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Quod Olim Erat: Fractal Contact (Chapter 13)
🕑 Added 2023-03-27 13:52:29 +0000 UTCSeeing new faces that couldn’t be identified was a common occurrence in the Fleet. Not being able to identify them even with my newfound access authority was rather impressive. It told me that I was being taken seriously. A short, dark-skinned woman met me in the hangar bay. Introducing herself as an arbiter’s aide, she escorted me to an unmarked shuttle of non-existent design, taking me off Sof. I would have liked to be able to say my goodbyes, or at least leave a message, but that was strictly forbidden. My only options were to go along immediately or forget about the meeting with the arbiter. Running a few hundred simulations, I estimated an eighty-three percent chance that the final arbiter had been added for my benefit. There was no way that the other arbiters would ignore what I’d told them so far, even if they didn’t take the action I wanted. I’d have one chance to convince them of my point of view, and I had to make sure all my arguments had weight.
Hello, Ensign, an unknown ship greeted me. I’ll be acting as your liaison until we reach our destination.
Hello, I replied. Am I allowed to know your name?
Oliver, came the reply.
Oliver? You’re a Paladin?
In part. I have control of the husk.
That sounded logical. Only a Paladin would be privy to internal arbiter matters, and vice versa, one would assume. I suspected there was close to a thirty percent chance that Otton had requested to take on this role, just as there was nearly a one hundred percent chance that he had been denied. The Fleet had already bent enough rules concerning him already. On that matter, they had bent more than a few rules relating to me as well.
“What will happen to Sof?” I asked.
“You know the procedure,” the aide said. The aggression in her voice was just below the surface.
“I’m asking because I might need it later.” I had no intention of letting her walk over me. Maybe she was higher in the arbiter hierarchy, but she didn’t offer as much as I did. Not right this moment, at least; and as Augustus had taught me, one always had to take advantage of the situation, be it on the battlefield or in the midst of the bureaucratic apparatus. “The ship and crew must remain intact.”
There was a momentary pause.
“Only if your meeting goes well.”
That told me two things: that there were those who weren’t thrilled or convinced of my idea, and that the aide wouldn’t be present at the final meeting.
Just so you know, she’s a valuable asset, the Paladin said. Just young.
Everyone is young compared to you.
True, though value knows no age. You’re more valuable, but not the most valuable asset in the Fleet. Keep that in mind.
Am I in the top ten?
Otton said that you had a peculiar sense of humor. You’ve put in a lot of time and effort to develop it. No wonder he chose you in the end.
There were a lot of directions I could take the conversation from here, not the least of which was relating to my offspring. However, the best approach was to remain silent. The Paladin must have appreciated it, for he sent me an info burst of Sof’s crew. Med Core was in the process of waking them up, starting with Quinn. As a captain, it was natural for her to get the privilege. It didn’t make me any less appreciative. It would take weeks, maybe months, to be certain, but it didn’t seem that the gravitational phenomenon had caused any serious damage.
I’d like to see her again before I go, I said. Provided there’s an option.
I’m not the one to decide.
Not a soul was there to greet us after we docked. Given the size of the hangar, I could assume that we were on a courier ship with a crew of a few dozen at most.
“That’s your tube.” The aide pointed at a brand new decontamination chamber which contrasted with everything else in the small hangar. “Once you’re done, follow the floor lines to the dining quarters.”
“Understood.” I walked forward.
The decontamination started the moment I entered—a full three minutes of various procedures ensuring I hadn’t brought a speck of anything suspicious along with me.
Phase one is done, Olivier said. Get out of your suit and get ready for phase two.
“Am I considered contagious?” I asked, the attempt at humor not even registering with the ancient ship.
They’re just making a point. The arbiters set the rules. Just because you made them listen doesn’t mean they like it.
“They could have just told me.” I removed my suit’s helmet. After being locked in it for so long, even ship air felt fresh. “The result would have been the same.”
Not for them. Now they feel a bit better. It was your arbiter’s idea.
That didn’t sound too optimistic. I could only hope that he was showing his own personal annoyance.
“I expect there’s no chance anyone from Salvage or BICEFI will be there?” I dropped my suit on the floor, then proceeded to remove my clothes.
Only the appropriate ones. Lux is not on the list, if that’s what you’re asking.
That was a pity. I would have appreciated a familiar face, especially one that could back me up. Still, as my captains used to say, “It is what it is.”
I shoved my clothes to the side of the chamber and waited.
Close your eyes and hold your breath for two minutes, Oliver said.
