Exodus, page 68
For a moment, Olomo’s self-control deserted him. He laughed. “You want to cut open a ball of neutronium so you can take a look at what’s inside?”
“I know it sounds implausible—”
“The word is impossible.”
“It can be done. With enough energy, a nuclear disassociation effect might be able to overcome the gravity field. Such a project would require a lot of effort. We might need to partner with the Crown Dominion.” Karaglo left it an open question.
“Partner with the Crown Dominion?”
“Well, yes. I thought…Don’t we already have political contacts with them? You were the one who cleared the way for my science mission.”
“Dear Karaglo, there is a huge difference between my distant engagement with various factions of the Crown Dominion and being their allies. They never have been, are not, and never will be friends with the Heresy Dominion. At best, there are moments where they can be considered useful, but that’s as far as it goes.”
“But there could be a strangelet in there!”
“In which case, we really don’t want the Crown Dominion included.”
“I don’t understand. Why not?”
“Because those of us involved with the Heresy Dominion’s Great Game strategy consider them barely one step above basic human stock. They’re not true Celestials, Karaglo. Their obsession with mindline preservation has sent their evolution down a blind alley. It’s bad enough a dominion like that having control over the HeSea. We don’t need them acquiring strangelet technology as well. As a weapon, it is disturbing.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry. However, I am prepared to lobby the Heresy Dominion polity to make considerable resources available for you to continue your research. I’m sure there will be a methodology to determine the contents of the neutronium relic other than smashing it open. I mean, even saying that makes it sound like the kind of thing humans would do.”
Karaglo gave him a calculating gaze, all four eyes blinking together. “That, in my opinion, would be a mistake.”
“Indeed?” Olomo was surprised by the defiance. His authority was normally unchallenged, especially by the placid astrophysicist. For a moment he wondered if Karaglo was actually deploying a rider to give himself confidence. The Heresy Dominion was reasonably liberal, but there was an acknowledged hierarchy. “Why is that?”
“That other part of my mission produced results as well.”
“Ah. Do enlighten me.”
“The Pillar of Zeus is one of the densest clouds of nebula dust in the Centauri Cluster, and the HeSea has an even higher density. That makes tracking disturbances a relatively easy process, which is how I discovered the traces of the gas giant’s passage. The sensor network the Mil’laury seeded across the HeSea has a much greater resolution than I was expecting, thanks to your generosity. It took twenty years to distribute the units, but the coverage is extensive.”
“You are welcome.”
“I could actually watch the course of Crown Dominion scoop tankers as they flew their circuits. There was only a six-month time delay, purely because of the size of the HeSea. But more than that, the network allowed me to determine pattern dispersal. Once the CI learned to filter out superposition, it was possible to see the course that tankers had taken years ago. It was like watching contrails in a clear sky. I was plotting them from decades earlier. I even watched Mil’laury’s own wake; it was fascinating. The network is one of the reasons I managed to find the neutronium relic. The way its gravity stirred the nebula dust and ions was unique.”
“Interesting.”
“But, Olomo, it’s not just Crown Dominion tankers out here in the Pillar of Zeus. The network detected the wake of other ships traveling through the HeSea. Their distortion waves are faint, of course, but they are definitely there, I swear it.”
Until now, Olomo had been communing with the Xiyra’s CI, keeping some of his conscious mind aware of local space, feeling the status of ship systems, even examining which starships were coming in and out of the Tinaja system through the two Gates. Now he discarded all of that and focused his entire intellect on Karaglo. The reason the astrophysicist’s mission had been approved was so he could construct the network—an opportunity to provide the Heresy Dominion with the ability to quietly watch the Crown Dominion scoop tankers was an asset too good to ignore. Energy usage was a fundamental measure of a dominion’s ability. And for all their backward behavior, the Crown Dominion was powerful. It maintained an acceptable balance among the dominions in and around the Poseidon Nebula. The Heresy Dominion approved of that. “What ships?”
