The Alpha Choice (47 page)

The scientist walked over to Hugo, and instead of shaking his hand, threw his arms around the American. Hugo reciprocated. Standing back from each other, Hugo asked. ‘You're sure, absolutely positive, no more surprises?’

‘Why do you think it took us thirty minutes?’

Hugo nodded. ‘I’ll make the call.’

Ω

The XO entered his commander’s ready room. ‘Kirion! take a seat,’ a Nopa was already present, having entered via Darl’s personal door, and fulfilling a previous order from his/her master, poured a drink for the second-in-command. Once they were alone, Darl raised his glass, ’So far so good!’ It was typical of the man, as Kirion knew only too well, to be magnanimous in victory and, as the choice of the dart pilot was, evidently, the correct one, this moment was to be expected. The commander made no reference to their differing views on the matter, which came as a surprise to Kirion. Instead, he proceeded to more practical matters. ‘How many on board know about what just happened?’

‘As agreed, no one outside the primary bridge crew, dart captain, the two of us and of course the pilot. We have no way of knowing how many of Garnoth’s entourage have been taken into his confidence, but he knows the danger, so I would hazard, none.’

Darl nodded, ‘and how many of those will know of the identity of the pilot?’

‘If you don't mind me saying, sir, the two questions are not dependent upon each other. Most of his fellow dart pilots will know he was involved in
something,
but only his captain knows what.’

‘And has surveillance suggested otherwise?’

‘No, Commander.’
 

Darl nodded again, the initial bon homie replaced by a more sombre aspect. ‘Other than surveillance, how sure are we that our precautions were effective?’ He was referring to the initial discussions, which as well as choosing a suitable candidate, raised the delicate matter of helping a race they were determined to destroy. If that information became common knowledge, the ramifications would be devastating.

‘For now, I’m confident we have succeeded, however…’

‘Our pilot?’ Darl raised his eyebrows, then raised his hand as his XO tried to explain. ‘No explanation is necessary, Kirion. I stand by my decision that he was the right man for the job, but his nature, the very thing that enabled him to succeed, is what worries me now.’

‘Indeed, sir. Perhaps, if may make so bold?’

‘Of course, that’s why you’re here.’

‘His orders are to report directly to his captain. We can keep the landing bay clear, have him brought here, and explain the consequences of a loose tongue. He will be approached by his colleagues, and so we need to give him a plausible story, something along the lines of a scouting mission checking on…’

‘Inner planetary defences which, intelligence suggested, might be hidden from our scans. Very dangerous mission, that could only involve a single dart, to avoid detection,’ Darl added.

‘I think that would work, sir. It needs to have that element of simplicity,’ Darl raised his eyebrows again, but Kirion carried on. ‘To keep within the facts, he needs to confirm that his search was fruitless.’

‘Very well, we have thirty minutes. See to it that the practicalities are dealt with. Does that give you sufficient time to add enough flesh to the bones of his story?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then I won't keep you.’

Kirion took his leave, and once more alone, Darl turned his attention to the holo image. He was genuinely sorry for the young man,
at least he’s still a hero of the cuboid.

Ω

An hour later, a devastated Genir left the commander’s ready room. He did not even see his friend as they passed within an arm’s length of each other on the bridge. Gorn thought it better not to say anything, after all he knew what had happened with the Tellurian ships, and more importantly everything that unfolded in the ready room.
 

Ω

Tala awaited the appearance of, arguably, the most powerful man on Te'ath; she had ensured Beron was kept busy, elsewhere.

The image of Garnoth appeared and, despite being only life size, seemed to swallow up the entire room. Her mentor peered around theatrically, before speaking. ‘No Beron I see, or rather I do not see,’ he sighed. ‘Once again, I will be subjected to the sight of a frustrated father berating his incompetent son. That scenario is becoming interminably repetitious.’ The spymaster then smiled at his protégé. ‘Well done, child. Now to business; despite a tense moment over the asteroid, which Commander Darl has contained rather well, we remain on course. ‘On Telluria, everything proceeds as planned?’

