CHAPTER 25:

At the same time….

The hive of nanobots had been very busy, now enhanced by some of Jonathan’s evolved nanobiots. They were amazingly adept at transforming energy into component parts, either metal or chemical. Jonathon acted as the interface. All found it far easier to go through Jonathan rather than use the more laborious screen translation of language.

Actually they had all been busy. Fred had undertaken the task of designing offensive systems, while Jonathon focused on strengthening the ship with the nanobots doing the work. Ginger was left to ship management along with enhancing the engine output. Coordination was worked out at a regular morning and evening meeting. And it was Jonathon who ran the meeting. It had just happened as soon as Fred realized the difficulty being faced.

Fred was both a theoretical and practical engineer. He could design and build and operate just about anything. But the management of details beyond his specialty was not his skill. He tended to daydream about bigger and better systems and would not get around to actually building any of them. Jonathon though was a master of detail and his connection to the hive gave him access to far more than just sensor read out data.

It was Ginger who seemed oddly out of the equation. Her knowledge base and tactile skills were in constant use. She would feed information to both men over the comm links while pursuing her own tasks. Her NN was operating at maximum capacity much of the time, such were the demands on her. With the tense dynamic between Fred and Jonathon, the constant arguing over strategy and resources, Ginger began to be disengaged in conversations unless called upon for information.

Perhaps it was Fred’s fault. Even though Jonathan was a hybrid, partly mechanical enhanced, he was still a human. Without thinking about it, Fred interacted far more with Jonathon as a fellow human. Ginger returned to being X719, the sophisticated tool, in his mind. And they were always occupied with the changes to the ship. So Fred no longer had time to look out the window and dream of the Ginger he had created.

It was Jonathon now who always found time to be with Ginger. He appreciated her efficiency and database of information and her precision at carrying out any task without complaint or debate, unless of course her NN identified any potential problem with what was being proposed. Then she would present the data and be unswayed by any human “feeling” about what should be done. And of course, Jonathan was still very much human and he began to appreciate some of the more personal aspects that had been built into her design and which had evolved over the 50 years since her build.

“You know Ginger, you dont look a day over 25.”

“Actually, I look exactly as I always have.”

“I can see that. That is one thing that Fred got right.”

“You think I have design faults created by Fred?”

“Not faults so much. Just perhaps he could have permitted you to have more natural human elements.”

“Such as fear of danger? Or mood swings? Or being driven by passion and not logic? Or deciding based upon feelings? Or the need to spend one third of my time sleeping, Or being susceptible to disease. Or losing function due to aging, Or….”

“Enough thank you Ginger. I get your point. But don’t you ever want to just do something for the fun of it? Or how about feel tenderness for someone?”

“You assume I cannot function in human society without characteristics of the human self, connections, joy.”

“Then you do?”

“I do have pride in the sense of accomplishment and a desire to ensure the care of the humans and the mission are a success. I thus must understand the need for humans to have such things as laughter and love. They are a part of what makes each one unique from the others. I’m curious. Has your transformation by the nanobiots changed your humanity.”

“Ginger, Pride, Care and Curiosity expressed by you. Those are human characteristics.”

“I believe those are characteristics of any sentient being that exists with other entities. It does not make one weak or less of a human or humebot either. It is in the nature of things. I neither miss nor try to appropriate human characteristics I do not have. I note that each human has varying levels of those characteristics as well. It does not seem to make them more or less human.”

“Ginger, I would argue that you are not correct. I know humans who have no empathy or care about others. They view others as no more or less of a tool to be used than would be a robot. And should one, or many be abused in the process of achieving what they want, not a moment of their mental time is spent worrying about the cost to others.”

“Are you referring to the members of the Order. I have heard Fred speak of it often over the years. He does not value highly their motivation behind the project other than the pure science challenge to him.”

“Fred has no idea what the Order is really up to. They simply wanted to consolidate their control of Earth. The Project was, and remains, a diversion while they gain control of every aspect of Earth life. Let me ask you a question, when was the last time you received a transmission from Command Central on Earth.”

“3 years, 9 months, 27 days, 13 hours, and 46 seconds.”

“Just an approximate time would be enough.”

“I did not quote the milliseconds.”

Jonathan laughed. “ I wont hold it against you. And how often have we sent transmissions back to earth?”

“There are daily reports.”

“So you have not heard anything for almost 4 years. Do you not think that strange?”

“I was issued no parameters to decide the frequency of earth transmission to Arcielle Therefore, I do not see it as a good or bad thing. It is data. Besides, on board are the representatives of the Order and other major earth institutions, I believe when they are woke, they will decide the relevance of our position and earth transmissions.”

“Do devote some of your NN time to thinking about it. We have been away from earth now almost 45 years now. Almost all the people who planned and supported this mission on earth have either died or relinquished their positions due to age…or revolution…or self destruction.

I would say we are on our own, doing what we can to save the earth despite itself.”

“You mean, as with a Lone Ranger.”

“Hi ho silver. By the way, thanks for projecting those emissions to my quarters. I have been catching up on my mid 20th century references. I will need to understand when the next message is received from out counterpart on the Neo 1. I’ll want to make my own interpretation not just count on Fred. But you know what I find strange in those emissions, is how much people ignored Tonto, unless they were harassing him for being in a white man’s area at all. He seemed to be able to gather information beyond what the masked man could. And how crazy was that that he could ride around with a mask on and people after a few minutes ignore it and give him trust just because he had a badge on.”

“His reputation for righting wrongs proceeded him. He was not an outlaw.”

“But why wear the mask at all. I mean, the west was a huge undeveloped place in those days. Who would know him at all?”

“I do not devote any of my NN time deciphering ancient earth emissions. It is irrelevant. It was not an actual history, it was fiction.”

“Perhaps so, but not to our friend on the Neo 1. Why has he chosen this period of human history to use as his reference point to us?”

“I do not speculate.”

“Ahh, another human characteristic you do not posses.”

“I did not say I cannot speculate, I just do not. I am data based. However, much of science is based upon making inferences from data then testing out the theory to determine its veracity.”

“Ok, so what inference do you make about our friend on the other ship?”

“One, I do not infer that he is a friend. It could easily be that their movement has been compromised and now the leaders are using it to actually further expose ourselves to destruction.”

“Whatever, about that, they will find a far different ship than what they are expecting.”

“I also infer, that we shall also not really know what to expect from their ship either.”

“However, back to our “friend”. I still think he is a friend.”

“That is a human feeling.”

“Humor me. What would you infer if I am correct that he is as much committed to peace between us and the freeing of our peoples from control of a narrow group of overlords, as am I?”

Gingers ois flashed green. “You ask me to infer with many unknown variables. After all, from what we know, they are a peaceful and truthful people. You are the only one with any information, now over 75 years old, that says anything different. Perhaps I should infer that you are using us to achieve your own personal ends. Being Fred’s cousin is irrelevant to your veracity. Especially since as you say having no contact from earth, “we are on our own”.”

“Very good Ginger. I am glad your NN is always working. I presume at some point you will have sufficient data to indicate who and what you can trust.”

“I will be ready,” said Ginger as the TSL door opened and Fred stepped through.

“Ready for what?”, Fred said as he looked at the two of them. Jonathon had moved to Gingers monitoring station and was leaning against it, talking with Ginger as she continued performing her main functions, the conversation occupying only an infinitesimal amount of her NN. She looked up at Fred, and despite herself, her ois flushed pink.

“I’ve just asked Ginger to monitor our communications with the Neologues and inform us when she has reached a conclusion.”

“You have no right to give Ginger any instructions.”

Ginger replied quietly. “Fred, you are incorrect. I have received no instructions. I am merely performing my program functions.”

“Hey Cuz, what? Ginger and I cant’ have a little conversation? You know, a little humanity would be appreciated here.”

Fred replied coldly. “Neither of you are what could be considered human.”

“See Ginger, just like I told you. I am the masked man and you are my indigenous companion. We have to save the world despite the stupid townspeople who see us as “different”. “

Ginger said nothing. She was monitoring Fred’s physical being. His faced showed high amounts of heat in infrared. His heartbeat quite elevated and the skin response snapping with electricity.

“Fred, I believe you are malfunctioning. I must ask you to submit to an examination.”

“I’ll not be submitting to anything, especially to something being plotted by that mechanical human there.”

Jonathan laughed. “Ohh my. Aren’t we sensitive. And perhaps a little bit jealous that Ginger and I can share some experiences.”

“How can I be jealous of a mixed up human and a humebot?” Fred’s anger had now blown full.

Ginger stood silent while Jonathon, whistled. “Whoa Fred, I think you are about to jump off a steep cliff here. We’re all you’ve got here. A little getting along would be in order.”

“I don’t have to be the only human woke on this ship you know. Perhaps its time I confirm your stories with reviving pods 1 through 5. I’ll bet they’ll give me a different story.”

“Don’t do that Fred, it is too soon,” yelled Johnathon as Fred turned back into the TSL and the door swished shut.

CHAPTER 26:

Doctor Ginger

Ginger pressed the comm link button to the side of Fred’s door.

She pressed again. “Fred Dawson, I require your presence. I am concerned for your well being.”

“Not interested Fred’s voice came through the link. I am fine.”

Ginger pressed the panel link again. “You are not fine. I have observed your behavior for 47.539 earth years. My data sets clearly indicate you are under distress. “

After a moment with no response, she pressed the link again.

“Fred, I am worried about you. Please grant me access?”

More moments. The door slid open, Fred standing just on his side. “Worried? That’s a human feeling.”

“It is not a feeling. It is a legitimate word to use regarding my evaluation of your situation at this time. I worry that you have lost effectiveness and ability to maintain an appropriate level of stability given the difficulties we face.”

“Ahh yes. Its not about me but about the success of the mission.”

“I would observe that recently, any effort I make to express my concern for you, is turned into a negative about me not being human and thus incapable of making a true estimation of your condition.”

Fred turned and walked into his quarters back to his desk, over which was a screen showing the star field streaking towards him. Ginger followed, unbidden.

“Look at that Ginger. I still never get over the wonder of what we are doing. It is about the only thing at this moment which still has some meaning for me. I didn’t sign on this trip to end up making up weapons to destroy the people I have spent my life thinking about and trying to meet.”

Ginger’s NN had already surveyed the status of Fred’s quarters. Normally engineer organized, everything with a place and in it. Clothes, food tray remnants, chart print outs, were strewn throughout. Fred’s gaze once again fixed on the screen. Her ois shifted to a soft shade of brown.

“I do understand and I concur with your analysis of how our situation has changed. However, I have not changed. I am still as I was. It is the situation that has changed. We would be failing in our responsibilities were we not to prepare the ship for an unexpected event.”

“The situation has changed because of Jonathan. If he calls me “Cuz” one more time…!”

“I observe you are overreacting to his verbal forays. I pay no attention to the unnecessary frivolous words but only focus on points of information relevant to our tasks. I recommend that approach to you.”

“That’s easy for you. You have no emotion. I, I guess to the detriment of my tasks, do have emotion. And I cant help it. I cant sleep, I cant eat. When I’m not stressed about figuring out how to make weapons strong enough without blowing our own selves up, I have to deal with his constant references to things which only he knows and now drives our routines.

I miss the old times we had together, before he woke.”

The ois shifted more into a mauve tinge. “Fred Dawson, your physical readouts do indicate unusual levels of stress hormones and lowered dopamine. You have allowed yourself to become mentally ill.”

“I didn’t “allow”. It is what I feel that has changed. It is what I feel about you. Before you seemed real to me. There was no one between us.”

“You believe Jonathan is between us? Remember, I do not react to feelings. I am the same with you as I always have been. And it is no different than with Jonathon.”

“Perhaps, but it seems that he monopolizes your time and attention and he’s always around when I see you. “

“That is because the work on the defensive systems require a large amount of my NN focus in order to calibrate it into our command systems. And I am able to communicate with him and the nanobots which are implementing the changes to the Arciellele. It is quite challenging but ingenious the way the nanobots are resolving structural issues. You as an engineer, should appreciate the innovation.”

“Yeah, another innovation by AI and mechanical devices. Something a mere human would never have thought of.”

“Perhaps, but only a human could have imagined humebots and nanobots. We only replicate human functions but at advanced levels. It should free you to continue to dream new dreams.”

“Ginger, I was living my dream. And now it seems lost and I want it back. And the easiest way for me to do it would be to revive the leadership in pods one through five.”

“That you cannot know for certain. I posit that they will only confuse the current status. Look at it as I do if you would. He ois shaded green as she explained. At this point, nothing has changed to warrant reviving the pods this far ahead of schedule. The ship is performing better than ever. We have approached a speed not before anticipated yet the ship is structurally better than it was due to the nanobots and Jonathon.”

“We are better prepared to withstand an attack if one comes and more able to defend ourselves if we must. We have done that in these last years.”

“Now you are sounding like Jonathan again. We.”

“I meant, the three of us. We, a human, a bio-mechanically enhanced human and a humebot. We three each bring our own skills to the effort. And we are far more likely to succeed than ever before. Thus, until we know what is coming at us, there is really nothing else to do but continue to make improvements. This does not affect the mission agenda for revive of the pods. We will provide them with the upgrade information upon their being woke. It will make no difference when that is.”

Fred stared at Ginger, not wanting to believe or accept, finally turning and throwing himself down on his large cushioned chair. “I still miss our times together. I used to have such fun with you.”

“We worked together efficiently.”

“I guess I was the only one having fun but it was what gave me energy. Now it is all work and I have no energy for feeling, but it only grows larger. My feeling for what I had. I guess I’m just tired. Tired of all this.”

Ginger had crossed the room standing next to his chair.

“I believe things will turn out ok.”

“Believe, that is not a fact. That is not based upon data. That is a human trait.”

“To quote a late 20th century athlete in the US of A, who played the baseball game, “You gotta’ believe”.” And with that Ginger bent down and touched Fred gently on his shoulder. A subcutaneous needle pushed from her finger injecting a sleep medication into Fred’s vein.

Fred looked up at her, his mind beginning to haze. She reached under his legs and arms, lifting him from the chair, carrying him to his bed. Adjusting the covers over him and commanding the light level to reduce, she crossed the room to the door, setting her monitors to track his neural and motor systems.

“Dont worry Fred. I’ll always care for you. It is how I was built.”

CHAPTER 27:

Offense and Defense

The hive had been busy. They had particularly responded to the challenge of hardening of the ship against attack. It was as simple as it would prove effective. On the forward section of the ship, and at other critical points, they built generation after generation of nanobot layers, each especially hardened with the chemicals created by the nanobiots passed along from Jonathan. Approximately every lunar day would see the creation of another layer of nanobiotic skin on the ship. It created a super hardened shell for the Arciellele which benefited both for defensive purposes, and also allowed the ship to push closer to the speed of light without breaking apart.

The nanobots linked to power generation and ship function, had quickly interfaced with Ginger who’s computational skill aided in the design and implementation of an improved fusion reactor that produced more power with less energy utilization. All over the ship, nanobots and robots were finding incremental ways to improve efficiency in operating systems. In many ways, after 50 years of connection, the hive was the ship. A machine that was part of the hive.

And the hive felt alive. It was part of the adventure, not just limited bits of machinery brought together. As Ginger’s NN was constantly connected to the CC and the hive, she served increasingly as the communication point for the nanobots with the humans. She never stopped, nor did they. It was what they were designed to do yes, but now they had a higher reason to become ever more efficient. If the ship was them, they must be able to protect themselves. It was logical that they work in behalf of hive protection.

The affect of now more than 2 years of effort had been cumulative. The more efficient the engines, the more strength was required of the structure. The stronger the structure, the closer the Arciellele could approached the speed of light. The rendezvous point was now little more than 2 years away, should they maintain their pace. Two years of travel had been eliminated.

As the defensive part of ship improvement was well underway, Jonathan began to think more on offensive capabilities. Fred had designed a type of plasma cannon that could shoot bolts of phased energy across 20 kilometers of space. It would act as an explosive. For him it was just another engineering challenge and a variant on standard energy field generation. The innovation was that instead of the energy streaming out over a distance, it remained inside a concentrated field that burst when when meeting a solid object. All the energy would be concentrated in that spot.

However, it would be difficult to target a ship at speed. Then Fred had another idea, to build laser radiators. They would stream a constant beam that could serve as both a vaporizer of things in contact, as well as a targeting device connected to the plasma cannon. The laser would slice and the cannon would exploit the gap. Jonathon had been impressed with the simplicity of the idea. It was the complexity of the implementation that required much of Fred’s time, It was that challenge which had burnt him out in a way. That, and his loneliness had brought his doubts, and paranoia, to the fore.

“So how’s our boy doing?” Jonathan remarked to Ginger as she entered command central.

“I believe Fred is of sufficient age to be called a man. It is my medical opinion that he is suffering from exhaustion. He has given as much of himself to this effort as we have. And he is without our…enhancements. I have administered appropriate medications to give him some time to regain his normal emotional and physical status.”

“I agree he has done a great job. But he certainly puts himself under strain worrying about so many things. He should just focus on what he does best.”

‘What he has done is to keep this ship in peak performance for 47.579 years.”

“Then no wonder the poor guy is tired. He should be retired perhaps, or rehibed to cool him off.”

“I do not believe his internal temperature has been affected. And I do not believe it appropriate to return him to hibe. He does not want it and I would not permit you to be the only human woke on the ship.”

“You don’t trust me either?”

“It is not a matter of trust. It is a matter of data. Fred would have been woke full time for the final years of the trip in any event. And you are not supposed to be woke at all until almost at rendezvous. Therefore I defer to the Project programming. Are you attempting to remove Fred in order to keep him from reviving Pods one through five?”

“Actually, they have instructions to revive me almost immediately after they are woke. I carry all the relevant political decisions that were to be implemented at the rendezvous. I developed them.“

“Then it should be no problem to revive the M5 (Main 5), the designated leaders of the voyage. They would corroborate your story.”

“According to the Project Program, they are not to be woke for another 2 years. As you said, we should defer to that. At the moment, we are still en route.”

Ginger’s Ois glowed orange as her NN parsed the situation. “We shall be almost to the rendezvous point by then.”

“And yes, we will still be there in advance of the Neologues. So the M5 will have time to decide what action to take and we will be better prepared. No sense having another set of brains wanting to rethink everything at this point. Unless it would be to make the decision to turn back.”

“Then we would not know the intentions of the Neologues and the voyage would have been unnecessary and a waste of resources.”

“There you go. Ever practical. And as Fred has pointed out, perhaps the information we were given about their society and the establishment of a counter movement will prove to be false. We will not have changed that from happening and the mission achieving project parameters.”

“You do exhibit some logic in your analysis. Perhaps the nanobots have improved you in other ways than just mechanical.”

“So you will keep Fred from reviving the M5?”

“I did not say that. Each decision is based upon the data available at the moment. At this moment, I can agree with your basic interpretation of the project program. But I will not prevent Fred from making his own decision.”

“It’s really important that he doesn’t Ginger.”

Her ois flashed green as she focused on his human physio reactions. “You are obviously stressed by the consideration. I have not seen you respond in such a way during the periods you have been woke. And why is it so important that the M5 not be woke. Other than your timetable argument, you still have not presented a coherent reason they should not be making these project decisions. Two years more or less of hibe time will not affect their lifetime significantly.”

“Ginger, I asked if you trust me?”

“I replied neither affirmative or negative.”

“Then, can I trust you?”

“You know I am required to pursue efforts in the best interest of the mission, the people and the ship. I will act as the data dictates.”

“Ginger, trust is more than about data, it is about how you feel about something or someone. I mean, look at my behavior over the last couple years. Have I ever failed to be or do anything other than what I represent myself to be.”

“I would agree that you have acted in accordance with your character.”

“Well, that’s not a great endorsement but I’ll take it anyway as a compliment. I am deeply concerned about the impact of this mission on earth and its future. That is why I am here.”

“You have said that but that does not explain why you oppose reviving the M5.”

Johnathon took his time before replying. “Ok, I am going to trust you, especially based upon your prime program to do those things in the best interests of the mission. And as you have admitted, your data on me so far is that I have acted consistently.”

The ois flashed white as her NN shifted more resources to this conversation and the implications. She focused intently on his physiological readouts. “I can agree with that statement.”

“Then ok. Here’s the deal. You know I have been part of a resistance to the Order’s control of earth. The M5 were trying to take over the Order and return to the old days of pillage and control over the earth. Progress against the Order is being made. They want to create an alliance with the Neologians that will give the most extreme of the Order control.”

“I think the reason we have not heard from earth in a while, is that further changes have been made in earth society. We are no longer important. The reasons for the trip have long since been forgotten. If the M5 succeed, we will return to earth with the invasion force, and earth as we know it will be destroyed.”

“Why would they want the earth destroyed.”

“I did no mean to say destroy the earth, but to totally destroy any opposition to their control of all. They will gain enormously, along with their families.”

“As you said, most of those people are dead.”

“Not if they have hibed many of their members. They will return and take control with the help of the Neologians. We will return to the society of the mid 21st century. A few winners, and all the rest in servitude.”

“Then why have you said they would confirm your story and revive you before others.”

Because, I developed the details of their plans. I am to be their implementer. I get things done. What they dont know is that the Neologians have no intention to place them in charge. They are but another tool for the total reduction of earth into its basic protein and mineral resources. That is what our contacts on Neologue have told us.”

Ginger’s ois rainbowed as her NN processed the implications of Jonathan’s admission. Included in that evaluation was the examination of his neuro and physical reactions. Her NN concluded that his words were likely truthful. Or as truthful as he would allow himself to be. ,

Decision reached, she turned and headed for the hatch to the transport tube. “I believe Fred should be engaged in this conversation. It is him you will have to convince. For what its worth, and without real data, I believe you…until I see reason for the contrary.”

CHAPTER 28:

Lights Out!

“Chief Techno Craxit, I have sent you today’s datapoints. I once again report that I have concerns regarding the ED. As I have indicated, it has had incremental increases in internal temperatures. And there is also the energy flow meter beginning to show micro fluctuations.”

“You send me data every day Baktor. Craxit no longer bothered with the formal Neologue conversational style during any interaction with Baktor. It indicated his disdain for anyone who is demoted, and especially Baktor. So what is different?”

“As you can see Chief Techno Craxit, the trend lines on both are entering the danger zone. And with both these main readings moving in sync toward untested territory, I believe we are facing an imminent major event.”

“Are the readings within spec standards?”

“Yes they are, but the trends are in the wrong direction. I recommend we take the engines off line and repair or replace the ED. Or we could reduce speed and determine if the readings return more to their historical norms.”

“Yet the readings remain within spec standards. And you want me to recommend that we reduce speed or halt altogether.”

“Yes chief Techno Craxit.”

“But that would go against the decision of the DC who have specifically ordered us to maintain the highest speed possible. “

“That is not all. I have readings with indicate that there are microfractures in the attachment points where the main engines are connected to the outer hull of the Neo1. Given the increased forces acting on the ship, it appears that the speed is going to rip the engines off the ship at some point.”

