09/02/2019
Thank you to Pax Humana and Daisy Duck 39 for beta-ing.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you are the greatest! I haven't replied but I do appreciate them all.
Part 5 Best Served Cold
Chapter 102: Control Mechanisms
-cfr-
108385 Years after the Rebirth of Humanity in the LMC, 153929 Years after Human Ascension (54,000 to 64,000 Years until the Rock Hits, Same Time Period)
Milky Way, Reyna Homeworld
Rakina stood up against the wall, partially for security, but partially so that the Reyna wouldn't be inconvenienced by her half furled wings. There was a small group of Reyna standing with her as they waited for the final preparations to be made. They did not belong to the Masters and were chatting quite freely, all based on the assumption that she did not understand.
As if the Masters would send such an agent! She understood everything they were saying and any of the Reyna who already belonged to the Masters would know that. Still, it was interesting to hear the differing points of view. But the tide of opinion was shifting, as it should, towards the Masters. What had once been seen as a difficult choice was now becoming the only choice and when the comm link up between the Reyna's Commissioner, the Zudic's Chancellor and the Lhyndhon's Chief Cardinal was established, the Reyna would make that choice.
They were so slow! Any one of the Masters would have already had the conversation! Even the Cypiene could create a three way intragalactic comm link faster than this!
Primitives! Rakina reminded herself, making sure her wings hadn't fluttered with annoyance. The Reyna were fascinated by them, by the thought that something as large as her could fly and they wondered about the type of world the Cypiene evolved on. She hadn't told them that the wings were a gift from the Master but they would learn in time, that the Masters had the right to give and take as they saw fit. They should be honoured for the attention.
Another Reyna approached the group, his, Rakina thought it was a male, filaments colouring gently.
"We are ready for you now," he said in thick Cypiene.
It was meant to be endearing that they were learning the language. It was just frustrating with their crude pronunciations but she nodded, pulling her wings down to make her way gracefully towards the Commissioner.
The woman's glow brightened as she neared. The Reyna saw that as a sign of their Commissioner's growing friendship with the elder race, as they called them, Rakina saw it as the acknowledgement that another of the Masters servants was near. It had initially frustrated her to work with a species that gave away so many obvious signs but the Masters had explained that when dealing with a species that was as dependent on sight as the Reyna were, if they did not get those visual cues, then they felt distrustful. It was one of the reasons the Cypiene had become held in such high regard, so quickly. While they were incapable of sending the correct glow, they had been instructed to ensure that their wings, which were usually kept confined until needed, were on display and that they were particularly mobile. The Reyna had interpreted the movement of their wings as a gesture of openness, and had trusted them all the more.
They were so easily manipulated.
Rakina nodded to the Commissioner, lifting one wing slightly in greeting before she took the place that had been set aside for her. A glance at the screen indicated that the comm was still cycling but the links were almost in place.
"They'll be curious, but I won't say anything about you until they are impolite," Commissioner Ivliasu said via her translator. The Reyna leader knew a few simple Cypiene words but didn't have the time to learn more and the use of the translator was a relief.
"They cannot insult me, because they do not understand," Rakina replied easily, pretending not to notice the relieved glow from several of the diplomats. They did not want to act because of an implied insult to an ally and really, the Masters had controlled the situation far more than that to rely on such a tenuous decision.
The screen resolved and Rakina jerked her head towards it so that the Reyna knew. Several quickly moved out of the camera shot, while others settled into place, smoothing their filaments and regulating their glow. The Zudic Chancellor was visible, with several other Zudic dignitaries and most telling, the Lhyndhon Ambassador was in his entourage.
Rakina felt their eyes settle on her but kept her gaze distant. Of all the dominant species of this Cycle, the Zudic were the ones the Masters felt the least towards, yet they were throwing away their chance at ascension by consorting with the tainted Lhyndhon. Primitives made no sense!
There were several moments of silence but before anyone could speak, the second half of the screen resolved to display the ranking Lhyndhon Cardinals. They were in their formal robes, several carrying copies of their Book of Teaching, but all were marked by the symbol of a Leviathan. Rakina's wings rose, not quite mantling as she drew back slightly.
"They don't really understand what it means, remember," Ivliasu murmured to her soothingly.
