“It really is,” Lakjiip confirmed from the chair across his office desk. “And the fools have no idea what they’re sitting on.”
“So it would seem,” Lakuviv agreed. “They just gave these to you?”
“Voluntarily and unhesitatingly,” Lakjiip said. “They said the metal has no particular value of its own. It’s the skill with which the artists turn it into jewelry that’s important.”
Lakuviv shook his head. “Idiots.”
Lakjiip shrugged. “In general, I suppose that’s mostly true of art. Give an artist a hundred Univers to spend on paint and a presentation board, and out pops a picture someone else will spend thousands for. It’s just that in this specific case the whole thing is reversed.”
“If you ask me, everything about the art world is just barely controlled anarchy,” Lakuviv said. “But that’s not our problem. When is Haplif due in?”
“Anytime now,” Lakjiip said. “I talked to the pilot a few minutes ago, and he said he was on schedule.” Her lip twisted. “Oh, and he’s bringing Yoponek with him.”
“Who?”
“Yoponek,” Lakjiip repeated. “That Coduyo midager on his wandering year. He was the one who first brought Haplif in to meet you.”
“Right,” Lakuviv said, frowning as he tried to remember the boy’s face. “He’s still here?”
“He’s still on Celwis, if that’s what you mean,” Lakjiip said, eyeing him curiously. “He’s also been at Redhill Hall five or six times since they all arrived last month. You hadn’t noticed him?”
“I’ve had more important things on my mind,” Lakuviv reminded her. Though now that she mentioned it, he did remember seeing a strange midager chatting with some of the aides and lower officials in the building’s corridors. “What did he want?”
“Here at the hall?” Lakjiip shrugged. “I really don’t know. I think he mostly wants to make as many connections with the Xodlak family as he can. Probably just playing politics and pretending he’s someone who matters. Most of the aides he’s been pestering have been willing enough to humor him.”
“Or else he has some grand notion of scoring a position as a Coduyo-Xodlak liaison someday,” Lakuviv said. “Well, when he and Haplif arrive he’s welcome to wait somewhere else.”
“Understood,” Lakjiip said. “Do you have a plan for how to proceed?”
“First, we need more details on this mining area,” Lakuviv said, looking back at the wires. “That’s why I want Haplif. Just because you only saw Agbui there doesn’t mean there aren’t other alien groups involved.”
“We did a half orbit on the way out, with full sensors running,” Lakjiip said. “There was nothing anywhere but pristine, unoccupied wilderness.”
“I’m not doubting you,” Lakuviv said. “But just because there’s no one there now doesn’t mean someone else might not drop by on occasion. There could be aliens working offworld in the supply or distribution chains. There could be several species sharing the mines, each one having control of them and the refineries for a couple of months at a time before the next group moves in and takes over. Like a sublet on a home or business.”
“I doubt that’s the case,” Lakjiip said, her eyes distant in thought. “I can’t see anyone except the Agbui failing to recognize the significance of a nyix mine that rich. And if anyone else knew, the word would have gotten out long ago.”
“Probably, but not necessarily,” Lakuviv said. “You can build commercial freighters and transports perfectly well without nyix—in fact, both we and the Agbui do exactly that with our civilian craft. It’s only when you upgrade to warships that you need something stronger.”
“Any culture that doesn’t have warships doesn’t last very long out there,” Lakjiip countered. “But I suppose you could be right,” she added, holding up a hand to forestall further argument. “And the Agbui seem to be mostly nomadic. Aliens who can always just pick up and run wouldn’t need to know how to fight.”
“Exactly,” Lakuviv said. “So. As I said, we first confirm the Agbui are the only ones involved. After that…” He paused. After that, protocol would require him to contact Patriel Lakooni and lay everything in front of her. She would then decide how or even whether to send the information further up the family hierarchy.
And that could be a sticking point. Lakuviv and Lakooni had had their disagreements over the years, and he wasn’t at all sure he could trust her to believe him on this, at least not without doing extensive investigations of her own. Even if she was willing to move more quickly, it would be far too easy for her to work herself into getting all the credit while he got nothing but a side note. For that matter, she could even paint over him and Redhill completely, and there would be little or nothing he could do about it.
“After that, we’ll see,” he told Lakjiip. “This might be important enough to take directly to the Patriarch.”
“Patriel Lakooni won’t be happy if you bypass her,” Lakjiip warned.
“Lakooni’s pride isn’t the issue here,” Lakuviv said stiffly. “Getting hold of this planet for the Xodlak family is. Depending on what Haplif says, we may not have time to go through local channels.”
