Many of the smaller planetoids and larger asteroids also housed installations and there were thousands of them scattered around most of the outer rim. Most are abandoned and remained so with only the foolhardy who attempt every few generations to lay claim and try to revitalize them. A rare few succeed and of these were the 10,000 inhabitants of Liberty Station orbiting a large rock of solid gold.
The value of gold in all of human history would pale in comparison to the 10 million metric tons of pure gold that Liberty Station orbits every 90 minutes. One could scoop up several pounds of gold dust with ease, but the gold has little value and the inhabitants make a living mining other nearby rock for mineral ores.
All of these values made Liberty Station the ideal candidate and was carried across to Alpha Centauri to help begin preparations for the largest mining operation in history.
And on a station so seemingly insignificant in size hosted a chapter of sister marines who were loyal to Naoka. Naoka's mother was born on Liberty Station and several of her daughters have at one point or another served for a time there. A boring space rock whose only saving grace is a fully stocked bar and a delicious spicy pickle delicacy. Arlen imports several colored varietals and served it as a garnish for some of his dishes. It was an unusual connection that he first shared with Pei when on Triton.
To the chagrin of the many senior Proto-Artesians and Neo-Artesians at the peace summit, the concern of the pending loss of the Liberty pickles was made an actual amendment to the charter signed by everyone in attendance and provisions made to ensure that all 11 varietals were preserved with half of the known skilled masters, mostly elderly women transferred to the nearest suitable home on Enok Station.
Liberty Station was tethered using a long cable measuring several miles in length and moored to the right side of the Grand Traveler. The station rested parallel to the ship and was hurtled through space time and placed into orbit around Proxima B. The Libertarians wasted no time in establishing their new home and ventured to the surface already teeming with thousands of scientists, explorers, a large contingent of soldiers and sister marines.
The initial estimates it would take about a year to find suitable sites and within a few more months yield enough ore to produce a dozen new starships. The operations would continue to expand and there was aspirations to produce hundreds if not thousands of new ships each year.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Chapter 59 - Worlds End
The Worlds End is the famed bar resting nestled in the top eight floors of the tallest tower jutting out of Triton station. It enjoys a captivating view of the largest city on Triton station as well as the main space docks and the emptiness of space.
Kallos invited me for a drink as we had heard stories of the place from his father and seized the opportunity to pay a visit. Pei had taken leave and given birth to a daughter named after her older sister Zhao-Yi. The birth was sanctioned and recorded by her mother on Io Station. She would remain with their daughter for 3 years as was custom of the sister marines then resume her duties.
Pei confided in me before she left for Io that she would not be returning to the Grand Traveler and would focus on training her daughter. The first descendant of Karl Knutmudsen destined to become a sister marine. Madam Naoka's dream was achieved and madam Sophia congratulated her. She would love and care for her husband Kallos, but from a distance as her priorities was now with their daughter.
We laughed that he had become his father and the itinerant life of a sailor was befitting and prescient. His mother was also a sister and as soon as she bore a son, she left and remained nameless. As a young child he yearned to know her face, in time he buried those feelings. He never felt alone as he always had the presence of the sisters and became familiar with them as soon as he was 6. It was when he first met Pei and they played in the tunnels.
He never told me until now that he knew Pei was watching over them in the tunnels. He was familiar with her presence and the faint fragrance of her hair. It was when he was holding me that he felt her movement and knew she was upset when Pei led them to the exit. Pei was too young, they were all too young, but the sisters had planned this encounter and she broke their rules and was severely reprimanded.
There is a battle still raging between Io Station and Mars, between the two dueling madams Naoka and Sophia. The descendants of Olivia made their choice, while Naoka in her daughter overruled centuries of tradition. To their surprise it was Anna Three who seemed fated to always intervene on Pei's behalf who vetoed their decision. The rogue sisters had never done that before for anyone and was the first of many conversations that Sophia and Anna Three would share, many centered around Pei.
His head was spinning as the intrigue, counter-intrigue and subterfuge added for good measure made each action taken by the sisters, merely a ruse for yet another greater action that in turn was yet another. I agreed and felt at times it was pure chaos that they let run wild, but somehow could steer in the general direction they so chose.
We talked of both my sister Enya and now our half-sister Felicia who were recently graduated. Enya stationed on Ganymede and Felicia to the Capital Domes. Felicia became the personal assistant of madam Sophia and not permitted to complete the final traditions of the sister marines, penance for her prior crimes. Sophia found it more useful to have her skilled and accomplished as a sister marine, but not known as one.
We overlooked two levels below shrouded by crystal chandeliers Captain Gregor with the Gustafson's. Yuna joined us at our seating, half drunk on the strong Triton liquor. She made a noise as she finished the bottom of her tankard and the Omni-10 in blue stripes cut her off from any more drink.
She commented that she could still disassemble the poor robot and rewire its logical circuits in her current state. The Omni-10 to its credit stood fast and refused her another drink. Yuna surrendered resting her head on her folded arms.
Kallos invited me for a drink as we had heard stories of the place from his father and seized the opportunity to pay a visit. Pei had taken leave and given birth to a daughter named after her older sister Zhao-Yi. The birth was sanctioned and recorded by her mother on Io Station. She would remain with their daughter for 3 years as was custom of the sister marines then resume her duties.
Pei confided in me before she left for Io that she would not be returning to the Grand Traveler and would focus on training her daughter. The first descendant of Karl Knutmudsen destined to become a sister marine. Madam Naoka's dream was achieved and madam Sophia congratulated her. She would love and care for her husband Kallos, but from a distance as her priorities was now with their daughter.
We laughed that he had become his father and the itinerant life of a sailor was befitting and prescient. His mother was also a sister and as soon as she bore a son, she left and remained nameless. As a young child he yearned to know her face, in time he buried those feelings. He never felt alone as he always had the presence of the sisters and became familiar with them as soon as he was 6. It was when he first met Pei and they played in the tunnels.
He never told me until now that he knew Pei was watching over them in the tunnels. He was familiar with her presence and the faint fragrance of her hair. It was when he was holding me that he felt her movement and knew she was upset when Pei led them to the exit. Pei was too young, they were all too young, but the sisters had planned this encounter and she broke their rules and was severely reprimanded.
There is a battle still raging between Io Station and Mars, between the two dueling madams Naoka and Sophia. The descendants of Olivia made their choice, while Naoka in her daughter overruled centuries of tradition. To their surprise it was Anna Three who seemed fated to always intervene on Pei's behalf who vetoed their decision. The rogue sisters had never done that before for anyone and was the first of many conversations that Sophia and Anna Three would share, many centered around Pei.
His head was spinning as the intrigue, counter-intrigue and subterfuge added for good measure made each action taken by the sisters, merely a ruse for yet another greater action that in turn was yet another. I agreed and felt at times it was pure chaos that they let run wild, but somehow could steer in the general direction they so chose.
We talked of both my sister Enya and now our half-sister Felicia who were recently graduated. Enya stationed on Ganymede and Felicia to the Capital Domes. Felicia became the personal assistant of madam Sophia and not permitted to complete the final traditions of the sister marines, penance for her prior crimes. Sophia found it more useful to have her skilled and accomplished as a sister marine, but not known as one.
We overlooked two levels below shrouded by crystal chandeliers Captain Gregor with the Gustafson's. Yuna joined us at our seating, half drunk on the strong Triton liquor. She made a noise as she finished the bottom of her tankard and the Omni-10 in blue stripes cut her off from any more drink.
She commented that she could still disassemble the poor robot and rewire its logical circuits in her current state. The Omni-10 to its credit stood fast and refused her another drink. Yuna surrendered resting her head on her folded arms.
Chapter 58 - Triton Station
The unusual orbit of the moon of Triton in retrograde around Neptune afforded it special prominence during the early colonization of the solar system. The hulking remnants of a massive space installation sat counterpoint and rivaled the size of the largest of the planetary stations orbiting Io. It's incredible size stretched around as a thin metal ring measuring a few miles in diameter at its greatest apex to only a few meters in other parts that spanned the full perimeter of Triton.
It was presumed that Triton station was meant to be a staging area for future explorations of space and a partially built foundry and shipyards were found drifting near the main station structures. The carcass of a dead ocean behemoth was also found silently standing guard and none could fathom the purpose of bringing a metal whale this far out into space.
Mars was the main focus of colonization due to is obvious abundance of building materials and by distance each of the nearest major stations, but Triton was given special priority and grew to over a million colonists within a generation. Those who once lived there did not attempt to prolong their existence and much of the original foundations and components remained intact, while on other stations they had to disassemble centuries of re purposing and raw ingenuity.
By some unknown accord the descendants of Anna established the sisters compound on Triton and with Olivia's passing a few decades later, her daughters formed a home on the Martian Capital Domes. This accord remained intact for a century until the emergence of the Proto-Artesians who first appeared on Triton and fanned out across the outer rim. By the current era as many as 1/3 of all humanity were adherents and they chafed in their opinion under the oppression of the conservative faction.
Many of the larger stations and colonies maintained elevated levels of artificial gravity to simulate Earth, but most were at ratios slightly below 1 G. Triton was the rare exception that maintained slightly higher levels with some parts of the ring of stations orbiting the moon as high as 1.3 G. This created a hardier stock and of their numbers the feared berzerkers of the Proto-Artesian fleet.
Much of the outer rim fleets were divided between Io and Triton, with the greatest of their ships making port at Triton. The most legend of these was the Charon, and the rival of the Grand Traveler who crippled her during their last encounter during the Battle of the Saturn Moons. Unlike most other starships, the Charon was built for war and one of the oldest. After her creation along with her sister ship the Meteor, all subsequent vessels were designed for exploration. The Pacific foundries were programmed to run in a cycle and had reached near the end of a string of ship models that included the Charon and Meteor before repeating a new sequence.
The Charon's hull was eight times thick and bristled with heavier armament than found on the Grand Traveler. It's only flaw was its lack of maneuverability and speed. The previous Captain of the Grand Traveler succeeded in saving her by outflanking and disabling the Charon's engines with its final salvo before hurtling back to Io. The lack of operable weapons spared her from future encounters.
Captain Gregor intentionally docked besides the Charon when making port at Triton. The two hulking ships stood in contrast with the equally menacing Meteor docked across from the Charon. All three Captains were convening to discuss attempting an unusual maneuver to catapult several star ships tethered to the Grand Traveler upon its next trip to Alpha Centauri.