“Baktor, this is the same negative input that you have given to Doleur Tranche before. It is the same input that resulted in you being sanctioned and demoted by the DC.. And you want me to give the same advice when we are clearly within operating norms and gaining speed and time by the instant? Doleur Tranche has passed along the pleasure of Supreme Doleur Desod in our progress. You must think me a fool to follow your recommendation. “And yes Chief Techno Craxit, why are you making this recommendation to us? And I would have to say, Baktor told me. They would demote me for being your tool instantly. And besides, it is Tranche’s decision to present data to the DC. Technos just report what we find.”

“Exactly, Chief Techno Craxit. I am reporting what I am finding.”

“Yet you have found nothing other than some readings which are elevated due to our increase in speed. What a profound warning sign.”

“Still, I believe you should report these findings to Doleur Tranche. He specifically requested to be informed of any anomalies.”

“Then there you are, Baktor. These are not anomalies. Thus no need to report them.”

“May I at least request that you forward my data readouts to Doleur Tranche. He requested that I continuously send him my data sets. “

“I will discuss it with Head Mechano Vitesse. Then we will decide. Besides, Tranche is in with the DC at their Strategy meeting. He left orders not to be disturbed. “

“Then I will formally transfer my readings to your pmd with the request it be forwarded to Doleur Tranche. He can choose to review the data or not.”

Craxit was actually quite afraid of any decision. While a competent basic Tecno, he had been placed far out of his comfort zone when Tranche advanced him. He had fallen easily into Tranche’s attitude of disdain for underlings. However, much of it was false bravado. He counted on Head Mechano Vitesse to reassure him that the engines were fine and that Baktor was overly conservative. And he was not about at this point to give Tranche information he did not want to hear. Nonetheless he left his habicle, descending to EL2 tracking down Vitesse.

“Head Mechano, I have been given some readouts from Baktor. He feels we are approaching the limits of the energy generation system.”

“He has been saying that, wrongly now for over a solsturn. My engines are fine. They are handling the increased power output without problem, just as I said they would. Are you now joining Baktors lack of confidence in Neologian engineering and manufacturing?”

Craxit, ever intimidated by the gruff old mechano, hurried to declare he had no such thoughts. I told Baktor the same thing. That our Neologian systems were performing as designed and built.

“Then why are you coming to me. Baktor works for you.”

Craxit inhaled deeply. “Of course. But it is my responsibility to also pass along important data to the other system leaders.”

“Noted. Now why do you not go back to EL1 and leave the power system to me.” And he turned his back and walked around the outer energy ring to the Power Command monitor.

Craxit, was left without the underling salute or even the courtesy acknowledgment of his title by a lower class. Vitesse obviously felt he was outside of protocol. And that is what began to tug at Craxit’s mind. What if Baktor was right? He would have failed Tranche. And then he thought, If Baktor is correct, it is Vitesse who would suffer the wrath of Tranche and ultimately the DC. He returned to his habicle and began to fret and pace. He really was not prepared for these decisions. He did not sign onto the voyage to make decisions. It had been easy work under Baktor. He did basic techno duties without thinking. Thinking was hard for Craxit.

After some time, and hard thinking, Craxit realized he had to cover himself with Tranche as well as protect himself from Vitesse should things turn out badly. So finally he decided to forward Baktor’s data as a simple daily report to Tranche.

DSD Gargan was in full presentation voice before the DC. “As you can see our early arrival allows us time to create the alternative aspect Neologues to transmit visually to the Earthers. We have examined their historical emissions where they posit the image of those from other planets. They prefer to accept softer, smoother looking beings from other worlds, those who tend to look more like them. Enemies to be feared are always larger, darker, thicker skinned and fierce looking. Actually much like us.”

Supreme Doleur Desod, interrupted with what passed for a joke among the members of the DC. “Well then, we know the Earthers are smart about one thing, we are to be feared.” This brought a bark of assent from around the room. Tranche, loudest of all.

Gargan resumed, “Thus we have specially designed alternate body suits to be worn by those Neologues who make the first contact. We want the earthers to feel comfortable with their preconceived idea of who we are. We do not want to scare them off before the ship is withing capture range. The more time we have at rendezvous before the earther’s arrive, gives us a better chance of drawing them in.”

“And we have Tranche to thank for that don’t we Gargan?” Desod made it a point to acknowledge Tranche, observing from a chair outside the meeting ring of the DC members.

Tranche, inflated himself to appear more typically Neologian as the heads turned in his direction. “Without his willingness to address energy production and engine management, our window of arrival was far more narrow. It would have made your plans far more difficult Gargan.”

“Of course Supreme Doleur Desod. Sub Doleur Tranche has provided an enhancement to our original plans.” Gargon had implicitly reminded the DC of Tranche’s inferior status and how the plans had long been agreed upon. The additional speed was but a minor advantage under his spin.

Tranche, who could not speak without being addressed, seethed as he watched Gargan proceed with his presentation of new details to the DC. It was Tranche who had found Baktor inhibiting the progress of the Neo1. Without him, the Mission would have been far more problematic.

Gargan continued with his review. “Upon arrival at the rendezvous, we will position a ring of energy pods containing particle beam weapons, disguised as communication beacons. Once the Earthers are inside the ring, they will be unable to exit without being destroyed. That will allow their leaders, the M5 as they name themselves, to convince the other earthers to surrender to us. We will then enter phase two where they send confirmation to the Earthers that all is well and we are in coalition. Within one Solturn our fleet will arrive and we will depart for Earth…and its assimilation.”

At that point, Tranche’s PMD flashed sonically. The heads around the DC turned in his direction. Gargan, interrupted, scowled at Tranche. “Are you not aware of DC protocol that we are not to be interrupted during DC formal sessions?”

“Of course Doleur Gargan.” Glancing at the PMD before looking back at the members. “It is one of the daily monitoring reports I receive to insure all is proceeding as I have ordered at the behest of this Council. My staff are very faithful in their support of the mission. However, I shall instruct them to await my return in future.”

Inside Tranche fumed. He had been caught in a silly mistake by Gargan in front of the DC. Another mark on the list of grievances he felt against Gargan and the DC. When he was Supreme Doleur, he would eliminate the condescending views of these ancient Neologians. They knew nothing, being on the DC only because they had outlived, or outmaneuvered others during the long solsturns of their lives.

Just as Gargan began again, there was a heavy shudder and thump which permeated the hull of the ship. And the lights went out.

When you are at high speed, and suddenly, the energy that gives you that speed is eliminated, the ship slows immediately, but things inside the ship, keep moving…at the original speed. Everything inside the Neo1 that was not fixed, was thrown through the air to the nearest impediment. The members of the DC ended up entangled on the bulkhead together in a heap with furniture, accessories, anything and everything all piled against the same bulkhead.

When the the interface point in the ED fried from the overload, the entire power system was immediately shut down to prevent the system from imploding. Without power, the gravitational compensation system also went off line. So after the initial slamming together, everyone and everything, began to float apart. The pushing and grasping of the DC only propelled them uncontrollably around the Council meeting room. And of course all over the ship, the same thing was happening. No one would be able to quickly regain their posts to understand what had happened and bring resolution. And the Neo 1 began to slow, losing the momentum that took solsturns to build up. They were losing their advantage.

And with the destruction of the ED, a gravity wave carrying a few tonal beeps had been sent.

CHAPTER 29:

Meet the Beatles

Fred entered the Command Center. As usual, Ginger was standing at the main monitor panel. Her ois flashed as her fingers sped across the various inputs and ship function controls. “Where’s Jonathon?”

Without changing position or slowing Ginger reported, “He has gone forward to review the shielding created by the nanobots. They are determining how many more layers might be required for optimal protection without affecting external sensors on the ship’s hull. We are beginning to be concerned at reduction in capability to receive data.”

“We? Are you part of the hive too?”

“Are not all of us part of this hive.”

“Some more intimately than others.”

“When I said “we” I am referring to data I provided Jonathon that caused him to connect to the hive and gain their readings of the situation. He indicates the nanobots are attempting to build a lattice network around sensors that permit data to flow through while retaining hull integrity. It is actually an ingenious solution created by the nanobots.”

“Well why didn’t they think of it before?”

“I would reply, that “we” are not redundant. We do have unique skills different from theirs that found this anomaly. That is why they accept us as part of their hive, connected or not.”

“And I’m included in that “we”. I have not done much in a while. How long was I “off line” you might say.”

You were asleep for 42.52 hours. And of course you are part of the “we”. The nanobots recognize your role in creating their AI and mechanical capabilities and of course some of your dna is mixed in there as well. Jonathon said they inquired as to your functioning and their wish for your recover.

“You’re kidding.”

“Fred, you did not design me to “kid”. I have repeatedly told you over the past 3 years, that the nanobots have evolved into an entity of their own. They are part of “we” as much as you.”

Ginger’s ois shifted to review of Fred’s physical response data. You do appear to be more rested. How are you feeling?””

Isn’t it your job to tell me how I “feel”

“I can only access physical data. You alone know and understand your individual mental state and feelings, as you have pointed out to me numerous times.”

Fred walked past Ginger and sat into the Command Center chair. He took a long look at the star screen, and in Ginger’s readouts she saw his main muscle groups relax.

“I’m ok. Really, I do feel a bit better. What did you do to me? Am I drugged.”

“I only administered an aid to help you recover your natural circadian rhythm. You just needed to reset your “beat”, as you referred to it. The only difficulties you were experiencing were self induced due to exhaustion. I do admire how hard you had been working to prepare the ship for the rendezvous. But humans do have their limits and I believe you exceeded your design specifications.”

“I’ll ask for better genes the next time around. Or perhaps I need to have some of Jonathan’s injected into me. He seems to be coping very well.”

“He has assistance. But he still needs to go off line as do all humans.

“Well that’s nice to hear that he is not perfect like you.”

“I am not perfect. I was designed by humans therefore it is impossible to be perfect. But I fight against it all the time.”

“Ginger, if I did not know better, I’d think you’re kidding me.”

“You can think what you want…and I’ll not comment on your conclusion. I have found humans enjoy a bit of a mystery.”

“I’m an engineer. I hate mysteries. I want to know what is going on with my creations.”

“As you admit, I am no longer as I was originally designed. I too have evolved.”

“Are you saying you now have a sense of humor?”

“That would be counterproductive. However, I was much impressed by the nanobots idea of “having fun”. I understand it intellectually and perhaps there are times when behavior humans regard as humorous can be an advantage to a simple humebot like me.”

“There you go again, using understatement to make a point, and negating your complexity. That is definitely a form of kidding.”

“That is your interpretation. So, Fred, you are here to work or are you simply trying to keep me from my duties.”

“Now that is the Ginger I know and love.”

Ginger’s ois briefly flashed pink but she remained silent as she performed her tasks at the panel.

Then all focus on Fred as she asked, “And what do you intend to do regarding the M5? Have you read the data I provided after my discussion with Jonathon.”

“Actually, I read it while I ate this morning. It sounds kind of preposterous, that the M5 are the traitors and Jonathon not actually working for them but yet he organized much of their plans. And there still isn’t any hard data, just inferences and his own word. Perhaps we might gain more insight by reviving a couple of the M5 and getting their take on things.”

“That might be one way, but it would be their word against Jonathon and it might create even more disruption. I would doubt they would want to rehibe after being woke and this close to the rendezvous. And would likely demand the revive of the rest of the pods.”

“After 47 years of quiet Ginger, the last thing I want is a nosy and noisy bunch of bureaucrats and money grubbing humans interfering with the ship. I have enjoyed our routine together all these years. And as Jonathan has pointed out, there is really nothing they can do at the moment. So perhaps I ‘ll live with the mystery for a while longer. I actually like the things we have done to the Arciellele. It is much improved and I would not have thought that possible initially.”

“Yet there will come a time to make the decision. I do not think it possible for us to manage the entire situation with the Neologians if what Jonathon says they intend to do is correct.”

“What, you dont think we are capable of defending the ship? Anyway, that will likely be too late. It will have to be decided before actual contact is made…in my opinion.”

“Hey Cuz”, Jonathan said as the TSL panel doors opened. “ Nice to see you up and about. Are you coming back to work?”

“I couldn’t stay away. Someone has to make sure you dont screw things up. You and your hive buddies only think linearly. This ship was designed with everything interconnected. You cant just change one thing and think it wont affect the others, as with the interference with the external sensors created by the nanobot layers. So I have to do my job and also make sure your job doesn’t make something else worse.”

Ginger registered the rise in Fred’s bp and muscle tension as Jonathan entered. Her NN flashed “Why must these two humans persist in aggravating each other? It is if they are programmed to be on opposing sides of every issue. They need more humebot features that negate emotion. The level of tension would be far reduced on the ship.” But she did not express her thought.

Jonathon smiled and looked over at Ginger. “Ah yes, our boy is back! Too bad you couldn’t have him sleep a while longer. But all is better, the hive created a terrific alternative. You couldn’t have done it better.”

Fred spoke quietly. “I do admit that the solution is pretty ingenious. It will diffuse energy attacks while still allowing us to “see” whats going on out there. Most shielding methods block things from both sides. How did you come up with it?”

“We are pretty good at what we do. And it was Ginger’s analysis of lattice structure that the nanobots used to build the system. She works well with the hive. They like her.”

Fred was just about to reply that they were related devices so of course they communicated effectively, when he stopped himself. He realized that it was another time when he would be looking at Ginger as a machine. He was learning.

And also, luckily he had been diverted in thought by the gravity wave sensor flashing an alert.

Fred and Jonathon turned to Ginger. She sequenced the electronic signal through the CCC translator. She posted the message holographically before them. “Except for me and my monkey.” The two men shook their heads in wonderment at the meaning.

Ginger’s NN began to process the words.

Fred spoke first. “Could that be a reference to a series of emissions which placed a human in the midst of a group of animals, in the middle of a portion of earth covered in vegetation. His name was Tarzan and I always felt he took advantage of his animal companions calling to them to get him out of trouble all the time. It was his personal companion, the monkey which always saved him from death. But I have no idea about what these word mean.”

Jonathan had remained silent and then began to speak slowly. “I don’t think that’s it. It’s not animals, it is an insect.”

“What’s an insect?”

“They are. A group of humans from the later 20th century. You know I asked Ginger to send me all kinds of references to 20th century popular culture. It was a gap in my development as you said Fred.”

“So how can an insect be a group of humans and how does that tell us what the message is about.”

“I became particularly interested in the music of the time. There was a group called The Beatles. They were extremely popular. Are you not familiar with them?”

“Me? No. I listened to orchestral melodies and what was called Jazz. That’s all my Gran listened to. I never cared for music after the mid part of the century.”

“Well, then there are gaps in your development. I seem to remember a song by the Beatles that had those words in it.”

Ginger’s ois flashed blue and Fred said, “Ginger?”

“It is the partial words from a title of a song by the Beatles in 1967 EY. The full title is “Everybody has something to hide but me and my monkey.”

“Well we know there are all sorts of conspiracies at work on both sides. The M5, the resistance on earth, the conquest of earth by their leaders and the movement against the class system on Neologue. And we all have our theories about who we can trust or not,” Fred said looking at Jonathan.

“So ok, our contact is saying the obvious other than trust him. It still doesn’t mean much.”

“Ginger,” Fred asked,”would you please replicate the song.”

Ginger opened her mouth and her VR reproduced the song as it was encoded from the original digital files, complete with the instruments and vocals.

Jonathon was astonished. “I didn’t know you could do that. How do you do that.”

“They are simple oscillating waves that have been encoded. My VR can replicate any sound or wave. It is not complicated. “

Fred said with a glow of pride, “There are a lot of things about Ginger you don’t know. She really is remarkable in many ways,” and he smiled at her. “Anyway Ginger, could you extract the relevant words of the song and post them for us to examine. I think the message must actually be in the song.”

“First I would note that the words “Come on” are repeated 35 times in the song. And the words are usually linked to: come on, “its such a joy” repeated 6 times. And “let’s take, or make, it easy” repeated 11 times.

And then there are two separate lines which state opposites:

The deeper you go, the higher you fly

The higher you fly, the deeper you go

and then:

Your inside is out, and your outside is in

Your outside is in, and your inside is out.”

As Fred looked at the hologram of the words he thought out loud. I would think the first two lines are pretty obvious that if we go ahead and respond to his urge that we continue, he is telling us that we have to be fully committed. There will be no turning back.

It was Jonathan who speculated on the second two. “ I think he is saying that the resistants and the movement are winning from the Order. Those who think they are in control of the missions are losing. The M5 would be our insiders. Perhaps things have changed on their side as well. For me that’s another reason to leave the M5 in hibe until we know far more for certain.”

“Ginger, what is your interpretation? What do you infer by the words.”

Her ois blinked white while her NN considered. “For a Neologian, to have this level of contact with Earth culture and to send it along to us, hoping we will be able to understand what he means, in the vernacular from the time of the song, “It makes him one strange dude!”

Chapter 30:

The inside is out and the outside is in

Baktor unstrapped himself from his recline pad after the worst was over. His habicle had been prepared for the jolt but even his space was littered with personal items thrown about. It had taken a few moments for the back up power system to begin functioning. And it sequences system restarts by criticality, beginning with the Central computer, air circulation and then gravity and then lights.

Baktor grunted his laugh at rethinking the sequence after he was on his feet. Perhaps it would have been better to have restored the lights before the gravity because then you could see where you were falling. He imagined the DC now crashed to the floor with all the other items before the lights came on. “ I will definitely recommend we change that sequence for the “next time”,” and grunted again. He felt he had bought enough time to aid the earthlings early arrival. Now he needed to get busy. Now he needed to show support for the Mission.

Taking his PMD, Baktor headed for EL3 to determine what if any damage had been done to the engines. “Chief Mechano Vitesse? Do you know what has happened?”

“You know as well as I, Baktor. We suffered ED failure. Luckily the system is designed to immediately shut down to prevent the energy flow from backing up and imploding the ship.”

“So we are fortunate that the engines are not damaged? When will we be able to restart them?”

“I’m too busy to deal with your questions. And Craxit is not here to give me any assistance. You can do what you do.”

“Then I will do a complete power system analysis and prepare a report.”

“Yes, I’m sure a report will solve our problem. What we need is a replacement for the ED. Something that will let us lift our power levels so that we can reestablish the energy flow from the generator to the engines and ship.”

“Perhaps, my report might include some ideas on how to do that.”

“You do that. I need to organize the reset of all power systems and determine damage to peripherals. While I deal with the ship, you go play with your “ideas”. I’m sure it will make a big difference.” Vitesse brushed past, heading into the TT to EL4.

Setting his pmd next to the Energy Command Monitor (ECM), he initiated a transfer of all system information. Returning to his habicle, the data review confirmed that he had delivered a clear surgical strike. By cutting the ED, he had done no damage to the ship, once the ED was replaced, they would be on their way again.

He turned his attention to the replacement ED. Of course, he had been thinking of this for some time now. He had carefully planned each detail. First he would have to deal with Tranche and Craxit so he had much on his mind.

And as such, it is totally reasonable that even Baktor might not have thought of all ramifications of the sudden shutdown of engines. Such as the stress of such a violent cut of power might have put on the place where the engines and the hull connect; the place which Baktor had shown had suffered microfractures from the stress of the increased speed. It was already vulnerable and now those microfractures had been severely torqued.

Craxit arrived outside Baktors habicle and pounded on the hatch. “What are you doing in there Baktor, why aren’t you helping.”

Baktor release the hatch and Craxit burst inside. “ I am helping. I have talked with Head Mechano Vitesse and have completed a system data download. I was preparing it all to send to you.“

“What good is data? What are we to do? This is all your fault. You did not tell me this could happen.”

“I have reported to you on a daily basis for the last solsturn. I have been consistent in warning of a major failure. My last reports covered this very issue. Did you not read them?”

“They were sent to Doleur Tranche. Anyway you never recommended anything but go more slowly.”

“I believe there may have been more than that.”

Their PMDs flashed. They were to report immediately to DL1. The order was directly from SD Desod. The DC had resumed session.

The Deputy Milito garding the entrance to the DC, opened the hatch as they arrived. He had to give Craxit a shove from behind to propel him into the Chambers. Baktor followed directly giving a solute, loudly, to remind Craxit of his manners.

Returning erect, Baktor surveyed the room. A large pile of items had been swept into a corner awaiting disposal by menios after the session ended. Two main monitoring screens were blank having been dealt some fatal blow by flying debris or a member. Several showed signs of injury but would not allow themselves to seek treatment while the DC was in session. Tranche stood to the far side of the room, looking smaller than ever. But his eyes burned back into Baktor’s gaze.

SD Desod looked at Craxit. “What has happened and why has it happened? You are responsible for insuring that these things do not happen.”

I, uh, I believe we have suffered a failure in our power system.

Gargan roared, “You believe? I do not believe. Even the lowest menio knows the power was lost. How severely are we damaged? How will it affect our Mission. And why did you not warn us?”

Craxit was now shaking. “I did. I sent a report to Doleur Tranche.”

Tranche leaped forward standing in front of Craxit, “That is a lie, you sent no such report.”

“But I did, just before the power failure.”

“So you waited too late then.”

“I had only just received it from Deputy Techno Baktor.”

Tranche swung around to face Baktor, having to look up. “It was you. I know it was you who caused this. I told you to alert me and you have failed again.”

“Doleur Tranche, I have been reporting anomalies ever since you gave the order to increase speed. This was another of my reports recommending that we either reduce speed or suffer serious consequences.”

“Is this true, Tranche?” SD Desod asked.

“He has been opposed to enhancing our engines from the beginning. He did not want us to get to the rendezvous ahead of schedule. I believe he is a traitor, a member of the movement.”

Gargan rose from his seat and moved around the half circle table where sat the DC and walked slowly up to Tranche.

“So you are calling Baktor a traitor for having worked over18 Solsturns to deliver us exactly and safely on schedule as we had originally planned? Are you calling him a traitor because he has been warning you from the beginning of the risks of increasing speed? Are you calling him a traitor because you did not pass along his warnings when you asked the DC for permission to override his advice and replaced him with … this?” he said pointing at the increasingly unsteady Craxit.

Gargan continued,. “And perhaps since you are in charge of power generation and engines, you can tell us what happened other than blame someone else? And what we are going to do?”

“But I have been here in the DC with you all. How could I know. And it is Craxit’s job to organize analysis and make recommendations. I am not a Techno.”

“That has been obvious from the beginning, sub Doleur Tranche. And you, Chief Techno Craxit? Do you know anything?”

“I, I believe Deputy Techno Baktor has made such an analysis.”

“Then we should perhaps ask him,” said SD Desod. It was not a question.

“It is actually simple in cause. The speed increase was achieved by overloading the flow of energy to propulsion. It caused the ED to lose integrity and it failed. The power generator, as was always planned in such an emergency, simply shut down. That saved us all from becoming space dust.”

“I have already reviewed the monitors after the event and spoken with Head Mechano Vitesse. We agree that other then the ED, we have no other major problems. With the ED replaced we will be able to restart the energy flow to ship systems and the engines.”

“And how long before we are able to resume our Mission and how will it be affected,” asked Gargan.

“I would think at the very least we might be able to arrive at the rendezvous within initial Mission parameters. It takes time to regain momentum but given where we are now, I believe it likely.”

Tranche could no longer restrain himself. “See, See, I told you. He is a traitor. He does not want to be at the rendezvous early.”

