by S. H. Jucha
Alex glanced over to Gino Diamanté and grudgingly offered him a nod. Gino’s reference to the first discussion Alex had experienced with Eric Stroheim told him his Ambassador had worked hard to prepare the Leaders for their visit. Alex turned to look behind him at Eric and offered him a nod as well.
Eric offered his friend a quick smile as he guided the Leaders to the viewing spot. Gone was Eric’s impression of Independents as wayward children who required his care, a duty his House had been tasked to perform. His relationships with the Harakens, one and all, were so much deeper than those he’d ever had on his home world. Harakens had become good acquaintances and better friends.
Alex stood in front of the shrouded vessel. “We have discovered some amazing facts about these ships, which we refer to as ‘travelers.’ The vessel that we will demonstrate today is a hybrid. The entire shuttle, except for the shell, was fabricated on Haraken. The shell has to be tuned, for want of a better word, which only the Swei Swee can do at this time. Three hives of Swei Swee accepted my offer to leave Libre and live on Haraken. In addition to this single shuttle, we have fifty-one frames that had been abandoned on Libre when the Swei Swee were freed. The Nua’ll equipment is pristine even after being exposed to salt air for a quarter-year. To date, the Swei Swee females complete a shell about every thirty-two days.”
“Could you not co-opt the other hives, as you call them, to expedite your assembly rate, Mr. President?” Katarina asked.
Before Alex could respond—and judging by his body language, it was better he didn’t—Gino Diamanté stepped in. “If I may interrupt you, Leader Pasko. Allow me to ask some clarifying questions.” Gino turned to Alex, giving him a subtle nod, requesting Alex’s patience. “President Racine, what is the status of the Swei Swee in Haraken society?”
“Full citizenship, Ser,” Alex replied.
“Do the Swei Swee understand these rights, President Racine?” Gino asked.
“No, they don’t, Leader Diamanté. Our language comprehension progresses, but there is little common ground between our cultures to enable us to communicate on these complex subjects,” Alex replied. “We have a simple arrangement, one the Swei Swee accept. They are an intelligent species that has been offered sanctuary on our planet, and they have an exclusive enclave on a cliff west of the site of our first city, Espero. While there are three hives, there is but a single leader. The Swei Swee regard their leader as you would your Council Leader, and we treat the First, as he is known, accordingly.”
Gino turned to his fellow Leaders and pointedly said, “I believe that clarifies the subject for us.”
“Sers,” Eric said, addressing the Méridien Leaders, “when a subject confuses you, which may happen frequently during your visit, you might choose to consult privately before speaking. As I have related to you, I myself was in similar circumstances when I first came aboard the Rêveur. I was fortunate to have my good friend Ambassador Monti speak for both of us when I might have destroyed negotiations before they had even begun.”
“Yes, well …” Maria said, stepping into the silence that had followed Eric’s subtle reprimand. “President Racine, I am anxious to witness what you have fabricated.”
Alex acknowledged Maria’s request with a slight tilt of his head and signaled to four techs waiting nearby. When they pulled on the dark sheath, it poured off the ultra-smooth shell like water.
Mickey had ordered extra lighting panels installed over the top of the traveler. The blues, greens, and whites of the shell, reminiscent of shallow ocean waters, gleamed in the focused light. The traveler floated on top of its grav-cradle, its graceful shape undisturbed.
Leader Pasko had taken note of Ambassador Stroheim’s recommendation about consulting privately before saying something that could come across as untoward. Furthermore, she did not want to earn President Racine’s animosity because she was anxious to learn much from him about his implant control.
Gino diplomatically rephrased the question to Alex. “Most intriguing colors, President Racine. Quite beautiful. Is there an intrinsic structural reason for the change?”
“Yes, Leader Diamanté,” Alex replied. “The original dark travelers were a form of Swei Swee rebellion against the Nua’ll.”
“Might you share the story with us, President Racine?” Gino asked.
Both Katarina and Devon took note of the deference Leader Diamanté paid President Racine and the ease with which the Haraken responded to his requests.
