Fooff Rak Virgin Exploration

By Chuanzhu Dadi Dan

Fooff Rak Virgin Exploration is a story of risk, honor, duty, and love among beings that could almost be human, in a part of the universe that could almost be ours. Lacking Faster-Than-Light Hyperdrive, the behemoth exploration starship Fooff Rak delves the depths of deep space, in search of the usual: wealth, honor, glory, and continuation of the species. Their race is dying. The odds are against them. Millennia pass in the journey. This is a story of those who choose to make the ultimate sacrifice, to pursue the Grand Adventure, against all odds. Star Ship Fooff Rak is a non-sentient, but very intelligent, machine. Legendary Ckruuad is the Chief of Chiefs, Fleet Officer, and man of the world. Rroonuf, the romantic Captain, surrenders family position and casts his fate to the wind. Fooff Rak is his first command. Diva Vita Virgia Mnealyyath Teaerro is a child, by Iirrean measure, who must decide to risk death in space or die an old maid. Diva Vita Virgia Lvoonnya Easthiakk chooses to follow her betrothed Captain to a far off star despite the risk, because it is her duty, and romantic. They all have much to learn, and the universe is a good teacher. This could be seen as a love story, but it is in truth a story of heroism in the void beyond hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chuanzhu Dadi Dan
• Release date: Jun 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301856336

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Fooff Rak Virgin Exploration

By: Chuanzhu Dadi Dan

Copyright Chuanzhu Dadi Dan 2013

Published By: Chuanzhu Dadi Dan

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Table of Contents

The First

Launch

The Rim

Deep Space

Discovery

Living Legends

As The End Nears

Fear and Wonder

Ending Fear

Skimming a Star

Planetfall

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The First

First Of The Crew

Ckruuad, The First Of The Crew, left the Captain’s offices, barely noticing the exceptionally lavish surroundings. More unusually, he barely noticed the extraordinarily beautiful crewmembers who buffered the Captain from the rest of the crew. He paid no attention to the surprised looks elicited by the lack of flirtatious, banter and the distant musing, uncharacteristic of this renowned, passionate raconteur and coveted enchanter of women. His unsettling conference with the Captain, and the future which could result, were his only concerns. He absently remembered when this Captain’s father had requested him to accept the Office of First Of The Crew on his son’s first command, after explaining that a new Captain needed the best First he could have to cut off any possible refusal. Those who knew him well could often use his ego to push him ahead, despite his awareness; but truth be told, that opportunity had gratified him. He never suspected the same thing would happen again, and was not sure he felt the same pleasure. Still, there was no question that this Captain offered him the opportunity of a lifetime, of several lifetimes.

Deep Space Exploration, the words carried the romance, history, essence, and purpose of The Fleet. The First Of The Crew on a deep space exploration vessel would be a partner by charter, sharing in the profits of any and all discovered resources. It was deep and any which defined the risk. Since the banning of faster than light ‘hyperspace’ drive, to avoid tearing the fabric of the universe, a deep space exploration vessel might spend millennia in the search for new resources. The crews did not return. Fortunate ships found habitable planets on the fringe, and created a colony using hyperspace communications to file claims. Thousands of years after they set out, their families would reap any benefits of the effort and risk; a Captain’s family might be elevated from third rank to second, or a crewmember, such as The First Of The Crew, might attain named rank. Unfortunate crews, on the other hand, depleted their fuel in forlorn hope; and mercifully surrendered to the void, when their ship self destructed to protect its secrets.

The one way nature of the assignment didn’t deter this first officer. Like most Iirrean, he was childless. He had found no compatible female among the few born fertile during his adult life; and he was sure of sufficient infertile female crew to satisfy even him. Few of the crew would leave children behind. Some would sell their portion, risk and all, to provide an opportunity for a brother, or cousin, lucky enough to be genetically compatible to continue their family another generation. They would be gratefully remembered for their contribution. The First admitted to himself that this appealed to him, but the chance of his family’s survival was less than the chance the exploration would discover new resources. His kin were no luckier than he in the genetic crapshoot. Most fertile women were able to marry well, if a wellborn suitor could fulfill her genetic needs. Very few went barren for lack of a compatible male. Nevertheless, there were so few born into each generation that the Iirrean population was decreasing. The Diva Vita represented the cycle of life to most Iirrean; they were priceless and practically worshipped.