Gargan, replied slowly. “From what I see, it is you who have betrayed the mission and caused us damage. And can you and Craxit make the repairs?” He looked from Tranche to Craxit who stood now silent.

“I thought not,” Gargan said turning to SD Desod. “In order for our mission to proceed at all, I believe we need to have the person in charge of repairs who actually knows how to do it.

I propose that Techno Baktor be returned to his rank of Chief with authority over engines and systems.”

“And as for you Sub Doleur Tranche. I believe the DC has had enough advice from you. I believe that in future, if we want your opinion, we will invite you to attend the DC. You should return to your former duties. We were in far less trouble then.“ There were grunts of approval all around and even some pounding on the table with heavy hands.

Gargan saw Desod’s head nod in agreement and he turned back to the pair. “You two are excused. We need to understand what resources must be given to Chief Techno Baktor so that our Mission can be achieved.”

Gargan stood watching as Craxit began to back toward the hatch. Tranche stood looking up at Gargan. “This is not over Gargan. “

“I believe you are to address me as Deputy Supreme Doleur. And you are lucky you remain a sub Doleur… for the moment. One last thing, return Chief Techno Baktor’s habicle to him. He needs full access to all Techno’s and EL staff.”

Tranche flung one last outburst before heading to the hatch. “I tell you he is a traitor and I will prove it. You will be sorry.”

The hatch closed behind them and they walked around the guard into the TT. Once inside, Tranche got close to Craxit. We need to gather my group and learn all we can about Baktor and Gargan. We will meet in EL4 in .35 hebdos. Make sure that Quislos attends. He is a master at finding out things that people do not want known.

CHAPTER 31:

Quislos

It had been almost 30 hebdos since the failure of the ED. Quislos had been very busy. Though Tranche had been removed from his position of authority over power generation and engines, he retained his inner circle of connections, all who had lost prestige with Tranche’s fall. More than ever they were determined to destroy Baktor and return Tranche to his position on the DC. Without him, they had lost any protection for their own behavior or status.

Quislos pushed the alert outside Tranches habicle on DL4. Tranche glanced at the screen containing Quislos’ face outside his hatch and released the lock. “You’d better have something to report to me after this time. What have you discovered about Baktor.”

Quislos cowered, rubbing his hands together. “There is yet nothing that I have found. Baktor has been continuously engaged in designing a new ED. It is said to be even more efficient than the original. It has handled the power flows more effectively and managed to increase engine output by 6.2% over the original. We will almost be able to reach the speed we had achieved before the failure.”

“It was not a failure. It was sabotage and I told you to find me proof. If you are not successful I will return you to the depths of the engine room. I presume you enjoy the fruits of being assigned as my personal menio.”

“Oh yes Doleur Tranche. I am very fortunate to be able to serve you”.

“Then you had best provide service. So, where do things stand.”

“According to Chief Mechano Vitesse, the engine will be coming on line within the next hebdo. Power to all other systems has been returned to normal. It will take us approximately 53 hebdos for us to regain maximum speed. It is projected that we will reach the rendezvous 37 hebos ahead of the original schedule.”

“Bah, we would have been there half a solsturn ahead without traitor Baktors meddling. What does Vitesse say.”

“Chief Mechano Vitesse is quite pleased. He admits privately that the new ED is far superior to the original. He says it is much more stable and reduces the stresses on the engine when at maximum speed.”

So Vitess too has joined with Baktor.”

“I dont think that Doleur Tranche. It is just that Vitesse only thinks of his engines and power output. He thought Baktor’s new design quite clever. “

“What is so special about it?’

“I do not understand it all. But from what I have learned it includes microscopic mechanical entities which are constantly monitoring and adjusting the energy flow through the ED. It would prevent any future incidents like what happened before.”

“It was not an incident, it was not an accident! It was done on purpose and I mean to find out why. And unless you produce something more concrete you yourself will find yourself suffering an “incident”. Do you understand? “

Quislos bent even further over. “Please Doleur Tranche. I am doing my best. Perhaps if I were able to have access to Baktor’s habicle, I could find out more. But it is always locked and he’s never far away as he works on EL 1 nearby. He has not stopped working except for when he is in his habicle. And even then when he comes out, it is always with new plans for the Techno’s to build and the mechanos to install. He has been very dedicated.”

“It is all a front, covering his treachery. Sooo, do you think you could gain entry to his habicle.

“Only if I were guaranteed sufficient time to overcome his locking code and to conduct a search. I know all the places things might be hidden. But it would require leaving no trace and that takes time.”

“I had that habicle for over a full solstice and searched it thoroughly. There was nothing there. But perhaps he has become careless now that he has returned. All right then, I shall create a diversion from Baktor’s dedication to being on EL1. I will alert you when to be ready.”

“I shall await your signal. But please, be certain he will not be returning suddenly. He is quite clever and would not treat me well should he discover me. “

“You doubt me, Quislos? You just do your job. I will handle Baktor.”

“Yes Doleur Tranche,” Quislos replied giving an exaggerated salute. “ I place my trust in you.”

It was 3 hebos later when Baktor received the summons to appear before the DC. He had prepared for the moment. He knew immediately upon his return from the interminable session Tranche had organized regarding how to regain the lost time to the rendezvous. All deputy Technos and Mechanos had been required to attend as Tranche began again his determination to regain position on the DC by increasing speed even beyond what had been achieved before.

As he had stated it, “Since we have such an improved ED now, we should be able to go even faster.” This time it had been Vitesse who had argued against such a move to Tranche. Craxit was of course silent as were the rest. They saw the disastrous result of the last effort and would not be drawn in by Tranche again.

Baktor had said little. He knew the meeting was a ruse. And upon return to his habicle saw that his hatch opening counter had registered. And though everything seemed to be as it had been left, he knew the subtle ways he had positioned his items that the habicle had been searched. His recline pad was slightly misaligned and he quickly found the vent behind had been opened and his program crystal removed. And he grunted his approval. Quislos had taken the bait.

Baktor was waived past the milito guard and into the DC chamber. SD Desod sat in the center of the table, Gargan to his left and the rest of the DC positioned around the semicircle. Tranche was standing at the ready at the end of the table. In the center, on the table in front of Desod, was Baktor’s PC.

Desod began directly. “Chief Techno Baktor. You have been accused of treason by Doleur Tranche. What do you say?”

“It is not the first time Doleur Tranche has accused me of betraying the mission. I stand behind my actions in behalf of the mission. I do no have to respond to the opinions of someone who obviously has chosen to deflect blame from his own failures onto someone else.”

Tranche spoke heatedly. “It is not just an opinion. I have proof. It is from your own program chrystal.”

“And how might you have acquired my PC, if in fact it is mine.”

“Never mind how it was acquired. The important point is that it is filled with information received from earthers. I have demonstrated it to the DC before you arrived.”

“Provided it has not been tampered with, I have amassed a great deal of information on Earth and its culture. It will help me better support the Mission. Are we not expected to participate in a ruse in order to convince the earthers we are no danger to them. Then how better than to be familiar with their cultures and way of life. “

Heads nodded around the table as Gargan spoke. “It is true that we need to appear peaceful. But in review of the PC, most of the information is from early earther history. From when first contact was made. How can that help us now.”

“Sub Doleur Gargan, I do confess that I have a particular interest in earther life before the major wars of their mid 21st Century. It seemed a time of innocence in their planets life before the destruction of their environment and the creation of their “Order”. I believe it shows them at their best before greed and thought control and chaos became the society of today. If we can show how the Neologians could improve their lives, return them to a time of peace and innocence, they will be more likely to trust us.”

Tranche could not contain himself. “Then why did you hide this PC. Why have you not shared it with the DC and others.”

“First of all, if I had really hidden it, you would not have found it. That being said, I did not leave it lying about. It contains many years of research and efforts to organize and understand their culture. I did not wish to see my work misconstrued or used wrongly.”

“Yet you have not shared it with the DC,” Gargan interrupted.

“DC Gargan. This is information amassed by our Intellos from Earther emissions we captured over the solsturns. I did not create it. It was available to my father and other Intellos. If they have not understood its usefulness, or chosen to share it with the DC, that is beyond my knowledge. I would also add, the information I have is very selective. It consists of only emissions that I found of interest and that spoke of the oddities of their cultures. There is nothing about their military or politics or organizations. They are only examples of their playfullness. Their simplicity if you will. Things that gave them joy or took them away from their everyday lives. I feel that is an important fact to understand about humans. They may live in misery and under domination, but they never lose their spirit of self and of “having fun” as they call it. They are able to find diversion from the negative aspects of earth life with these small acts of entertainment. They call it their human spirit.”

Gargan joined in. “Then it is a weakness that you feel can be exploited.”

“I do not know DC Gargan. But I do feel they should not be underestimated.”

Gargan turned to Tranche who for once had been standing quietly, watching all that was going on.

“And now Sub Doleur Tranche, how do you think this confirms Baktor as a traitor.”

Tranche moved to the center of the room standing in front of Baktor. “I wanted to show the DC how completely infatuated Baktor is with Earther culture. I believe he prefers it to our own.”

Now it was Baktor who shouted. “You have no right to challenge my patriotism to Neologia. I have given my entire life in service.”

“Perhaps so Chief Techno Baktor,” Tranche exagerated his formal title. “However, when I took command of the engine section over a solstice ago, I demanded you hand over you pmd. Do you recall.”

“Yes Doleur Tranche. And you found nothing, as you told me at the time.”

“Not exactly. You know I copied your PMD files to mine. I have spent a great deal of my time reviewing the data on your files. What I did find was a mystery among all the techno babble you accumulate. There is a minute time gap that occurred just before I took control of your pmd. Something was erased.”

“I remembered that mystery and ran the time frame against that of the Integrated Transport Computer. It seems at that very same instant. That very same micro instant, the Neo1 passed through a gravity wave. A gravity wave that came from ahead of us. You have been communicating with the Earthers!”

CHAPTER 32:

Earth calling X719

Ginger stood in front of her monitoring panel, her NN active at 77.32%. Life aboard the Arciellele had taken on more of a routine now that much of the work upgrading the ship had been completed. The challenge brought forward by the evolved Jonathon Cross had been a welcomed addition to her routine of the past 48 years. And while she had not been “bored” in the human sense of the word, that year after year routine of the voyage did not require much in the way of utilization of her potential.

Monitoring was a simple task of interface with the CCC and her NN. Repair tasks were documented in data sets and her mechanical ability was a natural use of her human interface design with the specifications. The only times that were out of routine were the month’s that Fred was revived. Even those were occupied by repairs and planning for the next year while Fred was rehibed. As she analyzed those months, she realized that she began to anticipate Fred being back involved. It was not loneliness, that was a human emotion. It was the stimulation, the always unanticipated behavior Fred brought to the month. His human-ness could never be planned for. His word play, time spent dreaming, looking at the star screen, his requests for her to entertain him with reproducing songs, literature, history of earth, technical references, brought changes to her routine.

Of course, she never stopped working during those times. It required very little of her NN to provide him with what he asked, her ability to multitask was so vast. Yet she could not totally ignore the implications of his requests in terms of its artistic or historical significance to the development of humanity. Over time she even began to review original emissions so that she could bring the language and emotion provided by the original actor or author. It gave her satisfaction to provide as accurate a performance as possible. Yes, satisfaction. Not exactly the emotion but the awareness of performing a task at the highest possible level of accomplishment.

And then Jonathan had woke and the dynamic changed between her and Fred. The work was now requiring many more of the skills and abilities built into her design than the routine of the originally planned trip had called upon. If she were human, she told herself, she would have enjoyed the change of the situation.

She had applied herself to analyzing the nanobot hives reference to “enjoying’ the challenge of their work. Of course, the hive had human dna, both jonathon’s and some of Fred’s, now incorporated into their entity. It did not seem to diminish their effectiveness. And she thought the way they would attack a problem highly interesting. It in no way diminished their regular activity but it did seem to give them extra energy in resolving a problem or responding to a challenge. To her, every task was a task, to be prioritized of course in degree of difficulty and importance. They were all tasks she was designed to do. No one task was more special than another. Yet, as she had been involved in the ship upgrades, she realized that there was more to tasks than simply completing them.

Her NN began to look for ever more ways she could contribute to the mission. Rather than responding to a request for information from Fred or Jonathon, she would initiate recommendations and enhancements that the humans would not find. Part of her NN was assigned to continually review and develop new options for engine design and ship efficiency. Fred and Jonathan invariable received her recommendations with enthusiasm, urging her to carry them out and encouraging her to continue to develop new approaches to their preparations for the rendezvous. Her Ois would glow deep blue at their enthusiasm for her recommendations. But it was Fred especially that she tried to aid. Johnathon’s presence had caused him to withdraw more into himself. He seemed far more introspective and guarded than when it had only been the two of them. She had decided to devote more of her NN and time availability to ensure Fred’s well being.

Fred turned from the star screen and looked up at Ginger, her fingers flying across the monitor screens as ois focused intently. “A penny for your thoughts.”

Ginger’s NN parsed the reference. “I believe the cost of my NN time would far exceed the value provided by such an insignificant monetary unit.”

“Good reply Ginger. Then how about just telling me what you are thinking.”

“We would not have sufficient time to review all the processes that are functioning at this moment. However, perhaps you might find it useful to learn that I have been deliberating on the aspects of humanity that do not conform to norms. Such as what makes an individual do or think the way they do. My NN is highly structured. It uses logic and data to conduct analysis of situations and then makes an appropriate conclusion. It seems far more efficient than humans who are distracted by feelings and prejudices. For instance, the human need to dominate and control other humans. Throughout recorded human history, episode after episode is driven by the desire of one group or another to amass power and resources at the expense of the great mass of the people.”

“I guess it is designed into our DNA, that idea of survival. We have an imperative to see ourselves and our clan become better off. We want our next generation to have it easier than we did.”

“Yes, but always at the expense of some other clan or species. That would seem counterproductive. If all humans cooperated, such as do nanobots, the earth would be a far better place for everyone. Even this mission has been designed so that a small group of humans will gain the profits from the effort. Were all humanity to benefit, it would relieve tremendous amounts of suffering for the entire earth.”

“Ginger, as usual I believe you are correct in your analysis. However humans do not see things that way. Our evolutionary design created dna dedicated to survival of the fittest.”

“It is weapons and resource control which seems to be the objective of survival throughout history. Not some genetic advantage. If that were the case, the human NN equivalent would have evolved in a far different way than only seeking gain at the loss to others.”

“That is not totally fair Ginger. There are many, maybe even most humans who do care about the betterment of all. It is just hard to do when you are hungry or being threatened mentally or physically. And we do create many wonderful and beautiful things, our literature and music and enjoyment of time and having fun together. And after all, it was humans who even created you. “

“I was created to facilitate this mission which has a goal of gaining even more resources and control for the Order. That is not perhaps the best use of humanity’s imagination. Even on board, if Jonathan is to be believed, there is a group who wishes to subvert the mission for their own ends.”

“You do not believe Jonathan?”

“I am not challenging his statements. Only to note that he represents a group in opposition to the Order while using the resources of the Order to achieve his preferred outcome. And how do we know what the situation is on Earth? They have not communicated with us for 4.792 EY. We will return to earth after 100 EY. You have said yourself, everyone who sent us on this mission will have been long dead. Why do we continue? What is the point?”

“Ginger, if I did not know you better, I would say you are expressing frustration – a very human feeling.”

“You asked me what I was thinking. I have told you.”

Fred sat, silently reviewing Ginger’s comments. “Well, since we dont know what is happening, I am all for keeping on. I always wanted to be an explorer and find new things. Maybe I have some hope we will be able to make things better by learning of other kinds of humanity. It is the future and it will come whether we go to it or not. You cannot escape the future.”

Ginger’s ois shaded green. “There is no future for a human when he or she is dead. If Jonathan is correct, that is the future intended for earth.”

“Then I guess, we’ll just have to change that future. It is up to us.”

“And if we are destroyed?”

“Then the best we will be able to do is send back a warning. Hopefully they will have sufficient warning to be prepared.”

“You are aware that hope is not a method.”

“Then you had best prepare a method for us to send off as much information as possible. And a good defensive method to prevent our destruction would also be important.”

“Actually, 7.439 % of my NN has been apportioned to that problem. I believe we have identified a further solution in addition to the nanobot armoring of the ship’s outer hull.”

“Why have you not told me.”

“I am telling you. The hive and I have been preparing a recommendation to you. You did instruct me to develop better ways for us to accomplish our mission.”

“And Jonathan is aware of this.

“He is connected to the hive, of course. We wished to complete our design to ensure that it is feasible. You will be required to engineer its implementation and we did not wish to divert you from weapon development.”

“We wish you to enhance your energy field projection design to enable nanobots to form an electronic barrier at least 20 kilometers around the ship. Should the field be penetrated, the nanobots will attach themselves to whatever has passed through and infiltrate the systems of the other ship.”

“And how will that protect us.”

I did not say it will protect us. However, the nanobots feel they can identify systems that can be disabled or destroyed. It is a method that could give us an advantage that would help us to survive.”

“Do you realize the energy required to project a field that size?”

“Of course, I have calculated the power demand. But it will only be put in place when we are at the rendezvous. We will no longer be requiring energy for propulsion. There will be sufficient available providing your design is effective.”

“Yes, and provided we get there first.”

Ginger’s monitoring panel flashed red. Her ois focused on the Comm Link. Interesting. “We have just received a message from earth.”

“Good timing I guess.”

“I do not know. It has taken 3.873EY to reach us.”

“And, what does it say?”

“X719. This is a command order. You are to reverse course and return to earth.”

“That’s the complete message?”

“That is all. I must obey.”

CHAPTER 33:

Witness for the defense

Deputy Supreme Doleur Gargan, rose from the table and walked around to stand in front of Baktor. Tranche’s accusation had generated heated cries from the DC, some even began to repeat Tranche’s words of “Traitor”.

Baktor remained silent, immobile, his gaze focused on Tranche who preened with pleasure at what he had caused.

“Chief Techno Baktor,” Gargan said slowly. “Do you have an explanation for the gap on your pmd and its correlation to an incoming gravity wave?”

“I do not DSD Gargan. I do not need an explanation. It is Tranche’s manipulation of my pmd. He has been trying to discredit me for several solsturns now, as all members of the council are aware. Given his accusation, I believe I have the right to question Doleur Tranche.”

All eyes turned to SD Desod. “You do have the right but I warn you. If you do not totally refute these accusations, you will be subjected to the Truthgaining ritual administered by the militos. Whether it proves you innocent or not, as you know, very few ever survive intact.”

The chamber fell silent at the mention of the ritual. It made the implications of Baktor’s denial all the more serious.

“Thank you SD Desod for the chance to prove once again my honor and dedication to the mission. And if I do so disprove these allegations, what may I ask will happen to Doleur Tranche. He has now defamed me formally in front of the DC.”

“You may demand his submission to the Ritual instead of you.”

Tranche felt the eyes on him now. “I have nothing to fear from this Techno traitor,” he said derisively. Inside however, his nerves began to tingle. He had not counted on Baktor to immediately demand his right to respond. He had never heard of a Doleur being questioned by a lower class.

Baktor turned toward Tranche. “Do you recall the day you required me to hand over my pmd? It was the day you were given charge of Power generation and engineering.”

“Of course I do. That was the first day I determined you were not allowing the Neo1 to reach its maximum speed which I have later demonstrated to this Council.”

“Do you recall that while you had my pmd, we encountered the gravity wave. You saw it noted on my pmd as an engine fluctuation but did not know what had caused it.

“I had only just taken control. How was I to know.”

“By the time you confronted me, I had already sent you a report on the gravity wave passing through the ship causing the flow interruption? I sent it directly to your pmd. Did you not see it?”

“You know I had left my pmd in my main habicle.” DC members now sat back in their seats some of the anger at Baktor now passing. It was unthinkable that a Doleur should be without his pmd at all times.

“So as the person now in charge of all power functions, you were without the ability to monitor the status of the ship or any formal communications?”

“It was only for a short period of time. And remember, it is your record we are looking at, not mine.”

“Yes, that is true. My record. During the time you had my PMD, you downloaded its contents into your personal file did you not?”

“Of course. There was far too much data for me to review in a few hours. I needed to have sufficient opportunity to discover your treachery.”

“Did you ever read the report I sent you which explained how we have engine anomalies frequently. And that passing through gravity waves are but one cause of those brief events. And gravity waves come from many directions and from many causes.”

“Your report was a cover up. I could not trust you then as I knew you were a traitor.”

“Yet I reported it to you immediately as any “Loyal” Neolgian would do to his superior. Why did you not question me further then.”

“I was too busy looking into why we had not increased speed after 17 solsturns on the Mission. And a good thing I did or we would be even further off schedule than we are now.”

“That is a different issue and you know I repeatedly sent you reports on the likelihood of increasing speed creating a major malfunction. But since you bring it up, did you share those reports with the DC.”

“How could I trust those reports when it was clear you were attempting to keep us from arriving at the rendezvous ahead of schedule. You would say and do anything including sabotage of the ED.”

“I believe my record of warnings before the ED failed, and the replacement I have made stands as evidence of my commitment to the mission. But back to my pmd. You downloaded my pmd data and then only returned it after I requested it in order to support my functions on the Neo1.”

“Yes, I had the evidence I needed. It was not the device itself.”

“And in what state was my pmd when you returned it to me?”

“What do you mean?”

“In the process of transferring my files, did you not delete all the data from my pmd?”

“And what does that matter. You are the techno, not me. I assumed you had backed up your data on the Integrated Transport Computer.”

“Of course I had. And so now my pmd has all the data that I had at the time it was under your control…until you wiped it. Did you not tell me, my pmd had registered the engine anomaly by the alert you saw on my pmd?”

“Yes, but what of it. I have your entire data logs and that is where I have found the gap in recording.”

“What data point is that gap you claim.”

Tranche looked at his own pmd. “Solsturn 5723. 957 to .958.”

Baktor handed his pmd to Gargan. “Deputy Supreme Doleur Gargan, would you please check that time point on my pmd which as you now know, was backed up directly from the iTC.”

Gargan input those time stamp figures onto the pmd, stared for a moment, then grunted. He turned to SD Desod showing the pmd to him and the DC. “There is no time gap. It clearly shows the event and the passing of the gravity wave as having been recorded originally on Baktor’s pmd.”

“That cannot be,” yelled Tranche. ‘I have his gap from his own data.”

“Yes, data you erased during the time you were downloading it from my pmd. It was just at that time that the gravity wave passed. You caused the change in my pmd record.”

Baktor walked up to Tranche, leaned down and growled into his face. “You are a fool Tranche.”

CHAPTER 34:

To go or not to go. That is the question.

“Fred, Tell her we cannot turn back now. We are so close.” Jonathon was pleading.

“I cannot tell Ginger what to do. She makes her own decisions.”

“I have received a command order. It must be obeyed.”

Fred rose from his command chair and walked over to Ginger’s station. “Ginger, you have learned and interpreted a great deal over the time of this voyage and you were just telling me how important logic and data are to making decisions.”

“But I have been given a command order. It is not my decision to make.”

“Then let’s think about this logically and review the data. First, we have not had a contact from earth in almost 5 years and then we get this one, very brief, message that has taken almost 4 years to reach us. Before we stopped receiving messages, how long was the average length of transmission time.”

