“Thank you for coming,” he said. “I want to begin the process of formalizing membership in the Alliance.” He looked to Dave Rhodes. “Have you been brought up to date?”
“No. Emily was mum on the trip here. She spent most of her time on the bridge of the prime ship. I take it that whatever this new gizmo is, it takes a lot of concentration for the pilots.”
“We brought a bunch of extra pilots along for her to train. You should know that this new gizmo was her invention. Fast ships are changing civilization as we know it. Your presence here is just one example.”
Dave’s jaw dropped as his eyes opened wide in amazement. “Seriously?”
Greg grinned. “Seriously, Dave. She’s no longer the child you knew. She’s a smart, ambitious, young woman whom we’re all proud of. She and I haven’t discussed it, but I have a feeling she might be setting her long-term sights on my job.”
When Dave’s jaw dropped again, Greg turned to Lor Tas’val. “Your people need to know that Earth, through Emily, developed the new fast ships. The An’Atee provided support, but the creativity came from Earth. It’s taken all of us working together to stop Oort conquest. It will take all of us working together to finish the job. I know you’re on board with establishing the Alliance. What can I do to convince your commanders?”
“Keep doing what you’re doing,” Tas’val replied with no hesitation. “Grayson has developed great rapport with them, and we respect him. The problem is the An’Atee.” He turned to Jemara. “Sorry, Atee. It’s not personal. We’re dealing with generations of conditioning.”
She nodded. “I understand. What can we do to change it?”
“Give us time,” Tas’val answered. “Maybe less time after what you’ve accomplished recently. We’re still in shock that you discovered the primary world of the Oort. The new refinements to your ships . . . well, we’re definitely neighbors now. I never imagined this happening in my lifetime. I have to figure out how to transition my people from an immense survival effort to something else. I don’t have answers yet.”
“You’re still crediting us An’Atee for these successes,” she said. “You need to convince your people that the Alliance deserves the credit, not us. Your people were not wrong about us. We’re incapable of accomplishing what the Alliance did. Each of us played a part: you Harbok protected us for centuries, Earth sent brilliant warriors and scientists, and we An’Atee provided infrastructure. The Alliance is already a part of our lives and yours, and the galaxy is a better place for it.”
Tas’val nodded. “It is. If it were just up to me, I’d be willing to sit down and work out the details right now. What exactly will those details be?”
Greg answered. “Let’s hold on that until later. But I might be able to sweeten our position in your admirals’ eyes. The Alliance needs its own world, a world that’s not controlled by any one civilization. We have plenty of worlds to choose from, but starting from scratch will take a long, long time. I wonder if one of your colonies, one that’s settled but not too settled, would be interested in hosting our headquarters?”
The suggestion caught Tas’val completely by surprise. He mulled it over before saying, “The Alliance would feel like less of an An’Atee institution and more Harbok. I can sell that, and I know just the world. Its location is reasonably convenient for all of us.”
Greg nodded. “Okay, here’s the deal I want to pitch today. We’re bringing Oort domination to an end. By that, I mean we’re actively locking them into whatever systems they currently occupy. We can and will destroy any ship that tries to leave an Oort world. We now have to decide what to do with the Oort, and as important, with their unfortunate hosts. I want it to be a joint decision among the four of us and our staffs. What I’m saying is that, for this decision, I want to act as if the Alliance is already in place. It would be sort of a trial run.”
“We have a lot invested in the final outcome,” Tas’val said, nodding.
“And a lot of hatred of the Oort,” Greg added. “Can your men control their hatred?”
“We’ve earned the right to hate,” Tas’val said calmly. “That said, we’re disciplined. My men will follow orders, and I’ll do my best to keep the real hotheads from the front line.” He paused to consider before adding, “This trial run you’re talking about—for it to work, my men will have to share command.”
Greg nodded. “Yes, they will. However, until we formalize the Alliance, Grayson stays in overall command of our fighting forces, and final decisions fall to me.”
Tas’val looked down and rubbed the leathery skin on his chin. Then, without lifting his head, looking across at Greg through the top of his eyes, he said, “I have a feeling that, for the betterment of all of us, that will continue even after we’ve formalized things. Count me and my people in on this trial run.”
Greg looked to David Rhodes and said, “That just leaves Earth.”
“You set a requirement that Earth speak with one voice before joining the Alliance. We’re not there yet, and we might never be.”
Greg nodded. “Arlynn reminded me that the Alliance doesn’t have the right to set that requirement. The Alliance will only work if it deals with inter-civilization issues, not local politics. The Alliance, through me, made a demand of you that should be within your own purview, not ours. My only demand is that Earth’s decision to join has general support from the planet. Whether that means one person speaks for you or that a group speaks for you is for you to decide.”
“On those grounds, we’ll join you in your trial run,” Dave said.
Greg felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. He had been struggling to form the Alliance for 15 years. He was not done yet, but this was a huge step in the right direction.
* * * * *
Arlynn had been representing Earth to the Alliance, but the time had come for Earth to choose a delegate. Greg, Arlynn, Grayson, and Dave met to discuss the issue.
