Impulse (20 page)

“Only as a necessity,” I stated. “I was the second son, not destined to be burdened with the problems of governance and protocol. So I avoided them as much as I could get away with. My experience in these matters is minimal.”

“Perhaps it would be better, as mission commanding officer, if I took the lead,” said Dobrina. Serosian shook his head.

“With apologies, Captain, that seems unlikely,” said Serosian. “Not only does it appear that women carry less authority here, but so does the military. You saw how General Salibi was treated. I think our best bet here is to let Peter take the lead, with me as his attaché, and you as military commander.”

“That seems to be the structure they favor,” I added. Dobrina shifted in her chair, clearly uncomfortable with this arrangement.

“Are you absolutely sure this is the preferred protocol?” she asked.

“That's how it was explained to me,” I replied. She crossed her arms.

“By that woman, whose role is completely unclear and whose standing is completely unclear,” she said.

“She certainly carried weight with the general,” said Serosian. He paused for a second, eyeing Dobrina, who finally gave in.

“Very well,” she said. “For the sake of protocol and diplomacy we'll proceed as you've outlined. But I
am
in military command of this mission, gentlemen, and I
will
make any military decisions as I see fit.”

“As you wish, Captain,” said Serosian with a deferential nod of his head.

At that, a military guard appeared at our door, and we were ushered in to meet Prince Sunil Katara.

He stood to greet me as I came through the door into a sunny dining room, the table set for six. His handshake was warm and sincere, as was his smile. I found myself taking a liking to him instantly.

He was indeed young, with the dark skin and features of his countrymen. We were quickly seated at the table, with Katara at the head and me to his right, followed by Serosian and the captain in descending order. To his left was a diplomatic attaché named Kemal, a silver-haired man who had the look of a lifelong adviser about him, and lastly General Salibi, seated directly across from Dobrina with an empty space in between them. It was clear that the military personnel were to be separate from the rest of the discussion.

When we were seated, Prince Katara immediately started in with questions as we were served hot tea, cold fish sandwiches, and assorted pastries.

“Tell me, Sire Cochrane, what is your formal title?” he asked. I gave him my full peerage, with details as to the length of the family line, and so on. He seemed satisfied that I carried sufficient royal linkages, and once these formalities were out of the way he started asking questions that any young man would ask of another.

“So tell me of your travels! What new worlds have you seen?” he asked. I was embarrassed to relate that Levant was my first stop in interstellar space, and that I hadn't even been to Carinthia. He asked me about my shipboard duties, and I related them as best I could without giving away too much. I told the story of how we had entered Levant space and confronted the hyperdimensional displacement weapons left by the empire. This seemed to intrigue him the most.

“We have been trying to leave our system since before I was born. My father used to tell me about the failed missions. He grieved for every man we lost,” said the prince.

“Without the help of our Historian friends from Earth I fear we would be in the same situation,” I said. This turned the conversation to more practical matters as the prince addressed Serosian.

“So I gather your mission to our world then was originally First Contact, and got sidetracked by your encounter with our ‘gatekeepers,'” he said.

Serosian nodded and smiled. “That was our goal. We came here to offer our friendship, trade, and advice, and hopefully to ask you to consider membership in our Union,” he said. I noted that Dobrina and Salibi had been making small talk that had now ended, their attention focused on our conversation.

“That is certainly something we are considering,” said Prince Katara. “The benefits of an alliance with your Union could be enormous to us, Mr. Serosian. Perhaps you and Kemal could meet to discuss what form such an agreement would take and we can discuss a formal framework tonight at dinner.”

After the food was taken away, Prince Katara and I went to some side chairs to talk again while the others continued at the table, working out a framework of cooperation. I was surprised at the light air of the conversation.

“I was a soccer player at university,” I related in response to the prince's questions. “Some said good enough to be a full-time professional. But I gave up my apprenticeship after two years to enter the Lightship program the first chance I got. Soccer was my passion, but space was in my blood, and my family's blood.”

“My game is polo,” said Katara. “The biggest problem I have is getting a fair game. No one wants to beat the prince's team.” We both laughed at that.

After an hour, the prince rose to take his leave and the lunch was over, with a formal invitation to the state dinner at eight o'clock. I of course accepted for all of us, and we departed for my suite, there to debrief.

Serosian related the diplomatic conversation, Dobrina the military.

“They want a Lightship if they join,” she said. “I tried to explain to Salibi that we only had three and we were trying to rescue one, but he wasn't hearing it.”

“It's a reasonable request,” said Serosian, “as were most of their diplomatic inquiries. I'll be receiving a packet from Kemal this afternoon. I'll know more before dinner.”

