M'tak Ka'fek (The T'aafhal Inheritance) (24 page)

“Who has the credits to frequent the fancy bars and restaurants around the Atrium? The rich and the military. Even the common Marines and sailors have more credits than the workers. They dine on
haute cuisine
while we eat cafeteria slop.” 

The two cafeteria workers visibly bristled at this but Todor pressed on.

“Who can come and go as they please, flying back to Earth whenever they wish? The elites! Notice that the base is built on the far side of the Moon, the side that never sees the Earth. How do we know that things are as bad back home as they tell us? We don't!”

There were murmurs of agreement among his audience and a few nods. Todor looked from face to face and smiled, depending on charisma to carry his arguments, not logic. Jennie provided him with the straight line he was waiting for: “So what do you suggest we do?”

“We need to organize, form an underground movement to resist the greed and oppression of the 1%. Just like back on Earth, we need to take action, to protest, to let the elites know this will not stand!”

“You're saying we need to start an Occupy movement?” asked the other woman, Sylvia. Back on Earth, on September 17, 2011, a group of protesters with tents, banners and placards occupied the public land around New York City's Wall Street financial district. Initiated by the Canadian, anti-consumerist, pro-environment group Adbusters, with assistance from the Manhattan-based public relations firm Workhouse, the call for public protest and civil disobedience succeeded beyond its instigators' wildest dreams.

For a generation of bored and disaffected youth the protest was a magnet. The Wall Street camp-in gained national attention and soon spread to other cities in America and elsewhere. Strangely, Workhouse, whose clients included Mercedes Benz and Saks Fifth Avenue, saw no irony in the fact that the public disturbance they helped to create adversely affected their own customers' interests.

The main issues raised by Occupy Wall Street centered on social and economic inequality. Protesting greed, corruption and the perceived influence of corporations on government, the gathered mob demanded wealth redistribution to make life “fairer.” The OWS slogan, “we are the 99%,” referred to income inequality between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population. To achieve their goals, the protesters enacted decisions made by
ad hock
public assemblies, with an emphasis on direct action. Like flies to garbage, anarchists and troublemakers swarmed to the protest, which soon descended into vandalism and violence. 

“Exactly, Sister. We need to form a movement, based on the ideas and ideals of the OWS protests back on Earth. We need to start Occupy Moon Base!”

“Fucking-A right!” said one of the men, “Remember Zuccotti Park!”

The gathering became animated as the prospective social activists began planing their movement. Soon they would show the evil 1% that the people, the 99%, would not be taken advantage of.

Bridge, M'tak Ka'fek

The process of negotiating a deal with the furry traders took considerably longer than the Earthlings expected. For six hours, Ooshnar-tar-rak-ra engaged in shuttle diplomacy, hustling back and forth between the party of armed strangers and the Trader, hidden within the warren of crates and containers. The patience of some was wearing thin, but the Captain counseled perseverance. 

“Captain, I say we just eat these annoying little shits and tear the place apart until we find the antimatter,” Bear growled over the comm link. He had taken to sitting on his hindquarters, flicking his suit's extendable claws in and out whenever the Kieshnar-rak-kat-tra approached. 

“Be calm my ursine friend, we are making progress,” Jack replied from his station on the bridge. “We have gotten them to reveal that there is a significant antimatter dump in another system three transits away.”

Once it was made clear that the Earthlings wished only to trade services for antimatter the talks turned to mounting a trading expedition to visit the Trader's third cousin who was the Trader on a station supposedly much larger than this one. According to Ooshnar, Keneesh-ka-ka-kar's rich cousin was in a constant state of conflict with other races on his station. It was hinted that ridding his cousin of his enemies would result in a generous payment, redeemable in antimatter, and that the Trader would only take a 25% commission. 

Several hours were spent negotiating this down to 15% with the added proviso that the Trader would contribute a full type one container to the enterprise up front. The wily merchant would only agree to this if the Captain allowed a number of the Trader's personal representatives to accompany the expedition. That number was now the topic of negotiation.

