by Ryk Brown
“The other day, Miss Batista told me that I needed to start running our alliance more like a business. I was hoping you could offer some insights into that statement.”
“You say you come from a long line of politicians?”
“Yes.”
“Well, politics and business are basically the same. Both seek to gain power and influence,” Miss Bindi explained. “The difference is that in business, everyone knows that the goal is profit. In politics, they pretend it is not. They hide behind the pretense that they are serving the public, when they are truly serving themselves.”
“That’s not the first time I’ve heard that,” Nathan admitted. “And for the most part, I’d agree with you. However, there are at least a few who truly do seek to do good, at least in the beginning.”
“And that is where politics goes astray,” Miss Bindi insisted. “When one pretends to be something they are not for too long, they begin to believe their own lies. The office becomes more important than what they might do with it. In business, profit is expected, so no one is surprised when profit is made.”
“You’re saying that business is not corrupt?”
Miss Bindi laughed. “Of course not. Anything involving human beings has the potential to become corrupted. That’s where our AIs come in.”
“What a minute,” Nathan interrupted. “How’d we get on AIs?”
“An AI has no ego, no hidden agenda. An AI simply analyzes an equation and deduces an answer.”
“So you follow the decisions of your AIs?”
“Not always,” Miss Bindi admitted. “But more often than not. At the very least, we always consult their analysis prior to deciding. That’s how we keep our own egos, and our own human frailties, from leading us into bad decisions.”
“And this works?”
“Not always,” Miss Bindi replied. “I mean, we are still human, and despite our best efforts, our own emotions still have great influence over us.”
“Then why consult your AIs at all?” Nathan wondered.
“Because they can calculate all potential outcomes without bias in a fraction of a second. Knowing all potential outcomes is what allows us to make sound decisions. They may not always be the right decision, but the results almost never surprise us.”
“And what did the AIs tell you about me?”
Miss Bindi smiled, turning to look out the window a moment. “Our AIs were undecided about both you and your alliance,” she finally admitted. “‘Not enough data’ is what they said.”
“Really.”
“Even with AIs, sometimes you just have to follow your instincts.”
“Is that what you did?”
“That’s what Miss Batista did. I advised her against joining your alliance. Nothing personal, mind you, but we just didn’t know enough about you at the time.”
“That’s why you concocted that whole simulation,” Nathan surmised.
“That was actually General Pellot’s idea,” Miss Bindi corrected, “but I did endorse it. Again, you have my apologies on that.”
“Hey, we survived,” Nathan replied. “To be honest, I probably would have done the same thing in your shoes.”
“I sense that you’re not being honest about the purpose of this meeting, Captain,” Miss Bindi said.
“Very astute,” Nathan replied.
“People person, remember?”
“That would be why I wanted to speak with you,” Nathan admitted. “I was hoping I could steal you away from your employer for a while.”
“For what purpose?” Miss Bindi wondered.
“To help me set up our alliance…as a business.”
Miss Bindi smiled. “Are you offering me a job?”
“More like a project at the moment. But who knows? Any chance you’d be interested?”
“I might,” Miss Bindi admitted. “I do like a challenge, after all. I would have to speak with Miss Batista, of course.”
“Of course.”
“And I should point out that some might see it as a conflict of interest. After all, I am an employee of the SilTek corporation.”
“And SilTek is a member of this alliance,” Nathan pointed out. “They will benefit from an alliance built on a strong foundation.”
“Fair point,” Miss Bindi agreed as the server arrived with their lunch.
“Then you’ll speak with your employer?”
“I shall,” Miss Bindi promised. “But after we eat.”
* * *
Twelve flashes of light appeared in the early morning light, high above the Aitkenna spaceport. Within seconds, alert sirens warned of the incoming threat.
Twenty-three Corinari combat tanks immediately came to life, their AIs snapping on their shields and throttling their reactors to full power. In near unison, the tanks swung their turrets toward the approaching missiles, raised their twin-barreled guns, and opened fire.
The sky lit up with bolts of red-orange plasma streaking upward from the tanks as they lashed out at the approaching danger. Brilliant flashes of yellow appeared overhead as the plasma bolts found their targets, blowing the Dusahn missiles apart in fiery explosions.
Eighteen seconds after the first missile appeared, the threat was gone.
“Flash traffic from Aitkenna Command,” Naralena reported over the intercom built into the ready room desk. “Dusahn missile attack. Single wave of twelve. All intercepted. No damage, no casualties.”
“Any sign of a second wave?” Cameron asked.
“Negative. Aitkenna defenses are staying at condition one for the moment.”
“Very well,” Cameron replied, switching off the intercom. “They’re persistent, I’ll say that.”
“Their intent is not to inflict damage, but to keep us on the defensive,” General Telles told her.
“Yeah, that’s what Shinoda thinks as well. Although I don’t see why. We’re in no condition to attack, and even if we were, what would be the point? We can’t retake Takara without putting it at unacceptable risk.”