“The Swei Swee knew that at any moment they might be discarded by their captors,” Alex said. “So they built shells with material that would degrade if not maintained. This,” Alex said, waving his hand at the new traveler, “is how the Swei Swee build their own dwellings. This shell is extremely durable, and we have had a most challenging time forming hatches.”
“Speaking of which, President Racine, I don’t see one,” said Darryl Jaya, peering at the shell.
On Alex’s cue, Sheila, waiting in the pilot seats with Ellie, triggered the hatch. The visitors watched a seam appear in the side of the shell, and then a hatch, pivoting along its bottom edge, levered out and down. Once the hatch descended below the horizontal plane, a set of steps extended from within the frame to reach the deck.
Mickey appeared at the top of the steps. As he began his descent, Alex said, “I would like to present Chief Engineer Michael Brandon, who led the Haraken efforts to build our first traveler.”
Mickey received a round of bows and applause from the visitors and his own people.
Next, Alex introduced Sheila and Ellie as the pilots who risked their lives to test the traveler. Both women descended the hatch’s steps to stand beside Mickey, and they, too, enjoyed the audience’s appreciation. When Sheila scanned the audience, she found Minister Jaya staring at her with a most intent expression.
In a simulcast through his comm and his harness, Alex said, “Next, I would like to present others who share honor with Mickey for our success.”
Julien, Cordelia, and Z then spoke to the assembly via Alex’s implant and channeled through his belt harness, speaking their names and announcing themselves as Haraken SADEs. The distinction was not lost on the audience, especially the Méridien visitors.
“And lastly, but certainly not least by any means,” Alex said, “I would like to introduce to you the entity who did more than any individual to build our relationship with the Swei Swee, saving hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. Her knowledge of music helped decode the Swei Swee language, and on both planets the Swei Swee have adopted her as their Hive Singer, a most prestigious position. Sers, I present Mutter.”
“Good morning, Sers,” Mutter said. “President Racine flatters me. I have been the SADE aboard my freighter, now known as the Money Maker, for more than 231 years. Through the Admiral’s efforts, I have been proud to participate in the rescue of both the Libran population and the Swei Swee. Now I find no greater pleasure in my existence than my evening serenades to the Swei Swee. I’m proud to be called ‘Hive Singer.’”
The House Leaders could only manage short, stuttered questions via their implants to one another. The world of the Harakens was far stranger than they could have imagined.
As the Minister of Technology, Darryl Jaya was beside himself with curiosity. He whispered into Maria’s ear, “I am about to soil my trousers in anticipation, Madam President.”
Maria was sympathetic to Darryl’s burning curiosity. “We will be allowed to go aboard, will we not, President Racine?”
“Oh, more than that, President Gonzalez,” Alex replied. “This is your transport planetside.”
On cue, Mickey, Sheila, and Ellie stood aside and gestured to the company to board the traveler. Terese and Pia had the honor of acting as hostesses for the prestigious g
uests. They stood in the hatch entrance with smiles on their faces.
Throwing aside protocol, Darryl Jaya hurried to the traveler, scampered up the steps, and paused briefly to nod to Terese and Pia before he disappeared inside. Maria and Will shared a laugh over Jaya’s uncontrollable curiosity. They quickly followed him, and the Ambassadors directed the Leaders to board.
When everyone was settled in for the flight and the bay had been cleared, Sheila and Ellie guided the vessel out of the bay for the trip planetside. Inside the traveler, the first-time passengers were engrossed in examining the comfortable interior. Méridien-style seating conformed to their individual bodies. From general amenities to interior lighting, the finish cried luxurious styling. There was little that was utilitarian.
“President Racine, do you intend to appoint all the shuttles in this wonderful quality?” Katarina asked, squirming deliciously in her seat.
“Sers, you must keep in mind that this is not a shuttle,” Alex replied. “We refer to this vessel as a ‘traveler.’ It has the capacity to move throughout any system without reaction mass and at a max velocity of 0.91c. You should allow for the comfort of your passengers. However, we will finish the traveler interiors to your specifications, or you may build them out as you please.” Alex had noticed Katarina’s efforts to catch his attention. It had not escaped his notice that her House was responsible for Méridien implants and probably was the underlying reason for her efforts.
