Human Starpilots

by F Stephan

  “I told you you didn’t want to know why the artificial intelligence was banned. I can tell both of you since you’ll soon guess it. Every intelligence we found went mad over time. They were alone for millennia, brooding in the dark. Fortunately for you, Pat was one of the sanest we have yet met. Only the dumb robots survived the ages. ”

  They didn’t talk for a while after that as Brian remembered the strange entity.

  “And the settlement?”

  “They’ll go through it to confirm what happened to the inhabitants and how they cheated on the CoreDataSphere. The same for the research center. Once they have gone through, they’ll blast all buildings on the planet.”

  “But they didn’t blast the academy on Adheek?”

  “Good thinking.” Zertal grinned. “The academy was a self-contained entity with mainly defense capacities. On Fizhert, Pat was a Maintenance AI with robots at his command and no real perimeter to contain him. He could have built a replica anywhere.”

  “And us?”

  “We’ll soon fly back.”

  “And the ships?”

  Sonter came in at that time.

  “We have only the old coordinates where the planet fell. This will not help finding the ships.”

  “Well,” began Brian reluctantly.

  “What? Speak now.” Sonter’s lacking patience had increasingly worsened since the quarantine, and he was now really short tempered.

  “I’ve recalculated their position. I think I know where they are.”

  Shaz’al’nak took over at this stage. “Let me check with Mistress Derantor and the Major Ken Nekat. Don’t move.”

  85 Brian

  In the end, the major sent Theoldcow with one of his engineers and ten marines searching for the ships. The rest prepared for the ground operations. All guests in the quarantine section had been cleared to go with the ship except for Azol. They had found within her abdomen a shielded compartment with memory cores inside. The doctor had remained on the station to operate on her, but she soon had found that the nanites had begun to build connections to nerves in her body. On that day, after thirteen hours of nanites removal, Azol’s heart had ceased to work, and she had passed away.

  After two days of research, during which they had all buried themselves in work, they found in the comet belt, only a light-second away from the coordinates Brian had given, five spaceships, two transports (one large and one smaller), a small cruiser, and two scouts.

  They were empty and in bad shape. But they were free of contaminants, and the singularities worked. The marine team and engineers took a good week to clear each of them. In some cases, they wiped out ships’ memories and replaced them with replicas from Theoldcow. But, this was a major discovery, and everyone on board both Theoldcow and Doublekick beamed. When the commando team finished their cleansing, they took out the ships for a small jump to join the Doublekick.

  They all gathered in the main lounge of the Doublekick for a farewell gathering.

  The major started the party with a few announcements. “We have cleared the wild nanites and entered the bunker. For now, everything seems quiet. But it will take a few months to clear all rooms and all potential links. So, we remain vigilant.”

  “What of us, Major?” Captain Derantor chafed from the interdiction to return to her commercial runs.

  “We have cleared you, as much as we can. You can fly back to Adheek—in a straight line, please—and have they recheck your ship. Sorry, your ships. Observers Althal and Willfried will return with you if you can accommodate them.”

  “We can, and we need as much help as possible. It’s going to be hard to move back so many ships.”

  “Can you tie them together?”

  “Only two together. Otherwise, the singularities get unstable. That will make three pairs to fly, all under Theoldcow.”

  “I don’t envy you. Good luck and take your time. Don’t stop, no download or upload. But you don’t need to speed.”

  “We’ll do as we can. We have already delayed a lot of trade contract.”

  With that decision, Brian found himself flying one of the pair with the help of Taolel. Sonter was supported by Althal, and Willfried went with Captain Derantor. Brian had initially smiled, knowing how demanding the mistress was. But after his second jumps, he had understood that the situation itself would push him to his limits.

  The travel lasted several long weeks. They tried to rest whenever they could, and Brian’s life was reduced to jump, sleep, and eat. When Taolel discovered his nightmare, she had the doctor determine a sleeping draught, and she generated the liquid with the on-board chemical synthesizer. After that, he slept better and found a few hours of freedom to chat, through the virtual link, with Willfried, grabbing all news he could from his friends and telling all that had happened to him. He wanted to find out more about the role of observer, but his friend remained very discreet on the actual task he had been charged with.

  Taolel prepared meals for him and worked double shifts to provide navigation parameters to all ships. The remaining researcher from Fizhert had been enrolled to work on engineering and environmental management. Even the kids showed the strain of the situation and bickered constantly.

