Chapter 43
“I need to discuss something of a delicate nature with you.”
Fee turned to look at Arn Visaffi, the Balcoan government representative on Larga Ways. She had met with him many, many times, and this was the most discomforted she had ever seen him.
“Certainly.” She inclined her head. “After the ceremony today?” She glanced up, beyond the enviro dome that covered Larga Ways like a food warmer, and wondered if he was talking about the ring platform Paxe was building near to Balco’s closest moon.
Although there were markers around it to warn off air traffic that might get too close, for now, it was more or less invisible.
She had already mentioned its construction to him, but he’d waved her off and told her he would have to speak to Baruke about it. She really hoped there weren’t going to be any issues.
Arn followed her gaze and made a sound of approval as high above them, the runner bringing Hi-Lan Baruke up from Distani made its way through the gel wall of the dome and began its descent to the dock where she and Arn stood.
Fee clamped down on her nerves.
Eazi had spent a day listening and recording everything on the way station, and had declared it as safe as it was possible to be, but Baruke’s arrival did give her anxiety. If Baruke were to meet his end now . . .
She glanced back to check that Tean Lee and his team were still spread out behind them, watchful for any sign of danger.
Tean nodded to her, and she nodded back before turning to the dock.
Her security chief had finally conceded there was no assassination plot against her that he could find, and that someone had managed to make him chase his tail, but in usual fashion, he was able to pivot to making sure there was no threat to the Balcoan leader.
Arn glanced over at her. “If you could meet with Leader Baruke and I after the meeting, that would be much appreciated.”
Fee looked up at the ring platform again and then gave a nod. “I’ll make sure I’m available.”
The runner connected to the dock and the doors opened. Baruke stepped out, his daughter, Kivisha da Pirro, at his side.
Two aides followed behind them, carrying boxes in a way that suggested courtiers carrying crown jewels for royalty.
“Leader.” Arn bowed.
“Hi-Lan, welcome back to Larga Ways,” Fiona said with a dip of her head. “I’m very glad to see you looking so well.”
Baruke did look well. It had been over a week since he’d been rescued from the base, and he’d made a full recovery.
He’d spent a full day on the Illium, but the concerns of the Balcoan government about his health, and the diplomatic nightmare of keeping him on a Grihan battleship, had convinced Hal to escort him back to Distani, and once he was back home, the noise level had definitely decreased.
“I’m looking forward to thanking you and the Grihan team who rescued me,” Baruke said and allowed Arn to gently urge him along, off the dock and toward the way station’s version of the town square.
Fee followed behind them, walking shoulder to shoulder with Kivisha. She greeted Baruke’s daughter with a smile and Kivisha clasped her hands together in a symbol of thanks.
“You found my father and got him to safety. I cannot thank you enough.”
“I’m very glad we were able to extract him when we did. We had no idea the Unhil was going to crash and collapse the base like that.” It was a zombie base, Fee suddenly thought with a spike of humor. But surely it was dead dead now.
They reached the open area, a precious commodity on a way station, and she wasn’t surprised to see how many people had turned up for the ceremony.
The loss of comms, the massive explosion on Balco’s surface, and the appearance of Garmman and Grihan battleships all around the system had everyone jumpy. Hopefully this open display of friendship between the Balcoans, the Grih, and herself would calm the waters.
Hal stood at the center of the square beside Admiral Hoke. They both stood with legs apart, hands behind their backs, and there were numerous aides and junior officers behind them. Trayla, Natta, Hardy and Vunia were grouped to one side, and Trayla looked more nervous than Fee had ever seen her.
Given they were the stars of this show, she couldn’t exactly blame her.
The crowd settled a little when they caught sight of Baruke, and he and Arn took their places at center stage, with Kivisha standing on her father’s other side.
Fee gave Eazi the signal, and he tapped into the tiny lens and microphone attached to her shirt.
“Welcome, everyone,” she said, and her voice projected around the whole square. Eazi was recording this, and had made the feed available to the whole UC to watch. This was a PR battle, and Fee knew a few tricks.
“I’m sure you’ll all join me in my gratitude at seeing Leader Baruke so well after his ordeal. Leader, you are very welcome on Larga Ways, and I understand you requested this meeting for a particular purpose.” She gave a short bow, and made it clear she’d just tossed the ball into his court.
He had to step up to the microphone that Eazi had set up, and he cleared his throat as he did so.
