Far Space (47 page)

Ian nodded. The fleet arrayed before them consisted of twenty massive cargo vessels and as many combat starships. Saratoga was acting as the official escort of the fleet as the ships prepared to pass over the threshold of their first wormhole.

“They’ll only be five jumps away,” Ian said. “That doesn’t seem very far.”

“Four hundred and twelve light years,” Jennifer said, nudging Ian in the ribs. “Pretty far if you ask me.”

“At least it’s a start,” Yates said.

Ian and Jennifer looked at the General, now sporting a second star.

“Earth Space, Jupiter Space, even all of Near Space is not big enough,” Yates added. “Yes we have outposts on or around five other planets besides Earth, but we need to plant seeds, colonies, throughout the galaxy, maybe throughout the universe.

“This,” Yates pointed at his feet, “can not, must not be the sole pocket of humanity. If the last battle proved anything, it was that an enemy could sweep us off the face of every planet in our home system.”

“Human-kind’s survival depends on them,” Jennifer said, nodding at the ships hanging in orbit around Jupiter. “And they won’t be just setting up
outposts. Those ships have everything they need to establish a fully functioning society. Given enough time, they will be able to produce their own colonization fleets and send them out.”

“And you’ve helped provide the key to keep everyone together,” Ian said, squeezing Jennifer’s hand. “No matter how far into the galaxy man wanders.”

Jennifer blushed.

“Eventually, humans will be on more planets than we can count,” Yates said. “And each will have its own fleet of defensive ships. With Jennifer’s quantum communications, no matter what the distance, any one of those worlds will be able to call on the rest of humanity for help. There will still be a Far Space beyond the wormholes, but it will look more and more like Near Space’s backyard.”

“I think that’s what the Comets meant to teach us,” Jennifer said.

“Speaking of which,” Ian said, “Your guys have any luck tracking them down?”

Yates shook his head. “We’ve been out twenty thousand light years in the wormhole system. No sign of any Angel ships. The Soosuri worlds are in some sort of social upheaval and didn’t even realize we were checking up on them. And the Cohou seemed surprised we were still around at all.”

“That doesn’t sound promising,” Ian said.

“Yeah, we’re checking the translations again,” Yates said. “I just wonder if we have them to thank for the Soosuri finding us in the first place.”

“Well, hopefully they don’t know about them,” Ian nodded out the observation window at the fleet. One of the ships flashed then disappeared.

“There they go,” Jennifer noted. “On their first step into Human Space.”

Soosuri Dictionary

agang – call

ahe’ – no / negative akka’ – bite

alula – hurry

amot – medicine

aniyu – ring for finger, neverending ari’i – person of high class, descended from gods/chief aroha – all embracing love aris’a’kai – the sea beyond the sea asaina – Lord God

atua – God

‘ava – plant root

biahi – time

chetnot – wound

chomma’ – forbid

etnon – gathering

fanaitai – read / said prayers faisen – ask

fenua – land

feti’i – close member of clan fine’na – first

fugo’ – wring / squeeze haere mai – call of invitation or welcome hau – wind, breath of life himi – trident

hini tini – descendants hini – girl, young woman ihu – life force

kaue – no

gna’an – sacred plant ihu – gift

isao – sin kannai – arm

kanton tasi – beach ladera – cliff

guaifi – blow

ha’of – chest

hafno’ – high tide hanom - water

maeva – welcome

makaro – predator fish malinau - calm

maolek – good

marae – temple

mar’ar – worship

ma’te’ – low tide

miro – sacred tree na’i – give

n’angu - swim

napu – wave

natata – shallow

ora – time, ~hour

ra’atiri – chief

pahi – large ship

paoti – scissors

pau – finished, over patea – form of address to older woman pia – arrowroot plant popa’a – foreigner puti’on – star

rahaui – sacred prohibition on food tahua – priest

taio – close friend linked by unbreakable bonds tamanu – plant used medicinally
tame – adult male tano’ – land

tasi – ocean

tau rearea – carefree days of youth telari – days

tife’ – harvest

tupu – personal items which must be discarded secretly (use for blood) t’taga’ – ruthless scavenger va’a – ship