Artifice
Page 6
“There you’re wrong, Suntred,” Alex said more forcefully than he intended, which made Suntred’s eyes pop open.
“What my good friend meant to say in gentler tones,” Julien translated, “is that SADEs are free to do as they wish. We have the same rights as biological Omnians.”
“You’re free to make your own way, and yet you choose to support Alex’s plans,” Suntred wondered.
“There are many reasons why that’s so,” Julien replied, “but at the bottom of it all, we like humans.”
Alex, who received Julien’s remarks to Suntred via his implant, gave the SADE a grin, and Julien replied with an artful display projected from his synth-skin.
Suntred had seen this exchange before, and she realized that the commander and she had misinterpreted it. It was the odd way in which Alex and Julien communicated their relationship. She wondered how deep their bond went.
“What can we expect from Tranimus?” Franz asked.
Suntred was seated with her back to the cockpit and hadn’t heard the approach of the human, who appeared similar to Alex.
“Liaison Suntred, meet Franz Cohen,” Julien said, introducing the rear admiral.
When Suntred made to stand, Franz held out his hands to forestall her, and she happily leaned back in her seat.
Julien repeated Franz’s question for Suntred, and she replied, “You ask about Tranimus. He’s a careful Toralian, and he’s been grand commander for many annuals.”
“If Tranimus is a careful individual, why take the risk of sending your ships to search for us?” Franz asked, settling into a seat across from Suntred.
Julien rephrased Franz’s question to avoid offending Suntred.
“Is that what the human asked?” Suntred inquired. “His posture appeared more forceful than your words.”
Julien felt obligated to repeat Franz’s question accurately.
“Careful doesn’t mean unwilling to act,” Suntred remonstrated. Her dark eyes flashed at what she considered an insult to the grand commander.
“We mean no disrespect to Grand Commander Tranimus,” Julien said. “We’re merely trying to understand what sort of reception to expect.”
“Your role as translator is much broader than one would expect, Julien,” Suntred said appreciatively, which garnered her a display atop Julien’s crown.
“As unexpected as those are,” Suntred said, pointing at Julien’s head, “I find them enjoyable, but they’re meant to be,” she added, suddenly understanding what the digital entity was doing.
“Forgive my reactions,” Suntred apologized, glancing around at the Omnians. “You can’t realize how odd you are to us, and I don’t mean your appearance. You make gestures at one another that we take for insults. You make sounds toward one another that appear rude to us. All these mannerisms confuse us. I now realize that you’re comfortable displaying what you feel toward one another. Living under Artifice’s constant threat has taken much of the emotion out of our lives. We’re an extremely cautious race.”
Suntred was quiet for a moment. She considered the outstanding question. Raising her head and focusing on Franz, she said, “You’ll find the grand commander receptive to your ideas. More than anything, he wants freedom for the Toralians and he’s willing to hear your plans. If he can believe in them, then you’ll have your ally.”
“Thank you for your directness,” Alex replied, after hearing the translation. “We’ve kept you long enough.”
Suntred recognized the dismissal but she was loath to leave the comfortable seat. As she stood, one question did occur to her. “Before I leave, Alex,” Suntred said. “If there’s no storage for reaction mass, what drives your engines?”
“We don’t use traditional engines, Suntred,” Alex replied. “We collect energy through our hull.”
Suntred’s small mouth hung open, and she stared at Alex. “How is that possible?”
“It’s technology that we discovered,” Alex replied, “and it can be shared with peaceful members of the federacy, after Artifice is defeated.”
Suntred closed her mouth, and her dark eyes gleamed. The Omnians possessed astounding technology that could benefit many races and prevent the encroachment of stronger and aggressive ones. This was the information that Tranimus had hoped to receive.
While Suntred had been aboard the traveler, Sargut’s crew had readied the Dark Whispers to get underway. Miranda stepped off the fighter and helped Suntred to the deck.
The Omnian fleet observed the black ship slowly pivot and then accelerate before it reached a transit point. On the Freedom’s bridge, Tatia, Reiko, Renée, and Cordelia watched the Vivian’s Mirror streak after the Toralian battleship.
“Now we wait and hope,” Tatia said quietly. Then forcefully she added, “Black space, I hate this part.”
-6-
Tranimus
Tranimus was alerted to the return of the Dark Whispers, which had been the latest ship sent to search for the Omnians, and he anxiously awaited Commander Sargut’s report.
“Greetings, Commander Sargut,” Tranimus said, from the bridge of his battleship. “Were the repairs to your ship made to your satisfaction?” This coded speech was evidence of Tranimus’ carefulness. The grand commander didn’t allow ship-to-ship communication about the secret orders he gave his commanders for fear of Artifice’s probes intercepting their conversations.
“The repairs were satisfactory,” Sargut replied, “but we’ve evidence of faulty parts. We’ve stored them in a bay, and I believe they warrant your inspection.”
Tranimus’ attention was piqued. “Would these be critical system parts that might affect the fleet’s performance?” he asked.
“I believe they would,” Sargut replied.
