Dark Universe: The Bright Empire

By Balogun Ojetade, Gerald Coleman, Valjeanne Jeffers and 6 more

The Dark Age is over and the Known is in the firm grasp of the Cassads. As the galaxy spins, dragging planets and star systems in its wake, unrest rises to the surface of the celestial firmament. For while the Cassads burn brightly, the people under their rule are neglected and stifled. The Dark Age is over. The Bright Empire has begun, but the stars do not shine brightly on everyone.

Dark Universe: The Bright Empire is the exciting sequel to The Dark Universe Anthology. Experience the heyday of this intriguing Afrocentric galactic empire through eleven stories that capture the wonder, danger and adventure of this amazing universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MVmedia, LLC
• Release date: Nov 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386305453

Book preview

Dark Universe

The Bright Empire

Edited by

Milton J. DAVIS

Eugene Peterson

MVmedia, LLC

Fayetteville Georgia

Copyright © 2018 by MVmedia, LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Book Layout ©2017 BookDesignTemplates.com

Cover design by Kecia Stovall

Cover art by James Eugene

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the Special Sales Department at the address above.

Dark Universe: The Bright Empire/ Davis, Peterson.—1st ed.

ISBN 978-0-9992789-6-3

Contents

Don’t Start None, Won’t Be None  By William Hayashi

The Dairo Protocol  By Tade Thompson

The Transmission of Aragomago  By Balogun Ojetade

The Coup  By Valjeanne Jeffers

Customs  By Milton J. Davis

Druz’ya  By Howard Night

My Sisters’ Keeper  By Robert Jeffrey

Perilous Falls  By Gerald L. Coleman

The Promise  By Hannibal Tabu

Change of Command  By Howard Night

The Envoy’s Complaint  By Penelope Flynn

About The Authors (In alphabetical order)

Don’t Start None,

Won’t Be None

By

William Hayashi

The Realignment Cruiser Piercer was slip-skipping, popping in and out of FTL every dozen or so parsecs, searching for intelligent signals from any civilizations regaining their technical expertise since the Dark Age had ended. The crew had not made landfall in over a standard year, and it was only through strict military discipline that homesickness was nonexistent. Hundreds of tasks kept the cruiser in tip-top operation, and most of the crew were engaged in adult education classes or qualifying for certifications from departments other than their own during their off-duty periods.

Crew morale wasn’t something Balogun Cordish worried about. Discipline on the Piercer was nearly perfect, the crew understanding that they could find a newly resurrected colony settled before the Dark Age at any time, and that their mission was to locate every planet so populated as they could. They also knew that there was a chance they could find a truly alien race just as easily if that race was at a level where their technology radiated detectable electromagnetic energy. In the period just before slipping technology was developed, Earth itself was enveloped in an electromagnetic EM bubble over two hundred light years in diameter, the edges filled with the televised coverage of the 1936 A.D. Olympic Games. And just a little bit beyond that was what few radio broadcasts came before television. Had a ship similarly equipped as the Piercer passed through that bubble of television and radio waves, the crew would have known that a technological civilization was at the heart of that bubble.

Balogun Cordish was a member of the royal family, a member of the Cassad family by birth. His presence on, and leadership of the mission served two purposes. The first being the right of leadership by blood. The second was to ensure that in the case of their detecting and meeting a rediscovered world populated by Earth’s ancestors, or one of the few alien species scattered throughout the Cassad sphere of galactic influence, that he was empowered to negotiate any kind of mutually beneficial agreement possible. On the other hand, Balogun Cordish was also empowered to declare war, and find the location of the alien world so that the Cassad war fleet could return and completely eradicate the infestation.

Balogun Cordish, my compliments. Would you please join me on the bridge, Captain Bane’s voice issued forth from the communicator.

On my way.

Once he arrived on the bridge, the Balogun notice everyone’s attention was focused on the communications officer.

Sir, we believe we have detected intelligent signals in this sector of space, Captain Bane reported.

Have you determined their locus, Captain?

"So far, we have not. There is dense dust in this quadrant making triangulating the source of the signals problematic. However, we are close. There appears to be an isolated solar system behind the denser portion of this dust cloud. We are moving toward the system listening for any additional signals. I thought you might want to monitor our progress.

Very well, Captain. Thank you for calling me to the bridge, said the Balogun as he looked over the shoulder of the comm officer.

