Steven Gordon 3: The Modloch Empire

by J W Murison

  ‘While any of your forces are committed to the fleet, they will come under the orders of the galactic federation. Their wages will be paid by the galactic federation, as well as fuel and uniforms. In your case you will have to supply your people with their own rations. Otherwise they would have been fed by the federation as well. Any form of dereliction of duty will reflect badly on your bid for citizenship. Make sure your people know that. There are very few occasions where you are allowed to question a commander’s orders. Make sure your commanders are aware of them. If your commanders wish to refuse an order then they must follow the proper protocol to the letter.

  ‘I spoke to Commander Ne´ before he left. Ne´ is an Emperor as well as commander of the fleet. He is also supporting your bid. I asked him what he would do with your forces. He told me to begin with he would split them up amongst the fleet. Your people will have to learn to work alongside other races. Training officers will be provided. As the Modloch race are your chief sponsors, the officers you will receive will be Modloch. I will also give you a Chief Engineer for each of your vessels and a small engineering staff.

  After a year, Ne´ will reunite your force and let them work together as a unit to see how they perform and evaluate them. You will not be allowed to give orders, those forces are under the direct control of the federation. If you wish to withdraw them from the fleet, you must follow the proper protocol, and have a damn good reason to do so.

  The Emperor paused. ‘This is a lot to take in, but I am sure you are already aware of most of it. Any questions so far?’

  The President spoke up. ‘We have spent months setting up or departments on the guidelines of your advisors. I believe we are ready. May I ask you how Ne´ can be an Emperor and a commander of the fleet?’

  ‘Ne´ is the best of the best and always has been. We all knew from an early age that Ne´ would one day command the great galactic fleet. It doesn’t matter who you are or your position in life, if you are called to serve the federation, then you have to serve. Ne´ had no choice when he was called to serve. He handed the running of his planets to his brother and reported for duty.’

  ‘Could anyone be called to serve?’

  ‘It doesn’t quite work like that Mr President. Ne´ had extensive military training and a number of successful campaigns under his belt while he was a junior officer. His father gave him command of their home fleet. Ne´ quickly became bored and asked to be transferred to the galactic fleet. His father obliged and the rest, as they say, is history. He rose quickly through the ranks of the federation. When his father became ill he resigned and became Emperor. A few years later he was called back into service. Everyone knew it was going to happen. Ne´ was more than happy to return to the fleet. He spoke to you last night.’

  ‘Yes, I think I know which one you are talking about.’

  ‘Make sure you find out exactly who he is Mr President. He is extremely important within the galactic federation.’

  ‘Have no fear of that sir, I will. I also wish to thank you on behalf of the people of Earth for your assistance. We owe a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay.’

  ‘You are already repaying me Mr President. The grasses you sent to me are already helping my Empire recover from a devastating civil war.’

  ‘Still, it doesn’t feel enough. Is there anything else we can do for you?’

  ‘There is actually.’

  ‘Please...’ Prompted the President.

  ‘We do not have space to grow any of the fruits and food that you have brought to us. You are also going to have trouble keeping up with the demand once your goods start to move. You have hydroponic ships in orbit now, and more on the way. Within a few months you will have enough ships to supply your fleet with most of the greens you need. I have been told that there are other types of agricultural ships that you wish to build. However, what I am interested in is a bio dome like the one you built simulating the great African plains. The one you used to kill the last of the Albany.’

  ‘For grass?’ Asked the President, a little puzzled.

  The Emperor shook his great head. ‘Oh no.’ He pressed a pad and a few seconds later two of his guards appeared. One was carrying a bale of hay. It was wrapped in plastic, and even had labels on it. The other was carrying a round flat object. They put the bale down and the guard handed the round object to his Emperor. They bowed low and left. The Emperor pointed to the bale. ‘That is what it takes to feed the average soldier for a single day. What I am holding in my hand is the results of some experimentation I initiated. Using Human fruits, nuts and honey, I can feed a soldier with just three of these a day.’ He handed it over.

