by S. H. Jucha
Mangoth rumbled contentment, Jaktook chittered, and the Pyreans grinned.
“Do we take the weapons?” asked Jessie, which had Jaktook and Mangoth glancing in consternation at each other.
Into the hesitation, Devon said, “I say yes. That’s who we are … explorers of dangerous domes.”
Aurelia vigorously nodded her agreement.
“We compromise,” Harbour said. “Jaktook and Mangoth are excused from participating. The rest of us will take our launchers and drum satchels.”
“Your pardon, Envoy,” Mangoth said, “but if the Pyreans will be so bold, a Crocian can’t stand beside you empty-handed. I’ll carry my weapon and bring the Colony’s tube.”
“Mangoth, are you sure that the Colony weapon is expended?” Jessie asked.
“I’m neither certain of that nor how to discharge it nor how to remove the active component,” Mangoth replied. “It might emphasize to the Tsargit the dangers of their passivity in the face of Colony’s expansion.”
“I’ll carry mine too,” Jaktook replied, and then muttered, “May Her Excellency forgive me.”
The explorers finished their meal, gathered their belongings, and began their journey. It was a lengthy one that took them through more than eighty domes.
After the final journey they were led to a shuttle, which launched and docked shortly afterwards at Hyronzy Station.
The explorers heard endless announcements from medallions, most of which declared the wearer to be a race’s representative to the Tsargit.
“Thank goodness, the medallions only speak once to each of us,” Aurelia whispered to Devon.
“We’re the ones who are attracting the attention of these individuals,” Devon whispered. “I wonder if it’s for how we appear or why they think we’re here.”
“Probably both,” Aurelia replied.
Disembarking and exiting a corridor into a central hall, most of the shuttle’s passengers were swept away by cars and lifts.
None of the explorers had been to Hyronzy Station before now. They stood in a great hall unsure of what to do next. Then they heard a medallion announce Tiknock, the Jatouche representative to the Tsargit.
Jaktook happily greeted the master scientist, who’d been an advisor to Tacticnok’s father and his ardent supporter.
“Envoy Harbour, welcome to Hyronzy Station,” Tiknock said. “Apologies, all. I only received word from Her Excellency via a comm cube earlier this cycle, and the Tsargit was in session.”
“How do we gain an audience with whoever we need to see?” Jessie queried.
“This is regarding your agreement with the triumvirate, yes?” Tiknock asked.
“It is,” Harbour replied. “We wish to ensure that we understand the likelihood of the Tsargit being unfaithful to the contract in exchange for the information we carry.”
“I’m a new representative, Envoy, as you know,” Tiknock said. “I’ve managed to secure accommodations for you, but it’s a single suite. As for your request, Envoy, I’ll make inquiries when the session concludes.”
“Is there no mechanism by which we can make a request and be granted an audience?” Devon asked.
“None that I know,” Tacticnok replied. “Please, come with me.”
Tiknock installed the team in a suite. It had a central room with individual sleeping quarters.
Staff was assigned to care for the explorers. There were uncomfortable moments until the team’s gear was delivered. They’d been required to stow everything below deck before they boarded the shuttle. When staff carried the weapons through the door, the explorers quickly collected them.
A slender alien wheeled the insectoid’s tube into the salon, and Mangoth glanced guiltily at Jessie.
When the baggage delivery was completed, Devon said, “I wonder what these individuals would think if they discovered they were carting weaponry, including a potentially armed Colony device.”
“I’d rather no one but the council knew we had these,” Jaktook remarked.
“Council?” Jessie inquired. “It sounds as if we need an explanation of the Tsargit’s organization.”
“The Tsargit is composed of the representatives of every race, which has been invited to join,” Mangoth replied. “This is about sixty percent of the alliance members. Then there are various bodies, committees, who see to the running of the Tsargit’s affairs. They handle most of the requests from the representatives.”
