Izzy drummed her fingers on the table and gazed off out of the window at her home planet below the Gyfjon. She had given up even feigning an interest in the negotiations. They had now entered their third day. Third Arachavian day that was. As she drummed on the table and stared out the window she was debating in her head if she would rather be here or in foxhole under constant artillery fire. She hadn’t decided yet.

“Are we boring you Commander?”

It took a moment to realise the comment had been addressed to her. Izzy snapped to attention and quickly turned trying to locate the source of the comment. The person most annoyed looking and staring daggers at her was Secretary-General Ridgemont. Everyone else just looked worn out and fed up.

“Boring isn’t the word I’d choose…” Izzy replied.

“And what word would you choose?”

“I’d rather not get into that…” Izzy said trying to sound polite.

“An utter waste of time is what I’d call it.” Niall said frankly. “We’re just going in circles here! Protesters in my class claiming the universe is only two thousand Archavian years old make more rational arguments than you!”

“Everyone! Please! Let’s not descend into insults.” Loona said and stared daggers at Niall.

“I am seeking justice for Humanity! For your kind!” Ridgemont protested. “We are owed a great debt by this Empire! You don’t seem to care about your own kind though.”

“A debt we do not recognise.” Loona countered. “We have protected your world and its people for millennia. Your world would have been picked bare by now if it weren’t for us.”

“You have plundered our world! Stolen our people! Tainted our history!” Bogomolov, the Russian President, retorted. “You arrogantly assume that Earth needs your protection. We do not! You should take your starships and leave this system!”

Loona took a deep breath.

“Mr President, we have offered as a gesture of goodwill and friendship to provide Earth with the means to produce your own biogel. It will extend lives, cure diseases…”

“Boltat’ chepukhu…” He replied. “We can learn this ourselves. That is not reparations. That is table scraps.”

“I dunno Mr President. The stuff the Titans make sure does make your balls tingle nicely.” Darren grinned.

“Mr Avery!” Ridgemont protested almost at the same Loona buried her head in her hands.

There was a long, pregnant pause before the Secretary-General spoke.

“Madam Deputy Floor Leader, please inform the Captain to prepare our ship for departure. We’re done here.” Ridgemont stood up and the delegation from Earth did likewise.

“Madam Secretary…” Loona said but was cut off.

“You’re full of shit Ridgemont, ya know that?” Darren said eying her with half a grin on his face.

“That’s Secretary-General Ridgemont.” She snapped back.

“It’s Secretary Xanthopolous, now that you mention it,” Darren said, waving the remark away as Ridgemont turned to leave.

“Don’t wanna know why?” he called after her.

She didn’t reply. She walked out of the room and onto the Ward Room table, suddenly realising she was stuck here until the Captain came to ferry her to her ship.

“You’ve been in there for over two Titan days. A full working week and you’ve waffled on about justice this and humanity that but not once – not even once – have you asked about the Humans in the Empire.” Darren had followed her out with Loona and Eyrn behind him looking ever more pale.

“That’s absurd!” Ridgemont said looking flustered.

“He’s right…” said Premier Phạm. “You haven’t.”

“And so what, Quyền? I was elected by the people of Earth to speak for them.” Ridgemont snapped.

“That’s not what you’ve been saying. You’ve been talking about Humanity.” Darren said, noticeably thickening his Texas accent back to what it once was when he spoke. “But I’m telling you that you don’t speak for Avalon.”

“You definitely don’t speak for me.” Niall added in.

“Or me.” Izzy said.

“So how about you get back to the negotiating table and stop talking like you’re the second coming – or I may need to explain to my government back on Avalon, a very happy Imperial province, that we can no longer cooperate with Earth due to the policies of its government.” Darren’s accent waned back to its normal mix of Avalonian and American. “We’d be forced to cancel all joint ventures with Earth. And I mean all joint ventures.” He said stressing the all with his eyes.

Admiral Xú stepped forward and nervously muttered something into Ridgemont’s ear. She nodded back.

“Very well…” Ridgemont straightened the lapels of her jacket nervously. “In the interests of cooperation with our fellow Humans we will give the Empire one more chance.”

Loona breathed a sigh of relief as the party from Earth filed back inside. “You sure do have a way of negotiating, Mr Secretary.” She said.

Darren didn’t look like he was joking around anymore. His face was stern as he watched his fellow Humans take their seats. “Pussyfooting around is done, Hillary. Let’s get this deal done so we can all get back to our lives.”

