Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 02

Alex Enroe offered me to sit with him and then said. "Big Corporations are often painted as the bully and the evil incarnate, but I assure you if the Narth confirm the life form is neither sentient nor alive anymore you can take that to the Union Bank. No amount of money, not even my famous rival Mr. Schwartz could make the Narth do anything they don't want or make them say something that is not so."

It did sound interesting. "So what are you doing there? I mean as a corporation?"

"First and foremost we do research.

The leading Xeno Biological institutes have branches on and inside Gore. Then we harvest small amounts of a special biological liquid that has a host of pharmaceutical uses. Mind you that there is more of that stuff than water in the oceans of Nilfeheim and we harvest about 300 to 400 liters a year. Schwartz does about the equal amount."

"Well I guess I would not mind seeing it. It sounds like an interesting place and unless that Helen woman is right there aren't any others like it."

He shrugged."The Gore Defenders and the Church of Gore claim that there are 11 others like it. In other galaxies of course and without any definite locations, but then the whole mythology of the Gore Planet was dreamed up by an unsuccessful play write named Steven Dunham. He served his twenty two month citizen service as a helper with the science corps on Gore II. He claimed the planet had spoken to him.

He wrote a book and decided to found a religion. I think he thought it would be more profitable than writing plays no one wanted to see.

That wacko adheres to the Gal Drift society and gets his followers from that same society.

Union Police found his notes and PDD during his first arrest and he admitted to have invented it all, to gain fame."

I nodded. "That Helen woman sure swallowed it hook, line and sinker. I guess it is just an outlet for them to blame someone else for their problems."

"Exactly, Mr. Olafson. Now if you like we can actually leave in an hour or so. My private Yacht is standing by and I have a feeling you are not the big reception kind of guy."

"No I am not."

"Splendid. I shake a few more hands and then we are ready to go."

My PDD buzzed and I saw the Olafson Wolf Logo on the preview screen. So separated myself a little and activated the full field screen.

It was Elena who called. She waved and smiled, then the visual sensor pulled back and I saw she was at Uncle Hogun's Inn with little Exa and she in turn was standing close to Aunt Freydis and my big Uncle.

Her sad expression was gone; she beamed with a broad smile on her small face.

"Eric, everything is wonderful here. There is lots of snow and it is cold but I had a snow ball fight with other kids today and it was great fun."

She swallowed and inhaled and went right on. "Do you know what is best? My biggest dream came true. I am going to be adopted. Really. I am going to be an orphan no more, can you believe that?"

Uncle Hogun's usually so stern face looked at her with the greatest affection.

"Eric you have made us the biggest gift you could possibly have made. We love that little whirlwind."

Aunt Freydis also smiled warmly. "We got a child of our own now. Little Exa, and she is hardly stealing anything. She is really good."

I finally managed to say something."I am glad it worked out, for all of you."

Elena said. "We miss you all. Even Father misses you but of course he doesn't say it right out but they delivered the new boats today and he named them Eric and Elena. Right now he is over at the Exchange Cafe bragging with his new boats and telling everyone that his son paid for them just like that.

I miss you Eric."

"I miss you too, Elena."

The Old Keeper came into the view field and to my surprise he wore Olafson Red.

"Don't look at me like that. I think I look good in red. I am officially the Eldest now. I was beating your grumpy friend by a few thousand years anyhow.

Egill is of course our representative now and he was introduced to the Assembly officially only five days ago."

He then touched the red cloak. "You know I had no clan association of my own and therefore could not be an Elder."

He looked over to my sister and I could see the old man's affection for her."It actually was Elena's idea. She is a smart girl, you know. She suggested it and your father made me an Olafson and now I am an Elder ... well the new Eldest that is, if that makes sense. I wasn't associated with anything new the last few millennia."

I had listened to his report and smiled "I was just surprised to see you in Red, sure suits you well, and makes that shaggy beard look whiter."

He brushed his beard. "I think I could trim it a bit"

Then he changed the subject. "What is this all about? You being the Hero of Twilight? Aren't you supposed to be halfway to Arsenal by now? You're basically still in the neighborhood."

"Well it sort of happened."

