by S. H. Jucha
From behind the Sylian, Jaktook caught Harbour’s attention and tapped his temple.
Harbour opened her gates and focused on Solseena. The Sylian evinced concern, earnestness, and a touch of fear.
“I don’t know whether she can be trusted,” Harbour said, looking around at her teammates, “but she believes what she’s saying.”
“I concur,” Aurelia added.
“At some future time, I would welcome the opportunity to experience your power, Envoy,” Solseena said, understanding what had transpired.
“We’ve informed the envoy of the duplicitous nature of the Tsargit’s commitment to Veklock agreements,” Mangoth stated harshly. “She’s protecting Pyrean needs.”
“Your advice is not without merit, Crocian,” Solseena replied. “I would speak first about your experiences in the domes.”
“We thought we were well prepared,” Devon said. “We procured weapons and practiced with them.”
“Little did we know that the Colony had done the same,” Jaktook added.
“It wasn’t just tube weapons that challenged our explorations,” Jessie said. “They set clever traps. Not one, but multiple ambushes. It’s like they understood we needed information about what they’d done, and they were determined to stop us.”
“You could be fooled by their appearance,” Harbour said quietly. “Their insectoid shape makes you think that they’d be a lesser species. However, that would misjudge their intellect and be a great mistake. Combined with their voracious appetite for expansion, the alliance will be faced with two choices in the future … submit or fight.”
“What do you think the council will do with the information they’ve been given?” Jaktook asked.
“They’ll retire to consider it. Then they’ll calendar it. When they meet, they’ll debate it. Then they’ll retire to consider the debate,” Solseena replied.
“And?” Mangoth prompted.
“They’ll calendar it and meet to discuss it some more,” Solseena added.
“For how long?” asked Jessie, his concern mounting.
“It’s hard to say,” Solseena replied, “but I don’t expect action from the council in your lifetimes.”
“We risked our lives for idiots,” Aurelia declared harshly.
Devon, who was sitting close to Aurelia, felt a hint of her power, and he laid a hand atop hers. The sensation immediately faded.
“Actually, we risked our lives for what we were promised,” Jessie said, staring pointedly at the Sylian.
“That brings me to my second interest,” Solseena said. “Why did you walk away?”
“As Mangoth told you, we don’t trust your council,” Harbour replied. “We’ve given the council the data on the Colony. We’ve shown them the insectoids are expanding rapidly and engineering deadly weapons. Then your council tells us that they want our knowledge about the consoles, and they’ll evaluate it. That’s not how contracts work … not for Pyreans.”
“Or Jatouche,” Jaktook said.
“Or Crocians,” Mangoth added.
“It seems to me that the council doesn’t value our report on the Colony. Why is that?” Jessie asked.
“The council didn’t request your exploration,” Solseena explained. “Alliance members pressured committees, and the committees pushed the council to offer an agreement to you.”
“So, the council feels that it has fulfilled the members’ requests,” Jessie mused.
“Just so,” Solseena agreed.
“Then who wants the console knowledge?” Aurelia asked.
“A perceptive question,” Solseena said, eyeing one of the explorers who held the desired information. “The council covets it. To them, it’s power that they can dole out in drips and drops to races they favor.”
“It sounds to me as if the alliance members should either do away with the council or replace the councilors,” Harbour suggested.
“Easier said than accomplished,” Solseena replied, “but many of us have formed a plan. We’ll start by taking seats as councilors retire. It will be a lengthy process, but eventually, it will change the face of the council.”
“How long do you think that will take?” Devon asked.
“To complete our purpose, we must hold a majority of seats and the lead councilor’s position,” Solseena replied. “Unfortunately, Ulgart’s species is extremely long-lived. Our estimates are between one hundred fifty and one hundred seventy-five Sylian annuals.”
To the mouths Solseena saw hanging open, she explained. “The alliance is ancient, and the Tsargit evolves slowly.”