Look, we have another EM burst coming in now, Balogun, Captain, the comm office said, pointing at the momentary blip on the display. There’s another. The density of the signal suggests a digital data transmission, almost like some kind of telemetry. Whoa! We have just been scanned, captain.

Battle stations. All crew man your posts, this is not a drill, the captain announced over the intercom. What was the location of that scan?

There’s another, captain. The scans are coming from three different locations. Wait; I am now getting data back from our own scans, Captain. We are being scanned by satellites, their signals lead back toward the center of this dust cloud.

Set course along that track. Let’s get to the bottom of this. Then into the ship’s intercom, All hands, remain at battle stations. Balogun, any recommendations?

None, Captain. Please, proceed as you feel best.

The Balogun’s respect for Captain Bane was obvious and played well to the rest of the bridge crew. And truth be told, there was no reason for the Balogun to interfere with the operations of the Piercer, he had no operational role in commanding the crew.

Captain, there is a system ahead. It wasn’t visible from outside this dust cloud, but I am able to detect more signals of a technological nature. Had we not been slip-skipping we never would have known it was here. This certainly isn’t on any of the old charts. I believe we have located an uncharted colony, the comm officer reported.

Steady as she goes, Bane said.

Aye sir, the helmsman replied.

And sign of hostile intent in the scans? asked Bane.

Negative sir. Just deep space, penetrating radar. This dust makes it hard to get accurate detailed scans. They can’t be seeing us too well either. But those satellites must have told them we’re coming.

Excuse me, commander . . .?

Sinclair, Balogun.

Can you interpret the signals yet, Commander Sinclair?

The inbound signals from the satellites appear to be just telemetry relays. The signals from the solar system appear to be very high frequency radar sweeps. I have detected no comm traffic as of yet, Balogun.

Continue monitoring, Commander. Record everything that comes from the system. Has cartography detected a habited planet yet? Captain Bane inquired.

Negative, sir. There are two asteroid belts—no, make that three, not very dense. I’m concentrating on trying to locate anything in the free water zone. The dust is a little less dense as we get closer to the star, but it still is making high-res scans problematic—wait, sir. I have something. Transferring coordinates to the helm.

Take us in, one quarter military thrust. Shields up, the captain ordered.

The bridge was silent as the cruiser approached the discovered planet.

Standard orbit, helmsman. Full scan, map the terrain, and look for any signs of habitation, the captain said.

Captain, I have located several cities. The planet has several large bodies of water, ocean sized. Many inland lakes, very much like Earth. There are mountain ranges. The atmosphere is 70% nitrogen, 22% oxygen, the rest trace gasses, mostly inert. Cannot tell the composition of the seas, the life signs detector shows the land masses rich in life. Still cannot determine if there are—wait, I am seeing some major cities spread out across the major land masses, the science officer reported.

Any attempts to contact us? asked Bane, frowning.

No sir. But the planet is rich in EM radiation, comm signals and the like. The computer should be able to report whether or not there’s a recognizable language. I’m anticipating some measure of drift in the local dialects, probably not too much, replied Sinclair.

One would hope so, commented Balogun Cordish. We’ve seen the full spectrum of recovery since the end of the Dark Age. Looking at the density of those cities, we may have found a planet that fared much better than most.

Indeed, Balogun, Bane noted.

High-res scan being directed at the ship!

Are we being targeted? Bane said, glancing over at the weapons console, making sure the shields were at maximum.

Hard to say. No weapons systems appear to be activated, or aimed in our direction, Sinclair reported. Captain, we’re being hailed on an old Colonial channel.

Let’s hear it.

. . . spaceship in orbit, please respond.

The captain gestured to the Balogun, offering him the comm.

This is Balogun Cordish of the Cassad Empire. We are pleased to see you have regained your technological capabilities. We would like to land to meet with you to forge an informational relationship, and possibly engage in trade with your world.

We appreciate your desire, Balogun, and thank you for your attention. However, at this time we have little need for trade with other worlds. We have an insular society working to regain the capabilities lost during the galactic technology blackout, the voice replied.

Balogun Cordish signaled to cut the circuit, Don’t call us, we’ll call you? Is that what everyone else heard?

The bridge laughed at the Balogun’s droll tone. He signaled for the circuit to be opened again.

I can appreciate the effort of your undertaking, we have been working very hard ourselves to restore the technical capabilities of the empire. I ask that we at least meet face to face so that I may pay my compliments to the leaders of your world. If nothing else, it is quite exciting to have found you. We, of course, would take all possible precautions to ensure both your and our safety.

