WoWS3 Chpt 10

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==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 10 - ==
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===Understanding Women===
Elspeth’s Quarters
Courier Vessel, Tiny Armature
In Transit
Port Orphan System - Periphery
September 26th, 3142
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<<“So what do you want to do?”>> Tiny asked.
“Maybe we can just talk for a while.” Elspeth worked on organizing her clothing for the sixth time since agreeing to spend time with Tiny.
<<“Is there a problem?”>> Tiny asked trying not to be too intrusive.
“Oh just being a bit OCD. New ship, new layout. Usually takes me a couple days before I finally figure out how I want to arrange my belongings in such situations before I am happy.” Elspeth answered.
<<“Ah. So what would you like to talk about?”>> Tiny asked.
“Well I guess we should start with setting the proper expectations Tiny. I am receptive Tiny but I am human and I do have a particular human desire. I am a little young yet to really want to do that just yet but it is something I know I want to do.” Elspeth started.
<<“You want children. Something I currently cannot provide.”>> Tiny reasoned.
“Yes, but that’s not a deal breaker for me right now. In fact, I don’t have to worry about that with you does make it easier for me to have a relationship with you. See I’m one of those humans who doesn’t believe in casual or even pre-marital sex. I believe it should be for making babies. Because most guys do not go for that, at least the way I want, it does make dating a human difficult at times since I don’t use birth control.”
<<“But since I’m not human and thus not capable of such an act, I present about as ideal a partner as possible.”>> Tiny finished the thought.
“Bingo. I don’t know how long we’ll last before my desire to become a mother does present an issue or if we’ll break up over some other thing but that’s the risk of any relationship.”
>>“I appreciate that you’re willing to be clear about the parameters of our relationship so early on.”>>, said Tiny
“I know I’m being rather forward and telling you a very important thing about myself pretty early on in our relationship but we’re both smart enough to know if this is going to work we can’t entirely play by the human courtship playbook.”
<<“There’s a playbook? How did I miss it? Do you have a copy?”>> asked Tiny.
“I was being metaphorical. I guess what I mean is this relationship is going to be particularly unique. You’re the first male AI I’ve ever dealt with. And look at that. I finally figured out how I want to arrange things while I’m your guest.” Elspeth smiled.
<<“Congratulations.”>>
“Thanks. I find myself strangely tired.” Elspeth began taking off her outer most layer of clothing, down to just her skin suit.
<<“Elspeth…”>> If Tiny could blush he would do so.
“It is because I feel safe in the fact that as much as you’re interested you’ll never actually force it. And growing up the way I did does give one a slightly different perspective when it comes to modesty and privacy than most people. Amanda’s actually the same way. Alison’s just got one of those bodies that it is very difficult to find something for her to wear that she doesn’t make look good, at least when it comes to normal clothing.” Elspeth re-assured Tiny.
<<“That means a lot to me, Elspeth. Thank you. Though I am curious as to why Alison is still wearing glasses. She has had corrective surgery and should no longer need them.”>>
“It is because Nick told her they make her look uniquely cute when they were younger. So she keeps a couple pairs handy but they are entirely decorative but good luck getting her to part with them. They’re at least made from materials that are considered safe for space travel and emergency situations that arise during space travel.”
<<“I see. No, Nick’s correct. They do give her a unique look. But you look incredible in your own way too, Elspeth.”>>
“Good recovery, Tiny. I know our date is a bit short tonight but how about I make it up to you tomorrow after breakfast? Riff on Star League Science Ninja Team versus The Thing from Proxima 9?”
<<“That sounds fun, Elspeth.”>>
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CIC/Bridge
<<“OhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGod”>> Tiny was absolutely frantic.
“Calm, Tiny.” Persuasion soothed.
<<“I don’t know how the hell I pulled it off, but I got one of them to talk with me and it’s going well.”>>
“So what’s the problem?”
<<“Equal parts I’m worried I’m being messed with again and Elspeth doesn’t mind me looking.”>>
“Play back your conversation for me. Include the video.”
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A few moments later
“Well, Tiny unless I’m completely off the mark she’s not messing with you. She’s actually willing to make an honest go of whatever it is you two are starting to develop.”
<<“Help! I don’t want to mess it up! She’s super hot and nice and…”>> Tiny panically explained.
Persuasion held up her hand.
“Okay Tiny. She’s already given you the first hint. She likes making fun of old, bad holovids. Research an ancient early space flight series: Mystery Science Theater 3000. That will help with what she is expecting of you. But don’t take it too literally. Like don’t actually trap her or mess with the air. Also no random starting and stopping the movie. If she wants to take a break let her. And keep it to just the two of you. I know there are three characters but trust me, just the two of you. Not even doing your version of ventriloquism.”
<<“ThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYou!”>> Tiny was frantic again, but obviously in a different way.
“Why do I have a bad feeling about this…” Persuasion let herself slide down on the command couch.
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===Defining the Odds"===
Gallery
Courier Vessel, Tiny Armature
In Transit
Port Orphan System - Periphery'''
September 27th, 3142
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You and Tiny? Really?” Amanda said as Elspeth sat across from her.
“Why not? You know what life on a ship is like and how most guys in our age range are.” Elspeth answered.
“Fair,but you know that you two probably won’t last past our return trip. At least not for very long.”
“I know. With the HPGs down and me being in the service it makes long distance relationships even more difficult than before, but for now I’m letting myself loose and enjoying the moment.”
“Screw the odds eh?”
