Talosian Chronicles 3: Talosian Alliance (16 page)

“What will be done with him after we’ve finished?” Nancy asked.

“Honestly, we don’t know yet. We don’t have any treaties with the Talosians yet, and he is a Talosian ambassadorial aide. Normally, I would say that he has diplomatic immunity. So worst case, we’re going to ship his ass back.” Ian explained.

“Well, you know what you’re doing, Commander. If it were up to me, I’d space the asshole,” Nancy said. “Okay, so now that I know what to look for, let’s do this. Gentlemen, I would like to ask the first few questions, so I can get his mind to focus correctly. Once I’ve gotten in, I’ll let you know so you can ask him your questions.”

“Understood, Miss. Thank you for doing this for us,” Goya replied.

Nancy shook her head. “Not necessary, Admiral. None of us like this part of our job, but we know we could be called on to do it. It’s the only time our ethics allow us to intrude into someone else’s mind.”

“You don’t read everyone around you?” Goya asked.

“Not if I can help it. It’s something we learn at a very young age. Hearing everyone’s thoughts isn’t pleasant, nor is it a blessing. The first thing I learned about this was how to block everyone else out. After I learned more control of how to use it, and I began to feel guilty about reading other people’s thoughts. How would I feel if someone I didn’t know or just met could look in my mind and see everything about me?” Nancy shook her head. “No, ever since I was like seventeen, I only look into those I need to. Even the nicest people, people that would never hurt a fly, have dark thoughts and secrets at times. Since they have managed to bury them, or overcome them, who am I to root around in their mind and dredge them up?”

Pan nodded. “That’s good to know, Miss. I wish I had twenty more just like you. We could sort out this mess with the council in very short order.”

“Again, that’s a situation that has restrictions on it. Although not ethical in nature, we have agreed that politicians, military leaders, and diplomats are exempt from scanning unless there is a need to do so, such as this situation. However, even in this situation, I will only allow answers to questions pertaining to the issue at hand. State secrets, even though we can easily get them, are not to be reported under any circumstance.”

“How so?” Goya asked.

“Let’s say that this was a ruse, so Ian could get you near enough to me for me to scan you to discover any secrets the Talosian people might have. Simply put, I wouldn’t tell him. Basically, we don’t do espionage; counter-espionage, yes, but we will not allow ourselves to be used in that manner,” Nancy explained.

“What if I ask this prisoner if he is aware of any other plots by the Talosian Council to gain control of this sector?” Goya asked.

“There is a lot of grey area’s here,” Nancy said. “That's pushing the boundaries but I would allow it. If you asked if he knew of any plots to overthrow the High Council or the High Command, I wouldn’t allow that. It’s an internal matter and none of our business. Sorry Sir."

Ian turned to the two Admirals. “Sirs, this ability is one of our secrets. I’ve gotten to know, and trust, both of you, so I will ask you not to let this information out.”

“I understand, Ian,” Goya replied. “This is just another of those things that the Council can never know of. If the list keeps going, they may push for us to invade you to force you under our control. However, I don’t think the AI would allow it. You scan as a Talosian, and they are not allowed to fire on Talosian targets.”

Nancy snickered. “You might want to take a look at any new program updates to the AI in your fleet, Admiral. If I were planning on going to war against a segment of my own population, I would make damn sure the weapons would work!”

Goya looked thoughtful, and Pan looked troubled at her comment. Finally, Goya nodded. “Young lady, you would make a very good Commander yourself. Have you ever considered joining the military?”

Ian answered for her. “She can’t. Because of her abilities, we won’t allow it. Gifted individuals found already in the military are either dismissed or assigned to a place where their ability cannot be misused or abused. That’s not a rule they made; it’s one I made, when I first learned of them.”

Nancy smiled at the older Admiral. “I appreciate the compliment, Admiral. We do allow ourselves to be ‘loaned out’ on a case-by-case basis to the military. However, even then, we are only a consultant, and not under the direct command of the military. We can walk away at any time.”

“Well, let’s get this taken care of. I’d like to know who gave him the order to try to sabotage Major Dancer,” Ian said.

