CHAPTER 19

The Scythian delegation was fidgety, if that term could be used to describe their unabashed nerves. They sat at the conference table, five of them, opposite Admiral Augesburcke and two marines with blaster rifles. Augesburcke glared at them. Alexander was late, purposefully late. He let the Scythians stew for a good half hour before he abruptly entered. Augesburcke rose to salute him, and the marines stood at attention. Trembling, the Scythians stood.

Alexander watched them on a visiplate during the wait, and their nerves were apparent. He therefore attacked them headlong, “So you would not deal with anyone but myself. Very well I’ve spared some time for you. What is it you have to say?”

The Scythian’s were wholly unprepared for such a tack. They sat dumb faced and silent.

“You are a conquered race, yet I have allowed you a personal audience. My time is not my own. Say what you have to say.” Still, no response, but it was obvious that this was not due to stubbornness. Alexander leaned back in his chair, content with the initial shock. He hoped it made them more pliable to a reasonable Alexander. “You perhaps have grievances?” he said, opening the door to a more non-threatening discussion. “I hear you have ceased any and all activity on behalf of Terra, and yourselves for that matter. Can you explain this?”

“We find no advantage in working for our conquerors,” a Scythian replied, finally.

“An honest approach, and a natural one,” Alexander admitted. “It is a time honored tradition to continue resistance in a passive manner, though it is not always possible to do so for extended periods of time. What is it you then wish to talk about? You made your answer to my President and her envoys that you would deal with no one but myself. What is it you wish to deal with me about?”

“The situation has changed since that time,” the Scythian replied, almost boldly.

“By that you refer to the impending invasion of the so called Alliance?” Alexander smiled. “Your Galactic friends will come to liberate you from the terrible Terrans and return you to your eminent positions of economic influence throughout the galaxy? They will of course forget all the whispered threats which caused the Chem to go to war with us. They will of course forget the economic thumbscrews which you’ve applied to them for the last two millennia. They will forget all these things and let the Scythians return to the prominence and wealth to which they are accustomed. Does this sound likely?” He waited a moment for a response, but there was none. “Very well, I shall assume you agree with me that an Alliance Empire will be no more advantageous to the Scythians than a Terran Empire. Let me then tell you where your advantage lies. You are a free people, and by that I mean free. I will remove my troops from your four Homeworlds. Your Homeworlds are to return entirely to Scythian control. The remainder of the planets of the former Scythian Empire will become open for emigration from Terra. They are to be member planets in the Terran Federation, but otherwise free to conduct their own affairs. There will be some diminishment of Scythian estates in some locales, but no Scythian will be forced out of their home. They shall be given the same rights and privileges as Terran citizens of the Federation. Scythian control of the freighter fleet will not be usurped. From now on we will purchase passage at standard rates. You shall be allowed access, as Federation citizens should you decide to accept citizenship, to any planet, port, or other location that the Federation is not at war with. You shall in short be able to conduct your affairs as before, but this time as citizens of a Federation.

“Your further advantage also lies in your Human partners. Scythians are enterprising, but they are cautious. Humans, on the other hand, are explorers as well as traders. It is our intention, once these current troubles are over, to begin a vast exploration of the regions around our known civilizations. That should prove a boon to the Scythian entrepreneur. You will also have competition to spur you on, as we are ardent traders ourselves. In essence you are being given the opportunity of becoming part of something with a great deal of potential. If it doesn’t work out, well, you can always say you were coerced, that is, if the Alliance is interested in hearing your version of the story.”

“What is your price for our cooperation?” The Scythian’s replied, knowing fair terms when they saw them.

“Silence, for now,” Alexander replied. “There will be a time and place for a formal acceptance of my terms. For the time being Admiral Augesburcke will inform you of what we require.”

“As you wish, Alexander,” the Scythian said, but then it asked, “I wonder, however, at the brevity of your revenge. It does not follow reason.”

