Starship Armstrong - Season 3

Part 24 - Family Ties (II)

"...I would never lie to you. This expansion will be difficult. It will require sacrifice in the short term, but in the long term it will represent an increase to the quality of life for the entire arcology. If we were a people content to make do then that is all I would ask of us, but I know that our destiny is so much grander. A society is great when old men plant trees whose shade they will never sit under. I know, as all of you know, that ours is a great society."

'Queen Mitzner' folded her hands in front of her.

"Thank you, and Terra Invictus."

The Captain muted the screen. She turned around in her desk chair to look at Gibson and Mitzner.

"Any insights?" she asked.

The Captain didn't single out Mitzner but it was obvious who the question was directed at.

"If you're talking about the resemblance that part's pretty obvious," said Mitzner. "She must be a product of the same genetic engineering program that produced me. We all look pretty much the same. Except apparently this one decided to give herself a Mom haircut but that's her problem. There's dozens of women running around out there with my exact DNA. The Foundation didn't exactly make a good impression on any of us so it's no surprise that some of my twins might be hiding out in the periphery."

"I gathered that much," said the Captain. "What about this woman specifically?"

Mitzner shrugged.

"We don't have a lot of family reunions," she deadpanned. "I haven't met another Project Zed kid since, damn, since we were actually kids. I'm as in the dark about this as you are."

"Hmm," the Captain mused. "That's disappointing."

"This broadcast is almost 50 years old," said Gibson. "We don't even know for sure if this person is still on the planet."

"Well she certainly didn't die from old age," said Mitzner.

"It won't be long until we're in close enough range for instant ansible communications," said the Captain. "We should be able to determine what the situation on the planet is at that time."

"I'm not so sure they're going to be too anxious to talk," said Mitzner. "She might not be entirely thrilled to encounter a Foundation starship. I know I wouldn't if I were in her shoes. I'd want to try and blow us up if I'm being totally honest. Probably have some kind of plan in mind for exactly this situation."

"Hopefully it won't come to that," said the Captain. "What if you were the one to make contact? A friendly face might make a better impression, no pun intended."

"I could try," said Mitzner. "I can't promise anything."

"Do it," said the Captain. "You can use the ansible in my office. We'll page you as soon as we're in range."

She stood.

"Commander, come with me to the bridge."

Littlecrow and Gibson left, leaving Mitzner alone in the Captain's office. As soon as the door shut she leaned back in her chair and let out a sustained groan of exasperation.

"I swear we're nothing but trouble," she said to the empty room.