Alex was sure that the offer to the Council to participate in the conclave would rankle Lemoyne, Teressi, and their supporters. He wondered what action the Leaders might initiate. The thought crossed his mind to check with Gino on the status of the two Leaders and see if they still held their seats. However, when plates of warm food and hot thé were placed in front of him, the thought was placed on hold.
When the meal ended, Alex prepared to return Gino’s call, but Julien intercepted him.
“You’ve a lengthy message from Mickey and friends,” Julien said. “Might I suggest you and Ser make yourself comfortable in the salon, and you invite some guests?”
Alex smiled at his friends and nodded. There was no need to ask more or who should be invited. Julien would arrange those things and probably better and quicker than he could.
When a collection of close associates arrived at the owner’s suite, Julien activated the holo-vid in the central table. Then he relayed Mickey’s message from the controller, where it had been spooling.
<Greetings, Alex and those listening. The news about the domes and gates varies,> Mickey sent. <I’d like to say we accomplished what you asked me to do, but we didn’t.>
<Mickey is understating our success, Alex,> Lucia interjected. <There have been great achievements. We might not have reached your goal, but we don’t know that we won’t.>
<There are technical and political issues,> Jess added. <But we should start from the beginning.>
<Alex,> Mickey sent, <We couldn’t reengineer a dome. It was too complex to solve within your requested time frame.>
Alex saw Renée’s frown. It was aimed his way.
<Nonetheless, we made some amazing discoveries, while taking a different approach,> Mickey continued. <We’ve learned to power down and restart a dome. As Kasie continually points out, the Messinant technology is superlative, and the race had simple ways of working. We can also deconstruct a dome with a single set of tools, which enabled us to move the dome’s three levels.>
<To explain,> Jess interrupted. <You know that we discovered a panel command that slides the console aside.>
At this time, a vid insert arrived, and the holo-vid displayed a view from Luther of the console sliding rearward to open a section of the deck.
Jess continued, <Below the platform deck were two more levels where the dome’s power and the services for the dorm rooms reside. That’s how we installed the new gates. It’s where we found a bunch of these.>
An image of a tool appeared in the holo-vid. Its small size was evident by the gloved hand that held it.
<The device that you are looking at,> Miriam explained, <is used to couple and uncouple every component of the dome, except for one difficult one.>
Mickey laughed. <Kasie Cinders had advocated that we simply try moving the dome. We were investigating how to cut it up, when a Crocian discovered two tiny indentations in near every seam. The SADEs matched these devices to the ubiquitous twin marks.>
The trio watched a compressed time vid of the Re-Gen dome’s relocation.
<Those are Pyrean spacers excavating the pit,> Lucia narrated. <Crocians engineers and techs guided the disassembly.>
<The spacers stayed to help with the reassembly. They didn’t want to miss out on the final event,> Mickey added.
The audience heard Mickey’s generous laughter.
<We encountered an issue with the posts that support the lowest deck,> Miriam sent.
The scene shifted to the firing of plasma rifles into the regolith, and the flashes of light, billowing clouds of dust, and noise caused the humans in Alex’s audience to furrow brows or tweak lips in confused smiles.
<For stability, the Messinants fused the moon’s rocky material around six posts,> Mickey explained. <We’ll need a new tool to make the process easier the next time. We consumed multiple weapons and tripods to clear the fused regolith from around the pillars.>
<Incidentally, the posts were never harmed,> Lucia sent. <It would be wonderful to replicate the Messinant building material. It’s lightweight and extremely durable.>
<After we removed the lower deck,> Mickey sent, <it was an easy process to reassemble the dome ... except for a minor issue. I must apologize, Alex. You were always so careful with the well-being of others.>
<Before Mickey makes you think that hundreds died in some catastrophe,> Jess interrupted, <the extensive work on the moon’s surface in environment suits created fatigue within the crews, Pyreans and Crocians. Pia transferred to the carrier to help with the recovery, and the crews were divided into two groups that rotated every four days. Problem solved and no one was injured.>
Alex sensed Mickey’s contrition. He wished he was there to lay a hand on his friend’s shoulder and tell him that the mistake was easily forgivable.