“In that amount of time, I think the Colony will become an unmanageable threat to the alliance. They’ll need to be stopped, if not slowed, sooner than that,” Jessie said.
“What will you do now, Envoy?” Solseena asked.
“We’re giving the council two cycles to respond,” Harbour replied.
“Ulgart will expect an apology,” Solseena pointed out.
“Then he’ll be disappointed,” Harbour replied.
“We’ll see how intensely the council wants what we possess,” Aurelia said. She gave Solseena a pleasant smile that never touched her eyes.
Solseena flashed her prominent canines. “I look forward to observing your next encounter with the council, if you’re given the opportunity,” she said. Then she rose and made her exit.
The team had only to wait one cycle. Then Tiknock escorted them back to the council chambers.
“Envoy, your rudeness was an insult to this council,” Ulgart said, by way of opening the proceedings. “We await your apology.”
“Then you’ll excuse us,” Harbour said curtly. “We’ve a shuttle to catch.”
“Wait, Envoy,” a councilor called out. “I’m called Illiamus, Envoy. We would know why you left the meeting so abruptly last time.”
Ulgart kept this annoyance under control. He knew that Illiamus had the support of many members who didn’t approve of his leadership.
Harbour turned to face the council. As she spoke, she walked slowly toward them. “We bargained with your triumvirate in good faith. A contract was agreed upon by both sides. We fulfilled our part of the bargain. Then this council informs us that it will judge the worth of our efforts.”
“This is the way it’s always been done,” Illiamus replied.
“Then you’d better change your ways, Councilor Illiamus,” Harbour replied. “Treat us fairly if you want to do business with Pyreans and if you want our console knowledge, which is considerable.”
All kinds of eyes, orbs, and faceted visual elements lit at Harbour’s reminder of the information the team possessed. Their reactions confirmed Solseena’s remarks. The council did covet Devon and Aurelia’s skills.
“I would suggest that the council not change its ways for the sake of an unaligned race,” Ulgart stated vociferously. “I call for a decision.”
Immediately, the councilors triggered the devices they wore, which registered either their support or denial of the proposal.
“The council doesn’t approve of Councilor Ulgart’s request,” a disembodied voice announced.
“Would I be correct, Envoy, in believing that you’ve an alternate proposal for this body?” Illiamus asked.
“Yes,” Harbour replied.
Illiamus spread his leathery arms in supplication.
In turn, Harbour indicated Jessie. He stepped forward and said, “We ask the council to accept our documentation of the Colony’s expansion as fulfilling that part of the agreement.”
“What else?” Ulgart pursued, anxious to hear the more critical portion of the proposal, which would concern the console information.
“We’re requesting that you approve this part of our proposal first,” Harbour replied.
“This is preposterous,” Ulgart objected.
“I would ask the council accept the explorers’ terms,” Illiamus said.
Any council member’s request or suggestion immediately triggered an anonymous count
by the council’s members.
“The council approves Councilor Illiamus’s request,” the voice said.
“And now, Advisor?” Illiamus asked in gentle tones, while Ulgart seethed.
“We request the Tsargit complete all agreed projects before we turn over our console information,” Jessie replied.
“How are we to value the potential knowledge?” Illiamus asked.
“Your emissaries were given a demonstration before we entered into negotiations,” Harbour replied. “You’ve been given another in these chambers.”
“How do we know that you haven’t manufactured the data to fool the Veklocks and this council?” Ulgart accused in ugly tones.
Harbour received a sense of urgency. She turned to Aurelia and opened her hand in invitation.
“Councilors,” Aurelia said, “my partner and I invite you to journey with us toward delta dome. We’ll give you demonstrations on a console so that you’ll know our data isn’t false. Of course, we advise you to bring weapons, in the event the Colony occupies the dome that we happen to enter.”
“Is that all you have to offer?” Ulgart shot back. “Your demonstrations are only of value in non-alliance domes?”
