A pure fractal made in Apophysis 2.09
The crew of the Amanirenas at large did not know about the warp drive test that would change how humans moved through space forever, and how it would be conducted; that was confined to the command staff and main bridge crew. In the two weeks between arriving in the Tyyan system for the test and actually doing the test, the overall orders for everyone were to study the rainbow moths of the Tyyan system, and those orders would remain standing for a week afterward.
But also while working on that, ships on science missions had other projects they were working on, because there were discoveries made that required a joint effort between science crews to understand, each ship only having so much time to allot to each discovery.
It was our turn to take a whack at understanding what had happened with the beautiful but deadly creature above.
Commander Helmut Allemande, my first officer, was also chief science officer for the Amanirenas, and present with us on board for the warp drive work were Admiral Benjamin Banneker-Jackson, my uncle, and Admiral Thomas Jefferson. Both were eminent fleet scientists, rivals in cadet days with a historical barb added because of family histories going back to the early days of the United States, close colleagues and even friends in late career. That gave the Amanirenas special status.
“In other words, if nobody else has time, pitch it over here to the semi-retired who do,” my uncle quipped about it.
“Well, I wouldn't say that, Uncle, but yes, that is pretty much what is going on,” I said as we headed for the briefing.
As captain, it was a delight to watch the two octogenarian admirals get their briefing from the ship's science officer and just start thinking together.
“That's some nasty work, though beautiful – I think we have it all wrong in our initial reports,” Adm. Jefferson said.
“We didn't realize early on that those crowns are not handiwork at all, but sentient beings,” Adm. Banneker-Jackson said. “That misunderstanding has colored the rest of the workup – no fault of yours, Captain Biles-Dixon and Cmdr. Allemande, and I rather think our ship's team here has brought out some good sidelights to the matter.”
“I'd like to see the autopsy reports on those who were wearing these,” Adm. Jefferson said.
“Commander,” I said, and Cmdr. Allemande instantly produced them.
“How much does one of these death-wrought crowns weigh?” Adm. Banneker-Jackson said.
“It varies,” Cmdr. Allemande said, “but the metric is always 1.65 times the weight of the head wearing it.”
“I knew he was on to something,” Adm. Jefferson said to Adm. Banneker-Jackson.
“He generally is,” Adm. Banneker-Jackson said with a smile.
Cmdr. Allemande smiled very slightly, but said nothing as the two admirals considered the other data.
“Yes, sir, we have this totally wrong,” Adm. Banneker-Jackson said, “and I expect when we have translation for the Bucublirian language, this will be confirmed – the humanoids wearing these were not the kings but the conquered or the criminals.”
“Beautiful torture,” Adm. Jefferson said. “The autopsies show not the neck injuries one would expect from wearing a headdress too heavy for the head and the repetitve small injuries that mount up, but a slow tearing of the neck upward.”
“Being stretched at the rack, every single day for the rest of one's life,” Adm. Banneker-Jackson said.
“So, then, that set of commercial crewers that thought they were going to become kings of the new rich world got crowned, but not like they wanted,” I said.
Both admirals sighed.
“It's not like the Buculibrians discriminated,” Adm. Banneker-Jackson said. “The visual records show that visiting humanoids from around our neck of the galactic woods got their 'kingship' when visiting, perhaps uninvited.”
“Pretty much the only visiting humanoids in the pictures who were treated well, centuries ago, were probably Uppaaimarn,” Adm. Jefferson said, “and the Vulcans have done well since as well.”
“Respect, power, and logic,” Cmdr. Allemande said. “We also have all three when we choose to use them as humanity.”
“Indeed, but it's making the right choice,” I said.
“It's some nasty work when we don't,” Adm. Jefferson said.
“And a beautiful creature like this shouldn't have to be in the business of doing deadly chiropractic work on human necks – we'll not let that be a trend,” Adm. Banneker-Jackson said.
