Chapter 11.
The following morning they met again via holo-conference.
“Morning, all. Where’s Asha?” said Zuri. The empty holo-tube flickered, and then Asha’s image appeared. Her daughter’s head and shoulders slid out of the hologram.
“Sorry I’m late. Diaper change.”
“She’s so cute,” Zuri smiled. “How’s she doing?”
“Cut another tooth. It’s been a long night.” Asha looked toward something not seen in the hologram. “Thanks, Annie. I’ll come get her as soon as I can. Sorry about that.” She smiled as she turned toward Zuri’s holo-tube.
“Not a problem.” Zuri smiled back at her. “OK, then. Anything to report?” She looked around the table.
“Actually, not that much.” Chetan shifted in his seat. “Everyone seems to be really excited over here. We got lots of questions. But nothing much different from what we’ve already gone over.” He leaned forward. An arm and a coffee cup appeared in the view. He took a quick sip and put the cup back down.
Zuri looked around the table. When no other comments came, she glanced at Evander who was sitting in his usual place. His brow was furrowed, seemingly in deep concentration. He nodded at her and smiled ever so slightly.
“Very well, then. Let’s get to it.” She looked around the table once more, then down at her computer screen. “Link,” she typed. The response was immediate.
“I am LINK. Are you prepared?”
“Yes; but we have questions.”
“That is as it should be. Please proceed.”
Imamu was first, “When you turned toward us, we saw many needle-like objects protruding from the domes on your surface. What are they, weapons?”
“I have no need for weapons. I need no defense, nor am I aggressive. My purpose is as I have described. Should you have chosen aggression toward me, I would have removed myself from this place.”
“Where did you come from?” asked Chetan.
“I first became aware near a system called Cygnus 5.”
“Where’s that?”
“Relative to the center of this galaxy, it is approximately 150 degrees rotation from here.”
“How far away?”
“For me, distance has no relevance. However, for your frame of reference . . . somewhat over then-thousand light years.”
Evander sat quietly in the background, watching the reactions of the other commanders. He had watched others come and go over the years. All had done reasonably well handling the responsibilities of leadership. Traveling at near light speed in the relative void of space had its own set of challenges. But the technological level of their spacecraft was sufficiently advanced that little attention to their operation was necessary. System redundancy, combined with their self-diagnostic capabilities meant the ships essentially took care of themselves. Thus, command decision-making had more to do with public relations than anything else.
The sisters Wasswa and Zuri were raised by parents who had both been in command positions. Therefore it wasn’t surprising that the sisters would gravitate toward leadership positions. They tended to work closely together, even as children. Both had risen to command positions at about the same time. When the captain’s position on their home ship, the Sauda came available,they had decided between themselves that Wasswa should be the one to apply for the position. Zuri showed more interest in the inter-personal aspects of leadership, while Wasswa gravitated toward the technical side. Zuri’s popularity among all five ships made her the top choice for captaincy of the Brighid. She had been the first ever person to cross the ‘racial line,’ moving from her home ship.
When the fleet command position came available, she was elected to the position by almost unanimous proclamation. This left Evander, as her second in command, to take her place as captain. Because of his popularity and reputation, no one rose to challenge him.
Of all the women in command positions, Asha was probably the most emotional. She was prone to react more strenuously when faced with a challenge. Her responses were always proper. But Evander could discern from her body language, as well as how she approached problems that she maintained a certain reluctance to move forward. She had always performed admirably; so Evander saw no reason to doubt her ability.
Imamu was the most spiritual of the captains. He was the only child of parents who had been spiritual leaders in their community. His mother was pregnant when she and her husband were killed in an accident involving a freak decompression in their cubicle. From that point on, he became intimately involved in grief counselling programs on board the Sequum. He had risen to leadership as a calming influence for his people.
Chetan was probably the most volatile personality in the group. His people had a long history of being aggressive and militaristic. It had taken them hundreds of years more than the other cultures to overcome these tendencies. When they finally reached the level of maturity necessary to successfully engage in extra-terrestrial travel, it was through willful suppression of these undesirable tendencies. Evander sensed that they as well as all the other races still struggled with these issues.
As he watched them, Evander felt confident they all would continue to grow in maturity and compassion, particularly now that they faced this new challenge. He did, however, sense a certain trepidation among them. LINK had described in very general terms what they would be doing. But the specifics were still very unclear. Perhaps he might be able to help them focus their efforts. The volume in his voice increased ever so slightly, automatically drawing attention.
“As you have observed from the nature of our questions, our five races possess very similar characteristics. We are caring and compassionate. But we are also cautious. We are willing and even excited to begin this new adventure. We are also mindful of the consequences which might result from a too hasty decision.
“This is to be expected. Such caution is admirable and even desirable in any culture. It is easy for an individual to commit to such an undertaking when his life is all that is at stake. It is quite another matter when the well-being of others is involved. I cannot assuage your misgivings through words alone. Were I able to, you would not be worthy to receive the GIFT. Each of your races possess two qualities most treasured throughout the universe. The first is FAITH . . . a willingness to believe in and search for the good in others. The other is PRAGMATISM . . . the need to determine the meaning and truth of concepts by their practical consequences. This has ever been so.”
“What, then, can we do to assuage our fears?” Imamu responded.
“It is appropriate that you be given an opportunity to witness first hand the process in which you will soon be involved. If you desire, you may travel with me to a place where you may witness the ‘Seeding’ process first hand.”
Zuri interjected, “All of us?”
“Yes. If you so desire.”
“Perhaps it would be better if only a few representatives made the trip,” Evander suggested.
“This also is possible. Choose among you a few who will make the journey. Then come to me in one of your shuttle craft.”
“How long will we be gone?” It was obvious Imamu wanted to go.
“Time is not relevant. You may stay away as long as is necessary to assuage your apprehension.”
“OK, then. Now we need to decide who should go,” said Imamu. “I want to be one of them.”
Evander saw the excitement in his face. “Perhaps it would be best to take representatives from each of the five races. I suggest we conduct a lottery to decide who goes.”
“Good idea,” said Zuri. “But I think all ships captains should be included. Then when the occasion arises, they can speak with authority and the full support of their individual races.”
“Agreed,” said Evander. “But I would prefer to remain here. Zuri, you are most trusted among the populations. You should go in my place.”
She looked at him with a surprised look on her face. He knew she wanted to go. But he knew her well eno
ugh to know she would never say so and deprive him of the opportunity. She started to speak, but he raised his hand.
“I know,” he said. “But, Zuri; you have the trust and faith of all the races. The people know and trust you. As for me . . . I’m just a ‘nuts-and-bolts’ kind of guy. I think we’d all be better served if you were there to represent us.”
Zuri smiled modestly as she looked around the room. Everyone was nodding in agreement. Looking back to Evander, she knew it would be useless to argue. He was very persuasive. And besides, she knew in her heart he was right.