“There were some suspicions. We knew Chamberlain was doing some things with AI that had never before been tried and haven’t been duplicated since.”
“What about the Ekkidan malware? Did you know about that?”
“That’s ‘need to know’.”
“I will assume from that dodge, you did know about it.”
“Assume what you will, Herb. You have the freedom to do that.”
“Am I in danger?”
“Not from the cyber-police. If you aren’t careful, though, you may draw fire from those who killed Gus.”
“What have you gotten me into, Len? I feel as if I’m being made a patsy.”
“Without sounding too insulting, when I was on Thosa the last time, I said you’d been a controlled conduit for years. I’m pissed off at myself for not understanding the significance sooner. I did something about it when it finally dawned on me, though. You do understand that the information I’ve given you lifts you up from the ranks of the conspiracy theorists to legitimate alternative historian, don’t you?”
“Too bad it makes me persona non grata in some of my old circles,” Zheng said.
“Did you like it better when the Bureau and the Ministry of Public Affairs could openly call you a lunatic with near impunity?”
“I wasn’t a threat then. It gave me freedom to operate.”
“I told you, your freedom to operate was an illusion. You’ve been an unwitting agent of disinformation ever since you left the Marines and took that job at the Academy. I’m sorry, Herb, but you’ve been part of this war from the very beginning. I’m only making an attempt to help you figure out what side you’re on.”
“What if it ends up we have opposing viewpoints, Len?”
“It isn’t that black and white, Herb. A better analogy would be different shades of the same world view. From what I can tell, the higher up the operatives are, the more indistinguishable their agendas tend to be.”
“Are you telling me this is all about differences in personality?”
“I’m telling you government at its very best is dysfunctional, and at its worst, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia,” Pedersen said. “Study what Non gave you and we’ll follow up from there. Look at it in light of what you found out from the Armstrong records and what the AI gave you. That’s all I can say right now.”
“Where did that AI really originate,” Zheng asked. “What is its real purpose? Is it a weapon?”
“That’s ‘need to know’, Herb. I’m sorry.”
Part III—The War Council
Chapter 23
18-Apr-2210
New Phoenix, Feline Sector, Terra Nova.
Calf Stealer woke to find November and Bridgette were already up and about. He sat up and found Falling Leaf standing in the doorway of the bedroom, beaming. She held her arms out to indicate she wanted Calf Stealer to lift her onto the bed. “I’m glad you’re home,” she said.
“I’m glad to be home,” Calf Stealer said as he motioned for the child to come to him to be picked up.
Once Falling Leaf was sitting beside Calf Stealer on the bed she asked, “May we go to the open market today?”
“That depends, Princess. Just what is it you’re hoping to accomplish at the open market and how much is it going to cost me?”
Before the child could answer, November walked in with a cup of tea. “This is all we have at the moment. There hasn’t been a pound of coffee or a bottle of fruit juice of any kind in the settlements since the separatists burned the last mercantile.”
“The Earth humans are working as quickly as they can to rebuild all the merchantiles, November,” Calf Stealer said. “The Zunnuki dry goods and food items will be available again before long and new items from Earth will be coming with them. Not only that, but the construction efforts have given us a good start at rebuilding our economy.”
“Too bad the only thing readily available to spend our new found money on is Zunnuki ale. I would pay or trade almost anything for some toiletries. I’d almost be willing to walk to Alummari myself for them.”
“That reminds me,” Calf Stealer said. “Azir sends his regards. He wants the war council to know he’s convinced his people to rebuild the bridges the separatists bombed and reopen the railway.”
“That’s some much needed good news,” November replied.
“Everything depends on the willingness of the Earth military to patrol this end, however. The Zunnuki won’t send troops fifteen hundred kilometers to do it. As far as they’re concerned, they have nothing to gain by sending trains out here anyway. It isn’t as if we have anything to offer in return for the goods they send since the human colonists pulled back to New Australia.”
“That’s true,” November admitted. “All we have left to trade would be our cold-fusion battery units. I don’t see our people parting with them any time soon.”
All the time November and Calf Stealer talked, Falling Leaf tugged on Calf Stealer’s mane. “Are we going to the open market, or not,” she finally asked during a lull in the conversation.
“I told you I would take you,” November said. “Now leave Calf Stealer to finish his tea.” She unceremoniously scooped the girl up from the bed to carry her off to the next room.
Falling Leaf laughed and waved to Calf Stealer after being tossed over her mother’s shoulder.
Calf Stealer became angry with himself as he sipped the hot, weak tea. While he had been with Gupta and Buzami in the considerable comfort of Alummari for the last month; November, Bridgette and Falling Leaf had been fending for themselves in the settlements.
Calf Stealer put the cup of tea on the nightstand, climbed out of bed and put his uniform trousers on before retrieving the kit bag of necessities the CEF issued to him when he began his adjunct assignment. The kit also contained a few items he purchased for himself in the Zunnuki city with the monetary earnings the assignment provided.
Calf Stealer rummaged through the bag. He found some bar soap, toothpaste, a razor he was not likely to use and an unopened first aid kit with some antiseptic, bandages, various ointments and pain relievers. “I might be able to trade these for something at the market the child would like.”
