by S A Pavli
Butch was busy digging up soil samples and collecting plants, while Sundance, standing on two legs reached twelve feet up into a tree to scrape off some fungus from the tree bark. I took 3D photographs of interesting plants and also spotted some insects. A small scurrying mouse like creature made a break for it but Sundance was too fast, pouncing on it and delicately grabbing it with his front pincers.
The forest was beautiful, the trees huge and varied. There seemed to be as much life in the upper reaches of the trees as there was on the ground. This was a rich planet which would take a very long time to explore.
“I think we have found a gold mine here Alfred,” I spoke into my communicator. Apart from being absolutely beautiful, it’s going to be loaded with fantastic plants and animals. I‘d love to spend time here to explore.”
“Take care that there are no poisonous insects Paul,” said Alfred. Sometimes, he was like a fussy old aunt. We continued our work, slowly moving through the forest picking out interesting plants. We trapped a few more insect and animal species. All the animals were small. It was impossible to tell from a cursory examination whether they were mammals, but back on the Lisa Jane we had a full laboratory with X ray and Imaging equipment. I could have some fun playing at doctor.
There was a rusting of leaves and I looked up to spot a leathery bird flapping erratically through the trees.
“Birds as well Alfred. Look at that.” Alfred didn’t reply for a few seconds. Eventually he spoke.
“We have a problem Paul.” I felt a frisson of anxiety.
“What is it Alfred?”
“A starship has just dropped out of Hyperspace.”
“Bloody hell, that’s not possible,” I gasped. “Not twice in a row.”
“It is a Hianja starship.” I felt a sense of relief that we were not about to be confronted with an unknown alien presence. Then I though, is this a chance event…or…? But how would they have known where the Lisa Jane was headed?
“They are communicating with us Paul.”
“Relay me the image Alfred..” I took out my communicator screen from my pack and switched it on. There was a pause, the screen flickered then displayed what I recognised as a view of a Hianja starship bridge with a number of individual manning it. I didn’t recognise any of them.
One of the Hianja started to speak and Alfred’s translation followed.
“This is the Hianja starship Ensadis. Please identify yourself.” I stared at the screen with a feeling of incredulity. Then I remembered that the Hianja had already tracked the Lisa Jane through Hyperspace to Earth previously.
“This is the Human exploration ship the Lisa Jane,” replied Alfred.
“Welcome Lisa Jane. We have been sent to intercept you. Is Captain Constantine on board?” I wanted to laugh at the cheeky nonchalance of the Hianja commander.
“He is on planet exploring,” replied Alfred. “But I have him on con.”
“Someone would like to speak to him,” said the Ensadis commander. The image changed to show a familiar beautiful face.
“Paul, are you having fun with your friends Butch and Sundance?” she asked, a broad smile on her face. “Give them my regards.” I laughed with delight.
“Manera, You have a way of popping up in the most unexpected places.”
“You can’t get away from me that easily Paul Constantine. We have ways of finding you!”
“How did you know they would send me out with the Lisa Jane?”
“We have been keeping the Lisa Jane under surveillance,” she said. “We followed your Hyperspace trail. We’ll be with you in a day Paul. We have much to discuss.”
“Right Ho. Can’t wait. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Hey Alfred, the old team is back together. Me, you and Manera.”
“So it would seem Paul, although I can’t help thinking that trouble seems to follow you and Manera around like… well I can’t think of an appropriate analogy for now,” he retorted dryly.
“Yeah, I think the expression is like fleas on a dog turd.”
“I said appropriate analogy Paul,” he replied primly.
Chapter 12
The Ensadis was a standard Hianja starship and the Lisa Jane fitted easily into its capacious docking bay. As we eased slowly in I felt the ship’s gravity slowly build up. The Hianja had perfected artificial gravity generators and used them to both propel their ships and provide on board gravity.
With a series of thumps and the whirring of electric motors the ship came to a standstill and I made my way to the air lock. There was some more thumping and then the air lock doors opened. There was a flexible tunnel connecting the Lisa Jane with the Ensadis air lock .and Manera was already standing at the entrance. As soon as the air lock opened she ran across and we embraced and kissed and I held her close. She pulled away smiling and I found myself grinning like a monkey who had just been given a banana.
“Nice to see you again miss Hatekam,” I said politely.
“So nice to see you too Captain Constantine.” We made our way through the tunnel into the starship where I was introduced to the Captain of the ship and a couple of his officers. They were clearly eager to meet the famous alien and we spent a few minutes in conversation before Manera excused us.
“We shall meet this evening at dinner,” she said as we took our leave of the officers. We made our way up a few floors in the lift to our apartment which was roomy and well appointed. She turned to me as soon as the door closed.
“Paul, I am so terribly sorry about Earth. That was a disaster. I had no idea the fighter would shoot down your aircraft. It was totally unnecessary.”
“I know,” I have her a reassuring cuddle but my heart was heavy. “Four brave men died and we were responsible. I can’t get over it.”
