“Remember, your goals for this Greathing ‘The goal is a combination of exploration and destruction. We are seeking out a pair of valuable data chips of an alien design.’ We’ve accomplished the mission, securing a pair of valuable data chips, we pulled one from the Lion and the other from the carrier, the Den Mother.” Marcus spoke quickly, his voice and face digitally transmitted between the ships, “but something that Auberje asked at the beginning of the Greathing is bothering me. Why are we being trained in this manner?”
“You heard me ask that?” Auberje’s face wrinkled in pensive contemplation.
“I did. That’s why I asked for this meeting with just the two bridge crews. I expect there is something more going on here than we are being told.”
A third voice joined their conversation, “There is.” Headmistress’ voice broke across them like a cold splash of water on a warm day.
“I thought so, and so did Auberje. Will you tell us?”
“I… someday. Not today. For now, work as hard as you can to explore this area. Do whatever you want, avoid your classmates, fight them, explore with them or without. Just don’t ask again today. Everything I do, I do for your betterment and the good of humanity, even life itself. You are… too young still to know what else awaits in the Divide, in the countless worlds out there.”
“Honestly, what the hell does that even mean?” Marcus sounded frustrated like his blood was boiling. Auberje could've sworn he saw steam coming out of his ears.
“It means we have much to talk about later. For now, enjoy yourselves. You have two ships, dozens of smaller craft. There are multiple planets in this system and beautiful sights to see.”
“Is this somewhere in space? As in, can we get here again?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Okay, if we build a base and stash things in it, will you destroy it after the Greathing is over?”
“I will not.” Headmistress sounded amused, “Building in some type of contingency plan on my dime?”
“Something like that. You’ve already promised us the ships,” Marcus said, “So I did not think you cared much about some more material being… appropriated for later use.”
“I don’t, you are right. If you can convince your fellow classmates to help you make things for your future use, you are welcome to use the resources you have available to do so.” She was laughing now, they all heard it in her voice, tonal changes, simple highs and lows in timbre.
“Great, thank you. Auberje, what do you think? Mind building out a base with me and mine that you won’t have access to for a few years?” Marcus was genuinely asking for help, and extending the offer of future use.
“Absolutely, but you should put it in writing. I was thinking about your comments earlier about what you are going to do after you leave Star Academy. If you are serious about building a company, why not start it now?” Auberje suggested.
Riley spoke from behind him, “Yes, can we start something like the Skullweavers? A company for good? Made up of 3-4s?”
Marcus smiled, “That’s always been my plan. It’s a great idea to start now. I’ll send a notification to all 3-4s and offers to everyone as well. Maybe someone has some idea of what pay should be like and the structure. I’m sure it’ll evolve but it would be nice to start somewhere.”
“And who has ownership?” Auberje asked.
“Everyone,” Marcus replied without hesitation, “It has to be employee owned, and with the option for future 3-4s to join if they want and receive shares as well.”
“That sounds amazing,” Miranda said.
Miriam agreed, “Hell yes, count me in! I don’t have any wish to go back to my old life. I won’t be stuck in my dead end planet’s bureaucracy like my mom and dad.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Nicols nodded, “Yeah, what the hell would be the fun in something like that. Or making wine on my home planet. I’ve got no interest in that at all.”
“Great, then we are in agreement. I’ll send the contract around in a few, Marcus out.” His face disappeared from the screen.
The bridge crew discussed the situation for a few minutes laughing and talking about the future and what they might be able to build in the few remaining days of this Greathing. That got the creative juices in Auberje’s mind thinking. He hit the intercom button for engineering and science divisions.
“Paging all engineers and science officers. Please report to the mess hall immediately for a presentation and address from Captain Auberje. Paging all engineers and science officers.”
He stood, the conversation dying down around him. He looked at them, “Okay, I’ll need at least one person to remain here on watch. I don’t want us to get attacked by any of our classmates. You can put the feed from the mess hall on one of the screens. I’ll need the rest of you to contact everyone who you think is even mildly useful to the creation of bases, objects, storing of food, etc… even fighter pilots might be necessary as we probably will have to shuttle most of the goods from where we make them to somewhere. I suppose we need to work with the boss to figure out where he plans on placing this base as well. If you have ideas on that side of things let me know too.” He realized he was rambling and that they were all looking at him with awe.
“What? Is something wrong?”
“Are you sure you are only 7 years old?” Tiana asked.
“I am, but, I think like all of you, we are not exactly the typical children of old Earth.”
They all nodded in agreement. In the past, some would have called them freaks of nature. Now they were considered precious resources of humanity. The creme de la creme of all humanity.