The technique had been perfected after several previous trips and a small station was orbiting Proxima B manned by ten thousand souls who were preparing for major mining operations on the surface. As part of the peace summit, the Proto-Artesians were granted the privilege of sending several star ships to Alpha Centauri to serve as independent monitors and assist in surveying the planet.
Kallos was now the navigator having completed his training and with the rush of expansion to Alpha Centauri many of the more experienced hands were already being drawn up in record numbers to other star ships in anticipation for the creation of the first new star ships from the foundries in over three centuries.
Captain Wolf Gustafson of the Charon and Gregor shared a few rounds and speculated that their once revered ships would soon be old relics as the glistening new ships that will soon emerge would outstrip them. They jostled at a chance for one last duel between the two old ladies and reckoned it be fitting they take place around Titan. Both students of history, Captain Wolf confirmed he was a distant relative of the old Generals of Onion City, from his son Sigmund, but by a daughter and his family recently took on the Gustafson name a few generations prior. His great-grandfather Captain Gustavus was an admirer of Wolf Gustafson.
To think a Gustafson was sitting across from a descendant of Karl Knutmudsen, staring into the emptiness of deep space on Triton. Wolf's elder sister Louise was the Captain of the Meteor. It had become a family tradition with Gustafson's now commanding both famed ships and their father the Admiral of the outer rim fleets. Stranger still as none of them are adherents of the Proto-Artesian nor Neo-Artesian faiths.
Gustafson's were never one to hold much reverence and dutifully adhere only to the principles of war. As such both factions hand picked the Gustafson's unanimously to be the independent monitors on Alpha Centauri.
A woman of modest height and slightly stocky build embraced her brother and introduced herself as Louise Gustafson. Barely 4 feet in stature, she was still imposing and gripped Gregor's hand that brought a smile to his face. He was smitten by Louise and not met a woman like her. Wolf recognized this and let out a loud laugh and warned his sister's choice of men would be more to Gregor's taste.
Suspicious by nature, Louise wondered out aloud this was a rather convenient way to take two of the greatest warships of the outer rim fleets and place them light years away to be trapped forever around an alien planet. Indeed, this was an accusation raised by several prominent Proto-Artesian leaders and the compromise was made that the Grand Traveler would share command between Captain Gregor and one of the Gustafson's.
Louise and Wolf had convened on this and agreed their cousin Sigmund would take command of the Meteor. He had served for several years with Louise and was familiar with their ship. Most of the Grand Traveler's core crew were Proto-Artesian and the Neo-Artesian faction other than Gregor and Kallos' father were limited to the sister marines and soldiers.
Gregor commented that she had already met with Chief Engineer Yuna and she was the most fervent loyalists of the Proto-Artesians and he trusted her above most of the crew. Yuna was born and raised on Triton and still had some of the berzerker blood. Louise liked Yuna and her presence onboard the Grand Traveler was welcomed.
It was presumed that Triton station was meant to be a staging area for future explorations of space and a partially built foundry and shipyards were found drifting near the main station structures. The carcass of a dead ocean behemoth was also found silently standing guard and none could fathom the purpose of bringing a metal whale this far out into space.
Mars was the main focus of colonization due to is obvious abundance of building materials and by distance each of the nearest major stations, but Triton was given special priority and grew to over a million colonists within a generation. Those who once lived there did not attempt to prolong their existence and much of the original foundations and components remained intact, while on other stations they had to disassemble centuries of re purposing and raw ingenuity.
By some unknown accord the descendants of Anna established the sisters compound on Triton and with Olivia's passing a few decades later, her daughters formed a home on the Martian Capital Domes. This accord remained intact for a century until the emergence of the Proto-Artesians who first appeared on Triton and fanned out across the outer rim. By the current era as many as 1/3 of all humanity were adherents and they chafed in their opinion under the oppression of the conservative faction.
Many of the larger stations and colonies maintained elevated levels of artificial gravity to simulate Earth, but most were at ratios slightly below 1 G. Triton was the rare exception that maintained slightly higher levels with some parts of the ring of stations orbiting the moon as high as 1.3 G. This created a hardier stock and of their numbers the feared berzerkers of the Proto-Artesian fleet.
Much of the outer rim fleets were divided between Io and Triton, with the greatest of their ships making port at Triton. The most legend of these was the Charon, and the rival of the Grand Traveler who crippled her during their last encounter during the Battle of the Saturn Moons. Unlike most other starships, the Charon was built for war and one of the oldest. After her creation along with her sister ship the Meteor, all subsequent vessels were designed for exploration. The Pacific foundries were programmed to run in a cycle and had reached near the end of a string of ship models that included the Charon and Meteor before repeating a new sequence.
The Charon's hull was eight times thick and bristled with heavier armament than found on the Grand Traveler. It's only flaw was its lack of maneuverability and speed. The previous Captain of the Grand Traveler succeeded in saving her by outflanking and disabling the Charon's engines with its final salvo before hurtling back to Io. The lack of operable weapons spared her from future encounters.
Captain Gregor intentionally docked besides the Charon when making port at Triton. The two hulking ships stood in contrast with the equally menacing Meteor docked across from the Charon. All three Captains were convening to discuss attempting an unusual maneuver to catapult several star ships tethered to the Grand Traveler upon its next trip to Alpha Centauri.
The technique had been perfected after several previous trips and a small station was orbiting Proxima B manned by ten thousand souls who were preparing for major mining operations on the surface. As part of the peace summit, the Proto-Artesians were granted the privilege of sending several star ships to Alpha Centauri to serve as independent monitors and assist in surveying the planet.
Kallos was now the navigator having completed his training and with the rush of expansion to Alpha Centauri many of the more experienced hands were already being drawn up in record numbers to other star ships in anticipation for the creation of the first new star ships from the foundries in over three centuries.
Captain Wolf Gustafson of the Charon and Gregor shared a few rounds and speculated that their once revered ships would soon be old relics as the glistening new ships that will soon emerge would outstrip them. They jostled at a chance for one last duel between the two old ladies and reckoned it be fitting they take place around Titan. Both students of history, Captain Wolf confirmed he was a distant relative of the old Generals of Onion City, from his son Sigmund, but by a daughter and his family recently took on the Gustafson name a few generations prior. His great-grandfather Captain Gustavus was an admirer of Wolf Gustafson.
To think a Gustafson was sitting across from a descendant of Karl Knutmudsen, staring into the emptiness of deep space on Triton. Wolf's elder sister Louise was the Captain of the Meteor. It had become a family tradition with Gustafson's now commanding both famed ships and their father the Admiral of the outer rim fleets. Stranger still as none of them are adherents of the Proto-Artesian nor Neo-Artesian faiths.
Gustafson's were never one to hold much reverence and dutifully adhere only to the principles of war. As such both factions hand picked the Gustafson's unanimously to be the independent monitors on Alpha Centauri.
A woman of modest height and slightly stocky build embraced her brother and introduced herself as Louise Gustafson. Barely 4 feet in stature, she was still imposing and gripped Gregor's hand that brought a smile to his face. He was smitten by Louise and not met a woman like her. Wolf recognized this and let out a loud laugh and warned his sister's choice of men would be more to Gregor's taste.
Suspicious by nature, Louise wondered out aloud this was a rather convenient way to take two of the greatest warships of the outer rim fleets and place them light years away to be trapped forever around an alien planet. Indeed, this was an accusation raised by several prominent Proto-Artesian leaders and the compromise was made that the Grand Traveler would share command between Captain Gregor and one of the Gustafson's.
Louise and Wolf had convened on this and agreed their cousin Sigmund would take command of the Meteor. He had served for several years with Louise and was familiar with their ship. Most of the Grand Traveler's core crew were Proto-Artesian and the Neo-Artesian faction other than Gregor and Kallos' father were limited to the sister marines and soldiers.
Gregor commented that she had already met with Chief Engineer Yuna and she was the most fervent loyalists of the Proto-Artesians and he trusted her above most of the crew. Yuna was born and raised on Triton and still had some of the berzerker blood. Louise liked Yuna and her presence onboard the Grand Traveler was welcomed.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Chapter 57 - Naoka Linst
Naoka Linst was an only child of a sister marine. Her mother was the first of her family to join the sisters and served with distinction earning her daughter the privilege of joining when she was 3. Naoka exceeded all expectations and was accepted by the madam of Io Station as her personal guardian. She became well known as a skilled assassin and rumored to have eliminated over a hundred targets during her brief career before she was elevated to the rank of madam by her predecessor's sudden death.
She married the only son of her predecessor and had seven daughters, the youngest two Mei and Pei. To her dismay, her madam was also of no notable bloodline and this earned her ire as she yearned to be accepted among the elite of the sisters who all could establish a connection to Anna or Olivia.
Sophia was well acquainted with madam Naoka as her first mission was to Io Station to retrieve the child of sister Marina from an illicit affair. Marina was punished for the birth of Felicia that was non-sanctioned. She was placed in the care of Naoka along with two other girls from different mothers and in total five heirs of Olivia.
Sophia made it known to Naoka she knew exactly her obsession and placed all the hidden heirs in her charge. She had no secret ploy. If she so desired to end all the old bloodlines, she had them within arms reach.
Naoka seethed at such an accusation, but accepted the five girls and placed them with each of her five eldest daughters. For being found wanting, she accepted the sacrifice of her youngest daughter Pei who she sent on a suicide mission to Triton. Anna Three felt insulted by her sending a novice and exacted her own price with the death of two of her older daughters.
In exchange for the executions, Sophia granted Anna Three what the Proto-Artesians had long desired, the cybernetic brain of a devil beetle. It was the Proto-Artesians goal to awaken a fully sentient life form and from their interpretations of the texts of the Ancients they believed their ancestors were on the verge of imbuing the essence and memories of a long dead Alpha Centauri into a mechanical automaton.
They found the near dead creature buried deep within Proxima Centauri B, in the final throes of the viral disease and kept alive through suspended animation. Our ancestors locked eyes and a billion years passed in an instant. The sheer audacity as they severed the head and then preserved it in a biomechanical gel.
In time they were able to recreate and clone the alien brain for every individual neuron synapses and produce the hundreds of copies that reside in each of the devil beetles. All were considered imperfect, except for the original and through the work of their founder Edgar he was able to identify the correct beetle.
