Méridien (The Silver Ships Book 3) (30 page)
Read Méridien (The Silver Ships Book 3) Online
Authors: S. H. Jucha
Tags: #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Science Fiction, #Alien Invasion, #First Contact, #Space Opera
’s bay.>
The excitement about the uses of gravity drives suddenly had everyone sharing their thoughts. Méridien technology had perfected grav-lifts, but they were limited to lifting a few meters above a substantial mass. Sky-towers required the installation of groups of grav-lifts on each floor to offset the enormous weight of the buildings. But grav-drives had no such limitations. Shuttles could be inexpensive to operate, environmentally friendly, and whisper-quiet.
Alex let his people share their thoughts for a while longer. Their excitement was doing much to help them imagine the future, where he needed them to focus.
Julien had just announced their impending FTL exit into the Oistos system. At the
Money Maker
’s pace, New Terra’s orbit was seven days out.
* * *
The flotilla’s second visit to New Terra was the exact opposite of their first. No public officials warned them off. No fighters launched to destroy them, and their return wasn’t hidden from the public.
Julien’s summary vids had continued nonstop until they had exited the Arnos system. His last entry had contained images from the vid unit Mickey had installed in the cliff-top FTL comm unit. Mutter had sung her now thematic twining of two notes to call the Swei Swee forth at their sunset. When the People had settled down, she had delivered a composition she had been working on for the last four days. Julien had become adept at capturing various images of the People and splicing them into his vids—the People assembling, walking legs tucking under carapaces, eyestalks sinking into carapaces, young climbing onto females, and the scarred claws of the elderly juxtaposed against the shiny ones of youth. He laid Mutter’s songs over the images of the Swei Swee.
Julien borrowed a concept from New Terran media companies. Any vid of the flotilla that contained Mutter’s songs was allowed to be broadcast on a one-time basis by any media company or the government. Subsequent airings or reader distributions required a small composer’s fee. Said fee was transmitted to the bank where Alex’s account was kept. Julien had Z set up a subsidiary account under Alex’s name with Mutter’s name attached. Her occupation was listed as a Libran singer, and the bank manager assumed it was a Méridien associate of the Admiral.
To say the least, every New Terran knew every chapter of the saga of the Admiral’s flotilla at Arnos. A cult had sprung up, dedicated to Mutter’s songs. As a result of her popularity, over 18,000 credits flowed into Mutter’s account daily, and that amount constantly increased.
The flotilla had exited FTL, but Alex kept bridge watch with Edouard. It was late evening, but Alex wanted to ensure a peaceful return.
“Admiral, you have an FTL vid comm from President Maria Gonzalez,” Julien announced.
“Good evening, President Gonzalez,” Alex replied.
Maria’s hesitated at Alex’s use of her formal title. She had been pleased when Alex had begun calling her by her given name, but that was before his enemies launched the Strikers that killed his pilot and attempted to kill him. “Welcome back, Admiral,” Maria replied. “The entire population of New Terra has been following your exploits through your summary vids. We are all proud of your efforts to free the Swei Swee and rescue the Confederation from the Nua’ll’s predation.”
“Thank you for your welcome, Madam President, but I must set the record straight. The Swei Swee freed themselves. We just provided the excuse.”
“A bit too modest, as usual, Admiral, but I take your sentiment. I’ve had a few conversations with Director Stroheim. He and the people aboard the
Unsere Menschen
are quite certain that they are leaving this system with you. I take it no Libran or Méridien is choosing to settle here.”
“That’s correct, Madam President. Once our final supplies are loaded, the entire flotilla will be exiting the system.”
There was silence for many moments, but Alex waited Maria out.
“So this is the end of it, Admiral. You and your people leave our system, never to be heard from again?” Maria asked sadly.
“On the contrary, Maria. I thought you might like to do some business with our new world.”
Maria burst out laughing. She should have been angry with Alex for stringing her along with the use of her proper title as if he still harbored resentment against New Terra for what Downing and his associates had perpetrated, but she was too relieved to hear Alex refer to her by her first name. That he did so while offering a future for their two peoples, one tied to economic opportunity, made her day. She composed herself to deliver her response. “Well, Admiral, I would be curious to see what your fledgling society might offer a mature culture such as New Terra.”
Maria’s response had Alex laughing in return.
Edouard was smiling to himself. Their new society would have much to offer not only the New Terrans, but the Confederation as well
. I must find the opportunity to speak to Miko,
he thought.
I want a new life for myself
.
“Be coy all you wish, Maria,” Alex said. “What I have will make Méridien tech look like children’s toys.”
Alex watched Maria’s quick intake of breath. It had him chuckling.
“Well, Alex, I want you to know that New Terra will do all it can to ensure the successful launch of your ships to your new world. Also, a bill has already been prepared for the Assembly’s ratification. New Terra stands ready to acknowledge your new world, wherever it may be, and to form trade agreements with your government, including the recognition of your currency.”
“That’s very generous of you, Maria. On behalf of my people, let me offer my deepest appreciation for New Terra’s efforts.”
“We’ll see you in seven days, Alex. Safe voyage,” Maria replied and closed the comm link.
Alex sat reviewing Maria’s words. The negotiation for the grav-drives would be tricky. They didn’t have any product yet, just technology—alien technology at that. He sent off two quick comm messages to his father and his Uncle Gerald. Both might have an idea about the optimal way to negotiate an agreement. While he was considering the aspects of the agreement, a sudden thought occurred to him.
And Julien, who had been enjoying the banter, suddenly focused on Alex’s change in tone.
