"This is where it all began. I was brought here on the day that my sister Third-Vision was crowned as Priest-Queen, but the Twelve-Times-Twelve had used it before that. My sister had ordered it closed, but the Royal Mages led me here despite that," Jade-Eyes signs, as she sits facing the crystal pillar with Tasha. The young queen has a dour look on her face. "An image appeared inside the pillar, of a being I was told was an angel. It signed of the coming of the Star, who would... do many things. I fell for it, told it whatever it asked of me, for many years. And then Third-Vision fell in the attack on the City, and I was made Priest-Queen. I was only a puppet though. The one calling himself the Star was coming to invade our worlds, and use their magic and technologies to become unstoppable. But I was blinded by the wonder of it all."
"I know you had previously been an ... aid to the Temple of Rephidim as well, so the though of being used again must have been especially painful for you," Tasha says as she gazes up at the strange crystalline device. "And, that sense of not having freedom earlier in your life, combined with the sudden apparent freedom of power, the promise offered by an entity your barely understood and yet seemed to provide a means to escape and transcend what you were and lead you to a greater place ... I can sympathize. When I first had my eyes opened to the greater universe, I, too, was blinded by it. Please go on, your majesty?"
"My friends - my sister's friends, even - tried to snap me out of my delusions in their own ways. I grew angry with some, others were more subtle about it," Jade-Eyes signs. "And then the Archon, the leader of the People on all worlds, came here, because of the interest this false Star had in Sinai. We are not isolated here, Tasha. The Titanians and the Khatta can come and go, and through them the Silent-Ones as well. Those on Abaddon were approached by emissaries of the false Star. They were burned at the stake, I believe. That is not important though. The Archon was dying, the false Star, calling himself Light-of-Star and acting as a prophet in the Silent-Ones worlds was positioning himself to take over. He had many powerful allies under his sway."
"The Archon held a contest - to be judged by a believer from Sinai - to choose his successor. I was called to it, being the de-facto leader of a large Silent-Ones colony. There were twenty-four of us, including Light-of-Star," the Queen signs. "I learned much there."
As she listens, Tasha's eyes widen. By the time the Priest-Queen has related this part of the story, Tasha is running a hand through her hair, leaving is a touseled mess, eyes wide. "I had no idea were were still in contact with the outside, and to such a scale ... The Archon of the People was here? The more I know, the less it feels like I've learned ... " She shakes her head in stunned disbelief; the Vartan had thought them alone for the most part, cut off from their origins, if, indeed, their original nations even still existed. But this changes everything.
"And you say the Khattans have come? This is a serious problem for me ... I'm going to need to address this ... " Tasha reaches up and tabs at her forehead. "Forgive me, this is just very alarming, I don't mean to seem like I'm not focusing on your story; you'll understand soon, I think." Turning to face the Priest-Queen so that she doesn't need to watch her reflection, Tasha asks the woman, "So ... Gods, THE Archon? ... He brough you all together? That must have been very educational, not to mention nerve wracking. What was this false Star like? Charismatic I assume? Did they seem surprised that you and he were part of the group?"
"We wore masks to hide our identities, so as not to sway the judge - whom I had previously kicked out of the City of Hands for questioning my faith," Jade-Eyes signs. "Light-of-Star.. cheated at his charisma. He used forbidden technologies and Sifran artifacts to influence others - and even replace them. He stole the brains from my sister and the Nagai Emperor upon their death, and grew new bodies to house them and brainwash them into serving him. He was going to promote an altered religion, including twelve Ascended beings. And he was not one of the People at all, but an imposter. A transformed Khatta from the House of Khomen. Did you also know of the ancient base on the moon of Sheol?"
Tasha's expression goes through a sequence acrobatics at this new, even more alarming information. And I thought I was carrying around the scary secrets, she thinks startled realization, forcing her to wonder just how many world endangering plots are going on between these systems.
"He stole their brains? I ... I'm sorry to hear that ... that's a ... That's beyond awful, and I'm sorry you and your sister had to endure that. To die, and have one's remains profaned in such a way is ... It's inexcusable," Tasha says, looking quite serious. "And you say was a Khatta? One of the real Khattas from the space fairing trade fleets? That's ... That's very worrying. I did know about Sheol, however; In fact I've been there. We manage to recover that base and that's where we acquired a majority of our current technology. The AI of that base have formed an alliance and are in the process of raising their newly independent people to nationhood."
