by S. H. Jucha
“I stand corrected,” Sargut replied. He loosed a soft whistle, and then added, “What should we do about tomorrow’s meeting?”
“I’d suspend them,” Hector suggested.
“Agreed,” Miriamette added. “Let our guests relax and enjoy our accommodations for a few cycles. Then they can deal with Alex and Julien, while we watch.”
There was a round of laughter, whistles, and noises about the impending confrontation.
-29-
Ultimatums
The inbound Omnian fleet was inundated with data. The SADEs correlated and filtered it as fast as they could to provide summaries for Alex.
Talusian, Alex thought, briefly considering the new name, before his attention was drawn back to the reports.
Alex noted that only a few SADEs were near him when Sargut said those words soon after they’d met. In his experience, it took only one SADE to know something before, eventually, they all knew it.
“Alex, I must commend Admiral Thompson’s efforts to protect Talus,” Sargut interjected. “She’s been indispensable in keeping us safe.”
By this time, Ellie wasn’t sure whether to blush or cheer. However, it seemed best to remain stoic, but she tipped her head to Sargut.
“And your fleet, Alex?” Sargut inquired.
Sargut glanced at Ellie, who arched an eyebrow, as if to say I told you so.
“And Suntred?” Sargut asked.
“I’m here,” Suntred replied enthusiastically. “I’ve had the most exciting journey, Sargut. It’s enough to make one want to become an Omnian.”
“I’m pleased you’ve returned safely, Suntred,” Sargut said. “Do you no longer wish to be my liaison?”
“No, Sargut, I want to keep the position,” Suntred quickly replied. “However, if someday we establish liaisons with other races, I wish to be considered for the Omnians.”
“That’s good to hear,” Sargut replied.
“Everything,” Sargut replied.
“Especially warships,” Sargut sent.
Hector, Ellie, Sargut, Miriamette, and Lydia heard Alex’s booming laughter.
“The commander who led the revolt, Sotagar, has returned with his fleet,” Sargut responded. “He brought no one of import. Initially, he was circumspect about his directives. Eventually, he relayed his council’s demands. It’s the same as those of Sunnamis’s council. They want the tech. He did say he had a primary duty to protect the home world.”
Reiko remarked.
“I’ve suspended them, pending your arrival, as I was advised,” Sargut said.
* * *
“I remind you that this meeting might prove challenging,” Sunnamis said to the council and commanders. “I’ve previously met with the Omnian leader, Alex Racine, and the SADE, Julien. They won’t give into our demands easily.”
“What can they do?” a council member asked rhetorically. “They’re Omnians. They don’t speak for Sargut.”
“Sargut will allow Alex and Julien to speak for the Talusians,” Sunnamis explained.
“You brought us here with the promise that we’d obtain Omnian warships,” a second council member complained. “You’d better find a means of neutraliz
ing their arguments and procuring us the ships.”
“We’ve learned that the Omnian Admiral Thompson mixed Talusian battleships with her Trident commands,” Dortagut said. “According to Commander Taralum, the combination proved extremely effective.”
“This underscores our need to acquire these ships,” a third council member pointed out.
“It was the demonstration of the Trident’s maneuverability that was most impressive,” Sotagar said. “With grav engines, they can rotate, spin, and roll through three axes with ease.”
“You’re both failing to mention the most enticing aspect of the Omnian ships,” Sunnamis said. “With their grav engines, they don’t need reaction mass. They can travel a system indefinitely, as long as you care for the passengers.”
“Enormous cost savings there,” number four said.
“And the traveler was amazingly comfortable,” number five added.
“Nanites,” Dortagut noted.
“I don’t think we need worry,” the first council member said. “Whether we negotiate with Sargut or Alex, we hold the stronger position. Sargut must have citizens and plenty of them to make Talus viable.”
“I agree that our position is strong, but it’s assuming that we’re in control,” Sunnamis warned. She nodded toward Dortagut, who left the conference table, opened the door, and beckoned to Lydia. In turn, the SADE signaled Alex that the Toralians were ready to resume negotiations.
“Well, they’ve had more than three days to prepare for our arrival,” Alex said, grinning and laying a hand on Julien’s shoulder. “Shall we see how well they did?”
Julien’s answer was a smile and the appearance of his trusty poker visor.
This time, Alex, Julien, Sargut, Suntred, and Miriamette comprised the negotiating team.
The Toralians had become accustomed to the size of the New Terran humans, but Alex appeared to them to be an order larger. The thought crossed Sunnamis’s mind that it wasn’t his size but the manner in which he entered the room. He came through the door, and the space belonged to him.
“I hear you’re seeking to trade for our tech,” Alex began peremptorily, without introductions.
“We’ve understood that this tech is in Sargut’s hands,” Sunnamis countered.
“Technically, it’s in the sisters’ kernels,” Julien corrected.
“But the tech is President Sargut’s to use as he sees fit, is it not?” a council member asked.
“Yes, up to a point,” Alex replied.
“And what lies beyond that point?” Sunnamis asked politely.
“Tridents and travelers,” Alex stated firmly.
Miriamette immediately reviewed the agreement that the Sisterhood had executed with Alex, or rather with Omnia Ships. In addition, she scanned the new Talusian constitution. The information she discovered should have occurred to her previously. It could have been brought up during the earlier meetings with the Toralians. However, knowing Alex possessed leverage didn’t tell her how Julien and he might employ the information. So, she waited.
“The Talusians are already constructing warships at the orbital platform,” a council member objected. “They demonstrate, with every cycle, that they possess the tech that you say isn’t theirs.”
