Brenlor smiled. “Yes, they will know. And part of what they will know is that Shethkador failed. We stole a ship of his in order to commandeer the Arbitrage, and although he was charged with calming the postwar waters, they instead roiled and frothed due to his inability to establish full dominion.”
Idrem nodded. Nezdeh could tell that he was impressed with Brenlor’s growth as a schemer. “That is so. But despite insufficient evidence, the other powers of the Accord will also know.”
“Of course they will…and what could be better for generating the suspicions and tensions that are the precursors to the resumption of war? The humans will point incessantly to the impossibility of their involvement. The Slaasriithi must already conjecture it was us, the Arat Kur will be cast into greater turmoil, and the Hkh’Rkh will not care. But the greatest impact will be among the Aboriginals themselves, who will be torn between concealing or revealing the implicating clones and landers and guns we left behind.”
“Yes, which could ultimately align the still disparate and factious nations of the Aboriginals strongly against us.”
“Perhaps, but only if they have the luxury of time, of clarity, in which to consider the relevant facts. However, we shall ensure that the reports of what occurred here will be thoroughly mixed with new, more perplexing and distressing reports.”
“And your plan can sow this profound confusion?”
Brenlor nodded, leaned away from the plot. For the first time his posture suggested hesitation. “I know of a project, a false flag operation left in sleeper mode, that was established by the next to last Hegemon of House Perekmeres. It was developed intermittently, opportunistically, starting approximately two centuries ago. It fell by the wayside a century later and was all but forgotten. Indeed, it was not referenced in any of the records that were arrogated during our Extirpation. When our House died, so did all the memories of this project. Except for mine.”
“And you know of it how?” Tegrese asked.
Brenlor stared at her. “My father was one of those few who had overseen the project. And if all the pieces of this hidden ploy remain where they were deposited, it only requires my touch to set it in motion and thereby draw the Aboriginals into another disastrous war. In the bargain, we shall assure the Ktoran Sphere of the continued alliance of the Hkh’Rkh and gain access to badly needed resources. In the meantime, as we make our journey, we may reanimate the many UnDreamers of the Arbitrage and train them properly.” He leaned back. “It will be risky, but it can be done. And it is so bold that none will look for it.”
Sehtrek stared at the star plot. “So how do we get to the place where these assets were deposited?”
“With our tug, it is but four shifts before we stand on the threshold of our final destination. From G-22-26, we proceed to HU Delphini, thence to AC+17 534–105, further to EQ Pegasi, and on to our penultimate destination G 130-4.”
Nezdeh almost rolled her eyes. Enough drama, or caution, Brenlor: “And what is the ultimate destination?”
“BD +56 2966, to use the designation given on the Aboriginal charts.”
Nezdeh started. “That is the location of the Hkh’Rhh colony world, Turkh’saar. It is also the system directly adjacent to their homeworld.” She managed to suppress “Are you mad?”
Brenlor’s leonine smile did not put her at ease. “I told you it would be too bold to be predicted.”
“That is…one way of putting it.”
He leaned across the table; there was both a threat and an appeal in his voice, his eyes. “Think of it this way, Nezdeh: where, in all of known space, may we go now? If we go to our patrons they will dispose of us themselves. We are too weak, we hold no leverage, and we are certain to become an embarrassment. We are otherwise friendless. But the Hkh’Rkh are the most rudimentary race technologically and eager for allies who prefer direct, vigorous action as they do. Allies like us. Specifically, like House Perekmeres.
“If we train our Aboriginals well enough to win one easy engagement on the behalf of the Hkh’Rkh, we shall see the seeds of war germinate in the fertile field my father prepared for us on Turkh’saar, seeds that will be brought by the Terrans themselves.”
Nezdeh crossed her arms. “And how can we be sure that the Terrans will sow these seeds?”
“When I activate the sleeper cell on Turkh’saar, the Terrans will have to send an uninvited envoy to ensure that the diplomatic consequences do not spiral out of hand. And when they do, we shall be there to serendipitously catch them in the act: to repel invaders of Hkh’Rkh space.” He leaned back. “We shall have defended the property and the honor of the Hkh’Rkh, and they, by their codes, shall owe us an honor-debt for doing so in their absence — or for succeeding where their outclassed forces could not. Suddenly we, not the failed Shethkador and his Autarchal lackeys, will have the greatest influence over the Hkh’Rkh’s loyalty, and with that, we will become a force to be reckoned with, even if neither the Autarchs nor the Hegemons wish us to be so.”
Idrem frowned. “The resulting war will be absolute, uncontainable.”
“Of course it shall. And that war will ultimately return us to power. The Ktoran Sphere will be forced to exert its dominion aggressively in order to preserve its hold on its Hkh’Rkh allies. And the Hegemons will not be able to touch us without triggering an honor-war with those same indispensable allies.” He turned to Nezdeh. “What is your opinion, Srina Perekmeres?”
“I think it just might succeed,” she admitted. I also think it might get us all killed, but I can’t think of a better plan at the moment. “Now, tell us more about this false-flag sleeper cell—”
* * *
Caine Riordan checked the medical cryocell’s readings. After three days, Bannor’s core temperature had been reduced to three-quarters of a degree centigrade, with blood substitute infusions at nominal levels. The glycol perfusion was deemed complete and internal sensors at full function. He nodded at his pale, unconscious friend and closed the long lid of the white oblong, adorned with blue and green status lights.
Behind Riordan, Yiithrii’ah’aash commented, “I hope it will not annoy you that I offer, one final time, the option of spending this journey in one of our cryogenic suspension units. It is fully adaptable to your species in every regard.”
Caine smiled. I’m sure it is, which is precisely what worries me. You know our biology too damned well and could manipulate it too damned easily. “I appreciate the offer, Yiithrii’ah’aash, but a good commander always watches over his troops. Particularly when they are especially vulnerable.” He smiled.
Yiithrii’ah’aash may have read Riordan’s expression. “I perceive. We intended nothing by offering you the use of our modified cold cells, but at least this way, there can be no questions.”
Riordan leaned back against Bannor’s high-tech sarcophagus. “And you and I will have plenty of time to converse, maybe to forge the kind of bonds that should exist between allied species.”
Yiithrii’ah’aash’s tendrils were a wave falling in slow motion. “Would that I could participate as you intend, but I follow the instructions of others even as you do. It is incumbent upon me to sleep through these many weeks as well. But I shall be awakened periodically to assess our situation and review our navigational choices, and then again in the preacceleration phase before our last shift to Delta Pavonis itself. Perhaps on those occasions, we may begin the exchange you envision.”
“I’d like that. So the Ktoran ship shifted out-system?”