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The chamber they found themselves standing in was impressively large. One of its most stunning features was a high ceiling that was covered in stars which might have been real or not. Stone columns lined the walls, providing basic concealment to any among them. It was dimly lit, which washed out most details.
At the head end of the massive chamber, there was a raised dais. Three large, imposing, indistinct holographic figures stood in a combination of observation and judgment.
There were others present both in physical form and holographically, largely close to or hidden within the columns. However, all eyes would be on the dais and the spectacle happening just before it.
Ilizeva was impressed by the human holographic technology. It was not nearly as realistic as that of the drow and their Synod. Yet it was as close as Ilizeva had ever seen, apart from elf holography. To either side of Ilizeva, also present as holograms, were Colonel Ulozov and Colonel Orizevi.
Ilizeva had been made aware of the history of the Federation and the three families that had run it for centuries. Long ago the Mallick, Kho, and Anwar families each held multiple territories galactically touching one another. Whether or not they had warred against one another in the past was not common knowledge. But as a student of galactic history, Ilizeva was rather certain that they had. Still, approximately six or seven hundred years ago, they had come together to form the Federation.
Over the centuries, the already large Mallick, Kho, and Anwar families had grown even more. The direct family lines included numerous siblings and cousins spanning four or five living generations. There were plenty of members of each family to take charge. The three enormous families shared control of the whole of the Federation and now the Alliance.
Today, Ilizeva and her colonels were facing the Superior Convocation of the Federation. They were the leading authority figure that addressed anyone outside of Federation leadership. It was the Superior Convocation that had called on the drow Synod to combine resources for completion of the space/time folding project.
Below the Superior Convocation was the Convocation. The Convocation directly addressed the systems and worlds within the Federation. They were what made for local governance and had direct oversight of systems and worlds as such. They reported up to the Superior Convocation.
Like the Federation military, there were members of the Convocation that were not part of the three families. However, as far as Ilizeva could tell, they had less power even as a part of that governing body.
At the top of Federation governance there was the Triad. Nobody knew who made up the Triad, only that they were three specific elders, one from each family. The Triad never publicly made any addresses, proclamations, or were ever spoken of in more than oblique terms.
Privately, Ilizeva believed that the Triad was a myth. They only existed as an idea to scare anyone from attempting to overstep the leadership of the Mallick, Koh, and Anwar families. However, that illusion provided a scapegoat and a faceless leader easier to picture than the unclear numbers that made up either convocation.
The Federation military was the real exception to the rule. From time to time, the leader was not a member of one of the families. Despite their immense size and vast numbers, often several generations would pass where no member of any of the families advanced far within the ranks of the military. Hence. apart from Mallick, presently no other member of the high command was from one of the families.
Given General Mallick, Ilizeva suspected pure meritorious advancement did not always occur. Especially if there was a member of one of the three families serving and rising through the ranks. That came as no surprise to her. Being generally at peace for decades before their recent actions, skilled strategists and tacticians would make no difference in their overall performance.
Ilizeva, her second and her third in command, were present to address the accusations made against them by General Alastair Mallick.
Following his confrontation with Ilizeva at the station, he’d been quiet for a time. Then he had made a formal complaint with the Superior Convocation, claiming that the drow were guilty of dereliction of duty and multiple violations of their accord with the Federation. Ilizeva wondered if Mallick had decided on his own to approach the Federation leadership, or if General Song had followed her suggestion to nudge his superior in that direction.
Moments after Ilizeva, Ulozov, and Orizevi had holographically appeared in the chamber, General Mallick had started his arguments. Unlike the drow, he was physically present in the chamber.
At first, he’d been professional and detached like any strong military leader should be. Perhaps he had expected objections from the drow trio to his accusations. When he did not receive anything but silence, he became increasingly animated, his emotions and obvious dislike of the drow clear to all.
Now he was ranting. Ilizeva couldn’t help but admit that she was enjoying his increasing lack of composure. Yet that had been causing her to only give him half of her attention. The rest was on returning to the experiment and taking the next step towards opening a portal that would fold space/time and change faster-than-light travel forever.
