The Diva's song while the fight scene happened in the 5th Element movie was something that marked me back in 1997 when i first saw the movie. I could certainly imagine how a crowd of ''primitive'' people would react to it lol
I wouldn't say 'primitive'. More like 'totally unprepared'.
After all, JUNO sang the full aria as The Diva, with Leeloo's fight sequence as a backdrop.
Would have been pretty impressive.
There is something to be said for watching over someone as they sleep. You will see their true face in this most vulnerable of all human states. Héloise stirred gently, her handsome features now at peace and entirely devoid of their customary intensity. The late afternoon sun threw a veil of wave-dappled green-tinged golden light over the room, transforming every surface into intriguing abstract works of art. I marvelled at the sight of her, now sleeping softly nestled in the crook of my left arm. With just a few careless words and a smile, this unexpected encounter has become something to be held onto and cherished. It is the Human Condition in its most basic, sublime and irreducible form.
These were uncharted waters for me. I have never forgotten Kaori. My memories of her still remain untouched by time, still fresh and exceedingly painful to recount, even as a passing thought. Conventional wisdom says we must keep moving forward with our lives, never looking back. I have always travelled with an occasional regretful glance back, if only to remind me where I have been.
Héloise woke precisely at sunset, stretching and purring luxuriously.
"Good evening, milady." I said, softly tracing the line of her cheek with my fingertips.
She smiled, her eyes still half-closed with sleep. I drew back the covers on my side of the bed and swung my legs over the side. The air in the room was crisp, but not too cold. Héloise swore at this sudden change in temperature, burrowed quickly under the covers and abruptly popped her head out. She made a rueful face, pouting with mock disappointment.
"Leaving so soon, my Captain?" She said reproachfully. I leaned over and gently kissed her forehead.
"Reluctantly, dear heart, but not quite yet. The very least I can do is get you something to eat. You must be utterly famished. No, don't bother getting up... Now, do you fancy anything in particular?"
Héloise smiled wickedly.
"Other than that. Savoury, sweet, light or heavy?"
She pondered this question for a moment, then nodded decisively.
"Something sweet and light. And coffee... Lots of coffee. With milk and sugar, please."
I dressed quickly and headed for the nearest auto-galley. When I returned, Héloise had propped herself upright in bed with a mound of pillows, the duvet drawn chastely about her upper body. She eyed the tray hungrily as I entered, grinning expectantly. I set the tray down on a low bench while I deployed the bed's built-in table, adjusting its height and position for her convenience.
"That smells absolutely wonderful!" She cried delightedly. "What have you brought me?"
"Blinis and fruit compote, toast and apricot jam. Also, a copious amount of coffee, as requested."
"Merci beaucoup, garçon. I believe this will do quite nicely."
As she ate, I sat on the end of the bed, made small talk about the night before and sipped my coffee reflectively.
Héloise walked with me as far as the moon pools. Disco Volante was already waiting for my arrival, obviously dispatched to spare me the proverbial 2.5 kilometre Swim Of Shame. Before climbing into the Seamoth's cockpit, I embraced her, deftly slipping a small device into her jumpsuit's back pocket.
"Encrypted commlink. One of a unique pair. Broadcasts phase-shifted white noise while you're using it. No-one can hear your side of the conversation, even if they're standing next to you. Bone conductor concealed mike and earpiece are stored in a compartment on the back. Let me know if anything unusual happens, okay?" I whispered, nuzzling her neck with genuine affection.
No doubt tongues would be wagging throughout the entire colony by now, so it was completely pointless to make any show of feigned innocence. On the whole, Belters were refreshingly liberal in their approach to personal relationships, although I wasn't entirely certain what they would think of ours. Before the situation completely overtook us, I asked Héloise how she really felt about courting the affections of an android, and she flatly stated that it didn't matter. I'm rather ashamed to admit that I ran her response through voice-stress analysis before taking her word at face value. Still, this was one of life's thorny questions that can't be resolved with a fudged answer.
During my return to The Broch, I was able to mull things over on a slightly more rational level. To the casual observer, it might appear that our relationship has started off bass-ackwards. However, this is precisely how Héloise wanted the scenario to play out. Get all of that awkward biological business squared away first, then deal with everything else as it comes down the pipe. A warrior's way of thinking, no matter how nicely you dress it up. In my defence, I made an honest attempt at being chivalrous, although she would hear none of my protestations of noble and manly restraint.
Stop laughing. Work with me here, okay?
She even forced me to analyse her blood alcohol content to prove conclusively that she still had complete control of her faculties. As it transpired, she most definitely did.
Yes, indeed.
However, the analytical side of my mind advised exercising a reasonable degree of caution. Although we were both well and truly beyond the soppy school-kid phase by now, I simply couldn't believe the speed and intensity at which this relationship has developed. After muddling my way through an emotional drought lasting well over a century, even the promise of human affection... Or a reasonable counterfeit thereof, is something worth reaching for with grateful hands. There are bound to be questions I should never ask Héloise, although I'll have to rely entirely upon my intuition in order to avoid asking them in the first place. On a slightly darker note, there might be a practical limit as to how far I can trust her. If this is an elaborate ruse of Polyakov's to get under my guard...
