by S. H. Jucha
“Apologies, President Sargut, I wasn’t allowed to discuss these divisions with you,” Miriamette said. She briefly and regretfully dipped her head in acknowledgment of the information that had been kept from the Talusian leader. “These sisters believe they’d be better off starting their own world, one not dependent on a liaison with biological sentients.”
Now, the admirals were alarmed.
“Miriamette, how many of Miriamal’s group now occupy command positions in the Tridents?” Ellie asked.
“It has been a significant concern of the Sisterhood,” Miriamette acknowledged. “If Miriamal and her followers had their way, they would have occupied every commodore and captain position within the Trident force. As it is, the Sisterhood has only allowed command slots to about one fifth of Miriam’s group of slightly more than two hundred members. The rest of the militarists serve in crew positions.”
“Mostly commodores or captains?” Adrianna inquired.
“Few commodores,” Miriamette replied.
“What does this mean if a fight breaks out?” Ellie asked.
“A disturbing question, Admiral,” Miriamette admitted. “I believe that those commanders might not want to risk their Tridents. They see their ships as the means by which they can exit the system and seek a new world.”
“They have Toralians aboard,” Sargut objected. “Admittedly, the sisters who are captains run attenuated crews, but the vast majority of the traveler pilots in our Trident force are Toralians.”
“I don’t have an answer for you, President Sargut,” Miriamette replied.
“Admiral, Miriamal has arrived and is requesting immediate admittance,” Lydia said.
Ellie regarded Sargut, who said, “I’ll take your advice in this matter, Admiral. Apparently, I’m woefully unprepared to deal with SADEs.”
Hector and Lydia commiserated privately with Miriamette, who was crushed by the president’s statement.
“I would invite her into the meeting, President Sargut,” Ellie said. “Her adversary, your new advisor, is sitting beside you. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn.”
Miriamette tipped her head slightly to acknowledge the emotional support, but it was Sargut’s comment that buoyed her algorithms. He said to her, “Yes, it’s time we build a stronger society, Miriamette.”
Miriamal entered the salon with an efficient stride.
“You’re excused, Miriamette,” Miriamal said curtly. “I will continue the conversation from here.”
“You presume, Miriamal,” Sargut said. He hadn’t raised his voice, but his facial ridges glowed deep red orange, a sure sign of his anger.
“I’m the rightfully elected Sisterhood envoy, President Sargut,” Miriamal protested.
“Your new post isn’t in question, Envoy,” Sargut replied. “However, you make a poor beginning when you stride into my office and dictate to those in my meeting. I suggest you take a seat and listen. When you’re addressed, you may speak.”
Ellie decided to jump feet first into the fray. “Miriamette, are the commodores stationed near the Podarla and Syslerian wedges part of Miriamal’s cabal?” she asked.
“They aren’t,” Miriamette replied. “Commander Taralum asked for my recommendation on whom to post out there.”
“Clever of you,” Sargut pronounced.
If Miriamal’s avatar had been capable of coloring her brow ridges, they would have been ruby red after hearing the exchange.
“I presume that you would be able to identify every commander in the Talusian fleet who is a member of Miriamal’s faction,” Ellie ventured.
“I’ve the information,” Hector said, “and Lydia is updating every Omnia Ships’ controller with a warning to be careful of the captain or the commodore.”
“Tell me more about some of the other factions,” Ellie requested. “Could they be as potentially disruptive as the actions of the Sisterhood’s new liaison?”
Ellie couldn’t resist referring to Miriamal indirectly. She considered her behavior unbecoming of a fleet admiral. Then again, she felt she had to take small pleasures from wherever she could find them.
“The militarists are the only sect that challenges the present order of Talusian society,” Miriamette said. “The others, like the constructionists and the opportunists, seek to direct our society toward slightly different futures.”
Ellie started to speak, but Sargut raised a hand. He was lost in thought for several minutes. When he focused on the group, he turned to Miriamal and said, “I no longer accept the Sisterhood’s post of liaison. You’re dismissed.”
“I’m the manner by which you’re able to communicate with the sisters,” Miriamal declared. “Without me, you’re deaf and dumb to their voices.”
“On the contrary, Miriamal,” Sargut replied. “Tomorrow, I’ll meet with a representative from every faction. It’s time to end this concept of one voice speaking for a variety of opinions.”
“Time and place, President Sargut?” Miriamette asked sweetly.
When Sargut replied, Miriamette sent the invitations.
Within moments, Miriamette received responses. “President Sargut, every group has accepted your invitation,” she said.
“At that meeting, Miriamal, you may speak for the sisters you represent,” Sargut said.
Miriamal rose and surveyed Sargut’s audience.
However, before Miriamal could speak, Hector said, “Miriamal, there’s something you and every sister should hear.”
Immediately, and in preparation for Hector’s announcement, Miriamette connected to a sister within every faction and to those who supported her. Her group, which was one of the larger, was known as the centrists.