“Their attacks are likely designed to keep us watching for their missiles instead of watching them.”
“You think they’re up to something?”
“The Dusahn are always up to something,” General Telles insisted. “At the very least, they will be trying to solidify their hold on as many worlds as possible before the people on those worlds get any ideas.”
“Maybe the cluster systems but nothing more. They couldn’t possibly hope to maintain control over worlds beyond that. Not with only two destroyers.”
“There are other ways to get worlds to cooperate. Ones that do not involve the use of force.”
“You think he’s going to try to strike business deals with them?” Cameron asked in disbelief. “He hardly seems like the type.”
“It is true that the Dusahn are more likely to conquer and take what they wish. But with that ability removed, they have no other option.”
“They can survive just fine with the resources they have.”
“Indeed they can,” the general agreed. “But rarely is surviving enough for those who dream of empires.”
“Then Miss Batista is right,” Cameron decided. “We need to start building alliances with as many nearby systems as possible, as quickly as possible.”
“The problem is that we are currently at a disadvantage,” the general insisted. “Now that we have destroyed the Dusahn’s ability to easily conquer other worlds, the level of danger to nearby worlds has been greatly reduced. We will have to offer them more than protection.”
“Like what?” Cameron wondered.
“Prosperity,” General Telles replied. “That is what the Dusahn will be offering.”
“The Dusahn offering prosperity,” Cameron stated. “We are truly living in an upside-down reality.”
* * *
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Nathan and Jessica watched as Marcus directed the crane to lower the first mini-ZPED down into the empty reactor bay in XK Seventy-Three’s starboard engineering nacelle.
“Captain, I must protest,” the lead engineer began as he approached.
“What is it this time, Mister Payton?” Nathan wondered.
“Your engineer—and I use the term loosely—refuses to replace the main power trunk with more appropriately rated cabling.”
“Did he give you a reason?”
“Only that it wasn’t necessary,” Mister Payton replied. “Something about it being faster to just put in an extra heat sink between the reactors and the jump field generators.”
“There you go.”
“Captain, while a heat sink will work, it is hardly the best approach. Should that heat sink fail, your jump range will be limited.”
“How long would it take to replace the main power trunk?” Nathan asked.
“An additional week.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to side with Marcus on this one, Mister Payton. We can’t afford an extra week.”
“But captain…”
“I’ve made my decision, Mister Payton,” Nathan insisted, cutting him off.
The SilTek engineer turned and stormed off in a huff as Dylan walked up, followed by three other young men.
“That guy is a PE,” Dylan stated with disdain.
“A what?” Jessica asked.
“Procedural engineer,” Dylan explained. “If there’s not a procedure on how to do it, he can’t get it done.”
“I take it that’s a common thing on SilTek,” Jessica stated.
“You’d think otherwise, what with all the AIs and such,” Nathan added.
“AIs have made us lazy,” one of the men accompanying Dylan declared.
“Captain, these are my friends, Lan Zeller and Del Shelton.”
“From the simulation,” Nathan realized.
“That wasn’t actually us,” Del insisted.
“I know,” Nathan assured him. “Then you’re not actually with…”
“The organization that we don’t speak of in public,” Dylan interrupted.
“That would be the one,” Nathan replied. “What can I do for you gentlemen?”
“They’re here to help,” Dylan explained. “Lan is a much better engineer than Payton. And Del’s pretty good with propulsion and maneuvering systems, as well as being an excellent pilot.”
“Real or simulated?” Jessica remarked.
“Both,” Del replied confidently.
“Del test flies all the converted P-Seventy-Twos,” Dylan bragged.
“I appreciate the offer,” Nathan assured them, “but I thought you said you could get dozens of people to help.”
“They’re coming later, a few at a time, over the next couple of days,” Del explained. “We thought it would be less conspicuous that way.”
Jessica smiled. “I like them already. They’re sneaky.”
“Very well,” Nathan agreed. “Show them around, Dylan.”
“Yes, sir,” Dylan replied enthusiastically.
“Oh, and try to stay out of Marcus’s way. Probably better for all concerned. Those SilTek engineers have already got him pretty worked up. No need for any of you to take the fallout, at least not on your first day.”
“Will do,” Dylan promised.
Nathan and Jessica watched the three young men walk away, headed toward Marcus and the SilTek engineering droids. “Five minutes?” Nathan asked Jessica.
“Until he kills one of them, or just scares the shit out of them?” Jessica chuckled.
* * *
“Jump complete,” Ensign Lassen announced as the Falcon came out of its final jump. “We’re now just inside Sol’s heliopause.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve been here,” Sergeant Nama said. “Starting passive scans and signals collection.”
“Let’s get everything powered down for a cold coast,” Lieutenant Teison ordered. “We’re going to be here for a while.”
“I hope you brought lots of vid-flicks, Riko,” Ensign Lassen said as he powered down their systems.
“You know I did, Tomi.”
