Foresight or not, no one was sure whether Andakar might use their Space Navy ships to their own advantage instead of for the good of the Consortium. There were plenty of laws in place, not to mention well-placed directors and managers on their space station to make sure such a thing couldn’t possibly happen. Yet Corren was acutely aware their screening process was incomplete on several levels. In addition, no one was sure whether the Space Navy was still in Andakar’s control or not. Clearly, the top people should all have been from Earth and not Andakar. How this could have been overlooked made no sense to him, he mused, not realizing how just such a ‘colonial-attitude’ had utterly failed a thousand years prior.
It was only in the last several days, while not in meetings, that Corren realized precisely why this happened. He was aware that the Consortium, with its multiple layers of divisions and division heads couldn’t all be controlled. It didn’t matter how many quantum processors were always churning away, crunching exa-quints of data around the clock, working out permutations to supply problems, or providing solutions to staffing issues. It didn’t matter how many meetings with CEOs and managers there were, how they were screened, how laws were drawn up or penalties meted out. There were simply too many variables in life and throughout all the interconnected businesses to account for everything. That included how a man would ultimately make the simplest of decisions, how a man might decide what to do after having been vetted in multiple ways, using all available criteria. Or how a simple relationship might change someone’s mind and throw out every solution that could have been arrived at. And most importantly, in the last half millennium, no Inhab had the resources to do something like what Andakar had done. That alone was the red flag everyone should have seen. But no one had. Not even him. Although business was run in a strictly regimented way, no one was at war. No one had been for centuries. The total lack of military thinking at the top levels of the Board had ultimately led to this.
It was clearly time to input a whole new set of criteria into the decision-making process.
Corren watched and listened to the preliminary contact with their escorts. He did so simply to determine the tone of what they might be expecting. After five minutes, it was impossible to discern anything other than their breakout was typical. No hostile intent was indicated. But he was also sure it might be impossible to determine anything by simply monitoring a routine entry being discussed by mere space traffic control personnel. Meeting with the Chief Counsel and the others would be a different thing altogether.
Several hours later, after completing a routine landing at the main space station outside Tokaias, it was still impossible to determine whether hostile intent was forthcoming. So far, all contact with planetside personnel had been customary for a contingent of their import. One thing he did note though as he listened in ever so often. He’d never heard Lingua spoken in such a clipped and accented way before. Not everyone spoke that way but a great number of them did. He was unaware such a shift in how Lingua was spoken had occurred.
Assigned quarters were in the huge administration building overlooking Koehkelko bay. Satto’s contingent was assigned an entire wing adjacent to his quarters. His first assignment was to plug in to the Andakar planetary net to find Kestin.
Corren, Jafar and Abela would meet with Siloy and his staff in this very building only hours from now.
Corren’s group accompanied him to a grandly appointed meeting room. Huge windows overlooked the park where dozens of people strolled. Further on, he could see three long piers running nearly a half-kilometer into the bay. Several large ships and many other much smaller ones were moored alongside two of them. All pointed to the luxuries Andakar Citizens enjoyed.
Siloy, Tokaias’ City Manager Kalder Pent, Commander General Anz Tlor from the space station, several provincial managers and six top department heads from Andakar Pharma Enterprises took their seats. Corren noted right away that his group was greatly outnumbered. Regardless, he still had corporate law over them. As Corren observed the natives, he noted with growing awareness that they were all dressed in clothing styles considerably different than what he was used to on Earth. Not really observant of such details before, he noted how he and his contingent wore crisp finely-tailored suits to their seemingly casual apparel. This was an extremely important meeting. But every last one of them was dressed as if they were attending a party, he decided.
Pleasantries were offered along with refreshments before formal business started. Corren’s initial meeting with Siloy before they entered the conference room had been brief since both parties had lawyers in tow. Corren had tried to discern the man’s true intentions by reading his face. He got nowhere with that. In addition, nothing of a personal nature, much less of an official one had been discussed.
But now the tone was decidedly different.
Corren stood and brought up his main points before Siloy had an opportunity to say anything. “As you know, I am Corren Grusics, First Executive of Deep Sky Mining Consortium. To my left is Second Executive Jafar Rohita. To my right is Third Executive Abela Senerete. Before these meetings are concluded we intend to rectify this illegal severance of business and reconnect all ties that have been disrupted among the Inhabs due to this, er, mistaken notion that independent business operations are possible.
“In addition, a vid has been transmitted to your newsgrid network. It will be aired several times. In it, I have laid out the illegality of what has taken place here. It will become evident in the next several days that it will be impossible for Andakar to provide for itself for more than a few months without outside help and without the input of the Consortium’s interconnected web of corporations. You must understand,” he paused and looked at everyone in turn, “that the Consortium’s network exists for the benefit of not only Andakar and Earth, but all Inhabs.
