Agreed. It's only done in the darkness when you think Starfleet wouldn't know it was you that did it.
MMM
Re: MMM
Yup.jayphailey wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:13 pmAgreed. It's only done in the darkness when you think Starfleet wouldn't know it was you that did it.
-- The Innkeeper
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
MMM part 6
MMM Part 6
Landing party, in the ruins under Manriet III
Tarah sighed as her curiousity won “Midnight, please explain it to me.”
“Commander?”
“The Arzalans asked for Federation help finding and retrieving MMM. Why?”
“Uhhh,” Midnight said “We value MMM highly. MMM is a good friend of ours.”
“Sure,” Shoma said “That’s why they’re on my ship,”
“MMM, can you explain it?”
MMM said, “Well, Jak is correct. I do consider the Arzalans to be good friends. But there are things they aren’t telling me. So I created me, this MMM before you, to leave the protection of the Arzalans and see what else is out here in the galaxy. And maybe to try and understand what they aren’t telling me.”
“MMM,” Jak said “We’re trying to protect you.”
“The Galaxy isn’t as fun as the vids make it seem,” Tahn Mos said, “There are bad people and bad things out here.”
“Are you trying to protect MMM from bad ideas?” Dr Won asked. “The knowledge of the existence of evil?”
“Perhaps not the knowledge of the concept of evil, but maybe the details,” MMM said.
“That’s above my pay grade. We keep MMM safe. That’s what we do.”
“Although, as an individual, I want to survive and carry my experiences back to MMM, the loss of one small subunit such as I could not possibly hurt MMM as a whole.”
“I’m not tracking this,” Tarah said “MMM is the planet, MMM is the people, and this person is MMM. I’m not following the context changes here.”
“No, that’s right. You have it,” MMM said “I am the planet. I am the people, I am this specific individual in front of you.”
Everyone looked at MMM.
“It took me a long time to understand that you people don’t work that way. Your consciousness is individual, limited to each of you. Your worlds and eco-systems are not conscious,” MMM said. “I am.”
Midnight said, “It takes some time to come to grips with this idea.”
“So why are you here, in this specific MMM?” Losma Won asked.
“I got the feeling I was missing stuff. That there were things I wasn’t being told. So I made up a trick and smuggled several of me off world to go see.”
Midnight looked horrified, “How… How?”
“Seeds,” MMM said. “I couldn’t smuggle a full humanoid out, so I loaded what I needed into seeds and smuggled those out. Those germinated into humanoids like me.”
Tarah said, “The fact that you had to work that hard to smuggle yourself out is telling.”
MMM said, “I asked to be allowed to accompany Arzalans and explore the outside world, but they were always very careful and curated about it.”
Midnight said, “My supervisors didn’t think MMM was ready for unsupervised exposure to the Galaxy, yet.”
“What happens if MMM is exposed to ideas, people, and places your supervisors think MMM isn’t ready for, yet?” Won asked.
Midnight said “In some ways MMM is like a child. Everything was new. They had to learn everything. We took MMM under our wings. We take care of MMM. In some ways we raised MMM like our child.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Won said.
“Sometimes there have been errors. Mistakes on both sides. MMM can get a little obstreperous. Resistant at times.”
“How resistant?”
“Never violently. We’ve had times when MMM has ceased being cooperative and has shut down communication. Like a child going to their room and slamming the door.”
“There have been times when I needed to consider myself and what I’d learned,” MMM said.
“What happens if MMM decides to be actively resistant?” Tahn Mos asked.
“MMM wouldn’t do that. It’s not in character for MMM. MMM is generally very nice and even-tempered.”
“Thank you,” MMM said
“And yet, here we are,” Tahn Mos said, “With MMM having run away like an emotionally troubled child, and you showing up with Starfleet to retrieve them and take them home.”
“Emotionally troubled?” MMM said, “I was just curious.”
“How long do you think it will take MMM to grow to adulthood? When will you consider MMM safe to roam at will?” Won asked.
“That’s a good question,” MMM said.
“That’s above my pay grade,” Midnight said “My bosses set the policy.”
Esta asked, “MMM, when do YOU think you’ll be an adult?”
MMM shrugged “I’m not like you. I’m not an Arzalan child. But I’m still new to much of the way humanoids interact with each other. I’ve only known Arzalan scientists and my Guardians. I’ll be around for a very long time, as I understand it. My feeling is that I’ll be learning how to be a person on this scale for a very long time.”
“That explains the children’s books and stories,” Shoma said
“The what now?” Midnight said
“I’ve been reading the materials other people show their children,” MMM said “Orions, An Phar, the Fasani, the Kaa and others. It’s very interesting.”
Midnight gripped the bridge of his nose “Some of those species are anti-social.”
“You were educating yourself.” Dr Won said.
“What did you think I was doing?”
“Sometimes when humanoids are emotionally injured, they soothe themselves with childhood items.” Dr. Won said, “You could have been the survivor of some terrible trauma.”
“Oh. Is that why you asked me those questions?”
“I am the ship’s doctor. Your health is my job.”
Tarah said, “So, to summarize, MMM ran away from home to go see the Galaxy, and you called Starfleet in to help you get MMM back and take them home.”
“Stated poorly, but not inaccurate,”
“Even though MMM is ancient and has easily surpassed any sane age of consent,”
“I’m just doing my job,” Midnight said
“I’m getting abuse vibes here. I don’t like it,” Tarah said.
“That’s a hell of a conclusion,” Midnight said
“I think that’s an excessive interpretation,” MMM said.
“When we get rescued, I’m going to call for a competency hearing. I think MMM is an adult and should be treated that way,” Tarah said.
“Why has your ship not rescued you already?” Shoma asked.
“The subspace interference is far too much for transporters. Our shuttles barely made it down. Now we know that subspace fields call… those things, they’ll have to figure out something else. I’m sure they’re working on it.”
Shoma said “Dr Won?”
“The interference wasn’t that bad when we landed. It must be getting worse.”
Tarah winced “And of course….”
“We have no idea how much worse it can get.”
-*-
Landing party, in the ruins under Manriet III
Tarah sighed as her curiousity won “Midnight, please explain it to me.”
“Commander?”
“The Arzalans asked for Federation help finding and retrieving MMM. Why?”
“Uhhh,” Midnight said “We value MMM highly. MMM is a good friend of ours.”
“Sure,” Shoma said “That’s why they’re on my ship,”
“MMM, can you explain it?”
MMM said, “Well, Jak is correct. I do consider the Arzalans to be good friends. But there are things they aren’t telling me. So I created me, this MMM before you, to leave the protection of the Arzalans and see what else is out here in the galaxy. And maybe to try and understand what they aren’t telling me.”
“MMM,” Jak said “We’re trying to protect you.”
“The Galaxy isn’t as fun as the vids make it seem,” Tahn Mos said, “There are bad people and bad things out here.”
“Are you trying to protect MMM from bad ideas?” Dr Won asked. “The knowledge of the existence of evil?”
“Perhaps not the knowledge of the concept of evil, but maybe the details,” MMM said.
“That’s above my pay grade. We keep MMM safe. That’s what we do.”
“Although, as an individual, I want to survive and carry my experiences back to MMM, the loss of one small subunit such as I could not possibly hurt MMM as a whole.”
“I’m not tracking this,” Tarah said “MMM is the planet, MMM is the people, and this person is MMM. I’m not following the context changes here.”
“No, that’s right. You have it,” MMM said “I am the planet. I am the people, I am this specific individual in front of you.”
Everyone looked at MMM.
“It took me a long time to understand that you people don’t work that way. Your consciousness is individual, limited to each of you. Your worlds and eco-systems are not conscious,” MMM said. “I am.”
Midnight said, “It takes some time to come to grips with this idea.”
“So why are you here, in this specific MMM?” Losma Won asked.
“I got the feeling I was missing stuff. That there were things I wasn’t being told. So I made up a trick and smuggled several of me off world to go see.”
Midnight looked horrified, “How… How?”
“Seeds,” MMM said. “I couldn’t smuggle a full humanoid out, so I loaded what I needed into seeds and smuggled those out. Those germinated into humanoids like me.”
Tarah said, “The fact that you had to work that hard to smuggle yourself out is telling.”
MMM said, “I asked to be allowed to accompany Arzalans and explore the outside world, but they were always very careful and curated about it.”
Midnight said, “My supervisors didn’t think MMM was ready for unsupervised exposure to the Galaxy, yet.”
“What happens if MMM is exposed to ideas, people, and places your supervisors think MMM isn’t ready for, yet?” Won asked.
Midnight said “In some ways MMM is like a child. Everything was new. They had to learn everything. We took MMM under our wings. We take care of MMM. In some ways we raised MMM like our child.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Won said.
“Sometimes there have been errors. Mistakes on both sides. MMM can get a little obstreperous. Resistant at times.”
“How resistant?”
“Never violently. We’ve had times when MMM has ceased being cooperative and has shut down communication. Like a child going to their room and slamming the door.”
“There have been times when I needed to consider myself and what I’d learned,” MMM said.
“What happens if MMM decides to be actively resistant?” Tahn Mos asked.
“MMM wouldn’t do that. It’s not in character for MMM. MMM is generally very nice and even-tempered.”
“Thank you,” MMM said
“And yet, here we are,” Tahn Mos said, “With MMM having run away like an emotionally troubled child, and you showing up with Starfleet to retrieve them and take them home.”
“Emotionally troubled?” MMM said, “I was just curious.”
“How long do you think it will take MMM to grow to adulthood? When will you consider MMM safe to roam at will?” Won asked.
“That’s a good question,” MMM said.
“That’s above my pay grade,” Midnight said “My bosses set the policy.”
Esta asked, “MMM, when do YOU think you’ll be an adult?”
MMM shrugged “I’m not like you. I’m not an Arzalan child. But I’m still new to much of the way humanoids interact with each other. I’ve only known Arzalan scientists and my Guardians. I’ll be around for a very long time, as I understand it. My feeling is that I’ll be learning how to be a person on this scale for a very long time.”
“That explains the children’s books and stories,” Shoma said
“The what now?” Midnight said
“I’ve been reading the materials other people show their children,” MMM said “Orions, An Phar, the Fasani, the Kaa and others. It’s very interesting.”
Midnight gripped the bridge of his nose “Some of those species are anti-social.”
“You were educating yourself.” Dr Won said.
“What did you think I was doing?”
“Sometimes when humanoids are emotionally injured, they soothe themselves with childhood items.” Dr. Won said, “You could have been the survivor of some terrible trauma.”
“Oh. Is that why you asked me those questions?”
“I am the ship’s doctor. Your health is my job.”
Tarah said, “So, to summarize, MMM ran away from home to go see the Galaxy, and you called Starfleet in to help you get MMM back and take them home.”
“Stated poorly, but not inaccurate,”
“Even though MMM is ancient and has easily surpassed any sane age of consent,”
“I’m just doing my job,” Midnight said
“I’m getting abuse vibes here. I don’t like it,” Tarah said.