"Or ... is this another base other than the grounded carrier?" Tasha adds suddenly, looking worried.
"The base on the other side, facing away from Abaddon," Jade-Eyes signs. "The Titanians found it, restored some of the function, and sold off chunks to the powers on Abaddon as well. They left the hyperspace relay though, so I can use this Tabernacle to communicate to the station orbiting above us, which can link to the moon base, which can communicate with Abaddon. From your reaction, I assume this base was unknown to you. If so, then.. do not feel bad about the nations of Abaddon keeping such secrets. The base was meant to be readied in case of invasion by Light-of-Star. He was executed, once his plot was revealed. The Khatta do not come here regularly, but were used to ferry Light-of-Star's equipment and personnel, including Terrans and Imperials, to his base on the orbiting station and at the old Gateway at the edge of the solar system. Work was being done to restore it, but I imagine that has stopped."
"I'm feeling a bit used now, speaking of manipulation," Tasha admits, sounding somewheer between hurt and resentful. "Now I wonder how many of them were just smiling and nodding at me as I went about my business, all while knowing exactly what we were doing, and where we fit in to their greater scheme. Not that I'm surprised by the schemeing; I'm mostly disappointed in myself for being unaware of so much of it." She shakes her head again, turning to the pillar and watching the reflections that play in it. "So the base has languished since, with whatever invasion tools and supplies that weren't taken by Titanian raiders. The gateway to Zion is probably a little better off than it was, but not complete. I don't mean to sound ungrateful or accusing, but I'm curious; why tell this to me? Is it just out of sympathy? Do you think I have a more complex agenda?"
"So that you will understand my horror at seeing the Seraph Titan," Jade-Eyes signs. "I have seen what even basic Sifran artifacts can do: they were the basis for an attempted takeover of an interstellar empire, and the motivation to plan the invasion and conquest of our worlds. That should never come to pass. The Gateway must never be reopened to allow mass access to this system. The Seraph is a nightmare."
"I had believed we were mostly alone in this universe," Tasha admits, looking back and gesturing to the pillar. "That only the Titanians could go beyond Sifran Space, that our home nations, if they still existed at all, had forgotten about us. I'd dreamed of rebuilding these worlds through actions of the JEF to allow us to soem day return to the stars, perhaps even see our home worlds once again, all while exploring what these worlds have to offer and using that knowledge to improve the lives of us all. But if what you say is true, then what I'm doing has just been laying the foundation for another kind of disaster. If I succeed, then I'll have accomplish the very thing you fear." The young woman lays her ears back, returning her gaze to the pillar infront of her.
"I look to things like the Seraph and chose to believe they can be used for something other than conquest and destruction. I know this is naive; when I approached the Seraph I knew that I would have to find an answer to this conundrum or risk it letting it corrupt me. I chose the path of beliving in the future, and of preservation over destruction. I chose to believe in the Seraph itself, and the mind within it, and what it could be rather than what it was made to be. And yet, if what you say is true, I may be a threat to these worlds? It is hard to accept."
"You can do what you set out to do, but the outside universe has forgotten us, save for a few elements. We can, if needed, contact the Silent-Ones, but the new Archon has much work to do to repair the damage caused by Light-of-Star and is unlikely to have time for us," Jade-Eyes signs. "There is no way for those empires to help us, without opening us to dangerous exploitation. The power of the Sifras is corrupting. Even the Priest-King who worked to become a god saw that in the Titan. I have been manipulated by my own ancient advisors, who I hold responsible for the death of Third-Vision, but I have forgiven them. My own people do not know of all I've told you, only that I was mistaken in my belief that the Star was coming."
"I would not have shared it with you, for that matter, if it were not necessary in order to get rid of the Seraph," the queen adds.
"Thank you for your trust, in relaying these things to me." Tasha stares at the pillar for several seconds more, her face a mask of thought until at last she turns to watch the woman beside her. "Even if it is just to be rid of the Seraph. Unfortunately I am now uncertain as to where to bring it. I will need to converse with my vessel in order to ascertain some things before I secure the Titan there. You see, my vessel is a Khattan monitoring station -- a frigate class vessel with a working interplanetary and interstellar drive unit. It was also the first real test of power I had in my career. The Seraph is not the first time I have been offered the power to conqueror a world -- or to destroy it."
