THE THIN MAN in the pale green laboratory coat looked up at the two visitors. His mouth twitched as he glanced from one to the other, from the man—two meters tall, silver-haired, bronze-skinned, and with green eyes that seemed to cut like a scalpel—to the woman, perhaps one hundred and eighty-five centimeters, just as silver-haired and bronze-skinned, with eyes as cold as the snows of Southbreak.
“Professor Stilsen, Ecolitans Whaler and Andruz. From the Institute. Ecolitan Andruz heads field training, and Ecolitan Whaler is in charge of applied ecologic management tactics.” The young man in field greens inclined his head, then stepped back and closed the door.
“Field training and tactics…seem a far field from micro-genetic management,” offered Stilsen, looking at the hard copy beside his console.
“Not so far as you might imagine, Doctor,” offered Jimjoy. He gestured at the console and the hard copy. “Even though I understand a little about your work, I still found it hard not to expect a traditional laboratory setting.”
“I’m sure you have a great deal to do, Ecolitan.”
“And you’d like to know why we’re here.” Jimjoy laughed not caring if the laugh was false. “Fair enough.” He glanced toward the small table and four chairs in the corner. Papers dribbled from an untidy stack in the center of the table. “Do you mind if we have a seat? While it won’t take too long, we can’t be quite that brief.”
Thelina smiled, and her eyes warmed momentarily.
“I understand. I apologize for the disarray. My colleagues kindly refer to it as creative chaos. Would you like anything to drink?”
“No, thank you,” answered Thelina in a low voice.
“No, thank you,” added Jimjoy. He pulled out a chair for Thelina.
She raised her eyebrows, and her eyes raked over him.
“Simple courtesy,” he said softly.
Stilsen swept the papers which threatened to drift from the stack and onto the brown-and-orange braided rug into a separate pile. Then he pulled out a chair for himself, the one closest to his console. He glanced at the image on his console screen, almost regretfully, and sighed. “How may I help you?”
Thelina glanced at Jimjoy.
He pulled his chin. “According to your last quarterly report, you have demonstrated some considerable success in bacterial ‘parasitism’…and I’d be interested in learning how applicable that technology is.”
“Applicable? Rather an odd choice of words, Ecolitan Whaler.”
Jimjoy looked at Stilsen, levelly, directly.
The Professor looked away almost immediately. Then he coughed and cleared his throat. “I have to assume you are referring to my success in slowing down bacterial reproduction patterns by decreasing the internal tolerance to self-generated toxins and waste products.”
“I did read about that…but I was more interested in the other ones. About replication of parasitic borer characteristics in a wide range of pests…and I was also interested in your references to spread vector distribution.”
“I was afraid of that.”
A faint smile crossed Thelina’s lips at the scientist’s response.
“Ethical concerns, doctor?”
“Partly, and partly…” Stilsen shrugged.
Jimjoy swallowed. “What do you know about Accord’s current situation vis-à-vis the Empire?”
Stilsen smiled almost apologetically. “More than I would like, Ecolitan. Even with the careful management of news on both sides, it is clear that some sort of hostilities are imminent.”
“Hostilities have already broken out, Doctor. We have been forced to take over Accord orbit control and quarantine all Imperial Forces in the system. The Empire is gathering a task group and a reeducation team to deploy here.”
“I don’t see how I can help…not in that time frame.”
“I think we can buy some more time.” Jimjoy shrugged. “But we need to deliver a message to the Empire that we can destroy the ecology on any planet we choose.”
“We’re not in that class, Ecolitan.” Stilsen’s voice was cold.
“If we’re not, Doctor, or if we can’t get there hades-fired quick, then you and I and most of Accord will be dead before the end of next year.”
The scientist glanced down at a brownish-black spot on the orange section of the braided rug. “Are you the new centurions, then?”
Thelina looked baffled.
Jimjoy shook his head slowly. “No. We cannot compel anything. Came to request your help. But to keep the Empire from totally annihilating us, we need to demonstrate that we can destroy a planetary ecology. We could build a planetbuster. That won’t work. Everyone knows that poor little Accord couldn’t build the fleets to deliver enough of them to matter.
“Ecological war is another thing. People believe that a handful of little bugs can multiply and divide and destroy an entire food chain, whether it’s true or not. They will believe that Accord can do that—whether we can or not.”
Stilsen shook his head. “I don’t think you understand. There are at least four of us who can do what you want. I’d rather do it willingly.”
“Why?” asked Thelina.
“Because there are good ways and bad ways to get there. Some ways would leave a planet destroyed forever. Others will have just as devastating short-term impacts, but relatively insignificant long-term environmental effects—besides mass starvation.” His last words dropped like acid rain.
“Do you have an alternative?” asked Jimjoy quietly.
“Do you?”
“I’d try to build that planetbuster and destroy Alphane.”
“You mean it.” Stilsen’s voice was matter-of-fact, unquestioning. He turned to Thelina. “Could he do it? Personally?”
“Yes. He’s already done worse—at least in some ways.”
Stilsen’s pale complexion grew paler as he glanced from one Ecolitan to the other. “And if I go to the Prime?”
“You know as well as I do, Doctor. Harlinn will dither, call three committee meetings, and put it out for study. The study completion date will be considerably after our demise under the Fourth Battle Group—or whatever they call the Fleet reeducation team. There is absolutely no pressure I can bring upon you to help us out. At any time, you can call a halt to this…starting right now.” Jimjoy stood up. “I appreciate your patience. After you have a chance to think it over, one of us will be in touch with you.”
Thelina rose. “Thank you, Doctor. This puts you in an impossible position, I realize. Too many evils in history have been justified in the name of survival. Perhaps this would be one of them.”
Jimjoy added, “You don’t know whether we are trying to preserve something unique against an implacable opponent or whether we are trying to bring down a great civilization for personal gain or vengeance.”
Stilsen stood up. “I don’t know whether any end justifies such means.”
Jimjoy handed him a folder. “Before you decide, you might read through these. Then check with some sources you trust to see how true the stories are. We’ll be in touch.”
“I’m sure you will be. I’m sure you will be.” Stilsen inclined his head. “And now…”
“Good day, Professor.”
“Good day.”
The door closed with a firm click.
The two Ecolitans walked unmolested down the corridor and out through the research station doors. The station rested in a meadow. The meadow, clearly artificial with its green T-type grasses and flower beds beside the building, was surrounded by the darker native conifers, with a scattering of corran trees.
The Institute flitter waited on a section of the narrow stone-paved road that arrowed for a break in the trees.
Jimjoy pre-flighted the flitter, more to ensure lack of tampering than for concern that the aircraft had become less airworthy in the short time they had spent with the research station staff.
“What do you think?” asked Thelina as she watched him strap in.
“What do I think? Why ask me? You understand people far better than I do.” He clicked the straps in place and began the checklist. “What do you think?”
“He wants to help, but he won’t, not unless the Institute encourages him.”
Jimjoy nodded as he continued the checklist. “We’ve avoided Harlinn as long as possible. Probably can’t be avoided any longer. Won’t be pretty.”
“Ha!” Thelina’s laugh was short and sarcastic. “When you say that…”
“Hold on.” The whine of the turbines through the open side windows cut off the rest of her comments. “Close the side ports. We’ll need to plan strategy.”
Though she frowned as she strained to hear his words, Thelina nodded.