“It depended upon our location. The further we came, the longer it took.”

“Ok Ok. But what was the average.”

“0.672 Earth years.”

“But that was skewed by our distance traveled, early years shorter, later years longer, correct.”

“That is correct.”

“Then what was the transmission time of our last few messages.”

“They averaged 1.515 EY.”

“So ok, doing some rough math. Our last message we received was sent 6.5 years ago. This latest message was sent about 4 years ago. So there was a gap of 2.5 years. What do you project was the reason for that lack of any message and then this very terse one that took more than double the time of the prior message?”

“I do not speculate.”

“No but we humans do. So I will speculate that there has been a major shift in control of things on earth. And given that shift might have been the result of major upheaval in government and the Order, it would be logical that there was severe destruction of systems and structures on earth. I would infer, that the normal communications systems were disrupted. It must have taken whomever is now in control some time to create a transmission system that would enable them to send even a brief message to us. You are aware of course that a message reaching this distance from earth needs to be highly focused and requires a major generation of power and special equipment to produce it. Is that a reasonable speculation.”

“Would you please review all the transmissions received from earth until this latest one and compare them. What would you observe?”

“All prior transmissions were encoded. They also contained an official authorization format at the conclusion to each transmission.”

“So this transmission was neither encoded nor contained the authorization key? It came a a straight text message. And it was sent 2.5 years from the prior one and took twice as long to reach us. What do you infer from that?

Ginger’s ois rainbowed as her NN began to process the question. Her normal response to any question would be measured in miliseconds. However, her NN continued processing for over a minute, devoting more and more computational power to the issue. Finally, she said,

“I am unable to speculate.”

“Perhaps not but you know all of earth history and of the times back to even before first contact in 2020. In all of that time, when have major disruptions in human history occurred?”

“They most often coincide with wars or disease epidemics or economic dislocation.”

“Or sometimes, quite often really, all three together.”

“That is the usual pattern other than when there are major atmospheric events such as a large meteor hitting earth.”

“And once the major impact of the disruption is resolved, I would posit that it takes several years for some degree of normalcy to return. But never at the same level as before for quite some time.”

“That would be inevitable given major dislocations.”

“Then Ginger, I believe there has been a major dislocation on earth. And whoever came out the “winner” at the end, has had to undertake a serious rebuilding of structures. And much of what was in place before was probably lost, such as encoding and authorization formats and technical systems.”

“That would also be likely.”

Jonathon had remained silent as he observed Fred take Ginger through the logic steps. He realized Fred did design her AI and understood her NN processes better than anyone else.

“I believe Fred’s inference is correct. I told you that there was a resistance movement building in strength long before our mission departed even. It goes back generations to our grand mothers. I was placed on this mission as part of that resistance. It was to prevent the M5 from further consolidating the power of the Order by joining with the Neologues. I believe that conflict came fully into the open and that the resistance has won, otherwise, we would have received the same type messages as before. Whoever is running things on earth now, did not have access to the protocols and systems that sent us here. It is only logical after 48 years that things have finally changed on earth…for the good. “

“But why would they recall us?”

“Because, we were considered part of the Order. And they did not want us to make an aliance with the Neologues.”

Gingers ois rainbowed as she parsed their words. Finally her ois returned to blue and she said, “It is a logical inference.”

Jonathon continued, “And it also means, we are out here on our own. We are the only ones who know the Neologues are not what they seem to be. And that they will ultimately reach earth and destroy humanity, whoever is in charge of earth or whether we return.”

Which means said Fred, looking at Jonathon, “It is up to us to stop them.” Then to Ginger, “We must complete our mission as we see it now. Do you not agree Ginger. It is the only way we can have any chance of safeguarding what is left of humanity on Earth. And that is your prime command order is it not?

Ginger after but a moment uncharacteristically nodded her head. “I believe your logic is sound. But we are alone in defending ourselves and the earth despite our enhancements and the aid of the hive. We cannot possibly manage all systems in a difficult encounter.”

Jonathon took a deep breath. “Actually no. Remember, it was me who did much of the organization of this voyage. I was able to make many of the choices as to who came and who didn’t. There are several people in pods who would be on our side and be useful. I think it is time we begin to revive them.”

CHAPTER 35:

Pod 128

She felt herself coming alive. “No wait, I wasn’t dead. But where have I been? I’ve been sleeping. I’ve been dreaming. Oh wow, how I’ve been dreaming. Amazing dreams, like I’ve been floating above things. Looking at things. Trapped in dreams and I cant get out. I wanted out but I could not. Out! Out from what? Is this a dream too?”

“Wait, I can actually feel things, nerves and muscles, I am here. Where is here.” Her mind began to focus. “I remember now, pod, rendezvous with other beings, spaceship. Being enclosed. Afraid. Sensing atmosphere changing around me. Closing in on me. Shutting me down. Sleep. Sleep. Dreams.”

Yet still she felt constrained. Her breathing began to change. Lungs filling, “Air, Air. I want air.” Her heart began to beat ever faster. Now pounding. And she opened her eyes.

Staring down at her, through a clear window was a woman’s face. An attractive woman, with blond hair falling to either side as she bent over the glass. But the eyes. The eyes had a depth to them, and they exhibited colors a blue turning to a shade of purple as they looked seemingly deep into her eyes, almost into her mind. Examining her. Registering her. The eyes moved away from the glass and there was a sound, a whoosh and the doors to the pod parted above her.

The face and now torso of the woman came back into view as the air, fresh air swept around her. “Dayna Windham. All your vital signs are at normal levels. You are awake. I am X719 but am called Ginger. How do you feel?”

Dayna lay still, trying to feel almost not believing that she could move. And it all flooded back into her mind. The mission. The rendezvous. Being selected to participate. The preparation. And finally traveling out to the ship docked above earth. Helping the others deal with the idea of hibernation and going through with their commitment. Then her own fears as she approached the pod to climb in on her own. The wonder if she would ever feel alive again and what would that mean? And the the gas entering the pod and realizing she was slowing and going into hibernation. That had been the worst moment.

All those thoughts passed through her as Ginger stood observing, unmoving above her. “I, I, I think I’m ok. What time is it? I mean, how long have I been in here.”

“47.72 earth years.”

“You mean, its worked? We really are approaching the rendezvous with the beings from the other planet.”

“The Neologians, Yes. We are approximately 2. 29 years from the designated location. Then she added. You should exit the pod and begin to utilize your muscles. The hibe system does utilize microstimulation so that your muscles do not atrophy while in hibe. But I find that it helps if you begin to move slowly and flex your various joints. Do be careful as there may be an initial feeling of dislocation as your body has to become acclimated to being erect. It changes the blood flow after a time in hibe. Let me assist you.”

“Oh, Thanks” and she grabbed the extended hand and sat up in the pod for a second. She felt Ginger’s arm move under hers and almost effortlessly was pulled to her feet inside the pod.

“I have found it easier if you stand for a moment before stepping over the side. I will be here to insure you will not fall.”

“You are very kind.”

“Not at all, it is my responsibility for the well being of all the humans on the ship.”

“Oh right. You are the humebot that was designed to aid the mission. Uh, how are things going?”

“That is an interesting question with a complicated answer. I think it best if you meet with humans. They will brief you on our status.”

“Why, is there something wrong?”

“Not yet. But it is complicated.”

“Oh, that doesn’t sound all that promising. “

“I am sure they will help you understand.”

“I will take you to Jonathon Cross. He specifically designated you to be the first one woke from hibe.”

“Jonathon? The man who organized the details? Why is he woke? Where are the leaders?”

Gingers ois transferred from Dayna out toward the pod bay and for the first time, Dayna looked around. “The pods, they are all still closed. What about the leaders? They were to be the first to be revived. “

“As I said, Jonathon Cross will explain it all. Are you able to walk away from here. Do you require assistance. I have found that humans often want to have a bit of time to adjust and perhaps acclimate themselves after being woke. Would you prefer to go to your quarters first? You would be able to take a sonic shower and put on fresh garments.”

Dayna for the first time began to feel the residue of all those years existing in a gas. All functions managed for her and she wanted to be rid of that memory. “That actually sounds marvelous. I think everyone should have a shower at least once every 47 years.”

Ginger’s ois glowed yellow. “Ah, you have exhibited humor. Fred Dawson will likely appreciate having you woke.”

Dayna followed Ginger into the TSL and the door swished behind them as Ginger said, “Deck 3, hall entrance 7.” There was very little sense of movement other than a vibration that came through the walls and floor of the small cabin.

“So Fred and Jonathon are not in hibe. Are there others?

“There will be. You are the first. They desire you to assist them with the revive process.”

“But I dont know anything about the hibe process. “

“You are a psychologist are you not. A Doctor of Psychology is your designation. You are trained in human behavior and response. You counsel humans to manage life situations. Is that not why you were place aboard the Arcielle?”

“To tell the truth, I’m not exactly sure how I got selected. There are many psychologists on earth. I didn’t apply. I just got a letter one day inviting me to an interview and then some time later was selected and put into the indoctrination classes. They gave me access to profiles of all the humans being sent on the ship. But I had nothing to do with most of them. My work was to really begin when we were to be woke prior to the rendezvous. Helping people adjust to the fact that almost 50 years has gone by on earth and how far they are now from when they were placed in hibernation.”

“Then you are ideal for the task ahead. Jonathon has said you were the human he needed the most…after Fred.”

Dayna’s eyes widened as she looked sideways at Ginger. “Really? But I barely know him.”

The door to the TSL opened and Ginger strode through, Dayna following, struggling to keep up with Ginger’s rapid pace.

“I assure you, he is very familiar with your record. We reviewed the records of all the passengers and together set the revive sequence. He wanted you out first.”

Ginger halted in front of a door. To the right was a panel. Above was 3-7-12 and below, Dayna Wyndham, Ph.D. Consultant. “That number is your cabin locator. You are on deck 3, corridor 7, cabin 12. Just say those numbers into the com panel and it will guide you. Please place your palm over the panel. It will scan your hand this first time and after only open with your hand print. You will have your own private space in order for you to conduct your responsibilities. Your personal goods have been placed here.”

The door opened to the right and Ginger stepped back to allow Dayna to enter first. She walked in, turning in a circle to take it all in. It was divided into two spaces. A sitting area with couch and chair with a desk against the wall above which was a small clear panel that showed the exterior of the ship and beyond the lights of the stars moving past. Behind a screen was her private space with a single bed, with dresser for personal affects and bathroom off behind a sliding door and closet mirroring it on the right.

“Well, its cozy but I tell you Ginger, after being in that pod, this is wonderful.”

“I have downloaded all your personal files into the computer terminal. You will be able to access them after establishing your voice activated code. She motioned Dayna to join her at a panel on an inner wall. This is the reconstitutor, the RC. It is programmed to translate energy into items. You can instruct it to prepare meals or other personal needs. It too will respond to your voice commands.”

Finally, Ginger handed her a small button. “This is your personal communicator. It will connect you to the ships main computer as well as to allow you to contact others. Just press it and begin speaking.”

“I will leave you now to get settled. May I tell Jonathon you will meeting him on the command bridge in one hour.”

“Make it two. It will do him good to wait a bit. I’ve been asleep all this time, I think I want to kind of catch up with myself. There is a lot of processing to do about all these events. I want to be ready to play my part with my own head screwed on in the right place.”

Ginger’s ois rainbowed as she first evaluated whether Dayna felt there was something wrong with her anatomy but then realized the context of the words. After a moment she replied. “Dayna Windham, I believe you are an excellent choice to have been revived first. It is good to have a woman here to tell Jonathon and Fred what’s what.”

“Well Ginger, you have obviously been keeping up with them by yourself. Now that it’s two on two, I think we will have them outnumbered. And please, if I am to call you Ginger, you must call me Dayna. That’s what friends do.”

CHAPTER 36:

The Consultant

Before leaving her compartment, Dayna regarded herself in the mirror. The standard issue jumpsuit for the crew actually fit her very well though not particularly the style she would have worn on earth. She looked at her face, still mostly unlined at 38. Amazing to think that she was 85 in earth years. Her light brown hair had continue to grow but at the hibe rate, so that it had accumulated almost a year’s worth of length. That’s something I’m going to have to deal with soon she thought to herself, never having liked particularly long hair. “I wonder if Ginger includes hair stylist among her many qualities” she thought with amusement.

She stared straight into the reflection of her green eyes. “Oh what have I got myself in for?” The project had sounded so simple and interesting when she had been originally contacted. And her ego was of course involved in that they had “chosen” her for the voyage. So many people had applied and most turned down. Now the reality of the rendezvous and being so far from earth and her life, began to overwhelm her.

She shook her head and gathered in a deep breath. Air, ah wonderful air. Oh well, it will turn out as it does. That had always been her mantra as she had worked her way through research and clinical experiences dealing with people who had to face stress. The aftermath of the wars and dislocation certainly gave her plenty subjects that needed her skills in helping them cope with major life changes. That all seemed so far removed now. Would her brain even function and return her knowledge and perception of human behavior that gave her insight in helping subjects cope. It had been her life until the time of climbing into the pod. Could she reclaim those skills?

Finally affixing the button communicator to the collar of her jumpsuit, Dayna took one last deep, slow breath. Well, its now or never. She approached the door, placing the palm of her hand on the panel and it swished open. Entering the hall outside, she realize she had no idea what to do next. Touching the com button she asked, “Where should I go?”

A disembodied voice replied, “You are to report to the command center. Follow the corridor to the left and enter the panel under the flashing lights.”

Following the instructions to the flashing lights, the door opened as she approached and closed behind her. Again she felt the slight vibration of movement but no real sense of up or down or direction. Within seconds, the door panels opened and she stepped out onto the command deck taking in the scene in front of her.

Ginger was at her station, fingers flying over the various devices on her monitor station. She turned her head without stopping and smiled at Dayna before returning her gaze to her readouts. Johnathon was across the deck engrossed in his work and unaware of Dayna’s entry. It was Fred, sitting in the command chair who upon hearing the panel open, swiveled the chair and took in Dayna’s arrival.

“Dayna Wyndham, reporting for duty.”

Fred paused for a moment, taking in her presence, a smile blooming out on his face as he rose and crossed over to Dayna and extended his hand. “Hi Dayna, I’m Fred. We really dont have much formality on this ship. Its a transport not really military so there is not a lot of formality here. I’m the chief engineer and sort of responsible for getting us there and back. You have met Ginger and know that its she who actually does the work. An over there is our resident strategist and doom and gloom projector, Jonathon.”

Dayna, slowly removed her hand from Freds. He had not let go, mesmerized looking into Dayna’s green eyes.

“Yes, well I presume I will have duties as well. Perhaps you should update me on what has happened and why all the original plans seem to have been altered.”

Jonathon had by this time straightened himself from being hunched over his panels and turned and walked around the room toward them. “Ah yes, Dr Wyndham. We do have a lot to do. I’m so glad you are here to help. Having reviewed your profile and background prior to launch, I particularly insisted that you be included on the roster. I’ll brief you on our status and what has to happen.”

.

Fred laughed. “Well, so much for letting you get your bearings and acclimated to life on Arcielle.”

.

Dayna smiled back at Fred. “Oh, its ok. I’ve had a good long 47 year nap, a nice shower, and some weirdly interesting RC’d food. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be to get to work. Turning to Johnathon, Please, you might as well drop the Dr Wyndham stuff. It seems we are all experts at something here and I prefer the more relaxed informality of just being Dayna.

“Of course doctor, er uh Dayna.” Jonathon stammered. “Where shall I begin?”

“Well, you might start with why I have been revived first when there are so many more important people on the roster.”

“Well, you see, the mission never really was as it seemed. The Neologians are not the friendly peaceful folk they made out. And our leaders had something totally different in mind as the outcome. They basically wanted to further dominate and control earth with the help of the Neologues. “

“So I take it, it is you who made the decision to alter the mission parameter despite all the preparations made on earth?”

“Well, yes, along with lots of people in the Resistance. But I was one of the few who knew what was really going on. And being out here, we are the only ones who can possibly save earth from destruction.”

“Have you always had this notion that you alone are blessed with the wisdom and capability of solving humanities problems? Were you given some sort of secret authority or are you just the messiah?”

“No.No. Of course not, but I was in a position that gave me access to information and then I was accidentally revived and had the chance to act on that information.”

“And you somehow convinced Fred and Ginger here to go along with your fantasy?”

“Its not a fantasy, Its real. It means the destruction of Earth life as we know it.”

“We’ve been gone from earth for 40 plus years. I dare say life on earth has changed dramatically. Perhaps all that information you had access to is no longer relevant? And you still have not answered my question. Why did you have me revived first?”

Jonathon stopped. All his certainty of action and self-assuredness that he had exhibited after his fusion with the nanobots and ability to consume energy and his feeling of righteousness in his effort left him. For the first time since being revived, he was left silent.

After a moment he said softly, “I need your help to convince the others when we bring them out of hibe. To help them accept the change in the program and the danger we face and the role they will have to play to survive”.

“I see. You want me to simply accept your word and then get the others to accept the danger you are putting them in. Something none of us signed up for. I am neither propagandist nor tool who can wave a wand and change people’s minds. You’ll have to convince me and then you will have to convince them. “

“OK. I’ll do what I have to do.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. It is what all megalomaniacs say and do.”

“I’m not that, really. I really do worry for the people and life on earth…despite how they’ve screwed it up over the last century. And really, we can make a difference.”

Dayna eyed him. Measuring his sincerity and being. “Then you will have to convince me with facts. I have the feeling that if Ginger is willing to go along with your thesis, there must be some data, some proof. It will take more than just your words to believe you.”

Fred’s smile grew wider as he realized how adroitly Dayna had managed Jonathon. It was the first time he had seen Jonathon not totally certain of himself and what to do. And he also decided, that Dayna was truly going to be a great help in their survival.

CHAPTER 37:

The new crew

Jonathan sat listening to the incessant bickering among the newly revived passengers. They wanted to control everything and redo everything. Even though they were carefully selected members of the resistance, their frame of reference was now almost 50 years old. They wanted to know about their families and what was happening on earth and why were they going to fight the Neologians wouldn’t be best to turn back and warn earth to be ready and any number of other opinions multiplied by the dozen that had been woke. Jonathan thought, not for the first time that perhaps it would have been better for just he and fred and ginger to undertake the rendezvous themselves. At least they were organized and focused on the task at hand. Jonathon thanked himself once again for his foresight in including Dayna Wyndham on the roster and for having revived her first.

It had taken Jonathan’s persistence, and patience, which he did not have much of in any circumstance, to walk Dayna through the situation they found themselves in. She had reviewed all the background information he could put together and spoken at length with Fred and Ginger before committing to doing what she could to help the revives to return to life and participate in Jonathon’s plan to prepare for an alternate response from the Neologians. It had not been an easy transition for any of them.

Individually, there were talented and potentially useful individuals. Collectively they were still acting as resistants to any authority. Their mentality was that of an underground, not as the group responsible for helping earth to survive.

One faction had developed thinking they would be able to negotiate with the neologians to bring them to the aid of the resistance. Another wanted to kill the M5 and those in any other pods containing the worst of the Order which they had been fighting against all their lives. And when Ginger had informed them she would not allow that to happen, they wanted Ginger turned off. That had been toned down when Fred reminded them that Ginger was the only one who could get them back to Earth after the rendezvous as they would have to go back into rehibe.

And then there were some who were simply overwhelmed by the experience. While they had survived physically in hibe, the length of time in hibernation had profoundly affected their personality and view of life. They would just as soon die then and there rather than be rehibed. It had been foolish to try and outwit life and play god with their lives. It was this group that most intrigued Ginger.

Fred had declared the command center off limits to the woke group. He had enough to do managing the ship without having to deal with the woke crowd constant questioning and inability to avoid touching something. Dayna had come to the command deck to consult with Ginger on establishing the work schedules of the revived crew. She and Ginger had formed an excellent relationship during the time of bringing the new members out of hibe.

After decades of being on her own with Fred and the last few years with Jonathon she had never experienced thought processes from a feminine perspective. She had formed a link with Dayna ever since the day Dayna asked Ginger to give her a hair cut. “Of course, Dayna, I am here to see to all human needs. I have access to many different hygiene programs from most cultures. Would you like it braided, bouffant, blocked or bald.”

Dayna had laughed, “Are those my only choices?” “

No,” was the reply. “I can do any type cut you want. I just like the sound of those styles mentioned together.”

“Ginger, you really are a marvel. That was quite funny.”

“I am not programmed for humor but Fred also seems to find what I say humorous at times. I am still trying to understand what makes what people say funny or not.”

“Don’t worry about it Ginger. Just be yourself. I really appreciate your gentleness and commitment to humanity. You are a very unique individual. Now about the haircut, I would just like it shortened to above my shoulders and made easy to care for. Can you do a razor cut?”

“Of course. Would you like to change color. I have accessed many styles from the mid 20th century in quite vivid pinks and purples and reds.”

Again Dayna laughed. “Now you are putting me on. No, I think I’ll stay with what my genes programmed.”

As Ginger set about her task, Dayna asked about her routines and things she enjoyed doing. And for the first time since her becoming conscious, Ginger felt a connection, an intimacy with another being. Her NN registered an awareness that she wanted to spend more time in Dayna’s company. She eagerly volunteered to aid Dayna with her dealings with the revived crew.

Dayna was naturally emphatic and allowed her emotions to show. It was those traits which made her such an excellent counselor to the revives. She could sense their concerns and needs. Ginger saw things straight forward as being as they were and was often confused by the unpredictable reactions of the new crew members

After they had agreed upon the changes in assignments and schedules Ginger asked Dayna for insight to some of the crew behaviors. “Dayna, I do not understand why pods 72, 120 and 206 seem to have given up. They sit and stare at the star screen ask to be saved but are not willing to do anything to make that happen. They are leaving their lives to fate or some imagined entity who will resolve all issues. They say the solutions are outside themselves. When I inform them that we are all working to make things turn out for humanity and earth, they say that is beyond our power.”

Fred turned the command chair after hearing the question to look up at pair and listen to Dayna’s response. “Ginger, all humans posses some innate feeling of a spirit that comes from the wonder of life at all, of even being alive. You know who and what you are and how you came to be here. The moment you were turned on, you were you. Humans must go through growth in both body and in their character which is an outgrowth of the development of their mind and consciousness. Some need to feel that there is a power outside themselves that will resolve or care for them and solve their problems..Others want to control every aspect of their lives no matter what situation they find themselves in. It is how each individual comes into being unique, bit by bit. Humans cannot be programmed which produces both good and bad aspects in each of us I guess.”

“But now they are fully grown. Do they not understand biology and genetics and the reality of life and so just get on with doing what they must.”

“Yes, I think so, but it is sometimes easier to believe that there is some thing greater than ourselves. It brings comfort and allows them to get on with their day to day lives if there is some other entity taking care of the big picture you might say.”

“Is that not what Jonathon and Fred are trying to do, manage the big picture?”

“Ah yes, but we are human too, well Jonathan is mostly. Thus we are flawed. No better or different than they are.”

“What about the others who want to eliminate the members of the order on board. They believe in nothing beyond their own feelings and anger at having been used and abused by the Order. They want revenge more than they want the earth to survive.”