  After a month of cruise, they finally exited in the Adheeken solar system. There, they were hailed by a scout, who directed them to an orbit around the fifth planet.

  86 Don Mariano

  Don Mariano entered with great caution the office of Master Reinkel. Masters Kilet and Heikert were already there. He had been informed of the red alert and the rescue alert, and since that time, had been expecting the worst. Yet whatever had happened, he had to know and report to Earth.

  Surprisingly, Reinkel smiled. “Well, well, well. Welcome, Ambassador. Your planet is quite fortunate to count remarkable citizens among its population.”

  “What happened? Is it Brian?”

  Master Kilet beamed like a beacon of light. “Congratulations, sir. Our guild is extremely happy for your planet, and I am happy to be the first to congratulate you.”

  “I don’t…” dealings with Master Namek had been very painful for the last month, with veiled threats of reducing the exploration team on the solar system. Anything was a pretext to pick on Earth.

  Before he could formulate a reply, Heikert intervened. “We have had news from Theoldcow. They are back now to a few light-hours from us. Brian and Sonter are well and back in the system.”

  For the first time in years of diplomacy, Don Mariano felt himself shaking and gripped the seat next to him. The dean motioned to the seat. “Please, have a seat. Would you like a drink?”

  “Yes, please,” answered the ambassador mechanically. “What happened?”

  “Apparently a lot. We knew they had been attacked by rogue ships. It seems that Fizhert had been overrun by wild nanites, and they had to fight them off to come back.” Don Mariano sensed there was something else, but he recognized the tone from the dean. He wouldn’t say more. Before he could formulate a roundabout question, Master Namek continued. “And they have found five ships while on Fizhert, thanks to my son and your apprentice.”

  “So, they are well?” Don Mariano sank deeper in the chair and closed his eyes.

  “Yes, they are,” confirmed Heikert, “even if scared. Sonter has a limp, which will require surgical intervention. Brian will have a scar on his back for the rest of his life.”

  “But they are alive and well?”

  Heikert slowed his telling. “Yes, they are. They need to face complimentary examination in the quarantine station. It orbits our fifth planet. And they should be back here in two weeks.”

  The ambassador sighed and kept his eyes closed for a long time until they stopped burning.

  “What will happen to them now? The quarantine?”

  “I have the report from the Doctor Shaz’al’nak and from Observer Althal,” answered the dean. “Quarantine will not be fun, but they will most probably make it through.”

  The dean had news of h
is own. “Moreover, Mister Ambassador, Sonter and Brian flew ships all the way back from Fizhert to here.”

  “Is that a good sign of their ability?”

  “Yes. They have both confirmed their fitness for the next level of study. They will now need to pass their exams and will have a hell of a lot of cramming to do to succeed, but they have very good grades in flight.”

  Master Heikert came back with glasses and a bottle of an amber liquid. He poured each of them a drink and they toasted.

  “To their health and to their promotion.” The liquid tasted like fire, but the ambassador had needed the burn to get back to reality. Master Namek still looked at him with eyes shining as though something even more than his son’s safe return occupied his mind.

  “You seem in a very good mood, Master?”

  “My dear ambassador, are you aware of the reclaim rules, section 7 of the Federation Charter?”

  With the release from the pressure of the last days, Don Mariano couldn’t recall a word of the charter.

  “Fundamentally, Brian and Sonter can each claim a scout. Both found and shared the coordinates. Theoldcow crew now owns a new transport under a common mandate. The Federation is happy to receive its newest cruiser, and our planets jointly own a transport.”

  “What?”

  “This is the standard split of a discovery. It is seldom applied entirely, as few discoveries are this large. Our planets have now a new transport, and we can set up together a ring line between Earth and Adheek,” finished Kilet, slapping Don Mariano on the shoulder. “In this situation, we will need to talk about Earth borrowing an intrasystem ship.”

  With that sentence, the ambassador knew new negotiations were about to start. But with a few soon-to-be-confirmed in-system pilots and one ship, he was in a position he had never expected. He sobered, thinking of the last report he had received from Earth and the still-worsening situation. He would still need to grasp every advantage he could.

  “But before that, my dear ambassador, we need to talk to the media. They will want to record this. Envoy Taz’al’Naram will be back at Federation headquarters by nightfall. We all need to be there for the official announcement. We are going to be busy until then. Why don’t you call your assistant and get ready?”