Dobrina nodded. Serosian left then to continue his work as I sank into a large stuffed chair, my eyes barely able to stay open.

“Sleeping on the job, Lieutenant Commander?” Dobrina said.

“The Lieutenant Commander is ready any time, Captain. Sire Cochrane, however, is in serious need of another nap.” She sat across from me, her legs crossed, one foot gently bobbing in my direction. For the first time since our battle on the fencing court I saw her again as more than just my commanding officer. She was a woman to me in that moment, one I was finding myself drawn to more and more. Her combination of competence, accomplishment, and physical attractiveness was having an effect on me.

“And how is it the good captain has so much energy in reserve?” I asked, one eye open and on her. She smiled.

“Perhaps it's because I didn't waste any of my rest time on giggling schoolgirls,” she said back. I took that comment as her fishing for information. I readily acceded to her subtle inquiry.

“Neither did I, Captain,” I said, looking at her sincerely, with both eyes open. “I'm saving myself for someone special.” This got a rise out of her as her cheeks flushed red, but she had a quick retort.

“Someone like a princess, perhaps? Or your unnamed bathing assistant?” She seemed perturbed.

“Captain,” I started in mock protest, “surely you don't think me so vain and venal?”

She kept smiling, but then surprised me. “Please, Peter, you may call me Dobrina in social situations.”

“Is this a social situation?”

“Well, a state dinner certainly isn't a military one.”

“All right then, Dobrina, I have to say that I'm not comfortable with what my social duties may require of me with tonight's festivities, but I will do all I can to ensure that we complete an alliance with Levant. It seems that we need the allies,” I said.

“It seems we do,” she agreed, while committing to nothing else.

“I need allies too. I'm asking you if you will be one with me in these circumstances,” I said. She frowned just a bit at this.

“I'm not sure I understand,” she said.

I sat up. “Socially, the young duke may be required to do things that the man in me is not comfortable with. I'm asking for your understanding, and I'm trying to assure you that I've made no decisions about where my heart lies.”

Again her face flushed, more broadly this time. She looked at me from across the room for a moment, then answered.

“Thank you for clarifying things, Peter. But these are matters that are best left to be discussed at a more appropriate time. We're still in a crisis, and we cannot afford to dawdle here long. I expect you to do whatever is necessary to secure these people's assistance, nothing more, nothing less, as soon as possible, so we can be on our way and rescue
Impulse
,” she said. “Everything else will have to wait for another time.”

“I understand,” I said. She stood to leave.

“I will leave the young Viscount of Queensland to his rest, and his giggling servant girls. I do suggest, however, that you
do
rest. You never know, the princess might just be a beauty,” she said, “and that may require all your strength.” She started out the door, stopping only once to turn back and smile at me before closing the door behind her.

I sighed, then lay back down on the sofa, drifting quickly off to sleep again.

A
fter a restful nap I repeated the bathing routine, this time by myself, and dressed in the formal dinner wear provided by the palace. The attention to detail by the royal attendants was apparent. All my clothes fit perfectly, even though they had never taken my measurements, and my dinner jacket even featured a version of the Cochrane family crest: Southern Cross of white stars on blue background, vertical chevron of orange, and three boars' heads on a white standard. The style was out of date but probably accurate for the last time Levant and Quantar had shared diplomatic relations. I had to admit, I was flattered by the effort.

I met the others, including Marker and Layton this time, in my suite area at 1945. Dobrina was busy checking the enlisted men to make sure they were presentable. Serosian was dignified in his usual all-black and cloak. But it was Dobrina who impressed me the most.

Her dress was a bright orange-red with gold brocade patterns woven through it. It wrapped around her body in a very flattering, feminine style, and was complemented by a shawl that flowed from her bare shoulders to drape over one arm. She turned to me once she had completed her examination of Marker and Layton. They had done her makeup as well, with dark lines accentuating her eyes in the style I had seen all the women here wear. Her hair, although still regulation length, had been manipulated so that it looked very flattering, framing her fine, angled face with small, dark curls.

I was speechless. I tried to say something but I could only croak out a few mumbled words. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Captain . . . you look, um . . .” Then they all laughed at me.

Dobrina shrugged. “The service was offered, and I accepted. See what you miss by sleeping the day away?”

“I do indeed,” I said, smiling my approval. At that Serosian offered his arm to her and we started out of my stateroom.

Our attendants led us down a long hallway to the rear of the palace, where we had not yet been. The hallway opened up over an enormous ballroom, and we found ourselves looking down on a grand scene.

