“Ah, this person I keep hearing about. He is from Earth, is he not?”
“He is. Hear me carefully, Tas’val. It’s important that you understand his motivation. He only helps the An’Atee if it helps the Harbok as well. My very presence here is at his insistence. Our plan is his plan.”
“How can one man from Earth be in such a position of authority?”
“How does one find himself in the position of Lor of the Harbok?”
Tas’val looked away. “Not by choice,” he answered softly.
“Greg would say precisely the same thing, and he will gladly give up the position as soon as he, or we, find someone better suited.”
“I would like to meet him.”
“No more than he wants to meet you. He almost came with me on this trip, but he decided the matter of the cloaking device had higher priority. He is organizing the research on that as we speak.”
“A good decision. You say he has a plan to take this war to the Oort. I’ll back him completely in such an effort.”
A grin split Kannick’s face. “Then my job here is done. With your permission, I’ll return home. The sooner I do, the sooner you two can meet.”
“Not so fast. It sounds like he’s needed there more than here. How does he plan to take the war to the Oort? We don’t even know where they come from.”
“Nor do we, yet, but we’re working on it.”
“How can you find them? We’ve been trying for 2,000 years.”
“It’s another of those secrets, sir, but we found Haldor didn’t we?”
“Hmm, that you did. How did you do it?”
“Partner with us and I’ll tell you. Until then, I ask that you rescind the ultimatum you gave us. It’s been difficult conducting exploration under its terms.”
“We gave it to you for your own good. You invite terrible retribution from the Oort if they discover you.”
“We know. We’re hard at work on defenses, and we’ve come a long way.”
“If they attack, you cannot let even one ship through.”
“We understand.”
“Then I rescind the ultimatum.”
“Do you have any Oort that we could study?” Kannick asked.
“For what purpose?”
“As Greg puts it, it’s better to know your enemy.”
“Wise words. We might have some frozen samples.”
“Am I free to go home?”
“That was never really a question, Kannick. Take a message back for me. I appreciate the warning you gave us about the Oort cloaking device. We did not know.”
“I will, sir. Greg has preached to us from the very beginning the we have to demonstrate our worth to you rather than just tell you about it as we’ve been doing all these years.”
“I must meet this man.”
“I have some further requests before I leave.”
A frown crossed Tas’val’s face, but he wiped it away quickly. Kannick knew they still had a long way to go before trusting each other. “What are they?”
“Our plan needs Harbok input. I want to take some representatives back with me,” Kannick said, peering carefully at Tas’val. The answer to this question would cement or weaken any links the two of them forged.
Tas’val thought long and hard. “This whole relationship is tenuous at best. I agree with you that we should pursue the process, if only to see where it takes us, but my men will oppose any cooperation. There’s no one I can recommend at the moment.”
“Ollie and Borkt would probably be willing to go.”
“I’ll think on it. What else?”
“We’d like to give you some fighter ships. The offer only makes sense if we provide training and support. We can send a baseship or a few prime ships with them.”
“Why a baseship?”
Kannick’s eyebrows lifted. To him, the answer was obvious. The fact that it was not obvious to Tas’val suggested to him that Harbok baseships served different purposes. With just a little thought, he realized that he had not considered the issue from the viewpoint of the Harbok. Exploration was not as important to them as survival, so their baseships were, most likely, serious fighting vessels.
He took a deep breath, not certain if Tas’val would consider his answer another An’Atee weakness, and said, “Our baseships are not fighting ships. They support our exploration services with manufacturing capabilities and the scientific and engineering staffs necessary for long-term missions of exploration. The facilities on those ships could help modify the ships we send you—to whatever standards suit you.”
“Very well. I’ll take it under consideration.”
“Do you travel very much, sir?”
“All the time. We have over a hundred colonies. I try to visit them as often as I can, just for morale’s sake.”
