Ben Hwang nodded immediately. “Yes. The Hkh’Rkh were not good allies for the Arat Kur. We would have been a much better fit. Humanity is not as rash as the Hkh’Rkh, yet is almost as militarily experienced, and we advance—in terms of exploration, settlement, technological development—much faster than either race.”
“Then what would we offer to such an alliance?” Darzhee Kut sounded more worried than shocked.
“Stability, efficiency, level-headed analysis, high rates of production,” replied Caine. “Darzhee Kut, I know it is hard to think of your dreaded destroyer race as your allies, but I suspect that this was part of what the Ktor wished to prevent. Because if our two species ever became unified against their objectives, we would have been a formidable obstacle. But the full extermination of one race by the other—or the cycle of vengeance that would be spawned by a failed attempt—would ensure that such an alliance could never be forged.”
Darzhee Kut’s claws made a surprised castanet sound. “You said this was only part of what the Ktor wished to prevent by prompting you to destroy my race. What is the other part?”
Caine looked at Apt-Counsel’s silent environmental tank, then at Alnduul. “They wanted to ensure our estrangement from the Dornaani.” He saw Alnduul’s mouth coil about its own center. He’s smiling? Of course. He knew all along.
Sukhinin leaned his rather furry fists forward to meet their shadowmates on the reflective table-top. “Caine, explain how this could happen. It was the Dornaani who made it possible for us to be here above the Arat Kur homeworld. And did so their own free will.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean they have sanctioned genocide.”
Visser looked—somewhat anxiously—at Alnduul. “Perhaps not, but we have not concealed our plans and contingencies from the Custodians. They have known from the start what we were prepared to do.”
“Yes,” agreed Caine, “but if they had intervened, then would they learn as much about us, get as accurate a measure of who we humans are, right now? Our actions—our independent actions—are what define us. So, if we decide, on the advice of the Ktor, to initiate genocide, what will the Dornaani have learned?”
Darzhee Kut’s translated voice was a murmur. “That you are indeed the great destroyers we feared.”
“Precisely. And that is exactly what the Ktor want, because if they can’t eliminate us, then they want to ensure that the Dornaani will decide that we cannot be trusted.”
“And what would that achieve?”
“We would become pariahs, Vassily, like the Ktor. And so, to whom else would we be able to turn?”
“You mean—as allies?”
“That’s exactly what I mean, Ms. Visser. Think it through. We exterminate the Arat Kur. We become the great savages of this region of space. Our bid for Accord membership is rejected. The Ktor sympathize, probably extending similar condolences to the Hkh’Rkh, who violated the Twenty-first accord by violating a homeworld—”
“And so they build an alliance of outcasts which can undo the Accord.” Vassily was nodding, looking at the Ktor’s tank as if it held a mixture of piranha and sewage.
Visser’s nostrils had flared and stayed that way. “In that scenario, it would not even require warfare to undo the Accord. With only the Slaasriithi remaining as members, the Accord would become a travesty. It would lack both material power and political legitimacy.” She turned to Apt-Counsel. “Ambassador, were these your plans?”
“Consul Visser, surely you cannot expect me to either confirm or deny. Either response would provide you with information, whether negative or positive, about my race’s long-term diplomatic strategies.”
Visser looked as if she were about to spit at the misting tank. “I will take that to be an affirmative, Ambassador—despite your evasive sophistries. It will be made widely known among our highest command staff that all your counsel is to be reevaluated, in light of your apparent duplicity and hostility—which compassed even the possible extermination of the human race.”
Apt-Counsel’s voice sounded thoroughly unruffled. “You must do as you see fit, Consul Visser. But I assure you of this. Had there been any risk of genocide against your planet, Ktor would have interceded. Aggressively. We would have considered an act of genocide against you to be tantamount to an act of genocide against us.”
Sukhinin looked as though he was struggling with a sudden up-rush of bile. “With all due respect, Ambassador Apt-Counsel, you cannot expect us to believe you are so charitably concerned with the survival of our species when you also tried to destroy it with a space rock.”
Caine nodded slowly. “Yes, Vassily. Actually, we can believe him on this one point—although charity would have nothing to do with his desire for our survival. If the Arat Kur, or anyone else, had brought a true campaign of genocide to our homeworld, it would be the equivalent of bringing that invasion to the Ktor homeworld.” Caine smiled, kept a wary eye on Apt-Counsel. “In fact, it wouldn’t have merely been the equivalent of depopulating the Ktor homeworld. It would have been exactly that. Because to depopulate Earth is to depopulate the Ktor homeworld.”
Sukhinin frowned. “I do not understand.”
The Ktor almost sounded amused. “When did you know?”
“I was pretty sure when I came back from talking to Dr. Hwang.”
Visser’s voice was sharp. “Gentlemen. What are you talking about?”
“I’ll show you,” said Caine. “Crack open his environment tank.”
“What?!”
Caine turned to the American Marine. “Corporal, I carry the rank of Commander, am declaring this a combat situation, and am issuing you a direct order. Crack open the Ktor’s environment tank.”
Apt-Counsel’s tone was languid. “There is no need for violence. I will happily comply.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
The tank came apart so easily, it was difficult to believe it had ever been an apparently seamless container. After a brief burst of air escaping, Apt-Counsel emerged like a decathlete on the half-shell, stepping free of a sensor-laden body suit, a face piece that might have been a sophisticated VR vision unit falling aside as he did so. Naked, tall, trim, almost perversely well-defined, he stood at their center, evidently unperturbed by having both his human body and identity so completely exposed. His voice reinforced the impression. “It is so constraining in there, particularly these last few months. Presuming I was under constant observation, I was not able to leave the tank. Although this is an unfortunate turn of events, it is pleasing to be done with this charade and to anticipate the prospect of real food. I wonder—do you have olives?”
Visser and Sukhinin seemed unable to speak; the Marines had their hands on their weapons; Darzhee Kut had backed up until the rear of his shell rested lightly against Alnduul’s legs. Caine did not take his eyes off the Ktor but smoothly unholstered his weapon, snapped the safety off, and centered the red dot of the aimpoint laser two centimeters above the navel. “Dr. Hwang.”
“Yes?”
“Please go at once to the CIC. Inform Admiral Silverstein that we have a situation in the conference suite requiring the utmost discretion and the immediate presence of armed personnel with the highest levels of clearance. Also tell him that it is our collective opinion that under no circumstances whatsoever are any biological weapons to be launched at the Arat Kur Homenest, at least not until all the parties here present have been fully and satisfactorily debriefed. Please also convey a description of the Ktoran ambassador’s true form and that it is the shared opinion of the persons in this room that he is not to be trusted in any matter, to any degree. And lastly, if any firearms are discharged in this room, it is to be sealed and flooded with suppressive gas. Does anyone wish to amend or alter my message?”