However, now Mallick angrily pointed at the trio, and Ilizeva once again gave him her attention. He was almost yelling as he ranted, “And thanks to them ignoring my orders, ground forces were deployed to do the job that would have been unnecessary if they’d bombarded the city from orbit. And those forces were decimated. They would not have been lost if my orders had been carried out in the first place!”
Mallick turned and glared at Orizevi. He pointed at her and said, “Drow Colonel Orizevi Daen’naer was the engineer of this insubordination. She had no reason not to obey my command! I believe that this was due to General Ilizeva’s desire to allow our accord to collapse.”
Neither Orizevi nor Ilizeva responded.
Mallick now pointed at Ilizeva. “She claims their main purpose is the scientific cooperation to create the ability to fold space/time and allow us to subsequently overwhelm any adversary we choose. But my mandate is to get the defeated Alliance worlds in-line by whatever means I deem necessary. Hence, so long as these accursed drow forces and their odiferous allies have this accord with us, they are mine to command in these matters!”
Ilizeva tuned him out as he ranted further. As soon as Mallick began to use slurs of any sort against the drow, hobgoblins, and trolls, she knew he was beyond all reasoning with.
She was not just a general, but a leader and a politician in her own rite. Thus, Ilizeva stood at attention, silent, watching as General Mallick made his case to the Superior Convocation.
Again, Ilizeva wondered about those who lingered in the shadows of the columns that lined the chamber. Were they members of the three families? Actual members of the Superior Convocation? Special guards of some sort? It was no more than a curiosity to her.
The three shadowy holograms on the dais represented one family each. All were much taller than a human, or even a large bugbear for that matter. On closer examination, she noted that the holograms were built off three statues. Three large, imposing, indistinct statues, which would give the holograms more gravitas. They were lit in such a way that they gave off an ethereal quality.
Ilizeva knew an intimidation tactic when she saw one. Further, when any of the three holographic figures said something, it was not one voice, but many. That, she was certain, was also meant to be both intimidating, and to hide just how many made up the Superior Convocation.
General Mallick was now facing those figures. Ilizeva paid attention to him once more as he concluded with, “Your Superiorities, I believe that you will agree that this accord has been broken, and that we must end our association with the drow and their allies immediately, before they interfere with our works any further.” He bowed to the trio of holograms.
After a few moments of stillness and quiet, one of the three holograms, in that odd mix of multiple voices asked, “General Ilizeva Taen’baer. How do you respond to these accusations?”
Ilizeva looked past General Mallick towards the trio of holograms. “Your Superiorities, these are baseless.” She took a step forward, then continued. “I should like to remind you all that the primary mandate of the accords between the drow and the Federation are focused on the work going into creation of the technology for folding space/time. That is what brought us together, and why we created the accords between us.
“As part of those accords, the drow agreed to lead our allies, the hobgoblins and trolls, alongside Federation forces for the invasion of the now-former Alliance territories. Further, we agreed to leave forces in the former Alliance territories to help you patrol and maintain your occupational presence. However, neither the drow nor our direct allies are beholden to the Federation regarding your occupation.”
General Mallick cleared his throat, glaring at Ilizeva. Yet even he, a member of the Mallick family, would not violate Superior Convocation protocols at this juncture. Thus, Ilizeva continued, saying, “What’s more, if the drow had been given a larger role in the occupation of the former Alliance territories, the present difficulties General Mallick is beginning to experience would not be occurring.”
“In what respect?” asked the multiple voices of one of the three massive holograms.
“The public execution of the former Alliance leaders did not restrain or dissuade violence from the people that called the Alliance home, but instead cemented their resolve. There was a tremendous amount of bad acting that went into their so-called ‘trials’, and that is almost certainly where the incitement to rebellion originated.”
“How dare you!” cried out General Mallick. “You have no idea how things work among humankind. What we do is not the concern of the drow, and...”