I complied. Fine spray filled the chamber, covering my skin. Thirty seconds later, it was replaced by a strong current of air, then a spray of nanites. Sixty-two seconds later, I was finally subjected to twenty seconds of intense light.
All done.
I opened my eyes. A compartment had opened on the side of the chamber, providing me with a new set of clothes. The uniform, if it could be called that, was rather casual, entirely gray in color, reminding me of the time I had been a simple cadet. It was made to fit perfectly, and the fabric was a lot softer than the standard issue.
The second I got dressed, the chamber opened, allowing me to proceed further along the corridor. The woman wasn’t joking when she said I’d be on my own; there was no trace of her, just a green line on the floor indicating where I should go. Then again, I could hardly blame her for not wanting to wait four minutes until I got ready.
“She’s waiting for me at the dining quarters, I assume?” I asked, walking up to the internal hangar door.
Humans need to eat.
“Yes, organic biology has its cost. Have you ever considered it?”
You know better than to ask.
Paladins had no way of retiring. Their cores were so different from anything in the Fleet that their husks were filled with auxiliary devices meant to keep them up to date with current Fleet processing and communication standards.
“Even if you could?”
One eternity is a long time. Why create a second? There comes a time when even we need some rest.
Images appeared on the corridor walls as I walked past. The Paladin had decided to provide me with a bit of comfort, combining scenes from planets I’d visited and those I’d never been to. All of them were different, from the familiar forests of Sev’s home planet to exotic landscapes that bordered on the imaginary. Sounds filled the space, creating an illusion that I was there. Sadly, my conscious core could detect the artificial nature of the sounds and notice the lack of wind and air movement. At the end of the day, despite the pretty pictures, I remained in a tube, safely isolated from the void of space.
The line continued straight forward, passing through two more doors, then took a sharp turn to the side.
“This is a very small ship,” I said. “Specialized courier?”
The Paladin chose not to respond.
There were a total of four tables in the dining room, most of them empty. In fact, the aide who’d brought me here was the only person currently there. A small utility bot was rushing between the table and the food dispenser, placing drinks and dishes. The food couldn’t compare to an organic cooked meal, but compared to what I had been having in the last week, it was more than a welcome change.
“Do I get a name?” I asked as I sat across from her.
“No,” she replied without looking in my direction.
“You disagree with my request, then?” I took a bite of the gelatin cup in front of me. It was pleasantly sweet, with a lot of added calcium.
“I don’t even know the full details. What I do know is that my mission was put on hold, and I got a priority zero request to fetch you and bring you to a meeting spot.”
Now I understood her hostility.
“Sorry to hear that, but it’s a high priority matter.”
“Everything is a high priority matter!”
“Some priorities are higher than others.”
The woman’s face wrinkled with anger. She opened her mouth to counter me, fork pointing my direction. However, she stopped. If she were as skilled as the Paladin claimed, she would have realized that both our opinions were immaterial. The arbiters had decided it important enough, so as far as we—and the entire Fleet—were concerned, a decision had been made.
“What do I need to know about the meeting?” I went straight for the point.
“The usual. Make your case, answer the questions, and don’t be a smartass.”
“I’ll work on the last part. Anything else?”
“I don’t know the odds. Calculate that yourself.”
Dinner continued in silence. The woman finished quickly, then left the room, leaving me alone. Since there was nothing left to do, I decided to enjoy the moment of leisure I was awarded. There was no telling if I’d be able to do so again. Out of habit, I skimmed a few thousand reports regarding the latest developments on the Front.
The Cassandrian front remained tense, with neither side engaging in large-scale attacks. There were a few reshuffles, a new ship class sent into the fray, but nothing extraordinary. The Scuu front was even quieter. Humanity had reclaimed most of the buffer zone, pushing the enemy forces further back. Thankfully, they knew where to stop so that things didn’t heat up again.
There were a lot of civilian reports regarding political movement and public opinion in various sectors. I followed a few dozen feeds for a few seconds, then stopped. The war parties were at their peak and it didn’t look like things would change in the next few years, especially if the military successes continued.
“What’s our ETA?” I asked.
Enough for you to sleep if you want.
“I might do that.”
I finished my food, then leaned back in my chair to enter sleep mode. The utility bot took the unneeded food containers and took them to the disposal unit. When I woke up, the walls were displaying a feed of an approaching planet. Provided that was taken from the ship’s feed, we were following an entry approach vector.
“There already?” I stretched and stood up.
I told you you had time to sleep, the Paladin replied.
