Doona Trilogy Omnibus

by neetha Napew

  “Your approval of this document is not required,’ Todd said bluntly. “This is Alreldep business. You are here as an observer, Admiral, and on our sufferance.” Barnstable raised his eyebrows in placid amusement at the warning.

  “But I,’ Hrrto said firmly, “wish to read the text before it is signed.” Second Speaker glanced around the table. “I would be failing in my duty to my Stripe and my position to dispense with such a formality,’ and he bowed courteously to lIrrestan, “for such a momentous document.” Todd had to stifle his impatience. The conspiracy of delay which he had suspected was now proven. Spacedep and Second Speaker were clearly working together to slow the proceedings down to a crawl. Fortunately the Gringg seemed unconcerned by the delay. So Todd offered the oval mass of the Gringg-language copy to Eonneh who brought it to Grizz. She flipped to the first page of the document and began to read.

  Most of the Hayumans crowded around Admiral Barnstable who had pulled the Terran-language copy over in front of him. Kiachif put a pair of spectacles on his nose and peered down them at the pages, scanning as Barnstable read to himself.

  Just then the first quiet, decorous intrusion of Spacedep aides began, the first with just a whispered message: the second and the third bringing Greene message cubes which he read before passing to Barnstable for his perusal.

  Mllaba stood behind Second Speaker as he read slowly.

  She hissed startlement as Jilamey Landreau sidled up to look over Hrrto’s other shoulder “Too much of a crowd over there,’ he said, smiling at her winsomely. “Just as well I can read formal High Hrruban as easily as Basic.”

  “Provisions for trade, galactic court, common currency based on table of values - - -, Barnstable muttered to himself after spending several minutes thumbing through the pristine pages.

  “Wait just a nanosecond, here: what is this?” he demanded, planting an indignant finger in the middle of one page. “What is this about a panel for scientific interchange to be chaired by the Gringg?”

  “At my humble suggestion,’ Honey replied. “The Gringg see that Hrruba and Terra require an arbiter of scientific matters to ensure most efficient development of important technology. We will do this for you, in exchange for a place among you.

  “Never!” cried Barustable. “Ridiculous! Afroza, you can’t sign this,’ he boomed at Sumitral.

  “I can, Ev, and I shall,’ Sumitral said. “I have the permission of the Amalgamated Worlds Council to do so.

  “But a seat on the Joint Supervisory Council overseeing trade!’

  Barnstable’s face turned bright red with aggravation.

  “If the Gringg trade with you,’ Grizz asked, “is it not fair to allow us a small say in the laws and privileges? We will agree to abide by them. If we governed, would you not expect such a courtesy?” For that Barnstable had no objection. “I . . . suppose so “We keep faith,’ Grizz replied. “Even as you have asked us, we have kept our ship in the same orbit you recommended many weeks ago.

  Greene was surprised to have that fact raised. Could the Gringg suspect? Had they instrumentation powerful enough to see through the larger Rraladoon moon which was obscuring the approach of the fleets?

  For another half hour everyone read quietly while Todd and Hrriss became more uneasy. Todd drummed his fingers on the tabletop. Every legitimate signatory for this Trade Agreement had been intimately involved and had approved each day’s finished negotiations. Why delay the inevitable? Or did those messengers mean the Spacedep contingent were waiting for some sort of confirmation?

  Greene had edged forward and was perched on the front of his seat, turning an occasional worried glance at Captain Castleton, who responded with small shakes of her head.

  “And what is this?” MIlaba asked a few minutes later, pointing over her senior’s arm at a statement near the end of the document. “A section of Treaty Island to be designated as an Embassy of the Gringg?”

  “Of course,’ Todd said. “As we discussed at length last Tuesday afternoon, they will have ambassadorial status to Rraladoona. It’s an acceptable compromise since they are not actually members of our Hayuman-Hrruban alliance.

  No, change that to “federation”. An alliance suggests there is an enemy to ally against.” To Todd’s surprise and concern, Castleton visibly winced at his wording. She looked almost guilty but he continued with his explanation. “They are entitled to have a base for their trading houses and a diplomatic compound.