“I don’t know. They’re traveling from a red dwarf binary on the opposite side of the HeSea from Tinaja. I’ve monitored two, sometimes three, ships a year. They fly a route directly through the HeSea to Tinaja, and they go both ways.”
“How big are they?”
“Small, a couple of thousand tons; they fly up to a third lightspeed. If you’re traveling at that velocity through the Pillar, you need some decent shielding. None of the scoop tankers go above three percent once they…”
“So there’s a whole civilization hidden out there?” Olomo used the connection bud to bring the Xiyra’s sensor feed into his head, seeing the vast expanse of the HeSea starting to fall behind Lonizi.
“Calling it a civilization might be stretching it,” Karaglo said. “There are no habitable planets at the red dwarf binary. Admittedly it might just be an outlier station. You could hide ten Celestial dominions inside the Pillar of Zeus and no one would know.”
“Indeed.” Closing all his eyes delivered Olomo up to the turquoise cosmic phenomenon; he felt he could reach out and touch it. Examine it. Discover its secrets. “You won’t have heard, of course, but a Mara Yama fleet has arrived at Hoa Quinzu.”
“That’s not good,” Karaglo said carefully.
“Excellent understatement. The Crown Dominion is deeply unhappy with their proximity.” Olomo abandoned the direct sensor image, and switched to a tactical display over fifteen light-years across, with the HeSea on one side and Hoa Quinzu at the other. This makes no sense, he thought as he ran through scenarios. “Very well, what we have is a series of incongruent events coming to fruition, which I find worrying. The Mara Yama fleet’s unexpected arrival at Hoa Quinzu, the iron exotic approaching Kelowan, and now we find unknown ships traversing the HeSea. There is no confluence visible here, yet I cannot believe such a triad to be coincidence.”
“What’s this got to do with the ships I’ve detected?”
“We do not know how long the faction based at the red dwarf binary has been there, nor who they are,” Olomo said slowly. “I consider it possible they were the ones who changed Dolod’s course from JK67b to Kelowan.”
“But why change its course?” Karaglo asked.
“Another unknown, although its effect will change the economics of the Kelowan system, so they have an interest of some kind with the Crown Dominion. The Mara Yama fleet is currently refueling at a gas giant in the Hoa Quinzu system, and will undoubtedly continue to do so for another decade. If they were to leave and head directly for the HeSea, it would take them probably half a century at sublight speed to reach it. Except the Crown Dominion will never allow them to reach it; the Empress would muster an Imperial fleet and intercept them. And the Empress would win. The Mara Yama would never risk an entire fleet. Unless…there was no risk. Alas, I cannot see how that could be. Such is the curse which haunts every archon: not having enough information.” All four of Olomo’s arms waved about in frustration. “I don’t know enough to interpret this Great Game. Not yet.”
“I do. We need to get back to Toro Centi. That’s our nearest metropolis.”
“Our dominion must certainly be informed,” Olomo agreed. “And presumably the polity will want to alert the Crown Dominion queens.”
“Okay, so we’d better get back there.”
“I will inform the polity. In the meantime, I need you to stay here. In fact, I need you back in the HeSea.”
“What?” Karaglo said in alarm. “Why?”
“Your network is the only early warning mechanism there is. I want to know when the next one of these unknown ships arrives at Tinaja. I will put assets in place that can follow it. Knowledge of its destination will be invaluable.”
“I suppose that makes tactical sense.”
“Don’t worry, it’ll take about ten years, but I’ll get some support here for you. Until then, I’m relying on you to maintain a vigilant watch.”
* * *
—
Thyra sat at the head of the long crystal table that stretched down the center of the Privy Council Hall. As she had done since becoming Helena-Thyra five years ago, she took an uncomfortably long moment before waving a dismissive hand at the attending council members who were standing stiff-backed behind their chairs, indicating they were now permitted to sit. As far as they were concerned, it was another sharp distinction between Helena-Chione and Helena-Thyra, demonstrating that the informalities that had crept in over her last few host bodies were no longer being tolerated.
