Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 15:22:52 -0400 From: ron Subject: Heritage of the Ancients - ch 04 Entering the TS Harry reached out and touched his hand to the panel and gave the mental command to send them to the main med bay. Turning around to exit through the now opening doors Harry was interrupted by a question from a surprisingly quiet Tonks "How do you do that?" Tonks asked Slightly unsure on what Tonks was asking Harry decided to go with "Do what?" "That thing with that transporter thingy, the couple of times I have been in it with you, you place your hand on that drawing and zip there we are. The others on the other hand have to say where they want to go and hope they get there" Tonks asked the curiosity showing in her voice. Swallowing his laughter at her description at the TS "IF you could read Ancient you would be able to tap the map to find the closest TS to where you want to go. Though if you learn how to properly access your magical core and merge your mind into your magic you would be able to do as I do and just touch the panel and think where you want to go." Letting that information sink in Tonks stopped next the bed where Remus slept "He looks so much younger than he did" Activating the holographic keyboard and typing in a few commands on the screen Harry answered. "He looks like he would if he had not been bitten all those years ago" Seeing that for the most part Remus was well healed and just needed to let his energy levels return Harry turned off the soma unit and powered down all the equipment around Remus. Tonks looked up worriedly as she noticed all the strange contraptions around the man she would love to get to know better go dark. Before she had a chance to ask a question Harry told her "He is ready to leave he just needs to rest for a day or two and eat as much as he can. Later on when he is not feeling so easily tired we can discuss the treatment plan for getting rid of his lycanthropy" Turning to face the Quarantine field Harry noticed that while it still hurt he was not as angry as he once was over the loss of his beloved friend. While still distracted with his thoughts Harry told Tonks she could wake Remus now. Pushing back the melancholy feeling as he turned to see a totally drenched and sputtering Remus Lupin hopping off the bed only to find it was not as close to the floor as he thought and falling on his face to the laughing Tonks who was holding her wand as she in a sing song voice "Uh...Uh wolfie you should have gotten up when I asked you to" Laughing quietly Harry helped the last marauder to his feet "Welcome back Remus" Flashing back to the morning before he was dragged to Diagon Ally Remus paled as he remembered a bag being placed over his head containing fine silver dust and how it burned his lungs in agony as he went through the archway at the Leaky Cauldron. "How...I should be dead...The silver" Remus stammered out as he started to go into shock Harry shook Remus to snap him out of his shock. Seeing he had the mans attention "Remus...YOU...ARE...FINE" "Harry...How" Remus pleaded "Relax Remus my healing methods are more advanced than what you are used too. Tonks will fill you in with everything that has happened as I have to go now and meet some people" Harry said giving the man a hug before giving him a nudge in Tonks Direction. As Harry started to walk out of the med bay he stopped at the door "Remus's rooms are right next to your Tonks, you do remember what to say to get there right?" Looking red faced and sheepish Tonks uttered "Um, can't say that I do" "That's ok" Harry smiled at her "Aloria when the two enter the station would you send them to the TS nearest the Weasley's" Remus was staring at Harry strangely wondering who he was talking to when he heard a feminine voice answer "Yes Lord Commander" "Who...What..." Seeing the retreating back of the person holding all the answers Remus Bellowed "Harry" XXXX Harry laughed to himself as he walked down the hallway taking the long route back to the gate room. "Harry the gate is being activated. Tracing back the origin" Aloria told him as he picked up the pace "It is originating back on Earth from the Goblin enclave." Aloria told him as he stepped into the embarkation area and scanned the row of six gates to see which one was being activated Walking down to the end most gate, Harry watched as the ninth chevron locked into place. Instead of the splash and whoosh of the old style gates a ripple started from the center and quickly moved to the outer edge silently. Harry was slightly surprised when Griphook walked through the portal first followed by several crates. "Greetings Lord Commander. It might be a bit presumptuous of me but as you agreed that I may come along I took the liberty of packing all my belongings" Griphook told him as he directed the crates off to one side out of the way. Smiling Harry told him enjoying the look of astonishment on his friends face "I will get you settled in with your new duties commander after the meeting then" Harry opened his link with the city and directed the remotes to prepare all the pylons for occupancy as he watched his old business partner stammer in shock. As the rest of the Goblin high council walked through the portal Stone Crusher had to wonder what had been said now as he took in the gaping expression on the young Goblin that had pledged himself to Harry Potter. Shaking himself out of his shock Griphook vowed to get even with Harry at a later date as he noticed the rest of the council walking up the stairs and to what looked like a conference room off the first level. Running up the stairs to catch up Griphook noticed an empty seat near Harry's left and made for it. Sitting down he pulled some parchment and a self inking quill out