful about the Tolen. We have an hierarchical command system. I have decided that we will do it so it will be done.”
“Don’t you need to at least check with the Tolen commanders?” Mark asked.
“I know what Alan has told you about the AI war and the genesis of the Tolen, Mark. What he hasn’t told you is that there was a single survivor of the battle we lost to the AI fighting machines. That survivor was me. My escape pod was unseen by the AI fighting machines as it was in a dense cloud of debris. I am the High Commander of the Tolen. I respect you Mark and I hope in time we will become friends.”
Bob stood up. “Now if you will excuse me, the fortress is secured but I must oversee the search.”
Alan stood and signalled to Mark to stand up too. Bob then blinked out of the room. Mark looked around and realised there were no doors.
“Come on Mark. I can’t get out of here quickly enough.”
Mark moved to stand close to Alan, and they blinked back onto the command centre on Mother.
“Thank goodness we’re out of there. I am sorry to have inflicted that on you Mark.”
“It seemed fine to me. Bob seemed a pleasant and reasonable person.”
“Really? He didn’t give you the creeps? Couldn’t you feel the atmosphere there?”
“I think that must be a People thing. To a mere human, it all seemed fine. I enjoyed meeting him.”
“You enjoyed meeting him? Really? Well, that would explain why you ignored my advice to only speak when spoken to. I hope you will still heed my advice that if you are asked to join them, say no. However pleasant you found Bob, there really is no way out once you become one of the Tolen.”
“OK Alan. Even though you have a strange view on things I trust your judgement and I’ll take your advice. Not that I would want to join a military organisation anyway. Tell me, why have the Tolen never been to this galaxy before?”
“We don’t need them here. They perform the same function that the Ants do here, in galaxies that don’t have their own equivalent.”
“I see. That explains a lot. Should we go and break the news to Sally?”
“You can do that Mark. I have things to do here.”
Mark checked that Sally was available and blinked out.
Into The Lions Den
Mark blinked into the team quarters and found Simon and Orange there. Simon was sat at the table with a coffee while Orange lay on his bed.
“Simon, I need some advice.”
Simon raised his eyebrows and took another sip of coffee.
“Before Alan and I blinked out, I may have broken the first rule of military communications with my suggestion about a prison planet. Some of the others too, probably.”
“Yeah, I noticed. You had me convinced you had learnt the rules. You just haven’t learnt to follow them.”
“Yes, OK, but is she going to punch me again? Or at least give me the cold shoulder. I’d like to know before I go into the lion's den.”
“Appropriate metaphor.” Simon said. “I’m not sure if you have pissed her off or not. She didn’t stay long after you left. She had a frown on her face but she didn’t go icily silent like she does when she’s really angry.”
“Yes, I’ve seen her like that.” Mark said.
“She’ll either tell you you’re a genius or kick you in the balls. Probably better to keep your legs together when you go in.”
“Thanks. I think.”
Mark walked out, down the corridor and approached Sally’s quarters. As he approached the door it slid open. Mark wondered what would be the correct protocol if the door didn’t open when he walked up to it. Should he knock? Send Sally a message? Wait outside until it opened?
Bracing himself, he walked in.
Sally was sat in one of the padded chairs, Ti’rrk was sitting on the floor next to her. As Mark walked in Sally looked up and smiled.
“You weren’t long with the Tolen. Are they as scary as Alan says?” Sally asked him.
Mark realised he had been holding his breath. He breathed out in relief that Sally wasn’t angry with him. Then he thought “Why should I worry what she thinks? I’m not in her army!”
“No, they’re not. I got on quite well with them. Hi Ti’rrk, it’s good to see you again.”
“It is good to see you again Mark. I heard of your mission. I am curious, how did you get injured when you had the People’s armour?”
“Ah. That’s complicated. Has Sally told you about my idea?”
“Yes. I put the idea of forming a negotiating team to the Hive. A consensus from the Hivemind will be arrived at in the next few hours. It is something which we can do and I think it is something we will do, but we are concerned about the management of a prison planet. Sally has said it is not something that her army can do, and it is not something we have the experience or skills to do.”
“I just met the Tolen with Alan. They said they have the skills, experience and technology to do it and they are willing to do it.” Mark told her.
