The Star-Keeper Imperative

by C N Samson

  The combined ITA fleet arrived at Maralto minutes later. The captain of the freighter Stormwater (Triple-Star Planetary Shipping) secured the release of Tahla, ZT, and Marlaina from Maralto police custody; the heavy hauler Avandorius (IntraGalactic General Freight) assisted in rescuing survivors of the Skyward’s destruction.

  8. TRANQUILITY STAR. Valicia advised Gwynne not to initiate pursuit, stressing the need to first ensure the safety of Rheinborne and Kassyrinx. After the Skylight Dawn, the Highfire, and the Tranquility Star emerged from hyperspace, she gave their coordinates to Gwynne but instructed him to stand by.

  She then suggested to Norland that he destroy the Tranquility Star. Once he had done so and left the damaged shuttle behind, Valicia told Gwynne to immediately jump to the Star’s location. This was immensely risky, since there was no guarantee that Rheinborne and Kassyrinx would survive long enough to be rescued. Fortunately, the Nolvallis Mariner (to which the Adventurer was docked) arrived just in time to save them.

  9. SKYLIGHT DAWN. Upon emerging from hyperspace once more, Valicia reported to Gwynne that Norland had received word from his crew on the Highfire. Briggston, under the influence of the thought-cap, had revealed valuable information.

  Valicia gave their current location to Gwynne, then attempted to subdue Norland. He fought her off, and in the subsequent struggle, they both inflicted severe wounds on each other.

  Gwynne and the fleet arrived. The Nolvallis Mariner recovered the Skylight Dawn, and upon the crew’s entry into the shuttle, Norland was discovered in critical condition from wounds to his abdomen. Valicia, however, had died from a stab to the heart.

  10. DISPOSITION OF THE ARTIFACT. The Mariner’s engineering department performed a preliminary analysis of the artifact as it was installed in the shuttle, and made copies of the notes and research that accompanied the Chythex component. This information was disseminated to the ITA leadership, who will have a high-level discussion as to the best manner in which to proceed regarding the reverse-engineering and licensing of the technology. It is anticipated that the Treilath government will attempt to acquire the artifact from the ITA through legal proceedings, negotiations, or physical force. (The likely outcomes of this situation are beyond the scope of this document.)

  In addition, the Devorne organization may lay claim to the artifact (see following section).

  11. DEVORNE REPERCUSSIONS. The ultimate aim of Norland’s hijacking of the artifact was to present it to the Devorne leadership, in return for negotiated rewards. To this end, he involved Prester, who in turn promised to deliver the artifact to Briggston (a member of the Devorne overseeing council). It is known that Briggston’s absence will cause the organization to investigate, and eventually to take some actions in response. (The enumeration of such possible actions are beyond the scope of this document.)

  12. DISPOSITION OF BRIGGSTON AND NORLAND’S CREW.

  When Norland defected from the DSI, he took his STAR team along with him. The surviving members of the team will be handed over to the nearest office of the Treilath Fugitive Retrieval Service.

  Briggston will likewise be remanded to the FRS, and the thought-cap will be turned over to the Anti-PSI. Although Prester was the one who constructed and owned the device, possession and application of the thought-cap may well result in the team’s execution.

  13. DISPOSITION OF NORLAND. Norland was given life-saving treatment aboard the Nolvallis Mariner. He is currently in stable condition and will be transported to the nearest orbital medical facility. The FRS will be alerted, so that he may be placed under guard until he can be brought back to Treilath for interrogation and eventual incarceration.

  14. REPATRIATION OF THE DECEASED. The Stormwater traveled to the moon of Emorani where Tahla and ZT had hidden Captain Drummond’s body. He will be taken back to Treilath for proper burial. (Note: Tahla’s membership in the Girls’ Engineering Guild will protect her from any actions the government may take against her. When she marries ZT, he will fall under Guild protection as well.)

  Given than Hurgompo’s body was ejected into hyperspace, there is no chance of his remains being found.

  15. UNRESOLVED ISSUES. Gwynne asked a friend in the Treilath PSR unit to intervene on Lieutenant Clayburn’s behalf. As of this writing, the fate of the lieutenant is unknown.

  Although Emlyn Ranzka’s corpse was found in the wreckage of the Skyward, the body of Prester was not. Valicia had affirmed that she put two shots into his chest and saw him fall, but admitted that she did not have time to ascertain his life status. It is worth noting that a life pod was missing from the Skyward’s docking bay. Whether this indicates that Prester survived or not is also unknown.

  GLOSSARY

  ■ Anti-PSI: Department in the Treilath government responsible for rooting out anything related to telepathy or psychic abilities.

  ■ bit-head: A male chixxar.

  ■ cash stick: A receptacle for digital currency not tied to any particular bank account.

  ■ chixxar: A female bit-head.