“So, Madam Deputy Floor Leader, Secretary Xanthopolous raises a good point. What is the situation regarding the Humans who were once held as pets in the Empire?” Ridgemont asked when everyone has settled back into their seats.

“Well…” Loona said. “You are aware of the situation in Federation Province. Imperial law had not been implemented there even prior to secession, and the Humans there are still being treated as property. They have also openly murdered people, Human and Titan alike, who have protested this. The Imperial Military is mobilising to invade and restore the rule of law as quickly as possible.”

“We are aware of the situation in Federation Province. What about the rest of the Empire?” the Latin American president asked.

“Avalon Province and Vorsha and Atzalia Province have introduced their own citizenship programmes. They are paying for the housing and education of all Human nationals in their provinces. Citizens are free to live as they please…”

“Hang on a minute.” Ridgemont interrupted. “Nationals?”

“Yes, nationals.” Loona sighed. “The Humans that were liberated by the Zeramblin Act have been declared Nationals, unless they are married to a Titan or have the requisite education to be classed as a citizen and also applied for it.”

“The two-tier system,” Premier Phạm said. “We’ve read about this. Earth history is full of these kinds of distinctions. It never ends well.”

“It’s not permanent….” Eyrn began, but she was quickly cut off.

“It is my understanding, Madam Deputy Floor Leader, that these people who were once pets have no education or concept of self-determination. What is being done to support and educate them? Have they just been left in the care of their former masters? Pets in all but name?” Admiral Xú asked.

“Not at all, Admiral.” Loona replied with a smile she hoped would hide how uncomfortable this line of questioning was for her. “Any Human choosing to remain with their family does so voluntarily and will become a citizen after five years. Titan years that is.”

“And those who don’t?” Ridgemont asked.

“We have set up a colony. An independent protectorate funded by The Empire and staffed by both Titans and Avalonians. Humans without homes or the means to claim citizenship are being moved here. There is housing…”

“Do you mean to tell me that you are just abandoning these people!?” Ridgemont said wide eyed.

“Not at all Madam Secretary-General. This world is well-funded and is staffed by some of the foremost experts in Human rehabilitation and colony management.” Loona explained.

“She’s right.” Niall added. “My own daughter is running it. She’s half-Human, half-Titan. If there were anything cruel about it then she’d be the first person to call it out.”

“I’m still not very comfortable with this. You are effectively making these people stateless.” Ridgemont said.

“I assure you, that is not our aim.” Loona said, which was true, for a certain value of our. “The world is a protectorate, and the Humans there are still Imperial nationals. Our intention is that once the planet is selfsustaining and the people there are settled and have the capacity to rule themselves that they will be admitted to the Empire as full citizens, possibly as an independent province, possibly as part of Avalon province – we want to let them decide when the time comes.”

“And just where is this world? If it is surrounded by Imperial territory they might find themselves quite isolated.” Xu asked.

“We took that into consideration as well. The colony is settled in the system you refer to as Tau Ceti. This way it is in close proximity to both Earth and Avalon.” Loona said.

Ridgemont adopted a poker face, and jotted some meaningless notes on a virtual pad, before looking back to Loona.

“And why are you only telling us this now? Surely this takes some amount of planning and resources, did you not think to ask Earth for help?” Ridgemont asked.

“That was my doing, Madam Secretary-General.” Eyrn said. “I felt that asking Earth to contribute would be a gross insult. The issue of what to do with the liberated Humans is a problem for the Empire to deal with, not….”

“This is true,” Loona said, “but Madam Secretary-General, speaking frankly, I would much rather have kept the liberated Humans on their worlds. I had plans for education centres, residences and training programs to integrate as many as possible into our society as many Humans have done already. However, I was outmaneuvered and could not secure funding for this. Instead, the compromise that was reached was to settle all former pets who needed support on this world. In all honesty, I decided against asking Earth for help because I was ashamed. Ashamed that my government had chosen to deport these people rather than support them. If I could have collapsed the government without risking the declassification of every Human I would have done so.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Ridgemont said, realising Armac had just handed her a very large drum to beat.

