Gambler, p.19
Gambler, page 19
Once she had her charges seated and the limo left the port, she said, “I hope your excursion was successful. We’ve been busy since you left. I want to update you on our situation, or at least some of it. You’ll get the full briefing when we get to the Council chamber.” She paused. “You probably saw the nine out-system warships in orbit on your way in.”
“Of course,” Ron said. “Six Ackalonian and three from Borgol. Hard to miss. That’s a lot more tonnage than we requested. They challenged us on the way in.”
Geena added, “Frankly, I don’t understand why there are any Borgol ships up there at all.”
“So I’ve been told,” Kalia said, responding to Ron’s comment while flexing her ears. “We’ve also been told that the Plicora was prepared to send her entire Fleet here if you asked her for it. It’s unheard of. I’m sure you know that.” Kalia paused. “Lexi, I was with all of you from the start, in the Plicora’s office. I still have to wonder who you guys are that you command such loyalty from the leader of an Accord world.”
Lexi frowned. She too was pondering the nine battleships, compounded by the comment Kalia just made. Who are we? “I believe the Plicora answered that when we met in her office, Kalia,” Lexi said. “My friends and I are problem solvers. I cannot give you a better answer than that. I don’t care to speculate on why Jis makes the decisions she does. I don’t think she always knows herself.”
Smiling somewhat mysteriously, Kalia said, “I’m not sure whether I should find that frightening or not. At any rate, the Ackalon admiral appears as confused by this as we are. At any rate, according to Admiral De Borkin, Jis would like us to construct a building suitable for a semi-aquatic human species with some rather bizarre environmental conditions. It seems someone discovered an unknown species of human whom the Plicora would like us to be prepared to accommodate. We’ll do it, of course. The cost of the entire project will be less than one of those warships.”
Her expression deadpan, she added, “Oddly, we’re also to be charged for the fleet. The admiral informed me that Jis requires one Ostrieachian credit for their services. It seems she desires to hang it on her office wall.” She twitched her ears. “Fun fact, but not important.”
“On a more serious note, the Ackalonians’s brought nine psychology specialists to us. Those people have formed groups of three and are interviewing the former pirates we bring in from Rathca as quickly as possible. I can’t imagine that’s a fun job. Most of the pirates aren’t really pirates and we let them go after they’re interviewed. We’re building a small town for them not too far from here. They have nowhere else. Some of them are interested in settling there. Of course, they’re not aware of the national rivalries that plague us. Others have volunteered to return to the base and work for us. We expect most of them may eventually make that choice once we’ve made it a pleasanter place to live. We’re drawing up plans to have the cavern under where the flight deck used to be converted into multi-level parks and food-producing gardens. We might need Urania to enlarge it some if you are amenable.”
She paused. “Any the Ackalon team took issue with we were executing without further questioning until the Ackalonian admiral found out and asked us to stop. We’re still collecting our own people across Ostrieachia; those who like Denem were working with the enemy. Damn, there were a lot of them, too. Oh, yes, we took out the base that courier you followed came from. Not much to tell about that. There may be other hidden bases. It would be surprising if there aren’t. We’ll find them. In addition to having the Ackalonians conducting the interviews, we’re going through a lot of truth serum.”
She paused, looking briefly out the limo’s window. “Let’s see. What else?” She thought for a moment. “Oh, yes. Both Ackalon and Borgol sent diplomatic missions along with their warships and will be reopening their embassies. All of the embassies pulled out around fifty years back. I can’t say I blame them. At the time global war seemed imminent. Because of the changes being put into place now, war seems to be less of a foregone conclusion. Although I imagine their diplomats are going to be drawing hazard pay for a few years yet.”
“Domestically, we granted Danders citizenship and offered him a position of Rear Admiral in our growing fleet which, fortunately, he accepted. I think you probably already knew that. He’s meeting with the other Unity fly-boys once they pass the Ackalon screening. We’ve already recruited a fair number of trained Unity personnel.” She shrugged her ears. “Ackalon didn’t send the instructors you requested. We learned that it is difficult for most of their people to function away from their kind. You possibly already knew that but it came as a surprise to us.”
“Yes, we knew,” Lexi confirmed.
Again the pause and another twitch of her ears. “Plicora Boc Seckan did, however, reach out to Borgol. There’s more to that, but we’ll cover it in the general meeting. We anticipate within three years, our technology will be up to the level of the rest of the Accord. We can’t thank you enough for that and all the rest you’ve done. We are also the only Accord member world in possession of ships with the pirates’ advanced shield technology. Think about what you want us to do about that.”
Chapter 36
Chief Minister
The meeting chamber of the One World Council was a relatively large room. For security reasons, it was underground. There never had been actual windows, but smart-glass adorned all of the walls looking out in real-time on the surrounding city. Potted plants were everywhere. Everyone stood as the Aeolus team, accompanied by Kalia, entered the chamber.
