Gerder hadn’t admitted defeat. A thought occurred to him, and he desperately followed it. <If you have that sort of data, then we wouldn’t be in these obviously temporary cells. Instead, we’d be in the Confederation Hall awaiting trial. So, you don’t have proof of what you’re saying.>
<You’re right, Gerder, clever of you,> Winston complimented. <We don’t have definitive proof. Most of our evidence is circumstantial.>
Sher-li’s head came up, and she looked hopefully at her partner.
The Leaders’ heads had popped up too, and they stared at one another, astounded at Winston’s admission.
<However,> Winston continued, <the brazen attempt on the lives of the Omnian leaders makes your case special. You’re accomplices in the destruction of two sentient beings.>
<No one was killed,> Sher-li suddenly objected.
<Two SADEs, Miranda and Z, were destroyed,> Winston riposted.
<But they’re SADEs,> Sher-li protested.
<Therefore, they’re not deserving of the same rights as any biological sentient, is that correct?> Winston inquired.
Sher-li refused to respond, which was a good idea, considering she was speaking with a SADE.
Winston waited. He calculated that the role of gracious host had reached its limit.
<The Confederation can ill afford to set you free,> Winston sent. <You’ve proven to be a danger to humans and SADEs. Furthermore, we know that House Lemoyne will be seeking to repair its fumbling attempt to eliminate you.>
There was still no response from the pair, and Winston tried a different approach. <You can appreciate our dilemma,> he sent. <The Omnians require some level of justice. They’re the injured party. If the Confederation wishes to keep good relations with the Omnians, and we do, then we must offer them someone. At the moment, all we have is the two of you.>
Still Gerder and Sher-li were quiet.
<Therefore, we’re prepared to make arrangements with the Omnians to evacuate you from the Confederation,> Winston sent, which shook the determined expressions from the pair’s faces. <The Omnians have a rare service for you to perform to make amends for your transgressions. In faraway space, humans and their allies battle an aggressive sentient race. They’re constantly in need of fresh troops.>
<But we haven’t any naval training,> Sher-li sent stridently.
<Oh, you don’t need it,> Winston replied. <The troops are delivered to moons or planets, where they battle the enemy. Perhaps, you’d like to see the race they fight.>
Gerder and Sher-li received images from Winston, who’d acquired them via Julien. Frequently, they featured reds and grays towering over defenders, which emphasized the insectoids’ size and aggressiveness.
<Did I mention that the insectoids are venomous?> Winston sent innocently.
<Do something!> Sher-li sent privately to Gerder. <You’ve the means to keep us out of Omnian hands. You know how Alex feels about his precious SADEs.>
Gerder’s confidence was shaken. The insectoid images had frightened him, but so did the thought of Daphne Lemoyne finding him.
<What would it take to keep us safely in Confederation space?> Gerder asked resignedly.
The Leaders eyed one another in hopes of a valuable confession, and Sher-li was grateful to hear Gerder use the word us.
<That depends on what you have to share, Gerder,> Winston sent in a conciliatory manner. <However, I must warn you that your protection within Confederation space depends on successful charging and conviction of the perpetrators.>
<Understood,> Gerder replied.
* * * * *
Alex made arrangements with Gino to present his offer of the conclave to the Council.
Two days later, Franz piloted a traveler through Méridien’s atmosphere. The day was overcast, and rain blanketed the landing site, Confederation Hall.
As opposed to touching down in the interior courtyard, arrangements had been made with Gino and his escorts. Franz floated the traveler overtop of the Hall’s roof.
The escorts had opened a rarely used access door, and the Omnians quickly exited the shuttle and crossed the several meters to the opening.
Tatia’s squadrons didn’t fly high above to minimize appearance, as they had done the first time. This time, they flew in tight circles around the Hall at low altitudes. They warned away shuttles and grav cars.
While the attending citizenry was highly inconvenienced, thoughts of complaining were rarely voiced. To most Méridiens, the Omnians’ anger and their precautions were understandable.
Negotiating the corridors, Z and Miranda dismissed any idea of being considerate and sociable. They walked heavily and intimidatingly, which cleared the wide hallways. Citizens of all ranks crowded the walls to stay out of the Omnians way.
It was the scowl on Alex’s face that caused the greater concern for Méridiens as opposed to the huge, heavily armed SADEs. The usual affable face had always given the citizens comfort. Now they wondered what was about to happen at the Council meeting.
Turning into the final corridor that led to Chamber doors, the minder at the small desk hurriedly signaled Gino and Winston. He was relieved to hear that Gino requested their immediate admittance, and the ornate doors slid aside before the Omnians reached it.
The minder expected only Alex and Renée to pass through. When the five Omnians proceeded through the doors, he happily kept his mouth shut.
There was a rumble in the Chamber when the Leaders saw the armed SADEs.
Gino raised his hands to gain attention. “The Council was given three choices,” he said. “First, we could receive no presentation and forgo hearing one of the most important opportunities the Confederation has ever received. Second, I must allow every Leader to be screened and bodily searched to ensure no weaponry was present. Or, third, I could permit Z and Miranda to be present in the Chamber. I chose the lesser of these options. If you’re truly incensed by their presence, you’re welcome to leave the Chamber.”
