Between Darkness and Light (7 page)

“Again, agreed.”

“What about the young female? What's her name by the way?”

Euan hesitated. “She's called Nimue.”

He was lying, Konis knew it immediately. But why lie about something so trivial? He let it pass for now. “When can we expect your representative?”

“If your people call for him tomorrow, he'll be ready. You have the facilities to transport his cryogenic unit, haven't you? I wouldn't want anything to happen to . . .” Again he hesitated, glancing down at his desk. “Conner.”

“Of course,” said Konis dryly, aware that Euan was again lying—or was he? There was something about the name that didn't quite ring true. “A shuttle will call for him tomorrow at ten hours in your morning.”

“I'll look forward to it,” smiled Euan as he cut the connection.

And that's the first time he's spoken honestly,
thought Konis as he sat back thoughtfully in his chair. If he was any judge of character, there was bad blood between Euan and this Conner. His wrist comm buzzed.

“Master Konis, I've found the reference you asked for,” said Falma. “A merlin is a bird, a small hawk used by some Earth Humans long ago, mainly by their females, for hunting. It's a bird of prey.”

“Is it indeed? And the Druids?”

“Still looking,” said his aide. “They're said to have died out around the time of their first century, slaughtered by invaders of Britain called the Romans. There seems to be very little known about them.”

“Keep looking, Falma,” said Konis, getting to his feet. “We're leaving for the Palace in an hour. I'll meet you at the garage by the aircar.”

“SINCE Commander Rhyaz hasn't seen fit to join us, I'll begin without him,” said Commander Raiban, glancing round the oval table at the assembled military and civilian heads of the Sholan High Command. “As President, I've called this meeting because of the M'zullian situation,” she began. “We face a situation where war with them is imminent, therefore I propose calling a State of Emergency . . .”

“Not without us here,” said Rhyaz quietly, entering the room, followed by the Touiban, Sumaan, Cabbaran, U'Churian, and Keissian Human Ambassadors. “This is not a Sholan matter, Commander. It affects all of us, not least the Touibans whose two worlds are as near as Shola to M'zull.”

“This is a meeting of the Sholan High Command, Rhyaz, not the Alliance,” began Raiban with ill-concealed anger.

“So, Commander Raiban, you think Shola should act independently in this matter?” asked Rhyaz as he and the others took their seats round the large conference table.

“Of course I don't, but there are Sholan issues that must be addressed first. No insult was intended, Ambassadors,” she said, glancing at the new arrivals. “Once these matters are dealt with, then an Alliance meeting will be called. I'm sure you appreciate the need for us to settle our own, domestic business first—in private.”

“I don't think they do, Commander,” said Governor Nesul, relaxing back in his chair. “I asked Commander Rhyaz to bring the Ambassadors here today. If you think we need to declare a State of Emergency on Shola, then I think our allies are entitled to know why. Hell,
I'd
like to know why, when I'm reliably informed there's as yet no threat to any of us!”

“In a time of war, it's the military that makes the decision to call a State of Emergency,” said Commander Chuz.

“But we aren't at war, Chuz,” said Konis softly.

“War is imminent and inevitable,” replied Raiban. “We've agreed to help the Primes against the M'zullians, that alone will bring us into conflict with them even if they don't locate us first. I'm not wanting to alert the population of Shola and Khoma to that probability yet, only to bring all our own resources together under one, combined leadership. And that
is
a Sholan matter.”

“Ah,” said Rhyaz quietly, leaning an elbow on the table and propping his chin in his palm. “You want the Brotherhood under your control.”

“I refuse to discuss this matter outside Sholan High Command,” said Raiban firmly.

“The disposition of the Brotherhood is a matter that is concerning us greatly too,” said Toueesut. “We have a right to be present when such matters that affect us so deeply are being debated.”

“So have we,” nodded Shaqee, the U'Churian Ambassador.

