“But from what Zo? tells me, you’ve started making people give you personal loyalty oaths,” I said. “It’s just a short jump from that to having the right to space those who annoy you.”
“All the more reason for the trial, wouldn’t you say,” Gau said. “I would prefer not to have had the loyalty oaths. But apparently there’s only so much humility people will take out of their leaders, especially when their leaders have had their fleets blown out from under them.”
“Don’t blame me,” I said.
“I don’t,” Gau said. “Whether I blame the Colonial Union is another matter entirely.”
“What do you plan to do about the Colonial Union now?” I asked.
“The same thing I originally planned to do,” Gau said. “Contain it.”
“Not attack it,” I said.
“No,” Gau said. “All the Conclave’s internal rebellions are tamped down. Eser isn’t the only one facing a trial. But I think it’s clear to the Colonial Union now that the Conclave is not easily eradicated. I’d hope they wouldn’t try to break out of their box again.”
“You haven’t learned much about humans,” I said.
“On the contrary,” Gau said. “If you think I’m simply going back to my old plan, you’re a fool. I’m not planning to attack the Colonial Union, but I’m also going to make sure it doesn’t get a chance to attack either me or the Conclave a second time.”
“How?” I asked.
“You don’t really expect me to tell you,” Gau said.
“Thought I’d ask,” I said. “It was worth a shot.”
“Not really,” Gau said.
“And what are your plans for Roanoke?” I asked.
“I’ve already told you that I have no plans to attack it,” Gau said.
“You did,” I said. “Of course, that was when you had no fleet.”
“You doubt me,” Gau said.
“No,” I said. “I fear you.”
“I wish you wouldn’t,” Gau said.
“I wish I wouldn’t, either,” I said. “Convince me.”
“Roanoke is safe from any further Conclave attack,” Gau said. “The Conclave recognizes it as a legitimate human colony. The last colony”—he tapped the conference room table to make the point—“but a legitimate colony nonetheless. You and I can make a treaty, if you like.”
“I don’t think the Colonial Union would find it binding,” I said.
“Probably not,” Gau said. “However, I will send an official declaration to your government, with a warning that the Conclave’s ban on colonization is unbreakable beyond this. Unofficially, I’ll pass the word to unaffiliated races that the Conclave would be extremely displeased if one of them made a play for the planet. They’re not supposed to anyway, under the ban. But it doesn’t hurt to accentuate the point.”
“Thank you, General,” I said.
“You’re welcome,” Gau said. “I’m glad not every world leader was as troublesome as you, however.”
“I’m the easygoing one,” I said. “It’s my wife who’s the real hard-ass.”
“So I’ve gathered from Eser and the recordings of the battle,” Gau said. “I hope she is not offended that I asked to speak to you alone.”
“She’s not,” I said. “I’m the one who is supposed to be good with people. Although Zo? is disappointed she’s not able to see you. You made an impression on her.”
“And she on me,” Gau said. “You have a remarkable family.”
“I agree,” I said. “I’m glad they keep me around.”
“Technically, your wife and daughter could be charged for treason as well,” Gau said. “They will have to leave Roanoke, too, you know.”
“You keep bringing that up,” I said. “I’ve been trying not to think about it.”
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Gau said.
“Of course it’s not wise,” I said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to do it.”
“Where will you go?” Gau said.
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” I said. “We can’t go anywhere in the Colonial Union unless we want to spend our lives in a family cell block. The Obin would take us in because of Zo?, but there would always be pressure on the Obin to extradite us.”
“There’s another option,” Gau said. “I’ve offered to have you join the Conclave before. The offer still stands. You and your family could live among us.”
“You’re very kind,” I said. “I don’t know that I could do that. That’s the problem with living among the Obin as well. I’m not ready to be cut off from the rest of humanity.”
“It’s not that bad,” Gau said, and I caught the hint of sarcasm there.
“Maybe not for you,” I said. “But I would miss my kind.”
“The idea behind the Conclave is that many races would live among each other,” Gau said. “Are you saying you couldn’t do that?”
“I could do that,” I said. “But only three humans wouldn’t be enough.”
“The Conclave would still be happy to admit the Colonial Union,” Gau said. “Or any of the individual colony worlds. Or even just Roanoke.”