Only he who possesses three eyes can fully grasp the concept of three-dimensionality;
Only he who truly grasps the concept of three-dimensionality is holy.
Paranid Bashra
1st and 2nd axiom
"Sir? Sir?"
Senator Nan Gunnar nodded vacantly and called up the next page on the terminal. "Yes?"
Brend Sobert, his adjutant, took another step towards the black gahamoni desk. "The Priest Duke first class, negotiator and assistant to the Bishop of Paranid Prime, envoy of the Pontifex Maximus Paranidia, prophet of the New Revelation in his own right, Reverend Olmancketslat, is ready and expects your appearance."
The senator let go of the terminal and buried his face in his hands resignedly and his voice came muffled through his palms. "That is one hell of a long title."
The adjutant nodded. "Yes Sir, that it is."
Nan Gunnar took a deep breath. "Ok then," He took the hands from his face and rose to his feet. "Conference room seven?"
"Seven through eleven," answered the adjutant, "the partition walls were removed."
"My god… goodness," Gunnar sighed. The Paranid were known to need a lot of personal space, but five halls?
It was obvious which 'important matter' this was about. Nobody would have expected the diplomatic negotiations to lead to the Paranid approaching Argon Prime first, when it was the Argon government who had a request to make. However, now that it had happened, it was an opportunity. Senator Nan Gunnar, even though he was head of the RD Commission, wasn't quite sure if the Paranid really knew who was pulling the strings here. Diplomacy was so much harder than even a good game of Chuss or Namira! The Paranid held all the aces, but as long as they preferred to act the righteous and honourable members of the Commonwealth, they couldn't play them.
On the way to the conference room the Senator and his adjutant ran into Special Agent Ban Danna, the officer of the secret service charged with the operational coordination of the mission. Danna was a tall, spindly man of middle age, with thinning hair and a serious expression. He was a skilled negotiator, but not being a diplomat, he seldom shied away from more drastic measures.
"Agent Danna," greeted Nan.
"Senator" answered Danna, nodding towards his superior.
"New insights, Danna?" The Agent opened a door and let the Senator go first. Together they walked briskly down the long corridor.
"Only to the extent that our assumptions confirmed themselves – there's a high probability that the unknown ship really originated from sector RD."
The Senator looked at Danna quizzically. "How did you arrive at this conclusion, Danna?"
"Now…" Danna hesitated one second and a small smile ghosted across his face. "We have information from a Teladi named Ussandroos Melomilas Loanises, the Captain of a destroyer named Phoenix. It had a chance to execute a nano-scan of the alien spaceship."
The Senator looked impressed. "A sterling performance – how did you manage to get the information from the Teladi?"
The Special Agent chuckled softly. "The same way you get anything from a Teladi – credits, lots of 'em!"
Nan Gunnar shook his head. "The saurians would sell their own grandmother to the Xenon for cash!"
"I'm not sure those hucksters even have a grandmother Senator, I've never seen a female Teladi!"
"On the contrary, Danna, you've never seen a male Teladi – because there aren't any!"
"Oh?" Ban Danna was obviously surprised, but had no time for further questions, as they had just arrived at the conference centre.
Before the large black swinging doors of the conference hall were two Argon guards, touting beam weapons, and a Paranid carrying a richly ornamented dagger on his belt, in addition to his gun. The Argon and the dangerous looking Paranid glared at each other in icy silence. Stepping wordless to the side they let the Senator, his adjutant and Ban Danna enter.
The conference hall was large but simply equipped, and in the dim light the subdued tones of the furnishing blended into the dark colours of the walls and floor. The urge to talk in whispers was strong, the illusion of floating freely in the black void between the stars, overwhelming. It was a notion that came quite easily to members of a space faring species.
On the opposite side of the hall stood, or rather, adroitly posed, Reverend Olmancketslat in subdued light from a concealed source, obviously intending to inspire reverence from other Paranid. To humans he just looked pompous.
He was over two meters tall and his angular frame was draped in a flowing robe, rich in decoration. Only his multi-jointed, skeleton-like arms suggested, that the envoy – like all of his people – was more bones and skin than anything else. The three protruding eyes possessed no visible pupils and disconcertedly did not reveal the object of their focus. Due to many years of diplomatic experience the Senator knew that Olmancketslat wasn't looking their way with any of his three eyes, so as to demonstrate his innate superiority and indifference to their existence.
