Renée, who’d admired the exchange between Scarlet Mandator and Trobath, sent privately to Alex, <You’ve exquisite taste in females, my love.>
Alex sent Renée one of his treasured images of her, and she carefully stored it with the others. Within the private area were hundreds of images. Each was unique. Alex had never sent the same image twice, and she wondered for an uncountable time at the number of things that he tracked.
Scarlet Mandator chose to ignore the stalk’s unusual reaction and focus on the flight’s purpose. “Vyztram, a view of the ground, please,” the mandator requested.
Julien supplied a link to the controller for Vyztram. It relayed a view from hull sensors beneath the ship’s shell. The AI witnessed another of the traveler’s technological capabilities and considered how difficult it would be to construct a ship like this.
Vyztram held the holo-vid out in the aisle at a low level. It displayed the terrain below. “Where do you wish to go?” the AI asked, sticking a finger into the holo-vid and rotating the scene in several directions before returning it to the original position.
“How much space do you require?” the mandator inquired.
<Julien,> Vyztram sent, <here are the domes’ footprints, including their connecting links. Will underground areas be allowed?>
Julien added an outline of the five domes to the ground display, linking the footprints’ dimensions within the controller so that the image sizes of ground display and footprint would be kept in sync. The outline encompassed a large central dome and four smaller ones, which connected to it.
<Your request for underground facilities should be made to Scarlet Mandator, Vyztram,> Julien sent. <Although, I caution you. If digging deep into the World of Light isn’t a necessity, I don’t recommend that you add it to the negotiations.>
<Understood, Julien,> Vyztram sent.
Scarlet Mandator observed the footprint. “Significant space,” the mandator remarked. “Will you require anything else that would increase the size of your facilities?”
“Yes, we would require a shuttle launch site,” Vyztram replied. “Admittedly, our shuttles haven’t been tested in centuries of annuals, and their current condition is unknown.”
“That limits our options,” the mandator replied. “Our single shuttle launch platform is atop a mesa. It’s placed there to limit the fumes that would poison our atmosphere.”
Before the discussion could proceed any further, Alex interrupted. “A launch site won’t be necessary, Vyztram and Scarlet Mandator,” he said. “I’ll be giving the World of Light two travelers to share.”
Both Vyztram and Scarlet Mandator eyed Alex in confusion, and they waited for an explanation. Vyztram could fly the traveler, but the AI would need to request permission from the Ollassa. The Ollassa couldn’t fly the ships and would need to request Vyztram to pilot the craft.
While the two sentients considered the conundrum, Julien queried Alex about the licensing fees.
<No fees for any travelers built and employed within the Worlds of Light,> Alex replied privately to Julien. <However, make it clear to Vyztram that any export of the technology or production of travelers for export will require licensing fees be paid to Omnian Ships. Unfortunately, I don’t expect to see those fees in my lifetime.>
<I wasn’t worried about your income, Alex. I was thinking of mine,> Julien replied.
The exchange resulted in a short vid fight, which Scarlet Mandator interrupted.
“Vyztram, you do perceive who is in control of our negotiations, do you not?” the mandator asked, and Alex was happy to see the petals curl.
“I perceive that every Omnian cooperates to make this alliance a reality, but they follow the guidance of their three leaders,” Vyztram replied. “I, for one, am grateful,” the AI added.
“Me too,” Trobath said.
“Most of the Arcus owe the Omnians their appreciation for this opportunity,” Famgore interjected.
“Most?” the mandator queried. “Not all?”
“Do the other mandators share Scarlet Mandator’s opinions?” Alex countered.
The mandator’s bloom tipped in appreciation of Alex’s logic. Focusing the bloom on Vyztram, the mandator asked, “Will those displeased by the alliance remain aboard the Arcus? If they descend to the World of Light, will they obey the agreement?”
“The Elvians who have chosen to make planetfall are the majority of our population,” Famgore interjected. “Every citizen responsible for the maintenance of the ship’s services will be descending, and Vyztram is the ship’s navigator and pilot.” He almost added that the AI was also responsible for harvesting and defense, but Vyztram’s stern gaze stopped him.