  I’m still not at all happy to see the Hrrunatan inhabited but that part of the continent’s useless for anything else so it might as well be a space port and the Gringg are to hoe their own quarters there as well as here in the Treaty Centre.” He looked around the table at the troubled expressions. “Look, you’ll have to accept that the universe isn’t composed of only two sentient races any more-‘ He stared significantly at Greene. “r just one. We’ve been sought out by a third. One day there may even be more.

  He kept his grin at their dismay to himself. “That portion of the text was agreed on yesterday morning.”

  “And you agreed to this?” Barnstable demanded of Hrrto. “When? After I left? How could you?” Suddenly stung by the Hayuman’s presumption, Hrrto struck back.

  “Hrruba does not answer to Earth for its actions, he replied. “It sounded quite reasonable to me when I discovered how much that would benefit Hrruba you Hayumans would deny us.

  “Now, wait!” Barnstable roared. “We deny you? What about you and your precious grids?”

  “Just a moment, Admiral,’ Kiachif said, soothingly.

  “To be just, judicious, and non-judgemental, there are processes we deny the Hrrubans and could very well offer without a loss to ourselves, if you understand me. Our new cryogenic techniques for one thing.”

  “That’s top secret, military only!” Greene said, narrowing his eyes at the Codep captain.

  “As if we have a constant call for frozen soldiers,’ replied Kiachif with a snort.

  “If we may be allowed to mediate this point,’ Grizz began pleasantly, with her paws folded over her belly, “the function of trading is to sell to others what they do not themselves have. Both parties should gain in the exchange.”

  “So let’s exchange,’ Jilamey said eagerly. “Let’s exchange spaceships for grid systems. Amalgamated Worlds would gain what they need and Hrruba would be able to explore more efficiently. That’d be the greatest trade - and the greatest gain - possible.” He beamed around the table, apparently unaware of the frozen and outraged silence.

  “And, under special auspices, that might very well be possible,’ Hrrto said. Mllaba nearly choked and jumped from her seat to whisper urgently in Second Speaker’s ear.

  Mter only a few words, he pushed her from him.

  “D’you mean that, Second Speaker?” Jilamey asked, incredulous.

  Just then two ensigns hurried quietly into the meeting room and placed a communications unit on the floor next to Barnstable. Todd noticed that the unit was operational and broadcasting.

  “Now just a moment, Barnstable,’ Todd said, rising from his chair.

  “This is a closed session and that thing is on broadcast. You two,’ and he pointed to the ensigns, “get that out of here, on the double.” Hrriss indicated his distaste with a swish of his tail.

  Hrrto, usually a stickler for protocol, glanced up and seemed to draw in on himself.

  Todd’s order was ignored as, hard on the heels of the Spacedep technicians, uniformed Hrrubans brought a similar unit for Hrrrv.

  “Just what is going on here?” Todd demanded, glaring at Barnstable and Hrrrv. Neither answered him. “I want an answer or, by all that’s holy, you’ll leave this meeting!”

  “Not until you’ve seen what we can now show you, Reeve,’ Greene said, pitching his voice louder, his eyes fixed on Todd. “You’ve lost this one, Reeve. You and your all for one, one for all!” He sneered. “You’ve lousy judgement, Reeve.

  “In what respect, Greene, or by the powers of the office Hrr
estan and I hold, you’ll be off this planet and you’ll never get back on it!’ Out of the corner of his eye, Todd saw the smug grin on Barnstable’s face. He nodded at Greene, an obvious signal to continue.

  “Yes, you’ve erred catastrophically in the matter of the Gringg.

  These great, peace-loving creatures you’re so eager to invite everywhere! That you’re stupid enough to trust. Sumitral and Hrrestan both leaped to their feet.

  “If you fault Reeve’s judgement, then you fault ours, too,’ Sumitral said in a cold hard voice.

  “You’re getting a little too old to practise basic common sense.

  Sumitral,’ Barnstable said. “If you resign now, we can probably see that your long service is suitably rewarded.”

  “My what?” Sumitral’s face was expressionless but his response was unforgiving.

  “You’ve all made the mistake of taking the Gringg at face value,’ Barnstable said. “And it is a mistake! Which Spacedep and the Hrruban Arm can at least control.”