Several meters to the left of the Priest Duke stood a second Paranid, wearing a similarly large, but less ornately decorated robe. Unlike his superior, the subordinate watched the Argon approach with a scrutinizing gaze and one hand close to his dagger.
The Three-eyes were by far the most physically striking beings in the Commonwealth of Planets – at least from the outside. Not even Senator Nan Gunnar and Special Agent Ban Danna, despite their long experience, were able to fully rid themselves of a certain instinctive reverence. Knowing that a Paranid required at least two meters of personal space to be at ease the small group respectfully stopped short.
The Priest Duke's underling said something in the rustling language of the Three-eyes to his Lord. Nan Gunnar caught some of the words as the Paranid was informing the envoy formally of the Argon delegation's arrival. Paranid was a relatively simple language to understand but speaking it was another matter entirely given the natural limitations of human vocal chords.
"In the name of the ruler over three-dimensionality we welcome the unholy envoys of the Argon people," said the Priest Duke, who had no problems articulating himself in the common commercial language of the Commonwealth, almost accent-free. The Senator sketched a bow. To be addressed as "unholy" by a Paranid suggested no personal insult, just an observation and reminder of the superiority of the three-eyed species over the ocularly challenged.
"Thank you Reverend Olmancketslat," the Senator answered evenly, before introducing himself and his companions. He did not invite the Paranid to take a seat, as superior beings did not deign to sit in the presence of inferiors. The Paranid wouldn't have objected to them taking seat, however, but the Three-Eyes were tall enough already, and so the Argon remained standing too.
"Senator Nan Gunnar," Olmancketslat said, "As you undoubtedly know, our priests of science have made a splendid discovery; a significant anomaly within the continuum of time and three dimensions." The tall Paranid made a semicircular movement with his bony arms, which set the robe rippling. He looked like a magician giving a show for children and the Senator had to suppress an involuntary smile, both because the Three-eyes were perfectly able to interpret human facial expressions and because they had no sense of humour, not even the grimly sadistic spark that shone through with Split on occasion.
Gunnar noted that Olmancketslat called the alien spaceship a 'significant anomaly' and claimed Paranid credit for the discovery.
"Reverend Olmancketslat, Argon Prime detected this 'anomaly' also and investigated thoroughly. It looks as though it is not a temporary natural phenomenon but uses the jump-gates in order to traverse the sectors of the Commonwealth."
The Paranid crossed his arms over the chest. "You speak the truth, Senator Nan Gunnar of the Argon Federation, but the accuracy of our measurements nevertheless exceeds the capabilities of the unholy races by several orders of magnitude."
It was true, of course – the Paranid excelled at anything to do with navigation and spatial detection, making their scanners, autopilots and d
ocking computers highly sought after items, so what did the Priest Duke want?
Special Agent Ban Danna spoke up. "Reverend, if you permit me to address you…" The Paranid generously gestured approval. "Thank you. Frankly, the science priests of Paranid Prime failed to track the 'anomaly', but you know that we unholy creatures have knowledge of its coordinates. Is it not like that?"
Startled, the Senator raised a warning hand but it was already too late. The Priest Duke hissed a word in his native language and took a half step towards the Argon. His subordinate clasped his dagger with white knuckles and crouched like a giant insect ready to leap on its prey.
"Soulless creature, consider to whom you are speaking!" the Paranid thundered. "Truth prevents me from not disembowelling you where you stand! But we are tolerant in this instance." The Paranid stepped back again and the subordinate relaxed a little. The Senator noted that the hidden light source illuminating Olmancketslat exactly followed the Paranid's movements and guessed it was sewn into the seam of his robe.
"Yes, it is true. Due to adverse circumstances our science priests lost the position of the anomaly." The three eyes of the envoy twitched uneasily in different directions – a sure sign this admission of weakness came hard. That Danna's gamble succeeded in moving the discussion forward without tazuras of diplomatic dancing with these religious fanatics impressed Gunnar. Danna seemed to have more insight in the inner workings of the Three-eyes than he had been given credit for previously. The Senator moved quickly to take advantage.