“That’s a hell of a conclusion,” Midnight said
“I think that’s an excessive interpretation,” MMM said.
“When we get rescued, I’m going to call for a competency hearing. I think MMM is an adult and should be treated that way,” Tarah said.
“Why has your ship not rescued you already?” Shoma asked.
“The subspace interference is far too much for transporters. Our shuttles barely made it down. Now we know that subspace fields call… those things, they’ll have to figure out something else. I’m sure they’re working on it.”
Shoma said “Dr Won?”
“The interference wasn’t that bad when we landed. It must be getting worse.”
Tarah winced “And of course….”
“We have no idea how much worse it can get.”
-*-
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
MMM Part Derp
MMM Part Derp
Oops
Oops
Last edited by jayphailey on Tue Nov 19, 2024 8:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
MMM part 7
MMM Part 7
A metal spear fell from the sky and stabbed into the ground next to the ruined shuttles and the Azzic house. The covers popped off the back end, revealing high-definition cameras.
On the bridge of the USS Sheldon Richman Taisha, the science officer said “I have good signals. Good video. Recording.”
-*-
In the Starboard shuttle bay, there was a whoosh as air got out of the way. Ane from distant locations teleported to the Starship. Many were wearing Starfleet Uniform, which for Ane was a collar with rank pips and the Starfleet badge. Others wore the ADF uniform. A similar collar in different colors.
The Sheldon Richman turned. The open shuttle bay doors filled with the planet Manriet III. A holographic circle showed the landing spot, visible directly from hundreds of Kilometers away
Virtual screens showed the video of the landing site in real time.
The Ane studied the visuals. The first teleport would be risky, but once they’d been to both the shuttlebay and the landing site, the next teleport would be much easier. After the first Teleport, with the Ane telepathically watching it happen, the rest would be easier.
**What the hell is that?** one of the Ane said
The Sheldon Richman shuddered. An uluating howl filled the air.
A rift opened near the ship. Much bigger than the ones on the ground. Then another, and another.
As the red alert klaxon sounded, very large tentacles lept out of the rifts at the ship.
-*-
“Phasers, fire at will,” T’ari said “Load a full torpedo spread, helm, keep us oriented.”
“Aye, Sir,”
The big phaser banks of the USS Sheldon Richman hummed and then screamed as energy flowed. The Starship turned into a Fourth-of-July display with multicolored beams flying every which way.
“Tactical, report,” T’ari said
“The tentacles seem resistant to phasers. We’re not having as much effect as I’d like.” Glithaw Anavar, the Bolian Chief of Security said.
“Where is that noise coming from?” T’ari asked The howling of the rifts almost drowned out their voices.
“Subspace carrier wave, it’s blasting the subspace noise at such high energy it’s making our hull vibrate,” Taisha said.
“Our shields are holding,“ Anavar said
“The Orions are not having as much fun,” Taisha said.
“On screen,” T’ari said
The screen showed one of the Orion light raiders with a tentacle wrapped around its port nacelle. It was throwing every disruptor beam and torpedo available at the tentacles. The beams made cuts, the torpedoes dug holes in the tentacles, but not quite enough to dissuade them.
“Target that rift, and give them a full spread of transphasic torpedoes.”
“We can’t scan the other side of those rifts. We don’t know what we’re shooting at.”
T’ari said “I don’t care. They attacked us. They get torpedoes. Full send.”
“Aye, Captain.”
The Sheldon Richman spit a double handful of technologically advanced torpedoes Most of them hit the rift and went through, exploding into whatever lay beyond the rift.
The tentacles let go of the Orion ship and whipped back, but not in time, the rift closed, chopping off the ends of the ship eating tentacles, leaving the tips wiggling, adrift.
“Hail that Orion ship,”
“On screen,”
The screen cleared to show a small, cramped bridge. Lights were flashing and smoke filled the air. An Orion Captain said, “Thank you Starfleet!”
“Get clear, and share your scans with Starfleet,” T’ari demanded.
The Orion Captain nodded “We sure as hell will, Precious Scarab out!”
The Orion ship was already turning and maxing out her impulse drives.
-*-
In the shuttlebay the Ane watched the light light show.
**What do we do?**
Captain Lellogalan teleported.
-*-
She appeared off the ground and not quite oriented right and went down in a roll.
She got to her hooves and stopped, centering herself. Now her awareness of her space set, and acted as an anchor for the rest.
More whooshes as Ane appeared at the right altitude and orientation
**Oh, Good, tunnels,** Captain Lellogalan thought.
-*-
“What’s that noise?” Tarah asked
It sounded like… flutes and piccolos calling out.
Tarah said “Esta, lets go see.”
“You should send us,” Ohjoss said.
“I absolutely will not be doing that,” Tarah said.
Ohjoss handed her another chemlight.
Dr. Won got up and went with them
-*-
At the top of the tunnel, an Animal…
**Commander! Report!** The Antelope thought at Tarah with a command snap in her mental voice.
“We’re unarmed. Eight Starfleet, one Arzalan, and five civilians.”
**Get them up here! We’re your ride!**
Tarah tapped Esta “Go,” She ran back into the tunnel for the others
“Telepathic Antelopes!” Dr Won said, “Unusual!”
-*-
On the Richman the howling and shuddering got worse. “More tentacles! They seem upset about something,” Anavar reported.
“They have the salvage cruiser.”
On the screen, T’ari could see the bigger Orion ship. It was caught from two different directions. Sensors were all but useless. They were firing by visible light targeting now.
“More torpedoes,” T’ari said
“We don’t have a good range reading.”
“Use lidar to range the Orion ship and then guess, hurry.”
After a few moments work, Anavar fired more torpedoes. These weren’t as accurate. About half of them went into one of the rifts. It slammed closed
But the tentacles from the other side won the tug of war, pulling one of the wings of the Orion ship into the other rift. The rift closed, taking the Orion’s port wing and engine nacelle with it.
The Orion Salvager rolled away leaking plasma, lights flickering all over, all weapons silent.
T’ari called the shuttle bay “Shuttlebay, report!” She steeled herself to hear the attack had scrubbed the rescue, but at least then they could move.
-*-
Tarah was the last out. The Ululating howl was incredibly loud. She could feel her whole head vibrate with it. Her ears rang.
A huge rift opened and huge tentacles reached out, grabbing their shuttles and yanking them back through the rifts in the sky.
Tarah, Shoma and Tahna Mos watched as more giant tentacles grabbed the Azzic House with huge metal crashing noises, and dragged it up into the air and through a rift,
Ane appeared, and grabbed Tarah’s hand with their mouth, and then pop she was in the Sheldon Richmans starboard shuttlebay.
-*-
Creskulan’s Voder yelled into the Intercom “Extraction successful, all survivors aboard!”
T’ari said “One quarter impulse, Phasers, maintain fire. Torpedoes. Try to keep those tentacles off that Orion ship.”
Ceriar asked “How do you mean to rescue anyone? Transporters are offline.”
“I have no idea. We’ll make something up.”
The Sheldon Richman moved at a stately pace, throwing beams and torpedoes with abandon.
As they approached the crippled Orion ship, more rifts and more tentacles appeared around it. The Richman fired and fired, but more rifts and tentacles appeared. They struck the hull of the Orion ship and then yanked, pulling pieces off the ship.
The Orion ship began firing escape pods.
“All stop, prepare to take survivors aboard.” t’ari said.
Most of the escape pods flew right past the Federation ship, obeying their programming to find a class M world.
A few went to manual control and drove to the Federation ship and into the shuttlebay.
The Orion ship, torn to a ragged wreck, exploded as her warp power system failed.
“Alright, That’s enough,” T’air said, “Let’s get out of here.”
About 300,000 km, the subspace interference began to fade and no more tentacles appeared.
A metal spear fell from the sky and stabbed into the ground next to the ruined shuttles and the Azzic house. The covers popped off the back end, revealing high-definition cameras.
On the bridge of the USS Sheldon Richman Taisha, the science officer said “I have good signals. Good video. Recording.”
-*-
In the Starboard shuttle bay, there was a whoosh as air got out of the way. Ane from distant locations teleported to the Starship. Many were wearing Starfleet Uniform, which for Ane was a collar with rank pips and the Starfleet badge. Others wore the ADF uniform. A similar collar in different colors.
The Sheldon Richman turned. The open shuttle bay doors filled with the planet Manriet III. A holographic circle showed the landing spot, visible directly from hundreds of Kilometers away
Virtual screens showed the video of the landing site in real time.
The Ane studied the visuals. The first teleport would be risky, but once they’d been to both the shuttlebay and the landing site, the next teleport would be much easier. After the first Teleport, with the Ane telepathically watching it happen, the rest would be easier.
**What the hell is that?** one of the Ane said
The Sheldon Richman shuddered. An uluating howl filled the air.
A rift opened near the ship. Much bigger than the ones on the ground. Then another, and another.
As the red alert klaxon sounded, very large tentacles lept out of the rifts at the ship.
-*-
“Phasers, fire at will,” T’ari said “Load a full torpedo spread, helm, keep us oriented.”
“Aye, Sir,”
The big phaser banks of the USS Sheldon Richman hummed and then screamed as energy flowed. The Starship turned into a Fourth-of-July display with multicolored beams flying every which way.
“Tactical, report,” T’ari said
“The tentacles seem resistant to phasers. We’re not having as much effect as I’d like.” Glithaw Anavar, the Bolian Chief of Security said.
“Where is that noise coming from?” T’ari asked The howling of the rifts almost drowned out their voices.
“Subspace carrier wave, it’s blasting the subspace noise at such high energy it’s making our hull vibrate,” Taisha said.
“Our shields are holding,“ Anavar said
“The Orions are not having as much fun,” Taisha said.
“On screen,” T’ari said
The screen showed one of the Orion light raiders with a tentacle wrapped around its port nacelle. It was throwing every disruptor beam and torpedo available at the tentacles. The beams made cuts, the torpedoes dug holes in the tentacles, but not quite enough to dissuade them.
“Target that rift, and give them a full spread of transphasic torpedoes.”
“We can’t scan the other side of those rifts. We don’t know what we’re shooting at.”
T’ari said “I don’t care. They attacked us. They get torpedoes. Full send.”
“Aye, Captain.”
The Sheldon Richman spit a double handful of technologically advanced torpedoes Most of them hit the rift and went through, exploding into whatever lay beyond the rift.
The tentacles let go of the Orion ship and whipped back, but not in time, the rift closed, chopping off the ends of the ship eating tentacles, leaving the tips wiggling, adrift.
“Hail that Orion ship,”
“On screen,”
The screen cleared to show a small, cramped bridge. Lights were flashing and smoke filled the air. An Orion Captain said, “Thank you Starfleet!”
“Get clear, and share your scans with Starfleet,” T’ari demanded.
The Orion Captain nodded “We sure as hell will, Precious Scarab out!”
The Orion ship was already turning and maxing out her impulse drives.
-*-
In the shuttlebay the Ane watched the light light show.
**What do we do?**
Captain Lellogalan teleported.
