Six hours after:
Alaine finally put down the book, and looked back at the notes he had been taking.

Starting with Lorn two hundred and sixty odd years ago, there had been a tiny but constant immigration of Scouts to this world. Every ten or twenty years one would simply stay. Up until Joyful Finder's departure and return with her partner, Charlie. Since then, no-one.

But still he had questions. How had Finder of Unnoticed Details known about Lorn during her crash? How had Joyful Finder's hunting bird known how to pull a circuit breaker on an unfamiliar ship?

He wrote up a summary of what he had learned, and forwarded it to both the Captain and Engel. After a moment, he also sent a copy to Dyani.

Then he got up, and went looking for Seeker.

He found her in the number one turret, it had space for two people, but was usually operated remotely from the bridge. Turrets were often targets and crew were harder to replace than equipment.

Seeker had the blast armour open, with the armoured glass exposed. This was used when sighting in targeting cameras, or during weapon tests. Or when a member of the crew wanted to look at open space.

"Alaine, how nice of you to join me. It is a remarkable sight, is it not?" Seeker, as usual, seemed like she had a hidden joke going on.
"Seeker, um, yes, it is. We don't often get to look down on a planet like this."
"But that's not why you are here, is it?"
"No. It was my expression, wasn't it?" He had been trying to work out what things she was picking up on with her "deductions".
"Mostly, yes. You have a question for me?"
"A couple actually. First, though, is the black dress. The Archivist was wearing something similar, as were a few of the Council. What does it mean?"
Seeker's air of humour dropped. "That is a very deep question Mister Haughton." She had never used that name with him before. Had he gone too far? But then she continued "It is a difficult one to answer as well, as what we are does not translate well into Standard. I understand the Scouts usually translate our status as 'Shaman', although that is rather misleading. I suppose you could call us 'conduits'."

Alaine was silent for several minutes. "I think I begin to understand," he said finally, "Although it sounds insane to actually ask it."
Seeker looked back from the view of the planet, and stared at him. "Ask the second question" she commanded.
Alaine gulped, and then pressed on "Seeker, can you read minds and send your thoughts?"

She regarded him steadily for a few moments "Yes. All of our people learn how to shield our minds, but only a few can sense and send. Hence 'conduits'".
"Have you been reading our minds?"
"Not since making myself one of your crew. It is rude to pry into the mind of a friend without permission."

Alaine slumped into the gunner's couch. "So why tell me now?"
"Because you learned enough to ask. That is what I was waiting for."

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

One week later:

Alaine had watched Seeker, and seen how she had interviewed every member of the crew other than the Captain and Engle. About their homeworlds, families, the Trade Board, all sorts of subjects. Even such things as popular music and entertainment.

So he was outside the Captain's cabin now, and knocked. "Come!" came her voice from within.
He opened the door, and stepped in, closing it behind him. "Captain, I have a request."
She waved a hand indicating he should go on.
"I would like permission to go station-side and see if there is a public archive feed."
"You've checked remotely?" was her instant response.
"Yes, Captain! No archive feeds. In fact, Captain, the station-side data feeds are rather sparse."
"They are aren't they? Very well, but take Dyani with you, she's got training in xenosociology."
"Yes Captain!"

He found Dyani in the cabin she shared with Sparks. "Dyani, I'm going station-side to try and find a public archive. Captain wants you to come with me."
"That's going to be interesting, Alaine. How are you going to read it?"
That brought him up short "I ... had not thought of that."
"It is still worth having a look. Even kid's picture books can teach you a lot."

The station-side guards proved to be perfectly happy to point them in the right direction, and thirty minutes later they were at the public archive. Stepping in, they were greeted by a short middle-aged man in flowing black. "Ah! Our guests!" he exclaimed with a large smile, "What can I do for two traders this day?"
"Uh, hi," Alaine managed, rather overwhelmed by the enthusiastic greeting. "Uh, we were hoping to read up a bit on your history."
"I know just the book for you! It is a popular tale, you know."
"Sorry?"
"You'll see, you'll see!" the archivist said cheerfully, "Just wait here."

