Chapter 77

The Galatea made its way to Rift Central, where Cricket gave them a status update on the builds being done by the Sentinel. It would still be several centares before everything was ready to go.

Annabelle was still a little upset about not going to visit the other planets of the Norse realms, so she asked, “How long are you going to be gone? Should we go back to Earth or wait there?”

Mark said, “Actually, it shouldn’t take very long. Skye’s crew will offload the Sentinel, so I’m just going to meet with the councillors, talk to the media and inform them we’re giving them more than they thought they were getting.”

Liyana said, “Actually, you could both go. We’ve got communications with the other side, albeit delayed. There’s a Sentinel there with thousands of drones for your security, and they are a trusted ally. Plus, even if they wanted to, they couldn’t use the Celestia against us, as the AI on it still indirectly reports to Cricket.”

Mark shrugged his shoulders and looked at Annabelle, who had a big smile on her face, delighted that she could visit the Mazjik planet.

Once planet-side, they proceeded directly to the Jardini spaceport, to meet the councillors. They had been busy rebuilding their government and doing damage control. Every day filled with meetings, press conferences and memorial services.

Jean met them outside the terminal as Mark returned the greeting and immediately said, “I’ve got some good news!”

“That’s wonderful! We were just headed to the chambers for an update briefing. Join us and tell us your news. We also have a list of things to ask you.” Councillor Jean said as she turned and started leading the way to the meeting room.

She signalled for attention, then acknowledged Mark and said, “The king has returned with news. After his news, if our questions are still outstanding, we can ask them. The floor is yours, my King.”

“As you all know, most of our technology doesn’t work without a live network connection to the Atlantean Federation. The main reason is because our technology relies on an AI to control it and even more so than the AI is the identification system, which you already have.

Because of your unique status as both Mazjik and the fact that we have communication, thanks to knowing the entry and exit rifts in your space, we’ve come up with a unique solution. One that literally gives you access to most Federation services, with just some minor changes—think of it as a stepping stone to joining the Federation.”

Councillor Jean asked, “So we will be like every other planet you’ve enrolled in the Federation? Like what we saw in Liyana’s presentation, with the outreach centres, lifts and stuff like that?”

“Yes—well, almost! We are constructing a new space station in your orbit to replace the one you lost. It will let you experience most Federation services as it will have its own AI built to handle everything on Cricket’s behalf. We will keep the databases separate so they operate independently of the Federation network. The two AIs will talk as Cricket may need to make modifications, so it works as you need it to. An AI that never leaves the planet’s orbit, so any technology we give you access to will continue to work.

The only thing you won’t have is live communication, video or audio programming and transportation off-world will be different. Space stations have lots of dock space, so even the largest freight and passenger ships can dock with it. The space station will have those, but you won’t be using most of it until we find a direct link and can build a hyperspace gate. So until that happens, the embassy on the other side of the rift will be your off-world transportation hub. It will also be where the Federation staff working at the embassy or the space station will live.

Then, if a direct link to the Federation is ever found, and New Mazjorca votes to join the Federation, Cricket can merge with the AI and the Federation enrolment will be nearly immediate.”

Councillor Farley then asked, “What if the vote to join the Federation is unsuccessful after we find a direct link?”

“Then we sit down and talk. The Federation will disable its technology when a planet secedes, providing an opportunity for citizens to re-evaluate and understand what the Federation freely offers. Then we set a deadline. If you choose to go through with secession, the technology will simply disappear.”

Though most of the councillors had a worried look on their faces, Councillor Jean said, “I honestly don’t think joining the Federation will see that much resistance from the people. What the Federation is offering us is everything our ancestors had and more.”

Councillor Perry asked, “Even though the space station is owned and operated by the Federation, are we allowed to use it for our government offices again?”

“You could! Although we don’t actually recommend it.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not familiar with how the Mazjik government works, but in the Federation, the elected leaders work in and around the people that elected them, plus it allows you to remain closer to your families. We recommend setting up outreach centres and hubs around the planet, and elected officials can set up their offices there. You could use the space station as a common meeting point, but I wouldn’t suggest using it as your primary office.”

The councillors all pondered his statement. Finally, Councillor Jean asked, “If we’re seriously considering joining the Federation, maybe we should try doing things their way? After all, we’re rebuilding everything anyway and the attack has exposed some flaws in our old ways. Primarily of having all power centralized in one location, even though we had a backup location.”

Councillor Perry asked, “Will these outreach centres have all the same amenities as the space station?”

