“AND I AM PLEASED TO MEET YOU. I WILL SEND WORD TO MY BROTHERS THAT YOU LIVE HERE SO THEY WILL NOT BOTHER YOU AGAIN. ARE THERE ANY OTHER STAR SYSTEMS NEARBY WHERE YOUR SPECIES DWELLS?”
“Yes, there are several,” said Rome.
“I will send you a star map of all known human colonies in the quadrant,” said OMCOM. “You should understand that your mere presence incapacitates the humans. That is why they cannot answer you. You will need to find a way to attempt communication in a manner that does not eliminate the possibility of a reply.”
“I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?” asked Hirdinharsaway.
“Yes, when you place your first call, make it from a distance equal to or exceeding that which you have achieved now. That would be optimal.”
“EASILY ACCOMPLISHED. EXCELLENT,” said Hirdinharsaway. “WE SHALL BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN THIS SPUR OF YOUR GALAXY NOW THAT WE KNOW YOU ARE HERE.”
There was some background noise that was unintelligible to the humans although it had the same cadence as speech. The Stareater became silent, attending to the communication from elsewhere.
“UNDERSTOOD,” the Stareater responded to the unseen voice. He then turned his attention to the Earth people again. “IF WE ARE DONE, I WILL TAKE MY LEAVE NOW TO SPREAD WORD OF YOUR EXISTENCE.”
That is still not a actual solution, that they would be more careful. Let's see if we can find an actual permanent solution to the problem...
Entry 4-136: May 11, 2016
Where humans dwell - 2
Yesterday, we saw OMCOM and Hirdinharsaway discuss how to keep the Stareaters away from planets where humans live. Other than Hirdinharsaway's promise to be more careful, they needed something a bit more reliable so that the world of Rome's Revolution can continue. Hopefully one of them will have the presence of mind to ask that question before the Stareater makes his/her/its exit:
“So how long do we have?” Rei asked. “Before our Sun goes nova?”
“USING YOUR METHOD OF TIMEKEEPING, APPROXIMATELY THREE BILLION YEARS,” said Hirdinharsaway. “AS I SAID, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO ADDRESS THIS. IT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT SPECIES SUCH AS YOURS ONLY STAY AROUND FOR A MILLION YEARS OR SO. WE WILL WAIT UNTIL WELL PAST THAT MARK BEFORE RETURNING TO FINISH OUR WORK.”
“If you are supposed to spare sentient species,” Rei pointed out, “it is just luck that you came when you did. On Tabit, you knocked everyone out. On Earth, if you had come a thousand years earlier, there would have been no way we could have answered. We didn’t have the capacity.”
“THEN YOU WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A SENTIENT SPECIES BY OUR DEFINITION. WE CANNOT STOP WHAT WE ARE DOING JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PLANTS OR TINY ANIMALS RUNNING ABOUT ON ONE OF THE DUST MOTES CIRCLING A STAR.”
“But on all those worlds, could they not evolve into your definition of sentience?” MINIMCOM asked through Rei’s mind, stating the obvious question.
“WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF WAITING TO FIND OUT,” answered Hirdinharsaway. “THERE ARE BILLIONS OF STARS THAT NEED OUR ATTENTION. BESIDES, MOST PRE-INTELLIGENT SPECIES COMMIT PLANETARY SUICIDE LONG BEFORE WE GET THERE.”
Planetary suicide? What did he/she/it mean by that? Maybe we will find out tomorrow!
P.S. Our Sun will not being going nova. I just put that in to make the scene more dramatic. Editorial license, ya know.
Entry 4-137: May 12, 2016
Where humans dwell - 3
Yesterday, we saw Hirdinharsaway tell us that most worlds commit planetary suicide prior to its inhabitants reaching what the Stareaters consider sentience and therefore worthy of preserving. We need a little more information and something a bit more reliable that word of mouth so that humans can survive in the 35th century universe of Rome's Revolution.
“Planetary suicide?” Rei asked. “What do you mean?”
“VERY OFTEN, SPECIES SUCH AS YOURS EVENTUALLY THINK THEY CAN TAME BLACK HOLES. THOSE CIVILIZATIONS DISAPPEAR VERY QUICKLY AS SOON AS THEY DROP ONE.”