The audience watched the dome take shape within several minutes. Then the moment that they had been waiting for unfolded.
<This was the moment of truth, Alex,> Mickey narrated. <We let one of the spacer captains connect the console. When she signaled the console, you can see the dome respond, as the Messinants must have done hundreds of times in alliance space. The individuals within the dome were warned to wait to open their faceplates. Watch.>
Then the platform deck was obscured by swirling dust.
<We tested the gates. They connected,> Miriam sent.
<There you have it, Alex,> Mickey sent. <We can relocate an entire dome, and alliance space has plenty to spare.>
<Which brings us to the politics of the situation, Alex,> Jess sent. <I’ve instructed Alain to organize the alliance delegates for the conclave. He’s approached the council, not the main body. We’re trying to solicit world leaders or their direct reps to join us ... some of them anyway, and we’re hoping for an equal representation. That’s another thing. The Tsargit recently transformed into three political groups. Think of them as elder races, centrists, and younger races, which include the consortium. We’re working to get fair representation from each group for the conclave.>
<As for the dome’s relocation, we’ve kept the process quiet,> Lucia sent. <The Tsargit is aware that we’re moving a dome, but not that we’ve been successful. I don’t know how long we can keep the news quiet. Our hope is that our discovery will be a major card to play at the conclave.>
<The Tsargit won’t want to see the domes leave alliance space unless the members get something significant in exchange,> Jess warned.
<Alex,> Miriam sent, <it should be noted that there are significant issues to resolve with the movement of a dome to a new star, especially outside of alliance space. The new star won’t appear in the Messinant network display. We’ll need to discover the means by which a new star can be added.>
<We have one thing in our favor, Alex,> Jess sent. <My sister has beaten us over the head with her mantra about the simplicity of Messinant methods, and she’s been proven right time and time again. I think it won’t be inordinately difficult to solve the relocation issue. However, reengineering the Messinant antimatter power plant is another thing.>
<There you have it, Alex ... the good and the not so good,> Mickey sent. <We did the best we could.>
Alex felt regret for the monumental task he’d asked Mickey to accomplish, and his face displayed his sadness. When he heard Miriam’s voice, he glanced up.
<I’m appending this message for you, Alex, and for your listeners,> Miriam sent. <Mickey regrets failing to meet your specific request, but he’s extremely proud of the many accomplishments of the various participants. Don’t worry for his frame of mind. There are many of us who ensure that he focuses on our successes and plans the next projects.>
While Alex and company considered the outpost’s news, Miranda and Z connected to Winston, the SADE who led the Confederation’s SADEs and maintained the Council’s records.
<Greeting, Miranda and Z,> Winston sent. <Difficulties?>
<None,> Z replied.
<Unless Méridien supplies them,> Miranda proffered.
<We’d know the status of Darse Lemoyne and Lawrence Teressi,> Z requested.
<I’d like to deliver better news, but I can’t,> Winston lamented. <The council went as far as to censure both Leaders, but votes couldn’t be gathered to remove both men. A compromise was reached. Leader Lemoyne was dismissed, but Leader Teressi remains on the Council.>
<What of Darse’s replacement?> Miranda inquired.
<More bad news,> Winston sent. <Leader Lemoyne’s power is as great as ever. He’s appointed his daughter over his two sons to represent the House on the Council. The relationship between patriarch and sons can be characterized as unsettled. Not so for the daughter. She dotes on her father.>
<What is the daughter’s relationship with Teressi and the other Mahima Ganesh supporters?> Z asked.
<Tight, as if Leader Lemoyne had never left,> Winston explained.
<Anything else we should know?> Z sent.
<Observe,> Winston sent, and a vid followed.
