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I WAS TALKING with our new Gunner Gerd Ukh-Meemeesh — a surprisingly relaxed and even deliberative Trillian, he was nice to chat with and actually somewhat shy. I couldn’t detect even a drop of “star sickness” in him, which was actually surprising for someone with a purple ribbon. In fact, he was only the third member of a different spacefaring race in history to be found worthy of such a high honor from the ruler of the Geckho. The only special request the fifteen-foot long six-legged “crocodile” made was for a new gunner’s seat adapted for his shape and size. The standard one was too small and cramped for him. The Trillian and I chose an appropriate replacement from a catalogue and I immediately instructed Uline Tar to order it for delivery to the Geckho spaceport on Earth.
Gerd Ukh-Meemeesh was fairly tight-lipped about the part he played in past military conflicts and his former employers. The little information I did get I had to squeeze out of him drop by drop. But the Gunner did not hide his skills and willing shared his ability list with me. Heavy Weapons three hundred forty-seven. Gravity Weapons two hundred ninety. Energy Weapons three hundred five. Sharpshooter... four hundred twenty!!! Tracking, Ballistics, Trajectory Prediction... all of those skills were far beyond two hundred. The sky-high figures made my head spin. By the way, I made a mental note that Gerd Ukh-Meemeesh would have no problem using the Mechanoid Spatial Cutter — the ancient weapon which was no being stored in my faction’s territory on Earth, which I had obtained from the bogus “antiquities trader” on Kasti-Utsh III.
Vasily Filippov the Bard apologized for distracting me from the conversation and extended a sheet of paper with a collection of digits. I didn’t understand what it was at first, but then it dawned on me:
“Have you finally assembled the device from the set of long-distance communication blueprints the Prelates of Tailax gave us?!”
“Yes, Captain Gnat. We assembled it in the real world and determined our coordinates for a long-distance communication uplink. The Dome project curators have told me that it is now located in the Onega-3 complex and they are willing to talk. They also asked me to say they had a lot of questions for you.”
A lot of questions? Amusing. Had the curators of the Dome project really not yet figured it out? Did they really still think they had any way of strong-arming me? If anything, it would actually be entertaining to show them the true state of affairs in all its glory. I asked Filippov if he would come with me into the Pyramid Contact Hall.
“Unfortunately not, captain. I was urged to come to come to Onega-3 personally. A helicopter is already waiting outside the Dome. They said they might need me to comment and explain some things, so I will be there with them. What do you say, Leng Gnat? Shall I tell the curators you’ll be ready for a video conference in forty minutes?”
I nodded and released the Bard into the real world. Then I activated the Scanning icon, gathering information about the players currently located on my frigate. Gerd Minn-O La-Fin, Gerd Uline Tar, Gerd Ayni Uri-Miayuu... Just what I needed! They would make quite the formidable retinue for a prominent Free Captain. I asked those three players to accompany me at the talks.
* * *
“READY, LENG GNAT!” Miyelonian Engineer Orun Va-Mart finished working his magic with the settings, and the lights in the Pyramid Contact Hall went out.
After four seconds of absolute darkness, a big rectangular screen lit up before us. On it I could see a familiar small chamber filled with people. Almost right away, I recognized Igor Tarasov, leader of the Human-3 Faction, and Alexander Antipov its security director. I also saw Valentina Koval — leader of the now defunct Human-25 Faction, which had merged into the Relict. And I saw Vasily Andreyevich Filippov sitting in the front row wearing a military uniform with major patches.
By all appearances, they could also see Gnat and my companions beside me because, after a brief pause, the voice of the man conducting the assembly rang out in dismay — it was the same gray-hair as last time, Major Kudryavtsev. The one who had ordered me arrested.
“Kirill, these were meant to be confidential talks, and we assumed you would be alone.”
Gerd Ayni, standing behind me, unflappably translated that into Geckho, as well as my response:
“These are my official spouse, my business partner and my authorized representative. Each of them has the right to speak in my name in an official capacity. I trust all three of them implicitly. Furthermore, it is my understanding that we are here to discuss humanity’s part in the war on the side of the Geckho, finances, purchases, space logistics and the parallel magocratic world. Gerd Minn-O La-Fin and Gerd Uline Tar know more about these issues than me and, without Gerd Ayni, you would not be able to find a common tongue.”
All those in the hall started exchanging whispers. The presence of three outsiders clearly bothered them. I though wasted no time and brazenly read the curators’ thoughts:
“So this is how he’s gonna play it? Curious.” “The Princess is representing our enemies.” “They are all prominent players and we must treat them with respect.” “Well, the kitty is alright. She’s cute.” “Why does Gnat have no people from our world in his inner circle?”
A little while later, the Major voiced the common opinion:
“Kirill, your companions may remain, however, that means our agenda will have to be truncated. But for starters, I’d like your remarks on the following issue: the faction directors,” he pointed at Alexander Antipov and Igor Tarasov, “say they haven’t seen you under the Dome for a long time. And apparently, a few days ago, your virt pod in corncob fifteen opened all on its own and was in fact empty. How do you explain that?”
