Outliers of Tirano

  *

  I arrived five centi before the time I was scheduled to meet Admiral Kiptani. The Admiral was notorious for considering his subordinates late for a meeting if they didn't arrive at least three centi early. As I expected he arrived exactly four centi before we were to meet.

  His long stride didn't slow as he neared. "Follow me," he said.

  Given the late hour, the only other person in the Grand Concourse was a security guard stationed near the Concourse's main entrance. He glanced at us as we crossed the empty Grand Course and saluted the Admiral.

  It took two of my strides for every one of the Admiral's and I almost had to jog to keep pace. I had no idea where Belts Control was in the Castel, even its location was classified. I figured it must be hidden somewhere in the bunkers beneath the Castel and hoped I could continue to keep up with the Admiral until we reached Belts Control.

  I was almost out of breath before we reached the far end of the Concourse when the Admiral stopped at a door marked "Authorized Personnel Only." I'd walked by this door numerous times, but had never placed any significance on it because most doors in the Concourse have a similar sign.

  Kiptani placed his hand on the door's palm scanner. "Kiptani. Security clearance, priority 1." The door dilated open.

  The Admiral must have noticed my quizzical expression. "Sometimes it's best to hide something in the open where it would be least expected."

  "But anyone could break in," I said.

  "This door and the entire Belts Control complex, walls, floor, and ceiling, are constructed of the highest grade symplast. A direct hit by any known armed missile wouldn't penetrate. The construction of this room was the single most expensive item in the cost of the seeding of the Belts."

  We passed through the door and it slid back into place. I looked around the windowless room the size of my chamber. Gray comprocessors lined the walls. A single Fleetman in a white uniform sat in front of a comconsole in the center of the room. When he saw the Admiral he stood and saluted.

  The Admiral returned the salute. "Continue with your duties," he said.

  I'd always assumed Belts Control would be a vast complex with hordes of personnel. I looked around but didn't see any other doors. "Is this the only room?" I asked.

  The Admiral nodded. "The comprocessors are so advanced that the technician's sole duty is to reboot the comprocessors if they should shut down. Since it's a near statistical improbability that would occur, the assignment is one of the easiest in the Fleet."

  "But who deactivates the Belts to permit passage?" I asked.

  "Six people are authorized to transmit the order directly to the processors, and no order is implemented until verified by two of those six."

  When he said nothing further, I assumed I was here to be authorized as one of the six. "So, what do I have to do to get authorization?"

  He shook his head. "That's not why I brought you here. The six are in the Belts chain of command."

  "If there's nothing I'd ever be needed for, then why did you have to bring me here?" I asked.

  The Admiral gave me a half-smile. "Isn't it obvious?"

  I shook my head. "Not to me."

  "To register you with the entry door's palm scanner. If there's ever an attack or imminent attack on the Castel, the royal family, all Royal Council members and the Koah Commander are to assemble here for safety and to be available to plan any response to the attack."

  Ingenious, I thought.

  "But be quick getting here," the Admiral continued. "The palm scanner deactivates one deci after the Sovereign is secured."

  I arched my eyebrows. "What if someone is more than a deci from the Castel."

  The Admiral pulled on his sleeve. "No one wanted to take the risk that one of those permitted entrance could be captured, divulge this location, and forced to open the door."

  I nodded. "I understand. Lets hope it never comes to that."

  "I agree," the Admiral replied. "Any other questions?"

  I shook my head. I looked around the room. "Do you mind if I examine the comprocessors? Even in my Sibyl schooling, I never saw anything like this. I'd love to inspect them up close."

  The Admiral thought a moment before he replied. "I see no reason why not. Take your time. I have another appointment. The Fleetman will process your palm scan and show you out when you're ready."