When we vote, said Dem Lia, the decision will have to be unanimous. One 'no' vote means that we will not use the Hawking drive.
Saigyô had been sitting cross-legged on the table, but now he moved next to the other four AIs who were standing. Just for the record, said the fat little monk, the AIs have voted five to
zero against attempting a Hawking drive maneuver.
Dem Lia nodded. Noted, she said. But just for the record, for this sort of decision, the AIs vote does not count. Only the Amoiete Spectrum Helix people or their representatives can determine their own fate. She turned back to the other nine humans. To use the Hawking drive or not? Yes or no? We ten will account to the thousands of others for the consequences. Ces Ambre?
Yes. The woman in the blue robe appeared as calm as her startlingly clear and gentle eyes. Jon Mikail Dem Alem?
Yes, said the ebony life-support specialist in a thick voice. Yes.
Oam Rai?
The yellow-band woman hesitated. No one on board knew the risks to the ships systems better than this person. A two percent chance of destruction must seem an obscene gamble to her. She touched her lips with her fingers. There are two civilizations we are deciding for here, she said, obviously musing to herself. Possibly three.
Oam Rai? repeated Dem Lia.
Yes, said Oam Rai.
Kern Loi? said Dem Lia to the astronomer.
Yes. The young womans voice quavered slightly.
Patek Georg Dem Mio?
The red-band security specialist grinned. Yes. As the ancient saying goes, no guts, no glory.
Dem Lia was irritated. Youre speaking for 684,288 sleeping people who might not be so devil-may-care.
Patek Georgs grin stayed in place. My vote is yes.
Dr. Samel Ria Kem Ali?
The medic looked as troubled as Patek had brazen. I must say there are so many unknowns He looked around. Yes, he said. We must be sure.
Peter Delem Dem Tae? Dem Lia asked the blue-banded psychologist.
The older man had been chewing on a pencil. He looked at it, smiled, and set it on the table. Yes.
Res Sandre?
For a second the other green-band womans eyes seemed to show defiance, almost anger. Dem Lia steeled herself for the veto and the lecture that would follow.
Yes, said Res Sandre. I believe its a moral imperative.
That left the youngest in the group.
Den Soa? said Dem Lia.
The young woman had to clear her throat before speaking. Yes. Lets go look.
All eyes turned to the appointed commander.
I vote yes, said Dem Lia. Saigyô, prepare for maximum acceleration toward the translation point to Hawking drive. Kem Loi, you and Res Sandre and Oam Rai work on the optimum inbound translation point for a systemwide search for life. Chief Branchman Redt, Far Rider, True Voice of the Tree Kasteen, if you would prefer to wait behind, we will prepare the airlock now. If you three wish to come, we must leave immediately.
The Chief Branchman spoke without consulting the others. We wish to accompany you, Citizen Dem Lia.
She nodded. Far Rider, tell your people to clear a wide wake. Well angle above the plane of the ecliptic outward bound, but our fusion tail is going to be fierce as a dragons breath.
The fully space-adapted Ouster broadcast, I have already done so. Many are looking forward to the spectacle.
Dem Lia grunted softly. Lets hope its not more of a spectacle than weve all bargained for, she said.
The Helix made the jump safely, with only minor upset to a few of the ships subsystems. At a distance of three AUs from the surface of the red giant, they surveyed the system. They had estimated two days, but the survey was done in less than twenty-four hours.
There were no hidden planets, no planetoids, no hollowed-out asteroids, no converted comets, no artificial space habitatsno sign of life whatsoever. When the G2 star had finished its evolution into a red giant at least three million years earlier, its helium nuclei began burning its own ash in a high-temperature second round of fusion reactions at the stars core while the original hydrogen fusion continued in a thin shell far from that core, the whole process creating carbon and oxygen atoms that added to the reaction and presto the short-lived rebirth of the star as a red giant. It was obvious that there had been no outer planets, no gas giants, no rocky worlds beyond the new red suns reach. Any inner planets had been swallowed whole by the expanding star. Outgassing of dust and heavy radiation had all but cleared the solar system of anything larger than nickel-iron meteorites.
So, said Patek Georg, thats that.
Shall I authorize the AIs to begin full acceleration toward the return translation point? said Res Sandre.
The Ouster diplomats had been moved to the command deck with their specialized couches. No one minded the one-tenth gravity on the bridge because each of the Amoiete Spectrum specialistswith
the exception of Ces Ambrewas enmeshed in a control couch and in touch with the ship on a variety of levels. The Ouster diplomats had been silent during most of the search, and they remained silent now as they turned to look at Dem Lia at her center console.