Dave looked at Grayson thoughtfully. “I’m ready to put your name forward with my recommendation to our group. Do you want the job?”
“No, sir. I’ve spent a lot of time building bridges to the Harbok senior command. They know me, and they trust me. On top of that, they credit me with saving Haldor. Earth’s warriors are highly respected among the Harbok.”
“You saved Haldor?”
“Me and a bunch of other people, but the Harbok are giving me the credit. It’s a long story, and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you over a beer some time.”
“Every time I turn around, I discover key things that the people we sent from Earth have accomplished. I’m amazed, and I’m proud of you all. I hope you’ll pass that on,” Dave said.
“I will. If you have someone else in mind for the position, I really need to get back to work.”
Dave stood with his hand outstretched. “I do. Go back to work with Earth’s blessings. Your name will become legend there some day.”
“I don’t need more of that. I’m legend enough here.”
“We need to discuss your plans before you leave, Harry,” Greg said.
“Here, or before the Executive Committee?” Grayson parried. “We’re not a one-man show any more.”
“Point taken. See you later.”
Grayson left, and Dave scratched his head. “Maybe he’s the one. He certainly doesn’t hesitate to put you in your place.”
“Him and a lot of others,” Greg grumbled. “I don’t get away with much, but we get a lot of business done off the books as well. Most major decisions have been made right here in this room or in my backyard.”
“Is that going to change?”
“Eventually. At present, a little informality adds to efficiency, just like Camp David did for you.”
Dave changed the subject. “So, Emily is making a name for herself, huh?”
Greg smiled. “And then some. The technology is not known to the general populace yet, but it will be soon. It’s going to change everything, Dave. You and I are in this room right now beca
use of the discoveries she and Smythe made. Without them, we’d be years away from knowing where the Oort came from. With them, enforcing a blockade will be easy for Grayson.”
“So . . . does she get rewarded, or what?”
“It’s not the An’Atee way, and it’s not the Alliance way. Her reward will come in the form of reputation, status, and more demanding assignments. She’s opened a lot of doors for herself. I don’t know what her next assignment will be, but she’ll have a lot of say in the choice. Are you interested in discussing your choice of delegate with me, or should I just expect someone to show up?”
“I think you should re-think your idea of a delegate. You can’t expect one person to speak for a whole world. A group of delegates would provide better representation, and it would provide the synergy of group discussion among themselves. One single person would lead the delegation, of course. I have someone in mind. I brought her with me.”
“She? I thought you might name yourself.”
“You know that won’t work. I’m too connected to the United States. Her name is Claire Stuvesand. She’s from The Netherlands.”
“Wow. Not exactly one of the powerhouses.”
“No, but she’s a powerhouse. She might even become the one person we’ve talked about. She has a charisma about her that makes everyone around her want to be led. Should I ask her to join us?”
“Yes.” He looked to Arlynn who lifted a communicator to her lips to make the arrangements. While she did so, Greg asked Dave, “Are you ready to move here yourself?”
“I can’t tell you how much appeal that holds. I even dream of it, but my work on Earth is not done.”
“Will it ever be?”
“I hope so. You’ve alluded to some opportunities out here, and Jackie and I would really like to take you up on whatever they are, but I’m sort of the glue holding everything together back home right now. I can’t just drop out.”
“What if we drop the requirement to speak with one voice?”
“After today, you no longer have that option. It’s up to us. We might not get to ‘one voice,’ but we’re on course to really make Earth a better place to live. I don’t want that process to stop.”
“My hat’s off to you, sir.”
“You know how it works. You’re just a man, but great things can happen if you don’t goof up too often. It’s time you met Claire. I had planned to leave her here in an unofficial capacity, but she’s the one who will officially represent Earth.” He turned to Arlynn and asked, “What will you do now? I assume Claire will replace you on the Executive Committee.”
“I’ll stay on the Executive Committee,” she replied.
“As will Kannick,” Greg added. “They don’t have to represent civilizations to be on the Committee, and like you said, we get synergy from group discussion. When we formalize membership in the Alliance, we’ll formalize voting rights as well. Until then, everyone advises me, but I have the only vote.”
Dave raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “Not a good system, Greg.”
“I know. It’s my way of pressuring you to formally get on board.”
“Jeesh! Most of Earth doesn’t even know aliens exist. Our leaders do, but we can’t announce your presence yet to the general populace.”
“I appreciate the difficulties you’re facing, but they’re your problem, not mine.”
Claire came to dinner that night. The next day she moved in with Greg and Arlynn temporarily. She was slim, tall, and very blond. Her eyes pierced, seeing everything, and Greg and Arlynn immediately sensed the charisma this woman projected. She was a natural leader. Greg was surprised Dave had been willing to give her up. He said as much in private.
“This decision wasn’t made lightly by any of us in the group,” Dave replied. “She agonized over the choice because she knows she’ll be here for quite a while. She’s left a lot of family and friends behind. You’ll need to provide transportation for her—she’ll need to report back regularly, and in some cases she’ll need to consult us before making decisions.”