"Know that the Khatta are not unified," Jade-Eyes signs. "They exist as powerful trading families, each with their own agendas and bound only by money. Do you know which of these families your vessel belongs to?"
"I don't, save that they had an interest in the Progenitors. The vessel is crewless and run by a single AI, who has claimed sentience and has allowed me to act as its protector and guide as it learns what it means to be a person and live with others. It has claimed, however, that at any time it may depart in order to return to Khattan space and inform 'them' that the 'Expedition has succeeded or failed'. Neither of us understand what this condition means, or to whom it should report," Tasha answers, brushing some hair from her face and using the pillar to help. "And on an even more personal level, I have Khattan electronics in my brain that appear to have an agenda, which I have followed thusfar feeling I do so of my own free will."
"I was made to understand that the availability of hyperspace routes to our worlds is fairly recent," Jade-Eyes signs, looking worried. "Does your vessel have super-light communications?"
"It's drive is near FTL, so it's wouldn't be using hyperspace, but real space over thousands of years," Tasha explains before she rises, suddenly feeling the need to walk around. "As for super-light communications, I don't know. It never came up. Like I said, we weren't aware that outside contract would achieve anything and we've been focusing on the nations infront of us. I'm also, well, anxious when it comes to that ship. She's begun to see me as a mother-figure, but now I worry she's just manipulating me. But her claims have suggested she's also in communication with a Sifran planetary controler, and that might be a Khattan posing as a Sifran AI."
"I would not trust any mind - real or artificial - that has been in contact with Sifran artifacts for any length of time," Jade-Eyes advises. "I cannot say that they will be corrupted, but it would certainly make me question them. That is why I cannot trust the Seraph Titan; it has been integrated with crystals for thousands of years. Who knows what affect they have?"
"That is a risk I'd considered and accepted as part of the mission I'm on and a necessary component in controling that machine," Tasha admits, pausing in her pacing to fold her arms. "After all, the very first AI I ever encountered tried to kill me thinking I was a long dead Terran Lieutenant trying to take away it's crystals. As a Vartan I can understand not wanting to let someone take your shiny, but this was a whole other degree of crazy. Thankfully the Seraph's mind appears to be near a blank slate, a default personality similiar to my Melchior's when I first met him."
"When you first met him?" Jade-Eyes signs, looking curious. "While I have been to Zion, it is mostly a garden with temples and shrines and monasteries while the technological cities circle the world above the atmosphere. I have no experience with artificial minds."
"Concern over corruption presents me with a very troubling problem; do I automatically question every entity touching these artifacts? How can I prove their sanity, even if I do question it? Isn't this automatically labeling an emergent sentient for simply being what it is? The ethical questions are their own nightmare," Tasha adds, head shaking. "I try to believe in the best in people; second guessing everyone runs counter to my ethics and politics. As for AI, well, imagine a being with vastly expanded capabilities, who's thoughts are so quick that what would seem like seconds to us would feel like years to them. A mind unfettered by emotion, by organic failings, limitation of body, a mind able to expand itself, split itself, operate countless affairs simultaneously. Like a tree, branching out across its many functions, memories, senses, motilities ... aware of itself to the minutest level as its programming allows it to be, up the the highest macroscopic view its senses and speed of thought allo
"Even so, they do not easily understand us, just as we do not easily understand them. Close decisions confound them, and emotions confuse them, requiring great processing to even begin for them to understand. This is why pure AI is rarely used to deal with matters that involve emotion and close, rapid decision making. Many AI cannot make these decisions quickly or correctly. That is part of why my Melchior utilizes a copy of my mind to process these matters when we are fully intergrated. I supply him with my 'organic intelligence,' and he supplies his artificial intelligence. Together we are greather than the sum of our parts."
w. It is ... the Tree of Knowledge, as we are of the Tree of Life." As she talks, Tasha begins to smile, hands folding across her belly as she reminises onw aht it had been like to be an AI. "It is perfect order." (previous line)
"It sounds as if connecting your mind to such a being is a religious experience," Jade-Eyes signs. "You must be wary of how you feel, lest it color your judgment. I felt similar when I thought I was talking to an angel. It made me more easily manipulated though."