We presume you’re talking about physical and medical precautions, the voice said ironically.

Balogun Cordish laughed, clearly understanding and appreciating the unspoken subtext.

Of course. We are not a military mission. We are a survey mission, tasked only with locating members of the empire who fell prey to the Dark Age when all machines stopped working. For those who need technical assistance, the empire is prepared to send whatever assistance is desired. As the Cassad Empire representative on this mission, I request the opportunity to meet with your people in the service of restoring contact.

There was a long, silent pause. The bridge crew were all glancing around at each other, their gaze falling on the Balogun for mere split seconds, then just before the Balogun was about to give up, sure that they were being rudely rejected, the unexpected answer came.

Balogun, we would be happy to meet with your delegation. How many should we expect?

Cordish looked at the captain, who signaled five, then he pointed to the Balogun himself and held up six fingers.

I hope a total of six will not be an imposition.

After a much briefer pause, the voice said, That will be quite satisfactory, Balogun. Please follow the navigational signal we just activated down to our spaceport. You will be met by our highest local official.

Thank you very much, Cordish said, then signaled to cut the circuit. After a moment, he said, Well, that was interesting. You’ll make the arrangements?

Your crew will be waiting in the docking bay before you get there, sir. I need not suggest you be careful down there, do I? Captain Bane said, winking.

It will be just like in training, Captain.

By the ancestors, Nicholas, Bane said quietly, then watched as his friend left the bridge. I want a six-person crew; pilot and five marines. Have the marines dress down for the occasion, we don’t want them showing off. Assign Sergeant Hill to the Balogun, I want him well protected until further notice.

Once Cordish arrived in the landing bay, he chuckled out loud when he saw that his escorts were wearing civilian garb. He wasn’t sure they would really fool anyone, but there was no harm in trying.

Sergeant Hill, good to see you. I take it you’re both the squad leader and my personal aide, so to speak? Cordish said with an ironic tone.

Indeed I am, sir. That’s a perfect way to describe me to anyone, as your aide. But make no mistake, we’re here to make sure there are no surprises when we land. I even have my props, she said, holding up a datapad and Cordish’s bag of minor diplomatic goodies.

And your other tools?

Let’s just say, we will do our level best to give as good as we get, sir.

Cordish laughed, I’m sure you will. Well, time’s a wasting.

Cordish turned and led the squad into the shuttle. He was slightly taller than average, his face a smooth, medium chocolate brown. His

features were well formed, with a mouth easily formed into a friendly smile, and with eyes that often appeared to twinkle above that smile. He had an easy way about him, lacking many of the airs far too many of the Cassad royal family seemed to adopt to project their inherent superiority over the common citizen of the realm. He had the curiosity of a scholar, and Cordish always looked forward to meeting people of the realm who had not been contacted since before the Dark Age, happy for the challenge of bringing them back into the fold.

The flight into the atmosphere was smooth. Through the landing craft’s portals, they could see a fairly expansive city below, wide swaths of modern buildings stretched to the horizon in all directions. Moments later, the shuttle landed with a barely-felt bump.

At once, one of the disguised marines left his seat and moved to the door. Looking out the portal he saw that a small greeting party was approaching on foot. Getting a nod from the Balogun, the marine triggered the hatch to open. The crew were treated to the smell of heated concrete and dust, with a hint of something organic, something growing. The marine stepped out of the hatch and stepped to the side, standing just short of attention as the Balogun exited with the rest of the crew; the pilot staying behind to secure the shuttle.

Balogun Cordish stepped forward and stopped, waiting to see how the approaching party wanted to play the meeting.

The party stopped about a dozen feet away. They were dressed somewhat more utilitarian that the Balogun’s party, their appearance not much different than the Balogun’s own delegation in skin color and body type, except for the eyes. In the old times they would have been characterized as Asian, with the epicanthic fold along the upper eyelid. The greeting party all bowed, then one man stepped a single pace forward.

I am Proctor Thorn. I represent the local authority. Welcome to Syzygy Prime, he said in slightly accented Standard. Cordish began to step forward but halted when Thorn held up his hand.

Apologies, Balogun. But for the sake of medical prudence we would like to request a brief examination to ensure that none of us may fall victim to any incompatible pathogens. This is for both your and our safety.

Cordish smiled. Of course, Proctor Thorn. Would you like for us to accompany you to your medical facilities?

