Secrets in the Stars (Family Law)

by Mackey Chandler

  "I'd be very surprised if these folks rush at anything they don't have to. They're probably deeply suspicious of anything that requires rushing," Gordon speculated.

  "Good then. I'll worry about Gabriel in a few years," Lee decided. "If that doesn't work for him he has the wrong motives. And by that time maybe I'll have some idea whether he's the sort of person I like or not. If I can ever get all this social stuff sorted out."

  "I can teach you all sorts of things," Gordon said, "but you'll have to see to your own tastes."

  But privately, Gordon liked Gabriel just fine. Not that he'd ever say that, and give Lee a reason to reject him just to be contrary. He wasn't a hundred percent sure about Human psychology, but the surest way for a potential Derf romance to be nipped in the bud was for the Mothers to give it their blessing.

  They settled in to relax in their suite a bit. Gordon a little tired form the expedition, and Lee eager to get into the data she collected and search it for details of what April told them. Talker and Singer were consulting privately, and it appeared events had overwhelmed them so much they were forgetting to be adversarial. That amused her somewhat. It was good Gordon had given them a strong shove in that direction already.

  * * *

  Their lawyer John Bennett called, and looked distressed on com. "Gordon, I have Commissioner Bertrand on hold. He's running into some significant problems and called me as the principal writer of your claims and sought my advice. I'm sure this is not some ploy or political device. My assessment of the man was just like yours, he's scrupulous to a fault. However, he is terrified you will fault him for the problem."

  "Go back to the man and assure him I won't bite his head off," Gordon instructed. "Then bring him in a conference call. If it seems wise I'll bring the alien spox in too."

  "I'll rephrase it," John said. "I doubt you realize how graphic that expression is, coming from a Derf. He's on the edge of a meltdown already without that visual. But yes, I'll be right back," John promised.

  "Lee honey, You'll want to hear this," Gordon called over his shoulder eschewing com.

  Adrian Bertrand appeared on the split screen. He made John look calm by comparison.

  "No need to be upset, Adrian," Gordon said, trying to calm him. "We'll talk things over and see if we can't help you with a solution. What's the matter?"

  "You are aware I have to form a consensus for how I am going to administer a find?"

  "Yes I remember you explained that went you oversaw the bidding for Providence," Gordon said. "I was impressed with your determination to keep everybody happy and still develop the find in an orderly manner. I felt you served us, and everybody else, marvelously. That's why we asked for you again."

  "Your kind words are very much appreciated," Adrian said, but looking down. "The problem is not my own people, as perhaps you'd anticipate, but rather a rebellion of the smaller states. Not the charity cases who get an allowance from all the spacefaring nations, but the ones who have one or two armed starships. I never thought they'd object, but they're quite adamant we demand too much."

  "There's so much there, we'll be exploiting it for generations," Gordon said. "I'm not at all disposed to argue if they want to have a bigger share, however you can arrange that without bending your rules too badly. Lee and I already have more than a sane person can need or spend. We don't have to grub after every centum."

  "Ah, if only it were that simple," Adrian said. "Their objection isn't their portion. As you say, I could adjust that. They see this multitude of claims and know they are have pledged their ships to the defense of the whole. They can see they will all have to send their vessels for months just as escorts. None of them have budgeted for such extensive operations. We have perhaps unwisely encouraged that by sending the ships of the larger partners more often than not. Especially where more than one escort was called for and it seemed easier to send two ships from the same command, sharing a language.

  "Now they see they'll be asked to send their ships and crew for long voyages, and likely be asked to service them and send them back out again, as soon as they return. We've never really asked them to fully hold up their end of the bargain before. Worse, the conflict among starfaring aliens you met and brought back complicate it. They might be asked not just to make long expensive tours, but if things go badly, to actually fight. They have very little appetite for it."

  "I have to get Talker and Singer in here to hear this," Gordon decided. He got the aliens in physically behind him, not in the feed, and brought them up to speed on the difficulties.

