Chapter 9

Thursday, September 08, 2264 – Mission Day 317

Captain Garibaldi stepped down from the transporter pad, the three other members of the landing party trailing him. He took off his utility belt and handed it over to the transporter operator to be returned to the armory.

"Commander," he said to his science officer. "Get those documents translated right away."

"I'll get on it," Giacconi replied as he handed turned in some of his own gear. He kept his tricorder, universal translator, and the note the young man wrote. Garibaldi then headed towards to bridge to relieve Commander Bolt who normally manned the swing shift. Giacconi followed him out the door.

Minutes later Giacconi was in his Astrophysics Lab. He saw that Lt. Sotar and a couple other technicians were working to catalog the astronomical data obtained after transitioning into this new universe. He sat down at an unoccupied computer terminal and connected his tricorder to the terminal. Then he down loaded the scanned recording of the encyclopedia. He disconnected the tricorder, hooked up the universal translator and downloaded the translation matrix. Finally, he activated the verbal command system to the computer.

"Computer," he began.

"Working," it replied.

"Scan document number Giacconi 438 just downloaded."

"Scanning…ready."

"Apply translation matrix Giacconi 439 just downloaded."

"Translating…translation complete…ready."

"Display the first page of the results on the monitor."

The monitor lit up and showed the introductory page of the Encyclopedia Imperia. Giacconi looked it over to make sure that the formatting was acceptable.

"Save resulting file as Giacconi 440."

"File saved…ready."

"Scan the file for all historical references."

"Scanning…there are eleven thousand eight hundred and twenty historical entries in the document."

"Classify the entries."

"There are eleven thousand four hundred and ninety five historical references for the inhabited planets of the Empire of Man. There are one hundred thirteen entries for major corporate entities in the Empire. There are two hundred seven entries for the major and minor noble houses of the Empire. There are one hundred and three entries are for general history."

"List the general history entries on the monitor."

Giacconi's monitor lit up with the list he requested. He quickly scanned through the list. The he retrieved a data pad and connected it to the computer.

"Mark all the historical entries for later retrieval."

"Working…ready."

"Down load the general history of the Empire, entry number six two one zero, to the data pad connected to port one."

"Working…ready."

"Computer off," Giacconi ordered then he disconnected the pad from the computer, activated it and began to read. The minutes passed as he quickly scanned the data then he set the pad down. Then he took up the note that the young man left in the library and scanned it into the computer. After the computer translated it he called it up on his screen.

"I know who you are.
Beware the Bene G and T.
The Emperor and Guild will take all you have or destroy you.
Only Duke Leto of Caladan can help you."

Oh my, Giacconi thought as he loaded the note onto the data pad. Then he activated his intercom.

"Giacconi to Bridge."

"Bridge here," Palmer replied.

"I have a message for the Captain. Is he there?"

"Yes, Commander."

"Thank you. I'll be right up."

Giacconi left his lab and a few minutes later the whoosh of the turbo lift doors announced his arrival at the bridge. He quickly stepped down next to the center seat.

"Capitano, you need to see this," Giacconi said as he activated his pad and handed it over to Garibaldi."

The Captain quickly read the note and gave the pad back to Giacconi.

"So, you think we might not be welcome here," Garibaldi commented.

"Until the encyclopedia has been completely analyzed we should be aware that we might be in hostile space."

"We'll I suggest you get that document analyzed as fast as you can."

"I will. I'll pull the entire science department in on this. I'll probably need some people from engineering too."

"I want an initial assessment of our situation in 24 hours and a complete one by the end of the week. Get with Palmer about scheduling a conference room for the senior officers and for a ship wide broadcast for both presentations."

"Si, I'll get started right away." Giacconi took a couple of steps up to the communications station where Palmer was listening to the take from the ground radio intercepts. At his approach, she took her earphone out and looked up.

"Susan, call the entire science department for an emergency meeting in fifteen minutes…uh, the chapel is a good place. Call the Chief Engineer for the meeting too."

"Yes, sir," she replied as she began making calls.

