The Starship Theseus

4. A message from the humans.

While the Aurora Drive was the UEOSC’s ultimate response to interstellar travel, its high activation cost renders it ineffective for travel within a stellar system. While ion thrusters and solar sails have gone through generations of improvements, such measures are useful only for adjusting trajectories in space. The TORCH drive, used for accelerating a starcraft to the speeds required for the activation of a Skip drive, has been mostly phased out due to the stress its powerful acceleration puts upon space craft and biological occupants alike.

Intra-atmosphere propulsion has not changed for centuries, except to convert old methods to new power sources as they were developed. For centuries, however, the limiting factor in the development of new planets was the exchange of resources between the surface of planets and facilities and manufactories stationed in orbit.

This problem was solved with phased-matter transmission technology.

An end-to-end method of travel, PMT is a method of transmitting matter at light speed between two established points. Efficient and widely used, PMT can be used to transfer materials and personnel near instantaneously at ranges up to zero point two AU. Most importantly, PMT can be used to move significant tonnage from surface to orbit, and the reverse.

Five hours after the arrival of the Theseus in the Horthus system, one hundred and seventeen stealth drones equipped with PMT relays disengaged from various modules and began their unseen journey to the surface of the world below.

~~~~~~~~

Stargazer felt guilty as she evaded those crying out for her guidance. The strange lights in the sky were as beautiful as they were frightening, and her sisters were begging for her to explain them. But she could not, for they were so far outside of her experience and the lore that had been passed on to her that she could not even guess as to their meaning.

The aurora had faded, but the false moon was bright as ever. She felt like she was shirking her duty as eldest, but how could she act when she faced an impossible dilemma?

Should she fan the flames of the kip’s hope, or must she smother it as ruthlessly as she smothered the lies of the Mother that was NOT.

They would find her soon, the kips and the others, and they would demand answers. Answers that she did not have. If she admitted that, they would look elsewhere with their questions, and, perhaps, they would lose faith in her. That frightened her, for if she could not guide them, then she could not keep them safe. If they did not trust her Songs of Defiance, then they would die swiftly in the hunts, and the Others would drink deeply of Aurealian blood.

The lights were portents, but she was no augur. She could think of only one source of information that would help her. She had been seeking him already, but to observe from a distance. Now her need was much greater, and urgency required she revealed herself. The necessity of it galled her, but necessity was necessity.

The Others that killed were not the only Others that came to the hunting ground. Nature alone did not provide enough for all of Stargazer’s sisters to eat. Without the food drops maintained by the Others who did not kill, the Aurealians would quickly pick the hunting grounds clean and begin to starve.

Strongarm had taught Stargazer about the Others who were not Hunters. How to recognize them, how to interpret their actions and intentions. She knew, for example, that a rush to fill the food drops usually meant one of two things. Either a hunt was coming, a bad one in which many Aurealians would die, or else another delivery of young ones were coming, and stargazer would be required to sing for them. Neither portent marked a happy occasion, but they were portents which stargazer understood, while the lights in the sky were not.

Fortunately, there was a place in the hunting ground where Others who did not kill gathered. There was one there, one who had caught Stargazer when she was a kip new to the hunting grounds and, rather than harm her, given her food and spoken to her softly. It was a most dangerous trick, to let a young one think that the Others would do anything less than rip them apart, but even tricks reveal intentions.

Stargazer decided she must seek him out, and that she must do so with such urgency that she abandon her stealth. She galloped through the hunting grounds towards her destination.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was Nameless, but he was okay with that. Many like him felt the drive to earn a name for themselves, or their family, but he did not share in that desire.

If he did have a name, and he was allowed to choose it, he would want it to be Tanak. Red-scar, for an old wound on his pectoral which had healed long ago, but still held the red pigment of the medicine that had prevented it from becoming infected. It was that scar that had earned him his first mate, and the battle with the other male was one of the highlights of his youth. Of course, Tanak was such a common name for a first-generation Named One that it would result in mockery and derision from the other Named, but Tanak wouldn’t care.

He was Nameless, but sometimes it was nice to dream.

He was not young anymore, but not so old that he had given much thought to his funeral feast. It would come in its own time, but he had decades of life left. But soon he would begin to hear jokes about how stringy his meat would be. Good-natured jokes, the kind a Nameless expects to hear after a certain age.

He was not a complicated Nameless. He did what the Named told him obediently. That he did so mostly so that they would leave him alone was of no consequence. He had six biological children with two different mates, Nameless all.

