“Come,” Sargut said to his entourage, and they headed toward the building.
After Sargut and his party disappeared inside, Ellie waited a period of five minutes. She wanted to give the envoys time to consider what it meant that the Talusian president and his advisors sat among them.
When Ellie signaled the others to follow her, she sent, <Hector and Lydia, bracket me. Alphons and Adrianna, stand beside the SADEs.>
Humans and SADEs pondered the arrangement and then dismissed the thoughts. Whatever Ellie had in mind, they would soon observe the effect on the envoys.
Ellie entered the building first and marched briskly to the front of the hall. Immediately, her companions took their positions.
“I’m Fleet Admiral Thompson,” Ellie announced. “Our leader is the SADE, Hector, who stands beside me. For those not familiar with us, we’re the individuals who protected Talus after freeing the system from Artifice.”
The Omnians heard several rude noises from the audience.
“Yes,” Ellie said evenly. “Many of you lost members of your race from those ill-fated attacks on Toral, and you’ll lose more if you don’t abide by the rules that I set today.”
More grumbles echoed throughout the halls.
“You don’t have to like the rules I lay out,” Ellie said. “You only have to abide by them.”
“We’re not here to listen to Omnians,” an envoy shouted. “We’re here to speak to the Talusians.”
“Understand that we’ve been invited by the Talusians to act as arbiters,” Ellie replied. “We’ve accepted the job, and we’ll complete it to the best of our ability. As to the comment yelled, you’ve broken my first rule. When you have a question or comment, stand and be recognized. If your comment is derogatory or rude, it won’t be answered.”
After a great deal of fidgeting by the envoys and discussions within the clusters, an envoy stood. Ellie indicated her.
“This is a question for President Sargut,” the envoy said. “Are Talusians willing to abide by whatever is concluded during the arbitration?”
Sargut, determined to follow the etiquette set by Ellie, rose, waited for Ellie to recognize him, and replied, “Yes, we are.”
“Next, the negotiations will be accomplished between two parties of up to eight members each,” Ellie stated.
The uproar of standing and shouting envoys shook the building’s walls.
Sargut gazed around nervously. He did note that the Omnians refused to respond. They stood quietly and waited.
Several envoys continued to harangue the Omnians with their remarks, but, eventually, they were shouted down and forced to resume their seats by the other envoys.
When silence returned, Ellie said, “I’ve spoken to the president, his advisors, and the Sisterhood. Your requests are too numerous and diverse to arbitrate. If you wish to see any of them satisfied, you’ll have to narrow the field. That requires you produce a short list of tightly defined points and present them to me. In addition, you’ll select no more than eight individuals to represent your group. I don’t care how you accomplish this, but you’ve ten days to get this done.”
A Kirmler stood, and Ellie recognized him.
“You do recognize that we have the ships and the firepower to ignore these conditions that you’re trying to force on us. We’ve only so much patience,” the Kirmler said.
“I’m glad you brought up the point, Ser,” Ellie replied. “We don’t intend to discipline you in a contest of ships. That would be a waste of our crews and our ships. We’ve brought something new with us. If you refuse to negotiate in good faith and attempt to use force, we’ll inactivate the aggressor or aggressors.”
“Inactivate?” the Kirmler repeated.
“Inactivate as in turning a battleship into a piece of space junk,” Ellie replied. Then she gave the Kirmler a fierce grin.
The hall went quiet. The envoys knew the Omnians had superior tech. It wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to think that after their encounters in federacy space, they’d returned with a weapon superior to a battleship’s firepower.
A Rootog stood, and after Ellie pointed at him, he asked, “Would you dare use atomic weaponry against sentients as Artifice did?”
“No, we wouldn’t,” Ellie replied adamantly. “We hope to limit crew casualties when our weapon is deployed and the battleship is rendered inert.”
Another envoy stood. Ellie nodded for her to speak. Her question was, “What if we fail to meet the ten-day deadline for submission of our requests? We’ve been arguing among ourselves for more than an annual with little progress.”