They sat Lexi at the head of the table among the sixty-four national delegates, in most cases, two representing each of Ostrieachia’s nations. Ron and Geena sat on either side of Lexi. Also at the table were ranking members of the Ackalonian mission which arrived in-system three weeks earlier. Admiral Henny De Borkin commanded the fleet of six Ackalonian warships, now positioned in orbit above Ostrieachia. Em Es Whashmim, leader of the Ackalonian interrogation team, although they called themselves psychologists, sat next to the Admiral. Rear Admiral (Engineering) Lagar Boll and Fleet Captain Dacar Muelm of the Borgolian Navy were present. In addition to Fleet Admiral Orgiazz, both Kalia and Rear Admiral Danders were seated at the conference table. In addition to the delegates, there was a sprinkling of people Lexi hadn’t been introduced to the last time she was here.
Equally surprising, as the Council was an organization of civilian leaders, Orgiazz seemed to be in charge. At least he was the one who called the assembly to order from the far end of the table. “Let me welcome the Aeolus team back to Ostrieachia before we get down to business.” He paused as most of the room applauded. “I think it might be appropriate if we all stood and introduced ourselves before we start. I’m Orgiazz, Fleet Admiral of the Ostrieachian Home Fleet.”
Once the room’s focus got back to him, Orgiazz said, “Based on the data you harvested from the Unity base, we’re in the process of rounding up those traitors who would have sold our world into slavery. A number of them were quite surprising, including several who sat at this very council table. Everyone sitting here today has been evaluated by our Ackalonian team. Not everyone’s motive is entirely selfless, but none of these people will betray us.”
His gaze swept the room. He didn’t know who here the Ackalonians had minor issues with. They refused to say. “Also, as you suggested, this Council is retaining control of the captured warships. With the support and guidance of our off-world guests, we are putting together our first planetary fleet that is not under the control of any country. There is enough distrust between many of our national assemblies that they’re more in favor of the Council having control than they are of distributing any of the ships to their neighbors. No one wants to cause any trouble while we’re coming up to speed. That might well have something to do with the Accord warships in orbit. Of course, we are recruiting men and women from existing navies if they pass the Ackalonian psych review. Many of our recruits, like Danders, are ex-Unity military.”
He smiled at Danders as he said that. “The Ackalonian fleet arrived less than three weeks after your message drone was dispatched. In other words, before the drone was received by Ackalon. Admiral De Borkin?”
Like every Ackalonian female Lexi had ever seen, De Borkin was a slim, platinum blonde of medium height. From her seat, she said, “We left Ackalon at full burn. Our new Plicora managed to convince our Borgolian friends to send as many ships as they could spare to Ackalon. I was told that in her meetings with all of the off-world representatives at her coronation she suggested they make plans for increasing the strength of their fleets and begin implementing those plans if they could. Some will follow her recommendation, some will not.” She shrugged. “Such is the Accord.
“The Borgolian ships with us are currently under my command. My six ships, plus the three from Borgol, are under yours, Lexi Stevens, as am I, for as long as you want us. Those orders come directly from my Plicora.”
All eyes in the room turned from the Admiral to look at Lexi. What is Jis up to? She didn’t leave me any way out of this. I don’t have the background to command a freakin’ fleet. “Were you given any guidelines of what your mission would be?”
De Borkin nodded. “It was implied that my mission is to protect and stabilize this system. We understood Ostrieachia’s technology is generally inferior to ours. We further understood they were facing an overwhelming menace from pirates.” With a nod to Orgiazz, she continued, “Fleet Admiral Orgiazz and Citizen Kalia brought us up to speed on how the situation here was radically altered prior to our arrival. Their understanding of what you wanted to happen here seemed reasonable. We have taken that approach. As an aside, if you’re willing and when there is time, all of my officers are dying to know how you managed to loft a flight deck through hyperspace. I’m curious about that, too.”
Rear Admiral Boll stated, “I’m an engineer. What you did shouldn’t be possible. When Admiral De Borkin says she’s curious, she understates my feelings on the matter.”
De Borkin smiled as Lagar made that last statement. “In your absence, Rear Admiral Boll has been working with Rear Admiral Y’Throhe and the other people from the Unity base who have joined the Ostrieachian cadre on training Ostrieachians on the captured hardware. My people have been utilizing the captured transports to extract people from the pirate base and bring them back here. Our interrogation team has been separating them into four categories. Many of them are innocent. Some just plain don’t deserve to live. There aren’t many in that category, but there are some. The other categories are more applicable to the Ostrieachians working for the pirates. Some did so for personal gain, others because they had no choice. So far we’ve only categorized them as I stated. Once we realized the Ostrieachians were executing those in the ‘don’t deserve to live’ category, I asked them to stop. Some might have valuable intelligence if and when time permits a more thorough interrogation. Otherwise, we’re waiting on your decision as to what to do with them.”
Lexi looked across the table at her and then cast her gaze slowly around the table at the other council members, all of whom were looking intently at her, expectantly waiting for her answer. I’m missing something. “Why my decision, Admiral? You could have told me any and all of this over dinner if you wanted to. I’m missing something here. It sounds like you’ve been giving me an official status report. Why am I sitting at the head of this table?”