I've just walked straight into it. Didn't even bother to look.
Screw it. I'll have to take some wild guesses and place my trust in luck, at least for the time being. Not even sure what I'd do if Héloise is playing me for a fool at Polyakov's behest. My most immediate priority is to get some straight answers from the Warpers concerning this recent spate of Reaper and Crabsquid attacks. Something screwy is definitely happening down here, and I don't think the Warpers are being entirely candid with us on a whole slew of issues. Might even be a good idea to bring Héloise along as an official representative of the colony.
One way or another, I'm going to get someone to tell me what's really going on.
Somewhere along the line, our trip out to the Talking Wall had turned into a high-speed game of underwater tag. Granted, it took some mighty persuasive words to convince Héloise to climb into a Seamoth for the very first time, although she quickly discovered their entertainment potential. Given a Seamoth's apparent vulnerability and the threatening immensity of the ocean surrounding it, you'd have to be crazy to board one of these tiny vessels without a slight twinge of apprehension, at the very least.
"So, what else can you tell me about these Warpers? I've read through your PDA data, but I need to know precisely what to expect. You mentioned they're powerful Readers, and that worries me some. I have my own share of secrets, and I'd prefer most of them to remain unspoken."
"I appreciate that, although I don't think you'll need to worry about it. They don't appear to be too interested in our personal lives. Warpers prefer to deal with the larger picture, rather than fixating overmuch on its minor details. My advice is simply to relax and make your thoughts as peaceful and open as possible. The most important thing to remember is to speak your mind truthfully."
"Suddenly, I feel completely naked. More naked than I've ever been. This is not a good feeling."
"If it's any consolation, Buddha says we're all bare-arse naked under our clothes... You'll be fine."
There were four Warpers waiting for us at the Talking Wall. In deference to the Warpers, Disco Volante and Artemis were parked about 50 metres away and we swam in unassisted. Héloise clutched my hand tightly all the way, far more nervous about being in open water than the tangible threats it contained. Judging by Héloise's reaction, agoraphobia looked like it could be an issue with the other colonists. This factor was taken into account when I invoked their 30-day surface quarantine. Apart from giving the colonists time to adjust to a richer atmospheric mix, this acclimation period is intended to gradually familiarise them with their new environment. Their new base is equipped with a number of subsea and surface observatories for public use, allowing them to satisfy their curiosity from safe vantage points. By the time we crack the base seals, most of our colonists should be mentally prepared to face the Great Outdoors.
"Warm seas, friends. The Lost Ones thank the Father of Tides. Their shell is whole and strong again."
"We see many sharp spines on Lost One shell. The Lost Ones fear Father of Tides, fear Warpers?"
I projected full-sized holograms of a Reaper and Crabsquid a prudent distance away. The Warpers instantly recoiled in terror, signing 'Long Talon' and 'Shadow Walker' as each creature appeared. Obviously, Warpers also had some unaddressed issues with these guys.
"Long Talon and Shadow Walker swim far from Father of Tides. Their minds swim dark and deep. Long Talon is few but strong, Shadow Walker is many. Shadow Walker mind is deep and hungry."
Another Warper signed, "These ones will not hear His words. Long Talon and Shadow Walker say they feed on Lost Ones until they gone from This Place. Make all waters flow with Lost One blood."
Héloise's expression was grim. She had been receiving a real-time translation of our conversation through her PDA. Every gesture, shape-shift and colour change made here had been dissected and interpreted for her benefit. Finally, she spoke. Her tone was calm, defiant and colder than liquid helium.
"Our blades are always drawn. Tell our enemies to show their faces."
From what I can gather, Reaper Leviathans and Crabsquids have broken away from Father of Tides. Only Warpers can still be considered His loyal 'subjects', if that's the appropriate term to use. This isn't a straightforward theocracy ruled by Father of Tides, with all of Manannán's life forms devoutly obeying the imperatives of a godlike figurehead. Most of the life forms here are essentially low to mid-order animals, and therefore subject to nothing more than the most basic, instinctive drives.
There isn't much point in asking why Reapers and Crabsquids have suddenly set their sights on us. The answer is obvious. Humans pose an immediate threat to them. Humans are prey. These two species are undoubtedly intelligent enough to realise that any arrangement struck between Father of Tides and Terrans does not necessarily call for their unquestioning compliance. Bear in mind that His first duty is to look to the survival of the planet's native inhabitants. Our presence here is a momentary aberration, one that can only be tolerated to the point where it interferes with the natural order of things. Most importantly, there is only one Father of Tides. If His offspring were to rise against him in open rebellion, He would not survive. Life might continue here and certainly evolve, albeit at a drastically diminished pace. Father of Tides cannot take our side in this conflict.
By the same token, it would be an utterly suicidal move for the colonists to pursue all-out warfare against Reapers and Crabsquids. Even if they are able to annihilate both species, irreparable damage would be inflicted on the planet's ecosystems. Once the full extent of this damage becomes apparent, we might find ourselves pitted against Warpers and Dragon Leviathans.