“Formalities have a purpose,” she’d told the court at her Acceptance Ball speech. “To lose them is to lose respect and propriety. Those attributes are the foundation of authority. Without them, we have no stability—the one principle of the Crown Dominion we can never sacrifice. This, then, is notice to you all that my reign in this host will be devoted to the restoration of the traditional practices that defined our foundation, and will leave us stronger because of them.”
The applause had been loud and enthusiastic. Some of it was even genuine, mostly among the security hardliners, those Grand Families with strong economic ties to the navy.
* * *
—
With the privy councilors sitting, Lord Bekket stood up and began working through the agenda. First item, mineral rights to be granted on a moon orbiting Golwaki (given to the Family Eclesta for their support in council of increased military spending). Second, approval for an enterprise consortium to examine the feasibility of an orbital tower on Oceanus Maximus (the consortium was a reward for the Grand Families who were investing in new astroengineering stations specializing in armaments—a nonsense, of course; a tower on Oceanus Maximus had been proposed countless times over the last nine thousand years. It would never be built). Third, Treasury backing for favorable trade agreements with the Dorchi Dominion, countering a similar scheme by Verak.
It was a long but necessary list, Thyra conceded. She’d spent those five years extending her political grip on the court so that there were few dissenting voices, and certainly none that counted. Except one, who always claimed he was “exploring options.”
No more.
After three hours, Lord Bekket announced the end of business.
“I have an extra item I would bring to the court’s attention,” Thyra said.
The smiles and relief of everyone around the table faltered.
“Yes, Majesty,” her father said in an unaffected tone. “Please, the floor is yours.”
“It is my wish to propose a new senior Privy Council appointment.”
Everyone’s face became a mask of polite interest to hide the dread they all felt. Nobody was making eye contact, though as one they were all desperately trying to work out who out of the seven senior posts was about to get shitcanned. The only way a Privy Council appointment proposed by the queen could be blocked was by a two-thirds majority against. That was why senior appointments were always agreed in tough horse-trading sessions between the Grand Families and the Master of the Court well in advance of any council meeting. And as every single councilor now realized, they hadn’t been approached to be part of any deal.
“I would like to thank Lord Gahiji-Calder for the superb work he has done in helping to safeguard my realm,” Thyra said. “However, after a hundred and eighty years of devoted service, I believe he has earned a break while we deal with the unexpected Mara Yama swarm at Hoa Quinzu.”
The silence was absolute. Everyone could see Gahiji-Calder had been taken by surprise. This was history being made. For her entire reign, Helena had never booted her chief archon before. And she’d certainly never publicly criticized one. Gahiji’s Family would be apoplectic about the insult, and worse, their diminished status. Now the truly breathtaking game would begin. Did Gahiji-Calder have the balls to challenge the Now and Forever Queen of Wynid to a vote? Each and every one of them started to sweat the terrible problem, if it came down to it: How the hell am I going to vote?
“I would speak,” Lord Gahiji-Calder said formally.
“My Lord Gahiji-Calder has the floor,” Lord Bekket said impassively.
“I am forever thankful for the opportunity to serve my queen as chief archon,” he said. “However, I believe everyone here today would like to be comforted knowing this supremely important position will be given to someone who is capable of carrying it out with the level of competence and determination it requires.”
Good move was the unanimous thought at the table. Gahiji-Calder is right; it has to be someone tough enough and respected enough who can handle the dirtiest job in the realm. Without that assurance, she might even lose the vote. Gazes were now zeroing in on the usual suspects: those who’d been chief archon before. All of whom seemed particularly troubled.
“Why, of course,” the queen told her council magnanimously. “Father, could you ask my candidate to come in, please?”
