Stephen's Secure Blog #150
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 15 in this story, in Summer, after the end of year 5 of his
special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #150 "Confed Ambassador"
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A Confed military ship started to enter the Zichesshich system. It
was transporting their diplomatic delegation. I made contact with the
Captain and asked for a meeting with him and his senior staff. I ported
to the conference room, and sat with them. I told them about the Misnok
Embassy, and how that went, and about the two ships we turned away.
Then I said, "So, you've been er, stuck in a ship with Confed
diplomats. How has it been?" They were groaning too hard and loud to
say anything. I tried not to grin, which they noticed, and said, "I
really do feel for you, but remember, I encountered worse, with your
military, and they tried to kill me." The Captain said, "Sometimes I
wished they had tried, with us. And some of those times, succeeded." I
said "That bad? I'm truly sorry, but I think it could get worse, before
it gets better. There is at least one good thing we can look forward
to; the members of the GC assembly are just as bad." They did look a
little brighter at that. I said "And that the translators I trained may
not want to translate most of the stupid things completely accurately."
They actually smiled at that. I said "The Misnok ship is still here, so
I said "The public is prepared, without telling them about the abuse I
received when I arrived near Misnok. So it could be a good idea not to
mention that, to keep the peace. Two of the planets I represented could
get very violent at that. They er, like me." Some smiles. I said "But
their governments know, and will be watching for that from you, so I
advise some strong words to your people if shore leave is granted."
They nodded. I said "Have the diplomats found out that you know the GC
language?" The Captain said, "Not that we know of. So it would be best
if one of the translators contacted Orbital Control for us." I said
"Then I don't have to suggest that." He grinned.
I said "I had contact once with a member of the GC Assembly. During
the meeting in the Planetary President's home, she tried to kill me.
Psychotic break. I think she still might be in treatment." He said
"Wow!" I said "I can have that affect on bad people in power." He said
"I have no doubt!" We exchanged grins. I said "It could be interesting
if or when all those incompetent diplomats talk about me to each other.
I would expect then to be called to testify." He said "We saw what
happened with the Confed Assembly. Made fools of themselves." I said
"In the GC, such things are televised live to the public, who likes
me." He said "Oh my God!" I said "If I were a nasty person, I could
have some fun with that." He said "No, you can't help it. Whatever you
do with them is definitely going to be worth watching. And without a
beverage in hand." I said "Maybe. Do you know the Confed sent a ship to
check out the Van world? What to know what they discovered? I'll show
you." I projected the Captain's frustration. They laughed. I said "The
GC doesn't know that the Van are all locked up now, and who did it. If
they push me, I might tell them." He said "That should be very
interesting. If they believed you. We'll back you up if you want. We
have seen enough of you and what you can do, to not doubt you in the
least. How is the hanging Admiral?" I said "The Junior Lieutenant is
back to duty now, having learned his lesson." He looked surprised. I
said "I don't punish. His situation was treatment, which worked." He
said "Oh! I apologize for misjudging you." I said "Accepted. You didn't
know my ethics forbids punishment." He said "About that, well, I don't
know how to say this. Er, how is it possible that a person as powerful
as you are, is so er, unwilling to use that power for personal gain, or
God forbid, to abuse others?"
I said "What I can do that you see as power, comes only from talent,
and brutally intensive training from childhood, sometimes augmented by
our advanced technology. One required talent is the ability to feel the
emotions of others. If I hurt somebody, it's like I hurt myself, and I
don't really like to do that. Part of our training involves ethics. Our
methods of teaching are such that they will not work if the student
isn't accepted as worthy of advancement, and our abilities and
technology would backfire on us if we used them in an unfair or unjust
way. We need to have those safeguards, or we couldn't even trust each
other. And if you have ever seen two or more of us together, you would
know we love each other. There is more. We are never alone. We monitor
each other every second we are outside of our homes. Our training
results in such a highly tuned mind and brain, that to lie would damage
us. So, we never do that. In fact, I have never told a lie in this
life. I can't. It just isn't part of me. While in the Confed, I said
often, that I would welcome a lie detection instrument on me at all
times. It would save some disbelief, which your Assembly metaphorically
ran away from." He said with a grin, "That they did!" I said "I wonder
how that would work with the GC." He said "We might find out." I said
"I really dislike making people afraid of me. That interferes with
love, which is what I really live for." He said "I have some difficulty
in understanding you feelings about love, and what you say about it." I
said "A person can't advance as I have, and my associates have, without
being fully open to love. You can't be all you can be, if you can't
give all who you are in love. I'm going now. You can reach me any time
with my Misnok number, or this local one on the card. Before I leave, I
will help you understand about love. All, please stand." They did, and
one by one, I hugged them with love, and then helped them to sit. When
we were done, and they were still in shocked awe, Rose ported to my
side and hugged me, and said, "I love it when you do that. The most
precious gift of all, and you have the most to give." I said "That's
what love is for." We kissed, and ported to my house.