“Well, I say this with no disrespect, but I noticed that jumps are a risky business in Harbok ships. They’re also time consuming. Would you be interested in a special ship just for yourself if I can provide one?”
“What are you saying? Are jumps not risky in your ships?”
“They are not. They’re almost completely automated, and our systems are more reliable than what I saw on the Harbok ship that brought me here. In addition to safer, our automated jump process would save a month or more on each leg of a journey.”
“Hmm. It would not be good for morale if I showed up in an An’Atee ship. I’ll think about it, but it won’t happen for a while. Do you understand my meaning?”
“I do, sir. Just know that the person of Lor Tas’val, not just the position Lor Tas’val finds himself in, is critical to this process right now. You and I have opened a door to better understanding. I don’t know if your successor will be quite as receptive, especially if he’s new to the job.”
“Your ships are that much safer?”
Kannick resisted an urge to roll his eyes. He simply said, “They are, sir.”
“Well, not for the moment. And don’t send a bunch of ships all at once, especially not a baseship. I have to give my men time to get used to the idea.”
“Very well. Can we send a few for demonstration flights? I’m fairly confident your admirals will be supportive after they see what new toys they can have.”
“Not yet. Instead, I might send some admirals to you. Before you go, we should work out a means for us to communicate with the ships you have here spying on us.”
Kannick cringed, but he nodded his acceptance. Tas’val led him to a communications room where the technician, following Kannick’s instructions, set up a general broadcast frequency.
“Obsidian, are you there? This is Kannick transmitting from Haldor.”
After a long delay, they heard, “Brice here.”
“We have to figure out a more discreet way of doing this,” Kannick replied. “Until we do, you need to maintain a listening watch on this frequency. I’m here with Lor Tas’val. He’s king of the Harbok. For the time being, you’re Greg’s link to him. Understood?”
Another long delay. When Brice answered, he sounded uncertain. “Sir? I have very specific orders concerning this.”
“Understood,” Kannick replied. “We’re attempting to open doors here. It’s a slow process, but you know our long-range goals. You’re Greg’s voice for the moment. Until you receive new orders, I’m authorizing you to play the diplomatic card when you can. I’ll be returning home in a few weeks.”
Another long delay, and Brice replied, “Would you like a ride? And I can provide a scrambled radio if you’d like. Or . . . they can provide me with their codes. That would be the most secure. However, I can’t guarantee no one else is watching, if you get my meaning.”
Kannick sucked in a sharp breath at the thought of going home in an An’Atee ship. He had left Ariall nearly a year ago. He imagined for the first time in a long time what it would be like to have color back in his life. But Brice’s last words brought him back to reality. Brice was telling him that it was possible the Oort had cloaked observers
in the system. If Brice dropped his cloak, the Oort would see a drive signature that was different from Harbok drive signatures.
“Don’t risk it,” Kannick said. “I’ll find another way to secure things, but it will take a while. I’m giving you the freedom to modify your orders as necessary in the interests of diplomacy.”
“Very well, sir. Obsidian out.”
“Your Captain Brice chose well,” Tas’val said with a hint of respect in his voice. “Is he a warrior?”
Kannick frowned. “He’s an experienced explorer. Knowledge of what the Oort do to their hosts is changing many of us. Well . . . some of us, and he is one. However, none of us has been tested since the ultimatum.”
Tas’val’s lips pursed. They took a few more steps before he said, “If your hopes come to fruition, your next test might be the real thing. For your sake, I hope it doesn’t take place at Ariall.”
Kannick spent another three weeks on Haldor. During that time, he gathered technical information that he hoped his engineers could incorporate into ships destined for the Harbok. High on his list was to modify on-board computers to the Harbok language, or better yet, to both languages.
He finally set out for Ariall in Ollie’s ship. Most of the crewmembers were new to Kannick—Ollie had done some hard recruiting to find individuals who were willing to associate with the An’Atee. Ollie and Borkt had come of their own volition. So, too, had a handful of scientists. Kannick was pretty sure that Lor Tas’val had personally briefed them before they left.