“Captain, Trader Ooshnar has returned and Keneesh-ka-ka-kar has agreed to have only three of his representatives accompany us on the voyage,” JT reported in a weary voice. “What do you want me to tell him, Sir?” 

I think that I have pushed this old bandit as far as I can,
Jack transmitted to the ship's AI.
Will it be possible to construct an isolated environment for the Kieshnar-rak-kat-tra to live in?
 

Yes, Captain. I can begin the construction immediately. If they will bring samples of foodstuffs I will equip their quarters with a synthesizer to provide for their needs, along with environmental and sanitary facilities.

Good. I do not want them wandering around the ship during the voyage. In fact I do not want any physical contact between them and the crew.

A wise precaution, Captain. I can set up a holographic projection system that will allow you and the other officers to “visit” our passengers while eliminating any possible biological or chemical contamination. Do you really expect these creatures to honor the negotiated deal? 

M'tak, I expect these furry little rug merchants to double-cross us at the earliest possible opportunity. But there must be great wealth to be gained at this other station or the head weasel would not have ponied up an antimatter egg of his own.

I heartily concur, Captain. These creatures seem eminently untrustworthy.

Right, so let's seal the deal.
“JT, tell the Trader that he has a deal. We will give him 24 hours to present his representatives, their supplies and the antimatter at the boarding tube for departure.” 

“Aye aye, Captain. Wait one...” 

“...Captain, it seems that the traders would appreciate it if we could provide them with an escort to the boarding tube and transport for the egg and other gear.”

Sigh.
“Fine, Lieutenant. Tell them they are limited to a metric ton of personal effects and that we will come and collect them in 24 hours.” 

“Aye, Sir. Will do.”

Bower of Keneesh-ka-ka-kar

A breathless Ooshnar reported to his leader, having just agreed to the final terms of the deal with the Earthlings. It was not that the traders lacked communicators, but that no trader worth his salt would conduct business over one. “Uncle, we have concluded the deal with the aliens. They will send an escort to pick up our delegation tomorrow around noon station time.” 

“Good, nephew. I am putting you in charge of this expedition, since it was you who brought us the opportunity. I believe a 10% share would be fair remuneration.”

“Thank you, uncle, you are most generous.”

“Naturally, since it is my antimatter at risk, I will be sending one of my subordinate traders as well. You can pick the third member of the party.” 

“Of course, Trader. With your permission I will go and make the preparations.” With that and a parting bow, Ooshnar-tar-rak-ra left his great uncle's bower and headed back to his own to prepare for the journey.

After his grandnephew departed, the Trader called out. “Poonta-ta-ka! Attend me you worthless git.” 

Shuffling into his master's presence, Poonta-ta-ka bowed obsequiously. “Yes, Trader?”

“I am sending you on the mission to the Ring Station. It will be your job to watch after my interests. I expect my grandnephew to try to double cross me if the opportunity arises so it will be your job to double-cross him first.”

“How should I do that, Trader? Is not the plan to have the aliens kill your cousin's enemies for a hefty fee?”

“I expect my cousin to double-cross the aliens and try to capture their ship, perhaps after they have killed off his enemies and had their own ranks thinned out in the process. You will have to be nimble and alert to thread the needle between Ooshnar-tar-rak-ra and the station Trader, both are shrewd merchants and practiced deal makers.”

“And if I fail?” Poonta-ta-ka asked in a quavering voice. 

“Then I will be out a container of antimatter and you will no longer be a burden to me. Now go!” 

Poonta-ta-ka quickly scurried off to make his own preparations. From behind the tapestries to one side of the Trader's chair Zooshnarak-kak-ka appeared. 

“Are you sure Poonta-ta-ka is up to this task, Trader?”

“Probably not, but my senior wife promised his mother I would give him a chance to prove his worth.”

“The stakes are certainly high enough.” 

“Truly. The way I see it, Ooshnar-tar-rak-ra will try to double-cross the station Trader who will try to double-cross him. If Poonta-ta-ka can play them against each other he might come out on top. If Ooshnar-tar-rak-ra wins out he will naturally return here to his family. Of course the improbable could happen and the deal go down as planned. Regardless, I will profit.” 