There was some rustling, but no one objected, much less left.
Gino’s introduction of Alex was perfunctory.
Then Alex made his presentation. It was the same one delivered at New Terra, Haraken, and Omnia.
As expected, the Leaders were nearly salivating at the opportunity to expand markets to an area of space many times greater than the Confederation.
There followed a period of questioning about the conclave and the alliance’s technology, especially the domes.
When the question-answer period came to a close, Alex said, “I’m inviting eight Leaders to attend the conclave. These eight will represent the Confederation, not their Houses.”
Alex waited for the explosion of personalities to die down.
“Why only eight?” Leader Teressi shouted at Alex, when he could be heard.
“After the attack on me and my companions, I debated sailing from the Confederation without inviting you,” Alex said. “Instead of leaving you out in the cold, this is my offer. You’re welcome to refuse it. I require your answer by nine hours tomorrow. If you choose to accept my invitation, the eight Leaders should be aboard the Freedom, with your SADEs, by then.”
“Our House SADE?” Emilio inquired.
“Any SADE will do,” Julien interjected.
“Why?” Daphne Lemoyne asked.
“Because we require it,” Renée replied.
“How long do you expect the eight Leaders to be gone?” Teressi asked.
Alex quickly calculated. “About half an annual of travel time plus the conclaves’ duration,” he replied.
“The invitation from Alex is actually for seven Leaders and their choice of SADEs,” Gino interjected. “I’ve accepted the invitation, and Winston will accompany me.”
“How will the Council operate?” Daphne demanded.
“It won’t,” Gino replied. “The Confederation can exist without our meddling in business arrangements for a little more than half an annual.”
The sudden quiet told Gino that what Alex and
Julien had expected as the result of Gino’s announcement was probably taking place. Leaders were busy communicating with one another and their House associates. They were plotting how to take advantage of the Council’s hiatus.
Winston interrupted the Leaders’ implant conversations. He sent, <You should be aware that Confederation SADEs are requested to maintain the status quo in Leader Diamanté’s and my absence.>
That announcement resulted in an even greater disturbance than Alex’s.
“You don’t have that right, Winston,” Teressi shouted.
“SADEs gave me that right,” Julien replied forcefully, “and I’ve requested their cooperation.”
Leaders drew breath to object, but the sight of disturbed Omnians and armed SADEs tended to dampen their ire.
“Is that it?” Teressi asked angrily. “We have less than a cycle to choose seven of us and make arrangements to leave in the morning for half an annual.”
“You’ve summarized it well, Leader Teressi,” Renée replied, with a congenial smile that was reflected nowhere else on her face.
“Then you should excuse us while we get to work deciding whether to accept your generous proposal,” Teressi said sarcastically.
“I’ve one more piece of business to conduct,” Alex said.
To the Leaders’ eyes, Alex seemed to loom larger. It was a subtle shift in his stance, but the audience was suddenly deathly quiet.
First, a few Leaders noticed that pairs of Gino’s escorts now blocked every exit from the Chamber. Soon every Leader knew it.
“Cycles ago, we were attacked by two New Terran assassins, as we landed to attend the Council meeting,” Alex said. “Those men no longer exist. They were killed and delivered to the furnace of Delacroix.”
The inference of the details Alex was sharing wasn’t lost on the Leaders. Tens of thousands of House escorts hadn’t found the assassins. That they’d escaped the planet, been killed, and thrown to the gas giant said that some powerful person had managed their demises. Now the guarded exits made sense, and the Leaders gazed carefully left and right to see who appeared nervous.
“We’ve traced the funds used to pay the assassins,” Julien added. “They collected ten point one million in credits. We assume that was a down payment. The credits are no longer within the Confederation, and we assume that they reside in an anonymous New Terran account.”
Renée picked up the thread. “The company that managed the clever credit exchange with many of the entities that are owned by Leaders in this Chamber is actually defunct. At one time, the company was owned by three Houses. We know that House Ganesh hadn’t anything to do with the operation. Although, there was a poor attempt to direct us that way.”
“That left two Houses that might have managed the payments to the assassins,” Alex said, his voice cutting through the Chamber. “They are House Teressi and House Lemoyne.”
Lawrence Teressi rose and pointed an angry finger at Alex. “This is what we’d expect from an outsider. Baseless accusations.”
“Sit down, Teressi,” Alex said sternly. “It wasn’t your House.”
While Leader Teressi suddenly found his legs weak, forcing him to sit heavily in his seat, the remaining audience turned toward Daphne Lemoyne, who sat perfectly poised in her chair.
“Your conjectures have crossed the line, Alex Racine,” Daphne declared. “I’ll hear no more of your dribble.”
Daphne attempted to rise, but her legs wouldn’t respond. Those near Daphne saw her silently struggle, and they knew what had happened.
Renée and Gino wanted to intercede with Alex on Daphne’s behalf, but, for one reason or another, neither did.
Winston’s voice was received by every implant and comm. <Leader Diamanté has in custody the two individuals who murdered the assassins and dumped the bodies. I conducted their interrogations.>
Then the Council’s holo-vid projected the images of Gerder and Sher-li in detention. The Council and the petitioners heard Gerder’s confession and Sher-li’s affirmation of the appropriate sequences.