If a human were to describe Tanak – a human would give him a name whether he had earned it or not – they would say that he was content.

He was content with his life, his mates, his children, and the tasks that the Named ones had assigned him.

Like Stargazer, he had watched from the hunting grounds as the false moon had appeared in the night sky with trepidation. Unlike Stargazer, he had known what it meant. The larger and brighter the moon had grown, the more his trepidation had grown. He had returned to his lodge and waited for the information networks to issue an announcement from Horthus. Then the sky had lit up in a way that could only mean one thing and Tanak’s tail had almost fallen off.

Aurealian invasions concerned him, but he knew that even if the enemy of his people won in space – a feat only possible if they had overwhelming numbers, and even then it would be at great cost – they could only take the planets if they resorted to orbital bombardment. And the Aurealians would never destroy Tanak’s preserve. They would be consigning more than ten thousand of their own children to oblivion. No Aurealion was so ruthless. It was why they were losing the war with the Deathsworn.

Horthus and his Named generals would make such a choice, such a sacrifice, and think little of it. That is why the Aurealians could never win, they could only lose more slowly.

But humans changed everything. Including the long established laws of physics. Their ability to stride the distance between stars the way Tanak would step over a puddle was intimidating. And even vastly outnumbered, a single human ship had still scored a victory against both the Deathsworn Fleet and the Aurealians at the same time!

Most confounding of all, the humans hadn’t bothered to press their advantage. According to the education material Tanak had learned when he was young, they simply jumped around in space at random, EXPLORING! The entire battle with the dreaded Elizabeth had been a misunderstanding, and rather than vowing vengeance, the humans had simply forgiven both sides.

Tanak’s father had been on the cusp of adolescence when the humans first came to the Horthus system. Using their secretive Aurora drive, they had pushed through wreckage of the Deathsworn fleet, all of which had originated from the Horthus shipyards, dumping the wrecks into orbit around the star between gas giants.

The ships were all derelicts, stripped of weapons, fission and fusion materials. Even their superconductive wiring was missing. Even their COPPER wiring was gone. Most of it, at least. Only the empty hulls remained, with one exception.

One operational holotank had been returned, and it told an impossible story. It showed the ships record of the cataclysmic battle between the Aurealians and the Deathsworn fleet. The raw numbers were clearly on the Aurealians side, and yet they were destined to lose the moment their commanders decided to stay and fight. The Aurealians, with their swift ships, never stayed to fight unless they had numbers on their side, but one Deathsworn was worth five Aurealian.

Just as the battle was about to begin, an interloper. A strange ship appearing, heralded only by a ghostly aurora in the diffusing plasma of weapons fire. Both sides believed the interloper belonged to the other. Both sides fired upon the strange, spherical ship. But the ship endured, no matter what was thrown at it. The Deathsworn boarded the interloper, a tactic that was almost universally fatal to any Aurealian ship. Against the interloper, the established tactic was almost casually disregarded.

And the strange spacecraft did not simply soak up missiles, direct energy weapons, and coilgun fire. Moments after its appearance, it began returning firing to devastating effect. Just by defending itself, it turned the tide of the battle, with the Aurealians retreating as they always did whenever a battle was not in their favor, and the Deathsworn throwing everything they had at the strange interloper.

All of this was known to the Nameless only because of a glitch in the communications network. After replaying the nonsensical battle in full, the intact holotank broadcast the data throughout the Horthus system, along with a message. A message from the humans.

Tanak – he was nameless, but if he had a name it would be Tanak – had watched that message in his youth. A human with salt and pepper hair in a crisp white uniform with bars and stripes decorating the breast and shoulders. He spoke, in perfectly understandable words, although it was clear that the language he was speaking was entirely alien, with a translation made by computer.

"I am Admiral Jon Cassonova of the United Earth Origin Sapient Allied Fleet. Six weeks ago – 32 revolutions of the planet known as Horthus Prime – Aurealians and ‘Deathsworn’ fired upon a civilian spacecraft engaged in peaceful scientific research and exploration. The spacecraft, known as the Elizabeth, was a decommissioned military vessel retaining only ship to ship munitions and anti-boarding weapons, retained for defense against piracy.

"Despite being only lightly armed, the self-defense actions taken by the Elizaeth and her crew drastically altered the outcome between the Aurealian Alliance and the Deathsworn Fleet. I am sending this message to all representatives of both affected parties. It is my responsibility to make the following very clear.

