#Awakenings | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jpitha · 2 years ago

Text

Hidden Depths 20

Awakenings 1 2 3 4 Hidden Depths 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19Hidden Depths: A Side Story Hidden Depths: Another Perspective

Ta'reni and Nilan looked up nervously. The Grand Council was 4 K'laxi that represented all of K'laxikind when decisions about the group as a whole needed to be made. One represented K'lax itself, one the K'laxi stationed on ships and starbases, one each for the colony plants Ishi and Calumbri. They were very old, and wore very elaborate hooded robes with designs and flourishes to indicate the people they supported.

The Councilwoman for the ships and starbases wore a midnight blue robe with sparking dots and her shoulders looked like a pressure suit. The head Councilman, the one representing K'lax itself wore blue-green robes, the color of the greenery on K'lax. His robe had a leaf motif. Ishi's Councilman had sky blue robes, the color of the sea and the sky on Ishi and had a wave pattern in the fabric, and the Calumbri Councilwoman had slate grey robes representing the mineral wealth found on the planet. Her robe sparkled and shone in the shafts of light in the chamber.

The head of the council peered at them from their table high above Ta'reni and Nilan and looked over at the guard stationed by the door.

"Leave us." He said in a clear tenor voice. His accent was impeccable and Nilan wondered to herself where he learned such good Colonic.

The Guard saluted K'laxi style, then tuned on his heel and exited through the ceremonial door. The closed behind him with a boom in the silence.

For two beats, nothing happened. Then, the K'laxi on the end - the Councilwoman for ships and starbases - pressed a button at her space on the table. Nilan's ears popped and she felt stuffy.

"There. The silence field has been engaged." She said. "We can speak freely." She looked at them. "Now then. Ta'reni, when were you going to call home? Do you know how worried your familial group is? You haven't sent a message - not even a text message - in more than three months!"

Ta'reni blinked. This was not how she expected the meeting to start.

"I-I-I'm sorry Councilwoman..." She stuttered. "I've been b-b-busy with my work and..." Her eyes snapped over to Nilan, and then back to the Councilwoman.

The Councilwoman noticed her eye. "Oh? You have a girlfriend now? Too busy to call home? Too busy to introduce us?"

"Us?"

She removed her hood, revealing an elder K'laxi with a coloration that - while muted through age - was clearly the same as Ta'reni's. Her earrings were a more elaborate version of the ones she wore as well."

"AUNTIE LE'RENI?" Ta'reni did nothing to hide her shock. Nilan turned and faced her "Who?"

Ta'reni gestured at her "That's my aunt Le'reni! She's in my familial group! She used to take me to creche every morning!"

Le'reni nodded "Among other things, and still you were too busy with your new life to come and talk to your elders about the time you're having." She might be gently rebuking Ta'reni, but her eyes shone.

"I'm sorry Auntie-er Councilwoman La'reni. You're right of course that I should have called or sent a video home, but first I was overwhelmed at Starbase, then I met Nilan who was so nice and helpful, then I got buried in work, and now the attack..." She sighed. "I'm sorry. Once this is all done, we will take a trip and visit."

Satisfied, La'reni nodded. The Council for K'lax looked at them and with a solemn and serious tone asked "Do you play Niferian?"

Nilan blinked. "I'm sorry sir, I don't know what that is?"

Ta'reni turned to her and quietly said. "It's a card game. I know the basics." Turning back to the Grand Council she answered. "Nilan doesn't know, but I know the basics. I can teach her."

"Wonderful! I do so tire of having the same partners. Let's set up a game. Three teams of two."

****

Nilan picked up the game easily. It was a cooperative card game where the goal was to help everyone else get their points. The team with the lowest score at the end of the round was the winner and dealt the next round. After 3 or 4 rounds Ta'reni finally got up the courage to say "But, what about our plea to the Council?"

"Well, we're right here aren't we?" The Councilman for Ishi said, as he shuffled the cards "What is your issue?"

"The Joint Human/K'laxi starbase is under attack. A splinter group of humans from their planet Venus have declared autonomy over all of human space and have subjugated Earth. Now they are moving out to the colony worlds and declaring rulership over them as well."

"They also have declared our AIs to be non-sapient and are enforcing that determination through force." Nilan added.

"Hmm. That is serious." The Councilman for K'lax looked up from his cards at them both. "Did they actually attack Starbase?"

"Yes sir. They fired missiles. The in-system ships jumped to our defense so at the time of our departure there was no hits, but we have not heard from them since."

"And the colony Zen'ma'gan's Reach?"

