Perilous choices, p.40
Perilous Choices, page 40
part #11 of Gate Ghosts Series
Temtalum realized why she was on the stage. It had little to do with influencing the Trevonians. Iltaft had been waiting for an opportunity to tell Quellers about their relationship. She couldn’t help the reflexive fluttering of her wings at the generous compliment.
Trevonian eyes widened at Temtalum’s display. Having met three of the aliens on the stage, they turned their heads to regard the fourth individual.
Spotting the audience focused on the remaining alien guest, Iltaft stepped behind the line of individuals. Then she placed her hands on Doktorg’s shoulders. “This is Doktorg, late of the Imperium Empire,” she said. “How many of you would have the courage to recognize your race had become aggressors and leave it for the company of strangers?”
The audience members frowned, and quills shivered.
“I know I could never have done it,” Iltaft offered, “but Doktorg did. He works with the Dwerves. We’ve learned a great deal about the empire that borders our world from Doktorg. As your inhabited world is closest to the empire’s frontier, the conclave will post a warship squadron here.”
Once again, the announcement received the audience’s hearty approval.
“Now let’s talk about what I need from you in exchange,” Iltaft said. “Elder Wymron has approved the Dwerves’ request to leave their ship and settle a planet. We plan to start small to help the process.”
Those on the stage saw the Trevonians stiffen. They were nervous about what was coming.
“I can see by your reactions that you fear I’m here to harm your settlements,” Iltaft said. “Perhaps, you’re not ready for my offer. I thank you for your time.” Then she gestured toward the stage’s end.
Recognizing the ploy, Iltaft’s group turned to make a brisk exit.
“Wait,” nearly a hundred Trevonians called out, which halted the exodus.
One Trevonian said clearly, “Representative Iltaft, we apologize if you took offense from our reactions. We’ve not felt that the home world has taken our needs to heart.”
Iltaft stood silent, as if she was making up her mind.
A heavyset male in the front row said, “Please, Representative Iltaft.”
28: Apologies Required
Iltaft appeared to relent and her line of guests reformed. “Many Dwerves work on a planet with a race called the Woots. They were instrumental in bringing the harvest bounty to us. They’ve got farming experience,” she explained. “It was our intent to land a hundred young families of similar ages to you. They can immediately contribute to your farming needs. Furthermore, the Dwerves work with advanced technology. You might consider starting new companies to create products that you can export, which is your fourth most mentioned item.”
“That’s it?” the heavyset male asked.
“Oh, yes, I forgot, your third request,” Iltaft said. “We’re delivering a significant portion of those grains above to you,” Iltaft replied. She waited for the grunts and stamping to die down. Then she asked, “So, Trevonians, are you ready to jump into the future?”
The Trevonians recognized a helping hand when they saw it.
“You’ll need to help the Dwerves learn our language,” Iltaft warned. “Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to learn theirs. Also, you must understand Dwerves come in many shapes and sizes.”
A young male and female rose and he said, “We’d like to request a family live with us.”
Immediately, other couples stood and asked to host a family.
Iltaft thanked the Trevonians for their courage and told them that the steps would take about three cycles.
After the meeting, the grain transfer crew located the Trevonians’ central warehouse. The captain was appalled at the meager amount of grain stored here. He had the crew select four varietals for transfer. During the next two cycles, the warehouse was filled to its limit.
The tiny Trevonian media company, which consisted of two part-time individuals, covered the grain transfer, which had the Trevonians appreciating the representative’s generosity.
Aboard the Dwerve ship, Eshtitor, Quanitine, Doktorg, Iltaft, and Timteri interviewed prospective families. Males and females with farm or horticultural experience was a primary requisite. Those who demonstrated an affinity for the Woots recommended them. Finally, anyone with skilled tech knowledge made them highly desirable.
The five interviewers compiled a list of more than nine hundred suitable families.
“Iltaft, we saw many more than a hundred Trevonians asking for Dwerve families,” Quanitine said. “Are the hundred families that you set too arbitrary?”
“I don’t think there’s any harm in changing the number,” Timteri offered. “You could say it’s in response to their demand.”
“The Trevonians can’t accommodate the nine hundred, thirty-one families who were qualified,” Iltaft protested.
“We were thinking of simply doubling your number, Iltaft,” Eshtitor soothed.
“That number is doable,” Iltaft replied. “We can tell the other Dwerves that if our experiment is successful, more families, engineers, and techs can be landed at the next harvest delivery.”
A lottery was held for the two hundred, which eased Dwerve concerns that one interviewer or another might have had greater sway over the selection.
The Trevonians copied the Dwerve lottery to determine who would get to host a family.