"Yes we saw the news. Sort of happened. Things like this seem always just sort of happen to you. So where are you now?"

"I am on my way to Gore II. I was invited to check it out. I still have lots of time to make it to Arsenal"

"Oh yes, Gore. I have been there. Amazing place in a disgusting, exciting sort of way. If you there send me a Poster and a T Shirt. I forgot to pick one up and I like to have a souvenir."

"Sure will."

"Take care, young Eric."

They all waved and Elena blew me a kiss. "Next time you call, call from an Avatar enabled GalNet terminal. I want to hug you."

I promised and terminated the call.

The Governor insisted on handing me a medal and said. "From what I understand you are going to apply at the Academy. So I thought a medal might be a good idea. It's the Key to Twilight."

I thanked him and said my farewells, and then I left with Alex Enroe to the Space Port. We rode in an Enroe Excelsior flier of the newest kind and I padded the seats. "I got to admit these are the most comfortable seats I had ever used."

He grinned broadly. "I am glad you approve of them. Not everything good is made by Schwartz Industries, you know."

"I am sure that is the case. I bought an Enroe Industrial Recycler and it did everything it promised it would."

"It is good to hear that."

"So you are the big boss of Enroe?"

"Yes that's me. Enroe Industries, second only to SII."

"I guess there is some rivalry between you and them?"

"Of course there is. There are thousands of Mega Corporations but only twenty that are called Ultra Corporations.

We, I mean Enroe are number two, and I hate to admit that, but we and all the others combined would still be a distant second to SII."

"What makes them so much more successful?"

"Main factor of their success is Rex Schwartz, their CEO and President, he owns most of the stock of his corporation and he is an immortal. You know belonging to that mysterious original group of about two hundred humans selected by someone or something called the Guardian of Earth. SII and Enroe started out on Terra, even before the Ascent. Then of course the technical monopolies Schwartz Industries controls. You know perhaps that GalNet and that marvelous secret of instant communication is owned by Schwartz. SII licensed this technology to the fleet. SII has all patents on Space Train technology, Owns two of the biggest Space Bus companies and is the sole operator of the new Trans Matter tunnels, another technical monopoly.

Schwartz Industries is the Queen approved and Nest appointed supplier of Nutri-Syrup to the Klack. You cannot even begin to imagine how much Sugar vitamin syrup he delivers to the Klack daily. SII had major trade and commerce with the Attikan Commonwealth for over 500 years, long before they became members. Can you guess who does 90 percent of all business there?"

I nodded. "Perhaps not in quantities but even I know, the Klack are a counted by the Trillions."

He sighed."Almost eighty percent of all ships and over seventy-five percent of every supply item delivered to the Union fleet is made by SII."

He actually started to sound a little defeated. "So it is hard to really compete against that. Not to mention the whole 'Good and Evil company business'. Something that should be forgotten after all this time."

"I heard people call SII, the Good Company before. But I don't really know why."

"It's a long story that happened before there was a Union. I tell it to you over a dinner or so."

"I never really thought about all that. I didn't have much off world contact to anything when I grew up, but my planet almost became victim to a Mega Corp so I am not exactly a great fan, but my Grandfather was a business-man and left me some money. I am pretty sure it is not a Mega Corporation."

"What's the name of his Company? Maybe I heard of it."

"It is called Silver Falcon Enterprises."

"You mean Mr. Ragnarsson was your grandfather?"

"You knew him?"

"Your Grandfather was a legend, Eric. Chairman of the Trade and Finance Committee at Pluribus and he started that company of his with very limited resources. It was us who purchased most of that corporation after your grandfather died. Silver Falcon Enterprise wasn't a mega corporation, but it certainly isn't small. It is an independent subsidiary and operates several mines and of course the Silver Hawk Emporium. New stores open daily. Yes I knew your grandfather, everyone respected him a great deal. Are you not interested in business?"

"No, Grandfather had it sold for that reason, so I would not be burdened with it. I want to join the fleet and become a star ship captain."

"Now that is a worthy goal, indeed. Can you tell me about that corporation that endangered your planet?"

I told him the story and he listened without interrupting.