  ■ Chythex: A powerful race of aliens from another galaxy that conquered and enslaved humanity. They brought with them other enslaved species, most notably the sidhreen and the hrulaphans. After 300 years, the Chythex withdrew from the galaxy for unknown reasons.

  ■ dataslate: A handheld mobile computational device. The typical unit is a rectangular slab of metal/plastic composite, with a touch-sensitive screen. Most models have holographic capabilities and can be folded in half for portability.

  ■ Department of Security and Intelligence (DSI): A department in the Treilath government that is responsible for gathering intelligence about potential threats to the GRT and its citizens. The DSI maintains an “X-Branch” division for clandestine paramilitary operations.

  ■ drink bulb: An ovoid container for liquids, usually water. The skin of a drink bulb is made of an edible, biodegradable material. A short stem protruding from the top of the bulb is used as a straw; the tip can either be bitten off, or snipped with suitable instruments.

  ■ ECM: Embedded Communications Module, a.k.a. module. A brain implant that functions as a communications device. Also has limited computational and data-storage capabilities.

  ■ food cube: A unit of enhanced protein material, compressed into the shape of a cube. A typical human adult needs to consume at least three per day to maintain health. Other food cube varieties exist for special needs, or for non-human consumption.

  ■ GalSigNet: Galactic Signal Network (GSN). An interstellar data/communications network that links all planets in the Treilath system.

  ■ Girls’ Engineering Guild (GEG): A Treilathan trade union that trains girls to become starship engineers. The influence of the Guild is such that it can impose sanctions on any facility in which a Guild member is mistreated.

  ■ Great Lord God of All: The central deity in the monotheistic religion of Treilath.

  ■ Greater Republic of Treilath (GRT): An organization of multiple planets and star systems, centered on the world of Treilath.

  ■ halcymox: A tension-relieving drug.

  ■ hrulaphan: An elephantoid species, genetically engineered by the Chythex for strength and manual labor. The term “hurlie” is a pejorative.

  ■ identicard: A local form of identification. Only valid for a single country or planet.

  ■ infolink: A local information network found in public places and on large starships. Provides an access channel to the GalSigNet.

  ■ inter-pass: Interstellar passport. Required for travel between planets. Can also be used to access the owner’s bank account.

  ■ Interstellar Transport Alliance (ITA): A union of Treilathan shipping companies that work together to ensure fair trade practices among the member corporations, and to lobby against excessive government regulation.

  ■ jenn: Slang for Galactic Exchange Note (GEN), a form of inter-system digital currency.

  ■ lecrashe: A popular sport on Treilath.

  ■ LIBRA: Lucid Interac
tive Blended Reality Array. A fully-immersive simulated reality system that is indistinguishable from real life.

  ■ live-paper: A thin, flexible sheet of rectangular plastic that is capable of displaying static and dynamic content. Embedded electronics are used to erase or update the paper, as well as to fix the contents into a non-erasable form.

  ■ Machine Controllers’ Union: A union that oversees the leasing of robots to various companies.

  ■ marriage token: A metal disc, issued by the Treilath License Bureau, that authorizes the marriage of an eligible couple. If the wedding does not take place before the token expires, a new one must be obtained.

  ■ Patrol, Search, and Rescue (PSR): An agency in the Treilath government tasked with law enforcement in the regions beyond the home systems. Also provides search-and-rescue services to the less-populated areas of the GRT.

  ■ Phostilans: A telepathic alien species that came into contact with humans during Treilath’s interstellar expansion period. The aftermath of the Phostilan Infiltration caused widespread changes in human society, including a mandatory genetic engineering program that was intended to prevent another infiltration.

  ■ robot: Also known as “bot” or “mechanoid.” A machine used for autonomously carrying out tasks according to its programming. Most models are designed to look humanoid and are found in many areas of human society. Robots have limited artificial intelligence, but are not allowed to develop sentience.

  ■ sidhreen: A humanoid avian species genetically engineered by the Chythex for intelligence and vocal capabilities. The term “siddie” is a pejorative.

  ■ Spacer Gene Program: A mandatory genetics engineering program that enabled Treilathan humans to better survive the rigors of space travel. Humans with the Spacer Gene are physically superior to those without it.

  ■ standard time: Standard hours and standard days are based on the rotational period of the planet Treilath; one standard day = 24 standard hours. All worlds in the GRT must adhere to standard time, which is synchronized through hyperspace time beacons.

  ■ Support, Tactics, and Response (STAR): A paramilitary unit within the DSI that provides operational support and security for officially-sanctioned missions.

  ■ Treilath: Home world of the GRT.

  ■ Treilic: The common language spoken in the GRT.

  ■ Yenynu: A constructed language created by certain members of the Girls’ Engineering Guild.

  About the Author

  Writer C.N. Samson exists somewhere in the Southwestern United States. He has been a fan of science fiction & fantasy since high school, and wrote a number of short stories in the dark ages before the Internet. One time, he met the 38th governor of Illinois, and another time he saw Sarah McLachlan in person for about five seconds.

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