Read Online Star Force: Quenar (SF88) (Star Force Origin Series) by Aer-ki Jyr - Free Book Online Page A

the Uriti as a weapon. They will
stay here, within the Preserve, permanently.”
    “As to what we will do with them here…that remains to
be determined. We are already attempting to find a secondary means of
communication other than the controlling function encoded within them by the
Chixzon, and how we proceed down the road will ultimately be determined by what
level of communication we are able to achieve. You need not concern yourself
with that if you do not wish it. You will be welcome to observe our efforts and
we will make records available to you, but this is our Preserve, our Uriti, and
our project. There may be opportunities for you to assist, but we will always
maintain control.”
    “And we will guard the control of this Uriti against
anyone who tries to steal or destroy that control. Already a race called the
Trinx have betrayed and attacked us, so please understand that we are not in a
trusting mood. I know your empires and races have questions and concerns, which
I will address in time, but for now you need to accept that we are in control
here and will be further cementing that control over time. Right now we are
building an embassy station that is mobile enough to avoid the Uriti if it
should come our way. There will be no fixed installations within the Preserve
that we are not willing to lose, and any such expendable infrastructure will
not be permanently inhabited. While we can order the Uriti, the level of that
control has not been fully tested yet, though doing so is on our to-do list.”
    “We will test and learn about this Uriti while
building infrastructure that will be able to move and stay out of its way.
Those of you who are agreeable will be allowed to establish and maintain an
embassy on this station for a variety of purposes. Already we have a great
number of far flung races here that probably have little or no contact with one
another through other means. As long as this is a focal point for you all, we
might as well make this Preserve a diplomatic station
as well. On a lesser note, people will want to come and see the Uriti for all
number of reasons. To that end we will, over time, allow a select amount of
visitors, whether they be researchers or tourists, to enter the Preserve on our
terms.”
    “For those of you who doubt our control, take note of
the star with your ships’ sensors. In a moment we will call the Uriti out to
demonstrate that it will respond to us.”
    There was a long pause, but once she had given
everyone ample time to prepare, she sent a signal to the Zeus and almost immediately the feeble tracking of the Uriti within
the star showed it begin to gain altitude. Yetti didn’t say anything more until it finally burst forth through the highest level
of material that made up the ‘surface’ of the star and out into the hazy
atmosphere that surrounded it, slowly making its way out into full view and to
the coordinates that the Duke had already highlighted on the map for the
representatives to see. As promised, the Uriti flew up to those coordinates and
stopped on the spot, holding position and doing nothing else.
    “There will be other such demonstrations in the coming
months as we study the Uriti, but I hope this answers any lingering questions
as to whether or not we are being honest. The Uriti responds to our commands
and we promise to keep it within this preserve, not only to protect our own
inhabited systems, which are far closer than any of yours, but to protect
everyone that might be coming in the path of a Uriti
on the rampage, as this one recently was.”
    “You do not know us, yet, but our word is good. So
stay and observe. You’ll see that the Uriti does not travel beyond this
Preserve, not will we allow anyone else to have access to it except through us.
They will not be used as weapons again, and any Uriti deposited into this
Preserve will likewise be free from misuse or roving rampages. If you know of
where another one is located, or are guarding it