“Because it’s the truth. And you deserve it. Not all Titans see Humans the way I do. By moving most Humans away from Imperial worlds it will hide their progress from citizens of the Empire. It will muddy the waters and keep the debate going for years to come when it should have been settled by now.” Loona continued. “I’d hoped to at least work towards a successful, independent colony that would then join the Empire, their success proof of human ability. With the imminent occupation of Federation Province, however…well, I honestly don’t know what is going to come of this.”

“This is just one more reason for us not to deal with you.” Cabello said.

“It is,” Loona replied. “But look at it like this. There is going to be a civil war in the Empire in which it is likely that thousands of Titans will die to bring those who killed Yamanu Neutha – and 29 other humans — to justice. Make no mistake, that is the reason we’re fighting. And when we successfully defeat the Federation rebels – and we will – well….”

Loona sighed. She wasn’t sure about this. But sometimes, you need to lay your cards on the table, and let the chips fall where they may.

“The government was in serious danger of falling before the Federation declared its intention to secede. And had it fallen, the government I would have formed would have been able to maneuver to resolve many of these issues. But we are obviously hesitant to bring down the government while we face civil war, and should the war be successful…well, it muddies the waters. There is a great deal of anger toward the current floor leader – but Floor Leader Qorni may look much better with a successful military campaign against a recalcitrant province. Will she be able to form a majority with the present membership? I doubt it, but could she call snap elections, and win a majority outright? I wouldn’t bet against it.

“We know that the Titan blood that will be spilled to secure justice will stem the anger from Earth. But it will not secure the futures of the humans in the Empire. There is a range of outcomes possible here, from the formation of a government that will fix the shortcomings of current law, to the formation of a government that would be willing to repeal the Zeramblin Act. And as horrific as I find that last possibility…I cannot sit here and pretend it does not exist. And that means the humans on Tau Ceti are at risk of finding themselves pets once again – and I will not let that happen, if I have any way to prevent it.”

“What are you proposing?” Ridgemont asked with a feeling she already knew.

Loona sighed wearily.

“I would like to request Earth’s assistance in building the colony at Tau Ceti. This would require an influx of materiel, yes, but primarily an influx of people willing to work with the people emigrating there. I believe that I can convince any government that may come into existence to make Tau Ceti a jointly operated colony of the Empire and Earth. And as such, guarantee that the people living there will remain people. I do not wish to surrender Tau Ceti or the future Imperial citizens living there…but should the worst happen, I believe that Floor Leader Qorni would rather see Tau Ceti become a part of Earth’s dominion than not. And this would allow for that outcome.”

The delegation from Earth looked back and forth between each other and whispered.

“That is quite the offer…” Ridgemont said.

“We could make it a trusteeship under the current control of the Empire,” Bogomolov said. “The Trusteeship Council…..”

“There will be time for the legalities, Sasha. First things first, Madam Deputy Floor Leader – you are certain you can deliver?”

“I’m ninety nine percent certain I can.” Loona replied.

“Can we have some time to discuss?”

“You may.” Loona stood as did the Eyrn, Niall, Darren and Izzy. “We will be outside.”

The Imperial party went outside and stood on the ward room table.

“You know Sorcha is going to be mighty pissed if you give away her project?” Niall said.

“I’m not giving it away. I’m adding people to the team. And don’t be so sure, Niall. You obviously don’t see the status reports she sends.” Loona replied.

“You think Qorni will agree?” Eyrn asked.

Loona nodded. “Qorni doesn’t give a single solitary tupp shit for Earth or the Humans on Tau Ceti. She doesn’t want them voting against her, that’s her main concern. If they end up Earth’s headache, so much the better. She’ll probably be thrilled I’ve set it up this way.”

“Then why do it?” Niall asked.

“Because if she rolls back then all those Humans go right back to the pet shops. I can’t gamble their future in an attempt to secure mine. Or yours for that matter.” Loona replied.

The door hissed open and Ridgemont walked in.

“Madam Deputy Floor Leader, your offer is generous. But we cannot blindly accept. We would like to survey this colony for ourselves. See that it is something we can work with and not a white elephant.”

“White elephant?” Loona asked.

“An expensive project doomed to failture.” Ridgemont explained. “We also want to make clear that we’re not taking this on alone. As Ambassador Bass noted, you do bear responsibility. We can be partners, and when they are ready, we can welcome them as a fellow sovereign nation – but we cannot take this on with no Imperial assistance.”

“As I said, this would be a joint venture.” Loona said. “As for a survey, I can ask Navarchos Bass to set course to Tau Ceti now if you are ready? Commander Ibanez, what’s the travel time to Tau Ceti?”