"Reverend, we have a suggestion to submit."
"So speak!" the Paranid answered, his arms spread wide.
The Senator nodded to Danna. "Reverend," he said, turning to the Priest Duke, "the 'anomaly' – the unknown spaceship – is currently in a Split sector. As the Boron government in Kingdoms End indicates, it is likely that within the next one and a half tazuras it will inadvertently enter Xenon sectors as they are on the direct path to Argon Prime."
"Senator Nan Gunnar," answered Olmancketslat, "The route with the smallest enemy meeting between the Sectors of the Split and Argon Prime passes through the entire three-dimensionality of the god realm of Paranid. We may be more moderate in our reactions than our dear, unholy fellow combatant, the Patriarch of Chin, but what makes you believe that we will present you this holy gift of the three-dimensional space, as on a silver plate?"
"Reverend, the answer is obvious," Ban Danna interrupted again. The Senator threw to him a warning look, which the Special Agent acknowledged with a conciliatory nod. "We have the exact coordinates of the unknown ship – and you possess the destroyers fast enough to get there and escort the mysterious intruder through the enemy sectors and protect it from destruction."
"What are you driving at, Argon?"
"Our information does not help us – no Argon fighters could get there in time. Paranid Prime has ships in position, but no location co-ordinates. Either we cooperate for the common good or none of us will benefit from the situation. Period."
The Paranid were fanatics when it came to their religion but they were not stupid and Olmancketslat knew only too well that Danna's logic was sound.
"I must hold consultation with the Pontifex." The Priest Duke withdrew a couple of meters and a partition wall fell. The assistant remained to keep several eyes on the small Argon delegation.
More than forty-five mizuras of tense waiting passed before the partition rose again and Olmancketslat stepped out with a decision. For the Paranid this was extraordinarily swift, particularly as a message drone had to cross five sectors to get to the Paranid home planet – and back.
"We would like to come now to the details of our agreement," Olmancketslat announced.
Ban Danna glanced at the Senator.
"Naturally, Reverend Olmancketslat," Gunnar answered.
"Where did you learn to manipulate the Paranid so sharply Danna?" the Senator asked as the three Argon left the conference hall. "A couple of times there I thought they were going to go for our throats."
"You tell me about the alleged missing Teladi males and we might have a deal!" Danna laughed.
"I'm all in favour of mutual back scratching Danna, but there's something more important we need to do. Sobert."
"Yes, Sir?"
"Write up a summary of the situation, make it brief but don't leave anything out. Then send it encrypted to our contact in the Goner Temple, Noah Gaffelt. I've a feeling we're going to need them in our corner before all this is through."
"Noah Gaffelt, right, Sir."
The Senator turned to Ban Danna "Agent, I'm a bit concerned with the arrangements. Olmancketslat didn't seem to be particularly happy about you going to Paranid Prime so you can accompany the Paranid escort of the anomaly, beg your pardon, the unknown ship."
Ban Danna shrugged. "The Three-eyes will try to get rid of me, but in such a way they don't lose face before the Commonwealth. That's my ace."
Senator Gunnar was silent in thought while they waited for an elevator. "You just proved that you can deal with those three-eyed skeletons, Danna. So I'll trust you for the time being, or at least until you show up in an aluminium coffin."
Danna shook his head and smiled. "Nowadays everything is made of Nividium, Senator. It's more durable and cheaper."
Gunnar laughed. "Time for a last meal in the cafeteria? I'll tell you what government exobiologists say about our venal Teladi friends. You won't believe it!"
CHAPTER 23
But they must be hiding somewhere! If not on Taurus or Aldrin, then why not at least on Momang, Joyce-B, New Larnaca – or whatever you want to call them! One could start to think that someone is playing a game of interstellar hide-and-seek with us. Where are they, all these good and evil Aliens?
Excerpt from a commentary on the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Winterblossom
Pha t'Phnn had made every possible effort to bring the Bone Scout’s shields back to a state of perfection following the destroyer’s ignominious encounter with the ugly Teladi ship at the High Profit Trading Station. No Split could have anticipated that the outlandish flying egg could mount shields and engines that would honour a carrier.