0

Friday, September 09, 2264 – Mission Day 318

Twenty-four hours later Giacconi was standing before the assembled senior staff in the briefing room. In the corridor waiting were the science specialists who were to give their part of the presentation of the initial assessment of the encyclopedia. They had all gone with little sleep, Giacconi included, in their preparations.

Captain Garibaldi leaned back in his chair as the presentation began.

"Capitano," Commander Giacconi began. "After making a copy of the Encyclopedia Imperia from the Vatican Library on this universe's Earth, the Science and Survey Division staff has been pouring over the document. This is just an initial assessment; our conclusions may change after further review of the document.

"The Encyclopedia is this year's edition dated 10,190 after the establishment of the Spacing Guild or 26,390 A.D. The current date on the Earth of this universe is 30 August 10,190 A.G. or 26,390 A.D. The social scientists will begin the presentation followed by the physical scientists. I'll have a concluding statement at the end of the presentation…"

Giacconi then turned the presentation over to the various science specialists. They entered the briefing room one by one and what they had to say was broadcast throughout the ship.

"…The official language of the imperium is Galach which is a mix of English and Russian…"

"…There are many forms of alien life forms encountered in this universe; no non-human intelligent life has been discovered so far in this universe…"

"…There are over ten thousand worlds inhabited by humans in this universe…"

"…The Great Convention is the truce where the Spacing Guild, the major noble houses and the Emperor share power. The noble houses exercise their power through the Landsraad council…"

"…The Emperor maintains his power through the threat of military action and as the major shareholder in the CHOAM organization. His infantry force, the Sardaukar, is unmatched in the galaxy in their use of arms and in unarmed combat…"

"…In the imperium, the Faufreluche caste system forces everyone to follow in the footsteps of their parents. No class mobility is allowed…"

"…A major event in this universe's history is the domination of mankind by artificial intelligence and cyborgs, what they call 'Thinking Machines.' This domination was thrown off during the Butlerian Jihad, which took place between 201 B.G. and 108 B.G. or 16000AD to 16092AD. From that time there has been a ban on all cybernetic mechanisms from artificial intelligence down to the simplest computing devices…"

"…The Bene Gesserits is an organization for women only that specializes in mental and physical training…"

"…The Mentat School teaches their students to be highly logical, much like the Vulcans of the Federation…"

"…All trade is dominated by the CHOAM monopoly. The monopoly is owned by the Emperor, Spacing Guild, major noble houses, and the Bene Gesseret…"

"…The spice Mélange is highly desired by all the people in the imperium. Additionally, it is required by the Spacing Guild's navigators to pilot their starships. It is available only on one planet, Arrakis, Canopus Three, a desert world…"

"…The highest powered weapons in the imperium are lasers and nuclear explosives. Most conflicts are fought with firearms and hand held weapons. A form of shielding is used for defense, but with some risks. The shields they employ explode with the force of a small nuclear explosion when struck by a laser…"

"…Shields range from personal to city sized. They allow only slow moving particles or objects to penetrate. As mentioned before they have an adverse reaction to being struck by a laser, they explode with nuclear force. They can be shorted out by a large electric field…"

"…There are three variations of the Holtzman Effect. First is the repelling shield effect, second is the antigravity effect, and most importantly is the third 'Jump' drive effect. The Holtzman star drive instantaneously moves a Guild starship from one region of space to another with only a moderate use of energy. Consequently, Guild starships use simple fission reactors as power sources…"

"…All space flight is controlled by the Spacing Guild monopoly. The Guild operates all interstellar craft. Most of their starships are of the Heighliner type, which is roughly a ten kilometer long cylinder with most of the volume dedicated to the docking of smaller ground to orbit craft. The Guild operates most ground to orbit craft but allows the Emperor and the major noble houses some privately owned craft used under strict guidelines…"

An hour and a half later the final speaker finished and Commander Giacconi returned to conclude the presentation. "In conclusion, the society we find ourselves in offers us both opportunities and dangers. The opportunities include the use of the three Holtzman effects, possibly as a method of returning to our own dimension. The threats come from this universe's fear of 'Thinking Machines.' There are several dozen non-human crewmembers aboard the Polo, how the inhabitants here will react to them is unknown. What future this universe holds for us will have to be played out."

