Chaotic Futures, page 23
“Future. Important,” Wymron decided.
“Basyat?” Iltaft asked.
“Devona,” Wymron said.
“Negative. Atmosphere,” Iltaft corrected.
“Ambasfor,” Wymron suggested.
“Agreed,” Iltaft replied. She rose, but a deep grunt from Wymron halted her.
The senior elder pointed at Iltaft’s device, and he said, “Careful.”
Iltaft considered her answer. She wanted to assure Wymron of her priorities. “Quellers first,” she said, to which Wymron nodded approvingly.
The media had waited at the building’s rear, having seen the traveler land there, and Iltaft passed through the outer door into their midst.
“We must make a compromise,” Iltaft said to the reporters. “I’m willing to give you regular updates, but only once a cycle. Now, where and when would you like that to take place?”
The reporters were taken aback by the idea that such an agreement should be suggested.
“I do have the choice of flying the traveler from rooftop to rooftop,” Iltaft prodded.
“At your workplace,” a senior reporter called out, which most of the reporters echoed.
“Just before midday meal,” a female offered, which was also accepted.
“I’ll see you there,” Iltaft promised. Then, as she approached the crowd, the reporters parted, and she headed for her traveler.
The response had Iltaft grunting loudly, and she made her way to the pilot’s cabin.
Iltaft sent, settling into the copilot seat.
Temtalum whistled softly and sent,
Iltaft imagined an area on the ground that was slightly forward of the traveler, and she had a clear visual on the location. She tested the controller as she requested different directions and shifting degrees of view.
Iltaft considered her duties and wondered what apps would assist her and her office to accomplish their work.
Iltaft replied. Choosing to test her idea, she imagined Minimalist.
Temtalum recognized the urgency of Iltaft’s conversation, and she accelerated the traveler. Within minutes, she was in front of Iltaft’s building and letting the representative out.
Iltaft waited in the conference room with the junior elders.
Lemtaca and Ergatisa had taken note of Iltaft’s manner. It was if they were watching her continue to morph from the mild-mannered director they’d known to the Quellers’ forceful representative.
Iltaft received a rotation schedule with notes that the implants would be administered on the Quadrant and initial training would last one week.
19: Elders’ Secret
More than the dome experts arrived aboard the traveler that unloaded passengers and gear in front of the building.
Passersby watched SADEs, a Crocian, and a pair of New Terrans march across the plaza. The latter individuals carried equipment.
Inside, Minimalist, Luther, and Morgoth made for Iltaft’s location via her bio ID.
The heavy-worlder New Terrans rode the elevator to the top floor, and they sought the exit to the roof. Then they worked to install a comm link system for the building’s use.
When Iltaft’s guests were seated, she sent,
Iltaft regarded the SADEs.
Iltaft shook her head in chagrin. What she’d requested was nonsense. With implants and kernels, Quellers’ efforts to control information were antiquated.
Minimalist extended a hand, and Iltaft gave him her device. He found her recent message from Wymron. Then he linked to the table projection system. Following the message link, he transmitted the first file to the table.
Not knowing what other security protections might be tripped, the audience was silent while the files revealed themselves.
When the last file was retrieved and viewed, Minimalist returned the device.
Iltaft noted the message envelope was there, but the link was gone. She gazed at the junior elders,
Morgoth sent.
Iltaft was about to ask if that was even possible, but she realized she was out of her depth.
Then the group received Temtalum’s sharing,
With that, the conclave members left the conference room and sought Temtalum’s traveler to return them to the Quadrant. That gave the New Terrans the time they needed to finish Iltaft’s home installation.
Morgoth, Minimalist, and Luther heard Temtalum’s breezy laughter, which whistled through her sharp teeth.
Temtalum shared.
Morgoth admitted.
Minimalist offered.
In the conference room, Lemtaca and Ergatisa watched Iltaft, who stared into the distance as she ordered her thoughts.
Then Iltaft focused on the junior elders.
The junior elders’ wide-eyed expressions answered Iltaft’s question.
The junior elder frowned, and Iltaft hinted,
Temtalum, Lemtaca thought.
Iltaft couldn’t help grunting loudly.
Iltaft shared.
Temtalum’s whistling laughter was heard by the Quellers.
The junior elders stared at each other. They understood every word that Temtalum had spoken. However, she described a life that boggled their imagination. It was far removed from what Quellers experienced.
As opposed to Lemtaca and Ergatisa, Iltaft expressed an entirely different attitude.
Ergatisa shared, after Temtalum had dropped off the conference link.
After the conference ended, Iltaft chose to call Temtalum to her office.
When Iltaft boarded, she headed directly for the copilot seat.
Temtalum blinked. The representative had caught her off guard, and that rarely happened. She issued a shrill whistle that echoed within the cabin.
Iltaft eyed her pilot. Then she sent,
Before Temtalum launched the traveler straight up, Iltaft had linked to the controller to view their surroundings. The sudden disorientation of switching to a planet with a horizon to the dark of space had her clutching her seat.
Temtalum briefly thought that she might have gone too far, but Iltaft started grunting, while still clutching the arms of her seat.
While accelerating the traveler toward the conclave ships, an idea occurred to Temtalum, and she transmitted detailed instructions to several companions aboard the ships. She included that Representative Iltaft was aboard and was experiencing multiple facets of conclave technology.
Pilots, who were familiar with Temtalum’s history, quickly sought permission to join the event.
Nine Trident and three Quadrant travelers launched and sped toward Temtalum.
Iltaft felt a sense of calm flood her. Under the circumstances, it was an odd experience. She became a dispassionate observer.
In reply, Temtalum exposed her sharp teeth in a fierce grin. Then she concentrated on her adversaries, who came at her from different directions.
The battle didn’t last long, but Iltaft was shocked at the maneuvers that Temtalum employed. As well, her pilot often slid their traveler between two adversaries. In which case, the enemy ships had to hold their fire to avoid striking each other.
The Trident senior captain announced the results.
