Who knows which is tougher, Smart Metal or this steel?
No doubt it would be the Smart MetalTM, but it would be a shame to find out otherwise.
When the cheering died down, the two leaders of the most powerful lands on the planet below did not suggest that someone serve the meal. No, two more warrior types appeared with boxes in their hands. These were made of fine wood, beautifully polished, and just the right size for awards.
Kris recognized the sizes of the boxes. One was as big as the one that came in the mail from Earth and contained the Order of the Wounded Lion. The other was about the size of the box that Admiral Krätz had tossed to Kris and revealed the Pour la Merit, Imperial Greenfeld’s highest honor.
All had come without fanfare.
Apparently, the felines intended to start Kris on a new tradition. When she opened these boxes, they would really feel like awards.
Again, President Almar went first. She opened the smaller of the two boxes. It showed a silver shield with crossed golden swords hung from a watermarked red ribbon with golden edges. “This is the Medal of Highest Valor. For the last two hundred years, it has been the highest award for valor given by the people of Calumm. We offer it to you.”
So saying, she stepped forward and slipped around Kris to fasten it around her neck.
President Almar whispered something.
IT’S GETTING CROWDED HERE, Nelly translated.
TELL HER THAT IT IS NO LESS WELCOMED IN THE NAME OF ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT, BLED, AND IN TOO MANY CASES DIED WITH SUCH VALOR, NELLY.
Kris’s collarbone spoke softly. The president did not seem surprised.
Again the Prime Minister came second. She opened the larger box and drew out a long yellow sash with a golden medallion.
“The Order of the Rose and the Thistle is the highest order in our kingdom,” she said. “For those who are recognized for their civic contributions, the Rose is first on the medallion. For those who win it on the field of battle, the Thistle takes the place of honor. Your medallion is the first of its kind. The thistle and rose surround an image of our solar system. We suspect there is more to this symbol than we have yet plumbed the depths of.” She finished with a wry smile.
Now President Almar came to stand beside the Prime Minister. “All of you will find at your place, a simple wooden box. Please open it now. In it you will find an expression of our gratitude. It is the Defender of the Star award, and it is meant for all of you who fought for us. Unlike what we have been giving here, it is an award that the people of Columm and the King of Bizalt give together. This is the first such joint endeavor. We hope it will be the beginning of a long and fruitful cooperation.”
Penny opened hers and showed it to Kris. Like the Medal of Highest Valor, it was in the form of a three-cornered shield. In place of the crossed swords, this one showed a sunburst. Here was an award that looked forward and out, not to the past and what it had meant.
Penny gave Kris a wink.
Yep, we’ve started something. Now to help them finish it in the best way we can.
Servers began to circulate among the tables, bringing plates full of roasted something, petite red potatoes, or something like it, and a bean that the server suggested that Kris not look too closely at.
Cookie and Mother MacCreedy made it taste wonderful, wherever it came from.
The President and Prime Minister joined Kris at her table. They were served a plate of raw meat, seasoned with flakes of something green and purple.
Kris didn’t have to make an effort to not look too closely at that.
“Your general commanding your guard, who I understand is also your mate, advised us that we should not have a banquet in your honor the day that you came to our Association Assembly,” President Almar mentioned as the meal progressed. “Something about it being a fast day for your religion.”
Kris glanced at Jack. They both managed to suppress a laugh if not a grin.
“I think that he feared that our culinary preferences might be as hard for you to take as we find your proclivity for burning good meat.”
“I think you might be right,” Kris said.
“You will forgive us,” Penny said. “Our digestion is only able to fully process meat that has been seared. It helps us digest it in ways that our stomachs can no longer do alone. We have been burning our fine meat, as you put it, for half a million years.”
“Do you have a wise saying that goes something like ‘One woman’s meat is another woman’s poison’?” the prime minister asked.
“We have one just like that,” Kris agreed.
“May I ask what you will do now?” President Almar asked.
Kris put her fork down and turned to face the two leaders. “We intend to clean up the alien holdout base on the other side of your system. We will go there, ask them to surrender and, very likely, have to fight them to their death.”
“I noticed that all of the attacking ships were destroyed,” Prime Minister Gerrot said.
“Many were disabled in the fight,” Kris said. “When they found that the battle was lost, rather than surrender, they chose to do things to their reactors that caused them to blow up their ship.”
“We are told that our nuclear reactors cannot explode,” the president said, alarm showing at her muzzle.
“I don’t believe yours can,” Kris said.
THEY CAN’T, Nelly added.
“We use thermonuclear reactors, the next step up from yours,” Kris added.
“I keep hearing that thermonuclear power is just twenty years away,” the prime minister said. “And it has been for the last forty years.”
“It is a difficult jump from fission to fusion. At least it was in our history,” Kris admitted.
“If we can make the jump to our moon, might you be willing to share with us that secret?”
“It is possible if the request comes from all of your world’s people and a means can be found to share it peacefully,” Kris said.
“If that is a deal you are offering, that is a deal we are taking,” the Prime Minister said.
“You say that the Order of the Defender of the Star is your first joint effort,” Kris said.
“The first of many,” both leaders said.
“Then let us give you a system that is all yours,” Kris said, and raised her glass of water.
Those around the table raised their own glasses. It seemed the locals did brew a most magnificent collection of beers. The mess was enjoying not only home-grown meat but also home-brewed beer.
Glasses clinked. The deal was done.
Exactly how Kris would keep her side of the deal was something only a Longknife could figure out.
And they always did what they had to do, didn’t they?
51
They were still accelerating at a comfortable one gee as they swung around the sun, headed for the gas giant on the other side of the system from the cat folks. Kris was holding her reduced squadron to normal gravity while more repairs and adjustments were made.
Officially, Captain Drago was willing to put on 2.5 gees. So were the others. Unofficially, they all asked Kris to go light on the spurs.
She intended to.
No doubt the coming battle would respect her good intentions.
In a pig’s eye.
Clear of the sun, they now got their first good view of the alien base.
“Two ships, six huge reactors each,” Chief Beni reported. “The base has five mega reactors, larger than we’d usually build for a major city.”
“Are their lasers charged?” Captain Drago asked.
“I can’t tell at this range, sir.”
“Well, tell me as soon as you can, Chief. That’s your main job for the next three days.”