-*-
She appeared off the ground and not quite oriented right and went down in a roll.
She got to her hooves and stopped, centering herself. Now her awareness of her space set, and acted as an anchor for the rest.
More whooshes as Ane appeared at the right altitude and orientation
**Oh, Good, tunnels,** Captain Lellogalan thought.
-*-
“What’s that noise?” Tarah asked
It sounded like… flutes and piccolos calling out.
Tarah said “Esta, lets go see.”
“You should send us,” Ohjoss said.
“I absolutely will not be doing that,” Tarah said.
Ohjoss handed her another chemlight.
Dr. Won got up and went with them
-*-
At the top of the tunnel, an Animal…
**Commander! Report!** The Antelope thought at Tarah with a command snap in her mental voice.
“We’re unarmed. Eight Starfleet, one Arzalan, and five civilians.”
**Get them up here! We’re your ride!**
Tarah tapped Esta “Go,” She ran back into the tunnel for the others
“Telepathic Antelopes!” Dr Won said, “Unusual!”
-*-
On the Richman the howling and shuddering got worse. “More tentacles! They seem upset about something,” Anavar reported.
“They have the salvage cruiser.”
On the screen, T’ari could see the bigger Orion ship. It was caught from two different directions. Sensors were all but useless. They were firing by visible light targeting now.
“More torpedoes,” T’ari said
“We don’t have a good range reading.”
“Use lidar to range the Orion ship and then guess, hurry.”
After a few moments work, Anavar fired more torpedoes. These weren’t as accurate. About half of them went into one of the rifts. It slammed closed
But the tentacles from the other side won the tug of war, pulling one of the wings of the Orion ship into the other rift. The rift closed, taking the Orion’s port wing and engine nacelle with it.
The Orion Salvager rolled away leaking plasma, lights flickering all over, all weapons silent.
T’ari called the shuttle bay “Shuttlebay, report!” She steeled herself to hear the attack had scrubbed the rescue, but at least then they could move.
-*-
Tarah was the last out. The Ululating howl was incredibly loud. She could feel her whole head vibrate with it. Her ears rang.
A huge rift opened and huge tentacles reached out, grabbing their shuttles and yanking them back through the rifts in the sky.
Tarah, Shoma and Tahna Mos watched as more giant tentacles grabbed the Azzic House with huge metal crashing noises, and dragged it up into the air and through a rift,
Ane appeared, and grabbed Tarah’s hand with their mouth, and then pop she was in the Sheldon Richmans starboard shuttlebay.
-*-
Creskulan’s Voder yelled into the Intercom “Extraction successful, all survivors aboard!”
T’ari said “One quarter impulse, Phasers, maintain fire. Torpedoes. Try to keep those tentacles off that Orion ship.”
Ceriar asked “How do you mean to rescue anyone? Transporters are offline.”
“I have no idea. We’ll make something up.”
The Sheldon Richman moved at a stately pace, throwing beams and torpedoes with abandon.
As they approached the crippled Orion ship, more rifts and more tentacles appeared around it. The Richman fired and fired, but more rifts and tentacles appeared. They struck the hull of the Orion ship and then yanked, pulling pieces off the ship.
The Orion ship began firing escape pods.
“All stop, prepare to take survivors aboard.” t’ari said.
Most of the escape pods flew right past the Federation ship, obeying their programming to find a class M world.
A few went to manual control and drove to the Federation ship and into the shuttlebay.
The Orion ship, torn to a ragged wreck, exploded as her warp power system failed.
“Alright, That’s enough,” T’air said, “Let’s get out of here.”
About 300,000 km, the subspace interference began to fade and no more tentacles appeared.
-
jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
MMM Part 8
MMM Part 8
The ship was mostly secured from red alert. Sickbay was working on the injured who remained.
Satelsk pressed the doorbell on guest quarters. Jak Midnight answered “Hello?”
“I am Satelsk. I am a Commissioner from Federation Council. May I speak with MMM, please?”
“What is this about?” Midnight asked.
The gray face of MMM, appeared with a happy expression “Sure! Come on in.”
Midnight looked irritated but stood back and let Satelsk enter.
“I’m given to understand that MMM all shares one consciousness?” Satelsk asked.
“Sort of,” MMM said. I’m a separate subunit of MMM, but when I get back, I’ll be absorbed, and MMM will know all I know. MMM is connected with me and sees all I see, but not with as much detail as when I get home.”
“Fascinating. Do you feel you can speak for MMM, diplomatically?”
“No. Diplomacy for MMM goes through the Arzalan government,” Midnight said.
“I can hear and report back. I don’t feel empowered to make commitments for MMM. I wasn’t made with that sort of knowledge or decision-making in mind,” MMM said
Stalesk asked, “Does this mean that an MMM individual with that knowledge and decision-making capacity could be made?”
MMM thought about it “I don’t see why not.”
Midnight said, “Commissioner, I think we’ve spoken enough for now.”
Satelsk said “My Commission is to review Federation Diplomacy in this region, and gauge its effectiveness. MMM, how would you assess Federation diplomacy towards you?”
MMM thought about it “I don’t know. I don’t remember much. That doesn’t mean anything. MMM Might not have put that knowledge in my brain.”
“I request a diplomatic meeting with you.”
“That goes through the Arzalan Council,” Midnight said.
“I wish to speak with MMM, directly.”
“Submit a request to the council.”
“I would like to meet Diplomatically with Commissioner Satelsk on MMM,” MMM said.
Satelsk nodded “Acknowledged. I will request that this ship take us there, as directly as circumstances allow.”
Midnight was distressed “May I speak with you in private, Commissioner?”
“You wish to hide something from MMM?”
“It’s private Arzalan business, Sir.”
“Fascinating.”
-*-
“Please Secure this room,” Jak Midnight asked.
“Computer, Secure this room,” T’ari said. She gave her access codes.
The computer beeped “The room is now secure.”
Midnight said “I have a briefing here. But the summary of it is, that Arzala claims jurisdiction over MMM. MMM is ours and we want no outside interference.”
“What?” T’ari asked, “Doesn’t this MMM person get a say?”
“MMM is naive and immature. When we first met MMM they didn’t understand that non-MMM life forms existed. MMM killed several scouts. MMM dissected them to find out why they weren’t appearing to MMM telepathically. Since then MMM has had to learn literally everything about being a person from us.”
“How long has it been since you contacted MMM?” Satelsk asked.
“It has been 45 years,”
“That’s a long time. MMM seems to be reasonably successful at being a person,” T’ari said.
“The problem isn’t that MMM isn’t capable. The problem is what MMM is capable of.”
“What capability concerns you?”
Midnight walked T’ari and Satelsk through MMM’s physiology “MMM has lobes where some functions are concentrated. Some are mental lobes. Our best people have trouble tracking the thought process of an MMM mental node. We’re much slower and it takes teams of us to be as smart as one MMM mental node. But all of MMM’s mental nodes are connected. They’re all one being.
“MMM Has production nodes, where it can make new life forms to suit specific purposes. This… wanderer drone is an example. The node is part of MMM and the creatures made are part of MMM. MMM can coordinate work through its units with superhuman efficiency.”
“This is a simulation of what we think happens if MMM gets ahold of manuals of modern technology.”
“MMM Starts making things. Star ships mainly. MMM has told us they are nervous about something happening to the MMM homeworld. They’d like to have a back up location for mental and production nodes, to survive a natural disaster.”
“Once MMM can make simple starships, they can quickly improve them. MMM can make a workforce to make ships at heart-stopping speeds. Assuming two to three years of training at basic tasks, MMM can improve itself and it’s knowledge. Inside 5 years, MMM can have as many shipyards building as many ships as it wants to.”
“If MMM takes it in mind that they would run things better than we, we become unable to stop it about two years into this process. MMM can reproduce geometrically. MMM isn’t a soldier. But fighting some and surviving gives MMM experience. Soon, MMM can mass produce experienced soldiers and skilled ship crews.
If MMM can break out and gain basic knowledge and abilities, in short order this end of the galaxy becomes MMM and their friends show. Nothing anyone can do can stop it.”
Satelsk watched the whole presentation carefully “Concerning.”
T’ari said “And what happens to you when MMM discovers that you’ve been gate-keeping them to prevent this? You’re pushing MMM into a corner.”
“Once MMM gts break out capability, there’s no putting it back.”
“And the first thing they’ll know is that you didn’t want them to have it and you worked to keep them from it,” T’ari snarled, “Now MMM does have to colonize other worlds and make sure you can’t oppress them.”
“I believe that the Federation offers a way out of this conundrum,” Satelsk said
“We need to educate MMM about galactic citizenship and the values of mutual respect. Like now,” T’ari said, “If we have to be the MMM and their friends show, then we need to set up MMM to be a good neighbor, now.”
Satelsk said “T’ari O’Keefe is a tactical captain. She identifies problems and then solutions and drives at them directly. Her language is undiplomatically direct. However, in this case, I agree. Containing MMM is not only unethical, but it risks damaging MMM’s opinion of you and MMM’s ideas of how to conduct themselves in the galaxy. We must repair this, moving directly and without reservation.”
Midnight sighed “I’m just an agent doing my job to the best of my ability. A diplomatic shit-storm is above my paygrade.”
“A ‘diplomatic shit storm’ is exactly what is now occurring. It is within my purview to create and then resolve such a controversy,” Satelsk said. “My suggestion is this. We proceed straight to the MMM homeworld and beam down to the surface. Your part in the drama is then complete. You may release responsibility to your superiors.”
Midnight looked at T’ari and Satelsk and nodded “You’re right, let's do that.”
“I have a couple of things to take care of, but then we can get rolling,” T’ari said.
“Let us proceed,” Satelsk said.
-*-
“Proceed,” T’ari said
The USS Sheldon Richman accelerated towards the planet.
As they approached the planet, they did something called “the Picard Maneuver”
A brief short-range pulse of warp power at warp 1. To observers outside it seemed as if the Richman existed as a smear across space, temporarily confusing targeting sensors.
T’ari was hoping it would work on the tentacle monsters.
Then close to the planet, T’ari said “Drop them,”
The Richman dumped objects overboard. Large cones. These were armored re-entry vehicles. Two dozen shuttle-sized objects.
These used basic thrusters to alter their course into the planet’s atmosphere.
They were filled with rations, water, tools and supplies meant for the survivors. Nothing high-tech. Manuals printed on paper in the Orion language.
The goal was to allow survivors to stay alive until a rescue mission could be mounted.
Then, as the subspace roiling and boiling began to increase, the Sheldon Richman turned and fled.
Among the items, a replicated copy of a handwritten note. “We’ll be back, Starfleet.”
The ship was mostly secured from red alert. Sickbay was working on the injured who remained.
Satelsk pressed the doorbell on guest quarters. Jak Midnight answered “Hello?”
“I am Satelsk. I am a Commissioner from Federation Council. May I speak with MMM, please?”
“What is this about?” Midnight asked.
The gray face of MMM, appeared with a happy expression “Sure! Come on in.”
