Troy Rising 3 - The Hot Gate (10 page)

“I like him,” To’Jopeviq said.

“I would, by the way, suggest ignoring that last for some complex reasons. But the other three…?”

“You can’t use deception if you’re doing a gate assault,” To’Jopeviq said.

“Not if you’re assaulting the gate,” Avama said. “They have been destroying us piecemeal in gate assaults.”

“Get them to attack?” To’Jopeviq said. “How?”

“More than that,” Avama said. “Get them to attack through the gate in too low of force.”

“That is an…interesting idea,” To’Jopeviq said. “Worth some very serious thought.”

“So is one other thing,” Beor said. “Being aware that this is not an official Kazi query but part of this group. What has caused your sudden change of heart. You stated ‘since I see the absolute need to win this war, or at least get to a point that we can get the Jacksonians willing to accept a ceasefire.’ You are a pacifist. You now support the war. Why?”

“I am a Rangora,” Avama said. “And that is not a simple rote response, Kazi. You were paying insufficient attention to my statements about the Jacksonians and similar tribes among other polities.”

“How so?” Beor asked.

“The Jacksonians are very difficult to get to negotiate,” Avama said. “They believe in total war and putting a foot on their enemy’s neck. Unconditional surrender is the only thing they understand. You still don’t get it, do you?”

“Apparently not,” To’Jopeviq said.

“I’m not really worried about how to take the Terran system,” Avama said. “I’m wondering how we’re going to hold Rangor.”

* * *

“You get your in-brief from Persing?”

The Chief Engineer for Bravo Troop was Engineer’s Mate First Class Jayson Megdanoff. Tall and dyspeptic looking, he seemed less than happy to meet her.

“Yes, EM,” Dana said.

“You’re going to have to get new rate badges,” Megdanoff said. “You’re an engineer again. You remember any of it?”

The engineering office for the troop was, as always, a clutter of tools and pulled parts. This one was, if anything, more organized than the similar office Dana had had a second home on Troy. Thermal had always known exactly where everything in the office was but the organization method escaped everyone else.

“Yes, EM,” Dana said.

“We’ll see, I suppose,” Megdanoff replied. “Div Two has had a run of bad luck. All the boats are up, currently, but there’s been constant issues. Between the screw-ups on Apollo’s part and the crap we’re getting out of Granadica it’s a nightmare to keep these boats running. It doesn’t help that we lost about a quarter of our trained crews taking Station Two. And in mid-space accidents during that idiotic transfer. Right now there’s only an EA on Twenty-Three so any trained engineer is a benefit.”

“I continued to maintain engineering proficiency while a coxswain, EM,” Dana said. “What I’m not up on is the paperwork especially for running the division.”

“You’ll catch up on the engineering database quick enough,” Megdanoff said. “That’s one thing that’s actually easier than it was before the plants. Right now, I think you need to see your boats. Where’s your suit?”

“In my quarters, EM,” Dana said. “Apparently there’s some issue with putting me in the main unit quarters so I’m at the BNCOQ. It will take me ten minutes to get over there, don suit and get back.”

“That’s going to suck,” Megdanoff said, blinking rapidly and for the first time actually seeming to show some interest in the conversation. “In fact, I’m not sure that’s going to work.”

“My thought as well, EM,” Dana said, controlling her temper. The door opened and a tall, broad Hispanic EM1 entered without knocking. Dana was just getting used to most of the Hispanic contingent being about her size. The EM was a mountain. She’d never seen someone that big from Latin countries except in movies.

“EM2 Parker, this is EM1 Ponce Diaz,” Megdanoff said, gesturing. “The way things are set up right now there’s sort of a dual command and authority structure. Diaz is my counterpart.”

“EM,” Dana said, nodding at him.

“Engineer Parker,” the EM replied.

“Parker’s been designated NCOIC for Division Two,” Megdanoff said.

“Looking forward to it,” Diaz said. “They need a good mechanic down there. I reviewed your record as an engineer and could find no fault. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Thank you,” Dana said, feeling slightly confused.

“Ponce, could you run Parker down to her boat?” Megdanoff said. “After she retrieves her suit. Parker, I’ll check on the quartering issue. I know where it’s emanating but it’s something we’re going to have to figure out. You can’t be up in the BNCOQ if you’re going to be part of the unit.”