“Thank you, Fiona. You have been a good friend to Balco, and to me in particular. We were both poisoned not all that long ago, by the same enemies, and everything you have done since then has been in a spirit of cooperation.”
There were murmurs around the square, and Fee smiled.
Baruke turned to one of the box-carrying aides, and motioned them closer.
“I’m here today to award the four Grihan soldiers who at great danger to their own lives helped to rescue me from where I was being held, poisoned and unconscious.
They were all injured in the attempt, but they got me to safety, and saved my life.
I award them the Order of Balco. Please step forward, Trayla Buryn. ”
Trayla walked over and took the offered gold bracelet with a depiction of Balco on it.
Baruke called out Natta’s name and then Vunia and Hardy, and they got their award and then stepped behind Admiral Hoke.
Fee had the feeling they were very glad it was over and they were out of the limelight.
“Finally, Fiona, you helped to save me, too. My daughter came to you asking for your help, and you provided it, and for that, I will always be grateful.”
He called the second aide over, and Fee approached as he took a necklace out of the second box.
It was beautiful, and she murmured her thanks as she lifted it around her neck.
Hal stepped up behind her and helped her to fix the clasp, and she brushed her fingers over his hand in thanks.
“I will treasure this, thank you.” Fee put her hands together.
“I would also like to say that I recently visited Distani and I fell in love with so many of the wonderful places and flavors and styles of Balco. I have invited a few favorites up to take up permanent premises on the way station, but because there were more vendors I loved than space on our beautiful floating disc, I have also decided to set up a rotating premises where invited vendors will be given a month each.” She smiled and looked over the crowd as they burst into applause.
She was always going to announce her idea, but doing it here and now couldn’t have been better timed.
The Balcoans were proud, and sensitive of their vassal status. She hoped her announcement would strike just the right cord.
The admiral then said a few words to Baruke, and Eazi cut the sound. As the VIPs were hustled into Gurtain's Song, the beautiful restaurant and bar that sat in prime position on the square, the crowd began to disperse.
The owner of Gurtain's Song, a Grihan merchant called Inita, was a friend of Fee’s and she and Eazi felt it was a good neutral location for the meeting that Baruke had requested.
General Olna had flown up from Distani earlier that morning, and Fee nodded to her as she approached the tables Inita had had his staff set up for them on the upper level.
They were all here—the Grih military, the Grihan ambassador assigned to Balco, Baruke, Arn in his capacity as Balco’s representative on Larga Ways.
And me, Fee reminded herself. She was the face of the way station, and aside from Paxe, Eazi had only spoken to herself, Hal and Admiral Hoke since he’d come back online.
The Garmman had not been invited, and the two battleships Hoke had called in to help Hal, the Yarmis and the Helio, had made sure to escort the Ciolla back to Garmman airspace and keep a watch along the border for any more incursions.
“I heard you arrested Halarian Bost,” Admiral Hoke said, as soon as Baruke took his seat.
“We found him heading out of Distani to one of the smaller provinces,” Baruke said. “And we’ve raided his offices and have a lot of evidence of his blackmail and threats to the various companies supplying Paxe.”
“It sounds as if Grimwell Materials came out of it the worst, but the others were forced to provide parts at cost.” Arn sounded scandalized.
“And what of Lieutenant Crin?” Baruke asked.
“It wasn’t just Crin,” Hoke said with a grim twist of her lips. “It was two Battle Center officers, Lieutenant Vistna and Nolan Greste, both with ties to Grihan communities down on Balco, who helped the insurgents in their plans.”
“The irony is Crin’s ideas on thinking systems were diametrically opposed to Vistna and Greste’s.
She was all for building a Class 5 and using thinking systems to further our knowledge and reach, whereas Greste and Vistna wanted an end to the thinking systems completely.
It seems Halarian Bost was able to manipulate both sides of the coin and get them to work for him.
” The Grihan ambassador to Balco, Noki Tamir, shook her head.
“The Grihan traitors have been arrested?” Baruke asked.
“Arrested and shipped off to Battle Center HQ on Grih itself,” Hoke said.
“And Jaden Tris and the other Balcoans who helped the plot along from Larga Ways?” Hoke asked.
“Fiona and Tean Lee have turned them over to us,” Arn said, and there was no give in his tone.
“What of the survivors from the Unhil and the old base?” Hal asked.