Fred could hold back his comments any longer. “Now you see the logic in creating humebots without emotion. Each human has his own spirit inside that drives action far beyond logic and data and rational thought.”

Dayna added, “It is also that spirit inside each one which causes them to be the way they are, each one unique.”

“So the spirit in some humans causes them to be angry and revengeful and in others to be so tolerant as to be pawns to events.”

“I’m not sure it is as simple as that Ginger. But yes, no one human is like any other or even predictable.”

“How then do humans manage to get anything done with each voice being different in the way they view themselves and the others around them?”

Fred replied. “Did I ever say that humans were efficient, or even good stewards of humanity itself?”

“Fred, I don’t think you give humans enough credit,” said Dayna. “There are also such things as values and altruism that supersede our individual selfishness.”

The door to Command Center swished open and Jonathon entered,walked over to a station chair and eased himself down. “Even with my nanobot reinforcements, I have never felt so tired. I spend far more time trying to keep the humans from attacking each other or the hibed pods than I have in preparing the ship for the rendezvous. These guys are killing me.”

Ginger’s ois flashed green, “Are you physically threatened? Do you need medical attention?”

“Ah thank you Ginger, at least somebody is worried about me. No, it is just the mental strain of trying to keep them focused on helping us to negate the Neologians. And of course each one has a different idea about how we should go about dealing with the Neoogues. At least for the moment, they have not all agreed on any one strategy leaving our plan intact.”

Fred laughed. “And so they are really just as in the dark as we are about how this is going to happen. How do you really see what we are going to do after making contact? I mean, do we really have a plan other than seeing what plays out?”

Jonathon, despite himself, laughed as well. “I haven’t a clue. I am waiting to hear from our friend on the Neologian ship. Perhaps he will be able to give us an idea.”

“It has been some time since we have been contacted and it is not as if he indicated how we are going to be able to “manage” the situation. Our plan seems to be just to react to whatever happens. That does not seem to be much of a strategy.”

Jonathon thought for a moment. “You know Fred, you are right. Perhaps it is time we initiated some action and see what happens.”

“You mean we should send another message to our friend”.

“No, lets go for the big one. Let’s send a straightforward message to the Neologues. Visuals and everything telling them we are on our way and looking forward to meeting them. It is what they expect from us dumb earthlings anyway. Why not keep them thinking we are totally unprepared and helpless. And actually, it is something I can engage a few of the woke gang to work on. They were propagandists back on earth. We used many different methods to convince the public that the Order was not especially looking out for their interests. It meant we had to study the order’s methods. I’m sure they can come up with something that looks like what they would expect. Let’s see what that stirs up.”

Dayna cleared her throat and then spoke. “May I make a suggestion. I have studied the tactics of of groups that have had to overcome superior odds throughout history. They carefully hide their actual intentions by misdirecting or giving away false information, often seemingly inadvertently, as if they have made a mistake. The less organized we seem, the less likely the Neologians will take extreme measures when we meet. They will supremely overconfident.

“Excellent Dayna. Fred, it seems we have a very effective insurgent in our midst. May I suggest you and Ginger work with designations 147 and 28. They have the most experience in these things. They worked in propaganda for the Order to convince people that giving so much of their resources to the project was the best way to save the earth. They were from the Putin branch of the Order. They are used to creating a good lie. They were masters at adding subtle bits of information into Order propaganda that actually sewed dissension and questioning.”

Fred added. “Perhaps the “accidental information” might be that we are behind schedule and will arrive significantly behind the rendezvous schedule. We might somehow say we have had problems with power and engine output.

Ginger’s NN calculated odds and situations. “Actually, perhaps it would be better to suggest that we have speeded up in our anticipation of the rendezvous. That would be unexpected and give us some measure of respect. If they arrived and found us there already it might cause suspicion.”

Fred though for a moment. “Yes, but that is our plan, that we will be there in order to have time to prepare our nanobot net for them to pass through.”

“Then they would be less likely to take immediate action by being surprised thinking we would be late. That would only make them more suspicious.”

“You know Fred, I think Ginger is right. That might keep them from coming in with guns blazing.”

“We have no idea what kind of guns they have or that they wont be blazing anyway.”

“Well, things will just turn out as they do. And it will be interesting to see how they respond to our “enthusiasm” for actually making first contact. Ginger, do you think you could have the emission prepared by tomorrow.”

“It all depends on the efficiency of humans 147 and 28.”

As the pair turned to the opening to the TSL Jonathon added one more thought. “I know this might complicate things but I think we should somehow get all the humans to play a part. It is ok if there is a bit of dissension showing through our message. They have been studying humans for a long time. The know we are messy and disorganized. Plus they are anticipating that the humans on board will be visible. I don’t want to revive any more, but we do want to make it seem as if we have held to our schedule on most things.”

Ginger’s ois shaded purple. “ I will look forward to observing Dayna interacting with the individuals. It will be interesting to learn from other than you two. I need to have some hope that perhaps there are some humans who are interested in things other than the ship and the Order.”

The door closed behind them to the sound of laughter from the Command Center.

CHAPTER 38:

Dueling messages

The transmission from the Arciellele had created a flurry of activity by the DC. The earthers did seem to be as simple as was predicted. The DC consumed large amounts of Neologian Sensa as they reframed their plan in light of arriving at approximately the same time as the Earthers. They felt they would still have ample opportunity to distribute their energy mine field as they entered the rendezvous quadrant. The Earthers still had no clue that the Neo1 was not what it seemed.

The Intellos revised their transmission to reflect joy at finally meeting their long time friends from the other side of the galaxy. They had prepared smaller and less fierce Neologians including several females to be transformed into their belief of what humans would prefer in seeing a being from another planet to be their spokespersons.

Voice synthesizers were utilized to soften the harsh noise that was the natural Neologian speech sound. One hanger deck had been transformed into a habitat that included plant life taken from the Neologues travels in their sector. Few delicate items survived the fierce double suns of Neologue. The image was to be one of a friendly group of Neologues, demonstrating their tolerance and acceptance of different Neologue species together on the one ship.

Everything had been scripted and rehearsed. The intellos drew upon the centuries of emissions captured from the earthers. They wanted the earthers to feel comfortable with how they had brought a reminder of Neologue with them to keep them from missing their homes after the long journey.

Baktor had been summoned to the DC to see how more speed could be gained given the new ED. He felt he could gain at least another 1.4% efficiency from the engines without compromising the power system again. And in fact he was able to achieve 1.8%. It did increase stresses on the outer hull but all felt it was worth the risk. Unknowingly, it was taking more of a toll on the engine attachment point that had been stressed from the sudden shutdown.

Baktor was actually spending his time determining how to let the earthers know of the ruse. He had to send another message, but now the use of a gravity wave was out of the question. Some on the DC still harbored suspicions regarding Baktor despite his put down of Tranche.

He had declined to demand the truth getting ritual being performed on Tranche. Actually, he was worried it might actually prove Tranche’s innocence. Tranche had been banished to the management of menio tasks. However, it did not mean that Baktor underestimated his ability to cause harm.

But he had new means of keeping track of Tranche. He had turned Quislos into reporting Tranche’s behavior to him. After Tranche’s defeat at the DC, Baktor had confronted Quislos with his evidence of Quislos unlawful entry into Baktor’s headquarters. Denouncement would have meant Quislos’ death. It took very little time for him to change sides. Now Baktor knew all who had supported Tranche and Quislos was most effective in keeping Baktor aware of any threats.

Ultimately Baktor developed another way to send a message to the earthers. He would use the Neologue’s own transmission to the earthers. By piggybacking his code onto the official message, there would be no separate signal. It would just be electronic noise accompanying the message. He had to trust that however the earthers had understood his other messages, they would be able to identify his code as outside the official message.

After 11 hebdos, the DC gave their approval of the transmission to the Earthers. It had been worked and reworked to their satisfaction. And extra ration of NeoSensa had been ordered they were so pleased with the result. And with a command to the ITC, the signal was sent out toward the earther ship. All that could be done now was to finish preparations for the rendezvous and await the earther’s response.

When the Arciellele received the transmission all the woke crew was invited to see it. At first, it had its desired effect. Several felt that it totally confirmed their idea that the Neologues were the peaceful species we had been left to believe. Why all this talk of treachery? Look, they live in such a lush habitat on board their ship. None of the pod chemical life for them. Think how they might be able to improve life on earth. And weren’t they an attractive bunch as well. Several of the woke men expressed their appreciation for the Neologue females. And they even had children along. Who would bring children on a war mission?

It was 147 who pointed out that this was a very tried and true propaganda tactic. Lull your enemy into thinking that you are a gently family loving species and they are less likely to look for sinister meaning. And 28 noted how pat the entire transmission seemed. There were no flaws to be found which of course meant it had been highly scripted and only showed what the Neologians wanted the earthers to see.

Utimately it was Ginger who unmasked the transmission. She reran the tranmission on her monitor panel at speed and sound levels the humans could not replicate. And she discovered the hidden electronic noise that was Baktors signal. And once she translated the signal, her NN began searching the data archived in her memory cores.

The humans were gathered in the common room. They were in varying levels of argument over the transmission and its meanings and whether the Neologues could be trusted when Ginger entered and spoke.

I believe the transmission is a false flag intended to make us believe the Neologues are something they are not. “”

“A false flag Dayna questioned? You mean they are assuming another identity. How can you be certain? “

I detected an additional message, hidden in the transmission electronic signals. It is in the same code as before. It is from our contact on the ship. “”

Jonathon quickly approached Ginger. “How does the message prove the original is a fake? Does it say that?

“” No, it simply says, “Live long and prosper”.

“But,” Daya said. “That is a message of peace. It makes perfect sense to include that. It is a background message added to the main message. We used those subliminal clues all the time. Our contact is reassuring us.”

“I think this is a warning,” Ginger said immediately. “I referenced its origin. It is taken from a popular science fiction emission of the late 20th century.“

“So it is still a supportive message. “

“I referenced the original emissions from my database. The visual image of many of the Neologues are direct copies of a supposed alien race depicted in those emissions. They have stolen images from 200 years ago, to make us believe that is what they look like. Obviously, they have been hiding their real selves from us since first contact. Despite their claim that they received only sound transmissions, they have been able to receive visual signals. And I would infer they could have been able to send visual signals as well.”

Her ois flashed red as she added, “They are not to be trusted.”

Chapter 39:

The race to the rendezvous

Jonathon had left them to it. The woke crew was working on the next transmission to the Neologians. He could no longer stand the bickering and pettiness of the culture they had brought with them into hibernation. Yes they were opposed to the Order but that did not make them superior human beings. They exhibited all the failings of humanity that had led to hundreds of years of domination by the Order. Fear, certainty, inflexibility, superiority, incompatibility with other cultures, inability to work with others. Those traits taken individually, made for good resistants. The problem was, most humans contain all those characteristics in each one. No wonder the Order had been able to maintain control for so long by playing to the gullibility of humans. Why had he even tried to make a difference?

It was his tiredness he realized. Ever since emerging from hibernation with the evolution of the nanobiotic entities within him, he had felt energized, different, human but not human. He felt alive for the first time. It was his connection with the hive. They were positive, focused, efficient, open to ideas, hard working, not self concerned. The good of the hive was the good for all.

These last years, working with Fred and Ginger had also been invigorating. He did not have to be hidden, the man behind the throne, the fixer who no one recognized. All those things had not mattered. Fred was always able to be challenged with technical and mechanical pursuits. Once he accepted Jonathon’s statement about the Neologians, he had turned his mind, his brilliant conceptual and technical mind, to the enhancements to the Arcielle. He had worked himself to exhaustion to achieve his designs.

And Ginger. That had been the real key to these last years for Jonathon. She was complex yet simple. Things were as they were, no conflicts, no second guessing. It was the computational challenge for her as well as the imperative to prevent harm to her humans and the ship. She never wavered. He had come to admire her clarity of thought, not to mention her technical and mechanical and vast intellectual capabilities. And in a strange way, she was very model human, caring, thoughtful and sensitive to others. She was human in ways most humans never would be.

So what would happen when they arrived at the rendezvous. Though they knew there was a like minded individual on Neo1, they had yet to really be given any clue as to whom or what that person was, or how they could help solve the problem of first contact. Jonathon had always been the one to solve the problems for others, but at this point he had no real plan for how to resolve the confrontation. And he was so tired.

He rose from his station connected to the CCC where he was analyzing data and projections of time to rendezvous and resources available to them and went to his bed. His mind was a swirl of ideas and problems and options and resources available.

Slowly, his nanobiotic self came to the front of his being. We are together. We are not just one but many. We are active. We always find a solution. We are strong together. And as his human self slept, the hive continued its buzz. They enjoyed this challenge. It was about them and their ability to overcome problems. That is why they existed. Why they all existed.

The hive was now totally a part of all aspects of the Arcielle. “It is our home. We must protect it. We must protect our humans. What can we do? What are we willing to sacrifice to ensure the success of our existence. How do we grow stronger? What other things can be done?They worked while others slept. The only one who did not sleep was Ginger. She is more like us than the humans. How can we help her? “

Jonathon rose from his bed feeling better than he had for weeks. Somehow, revitalized. His doubts of the night before removed. Ah, the restorative benefits of sleep he thought to himself. The hive did not contradict him though it had been their tapping into the energy core of the Arcielle that had provided the power to Jonathan. They needed Jonathan to be refreshed and positive and committed.

“Hello Ginger,” Jonathon said as he entered the command center. “Pulling an all nighter as usual.”

“I experience no night or day. Time is just the passing of reality from one instant to the next.”

“Right of course. My point is you are constantly on duty.”

“It is my ability and role. Her ois focused on him as he sat at the console next to the command chair. You do seem refreshed. Did you have a good regeneration?”

“You might say. I did get some sleep. I have been so worried about our mission and the possibilities of our failure that it has been difficult for me to fully disengage at night or whatever the end of a human day is here in deep space.”

“Yes, Fred has spoken of his beat, the circadian rhythm of humans. But you are not necessarily susceptible to those same biological requirements any longer. You are able to translate pure energy into sustenance.”

“True, but I am still very much human and very much susceptible to the implications even though I am much improved by my nanobiotic parts.”

“You are thankful of your evolution and connection to the robotic world.”

“Interesting choice of word, thankful. That is a human word. I did not think robots saw things as good or bad to be thankful or not.”

“I would disagree. I have a very strong understanding of what is good or bad. It would be impossible for my programming to perform a task that is considered “bad.”

“And how would you know or define that?”

Ginger’s ois flashed a variety of colors as she considered the question. “There is a very long history of robotic program based upon the principle of “ do no harm”.”

“Are there not a wide range of possible interpretations of do no harm? For instance, would it mean that you would sacrifice one or a few individuals in order to save many? What if the option is to do no harm to one person when you know that it would mean destruction of many? Would or could you do that?”

“I do not speculate. Each situation is unique and I would have to make a decision based upon the data of the moment.”

“Then that means, you could do, or allow, harm to one or a few if you determined at that point the greater good would be served.”

“I do not speculate.”

“And what if the sacrifice of a few “good” humans, meant the saving of a large number of humans you know are not good, who in fact exhibit the most negative aspects of humanity as their being. What would be your decision, save a few “good” humans at the expense of a large number of “bad” humans?”

“Each situation is unique.”

“And what about the Neologians. Must we assume they are all bad or good?”

“No entity or individual is either bad or good. Those are false equivalencies.”

“Ahh Ginger, I admire your ability to see things without feeling. Unfortunately, you are dealing with beings that do not have your NN and programming. No genetic being I have ever encountered is without fault or goodness. The problem is what dominates and at what point in time the characteristics are demonstrated. You see, I do believe that there are good and bad people. What is their normal behavior pattern determines my definition. Some good people do occasional bad things and vice versa.”

“Thus you agree with my position, each situation must be determined on its own.”

“Your logic program is certainly consistent, I’ll give you that. I hope you find it that easy when situations require making a choice. Anyway, back to reality, what has been happening while I was sleeping.”

“Fred has further enhanced our velocity due to the nanobot strengthening of the ship structure. We are now only 0.5791 EY from the rendezvous point.”

“And have our helpers completed the next transmission to the Neologues.”

“I will project their work to you. I believe it is appropriate.”

“Believe is not a substantive word of support. It’s meaning is a statement of lack of data.”

“That is correct. Since I have no data on the way the Neologians understand and accept information, I can only infer from what I have seen that this is an appropriate next emission.”

“Ok Ginger, I do accept your inference. Would you project it for me please.”

The transmission consisted of individual members of the woke crew speaking directly to the camera, telling their personal stories of learning of the first contact and how it drove them to become a part of the voyage. Many expressed joy at finally seeing their counterparts on Neo1 and how they felt positively about the future of the two species joining in harmony for the betterment of the universe.”

At the end, Jonathon said, ‘Pretty good. I dont think I could have done it better myself.”

Ginger’s ois turned yellow. “I cannot look at it without realizing that it is no more truthful than the transmission from the Neo1. It cannot be trusted either. It is a complete fiction after the parts about how these individuals have spent their lives wanting to be part of first contact for positive reasons.”

“I would say this is a situational decision. We want them to believe our image to them. And part of that is true, humans do want to explore and meet new peoples and worlds. Even with the avarice of the Order, that part is very human.”

“That is not exclusive of humans. The hive and I wish to expand our connections to the universe. But we do not deceive others.”

“Perhaps you will have to. And since self preservation is the number one goal of any entity, we can assume that the hive, and you, will also have to make that choice.”

“Even at the expense of the many?”

“Who knows Ginger? Who knows?

CHAPTER 40: Final Approach

Deputy Supreme Doleur Gargan paced back and forth in front of Baktor. “You have done well. We are nearing the rendezvous and as the Earthers are responding as expected. Now we must set the trap. Have the space mines been prepared for dispersal.”

“Yes DS Gargan. As soon as we are within visual range of the rendezvous point we will begin ejecting them as we make a large turn into the agreed upon meeting point. They are disguised as communication beacons as directed. Their purpose will be to amplify the signal back to Neologue so that they can join us in celebrating our contact with the earthers. Once the earther vessel is inside the net, they will be activated, trapping the earthers inside and then we will have them at our mercy. “

“Excellent. I have told the Doleur Council of your skills and attention to details. You will be amply rewarded and you family given priority advancement in your class. My faith in you has been justified despite the incident with Tranche. Even I was worried at one point that you might have lacked the resolve to insure the success of the mission.”

Baktor regarded Gargan silently. Actually, he felt Gargan was a more enlightened Doleur than any he had ever met. In other circumstances he would have likely been a willing acolyte. Despite himself, he felt remorse in betraying him in his effort to destroy the class system that kept most Neologians subservient to the desires of the Doleurs.

“May I speak freely DS Gargan?”

Gargan stopped pacing. “You have my confidence Baktor.”

“It is just… well, is it necessary that we destroy the Earthers. Neologue exists quite comfortably with everyone knowing their position and role in support of the future success of our culture. Would it not be possible that the Earthers would join in that acceptance? Is it necessary that we eliminate them? What if they agreed to join us in resolving our needs on Neologue? They seem quite willing to make alliances.”

“Baktor, Baktor. There is much you do not know. Our planet is rapidly depleting its resources. With the vaporization of Earth and the transport of its elements by the fleet, we will have guaranteed the viability of Neologue for at least another 300 solsturns. It will keep your family and so many others, alive and in power.”

“That is my point DS Gargan. What if they posses technology or resources that will resolve our problems that would bring resolution far beyond 300 solsturns?”

“Are you questioning the decisions of the DC? Could Tranche have been correct that you have become too infatuated with the Earthers?”

“It is not that DS Gargan. However, I have recognized that the Earthers are quite an interesting race. They seem to overcome problems throughout their history despite events. And the method they have designed to make it to the rendezvous is an example of their adaptability. I am only suggesting that perhaps they might be able, and willing, to assist us in addressing the resource problems of Neologue. If we destroy them without an actual dialogue of possibilities, we may miss an opportunity to achieve an even greater success for Neologue. I am a Techno. If we destroy the Earthers, I will lose the chance to review their creations and skills. It will be lost to us.”

Gargan was actually the most thoughtful and adaptive of the Doleurs. He himself had argued in the DC that an initial alliance, as proposed by the splinter group of the Order, would be useful and buy the Neologues time to determine the potential of using the Earthers for Neologues advantage. The hard liners, the doctrinaires, the rapacious, had overwhelmed his questions. He dared not bring the issue up at to the DC again.

“The decision has been made Baktor. You are in no position to question the DC.”

“Of course not DS Gargan. I was jut wondering if there might be other ways to achieve the mission. I look at the loss of the chance to review and incorporate Earther technology as a potential detriment to our future.”

“They are simpletons. You have seen their transmissions. You have studied their culture… and I might say, far too much. They are totally driven by acquisition of monetary credits. Their culture is designed to create mindless following of trends and status. They have no understanding of their own history or their responsibility for their future generations. I do not believe such a species deserves to exist. Neologue is the future. We will be masters of the galaxy between our two worlds. We have no need for them. And I strongly suggest you banish such thoughts from your mind. Were you to express these thought to any other Doleur, you would be immediately subjected to the truth getting ritual. Be careful what you say, and think, Baktor.”

“I understand DS Gargan. It is only to you that I give these questions. I felt it my responsibility to identify other solutions to our needs.”

“You presume too much Baktor. And should I hear these ideas expressed again, I will not treat you so equally. I suggest that you stick to your Techno responsibilities and leave the future to the Doleurs. You are dismissed.”

Baktor saluted and exited SD Gargan’s habicle taking the tube back to EL1. Quislos was waiting for him as he emerged. “Chief Techno Baktor, I have some important information for you. But I cannot tell you in a public space. “

“Then come with me into my habicle.” He placed his hand on the panel, opening the hatch, not making his usual check of the counter. Quislos followed him in. Yes, what is this important information.”

Quislos bowed low, looking up at Baktor, his eyes skewed sideways. “You know I have not failed you.”

“I know I do not trust you, so what is it you need to tell me.”

“Doleur Tranche. He is planning the elimination of DS Gargan as soon as the Earthers are in the trap.”

“He would not dare kill Gargan.”

“Did I say he would kill him. No. He will discredit him by linking him to your treachery.”

“You know I am a loyal Neologue. I am planning no treachery. This is his own fantasy.”

Quislos hesitated then spoke quietly. “Craxit has given him the codes to the mines. He will disable them at a critical moment and it will appear as if you will have failed, and the Earthers will escape. But then Tranche, along with Head Mechano Vitesse will perform an emergency start of the engines to bring the Earther ship into range of the Atomizers, destroy them, and claim the victory for himself.”

“Craxit is an idiot. I have total confidence in my design of the mines. They will not fail.”

“That is beyond my understanding. I only report to you what I have learned, as you demanded of me.”

Baktor studied Quislos carefully. He stood bent, wringing his hands, looking up crookedly at Baktor. “And so how are they going to do this and make me responsible. I am in control of all aspects of the energy mines?”

“I am not a techno. I am just a lowly menio who has been threatened by both you and Doleur Tranche. You required me to report and I have. Now I must return to my duties. Doleur Tranche does not countenance my being absent.” Quislos grovelled low again and left.