Julien listened to Alex trail on for several more moments as he logged each item. Before Alex finished, he had reached out to Cordelia and Z, sharing his impending responsibilities. When the two SADEs expressed their lament for the burden of his new assignment, Julien said,
Immediately the SADEs divvied up the categories and began contacting all those that could help—Prima’s city administrators, the Ministers of Space Exploration, Health Services, Transportation, Communications, and many others.
* * *
A day out from New Terra, Andrea and Tatia met with Alex and Renée in the Co-Leaders’ cabin.
“Admiral, it is my duty to report that over half of our New Terran crew is resigning their commission, per their original contract,” Andrea said.
“Half?” Alex said, leaning back against his desk to steady himself, the message hitting hard.
“Yes, Admiral, fifty-four crew members, including myself,” Andrea said, her eyes beginning to blur, but she held herself steady.
Renée walked forward and wrapped her arms around Andrea’s well-endowed shoulders. “You have my heartfelt thanks for all you have done for our people, Andrea. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Andrea had never taken her eyes off Alex, nervous about his reaction.
Alex walked forward and extended his hand to her, a sad smile on his face. “Each of us must go where our heart leads us, Andrea. I wish you the best of luck and thank you for your service to our people.”
Andrea offered her thanks for their words, saluted quickly, and left.
Alex looked at Tatia, who had remained behind. “Yes, Commander,” he said, then sighed, fearing the worst, “how may I help you?”
“Respectfully, Admiral, I want the job,” Tatia declared.
Alex and Renée shared a quick glance before regarding Tatia, now grinning at them.
Orma, the Chief of Staff, was walking with Maria on their way to a Cabinet meeting.
“What’s the latest, Orma?” Maria asked.
Public confidence in the government had wavered after Downing’s debacle, as had her personal support. People were unsure of their leaders. Julien’s vids were changing that, thankfully. There were powerful aliens out there, and the people wanted a strong leader who could manage their defense. An ex-TSF general fit the bill nicely.
“Opinion polls show the Assembly and your administration are up 3.4 percent in the last ten days,” Orma said. “The messages directed to you are best summarized by Randolph Oppenhurst, an ex-TSF Captain, who said, and I quote, ‘Our future safety lies with the Librans. They can be powerful allies, especially with the Admiral as their leader,’ end quote.”
“Julien’s vids have had a dual effect, Orma,” Maria replied. “The population has witnessed two alien species. The Swei Swee, endearing with their entrancing music, have garnered the Admiral tremendous support, but the Nua’ll have scared everyone. And let’s remember, the credit for that giant sphere’s destruction goes to the Swei Swee and their beam weapons, which we don’t have … yet.”
At Maria’s “yet,” Orma swiveled her head around to regard her President. She gave Maria a conspiratorial grin. “The Admiral?” Orma asked hopefully.
“I believe so, Orma,” Maria replied with a confident smile as they strode the corridor. “If I know Alex, and I think I do, he will do everything possible, and maybe some of the impossible, to ensure he has them.”
* * *
The extensively decorated Cabinet Room in Government House appeared ornate, but it was highly functional. Beneath the heavily carved guriel wood, artfully hidden, laid the latest in comm tech and data access.
The Cabinet Ministers, led by Maria, were meeting with Alex, Renée, Tomas, Eric, and Mickey. The twins stood discreetly behind their charges. Not so discreetly, six flotilla crew members, armed with stun guns and plasma rifles, stood guard in the corridor. Government House’s Head of Security had objected vociferously, until Maria reminded him of the events surrounding the Admiral’s last visit home. “And,” she’d warned him, “we have yet to fully regain the Admiral’s trust.” It was just as well that Maria’s security head learned after the Cabinet meeting that six Daggers, led by Commander Reynard, interdicted the Government House no-fly zone as they patrolled space and skies for anyone foolish enough to try again for their Admiral.
Maria had wanted to tell Alex that he and his people were safe. Sixteen leading figures, including ex-President pro tem Downing and CEO Samuel Hunsader, had been indicted for conspiracy to commit murder. All had been arrested and charged. Investigations were still ongoing and a trail of credits had uncovered the mid-level players who had set up the theft of the Méridien database that resulted in the murder of the T-1 engineer. And just as importantly, all Strikers had been grounded. Maria knew this for sure because a vault at Government House held every single Striker controller ever installed or manufactured. But the one thing she wasn’t going to do was promise Alex he was safe only to have an incident make a liar out of her. Their resurrected, still-fragile relationship, couldn’t handle another infidelity … hers or others’.
Maria opened the meeting and the group reviewed Alex’s requests for flotilla supplies, which were approved and divided among the Ministers in relation to their responsibilities.
“There is an additional list for you to consider, Ser,” Alex said.
“Admiral, are these meant to be additional supplies?” asked Will Drake, the Minister of Space Exploration, as he studied the second list.
“No, Minister Drake, these are the items we wish to acquire via trade,” Alex replied.
“And what products do you have to trade, Admiral?” Minister Jaya asked.
“Actually, I have technology,” Alex responded.
Minister Jaya, responsible for New Terra’s technology development, shifted to the edge of his seat in anticipation.
“I have in one of the
Freedom
’s bays, two fully operational silver ships. We plan to reverse-engineer the technology and build grav-drive ships of all types. Eventually we hope to re-engineer the beam technology as well. At this time, we’re not prepared to form an agreement. These offerings will require pricing, and we’ve yet to form a government that would be responsible for signing the agreement. What I wish to know is whether you are interested in such an agreement.”