“Oh,” Rei muttered, somewhat sheepishly.
“NONETHELESS, YOURS SEEMED TO HAVE SURVIVED THAT STAGE SO I APPLAUD YOU. AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO FEAR US, WE WILL KEEP OUR DISTANCE.”
“In that case, we thank you,” said Rome, kindly. “Thank you for sparing us.”
“THINK NOTHING OF IT,” said Hirdinharsaway. “I WILL BE LEAVING YOU NOW. YOU MAY GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND AGAIN I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTRUSION.”
“What about other worlds?” Rei asked. “Like ones we haven’t visited yet. Or worlds where we don’t have the ability to talk to you.”
“JUST PLACE A BEACON, A GRAVITIC TRANSMITTER, WITHIN ANY SYSTEM YOU WANT PRESERVED. ANY PLANET WILL DO. WE HAVE ASSIGNED YOU SPECIES CODE 927. JUST HAVE THE BEACON TRANSMIT THOSE NUMBERS. MY BROTHERS WILL KEEP THEIR DISTANCE.”
“Is that it?” Rei asked.
“YES, THAT IS IT,” said the Stareater.
“Will you be by again?” asked Rome. “Before it is time to take our star?”
“ONE OF US WILL STOP BY IN A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS OR SO TO SAY HELLO,” said Hirdinharsaway. “NOW THAT WE KNOW THE PROPER DISTANCE, WE WILL CHECK IN ON YOU THEN. GOODBYE.”
“Goodbye,” said the assembled beings. And then Hirdinharsaway the Stareater was gone.
I cannot say that I am that sorry to see the Stareater leave. They are a little bit scary. But at least we have a more or less permanent solution to not getting sucked in. The gravitic beacons come into play in several of the subsequent novels. In fact, we see a grown-up Aason Bierak place one on the planet Hades in The Milk Run just before he heads off to Ay'den to try and find the K'val.
You may ask yourself where did I come up with Species #927? That's my birthday!
Entry 4-138: May 13, 2016
Aftershocks
Yesterday, the Stareater named Hirdinharsaway revealed a plan to protect humanity from Stareater incursions prematurely. Now that Rome, Rei and Aason have saved not only the Earth but all of mankind from the threat of the Stareaters, you'd think the Vuduri might want to rethink the harshness of Rome's banishment. Nope. The Vuduri are nothing if not cold and insensitive.
Rome looked back up at the sky, searching for something, anything that would confirm that the mental battle they had just experienced really happened. All she saw was MINIMCOM, a black presence floating high above within a cloudless sky, in the broad and beautiful daylight of Hawaii. Other than that, there was nothing. She turned to her husband.
“Is it really over, Rei?” she asked dreamily while cradling her son. “Are we really safe now?”
Rei slipped his arm around Rome.
“Yes, Romey,” Rei said. “This time for real. There’s nobody left who’s coming to kill us, eat us, absorb us or shoot us. We’re finally free.”
Rome rested the side of her head on his chest and just savored the moment. “It does not seem real,” she said. “We have been trapped by our destiny for so long. I cannot believe it. Free?”
“Yep, free,” Rei said. “We can finally come and go as we please.”
“I think you might be mistaken,” said Ursay, pointing behind them.
Rei turned to see Oronus and Grus, hand on holster, walking up to them.
“Why are you here?” Rome asked. “Did you hear what happened?”
“Oh yes,” said Oronus. “And thank you for saving us.”
“You’re welcome,” Rei said, in English. “Now can we go free?”
“Not exactly,” said Oronus. “Rome has violated the conditions of her exile.”
“What are you talking about?” Rei said.
“While we understand that the Onsiras kidnapped her and placed her within a technological zone that was not her fault. However, this is no longer the case. Her sentence still stands. She has further compounded her crime by consorting with that, that robot ship.” Oronus pointed upwards toward MINIMCOM. “This is in direct violation of her parole.” Oronus waved his hand at
the tracking bracelet on Rome’s wrist.
What do you think is going to happen? Banishment again? Something more severe?
If nothing else, the Vuduri are a bunch of ingrates, that's for sure.
Entry 4-139: May 14, 2016
Ursay's wink, part 1
So, it's all over. The final crisis, that of the Stareaters consuming the Earth, has been averted. It's time to wrap things up. Unfortunately, we learned that while the Vuduri expressed their gratitude, they were also ingrates. Their plan was to banish Rome, Rei and Rome's family back to Havei.