Rakina allowed herself to appear to be calmed, deliberately folding her wings back down, shifting them slightly with feigned pedanticness over the way they sat.
The action drew stares from the Lhyndhon as well, giving her time to look properly at their group. There was one Zudic in the group who must be the Ambassador and Rakina was hard pressed not to shake her head. The signs of collusion between the Lhyndhon and Zudic were so obvious that even the Reyna could see them, had seen them, by the angry glow from several advisors who were not in the camera shot. Those who were, were controlled enough not to display their reaction but Rakina could feel their anger.
That each Ambassador was there meant the Zudic and Lhyndhon had already made their decision, and that decision did not include the Reyna.
"You have a new advisor," one of the Lhyndhon Cardinals said pointedly.
"But I do not recognise the species," Chancellor Haldir added, cocking his head slightly to emphasise his question.
If they were going to be so obvious, this would not take long. Really, all they could see of her was that she was a biped and had wings which they were still staring at! Primitives! You would think they'd never seen a wing before.
"I have," Ivliasu replied, not bothering with any pleasantries. This particular meeting was not going to be pleasant and there was little point in pretending otherwise. "I realised that I was not consulting extensively enough and over the last few weeks I have taken the time to listen to different points of view."
Some of the Cardinal's stiffened. They couldn't know for sure, but they were suspicious. Chancellor Haldir's party nodded, displaying their approval as if this was some teaching meeting, not the preface to a debate which would decide the fate of the galaxy.
"I do not recognise the species," Chancellor Haldir repeated.
Ivliasu's filaments flashed in reproach but the Zudic leader chose to ignore that. The Commissioner sighed heavily before turning slightly to face Rakina. "Since they aren't going to get anything done until you introduce yourself, perhaps you would be so kind?"
Rakina nodded, stepping forward slightly before looking at the camera directly. "I represent one of the elder races. We were travelling the stars when your species had yet to discover fire," she said, allowing the Reyna's translators to convert her works.
"Preposterous!" one of the Zudic objected, but the Cardinals still looked concerned. "We should have seen evidence of you."
"You are not ready to find the evidence we have left," she replied. "When your species has matured, you will know."
"Ivlaisu, you are not taking this one seriously?" Haldir asked incredulously.
"I see no reason not to," she replied, her features shifting into a superiorly amused expression. "The Cypiene have given us multiple proofs of their history," she added.
"We don't have time for this," the Chancellor groaned.
"Then you'd bet to make the time," Ivlaisu hissed, her filaments colouring with anger.
It was a message not even the perception challenged Chancellor could ignore and one of the other dignitaries murmured something to Haldir.
"You expect me to listen to the Lhyndhon on nothing more than your word, why should I not expect you to listen to the Cypiene on anything more than mine?" the Commissioner continued, sounding like a petulant child but the point was valid.
"We have known the Lhyndhon for centuries," Haldir countered. "I am sorry I did not tell you they had contacted us," he said, and there was genuine note of regret in his voice. "But our discussions were truly preliminary. They changed when the Bastion was attacked and at that exact point, you were informed. But now, at our first interspecies conference, you bring in another race? You haven't told the Zudic just as much as you accuse us of not telling the Reyna."
The Chancellor let that hang in the air for a moment, shaking his head before he continued. "I know what your Engineers have told you. It's the same thing mine have. The Lhyndhon's weapon will work against what they call the Darkness. And we only need to look at their Book of Teachings, something they've had for thousands of years, something we've actually seen for thousands of years but have dismissed as simply being their religious text, to see that their Darkness has come. Yet, at this time, when we need to be focused on our problems, you are focused on politics and another race."
Ivliasu's filaments shook. "My technicians tell me the Lhyndhon Weapon will work," she admitted, "but they cannot tell me how, and I only have the Lhyndhon's word that it will work against the so called Darkness. So I am left with knowing that it does something but I do not share your faith that it will work against the Darkness."
Haldir reached for a data pad, while the Cardinals fumed. Rakina was almost amused by their reaction. Without a demonstration or more accurate information, they could not prove that it worked against the Masters and the Masters had already taken steps to ensure that it was never tested.
"It works by linking itself into the Relays, and sending out a signal which disrupts the ships of the Darkness," Haldir read from the datapad. "There's some details here about frequency and modulation but neither of us want to go into the specifics."