Midnight looked irritated but stood back and let Satelsk enter.
“I’m given to understand that MMM all shares one consciousness?” Satelsk asked.
“Sort of,” MMM said. I’m a separate subunit of MMM, but when I get back, I’ll be absorbed, and MMM will know all I know. MMM is connected with me and sees all I see, but not with as much detail as when I get home.”
“Fascinating. Do you feel you can speak for MMM, diplomatically?”
“No. Diplomacy for MMM goes through the Arzalan government,” Midnight said.
“I can hear and report back. I don’t feel empowered to make commitments for MMM. I wasn’t made with that sort of knowledge or decision-making in mind,” MMM said
Stalesk asked, “Does this mean that an MMM individual with that knowledge and decision-making capacity could be made?”
MMM thought about it “I don’t see why not.”
Midnight said, “Commissioner, I think we’ve spoken enough for now.”
Satelsk said “My Commission is to review Federation Diplomacy in this region, and gauge its effectiveness. MMM, how would you assess Federation diplomacy towards you?”
MMM thought about it “I don’t know. I don’t remember much. That doesn’t mean anything. MMM Might not have put that knowledge in my brain.”
“I request a diplomatic meeting with you.”
“That goes through the Arzalan Council,” Midnight said.
“I wish to speak with MMM, directly.”
“Submit a request to the council.”
“I would like to meet Diplomatically with Commissioner Satelsk on MMM,” MMM said.
Satelsk nodded “Acknowledged. I will request that this ship take us there, as directly as circumstances allow.”
Midnight was distressed “May I speak with you in private, Commissioner?”
“You wish to hide something from MMM?”
“It’s private Arzalan business, Sir.”
“Fascinating.”
-*-
“Please Secure this room,” Jak Midnight asked.
“Computer, Secure this room,” T’ari said. She gave her access codes.
The computer beeped “The room is now secure.”
Midnight said “I have a briefing here. But the summary of it is, that Arzala claims jurisdiction over MMM. MMM is ours and we want no outside interference.”
“What?” T’ari asked, “Doesn’t this MMM person get a say?”
“MMM is naive and immature. When we first met MMM they didn’t understand that non-MMM life forms existed. MMM killed several scouts. MMM dissected them to find out why they weren’t appearing to MMM telepathically. Since then MMM has had to learn literally everything about being a person from us.”
“How long has it been since you contacted MMM?” Satelsk asked.
“It has been 45 years,”
“That’s a long time. MMM seems to be reasonably successful at being a person,” T’ari said.
“The problem isn’t that MMM isn’t capable. The problem is what MMM is capable of.”
“What capability concerns you?”
Midnight walked T’ari and Satelsk through MMM’s physiology “MMM has lobes where some functions are concentrated. Some are mental lobes. Our best people have trouble tracking the thought process of an MMM mental node. We’re much slower and it takes teams of us to be as smart as one MMM mental node. But all of MMM’s mental nodes are connected. They’re all one being.
“MMM Has production nodes, where it can make new life forms to suit specific purposes. This… wanderer drone is an example. The node is part of MMM and the creatures made are part of MMM. MMM can coordinate work through its units with superhuman efficiency.”
“This is a simulation of what we think happens if MMM gets ahold of manuals of modern technology.”
“MMM Starts making things. Star ships mainly. MMM has told us they are nervous about something happening to the MMM homeworld. They’d like to have a back up location for mental and production nodes, to survive a natural disaster.”
“Once MMM can make simple starships, they can quickly improve them. MMM can make a workforce to make ships at heart-stopping speeds. Assuming two to three years of training at basic tasks, MMM can improve itself and it’s knowledge. Inside 5 years, MMM can have as many shipyards building as many ships as it wants to.”
“If MMM takes it in mind that they would run things better than we, we become unable to stop it about two years into this process. MMM can reproduce geometrically. MMM isn’t a soldier. But fighting some and surviving gives MMM experience. Soon, MMM can mass produce experienced soldiers and skilled ship crews.
If MMM can break out and gain basic knowledge and abilities, in short order this end of the galaxy becomes MMM and their friends show. Nothing anyone can do can stop it.”
Satelsk watched the whole presentation carefully “Concerning.”
T’ari said “And what happens to you when MMM discovers that you’ve been gate-keeping them to prevent this? You’re pushing MMM into a corner.”
“Once MMM gts break out capability, there’s no putting it back.”
“And the first thing they’ll know is that you didn’t want them to have it and you worked to keep them from it,” T’ari snarled, “Now MMM does have to colonize other worlds and make sure you can’t oppress them.”
“I believe that the Federation offers a way out of this conundrum,” Satelsk said
“We need to educate MMM about galactic citizenship and the values of mutual respect. Like now,” T’ari said, “If we have to be the MMM and their friends show, then we need to set up MMM to be a good neighbor, now.”
Satelsk said “T’ari O’Keefe is a tactical captain. She identifies problems and then solutions and drives at them directly. Her language is undiplomatically direct. However, in this case, I agree. Containing MMM is not only unethical, but it risks damaging MMM’s opinion of you and MMM’s ideas of how to conduct themselves in the galaxy. We must repair this, moving directly and without reservation.”
Midnight sighed “I’m just an agent doing my job to the best of my ability. A diplomatic shit-storm is above my paygrade.”
“A ‘diplomatic shit storm’ is exactly what is now occurring. It is within my purview to create and then resolve such a controversy,” Satelsk said. “My suggestion is this. We proceed straight to the MMM homeworld and beam down to the surface. Your part in the drama is then complete. You may release responsibility to your superiors.”
Midnight looked at T’ari and Satelsk and nodded “You’re right, let's do that.”
“I have a couple of things to take care of, but then we can get rolling,” T’ari said.
“Let us proceed,” Satelsk said.
-*-
“Proceed,” T’ari said
The USS Sheldon Richman accelerated towards the planet.
As they approached the planet, they did something called “the Picard Maneuver”
A brief short-range pulse of warp power at warp 1. To observers outside it seemed as if the Richman existed as a smear across space, temporarily confusing targeting sensors.
T’ari was hoping it would work on the tentacle monsters.
Then close to the planet, T’ari said “Drop them,”
The Richman dumped objects overboard. Large cones. These were armored re-entry vehicles. Two dozen shuttle-sized objects.
These used basic thrusters to alter their course into the planet’s atmosphere.
They were filled with rations, water, tools and supplies meant for the survivors. Nothing high-tech. Manuals printed on paper in the Orion language.
The goal was to allow survivors to stay alive until a rescue mission could be mounted.
Then, as the subspace roiling and boiling began to increase, the Sheldon Richman turned and fled.
Among the items, a replicated copy of a handwritten note. “We’ll be back, Starfleet.”
-
jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
MMM Part 9
MMM Part 9
USS Sheldon Richman, en route to MMM
In the lounge, Shoma sipped something strong and toxic.
Tahn Mos read a PADD with the latest news reports next to her.
Losma Won approached, dressed in tight-fitting black clothing. It was an underlayer for the scrubs used in the sickbay.
“How was work?” Mos asked her
“Battlefield medicine. Burn injuries, some crushing wounds. Not many. This ship has plenty of medical people. Even some holograms. Sometimes emergency medicine is interesting and exciting. Other times it’s tiresome.”
Mos nodded “Did they offer you a job?”
“Not in so many words. But I could stay and push my way into their sick bay easily enough.”
“Are you?”
“No,” Won said seriously, “You two won’t be there. Speaking of which,”
Mos and Shoma looked at her.
“What’s the plan? Our ship is gone. We need a new one.”
Mos looked bemused.
Shoma said “I don’t know, Losma. I don’t know how we might recover from this. We’ve lost everything.”
“Ah. I see. “ Won said, “You feel overwhelmed.”
Shoma looked at Won blank-faced. “We lost Yba.”
“We have indeed lost a lot. But you still have me. And I still have you. That’s something. Something perhaps we can work with. I must keep moving. I can’t be still with this.”
Shoma and Mos looked at her.
“A new ship is a difficult question. An interesting question. I’ll think about it.” Won wandered off worrying her lower lip with her fingers as her mind whirled.
“She’s going to find us a ship to steal,” Mos said.
“Or some impossible job that overpays because it’s a suicide mission,” Shoma said.
“Something like that,” Mos said.
“If I’d known I was getting both of you, I might have reconsidered,” Shoma grumped.
“No you wouldn’t have,” Mos said “You like her almost as much as I do.”
“That’s true.”
“We do have to work on some sort of plan to recover from this,” Mos said.
Shoma looked out the window of the starship “I don’t want to right now. It’s too much. I might start screaming and not stop.”
“If I get an idea I’ll hold it until you’re ready. Until then we’ll put our feet up.”
Shoma nodded, but tears started flowing.
-*-
The next day. MMM found them in a gym on deck six.
Mos held a heavy bag while Shoma worked it over with kicks, punches, and combinations.
“My friends,” MMM said, “I have come to invite you to my home.”
Shoma turned and used a small towel to dab sweat off her forehead “Thank you, MMM.”
“That’s a lovely sentiment,” Mos said.
“I sense some reticence. Please explain.” MMM asked.
Shoma said “MMM, your home world is controlled by Arzala. Our status with them is dubious. We might wind up trapped there. At Fulcrum Station, we can begin working on… whatever our next thing is.”
MMM considered this “I see. When I boarded your ship, I was in a vulnerable condition. You could have easily mistreated me.”
Shoma looked at MMM.
“I trusted you. That trust was rewarded. I learned much.”
Shoma glanced at Mos.
“I request you extend to me the same trust.”
Shoma sighed “Trust is a difficult ask, MMM.”
“Out here, I am but one person. At home, I am more. Going with you was a risk, but it paid off.”
Shoma considered it. Was she doing anything better? “Okay, MMM. We’ll visit your homeworld.”
“Thank you,” MMM grinned “I’ll do my best to make it a rewarding visit for you.”
-*-
Creskulaban found MMM in the corridor. Creskulaban gestured **May I speak with you?**
MMM Looked confused “I’m sorry did you say something?”
Creskulaban yelled **CAN YOU HEAR ME?**
MMM saw the humanoid Ane looking into his eyes urgently, but didn’t hear a thing.
Creskulaban pressed his commbadge “Is this better?” The Commbadge repeated Creskulaban’s telepathic words as audible sounds.
“I can hear you now,” MMM said.
“You can’t hear me telepathically?”
“I’m sorry, no. My brain doesn’t work the same. I have grown telepathic nodes at home, but by default, I don’t work well with other folks psionics.”
“Do you know why that is?”
“The answer involves the biology and physiology of psionics, and I wasn’t really provided with those,” MMM said “But the very short summary is that my brain works on different frequencies. All of me that is me is in contact via telepathy to a greater or lesser extent, but my telepathy is different from most other folks. Not compatible at all.”
“You say you have telepathic nodes at home?”
“Oh, yes. Growing them was quite the challenge. It was fun. I invite you to come to MMM and think with my telepathic nodes. That would be enjoyable.”
