Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework (24 page)

SOL DEFENCE MESSAGE FOLLOWS. NOT FOR
RETRANSMISSION.

Axiologist Pilgrim Liam Grady, it is a pleasure and
a relief to know that you have survived in these trying times. We
are aware of your progress with the wayward crew led by Jacob
Valance, or Valent as he has decided to be called yesterday. We
believe a fracture in the group is likely, and are certain that by
lending your support to whichever side you feel inclined to instead
of leaving that group of people would be more beneficial for the
common good.

It is with sadness that I inform you that we have
closed our borders, so your request to return to the Sol system has
been denied. Our belief that the Fourth Fall was coming has been
woefully confirmed, and we will not allow any being entry into our
space until we decide the galaxy has achieved a higher level of
stability. In that spirit, Sol Defence is disabling the quantum
entanglement communications system connected to the Triton.
Instantaneous communication with Earth will no longer be possible
for at least a generation.

Ties are being cut, projects outside of the Sol
solar system have been abandoned, and only a few of our outbound
explorers are returning. The rest will continue on, alone and in
the shadows until this storm passes. Just as the Sol system was
beginning to open our boarders, we are being forced to isolate
ourselves again.

You made a favourable impression while you were
here, Liam, and are spoken of fondly. Woo-Jin Lim enjoys bringing
you into conversations occasionally, so the entire cloister knows
you earned his admiration. Knowing where you came from, and having
known you personally gives me hope for the future of mankind in the
Milky Way. Whether you choose the path of war or creation, I know
you will do well.

It saddens me more than you can know that I may
never see you again. May love follow you, and your desire for peace
guide you.

With love and respect,

Axiologist Mentor Ute Eisenberg

Liam Grady sat back and closed his eyes,
giving himself a moment to recall Ute and the time they spent
together. She was not his mentor. That was Woo-Jin Lim, who Liam
had said farewell to when he left. There was closure enough in that
departure. The teachings Woo-Jin imparted on him could lead him
through life, so his mentor would always be with him.

Ute was a woman he met, another Axiologist
who was fascinated with technology beyond the Sol Defence borders.
Long, late night discussions soon evolved into romantic evenings.
He didn’t need holographic recordings to recall her deep blue eyes,
flowing blonde hair, or warm smiles. Most people who were allowed
to visit Earth wanted to return eventually. There was so much to
learn, so much to see.

Ute was Liam’s real reason for returning,
but the request he quietly included with the message the Triton
crew sent to Earth didn’t specifically state that. It said he
wanted to return as a student, and to permanently integrate on
Earth, Mars, or one of the larger outer stations.

The reply from Ute was acknowledgement of
that message, and her way of saying she would have liked him to
return. The only solace in discovering that he wouldn’t be able to
see her was that he felt free to pursue someone else, but he was in
no hurry. Liam released his mental image of her, saying, “Some
journeys must end.”

“But others await,” replied Minh-Chu.

Liam opened his eyes and cleared his throat.
Minh-Chu was standing in the open hatchway. “Sorry to interrupt
your meditation, Mentor.”

“No apologies, Wing Commander,” Liam
replied. “Your timing is excellent.”

“Jason noticed you received a transmission
from Sol Defence. He’s a little crazy at the moment, because the
origin date is from today, and well, from Earth.”

“So you volunteered to speak to me instead,”
Liam said. “How did you convince him to stay away from this
discussion?”

Minh-Chu entered the room and made his way
down the narrow path of installed deck plates. “You have the
respect of practically everyone here, but have made almost no
serious attachments, and haven’t revealed much about yourself. I
told him that a wrong move could lead to you leaving.”

“That sounds rational, and mostly correct,
but I doubt that convinced him to stay out of this conversation,”
Liam said with a little smile.

“Laura told him to stay put,” Minh
replied.

“There it is.”

“They’re having some serious problems, I
don’t think he wanted to make it worse. I’m just glad he’s finally
making her a priority.”

“Agreed. So, Wing Commander Minh-Chu Buu,
what shape will this conversation take?”