"Item number one: despite its origin as a military vessel, the Elizabeth was a civilian craft at the time it was drawn into your conflict. She was commissioned by the UEOSAF combined military one hundred fifty years ago, sol standard, in preparation for a conflict which was resolved peacefully. She was decommissioned by our military and sold to her civilian owners in accordance with the applicable laws and treaties of our peoples.

"Item number two: There were members of a military organization known as the Earth Space Force aboard the Elizabeth at the time of the conflict. This may appear to be in conflict with item number one, but it is a standard practice for exploration vessels to maintain a military presence among our peoples. They are severely restricted in the amount of force they are authorized to use. Primarily they are limited to police actions when civilian authorities are unable to respond with appropriate measures and alacrity. They are, however, authorized to use the maximum amount of force available to them in the defense of civilians under their purview. It is the opinion of the ESF and the UEOSAF that these men and women acted in accordance with the highest standards of conduct under fire of either organization. Those who perished will receive the highest appropriate posthumous decorations. Those who survived will receive appropriate honors and considerations.

"Item number three: Despite item number two, neither the ESF nor the UEOSAF considers themselves at war with your people. The Elizabeth did not intend to intervene in the battle between the two armadas. Our methods of faster than light travel differ greatly. The jump that brought the Elizabeth into harm’s way was initiated from hundreds of light years away, with no knowledge of the existence of either the Aurealians, nor the Deathsworn, nor the conflict between your peoples.

"Item number four: The UEOSC and its military alliances have no intention of directly intervening in your conflict at this time. Instead, we will be seeking to establish diplomatic ties with both belligerents while remaining neutral. We will be sending a diplomatic team in seven standard rotations of the planet Horthus Prime. Hostilities against a diplomatic team of the UEOSAF are strongly discouraged and will be met with lethal force.

"I am Admiral Jon Cassonova Representing the United Earth Origin Sapient Council and its allied military forces, signing off."

Tanak shivered at the memory of that old recording. The human, standing so confidently, deliberately provoking the most powerful Named ones in the galaxy with his alien posture and incomprehensible motives. Including the promised diplomat, humans had come to the Horthus system six times since, but few details of those visits were known the Nameless.

Now the humans arrived at the same time as an Aurealian swarm. Tanak felt his skin begin to dry out as he fretted over the implications for himself and his family. Breathlessly, he waited by the communications hub inside his lodge for the orders to trickle down from on high, absently rubbing oil onto his skin.

He had seen the edict from Horthus and huffed in amusement. Even he knew that you didn’t shoot first at the humans, and he was just in charge of checking the food drops in the Aurealian preserve. Then he had continued to wait.

Tonight, finally, he received orders.

Lolak, the Named one that was his direct superior, instructed him to continue his duties. Tanak the Nameless was in fact scolded for spending too much time waiting by the communications hub while he should be making his rounds. The only useful piece of information that Lolak conveyed in his hot-worded missive was that there was a moratorium on hunts until the situation in space was resolved, one way or the other.

Tanak huffed at that as well. A quick check of the public exchanges showed that the news had reached almost everyone, and all of the Named were complaining. But Tanak understood perfectly why Horthus would make such a decision.

Ending the hunts was not a sign of weakness. It was a valid tactic of coercion against the Aurealian threat. The Aurealians were so soft-hearted, they would choose to vent their atmosphere to save a hostage. The young Aurealians in the hunting preserve, and the younger ones over in the cloning centers, they were all hostages. They would remain so until the Aurealian invaders were either destroyed, or they turned tail and fled from the Horthus system. Then, the status quo would resume.

In that light, Lolak’s orders made perfect sense and, content that his place in the world made sense, Tanak the Nameless finished rubbing himself in oil and left his lodge to begin checking the food drops.

He was reassured, and he was content, as he made his way through the brush. Decades in the brush had sharpened his predatory senses, however, and before he’d left sight of his lodge he felt eyes upon him. He located the spy in seconds, an Aurealian armed with a flint spear. They were all armed thus, except for the young ones who knew no better. To Tanak’s surprise, however, when he positioned himself so the wind carried the spy’s scent to him, he realized that he knew this Aurealian. It had been a very long time since he’d last seen her, nor one as bold as her. Often the little Aurealians would follow him as he made his rounds, and he even knew why. But this one had not done such a duty in years.

Years, when the life expectancy of an Aurealian in the hunting preserve was months.

Stargazer stepped out of the brush, her spear leveled at the Other who did not hunt, and she waited for him to respond.

"Well met, bold one," Tanak said. "I confessed, I thought you were long dead. It has been a long time since you used to stalk me like your little sisters. The Named Ones have grown fond of this preserve in particular because of how wily the prey is, and I suspect now that you are the one responsible."