That will be unnecessary. We can conduct the screening right here. It will not take more than a moment for us to test your blood. With your permission, Balogun?

Of course.

One of the men stepped forward with a small, rectangular instrument.

If you could raise your sleeve, Balogun, the technician requested

Cordish tugged the sleeve of his right arm upward and extended his arm to the tech, noticing a nearly invisible, transparent mask over the man’s face. The instrument was touched to the arm, and Cordish felt a quick pinching sensation, then the instrument was withdrawn. The tech watched as several lights blinked in silence, then, when the instrument gave a soft chime the tech smiled and moved to Sergeant Hill. The procedure was repeated for the entire delegation with identical result.

Thank you very much, Balogun Cordish. Might I inquire whether or not there is anyone still aboard your ship? Thorn asked.

There is, the pilot and security officer. He will not be leaving the shuttle, Proctor Thorn. Is that acceptable?

After the briefest of pauses, Thorn gave a nod.

That will be fine, Thorn said as a large vehicle drove up to the shuttle. If everyone would follow me, introductions can wait until we are inside. You are being taken to the seat of government for this sector.

The trip was short. The conveyance arrived at a relatively nondescript building, just a few floors tall. Once inside, Cordish was surprised at the lack of decoration, tucking the information away, another anomalous datum for consideration.

They were conducted to a conference room, simply appointed but comfortable. Everyone sat, and without preamble Proctor Thorn began.

Now that we are much more comfortable, may I offer you refreshments?

Balogun Cordish gave a nod and replied, Perhaps plain water? By the way, did your medical scans also determine that nothing on your world is harmful to my party?

Of course. The scans were very thorough. I hope no one in your party is suffering any ill effect from the scan, Thorn inquired.

Seeing no one signaling otherwise, Cordish replied, Not at all, my compliments on your technology, Proctor. May I inquire why your world is named Syzygy Prime in the service of getting started? We have no record of it in our database from before the Dark Age.

Of course, it is a very old play on words in the old language from the migration of Earth. When our ancestors arrived, the planets, the two small moons orbiting the planet and the sun were lined up in a very rare configuration, one that is duplicated only every four hundred years. May I inquire what planet you and your crew come from, Balogun?

The crew of the Piercer come from several worlds in the Cassad Empire. I was raised on the capital planet of Ziara itself. Do you know of the Empire here?

"We do not. We are aware of the original diaspora that sent our ancestors forth across the galaxy. We remember knowing of the secret of the slip drive when its existence was kept secret, and we also remember when our progenitors left Earth to find this world to colonize for our very own.

"We were fortunate that our scientists managed to predict the coming of the radical electromagnetic emissions from the stars in this quadrant of the galaxy that prevented almost all technology from functioning.

If I understood your initial communication, your mission is one of discovery and reintegration into the empire? Thorn asked.

It is, indeed. We are on an extended mission to survey this portion of the galaxy, to locate uncharted systems who fell out of touch of the central planetary systems. In those cases where the reestablishment of pre-Dark Age technology is problematic, we offer assistance in the form of teachers and education.

Thorn raised an eyebrow in irony and asked, And is this assistance given without cost?

You are very direct, Proctor Thorn, Cordish said, smiling. For the most part, it is. In the case of a system that may have remnants of data or technologies we still haven’t recovered in the central systems, of course we would like to trade for such. Mind you, I said trade. We are not some evil empire bent on galactic domination as in the stories of old. The Cassad are more of a benevolent collective now instead of the corporate interest in the past, trying to build an empire based on mutual cooperation, fostering an atmosphere of human advancement for the good of all.

One of Thorn’s people leaned over and whispered in his ear.

How rude of us. May we offer you the opportunity to share a midday meal, Balogun? Thorn asked.

That would be very hospitable, Proctor Thorn. Thank you very much.

Then allow us to conduct you to diplomatic quarters where you may relax until lunch is served. Do you still keep the standard time from pre—how did you call it—Dark Age times? If so, we will be ready to eat in one standard hour, Thorn said, seeing the Balogun nod. Cordish gave a small bow of his head and said, Thank you very much, you are most hospitable.

When they arrived at the suite, Sergeant Hill signaled the marines to check out the room, using their own hand-held multipurpose communicators while she and the Balogun made small talk about their impressions so far.

It appears that they have reconstituted their technology quite well, Balogun.

Indeed, they have, Ilania, keeping up the harmless fiction about the sergeant’s true role.

