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Nellie and the Nanites - Bk3 - Ch.40
🕑 Added 2024-06-18 08:05:01 +0000 UTCChapter 40
A Held Breath
Salem sat in the center of the long conference table while Nellie sat on an elevated chair off to one side. At one end of the table sat Carter, a man she would dearly love to show the inside of an open airlock, while at the other sat Duke's holoprojection.
Hadrian and Brenda stood behind Duke, within pickup range, while Carter was flanked by the Assessor and a woman in what appeared to be an exosuit rather than power armor. Carter had introduced her as Maxton, his Personal Security Chief.
“Thank you all for coming,” Salem began when everyone was settled. “I will be acting as mediator in this matter. As a neutral party, we—”
“You lot? Neutral? That’s a bad joke!” Brenda laughed.
“Sister,” Duke said quietly, and she settled.
“As the closest thing to a neutral party available,” Salem tossed a small glare at Brenda. “We will act as a mediator in this dispute. We hold no power of decision; merely offer advice and host the meeting.”
“Very well,” Duke began. “I hope we can resolve this issue quickly and amicably.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Carter nodded. “Simple solutions for simple problems.”
“I’m glad we can start with mutual goals,” Duke said happily. “The mistake was ours, and we are happy to offer terms to repay the harm caused by the Last Chances and her crew.”
“Terms to repay,” The Assessor smiled thinly, “What a beautiful phrase. I do believe you are a man of business.”
“I have been,” Duke lapped up the praise. “And hope to be in this matter. What terms would suit you best?”
“We would be happy to consider the matter closed with the surrender of the ship to us, the surrender of the offending ship, the death of her crew, captain, and anyone who has touched so much as a bolt on the stolen ship,” Carter said pleasantly. “In hopes of a good relationship in the future, we will wave the pre-death torture of the offenders in this case.”
And then he smiled an honest smile. It was the smile of a pit viper, one that had sighted prey.
“That was not the opening offer I was expecting,” Duke frowned. “It is clearly not possible. Over half our colony was engaged in the repair of the freighter.”
Nellie saw Carter's eyelid flutter slightly when Duke referred to the freighter. There was something about it that was more important than he was letting on.
“I see very little room for negotiation on this matter,” Carter said, “But I am always happy to hear another option.”
“My Colony has sizable holdings on the moon,” Duke leaned forward. “Perhaps a trade of land holdings and food supplies could be more favorable to both of us.”
“We have no need for food supplies. Thank you,” Carter leaned back. “So, why would we want land on this moon of yours?”
“Land is always valuable. A living colony of friendly people who could offer trade in the future, as well as employment, would also be very valuable. We may be small now, but we intend to grow.” The last part of the sentence, Duke addressed to Salem. “Fast.”
“I see,” Carter nodded. “Well, I would have to look over some charts and such. Administrator Salem, would you consider the land to be held by these people? Or do they bargain with empty hands?”
“The land is theirs according to agreement,” Salem replied after a moment. “What they do with that land is of no consequence to us.”
“Well then, make me an offer,” Carter smiled. “And spare me the list of edibles. We are well supplied in the Imperial Line.”
Duke muted his connection and turned away, talking with the others of his council.
“Curious that you would allow other parties to settle in the system,” Carter said mildly. “It is not what I would expect, Queen Bonne-Chance.”
“We see no reason to horde space,” Nellie said through a forced smile. She would have to see about that ‘Queen’ title. It would be a bad idea to let that spread too far. Salem might have intended to impress, but she had aimed a little high.
“An enlightened approach,” Carter nodded. “I like that.”
“Is this some kind of a jest?” Assessor Franzal frowned at the datapad. “The cost of the ship, the cost of our journey, loss of opportunity, punitive damages, and you offer a mere sixth of the moon?”
“We can offer supplies as well,” Duke noted. “I added an amendment.”
“Ah,” Franzal showed the note to Carter.
“No, thank you for your offer,” Carter stretched as if bored. “The Imperial Line would never accept such an offer.”
“It would speed things along if you were to make a counteroffer,” Salem noted. “That way, they might better assess how much debt you feel they owe.”
“I suppose that might make things easier,” Carter admitted. “I certainly considered my first offer a good indicator of how seriously we take this matter.”
“People value lives differently,” Salem countered.
“Don’t they?” Carter laughed. “If I were one of those slated for death, this offer would certainly seem insulting; that is all I can say.”
“I see your point,” Brenda said angrily.
“Amounts are open to negotiation, of course,” Duke said as he leaned forward again. “Surely a single mistake can be forgiven if honest repayment is offered.”
