by S. H. Jucha
“Your Excellency, early conversations have confirmed that there is no opportunity for trade,” Tacticnok announced.
“Sad words,” Rictook replied. “Perhaps, in time, we’ll know each other better. Trade can begin slowly as opportunities are found.”
“What is your definition of slowly, Your Excellency?” Harbour requested.
“This can occur over the course of many annuals and even generations,” Rictook replied.
“I think we can offer value to the Jatouche today,” Harbour said.
“I’m listening,” Rictook replied.
Tacticnok had noted the slightest twitch of the tip of her father’s tail. After meeting the envoy, he was as anxious as she to find value in a relationship with the humans.
“The Colony dome,” Harbour said, “We’ll investigate it for you.”
Rictook and the master advisors were stunned by the proposal.
“Why would you offer to do this?” Rictook asked.
“How many alliance gates connect to the Colony dome?” Jessie asked, looking toward Tiknock.
“The total number of Colony gates is five, and alliance members connect to three,” Tiknock replied.
“That response implies that other alliance members have barred the Colony from entering their domes,” Jessie riposted.
“That’s correct,” Tiknock replied.
“It appears the Jatouche have an opportunity that they haven’t investigated,” Harbour said quietly. She couldn’t believe she was proposing this idea, but she was loath to return to Pyre empty-handed.
“I would like to hear you frame this request in a more specific manner,” Rictook requested.
“One moment, Your Excellency, while I consult with my advisor,” Harbour replied. She motioned to Jessie, removed her ear wig, and stepped to the rear of the room.
Harbour and Jessie held their ear wigs in their hands, while they chatted.
“What are you thinking?” Jessie asked. He meant to get a sense of Harbour’s direction and was caught off guard by her throaty laugh.
Harbour bent her head close to Jessie’s, and whispered, “I’m not thinking. I’m flailing around in the dark here, and I need help.”
“Okay,” Jessie allowed, “then what’s the endgame?” He had to admit he was stalling by drawing out the conversation. Part of the reason was to give him time to think, and another part was that Harbour was leaning close, and her warm breath was soft in his ear.
“I want you to help me negotiate a deal. Think of this as a business contract,” Harbour requested.
“That I can do,” Jessie replied. “One piece of advice: Don’t try to close the deal until we have more specifics. Use this meeting to allow both sides to bring up their concerns and objections.”
“Understood,” Harbour said, deliberately leaning close enough for her lips to brush Jessie’s ear.
“To be succinct, Your Excellency,” Jessie said, when Harbour and he resumed their seats. “The Jatouche would hire us to act as your explorers.”
“For what purpose?” Pickcit asked.
“To help the Jatouche discover other sentient races that they could present to the alliance,” Harbour replied.
“You would risk your lives for the purpose of elevating the Jatouche within the alliance?” Rictook asked, incredulous at the thought.
Henry partially raised a hand to be noticed. When recognized, he stood and said, “Your Excellency, every Pyrean spacer and many stationers risk their lives each day to earn a living. Except for the wealthy aboard our station or those who live on the planet, life is hard and it’s dangerous. Your technology offers Pyreans a better way of life. Risking our lives for the Jatouche offers us a bigger payday.”
The translation app did its best to handle Henry’s last word.
The Jatouche remained quiet, while they processed the implications of the proposal.
“Your Excellency,” Pickcit said, “There is one obvious problem with this idea. The Jatouche would not be credited with the discoveries, unless a notable citizen of our race accompanied the Pyreans.”
Tacticnok took a breath to speak, but the raised fingers of her father’s right hand stilled her. With those three digits and knowing what she was about to propose, His Excellency Rictook forbade his daughter from accompanying the Pyreans.
“I would go with the humans,” Jaktook announced.
Tacticnok’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t be prouder of Jaktook volunteering, but she worried for his life.
“Your Excellency, I applaud Jaktook’s courage,” Tiknock said, “but I believe our young dome administrator doesn’t have the standing that would convince the alliance members that we were instrumental in the exploration and discoveries.”
Tiknock’s words were addressed to Rictook, but by the end of his remarks, he was looking at Tacticnok, who understood the master’s implication.
Tacticnok stood. She waited while her father determined whether he would let her speak. The moment passed, and her father signaled his approval.
“This request is long overdue, Your Excellency,” Tacticnok said. “For service rendered to date and for those expected in the annuals to come, I recommend the elevation of Dome Administrator Jaktook to the position of Advisor to Her Royal Highness Tacticnok.”
Rictook glanced toward his masters, who were nodding in agreement with the request. He waved a hand toward Jaktook, who rose from his pallet. “Do you wish to accept this appointment, Jaktook?” Rictook asked.
“I’m concerned whether I’m worthy, Your Excellency,” Jaktook replied.
“The royal daughter believes you’re ready. Do you doubt her opinion?” Rictook asked. For those who knew the ruler, the small amount of mirth in his eyes was detectable.
“We do not always agree, Your Excellency. In this case, we differ in our opinions,” Jaktook replied. He stood resolutely, as if he was prepared to defend his statements.