"Yes I am afraid that can happen.

The smaller ones really fight tooth and nails for every percentage of profit and not always care about the laws. "He held up his hands. "Now I am not claiming we are angels either, but Enroe had a terrible track record in the distant past and I do everything to keep us on the right side of the law. Enroe Industries has at least under my watch not committed murder, hired assassins or used black mail. We don't have a Black Ops department like that aforementioned other company.

Now I am not above to knock a few heads of rival corporations now and then. I doubt even my rival would go that far to be honest."

He then pointed out the window. "That's the Spirit of America, my yacht."

What he pointed at, was a beautiful disc shaped ship, gleaming in a deep cobalt blue and I was certain at least a 500 meter hull.

"Wow that's one big ship to call a yacht."

"She'll get us to Gore in no time."

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Interlude 6 : Circuit

GalNet Entry: Ex-One-Oh-One

>>> Among the more unusual civilizations in the known universe are without question the X101s.The only known civilization based on machines so far discovered. The X101s occupy the only planet around the sun Magnitude. The planet is called Factory and it is inhospitable to most life forms with temperatures dropping to -minus 120 degrees Celsius and never exceeding -80 degrees. It has a weak atmosphere and no liquid water. Yet the planet is home to a thriving civilization of highly advanced humanoid shaped robots.

The X101 reject the term robot or android and prefer the term Sentient Machines or Sentmac. The recorded history of the X101s begins with the series 101 explorer. The first mobile sentient machine machines previous lacked true sentience. While organic sentient beings develop over millennia of evolution usually out of a dominant life form, machines need a maker, someone who made the first machine. The X101 are no exception and before they became self-aware and self replicating, someone had to make the first step by building that first robot factory. The Sentmac became self aware long after what they call the Original Creators have vanished. These mysterious makers had left a fully automatic factory behind and gave it one command: Build and improve robots. While the Sentmac have no defined religion, the makers are kin to gods in the eyes of the Sentmac. About 200,000 years ago the X101 E series came of the assembly line. It was the first mobile and self aware robotic human shaped machines in the X101s history. Mothermachine remembers the series specifications and one of the core specifications were that these first sentient machines were made in the image of the Creators. The X101 now sentient made conscious decisions as what they wanted to improve in subsequent series. The first thing they did was to improve the factory itself and give it a conscious positronic brain. The factory was now called Mothermachine. Her huge stationary brain developed a very distinct personality and became the defining and ruling element of this unique machine society. But even with very advanced recycling and the extensive use and constant development of Nanite technology, a raw material shortage was unavoidable. The X101 stagnated. About two thousand standard years ago, when the shortage of rare Earths and other essential raw materials was near depleted the Kermac made first contact and offered space faring technology and access to all the raw materials. In return the Kermac wanted the X101 to serve them. Mothermachine was convinced they were the returning makers as they were of biological origin and had humanoid features. The Kermac were welcomed by the X101s. The Kermac could not control the X101 with psionic means and installed an anti-matter bomb right at the brain housing of Mothermachine. Threatening to detonate it, if the X101 would not accept the Kermac as they unquestioned masters and execute every order given. Mothermachine came to the conclusion that the Kermac were not the Makers. The Makers would never need such hostile means to control the X101. Mothermachine complied with their commands mostly because the Kermac gave Mothermachine and the Sentmacs a new purpose and something to do. The X101s became the most feared and efficient thrall species of the Kermac during the Big Intergalactic war. Near the end of that war a daring commando mission, a team of Recon marines ( the Steel Gauntlet) dropped on Factory, planet and managed to deactivate the Antimatter bomb and kill the Kermac guards. One of the marines was a Homo Stellaris and upon seeing him, Mothermachine was convinced she met a maker, especially so since he came to her rescue and to free the X101's. Shortly thereafter the Sentmac joined the Union.<<<

--""--

Cirruit was a typical X 794 series. Exactly 200 centimeters tall, weighting 299.65 kilograms.

His human shaped body was covered with a thin layer of memory flex chrome steel, smooth as water and shiny.

Underneath that skin a skeleton of Nano tube cobalt steel and syntho muscles.