"I am wary, but there's only so suspicious I can be of a being that connects to my deepest mind. If the system had decided to manipulate or reprogram me, I would never know it," Tash admits, her ears flicking. "It's a question I've had to deal with several times, as I also possess the partial memories of the ancient Lieutenant, as I explained when we first arrived in the city. Constantly questioning myself, my direction, and even if I'm me is stressful and distracting; past a point, I jsut chose to believe that whatever happens, that I remain myself, and that I am acting according to my beliefs even if those coincide with the manipulations of others."
Walking over, Tasha sits down beside the, then admits, "I won't lie, though. I always feel a little sad when I leave my machine. If I didn't believe so much in people and in this world, I might have vanished in to that electronic world by now. Did you know, all the Magi appear as idealized members of their design? Usually as your prefered partner."
"Idealized, or god-like?" Jade-Eyes asks, looking genuinely curious. "How do you think the Seraph mind, Balthasar, would react if you told it you were going to remove all of the Sifran additions?"
"Well, both. I suppose I think of my Melchior as idealized while I think of Balthasar as god-like, emphasis on like, because my Melchior has evolved to work with me; he may even be close to achieving a level of sentience that other AI in these worlds have. He's been acting very ... emotional ever since we flew in to that Forbidden Zone, so I've been watching his progress with interest. As for Balathsar as his weaponry ..," Tasha tilts her head as she rests it on her knee, "I would say he is concerned with being "defanged" as he put it. However, he seems more interested in serving his people, and, as I explained to him, his weaponry made him a danger to his own people, but his destruction would also be detrimental to that end. So, I convinced him to let us take a look at it, and maybe remove it in place of lesser items, so he could still be useful without being devestating. If possible, once he's been trimmed down to a much safer level, I'd like to find him a honorable and altruistic Silen
Silent-One pilot so that he can learn to grow and help in that way."
"Then wherever you remove him to must have the ability to restore him to his original body?" Jade-Eyes asks.
"If not original, than as close to the original as possible. The fact that he can operate in high SPF areas is something I'd like to retain, as is his ability to draw off energy from the same. If, however, these proves too dangerousto keep, we'll need to consider mounting either batteries or a power plant. Also, we've recoevered a large number of 'crystal' structures that can generate various waves similiar to what he uses without being Sifran, and these may help to replace the Sifran artifacts with these new, safer installations," Tasha explains. "We're still working it all out, but I predict we may be able to create our own gravitation modification effects within the next few years."
"The empires beyond Primus claim to have replicated many effects of the Sifran crystals, if not all of them," Jade-Eyes notes. "Gravity generators are widely used, especially in the orbital cities - although the largest of them generate the effect by simply spinning."
"Really? Well, the Khattans also have their stators, and that's a significant source of gravity modification, as well; we use a number of them across our ships and Titans. Unlike the stators, however, these crystals appear to be able to generate a number of electromagnetic effects as well as gravitation -- possibly even more besides. As Balathsar utilizes these sorts of systems as weapons, it may be possible to use these crystals to replace a majority of the Sifran crystal technology with lowered powered, but still fully diverse, broadcast units. It'll be something our AI and engineers will need to think about," Tasha explains, smiling. "If we can find a way to gather energy from the environment as he does, that would be even better. My own machine is limited by battery power and lacks ranged weaponry, which would have been very useful in defending the Elamoorian dam."
"You have part of your Titan implanted within you, is that correct?" Jade-Eyes asks. "It prevents others from using it?"
"That's right." Tasha leans forward, pushing her hair away from the back of her head and leaning forward so that Jade-Eyescan see the studs, and Tasha can still see her hands. "My brain is part of the key along with Melchior's knowledge of me."
"What is there to keep another from using the Seraph? You said you could find another pilot for it," the queen asks.
"There may be another means to lock it like my own, but for now, I have ordered the Seraph's AI to not accept any other pilot than myself. As the first to utilize it, I appear to have clean access to its functions and command over its AI, which I have used to prevent its abuse in the event someone else attempts to board it. Right now, it won't even open the cockpit for anyone who isn't me," Tasha explains, lifting her head and tapping her noggin. "If I can't another find a trustworthy pilot I can lock control to, I will simply have continue being its sole pilot. Even if I do find a pilot, I will make sure that both him or her, and myself, are valid pilots so that in the event of a problem or betrayal, I will be able to recover the machine personally."
