Connection (39 page)

“Another race…not from LesMa?”

“No sir,” she said. “There appear to be – we think – many other races but the Hllumff said there was going to be a large attack by Allung against Earth. Robert wanted you to have the bias drive and other weapons IF you would promise to quit attacking him. The Sol Force is just that – a non-political fleet to protect our solar system. We want interstellar trade.”

“I think we may be able to do that…here is the question. Who made that recording?” the Captain asked.

Twlise looked up at the ceiling and took a breath. “The Earth Regulatory Force gave it to the Exploration Service at Bellatrix.”

“There is no Earth Regulatory Service,” the lieutenant commander said.

“Not in this dimension…” Twlise said.

“What are you talking about?” the Captain asked.

Twlise suggested she share a file with them. The first officer was given her Dex and transferred a file – a star chart showing Exploration Service and areas explored by the Earth Regulatory Force. “Sir. If you will give us your promise not to attack us, I will give you a tour of our ship – explain all our weapons and let you meet the Hllumff captain. We can even show your techs how to install a bias drive.”

“That is a lot to promise,” the captain said.

“Sir. Robert promises you safe passage and the bias drive no matter what you decide. I suggest you bring a film crew and as many Marines as you think appropriate to video all aboard.”

“He is that confident that he would let armed troops aboard his ship?”

“Sir. He told me – and I quote. ‘The record of this captain shows he has been disciplined for refusing illegal commands – is respected by all who ever served under him and loses fewer casulaties than all his parallel commands – I would LOVE to talk with him and share a glass of fine sherry. I want to give him every advantage he can absorb – he’s the type to keep Earth alive.”

“That is a quote? You must have some memory…”

“Sir. I am a linquist noted for my memory,” she said blushing lightly.

“…A most charming linquist… Tell him I accept.”

“Captain,” said an officer who stuck his head in the door. “A shuttle just came alongside. They have a soft dock on our forward, starboard airlock.”

“Detail three Marines in full pressure suits and weapons and whoever is qualified as a recording team to accompany me and the first officer to that shuttle. Send a tech team to play the bias-drive installation instructions on this 3D disk. Play it twice and then contact the first officer when finished. Keep channels open at all times.”

The first officer turned to captain. “Sir. How can we trust these people? You want me AND you to tour their ship.”

“You are right. You are in charge of the ship. Send the second officer to me. Full pressure suit and don’t make me wait. Whomever makes me wait will be demoted to ensign. Give the orders.”

“Aye aye Captain. I still…” said the first officer.

“Commander. You are destined to rise in rank… with your attitude...a perfect candidate for the military. I will amend your fitness report when I return. See if you can handle me away for several hours.”

****

The captain of the Flanders exited the shuttle in the Nemesis shuttle bay with lines of soldiers with rifles at salute.

“Permission to come aboard,” Captain Purcell stated with a salute.

“Permission granted Captain. Welcome aboard. I want you and your people to feel welcome. There have been too many other people trying to throw us at each other without thought. I will give you a working bias drive and all the information on how to install and maintain it. Only stipulation is you listen to me first – I have the bias drive on board plus weapons improvements…same stipulation. Any weapons fire and I will destroy this ship and every ship of the fleet – here and all others on the planet.”

The captain just stood there for a moment and let this offer/threat roll over him – tasting the flavor of the comments. “Nice to meet you,” Captain Purcell said. “This is my second in command, Lieutenant Aicheo Chin.”

“Lieutenant Chin. Aren’t you the one that discovered the asteroid headed toward Earth?” Robert asked surprised Purcell didn’t say anything else. He now knew why the crews revered this man.

“Yes sir,” she said. “We all appreciated your help on that one.”

“Welcome aboard. I hope our tour answers some of your questions,” Robert answered and turned to Captain Ummand who had come into the bay. “This is Exploration Service Captain Ummand.”

Captain Purcell turned toward the gray-skinned alien who looked like a small rhinoceros. “How do I greet you captain?

“Welcome Captain Purcell,” Ummand said holding his huge hand to shake. “Please continue your tour. I will be here when you return. Be careful of our Allung prisoner sir.”

“Your English is excellent. Where did you learn it?” Lieutenant Ling asked.

