A Galaxy Unknown 10: Azula Carver (3 page)

"Was she aware she was negotiating with a Raider employee?"

"Uh— doubtful, Madam Chairwoman. Our negotiator's credentials as an employee of one of our pharmaceutical laboratories are impeccable. Ptellewqku just doesn't want to anger the Spaccs and the GA. Her counteroffer of platinum, rhodium, gold, and precious gems was very generous."

"No, this might be our one chance to get all the development studies, manufacturing plans, and operations instructions for the cloning process, plus the chemical formulas and process instructions for manufacturing Dakinium. Nothing else is acceptable. She can keep her pretty rocks and shiny metals. They represent a pittance of the calculated value of the items we require."

"Very well. I'll relay that to our negotiator. I don't feel hopeful though. It's true the Dakistians need help to save their race, but it's not an immediate need, and they may choose to exhaust all other avenues first, only then becoming desperate enough to accept our offer."

"You're the head of the Lower Council. Find a way to
make
them deal."

"Yes, Madam Chairwoman. We'll find a way."

"You're excused, Mr. Chairman."

After Soroman left the room and the doors had closed behind him, Gladsworth said, "He's no Arthur Strauss."

"That's for sure," Councilwoman Stengel said. "Arthur would have had a plan for forcing them to sign before he came here to report."

"Speaking of which, Councilwoman Overgaard, what's the status of the search for Strauss? We must have him back so he can resume his role as the head of the Lower Council."

"It's as if he's dropped out of the universe, Madam Chairwoman. I have every available security employee in Galactic Alliance space and beyond searching for him. No one has seen him since the day he left here four months ago and disappeared."

"That's unacceptable. We need him back here. Did I put the wrong woman in charge of the search? As I remember, you promised you'd find him."

"We've exhausted tens of thousands of leads without locating him or even believing the leads were ever credible. He obviously doesn't want to be found. Either that or he's dead."

"If he's dead, I want to meet the person who killed him. Is that perfectly clear, Councilwoman Overgaard?"

"Perfectly, Madam Chairwoman. We'll start anew and reexamine every item and article of clothing we collected from his apartment. Then we'll follow up on all leads from the first search while also trying to develop new leads."

"Damn," Gladsworth said. "If we'd gotten the cloning technology when we first went after it back in '70, we could have recorded the physiology and memories of every important employee by now and been able to produce a new Arthur Strauss—or even several Strausses—at will. We'd never have to fear losing one of our best people again. But perhaps it's not too late to possess the cloning process. If Ptellewqku won't accept our offer, there's bound to be someone on Dakistee who will. We only need to find that person and install them as president. It shouldn't be too difficult. It's been millennia on Earth since anyone other than the major powerbrokers have been responsible for putting politicians in office, although the ignorant populace of the different countries still foolishly believe their votes are responsible for electing the politicians who have continued to disappoint them decade after decade. It gives the electorate something to think about and complain about while the puppet-masters pull the strings and line their pockets with the wealth of nations. There's no reason why such a venerable tradition shouldn't also be installed on Dakistee while the politically ignorant still rule the masses."

~ August 5
^th
, 2288 ~

Jenetta was working in her office on the admiral's bridge when a message arrived from the battleship
Artemis
. Although she had filed her official leave-of-absence papers, she was still tidying up various sundry matters from her role as the Commander of the Second Fleet and Military Governor of Regions Two and Three. Priority One messages were always delivered to the intended recipient without regard for present involvements and required a retinal scan.

"Hello, Jen," the image of Admiral Moore said from the large wall monitor as Jenetta completed the scan and tapped the 'play' sensor. "Your message left us all a bit speechless. The vagueness of your return date was confusing, but we received a message from Brian Holt just after yours arrived. He explained that you're seriously in need of some time off and have taken an official leave of absence for an extended period to recharge your batteries.