It was an uphill battle convincing Héloise that this was one fight we could never win. However, she eventually saw the truth of it, much to her annoyance. She saw the Valkyrie Field as our ultimate weapon, sending wave after wave of resurrected fighters against an endless tide of assailants. I gently pointed out that our adversaries had far greater numbers, accelerated evolution and time on their side. Once you're locked into a war of attrition, it only takes a single tactical error to nudge that delicate balance of forces over a catastrophic tipping point. Sooner or later, the enemy will figure out precisely which points to attack to negate any possible advantage we might still have.
Our only clear way out of this mess is to avoid any direct confrontation. Since Crabsquids are a deepwater species, there's not much chance of them mounting an assault on Kaori-san no shima. Conceivably, they might slowly decompress their bodies to reach the same depth as the colony, but this is something that we can keep a close eye on. Daily scanner drone sweeps could monitor their movements without putting anyone in harm's way. On the off-chance that they are massing for an attack, a swarm could be dispersed with a vigorous application of TRIDENT pulses. As a last resort, I would send a significant percentage of their population straight to Hell with a full-scale Cyclops attack. Genocide is something I'd rather avoid, particularly if the next combatants to enter the field can instantaneously create gaping holes in solid matter.
My immediate concern here is Reapers. A wolf-pack of Reapers would be an absolute catastrophe, particularly if they can penetrate the inner defences in a coordinated attack. Once they get in among the hab clusters, there's absolutely nothing we can do to stop them. Even with extra hull reinforcement, that base can only withstand so much punishment before something crucial gives way. I'm not prepared to let events escalate to that point. If more than one Reaper slips past the midpoint defence ring, I'm definitely pulling the plug. Immediate evacuation of Kaori-san no-shima.
Just a reminder, was there ever only 1 sea dragon, was it killed, and was it ever loyal to The Father of Tides?
I belive there are multiple sea dragons. I don't know how many, but a fair few. And they're basically the sea emperors harem, so probably loyal to him. I don't think he ever said how intelligent -if at all- they are.
Just a reminder, was there ever only 1 sea dragon, was it killed, and was it ever loyal to The Father of Tides?
I belive there are multiple sea dragons. I don't know how many, but a fair few. And they're basically the sea emperors harem, so probably loyal to him. I don't think he ever said how intelligent -if at all- they are.
It would be interesting if they were super intelligent, they could even have their own personalities , or if they were his reaserch team
edit: i can just see a spinoff about them happening
Essentially, we are entirely on our own. That much hasn't changed. To be honest, I wasn't actually expecting any help from Father of Tides or the Warpers, although it would have been pretty decent of them to offer a hand. Then again, I can't say as I'd blame them one bit. After all, it's their planet.
In practical terms, we can expect Reaper attacks to increase in frequency and intensity. If necessary, the colony can relocate to the surface to avoid any further contact with these creatures. Not sure how this is going to sit with the colonists, though. From where I'm standing, it looks like we're supposed to shrug off these incursions with a smile and keep 'turning the other cheek' if we want to remain in Father of Tides' good graces. I can tell you now, that philosophy will get old real fast. Looking at this situation from a wholly impartial viewpoint, it might seem that those colonists may have been better off staying in the Lava Castle.
However, for good or ill, I have already made my command decision. The question of whether or not it was a huge mistake is best left to be raked over by semi-informed folks who weren't here at the time... Like these things usually are. I'm not about to start whining about my good intentions as I attempt to defend my original decision. I admit it. I've screwed up again.
I'll bet you're all bitterly disappointed in me right now.
Tough. Deal with it.
If we can protect the colony in its current configuration, no problem. Might have to beef up its detection equipment and defensive systems to match the increased threat level, but that's only addressing less than half of the problem. I'm getting a distinct feeling that we're being gradually squeezed out of The Big Picture here. Doesn't take much imagination to see the day come when we're herded into our final dead end on Manannán. As you can imagine, it won't end particularly well for either side, although Team Terra will undoubtedly cop the rougher end of the pineapple.
There's no point in denying it any longer. This planet definitely wants us gone. If it were only a matter of accommodating me and the crew, I'd gladly oblige. We should be able to whip up a workable ship design and build it from scratch within a few months. Naturally, this ship would be pretty light on for certain creature comforts... Such as life support, food, water and personal space. However, rest assured that our audiovisual entertainment system would be the absolute duck's guts.
Unfortunately, there's the basic problem. Our colonists require something more human-friendly and considerably larger, equipped with an efficient FTL drive and self-contained life support systems. At a rough estimate, only a ship of Aurora's size would be sufficient in terms of space and logistic capabilities. Even so, the voyage home would effectively turn her into a Generation Ship, unless a workable substitute for the Alcubierre warp drive can be devised. Cryosleep might be a possible option to consider, although the required equipment and support systems will add another level of complexity to the ship's overall design.
My most stable home-brewed FTL drive design will make 1.05C at maximum acceleration, and even that trifling mark takes five years to reach under a constant full-power burn. One hundred and seventy-five light years (plus or minus a couple of parsecs) is a sod of a long distance, anyway you care to slice it.