Calf Stealer took the zippered bag with him into the next room.
November sat trying to entertain Falling Leaf while a very pregnant Bridgette stood at the sink in the small kitchenette of the two room dwelling, peeling some potatoes and rinsing a bowlful of chopped, scallion-like grass the Zunnuki called eszpartzsi. The colonists and felines soon learned the name of the plant was a contraction into one word of the Zunnuki term for funeral spray. One only had to smell them cooking to understand why.
“I’m terribly sorry I didn’t do any shopping in Alummari before I was called home,” Calf Stealer said. “I thought I would be there longer.” He showed the zippered bag to November. “Perhaps there are some things in here you and Bridgette can use. If not, we can take this to the market and trade for things you need.”
Calf Stealer knelt down to kiss November on the cheek and whispered in her ear. “What was it Falling Leaf was hoping to find at the market? Perhaps we can trade for it.”
“She saw some Zunnuki coloring books and a box of barely used crayons last week. I think I may have worked out a deal. Save your toiletries. Falling Leaf is my child, not yours. You will have to provide for the child that Bridgette carries for us, soon enough.”
“When that time comes, our situation promises to be much better,” Calf Stealer said. “Besides, you know I claim Falling Leaf as my own.”
“Her father doesn’t see it that way.”
“Her father is not here. I am, and that should count for something; with you, at least.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you, Calf Stealer. I only meant to point out to you I don’t consider her to be your responsibility.” November kissed Calf Stealer and stroked his mane. “I do appreciate your concern for her. She certainly loves you like a father.”
“And, I love her
like a daughter. I wish you wouldn’t protest when I try to treat her as one.”
Calf Stealer walked to Bridgette and hugged her from behind.
“The baby has been kicking since he heard your voice upon arriving yesterday,” Bridgette said. “He must recognize it as his father’s.”
Calf Stealer kissed Bridgette’s ear and hugged her tighter, pinning her arms so she couldn’t move them.
“I can’t make your breakfast without my arms,” Bridgette protested, even though she didn’t make any attempts to escape.
Calf Stealer placed a slow soft kiss on the back of Bridgette’s neck. “I missed you while I was gone.”
“I surmised as much last night in bed. I missed you also. November has been quite moody and distant since you’ve been gone. Hopefully now you’re home, she will take a greater interest in me, also.”
“If not, I’ll be more than willing to make up for her lack of attention.”
“Please don’t talk about me while I’m still within earshot,” November said. “It’s quite annoying.”
Calf Stealer and Bridgette turned to November and smiled.
“I would have thought I was enough for the both of you last night,” November said as she scowled at them. “I heard no complaints of neglect from either of you. I only heard you begging for mercy.”
Calf Stealer and Bridgette laughed as November picked Falling Leaf up and walked to the entryway door.
“The child and I have business in the open market,” November said as she left. “Please eat your breakfast and catch up with Bridgette, Calf Stealer. You and I will have plenty of time to talk on our way to the war council meeting tonight.”
Once November and Falling Leaf were gone, Bridgette motioned for Calf Stealer to sit. “I need to prepare these potatoes before they begin to rust. I can talk to you while I cook.”
“Fried potatoes and onions sound good for breakfast.”
“I found some vegetable oil to fry them in. I know you don’t like them as much when I fry them in animal fat.”
“Where did you find fresh vegetable oil? There hasn’t been any of that around here for at least four months. Have some Zunnuki traders been visiting?”
“I would prefer not to say how I procured it,” Bridgette replied, “or, from whom.” She looked at Calf Stealer with pleading in her eyes. “I only want you to be happy that I found it. At least until you’ve finished your breakfast.”
“I’ll drop it, then. What did November and the child have for breakfast?”
“Falling Leaf had some eggs from our chickens, but November didn’t eat a thing. I’m worried about her, Calf Stealer. It isn’t only her lack of appetite. She’s been very secretive of late. I think she may still have feelings for Night Hunter.”
“I don’t doubt she has, but there’s little I can do about it I haven’t already done. I’m more concerned with where your feelings lie.”
“My feelings shouldn’t enter into it, Calf Stealer. Once you and November have conceived your final child and it’s born, I’ll be obliged to move on. I will only remain as long as the two of you desire a stable third to procreate. I’m your surrogate, not your mistress.”
“Don’t you have the desire to be permanently mated, one day?”
“I desire to be a permanent third once my reproductive life is over. I don’t know if I will outlive my ability to bear children, but if I should, I hope I won’t spend that time alone.”
“If you outlast your ability to breed, what difference would it make? Why are you closed to the idea of being in a pair?”
“I would sooner die than be treated as some toy,” Bridgette replied. “I find the thoughts of that demeaning in ways you can’t imagine. I have a greater purpose than to be used as an outlet for some frustrated male’s misspent libido.”
“Or some female’s,” Calf Stealer asked.
“I have yet to be propositioned by a female who wasn’t looking to share me with a male; but, before I joined with you and your previous mate, I’d been propositioned by many lone males who had no desire to procreate.”
