Q-Gates
Page 36
Ophelia quietly accepted Jess’s pronouncement. She left the suite and found an isolated place to sit and think. Recognizing that she was completely out of her depth, she linked to Lillian, who was well on her way to a full recovery.
Ophelia ran through the events of the last few weeks. It was good she couldn’t see Lillian’s pained expression. When Ophelia finished, she waited for Lillian to find a way to repair the damaged relationships.
Ophelia recorded Lillian’s summary, distilled the advice into a simple list, thanked Lillian, and closed the link. While lost in thought, she received Jess’s announcement that the conference would begin at the top of the outpost hour.
When Ophelia entered the conference room, she saw that she was the last to arrive. The same individuals had assembled, including Alex, Renée, and Julien. She hurriedly greeted the other leaders, as she took her seat.
“The Tsargit hasn’t met our arbitrary deadline to suggest a proposal that would lay out the process to approve new gate connections,” Jess began. “Therefore, we must conclude our business.”
“The agreement for the consortium’s support of the outpost has been accepted,” Talsoma said. “It only needs your approval, and we can conclude our negotiations.”
Snouts and noses turned toward Ophelia. New Pyrean connections were the last to be defined.
“Before we hear what President Tuttle has to say, I’ve an amendment to the agreement,” Jess said, which surprised everyone.
“Is this something to be discussed?” Jastitock inquired guardedly. His glance was met by Jess’s level gaze. “Apparently not,” he added.
“I’ve had some recent discussions that made me realize that there’s a fundamental element missing in these proceedings,” Jess said. Deliberately, he avoided Ophelia, not wanting her to feel targeted.
“I see the consortium’s proposal as a split from the Tsargit,” Jess continued, “but it’s just another organization designed to accomplish the same purpose ... build stronger business relationships.”
Nemanous would have questioned Jess, but the deep rumbles of the Norloth members interrupted nearly everyone’s thoughts.
The senior Norloth member said, “We would hear what role the commander proposes our consortium should adopt.”
“Understand, I’ve nothing against your desire to prosper, to expand your abilities to move your citizens and goods more quickly,” Jess said. “However, I’ve no desire to encourage only your financial growth.”
“What else would you like our members to do?” Tockitak encouraged.
“Do what the Tsargit doesn’t do,” Jess replied. “Do what the elites and elders forbid you to do.”
Out of the corner of Renée’s eye, she saw Alex’s fist clench in triumph. Then he sat deep in his chair, with folded arms. He wore a deeply satisfied expression.
Several members were unsure of what Jess meant, but Tockitak wasn’t. She’d barely started to chitter, when her sound was drowned out by the roars of the Crocians.
“Excellent, Commander,” a second Crocian bellowed. “Whom do you recommend we support first?”
“Wait,” Nemanous requested. “What are we supposed to be doing?”
“Uplifting the new races,” Tockitak replied, tipping her head to Jess.
The realization struck Nemanous, Talsoma, and others, including Ophelia, who was taken aback to realize how much she’d misjudged Jess.
“Tell us of your choices,” the third Crocian requested.
“I think this consortium can make these choices for itself,” Jess replied. “If you were to ask me, I’d say you should start with a simian race called the Loopah. The Pims are excellent candidates. Then there’s a hooved and horned race I recommend. Last, but not least, there’s the federacy race. Rather than excluding them, we should include them.”
“The Packeoes?” Talsoma queried.
“Yes,” Jess replied. “They need the help of the Jatouche medical facilities to prevent their gene pool from collapsing. And they’re an advanced race who has been stranded on the Quall planet.”
“Are we to economically develop them?” Nemanous asked. He envisaged trying to get the collective to underwrite an enormous number of credits without a thought of immediate return.
“Certainly not,” Jess replied, “but why should they struggle to reach their dome, learn its secrets, and discover the alliance? This is a job for envoys, who will offer advice and technological information. In turn, you’ll receive their gratitude.”
“And they’ll represent new markets for us that much sooner,” the Crocian leader said approvingly.
“There is that,” Jess replied.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Ophelia said. “If the consortium adopts this condition into the agreement, then Pyre is prepared to offer two gates to the members.”
When Alex stood, eyes swung his way. “I can see that this group is in good hands,” he said, nodding toward Jess. “We wish you good fortune.” Then Renée and he left. Julien remained behind at Ophelia’s private request.
“To whom are you offering the gates, President Tuttle?” Nemanous asked.
“I’ve asked Julien to help me with that,” Ophelia replied. “Julien, of the members of the consortium, who’s the farthest from Pyre?”
“By distance or by number of gates?” Julien asked.
“By connections,” Ophelia replied.
“That would be Sylia, then Norsitchia,” Julien replied.
“We’ll take one,” Talsoma and Nemanous declared simultaneously. Then she snarled, and he barked in amusement.