For the time being, it's best to play this hand close to my chest. More in-depth research is required. There's no sense in getting anyone's hopes raised, only to see the entire project turn into a fizzle. My credibility is on the line. There's no walking away from this business once it gets underway.
does anyone remember how long it was gonna take for his beacon from the first book to send a signal to earth? because suddenly having a rescue team show up might be possible.
Our return to Kaori-san no-shima was uneventful. Although our meeting with the Warpers had not accomplished anything immediately useful, it at least allowed Héloise and I to spend some quality time together. We spent an hour or so cruising around aimlessly, basically taking in the sights and visiting some of the sector's less dangerous locations. We surfaced to watch the sunset, just for the sheer joy of it. Our Seamoths were parked only a metre apart, providing some illusion of intimacy in otherwise hazardous surroundings. The Grassy Plateau biome is a nice place to pull over for a chat, provided that you keep one hand hovering over the perimeter defence field's controls.
"So, what do you think of the Warpers, now that you've met them?"
"I see what you mean about their appearance, Cherie. Once you get past their strangeness, I think they are quite beautiful to watch. Their movements are so expressive, like the ballet. I would like to learn their speech some day, if you can find the time to teach me. Yes, I would like that very much."
"A votre service, Madame." I said suavely, "Consider it done. Your PDA now contains the most current Warper/Terran lexicon, and I shall install holo-emitters in your dive suit at your earliest convenience."
"That would be tonight, I think... Unless you have other plans in mind." She said, smiling faintly.
"Well, we do have to report back to your committee. Also, the crew aren't expecting me to return to our base at any particular time, so I'd say we have the rest of this evening pretty much to ourselves."
"Très bon. Then we shall speak like Warpers all night long. I have so very much to tell you."
"Sounds intriguing." I said, grinning. "Time for some cunning linguistics."
Shortly after sunrise, the base's perimeter defence system went active. Héloise was still only half-dressed when I bolted from her room and sprinted for the bridge. No alarms sounded in the base yet, but the automated warning that I received indicated something big was heading our way.
"JUNO. Just caught a proximity alert on the island's sensors. Fifteen hundred metres and closing. Estimated time to contact with outer defences, 120 seconds. Scramble all units, deploy in line abreast behind inner defence ring on bearing 225."
"Affirmative, Captain. ETA your position, 180 seconds. Over and out."
I must have scared the crap out of the bridge watch crew, belting in there like a madman.
"Activate the defence grid... Now!" I yelled.
The young sensor tech protested, "There's nothing on the sonar, Captain. Surely it's..."
I shoved the tech aside roughly, dialling out the passive sonar's range to maximum. Sure enough, a large, shapeless trace moved slowly through the water at extreme range. Boiling with anger, I stabbed my finger at the display. The hapless sonar tech flinched reflexively, as if expecting a hefty whack to the side of his head.
"There's your target, Laddie. Next time, I want to see that range-gate wound all the way out. Keep it there. You're supposed to be on the lookout for approaching threats, not watching Spadefish fornicate! Got it?"
The poor little bugger was almost on the verge of tears. Seeing this, I relented immediately.
"Sorry, mate. Let's take a closer look at this beastie..."
The object was huge, moving slowly and deliberately towards Kaori-san no-shima. Estimated speed, ten knots. Distance, 1200 metres. Still too far out to get a clear acoustic profile on it. The object seemed to be constantly changing its aspect, appearing as a ill-defined, boiling mass on the sonar display. Most definitely a biologic contact... But what? This was unlike anything I'd seen before. Much larger than a Reaper Leviathan, and no tell-tale shrieking roars from the hydrophones. Eleven hundred metres and closing. Contact with outer defences in 30 seconds.
I didn't want to chance using the base's active sonar array. Next best thing to ringing a dinner bell.
Four bright blips were closing fast from a bearing of 045 degrees, positively identifying these sonar targets as Aegis, Taranis, Red Dragon and Ulysses. It could only be them. Nothing else on Manannán can hit a hundred-plus knots. I activated the base's public-address system. Three short, skull-piercing alarm tones sounded, alerting the colonists to an incoming announcement.
"Attention. Attention. Base defence condition is set to Yellow. All non-duty personnel are advised to prepare for immediate evacuation. Assemble in the mess deck on Delta Level and await further instructions. Be advised that we are tracking the approach of an unknown life form. Automated defences are enabled and standing ready, awaiting clear confirmation of this creature's intentions. This alert condition is merely a precautionary measure at present. Please remain calm and prepare for a possible evacuation. That is all. Selkirk, out."
Suddenly, the bridge was full of people demanding to know what was going on. Absolute bedlam.
"What's the meaning of this, Selkirk? You've taken command of our base?" someone yelled angrily.
I turned to face my accuser. Nils Olssen, one of the committee members. I held up a placating hand, intended to silence any further angry outbursts. Hopefully, everyone else here would take the hint.