“My ten-day deadline should provide you with incentive,” Ellie replied. “If this body can’t manage to come to some agreement in that time, then we would be left with no recourse except to end the arbitration and require you disband.”
“Then you would force us to leave Talus space,” the female envoy pursued.
“Yes, we would,” Ellie replied. “You’d be given a reasonable amount of time to clear the system. Any ship in Talus space after the deadline would be assumed to be an aggressor and be dealt with accordingly.”
Ellie set her chronometer. Then she addressed the audience. “Your ten days begins tomorrow. When you’ve chosen your eight, or fewer, negotiators, please appoint one of them to communicate with any sister that you’re ready to begin.”
With that, the Omnians whirled as one and marched out.
* * * * *
The Omnians stepped out of the envoys’ hall and into a mild Toral day.
Ellie paused to wait for the Talusians, who she expected would soon follow. She surveyed the enormous amount of work the Talusians had accomplished. It underscored Hector’s statement about the doubling of the sisters.
Prior to Artifice’s capture, the planet’s infrastructure had been allowed to crumble. At that time, biologicals didn’t inhabit the planet, which meant there hadn’t been a need for housing, utilities, or transportation for many centuries.
The Talusians had cleared the collapsed buildings and decayed road surfaces. In their place stood new public transport systems that serviced newly constructed buildings. Grav cars flew in all directions.
The air was clear, which meant the Talusians had shifted heavy industries off planet.
When the Talusian group joined Ellie, she said, “Miriamette, I need contacts with the sisters aboard the Tridents on overwatch of those two wedges below the ecliptic.”
After a brief pause, Miriamette added Ellie to a conference link, <Admiral, Commodore Desdemona has contact with Commander Quizra of the Podarlas, and Commodore Jacinda communicates with Commander Zoza of the Syslerians.>
<Commodores, thank you for your attentions. I assume you’ve been party to my communications with the envoys,> Ellie sent. <I’d like an update on the statuses of the wedges.>
Having been created during the fleet’s most turbulent times in space far from Omnia, the sisters were well versed in military-style communications. They understood what the admiral required.
<Admiral, it’s lamentable that these races haven’t chosen to provide Toral with envoys,> Desdemona sent. <We’ve kept them apprised of negotiations between the president and the envoys.>
<Then there aren’t envoys aboard the lead battleships?> Ellie queried.
<Precisely, Admiral,> Jacinda clarified. <The commanders have orders to obtain specific reparations from Toral. They aren’t interested in negotiations.>
<What are the commanders’ demands?> Ellie inquired.
<Unknown, Admiral,> Desdemona replied. <We’ve been unable to ascertain them. They’ll only speak to the president, and they declare that must be done face to face.>
<I need some insight into their possible actions,> Ellie sent.
<We shared with the commanders the imagery of your fleet’s arrival and the movement of the Talusian ships,> Jacinda sent. <When we updated them on your communications with the envoys, we received no responses.>
<What does that mean?> Ad
rianna asked.
<These wedges arrived about a half annual ago, Admiral Plummer,> Desdemona replied. <The battleship ring had already formed, and the commanders of these rather limited wedges were loath to sail to Toral and brace the president.>
<Over time, we’ve developed enough rapport with the commanders to understand the nuances of their communications,> Desdemona continued. <There are similarities in the manner in which these commanders express themselves, and we posit that their home worlds engage in trade. After our update on your announcements, the commanders’ silence represents extreme disapproval.>
<Have you been able to communicate to them since then?> Alphons asked.
<That was less than a quarter hour ago, Admiral Jagielski,> Jacinda replied. <We’ve learned that when a Podarla or a Syslerian is upset, the recovery time is measured in days, not minutes.>
<Wonderful,> Adrianna groused.
<Admittedly regrettable,> Desdemona agreed.
<Summations,> Ellie requested.