“It appears that your proposed amendment is accepted, Commander,” Tockitak said, chittering at the hungry expressions on the two Resistance leaders.
“Then we’ve the framework for the agreement,” Jess replied. “I’ve the document, as outlined by our inimitable SADE.” Eyes swept toward Julien, who displayed his favorite fedora. The projected haberdashery lifted slightly, tipped toward Jess, and settled back into place.
At Jess’s cue, Alain stepped into the room. He’d spoken briefly with Alex and Renée. Alex had wished him good fortune, and Renée had hugged him for an extended amount of time.
“I’ve an announcement for you,” Jess said to the group. “I’d like you to meet Senior Captain Alain de Long. He’s one of the oldest friends of Alex and Renée. He’s graciously accepted my offer of the outpost envoy to the Tsargit. In addition, he’ll work with your new envoys and support their efforts.”
Alain wasn’t surprised that Jess had leapt past the part of asking the consortium leaders for their thoughts about the post. His extensive conversations with Alex, Renée, and Julien had prepared him to work with a commander who was swiftly adopting his role.
“What took you so long to consider this?” the Crocian leader asked, rumbling.
“Had to find the right candidate,” Jess explained, and Lucia hid her chuckles.
As servers wheeled in carts on Jess’s cue, he said, “Please take some time to meet with Captain de Long and discuss how he can best accomplish his responsibilities.”
37: Need the Fleet
When Jess and Lucia left the meeting, the consortium leaders were deep in conversation with Alain and Julien. Envoy assistance for the emerging races was the primary subject. Julien had access to the historic encounters, and both Alain and he were experienced in first contacts.
“When did you think of the amendment to the agreement?” Lucia asked, as they walked the corridor toward a lift. It would take them up station toward their suite.
“When you asked me what I’d do with my accumulating credits,” Jess replied off-handedly.
“Wait,” Lucia said, halting and gripping Jess’s arm. “I asked you about your credits, and you thought of how to aid the developing races?”
“That’s what came to me,” Jess replied, giving Lucia a small shrug. She gave him a strange look, like she saw something odd sticking to his face. Then she folded her arms around his neck and kissed him long and gentle.
“What’s the occasion?” Jess asked, perplexed.
“Because I wanted to do it,” Lucia replied. Then she walked on, and Jess hurried to catch up.
“Something occurred to me,” Jess said, as he drew shoulder to shoulder with her.
“What?” Lucia inquired.
“I wonder what the consortium will demand for the pace of the gate installations,” Jess said.
Lucia thought, as she walked. Then she suddenly stopped again.
“Am I going to get kissed again?” Jess teased.
Lucia swatted Jess’s arm. “After your demand that the amendment be added, they’ll want an accelerated schedule.”
“Why do you think that?” Jess asked, hoping it wasn’t true.
“You said it yourself,” Lucia retorted. “The new gates are to further business relationships. Yet, you’ve asked them to commit citizens and resources to help the emerging races.”
“So, in exchange for their commitment to the amendment, we must deliver the new gates sooner,” Jess surmised.
Lucia examined Jess’s knitted brows. “Black space,” she remarked. “The outpost doesn’t have enough qualified individuals unless we pull them off Mickey’s projects.”
“We don’t, but somebody does,” Jess replied, grinning. He connected to the controller and discovered what he needed. Then he halted their lift and redirected it.
On the holo-vid deck, Jess and Lucia joined Alex, Renée, Petra, and others in the control room.
Alex wore a neutral expression, but Renée was clearly unhappy.
“Commander, we’ve learned that Ude applied to be an outpost trooper, and that you’ve approved his leading a brassard of Norsitchians,” Renée said.
Renée expected some level of guilt from Jess, but neither Jess nor Lucia appeared inclined to offer any.
“He’s just been repaired,” Renée pressed. “Don’t you think he should have some time before you press him into service?”
Now Jess understood Alex’s neutral expression, and it warned him to tread lightly. Not only was his partner upset, but he didn’t agree with her.
“That was my thought too, Renée, which is why I was surprised that he made an appointment with me and showed up with his lieutenant friends,” Jess replied.
Renée glanced toward Petra, but the lieutenant’s eyes were glued to a monitor. The display followed Ude through the course, as he demonstrated his methods to the watching Norsitchian brassard leaders and their new commander.
“Ude was adamant about wanting to do something to pay back the generosity that had been extended to him,” Lucia added.
“He could have found another way to help,” Renée noted.
“This is what he wanted,” Petra said, without taking her eyes off the monitor.
Alex grunted quietly in reaction to an exceptional move by Ude.
A red and two grays attacked from different directions. The scenario was designed to teach the combatant that some situations must be avoided. They were too difficult to handle, and retreat was the best option.
