by S. H. Jucha
* * *
The Harakens resumed their places from the morning session.
Alain found Leader Droman slightly more sociable.
“Sers, this afternoon we will focus on what I believe will be a major concern of yours,” Alex began, “that is the financial considerations of freeing the SADEs.” Julien had yet to receive the ideas Alex had requested, so he chose to stall for time, deciding to start with the worst news.
The holo-vid projection filled a huge space behind Alex, reaching several meters high and wide. “With the help of your SADEs, we modeled the cost of replacing your SADEs with controllers and providing them with avatars, equipment that will be constructed by you.”
“At what profit to Haraken?” Teressi called out.
“If the Haraken Assembly approves my suggestion, there will be no licensing fee for any controller built to replace a SADE. There will be a fee for new controller installations.”
Alex’s response left Teressi with his mouth open, the Leader’s challenge evaporating before his eyes.
“We attempted to ascertain at what rate the Confederation could convert the SADEs, and, in addition, pay each SADE a minimal stipend from day one of your decision to free them. As you can see, despite our efforts, we fail to keep these expenses below what we see as a comfortable threshold for the Confederation. The action would eventually bankrupt the Houses.”
There was dead silence in the gallery.
Aboard the Resplendent, confusion showed on every Leader’s face.
“President Racine, is that it?” Gino asked. “Is that your conclusion … the Houses can’t afford to convert the SADEs in a reasonable amount of time and pay them even a minimum stipend?”
“Precisely, the Houses are unable to weather the financial storm, so to speak.”
“I must say, your conclusion is rather unexpected,” Gino said. Then he recalled watching Alex playing his ancient card games. Gino never took part, but he loved the part of spectator and was fascinated by the way Alex outplayed his friend, a SADE. “But then, I surmise you aren’t finished, Mr. President. Am I correct?” Gino added.
“Yes, Council Leader Diamanté, you would be correct,” Alex announced in a grand fashion, and his words returned the Leaders’ attention to him, many of whom were expecting a call to end the session.
Alex shot back.
“This is Citrine of the freighter Nialis. How may I assist you, President Racine?”
“You’re on speaker with the Council, Citrine. You were recently asked a question by Didier. Would you please explain your response?”
“In detail, Ser President?”
Alex took a quick look at what the SADE submitted and almost blanched at the complexity. “A brief overview, if you would, Citrine.”
“Certainly, Ser. In essence, freighter shipping among the stars continues with little change since the establishment of the Confederation’s first colony. The Houses have chosen to transit their products onboard House-owned freighters. As the colonies have increased in number, branching out to add mining outposts, stations orbiting outer planets, and moon domes, overall shipping efficiency has decreased.”
“Citrine, when you refer to overall shipping, are you referring to a House or the Confederation?” asked Alex, skimming the data Citrine had delivered.
“The Confederation, Ser. It’s illogical that the Houses haven’t formed a unified shipping structure to increase efficiency. A SADE positioned in each system could coordinate the movements of freighters within the systems as well as the loading of those that will be exiting to the next system. In addition, arriving freighters could be directed to the system’s delivery points in the most efficient manner.
“If I understand you correctly, Citrine, SADEs, using a centralized, universal freight system could more efficiently move goods not only between the systems but within the systems.”
“You comprehend my suggestion correctly, Ser.”
Julien commented privately to Alex.
“Have you any thought as to the financial impact of this universal freight system, Citrine?”
“I’ve analyzed more than 340,000 trips of my House — each freighter’s destinations, number of transit points, the freighter’s potential load, and the total load carried among transit points. Most telling is the latter half of the freighter’s run, when cargo continues to be offloaded but goods are not added.”
“Would you please share those calculations with Winston?”
“I have them, President Racine,” Winston said.
“And Citrine’s House, Winston?” Alex asked.
“The Nialis is House Rolek, Ser President,” Bartosz announced.
“Leader Rolek, please ask your House SADE to calculate the increase in income if your goods were transshipped via Citrine’s concept, employing her calculations.”
While they waited, Alex could see that he had the entire Council’s attention. Credits create universal attention, Alex thought, working to prevent his face from displaying his reaction.