“Oh. Our tech fixed the teaching machines and we had a English cylinder from the Earth Regulatory Force,” Captain Ummand replied.

“This is in the other universe?” she asked.

“Yes Lieutenant. They are a bit more advanced in many areas than your Sol Force but very similar in attitude. We are beating the Allung for the first time because of the ERF.”

“ERF?”

“Earth Regulatory Force. They gave us many new technologies and weapons.”

“What weapons? We may be able to duplicate ones you don’t have?” she asked Captain Ummand and her Captain Purcell gave a slight grin.

“They came up with the shield penetrator missile that neutralizes the field of a ship and then goes through. The jump weapon uses a shuttle jump drive and passes right through the vessel. I understand they designed that from a device built into all the Allung ships. They use that as a last resort – line up on you and then jump their ship right through you.”

“That is fascinating captain. Captain Purcell. Do you mind if I stay here and talk with Captain Ummand while you tour?” Ling asked.

“Carry on lieutenant,” Purcell said and continued on with the tour group.

Ling continued. “What else Captain?”

“Well,” Captain Ummand continued. “The ERF have cameras built into their suits. We have duplicated most of that. The cameras display what is behind the wearer on the opposite side of the suit. They used their Dexs to process the image so a shipmate behind them would not show. They also used
lamlee
to improve everything. We have not seen
lamlee
here but when your people touch them and think how to improve something – it actually improves. We went from 400 lights to 1,500 lights and with the Ylee drive they developed – we jumped here.”

“So that 361 light year jump to here was with this Ylee drive and not the bias drive? What are these lamlee? I suppose that here means near Earth?”

“Yes. The Ylee drive…That’s right. The bias drive does not show on sensors like our nomal drive. You can see our drive and the one the Allung use about six light years away. Also, your bias drive works in a totally different way than the Ylee drive. The bias drive has a down side in that there is time dilation not noticed by the passengers…oh…did I mention time enclosures. The ERF showed us how to build time enclosures.”

“What are they? Are those lamlee? Does the Sol Force have those? Tell me about it.”

“Oh. I forgot. The lamlee are alien molecular circuits, very advanced that are designed to improve devices through telepathy. Your people built a time enclosure from the ERF plans – that is how they rebuilt my ship so fast and covered it in metacrete. That material is amazing. We used their new laser tracking system on some and it took two minutes with three of our most powerful lasers to even begin to make a hole in a thin sheet. It is hard on technicians though.”

Lieutenant Chin kept looking interested even though some of this ‘information’ was so out there a to be unbelieveable. “Why is it hard on technicians?” Lieutenant Ling asked Captain Ummand.

“Well. There is a 30-to-1 differential in the time inside the enclosure to the normal time outside. There is a lot of heat generated that they have to get rid of and consummables and waste have to be cycled. They used a stepped portal to move goods through each way but a one of your weeks in normal time is seven of your months inside. That lets you improve things really fast.”

“Wow. Do they use enclosures on their ships?” she asked.

“Yes…but I understand it is only a ten-to-one differential on the ships. Crew can sleep eight hours in less than one of your hours. Gives them more time to train and rest I’m told.”

“How about their communications?” she asked.

“They use a standard quantum communicator but that only works about 105 light years in our universe,” he said. “Same here I think. We’ll see. We are very near one of the Exploration Service bases in our universe. We will check that carefully to see if it is occupied in this one. If it is empty – the Allung threat may be less here but if it here – the Allung never lost a battle until your people came along.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes lieutenant. Thank you for doing such a good job of pumping me for information like any good intelligence officer. You will be promoted fast – I am sure of it. Oh. We use zero-point power supplies. They are easy to build and have almost as much power as your fusion plants but require no fuel that we know of…make sure they give you plans for those too…oh…we were surprised by this… Your people did not have molecular disrupters that dissolve any unprotected matter. They are easily made. We have had them for hundreds of years.”

“Thank you sir. I understand you lost crew taking the Allung ship recently,” she said and saw the captain look at the ground and smelled a sweet smell.

Twlise walked up to the two and patted the captain on the arm. “I miss him too Captain Ummand. We will get you back to your people. We will try here after we get the crew of the Flanders back home safely.”