“Then your other citizens must descend too,” the mandator concluded. “What of my second question?”
“Our population operates on the principle that the majority rules,” Trobath stated. “The citizens who didn’t choose to make planetfall must abide by the will of the majority’s leaders.”
“However, if we’re forthright, the new majority has no history of enforcing any ruling,” Vyztram added. “The domes will be new to us.”
Scarlet Mandator regarded Alex, who said, “The domes will take time to construct. The fleets will assist with the effort. That gives us time to ensure that the population is settled.”
The bloom dipped in appreciation. “Who leads the Elvians now?” the mandator asked.
“What service do you perform for the ship?” the mandator asked Famgore.
“I’m a senior engineer,” Famgore replied proudly.
“An engineer who leads and a female who is communicative and curious,” the mandator mused. The bloom regarded Alex and the petals curled.
<I think the mandator sees the fine touch of your hand in these proceedings, Dassata,> Killian sent.
<As long as the mandator appreciates those touches, Killian,> Alex sent in reply.
After the extended exchange, the Ollassa and the Elvians returned to the task of selecting a site for the domes.
Alex settled in his seat and closed his eyes.
33: We Need One
Othello and a group of SADEs, including Lydia, descended on an asteroid in the far belt.
The enormous, slow-tumbling rock was composed of the typical aggregate — complex mineral compounds and light metal ores. It was an old celestial body, having cleared its neighborhood of dust and rock through slow accretion.
The asteroid hosted a diverse group of Elvian harvesting machines. They were idle, Vyztram having cancelled operations. Eerily, bots were left poised in midmotion.
The SADEs, who’d donned environment suits, exited the cargo traveler and surveyed the collection of drones that Vyztram had directed to the asteroid.
Each SADE carefully noted the extent to which the internal grav shell was collecting energy. Despite the size of the asteroid, it was obvious that heavy exertion wouldn’t be permitted. Within eleven hours, the SADEs would need to return to the Our People, whose mass allowed the grav cells to recharge their power crystals.
<Despite the irregular surface, none of the drones occupy a position other than exactly perpendicular to their energy arches,> Lydia noted. She sent an image of a protruding rock that should have tilted a drone off its central axis. Instead, the drone didn’t touch the rock. Its lowest point of mass floated half a meter above the asteroid’s surface.
<They’re still active,> Othello replied.
<Our understanding of Vyztram’s term for drone deactivation must be different,> Lydia quipped.
<I would surmise that Vyztram is referring to the defense application within the drones,> Othello sent. <It’s possible that the AI has no control over the drones’ basic operating programs.>
<Then why the cradles?> Lydia posited. <The drones could float within the bays.>
<An intere
sting question,> Othello replied. <What’s the possibility that only the cradles allow launch orders to be given to the drones? Then, until the drones return to the Arcus, the internal defense programs have hierarchy.>
<I find that concept distinctly probable,> Lydia sent. She assumed a pushup position to examine the bottom of a drone. <There is a space between the drone and the asteroid’s surface. I calculate five point five four centimeters,> she noted.
SADEs used devices to examine parts of the drones. They shared observations that intense energy flowed through the arches. When the examinations were complete, the SADEs gathered and communed.
<Multiple issues,> Othello suggested.
<Agreed,> echoed several SADEs.
<We can’t examine the power supply, while the arches are active,> Lydia pointed out.
<Does the cradle allow deactivation of the arches?> a SADE postulated.
<We must obtain a cradle to determine that,> Othello proposed.
<Two points of programming to explore,> another SADE sent.
<For one, a drone’s internal defense and operating programs,> a SADE offered.
<For another, Vyztram’s module that allows directives to be sent to the drones,> Lydia finished.
<We have Vyztram’s module within the Freedom’s repository,> Othello noted.