“Twenty hours at standard speed.” She replied.

“A three day extension is acceptable.” Ridgemont said.

“Very well.” Loona smiled. “Commander, please inform Navarchos Bass of our change in venue.”

Izzy stood to attention and gave an Imperial salute.

“Aye, ma’am.” She said and marched off to retrieve her pad.

****

The ISS Sea of Icouse was at maximum warp, en route to Vorsha. The ship’s captain, Commander Cesi Lecyr, tapped nervously on the armrest of her chair. Escorting flag officers wasn’t new to the crew of the Icouse, but still, they’d never had one of the Deputy Imperiis aboard. Until now.

“Ma’am, we have an inbound communication for the Praetor-Imperator.”

“Very good, Ms. Aiaiaus. Code-lock it and transfer.”

A dozen units away, Vanser looked up as the comms terminal in his room chirped. “Sir, we have a priority black transmission from the Dodecahedron for you.”

“Code lock complete?”

“Aye, sir.”

“Send it through.”

Vanser punched in his own lockcode as the message came up on his screen; they were running through four levels of quantum encryption. In theory, he knew it should take someone without all the codekeys roughly an octogentillion years to decrypt them. In practice…he always wished they were another level down.

“Archiploiarchos Daru. Four hours and twenty-eight minutes,” Vanser said. “You’re ahead of schedule.”

“Aye, sir, it’s…we do have the origin point nailed down. But it doesn’t make any sense.”

“Doesn’t have to, if it’s right. Where is it?”

“Tremarla Lumodynamics headquarters.”

Vanser blinked. “You’re certain.”

“Well…no, sir. I mean, I can’t imagine Sen. Tarsuss being involved….”

“She isn’t. The Tarsuss Corporation is enormous, however, and Tremarla Lumodynamics would have the type of equipment our perp needed. I wouldn’t cross the Senator, but then, I don’t want to see my life destroyed. Obviously our perp has a death wish.”

“That’s…that’s all rumors, though, sir….”

“Generally, yes…but I still wouldn’t cross the richest woman alive, would you? Anyhow, this is excellent work.”

“Thank you, sir, we haven’t had much luck figuring out where in the headquarters this was generated….”

“Send the data to me,” Vanser said. “I have a contact in security at the Tarsuss Corporation who will be glad to help me.”

“Can we trust her?” Daru asked.

Vanser laughed. “Yes and no. Trust her to stay put when you tell her to? Not so much. But trust her to help bust the jerkwads who did this? Believe me, she’ll help.”

Five minutes later, Vanser was greeted by a somewhat disheveled Rixie Carey, who was finishing up important business first.

“For the last time, Asteria Lemm Carey, you will ask if your daddy wants a ride from here to there. We do not pick him up without warning. Got it?”

“Sorry. I was try’n ta hep.”

“I know you were. And your daddy will accept help – if you ask. Right, Alex?”

“Right, Rix! Now, Starry, your mom’s got that sprain tended to, so yes, you may lift me up on the counter.”

“’Kay!”

“Gentle though – gah!”

“Sorry, Vanser,” Rixie said, turning back to him, though she kept one eye trained on her daughter. “It’s a normal morning here on Avalon. How are things?”

“I’m requesting a code-lock, Rix.”

Rixie’s eyes went wide, but she nodded. “Okay, Asteria, you need to take your dad to his little house right now. Alex, Vanser has to chat in private.”

“That’s only okay because I know Leny would kill him before he made a move on you!” Alex shouted. “All right, Starry, I’ll be back in big daddy mode in a minute, and then I’ll pick you up!”

Asteria giggled at her dad’s threats, as Rixie took the pad into the bedroom, and sealed the door. She entered her personal code-lock, and said, “So what’s going on? And I swear, if it involves the words ‘Article 42’ come up….”

“No, Rix. Not that stupid. Besides, I need you in your current job. The message to Earth originated at the headquarters of Tremarla Lumodynamics.”

Rixie’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You don’t say.”

“I’m en route to Tremarla now. I need you to help analyze the data – we don’t have a clear read on who did it, your security protocols are…well, your security protocols. I’m not surprised. We could request a warrant if you want to do it official….”

“I’ll confirm with Pryvani, but the Tarsuss Corporation is always happy to assist the Imperial Government in any way it can. Send through the data. How far out are you?”