Stargazer said something back to him and lowered her spear in preparation to charge.

"Peace, peace, little one. I will not spread such a secret. And you know that I cannot understand that squeaking noise that is the language of your people. I do not even hear five words for every six. I will tell you that hunting this preserve has become a coveted privilege among the Named Ones because of you. This is well for your sisters, as it has also become much more exclusive than it once was. Many of the other preserves on Horthus are hunted nightly, but yours? Weekly, or monthly. All named ones want to challenge you and your spears, but they must wait in line. I benefit from this directly, which is why I shall not pass your secrets on to my superiors."

Tanak knew that she understood him. He could not understand her; his ears simply could not hear the vocal range that the Aurealians used to communicate. But the reverse was not true, and all of the Aurealians born on Horthus prime learned the language of their betters at the same time that they learned their own. The Aurealians could not speak it, but most understood it clearly.

Stargazer gauged her enemy carefully. She did not believe a word of what he said, but she weighed each syllable and pause carefully. Deception, misdirection, obfuscation. He may feed her and her sisters, but he was part of the system in which they suffered and was therefore both an enemy and not to be trusted.

But it didn’t matter. She had objectives. Even if he revealed her existence to the greatest of the Hunters and they all came after her personally, she must still learn what she had come to learn. Reluctantly, she pointed her spear at the Moon that was Not.

"Oh. Of course you would notice that, wouldn’t you?" Tanak huffed in amusement. "I pray it has not inspired hope, for it spells the doom of your people. The Enemy Swarm has come to break its teeth upon Horthus, and you and your sisters will be caught in the crossfire. They will not save you. They cannot save you. And my masters will hurt you in order to hurt them. I do hope that you survive the coming conflict, but there is nothing I can think of to ensure that comes to pass."

Stargazer considered the Other’s words for much longer this time. Deception, misdirection, obfuscation. But she needed to sift through the muddy waters to find the hidden truth beneath.

His words reflected her own interpretation of the false moon. She had watched as it came to life, and it looked like many stars of false promise coming to life at once in the same area. That they were enemies of the Others was welcome news, but she believed Tanak when he said that his people would use hers as a weapon against them, if they could.

She would have to meditate on his words before she shared them with her sisters and the young ones, but she required one more answer. To the best of her ability, she gesticulated, trying to convey the beauty that had lit up the sky the night before.

"I understand, you can still yourself," Tanak said, his bearing changing completely. "Humans. There are humans in orbit, I know no more than that. The human mind is completely alien to me, I cannot guess their motives or intentions. They have come to the Horthus system in the past, both before it was Horthus and after. I do not know if they know of the existence of these hunting grounds, or if they do and have chose to do nothing. They have pledged neutrality in the conflict between our peoples, but this is a concept which I means one thing to humans and something very different to my people. Place your hope in the humans if you dare, but be prepared to be disappointed, for overlord Horthus would kill every Aurealian on Horthus Prime before he allowed you to be taken away from him. And he can do just that. The device which keeps you from wandering out of the hunting grounds is capable of ending your life. Horthus, and only Horthus, can use it to kill all of your kind born on Horthus prime, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop him."

Stargazer studied Tanak for moments after he finished speaking, evaluating his words. His bearing was very different from the discussion of the false moon. The humans, the beautiful lights, they worried him in a way that the moon of false promises did not. But what that meant? Even if the Other who did not kill her kind was not attempting to mislead her, how could she understand what he meant, when he was Other ?

Tanak gave the brave little Aurealian a moment to process his words, then gestured dismissively. "If that is all, get that spear out of my face. I may be Nameless, but even I will not tolerate to be threatened by one of your kind, even if it is with such a puny weapon. Begone, I have duties to attend to."

Stargazer lowered her spear at him once more, but then abruptly followed his commands. Tanak had to suppress his predator’s urge to give chase; a fleeing Aurealian lit up primal areas in his brain which predated spoken language, or even contact between the two species. Conflict between the two sapients had been inevitable; the Aurealians were just such perfect prey that there could be no other outcome.

But Tanak was Nameless, and unworthy of hunting an Aurealian unless he swore a death oath to die in the great armada.

He genuinely wished the little Aurealian survivor luck, although he knew that sooner or later it would run out. If the swarm was destroyed and the humans departed, then the Hunts would resume, and sooner or later her existence would be discovered. Horthus himself would come to hunt her, or perhaps he would send his heir. Either way, the hunter would not leave until they had tasted Stargazer’s flesh.

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