Chapter Twenty-one
When Ollie’s ship entered Ariall’s system four months later, Kannick’s horrible ordeal ended. He had been gone for almost a year and a half.
As his screens filled, Ollie observed many squadrons scattered about the system. Within hours of dropping from hyperspace, a squadron of An’Atee fighters joined up on Ollie’s ship. Both he and Kannick were impressed, though Kannick just shrugged his shoulders as if it was the normal way of things.
Kannick hailed the squadron and called it off, though it held a loose escort formation as the Harbok fighter continued inbound to Ariall. Several days later, another squadron dropped its cloak and joined the escort. Ollie just pursed his lips this time without saying anything.
Two weeks later, a prime ship took Ollie’s ship aboard. Kannick, Ollie, and the contingent of Harbok scientists and crew members walked down the ramp and out from under the overhanging disk to be greeted by Danaria, Greg, Arlynn, and Emily.
Kannick took one look at Danaria and shut everyone else out. Greg hustled everyone out of the shuttle bay and left Kannick and Danaria to themselves.
“He’s lost weight, and he does not look good,” Arlynn said to Ollie.
“He was not treated well on Haldor, nor was I,” Ollie said. “For him, it was a particularly severe test. You can be proud of him. It’s over now, and Lor Tas’val agreed to some of your requests. Kannick will give you the details later. I’m glad to see him back among his friends.”
“Well, welcome aboard, Ollie. And welcome aboard to the rest of your party as well,” Greg said, turning to them and speaking in the Harbok language. “Follow me. We’ll get you settled.”
“My ship wants to leave,” Ollie said as he fell in beside Greg, clomping along with his crutch. “Before it goes, Kannick said you can provide Lor Tas’val with a scrambled communicator for talking with Captain Brice when necessary.”
Greg blinked, caught off guard. “Captain Brice?” he asked innocently.
“Come on, Mr. Chairman. He and the Lor have already spoken, but it was an unscrambled broadcast. Wouldn’t you rather the conversations with Obsidian be private?”
Greg smiled, saying, “I consider that real progress.”
“What else would you call my presence here?” Ollie countered.
During the prime ship’s voyage out from Ariall, craftsmen had fashioned quarters for the group of seven Harbok crew members and ten scientists. Rooms were on the small side after furniture suitable for Harbok had been installed, and the shower heads were probably lower than the Harbok preferred, but each of them had a private room and complete freedom of the ship. Greg insisted that little be held back from these visitors.
Greg took Ollie aside for a private conversation while Arlynn helped his men get settled. “So, what’s your plan, Ollie?” he asked.
“You tell me. Lor Tas’val gave me a lot of latitude. Our first priority is to work with your scientists to develop a way to find cloaked Oort. Beyond that, it’s up to you.”
“Did he give your scientists permission to help us develop a better cloaking device of our own?”
“He did. How else will you be able to find a way to defeat it? Have you made any progress on your own?”
“Some, but not enough. We’re devoting every possible resource to this issue. Is Tas’val ready to see me?”
“Not yet. He’s anxious, but the An’Atee are not welcome among my people. Few even know about this mission to Ariall. He will have more freedom to act if I produce hard evidence that you can help.”
“Then we’re on track. It’s all I asked for. What’s wrong with Kannick?”
“Nothing that a little time at home won’t cure. I’m ashamed to tell you that the base commander placed him in solitary confinement for months. When the Lor discovered it, he put an end to it, but Kannick is still severely depressed. At least that’s my interpretation. He should definitely see a doctor.”
“His wife, Danaria, will see to that. Are you and your men ready to tour the ship?”
“We are. Who was the young lady with you?”
“Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
They found Arlynn, Emily, and Doctor Llambry in a private dining room that had been prepared for the Harbok. Ollie immediately stiffened when he saw the dining room. “You’re isolating us?” he asked.