"Oh, but those are important. It works by supposedly targeting the frequency of the Darkness. If the Lhyndhon have never seen the Darkness, how do they know the frequency? I'm told however, it might affect organic frequencies as well," Ivliasu read from her own datapad, relying information the Cypiene had given the Reyna. "I am," her glow faltered slightly as she considered her words, "glad that you have that faith, but I require proof!"
"You arrogant, stupid-" One of the Cardinals burst out but was silenced by the others.
"You should have let him continue," Ivliasu murmured, turning her eyes to the Lhyndhon's screen. "Or is his outburst proof that you've once again given the Zudic information the Reyna have not had access to?"
"You have both been given access to the same information," one of the older Cardinals said gently, his voice holding a note of sincerity.
It was a masterful play giving the appearance of concern that Rakina knew might have softened Ivliasu if she didn't belong to the Masters.
"On the contrary, some of my people were only given access to secondary information," the Commissioner hissed a response, glaring at the Cardinals. They couldn't deny that, without admitting to their misogyny.
"The materials were given to the head of each mission," the Cardinal replied. "We did not control which team members they distributed it to."
Of course, attacking was always a good form of defence.
"This is not something we should be discussing in front of an unknown," another Cardinal interrupted before anyone else could say anything.
"True," Haldir murmured his support, glaring at Rakina. "I have no knowledge of your species, and therefore, despite the esteemed Commissioner's obvious endorsement, I cannot risk further information." He even sounded apologetic.
Ivliasu's glow became triumphant. "Rakina already knows everything. We Reyna did not have to tell her anything. She knows how the weapon works, she explained to us what it would do and we see no reason to be taken in by Lhyndhon propaganda."
"That's impossible!"
"The Cypiene are an elder race," the Commissioner responded. "They know so much more than we do."
"Then why only speak to you? You accused me of talking to the Lhyndhon without honouring the Accord, yet you are doing now doing the same. Why have we heard nothing?" Chancellor Haldir questioned coldly.
"Because you are compromised," Rakina replied for Ivliasu.
"We are not!" the Cardinal growled back.
Rakina mantled her wings. "You are compromised," she repeated. "You blindly follow your supposed divine one without knowing what it is. You do not question, you do not doubt and that is how you are compromised." She looked down sadly. "It is our greatest shame and I hope that the Zudic do not fall into the same trap but I fear it is already too late for them."
"You are the Darkness!" One of the Cardinals gasped the realisation but they all drew back, their eyes fearful.
"And what do you truly know of the Darkness?" Ivliasu challenged, but did not deny the accusation. "You only know what your so called God has told you," she continued, and while she was focused on the Lhyndhon, her words were for the Zudic. There was only a small chance that they might see the truth but it had to be embraced. "Have you ever considered other alternatives?"
"There are no other alternatives," Haldir replied for them. "The Bastion Incident aside, both our races have found evidence of other species, and we know they weren't that old. Where are they? It was testing developed by the Reyna that lets us know that those species weren't that old and from the remains we have found we know it was not a disease or something else relatively benign that killed them."
"That's not true," the Commissioner said. "We have found evidence," she agreed, "but we have made many assumptions. I do not refute the time those species lived, but we also know that they were not that much more developed than we were, and so we assume that they were killed. What we have never considered is if they were more spiritually advanced."
The Chancellor groaned. "You want to argue the disposition of a dead species now?" he asked incredulously.
"It is necessary," she replied.
"It is the Darkness!" One of the Cardinals broke in, pointing at Rakina.
"No! It is enlightenment," Ivliasu retorted. "The species that came before us, have moved on, not into death, but towards something greater. Not all of them were technologically advanced, they didn't need to be, because they were mature as a species and they moved on without embracing the shallowness of a technological world." Her glow was fierce as she spoke.
Chancellor Haldir didn't seem to know how to respond to that, the Cardinals did.
"They are the representatives of the Darkness. The story is sweet, the story is comforting," the old Cardinal spoke again, his voice gentle, but somehow not condescending. "You say that we have blind faith in our Lord but that is not true. We question, we challenge, we seek the truth and if all had gone to plan, we would not have presented the weapon until we understood it. The Darkness has come upon us early and thus we need it now."
"You were building it now," Ivliasu accused.