Through wars and intrigue Edgar's computer brain as he described it was stolen by the sisters and carried on the first starships. Olivia brought it with her to Alpha Centauri, but decided against leaving it there as she predicted correctly mankind would return to the dead planet. She entrusted it to a relatively unknown sister Rebecca Linst on Io Station and whose dynasty by default became madams without claim to any bloodline.
In their folly a descendant of Linst took on Naoka as a protege and later her daughter by marriage to entrust her the location of the cybernetic brain. And as a bargaining chip Naoka later surrendered it to Sophia to spare some of her daughters. Linst had warned never to reveal it to a descendant of Olivia as her ancestors were warned by Olivia herself to destroy it rather than let it eventually fall back in the hands of the Proto-Artesians who wish to bring about the return of the Alpha Centaurians.
The old tomes that Olivia gathered from an extinct sect known as the Ancients detailed mankinds obsession with reincarnating an Alpha Centauri and they nearly succeeded. Their woeful lack of skill and understanding of their technology required producing behemoths the size of tall skyscrapers to house and sustain the artificial copies of the alien brain. A war broke out between various factions, many who opposed awakening a creature who looked down upon man as inferior and wanted to annihilate us, but a rarefied few who controlled most of the government were optimistic as they championed the existence of that one sympathetic System Lord, for reasons unclear saved mankind.
On the eve of mankind's awakening of the computer brain, many chose to flee and were shot down in great number by the automatic programming of the devil beetles. Those who had already traveled and built the foundations of the great colonies, were left stranded and in time perished. By design they were made dependent on Earth and looked despondently towards their home that had turned its back on them and withered away.
She married the only son of her predecessor and had seven daughters, the youngest two Mei and Pei. To her dismay, her madam was also of no notable bloodline and this earned her ire as she yearned to be accepted among the elite of the sisters who all could establish a connection to Anna or Olivia.
Sophia was well acquainted with madam Naoka as her first mission was to Io Station to retrieve the child of sister Marina from an illicit affair. Marina was punished for the birth of Felicia that was non-sanctioned. She was placed in the care of Naoka along with two other girls from different mothers and in total five heirs of Olivia.
Sophia made it known to Naoka she knew exactly her obsession and placed all the hidden heirs in her charge. She had no secret ploy. If she so desired to end all the old bloodlines, she had them within arms reach.
Naoka seethed at such an accusation, but accepted the five girls and placed them with each of her five eldest daughters. For being found wanting, she accepted the sacrifice of her youngest daughter Pei who she sent on a suicide mission to Triton. Anna Three felt insulted by her sending a novice and exacted her own price with the death of two of her older daughters.
In exchange for the executions, Sophia granted Anna Three what the Proto-Artesians had long desired, the cybernetic brain of a devil beetle. It was the Proto-Artesians goal to awaken a fully sentient life form and from their interpretations of the texts of the Ancients they believed their ancestors were on the verge of imbuing the essence and memories of a long dead Alpha Centauri into a mechanical automaton.
They found the near dead creature buried deep within Proxima Centauri B, in the final throes of the viral disease and kept alive through suspended animation. Our ancestors locked eyes and a billion years passed in an instant. The sheer audacity as they severed the head and then preserved it in a biomechanical gel.
In time they were able to recreate and clone the alien brain for every individual neuron synapses and produce the hundreds of copies that reside in each of the devil beetles. All were considered imperfect, except for the original and through the work of their founder Edgar he was able to identify the correct beetle.
Through wars and intrigue Edgar's computer brain as he described it was stolen by the sisters and carried on the first starships. Olivia brought it with her to Alpha Centauri, but decided against leaving it there as she predicted correctly mankind would return to the dead planet. She entrusted it to a relatively unknown sister Rebecca Linst on Io Station and whose dynasty by default became madams without claim to any bloodline.
In their folly a descendant of Linst took on Naoka as a protege and later her daughter by marriage to entrust her the location of the cybernetic brain. And as a bargaining chip Naoka later surrendered it to Sophia to spare some of her daughters. Linst had warned never to reveal it to a descendant of Olivia as her ancestors were warned by Olivia herself to destroy it rather than let it eventually fall back in the hands of the Proto-Artesians who wish to bring about the return of the Alpha Centaurians.
The old tomes that Olivia gathered from an extinct sect known as the Ancients detailed mankinds obsession with reincarnating an Alpha Centauri and they nearly succeeded. Their woeful lack of skill and understanding of their technology required producing behemoths the size of tall skyscrapers to house and sustain the artificial copies of the alien brain. A war broke out between various factions, many who opposed awakening a creature who looked down upon man as inferior and wanted to annihilate us, but a rarefied few who controlled most of the government were optimistic as they championed the existence of that one sympathetic System Lord, for reasons unclear saved mankind.
On the eve of mankind's awakening of the computer brain, many chose to flee and were shot down in great number by the automatic programming of the devil beetles. Those who had already traveled and built the foundations of the great colonies, were left stranded and in time perished. By design they were made dependent on Earth and looked despondently towards their home that had turned its back on them and withered away.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Chapter 56 - Pei's Child
The existential crisis of discovering that there existed an abundance of advanced, sentient alien life was overwhelming. I sat on my bunk in total silence. In desperation, I clung to my old novel of the unknown teacher. It was painful to hear what Pei had learned from Andrea and the other survivors and confirmed with their translations of the ancient Alpha Centauri texts, but it was even more difficult to process when she confessed she was pregnant with Kallos' child. She didn't want to have any secrets between us.
Kallos father comforted me and he had known of his son's affair with Pei. He was disappointed and scolded him, telling him to tell me. But he is only a boy and he felt personal guilt as he had known both me since I was very little and both our families were close.
I avoided Kallos for most of the time we were stationed back on Mars. The Grand Traveler was being prepared for another trip back to Alpha Centauri with a larger crew and a team of scientists and explorers. I spent my spare time in the gardens.
Everyone gave me privacy and after several weeks, I did feel better and resumed my training with Pei. She accepted me again as her student. I told her I didn't hate her or felt wronged by what had happened and would support her relationship with Kallos.
Sophia suggested I take a holiday and visit Earth. My sister Enya was also finishing up her training and taking a short break as well. It would be good for me to go somewhere different and clear my thoughts. Enya and I could visit the ancestral home of the first sisters in the Earth Capital. Sophia would accompany me as she had official business to attend to as well.
We took another ship, a regular cargo hauler and arrived in the Earth Capital within hours. A private car arrived and a pair of sisters greeted us and took us to the sisters estate outside the Capital. It was on a peaceful vineyard and near the training academies where Enya was staying.
It was morning tea and Enya was waiting for us in an open gazebo behind the estate building. I was surprised as most of the servants and workers were humanoid robots and they served our tea and food with quick precision, no movement wasted. Enya got me up to speed on everything about her training and she was excelling beyond any of her instructors expectations, she would soon graduate and allowed to go on her first mission to the outer rim.
I was happy for her and she asked me about Kallos. I told her everything and she was disappointed, but happy for me as she felt he would always be a liability considering his heritage and madam Naoka. She was surprised to learn of Felicia and even more so my pardoning her.
Enya laughed as she had no plans or intentions of ever getting married or falling for a man. She would remain happily single and hopefully soon a full fledged sister marine. Sophia congratulated her on her progress and enthusiasm. She wished I had at least some of Enya's ambitions.
After tea, Sophia excused herself as she went to meet with the other senior sisters. Enya called for a car and took me to the city and we toured several museums and art galleries. When I told her about Alpha Centauri and what we discovered there, she was intrigued, but not surprised. The only big news that would come out of the Grand Traveler's successful voyage was the resumption of the Pacific Ocean foundries and soon thousands of new star ships.
Sophia is likely here to discuss that and prepare the sisters as both the Neo-Artesians and Proto-Artesians will begin vying for access to those new starships and a path to the stars. Some may also be shocked and dismayed that mankind are the rejects of our ancient alien ancestors, but most will not care and only focus on a bright future.
There is enough material on Proxima Centauri B to yield billions of starships. And preparations to begin mining of the rare mineral in abundance on that dead planet were being discussed. The sisters would soon convene a peace summit between the two Artesian factions to divide the galaxy between them. The northern hemisphere would go to the Neo-Artesians while the south would belong to the Proto-Artesians. Our current solar system would become neutral ground where both would agree to live peacefully side-by-side, any who disagree can soon take one of the countless starships to any new world to mold in their own ideology.
Kallos father comforted me and he had known of his son's affair with Pei. He was disappointed and scolded him, telling him to tell me. But he is only a boy and he felt personal guilt as he had known both me since I was very little and both our families were close.
I avoided Kallos for most of the time we were stationed back on Mars. The Grand Traveler was being prepared for another trip back to Alpha Centauri with a larger crew and a team of scientists and explorers. I spent my spare time in the gardens.
Everyone gave me privacy and after several weeks, I did feel better and resumed my training with Pei. She accepted me again as her student. I told her I didn't hate her or felt wronged by what had happened and would support her relationship with Kallos.
Sophia suggested I take a holiday and visit Earth. My sister Enya was also finishing up her training and taking a short break as well. It would be good for me to go somewhere different and clear my thoughts. Enya and I could visit the ancestral home of the first sisters in the Earth Capital. Sophia would accompany me as she had official business to attend to as well.
We took another ship, a regular cargo hauler and arrived in the Earth Capital within hours. A private car arrived and a pair of sisters greeted us and took us to the sisters estate outside the Capital. It was on a peaceful vineyard and near the training academies where Enya was staying.
It was morning tea and Enya was waiting for us in an open gazebo behind the estate building. I was surprised as most of the servants and workers were humanoid robots and they served our tea and food with quick precision, no movement wasted. Enya got me up to speed on everything about her training and she was excelling beyond any of her instructors expectations, she would soon graduate and allowed to go on her first mission to the outer rim.
I was happy for her and she asked me about Kallos. I told her everything and she was disappointed, but happy for me as she felt he would always be a liability considering his heritage and madam Naoka. She was surprised to learn of Felicia and even more so my pardoning her.
Enya laughed as she had no plans or intentions of ever getting married or falling for a man. She would remain happily single and hopefully soon a full fledged sister marine. Sophia congratulated her on her progress and enthusiasm. She wished I had at least some of Enya's ambitions.
After tea, Sophia excused herself as she went to meet with the other senior sisters. Enya called for a car and took me to the city and we toured several museums and art galleries. When I told her about Alpha Centauri and what we discovered there, she was intrigued, but not surprised. The only big news that would come out of the Grand Traveler's successful voyage was the resumption of the Pacific Ocean foundries and soon thousands of new star ships.