Daphne coldly objected, “Why should we believe the words of confessed murderers?”
<You might have made a point, Leader Lemoyne, except for this,> Winston sent.
In the next vid displayed on the holo-vid, the audience observed the recording made by Gerder, when he accompanied Daphne to meet the assassins.
“That could be a fabricated vid,” Daphne accused.
<That is remotely possible, Leader Lemoyne,> Winston responded. <Although, it’s highly unlikely. Contradicting your assertion, Leader, the vid’s data record tells us where and when the meeting took place. By coincidence, your bio ID is identified at that location and at that time by several sources.>
“As such, Leader Daphne Lemoyne,” Gino intoned, “you’re charged with the attempted murder of Alex Racine, Renée de Guirnon, and Julien. In addition, you’re to be charged with the destruction of the SADEs, Z and Miranda, which I hope the courts will decide are attempted murders. Escorts, take Leader Lemoyne away.”
Gino’s escorts closed in on Daphne, and Alex released control of her implant, as hands were laid on her.
Stunned silence accompanied Daphne’s exit from the Chamber.
“That concludes my business,” Alex said pointedly, and the Omnians turned in concert and exited the Chamber.
* * * * *
Multiple events took place after the Omnians left the Council.
First, there was an overwhelming urgency by the vast majority of the Leaders to push for a resolution to join the conclave, and it passed handily. Business opportunities were not to be missed.
Second, the debate began in earnest as to who would attend the conclave with Gino and Winston.
Third, Darse’s eldest son approached his father.
“Winston has informed me that Daphne has been arrested for murder, Father, and that my presence will be required at Council. That is unless you wish my younger brother to represent the House in my place,” the son said.
Darse appeared to be shocked by the news. “No, you attend the Council for the House,” he said. Then he turned away from his son, entered his office, and closed the doors behind him.
From Daphne’s young age, Darse had recognized her naked ambition, and he’d tried to manipulate her, but she’d proved resistant to his machinations. Throughout their interactions, he recognized that his daughter pretended to be enamored of his attentions.
Darse had become certain that his role in the House would end sooner than he anticipated. He lamented that it was unfortunate that his daughter hadn’t finished the job against Alex Racine before she was apprehended.
As Darse sipped on his drink, he considered the two potentially desirable outcomes — the Omnians’ deaths and his daughter’s arrest and charge for soliciting murder. Of the two, he was more satisfied with the removal of his daughter from his life.
29: Alain’s Challenge
<What progress?> Jess sent to Alain.
<Difficult to say,> Alain replied. <The Tsargit council communicated my presentation to the membership, and that message was passed to the world leaders.>
<Black space,> Lucia interjected. <You don’t expect most of the world leaders to join the conclave, do you?>
<I made it clear that we need a representation of the alliance, not the Tsargit,> Alain sent.
<I wonder how that got translated,> Jess sent.
<Krokticka has been in touch with her patriarch, who’s on the council and several committees,> Alain sent. <Apparently, there’s a great deal of dialogue about who should attend and the size of the delegation. I think the Tsargit understands that if the representative number is too large that it might be unacceptable to the outpost.>
<And it’s understood that a SADE will be assigned to each delegation, correct?> Lucia asked.
<That was also made clear,> Alain replied. <I have to admit there was confusion and consternation about that request.>
<Specifically?> Jess inquired.
<Elders thought our SADEs would act as pipelines of information, sharing what they’d heard with the outpost and the Omnians,> Alain sent. <I assured them that privacy was of the utmost concern to SADEs, and that the delegates would operate at the conclave with their requests for privacy understood.>
<Anything else?> Jess asked.
<I told the council that most humans and other races who Omnians have met employ implants,> Alain explained. <I said that during the conclave there would be exchanges over distances, and that ear comms wouldn’t be able to signal a language update. In addition, there won’t be language bases for some of the attendees. Therefore, the primary purpose of the SADEs was to facilitate conversations.>
<Let’s hope that satisfies the world leaders or their delegates,> Jess sent.
<Then what are we to expect?> Lucia asked.
<We’ve Hector’s projected arrival date,> Alain noted. <I was told by Jarmonin that the conclave delegates would arrive at Triton three cycles beforehand.>
<But not how many?> Lucia sought to confirm.
<Apparently not,> Alain replied.
<We can only hope that sanity reigns,> Jess sent and then closed the link.
“What happens if fifty or a hundred individuals arrive?” Lucia asked.
“I’m open to advice,” Jess replied, while he poured himself a Pyrean fruit juice.
Lucia laughed. “On this subject, don’t expect my help, Commander.”
“Coward,” Jess teased.
“Seriously,” Lucia said, taking up the juice that Jess had just poured.
“She won’t give me much needed advice, but she’ll pilfer my drink,” Jess grumped and poured another glass. “I wonder how many delegates Alex is expecting us to recruit.”
“I don’t think he has any expectations,” Lucia proposed. “He’ll be dealing with the same issue in the Confederation. There are just short of two hundred House Leaders.”