First of the First Read online

  “So why are the People afraid of the Tolen?”

  “The People fear the Tolen because they think we are like them, but different. We aren’t. We are the same. They think we walk a different path to the People, but we don’t. We walk the same path, just slightly out of step with them. They are afraid that we will ‘pollute’ the People’s ethos. We won’t. We allow the rest of the People to live their lives as they wish, without the moral hazards of interfering with the natural development of the rest of the universe. They are free to call on us to do the dirty work of the sort that Alan finds himself involved in; they just have to ask us. They can keep their hands clean and their consciences clear.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that. Alan keeps saying that the People don’t intervene because of the dilemma it presents that you could end up managing the entire universe, directing the course of events and becoming like gods, but he got quite involved in the war against Tk’ng Dach Rm.”

  Alan finds it more difficult than many of the People to stand back and act as a passive observer. His motives are different from the Tolen, which is why, though he may seem to share our values, he distrusts and fears us. He is held in high regard by the People who know of him, and we, the Tolen, hold him in even higher regard. If he could resolve his internal conflicts, he would make a great leader of the Tolen. I would step down from my position in his favor. But, that will never happen, and maybe it’s better that it doesn’t. Alan does an outstanding job as an Archivist and he also intervenes in the affairs of this galaxy when he sees an injustice. He has been the driving force behind the support of the independent armies for billions of years. This galaxy would be a different place without him, a less peaceful and just place.”

  “I didn’t realize Alan had such an effect on the galaxy. But how? He spent over four hundred years on Earth, compiling the Earth Archive.”

  “He is very thorough, but that is an unusually long time even for him. He must have liked Earth.”

  “Bob, what is it about the Archives the People create? Why are they so important to you?”

  “That is complicated.”

  “I know that’s People speak for you can’t be bothered to tell me, or you don’t want to tell me. So, which one is it?”

  “Very perceptive Mark. It is the latter; I don’t want to tell you. Our motives are a very private matter for the People. I would prefer you not to ask again.”

  Mark was taken aback by this blunt refusal.

  “I am sorry Mark,” Bob said. “I did not mean to offend you. It may seem arrogant of us to create detailed archives of every civilization and make the non-sensitive parts open to everyone who is interested, yet never allow access to our own archive. We are known for being secretive, especially about ourselves. There is a reason we are the way we are. I cannot tell you more, but I can assure you that the reasons behind our secrecy are not sinister.”

  “OK, I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.” Mark felt snubbed by what Bob had said, wondering for a moment what was the point of being a Friend of the People if they kept secrets from him. Then he remembered that he now had the use of one of the People’s star ships, the most powerful in the known universe, and he had implants that gave him People’s phase shift protection, which made him invulnerable. Oh, and he had his own AI implant to advise and generally look after him. And so much more. This improved his mood again.

  “Thanks for your hospitality Bob. How do I contact the task force?”

  “Contact me in the first instance, I will make arrangements. Do not be concerned that will lead to any delay, I will not judge or filter your request. If you ask for them, they will be there immediately. I just want to keep our lines of communication clear.”

  “I can work with that. Thanks again Bob. You are a good friend to have.” Mark smiled and stood up to leave.

  “Before you go Mark, I have something for you that you may find useful.”

  Chapter Twelve

  A Friend In Need

  Mark found the command center empty; everybody was busy with something. His AI, Kate, checked Sean’s status and connected them.

  “Hello Sean.” Mark said, unsure how to ask one of the People if they would be happy to be used as a delivery service, which was what Alan meant by ‘logistics support.’

  “Hello Mark. I was expecting to hear from you. I’m not busy. Shall I come and visit you?”

  “Oh, yes, yes of course. I’ll just go to a convenient place, and you can blink to me there.”

  Mark blinked to his meeting room, moments later, Shen Ghan Prab Khor, or Sean as Mark’s AI translated his name to, arrived. To Mark’s eyes, he was indistinguishable from Bob or Alan, except the floor length robe he wore was dark blue.

  “It is good to meet you again Mark.” Sean said, extending his hand. Mark reached out and grasped it, remembering just too late how Sean interpreted the human custom of shaking hands. When he had finished shaking Mark’s hand like a terrier determined to finish off a rat, he continued, “Alan spoke to me. He said you may ask me to provide you with some logistical support to help with an issue with the Herassan Federation. Naturally I will give you all the assistance I can, but tell me what the issue is.”

  Mark gestured for him to sit down and fetched them both a drink from the synthesizer on the wall. This reminded him of something he kept meaning to do. He handed Sean the drink and told him about Mike, her position in the Federation and the threat from Major Bryd Sa Dett.