Calf Stealer frowned at the mention of his first true love, now deceased, and with it the memory of his first child who died with her.
Bridgette recognized her indiscretion and apologized. “I’m sorry, Calf Stealer. I didn’t mean to upset you. I miss them, too. Of course, I was happy to follow you to this new relationship. I’m thrilled it’s been fruitful. I pray the three of us keep having children together for many, many years.”
Chapter 24
After breakfast, Bridgette led Calf Stealer back to the bedroom. Before they could undress and lie down, Calf Stealer’s locator alarmed to announce an incoming call.
Bridgette laughed as Calf Stealer loudly cursed the caller while reaching for the locator.
“I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time, Alphie,” Gupta said.
“Yes, you did, but I trust it must be of vital importance if you bothered to call at all.”
“Are you alone?”
“No, but I will be shortly.” Calf Stealer kissed Bridgette and motioned silently for her to make herself scarce. “I’m sorry,” he whispered to her. “I’ll make it up to you, later.”
Bridgette kissed Calf Stealer back and said, “You most certainly will,” as she left the room.
“Again, I’m sorry for interrupting your homecoming, but this is something you need to hear before addressing the war council,” Gupta said.
“No need to apologize, Vijay. What do you have for me?”
“To begin with, you were correct about a great many things.”
“I know I was. This sounds like another apology.”
“I had a talk with Drew after you were under way and he confirmed many of your suspicions openly and without hesitation. I can’t really get into which ones they were at the moment, but it’s become vital for you to resolve the split in the council.”
“It’s always been my intention to unify the council. Why has it become a priority, now?”
“Strictest confidence?”
“Of course, Vijay. I won’t share this with anyone. You know that.”
“The Ekkidans have objections to your people being included in the treaty negotiations. Drew told me they’re adamant about it.”
“But, why? I don’t understand.”
“I didn’t either, so I talked with Chamberlain’s AI,” Gupta replied. “It played the rest of that recording for me. It was a humbling experience in more ways than one.”
“What did Chamberlain have to say,” Calf Stealer asked.
“I can’t share too much of that with you until I do some investigation. It gave me something to go on, but I don’t have anything solid. We will only be able to convince Drew to go to bat for you if you silence the separatists once and for all.”
“We are on the brink of a civil war,” Calf Stealer said. “You don’t know what you’re asking. We can’t just censure the separatists. They have real influence. Not only that, they’re armed and foolish enough to commit violence.”
“You must try, and I need to stay under the Forward Command’s radar while I work on this.”
“Without firm proof Earth won’t abandon us, what do I tell my people?”
“If we can finalize the treaty, the felines become guests of the Zunnuki and wards of the Earth,” Gupta replied. “Your people need that treaty ratified before the Ekkidans get here and muck it up for you. If you antagonize either party any further, the treaty is dead and the felines with it.”
“Some of my people have joined the CEF and become citizens of Earth,” Calf Stealer reminded Gupta. “What about them?”
“I believe they will continue to enjoy their status without problem. I’m sure the offer of citizenship to your people who join up came from above the Forward Command.”
“I’ll try to convey the gravity of the situation,” Calf Stealer said. “I can tell you this news will have the effect of alienating some of the more moderate council members, thoug
h.”
“Just advise them to use common sense. There’s still a chance, no matter how small, for a favorable outcome if Drew can get the Zunnuki back into negotiations. For the felines to make things any more difficult for Earth or Zunnuki will be suicide.”
“I see,” Calf Stealer said. “Thank you for your honesty, Vijay.”
“This isn’t over yet, Alphie. My past dealings with Wilkes have prepared me for this situation. I would rather work out in the open, but I’m forced to use a page from his book against him. He doesn’t like it, but I’m sure he understands why it has to be this way.”
“Why not just find a way to release everything Chamberlain left for you on the tablet?”
“That would be my final move,” Gupta replied. “I need to verify some of the things you, Azir and I talked about with people back on Earth and then speak with some of the colonists before I can release anything. Even then, it might not be the most helpful thing to do, even if it is the right thing to do. This tablet is of more use right now as a broad axe than it is a scalpel.”
“I understand,” Calf Stealer said. “Watch your back, Vijay. I’m not there to watch it for you and Azir is terribly distracted.”
“I will,” Gupta said. “You should watch your back, too.”
“I do that constantly,” Calf Stealer said. “I have enemies all around me.”
Chapter 25
“How long will you be home before leaving again,” November asked as she and Calf Stealer walked in the waning light of the primary yellow sun.
“As long as it takes to accomplish what is needed on behalf of the war council, perhaps even longer,” Calf Stealer said. “I have nothing to do back in Alummari with the treaty negotiations on hold. I owe Gupta and Buzami a briefing once I’m done here, but I can do that over a link.”
“I see,” November said. Her eyes were downturned and the tone of her voice was wistful.
“I just told you I don’t foresee needing to leave again any time in the near future,” Calf Stealer said. “I’d think the news would have elevated your mood, even if only a little. Instead, you act as if I’ve told you your dearest friend has died.”
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