"Only temporarily, meneer. Please forgive my apparent presumption. I was Johnny-on-the-spot, so to speak. Received an advance alert from your detection systems just before sonar picked it up. There's also four Cyclops subs out there, waiting for whatever it is to make an extremely poor life choice. We're currently attempting to determine if this creature poses any threat to this colony. See for yourself. Sonar, image feed to central display."
I gently tapped the sonar tech's shoulder. The poor chap practically jumped in his seat.
"See if you can get a clearer image of that target, boet. Band-pass filters... Those six sliders on the lower left-hand control panel." I added quietly.
The tech nodded, working the controls I'd indicated.
The fuzzy image sharpened appreciably. What was once a writhing jumble of shapes resolved into five distinct objects. One huge, elongated creature, surrounded by four comparatively smaller organisms. The central figure cruised sedately in a straight line, heading directly for the island. The four smaller creatures appeared to be swimming in a helical defence pattern, obviously centred on the larger organism.
I grinned broadly at the crowd clustered in front of the monitor. Judging by their bewildered expressions, I'd say that less than a handful were able to interpret what was happening on-screen.
"I know exactly who this is. Our landlord's about to spring a snap inspection on the new tenants."
The sea emperor has come to pay a visit! Maybe he should have let Selkirk know somehow before he may have been blown to bits! I am assuming the smaller large organisms are his sea dragon bodyguards?
Huh, it is the Sea Emperor after all! I wonder if his four companions could be the Sea Dragon Leviathans...it sounds like they're his bodyguards as well as his consorts. Let's hope the colonists can behave themselves.
Comments
I wouldn't say 'primitive'. More like 'totally unprepared'.
After all, JUNO sang the full aria as The Diva, with Leeloo's fight sequence as a backdrop.
Would have been pretty impressive.
There is something to be said for watching over someone as they sleep. You will see their true face in this most vulnerable of all human states. Héloise stirred gently, her handsome features now at peace and entirely devoid of their customary intensity. The late afternoon sun threw a veil of wave-dappled green-tinged golden light over the room, transforming every surface into intriguing abstract works of art. I marvelled at the sight of her, now sleeping softly nestled in the crook of my left arm. With just a few careless words and a smile, this unexpected encounter has become something to be held onto and cherished. It is the Human Condition in its most basic, sublime and irreducible form.
These were uncharted waters for me. I have never forgotten Kaori. My memories of her still remain untouched by time, still fresh and exceedingly painful to recount, even as a passing thought. Conventional wisdom says we must keep moving forward with our lives, never looking back. I have always travelled with an occasional regretful glance back, if only to remind me where I have been.
Héloise woke precisely at sunset, stretching and purring luxuriously.
"Good evening, milady." I said, softly tracing the line of her cheek with my fingertips.
She smiled, her eyes still half-closed with sleep. I drew back the covers on my side of the bed and swung my legs over the side. The air in the room was crisp, but not too cold. Héloise swore at this sudden change in temperature, burrowed quickly under the covers and abruptly popped her head out. She made a rueful face, pouting with mock disappointment.
"Leaving so soon, my Captain?" She said reproachfully. I leaned over and gently kissed her forehead.
"Reluctantly, dear heart, but not quite yet. The very least I can do is get you something to eat. You must be utterly famished. No, don't bother getting up... Now, do you fancy anything in particular?"
Héloise smiled wickedly.
"Other than that. Savoury, sweet, light or heavy?"
She pondered this question for a moment, then nodded decisively.
"Something sweet and light. And coffee... Lots of coffee. With milk and sugar, please."
I dressed quickly and headed for the nearest auto-galley. When I returned, Héloise had propped herself upright in bed with a mound of pillows, the duvet drawn chastely about her upper body. She eyed the tray hungrily as I entered, grinning expectantly. I set the tray down on a low bench while I deployed the bed's built-in table, adjusting its height and position for her convenience.
"That smells absolutely wonderful!" She cried delightedly. "What have you brought me?"
"Blinis and fruit compote, toast and apricot jam. Also, a copious amount of coffee, as requested."
"Merci beaucoup, garçon. I believe this will do quite nicely."
As she ate, I sat on the end of the bed, made small talk about the night before and sipped my coffee reflectively.
Never expected this to happen again.
A Weyland-Yutani Android
or
A Working Joe
More like a Tyrell Corporation Nexus Seven.
"Encrypted commlink. One of a unique pair. Broadcasts phase-shifted white noise while you're using it. No-one can hear your side of the conversation, even if they're standing next to you. Bone conductor concealed mike and earpiece are stored in a compartment on the back. Let me know if anything unusual happens, okay?" I whispered, nuzzling her neck with genuine affection.
No doubt tongues would be wagging throughout the entire colony by now, so it was completely pointless to make any show of feigned innocence. On the whole, Belters were refreshingly liberal in their approach to personal relationships, although I wasn't entirely certain what they would think of ours. Before the situation completely overtook us, I asked Héloise how she really felt about courting the affections of an android, and she flatly stated that it didn't matter. I'm rather ashamed to admit that I ran her response through voice-stress analysis before taking her word at face value. Still, this was one of life's thorny questions that can't be resolved with a fudged answer.
