by Bob Blanton
“Counselor Faroot, we are delighted to have you. Welcome to Delphi Station,” Catie said. “With me is Captain Clark, the commander of Delphi Station.” Captain Clark gave a slight nod of his head and returned the salute.
“We’ve designated this section of Delphi Station for your people,” Captain Clark said. “Let us take the elevator up to ring five. Delphi Station has two sections, each with three rings. Ring five is the second ring of Section II. We’ve increased the spin so that ring six, the outer ring, will have 1.4 Gs. But for the comfort of the Princess, we’ll be conducting our meeting in ring five.”
“We are very happy that you’ve been able to accommodate our need for higher gravity,” Counselor Faroot said. “With children, it is important that they experience the correct gravity so their bones develop the proper strength.”
“We were happy to do that,” Catie said. “The gravity on ring five is only five percent higher than our usual gravity. Since Section II is just starting to be populated, it was easy to direct our people to ring five instead of ring six. We just hope the accommodations meet your needs.”
“We were told that they would be the same as on Gemini Station.”
“That is correct.”
“Then they will be luxurious compared to what we are used to. Even on our homeworld, most of us would not have such nice accommodations.”
◆ ◆ ◆
The delegation quietly followed Captain Clark and Catie to the lift that would take them to ring five. It was only a couple of minutes before they entered the conference area that Samantha had told Catie to configure. It was luxurious by Delphi standards; it mirrored Marc’s office in Delphi City. It had a mahogany conference table which complemented the mahogany wainscoting and mahogany crown molding around the walls. The table was surrounded by real leather chairs, all of it sitting on a huge Turkish rug. The center position of the table had been given an extra treatment to highlight Catie’s position, with the Flag of Delphi behind her seat.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Samantha said as she entered the room.
“But Sam’s on Artemis, and she’s eight months pregnant,” Catie thought.
“Gotcha!” Samantha texted both Catie and Liz. “Penny will be my avatar.”
“ADI!”
“I was sworn to secrecy.”
Penny walked over and sat next to Catie and whispered, “Did you get the message?”
“Yes!” Catie messaged.
“Stay focused. This is your show,” Samantha messaged Catie.
“Counselor Faroot, Ambassador Newman is our interplanetary ambassador,” Catie said. “She’s here to provide counsel and answer any questions of a diplomatic nature.” Rhino and a few of the Aperanjens that had been awakened early had selected several of the members of the original crew and a couple of the more experienced descendants to be their representatives.
Counselor Faroot introduced the other members of their party while Masina served coffee to everyone. The Aperanjens treated coffee like manna from heaven. They loved the cream just as much, mixing it fifty-fifty. Fortunately, Liz had warned Masina to bring lots of cream.
“Again, I want to welcome you to Delphi Station.” The Comms provided an interpretation to everyone as Catie talked. “I’d like to point out a few things that I believe will help avoid confusion later on. First, Earth, our homeworld, is not under a unified government. Delphi is an independent nation among many on Earth. Because of this, we would like to keep your presence on Delphi Station a secret. We have not informed the other governments of Earth about details of our encounter with the Fazullans, other than that we won the encounter. We fear that if the press were to learn of your presence, they would create a panic among the people. I hope you understand.”
“We do. I suspect that the gutter press is a galaxy-wide plague. An unfortunate side effect of having a free press.”
“We agree,” Catie said, suppressing a snicker as she thought about how Sophia would react to the comment. “Also it is important to know that Delphi Station and Earth’s space fleet are actually owned by MacKenzie Discoveries, a private corporation, and it is that private corporation that has made the offer to provide you with a planet suitable for your colonization.”
“A private corporation?” Counselor Faroot asked. “Is this translation correct, that private individuals own that company and control all that you described?”
“That is correct. My father is the majority stakeholder,” Catie said. “It is the goal of our company and Delphi Nation to create a league of planets in this galaxy that will trade with each other and work together to ensure their combined prosperity and safety.”
“That is a lot for a private company to do.”
“Yes, but with a fractured government on Earth, it was felt that it would be the only way. MacKenzie Discoveries owns all the technology that allows us to explore and colonize space, so the burden is upon us to do it.”
“An admirable goal. And you, you are a princess?”
“Yes, Delphi Nation was founded by MacKenzie Discoveries and set up by my father to be a model nation on Earth. He is the Monarch of Delphi. We hope that in time the governments on Earth will realize that their common bond is greater than their differences and form a united government, that they will create a unified voice from Earth that will further our expansion into the galaxy.”
“I see; that explains why Admiral Prince Blake was able to be so confident in his offer. Please, may we move to that discussion?”
“Of course. MacKenzies has been searching for habitable planets for almost a year. We have eight probes out searching. However, the parameters of the search were set based on Earth and Paraxean physiology; so we have been ignoring planets with a gravity that is more than 25 percent higher than ours. We have noted their existence, but have not made any surveys of them.”