Lakjiip started to speak, stopped and looked at her comm. “They’re here,” she said. “Where do you want them?”
“I’ll see Haplif at the Judgment Seat,” Lakuviv said. “From here on, we might as well keep everything strictly official. You can leave the Coduyo boy in the reception area.”
Haplif was waiting in front of the white chair when Lakuviv and Lakjiip arrived. “I greet you, Councilor Lakuviv,” Haplif said cheerfully as they walked toward him. “May I express our appreciation for your generosity in escorting our freighter to and from our mining world. Pathfinder Qilori reported that the freighter captain was most effusive in his praise.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Lakuviv said, catching the eyes of the two guards who’d brought Haplif in and nodding toward the reception room. The guards nodded acknowledgment in turn and headed toward the door. “Thank you for making the time to meet with us today.”
“It is my privilege and pleasure,” Haplif said. “How may I serve you?”
“I had a few questions about your facility,” Lakuviv said, watching as the guards filed through the doorway and closed it behind them. “Senior Aide Lakjiip was most impressed with your operation, but we were both curious about whether or not you have any other workers there.”
“I don’t understand,” Haplif said, the slit of a mouth puckering in the midst of all that wrinkled facial skin. “We have many workers: miners, refiners, extrusion operators, and food preparers. What others would we need?”
“I was actually asking whether you might have hired other species for some of those tasks,” Lakuviv said, watching the alien carefully. “There are aliens particularly suited to underground mining, for instance, short and stocky with lower oxygen requirements and the ability to see in low-light settings.”
“Oh, no, we couldn’t employ anyone like that,” Haplif protested, a whole-body shiver running through him. “We could never trust anyone so thoroughly as to allow them access to the mines. Our jewelry and spices are the sole sources of our livelihood. If we were to lose our source of inexpensive metals, our very survival would be in danger.”
“Yet you let us see the operation,” Lakjiip pointed out.
“But you are different,” Haplif said, sounding puzzled. “You are the Chiss, noble and honorable and courageous. You treat us as you treat all others, as fellow travelers in this grand journey through life.”
Despite himself, Lakuviv winced a bit. Was Haplif really that naïve? “You have a great deal of trust, Haplif.”
“It is born of experience and insight,” Haplif said firmly. “For three months we have traveled with Yoponek of the Coduyo. He has been first our companion and then our friend. Through him I have learned to understand the Chiss heart, the Chiss soul, and the Chiss nobility. I would trust you with my life, Councilor Lakuviv of the Xodlak.”
His face seemed to cloud over. “And indeed, I may very soon have to turn that trust into action. As you are aware, pirates have attacked us once. Who can say if they will do so again? Who can say if they will then find their way to our mines?”
“You think that’s possible?” Lakuviv asked, feeling his heart starting to beat a little faster. This was the very opening he needed, the opening he’d been trying to figure out how to engineer. Now Haplif had unwittingly done it for him.
“Nothing in this universe is impossible,” Haplif said solemnly. “As I’m certain Senior Aide Lakjiip has told you, the Agbui have no way to stop an aggressor determined to slaughter our people and take or destroy what we’ve worked so hard to build.”
“Yes, indeed,” Lakuviv agreed. As if anyone in their right mind would actually destroy a nyix mine. But of course he couldn’t say that. “Is there anything we can do to help you?”
“The Xodlak family has mighty warships circling this world,” Haplif said, pointing one of those long fingers toward the ceiling. “Even mightier than the one you sent to escort our freighter. I know; I’ve seen them. If one could be sent to guard our world…but I recall the difficulty you had wresting even a simple patrol craft from the hands of your Patriel. This would be a much harder task.”
“As you yourself said, nothing in the universe is impossible,” Lakuviv said. “I’ll put a call into the Patriel’s office immediately.”
“Oh,” Haplif said with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. “Yes. That would be wonderful.”
“You sound unhappy,” Lakuviv said. “Is there a problem?”
“No,” Haplif said in that same neutral tone. “Please don’t take this as a criticism, Councilor Lakuviv. The Xodlak family has been wonderfully gracious to us. It’s just that…I’m not certain the Patriel can be fully trusted. I don’t mean she can’t be trusted with the safety of the Agbui,” he hastened to add. “I’m sure she would never betray us. I’m merely concerned that she may usurp any commendations or thanks that would come to you from the determined and selfless defense of our world. I would hate to see your work pushed to the side and your initiative buried beneath another’s claims.”