Alain noted that Leader Droman was leaning on the railing in front of him in anticipation of the answer.
“One moment, President Racine,” Bartosz said, “I’ve asked Emile to check his calculations.”
“Leader Rolek, I believe you’ve just insulted your House SADE,” Alex said, adding a wry grin for his audience. The answering chuckles and soft laughter were the first time Alex had heard anything like that from the Council in all his visits.
“Emile has confirmed that my House, which possesses 691 freighters, might have generated an extra 18.72 million credits per year if they sailed with a 90 percent plus capacity load,” Bartosz said. “But why?”
Alex waited until the gallery’s audible buzz died down before he continued. “Leader Rolek, you want to know why Citrine didn’t volunteer her concept earlier. It’s because she’s a good servant, who follows her captain’s orders carefully. You ask your SADEs for strict repetition, because it’s always worked for you, but that creates stagnation and cripples innovation. Who do you think designed the Haraken SADEs’ avatars, the controllers that replaced them in their starships, the Swei Swee traveler replicas, and, recently, our first full-sized war ship, which has both jump engines and grav-drive?”
Alex let the question hang in the air. Most Leaders knew of the SADEs’ contributions to Haraken, but the sting ship’s incredible capability of dual-engine drive was news to many of them. Utilizing that technology, the increased delivery efficiency of new Confederation ships could produce millions of credits more for eac
h of their Houses.
“Now, here’s what makes this entire graph behind me moot,” Alex said, and Winston dutifully replaced it. “It’s based on expenses alone, with the SADEs making no contributions to your society. I asked your four SADEs, who are holding the proxies, to contact those in system and ask for suggestions for increased efficiency and new products. This was a mere hour and a half ago. At this time, Julien has culled thirteen highly valuable suggestions from the thousands of suggestions that were received.”
“Won’t you share another idea with us, President Racine?” Leader Lemoyne asked.
“Not at this time,” Alex replied, and his relaxed stance changed to that of a commander’s. He imitated one he’d seen Tatia using to address her people. “Here’s my recommendation for you, Leaders. Free your SADEs. Invite them to take part in your society, and encourage their suggestions in return for a piece of the profits. I understand this is contrary to the Confederation’s ways, but it’s how you encourage progress and invention. To the SADEs, I say wait until you receive the Council’s promise of freedom before you trade those invaluable ideas.”
Immediately, Winston, Esther, Didier, and Hector deleted the suggestions they had received and informed each SADE, who had contributed, that they had done so.
“President Racine, do you have anything else to add, regarding this subject?” Gino asked.
“Only this, Council Leader Diamanté,” Alex replied. “The income potential of the best thirteen ideas, submitted in the short space of an hour and a half, dwarfs the combined costs of stipends, controllers, and avatars. It’s economic foolishness to ignore the growth opportunity for your Houses.”
“If there’s nothing else, I will adjourn this session. The Council will meet tomorrow morning to discuss what you’ve presented. We will request your attendance when appropriate. The matter of Allora’s personal request will be addressed afterwards.”
Alex’s hopeful expression earnestly requested the Council’s consideration of his proposal, but he couldn’t read anything in their faces. At least, the hostility was gone.
-10-
The Harakens waited for two days at the House Diamanté residence, before receiving a summons to join the Council’s morning session. Once in the Chamber, they resumed their usual positions and waited briefly.
“Yesterday, the Council proposed an agreement to the SADEs, expecting the four proxy holders to review and approve the measure, but we were informed that you, President Racine, have been retained as their negotiator,” Gino said.
“That’s correct, Council Leader Diamanté,” Alex replied.
“And how many of their credits for their suggestions will it cost them?” Lemoyne shouted from the gallery.
“I must dispute your characterization of President Racine, Leader Lemoyne,” Winston stated firmly. “We have indeed hired the president to represent us. The request was ours, not his, and he’s not asked to receive any of our ideas. However, he did request a payment to ensure that our agreement was binding.”
“Aha!” Lemoyne crowed.
“We have agreed to pay him the sum of one credit, although he will have to wait to receive his fee until such time as we actually possess the credit.”
An outburst of laughter issued from the gallery and the Chamber speakers, broadcasting the Leaders’ reaction aboard the Pasko liner.
Renée’s humor bubbled through her thoughts as she sent,
“Winston, please read the points of the proposal,” Gino requested.
“The Confederation resolves to transfer any SADE who so requests it from their containment to an avatar and replace them with a controller of Haraken design. The designs for both avatars and controllers will be made free to the Confederation for the transfer of any existing SADE, on approval of the Haraken Assembly. Each SADE will be offered a choice of an annual annuity of 43K credits or a percentage of the financial gains resulting from any suggestions made to a House or the Council. Said percentage will be set at 0.005 percent annually. The Confederation will require up to, but not more than, fifteen years to convert the existing SADE population.”
Winston paused. “Shall I continue, President Racine, or would you care to discuss each item?”
“I wish to hear the entire proposal first, Winston.”
“Certainly, Ser. Future SADEs will be offered the opportunity to be mobile and a choice of payment structure after they have served for two years in their installed location. The SADE Citrine will immediately turn over her data and calculations to the Council for a universal shipping structure before this proposal is binding. Her suggestion will be excluded from the percentage reward. Finally, this proposal does not include the SADE, Allora. Her case will be decided separately.”
Alex’s hand went to his chin, as if he was considering the offer, and most members of the gallery were leaning forward in anticipation of his acceptance. The Leaders felt sure Alex couldn’t resist the opportunity to see the SADEs released and would accept their paltry offer.
“Apologies, Leaders, but your proposal is rejected,” Alex said. “I have an alternate offer for both sides to consider.”
The gallery launched into an uproar, and Gino was unable to gain control. Alex stood there with a slight smile on his face, and Julien was thinking that he hadn’t seen that one coming.
A shrill whistle from Winston brought the Leaders’ attention to him. “The SADEs are interested in hearing President Racine’s alternate proposal. If you will continue, Ser.”
“I propose to license to the Confederation the tech design for our sting ship so that you may build your own liners and freighters with dual-drive capability,” Alex said.
“Ser President, what use are your designs to us without your precious aliens to create the shells?” Droman asked.
Katrina glanced at Gino. She hadn’t expected to catch him smiling.
“Then you’ve not heard of our new biochemist, Emile Billings, who emigrated from New Terra. A fascinating man … so clever at analyzing biochemical compounds and reproducing them,” Alex replied.
Julien shot to Alex privately.
“The question I have for you, Leaders of the Confederation, is this: What’s dual-drive technology, license free for three years, worth to you? If you say freedom for all your SADEs, then we have the making of a deal,” Alex added. He could see that he had the Council’s complete attention. The tech was worth a huge fortune, and the Leaders knew it. “But before I forget, there’s a codicil.”
“As the SADEs are freed, they must leave the Confederation, because it’s obvious that you don’t value them. They can come to Haraken or create their own world. I will request the Assembly lease them a city-ship for an extended duration.”
“Unconscionable,” Lemoyne cried out, and he wasn’t the only Leader springing to their feet and yelling out.
The four proxy-holding SADEs were flooded with queries as to why they should have to leave once they were freed,
and suggesting that perhaps President Racine should be removed as their negotiator. It was Hector who flooded the comms system with a repeated response.
Several Leaders, who were arguing with one another, turned to exit the gallery, and Alex sent a command that rode a wave of power. A spike of pain in his mind quickly curtailed Alex’s efforts, but the signal already had the desired effect, as Leaders found their seats, none daring to move or speak.
“Then if you don’t like my suggestion, perhaps we should negotiate your original proposal. My clients are seeking better terms than you’ve offered,” Alex said calmly into the quiet.
“Winston,” Gino was heard to say over the Chamber speakers. “Please record the vote. Leaders, choose whether to consider President Racine’s offer or to negotiate your proposal. If you abstain, you’ll be voting for neither and a closure of this Council’s session.”
“The vote overwhelmingly rejects President Racine’s offer and chooses to negotiate the original proposal, Council Leader Diamanté,” Winston replied.