“Absolutely not,” Greg replied. “We thought your men might like privacy from time to time, a place to call their own. This is it.”
Arlynn, Emily, and Doctor Llambry were setting out platters of a variety of foods since no one knew what the Harbok liked to eat. As it turned out, they had worried needlessly—the Harbok dove into everything. Doctor Llambry seemed to be enjoying himself, but his eyes missed nothing. He had a new race of aliens to study.
Ollie stepped across the room to Arlynn. Emily worked her way closer to Arlynn without specifically joining her.
“I hear you married this very important individual,” Ollie said to Arlynn. “Congratulations. I wish I could have attended the ceremony.” He turned and reached a hand out to Emily. “And who are you, young lady?”
Emily stepped forward with her hand outstretched, quaking inside but calm on the outside. In passable Harbok, she said, “I’m Emily, the sick girl they rescued from Earth. Thank you for allowing me to visit my parents. I’m pleased to meet you, Captain Ollie. Welcome to Ariall.”
Ollie looked pleased as he reached a hard hand out to grasp hers. “The pleasure is mine, Emily.” Then he looked around, his mind seeing beyond the hull of the ship to what awaited him on Ariall and said, “I hope.”
The return to Ariall passed swiftly, especially for the Harbok who had entered a domain utterly foreign to them. Greg and Arlynn worked hard to dispel the distrust so evident in their every action. They began with a briefing on the ship. Schematics came out, and Arlynn explained the general layout of the ship. Then tours filled several days. The Harbok found the luxuries amazing, but most astounding to them was that entire families lived aboard the ship. That never happened on Harbok warships.
Arlynn took personal affront at the observation, contending that women were just as capable as men, in many cases more capable. Ollie’s only response was that it did not feel right. Women were to be protected, and the rest of the Harbok nodded their heads in agreement.
“Then let the women take part in that protection,” Arlynn argued.
He had no reply to that, though he remained disgruntled over the issue.
&n
bsp; Greg offered to let them learn the An’Atee language with the help of teaching machines, but they refused. It was too soon to trust. Greg argued that rather than focus on trust, the Harbok should focus on mission. They had to learn the An’Atee language if they wanted to work with An’Atee scientists. Lor Tas’val was counting on them to produce results. Indeed, both civilizations were counting on results from this small but key group of individuals. His imploring words did not sway them.
Kannick spent a week with Danaria and a full spectrum of doctors. At the end of that week, he demanded his freedom. After all, he had work to do. Greg found him deep in conversation with a group of scientists, Harbok and An’Atee, as they worked to translate the technical information he had brought from Haldor.
The language issue frustrated everyone. An’Atee scientists had recently been through the Harbok language course, but the program was seriously deficient in technical aspects. If the Harbok, on the other hand, ever agreed to learn the An’Atee language, they could make great strides. It boiled down to an issue of trust, just as it had for Greg when he came to Ariall.
A Harbok engineer was severely put off when an An’Atee engineer attempted to take his body measurements. The two of them stood nose to nose, the Harbok defiantly leaning over her while the An’Atee engineer looked up at him, holding her ground with her hands on her hips.
“We have to take measurements before we can make new seats and beds for the ships we’re designing for you. And we have to design keyboards and controls to fit those huge paws you call hands,” she declared. “Would you rather we guessed?”
Kannick stepped into the conversation, and the Harbok eventually submitted.
Greg pulled Kannick aside while the measuring took place. “How are you doing, friend?”
Kannick ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have color back in my life. I never knew I could miss such a simple thing so much. I haven’t seen anything but gray since that day you left me on Earth. It was a bad time, Greg, but it’s behind me now. Having Danaria back in my life is the best medicine I could ask for. Doctor Llambry says I’ll be fine, and he encouraged me to get back to work, so don’t go ordering me out of here.”
Genesis Page 22