Now that they had a moment to look around, Dyani and Alaine were again struck by how odd these people were. There were no data systems obvious, just shelves and shelves of paper books.

"Here we go!" the archivist almost boomed as he reappeared, "Just be sure to return it before your departure!" And with that, thrust a book into Alaine's hands, and shooed them both out.

Bound in a vegetable fibre cloth, the book had clearly been read many times. Inside the writing was in Standard on alternate pages, and the local language on the others. Just like the signs. Hopefully it would shed some light on everything.

The first two pages started "Log entry - Scout Lorn aboard Gremlin" followed by a date and the coordinates of this system. The date was over two hundred and fifty years ago. "Initial survey detects no radio transmissions, a chlorophyll biosphere, and no mass hydrocarbon emissions. Closing for mapping survey."

Why had the archivist given them this?

"Alaine?" came a voice. He looked up - it was Dyani.
"Yeah?"
"Why was he dressed the same way as Seeker?"
Alaine did not have an answer. Yet.

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Two hundred and fifty eight years ago:

Lorn had been on this planet "The Mother of All" for two years now. In that time, Finder of Unnoticed Details had made it clear that she found Lorn attractive. And Lorn had not turned down Finder's advances. But even after two years some parts of Finder remained a mystery.

Like yesterday. She had been thinking about making a compound bow to replace her recurve. But that would require pulleys that could stand the wear of the bowstring.

"Finder? Do you know if the Copper Miners know of any harder metals?"

"You mean like a high-carbon steel? Or more like a tungsten alloy? You'd need to talk to one of the Iron Clans for those. " was her reply, leaving her speechless.

This from a society that operated in the mid-Bronze age. Except for their detailed knowledge of microbiology, viruses, and other medical matters.

For now Lorn just stared at Finder's sleeping figure, trying to work out the strange puzzle that was this world. She'd never seen any sign of large settlements, no sign of centres of advanced learning, and yet, they had scientific knowledge that should have been centuries ahead of their level of development.

Finder's hand darted out, and seized Lorn's wrist, startling her out of her thoughts.

"Love, you are thinking too loud. Come, be with me and then sleep. Tomorrow, we shall go on a trip, so you can learn." With a strength that surprised Lorn even after two years, Finder pulled her down, and shortly after rational thought beat a hasty retreat.

Six weeks after:
Lorn gazed at the cliffs on either size of the canyon they were in. They were beautiful, but there was no sign of why Finder had brought her here. Unless ... Lorn tried to focus her mind as Finder had been teaching her, but to no avail.

Nothing. She could hide her mind, but had no talent for anything more. However, the attempt had brought something to mind, and she studied the rock faces more closely. There, almost unnoticeable, was a discontinuity. There was something camouflaged here.

"Well spotted, my love" Finder grinned, "Just what I would expect of one who has made exploration her life. Come, let us say hello."

And she led Lorn into the heart of the secret of this world.

Inside those cliffs was, for lack of any other name, a research university. They studied the sciences and engineering, and passed their findings on to a council of the Elders. They assessed each new finding or development, and determined if they were of benefit to the people of the world. And they had discovered so much! Even such things as mechanical flight and all that that required. And chose to simply not. Even so, they kept everything recorded, so that if at some point it was needed, it could be done.

Instead they chose to keep the world as pristine as they could. And so they had vaccines and chemotherapy, but no cities and no pollution.

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Three hours later:

The engineering team had been and gone. The agreed to price was roughly half their cargo, and had been the subject of some of the most intense haggling Alaine had seen the Captain take part in. Indeed, the haggling had taken twice as long as the assessment of the damage.

What was a surprise to everyone was the hyperspace coil replacement. These strange people said they could easily fabricate the replacements. It was just something they chose not to do, usually. They did have a few jump-capable ships, but almost never used them, choosing to keep to themselves.

Then there was Seeker. She had sat in on the briefing and the haggling, but never once spoke a word. Just watched. So Alaine had watched her.

Eventually it was just the two of them in the galley. And she was now watching him.

"How?" Alaine asked after several minutes.

"How what?" Alaine could hear her almost laughing in her reply.