Minh retracted the glove of his vacsuit and
offered his hand. “I’ve never properly introduced myself.” He
waited for Liam to shake his hand before saying, “I’m Minh-Chu Buu,
my friends call me Minh or Ronin.”

“I’m Liam, and pleased to meet you, Ronin.
I’m highly amused that someone named after a rogue Samurai leads
Samurai Squadron,” Liam replied.

“I know,” Minh said, sitting down. “I was
about to tell them there was a mismatch there, but the names were
already on the books.”

“You are eager to learn what was in that
message from Earth.”

“I am, but I have other questions too.”

“I’m sure you do,” Liam replied. Sitting
down with Minh-Chu was a bit of a thrill for Liam. He watched the
pilot from a distance. The man was almost forty, but looked
younger, and seemed very youthful outside of his command duties.
There was a list of questions he had for him, but they’d have to
wait.

“First, how did that transmission cross that
distance in one day?” Minh asked.

“The Triton has a stable quantum
entanglement communications system somewhere onboard. Most likely
inside the dormant computer core.”

“No one has been able to build a stable
Q.E.C.S. but they’ve started rolling them off the assembly line on
Earth?”

“I realise most QECS are sold as novelties
and scams in the galaxy, but yes, Earth has mastered the
technology. Sadly, they used it to say farewell, so I won’t be
returning for at least a generation.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Minh said. “But
I’m hoping you remain here. You are needed.”

“I know,” Liam replied. He thought a moment,
aware that Minh was watching him. “I’ll decide whether I’m staying
after the Triton is reactivated and I’ve completed a check of her
systems. I’ll make sure there’s a good replacement if I leave.”

“What did they have to say about the
Triton?”

“It has been released. If they were able to
connect to the QECS, then they know who has the codes, where the
Triton is, and what condition she’s in. The fact that they can
contact it at all tells me that her core computer is activating.
The Triton’s software is updating, and she’s almost ready to come
back to life. I checked Ashley’s comm. Nothing has changed, she
still has valid command codes. Whether it’s just a way for the
Triton to continue collecting data about us, or they like the fact
that Ashley has command codes for some other reason doesn’t matter.
She has top level command codes, and the power to transfer command
to someone else using the Triton’s main computer.”

“You didn’t tell us that when you looked at
the codes last night,” Minh said, shaking his finger at Liam
playfully.

Liam couldn’t help but laugh at the younger
man’s antics. “You’re the first I’ve told. I’m sharing this with
you because it’s a gift. I want you to tell Ashley yourself.”

Minh sat back in his seat, his reaction was
difficult to read. “Why?”

“There is something about her that
challenges everything you are in the best of ways, and it’s never
happened to you before. At the same time, I believe you respect
her, perhaps put her up on a pedestal. That brings all your
insecurities to the surface when you meet her.”

“Yup, she melts my brain,” Minh agreed.

“It’s time for you to speak to her with real
respect, as a person you should know, and destroy the infatuation
that’s been building, whether you’re aware of it or not, so there
might be something else. I’m giving you this secret to share with
her until she decides who should be in command of the Triton.”

“You’re either a wonderful man or deeply
evil,” Minh said, shaking his head.

“No one is purely one or the other,” Liam
replied. “You will have to help her make this decision, perhaps
you’ll have to do it as Ronin, Wing Commander of Samurai Squadron
at first, but I know you’ll lead her to the correct decision.”

Minh shook his head rapidly and sighed. “I
don’t know how this’ll turn out, so I’ll say thank you for now, but
I reserve the right to amend that later.”

“Understood,” Liam said with a smile. “Next
question.”

“Right,” Minh said. “Oh Swami, does the QECS
still work?”

“Yes, but it’s not connected to Earth any
longer, they’ve shut their end down,” Liam replied. “I don’t know
if it’s connected to anyone else.”

“All right,” Minh said. He pondered
something a moment before going on. “So Ashley might not be stuck
on the Triton like she thought and Sol Defence has released the
Triton. The computer core is already waking up, there’s a QECS on
board that could be linked to other ships or planets, and you enjoy
torturing me for my own good. Did I get everything?”