“So would I,” Lakuviv said grimly. So it wasn’t just him who thought Lakooni was a glory-thief. Haplif had seen that in her, too. “More important than any commendations, though, is the question of whether we have time to go through the proper protocol. Under the circumstances, perhaps I should contact the Patriarch directly with this matter.”
The loose skin of Haplif’s face piled itself into a bunch. “You can do that?” he asked with obvious amazement. “You can speak directly to the exalted head of the Xodlak family?”
“Of course,” Lakuviv said. It wasn’t nearly that easy, of course. He would have to go through at least a couple of layers of homestead officials before he even reached the Patriarch’s office, let alone the Patriarch himself.
But this was important enough, and urgent enough, that he was confident he would be passed through those obstacles with minimal delay. “I’ll start the procedure at once.”
“Thank you for coming,” Lakjiip put in. “I’ll have your driver take you back to Lakphro’s ranch. We’ll contact you again as soon as Councilor Lakuviv has news.”
“You are gracious, Senior Aide Lakjiip,” Haplif said. “However, would it not be better for me to remain here and available for any questions your Patriarch might have? There may be details that only I can supply.”
“Possibly,” Lakjiip said, looking questioningly at Lakuviv. She knew as well as he did the kind of bureaucratic maze he was casually promising to walk his way through, and how long things of that sort normally took. “But it might not be right away.”
“I am content to wait,” Haplif said. “The sooner we have Xodlak defenders over our world, the sooner all Agbui will be able to rest.”
“If you’re willing, it’s all right with me,” Lakuviv said. “Senior Aide Lakjiip will instruct the guards outside to find you a place where you can rest, and arrange for some refreshment.”
“Once again, I am in your debt,” Haplif said. “Your name will forever be blessed among the Agbui people.”
“Thank you,” Lakuviv said. Now if only his name could move up the Xodlak family hierarchy, that would be the real miracle.
Lakuviv’s call to the Patriarch went about as well as he should have expected.
He connected to the family homestead on Csilla without difficulty. Identifying himself as a Councilor on Celwis got him through the first two layers of screening, while his insistence that the matter was vital to Xodlak interests got him through a third layer. Barely an hour after beginning the call he was finally to the Patriarch’s office, talking with the Patriarch’s third aide.
And there the whole thing ground to a halt.
“He said that there was nothing interesting or amusing, let alone vital, that a Councilor could possibly bring to the Patriarch’s attention,” he fumed to Lakjiip, glaring at the comm display on his office desk.
The blank comm display. The cursed aide had said a brief goodbye, told him to go through proper channels next time, and cut him off.
“Maybe Patriel Lakooni would have better luck,” Lakjiip suggested.
“Lakooni doesn’t know anything about this,” Lakuviv reminded her.
“Maybe it’s time she did.”
Lakuviv clenched his teeth. Unfortunately, she was right. Without the Patriel’s approval, he wouldn’t even be able to get another patrol ship to send to the Agbui, let alone the dormant frigate or one of the cruisers.
Not that any of the warships would do much good anyway. Without full crews, they were really only useful for the cruisers’ current job as defensive weapons platforms.
Still, even a couple of patrol ships would be better than nothing. At least that would give the Xodlak some claim to the mines and their output when they eventually brought this to the Syndicure. “Fine,” he said with a sigh as he keyed the comm again.
The Patriel didn’t have nearly as many layers of screening as the Patriarch, and there were far fewer officials below her clamoring for her attention. Ten minutes after Lakuviv initiated the call, Lakooni was on.
“I should inform you right up front,” Lakooni said after the standard greetings, “that I’ve already heard from the Patriarch’s office. I am not pleased you went over my authority that way.”
“I’m sorry if you feel slighted,” Lakuviv said, working hard to hold on to what was left of his temper. No concern for anything but rigid structure and her own petty authority. “But a situation has unexpectedly arisen, one that could either bring great profit and renown to the Xodlak or mean disaster for the entire Ascendancy.”
“I also don’t appreciate theatrics, Councilor,” Lakooni growled. “Fine. You have two minutes to tell me what’s going on.”
“It concerns the Agbui cultural nomads who arrived in Redhill province a month ago,” Lakuviv said. “I can’t say more than that on the comm.”
“This is a secure connection.”
“We can’t rely on that,” Lakuviv countered. “I need you to come to Redhill Hall, where I can give you the full story.”
“Are you insane?” Lakooni demanded. “If you want a face-to-face, you can come here.”
“There are reports and resources here that I can’t bring with me,” Lakuviv said. “Resources that rival family representatives in Brickwalk might notice and wonder about.”
“So let them gawk,” Lakooni said impatiently. “What could they possibly see that would be a problem?”
