borders on anarchy. But if that freedom is threatened, they will strike out. They will refocus and defend themselves however they see fit. They can be easily unified toward this common goal." The emperor began to slowly nod. "Something, I believe, Tiberia is already experiencing firsthand."
The imperator said, "It is no secret that our campaign against them has not gone as quickly as we would have liked."
"And they have raided Tiberia, too." The Caesar seemed surprised at this statement and said, "Do not forget. My son was in Cales a few months ago."
Maxentius looked toward the ocean and spoke softly. "Do you believe the Cylons are dangerous? Beyond the current warfare?"
"Long term?" Caesar nodded. "The possibility is there, yes. Their single-mindedness could mean they would do whatever they feel they need to to achieve their aims. Even if it means the destruction of entire nations. So far, though, they have only conducted small raids into neighboring countries around Gela …"
"I fear they cannot be bargained with," Maxentius said.
"True," Zeus replied. "Certainly not like you would with any other nation. You can't bribe them because what interests them isn't yours to give." He paused and sized up the emperor. "Perhaps Tiberia should not have attacked."
The imperator glared at Zeus and said, "It was a matter of honor. And of necessity. Many factors. You would not understand."
"Hmm." Zeus strolled toward a colorful flowering plant and said, "And you are working with the Pact of Nations against them?"
"It is a limited partnership, yes. Some intelligence work. Little more." He sighed and added, "That is part of why I wanted you to come. I wanted you to make an official overture on our behalf to Attica." Zeus spun around and widened his eyes. "Tiberia may be ready for a greater arrangement."
Zeus inhaled slowly and then asked, "Why me?"
"I need you to convey my sincerity."
"Then the war goes more poorly than even you say."
Maxentius turned his head slightly and opened his mouth to speak. He then closed it and let the statement hang.
"I will speak to my contacts in the Attican government for you."
Caesar turned away from the sea view and took a few steps toward Zeus. He reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. For the first time, he spoke earnestly. "At the moment, that is all that I need from you. But, in the future, … I do not know." He shook his head and Zeus stared at the emperor. "The war does not go well. I fear Tiberia, Attica, all of Isinnia will be overrun with machines in just a few years." He relaxed and his arm fell to his side. "What that means for humanity, I do not know. I only know that, at some point, we will need your help. Not just for better computers or medicines. But for survival."
Zeus pulled his head away and slowly inhaled. He nodded once. "I will … consider everything you've said."
"Please do." The Caesar looked at the sea again and smiled briefly at the beauty of the setting sun. When he turned back around, the Psilon leader was gone.
Maxentius walked around the garden for a few minutes more. He cupped flowers in his hand and looked into the sky as the first few stars appeared in the deep dusk blue expanse. Then he withdrew himself from the Matrix.
He was sitting in his bedroom at the palace in Tiber. He sighed and looked toward the windows. Caesar wanted to see the same stars he had just seen at his virtual island of Arba, but clouds obscured everything.
LXXXIX
POSEIDON
4 Years Before the End
"We are happy to welcome your people to Thoria," the deputy minister said.
Zeus bowed a little and responded, "And we thank you for the hospitality we've been shown so far, Ms. Daag."
The old woman opened her hands and asked, "Have your infrastructure needs been met?"
"Yes. We are secure and able to continue our work."
"Your work," she said. "Hmm. That is part of why I wanted to meet with you."
Poseidon looked at Zeus, who glanced toward him briefly. "What about it?"
Her eyes cast toward the ceiling and she said, "You know that Thoria has been at the forefront when it comes military development and defense." Zeus nodded. "We were on the front lines during the War of Expansion, defending nations we had little interest in or relationships with. Even now, our soldiers are defending distant lands from the Cylons."
"And I'm sure the Pact and those nations are very appreciative," Zeus said.
"Certainly," Daag responded. She folded her hands on the table and continued, "In the interests of friendship, I would like to ask the Olympus Institute if they might be able to share with us some of their technology."
Poseidon raised an eyebrow. "Thoria is already very advanced, Madam Minister."