Perhaps there’s much we can learn from this world, and it is my hope that we have something of value to trade.

One of the marines passed by the two and cut Sergeant Hill a glance, nodding once. Hill winked at the Balogun.

I think their medical technology is something I would like to discuss in more depth, the Cordish indicated.

When the delegation was conducted to the dining room, and once they were all seated, the conversation was wide-ranging. The proctor’s people were interested in the empire, and Cordish’s people asking innocuous questions about Syzygy and its people. Sergeant Hill had casually laid her tablet on the table, secretly recording all the conversations for analysis later.

Proctor Thorn, do you have records about those who originally settled your world? asked Cordish.

Yes we do. Our original settlers were from what was an Afro-Asian community of technologists. They built their first ship in secret no less, large enough for their whole community, but they built two more for redundancy then set off to find their own world. They found this world, and in all this time, you’re only the second visitors we have ever had, Thorn explained.

According to the records, our people left Earth in secret, settled here in secret, and up until eleven years ago, lived here in secret.

May I inquire as to what happened eleven years ago, Proctor Thorn?

Thorn cleared his throat uncomfortably, then said, We were visited by raiders, people who came only for what they could steal, and we dealt with them. At this time, that’s all I care to say about the incident.

I hope I have not caused offense, Proctor. It was not my intention. I was just curious who else may have been cruising through this sector. It’s exciting for us to have found your world. Our aim is merely to locate lost worlds of the empire, and if you were not really part of the realm, then we are doubly blessed to have found you, nothing more, Proctor Thorn, Cordish said, with a respectful bow of his head.

May I ask what would happen if we prefer to not come into the empire’s fold, Balogun Cordish? Thorn asked, eyebrow raised.

We are a benevolent people, our aspirations for conquering other peoples have been eliminated from our culture, Proctor. There will be no penalties or coercion if you decide to remain independent from the Cassad Empire. And, should your position change, or if there is need for any kind of assistance, we will never bear any grudge held against you for your continued independence, Cordish assured Thorn.

Though somewhat skeptical, I take you at your word, Balogun. Once we finish, I would like to take you on a tour of our academic center, and a couple of other locations that might be of interest to your delegation.

That would be excellent. Thank you for your consideration, Proctor Thorn.

Don’t mention it, it is my pleasure.

Once they concluded the meal, they all boarded the same conveyance that had brought them. Proctor Thorn explained that they were on their way to the planet’s largest university and the seat of their knowledge.

They rode through the city for a good amount of time, going toward the outskirts next to an enormous mountain sticking out of the city. There were countless buildings around the massive structure.

This is our world’s central campus of higher learning. This campus was originally our only school. We’re in our original settlement, albeit it was nothing like it is today, explained Thorn.

Your city is impressive. What is its name?

Do you know anything about the music form on Earth called jazz? Thorn asked, smiling broadly.

A little, admitted Cordish.

The name of our original settlement was Birdland, this is Birdland.

Sergeant Hill was running a search on both jazz, and anything associated with ‘Birdland," trying to get background context on the psychology of the Syzygy inhabitants. She stored the results on her tablet in case Balogun Cordish needed it and returned her attention to Proctor Thorn.

. . . and that’s why our titles derive from academia. We have little need for the accustomed politicians; our lives are pretty much ruled by common sense, education and reason. If you will all follow me, we have arrived at our first stop.

Everyone disembarked from the vehicle, and with Thorn’s two aides holding open the doors into the building, they entered the structure. Once inside, the Balogun’s party was struck by the silence, and how their footsteps on the floor seemed to be immediately swallowed up by the still air. When they passed through the entryway, Thorn led them into an immense room with every wall covered by shelves completely filled with books.

This entire structure is filled with just over 85% of our entire pre-Dark Age knowledge. Once our scientists realized what the rising galactic radiation would mean for technology, we immediately began to print and bind all the data stored on our network. We went through our entire stock of paper in the process, paper that was supposed to last for decades, Thorn said, making a sweeping gesture at the many books on the shelves.

How big is the building? asked Sergeant Hill.

In the old measure, it covers four acres, three stories tall with a full basement. We built it over the nuclear power supply from our second ship. When that failed we had to resort to these skylights during the day, Thorn said pointing, and then candles after dark. It took us several months to learn how to make candles in a non-technological setting.

This is incredible! Hill exclaimed. How many books are housed in this building?