When they approached the cell, Nancy had Ian and the two Admirals stand off to the side, out of the man’s sight. Then she nodded to the guard in the center of the cellblock to turn the screen over the front transparent and to allow audio.

The guard nodded to her and punched the necessary buttons. There, sitting in the cell, was Councilor Amaraliss’ aide de camp, Tyrith Landree.

When the man looked up at her, Nancy spoke to him. “Mr. Landree, my name is Nancy Holden. I am a civilian psychological councilor working for the people of Terra. I am not associated with the military, nor am I hear to talk about why you’ve been incarcerated. I am here, simply to gather personal information from you. Will you assist me in this?”

The man sighed. “Go away, I have diplomatic immunity. I would like to speak to my employer, Councilor Amaraliss.”

Nancy nodded. “I can understand your feelings, Sir. However, I don’t think they are going to allow that since no treaty allowing for diplomatic immunity exists. I will make certain that Councilor Amaraliss is informed of your incarceration though, would that help?"

The man nodded. “Yes, it would. Thank you.”

Nancy nodded. “I do still have to get this information, though. I know it’s only a formality, but I’d really like to have it, too; you see, I'm working on a degree in sociology and you are the first person, other than a fighter pilot, to actually be from another society. That pilot was in the freezers for the last four thousand years, so her information was a little out of date.

“I’m gonna help you, could you please help me?” Nancy asked sounding young and innocent.

“Well, I guess it beats the hell out of sitting here and staring at the walls. What do you want to know?” Landree said.

Nancy had been staring at him intently since they started talking, and when he finally agreed to talk, she waved Ian over, and nodded slowly. When Ian looked at the prisoner, he looked to be in a trance.

“Mr. Landree, why were you trying to get into the AI vault?” Ian asked.

“I was going to issue the override codes for the ship so we could take control from the Terrans.” The man replied still in a trance.

“Why would you do that?” Ian asked.

“Because it doesn’t belong to them, it belongs to the Talosian people, along with all the advances and equipment derived from the technology in this ship.”

“When you spoke, you said ‘we’. To whom are you referring?” Ian asked.

“The rulers of New Talos.”

“Do you know what Councilor Amaraliss has planned for the technology he would recover from this sector?” Ian asked.

“Minister Amaraliss is going to use the facilities and people here to build a new fleet that will not be controlled by the Talosian Council. With them he will finally be able to put an end to the petty squabbling and disband the Houses of the Council. Once that is accomplished, we can turn our attentions to the other races,” Landree said.

“What would be done with the existing Talosian Fleet?” Ian asked. Holding a hand up to keep Goya and Pan silent.

“We have control of half the fleet currently, but the other AI are refusing to accept the new software upgrades that will allow us to use them. We will use those for defense after we finish consolidating power. The ships that we do not have control of, we will issue self-destruct commands to eliminate them as a potential threat. Really, all we need is the fleet from Sol Sector and the rest will fall into place.”

“That sounds like a good plan. How many of the other Houses does Minister Amaraliss have supporting him?” Ian asked.

“I don’t know all of them, but there are a few. I do know that four of the major Houses are with us. Five are neutral, and the other three are loyal to Noren and the High Command. Not all the minor Houses are completely loyal to their parent House either. We have the loyalty of almost forty percent of the Grand Council.”

“Do you know what Minister Amaraliss will do if you fail in taking over the Star Dancer AI?” Ian asked.

“There are several other options available. Taking the AI was only the simplest.”

“What do you think is the most likely option he will choose?” Ian asked.

“Eight loyal Heavy Cruisers are waiting for orders four light days out. As soon as he knows I’ve been captured, he will call them in.” Landree said, getting a little uncomfortable. "He promised to get me out of here once the fighting starts.”

“How was he going to counter the fact that Councilor Noren and the two High Command Admirals are here and will witness the battle?” Ian asked gently.

The man smiled. “People die in combat all the time. Their deaths will be blamed on the Terrans in such a way that will cause anger in the Houses that are aligned with Noren. They will send the rest of the fleet to support our actions here.”