“Thank you,” Creskulaban said.
-*-
T’ari followed Tarah’s commbadge signal to a lounge on deck seven. There was Tarah lying on Lellogalan.
T’ari walked up “Hey,”
Tarah looked up at T’ari seriously.
“You okay?”
“I’m fit for duty. I can fake okay,” Tarah replied.
T’ari peered at the Ane. Lounging comfortably on the carpeted deck. Lellogalan wore a leaf green collar with four buttons in a line and a blue star commbadge. “Captain?” T’Ari asked.
**I am Lellogalan of the ADF. My ship is in El-Nanth in a refit cycle. We heard the call for assistance and I came.**
“Thank you,” T’ari said “You saved my two best friends.”
**I’m sorry for your loss,** Lellogalan said
T’ari nodded.
“I was telling the Captain here about Doros and Atringa,” Tarah said.
T’ari nodded. For a moment she was thinking of the letters she would have to write. Did Doros and Atringa even have family in this timeline? Had they made contact?
“How’s Esta?” T’ari asked.
“She was in sickbay. One of those Tentacles smashed her in the face pretty hard,” Tarah said “It’s unethical, or else I’d order her to come snuggle an Ane. They’re good at this.”
**Thank you,** Lellogalan said.
“Alright. We’re driving to MMM now, We’ll be there in a few days. When do you think you’ll be ready to get back on the bridge?”
“I’ll be there tomorrow at 0800, Captain.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Tarah, we didn’t know. You can’t plan for what you didn’t know.”
“I was pulling on a tentacle with my bare hands. Esta tried to bite one of the things. Atringa was hitting one with a Klingon sword. We were totally unprepared to have our tech stripped like that,” Tarah said. “We have to do better. We have to do better than that.”
“Take your time and breathe. We can make a plan and implement it. I know you and Esta. You’ll be ready next time.”
“Is there going to be a next time?”
“Maybe. Life pods went down on the planet. There were other ships there. We might have to go back to grab survivors off.”
“Okay. Noted. We’ll be ready.”
“If you need extra…. Ane time, take it.”
“I’m good, Captain. I’ll be there.”
**I must admit, I am curious about those horrible things,** Lellogalan said **I want to ensure we can deal with them effectively.**
“It’ll take some time. Once we’re done with MMM, I’ll talk to the Admiral. I want to poke those things until we know what they are and what we’re dealing with.”
**Noted.**
-*-
Shoma rang the doorbell to the Captain’s office. She waited for a few moments.
A Green girl approached. Shoma figured she was the Captain’s assistant, or yeoman or whatever. Probably his sexual servant as well. Shoma didn’t judge. Green women did what they had to and men did what men always did.
“Excuse me,” Shoma said “Do you know where the Captain is?”
T’ari gave her a look “I might. You’re Shoma, right?”
“Correct,”
“You survived the tentacle things.”
Shoma needed vaguely “Yes,”
“How?”
“Are you concerned that they’ll send you, next?” Shom asked
“I might wind up facing them. What’s to stop them from opening rifts inside the ship?”
Shoma thought about it “I don’t know. Do you have a blade on you? Is it poisoned?”
T’ari frowned “We don’t usually go armed anymore. I preferred something with a little more kick. Do you think poison would work on the tentacles?”
“You’re an odd one,” Shoma said “What’s your name?”
“I’m T’ari O’Keefe, the CO of the Sheldon Richman,” T’ari said
Shoma looked at the girl’s collar. Sure enough, four pips. “How does that work?” Shoma asked
T’ari went through the door into the Captain’s office, and beckoned Shoma into her office.
Shoma went into the office and looked at it.
There was a picture of a Starfleet Academy class. Shoma picked out T’ari and Tarah, the Andorian in the picture, smiling brightly and looking like children.
There was a model of a generic type of Federation free trader on the shelves, as well as a Federation light frigate, and some other type of ship Shoma couldn’t identify.
In a display, there were weapons. Pistols and long guns of various kinds. Shoma realized, these were not models or display types. These were all real weapons. The phaser looked like the body of a Federation phaser with added technology, There were similarly modified Klingon and Orion disruptors. Something purple that looked like melted plastic and chrome flowed into a long pistol shape.
“I’m curious about how you and your people survived the tentacle things. I’m also interested in how you came to be on Manriet III in general,” T’ari asked.
“How does a girl like you wind up with a ship like this?”
T’ari looked at Shoma. Shoma was slightly older Green Orion Woman. A slightly darker shade of Green. She carried herself like a mobster. Shoma was dressed in material that looked like black leather. Thick boots, good for rough terrain or industrial conditions.
T’ari considered how to tell the truth so as not to give away anything Temporal Investigations didn’t want her to “Starfleet is shy of people. I came from an area where this was acute. Success and survival were quickly rewarded.”
“I heard there’s a Starfleet Admiral recruiting greens somewhere. I thought it was for a harem, not actual command.”
T’ari said “Sex is easy. Especially with holodecks. Getting a ship in the right place at the right time with the right people is a little more challenging.”
Shoma thought about this. She could have used a girl with that attitude back in the day. “So you want information. What’s in it for me?”
“The Federation is willing to pay for good information,” T’ari said.
“How much is the Federation willing to pay, and for what information?”
“That depends on what denominations you’re talking about,” T’ari said “Are we talking about Gold Pressed Latinum, energy credits, actual Anti-matter?”
Shoma smiled ever so faintly, this was comfortable ground for her.
-*-
USS Sheldon Richman, en route to MMM
In the lounge, Shoma sipped something strong and toxic.
Tahn Mos read a PADD with the latest news reports next to her.
Losma Won approached, dressed in tight-fitting black clothing. It was an underlayer for the scrubs used in the sickbay.
“How was work?” Mos asked her
“Battlefield medicine. Burn injuries, some crushing wounds. Not many. This ship has plenty of medical people. Even some holograms. Sometimes emergency medicine is interesting and exciting. Other times it’s tiresome.”
Mos nodded “Did they offer you a job?”
“Not in so many words. But I could stay and push my way into their sick bay easily enough.”
“Are you?”
“No,” Won said seriously, “You two won’t be there. Speaking of which,”
Mos and Shoma looked at her.
“What’s the plan? Our ship is gone. We need a new one.”
Mos looked bemused.
Shoma said “I don’t know, Losma. I don’t know how we might recover from this. We’ve lost everything.”
“Ah. I see. “ Won said, “You feel overwhelmed.”
Shoma looked at Won blank-faced. “We lost Yba.”
“We have indeed lost a lot. But you still have me. And I still have you. That’s something. Something perhaps we can work with. I must keep moving. I can’t be still with this.”
Shoma and Mos looked at her.
“A new ship is a difficult question. An interesting question. I’ll think about it.” Won wandered off worrying her lower lip with her fingers as her mind whirled.
“She’s going to find us a ship to steal,” Mos said.
“Or some impossible job that overpays because it’s a suicide mission,” Shoma said.
“Something like that,” Mos said.
“If I’d known I was getting both of you, I might have reconsidered,” Shoma grumped.
“No you wouldn’t have,” Mos said “You like her almost as much as I do.”
“That’s true.”
“We do have to work on some sort of plan to recover from this,” Mos said.
Shoma looked out the window of the starship “I don’t want to right now. It’s too much. I might start screaming and not stop.”
“If I get an idea I’ll hold it until you’re ready. Until then we’ll put our feet up.”
Shoma nodded, but tears started flowing.
-*-
The next day. MMM found them in a gym on deck six.
Mos held a heavy bag while Shoma worked it over with kicks, punches, and combinations.
“My friends,” MMM said, “I have come to invite you to my home.”
Shoma turned and used a small towel to dab sweat off her forehead “Thank you, MMM.”
“That’s a lovely sentiment,” Mos said.
“I sense some reticence. Please explain.” MMM asked.
Shoma said “MMM, your home world is controlled by Arzala. Our status with them is dubious. We might wind up trapped there. At Fulcrum Station, we can begin working on… whatever our next thing is.”
MMM considered this “I see. When I boarded your ship, I was in a vulnerable condition. You could have easily mistreated me.”
Shoma looked at MMM.
“I trusted you. That trust was rewarded. I learned much.”
Shoma glanced at Mos.
“I request you extend to me the same trust.”
Shoma sighed “Trust is a difficult ask, MMM.”
“Out here, I am but one person. At home, I am more. Going with you was a risk, but it paid off.”
Shoma considered it. Was she doing anything better? “Okay, MMM. We’ll visit your homeworld.”
“Thank you,” MMM grinned “I’ll do my best to make it a rewarding visit for you.”
-*-
Creskulaban found MMM in the corridor. Creskulaban gestured **May I speak with you?**
MMM Looked confused “I’m sorry did you say something?”
Creskulaban yelled **CAN YOU HEAR ME?**
MMM saw the humanoid Ane looking into his eyes urgently, but didn’t hear a thing.
Creskulaban pressed his commbadge “Is this better?” The Commbadge repeated Creskulaban’s telepathic words as audible sounds.
“I can hear you now,” MMM said.
“You can’t hear me telepathically?”
“I’m sorry, no. My brain doesn’t work the same. I have grown telepathic nodes at home, but by default, I don’t work well with other folks psionics.”
“Do you know why that is?”
“The answer involves the biology and physiology of psionics, and I wasn’t really provided with those,” MMM said “But the very short summary is that my brain works on different frequencies. All of me that is me is in contact via telepathy to a greater or lesser extent, but my telepathy is different from most other folks. Not compatible at all.”
“You say you have telepathic nodes at home?”
“Oh, yes. Growing them was quite the challenge. It was fun. I invite you to come to MMM and think with my telepathic nodes. That would be enjoyable.”
“Thank you,” Creskulaban said.
-*-
T’ari followed Tarah’s commbadge signal to a lounge on deck seven. There was Tarah lying on Lellogalan.
T’ari walked up “Hey,”
Tarah looked up at T’ari seriously.
“You okay?”
“I’m fit for duty. I can fake okay,” Tarah replied.
T’ari peered at the Ane. Lounging comfortably on the carpeted deck. Lellogalan wore a leaf green collar with four buttons in a line and a blue star commbadge. “Captain?” T’Ari asked.
**I am Lellogalan of the ADF. My ship is in El-Nanth in a refit cycle. We heard the call for assistance and I came.**
“Thank you,” T’ari said “You saved my two best friends.”
**I’m sorry for your loss,** Lellogalan said
T’ari nodded.
“I was telling the Captain here about Doros and Atringa,” Tarah said.
T’ari nodded. For a moment she was thinking of the letters she would have to write. Did Doros and Atringa even have family in this timeline? Had they made contact?
“How’s Esta?” T’ari asked.
“She was in sickbay. One of those Tentacles smashed her in the face pretty hard,” Tarah said “It’s unethical, or else I’d order her to come snuggle an Ane. They’re good at this.”
**Thank you,** Lellogalan said.
“Alright. We’re driving to MMM now, We’ll be there in a few days. When do you think you’ll be ready to get back on the bridge?”