Over two million volumes grace these shelves, replied Thorn.

To have accomplished this was an amazing feat, Proctor Thorn. There is nothing in the empire that I know of that comes close to what your ancestors managed to do here. You should be proud of the accomplishment, Cordish said.

Thank you. And now if you’ll follow me back to the transport, we have one more site for you to see, said Thorn, ushering everyone back the way they came.

As they traveled through the streets, there were few people out and about. They crossed paths of only a handful of other vehicles. When Cordish remarked about his observation, Thorn replied that most of the city’s citizens were engaged in either work or education, and that once their day’s work was concluded, there was much more foot and vehicular traffic. Cordish was watching out the front window as they traveled closer and closer to the massive, incongruous mountain located well within the city’s boundaries.

They finally came to a broad, paved plain that led to an enormous door cut into the side of the mountain. They drove right up to the gate and stopped. They then waited for Thorn to exit and approach the side of the great door.

He pressed his hand on a barely-seen panel and waited for the door to begin opening, splitting at the middle as the two halves slid aside.

As soon as the doors opened wide enough, Thorn returned to the transport and directed the driver to enter. The path ahead was shrouded in shadows, with nothing to guide them but a white line painted on the floor reaching farther ahead than the headlights lit the floor. The transport continued deep into the mountain. Finally, they pulled up to a small console and stopped.

Thorn gestured for everyone to exit the vehicle, then went over to the console. He pressed a softly glowing button. Slowly, the lights in the impossibly large room began to glow, then lit, and finally came to full brightness. As more of the massive cavern was revealed, everyone saw a nearly endless supply of machines, construction vehicles, aircraft and even what looked like several spacecraft.

Sergeant Hill and the disguised marines’ eyes were darting around the immediate area looking for threats as Balogun Cordish looked upon the machines in wonder.

How—when—this is extraordinary, Proctor Thorn! You can’t have redesigned and built these since the end of the Dark Age. Please, are these from before the Dark Age? And if so, how did you preserve them?

As I said, we saw the breakdown of technology just before it happened. We stored as much of our tech that we could after hollowing out this mountain. The city gradually grew around it as half of our scientists tried to understand the galactic electromagnetic radiation that killed all electrical machinery then tried to figure a way to counteract it. The other half began working from another direction to try to maintain our civilization, Thorn explained.

And were they able to? Cordish asked.

Thorn smiled. Not exactly. We had to find a new way forward. But even though three hundred years seems like an enormous amount of time, in terms of a history spanning from the first steps off planet Earth until now, it was almost literally just a blink of an eye. Like all our efforts to preserve and conquer our world, we are rather single-minded in achieving our collective goals, he said, eliciting a smile and a chuckle from one of his aides.

I see. May we have some time to look around this—what do you call it, this place, Proctor Thorn? Cordish requested.

Indeed you may. If you will come around this way, we will show you how to ride our personal transports; the children of our would call them ‘Scoots,’ Thorn said, leading them over to a row of two-wheeled conveyances. Instead of the wheels being mounted front and back, they were spread side-by-side and the rider stepped on a small platform. The Scoots automatically balanced themselves, responding to a rider’s leaning in the direction they wanted to go. Laughing like children, the proctor’s aides and the Balogun’s delegation took off in several directions to tour the vast number of machines and ships in the immense cavern, leaving Thorn and Cordish alone together.

Care to get off your feet, Balogun? Thorn asked.

That’s sounds like a splendid idea, Proctor.

They took seats at a table a short distance away from the console, hearing cries of surprise and delight off in the distance.

They sound like they’re having a good time, Proctor. Do your people visit this facility very often?

Almost exclusively for educational purposes while in school. There’s not much here that is very useful to us in these modern times, although we do have people who maintain the ships and other machines in working order. If you look up, you’ll be able to see that the roof of the cavern is retractable in case the need presents itself, said Thorn, pointing upward. This is a museum of the past. We even managed to safely land our few spacecraft before the fall of technology. They’re scattered about in here.

Does your world engage in very much space travel?

We do not. We have barely scraped the surface of the resources of this world. Just recently our scientists have discovered intriguing clues suggesting a prehistory very much like that of Earth. This planet may have hosted an explosion of life millions of years ago. What is most intriguing is that our scientists have not been able to determine whether or not the life originated here, said Thorn.

Alien life? Truly?