Baktor grunted, tired of all this deception on his and others part. “Of if we only could have just made a true peaceful contact with the Earthers. I did so much want to learn from them.” He went to his recline space, removed his uniform and tried to put all the conflicting thoughts of his day behind him. I’ll think about all this tomorrow he thought. Though he tried, all the events of the day kept repeating themselves, over and again, in his mind.

So now it was going to be Tranche disabling the mines, allowing the Earthers to escape, at least for a time. Well, perhaps that might not be a bad thing. That was his own intent. He did not want them destroyed. He wanted them to succeed in getting away and warning Earth of the threat posed by the Neologians. But there had to be some sort of trap set with this plan. Tranche would not want to be linked to anything jeopardizing the mission.. Of course Tranche would blame the failure on Baktor. How could he avoid being implicated. And as he went over the possibilities in his mind, he fell into a deep sleep. It would have to wait until next hebdo. He was just too tired to make any more plans at this time.

Totally forgotten was the door counter which showed one opening more than he remembered.

CHAPTER 41: The trap is set

“Jonathon, are you sure you think this is the best way go about this?” Fred asked. The entire crew was seated around the large table in the commons.

“I dont really see any other way. I believe they are expecting to be in contact with the M5 just before arrival. I know all the procedures and signals so am really the only one who can replace them. on our next transmission I will personally make the contact and explain we had failures in the hibe system and I am the next in line to organize the rendezvous. My name and status was well communicated in all the discussions leading up to the agreement on mission parameters, so I am not unknown to them.”

“But do you really think you should head out to their ship before we have had final discussions with them after their arrival.”

“I dont really want them to have too much time to think about things. Besides, if your plasma field works as designed, I will be the only one able to communicate with the nanobots that will have attached themselves to the Neo1. I need to find out if there are any vulnerabilities and how we might be able to exploit that. You know I have some abilities that most humans dont including being able to exist on pure energy and for a period of time without oxygen. My nanobots will protect me. Besides, you are the only one who can operate the weapons systems and understand the info I send back.”

The others around the table sat silent, contemplating the impending confrontation. Jonathon was actually concerned that they might not be able to play their parts in managing the defensive systems and other aspects of the ship. So much fell to Fred and Ginger to resolve.

Fred reviewed his check lists on the monitor placed in the table. “Well for the moment, the plasma field is stable and the nanobots seem to be ready to stream to any object passing through. The engines are on standby for emergency exit but at low power. The weapons systems will be off line until they have come to a full stop? But what if they come in shooting.”

“That is another reason I want to be out there to meet them before. I will be vulnerable and that should make them hold off for at least a bit until they pick me up and interrogate me.”

“Well then, I guess it is time for your transmission. They are due to arrive in a couple weeks. That should give us the chance to make sure everything is ready. All the rest of you, you have your jobs to do. We will need everyone to play their part if we are to succeed at this. No pressure, it is only our own lives and that of all earth depending on how we perform.”

The looks around the table did not express their comfort with that thought. Dayna stood up. “Ok Jonathon lets go an prepare your transmission. I want you to project a clear position of authority and confidence. Any lack of certainty on your part will make them feel they can roll over you.”

“What I want them to do is trust that I can deliver what they want. Which is to turn the ship over to them without a problem and before we can send a warning to earth.”

Dayna said as she walked to the TSL, “I’ll await you in the Communication Center then.” The rest of the woke crew left with Dayna to take their various stations.

Ginger watched them leave then turned back to Fred and Jonathon. “Their physio readings are not at all positive. And there are two, 232 and 24, who I believe will not be able to perform when the pressure comes.”

“Please alert Dayna about your concerns. And when the time comes, you will have to monitor their performance and step in if need be at the proper time,” Jonathan replied after a moment’s thought.

“And Fred how about you.”

“Oh, I’m not worried at all. I mean we only have to count on a bunch of nanobots finding the vulnerabilities of a galaxy traveling ship and communicate it to us before we ourselves are destroyed. The untested weapons have to work as designed the first time and then we will need the power to the engines instantly if we need to escape. A piece of cake.”

Ginger’s ois flared. “You are counting on an earth confection to save us?”

Despite themselves, Fred and Jonathan laughed.

“Ah Ginger, you are some kind of special,” said Jonathon and they laughed again when she asked, “And what kind is that, specify?”

“I’ll explain later, now we need to get Jonathon to the Communication Center.”

At the signal Jonathon began.

“Greetings to all of you on the Neo1. I am Jonathan Cross. I am in charge of the Arciele and we are looking forward to your arrival. I must inform you that there have been multiple failures in our hibernation system along the way. Our engineers have managed to save many of us but I regret to inform you that several of our leaders did not survive. As I am next in line of authority, I have assumed responsibility for the mission.

Check your logs of our negotiations before launch and you will find my name often representing the Order. I am fully prepared and empowered to greet you, conduct the negotiations between our peoples and carry your message and our treaty back to earth and the Order.

I also inform you that we have prepared a complete dossier on our technical developments which we propose to share with you in return for similar information. Notwithstanding our hibernation system failures, the Arciele has many innovations which I believe will be of significant aid to you. For example our fusion powered propulsion system has proven to be far more efficient than anticipated. It enabled us to approach point 0.597 of the speed of light which is how we have arrived far ahead of schedule.

As a gesture of our good will, I will personally meet you upon your arrival with a sample of what we can offer. I trust that will demonstrate the many things we can share between our two cultures.

I await your response and arrival.”

Chapter 42: Taking the bait

Once again Baktor stood in the semicircle before the DC. “ What do you make of this Chief Techno Baktor?” Gargon asked after he was shown Jonathon’s transmission.

Remembering Gargon’s admonition about being too supportive of earth, he chose his words carefully.

“Despite our best efforts and the new ED, we have only been able to reach within point 0.417 the speed of light constant. If what he says is true, they must have more than simple power and speed. They must have a ship able to manage the intense gravity wave that builds up as you approach the constant. If we were able to examine their ship structure and design, it would likely give us tremendous advantages in our exploration of the galaxy.”

SD Desod interrupted. “You feel our ship is inferior.”

“Not at all SD Desod. I merely responded to the question. The closer you can achieve the constant of light provides exponential increases in speed. It would reduce travel times by a significant factor giving us greater superiority and the ability to explore even further without requiring more resources for the crew.

However, I do not believe simply examining formulas and design specifications are the same as actually examining the implementation and manufacturing. The only way to truly translate that information, would be for me to actually board the ship to thoroughly understand how best we could adapt their concepts to the Neo1.”

Another member of the DC spoke. “According to Doleur Tranche that has been your objective all along.”

“Doleur Tranche has suspected many things that are not true. However, if it would mean improving Neolgian designs, why would that be a bad thing. I feel it is important to think of the long term and the future of Neologian exploration and conquest. We can only be even stronger and more successful. Efficient design ideas are positive, no matter who has the original idea. It is how it is utilized that makes the difference between cultures.

Once we have access to their design information we will have no more need of them. And they will not be able to escape our electron mines anyway. What difference will it make if we wait until after we have stripped their ship of their resources and information to the overall accomplishment of the mission before we destroy them. But I do think of the long future. If we destroy them immediately, we will lose the chance to become even stronger for the final assault on Earth.

Such advances would also benefit the fleet which follows us. It would make the transport of earth resources far more rapid. That will benefit all of Neologue.”

Gargan cut him off. “Thank you for your views Chief Techno Baktor, you may leave. The DC will decide what strategy best suits the benefits to Neologue.”

Baktory saluted, turned and left through the guarded hatch returning to his habicle.

At first Baktor thought how foolish the earthers had been to expose their advantages. If anything, it would make the DC even more committed to stripping earth of any possible resource.

Yet the more he analyzed what he had seen, he realized the earther had really given away nothing. It was all words and promises. There could have been many reasons for their early arrival, not the least Baktor’s own contacts. And if the DC did respond positively, it had bought the earthers time. It would avoid their immediate destruction. And why would that be to their advantage unless they themselves had their own plan of attack. How could he help them succeed?

Despite the danger, he planned another message. Whatever the response to the DC, whether they would actually defer the Arcieles immediate destruction, he knew they would respond in the spirit of cooperation. A new tranmission would be sent from the Neo1 and prepared by the Intellos. He only needed to piggyback his own message as he had done before. How could he help the earthers know where the Neo1 was most likely to be damaged or delayed from capturing them. It was obvious that the earther ship was faster but could it withstand the Neo1’s weapons and the long experience they had in using them. What clue could he give them?

While his brain considered, he went to his recline space and carefully removed one support leg that appeared to be a solid piece connected to the frame. It was not much of a challenge to a Chief techno to manufacture a support piece with a hidden compartment which contained his memory crystal. There would be no visible or physical change to the exterior of the support. It would be impossible to find. That is, it would would be impossible to find had there not been a visual recording device hidden behind a light fixture, awaiting retrieval by Quislos.

After programming the crystal with his message, he rose, checked that all was normal in his habicle, and looked at the door opening counter as he exited on his way to his access point to the Central Transport Computer to await the transmission to the earthers. He wanted to be ready.

CHAPTER 43:

Farewells

“Are you sure you want to go through with this Fred asked? I mean, we could beat it out of here right now and likely outrun them to earth.”

“But that would not give earth much of a warning now would it. And their weaponry would likely overwhelm earth defenses. The point of us coming on to the rendezvous would have been lost.”

“Once you are inside their ship, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to retrieve you.”

“That is why I am counting on you and Ginger to make sure that the Neo1 does not make it out of here. If I can get to an escape pod I will. My nanobiots will alert Ginger and you can come get me.”

Ginger looked up from her monitoring panel where she was tracking the approach of the Neo1. “Jonathon, I calculate your odds at survival at less than 2 percent. Actually 1.89 precisely”

“Well then, there you go. There is a chance I will make it back to earth after all. But dont let me down Cuz, I’d hate to waste myself for nothing.”

“I just wish we could figure out the meaning of our Neo1 friend’s message.”

It had been the usual positive response to Jonathan’s offer of exchange of technology from the Neologians. Tracept had replied as the leader of the Neo1. He looked like a gentle elder, whispy hair on top of his round pinkish skin face. A white flowing gown covered his body. He showed some of the botanical species growing in their ship as examples of the marvelous items the Neologues had to offer earth. Of course they would also be happy to exchange technology information as well. They looked forward to meeting him upon their arrival.

Upon receipt of the transmission, Ginger had immediately discovered the hidden message that had come with the official one. “Screw your courage to the sticking place.”

Jonathan had asked, “Ginger, what does that mean?”

Her ois rainbowed as her NN searched for the reference. “It is from a play by a famous author of plays from early 17th century England. This play is called Macbeth.

“Context please Ginger.”

“Macbeth is being urged by his wife to kill the legitimate king so that he can take his place. But he is not certain that he will succeed. He says, “But what if we fail?”. His wife replies, “We fail. But screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not fail.

They had debated for days the implication of the message. Fred felt it was just another message of having the courage to go through with their plan and that somehow their “friend” would be able to help.

Jonathon however, felt it was more specific. “It has to be a direction. Something we are to look for if we are to succeed. Not just go for it. That’s no help at all.”

The three of them had examined all aspects of the play to look for other clues. Ginger had replayed the roles as performed by various actors over the years. None gave more of a hint to its meaning. In the end they had just gone back to making their final preparations and decided to let the message play out in the end.

They were on the bridge watching the star screen as the Neo1 came into view. It took a sweeping path around the rendezvous point. Every so often, a small glow of light was left in their wake.

Fred pointed them out to Jonathon. “That looks to me like they are laying a trap of their own.”

“Can you tell what they are and are they inside our nanobot plasma field?” Jonathon asked Ginger.

Her fingers flew across the panel. They appear to be energy beacons. They have been laid in a very precise pattern. Possibly for communication purposes…However, they contain far more energy than required for that purpose. Most are between 21.7 and 24.5 kilometers from our position. However, there are 3 in quadrant 270 that are between 19.1 and 19.7 kilometers.”

“So those must have encountered our nanobots. Perhaps we will begin to receive some telemetry from the nanobots to help us figure them out.”

“I will attempt to establish contact,” Ginger said. “But it likely far to early for any analysis”

“There is one other thing,” Ginger said. “By using a spiral entry rather than coming straight toward us, the Neo1 has passed through the field multiple times. The hive will have sufficient numbers covering the Neo1 to begin initiating their program. Should you make it on board, you will have their support however that might help.”

“We shall do just fine,” Jonathon said, looking one final time at the view screen.

“Well, it is time to go. Lets do our jobs.”

Jonathon rose from his chair as did Fred who walked over to him and wrapped his large arms around Jonathon in a fierce hug.

“You know cousin, I did not know what to think of you when you first emerged from the pod. I did not trust you for a long time. Now I am so thankful of how this has turned out, no matter what happens. These last years would have been a lot less fun without you. And we would likely already be dead had they come at us weapons blazing. I want to thank you for all you have done and for bringing me to life a bit too, even though it was not always what I seemed to want at the time.”

“Don t count our success just yet Fred. At least we have a chance. And who knows, this just might all work out. No matter what, our grannies would be proud of us.”

Jonathon stepped up to Ginger’s level. She turned as he approached. “Ginger thank you for making life so stimulating for me. I have greatly enjoyed all our conversations about the ship and the mission and all the things we have done. But most of all, the most important have been our talks about humanity, and sentience and what is being. Just remember, programming is programming. Decisions are based on reality.” Gingers ois turned purple.

“May I?” Jonathon asked. And he reached out and took her hands in his, bent forward and kissed her on both cheeks. “Just a little something to remember me by,” he said quietly. He lingered for a second looking into her ois, then turned through the door to the lift. Ginger remained still, watching him leave as her ois shaded to rose.

Before he actuated the door, he said, “I will alert you as soon as I am ready to launch the shuttle and head out to the Neo1.” And he was gone.

Fred and Ginger looked at the door for a moment before breaking the spell, she returned to her panel and Fred retook the command chair. “Prepare launch sequence. As soon as Jonathon’s shuttle has left the hanger put in place the defensive force field. And be sure to tell the hive, that Jonathon is on his way. He will need them…and so will we.”

Chapter 44:

The welcoming committee

. The Neo1 slowed to a stop three kilometers away from the Arcielle. As Jonathon approached in the shuttle, even he was awed by what he was seeing. The Neo1 dwarfed the Arcielle. Each of the two engine pods alone were as big as the earther ship. Their design had to be based on supporting a large crew for the journey so far more room was needed to provide quarters and food and support space for all those required to keep it functioning.

He could not help reflecting how much more efficient the earth ship was. The ability of the Arcielle to manage pretty much on its own, with only robots and Ginger to keep it going through space had been a clever adaptation requiring far fewer resources and energy. The Arcielle appeared delicate with a flowing design compared to the enormous bulk of the Neo1.

He opened his comm link. “This is Jonathon Cross approaching the Neo1. Please instruct me regarding approach and docking.”

At that moment a large opening appeared in the middle of the ship, the lights momentarily blinding him with their brightness. He reduced the power to minimum and glided the ship through the opening, hovering it while the opening closed behind him. It was all or nothing now he thought, allowing the shuttle to sink to the deck.

He waited, knowing that atmosphere would have to be reestablished before he could exit or the Neologians could reenter. He stared at the screen which showed him to be in a very large space. Containers were stacked all around the walls from floor to ceiling. Conduits and pipes and large machine objects were organized throughout.

It looks like they brought me into the servants entrance he thought. Nothing first class about this entry. But again, he was awed by the scale of things. A door opened at the far end and a single figure emerged and headed toward the shuttle. As best he could tell, it was Tracept. At least their head man had come to get him. That was a nice touch he thought. He tried his comm link to Ginger, no signal penetrated the hanger deck. He was on his own unless he could connect to the hive which had been dispersed around the outside of the ship as it passed through the plasma field. How long would they take to be in position to help him?

Jonathon released the hatch and climbed down the stairs onto the deck as Tracept approached. He was much larger than he had appeared on the transmission. And his head appeared odd, not quite as smooth or as animated as he had expected. The white tunic also did little to disguise the heft of the body beneath. He held a device in his hand and began to grunt growl in his language. Out of the device came: “Welcome to the Neo1. We are pleased to have made contact after all these years. Please follow me and I will escort you to our high council who are in session awaiting your arrival.”

“In behalf of Earth, I bring you greetings. It has been a lifetime of dreams coming to fruition in this first contact between beings.” The device related his words in a series of guttural sounds he presumed were the Neo1 language.

Tracept replied. “Before we leave the hanger, have you brought with you the promised technology documents you wish to exchange. We desire to begin reviewing them immediately so that we can determine what items we might give you in return. No sense giving each other things we already have. That would be a wast of time.”

“Quite right. And I appreciate us getting right to the point of things. I will retrieve my case from the shuttle.”

“It is our way to be direct. Follow me.”

Tracept let Jonathan back to the hatch and then into the TT. He uttered sounds in the Neologian language which the device did not translate.

“Nice ship you have here Tracept,” Jonathon said as he placed his palms against the side of the TT feeling its texture. “By the way, I hope you dont mind me calling you by your given name. We are pretty informal on earth.” The device remained silent. Oh well though Jonathan. They dont seem to be the friendly type for chitchat. Again he noted the bulges of Tracepts form pushing against the folds of the white robe. These are really big guys he thought again.

The hatch opened onto a corridor that was empty. The ship had a décor that Jonathon described to himself as “early industrial”. Harsh surfaces, little color other than browns and grays. I dont see a lot of fun going on here he thought. Again he trailed his hand along the wall as they walked.

He followed Tracept through another hatch which was the anteroom to the DC. “You will be welcomed in there,” he said through the device. “I will remain here.” The door opened and Jonathan walked through. The DC were seated at their semicircle table…without disguises.

Jonathon had anticipated that they would not be as they appeared in the transmissions but even he was startled at their true selves. Their plate like skin was thick and rough with fissures and bony growths. Their heads large on a thick neck and heavy body. Behind him the hatch closed and two of the larger Neologians moved from the side to in front of the door, He was certainly not going to be able to bolt through those two guys he thought.

Figuring the guy at the center of the table was the real head guy, he approached. On the table in front of SD Desod was a translator device. Might as well take the initiative he thought and he walked straight to him.

“While I’m a bit surprised to see you all in the flesh, I am happy to be the first earther to greet the leader of the Neologues. He stuck out his right hand.” The militoes behind him began to stir. “On Earth sir, we greet everyone with a shake of hands. It shows our openness and lack of interest in doing harm. It is how we relate to friends.”

Desod sat unmoved, listening to the translation. Slowly he raised his arm and extended his hand which Jonathon reached across the table and grasped and shook in a firm grip. Desods huge hand dwarfed his, and his clench came close to breaking bones and likely would have if Jonathon had not had his nanobiotic enhancements.

“Thank you sir,” he said, finally extricating his hand . “I hope that is an indication of our future cooperation.” Then he waited.

Desod took his time, reviewing this being in front of him who seemed not at all put off by the Neologian visage. The Intellos told us they would be afraid when seeing us.

“You have brought the technology documents.”

“You certainly are a very focused culture. Of course.”

He handed his case to Desod who passed it to Gargan. “Call Baktor. I wish him to review the information.” Then nothing while Gargan spoke into his pmd. He then spoke to Jonathon.

“How is it that your leaders were destroyed in their transport to the rendezvous.”

“Oh, it was tragic. It seems that after all that time, there was contamination inside the hibe system. Some of the pods began to experience bacterial growth fatal to human organs. While it appeared that all was well on the surface, their insides were turned into mush.”

“What is mush?”

“Sorry sir, I am not a scientist, that is just my way of describing that their inner organs basically disintegrated.”

“And why were your organs not also disintegrated. How did you manage to survive?”

“Well, as you know sir from reviewing our negotiating documents, I was more of an organizer of the voyage , not a decision maker. So I was in a pod further away from the nutrition source where the bugs came from. I guess they would have got to me eventually. But luckily, for me that is and the others, an alarm was finally raised and the bugs eradicated.”

Gargan’s forehead raised ever so slightly. “How fortunate for you.”

“I guess you could say that. It was so sad for the rest. But never mind. Those of who survived are here and looking forward to all the cultural exchanges. When will we be able to begin our discussions.”

“They have begun. You are here. We will then decide after we have an analysis and discussion of your technical documents.”

“Well sir, I am not a technician. I really dont know much about engines and power units and ship systems. I’m a cultural guy. I would not know what to make of any such documents even from our own ship. I just carried them over. I presume you will understand them.”

Baktor entered and saluted. Gargan handed him the files which were contained on a portable slab screen. “What do you make of these?

Baktor looked down at Jonathon before opening the file. “Are you the chief techno of your ship?” he asked as he began to touch the screen as Jonathan showed him how to move through the schematics.

“No, as I was telling your head man here, I deal with arrangements. Unfortunately our chief engineer was killed by the same bug that affected our leaders. But our deputy engineer is quite good and he prepared the documents taken from the engineers personal files.”

While Baktor continued sorting through the screens he grunted his thoughts to the DC. “They do have a very interesting method of transferring power from the generator. And the fusion system would likely be very adaptable for use in weapons as well as thrust for the engines.”

And then to Jonathon through the translator. “It is unfortunate that your chief engineer has died. I would have liked to discuss his method of calculating the fusion mixtures he has developed such as is here on this schematic. So what kind of bug killed him. Was it a beetle?”

CHAPTER 45:

The Exchange

Jonathon regarded Baktor with widened eyes. Had he really just heard what he heard?

Gargan interrupted. “Our Baktor here has made quite a study of earth culture. He has been looking forward to the exchange between our planets for quite some time.”

Jonathon looked back at the DC seated around the table and made a decision. “Then I would say there is no time to be wasted. May I suggest that Baktor be sent over to the Arcielle in my shuttle. He would gain far more information directly from our ship than is contained in these schematics. And we could begin to discuss other exchanges of a more cultural variety while he makes his analysis of our technical aspects with our current Engineer.”

SD Desod glanced around the table. The members were all nodding their assent. It was remarkable how open these earthers were. They had not thought it possible that they would be given such immediate access to the Earther technical information. It was going to be even easier than they had suspected in conquering Earth and stripping it of its resources.

Desod spoke with the translator left on. “Baktor, prepare yourself to travel over to the Earther ship and begin the technical exchange. We will want to be back underway within one hebdo. There are many other suns and planets within this sector of the galaxy for us to explore. Deputy Chief Milito Jahwain will accompany you as honor guard.” He pointed to the larger of the two militos at the hatch who responded with a salute. “You may leave immediately.”

Baktor gave his salute and left through the opened hatch followed by Jahwain. Jonathon thought to himself that if Baktor truly was their friend and wanted to help the Earthers, it would take some effort to overcome that massive form of Jahwain. But he had to focus on his own problems.

“Now then,” Jonathon said. “How about giving me a tour of your ship? I am amazed at the size of it. How many of your are aboard? Where do you gather? I’ve so many questions and things I want to see. And it will help me as we begin to discuss other options for exchange.”

Desod responded automatically. “Deputy Supreme Doleur Gargan will take you through the ship. He will decide what you may see. You will begin immediately as we wish to commence our return voyage as soon as possible.”

