The Historical Moment

A Station Keeping story, by tycho garen
on 29th August 2008. (commentary)

This is the fifth installment of the Station Keeping story. This episode comes to us from the history compiled by J. Tiltsten, written several hundred years after the conclusion of these stories. I hope you enjoy, and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday.

The Necessity of Hanmist Studies, Part I

by Professor Jonathan Tiltsten

Unlike some other pivotal moments in the development of human colonial efforts on other worlds, many documents survive from the period just before and during the occupation of a space station in-orbit of the rim-world “Hanm.” Though in retrospect it is widely accepted, and obvious to many scholars of post-League political organization that the events on Hanm Centre were very important, if not key in determining the organization of human government for the next hundred years; at the time, the key actors in this milieux were not only unaware of their coming role in history, but also the importance of their moment. First a letter from the papers of Commander Eli Banner, the first commander of Hanm Centre, written shortly before he departed for Hanm:

Sometimes I think I’m getting too old for field assignments, but it’s better than getting fat and old behind a desk core-side, a lowly commander would never get chosen for a relativity cruise cycle1. But I’m basically unattached, and I have some experience in the field, but who knows anyway. This time period never did suit me, and it’ll be interesting to see how the world looks on the other side. A of a long flight; not that the core will matter very much out there I trust. I just hope I get a chance to come back someday.

At the same time, the leaders of the civilian government on the colony world Hanm knew that change in the status quo, at least for their people, was imminent–and strictly speaking, it was–their opposition was to the league presence on Hanm Centre, not, in their mind, to the entire League, as it would later become.2 Or the interstellar political status quo of the previous thousand years. Indeed it we now think that it would have been at least a generation on Hanm from the time that Eli Banner departed the core-side world until he and his convoy would arrive on Hanm.

This is an excerpt from an editorial circulated by early “Hanmist”[^ists] shortly the Navy confirmed that it was sending a high level operations convoy after Commander Eli Banner left the core for Hanm Centre.

Above all, I would like to express my objection to the fact that the outpost currently under-construction in high orbit of the planet will be operated and governed by the League’s Navy. While an easily accessible space outpost in this part of the galaxy is not inherently objectionable, I would like to locate my resistance to Hanm Centre not in terms of resistance to the League at large, but rather in acknowledgment of the fact that the Civil authority on Hanm was not–according to the public record–consulted by the League authorities, and furthermore, the fact that the station is not to be administered or overseen by Hanmish authorities. Indeed, there is no reason that it can be directed and administered by the civil authorities on Hanm, who would surely be the best suited given their experience with the region.

As we can see, the seeds of the “Hanmist Separation” movement were significantly more modest than the militant movement that would follow in their name. In an age where the technology of space travel had paradoxically brought time and history to a virtual stand still, it took by the standards of the day, only a paltry handful of years for the Hanmist movement to sour. Though from our contemporary perspective this may not seem particularly remarkable, it must have been–particularly to the then unknowing Eli Banner.



Notes:

  1. Key leaders of the League and Navy during this era were frequently cycled on and off interstellar flights to help provide continuity with the League’s longer term missions on outer worlds. This kept some level of stability, but meant that policy changed back and forth as various leaders came on and off the cruises. ↩

  2. In fairness, it is only in retrospect that we can make this claim, in a lot of ways, Hanm Centre was of a guilded age of a dying empire of sorts, and the accomplishments of the station and it’s crew though too numerous to list here, were not typical of any late imperial project. afn:istsz:”Hamnism” refers to the political movement started on Hanm (that quickly spread to other large rim worlds) that advocated independence and separation from the League, the policies of continued colonization, and distant centralized government. ↩

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“Diplomacy Maneuvers,” 4.2

A Station Keeping story, by tycho garen
on 19th August 2008. (commentary)

This is the second and final part of the fourth Station Keeping episode. Read part one.