“I must make it clear that in addition to this unprecedented move on the part of local officials,” he looked toward Siloy, “we intend to have Andakar’s Planetary Director released before we are completed with these meetings.” Looking around smugly, he sat back down to listen to how Siloy and his people would attempt to defend their position.
Interesting opening remarks, Siloy thought as he watched the plump man sit down. He was sure now that Corren was working under a full set of false assumptions. It had been weeks since his invitation had been delivered to the Board on Earth. Siloy felt certain Corren would have fully reviewed every available fact with respect to what had been initiated on Andakar. But apparently, the Executives were only selectively reading the data, or perhaps just ignoring the most important items. Siloy pressed the off icon on the flimsy in front of him. He had no need for any bullet points to indicate the flaws in the man’s argument.
“Director Grusics,” Siloy nodded to him. “Directors,” Siloy nodded to the two others formally. “Welcome to our independent world. Andakar has declared complete independence from the basic ties of the Consortium as have been traditionally recognized. Since our initial declaration, many changes have been made. First of all, we legally detained Inandra Alarr on charges that have been officially laid out in not only vid but documentation, copies of which have been given to your lawyers. Secondly, our operation on the Guardian space station is no longer a cost center with respect to the transportation division. It is a fully functional military division which is being used and will continue to be used to maintain order on this planet and to provide for our defense, our defense as an independent planet.” He paused momentarily for effect as he looked at each member of the Earth contingent. He wanted Corren to see he was completely serious. He was. His face took on a cold hard look. Corren had been busy congratulating himself on his opening performance. But now he realized it might have been a bit premature. Siloy was a much more formidable opponent than he, at first, had thought.
Siloy continued. “As you will note, despite the initial confusion of the first several weeks, business operations with respect to all Consortium divisions have resumed. It’s just
that we will be in charge of our relationship with them, not the other way around. I regret you were not informed of our actions before they occurred but we will not be deterred from this course. We intend to continue to be fully independent despite what may be thought otherwise. You will find that there are plenty of CEOs on board with this decision. You will find that Commander General Tlor here,” he looked to his left and nodded at the man, “is also on board with this decision. You will find that the majority of the population of this planet has already given their opinion on this matter and are in agreement with the actions taken. You will find that we have not just up and removed all safeguards with respect to business or profits. We have in fact, secured them for our future. A future which reflects a change in the way Andakar will do business with Consortium ventures in this star system.
“The dissolution of the previous ties to Earth have been carefully and legally laid out on the flimsies you have in front of you,” he indicated as he pointed to the nearest one. “You will find that the transformation of our Space Navy from a patrol force to a planetary defensive force was not taken lightly, but rather reflects our intention of backing up this policy change with force, if it should ever become necessary,” Siloy told them, with an emphasis on the word ‘ever’, a subtle reminder they would remain ever vigilant. “You will find that you no longer have access to our quantum computer accounting network unless specifically authorized to do so. We will be taken seriously.
“From this day forward you will refer to me as President James-Po. Elections have been held and I have been duly elected as first President of this world.”
Immediately, there was not a single person from the Earth contingent not talking. Siloy waited several seconds before calling the room to order.
“How dare you declare yourself ‘President’,” Corren bleated heatedly.
“Declare? I did not declare myself President,” Siloy shot back, a cold look in his eyes. “There was an election which was legally held several weeks ago. 89% of the Citizens of this planet elected me as their first President. I will hold a six-year term. A Constitution is being drawn up as we speak, which will be worked out with the Citizens as we go. We have every intention of making sure this works for the benefit of our Citizens.”
“Impossible. You may as well be a dictator!” Corren retorted. The two other Executives nodded their agreement with his assessment.
Siloy was somewhat amused at the man’s accusation. He had never considered such a thing. In fact, he wasn’t so sure he would actually serve his entire six-year term. Being Chief Counsel was stressful enough. Being elected President had automatically upped his stress level significantly. “First Executive, the data on the election is on the flimsy. You will find the word ‘dictator’ has not even been hinted at anywhere. To accuse me of being such is simply unprofessional. I would have expected better of you.” Siloy shook his head, as if suggesting disapproval of a child.
Corren’s mouth opened in astonishment. How dare this man! He hadn’t been spoken to in that way for decades. “Chief… ,” Corren started.
Siloy held up his hand and shook his head ever so slightly. “President,” he corrected.
Corren’s mouth tightened slightly before he spoke again. “President James-Po, you are aware that the sale of Tetra-G is tightly controlled. That control comes in various forms, one of which is allocation. I must warn you that this continued charade will result in sanctions. The first of which will be the re-allocation of Tetra-G supplies to Inhabs other than Andakar. Even if business interests on Rylerra purchase those supplies, they will be unable to allow the resale of it here. I’m sure you don’t want that to occur,” he said, looking straight at Rish. Corren knew that a simple change to the sales network would prevent the purchase of Tetra-G by any of the refueling stations on Andakar.