"We know we've asked a great deal of you over the years, and we're well aware of the sacrifices you've made. These have been difficult times, and if we've seemed to take you too much for granted, I apologize. We always knew we could count on you— more than any other frontline commander— to help get us through the difficulties that faced Space Command and the Galactic Alliance. The Admiralty Board, Space Command, Space Marines, GA Senate, and all the people of the Galactic Alliance are deeply indebted to you for your many years of service and incomparable dedication to duty.

"Once you've rested and are ready to return to work, we'll have time to discuss the role that Admiral Jenetta Carver can play as she continues her invaluable service to the Galactic Alliance. Naturally, the role should be both gratifying and fulfilling.

"Richard E. Moore, Admiral of the Fleet, aboard the GSC Battleship
Artemis
. Message complete."

Jenetta leaned back in her chair and stared silently at the Space Command logo that had replaced the image of Richard Moore as the message ended. It was the first time since she had been promoted to lieutenant commander that anyone in command had even suggested her assignment be gratifying and fulfilling.

I sense Brian Holt's hand in this
, she thought.
I wonder what that crafty old devil said to them?
For the time being it made no difference. She still intended to take an extended LOA, even if the entire Denubbewa fleet showed up and threatened Quesann.

~     ~     ~

"Madam President," her Chief of Staff said as the cabinet meeting began, "our intelligence operatives have concluded that the offer to solve our sterility problem in exchange for the cloning technology and the metallurgical process for manufacturing Wlabisnk-320, or what the GA calls Dakinium, can only be coming from the Raiders. You can't seriously be entertaining their proposal."

"To save our race from extinction, I would make a pact with the devil."

"That's exactly what you'd be doing. We've carefully examined the history of the Raider crime organization, and this is exactly how they operate, using ostensibly legal companies to front their illegal operations. If the GA Senate learned we were negotiating with them, they would withdraw all support and isolate us here on our planet."

"If it was the only way for our species to survive, isolation would be worth it. We were isolated before we entered stasis, and our race managed to survive just fine until our Nordakian ancestors tried to kill us off."

"Madam President, while we slept, the galaxy changed more than we could have imagined. At one time we were sure we were the only intelligent species in the universe. After sleeping for almost twenty thousand annuals, we've awakened to learn we are just one of dozens in the Galactic Alliance. And that's just in this one small part of this one galaxy. There may be millions of intelligent species in the universe. We cannot return to an existence of isolation while the galaxy and universe continues to pass us by. And there's no way of knowing if the Raiders can even accomplish what they promise. But if they can, who is to say they are the only ones?"

"And who is to say they're not? We know from Commander Carver's own statements that the incredible healing nature of her body is owed to a Raider DNA Manipulation Process. If they can produce that, what other miracle formulas might they already possess? The GA hasn't got anything to match that formula."

"We must give the GA a chance. They're working on it."

"And what results have they produced?"

"It takes time just to set up the operations and begin research. The Raiders are still making idle promises while the GA is working towards a solution."

"Most of us have worked in government— or at least large bureaucratic organizations that operate like a government— so we're all aware of how notoriously inefficient the operations under the control of politicians can be. They're often filled with waste and fraud, rampant with cronyism, and controlled by small, petty bureaucrats who are only interested in building their own little empires within an expansive labyrinth of other small bureaucratic empires. In spite of the importance to our own population, the government labs here on Dakistee were unable to find a cure for the sterility. It's only a matter of time before the political games begin anew that make progress here impossible. That's why I've appealed to private industry to solve this medical problem."

"We have no problem with our world turning to private industry to help solve this millenniums-old problem, Madam President," the Minister of Commerce said. "Our problem is the possible alienation of the Galactic Alliance and the real threats posed by a Raider organization gaining access to a material that would make them more militarily powerful while also gaining knowledge that would give them the ability to clone their top leaders as many times as they wished. As you know, selective breeding was a concern when the cloning project was initiated. We feared that many people with less desirable traits might be bypassed in favor of more highly intelligent and handsome members of our race. That's why laws were enacted to ensure no healthy subject could be turned away if the project development was successful. Even then, the selective breeding issues persisted when some proposed that people with less desirable appearances and birth defects should not be considered healthy. We were spared further controversy when we learned that cloning couldn't solve the sterility problem. We
cannot
turn over the information the Raiders are seeking. I would rather see our race die out."

