Saturday, December 18, 2004

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

The first rays of the sun danced across the surface of the ocean like a handful of glitter scattered recklessly on the wind. The random points of brilliance blinded her eyes to all else. Never before had she seen such a sight. It drew her from the floatbed, beckoning to her with a mystical power reserved only for the privileged few. As the magical light filled the room it gave color to everything it touched. From the top of the world she reached out and greeted the new day for the rest of humanity.

For the first time in months her heart was alive. He was home! The sun was shining and everything was right with the world. Her only desire was that this one glorious moment last forever. She sighed heavily, submitting to the stark reality of what she knew to be the only truth. There was no such thing as forever.

In all its glory, even the purifying rays of the morning sun could not wash away the lingering chaos she had caged up inside. What she saw in Soll’s commchamber on that rainy morning could not be swept from her memory by the afterglow of answered prayers.

What she witnessed left her with more questions than answers. Could any of it be true? Was the great Sollalia really the infamous Renegade? Would she believe what her eyes told her or what her heart screamed out? More significantly, was it any of her business? Her irrational desire to seek out news of Dakkalia’s return had caused her to selfishly invade his privacy. Today she was ashamed of herself.

She turned back toward the rising sun as it chased away the darkness and smiled. As for now she would live in the perfection of this one single moment in time. Everything else would wait.

The delicate tranquillity was shattered when across the room a dissonant sounder blared. Dakk’s portacon, discarded without concern the night before, now clearly demanded his attention. The sounder was an emergency flash and would not stop irritating until he responded. It seemed impossible that anyone could have known his number so soon. (As a rule his wave address had been changed. This was standard procedure following a survey mission of any consequence. No one, including his superiors at Galactic, was to have known it yet.)

She picked it up off the crystal floor and tossed into the suspension field. Once inside the floatbed the noise was intolerable. He lashed out with one hand and grabbed the offending device. He looked up at Livv who could only shrug her shoulders. “Who could it be?”

“It’s Soll,” he shrugged. “Does the man ever sleep?” He activated the viewer with one hand as he smoothed his hair back with the other. “Soll!”

“Dakk!” Soll shouted with delight. “Oh, son, you look terrible. Something keep you up all night?”

“Slept like a rock! As a matter of fact I was just getting up now...” He could hear Livv chuckling behind him. “What has you up so early? You were still going strong when I left. It seemed everyone wanted a word with you last night. What have you been doing while I was away? Hibernating?”

For a moment there was dead silence. Dakk looked up, when his eyes met Livv’s she looked away. There was a story here, he thought, but no one was ready to tell it. Finally, Soll spoke forcing him to address the face on the portacon allowing Livv to slink out of his sight. “I’ve been on sabbatical for a few months, but that’s really not important right now.” Soll said. 
There was a sense urgency in Soll’s tone. “I need you to come to New Pallpoli right away.”

“All right,” the younger man said instantly. “Can you tell me what it’s about?”

Soll smiled briefly. “We really can’t talk about that now, not on the wave. I know these are supposed to be secured channels. I don’t believe any exist. We’ll talk when you get here.”

“I’ll be there...”

“One more thing,” Soll added hastily, “have you seen Livv? I can’t seem to find her." Dakk shrugged, his eyebrows raised slightly as he shook his head. "There seems to be something wrong with her portacon... Anyway, if you happen to see her tell her I need her in New Pallpoli too!”

"If I see her…” Dakk eked out as his father’s image abruptly vanished “I will tell her…” He shrugged and tossed the portacon aside and then leapt from the floatbed using the corner struts for leverage. “All right, lady, what’s going on?” he shouted playfully. He could see her naked body through the glass wall, but she made no move to respond. Her head was down and her hands covered her eyes. “Is everything all right, Livv?”

She sobbed quietly, wiping the tears away from her eyes as he approached. “Dakk, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I thought he would be all right now that you’re back...”
“What are you talking about?” She looked away again. “It’s Soll isn’t it? Do you think I didn’t notice something was wrong with him. I knew it when he came up to Dass to see me. He didn’t even to bother using the holographic filters to hide the dark circles under his eyes.”

