Conclave (The Silver Ships Book 20)

by S. H. Jucha

  Alex sent privately to Renée.

  With a rather silly grin on her face, Nikki announced, “I believe that settles the question.”

  Swiftly, the audience was subjected to the Crocians’ ear-stunning roars of approval.

  When quiet returned to the conference hall, and the audience resumed their seats, Nikki turned to the empaths. “I make one request,” she said. “Kindly remain absent from whichever meetings the complainants attend.”

  Kasie stood. “Your request is unnecessary, President Fowler. Empaths don’t administer our services to individuals who don’t wish them.”

  “Ever?” Nikki queried.

  Kasie got a funny smile on her face. “We’ve been known to help those in distress,” she said, which had most of the audience quietly chuckling, chittering, or rumbling. “The first known incident of that occurred with my ancestor, Aurelia Garmenti. She was adopted by a spacer captain, Jessie Cinders, and his crew. She used her powerful skills to relieve the drudgery of their duties. The crew felt her daily relief. They’d never requested the service, and supposedly, never objected to it.”

  With no other business to discuss, the conference meeting was adjourned early. There would be one more afternoon of meetings, and then the conclave would conclude the following morning.

  As everyone expected, except the media, neither Leader Teressi nor the Veklocks abandoned the conclave. However, the empaths vacated those meeting rooms when the complainants appeared.

  Teressi snorted at Kasie, as she passed to leave, but she ignored him, which gave him no satisfaction.

  Beaks were clacked at the two empaths who left the Veklocks’ room. In retaliation, the triumvirate found themselves minimized in the negotiations. It was a lesson they quickly registered.

  * * * * *

  Twelve days earlier, Jess Cinders had read Alex’s message. “We’re requested at Sol,” he said to Lucia.

  “Both of us? When and what about the outpost?” Lucia retorted quickly.

  Jess chuckled. “Admirals seem to always want to be in control.”

  “Old habits,” Lucia relented.

  “Alex says we’re needed there immediately. He hopes we arrive before the conclave concludes,” Jess explained. “Also, we’re to bring Mickey.”

  While Lucia considered the ramifications of the request, she ordered a Trident for the journey. “You better make arrangements for our absence.”

  Jess smiled at his next thought, which is how Major Sam Fleetfoot and Commander Tacnock, slurping on a fruit juice, found themselves in the commander’s suite. Jess was feeling good about his decision to keep Sam at the outpost rather than send him with Kasie.

  “Emergency request from Alex,” Jess said without preamble. “The admiral, Mickey, and I are sailing within the hour. Sam, in my absence, you’ve responsibility for the outpost. Tacnock, your presence is opportune. Your forces have just taken leave. We’re leaving the carriers and their forces in your hands until we return.”

  Tacnock’s slurp ended in midstream, and Sam laughed. “So that’s what it takes to quiet our voluble friend,” he remarked.

  Tacnock placed his drink on the low table in front of him. “I thank you for the honor and the trust,” he intoned. Then he happily snatched the fruit juice off the table. Slurping loudly, he gazed at Sam over the container.

  “This ought to prove interesting,” Sam commented, laughing.

  Lucia swept into the room, with two packed duffels. “You two play nice while we’re gone,” she quipped.

  “Good fortune,” Jess said to his friends, who nodded and exited.

  Lucia tipped her head toward the salon’s door that had just slid closed. “Shall we?” she offered, and Jess picked up both duffels and followed Lucia out.

  * * * * *

  As the conclave prepared to conclude, Jess Cinders, Lucia Bellardo, and Mickey Brandon dropped planetside at Sol. It was late evening Earth time.

  the trio heard in their implants from Alex.

  Mickey teased.

  Alex replied seriously.

  The trio knew what the individuals would receive from Julien. They would be awarded small percentages of Omnia Ships — tiny quarterly points of a massive income flow, which would change their lives over the next decade.

  Lucia requested, driving to the point.

  Alex sent.

  Mickey sent.

  Alex sent, his thought tinged in humor.

  Lucia sent. There was no humor in her thought.

  Alex sent. He’d just been reminded by Renée that the outpost still fought the Colony.

  Lucia surmised, understanding the dilemma.

  Alex sent.

  Jess inquired.

  Renée interjected,

  Alex asked.

  Mickey replied.

  Alex replied disappointedly.

  Mickey corrected.

  Alex queried.

