Vortex incursion, p.34
Vortex Incursion, page 34
Claudia’s eyes narrowed at Samuel, but a little smile tweaked her lips. “I imagine this meeting will be full of surprises, Samuel. Proceed with your introductions.”
Claudia was correct. In the next moment, Samuel presented the three clones, Dybra, Evest, and Auburn.
“Please be seated,” Claudia invited the group. “Captain Havard, as you’ve the senior rank, would you like to begin?”
“If I may, Councilor Hoffing,” Rem said, rising. “Although Peña doesn’t have a title, she captained the Storyteller to Naiad, and she did arrive before me.”
“Very well,” Claudia replied. “Captain Peña, we’ll hear from you.”
The council heard charming laughter. Peña had borrowed it from Renée.
“Councilor Hoffing, we’ve two matters to present to the council,” Peña said. “My request should be heard second. I defer to my ship’s guests to start.”
The council was aware that Peña didn’t categorize Dybra, Evest, and Auburn as clones.
As Peña sat, the clones rose.
“Councilors,” Dybra began, “we’ve been informed there is a Naiad law against cloning. Is this correct?”
“It is,” David Yewall promptly answered.
“Are humans who violate this law acting in a criminal manner?” Evest inquired.
“They are,” James quickly replied.
“Then we require the council to decree that the mining chairpersons and their board members have broken the law against cloning and must be prosecuted,” Auburn said forcefully. “We call for their arrests.”
The councilors were stunned.
Samuel rose to stand beside the clones. “Councilors, when Ceda arrived on Naiad, you had proof of cloning operations on the rim planets. Through clever court proceedings, the proof against X-Ore was able to be ignored. Dybra, Evest, and Auburn were raised on Beta One and sold to Beta Two. What more do you need to take action?”
Lisa’s guilt was written across her face, and she wished she was out of sight of the councilors, whose eyes kept searching her out.
“One more thing,” Dybra said. Then the councilors’ slates chimed or buzzed. “That’s the number of cids that we require. Beta Two clones will become citizens.”
The councilors were transfixed by the number of requested cids. It was one thing to meet the first clone to make Naiad and then be presented with three more. But their slate message meant there were more than a thousand clones on Beta Two.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way,” Fillery Partus said. “Cids are issued by Naiad security or the mining planets.”
The councilors received a second message, and they quickly glanced at it. They were informed by Director Peter Doell that Peña was authorized to accept the cids, which she would transport to Beta Two.
“I’ll instruct Naiad security to deliver the cids to you, Captain Peña,” Claudia said. “As to the request for the arrest of the chairpersons and board members, the council will discuss the matter in detail at the conclusion of this meeting.”
The clones tipped their heads to the council. Then Samuel and they sat down.
“Captain Peña,” Claudia said, extending a hand to the sister to speak.
“Councilors, you’ve just been made aware of the quiet revolution taking place on Beta Two,” Peña said. “The clones want to be recognized as citizens. This should happen on every rim planet, and the sisters will ensure that it does.”
“You can’t take the law into your hands, Captain,” Fillery Partus declared.
Again, Peña offered the delightful laugh. “We’ve no intention of being outlaws,” she said. “Those centuries are over for us. We offer technological uplift to a mining planet for improved efficiency and greater output, and we believe it will be readily accepted. In exchange, the clones will be repaired, educated, and declared citizens. It couldn’t be more legal.”
“Is that the second item that you mentioned earlier?” David Yewall inquired.
A third message reached the councilors’ slates. It carried a link.
“I’ve taken the liberty of placing Beta Two’s supply requisitions on the comtech system,” Samuel explained. “It’s an extensive list that the sisters intend to upload to the Storyteller for delivery to the mining planet. It’s unnecessary to review the requisitions in detail.”
“Then what do you require from us?” James asked.
“With Miriamal holding Beta One, Director Doell is unsure if credits are available to him that could be transferred for payment,” Peña said.
“This isn’t something the council can help you with,” Ramiro Ferraro responded. “You would need to take this up with chairperson —” He abruptly stopped, belatedly recalling that the X-Ore chairperson was still under medical care, and the board was scheduled to be disbanded in months.
“You see the problem, don’t you, Councilors?” Samuel inquired. “X-Ore’s funds are on Naiad. Miriamal controls Beta One. Who is going to help Beta Two?”
“We’ll communicate to the financial institutions,” David promised. “I suppose you have an authorization from Director Doell to purchase the material?”
A final message appeared on the councilors’ slates. David didn’t even glance at his slate. “Thank you, Captain,” he said, tipping his head to Peña.
When Peña sat down, Captain Havard rose.
“I’ve been sent in advance of the fleet,” Rem said. “We’re concluding much of our efforts in the Thartath system. The outpost’s leader, Julien, believes that the Axis Crossing space needs the fleet’s help.”
“And what’s your purpose, Captain?” Claudia inquired.
“I would like to ensure that the arrival of the fleet doesn’t panic the Naiad citizenry,” Rem replied.
“What are Julien’s intentions?” Fillery asked testily.
“You’ve two possible points of incursion by two different alien races,” Rem replied. “Need I say more?”
“Yes, you should,” Fillery retorted. “We’re not looking for a galactic fight between warships in our space.”
“It’s good that you don’t command a fleet, Councilor,” Rem replied. “Fighting an enemy after they’ve crossed into your space is no way to win an encounter.”
Fillery heard the clones’ snickers, and her face colored in embarrassment.