"Very commendable, Minister Czelloc, but I doubt the majority here would agree with you. The survival of our race is of paramount importance."

~     ~     ~

"Come in, Larry," Jenetta said to Captain Lawrence Gavin when he appeared at the door to her office on the admiral's bridge shortly after the
Ares
entered Region One. "Make yourself a beverage and join me."

"I'm about coffee'd out for today," he said as he took a seat in one of the comfortable chairs in her informal seating area.

Jenetta placed her viewpad on the coffee table, took a sip from her coffee mug, and said, "Is this visit because there's something important to discuss, or just a social call?"

"A little of both I'd say. I've heard a rumor that you've decided to resign your commission. Any truth to that?"

Jenetta smiled. "Has my sister been whispering in your ear?"

"Eliza? Never. She's no more inclined to spread scuttlebutt than yourself. No, I got a vidMail from a friend in the Second Fleet who heard a rumor going around on Quesann. I also heard from a friend at SHQ on Earth who says you're to be the new Admiral of the Fleet when Richard Moore retires soon. So I was wondering which of the two rumors was more accurate."

Jenetta sighed. "No, I haven't resigned my commission. And yes, the Galactic Alliance Senate approved my promotion to Admiral of the Fleet, effective the day Richard retires later this year. That's why I needed to get away from Quesann before the Admiralty Board and the Galactic Alliance Senate arrived there."

"So the purpose of this voyage is a getaway breather?"

"I've officially taken a leave of absence. The
Ares
will return to the Second Fleet after delivering me to Obotymot. My plans beyond my arrival at my estate are still uncertain."

Gavin nodded without commenting.

"No words of wisdom from my mentor?" Jenetta said with a smile.

"I'm still digesting what you said. And the student surpassed her mentor a long time ago."

Jenetta looked at Gavin and smiled. "I've always appreciated your words of wisdom, Larry."

When he smiled, she said, "What?"

"Oh, I was just remembering that day, a long time ago, when a young Ensign, recently promoted three grades to Lt. Commander, reported aboard the
Prometheus.
She was to be the second in command during the voyage to Earth for the
Prometheus
' christening ceremony. I thought I could almost see the water dripping from behind her ears."

Jenetta smiled. "I guess I
was
pretty green."

"No. That's just it. I fully expected you to be, but I was wrong— you weren't. You jumped in with both feet and had the recently assembled skeleton crew in full readiness before we ever left Higgins. I know experienced commanders who would have been envious if they had seen what you accomplished in such a short time. Then, when we learned we would be going into battle against a far superior Raider task force, you got the entire crew rated well above par in weapons training on new and unfamiliar equipment. Your efforts made a considerable difference in that conflict. Few would have expected us to come out as much on top as we did. You know, there really have been times over the years when I've wondered who was mentor and who was student. And you've gone from Ensign to Admiral of the Fleet while I still have the same rank I held when you graduated from the Academy."

"Your rank is by choice. You could have had your stars decades ago. But you wanted to remain as captain of a battleship. And I would have done the same if I could. I would still love to be a warship captain, but it can't happen now. When they permanently promoted me beyond my brevetted rank, there was no going back except a demotion with official censure. That could have an adverse effect on the morale of everyone in Space Command, so it can't be allowed to happen."

"Would you even consider it?"

"I've thought about it. But I couldn't bring myself to do anything to disgrace the uniform. No, I've accepted that I can never be a warship's captain. And with each climb up the five-rung ladder of general officer, I've spent less time aboard a ship and more time behind a desk. But you know all this already. I've bored you with my problems more times than I've wanted. You're just unlucky enough to be my closest friend aboard ship and the one person I can be totally open with."