Ling seemed moved by the obvious sadness of the Ullumff captain. “Guess we had a lot of messed up ideas, sir. I think we’ll have to have a new plan but our other ships will reach Mars in a few days. We need to get back soon before something bad happens,” Ling said.

Captain Ummand smelled of cinnamon and stomped off leaving Lieutenant Chin with Twlise.

“He smelled delicious,” Ling said.

“…means he’s mad,” Twlise said.

“At us?” Ling asked.

“I think he’s just mad at how intelligent species keep fighting when trade would be so much better.”

“He still smelled good,” Ling said quietly.

“You still think like an Earth person. That smell is not good…the Hllumff are very powerful…and their Captain is one-hundred and fifty of your years old. You need to stop thinking they are human. Aliens think differently than humans.”

“You would know,” Chin said.

In a lightning move, Twlise had extended her nails and put the point of one against Chin’s neck. Twlise leaned forward toward Chin and pressed her nail against the trembling lieutenant’s neck, “Remember that when you advise your captain. LesMan females do not like it when their lifemates are constantly threatened.” A second later – Twlise was calm and directing Lieutenant Chin back down the corridor. Chin could still feel where the point had been on her neck.

The tour was finished and Captain Purcell allowed the Nemesis techs to install the bias drive and learn how to use and service it. Captain Purcell had asked to get the new technologies that Ling discovered. Kobe had agreed to give up the designs for molecular disruptors, the zero-point power modules, the suit designs, and the penetrator missiles. Captain Purcell wanted the time-enclosure tech, the Ylee drives, and the metacrete. Kobe said when the Sol Force was officially recognized as a regulatory force – they would send techs and details of everything except the Ylee drive. The Sol Force would coordinate with the Earth forces.

                                                                                  ****

“Captain Purcell. Your ship can be home in a few hours but it would be many years normal time when you arrived so we will be happy to jump back with you,” Robert said.

“Thank you Admiral. I guess I better get used to that title even though it galls me.”

“…Because I didn’t serve in a conventional military? I’ve fought many battles and I’ve lost men under my command. I did build a trained force that has fought battles and won. Isn’t your commander-in-chief a civilian who has never raised his voice in anger or been struck by a blow. Didn’t he brag about that…” Robert said. “My troops voted me into this position.”

“There is that…I am Captain of this ship but Rear Admiral of the so-called fleet…what do we need to do?”

“I need you to do one thing for me as a personal favor?”

“What is that?” Captain Purcell answered.

“Would you marry me?”

Purcell laughed. “It’s a little sudden…” he said and laughed again as Robert blushed. “I knew you meant you and Twlise. Now?”

“Please. It’s going to be crazy pretty soon and I want her by my side…officially.”

“You kept me from foolishly losing many lives because I was so steeped in my personal misinformation…I guess that’s how most wars are started. I’ll go scroll through the regulations and such while you prepare the bride.”

“Thank you,” Robert said and rushed aft. It had been way to long.

                                                                                  ****

“Twlise,” he said in an excited voice. “I want you to marry me.”

“Marry you…now…is that legal.”

“Yes it’s legal. Captain Purcell agreed to perform the ceremony.”

“Would that mean I couldn’t have sex with other men and you couldn’t have sex with others?”

“Well that is customary.”

“…and this
marriage
would have no end date. You know we have limited year contracts on my planet.”

“Yes. No end date.”

“I’m not so sure,” she said.

Robert got down on one knee and held her hand. “I love you and I want you by my side always.”

“I just wanted to make you sweat a little and not take me for granted. What should I wear?”

“I never take you for granted. Wear your pressure suit?”

“Are we getting married in space?”

“No…no…that suit molds to your body and you look absolutely beautiful in it. It is shiny silver and it matches this white gold-platinum diamond ring I have for you,” he said and held out a lovely antique cut diamond ring.

“No helmet I assume,” she said grinning.

                                                                                  ****

Almost all of the crew of the Nemesis were in formation, along with Marines from the Flanders – including Captain Purcell and Lieutenant Ling. Captain Ummand and Tech Uhmbub were there also. Kenny Nakamura stood in as best man. The video of the event would be notable when it reached Earth.