I simply couldn’t believe my ears. Had faction leadership really not yet realized that I had changed my exit point into the real world a whole ten days ago??? No, I mean this wouldn’t be the first time I’d been struck by the massive delay between game events and the curators finding out about them. But was it really so hard to notice that a person had spent much longer than the maximum possible time in the game? Or that I had left the game several times in the last few days (my crewmembers could have told them that), and yet still not appeared under the Dome. Putting those facts together and drawing the obvious conclusions seemed to be the easiest thing imaginable. I shook my head in reproach:
“At our last meeting, you ordered me arrested. And now you ask me this...?”
“Not arrested, temporarily detained,” the officer corrected me, but I just waved it off:
“Call it whatever you like, the idea doesn’t change. I did not appreciate being confined one bit. Is it really so strange that I took certain measures to avoid such unpleasant incidents in the future? And... by the way! I sent H3 faction leader Igor Tarasov a message saying I spoke with the ruler of the Miyelonians Kung Keetsie-Myau on the Kasti-Utsh III space station. In my view, that made it completely obvious where my body was located in the real world.”
Here even my companion Ayni couldn’t resist an acrid remark, though it was in Miyelonian so only I would understand:
“Do the people of Earth really not watch the galactic news? You, me and Valeri were shown on Miyelonian and Geckho channels. I saw the reports myself.”
“This will surprise you, Ayni, but most people of Earth not only don’t watch the galactic news, they don’t even suspect the Miyelonians and Geckho exist.”
My tailed Translator started opening her mouth to say something, but the surprise just left her standing there with her maw agape. And meanwhile the curators asked their next question, this time surprisingly on topic:
“Kirill, as far as we understand, the suzerains have tasked you with mustering the army of Earth. But may we inquire as to who will be leading the army during the hostilities? Have the Geckho appointed any human generals? Or generals of any other spacefaring race for that matter? Or do you presume you can lead thousands of soldiers into war on your own without even the most minimal army training?”
Good question. Yes, I did not in fact have any experience leading large army units or conducting mass scale battles. I would make a terrible commander and I understood that perfectly well. But I knew a person who did have more than enough experience — leader of the Second Directory General Ui-Taka, a man regarded as the best military leader of modern times by the leaders of the magocratic world. Furthermore, the recent conflict the general headed for the La-Fin Faction against the H1, H3 and H6 factions at the same time had proven his reputation for talent was not the least bit undeserved.
That was exactly what I said back to the curators, along with the fact that General Ui-Taka had already sworn to help me wholeheartedly both in the game and the real world. Yet another pause took hold — they were all discussing my unexpected response.
“We approve. General Ui-Taka makes an appropriate candidature for the role of commander of the united army of Earth,” Major Kudryavtsev again voiced the collective decision. “By the way, if the general refuses for some reason or needs help, the General Staff of Russia is prepared to provide specialists with great experience in conducting military operations. The Human-3 Faction is also prepared to provide up to fifteen hundred troops to the fledgling army and agrees to hand over the Second Legion in its entirety for special missions in the parallel world for...” here the assembly chief paused as if he couldn’t make up his mind to say the number, “eight million Geckho crystals! Our economists have calculated that precise figure — it is exactly how much we will need to purchase gear and armaments for our fifteen hundred draftees for the war against the Meleyephatian Horde.”
I didn’t respond and turned to my business partner, who listened carefully to the translation. Uline Tar maintained her calm appearance, just clarified whether it was remotely proper for them to suggest I should be spending my, or rather our shared money on purchases for what was in fact a different faction. Why could the Relict and La-Taka factions get by on their own, while my former faction effectively signed off on its own impotence? Should I perhaps not pressure these people with the authority bestowed upon me by Krong Daveyesh-Pir and insist they carry out the suzerains’ order? Or at the very least should I not say I would only give them the eight million crystals as a loan?
Here I asked the curators for a pause so I could discuss. Furthermore, I saw that Vasily Filippov and Igor Tarasov, who could understand what the Geckho woman was saying, were translating her completely justified questions for the others. By the way they immediately looked dejected, I could tell the curators hadn’t looked at the financial problem from that perspective.
“My husband, the support of the Second Legion is essential and will help us maintain power through the mayhem being wrought in the magocratic world,” Princess Minn-O La-Fin voiced her opinion, switching to her native language. “Eight million is very serious money. But our lives and the life of our future child are worth more.”
Finally, all the whispering ceased. They were all silently awaiting my reaction. I though was in no hurry. I did have eight million, I didn’t even have to ask Uline Tar for help. However, how justified really was having one player spend his own funds to solve the financial issues of a huge faction? Should they perhaps be made to deal with it themselves like all the other Earth factions — by selling precious resources, especially given the prices in the spaceport should have been made acceptable already? On the other hand, agreeing to dispatch the three hundred soldiers of the Second Legion into the meat grinder of a war that was entirely foreign to them was a big step to meet us half way on the part of the Human-3 Faction, and that gesture had to be recognized. Furthermore, Princess Minn-O’s opinion coincided with mine entirely — maintaining power over the First Directory and thus retaining the ability to recruit basically unlimited numbers of troops from the magocratic world into my faction justified any expenses.