“Oh, no,” Devon spoke up. “We’ve learned the secret of console queries.”
“If you’re speaking of the manner by which the glyphs are grouped, this is known,” a councilor said, who was known to support Ulgart.
“As we would have expected such august races to have learned,” Aurelia said sweetly, and the councilor tipped his horned head in acceptance of the compliment. “But do your glyph inputs result in query responses?” she asked. When an answer wasn’t forthcoming, she said softly, “Ours do.”
“You expect this council to believe that you, who have only recently explored your dome, have discovered what our races have not?” Ulgart asked in a new screech.
“Here’s what we propose,” Jessie said, holding up his hands for attention. “You complete the agreement’s projects. Then you’ll receive our console information. We’ll accept the judgment of Administrator Solseena’s committee as to its value.”
Ulgart objected, and his subsequent proposal was blocked.
“What’s the Tsargit’s recompense if Administrator Solseena’s committee determines that your information is inadequate?” Illiamus asked.
At this point, Jessie was stumped. He thought in terms of the projects. Once constructed, they couldn’t be returned, and Pyreans couldn’t afford to pay for them even if they had a common financial system, which they didn’t.
“I offer the service of trained empaths to the alliance races for free for one annual,” Harbour said.
“You’re an unknown quantity,” Ulgart objected.
“The Jatouche vouch for their healing skills,” Jaktook said quickly.
“Are you authorized to speak for your monarch, Jatouche?” Ulgart asked. His hypnotic eyes focused on Jaktook.
“I am,” Tiknock said, stepping forward, “and Her Excellency Tacticnok believes highly in the capabilities of the Pyrean empaths.”
“How would you like to feel?” Harbour proposed.
“Be more specific,” Ulgart pressed.
“At this moment, how would you like to feel? Pick an emotion,” Harbour said.
After many moments of murmured discussions between the councilors, Ulgart said, “We choose fear.”
“Are you sure?” Harbour requested, surprised by the choice. She eyed the row of councilors. Many showed confidence in the choice. A few looked reticent.
“I would ask any councilors who don’t wish to participate to leave their seats and stand behind me,” Harbour said.
Eight councilors did as Harbour suggested. Interestingly, Solseena walked to stand near Ulgart’s position to take part in the experiment.
Harbour reached her hand toward Aurelia. The younger empath stepped close and gripped Harbour’s hand. They’d practiced the technique of linking before their first exploration.
“How much?” Aurelia asked in a whisper.
“Lots of bodies and a broad space,” Harbour replied. “We push hard until someone cries out or leaves their seat.”
“The reds and the grays are attacking,” Aurelia whispered, suggesting a memory to feed their sending.
Harbour nodded, and the empaths’ gates were opened wide. They envisioned the horrific events in the domes, when they fought for their lives. Adrenaline flowed, pulses raced, and fear bloomed.
The councilors’ heads jerked back in surprise, as the intense emotion swept through their minds. They expected the sensation to pass, but it grew in intensity. They became desperate to escape the fear enveloping their thoughts. Some wailed in desperation, and others dived below the arced table in hopes of hiding from the empaths’ onslaught.
Harbour squeezed Aurelia’s hand, and the empaths curtailed their sending.
The seated councilors sighed in relief. Those on the floor, which included Solseena, stayed there for a few moments to ensure the sending had passed.
Slowly seats were regained, and Solseena approached Harbour. “That wasn’t the sharing I would have requested,” she said, “but perhaps, it’s the one that best serves you here.” Then the Sylian resumed her place at the chamber’s side wall.
Ulgart seemed to have lost his voice. However, a senior councilor found hers. “That was a terrifying experience, Envoy, and I’m sorry to admit that I voted for that choice. Could you inform us of the cost of that effort to you?”
“It wasn’t significant, Councilor,” Harbour replied. “You were many and spread across a wide space. That was what required the aid of a second empath.”