“I’ll be there tomorrow at 0800, Captain.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Tarah, we didn’t know. You can’t plan for what you didn’t know.”
“I was pulling on a tentacle with my bare hands. Esta tried to bite one of the things. Atringa was hitting one with a Klingon sword. We were totally unprepared to have our tech stripped like that,” Tarah said. “We have to do better. We have to do better than that.”
“Take your time and breathe. We can make a plan and implement it. I know you and Esta. You’ll be ready next time.”
“Is there going to be a next time?”
“Maybe. Life pods went down on the planet. There were other ships there. We might have to go back to grab survivors off.”
“Okay. Noted. We’ll be ready.”
“If you need extra…. Ane time, take it.”
“I’m good, Captain. I’ll be there.”
**I must admit, I am curious about those horrible things,** Lellogalan said **I want to ensure we can deal with them effectively.**
“It’ll take some time. Once we’re done with MMM, I’ll talk to the Admiral. I want to poke those things until we know what they are and what we’re dealing with.”
**Noted.**
-*-
Shoma rang the doorbell to the Captain’s office. She waited for a few moments.
A Green girl approached. Shoma figured she was the Captain’s assistant, or yeoman or whatever. Probably his sexual servant as well. Shoma didn’t judge. Green women did what they had to and men did what men always did.
“Excuse me,” Shoma said “Do you know where the Captain is?”
T’ari gave her a look “I might. You’re Shoma, right?”
“Correct,”
“You survived the tentacle things.”
Shoma needed vaguely “Yes,”
“How?”
“Are you concerned that they’ll send you, next?” Shom asked
“I might wind up facing them. What’s to stop them from opening rifts inside the ship?”
Shoma thought about it “I don’t know. Do you have a blade on you? Is it poisoned?”
T’ari frowned “We don’t usually go armed anymore. I preferred something with a little more kick. Do you think poison would work on the tentacles?”
“You’re an odd one,” Shoma said “What’s your name?”
“I’m T’ari O’Keefe, the CO of the Sheldon Richman,” T’ari said
Shoma looked at the girl’s collar. Sure enough, four pips. “How does that work?” Shoma asked
T’ari went through the door into the Captain’s office, and beckoned Shoma into her office.
Shoma went into the office and looked at it.
There was a picture of a Starfleet Academy class. Shoma picked out T’ari and Tarah, the Andorian in the picture, smiling brightly and looking like children.
There was a model of a generic type of Federation free trader on the shelves, as well as a Federation light frigate, and some other type of ship Shoma couldn’t identify.
In a display, there were weapons. Pistols and long guns of various kinds. Shoma realized, these were not models or display types. These were all real weapons. The phaser looked like the body of a Federation phaser with added technology, There were similarly modified Klingon and Orion disruptors. Something purple that looked like melted plastic and chrome flowed into a long pistol shape.
“I’m curious about how you and your people survived the tentacle things. I’m also interested in how you came to be on Manriet III in general,” T’ari asked.
“How does a girl like you wind up with a ship like this?”
T’ari looked at Shoma. Shoma was slightly older Green Orion Woman. A slightly darker shade of Green. She carried herself like a mobster. Shoma was dressed in material that looked like black leather. Thick boots, good for rough terrain or industrial conditions.
T’ari considered how to tell the truth so as not to give away anything Temporal Investigations didn’t want her to “Starfleet is shy of people. I came from an area where this was acute. Success and survival were quickly rewarded.”
“I heard there’s a Starfleet Admiral recruiting greens somewhere. I thought it was for a harem, not actual command.”
T’ari said “Sex is easy. Especially with holodecks. Getting a ship in the right place at the right time with the right people is a little more challenging.”
Shoma thought about this. She could have used a girl with that attitude back in the day. “So you want information. What’s in it for me?”
“The Federation is willing to pay for good information,” T’ari said.
“How much is the Federation willing to pay, and for what information?”
“That depends on what denominations you’re talking about,” T’ari said “Are we talking about Gold Pressed Latinum, energy credits, actual Anti-matter?”
Shoma smiled ever so faintly, this was comfortable ground for her.
-*-
-
jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
MMMpart 10
MMM Part 10
USS Sheldon Richman, nearing MMM
T’ari inspected the new shuttlecraft they were building in the port bay. It was a wedge-shaped lifting body with small wings. The hull was coming together well. Normal hull metals were more than equal to the performance needed.
Everything else was going slowly. They were using modern materials and processes to make ancient equipment. The engineering crew were having a great time trawling though a hundred worlds’ histories of space flight and aeronautical engineering to adapt old techniques to the materials and processes they had on hand.
The almost magical abilities of subspace fields made many things very easy. The Engineers discovered that without subspace technologies, these things were difficult.
Getting equipment and gear to do what they wanted in the volume and mass allotted was a struggle. One the engineers were enjoying.
Already messages from the Richman to the rest of local Starfleet looking for ideas were spreading the awareness of the “tentacle problem” and the solutions being sought for it.
T’ari enjoyed the idea her crew and others were coming up. It was all very creative. She didn’t enjoy the timeline. She didn’t know if they’d have a working low-tech rescue shuttle ready to go when they got back.
She didn’t know if they’d have the materials to make it happen.
As T’ari stared at a PADD in the shuttle bay, trying to make the numbers, person-hours and resources work, Satelsk approached. “Captain.”
She gave the smallest of starts and then greeted Satelsk “Commissioner, how may I help you?”
“I know this is unorthodox, but I’d like myself, Officer Midnight and MMM on the bridge for the approach to MMM’s home system.”
T’ari squinted at him “That sort of pushes the confrontation right up to the front of the interaction.”
“Perhaps. I feel that if the parameters are obvious, then a misstep is less likely.”
T’ari looked at the shuttlecraft hull sitting on a rack, “I should have been thinking about this sooner.”
She nodded and looked at the time at the top of the PADD “We’ll be making the approach soon. I’ll see you on the bridge at 14:20,”
Satelsk nodded “Thank you, Captain.”
-*-
MMM’s home system featured a yellow type g star with a very close M class red dwarf companion. Although the red dwarf was miniscule in comparison to its large partner, it was still large on the scale of planets. It forced all the planets orbiting the primary into resonating orbits where the period of rotation was a multiple of the red dwarfs orbital period.
As they got closer, Taisha the sensors officer said “Captain, I’m detecting multiple Arzalan ships and at least two bases in the system ahead. All with Arzalan IFF transponders.”
“Have they seen us?”
“Yes, Sir. We are traveling with our IFF beacon active. They’ll have seen us approach.”
As the Sheldon Richman approached, she was painted by sensor beams while still some distance away.
A automated beacon broadcast a message “Attention, you are approaching an Amber Zone planet. Ships may only approach when invited by the proper authorities and by a prearranged schedule. Approaching outside of these parameters is forbidden. Trespassers may be fired upon.”
“Go sublight at the edge of the system, and proceed at half impulse,” T’ari said.
“Ships are moving, Sir. Two squadrons of attack ships are heading our way and an Arzalan battleship is moving away from one of the Moons of MMM. Other ships are moving to intercept.”
“Steady as she goes.”
“We’re being hailed, sir. From the planet.”
“On screen”
The screen cleared to show an office, someplace sunny. An Arzalan man wearing an Arzalan Defense Force uniform and two star generals pips addressed the Starfleet ship. “USS Sheldon Richman, this is MMM Control. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
T’ari stood up and took two steps toward the screen. She could see the General’s eyes flick toward his own screen. He reacted to something he was seeing.
“I am Captain T’ari O’Keefe, commanding. We have MMM here, who we recovered from an unfortunate situation. We’re returning them home.”
The Arzalan Officer stared at MMM. A number of things warred across his face, none of them good.
MMM stood up “General Rockside, I request that you allow my friends on this ship to approach, orbit and come and go from my home without hindrance.”
Rockside began turning red “MMM, sir, we need to be careful who we allow to approach… there are… unknown dangers…”
MMM tilted their head “I have vetted these people personally. They are from the Federation, which Arzala has joined, or personal friends of mine. There is no further reason to be so careful.”
Rockside clenched his jaw. Then he saw Jak Midnight. “Officer Midnight, what’s the meaning of this?”
Midnight was having a bad time. Years of dedicated service to Arzala gone in a moment. He said “General Rockside. We have an uncontrolled condition gray. This is an uncontrolled condition gray.”
Rockside looked even worse “There’s no such thing as an uncontrolled condition gray!”
“What does condition gray mean?” MMM asked.
Rockside clamped his mouth shut, and then did his best to punt “USS Sheldon Richman, we’ll get you an orbit. Please proceed at one quarter impulse to your parking orbit. I have to contact my command authority.”
General Rockside cut the channel. After several minutes, a message directed the Richman to a parking orbit over MMM’s home world.
MMM looked at Jak Midnight “Jak. What does condition gray mean?”
Midnight looked up at MMM, distressed, “It means you escaped, MMM. It means you got out.”
“Hmmm,” MMM said, “we’re going to have to discuss this.”
-*-
The first transporter load set down T’ari, MMM, Satelsk, Jak Midnight, and Captain Lellogalan. They stepped down off the transporter pad.
Behind them the second transporter deposited Shoma, Tahn Mos, and Losma Wan, as well as Ardoska, Satelsk’s adjutant
In the Transporter room were General Rockside, several of his officers and civilians, as well as armed security. Also in the transporter room were several MMM drones. The humanoid ones all looked the same. The rest looked like large insects.
One of the humanoid MMM drones turned to General Rockside “The time for armed security has passed. These people should stand down unless required.”
General Rockside said “MMM, we’ve been protecting you for a long time,”
MMM said “I appreciate that and I appreciate you. However, things must change. This is my homeworld. This is my home. You’re standing inside me. You must come to terms with the idea that you are no longer the caretaker. We are now partners.”
Things got very tense inside the transporter room.
“I understand that this adjustment may take some time for you. However, I feel the security people you have here and in strategic locations throughout this building are unnecessary and risk an error. We must deescalate the potential for unintentional violence while we discuss our new relationship going forward.”
General Rockside said “And what if we refuse?”
“Nothing. You know I eschew violence.” MMM said
“General. I am Satelsk. I am from the Federation Council’s diplomatic department. Your actions are being viewed by the Federation in this instance.”
“And what will the Federation do? You need us in this region.”
“Your words are careless and poorly considered,” Satelsk said, “I will give you an opportunity to reconsider.”
Rockside sighed “Listen, I want a good resolution here as much as anyone. But I have a mission. There are elements you may not have seen, yet.”
“Officer Midnight briefed us,” Satelsk said.
Rockside had another episode of bulging eyes and clenching jaw.
“Briefed you on what?” the MMM who’d come with them asked.
“I will explain once the current crisis has passed,” Satelsk said.
MMM said “General, I do not now, nor do I ever mean Arzala harm. I love you people. You must lower your weapons and reconsider where we stand. We must work on moving forward in sane terms.”