  Alex, Renée, and Julien heard the trio’s laughter.

  Jess sent.

  Mickey sent.

  Renée sent.

  Mickey’s deep barrel laughter echoed in implants.

  Jess sent. His good mood evaporated, while the time dragged for Alex and Renée to respond.

  In the few spare moments, Jess contacted Hector and requested a link to any incident involving the empaths.

  Hector complied, without being aware of the conversation that was managed through Cremsylon.

  Jess swiftly forwarded through the scenes in the corridor and the conference hall.

  Meanwhile, Julien alerted Alex and Renée to what Jess was viewing.

  Alex’s fists bunched. He was reminded that Jess wasn’t the captain he’d first met. He’d become adept with an implant. By pausing to consider his words, he’d lost the initiative.

  Alex sent, arefully to the full extent of Leslie and Talsoma’s comments. They were testaments to the empaths.>

  Julien sent privately to Renée and him,

  “Black space,” Alex swore under his breath.

  Julien added.

  Alex sent.

  Alex waited for a response. Then Jess dropped off the conference.

  Lucia sent hurriedly.

  Alex sent.

  Lucia ventured.

  Renée sent and ended the conference.

  “A little clarification,” Alex requested of his partner.

  “We send Kasie to meet Jess,” Renée replied, smiling.

  “Ah,” Alex said, drawing out the word. “She can calm him, while she reasons with him.”

  “Precisely,” Renée said, patting Alex’s arms.

  “Kasie is asleep in her quarters,” Julien said. “I think it’s more appropriate that we visit her there,” he added, and he led the way.

  As the trio sought Kasie, Alex recalled that he knew of few individuals who had engaged in close quarters combat with mortal enemies and did so repeatedly. Jess was certainly one of those individuals. Furthermore, his swift actions had saved his partner’s life. It was his fervent hope that he wouldn’t have to intervene through the use of his implants, if Kasie failed to reason with her brother. He suspected that kind of action might end their relationship. It could also place the outpost in jeopardy and the future of the conclave.

  37: Conclave Finale

  Despite Alex’s suggestion, neither Mickey nor Lucia tried to talk to Jess. They knew him too well. Lucia hadn’t seen that determined expression on her partner’s face since they last encountered the Colony. She imagined a bitter confrontation between Alex and Jess, and she was disturbed that her loyalties would be tested.

  When their traveler landed outside Earth’s conclave site, the hall was draped in dawn’s rosy hues.

  The pilot dropped the traveler’s hatch, and Kasie clambered aboard, surprising the trio of passengers.

  “Mickey, Alex is waiting inside for you. Would you excuse us?” Kasie asked politely.

  Mickey’s glance at Jess relayed his apology. To Kasie’s question, he replied, “Gladly,” and he wasted no time exiting the craft and leaving behind the intense discussion that was sure to come.

  “Greetings, Admiral,” Kasie said, plopping down across from Jess and Lucia, in Mickey’s still warm seat. “What are your intentions, brother?” she asked.

  When Jess heard Kasie use the word brother, he knew she was upset with him.

  “Kasie, we’re here —” Lucia started to say.

  “Admiral, with apologies, this is a conversation between brother and sister,” Kasie interrupted.

  The abruptness should have irritated Lucia, but she was reminded that Kasie was upset, was Jess’s sister, and, importantly, was a powerful empath. So she allowed the comment to pass over her and leaned back in her seat to observe the sibling interplay.

  Kasie focused on Jess. “What do you think you’re doing cutting Alex off in mid-conversation? Have you come to defend my honor? Protect your sister? I’m happy to offer you a dose of my power so that you can comprehend how I can defend myself, if necessary.”

  “You did that frequently when we were young,” Jess managed to insert.

  “And I’m sorry for that, Jess. I was undisciplined and untrained,” Kasie apologized. “That was then; this is now. I admit Teressi and the triumvirate scared me, but I didn’t fear for my life.”

  Lucia sent gently and privately to Jess.

  Kasie saw the subtle shifts in Jess’s expression, and she was relieved. She hadn’t had to use her gifts, which her brother would have detected. Worse, it might have angered him.

  “I love that you wanted to come to my rescue,” Kasie continued, and she leaned across the space to place her hands on Jess’s knees. “I wanted to hurt Teressi and the triumvirate, but I didn’t. You’ve always had more control than me, and you need to exercise that ability now. The conclave is too important for either one of us to disturb it because of a slight to me by ignorant, rude individuals. Incidentally, their harangues targeted every empath.”

