Chapter 26
Havali
Havali had no sleep last night, but he was still wide awake when he joined the rest of the domini delegation on the rotunda floor the next morning.
The attack did not mean that the meeting was postponed.
The human females had insisted on coming.
In fact, they refused to allow themselves to be seen as weakened from the attack.
He admired it. His female was strong and proud as she stood, perfectly dressed and prepared, looking around at the representatives, like she hadn’t lost an entire night of sleep.
By now, everyone would have heard of the attack. Scarlet was not hurt, but she had nearly been taken, and there could be no mistake as to why.
“Domini delegation,” the High Imperium started once the meeting had been called to order.
“Please allow me to give my most sincere apologies for last night’s unfortunate incident.
The safety of all delegations is my responsibility, and it is one that I take seriously.
That you were attacked on your compound is a failing of mine. ”
Atem stepped forward and saluted the highest box. “We were fortunate. There were no injuries and First Guardian was luckily doing some late-night tasks and noticed the strange movement and was able to reach my sister quickly.”
“Fortunate indeed,” the High Imperium’s robotic voice said, completely emotionless, making it hard to determine if it was genuine relief, sarcasm, or disbelief.
“However favorable the outcome though, my responsibility remains the same. Allow me to offer my formal apology where everyone can hear, and my solemn oath to aid you in whatever way you need to capture those who did this.”
“We thank you for both, High Imperium.” Atem held out his hands.
“I find it far too coincidental to believe that this attempted capture has nothing to do with my sister’s human abilities.
As I said yesterday, there are those that would do anything for the guarantee of younglings.
If there are those willing to brave our advanced security to capture her, then there will certainly be those willing to go to an uncontacted planet for the same. ”
“Indeed.” The High Imperium’s robotic voice didn’t sound impressed or disappointed. “Shall we return to our previous schedule then? Representative Haviss has spoken in favor of the humans. The first to speak against them shall be Representative Tsok of the kreecharma.”
Havali wasn’t surprised that the Char of the kreecharma was the first to register his complaint, but he couldn’t keep the disgruntled look from his face as the male’s box was lowered.
He had only a single attendant that remained inside as he stepped out to speak.
The fact that he had no one with him only made him seem more intimidating.
The black fur covered male inclined his head politely to the delegation before turning and speaking to Scarlet directly.
“Allow me first to express my relief that you are unharmed, female,” he said formally. “I may speak against your cause, but I hold no personal grudge against you.”
Scarlet looked surprised at being addressed. Havali had to bite back a growl. He couldn’t keep his claws from extending, eager to shred him to pieces. A protective impulse and one that did not go unnoticed by First Domini who glared at him behind Scarlet’s back.
“Thank you, Char Tsok,” Scarlet said formally. “I’m grateful that Havali was able to step in to save me before anything terrible happened.”
“Quite.” He inclined his head at her before turning to face the rest of the rotunda. “Regardless of last night’s incident, my argument stands. If anything, I believe it stands stronger now in light of what almost happened.”
“I agree with First Domini. There is no other reason to attempt to abduct any of the human females other than a desire to attempt to seed them. My people are not immune to the problems of reproduction that plague so many of us, though we are more fortunate than some. It would be a tragedy if any of the females were taken against their will and forced to breed. No one here could argue that, and I’m sure no one would ever dare make such a claim, no matter how eager they were for younglings.
“But that is all the more reason not to offer Earth this status.
As it stands, the only ones who know the location of Earth are a select few domini.
If it is made a protectorate, then its location will be officially logged, and anyone could see where it is and make an attempt.
Mass abduction would certainly be noticed, but a single person on a small craft taking one female?
That would be easily missed, and it would be a travesty a protectorate status could not defend them from.
Until Earth is capable of protecting its own females, it is not wise to let everyone know where they are.
“Earth, by the humans’ own admission, has not traveled past their moon.
By Coalition law, that means their territory does not extend beyond their moon.