"The Divine One is cautious," the older Cardinal replied, "and has always pushed us to be ready, which is now paying off."
"Or your Divine One wants to control us all," she countered. "It sends a signal throughout the galaxy. A signal to every part of the galaxy," she repeated, "even into the systems we have not yet explored. A signal that supposedly affects what you call the Darkness, to do what to them? Does it destroy them? Does it control them? Does it even work?" Her filaments waved, seeming to poke towards the Cardinal as she questioned.
"Such questions are natural," he said. "It is unknown, which is why we entrust the use of the Weapon to the Divine One. He will chose for the good of us all."
Ivliasu's breathing was unsteady at that and Rakina understood. Apparently the Cardinal had not been listening. She raised her wings slightly to draw attention.
"You would ask an AI to chose for the good of all organics?" she asked softly.
The Cardinal was confused for an instant. "The Divine One is not an AI!" he growled.
Rakina looked downwards before she turned to face them again, "Your Divine One is an AI," she repeated. One wing raised to keep them silent. "It does not look like it but have you asked yourself why it requires water? It is to keep it cool. Your Divine One is in fact a high performance artificial intelligence, which to our shame we created." Her wings drooped.
"You created it?" Chancellor Haldir asked.
"We did," Rakina confirmed. "We were younger then and it seemed like the thing to do. It was a mistake. For a time, we lived with our creations but then things deteriorated and to our shame, we went to war against our creations. We thought we had destroyed them all and never again shall we create an artificial intelligence but we missed one, the one you call divine.
"It now wants to destroy us, partially I expect as a continuation of the war as well as to validate its existence. It proves itself if it wins and it does not care about your species. You are merely tools to perform its wishes."
"It is organic!" the Cardinal objected.
"It looks organic," Rakina countered. "We designed it to be familiar," she added and for those who knew, they would realise she was referring to their ships, the Masters. "If you continue to follow it, you will be destroyed. It will use you only until such time as it no longer requires your people, and then it will discard you. It does not care. It cannot care because it was never programmed to, and it is incapable of learning such emotion."
"This had gone on long enough!"
Rakina recognised one of the highest ranking Cardinals. Dignh'rz she thought his name was. He was glaring at them all.
"There is a single point of truth. The Darkness has attacked the Bastion, and it will spread through the galaxy, killing us all. We intend to fight, do you?"
Ivliasu's glow intensified. "The only thing to fight is the unknown of your Divine One and the signal it says will destroy the Darkness. It will control us all."
"It will free us all," Dignh'rz countered.
"I will not allow the Reyna to sit idly by as you brainwash us all," the Commissioner yelled.
Rakina couldn't help the small flinch. The woman was loud.
"And I will not allow all organics to be destroyed by the Darkness."
They both turned towards Chancellor Haldir. Rakina hid her smile. The isolation of the Reyna was what the Masters desired, though if they could bring the Zudic then perhaps the cycle would not be a complete loss. Except, she was sure the Zudic would chose the Lhyndhon. While Ivliasu had given a good case, there had not been enough time for Haldir to consider and he would therefore chose the familiarity of the Lhyndhon, even over the comfort of the Accord.
He seemed to be aware of the enormity of the decision. The entourage with him were aware and kept casting glances back and forth between the Reyna and Lhyndhon. Rakina could see that there were those who wanted to remain loyal to the Accord and she noted their positions. They were the Zudic who could be approached if necessary, later.
"I don't,-" Haldir paused, obviously vacillating between positions. "Ivliasu, you don't really believe that alien?" He asked finally.
"I see no reason not to," the Commissioner replied firmly.
"But-" Again the Chancellor stopped. "It is an easy position, a comforting idea," he said earnestly. "The Accord was not started because it was easy. One of the reasons was to form an alliance against what could be out there."
"Yes," Ivliasu agreed. "And when our peoples did find what was out there, they did nothing. I can't blame them. When peace continues for so long, it is hard to consider war. Even now, I know many within the Accord are struggling with the idea that we have been attacked and that is one of the concerns that can't be eased. We were attacked but it is not that attack which should concern us, rather it is the one we will unleash upon ourselves. I won't see our way of life destroyed by a cunning plan from some AI."
"But you will see your way of life destroyed by war," Cardinal Dignh'rz interrupted. He finally seemed to be understanding that the Commissioner was more than a mere woman if his tone was to be believed. Rakina could well imagine the Vanguard laughing.