  The King laughed. ‘I have never seen a biscuit the size of a dinner plate before.’

  He passed it on; after Steven had a good look at it he handed it back to the Emperor. ‘Are you thinking of logistics sir?’

  The Emperor nodded. ‘Yes Captain Gordon, that is exactly what I am thinking.’ He placed the biscuit on the table. ‘I couldn’t feed my people on them indefinitely. They aren’t filling. However, I could use them as combat rations or even emergency rations. These biscuits, just one of them, have more energy stored in them than a full bale of hay like that one over there.

  ‘It would give my troops a huge logistical advantage over any enemy. We wouldn’t need slow bulky freighters all the time. For example, an emergency task force, being sent out on a rescue mission, wouldn’t need to wait for a freighter full of rations, and then be restricted to its slower speed. If every ship in my fleet had a few weeks’ worth of these rations on board they could simply leave, right there and then. No delays. Of course, they would also be able to travel at their top speed. A freighter with normal rations could follow on later with its own escort, hopefully meeting the task force on its way home. Is this making sense?’

  ‘Yes sir, I am sure we all understand exactly what you are talking about.’ The President assured him.

  ‘I doubt very much if you could supply me with everything I need to manufacture these. Not in the quantity that I require. The easiest solution is a bio dome.’

  ‘Do you have a list of what you need sir?’ The President asked.

  The Emperor proudly produced a piece of paper and handed it over. The President couldn’t help but smile at the scrawl. It was more like a child’s than an adult. He could see a lot of effort had gone into it. ‘This is out of my comfort zone.’ Admitted the President.

  The King reached for the note and read it. ‘Most of this is fairly simple. There are plenty commercial growers. We have walnut trees in the UK, and no doubt there are plenty in the USA. The other fruits here are also readily available. I can only foresee one major problem.’ He handed it to Steven. ‘Can you spot it?’

  Steven took the note and scanned it. ‘Yes sir, the bees.’

  The Emperor frowned. ‘What is a bees? I didn’t ask for a bees.’

  ‘Bees aren’t a tree or a fruit sir, they are an insect.’

  ‘You can’t take any insects from your planet to here.’

  ‘Exactly, and that is the problem. You asked for honey.’

  ‘Isn’t that a fruit?’

  ‘No, it is a by-product from an insect called a bee. The bees produce the honey.’

  It took a moment for the information to sink in. ‘Poop... you mean I have been eating insect poop!’

  The Emperor looked as though he was about to lose it. Steven and the President didn’t really know how to answer but the King laughed out loud. ‘Don’t panic, Darrick old chap, you haven’t been eating insect poop. Honey doesn’t go through the bee’s digestive tract. A bee collects nectar from flowers and carries it back to the hive in a pouch, almost like a second stomach. An enzyme converts the nectar into a golden liquid which they place in a honeycomb. When the honeycomb is full they seal it with a wax. It is their winter food.’

  The Emperor seemed to still be in shock. ‘So it isn’t poop?’

  ‘No, it isn’t poop.’

  He had
to think it over for a moment. ‘Captain Gordon, you are responsible for building all your planet’s ships, yes?’

  ‘That’s right sir.’

  ‘The bio dome that your people constructed too?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Were they built to galactic specifications?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘So any insect or parasite detected by the on-board systems would be eradicated?’

  ‘That is correct sir.’

  ‘Your bees would not make it on board a bio dome alive.’

  ‘We have never tried sir. It was our one worry with the African plains simulation – we were sure the Albany would notice the absence of insect life and realise that it was actually a bio dome.’

  The Emperor shook his head. ‘There are very few insects on our civilized planets. Most were eradicated centuries ago. It would have seemed perfectly normal to them.’

  ‘That is what your Chief Engineer told us sir. What size of bio domes were you thinking of?’

