Trade World Saga

by Ken Pence

  The expedition confiscates and upgrades the slave ship – turning it into a passenger liner with a liberated crew. Phillips finds that rejuvenation treatment and the expedition turns him loose. He starts a hotel and the Earth crew sets up a big, Earth tourist pavilion. Oh – they get more lamlee and on the way back to Earth, they activate it.

  Activate it? Well they use saline water and kilos of lamlee and it assembles into a being they call Lee Post. That name is a play on words – post-Ylee. He (it?) joins our team primarily to search for the Ylee who seem to have disappeared.

  ***

  The crew that traveled on the expedition realizes they’ve stirred it up at home because the World Government is flush with money and splinter groups of Earthers are planning to go make their fortune in space. They have no idea what they are getting themselves in for and don’t even know where there are uninhabited planets to settle. There is some resistance to the new tech. The technology for longevity is traded for cooperation with the money moguls and new ships are being constructed as fast as the now, numerous enclosures can churn them out – they are turning out hundreds.

  The team – still together – figures out new technology to travel at almost 1,500 lights (equivalent to that many times the speed of light in normal space). That tech leads to information from Lee Post and how the Ylee could travel interstellar distances instantaneously. We are just about to test this new method of travel when we run into an Allung cruiser.

  These Allung are froglike beings that live on extortion and slavery. We narrowly fight them off and learn a lot about them from their freed slaves. They had learned about Earth at Bellatrix and were gearing up to come to Earth en masse. They would then harvest our tech and scientists and destroy what wasn’t useful. Earth decides we are going for that option. We figure out the final pieces of the instantaneous travel, develop new weapons and decide to go after the Allung Brotherhood (what they call themselves) on their home turf.

  Okay – okay – big battles – we lose hundreds of ships and tens of thousands of military but we recover huge stashes of lamlee and some of their confiscated technology. Andrew formed an auxiliary space force with retrofitted Allung ships, liberated slaves and reanimated lamlee progeny. We decide to call them progeny instead of clones because clones had gotten a bad rep over the past few decades. We have a huge battle near Earth with the Allung and soundly defeat them. There are remnants of Allung that escape but we have good weapons and think we can finish any remnants we meet.

  We are so damn good at hospitality and innovation that we’d decided we’d keep going to keep pressing our luck – out there…only this time – I’ll be going with them. No more second hand stories this time. Andrew was putting together a real expedition with some military backup from Kyger. We’ll have ten of the lamlee coated cruisers and 1,500 progeny as well as a slew of scientists. We’ll have most of our original crew along with Rett (Earth’s original alien), Leilei, Shiv, Xilatoi, and Shuma. In addition, we’ll have a couple thousand liberated militia and volunteers. We were going to find the Ylee and the source of the lamlee if we have to travel to the galactic core. This time – I’ll be with them.

  The Exodus and the Expedition

  Admiral Brad Kyger was sitting back while sipping some Black Jack. Commodore Andrew Williams was arguing with Kyger.

  “These so-called colonists don’t have any idea what they’re getting into,” Andrew said.

  “They have the means to get off planet and we can’t stop them. They have received minimal jump ability but some have gotten lamlee and they can travel up to 1,300 lights in some of their large ships,” Kyger answered. “I agree they don’t have any idea of the dangers…you’re preaching to the choir here.”

  “Can’t we restrict them somehow?”

  “We can and have told them that they will get no protection from us. We also told them the ES and the ERF will not take it easy if these colonists start taking over other beings land. We gave them ES treaty protocols and made sure they understood them…best we could do,” Kyger said and took another sip.

  “Damn. There’s gonna be hell to pay and you know it.”

  “I know it,” Brad said…took another sip and said, “Don’t I know it.”

  “Let’s get on with the planning then…crap. I hate it when all my careful planning is messed up by reality.”

  ***

  Tod and Desiree were comparing notes from the captured Allung charts and files.

  “Seems the Allung hit a wall in this region about 1,200 years ago…toward the Sagittarius Arm. Earth is on the Orion Spur where it bifurcates from the Sagittarius Arm,” Tod explained. “It looks like they tried several approaches and were blocked at every turn.” Desiree pointed at the map. “…In all this area around the Lagoon and Omega Nebula…about 4,100 light years from Earth.”

  “Nebula?” Desiree queried. She was a gifted linguist who had broken the Allung prisoners and spoke more languages than any other human.

  “Seems the Allung had no luck in that whole region. Appreciate your translations but they appear garbled,” Tod said.

  “They may be garbled…they’re pretty incomplete. Seems they were trying to expand in that direction when they ran into some type of opposition that stopped them cold. They tried several large expeditions and weren’t successful. Some of the Allung references are just about missing expeditions with no survivors…some were fifty ships or more…and the references are spread over hundreds of years.”

  “How much time?” he asked.

  “Looks like as recent as ten years ago…every few decades like a trial by combat.”

  “Recently then? ...Can you explain more about these charts?” he asked.

  “You’ve got them all scanned into our system don’t you?” she asked.