“I should have said something, I feel like I’ve been keeping secrets.”

“What is it?”

“I’m not sure, perhaps he’s just lonely.”

“Soll! Lonely?" He laughed. "You’ve got to be joking?"

“Your mother’s been gone a long time...”

“But Soll could have his pick of any woman in the world. After all, he’s going to be the next Supreme High Chair of the Orrian High Council.” He studied the pain in her eyes as the words tripped off his lips. “What’s happened?”
 
“Dakk, he disappeared after you left. I was practically the only one to see him in person. Even when he bothered to attend Terrekkan Council functions he did so as a projection and even those appearances were canned.

“Okay, so he wanted time alone, a little solitude.”

“That’s not all. There is a woman in his life.” Dakk’s eyes lit up. Livv shook her head. “Hold on, I haven’t finished yet. She’s a primitive. An American TV star.”

Dakk began laughing. It was the hearty laugh of one faced with complete absurdity. “And this has you worried? Tell me one man who hasn’t fantasized about being with a primitive. Livv, Livv, Livv, you had me worried for minute there.”

“I don’t think you understand. This not a simple case of infatuation. People are saying he went to Earth to be with her.”

“Well, did he?”

“I don’t know. There were weeks at a time when even I didn’t see him.”

“Then you have no proof that he did?” She shook her head. “Does anybody have proof of this?” Again she shook her head. “Then, enough said. I’ll talk to Soll, he’ll listen to me.”

“What are you going to tell him? Grow up? Act his age. It won’t be that simple.”

“She’s a primitive. Forbidden fruit. He knows the rules. He ought to, he wrote them. You act like she’s got him under some kind of a spell or something. Who is she?”

Livv reached for the remote console. She set it for voice actuation and set it back down. “Console, please display the American TV personality Julia Rayhied.” The screenwall flickered and produced a picture that stopped Dakk cold.

“That's my mother,” he uttered softly to himself. “What is this? This is...”

“Julia Rayhied, of San Francisco, California, United States.”

“Is this a joke? It’s got to be a joke. Livv, I swear that’s my mother.”

“I guarantee you that is not Teffiona. She’s a 26-year-old American woman. She has become very popular over the past year on Earth. It was just a matter of time before Soll was exposed to her. I’m sure he reacted much like you did. So, maybe now you see why everyone is so concerned about him?”

Dakk said nothing. His mind was racing, rooting out any plausible explanation. She held her tongue, mesmerized by his concentration. Finally he squinted his eyes as if to gain focus. He smiled broadly, his eyes bright. She smiled with him. “What is it?” Livv asked impatiently.

“She’s a plant. No doubt put there by Soll’s political enemies. We all know the Earth Doctrine is a failure. It's so full of holes… How difficult would it be to put a passable mockup of my mother into the American system? This is so simple, why didn’t you think of it?”

Livv merely shook her head and smiled. “What do you think me and thousands of people have been doing while you were away? Julia Rayhied is perhaps the most researched person ever to have lived on Earth. Sorry to have to tell you this, she is legitimate. She checks out. She’s real.”

“I can’t accept that. What about genetic cloning?”

“There is an effort to obtain a tissue or hair sample of the young lady to compare it to your mother’s DNA, but it’s been stalled by numerous provisions of the Earth Doctrine. There’s no way the High Council will ever sanction it. And the world be warned if Soll ever found out about it.”

“Who’s behind that effort?”

“People I have never met. Most certainly fronts for Larrvino, I suppose, he’s even in alliance with some Earth Party advocates. Dakk, no one wants to believe she’s a clone. There’s just no evidence of that. Besides, if you look closely there are subtle differences, surely her physical mannerisms are different from Teffiona's.”