"How did you know so much about us?"

"Ah. That is a question with many answers. Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes! That's why I asked!"

"Even if the answers are uncomfortable?"

"Yes!"

"Alright. Let's start with the simple ones," Seeker paused, "You heard my full name earlier?"

"Err, yes? 'Seeker of Hidden Truths'? Was that it?"

"Exactly. That is not the name I was born with, but it is my adult name. We acquire our names as our nature solidifies."

"So?"

"My nature is to uncover secrets. To find the truth behind things. I saw the way you looked at work teams in their ship suits, and heard your words to your Captain. From that it was easy to deduce your conclusions."

"But how did you know where we were going?"

"Deduction again. Your ship appeared to be running at half power on approach to the station. It is usually the way of your ship builders to match the reaction drive to the hyperspace engine, so I worked out where you had likely come from, and your likely destination based on the likely range of your engines."

"So it was all deduction?" Alaine asked after digesting Seeker's explanation.

"You heard what my great-grandmother said? About untruths?"

"Uh, that your people don't like them?"

"That we despise them. This does not mean that we cannot use them, and do, but they are a sign of poor character."

"What does that have to do with my question?"

"Everything. For while we despise an untruth, we are perfectly happy with a partial truth."

"So there is something else."

"But I am not going to tell you. Not yet."

"Why not?"

Seeker leaned forward "Because we will need to know each other much better first. Now, tell me of your home, your family."

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Now:

Seeker of Hidden Truths looked over the crew of the Athena again, sensing their confusion, and then looked up at the council.

"They are traders. Honest in their dealings. They planned a shortcut to Ikrundi. They suspect the raiders were rival traders, or sent by the same."

Alaine stared at the young woman, how did she know all this? He glanced at the Captain. She looked just as shocked and confused.

"And us?" one of the men on the Council asked.

"They know nothing. Some believe we are a secret division of their Scouts," Seeker paused and grinned, "On account of the shipsuit designs."

"Which they now know to be not the case, Seeker."

"Elder, they would know soon enough anyway" Seeker's voice sounded defensive.

A different person spoke up, a woman this time, "Complex Tunnels, you know that this would be the case. No need to admonish Seeker. Especially not in front of visitors. What is your determination, Seeker?"

"I think we should repair their ship, for a fair price, and allow them to trade. "

Alaine was running out of amazement - they were just going to let them go?

She continued "However," Alaine's relief collapsed, "the Scouts have left us even more alone, now that we can defend ourselves. We need news of the wider universe."

The old woman's voice sounded amused as it asked "And your solution?"

"We require them to return at least twice in a standard year. And one of us should travel with them, to represent our interests."

The old man, Complex Tunnels, broke in "Ha! The fruit does not fall far from the tree, does it now, Joy? Now, my fellow councillors - do we agree with this course, that young Seeker has set?"

There was a pause, and Joy spoke again "We are agreed. You intend to be that representative, Seeker?"

"Yes, Elder."

"I see I owe Complex Tunnels a brace of pack horses. Very well. Captain?"

"Yes?"

"Seeker will escort you and your crew back to your ship, and we will send an engineering team to quote. We do not use your credit system, so you will have to barter from your cargo to pay."

"Do we get any say in this?" the Captain asked.

"To be frank, Captain, no. You trespassed on our system, albeit without knowledge of us. You know this to be fair."

"It would have been nice to have the illusion of choice, at least," she grumbled.

"Oh, Captain!" Joy laughed "We despise untruth here. However, I invite you and your First Mate to join my family for dinner tonight. I think you and Charlie will get on marvellously. Seeker will mess with your crew, they will need to get to know one another before you depart."

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Two days ago:

The watch officer saw a blip towards the outer system, near the further gas giant.

A tiny ripple in gravity.

She thumbed a button on the laser link to the station above All Mother "Command? Watch station three. I have a jump signature near Smithy. Coordinates follow." It was not unheard of for ships to visit, but Scouts always jumped in much closer. This was something else. The Patrol would look into it.

She went back to her duties.