Captain Garibaldi got up from his chair to address his staff. "Thank you Commander. You and your staff have certainly put great effort into identifying some major issues that we will confront. The encyclopedia will be made available to all crewmembers over the Library Computer. Work through your chains of command if something needs to be brought to the senior staff's attention; dismissed."

"Jeremy, Ricardo, wait a minute," Garibaldi asked as the other staff members began to leave the briefing room. "Now that we know more about what we are dealing with in this universe, the note given to us in the library makes me wonder. Is the Empire safe for us?"

"We don't know until we make more contact with the locals," Giacconi replied.

"It seems to me that there is a delicate balance of power here," Bolt commented. "Our presence can upset that balance. Obviously, we are a threat because our use of computers. We are also a threat to the Spacing Guild's monopoly in that we offer an alternate form of interstellar space flight. Also, our weaponry is much more powerful than any used here. Maybe we should take the warning on the note seriously."

Garibaldi thought over what his two closest advisors said then he activated the computer terminal.

"Computer," he began.

"Working," it replied.

"Summarize the Encyclopedia Imperia entry for Duke Leto of Caladan."

The monitor at the center of the briefing room table lit up and showed a picture of the duke. They saw that he was a dark haired Mediterranean looking man with a regal bearing. He was wearing a black uniform with a red hawk over his left breast.

"Duke Leto Atreides was born on the planet Caladan in the year 10,140 A.G. His parents were Duke Paulus Atreides and Lady Helena Atreides.

"He is the twenty-sixth duke of the Atreides line to rule Caladan; Delta Pavonis Three.

"The Atreides family is related to the imperial Corino dynasty and is in a multigenerational blood feud with Harkonnen family.

"Pause summary," Garibaldi ordered. "Computer, report the name of the noble family responsible for mining the spice on Arrakis."

"House Harkonnen," the computer replied.

"Blood feuds indeed," Bolt commented.

"Resume summary," Garibaldi ordered.

"The Atreides family claim to be descendent from King Agamemnon of Greek mythology.

"Duke Leto is mated to Lady Jessica, a Bene Gesseret. He has not married her to keep open the hope of alliance with another noble family through marriage. They have a son, Paul, who is fifteen standard years old.

"Duke Leto is nicknamed the Red Duke which refers to the red hawk family emblem.

"Duke Leto is regarded by most of the other major and minor noble families as a man of integrity and honor, a fair and honest statesman in the Landsraad council. He is also known as an effective military leader.

"On 3 May 10,190 A.G. The emperor conferred a fief change for the Atreides family from Caladan to Arrakis effective on 3 May 10,191 A.G.

"End summary."

"He does seem like someone who would be willing to at least listen to us if we approach him," Bolt commented.

"But, who is to say, besides this note, that the Spacing Guild or the Emperor would not deal with us fairly," Giacconi asked. "I am sure the Spacing Guild has a ship yard where we can complete our structural repairs."

"Do you think I should risk the ship and crew to find out," Garibaldi asked rhetorically. "The safety of my ship and crew and returning them home are my first priorities. Also, while the society here is star faring and the Prime Directive does not apply, I still don't want to upset the balance of power here."

"Eventually, we will need some material support while we are in this universe," Bolt said. "Twenty years is a long time and, as we discussed before, we only have supplies for about three more years."

"We can make our own anti-matter as long as we have a supply of hydrogen for the fusion reactors and we can make our own spare parts," Giacconi said. "But, we aren't really self-sufficient in foodstuffs and raw materials."

"If, eventually, we are to approach the Emperor, working through an intermediary from this universe would be helpful," Bolt suggested.

"Yes, a fair intermediary would work to our benefit," Garibaldi said. "It looks like we are going to Caladan. We'll spend a few more days here. This Earth is relatively unpopulated. I'm sure we can find some isolated spot where we can give the crew a day or two of shore leave without disturbing the locals."

"That's a good idea," Bolt said with a smile. "I wouldn't mind a few days on some tropical beach. I'm sure the crew wouldn't mind either."

"Nor I," Giacconi replied.