Fatal flaws gate ghosts.., p.17
Fatal Flaws (Gate Ghosts Book 13), page 17
When Opal and Pauline saw the pair turn to regard them, Opal approached Julien. As two digital sentients were wont to do, they gripped hands and touched foreheads. Pauline did the same with Julien.
Then Opal approached Gistamia and held out her arms. The Hyronzy grinned wide, baring his heavy canines, and welcomed Opal’s embrace.
As a Hyronzy possessed a substantial stature, there was more than enough for two Méridien avatars to hug.
Slowly, the conclave fleet returned to normal operations and allowed time for the Tekstria to recover.
Yeret citizens had been transported planetside, and Utilimat crew members had been returned to their ship. Only Ugurter, his companions, Yathal, and his advisors remained aboard the Freedom.
Julien was contacted by a new voice, who sounded more robust than any Tekstria previously.
“Julien, we’ll take possession of your nursery ship,” the voice said.
“Negative,” the voice replied. “We’re relieving you of the responsibility placed on you.”
A Tekstria warship left the fleet wall and headed toward the conclave’s nursery ship. It reversed in front of the enormous vessel. Shortly afterward, the massive rows of engines fired, and the two ships returned to the fleet.
Then the fleet wall formed discreet groups, which accelerated and disappeared into the dark. Their new nursery vessel went with them. Four warships and the defunct nursery vessel remained behind.
Swiftly, the four Tekstria warships accelerated and made passes at the defunct nursery ship. After they swept past, they entered the dark too.
Most conclave ships were already clear, but the captains of the outboard Tridents gave orders to the pilots to push their ships to maximum acceleration.
For the space of about half a conclave hour nothing happened, which allowed all ships to reach safe distances.
Suddenly, the defunct nursery ship bulged, seemingly to stretch its hull. In a blinding flash, the entire ship disappeared.
Biologicals were astounded, and telemetry officers hurried to register every aspect of the expanding wave of energy.
SADEs had surmised the type of weapons that the Tekstria had plunged deep into the vessel. Analysis of the expanding wave confirmed what the SADEs had thought. The Tekstria had utilized antimatter weapons with time delays.
When Gistamia studied the wave energy analysis, he groused,
Julien convened a conference with Ugurter, Yathal, and their associates. When he entered the conference room, he noted that their seating lacked strict separation. In fact, there was a great deal of cross-communications. Mostly, it was about their combined efforts to save the Tekstria race.
Of all things that Julien might have considered to support a Utilimat-Yeret relationship, the events surrounding two Tekstria fleets and their nursery ships hadn’t passed through his kernel.
When the group was seated, Ugurter considered the pleasant conversations he’d just shared. Sending Councilor Ufoodab back to the warship had been the right choice. Ufoodab may have been immersed in the work, but he did it with tight-lipped reservation. Ugurter had no doubt that other council members waiting on the home world would hear his numerous complaints.
Julien regarded Ugurter and Yathal. Then he spread his hands to them.
“Work has already begun,” Yathal said happily. “Word was sent to the Yeret home world, requesting the council visit us and speak to these Utilimat councilors.”
“Our combined efforts in support of the conclave to save the Tekstrian fleet members have proved to be a valuable lesson to share with other councilors,” Ohmjess said. “They may not want to hear what we have to say, but four of us are committed to pushing the issue that Utilimats must change their policies.”
“After the Judimal Council arrives and has discussions with you, Commander, then what?” Julien inquired.
“That’s where it becomes difficult,” Ugurter admitted. “The resistive members of our council are one more than us. While we’ll do our best to change minds, we aren’t going to be able to demand the changes.”
“What will it take?” Yathal asked. “Every annual that we remain apart makes it more difficult to reconcile, especially with the conclave’s presence.”
“I can control the deployment of Utilimat warships, but the agreements must be serviced,” Ugurter pointed out.
“Then the agreements must be ended, when the contracts run out,” Yathal replied.
“Some of those dates are far in the future,” Uferus remarked.
Eyes appealed to Julien.
“The conclave assists with the requests of legitimately elected leaders,” Julien replied. “As an example, this system has been protected because a Utilimat fleet fired on conclave ships. However, a visit to the Yeret home world ran aground of multiple Utilimat warships serving as protectors of that system, per an agreement.”
“Yet, you protect the Monkfreds,” Ohmjess remarked.
“Different situation,” Julien replied. “The Monkfreds had been transported to planets that threatened their survival. We rescued them. On one planet that a large herd occupies, the Monkfreds still require our protection. It’s a ground-based operation, which the Utilimats are unable to provide.”
“Then, essentially, it’s the defense agreements that prevent the conclave from interfering in Utilimat relationships with the Yerets and the Freiots,” Ojaftah surmised.
“While I would take exception to the word interference, you’re essentially correct, Captain,” Julien replied.
“What a predicament,” Ulkfay commented.
“Then the best option is to have the majority of the Utilimat council cancel the agreements in the spirit of cooperation with the Freiots and the Yerets,” Ojaftah remarked.
“Easier said than done,” Ohmjess commented.
