The Octagonal Raven

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  Is there such a thing as objective excellence?

  It’s hard for me to believe that there could not be such, not when I have seen an endless objective universe, governed by unalterable law.…

  Personal Notes

  * * *

  Chapter 62

  Kewood

  * * *

  Standing at the corner of the cherry wood desk that had been my father’s, in the office I’d never even considered holding, I handed Majora the list of five names Nyhal had given me, and the information included with them. “That’s the list of people Eldyn said were behind the attacks on Elora and me. If you could see what’s available in the UniComm archives and anywhere else on them …”

  “There’s probably something. I assume you want anything that would shed light on their actions and motivations.” Majora was in a deep blue singlesuit that somehow enhanced her figure and her color.

  “And anything that can be truthfully used to cast some light on their ambitions to rule the world indirectly.” I’d meant the words to come out sardonically or ironically, but I could hear more bitterness than irony. Then, they were responsible for all too many deaths, and I had this feeling that Mertyn’s might be among them. He should have returned long ago. “Oh … when you get a moment, can you check with the CAs and see if they have any information on Mertyn?”

  “I did, just a little while ago.” Her voice was hesitant.

  “You don’t sound like you have good news.”

  “His body was found in the Brys Canyon Wilderness four weeks ago. There was no one to notify, except the Society of Dynae.”

  “Do they know what happened?”

  “They say he fell off a steep trail.”

  I had no doubts that Mertyn was shoved, and by the agents of those illustrious souls I’d just asked Majora to research.

  “You think he was murdered, too, don’t you?” she asked.

  “I know he was murdered. I just don’t know why. He wasn’t a stakeholder — or if he had been, he couldn’t have had that many shares. He wasn’t a public spokesman for the Dynae.”

  “But he advised you. Maybe they’re trying to isolate you.”

  I laughed, half-bitterly. “Except for you, I’m already isolated, and while it’s necessary, even the security services at your place are another form of isolation, in a way, even if most people don’t notice them.”

  “They’re necessary, and I’m glad you didn’t wait.” She offered a faint smile.

  “You’re worth all the security,” I said.

  “You’re getting more gallant.”

  “Even as I become more isolated? Most of my previous clients can’t hire me now, and wouldn’t talk to me, except socially. Half my family is dead, and I’ve never been that outgoing, anyway.”

  “That’s an advantage, Daryn. Now.”

  “Because there’s nobody left for them to kill or pressure?”

  “They should have more difficulty determining what you might do.”

  “I imagine they will, considering I’m having trouble figuring it out.”

  “Are you?” she asked softly. “Or are you having trouble accepting what may be necessary?”

  “You already know me too well.” I didn’t have to force the grin. “Maybe because we’re alike.”

  Her deep brown eyes smiled, and for a moment, I just looked at her.

  “What do we know about the stakeholders’ meeting?” I finally asked.

  “The PST Trust has been contacting every institutional holder of UniComm stock, and sending advocates and consultants to visit them.” Majora’s lips twisted for a moment. “You didn’t expect any other approach, did you?”

  “No.” I nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

  “They’re misrepresenting the situation. Are you going to fight? Send out more truthful information?”

  I smiled. “Not until after the meeting.”

  She raised her thick but finely drawn dark eyebrows.

  “We’ll just keep track … both of who votes what and how.”

  Her eyes met mine. Then she looked away.

  “One other thing …”

  She looked up.

  “The alien connection? Have you found anything that would …” I let the words drift into silence.

  “That would show anything about whether the first plague was alien or contrived?” Her mouth twisted. “There are several FU reports. What I’ve read so far indicates Eldyn didn’t create it. He wasn’t even involved with the first teams, and until then he wouldn’t have had access to the laboratories and equipment.” She shrugged. “There doesn’t seem to be much after that, though.”

  “Somehow, that doesn’t surprise you, does it?”

  “No.”

  I winced at the flatness of her tone.

  “I’ll keep looking, Daryn, but I don’t think we’ll find more.”

  Neither did I.

  After a long moment of silence, she smiled, a sad smile, but with warmth beneath, and so did I, just because she had.

  * * *

  Chapter 63

  Kewood

  * * *

  The stakeholders’ meeting had been arranged to be held in the large conference center on the lowest level of the UniComm headquarters structure, just above the induction tube station. Father had thought that was the best location both for the conference center and for most meetings involving outsiders because UniComm retained control. The conference center was not that large, holding perhaps five hundred fixed seats, and the ability to add another two hundred portable chairs. There was a stage, with a covered orchestra pit, that had never been used, to my knowledge, and with wing and fly space — all because Grandmother had insisted that there ought to be some place in Kewood where live theatre and opera could be performed. I wasn’t aware that any had been since her death.

  The stage was where the advisory board and the directors of UniComm would be seated, with the senior directors in the middle, flanked by the six advisors. In effect, that meant Brin Drejcha was on my left, and Tomas Gallo, the UniComm solicitor general, was on my right, with three members of the advisory board sitting on each end of the long table covered with a gray cloth trimmed in green.