"I am fully repared to safeguard and watch over the machine for the rest of my life," Tasha adds, meeting the Queen's eyes. "I take this responsbility very seriously. If I had to, I would live in the cockpit to keep the machine from being abused. Your burden will be mine, and I bear it willingly."
"Do you actually know what it was originally for? You seem to be collecting these Magi, and the markers, but I do not know for what purpose," Jade-Eyes asks.
"I know everything we have talked about is sensitive information, but this is something I've kept not only from our patrons, but even from many of our own people, including, to an extent, Gabriel. This isn't because I am concerned with them, at least not our members, but because there is a distinctly religious undertone in this research, and more so, an almost prophetic line of events surrounding my pursuit of them. In short, it's a little too religious to share widely, especially when I don't know the full truth -- it's a mystery that calls to me, and one I'm concerned will be abused. It may be more dangerous than the Magi; it is why the Khattans and, quite likely, the Kamp came to these worlds. It may even by why we all exist today. But of course, I have far more questions than answers. You've been very honest with me, though, and I would like to think we're kindred spirits and someone who has the best interets of these worlds and their people in mind. So I
I guess what I'm saying is, I trust you enough to tell you, if you still want to know?" The young woman asks, watching the Queen's eyes.
"How much more difficult will the knowledge make my life?" Jade-Eyes asks, her ears waggling a bit.
Tasha almost barks a laugh, catching herself and covering her muzzle. Having stiffled it in time, she lowers her hand from her face and makes a 'shh' gesture, finger on her muzzle, then wiggles her ears back. Using both hands, she signs, "/More difficult, especially if you think I am trying to be the next false-Star. A little secret: I am /also/ not really a Silent-One./" She winks, then continues. "/We know that five Markers exist. Three were brought along with corresponding Titans; these are the Magi made by the Khattans who appear to interface with these artifacts some how. The other two are the Titanian Marker, location unknown, and the Human Marker which is probably in the hands of the Kampfengruppe. According to the mission-poem given to me, certain events follow the pilots; they are ways by which the pilots are known, aspects of their lives. Our very conversation may fulfill part of the poem attached to /Balathsar,/ for example. The final, fourth, poem explains that three of these Markers form a
key. From other research, this key unlocks something called the 'Seventh Heaven.' What this 'Heaven' contains is not known, but it is suggested to connect to the origins of us all, perhaps leading to 'Adam,' a Progenitor, or at least what remains of him./"
"There are poems? Not.. legends or myths or prophesies?" Jade-Eyes signs, as if uncertain Tasha signed exactly what she meant.
"/They are code-poems, something called 'alchemy code,' describing the production of an artifact called the 'philosopher's stone'. Each of the three Magi recieves one part of the whole poem, with the last describing the overall mission. Each machine and its pilot has a code name based on the lines of these poems. My ship knew the entirety of these poems, while I was able to locate only a single part related to my Titan prior to finding her. The poem itself is written to my brain, and that is how we first dicovere them. But here is the problem,/" Tasha glances towards the exit a moment, then turns back, "/I am came six thousand years after the machines had been abandoned. The other pilots appear to be dead. I am uncertain if this means I am all of the pilots, or if there is a mistake. For that matter, I don't how accurately I have followed the code, or what exactly they mean. It is all very mysterious, which is part of why I keep it to myself."
"Prophesies are supposed to be vague and mysterious," Jade-Eyes notes, "so that events can be fitted into them, rather than predicted by them. Do not discount coincidence, unless you feel you are being guided by the Star."
"Let me give you an example; this is Balthasar's poem, which you heard me whisper to him, and which he quoted to me when we spoke: To bring about this prosperous workl Take good heed unto this lore; I say unto learned and unto clerk; And Homogenie is my name; And Magnesia is my dame; You shall verily understand; Now I shall here begin; For to teach thee a ready way; Or else little shall thour win. Balthasar is Homogenie. I am The Bird of Hermies, though I may now also be Homogenie," Tasha explains. "As for the Star, I don't know. I have spoken with beings who claimed to be gods, and I have played that role as well. In my dreams, a being that appears as an older self guides me to find Adam. All I know is, I seek the answers to understand, because I wish to, and because I wish to prevent their misuse."