“I see your point,” Carter nodded. “But what would happen to our business if word should spread that we went easy on you?”
“An agreement of secrecy could—” Duke tried.
“No.” Carter lost his smile. “Punitive is the word, Mister DaVore. If you don’t like our terms, take our original offer!”
“You have yet to offer terms,” Salem pointed out.
“As I have yet to decide them,” Carter smiled. “Perhaps a small break to consider our position is in order.”
“Very well,” Salem stood. “We will reconvene in two hours.”
===<<<>>>===
A small hatch opened on the underside of the Destroyer, and a pair of metal snakes emerged. They looked almost identical to the pipework found on every ship and station in the universe, but these moved under their own power.
They coiled and shot off into space, heading for the station's hull.
The first landed and began to crawl toward an exterior hatch while the other aimed higher, sailing all the way to a small ledge beneath the scanning array.
It coiled around the spine of the array and began to slither up toward the dishes.
It made it only a few centimeters before it began to flake and shed.
A shudder ran through it, and it gently split into parts, each one drifting slowly away into space.
The other one seemed to fare better, getting as far as the access port on the hatch. A small laser emerged from the mouth and attempted to cut through, finding the metal seemed to shrug the damage off.
The hatch next to it clicked and swung open suddenly.
The snake tried to hide, but a large metal hand emerged and clamped tight around it.
The hand withdrew, and the hatch shut.
An hour passed with no movement, and then the hatch began to open again.
At the same time, several large metal figures appeared in the ports ringing the station, climbing out and standing on the hull, rifles in hand.
The hatch on the destroyer eased slowly shut.
The metal figures withdrew, all except one.
It stood and watched the hatch.
===<<<>>>===
“Visitors to the station are thanked for not littering,” Remy said to Carter as he placed a small package on the table in front of them.
Maxton stepped forward and pulled the package away, opening it with her body between it and Carter.
Inside, the remains of a snake-shaped infiltration droid were neatly stacked, and a small note categorized the elements.
“It will not happen again,” Maxton noted, slightly pale at the glare Carter was giving her.
“Feel free to send more,” Remy added as he stalked out the door. “It was a fascinating piece of tech.”
“Quite a costly one, too,” Carter added wryly. “Administrator Salem, our apologies. It was unseemly of us to attempt this. I promise a full investigation will be done and the responsible parties punished.”
“We consider the matter closed,” Salem smiled. “This time.”
“Generous of you,” Carter smiled back.
Nellie hid her own smile, watching the artery in his neck pulse rapidly. The man was an accomplished liar, but he was still human, or near enough. You could hide the rage on your face but not in your veins.
The holo projections of Duke and his people flashed twice as it resumed.
“Welcome back,” Salem said. “I would like to start this session with a reminder that this station and its owner would appreciate if negotiations were conducted in good faith.”
“In that spirit,” Duke cleared his throat. “We are willing to cede our rights to half the total land we own on this moon to settle ALL debts between us and the Imperial Line.”
“A very serious offer indeed,” Carter nodded. “I would consider this a reasonable offer, and as such, I will offer a counter. You cede half your territory to us and surrender BOTH ships to us. If that is acceptable, it is done.”
“That is considerably different,” Duke said slowly. “The offer included us keeping both ships. Perhaps we could offer one of the ships in return for ten percent less land?”
“I’m sorry,” Carter shook his head. “To surrender a ship of the Imperial Line and allow the continued existence of the ship that attacked it is simply too high a price. I would be stripped of my stocks, at the very least. I must have both ships or the bodies to fill my hold and our own ship returned.”
Duke drummed his fingers on the table, a strange sound considering he was apparently sitting at a metal desk.
“We are at an impasse,” Carter sighed after another hour of offer and counteroffer. “At this point, it is clear that our two parties can not reach an agreement. We either widen negotiations or proceed with our original offer.”
“In what way do you wish to widen the negotiations?” Salem asked.
“We require greater security against the debts,” Assessor Franzal said with a smile. “Perhaps we can work together to reach an agreement that the two parties can not.”
“We are listening,” Salem said after a quick sub-vocal conversation with Nellie and Lucy.
“The Imperial Line is always looking for new opportunities for trade,” Carter said, pursing his lips in thought. “This system is ripe for settlement but too out of the way to be cost-effective. If you were to offer this station as a trade for the ship, I think we could all part as friends.”
“No,” Salem replied. “This station is not collateral for a debt that is not ours, Under Manager Carter.”
“I understand,” Carter nodded. “But perhaps you value the lives of the colonists responsible more than they do their own?”
“We do not,” Nellie said, sitting forward in her chair. “I offer nothing in exchange for them.”