“Until the time when the majority of the Utilimat council sees reason, the races should pursue whatever contact they can manage. Keep communications open,” Julien advised. “Before you return to your tasks, I would like to thank you on behalf of the conclave. Your willingness to support our efforts to save the Tekstria was admirable and in the best spirit of the conclave. None of us have a solid understanding of Tekstrian nature, and we may never get that opportunity again.”
“That the Tekstria fleet carried antimatter devices was chilling,” Ugurter said. “Who would have thought that a race possessed that type of weapon?”
The commander had addressed Julien. While he waited for Julien to reply, the SADE’s delay caused him to consider what he’d said.
“Julien, does the conclave have antimatter weapons?” Ugurter asked, which had heads turning in Julien’s direction.
“We interceded between two races, the Elvians and the Ollassa. The former race possessed antimatter fighters. We adopted the technology,” Julien explained.
“Have you ever deployed them?” Ophorous inquired.
“Yes,” Julien responded. “Most recently, they were used against the Imperium Empire’s fleets. We try to use them judiciously, such as to take out the numerous missiles the empire’s battleships launch simultaneously.”
“Would you use them against Utilimat ships?” Ohmjess queried.
“Unnecessary,” Julien replied.
“Because of your ships’ superiority?” Ojaftah inquired.
“Correct,” Julien affirmed. “You’ll note that the Utilimat fleet attack in this system was repulsed by destroying engines and allowing the crew members to evacuate.”
“What about the bajhaad missile production site? Hundreds of Utilimats died there,” Ulkfay pressed.
“Are you insinuating that the conclave fired on those domes?” Julien asked.
Suddenly, the Yerets regarded the Utilimats with barely disguised animosity.
“We’ve no evidence one way or the other,” Ugurter interrupted and regarded his captains sternly.
The conference table holo-vid lit, and a quickly compiled vid of the events at the bajhaad missile site unfolded.
The audience watched the meetings within the residential dome, the Utilimats’ orderly evacuation, and the attempt to get the workers in the secondary dome, where the missiles were assembled, to evacuate. Then they saw a rush of conclave members and Utilimats evacuate the residential dome. The last images were taken from a Trident accelerating rapidly to get far away from the domes. Finally, the production dome erupted and blew a hefty chunk of the planet into space.
“Utilimats destroyed the production dome,” Ulkfay muttered quietly.
“We could have told you that it would be something like that,” Yathal remarked. “The accusation we just heard tells us that Utilimats have yet to understand the nature of conclave members. They’re not Utilimats.”
Julien waited to see how the tension would be resolved.
Ugurter stared at his captains and waited.
The officers got the message. Ojaftah said, “Thank you for sharing that information with us, we’d appreciate having that vid.”
“It’s on your warship,” Julien replied.
Then Ulkfay said, “I wish to apologize for my insinuation. I could have asked you what happened at the bajhaad site instead of taking a contentious path.”
“Your apology is accepted,” Julien replied. Then he regarded Yathal.
“I must my apology to our guests,” Yathal readily volunteered. “The conclave has been nothing but gracious to us. Impugning its name is anathema to Yerets.”
When the conference ended, Yathal, Uferus, and Ophorous headed planetside.
A crew member led Ugurter and his officers toward a traveler to return them to their warship.
“Where are you headed now, Julien?” Ohmjess asked.
“Planetside,” Julien replied. “I find visiting the Monkfred herd to be calming. With my centuries, I prefer to take moments of peace where I can find them.”
“Would you like some company?” Ohmjess inquired.
“The Monkfreds always enjoy visitors,” Julien replied, which the councilor noted didn’t answer her question.
As it was, Ohmjess found that a visit of a conclave hour was sufficient to satisfy her. When the traveler lifted with her on its ramp, she saw Julien in deep conversation with the grazers and the riders.
“How long will Julien stay with the herd?” Ohmjess asked.
“Usually until it rains,” Articus replied. “Then he’ll seek cover aboard Opal’s traveler. He’ll leave the herd behind when his duties require him elsewhere. Every SADE and sister wishes him as much solace as he can find among these peaceful sentients.”
“Is he sad?” Ohmjess inquired.
“Julien’s and Alex Racine’s story are the foundation of conclave history,” Articus replied. “With the help of Alex and Z, some SADEs were freed from their boxes to walk the planets’ surfaces and the ships’ decks. It was a heady time for biologicals and SADEs, who wove intricate relationships. There are four SADEs who miss those New Terrans and Méridiens more than other SADEs.”
12: Collaborators
FREIOT HOME WORLD
DOBREY SYSTEM
“Where do we begin?” Race Relations Minister Fetler inquired of his colleagues.
“I would start with our security chief,” Defense Minister Soiter replied. “I think you were right to focus on his pressure to always be in our presence.”
“We gather information on Bangrath’s contacts,” Palladon Guelmer said. “If we’re right that Bangrath is in the employment of the Utilimats, then that’s where our investigation begins.”
“Do you think it’s an organization?” Fetler asked.
“I find that doubtful,” Soiter responded. “If I was a Utilimat orchestrating this subterfuge, then I would work to keep my agents separate.”