Sophia is likely here to discuss that and prepare the sisters as both the Neo-Artesians and Proto-Artesians will begin vying for access to those new starships and a path to the stars. Some may also be shocked and dismayed that mankind are the rejects of our ancient alien ancestors, but most will not care and only focus on a bright future.
There is enough material on Proxima Centauri B to yield billions of starships. And preparations to begin mining of the rare mineral in abundance on that dead planet were being discussed. The sisters would soon convene a peace summit between the two Artesian factions to divide the galaxy between them. The northern hemisphere would go to the Neo-Artesians while the south would belong to the Proto-Artesians. Our current solar system would become neutral ground where both would agree to live peacefully side-by-side, any who disagree can soon take one of the countless starships to any new world to mold in their own ideology.
Chapter 55 - Proxima Centauri B
Three hundred and seven years ago, the Grand Traveler made its maiden voyage to Alpha Centauri. It was a test of its star drives and they worked perfectly, hurtling the ship and its crew safely across deep space in mere seconds what would take several years for light to travel. The technology of the star drive was a mystery and the best our scientists could surmise the ship didn't actually move, but the star drive somehow would bend space and time between the ship and its final destination like the folding of a piece of paper onto itself. The ship would then be nudged forward and it would have made the leap almost instantly.
What madam Olivia and the sisters who first manned the Grand Traveler discovered was what Pei had thought was rumor. They found a habitable planet similar to Earth, but in considerable decay and full of ancient ruins. They also found evidence of previous human space travel and they had established a small outpost on the planetary surface to excavate and study the alien technology.
It was as if mankind was looking at a fun house mirror when they studied the ancient aliens of Alpha Centauri who looked much like us and in time as they began to decipher the ancient languages they grew with increasing angst that they were looking at themselves.
A large crater was gouged out of one of the continents of the dead planet and it was made by man. The sisters then understood that the massive space rock that was excavated was brought back to Earth and was the missing substance used by the Pacific Ocean foundries to build the thousand ships. The path to the stars rested in the graves of our oldest of ancestors.
A small group of sister marines remained on Alpha Centauri while Olivia and the others returned to Earth and never made mention and forbid any future deep space travel, that became interpreted as an inoperable star drive.
Sophia began sharing this with Pei and myself as she wanted to prepare us for the eventual return of the Grand Traveler to Alpha Centauri. She gave us the old journals of madam Olivia and everything they cataloged. It is likely there are descendants of those few sister marines who remained. Even Olivia never shared why she chose to leave a dozen of her sisters on Proxima Centauri B who repaired and restarted the ancient human outpost. Sophia believed she left them to form a colony as a sort of insurance policy if mankind finally failed in its new frontier as shortly after the inner and outer rim colonists began their petty wars.
What is known, at least one of those sister marines was a descendant of Olivia and likely Ninya's own child Maria. So Olivia must have had good reason and belief that such a small colony had a good chance of thriving on that dead planet. It was something worth discovering for ourselves and in a few days time the Grand Traveler would make its new maiden voyage.
Captain Gregor and Kallos father spent most of the time checking everything and plotting their course. They estimated that if things were to fail the Grand Traveler could return at near light speed and would take about ten years to get back to our solar system, but by then nearly everyone onboard would have perished from lack of air, food and water. Yuna programmed the ship's computers with this doomsday scenario and they accepted only volunteers of the original crew that dwindled to thirty strong. They were at first hesitant to allow Kallos and I to accompany them, but with much cajoling they relented and Pei would follow as she reminded me I still had my training to fulfill.
The fateful day arrived and the Grand Traveler positioned itself in orbit around Mars and pointed its nose towards Alpha Centauri. Yuna made several last minute checks of the systems and they fired up the star drives. In an instant the stars seemed to stream towards us as we peered through the screens on the ships bridge and saw everything pass by us at great speed. It didn't feel like we stepped from one side of a sheet of a paper or another, the ship felt like it was moving as such phenomenal speeds.
And as quickly as it happened, we all let out a gasp as we were in orbit around Alpha Centauri and could see the binary stars with Proxima Centuari B in orbit. The ships sensors began detecting several objects and as Sophia had prepared us for were the remnants of old stations and dead satellites.
Gregor had the ship come closer and orbit around the planet and continue to scan the surface as it picked up the ruins of great cities, roads and it picked up a faint, but active beacon from the human outpost on the southern continent. Yuna translated the message repeating in the beacon and it was in old English. This shocked most of the crew to hear the words of our own ancestors speaking to us from an alien planet.
Kallos and I accompanied the Captain and several of the crew in a shuttle. We docked with the outpost whose lights had long since dimmed, but there was movement and we were all floored as people greeted us on the landing pad. There were seven survivors, all shabbily dressed in tattered uniforms that Pei recognized having old insignia of the sister marines. The leader of the survivors Andrea welcomed us and shared their origin story of how everything came to be. The original colony at first was prosperous and grew to several hundred inhabitants, but a few years before our arrival a terrible storm destroyed most of their food sources and many died from starvation or from the infighting that erupted over the last remaining supplies. It was a very dark time and in desperation some resorted to cannibalism.
The survivors were divided into two tribes. Andrea and her sisters remained on the outpost and periodically fended off the larger group of about thirty members who moved to a nearby ruined city and were the ones who embraced and practiced cannibalism. They tearfully had lost an eighth member only a few weeks prior who was dragged away during another of their raids.
Pei embraced Andrea and she brightened up realizing they were both sisters. They went away to speak as Captain Gregor decided to send the shuttle back to the ship to ferry over supplies and re-establish the outpost by repairing the power generators and weapons systems. He sent both Kallos and I back to the ship as he prepared for a fight.
Andrea confided in Pei that what she had shared was true and then told the rest of their groups story. Olivia had left the sister marines with the plans of soon returning. They were to continue exploring and learning more about our past. The sister marines anticipated leaving in less than a year. After several years had passed, most felt betrayed by madam Olivia. They accepted their fate that they were permanently stranded and began making a home.
For generations they lived mostly on the outpost and ventured only a few hundred miles. About a hundred years before our arrival they discovered an ancient library and were able to decipher the Alpha Centauri language and learned of a billion years of our ancestors history. They were a long lived race who had already populated the stars and visited other galaxies. Their numbers exceeded the trillions upon trillions and they had ships larger than giant moons zipping about, but then everything collapsed and went silent.
A disease, a virus of unknown origin began to spread through the entire Alpha Centauri race and in time nearly all succumbed to it and died. The virus prevented them from having children and with all their advance technology, nothing could prevent their eventual extinction. In their waning days as their galaxy spanning civilization collapsed, they discovered a rare few individuals were resistant and immune to the disease. But these individuals were considered inferior and by all measures stupid.
Our ancestors felt whatever gods may have existed were mocking them as the most lowliest of low of their race would inherit the greatest of their achievements. In their anger, the Alpha Centauri's planned to kill off even these rare few than tarnish their legacy that no one would be around to ever care or know about. A sympathetic System Lord in another remote star system rescued a few of those survivors and sent them to Earth. It was then realized that the entire planet of Proxima Centauri B was one of those giant ancient starships, long since going silent and rotting from within.
Proxima Centauri B had served as a sort of staging platform as those Alpha Centauri loyal to the System Lord prepared the simpleton survivors for their future existence on Earth. They sent the survivors in waves spanning thousands of years until the last of their kind died out.
Proxima Centauri B had served as a sort of staging platform as those Alpha Centauri loyal to the System Lord prepared the simpleton survivors for their future existence on Earth. They sent the survivors in waves spanning thousands of years until the last of their kind died out.
It was painful to discover the true origin of our past and the utter disdain and hatred of our ancestors for mankind. And by some instinct Olivia abandoning deep space travel was to protect us from learning this awful truth.
After a brief discussion with Captain Gregor. Pei convinced him to abandon the outpost and take Andrea and the six survivors back with us to Mars. We left several years worth of provisions and supplies and messages for the other survivors that we would return for them.
Chapter 54 - Event Horizon
Mei arrived on Mars with her charge a younger girl of 12 named Felicia. We were introduced and Pei shared that we were both descendants of Olivia. Mei shortly after took Felicia to visit the sisters compound where she was initiated in her heritage by madam Sophia.
Pei and Mei went off on their own to Himetsu and left me alone in the Capital Domes. I relished the opportunity to stroll through the central gardens and admire the hundred foot high water fountains. The gardens were at least a square mile in size and considered a waste of prime land that could be used to grow high yield crops, instead of flowers and terraced landscapes.
I found myself getting lost within the gardens and stopped by one of the many fish ponds to admire the colorful koi fish. Crumpling up a cookie I had saved, I fed the eager fish and watched as a flock of geese and mallard ducks floated by. It was a picture of serenity and I could find myself wanting to remain there.
My ears pricked up, and I could sense someone's presence behind me. Adrenaline began rushing and coursing as my heart began to pump faster. My pulse quickened and I steadied myself. As if by instinct and from Pei's training, I raised one fist up to my ear and felt the sharp noose choke around my neck. I struggled for a few moments and broke free.
Whoever was attempting to strangle me, lacked the strength, but her technique was apparent of a sister marine. I was gasping for air as I turned to confront my unknown assailant and in the haze of my eyes I made out a feminine figure, shorter than I, but only a shadow. The failure, must have startled her as she quickly fled, not realizing I would soon faint and pass out on the ground.
Pei found me and said I was very fortunate. She scolded her sister Mei and said it was Felicia who tried to kill me. Felicia was my half-sister and by tradition one of us would have to die. Both Pei and Mei were observing me in the gardens. They did not intervene when I was attacked and I furiously asked why, was this some kind of test?
Pei shook her head. If Felicia were a threat, I would already be dead. She asked instead for understanding and patience. The little girl had no one and now with Pei having succeeded in killing the rogue sister, she had first choice of which of the two would live. She clasped my hands and kissed my cheek. Poor Felicia.
The sisters convened and the madams brought forth Felicia to the docket. She was found wanting and sentenced to death. They made no qualms or special reservations as a descendant of Olivia. She had already selected her funeral urn and placed it on her alcove.
Felicia looked despondently towards Mei who was equally dismayed. No tears. For no reasons I could understand, I shouted out towards everyone in the auditorium fashioned into a makeshift courtroom. The room fell silent as all of the sisters eyes were on me. I demanded to know why they were sentencing her to die and as the victim of the accused if I did not have a say in her trial?