“Well, I’ve been working all day to formally lodge the appropriate complaints about the Navy’s presence with the new commander. Our space, ‘much as anyone’s, and all they do is give us notice and expect our help when they need it. After all this, we’re just guests on a station that our people have worked on for a generation!” Nan’s speed increased with her furry, but she sipped the drink to slow her self down.

“What did Eli say?” David asked.

“Eli?”

“The new commander?”

“Oh, do you know him or something?”

“You could say that, but you already got me to talk. This is your story.” David hoped that she would ignore the fact that he hadn’t really told her very much.

“Ok. Um.” Nan had a bit more of the drink before she started again. “So after sending him a series of reports and requests, he called me in for a meeting, and he just talked to me.”

“He talked? Amazing. He never used to…” David trailed off as he fiddled with something on the terminal screen. “What did he say?”

“Really?” Nan stared at a box on the wall.

David realized she wasn’t really paying attention. “No, of course not. Continue.”

She did: “Well he didn’t seem to have a clue what was going on between the Hanmists and the Navy, and agreed to work with me on station policy and governance. I didn’t have anything to say. I feel like I made an ass of myself.”

“That’s Eli for you, I guess.”

“Being clueless? Or for making an ass of your self in front of.”

David chucked: she was pretty sharp and quick after all, admirable qualities indeed. “So you’re upset, because he’s a reasonable guy…”

“Well I’m not– Why would I– I’m just trying to– Yes,” she said. Its hard when the bad guys turn out to be pretty nice. Makes my job plenty hard. I wasn’t ready for this wrench in the gears.” Nan’s earlier anger returned, but this time it wasn’t shrouded in historical interplanetary relations.

“Well there are plenty of bad guys to go around, and lots of work to be done.”

“Aye.” Nan took another quick swig, and a lopsided grin came over her face. The bottle wasn’t finished, but she was. “Thanks for this, I’d like to pick your brain at some point, but maybe at the beginning of the day rather than the end.”

David’s simple response of “Indeed” was both non-committal and positive. He walked her to the door way of his half finished bar, “This is sure going to be interesting,” he though as he watched Nan Gee walk amongst the light crowd toward the residential side of the station.

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“Diplomacy Maneuvers,” 4.1

A Station Keeping story, by tycho garen
on 18th August 2008. (commentary)

This is the first part of the fourth Station Keeping episode. Part two will drop tomorrow.

Nan Gee really wanted a drink. The bar didn’t look open open yet, but she thought that maybe she’d be able to talk someone there out of one of those beers sitting on the counter. She would pay, it wasn’t like there was anything else to spend her diplomatic-salary on.

David nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw her standing inside the bar. He could have sworn that he had locked the door. “Hello there, we’re not actually open yet, as you can see,” he said, point to the exposed wiring on the wall opposite of the bar. Someday there would be a nice light fixture there. If the designer ever got back to him, that is.

“That’s alright, I just really want one of those,” Nan said pointing at the cases of beers stacked on the bar. It was a local brand that had just been shipped up from Hanm. “I can pay.” She appended, trying to look hopeful.

David paused, unsure of exactly what to do in this situation, he had work to do, and he didn’t want the entire station getting the idea that he was open for business. “What the hell,” he thought. “You like them room temp?” he asked, relenting.

“That’s the way we do it ’round here.” She looked a bit relieved.

“Ok, well we really aren’t open, but I have something to work on in the back, why don’t you join me with your beer and we can talk” David suggested, as he turned. “Oh, what’s your name, by the way,” he asked as he walked.

Nan followed the barkeep, without quite knowing why. It seemed better than any of the alternatives that came to mind. “Right, I’m Nan, Nan Gee: the diplomatic liaison to the station.”

“Oh, right, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” David said, he turned at an open door way and pointed to a chair in an office. “I’m David Conrad, I’m just the bar owner around here, but I suspect that the Navy will probably start begging once the comms are more open, but they won’t get me.” He chuckled.

“Oh, you’re Navy?”