Liam laughed and nodded. “Yes, you did.” He
paused a moment and leaned forward, speaking more seriously. “You
shouldn’t let Ashley tell you to make her choices for her over the
next day. Lead her to the decision that feels right to her.”

“You already know what she’ll decide,” Minh
said.

“I have more than a fair idea.”

“We also have to watch for Larry, the agent
aboard. There was nothing about him in the message I received, so
I’m led to assume that Sol Defence isn’t willing to share
information about him to my friend on Earth, or they are unaware of
him.”

“He gave Ashley the code she has, so he
might be able to interfere,” Minh concluded.

“It’s possible,” Liam agreed.

“If he does?”

“Your people need this ship and will use it
well,” Liam said. “Prevent him from taking control, even if it
means killing him.”

* * *

The information Minh collected felt like a
weight across his shoulders. He didn’t regret any part of his
conversation with Liam Grady, but he couldn’t tell if he was being
examined, taught, admired, or all three during the encounter.
Making his way through the busy corridors of the Samson, past
welders, electricians and countless grunts, he ran everything he
learned over and over in his mind.

People called him a Zen master, a commander,
and a mentor, and it all felt a little foolish all of a sudden. He
understood why Liam made such a massive impression on everyone he
spoke to, and wished he could continue talking to the man for
several days. There was so much to learn, so much to experience,
and with a guide like him to enrich it all, life could only be
better, or at least more interesting.

He finally reached an external hatch and
made his way to the bottom of the severely tilted gangway. The
hangar was well lit, beyond the main doors was the long night,
decorated by the lights of ships in the sky and people wearing lit
vacsuits of many colours.

Ashley was near the middle of the huge
hangar, in the cantina that was just a large collection of folding
chairs, tables, and a few makeshift food prep counters. Minh used
his comm unit to zoom in on her and Zoe. She was holding the
laughing toddler upside down, gently shaking her up and down
saying, “Oh my gosh! She’s all fulla giggles! I’ve gotta get ‘em
out!” Panloo stood by, her squeaky laughter only adding to the
mirth of the scene.

Minh-Chu smiled to himself, remembering when
he finally became social enough to meet his nieces and nephews. It
didn’t take long for him to enjoy having them around just as much.
He decided to wait until Ashley’s visit with Zoe was over before
sharing the weight of the new information he’d gained with her.
Jason wouldn’t wait, however, and he started walking back to the
Clever Dream to face the interrogation, deleting the recording of
his conversation with Liam Grady along the way.

“Good morning, Ayan,” Lewis said as she
emerged from the shower into the captain’s cabin. The Clever Dream
had no problem providing purified water for her and the other
officers to take a shower every day, but she only took one when she
needed cheering up in the morning. The water was soothing, and the
full body air-drying inside the shower cubicle was
invigorating.

“Now that’s civilisation,” Ayan said. “Good
morning, Lewis.”

“I can’t see how a thorough cleaning is
civilisation in itself,” Lewis said.

“I guess I mean that it’s a part of a highly
civilised lifestyle,” Ayan said. “Can you add it to the document I
started last night?”

“The Shoreline Project?”

“Yes, I’d like to add the specifications of
your water closet to the bathrooms in the main settlement.”

“The water requirements will rise
dramatically,” Lewis said. “They would have to go on ration and use
the vibro cleaning features on some days if water conditions
surrounding the island aren’t ideal.”

“I know,” Ayan said, pulling the feet of her
heaviest vacsuit on. It was the underlay of the armour she wore in
the Ossimi ring. She decided to leave the outer suit white, and
change the horizontal strips of the overlay to black. “But I’m sure
once the purification systems are up and running, everyone will be
able to start their day the same way I just did.”

“I’ve added it,” Lewis said. “I have to say,
I was surprised when you started such an ambitious project late
last evening, and I’m impressed. Any humanoid would be lucky to
live in what you have designed so far.”