During my return to The Broch, I was able to mull things over on a slightly more rational level. To the casual observer, it might appear that our relationship has started off bass-ackwards. However, this is precisely how Héloise wanted the scenario to play out. Get all of that awkward biological business squared away first, then deal with everything else as it comes down the pipe. A warrior's way of thinking, no matter how nicely you dress it up. In my defence, I made an honest attempt at being chivalrous, although she would hear none of my protestations of noble and manly restraint.
Stop laughing. Work with me here, okay?
She even forced me to analyse her blood alcohol content to prove conclusively that she still had complete control of her faculties. As it transpired, she most definitely did.
Yes, indeed.
However, the analytical side of my mind advised exercising a reasonable degree of caution. Although we were both well and truly beyond the soppy school-kid phase by now, I simply couldn't believe the speed and intensity at which this relationship has developed. After muddling my way through an emotional drought lasting well over a century, even the promise of human affection... Or a reasonable counterfeit thereof, is something worth reaching for with grateful hands. There are bound to be questions I should never ask Héloise, although I'll have to rely entirely upon my intuition in order to avoid asking them in the first place. On a slightly darker note, there might be a practical limit as to how far I can trust her. If this is an elaborate ruse of Polyakov's to get under my guard...
I've just walked straight into it. Didn't even bother to look.
Screw it. I'll have to take some wild guesses and place my trust in luck, at least for the time being. Not even sure what I'd do if Héloise is playing me for a fool at Polyakov's behest. My most immediate priority is to get some straight answers from the Warpers concerning this recent spate of Reaper and Crabsquid attacks. Something screwy is definitely happening down here, and I don't think the Warpers are being entirely candid with us on a whole slew of issues. Might even be a good idea to bring Héloise along as an official representative of the colony.
One way or another, I'm going to get someone to tell me what's really going on.
She might break Selkirk's heart ... or whatever acts as a heart for him now
I imagine it's leading to a hostage situation, whether or not she's a capable fighter.
Well that scene with the Thermoblade proved that she can defend herself. Though all we can do is wait to see.
"So, what else can you tell me about these Warpers? I've read through your PDA data, but I need to know precisely what to expect. You mentioned they're powerful Readers, and that worries me some. I have my own share of secrets, and I'd prefer most of them to remain unspoken."
"I appreciate that, although I don't think you'll need to worry about it. They don't appear to be too interested in our personal lives. Warpers prefer to deal with the larger picture, rather than fixating overmuch on its minor details. My advice is simply to relax and make your thoughts as peaceful and open as possible. The most important thing to remember is to speak your mind truthfully."
"Suddenly, I feel completely naked. More naked than I've ever been. This is not a good feeling."
"If it's any consolation, Buddha says we're all bare-arse naked under our clothes... You'll be fine."
There were four Warpers waiting for us at the Talking Wall. In deference to the Warpers, Disco Volante and Artemis were parked about 50 metres away and we swam in unassisted. Héloise clutched my hand tightly all the way, far more nervous about being in open water than the tangible threats it contained. Judging by Héloise's reaction, agoraphobia looked like it could be an issue with the other colonists. This factor was taken into account when I invoked their 30-day surface quarantine. Apart from giving the colonists time to adjust to a richer atmospheric mix, this acclimation period is intended to gradually familiarise them with their new environment. Their new base is equipped with a number of subsea and surface observatories for public use, allowing them to satisfy their curiosity from safe vantage points. By the time we crack the base seals, most of our colonists should be mentally prepared to face the Great Outdoors.
"Warm seas, friends. The Lost Ones thank the Father of Tides. Their shell is whole and strong again."
"We see many sharp spines on Lost One shell. The Lost Ones fear Father of Tides, fear Warpers?"
I projected full-sized holograms of a Reaper and Crabsquid a prudent distance away. The Warpers instantly recoiled in terror, signing 'Long Talon' and 'Shadow Walker' as each creature appeared. Obviously, Warpers also had some unaddressed issues with these guys.
"Long Talon and Shadow Walker swim far from Father of Tides. Their minds swim dark and deep. Long Talon is few but strong, Shadow Walker is many. Shadow Walker mind is deep and hungry."
Another Warper signed, "These ones will not hear His words. Long Talon and Shadow Walker say they feed on Lost Ones until they gone from This Place. Make all waters flow with Lost One blood."
Héloise's expression was grim. She had been receiving a real-time translation of our conversation through her PDA. Every gesture, shape-shift and colour change made here had been dissected and interpreted for her benefit. Finally, she spoke. Her tone was calm, defiant and colder than liquid helium.
"Our blades are always drawn. Tell our enemies to show their faces."
There isn't much point in asking why Reapers and Crabsquids have suddenly set their sights on us. The answer is obvious. Humans pose an immediate threat to them. Humans are prey. These two species are undoubtedly intelligent enough to realise that any arrangement struck between Father of Tides and Terrans does not necessarily call for their unquestioning compliance. Bear in mind that His first duty is to look to the survival of the planet's native inhabitants. Our presence here is a momentary aberration, one that can only be tolerated to the point where it interferes with the natural order of things. Most importantly, there is only one Father of Tides. If His offspring were to rise against him in open rebellion, He would not survive. Life might continue here and certainly evolve, albeit at a drastically diminished pace. Father of Tides cannot take our side in this conflict.