“What about fertility clinics? It would seem a reasonable scenario... My Mother’s genetics? It’s possible…”

“But that was twenty-six years ago. Soll didn’t have ‘enemies’ back then. Besides, we thought of that. There is no evidence that her parents ever visited a fertility clinic. There’s nothing in Marie Rayhied’s medical records that would indicate a fertility problem.”

“And her father?” he pressed.

“Nothing.”

“There’s got to be an explanation.” He walked toward the screenwall, studying the beautiful face that stared back at him. He tapped the wall with his finger. “This is my mother... Right?”
He said nothing on the trip from Ballalta’s City to New Pallpoli. She didn’t press him. The short trip by high altitude transport would give him the time to gather his thoughts. She was now certain that not telling him about Soll’s letter was the right thing to do. A man could take only so much.
New Pallpoli was built precisely between Terrekka’s City in the north and Ballalta’s City in the south. High atop a glacial plateau in the Great Divide Range the Government City was just a short hike from the ancient ruins of Pallpoli. The site of the new city was a result of an uneasy compromise between the Orrian High Council, then located in Terrekka’s City, and the bustling, ever growing megalopolis of Ballalta’s City. The space age had transformed the once quaint resort city into the most influential region on the planet. In a very short span of time Galactic Mining was born and quickly made innovations that revolutionized the harvesting of raw materials from space. Along with the successes of their mining ventures came a certain political clout, an unelected power that threatened the claim on global law once reserved by the powerful families of Terrekka. The center of political power had begun to shift for the first time in Orrian history. If the High Council was to remain relevant in the space age it was going to have to wrestle the power back from the upstarts in Ballalta.

In the beginning the High Council had very little sway over the activities of Galactic and the “elected” officials in Ballalta. The council may have gotten what it wanted when it was granted oversight of all space-related issues; however, they were only issues if Galactic let them be issues. Even after the new city was completed life in the “Gateway City" charged ahead with little regard for the toothless proclamations of the High Council. Despite the reality of the situation the government in New Pallpoli held on tightly to its charter. It did not matter that every proclamation ignored by Galactic only exposed it for the sham everybody knew it was. It wasn’t until the advent of photonic anti-matter light drives did the true genius of the charter’s author's come to the fore. With the ability to traverse interstellar space the opportunity to stretch the boundaries of the council’s influence was limitless. As written and ratified all policies relevant to intergalactic activity was under the rule of the High Council. Initially it encompassed only deep space probes that reached the edge of the Orrian solar system and beyond. However, the language of the charter was very specific leaving little room for interpretation. There was a battle of wills that lasted for decades. Eventually a tumultuous agreement was forged between Galactic and the council that cemented the seat of power in New Pallpoli. Galactic Mining became Galactic Mining and Mapping when it was given exclusive rights to chart the galaxy. In exchange for turning over the reigns to the council, Galactic was given right of first refusal over everything it discovered. The High Council provided the guarantee that no one would challenge Galactic. But it was the council that approved each survey target, dictating how the galaxy would be explored. The council estimated that it would take Galactic forty centuries to complete the task. Twenty-nine hundred years had passed and barely ten percent of the galaxy had been charted. The galaxy, as it turned out, was more crowded than anyone had expected. 

Despite the slow progress the arrangement served Orrian interests quite well until that fateful day when Deppopio ventured out on his twenty first-survey mission.The discovery of human beings on another world profoundly changed life on Orr in every conceivable way. The age-old question of ‘are we alone in the universe’ had finally been answered leaving only one profound question left to ask. Were there more? An answer to that question was brought back ten days ago by the young explorer, known as Dakkalia of Terrekka’s City. It was not the answer anyone wanted to hear. The galaxy, once an unrestricted playground for Orrian adventurers had suddenly become a very dangerous place. Indeed, more humans had been discovered out there, many, many more. Aggressive warriors bent on destruction and annihilation, seeking only conquest and domination, waging an ancient war with unimaginable weapons. With a mastery of intergalactic transport these wretched barbarians were an Orrian’s worst nightmare. Earth, poor little Earth, once feared as the destroyer of Orrian culture, seemed the least of their worries now.