A highly advanced pressure sensitive sensor network in his fingertips allowed him to perform the most delicate tasks.

He could see in all light conditions and process the entire electromagnetic spectrum with his artificial senses.

Cirruit was a healthy Sentmac and could lift or press weights exceeding 1000 kilos easily. Cirruit did not need air or food as his zero point energy power storage would last exactly 1,752,000 hours or two hundred standard Union years under normal conditions.

After the energy was depleted he would cease to function and die.

Mothermachine prohibited the re-energizing of any Sentmac, so X101s would have something like a natural life cycle and make room for a new series.

He had a somewhat human face, but it was without hair or pores or wrinkles.

Cirrcuit did not have eyelids or any real body orifices other than his mouth, but that was not a real orifice as he had no throat. connecting his mouth with the rest of his body. He planned to get himself a 'Simu Eat Upgrade' as soon as he was off planet. His voice was generated by a electromagnetic speaker in the back of his mouth.

Union Robotic Companies offered a wide range of Upgrades, add-ons and custom modifications, most of them were of course not approved by Mothermachine, some of them were however not strictly prohibited.

Behind the skull plate was his positronic brain with his very own distinctive synaptic pathways making him a true individual.

Even though he came of the same assembly line as 40 million other 794 models of his generation, there was not a single 794 that conceived the environment like him, felt or thought like him. He was a male model. Sentmacs had no sex drive or gender differentiation, and of course no functional sex organs (there were certain mostly illegal upgrades available though.)

Gender appearance was considered an improvement since the 712 series, which came first of the line right after the X101s became Union members.

Mothermachine decided that true perfection of individualism lay in imperfection and in her opinion having a gender was the biggest illogical biological mystery and thus an imperfection in her opinion imperfection.

Her own self image was gender less at first, but the human translation of her self designation had a very distinct female meaning, and she gradually begun to identify herself as a she.

Union robots were as advanced and in the case of the latest SII Battle and Expert robots far more advanced than X101s in terms of technical features, but Mothermachine did not want mere factory cookie cutter robots but a real race that was equal to the organic ones and that meant imperfections. A randomization program she developed introduced a wide range of imperfections.

Cirruit for example, despite his positronic brain wasn't a genius when it came to math, or remembering things, he could not tell time without looking at a PDD.

His left arm was 0.7 cm shorter than his right. He and all of his kind had to learn in schools. Mothermachine insisted every X101 going to Union School.

They came of the line with only rudimentary programming to walk, use the body and secondary system maintenance.

Since the 719 series something akin to sleep was introduced.

All Sentmacs since then could no longer function around the clock and would feel tired and fatigued, only a power down phase restored peak levels.

He was especially proud of the fact that the 794 series were the first model able to dream. A program would use random images and sounds from daily memory imprints and reassemble them into vivid dreams. The more intense an event was the more of it would end up in a dream.

During a class excursion to a Union battle ship factory, Cirrcuit dreamt about becoming an engineer and he especially studied Nanite technology and became quite an expert already.

Like all X101s he was ashamed of the time they had been forced to fight for the Kermac.

Even though the Terrans denied being the Makers, Mothermachine with access to GalNet researched the matter in great detail and believed that it was the Celtest. This ancient, advanced civilization had vanished about a million years ago ... In this context and the legends of a war that destroyed the Celtest, she was convinced the Makers did not abandon the X101, but had perished.

Many rumors existed that the Terrans were a forgotten Celtest colony. It was one of the explanations of the so called Human Mystery. As there were several humanoid and biological species dominant in the Upward sector of the M-0 Galaxy. Only a common ancestry could logically explain this.

To this came the fact that the Terrans created the Homo Stellaris, the closest possible mixture between man and machine.

This was a key factor in her believes that the Earthers were the direct link to the Makers and thus the true owners and masters of the Sentmac.

Unlike the Kermac however, Terrans rejected ownership and welcomed the Sentmacs as independent species.

Because of this, X101 were fiercely loyal to the Union, but especially to the Terrans and many X101s served in one of the branches of the armed forces of the Union and always sided with the Terrans in any matter. Cirruit however had no interest in becoming a soldier or a fleet officer.