  “You had better explain yourself, Admiral,’ Todd said, anger rising to a barely controllable pitch.

  “Indeed you’d better, and immediately,’ added Sumitral.

  “Now!” and Hrrestan’s single word held overtones of threat to which the Gringg now began to respond.

  “Before those naval ships coming in behind the moon get into a position to cause both us and our Gringg friends considerable discomfort,’ Ali Kiachif said, his black eyes flashing with warning.

  He removed from under the table a small but powerful receiver which he had obviously been monitoring.

  “What?” Todd asked, thunderstruck. “Space fleets? Ali, why didn’t you tell us?”

  “Just got the confirmation I’ve been waiting for.

  I thought this laddie buck,’ and he jerked a thumb in Greene’s direction, “was up to no good so I’ve kept eye and ear pricked until he overstepped himself. You, too, Admiral.

  Todd turned on Barnstable. “I demand to know on what grounds you have brought armed ships into Rraladoonan space!” Sumitral drew himself up in regal dignity. “If you have data you’ve been concealing from us during these negotiations, you must now reveal why you are obstructing the progress of these peace talks.”

  “The data,’ Greene stressed the verb, “was classified until it could be confirmed. It is now. I contend that, in your naive and ingenuous fashion, you have put all of Humanity and Hrrubanity at risk.”

  “And that you, in your usual warlike and suspicious nature, have arbitrarily decided we need to be defended by two space fleets. Humpf.” And Kiachif’s black eyes sparkled with outrage and indignation.

  “Ev, what have you done?” Sumitral asked, distress and disbelief spread across his face. “How could you supersede my authority in this matter?” “I have rectified - and not arbitrarily - a serious error of the current civilian government,’ and Barnstable turned towards Todd, levelling a finger at him. “You have negligently placed the civilians of this planet in grave mortal danger. Therefore I declare martial law on this planet. I am taking over here. Two cruisers are approaching the Gringg ship and have orders to fire if it moves or they detect any unusual emissions. Furthermore, the entire fleet will take action in one hour, if I do not cancel the mission with a code word known only to myself.” The Spacedep Admiral glared at Grizz as he finished speaking and Todd realized just how frightened the man really was.

  At this point a squad of heavily armed Human marines and another of even more heavily armed Hrruban soldiers entered the Chamber.

  Mllaba smiled with intense relief.

  “Guards will be here in minutes to take these Gringg into protective custody until we can search their ship.” Greene pointed at Grizz and Honey as he spoke, signalling the mannes. One immediately tried to remove Grizz’s collar.

  Honey attempted to prevent it, but withdrew when a laser rifle was levelled in his face.

  “How dare you?” Todd said, furiously, rushing over to place himself between the guards and the Gringg. “We’re on the verge of making lasting peace with these people.

  We’ve already begun commercial transactions!”

  “You are so naive, Havuman,’ Mllaba said, her voice coldly insulting, “opening the way to the Gringg domination of Humankind and Hrrubankind? Because that’s the climate you were preparing - or did they make it worth your while?” The marines had removed the collars of all the Gringgs now, even Teddy’s though he had tried to resist. His dam had given one shake of her head and, sniffling, he had allowed it to be removed, though he kept his eye on it, where it lay on a side table. Then marines took up positions behind the now shocked Gringg, their rifles pointed at the large aliens’ backs. At that, Teddy slipped from his chair and nestled under his dam’s arm.

  Eyes straight ahead, she cuddled him.

  Todd ignored the snide insult. “Domination?” he asked, wanting to guffaw out loud as he glanced at the passive Gringg. If she had chosen to, Grizz by herself could have overcome both squads, without requiring the help of Honey and Kodiak but she remained quiescent, almost amused, Todd thought. Or were the loud and conflicting exchanges jamming her voder with meaningless sounds.

  Barnstable continued. “Spacedep is in possession of data that proves a Gringg ship destroyed a planetary civilization in the Fingal system.” Sumitral sat bolt upright. “I have received no information on such an incident!”

  “The matter was classified but we have the tape of the exploration group, tape showing the devastated planet, with a dead Gringg ship orbiting it, and Barnstable enunciated that phrase with intense satisfaction at its effect on the Rraladoonans. Almost patronizingly, he continued. “Further examination proves that the weapons that killed the population and destroyed the cities came from that ship.”