She could feel the transporter begin it’s descent into the heart of the mountains. From the commpad on the armchair she punched a button changing the hull from opaque to transparent in the blink of an eye. Below them, nestled in the nap of mighty mountain peaks was the gleaming city of New Pallpoli. A tiny municipality compared to ancient giants like Terrekka or Ballalta, but striking nonetheless. New Pallpoli served only the Orrian High Council and a host of government entities within its mountain walls. Surrounded on all sides by brilliant snow capped mountains it was considered the one of the most beautiful places on the planet. They left on foot from the depot deciding to take the strollway to Soll’s office. There were few people on the strollways; They were paid little attention as they hustled by. Strange as it seemed there very few young people. No one hanging from the balconies or sailing about the with floatpacks. Everyone here walked with a purpose. No one fed the birds, nobody engaged in idle chat or simple sight seeing, and it was so quiet. It was as if they had been set down on another planet.

Standing above everything else was the magnificent Meridian Building. It was center of the city, the hub that connected all the spokes. The massive tower stood as a signpost, a beacon, drawing them in, promising something grand. The Meridian Building was a like city unto itself, an acropolis. Not only did it serve as the primary chamber for the council it was a marketplace and entertainment mecca that rivaled anything in Ballalta’s Galaxy Building. All of one’s desires could be fulfilled under one roof. For institutions engaging the global government it was one of the most sought after address in the world.

Soll’s office was located on the main level where all the associate members were placed. Only one man had a key to the tower. For the foreseeable future that person would be Deppopio. Few people had ever been to the top the tower. Only an invitation from the Supreme High Chair himself would allow one to enter. It was considered a high honor to be so invited. In it’s seven thousand years the tower guest list only numbered in the hundreds. Dakk wondered privately if that number would be going up today.

He felt the presence of someone’s eyes upon him. He spun to see two men on a balcony with high-resolution opticals strapped to their heads. “We’ve been made!”

“I see them,” she said as she turned away. “What will we do now?”

“It’ll up on the wave in a matter of seconds. I don’t think it will make any difference what we do.” He looked at her and shrugged, “me and my bright ideas.”

“They were watching the depot, you know they were,” she pleaded. “I’m amazed we got this far...”

Suddenly people came at them from everywhere. Dakk grabbed her hand and held on tightly as a crush of people tried to pry them apart. They all cheered and clapped. Everyone wanted to touch him. They hoisted him up on their shoulders and he dragged Livv with him. The crowd of people passed their helpless bodies down the strollway, everyone struggling to reach out and touch Dakkalia as he went by. It was frightening at first, but everyone was gentle and careful with them as the moved down the line straight for the Meridian Building. Suddenly a shadow passed over them. A transporter hovered perilously close. It was moving with them down the strollway as their bodies bounced along the mass of people. Before they knew what was happening two men reached down from the open door of the transporter and began to pull them up. A few people held their legs, preventing them from being pulled up. One man wearing the emblem of The Supreme High Chair stood just inside the cabin, barely visible. Someone in the crowd was shouting. “He’s one of Deppopio’s! Let them go!” The crowd hushed and let go of them.

When they both were safely inside the man with the patch on his shoulder barked out a command and the transporter whisked away at a tremendous rate of speed. He reached down and offered Livv a hand. Dakk, already standing upright, grabbed her other hand and together they pulled her up. “I don’t know how to thank you," Dakk said gratefully. “Where did you come from?”

The man pointed to the pinnacle of the tower. “There.”
“Who are you?”

“My name is Deggneba. I serve at the pleasure of Deppopio. Now, my friends, I serve the both of you because it is his pleasure.”

“Where are we going?” Livv asked pensively.

He turned and pointed to the tower. “To the top. An invitation has been extended.”

“I see,” said Dakk as squeezed her hand. He smiled to himself, “Add two to the guest list.”