“Then there is the council,” Jaktook continued. “It’s constituted from the most senior races. The individuals serve until their death or ill health forces their retirement. Their replacement usually comes from other senior members.”
“About eight percent of the alliance races are considered the senior races,” Mangoth added.
“A rarified group,” Aurelia remarked. She didn’t mean it as a compliment.
“Who would we be meeting?” Harbour asked.
“Envoy, our circumstances are highly unusual,” Jaktook began. “I would go so far as to say unprecedented. If we’re able to get a hearing, I believe it would be with the council. They’d probably wish to keep your communications private.”
“Less ears to hear,” Jessie remarked with disdain.
“Jaktook, Mangoth, we’ve collected the data that you think should convince the Tsargit that we’ve fulfilled our end of the bargain,” Harbour said. She tightened her gates to prevent leaking her frustration. “What do we have to do to ensure that the Tsargit or the council keeps their end of the deal?”
Jaktook shrugged and Mangoth ducked his snout.
“For that question, we’re probably asking the wrong individuals,” Jessie said. Jaktook had passed him Tacticnok’s message, which he’d shared with Harbour, and they’d understood its intent. “We put our proof of the Colony’s expansion on the table. We use it to establish good faith.”
“That will please the council,” Mangoth said. “Its members will believe you’re honoring their superiority.”
“Let them think that,” Jessie said. “Remember that there are two parts to our side of the agreement.”
All eyes turned toward Aurelia and Devon, and Aurelia quipped, “It’s nice to be desired by so many.”
“We withhold the console information until we see significant progress on the projects,” Jessie concluded.
“Not so,” Mangoth corrected bluntly. “You reveal that information only when the construction, training, and supplies are complete.”
“There is an important recommendation,” Jaktook said, “which I learned from His Excellency Rictook. If we do speak to the council, be aware that their procedures are formal.”
“Rigid would be a better word,” Mangoth added.
“Only you will be invited to speak, Envoy,” Jaktook continued.
“Not good enough,” Harbour said interrupting.
“Allow me to finish, Envoy,” Jaktook said, recognizing Harbour’s growing frustration. “We may accompany you, but you must seek permission from the council to allow one of us to communicate to them.”
Harbour regarded Jaktook and Mangoth, whose faces mirrored their earnest concerns that she understand and respect the council’s ancient procedures.
Harbour turned and gazed quietly at Aurelia. She focused her power on the younger empath and sent a mixture of outrage and challenge. Aurelia’s answer was a wicked grin. The council’s methods wouldn’t be theirs.
-19-
The Bluff
Days passed, and the team oscillated between boredom and resentment at the prolonged delay, while they waited for news of their audience.
Tiknock visited the explorers regularly, but his reports rarely varied. He wasn’t making any headway with the committees. He was too junior to gain their attention.
“The Jatouche have no leverage,” Tiknock said at one point. “The single ally I have is the Crocian representative, and their race is not an old one and is relatively new within the alliance membership.”
On a more recent visit, a
dispirited Tiknock suggested the team leave and wait until they were summoned.
“No,” Harbour replied adamantly. Her power leaked, and Tiknock chose to make a graceful exit.
The explorers’ patience reached its end one morning. Soon afterwards, unsuspecting staff brought the midday meal. They were accompanied by the usual senior staff member, a willowy, graceful alien. She wore a floor-length sheath and appeared to glide over the floor.
“Is there anything else you require, while you await the pleasure of the Tsargit?” the senior attendant asked. She had the annoying habit of repeating the same thing at every visit. In the beginning, it had sounded pleasant to the explorers. Now, its inane repetition was an irritant that scraped on the nerves.
“Actually, there is,” Devon replied.
A semblance of a smile crossed the alien’s face. It was partially obscured by the veil of wispy material that fell from her crown and covered her face.
Devon crossed to the room’s corner where the explorers had stacked their weapons. “I wonder if you can help me with this,” he said, hoisting the red’s tube weapon.
“Certainly, Explorer Higgins,” the attendant replied graciously. “What do you require?”