“You learned very little of us in several thousand years I’m afraid,” Alexander noted. “What use would an enslaved people be to us? What did you expect, mass executions, tyranny, terror? Maybe that is all you had the right to expect, watching us at a distance. Hopefully, we’ve learned from our own madness. In this instance, however, it is more than altruism. There is an old saying from old Earth: "politics makes strange bedfellows.” Suffice it to think that when I found a suitable requirement for your special skills my revenge died. Alexander can use you, and you need Alexander. That is enough.”

“We will abide by your terms at your leisure,” the Scythian said. Then, for the first time Alexander or any other Human witnessed, the Scythian’s bowed with respect.

The next day Alexander met with Augesburcke privately just before returning to the Kun-Gha. They shared a farewell drink. The Admiral handed his Overlord a gin and tonic, “Tanqueray and tonic, actually,” the Admiral said.

“Really, Admiral, my dossier must be quite explicit,” Alexander said, taking the drink with relish.

“It was very detailed,” the Admiral smiled. “Not the Air Force dossier, the Soviet dossier. You like your Tanqueray, you hate blackberry brandy, whiskey and all forms of schnapps. Microbrews are your favorite beers, and otherwise you’ve developed rather a bourgeois attitude towards cheap brews. You waver back and forth between Pepsi and Coke. You prefer grapefruit juice over orange juice. Those were the highlights of the “drinks" section.”

“I’m not certain I want to hear more,” Alexander said.

“They were just as afraid of you as the Alliance,” Augesburcke told him. “They expected great things from you.”

“Well I hope I haven’t disappointed them,” Alexander said, and then he dug out a file. “Speaking of dossiers I was reading the file on our President. Did you notice that she is a relative of President Anwar Sadat? In fact she spoke on several occasions at U.S. universities on the subject of civilian governments at risk from military dictatorships. Her main theme was, and I quote, “In times of crisis the civilian government is in danger of overthrow by elements of the military—especially when pursuing a difficult path to peace.” It is an obvious reference to the assassination of President Sadat, God rest his soul, by the Muslim Brotherhood in the Egyptian military. He was pursuing a very difficult peace with the Israelis. He was a courageous man who died at the hands of ignorant cowards. Maybe she fears some parallels here?”

“It’s possible,” Augesburcke mused. “Although I have to point out that Egypt wasn’t in danger of being annihilated by Israel. Our position is more consistent with Israel, but I see what you mean.” He took a sip from his own drink and shrugged. “I admit I only thought about her paranoia in context with political jealousy. That is something I have profound experience with unfortunately. Still, that fits quite nicely with her paranoia concerning you doesn’t it? No doubt there are some Hrang operatives who are only too happy to help her along. We should concentrate on the Senate appropriations and Defense committees, but there’s no doubt the Senate is rife with spies, perhaps even Ms. Sadat’s staff.”

“I am quite sure we will find some unexpected surprises,” Alexander said. “Admiral how many spies did we find in our squadron wide search?”

“Seven, all noncombatant or supervisory positions and all revealed by X-ray photos,” Augesburcke told him. “There has been no action, no notification taken, as you ordered. Sensitive information is being funneled around them, and a dis-information campaign is being started. We will keep pumping them until we spring the surprise. Five of them were Iowa crew, including the Operations Officer. Captain Thomas nearly screwed himself through the ceiling; he’s known the Ops Officer for twenty years. Not one of them showed up on the medical equipment the Scythian’s gave us.”

“Keep it under wraps, but start the search fleet wide,” Alexander ordered. “Let’s expand it if we can especially in the Senate and if possible the Executive. Work up a scam. Let’s assume we contracted some disease from the Chem. Assume it’s communicable and have everyone checked with a complete exam, including X-rays. Before this breaks, however, I want you to mingle with Senators, and I especially want you to see the President.”

“You think she’s a spy?” Augesburcke asked, surprised.

“Admiral, I think she’s surrounded by them; but if she’s not a spy for the Alliance she ought to be!”