Robert stood in uniform with Captain Purcell on a slightly raised platform in the very front. Rows of crew lined both sides of the bay and the lighting was oddly dim on the sides with a corridor brightly lit leading to the front…Robert suspected Nemesis of the staging.

Twlise appeared on the arm of Chief Calligan who looked respendant in a dress uniform. She wore her hair up in a swirl that looked impossibly like it was floating and she was wearing the silver pressure suit. Every male human was focused on the way she walked down the aisle. A few mouths dropped open at that walk. It wasn’t…it was…whew…it was definitely something to see. Robert and Twlise took each other’s hands as Captain Purcell read the vows.

“Marriage is a sacred commitment not to be taken lightly. Do you Twlise take Robert Kobe as your lawfully wedded husband – to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, his family being your family, until death do you part?” he said and Twlise leaned forward and whispered her full name in Robert’s ear.

“I do,” she said.

“Do you, Robert Kobe, take this woman, Twlise, as your lawfully wedded wife – to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, his family being your family, until death do you part?” he asked.

“I do,” Robert said.

“By the power invested in me as Captain…I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Robert took Twlise in his arms and they gave each other such a passionate kiss that the crew sighed and many cried. Ling had tears running down her cheeks thinking about Stella. The happy couple marched down the aisle and out of the shuttle bay. She decided not to tell the Captain about her run-in with Twlise.

“I’m afraid the celebrating will be cut short,” Captain Purcell said. “Everyone back to stations. Crew of the Flanders get into the shuttle on the double… you too lieutenant. Let’s go stop a battle.”

                                                                                  ****

Nemesis. You ready to jump them.
“Flanders,” he said over the comm. “You ready?”

“Ready Nemesis. Flanders is secure,” Purcell said.

“On five. Five, four, three, two, one. Jump,” Robert ordered and with a lurch, they were in a position thought to be just ahead of the forty-nine Earth ships near Mars orbit.

They appeared just 3,000 meters ahead of the Earth ships but, luckily, they were still decelerating and facing the other direction. It took only seconds before some had swung their laser arrays and began firing. Robert ordered a microjump and jumped with only a few laser hits on the hull – doing nothing to the metacrete.

The Earth fleet was quickly brought under control and Captain Purcell ordered the ships to stand down though there was hesitation after his long absence. Captain Purcell ordered the ships captains in groups – to come aboard and be briefed. He had received the bias drive, the molecular disruptors, and the zero-point power modules from Kobe and all were demonstrated. The Allung video was copied and distributed among all the ships. Purcell had Lieutenant Ling send her own videos which she had put together of the Nemesis crew with aliens working together with the crew of the Flanders to install the bias drive. She also added more video of the Allung prisoner. She even had clips of Purcell performing the wedding – she was going to send that clip to Stella in Hawaii.

Admiral Kobe invited Purcell to select crewmembers to go with them to 47 Tau along with the ES Destroyer, Scar, under Captain Ummand. Purcell picked crew who had already used the four teaching machines in the time enclosures. There was a line of people in and out of the Enclosure on Mars. They would get advance reservations, like a fastpass at a theme park, and learn Trade, Hllumff, and Tros in seven grueling hours inside as fifteen minutes passed by outside. They did a record of three hundred people a day for three days – all coordinated by Cassandra and her clones. There were a few schizophrenic breaks but that was to be accepted pouring that much cultural and linquistic information into brains.

There was still no accommodation with Earth even though most of the fifty ships had been fitted with bias drives. Earth was disturbingly quiet but was getting wound up by a certain set of videos that had appeared and gone viral around the planet. The Allung video had crashed servers everywhere even where there was huge bandwidth. Everyone wanted to see it. The video of Twlise and Robert getting married had almost as many views. Some groups demanded that Kobe and Mars answer for their crimes – attacking an alien race without authorization. Alternate universe rumors – nonsense. That was entertainment stuff – not real life.

Other groups saw the presentation as reality and demanded more protection. There was a good bit of positive sentiment for Admiral Kobe and Sol Force. More and more young people wanted to join. When Captain Ummand gave a statement to some visiting Earth reporters on Mars, many people volunteered to join the Exploration Service. Others, in the know, thought we should go help the Earth Regulatory Force at Bellatrix.