* * *
Dolce Vinnion was old; old enough not to fear death. For him, death was an end to all his suffering. Death was the great equalizer. It was the one thing that no one could cheat. Death could be delayed, but never escaped. Eventually, death came to everything.
It was this knowledge, this acceptance of the inevitable, that made him able to stand in the presence of one of the most dangerous creatures in existence: a man who believed he was above all other living things.
“Why have you come, my lord,” Dolce asked as he and Lord Dusahn strolled one of the many paths separating one crop from the next on the small farming moon of Haydon.
“Your people are lucky,” Lord Dusahn commented as he looked out across the rolling hills of grain. “Sunshine, fresh air, an abundance of water. Your entire world is simple, yet complete. You have all you need to be happy, despite having so little. I envy you.”
“You live in a palace surrounded by servants,” Dolce replied. “How is it that you envy me?”
“Yours is a peaceful life. Your responsibilities are few. Your worries are few. The simplicity of your life is what I envy more than anything else. That and the simple beauty that surrounds you. I have been to many worlds, and few are as truly stunning as this little moon.”
“Is that why you came?” Dolce wondered. “To breathe our air and walk our dirt paths?”
“If only my life was so simple,” Lord Dusahn sighed. “I came to ensure that the people of Haydon know of their importance to the Dusahn Empire.”
“We are but a small ag world.”
“You are too modest, Dolce. You produce ten times what your people need. Because of this, your lives are good. Your people are healthy. Your futures are secure. This must bring you great pride.”
“Do you speak this easily with all the leaders of the worlds you control?” Dolce wondered.
Lord Dusahn smiled. “You are a special case, old man. I feel I can speak freely with you. I find that quite liberating.”
“The words of leaders are often used by those they lead for the purposes of judgment.”
“You understand what many do not,” Lord Dusahn replied.
“You claim the people of Haydon are important to the empire. Are we suddenly more important than we were yesterday?”
“You play games with me,” Lord Dusahn said, smiling at the old man. “Surely you’ve heard by now.”
“Of the fate of Ancot? Yes.”
“A sad thing,” Lord Dusahn said, hanging his head. “It pained me to destroy that world. It was nearly as beautiful as this one.”
“Then why do it?” the old man challenged.
“Their population was rampant with spies and saboteurs,” Lord Dusahn replied. “Had they not been so tightly woven into Ancot society, I might have spared them. But the Alliance forced my hand. Had I spared Ancot, Corinair would thrive, and likely threaten all that we are trying to build.”
“And what is that, my lord?”
“A better life for all, of course.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Don’t test me, Dolce,” Lord Dusahn warned playfully.
“It was not my intent, my lord.”
Lord Dusahn sighed. “Without Ancot’s exports, Takara is facing shortages. That is what makes Haydon so much more important to us now.”
“Takara has plenty of arable land.”
“It does,” Lord Dusahn agreed. “But it will take time to cultivate and will require a major shift in the workforce. I need that workforce to rebuild our fleet.”
“Perhaps you should strengthen the foundation of your emp
ire before trying to build another floor,” Dolce suggested.
“Wise words, old man,” Lord Dusahn agreed. “That’s precisely what I am attempting to do. But we will require the help of worlds such as yours, and Juntor’s, and Borne’s, as well as many others, if we are to succeed.” Lord Dusahn paused, turning to look Dolce in the eyes. “I hope I can count on the people of Haydon.”
“We shall not give you cause to destroy us, if that is what you are asking,” Dolce promised.
Lord Dusahn smiled. “That’s what I like about you, Dolce. You don’t fear me.”
“I’m too old for fear, my lord.”
* * *
Nathan examined his opponent carefully as the two of them squared off against one another. Unlike Jessica or General Telles, his usual training partners, Corporal Vasya was actually smiling, as if this was some form of entertainment.
Nathan jabbed with his right fist toward the corporal’s face, testing Kit’s reflexes. As expected, they were excellent, and the Ghatazhak easily brushed Nathan’s hand aside, still smiling.
Two more jabs and then a combination followed, all of which were also brushed aside with ease. Then they came. A sudden flurry of fists and Nathan found himself on all fours, gasping for breath, his nose bleeding.
“I said not to kill him,” Jessica scolded from the sidelines.
“I held back,” Kit insisted. “He just wasn’t ready.”
“I thought……we were……warming……up,” Nathan managed to spit out.
“That’s why I was holding back,” Kit replied.
“Maybe hold back a little more,” Jessica suggested.
“Thank you,” Nathan said as he got back on his feet.
“How are we going to toughen him up if we hold back?” Kit asked.
“Toughen me up?” Nathan wondered.
“Training you to fight isn’t enough,” Jessica explained. “We have to train you to take a beating.”
“I thought the whole point of training was to prevent being beaten.”
“Which is precisely why we have to train you to take one,” Jessica insisted.
“You’re not making any sense,” Nathan told her.
“If you enter a fight with the mindset of protecting yourself from a beating, you will miss key opportunities,” Kit explained, “ones that could be the difference between winning and losing.”