His Captain suggested that he, Ckruuad, transfer his loyalty to the next generation. This was not to improve the odds of the expedition’s success; no one man could do that. It was simply an offer to the best first officer in the fleet to end his career in a rare deep space exploration, with the remote possibility of retirement as a named colonial officer on a fertile planet. Everyone dies but few have the opportunity to live, fully. He would serve three generations of Captain from the same second ranked family, which would practically constitute adoption. Moreover, a successful voyage could elevate the family to the First Rank, ‘Lords of the Empire’; if there was such a thing. The young third generation Captain is betting everything he has on the success of this voyage by buying the bulk of the charter with his entire fortune. In addition, he will take a compatible fertile virgin with him to bring children to their new home. He must have been the only compatible male alive to talk her family into surrendering her, even if they were on the verge of bankruptcy. She would spend most of the journey in stasis and arrive young enough to be a fine wife. A First Family on the fringe, in deep space; he would like to live long enough to see that.

With that thought, the realization settled in. He had decided. It was time to speak to this young Captain and ensure that the Charter was fair to the crew who would give their lives to this voyage. He wondered what ship they would command.

Captain Rroonuf Pnleiniea

Pnleiniea, Rroonuf, Captain, and Third Heir to the First Family of Planet Vrellaa occupied a portion of the Family estate. He had returned his estates to the family in return for their support of his endeavor, his enterprise. The family would share in his success, if he succeeded; but generations would live, and rule, and build, and do business as usual, while he spent most of the next few millennia in stasis. Of course, they were a space faring people, and many of his near kin would spend much time between planets themselves; extending their four century lifespan to ten or even fifteen. Rroonuf had calculated a possible thirty centuries might pass in his exploration, if he were not very lucky.

Thirty centuries, because he had designed his ship, Fooff Rak, to hold the vast fuel stores cached at an outer planet with abundant supply, at reasonable cost. He thought of it as his ship despite the many shares sold to finance the venture (or the foolishness many called it). His Captain’s Second was an untested officer whose family was willing and able to buy him the commission, as well as the fertile bride to carry to the new frontier. A Captain’s Second was frequently nothing more than window dressing, activating his authority only if the Captain was lost; but an experienced Second could ease the Captain’s burden, smoothing rough patches. The only uses for this Second would be to give his family a place at the table, and to prevent the ship reverting to ‘command by the crew’ in the worst instance.

He, like the Captain, brought his future bride although an exploring ship with two ‘Diva Vita Virgia’ was unheard of. The success of this voyage would grant Family Pnleiniea too much status for Family Wollff to allow without balance; so they had sacrificed a young male who was compatible with a Diva, from a family newly ascended to the second Rank, and made a substantial contribution to the cost of the charter. The Family of the Diva would be associated with the venture and both greater families, even if the voyage failed, so their sacrifice was strategic. To Rroonuf, even the possible waste of a second Diva was appalling. Unfortunately, such compromise was part of the price he must pay to live this dream, and command the Fooff Rak.

‘Fooff Rak’, ‘Sliver in the Depths’, a fitting name for a vessel that would spend eternities in infinity, floating between stars, like a needle in the sea searching for a particular type of fish. He had considered ‘Light in the Depths’, referring to the enormous light the super long range scanners would radiate to their surroundings; but really, in the depths of space all the energy he could generate would be less than a flake in a snowstorm. A person should retain some perspective of his place in the universe after all, especially if he will command a starship, more especially if he will lead an exploration, and most especially if Ckruuad aPnleiniea was to be The First Of The Crew.

Rroonuf was surprised that his father had elevated Ckruuad to aPnleiniea, a step just below adoption into the family. It was a high honor for a fleet officer and a very high honor for an officer of the crew. Ckruuad was worthy of the honor, of course. More so since he had, essentially, made the ultimate sacrifice in signing on to the Fooff Rak. Nevertheless, such an elevation was usually surrounded by discussion, even argument, and happened slowly. The greater measure of Ckruuad’s worth was the lack of disagreement, dissent, or even comment; acceptance was universal and immediate. Still, only the Captain who had despaired to see his roster filled, before the announcement of the name of the First, knew the truest measure of his worth. He now had more applications than there were berths, and Fooff Rak would soon have a fine and full crew, selected by Ckruuad, preparing for launch. Worthy of the honor, indeed.