“Used to be. I got to the top, and found there wasn’t much see. Time to move on, you know. They want me back, but know better than to force it.” David said looking at Nan. The tension between the Navy and the people of Hanm was very present on the station, even now, and almost entirely understandable. “So why the rush to get a beer,” it’s still a bit early and all.” David hoped to deflect the conversation away from his past, he also turned in his chair and brought up the display on his workstation.

“It’s been a long day, not that bad, I just don’t know what to make of it, but I’m pretty sure that I have no power, and it’s not like there’s anything else to do on the station yet.” Nan was surprised at her verbosity in front of the stranger, with a navy past, even! But the beer tasted like home, and the decorations on the walls were different, even if the walls themselves looked suspiciously familiar.

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“Guard Changing,” 3.2

A Station Keeping story, by tycho garen
on 13th August 2008. (commentary)

This is the second installment of the third Station Keeping episode. Read part one first.

Location: Docking Bay 3

“At least you’re not late this time,” David Conrad said to Josh as he jogged up to the hatch where Eli Banner was about to disembark.

“Once they step onto this deck, and people stop thinking that I’m in charge, I resolve to never run anywhere.” Joshua said taking a deep breath. Josh was surprised to see David here, but almost more surprised that he spoke so freely.

“Don’t say that, we might hold you to that.” David chuckled, and looked toward the unmoving hatch.

“So what brings you around these parts?”

“I hear there’s a ship docking.”

“Yep.”

“But I didn’t–”

“It’s alright, I have my ways, and without the pub open to distract me, I get bored. Besides, Eli’s an old friend,”

“Eli?”

“The commander.”

“Oh. Right.”

Before the silence settled again, the hatch hissed, and opened.

“Well, hello!” Commander Eli Banner said to David sounding surprised, as he stepped on to the station. The men hugged for a moment, and Talia Garn stepped out behind the commander and looked awkwardly at Joshua Sian.

“Talia Garn.”

“Joshua Sian.” Their introductions were soft and understated, as they were both more interested and surprised by the interaction between the commander and David Conrad.

“Talia, this is David Conrad; the David Conrad,” the commander interrupted, sending Sain back into silence.

“A pleasure, sir,” Talia said, extending her hand.

“What are you doing here?” Eli asked.

“I’m just the bar keep, watching and listening like always. Marc’s doctoring… as usual.”

“That’s great,” Eli smiled. “I hadn’t gotten word, but we’ll have to get a drink sometime.”

“Bar isn’t finished yet, but indeed we will.”

“I suppose we have a job to do here?” Eli said, turning his attention to the young lieutenant. He motioned toward the corridor, to make room for the rest of the crew and passengers to disembark.

“Indeed, I have crew on the docking procedure of the convoy, and there’s nothing else to report that I haven’t already filed with you, sir.”

“That’s probably true,” Banners response was as quick as it was dry.

Sian squirmed, he was unprepared to be the butt of all the new commander’s jokes. “I actually have some paperwork for you, to transfer command and what not.” Sain produced a tablet

“Sure, I’m sorry. We’ve been cooped up on the ships for so long, it’s just good to get out.” The commander took the tablet and began to confirm the transfer of authority. “I actually have heard that you’ve been doing a great job here.” He looked toward Talia and David and offered a curt smile.

“Thank you, sir. It’s good to have you aboard,” Joshua said and indicated that they should talk the elevator at the end of the corridor.

As the others turned to enter the elevator car David recused himself; “I actually have an appointment, that I have to tend to, but I trust I’ll see all of you soon.”

“Thanks for stopping by,” Eli said: the others just smiled kindly.

Joshua Sian inputed the code for the command center on the elevator’s keypad once the doors closed and everyone was aboard. “That was so incredibly strange,” he thought as the lift moved in silence.

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“Guard Changing,” 3.1

A Station Keeping story, by tycho garen
on 12th August 2008. (commentary)

This is the first installment of the third Station Keeping episode. Part two will drop tomorrow.