“So you have found some?”
“Yes. We are sending the probes back to look at five candidates. But it will take several weeks before they are able to circle back to them. Once we have done a preliminary survey, we’ll send out a team to do a more detailed survey. Your people are invited to participate in the survey.”
“That is most gracious. Can you explain what you know about the planets so far?”
“The five we have selected all have gravity between 1.4 and 1.6 times our gravity. They all have oxygen atmospheres and significant bodies of water,” Catie explained.
“Then what else do you need to know about the planet? Couldn’t we just go to our original destination?”
“We still don’t know where that planet is. For other planets, we would want to know that there is no sentient life on the planet, the percent of oxygen in the atmosphere, that there are no pathogens that would be harmful to your people, that food that will sustain you will grow there, and that there are sufficient quantities of the minerals and elements necessary to build a modern society.”
“To us, that knowledge would be a luxury. We had expected to terraform the world we were going to, taking as much time as necessary.”
“We understand. But with our jumpdrive, that level of risk is unnecessary. Now Ambassador Newman will go over the various details of the offer.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Penny said. “Counselor Faroot, MacKenzie Discoveries will provide you with a suitable planet and sufficient resources for you to establish yourselves there, . . .”
“But?” Counselor Faroot said.
“Yes, but, we would like to establish a more beneficial arrangement. We would like to provide you the resources to accelerate your transformation into a modern civilization. To accomplish that will require a significant investment.”
“And for this investment, you would want?”
Penny and Samantha were clearly frustrated at the counselor’s continued interruptions, but Penny maintained her calm. “We would want a mutual defense agreement and two percent of the value of your exports for the next fifty years.”
Counselor Faroot pushed back in his c
hair, staring hard at Penny. “Two percent for fifty years. What about our imports?”
“We feel that it would be difficult for you to manage a tax on your imports, it could limit how you attract investors and other colonists. We see the tax on exports as sufficient.”
“I see. And what do you imagine the trade would consist of?” Counselor Faroot asked with disdain.
“I’m sure your world, like ours, has a dark history of colonialism,” Penny said. “We would like to avoid any repeat of that situation. As you know, trade flows from plenty to need. In the beginning, you will have plenty of land and natural resources, so we would expect the trade to consist mainly of foodstuffs and high-value minerals. However, over time, we will assist you in establishing your own manufacturing capabilities. That will allow the trade to move up the chain and involve the exchange of manufactured goods as well as natural resources.”
“What about our right of government?”
“We would provide advice, but how you manage and govern your colony will be up to you. Our only requirement is that you respect the rights of all sentient races to the same extent you do your own citizens.”
“The Princess mentioned mutual defense earlier.”
“Yes. We will provide a frigate which we will station in your system. We would ask that you allow the crew some access to the planet, although, with the high gravity, that might not occur very often. They will provide a first line of defense should some natural disaster happen, such as an asteroid in a high-risk orbit, or should some different race enter the system. We will also place probes around the fringe of the system to warn other races that the system is occupied and protected,” Penny explained.
“Would our people be expected to serve in your military?”
“It would not be a requirement, but we would welcome it,” Catie interjected. “It would also increase your people’s awareness of some technology that you might learn to leverage to your advantage.”
“What about education?”
“Much of our education is facilitated by an AI. We would provide you with an AI for your planet; it would have access to all of our unclassified information. We would also provide you limited access to our DIs which have more cognitive ability, but that access would be limited. That will provide you access to technical training and allow you to set up an education system that spans our knowledge and yours. We would also provide access to scholars on Earth to augment where needed,” Penny said.
“I see. We were told that we are here for training. What does that mean?”
Penny nodded to Catie.
“Our machinery and technology will be different than what you’re used to. We need you to work with it, learn how to use it. That way you’ll be familiar with it when you establish your colony. Also, we need you to identify changes that might be necessary to accommodate any specific needs your physiology requires or even those you would prefer. Also, you may wish to have us replicate technology or machines that you’re more familiar with. We have a design team and scientists who can help to facilitate that. When we established Artemis, we only shipped critical components. They built the bulkier components on-site, so we would want to train your people how to do that.”
“That is interesting. Somewhat more complex,” one of the other members of the Aperanjen delegation said.
“We could send a few of your people to Artemis to study what they have done. But minimally you will be able to observe what they’ve built, ask questions, and study their documents and videos about what they’ve done and learned.”
After another hour of discussion, Catie ended the meeting. “We will let you go. I’m sure you wish to get settled into your new accommodations and facilitate the arrival of the rest of your people. As I’m sure Commander Farmer has told you, your people will be arriving on three flights per day over the next two weeks. Let us know if there’s anything we’ve missed. We’ll talk again in two days.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“You did good,” Samantha said as Catie got up to leave the meeting.
“Thanks. And very funny springing Penny on me.” Catie swatted at Samantha’s image.