The First was, in fact, scheduled to arrive soon, to discuss The Charter of the Fooff Rak with the Captain, Second and major investors. The size of the Captain’s share, the contributions of Family Pnleiniea, and Wollff’s investment would simplify the discussions; but this First Of The Crew was well known to be a strong advocate, and the crew’s shares and benefits would grow before the day was done. The Captain must protect the interest of the Ship, Nation, and Investors but Rroonuf knew that his roster had filled because of Ckruuad’s reputation for advocacy as well as leadership. If it were ethical he would have discussed the needs of the crew before the formal meetings, but to appear to put his family’s interests before all others could result in oversight that would greatly complicate command.

Despite Ckruuad's relationship to the family, Rroonuf had seldom met The First Of The Crew who had served his Father and Grandfather. Ships in port made no money and Ckruuad was larger than life, invited to every party and many beds. He observed the courtesies, even gave his Captain’s son a few tips on the use of both blades, but the thought of sitting across the table from him was daunting. His tongue was reputed to be sharper than his blade and Ckruuad aPnleiniea always surpassed his reputation. Once these negotiations were complete, though, The First would take over the day to day operations of the ship as well as most crew related command functions. If history taught anything, a ship run by Ckruuad could squeeze the light out of a photon. Rroonuf pleasantly anticipated the experience of sharing command with the best First in the Iirrean fleet, or any other.

Great Father Arrarrgg

Arrarrgg, Great Father of group Wollff sat at table with his grand nephew Rajr and wife Hakkt, the first mother, watching young Deipnarrg leave the room. He was an idiot. His mother had been an idiot and it was her gift to all her young. It couldn’t be helped, and there was no condemnation, but they were inconvenient. So far, the family had managed to protect itself from them by hiding and moving them. There is always work that is better suited to strong hands than strong minds, and until now there was no question of procreation.

Deipnarrg was the dumbest of the brood, and he’s the one who came up in what is jokingly referred to as the genetic lottery. It is not a lottery, but the last hope of a failing race. For some unknown reason the fertility rate of Iirrean females was dropping, had been dropping for countless generations. The birth rate was now so low that First Rank Families were in danger of having no offspring. The few females who were fertile were incompatible with almost all of the males. The child would develop one genetic malady or another, most fatal and all far worse than idiocy. If there were another compatible male in the nation, Wollff would have bowed to him. This might raise a few eyebrows, but few Families wished to dig too deeply into such a matter, since they all had similar problems. There was no contender, no alternate. There was only Deipnarrg.

After much discussion, and some heated debate, the family agreed to a very expensive solution; but a very expensive solution with potential benefits, both political and economic. Arrarrgg allowed himself a small smile because this solution, formed from necessity, was lauded across the nation as brilliant politics. Necessity certainly was the mother of invention. Family Wollff, meaning him, had skillfully attached itself to the great adventure of Family Pnleiniea. The Fooff Rak became the great adventure of Pnleiniea and Wollff, effectively cancelling much of the political favor Pnleiniea had enjoyed.

None outside of Wollff knew of the real benefit. As a newly commissioned Captain’s Second, Deipnarrg will be expected to do nothing, which he certainly can do. The young Pnleiniea Captain will accept him as he is, because he came bearing gifts; and the officers will follow. Childbirth will be delayed thousands of years, and by then even stupid children might be a blessing. Diva Mnealyyath Teaerro might even be intelligent and talented enough to correct the defect in the line, yielding a greater blessing. Deipnarrg will gain some minor office in any colony formed, and the Diva will watch over his shoulder, keeping him out of trouble. If that’s not possible, she will pack him onto a freighter to avoid embarrassment to the family, as she has been trained.

His small smile faded as he considered the fate of the Diva. He would have preferred a different solution for her sake, and the sake of the Families. Arrarrgg had ceased responding to comms and pleas to change his mind, save the Diva from probable doom, and add to the birthrate of the core planets. Even Hakkt, his wife, who knew the reason for the decision, and had agreed with the Family council, was upset with him for making it. Many know this is an importune time to waste even one fertile female, and all are aware of the Fooff Rak’s chances.