Location: Command Deck.

Joshua Sian jogged into the command center, it was like he’d spent the past two weeks running and always 10 minutes late. The space station shouldn’t have been that big yet anyway. Before the door closed he called out “Status?” as he walked over to an open station.

“The first three ships are, within range, for docking, several are queueing up–and the rest will be here–in an hour or two.” The crewmen’s stilted response was punctuated as he worked furiously to pass messages along to the dock crew.

“As we expected,” Sian noted as he began to adjust his own preliminary calculations. “Crewman?” Sain asked without looking up, his voice wavered slightly with concern. Thankfully, he managed to mostly stifle a wince at being unable to recall a name.

The entire command center crew responded, but their responses weren’t synchronized.

“Where’s the docking arm?” he asked, finally looking up at one of the displays. “We’re going to need it really soon…”

There was no response.

“Well, bring it about! and inform the commander’s ship that they might not have as much help as we promised.” The error, though not inexcusable, was as much Joshua’s fault as it was anyone else’s: they were over worked and understaffed, and Joshua had planned on being in command half an hour earlier, until one of the construction teams demanded his attention. Thankfully the docking arm would probably extend (even in the right direction!) when it was needed, but it was still frustrating.

“We have space for the first two ships in bay 3, and the second ship in…” he paused to look up the docking plan again. “bay 6.”

No one responded, there was no need.

“I’ll take in the first two ships, then I need to get down to meet the commander, you can manage the rest,” Josh proposed. It was good that he was about to be done with being in charge of things like space stations: proposals didn’t command in the same way that orders did. “So get ready for it,” he added.

“Should I call in Jacobs and Qunicy to help out with this?” One of the crew asked.

“Please do, It would be–” Sian trailed off, his concentration captured by the docking procedure, but everyone else was to busy to care what “would be.”

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Station Keeping #2: Arrival (Part 2)

A Station Keeping story, by tycho garen
on 28th July 2008. (commentary)

This is the second and final part of the second episode of the Station Keeping serial. You can read Part 1 here.

Docking

David Conrad and Marc Perrin stepped off the shuttle they owned onto the docking ramp to find the entire cavernous bay devoid of people. They stood on the other side of their air lock in silence, waiting for something to happen.

Marc rubbed his eyes, which had begun to tear from exhaustion: “Aren’t we supposed to have a landing party, here? or something?” Marc whispered, leaning slightly toward David.

“I guess not, we’re just normal folk now, I guess.”

“Speak for yourself, I actually have a job here,” Marc said, pinching his shirt where the rank pin would have been, had he been wearing a uniform. Actually, given that he was in civvies he almost hoped that there wouldn’t be a welcoming party.

David chuckled. A uniformed figure trotted briskly across the far side of the docking bay and he waved. “I guess that’s your welcoming party,” David said as they began to walk down the ramp.

“Sirs, sorry. We’re still a bit short staffed: the real crew doesn’t get here till the beginning of the week after next–our time.” Joshua was still a bit out of breath from his heroic run down from the command center. “I’m Joshua Sian, Lieutenant. I’ve been keeping the lights on, and organizing the last construction details before the crew gets here. Is there anything I can do to help you move in? A tour?”

“It’s David,” David responded looking distracted by the wall behind Sian.

“Sir?” Sian asked, looking quickly over his shoulder.

“It’s just David these days, none of this sir stuff.”

“Oh, right, sir–Daivd.” Sian corrected himself, and suppressed a squirm. There was silence.

“We have some crates that should probably be unloaded before we move the shuttle out of this bay, if you could arrange for that it would be great.” Marc said, taking charge of the conversation. “The deceleration was a bit longer than we expected and I for one am a bit too tired for a tour right now. Can we schedule one for tomorrow?”

“Sure, that would be great, s-” Sian stopped and looked puzzled for a moment.