Madam Sophia allowed me to continue to speak and address everyone. I looked towards Felicia who showed little emotion and stiffened her shoulders. She showed coldness and disdain towards me. She would prefer death than to be spared by me. I chose the latter and after some hushed deliberations by the senior madams they would allow a temporary stay.
We left the auditorium and in the hallway, Pei angrily grabbed by arm and asked what I was doing. Sophia soon stepped out of the doorway and interrupted us. She placed her hands on my shoulder and asked me to walk with her to another room where Felicia was waiting and seated at a table.
We sat across from each other. Felicia looked away, but listened as Sophia spoke to both of us. By tradition it is true, one of us must be killed by the other, but we are also both sisters and daughters of Olivia. This makes things complicated and she then shared that among the other madams she also has a half sister. Felicia looked up intently.
Sophia wanted us to consider that and as daughters of Olivia we were exempted from whatever the Neo-Artesians traditions. She also wanted to share that she had long suspected madam Naoka of wanting as she lacks any bloodline and for a time she suspected and had placed five daughters of Olivia in the care of Naoka who in turn loathed to place five of her own daughters to become mentors and protectors.
Sophia then looked to me and shard that as Naoka had seven daughters she sent her youngest Pei on a suicide mission to Triton station. It was Anna Three who saw through this ruse and spared Pei, but made it clear to Naoka she knew her plans by killing two of her daughters and forcing her to place me under the care of Pei.
Felicia then asked what is Naoka's intentions? Sophia gestured to all of us, the total annihilation of all the old sister bloodlines. With the end of Anna's last descendant, this left the daughters of Olivia, and while numerous, the only remaining threat to Naoka to start her own dynasty.
Sophia placed her hand on mine and had great pity for me. Felicia is the daughter of sister Marina and she naturally wanted to keep her safe. She made a bargain with Naoka and placed me in her charge and training, which was substandard and would poorly prepare me for when Felicia and I would eventually meet. Marina was also found wanting.
She trusts Pei who is becoming aware of her own mother's duplicity. She is not so certain of Mei who remains loyal and equally as cunning as their mother Naoka. Sophia then released us and said it was ultimately in our own hands, by either of us killing each other we would be helping Naoka further her ambitions.
My head was dizzy and I instinctively reached for Felicia's hand and held it in mine. She didn't shudder or recoil and we spoke for the first time without any motives. What madam Sophia shared was true and we were all pawns in some game that has been played for generations. Felicia sincerely apologized for trying to kill me and she knew no promise of hers would be sufficient to allay any suspicions I harbored that she wouldn't try to do it again.
I later confided to Kallos about what had transpired and I only spoke of the gardens and Felicia. He was shocked and asked if I was okay. I was still a little shaken by everything as it was the nearest experience with death and was grateful for Pei's training. We embraced and he also wanted to confide with me, he still felt guilty and embarrassed that he had never told me about his relationship with Pei. For a time he did love her while he was still with me. He wasn't sure what to think of it now with all three of us spending so much time together. He confessed he was finding it a perfect situation to have both Pei and I, together. I slapped him.
Pei and Mei went off on their own to Himetsu and left me alone in the Capital Domes. I relished the opportunity to stroll through the central gardens and admire the hundred foot high water fountains. The gardens were at least a square mile in size and considered a waste of prime land that could be used to grow high yield crops, instead of flowers and terraced landscapes.
I found myself getting lost within the gardens and stopped by one of the many fish ponds to admire the colorful koi fish. Crumpling up a cookie I had saved, I fed the eager fish and watched as a flock of geese and mallard ducks floated by. It was a picture of serenity and I could find myself wanting to remain there.
My ears pricked up, and I could sense someone's presence behind me. Adrenaline began rushing and coursing as my heart began to pump faster. My pulse quickened and I steadied myself. As if by instinct and from Pei's training, I raised one fist up to my ear and felt the sharp noose choke around my neck. I struggled for a few moments and broke free.
Whoever was attempting to strangle me, lacked the strength, but her technique was apparent of a sister marine. I was gasping for air as I turned to confront my unknown assailant and in the haze of my eyes I made out a feminine figure, shorter than I, but only a shadow. The failure, must have startled her as she quickly fled, not realizing I would soon faint and pass out on the ground.
Pei found me and said I was very fortunate. She scolded her sister Mei and said it was Felicia who tried to kill me. Felicia was my half-sister and by tradition one of us would have to die. Both Pei and Mei were observing me in the gardens. They did not intervene when I was attacked and I furiously asked why, was this some kind of test?
Pei shook her head. If Felicia were a threat, I would already be dead. She asked instead for understanding and patience. The little girl had no one and now with Pei having succeeded in killing the rogue sister, she had first choice of which of the two would live. She clasped my hands and kissed my cheek. Poor Felicia.
The sisters convened and the madams brought forth Felicia to the docket. She was found wanting and sentenced to death. They made no qualms or special reservations as a descendant of Olivia. She had already selected her funeral urn and placed it on her alcove.
Felicia looked despondently towards Mei who was equally dismayed. No tears. For no reasons I could understand, I shouted out towards everyone in the auditorium fashioned into a makeshift courtroom. The room fell silent as all of the sisters eyes were on me. I demanded to know why they were sentencing her to die and as the victim of the accused if I did not have a say in her trial?
Madam Sophia allowed me to continue to speak and address everyone. I looked towards Felicia who showed little emotion and stiffened her shoulders. She showed coldness and disdain towards me. She would prefer death than to be spared by me. I chose the latter and after some hushed deliberations by the senior madams they would allow a temporary stay.
We left the auditorium and in the hallway, Pei angrily grabbed by arm and asked what I was doing. Sophia soon stepped out of the doorway and interrupted us. She placed her hands on my shoulder and asked me to walk with her to another room where Felicia was waiting and seated at a table.
We sat across from each other. Felicia looked away, but listened as Sophia spoke to both of us. By tradition it is true, one of us must be killed by the other, but we are also both sisters and daughters of Olivia. This makes things complicated and she then shared that among the other madams she also has a half sister. Felicia looked up intently.
Sophia wanted us to consider that and as daughters of Olivia we were exempted from whatever the Neo-Artesians traditions. She also wanted to share that she had long suspected madam Naoka of wanting as she lacks any bloodline and for a time she suspected and had placed five daughters of Olivia in the care of Naoka who in turn loathed to place five of her own daughters to become mentors and protectors.
Sophia then looked to me and shard that as Naoka had seven daughters she sent her youngest Pei on a suicide mission to Triton station. It was Anna Three who saw through this ruse and spared Pei, but made it clear to Naoka she knew her plans by killing two of her daughters and forcing her to place me under the care of Pei.
Felicia then asked what is Naoka's intentions? Sophia gestured to all of us, the total annihilation of all the old sister bloodlines. With the end of Anna's last descendant, this left the daughters of Olivia, and while numerous, the only remaining threat to Naoka to start her own dynasty.
Sophia placed her hand on mine and had great pity for me. Felicia is the daughter of sister Marina and she naturally wanted to keep her safe. She made a bargain with Naoka and placed me in her charge and training, which was substandard and would poorly prepare me for when Felicia and I would eventually meet. Marina was also found wanting.
She trusts Pei who is becoming aware of her own mother's duplicity. She is not so certain of Mei who remains loyal and equally as cunning as their mother Naoka. Sophia then released us and said it was ultimately in our own hands, by either of us killing each other we would be helping Naoka further her ambitions.
My head was dizzy and I instinctively reached for Felicia's hand and held it in mine. She didn't shudder or recoil and we spoke for the first time without any motives. What madam Sophia shared was true and we were all pawns in some game that has been played for generations. Felicia sincerely apologized for trying to kill me and she knew no promise of hers would be sufficient to allay any suspicions I harbored that she wouldn't try to do it again.
I later confided to Kallos about what had transpired and I only spoke of the gardens and Felicia. He was shocked and asked if I was okay. I was still a little shaken by everything as it was the nearest experience with death and was grateful for Pei's training. We embraced and he also wanted to confide with me, he still felt guilty and embarrassed that he had never told me about his relationship with Pei. For a time he did love her while he was still with me. He wasn't sure what to think of it now with all three of us spending so much time together. He confessed he was finding it a perfect situation to have both Pei and I, together. I slapped him.
Chapter 53 - Illumination
Gregor Illum's sister Greta made her home on Mars. She lived in a smaller city near the southern pole and Captain Gregor paid a visit while the Grand Traveler was in space dock. They embraced and shared pleasantries as close siblings and shared everything that had happened since his last visit.
Greta was well and prospering managing a small shop. He found that amusing considering their famed heritage and by now a large throng of believers have made Greta's store quite full. An equally large crowd had formed that day with Gregor's arrival and Kallos father accompanied him along with several soldiers.
It's a pity you told them, Greta sighed. She had preferred they keep their heritage more hidden as she hated becoming a celebrity. Some of the more ardent followers erected a makeshift shrine and a statue of the Knut across the street from her store. It should come as no surprise at what lengths diehard followers of the Neo-Artesians would go to touch the hand of the creator.
She further lamented it made her chance of finding a suitable husband that much more difficult. And she asked why her brother had not yet settled down with a woman. Gregor scoffed at that and had little patience with the various sisters they sent his way. He sent each and every one of them packing and now with his planned mission to Alpha Centauri, there would be little reason to marry and raise a family. As such he felt no reason to fear as their ancestors legacy would end with him and he would not carry it on by having children.
He already knew of their mother having another child, he didn't know who that child was, but from what he knew it was likely a half-brother. The last sister taunted him in saying that this second son of their mother had already children and so the legacy of the Knut will live on.
They walked to the local park as they always do and sat beneath some oak trees on a park bench. They shared some tea and pastries that Greta had prepared on anticipating his visit. For the most part the Neo-Artesians dispersed and gave them some privacy. They finished afternoon tea and Gregor spent the night at Greta's home on the second floor above her shop. Kallos father and the other soldiers stayed in a nearby hotel at the order of Gregor who wished to have privacy with his sister. In the morning after breakfast they all returned to fleet headquarters.
Greta was well and prospering managing a small shop. He found that amusing considering their famed heritage and by now a large throng of believers have made Greta's store quite full. An equally large crowd had formed that day with Gregor's arrival and Kallos father accompanied him along with several soldiers.
