by David Weber
I'll not be accepting any argument which sets the ground for denying the legitimacy of any secession." "But we can't simply tell the citizens of a system like Cimmaron that we've abandoned them!" Hadad protested sharply.
"Cimmaron's folk," Ladislaus said implacably, "welcomed us with open arms, sir. In point of fact, they'll have the pitching of three kinds of fits if we offer to be handing them back to you." "But--was "Mister Dieter," Ladislaus turned to the prime minis- ter, "this point must be settled. We'll not insist that anyone leave the Federation for the Republic--but it's to be plain we must insist that the Republic is a legitimate government. And if we're to be a government, we're after having the same responsibility to our citizens as the Federation to its." "I agree, Mister Skjorning." Dieter nodded, and Ladislaus could have sworn he saw a half-wink from the eye away from Hadad. "Roger, we must accept that the Terran Republic exists, whether we like it or not. It follows that its Congress has a responsibility to its citizens. Now, we've already accepted in principle that the worlds which seceded are part of the Republic. The question is what to do with those which were added to the originally seceding worlds by force of arms, correct?" "Well, yes," Hadad said in a tone of barely suppressed anguish. "But it's not that simple.
There are matters of precedent, of--was "There are no precedents," Dieter said, and Hadad stared at him as ff he'd tried to sell him a skimmer of questionable pedigree. "Under Federation law as presently interpreted, secession is treason, but we're plainly contemplating turning a de facto situation into a de jure one. Mister Skjorning," he turned to Ladislaus, "I would suggest plebiscites for all non-seceding planets forcibly occupied by the Republic. Any which wish to remain with the Republic, however they came to be included therein, will be free to do so, but any planet which wishes to return to the Federation must be free to do that, as well. You will appreciate, I trust, that we are not in a position to reciprocate owevry planet currently occupied by Federa-t-ion forces? With, of course, the exception of systems captured during the recent offensive?" "I do, Mister Dieter," Ladislaus agreed gravely, not mentioning that aside from the systems Trevayne had taken, the Federation did not control any world which had shown an interest in joining the Republic.
"Thank you, sir. Roger?" Dieter leaned back in his chair beside Sanders, returning the session to Hadad's control. The foreign minister didn't seem particularly grateful, but strove to conceal his disgruntlement.
"Very well, Mister Skjorning," he said, scribbling on an old-fashinoned pad. "We'll agree--tentatively, of course- to a plebiscite to determine the fates of the planets captured by the Republic. But that brings up another rather delicate point. You see---was "You're to he, worrying over access between the Rump and the Rim excuse me, between the Innerworlds and the Rim Systems--across Republican space," Ladislaus said genially, and Hadad nodded. "Well, Mister Hadad, we're prepared to be offering free passage to unarmed vessels, with armed merchant vessels to be passing under bond and with our right of examination. Mail packets and courier drones will be having freedom of passage without censorship or examination. Warships are to be another matter, but we're to be being reasonable so long as you're to be consulting us beforehand. I'm hoping that's to be satisfactory?" "Er... yes," Hadad nodded. In fact, it was rather more than he'd been prepared to settle for, and he felt a sudden, unexpected liking for the big Fringer before him. He smiled.
"Well, Mister Skjorning, I must say you're being reasonable."" He seemed to regret the admission as soon as he made it and set his face more sternly. "But there remains the matter of repatriation and property losses." "Yes and no, Mister Hadad," Ladislaus said, and turned to Tatiana, who looked for all the world like an adolescent observer as she sat next to him. She nodded and opened a memo touchpad, bringing the small screen alive.
"Mister Hadad," she began crisply, "you must be aware that there will be considerable dispute over how much is owed or, indeed, whether anything is owed, to compensate private citizens for wartime property losses." Hadad glanced at Dieter, who returned his look expressionlessly, and then back to Tatiana.
"That goes without saying, Ms. Illyushina.