After several more questions for Alex, conversation coalesced among each group of visitors. Their discussions focused on the ramifications to their societies of the Harakens’ successful re-creation of a silver ship.
When the New Terrans’ conversation dwindled, Darryl Jaya could no longer contain his impatience. “President Racine, when will we depart?”
Alex stood up and turned around to face the seated passengers. “Commander Reynard has informed me that we will be entering the atmosphere soon.”
“But the takeoff, the motion, the engines, the acceleration …” Darryl said.
Alex bestowed a huge grin on Darryl. “These travelers are quite remarkable, aren’t they, Minister Jaya?”
The visitors urgently whispered or communicated implant to implant. Thoughts of efficient, environmentally neutral, long-range shuttles had intrigued them, but experiencing the absence of the traveler’s flight mechanics was proving to be overwhelming. Finally, the passengers felt the disturbance of atmospheric reentry, but it was nothing akin to their experiences in their own shuttles. The traveler’s ultra-sleek design and smooth skin slid through the air, and the shell absorbed the friction heat to charge its collectors.
Soon after the ride had become smooth again, the interior lights slowly brightened. “That’s the signal that we’ve landed, Sers,” Alex said, accompanying his comment with an apologetic shrug of his shoulders. “There is no other indication of an arrival, not with experienced pilots. Haraken is still a little dry and a little short of oxygen, although we are working on that. Please make your way efficiently on to the transport that’s waiting for you.”
The visitors stood and headed rearward to where Terese and Pia stood. The hatch seam appeared, bright sunlight streaming through it, and the steps extended from the lowered hatch.
Jaya nodded politely to Maria and extended his hand to allow her to precede him.
“I see, Minister,” Maria said. “Now that an inhospitable environment awaits us, you suddenly remember to let your President go first.” Maria laughed at Darryl’s crestfallen expression and patted him on the shoulder as she passed him by. Will laughed as well and then gently pushed Darryl ahead of him.
As the visitors exited the craft, they looked back at the traveler, which floated on another grav-lift cradle. When they boarded the transport, they sought window seats that faced the ship, staring at its mesmerizing colors as they glowed in Haraken’s morning sun. Entranced as they were by the view of the traveler, their attention was snatched away by an ice asteroid shooting overhead, its wide plume of steam streaming behind it.
Maria shook her head in disbelief. Where the Méridiens were content with their technology, entrenched in safety protocols, and New Terrans had yet to become technologically advanced, Harakens surmounted challenges with imaginative innovations. She realized that, given time, the Harakens would change this corner of the galaxy.
* * *
Negotiations lasted nine days. On the subject of monetary exchange, and at Minister Ishikawa’s urging, President Gonzalez offered a universal credit, a one-to-one exchange with Haraken credits. Alex recognized a gift when he saw one and accepted it. The House Leaders could offer no such deal. They lacked the authority, but promised to pay for the travelers in Con-Fed credits at par value. Transferring their credits to an exchange run by SADEs seemed imminently sensible to them.
After the question of credits had been settled, negotiations had begun in earnest for the travelers. Alex’s team, headed by Leo Breslen, had met with him days earlier. When they had presented the traveler’s pricing, with and without finished interiors and with and without beam technology, Alex had been shocked.
“Sers, I have had only one experience with pricing a ship which was my own, the original Outward Bound. I find these prices incredible. How did you arrive at these?” Alex had asked.
“Mr. President,” Leo Breslen had replied, “we discovered we had no means of establishing a price based on materials and labor. The technology is unique … priceless one might say. So we chose to price our most basic traveler against the real-world costs of Méridien shuttle construction plus the costs of reaction mass and maintenance over the life expectancy of the shuttle, which our SADEs were able to supply.”