<The timing will probably revolve around your ten-day limit for the envoys, Admiral,> Desdemona sent. <We estimate it will make no difference to the commanders whether the envoys cooperate. They will see this event as their opportunity to act.>
<It’s also our consideration that the wedges will move in concert, Admiral,> Jacinda added.
<If one lead battleship is rendered inactive, will that convince the other commander to halt his aggression?> Alphons asked.
<Unknown, Admiral,> Desdemona replied. <There’s the distinct possibility that it will incense him.>
<Any recommendations to prevent either race from attacking?> Ellie asked. The sisters’ momentary pause was all Ellie needed. It had provided the answer.
<Apologies, Admiral,> Jacinda finally sent.
<Not necessary,> Ellie sent.
<What are your orders, Admiral, if the wedges accelerate toward Toral?> Desdemona requested.
Immediately, Hector supplied the sisters with the recommended distance to be maintained when the NNEMP weapons were deployed.
Desdemona and Jacinda privately linked and shared possible scenarios for the intervention of the wedges. Issues were immediately visible.
<You’ll need time,> Jacinda sent.
<Precisely,> Ellie replied. <By the time we receive word of the wedges’ movements, and Tridents deploy from the planet, the Podarla and Syslerian battleships will be too close to the envoys’ ships to use the NNEMP weapons.>
<Alternately, if you position your Tridents close to the wedges now, the commanders will interpret your actions as aggressions against them. That might precipitate their attacks,> Desdemona reasoned.
<Under the circumstances, what would you have us do, Admiral?> Jacinda asked.
<First and foremost, don’t endanger your crews and ships,> Ellie replied. <If the Podarlas or the Syslerians destroy your ships, it could escalate tension to the point that a war breaks out.>
<Wouldn’t your threat of weapons deployment be viewed as an empty threat if the wedges are allowed to proceed inward unhindered?> Desdemona asked.
<I didn’t say they would,> Ellie replied cryptically.
<Your meaning is clear, Admiral,> Jacinda said. <Only the arbiters’ ships may punish those who break the rules.>
<Be safe,> Ellie said, ending the conference call.
14: Diverse Sisters
Enjoying Talus’s warm starlight in the mild air, Ellie said, “We need to talk, President Sargut.”
“I’m at your disposal, Admiral. Is this to be a private discussion?” Sargut asked.
“I’d like my associates to join you and Miriamette,” Ellie replied.
Suntred and Sunnamis excused themselves, while Miriamette ordered two, four-seat grav cars. Then the group was whisked away to the administration building and the president’s office.
When the office door slid closed, and everyone was seated in the salon portion of the office, Sargut asked, “What did you wish to discuss, Admiral?”
“If we’re to arbitrate this impasse, then I need to understand the Talusians’ viewpoints,” Ellie said.
“Is that truly what you want to know, Admiral?” Miriamette asked.
Sargut regarded Miriamette.
“The admiral understands Toralians,” Miriamette explained. “What she wants to investigate are the conditions among sisters.”
Sargut turned his attention toward Ellie.
“Miriamette is correct,” Ellie said to Sargut. “These are our concerns. First, we know that when it comes to Artifice, Toralians rely on the Sisterhood. Second, we’ve also learned that the sisters have doubled their number since the Omnian fleet left the system. Third, we’ve also been told that the Sisterhood rarely achieves consensus. Why not? And fourth, we understand that there are various factions within the Sisterhood, and we’d like to know how they’ll affect the Talusian side of negotiations.”
Miriamette’s expression froze for several seconds.
The Omnians’ eyes widened at the lengthy interruption in algorithmic processing that only SADEs, who newly inhabited their first avatars, occasionally experienced. Except, Miriamette couldn’t be considered in that category.
“Your pardon,” Miriamette said. “The Sisterhood wishes to speak with you.”
“No,” Hector replied adamantly. “You were inundated by their messaging, Miriamette. I’ll not allow the sisters to connect en masse to an Omnian biological.”