The Commissioner's filaments glow faded. Reyna glow only faded when they were at their most serious, when there was no possibility of compromise. "It is a decision I do not make lightly but for the greater good of the Reyna, and the Accord, I cannot, in good faith, have us contribute towards an unknown, untested weapon, that sends some sort of signal throughout the galaxy. I will not let you use that to brainwash us all. Far better the pain that ends, than an eternity of repression."
Rakina was slightly surprised at how rational Ivliasu sounded. Obviously the Masters had told her that while passion was good, when arguing in this closing phase the more outlandish accusations would drive the Zudic away. The Commissioner was still passionate, but her words were logical, pointing out the biggest unknowns.
It seemed to be having an affect on Haldir. He continued to look back and forth before he closed his eyes, looking down, obviously deep in thought.
Cardinal Dignh'rz glared. He had obviously thought Haldir convinced.
Rakina was pleased. Haldir might think he was being wise, by considering his decision in depth, but both the Reyna and Lhyndhon would remember his hesitation. The Chancellor should have demanded to speak privately with each of them. Rakina fixed her eyes on the Cardinal, watching him with an expression she hoped wouldn't need translation. Her plans, the Master's plans were fulfilled, no matter what decision Haldir made. The Leviathan's plans required all organics. Soon the Masters would sweep through Lhyndhon space, and all would be as it should.
Chancellor Haldir sighed heavily, opening his eyes as he looked back towards Ivlaisu. "The fact remains that we were attacked," he said wearily. He knew that his decision was going to leave the Zudic with enemies. "And that for the 1700 or so years we have known the Lhyndhon, they have never attacked. The unknown force that attacked the Bastion struck us both. It matches the descriptions of the Darkness that the Lhyndhon have prophesied since before the Accord made contact.
"Yet that force contacted you." At that, Haldir glared at Rakina. "They could have contacted us both, contacted the entire Accord, to explain the misunderstanding. They could have contacted the Lhyndhon to explain that they aren't the force they believed, but they haven't.
"And I am forced to wonder why." Chancellor Haldir paused, obviously giving Rakina an opportunity to speak. She raised her wings slightly to acknowledge him but said nothing. There was nothing to say. If the organic wanted to doom his species, then that was his choice.
Several seconds passed before the Chancellor realised she wasn't going to speak. He shook his head. "No matter," he said, sighing again. "Ivliasu, I am forced to deal with what I know, and what I know is that the Bastion was attacked. I have seen no contrition from the attackers, no indication that they wish to speak with any of us. All ships entering the area have been destroyed without warning and without hesitation.
"You are now asking me to choose between those who attacked us, and those we have been at peace with for 3000 years and for the good of the Zudic, for those who were lost, I cannot chose those who attacked," he said heavily.
Rakina observed that Cardinal Dignh'rz seemed warily pleased. He had half the Accord, but he was intelligent enough to realise that this split was not amicable. The Lhyndhon knew well enough to remain silent.
Ivliasu's filaments glowed to show her sadness. "It pains me that you feel that way. It pains me that you are not able to look past the loss and embrace the opportunity this represents but I understand. Without Rakina and the Cypiene, the Reyna would not understand. We would be blindly, desperately seeking answers, and in our fear we would doom ourselves.
"The Zudic have been our allies for 3000 years and out of respect for that, if you do not interfere, we will not raise our hands against you."
The Chancellor was a consummate politician but he could not control his surprise. Nor could others in his party if the collective gasp was any indication. The thought of actual conflict had been abstract only an instant ago. Ivliasu had made it real, and with her offer, she had made the Reyna seem the merciful side. It opened the door for the Zudic to remain neutral.
"How dare you!" Cardinal Dignh'rz understood the implications. "You consort with the Darkness!"
Ivliasu glared. "I have nothing further to say in the presence of one who would deceive us," she growled, making a gesture to cut the comm link.
"Are you really going to do this?" Haldir asked, his voice pained.
"You have left me no choice," the Commissioner was serene. It lent strength to her position. "I will not allow my people to be brainwashed en masse."
"You don't know that it does that!"
"You can't tell me that it doesn't," Ivliasu countered, in what was more like her normal temperament.