It's a pity you told them, Greta sighed. She had preferred they keep their heritage more hidden as she hated becoming a celebrity. Some of the more ardent followers erected a makeshift shrine and a statue of the Knut across the street from her store. It should come as no surprise at what lengths diehard followers of the Neo-Artesians would go to touch the hand of the creator.
She further lamented it made her chance of finding a suitable husband that much more difficult. And she asked why her brother had not yet settled down with a woman. Gregor scoffed at that and had little patience with the various sisters they sent his way. He sent each and every one of them packing and now with his planned mission to Alpha Centauri, there would be little reason to marry and raise a family. As such he felt no reason to fear as their ancestors legacy would end with him and he would not carry it on by having children.
He already knew of their mother having another child, he didn't know who that child was, but from what he knew it was likely a half-brother. The last sister taunted him in saying that this second son of their mother had already children and so the legacy of the Knut will live on.
They walked to the local park as they always do and sat beneath some oak trees on a park bench. They shared some tea and pastries that Greta had prepared on anticipating his visit. For the most part the Neo-Artesians dispersed and gave them some privacy. They finished afternoon tea and Gregor spent the night at Greta's home on the second floor above her shop. Kallos father and the other soldiers stayed in a nearby hotel at the order of Gregor who wished to have privacy with his sister. In the morning after breakfast they all returned to fleet headquarters.
Chapter 52 - Sea Urchins
A rare Earth delicacy was offered in abundance at the annual celebration on Mars celebrating the founding of the Capital Dome. Tens of millions of sea urchins are harvested each year and brought to the Capital Domes. The elite among the Martian citizens gifted at least 2-3 sea urchins of a modest size and quality. While Martians grow their own local varieties, they find the succulent flesh of an Earth sea urchin of a quality without peer.
Arlen prepared a whole platter for Pei, Kallos and myself. He was rationed several small wooden crates and we marveled at the sight of all of them atop a bed of ice. To the untrained eye they looked no different from a Martian varietal and when properly seasoned and prepared by an expert hand, almost indistinguishable.
They melted on the tongue and we finished the platter. It was a luxury neither Kallos and I had ever experienced on Io Station. The only sea creature we were well acquainted with dried algae and sea kelp protein. But here on Mars we enjoyed and spoiled ourselves. Himetsu became our favorite haunt on weekends when not in training or on drill.
The Grand Traveler was being retrofitted as new parts were made available including what was rumored potential substitute pieces for the inoperable star drive. This surprising turn delayed its departure and Arlen thumbed his nose at Pei.
For centuries, scientists on both Earth and Mars have tried to reverse engineer and build a working star drive. They came close on several occasions, the most recent with a small probe they launched past Neptune and tracked making its way near Alpha Centauri before losing contact. That test was kept secret and conducted by a hand picked scientists by the Neo-Artesians who long suspected the sisters have withheld the technology.
The naval summit was also convened to discuss preparations for a full scale test of the rebuild star drive and the Grand Traveler was the obvious candidate. The Neo-Artesians wanted to see for themselves why the sisters abandoned deep space travel and what did they find on Alpha Centauri.
Kallos and and I both resounded in unison that they found proof of sentient alien life. And that the entire universe was teeming with little green men. Pei smiled at our childish antics and shared that the sisters did indeed finding something on Alpha Centauri and specifically on one of the unknown planets orbiting the binary star system. She herself was never made privy, but the rumors among the initiates was they did find ruins of an ancient civilization and that they were our ancestors who came here to inhabit planet Earth.
They were leaving a dying world in search of a new one. But to the sisters dismay, mankind had already traveled to Alpha Centauri thousands of years before and from the ruins they scavenged much of the advance technology we take for granted today. It should come as no mere coincidence that mankind in a few short decades progressed to such a pinnacle that should have taken many centuries. The pace of progress was too much for mankind and nearly brought about their downfall.
We pondered if our purported ancestors from Alpha Centauri were so advanced that we later learned to improve our own technology, why did they lack all of that when they first made Earth their new found home? Pei had thought the same thing years before and accepted the theory that for whatever reason the Alpha Centaurians shunned their technology as anathema and wanted to start a new, simpler existence. But like our ancestors, we share the same penchant for finding our woe.
In any case, once the Grand Traveler completes its final retrofit and the restoration of its star drives we would all discover the truth of what the sisters found. Pei then asked, as she balanced a shot glass, if the Neo-Artesians wanted to keep this a secret how she as a sister marine already knew this. She laughed at the incompetence.
Arlen prepared a whole platter for Pei, Kallos and myself. He was rationed several small wooden crates and we marveled at the sight of all of them atop a bed of ice. To the untrained eye they looked no different from a Martian varietal and when properly seasoned and prepared by an expert hand, almost indistinguishable.
They melted on the tongue and we finished the platter. It was a luxury neither Kallos and I had ever experienced on Io Station. The only sea creature we were well acquainted with dried algae and sea kelp protein. But here on Mars we enjoyed and spoiled ourselves. Himetsu became our favorite haunt on weekends when not in training or on drill.
The Grand Traveler was being retrofitted as new parts were made available including what was rumored potential substitute pieces for the inoperable star drive. This surprising turn delayed its departure and Arlen thumbed his nose at Pei.
For centuries, scientists on both Earth and Mars have tried to reverse engineer and build a working star drive. They came close on several occasions, the most recent with a small probe they launched past Neptune and tracked making its way near Alpha Centauri before losing contact. That test was kept secret and conducted by a hand picked scientists by the Neo-Artesians who long suspected the sisters have withheld the technology.
The naval summit was also convened to discuss preparations for a full scale test of the rebuild star drive and the Grand Traveler was the obvious candidate. The Neo-Artesians wanted to see for themselves why the sisters abandoned deep space travel and what did they find on Alpha Centauri.
Kallos and and I both resounded in unison that they found proof of sentient alien life. And that the entire universe was teeming with little green men. Pei smiled at our childish antics and shared that the sisters did indeed finding something on Alpha Centauri and specifically on one of the unknown planets orbiting the binary star system. She herself was never made privy, but the rumors among the initiates was they did find ruins of an ancient civilization and that they were our ancestors who came here to inhabit planet Earth.
They were leaving a dying world in search of a new one. But to the sisters dismay, mankind had already traveled to Alpha Centauri thousands of years before and from the ruins they scavenged much of the advance technology we take for granted today. It should come as no mere coincidence that mankind in a few short decades progressed to such a pinnacle that should have taken many centuries. The pace of progress was too much for mankind and nearly brought about their downfall.
We pondered if our purported ancestors from Alpha Centauri were so advanced that we later learned to improve our own technology, why did they lack all of that when they first made Earth their new found home? Pei had thought the same thing years before and accepted the theory that for whatever reason the Alpha Centaurians shunned their technology as anathema and wanted to start a new, simpler existence. But like our ancestors, we share the same penchant for finding our woe.
In any case, once the Grand Traveler completes its final retrofit and the restoration of its star drives we would all discover the truth of what the sisters found. Pei then asked, as she balanced a shot glass, if the Neo-Artesians wanted to keep this a secret how she as a sister marine already knew this. She laughed at the incompetence.
Friday, July 3, 2020
Chapter 51 - Rogues
A small separatist faction splintered from the sisters over two centuries ago and allied themselves with the then new group called the Proto-Artesians. They established a presence on Triton station and soon conquered most of the outer rim with the exception of Jupiter and a few moons around Saturn.
The fiercest of confrontations occurred around Saturn as the close proximity of Neo and Proto-Artesian fleets would often find excuses to clash. The rogue sisters likewise delighted in challenging their former and proved formidable and successful in gaining attention from their former sisters.
The most feared of these was Pei's target, a daughter of Anna Two. She took the mantle of Anna Three and had already killed two of Naoka's daughters and Pei's older sisters. Most recently a few weeks ago on Triton station.
With her identity well known she fled for Mars in anticipation for her final battle with Naoka's daughters seeking revenge and was honored it would be Pei.
Anna Three had made her presence known to Pei when she first visited Triton station years ago and was a friend of Arlen's. He could have easily killed them both, but she felt the time wasn't ready and was pleased she blossomed into a sister marine. She had lost an eye and a finger in her last fight with Pei's older sister.
Another of her many reasons for coming to Mars was to seek out a skilled doctor to build her a new cybernetic eye and hand. There were only a few clinics capable of the quality work she desired and Pei determined the one where Anna Three was recuperating from her surgery.
They had a nice chat and Pei would wait for her to fully recover before they had their final duel. As she had spared her on Triton, she would do the same and wait for Anna Three to contact her. Anna Three promised it would be soon and on Mars, she would not flee.
Their only regret, she had no children or any living siblings and relatives. This would be the end of Anna's bloodline and for some a fitting retribution for her betrayal. Anna Three took Pei's hand and kissed her sister, she would be pleased if it was Pei who succeeded as she found her a worthy heir.
She laughed and asked about me and Pei smirked that I would never be ready. A pity they both concurred as it would have made a perfect union to merge all the blood lines. They anticipated it'll be with Kallos and whoever the sisters finally deem worthy.
Pei then took her knife and stabbed Anna Three and pierced her heart. She gently glided her blade downwards and across as she embraced and kissed her dear sister once more. The blood pooled beneath the hospital gurney and turned the white sheets a red crimson. She held Anna Three until she drew her last breath and cried as she covered her eyes.
In a rage, Pei walked into the adjacent room where the pair of sister marines dispatched by the madams of Olivia were waiting. She killed them both using Anna Three's blade then made quick work of all the doctors and their staff using the sister marines knives. In total she killed twenty three people including Anna Three.
She informed her mother that it was done and Naoka comforted her saying their time was soon at hand and she would be joined by all of her sisters soon. She asked about me and Naoka assured that I would remain her student for the time being. They were both very fond of me and while they had initially considered eliminating me along with Enya and all the descendants of Olivia, they felt it prudent to spare at least one. It was unfortunate as Pei's older sister Mei had grown fond of her charge, but she had succeeded where the others had failed and she had first choice.
Mei would be joining Pei on Io station to begin preparation for the next phase in my training. As she had helped eliminate a major threat to the sisters, the madams would concede in allowing me to continue my training with her on the Grand Traveler. But Naoka warned, Sophia is one of the most cunning of the young madams and discerned all of their intentions and could see through any ruse. It was Sophia who agreed to place responsibility of all the hidden descendants with Naoka and in her own careful planning positioned me with Kallos and to cause the rift with Pei.