“We are here for the TeLaxaudin as well as ourselves,” said Mrocca, the Cabbaran, her prehensile lip curling back to show her long white front teeth. “Tell them, Commander Rhyaz. It is time they were knowing what is happening under their noses that they do not see.”

“They have a right to be here, Raiban,” said Rhyaz, sitting forward, “because members of their species are in the Brotherhood.”

“Alien Brothers?” said General Rilgho disbelievingly. “You expect us to believe you have alien Brothers?”

The door opened again to admit Alex, dressed in the Human Brotherhood black fatigues edged with purple. She nodded to Konis and Governor Nesul as she took her place beside her Leska, her presence there not lost on the Sholan military.

“Yes, we have alien Brothers—and Sisters,” said Rhyaz quietly. “Like Alex, my Leska. You've all known for some time about our Human members.”

“But the others,” said Naika, his short hair rising in angry spikes. “I don't believe you! You lot up in the Dzahai Mountains are too damned secretive to allow any aliens into your halls!”

“Captain Tirak told me of the beauty of the statue of Vartra in your temple,” said Shaqee, examining her claws thoughtfully. “Said he liked the idea of the God holding the bowl of hot coals. He said it's unique, that the other statues don't hold anything. Also that he liked the Goddess' shrine with all the green growing plants.”

The loud snap of Raiban's stylus breaking filled the silence. “I will not tolerate aliens in Stronghold,” said Raiban, her voice brittle with anger.

“I wasn't aware our charter as a Guild depended on your allowing us anything, Commander,” said Rhyaz calmly, taking the crystal Alex handed him.

“You'll find Stronghold much reduced these days, Rhyaz, should you and your people come to call on us as you once threatened my wife you would,” said Lijou. “Apart from my priests and the juniors that is.”

“Explain yourself,” said Raiban harshly as Rhyaz activated the comm recessed into the table in front of him and inserted the crystal into the reader slot.

“Surely you noticed that rather than pay your exorbitant charges, our people have been withdrawn from the Forces.” Rhyaz punched a command into the comm before looking up at her. “Stronghold is no longer entirely based on Shola. We have risen beyond the surface of our world, and as well as our mandate to protect Shola, which you have done your best to prevent, we now have other contracts to fulfill.”

“You threatened to march on Stronghold?” asked Rilgho, turning on the President. “You fool! If I'd known that, I'd have interfered sooner in your petty games against them! I warned you what the outcome would be, Raiban!”

“Be silent!” she hissed. “This is treason, Rhyaz!”

“No, Commander Raiban,” said Governor Nesul quietly. “It isn't. He did it with my knowledge and permission. When the yearly budget allocations were made, I had a separate contract drawn up between Shola and the Brotherhood. It restates the Brotherhood's Charter and stipulates that they are an independent force and must always remain so. Never again can they be manipulated by private political interests on Shola. It's on the statute books now.”

“You forced us into this, Raiban,” said Konis. “You refused to let them have the funding they needed. As the government, we had no choice but to make them independent. Now be silent and hear what they have to say.”

A holographic image of a fleet hovering over an alien planet began to form in the center of the table. Raiban, face frozen in a silent snarl of anger, sat back, defeated for now.

“With our alien allies,” said Rhyaz, “we have formed a small unit of ships to patrol the borders of Prime and M'zullian space. Called
Watchers
, their crews are made up of our own Brothers and Sisters as well as their U'Churian, Cabbaran, and Sumaan colleagues, and they do just that, watch. When, several days ago, a fleet was seen gathering around M'zull, we were alerted and followed them to their destination at J'kirtikk. We received this transmission yesterday. If you watch, I think you'll see how our two colonies were destroyed.”

 

When the images stopped playing, the silence continued for several minutes until Rhyaz broke it.

“As you can see, what appears to be the ship controlling the weapon they used to destroy J'kirtikk is itself destroyed. Current intelligence,” Rhyaz said, giving Raiban a long look, “tells us that the M'zullians are now landing unopposed on J'kirtikk. Vessels have been seen leaving orbit towing large cargo containers, presumably heading back to M'zull. We believe they are looting the planet for weapons and other resources. They're too busy to worry about us for the time being, even if they were aware of our existence, which we've every reason to believe they aren't.”