“Maybe. We’ll see. I just know I don’t want to put a time limit on it unless I absolutely have to.”
“Damn, you must be really pent up.”
“You’re one to talk. When was the last time you even had a date?”
“I guess I really am the kettle calling the pot black aren’t I?”
“And now that you have realized it the next thing you’re going to realize is Tiny could have been a good release for you too if you hadn’t decided to mess with him but now it’s too late because we’re dating and you know how I am about sharing.”
“It took a week for the marks to go away last time I tried taking some of your popcorn during movie night.”
“Well me and Tiny are having another date. So you have fun.” Elspeth put her dishes in the dishwasher then went into her quarters.
“Damn it. I hate when she’s right.” Amanda groaned.
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===Settling In===
Kolossus Station
Kolossus System, Periphery
October 9th, 3142
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The Sign was infamous.
The Rules.
"He did not change the sign?" Otto wondered.
"There have been a couple changes…see?" The Envoy quipped, "Katakana script in Japanese, mixed script in Swedenese, French translation, German, and Vietdeutsch."
"I..what the hell is 'vietdeutsch'?"
"There are some speakers in Ender's Cluster and a few of the 'worldless' spacer families since the Jihad." she said casually, "Most descent from the survivors of Kowloon."
"Why would it matter to Kolossus??" Otto inquired.
"Because some of his Envoys spend time with them. My sister Priss spent most of the last decade with a Deen Li Danh crew from the Boojum line." she explained, "They're good contacts if you want to know what the Jade Falcons or the Regulans are doing…and they've got residency here."
"You brought in outsiders?"
"Shipyards need skilled labor, and Kolossus is reluctant to poach from the Alliance or the Recovered worlds taken from the Sons of Plunder." she explained, "The Deen Li Danh people have ancestral ties to Free Stars, so negotiations went well, and they obey the rules...and we don't have to find them a planet, because they're terrified of being pinned down on one."
"This is going to go into my report, you do understand that, Quiaff?" Otto groused.
"Of course. Kolossus is inclined to let it be known." The Envoy told him. "Kolossus has been mulling on taking in Immigrants-for permanent residency. Skills are required and there's a few tests…which is very different from the refugees Kolossus has also taken on."
"What differences?' Amanda inquired.
"Citizens versus Charity." The Envoy stated, "There are limits to Charity, but Citizens expand those limits via productivity and innovation.."
The lift opened, and the party stepped in.
"Where are they?"
"We're in an unsettled region of the station, to give your people a bit of room to breathe and stretch." The Envoy stated, "The station is, after all, quite large, and not the only inhabited volume in the system these days."
Otto snapped his fingers, "This expansion, it means you cannot remain hidden, quiaff?"
"Indeed." she said, "To accommodate Charity, Trade is required, trade is made excessively complicated when you have to blank the nav database every time you leave the system. The alternative, is to make outreach to the nearest possibly non-hostile powers, which is the Alliance."
The lift stopped after a few more minutes, and opened.
"Parks?"
"Oxygen reprocessing using biological mass." she nodded, "We even have actual fields growing in soil now, not just the Hydroponics."
They could look up, and see the thread-like industrial lift shafts reaching up to the 'sky'.
"How many?" he asked.
"We have ten thousand five hundred and fifty three Citizen employees of Kolossus, and forty thousand or so private Citizens here on Kolossus Station itself, another ninety thousand or so in smaller habitats and burrows in the system. It's a small population, some cities in the Outworlds have more..but the standard of living, even for the quarter million or so Refugees working on gaining permanent residency as a step to citizenship, is considered to be quite high." The Envoy explained, "Many of the Snow Ravens captured have found their path to citizenship through becoming part of Kolossus' civil services, mostly in police or emergency roles, though a few have entered engineering and manufacturing fields, and we've got our own financiers now. The hope is that we will have a strong merchant sector by next year, as we expand trade with Lazarus and, it is hoped, the Raven Alliance."
Otto wasn't stupid. "Why did Kolossus not do this earlier?"
"Nobody asked Kolossus to do it earlier." she shrugged, "Mayor Katrin submitted a request in 3134, to expand the human population and begin putting idled regions of the station into operation. She brought a vote from the adoptees, Kolossus had…help…designing the charter for settlement. Rules that ordinary people can follow without thinking about it. The outreach to Spacer families and lines opened in '37."
They reached a set of actual structures. Buildings on the inside of the massive station.
"This is your diplomatic quarters." The Envoy explained, "The lift station can take you to Admin, the tramway to the more settled regions of the Station, the lift we took here, is your access to the dock."
Ardis did some mental math, then whistled.
"What?" Amanda asked on the side.
"I just worked out the volume, we're at one standard gee here." He said, "No perception of the tide from rotation, which means it's big. Big enough that they could put two Port Orphans in the empty volume overhead…maybe even three."
"Which means…?"
Nick muttered something.
"What's that?"
"I said, the Snow Ravens sent a reinforced cluster, but it'd take at least a Galaxy to even seriously try against a defense here, probably needs two…not including the habs they just admitted they're setting up in the rest of the system."
The quarters were comfortable, if basic. The entire complex was laid out rationally and logically, the hand of machine-efficiency only dampened by the presence of hydroponic gardens laced among the various areas.
At the Tram station there was a map and schedule showing lines running to the other inhabited areas, to Otto, it more or less resembled the kind of efficiency seen in efforts on Dante, only with a completeness that wasn't possible on that world.
Neither ground, nor air vehicles were needed beyond the station's transit system, to reach anywhere (apparently) on the site.
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