“With respect, First Delegate, it seems to us that you had little choice but to comply, if you wished to avoid nuclear incineration.”
“Admittedly, we find ourselves in a challenging situation at the moment. You are to be congratulated on your deceptions, Mr. Downing. They have proven relatively effective. At any rate, we are willing to return to our original terms—those we dictated upon our arrival—and reopen negotiations upon them.”
“We are not willing to reopen discussions on the original terms, First Delegate. They were unacceptable. Furthermore, it is the opinion of the Confederation leadership that they were intended to make this conflict inevitable, rather than avoidable.”
“That is an interesting hypothesis. If you have no interest in resuming negotiations, why did you even accept the reception of this communication?”
“To offer you the chance to surrender.”
“Mr. Downing, did I understand you correctly? You are offering us the chance to surrender?”
“That is correct.”
“Mr. Downing, while my staff concedes that we may take significant losses before the ongoing cislunar space engagement is resolved, we will still emerge victorious. And then you will have no fleet left.”
“Our analysis suggests a different outcome. A very different outcome.”
“We have utmost confidence in our own analysis.”
“I’m sure you do. But your analysts are not aware of all the variables.”
“Indeed?”
“Our fleet’s appearance was an unforeseen variable when you were calculating the odds of your success today. Consider how your current projections might be further problematized, not to say ruined, by the intrusion of further unforeseen variables.”
“Mr. Downing, your diction and calm marks your voice as a worthy one to sing for your species. However, you are nonetheless human and deception is as ineluctable a part of your nature as are the other primal survival traits of your species. In short, it is only logical that, having surprised us with your fleet’s appearance, you will use it to legitimate further ‘bluffs’ by suggesting that you have further ‘aces up your sleeve.’ Do I use these colloquialisms correctly?”
“You do. But I am not bluffing.”
“For sake of argument, let us presume that you are not. What terms would you offer us? May we withdraw?”
“Not immediately.”
“What do you propose?”
Caine leaned forward to hear Downing’s reply—and felt another spasm of pain in his left ulna. What the hell?
Downing’s tone was almost mild. “First, your ships will be boarded and rigged for scuttling in the event of treachery. We will then escort your hulls, one by one, to Jupiter. There you will vent all but five percent of your fuel upon achieving a holding orbit, in which you will remain for whatever time is required for us to conclude a peace agreement with the senior leadership of the Wholenest on Sigma Draconis Two. If and when this is accomplished, your carriers will be allowed to refuel, discharge our boarding parties, and depart. However, we will retain one hundred members of your senior command staff, several STL vessels, and one shift-carrier for one year’s time.”
“For intelligence and technical purposes?”
“For insurance.”
Ah, Downing. What a liar. The personnel and ships would be worthwhile as means of ensuring compliance, but Hu’urs Khraam was also right about the intelligence angle: Earth’s entire scientific community would be drooling over the prospect of getting their hands on the very best of Arat Kur engineering.
Hu’urs Khraam played Downing’s lie against him. “You require insurance? Ah. So these one hundred persons of our command staff are, in fact, hostages.”
Downing’s response was unrushed, calm. “We hope your personnel will simply see themselves as our guests.”
“And if the Wholenest will not come to terms?”
“Then, after debarking your crew to join your landing forces, Arat Kur and Hkh’Rkh will be split into separate groups, each of which will be housed in humane prison facilities.”
“And our fleet?”
“Becomes our prize.”
“And if, at this time, we choose to continue to fight?”
“Then you may not expect these terms again. Given signal disruption and both sides’ jamming, it may be impossible to establish a spaceside cease-fire after our second echelon and the remains of your fleet have become fully engaged.”
“Your offer is a—measured one, which we appreciate.”
First Voice stepped into the room, dust on his armor, his retinue somewhat reduced. He had obviously overheard the immediately preceding conversation; his crest was erect and quivering. “We will not be party to any such agreement.”
“Be calmed, First Voice of the First Family.” Hu’urs Khraam looked at him for several seconds, during which no one spoke or even moved in the command center. Then Hu’urs Khraam turned back toward the communications panels. “Mr. Downing, I am afraid this communication has been fruitless. Despite your assertions, and the advice of your Speaker, we must decline your—”
“Excuse me, First Delegate; you mentioned our Speaker. Do you mean Mr. Riordan? Is he there?”
“He is.”
“May I speak with him?”
“I am sorry, but my security staff recommends against allowing contact at this time.”
“Then how may I know that he is there and well?”
“Because I have said it.”
“And I have told you that I am not bluffing, but you do not believe me. I am afraid that leaves me unable to believe you, First Delegate.”
“Very well. Speaker Riordan?”
“Yes?”
“You may report your personal condition to Mr. Downing. That and nothing else.”
Caine cleared his throat to project across the room. “Richard, it’s me. I’m safe, and being well treated.”
“Excellent. In that event, First Consul Ching and the Confederation Council have asked me to inquire if you will accept the ad hoc position of Ambassador-without-Portfolio to both the Arat Kur and the Hkh’Rkh for the duration of this crisis?”
Caine blinked. “Uh, yes—yes, I do.”
“First Delegate Hu’urs Khraam, Mr. Riordan is now our official ambassador, and we expect him to be treated accordingly. He does not have plenipotentiary powers and thus can only negotiate, not conclude agreements independently. That would require consultation with us.”
“Certainly, although you will appreciate that, although he is an esteemed guest, Mr. Riordan is also a potential enemy agent. You will not have contact with him again until such time as we deem it operationally prudent to permit it.”
“Naturally. I take it, then, that you reject our terms?”
“Yes, unless you can give us more time, so that we may—”
“First Delegate Khraam, I appreciate that you have not even had ten minutes to consult your staff or convince your allies. But you will appreciate that the advantages we enjoy at this moment may not last another half hour. As you point out, if our fleet is defeated, you would be far less inclined to consider our terms. So if we do not receive your immediate surrender, we must force a prompt and decisive military outcome while we still may.”
Hu’urs Khraam clasped and unclasped his claws. “Then I must—for now—decline.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, for there may be no second chance. Will you relay one final message to Mr. Riordan, a message of a personal nature?”
“You may do so yourself. He is still here.”