Then Temtalum began the transfer process.
Iltaft and Timteri were aboard for each shuttle drop. They didn’t allow the Trevonians to pick and choose. Instead, Iltaft had the Trevonians form a line. The first Dwerve family off the traveler went to the first Trevonian couple in line.
The Dwerves easily accepted the Queller families. After all, they were the greatest mix of statures and features that anyone had ever beheld on a single ship.
On the other hand, the Quellers often blinked in surprise at who stepped off the traveler.
Timteri was present to introduce the Trevonian couples to the Dwerves. The Dwerves’ excitement and good-natured greetings did much to relax the Trevonians.
At the end of the third cycle, the grain had been unloaded, a Trident squadron had arrived to protect the system, and the families were getting acquainted.
After the last families were delivered, Temtalum lifted the traveler, and Iltaft sent,
In response, Temtalum dropped the ramp, and Iltaft and Timteri left their seats to sit on the ramp’s edge.
The pair observed the countryside and the discrete settlements. Trevonians and Dwerves enthusiastically waved to them as they passed overhead.
The pair sat in silence until Iltaft felt they’d seen enough.
Iltaft and Timteri grunted humorously. Then they returned to their seats.
With nanites cradling both of them, Timteri shared,
Aboard the Dwerve ship, Eshtitor and Quanitine were debating a critical subject.
“The Quellers are our citizens’ best option,” Eshtitor pointed out. “These are settled worlds, and Quellers have a modicum of technological advancement. Most important, they’re members of the conclave.”
“Everything you say is true,” Quanitine countered, “but they don’t negate my argument.”
“All I’m saying is that we can’t afford to have these two hundred families fail,” Eshtitor pressed.
“And I agree with that,” Quanitine responded. “However, my acting as some de facto leader for the families isn’t the answer.”
“Why not?” Eshtitor countered. “Our citizens respect you. You could counsel them. Help to bridge the differences.”
“Even if I could monitor the interactions of four hundred families, both sides would feel that they had a minder,” Quanitine explained. “What do you think Iltaft will think when she returns to speak with the families? Will she hear that every time there was an issue, I was sought out to act as arbitrator?”
“I just wish there was something we could do to ensure success,” Eshtitor replied, caving to Quanitine’s reasoning.
“You’ve already done everything you could to make this work,” Quanitine pointed out, caressing the fur on Eshtitor’s cheek with her long fingers. “You formed relationships with the sisters and the Woots. You defeated the council’s assassination attempts. Repairs accelerated with Doktorg’s help, a Krackus who admired you. The conclave arrived, and you proved to them that our citizens wanted peaceful lives. In a coordinated effort, we defeated a superior force while defending the planet. Now our ship is repaired, and the Woots are reaping the benefits of trade with the Quellers. If you think those two hundred Dwerve families don’t realize what’s at stake, then you don’t know them. They’re going to make this arrangement work for every Dwerve citizen.”
“As usual, when it comes to the moods and drives of our citizens, you’re my advisor,” Eshtitor allowed. “There is one more aspect of this arrangement that must be discussed with Iltaft.” He glanced at his device and added, “She’s returning to the Trident.”
Eshtitor and Quanitine waited until the flotilla returned to Devona to broach the subject.
The next morning, Temtalum delivered the Dwerves and Doktorg to Iltaft’s building. The trio met Iltaft and Timteri in a conference room.
“The grain shipments are being distributed,” Iltaft informed the trio. “It will be another few days before the freighters are emptied. I didn’t know if you wanted to wait for them.”
“We’ll depart after loading the trade items,” Eshtitor replied. “Minimalist has kindly sent to us the equivalencies to the grain supplied. Unfortunately, Devona is short by an average of thirty-two percent of the items.”
Iltaft and Timteri shared surprised expressions. That a SADE had supplied the numbers meant they couldn’t be debated.
At the quick disconnect, Minimalist, Luther, and Morgoth exchanged knowing glances.
Eshtitor, Quanitine, and Doktorg watched Iltaft wrestle for control of her emotions. They could see she was upset, which heartened them. It meant that the issue wasn’t with the agreement, but with the suppliers. They waited to see how the problem would be rectified.
In a slow steady voice, Iltaft said, “My apologies for the failure of our companies to meet their goals. With your expansive delivery, I would have expected to have been notified by the leaders that they’d had a shortfall of ten to fifteen percent. Furthermore, I would have hoped to hear how they intended to rectify the issue. I’ve not received a single word from any of them.”
“We’re pleased to hear that our agreement is still in force,” Eshtitor responded.
“I would ask that you allow me to rectify the problem,” Iltaft said, working to keep her anger in control.
