by S. H. Jucha
Sargut and Suntred had exchanged expressions of surprise. The subject of what part the sisters might play after their return to Toral hadn’t been mentioned by Miriamelle, and they hadn’t considered the subject either. It was obvious that the Omnians had much more experience in the mixing of races and entities.
While Sargut considered his response, Suntred said, “You should know, Ser de Guirnon, that Toralians occupied their battleship fleets out of necessity. It’s not our preference. We’re not an aggressive race. If the sisters wish these positions, we’re pleased to abdicate them.”
The Sisterhood inundated Miriamelle with suggestions for a response, and she held them off, saying that it was critical to hear Sargut’s reply first.
“In your fleet, humans and SADEs mix in all manner of roles, do they not, Alex?” Sargut asked.
“This is how you maintain balance,” Suntred suggested.
“Alex, Julien, and Renée, I hear your advice, and it is appreciated,” Sargut replied. “Toralians have no experience in these matters. It’s my hope that you’ll stay with us while we take these initial steps.”
The conference audience could hear the whistles of relief from Sargut’s bridge crew.
Julien sent privately to Alex.
Julien’s emotional algorithms rose. His friend was finding balance again.
The comms were flooded by the sisters’ private exchanges of humorous noises. None of them believed for a tick of time that Alex had forgotten what was stated. His prodigious implant powers were well known and documented.
“No, I’m afraid not,” Sargut replied. “We’ve no experience in dealing with the question of whether a digital sentient has been rehabilitated and whether it will behave like Julien or Miriamelle. It’s kind of the sisters to offer us the opportunity to have a say in the matter, but it’s a useless gesture.”
“I’ve a suggestion,” Suntred said. “Omnians, specifically the three of you speaking with us, have a great deal of experience with this issue. Would you be willing to be the arbiters of whether Artifice should be released, when the sisters suggest it?”
Alex glanced toward Renée and Julien. Both of them nodded in the affirmative, and he sent,
The sisters shared a moment of triumph and commendations poured into Miriamelle.
Alex replied.
Sargut glanced at Suntred. He was feeling better and better about the guiding hands of the Omnian leaders. He was determined to spend as much time as possible in their company, while they were in the Talus system. In fact, he wondered how Omnian technology could help him continue to communicate with Alex.
Alex glanced at his friend, whose face appeared impassive. Alex knew Julien was busy calculating the viability of that enterprise. He decided to give his friend some time to think.
Miriamelle’s emotional algorithms entwined. She loved humans. In many ways, their unpredictability and offbeat approaches to problems and conversations were the joys in her life. She wondered if the Toralians would prove to be equally entertaining.
Alex recalled that he had intended to pay the sisters, when they were installed. However, he also anticipated paying the primary sisters, not the tremendous number of secondary copies. More important, he hadn’t expected their services to have been required for such a long time.
Julien found it difficult to keep emotions off his face. Alex hadn’t checked his balances in the many months before the fleet sailed from Omnia. During the following years, the Omnia Ships account had swollen with the income from the licensing of its technology, specifically warship designs and faux shell application. Alex’s share from the company had ma
de him the richest human in this part of the galaxy. What amused Julien was that his friend had no idea of the extent of his wealth, and for that matter, he didn’t care.
Julien transferred to Alex the links to the accounts he’d requested, and Alex shared them with Renée. The couple reviewed the numbers and stared at each other in shock.
When Alex recovered, he sent,
The sisters celebrated, and Julien smiled at Alex. The SADE’s favorite fedora adorned his head, and Alex grinned in return.
“I’m satisfied with the general terms, Alex,” Sargut replied, “although I believe that these terms should be codified and documented.”
Alex sent.
Julien replied.
If the sisters could hold breaths, they would have, while they waited for Alex to reply.
Alex replied,
Both the Toralians and the sisters wondered if Alex’s final comment referred to the other party.
“I’m not sure what type of list you’re expecting, Alex,” Sargut replied.
-41-
The Mound
Alex, Renée, and Julien made their way through the depth and breadth of the city-ship to a bay. Outside the bay, Tatia and Ellie were saying their goodbyes to Alain and Étienne. The threesome held back to give the couples some privacy.
When Tatia signaled to Alex that they were ready, everyone moved through the airlock into the bay. Three fighters sat ready, their hatches down. The Tridents’ crews were assembled, and the twins took their places in front of them, as Descartes had done in front of his crew.
“You’ve a complicated but important mission to perform,” Alex said, standing with his hands behind his back and projecting his voice. Some, who had been with Alex since the beginning, could visualize him in his dark blue admiral’s uniform with its subtle gold appointments.
“Your job and that of your sisters is to ensure the Nua’ll comm sphere does a thorough job of clearing the systems of Artifice’s code. How this will be done will be a learning experience for you. I imagine the sisters will offer their advice. They don’t seem shy about doing that.”
Alex’s comments generated some laughter and snickering. The Trident crews and traveler pilots were well acquainted with their sisters.