“The Sisterhood has been given the rights to manufacture Omnian tech,” Julien explained. “They’re allowed to produce and sell or trade most of that tech, except for warships.”
“The Talusian warships are limited to the express use of the citizens,” Alex added.
“But much of the tech inside these ships has already been offered to us and is available in other devices,” another council member stated stridently.
“Yes, it is,” Julien agreed. “However, the technology to produce the shells of these ships and their designs is the property of Omnia Ships.”
“Who speaks for Omnia Ships?” Sunnamis asked, although she thought she knew the answer.
“You’re looking at him,” Alex replied. “Omnia Ships licenses the technology and designs for these hulls.”
“Then we’ll pay these licenses,” a council member declared defiantly, “or there’ll be no Toralian citizens immigrating to Talus.”
The visitors thought they’d trapped Alex, and it showed in subtle displays of their teeth.
Alex grinned widely at the Toralians and let them wonder what he meant by the display.
“Well, Sargut, it looks like we don’t have any other choice,” Alex said with an exaggerated sigh.
“Apparently not, Alex,” Sargut agreed. “You have my permission.”
“To do what?” Sunnamis asked.
After absorbing Julien’s translation of Alex’s remark, the council members looked self-satisfied, but Sunnamis didn’t expect Alex to capitulate so easily.
Alex regarded Sunnamis and linked to Julien. Instead of Alex speaking, Julien became his voice. He said, “I’m ordering the Our People, Admiral Hector’s city-ship, in the company of Admiral Plummer’s Trident command, to the president’s previous colony.”
Then Julien added in his own words, “Did we inform you that a city-ship is capable of transporting a quarter of a million individuals and their belongings?”
“What do you think would make a good enticement, Julien?” Alex asked in mock seriousness.
“Free passage for one thing,” Julien replied, in a thoughtful manner.
“Excellent idea,” Alex replied enthusiastically, smacking the table with a resounding boom and frightening the Toralians.
Julien enjoyed keeping a running translation for their guests of his conversation with Alex.
“Alex, you could let the immigrants know that they’ll earn Omnian credits,” Suntred volunteered, playing her part.
“We’ll leave now and inform that colony’s governor of the mistake he would make to allow his citizens to board your ship and sail to a dead system,” a council member threatened.
“Be my guest,” Alex replied, gesturing toward the door.
“You’ll need to prepare a shuttle for us,” the council member stated obstinately.
“Get your own,” Sargut said harshly. He had no more patience for the visitors’ overt threats.
“Then call our fleet for a transport,” another council member demanded.
“Call them yourself,” Suntred replied.
Dortagut and Sotagar eyed each other. It had been a gross mistake on the council’s part to believe they could behave so rudely aboard an Omnian ship, as if it was a colony ship that they held dominion over.
Sunnamis leaned back into her nanites-filled chair. A small portion of her mind appreciated the comfort, while the remainder considered how to extricate them from the sudden disastrous circumstances.
The council members harangued Alex and Julien, who sat back in their chairs and smiled, which only served to irritate the council even more.
Sunnamis loosed a shrill whistle, the equivalent of yelling at younglings to shut up. The council was shocked at the treatment, but they did close their mouths.
“Alex, Sargut, I’m sure we can come to some agreement that serves both sides,” Sunnamis implored, as diplomatically as possible. “Perhaps, you’d like to state your conditions for trade.”
Alex sent in reply.
Addressing the Toralians, Alex said, “You’re welcome to sign any agreement with the Talusians that President Sargut wishes to approve. However, it won’t include Tridents, and it won’t include travelers with beam capability.”
“Ever?” Sunnamis asked. She’d used a slashing hand to still the tongues of the council members before they could speak.
“You’re impatient, Governor,” Julien said. “Allow us to finish. Our practice is to proceed slowly. We ask worlds to earn our trust.”
“That ra
ther puts you at a disadvantage, doesn’t it, Governor?” Alex asked rhetorically. He was smiling, but the sentiment wasn’t reflected in his eyes. “It’ll take your colony a little longer to earn our trust.”
“How long will it be before we might have fully functional warships?” a council member asked.
“I would think somewhere in the range of five to ten annuals,” Julien said offhand.
Alex regarded the choked expression on the visitors’ faces. He’d no idea why Julien offered those numbers, but it gave him an idea.
Sunnamis drew breath to speak, but Alex raised a hand to forestall her.
“Of course, there is a way to reduce that length of time,” Alex said. “A number of fleets have come to Talus to vent their anger on the home world. President Sargut might recommend a reduction of time if you were to support the defense of his system.”
“How many ships were you considering for this defense?” a council member asked.
Alex regarded Sargut, who replied promptly, “The fleet the governor arrived aboard should suffice.”
“The entire fleet?” Sunnamis asked incredulously.
“More ships for defense; more time off for good behavior,” Julien noted.
“Would these conditions about the Omnian warships apply to our colony?” Sotagar asked.
“Did your governor arrive here with a fleet intent on usurping the president’s power?” Miriamette asked. The question didn’t require an answer, and Sotagar knew it.
“Of course, you did lead the revolt, Commander,” Sargut said. “That will count in your favor toward a reduction in time.”
“Are there other conditions that we should understand?” Sunnamis asked.
“One more,” Alex replied. “Initially, Talus will manufacture your travelers and, someday, your Tridents. Your price for any ship will include a licensing fee that’s payable to Omnia Ships. The licensing fees must be paid in Omnian credits, which will be deposited in our account. We only accept Omnian credits. That means that you’ll need to acquire these credits from Talus in your early trades.”
“You should be informed now that when an Omnian ship’s controller comes online, it’ll report its presence to Talus,” Julien said.