<The cradle requires power and signal cabling,> a SADE sent. <We must emulate those conditions.>
<Unavailable here,> Lydia replied. <If we wish to investigate further, a drone must be moved to a new location.>
The SADEs recognized Lydia as the senior entity in their midst. In actual fact, she was the most junior in age, having been cloned from a sister aboard a Trident less than six annuals ago. However, it was her association with Hector that provided her elevated status. Therefore, she was tasked with contacting Alex and Julien.
<Greetings, Sers,> Lydia sent.
<Lydia, how does the work proceed on our drone?> Julien sent. His response was designed to inform Alex of where the SADEs were working.
<We’ve identified several significant obstacles that prevent further investigation,> Lydia replied.
<Explain,> Julien requested.
<The drones are active. They float a small increment above the surface. We postulate that a cradle might provide the opportunity to investigate a drone,> Lydia sent.
<Then you need to move the drone and claim a cradle,> Alex surmised. <Communicate with Vyztram to obtain the permission and the access you require.> Then Alex dropped the link and returned to the discussion aboard the traveler about potential locations for the Elvian domes.
Julien linked with Z and Miranda and updated them.
<Obtaining a cradle and investigating the program modules are secondary,> Z sent. <We must choose where we’ll move the drone.>
<Returning the drone to the Arcus would make the job easier,> Miranda offered. <However, do we endanger the Arcus by an examination of a drone?>
<The Arcus isn’t a choice, while the ship is located in orbit above the World of Light,> Julien said, which ended that discussion point.
<In that regard, landing on the planet won’t be an option either,> Lydia noted.
<Agreed,> Julien sent.
<I ask where the risk is acceptable,> Miranda riposted.
<Only where Omnians are affected,> Julien sent.
<If a cradle is enabled, that leaves only two viable locations, the Freedom and the Our People,> Miranda noted.
<We might ask whether obtaining a drone involves too much danger to Omnians,> Othello offered.
<A credible point of view,> Julien sent. Briefly he connected with Alex to ask the question.
<We need a drone,> Alex replied. <Omnians need one now. The SADEs need that unique power supply in their future.>
<We proceed,> Julien reported to the SADEs, who had noted his brief link to Alex.
<We’re presented with two options,> Z sent. <In both cases, we obtain the drone, the cradle, and Vyztram’s information. Then we secure the drone aboard the Freedom. Then we can either choose to investigate the drone or wait until we return to Omnia.>
<It would be advantageous to return to Omnia with the drone intact and undisturbed,> Lydia sent. <We could transfer the drone to a freighter’s hold, station the ship far from Omnia, and explore the drone there.>
<I concur,> Othello sent. <That represents the safest alternative.>
<The drone and the cradle won’t clear a standard bay’s height,> Miranda noted. <The enlarged bays are for the scout ships. Alex would prefer that the scouts are able to exit their ships for the transit home.>
<Then we deconstruct our repairs to the Freedom and store the drone and the cradle there,> Julien sent. <When Alex is free, I’ll discuss with him how he wishes to manage the process.>
<Don’t bother Alex with the details, Julien,> Hector interjected. He’d been included in the discussion by Lydia. Having nothing to add, he’d assumed a passive role. <I’m sailing the Our People inward. Alex will need a city-ship’s presence at the World of Light. When we arrive, transfers can be accommodated, and Cordelia will be free to sail the Freedom to the belt and manage the operation to accommodate the drone.>
<After arriving at the World of Light, we’ll land our traveler aboard the Arcus and investigate the cradle,> Lydia sent.
<An excellent plan,> Julien sent and closed the conference. Then to Z, Julien added, <Communicate with Vyztram. Obtain every scrap of data about the drone’s construction, the cradle, the module programming, and the drone’s operation from the AI. I don’t want us to arrive at Omnia and find that we’re missing information.>
<Julien communicates emotion ... a rare event,> Miranda noted to her partner. <It followed his contact with Alex.>
<A high probability that Alex mentioned one of three subjects that disturbed Julien. Only one would apply now,> Z surmised.