“Okay, to the mess hall people!” He pointed and they moved.
Fifteen minutes later, in front of a crowd of probably 90% of the 3-4s on the Lion, Auberje laid out his basic plan, “We are going to locate a place for a base. We are going to prioritize the creation of replicative technologies, mainly manufacturing, science, power, maybe even shipbuilding if we can manage it. You guys tell me, I’m the coordinator of this ship's efforts in this endeavor, and that’s it.” His stature might have been small, slight and short, but his presence filled the room. For a moment, no one spoke.
“Communications. We are going to need a way to find this place and communicate with both Star Academy, and all the 3-4s not yet out in the worlds, and other places,” Miranda said softly.
“And food storage, creation, processing,” Gunther said, “I’ll want a way to make a self-sustaining and operating if we can swing it, greenhouse. We should be able to. There is one on board this ship.”
“If we want to power this base, I think I have a couple of ways. One is to use the reactor plans for the Lion and the Den Mother, and build out a similar system in a stationary base. It will be overkill but still... “ Mae Xin’s face was flush with excitement. Building this base was going to be fun.
“Break up into groups, and let’s see where we need more help. I’ll need the Chief to be in charge of logistics of moving goods and machinery from here to… wherever. And we need someone to find a location soon,” Auberje said, getting a ping from Marcus.
“Hey, Auberje, what do you think about building the base in an asteroid like Star Academy. We can use one of the larger ones we are close to now,” Marcus continued, “Helps with the raw materials problem too, since we will have to mine the hell out of a few asteroids anyway.”
“Works for me, I’m breaking my team into groups right now to tackle different problems. I’ve still got about half of 3-4 on the Lion. Are you doing the same?” Auberje asked.
“Yes, I was about to do the same. Let’s compare notes.” Marcus said, and Auberje sent him the ad hoc groups they had created so far with the different problems they would tackle.
“Great, you covered everything I have except three areas: weapons, base defenses, and computer technology.”
“Excellent suggestions. I’ll assign your team leaders a few of my people who are interested in those areas.” Auberje said, moving people around on his roster list.
“Thank you. See you on SA2 in a few hours.” Marcus winked out.
“SA2?” Auberje rolled the acronym around between his tongue and soft palate, “ah, Star Academy 2.”
Riley took his hand in hers, she had stayed at his side, silently thinking and tapping on her keyboard, “I think we should call it Homestead.”
“As in, Home Instead?” Auberje asked, quizzical eyebrows rising over dark eyes.
She lifted her free hand and pointed around them. Dozens of children and teenagers were sitting around tables, standing over diagrams and holograms, videos played in 3 or 4 different screens on each of the groups’ PDAs. The teams were hard at work, but the place was still only a shiny, replaceable hull.
“The Lion, given enough time and changes, might someday feel like home, Auberje, but… we need a place with gravity spun out by a sun, not by a generator. The base will have some of that. This base will be our true home after Star Academy, at least for those who choose to make it so. I think we all need that. Star Academy feels like an adventure to me. It’s close to being home, but it’s dorm rooms, and snoring classmates and hard tests and sad times and good times: loneliness and angst. I think we need this place to be more than that. Memories of family, true safety. That type of thing.” Riley stopped and blushed, “What?”
“You are the most amazing girl. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. You are right. The way Star Academy feels is just not quite home,” he smiled softly at her, squeezing her small hand, “Well, except when I’m with you. Except for that, I don’t think it ever can. Too much hardship which is necessary for our education. I agree; I think we need to call this place Homestead.”
They walked around the room, asking where everyone was, giving suggestions, and listening to ideas. Auberje was asked to handle a few decisions here and there, mostly in situations with just two directions where the group was deadlocked. He gave what advice he could but mostly turned the accurate decision-making back to the group, getting them to see they already knew the answers even if it didn’t feel like it. Riley helped him assuage a few hard-liners and make them feel like they were still part of the group decisions. She had a way about her where she could turn an argument into agreement with a flick of her hair, a specific word or two, and a grim look of determination. Someday, Auberje thought, she will be a real charmer. On that day, he and everyone else needed to be careful, or they would be following Riley around like lost puppies. For now, he thought she was too young and too green, even as he looked at her with great big puppy eyes.
He thought of his own mother, who could do that. Wrap men around her finger without hesitation, women too if he was being honest. He thought of Dyson Sphere 37. Of the title and duty he would someday have to take hold of. This was a distraction, but a necessary one. If he could become a great man on his own… It might change the very direction of his life.