“Sally told me you were going to see them. I have never heard of them, nor had Sally. What are they and where are they from?”
“They are a subculture of the People. They seem to be a bit like what we on Earth would call a sect of warrior monks. Does that have any meaning to you?”
“I learnt about such organisations during my training. They are characteristic of primitive cultures. If we, the Ants, are to participate in this we would want some oversight of the management of the prison.” Ti’rrk said.
“That’s something you will have to negotiate with the Tolen.” Mark said.
“I don’t understand the warrior monk thing.” Sally said. “But you can explain it to me later Mark. If you Ants can negotiate a surrender with Tk'ng Dach Rrn’s soldiers, we’re out of here. I’ll have plenty of time then.”
“I assume you will join us in the negotiations with Tk'ng Dach Rrn’s soldiers and with the Tolen?” Ti’rrk asked Mark.
“Good grief no. Sally has a good grasp of my negotiation skills. That’s better left to you. I have nothing to contribute.”
“As you wish Mark. What do you plan to do next?” Ti’rrk asked.
“I’ve got some idea’s, but I’d like to talk them through with Sally first.”
Sally raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.
“That’s very prudent Mark. I am going to retire now. I have had no sleep for several days and need to catch up. I will wake when the Hivemind arrives at a decision and I will inform you as soon as I can.”
Ti’rrk stood up and blinked out.
“Has she gone to the team quarters to sleep?” Mark asked Sally.
“I don’t know, probably not. She won’t be returning to the team whether they decide to form a negotiating team or not. So, how did you get injured when you had the People’s armour? You went through enough of a performance to convince us all that you couldn’t be touched.”
“That’s complicated.” Mark answered.
“That’s just People-speak. It translates to - you can’t be bothered to tell me.”
“It’s not that I can’t be bothered. The explanation would involve me telling you stuff I’ve been told not to share. Sorry.”
“Keeping secrets is not a good basis for a relationship.”
“No, I know it isn’t Sally, but there are things I just can’t tell you. And to be fair, punching me in the face every time you get pissed off isn’t the best basis for establishing a relationship either.”
Sally smiled. “I tell you what, you try not to have any more secrets and I’ll try not to punch you anymore. Deal?”
Mark smiled and replied “Deal. Though that could be difficult. The People are very secretive.”
Sally rolled her eyes, and asked. “So what did you want to talk about?”
“Now this war is all but over, I want to move on from the army. I have grown very fond of all the team, and especially you.” Mark could feel his face getting very hot. “I need to go back to Earth, I’ve got unfinished
business there. Then I want to travel the galaxy, see what’s out there and get to meet new people without them wanting to kill me.”
“I see. And what about us?” Sally asked
Mark looked down at his feet. “Well, I was rather hoping that you would come with me.”
“You do realise my army is now the largest in the galaxy? In fact, I’ve had so many volunteers from other armies and militia’s that it’s probably the only army in the galaxy now. If I recruit all of the experienced fighters who want to join us we will have over one and a quarter million front line troops. If you add in support services, medical and environmental repair, logistics, training and all the other non-combatant support, the army will have something over two million people in it. That will take some organising and running.“
“Oh. I guess we may not see much of each other then. I hoped that once this was over that maybe we would, you know, spend time together. Like normal people.”
“I never claimed to be normal. I’m not sure you are either. Look, I’ve got to stick around for a while and get things put in place but this army is far too big for me to lead from the front anymore and I’m not going to sit in headquarters trying to control things remotely. I’m going to pull a command and control structure together and then let them get on with it. I’m ready now to be a figurehead and get in on the ground when necessary. I’ve been doing this for a long time, I need a break. If I were to meet up with you some time and travel about with you, would you give me access to the People’s subspace communications and take me to the army when I needed to?”
“Yes, of course I would. At least, I would if I had my own ship. Alan told me I’m not ready to have one yet.”
“When did you last ask him?”
“A few days ago.”
“A lot has changed since then. Don’t ask him again, tell him you want one, but decide what you want first and tell him exactly what you want. You don’t have to stand there you know, you can sit down. Look, I’ve got plenty of room here, more than I need. Why don’t you move in with me until you’re ready to leave?”
Mark nearly choked. “Um, I’m not sure I’m ready for that thanks.”
Unwilling From Earth Page 43