“Outreach centres and hubs have the same technology and communication capabilities as the space station. There are some basic medibays that are good for checkups to keep the community healthy and they function as transportation stops for travelling between outreach centres or the space station. They also have communal meal pavilions so that no one ever goes hungry, and public library kiosks so people can satisfy their hunger for information. Since they often become a focal point in the community, that’s why we recommend putting the government offices there. For government officials at all levels, there are actually more amenities there than on the space station. I’m not sure if it’s going to be a huge requirement here, but they also have identification desks.”

“What about security? Being right in the community increases the security risks.” Councillor Farley asked with a smile, thinking he had exposed a flaw in the Federation way.

“It was mentioned in Liyana’s presentation, but all Federation structures such as outreach centres and the space station automatically get basic Federation security. We can also implement it planet-wide—if you wanted. There’s also a self-contained prison system built under each outreach centre for minor offences, and there’s a maximum security prison aboard the space station, since that’s usually where the planetary security and emergency services get located.”

“So all of these facilities will have Federation staff, then?”

“No, there may be a few Federation personnel on the space station, but all facilities are intended to be staffed by locals. Outreach centres are intended to show the community what they can accomplish themselves. The basic security provided at those facilities are just the invisible drones mentioned in the presentation. You will need to use your existing security personnel.”

Councillor Joanna said, “I don’t remember our ancestors ever having outreach centres and space stations before, but we’ve always been taught the importance of community, but now that I think about it, we’ve strayed from our own ways as a government.”

“Your ancestors never had outreach centres or space stations before because they never needed them. They only ever lived on Mazjorca. The outreach centres and hubs became a necessity once planets started joining the Federation, as we needed a central building to act as a focal point with which to expand and promote our ways, without having to staff them. The space stations were also an evolution. It was easier to staff, monitor and react to global emergencies from a central location, plus having a transportation hub in orbit saved a lot of maintenance problems caused by bringing big ships down into the atmosphere.”

“So you rely on those security drones on the surface, then?”

“No, they simply work with the security personnel on the ground. The security reserve in orbit makes it easier to serve sparsely populated areas or to deploy personnel for conflicts or emergencies that would easily overwhelm local security forces, if that’s all there was. Statistics also show that most incidents happen during the daytime, so the space station is always on the daytime side of the planet.”

“How do you respond to emergencies on the dark side of the planet?”

“You can go a lot faster in space than you can in atmosphere. So it’s doesn’t take long to get to the other side of the planet before entering the atmosphere and making the approach. Plus, as I’ve said, there’s always some personnel stationed on the surface and the drones don’t sleep, nor do they care if it’s day or night.”

Councillor Farley thought he’d found another loophole to expose. “So what if people don’t want to be injected with medibots for your identification system? What if your medibots cause adverse reactions that might kill a person?”

“They’re harmless machines that, upon ingestion or injection, change themselves to mimic the host’s cells. Your body’s own immune system won’t even recognize them. As for avoiding getting them, you would need to avoid using any Federation structures or ships.”

He thought about it for a second. Then, as the realization hit him, he asked, “We were on your ship—does this mean we already have them inside us?”

Mark nodded.

“Can we get them out? Does this mean you can do things to us?”

Mark explained as Cricket filled in the details in the background. “If you avoided going inside any Federation ships or buildings, your body would eventually use up the medibots repairing your body. As for the Federation being able to do things to you, all they are is a basic identification system and they boost your body’s healing capabilities. There are no control capabilities. Small wounds will heal faster, you’ll no longer get ill, and you’ll just gradually get healthier as they will help your body use anything you eat or drink in the most efficient manner possible.”

All the councillors seemed to contemplate what Mark said until Farley smiled. He had probably come up with yet another point to ponder. “What if I drank some poison?”

“Depending on the poison and how many medibots are in your body, it would likely convert the poison to water or whatever vitamin mixture your body needs. You would still taste whatever it tastes like, but as it was absorbed through the surface of your mouth or throat on the way to your stomach, the effects would be mitigated. Like I said, it would all depend on how many medibots you had in your system and how much you ingested. If you ingested more than the medibots will be able to handle, medical services would be notified and there would be a medical shuttle and team arriving soon.”

Councillor Farley eventually threw his arms in the air. “I can’t think of anything else. Everything I think of, he has countered matter-of-fact and I honestly can’t see any downsides. I now understand why our ancestors made you their legacy.”

A chime sounded as the chamber moderator announced that Commander Skye was calling. Jean nodded, and microns later, Skye was on the display.

“My king—queen—councillors. The Celestia retrofit has been completed. My crew is currently going through the identification process on the Celestia before we offload everything from the Sentinel. We will then distribute the shuttles planet-wide as per council orders and remain in orbit until the space station is operational, familiarizing ourselves with our ship in addition to the manufacturing the distribution of construx devices for the outreach centres, as per the king’s suggestion.”