“I’ve asked Senior Captain Descartes to trail the sphere for at least three systems, and no more than six, to accomplish this task,” Alex continued. “I have these final instructions for the captains before you launch that I want the crew members to hear. Under no circumstances will you engage enemy forces. If provoked, you’ll abandon the space, whether the sphere follows you or not. In that event or when your task is complete, you’ll return to Talus. If for some reason the fleet isn’t here, you’re ordered not to search for us. Make for Omnia. Is that clear?”
Alex received crisp replies of assent from each captain. He’d watched the crews’ postures. They’d relaxed, when they heard the conditions of their assignment. That’s what he’d wanted to see.
“May the stars protect you,” Alex said, and then ordered, “Captains, dismiss your crews.” He didn’t wait to see them board. Instead, he turned swiftly and made for the exit hatch.
Renée paused to wave and send her own wishes for their safe return, and Julien sent some private information to Descartes.
Alex waited for Renée, Julien, and Tatia in the corridor. Renée commiserated briefly with Ellie, who strode off in the opposite direction to board a traveler to return to her command.
“Tatia, you’re joining us for this last round of negotiations with the sisters and Sargut. Reiko and Cordelia will be with us. We’re compiling a list of the final steps to transfer the sisters and start this system’s rebuild,” Alex said.
“How are my officers and I involved?” Tatia asked.
“This to-do list will be lengthy and weighty,” Alex replied. “I don’t intend to take a year or two to complete it. I’m putting everyone to work. You’ll maintain minimum crew numbers aboard the Tridents, and I mean minimum. Downtime for the crews will be aboard the Freedom.”
“That’s inviting a dangerous situation,” Tatia commented.
Alex stopped and stared at Tatia. She took a breath and blew it out. “But this is your fleet, and, at this moment, there’s no fighting,” she allowed.
Satisfied, Alex walked on, and Tatia threw quizzical glances toward Renée and Julien.
Tatia was walking slightly behind Alex’s shoulder. When she heard Renée’s thoughts, she rolled her eyes. All we need is another dream, she thought.
There was room in the owner’s salon for everyone to sit. Cordelia and Julien shared a couch, as did Alex and Renée. Tatia and Reiko occupied chairs.
Julien used the holo-vid, located on a low table, to display three lists.
“These are three sets of requests from the sisters, Sargut, and me,” Alex said. “Per my request, Julien hasn’t identified who created which list.”
Suddenly the displayed items were rearranged, forming three new groups.
“The group marked in blue was requested by all three parties. It goes without saying that it’s approved. The green group is backed by two parties, and the yellow group has only one requestor,” Alex explained. “We’ll start with the yellow list.”
Tatia and Reiko eyed the items in front of them: GEN machines; crystal manufacturing access to SADEs, especially Z and Miranda; access to Mickey and engineering personnel, especially Claude; and others. It was the last item that caught the admirals’ attention: permission to build warships and fighters with the new shells.
“I understand Artifice will be maintained by the sisters,” Reiko said. “Yet, we’re contemplating allowing this system access to our warship technology. Isn’t that like assembling tanks of reaction mass and firing an engine near them?”
Reiko’s opinion on the matter of Artifice was simple. She was in favor of shutting off its power supply. She’d lost too many Omnians to Artifice’s endeavors.
“How do you expect the Toralians and the Sisterhood to protect this system?” Renée asked.
“Imagine one battleship fleet against another,” Tatia pointed out. “It would be mutual destruction. Squadrons of Tridents and travelers could make all the difference.”
“I understand everyone is worried about the Toralians and the sisters,” Reiko objected. “I think it’s more important to ensure that Artifice doesn’t get hold of that information.”
To that point, Tatia raised an eyebrow and regarded Alex.
“A charter unifying the sisters and the Toralian citizens into a single society is being drafted,” Alex said. “In it is an item that will say that Artifice will not be given an avatar unless it’s approved by Julien, Renée, and me.”
“That’s if you get the opportunity to make that decision,” Reiko muttered. She clearly wasn’t happy with anything less than Artifice’s immediate demise.
Alex halted the discussion by holding up a finger, and Julien transferred imagery from the Freedom’s sensors. The Nua’ll comm sphere and Trident squadron were making for the dark. Everyone in the room wished the Omnians good fortune.
“I don’t see an alternative,” Alex said, returning to the conversation. “The sisters are our SADEs. They did a tremendous job of protecting the fleet, and they lost hundreds of copies doing so. They need to protect the system that they’ll inhabit.”
“Understood, Alex,” Tatia said firmly, ending any more objections from Reiko. “How many ships do we help them build before we leave?”
“I think warships will be our longest timeline item,” Alex replied. “We help the sisters and the Toralians build and launch a single Trident with four travelers, and we’re done.” Alex eyed Julien and said, “It’ll take approximately …”
“Seven point two months,” Julien finished for Alex.
“Approximately,” Alex said, the corner of his mouth pulling up in a half smile.
“Where do we build?” Reiko asked. Her superior, Tatia, had made a decision, and it was her job to execute.
“We rehabilitate the single orbital station,” Julien replied, “and we build on an adjunct, a construction hub.”
“First, the station will need to be cleared of Artifice’s code,” Alex said, “as will everything else in this system.”
“There are mining sites, domes, freighters, derelict ships, comm platforms, and various satellites,” Cordelia stated. “The Freedom holds a database of every location or item,” she added, sending a link to the participants.