Dead Worlds (Necrospace Book 2) (15 page)

The conference table’s legs were adorned with carvings of Feng Dynasty heroes of battle—kings, emperors, and generals—in various mid-action poses. Each leg wove a tale in stunning relief. Some were past tales of Feng legend and lore, and some were portents of the future, as in the Prophecy of the Ice Dragon restoring the grandeur of the Feng Dynasty over its many enemies far and wide.

There was a light and a tone, and Emperor Hiron pressed a button on the conference table. Holographic images of foreign ministers appeared in the seats around the long, ornate conference table, as holographic representations of Hiron and Kazar appeared across space in the other participants’ conference and meeting rooms.

“Good day to you, Emperor Hiron,” said Tolstoi Remu, the Humani Foreign Minister. The words registered in Feng through Hiron’s implanted universal translator chip. A typical Humani, she was tall and slender with grey skin and dark, braided hair in the Humani tribal tradition. She wore the drab but functional ministerial garb of the UIC. “Vice Executor Kazar,” she added, almost as an afterthought.

“Good day,” returned Emperor Hiron. Kazar only nodded his acknowledgement.

Around the table in clockwise order was Bobot Tegrit, the diminutive, grey-skinned Viceroy of the Humani; Dvorak of the Vampiri (they were referred to by first name according to custom), sitting in his tight black garments, his face bearing the sickly pallor of his race, eyes as iridescent as they were intelligent; Shamel Legune, the large, rotund but otherwise humanoid-looking Homunculi Foreign Minister; Martin Rayban, the snarky, braggadocious Human Foreign Minister of Earth; Hubritia Liguri, the lanky, mantis-like Firenz Foreign Minister.

“We meet today to make progress towards an accord that would allow each of our worlds to live and let live,” announced Tolstoi Remu in an officious tone.

“I have reviewed your terms,” answered Hiron. “They hardly allow the Feng to live at all with all of the sanctions the United Intergalactic Coalition has placed on our people—freezing our credit, interfering with our investments around the galaxy, trade embargoes.”

“We realize that,” said Tolstoi Remu, “and we have composed a set of mutually beneficial stipulations that we believe, as representatives of the United Intergalactic Coalition, should they be agreed upon by the Feng Empire, will allow us to lift economic sanctions.”

“What are these stipulations?” asked Emperor Hiron.

Tolstoi Remu looked to Shamel Legune and nodded, signaling him to elaborate the terms. Shamel pressed a button on his respective conference table, and a digital list floated in the air. As Shamel Legune began to read each term, the words grew in size for tracking and emphasis.

“Term number one,” said Legune. “The Feng Empire is to cease any subsequent research and development of further weapons technologies. All weapons development sites are to be converted to basic science research facilities.

“Term number two: the Feng are to grant access to representatives of the United Intergalactic Coalition of the said sites and any sites suspected of engaging in the development of weapons technology and submit to regular, unscheduled inspections of these sites.

“Term number three: the Feng are to share any and all developments in shipbuilding technology with the appointed representatives of the United Intergalactic Coalition in the interest of fair and free trade.

“These stipulations were drawn up in the best interest and safety of the worlds affiliated with the United Intergalactic Coalition, autonomous worlds and peoples, and the worlds and peoples of the Uncharted Sectors as well as the Feng Empire for the purpose of the greater intergalactic good.”

Shamel Legune then paused, indicating that he was finished. The list of terms was uploaded onto Emperor Hiron’s and Vice Executor Kazar’s digital displays for further inspection and consideration.

“What say you, Emperor Hiron of the Feng Empire?” prompted Tolstoi Remu.

Hiron looked around the conference table, amused at the arrogance of such terms. Although the other foreign ministers were only present as holograms, he sensed the tension and air of nervous anticipation of his reaction to these terms.

“Let me begin by stating that I hardly see anything of fairness in the terms of this accord for the Feng people.”

“I assure you that this accord is in the best interest of all the parties involved,” insisted Tolstoi Remu. “What are your reservations?”

“What are my reservations?” chortled Hiron. “Where do I start? Term number one stipulating that we cease the development of all new weapons technology…the Feng Empire is but a shell of what it used to be.” Hiron noticed self-satisfied smiles around the table at the uncharacteristic admission. “The United Intergalactic Coalition is vast and powerful. How do you expect us to defend ourselves should the need arise?”

“The development of new weapons technology would only be for the purpose of offense, not defense,” said Hubritia Liguri of Firenz. “If you are serious about entering into an accord, you must demonstrate your honorable intentions by abandoning an offensive posture.”

Hiron wore a joyless grin. “How will the UIC demonstrate its honorable intentions? Are the worlds and races of the United Intergalactic Coalition going to cease weapons development as well?”

“That has not been raised as a stipulation in this accord,” said Tolstoi Remu. Hiron looked for a flash of color in the Humani minister, but the holographic technology masked such displays of emotion. Humani epidermal microexpressions could only be seen in the flesh.

“Of course not,” said Hiron. “So, while the United Intergalactic Coalition continues to advance their weapons capabilities, the Feng people will be left behind, leaving us vulnerable.” He looked at Hubritia Liguri. “Defensively speaking.”

“The Feng are already way out in front of weapons development,” offered Dvorak of the Vampiri. “Perhaps a hiatus will give the rest of us a chance to catch up, striking a balance. You are hardly helpless with legions of Cybions at your disposal. Not many would wish to tangle with those monstrosities.”