Lakuviv clenched his hands into fists. Could she not even take a hint when it was dropped straight in front of her? “I told you this is something that could bring renown to the Xodlak,” he said. “It would bring equal renown to any other family that got to it first. And to whoever the liaison was who brought it to that family’s attention.”
There was a brief silence. “You thought this was worth taking directly to the Patriarch,” Lakooni said. “Taking past me to the Patriarch.”
“Only because the timing here is critical,” Lakuviv said. “If we don’t get moving quickly, we may not be able to move at all.”
Another silence, a longer one this time. Lakooni knew even better than he did how family rivalries swirled through the upper echelons of Ascendancy life. “Fine,” she said reluctantly. “Whatever it is, I still think you’re way off vector here. But fine. I was going to head to Fissure Lake tomorrow for a few days anyway. I’ll leave now instead and swing by Redhill on my way.”
“Thank you, Patriel,” Lakuviv said, breathing a silent sigh of relief. If he could convince Lakooni, maybe together they could get the Patriarch moving in time to get some ships out there and take possession of the mines. “You won’t be disappointed.”
“I had better not be,” Lakooni warned. “I’ll be there in three hours. Be ready to amaze me.”
She broke the connection. Lakuviv gazed at the display another moment, then looked across the desk at Lakjiip. “She’s coming,” he said.
“So I gathered,” Lakjiip said. “Whether she’ll agree to take it to the Patriarch is a different question.”
“She will,” Lakuviv said. “She’s quite predictable when she thinks there’s something in it for her.”
“Putting her in a special class with—well, with almost everyone else,” Lakjiip said. “Are you going to keep Haplif and Yoponek in the hall until she arrives?”
“We have to keep Haplif, anyway,” Lakuviv said, standing up. Once again, he’d almost forgotten the Coduyo boy was even here. “If Yoponek wants to go back to the Agbui ship, we’ll have someone take him.”
They found Haplif and Yoponek in one of the conference rooms, talking earnestly over the remains of the meal that had been sent in to them. “Ah—Councilor Lakuviv,” Haplif said brightly as he spotted the newcomers. “And Senior Aide Lakjiip. Do you bring good news?”
“I hope so,” Lakuviv said. “I’ve persuaded Patriel Lakooni to come here and discuss the matter with me. She may have some questions for you, as well, so I trust you’re still willing to stay?”
“Absolutely,” Haplif said. “If she approves of your request for Xodlak family assistance, what will be the next step?”
“We go to the Patriarch and ask him to authorize military action,” Lakuviv said. “The Xodlak family still has a small fleet from our time as one of the Ruling Families, though the major warships are understaffed and have been repurposed as planetary defense platforms.”
“Like the warships circling Celwis?” Haplif asked.
“The light cruisers, yes,” Lakuviv said, nodding. “There’s also a frigate in the system that’s essentially dormant. At any rate, if the Patriarch agrees the next step will be to gather Xodlak reservists from our various worlds to fully crew whatever ships he decides to send.”
Yoponek cleared his throat. “That sounds like it will take time,” he said.
“Everything takes time, Yoponek,” Lakuviv said, pinning the midager with a glare. What was the boy interrupting for? None of this had anything to do with him or the Coduyo family. “Would you prefer waiting for the next class of graduates from Taharim Academy?”
“Well…” Yoponek looked at Haplif.
“Go ahead,” the Agbui urged. “It was your thought and insight.”
“All right.” Yoponek turned back to Lakuviv. “Unless the Xodlak work differently from everyone else in the Ascendancy, you could declare a family emergency and bring some officers and warriors directly from the Expansionary Defense Fleet.”
Lakuviv stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about bringing in people from the fleet,” Yoponek repeated. “I mean real officers and warriors, not reservists like you were talking about. I mean, reservists might not have been aboard a ship for years. You can call up as many as—let’s see; I think it’s—”
“Never mind the numbers,” Lakuviv interrupted. “What do you mean by a family emergency?”
“It’s something any of the Forty can do if they were ever one of the Ruling Families and have an undercrewed family fleet,” Yoponek said. “I studied this a while back—thought the whole concept was fascinating. It was, oh, about thirty years ago that some breakaway alien sect was threatening to move in on Coduyo holdings on Massoss. The family declared an emergency, but the Defense Force was busy with something somewhere else and couldn’t spare us any ships. So we got some of our family members off their ships—”
“Yes, yes, I get the gist,” Lakuviv interrupted, looking at Lakjiip. “Senior Aide?”