‘Mostly…’

‘Explain?’ Garnoth’s eyes slightly narrowed.

‘I was loathe to raise this with you as there is no evidence, yet I have certain suspicions,’ she then outlined her concerns.

After some discussion, Garnoth nodded his approval. ‘You will proceed immediately with your two meetings. Keep me appraised of all developments,’ and with that, the image of the Agency head was gone.

That went better than I’d hoped,
she thought, turning to the door.
 

Ω

Tala’s first meeting was duly arranged. Present were the four World leaders - three on screen - Gerry Wye, Hugo Black and Liz Corcoran. She announced that, following the destruction of the asteroid, the weapons systems of the ships would be decommissioned, but the drives were to be augmented to weft capability, making the ships capable of interstellar travel. ‘They are a gift from the people of Te’ath, to the people of Earth.’

She was not finished. ‘A decision has been made by our Supreme Council. My reports to them included the manner in which the people of Earth worked together, overcoming their differences, to confront the challenge that faced you all. To be frank, we weren't convinced you could pull that off. The Council has chosen to overturn their principles, regarding non-emergent species, and invite you to join our alliance of planets.

‘I’ve taken the liberty,’ she looked at everyone present, including the screen images, ‘of sending all the details to you, for perusal and detailed examination. If, after the innumerable questions you must have, you wish to avail yourselves of our offer, we will move towards a date when a unification ceremony can be held in the headquarters of TeCorp. I would ask that all communications are through the offices of Hugo Black.’ She left, immediately, making it clear this was not the time for the innumerable questions.

Δ

Tala’s pronouncement came as something of a surprise to Hugo who, from the moment of the unveiling of the Te three months earlier, had become increasingly marginalised, but he knew that Tala’s exclusion of the cadre, was not the solution to his problem, quite the contrary. Sitting, alone in his office, he looked out of his window and let his mind wander,
this makes no sense,
he thought,
what’s she up to, why sow seeds of discord, now, of all times? What was it Liz said about her?
His PA’s words appeared, perfectly formed in the forefront of his mind’s eye, and for the first time since meeting the Te’ans, he began to think clearly.

Now, for reasons he was unable to deduce, he was back in the game. He wondered how long it would be before his ‘friendship’ with the President would be rekindled, and did not have long to wait; both he and Liz were in the White House, and meeting with Conway, within the hour.

Soon after the original, hastily arranged,
asteroid
meeting, a more sophisticated, but also more unsettling communication setup was installed. He looked across an imposing desk towards the most powerful man in the West, while simultaneously looking at the live images of the other cadre members, arrayed to the side of the President. The screens were flat, borderless, and non-reflective, each supported by a slender, translucent stem that disappeared below the surface of the desk; there were no wires, and no cameras,
they must have them incorporated into the screens
. The effect of the arrangement was to give the eerie impression of three floating, disembodied heads. A thought flashed across his mind causing him to smile inwardly; despite all his dealings with the Te over the last three years, nothing he had seen or heard, was quite as alien as this.
 

‘Hugo…’ the President leaned across the desk and shook his hand, warmly. It interested him that the President kept the desk between them.
Perhaps
, he thought,
he wants the others to see that they appear as one, and I’m meant to get the impression that he also is untouchable. It’s interesting…but unnecessary, and a bit over the top
, ‘…it’s been too long. Gerry will have kept you up to date…’
 

Hugo looked over to the Chief of Staff, sitting some way off and out of view of the screens. Turning back to the President, he smiled, but said nothing, well aware the President would know he was anything but, up to date.
He wants this kept from the rest of the group, why?
Hugo looked at the impassive bodiless faces floating on the other side of the desk,
no matter,
he thought, it was of no consequence to him how they played their political games. Both men knew why he was there; the only purpose for this meeting was to ensure, now their positions were reversed, that Hugo would act with a little more consideration than he had been shown. He nodded slowly, fulfilling the other man’s agenda. That simple action confirmed, for the benefit of the men and woman on the screens, a fact which was not strictly true, that he harboured no resentment towards their, physically present, colleague. Hugo would like to think he was big enough for that to be true, but being brutally honest, he could not be sure. It was only then, he noticed the President visibly relax.
The man
, he thought,
is exceptionally good at disguising his feelings
. He would bear that in mind for any future dealings. A sidewise look at Liz who, as ever appeared serene, but with eyes trained on Michael Conway, confirmed that what he had just seen had not escaped her attention.