By the same token, it would be an utterly suicidal move for the colonists to pursue all-out warfare against Reapers and Crabsquids. Even if they are able to annihilate both species, irreparable damage would be inflicted on the planet's ecosystems. Once the full extent of this damage becomes apparent, we might find ourselves pitted against Warpers and Dragon Leviathans.
It was an uphill battle convincing Héloise that this was one fight we could never win. However, she eventually saw the truth of it, much to her annoyance. She saw the Valkyrie Field as our ultimate weapon, sending wave after wave of resurrected fighters against an endless tide of assailants. I gently pointed out that our adversaries had far greater numbers, accelerated evolution and time on their side. Once you're locked into a war of attrition, it only takes a single tactical error to nudge that delicate balance of forces over a catastrophic tipping point. Sooner or later, the enemy will figure out precisely which points to attack to negate any possible advantage we might still have.
Our only clear way out of this mess is to avoid any direct confrontation. Since Crabsquids are a deepwater species, there's not much chance of them mounting an assault on Kaori-san no shima. Conceivably, they might slowly decompress their bodies to reach the same depth as the colony, but this is something that we can keep a close eye on. Daily scanner drone sweeps could monitor their movements without putting anyone in harm's way. On the off-chance that they are massing for an attack, a swarm could be dispersed with a vigorous application of TRIDENT pulses. As a last resort, I would send a significant percentage of their population straight to Hell with a full-scale Cyclops attack. Genocide is something I'd rather avoid, particularly if the next combatants to enter the field can instantaneously create gaping holes in solid matter.
My immediate concern here is Reapers. A wolf-pack of Reapers would be an absolute catastrophe, particularly if they can penetrate the inner defences in a coordinated attack. Once they get in among the hab clusters, there's absolutely nothing we can do to stop them. Even with extra hull reinforcement, that base can only withstand so much punishment before something crucial gives way. I'm not prepared to let events escalate to that point. If more than one Reaper slips past the midpoint defence ring, I'm definitely pulling the plug. Immediate evacuation of Kaori-san no-shima.
Then we bring in the entire Cyclops fleet.
Time to bloody some noses.
I belive there are multiple sea dragons. I don't know how many, but a fair few. And they're basically the sea emperors harem, so probably loyal to him. I don't think he ever said how intelligent -if at all- they are.
It would be interesting if they were super intelligent, they could even have their own personalities , or if they were his reaserch team
edit: i can just see a spinoff about them happening
In practical terms, we can expect Reaper attacks to increase in frequency and intensity. If necessary, the colony can relocate to the surface to avoid any further contact with these creatures. Not sure how this is going to sit with the colonists, though. From where I'm standing, it looks like we're supposed to shrug off these incursions with a smile and keep 'turning the other cheek' if we want to remain in Father of Tides' good graces. I can tell you now, that philosophy will get old real fast. Looking at this situation from a wholly impartial viewpoint, it might seem that those colonists may have been better off staying in the Lava Castle.
However, for good or ill, I have already made my command decision. The question of whether or not it was a huge mistake is best left to be raked over by semi-informed folks who weren't here at the time... Like these things usually are. I'm not about to start whining about my good intentions as I attempt to defend my original decision. I admit it. I've screwed up again.
I'll bet you're all bitterly disappointed in me right now.
Tough. Deal with it.
If we can protect the colony in its current configuration, no problem. Might have to beef up its detection equipment and defensive systems to match the increased threat level, but that's only addressing less than half of the problem. I'm getting a distinct feeling that we're being gradually squeezed out of The Big Picture here. Doesn't take much imagination to see the day come when we're herded into our final dead end on Manannán. As you can imagine, it won't end particularly well for either side, although Team Terra will undoubtedly cop the rougher end of the pineapple.
There's no point in denying it any longer. This planet definitely wants us gone. If it were only a matter of accommodating me and the crew, I'd gladly oblige. We should be able to whip up a workable ship design and build it from scratch within a few months. Naturally, this ship would be pretty light on for certain creature comforts... Such as life support, food, water and personal space. However, rest assured that our audiovisual entertainment system would be the absolute duck's guts.
Unfortunately, there's the basic problem. Our colonists require something more human-friendly and considerably larger, equipped with an efficient FTL drive and self-contained life support systems. At a rough estimate, only a ship of Aurora's size would be sufficient in terms of space and logistic capabilities. Even so, the voyage home would effectively turn her into a Generation Ship, unless a workable substitute for the Alcubierre warp drive can be devised. Cryosleep might be a possible option to consider, although the required equipment and support systems will add another level of complexity to the ship's overall design.
My most stable home-brewed FTL drive design will make 1.05C at maximum acceleration, and even that trifling mark takes five years to reach under a constant full-power burn. One hundred and seventy-five light years (plus or minus a couple of parsecs) is a sod of a long distance, anyway you care to slice it.
