Deep Space Dream. D. LAWS
agree, if that’s okay with the rest of you,” he replied, his eyes scanning the three seated at the table. All three nodded in agreement, but Roy could see some doubt in Security Advisor Milh’s body language.
Flight Admiral Kosh said, “That concludes this interview. I will assign an aid to show you around our fine city and provide you with accommodations.”
Roy thanked the panel and left with the security group to the lift. At the lobby level, he was met by a man who identified himself as the aid. “I am Job. I will be your aid for as long as you are on Terna. Is there any place you would like to go or see?”
Roy thought for a minute, then said, “Really, I don’t know anything about your city or what it has to offer. Maybe just a quick tour around and then I’ll need to return to my ship for food and rest.”
“We have may fine eating locations here, and accommodations can be provided for you.”
Roy explained, “I am an alien to your world. My taste in food may be different, and I have nothing to pay with.”
“You are a guest of the governing body and are not required to pay for anything.”
Wow, just like a congressman on Earth, he thought to himself, then said, “Don’t get me wrong. I really do appreciate the hospitality of your world and want to see more, but like you, I would rest more comfortably in my own bed aboard my ship.” Roy couldn’t wait to get back aboard to see what had been tampered with and what attempts were made to gain control of his ship or spy on him.
“Actually,” the aid continued, “there is no pecuniary system here. All labor and manufacturing is accomplished by the AIMUs, and no citizen is employed except for the crew on the space dock. Their work there is rewarded by their families being well cared for here in the city. Therefore, there is only one class of living, unless you are an appointed governing official. They are considered as a higher class.”
“I see, now I understand,” Roy said, holding back his true thoughts.
After his tour of the city and seeing what it had to offer, Roy was truly impressed. Everyone appeared to be happy and going about their business. There was no “poor” side of town, and everyone was nicely dressed and appeared to respect each other. Was this better than Earth? Well, in some ways it was, but he noted that there didn’t seem to be any motivation to get ahead. All development was left up to the AIMUs.
“Job, I was told that there was a group of ‘undesirables.’ Who are they, and what’s that all about?” asked Roy.
“They are fine female citizens that cannot produce well-developed children. Their waists are too small to provide adequate development space for the child fetus to grow in. They are treated as any other person, but their inability to give healthy birth makes them undesirable for marriage.”
That was a relief to Roy. At least, he wasn’t taking on a group of misfits or malcontent people. “I understand that they are trained crewmen. Do they serve on many Ternan ships?” Roy asked.
Job replied, “No, they have not served on any ships. The men on the ship’s crews don’t wish to be seen around them. In fact, women don’t serve on the ships. Their position is to remain on Terna and have children.”
“Why?” Roy asked.
“Many years ago, one of our explorer ships visited a distant planet. When they returned, they unknowingly brought back a disease that attacked and killed a very large number of children. Since then, our medical scan units have been greatly improved and prevent that from reoccurring. Children are very important to us, and we lost a full generation. This decision to remain at home to have children was presented by the women of our city as their choice.”
“So these undesirables are trained but have never been on a ship? How were they trained?”
“Well, they are trained with a Knowledge Scanner. It implants all of the basic knowledge of a given ship’s function, and it is up to the crewman to fully learn through experience.”
“How much knowledge can be gained with this Knowledge Scanner?”
“The brain can only receive a small amount of ‘forced’ information. Therefore, we only place one complete job knowledge in each person. Many years ago, we tried to implant multiple jobs into one person with unforgivable results.”
After several hours of sightseeing, Roy, concerned about his “new” crew, returned to his ship for some food and much needed rest.
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