A controller’s voice was heard within the Council chamber, and it announced the votes for Leader Lemoyne’s dismissal.
When Darse heard that he’d been thrown out of the powerful Confederation Council, he rose in anger. His face was apoplectic, and he pointed an accusing finger at Gino, who stood before the tiers of Leaders.
“You’ll bring ruin on the Confederation by your liaison with that renegade Alex Racine,” Darse shouted. Then he swung his attention to the rows of Leaders, knowing many who had voted against him. “If you are too frightened to abort this disastrous alliance, then it’s left to those of us to have the courage to do something about it to save our society.”
With those words, Darse Lemoyne shoved his way out of his row, up the steps, and out of the Council chamber.
<Has there been any follow-up by security to observe House Lemoyne?> Miranda asked.
<Council Leader Diamanté has forbidden it as legally unsupported,> Winston replied.
There was a silence that extended much longer than SADEs would normally have allowed. Z signaled Miranda to wait. Finally, Winston must have come to a conclusion. He sent, <Don’t land planetside without inhabiting your protector avatars, and don’t stray from your charges.>
After the conversation with Winston, Z and Miranda retired to an engineering lab to make modifications to their Cedric and Frederica avatars.
In the owner’s salon, Alex finished the discussion with his audience. His final words were, “Mickey and many individuals have given us a wonderful opportunity.” His thought was that the discovery would allow him to tempt the Council to join the conclave and send an appropriate number of Leaders.
The audience, except for Julien, left the salon. Then Alex requested a link to Gino, but it was intercepted again.
“Your pardon, Alex, but we’ve a need to discuss information gleaned from Winston,” Julien explained. Then he shared the conversation.
Renée regarded Alex. She kept her eyes locked on him and waited for his reaction.
Alex turned to Julien and said, “We need the Confederation Council at the conclave. The only way to accomplish that is to make a personal appeal to the Leaders.”
“Agreed,” Julien replied.
“Then there’s nothing else to be done,” Alex said resignedly. He looked at Renée, who swiftly retorted, “Don’t even think it. If anything, you’re the target. You should remain aboard the Freedom, and I’ll make the presentation to the Council.”
“I would advise that both of you stay extremely close to Miranda and Z. Never leave their sides,” Julien said.
If Julien had his way, the Freedom would sail from Confederation space, and Alex and Renée would never return.
“Speaking of Winston, I’d like to talk to him,” Alex said.
<Greetings, Alex, Renée, and Julien,> Winston sent, when Julien connected him to the trio.
<Greetings, Winston,> Alex replied. <This conversation is private. I would like to know how many Confederation SADEs are available now or in the next three years to work for Omnia Ships.>
<In what capacity, Alex?> Winston inquired.
<Their participation wouldn’t involve them in any conflicts,> Alex assured the SADE. <Their work would be on significant construction projects.>
<That subject doesn’t engender much desire from SADEs to participate,> Winston sent. He was troubled by Alex’s query. If any human should understand a SADE’s nature, Alex should.
Alex grinned at Julien. <Did I mention, Winston, that the projects would involve alien technology such as quantum-coupled gates and antimatter power plants?>
<You have a devious personality, Alex Racine,> Winston sent. <Under those circumstances, the Confederation would be hard pressed to retain any SADE who was free to contract with you.>
<Is this a confirmed offer, Alex?> Winston asked.
<No,> Alex sent. <However, it might be soon. Possibly within an annual.>
<You would require trained engineers,> Winston suggested. <Does the construction project require deciphering the technology before it can be started?>
<Negative,> Alex replied. <We’d be relocating alien technology, but, in the future, I’d like to see the tech reengineered.>
<If my efforts weren’t so entwined with the Council, I might be tempted to join you,> Winston sent.
<Some of us follow other stars,> Alex sent.
<And may the stars protect you, Alex, Renée, and Julien,> Winston sent. Then he closed the link.