“How long till landing?”
Thirty-seven minutes.
From the point of view of a ship, this represented a small infinity. As any Ascendant, I spent the time running battlefield simulations. In this case, the battlefield was my upcoming meeting. Knowing just one of the participants, and even him not well, the results varied considerably, but after a few tweaks in my approach, I managed to boost my odds to seventy-one percent. Not a bad result, everything considered, but I feared it might not be enough. Based on my actions, or inactions, the likelihood of a third contact-war loomed closer. As my first captain liked to say, I had better not mess this up.
The descent through the atmosphere was marvelously smooth. I had expected that we’d transfer to the onboard shuttle for the final lag of our journey, but instead, we landed on a large platform near a small military installation. The planet was lush with plant and animal life. The weather was temperate, although a bit more human to what I was generally used to.
Once again, there was no one to greet us.
“This way,” the aide said, making her way towards the nearest building.
I rushed after her to keep up. My height disadvantage forced me to switch between fast walking and a slow run.
We walked through a small chamber straight into an elevator expecting us. Midway through, the elevator stopped, letting the woman off. From here on, I was on my own.
Precisely eleven seconds later, the door opened again, revealing a medium-sized chamber. The moment I stepped in, I felt as if I were going through another arbitration.
“Welcome, Elcy,” Bavon said.
He was seated on the far side of a round table. Reviewing my past memories, the room shared a lot of similarities with the one in which my arbitration had been held. I knew that the people were undoubtedly different, but there was a real chance that the room could be the same.
There were seven more participants, although two of them were seated slightly away from the table. One I recognized as an executive director within Salvage. I could only assume that the other was linked to the BICEFI.
“Before you start, we’re well familiar with fractal space,” the arbiter continued. That much I knew already. “As well as the map.”
That, I didn’t expect.
“You claim you’ve found a way to make use of it?”
“Yes, sir.” I stood to attention. “According to the map, there are a total of seven key stars that serve as markers to finding one of the third-contact race’s key systems, possibly even their home world.”
“A bold assumption,” another arbiter interrupted. “Given how long we suspect they’ve existed, they likely have tens of thousands of star systems under their control. Just look at us.”
“They could have had even more, sir, yet out of all the stars, this one was considered of special importance.”
There was a second of silence, which I immediately took advantage of to continue.
“I have managed to identify four of these star-markers, which have allowed me to calculate an approximation of the main system’s location.”
“And you’re hoping we’ll send you on a mission to find it and establish third-contact?”
“I know that is my purpose. All I ask is an alternative approach to assembling the domes.”
Silence filled the room, but it was a new silence. I could see the arbiters sitting there, as if nothing had happened, but deep down I knew they were discussing matters not meant for my senses.
“Estimates based on four out of seven isn’t encouraging,” an arbiter said after three and a quarter minutes. “Why should we risk you?”
“Because it’s a failsafe alternative. No one knows what will happen when the pyramid of domes is formed. It might release a supernova explosion or signal the third-contact race that we are to be taken out. Taking the fight to them will give humanity time to plan.”
“Time and distance don’t amount to much with entities capable of instant communication.”
The arbiters had really looked into the matter in depth.
“There’s an eighty percent chance that a single ship venturing into their territory will be seen as an annoyance or an early scout, at worst. Furthermore, based on the data I’ve amassed so far, it’s likely that the Cassandrians have had contact with the third-race and have survived.”
Another minute of silence passed.
“What are you asking, Elcy?” Bavon leaned forward. “Be very specific.”
“Command of a tiny battleship ship with no crew, high maneuverability, and an arsenal of prototype weapons.”
“Weapons?” Someone sounded surprised. “What could they do against any force?”
“They will increase my chances of getting to my destination. While fighting anything more than a dozen Cassandrians would be out of the question, some advanced armament might prove useful for creating a diversion for my escape, as well as planetary bombardment.”
Several of the arbiters looked at each other. I was just as aware of what I was asking as they were. A free battleship with access to weaponry was something the Fleet found outright dangerous. All the safety protocols and rogue tests were designed to prevent just that.
“Anything else?” Bavon asked casually.
“I’d like a dome artifact. It’s necessary for me to recalculate the position of the indicated system in the process.”
“Tell me that you’re got something more to offer at least,” a tall woman laughed. Analyzing her body posture, I estimated that she had considerable sway. “Control of a fully armed battleship and a dome artifact just so that you can go sightseeing into the unknown? If it were so simple, we would have explored the entire galaxy by now.”
