She would have helped them too. Too bad she had stumbled straight into the Tuann's path, setting them on their present course.
"The past is done, and mistakes were made," Himoto said, his expression grave. "But, we cannot in good conscience let you take her without some assurance of her safety."
Graydon's eyes narrowed slightly. "What is it you want?"
"We'd like to send a team with her," Jace said. "They can make sure she's settled before returning."
Graydon watched the two men and then jerked his head down. "Done. Baran is contacting her House, but I cannot guarantee they will be as accommodating."
Himoto bowed his head. "We understand."
Graydon turned his attention to Kira. "I’ll give you time to say goodbye, then our ship will be leaving."
He didn't wait for her to respond, striding out of the room without a backward glance.
Once the door had shut, the room was quiet for several beats as Kira turned to Himoto, murder on her face.
"Explain what just happened."
Not the part about where she was Tuann—she got that—but the part where Himoto had agreed to let them take her like she was a piece of luggage that could be passed around. Not a person with thoughts and opinions of her own.
"As you've seen, our relationship with the Tuann is rather unstable," Jace said. "We have to tread cautiously."
Kira gave him a look of disbelief. "From what I saw, they pretty much dictate to you and you take it."
Himoto rubbed his chin, for the first time seeming tired. "You're not far off."
"Why?" she asked.
"We got off on a bad foot with the Tuann during first contact," Himoto said.
Kira waited.
"We made certain assumptions about their technological abilities and the strategic value of allying with them," Jace explained.
"Assumptions that are now biting us in the ass." Himoto's voice was frank. "We need them, but we've insulted them during nearly every encounter."
"What assumptions?" Kira asked. Knowing the Consortium, it could be anything.
The two shared a long look.
"In the early days of first contact, the Tuann were careful to appear nonthreatening. Even today, we don't know much about them. They’re a secretive race. We do know they've arranged themselves in what they call Houses. People of differing origin work together for a common goal," Himoto instructed.
"Sounds similar to the Consortium," Kira said.
Himoto made an expression of agreement. "In a way."
The Consortium was a collection of Earth's former colonies. When humanity first entered into space and established themselves outside their home planet, they did so to benefit Earth. As a result, much of their resources went to Earth.
However, in the vastness of space, retaining control over territories that were sometimes a year or more of travel away was difficult. War happened and Earth lost control of her colonies.
The individual planets created identities for themselves that endured to present day. Each planet had representatives on the council and was tasked with meeting a quota for military enrollment.
The war with the Tsavitee strengthened the Consortium in some ways, turning it from a collection of planets prone to infighting, to a strong system of governance bound together by the very survival of the human race.
"They place a lot of value on their personal honor and deeds. We don't know much about them, but we do know they seem to have a strong warrior class that seems to share similarities to the samurai of my people’s history," Himoto said.
"None of that explains how you went wrong," Kira said.
"Those responsible for first contact were invited to a planet. It was largely agricultural, and those responsible deemed the Tuann as unadvanced, believing they had nothing that would benefit us. The humans involved presented us in a bad light. They broke promises—something the Tuann see as a mortal insult. Furthermore, they strayed where they weren't supposed to go while ignoring numerous warnings."
"The Tuann predate the Haldeel in space travel," Himoto continued. "They are as technologically advanced—perhaps even more so. It has put us in a dangerous position—especially since the Haldeel have let us know they want this tension resolved.”
"Admiral Himoto and I have been tasked by Centcom to repair our relationship with the Tuann." Jace's expression was grave.
All interesting points, but Kira suspected there was much more to this.
"That doesn't explain why you're willing to give them anything they want," Kira said.
Himoto sighed. "Show her."
Jace took the tablet from his side and hit a couple of buttons before throwing the screen he'd raised on the hologram at the end of the table.
It was a video of space, the utter black relieved by the bright glitter of stars. Kira didn't know what she was supposed to be looking at.
Jace zoomed in, and suddenly the picture spiraled down, blocking out the stars to show what had both men so serious.
Kira leaned in, a rock settling in her stomach. "That's a Tsavitee ship."
There was a small hum as Jin moved closer. "It looks like a Raven class."
Raven class, named for the small wing-like protrusions on each side and the utter black of its hull, it was a reconnaissance ship. Hard to spot with the naked eye and nearly impossible to track with instruments, it had slipped through the lines during the war with ridiculous ease.
"Where did you find it?" she asked.
"Three million clicks from Zepher," Jace said.
"They're back," she said around numb lips. She sat still, suddenly feeling like all thought, all emotion had been drained out of her.
She didn't know how to process the news the Tsavitee might be gearing up for another incursion into human space. It was unthinkable. The last war had cost them so much, in some ways forever changing the course of humanity. Even years after the fact, they were still picking up the pieces.
"We don't know," Himoto admitted. "But the fact it popped up so close to the Tuann's visit to discuss the alliance has a lot of people in power nervous."
She could imagine.
The Tsavitee were here. She couldn't quite bring herself to believe it.
"Why are you telling me this?" Kira asked. This information was classified. Centcom and the government wouldn't want word of this getting out and causing mass panic. That meant they had a reason for revealing it.
"I know you, Kira-chan. I trained you, remember?" Himoto said. "The Tuann might think they have you trapped, but how long will that last? You'll take the first opportunity to disappear. I can guarantee they'll dissolve the treaty in retaliation, leaving us open to possible attack."
Kira lifted her chin but didn't deny his assessment. Why bother? He was right.
"Hopefully, this will convince you against such foolish measures," he said.
She tapped the table as she thought.
"What is it you're hoping to get out of this?" Kira asked quietly.
Jace and Himoto exchanged a glance.
Himoto leaned forward, the lines of his face serious. "The Tuann have some of the most advanced ships of any race. With them, they've held their border since before humanity had flight. We want those ships."