  "What does this mean if they refuse?" Talker asked. "Who has rights to the claims if the Claims Commission fails to guarantee it and parcel it out?"

  "It simply becomes none of our concern, if the members refuse to back us, to process the claim," Adrian admitted, looking embarrassed. "The exploration company can still claim it, but without member support we can't guarantee to protect it from infringement. That becomes the problem of the exploration company, to defend their claim. If they sell rights, it becomes complex whether the buyer defends their rights or the system claimant has an obligation to guarantee them as the Commission would have."

  The attorney John Bennett interrupted him. "It also becomes the claimant's problem to get paid since that doesn't go through the commission. If there is no governmental entity in the new system, does the law of the buyer's world or nation apply, or that of the seller? That's difficult enough with a single sale, like a tract of land. But if it is a recurring payment for something like rights to provide a service, or leasing land for a spaceport and the right to charge landing fees... Those things the Commission has an established bureaucracy to manage. It becomes a huge ongoing expense to deal with all that yourself, with no recognized authority over it."

  "Why not just admit we're back to square one, like it was before the Claims Commission existed, if you no longer can accept claims that are too far away?" Lee suggested. She was really irritated with them. She looked at Gordon and raised an eyebrow that alarmed him. He nodded an acknowledgement of her displeasure, perhaps that would be enough to moderate it. She was still wearing her gun and he was just as happy the Earthies were attending via com.

  Both Earthies looked upset, but didn't contradict her.

  "That's back to square one for us," Gordon pointed out. "They're not going out of business, they simply won't be expanding further now. I guess that means that out our way Derfhome and Providence are the living worlds marking the frontier for our quadrant, even if Providence is further out. There's not a living world for thirty degrees around them."

  "This is most unpleasant," Talker said. "We were looking for a measure of security and to avoid conflict, and it's all falling apart. We are pressed from behind by the Biters and face the Human dominated group to this side. We see you have many factions. We can't resist Human ships and weapons. If one of your nations, or even a commercial interest, decides to travel out past the volume under Commission control to contest our claims."

  Singer didn't say anything, he was less fluent, but he looked very unhappy and was nodding agreement.

  Lee was thinking furiously. Somebody needed to do something. This was a disaster. The way Home had set the L1 limit for the Earthies seemed a reasonable model to copy.

  Lee pointed a finger at Commissioner Bertrand on the screen. It wasn't a friendly gesture. "If you abandon any claim to authority in the Beyond, the Derf partnership formed by the usual publication of legal notices, as the High Hopes Exploratory Association, does not yield its claims. We shall publish our claims in the public contracts as is Derf custom upon our return. As senior partner I intend to defend them by force of arms, and I damn well have plenty of arms, crew that knows how to use them, and experience doing so.

  "You," Lee said, shifting her gaze to John Bennett, "are charged with making sure everyone is put on notice we own the Beyond, and Earth ships and nations can apply to the Exploratory Association at Derfhome if they wish to make new claims in the quadrant of t
he heavens beyond Derfhome. If anyone wants to get argumentative about those boundaries with us, I may claim the whole damn hemisphere to ease their navigation. Since you won't be writing our claims to the commission that will give you something to do, and if you have hours wasted on writing claims I'll make you whole.

  "I intend to offer the same registration of claims with our association under Derf law to the aliens known as Badgers and Bills, and their minor associated races, if they wish. There will be fees and shares, but I am personally guaranteeing they will be reasonable and equitable, or they can be contested under Derf law."

  "I'm not sure a commercial company, not a sovereign nation, can set borders, form treaties, and make laws, like that," their attorney, John said. "Especially by force of arms. It may be seen as piracy."

  "You can contract to do anything you want in Derf law as long as the Mothers don't prohibit it," Lee said. "Since the Mothers of Derfhome contracted with us for shares to pay for the lease of their ship the Sharp Claws, and extra shares for crew they supplied, I doubt they are going to rule against themselves being paid.

