Alien Intrigue, page 15
he sent.
Concepts came quickly, and they were amazingly similar, which was not what Tocknicka wanted. His answer to the challenge was severe, and he’d hoped to have heard less aggressive options.
Kelley sent.
Juno interjected.
Minimalist pointed out.
Luther continued,
Morgoth finished.
Juno inquired.
Tocknicka admitted.
Kelley asked.
Kreus replied.
The conference links went silent. Everyone knew of Baltart’s cruel conditions. Suggestions had been sent to Tocknicka that the station should build him a significantly sized tank to inhabit.
Minimalist inquired.
Tocknicka replied.
Luther inquired.
Tocknicka replied.
Juno asked.
Tocknicka replied.
Minimalist sent.
Kreus queried.
Tocknicka replied. Then after a short pause, he sent,
Luther reported.
There was an exchange of celebratory noise at the arrival of Bohn and Paris. After Z, these were the conclave’s most inventive avatar engineers.
Tocknicka sent.
Minimalist sent.
Kelley gave the avatar engineers directions to the warrens, which he shared with Minimalist, and the three SADEs met where the corridors joined.
Paris commented, as she studied the corridor’s condition.
Minimalist replied.
Bohn remarked.
Minimalist responded.
Paris lamented.
Minimalist explained, as the trio walked.
Bohn proffered.
Minimalist replied, which had the avatar engineers staring at him with puzzled expressions.
Minimalist explained.
Pairs surmised.
Minimalist replied.
Bohn inquired.
Minimalist replied.
Briefly, Paris and Bohn traded glances.
Minimalist could guess what was exchanged between them. It was the same for elder SADEs. The passage of time grew heavy on them, and they sought the sensory input of new conditions. The Imperium Empire presented just such an opportunity.
Off the primary corridor located on the far side of the cargo bay, Minimalist led the avatar engineers to the wall at the end.
Bohn asked.
Kreus sent.
The silence was longer than appropriate for a digital entity, and Paris regarded Minimalist.
Minimalist sent.
Kreus replied after a few more ticks of time.
Paris sent.
Kreus replied.
Bohn queried.
Kreus replied.
Bohn remarked, referring to the Elvian AI hidden behind the bulkheads of the Arcus.
Minimalist interjected,
Paris inquired.
Minimalist replied.
Bohn requested. He looked around for a lift, an elevator, or stairs, and he saw none.
Minimalist chuckled and led the Omnian engineers to the shaft that descended to the lower level.
Paris declared.
Minimalist remarked drily.
In the space below, Bohn and Paris went to work, examining the power lines, the data lines, the hubs, and the engineering controls.
Bohn pronounced, when the engineers finished.
Paris sent, pointing at a ventilated box that collected the data lines before a thick cable led upward.
Minimalist replied.
The avatar engineers communed privately.
As the quiet ensued, Kreus sent privately,
Minimalist replied.
When the Omnians finished, Paris sent,
Bohn sent.
Kreus replied.
Minimalist led the avatar engineers to the traveler dome, where Morgoth worked. After a short conversation with the Crocian, the Omnians boarded a traveler for the station.
On the station, Paris and Bohn met Tocknicka in his suite.
When Paris saw the biologically comfortable furnishings, she smiled. she sent.
Bohn added, laughing.
Tocknicka asked.
Bohn replied.
Paris mused.
Bohn added.
Tocknicka sent.
When the SADEs were seated around the conference table, Tocknicka sent,
Bohn and Paris quickly exchanged thoughts. Paris sent.
Tocknicka requested. Immediately, he received an outline from Bohn, which detailed the equipment required and the steps to be taken.
Tocknicka sent after reviewing the plan.
Paris replied.
Tocknicka sent.
Bohn replied.
Tocknicka promised the engineers.
Paris replied. Then the avatar engineers left Tocknicka’s suite.
Bohn shared with his partner.
Paris replied.
Bohn proffered.
Paris sent.
In less than half a cycle, the equipment the avatar engineers required arrived via the Omnia-Helgart gate.
Luther used a grav palette to transfer the crates to the shaft entrance above the lower level.
When Bohn and Paris joined Luther, they found a small group of sisters standing quietly along the corridor wall.
Juno sent to Bohn and Paris.
Paris sent.
As Juno left, Bohn imaged three crates. Then he sent the images and instructions to the sisters.
While Paris and Bohn climbed down the access chute, the sisters opened the crate and unpacked the equipment.