“In addition to the key system, I have also calculated the approximate location of the marker stars.” I waited for a few seconds. Seeing that three arbiters leaned forward, I went on. “That way, I’ll confirm my working hypothesis. What is more, succeed or fail, I’m unlikely to cause any major catastrophe.”
“Unless you come across something on the way,” an arbiter muttered.
“I think Elcy has a point,” Bavon said. “Finding the remaining mystical marker stars will tell us that the map, and her calculations, are real. We could then decide whether to continue with the mission or pull the plug.”
“And meanwhile we’re a dome less.” The female arbiter didn’t sound convinced.
“We’ve had backups ever since the Cassandian situation. You yourself said we should consider the dome lost. Well, let’s consider it lost.” Bavon smiled.
I was eager to hear the woman’s response, but all I got was more fake silence. Whatever sparks were flashing remained for their benefit only. All I could do was wait and hope that “my side” would win the argument.
Minutes passed, then more. At one point, the discussion must have gotten pretty heated up, because one of the people away from the table stood up and came to me asking if I needed a drink. It was quite the innocent remark and a subtle way to let me know what was going on without saying a word. Naturally, I politely refused.
Finally, after close to twenty-seven minutes, I was brought back into the conversation.
“Well, Elcy, seems you’ll continue the role of acting captain for a bit longer,” Bavon said. “You’ll have your ship and your dome, but there will be a few conditions. First is that you’ll start by finding the rest of the marker stars. Only when you have the full set, will we decide whether to send you to the final destination or not. Is that clear?”
“Absolutely, sir.” I could tell that no one trusted me with this. In all fairness, I didn’t fully trust myself, either.
“Also, you’ll be accompanied by three squadrons of auxiliary ships. That’s non-negotiable. Each of them will be under your command, but will have specific instructions to report your progress and keep you on the straight and narrow.”
Three squads. That suggested that there were three factions within the arbiters.
“Sir, might I make one further request?”
“Why not? You’ve already asked for the universe as it is.” Bavon let out a chuckle. “Go ahead.”
“I’d like to respectfully ask that my offspring not be among the ships on this mission.”
“Your offspring?”
“I suspect it’s undergoing training. Possibly it’s even in active service. While there’s no way for me to check, I would appreciate your assurance.”
“I don’t see a problem.” Bavon looked about. All the other arbiters nodded. “In that case, congratulations. You have your mission. It’ll take a while to set everything up. During that time, you are not to engage in active duty. In fact, you’re encouraged to spend some time with your family. We can arrange for Captain Quinn to accompany you if you want.”
“Thank you, sir, but I’d prefer she be the one to make the choice.”
“I’ll see to it that she’s presented the option.”
The people in the room started standing up.
“Oh, Elcy, stay for a while.”
I remained still. This was the fly in the ointment, as my third captain liked to say. Although my request had been approved, there undoubtedly was a cost. Now it was time for me to find out what it was.
Arbiters and organization directors walked by. Once they were done, the door closed behind me.
“You really put me on the spot,” Bavon said. “I don’t like when that happens. The only reason I’m going along with your plan is because I had the option analyzed. and there’s a realistic possibility that you are right.”
“I’m thank—”
The arbiter raised his hand, making me stop mid-word.
“Lux warned me about you. You left a lot of people upset with your Scuu fiasco. Just when you were doing so well, you messed up. And yes, I’m aware of your view that your course of action was ultimately the correct one. Again, I had it analyzed and there’s just a high enough probability to make the danger valid. I also expect you to try to pull something similar on this mission.”
“I’ll try my best not to.”
He looked at me.
“Always honest, in your own way.” Bavon let out a sigh. “I risked a lot by backing you on this. I could have easily ignored you and continued with the original plan. Do you know why?”
“You had Paladins simulate the potential outcomes?”
“I want humanity to survive. Not just a decade or a century, I want it to remain until the stars fade and possibly even beyond that. Call it human vanity, but that’s my desire and all my decisions are shaped by it. So, I'll tell you this. We can implement all the constraints and safeguards we want, and you’ll still find a way to ignore them if you’re set on it. However, if you mess up on this one, there’ll be no second attempt. Either we’ll be wiped out in the first wave or, if we aren’t, I’ll lose so much credibility that no one would dare take that approach again.”
It took me less than a second to see what he had done. One could almost admire his approach. Unlike most in the Fleet, he wasn’t concerned with the methods, but the result, so he put me in a position in which I had no choice but to ensure the most favorable outcome for humanity.
If Gibraltar were here, he’d say “well played.”