“If the judgment went against your console offering, how would the empaths serve?” Illiamus asked.
“We’re healers, Councilor,” Harbour replied. “One-on-one with a client, we can assuage fears, ease trauma, and bolster confidence. In short, any negative emotion can be lessened, if not cured.”
“How many are you?” a councilor asked.
“Nearly forty trained empaths,” Harbour replied.
“I find the envoy’s proposal acceptable,” Illiamus announced. “Administrator Solseena’s committee will judge the Pyrean’s console knowledge. If unsuitable, the empaths will serve the Tsargit for one annual. Under no circumstances will the construction projects be in jeopardy.”
The council passed Illiamus’s proposal, much to Ulgart’s deep chagrin.
“You’re dismissed,” Ulgart said with disdain, when the council’s business with the explorers was completed.
Harbour hesitated. She would have loved to teach Ulgart a lesson in humility, but she thought better of it. There was too much at stake.
However, Devon couldn’t help himself. “Councilor Ulgart, a question for you, if I may?” he requested politely. “Were you born with that abominable personality or did you work to perfect it?”
Ulgart rose up, extending his slender height.
The other councilors feared Ulgart would order the explorers detained for the one explorer’s impudence.
Unexpectedly, they watched Ulgart coil into his chair, a contented expression on his small face. Their eyes swung to the empaths, who were focused on the lead councilor.
“Envoy,” Illiamus said quietly. “We hope there are no more such questions from your companions. It would be best if you left the chamber … now.”
Jessie signaled the others to make for the exit. Tiknock led them. Harbour and Aurelia backed out. Near the door, their influence waned, and they made a hasty departure.
-21-
New Friends
The explorers journeyed to Rissness and then caught a shuttle to the medical station. Within hours of their arrival in the Jatouche dome, they were in Tacticnok’s presence.
“How fared your time with the Tsargit?” Tacticnok asked.
“Undetermined, Your Excellency,” Jaktook replied. “We had but brief opportunities to meet with the council.”
Tacticnok frown
ed and eyed the explorers.
“The request for information about the Colony’s expansion came from the members through their committees and was forwarded to the council,” Jessie explained. “The council was forced to react.”
“Was your evidence accepted?” Tacticnok asked.
“It was … finally,” Harbour replied, “but I don’t think the council is in a hurry to do anything about it.”
Tacticnok glanced toward Jaktook and Mangoth, who nodded in agreement. “But your projects are secure?” she asked.
“Yes,” Jessie replied.
“And your other duty?” Tacticnok asked.
“That one is complicated,” Jessie replied. “For now, I believe we must focus on what we discovered during our exploration and the council’s lack of concern.”
“What are you proposing?” Tacticnok asked.
“The Colony has a headstart on the alliance,” Jessie replied. “They’re intruding into domes. They’re mastering the consoles. They’ll sacrifice individuals for the sake of the race. They’re developing weapons, and they’re constructing shuttles to conquer new worlds.”
“When you summarize it in that manner, they sound like an insurmountable force,” Tacticnok admitted.
“But they’re only one race,” Devon declared.
“And that’s my thought too,” Harbour said. “So, I ask you, Your Excellency, how many of the alliance races would it take to defeat the Colony? And would the Jatouche be one of them?”
Tacticnok’s response was anything but regal. The lips of her short muzzle curled away from her small, sharp teeth, and she snarled. “The Jatouche will fight alongside the Pyreans,” she said.
Harbour and Jessie laughed at the display.
“I would hope the Crocians could be counted,” Mangoth offered, “but I can’t speak for my kind.”
“Then the Norloth should be consulted,” Tacticnok declared.
Mangoth’s jaw dropped briefly and then closed with a sharp snap before he roared, loud and long, at the prospect of confronting the Crocian supreme body.
“At the time, I didn’t know that the start of my new life began the day I encountered three human engineers: Olivia, Pete, and Bryan,” Mangoth said with deep sincerity.
