Time is an Illusion_The Ptolemy Expedition

by Ruairí Cinéad Ducantlin

  Finally, we have until fifteen hundred hours tomorrow to finalize the agreement. Anything not resolved by tomorrow afternoon’s adjournment will fall under the purview of the Charter.

  In front of you is a folder that contains an outline of the proposed Charter. There is one copy in English and one copy in your native language. You have ten minutes to review the outline before we begin debate.”

  Davinder, Corb, and Jan waited for the full ten minutes before Corb resumed the discussion.

  “Article One: Creation of Terra Carina Celestial Council. Terra Carina, which translates to Earth Ship, will be the governing body for stellar and interstellar activities. There will be sixteen seats on the governing council. Nine of the seats will be permanent. One filled by the Ambassador and eight by a respective country delegate from this assembly. I will dispense with the rules, you can read them later. The one point I will make is this: There is a ninety-day period for your government to select a delegate. Delegates may not be replaced before they have served for a period of five years. Representative countries have ninety-days to replace a delegate who dies before his/her term expires.

  The remaining seats will be filled via an application and selection process. Details regarding the selection process is in your packet.

  Questions?

  Several members raised their hand. Corb pointed to France first, then around the table, clockwise, indicating they would take turns asking questions.

  “The Ambassador, is that you Monsieur Johnson?”

  “Colonel Khatter and I will fill the Ambassador role. It was a requirement that came with the gift of the spacecraft from the Ch’en leadership. They insisted, I am the one who speaks for the people of Earth. Colonel Khatter speaks for me. To receive the spacecraft, I had no choice but to accept the title.”

  “The Americans say, ‘strings attached’.”

  “Yes, Monsieur Bernard, there were strings attached.”

  The questions and answers regarding Item One, the formation of the Terra Carina Celestial Council lasted for three hours and thirty minutes.

  “The vote is unanimous. The formation of Terra Carina is complete. Welcome to future.”

  Debate and discussion continued for ten exhausting hours before Davinder let the delegates leave the laboratory/conference room and make their way to their rooms on UL2. Four of the seven articles had been discussed and first three articles resolved on the first day. The entire second day, from oh-eight-hundred to fifteen-hundred hours, was used to debate the final four items.

  Article One: Creation of Terra Carina.

  Article Two: Funding, staffing, and governing protocols for the Terra Carina organization.

  Article Three: Crew selection and training.

  Article Four: Protocols for interstellar trading and technology management.

  Article Five: Acquisition of additional spacecraft and advanced technologies.

  Article Six: Use of nuclear weapons.

  Article Seven: Member conduct by-laws and expulsion guidelines.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a long and productive two days. I believe your leaders will be pleased with what we have accomplished here. Before we depart one final order of business and a caution.

  I put before the Terra Carina council a motion to grant Jan Willem Kruger the title of Emissary. With the title Jan will speak for the Terra Carina council as duly prescribed.”

  “The delegation from Israel seconds the motion.”

  “Debate? None? Vote, all in favor? Motion carries with unanimous consent. Before we adjourn, any other questions?”

  “Gospodin Johnson… Forgive me, Mister Johnson, when will the Marissa arrive?”

  “The Marissa is about two weeks from Earth.”

  “Da.”

  “You are welcome, Delegate Sokolov.”

  “We will reconvene, next week, in Paris, logistics will be issued. We stand adjourned.”

  Aboard the Jenny – Cargo Bay

  “It went better than expected. I think they understood the implications of a failure to create the Terra Carina Celestial Council and they understood the responsibility to act as one among equals.”

  After a long period of greetings and hugs, Jan was describing the meeting at Q'eqchi’ to create the Terra Carina space corp. The crew of the Jenny, Jan, and Davinder were in the small cargo hold because there was no other place on the Jenny large enough for so many people.

  “Corb, do they understand you are not giving up the Jenny?”