Nilan answered. "I understand they requested assistance from a dropship to evacuate them. The colony was not very large and it was thought they could shelter on board."

He nodded. "Zen'ma'gan's Reach is much too dry for us. We were going to explore disbanding the colony in a few years. The joint Starbase was much more important for Human/K'laxi relations anyway."

Nilan was concentrating on her cards and her face brightened. "Hah!" She said. "3 for you, 4 for you, 6 for you, 1 for you and 5 for Ta'reni" she handed cards to everyone. "That's my hand and I have no points this round. Perfect score!" She beamed.

La'reni looked surprised. "A perfect hand? You picked up this game quickly. Are you sure you've never played before?"

"Never, Councilwoman."

"Impressive. Okay then, you deal."

Ta'reni looked lost. "But...what about..."

The Councilwoman from Calumbri looked at Ta'reni kindly. "Don't worry Ta'reni, we'll help. La'reni would have our fur if we didn't."

At that, La'reni grinned.

"But, is this how..." She gestured "How our major decisions are made?"

"Ta'reni, by the time they reach us the decision is mostly made already." The Councilman for K'lax said. "We're very respected and an important part of K'laxi culture, but we don't do much. Did you think that us 4 made all the decisions for K'laxi kind?"

"I-I-I-" Ta'reni stuttered.

"Child, it's fine. We're not going to be all booming voice and slamming hammers against doors." The Councilwoman from Calumbri said. "That's mostly for the tourists."

"Besides, Vivenni already gave us her report. We had decided to assist if you came and asked anyway." La'reni said.

Nilan and Ta'reni looked surprised. "Vivenni talked to you?"

La'reni nodded. "Yes, she's one of ours, in fact." She touched a panel on her wrists and spoke. "Please send Vivenni in."

While Nilan dealt another hand, a small side door opened and a K'alxi walked in. She was well dressed in black, middle aged and wore elaborate earrings anodized black and red instead of the polished silver Ta'reni and La'reni wore. As she approached she said "So you finally found two more for your game?"

"Yes, Ta'reni made the smart decision to come with her girlfriend so now we finally have an even number of players." The Councilman for K'lax said without looking up from his cards.

"Pardon me for working alone then Honored Councilman." She said, scoffing gently.

Nilan looked up. "You're Vivenni? Gord sent us to apologize to you. He's sorry he had Hat kick you out without further explanation. He was worried it was going to turn into "an AI thing" and didn't want you wrapped up in it."

Vivienne's face softened at Gord's mention. "That old so and so. So obsessed with making sure that he's not causing trouble for BIs that he forgets that we want them to succeed and want to help too. Did you take a bottle of syrup?"

Ta'reni nodded excitedly. "I did. I can't wait to have some pancakes and try it."

Vivenni smiled. "It's an excellent vintage. I think you'll really enjoy it."

La'reni watched the interaction. "Well then, it's good that we all got together. Look at the things we're accomplishing. Vivenni, will you and Nilan and Ta'reni go over your findings and see where they align and where they differ? After this hand of course, I feel lucky."

After the game, Nilan, Ta'reni, Vivenni and La'reni went over what they knew. Ta'reni and Nilan were able to give some of the details of the attack that Vivenni lacked, while Vivenni was able to give them more background on Venus. It turns out the K'laxi knew about Venus for the last 5 years and were waiting for them to make a move and officially declare that they were in charge.

"So will K'lax be dealing with Venus from now on?" Nilan asked.

Vivenni shrugged "They're in charge. The fact that they got that way by force is unfortunately immaterial to us. Our relations with the colony worlds and the OPA will strengthen I imagine, but when we have to deal with humanity as a whole-" She put finger quotes around the word humanity. "-we will probably be dealing with Venus."

"What about the AI thing? The fact that they want to control and shackle AIs." Ta'reni looked worried.

Vivenni shrugged. "Officially? That's a human thing and not our concern. Technically our own AIs aren't declared sapient either." She looked down at her pad and back at them. "Though we know about Chloe and her work. We haven't said anything because we're curious about what will happen when and if our AIs petition us. The Grand Council is sympathetic and frankly bored." She chuckled "I think they want them to petition for sapience just to see how everyone will react."

Nilan raised an eyebrow. "What about unofficially?"

"Unofficially it's barbaric and the council hates it and it's also part of the reason why you're getting assigned command of a K'laxi battle cruiser and their supporting craft."

"WE'RE WHAT?" Ta'reni shouted.

The Councilman of K'lax looked up from his pad. "Oh, so you told them?" He smiled.