Be alert daughter, was Naoka's final warning. Sophia already planned for her next move and everything so far has been according to her plans.
The fiercest of confrontations occurred around Saturn as the close proximity of Neo and Proto-Artesian fleets would often find excuses to clash. The rogue sisters likewise delighted in challenging their former and proved formidable and successful in gaining attention from their former sisters.
The most feared of these was Pei's target, a daughter of Anna Two. She took the mantle of Anna Three and had already killed two of Naoka's daughters and Pei's older sisters. Most recently a few weeks ago on Triton station.
With her identity well known she fled for Mars in anticipation for her final battle with Naoka's daughters seeking revenge and was honored it would be Pei.
Anna Three had made her presence known to Pei when she first visited Triton station years ago and was a friend of Arlen's. He could have easily killed them both, but she felt the time wasn't ready and was pleased she blossomed into a sister marine. She had lost an eye and a finger in her last fight with Pei's older sister.
Another of her many reasons for coming to Mars was to seek out a skilled doctor to build her a new cybernetic eye and hand. There were only a few clinics capable of the quality work she desired and Pei determined the one where Anna Three was recuperating from her surgery.
They had a nice chat and Pei would wait for her to fully recover before they had their final duel. As she had spared her on Triton, she would do the same and wait for Anna Three to contact her. Anna Three promised it would be soon and on Mars, she would not flee.
Their only regret, she had no children or any living siblings and relatives. This would be the end of Anna's bloodline and for some a fitting retribution for her betrayal. Anna Three took Pei's hand and kissed her sister, she would be pleased if it was Pei who succeeded as she found her a worthy heir.
She laughed and asked about me and Pei smirked that I would never be ready. A pity they both concurred as it would have made a perfect union to merge all the blood lines. They anticipated it'll be with Kallos and whoever the sisters finally deem worthy.
Pei then took her knife and stabbed Anna Three and pierced her heart. She gently glided her blade downwards and across as she embraced and kissed her dear sister once more. The blood pooled beneath the hospital gurney and turned the white sheets a red crimson. She held Anna Three until she drew her last breath and cried as she covered her eyes.
In a rage, Pei walked into the adjacent room where the pair of sister marines dispatched by the madams of Olivia were waiting. She killed them both using Anna Three's blade then made quick work of all the doctors and their staff using the sister marines knives. In total she killed twenty three people including Anna Three.
She informed her mother that it was done and Naoka comforted her saying their time was soon at hand and she would be joined by all of her sisters soon. She asked about me and Naoka assured that I would remain her student for the time being. They were both very fond of me and while they had initially considered eliminating me along with Enya and all the descendants of Olivia, they felt it prudent to spare at least one. It was unfortunate as Pei's older sister Mei had grown fond of her charge, but she had succeeded where the others had failed and she had first choice.
Mei would be joining Pei on Io station to begin preparation for the next phase in my training. As she had helped eliminate a major threat to the sisters, the madams would concede in allowing me to continue my training with her on the Grand Traveler. But Naoka warned, Sophia is one of the most cunning of the young madams and discerned all of their intentions and could see through any ruse. It was Sophia who agreed to place responsibility of all the hidden descendants with Naoka and in her own careful planning positioned me with Kallos and to cause the rift with Pei.
Be alert daughter, was Naoka's final warning. Sophia already planned for her next move and everything so far has been according to her plans.
Chapter 50 - Capital Domes
A billion people live on Mars. A hundred large cities dot the martian landscape beneath great domes of hardened glass and steel. Each city is comprised of hundreds of domes, with one large central dome reaching at least a mile in height.
Most of the population live underground in subterranean tunnels and caverns with thousands of miles of high speed rail tubes hurtling people at several times the speed of sound. We could reach the opposite end of Mars in a matter of minutes.
Unlike the other colonies, Mars enjoys food independence from Earth and only trades in luxuries. They produce sufficient surplus to supply their own trade routes with the inner and stations and are highly regarded for their low gravity crops. The size of an average Martian grape is closer in size to a large Earth watermelon.
A Karl Knutmudsen paradise and Martians pride themselves as the greatest adherents of the Neo-Artesian ways, hailing their cities as the perfect archetype of the Knut. The sisters leave Mars largely alone and maintain a small chapter in the Capital Domes, less than a hundred members, but a dozen high ranking madams.
Mars is the burial ground of madam Olivia and her mausoleum rests beneath the sisters main compound north of the main government buildings. Most of the madams are descendants of Olivia and were very interested in meeting me. They welcomed and embraced me as one of their own and showed me the delights and pleasures of Mars.
Pei took the opportunity to soon leave us in the care of our sisters. She briefly met with one of the madams to discuss her mission and she dispatched a pair of sister marines to accompany Pei as they were well aware of the target and she had a reputation with several dead sisters in her wake.
The madams brought me to see Olivia laying in state beneath a transparent blue crystal coffin. She was dead, but her skin and and hair was kept alive as they fed a nutrient gel to maintain her physical appearance. Around the bottom of the large antechamber were a hundred smaller alcoves and each held small urns containing the ash of each of Olivia's descendants for three centuries. New alcoves were carved out of the Martian rock and could conceivable stretch for miles downwards to hold several millennia worth of descendants.
Valhalla as they described this chamber devoted to Olivia. Two new alcoves had already been made for Enya and myself and were prepared the day we each were born. I touched the polished tiles and rubbed my fingertips on the etched plaque with my name.
Sophia, one of the younger madams barely aged 30 brought me to another room that was filled with hundreds of various urns stacked on heavy shelves. There were a great variety of choices in color, material and shape. She asked me to select one that would rest on my shelf and someday be my final resting place. Descendants of Olivia frequently change their choice throughout their lifetime and I settled on a simple white marble square box. She complimented my choice and another sister took the box to place on my alcove.
I counted twenty more open alcoves and she smiled at my astute observation. Most were reserved for the daughters of the various madams, including Sophia's daughter Sylvia, but at least three were for unknown descendants who remained hidden, even to the madams.
Madam Naoka is entrusted with their identities and they live also on Io Station. This was the ways of the sisters and always a few descendants are kept hidden. Sophia also shared my bloodline was the highest of all sisters present as I am from the direct line of Ninya, Olivia's most favored daughter. It had been some time since they had a sister from Ninya's namesake and to have two in the same generation was a cause for celebration.
She encouraged me to continue my training and sister Pei was the best. My sister Enya was training with another sister marine and the elder daughter of Naoka on Earth and it was hoped at least one of us would become a full fledged sister marine, quite rare and possibly the first known daughter of Ninya to achieve that distinction.
I was shown to a large apartment room within the sister's compound. And found my luggage and things already waiting and my clothes placed in the closet. Sophia then explained, that my time on the Grand Traveler was coming to an end and I would remain on Mars to complete my training as a sister. This was already decided by Naoka and Marina. Kallos would depart on the Grand Traveler in a few days when Captain Gregor concludes the naval summit. The heart grows fonder when apart and I would have to earn the privilege to serve again on the Grand Traveler at Kallos side.
Chapter 49 - Pei Yuhn
Naoka was a prolific mother and had seven daughters, the youngest being Pei Yuhn. All became sisters, but her affection was for Pei who proved to share their mother's vicious streak. While most who become sister marines wince at the initiation ritual, like her mother she calmly led her prey and a full three minutes danced with him before returning through the airlock.
Her only misfortune being 3 years older than Kallos. To my dismay, I started to realize that they had known each other for many years and she was the one who taught him how to survive in the tunnels and for a time what seemed like innocent absences, it was to meet with her in secret up until a few months ago. It was about then he broke it off with Pei.
He knew enough about the sisters and I asked him why he shunned Pei, earning both of us the ire of her mother. It would have been better he remained with her and happy with such a beautiful prize.
Kallos conceded that at first he was enthralled and could not believe his good fortune. Pei was everything he could have ever dreamed or imagined, but he quickly realized it was hollow and an elaborate ruse. In her desperation, she also broke her sister silence and revealed to him that he is a descendant of the Knut and he had known for quite some time.
I began my training with Pei who indoctrinated me in the way of the sister marines. Her level of instruction was far more rigorous and advanced than anything I had learned from Marina, she was a patient teacher. Correcting and making adjustments many times until I was somewhat decent.
Pei set me at ease as she wanted us to be true sisters and told me everything about her past relationship with Kallos. She still holds feelings for him and like her mother, they had yearned for this opportunity, but it would be against the sisters ways to disregard his wishes. And she would do everything to assist me. Although she was my teacher, I considered her becoming my friend and I placed my hand on hers and said if things were to change, I would do the same for her. She was touched by that.
The Grand Traveler rendezvous with the inner rim fleet orbiting around Mars. Captain Gregor left the ship in the hands of Yuna as he and the senior officers went to convene with the other ships Captains for several days.
Pei took this as an opportunity to visit Mars. She invited Kallos along and we took one of the shuttles. Kallos remained a little uneasy and Pei teased him more than usual. By now we all knew everything, having spent several months together. I joined in the fun and asked why he hasn't called her by her nickname Pei-Pei?
We arrived at the main capital dome. Captain Gregor was also on Mars and at fleet headquarters. We marveled at the immense size of the capital domes and they sprawled for miles in all directions. At least twenty million people lived and breathed under those capital domes.
Mars is known for their night life and Pei was well acquainted and took us to her favorite haunts. She took us to a bar she frequented known as the Himetsu and famous for its fresh sushi and strong drink. She introduced us, especially Kallos to another of her ex-boyfriends Arlen. Arlen was the sole proprieter of the Himetsu and became friends with Pei over a year ago when she was on Mars for training. He was a man several years older than her and shouted Pei-Pei when she entered the room. They embraced and he glanced at Kallos and ruffled his hair with his big hands who was turning a bright red.
Arlen reserved a private room on the second floor and we were served countless trays of sushi and several bottles of expensive liquor. I could barely stand and all we could do was laugh and giggle as the four of us whiled the night away in pointless banter. Pei and Arlen were locked in an embrace and Kallos instinctively hugged me closer.
We felt close enough to ask some personal questions and Pei asked me what qualities of Kallos that attracted me. I confessed that I found him to be authentic and that I felt I knew who he was. He may have secrets and his faults, but I could trust him and know how he felt and what he thought would be genuine. I then asked Kallos who did he find more attractive and he turned the brightest red and quickly changed the subject.