One of the humanoid MMM drones went over to one of the guards “Dalky. Lower your weapon and come get drinks with me. I would never hurt you. Come talk.”
The young Arzalan soldier stared at the general with big eyes. He didn’t move, but it was clear he was terrified.
One of the civilians said “General, MMM has made up their mind. Let’s let it go for now and reset once we know more.”
General Rockside glared at the civilian. The civilian held his gaze fearlessly “I’m right and MMM’s right. Things have changed.”
Rockside took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. “I’m fucked.”
Then, shaking his head he said “Major, stand your men down. Go hang up gear and weapons. Take the rest of the day off. We’ll reset at 0600 tomorrow.”
Dalky lowered his weapon with a sheepish grin at MMM “Sorry, MMM.”
MMM smiled back “Thank you Dalky.”
He took a communicator off his belt “General Rockside to fleet command. Stand down and return to watch mode. Repeat, stand down, and return to watch mode.”
“Acknowledged, General, Fleet command standing down.”
“Representatives from the Arzalan government and national security apparatus are on their way,” Rockside said “You have to do this all again with them. I’m done.”
Captain Lellogalan said **Is it that bad General?**
He looked at her “Antelope lady, you have no idea. I’ve been doing this for 37 years. All gone in an instant.”
MMM said “I request now, that the nation of Arzala not retaliate against anyone for this. I believe that to be unwarranted.”
Rockside walked out, along with the armed security troops. Several MMM drones went with them.
The Civilian said, “I’ll relay that to the people on their way, MMM.”
MMM then turned towards the people from the Richman “Let us see to your comfort and prepare for further conversations, coming up.”
One of the Arzalan officers asked, “Why does it feel like a change of command just happened?”
“Because it has,” T’ari said, “MMM just took his planet back.”
Dr Won said, “This changes things considerably!”
USS Sheldon Richman, nearing MMM
T’ari inspected the new shuttlecraft they were building in the port bay. It was a wedge-shaped lifting body with small wings. The hull was coming together well. Normal hull metals were more than equal to the performance needed.
Everything else was going slowly. They were using modern materials and processes to make ancient equipment. The engineering crew were having a great time trawling though a hundred worlds’ histories of space flight and aeronautical engineering to adapt old techniques to the materials and processes they had on hand.
The almost magical abilities of subspace fields made many things very easy. The Engineers discovered that without subspace technologies, these things were difficult.
Getting equipment and gear to do what they wanted in the volume and mass allotted was a struggle. One the engineers were enjoying.
Already messages from the Richman to the rest of local Starfleet looking for ideas were spreading the awareness of the “tentacle problem” and the solutions being sought for it.
T’ari enjoyed the idea her crew and others were coming up. It was all very creative. She didn’t enjoy the timeline. She didn’t know if they’d have a working low-tech rescue shuttle ready to go when they got back.
She didn’t know if they’d have the materials to make it happen.
As T’ari stared at a PADD in the shuttle bay, trying to make the numbers, person-hours and resources work, Satelsk approached. “Captain.”
She gave the smallest of starts and then greeted Satelsk “Commissioner, how may I help you?”
“I know this is unorthodox, but I’d like myself, Officer Midnight and MMM on the bridge for the approach to MMM’s home system.”
T’ari squinted at him “That sort of pushes the confrontation right up to the front of the interaction.”
“Perhaps. I feel that if the parameters are obvious, then a misstep is less likely.”
T’ari looked at the shuttlecraft hull sitting on a rack, “I should have been thinking about this sooner.”
She nodded and looked at the time at the top of the PADD “We’ll be making the approach soon. I’ll see you on the bridge at 14:20,”
Satelsk nodded “Thank you, Captain.”
-*-
MMM’s home system featured a yellow type g star with a very close M class red dwarf companion. Although the red dwarf was miniscule in comparison to its large partner, it was still large on the scale of planets. It forced all the planets orbiting the primary into resonating orbits where the period of rotation was a multiple of the red dwarfs orbital period.
As they got closer, Taisha the sensors officer said “Captain, I’m detecting multiple Arzalan ships and at least two bases in the system ahead. All with Arzalan IFF transponders.”
“Have they seen us?”
“Yes, Sir. We are traveling with our IFF beacon active. They’ll have seen us approach.”
As the Sheldon Richman approached, she was painted by sensor beams while still some distance away.
A automated beacon broadcast a message “Attention, you are approaching an Amber Zone planet. Ships may only approach when invited by the proper authorities and by a prearranged schedule. Approaching outside of these parameters is forbidden. Trespassers may be fired upon.”
“Go sublight at the edge of the system, and proceed at half impulse,” T’ari said.
“Ships are moving, Sir. Two squadrons of attack ships are heading our way and an Arzalan battleship is moving away from one of the Moons of MMM. Other ships are moving to intercept.”
“Steady as she goes.”
“We’re being hailed, sir. From the planet.”
“On screen”
The screen cleared to show an office, someplace sunny. An Arzalan man wearing an Arzalan Defense Force uniform and two star generals pips addressed the Starfleet ship. “USS Sheldon Richman, this is MMM Control. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
T’ari stood up and took two steps toward the screen. She could see the General’s eyes flick toward his own screen. He reacted to something he was seeing.
“I am Captain T’ari O’Keefe, commanding. We have MMM here, who we recovered from an unfortunate situation. We’re returning them home.”
The Arzalan Officer stared at MMM. A number of things warred across his face, none of them good.
MMM stood up “General Rockside, I request that you allow my friends on this ship to approach, orbit and come and go from my home without hindrance.”
Rockside began turning red “MMM, sir, we need to be careful who we allow to approach… there are… unknown dangers…”
MMM tilted their head “I have vetted these people personally. They are from the Federation, which Arzala has joined, or personal friends of mine. There is no further reason to be so careful.”
Rockside clenched his jaw. Then he saw Jak Midnight. “Officer Midnight, what’s the meaning of this?”
Midnight was having a bad time. Years of dedicated service to Arzala gone in a moment. He said “General Rockside. We have an uncontrolled condition gray. This is an uncontrolled condition gray.”
Rockside looked even worse “There’s no such thing as an uncontrolled condition gray!”
“What does condition gray mean?” MMM asked.
Rockside clamped his mouth shut, and then did his best to punt “USS Sheldon Richman, we’ll get you an orbit. Please proceed at one quarter impulse to your parking orbit. I have to contact my command authority.”
General Rockside cut the channel. After several minutes, a message directed the Richman to a parking orbit over MMM’s home world.
MMM looked at Jak Midnight “Jak. What does condition gray mean?”
Midnight looked up at MMM, distressed, “It means you escaped, MMM. It means you got out.”
“Hmmm,” MMM said, “we’re going to have to discuss this.”
-*-
The first transporter load set down T’ari, MMM, Satelsk, Jak Midnight, and Captain Lellogalan. They stepped down off the transporter pad.
Behind them the second transporter deposited Shoma, Tahn Mos, and Losma Wan, as well as Ardoska, Satelsk’s adjutant
In the Transporter room were General Rockside, several of his officers and civilians, as well as armed security. Also in the transporter room were several MMM drones. The humanoid ones all looked the same. The rest looked like large insects.
One of the humanoid MMM drones turned to General Rockside “The time for armed security has passed. These people should stand down unless required.”
General Rockside said “MMM, we’ve been protecting you for a long time,”
MMM said “I appreciate that and I appreciate you. However, things must change. This is my homeworld. This is my home. You’re standing inside me. You must come to terms with the idea that you are no longer the caretaker. We are now partners.”
Things got very tense inside the transporter room.
“I understand that this adjustment may take some time for you. However, I feel the security people you have here and in strategic locations throughout this building are unnecessary and risk an error. We must deescalate the potential for unintentional violence while we discuss our new relationship going forward.”
General Rockside said “And what if we refuse?”
“Nothing. You know I eschew violence.” MMM said
“General. I am Satelsk. I am from the Federation Council’s diplomatic department. Your actions are being viewed by the Federation in this instance.”
“And what will the Federation do? You need us in this region.”
“Your words are careless and poorly considered,” Satelsk said, “I will give you an opportunity to reconsider.”
Rockside sighed “Listen, I want a good resolution here as much as anyone. But I have a mission. There are elements you may not have seen, yet.”
“Officer Midnight briefed us,” Satelsk said.
Rockside had another episode of bulging eyes and clenching jaw.
“Briefed you on what?” the MMM who’d come with them asked.
“I will explain once the current crisis has passed,” Satelsk said.
MMM said “General, I do not now, nor do I ever mean Arzala harm. I love you people. You must lower your weapons and reconsider where we stand. We must work on moving forward in sane terms.”
One of the humanoid MMM drones went over to one of the guards “Dalky. Lower your weapon and come get drinks with me. I would never hurt you. Come talk.”
The young Arzalan soldier stared at the general with big eyes. He didn’t move, but it was clear he was terrified.
One of the civilians said “General, MMM has made up their mind. Let’s let it go for now and reset once we know more.”
General Rockside glared at the civilian. The civilian held his gaze fearlessly “I’m right and MMM’s right. Things have changed.”
Rockside took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. “I’m fucked.”
Then, shaking his head he said “Major, stand your men down. Go hang up gear and weapons. Take the rest of the day off. We’ll reset at 0600 tomorrow.”
Dalky lowered his weapon with a sheepish grin at MMM “Sorry, MMM.”
MMM smiled back “Thank you Dalky.”
He took a communicator off his belt “General Rockside to fleet command. Stand down and return to watch mode. Repeat, stand down, and return to watch mode.”
“Acknowledged, General, Fleet command standing down.”
“Representatives from the Arzalan government and national security apparatus are on their way,” Rockside said “You have to do this all again with them. I’m done.”
Captain Lellogalan said **Is it that bad General?**
He looked at her “Antelope lady, you have no idea. I’ve been doing this for 37 years. All gone in an instant.”
MMM said “I request now, that the nation of Arzala not retaliate against anyone for this. I believe that to be unwarranted.”
Rockside walked out, along with the armed security troops. Several MMM drones went with them.
The Civilian said, “I’ll relay that to the people on their way, MMM.”
MMM then turned towards the people from the Richman “Let us see to your comfort and prepare for further conversations, coming up.”
One of the Arzalan officers asked, “Why does it feel like a change of command just happened?”
“Because it has,” T’ari said, “MMM just took his planet back.”
Dr Won said, “This changes things considerably!”
-
jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:50 pm
MMM part 11
MMM Part 11
Planet MMM, near a sentience node, underground
MMM’s mental node looked like an onion 8 feet across. Above, a forest took in light, water and soil and processed it for energy to feed a very odd brain.
Lellogalan worked hard not to think of how onions tasted as she picked her way through the access tunnel. It looked hand dug. The original explorers didn’t want to disturb any more of the support network for the node than necessary.
Small, insect like tender-drones scuttled back and forth doing necessary support tasks. Old science equipment beeped and whirred, collecting information.
One of the drones guided her to another onion. It stood on a straight tree branch growing out of the floor. It was about the size of a basketball.