She saw Duke blanch and wondered if she could really back up her words. If the destroyer opened fire on the Colony, what would she do? There were innocents there, after all.
Probably.
“That said,” Nellie went on, “We would be happier to see a bloodless end to this situation.”
“You would find bloodletting to be upsetting?” Carter asked carefully.
“I always do,” Nellie noted. “When it can be avoided.”
“I see,” Carter smiled. “Well, in that case, we might be able to satisfy your preference for peace.”
“I’m glad to hear—” Duke started to say, but Carter spoke over him, not even glancing his way.
“There is a way that I could sell this to management, but it will require something that I would not ask were it not for your own interest in this ending bloodlessly.” Carter sat forward for the first time, his face earnest, “If I were to return with the ship and a promise that the new controllers of this system guaranteed no further attacks, they would consider the matter closed.”
“We did not ye—” Duke tried again.
“I would be willing to consider that,” Nellie said, “But the terms of it would have to be clear.”
“The terms are simple,” Carter said happily. “You are responsible for the capture and punishment of any pirates that operate out of this system. You would naturally be responsible for offering remuneration for losses to the offended.”
“And who would assess those losses?” Nellie could see the trap in that.
“You would,” Carter shrugged.
Nellie thought quickly. It would allow her to control the system more formally and put her on the board, so to speak, for anyone who might actually want to trade.
It wasn’t like she had intended to allow Last Chances to keep their little game running anyway. The next time it took off would be its last. Brenda and her people had more than earned it by now.
The obvious trap was that the very man offering it would set up pirates and operate out of the system, leaving her liable, but if that was his plan, he would be disappointed. Focusing on the satellite relay system, Paren could cover the whole system with a sensor net in under a month.
In the short term, this would require her to scramble a little to set everything up before Carter or someone like him could put their plans into motion.
In the long run, this was a net win for her, which is what was bothering her. When someone was being too nice, it was always so you didn’t look for the knife.
Nellie always looked for the knife.
“Why make this offer?” Nellie asked after a moment.
“Because I see much that the Imperial Line would be interesting in acquiring,” Carter said with all the earnest honesty of a second hand car salesman. “I think you will be someone to watch, and I want to make sure that we start off on the right foot.”
“I see,” Nellie frowned. “Let’s be honest with each other, Under Manager Carter.”
“Let’s,” Carter agreed.
“I am inclined to agree to this offer,” Nellie said plainly. “If this is all it appears to be, we will indeed see the Imperial Line in a more positive light. If there is a hidden trap in this, well,” Nellie smiled. “You will find it a poor business decision.”
“Excellent!” Carter nodded. “The Imperial Line agrees to this deal.”
“The Nanite Space Service agrees to this deal,” Salem said after a lightning-fast conversation with Lucy.
“And if we do not agree?” Duke growled.
“We go with option one,” Assessor Franzal said with feeling.
“The Colonial Administration agrees to this deal,” Duke snapped and cut the holo signal.
“One moment,” Carter bowed to Nellie. “Assessor?”
“It is done,” Franzal nodded.
“This system is now listed as owned and controlled by the Nanite Space Service and the Twin Queens of the Sentient Spark. We will go and prepare to retrieve our property.” Carter bowed again. “Thank you for your hospitality, and we look forward to much trade in the near future.”
They filed quickly out of the conference room.
===<<<>>>===
“Twin Queens of the Sentient Spark?” Nellie asked Salem as the airlock closed behind their guests.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time, Queen Bonne-Chance,” Salem said with a wide smile.
“They are gone, Salem,” Nellie replied dryly. “There is no need to call me a queen.”
“It is, unfortunately, official,” Salem shrugged. “Would you prefer Queen Captain or Captain Queen?”
“Call me Captain,” Nellie said with a sigh. “So, is that all it takes to be a queen then?”
“No, but it is all it takes to make it official,” Salem said seriously. “You say you are a queen, others agree, and someone officially writes it down. That’s it. You are officially royalty.”
“Ostie,” Nellie grumbled. “What about the rest of it?”
“All of that you already have,” Salem said. “Trust me.”
“I do,” Nellie sighed again. “I’m just not a fan of royalty.”
“Perhaps the problem was not the title, but those who had it?” Salem offered.
“So if I am a queen, what does that make you?” Nellie asked.
“The herald?” Salem offered.
“Great,” Nellie grinned. “You get to go forth as Herald and tell Paren she’s just been made a princess.”
“By the spark, what have I done?” Salem missed a step.
Comments
Clayton Danvers
Thanks for reading!
Mercury313
I don't trust those peacocks at all. I'd bet they get some kind of nasty political advantages through this deal