The President continued talking, and summed up what the group had agreed. There would be regular briefings until the signing, unless an unforeseen circumstance necessitated additional input. The images nodded their heads, in sage approval.
 

Then the audience was over.
 

Once the screens were blank, and Michael Conway could be sure he would not be overheard, he stood and walked around the desk to Hugo. ‘I didn’t want to say anything in front of the others, but I would like you to keep in regular contact with Gerry, just on the day to day matters, you never know what might come to mean something later.’ At this, he placed a hand on Hugo's shoulder and smiled in his best ‘we understand each other’ manner.
 

Hugo stepped backwards a little way. ‘I’m sorry Mr President, I won't have the time to nursemaid Gerry, you can rely on me to let you know what’s important.’

The President smiled broadly. ‘It doesn’t matter my friend, just a belt and braces thing.’ His eyes, however, told a different story, they were the eyes of a man who was coldly furious.
 

Hugo had just witnessed the President attempting to assume control over him and his corporation, stepping over the invisible line. Whatever happened over the next few days, things would change, but unless the economy of the world was to be tipped head over heels, he was still the most powerful man on the planet, and his gut told him he was not being asked to cede that power to the President, but to Gerry Wye. The President took Hugo's proffered hand as the TeCorp CEO said. ‘I’m pleased to be working with you again, Mr President,’ and with that, he turned and left the Oval Office, Liz right behind him.

Δ

Watching his erstwhile friend leave, Michael Conway beckoned Gerry Wye over.
 

Δ

Following his talk with the President, Gerry felt vindicated. He would welcome an opportunity to speak to the
woman
. The Chief of Staff was as unlike the President as two men in politics could be. Where Michael Conway was basically decent and genuine, Gerry Wye was shameless and shallow. He became advisor after the untimely, sudden death of the President’s long time friend and trusted political ally, who fought side by side with him through a tough and bloody campaign. Within three months of the President taking his oath of office, his old friend and advisor died of an unexpected coronary. A welcome turn of events for Gerry, even though, despite whispers, he had nothing to do with the death.

Because of his slender majority, the President succumbed to pressure in appointing Gerry Wye, a man he knew little of, save by reputation. However, he always took the view that a man should not be judged by the opinions of others. Hidden among the less pleasant traits attributed to Wye, Michael Conway understood the man could be doggedly loyal. He would form his own opinion on this as well. He needed an advisor who could get things done, and Gerry Wye certainly fitted the bill. In the absence of anything to specifically rule him out, the President appointed the man to be his Chief of Staff. For his part, Gerry knew he was destined to be the most important advisor to the President, and was careful to distinguish the Office from the man. To Gerry Wye the two were completely separate.
 

He would walk through fire to protect the President, and for that reason kept minor matters he had discovered about the
man
, hidden from sight, although he had to accept that Conway was in general, a good man, if a little naive.
 

From the first time they met, Gerry never liked or trusted Black. He caused the usual checks to be carried out, and was not too surprised to find that as an ambitious lawyer, married to an equally ambitious doctor, the marriage failed. There were no children.
 

What did surprise him, was the inability to find any dirt under Black’s fingernails. Sure, after the divorce, he had steered himself through a number of affairs, but there were no acrimonious breakups. Even his divorce was amicable; he and his ex wife still remained friends, real friends. When he thought about his own venal ex-wife, that alone was reason enough to hate Black.