Trade World Saga 1: Manual Interpretation (29 page)

Andrew turned to Ling. "Good work. Every bit helps to make our case. I'm going to get Tod now and see how the transmissions were received on that intelligence band frequency that Brad arranged for us to use. All messages are routinely recorded. It will probably be morning before we get any reply so I'm going to get some sleep after I see Tod. See if you can't help Tod work up the case for me to present."

"All right, Captain," Ling answered.

Andrew and Tod set up the reception frequency for the awaited call and Andrew went to bed. Four hours later, Andrew was roused out of a deep sleep by the incessant buzz of the intercom.

"Huh, OK," he answered, still not quite functioning.

"Captain, that call has come through. If you take it on the bridge we can give you the support and information we've prepared," Ling said.

Andrew said he would be right up and asked for them to get Brad and Susan to the control room. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Andrew struggled into the control room and met Brad trying to straighten his disheveled hair. Tod switched on the audio/visual circuit and the display lit to show the face of a dignified white-haired man with a jutting jaw and steel-gray eyes. Andrew noticed Brad stiffen when he saw the face on the screen. The man was in civilian clothes but had distinct military bearing.

"Good morning Captain Williams. I'm Randolph Sykes. Your candid tape with General Alexander was interesting. Colonel Kyger. How are you?" Sykes paused, then continued. "This office has been, shall we say, concerned with your activities for some time. The general's activities may have been precipitous but we know very little of the situation there, so we cannot judge."

Andrew said, "Let me summarize what has happened recently. We've proved that travel to other stars is not only feasible, but now within the range of even a small group of investors. We met these aliens in space and were immediately attacked. Though damaged, our ship was marginally superior but we've now deduced the basis for almost all their weaponry. We're ahead of them by a century in several branches of technology, particularly microelectronics. However, they have five or six centuries more experience at travel and contact between stars. The alien ship that is next to us is a remnant of a once mighty fleet of treaty enforcers and explorers. They seem to have expanded past their ability to control but they are not slouches. It seems that their government has stretched so thin, they can't enforce or even remember all the planets that they are supposed to protect."

Andrew continued, "They want to monopolize our technology and I'm afraid we couldn't handle any concerted action by groups of their ships. I've found that they sent some type of message capsule to their headquarters to report the situation and Earth's location or, at least, the location of this solar system. They did that before our battle. We've patched up our conflicts and I'm trying to trade for information. I've developed a rapport with their commander, a guy bred for the job, and I'm afraid an outsider might simply clam him up." Andrew said and took some more notes from Ling to add to the stack he had already used. Andrew began speaking again.

"You must realize that General Alexander's plans, aspirations, would have seriously jeopardized the success of these talks. Only this ship can cope with that alien ship. Nothing the World Government has could hope to handle them even in their weakened condition. This ship supports the aims of the World Government and we are fiercely patriotic toward Earth but we command this ship and it is
our
ship
. We have a copy of the contract between the World Government and our technical group that grants us this ship." Andrew said and looked at another note.

"The World Government diplomat that was with General Alexander is now on board our ship and being taught the alien speech. Though it isn't feasible for him to handle the negotiations, we might use him to assist us," Andrew lied knowing he and his crew had no use for the ignorant diplomat.

Sykes, who had been listening to Andrew intently, glanced down at the board in front of him and chuckled.

Looking Andrew right in the eye, if that was possible on a video hookup, Sykes said, "Captain, I wouldn't use the idiot either."

Andrew looked shocked and realized that somehow the steel-gray eyes of Sykes had seen through his lie about that incompetent diplomat.

"No, I'm not a telepath Williams. All transmissions pass through a voice stress and facial musculature analyzer to determine truthfulness of transmissions. I've been monitoring this and even that transmission between you and Alexander. It is refreshing to see so much truth in so few words, Captain. It will be easier for me if you occupy the diplomat and keep him with you. I'll see if I can't get General Alexander's teeth pulled," Sykes said and seemed to remember Brad. "Colonel Kyger."

Brad snapped to attention and Andrew had never seen him like this.

"Sir," Brad said.

"At ease." Sykes paused and said more fatherly than anything else, "If you're worried about your status with us here, I put you on an indefinite leave of absence the minute you left on your trip. You'll stay on that status until, if and when, you decide to return."

"Thank you, sir," Brad said humbly.

Sykes signed off and Andrew turned to Brad, "Who was that?" Andrew asked. "I mean, what authority does he have? I've never heard of him."

"You never would have," Brad answered. "He's head of the World Government Intelligence Agency. He is well known, respected, and feared. He'll do right for us."

"Why did you act like that? I've never seen you like this before. Is Sykes special?" Andrew asked.

"Quite special," Brad said, reluctant to talk. "He was my first commander. On my first assignment under him, I botched a tail and got shot going for my gun. He took the bullet meant to finish me off when I fell and then he killed my attacker. That cost him one leg. On two other assignments; he pulled my fat out of the fire, either by personal action or through some administrative support, he gave me. I owe him more than I'll ever be able to pay," Brad finished.

Andrew decided to say nothing and simply nodded.

Tod came up to Andrew and Brad. "Look you guys," Tod said. "Go on back to sleep. I'll wake you in a few hours in time for a big breakfast. You have some heavy talking to do with that alien commander."

They both agreed. After what seemed like a very brief sleep, they were up, fed, dressed and headed for the alien ship to continue the negotiations.

EARTH TREATY FINALIZED

The treaty was almost written. With the alien's vast heritage of racial experience and the help of a complex of Earthly legal computers, the treaty became a reality. It was deceptively simple. In essence, it made Earth responsible for the actions of any of its inhabitants and forbade any aggression against any other signatory. It stated that one Earth year would pass before any ships would arrive to trade with Earth and also stated that the Earth would present trading regulations to any arriving ship. The treaty also laid out guidelines for interstellar markings, frequency bands, beacons, and other interstellar standards.