  “That all sounds quite exciting.” Sean said when Mark had finished. “I have been supervising the craft building facility for too long now Mark. It’s time for me to do something else. Another of the People is going to take over from me soon, so a trip out to lend you a hand would be welcome. There is rarely anything I have to do that can’t wait, and if there is an emergency, the AI’s can deal with it quite competently, so just say the word and I’ll be with you instantly.”

  “That’s more than I expected Sean. I am grateful for your offer, but I hope that things won’t get to the point where we need you. However, if we do, it’s a relief that you are willing to help.”

  “You know Mark, I may just come and join you anyway – if that’s all right.”

  “Yes, that would be great! Major Bryd Sa Dett didn’t take me seriously, he doesn’t believe that as a mere Friend of the People I have my own craft, so your presence might make him more amenable to negotiation.”

  “Say no more Mark, I’ll return in a full size craft, the same as Alan’s right away, but before I go, I am curious. Why did you choose to have a smaller craft? This size is only used for specialist tasks.”

  “I didn’t think I needed one as big as Alan’s. I can’t think of any reason I ever would. I asked if you could help because I can’t be in two places at once, not because the Swift doesn’t have enough capacity. Anyway, I’ve got it now, so I guess I’ll need to keep it.”

  “You can change it any time you like. We always have the standard full sized craft available. Custom designs take a while longer as they have to be scheduled and take their turn.”

  “It would be too much trouble Sean. My traveling companions and I have started to make modifications and the AI’s would have to be moved and get used to a new craft, so I’ll stick with what I’ve got.”

  “If you decide that you want to move up to a standard size craft, changeover takes only moments of elapsed time. Your AI’s will move themselves across and familiarize themselves with a new craft in less time than it takes for a synthesizer to make you a drink of tea. Your main AI has a complete map of everything you may have done to modify your current craft down the atomic level, so can easily and quickly replicate all those changes. Your traveling companions and their possessions can be blinked across, so you could change your craft and nobody except you and your AI’s would notice. Still, it’s your choice. I’ll have one reserved for you at the facility, so if you ever change your mind, there need be no delay.”

  “Wow, that’s good of you Sean!”
Mark said.

  “It’s only what any supervisor would do for any of the People. It’s part of their remit as supervisor.”

  “But I’m not one of the People, I am just a Friend of the People.”

  “You are the only Friend of the People to have their own craft Mark. There are no separate protocols for Friends of the People, so you will be treated the same as everyone else. There is just one thing I need to do. I must ask Alan to authorize it as he is your sponsor, but I can’t imagine that he would have a problem. Just one moment, I’ll contact him now.”

  Sean paused and went still. He remained silent for several minutes and Mark became concerned. He didn’t want to be the cause of an argument between Sean and Alan, particularly over something he hadn’t asked for and wasn’t sure he wanted.

  At last Sean looked up at him. “Alan is pleased that you are getting a standard sized craft. Shall I arrange it now?”

  “No, hold off for now please Sean, I need to think about it. I was worried that you took so long that you might have had a disagreement with Alan about it.”

  Sean nodded and said, “I haven’t spoken to Alan for a while, I was telling him that I had decided to move on from the craft building facility and become an Archivist again. He told me about some of his mishaps and adventures on Chookli'ch. When we are finished with the Herassan Federation, I think I will join him there for a while.”

  “From what little Alan told me about his time on Earth, I don’t think you’ll have a dull moment with him on Chookli'ch.” Mark said.

  Sean nodded his head and clicked, then said, “I’ll leave now and return soon with my craft. I’ll take up station half a million kilometers away from you. That’s not so close to you to appear to anyone to be a joint threat, but close enough that they will know I am there to support you.” With that, he blinked out.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A Show Of Strength

  Mark blinked back to the command center. It was still empty. Mark called Simon. “Where are you and Orange?”

  “We’re in the bar.” Simon answered.

  “We haven’t got a bar.” Mark said.

  “You have now. Mike thought we needed more than one place to meet and a bar took priority. She’s off now making an area to relax in, then she’s going to make a swimming pool with a wave machine.”

  “Good grief.” Mark shook his head. “Well, at least it keeps her out of the way.”

  “Yeah, and after that she’s going to build a climbing wall, she said about five hundred meters high.”

  Mark sighed. “I’m in two minds about what to do with her. Should I push her out of an airlock or hand her over to the Herassan army?”

  “Or you could shoot her.” Simon suggested, helpfully.

  “I’ll be right with you.” Mark said and blinked to the newly made bar room.

  He found Simon and Orange sitting on stools at the bar. Two tables were complete, a further four were still extruding from the floor. As he arrived a self-propelled pallet came through the door stacked with chairs.”