Alex had expected the Méridien Leaders to balk at the prices. But within moments of conferring, they were all smiles and bargaining for terms and delivery times. Between the three Leaders, they purchased a total of nineteen travelers, agreeing to a 50 percent down payment. Their shuttles would be delivered over a period of two years.
Unfortunately the price of a traveler was a challenge to Maria’s government budgets. But Alex had other plans for New Terra. Once he established that Maria was interested in sixteen of the travelers, Alex calculated the total price and offered Maria a deal. Alex’s advisory team had identified items that Harakens needed and would be stretched to produce, but that New Terra had in abundance, food stock, raw materials, and manpower.
Alex and Maria sketched out a complex agreement. Haraken would deliver travelers, and New Terra would provide hundreds of kilotons of food stock per Haraken specifications and provide workers and many of the materials to build Haraken’s first orbital station. Maria recognized her gift was being returned. New Terra had food production capability to spare and thousands of engineers and techs who would give a digit or two to work on a Méridien-designed orbital station, as well as take part in creating the tens of thousands of items required.
Once negotiations were completed, there was only one item left on the agenda—only, it wasn’t on Alex’s agenda.
-43-
Maria and Gino had expressed sincere desires to greet the Swei Swee First. However, after Alex had explained the First’s greeting ceremony, Gino graciously bowed out. Only Maria had stood her ground, saying she was prepared to consume a fish’s flesh for the honor of greeting the First.
Alex, his people, and the visitors took the traveler to the shell construction site, landing it in its cradle. Per Alex’s instructions, the group disembarked and remained near the shuttle. He did not want to confuse the First during the introduction.
Two more shells were under construction, the females crawling over the unfinished edges. Leader O’Shea broached the subject that had been on his mind. “Ser de Guirnon,” Devon said, “if the Swei Swee are citizens, how do you compensate them?”
“We are still working on that, Ser,” Renée responded. “The Swei Swee could request many things for their labors, and they would be granted. Presently, they’re focused on r
eturning to a normal life. They fish, build dwellings, and … procreate. The egg domes have tripled since they’ve arrived. The shells they build are a tribute to the Star Hunter First,” Renée added, indicating Alex.
Maria sidled next to Eric. She had found that the Ambassador often offered her valuable and insightful advice, allowing her to glean helpful impressions of first-time contact with Alex and the Harakens.
“Have you greeted the Swei Swee First, Ambassador Stroheim?” Maria asked.
“Fortune forbid, President Gonzalez! Only President Racine has received that … that honor,” Eric replied, shuddering at the thought of consuming the ceremonial offering.
“Do you have any suggestions for me, Ser?” Maria asked.
“Ser President, when entering uncharted territory, I advise it is always wise to follow the leader,” Eric replied.
Maria’s mouth twitched as she controlled her desire to laugh at Eric’s reference to the children’s game, but a glance at the Ambassador found him staring at Alex. Maria had made preparations for this moment in concert with Julien and hoped Alex would be pleased by her request. Now it struck her how serious the event was for the Swei Swee and the Harakens. The realization wouldn’t change her plans, but it changed the emotional overtone.
Alex motioned Maria forward. After crossing half the distance to the travelers under shell construction, Alex’s harness cut loose with a loud whistle. A large Swei Swee male burst from the swim tank and raced toward them. Maria’s footsteps stuttered to a halt at the furious rush of the alien creature. Vids had not prepared her for reality. She felt Alex’s hand firmly grasp hers and was grateful for the contact.
When the claw-snapping First skidded to a halt in front of them, Maria felt too petrified to move. A series of whistles and warbles were exchanged by the creature and Alex, and Maria’s harness and ear comm followed their simple greeting. When the Swei Swee’s four eyestalks focused on her, she felt lightheaded. She was in the presence of an alien … a true alien. Alex sat cross-legged on the ground. Eric’s words returned to her, and she followed Alex’s lead. When the First lowered himself to the ground and stopped snapping its claws, it mollified her somewhat and she worked to recall her plan. She watched Alex extend his hands in claw fashion, and the First placed his claws below Alex’s in greeting.