“How did you disable the guards on the AI vault?” Ian asked.

“My family built the armor. We know that there is a weakness in the power systems that will disable the suit in such a way that the Marine will end up locked in a dead suit. If no one opens their visor for them, they’ll suffocate in a few minutes." He frowned again. “I left the visors closed so they wouldn’t call for help. I didn’t know about the other Marines inside the doors. That isn’t doctrine.”

“I’m losing him,” Nancy said.

“What? What the fuck? Go away! I have nothing to say to any of you!” Landree said. “I want to speak to Councilor Amaraliss!"

Ian nodded. “I don’t think so.” Ian turned back to the Marine guard. “Resume isolation protocol. No one is allowed to speak to him without clearance from me. Understood?”

“Yes Sir!” the Marine said. He had already reset the cell for isolation.

“Well, fuck!” Ian said. “This’s going to make things more interesting!"

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A
fter thanking Nancy for her assistance, the three men returned to Ian’s ready room. All of them were quiet, each working through the implications of what they had learned; none of them liking the outcome of their thoughts. Finally, just before they entered Ian's ready room, Goya asked what Ian was going to do with the information.

Ian smiled slightly at the older man and asked Jenny and Mel to join them. The Admirals also asked if they could have their aides join them since action might be required on their part. Ian had Mel call them in for the Admirals.

Once everyone was there, Ian called in Star and had her scan the room for listening devices. To the surprise of the visitors, two were found. One on Admiral Goya and the other on Admiral Pan’s aide.

Once those were destroyed, Ian looked at Mel and Star. “Star, block all outbound communications immediately. Locate and apprehend Talosian Councilor Amaraliss immediately, use armored Marines. Bring him here when you get him. Please ask Luke, Laura and Councilor Noren to come to my ready room at their earliest convenience. Upgrade sector security status to yellow.

“Once all that is done, I want every action Amaraliss has made scrutinized since he got off the ship at the Pleiades station. Consider him as an enemy spy, because that is exactly what he is.”

Goya and Pan were quietly filling in their aides to the morning’s activities as well. Ian turned to Mel.

“Mel, see if you can get facilities to set up a couple of temporary offices for the Admiral’s and their aides on this deck, preferably next to ours. They are to have full access to comms and whatever facilities they might need."

Mel had been taking notes and nodding.

“Sir,” Star said. “Councilor Amaraliss has been apprehended and is awaiting a Marine escort. Councilors Noren, Belden and Johnson have officially objected to the arrest based on diplomatic reasons. However, they have agreed to await a full explanation by you when they arrive. I took the liberty of adding a protection order for the Councilors to the Marines as well.

“All security footage of Councilor Amaraliss has been compiled, and is awaiting analysis. May I ask what I am looking for?”

“Any questionable actions,” Ian said. “Any potential acts of sabotage or terrorism. Since it was his aide that tried to take control of you under his orders, he is under suspicion."

Star nodded once. “I will do my best. Is this classified, or may I ask for assistance?”

“It is classified, I don’t want this asshole’s actions to influence the Talosian mission here, since it is obvious that he was not acting with their knowledge or approval. Any and all information discovered should also be made available to the Admirals as well,” Ian said. “As for assistance, who would you ask?”

“This would be a good task for Maia and Harmonia to undertake. Of course, Mathias and I will also go over it,” Star explained.

Ian nodded. “Okay, but make it clear to the two ‘youngsters’ that no action is to be taken against anyone without prior authorization from either security or myself."

“Mel, please schedule a mission briefing ASAP, with Colonel Anders and Major Swift. Coordinate with the Admiral’s aides to make sure they can attend as well,” Ian said.

Mel and the other two aides had taken over the conference table since it had computer interfaces and comm suites built into it. All three were working hard to carry out the orders issued by their various bosses.

Ian’s door announced a visitor, but this time did not wait for permission before opening. Luke Belden followed by Laura Johnson, Councilor Noren, and a shackled Aramaliss entered. Two Marines took post outside the door, while two others took a post inside. All four Marines were dressed in the new combat armor and carried live pulse rifles.