The Bone Scout was a very special ship, and as ship's engineer, t'Phnn was determined to do his utmost to maintain the integrity of the destroyer. Cho t'Nnt was not just a good commanding officer; he was the best. Since he had taken over command, there had been no more arbitrary executions – apart from one or two inevitable incidents. In fact it could be said that under the leadership of this high ranking member of the Family Zein and favourite of the Patriarch, good work would be rewarded with the granting of real honour and not merely the opportunity to stay alive.
Pha t'Phnn was more than satisfied with his position. He belonged to a modest family, but some day he would work his way far enough up the hierarchy to face the Patriarch himself. He didn’t yet know the means, but he had no doubt that his own ingenuity would eventually see him succeed. Then he would find himself a wife that would bear him a son, and perhaps also a daughter, and establish a shipyard – the biggest and most advanced in this part of the universe!
The ship’s engineer glanced over at Cho t'Nnt who had come into the engine room specifically to oversee progress on the repairs. Another difficult mission lay ahead of the Bone Scout, and no one knew how long the ship would have to manage without the facilities of a space-dock.
"He has performed outstanding work, Pha. I am exceedingly pleased with him."
Inwardly, however, the Patriarch’s young Special Envoy seethed over the unnecessary waste of time and squandering of resources! But didn’t he only have himself to blame? The Patriarch had, not for the first time, urged him to deal sensitively with non-Split when on critical missions. And had he always done that? Too infrequently! Would it have cost him much to let the loathsome Nyana's Fortune go on its way unmolested? No! But what had he done instead of this? No wonder the Patriarch hated him and entrusted him only with assignments that were not worthy of his attention!<
br />
Of course it made no sense to vent his anger on the crew – as his predecessor in command of the Bone Scout had been in the habit of doing, until the then first officer had thrown him out of an airlock without a space suit, while intoxicated with spaceweed. Pha was a talented engineer and there was no point in dampening his enthusiasm with the concerns of his commanding officer. And also not appropriate for a direct blood relative of Zein t'Nnt, the future Patriarch of all Split.
Cho made the gesture for moderate praise for the hard-working engineer and made his way back to the bridge of the destroyer. Of the sixteen-person crew of the ship, Pha t'Phnn was surely the one whose hundred percent reliability Cho could least do without, particularly on long missions in which extensive enemy contact was anticipated.
Shortly afterwards, the Bone Scout passed through the jump-gate connecting the Teladi home sector of Company Pride to Thuruk’s Beard, the forward outpost of the Split clans. Thuruk t'Mhhg had been the first and only Patriarch of the Split to succeed in immortalising his family name forever; a star system irrevocably and permanently named after his legendary beard, which was only right. He succeeded in uniting the rival clans into the current, sometimes fractious but relatively stable state entity, that played such an important role in the Commonwealth of Planets.
However, Cho had little time to pay his proper respects to the system’s central star because, according to the information delivered by the Patriarch’s message drone, the alien spaceship from the far reaches of the universe lurked somewhere here, in this very sector, at this exact moment.
It took a bare fraction of a sezura for the gravidar to adjust following the jump through the gate and begin operating. Cho t'Nnt let out a curse. A veritable constellation of different ships, guided missiles and space debris lay scattered along the length of the route between the jump-gates of a sector Cho had considered quiet and secluded. Some of the featureless blips on the gravitational radar screen were ships attempting dangerous swing-by manoeuvres past Gho-Czman, the ninth planet of the system, which was in the direct path between the two gates. As Cho watched, one of these blips merged with the large dot of the gas planet and did not emerge from the other side. Only ten sezuras later, the light of the turbulent event reached the Bone Scout and Cho and the crew of his destroyer could also see what the gravidar could not show: countless tongues of energy flaring across space, blossoming explosions whose clouds expanded to nothingness or were dispersed by ships snaking through them, burning space wrecks lumbering out of control. He had difficulty in judging who was shooting at whom. With a quick glance Cho satisfied himself that the shields were at maximum; the ship’s engineer had got them back into full working order in the nick of time.
Farnham's Legend: The beginning of the X-Universe saga (X Games Book 1) Page 16