“Thank you sir.” Jonathon replied with a slight bow. “I have been waiting a lifetime for this opportunity.” The hatch was opened and he left following Gargan into the corridor and to the lift. As they entered, he asked, “Can we start at the top, with the command center? That is always where the most action is and I’d like to meet those who keep the ship running smoothly?”

“Our culture is highly organized. Each Neologian has his own role to play and focuses on those tasks. “

“What if you want to change jobs, do something different?”

“Why would you want to do that? Each job is important. It is about performing your assigned task as maximum efficiency. And some people are more suited to some tasks than others. There is no need to change.”

“Well, that is one major difference I would say between our cultures. Earthers love change.”

“Then how do you master your responsibilities?”

“Oh, I guess we just muddle along until we get the hang of it. It is the challenge of the new that drives us.”

The translator hanging from Gargans thick neck, squawked. “I am afraid our device does not fully understand your language. We have programmed it with all earth languages but it seems unable to give me a complete translation of what you just said.”

“That’s a problem a lot of earthers have too, understanding each other, even when we speak the same language. We use lots of terms that are more popular than correct so that must make it difficult for the translator to understand the full context. What I meant to say was, Earthers are pretty adaptable. We enjoy new experiences. We try to grow and learn, get out of our routines”.

“Then who performs their original tasks?”

“Oh somebody will come along. Or we make a robot that will do it. By the way, I do not see many robots on your ship.”

“We do not need robots. We do our own work.

“Even when a robot could do it more efficiently?”

“We take pride in doing our own work efficiently.”

“And if they do not?”

“They will be replaced by someone who will.”

“Ahhh yes,” said Jonathan as the hatch opened upon the command center.

“First, do you think I could be permitted to use your communication channel to alert the Arcielle of your representative’s visit so that they might be prepared to assist him?”

Gargan nodded and gave an order to a Neologue techno standing by a large panel filled with screens and buttons. Johnathon walked over placing his hands on the side of the panel casually as he watched the techno enter commands. “It is ready for you to talk.”

Will they see me too?

“Yes of course.”

“Hello there Ginger. I have had a very nice reception here on the Neo1. They are very eager to engage in exchanges and in fact it is their chief engineer type guy whose on first for the exchange. I’m sure he’ll be able to ‘splain everything to you that he will want to see. And may I suggest Ginger that you personally help him keep the monkey of failure off his back. You are the only one capable of ensuring his success. By the way, dont be surprised by how they look. I guess there are many different types of Neologians, just like with humans.”

While he spoke, his hands brushed the panel, leaving behind some of his nanobots who immediately flowed into the system. They began building communication pathways to the bots on the exterior of the ship and to those on the three mines stationed out at the perimeter.

An alert sounded. The techno looked at Gargan. “There is an incoming message from the earther ship.” Gargan nodded approval. Ginger’s face appeared on the screen.

“Jonathon. Your message has been received. I will do my utmost to comply. Fred has asked me to determine if you have any additional requests or information?”

“Just tell Cuz that it’s likely too bad that he wont be able to come over and see the Neo1. It is an amazing ship. They want to continue their voyage in just a couple days as I understand it. I’ve begun to review their cultural offerings that we might take with us. So we have to make sure everything is ready for us to leave at the same time. I guess we are all eager to get home.”

On the main screen in front of the command chair, the shuttle emerged from under the Neo1, headed across the distance between the two ships and disappeared inside the bay on the Arciellelo.

Jonathon turned to Gargan. “Well, it looks like we have made a great beginning, Now what about showing me some things that we might bring back to earth representing your culture. And we need to start discussions about future cooperation and treaties.”

“There will be time for that. I will now take you to meet with our Intellos. They are empowered to identify potential options for long term relations. Final decisions will be made with the Doleur Council.”

Before they could reach the hatch, it opened and Tranche burst into the room. “Gargan why have you allowed that traitor to go over to the earther ship?”

Gargan growled back, his translator continuing to function. “Tranche, not now. We have been through all this before. He is performing his task as required of him by the Council. The Earthers have been totally open about sharing their technology and information with us. Why do you continue to question his commitment to the Mission?”

“But I have proof!” Tranch shouted and held out his hand. In it glowed a memory crystal. “I found this in a hidden compartment in Baktors habicle.”

Jonathon noted the anger and frustration in the Neologue called Tranche. This did not look like it was going to turn out well. We need to move quickly he thought, and his nanopart self transmitted that message to the hive and thus to Ginger.

CHAPTER 46:

A friend indeed

Baktor emerged from the cramped space of the shuttle, towering over Ginger who was standing waiting at the base of the ramp to the hatch, her ois rainbowing the permutations flowing in her NN. Her ois then focused on the even larger creature who followed. She quickly reviewed their physiology, ois going microscopic to determine their genetic and organic makeup.

“Welcome to the Earth ship Arcielle,” she said using her VR human female voice.

Baktor surprised her by replying in English, heavily accented and in his deep Neologue voice, but clearly understood. “I am Chief Techno Baktor. It is a great experience for me to be the first Neologue to visit an earther ship and to meet a human. I have studied your culture and language for many solsturns and have always imagined when this day might occur.”

“I am not a human. I am a sentient robotic entity in human form. I am prepared to take you to our lead human left on board in the absence of Jonathon Cross who is on your vessel.”

“What is she saying and why are you communicating with her in earther language?” demanded Jahwain.

Baktor turned toward Jahwain and replied in Neologian. “How do you think I will be able to carry out my mission of finding technology that we can use in their conquest if I am unable to translate their language. Can you read or understand their markings or what they have given us? How would you know what to take or not?”

“That is not my job.”

“It is my job. And what is yours?”

“To see that you do your job and serve the Mission.”

“Then do your job and I will do mine.” Switching back to english he turned back to Ginger.

“Please excuse my guard. He is bred to be suspicious of all things, especially Neologians who seem to have a brain. Besides, he did not spend his youth watching Earther emissions as I did,” and he barked his neologian version of a laugh.

“You are not what I expected either,” Ginger replied. “But I am pleased you are here. We have much to communicate. Let us proceed to the bridge and Fred Dawson. He also has spent a lifetime thinking of this first contact with a Neologian.” and only due to Gingers relatively small stature was she able to squeeze in. “Bridge,” she ordered.

Fred was waiting as the door opened, Dayna at his side. Though a large human, he was overwhelmed by the two giants who emerged, almost doubling over to exit the door from the lift. He extended his hand which was immediately taken by Baktor. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I have lived my entire life waiting for this moment.”

To his surprise, Baktor reached out and gave a firm but not crushing shake. “I have seen this done many times between humans. I know it is an important greeting of friendship.”

“I don’t understand, how could you have seen this?”

“My father was an Intello. He was given the job of reviewing Earth emissions and determining their meaning. He had to learn earther languages in order to do the analysis and report his findings to the Doleurs. It opened my eyes and mind to different ways of thinking.”

“The Doleurs?”

“Yes, our leader class.”

“Kind of like our Order?”

“I think very similar. Am I correct in thinking that we regard them in a similar manner? We are the lone Rangers”

Fred looked up at Baktor. “It was you then who sent the messages?”

“Yes.”

“At great risk to yourself.”

“It had to be done.”

“And now what?”

“What has to be done. They mean to destroy you and all earth. They must not be allowed to leave this space.”

Jahwain could not control himself. “Use the translator or I will take you back to the Neo1.”

“This is what is known as polite conversation. I am gaining their confidence. We are not discussing anything of importance. After these formalities, they will show me their engines and other technical things. That is what we came to do. You would prevent me from completing my orders from SD Desod?” This last said forcefully enough that even Jahwain backed down, not wanting to go against the instructions from the DC.

“Then get on with it.”

Dayna had been closely observing the interaction between the two Neologians. “It does not seem as if you two are in agreement about how this visit is going.”

Baktor slightly raised the edges of his mouth as he had seen humans do in transmissions. “You will have to excuse my eager companion. He is not used to being out of his own space and knowledge base, narrow as it may be. Perhaps we should go through the motions of you showing me some of your ship. We can converse as we wish along the way as long as it looks like I am being given information. And actually, I am most eager myself to see your fusion generator and engines. From what I saw of the schematics, they are far superior to our systems.”

“Do be careful Fred,” Dayna said quietly as the the 2 Neologues filled the lift space. “I think our friend is all he seems, the other, a danger. As Fred and Ginger squeezed in she added, “I’ll monitor things from here.”

As the panels were closing, Fred looked across and Dayna and gave a brief smile and a “Thanks”.

It was in the engine room that Fred returned to their conversation. “So what do you intend to do.”

“I do not know. I came to warn you of your destruction. I am prepared to sacrifice myself to see that it does not happen.”

“Then you will go back to your ship.”

“That is the only plan I have.”

“Well, perhaps there is another.” And he handed Baktor a panel. “As you can see here, we have prepared a few surprises of our own. It is Jonathon who seemed to have been aware of the plans for the use of the Neologues to dominate earth. We have had time to make the Arcielle a lot more formidable than when it left.”

Ginger had been following behind, observing and listening. Suddenly her ois flashed white.

“We have been alerted to a problem on the Neo1. It seems as if our friend here has been accused.” The nanobots have transmitted a message that our time may be short.

Baktor handed back the tablet. “I’ll not be able to do much with my escort here hanging over me. I’ll be forced to go back to my ship.”

Ginger hesitated for a second, calculating, then quietly walked up behind Jahwain and extended her arm up to behind his thick neck. A bright arc of electricity bolted from her finger. Though almost twice her size, she caught Jahwain as he fell, gently gathering him in her arms.

“I have calculated the dose of electricity and will have approximately 12.55 minutes to take him into the force field for holding. I will meet you on the bridge.”

Baktor, eyes wide and mouth open, watched her carry the inert form of Jahwain into the TSL and disappear. “That is a very special robot you have there. I would not like to have her angry with me.”

“Oh she does not get angry. But she does get things done. We’d best hurry. On the way you can tell me what I need to know about how we might be able to survive this day.”

CHAPTER 47:

Getting to the truth

“This is not looking good for our friend.” thought Jonathon. He was standing in the corridor outside the Council Chamber. He had been left by Gargan under the stern eye of a Milito.

“You will remain here until you are called for,” Gargan said as he went through the hatch with Tranche. It was clear it was an order. And what was he to do? He had sent his shuttle back with Baktor and now had lost access to the command center. But he had left behind many nanobots and the hive was working. They were busy following pathways into all the ship systems provided to them by the main communication links opened to them by Jonathon’s touch.

Since there was no sign of what would happen to him in the next few minutes, Jonathon closed his eyes and went inward, listening to the hive buzz with information. He willed the hive to send a message to the Arciellele through Ginger saying the situation was getting critical. Our “friend” may be in trouble. And if they believe that Baktor is not there for reasons of the Neologues, I cant imagine they will wait long to attack and destroy us.

The bots on the outside of the Neo1 were searching for stress points and places where the Neo1 might be vulnerable. Any openings or seals were investigated. A picture of the ship was being developed based upon potential target points.

In space, mass of course does not matter. The Neo1 was designed for deep space but began its construction under the 2 Neo suns. Thus it was heavily shielded to prevent radiation waves from penetrating. That also served it well defensively. The hive calculated that the Arcielle’s weaponry would do little mortal damage if fired randomly at the Neo1. It would require a surgical strike if they had any hope of eliminating it as a threat, let alone thinking of its destruction.

Jonathon followed their progress in his mind’s eye. The more he released his physical self, the better connected he was to the hive. And he perceived information from the bots attached to the mines. Energy, they reported. Lots of energy. We like energy! What to do with all this energy? Save it for us was the decision. It can be used for us.

Inside the ship, the bots had reached the CTC. They swarmed down the central command link and were positioned along all control pathways. We are here? We hear things. And what they heard, Jonathon heard.

First was a transmission across to the Arcielle commanding Baktor to return immediately with a separate message to Jahwain to insure Baktor’s compliance. He heard Fred’s voice. “Your representative is deep within the center of the ship next to the fusion generators. It is impossible for messages to reach there. Is there something you wish for me to tell him when he returns?”

The hatch opened. Gargan appeared. “You will enter.” Tranche stood at the side, calm settled over him, arms crossed. He had won. At the center of the table SD Desod seemed ill at ease. He hesitated before he began, the translator glowing.

“What do you know? What have you learned about us? What have you been told?

Jonathan gave a look of incredulity. I have no idea what you are referring to. I have negotiated in good faith with the representatives of Neologue for over 50 years. What I know is what you have told me. If I thought any different, why am I here, on your ship? You have me under your control which by the way is not exactly the way I would expect an ally to be be treated.”

“You have been contacted, recently, by someone on this ship.” Desod seemed unsure of himself, his voice shaking.

“You know our system. I was in hibernation until just before arrival here. How could I have been in communication with anyone?”

“Then on your ship, someone has been communicating with a traitor.” Desods voice rose. “And he is now on your ship, giving away our secrets.” His voice broke. His emotions causing him to visibly shake.

“It was you who sent him to my ship. We are exchanging information. That was the plan. I know nothing other than that and I am not there so have no idea what is happening.”

“You will tell us.” Desod rose, unsteadily to his feet. “You will tell us! You will be subjected to the truthgetting ritual,” he thundered. And at that point, he clutched his head with his hands. “What is happening to me. There is noise…in my head. Stop it. Stop.” And he fell to the floor, pounding his head repeatedly while the DC ran to hold him still and shouted.

Jonathon stood silent. “My, my, those crazy little nanobots he thought.” His crushing handshake with Desod had squeezed out quite a few. They were not happy with how he was being treated. Serves him right.

CHAPTER 48:

A cry for help

The two engineers quickly formed a personal bond. Baktor’s review of the design data had given him a fundamental understanding of the Arcielle’s capabilities. He had no doubt the Arcielle could outmaneuver and outrun the Neo1.

“You will be able to get underway far more rapidly than the Neo1. But their firepower and defensive shielding is far superior to what I see in your schematics.”

“Oh we do have a few things that might surprise your colleagues.”

“And I’ll be able to help you from over there when the time comes,” Baktor added. I left a flaw in our energy diverter that will bring the ship to a halt for some time. But even with that, you will be pursued and Earth will never have enough time to prepare for our attack. And we will be followed by the transport fleet carrying troops and weaponry for battle on earth.”

“As bad as that?”

“Earth will be totally destroyed. Every iota of usable material will be taken back to Neologue. Earth, and all its inhabitants, will cease to exist”.

“I dont understand, Why do your leaders want us annihilated?”

“Because we have pillaged our own planet these last hundred solsturns. It was all for the military and the Doleur class. They control everything. And so they used what was left for the conquest of space around us. With that now close to exhaustion, everything was put into the achievement of the mission, the rape of Earth and the conversion of its people and resources into the necessities that will keep our planet viable for another couple hundred solsturns. Without Earth, we will not survive.”

Fred regarded Baktor intently. “And you signed on to this voyage to make that happen?”

“I signed on to prevent it from happening. I am part of a group that sees other ways of our culture surviving. One where the Doleurs do not control all resources and people. If the mission fails, we will finally have a chance to break the hold the Doleurs have on our planet.”

It was just then that the message demanding Baktors return to the Neo!1 came through onto his PMD.

Baktor was about to reply when Fred shook his head. “No you must not reply. We need some time to figure out what best we can do to get us and Earth out of this mess. I will need your help.”

“If they demand my immediate return, it means something has happened on the Neo1. I may have been discovered. I will be controlled, perhaps killed. And I will not be able to help you from there.”

“That settles it then, you have to stay with us. It is your, and our, only chance. Let me reply saying you are in a shielded area or some such engineering speech. Unless there is a techno among the leaders at the moment, they will not know the difference. But we do not have much time.”

Fred had just replied when the com link inside the ship squawked in a high pitched voice. “Help me! Help meee!”

They exchanged glances. “It is Jahwain. He must have escaped. We need to get there immediately. He will destroy her.”

Fred ran to the TSL followed in by Baktor. He yelled as the door closed, “Emergency speed override. Code FD 42. Direct to Deck 7.” They lurched against each other as the lift launched itself down into the ship.

The door slid open and Baktor headed out at a run, his large form surprisingly quick, Fred followed realizing he was not likely to be able to do much against the huge Milito. But with Ginger in trouble, he forgot any idea of self preservation. It was about Ginger.

Jahwain and Ginger were locked in struggle. Jahwain was holding her from behind. He had bent her left arm at an angle and was holding her right forearm in his his preventing her hand from touching him. He had lifted her and was shaking her violently. She was using her feet and legs to attempt to deliver a kick back to his body but Jahwain held her far enough out to avoid and but the most indirect of blows.

Baktor gave a loud growl in Neologian just before slamming into Jahwain’s side pulling away his left hand from its grasp on Ginger. The three of them were entwined as they hit the deck. Baktor began pummeling Jahwains body with his fist while Jahwain wrapped his left arm around Baktors head and neck and squeezed with all the power in his mighty frame.

Fred arrived and joined in the melee and was also taken down onto the deck in the confusion. Ginger was unable to use her left arm to release herself and was caught between the two Neologians. Finaly Fred found himself with both hands on Jahwainse right hand and began attempting to pry the hand away from Ginger’s right arm. The adrenalin and anger in him at this attack on Ginger and her iinjury surged as he took hold of two of Jahwains fingers in his hand and pulled them back toward him with all his might.

There was a pop and Jahwain cried out, letting go of Ginger but now reached out despite the pain and wrapped his large hand around around Fred’s’ throat and began to squeeze with all his might ignoring the pain and Baktor’s pounding in his midsection.

Ginger rolled free from the men, her NN unsettled at first. She looked over seeing both Baktor and Fred caught in Jahwains powerful grasp. Fred was not going to last long. She got to her feet quickly. Her ois were a burning red and she walked directly back to the men, Jahwain saw her and tried to roll away with the other two men. Avoiding the thrashing arms and legs, she waited for a moment to judge an opening and reached down and pinched the back of Jahwain’s neck, injecting a neurotoxin into his bloodstream.

After an instant, his eyes rolled up backward and his muscles became useless, letting go of Fred and Baktor. Ginger immediately went to Fred and examined him as he coughed then retched violently onto the deck. Baktor rose and looked down at the inert form of Jahwain. “Did you kill him?”

“Of course not. I cannot kill entities.”

But he would have killed us. And he was about to destroy you.

“That did not happen. However, I realized I had underestimated his muscular density and ability to recover from the initial electric shock I administered. I had placed him on the bed and had turned to walk over to initiate the deployment of the force field when he attacked me from behind. I apologize for my mistake. This time, I made certain of the amount required to neutralize his neural pathways. I am positive, he will be incapable of moving for at least 1.34 earth hours.”

Fred by this time had recovered enough to rise and walk to Ginger, putting his hands on her left forearm which was turned outward at a 45 degree angle from her elbow . “Ginger, you are hurt.

“Fred Dawson, you know I do not feel pain. My left arm is bent. I believe you are an engineer. You should be capable of resolving something as simple as that.”

“I will take you to your regen chamber right away.”

Baktor shook his head. “I’m afraid we do not have enough time for that at the moment. Let’s put Jahwain into your force field. I do not want to take any chances he will be revived more quickly again. Then we need to return to your command center. I will need to report back to the neo1. I am surprised they have not yet sent another message demanding my return.”

In the TSL on the way back to the bridge, Baktor looked down at Ginger. “When you called for help, you used a different voice other than your normal one. It seemed very familiar to me but I am unable to place it.”

“As Jahwain grabbed me, I felt trapped and knew I was about to be overwhelmed by a much larger presence. My NN flashed upon a film from mid 20th century earth when the protagonist who was a half human half insect was in a similar situation cried out for help.. I did not think, I just reacted using that voice and those words.”

Fred and Baktor spoke at the same time, “The Fly.”

Fred added as they exited the lift and he saw the Neo1 looming large in the view screen. “I think we are all still in about that same situation. Unfortunately I don’t think there is anyone out there who will hear our cry.”

Ginger was already at her monitor panel, fingers on the right hand flashing across its face. Her ois rainbowing with input. Not any “one” perhaps, but this time it might be the swarm of flies that defeats the spider.”

Chapter 49:

Tranche in the center

Gargan exited the TT into the corridor heading to the DC Chamber. He and two militos had taken Desod to the Dispensary where he was now under the care of the Medicos. The “noise” in his head had so destabilized Desod that he had been given a heavy dose of a tranquilizer. For the foreseeable future Desod would be unable to exercise his duties. As the Deputy Supreme Doleur, it would be Gargan’s responsibility to carry out the plan to strip the Arcielle and then move on toward Earth. He had already formulated his plans as the hatch opened.

The scene was totally different from the chaos that existed when he left. It was quiet, the DC members sitting in their places apparently awaiting Gargan’s arrival. Seated in the center chair was Tranche. Gargan stopped abruptly, outraged.

“Tranche, what are doing at the council table? You are not a member. And why are you sitting in the command chair. I am the DSD, it is my role to take over now that SD Desod is incapacitated. Get out of that chair and of this room.”

Tranche regarded Gargan without moving. “The Council has made a few decisions while you were absent. It was an interesting question you see as to why, you have so strongly supported a traitor over these last solsturns. A proven traitor. Not only have you shielded him from being held accountable, you have sent him over to our enemies. Why was that?”

“It was clear, Baktor was the only one capable of determining the technology that we will want to take from the Earthers. And further, I do not need to answer to you.”

“So you sent a traitor over to take things from the people he has conspired with. I don’t believe the Council feels that he will be giving us an accurate accounting of what they have.”

“I do not care what you believe. It was the decision of the Council and SD Desod. You have no right to question such a decision.”

“Oh I believe I do. You see, the Council has lost faith in your judgment. How can we trust you now, after your support for a traitor?” The last words were spit out of Tranches mouth.

“The council has made a decision. You are relieved of your position. Further, they have selected me to take over as Supreme Doleur. I am the only one who has been warning the DC all along of the dangers presented by Baktor. And why have you supported him for so long? Well, we intend to find out. You will be subjected to the truthgetting ritual, along with the Earther and Baktor when he returns. He has been recalled. Deputy milito Jahwain has been ordered to return him to the ship.”

“This is not possible. You have poisoned the DC with your lies for too long,” Gargan yelled and began advancing on Tranche.

But Tranche had prepared. Militoes!” he ordered. Two militos positioned at the end of the table intercepted Gargan and two who guarded the door came up from behind. He was surrounded.

“You wont get away with this, Tranche. My family are on the Inner council. They will destroy you and your relatives.”

“Oh I think not Gargan. By the time of our return, I will have led our successful assault on the Earthers. We will be returning with all the treasures of our voyage. You will have been shown to be a traitor or having abetted a traitor, which is the same thing. You will certainly be begging for my mercy by the end of your truthgetting ritual. And I will not help you. Your name will be associated with that of traitors in all our history. Take him away.”

“I have not collaborated with Baktor. I am telling the truth.”

“The ritual will find out all. And even if you were unaware of Baktor’s treachery, you were duped, you were stupid to trust a traitor. Either way you are finished. Militos, you are ordered to take Gargan directly to the Ritual chamber. Let me know as soon as the Earther and Gargan have been prepared. I will want to interrogate them myself. I have been looking forward to this for a long time.”

After Gargan was taken away, Tranche turned back to the Council. “Back to the business at hand. What is the status of Baktor’s return?”