  “Oh…stupid of me…right…sorry. Good idea. Let’s see what we come up with here,” he said as the lights dimmed and a representation of the Milky Way appeared.

  “Here we are,” he said as he pointed at the 3D representation of the Milky Way zoomed in to a closer view. “The Lagoon Nebula is this direction,” and the display rotated to an overhead view of the galaxy with an arrow indicating the direction to the Lagoon Nebula.”

  “Why in that direction? I don’t have any reference that they got that far.”

  “Well…it’s bounded by stars in the Sagittarius Cluster on the charts to either side from Earth’s point of view,” he stated. “The forbidden regions from their charts are displayed and marked with any stars we’ve identified.”

  “Oh. I see what you mean. So these Messier objects: Messier 8 and 17 – even 18 here,” she said indicating the computer indicated boundary where the Allung had been stopped. “Tod…honey…you realize we just stopped the Allung here at Earth but the Allung first ran into this twelve centuries ago. We were in the Dark Ages in 900 AD. What tech would they have now? I hate to think?”

  “Why sweetie…” Tod said playfully. “You don’t think it would be dangerous to approach systems now in converted Allung ships do you? You know how all the alien cultures we met have treated us so well,” he said sarcastically.

  Desiree snorted. “Yeah – right? Seems we fought everyone we ever met – alpha dogs just pissin’ to mark their territory…”

  “Long as we’re the alpha – I haven’t got a real problem with it,” Tod stated.

  “…and when we run into the bigger dog…the one we can’t outdo – outrun – outfight?”

  “Guess we’ll do what the pack animals on Earth have always done – let one meet one in a neutral area and get to know each other. We should not be challenging…like when you have two dogs and you bring in a third.”

  “Right Tod…but you show you’re still the alpha over your dogs already.”

  “Well Zugzwang then,” Tod said.

  Desiree raised her eyebrows.

  “Zugzwang…when you can’t make a move without giving up something – we’ll have to be ready to compromise.”

  “I’m fam
iliar with the German word – just don’t see how we’ll apply it,” she said.

  Tod shrugged, “Best I’ve got.”

  “Great…so softly, softly catchee monkey is your plan?”

  “Yep,” Tod said. “Pretty much sums it up.”

  “I married a moron…come on moron…I wanna catchee,” she said with a lopsided grin.

  “Glad we had this high strategy talk,” he said as she swatted him on the butt as they headed to their room.

  ***

  Susan Kama Siriluk (wife of Commodore Andrew Williams) was talking with Shiv, female, insectoid alien.

  “Where are you from?” Susan asked.

  “I have avoided talking about it much…I shall tell you – female to female. My kind is very territorial. I am the exception. Only one in a million desire to travel great distances and meet new challenges. We tend to be very solitary and have very short lifespans…though orders of magnitude longer than the males,” Shiv said through her translator in English.

  “How long is very short in Earth years?” Susan asked Shiv, the large being that looked eerily like a two-meter high praying mantis.

  “Four or five of your years,” Shiv said.

  “Oh my,” Susan exclaimed. “You’ve been with us almost that long. You look fine to me.”

  “Thank you. I meant the males. Females live about two hundred of your years when fed and moisturized well,” Shiv said.

  “It is not proper to ask a female her age in my culture…” Susan said trailing off.

  Shiv dipped her head, “Nor in mine but you can readily see with us – as our thorax, here, starts turning brown in spots and we lose the ability to have young after about 150 of your years…yes…yes…I understand your implied question. I am a relative youth of about 65 of your years.”

  “You don’t look a day over thirty,” Susan said.

  “Thank you. I come from the Theta Arae system – 822 light years from here. It is what you call a blue-white supergiant,” Shiv said.

  “Do you want to go home?” Susan asked.

  “I would be treated like an outsider but I would like to be there a little while. You would find it very interesting. I miss only the sky. It is more exciting here.”

  “Would humans be allowed there?” Susan asked.

  “Humans are rather large for game animals and though you look tasty – your silver suits would preclude attacks but some might take sampling nips if you were unescorted.”

  “Sampling nips?” Susan said. “You are serious?”

  “Yes. Of course pets and children should not go planet-side…they would be considered edible.”

  “Seriously?” Susan asked.

  “I exaggerate only a bit but not much if you are in the rural areas. The males are particularly less informed – though smaller…they are tasty…I miss that…”

  ***

  LeiLei, the tall feline Lemsa, and, her human mate Joel, were meeting with John Brattor and Ling Tanaka. Ling was the team shrink, biologist, and you-name-it.

  “We want to go along too,” Joel said. “LeiLei says her home planets are relatively close to our route also. She we would be well received there because…”

  “Because?” Ling asked.

  Joel blushed as LeiLei stroked the inside of his leg. “…because human males are especially attractive to Lemsa females…according to LeiLei…and…”

  “And? Do I have to drag this info out of you?” Ling asked. “We are all scientists. I’m a doctor besides that…”

  “It’s embarrassing,” Joel blushed again as LeiLei grabbed him by his rear. “Human males are super endowed compared to Lemsa males. Lemsa males have no hair and are not as dominate as human males…I am told.”