  “They understand the words, but they do not yet understand the implications. When the Marissa arrives, and they learn she was stripped of everything except propulsion, navigation, and life support, they will figure it out.”

  “How so?”

  “Lucinda, the council heard me say the spacecraft are a gift in recompense for slowing Earth’s technological evolution. The Terra Carina council chose not to accept the reality of the Marissa being a trading vessel. The Marissa is a merchant ship. At least one person in each delegation was military. They want war ships. It may be decades before they understand.”

  “Understand what, specifically, Corb?”

  “Cassandra, Earth does not want the other sentient beings in the galaxy to think we are warriors first, traders second. We need to establish ourselves in the cosmos. It will take generations before Earth is ready to assume a military presence in this region of the galaxy.”

  “Ambassador Khatter, what do we do next?”

  “Call me Davinder or Colonel Khatter if you must. Janish, we wait for the Marissa. When the Marissa arrives, we debrief everyone, about everything, including the K’an and the Ch’en. We work with governments to distribute the information at a slow, easily consumed pace.

  Concurrently, we are taking applications for the crew of the Marissa. Presuming the crew of the Jenny remains mostly intact.

  Everyone, now that humans are traversing interstellar space, the Jenny is Earth’s only defensive platform. The Jenny is limited in armament and defensive capabilities, but it is all Earth has as a defensive platform.

  Trade is the key. The crew of the Marissa must think trade first, military second. They will need to find out what Earth has, that other beings want, and create demand for Earth’s resources. Demand designed to trade for technology. Eventually, we will be able to trade for defensive spacecraft.

  We wait for the Marissa. Then we plan. Now, we drink!”

  When the cheers died down, Jan was heard asking Nick a question.

  “Nick, should we be floating? I mean, we are in space, right? There is no gravity in space? I wanted to float.”

  Nick put his arm around Jan’s shoulder and spoke as he tugged Jan toward the buffet table laden with crudités and adult beverages.

  “Jan, Jan, Jan. Let’s get some of the Captain’s beer and I’ll tell you all about the artificial gravity emitters.”

  Realizing he made a mistake in asking Nick something complex at a party, Jan looked over his shoulder, to Lucinda, and mouthed the words ‘help me’.

  Lucinda smiled and spoke while shaking her head in the negative.

  “We’ve been listening to the gobshite for months, it’s your turn in the barrel.”

  The party aboard the Jenny had wound down. It scared the bejeebers out of Davinder and Jan when Corb insisted Lucinda teleport them back to Q'eqchi'.

  Lucinda, still more than a little drunk, returned to the Jenny and was marching over to scold Corb. Before she could get the words out Corb stopped Lucinda cold. Between belches and a lot of swaying back and forth, Corb surprised everyone.

  “Look what you can do now. Hic. You… Me… Janish… Look was we can do. But you know what? Hic. You know what? I know… You know what? Where’s Michelle?”

  “Michelle is right behind you. Corb, focus. What do you know?”

  “You took them back. Then you came back. You hit little itty-bitty dot in the sky. Hic. That’s pretty cool, huh?”

  “Yes, Corb, it is very cool. What do you k
now?”

  “I know there is more. Hic.”

  “More? More of what, Corb? Michelle, do you know what he is talking about?”

  “No, Lucinda, not really. I mean, a couple of months ago he mentioned there might be another way to travel in the dark matter. He was packing up that box. The box he says is not important. I took his comments as if he was thinking out loud and he never mentioned it again.”

  Between sways, Corb looked at Michelle, and tried the use the charades motion of “on the nose”. Corb swung his index finger attempting to point to his nose then to Michelle. Unsuccessful, Corb poked himself in the cheek and the thrust of his arm toward Michelle took him off balance. Michelle and Lucinda both stepped forward, each grabbing an arm, holding Corb upright.

  “I figured it out. Hic. I know how he does it. I can do it too. The box has them. We can talk to the ship. It is learning. That is why I am enliffened. Hic.”