In contrast, Ude rolled toward the red, taking the insectoid by surprise. He fired upward to decapitate the red. Then he rolled away as the virtual insectoid collapsed. The red’s fall gave Ude the opportunity to dispatch the grays.
“Unusual move,” Alex commented.
“Only one other has used that maneuver,” said the Sylian who managed the deck’s operation, and she cut her eyes toward Jess to make her point.
“Quite the feat, Alex,” Lucia said approvingly. When Renée glanced between Alex and her, she added, “Tying his mind’s thoughts to his implant’s control has given Ude exceptional reflex speed.”
Renée expressed a resigned sigh. “Commander, what are his chances?”
“I can’t answer that, Renée,” Jess replied, “but they are a great deal better than most troops, veterans or newbies.”
“Renée, he’s demonstrating his skills to the new commander and the brassard leaders,” Lucia said sympathetically. “Word is that they’re impressed. Ude will train with his new brassard. That will allow him to develop his forces and solidify his command. That’s an opportunity that Jess and I never had.”
Taking advantage of a lull in the conversation, Jess requested an opportunity to talk with Alex and Renée.
“We need members of your fleet,” Jess said, when the small group stepped aside.
“They’re yours,” Alex replied.
“That’s it?” Jess queried.
“Yes. They’re at your service,” Alex replied. “Although, I’d appreciate some details.”
“We suspect that the consortium will insist on an accelerated schedule for gate installations,” Lucia said.
“Of that, I’ve no doubt,” Alex said chuckling. “So, you need SADEs, engineering support, and ships.”
“Exactly,” Jess replied. “Luther, Minimalist, and Kasie will share their knowledge with the teams. We’ll need Tridents and travelers to provide communications.”
“What about the Tsargit?” Renée asked.
“According to Tockitak, the consortium hasn’t consulted or updated the council on what it intends to do,” Lucia replied.
“That sounds like a political disaster waiting to happen,” Julien opined.
“I agree,” Jess said, shaking his head at the preposterous situation. “I’m going to speak with Alain on some other issues, and then I’m sending him to Hyronzy Station to inform the council.”
Alex and Renée frowned. They disliked the thought that Alain would begin his outpost service on such a sour note.
“Look at it this way,” Lucia said. “The council and the membership only hurl invectives. It’s so much better than dodging missiles or close-in gunfire.” Unfortunately, her attempt at humor didn’t relieve Alex or Renée’s concerns.
“If I haven’t mentioned it,” Jess added, “Alain won’t personally be making the announcement. I’ll record a message, and he’ll play it on a holo-vid for the council. I imagine the council will be happy to replay it for the entire membership.”
“Then the outpost will be taking the brunt of the blame,” Alex pointed out.
“Can’t be helped,” Jess replied. “Would it be better if the Tsargit found out from a representative that a dome the individual had previously used had one more gate than he or she remembered?”
“Definitely not,” Alex quickly replied.
“I think the alliance races will experience many more growing pains,” Jess said. “My amendment to the consortium agreement requires the members of the organization to support the emerging races. That’s contrary
to the Tsargit’s rules of engagement.”
Alex chuckled, and Julien’s fairy lights glowed and danced.
“What are you two overjoyed about?” Renée inquired.
“I think the complexity and difficulty of Jess and Lucia’s jobs are equal to, if not eclipsing, our own,” Alex replied, laughing out loud. When he saw a sour expression on Jess’s face, he laughed harder.
“Sorry, Commander,” Alex said, trying to control his laughter. “You don’t know how long we’ve been waiting for others to share the load.” Then he clapped his hands on Jess’s shoulders and added, “Welcome to an extremely exclusive club. I’m happy to have Lucia and you aboard.”
* * * * *
Alain sat on a couch in the suite. He watched Jess’s recording play on the holo-vid. When it finished, he regarded Jess and asked, “Are you sure the councilors don’t carry personal weapons?”
“Fairly certain,” Jess replied thoughtfully, which had Lucia laughing.
“Humorous,” Alain remarked. “So, this will be my introduction to the Tsargit council.”
“After the councilors hear this message, you’ll be allowed to request an immediate audience with them anytime you need,” Lucia pointed out.
“Tockitak was more than helpful about the circumstances surrounding Tsargit scheduling,” Alain said. “Is this why I’m starting with this ultrasensitive message?”
“No,” Jess said seriously. “The consortium’s actions are tantamount to declaring the Tsargit an outdated organization. I imagine the council will call the consortium’s reps before them and demand explanations as to why they weren’t informed in advance of the group’s intentions.”
“What do you expect the members will say?” Alain asked.
“Little to nothing,” Jess replied. “If pressed, they’ll explain that their leaders required they be silent about what was shared with them.”
Alain mused about the message, its playing before the council, the councilors’ expected reactions, and the collision of the council and consortium members. “The federacy,” he finally said. He’d turned to Lucia, as he spoke, and she nodded her affirmation.