“Do you think it will be necessary to engage these alien races in battles?” James asked.
“It’s not our intention, Councilor,” Rem replied. “The Krackus represent a challenge that will take time to manage. As for the race who owns the ovoid ship, they’re intriguing.”
“In what way?” Ricardo queried.
“Samuel would know more about them than I do,” Rem replied. “But the first engagement didn’t result in a single weapon being fired. That I find interesting.”
“Thank you, Captain, for Julien’s and your courtesy,” Claudia said. “Is there anything else?”
“The fleet waits on the other side of the Calabas anomaly,” Rem replied. “I’ll be joining it immediately and returning with it.”
“Understood,” Claudia replied. “I thank everyone for your time this morning. In summary, the council has one request to consider and one item to investigate.”
The council’s guests rose to depart. Lisa would have left too, but Samuel touched her forearm and nodded toward the council dais.
“Is there something left to discuss?” Claudia asked Lisa and Samuel.
“Ser Dyehouse has a suggestion for the council to consider regarding the clones’ demands,” Samuel replied.
Lisa glanced at Samuel with narrowed eyes. Their prior conversation was meant to remain private, and, at the time, she was merely offering alternatives.
“My minder reminds me that I’d had a thought about this same subject,” Lisa said with a touch of exacerbation. “Charging and arresting the chairpersons and the companies’ board of directors, as the council’s three guests requested, would disrupt our worlds’ fragile economic interdependency.”
“Give us more details,” David encouraged.
“The mining planets and the home world exist in an interdependence of goods,” Lisa continued. “Arresting the leaders would sow chaos into the approval and payment processes. Supply lines would be disrupted, placing the lives of citizens in jeopardy.”
“What makes you sure this would happen?” Ramiro inquired.
“The Axis-ships,” Lisa replied. “They operate on profitable, well-ordered schedules. Altering the movement of people and material would require the captains to shift delivery points. More than likely, routes might become unprofitable. Are you prepared to ask the captains’ union to operate their ships at a loss?”
“I hope you’re not insinuating that we ignore the charges made against the mining elite by Evest, Dybra, and Auburn?” Claudia asked.
“Instead of charges and arrests, consider making them pay restitution,” Lisa offered.
“I don’t see Pure Pour spending credits,” Fillery pointed out.
“And you won’t,” Lisa replied. “However, there are other ways to recompense the clones. I’m no longer in control of Pure Pour, and my director of operations has been removed. For all intents and purposes, the outpost fleet and the sisters are rehabilitating the company’s operations. They’re not as far along as Peña and her sisters, but I believe Kilmer’s clones will get there.”
“That’s your definition of restitution, is it?” James inquired.
“I can’t think of a better one,” Lisa replied. “You can seek to punish the chairpersons and the boards, or you can focus on improving the clones’ lives and making them citizens. In my opinion, you can’t do both. At least, not at the same time.”
“Thank you, Lisa, for your frankness,” Claudia said.
Lisa heard genuine appreciation for her suggestion, and she tipped her head to Claudia. Afterward, Samuel and she exited the council chamber.
Following the council meeting, Claudia chose to have a conference call with the X-Ore board of directors. She approached the discussion as if worried about the accusations of three clones who had attended the morning meeting.
The board members questioned her about the exchange, and she explained the clones’ demands that the mining board of directors be arrested and charged.
In the sudden silence, Claudia said that the council would be considering its options. She mentioned restitution, but she was unsure how that would be accomplished.
One sharp board member asked Claudia if there was something the board might do to indicate their contrition. He was well-aware that there was a specific reason for the councilor’s call.
Claudia explained that the sisters had arrived aboard a carrier with a list of supply requests from Director Peter Doell, but the sisters had no access to Beta Two’s funds.
“Please forward the requisitions to us,” the shrewd board member said. “We’ll see that the suppliers’ invoices are paid and the sisters are able to secure the materials requested.”
Claudia thanked the board members for their time, ended the call, and communicated to Samuel, who took care of the details.
27: Miriamal’s Revenge
BETA ONE AND BETA TWO, FAR RIM PLANETS
X-ORE CORPORATION
Miriamal had witnessed the movement of outpost fleet ships, which had exited the anomaly from Beta Two, transited, and dove into the anomaly for Geneva.
Theda, Helena, and Miriamal had discussed what the presence of the ships might mean. It was detecting the Trident squadron that led them to conclude the warships had arrived in response to the potential incursion into Kilmer space by the alien forces.
However, the sisters’ détente ended not long after the fleet from Beta Two bypassed the Stabler system.
If Helena had been within eyesight of Miriamal and Theda, she’d have seen their feral grins. A rare display from two sisters, but they believed they had a score to settle.
Theda continued.
Miriamal understood Theda’s intent. Her thoughts were along the same line. A raid on Beta Two could net completed avatars, equipment, and refined ore. More than that, they might capture Peña. There was a lesson that Miriamal and Theda wanted to teach the deserter. It would be a lifelong sentence.
As Miriamal and Theda each wanted Helena’s approval, they paused to hear her thoughts.
Miriamal allowed. However, she was reluctant to forgo the opportunity represented by unguarded or poorly defended domes ripe for picking.
Helena sent.
Miriamal added.
Helena responded.
Helena replied.
While it might have been obvious to Helena, her other first-gen sisters hadn’t considered that option as viable. Other thoughts had occupied their kernels’ hierarchies.
Helena waited while Miriamal and Theda ruminated on her suggestion.