Kalia stood. “I’ll answer that. You warned me that you’d be really pissed if we wiped ourselves out in a nuclear war. Right now the last thing any of us want is to piss you off. You command a fleet of nine warships, plus your own Urania, which alone could wipe out every vessel in this system.” She glanced away from the Ackalonian admiral who now had an intensely interested expression on her face back to Lexi, and said, “My apologies. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that.”
She took a deep breath and continued, “Our planet is still knee-deep in a pile of excrement. We have thirty-six nations, officially, as of this morning. Did you know we’re very good at propaganda? There are really only two things all thirty-six nations and the various political parties and special interest groups they consist of agree on. The first is that we were about to go under, to be conquered and enslaved by the Unity pirates. Our captives have been talking. It is true, many of them are scared but Ackalonians redirect them when they veer from the truth. The picture they present of life under Unity rule is not pleasant.”
There were nods of agreement from all of the Ostrieachians at the table. “The second is that it was only the intervention of you three that saved us from that fate. Shortly after you left, we started rumors circulating about how powerful your little starship is and of the technology it boasts. We made it widely known that you are not only leasing us the captured warships but also giving us the technology and the training that will enable us to build our own and achieve technological parity with the rest of the Accord, the lack of which has rankled for centuries. You’ve earned the respect and admiration of my entire planet.”
A woman named Beva whom Geena knew but Lexi had not met before today stood up, saying, “My name is Beva, Lexi. I’m an analyst working for Fleet Admiral Orgiazz. Everyone on Ostrieachia knows what your team did. If you care to look, you will find animated cartoons of Urania lifting a chunk of Rathca into hyperspace, the crash into the ocean, and the fight Danders led against the Raiders. Check on our global datanet. Those three half-hour cartoons have garnered more views than our total world population. You guys are our heroes and we all know it.”
She added, “Then, at your request, a junior fleet of Ackalonian battleships showed up to protect us from Unity.”
Lexi frowned. “I didn’t request battleships. I asked for engineers and psychologists.”
Kalia flicked her ears and said. “You were there when we all met with Jis Boc Sekan, when she told us what we needed to do. She said she would trust you with her planet and that we should do the same. She was right, Lexi. That is the decision we made.” She paused for dramatic effect. “We held a special election while you were gone. We elected you as Chief Minister of the One World Council. The Samues are ministers of the council now as well.”
Ron noticed that rather than looking either shocked or pleased, Lexi was looking rather grim. Over the course of their time together, she made an art-form out of looking grim. “How is that possible?” Ron asked. “We’re not even citizens of this world.”
“Oh, but you are,” Kalia clarified. “We made you all honorary citizens just as we did Danders and the other ex-Unity pirates we’ve adopted. We had to.”
One of the older Ostrieachians at the table stood and said, “Our people need a hero badly, Citizen Stevens. This world needs someone to rally behind. Ostrieachia needs unification. We all know that. That was the purpose of this Council from the beginning, almost eight-hundred years ago now. We just lacked the means, or the ability, to pull our nations together and make it happen.”
Lexi shook her head. “I cannot stay here. This not what I want to do with my life.”
“We understand that,” Kalia replied. “We really do. You can resign at any time of course. But while you are here, you can establish policy. You can show up from time to time and check on things. Appoint a deputy minister. Chief Minister doesn’t have to be your full-time job.”
Lexi thought for a minute. There just isn’t any way out of this situation, is there? I can run away with Ron, Geena, and Urania. But if I do, I think we lose this world to chaos. I’m in charge of this council, this planet, and a battle fleet of over sixty state-of-the-art warships whether I want to be or not. This would be just perfect if I had ever aspired to world domination. They’re most likely right that they need someone to kick them in the ass. OK, then. “Kalia, please stay. Other than you, Ron and Geena, I want the room cleared of all non-military personnel. We’ll reconvene the full council this afternoon.”
Kalia quickly said, “I think we should include Beva, too.”
Lexi frowned, but said, “Beva, please stay.”
Chapter 37
Jis Boc Seckan
Once the room cleared, Lexi looked at the small group that remained. Four Admirals, a Fleet Captain, which was almost the same position in the Borgolian military hierarchy, Kalia, Beva, who she still didn’t even know, and Lexi’s two friends and partners. Lexi remained seated as she said, “I do not believe I am qualified to run a planet and even less so to command a battle fleet. I’m an investigator, a scientist, an engineer, and an inventor.”
De Borkin replied, “Do you truly think that either of the Boc Seckans or King E’Kret are qualified to command the Home Fleets? I know they’re not. The Plicora decides what she wants to be done, not how it is to be done. That is my job.”
“Speak only of what you know, Admiral,” Fleet Captain Muelm suggested with a smile. “King Han E’Kret is a graduate of Borgol’s Naval Academy. I understand his ratings were quite high. He served as an officer on several ships before his father stepped down and he became our king. He just might be qualified to command a fleet. That does not, however, alter the intent of your statement. He does not need to be.”
De Borkin smiled and inclined her head towards him. “Apologies, Fleet Captain.”