“War is imminent,” Raiban repeated pedantically. “With or without that weapon. We must prepare for it now. We don't know that this was their only one.”

“Assuredly,” Rhyaz agreed. “And I have some proposals to put before you.”

“You? What do you know about warfare?” demanded Raiban, sitting upright again. “Until a few months ago you were merely one of the Brotherhood, not even its Leader!”

“Guild Master,” corrected Lijou softly. “But I have led them for nigh on eleven years now, Raiban. One of the reasons Rhyaz was chosen as Warrior Master was because of his tactical skills.”

“Tactics in the classroom is one thing,” began Raiban disparagingly.

“If I remember correctly, he led the Brotherhood in the Desert War against the Tribes,” interrupted Rilgho, reaching into a pocket for a packet of stim twigs. “Did a damned fine job containing the situation before we arrived. And after,” he added hastily, lest he be misunderstood.

Rhyaz inclined his head in recognition of the compliment, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he did.

“Say your piece and have done with it,” snapped Raiban.

“Martial Law isn't necessary at this juncture,” said Rhyaz. “But we must implement the evacuation of key personnel from Khoma, Teesul, and Touiba, as they are the worlds most at risk.” Leaning forward, he pressed his comm again and a holocube of Alliance and Prime space began to form in the center of the table.

“As you can see from the chart, we need to extend our combined fleets around those worlds and make our first stand there. We can effectively block the M'zullians and prevent them from penetrating further into Alliance space. Because of the
Watcher
patrols, each of our main allies is aware of the situation and has come here today with authorization from their home world to do just that. Better to fight them there and have room to retreat if necessary than to wait till they threaten us one by one.”

“Makes sense,” said Rilgho. “Combine now and get used to working together before any crisis develops.”

“What about the Primes?” demanded Chuz. “The M'zullians are their people. What part are they playing in all this?”

“As I see it, we have two options. Either we keep the Primes out, or we involve them. If we involve them, our best option is to get them to talk to the M'zullians, point out that we represent a stronger force and it's in their interests to make a treaty with us. If we keep the Primes out, we have no option but to go for a preemptive strike. Hit the M'zullians hard before they know we exist.”

“We've no way of knowing the M'zullians will talk to the Primes,” said Nesul. “What if they see them as inferiors, the way the Warriors we've been training here see Prince Zsurtul?”

“They may respond to the Prime Emperor,” said Lijou. “The alternative is a protracted war.”

“What's the problem with that?” demanded Raiban. “We outnumber them and our technology is more advanced!”

“Is it? We've nothing like that ship-eating device!” said Rhilgo.

“And they're more aggressive,” reminded Rhyaz quietly. “We might beat them in space, but then we'll have to land on their world and fight it out on their territory. It's a war we cannot win by traditional methods. Remember Keiss and the psychotic hatred of the Valtegans there. They made suicide attacks rather than surrender to us. Only genocide will stop the M'zullians, make no mistake about that. Or an armed peace settlement.”

“I notice the Chemerians are absent,” said General Naika, reaching for the jug of water on the table and pouring himself a glass. “What plans have you for those two-faced tree climbers, Rhyaz? Don't trust 'em as far as I could spit one! Wouldn't put it past them to make their own approach to the M'zullians.”

“You won't like my suggestion, General,” said Rhyaz.

Naika's mouth opened wide in a toothy grin. “Spit it out, Commander,” he said with a rumble of amusement. “I think I like it already!”

“Because of the business over Kate's and Taynar's attempted abduction by Ambassador Taira, the Alliance has forced the Chemerians into opening up their borders to us. However, we're not allowed closer than Tuushu Trading Station. We need agents on their home world, and their two colonies. Ideally we need an excuse to get a military presence there as well. And I believe the Clan Lord has one for us.”