“And if your cousin the station Trader triumphs?”

“Then we will have at least rid ourselves of these dangerous and unpredictable aliens, before they attract a visit by the minions of the Dark Lords.”

“A wise ordering of possible outcomes, Trader,” Zooshnarak-kak-ka said with honest admiration. Indeed, if there was one thing a scavenger of wealth admired more than a double-cross it was a double-double-cross, or was this a triple-double-cross? 

Bridge, M'tak Ka'fek

Collecting the trader delegation, their baggage and, most importantly, the antimatter went without incident the following afternoon. The Captain sent Hitch and Jacobs with a pair of hover sleds to carry the party back to the ship. He also sent Aput, Brown and Samuels to guard the procession. This gave Aput a chance to get off the ship and broaden his experience. It also kept the grumbling Lt. Bear on board at the main weapons console.

Also on the mission was Mizuki Ogawa, carrying instruments to check out the antimatter egg before they brought the potentially explosive container on board. This caused Bobby a bit of anxiety as she climbed into the lead sled next to Matt Jacobs. She wore the same light armor as the SEALs, with Yuki Saito's katana sticking up behind her suit's bubble helmet. Yuki had given her the sword as a gift when she left to accompany the Captain to the M'tak Ka'fek in the Sirius graveyard. That had only been a few months ago but now seemed like ages in the past.

Sensing his helmsman's disquieted mood, Jack offered the junior officer words of comfort. “Relax Bobby, she is surrounded by a Marine fire team and two armored sailors, she'll be fine.”

“Yes, Sir. I know, but I still can't help worrying.”

Thinking back to all the times he had felt the same way about letting Ludmilla go off on a mission without him, Jack sympathized with the young officer. He remembered Ludmilla's insistence on being her own person, taking risks that caused him to worry every second she was not by his side. “You can't protect the ones you love from danger by sealing them off from the world. They must be free to be who they are, and face life's challenges on their own terms.”

“Besides,” added Bear from his console, “she's got that sword Yuki gave her. Anything that tries to mess with her will end up looking like sushi.”

This caused Bobby to smile. “Yes, Lieutenant, that they would.”

Jack looked at Bear and Bear winked.
I do believe that Bear is starting to figure us humans out—at least the males. The last relationship advice he gave me was to bite Ludmilla on the back of the neck.
 

“On top of the escort, I've sent the SEALs forward to scout the route for possible trouble. The thing I'm most worried about is that egg. Our AM supply is on empty and we need that container full to pull off this mission.”

The ship's voice commented on the coming procedure. “I will be able to fully assess the condition of the antimatter container when Dr. Ogawa places the quantum sensors on it. I will also be able to detect if it has been tampered with, making it unsafe to bring aboard.”

“Good, M'tak. What is the status of the Kieshnar-rak-kat-tra quarters?” 

“They are complete, Captain. As specified they are completely self-contained and isolated from the rest of the ship. The traders will only be exposed within the portside shuttle bay as they board, and I will vent that to space once they are sealed in their habitat.”

“You really think the fuzzy little twerps are that dangerous, Captain?”

“You never know, Mr. Bear. They could transmit disease or a toxic substance—unintentionally or otherwise—and kill or incapacitate the crew.”
And I would not put it past them to try and hijack the ship, even if there are only three of them.
“No, Lieutenant. I will not feel at ease until all personnel are back on board, our guests are safely locked away in their quarters, and the ship is well away.” 

* * * * *

The antimatter container proved to be intact and 96 percent full—not short by enough to quibble about. The traders—Ooshnar-tar-rak-ra, Poonta-ta-ka and a third referred to only as Feeshkar—were quickly hustled into their quarters along with their pile of rugs, pillows, and trunks. The ship's AI sealed the traders in and proceeded to make them as comfortable as possible, adjusting temperature, gravity and lighting to suit the aliens.

JT and Mizuki were back on the bridge, the Japanese physicist with a grin on her face that threatened to become a permanent fixture.

“Great job out there,” Bobby whispered to her. She glanced sideways at him and her grin became even wider.