(eng) Michael Cobley - Humanity's Fire 01 by Seeds of Earth

Author:Seeds of Earth [Earth, Seeds of]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

ROBERT

The passenger lounge serving Port Gagarin’s Landing Bay 2 was closed to the public and the rows of seating had been moved well back to make room for the Hegemony and Earthsphere entourages – one with nineteen members, the other with just two.

Harry, dressed in a long grey coat over a dark formal suit circa 1930s America, was smiling as he observed the High Monitor Kuros and his escort of four Ezgara commandos, twelve DVC soldiers and three attendants.

‘Robert, sometimes I don’t think the Diplomatic Service takes your safety seriously enough – hell, you don’t take it seriously enough. Yesterday, Sundstrom offered you your very own personal escort, just like Kuros, but you turned it down. Why?’

‘I’ve told you already,’ Robert said in a low murmur. ‘My secretary and his assistant are both armed – any more would be an unnecessary burden and would get in the way.’

‘Yes, well, I didn’t believe you yesterday and I don’t believe you now, so what’s the real reason?’

Robert glared at his AI companion, which elicited only a sunny smile in response. He sighed.

‘If you must know, an openly armed escort would make me feel as if I really was in danger. If this was a non-Human world, like when we were on Giskhn 4 a few years ago, I could see the point. But here … well, it would feel like an admission of defeat. These are our people – we can’t fail them so we must make sure that the special accord between Earthsphere and the Hegemony actually means something.’

‘I’m sure it means something to the exalted Kuros,’ Harry said. ‘Loyal dependability, for example.’

For a few moments they regarded the Hegemony envoy. The tall Sendrukan was attired in a more martial manner than on previous occasions, his sleeves and leggings resembling ancient metal armour, his headgear looking more like a helmet than a hat. Also, oblivious to his guards or Robert, he was clearly in conversation with his own AI companion, going by the lip movements and infrequent hand gestures. Robert realised that in the absence of reporters and their cams – banned from this event – Kuros felt more able to relax. Even the terminal security cams had been switched off by the express wish of Diakon-Commodore Reskothyr, the Brolturan ambassador to Darien.

The other main condition of Reskothyr’s visit was that President Sundstrom not be present, since the Brolturans insisted on dealing initially only with responsible authorities, i.e. Earthsphere. Inevitably Sundstrom was annoyed but he had quickly grasped the diplomatic realities and displayed considerable leadership qualities by the speed with which he reconciled himself to the situation.

‘I’ve met him, you know,’ Harry said. ‘Kuros’s companion.’

Robert stared at him. ‘You’ve met him? You can communicate with Hegemony AIs?’

Harry gave him a droll look. ‘It’s not such a hard concept to grasp, Robert – avenues for dialogue exist, according to stringent protocols laid down by both governments, and quite recently I chanced to encounter the High Monitor’s companion.’

‘I’m fascinated – what was he, or it, like?’

‘He’s an ogre.

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