“Found it,” Lakjiip said, peering at her questis. “It was thirty-two years ago. The Coduyo had an old—a very old—light cruiser at Massoss—”
“It was a hundred years since we’d been one of the Ruling Families, so of course it was old,” Yoponek interjected.
“—which three hundred officers and warriors from the Defense Force were quickly brought in to crew,” Lakjiip said, ignoring the interruption. “By the time the aliens arrived in force, the cruiser was reactivated and able to quickly drive them off.”
“But that was a security issue,” Lakuviv pointed out. “That’s not what we’ve got here.”
“I don’t think the declaration has any specific requirements,” Lakjiip said, tapping back and forth between pages.
“No, it doesn’t,” Yoponek confirmed.
“The Patriel just has to declare an emergency,” Lakjiip continued, ignoring the boy’s interruption, “and send a message out to all Defense Force and Expansionary Defense Fleet personnel.”
“And their captains just let them go?” Lakuviv asked, feeling a sudden stirring. So the Patriarch’s office wasn’t even involved in the procedure?
Lakjiip shrugged. “Unless a ship is engaged in combat or what’s called an imminent threat situation, the commander has to authorize fifteen days’ leave to anyone who’s called to answer such a summons.”
“Extraordinary,” Haplif said, shaking his head. “I’ve never heard of such an arrangement anywhere else the Agbui have visited.”
“If a particular ship is close enough to the declaring planet and there are enough family personnel to justify it, the commander may agree to swing by and drop them off,” Lakjiip said. “But most of them will be dropped at the nearest planet and required to make their own way.”
“Does the family then reimburse them for that expense?” Haplif asked, his forehead skin bunching again.
“That, or they use travel passes,” Lakuviv said, his mind spinning with possibilities. Celwis had the warships, and with a family emergency declaration they would have the officers and warriors to crew them. All he needed was the Patriel’s approval, and the nyix mine was as good as theirs. “Those are permits that allow them to travel free on any civilian transport within the Ascendancy. Most of the Forty Great Families give them to their military personnel.”
“The Coduyo do,” Yoponek put in.
“So do the Xodlak,” Lakuviv said.
“I see.” Haplif tilted his head a bit. “Do I take it from the expression on your face that you have a plan?”
“You take it correctly,” Lakuviv said. “Thank you, Yoponek, for bringing that bit of history to my attention. I don’t think I’d ever heard of that arrangement before.”
“You’re welcome,” Yoponek said. “Of course, the last time it was used was three decades ago, so it’s not surprising you hadn’t heard of it.”
Which could have been a subtle insult, Lakuviv knew: a high-ranking official of another family being unaware of important political history and law. But right now, he couldn’t be bothered even to resent the boy’s audacity. “I think now that you and Yoponek won’t be needed tonight, after all,” he went on. “If you’ll collect anything you brought, I’ll have the driver meet you at the skycar and fly you back to Lakphro’s ranch.”
“Now?” Haplif asked, sounding suddenly wary. “But you said Patriel Lakooni was on her way. What if you need me to talk to her?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll convince her,” Lakuviv assured him. “It’s getting late, and I’m sure you have work to do tomorrow. Spices to harvest, or something of that sort.”
“Very well,” Haplif said. He seemed still uneasy but willing to go along. “Come, Yoponek. Thank you for your hospitality, Councilor Lakuviv.”
“The guard outside will escort you to the skycar,” Lakuviv said as the alien and Chiss midager headed for the door. “I’ll let you know if and when I have good news.”
“You will have it,” Haplif promised. “Great rewards emerge like gloriosi from the silken sheaths of great risks. Whatever risks you take on behalf of the Agbui, they will be repaid a thousandfold.”
“I’m sure they will,” Lakuviv said.
He watched in silence until the door had closed behind them, then turned to Lakjiip. “I want the names and ship assignments of all Xodlak members in the Expansionary Defense Fleet,” he said. “Also see if you can get a listing of what officer and crew positions we’ll need to fill on the frigate and cruisers.”
“Understood,” Lakjiip said, working her questis. “I wouldn’t worry too much about the positions, though. It’s still Xodlak policy that family members who join the fleet must also become familiar with our own warships and their operation. Everyone we get should be able to step into any shipboard position with a few hours’ orientation.”
“Let’s hope so,” Lakuviv said. “Regardless, that’ll be for them to work out. Do we have a comm specialist on staff?”
“We have two.”
“Get me one of them. Make it the one who’s best at keeping secrets.”
“Yes, sir,” Lakjiip said, eyeing him. “What happens if you can’t persuade the Patriel?”
“I’ll persuade her,” Lakuviv promised grimly. “Trust me. I’ll persuade her.”