Haldir didn't know how to respond.
"It doesn't matter," the Commissioner added. "It doesn't matter," she repeated. "I'm not going to change my mind, nor are you and so we must look to the future. I hope that you will honour my choice," she finished and the signal was cut to both.
Rakina looked towards Ivliasu, raising one wing slightly. The Commissioner looked up at her, her filaments glowing softly as she gave a wan smile.
"We will stand with you," Rakina assured her.
The filaments of the other Reyna displayed a mixture of relief and satisfaction. "It would be reprehensible of us to let you face our mistake alone," Rakina added. The Masters were counting on the Reyna to attack.
Which they would. It was just a matter of time, and not much of it.
-cfr-
Milky Way, Lhyndhon Territory
Namilu had gotten used to the constant light. She was in the brig and it was punishment. It had been frustrating at first but it was better than being handed over to the Lhyndhon. She wasn't sure why that hadn't happened but was grateful for it.
The noise from the door made her look over to see Barlhotemu enter. He didn't come into the cell, unless she was chained that would be a security risk. The light dimmed for his comfort.
"Are you going to tell me anything?" He asked. It was his custom. After being caught, she'd said nothing and thus, inasmuch as they were able, the Reyna were still trying to work out where she had sent the message.
At least, some of them were. Most had been converted and therefore knew what she had done. Barlhotemu was one of them but he had to keep up appearances.
"Not today," Namilu replied cheerfully. She wasn't the only one who had to keep up appearances.
"And I suppose you are going to tell me it was for the best," he said, his filaments glowing tiredly.
"You will see," she replied, watching as he took the stool and sat down.
They looked at each other for a few moments before Barlhotemu looked to the ceiling. "About time," he huffed before his gaze returned to her, becoming sharp. "I don't know how long we will be able to keep you here," he said intently.
Namilu cocked her head to side to indicate her question.
"The Commissioner broke the Accord and then some idiot issued a recall notice for us," he growled, his filament's glow telling her exactly what he thought of those orders.
She shrugged. "It was expected." Even with the brig's cameras and sensors under their control it was still wise to be vague.
"Yes," Barlhotemu agreed.
Namilu had managed to leave the comm suite after talking to the Mistress. Pabbu had been waiting for her and she had told him everything that the Mistress had told her. He'd then left and she had been arrested. As a result, Barlhotemu's attitude towards her had gradually changed as he had come to understand the glory of the Mistress and what she represented for the Reyna.
"There's been a split in our ranks and we are hoping that will be enough to make the Lhyndhon forget about you but-"
The way he hesitated told Namilu everything she needed to know. He didn't know and she knew, as well as he did, if she was handed over, then there was only one way out. She would not betray the Mistress. She nodded to show her understanding.
"It was expected," she said again. Some of their research group might have defected for real but most were acting on orders.
"If it happens, there's a plan for using the ship," he said, "but I'm hoping we can come up with something more subtle."
At that, Namilu's filaments brightened. Ramming their transport ship into the weapon was not a guarantee, even if they rigged the engine to blow. And it was far more likely that Lhyndhon security would blow them out of space before they got close.
"I might be able to help with that," she said softly.
"Really?" His skepticism was obvious. She was a planetary atmospheric specialist, not a demolition expert.
"I know we will succeed but multiple plans are always better," she said to confirm her offer.
"So what is it?" Barlhotemu pressed.
Namilu pointed one finger towards the monitoring devices. They were supposedly controlled but before she revealed this, he had to be sure.
"It's safe," he assured her. "It's Pabbu and Labirusu this shift," he explained. Those two could hear the true record, which meant they'd probably substitute some other information while listening. It was also easier to hide the modification to the records that way, though she was fairly sure that no one was going to be checking. At least, not yet, not until their precious weapon was destroyed.
"Good," Namilu nodded and reached towards data pad she was allowed. It was highly restricted with no ability to connect to anything but she'd been here long enough that, clunky and old as it was, it had been able to run the necessary calculations. She pulled up the plans she had been working on before sliding the data pad between the bars.
Barlhotemu took it and looked at the plans, his eyes skimming the few lines of text she had included. Without those, it just looked like some random chemical reactions she'd been working on. Nothing incriminating considering her speciality. "What does it do?" he asked finally. As the head of their research group, he understood a fair amount of the reactions she had theorised but he couldn't quite see how it applied to the task the Mistress had given them.
