by J W Murison
‘No, I’m not. Anyone?’ He asked his companions. They shook their heads. ‘I am sorry Ambassador, none of us have ever studied federation law. I do know something about engines though, and it is practically impossible to cause a containment failure. Even if you blow up a damn ship, the containment fields hold until the engine is shut down. We have salvaged lots of them.’
‘There are many laws banning weapons that can cause a containment failure on a ship. That’s because the energy that is released from a containment failure can wipe out a whole fleet of ships, no matter if their shields are up or not.’
‘You are saying that this weapon you have can cause a containment failure?’
‘It certainly can.’
‘So, you were testing a banned weapon?’
‘It can only be banned if the weapon is known about. Right now, none of our ships on this side of the barrier carry the weapon.’
‘You do.’
‘Not now, we used all the material.’
‘That type of weapon must already be banned?’
‘No, there isn’t a single instance anywhere in the federation of this type of weapon ever being developed before. They are completely unaware of the technology used to develop it.’
‘Are you saying the technology is beyond their means?’
‘Oh no, far from it. In fact the technology is primitive compared to the weapons they use now.’
‘Then that has to be the key. Some technological path that Humanity walked down but the races this side of the barrier never explored. Is that it?’
‘That is it exactly.’
Tern Do pushed himself back against the seat. ‘I would wish for a couple of minutes to talk to my fellow Grand Commanders. Please remain seated Ambassadors.’
The three of them got up and walked out of the tent. Tern Do led them far enough away to be out of earshot. Tern Do pinched his muzzle just below his eyes.
‘What do you two think of this? I am unwilling to proceed further without your say so.’
Dylin Barli was scratching a growing bald spot between his ears. ‘I admit to being lost. I’m a fighter, not a thinker. I will go with whatever you two decide. I trust you.’
Gaun Day had been thinking hard. ‘They are in a bind now.’
‘How so?’ Tern Do asked.
‘I always wondered if this whole thing had been a giant set up.’
Tern Do shook his head, ‘Too complicated, not that it never crossed my mind.’
They smiled at each other. ‘It is too complicated, and they are obviously telling us the truth, which has put them at a severe disadvantage in these negotiations.’
‘You can tell they are inexperienced at this.’
‘Or too close to the front line.’
Tern agreed, ‘A bit of both maybe.’
‘Maybe, but do we take advantage of it?’
‘We go in there and tell them to forget about it. We never mention it again. That will make them beholden to us at a later date.’
‘I agree. We begin these negotiations from scratch, like this conversation never took place.’
They went back in and sat down. Tern Do took up the mantle of spokesman again.
‘Ambassadors, thank you for your revelations, and we understand that this has put you in an awkward position. We accept your explanation. We will never mention this again and I suggest that we begin the proper negotiations now.’
‘We are grateful Grand Commander, thank you.’ Steven replied.
Chapter 26
The negotiations went well after that. The federation had given Steven a list of demands, or “requests” as they put it. Most of them revolved around the Ortea’s captives or slaves. There were other territorial demands the Ortea flatly refused to entertain. Steven and Komoru flatly refused to eat anything the Ortea provided. They did, however, provide their own small banquet. Cookie and his chefs came out with a barbecue. They had goat, lamb, pork, beef and chicken. With Cookie’s customary culinary flare, the Ortea were drooling at the mouth for more.
Tern Do sought out Steven. He held up what was left of a piece of flat bread with goat meat and onions.
‘I have never tasted anything like this in my life Ambassador. What wonderful flavours.’
‘That is goat meat sir. It is a domestic animal that can survive just about anywhere. This place is far more temperate than I expected.’
‘Like your planet, this one was once brimming with life. We had creatures flying through the skies. Much of these lands were given over to the production of crops. I don’t know how diverse, but we had staples like bread. There were many different species, some fed us, some roamed wild. Then in one evening it was all gone. Everything above ground, including the plant life. Trees, flowers, insects, everything. Gone in the time it took for the sun to set and rise again. Of course, the invaders paid dearly for it; they even replaced our livestock. I can’t begin to imagine what it was like then. There is old archive footage of the planet as it was then, I have never watched it though.’
‘Why not?’
‘My father told me not to, he said it was heart breaking. He told me to look forward, never back.’
‘Was he the leader before you?’
‘No he was an engineer; from what I have been told, not a very good one either. He died a long time ago. To become a leader, you first need to be a good fighter, and you also need a lot of luck.’
Something crossed Stevens mind, ‘Do you still have any of that race that first attacked you? ’
‘You mean the Dent!’
‘Yes.’
‘Of course, they make up the bulk of our population these days. As our numbers have gone down, so theirs have increased. Do you want to meet one?’
‘I suppose… I don’t mind.’
Tern spoke into a communicator, and was then distracted by one of his officers. When he reappeared it was with a strange-looking creature at his side. To Steven it looked a little like a squirrel, it even had furry tufts from its ears, but no tail.
Tern laughed at something. ‘Ambassador, meet a Dent. This is Gorack, my personal slave.’ He turned him sideways, and slapped him on the hips, ‘Look at the rump on him. Just say the word and I will have him on a skewer in no time.’
