After the war, I went back to the rig, not wanting to go back to Houston. I don't think I'll ever go back. A year later, I got a call from the government asking if I would be interested in working in space. I thought it was a joke. I mean, come on. I didn't even know how they found me, though it probably wouldn't have been that hard.
They said they needed instructors for new spacers that would be working in a vacuum. Of course, I told them that I'd never worked in a vacuum either, but they said my diving experience was close enough. I remember thinking these guys must be desperate to want me.
I took the job. Why not? It seemed exciting and got me further away from Houston. (He gives a half-smile.) I spent six months in training, learning nautical, or rather naval, terminology, space physiology, medicine, and working in a space environment. And a lot more. NASA already had some programs, but they were small and focused. The TSC needed training done on a massive scale, and they needed it yesterday.
So, they took our class, about fifty of us, and told us to put together a curriculum for basic space training. It was daunting. Everything was new then, and nobody had any answers. They just told us what they wanted and then told us to figure it out. We did. Our group, which consisted of all kinds of occupations and a few experienced teachers, helped put together a complete and in-depth program for new spacers.
Now, I'm a teacher. I teach space newbies, from marines to cooks to mechanics. They all come through here first, or a class similar to it.
How is it living in space?
I love it! The civilian side has everything you need and more. Sometimes I even forget I'm in space. We have shopping malls, restaurants, movie theaters, and even a park. I'm part of a frisbee golf team, if you can believe that. I don't plan on ever going back to Earth if I can help it.
What about if the Veech attack?
It's a risk, but it just doesn't seem that risky after everything the world has lived through. Does that make sense? Our... My sense of feeling safe... No, that's not right. How do I say this? It's like the curtain has been pulled back, and I've seen the wizard, and nothing is going to give me back the sense of security I had. It's gone. I've done well here, something I never thought would happen. I'll take my chances.
I've got a class in a few minutes. You're welcome to watch it. I don't know how that translates to interviews, but you're more than welcome.
Kee Mpi
Phoenix Station
In the bowls of Phoenix Station, past layers of security points, I'm led to a meeting room adjoining a large hallway. My escorts, a pair of young marines, point to a comfortable-looking chair on one side of a large, wooden table. They remind me, one more time, to remember protocol and then move to the other end of the room, placing themselves on either side of a door.
A few minutes later, I stand and greet one of the ambassadors of the Jhi. I place my hands palm up and extend my fingers, a gesture of peace copied by the ambassador. He then reaches across the room and offers his hand. I shake it.
Kee Mpi of the 2nd regional family is of a height similar to Terrans. Kee Mpi, like all Jhi, is bipedal. He has large eyes that are spaced far apart. His face is angular and severe, with no facial hair. Covering the top of his angular head is a short gray spike of hair standing up like a mohawk.
Kee Mpi is an under-secretary to Earth, one of many. A master linguist, he has mastered English, Russian and Spanish in the time he has spent here.
Kee Mpi has an engaging personality and greets me warmly. He asked if I would give him specific questions to know what to talk about, as things he finds exciting might bore me.
Why did the Jhi help Terra?
Ah, straight to the heart, as you say. The truth is that it was in our best interest to do so. The Jhi, along with our allies, have been fighting a war for the last decade. Unfortunately for Earth, you live closer to our enemies than us, and they wanted your resources. There is no galactic rule or law that protects pre-space civilizations, nor is there any benevolent force willing to enforce it. Some races will go out of their way to help these civilizations, but the Jhi is not one of them.
How was it in your best interest?
Please understand me, we don't conquer worlds ourselves, and there was a time when we were more involved in lifting species. But after many problems that arose from it, the Jhi Council changed our stance on such situations. Earth is closer to the Veech than us, as I've said; however, two systems away from Earth, there is a Jhi colony, and we could not have the Veech occupy a planet so close to us.
The Veech, a member of the Opal Confederation, are the closest species to your planet, so they decided to take it. Most of the current war is happening many systems away from your world, which is a good thing for Terra.
How did you know they were attacking?
Well, I can't get into too much of that, but suffice it to say, we keep track of borders closely, as does every significant space power. We had been tracking them as they danced along