“I’ll be aboard your ship soon, Commander,” Tranimus replied. He gathered his senior staff and hurried to launch a shuttle.
Sargut directed the grand commander’s shuttle to the bay closest to his quarters, and Suntred led Tranimus and his party to the commander’s quarters.
“Report, Commander,” Tranimus ordered eagerly.
“Omnians are aboard, Grand Commander,” Sargut announced, with pride. His statement produced speechlessness on the part of Tranimus and his party. “They’ve a fighter in one of our bays, and their leader, Alex Racine, rests there.”
“Excellent work, Commander,” Tranimus enthused. “We must keep them there to ensure that Artifice’s programs don’t detect their presence on your ship. Which bay holds them?”
“No need to worry, Grand Commander,” Sargut replied. “This ship is clear of Artifice’s code. The Omnians have seen to that.”
“You’ve verified that?” one of Tranimus’ officers asked.
Sargut should have taken offense at the insinuation that he wouldn’t have taken pains to ensure the Omnians’ actions and words were truth, but he was feeling too expansive. However, he decided to reply in a manner that wouldn’t necessarily enlighten the officer. “Miriamelle was responsible for clearing Artifice’s master and ancillary codes. In doing so, she removed their locations. Our bridge techs verified it.”
“Who?” the officer asked.
“Enough,” Tranimus commanded. “I’m anxious to meet Alex and his Omnians. Which bay?”
“Perhaps the bridge would be a better location, Grand Commander,” Sargut suggested. “Suntred, inform Z of the grand commander’s presence.”
Suntred’s eyes flashed with mirth at Tranimus, as she hurried past him.
Sargut led his guests to the battleship’s bridge and stepped aside after passing through the heavy emergency hatch. He watched Tranimus abruptly halt, when he caught sight of Z.
“Greetings, Grand Commander Tranimus. I’m Z,” the SADE said politely. “Alex and the other Omnians will be with you shortly.”
“Greetings, Z,” Tranimus replied, shocked to hear the Toralian language uttered by the Omnian.
“Z is a SADE, Grand Commander. That’s why he’s able to speak to us,” Sargut explained
. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.
“Will we meet Miriamelle?” the fleet officer, who had questioned Sargut, asked.
<”I’m here in my box under the main console position,” Miriamelle replied. “It’s a pleasure to greet you, Grand Commander.”
“Miriamelle is also a SADE,” Suntred remarked. She was enjoying herself as much as Sargut.
“Digital entities,” Tranimus said under his breath.
“Omnians prefer to use the term SADEs,” Julien said from behind Tranimus.
The fleet’s commanding officers whirled around. They didn’t know who had spoken. So, they stared at the collection of Omnians, who, from their perspective, ranged from large to great to extraordinarily large.
“I’m Alex,” Julien said, pointing to his human friend, which confused Tranimus and his officers.
The bridge crew couldn’t help the soft whistles that escaped their teeth.
It shocked Tranimus to hear the crew issuing humorous sounds, and it made him realize the transformation the Omnians had made in their lives in a short time. This would be the sound of our citizens if they were free, Tranimus thought.
“Alex is a human,” Suntred explained, indicating the Omnian leader. “He can understand you because he carries the translation program in an implant in his head, but he can’t reproduce our sounds. Julien is a SADE and Alex’s friend. So, he speaks what Alex sends him.”
Tranimus felt overwhelmed and a sudden desire to rest overcame him. In a few short moments, he’d been bombarded with more unbelievable concepts than he could handle, and the excitement was proving too much for him.
“Perhaps, we should retire to the commander’s quarters,” Alex suggested, when he saw Tranimus waver slightly.
“Yes,” Sargut quickly agreed, having noticed the same quiver in Tranimus’ stance.
Sargut and Suntred led the grand commander’s party and the Omnians to his quarters. Tranimus and his highest-ranking officers availed themselves of the stands, and Suntred delivered water, with drinking tubes, to them.
The Omnians arrayed themselves in a half circle around the stands. Alex found it curious that Sargut stood next to him, and Suntred stood beside Julien.
Miranda sent.
Julien sent.
When Tranimus had sipped his water cup and returned it to Suntred, his black eyes focused on Alex. “Do you not carry a title, Alex? It seems inappropriate to refer to you without one.”
“In my life, I’ve carried many titles, Grand Commander Tranimus. Personally, I don’t care for them,” Alex replied.
On hearing Julien’s translation, the hissing of indrawn breaths marked the senior commanders, but Tranimus whistled his humor.
“I understand you, Alex,” Tranimus said. “When you carry the weight of responsibility, titles seem a nuisance, an unnecessary decoration. I would have liked to have met you many annuals ago, Alex, when I was younger.”
“You’ve freed this ship of Artifice’s code,” a fleet officer stated. “What is your price for this service?”
“Are you a comrade of Subcommander Tormheth?” Alex asked politely.
“No, why do you ask?” the officer retorted.
“Do you see him present?” Alex asked in return.
Julien was translating Alex, as accurately as possible. His friend was instructing aliens about Omnians.