Arlen surprised us with his more serious and introspective musings and asked why the Grand Traveler miraculously found a rare part that enabled it to become a warship again. He thought it not mere coincidence and speculated the sisters likely have withheld certain bits of knowledge and supplies to maintain the status quo.
A well armed militia of hundreds of heavily armed warships would tip the balance of power in favor of the colonists. But with barely a dozen star ships capable of war, most are relegated to the task of ferrying cargo and passengers throughout the inner and outer rims. None dare venture farther than Neptune and to other star systems.
Only one ship is capable of faster than light travel and it was the Grand Traveler, but its star drives have been inoperable with only one known recorded attempted jump to the nearby Alpha Centauri star and back, over three centuries before.
The Grand Traveler was once the flagship of Madam Olivia and the first of the sister marines. After its mysterious voyage to Alpha Centauri it never ventured farther than Neptune and in short time began to malfunction and deteriorate, thus being abandoned by the sisters and for a time sat unused at Io Station until it was repaired and used again in the colonial wars.
We all laughed that it was a foolish thing to call a ship destined for deep space travel the Grand Traveler when it spent most of its life carting vegetables between Earth and Io Station. A more fitting name would be the Onion Trawler.
And we agreed, the ship had an unusual past and now was being prepared for war. Arlen and many on Mars were aware of the growing threat of the Proto-Artesians who have grown in numbers and strength amongst the outer rim and they now hold influence over half of the star ships capable of battle. Arlen knew as he was previously a sympathizer and served with the Proto-Artesians. He maintained contact with a few of his old shipmates and it was revealed his connection with Pei who had earlier infiltrated the Proto-Artesians in her first assignment on Triton station.
They can joke about it now, Arlen was meant to be her target for assassination. Naoka called it off at the last moment and withdrew Pei for reasons unclear. To her disappointment the mission was abandoned. They remained friends and none the wiser until Pei in a drunken mood boasted to him her reason for their first encounter.
On occasion, Arlen passes on the identity of Proto-Artesian agents who attempt to establish themselves on Mars. Even now, Pei is stalking yet another and a more worthy mark, a rogue sister and her secondary reason for visiting Mars using us as cover.
Her only misfortune being 3 years older than Kallos. To my dismay, I started to realize that they had known each other for many years and she was the one who taught him how to survive in the tunnels and for a time what seemed like innocent absences, it was to meet with her in secret up until a few months ago. It was about then he broke it off with Pei.
He knew enough about the sisters and I asked him why he shunned Pei, earning both of us the ire of her mother. It would have been better he remained with her and happy with such a beautiful prize.
Kallos conceded that at first he was enthralled and could not believe his good fortune. Pei was everything he could have ever dreamed or imagined, but he quickly realized it was hollow and an elaborate ruse. In her desperation, she also broke her sister silence and revealed to him that he is a descendant of the Knut and he had known for quite some time.
I began my training with Pei who indoctrinated me in the way of the sister marines. Her level of instruction was far more rigorous and advanced than anything I had learned from Marina, she was a patient teacher. Correcting and making adjustments many times until I was somewhat decent.
Pei set me at ease as she wanted us to be true sisters and told me everything about her past relationship with Kallos. She still holds feelings for him and like her mother, they had yearned for this opportunity, but it would be against the sisters ways to disregard his wishes. And she would do everything to assist me. Although she was my teacher, I considered her becoming my friend and I placed my hand on hers and said if things were to change, I would do the same for her. She was touched by that.
The Grand Traveler rendezvous with the inner rim fleet orbiting around Mars. Captain Gregor left the ship in the hands of Yuna as he and the senior officers went to convene with the other ships Captains for several days.
Pei took this as an opportunity to visit Mars. She invited Kallos along and we took one of the shuttles. Kallos remained a little uneasy and Pei teased him more than usual. By now we all knew everything, having spent several months together. I joined in the fun and asked why he hasn't called her by her nickname Pei-Pei?
We arrived at the main capital dome. Captain Gregor was also on Mars and at fleet headquarters. We marveled at the immense size of the capital domes and they sprawled for miles in all directions. At least twenty million people lived and breathed under those capital domes.
Mars is known for their night life and Pei was well acquainted and took us to her favorite haunts. She took us to a bar she frequented known as the Himetsu and famous for its fresh sushi and strong drink. She introduced us, especially Kallos to another of her ex-boyfriends Arlen. Arlen was the sole proprieter of the Himetsu and became friends with Pei over a year ago when she was on Mars for training. He was a man several years older than her and shouted Pei-Pei when she entered the room. They embraced and he glanced at Kallos and ruffled his hair with his big hands who was turning a bright red.
Arlen reserved a private room on the second floor and we were served countless trays of sushi and several bottles of expensive liquor. I could barely stand and all we could do was laugh and giggle as the four of us whiled the night away in pointless banter. Pei and Arlen were locked in an embrace and Kallos instinctively hugged me closer.
We felt close enough to ask some personal questions and Pei asked me what qualities of Kallos that attracted me. I confessed that I found him to be authentic and that I felt I knew who he was. He may have secrets and his faults, but I could trust him and know how he felt and what he thought would be genuine. I then asked Kallos who did he find more attractive and he turned the brightest red and quickly changed the subject.
Arlen surprised us with his more serious and introspective musings and asked why the Grand Traveler miraculously found a rare part that enabled it to become a warship again. He thought it not mere coincidence and speculated the sisters likely have withheld certain bits of knowledge and supplies to maintain the status quo.
A well armed militia of hundreds of heavily armed warships would tip the balance of power in favor of the colonists. But with barely a dozen star ships capable of war, most are relegated to the task of ferrying cargo and passengers throughout the inner and outer rims. None dare venture farther than Neptune and to other star systems.
Only one ship is capable of faster than light travel and it was the Grand Traveler, but its star drives have been inoperable with only one known recorded attempted jump to the nearby Alpha Centauri star and back, over three centuries before.
The Grand Traveler was once the flagship of Madam Olivia and the first of the sister marines. After its mysterious voyage to Alpha Centauri it never ventured farther than Neptune and in short time began to malfunction and deteriorate, thus being abandoned by the sisters and for a time sat unused at Io Station until it was repaired and used again in the colonial wars.
We all laughed that it was a foolish thing to call a ship destined for deep space travel the Grand Traveler when it spent most of its life carting vegetables between Earth and Io Station. A more fitting name would be the Onion Trawler.
And we agreed, the ship had an unusual past and now was being prepared for war. Arlen and many on Mars were aware of the growing threat of the Proto-Artesians who have grown in numbers and strength amongst the outer rim and they now hold influence over half of the star ships capable of battle. Arlen knew as he was previously a sympathizer and served with the Proto-Artesians. He maintained contact with a few of his old shipmates and it was revealed his connection with Pei who had earlier infiltrated the Proto-Artesians in her first assignment on Triton station.
They can joke about it now, Arlen was meant to be her target for assassination. Naoka called it off at the last moment and withdrew Pei for reasons unclear. To her disappointment the mission was abandoned. They remained friends and none the wiser until Pei in a drunken mood boasted to him her reason for their first encounter.
On occasion, Arlen passes on the identity of Proto-Artesian agents who attempt to establish themselves on Mars. Even now, Pei is stalking yet another and a more worthy mark, a rogue sister and her secondary reason for visiting Mars using us as cover.
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Chapter 48 - The Grand Traveler
When the thousand ships were created in the Pacific Ocean foundries, this eventually exhausted some limited resource and the factories ceased to function. The now arcane knowledge was foreign to mankind's descendants and while scientists continued to study and learn about their past ancestors greatness, none could determine what was that missing component needed to restart the foundries and resume mankind's push towards the stars.
As a result, each and every star ship is precious and the Grand Traveler being one of the newest ships at over 300 years of age. Many of the oldest ships have been scrapped and spare parts passed sparingly to other ships in a desperate effort to maintain and continue the growth of colonies.
One of the first of these drifts near Io station, nothing more than a skeletal husk of metal, with nearly every valuable part scavenged. Captain Gregor used it as a training grounds for new recruits and Kallos and I were strapped into harnesses maneuvering between the ribs of the hull and following old markings to reach various positions based on Gregor's directions over the comms. To everyone's delight, we found a small alcove near the aft of the old ship that had been seemingly missed and undisturbed, containing a small cache of spare parts. Of these, it contained a plasma power regulator.
Gregor was elated and hugged us both. He quickly placed the regulator in the hands of the ships engineer Yuna who tested and confirmed it was functional. They decided on installing it on the main forward gun batteries that had been disabled for decades. To Gregor's glee, the massive guns sprung to life and he tested it by blasting the old ship in two.
Yuna shared that of the 385 remaining starships only a dozen have operational weapons systems. The Grand Traveler's weapons were disabled in a fight decades ago before their time. The loss relegated the ship to becoming a merchant runner, but with functional weapons they could return to their old life as a military ship.
We soon docked back with Io Station and a delegation of sisters arrived on board to convene with Gregor. Yuna was present and they began planning the retrofit of the Grand Traveler and assigning a new complement of crew along with soldiers and a small contingent of sister marines.
I looked towards Naoka who smiled at me. We embraced and she had her talk with Marina shortly after I had left that fateful day. They agreed to allow me to remain with Kallos, but had planned all along to continue my training in the sisters and having a dozen of her best students onboard the Grand Traveler, my training had only begun.
She shared Kallos is very fond of me. Unbeknownst to me, they share a friendship and meet regularly. He made it clear that he would not accept anyone else and to ensure I remained happy. Naoka was very pleased by this and clasped her hands with mine, she then introduced me to her daughter Pei who would be one of the sister marines.
Pei was a few years older and very beautiful. Her dark blond hair flowing to her shoulders with perfectly shaped grey eyes. She fit her slender space suit perfectly in matching knee high black boots. The men of the Grand Traveler couldn't stop stealing a glance and she always returned them a smile. Her positive demeanor contrasted with her somewhat dour mother.
She would become my teacher and Naoka personally trained Pei herself. Unlike most other sisters and madams, their line is of no blood significance. Their's was of more recent stock and she earned it by becoming true the myth of the sisters and their airlock assassinations, Pei being even more adept than her mother.
Seemingly careless, I asked pointedly why she never considered Pei. Naoka brightened and truly complimented my ability to discern things. Kallos seemed at unease when he entered the hallway and locked eyes with Pei and saw me next to her and Naoka. Pei's face brightened and recognized him and I realized then they must have known each other before.
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