“Alastair Mallick,” one or more of the multi-voiced, massive holograms interrupted. “You know it is not, at present, your turn to speak. You will be allowed a rebuttal when General Ilizeva has concluded her responses to our questions.”
General Mallick hung his head and was silent, but not before glaring at Ilizeva again.
After a moment more, she continued and said, “Along that same line, I fully support Colonel Orizevi’s decision not to bombard that city from space. Frankly, rather than accuse Orizevi of insubordination, General Mallick should be thanking her. If the city had been destroyed from orbit, how many lives would have been lost in that act? Potentially millions. The result of which would not be the small and annoying rebellion General Mallick is contending with now, but instead a full-on revolt.
“It’s clear to me that the people that called themselves members of the Alliance are proud. Watching their leaders be executed was bad enough. But had the Federation willfully obliterated a city for the mere rumor of rebellion? It’s not hard to imagine the scope of the revolt that would have fomented. And that, you should consider, would seriously lessen your ability to carry out attacks on the other democratic human governments you’re planning to with the ability to fold space/time.”
Ilizeva began to slowly approach the foot of the dais, ignoring Mallick on the way. She said, “Perhaps General Mallick is correct, and the drow make war differently from humans. But targeting civilians and their institutions, in my experience, tends to inflame the locals. I cannot be certain of course, but I suspect the rebellion that has formed in the Alliance is the result of these ill-thought-out plans.”
She reached Mallick and looked towards him, before saying, “If General Mallick is handling this first invasion and occupation in this manner, it doesn’t take much of a leap of logic to see that the Federation will quickly stretch itself too thin to carry out its stated goal of taking over the rest of the democratic human sectors. If you cannot occupy one without fighting rebel terrorists, how do you expect to control two more?”
“Slander!” cried Mallick. “You have no right to make such accusations against me! I am the general of the Federation, and I will not give credence to your malicious intent and...”
“Alastair Mallick,” one or more of the multi-voiced, massive holograms interrupted, but louder and more vehemently than before. “You know it is not, at present, your turn to speak. Do not speak out of turn again, General.”
Mallick fell silent, save a low growl in the back of his throat.
“Your Superiorities,” Ilizeva continued, as though Mallick had not interrupted her. “Static testing of the space/time folding event horizon is nearly complete, and our first real, full-scale test is almost ready to commence. Once that is complete, we will have the ability to appear anywhere across the galaxy instantly. I believe the Federation should use this to its advantage and start to target and destroy the fleets of your Union and Confederation territories.”
Ilizeva took one more step forward to the foot of the dais and bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Superiorities, for letting my state my case, and for the opportunity to work with your fine scientific minds. On behalf of the Synod, I should like to make it clear that my people are pleased we have had the opportunity to work with you to change the course of both drow and human history with this new technology.”
Ilizeva fell silent and remained where she was with her head bowed.
“General Alastair Mallick,” one or more of the multi-voiced, massive holograms spoke. “Now you may respond.”
“General Ilizeva, her drow companions, and their associates are not allies that the Federation needs. I have the occupation of the former Alliance territories well in hand, and I do not agree that the accords are more about the science than the military alliance between the Federation and the drow. As they are in our territory, they are under our command.”
“You disagree with General Ilizeva’s assessment?” asked the multiple voices of one of the large holograms.
“Completely,” said Mallick without hesitation. “General Ilizeva and her underlings are unfamiliar with humanity, and they do not understand their place while they are inside of Federation space. They are mine to command, and they have disobeyed my orders. That is all, and all that matters here.”
Ilizeva glanced towards Mallick and saw that he was smirking. General Alastair Mallick was a son of the Mallick leadership. That, she suspected, was what he was counting on to win this debate.
“We will confer a moment,” all three of the massive holograms and their multitude of voices said. The light around the shadowy holographic trio dimmed.
Ilizeva stepped back past Mallick to take her place between Orizevi and Ulozov’s holograms. They were as disciplined as she and remained composed and stood at parade rest.