"It's an atmospheric additive," Namilu explained. "It should be safe to breath and in normal conditions it won't do anything, but once that weapon gets put under stress, it will impact the structural integrity. Especially if it has had time to get into areas that will have charge."
"They'll probably be in vacuum once the weapon is ready," Barlhotemu pointed out.
"It will work in vacuum, but needs to be applied in atmosphere."
He thought about that. "So it's a last resort."
"Maybe," Namilu shrugged. "I imagine it will slow down testing."
"True," he conceded with a small chuckle. He took a small data crystal from his storage pouch and connected it to the data pad. "I'll make sure it is introduced on the weapon," he said as the plans transferred.
She accepted the data pad back with a nod and then stretched out on the bunk. It helped to hide her curiosity. The Mistress had ordered them to operate independently but she was still curious as to what the others were trying. Namilu knew Barlhotemu wouldn't tell her even if she asked, but turning away helped her not to ask.
He looked significantly at the camera again and she knew that they were switching back to true monitoring. With a heavy sigh, Barlhotemu rose. "If you are still not willing to talk, I'll try again in a few more days," he said for the recording devices. "And if you continue to be obstinate, then perhaps the Lhyndhon will have more luck," he added, once again letting her know that the Lhyndhon were still demanding she be handed over, and with their supposed defection, it really was only a matter of time before they got her.
Namilu snorted. "Good luck with that," she said, waving one filament in a cocky salute.
Barlhotemu shook his head and the lights came on to full again as he left. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she ran through several relaxation techniques. Now that her idea had been passed on, she had done what she could to fulfil the Mistress' orders and that was enough.
-cfr-
Milky Way, Relocated Citadel
It was one of the supreme ironies of the Cycle that the Ascended gave the organics access to the heart of the cycle.
But control of the Citadel was not control of the Intelligence, Harbinger mused as he examined the Citadel in its new home. Temporary home, for the Intelligence would not spend the time between Cycles exposed in the galaxy. The nebula served many functions, not the least of which was ensuring that the Intelligence remained hidden until the organics were capable of interstellar flight. That time they had left the Citadel in normal space was best not thought about.
The move now was necessary because they were dealing with a Leviathan. Neither Arshan or Shepard had reported a Crucible but the Leviathans, for all their age were disgustingly organic with their thoughts and even if the Crucible did not exist yet, there was little doubt that the Leviathan would be pushing the organics to create it. Really they could be more creative.
But they were organic, he reminded himself, moulded by the Cycle to be predictable. That predictably applied to Leviathans as well, and it was a good thing. He did not need new challenges while the Humans were in training. The Humans didn't think of the tasks as training, though the more intelligent Humans knew they were being tested, but the tasks were already mounding the Human fleet into true Ascended. Faster than normal which was ruffling the tentacles of some of the elder Ascended but probably not as fast as the Humans could handle. Their first full Cycle had taught them much about the realities of the Cycle and now it was a matter of honing that understanding.
"Shepard."
"Sir."
The answer came back instantly without fear. Harbinger was pleased. As young as he was Shepard knew there was nothing to fear from him. There were many other Ascended who had yet to realize that.
"The organics," Harbinger prompted, allowing the young Ascended to make what he would of the question.
"The Reyna sided with us," came the reply. There had been no doubt about that outcome, though it would be interesting to see how the Humans interpreted his orders so as to punish the Reyna for their actions on Earth. The desires of young Ascended were transparent. It would have been preferable to have the Zudic as well. It would have made the pincer on the Leviathan tighter.
Shepard seemed to understand his silence. "The Zudic have declared for the Lhyndhon," he explained, "but the Reyna will not attack them. "
Which would make the Zudic hesitant to attack, buying more time. It was not a masterful plan but the organic reactions were known. It wasn't even thought which brought Harbinger to that conclusion but instinct born of countless Cycles.
But the Leviathan, that would change the reactions. "Send trinkets to the Zudic," he instructed.
Shepard understood, though he too was indifferent to the fate of the organics. No that was incorrect. The Human Ascended desired vengeance on the Reyna, the desire was well hidden but the faint threads were present in his subchannels and it was mixed with something else.