“But these agents must have a means of communicating to the Utilimats,” Fetler insisted.
“Don’t forget that we’ve Utilimat warships throughout our system,” Guelmer pointed out. “Communications with their crew members could be easily accomplished.”
“It would help if we could identify a common action or transaction. Then we’d be more likely to arrest most of the participants,” Soiter posited. “However, I think the possibility of us scooping up all of them is negligible.”
“On that, I agree,” Guelmer said. “However, I think it’s important to make the greatest sweeping arrest we can manage, which our media companies can share with the populace. That’ll make our citizens aware of what the Utilimats have been doing. In the future, we might get some help from them.”
“We’ll need judicial permission to surveil Bangrath,” Fetler said. “Do we have enough information?”
“No,” Soiter replied disgustedly. “Right now, all we have are suspicions.”
“Then how do we turn suspicion into facts?” Fetler asked.
“Surveillance must be public,” Soiter responded. “The initial step is mine. I’ve individuals who are good at this sort of thing.”
Guelmer and Fetler regarded Soiter, but the defense minister would say no more.
That evening, Soiter posted a message with a media broadcast company. It ran in the section requesting specialized artisans. The requested trade was unique, and the list of experiences was extensive. The message was pure fiction, but there were a few individuals who would know what it meant.
The following morning, Soiter reviewed the three responses. Two of them had short periods of time to take on a new assignment, and he dismissed them. The third had a way of replying that said the agent knew who had posted the message, and the agent was ready to work for the defense minister again.
Soiter’s long tongue slithered in and out several times. He’d received the reply that he’d sought.
Within the reply was a code that was decipherable by an app on Soiter’s comm device. On translating the code, his device made a call. When the call connected, the defense minister said simply, “Soiter.”
“Vextra,” said a silky voice. Then she spoke of a location and time that only Soiter would understand.
When the star was high overhead, Soiter left his office, exiting the building by the rear entrance. He used a common transport to drop him a little way from the meeting place. Then he wandered through shops until he was sure that he wasn’t followed. Finally, he made his way to the meeting location.
Entering a store selling fresh produce, Soiter slipped into the back of the store and sought a small office. Vextra waited inside for him. Immediately, she scanned him for hidden devices.
Finding Soiter clean, Vextra said, “It’s been a while.”
“In the future, you might have more work than you can handle,” Soiter returned.
“You always say the sweetest things,” Vextra replied, her tongue slithering out to touch his lower jaw.
Soiter knew this was Vextra’s way. At his age, it was rare for a Freiot not to be mated, and Vextra liked to tease him.
“To work,” Soiter directed.
Pouting, Vextra sat on the edge of a desk. “Talk to me,” she said.
“We suspect Freiots are collaborating with Utilimats,” Soiter said. “On a recent trip —”
“The one you took to the Yeret worlds?” Vextra interrupted.
“That one,” Soiter replied. “Is it common knowledge?”
“Not among the general populace,” Vextra admitted.
This was one thing that Soiter admired about Vextra. She didn’t talk about her contacts or the sources of her information, and he was careful never to pry.
“As I was saying,” Soiter continued. “On a recent trip, the palladon’s security chief was desperate not to let us out of his sight. Finally, the palladon had to issue an order to him to stay behind.”
“Are you talking about Bangrath?” Vextra inquired.
“Yes,” Soiter responded.
“What else do you have on him?” Vextra requested.
“Nothing. At this point, it’s merely suspicion,” Soiter explained.
“So, you can’t get a judicial order,” Vextra mused, “which means you need evidence to get the order. Is Bangrath an isolated case?”
“We don’t know that either,” Soiter replied, feeling like a student offering a weak excuse to an instructor.
Vextra sensed Soiter’s discomfort. She slid off the desk and closed on him. “Not much to work with,” she commented. “Do you need anything else from me?”
Soiter rallied his composure. His sensitive nostril slits picked up her warm scent. The difficult thing for him was that he was attracted to Vextra, and she knew it, which is why she enjoyed flirting with him. It took all of his emotional strength not to give her signals that would acknowledge her suspicions.
Vextra knew not to push her flirting too far. The defense minister was a powerful ally to have in her corner. Also, Soiter paid well. Offering a flick of her tongue along his jaw line, she left the office.
Although Soiter was only a few steps behind Vextra, when he exited the office, she wasn’t in sight.
That evening, Vextra pulled up her file on Bangrath. It was extensive. She’d tracked him on more than one occasion for small issues relating to his penchant for associating with nefarious individuals. However, rarely did the security chief suffer repercussions, which she thought was an odd thing.
The thought that crossed Vextra’s mind was whether Bangrath or his associates had ever spotted her or found her tracking devices. Surveilling a collaborator was dangerous business, and she had no desire to disappear from the ranks of Freiot citizens.
Vextra did have a protégé, who had sufficient skills for most assignments. Surveilling a dangerous security chief wasn’t the usual job. Then an idea occurred to her, and she arranged a contact with Shemla.
The pair casually met at a small bar, and they seemingly struck up a conversation.