***


 “I’ve poured over the ship’s catalog for ten days, barely taking time to sleep,” Kerrekka told Deppopio, his voice straining, his eyes looking red and puffy. Kerrekka, the last true descendant of the family of Terrekka, was the High Council’s controller at the Dass Quarantine Station. His team was responsible for the quarantine and inspection of all survey crews and their ships before and after each mission. “Based on what we analyzed so far I recommend you waste no time and invoke Level One of the Invading Forces provision.” He saw the incredulity on Depp’s face. “No, I don’t think I’m over reacting!”

“You said yourself,” Sollalia started, “that the pilot slipped this... Sirenese warship in the plasma sheath of a young star. How are they going to get word back to their people about us?”

“I don’t think you understand...” he said with flared nostrils, “if they know about us! They’ll be coming for us.”

“How soon?” Soll said calmly, trying to soothe Kerrekka’s growing anxiety. “Tomorrow? Ten days, Ten years? Ten thousand?”

“That all depends…”

“Depends on what?” Deppopio asked, his back to them now as he looked out the window toward the Network depot.

“If our new friends have cracked the General Theory of Chaos, which they undoubtedly have.”

“Explain...” Deppopio said swinging around to face them.

“Young Dakkalia was being pursued by an advanced warship that was able to match his every move. In order to break the light barrier in rapid succession, and eliminate the effect of the disorientation that accompanies light tripping he programmed the ships console using the General Theory of Chaos. The ship then automatically set the break out coordinates using the Star Catalog database for the next trip and executed it without his input, and so on and so on.” Soll listened intently since Dakk was unable to tell the whole story last night. Kerrekka continued. “If you follow this reasoning to its logical conclusion you realize that for all intents and purposes he would still be out there until his fuel cells were depleted or, sadly he failed and was destroyed in his effort to lead them away from home.”

“Why?” asked Deppopio.

“I’ll tell you what did happen and let you see the dilemma I’m facing. At one point he was able to overcome the deleterious effects of breakout and halt the program. It was then he tried something no one else had ever even thought of doing. He set his breakout point inside the arc of a newly forming star, one we had been studying for years,” he raised his eyebrows, “and incredibly he survived. The warship, without foreknowledge of the danger, thankfully, we presume, did not.” 

“Then why need to rush into Level One and begin arming ourselves.” Soll asked. “There’s no evidence they have the slightest knowledge of Orr’s whereabouts.”

“That’s where you are wrong," Kerrekka snapped. "And I'll tell you why...

Dakkalia programmed his ship to use the General Theory of Chaos using only systems in the Star Catalog... It was the only way he’d be certain to clear in and out of darkspace without fear of a collision in an uncharted system.”

“So,” Soll replied with raised eyebrows.

“Do I need to remind you what’s in that catalog?”

“So, what are you trying to say…” Soll stated quizzically, “is that based on the forty darkspace jumps that Dakk made they could extrapolate a path to Orr? You said yourself that he filtered out Orr and the colonies.”

“All it would take is for them to find one of the unsanctioned colonies. There are at least as many of them as there are recognized colonies... All portals point to here,” Kerrekka said emphatically. “They may have to run the chaos program a couple of billion times, but I have no doubt that they will.”

“In other words,” Deppopio rebuked him, “it could take them thousands of years to find this planet?”

“It’s possible,” Kerrekka replied. “Or, as I was trying to say, it may be as early as tomorrow.” Kerrekka began pacing, he was clearly agitated by the seeming calmness Sollalia and his mentor presented in the face of such an obvious threat. “We are in grave danger here and the sooner we accept it the better.”

“Calm down, Kerrekka," Depp urged. “I quite agree that this new discovery renders everything we thought we knew unrecognizable. It will take some time for this all to sink in. One day is not enough to absorb the true ramifications - there is so much we don't know...”

Kerrekka sat for the first time. “Perhaps you’re right. I think I’ve become a bit obsessed myself. However, I think you will all feel the way I do when my full report is filed. We can talk more rationally then, I suppose... Deppopio, Sollalia, please forgive me.”