“Agreed, BM,” Dana said. “EM Diaz, it will take me about ten minutes. My apologies.”

“Completely understood, miss,” the engineer replied. “I’ve got paperwork to catch up on, anyway. I’ll be here.”

“We have received an interesting analysis of our opponents from Rangor,” Under Envoy Zho’Ghogabel said.

“Interesting in what way?” Envoy Ve’Disuc replied. The negotiations were going no-where but they rarely did for long periods. It was all about patience. Being the drop of water that wore away the stone.

“It is long,” Zho’Ghogabel said. “The most important part, for us, is that we’re talking to the wrong people. I now understand the problem of doing anything with Danforth. There is also a change in position from the Junta.”

“Really?” Ve’Disuc said, sitting up.

“Separate from all other discussion points,” Zho’Ghogabel said, sending on the report with the orders highlighted. “Simple tit for tat. And one the Terrans have already brought up.”

“We can use this for more than a tit-for-tat,” Ve’Disuc said. “This could be a real breakthrough. I must contact the Ministry.”

* * *

“Come,” James Horst said. He didn’t even look up from his computer. He knew who it was.

“James,” Ve’Disuc said, bending through the door.

“Envoy Ve’Disuc,” Horst said, spinning around in his chair. “I think the couch will take you.”

“Thank you,” the Rangora said, sprawling onto the human couch. The furniture for the various delegations had been brought from their home planets. “I think we may have a real breakthrough.”

“That would be interesting,” Horst said, neutrally. “Which is?”

“Aliens are alien,” Ve’Disuc said.

“If you’ve finally figured that out it really is a breakthrough,” Horst said, snorting.

“We did not understand some things that you do,” Ve’Disuc continued. “And we based your reactions to war on our reactions to war.”

“Again, congratulations on your amazing insight that we view these things differently,” Horst said.

“I do recognize human sarcasm,” Ve’Disuc said.

“I see one of the race that blotted out most of my family and friends in an unprovoked attack,” Horst said.

“Are you by any chance a… Jacksonian?”

“Ah,” Horst said, nodding. “You found Meade’s essay. Congratulations, again. I said there was a point to opening up the hypernet system. Despite the fact that you keep trying to hack us through it.”

“That is performed by renegades…”

“Can it,” Horst said. “Or save it for the negotiating table. What is your point?”

“That question, remains,” Ve’Disuc said.

“And I’m considering whether to answer it,” Horst said. “Can you reveal why you want to know the answer?”

“To be able to evaluate your relative political power,” Ve’Disuc said. “We have been having a hard time understanding why two Americans are relatively junior to a Pole. America is your world’s hyperpower. Still. Despite the damage from the war which has fallen on the United States more heavily than the rest of the world. Why have a Pole as the primary negotiator? Now we realize that different tribes within both polities have different roles depending upon whether their polities are at war or peace. Our initial analysis was that you were the…the term you use is ‘eminence gris.’ If this was a Japanese negotiating team that would be assured.

“But now we discover that none of you may, in fact, have any political weight at all. Danforth assuredly has none. And we have, as yet, been unable to identify the exact nature of similar tribal spreads among the Poles. To understand what we are doing, to negotiate in truth, we have to understand humans and their politics.”

“Well, you’re still not there,” Horst answered. “But, yes, I’m one of those rare Republicans in the State Department. And Eklit is from a similar faction in Poland. If truth were told, I have a better time communicating with Eklit than Danforth. We understand each other.”

“Republican is synonymous with Jacksonian?”

“No, but it’s close,” Horst said. “The basis of the Republican party is Jacksonians as the basis of the Democratic party is Wilsonians. There are members in both.”

“The Republicans are your War Party,” Ve’Disuc said.

“I’m sure the Democrats think so,” Horst said with a snort. “But not as you would understand it, no. Get that thought out of your head. Have you been looking at the Second World War or First World War?”

“The… Second was part of the analysis, yes. References.”

“Look at the political party of the president in both wars.”

“Democrats. So… You don’t have a war party?”

“No,” Horst said.

“But you have a war tribe.”