The dinner table must have been set for a hundred, adorned with gold and crystal, fine linens, and massive candelabras. It was finery that exceeded anything we had on Quantar. The room was filled with regal dignitaries and their escorts, the men dressed in formal suits, the women in a startling variety of colored gowns in the style worn by Dobrina. There was a buzz of conversation and the gentle clinking of glasses as the guests shared drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

As we were escorted to the main staircase and down the stairs, an orchestra started up playing music and the crowd broke out in applause. As the leader of our entourage I acknowledged the greeting with a polite wave of the hand, trying to remember my mother's lessons on royal protocol.

“You seem far more well versed in this than you let on,” said Dobrina in my ear as she waved to the crowd, still on Serosian's arm.

“It must be in the blood,” I deadpanned as we walked down to the table and were seated. This was the signal for the rest of the guests to be seated as well. I sat to the right of the prince's ornately carved wood chair, with Serosian, Dobrina, and the enlisted men in descending order of rank. We were greeted by Kemal, the prince's adviser, and his wife, as well as General Salibi and his wife. Both women were pretty, but not overly so, and both worked to make the acquaintance of
Impulse's
captain, no doubt another cultural norm on Levant.

We were served drinks and made simple conversation while we awaited the prince and princess, whom I was anxious to meet. At precisely eight o'clock the orchestra stopped the dinner music and began what I could only assume was the royal anthem. All the guests stood and we followed suit.

From underneath the balcony at the far end of the room the prince came in dressed in full royal regalia, his crimson military uniform adorned with numerous medals and what I assumed was the family crest, which to my surprise contained a symbol of a green tree. He hesitated for a moment at the door, then extended his arm. Out of the shadows came the princess, her dress in the same style as the other ladies, but in pure white with only a few gold adornments, her hair topped by a sparkling tiara. The crowd started applauding as they approached and we joined in. It took only a few steps for me to recognize the princess as the woman from the interrogation room on the station, the same woman who had visited me in my bath. I looked to Serosian and Dobrina. He smiled at me and tipped his head as if to say, “What did you expect?” Despite her best efforts, Dobrina couldn't quite conceal her displeasure.

The princess was seated directly opposite me, ahead of Kemal and his wife, while Prince Katara waited for the glasses of everyone at the table to be filled with sparkling gold champagne. When the task was complete the prince rose and raised his glass.

“A toast,” he said in Standard, “to our newfound friends of the Union, and to Sire Peter Cochrane, of Quantar.” He tipped his glass to me and I rose and touched mine to his, then we all drank and the table erupted in applause.

The band started in again with background music as we began our dinner, avoiding any formal discussion for the time being. I did note that Serosian was fully engaged with Kemal over some sort of proposal, while Dobrina was clearly unhappy at swapping conversation with General Salibi and his wife, stealing looks in my direction as often as she could.

The prince's hand on my arm brought my attention back to the matter at hand.

“May I introduce you to my sister, Sire Cochrane,” he said with a sweep of his arm. “The Princess Janaan.” I stood and bowed my head to her, and she extended her lace-gloved hand, which I kissed.

“A pleasure to see you again, Princess,” I said as I sat down. “And it seems I do finally know your name.” Prince Katara looked back and forth at us.

“You've met before?” he asked of me. I nodded.

“Yes, on your space station,” I said, tasting an hors d'oeuvre. The princess smiled narrowly. “And again later, in my bath.” At this her face went blank. I couldn't tell if she was angry or embarrassed.

“She came into your
bath
?” he said under his breath, clearly agitated. He turned to her “Janaan . . .” he started, shaking his head, but she cut him off.

“Do not lecture me, Sunil. I do what I have to do, you know that,” she said tightly, then returned a happy smile to her face for the benefit of the guests.

“I know, Janaan, but the bath—”

“He was available and so was I. We did nothing but talk, you can ask Sire Cochrane yourself,” she said, smiling all the while as if we were making small talk. Prince Katara turned to me.

“She's practically uncontrollable. Still, she is my most valuable asset,” he said, loud enough for her to overhear.

“Of that I'm certain,” I said, smiling back at her. I admired her forwardness, obviously a tough task in light of Levant's customs. She eyed the two of us, assessing our conversation, but was then forced to return to her social duties as a pair of court ladies came up to greet her.

As the princess was engaged in small talk with other guests, Prince Katara leaned in close to me.

“So what do you think of the princess?” he asked. I wiped my mouth with a napkin to buy myself some time to formulate a response.

“Honestly, I'm not sure what I think,” I said. “First I met her as an interrogator on your space station, then in my bath as a protocol adviser, and now as a princess. I'm not sure which is the real one.”