“No Paul, we were not responsible. Those murdering machines were responsible,” she said fiercely.
“It has got relations between us off to a very bad start,” I pointed out.
“Well, your fighters were trying to shoot me down,” she said. “Had they been successful, I would be dead, and as far as they knew, any number of other Hianja.” I nodded my agreement.
“It’s what happens when the military get involved. We have to try to repair things now.” She nodded and caressed my cheek.
“Enough. Things will get better. How about one of our famous Hianja cocktails,” she smiled.
“You are leading me astray again,” I said. “Please don’t stop.” I stowed my bag with my personal effects while she made the drinks and we settled on the comfortable sofa.
“Now tell me darling, Why have you kidnapped this peaceful explorer?”
“I’ve come to see my friend Alfred,” she said with an impish smile. Alfred was always on line of course, unless my comm was switched off, and his plumy tones came from the speaker.
“It is a pleasure to see you also. However I should point out that we are diverging from the objectives of our trip, which are to explore this star system.”
“Why have you allowed this reprehensible failure in procedure Alfred?” I asked severely.
“I detect some sarcasm on your part Paul,” said Alfred. “But nevertheless, to answer you, I have decided that this unfinished business between Humans and Hianja has to take precedence.”
“Unfinished business is about right Alfred, and thank you for your understanding,” I said, regretting my sarcasm. Can you hurt the feelings of an AI computer? I asked myself.
“You are welcome. However I should remind you that you have no authority to negotiate on behalf of the Human race. Your position is personal and unofficial.”
“Point taken Alfred. I think the Hianja also understand that. But that does raise the question. Manera, why have Hianja authorities gone to the trouble of intercepting us here? Not to satisfy our, yours and mine that is, ahem, personal um… needs, surely?”
“No, however grateful I may be for that,” she said giving me an arch look.
“Me also
,” I said returning it. We spent a few seconds gazing into each other’s eyes before Alfred interrupted.
“You was saying…?”
“Oh yes. It’s not you we want Paul. It’s Alfred.”
“Sorry?” I looked blankly at her and she giggled.
“It’s you I want, but it’s Alfred that the Guardians want to talk to.” I continued to look blank. “It has to do with the issue of the Peacekeepers. The Hianja council is concerned that they may be a danger, not just to Earth, but to all of us. Particularly after the Earth incident.”
“Really? What has made them think that? I mean…” I paused for a second, remembering Chairman Krusniet’s reservations about the Peacekeepers. “I know the Chairman had reservations, but he seemed convinced they would not be a danger.”
“We have discovered new information about their programming. It is apparently much more open than we thought. There is a degree of self evolution built into it which may make their behaviour unpredictable and even dangerous. We think Alfred can help us to understand this and perhaps find ways to change them.” Manera spoke slowly, as if considering her words carefully.
“Why do you think Alfred can do something your own AI cannot?” I asked.
“We are ahead of you in all areas,” she said. “Except computing and artificial intelligence. Alfred is the most advanced AI computer we have come across. Not just more advanced but different. He can actually think creatively, reacting to completely new situations. We have withheld those kinds of abilities from our AI.”
“I see. Alfred, what do you think?”
“I will need to see their design principles before I can give an opinion.”
“Well, have a guess mate,” I insisted.
“Self evolution is a unsuccessful programming concept. It has only been tried in the laboratory.”
“Unsuccessful in what way?” I asked.
“It leads to random and unpredictable results. The point about evolution is that it has to be subjected to continuous verification. In living organisms the verification process is survival itself. In computer software you must have a benchmark to judge whether there has been an improvement.”
“Interesting,” said Manera. “What benchmark can be used for military machines?” It was more of a statement than a question because we all suspected we knew the answer.
“If we find these machines are dangerous, what, if anything can we do about it?” I asked.
“We need to understand their programming before we can answer that,” said Manera. “That is where we hope Alfred can help.”
“Where is all this information?” I asked.
“Hian of course. The home of the Federation. That is where we are going.”
Chapter 13
As luck would have it we were already half way to our destination. But we were still faced with a two week journey on the Hianja starship. Not that this was any kind of hardship; The Ensadis did not have a pool, it was an exploration vessel not a luxury liner, but it was still a level of luxury way above the Lisa Jane. Having gravity meant we could do proper gym work. And drink proper cocktails! The ship was also equipped with a restaurant and bar to serve the crew of fifteen, ten scientists and five crew, nine of which were females and six males. It seemed to be the case with Hianja that females outnumbered males. It was no doubt was due to the disastrous release of the ‘pacifying’ virus which nearly made the male sex extinct.
It also gave Manera and myself the opportunity to deepen our relationship. I had stopped thinking of her as alien in any way, so close had we become. The mystery of why we were so alike physically still remained. But our cultural compatibility did not seem mysterious. Surely, I told myself, civilised beings must share common values. Could a civilisation evolve without Love? Is it possible for civilised beings not to have a sense of humour? I was sure the answer to both was ‘no’. Over the two weeks of our trip to Hian, I was confirmed in my view that we were indeed galactic ‘cousins’, related both physically and culturally.