"That poem must be code, because it otherwise makes no sense," Jade-Eyes notes. "Who is Magnesia, who is considered Homogenie's wife by the sign of it?"
"The sign is different from the translation?" Tasha raises a brow, intrigued. "Perhaps it was never meant to be spoken, but signed. As for Magnesia, I interpreted this as magnesium oxide, a white powder that burns in a white flash. That is, something white that gives off a great light ... " The half-Vartan suddenly begins to study the other woman's face, leaning forward. "I thought this was a warning to follow the light of truth, and the true Star, but it may refer to you."
"Priest-Queen," Tasha adds, grinning.
"I.. I do not burn!" Jade-Eyes signs quickly, looking panicked. "Nor am I entirely white, unless you are hinting that my private areas burn with light?"
Tasha blinks at the last part, holding her hands up. "N-no, I wouldn't ... Not ... That's... Nonono!" While not prone to blushing, the fact that the young woman suddenly looks very interested in the central pillar does little to hide her embarassment. "I'm just saying, you burn with the light of the Star. You have consistently expressed you submission and apology to your deity, and you stand as a beacon to your people. The Priest-King saw himself as a god, so by that line of thinking, you would be too. The Seraph is also thought of as a god, but in metal, and male. If anyone would be his 'dame,' it would be the shining Priest-Queen."
"I am no god to my people, and have gone to great lengths to ensure that thinking goes no further," Jade-Eyes protests. "But what you seem to be saying is that the poem indicates the Magi is to be the servant of the Silent-Ones ruler, who is both the spiritual, military and economic leader by tradition."
"That's one idea. Like I said, there's no way to know for sure. My own poem-code was more clear than this one, so we may both be wrong," Tasha admist, still fizated on the crystal pillar. "I don't even know if the machines were ever meant to be piloted by the same person; they're six thousand years past their schedualed sortie date."
"There is one way to find out though," the younger woman admits, risking a glance out of the corner of her eye. "We could take the Marker to Balthasar and attempt to use it."
"How?" Jade-Eyes asks. "It has been sitting before him for thousands of years. Have you taken one to your Melchior already?"
"I do not have the Origin Marker of Vartans, we are still attempting to locate it," the hybrid replies. "Balthasar has his Marker, however, the program to interface with it is not readily obvious. I had to dig around to find it; the designers intentionally hid the activation sequence from unauthorized pilots. However, I now know where to look. Since we have the lock and the key, we may be able to put them together and get Balthasar to shed some light on what the Magi do with the Markers, and perhaps explain the rest of their meaning, as well. It would be quite interesting. We'd have to brign Hakeber of course, but to be safe, we should keep guards to the entrance in case something unexpected happens."
"Something unexpected could destroy the mountain," Jade-Eyes signs worriedly. "The Titan's instructions could have been altered when it was rebuilt, or could interact in strange ways with its new systems. Can't you just ask it what will happen?"
"That may work if Balthasar is aware of the program and its functions, but at least with Melchior, whom I found untouched and new, I wasn't able to get any information by asking. In fact, Melchior tells me he doesn't even know the program exists, let alone its function, or even what a Marker is. The designers took a great deal of effort to hide the system not only from unauthorized pilots, but also from the machines themselves." Tasha explains.
"That.. seems odd," Jade-Eyes admits. "How did you access it then?"
"I'm just terribly clever," Tasha insists, smiling and wagging her tail. She winks again, then spreads her hands and explains, "When I found Melchior, he was alone in the carrier's hanger bay still wrapped in packing material, his instructions and the impliments needed to instal the pilot nueral plugs just laying on a shelf nearby. After we did some digging, we learned he was designated as a 'scout,' except all the Vartans of the Harbinger Clan asigned to that ship had been transfered. Further, there was no mention of a pilot, where it came from, who it belonged to, or why an incredibly expensive Titan made from prohibited technology was being used as a scout, or even here at all."
"So, I became suspicious. Everything else in that ship felt like it belonged there -- it all fit -- except Melchior. I dug around and found mention of 'Origin Markers', and other hints that maybe this machine was part of something bigger, until we realized it had been created by a Progenitor Cult element hidden within the Fleet," Tasha continues, head tilting. "At that point I decided to poke around in his many systems and eventually I found it. The system asked me for the Origin Marker, told me 'all three' were needed, and that was it."
"But you only have one now," Jade-Eyes points out. "Would not Balthasar say the same - that you need all three?"