of his satchel so he could take notes. The old Goblin across from Harry spoke up "Mr. Potter I am Granthorn the oldest of the Goblin Nation and the keeper of knowledge. I want to say that after you left we opened the oldest section of our council chamber and were able to confirm enough of what you had said about the great alliance of races." With a small bow of his head "As the leader of the Goblin nation, the ones once known as the Furlings, I re-confirm our vow to the alliance and to you Lord Commander" Bane Breaker told him solemnly. Giving a slight bow of his head back Harry told them "Thank you. Though I would have helped you as a matter of course" "True, you have always been most honorable with your dealings with the Goblin people and have never treated us with less than full respect" The Goblin to Granthorn's left said "Plus if we read the records correctly our people once traveled through the stars as explorer's and traders. And the best way to our minds to do this is as full members of the alliance as we once were" Stone Crusher told him Thinking to Aloria about the best way for the Goblins to re-learn the advanced knowledge they had lost through time and the seclusion of their race due to the great plague. Aloria told him through the link that she could modify some of the teaching links she was producing for the Furlings to use. Nodding his head Harry returned his attention to the council members seated across from him "There should be a way for you to be taught what your race once knew" Seeing the looks of excitement on the faces of the elders Harry held up a hand to forestall any gratitude's "The teaching link can be modified due to the fact you are magical and as such have cores. The downside to it is that when placed on the temple and activated it will cause an immense amount of pain as it adjusts to the non Alteran brain patterns" "How long will it last?" Granthorn asked not deterred at all "A minute possibly two. But it will not get any better, every time you put it back on it will be the same" Harry told them "So we will just not take them off." Griphook said as if it was common sense Looking at Griphook like he said something profound "I never really considered leaving them on, as they can not be hidden by glamour's and I assumed that most people would not want o be seen with them on. Never gave it much thought really as most of the learning is done while the wearer is asleep." Harry shrugged Mentally asking Aloria to send him one of each of the teaching devices so he could compare them, Harry ignored the small jumping motion from those seated at the table as the two devices appeared on the table in front of him. Picking up the smaller of the two Harry opened his senses and took a look at how it was constructed. "This one is designed for those with Alteran blood; there is also a moment of discomfort and a pinching sensation when they are activated" Returning it to the table Harry picked up the other one, which was larger by twenty five percent and examined it also. Seeing that both devices would achieve the desired results faster if left on constantly "Griphook your idea has merit, these will actually work better if left on constantly and will actually work like a mental link to the city and give you access to more control systems then if you relied on non mental inputs" Showing the device to those assembled as the one made for their use "You would just place it on your temple and push the red crystal in the center. It will turn blue once the link is active." Harry set it down on the table next to the other. Not getting to his current position by not being bold Griphook reached across the table and picked up the teaching device Harry had showed them as he turned away and placed it on his right temple and pressed the crystal firmly. Cursing under his breath as he turned to see Griphook fall forward onto the table clutching his head, pale and sweat starting to bead on his head. Griphook clutched his head and bit the inside of his mouth vowing he would not scream in pain. Pain starting to fade Griphook took several large gulps of air and tried to control the need to hyperventilate he felt. Shaking his head as he sat back up in his seat he glanced at Harry to see the displeased look on his face before turning to the elders who were watching him closely with some expectation. "Aloria..." Harry started "Already monitoring Lord Commander. Endorphin levels spiked two hundred percent once pain threshold was reached. Scans show no cerebral damage and the link is active and working as assumed." Aloria sensing Harry's questions reported. "Well?" Demanded Stone Crusher Griphook had his breathing under control and the minor cut inside his mouth had stopped bleeding "The pain was tolerable, though the Lord Commanders definition of immense pain seems to be an understatement. At the time I felt as if a Kobald was hitting me in the head several times with its armored tail. But it passed quickly without any lingering effects." "I would suggest that the best group to apply the teacher too would be those ascending from the crèche, as they have the highest pain tolerance due to the surges. For those not of the warrior caste, a pain potion could be used if needed" Griphook sneered at the idea of those that would choose using a potion instead of taking the pain. Shaking his head at his friend's rashness Harry almost made a snide comment before he remembered that even though he could be rash at times his banking knowledge and advice had made him a lot of money. "How many of these teachers can you produce for our use?" Stone Crusher asked "The question should be how many of our race you are willing to take with you. They should get the first teachers produced" Granthorn said Bane Breaker interrupted "Should we not ask how the Lord Commander plans to search for our home world first" The other Goblins all stopped their one up-man ship with questions to turn and stare at Harry. Smiling at the mental laughter from Aloria who had been giving a running dialog of odds on what question would be asked next and how they reminded her of stories of six year olds awaiting the opening of their Christmas gifts she had assimilated the stories of. Harry explained where they were like he had with the Weasley clan and even showed them the hologram of the city along with superimposing the image of Hogsmeade on one of the pylons so they had a reference point to gauge the size by. "How many can the city hold?" Stone Crusher asked "As I said the city was designed as a rescue platform while also being an engine of war. " Harry shrugged his shoulder "Each of the pylons can house upwards of sixty thousand comfortably long term. When in need though the farms and greenhouses can house twenty thousand or so for short periods of a day maybe two." Granthorn sat back in his chair shocked "we can house the entire nation within one of these pylons" "This changes things drastically." The Goblin to the right of Granthorn whispered in awe "How...How many of the Wizarding world are you planning on taking with you?" Granthorn asked as he climbed to the top of his chair and looked over the hologram of the city. Looking out of the windows towards the construction docks "I am not sure how many. It would depend on how many were able to give up their preconceived notions and think of themselves as Alteran's first and foremost. Whether they be Magical, Squib or Muggle they would have to fit in and think of themselves as Alteran's." Harry told them Looking down at his notes Griphook leaned over and pointed to the arrow shaped pylon that was the largest of the five "And this pylon, you call them, what is its purpose?" Harry looked over to where Griphook was pointing and absent mindedly replied "That holds the main greenhouses and farms even though there are others greenhouses set up more like parks scattered through the other pylons." Waving his hand the other greenhouses he mentioned lit up with their locations. Griphook smiled as he started to take notes at a rapid pace. "Those most accepting of other beings you mean" Stone Crusher said Grinning "That too" Harry told him "So you should easily be able to accept, say, up to twenty thousand from the Goblin Nation then?" Granthorn asked Thinking about what was asked and trying to see where the old Goblin was heading Harry replied slowly "Yes. That should not be that much of a problem. Though I would mention if you are planning on including a large cadre of people I would want to make sure all the support personal came along with them. Like healers, craftsmen and teachers and such" "May we take a few moments to discuss this amongst ourselves? I believe we would be able to properly lay out a plan then to present to you." Granthorn asked "Certainly, I shall have the remotes bring up some refreshments. It is 01:30 now, let's say we reconvene at 02:30, will that be enough time?" Harry asked "Griphook would you join me?" Harry asked as he stood up and moved from the table. Seeing him nod in acceptance Harry started out the door but stopped and thought he should add "Just so you know" Seeing he had every ones attention "Some of the remotes look like four legged metal spiders, just so you are not surprised" Gathering up his papers he moved to follow Harry out of the conference room and down the landing and up two more sets of stairs and onto a landing that allowed one to oversee the other three along with all the work stations. Harry motioned for Griphook to follow him past a large throne like chair and into a meeting room off the side of the platform. Walking around the edge of the balcony Griphook looked down at the stations and saw a swarm of glossy black spider like machines picking up his belongings and placing them on the backs of their larger brethren before walking down the hallway out of sight. After watching his belongings disappear from sight Griphook turned and raised an eyebrow "They indeed look much like Acromantula's except they have half the number of legs" Stopping when a high back stool started to grow from the floor Griphook gave it a funny look as it finished taking shape. He prodded it with a finger before gingerly climbing into it and sitting down. Still unsettled at the strange level of conjuration he witnessed never the less Griphook spoke up "Harry I took the liberty of making a few inquiries with the muggle banks you have your accounts in." Reaching down to his un-noticed satchel Griphook removed a stack of parchment notes before placing them on the table and spreading them out in a semi circle around him "From some of the comments you made earlier I ran a few fast projections on what it would take to get the farms and greenhouses running at full capacity, and the most likely scenario of using the city as a colonization project. Taking in consideration of the available capital in your accounts of just over one and a half million sterling, spreading the purchases world wide and using the cities transport system to bring the supplies up, you will still need to dip into your own funds by roughly seventy five thousand galleons" Impressed with how fast his friend with very little information was able to extrapolate and anticipate his needs Harry asked. "This all takes into account I fund this entire project myself, correct?" Seeing Griphook nod his head Harry thought out loud "I was hoping to use most of the muggle money to purchase..." Turning to stare at his financial adviser turned commander he asked "If you take in account all those from the Wizarding world