  “It’s still a work in progress.” Simon said. “I want it to look like the bar at the Chequers back in Winchester, on Earth. There’s no bar bot yet, you’ll have to help yourself to a drink, and that will have to come from a synthesizer until there’s a stock here. Is there any chance we can go back to Earth to get some samples, so we can make a variety of drinks here?”

  “That’s not top of my list of priorities. Neither is turning the Swift into a holiday theme park.”

  “But we can go back to Earth and get samples of their beer?” Simon asked.

  Mark ignored the question. “Where is Sally?”

  “She was last seen with Touren and Bekkreshan.” Orange answered.

  Mark asked his AI to contact her. “Sally, are you all available? I need to brief you on progress. I’m with Orange and Simon and I can get Mike here.”

  “We’ll be with you in a few minutes. Where are you? You are in a part of the ship we haven’t used before.”

  “It will be a surprise for you when you get here.”

  “A nice surprise?”

  “I’ll let you decide when you arrive, but don’t get your hopes up too high.”

  Mark cut the connection and connected to Mike. “Would you join us in the bar please?” he asked.

  “I’m a bit busy at the moment finishing off the pool. You’ll love it. It’s going to have a beach bar, artificial sun, a sandy beach running down into the water, and then I’m going to make a replica of a mountain I used to climb when I was young…”

  “Here, now!” he said.

  “As you’ve asked so nicely…” she started to reply, then blinked into the bar right next to him, “…I’ll come now. Do you like it? It will be great when its finished.”

  “Help Orange, Simon and me to get chairs round a table so we can all sit together. We’ve got stuff to discuss.”

  “I’ll just remind you that I am Hess An Sur, First Born of the First Family of the Herassan Federation Of The Five Planets, not some bar help that moves furniture around.”

  “And I’ll just remind you that I am Mark, Friend of the People and I’ll plant my foot up your scaly reptilian arse if you don’t help us move these chairs.”

  Mike grinned and flicked her long forked tongue out at him. “Where’s your sense of humor, mammal boy?” she said as she picked up a chair and carried it to a table.

  Mark was saved from having to answer by the arrival of Sally, Touren and Bekkreshan.

  “What the – what is this?” Sally asked.

  “Mike got over enthusiastic about creating meeting and relaxation areas. I preferred her when she was a sarcastic and grumpy bastard in your army. I want to update you on our situation, and we need to have a plan to deal with Major Bryd Sa Dett. Our one galactic standard hour is nearly up and its possible that he is reckless enough to start bombing Gnn'Ath.

  “We’ll need a convincing argument if we’re to avoid conflict.” Sally said, “He doesn’t seem to be taking us seriously even though we’ve got a People’s ship.”

  “Two People’s ships.” Mark said. “Sean the shipbuilder is standing off half a million kilometers away in support. He will move in closer if I ask, and I can get six more here if I need them.”

  “That’s great that you’ve got Sean here Mark, but where are you going to magic up six more from?” Sally asked.

  “From the Tolen. Do you think their presence would help?”

  “I think having eight of the People’s ships showing up would make anyone shit themselves. With those kind of numbers we can just politely ask Major Bryd Sa Dett to leave and all we’ll see are the exhausts from their engines as they make their way back to the wormhole at top speed.”

  “I’ll do it now.”

  Mark contacted Bob and explained his idea. Bob answered, “The six Tolen with their craft will be with you in a moment Mark. We have found in the past that a show of force often helps in negotiations, I will send another two hundred and forty craft with just AI’s on board. They wouldn’t be able to take part in any action, but they wouldn’t need to. You have enough weaponry on board to handle any conflict that might arise, but we would all prefer to avoid that.”

  “Bloody hell!” Mark said. Thanks Bob. I’m sure that not a shot will need to be fired.”

  Mark broke the connection and contacted Sean to explain what was going to happen. “I hope you don’t mind Sean; I know the People don’t like the Tolen. I’ll quite understand if you want to withdraw, as long as you come back when the Tolen have left.”

  “I don’t have a problem with the Tolen Mark. They make me uncomfortable in their presence, but they perform a great service for the People and I’ve always found them pleasant when arranging new craft for them. For a while, I was considering joining them.”

  “Mark – this is important!” Sally said. “Your Main AI has developed a fault. Do you have a standby?”

  “Kate, what’s wrong with the Main AI?”
/>   “The main AI is functioning normally Mark. It would be helpful to know why Sally thinks it has a problem.”

  “Sally, why do you think the AI has a problem?”

  “It’s told my AI that two hundred and forty six People’s ships have just arrived! All of them big ones like Alan’s. It could be a problem with your sensors I suppose. Do you have diagnostic routines you can run?”