When Alex’s question confused the officer, he’d added, “He was uncivil too. We left him in the care of my fleet admiral.”
The Toralian fleet officers whistled in fear, but Tranimus noted that Sargut and Suntred were having difficulty hiding their mirth.
“Enough,” Tranimus stated firmly. “I require my staff to absorb what’s being presented. That’s all. Alex, you’ve freed this ship. Can you free others?”
“The SADEs, who reside in the boxes, possess the ability to master Artifice’s programs,” Alex replied. “They can free any of your ships.”
“Do you have many of these boxed SADEs?” Tranimus asked.
“They refer to themselves as the Sisterhood. Each one is a sister, meaning they are female and related to one another,” Alex explained. “And we have as many as might be needed. But, that’s not a strategy.”
“True, it’s not,” Tranimus agreed. “What is your goal?”
“Remove Artifice’s control over the federacy,” Alex replied. “If we can’t accomplish that by clever subterfuge, then we do it by force.”
“Your task is daunting,” Tranimus said, “and I can’t commit the resources of my fleet until I see a course that offers a strong possibility of success.”
A fleet officer raised a hand to be noticed.
Tranimus issued a weary sigh. Then he said, “You may ask, but don’t insult our guests or I will give you to Alex’s fleet admiral.”
“Have you been informed, Alex, about Artifice’s updates to its code?” the officer asked. “This happens to all federacy ships in the Talus system, and it can happen at any moment and without warning.”
“No,” Alex replied. “What’s your point?”
“As soon as you leave, our ship will be infected again,” the officer pointed out.
“My mistake, Alex,” Tranimus said. “I thought to give my officers an opportunity to demonstrate their grasp of the situation. Obviously, they’ve only dealt with fleet issues. A grand strategy to free the federacy hasn’t entered their minds.”
“If I may, Grand Commander,” Sargut requested.
When Tranimus nodded his approval, Sargut said, “The Omnians have made it clear that they won’t be returning home until Artifice’s power is curtailed. They’ve come prepared with many options. They chose to seek allies, as their first task. Grand commander, in his wisdom, sought to do the same. This common desire led to a valuable first contact, and the Omnians proved their adeptness at dealing with Artifice’s code. However, the strength of the fleets surrounding Talus prevents them from taking direct action.”
“And to answer your comment about the Omnians leaving and exposing this ship,” Suntred added, staring hard at the senior officer, “they know that. That’s why they’ve left Miriamelle in place. She’ll intercept any future broadcasts from Artifice.”
“Where do we go from here, Alex?” Tranimus asked.
Ignoring the fact that he faced new alien contacts, Alex shrugged.
“If I might translate for our illustrious leader,” Julien remarked. “That mannerism indicates that Alex has yet to create the perfect plan and will need a few more moments of time.”
Tranimus wheezed in amusement, rapidly sucking air in and out. It created an odd, strangling sound.
Alex was smiling at Tranimus’ understanding of leadership challenges, when he received an urgent update.
There was a sharp rap at the commander’s door. On Sargut’s order, a bridge officer hurried into the room and handed a message to his commander. Sargut reviewed the clear piece of material with its Toralian symbols. He handed it to Tranimus and announced, “We’ve been ordered to the Chistorlan system.”
Before anyone could comment, a second bridge officer rapped at the open doorway and delivered a message to Tranimus.
“Two more ships are to accompany you, Commander Sargut, to the Chistorlan system,” Tranimus said, after reviewing the message. “Interest
ing,” he mused, “Artifice has chosen the three ships that recently were sent to search for you, Alex.”
“What do you think that means?” Alex asked.
A whistle escaped Tranimus. “Certainly, Artifice isn’t suspicious of our activity, Alex. Otherwise, you and I would not be conversing. In Artifice’s calculations, it probably perceives these ships, which were ostensibly sent for maintenance, are the fittest for duty.”
“Artifice doesn’t send the request to you?” Mickey asked Tranimus.
“Mickey, Artifice has no regard for hierarchy,” Sargut explained. “It commands directly.”
While the Omnians silently conversed, Tranimus became concerned for their extended silence. He glanced at Suntred, and she crossed to his side. Whispering, she said, “The Omnians carry devices in their heads that enable them to converse with their thoughts. I learned from Mickey, who’s an engineer, that the implants can do much more than convey thoughts.”
Tranimus stared at Suntred, as if her facial ridges had just doubled in size.
“It’s truth, Grand Commander,” Suntred whispered. “I’ve seen proof of this. That’s why, when you arrived, Commander Sargut requested I speak to Z on the bridge. He called Alex. The SADEs use their comms, and the humans use their implants.”
“Incredible,” Tranimus whispered.
When the silence extended, Tranimus’ fleet officers sent him worried looks, and he agreed with their concerns. “Alex, I must interrupt your conversation. The ships must depart soon. It’s expected.”
“What do those messages say about the duties your ships are to perform?” Alex inquired.
“They’re to oversee the extermination of a race,” Tranimus replied. He ducked his head momentarily in apology.
“Why is the race being targeted for extermination?” Alex asked.