There are anomalies, however this planet’s equivalent of DNA has not been discovered in the fossilized remains we have uncovered to date. Even though the atmosphere here is now almost identical to Earth’s, the gravity is 3% higher. When we located this world, the records show that our ancestors were quite surprised by the world’s environment, how close to Earth’s it was. We arrived in three ships that we had built in secret on Earth, this was before the science behind slipping was revealed to the rest of the world. It took just a handful of standard years before we were able to grow food here, but once we determined that our agricultural stock grew and bred true, it wasn’t long before we force-grew animal stock. All in all, we have been blessed to have found such an accommodating world.

I would say so. But if I am reading you correctly, it appears that you have little wish for commerce, educational exchange or even visitation with the empire. Would that be a fair characterization, sir? Cordish asked, watching closely for the proctor’s reply.

Thorn was silent for a few moments, then said, That is true. We have lived in peace for many standard centuries. We left Earth to find a place where we could live in peace without the distractions of those who believed different from us. In this way we ask no one to share in our beliefs, to live as we do, or to do anything that they would find objectionable. And before you ask, yes, there are those of us who do not believe as the majority of our community does. But they realize that the consensus of the majority rules reason and doctrine here. As a result, we have very little dissent. We do not stifle anyone’s voice, and looking back at the historical records of Earth, our society could be characterized as a paradise.

That’s my point exactly, Proctor. I believe that the empire could learn much from your way of life, your societal and political structure, all for the better, Cordish said, not hiding his excitement.

But at what cost, Balogun? Thorn said sadly. Even you must know that no matter how much your empire’s visitors try to keep from contaminating our culture with their ideas and expectations, just their very presence would do just that.

Nodding his head in agreement, Cordish admitted the truth of Thorn’s assertion.

Moments later, Sergeant Hill returned, her excitement clearly visible. There are so many amazing machines here, Balogun Cordish! It would be a lifetime of study to try to catalog them all, she said, brushing her hand across her jacket, indicating that she had recorded everything she saw.

I’m sure. However, we should be getting back to the ship. Proctor Thorn, would you allow us to return tomorrow to continue our discussions? I would very much like the opportunity to present you with more information about the Cassad Empire, even if it’s merely for your own records.

I do not see any reason why not. Shall we gather our respective flocks? Thorn said, getting to his feet and walking over to the console. He touched a control, setting off lights embedded in the floor that flashed strobes in the direction of the console.

Several minutes later everyone was accounted for, lining up the Scoots to be recharged. Then they set off for the transport. Once aboard, they rode in silence back to the landing site. When they arrived, Proctor Thorn bade them all goodbye as the Balogun’s entourage boarded the shuttle.

Have a pleasant day planetside, Balogun? asked the commander as he prepared for takeoff.

It was quite interesting, Commander. Sergeant Hill, did your team record everything you could?

We did, Balogun. We will have all the data uploaded once we’re aboard. I have to mention that it looked like they had a dreadnaught class raider stored away. Did the proctor mention the class of ships they left Earth in? she asked.

No, only that they had three ships when they discovered the planet. Interesting, he said, his voice trailing off.

How so, Balogun? she asked.

Because the fact that they have a warship implies that they either thought they would have need for one, or actually had use for one. Proctor Thorn mentioned raiders visited their world a short time back but refused to give me any details of that visit. I wonder if they deployed that very dreadnaught to dispatch the raiders? There is much the empire can learn here, but I am beginning to doubt that we’ll have the opportunity. When we dock, please have your team upload everything they recorded, flagging anything that you feel I need to take a look at before we return planetside. Also, see to it that the transcript of the lunch conversations is prepared as quickly as possible.

Right away, Balogun.

The rest of the flight back to the Piercer was uneventful, with only light chatter among Sergeant Hill’s team as they organized the video images they had collected.

Once back aboard the Piercer, Cordish made his way to the bridge to discuss his impressions and observations on the planet with Captain Bane. An hour into their discussion, Sergeant Hill informed them that all the data collected was uploaded and indexed. Bane thanked her and turned to his console, then he and Cordish began to go through the recorded inventory of what Hill called magic mountain.

I recognize many of these machines and vehicles. They are analogues of pre-Dark Age technologies I have studied, Balogun. But this is something else, altogether, Bane said, pulling up the image of the dreadnaught. "This design is unfamiliar. And these weapon mounts appear larger and more powerful than anything pre-Dark Age. It was not built in any of the known shipyards on record. If this is the product of these people, then I fear we may