However, we must insist that some clear understanding be reached." "Naturally. We propose a joint offer of repatriation for any who desire it, this offer to include relocation of families and personal property only. The Republic is prepared to guarantee equitable liquidation of investments and real estate if the Federation will do likewise.
Repatriation and relocation costs will be shared evenly by the two governments. Is that acceptable?" "It will certainly do for a first presentation to the Assembly, ma'am. However, there remain the matters of sequestered property and war losses." "War losses," Tatiana retorted, "are just that: war losses. If not covered by insurance, the injured party will, unfortunately, be unable to recover. On sequestered property--was she allowed herself a sharklike grin that turned Hadad's blood suddenly cold his-comthe Republic is willing to be reasonable. We are prepared to stipulate that the respective governments shall compensate their own nationals for their lOSS-ES." She leaned back cheerfully as a strangled sound came from Dieter's Minister of Finance, and Ladislaus hid a smile as Hadad's face fell, though it was difficult when he saw the toothy grin Sanders directed at Tatiana.
"B-b-b-but you've seized property worth well over two trillion credits!" Amanda Sydon half-screamed. "The property sequestered by the Federation amounts to less than three percent of that figure!" "In fact," Tatiana agreed sweetly, "the value of property seized by the Federation is approximately sixty-seven billion credits, while that expropriated by the Republic had a pre-war tax value "Dieter winced; given the sleight-of-hand Corporate World accountants had routinely perpetrated against Fringe World tax assessors, the tax value could be multiplied by at least two his-comof two trillion three hundred and seventy-two billion. The Republic, however, stated at its Constitutional Convention that no Federation citizen's property would be expropriated unless our nationals" propertggst was seized." She shrugged pleasantly. "Since the Assembly was in possession of that declaration before passing the Sydon-Waldeck Expropriation Act, we can only assume that the Federation wished to embark on a policy of mutual expropriation. Therefore" Ladislaus and Sanders leaned back and smiled at one another as Tatiana and Sydon went after each other hammer and tongs, and Dieter sighed.
Amanda was outmatched, he thought, watching Tatiara's cheerful face. Odd how capable the distaff half of the Fringe had proven @u.. and how fitting for that capability to cost the Corporate Worlds a bundle.
"Well, Lad," Tatiana sighed and leaned back in her lounger, "I think we've done it." She chuckled. "lhe Corporate Worlds shrieked like a gelded rnegaovis over the economic $1auses--they think its immoral to end a war without showing a profit--but they can't carry a majority on them. Dieter's really cut them down to size since the war began." "Aye." Ladislaus nodded slowly from his own reeliner. "It's a mortal long voyage we've had, but it's to seem we've reached port at last." "Yes." Tatiana rose on an elbow. "Will you go to the vote?" "No, lass. I swore to myself I'd never stand in that chamber again, and no more will I be doing it. You go; I'll have the watching of it on HV." "But you're our president] If you don't go, none of us should." "Tatiana," Ladislaus never opened his eyes, "it's an impertinent young thing you're after being.
It's no matter of policy but a personal thing-one I can't have the changing of even for Oskar Dieter, who's to be deserving better of us. Go, lass." His obvious exhaustion silenced her, and she studied his face, seeing the lines worn there by the past six years, the almost invisible gray creeping into his blond beard and hair. She felt a sudden tenderness for the huge man who'd carried the personal burden of the Fringe World's fight for so long.
"All right, Lad," she said after a moment. "But I wish--was She broke off. "Lad?" He didn't respond. His massive chest rose and fell slowly, and Tatiana smiled gently as she rose and left silently.
Thev had matured, David Haley thought, looking out over the quietly restive Chamber of Wor
lds with almost paternal pride. The delegates who'd stampeded this way and that in the early days of the crisis they'd created had won their adulthood the hard way, but they'd won it. Now they sat almost silently, waiting as the computers tabulated the vote.
The peace terms represented major concessions on al- most every point, he reflected. The Republic had been careful not to humble the Federation's pride, except, perhapsmhis lips quirked--on that matter of expropriations, but it had been firm, as well. The Fringers had come through fire and worse to reach this moment. They were no longer suppliants, and they would not retreat a centimeter. It only remained to see if the Assembly had been sufficiently tempered to recognize the essential fairness of the settlement before it.