  Both Drejcha and Gallo had recommended a closed meeting with stakeholders either being present or represented by a representative physically present. I’d agreed with the requirement for physical presence or representation, as opposed to VR presence, but suggested that the meeting be open. I didn’t have anything to hide, and even if I had, closing a meeting was certain to suggest that I did.

  From the wing of the stage I glanced out at the audience. There were less than a hundred people present, and I suspected half were media types who held as few shares as they could purchase just to be present. “We might as well go on out,” I said, and then walked out.

  Drejcha and the tall and slender Gallo followed him. After the two UniComm officers came the six independent advisors, two of whom were actual representatives of the Federal Union. I didn’t know any of them personally.

  I slipped into the center seat, behind the small authenticator console that was mine. One was issued to each stakeholder as he or she entered, and each was coded to the holder’s handprint only. Not foolproof, but fairly close to it.

  After we sat, another figure walked to the podium to the right and forward of the table.

  “This meeting is called pursuant to Federal Union law one-forty-seven, section C, dealing with stakeholder rights.” Feron Nasaki, the UniComm associate general counsel, made the formal opening announcement. He looked very nervous. “Under the multilateral rules of procedure for organizations established under modified restricted liability, the organization may establish rules for the conduct of such a meeting, provided they meet the guidelines of Federal Union law. Therefore, all votes made in this meeting must be cast in person, either by the stakeholder of record, or by an authorized representative. At any time prior to the announcement of the results of a vote, however, the
actual stakeholder, if present, may disavow a vote cast by a representative. Moreover, the proceedings of this meeting are being recorded and made available in realtime upon the auxiliary corporate UniComm netband.…”

  I glanced sideways at Brin Drejcha. Although his face bore a pleasant half-smile, I could sense that he was nervous.

  “… According to the petitions filed by the PST Trust and the EDA Trust, both have requested a vote on the leadership of UniComm,” Nasaki continued. “As most of the stakeholders should know, the largest plurality interest in UniComm was held by the former director general, Henson Gerrat Alwyn. With his untimely death, and that of Senior Director Gerrat Myrs Alwyn, the shareholder with the remaining largest plurality has been Daryn Henson Alwyn. Although he has not been directly associated with UniComm in the immediate past, he has intimate and working knowledge of the field, and in the interests of maintaining continuity, he has been the acting director general. This constitutes a change in leadership, since Director Alwyn has not been previously associated with the company. Therefore, if any of the petitioners are present, I would like to ask if they wish to pursue a vote on a further change in leadership.”

  A slender man rose. “We do, counsel.”

  “Would you please identify yourself?”

  “Simion deBecque, solicitor for the PST Trust.”

  “What do we know about him?” I murmured across the link to Majora, who was observing from the office I hoped would be mine officially after the meeting. “Any ties to anyone specific?”

  “He’s with deBecque, A’Ahanar, and Simones. There’s no direct tie. They’re a firm of public interest advocates, but all of them are younger advocates, and they usually join one of the three firms that service the multilaterals of the PST Trust pre-select conspirators. Very legitimate, very legal.”

  “Is there a question I can ask that will put him ill at ease?” I replied to Majora.

  “Not without revealing more than I think you want at this stage.”

  So I waited.

  “Are there any other stakeholders who wish to be heard on this matter?” asked Nasaki, scanning the small crowd.

  “Yes, counsel. We object to continuing this proceeding.” The speaker was an older, dark-skinned advocate. “Aloys Nyere, counsel of the Society of Dynae. The objective of leadership change has already been effectively handled by the unfortunate deaths of the director general and the senior director of UniComm.”

  Nyere was telling me and the world that they wanted me in charge of UniComm. A nice, if belated, confirmation of Mertyn’s earlier call, and perhaps a reason for his murder, another of those that would never be noted as such.

  “We offer a privileged motion to dismiss the petition for a change in leadership,” Nyere finished.

  That wasn’t a bad idea, but privileged motions required a two-thirds absolute majority of outstanding shares, and I doubted I had such.

  “A privileged motion has been offered. Is there a second?”

  “Second,” offered a woman I didn’t know.

  “Diera D’Ahoud,” Majora supplied through the link.

  I wondered if she were related to Ibaran, who had attended The College with me so many years before.

  “The question is on the motion to dismiss the petition for a vote on the leadership of UniComm. A ‘yes’ vote is a vote to dismiss and to retain the current leadership. A ‘no’ vote is a vote to consider the motion for a change in leadership. You have five minutes to record your votes on your consoles.” Nasaki took a step back from the podium. Since the motion was privileged, there was no debate. Although individual votes would be recorded, the specific votes cast did not have to be made public until after the meeting.

  A Federal Union auditor stepped from the wings to stand by the tally console and beside Nasaki.