David, was by now far more interested in inspecting the facilitates–albeit from a distance–than just about anything, including awkward young commissioned officers.

“Are the crates marked?” Sian asked.

“Should be.” Marc confirmed, before swallowing a yawn.

“I’ll get someone down here to take care of that right away.” Sian made a note on a micro-tablet that he seemed to produce from thin air. “Can I show you to your quarters now?” He offered.

“That would be great,” Marc said. When Sian turned around, Marc glared at David and mouthed “Way to be the strange one, fix it would you.”

David looked quizzically at Marc, and then getting a clue stepped up next to Joshua; “What’s the construction schedule looking like at this point?” he asked.

“We’re doing pretty good, but nothing is really fast enough. Ever.” Sian was caught off guard by the sudden interest, but as David asked more questions about the station and the Lieutenant fell more into his comfort zone, he relaxed.

Marc smiled, and yawned again as they made their way to their quarters. He watched the two men talk, and tried to track the conversion, but he quickly admitted to himself that he no interest in keeping up with the discussion. He could hardly think about anything except the amount of time between the present and the soonest opportunity to sleep.

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Station Keeping #2: Arrival (Part 1)

A Station Keeping story, by tycho garen
on 25th July 2008. (commentary)

This is part one of the second episode of the Station Keeping serial. The second and final part will be posted on Monday.

Office Space

“Damnit!” Taila exclaimed throwing her notes on the desk. She had sent a message to Joshua Sian on Hanm Centre, without attaching the crew rotation that she had promised. Normally such an error wouldn’t have caused much of a problem, but the time delay between her ship and the station for messages was still too long for comfort. She had to wait for the response before she could go off duty, so Talia’s shift just got a little bit longer: “it’s not like there’s anything worth doing, cooped up on the ship like this anyway,” she said to no one in particular and leaned back in the chair.

The doors opened to the skipper’s office with out warning and Talia sat up with a start.

“Skippers’ office, eh?” Eli Banner said, surprised. Though he attempted to act as if he was expecting to find Talia in his office.

“Sorry, sir.” Talia moved to vacate the chair in a rush, but when the skipper sat down in one of the other chairs, she relaxed and stayed in the chair. “I was just coordinating our arrival with Joshua Sian on the station, and wanted some quiet to write the messages–because we’re still text-only. Besides, the computer and crew don’t need me to watch over them while they slow down… so slowly” she reported, still somewhat uncomfortable sitting on this side of the desk.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it, it’s just a room,” Eli said. Had there been actual business for the day, he might have been more interested in reclaiming his office, but it was just as well, the entire crew was engaged of tedious game of appearing busy while trying to hide the fact that they were all bored out of their minds. “What did Sian have to say for himself? Keeping the station in one piece I trust?”

“It’s not fin–” Talia began, but of course Banner knew that already. “More or less, I suppose: I have to resend some data to the station before I can go off duty, but I think we’ve made all the necessary arrangements for docking,” she said, offering a printout report of the docking plan.

“The other ships aren’t going to be happy about having to wait so long to disembark.” He commented and handed the paper back.

“It happens, they’ll deal.”

Eli chuckled, “We’ll make a station governor of you yet.” Talia didn’t quite manage to stifle a glare. Eli continued “relax, get some sleep: I don’t have anything scheduled for this shift so I can I’ll send the message.”

“It’s alright, really, my mistake.” Talia paused, but before Eli could agree “I can’t decide what’s worse, the thought of staying on this ship for another instant, or the thought of spending the next several years of my life on a station in orbit of Hanm.”

“Easy; this ship is worse than the station. Now give me that paper, before I put a mark on your record for sitting in my chair,” he joked. They stood and he grew serious for a moment “It all different, it always is, but you’ll do fine.” He punctuated his sentence with a smile, as he took her stack of files.

“You’re probably right. Good shift, sir,” she said, before turning to leave the office. “Lets avoid doing that again, shall we?” she thought after the door shut.

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