The display of self-control around the table was exemplary. Someone who isn’t on the Privy Council? Has She actually made a mistake? The revelation was too much for the princesses sitting primly in their chairs behind the queen; they uttered several gasps. Lady Clavissa, the newest court equerry and current princess wrangler, glared a dire warning at them.
Major Siskala-Ingrid marched over to the double doors and ordered them to open.
It wasn’t just the princesses who were startled at the young Imperial Celestial who marched in so confidently, wearing stylish robes with the sigil of the Family Panrako prominent on the collar of his stole.
“I’m sure you all remember Lord Ualana. Now Lord Ualana-Shoigu,” the queen said sweetly.
Lady Lachwin-Elif rose to her feet. “Cousin? Is this truly you?”
“Latch.” Lord Ualana-Shoigu smiled. “Good to see you.” He reached out and gripped her hand.
His self-perceptual engendered an incredulous smile on Lady Lachwin-Elif’s face. “Holy crap, it is you! And Shoigu is your new host?”
“Yep. The lad got lucky; he was in the right place at the right time.” He caught himself and bowed formally at the table. “Greetings to all of you. So many changes while I was away. Not!” The laughter was so Ualana—from happier times, before both Ualana-Lyon’s congregant daughters were lost in trial.
“Thank you, my lord,” the queen said coolly.
“Ma’am.”
“Where have you been?” Lady Lachwin-Elif implored. “Damnit, we were worried. Really worried.”
“Ah.” Lord Ualana-Shoigu sobered. “I can’t exactly say. State business.”
“Very successful state business,” Thyra said, completing the twist of the knife. Without bothering to glance at Lord Gahiji-Calder, she went on: “Does anyone here now doubt that Lord Ualana-Shoigu is qualified to resume the position which he last held—what was it now—oh yes, seven hundred and thirty-one years ago? I’d like to know now.”
The unseemly quick chorus of No’s from around the table inflicted a vicious defeat on Lord Gahiji-Calder. Without hesitating he said: “I congratulate my Queen on making an excellent—nay, the only—choice for my replacement.” He gestured magnanimously at his chair. The table applauded rapturously as Lord Ualana-Shoigu accepted with a gracious bow and sat himself down.
Out of relief they’re not being forced to vote, Thyra knew.
* * *
—
Once she was back in her private quarters, Thyra led her entourage up to the Taffesque drawing room—a semicircular chamber almost at the top of a palace tower. She’d always rather liked the silver grass floor with its vivid orange stepping plinths. It complemented thick ebony buttresses that locked together in octagonal patterns on the walls and arched ceiling. Right in the middle they supported a chandelier whose centerpiece was a blue diamond two meters across, extracted from the carbon strata of a gas giant’s solid core. Classic images of extremely alien landscapes slithered around the room like psychedelic ghosts.
Helena had always used it to grant informal meetings with various family representatives. Thyra had decided it needed more laughter.
Three child nurses stood attentively beside the new play area with its weeping bamboo panels enclosing a lush patch of sponge moss. The youngest seven of Thyra’s congregant daughters were inside, giggling and shouting as they acted out a First Trial game, with Awakened labradoodles playing the part of their mounts.
“Mother Queen,” Princess Saanvi pleaded, gesturing at the youngsters.
“Yes,” Thyra agreed. “Go on.”
The five princesses accompanying their queen ran over to join the younger girls. Clavissa let out a martyred sigh and followed them. The happy shrieks grew louder as the princesses joined in the fun. Their enthusiasm overexcited the labradoodles. Lady Clavissa had to wade in and restore order.
Thyra watched contentedly for a while, then went over to the broad, sunken couches in front of a giant eye-shaped window. It was the same couch she’d been sitting in eight days ago when her father escorted the youth-hosted Lord Ualana in for a private meeting.
Lord Ualana had bowed deeply and held out his hand.
His self-perceptual was strange, both elated and fearful; it was one of the few that ever gave her a real sensation of the mindline’s age.