La'reni chuckled. "I told our our Ta'reni was a bit high strung."

The Councilman of K'lax nodded. "Yes, we're going to give you, Ta'reni, command of Pride of K'lax. They're in-system for final checks and this will be a combination show of force and shakedown cruise.

"But, I'm not even in the military! I'm barely an ambassador!"

"You'll do fine. Captain Mel'itani is a seasoned professional. You'll be officially in command, but listen to their recommendations. They're proud of their ship and their crew and are good K'laxi." He smiled wanly. "Captain Mel'itani is also rather excited for the opportunity to show humans what we have learned since we became friends." He shook his head "They are spoiling for the opportunity to go toe to claw against some splinter group of humans."

Councilwoman La'reni looked at the three of them. "Well, I think we've been in here relaxing long enough. Vivenni, do they know what we know regarding Venus?"

"Yes Councilwoman."

"Ta'reni, you are hearby officially granted temporary command of the Pride of K'lax. You are ordered to use it to its fullest to restore order to the joint Human/K'laxi Starbase; to remind Venus that it is a joint Starbase and that firing upon it is forbidden. Do not attempt to usrup the authority Venus is claiming but also do not remain passive to their demands. Make sure they know that they are not the only party with interest in Starbase."

"Yes Councilwoman."

"You are also unofficially ordered to use what resources you can to assist any stricken AIs and work with them to prevent any further shackling and or repair any that have become shackled if possible."

Ta'reni blinked.

"You are also really really unofficially requested to help out any K'laxi AIs and let them know that they have a sympathetic ear in the Grand Council." The Councilman for K'lax said with a smile."

Now it was Nilan's turn to blink.

The both looked at each other, then to the old K'laxi around the card table. They stood and ripped off the smartest salute they could manage

"Yes Grand Council. We will carry out your orders to the best of our ability."

"And call your mother!" La'reni said.

"Yes Auntie Councilwoman."

The Councilman for Ishi tipped his head back and laughed at that. "Don't call her that outside of these chambers." He said with a grin. "But I like the title."

****

Three days later, Nilan and Ta'reni were on the command deck of Pride of K'lax. Ta'reni had new command bars added to her ambassador uniform and when they came on board everyone saluted them. Captain Mel'itani saluted. "Welcome aboard ambassadors. We are proud and happy to receive word from the Grand Council direct about our mission. We are yours to command."

They returned the salute. Ta'reni said: "Thank you for your welcome Captain Mel'itani. You are aware that we are being sent to show Venus that the K'laxi will not submit to human authority and shall be seen as equals on the galactic stage. Now is our time to show that we have taken the lessons humans have taught and will apply them. Please proceed with all haste towards the joint Human/K'laxi Starbase."

Captain Mel'itani Saluted and said "Yes Commander." Then he stopped and grinned. "So, just how much haste would you like for us to use?" He said. "Being that we are the newest battle cruiser in the K'laxi fleet we have some...additions to our normal compliment of reactors and weapons."

Nilan raised an eyebrow "Such as?"

"Well for one, they have me; a partner AI." said a voice over the intercom. "Hello Ambassadors. I am the Pride of K'lax, the first officially unshackled K'laxi AI."

Ta'reni gasped. "It's so nice to meet you Pride! How are you?"

"I'm excited to help out. Additionally we also have a wormhole generator."

Now, Nilan gasped. "You do? Is it of human make?"

"Sort of. It's a human design that we took and improved upon. Ours uses 30% less energy to activate and we reduced the instances of the unfortunate side effect down from 1 in 100 to 1 in 1000."

"Unfortunate side effect?" Ta'reni asked. She isn't affected by it, so she never really knew about it.

"Some people experience death and the afterlife when they go through a wormhole." Pride of K'lax said matter of factly. "It's the reason that K'laxi used the Warp Gates even though we new about the theory of wormhole travel. Our scientists have been able to refine the technology based on the work the humans have done though, and now fewer people "die" when we link."

"That's amazing." Nilan wondered. "I bet there are a lot of people in human space that will want your design."

"We're hopeful" Captain Mel'itani said. "So, Commander Ta'reni, please give us the order."

Ta'reni nodded and standing behind Captain Mel'itani's seat said "Please link us to the Join Human/K'laxi starbase and prepare to for defense.

"Yes Commander. Computing link." Pride of K'lax answered.

Part 21

#humans are deathworlders #humans are space orcs #humans are space capybaras #humans are space australians #awakenings #long reads #writing #sci fi writing #humans and ai #humans are space oddities

76 notes · View notes