“I’d like a place to discharge it,” Devon replied.
“What does it discharge?” the attendant asked curiously.
“It’s an insectoid’s weapon,” Devon replied offhandedly. “So, we’re not exactly sure what it fires. Tubes like this killed two of our team members … messy deaths. It’s occurred to us that we don’t know whether this particular one is loaded or not. Therefore, I’m requesting a safe place to discharge it, in case it’s armed with an active device.”
The senior attendant lost her gracefulness, as she scuttled backward. “You brought a Colony weapon onboard Hyronzy Station, in the presence of the Tsargit,” she exclaimed in horror.
“Well, yes,” Devon replied, as if it was expected that explorers carry their weapons everywhere they went. He nonchalantly shifted the tube to one arm and with the free one indicated the stack of launchers. “This entire pile is comprised of our weapons and explosive darts that we used to kill a hundred or more insectoids. Would you like to examine one of ours?”
The senior attendant continued to back away until she could make a hasty exit.
Devon turned, grinned at his companions, and then extremely carefully set the tube down.
Aurelia walked swiftly to Devon, grabbed his face with both hands, and said, “Don’t do that again. Don’t play with the Colony weapon.” She gave Mangoth a severe look of disapproval, and for his part, the Crocian hoped an empath’s mental admonishment wasn’t forthcoming.
“I’m not sure I approve,” Jessie commented, “but at this rate, I’d welcome any change in our status if that stunt generates one.”
“Well, I approve,” Harbour declared. “Now I think we’ll be able to speak to someone with a substantial rank.”
Harbour was correct.
Within an hour, a few taps on the room’s door announced a new visitor. The alien was stout, two meters tall, and densely furred. He had small round ears and a short muzzle, which held prominent teeth.
“Envoy Harbour. I’m Fessen, the Hyronzy Station director. I’ve been informed that you’ve brought dangerous devices onboard the station. This is strictly against Tsargit policy.”
“As you’re undoubtedly aware, Director Fessen, we’re not alliance members,” Harbour replied, “which means we don’t know alliance or Tsargit protocols.”
“Two of your companions certainly do, Envoy. Nevertheless, you must remove these devices from this station immediately,” Fessen ordered with authority.
Fessen’s tone brought the other explorers to their feet, and they closed ranks behind Harbour.
“That presents a problem, Director,” Harbour retorted. “You’re requesting that we remove these weapons, which you’re calling devices. And we’ve no intention of doing so until we’ve made our presentation to a committee or council. Now, your staff members could remove these weapons and store them safely elsewhere for us, but I advise that you take special care in transporting the Colony weapon.”
“While you’re here, Director, I’ve a request,” Jessie said. “As explorers of non-alliance domes, my companions and I must keep our reactions sharp. Our lives depend on it. We need an empty bay with reinforced bulkheads, where we can practice with our launchers.” He indicated the pile of weapons not two meters from Fessen’s wide, thickly padded, clawed feet.
“And we’ll need targets, Director Fessen,” Jaktook added. “They should be lifelike representations. I’d be pleased to send you images of the reds, which would be the preferable targets.”
“Definitely,” Mangoth agreed, snapping his jaws. “We try to destroy that species first. They’re the most dangerous, and the ones who killed my clutch mate.”
Without uttering another word, Fessen backed out of the room.
“I stand corrected, Devon,” Jessie said. “Your technique has managed to get us our first visitor of substance.”
“My hero,” Aurelia teased, hugging Devon from behind and gently biting his ear. “Just remember what I said about the Colony tube,” she whispered quietly but sternly.
“Rest assured, Director Fessen will report this contact,” Jaktook commented.
“To whom?” Harbour asked.
“There is no Hyronzy in authority above him on this station,” Jaktook replied. “He’ll probably complain to a member of a Tsargit committee.”
“That would be an improvement,” Aurelia said. “I’m getting tired of waiting.”