There is already discussion of a posthumous award for the Captain and, more especially, the First Of The Crew. Ckruuad, who is respected by every First in the Fleet, (even his rivals who serve Family Wollff), became a legend when he volunteered for the Fooff Rak. New resources are so far, the journeys so long, and the birthrate so low that many Iirreans fear the worst, and need just such a heroic venture as this to bolster their spirits. Fooff Rak turned the old adage, Ships in port create no wealth, on its ear, becoming a national treasure before launch. The spectacle itself created wealth and shifted power. The addition of Family Wollff as a primary investor, in alliance with Pnleiniea; the addition of a second Diva, a scream to the creators for rebirth; and the construction of a behemoth class transport, the largest and most advanced sublight starship ever built; created the common belief that this voyage could not fail. Arrarrgg knew three of his own ships had adjusted their courses to intercept the Fooff Rak on its two hundred year maiden run to the outer planets. The voyage of Fooff Rak is the stuff of legends, and Iire could use a new legend; but reality is seldom changed by the desires of man.

Diva Vita Virgia Mnealyyath Teaerro

Mnealyyath was furious.

How could you send me to the far reaches of space? I am 'Diva Vita'. I am 'Diva Vita' and you caste my life into darkness to increase the family’s fortune! This violates all you have taught me of my duty to the cycle of life! I will become fertile during a recovery period between stasis sleeps, floating in a medical tube. My childhood is lost! How could you!

She burrowed her head into the pillow again and obscured the response, which she did not care to hear. She turned again to her mother. The woman she trusted with her life until she learned the price of that trust.

The Captain’s Second to a Captain with a Diva of his own, an unnecessary luxury for a pampered boy without fame or fortune, a boy who will probably die in space and take me with him. A lever to lift my family firmly into the second rank; this is the value of my life? How could you!

She burrowed her head back into the pillow. Her throat was raw and sore. She had no idea how long she had been ranting, and venting, at the family, servants, and retainers who tried to explain, or to console her. Her mind was spinning. She was dazed and confused. Whenever she tried to think, her mind filled with visions of terror.

She was being dragged, kicking and screaming, towards a ship larger than a First Rank estate.

She was floating in nothing when all before her exploded in searing flame.

A leering, drooling, unshaven Man lowered himself onto her explaining that he would not wait to taste what was his, in a child’s voice.

She screamed at the memory of the imagined rape.

Mnealyyath was ‘Diva Vita Virgia’, a virgin goddess of life. At least, she liked to use the Goddess connotation that most of her people associated with a Diva. When she was born, and the ability became apparent, the Genetic Arbiters proclaimed the birth of a Diva, recognized her family, and began her training. Through her, life would continue, her race would survive, and a new generation would be born. All watched and protected her.

The search for a genetic match began as soon as the Medical TechBots finished the necessarily detailed scans. A man in his second, or even third, century, with vast estates, might learn that the goddess of life had smiled on him, and he need only wait until the Diva reached the age of fertility to marry. Of course, there might be others to contest his right, which could benefit both the Diva and her family. More than two decades, she had waited with hope and joy, and now she would be launched into the future on a wing and a prayer with a greater chance of death than life. Mnealyyath screamed again. Screaming hurt, but holding it in hurt more.

She knew the situation was hopeless. The young man, boy, was the only genetically compatible male in the entire Iirrean race. She had two possible options for her future. Wait in stasis on an exploration starship, hoping to share wealth, and honor, on a far off colony, in a far distant future, a noble venture. Or else, wait in stasis on her family’s estates, in hope that a compatible male would be born while she was still fertile. The success probability of each was poor.

The problem, she also knew, was the Wollff Family decision to risk a compatible male to a living Diva on a political gambit. Family Wollff was willing to sacrifice the lives of Deipnarrg Wollff and Diva Vita Virgia Mnealyyath Teaerro to maintain the fragile balance between Family Pnleiniea and Family Wollff. A small chance existed for her to live and bear children, who would share the benefits of a successful exploration with those of the horrid Diva, Lvoonnya Easthiakk. Wollff might even gain the upper hand in a few generations. However, the noble venture of Wollff balanced the noble venture of Pnleiniea even in death, her death.

She screamed one last time, at the thought, a long loud wrenching sound that bared her soul. It was time to stop screaming, after all. Perhaps she could at least improve the odds.

