The space was clearly a new addition, lacking any of the decoration Kenmiri Artisans insisted on installing on any warship they designed. Simple rugs had been laid down over bare metal in an attempt to conceal the utilitarian nature of the chamber, but there was only so much the escort’s crew could do.
The part that impressed Sylvia was that the crew had managed to come up with banners to hang behind each representative’s seat. The half-circle of stars of the UPA hung behind her seat, where a stylized sheaf of grain surrounded by five swords hung behind Rising Principle’s stool.
She hadn’t actually seen the Kozun flag before and was intrigued by the imagery. It was a white-cup-on-black flag, with seven differently colored “gems” on the cup, one for each of the Kozun’s gods and their Voices.
Aval didn’t slow on entering the room, taking the seat in front of the Hierarchy flag and waving her guards and staff to the seats behind her. Sylvia gave a nod to Leitz and Thompson to do the same as she took her own seat.
Rising Principle’s staff were already waiting, but three commandos took the rear seats intended for the security detail.
Three representatives, a dozen bodyguards and half a dozen staff. The room was big enough to still feel half-empty, like this was far too few people to decide the fate of entire star systems.
Sylvia remained standing as the other two took their seats, a formal leather folio held in her hands.
“I think the simplest place for us to begin is a clarification of the source of our respective authorities to negotiate for our countries,” she told them in Kem. She opened the folio and laid it on the table between them. “This is my commission of plenipotentiary authority from the Security Council of the United Planets Alliance. I am authorized to commit the UPA to any treaty that I negotiate.”
That wasn’t entirely true—the Security Council and Assembly could refuse to endorse the treaty she negotiated. That would end her career and have serious consequences for the long-term interstellar relations of the UPA, so it was highly unlikely.
But it was possible.
“I am-was charged by the planetary governors and the Arbiter of the La-Tar Cluster to speak on their behalf,” Rising Principle stated without standing. “I am-was tasked to bring the fate-time of war to ending.”
Oran Aval eyed them both as Sylvia took her seat, then nodded carefully. Her hairstyle bobbed sufficiently with the nod to suggest that care was needed.
“I am the Third Voice of the Kozun,” she said simply. She waited for a moment, then sighed. “I speak for the gods, the people and the Hierarchy of the Kozun. I am one of the Seven who guide our people, a leader of our planet and our Hierarchy. My words bind the Kozun.”
That was about what Sylvia had expected. The UPA had a formal structure for diplomats and had sent a senior diplomat—her. The La-Tar Cluster barely had a formal government and had specifically designated someone they all trusted to speak for them.
The Kozun had sent a member of their governing council, one of the most powerful sentient beings in the Hierarchy.
“If that is insufficient for you,” Aval continued after another moment’s pause, “know that my mate is Mal Dakis and I am here with his complete trust.”
That was not what Sylvia had expected. Sending the Third Voice, which she figured to be the third-ranked member of their government, was a sign of good faith and intentions. Sending the wife of the unquestioned dictator of the Kozun?
The Hierarchy might be even more serious about these negotiations than she’d hoped.
“I am prepared to accept that as a basis for these negotiations,” Sylvia said. “Rising Principle?”
“The word-intent of this fate-time suffice,” they agreed.
“Good,” Aval told them. “Then I will begin. La-Tar was peacefully annexed by the Hierarchy’s forces as we attempted to bring stability and prosperity to this region. Our goal is and always has been to provide a shared path forward.
“In response to our peaceful efforts in this region, first the United Planets Alliance and then the terrorist forces now styling themselves the La-Tar Cluster attacked our ships and people without provocation, killings thousands of brave Kozun who were attempting to help the people of La-Tar and destroying multiple starships.
“Despite these provocations and atrocities, the Hierarchy is prepared to make peace,” she continued. “To do so, we will require compensation for the lives, equipment and ships lost in the vicious and unjustified campaign of violence waged against our interests in the Cluster.
“We are prepared to negotiate on the nature and quantity of the reparations required, but the Hierarchy will require amends to be made for the damage to our assets in the region.”
Sylvia was impressed at the sheer audacity of the Voice’s position. The Kozun had invaded the Cluster, obliterated an allied fleet—mostly belonging to the Tano—above La-Tar and conquered the only source of food for five worlds.
“I do-will not understand what fate-time you think has-was passed among these stars,” Rising Principle said calmly as Sylvia tried to muster her own thoughts. “We can-will not negotiate based on lies-false-fates.”
They laid a tablet on the table and a tendril tapped a command. Two holograms appeared above the table. One was a three-dimensional visual of the First Battle of La-Tar, showing a Kozun cruiser and her escorts tearing their way through the allied fleet desperately defending the agriworld.
The other was a list of names. It was scrolling automatically and kept going.
“The Hierarchy invaded La-Tar,” Rising Principle said flatly. “This is-was the true-fate-time of what passed. You destroyed our allies. Destroyed our defenses. Invaded our cities. Murdered our Standards.”
As they spoke, the holograms shifted. First the space battle. Then orbital bombardment. Then Kozun landers exchanging fire with the defenders on the surface.
“You withheld our crops from the worlds we feed,” they continued. “Five worlds could-were threatened with death if they defied you. The UPA helped us save-rescue ourselves. And you say-speak these lies-false-fates?”
Whoever had edited Rising Principle’s display tablet had done a phenomenal job, Sylvia saw. Even having seen most of the footage before, it sent shivers down her spine. The Kozun occupation of La-Tar had not been gentle—and the invasion had been worse.
“You could-would have left the worlds-we-feed to die,” the Enteni told Oran Aval. “I will-can not listen to your lies-false-fates.”
They rose from the stool, a somewhat awkward process for the trilaterally symmetrical being.
“Speak true-fates or we will-have wasted fate-time in gathering here,” they told Aval. Gesturing with a tendril for their people to follow them, Rising Principle began to head for the door.
“Sit down, Ambassador,” Oran Aval said quietly. “We have both demonstrated our extreme positions, I think. But neither of us will cling to those over peace. We are here to talk.”
She gestured toward the Enteni-style stool.
“I have stated where the Voices begin. Now let us hear where the Cluster begins…and perhaps we can find a space somewhere in between where no more blood needs to be shed.”
Sylvia saw Aval’s purpose now. By setting an impossible expectation, she gave the Kozun ground to give that she could demand concessions for—like trying to reduce the reparations the Cluster was going to, quite justifiably, demand.