“We can do that. She’ll have full access, of course. She’ll probably see a lot more than just Ariall and Earth.”
* * * * *
Jemara resigned her position as representative of the An’Atee to the Alliance, naming Kannick to take her place. They were sorry to see her go, but Greg was secretly pleased. It would keep Kannick out of the running for Atee, at least for a while. He discovered years later that Jemara had, indeed, offered him the position of Atee, but he had declined.
Greg and Arlynn hosted an informal barbecue a month later, inviting Grayson and Angie Tolland, Douglas and Gertie, Kannick and Danaria, Ollie, and Claire Stuvesand. Emily also joined them, and she brought Lieutenant Cass Ayker in tow.
As these things usually did, conversation moved on to an informal discussion of Alliance issues. The Oort, for the moment, headed that list. Grayson was preparing a blockade fleet, but Greg wanted to personally open communication with the Oort. After all, wasn’t that what Chairmen got paid for? The An’Atee were studying the language in use there. Soon, a teaching machine program would be available for the new language.
“I’ve heard about this device. When do I get to try it out?” Claire asked.
“Tomorrow, if you’re ready. Most people I know are a little hesitant,” Greg said.
“Well, I’m not. Let’s set it up.”
The conversation moved on to what to do with worlds taken over by the Oort. Doctor Llambry had accepted responsibility for finding a way to remove Oort from their hosts without killing the host. He was not at all confident he could do so. He was working on poisons, but those, too, would go into the body of the host. He would find something eventually, but it would take time and probably kill a number of test subjects before they found the right formula.
Emily’s eyes narrowed as she thought hard for a time. No one except Cass noticed her discomfort at what those thoughts led to. He nudged Arlynn into looking at Emily. “What is it, Emily?” she asked.
Emily frowned. “This isn’t my area of expertise. Sorry.”
Arlynn smiled. “When has that stopped any of us?”
Emily stared at her, then shifted her gaze around the gathering before saying, “The LifeVirus saved my life. It did it by killing foreign cells in my body that were killing me.”
Everyone sat back in stunned silence. Had Doctor Llambry considered the LifeVirus, Greg wondered? He lifted a communicator to his lips and spoke for a few minutes with Llambry. When he hung up, he just stared at the communicator in his hand for a time.
“So obvious,” he mumbled. “How do we keep missing the obvious? What else have we missed?”
“We miss things because we’re human. What did he say?” Arlynn asked gently.
“Not much for a while. Then he offered Emily a job.”
“A job!” Emily explained. “I’m no doctor.”
“No, but he meant it. If you’re interested, he’d like to talk to you about joining his team.”
“Out there?” Emily asked in amazement.
“Out there. You’re headed back to Douglas’s group if you want to go.”
She shrieked with joy, then sat back looking troubled. “Cass and I are helping to refine the StarDrive. We can’t be both places at once.”
“Welcome to the world we live in on an everyday basis, Em,” Arlynn said softly. “We are constantly pulled in many directions. You will have to decide.”
“If it’s truly my choice, I want to help those people get their lives back,” she said. “How much time do I have? Can I spend a few weeks with teaching machines before we leave?”
“Talk to Doctor Llambry about it, dear. I have a feeling you’re going to be spending lots of time with them.”
Claire spoke up. “Would someone like to explain to me what just happened? What’s this LifeVirus? It sounds frightening, but it saved your life, Emily?”
Emily turned to Arlynn with a grin. “Would you care to do the honors, or
should I?”
Chapter Thirty-five
Douglas set out six months later with his usual fleet of one baseship and three prime ships, his mission to study the Oort/host relationship. The destination his scientists chose was a world of Oortmen, Oort that were riding human hosts. For want of a better label, they named the world Forsaken. Doctor Llambry, Doctor Brimak, and Professor Yarbo accompanied him, as did Emily and Cass.
Grayson left soon after, his mission to open communications with the Oortbok on Asval, the world they believed might be the center of Oort civilization. The Harbok on this and the other central Oortbok worlds seemed to enjoy a partnership with the Oort instead of complete submission. The general consensus held that this particular planet, Asval, might have been the first taken over by the Oort.
The top echelon of the Alliance accompanied Grayson, including Greg and Arlynn, Kannick and Danaria, Ollie, and Claire. Grayson commanded an armada of Alliance ships whose crews were made up of An’Atee, Harbok, and Terrans from Earth. Whenever he could, he mixed crewmembers from all three civilizations on the same ship.
His fleet eased its way into the Asval system the old-fashioned way, under normal drive and cloaked. As they approached the main world, the baseship dropped its cloak, but the rest of the fleet did not. Numerous ships left the planet to engage him. The baseship never had to fire a weapon. Grayson’s men destroyed the Oort ships as soon as they cleared the atmosphere.
Ollie was shocked. “These can’t be Harbok,” he proclaimed. “They’re a disgrace.”
The baseship just waited. Days later, a communications channel opened from the planet. Greg was the only one in the video pickup. A Harbok dressed in colorful robes spoke.
“Greetings,” the man said. “Do you speak my language?”
“Enough for our purposes today,” Greg answered.
Genesis Page 36