“I know how you like surprises. The Aperanjens put a lot of stock in personal appearances, so using Penny was the easiest way.”
“I was shocked when she showed up and wasn’t pregnant. Speaking of that, when am I going to be an aunt?”
“Any day now.”
“Am I having a niece or a nephew?”
“You’ll be getting a niece or a nephew, I’m the one having the little imp.”
“Don’t talk that way about my nephew!”
“Your niece or nephew likes to kick me at the most inopportune times. And ‘e’s got my bladder squeezed down to the size of a pea.”
“So it’s a he!”
“I said ‘e. That goes for either he or she. You’ll find out the sex right after your father does, which will be right after e’s born.”
“Do you know the sex?”
“Of course. Dr. Marrock and I are the only ones who know.”
“And me!” ADI chimed in.
“I should have known you would know,” Catie said.
“Of course I would. And don’t try to get me to tell,” ADI said.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Samantha said.
“So she wouldn’t tell you the sex,” Liz said. She’d been trailing behind Catie and had overheard the conversation.
“No! Nattie says she’s as big as a house, so I’m guessing a boy,” Catie said.
“Birth weight isn’t a good indicator of sex,” Liz said.
“We’ll see. Where do you want to go for dinner?”
“The Four Seasons or Deogenes?”
“Let’s do the Four Seasons.”
◆ ◆ ◆
Once the waiter had finished serving the wine, Liz proposed a toast.
“To our new colonists!”
“Cheers,” Catie said as she tapped her glass to Liz’s.
“Why are you so glum?”
“Oh, I’m just frustrated,” Catie said. “I feel stuck here babysitting the Aperanjens.”
“Remember, you should be stuck on the Dutchman delivering cargo,” Liz said. “This has to be more interesting.”
“I guess, but we’re going to do a test run on delivering the asteroid to Mangkatar next week. I wanted to be there.”
“You can run the test from here. Don’t tell me you would really spend two weeks to get there?”
“I guess not. But this seems . . . boring.”
“Hey, it can’t be all fun and games all the time. And you’ll get to learn more about the Aperanjens, that should be interesting.”
“I guess.”
“Come on, what’s really bothering you?”
“I feel trapped. Everywhere I go, I’m Princess Catie, or ‘That Lieutenant McCormack’, or ‘That Catie McCormack’. I never thought I’d miss the Academy.”
Liz laughed. “I knew you would. Those were some of the best years of my life. You form such tight bonds with your mates. But you can visit Yvette, Joanie, and Miranda anytime you want. They won’t treat you like a princess.”
“I know, but everyone else does. I manage to slide by a little as Alex MacGregor, but that’s pretty thin. Half the people recognize me. Sophia and her damn book.”
“Hey, if it wasn’t that book it would have been another. If you want, we can create another alias for you.”
“But what do I do when I have to be Catie McCormack, like today? It would blow my cover.”
“We can work on that. There should be a way to come up with a disguise that you can slip into and out of without anyone figuring it out. People do it all the time.”
“But people figure it out. Just like Commander Griggs. I’m too young to do what I do, so that calls attention to me, then people start guessing.”
“Well, you’re almost seventeen. Dr. Metra can probably do something to make you look older. We could even come up with a body double for you like
Penny. That would make it better, if you’re in Delphi City, then people won’t expect you on Delphi Station or Gemini Station. Or on the Dutchman.”
“Maybe.”
“Is this about wanting to do stupid teenage stuff?”
“What’s stupid teenage stuff?”
“Never mind. Forgot who I was talking to,” Liz said. “Damn!”
“What’s the matter?”
Liz nodded toward a family that was being seated at a table across the restaurant. “I do not understand why people bring young children to expensive restaurants. They’re too young to enjoy the food, so all they do is make themselves and the rest of us miserable.”
Catie looked over at the family. The two little ones didn’t look very happy, and the two-year-old definitely looked mad. “They’re probably tourists, where would they leave the kids?”
“Come on, don’t you think this hotel offers a babysitting service?”
“Yes, but they probably don’t understand how to monitor the service. So they’d be nervous about leaving their kids with strangers.”
Right on cue, the two-year-old started squalling.
“Great!”
“Don’t’ worry, the maître d' will take care of it,” Catie said.
“How?”
The maître d' returned to the table carrying one of the candle holders that each of the tables had in its center. He smiled at the couple who were looking embarrassed as they were trying to shush the two-year-old. He replaced the candle holder on the table with the one he had brought, stepped back, and waved at the hostess. The sound coming from the two-year-old brat faded.
The maître d' smiled and made a few comments to the couple before leaving.
“What happened?” Liz asked.
“The restaurant has a noise-canceling system.”
“Then why don’t they have that thing on all the tables? Why wait until there’s a problem?”
“We just installed it. The team will come back next week and equip all the tables. You have to get a reading of all the acoustics before you make the receivers,” Catie explained.
“We?” Liz asked.
