cloaked. We have three pilots trained to take the material up to near orbit, and transfer there. The ships are piloted by AIs, no human crew. They leave immediately. Our last,” she talked over his question before it was more than a word, “visit was over a month ago. Security holos are available.”
Kate turned the conversation to more personal matters, “And how long have you been here?”
“Since the Colony's inception at its original site. I was involved in the planning and design. MI thought I would best serve them as its Operations Director once the old Colony was built.”
Kate looked over at Sophie, “If you don't mind me saying, you don't look old enough to have been here that long.”
Sophie gave a tight smile, “That's very kind of you. The biological research function here has made some breakthroughs in cell regeneration and ageing from which we benefit.”
Win leaned forward into his walk so that his mouth was level with Sophie's ear, “Excuse me, but wasn't such technology proscribed by the Organic Edict four hundred years ago?”
Stopping at a door, Sophie held her hand over its access panel, “This isn't cybernetic or nanotech. It's entirely organic and based on the body's own biology. Now, here we are at your quarters, Commander Ho-Yung.”
The door opened. Win thanked her and went inside.
“Commander Cygnate, your quarters are here.” She pointed at a door on the opposite wall. “And General Leland, I'll take you to your quarters further along the corridor.”
Sophie and Kate walked along the corridor, the doors to Win and Djembe's quarters disappearing behind them around the corridor's curve.
Kate picked up the thread of Sophie's last point, “There isn't much detail about the bio-research in the planet's files.”
“No. The research was transferred here twenty five years ago, when this colony site was created. Doctor Currie will explain it. It is classified, Onyx-class. You will probably understand why the Cadre doesn't want people to start gossiping. AIs and immortality aren't something we advertise. Fall is a classified installation, yet still people find out about it.” Standing in front of Kate's quarters, Sophie smiled and opened the door, “Many of our researchers are here because they pursued rumours and brought themselves to MI's attention.”
“I look forward to hearing more about it.” Kate nodded a thanks to Sophie, and stepped into her quarters. The door closed quietly at her back, closing off Sophie into the corridor, who stood looking at it for a few seconds, her face implacable.
She had the distinct feeling that she had wanted to say something more about Fall. But whenever the words started to form in her mind, they disappeared, like dreams on waking.
Maybe it was just nerves about the next few days, she thought. She was bound to be distracted while they awaited the Event.
Kate walked out of her quarter’s bathroom, water vapour billowing in front of her. Water showers were rare on desert planets. She wondered if the expense of transporting it here was to repay Fall’s colonists for their isolation. She sat at the workstation, looking around the room, which was comfortable if functional in appearance. A double bed occupied the far left corner of the room. In the opposite right corner was the door to the room’s bathroom. Arranged in the rest of the space was a small dining table with chairs, two storage lockers set into the wall, and a food and drink unit.
Kate mulled over her arrival less than an hour ago. Daoud’s reception puzzled her. Like her quarters, it had been accommodating, but functional. Almost curt.
Kate turned the conversation to more personal matters, “And how long have you been here?”
“Since the Colony's inception at its original site. I was involved in the planning and design. MI thought I would best serve them as its Operations Director once the old Colony was built.”
Kate looked over at Sophie, “If you don't mind me saying, you don't look old enough to have been here that long.”
Sophie gave a tight smile, “That's very kind of you. The biological research function here has made some breakthroughs in cell regeneration and ageing from which we benefit.”
Win leaned forward into his walk so that his mouth was level with Sophie's ear, “Excuse me, but wasn't such technology proscribed by the Organic Edict four hundred years ago?”
Stopping at a door, Sophie held her hand over its access panel, “This isn't cybernetic or nanotech. It's entirely organic and based on the body's own biology. Now, here we are at your quarters, Commander Ho-Yung.”
The door opened. Win thanked her and went inside.
“Commander Cygnate, your quarters are here.” She pointed at a door on the opposite wall. “And General Leland, I'll take you to your quarters further along the corridor.”
Sophie and Kate walked along the corridor, the doors to Win and Djembe's quarters disappearing behind them around the corridor's curve.
Kate picked up the thread of Sophie's last point, “There isn't much detail about the bio-research in the planet's files.”
“No. The research was transferred here twenty five years ago, when this colony site was created. Doctor Currie will explain it. It is classified, Onyx-class. You will probably understand why the Cadre doesn't want people to start gossiping. AIs and immortality aren't something we advertise. Fall is a classified installation, yet still people find out about it.” Standing in front of Kate's quarters, Sophie smiled and opened the door, “Many of our researchers are here because they pursued rumours and brought themselves to MI's attention.”
“I look forward to hearing more about it.” Kate nodded a thanks to Sophie, and stepped into her quarters. The door closed quietly at her back, closing off Sophie into the corridor, who stood looking at it for a few seconds, her face implacable.
She had the distinct feeling that she had wanted to say something more about Fall. But whenever the words started to form in her mind, they disappeared, like dreams on waking.
Maybe it was just nerves about the next few days, she thought. She was bound to be distracted while they awaited the Event.
Kate walked out of her quarter’s bathroom, water vapour billowing in front of her. Water showers were rare on desert planets. She wondered if the expense of transporting it here was to repay Fall’s colonists for their isolation. She sat at the workstation, looking around the room, which was comfortable if functional in appearance. A double bed occupied the far left corner of the room. In the opposite right corner was the door to the room’s bathroom. Arranged in the rest of the space was a small dining table with chairs, two storage lockers set into the wall, and a food and drink unit.
Kate mulled over her arrival less than an hour ago. Daoud’s reception puzzled her. Like her quarters, it had been accommodating, but functional. Almost curt.
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