by S. H. Jucha
Renée, who’d admired the exchange between Scarlet Mandator and Trobath, sent privately to Alex,
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 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.
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.
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.
“Three representatives who were originally selected by the ship’s operating portion of the citizenry,” Vyztram replied. “Famgore is one of the three.”
“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.
Killian sent.
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.
Othello sent.
Lydia sent. She assumed a pushup position to examine the bottom of a drone.
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.
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.
Julien linked with Z and Miranda and updated them.
Miranda riposted.
Julien sent. Briefly he connected with Alex to ask the question.
Othello sent.
Z surmised.
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.
While Z reestablished the SADE conference, he sent the AI a summary of the conference with the SADEs who were assessing the drones.
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.
ted, after reviewing the file.
Consensus on the process was quickly achieved.
The SADEs received a single link to the Freedom’s globe cache. The link led to the AI’s command module.
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.