  Kasie’s saw Lucia’s surprise. She shrugged her shoulders at the admiral. “Pia’s teachings have been rubbing off on me,” she said.

  Jess’s chuckles brought Kasie’s attention back to her brother. She leaned into her seat, content. Jess would be all right now.

  “I imagine apologies are due,” Jess remarked. At the lift of Kasie’s single eyebrow, he edited his statement. “Apologies are due,” he said. Then he added, “We should go find out what Alex wants us to do.”

  With that, the trio exited the traveler.

  “Oh, thank the stars,” Renée said softly. She stood inside the hall’s rotunda with Alex, Mickey, and Julien.

  The traveler’s trio covered the sixty meters to the hall’s doors. Lucia and Kasie had linked arms with Jess, and they were chatting.

  “Sibling relationships are powerful,” Alex commented.

  “Sometimes for the better; and sometimes for the worse,” Renée replied. She thought of her brother’s attempt to strand the New Terrans and commandeer the Rêveur. The events at Méridien had resurfaced many memories of the early days with Alex.

  When Jess, Lucia, and Kasie stepped through the hall’s front entrance, the women slipped their hands from Jess’s arms.

  Jess took a single step toward Alex. “I’m sorry,” he said. His next utterance was, “Oof,” as a heavy-worlder’s arms enfolded him.

  Alex linked to Jess and sent privately,

  Alex released Jess, threw arms around Jess and Mickey’s shoulders, and guided them into the rotunda. “Now, let’s talk about what might happen this morning and what can be done about it,” he said.

  Renée quickly hugged Lucia and Kasie, and then they followed the men.

  Behind the humans walked a SADE. Fairy dust sparkled and cascaded around his head.

  * * * * *

  On the final morning of the conclave, Nikki took the podium. “It’s the hope of the citizens of Sol that you’ve found this first conclave valuable,” she said. “It’s also our great desire to see the conclave continue on a regular basis. We had desired to see signed agreements result from the negotiations. However, it’s my understanding that only tentative agreements have been drafted, for the most part, between the alliance and other worlds.”

  Gino stood and spoke after Nikki indicated him. “Our circumstances mirror the ancient saying about matriarch and offspring ... which of them comes first?” he said. “The alliance races are willing to trade for their domes, but they’re hesitant to start the process without proof.”

  “Without proof of what?” Nikki inquired.

  The female Veklock clacked her beak, which Nikki took as a rude request to speak. Without rising, the Veklock explained, “We see no need to give up valuable assets only to find the Omnians, the outpost, and other races have overestimated their abilities, and the
domes can’t operate outside of alliance space. We wonder if, once removed, would the domes even be returned to their original sites and be restored.”

  Hardomia added, “Also, we question who would pay for the expense of the first dome relocation. This was never settled in the various negotiations. The primary reason was that no one had an idea of the final cost of the steps ... site excavation, disassembly, relocations, assembly, and, possibly, lengthy experimentation.”

  Ellie sent. She added an image of Mickey sitting a couple of bodies away from Alex.

  “Mr. Brandon, I’m made to understand that you might have something to add to this discussion,” Nikki said.

  Media personnel were unsure of the individual Nikki referenced, and they scanned the galleries for the person. When Mickey stood, vid cams zoomed in on the broad-shouldered human, who nearly rivaled Alex Racine.

  “What is requested is a proof of concept,” Mickey said. “This is a logical engineering step. Do we know if a dome will work outside of alliance space? No. However, did we know we could move a dome and reconnect the gates? No, we didn’t, but now we know we can. We won’t know a dome can operate outside of alliance space until we try.”

  Ellie sent urgently.

  Nikki swallowed her irritation. It was obvious that Alex had orchestrated the unfolding scenario, and she would have preferred to have been made a participant rather than be led from step to step like a child. Then again, as Harakens and now Omnians, this group of individuals had always been farseeing, compared to Sol’s leaders.

  Accessing Hector’s data fields, Nikki announced, “Commander Jess Cinders. You lead Outpost One: Resistance. What do you have to add to enlighten us?”

  “Thank you, Madam President,” Jess said, rising, which mollified Nikki somewhat. He’d received a short message from Hector about Nikki’s growing ire. “The outpost accepts the challenge.”

  “A generous statement, Commander,” Nikki said. “More details would be appreciated.”