“You will not do so, Director.” Siloy was bluffing. He was perfectly aware this would be the first thing Corren would attempt to do.
Corren nodded to Jafar, who pressed a few icons on the flimsy in front of him. Transmission of the codes to the ship in orbit, then to an FTL comm buoy to Rylerra would be occurring shortly. Siloy knew it was taking place at that moment. He suppressed the grin forming on his face. He knew the man was totally unaware of several important changes in Andakar’s favor: that of the discovery of the warp conduits, their new source of Tetra-G and that the Planetary Directory on Rylerra had no intention of complying with the order.
Corren figured Siloy was trying to deceive him, yet decided to play along with him for the moment. If Siloy wants to hang himself, well, I’ll be happy to supply the rope, he thought. The meeting had just barely begun and he wanted his lawyers to record as many items as they could about Siloy’s obviously illegal actions. He leaned back in his chair, linking his stubby fingers together over his protruding stomach. This might turn out to be more fun than he anticipated. He imagined there might be any number of surprises still to come.
“Andakar has already made many changes with many more to come. It is far too late for our actions to be altered,” Siloy added for the record.
Chapter 46
The flight to Ethlacos would have required traversing three warp conduits, based on preliminary findings of their locations. But the flight this time was via the normal wedging of spacetime. If the ore turned out to be viable, the secret of those conduits would be divulged.
As a gesture of goodwill on the journey, Marn volunteered to fly as co-pilot with Darreth in exchange for an equally high-level person from the Space Navy. At the end of the flight, all doubts Darreth had about what they were doing had been completely removed. He had enjoyed many hours of conversations with the woman. He found her engaging and quite charming. In addition, she was what he would easily call good looking. She was excited for him that he’d be getting married soon. She spoke several times of her forthcoming marriage, as well.
Darreth’s tour of Rakaris Rim proved there were a large number of people who were eager to begin their long-awaited alliance. However, he was greeted by several small groups of hecklers just before his tour of the primary kajite mining shaft. They were not at all pleasant, but he was assured they were in the minority. Darreth felt that was to be expected. After all, his job had been to prevent their survival. How was he to know their ultimate objective? It surprised him he was even inside their stronghold at all. It surprised him even more that events had developed so quickly in the way his father had told him they would.
Darreth watched as a bot lifted a freshly blasted chunk of kajite ore from the floor of the mining shaft. Half a ton was placed in a Redetch field and sealed biometrically with his own retina scan. Proof that their discovery was real and the ore was viable would be realized once the container was returned to Rylerra where it would be thoroughly examined for quality. A 500-gram sample was sealed in a much smaller container. The assay team would conduct a preliminary examination during their voyage back later.
Darreth’s new position as liaison allowed him to be privy to many top-level changes that had occurred on Rylerra since Rish Illigan returned home. Even before the Executives from Earth had arrived on Andakar to begin their meeting with his father, he now knew Rish had called several meetings of his own. An election would be held on their planet as well, but it wouldn’t be happening for at least nine months. Even so, he already declared that Rylerra was officially allied with Andakar and Ethlacos. Immediately, high level managers protested. Many of them had strong ties to Earth and didn’t like being forced to take part in what they considered an insurrection. Those protests were quickly quelled, not by force, but by careful economic reasoning and discussions about the huge profit soon to be made processing kajite ore.
All of the secret meetings and machinations briefly reminded Darreth of how he also had to secretly meet with Kestin Dryter to retrieve the original device that allowed one through the gateway. Darreth’s omission about its existence and its secrets had been revealed to his father and those in his chain of command when he
presented it to Commander General Tlor. That information brought an ass-chewing like he’d never received before. Directly afterward though that reprimand was expunged from the record. Since the originals and the duplicates were all on the Guardian now, Darreth was assigned the task of destroying them except for one original. Under the threat of a lawsuit that would ruin him, Kestin was ordered to talk to no one from the media until a thorough investigation of the data he had culled from the objects could be conducted later.
“We found Kestin,” Satto stated, his face not showing any emotion as he entered the room.
Corren had been in the conference room with Siloy and their respective staffers for nearly eight hours that day. He had just finished up a half hour previous. It was exhausting, but necessary to obtain as many facts about their declaration of independence as possible. This news served to refresh him almost immediately.
“And?” Corren said eagerly. His shoulders squaring from their previously slumped position.
“It was exactly as we suspected. Aliens weren’t the only thing discovered in that cavern on Rylerra. Each of them had some sort of device that activated the gateway. Siloy’s son found one, figured out what it was used for, then sought out Dr. Dryter who successfully duplicated it. That’s how they were able to traverse the tunnel into that other dimension. Once they returned to Andakar all of the devices except for one original were destroyed.”
The Rylerran Gateway Page 43