Diva Vita Virgia Lvoonnya Easthiakk

Diva Lvoonnya Easthiakk calmly, but quickly, ended the comm link to the apartments of Diva Mnealyyath Teaerro. As the elder Diva, and Diva to the Captain, she felt it appropriate to comfort the younger, despite the quandary of what to say. She felt quite fortunate when the child’s mother had apologized that, Mnealyyath is taking the news badly, and is not able to speak sensibly at the moment. Diva Mnealyyath was gifted with an extraordinary voice that could be heard throughout the apartments. It was audibly obvious that she was taking the news badly. Lvoonnya felt some sympathy for the other Diva.

She had known that her fortune was tied to Rroonuf Pnleiniea for quite some time. He had shared his dream of exploration with her even before she was fertile, when they could not marry. Now, they could not marry because standard exploration policy forbade it. A Diva on an exploration vessel could not marry before arrival. This reduced the temptation to gift children life, only to face the high probability of self destruction at journey’s end. The urge to procreate was very, very strong among Iirrean men. Even beyond the instinctual was the responsibility taught, from so early an age that it was almost genetic, that a male who was compatible to a fertile woman must ensure the continuation of the race and his family. Since any male was a potential mate, they all received the training, and some of the major families began prenatal, when it was most effective, alongside dueling. The combination of duty and instinct was near irresistible; and marriage would only add fuel to the fire. Lvoonnya felt some sympathy for Rroonuf as well.

However, an exploration without the possibility of children, to continue in the development of the discovered resources, would leave the colony open to piracy. No one financed an expedition with so little promise of return. Therefore, the greatest of Iirrean men, bonded to the most dedicated of Iirrean women, risked everything to forge ahead into the farthest attainable reaches of space in search of the resources needed to feed the families. After all, conservation and reclamation did not eliminate the need for new resources. Lvoonnya completed the litany, once again.

She was young, but not blind. She saw the machinations and, political necessities, in Rroonuf’s choices. He balanced Third Heir to a Second Rank Family against Governor General of an Outer Rim Colony, perhaps a Region, with possible elevation of the family to the First Rank as a bonus. She heard the whispers concerning her family’s impending bankruptcy as the reason to send a Diva into the void. Foolish and ignorant children could not understand how to build a civilization. Her family was doing very well and their affairs would have no bearing on these matters in any case. Rroonuf was her compatible mate. If he chose to fire himself from a cannon, she would just have to hold on tight and pray. However, she could certainly feel sympathy for the other Diva.

Of course, Lvoonnya had been shocked at the announcement. She believed that every living Diva had been shocked. Divas trained from birth to value the sanctity of life, and to understand their critical role in the cycle of life. A Diva who announced her intent to die unwed would be considered insane, yet Family Wollff had decided to send a compatible male, with a Diva, to the Outer Rim on a one way exploration. She could not imagine looking at a member of Family Wollff without anger, ever again; and she would be shipmates with quite a few for the next few thousand years. There was no need for this action. The exploration could go on without this young couple. Family Wollff did not need a Diva on the voyage to earn the gratitude of the Families; another young male would do as well. Diva Mnealyyath was still a child with dreams, fantasies, and roaring passions. She must feel like one drowning, held beneath water by a pressing weight. She certainly pitied the poor, pampered, petulant, prepubescent, phrenetic prima donna.

Lvoonnya barely succeeded in suppressing a smile. This unexpectedly brought a strange tingle and the thought of Ckruuad. Perhaps her subconscious felt she was being devilish, which could easily lead to thoughts of Ckruuad. Older more experienced women might understand why this man seemed so attractive, but Lvoonnya was at a lose. She was one who believed that the relationship between a Diva and her mate should be monogamous, to prevent it becoming cold and clinical. There were those who disagreed, but not publicly, and she thought that perhaps her future husband was one of them. Some Diva took lovers, secure in the knowledge that they would not reproduce together, and did not see this as a grave violation of trust. Those married to ships’ crew or officers might raise their family and pass on before the blessed man returned from his next voyage. Many of those took Ckruuad, if their paths crossed. To give him credit, a woman did not need to be young and beautiful to attract him to her bed, a smile and a nod would usually do. However, they say he occasionally develops an attraction to a particular female, probably because she appears disinterested, Lvoonnya thought. Lvoonnya was very afraid that she was one of those unfortunate women. She was certain that she could repel his advances graciously, or nearly certain, but she hoped that the stasis cycle on the Fooff Rak would not leave them awake together in the middle of space