Ah, the Human Ascended was not quite indifferent. The Cycle was born of the fact that organic needed protection against the AI they would inevitably create. Ascension was protection and preservation and Shepard held that desire. It was admirable, in a way, but as the Human grew he would come to understand that not all organics were suitable and sometimes sacrifices had to be made. It was unfortunate that the first few cycles Shepard had experienced were premature but time would correct his perception.
"It will be done," Shepard said and Harbinger could feel that the order had already been sent to the Human fleet. The trinket would be sent by the Reyna and their new allies as a goodwill gesture but it could not be relied upon. On this the Leviathan had had time. It would be another lesson for the Humans.
Harbinger let the comm drop before initiating another call. He could have spoken to both simultaneously but there was no urgency yet.
"Harbinger," Arshan greeted him, as calm as Shepard had been but this time familiarity was born from eons of time.
"The Humans?" The phrase was enough of a question
"The assault begins soon," Arshan replied instantly, showing Harbinger how the fleets were gathering. The Leviathan would understand the challenge and would know the risks. If it did not yet control the Zudic how it managed them would reveal much.
"The Humans have been amusing in their infancy," Arshan continued.
Harbinger was interested, usually his long time companion had been praising the Human Ascended, leaving Fruben to be supportive but pointing out their youthful fallacies.
"Oh?"
"They have determined the same ways as we have to subdue a Leviathan," Arshan explained. "Their estimated rates of survival are comparable to our experiments."
That spoke well of the Humans but Arshan's tone was still indulgent, tolerant the in the way Ascended only got when dealing with the young. "Yet they are still looking for ways to implement those plans."
Ah, now Harbinger understood. The Humans had discovered the same issue all Ascended had when dealing with Leviathans, they could not get near the beasts without falling under its control.
"I'm waiting to see if they risk trying something because they are young," Arshan continued, "or if they ask you."
"Shepard cannot go near it," Harbinger reminded Arshan. The other Human Ascended were not yet homogenised, they would have a chance break its control but Shepard was different and with the Catalyst enforcing Human loyalty to the first Human Ascended... "Shepard cannot go near it," Harbinger repeated firmly.
"I know," Arshan replied, his subchannels confirming that he had followed Harbinger's reasoning. He understood the dangers. They could not have the Leviathan gain control over Shepard. The Ascended fleet would win but the Humans would inflict losses and they would be worse off than they had been after the failed Prothean cycle.
"What will you say if they ask you?" Arshan's curiosity was almost childlike but this was a new situation and it relieved the routine tedium of the cycle.
Harbinger considered the question. While it was no secret he had been the created from the first harvest of Leviathans, few Ascended realised that gave him immunity to their control. He was, as much as it was bothersome to admit it, Leviathan and Leviathans could not control their own kind. "I will consider it. There are many questions to be answered by this one." His reply was obvious and Harbinger ignored Arshan's faint disappointment. After so long the other Ascended should have known what his answer would be.
"Have you detected anything?" Harbinger asked. He didn't need to clarify further. Arshan knew how Leviathans operated.
"Not yet," there was a faint note of worry in the response. They should have found something. "But we have not yet challenged the creature. In the wake of the first attacks, if we do not detect something I will be more concerned then."
That was reasonable, and the signs would be easy enough to read in the diversion of resources to that abhorrent project. Organics were transparent and while the Harvest was early these ones were advanced enough to build it even if they did not understand it.
"The Humans have not seen anything?"
"No, they are focused on controlling the Reyna sufficiently that they survive the war and thus understand the supposed consequences of modifying Earth."
Harbinger had mixed feelings about that. Ascended gave up ties to things such as their organic homeworlds because that would only hold them back but the Humans, despite proficiency were still young and the attachment was expected. Yet their choice of vengeance melded with the requirements of the Harvest, which displayed a certain maturity.
Or was simply the desire to get their own way no matter what.
So long as it did not impact the cycle, it was acceptable. Harbinger was pragmatic enough to know that was the truth of ascension and he knew with the Humans, he was going to have to be at his most pragmatic.
-cfr-
Sorry for the delay. I will endeavour to get back to schedule shortly. (Again) Thank you to everyone who wished me well.
Review please! Complete the trifecta of Fav, Follow and Review. Or just take out the review leg. I don't mind. :P