“The shuttles and busses are ready?” Councillor Graham said, surprised.

Mark said, “Yes, it doesn’t take long when you have a fully automated shipyard. The space station has already begun constructing as well. The reason I asked Commander Skye to keep the Celestia in orbit is because her ship has a copy of the new AI. It can begin identification and managing resources so you can move forward with the outreach centres. The outreach centres will also have your new AI, then once the space station is operational, it will already have all the knowledge the new AI has collected.”

Councillor Jean said, “That is one question we wanted to ask you. Your outreach centres are the transportation hubs for each community, correct?”

Mark nodded, so she continued. “So, wouldn’t it make sense that we simply upgrade our current transportation hubs into outreach centres?”

Cricket said, “We can do that. It will just take a lot longer. We’d have to scan the entire structure, design a prison under it and figure out where the various amenities we include in an outreach centre go.”

“That is an option. It just takes a lot longer to convert an existing building, rather than constructing one from scratch.”

“Why does it take longer to repurpose an already functioning building than to build a new one?”

“Because I doubt your terminals have all the amenities we include in an outreach centre. An AI, identification booths, medibays, meal pavilion, governmental offices, prison, communications, and stuff like that.”

“We have identification, food courts, medical services, governmental offices and security holding cells here.”

“Does the transportation hub in every municipality have all those amenities? And do those existing amenities communicate with the new AI we’ve made for you?”

“Well, no.”

“So Jardini and some of the bigger centres can be retrofitted with some customization. In the end, it’s up to you how you want to set things up. We will not force you to do things our way. All we can do is make suggestions.”

Mark then held up a holocube, activated it and said, “We’ve pre-populated your AI with your existing star charts and also this image of your planet. Suggested locations for outreach centres are marked as blue dots, and larger outreach hubs as green dots. Each of you needs to go through the locations in your area and make sure we have named them correctly. They can manufacture the construx devices on the Celestia, then deliver and activate. Everything is pretty much in your hands now.”

Interpreting that as his part in the meeting was over, Councillor Jean said, “Thank you for all you’ve done. I know you want to return to your space so we won’t detain you any further. Will you be back soon?”

“Yes, we’ll return when the space station is operational. A grand opening event of sorts. We’re just going to visit the Sentinel before heading back to Federation space.”

“We shall see you soon, my king and queen. Was there anything else the council needs?” Skye asked.

“That is all. Thank you, Commander.” Jean eventually said as the call disconnected.

She looked around at her fellow councillors and said, “It looks like we have much to do. We’ll need to go through what the Federation has provided and organize press conferences about the outreach centres, the embassy, and the upcoming space station. Thank you again, my king—and queen.”

The councillors then resumed their previous meeting plans as Mark and the gang returned to their shuttle, and were soon on their way to the Sentinel to check on things.

Upon arrival, the Celestia was still in the shipyard and all of her crew were aboard, and there was a lineup for the medibays. Those who had already gone through the process were handling the identification process for the others, so Mark’s crew chipped in to help with the identification process and soon, every crew member was identified and outfitted in their new uniforms.

Mark and his entourage held an impromptu launch ceremony and centons later, the Celestia was floating out of the Sentinel’s lower factory bay. As that was happening, the rest of Skye’s crew dispersed as they went to their designated shuttles and shuttle busses distributed throughout the many loading bays.

It was an awe-inspiring sight to see all the shuttles and shuttle busses departing the Sentinel at the same time en route to their new homes on the planet, save for the few that were staying on the Celestia. Those shuttles had the task of retrieving the delivery crews and returning them to the ship.

With nothing more to do on the Sentinel, they boarded their own shuttle and were soon headed back into the rift.

The next few days were quite tumultuous for the Mazjik council. People were still grieving the loss of more than forty thousand lives in the attack, of which they were miraculously saved by another civilization, which now appeared to be influencing their government and way of life.

Any and every media outlet and critic of the current government came out in force, accusing the council of selling out themselves and the people.

Fortunately, though they may have had issues with their elected officials, everyone seemed to respect Commander Skye when the council sent some of their loudest critics in the media to the Celestia to not only interview the Commander, but so they could see what the Federation was actually providing them.

That alone swayed much of the opposition and once the outreach centres started coming online and the public was able to experience things firsthand, the opposition all but vanished.

Her interview, combined with the public outpouring of support for the Federation, quelled the criticism with the remaining critics agreeing to wait until the space station and embassy were operational to pass judgement.

Within a secton, all the outreach centres were setup planet-wide, and the elected officials at all levels began working out of their new offices. The communication technologies alone improved the efficiency of the government and the local presence of their elected officials immediately bolstered the public opinion.