----

Seeker of Hidden Truths sat in the command seat for Divessen Station. The only reason she was seated here was because all the command staff were in a briefing with the Council.

Many, many years ago her ancestor had met and bonded with a Scout whose ship had been destroyed by the raiders that had plagued their planet. That had led to the destruction of the raiders, and a vague alliance with the Scouts.

Sixty years ago, her great-grandmother had left to join the Scouts. Her return saw the building of the station, the establishment of the Patrol, and much more.

Now, she served as an apprentice. But, when no-one else was available...

A message came in - an arriving ship, near the gas giant Smithy. That was the behaviour of either someone taking a shortcut, in which case no harm, or a raider. And for them they had a special welcome.

"Findottier, this is Command. Jump sign at these coordinates. Monitor and investigate under stealth if no departure in eight hours" she transmitted to the newest of their patrol boats.

Seeker then sent a copy of the information and the orders to the Council.

---

An hour later she was summoned to Council. She walked in, and bowed to the elders. "I am Seeker of Hidden Truths, I come as summoned."

"You have done well, Seeker" came a familiar voice from the assembled Elders. It was her great-grandmother! "We have determined that you are to maintain command of this situation until it is resolved. Do you accept this commission?"

Seeker took a moment to find her voice "I ... I accept the Council's commission."

"Very good. Remember that even in command, you are not alone."

"Thank-you, Elder."

"To your duties, Seeker"

And with that, she almost ran back to the command centre.

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Now:

Under the watchful gaze of the patrol ship, Athena docked with the orbital spaceport above the fourth planet.

By this stage they had a full accounting of the damage. Number 2 turret had a jammed canister in the launcher, the tiny 6-seat launch had a score of shrapnel holes in the hull, there were gaping holes in both the cargo hold and the engine room. Two reactors were inoperative. One of the reaction drives was wrecked, and the hyperspace jump coils had been mangled.

The only miracle was that the actual cargo appeared undamaged.

As they had approached, it became clear that this was in no way an uninhabited system. The space dock had an almost constant stream of craft of all sizes coming and going. What their equipment did not show was any sign of ships making the jump to hyperspace, and the distinctive gravitational ripple it caused.

"All hands secure stations" the all-crew channel crackled.
Then on Alaine's private channel "Alaine to the bridge." That was the Captain.
"Aye, Captain!" was his prompt response.

When he arrived, the Captain pointed to his PDU. "You've seen the damage assessment?"
"Yes Captain!"
"If your family's yard had us in, how long to fix it?"
"At a rough guess, a couple of months."
"And here?"
"I don't know. I've seen the report that no jump traces have been seen. If they don't have that, we could be here a very long time."
"And yet they speak our language, and have our frequencies."

Alaine was about to reply, when the ship's radio crackled to life again "Heavy Trader Athena, this is Divesen Station Control. You are ordered to present all able-bodied crew to the Station Council. If you have non-ambulant crew, they will be attended by our medical teams. Your ship will be held under seal until you return from your meeting with the Council."

"That did not sound friendly," Alaine observed.
The Captain grimaced "No, but by the same token, it was not unfriendly, either. At the very least they are offering medical aid. Not that we need it."
"But Captain, all of us?"
"You know the first rule, Alaine?"
"Local customs must be observed."
"And now we have to learn them."

--------- End Part One -------

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

One day ago:

The all-ship intercom chimed "All hands, all hands, stand by for re-entry into normal space."
The announcement was an old tradition going back to the first days of hyperspace travel. Alaine was in his bunk, and put down his PDU. While there were a handful of people who reacted badly to the hyperspace transition, most could not even detect that it had taken place. As a result spacers often tried to see if they could tell when the transition took place.

A few moments later, the intercom chimed again "We are now in normal space. Resume duties." Alaine had not felt a thing. He shrugged, and looked at the clock. On duty in 30 minutes. He got up, had a wash, and went to the galley.

Dyani the second gunner and sometimes passenger steward looked up from her bowl of spicy soup. He'd tried it once, and it had nearly taken his head off. "Hiya kid. You got your calcs for a gas giant worked?" she asked.

