The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 95
SETTING: Karn jumped WarBird into warp space, the coordinates for
the Alice Cooper-B locked into the Navi-com. Quickly the stars of
space turned into streaks of light as WarBird. his own modified
freighter Karn was given by his father. began to pick up speed. And, reaching as well the speed of light, WarBird crashed all of a
sudden into warp space on its way to the rescue. Meanwhile. onboard ship. Karn ran as well through his routine pre combat checks -- all systems appearing as it were functioning at a full 100% -- Karn having not much more to do now than just relax. focus himself. having as well a few other thoughts on his mind..:
KARN (running a couple of subroutines on both the sublight engines,
and life support systems as he talked): "You know, Admiral; with all
this distortion of time we have been experiencing maybe the
population on the planet wasn't kidnapped. Maybe they were erased.
Some one, or thing, could have changed the timeline and the entire
planet's people could just not exist anymore... just a thought I let
you chew on."
FRANCES (nodding in reply, considering the proposition Karn just now
put forth): "To be quite honest, Master Karn, it wouldn't' surprise
me in the least should your hypothesis turn out. all said and done.
the correct one. After all I've seen so far since leaving my own
universe, it wouldn't surprise me in the least should you be right.
Not that I'm saying for a fact they were erased from the timeline,
mind you; but it strikes me as reasonable a theory as any. as
frightening a prospect as that might be..
"Maybe Maccs has good reason after all to act so paranoid when it
comes to the matter of corrupted timelines although I also have a
pretty good reason to suspect that semi-wacko-jacko A.I. starship
of mine as being just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to the
matter of corrupting a few timelines of his own since leaving the
Commonwealth".
KARN (picking up again on Frances' referral to her own Earth she
sometimes referred to. still. as "the real universe" despite an
effort to change): "I'm curious about your galaxy, Katz and Frances.
Why exactly are men not allowed to serve in the Fleet? I'm sure
there are some men there just as qualified in your galaxy as myself
to be an officer in the Commonwealth."
ELAYNA (grinning at Frances, amused): "Think I'll let you. as
senior 'Commonwealth' officer present, Ma'am. field that one on
your own".
FRANCES (to Elayna, likewise in a good humoured way): "Thank you,
Lieutenant. Your assistance here will be duly remembered".
FRANCES (addressing then Karn, trying her best to explain Terran
society -- it's cultural, social, and even more spiritual attitudes -
- to someone who, despite his shared Humaanity, was. all-in-all. an
alien being from another reality just as distant): "Fair enough
question, Master Karn: many answers I guess just as possible. just
as fair.
"For instance, I guess there are many back home who would answer
your question with such givens as female superiority. the
herstorical imperative of Matriarchy. rattling off facts and figures
proving that women are better suited for such occupations, just as
men are better-off in the occupations reserved in Terran culture
just for them.
"Likewise, there are those who'd answer your question. as fair as it
is. by telling you of all the past horrors male-dominated cultures
are responsible for -- not the least of which were World War Three,
the 'Lions', and the Yersinia-R Beta plague; events that lead to
both the downfall of patriarchy back in 2038 A.D. as well as the
final birth of the 'Tammyite Matriarchate' (aka: the 'Commonwealth')
in 2072 A.D. -- pointing out that the risk of such things ever
occurring again is too great a one to ever risk. men never meant
right from the very beginning to be in charge of Human.
"There's even an old joke back home that goes something like this.
"'Q: Why are men not allowed anymore to hold, or run for political
office...
"'A: Because Earth has only one continent left; and we're darned if
we're going to lose that, too!!...'
"However, no matter how valid such excuses might be, it's my belief
that the real reason men are banned from such potentially dangerous
occupations is because of the ingrained sense of sexual
protectiveness women back home have developed over the last nine
centuries in reference to the male half of Womankind..
"In fact it's no exaggeration on my part to say that the main reason
the 'Tammyite Matriarchate' came into being was to save the
remaining men back then from certain extinction if not outright
extermination -- the populace at the end of World War III consisting
then of only one man per 1000 women -- a world consisting of nearly
eight billion people an seven continents before the war reduced to
just one continent and a little over 12 million people less than a
singe decade later.
"And although we managed to achieve a more equal male/female ratio
within decades of then, the process by which we were forced to do so
left the male genome so damaged -- so genetically fragile -- that
male children couldn't even survive birth without spending at least
the first 6 to 12 months of their lives on artificial life-support,
this problem lasting for nearly 200 years. And, although the men
back home are much stronger now, more fit, this event also resulted
in a reverse dichotomy between the sexes some 600 years ago -- the
female of the species now the more physically strong, physically
taller of the two as well as biologically superior.