Jessie gazed at the faces of his companions. Frowns and hard eyes dominated their expressions. They were annoyed with the Tsargit and its rigid ways.
“Perhaps, it’s time to bluff,” Jessie announced, which piqued the team’s interest.
When the next visitor arrived less than an hour later, the team appeared to be busy assembling their gear.
“I’m Solseena, a Tsargit committee administrator,” the Sylian said.
Harbour briefly admired the female’s pure white coat of fur. It was tipped at the extremities in touches of cream and light brown.
“I see you’ve taken Director Fessen’s request seriously and are preparing to remove your dangerous devices,” Solseena said.
When the Sylian didn’t receive the courtesy of a response, she grew uncomfortable. “That is what you’re intending to do, Envoy Harbour, correct?”
Jessie paused and dropped his pack. It thudded on the floor. He approached Solseena closely, as if he had to speak to her in confidence.
“The envoy is highly annoyed,” Jessie said, in a whisper. “In this state, it’s better that she doesn’t communicate to you directly. She’s liable to become angry. You do realize what happens when an empath loses control of her power when she believes she’s being mistreated?”
“I’ve heard of the Pyrean empaths, but I’m not familiar with the extent of their capabilities,” Solseena whispered, her blue eyes growing wide.
“If the envoy’s power is released, then what she feels, you’ll feel. It can be quite unpleasant,” Jessie explained. “The envoy is protecting you by requesting that I interact with all visitors.”
“I thank you for your service, Advisor Cinders,” Solseena replied, visibly swallowing. “After you’re removed these … these weapons, you’ll be notified when the Tsargit is ready to receive you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Jessie replied with a genial smile.
“I don’t understand, Advisor,” Solseena said.
“Not to be too blunt, Administrator Solseena, but the entire team has lost patience with the Tsargit. We believe their rudeness indicates a negative attitude toward us and what we’ve accomplished,” Jessie said. “Two explorers were killed gathering the data we acquired. Now we sit for cycles waiting to be heard.”
“But you came without invitation,” Solseena objected.
“That’s where
the difference of opinion lies,” Jessie replied. “We think the information we carry is urgent, and we can’t understand why the Tsargit doesn’t want to hear about the Colony’s rapid expansion.”
“They accessed a second dome?” Solseena asked with trepidation.
“Your understanding of the situation is laughable, Administrator. It’s an indication of the ignorance that appears to be shared by your superiors,” Jessie replied, raising his voice.
On the prearranged cue of Jessie’s loud voice, the explorers stopped what they were doing and turned to face the Sylian.
Solseena briefly glanced at Harbour to ensure that the empath wasn’t approaching her before focusing on Jessie. “What are the envoy’s intentions?” she asked, lowering her voice and hoping Jessie did the same.
“We’re canceling the agreement negotiated with the Veklock triumvirate,” Jessie stated firmly. “We’ll approach the Jatouche ruler and the Crocian Norloth to form an alliance against the Colony.”
Solseena chose to argue against the idea of alliance members forming a separate agreement with a non-alliance member, but she was stopped from speaking when she heard the envoy say, “Enough,” and wave imperially at her advisor.
“I can say no more,” Jessie whispered and returned to packing.
When the Sylian exited, Jessie grinned at his teammates and said, “Well played.”
“Let’s hope it gets the reaction we want,” Harbour said, chewing on her lower lip. “I want the deal we negotiated.”
“Without forcing a meeting with a committee, which has the power of approval, or with the council, you can’t be certain that you have a deal,” Mangoth said, and Jaktook agreed.
To press their point, Jaktook made a request for staff to carry their gear to the shuttle’s staging area. Noticeably, the assistance was considerably delayed in arriving.
When the door did open, it was Solseena who stood there. “Would the envoy deem to speak with me?” she asked Jessie. “I’ve news that should please her.”
“Speak,” Harbour said. She closed the distance to the Sylian, whose bright eyes blinked several times in consternation.
