But that didn’t help 166 and 387, which were still a good two or more hours away from being jump-capable. Jaruzelska had no intention of leaving them alone in Hammer space. A minute’s consideration and she knew what she would do. She’d keep Al-Jahiz and Sina together with Crossbow and Bombard back in support of 166 and 387 until they jumped.
For everyone else, it was time to go home.
Thursday, November 19, 2398, UD
Offices of the Supreme Council for the Preservation of the Faith, City of McNair, Commitment Planet
Merrick had been dragged from sleep by the news of the Feds’ attack on Hell, and it had taken him only a few sleep-befuddled seconds to work out precisely why they were doing what they were doing.
From that moment on, he knew he was a dead man.
Desperately, he scoured his mind to work out some way, any way, of surviving the storm that was about to break over his head, but there was none. He’d gambled, risking everything he’d had to play with, and the gamble had failed. That was it, and there was no way back, no way out.
Now the moment of judgment had come, and Merrick could do nothing but sit at the Council table and await the executioner’s ax. He would at least go with as much dignity as the circumstances allowed, fighting every step of the way as he’d done all his life.
The hastily convened meeting of the Supreme Council finally came to order as Polk and Albrecht hurried into the room. Close on their heels followed a disheveled and very anxious Councillor Kando the newly appointed councillor for intelligence. He was obviously half-panicked by the early hour and worried sick that something had happened that his department should have known about but hadn’t. Merrick managed a wry smile in spite of himself.
Let the charade begin, Merrick thought as he looked down the table. Time for one last bluff. “Good morning, everyone. We are here to decide what immediate actions we must take in response to the unprovoked attack by the Federated Worlds on the Hell planetary system. I suggest we start by asking the councillor for war and external security for an-”
Polk held a hand up, stopping him dead. “I think not, Merrick, I think not.”
Merrick couldn’t stop himself, half rising to his feet as he spoke. “How dare you, Councillor Polk,” he barked, “how dare you! I am the chief councillor, and you will address me as such or you will face the consequences.”
Polk’s voice was silky smooth, “I don’t think so, Merrick. And what consequences might those be, anyway?” He waved a hand dismissively in Merrick’s general direction. “I don’t care what you think anymore. What we should do is hear from the councillor for foreign relations about what you have been up to behind the backs of the Council.”
The assembled councillors could do nothing but stare open-mouthed. Something terrible was about to happen and they had absolutely no idea what it was. In the circumstances, all they could do was sit, their minds desperately trying to work out how best to survive the coming storm.
Claude Albrecht, the councillor for foreign relations, looked like he was trying to bring up a half-digested meal of broken glass. “Thank you, Councillor Polk. I have here,” he mumbled, waving a single sheet of paper, “a diplomatic note from the Federated Worlds which I shall read to you in its entirety. It goes as follows.”
Albrecht paused, his extreme discomfort obvious to all.
“Get on with it, you Kraa-damned bastard,” Merrick muttered.
“To the Government of the Worlds of the Hammer of Kraa.” There was another pause as Albrecht struggled to stop the quaver in his voice. With a visible effort, he got himself back under control.
“You are hereby served Notice that a State of Limited War is hereby declared and shall exist between the peoples of the Federated Worlds and the Worlds of the Hammer of Kraa with effect from 04:15 Universal Time on the nineteenth day of November 2398 Universal Date.
“In accordance with the New Washington Convention, you are hereby advised that the Affirmed Basis of this Declaration is the hijacking of the Federated Worlds Commercial Ship Mumtaz, registration number FWCS-700451-G, hereinafter known as the Mumtaz, on the eleventh day of September 2398 Universal Date for the express purpose of diverting its cargo to the terraforming of the planet Judgment-III, hereinafter known as Eternity. This illegal act was directed by Brigadier General Digby, Hammer of Kraa Marines, under the direct orders of Jesse Merrick, Chief Councillor of the Worlds of the Hammer of Kraa.
“Further, as required by the Convention, you are hereby advised that the objectives of the Limited War are the rescue of the passengers and crew of the Mumtaz from illegal detention on Eternity and various moons of the Revelation-II planetary system, the arrest of Brigadier General Digby and all other persons reasonably believed to be responsible for the planning and execution of the hijack to face trial in the courts of the Federated Worlds, the safe recovery of the Mumtaz and as much of its cargo as possible, and the safe departure of Federated Worlds forces from Hammer space. Upon the satisfactory achievement of these objectives or 07:00 Universal Time on the nineteenth day of November 2398 Universal Date, whichever is the later, the State of Limited War shall cease. Thereafter, a Demand for Financial Restitution shall be served.
“As required by the Convention, the Statement of Facts relating to this matter is attached to the Declaration, having been attested to by Corinne Bhose, Chief Observer of the Federated Worlds.
“Delivered to the hand of Tae Uk Yoon, Ambassador of the Worlds of the Hammer of Kraa to the Federated Worlds, at 04:05 Universal Time on the nineteenth day of November 2398 Universal Date by my authorized delegate, Giovanni Pecora, Federal Minister of Interstellar Relations.
“Signed, Reshmi Diouf, President, Federated Worlds, and dated the nineteenth day of November 2398 Universal Date.”
Councillor Albrecht put the piece of paper down on the table. Probably Merrick’s most committed supporter, he was the first to break the stunned silence that followed. His voice was harsh and his face grim as he looked up the table directly at Merrick.
“True or not, Jesse? True or not?”
Merrick sat there, unmoving.
Fear and frustration that the man on whom his life depended could have been so stupid drove Albrecht’s voice into a cracked scream. “True or not? Tell me, Kraa-damn it! Is it true?”
“Answer the question, Merrick.” Polk was unable to keep the satisfaction out of his voice.
The pause was a long one.
Finally, Merrick nodded once and sat back in his seat as if to say, Do what you want. He could have argued the point, tried to bluff his way out of it. Ten years earlier, he would have. Polk as usual overestimated the strength of his position even if it was probably strong enough to see Merrick at the bottom of a DocSec lime pit. No, he was tired, bone-tired, utterly spent. He really didn’t care anymore.
Despite the fact that his own life had been put in jeopardy by the unilateral actions of the man at the head of the Council table, Albrecht’s voice softened. He had always respected Merrick, and certainly the man had been better than most chief councillors of recent times. “Why, Jesse? Why? This is not how we do business. You should know that better than anyone.”