‘Oh, stop it you old fool. Ignore him Ambassador. He always says that. I have been his slave since we were children. My household has served his for many generations, and they have never served up so much as a single one of us.’
Steven wasn’t sure what to say. ‘I see, you seem like friends, rather than slave and master.’
‘We have been together since childhood. It is my task in life to serve, it is his to fight and lead. My children now serve his. It is how we survive. But behold our saviour. When you replace their livestock, we will be released from this life of servitude.’
Steven wasn’t sure how to respond. ‘Where would you go?’
‘Home of course, to our home world.’
Now he was shocked, he turned to Tern, ‘Don’t they know?’
Tern took a deep breath. ‘They don’t listen, won’t listen. They consider us all liars.’
‘You all are liars. Told us what?’
Tern shook his head sadly, ‘Maybe he will listen to you Ambassador.’
Steven was reeling. Gorack was waiting patiently. Steven found his throat had dried up. ‘Um… your people no longer exist. They were wiped out many generations ago.’
Gorack laughed. ‘You jest! He put you up to this, right?’
Tern shook his head.
Steven squared up to Gorack. ‘Your planet is now ruled by the same person who leads the federation forces in trying to wipe out the Ortea. If it wasn’t for one of my men, I wouldn’t have even known of your existence. While researching for information on the Ortea, he discovered that the race who had originally attacked the Ortea had suffered exactly the same fate. Those that survived the original attack were eventually hunted down and wiped out.’
‘You lie.’
Steven could see the distress he was under. Tern Do clamped a hand on his shoulder. ‘Stop it old friend. This is an Ambassador of the federation, they don’t play pranks. You could cause an incident here.’
‘It’s okay,’ Steven reassured Tern Do. ‘He is obviously in shock. I never took offence.’
‘Thank you Ambassador, that is generous of you. Gorack, maybe you had better go below.’
Gorack looked at Steven. ‘Who investigated it? Can I speak to him?’
‘It was Charlie.’ Steven shouted him over. ‘Charlie, this is Gorack, he is a Dent.’
‘Oh right, so they still exist.’
‘Is it true?’ Gorack asked.
‘Is what true?’
‘My people, my home planet…’
‘They no longer exist. Well, the planet does, but your people were hunted to extinction well over a thousand years ago. Didn’t the Ortea tell you?’
‘They told us. We didn’t believe them.’
‘I did some extensive research. As far as I can tell there may be a few hybrids on far and distant planets; those who mated with other races may have survived. But your species is considered extinct. I’m no a diplomat, but if you leave this planet, if the Ortea kick you out, you will become extinct.’
‘Charlie, for God’s sake!’
‘Whit!’
‘He just found out his people are gone.’
‘Don’t talk pish Stevie; he has known his whole life, he just chose not to believe.’
‘You talk as familiars,’ Gorack interrupted, ‘Not Commander and soldier.’
‘We were childhood friends,’ Charlie told them, ‘I have never got into the habit of calling him sir; even though I should.’
‘Then they are like us Gorack.’ Tern Do smiled; although the Humans weren’t quite sure if it was a smile or not.
The squirrel-like face broke into a smile of its own. ‘That’s true. You became a great leader, and I am still your servant. But I can still kick your arse when required.’ He wiped his eyes, ‘Ambassador, may it be too much to ask to see this evidence with my own eyes.’
Steven looked to Tern Do, he didn’t look amused. ‘Don’t try anything silly Gorack.’
Gorack looked him up and down, ‘You are turning into an old fool Tern. If this is true, where would I go? Would I leave my wife and children, my grandchildren to pay the price?’
Tern looked down, ‘No of course you wouldn’t. Forgive me Gorack.’ He looked back up, ‘Could you do this Ambassador?’
‘It is a bit irregular. Charlie, could you see to it?’
‘Come with me.’
They were away for an hour, and Gorack was silent on his return. It was obvious that Tern Do had been worried about the whole thing. He tried to speak to Gorack but was ignored. Gorack went round the back of the tent and a few seconds later disappeared. The talks resumed.
Chapter 27
‘Five years!’ The Bollan raged. ‘Five years standing up to my waist in freezing water harvesting kelp and seaweed. For five years in a row I was forced to mate with my wife, and at the end of that year the child that was born was taken from us to feed the Ortea. Our children slaughtered, hung up, turned into sausages. Taken away so my wife would come into season once again. Why weren’t we rescued, why did no one come for us?’
The Bollan sank to his knees and wept openly in the public box in front of the federation leaders. An usher came from behind and helped the Bollan to his feet, then led him away. The session ended. Emperor Darrick and Emperor Ne´ Langus retired together to discuss the growing situation. Neither felt particularly sympathetic towards the Bollan.
‘He was an idiot.’ Darrick grunted as he put down his cold glass of iced tea.
‘A captain of commerce. He ordered the pilot of his private leisure ship to fly through that area, didn’t he?’
‘He did, thought he would give his wife and children a little thrill.’
‘So why is he crying here?’
‘Why? Because while he was away, his oldest surviving son ran the business into the ground. It was eventually taken over by the executives. When the shares hit rock bottom, they bought him out, then threw him out of the company. The son then gambled away what was left, sold all his property.’
‘So he has nothing and is looking for a bit of sympathy.’
‘That’s how I read it Ne´. How is the truce holding?’
‘Really well. That’s a full six months without an incident. Trade is beginning to flow through those solar systems again, which is cutting down costs for everyone. I have even scaled back our presence in the area.’
‘Good for everyone.’
‘Until an idiot like this comes in and begins to stir up shit again.’
‘That’s true.’ Darrick agreed. ‘What are we going to do about it?’
‘Let it simmer away for a few days, then we are going to introduce the pilot, who is going to put him back into the shit.’
‘Put the blame back onto our captain of commerce.’
‘Exactly.’
‘As it should be,’ Darrick agreed. ‘We even had a few Modloch returned to us.’
‘Oh! I didn’t hear. How did they get captured?’
‘Working off-world on freighters.’ Darrick suddenly burst out laughing. ‘It seems the Modloch aren’t very tasty. All of the captured Modloch survived. Two of them have asked for permission to return to the Ortea home world.’
Ne´ was shocked. ‘Why the hell would they want to do that?’
‘Better job, better conditions.’
‘Seriously?’
‘That’s what they said. They hated being underground, but they say that freedom of travel and being allowed to go to the surface made all the difference. According to them there is a lot of space there. They did the same jobs as they did on the freighter, both engineers. They didn’t get paid, but their homes were palaces compared to the cramped conditions at home. That seaweed they were forced to eat is also highly nutritious. They were even given days off, when they used to go fishing in the underground seas, trade the fish they caught for extras with the Ortea. The only problem is trying to persuade their wives and children.’
Ne´ laughed aloud, ‘I can see why that would be a problem. Are you allowing it?’
‘The Ortea have kept the peace. They are releasing captives as agreed. I don’t see why I shouldn’t. Why Ne´, are you planning to attack them as soon as all the captives have been released?’
‘You jest Darrick. Start another two-thousand-year war that my people will have to bear the brunt of again? I don’t think so. The first crops the Humans planted on the surface of their planet are beginning to ripen. They have planted far more than the Ortea can use.’
‘The Ortea have allowed the Humans to use vast tracts of land to plant crops on, to restock their fleet.’
‘I know. They can also sell the surplus. I wonder what company will have the balls to land on the Ortea home world first.’
The two roared with laughter at their own wit. ‘Which reminds me Darrick, haven’t those huge bio-domes of yours began producing yet?’
‘A few weeks ago, we placed them in orbit and opened them up to the sunlight. I have spring flowers now, and bees waking from hibernation. Leaves are beginning to sprout on the trees. The bio-domes rotate on a twenty-four-hour Earth cycle. Special glass limits the sunlight to just what it would be on Earth. We already have our first jars of honey. Just for a taste. It is beautiful; I have it on hot toast in the morning. A Human thing.’
‘Isn’t it going to take months before you can start producing those biscuits?’
‘It will, but I have the time. As the trees grow they will produce more nuts. The bee population will also grow in size. All my gardeners have requested a transfer to the domes, they are just stunning Ne´. I have never seen colours like it.’
‘That’s not like you Darrick: stunning, beautiful; unfamiliar words from your mouth.’
‘Come and see it Ne´, you have the time.’
‘I suppose I have. I will leave tomorrow, bring the wife and kids.’
‘Good. When are you going to accept the delegation from the Dent?’
‘About a month from now.’
‘Are you going to allow them free movement?’
‘No. Visits will be strictly regulated. We will accept no appeals for asylum.’
‘That’s a bit harsh. They have been under the Ortea boot for almost two thousand years.’
‘They are not getting a foothold back on my planet. My ancestors wiped them out, they should be extinct. I will allow no foothold where they can then make claims on territory that once belonged to their families. We will wipe them out again if we have to. Besides, Ortea society would collapse if they left.’
‘I heard that the Ortea haven’t eaten any of them in almost eight hundred years.’
‘Except criminals. Any crime, one punishment.’
‘That would keep the masses inline.’
‘It did I believe.’
Darrick was thinking it over, ‘It is a strange pattern.’
‘I Don’t follow?’
‘Sorry, I was thinking out loud. Like the Humans who protect species on their planet, the Ortea have protected a species of herbivore that would otherwise have gone extinct.’
‘I never thought about it like that, but I suppose it is true. The Ortea are a lot smarter than I gave them credit for.’
‘How so Ne´?’
‘They knew that the federation wouldn’t tolerate them being given free movement. So they gave the Dent citizenship status, with equal rights, and are now using them in a diplomatic role. There may be little sympathy for a race that should have been extinct, but we aren’t allowed to say or show that. As a result, the Dent are allowed to move freely, while the Ortea can stay at home and protect the planet.’
Darrick smiled. ‘I wonder if they will make a bid for citizenship.’
‘I have little doubt they will, but it will take a few generations. In the meantime, we have to stop anyone trying to take over their planet. I am going to announce a motion to make it a federation protected zone. No military craft other than federation vessels will be able to approach. Trade only.’