“We appreciate that you wish to handle what we perceive as an internal issue,” Quanitine said.
“We requested today’s meeting for another matter,” Eshtitor said. He paused, as it seemed that he didn’t have Iltaft’s attention. When he glanced at Timteri, the admin touched her temple.
“Apologies,” Iltaft said, when her attention returned to her guests. “What is it you wished to discuss?”
Eshtitor hesitated. The subject was delicate, and he wondered if it was the appropriate time to speak of it.
Doktorg chose to step into the gap. “The captain has a concern about the pace of Dwerve settlement,” he said. “With the rate of two hundred families settled every harvest season, it would take more than a decade to empty the warship.”
Iltaft took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “My apologies again for not discussing this in advance with you,” she said. “If the Trevonian experiment is successful, I see, on the next grain delivery, repeating the operation on most Queller worlds. It would mean about twelve hundred Quellers added to seven outer worlds.”
Eshtitor, Quanitine, and Doktorg shared hopeful expressions.
“That’s wonderful to hear,” Eshtitor said. “We’ll leave you to deal with the shortages, while we focus on the provided supplies.” Then they quickly left.
Temtalum had never heard Iltaft so incensed, and she queried Minimalist, Luther, and Morgoth for more information before she executed Iltaft’s directive. After she heard what had happened, she was as angry as Iltaft.
Several travelers had launched under Minimalist’s directive. A SADE visited a company owner or director and requested he meet immediately with Representative Iltaft, regarding the Dwerve supplies.
Soon, the company owners or directors packed Iltaft’s theater.
When nearly every individual who could be found was seated, Iltaft walked in with Minimalist, Luther, and Morgoth. She stood mutely, while the SADEs transmitted the data to the holo-vid display.
The company individuals fidgeted, which gave Iltaft an inkling about what had happened. A single company owner had calculated that his failure to meet the goal by a reasonable amount would hardly be noticed among the great quantities to be supplied. Now the assembled company representatives realized that most of them had thought the same thing.
When the SADEs and Morgoth had detailed the tremendous failure of the companies to take the Queller–Woot agreement seriously, things got worse for the companies’ leaders.
Cued by Iltaft, Wymron walked into the theater. The SADEs and Morgoth had sat down, and Wymron joined Iltaft in front of the audience.
“Disappointed,” Wymron said, gazing across the rows of Quellers. “Agreement critical. Queller failure. Personal embarrassment.” Then he motioned toward Iltaft.
“I thought to express my anger at your actions, but I’ve chosen to act as the conclave representative who is responsible for the future of my race,” Iltaft said. “I offer you a choice. You’ll abide by my requirements or you’ll abandon your part in supplying the Woots. In the latter case, you’ll be charged for the lines installed by the conclave.”
“What would you have us do, Representative Iltaft?” an elder Queller inquired solicitously.
“You devote your entire effort to completing the required supplies plus ten percent more,” Iltaft said, holding aloft a single digit.
With the senior elder present, objections waited until the representative finished.
“Next, you’ll calculate the next delivery to arrive in half an annual to be twice the amount of grain, five full superfreighters, and you’ll be prepared to deliver the required supplies,” Iltaft replied, adding another raised digit. “Finally, you’ll write apology letters to Captain Eshtitor and the Woots. The SADEs will translate them.” She held up three fingers to ensure that the company leaders realized each digit represented her requirements of them.
“What you request will restrict the production of more lucrative items,” a company owner pointed out.
“We didn’t force you to take up the contracts,” Iltaft retorted. “You saw opportunity, and you chased it. As it is, my offices will need to find other suppliers.”
“Why is that?” a company director asked.
“I’ve learned that those two-and-a-half superfreighters were filled by just ten percent of the fiefdoms,” Iltaft replied. “The sisters have already added another four percent of the fiefdoms to the next season, and more fiefdoms have made commitments to join. You can calculate where this is headed.”
Iltaft eyed the group of company representatives. They were quiet, and she signaled Wymron.
Wymron copied Iltaft, gazing at each row of the assembled individuals. “Queller reputations important. Your reputations too.” Then he turned with a swirl of long quills and exited the theater.
Addressing the company representatives, Iltaft stated in a voice that brooked no arguments, “As you file out, state your name and company to my senior admin. Then acknowledge my three requirements or inform us that you intend to abrogate your contract.”
Iltaft stood and watched the rows file out. She kept her eyes sweeping across their faces. Most glanced away.
After the last company leader left, Timteri sent,
Before the Dwerve ship sailed, Iltaft apologized to Eshtitor again, and informed him of what the companies would do regarding the supplies.