Paris sent,
Luther replied.
Bohn grumped to Paris.
Paris quipped.
12: Return to Naiad
NAIAD, GELUS SYSTEM
HOME WORLD
Lisa had requested a face-to-face conversation with Samuel. He’d laid his new suit aside and met with her.
“We have to return to Naiad,” Lisa had said. “Or, plainly put, I’ve got to return, which means you need to accompany me.”
“You haven’t had much to occupy you here,” Samuel admitted.
“Don’t get me wrong about my travels with the scouts and the fleet,” Lisa quickly replied. “They’ve been eye-opening, but it’s time for me to return to the work I promised the council I would focus on.”
“What are your priorities?” Samuel had inquired.
“The Axis-ship captains, Naiad’s progress, and the remaining two mining planets, to name a few,” Lisa replied.
“It’s my duty to keep you company,” Samuel allowed.
Lisa grasped Samuel’s hand. “Do you regret your decision to be my minder?” she asked.
“No,” Samuel replied. “The conclave is involved in this momentous effort to shift the views of the executors. I find the events engaging.”
“The Naiad work must seem mundane,” Lisa offered.
“It does lack the excitement of being with the conclave,” Samuel agreed. “However, much of the work on the Axis Crossing worlds is necessary to help the many humans still suffering.”
When Lisa appeared chagrined with Samuel’s response, he squeezed her hand and said, “The struggle with the empire will still be there long after your worlds are restored. I’ll arrange passage for us.”
When Samuel left Lisa’s cabin, she felt conflicted. She realized that for the first time she wanted something for Samuel more than she wanted something for herself.
The pair caught a ride on a freighter returning to Helgart. The ship had delivered Elvian probes to the fleet, which were transferred to the Nyslara and the Freedom.
At Helgart, a Trident ferried them through the anomalies and delivered them to the Aquaria, which had remained at Naiad.
Commodore Dorsa mya Jaknas sent.
While Dorsa spoke with Samuel and Lisa, she maintained a portion of her focus on links to the sisters who accompanied cadets.
Samuel commented.
Dorsa chuckled, tossing her luxurious synthetic head of hair in imitation of her Lemgart race. She sent Samuel the totality of the events that had led to the cadet training for traveler service.
In turn, Samuel synopsized the data for Lisa.
Lisa sent. Her delight wrapped her thought.
Dorsa sent. She shifted much of her attention to the discussion with Lisa and Samuel. Shane was also monitoring the sisters, who sat in the pilot cabins with six cadets.
The cadets alternated between piloting and sitting copilot, depending on the complexity of the maneuver Knut requested.
Only in Knut’s ship did one cadet occupy pilot control at all times. That was Shoya.
The cadets, which included a senior instructor and Shoya, had finished the intensive instruction about the travelers’ technology. They often left their classroom in a daze and worked to cross the gulf between Naiad tech and the conclave’s.
Then the cadets had moved on to the flight simulators. It had become a bet among the academy cadets to see who would be the first to beat Shoya. So far, no one had collected the growing pool.
Late in the evening, Gat’r would divide the cadets into four teams. The academy cadets, the instructor, and Shoya competed for points and bragging rights, if they won. Gat’r had retrieved the concept from the Alexander’s controller.
Soon, teams wanted Shoya on their side. Her time with Gat’r gave her a distinctive implant advantage.
Lisa explained.
Dorsa inquired.
Samuel warned Dorsa, which she took as a cue to listen and learn.
Lisa continued.
Dorsa surmised.
Lisa replied.
Dorsa inquired.
Lisa sent.
Samuel interjected.
Concepts came quickly, and they were amazingly similar, which was not what Tocknicka wanted. His answer to the challenge was severe, and he’d hoped to have heard less aggressive options.
Juno interjected.
The conference links went silent. Everyone knew of Baltart’s cruel conditions. Suggestions had been sent to Tocknicka that the station should build him a significantly sized tank to inhabit.
There was an exchange of celebratory noise at the arrival of Bohn and Paris. After Z, these were the conclave’s most inventive avatar engineers.
Kelley gave the avatar engineers directions to the warrens, which he shared with Minimalist, and the three SADEs met where the corridors joined.
Briefly, Paris and Bohn traded glances.
Minimalist could guess what was exchanged between them. It was the same for elder SADEs. The passage of time grew heavy on them, and they sought the sensory input of new conditions. The Imperium Empire presented just such an opportunity.