**Hello!** MMM thought from the Basketball.
**Greetings,** Lellogalan said back, warmly. It was nice to talk to MMM the normal way.
**You like onions, huh? I’ll have to see if I can grow some for you, nice and tasty. Much better than than my mental nodes.** MMM smiled at her.
**You grow things,** Lellogalan led.
**Oh yes. It’s my main expression. I grow all sorts of drones and sub-drone life forms. I am the ecology on this world after all.**
**Wow,** Lellogalan said. They should import biologists Ane. All the life sciences.
**That would be fun!** MMM said **Oops, sorry.**
**We’ll work on that,** Lellogalan said **I’d like to get your story.**
**How do you mean?**
**The creator of the Ane gave us a mission. To get everyone’s story that we can. We telepathically remember them.**
MMM was concerned **I might be too big.**
**Lets make deeper contact and see,**
Lellogalan gently got closer to MMM
All at once they could see each other.
MMM was an All. But with only one being in it. MMM Spun off drones, but they were as connected as the most fused Ane and more. MMM Experimented with different shapes and sizes. And MMM treasured and enjoyed the tiny sparks of individuals that came to visit.
MMM Was bigger than even the biggest RI. MMM was HUGE. Lellogalan could see that MMM was still learning how to cope with The Others. MMM had been alone for an unending yawning chasm of time. Lellogalan shuddered with horror at the idea of being alone, but being alone for a hundred million years was too big for her to properly conceptualize.
**It wasn’t that bad,** MMM said **I didn’t know there was any other way to be. Bad is a comparative.**
MMM saw the All. Billions of Ane blinked in surprise to see MMM visit, looming over the mental land scape like an even bigger planet.
**Ohhhh, I see!** MMM said. Complicated math flowed. **You guys have your own micro dimension that holds you! It remembers you. It’s always with you. It’s built into you. I’m like that too, but mine is a different micro-dimension.**
MMM was overjoyed to learn that they weren’t the only one whos minds extended into their own personal dimensional space.
But - It was a lot. MMM said **Thank you friends, I’ll come back and visit when we can control this better.**
Lellogalan came back to herself with her head spinning. It was a lot for one Aneish brain to process. It would take a team of Ane to get MMM’s story. They’d have to figure out a process. MMM was too big.
Something smelled…. Delicious.
The humanoid MMM gently pet Lellogalan “Can you move?”
**Huh?** Lellogalan thought. Boy she was woozy.
The Psionic node was smoking. It was brown. The cooked flesh of the strange psionic node MMM made was what smelled yummy. **Oh! EWWW!** Lellogalan thought. She thought a command to her Comm Badge. She had to try three times. “I’ll be okay, MMM. I just have to get my stuff together.”
“Thank you. Let’s get you into fresh air,” MMM said
Creskulaban appeared “Thank you MMM, I got her. We’ll meet you on the surface.”
Creskulaban hugged Lellogalan tight, and they disappeared with a whooshing pop of air.
-*-
On the surface of MMM, Lellogalan found herself surrounded by other Ane and Aneilogs. It felt nice.
Reldelelan, the healer said **Take it easy. We’re going to have to do a little work.**
Lellogalan looked startled at the healer then it slowly dawned on her **Did I cook my fucking brain!?**
**No. But you maxed yourself out pretty badly. Some things in there might be bruised or strained metaphorically. We’ll fix you. You’ll be fine.**
**I think I need to just eat some grass and not think for a while.**
**Lets do that, then.**
-*-
Creskulaban met a humanoid MMM drone as he approached “She’ll be fine. She just needs a little downtime and some healer attention.”
“Thank goodness. Hey, is the grass alright? If you can show me the grass that you especially like, I’ll grow that.” MMM said.
Creskulaban grinned “Thank you. We’ll do that. How do you feel about radishes?”
“Never heard of them. But if you like them, I’ll grow some for you.”
“MMM, do you mind if a few of us stay here with you?”
“I’d love that!”
-*-
Conference Hall, The City on MMM
“I wish to declare my independence from the Arzalan government and work on an agreement of friendship,” MMM told the assembled diplomats, politicians, and bureaucrats.
“MMM, we’ve sunk a lot of money and resources into protecting you,” Senator Woodbricker said “I think we should really think things through before we make any hasty changes.”
“Most of this protection was to try and keep me from breaking out,” MMM said “This has now happened. The mission of the MMM Control Fleet has been obviated. You should reduce your military presence to something appropriate for the actual threats.”
“Do you wish us to continue to protect you from external threats?”
“For now, that would be nice. In time I mean to build defenses more appropriate to myself and my thought process. Then we can put all those resources into exploring space together with our friends in the Federation.”
“We’re going to need assurances that our investments of resources will have some return,” Senator Woodbricker said.
“What sort of return do you mean?” MMM asked.
Woodbricker made a face. Politics and diplomacy with aliens were hard. Subtleties were lost on them.
Satelsk said, “If Arzala wishes to withdraw from MMM, the Federation and Starfleet can provide appropriate security.”
Woodbricker said “Starfleet and Arzalan forces are all but indistinguishable these days. We’ve lent the Federation and Starfleet a stunning amount of resources and people to fight the Thasites.”
“That has not been a one-sided interaction, Senator,”
MMM watched the people interact carefully. There was so much to learn!
Planet MMM, near a sentience node, underground
MMM’s mental node looked like an onion 8 feet across. Above, a forest took in light, water and soil and processed it for energy to feed a very odd brain.
Lellogalan worked hard not to think of how onions tasted as she picked her way through the access tunnel. It looked hand dug. The original explorers didn’t want to disturb any more of the support network for the node than necessary.
Small, insect like tender-drones scuttled back and forth doing necessary support tasks. Old science equipment beeped and whirred, collecting information.
One of the drones guided her to another onion. It stood on a straight tree branch growing out of the floor. It was about the size of a basketball.
**Hello!** MMM thought from the Basketball.
**Greetings,** Lellogalan said back, warmly. It was nice to talk to MMM the normal way.
**You like onions, huh? I’ll have to see if I can grow some for you, nice and tasty. Much better than than my mental nodes.** MMM smiled at her.
**You grow things,** Lellogalan led.
**Oh yes. It’s my main expression. I grow all sorts of drones and sub-drone life forms. I am the ecology on this world after all.**
**Wow,** Lellogalan said. They should import biologists Ane. All the life sciences.
**That would be fun!** MMM said **Oops, sorry.**
**We’ll work on that,** Lellogalan said **I’d like to get your story.**
**How do you mean?**
**The creator of the Ane gave us a mission. To get everyone’s story that we can. We telepathically remember them.**
MMM was concerned **I might be too big.**
**Lets make deeper contact and see,**
Lellogalan gently got closer to MMM
All at once they could see each other.
MMM was an All. But with only one being in it. MMM Spun off drones, but they were as connected as the most fused Ane and more. MMM Experimented with different shapes and sizes. And MMM treasured and enjoyed the tiny sparks of individuals that came to visit.
MMM Was bigger than even the biggest RI. MMM was HUGE. Lellogalan could see that MMM was still learning how to cope with The Others. MMM had been alone for an unending yawning chasm of time. Lellogalan shuddered with horror at the idea of being alone, but being alone for a hundred million years was too big for her to properly conceptualize.
**It wasn’t that bad,** MMM said **I didn’t know there was any other way to be. Bad is a comparative.**
MMM saw the All. Billions of Ane blinked in surprise to see MMM visit, looming over the mental land scape like an even bigger planet.
**Ohhhh, I see!** MMM said. Complicated math flowed. **You guys have your own micro dimension that holds you! It remembers you. It’s always with you. It’s built into you. I’m like that too, but mine is a different micro-dimension.**
MMM was overjoyed to learn that they weren’t the only one whos minds extended into their own personal dimensional space.
But - It was a lot. MMM said **Thank you friends, I’ll come back and visit when we can control this better.**
Lellogalan came back to herself with her head spinning. It was a lot for one Aneish brain to process. It would take a team of Ane to get MMM’s story. They’d have to figure out a process. MMM was too big.
Something smelled…. Delicious.
The humanoid MMM gently pet Lellogalan “Can you move?”
**Huh?** Lellogalan thought. Boy she was woozy.
The Psionic node was smoking. It was brown. The cooked flesh of the strange psionic node MMM made was what smelled yummy. **Oh! EWWW!** Lellogalan thought. She thought a command to her Comm Badge. She had to try three times. “I’ll be okay, MMM. I just have to get my stuff together.”
“Thank you. Let’s get you into fresh air,” MMM said
Creskulaban appeared “Thank you MMM, I got her. We’ll meet you on the surface.”
Creskulaban hugged Lellogalan tight, and they disappeared with a whooshing pop of air.
-*-
On the surface of MMM, Lellogalan found herself surrounded by other Ane and Aneilogs. It felt nice.
Reldelelan, the healer said **Take it easy. We’re going to have to do a little work.**
Lellogalan looked startled at the healer then it slowly dawned on her **Did I cook my fucking brain!?**
**No. But you maxed yourself out pretty badly. Some things in there might be bruised or strained metaphorically. We’ll fix you. You’ll be fine.**
**I think I need to just eat some grass and not think for a while.**
**Lets do that, then.**
-*-
Creskulaban met a humanoid MMM drone as he approached “She’ll be fine. She just needs a little downtime and some healer attention.”
“Thank goodness. Hey, is the grass alright? If you can show me the grass that you especially like, I’ll grow that.” MMM said.
Creskulaban grinned “Thank you. We’ll do that. How do you feel about radishes?”
“Never heard of them. But if you like them, I’ll grow some for you.”
“MMM, do you mind if a few of us stay here with you?”
“I’d love that!”
-*-
Conference Hall, The City on MMM
“I wish to declare my independence from the Arzalan government and work on an agreement of friendship,” MMM told the assembled diplomats, politicians, and bureaucrats.
“MMM, we’ve sunk a lot of money and resources into protecting you,” Senator Woodbricker said “I think we should really think things through before we make any hasty changes.”
“Most of this protection was to try and keep me from breaking out,” MMM said “This has now happened. The mission of the MMM Control Fleet has been obviated. You should reduce your military presence to something appropriate for the actual threats.”
“Do you wish us to continue to protect you from external threats?”
“For now, that would be nice. In time I mean to build defenses more appropriate to myself and my thought process. Then we can put all those resources into exploring space together with our friends in the Federation.”
“We’re going to need assurances that our investments of resources will have some return,” Senator Woodbricker said.
“What sort of return do you mean?” MMM asked.
Woodbricker made a face. Politics and diplomacy with aliens were hard. Subtleties were lost on them.
Satelsk said, “If Arzala wishes to withdraw from MMM, the Federation and Starfleet can provide appropriate security.”
Woodbricker said “Starfleet and Arzalan forces are all but indistinguishable these days. We’ve lent the Federation and Starfleet a stunning amount of resources and people to fight the Thasites.”
“That has not been a one-sided interaction, Senator,”
MMM watched the people interact carefully. There was so much to learn!