For the first time in the presence of humans, Rictook flashed his teeth. “An excellent reply for an advisor. Whether you believe you’re ready or not, Jaktook, the royal daughter and I are in agreement. I hereby proclaim that Dome Administrator Jaktook is promoted to the position of Advisor to Her Highness Tacticnok.”
Jaktook was stunned, and it was only by catching the hand motions of Tiknock that he recovered enough to sit down.
“Envoy, if and when you explore in the name of the Jatouche, you must wait a sufficient period of time until our newest advisor has regained his wits,” Rictook said. For a second time, the ruler flashed his teeth. His remark elicited a round of chuckles from the Pyreans, who were gazing at an astonished Jaktook.
“Does this enterprise have your approval, Your Excellency?” Tacticnok asked.
“I wait to hear the details of this plan before I go that far,” Rictook replied, “but I’ll tell you that I’m intrigued.”
“In order for Pyreans to work with the Jatouche,” Jessie said, “we would need to discuss compensation, Your Excellency.”
Rictook’s bushy eyebrows rose in anticipation, and he glanced toward Pickcit, the master economist.
“What are you asking for in trade for your exploration?” Pickcit asked. Several thoughts went through the master’s mind, examining parameters such as length of time, number of domes, species discovered, and races recommended to the alliance.
Jessie looked at Harbour. It wasn’t time to specify details, and he wanted her to make the type of point that she excelled at.
Harbour quietly exhaled and then stood. “With regard to payment, I would ask these two questions for your consideration,” Harbour said, her eyes traveling across the Jatouche. “What are the lives of those who would undertake this perilous course of action worth? And what is it worth to the Jatouche to have their alliance status elevated?”
The Jatouche were shocked by the envoy’s brutally blunt questions.
Rictook replied with equanimity. “I presume these aren’t rhetorical questions,” he said.
&nbs
p; “No, they’re not,” Harbour replied.
Rictook nodded slowly. It was obvious that he didn’t think they were rhetorical, but he had to be sure. “In my long life, I admit to never having heard the likes of these questions,” he said. “It will take time and consultations with my advisors to formulate answers.”
Knowing her father well, Tacticnok rose and gestured toward the exit of the apartment. Harbour and she left together, with the remainder of the group following.
-17-
Round Two
Tacticnok led the company to the original negotiations room for a second round of discussions. While the group took a few moments to refresh themselves, whispers escaped the royal apartment and circulated across Na-Tikkook to Rissness and to the medical station.
In an incredibly short period of time, word was carried to other worlds, as individuals traveled via the gates, even while the envoy’s party was mapping out a plan with the advisors and Tacticnok. Before two Jatouche cycles had elapsed, every alliance race was aware of the Pyreans’ proposal to investigate the Colony’s domes and beyond for the Jatouche.
In the negotiations room, Jaktook was heartily congratulated by Harbour, Jessie, and the master advisors. He still appeared to be in a daze, and Tiknock whispered to him, “Focus, we will need your acumen.”
There was an uncertain moment for Jaktook, when he stood in front of Tacticnok. He was at a loss for words. Tacticnok gripped one of his hands and squeezed. Then she took a seat to begin the discussions.
It was Harbour who offered Jaktook the advice he most needed. “No one understands what you’re feeling more than me,” she told him. “One moment, I was the empath leader, and the next, I was the captain of the Pyreans’ greatest ship. Now, I’m the envoy responsible for the fate of Pyre’s future.”
“How do you cope?” Jaktook asked quietly.
“I put my fears aside. They do me no good,” Harbour replied. “Then I think about what I’d like to happen, regardless of what others think about my ideas. Finally, I act on my thoughts.”
“That seems so much to consider,” Jaktook protested.
“Worrying about that will mire you in confusion,” Harbour replied. “Her Highness needs your advice, your thoughts, not what you think she might want to hear.”
Jaktook considered the envoy’s words, and they sunk into his consciousness. His posture changed, and he nodded his agreement to her. In a brief exchange, they gripped each other’s hands.
When everyone was ready, Jessie asked, “What is known about the Colony’s gates?”
“No alliance race has seen the Colony’s dome,” Tiknock replied. “We do know that the Colony has at least three gates. One of the Colony’s gates couples to our gate number five. Two other Colony gates link to alliance member gates.”
“I suppose those two are guarded like yours?” Devon asked.
“Yes,” Tacticnok replied. “The three alliance members who connect to the Colony’s dome regularly pass messages about Colony incursions. We’re especially sensitive to any new methods that the Colony species employ.”
“It seems paramount to learn if the Colony has more than three gates,” Henry said. “There’s the possibility that the Colony might have spread to other worlds.”
“Is that possible?” Dottie asked.
“Assuredly,” Tiknock replied.
“The Colony has had hundreds of annuals to seek an opportunity to expand,” Jaktook explained. “If they possess more than three gates, there are endless possibilities of meeting and conquering other species and occupying empty domes.”
“I understand that domes are not located on the planets. Is that correct?” Aurelia asked.
“That’s been the case across the alliance,” Tiknock replied.
“Then the Colony would have to build a shuttle to reach the planet from the dome. Could they do that?” Aurelia added.