  “What proof is there the Gringg actually were the aggressors?” Todd demanded.

  “Quite enough, Reeve. More than enough,’ Greene observed drily.

  “We missed the shot, but can see the smoking gun.”

  “Then the evidence is circumstantial?” Hrrestan asked, stiffening his shoulders under his formal attire.

  “They were there!” Barnstable said defensively. “The remains of their ship is still in orbit. The race they wiped out did inflict mortal damage on the ship which is why we have proof of their infamy “And when did this happen?” asked Kiachif. “How many eons ago?”

  “That hasn’t been ascertained yet,’ Grace Castleton said, speaking for the first time. Greene gave her an odd look then he hurriedly took over the explanation.

  “What we have is from a scoutship “Which only have limited scientific capacity,’ Sumitral said in a crisp tone.

  Greene glared at the AIreldep official. “The fully equipped naval team sent to conduct a thorough investigation of the system hasn’t had time to reach Fingal yet.”

  “And for this you want to put Rialadoon under martial law?” Todd protested.

  “It is for your own protection,’ Greene answered, looking pleased at Todd’s dismay, “since you aren’t showing the sense to protect yourselves. Spacedep is doing its job, risking lives to rescue you from your folly.

  Todd spun to confront Barnstable. “As the representative of Rialadoon, I order you to end this nonsense. There is no clear threat and you have no basis for the illegal actions you have taken, including letting an unauthorized war party into Rraladoonan space.

  The Gringg were now looking around nervously, their subsonic rumbles adding to everyone’s agitation.

  “He’s right,’ Kiachif agreed. “These are bears, not bombs or brigades.” “They aren’t bears,’ Barustable said. “They’re an alien race - strangers.”

  “I have always made myself personally responsible for Grizz and the others,’ Todd added. “Send those guards out. I know these people, and they are a threat to no one “Gone native again,’ Greene said to Todd with such repugnance the room was completely silent for several seconds.

  “I have evidence of a clear threat, as I�
�ve told you all along,’ Barnstable said. “Sit down, Reeve.”

  “If you’re accusing me of being a closet Gringg, then this won’t surprise you, either.” With lightning fingers, Todd reached out and wrenched the corner of Greene’s collar away from the body of his tunic. There was an audible gasp from Grizz and the rest of the Gringg. Greene recoiled, wondering if Todd was about to strike him, then sat very still. He had been present for Honey’s explanation of the Gringg custom, and knew precisely what the gesture meant. Second Speaker and his aide looked puzzled, and glanced at Todd for enlightenment.

  Todd spoke intensely, to Greene alone. “I challenge you personal combat. I resent your interference. I deplore your attempt to embroil me and my world in your petty secret bureaucratic games. You have tried and condemned an entire race on the basis of an isolated incident and no evidence. Do you realize that if they weren’t so peaceful, you may have just given them cause for retaliation?

  You’ve insulted Captain, scared her cub, and have they moved a muscle?”

  “How could they?” Greene demanded with a sneer.

  “With lasers aimed at them?” Todd laughed again. “Haven’t you seen how fast the Gringg can move when they want to? Have you any genuine notion of their physical strength? Grizz alone could account for every marine in this room and bend those laser barrels into pretzels. But I’ve a quarrel with you, Greene. And I mean to get it settled right now!” He poked a hard finger into Greene’s sternum.

  “Knives or bare hands?” Greene hesitated, shocked at Todd’s wrath.

  “Knives or bare hands? That’s barbaric . . . that’s . . -, “Barbarians have a keen sense of honour, you stupid button jabber,’ Todd cut him off with a ferocious smile on his face that made him look not unlike a hairless Gringg. “I do, too, and there are many on Earth who have considered me an arrogant barbarian. But I’m willing to fight for what I believe in. Whereas you are preparing to initiate a bloody and unnecessary war, and turn a very profitable colony on its ears with martial law! Well, I’m willing to fight for self-determination. Are you as willing to fight for your beliefs, Greene? Is individual combat too immediate, too undignified for you? In your hearing, the Gringg said that “tearing the collar” has long been considered unacceptable.