bringing up plants and animals and getting donations of cuttings how much do you think you can drop that figure by?" Griphook turned over some parchment and started to scribble some figures on it while talking out loud "If we did that, we could assume seventy percent of all the required plant material could be brought in by outside sources. Then if we take in consideration fifteen percent brought in by the Goblin nation with the agreement that we set aside several of the other secondary greenhouses to hold stock for the transfer to the home world. That leaves us with fifteen percent." Turning to one of the other parchments Griphook made a notation next to a column before grabbing another to write on "Now livestock is a different story Goblins favor fish so if we factor in the Goblin nation supplying fish stocks." Looking up at Harry he asked. "I am making an assumption that the city already has the proper tanks and such to do aquaculture?" Harry amused at the antics of Griphook as he worked told him "The fabricators can make anything that can be thought of. So yes." Going back over to the parchment he wrote several zeros next to lines filled out. "As Wizards are not really in to keeping livestock, but if we ask them to purchase or barter for certain stock as they move up we can reduce this figure by say sixty percent" Pulling the parchment over with all the columns of figures listed on it Griphook made one last notation before adding the new column up. Looking at his figures one last time before asking. "Is time a factor here? I made my figures on the least time approach, which was three months?" Harry contacted Aloria mentally to ask how long she thought it would take to get a very good grounding behind the new Alteran's. 'Six months Harry' Aloria told him 'any sooner than that and you are asking for trouble if we had to fight' "Six months Griphook. We leave in Six months give or take a day or two" Harry told him Hmm I could reduce this number another twenty five percent Griphook thought to himself. No better leave it as it is a rough estimate "Roughly you understand." Waiting for Harry to acknowledge this and with the nod of Harry's head he finished "Roughly half a million sterling give or take" Harry's smile was infectious as he grinned at the news "Good then I will be able to set up the trusts as I was planning" Confused and trying to figure out who Harry would set up trusts for as he had already gotten is revenge in the most spectacular way through the muggle courts against his relatives. In fact their lies and crimes splashed all over the country was most enjoyable. Finally Griphook asked. "Trusts for what purpose Harry?" "I want a trust set up that will watch the Dursley line and especially Dudley and if he would ever have a child with magical potential I would want them removed. Also this trust should keep an eye out for new muggle born with magical gifts and we need to give them the option of joining us." Harry told him with some venom in his voice when talking about Dudley. "One of the properties that was left to me through the Potter line was in bad shape on a small Isle around Wales. The only good thing about it was it was totally un-plot table." Griphook not knowing where Harry was going with this and how it had to do with trusts let him ramble on knowing he would soon get a glimmer that let it all fall into to place. "Over the past year I have had the remotes and fabricators fixing up the Isle setting it up as a headquarters of sort and installing an updated Astria. The trust will be set up and handled by Gringotts and used to pay staff that will reside at the Isle to watch and intervene under set guidelines." Harry stood up and walked over to the balcony and looked down over all the soon to be filled stations. "No more magical children left in orphanages to grow up to become dark lords. No more magical children to grow up abused and un-loved" Harry turned and one could see the fire in his eyes. "I may never step foot on the planet of my birth again, But that does not mean I will totally abandon it either. Most of the staff will come from Alteran volunteers I have no doubt. But they will need resources. And those resources cost." Harry finished as he had noticed the Goblin Elders roaming about outside the meeting room. A feral smile crossed Griphook's face as he thought of all the possibilities Harry had prepared for. It seemed that he had been planning on leaving for a long time and had made elaborate plans. Shaking himself off his soapbox "It seems the elders have finished and are ready for us. Shall we join them then" Harry asked as he started for the arch that led to his station. Grabbing up his piles and stuffing them neatly in his satchel Griphook hurried to catch up with him. XXXX Sitting back down at the table Harry waited for everyone else to seat themselves and noticed the pleased yet nervous looks on some of the Goblins faces. "Before we begin outlining what we propose we would like to know if twenty thousand, a colony group if you will, will be acceptable?" Bane Breaker asked 'Can you modify that many teacher links' Harry asked Aloria through their link 'It will take me about a week. I modified about five hundred and have laid the plans down and assigned three fabricators to produce them' Aloria explained Nodding he head Harry added "I see no problem, it will take about a week to have all the links fabricated, five hundred have been modified and are ready now. But I see no reason that to hold off on bringing up those chosen as soon as possible" As Harry sat through the rest of the presentation including how the colony group would be divided up by skills and ages, with the occasional comment by Griphook, he had a sudden thought. 'Aloria how difficult would it be to build a teaching system that can be left on earth to bring up to speed the rest of the Goblins to the level their ancestors were before they slid back?' Harry asked 'Programming it would be simple but if you wanted it to be permanent which I would advise against as it would remain on earth and could be discovered' Aloria was thinking 'What if we built it at the Isle and modified the link frequency so that it was able to broadcast fold space transmissions. Could it work then?' Harry thought back 'Since we planned to vaporize the Isle if it fell into the wrong hands, yes it will. I will send a series of remotes and fabricators to begin work immediately' Aloria told him as his link fell silent the telltale sign she was concentrating fully elsewhere. Seeing that the meeting was near to breaking up and glancing at the pile of notes stacked next to Griphook he made a mental note to introduce him to data pads as soon as possible. "One last thing before we break up for the day" Harry told the excited Goblins that were preparing to leave "I did some research and found out that you are the last of your race" Harry started his tale to see he had all their attention clearly focused on him. "Eons ago when the two branches of your race split, there was a great plague devastating both our peoples. The survivors spilt into two directions. Those with magical abilities followed mine here to this world in an obscure corner of the galaxy. The rest fell back to the main colony world and from there became a peaceful race that knew no strife Unfortunately they were wiped out by another race that is parasitic in nature, as they could not be used as hosts unwilling or not." Harry finished seeing their shocked looks "So my question to you is. Are you planning to leave this planet once you find your home world or if it is not habitable for any reason a new world that is suitable?" Harry asked. As the Goblins looked at each other as they took in his words Granthorn stood up "We had planned to use the archway to move most of our people to the home world. Leaving enough to run Gringotts and rotating them out after a certain amount of time. This would allow the rest to learn what the others would be able to teach us" Tilting his head sideways to really look at the oldest Goblin Harry focused on him alone "The means to provide those to learn what the others are that are staying while the first colony group goes off is being constructed as we speak. All those staying behind will be brought up to the same level as those leaving. So that will not be an issue" "While I agree that keeping Gringotts open and operating as before with none the wiser is a good way to garner an income and to move supplies to your new world. The rest of your people would need to be moved through another gate." Harry told him Seeing the slightly confused look on the old Goblins face "The archway as you call it is actually a gateway. The one in the council chambers is not powerful enough to open to another that is not in close orbit, like this city." Hearing the stammers of anger being started Harry held up a hand "Please wait for me to finish. I never planned to leave the rest of you. I had built in a secret and secure location an advanced version of the gate. This gate has the power necessary to reach any of the other gates in the network." Seeing the others calm down he continued "I always planned for the new gate to be used to move your people as I can not risk the technology of the gates to fall into the wrong hands. While I do not think any that find it would ever be able to take it apart and learn how to build their own I do think they would be able to learn to use it, which is what I will not risk." Understanding what Harry was saying and the reasons for it Stone Crusher asked "How do you propose that we move back and forth between our enclave and the new gate?" Seeing the others had accepted what he was saying Harry told them "I plan on sending remotes down tonight to build a transfer station next to the archway. When they are finished they will be instructed to remove the gate there now for further security. Those with Goblin blood will enter the transport station and one of them needs to place their hand on the crystal on the wall and the group will be instantly transported to the station linked to yours near the new gate. I must warn you though that if one that is not of Goblin blood tries to activate the station it will destroy itself and any of the Goblins that were left behind will have to make their way to the hidden location that houses the new gate. So guard it wisely" Approving of the intense security Stone Breaker told the rest of the council "A very wise move. One that shows much planning into the security of all of us" The others nodded their heads in agreement and as Harry stood up to lead them back to the gate he heard Bane Breaker say from behind him "This reasoning shows why he is the Lord Commander does it not?" Walking down the steps Harry stopped at the console in the middle of the floor and pressed the key that would activate the middle gate and typed in the address that would open the portal between the city and the Goblin conclave. After the portal opened and a group of remotes started through Harry addressed the group "When can I expect the first of the colony group to arrive?" As the others followed the remotes Bane Breaker answered with a question of his own "We will still be able to use our current gate while the transport is being built correct?" Seeing Harry's nod he told them "Then the leaders in their field along with Stone Breaker will start to arrive around noon tomorrow. Their families shall start to arrive shortly after that in groups every hour." "Until tomorrow then" Harry told him Editing provided by Scott