“This idea has been discussed many times,” Tiknock replied. “Considering the length of time since the Colony first broached our gate, it’s conceivable that they could have designed and assembled a shuttle that could reach a planet.”
“I would like to know how the Colony is viewed in the eyes of the alliance,” Devon said.
Harbour thought it was an odd change in the conversation, and she was curious to hear Devon pursue the line of questioning.
“They’re considered incorrigible,” Pickcit replied.
“Which means what?” Devon asked.
“In alliance terminology, their species are deemed sentient but not ever worthy of admission to the alliance,” Pickcit replied.
“In the fight with the Colony in your dome, you killed a good number of them?” Devon pursued. “How did the alliance view that action?”
“It was considered an act of defense,” Pickcit explained.
“And if we journey to the Colony dome and kill some of them there?” Devon asked.
It struck Harbour what Devon had been driving at, and she waited for the response from the Jatouche.
“You would be considered aggressive, and therefore classified as incorrigible,” Tacticnok replied.
“Well, that puts a different twist on it,” Henry said into the quiet.
Harbour glanced at Jessie, mentally urging him to redirect the conversation, but he appeared to be mired in thought.
It was Devon who was able to keep the discussion going forward. He said, “If lethal force can’t be used, the Jatouche must have a choice of technologies that could keep the explorer team safe.”
Devon’s comment energized the Jatouche, and several began speaking at once.
Tacticnok raised a hand off her leg. It was in imitation of her father and was immediately successful in bringing order to the group. She announced, “I request my new advisor, Jaktook, comb through Jatouche technology for every form of nonlethal technology that could be used to defend the explorers. And, Master Tiknock, I request you support Jaktook and make this project your priority.”
“It will be my pleasure, Your Highness,” Tiknock replied.
Tacticnok said, “I wish to hear the strategies that might be employed to explore the gates.” She’d directed the comment at Harbour and Jessie, but the remark was designed to engage her advisors to consider options in concert with the Pyreans.
Jaktook responded first. He said, “If we discover only three gates, there’s no reason to go farther. We reset the console and return.”
“Who resets the console?” Tacticnok asked.
“I do,” Jaktook replied.
“Unacceptable,” Tacticnok shot back. “As it is, the alliance will frown at this action. If we demonstrate a reckless disregard for our representative, a royal advisor, they might believe we’re unworthy of our membership.”
The Jatouche masters knew Tacticnok’s objection was thin, but they also knew why she was attempting to make it.
“I thought you might say that, Your Highness,” Jaktook replied. “I spoke to Kractik before this meeting started. She’s anxious to go with us, and she’s more proficient on a console than I am. The explorer team would defend her, while she resets the console.”
Tacticnok nodded her acceptance of the arrangement. That a female Jatouche would be a member of the exploratory team appealed to her.
“And if you find more than three gates?” Pickcit asked.
“Then the team’s challenge begins,” Jaktook replied. “We’ll have identified the gate to Rissness, but we won’t know which of the others lead to the two alliance races. This will be where our exploration begins.”
“Your next dome must be warned of your coming,” Tiknock said. “Recognize that you might be alerting the Colony to your arrival.”
“Couldn’t we take a set of cubes with recordings made at the Rissness dome?” Harbour asked. “We’d send our message through the gate. We would rely on a visual of two species. Most important, the Colony species wouldn’t be in the recording.”
“Then what?” Devon asked.
“I’m th
inking that we’d have to wait until we receive a return message,” Harbour replied.
“That’s a lot of exposure time in the Colony dome,” Devon remarked.
“True,” Jessie agreed. He seemed on the verge of a thought, and Harbour signaled the group to hold their comments.
“Jaktook,” Jessie said, “You’re probably thinking of supporting our defense against the Colony’s bites by employing specialized suits.”
“That was one option I was considering,” Jaktook replied.
“And that’s good,” Jessie remarked, “but we could be overwhelmed if we don’t have offensive tactics. I’m not a biologist or anything like that, but you’ve all these incredible medical services personnel.”
“Yes?” Jaktook replied. It was more a question than a statement. He wasn’t sure what the advisor was implying.
“I think we should ask the creative individuals at Rissness Station how they would repel or neutralize species such as the Colony.”
“That’s a clever idea,” Jaktook enthused.
“We must consider all senses,” Tiknock added. “It will be important to develop a series of defensive and offensive tactics.”
“Why?” Harbour asked.
“If you find more than three gates within the Colony’s dome, your exploration will create an ever-increasing challenge in your passage in and out of their dome,” Tiknock explained. “It will be difficult for you to transport much equipment with you. You’ll need to be mobile. Hopefully, you’ll discover an uninhabited dome, which will allow you to rest and plan. However, your greatest obstacle will be return passages through the Colony dome. Assuming you encounter the Colony, which I believe will be a near certainty, whatever you do to defend yourself on the first passage through their dome more than likely will not work on your return.”
“I accept Tiknock’s reasoning,” Pickcit said. “It would be false to think of this species, either because of their appearance or their aggressive behavior, as less than capable. They are truly sentient. You must not underestimate their cleverness in preventing your subsequent passages through their dome.”
* * * *