  I cast my fifty-two point eight percent in favor of dismissal, and waited until the five minutes had passed and Nasaki stepped up to the podium once more.

  “Fifty-eight percent of the outstanding shares are in favor of dismissal, forty percent against, and two percent abstain on the question. The motion to dismiss is rejected,” Nasaki announced.

  I could see the blank expressions on the faces of deBecque and those surrounding him, the blankness substituting for puzzlement. That meant they still thought the EDA Trust was on their side, and that was fine with me.

  “The question is on the motion to change the leadership of UniComm,” Nasaki continued. “This is a general motion, and debate is permitted. Under the rules of the Federal Union, those speaking in favor of the motion have a minimum of an hour to present their case. They may request an extension of additional time, provided they are supported by twenty percent of those present and voting. The same is true of those opposing the motion.”

  Simion deBecque was on his feet. “Counsel, we would like to open debate on the motion.”

  “You may have ten minutes to begin.”

  “I am certain we all share the same common goal,” deBecque began. “We all wish UniComm to be as prosperous and profitable as possible. We all wish that UniComm retain its pre-eminent position among the true world netsystems, and for that we need a proven leader. In the past, that leadership has indeed been provided ably and well by the Alwyn family. We would all like to see that kind of leadership continued.

  “Unhappily, that does not appear to be the case. The current acting director general has never held an executive post in any organization. While he has a certain renown as an edartist, his contributions in the field of net management are nonexistent.

  “From what we can tell, the only reason for picking him was because he is the heir of the founding family, and because he prevailed upon the operating management.…”

  I could sense the faint stiffening by Brin Drejcha and almost nodded. We’d been alone in that meeting, and that meant that he’d either conveyed it directly, told someone else, or that his office was snooped. I didn’t like any of the possibilities, but I thought the first was most likely. The fact that deBecque mentioned it meant he hadn’t counted the votes very well.

  “… it might be noted that this meeting was called before he was selected because of the decline in UniComm market share, almost ten percent in the last decade, and a continued decrease in earnings. The current acting director general is not as qualified as either the former senior director nor the former director general, and this meeting was called to replace them.…”

  “Do you want any of our people to speak yet?” asked Majora over the link.

  “Let’s see what else they have to offer.”

  Aloys Nyere stood. “We will be brief and to the point, Counsel. The honored advocate, and I say honored rather than honorable advisedly,” said Nyere dryly, “has a pleasing and soothing manner. He speaks well, confidently, and he acts as though he would have your best interests in mind. He does not. There are two issues at stake here. One is the future of UniComm as an independent entity. The second is the leadership of UniComm. His position is not in the interests of the stakeholders on either issue, although he would have you believe otherwise.

  “First, all stakeholders should be aware that advocate deBecque represents the PST Trust, as he has noted, and that the PST Trust is a front for a takeover effort to merge UniComm with OneCys — under the operating management of OneCys. For the past two years, OneCys has been attempting to make inroads into UniComm’s market share. They have hired the best consultants available. They have more than doubled their research budget, and added twenty percent to their production budget, and they have garnered about one percent additional broad market share. Since they failed to gather market share in direct competition, they are now attempting a back door method to gain greater marketshare.

  “What we have noted, however, is that in certain areas they have been more successful than in others, and our inquiries determined that in those areas where greater success had been achieved, it was where OneCys followed the recommendations of a particular consultant. Not surprisingl
y, that consultant was Daryn Alwyn, the current acting director general of UniComm. Obviously, Director Alwyn poses a threat to both the PST takeover and to the operating management of OneCys, and they have joined forces to see if they can remove this threat. Their efforts highlight exactly why Director Alwyn should not be removed, but confirmed as permanent director general of UniComm. The advocate and his clients fear Director Alwyn’s abilities. Otherwise, why would they be stampeding to remove someone who has established solid credentials in the field so quickly? Because they do not want Director Alwyn’s abilities to become more widely known. If Director Alwyn is removed, the share price will tumble, and OneCys will attempt to pick up UniComm at a bargain price. That is clearly the agenda of the advocate. It is an agenda which should be opposed. All stakeholders with an interest in preserving the value of their investment should oppose any change in leadership.” Nyere smiled politely and seated himself.

  “The counsel for the Dynae is most persuasive,” returned de-Becque. “But he, too, has an agenda. The Dynae have always opposed efficiency in multilaterals.…”

  After deBecque finished, a balding norm stood. “I would like to say that I’d rather see UniComm under OneCys, whatever it takes.…”

  I wondered who’d bought him, or if he were just misguided.

  Diera D’Ahoud stood. “I would like to ask the counsel for the PST Trust to explain why he believes such haste in removing Director Alwyn is necessary.”

  “You do not have to answer that,” Nasaki said from the podium.

  “I do not mind answering the inquiry of the gracious lady. The answer is simple. We have seen a steady decline in the market share and value of UniComm holdings. We do not believe that UniComm can withstand yet another Alwyn.”