  "If anybody wants to appeal to them to change Derf law, feel free. If you can convince some other Mothers to stick their nose in Red Tree business, then their champions will decide it. As far as your law – I don't know much modern history, but before my studies got interrupted I was reading about the East India Company. I understand there were other Human companies of exploration. So don't try to tell me you haven't done the same thing."

  "What is the High Hopes Exploratory Association" Singer asked, his English not up to the task.

  "Same as The Little Fleet," Talker explained. "But the legal name of the partnership."

  Singer nodded his understanding.

  "Do you support this, Gordon?" John Bennett asked.

  "I'm the fleet commander, Lee is principal owner. Since she's not in the command structure she directs her energies towards the business aspects of our enterprise. Since they don't want our claims, I can't see much of any other course than what she just decided. What do they expect us to do? Write off our time and expenses and go home? We have a responsibility to everyone owed shares. If she hadn't spoken up I'd have had to say basically the same thing, but she likely said it more politely."

  "I'll have to consult with my fellow commissioners and our nations... " Adrian started but Gordon cut him off.

  "Consult amongst yourselves all you want. This is not a negotiating session," Gordon said. "We're past that. Lee stated our position just now. I intend to direct our assets to enforce it. If you decide to contest it, please consider the recent conflict we had with North America over the Treaty of Man. I believe respect for Derf law was at the core of that agreement. You challenge it again at your peril. Do I make myself clear?" Gordon asked, with a single digit held aloft to gain their attention. It had a black talon prominent.

  Talker was watching this with eyes like saucers. Singer looked to be trying to hide behind him.

  "Quite clear," Adrian acknowledged. "I will inform my peers and the sitting chairman, and stress to them that they should all inform their governments."

  "Thanks, you might also inform them we'll be making a press release available before leaving the system," Gordon added. "Just in case any of them think they can just ignore us until it goes away."

  Talker and Singer looked at each other, but didn't say anything. They couldn't imagine that folly.

  "Mr. Bennett, Mr. Bertrand," Talker said. "I'm spox for my species, that has a multi-system civilization. One of the reasons we are here, beside some trading, was to investigate whether we could join your Claims Commission. While I have you both available on com, it will be an economy of effort to tell you we will be petitioning to join the Derf based Claims system. They are much more convenient to us, and I sense their thinking is closer to ours. Perhaps it is wisdom to see the limits of your reach, but that puts our exploration outside your interest."

  "I am Singer," the Bill said. "I am spox like Talker. Our lives are all mixed up with the Badgers and other star folk near us. We will deal with the Derf too. If I spoke poorly correct me, please," Singer asked, looking at Talker and then Lee.

  "You spoke just fine," Talker assured him.

  "There's nothing more to say," Bertrand concluded. "I apologize, because I failed your company as well as the Commission." He cut his connection without waiting to hear any more.

  "We really aren't a public relations firm," John Bennett said. "However we do know who needs to be aware of this development better than that sort of a firm. I'll bring our claims work to a quick stop to minimize pointless loss to you. I'll also have some suggestions about how you word the press release of which you spoke. If our firm sets the time and place for it our name will get a better attendance. As well as a wider reading of the online release," John assured them.

  "Thank you, John. We appreciate you stretching beyond your usual services," Gordon said.

  "I better get used to it," John said, a bit sharply. "The damn fools just declared an end to the age of exploration. It won't end entirely in my lifetime, but claims can only decline now. How long before they decide it's too far to deal with, off some another direction? But that is not your concern. Pardon an old man's rant."

  "Not at all. They were looking at the tree, and you are looking at the forest," Gordon said.

  John nodded. "Good evening then," and disconnected.