“About four hours,” Vanser said.

“Perfect. I can be there in three.”

“I don’t mean to put you out….”

“Alex will be fine now that he’s using the holos, and Yurea is home on break, she’ll help out – and if she can’t, my daughter-in-law can. This frakker showed Earth the worst of us, and more than that, and more than showing Yamanu’s death, which is disgraceful….”

Rixie sighed. “Brinn is devastated. Again. Her kids knew their late aunt was bad, but…there’s knowing, and then there’s seeing. And Brinn knew full well how bad Trell was, but she’d managed to get past it, and now it’s all wide open again. And so trust me when I tell you that everyone here in Tayas Mons will be happy to take turns removing this frakker’s organs with a dull spoon if it will help.”

Vanser smiled. “I think if you can meet me at Vorsha and help me find them, that will be enough.”

“Probably,” Rixie said, “but like I said…I’m willing to do more if you’ll let me.”

****

“How do you think she’ll react?” Loona asked Niall who was standing on her desk.

He shrugged. “She could be happy to see her daddy. Doubt she’ll be happy to bunch of suits looking over her shoulder and second guessing her.”

“Like father, like daughter eh?” Loona chuckled.

“You look at her and you know she’s her mother’s…”

“But you hear her and you know she’s yours.” Loona finished his sentence for him. “If she explodes I’ll let you calm her down.”

“Better yet, let me tell her.” Niall said.

“Perfect!” Loona agreed and dialled Sorcha’s contact.

It only took a moment for her to answer. Loona angled the pad to point towards the elder Freeman.

“Daddy?” Sorcha’s face scrunched in confusion. “I was expecting Loona…”

“I’m with her.” Her father replied. “I’ve good news and I’ve got bad news.”

“Oh?” Sorcha asked, not too concerned if her Dad was the one telling her.

“I’m coming to see you!” He said with a cheeky grin.

“And what’s the good news?” Sorcha asked with an identical grin.

Niall scowled. “That hurts you know!”

Loona facepalmed and hoped this conversation would never be pulled as part of an official investigation.

“I love you really. But seriously, what’s the rest?” Sorcha asked.

“Well…we’ve got a delegation from Earth on board who are coming to inspect Tau Ceti Colony to see how it is functioning with the possibility of Earth taking joint responsibility for Tau Ceti.” Niall said without pausing for breath.

“You have got to me shitting me! Loona!” Sorcha said forgetting again that this was an official communication.

“That’s Deputy Floor Leader…”

“I have a colony with a burnt out fusion reactor! A few thousand people living in my canteen! Buildings falling down! Not to mention the saboteurs running around, maybe in my own crew! And you want to bring the Earth delegation here!? Have you cracked!?” Sorcha shouted.

“Calm it girl.” Niall said before Loona could respond. “You weren’t in these negotiations. It was this or Earth was going to start throwing rocks.”

“You can’t be serious!?”

“Well maybe not rocks. But negotiations were deteriorating.” Loona said. “Listen, this could work to your benefit.”

“How!?” Sorcha demanded.

“Earth could supply money and colonists. People with experience who could hit the ground running. People willing to work hard to make a name on Earth’s first out of system venture. You have said you wanted help.” Loona explained.

“Help, not to hand over the project to someone who may not have these people’s best interests at heart.” Sorcha grumbled.

“You’re half Human. And you have Earth citizenship. I’m sure if Earth decides to come on board they’d leave you in place.” Loona reassured.

“They better.”

“It’s not gotten to that yet. Let’s just get the visit done.” Loona said. “Can you organise access and a tour?”

“Sure.” Sorcha nodded. “I’d recommend avoiding the compound though. Stick to the main city. I’ll get Lessy up here to prep a briefing and a tour.”

“Excellent.” Loona said feeling a little relieved. “And how is Lessy?”

Sorcha shrugged. “Same as usual. It’s early days.”

“Not vomiting all over the show?” Niall said. “Her mother was like that.”

“Not yet. Like I said, it’s early.” Sorcha replied.

“Good. She’ll need to be involved in this visit. We can’t have her running off to throw up all the time. Poor Human women. That’s a cruel twist of nature.” Loona said.

“Hard work building a superior species.” Niall chuckled.

“What happened to equal?” Loona said sarcastically.

****************************************

Author’s note: Thanks D.X for his contribution