Finally, I told them my decision:
“You shall receive the eight million crystals, but only under the following three conditions. One: the Human-3 Faction shall construct a planetary shield generator on its territory. I will provide blueprints, technologies, materials and all necessary equipment. You may choose the location, preferably to the east of the Eastern Swamp node so it’s far enough away from the generator already under construction on Rocky Island. Everything you need will be delivered to the shore of the bay — you will bring it from there to the site. Well and, as stands to reason, you will provide the labor. And you will need a lot of workers. I give you exactly one year to construct it. This issue is of critical importance for the survival of humanity, so this is all extremely serious. If you do not meet the deadline — all directors of the Human-3 Faction will be executed with no exception, as well as everyone else at the assembly today. In the real world. And I will find a way to make good on that threat, you needn’t have any doubts!”
Psionic skill increased to level one hundred twenty-three!
Mental Fortitude skill increased to level one hundred twenty!
Authority increased to 102!
I made a very serious psionic investment to boost my words, burning up half of my mana with that one message. And then I fell silent, carefully observing the curators’ reactions. Yes, at first they were predictably shocked. But I was purposely formulating my words as harshly as possible so the gravity of their mission and each of their personal responsibility for it would be crystal clear. Also, discovering that the Gnat on screen was now bigger than some expelled student slash gamer would be a very good lesson for the curators of the Dome project to learn. Let them get used to the fact that times had changed, and they were now up against someone who could give them orders and make certain they were being carried out.
Despite the harshness of my speech, they didn’t attempt to refute the first point at all. In fact, the Human-3 Faction was interested in the mass-scale construction project for a variety of reasons. New technologies, expansion into new territories, infrastructure development, and yet another big step toward keeping our Earth safe. Here our goals coincided completely. Once I was sure the curators agreed with me, I continued my speech:
“Condition two: the Human-3 Faction must at long last become self-sufficient. By the time of the second draft, you must be able to provide your troops with everything they need. I have demanded our suzerains reduce prices for space imports, while purchase prices for our goods have been increased six-fold, so favorable financial conditions for the Human-3 Faction are assured. Or, like my Relict Faction, you could even build the capacity to produce everything you need on your own territory.”
I listened closely to the emotions and thoughts of my audience. Again, rejection. The curators agreed with my demands and even, as far as I could understand, the Human-3 Faction already aimed to do that without my urging. Alright, so I found complete agreement there as well. I moved on to the final point:
“And condition three, also obligatory: no more concealing the truth about the game that bends reality! Humanity must know what a grave challenge they are up against, and that its very existence is at stake. I don’t know exactly how — either through an official speech by the president or something on the UN podium — but the people must know the truth.”
For some reason, the response to that was a murmur of dismay. What was this? I couldn’t understand the cause of their indignation. But then one of the people, wearing a stylish suit from a famous couturier, stood up and requested the microphone. Before that curator even began to speak, I read in the thoughts of the others that he was a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Kirill, do you really believe this issue is not already under consideration, and that the information blackout about the game that bends reality is some freakish whim of the Russian state? Let me assure you that our diplomats have carried out innumerable consultations with our foreign counterparts. And in places we have encountered fierce resistance verging on threats of open war. Some of the sanctions placed on various countries in the last few months, regardless of how they are explained formally, are in fact intended to muzzle these countries and keep them from talking about the game that bends reality at any cost. After all, think for yourself — the current world order would collapse in an instant if humanity were to find out about its suzerains and accept the terms of the game.”
Oh wow... That came as a surprise. But still I tried to object:
“The example of the magocratic world,” I pointed at Princess Minn-O La-Fin, “proves that telling the truth won’t make the sky fall. In fact, it will greatly simplify the task of recruiting troops for all factions. And anyway, would it really be better to have the world order collapse in a year and a half when invading starships come into orbit around our planet?”
A gray-haired Lieutenant General sitting next to the diplomat took the microphone from his colleague and answered my question:
“The world order, I suspect, would not collapse. The most influential political leaders and financial clans on our planet have long been aware of the game that bends reality. Some take active part in it; others look on it as a promising investment opportunity. And naturally the limited timeframe worries everyone. All factions are preparing for it in one way or another. We are also aware that the other terrestrial factions have their own plans for the end of the tong of safety. It is especially obvious on the big continent of the virtual planet, where disparate factions are consolidating and forming a unified military and political pact. The Russian H3 and H23 factions have also received an offer to join this new center of power. I would prefer not to discuss this topic in front of your companions, though because this is an internal matter for humanity and does not pertain to other races. However, even a cursory glance at the new coalition’s plans proves that they are much more realistic than your utopian fantasy of uniting any and all factions under the umbrella of your personal Relict Faction.”