“Besides,” added Martin Rayban of Earth, “with all of the economic sanctions, you’re hardly in a position to fund much weapons development.”

“Might I add,” said Tolstoi Remu, “that at its pinnacle, the Feng Empire with all of its superior weapons technology was brought down by a lesser race in the last Intergalactic War.” Remu saw Rayban bristle at the remark, so he added. “A race that has now been advancing by leaps and bounds to join the rest of us.”

“Nice save,” said Martin Rayban sardonically. “Just remember, it took a ‘lesser race’ to turn the tide against the Feng Empire.”

Eyes rolled around the table.

“I see that I am not going to receive any concessions on term number one,” said Hiron. “So, let me address the other terms. You want access to Feng research and development sites for inspections. You want us to share our ship-building technology. Both terms are not only ridiculous, but they violate our very culture. The Feng are a private people not inclined to open their borders to…outsiders.”

“You mean ‘Barberoi?’” asked Hubritia Liguri. “That was the term you were going to use.”

“What about our right to intergalactic patent?” asked Hiron.

“The United Intergalactic Coalition does not recognize patents from non-member worlds,” said Tolstoi Remu.

“This is a total lack of consideration of our cultural beliefs and values,” added Vice Executor Kazar, speaking for the first time. “I thought that the United Intergalactic Coalition stood for respect for other cultures.”

Tolstoi Remu pulled down the corners of his mouth. “Frankly, Vice Executor Kazar, this respect is extended to member worlds and autonomous worlds, as long as they are stable and pose no threat. How else can we assure that the Feng have indeed ceased all new development of weapons technology?”

“Particularly when it is the cultural belief of the Feng not to honor agreements made with…outsiders,” added Martin Rayban.

“May I address the Council, Emperor?” asked Vice Executor Kazar. Emperor Hiron nodded his consent.

Kazar consulted his copy of the proposed accord. “So far, all I see are terms that benefit the United Intergalactic Coalition and place the Feng people (ever the politician, he purposely avoided the word ‘empire’) at a tremendous disadvantage, exposing us.

“Our government is struggling to feed its people as we speak. The United Intergalactic Coalition purports that it serves to protect the civil rights of all life. By leaving ourselves unarmed and unequipped, by sharing our ship-building technology, by allowing outsiders to conduct inspections…none of this inspires confidence in the emperor.

“What you are asking will likely cause revolution, which in turn will afford the United Intergalactic Coalition the opportunity it has been waiting for to exercise the Pax Galactus Initiative.

“We can agree to stop the development of new weapons technology and allow your inspections, but doing so without some other compensation would lead to our collapse and the UIC marching in and imposing its boiler-plate constitution and regulations. What you are proposing is a sneaky brand of imperialism. Planet Feng would become another colony in your menagerie of supplicant worlds.”

“That is not how our members feel about the United Intergalactic Coalition,” asserted Tolstoi Remu.

“You claim to respect the rights of stable autonomous worlds,” said Kazar. “Yet, you are threatening to destabilize ours so that you can topple our government.”

What are you suggesting?” asked Tolstoi Remu, suggesting his hands were tied on the matter.

Emperor Hiron saw the door that Kazar opened, saw the opportunity before him, and he capitalized on the opportunity. “We need aid in the form of funding.”

“That’s preposterous,” said Tolstoi Remu.

“To provide fiscal aid to the Feng Empire would be like personally funding our enemy,” snickered Bobot Tegrit, who until this moment sat silently, listening to the exchange.

“You claim to want to strike an accord in the name of peace,” pressed Emperor Hiron. “Yet, you drafted terms that would lead to a hostile takeover of the Feng by your United Intergalactic Coalition. This is just another contrived…no, engineered, nation-building exercise.”

“I can assure you that this is not our intention,” said Tolstoi Remu.

“I have already admitted that we are not the empire we used to be,” said Hiron. “Vice Executor Kazar indicated to you that our government is on the verge of implosion. If we agree to the rems of this accord, then we need to be given the means to succeed as a non-aggressor world.”

“He has a point,” said Martin Rayban, drawing dirty looks from the others around the table.

“Let us recess to consider your proposal and reconvene at a later time to continue negotiations,” said Tolstoi Remu. Everyone around the table, reluctant to agree to this idea of fiscal aid to the Feng, nodded their enthusiastic agreement to recess.

“I look forward to your response,” said Emperor Hiron, failing to mask his sarcasm.

The holographs of the foreign ministers vanished into thin air, and the conference room was once again private and secured by the Feng digital firewalls.

“I cannot believe they are actually going to consider rendering fiscal aid,” said Kazar, incredulous.

Hiron considered his vice executor carefully. The man appeared to be a little too open to negotiating with the United Intergalactic Coalition. His admission of the possibility of governmental collapse to a council of Barberoi was borderline treason.

However, Emperor Hiron was pleased with this development, but for a different reason than his vice executor. Hiron had no intention of bowing to the United Intergalactic Coalition. If he played his cards right, he would lay the groundwork for Operation: Catalyst, in which case the bloated, stretched thin United Intergalactic Coalition would be in danger of implosion.

“You laid the foundation for my request for aid,” said Hiron, clapping a massive hand on the smaller man’s shoulder. “You have done well.”

Kazar beamed at the praise from the emperor.

“Now you must leave me to my thoughts,” said Hiron, standing up. “I have much to consider.”

Kazar rose, too, and bowed deeply. He left the room, leaving Emperor Hiron alone to calculate.

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