“Nonsense,” Sollalia said heartily. “We all respect and rely on you, Kerrekka. You are the real rock here. And as always, we will lean on you once again... Perhaps you can tell us more.”

“All right then,” he said with a quick smile, the enthusiasm returning to his voice, “there are several things we know for certain. We have been able to decode their data storage and mathematical protocols and translate a rather complicated base language, both verbal and written. It’s not as complicated as, say the Japanese language of Earth, but similar in the fact that they use single symbols that encompass many meanings. With that we have been able to piece together a rough history going back nearly thirty thousand years, when the war started.”

“A war that has lasted thirty thousand years?” Soll said in disbelief. “What could they possibly be fighting over?”

“Women.”

“Women?” Deppopio scoffed. “What do you mean?”

“Breeders are what they prize. They pamper them, cater to their every need.” Kerrekka said with a lilt in his voice. “You see woman produce the one thing they can’t replace in their war factories.”

“Warriors!” Depp exclaimed. “Baby machines...”

“Uneducated and unwanting.”

“For the love of Terrekka herself,” Soll shuddered. “It’s slavery, it’s repulsive, vile…”

Without warning Deppopio abruptly stood and walked out of the room leaving them to wonder what could’ve been so urgent. Soll leaned over the table to glimpse the embedded display that Depp had been looking at. “There’s a problem on Earth!”

“What kind of problem?” asked Kerrekka.

“It doesn’t say...” Soll shrugged. Deppopio returned as fast as he left and stood at the head of the table, his stone face expression gave them no clues as to the nature of the problem.

“I’m afraid I’ve got some rather disturbing news,” he began, “two days ago it was confirmed that one of the fixed satellites in orbit around Earth suddenly changed its target. It is no longer directing a daily transmission to our deep space relay stations.”

“Then where?” asked Kerrekka.

“It has a new target. As far as Galactic can tell - the planet Siren.”

“How could this happen?” cried Soll. His mind raced as the horrifying implications unfolded before him. “Hold on,” he stopped, and abruptly turned to Depp. “You said this happened two days ago? Why weren’t we told until now?”
 
“I can assure you that if you could’ve been any help I would have called upon you. I gave Viddelio one day to repair it before I came to you and announced it. They asked for two. With the celebration in Ballalta capturing so much attention last night I conceded and gave them a second night. That is why I am here, now. They have failed. The very best people at Galactic can’t get control of this thing.”

“Then they have no choice but to initiate the fail safe,” Soll cried. “Destroy it! Destroy it now!”

“They can do nothing,” Depp said with finality. "Even the self destruct contingencies failed."

“What does it mean for Earth?” asked Kerrekka innocently.

“Lacking relay stations it will take the transmissions approximately twenty years to reach the boundaries of Sirenese space as we now know them.”

“Then we’ve got to stop them,” Soll pleaded. “We’ve got to send someone to Earth and stop that thing!” His hysterics seemed out of character. The original preservationist had suddenly become very protective of Earth. His outburst was not one born of possessiveness, but rather a reaction to fear.

“Yes, I know, Soll.” Depp said to his highly animated friend. 
“I have authorized the mission and I am assembling a crew as we speak.” He stepped back from the table and looked out the large curved window behind him. “As a matter of fact I think I see them coming now.” He pointed out the pad as it slowly extended from the deck in front of them. Like a friendly hand welcoming the incoming transporter it presented marker lights that pulsed with a soft blue luminescence. As the transporter came to rest on the pad the door blinked out and three figures stood in the open doorway.
Dakkalia stood like a statue staring at his father, his straight face belying the smile that beamed inside him. The highest possible honor bestowed on a citizen of Orr was to be invited to the tower of the Meridian Building. Standing motionless, absorbing the moment, he felt as though it was all a dream.
“Allow me Kerrekka,” Deppopio said as he greeted the guests, “to introduce our visitors. I would like you to meet Deggneba. He is the newest member of my staff and accomplished pilot.” With a wink and a smile he slapped Deggneba on the shoulder and moved down to stand next to Dakk. “This young man, ladies and gentlemen, needs no introduction. This young lady, Livvevea,” Depp continued, “I’m pleased to call my friend. Livv keeps her eye on Soll for us, and is surely no stranger around here. I’m glad to see you again.” He stepped back and as if on cue three chairs were brought in and placed at the table. “Please, sit... Everyone sit. We have a lot of work to do.”