Silence held the chamber for a time. Even Mallick said nothing, though he threw the occasional haughty or angry look towards the holograms of the three drow. Then there was a low, ringing tone, as though a massive gong had been struck. The oversized holograms of the leadership trio returned to their prior illumination.
“We have reached a decision,” one of the three holograms in its multiple voices said. “We agree that the accords made with the drow are the only way for the Federation to gain the superior technology that will give us the means to obliterate the forces of any and all opposition with unpredictable, swift, overwhelming strikes. And if we are to gain the greater control of humankind across the galaxy, the overthrow of the Alliance was only the beginning. The other democracies, the Union and the Confederation, are equally as weak.
“Therefore,” a new voice of multitudes from a different massive hologram took up the declarative. “The Superior Convocation agrees that the accords with the drow and our combined work on the technology for folding space/time must take precedence. Thus, they will maintain autonomous command of their forces and those of their allies, even alongside the might of the forces of the Federation.”
“This is outrageous!” exclaimed Mallick, stepping closer to the dais. “How can you side with these aliens? It’s madness! The Federation is superior, and yet you would take their word over mine, a son of the greatest leading family of the Federation?”
Ilizeva watched Mallick begin to pace, oblivious to the clear displeasure emanating from the three massive holograms of the Superior Convocation. He continued, saying, “We have, at long last, overrun the damnable Alliance. It is true that this was made possible with these aliens allied with us, but they must be subordinate to the Federation, lest they think themselves our equals. We only went to the drow to get their power supplies for our, yes our unlocking of the greatest advance in faster-than-light travel made since the discovery of unrealspace. We are the superior, and they must be reminded of this!”
“General Alastair Mallick,” one or more of the multi-voiced, massive holograms spoke. “Although you are a member of the family Mallick, you cannot make such statements with impunity. The Superior Convocation has passed our judgment, and that is final.”
“Final?” questioned Mallick. “Since when does a member of one of the families take anything as final? I am a Mallick, and I will not be treated as an inferior to any other, let alone these aliens.” He pointed scornfully at Ilizeva and her companions. “You are making a grave mistake. I have command of our forces and know what is best for this occupation! You must heed me as such.”
“General Alastair Mallick,” one or more of the multi-voiced, massive holograms interjected. “You are not so indispensable as you might think. This is your final warning. Accept the judgment of the Superior Convocation and take your leave. Or face the consequences.”
“How dare you?” ranted Mallick. “I planned the invasion and they followed. The occupation only goes poorly because they do not follow my orders. With enough blood, the rebellion inside the former Alliance territories would be stilled. The Federation forces are mine, and under these damnable accords the forces of the drow are mine, too. I am a Mallick, the leader of the Federation military, and I will do what you will not and cannot, and I will...”
The sound reached Ilizeva’s ears a millisecond after Mallick fell suddenly silent. Someone had fired a synchronized pulse weapon. The unseen assailant had returned to their place among the columns as Alastair Mallick crumpled to the floor of the chamber, dead.
“General Ilizeva Taen’baer,” one of the massive holograms said in their multiple voices. “The Superior Convocation apologies to you, and your seconds. You did not need to bear witness to that. Please know that a new general will be appointed soon to replace the late General Mallick. Until that final choice is made, General Thomas Song will assume command.”
“Your Superiorities,” Ilizeva intoned, bowing her head low. “If I am not out of line in suggesting this, I should like to recommend that you consider appointing the late general’s second-in-command, Lieutenant General Thomas Song, to permanently replace Alastair Mallick.”
“You may speak your peace,” said one of the massive holograms in their multitudinous voices. “Make your case.”
Ilizeva said, “Though he is not a member of one of your great families, my allies and I know and respect General Song and he knows us as well. He has shown courage, wisdom, and incredible loyalty to the Federation. If it is out of line for me to speak of him in this manner, I apologize. But if I may be so bold, I thoroughly believe the leadership of General Song would bring the Federation even greater glory and honor in the coming days.”