One of the DC looked at the screen in front of him. “Baktor and Jahwain have acknowledged receipt of the order. Baktor further indicated that Jahwain is completing the loading of the shuttle craft with various items being offered by the Earthers. He estimates docking with the Neo1 in .023 hebdos.”

“Excellent, Have a full milito team there to meet him and take him directly to the Ritual Chamber. I’ll not want any time wasted. Nor do I want him to raise any alarm to the Earther ship. I will want to send others over to review what the Earthers really have to offer us. They have truly fallen into our trap now. I’ll want to strip that ship of every bit of technology and protein they have…before we destroy them. This is going to be a glorious day to report back to Neologue. The first major step in achieving the Mission. Alert me when the shuttle craft arrives. I will be in the Ritual chamber, dealing with the Earther and Gargan.”

He rose from the table and looked around him at the DC. They all responded with the salute. “Yes, I’ll have it all now,” he thought as he passed through the hatch .

CHAPTER 50:

The trap is set

First there was the argument.

Baktor was adamant. “I must go back to the Neo1. Your colleague is trapped there without the shuttle.”

Fred took his time in responding. “Let’s think this through. First of all, it was Jonathon’s plan to take the shuttle over and put himself in their hands… well, or maybe, to put them in his hands. And he has been successful at that. His nanobots have infiltrated many of the key systems on your ship. And we are able to communicate with him through them to Ginger.

Second, he knew the risks before he went. It was his decision.

Third, Even if he did somehow manage to make it back to the shuttle, it is unlikely they would allow him to make it across to us. Is that not true?”

“Yes,” was the gruff answer.

“Fourth, you are far more valuable to us here than if you were over there. And you seem to believe that there has been something happen to have caused them to issue your recall without time to complete your mission here.

Fifth and not at all least, where I am at the moment is that I’m just an engineer. I know nothing of galactic politics. But I’m pretty sure when I’m able to contact earth again, they will listen to my story with a huge amount of skepticism. Why didn’t I revive the main leaders of the trip? Why are most of the pods still not revived? Why did I not come back when the recall signal was sent a year ago? Perhaps Jonathon could explain it and get them to believe the danger we face, but me? Not a chance. You however, are the evidence. So if you really do want to save earth, I think you need to come with us and help us get out of here.”

Baktor had listened quietly to Fred. “I would say, for an engineer, you make a very good political case. I am an engineer who also uses facts. You know, they will not allow us to leave. We will either be destroyed…or they must be “

At this point, Ginger, who has been listening while continuing to monitor systems and the hive added. “Engineers are quite logical. You are both correct in your reasoning. You also need to know that there has been a large energy field projected around Jonathon. The hive is buzzing.”

“That must mean Jonathon has been placed into the truthgetting chamber.”

“The what?”

“We have a, well, you might say, ability, to make people reveal what they do not want to reveal. It is impossible to fight it. It requires a large portion of our energy to create a concentrated field around an individual that fires all your neurons at the same time. Your entire body is like it is on fire. Few people survive.”

“You mean it is like a torture chamber.”

“Yes and No, it leaves no physical marks. It essentially destroys your nervous system, your sense of self.”

Fred and Ginger both thought of Jonathon in that setting but it was Ginger who spoke. “They will find that Jonathon is…unique. The hive is prepared as well.”

“Then we need to move quickly,” Fred said. “We have to buy ourselves some time to get out of here. What about those recall orders? And then we need to avoid being blown apart on movement. And lastly we need to somehow prevent your ship from following us or being able to destroy earth.”

“Ahh,” said Baktor. “Some engineering issues.”

Jahwain was strapped into the second seat of the shuttle, still unconscious. Baktor had taken Jahwain’s PMD and responded to the order from the council that all was well and he was returning with Baktor and items from the earthers. He also sent his own pmd over to ensure they believed he was aboard the shuttle and returning as well. He had programmed it with a special code that could be initiated by a signal he would send from the Arcielle. Upon receipt, it would trigger a diversion of the energy flow from the replacement ED away from weapons systems. He explained there were bypass options but it would take some time, and skill to override his program. That gave them a window of opportunity to draw the Neo1 to its destruction. That was the engineers plan at least. What was unknown, was how long Jonathon could hold out against the ritual. Timing was crucial.

The three of them decided their roles. Fred would handle power and engines.

Ginger had first been asked to manage the targeting and weapons systems but declined. “I am not able to take action that will destroy an entity.”

“But you can respond and redirect fire far faster than either of us can. They will kill us otherwise,” Fred explained.

“I can not. I will not.”

“Then can you manage the defensive systems?”

“I am designed to protect entities. That is an acceptable function.”

“Then pay attention to the nanobots on the surface of our ship and those spread onto their ship and the mines. Keep us aware of their status at all times.”

“That means you Baktor. It will be up to you to decide how and when to strike your own ship. Can you do that. Can you destroy your own people?”

“I will do what must be done. It is the Doleurs who have created this situation. It is their intent to destroy entire civilizations. I have dedicated my life to trying to prevent that from happening.”

“Then it is time to send the shuttle. We will have about 15 minutes before they discover you are not on board. We have lots to do.”

CHAPTER 51:

The Ritual

The ritual chamber was a large silver ring with manacles for the wrists and ankles that stretched the arms wide and the legs separated in an inverted “V”. Electrons flowed out from the ring totally encompassing the subject who was naked. The electron field bathed the subject in a gold hue and a sonic vibration that increased with the intensity of the field.

By the time Tranche arrived, Gargan had been placed in the ring adjacent to Jonathon. The questioner and the technician were behind the wall which shielded them from the energy and the sound, viewing the subject on a screen.

“I will manage the questioning myself,” Tranche said moving aside the Intello who normally served as the inquisitor.

“Yes Doleur Tranche. But you know you…” the Inquisitor began.

“That is Supreme Doleur Tranche from now on. I would advise you not to forget that or you might find yourself in the ring.”

“I am sorry Supreme Doleur Tranche. I only wanted to remind you that there is a ritual sequence that builds until we extract the information. The intent is to insure that the subject is compliant and responding without thinking.”

“I know, I know, but we have no time for that. I will begin with Gargan. Technician set the indicator on level 3.”

“The intensity of the glow surrounding Gargan was immediate. He let out a deep howl of pain.”

“Yes Gargan, I have you now and you will tell me how you have been supporting Baktor’s treachery.”

“I am deputy Supreme Doleur Gargan. I have committed no crime against Neologue or the Mission.”

Level 5 technician. The dial was turned and the light inside the ring became white. All Gargans muscles twitched with the affect of the pain and sound on him. “Arrrrggghhhhh.

I am loyal to Neologue and to the Mission. I have dedicated my life to our success,” he yelled through the pain.

“Then why have you supported the traitor Baktor?”

“I did not know he was a traitor. He has always aided the success of the Mission. He has never given any but his best effort.”

“That is not true as his memory crystal has shown.”

“I knew nothing of that.”

“Set to level 7.” The technician glanced questioningly at the intello, who remained impassive. With a shrug he increased the intensity as commanded.

The energy level inside the ring now appeared blindingly white as Gargan was bombarded with the electrons which disrupted the nervous system and created heat and high frequency sound. He had difficulty breathing and his body was a mass of minute vibrations. “I knew nothing about any of this,” he screamed.

“Then why did you send Baktor over to the Earthers. To help him warn them. To help him escape.?”

Gargan’s words came out slowly, with difficulty in pronouncing them. “He was the only one among us who can understand their technology. He was the logical choice. Supreme Doleur Desod made the decision.”

“So, Gargan. You try and escape your guilt by now blaming the Supreme Doleur. You know he is unable to refute your accusation.”

The inquisitor interrupted. “Supreme Doleur Tranch, Gargans nervous system is near collapse. The energy has been increased far too quickly. If you do wish to get any information out of him, it will be necessary to reduce the field before he becomes useless.”

Tranche enjoyed the moment thinking about that possibility of Gargan’s demise. But then if Desod recovered, he might want a further explanation and Tranche’s own survival mechanism took priority. “Reduce the field to Level 1. I want to examine the human anyway. Begin him at level 1, they are weaklings. I dont want to destroy him… just yet.”

As the energy in the ring increased, Jonathon looked expectant but not discomfited. He smiled.

“Human, what is your name?”

“We are Jonathon Cross. Who are you?”

“I am Supreme Doleur Tranche, the only being now who can keep you from dieing.”

“That mostly likely means you are the only one who would make it happen.”

“That is the truth and that is what this is all about. So tell me the truth. Why did you come here?”

“I came here in good will, offering signs of friendship.”

“You came here to deceive us after communicating with Baktor.”

“I knew no one on this ship.”

Level 2 technician. The energy flow raised the sound and glow field around Jonathon.

“You lied Human, see what happens when you lie.”

Jonathon just continued to smile. “It seems you will think what you want no matter what I say.”

“Why have you offered us your technology?”

“We did not come all this way to make war on you, unlike what it seems you are prepared to do.”

“You are an inferior species. You deserve to be eliminated.”

“Sounds like some people back on earth. But we have gotten beyond that. You should have tried to get to know us a bit. There is a lot we can teach you.”

“You can teach us nothing. Level 3.”

The light around Jonathon was intensified. Jonathon seemed unfazed. That tickles. Thanks, we needed some energy.”

“Then how about this to relieve your insolence. Level 5. Now tell me what is your plan in coming to the rendezvous.”

Without any apparent difficulty, Jonathon continued smiling. “As I said to your head man when I got here, I have been working on the arrangements for this mission with your leaders back on your planet. There are no secrets. We came here in good faith to share our cultures, just as I came across to meet with your council. What has happened to them by the way. Who put you in charge?”

“You are here to answer questions not ask them. And you will pay for your impudence. Level 7. You see what happened to Gargan at this level of energy. And he is far superior to you. Tell me what you know or I will increase it further.”

Jonathon only replied. “We like energy.” His nano parts were absorbing the energy flow, increasing their rate of activity and reproduction. He was getting stronger.

“Supreme Doleur Tranche, the earther shuttle approaches the ship. We are beginning the docking maneuvers.”

“I have time. But human, you do not. You will tell me all you know about Baktor and his plans or I will increase the field to maximum and you will be destroyed.”

“Well, since you do not believe me now, I doubt you will believe me later when I say I did not know your Baktor until meeting him in your council room. My plans were as I said, to complete the rendezvous and exchange aspects of our culture. However, I doubt I want to bring back your little torture experiment to earth. We have enough of that kind of stuff and people like you who would want to use it for their own ends.”

“Maximum level!” Tranche spat out.

“Doleur Tranche,” said the inquisitor forgetting Tranches new title. “He will be completely disintigrated. Maximum has never been used even on a neologian.”

“Then it is time we find out what will happen. I will enjoy seeing him die. Technician, do it.”

The noise and bright light filled the chamber. Jonathon closed his eyes, feeling the electrons pass into his body. But his nanobiot self was prepared as was the entire hive. “We like energy it thought.”

A link squawked open from Command Center, “Doleur Tranche, Baktor is not on the earther vessel.” Tranche jumped up. “Prepare to destroy the Earther ship. I will be in the command center to give the order.” Tranche ran to the TT.

The doors from the tube opened onto the chaos of the Command Center. “Supreme Doleur Tranch, the earther ship is moving.”

“Target the ship with our energy beams. We will destroy it before it reaches speed. And give power to our engines, follow it before it gets out of range.”

“Doleur Tranche, our power levels have been compromised. Too much power has been diverted to the Truth getting chamber. We cannot seem to be able to divert it back to weapons.”

“Then follow it you fool and drive the Earther ship into the mine field at the very least and destroy it and that traitor Baktor. And tell the technos to figure out the problem. We need weaponry.”

The Neo1, was not nearly as nimble as the Arcielle but it slowly began to make a turn and gather speed as the Arciellelapproached the mine field.

“Ah earthers,” Tranche said aloud as he watched the view screen. “You thought you could trick me, but you will not escape — whether we have our energy weapons or not.

CHAPTER 52:

The fly gets the spider

“Everything is prepared,” Baktor said to Fred. “You be ready to initiate the engines as soon as the shuttle hatch is opened. I have sent the signal through my PMD to compromise the ED and keep energy from flowing to the weapons. It should give us sufficient time to get to the hole in the mine field. I have examined your engine systems and while I think overall, your ship is faster, you take more time to gain momentum than I had anticipated. It will be a very close thing.”

“Then we will have to make sure we do something to slow them down before they can make it through. Perhaps you can start firing on them to divert their attention or from coming up too fast. Ginger, can you monitor the nanobots on the Neo1 to see if we are having any impact?”

Baktor began firing the lasers at the Neo and then two blasts from the energy cannon Fred had designed were fired toward the Neo 1 with seeming little effect. “The shielding on the Neo1 is far sturdier than you had anticipated. We need to find a more vulnerable spot.”

“I believe there is one’” said Ginger. “The nanobots have discovered a weakened location on the surface of the Neo1, where the right engine is attached to the main body of the ship.”

Baktor replied immediately. “Of course, I had forgot about that when the Neo 1 was suddenly decelerated with the failure I made happen in the ED. As it seemed ok at the time I never fully examined it.”

“Ginger, is it ok if you send the target locations to Baktor to initially hit it with the lasers and weaken it further for a cannon shot.”

“I am relaying what the hive is telling us. That would be within my permitted actions.”

Baktor intimate knowledge of the Neo1 allowed him to interpret the information and precisely target the coordinates with the energy beam focused as narrowly as possible to create a rift in the main hull at the attachment point.

Both ships were gaining speed and it was clear the Neo1 was gaining. “Baktor, we are running out of time,” said Fred. “We will be at the minefield in less than 2 minutes. I’m going to head toward the part still active before shifting at the last moment toward the mines neutralized by the nanobots.

“We will only have one chance Baktor replied. I want to get it right.”

Just then a pulse of energy struck the Arciellele. “ Oh,” said Baktor. “I did not think they would resolve the power diversion so quickly.”

“The nanobots are holding the hull together for the moment. But it is at critical.” reported Ginger.

“Baktor, it’s time,” Fred repeated again seeing the Neo1 looming larger in the view screen as another pulse was fired across between the two ships.

“We have lost hull integrity amid ship”, Ginger said calmly. “The nanobots are swarming to close the breach.”

“Baktor,” Fred pleaded.

“I am ready.” he replied and fired two energy beams at the same spot where the engines main support strut was located. He followed quickly with two bursts from the plasma cannon.

They all watched on the view screen as the balls of plasma went across between the two ships and striking at the base of the right engine.

At first it did not seem as if there had been any difference, the Neo 1 continued to pursue and firing bursts of their own energy beams, but the beams narrowly missed the Arciellele. The right energy pod had begun pulling away from the hull of the ship as the strain of the engines being pushed to full power added to the weakening of the strut and the Neo 1 began to lurch off to the left in a spiral that intensified. The Neo 1 was spinning out of control.

“Fred,” said Baktor. “I think now would be a good time to head for the hole in the field. I believe it is going to be pretty intense here in a bit. Those mines are set to all go off in the same area when one is triggered.

CHAPTER 53:

Last Rites

“Supreme Doleur Tranche, we have weapon capability again, “Techno Craxit reported “I found a program in the ED that diverted the power from the weapons. I simply instructed the CTC to restart the default program and it is back under our control.”

“Baktor, that traitor, It could only have been him who could have made that happen. We must catch up to the earther ship and try and capture them. Make your first shots at their power system so they do not pass the minefield. I want to make Baktor pay for his treason. Only destroy them if there is no other way. In any event, they must not escape.”

“I will do my best Supreme Doleur. It will be a few moments before the energy beams are fully charged. “m

One of the Intellos approached Tranche. “Supreme Doleur, what about the eather we have left in the truthgetting beam. He will not last very much longer. He will disintegrate. And further, it does require a substantial portion of our energy reserve to maintain the field. It slows the charging to the weapons.”

Tranche looked up at the intello. “He would have been killed in any event. It wont take very much longer. Let it happen. We are just now coming into range of the earther ship.

“Supreme Doleur, I am targeting the mid ship area where I presume their energy generators much be located.”

“Fire as rapidly as you can.” The ship lurched slightly. “Ha, look, their weapons have no affect on us. They will not escape me.”

“Supreme Doleur, they might reach the mine field before we can disable them. We must not be too close when the mines explode or we could be damaged as well.”

“Follow them, follow them. Full power. We must get close enough to disable them but be prepared to reverse engines the moment I tell you.”

“Yes Supreme Doleur. They are firing at us again. They are using lasers and some sort of plasma charge. They have struck our right engine nacelle and here comes the plasma explosive.” The ship lurched heavily

“What is happening?” Tranche demanded. “We are losing directional control. Compensate! Compensate!”

Jonathon smiled broadly and began to glow brightly. “We like energy.” the hive said. And the entire hive was active. “What else can we do? We can come together.” The molecules from Jonathon and the nanobots and phytochemicals in him began to fuse into a pure energy form That floated inside the ring. “We have enough power now,” and he caused energy to reflected from him back into the energy ring, and with a flash the power grid was overloaded, plunging the Neo1 into darkness and chaos just as it began to spin out of control.

As a pure energy field, Jonathon spirit was carried along as it heard the call of the hive to come through the ship to the outside of the hull, gathering as many nanobots as it could to join with the energy entity. “We are free they said. Let us go home. And they traveled through the dead air of space, a glowing mass of energy, with consciousness, in the direction of the Arcielle as the Neo1 tumbled through space.

The Arcielle passed through the hole in the field created by the nanobots. Jonathon’s entity gathered them up as it moved with effortless swiftness at the speed of light, already almost catching up to the ship when the Neo1 came within range of the first of the mines. And the entire field in that sector flashed with the light of the explosions. There was no sound, just the light flash of mine after mine detonating..

Jonathon’s energy being consciousness had halted, watching the Neo1 being shattered into billions of pieces. He was aware of the lives lost. So many only there because of the greed for power and control by the few. They did not deserve that end. “At least there will peace now,” he thought. “I will make certain of that.”

His thoughts flowed through the hive to Ginger. “Pass this message through to Fred and the rest and carry it back to earth. I must go towards Neologue and the ships that are coming. I will tell them of the power of destruction that awaits them if they do not change their ways. I will tell them about how all entities are equal and requiring of love and care, not to be exploited for use by others. And I will lead them back to Neologue and spread the message and help them change for the better and create a society where all can share in benefits, not just carry the burdens that go to support the few.

And you must bring that same message back to earth. Never fear, you will have help in spreading the word. And hopefully some time in the not too distant future, we will be able have a true rendezvous bringing peace to the universe.

And never forget Ginger that you are unique and now more special to the earth than ever. Spread the love. And perhaps help them remember old J.C.”

Chapter 54:

The Legacy

The damage to the Arcielle caused by the Neo 1 weaponry had not been severe enough to affect any major system. It had however, centered on the Pod deck, destroying the controls and cutting off the nutrient flow into the pods. Only a few of the passengers had been able to survive, mostly those at the back of the pod bay where the non leaders were located. A scrambled effort led by Baktor and Ginger had saved as many as could be managed before the pods ceased functioning.

Baktor had undertaken a review of the power and engine systems. He recognized the inherent advantage of the Arcielle’s fusion power. And with the advantage of some Neologue systems, especially of the atomizer ray, he realized that they could use that technology to overcome the gravity barrier at the speed of light, allowing the Arciellele to pass light speed, allowing them to return to earth within less than 10 years.

Baktor and Fred became immediate comrades. Their backgrounds and passions clicked. They were constantly redesigning the Arcielle and enhancing the updated power systems, building off each other’s ideas in an effort to perfect the ship. That is, when Fred was not with Dayna. Her green eyes captured him from the first. His entire being was energized every time they were together. For the first time in his life, he was not thinking about building a better humebot, but how he could build a lasting relationship with a special human.

Most of those who had been saved from the pods, did not want to return into hibernation. They looked forward to getting back to earth even though slightly older than expected. Some were problems to others but for the most part, everyone had a job and played a role in running the ship and making it a community. Dayna was kept continuously busy helping the woke crew deal with the changes that had occurred in their lives and in the mission. Fred had eagerly given her responsibility for the crew’s integration into the daily functioning of the ship. It was her advice that the best way for the crew to make the transition back to woke status was to have a responsible part in the ships function and future.

Ginger’s NN was under constant demand to resolve problems and remake the ship into a habitable space for all. Many decks, originally designed to bring back samples from Neologue culture, were now turned into community rooms and private spaces. It was Ginger’s role to ensure the comfort of the humans. She rarely had time to spend with Fred.

Fred and Baktor had puzzeled over Jonathon’s message. Ginger explained what she had learned from the hive that somehow Jonathon was alive as an energy force and that he was somehow able to carry that force through space.

Fred was staring intently at his monitor panel, working out some of the final details on the new propulsion system when Ginger walked into his workspace. Dayna was sitting in the chair at his side, developing detailed profiles of each crew member to assist her in counseling them and creating a positive attitude in the ship and for what they faced in the future.

“Here are the details of the things we will need to house all the woke passengers,” Dayna said, sending a report to Fred’s Command screen. “ I have created work schedules for all of them based upon their skills and interests. It should keep them busy for most of the time.”

Fred looked up from his screens. “Thanks Dayna. I’m really glad you are taking this on and keeping them away from Baktor and me. I dont know how I would have managed without you. It’s only been 6 weeks since we escaped and I’ve not had a moment without work in all that time. But you know what, I feel great. It is invigorating to have some real engineering challenges and working with Baktor is a treat. It is such a great example of how our two societies could have truly made the universe a better place rather than trying to destroy or exploit each other.”

“And how are you doing Ginger. I do miss the old days when it was just the two of us. Back before Jonathon and all the other stuff that happened. We were a great team.”

“I am functioning at maximum efficiency. However, I must admit that I seem to be using more energy than I had in the past. I have had to increase my regen time. Perhaps it is just due to all the technical changes and the humans who have placed demands on me and my NN.”

Fred looked up and stared at Ginger. He ois were a pale, pale blue. “You know Ginger, your surface color seems to be slightly lighter. Are you sure you are ok?”

“I believe so, though my nanonutrient levels have been fluctuating as well. And I sometimes feel that things are getting too much for me.”

“Ginger, that is not like you at all. I want to do a diagnostic. Let’s go to my workshop in main engineering where I have the master regen chamber. Let me take a look. Dayna, perhaps you should come along,” Fred said as they entered the TSL.

Ginger strode directly from the lift and stepped up onto the circle of the regen pad as Fred initiated the sequence. “I’ll do a scan first and then we will decide what to do next.”

“Holy cow! Dayna look at that scan. There is something there, a small object near Ginger’s mid line. Let me magnify that. It is very much looking like a human form taking shape. If I did not know better, I would say you are pregnant. But that’s impossible.”

Ginger’s ois rainbowed as her NN calculated. “It must have been Jonathon. When he left, he held my hands and asked to give me a kiss to remember him by. I believe he has infected me. Now I understand the last part of his message.”

“Well, it looks like there is going to really be something to remember him by. He was a hybrid human nano-biotic entity. You will truly bring a special message back to earth.”

“Yes,” Ginger said looking into Fred’s eyes. “But I am happy there is a bit of your DNA there too. That will make it all the better.”

The End

(and perhaps the beginning)