  “Learning? How, who, does what, Corb? The box in your quarters? What is in the box? What makes you enlightened?”

  It was too late, Corb’s chin was on his chest, he was out on his feet. Lucinda and Michelle laid Corb on the cold cargo bay floor, retrieved several blankets and a plastic bucket. They left Corb to sleep it off.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Well, there’s your problem…

  “We shall endeavor to build our character.” – Shihan Ozawa

  Aboard the Marissa

  “It is good to see you all. Lucinda was unbearable. NT, you can’t leave us alone with her again.”

  Everyone laughed at Nick’s whine, including Lucinda. The original crew of the first Jeanette was in the galley of the Marissa. The Jenny was magnetically secured to the deck of the Marissa’s main cargo hold. Ragnar, Janish, and Nick were monitoring the unmanned Jenny via tablets. Nick had confirmed, the tablet controls interface was capable of an interlock with the Jenny’s control systems.

  “Everyone, please, stand.”

  Looking at each other, confused, the entire crew stood and stared at Corb. Tarunik, Tarmish, Taknish, and Taknash teleported into the galley. The visit by the Ch’en lasted under five minutes, was conducted via telepathic communication, and revealed several interesting pieces of data.

  “Welcome, we are humbled by your presence.”

  “No, Enlightened One, it is us who are humbled to be received by you.”

  “How may we help you?

  “It is the Ch’en who can help you. We have informed many others of Earth’s desire to trade. Humans will be welcome in many places. The Ch’en have provided all that you need to control the spacecraft you call the Marissa. Enlightened One, Tamisha and I will always be available to you, to Miss Raitt, and to Miss Roa.

  Enlightened One, do not forget the triad. Miss Raitt’s and Miss Roa’s continuous presence will strengthen all. The strength of the triad will be necessary when you adventure beyond.

  Taknish will remain available to the crew of the Jenny and Taknash will remain available to the crew of the Marissa.

  We are aware of your choices regarding the crew selections. Lieutenant Nguyen, if you please.”

  Tarunik turned to face Lieutenant Nguyen and extended his hands, palms up. Knowing the significance of the Ch’en gesture, Justin quickly stepped forward and placed his hands atop Tarunik’s hands.

  “We have expanded your ability. You may now communicate with Taknash.

  “Thank you, Tarunik. Thank you, Taknash. I am honored to be chosen.”

  Justin stepped back, Tarunik turned back to Corb and Davinder but spoke to Ragnar and Janish.

  “Mister Jensen, Miss Roa we will gift you with the ability to communicate with Taknish. Enlightened One, you have a question?”

  “Yes, I have learned something I do not understand. Tarunik, is it possible to travel beyond the boundaries of the dark matter tunnel?”

  The human crew was stunned by Corb’s question and patiently waited for a response. Before he responded, Tarunik looked to Taknish then Taknash and took several seconds to contemplate.

  “Truly, you are the Enlightened One. The answer to your question is known only to those with strength of mind. You can call it ‘traveling beyond’ and it is a dangerous thing. Ch’en are not permitted to ‘travel beyond’ without a navigator. Only our best navigators, Taknish and Taknash are two who are permitted to ‘travel beyond’. Enlightened One, do you understand the danger?”

  “Yes, Tarunik, I understand the danger. Thank you for gifting me with the knowledge. I understand now the importance of the destination’s frequency in entering the slip-stream. I bow to your guidance.”

  Corb bent, slightly, at the waist three times. One bow directed to Taknash. One bow directed to Taknish. The third, deeper bow, directed to Tarunik. Shocked by the show of reference, the Ch’en considered the gesture while watching Corb before they bowed, deeply, in unison toward Corb.

  They all say something in their native dialect, something that did not translate for the humans, then the Ch’en teleported away.

  “Corb, what did they say before they departed?”

  Corb does not respond to Michelle’s question. Instead, he softly quoted a line from the Blues Traveler’s song Run Around.