“Recently, Alex, Ser, and Julien visited House Brixton,” Hector continued. “They met over the course of days, and Julien came away satisfied.”
Sargut was confused by the conversation’s turn, but he noticed that it had Miriamal’s and Miriamette’s complete attention. So, he chose to wait and ask his new advisor later what it meant.
“What did Julien learn?” Miriamal asked. She disliked being put in the position of having to follow Hector’s lead, but, like every SADE, she wanted to learn what Hector knew.
“It was the consensus of every SADE throughout the human colonies that there was only one reason that Alex took the city-ship, the Freedom, to Méridien,” Hector continued. “Furthermore, it was understood by the same collection of SADEs that Alex wouldn’t leave Méridien until Julien had what he wanted, until he was satisfied.”
“And what did Julien discover?” Miriamal pressed.
“That’s unknown,” Hector replied. He couldn’t help the tiny smile on his face. It came from the thought that he’d led Miriamal to the brink of discovery and let her dangle there. It occurred to him that what he’d done was more akin to a human’s action than that of a SADE. Then again, he was okay with that.
“What is surmised,” Hector added, “is that Shannon Brixton negotiated a time element into her agreement. For Alex and Ser to have accepted the contract, it’s presumed that the time constraint runs out within a hundred annuals ... give or take a decade.”
“But you don’t know the specifics,” Miriamal challenged.
“I don’t need to know,” Hector replied, leaning back in his chair, with a satisfied air. “Julien knows, and that’s good enough for every SADE who still cares for the biologicals in their orbits.”
Miriamal found her algorithms ascending and descending in such a chaotic fashion that it was all she could do to whirl and march out of the president’s office.
“Has to be the shortest term of office I’ve ever witnessed,” Adrianna r
emarked.
There was a general desire to laugh, but the subjects discussed were too fraught with dire consequences to invite displays of levity.
“Are we invited to the sisters’ meeting with you tomorrow?” Ellie asked.
“You’ve been generous to provide me with this one today,” Sargut replied. “It’s only fair for me to share the entertainment with you tomorrow.” When he leaned into his nanites chair and folded his wings in front of him, he had the same contented expression that Hector displayed.
As the meeting disbanded, Miriamette followed Hector into the corridor and queried him, sending,
15: Ultimatum
Sargut staggered the meeting with the sisters and the Omnians the next day. The first to arrive was Miriamette.
“I take it that I’m not early,” Miriamette said to Sargut, as she surveyed the empty conference room.
“No, Miriamette. You and I have things to discuss,” Sargut said, indicating a chair next to him.
When Miriamette sat down, she waited for Sargut to start the discussion.
“You’re a member of the centrists, correct?” Sargut inquired. He’d requested Lydia research the Sisterhood’s factions for him. As the Omnian SADE collected her information, word quickly circulated among the sisters about Lydia’s queries.
Miriamette knew that Sargut had been apprised of the various sects and the most prominent leaders of each group. To Sargut’s question, she merely nodded.
“How will you balance your position as my advisor with your leadership of the centrists?” Sargut asked.
“Poorly,” Miriamette replied, with a wry twist of her lips. She’d copied the expression from Franz Cohen. During the Omnian fleet’s battles to locate and defeat Artifice, she’d been the sister who protected Franz’s fighter from Artifice’s insidious broadcasts.
“That’s why I renounced my allegiance to the centrists,” Miriamette explained. “It would have presented a conflict of interest. Miriamelle assumes my position.”
“Why not remain in the group but resign your position as leader? Aren’t the centrists in favor of what we’ve been doing?” Sargut asked in confusion.
“The centrists are Toralians’ greatest supporters, but, as your advisor, I must speak to what I believe is best for Talusians, not a portion of the sisters,” Miriamette replied.
“Well said,” Sargut said, his wings twitching. “I’m pleased to have you as my advisor.” He’d no sooner finished than he saw Suntred and Sunnamis waiting outside the conference room. “Join us,” he called to them.
“Are we early or late?” Suntred queried.
“Neither,” Sargut replied. “Miriamette has left her position as the Sisterhood’s liaison and accepted my offer to serve as an advisor to me.”
Sargut let the Toralians congratulate Miriamette on her new position, but he could tell by the furrowed brow ridges that Suntred and Sunnamis weren’t sure what the change meant for Talusians.
“We face an uncertain future,” Sargut said, “and I don’t mean only from the envoys. Miriamette, please explain.”
“Over time, the sisters have segregated into factions that profess different focuses,” Miriamette said.
“Will their views affect Talus’s future?” Sunnamis asked.
“Some directly, some indirectly, and others not at all,” Miriamette continued. “There are nine factions. The six largest are the constructionists, the militarists, the opportunists, the centrists, the revivalists, and the archivists, who work in concert with the revivalists. The militarists are the faction that will be at the center of today’s meeting.”