Off the primary corridor located on the far side of the cargo bay, Minimalist led the avatar engineers to the wall at the end.
The silence was longer than appropriate for a digital entity, and Paris regarded Minimalist.
Minimalist chuckled and led the Omnian engineers to the shaft that descended to the lower level.
In the space below, Bohn and Paris went to work, examining the power lines, the data lines, the hubs, and the engineering controls.
The avatar engineers communed privately.
As the quiet ensued, Kreus sent privately,
When the Omnians finished, Paris sent,
Minimalist led the avatar engineers to the traveler dome, where Morgoth worked. After a short conversation with the Crocian, the Omnians boarded a traveler for the station.
On the station, Paris and Bohn met Tocknicka in his suite.
When Paris saw the biologically comfortable furnishings, she smiled. she sent.
Paris mused.
Bohn added.
When the SADEs were seated around the conference table, Tocknicka sent,
Bohn and Paris quickly exchanged thoughts.
Bohn shared with his partner.
Paris replied.
Paris sent.
In less than half a cycle, the equipment the avatar engineers required arrived via the Omnia-Helgart gate.
Luther used a grav palette to transfer the crates to the shaft entrance above the lower level.
When Bohn and Paris joined Luther, they found a small group of sisters standing quietly along the corridor wall.
As Juno left, Bohn imaged three crates. Then he sent the images and instructions to the sisters.
While Paris and Bohn climbed down the access chute, the sisters opened the crate and unpacked the equipment.
12: Return to Naiad
NAIAD, GELUS SYSTEM
HOME WORLD
Lisa had requested a face-to-face conversation with Samuel. He’d laid his new suit aside and met with her.
“We have to return to Naiad,” Lisa had said. “Or, plainly put, I’ve got to return, which means you need to accompany me.”
“You haven’t had much to occupy you here,” Samuel admitted.
“Don’t get me wrong about my travels with the scouts and the fleet,” Lisa quickly replied. “They’ve been eye-opening, but it’s time for me to return to the work I promised the council I would focus on.”
“What are your priorities?” Samuel had inquired.
“The Axis-ship captains, Naiad’s progress, and the remaining two mining planets, to name a few,” Lisa replied.
“It’s my duty to keep you company,” Samuel allowed.
Lisa grasped Samuel’s hand. “Do you regret your decision to be my minder?” she asked.
“No,” Samuel replied. “The conclave is involved in this momentous effort to shift the views of the executors. I find the events engaging.”
“The Naiad work must seem mundane,” Lisa offered.
“It does lack the excitement of being with the conclave,” Samuel agreed. “However, much of the work on the Axis Crossing worlds is necessary to help the many humans still suffering.”
When Lisa appeared chagrined with Samuel’s response, he squeezed her hand and said, “The struggle with the empire will still be there long after your worlds are restored. I’ll arrange passage for us.”
When Samuel left Lisa’s cabin, she felt conflicted. She realized that for the first time she wanted something for Samuel more than she wanted something for herself.
The pair caught a ride on a freighter returning to Helgart. The ship had delivered Elvian probes to the fleet, which were transferred to the Nyslara and the Freedom.
At Helgart, a Trident ferried them through the anomalies and delivered them to the Aquaria, which had remained at Naiad.
While Dorsa spoke with Samuel and Lisa, she maintained a portion of her focus on links to the sisters who accompanied cadets.
Samuel commented.
Dorsa chuckled, tossing her luxurious synthetic head of hair in imitation of her Lemgart race. She sent Samuel the totality of the events that had led to the cadet training for traveler service.
In turn, Samuel synopsized the data for Lisa.
The cadets alternated between piloting and sitting copilot, depending on the complexity of the maneuver Knut requested.
Only in Knut’s ship did one cadet occupy pilot control at all times. That was Shoya.
The cadets, which included a senior instructor and Shoya, had finished the intensive instruction about the travelers’ technology. They often left their classroom in a daze and worked to cross the gulf between Naiad tech and the conclave’s.
Then the cadets had moved on to the flight simulators. It had become a bet among the academy cadets to see who would be the first to beat Shoya. So far, no one had collected the growing pool.
Late in the evening, Gat’r would divide the cadets into four teams. The academy cadets, the instructor, and Shoya competed for points and bragging rights, if they won. Gat’r had retrieved the concept from the Alexander’s controller.
Soon, teams wanted Shoya on their side. Her time with Gat’r gave her a distinctive implant advantage.
Dorsa surmised.