Brad and Andrew couldn't believe that they were finished. They reflected that it wasn't in effect yet so they activated their printer which turned out dual copies in English and the alien language combined.

"You will both make a recognition symbol that will later identify you," the alien commanders said after pressing some type of plastic seal into the agreements, then Andrew and Brad sighed.

"It is now time for me to attend to repairing this ship," the E. S. officer said. "My assistant has the standard information for new signatory planets. I regret that they are printed in standard language but with your devices, that should prove no obstacle. I must go," the Exploration Service officer said and left.

Another alien came in carrying an armload of volumes and gave them to the Earthmen. Andrew and Brad were ushered to the exit port and were soon back aboard their own ship.

The crew that was awake gathered around them when they came back aboard. Susan saw the volumes and asked, "What happened? What are these?"

"The treaty is signed. The deed is done. Earth is responsible for the actions of all its inhabitants. No matter if we disagree with the treaty, we are bound by it. Earth also has to police its own solar system and is responsible for all who leave it. What if we break the treaty? You ask," Andrew continued. "We are cutoff from all trade and have to face military reprisals from armadas of ships from all signatory planets. So far, only two planets have been destroyed but several were quarantined from all interstellar contact."

"But what if the World Government doesn't accept it?" Susan asked.

"They have one Earth year before trading ships start showing up near Earth. We better be prepared to handle them or they will start landing to trade and will think we have no restrictions. This ship can't protect the whole planet. We'll have to get ready and do it peacefully but we will need a fleet of enforcement ships. I hope these manuals are useful," Andrew said.

"My God. What have you done?" The diplomat Oshira said stepping out of the corridor where he had been eavesdropping. "What have you done?" he repeated.

"My dear sir. Earth will now have to mature a little. We will have to give up many of our petty bickerings and face the real… universe." Andrew said. "Let's get the titles of these manuals translated," ignoring the diplomat. Andrew carried the seven alien volumes to the computer terminal for translation. Andrew keyed the terminal and indicated what he needed and then quickly held each manual up so it could be scanned. The computer chirped to indicate it had translated the titles and it began to display the text.

Listed Titles Include:

STANDARD DOCKING FACILITIES AND NAVIGATION AIDS

STANDARD ARTIFICIAL HABITATS FOR SIGNATORIES

SUGGESTED TRADE REGULATIONS AND THEIR IMPORT

GUIDELINES FOR SETTING UP TRADE AGENCIES

STANDARD SIGNATORY CODE OF CONDUCT –

(SELECTED PLANETS)

MODEL CODE FOR MEDIUMS OF EXCHANGE

ABBREVIATED ATLAS OF SIGNATORIES

AND THEIR HISTORIES

"Well, Mr. Oshira. It looks like we have our work cut out for us. Turning these into working documents in English will be quite a chore in itself," Andrew said.

Fran pushed her way to the front and caught Andrew's attention. "These government meetings are going to take forever to get anything accomplished. I might have a way we could get a program ready in the allotted year. Steve, Tod. How big an area could you cover with a relative time field of thirty?" Fran asked.

"I don't know but I see what you're getting at. If it took you six months to build the field complex, you could complete the work of fifteen
years
of relative time inside the field. You could build a whole fleet. Andrew, I think she has an idea there," Tod said. “But a field that strong wouldn’t let much visible light or air through and we’ll have to figure a way to resupply because we will use up resources thirty times faster than outside.”

"Let's take first things first Tod. We have to get the government on Earth to accept a fait accompli. I've a feeling they will accept the treaty but it will be very hard for many to digest. Whom do we present the treaty to?" Susan said interrupting.

"Captain Williams, " the diplomat Oshira stepped forward so he couldn't be ignored. "I disagree with your undue haste in this matter," he continued because Andrew began to look threatening, "but since the situation is already upon us, maybe now would be a good time to turn over the treaty implementation to experienced people. I am an experienced diplomat and could set up any necessary negotiations."

"He's right," Tod whispered to Desiree, "Diplomats could really
come up with a bunch of screwy regulations."

Desiree chuckled at the thought as Andrew began to talk again. "That
is
an idea Mister Oshira but I think that we should also have representation from our crew. Colonel Kyger, a representative from the World Government, will also represent our crew when I assign him to assist in developing trade and customs regulations. I'm sure you will be invaluable in setting up a system for interstellar trade. We had better screen any technology that leaves for sure." Andrew said taking Brad by surprise.

"But I don't want to be part of any committee. I don't want to do it. What… …why do this to me? I thought we were friends!" Brad said.

"Think about it for a minute," Andrew said. "All of us, this whole crew, are going to help Earth prepare for this trade in our own ways. We have more experience with extra-terrestrials than anyone else on the planet. There are many people with more experience with trade, treaties and negotiation but none with more experience confronting alien traders. Having experience negotiating with Europeans or Asians is not comparable, one to one, when dealing with an alien culture. Earth cultures have huge differences but under any cultural veneer are human beings. Not so with an alien culture as we just experienced. We can project human characteristics onto an alien like we do with Rett. Being a military-minded man with your experience, you are the logical one to develop and command the enforcement arm of ships Earth will need to protect itself and its traders. Especially now that Earth has been discovered and charted. Tod, Joel, Steve, and Desiree are going to design the relative time enclosure to house the workers and scientists, and others who will build Earth's space fleet. Susan, you and Fran are going to do a lot of the preliminary logistics for this fiasco in progress. Nobody is going to get left out of any of the work." Andrew emphasized.