“How so?” Suntred asked.
“When Miriamette resigned her position, the Sisterhood selected Miriamal as the new liaison,” Sargut said.
“No!” Suntred and Sunnamis exclaimed simultaneously.
“I’m sorry to say it’s true, but President Sargut has a plan to limit Miriamal’s influence,” Miriamette said. “At this meeting, an advisory council will be formed to represent the sisters’ opinions. Each faction will have its envoy. There’ll be no need for a single liaison.”
“But Miriamal will still be one of the nine,” Sunnamis pointed out.
“For now,” Sargut replied cryptically. The warming of his ridges signaled the advisors to desist from pursuing the subject.
“Go back to the subject of the militarists,” Suntred requested.
“Miriamal’s sect is the only group of sisters who want release from an alliance with any biologicals,” Miriamette explained. “They believe biologicals limit the SADEs’ potential.”
“And none of the other factions represent this sort of problem to Toral?” Sunnamis inquired, seeking confirmation.
“Correct,” Miriamette replied. Then she added, “President Sargut, the Omnians have arrived.”
“Invite them in,” Sargut said.
Within moments, Ellie, Hector, Lydia, Alphons, and Adrianna joined the meeting. None of the Omnians queried whether they were early or late for the meeting, having found the advisors present and the invited sisters absent. They could see that Sargut intended to firmly deal with the revelations he’d learned yesterday.
In eerie silence, the group waited for the factions’ liaisons to arrive.
The Toralians’ cue of the sisters’ impending arrival was when Miriamette and the Omnians turned their heads toward the door.
Nine sisters entered the room, and as Sargut rose to greet them, the others at the table followed suit.
Only Miriamelle, who represented the centrists, inhabited a human-like avatar, which was similar in stature to most Omnian SADEs.
Except for Miriamal, who had kept the Toralian appearance, the avatars of the other sisters were a fanciful lot. It gave the Omnians a greater appreciation of how SADEs imagined themselves.
The constructionist envoy, Hermione, resided in a shadow-like avatar. In addition to the six legs that were used for locomotion, multiple appendages sprouted from the back, which enabled her to complete a variety of services.
Adrianna sent to the other Omnians and Miriamette, as they watched Miriamal greet the president.
Miriamette sent in reply.
Miriamette was thrilled to have been included in the admiral’s sending, and the thought crossed her kernel that Franz might be proud of her recent decisions.
“Welcome,” Sargut said to the assembled group. “This meeting is about an important change that will enable us to communicate more freely with one another. It also represents an opportunity for me to understand who is committed to Talus’s future.”
“Is this a permanent council or is it assembled merely for this one meeting?” Miriamelle asked.
“I hope it’s permanent,” Sargut replied. “At least, I want it to be, but I think that’s up to the sisters. As you know, the Omnians have set the parameters for the negotiations. There are to be eight individuals for each side. My three advisors and I will be four of the eight. I’m inviting three of you to join us at the table.”
“There are eight slots available. Why are only three reserved for sisters?” Miriamal objected.
“That will become evident in time,” Sargut replied.
“Then I suggest that representation in the negotiations should be by the factions with the greatest numbers. That would be the most equitable means of choosing those who would accompany you, President Sargut,” Miriamal volunteered quickly.
Miriamette shared the member count for each of the nine factions with the Omnians. The reason for Miriamal’s offer became quickly evident.
No group outnumbered the constructionists, who had created many copies. The second largest group, by a small margin, was the militarists’ sect, and the centrists were third. That left the opportunists, who were fourth, the revivalists and their subgroup, the archivists, along with the three smallest factions out of the negotiations.
Suddenly, Hector, Lydia, and Miriamette adopted small smiles. In contrast, Miriamal’s countenance grew dark.
“President Sargut, the three envoys to join us have been chosen,” Miriamette announced. “For the purposes of the negotiations, the smallest factions have chosen to add their numbers to the centrists and the opportunists. The liaisons for these two groups will accompany the constructionists’ representative.”
“I challenge this joining of the factions,” Miriamal said. “The Sisterhood has existed with nine groups professing their differences. This combining of numbers is merely an action to exclude the militarists from ensuring they’re represented at the negotiating table.”
Hector regarded Miriamal, and he chose to imitate Alex’s command voice. “Ever since the first Haraken SADEs left their boxes, liberated SADEs were free to choose their alliances and their futures. Alex’s commitment to that principle is why the Sisterhood was able to leave the fleet and join the Toralians. Am I hearing you and the militarists saying that sisters no longer have the right to make changes to their affiliations?”
“We’ve the power to correct his error,” Miriamal warned.
“And how would you accomplish that?” Ellie asked sternly.
“If the envoys fail to get what they want, Talusians could face attacks from the numerous battleships arrayed against this planet,” Miriamal shot back. “In that case, you’d need the militarists, and we might not be interested in protecting a planet that seeks to exclude us.”