That means, anyone could approach their solar system and being protected could not stop it.
That would make it easier for the desperate to approach Earth.
It is better that their planet remain a secret. ”
He turned to the domini delegation. “Furthermore, the simple fact is that nothing is happening on your planet that warrants Coalition protection. Your planet is not under siege, its only threat is itself, and it’s not even advanced enough to put out a call for help to other species.
You are isolated and insulated and granting you a protectorate status means nothing but expenses for the Coalition.
You are fine females, do not get me wrong, but there is nothing so horrible on your planet that it deserves for us to offer your people intergalactic protection. ”
“Respectfully, Char,” Havali interjected, “last night would suggest otherwise.”
“One crime does not a planetary tragedy make,” Tsok replied evenly. “I am not prejudiced against the humans, and the day that they breach their own solar system, I shall be eager to welcome them into the Coalition, but as of now, it is not a right they have earned.”
“No one needs to earn protection,” Atem said.
“From what? There is no threat. Only isolated incidents. Protect the females you have now. If other females appear, they can be offered protection as well and those who took them shall be appropriately punished, but this does not warrant protecting an entire planet.”
“How many kidnapped women does warrant it?” Alanna asked coolly. “Five is not enough. Ten? One hundred? What is the number of kidnapped humans that must be taken from Earth before the toll is suitable to prevent further capture?”
Tsok faced her without expression – a face that made Havali dearly wish to claw him up for the emotionless words he was speaking.
“That is not the question here. Hypothetical arguments do not solve this problem. And the fact is, right now, it is only five. If you want to reconvene when it is ten or a hundred, then that is your right as a Turv citizen.”
“So, you forbid us from ever seeing our home again?” She pressed.
“From any further women, be it ten or a hundred, ever going back to Earth. Some of our number have mated, but not every human taken will be. Would you condemn them to a life of remaining kidnapped simply because it is more convenient than contacting Earth?”
“Again, you come to me with a problem that is not yet real. It is also not a matter of convenience. Our laws regarding contact are in place for a reason. It has been proven that contact too early in a species’ technical evolution is bad for everyone.
At large, we are robbed of whatever new methods or technologies they would have developed on their own.
But more importantly, interfering too early can negatively impact their growth and development. ”
“Laws are in place to prevent that,” Atem pointed out. “Trade with protected planets is heavily controlled so that nothing is introduced to them too soon.”
“It is naive to believe that alone would be sufficient to stop their attempts to learn or steal new technology,” Tsok pointed out, not unreasonably. “Your arguments for why Earth should even be a protectorate are weak, and you know it.”
“In what way?” Alanna asked.
“Your best argument, thus far, is that there are potential mates among the humans. Even potential reproductively capable mates. But cross species mating is not a new thing, so the first could be argued for any species. As for the second, you have proof only that the domini are compatible with humans, no other species.”
Scarlet’s face pinched with displeasure, and Havali knew she was thinking again of the argument Haviss had presented in their favor yesterday.
He still didn’t fully understand why she was so opposed to being known for being able to breed with others, but he could tell she wasn’t pleased about it being brought up again.
“But fair exchange of art and culture?” Tsok continued, making a face, fangs bared with disregard.
“On the whole, it is nothing. You’ve no great resources we need, no amazing technology we must obtain, no knowledge dozens of species have not already learned and forgotten before you.
This mission you are on is one born of selfish desire.
And I do not fault you for it. You want to go home.
You wish to see your pack again. I understand this, but it is no reason to move and restructure the entire universe to make things easier for you. ”
Scarlet had stiffened at his side and, gently, Havali put a hand to her lower back.
He could feel her tension and knew she hated hearing what Tsok was saying.
Even if, objectively, Havali could agree that he wasn’t making inaccurate arguments, it seemed to completely disregard the point of their argument.
Which, he supposed, was his intention, but it didn't make it easier to hear.