  Tonight, a new light would be shed on Earth.

  87 Brian

  This was their last day. Brian hurried to his room to finish packing his gear. The weather had turned to rain, and his back hurt. Dr. Nilse had miraculously removed most of the scar, but he would hurt forever in those conditions. Yet his late medical checkup had made him late for their last gathering at the terrace of the Detram and Myirt, their old preferred joint, and he forgot his pain.

  He quickly grabbed his old copy of the Flight Handbook, still very alien to him; his razor and toothbrush; and a few assorted items. He stuffed them in his bag and put them on his bed. Nerm would organize their transfer later today.

  Emily pushed the door open. “You’re late, Brian. Speed up.” Before he could turn and explain anything, she threw herself at him and hugged him fiercely. “You don’t know how scared I was to lose you.” Then as quickly as she had moved, she backed away and went back to the door. “I’m so happy we’re flying together to the Core Federation Academy.” This had been a surprise for Brian. His failure in the second year had left him convinced he wouldn’t go any further in his studies. And the last quarter, during which he had had to get back on track on complex theories, hadn’t improved his confidence. Yet he had graduated, even if last of his promotion.

  “I wasn’t sure I would be able to. But I am glad I’m coming with you.” She blushed at that, green eyes gleaming in the afternoon light.

  “With an entire flight back from Fizhert managed on your own? And a scout to your name? You were the only one who doubted, my dear. Now, move. Lazy boy.” If everyone had been so convinced, why had they spent so much time helping him prepare his exams? Still doubtful, he closed his last bag and followed Emily in the corridor.

  When he reached the main door, Sonter waited for them. “Well, lazy boy, you never learned how to pack?” Some of his old attitude had returned on the planet. Some dark memories remained on the planet and awakened his worst side. Yet the comment was already an improvement, so he let it pass and walked instead outside. A crowd waited there, their full promotion grouped together. As soon as they arrived, they set forth for their destination.

  Shanak came up beside him. “What took you so long?”

  Brian was troubled by the sudden closeness with Emily but answered, “Last meeting with Nilse.”

  “Still your back?”

  “Yes, nothing he can do. But better the back than the leg.” Sonter would keep a small limp as a souvenir from their excursion in the jungle. “Ready to join us on Core Academy?”

  “Not sure. But I will try.” Oddoril, Illoma, Shanak, and a few others had also graduated and would move on.

  “You’ll see. We, from the Outer Worlds, aren’t really welcomed over there. We’re still facing many challenges before we’re graduated. Even you who can already fly. Now to serious matters. Illoma?”

  “She talks to me again at least. She even smiled once. But she’s still cold and distant.”

  “This is a good sign, my friend. If she felt nothing, she wouldn’t need to be cold.”

  “Great. But that doesn’t help, clan warrior.”

  “Better to face fearsome enemies than to try to read anyone’s heart. Now off the dark mood. The first arrived gets a free beer.” And with that he launched himself in a quick run toward the restaurant. Brian sprinted after him but arrived panting only in time for the sunset on the plaza.

  “I love the waterways under the falling sun,” he heard Tasha say behind him. She had followed them, not even breaking a sweat. She had never been fitter, and the idea of moving back to Earth boosted her.

  “How are you, little sister?”

  “Is this the way you talk to a fellow starpilot and guild mistress?”

  “Should I talk differently?”

  She laughed at that and hugged him gently. This was very different from the connection to Emily, he thought. For whatever reason, she would remain forever a little sister for him, and he smiled. She saw that knowledge in his eyes and kissed him on the cheeks.

  “And I had to get you for an older brother? Couldn’t they find anyone better? Did I really deserve it?”

  Leopold and Willfried joined them, and they walked into the restaurant. Illoma had already filled glasses, and they toasted in an ancient ritual.

  “To absent friends.” And they thought of Li Bao, Troum, Chilin, Dendrom, and the others who had been forced to abandon the path. They hadn’t lost anyone in the last injections and exams, but they had lost enough people in the last years.

  “To local friends.” And they cheered all the pilots who would now support their home solar systems. This was an honor, and they were proud of it.

  “To traveling friends.” And they acclaimed the ones among them who would travel between the stars, connecting all planets together in the Federation of Humans.

  Thank you for reading Human Starpilots.

  If you liked this book, Brian and his fellow students will return in Facing the Origin, a new installment of the Federation of Humans saga.