“Sometimes, neither am I,” he admitted.

“The role of women on your world is limiting, isn't it, Prince Katara?” I observed. He said nothing for a moment and I feared I had insulted him, but then he leaned in close to me again.

“It is something I'm desirous of changing, yet these things move slowly. After the war, once we were cut off from the more progressive Imperial culture, our society regressed to more conservative norms. Religious institutions gained more sway over our morals and society. Thankfully, my father instituted reforms, but when he died it was left up to Janaan and me. In some ways it's an advantage for her, being co-regent, which would have been unheard of in my grandfather's time. She can move about without much question of her motivations. Other times it is more of a burden, and I find myself having to make excuses for including her in major policy decisions. The military sees her as an asset, and that's good enough for now. Still, perhaps these negotiations could be used as means of liberalizing more of our customs?” he said. I nodded.

“This may be a good time to bring in our chief negotiators,” I commented. “These things have a way of being worked out to the advantage of everyone involved.” Prince Katara agreed and waved Kemal and Serosian into the conversation. Princess Janaan and Dobrina both gave us annoyed looks, occupied as they were with court ladies.

“And what progress have you made, gentlemen?” asked the prince. It was Kemal who spoke first.

“We have a framework agreement, Your Highness. Trade and cultural reforms, technology, establishing forward bases for the Union Navy near the jump point, and such,” he said. At this Katara looked right at Serosian.

“And our request for full Union membership immediately, complete with, shall I say, appropriate military considerations?” said the prince. Serosian smiled.

“He means a Lightship of their own,” he said to me. “This is acceptable, as long as the prince understands it will take time to train even your best naval officers to the demands of such a vessel.”

“I am sure our spacers can make the transition. How soon until we receive our new vessel?” asked Katara.

Serosian contemplated this. “Optimally, we would require two years of training. That can probably be condensed down to one, after the signing of the Union Concord agreements,” he said. Katara looked from the Historian to Kemal, then to me.

“Six months,” he said to Serosian, “after we sign the accords. Not a day longer.”

The Historian's eyes narrowed just a bit at this, but then he smiled and laughed. “You drive a hard bargain, Prince Katara,” he said.

Katara smiled back and then gestured for more champagne. “Let's drink to our newfound friendship,” he said. And we did.

By this time both Princess Janaan and Dobrina were looking quite put out, so we resumed our dinner courses and kept the conversation light and friendly.

After dinner the crowd took to the dance floor, swaying to the delightful music provided by the orchestra. I found myself in a receiving line the with prince and princess, Dobrina, and Serosian, shaking hands with well-wishers and court hangers-on. The handsome Marker had more than enough attention from the ladies, and even Layton had an impressive array. This went on for a while until the prince broke from the line, bringing his sister with him by the hand. The orchestra changed quickly into a classic waltz and the two of them began dancing to the applause of the crowd.

I never got more than a few feet without someone putting a glass of champagne in my hand, and I was beginning to feel the effects as I watched the two siblings dance elegantly. The waltz concluded and the prince bowed formally to his lady, who replied in kind. The crowd thundered again and then the dance floor filled with many couples. I was about to turn to Dobrina and ask for a dance, feeling my oats, when General Salibi stepped up and beat me to it. Dobrina gave her assent to the general but still managed to glare at me with a put-out look.

“Careful,” came Serosian's voice in my ear. “A lady's heart, even a Lightship captain's, can be a delicate thing.” I turned to him.

“I appreciate the advice. Captain Kierkopf and I are friends, for the moment. Probably best we keep it that way,” I said before draining another champagne flute. Before I could even put it down it was gone and another took its place.

“Are you sure she feels the same?” he said.

“You're not serious?” I said, then took another drink. “In all the years I've known you, for all the advice you have ever given me, this is a first.”

“What do you mean?”

“The great and knowledgeable Serosian, Earth Historian, Man of Mystery, giving his young charge advice on the one subject he knows nothing about: women,” I said, taunting my friend.

He laughed. “Just because you've never seen me with a woman doesn't mean I have no knowledge of them.”

“Pray tell then, what is your expertise in this matter?” I asked, pressing him.

“I have been married for thirty-five years,” he stated. I scoffed.

“You're lying, man! To look at you you're barely that age now!” He smiled but revealed nothing. “So what is your advice?” I finally asked.

“Treat her as your commander when you're both on duty. But treat her as a woman in all other things,” he said.

I nodded agreement. “Sound advice in any situation,” I said. Then there was a hand on my arm. I looked up to find the prince and princess standing in front of me.