“No,” Horst said, snorting again. “Seriously. No. Okay, close, but not quite the cigar. Jacksonians are about much more than war. They are, in fact, the basis of our small business community as well. Wilsonians and Madisonians tend to be in control of large businesses. Were. There are so few of both groups left they’re practically a vanishing species. If you’re trying to figure out if what we agree to is binding, yes. At least on Alliance countries and there are no Terran polities with space warfare capability other than Alliance countries.”

“On binding agreements,” Ve’Disuc said.

“Anything said here is decidedly non-binding.”

“Understood,” Ve’Disuc said. “You brought up an agreement against non-military based attacks upon civilian population.”

“The wording would have to be precise,” Horst said. “But an agreement upon no weapons of mass destruction attacks on non-military targets was one of our early negotiation points. We took it off the table because we realized you could barely get the concept. Aliens are alien.”

“We have some interest in resuming that dialogue.”

“Be great,” Horst said, surprised. “Why?”

“We are starting to understand you.”

“What do you want as a quid?”

“Drop your tribute stipulation.”

“I’ll…put that for consideration to the Alliance Foreign Ministry,” Horst said. “They’ll want the reverse.”

“We can probably agree to that,” Ve’Disuc said. “What do you think in general?”

“Frankly?” Horst said. “We don’t believe you’ll stick to it. I don’t believe you’ll stick to it. And we’ll probably agree anyway. Because we do understand you and know that anything we negotiate with you is essentially non-binding if you think you can get away with breaking it.”

“That makes negotiations hard,” Ve’Disuc said.

“You think?” Horst said, sarcastically. “What about the Horvath?”

“This is a mutual agreement,” Ve’Disuc said. “The Horvath may enter into it or not.”

“Let me talk to Eklit.”

* * *

“When someone wants to make this large of a change in negotiation position, I want to know why,” Piotr Polit said.

“Does it matter?” Harry Danforth said. “If we’d had this at the beginning of the war, we’d still have New York and Paris!”

“Interesting priorities,” Horst said. “And while I think we’ll probably agree with it, I agree with Eklit. This much of a change, not to mention agreement to our earlier proposal out of the blue, means something is changing in the background. I’d like to know what.”

“Ve’Disuc said it,” Danforth argued. “They’re starting to understand us. To understand that we consider all life precious.”

“So they’d assume that we wouldn’t bomb their cities, anyway,” Horst said.

“We’re not in a position to bomb their cities,” Danforth said, disparagingly. “Not that we would, anyway.”

“Do you think so?” Piotr said. “Have you ever heard of Dresden? Tokyo? Hiroshima?”

“We don’t fight like that, anymore,” Danforth said. “And those tragedies taught us why we shouldn’t.”

“At one level I agree with you, Harry,” Horst said. “And on another, disagree totally. I’m not going to get into it, though. Still want to know what’s happening.”

“And it’s not up to us to figure it out,” Piotr said. “I will send a report to the Ministry. James, send one to the American State Department as well. My recommendation is to accept the proposed changes. And add that we would dearly like some hard analysis of why they have changed their position.”

“I’m starting to feel like we’re making real progress,” Harry said.

“I’m starting to feel like we’re flailing in zero g,” Horst said.

* * *

“There is micro gravity beyond this point,” Diaz said, delicately.

“I saw the signs, EM,” Dana said, grabbing the safety bar.

The shuttles for the 143rd were attached to the same “pencil” docks that the 142nd had used the first three years Dana had been with the unit. The pencil docks jutted from the inner wall of the main bay and shuttles were docked onto four sides. The main section was under micro gravity. The engineers, therefore, had to perform many of their checks in micro-gravity. Furthermore, since there was always a chance that something could go wrong and one of the boats be holed or broken off of the docks they had to work in suits. It was a pain in the butt but one that Dana was used to.

“As a coxswain, I’m not sure how much experience…” Diaz continued as Dana flipped herself into micro and started swarming down the corridor.

“Coming, EM?” Dana asked when she was half way to her boat.

Dana had been mildly embarrassed by her first exposure to micro on Troy. Since that time, however, she’d had thousands of hours in suits in not only micro but fluctuating grav conditions. As a former gymnast she also had excellent spatial awareness and was simply brutal at null grav ball. Micro was not an issue.