His final assignment the night before had been to work out optimal fuel scooping trajectories for either of the two gas giants in the uninhabited system they were heading for.

In the year that he'd been aboard, his days had been 8 hours work, 8 hours study, and 8 hours sleep. And snatching the odd bite on the fly. But that was what it took if he was going to pass any exams when they next hit a Board testing centre.

"Yes, Ma'am" as a junior, everyone was "Sir" or "Ma'am" to him. Or "Captain".
"Good. Eat, and run it by Suri."
"Yes, Ma'am." And he got himself a small bowl of dried fruits, nuts, and flakes of grain. He had no idea what any of them were, but they combined to make something that was almost familiar.

He was just finishing his breakfast, when the lights went red. "All hands, all hands, we are being painted with a targeting radar. Suit up, and prepare to take fire."

Pirates? Here? Why would they be hanging around in an uninhabited system? Then Alaine realized. Someone at the last port had figured out what they were probably going to do, and had arrived to lay in wait for them.

He suited up, and went aft. Sparks the engineer was waiting for him. "OK, kid. We check the gauges, run the diagnostics, and then come back to the airlock. They'll probably target the engine room first, so we don't want to be in there if it gets hit."
"Yes Ma'am!"

He could feel the two turrets firing off chaff and pebble canisters.

The two of them completed the checks, and reported to the bridge that all was good. Then they retreated to the airlock, and closed both doors.

Several minutes passed.

Then the explosions started.

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Now:

By the time the mystery patrol ship Findottier was in visual range, Sparks and Alaine had got the deck gravitics up and running - not perfectly, but good enough for the ship to run at 1G and for the floor to be the floor.

The bridge sent an image of it to all the displays aboard, in case anyone recognized the class. It was certainly unusual.

Unlike themselves and all the common classes of ships, this ship did not have any visible turrets. Instead it appeared to have missile tubes along its sides, like an ancient sailing ship. And there were no visible laser mounts at all.

"Well, Alaine, you grew up around a shipyard, ever see anything like that?" Sparks asked.

Alaine studied the wedge shaped craft. "In layout it sort of reminds me of a Scout, but much, much bigger. And I've never seen a weapon setup like that before. I wonder where they - oh, look!" He pointed at some barely visible patches on the hull. "The laser mounts must retract!"

The Captain's voice came over the radio "All hands, make secure. We are instructed to make our way to the fourth planet, which appears to be the primary. There is a space dock and repair facility there. ETA 22 hours." Then, on the engineering channel "Alaine, if Sparks can spare you, please assist Engle and Yaani in assessing damage to the cargo."
"Yes, Captain!"

Five hours later Alaine was exhausted - he, like the rest of the crew had been up for over a day. Engle, the First Mate, had sent him off to eat, and to get a few hours sleep.

It took him some time to get to sleep, despite his exhaustion. But once there, he slept hard. Eventually he awoke to the sound of his alarm going off. Six hours sleep.
"Alaine?" It was Yaani.
"Mm, yeah?" he still wasn't completely awake.
"Captain wants you on bridge. You're backing Grendel as co-pilot."
"Grendel? Isn't she on guns?"
"She's got an in-system licence. You're to back her up."
"Right." Alaine shook himself awake, pulled on a new skinsuit, and put his pressure suit on over it, helmet folded back.

He stopped by the little galley and made himself a drink to take with him. The rich, slightly sweet aroma filled the tiny space. He made one for Grendel as well, adding a pinch of spices, as was her preference. Capping the mugs, he entered the bridge. He could see Suri and the Captain standing, waiting and Grendel in the pilot's seat. "Good, you're here Alaine. Take your place."
"Yes, Captain. I have co-pilot."
"Very good. Grendel?"
"I have the con."
"You have the con. Buzz my cabin when we are one hour out."
"Acknowledged."

Alaine handed Grendel the drink he'd prepared.

"Thanks, Alaine. You'll see multiple incoming ships on the display. Our new friend says they are the local search and rescue teams, checking for survivors from the pirate ship."

"After it got nuked?"

"They say they have to check."

(reposted into thread)

#SFF #SF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace