Auditory Transcript 21 (Oaths)

Zheng Hui: “I do solemnly swear that I will consider it my goal to bring timely news to the greater Linked Systems government that Telivoni and those within the system are non-hostile, and that shutting down the gate was a mistake with unforeseen ramifications.  In addition to it being my goal, I will use my position and authority to ensure that it is the goal of others upon the ship, and that nobody on the ship takes actions contrary to my goal.  This oath is fulfilled once the auxiliary council of the Linked Systems government (or council, if elections have occurred) have received all our evidence of Telivoni being non-hostile.”

Zheng (cont.): “I do solemnly swear that I will consider it my goal to keep Myjer a secret from the Linked Systems government and the people of the Linked Systems, and return him to his people in a timely manner, once the previous oath has been accomplished.  I will not sell him, I will not let him be sold.  This oath will be considered fulfilled once Myjer is returned to his people, or we are attacked by the enemies of Myjer's people and he is taken from us by non-humans.”

Zheng (cont.): “I do solemnly swear that I will consider it my goal to have The Astral Zephyr continue to carry and protect two delegates of the Linked Systems until such a time that they choose to leave for the purpose of opening relations with the Coalition of Free Sentients, and/or the hivemind that is in opposition to the Coalition.  This oath will be considered fulfilled if both of the delegates, together or separately, of their own free will, dismiss us of this task; or if the delegates, despite my attempts at protection, both die; or if they have both left to open diplomatic channels with the aliens, as per the above.”

Zheng (cont.): “I do solemnly swear I will prevent the any Gateway we have brought into Telivoni from activating, and will not bring Gateways into Telivoni in the future.  This oath will be considered fulfilled once there is formal peace between Telivoni and the rest of the Linked Systems.”

Councilor Rivera: “Nugs, has the oath been magically bound?”

‘Nugs’: “The oath was magically bound already now yes.  My tiredness is not problematic.”

Rivera: “Very good.  That leaves only the security chief.”

Gestler: “High Councilor Rivera, we agreed earlier that my responsibilities as security chief and duties as an oath-bound soldier preclude me from making oaths of the same sort of as my fellow crewmembers.  I believe we reached an acceptable compromise?”

Rivera: “You say that and mean no compromise at all, just that you swear to do your duties and to obey your… what did you call it?”

Gestler: “’Liege-lord’ is a good translation.”

Rivera: “Yes, and if you are bound to do the will of another who is bound by oath, then that is almost the same as being oath-bound like the others.”

Gestler: “My already existing oaths would compel me, but I relish the chance to reinforce said oaths with a magic enchantment.  Are we ready?”

‘Nugs’: “My tiredness is not problematic already.”

Rivera: “Speak your oath, Gestler.”

Gestler: “I do solemnly swear that I will always faithfully serve the will of the current legitimate owner of the Astral Zephyr with all the skills and abilities at my command.  I will serve the owner of the Astral Zephyr as my liege-lord, with all the responsibilities that entails.  This oath will considered to be fulfilled should the owner of the Astral Zephyr freely dismiss me from my duty, or if the Astral Zephyr is destroyed.”

Rivera: “Nugs?”

‘Nugs’: “Oath magically bound now.”

Rivera: “Hrm.  Gestler, why the wording about the current legitimate owner?  It makes me suspicious.”

Gestler: “When I left my homeworld, I was sworn to serve a role as part of the ship, not specifically to one person.  Perhaps a mistake, in hindsight, but I swore to it.  Besides, would you prefer me to be freed from my duties upon the captain’s death?”

Rivera: “Who exactly is the owner of the Astral Zephyr?”

Gestler: “Zheng Hui.  He bought it from a certain Selim bin Rachid for twice what the vessel was worth then, and Selim has now been paid in full.  Selim may or may not have regrets, but the deal was legitimate.”

Rivera: “And if Zheng Hui dies?  Not that that will happen.”

Gestler: “My duty as a soldier precludes me from answering.  I would not want to encourage dissension or assassination.  Suffice to say, I know who it is, and the person is not me.”

Zheng: “Susana Reiviki is next in line.  I trust her with my life, and think she may well be a better captain that I ever could be.”

Gestler: “Hrm, well I trust no-one.

Zheng: “Where is Myjer and the diplomats?  I… am anxious to go. Hm.  I wonder if that is the oath?”

‘Nugs’: “Oath activity is minimal.  Impatience is possible as alternative?”

Zheng: “…I see.”