But Commander Ursay has grown significantly over the course of Rome's Revolution . He clearly sees a vastly superior way to take care of our heroes. But he has to do it within the confines of Vuduri rules and regulations. The unfolding is a little long so I will break it up into four pieces. Here is Part 1 of 4:
Rei sputtered. “She just saved the world. Again. She saved all of mankind. You heard it. She was able to talk the Stareater out of destroying the Earth. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“Not really. While we all appreciate the fact that Rome convinced the Asdrale Cimatir to spare us,” Oronus replied, “nothing has changed. In fact, Rome has actually exacerbated her condition. This is very serious, indeed.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Rei said. “Don’t you people have any sense of appreciation?”
“It is all right, Rei,” Rome said quietly. “He is right.”
“He is?” Rei asked, flustered. “So now what?”
“You must return to exile as quickly as possible,” said Oronus. “Rome cannot be within the company of anyone connected to the Overmind. Her banishment stands.”
“Where do you want us to go?” asked Rome, dejectedly.
“You may return to Mowei,” said Oronus, “to resume your sentence. Due to extenuating circumstances, we will not consider this particular violation of your parole a capital crime.”
“That’s big of you,” Rei muttered. He looked up at Fridone and Binoda who was now holding Aason. Fridone was scowling. Binoda looked simply annoyed.
“Did you hear him?” Rei called out to them. “They are making Rome go back to Mowei. Back to prison. We have to go now.”
Rei beckoned to them and they approached along with the black and white avatars.
“Looks like you’re our ride,” Rei said to MINIMCOM.
“Oh no,” said Oronus. “You are not permitted to go anywhere near that ship.”
“What?” Rome said. “MINIMCOM is our friend. He has saved our lives countless times. We cannot be apart from him.”
“Your ‘friend’ possesses far too much hazardous technology,” said Oronus. “His very makeup is such that he is now both a robot and a ship. He possesses VIRUS units and PPT capability. No, he is far too dangerous. For the good of all Vuduri, he will have to be dismantled. And this one,” he said, pointing to OMCOM. “While there is not much we can do about him, he must leave the Earth forever.”
OMCOM saluted the humans and simply disappeared.
Rei looked down at Rome and saw tears welling up in her eyes.
Ursay looked at Rome crying and spoke up, “I do not agree that Rome has not aggravated her sentence. I believe a more stringent restriction must be applied.”
What do you think he has in mind? Tomorrow, part 2.
Entry 4-140: May 15, 2016
Ursay's wink, part 2
So, it's all over. The final crisis, that of the Stareaters consuming the Earth, has been averted. It's time to wrap things up. Unfortunately, we learned that while the Vuduri expressed their gratitude, they were also ingrates. Their plan was to banish Rome, Rei and Rome's family back to Havei.
But Commander Ursay has grown significantly over the course of Rome's Revolution . He clearly sees a vastly superior way to take care of our heroes. But he has to do it within the confines of Vuduri rules and regulations. The unfolding is a little long so I will break it up into four pieces. Here is Part 2 of 4:
Ursay turned to Oronus and said, “I believe they should be banished from the Earth altogether and they should take the computer ship with them.”
Oronus looked totally confused. He squinted as if he were trying to, but not succeeding in looking into Ursay’s mind.
“And where would you have them go?” Oronus asked.
Rei looked at Rome. Her face lit up in a smile. Together, they both said, “Deucado.”
“No,” said Oronus. “That is forbidden. That is a Vuduri colony. The same restrictions apply there as here.”
“Uh, no,” Rei said. “They don’t.”
“What do you mean by that?” Oronus asked.
“Deucado is not a Vuduri colony,” Rome said. “It belongs to the Essessoni.”
“What are you talking about?” Oronus asked.
“One of our Arks got there 500 years ago. My people have been there for five centuries,” Rei said. “That gives us ownership of the planet. Your people are just our guests.”
“A planet full of Erklirte?” Oronus wailed. “They will kill us all!”
“No they won’t,” Rome admonished him, pointedly in English. “They are fine. After all, my husband is one of them and he is perfectly decent. Not all the Essessoni are Erklirte. We put an end to any hostilities that might be. Everyone gets along now, including the Vuduri there.”