For several hours Dakk recalled his incredible journey. Kerrekka sat motionless for the first time, completely fascinated as the boy brought to light new details not mentioned in previous interviews. Each horror he described brought into sharper focus the certain demise of Earth. He could see the effect his story was having on his father. Soll squirmed in his chair repeatedly, like a child waiting to be punished. It was clear that the mission to Earth could not depart soon enough for him. When word came that several nations on Earth were planning to send rockets up to investigate the anomaly a sense of urgency enveloped him. The mission, set for the following day at dawn, could conceivably put them in direct contact with the primitives in Earth’s orbit. Depp assured the rest of the council that contact would not be necessary, and simply would not be permitted. Deggneba would act as the mission commander ensuring the protocols set forth by the Earth Doctrine were strictly adhered to. Dakkalia would pilot the Galactic lightship, Jakkarti, which was currently enroute back from Orr’s newest colony, Juggedda’s World. The ship was specifically designed for deploying and retrieving remote satellites. They would remove the malfunctioning unit and reposition the remaining three. The engineers at Galactic wrote a new configuration program that would have the Orrian satellites use Earth’s own satellite network to gather information from the surface.
With the plan set into motion and small talk dominating the conversation around the table Soll quietly excused himself. At first no one even noticed he was gone. Only Depp joined him on the deck as he waited for a transporter to pick him up.

“My dear friend, you seem upset about something,” Depp asked him. “What is it?”

“Who could’ve done this?” Soll asked his mentor. “I’ve been going over and over it in my mind. There’s only one person who has that kind of access without involving the council.”

“Viddelio?”

“Yes, but it makes no sense. What possible purpose would he want to see Earth destroyed?”

“Blackmail,” Depp said simply.

“What? Blackmail? Vidd has known of our investigation for years. How could blackmail be the motive?”

“Think about it, Soll. What have we got? We've got nothing. We may know about the artifacts but we have no singular evidence as to how he has done it. However, there are two people that do know.”

“And they are?”

“One is the Renegade, that I am sure of, and the other, of course, is Larrvino.”


“How do you know that?”

“I have my sources.” Depp’s sharp smile convinced Soll pursuing that slant would bear no fruit. “Now, I believe we can all but eliminate the Renegade as a suspect, but Larr, that’s another story altogether. This new Renegade has no reason to want to see Earth destroyed. All the evidence points that way. Larrvino, on the other hand, despises Earth and has worked tirelessly to eliminate its influence on Orr for the past twenty years. What better way to accomplish his goal than by planting the seed of its destruction? Larr has undoubtedly uncovered the machinations of Vidd’s little empire on Earth and has threatened to expose it.”
“How can we prove it?”

“We can’t. Unless one of them makes a mistake.”
“Surely Larr must know that the so-called Sirenese will not stop at the destruction of Earth. After they realize that the primitives could not have possibly generated the signals that led them there they will search us out until the end of time.”“I think he knows exactly what he has done. Try to think like Larr. How can we guarantee that Earth is not destroyed by the barbarians from Siren.”

Soll looked in horror as he thought an inconceivable thought. “You can’t be serious. He couldn’t possibly expect...”

“I’m afraid so. To protect Orr we will be forced to destroy Earth ourselves.”

Soll collapsed on the deck. Depp rushed to prop him up fearing that the others might see. But the truth was more than even he could bear, and how ironic that it would be his decision to make. How much simpler life would have been had he never discovered that shining blue planet in an insignificant little corner of a remarkably vast galaxy.

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