  John quipped, “…seen you in the shower dude…not…”

  Joel blushed. “I did say – compared to Lemsa males.”

  “You said planets?” Joel asked. “Where are you from LeiLei?”

  “I was born in the Canopus system but grew up at Epsilon Lupi. I left Canopus when I was very young.”

  John checked his Dex. “Okay. Canopus is 310 light years from here and Epsilon Lupi is 510 light years. Tell me about your home…if you do not mind.”

  “It’s a variable star and we lived on the fourth planet. The light changes ten times every day and we had to wear heavy clothing about half of the year. I have two sisters. Most parents have multiple partners but mine were monogamous – they were considered very odd. They were community organizers too – I always wanted to be a scientist. I wanted to travel.”

  John said, “Two sisters?”

  “Oh yes. They would really like you…a lot,” she said.

  “Are they younger? Older? What do they look like?” John asked.

  “Oh…you are a frisky one. My younger sister Leiita would really like you. She’s much prettier than me.”

  John blushed.

  “I just love it when you fellas change color like that and you know you release a certain smell,” LeiLei said and grabbed Joel and pulled him close with a little growl.

  “Oh God…Leiita you say…as long as it’s not Lolita…it has been a long time for me.”

  LeiLei canted her head to the side. “Lolita?” she asked.

  “It means too young,” Ling said.

  “Oh. She is, at least, ten,” LeiLei said.

  “And she’s younger than you? I have to ask…” John said.

  “Oh…my mistake. Canopus years are different. She would be about…” she said as she canted her head again. “That’s about twelve of your years. I sometimes get confused changing measurement systems.”

  “…robbing the cradle…” John murmured.

  LeiLei looked at Ling. “I am 17…in your years.”

  Even Joel looked shocked but Ling just smiled.

  “When do Lemsa females mature LeiLei? When are you considered an adult?” Ling asked though she knew the answer already…she was just trying to help these males through their human prejudices.

  Ling looked at the males with her big dark eyes. “We mature early and have memories from our parents that we just need to reawaken. We are sexually active at five and considered adults at eight of your years. Females may litter as early as six or seven but most wait a bit unless there is plentiful food and shelter.”

  “Human women reach the age of menarche earlier if there is an abundant food supply also…” Ling said. “It’s similar.”

  “What kind of lifespan is average?” John asked.

  “Our lifespan has really increased in the last two centuries…is that right…centuries?” LeiLei asked Ling.

  “Exactly right…and your average lifespan now?” Ling asked to clarify.

  “We live a little over 90 years…about 120 of your years. Males live about half that…” Leilei said.

  “Bet they wear out…” John said with a mischievous grin.

  ***

  Fahad Azmi Al Shedra turned to his subordinate. “When will the ship be ready?”

  “The ship is ready now…we have not finishing loading supplies and the weapons have not been tested.”

  “I understand about that…have all the colonists been prepared?”

  “Most have been given training in Trade and many have had other training cylinders. The equipment has been loaded.” He paused. “Has the destination been chosen?”

  “Do not question me about that…the council has not released that information to the public. We do not want the ERF to get wind of this flight – they might try to stop us and it is within our rights.”

  “What if the area we want is occupied? You have read the ES treaty prohibitions. We would be in violation.”

  “We will not violate the Prophet’s word…only man’s word,” Al Shedri said menacingly.

  “It is not a human’s word I am talking about it is the other Ajami.”

  “Let it rest Giaour,” Al Shedra said contemptuously. “It is ordained that we should take the pious where they can start a new life. The reformation made shee
p of our brothers.”

  ***

  A similar conversation was being held in many areas across planet Earth. Groups of disgruntled religious zealots, starry eyed idealists, capitalists, scientists, farmers or would-be back to nature groups were looking for grass on the other side of galaxy. Some groups were simply looking for ways to get away from grinding poverty. Some had volunteered – some had been pressured into service for companies looking at captive labor away from all legalities – most were looking for change and all were going to find that…the problem with most is it would not be good change.

  Pioneers get the arrows and settlers get the land is the old saying. Ships and groups of ships were preparing to leave Earth. They wanted rid of the bureaucracy. They wanted freedom. They wanted wide-open spaces where no one would tell them what to do and they could follow their own tenets. They wanted to write their own monuments… instead, most of those would be epitaphs.

  The Expedition Prepares

  Admiral Brad Kyger met with Commodore Andrew Williams for the fourth time in two days.

  “You will take a large assemblage of ships. I have some interesting news for you. The Council wants you to take Phillips with you also,” Brad said while sipping some Jack Black which he was doing an awful lot these days.

  “What? I don’t plan to zip over to Bellatrix to pick up that twisted bastard,” Andrew said through his teeth.

  Brad took another sip of his drink and sat back in his chair twirling the ice in the glass. “You don’t get any choice in the manner.”