A light flashed on his panel, and a small screen lit with the results of the vote. He studied them briefly, then rapped his ceremonial gavel sharply, and an electric tension filled the chamber.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Assembly," Haley said clearly, "it is my duty to announce the result of your vote on the motion to ratify the peace terms presented by the foreign minister." He drew a deep breath. "The vote is 978 in favor; 453 opposed. The motion--was he paused for just an instant, quivering with relief "mis carried." There was utter silence for a moment, then a soft stir of mounting conversation. There were no cheers, no shouts of victory.. Reaching this moment had cost too many too much for that, but the relief was there. Haley felt it in the air about him as he turned to the Vice President of the Republic of Free Terrans and bent over her hand with a gallant flourish.
Only then did the applause begin.
L'ENVOI Oskar Dieter stretched out on the recliner under the night sky and pondered the vagaries of fate. He, who had never expected to be more than Simon Taliaferro's shadow, was prime mlmster--comofa diminished Federation, perhaps, but one once more at peace --comand Simon was gone.
Now he studied the cold stars, trying to find Fionna MacTaggart, but she had left him. Search as he might, she was gone, and it worried him.
A throat cleared itself, and he looked up to see Kevin Sanders.
"Good evening, Mister Sanders." "Good evening, Mister Prime Minister." Sanders" voice was gently mocking, but his smile was friendly@u "To what do I owe the honor?" "Curiosity." Sanders' eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell me, Mister Dieter, did you realize I was tapping your conduit to the rebels?" "Please, Mister Sanders! To the Republic, if you please." "To be sure. The Republic." Sanders paused. "Did you?" "Well.... "Dieter cocked an eyebrow at his guest, and then, for the first time in Sanders' memory, he laughed out loud. He nodded slowly. "I did. I realized it before I asked you to leave ONI to join my government." "You did?" Sanders looked briefly crestfallen, but he rallied gamely.
"Of course. Your silence convinced me you were a man of initiative and discretion. I needed you."
"You needed me because your foresaw this outcome from the beginning, didn't you?" Sanders made it a question, but both knew it was a statement.
"More or less." "I hope you'll pardon my pointing this out, sir," Sanders said dryly, "but that's rather an odd thing for a wartime leader to admit." "Is it?" Dieter chuckled again, softly. "I suppose so. But if you disagreed, you should have said so at the time, shouldn't you?" "Agreed. Still, I wish you'd satisfy my ceaeauriosity in one more regard. As a return favor, as it were.
"Of course, ff I can." "Why?" Sanders asked, his humor suddenly gone.
"Because someone had to do it," Dieter said slowly, "and I owed a debt." "To Fionna MacTaggart?" Sanders' voice was soft. "You are indeed a perceptive man, Mister Sanders," Dieter said quietly. "Yes, to Fionna. To all those people trapped in a war they didn't want but didn't know how to end, but especially to Fionna. I wonder ff she approves?" "Mister Dieter," Sanders looked down at the reclining prime minister, and a smile played around the corners of his mouth, "I'm sure she does.
Fionna MacTaggart was a remarkable woman: understanding, intelligent, insieaong, htful @u.. but that's not the reason I'm sure she approves.
"No, Mister Sanders? Then what is?" "She also," Sanders said simply, "had a very lively sense of humor." "Well, Lad," Tatiana raised her glass to Ladislaus as Prometheus' drives hurled the liner outward, "God knows how, but you did it. Even when I thought we'd never make it, you always hung on and kicked us in the backside till we made it work." She shook her head wryly, and Ladislaus smiled at her gently, leaning back in his chair and savoring the sensation of completion. It was not an unalloyed pleasure, but it was a vast relief.
"They're throwing a party in the Captain's Ballroom, Lad," Tatiana said winningly.
"Sort of a rehearsal for the victo ball. Why don't you come?"