"We are, thank you, but I'm referring to new fields of technology. Ones we do not currently master." Both of the Psilons were silent and she continued unprompted. "Space travel. Namely, faster-than-light travel."
Zeus looked down and softly asked, "I wasn't aware that that technology was common knowledge."
"It isn't." Daag said nothing else. She simply smiled.
Zeus took in a deep breath and looked at his brother. Poseidon turned and said, "If Thoria wishes to join the Space Probe Agency, I'm sure they would be happy to …"
She waved her hand dismissively. "Our government is not interested in that. We would simply like the technology as a kind of … appreciation for our hospitality."
Zeus' jaw clenched and, after a few seconds, he nodded. "I will discuss it with the rest of the Institute and let you know."
Daag clapped the table and began to stand. "That is excellent. Thank you, Mr. Zeus." She paused midway and then said, "Oh, I should tell you. We received some intelligence that the praetors of Tiberia's satellites have issued bounties on your heads." The Psilons glanced at each other and then back at her. "Have a good evening." She and her small entourage turned and left the empty restaurant.
Poseidon picked up his lukewarm cup of coffee and winced back a sip. "Bounties, huh?" He leaned against the back of the seat and stared at his younger brother. "Well?"
Zeus' head was hung low and his eyes were cast out of the window. He watched the large vehicle back out of the parking lot. He didn't answer.
"It could have been worse," Poseidon offered. "They could have asked us to stop our campaign against Tiberia."
Zeus picked his head up and nodded weakly. "That, at least, would have been understandable. They're the ones who fought so hard last time. They're fighting now. If war with Tiberia happens, they'd be fighting them again." He stretched and leaned against his chair, too. "No, I'd get it if that's what she wanted."
Poseidon shrugged. "We've been asked to pay rent before."
Zeus snorted and shook his head. "Caralo asked for medicine. And agriculture technology. We were happy to help them."
"Attica?"
Zeus rolled his eyes. "Oh, shit."
Poseidon laughed and leaned forward. "Remember that bureaucrat who kept bugging you? Kept saying we were using more power than we did?"
"He said we didn't ship enough computer processors …"
"He always showed up with that clipboard …"
Zeus pointed his finger at Poseidon and said, "I thought Hermes was going to kill him that one time he came, talking about all the Matrix bandwidth we used."
"Damn."
Zeus shook his head. "Attica was home, but … frak."
Silence. The lone employee who was paid to stay and keep the restaurant open for the meeting sneezed in the backroom. Poseidon looked toward the kitchen and said, "You want to go?" Zeus just nodded and stood.
As they drove away from the small port town of Kvenlan, Zeus leaned his face into his hand and looked out the passenger window. "How long do you think I can keep Daag at bay?"
Poseidon shrugged. "You can stall for awhile. Blame some delays on the bureaucracy of the Agency. And Attica. She'll get that."
The car's sides were perilously close to the tree trunks and the bumps forced the brothers side to side at a disorientating rate. "Damn."
Poseidon then turned left onto another dirt road and then into a thick group of evergreen trees. They slowly rolled under the protective metal netting and he pulled the vehicle over next to one of the dozens of tents and small shacks they had erected.
They walked toward the main structure when Zeus' wristband beeped. "I'll be in in a minute." Poseidon nodded and kept walking. He looked up at the sky. It was mostly obscured by trees but the rest of the view was hampered by the signal-dampening camouflage.
When he entered the single-room hut, Bia smiled and asked, "How did it go?"
Poseidon sighed and said, "They want FTL."
"You're kidding," Hermes said. Poseidon shook his head.
"Everywhere we go," Bia muttered, "someone wants something."
Poseidon looked toward the nearby monitor. The volume was low but the screen showed dozens of people breaking glass and looting food stores in Alabor. A fat politician denounced the violence.
The door to the building opened and Zeus entered. "Is it finished?" he asked.
Through the wristband, Ares answered, "Nearly. Another day and then I can come back."
"Good. Hurry." He tapped the glass and looked at the Psilons nearby. "That's three decoy sites now."
Hermes shook his head. "I'd be happier with six or
Lords of Kobol - Prelude: Of Gods and Titans Page 69