  ‘You will have to talk to my scientists. They will tell you how much we need for our forces. Maybe you could supply this honey from your home world. Would it be expensive?’

  ‘I have no idea.’

  The King coughed politely. ‘Honey is already expensive at home. There isn’t a worldwide shortage yet, however environmental factors over the past few decades have led to a shortage of honey bees. Pesticides and natural parasites have killed them off in their millions.’ He looked to Steven. ‘I wonder if you could program a ship to recognise them as sentient beings? The bees really need a break. The ships could kill any parasites and, of course, there would be no need for insecticides.’

  ‘You mean it could act as a conservation program for the bees sir?’

  ‘Yes, you could start by building one for the Earth. We could maybe tanker the honey straight out of the ship if it is designed properly. If it is a success then we could build one for the Emperor, seed a new ship. Until we reach that stage we could fill tankers and ship them here to the Emperor. We could start a whole new conservation project. Rescue different species, harvest some of the more aggressive ones.’

  ‘Aggressive insects?’ The Emperor inquired curiously.

  ‘Oh yes!’ The King exclaimed. ‘They can be devilishly aggressive, especially when you harvest the honey. Some species are more aggressive than others. I have been stung a number of times. It is highly unpleasant.’

  ‘What do you mean by stung?’

  ‘Bees have a defensive mechanism called a stinger. They can inject poison into an attacker. It feels like fire flowing through your veins. Very painful and unpleasant.’

  ‘Can it kill you?’

  ‘If you are allergic, a bee sting can be fatal. Otherwise you have to be stung many times before it will kill you. I have always thought that beekeepers are a special breed of men.’

  ‘Beekeepers!’

  The King hesitated. ‘Yes... People who dedicate their lives to bees and the collection of honey.’

  ‘Maybe you should find me a documentary on them.’

  ‘That would probably save a lot of time. In the meantime it is up to Captain Gordon.’

  Steven nodded. ‘We have been talking about bio domes for crops like potatoes, carrots and that sort of thing. The effort, however, outweighs the necessity at the moment. We can supply our forces quite adequately from Earth. The freighters can carry perishables in a vacuum, we can also store them that way until required. Bio domes are only really economical if you have them around a sun.’

  ‘Yes Captain, but the point I have been trying to make is that you will need bio domes to produce enough food to supply your customers on this side of the barrier. You may well be able to cope to begin with, but a few months of increasing demand could tax your own planet’s resources. You are used to thinking about supply and demand in regards to only your home world. If your food takes off in the manner I believe it will, you may well be supplying dozens of planets. I am quite happy to allow bio domes from Earth to use our sun – especially if you supply us with what I have asked for. Of course, they would have to be placed in orbit on the other side of the sun from us. You could build your own planetoid if you wished. It would be mutually beneficial for both our races.’

  Steven considered the argument for a moment. ‘I can see where you are coming from sir. However, at this moment in time my resources are under extreme pressure building up Earth’s defences. They have to take priority before anything else. However, I will see what I can do to bring the process forward.’

  ‘I would ask no more, Captain.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Back to business gentlemen. I have informed you of your bid’s success, as well as of your new duties and responsibilities. As your sponsor I have carried out my responsibilities under galactic law. Good luck.’ He passed a tablet over. ‘Please sign the bottom of the page. Each next to your names.’

  They complied, passing a wafer thin stylus from man to man. The President noticed that their electronic signatures were as bad as the Modloch Emperor’s attempts at writing.

  The meeting was over; the guards opened the door for them. The King stopped for a moment to have a private chat.

  ‘Have you set a day for leaving yet?’ The Emperor asked.

  ‘No, but now our bid has been a success, it’s probably a matter of days.’

  ‘Could you spare a weekend?’

  ‘I think so. The doctors don’t think that being in your part of the galaxy will make any difference to the child, and we should make it back home a month at least before she gives birth.’

  ‘Are you keen to get home?’