"I don't know. The Markers themselves may contain information. One theory is that the Magi are also readers, that the Markers are databases that require the proper translator. They may contain the origin of the Silent-One people, notes about their creation, their creators, or, anything really. When I activated the program, only one Marker outline was shown, so it may be the combination function and reader function are seperate systems. I won't really know until I try it," Tasha admits.
"And I'll admit, having a possible answer right there infront of me is very aluring," she adds.
"And frightening," Jade-Eyes notes. "Can you make certain the Titan will not act on any secret instructions without explaining them to you first?"
"I can order him to do so, and order that again after the system initiates. It wouldn't make a lot of sense for them to design a system the sole purpose of which is to go out of control the second it's activated. The Khattan's may be devious and canny, but their technology is the most reliable of the space fairing nations. Their Titans still work perfectly after thousands of years, and even their surgical machines performed flawlessly after their ship hit a mountain. If anyone knew what they were doing, it would be the Khattans," Tasha asures Jade-Eyes. "More than likely, if there's a problem, it will just give me an error."
"Before any of that, do you wish to contact your vessel on Abaddon?" Jade-Eyes signs.
And if there is a problem, I will self-destruct the machine if I have to, Tasha reminds herself, knowing full well Titans do not have ejection seats. "Let me inform my ship of my pending arrival; I think Gabriel may have some reports as well, but he's busy planning the space-time fold."
"I thought you needed the other ship-mind for that," Jade-Eyes signs. "I will need to know the specifics for radio contact."
"I think Gabriel was trying to figure out if other systems here would work, but lets save him the trouble and do it now. Here are the codes." Tasha pulls out her notebook, then recites the JEF communication code and ID code for communications from Sinai, prearranged in case of just such a situation so that Harmonia would accept and respond to communications from sources other than the Fenris and JEF datapads. "Got it?"
"I'll probably need it again in a few moments," Jade-Eyes signs, and then goes about activating the Tabernacle systems by laying her palm against the crystal pillar. It fills with light, and then the dark silhouette of a strange creature that resembles a multi-armed Naga. The two begin signing as the cheetah instructs the thing to link to the Sheol relay and then transmit the radio codes Tasha provided.
"There will be some delay," she alerts Tasha. "Both for transmission and translation."
Tasha sits back and watches, nodding when the Priest-Queen signs to her. "It's to be expected," she replies, still smiling.
It is some minutes later when the image signs, "Connection established."
"You can sign to it now," Jade-Eyes offers.
Standing up, Tasha signs to the peculiar Naga-like entity, "T A S H A to H A R M O N I A, I am requesting space-time coordinates for a plot of land on Abaddon, flat, uninhabited, and free of civilian and military personnel and traffic."
Thinking she might wish to be more detailed lest she end up in the middle of nowhere, Tasha adds, "Also, near your location but able to conceal a Titan from line of site of air, ground, and foot traffic."
"Difficult," comes the replay a minute later. "Purpose requested."
"//Space-time fold by gravitational tunneling,/" Tasha signs back.
There's another delay, and then, "Best location: hangar. Reason: I can catch the end of the tunnel and dampen any gravitational bleeding."
"Won't that endanger you?" Tasha signs back, expression suddenly concerned.
"Alternative is endangering surface near populated areas," Harmonia replies a minute or two later.
"Understood. Thank you for volunteering and your compassion, Harmonia. That will work," Tasha replies, smiling and looking rather proud for some reason.
"How will tunnel be generated?" is the next question.
"Sifran artifact manipulation of gravitation, exact method unknown," is the hybrid's reply.
"Source will be the Balthasar,//" Tasha adds.
"Automated transit required," Harmonia claims. "No pilot. Non-negotiable."
Tasha blinks at this, exchanging a glance with Jade-Eyes before signing, "Magi do not permit automation; their AI cannot operate without a pilot. I cannot send this machine without being present to ensure its security and lockdown," she insists.
"Try," is the eventual response. "Too many unknowns. Safety of pilot below acceptable odds. Crushing by hyper-acceleration horrible way to die."
Tasha appears to be at a loss, staring at the crystal surface and looking a little lost. She glances to Jade-Eyes after a moment and signs, "She's worried about me. Here I was wondering if she had an ulterior motive, and she's worried. I feel bad now. Even if she does have another motive, it's a poor way to treat someone who cares about you. But ... You can read as well as I; is that acceptable?"