  * * *

  "Well, that changes everything," Lee said. She was sort of stunned by her own actions, but what choice did she have? Even Gordon had said he didn't see any other course of action. But she felt kind of shocky, just like after they'd fired on the huge plate vessel of the Centaurs, not knowing if they would be annihilated for their impudence. She'd just drawn a line, telling most of the human race and their allies not to cross it. If she'd had time to really think about it would she have had the nerve?

  "I think you're getting the hang of this command thing," Gordon said.

  How dare he look amused? Lee thought.

  "Not that I'm ready to turn you loose with a ship," he added, before she got too cocky. "You still need some seasoning, but you've got the decisiveness part down pat," Gordon admitted.

  "I think it runs in the family," Talker said, behind them.

  Lee turned and regarded him, astonished. "You have no idea, but that is the sweetest thing you've ever told me."

  "Just an honest observation," Talker said, perplexed again. Someday he'd figure these people out. But he suspected he'd need that life extension work to have a chance at it.

  "Are you going to tell Lady April about this?" Talker asked.

  "Dear God, Lady April! They have you doing it now too," Lee said.

  "She seemed to have all the authority and respect of her people to warrant the title," Talker said. "Indeed, my father is also a Lord, and I will remind you he invited you to call him Goy, which is fellow and implies you are his peer. You asked what you could add to indicate respect, but once he knew you befriended me he instead wanted you to call him Par Goy, which I'd say as Dear Fellow in English. Perhaps I didn't explain adequately. Par Goy adds respect, but for you, not him. It indicates you are Lady Lee, not just by yourself, but as a member of his household also. He liked you."

  "You mean I'm family?" Lee asked Talker.

  "Absolutely. I'm sorry. I didn't want to make a big deal of it, and instead I didn't make it clear."

  Lee thought a bit, and looked at Talker hard. "That's why you said I was attached to the family to the jeweler," she decided.

  "You have an excellent memory," Talker allowed. "Attached is much more than visiting. You should probably be aware Tish calls you Aunt Lee now."

  Talker looked alarmed, because tears were running down Lee's face.

  "I understand that is a sign of intense displeasure," Talker said. "Please explain if I've upset you in any way."

  "It's a sign of deep emotion," Lee corrected him. "People cry when the go to a wedding or have a child born
of win the lottery too. But I'm also deeply embarrassed I was so dense and didn't understand how you honored me."

  "Well, I seem to remember you had to explain to me that you'd befriended me. My father was quite put out with me for being dense about that too. Call it even?" Talker requested.

  "Even," Lee agreed, and gave him a hug.

  "Again... Are you going to tell Lady April about this?" Talker asked, with his head over her shoulder. "I thought she was quite kind to us, and you said you'd call once you had things settled. I think you just settled them."

  "Yeah, I do owe her that, don't I?" Lee acknowledged.

  * * *

  "I didn't see this one coming at all," April admitted. Blinking out of the screen at Lee.

  "Our attorney doing the claims documents was pretty bummed out. He said, 'The damn fools just declared an end to the age of exploration'. Since that is the basis of his whole business I can see why he was upset. He knew it wouldn't just end abruptly, but it must have been like a sailing ship owner seeing the first steamship dock next to him," Lee said.

  "Yes, it’s the start of the decline to the age of exploration for Earth Humans and their sphere of influence," April agreed. "I can see you intend to keep exploring."

  "I want to. We ran up against the Badger civilization on this voyage. I'm wondering how many more are out there. This was why I originally wanted to go deep," Lee revealed. "I was scared that as the globe of exploration expanded it slowed down, and if others were expanding more aggressively they would come to us and grab all the good real estate first.

  "If we run up against other star-going races in other directions... Well I did what I could," Lee decided. "By the time we run out of metals from the brown dwarfs we found maybe we'll have the ability to swap matter around and make any element we want."

  "There is a reasonable expectation of that," April agreed. "That's one of the things Jeff and his associates have been working to make happen. It's doable in a technical sense. Transmutation has been known for a couple centuries. But it's still not as cheap and easy as he wants it to be. Yet."