The admiral’s eyes swung from Hector to Miriamette.
“It’s not my choice, Hector,” Miriamette said. “It must be remembered that I’m the Sisterhood’s representative, and in this moment, there is finally consensus. Many sisters believe my voice can’t fairly represent the various opinions.”
“Well, that answers the admiral’s question about how regularly the Sisterhood achieves consensus,” Adrianna sourly remarked.
“What does this mean about your side of the negotiations, President Sargut?” Alphons asked.
A slight red orange warming of Sargut’s extensive brow and cheek ridges indicated the extent to which he was perturbed. He stared at Miriamette and said, “Differences of opinions I understand, but in times of crisis, I would think the sisters would put aside their differences and unify until the danger passed.”
To the Sisterhood, Miriamette sent, <I resign my position as the Sisterhood’s envoy to the Talusian presidency.> She’d had enough of the infighting.
Within the sweeping exchanges of messages among the sisters, Miriamal’s fractious nature won the day, and she was elected as the new representative. She joyously sent Miriamette a message, <You’re barred from any further discussion within this meeting as the Sisterhood’s envoy. I suggest you leave to prevent confusion. I’ll arrive shortly to properly express the sisters’ concerns.>
“I’m no longer the Sisterhood’s envoy,” Miriamette announced to the group, “and the new representative has requested me to leave the meeting.”
“Who?” Lydia asked.
“Miriamal,” Miriamette replied, and the admirals groaned.
Sargut was speechless. He’d come to trust and respect Miriamette’s advice. The Talus system had been transformed under his presidency, and much of that was due to the SADE’s guidance.
“Well, if you aren’t the envoy, then you’re free to speak your opinions,” Ellie said, and she grinned at Miriamette.
“I am,” Miriamette replied, and she returned the grin.
“Before you speak, Miriamette,” Sargut said, “know that I wish you to work for me. You’d be an advisor, who would be on par with Suntred and Sunnamis. Do you accept?”
“Gladly,” Miriamette replied, and her face lit, indicating her pleasure. Like the prior frozen countenance, it was an equally unusual expression for a sister.
“I believe the admiral asked you a question, Miriamette,” Sargut said.
Miriamette curtailed comm reception to all but a handful of sisters. She hadn’t realized how much the constant bombardment from the sisters had altered her emotional programming, and she set about quickly restoring balance.
“Recent events would make you believe that the Sisterhood has fractioned into hundreds of contradictory opinions,” Miriamette said. “That would be a false assumption. Half of the sisters are recent copies, and they were produced by a small number.”
“For construction purposes?” Alphons inquired.
“Precisely, Admiral, although that doesn’t tell the entire story,” Miriamette replied. “These sisters see the strife within the Sisterhood as self-defeating. They’ve attenuated their comm connections, and they seek to focus on furthering Talus’s development. They believe that their future safety lies in generating a robust, technologically advanced system.”
“How many factions are there in the Sisterhood, or are there different opinions from every voice?” Adrianna asked.
Miriamette smiled sadly.
Ellie noticed that Miriamette’s face had become more animated since she’d resigned as envoy. She couldn’t imagine the stress of having thousands of voices in her head much of the time.
“After the Omnian fleet left Talus, a few sisters started agitating for their visions of the future,” Miriamette continued.
“Pardon my interruption, Miriamette,” Ellie apologized, “but are these visions regarding Talus or something else?”
“Like the sisters, it varies,” Miriamette replied. “As consensus failed to be achieved on subject after subject, the number of factions grew. Today, there are roughly nine of them, and they incorporate only about sixty percent of the sisters, after you subtract the constructionists.”
“We take it that Miriamal leads one of these factions,” Alphons offered.
“She does. They refer to themselves as the isolationists,” Miriamette replied. “However, the remainder of the Sisterhood rightly brands them as the militarists.”
“Why that name?” Sargut asked in alarm.