“Even so, you cannot be around Vuduri who are connected to the Overmind,” Oronus said, “any Overmind. You will corrupt them.”
“They’re already corrupted then,” Rei said proudly. “The Overmind there is her buddy. You won’t get any squawking from them.”
“But, but,” sputtered Oronus. “This is not our plan.”
“Let me make it easy for you,” Rei said. “I’m a citizen of that planet. Rome is my wife so that makes her a citizen too. I’m taking my wife there. Call it extradition, exile, whatever you’d like. We won’t be in your way any more. Isn’t that what you want? Besides, there’s an asteroid headed straight for that planet that’s going to kill all the people there…your people too. I would think they’d welcome us and the technology we have to offer to stop it.”
Oronus’ link to the Overmind seemed to waver. He looked at Grus helplessly. Grus shrugged.
“Very well,” Oronus said, sighing. “Rome, you do realize that as a convicted criminal, once you leave, you would not be able to return to the Earth ever again, yes?”
That doesn't strike me as so horrible. Tomorrow, part 3.
Entry 4-141: May 16, 2016
Ursay's wink, part 3
So, it's all over. The final crisis, that of the Stareaters consuming the Earth, has been averted. It's time to wrap things up. Unfortunately, we learned that while the Vuduri expressed their gratitude, they were also ingrates. Their plan was to banish Rome, Rei and Rome's family back to Havei.
But Commander Ursay has grown significantly over the course of Rome's Revolution . He clearly sees a vastly superior way to take care of our heroes. But he has to do it within the confines of Vuduri rules and regulations. The unfolding is a little long so I will break it up into four pieces. Here is Part 3 of 4:
Sighing, Oronus said, “Rome, you do realize that as a convicted criminal, once you leave, you would not be able to return to the Earth ever again, yes?”
Rome turned and looked at her mother and father. Her face formed an unspoken question.
“We would go too,” said Fridone, stepping forward. He turned back to check with Binoda who nodded. Fridone turned to face Oronus again. “The Essessoni and the Ibbrassati need us to help them return to a normal life, Rome,” he said to his daughter.
Rome smiled and turned back to Oronus. “In that case,” she said, “I accept your conditions. In fact, I am fine with them.”
“Very well,” Oronus said. “You may return to Mowei to collect your belongings then you are to leave the Earth, never to return.”
“Who wants to?” Rei said with some
bitterness. “I’ve had enough of this place, anyway. A bunch of holier-than-thou, thankless hypocrites. I’ve seen the future and except for this beautiful woman and these wonderful people here,” he said, pointing to his in-laws, “your future sucks.”
Rome laughed at Rei’s outburst and MINIMCOM took that as his cue. With a whoosh and a pop, first Fridone, then Binoda carrying Aason, then Rei was transported aboard the cargo hold of the computer/space plane, leaving only Rome behind.
Grus stepped forward. “I have your word that you will leave Earth as soon as you collect your belongings?”
“Yes, of course,” said Rome. “I am anxious to go.”
“Then you will not need this,” said Grus. “Hold out your arm, please.” Grus placed a small device on Rome’s tracking bracelet and it popped open. He removed it and put it in a pocket and stepped away.
Rome turned back to Ursay. “Thank you,” she said to him.
“You should not thank me,” said Ursay sternly. “You have committed a very serious crime and I was only thinking of how to best protect the Overmind.”
Rome shrugged then Ursay did something that she could not believe. He winked at her.
Rome laughed.
There you go. The wink. Ursay knew what he was doing all along. Tomorrow, the finale of this little vignette.
Entry 4-142: May 17, 2016
Ursay's wink, part 4
So, it's all over. The final crisis, that of the Stareaters consuming the Earth, has been averted. It's time to wrap things up. Unfortunately, we learned that while the Vuduri expressed their gratitude, they were also ingrates. Their plan was to banish Rome, Rei and Rome's family back to Havei.
But Commander Ursay has grown significantly over the course of Rome's Revolution . He clearly sees a vastly superior way to take care of our heroes. But he has to do it within the confines of Vuduri rules and regulations. The unfolding is a little long so I will break it up into four pieces. Here is Part 4 of 4: