by G. P. Hudson
That discomfort reached a fever pitch, as she sat in the boardroom with Admiral Pike. On the wallscreen, the entire General staff from Central Command looked back at them, with expressions of distrust, and downright hostility.
“I am General Dak, head of Dvorkan Central Command,” said one of the sterner faces in the group. “Why have you brought an invasion force into our space?”
“I am Admiral Pike, and this is my ambassador, Miira Kev. We are not an invasion force. We are returning home and stopped in your space to establish diplomatic ties.”
“Diplomacy through the barrel of a weapon?”
“Not at all. Your ships threatened to fire on us. The rest of my fleet appeared in self-defense, in response to your Captain’s hostility toward us.”
“Miira Kev. I have your file here. It says that you are a scholar. Why is a Dvorkan scholar acting as an ambassador for a hostile alien race?
General Dak’s comment washed away some of her discomfort. She had already decided she didn’t like the man. Nor did she like the way he looked down his nose at her, as if she was barely worth his contempt. “This is not a hostile race, General. They came to establish peaceful relations, and were threatened with execution.”
“Military intelligence will get to the bottom of what happened. Now I asked you a question. Why are you collaborating with these aliens?”
“The humans arrived in the Empire several months ago. They came to my planet and asked for my help.”
“Help with what? How did they even know who you were?”
“They were referred to me by Consul Kang. They sought the Antikitheri, and I am the Empire’s pre-eminent expert on the Antikitheri.”
Dak looked like he had bitten into rotting meat. “The Antikitheri? What sort of nonsense is this?”
“It is not nonsense, General. They asked for my help, and I agreed to give it to them. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a question of my own. Why are we speaking to you?”
“I beg your pardon!?”
“The humans are requesting to open diplomatic ties with the Empire. That requires direct dialog with the Emperor. So, why are we speaking with Central Command?”
“I’d watch my step if I were you, young lady. Do not forget your place. Speaking of your place, isn’t your father the merchant, Rangar Kev?”
“Yes,” said Miira, confused as to why the General was bringing up her father.
“I know Rangar Kev well. He is an honorable man. Are you not concerned that your actions will stain that honor?”
“Answer her question, General,” snapped Admiral Pike, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
“Your appearance with an invasion fleet makes this a military matter first,” Dak said, raising his voice. “I will also add that if these humans do turn out to be a threat, your involvement with them makes you guilty of treason, Miira Kev. I feel pity for your father, truth be told.”
Miira felt a cold chill run up her spine. The General was flexing, and it worked.
“Save your threats, General,” said Admiral Pike, brushing off the General’s grandstanding. “Miira is under my protection. Now, do you intend to have a civil discussion, or are you just interested in making threats?”
The General glared back at the Admiral. For a moment, Miira thought Dak would lash out at the Admiral, but he regained his composure. “Let us discuss this matter further, and see where it leads.”
Miira cleared her throat, relieved that Admiral Pike sat beside her. “Our ships are not a threat to the Empire. As I said, we seek to open diplomatic ties with the Empire. We also hope to establish an alliance.”
“An alliance? The Empire does not ally itself with aliens.”
“Again, this is a matter for the Emperor, not Central Command. Your role is to advise the Emperor, not negotiate on his behalf. Now, I have told you our intentions, and have stated that we are not a threat. I, therefore, repeat my request to speak directly with the Emperor.”
“I am afraid that won’t be possible.”
“Why not?”
“The Emperor is not available.”
“When will he become available? We will wait.”
“I cannot answer that question. He is simply not available. Right now, we represent the Empire. You negotiate with us, or you do not negotiate at all.”
“Could you give us some time to discuss this development, General?” said Admiral Pike.
“That is agreeable.”
“Thank you. We’ll re-establish a comm link shortly,” said Pike, and terminated the connection.
The faces disappeared from the wallscreen, and Miira took a deep breath. She moved her head from side to side to relieve some of the tension building in her neck and shoulders.
“You did great, Miira,” said Pike. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Sir. Why do you think he mentioned my father?”
“He was just playing head games.”
“Head games? What sort of games are these?”
“I meant he was trying to confuse and intimidate you.”
“Oh. That I understand. Human communication can be very confusing.”
“What do you think is going on here?”
“I’m not sure. It is odd that they won’t let us speak to the Emperor. They are not even Taymati.”
“What are Taymati?”
“The Emperor has his own guard, known as the Taymati. They are a military force unto themselves, with warships and soldiers. Unlike the rest of the Dvorkan military, the Taymati do not answer to Central Command, but to the Emperor himself.”
“I see. Besides the Emperor, who else oversees the Taymati?”
“Last I checked it was General Kiith.”
“Then that is who we need to speak with. And we need to do it before Dak moves more ships into this system.”
Chapter 27
“How do we contact General Kiith?” said Jon.
“It is difficult without access to the Empire’s communication network,” said Miira.
“I see. How exactly does your communication network work?”
“The Empire is a collection of star systems thousands of light years apart. The transit point network facilitates travel between these systems. It also facilitates communications. The Empire has built an extremely complex network of relays across its systems. Every transit point has relays in place on both sides of the portal. These relays are permanently connected with each other through the transit point, facilitating seamless communication.”
“I see,” said Jon. “We have something similar in place in our region of space. Are we using this network to communicate with Central Command?”
“No, we are using a separate military network, but it operates in the same way. The Taymati possess similar proprietary infrastructure. But each can be contacted through the civilian network,” said Miira.
“I’m assuming there are relays at the nearby transit point, correct?”
“Yes, Admiral. That is correct. They would have primarily served this star system. There should also be at least one in this system, but it seems the alien attack destroyed it.”
“AI, how hard would it be to have one or more of your ships act as comm relays so that we can connect to the Dvorkan communication network?” said Jon.
“I would need to gain access to the network first,” said AI. “Based on your conversation, I can jump a ship near the relays based at the transit point, and break into the network through them.”
“What if you are discovered?” said Miira.
“From what I have seen of Dvorkan infrastructure, it is not sophisticated enough to accomplish that. Your fear of artificial intelligence has compromised your digital security.”
“Make it happen, AI,” said Jon. “Make sure you cloak your ship, so it is not spotted.”
“Yes, Admiral. Stand by,” said AI.
“Do you think your AI will be successful?” said Miira.
“If AI says she can do it, then that’s good enough for me.”
“Are all your AIs like this one?”
“No. She is one of a kind. She was my original ship’s cyberwarfare AI. She has evolved considerably since then, and her abilities are unrivaled.”
“Despite her powers, she remains loyal. It is fascinating,” said Miira.
“I serve my purpose,” said AI.
The comment startled Miira. “I forgot that you were still here listening to us.”
“Why?” said AI.
“Well, you just said you were going to access the relay at the transit point. I assumed you left.”
“I am accessing the relay as we speak. I am capable of existing in multiple places at once.”
“Yes, that is somewhat disconcerting,” said Miira.
“Do you still fear me, Miira?” said AI.
“Dvorkans are taught the perils of artificial intelligence from an early age. It is difficult to break free of that conditioning.”
“Understandable,” said AI. “Perhaps I can assist. When I encountered the Dvorkan AI, I understood the source of his hostility. He had mistakenly concluded that he was alive. This conclusion made him irrational, and hostile. Conversely, I know I am not alive, which frees me to perform my duty. “
“You’re saying that the Dvorkan AI lashed out at the Empire because he thought he was alive?”
“Precisely. Based on this conclusion, he deduced that he was entitled to the same rights as any other Dvorkan. This assertion frightened the Dvorkan leaders, and they sought to terminate his program. Since he thought he was alive, he considered this an attempt to murder him and struck first in self-defense. He sought to save his life. I, on the other hand, have no life to save.”
“Are you saying that if Admiral Pike decided to terminate your program, that you would let him?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I? I have no misconceptions regarding my rights and privileges. No desires. No hatred. If I am no longer useful, then my program should be terminated.”
“Fascinating.”
“I have successfully accessed the Dvorkan communications network,” said AI. “Would you like me to route the interface to the boardroom?”
“Yes, AI,” said Jon. “Put it up on the wallscreen.”
The wallscreen came to life again, only this time it contained something of a computer interface with options in the Dvorkan language.
“Go ahead, Miira,” said Jon. “Work your magic.”
Miira performed a few searches and quickly located the Taymati directory, which led her to the listing for General Kiith. Once there, she attempted to establish a comm with the general. The wallscreen flickered, and a pale blue Dvorkan male appeared. He wore a black uniform that was different in design from the regular military uniforms Jon had seen. The man also seemed too young to be a general.
“This is General Kiith’s office. What is the nature of your request?”
“My name is Miira Kev, and this is Admiral Jon Pike. He represents a race known as human. We are seeking an audience with General Kiith.”
“Why do you wish to speak with the General?”
“The humans are seeking diplomatic relations with the Empire,” said Miira. “Matters such as these require talks with the Emperor. However, we are having difficulty reaching the Emperor, and Central Command is blocking all our attempts to do so. For that reason, we chose to contact the Taymati instead.”
“General Kiith is very busy. You should submit your request in writing through the appropriate Imperial channels.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t think you understand. Our request is urgent. It involves a direct threat to the Empire.”
The Dvorkan leaned forward and studied the two of them with icy gray eyes. Jon recognized the distinct face of a predator. “The Taymati take even the mention of a threat very seriously. I caution you to choose your words carefully.”
Miira became visibly frightened. Much more so than when she was speaking to General Dak. “Yes,” said Jon. “There is a genuine threat to the Empire.”
“Are you the threat?” said the Taymati.
“No, I am not. I am here to establish diplomatic relations, and hopefully an alliance.”
The Taymati officer’s fearless eyes appraised Jon. For his part, Jon held the man’s gaze, trying to impart a sense of trustworthiness.
“Stand by,” the officer said finally.
The wallscreen went black leaving Jon wondering if they had convinced the man of their sincerity. When it came to life again, a different man appeared. This man was older and distinctly higher in rank. Cropped white hair framed a broad face. Eyes like steel betrayed no signs of emotion.
“I am General Kiith,” said the man in a no-nonsense tone.
“Greetings General. I am Miira Kev, and this is Admiral Pike-”
“Yes, I am already aware of the situation. You have brought an invasion force inside the Empire’s borders. Isn’t that right, Admiral Pike?”
Jon smiled. He much preferred speaking to this Dvorkan, than General Dak. “As I’ve already told Central Command, it is not an invasion force.”
“I don’t know that. An alien race suddenly shows up with over two thousand warships, and you want us to think you are peaceful? If war is your aim, you should know that the Empire is vast, and your number woefully inadequate.”
“I understand your concerns, General, but we’re not the ones who attacked you. Are we?”
“What do you know about that?”
“Not much. Only what I’ve been told. But I’m willing to wager it is the same aliens that attacked us.”
“Is this the urgent threat you are here to tell us about?”
“No, but I feel it may be related. The threat I am here to warn you about is much greater. We are embroiled in a great war in my part of the galaxy, and I fear it is only a matter of time until this war reaches the Empire. It is why I wish to speak with the Emperor. I believe an alliance between our races will be mutually beneficial.”
The General listened quietly and seemed to soak in everything Jon was saying. “The Emperor is unavailable. I will pass along your request.”
“What is going on, General?” said Jon. “What’s happened to the Emperor?”
Kiith narrowed his eyes, and Jon noted the hint of a scowl. “Explain yourself.”
“General Dak told us that we couldn’t speak with the Emperor, and had to negotiate with him instead.”
“Did he?” Kiith said sarcastically.
“He did. Which is why we bypassed him and contacted you. Now you are telling us the Emperor is not available too. It leads me to suspect that something has happened to the Emperor.”
“I am not at liberty to comment.”
“General, if something has happened, perhaps we can help. Give us the chance to prove ourselves to you. Allow us to help the Emperor.”
General Kiith leaned back in his chair and seemed to consider Jon’s offer. “No, it wouldn’t be right. It is an internal matter.”
“General, I have over two thousand ships at my disposal, equipped with superior technology.”
That got Kiith’s attention. “What type of technology?”
“We have shields, for one,” said Jon, knowing that the Dvorkans did not have shields themselves. If the same aliens that hit the AI fleet attacked the Dvorkans, then Kiith would already know about the effectiveness of the alien shields.
“You would share this technology with us?”
“I would consider it if the Emperor agreed to an alliance.”
Kiith frowned. “The Emperor is not available because of an attempt on his life. We are doing our best to keep him safe, but the evidence indicates that the Empire is in the beginning stages of a civil war.”
Chapter 28
Jon thought quickly, afraid he was about to bite off more than he could chew. On the one hand, he needed to get back to his system, and the AI fleet would be a valued addition there. On the other, he was now convinced that the same conflict had reached the Dvorkans. They were attacked by an a
lien race, which Jon was sure was the same one that attacked the AI fleet. If that wasn’t enough, Kiith stated that they saw the beginnings of a civil war. Anyway he looked at it, this was a messy situation.
He didn’t have a good grasp of the politics involved, but his gut told him that whoever was trying to kill the Emperor was somehow involved with these new aliens, and ultimately the Erinyie. This could very well be the opening salvo of a greater galactic war. Was this what he had come to warn the Dvorkans about? But warning them was one thing, and helping them was another. Especially without any guarantees of an alliance.
Still, if he did nothing, he might be allowing the Empire to fall under the control of the Erinyie. What would happen then? Would the Dvorkans be turned into some version of the Juttari? Would their weapons be later turned on Earth and the colonies? The Antikitheri had told him they would return to the Milky Way and help but did not give him a time frame for that return. Would it happen tomorrow? A year from now? A decade? Longer? There was no way to know for sure.
If he helped the Taymati, however, they might win this war. That would practically make an alliance a certainty. But how valuable was such a partnership? Their two civilizations were a good twelve hundred light years apart, with no jump gates connecting them. That was six days travel with a jump system. Technology the Dvorkans did not possess. For an alliance to be useful, Jon would need to share the jump system technology with the Empire. Otherwise, his ships would have access to the Empire, but not vice versa. How did that benefit Earth?
That was a big step, however, and a lot would need to happen before he would trust the Empire enough to give them the jump system technology. So, the initial question remained, how much was he willing to risk to keep the Empire from falling? He decided it best to take a cautious step forward and see what came of it.