"So I guess that after all that, women have become so naturally
protective of the weaker sex we don't allow them to seek work in any
profession we consider in any way at all a possible risk to their
very lives.
"I can just imagine. given the way women view men in our society.
the absolute chaos that would arise aboard any Commonwealth starship
during battle -- the female crew so busy trying to protect the male
crew they never have any time at all for the effective performance
of their own duties aboard ship. In some ways I guess our
chivalrous attitude towards men can also prove at times a drawback.
placing them as it were on a pedestal, keeping them walled up you
might say in 'Ivory Towers'.
So in conclusion, Master Karn, I hope that rather lengthy discourse
answers your question. As it is, you might consider asking Maccs for
a little herstoric background information on both the fall of the
old Patriarchates as well as the rise of the Tammyite Matriarchate
(the Commonwealth)"
ELAYNA (thinking over all that Frances just said): "Then again,
given what we now know concerning all the other alien races back
home that might not be such a bad thing".
FRANCES (Confused): "Explain, Lieutenant".
ELAYNA: "Well; seeing that Womankind is the only sentient species in
our universe divided into two genders -- male and female -- that
could also prove a tactical disadvantage were an alien species to
attack us. defeat us in battle. able to control the Human race by
merely separating us by sex, restricting our ability to procreate.
FRANCES (skeptical): "Rather farfetched, Lt. Katz. Personally, I see
no reason to fear such an unlikely scenario. Just because all the
other alien races back home are either asexual, or hermaphroditic
doesn't make us any the more vulnerable in that respect than if all
the other alien races back home did indeed consist of two separate
sexes like Womankind. As it is I can think of many other more
conventional, convenient, and effective means by which any
hypothetical enemy back home could control Womankind wer they to
prove of a mind to do so".
FRANCES (turning then to Kan): "And on a similar note, Master Karn,
I'd be just as interested in learning more about your own universe --
the world(s) you come from -- as well as the role you played in
it . As it is, listening to you talk during certain situations leads
me to the conclusion that your universe is a rather violent one in
which you lived in opposition to the prevailing 'powers that be'
back there.
"Your ship, your words, and the manner in which you conduct yourself
all suggest some sort of technically advanced, interstellar
patriarchate likewise a totalitarian state engaged in perpetual
conquest -- a dictatorship you've lived a long time trying to
either outrun, or avoid.
"Don't get me wrong, young Laddie. I'm not trying to catch you in
some dark confession; having already as you do. should it mean
anything to you. my complete confidence. It's just that, like you,
I'm curious."
Employing WarBird's universal docking collar in accordance with his
plan to board the enemy vessel farther away from the Alice Cooper-B,
Karn was already drilling a hole/portal into the hull of the larger
ship WarBird now held on to like some cosmic limpet -- The USS Ajax
arriving on the scene just moments later -- joining the USS Strike,
WarBird, Maccs, and Guardian1 in the defense of the previously
outnumbered USS Alice Cooper-B.
"I'm coming aboard that ship with you, Master Karn", Karn heard
Frances inform him by way of the comlink built into his armored
helmet -- Karn just managing to complete his penetration of the
enemy ship, cutting his way through the outer hull of that larger
vessel above now both his head and WarBird below him. And unable to convince her otherwise, Karn simply told her he'd succeeded in cutting his way into the giant vessel now turning in the direction of both the USS Strike and Ajax -- ignoring, it would seem, both Karn and WarBird anchored now to its starship belly.
"Okay, Admiral: If you're going to board the enemy with me, I'm
ready to make my way inside her now", Karn informed Frances at
last. Frances wasting no time at all joining him in the docking tube
Karn rigged up previously between both his ship and the alien vessel
he planned now to invade.
"Jeepers Wept!!", Elayna Katz gasped -- the bright light of the
exploding alien vessel just destroyed by the USS Ajax blinding her
for a moment aboard WarBird -- Lt. Katz in WarBird's cock-pit --
left as she was in temporary command during both Karn and Admiral
Straker's brief absence.
"What's up?" Karn asked her, sharply, hearing her outcry over the
same comlink mentioned earlier. the one in his helmet. both Karn and
Frances already exploring the second enemy vessel now left intact.
And hearing Karn almost cheer out-loud upon hearing the good news.
the news of the USS Ajax's confirmed "kill" just seconds before.
Elayna heard as well Frances Straker say something muffled to the
young laddie (Karn) at her side.
"Dear Lord", Frances could be heard expressing her own surprise --
referring, however, to something else than the good news Elayna just
gave both her and Karn -- referring instead to something aboard the
ship both Admiral Straker and Karn now investigated.