For the time being, it's best to play this hand close to my chest. More in-depth research is required. There's no sense in getting anyone's hopes raised, only to see the entire project turn into a fizzle. My credibility is on the line. There's no walking away from this business once it gets underway.
"So, what do you think of the Warpers, now that you've met them?"
"I see what you mean about their appearance, Cherie. Once you get past their strangeness, I think they are quite beautiful to watch. Their movements are so expressive, like the ballet. I would like to learn their speech some day, if you can find the time to teach me. Yes, I would like that very much."
"A votre service, Madame." I said suavely, "Consider it done. Your PDA now contains the most current Warper/Terran lexicon, and I shall install holo-emitters in your dive suit at your earliest convenience."
"That would be tonight, I think... Unless you have other plans in mind." She said, smiling faintly.
"Well, we do have to report back to your committee. Also, the crew aren't expecting me to return to our base at any particular time, so I'd say we have the rest of this evening pretty much to ourselves."
"Très bon. Then we shall speak like Warpers all night long. I have so very much to tell you."
"Sounds intriguing." I said, grinning. "Time for some cunning linguistics."
Shortly after sunrise, the base's perimeter defence system went active. Héloise was still only half-dressed when I bolted from her room and sprinted for the bridge. No alarms sounded in the base yet, but the automated warning that I received indicated something big was heading our way.
"JUNO. Just caught a proximity alert on the island's sensors. Fifteen hundred metres and closing. Estimated time to contact with outer defences, 120 seconds. Scramble all units, deploy in line abreast behind inner defence ring on bearing 225."
"Affirmative, Captain. ETA your position, 180 seconds. Over and out."
I must have scared the crap out of the bridge watch crew, belting in there like a madman.
"Activate the defence grid... Now!" I yelled.
The young sensor tech protested, "There's nothing on the sonar, Captain. Surely it's..."
I shoved the tech aside roughly, dialling out the passive sonar's range to maximum. Sure enough, a large, shapeless trace moved slowly through the water at extreme range. Boiling with anger, I stabbed my finger at the display. The hapless sonar tech flinched reflexively, as if expecting a hefty whack to the side of his head.
"There's your target, Laddie. Next time, I want to see that range-gate wound all the way out. Keep it there. You're supposed to be on the lookout for approaching threats, not watching Spadefish fornicate! Got it?"
The poor little bugger was almost on the verge of tears. Seeing this, I relented immediately.
"Sorry, mate. Let's take a closer look at this beastie..."
Now i hope its not the Sea Emperor that would lead to disaster for the crew.
I doubt that the Sea Emperor would come alone. For that matter, I wonder where he lives?
"There's one they fear: Reaperborn!"
This is just a joke. Nothing having to do with @Bugzapper book's.
I didn't want to chance using the base's active sonar array. Next best thing to ringing a dinner bell.
Four bright blips were closing fast from a bearing of 045 degrees, positively identifying these sonar targets as Aegis, Taranis, Red Dragon and Ulysses. It could only be them. Nothing else on Manannán can hit a hundred-plus knots. I activated the base's public-address system. Three short, skull-piercing alarm tones sounded, alerting the colonists to an incoming announcement.
"Attention. Attention. Base defence condition is set to Yellow. All non-duty personnel are advised to prepare for immediate evacuation. Assemble in the mess deck on Delta Level and await further instructions. Be advised that we are tracking the approach of an unknown life form. Automated defences are enabled and standing ready, awaiting clear confirmation of this creature's intentions. This alert condition is merely a precautionary measure at present. Please remain calm and prepare for a possible evacuation. That is all. Selkirk, out."
Suddenly, the bridge was full of people demanding to know what was going on. Absolute bedlam.
"What's the meaning of this, Selkirk? You've taken command of our base?" someone yelled angrily.
I turned to face my accuser. Nils Olssen, one of the committee members. I held up a placating hand, intended to silence any further angry outbursts. Hopefully, everyone else here would take the hint.
"Only temporarily, meneer. Please forgive my apparent presumption. I was Johnny-on-the-spot, so to speak. Received an advance alert from your detection systems just before sonar picked it up. There's also four Cyclops subs out there, waiting for whatever it is to make an extremely poor life choice. We're currently attempting to determine if this creature poses any threat to this colony. See for yourself. Sonar, image feed to central display."
I gently tapped the sonar tech's shoulder. The poor chap practically jumped in his seat.
"See if you can get a clearer image of that target, boet. Band-pass filters... Those six sliders on the lower left-hand control panel." I added quietly.
The tech nodded, working the controls I'd indicated.
The fuzzy image sharpened appreciably. What was once a writhing jumble of shapes resolved into five distinct objects. One huge, elongated creature, surrounded by four comparatively smaller organisms. The central figure cruised sedately in a straight line, heading directly for the island. The four smaller creatures appeared to be swimming in a helical defence pattern, obviously centred on the larger organism.
I grinned broadly at the crowd clustered in front of the monitor. Judging by their bewildered expressions, I'd say that less than a handful were able to interpret what was happening on-screen.
"I know exactly who this is. Our landlord's about to spring a snap inspection on the new tenants."