"I am willing to risk death to ensure the Seraph's security," Tasha adds, expression serious. "I accepted this risk as my own and will see it through if you wish."
Jade-Eyes shrugs in confusion, and signs, "I do not know the mechanics of such things. Can you not tell the machine to do what it must after you have left it? Do we know how long the process will take in the first place?"
"No. I will relay my instructions," Tasha agrees. I think I'm turning in to Layth. Turning back to the display, she signs, "Very well, I will try. Please begin a full array of scans after the Balathasar arrives, but avoid interfacing with its systems -- in fact you may want to place the resources used to scan it behind firewall as Sifran crystal technology is known to corrupt machines. Otherwise, quarantine it and do not permit anyone except myself to go near it. Oh, and some general instructions: I'm authorizing you to move if you anticipate danger or feel our needs are better met by doing so. You may employ the weapon to defend yourself and to prevent hostile boarding actions."
"This is worrying," comes the reply. "Do you expect hostile action to occur?"
Tasha nods, signing, "The Balthasar has been heavily modified; its full capabilities are not known, but it is believed by credible sources to be an unparalleled weapon. As part of the terms of its acquisition, we have agreed to secure it and protect it from misuse. These commands are an extension of that agreement."
"Can I talk to it?" is the response.
"We could set up a relay using my Light Mages," Jade-Eyes confirms.
"It is very dangerous to do so, but if you are prepared to manage that, then I will allow it. Just be very careful," Tasha signs back, nodding to Jade-Eyes. "That sounds good. Should we get started?"
"It will take time to set up," Jade-Eyes notes. "I know that the Tabernacle can use machine-talk for faster communication. Why does it want to talk to the Titan though?"
"She is probably attempted to understand and coordinate the space-time fold," Tasha replies, but to be sure, she asks, "What will you talk to it about?"
"Tests must be run and clocks synchronized," Harmonia replies. "A jump between two planets requires precise timing and gravitational anomalies must be mapped out."
"Computer stuff," Tasha confirms, grinning. "That sounds fine. We will prepare that now. Thank you for helping us, Harmonia."
"I will attempt to reinitiate contact in twelve hours barring any further orders," the Khattan vessel replies.
"That sounds good. I do have a few more question for you, though. Do you know which Trade house you report to? Where in Khattan space you are supposed to go to report? I have also learned at least one Khattan agent has been active in this region of space," Tasha asks.
"I do not have that knowledge available at this time," Harmonia replies. "Only after I make the decision to report back would it be unlocked. This is not unusual for autonomous Khattan systems."
"A spy that does not know its master," Jade-Eyes comments with raised brows. "I'm sure Mind Mages have done similar for the empires of Sinai, to prevent repercussions should agents fall into enemy hands."
"I understand. Thank you for humoring your mother. Keep me informed if anything new happens you think I would like to know about; say hi to the others for us, and let them know we're just fine and that we have found both Balthasar and his Marker. Oh and Harmonia ... " Tasha lifts her left hand and lays it on her chest, just over her heart. "Thank you for worrying about me."
"Be careful," is Harmonia's final message. "I do not trust unknown technologies."
"They're usually really nice if you give them a chance and they haven't tried to kill you," Tasha signs before stepping back and nodding to Jade-Eyes. "That's that! Did you see? She was worried about me! She even argued with me! I've never seen her be so defiant! I think I might cry," she says, then sniffs and wipes at the corner of her right eye.
"You are sometimes rather strange," Jade-Eyes signs with an ear-wiggle, and begins to shut down the Tabernacle.
"Strange behavior from a strange creature," Tasha agrees, taking a moment more to wipe her eyes and then fix her hair as the Priest-Queen deactivates her machine.
"I will send a request for the mages," Jade-Eyes signs after the Tabernacle goes dark again. "I find it amusing that contacting another world is faster than contacting a nearby city."
"The world is full of strange contradictions," Tasha agrees as she joins Jade-Eyes as they walk towards the exit. "A woman who can't have children has more than she can handle, the false-Star only heightened faith in the real one, and two very unlikely people have managed to succeed despite the odds. I think we ought to be thankful, that the world doesn't play by expectation. Lets talk again some day, OK?"