Who in turn looked at Visser. “Well, now it’s up to us: leave or stay. Fish or cut bait.”
As Visser looked around the room, Caine followed her eyes from face to face: the outcome of the silent vote was obvious. Visser nodded at him.
Caine entered the communications node again. “Alnduul, the delegation from Earth stands ready to continue with the agenda, or informal discussion, at the pleasure of the Dornaani and the Slaasriithi delegations.”
Alnduul bowed very low. “We note the continued participation of the Earth delegation and both commend and thank them for their decision to continue under these difficult circumstances.”
Caine smiled, nodded, but felt a cold knot growing in his gut. Unless I’m very wrong, the circumstances are going to get a lot more difficult before they get better.
Chapter Forty-Nine
MENTOR
Downing looked up as Hwang came into the module’s conference room and said, “Signal incoming. Holographic. I’ve sent pages to everyone else.”
“Thank you, Ben.” Richard checked his watch: two hours since the Convocation had ended, one since he had sent his requests to Alnduul. “Ben, please open the channel. And resend those pages, if necessary.”
Hwang aimed his palmtop at the holotank and clicked a button-just as the rest of the delegation started filing in, scanning for seats.
Downing noted that Elena was not among the group: neither was Caine.
ODYSSEUS
“Just a moment, Elena.”
She stopped, but did not turn toward him. “Yes?”
Christ: what the hell did I do now? He took the three steps needed to draw alongside her. “Look, I’ve been trying to find a moment to talk with you-”
“We’re needed in the conference room. Now.”
“I know. This will only take a second.” And then Caine realized that while he knew what he wanted to say, he had no idea how to start. “About the other day, at the reception-”
Her eyes strained toward the conference room. “Don’t worry about it. That was just a bit of nonsense. That sort of thing always happens when you’re busy meeting a few new species over cocktails and canapes. Happens to me all the time.” She turned and smiled-carefully-at him. “Don’t give it another thought. I haven’t.”
He almost believed her. “Well…I’m glad you’re not offended or-bothered.” Now he wondered if he believed what he was saying. “I also wanted to say that I’m sorry if, on some other occasions, I have-that is, I find myself…” His mouth remained opened, but no words came out.
She closed her eyes and said, “Are you trying to apologize for staring at me?”
“Uh-well, yes. I mean, I really didn’t realize I was doing it. Not most of the time, that is. I-it’s just that-that-”
“Your eloquence renders me speechless.” She smiled. “You too, apparently.” She opened her eyes, but once again, they were aimed up the corridor toward the conference room. “I have to go,” she said. Without another word, she did.
Caine watched her walk quickly away, wondered how he had wanted the conversation to resolve, while simultaneously realizing that this outcome did not feel right. Not at all.
MENTOR
After days of becoming accustomed to Dornaani technology, their own holotank’s image of Alnduul seemed grainy and crude. Downing spread his arms and fingers out. “Enlightenment unto you, Alnduul. Thank you for responding to my message.”
“I am sorry I was not able to do so sooner. The events of this day have necessitated much discussion among our delegation.”
“And with the other races, I’ll warrant.”
“Sadly, only the Slaasriithi-and of course yourselves-are responding to our messages, at this point.”
“I am sorry to hear that.” Downing cleared his throat. “Alnduul, besides changing the itinerary for our return to human space”-he ignored the surprised stares from various members of the delegation-“I would be grateful to learn, from both the Dornaani Collective and the Custodians, what kind of defensive assistance we can expect, if it becomes necessary.”
Another Dornaani materialized next to Alnduul’s image: it was Glayaazh.
Downing inclined his head. “Third Arbiter, we are honored that you have joined the conversation.” And dismayed that you were apparently eavesdropping.
“I am honored to be welcomed into it. I may speak for the Collective. Ask what you wish.”
Elena entered, flashed Downing a brittle smile, and sat.
Downing kept his focus on Glayaazh. “Third Arbiter, although we are under the protection of the Custodians, we do not know what shape that protection will take. Furthermore, knowing so little about our potential adversaries, we do not know how best to prepare our own defense. This leaves us uncertain as to our role in this situation.”
Glayaazh seemed to wave at the walls. “Your role is whatever you decide it to be.”
Visser stepped forward, her brow ruler-straight. “Third Arbiter Glayaazh, with respect, that is a most ingenuous comment. Just yesterday, you were waiting to see whether or not we would lie, or accuse the Arat Kur of having illegal access to information. You were hoping, very much, that we would do neither of these things. And knowing your hopes, we declined to do either. Now I ask you: given that our support of you has earned us the enmity of other members of the Accord, can you not at least give us some understanding of the potential foes we might face, and the deeper disputes that lie beneath today’s friction?”
Glayaazh’s mouth puckered tight. “I regret that I cannot do so, Ambassador Visser. Nor can we send an official delegation to Earth, as you requested earlier.” Glayaazh waggled her fingers downward. “To do so could be interpreted as a de facto confirmation of your membership, which would only exacerbate the frictions in the Accord. And frankly, we fear more for the repercussions upon you, rather than any which we might face.”
Downing saw Visser bristling, stepped in quickly. “Third Arbiter, allow us to remain on the topic of Earth’s safety for one moment longer. As my delegation’s security specialist, I must inquire: will you be monitoring our borders? If not, and if they are violated, how would we inform you?”
“As I stated in the last session, your status as a provisional member puts us in a very awkward and unprecedented position. Since you are no longer a protected species, we are precluded from taking preemptive steps.”
“We understand your dilemma, but we hope you will also understand ours. Not only do we lack the absolute security of a protected race, we also lack any useful knowledge regarding the Accord’s other races. This places us in an extremely vulnerable position.”
“Agreed.” She looked toward Alnduul.
The alien being nodded faintly. “We will maintain limited contact with your leaders. In the event of a clear and imminent threat, we will provide compensatory assistance.”
“Alnduul, this is hardly an-an optimal strategy,” Downing sputtered, seeing Caine slip into the room.
Glayaazh’s fingers were waving slowly. “Your words suggest that you presume war is impending. This is a hasty presumption, and to act upon it might convince others that you intend to wage war against them. We counsel you to be patient, and not to assume the worst.”
Then you don’t know much about the job and mind of a defense analyst, Glayaazh, old girl. “Your approach is ethically admirable, Third Arbiter, but still does not answer the question my superiors will-rightly-want answered: what will you do to aid us if we come under attack from other powers?”