23: Assassins
A Confederation class one freighter entered New Terran space, and the controller searched for a digital drop box. When it was located, a message was sent, and then the link was truncated.
Rafe, which wasn’t the man’s real name, finished his workout, used the refresher, and checked his drop box. It contained two messages. He read the first and deleted it. Then he opened the second one, read it, and reread it. After thinking the sender’s proposal was worth considering, he sent a short signal.
A quarter hour later, a grav cycle dropped onto Rafe’s roof. The man, who went by the name of Bryce, entered a code into a panel beside a trapdoor laid into the roof. He levered the door up, climbed down a few stairs, and closed the door. He heard the snicks of significant bolts sliding home.
“Opportunity?” Bryce asked. That was the usual reason for the signal he received.
Rafe grunted and pointed to the monitor.
Bryce read the message three times. “Legit?” he inquired.
“Tracked it back to a Confederation freighter that entered our space,” Rafe replied. “The message had to have been a priority. It was sent shortly after the freighter exited transit.”
“Nice bunch of credits,” Bryce commented. “That much sounds like a political target. That makes it dangerous.”
Rafe grunted again. His mind was already made up. Bryce was the careful one of the assassin pair, and Rafe had to let him dwell on the few details offered before he would reach his own conclusion.
“Fairly vague on the timing, the opportunity, and security,” Bryce said.
“Yeah, but a hundred thousand for showing up and listening to the offer,” Rafe said. Then he handed a spiced stim drink to his partner.
Bryce tipped his head and accepted the drink. They’d be packing and booking passage on a liner for Méridien.
Nearly a week later, the pair of men met a figure on a dark evening. The conversation was terse, as each side attempted to determine the other’s reliability.
“Transfer the one hundred thousand. We’re out of here,” Rafe growled. “You’re not the primary, and we don’t deal with intermediaries.”
The assassins slowly backed away from the figure, who had remained in the dark, with his face cloaked by a hood.
“Wait,” a woman said from the shadows. She stepped forward until a shaft of light fell across her face. “You’re dealing with me.”
“Who are you?” Bryce asked. His slate vibrated, a
nd he checked it. Then he showed it to Rafe. The one hundred thousand credits had been sent and received.
“Okay, you’re bona fide. You control the credits. What’s the job?” Rafe asked.
“There are three targets: a primary, a secondary, and a tertiary,” the woman said. “They will always be together. Bonuses are offered for the secondary and the tertiary. However, if the primary is not eliminated, then there will be no payments for any of them.”
“Where are these opportunities to take place?” Bryce asked.
“You’ll be given a set of film sheets with the details,” the woman replied. “The opportunities, as you call them, will take place on Méridien in two possible locations and one guaranteed place.”
“When?” Bryce requested.
“Unknown,” the woman replied. “The targets are on their way here. We expect them in about four to five cycles.”
“Are the targets human?” Rafe asked. He was starting to have a nagging feeling about the job.
“The primary and secondary are human, but the tertiary is a SADE,” the woman replied.
“Security?” Rafe inquired. He was sure he knew what the woman would say.
“Two SADEs housed in considerable avatars,” the woman responded.
Rafe and Bryce shared knowing glances.
“You’re targeting Alex Racine,” Bryce said.
“Yes. Is that a problem?” the woman asked, as if it should be of no great concern.
“Depends,” Rafe replied calmly. “What are you offering?”
Daphne Lemoyne reeled off amounts for each target. She intended to start low to see if the New Terrans would be foolish enough to accept.
“No,” Rafe said, slashing his hand to emphasize his rejection. “It doesn’t matter whether we’re successful or not in taking out Alex Racine. When we attempt it, that will be our final job. We’ll be going into hiding for the rest of our lives, and you had better make it worth our while.”
Certainly not idiots, Daphne thought, which made her feel better about her selection. She tried again by tripling the offer and was met by the harsh laughter of both men.