"No, lass." Ladilaus shook his head.
"It's tired I am. I'll be staying here, I'm thinking. Here with my thoughts." "All right, Lad." She accepted defeat and pecked him lightly on the cheek. "Get some rest -comy've earned it." She started for the door then paused, looking back.
"Fionna would have been very proud of you, Lad," she said softly, then started to say something more, only to cut herself off with a tiny headshake. The door sighed shut behind her.
Ladislaus waved his hand above the lighting control, dimming the cabin to comfortable twilight, and pulled a battered tri-di from his pocket. The fiat representation was less perfect than a holo cube, but there was no mistaking the very young red-haired woman who stood laughing on the deck of a sloop with an equally young Ladislaus. He studied the print for long, silent moments, his smile bittersweet, then shook his head.
"Aye, Tatiana, I did it," he whispered, and lifted the tri-di until the faint light fell on Fionna's smiling face. "I'm sorry, love," he said softly, and a single tear trickled down his bearded cheek. "I know it wasn't what you wanted--comb it was all that I could do." Magda Petrovna adjusted a lustily crying infant on her hip and poured more vodka.
Jason sat beside her, beaming at their guest with a smile Magda knew was far more inebriated than he was as the tiny, immaculately-uniformed woman raised the glass in shaky fingers and studied it owlishly.
"I," Fleet Admiral Li Hah, Second Space Lord of the Terran Republic's Admiralty, said with great precision, "am drunk.
I have never been drunk before." "I know." Magda watched her drain the glass.
As soon as Hah set it down, she filled it again.
"I think you planned for me to get drunk," Hah said plaintively.
"Hush, Ham" Magda said. "Why would I do a thing like that?" "Because," Han said carefully, "you think it's a good idea." She hiccuped solemnly. "You think I've been holding things inside too long, don't you--was she paused and gripped the edge of the table, eyes widening as her chair moved beneath her his-commy round-eyed friend?" "Maybe, Han." "Well, it happens," Han said very slowly, "that you're quite perceptive for a round-eye." Her expression remained relaxed, but a large tear welled in each eye, sparkling on her lashes. "Have been holding it in," she went on vaguely. "Been holding it in ever since Cimmaron, I think." She blinked at her friends through her tears, and her face began to crumple at last.
She drew a deep breath. "All those peopledead. But not me. Funny, isn't it?" She laughed, an ugly sound, and pressed her face into her hands.
"They're all dead, but I'm alive. Me, the silly bitch who got them all killed. All. those... people.. "her voice broke in a sob of pain. "Chang. Chung-hui. All of them.., because I couldn't do my job..." "Han, Hah!" Magda hurried around the table and put her free arm around the slim shoulders, cradling the weeping woman against her. "fhat's not true! You know it isn'fi" "It stsi" Han wailed, her voice desolate as the deeps between the stars.
"It isn't," Magda repeated gently, "but you had to say it. You had to to et it out and face it so you can go on with your life. Remember them, Han, but don't let the pddast keep you from reaching out to the future." "What future?" Han demanded bitterly.
"There isn't any future!" "Of course there is!" Magda laughed softly and pushed her daughter into her friend's arms. Han's grip tightened instinctively, and she blinked down in
to the small face. Dark eyes stared back up at her, and she smiled tremulously. "You see, Han?" Magda asked gently. "lhere's always a future, isn't there?" "Yes," Han whispered, hugging her goddaughter tightly.
"Yes, there is, Magda. There really is!" "I'm glad you agree," Jason said dryly, sitting on the other side and hugging her roughly. "And since you do," he went on in the voice of one bestowing a great gift, "this time you can change her!" "I could make faster progress with this prosthetic leg," Joaquin Sandoval told his three visitors, "ff the damned doctors woulduld only let me! I'm strong enough by now to spend more time on my feet Yes, feet, plural!" "Don't rush it," Scan Remko growled. For him and Yoshinaka, this was simply one of the calls they'd paid regularly since returning to Xanadu.