  ‘Yes and no. I just wish that you could experience Earth for yourself. This has been an adventure of a lifetime for me.’

  ‘A whisper in the wind tells me that it is a son.’

  ‘That’s just exactly what they are telling me.’

  ‘Congratulations. You know you should enrol him in the galactic schools here. I think he would do well.’

  ‘I have looked into it. He would be half the size of the others and our children do not have the same mental abilities as yours do. I fear he would be left lagging far behind.’

  ‘A shame. Still, join me on the royal yacht this weekend. I have a family weekend planned.’

  ‘I would love to.’

  CHAPTER 39

  When Steven arrived back aboard Babes it was to find the ship a hive of activity. He was asked to join his command staff in the stellar cartography room. He was surprised by what he found.

  Hailey was plotting vectors from an unknown region of space; all the lines led straight to Earth.

  ‘What the hell is going on?’

  Everyone stopped for a moment. Colonel Howe spoke up. ‘Glad you’re back sir. We have a big problem. The Albany are planning to attack Earth again.’

  ‘I thought they didn’t have a fleet capable of it.’

  ‘It isn’t a fleet sir. They are going to attack us using asteroids.’

  Steven shook his head in disbelief, ‘How did we find this out? I haven’t heard anything!’

  ‘You will have to speak to Charlie. He is with the doctor, they are doing something with his brain.’

  He found Amanda Freeling pacing outside her lab. ‘What is happening?’

  She threw a delicate hand into the air. ‘I have no idea what that pair are up to. They threw me out.’

  ‘Who.’

  ‘Charlie and Babes. You have to go straight in.’

  He found Charlie reclining in a chair with a strange helmet completely covering his face. It looked like he was unconscious. ‘What’s going on Babes?’

  ‘I am sorry my heart, I have been really busy. Charlie believes the easiest way to explain is to show you. Please sit on the chair beside him and place the helmet on your head. I am going to create a direct neural link between your minds. You will be able to visualize his memories. You will see what he saw, hear what he was thinking and, most importantly, hear what he was hearing.’


  ‘Is this safe?’

  ‘Perfectly.’

  Steven sat down and placed the helmet on his head. He was immediately plunged into darkness. He began to feel panicky as he lost sensation of his body.

  ‘Stevie, is that you?’ It was Charlie’s voice.

  ‘Aye, where the hell are you?’

  ‘Give it a moment Stevie. Babes is going to pull you in.’

  Steven blinked and found himself once more sitting in the med lab, yet it felt different. Charlie was sitting next to him, only now they didn’t have helmets on.

  ‘What’s going on, where the hell am I?’

  ‘Beats the shit out of me, Babes did explain it like, but it went straight over my head.’

  ‘Babes?’

  ‘Please remain calm and seated while I finish calibration my heart.’

  ‘Relax man, this is so cool.’

  ‘OK Charlie, you may proceeded.’

  ‘What you are going to see and hear are my memories. Babes is helping me retrieve them so we have a more accurate picture of what happened, what I overheard. You can view it on a screen or she can play them back in your mind like you are actually me.’

  ‘Wow! No... on a screen please.’

  The whole wall in front of him changed. They were seeing things from Charlie’s perspective. Charlie’s eyes flipped back and forth. Then a voice could be heard. ‘This is a pain in the fucking arse.’

  ‘That’s me thinking Stevie, sorry about the language man.’

  ‘I can’t really kick your arse for thinking it, can I?’

  ‘How much longer Charlie? That’s an hour already.’ It was Kelly’s voice.

  Charlie swivelled his head to look at him. ‘Beats me Jeb. Looks to me like we are being put in our place.’

  ‘Sure does.’

  Charlie closed his eyes. ‘I wonder if I can hear this clown, see how much longer he is going to piss us around for.’ Steven noticed immediately that Charlie’s voice sounded different in his head to what it did in real life. He suddenly found himself fascinated.