We dropped out of Hyperspace and I got my first views of Hian, as a small ball of blue and white. It took half a day before we were close enough to distinguish detail. First impressions were that it wasn’t as blue as Earth; there was more land and more cloud cover. The snow covered poles were much bigger. It looked a cooler planet than Earth, but even on the day side I could see the huge metropolitan cities that covered much of the land area. It was the industrial and commercial centre of a huge empire and it showed.
It was also the first time Manera had seen it, although she had seen pictures.
“I think I prefer Earth,” she whispered surreptitiously. We were using a viewer being fed from a telescope. It was panning over a huge metropolis, mile after mile of spectacular skyscrapers. The skies teemed with AG Tanseh vehicles and the roads with automated cabs. I chuckled at her remark.
“It does look intimidating,” I agreed. “But I bet the night life is good. All them people have to find something to do.” But then we left the city and panned over miles of well cultivated countryside and then along a coastline, dotted with small fishing villages, ports and harbours. It looked clean and well ordered and a contrast to the busy city. “Looks like they do like to get away from the big smoke occasionally,” I observed.
“Too artificial,” said Manera. “Everything is just so, designed and sterile.”
“Ah well, you country girls. You like it rough and ready.”
“That’s why I love you dear,” she smiled sweetly.
“Walked into that.” We spent a little more time enjoying the view of the planet. It was the best and only way to see it as a whole, in real time. I was surprised to see that even the polar regions were dotted with small coastal fishing villages and remarked on it.
“Fishing is our main food source,” said Manera. “We no longer eat meat. the countryside is given over to crop farming only.”
“No chance of a good steak here then,” I remarked.
“You must keep your carnivorous habits hidden,” said Manera. “It may offend.”
“Just a joke,” I protested.
“In bad taste,” she said with a smile.
“Ha ha, very funny,” I muttered. “Nothing bad taste about a good steak.” She gave me a reproving look and I gave a calming wave. “Okay, no carnivorous jokes. But those polar fishing villages do look beautiful.”
“We can try to get a visit organised,” she suggested. I nodded and grunted my approval.
We continued to study the planet during our approach, I was impressed by its beauty and the love and care that its population obviously lavished on their planet. It confirmed my view of the Hianja as an advanced and civilised species. We had nothing to fear from them. But the fearsome Peacekeepers were a different matter, an issue of concern for both the Hianja and Humans.
A couple of hours later the ship slipped into an orbit next to a giant orbital station. There were a number of other ships and a number of little shuttles plied back and forth between the ships and the Orbital. But I was shocked to see a familiar giant grey saucer shaped starship hovering like metallic spider well away from the other ships, but easily visible because of its huge size.
“Bloody Hell! It’s the Settang Despass. What is that doing here?” It was the Peacekeeper ship that had arrived at Mesaroyat and summarily destroyed the dissident starship Semtrok Lode. It was an armoured behemoth, with a fleet of lethal fighters like the one that had rescued Manera from Earth under the noses of the Earth military.
“It returned me here after rescuing me from Earth,” explained Manera. I felt a shock of surprise that the warship had been in our Solar system undetected. But of course, how else would the fighter had got to Earth?
“And it is still here?” I asked.
“Yes, we asked it to stay,” said Manera. “It represents the Peacekeepers and it may be interesting to study it. If we can find a way.”
“Mmm, good luck with getting anywhere near that thing,” I said.
Some t
ime later we returned to out apartment to prepare to disembark. I had enjoyed my time on the starship with Manera. The Captain and crew of the Ensadis, and the ship’s scientific team had been the soul of discretion and I had not felt the object of scrutiny or curiosity, which Manera and I had appreciated. But now, the thought that I would again be an object of curiosity, to be displayed and scrutinised was irritating. I broached the subject with Manera as we prepared to disembark Ensadis.
“Is it necessary for us to go through all the political stuff? You know, meetings, speeches, being presented to everyone like some prize exhibit?” She frowned thoughtfully for a few seconds.
“It’s not something I have considered darling. Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“I find it tedious, and, yes it does make me uncomfortable.”
“Well, I guess this is not, shall we say, an official visit,” said Manera, giving me a speculative look.
“Exactly. We have a job to do and all the political stuff will just get in the way.” She nodded thoughtfully.
“I have an idea,” she said. “Why don’t we disguise you as Hianja?”
“Uh?” the suggestion took me by surprise. “Disguise me?”
“Yes, should not be too difficult. The main thing is what you wear. If you wear Hianja clothes, people will not look too closely. We have to shave your eyebrows and make sure you are always clean shaven. And you have to keep your hands hidden. Your shoulders are too broad but you can say you are an athlete. A weight lifter! They are very peculiar individuals.”
“Ah right, A peculiar weight lifter. I can do that. For the sake of some peace and quiet.”
“Well, of course, all those in authority will know who you are, but they can be tasked with keeping your identity secret.”
