“It’s too late for that now, don’t you think.”
“All right,” I said. “You know I have a back channel open to the Colonial Union. Director Oi here,” I nodded to Vnac, “will be keeper of that channel. If the Colonial Union is genuinely interested in avoiding a war with us, Ambassador, then it will consider continuing the free sharing of information between us. It won’t change the Conclave’s official position on the Colonial Union for now. Unofficially it will help me keep the warmongers in the Grand Assembly in line. We understand each other, I trust.”
“And what about Earth?” Lowen asked.
“I can’t give the Colonial Union the slightest provocation or excuse for an attack,” I said, turning to her. “Or allow any other group to use such as cover for attack. I am withdrawing our diplomats from Earth and expelling yours from Conclave headquarters. Existing agreements on trade and lend-lease ships will be followed to their precise letter and no more. Don’t expect any further for the time being.”
“That puts you in a bad position with us in respect to the Colonial Union,” Lowen said. “Without your trade and material support, a number of our governments will start to look favorably at the CU again.”
“I don’t have any choice in the matter,” I said. “Until things are settled I can’t allow humanity to be a distraction to the Conclave.” I turned to Abumwe. “With that said, let it be known that if the Colonial Union takes any hostile action against the Earth, the Conclave will assume the Colonial Union is doing so in order to build up its military and colonial populations, with the intent of attacking the Conclave and setting up new colonies. I don’t think I have to tell you what our response will be.”
“We have no intention of attacking the Earth,” Abumwe said.
“Attacking the Earth again,” I said. “Our official point of view, Ambassador. For now.”
“I can’t say that I’m happy with this choice.”
“I don’t need you to be happy with it, Ambassador. I would like for you to understand why it’s necessary.”
Abumwe turned to Lowen. “And you? What’s going to be the Earth’s official position on Equilibrium?”
“I couldn’t tell you,” Lowen said. “We only just found out it existed. Or that you allege that it does exist. I’ll take your information back to Earth with me, of course, and share it. You can expect a high amount of skepticism.”
“I understand. But if I may ask, what do you think, Ambassador Lowen? Privately.”
Lowen looked at me before continuing. “I would very much like to believe the Colonial Union had nothing to do with the destruction of Earth Station. I would very much like to believe that it means us no harm. But I don’t know if we can trust the Colonial Union, Ambassador. As much as I would like to. I don’t see it happening.”
“Perhaps we’ll find a way to earn it,” Abumwe said.
“I know a way you can start,” Lowen said.
“Tell me.”
“My ship blew up,” Lowen said. “And I’ve just been told that we can’t stay here to wait for another one to arrive. I could use a ride home.”
* * *
“The humans are off?” I asked Oi, as it came up to me. I was in the Lalan park. I was taking my last few minutes of peace in what was likely to be a very long time.
“A serti ago,” it said. “The Chandler was rather crowded, as I understand it. They are going to Earth first to drop off Lowen and her team. Then I understand they are back to Phoenix Station.”
“Understood.”
“Not necessarily a very good idea to let them spend more time together,” Oi said. “The two varieties of human. Our people have a hard enough time making a distinction between them.”
“I’m not sure we had a choice,” I said. “We needed them all away, sooner than later.”
“We found it, by the way,” Oi said. “The weapon that attacked the Odhiambo.”
“What was it?”
“A very interesting new toy. A particle beam weapon, heavily cloaked in material that scatters electromagnetic radiation. We literally ran into it, otherwise we wouldn’t have found it. The weapon had no particular manufacturing marks on it but my analysts guessed it might be human manufacture.”
“The Colonial Union?”
“Or these Equilibrium people, borrowing their designs. We’ll figure it out, but at the moment your guess is as good as mine. We figure either it was skipped in just before the Odhiambo, or it’s been sitting out there for a while, waiting for a target.”
“Are you looking for more of them?”
“We are now,” Oi said. “You’ll understand when I say they’re hard to find. When you’re elected leader you might authorize some more resources to the task.”
“Indeed. And, how is the vote going?”
“It’s going uneventfully,” Oi said. “You will be elected leader of the Conclave in just a few ditu, I expect. It would have been done sooner but some of the representatives can’t vote without making a speech.”