  “But I know no matter what the waitress brings, I shall drink it and always be full.”

  United Nations General Assembly

  “First, the Terra Carina Celestial Council is independent of all governments and the United Nations. Any attempt to co-opt the Terra Carina Celestial Council, for any purpose, will be rejected and offending country, or countries, removed from the council. Before I present the charter crews for starships the Jenny and Marissa, there are a few announcements.”

  Three months after the arrival of the Marissa, Colonel Khatter addressed the full United Nations General Assembly. Davinder had been speaking for thirty-five, of the fifty minutes to which he agreed to speak. Flanking Dander were Jan and the entire crew of the Jeanette One.

  “Major Raitt has been promoted to Colonel and will Captain the space vessel Jeanette Two, the Jenny. Captain Turner has been promoted to Major and will captain the space vessel the Marissa. Captain Nguyen will be the chief navigator on the Marissa.”

  Davinder continued with the crew announcements and minutiae regarding the Terra Carina Celestial Council’s charter and objectives.

  “Considering the speed advantage of the Jenny, it’s mission will be to visit new worlds as an emissary from Earth. If the new world is receptive to trade considerations with Earth, the crew of the Jenny will notify the Council. The Marissa will be directed to new trading partner world based on the approved schedule set forth by the Terra Carina Council.

  Where trade offers are not accepted or not realistic, the Jenny will proceed to the next opportunity and repeat the role of emissary. There is no expectation, currently, that Earth possesses anything of material value that the other worlds may desire to trade for or purchase directly. It will be the role of the emissary mission to determine if trading options exist.”

  Davinder continued for an additional ten minutes. When he concluded the entire General Assembly did something rare and unusual. The entire Assembly stood and applauded.

  Q'eqchi' Compound – UL2

  “Where are we going to first?”

  Two days after addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the entire Peregrination Coterie and their new crewmates were in the dayroom of UL2 at Q'eqchi'. Less a party and more a family gathering, everyone was anxious to know the schedule and goals. Major Turner has asked Corb the question with a volume that got everyone’s attention.

  “Josh, we are going to a planet recommended by Tarunik. He indicated the indigenous population will be friendly to Humans and to Earth.”

  Everyone was standing, intently focused on Josh and Corb’s discussion. Realizing the rapt audience Corb expanded his response.

  “Tarunik’s information is just enough to ensure confidence we will not be harmed and there is opportunity for trade.


  Tarunik has recommended we visit a planet the Ch’en call Farmore. That is one word: Farmore. The indigenous population are called the Garune. They are a bipedal species with what looks like soft scales or hard feathers for skin. They can be aggressive but only when they feel slighted or not treated as an equal. Tarunik indicates the Garune are accepting new trading partners.

  There is a full report, a pre-contact file, on the main server. Cassandra has been reviewing the file for several weeks. Cassandra?”

  “Thank you, Corb. The word Garune is both singular and plural in form. The Garune are friendly to new species who are seeking to be trading partners. Which is good for Earth. The Garune have technology to trade for raw materials. But there’s a catch. First, the good news. They need hydrogen and helium and we have lots of both. Now the bad news. We have enough hydrogen and helium for centuries of harvesting.”

  “Harvesting?”

  “Yes, harvesting, Justin. Jupiter. Jupiter’s atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium.”

  Everyone stared at Cassandra. The problem was obvious: Earth does not possess the technology to harvest hydrogen and helium from Jupiter’s atmosphere.

  “What’s the plan?”

  “Chief, we are going to cut a deal with the Garune.”

  “What kind of deal, NT?”

  “Considering we are entrepreneurial in nature… Peter Drucker said: The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity. We are looking for a deal that is good for Earth and good for the Garune.”

  “Do not forget mutual benefit. We're all working together; that's the secret. Sam Walton said that and look what he did.”

  “True Michelle, the deal must be mutually beneficial. I think we can strike a balance.”