The control room knew I was watching when they called Orbital
Control, using the translator. None of the diplomats could be bothered
to be present, but their office manager was. The introduction went
well, until the discussion about accommodations. OC said, "We don't
handle what happens on the planet. All we do is manage orbits and clear
you for landing. Would you like me to transfer your communication to
the GC diplomatic office?" They said yes, and then the real trouble
started. The first person they spoke to didn't know who they were, and
didn't believe a word they said. It took a while to convince him to
transfer them to his supervisor, and she didn't believe them, either.
They argued and abused her. She disconnected. They called back, and
were disconnected again. They asked the Captain to do something. He
said "I'm just transportation. There isn't anything I can do." The
manager yelled, "DO something!" The Captain said, "If you want to act
like that in my control room, you will be put in the brig." The manager
stomped away, and went to complain to his superior. I ported to the
Captain a recording of the whole situation. One of the diplomats came
in and said, "You will NOT abuse my staff!" He said "I didn't." The
diplomat said "You lie!" The Captain said, "Watch this." He played back
the recording. The diplomat looked very annoyed after it was finished,
and said, "Who authorized you to record my people?" The Captain said,
"I am authorized to record anything which happens in my control room.
In fact, it is actually required in some circumstances, which now
includes anything involving you, since you have said that I have lied.
It's a legal requirement. However, I didn't record this. Stephen did."
The diplomat squeaked, "He's here!!?" The Captain said, "He isn't on
my ship, but could be here in a second. He IS watching, though. Now, do
you still maintain that I have lied?" The diplomat walked out. I sent
my projection in and said, "This is a projection, so you can still be
truthful when you say I'm not here. That's right, not only do we not
lie, we do not support the lies of others. I have been sending all this
to your PA, after getting him out of bed. It's not something he didn't
expect. When he asks, I'll set up a live conference here with him, so
he can yell at his people. Then you might be able to use the
ambassador's head for a cooking surface. Finally good for something."
He laughed. I said "He's coming. Here's a new file." I winked out, and
the Ambassador entered. He said very angrily, "I demand that you do not
abuse my people!" The Captain said, "I have not, and I have recordings
which prove it." He said "Recordings! I strongly object!" The Captain
said "Noted. However, I am required to record, by law, everything you
and your people say to me, because one of them accused me of lying.
Evidence. Stephen is also recording this, and sending it to the PA, AT
HIS REQUEST. Now, what can I do for you?" He said, after grinding his
teeth, "Please allow me to see and hear what has been recorded." It
happened. Then he said, "I apologize for my subordinates' behavior."
The Captain said, "Accepted, but further disturbances will be dealt
with according to law. This is a military spaceship, not a resort
hotel. There still remains the problem of your mission being recognized
and accepted by the Galactic Council. I'm sure you don't want to be
stuck on this ship forever." The Ambassador said, "What do you
suggest?" The Captain said, "I can do nothing. But, there is already
established, an embassy from Misnok here. Perhaps if you contact them,
they might be able to help you. If you do that, I recommend that you
try being polite, unlike the contact with the GC."
The Ambassador did some more teeth grinding, and then nodded his head
in acknowledgement. He decided to do that, but the Captain had to get
the contact information from the other ship which was still in orbit.
They did talk, and got the arrangements made. Just before the mission
left in the shuttle, the Captain said to the Ambassador, "Some advice
from a fellow servant of the Confed. GC sessions are telecast live. The
public doesn't watch it much, Stephen says because they aren't
interested in stupidity. But they will, if Stephen's name is mentioned,
because he is VERY popular with them. So I wouldn't mention him at all.
I know it's unsettling, and even annoying, but I suggest you act, and
make your team act, as if Stephen is watching everything you do in your
official capacity, and forwarding all that to anybody he thinks should
have it. He believes that public servants should have no work secrets
from the public. Considering how we treated him when he first came to
us, I don't blame him one bit." The Ambassador relaxed a little, and
said with a little smile, "I see your point. Frightening, actually,
what he can do. Perhaps we need that." The Captain said, "But we sure
don't have to enjoy it!" They laughed together, and shook hands.
When the Captain was in his office later, I requested a short
meeting. I ported in and said, "Well done!" He grinned and said, "This
is unexpected. Thank you." I said "If you have any shore leave time,
and would like to visit, give me a call. The other ship has good
people, too. For now, good day." I ported to my house, smiling. I did
some more art, while singing. Rose ported in, and said, "You don't do
that often enough. I love your singing." I grinned and said, "Somehow,
it sounds better to me on horseback." She laughed and kissed me. Then
she said, "I sometimes wonder. You know Hawk and I watch you almost all
the time, and port to you without requesting. Nobody else does that, or
would dare to, being very impolite, but you never complain." I said
"You and Hawk are family, and so much a part of me, I assume you are
doing that as a natural thing. How can I complain about that which is
er, well, me? Unless it interferes with your other duties, or mine,
which I trust you not to let happen." She cried. I kissed away her
tears, and said, "I thought you knew all that." She said "Maybe I did,
a little, but didn't let myself believe it. I have to, now." I poked
her and said, "I should hope so!" We laughed together.
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Grant
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