<Then Alex must have spoken of a future where we live and he does not,> Miranda finished.
<Precisely,> Z replied.
Z and Miranda waited for the site selection to be completed. Three were chosen, and Scarlet Mandator hoped to please most, if not all, of the mandators about one of them.
In the meantime, Lydia and the other SADEs from the asteroid sailed for the Our People, which was system inbound. Their traveler rendezvoused with the city-ship as it passed through the far belt.
<Vyztram, your attention is needed,> Z sent, when the AI was free.
<I’m at your service, Z,> Vyztram replied.
While Z reestablished the SADE conference, he sent the AI a summary of the conference with the SADEs who were assessing the drones.
<Z, your investigation of a drone is revealing more data than I had,> Vyztram replied. <I’m not able to order drones to set down on a surface. They launch, perform their duties as directed, and return to the ship.>
<Does the drone make contact with the cradle?> Lydia asked.
<Unknown,> Vyztram replied. <The creators have deliberately kept me partitioned from extensive command of the drones. The bots that maintain the drones don’t communicate to me. If a bot requires maintenance, I pass that service request to engineers, who perform the required repairs.>
<Vyztram, if you don’t have the capability to dismantle a drone, how do you intend to make use of them for the domes?> Miranda asked.
<According to my planetfall files, Miranda, all that’s required is to connect a cradle to a dome’s power network,> Vyztram replied. <The drone will feed the cradle, which will pass the energy into the dome’s power grid.>
<As New Terrans would say, black space,> Lydia commented privately to the SADEs.
<Vyztram, detail the transfer of a cradle from the Arcus to a landing site,> Miranda requested.
The SADEs received a link to a file aboard the Freedom’s cache of Vyztram’s globes. The AI had the capability, with an Omnian avatar, to access the city-ship’s data banks. However, the process required Julien’s approval and Cordelia’s support.
<Fairly simple,> Lydia commen
ted, after reviewing the file.
<Except the part about moving the cradle,> Othello sent. <It won’t lay flat in a traveler. I recommend we transfer a cradle, while the Freedom and the Arcus are in close proximity.>
Consensus on the process was quickly achieved.
<It appears follow-up questions about dismantling a drone are moot,> Z sent. <Vyztram, we need only two more items from you. Please link us to your command module for the drones and any details you possess about a drone’s internal operation.>
The SADEs received a single link to the Freedom’s globe cache. The link led to the AI’s command module.
<What is worse than black space?> Othello asked the other SADEs. His comment engendered a subtle cacophony of odd noises. His humor had to be appreciated. However, the lack of information about internal drone processes was disappointing.
<Julien, Hector is sailing the Our People to the World of Light,> Z reported. <If a drone could be brought to the Freedom, we could halt the city-ship at the rim. Otherwise, Omnians must transfer from the Freedom to the Our People, as necessary. Then the Freedom will pick up the drone between the belt and the Ollassa home world.>
<Let the Our People proceed inward as Hector intends,> Julien replied. <However, the Freedom should acquire the drone as near to the asteroid as possible. Under no circumstances must Vyztram fly the drone inward. That action would disturb the alliance negotiations.>
<Understood,> Z replied, and he informed the other SADEs.
Days later, the Our People took up station near the Arcus but at a slightly higher orbit.
Lydia, Othello, and other SADEs exited the city-ship in a traveler. They collected Vyztram and Famgore. Then they headed for the Arcus.
Trobath requested to accompany Scarlet Mandator, and the Ollassa chose to return to Mesa Control by tram, allowing more time to converse and learn about Elvians.
When Alex, Renée, and Julien let the trio of Scarlet Mandator, Trobath, and Killian off at the meadow below the Scarlet Life Giver, he wore a broad smile.
“Go ahead. Say it,” Renée encouraged.
“Actually, there are no self-congratulations in my smile,” Alex replied, watching the Ollassa and the Elvian walking side by side. To accommodate the pair’s conversations, Killian was in front of them and walking backward with ease.