“Does Kush have some sort of agreement with the Coalition?” Van asked.
“Several, as I recall.”
“Including military assistance?”
“There is one like that.” The older pilot’s eyes twinkled. “Why do you ask?”
“The two Coalition couriers on station, and the fact that there only seem to be a handful of ships in the Kush defense force.”
“Warships are expensive, and Kush is not that well off. They’re still paying down the planoforming debt to the Argentis.”
“But their alliance is with the Eco-Techs?”
“They share borders with the Coalition, Keshmara, and the Revenants, as much as you can call borders those regions claimed by those systems. Each, including Kush, has claimed a number of uninhabitable systems without planets that could be planoformed.”
“I’ll bet Kush doesn’t patrol those it has claimed.”
“The Kushite SDF does not.”
Van nodded, as he spread the photon nets to twenty percent, and the Elsin began to angle up out of the plane of the ecliptic toward the low-dust regions where jumpshifts were possible.
Chapter 44
A tall man in shifting robes and a matching white turban ushered the two commanders into the fifth-floor waiting area. Van walked to the expanse of armaglass that overlooked the River Plaza through which they had entered the governmental complex. On the far side of the River Khorl was a matching plaza or park, with tall spreading trees and miniature buildings that resembled ancient temples. The river itself was a wide expanse of shimmering blue-gray in the afternoon sunlight, somehow appropriate for the city of Keshmar, planetary capital of Keshmara.
From the door to the left, there was a cough.
Van turned.
A slender man, also in white robes, but with short dark hair, and without any headgear, stood in the doorway. “The minister will see you.”
Van let Desoll take the lead as they entered the office, which held a circle of padded and backed, but armless, stools set around a low table.
Standing before the chairs and table was a small man, with the lines in his face that signified the great age that not even advanced medical treatments could erase. His smile was somehow both professional and personal. “Director Desoll…a pleasure to see you again.”
“And you, too, Minister Sahid.” Desoll bowed.
So did Van.
“I took the liberty of bringing Senior Director Van Albert with me. I thought you should meet, because at times in the future he may be the one carrying out IIS responsibilities.”
“Ah…You are not departing?”
“Not for many, many years. Not until the white stars turn red…” Desoll smiled. “But the Arm has more people and more systems, and as it expands, so must we, or we will not be able to continue to provide the services you deserve.”
“And for which we pay.”
“You do indeed.” Desoll grinned. “But far less than if you were required to provide them yourselves.”
“Please be seated.” The minister took a stool, seemingly at random, but as soon as he sat, a young man appeared with a tray.
Van could smell the café, strong, black…and sweet.
Following the minister’s example, Van drank, throwing the tiny cup’s contents back in a single swallow.
Sahid turned to Van. “You are also a pilot and commander?”
“Yes, Minister Sahid.”
“He is a commodore,” Desoll added. “Not a mere commander as was I.”
“You were never a ‘mere commander,’ my friend.” Sahid looked straight at the older commander. “I would that we did not need your services.”
“I understand.”
“Alas, we do. We have begun to implement an integrated infrastructure control system on Behai. Most of the components have been fabricated there. The controllers themselves, they cannot be. They are not terribly delicate. In fact, they are most sturdy. But it does not matter how tough they are if they do not arrive.”
“I see.”
“I am most certain you do. The Coalition monitors the Keshmara system, but not a more…isolated system such as Behai.”
“We will undertake delivery,” Desoll affirmed. “Assuming the specifications and mass figures are as your dispatch indicated.”
“They are correct.” Sahid smiled, sadly. “We appreciate your willingness to transport our new systems to Behai. As you will discover, for some reason, the KMFS Aleysn was…unsuccessful.”
Desoll nodded. “And you cannot afford any more delays? Or duplicate systems and missing ships?”
“No. For many reasons, which you also know. We also may require other services, to assure ourselves of its continued successful operation, with periodic updates.”
“I understand, Minister Sahid. You realize, of course, that such service on this short notice requires a great deal of readjustment in our schedules.”
“We understand that it will trigger the special services provision. Upon delivery confirmation, the special services bonus will be paid.”
“When will the equipment be ready?”
“It will take three days.”
Desoll nodded. “We will remain at orbit station for delivery. There is some other business that we can attend, and we will not charge for the waiting time.”
“You have always been most considerate in that fashion.” The minister extended a databloc. “The complementary bloc will be delivered with your cargo.”
“It will need to be packed most securely.”
“That is why it will take at least two days.” Sahid stood. “I thank you, Director. Would that I could trust all as I do you. The Arm would be a better place.”
“We all do what we can.” Desoll stood, as did Van.
“Ah…but some do it so much better.” The minister flashed a smile. “I look forward to hearing of your success.”
Desoll and Van offered slight bows.
Neither spoke until they were walking along the river. Desoll thumbed his belt, and Van could sense the privacy field.
“Special services bonus?” Van asked.
“You know what lies in-Arm from Keshmara?”
Van called up his memory. “It’s all Revenant systems, most uninhabitable, but maybe a dozen being planoformed.”
“How likely is it that a Keshmaran transport courier would just vanish without a trace on a regular jumpshift to its own colony system?”
“The Revs took it out?”
“We’ll go on that assumption.”
“Why did they call on us? We’re not a private fleet.” Except, Van reflected, as he finished, the Elsin was the equivalent of a light cruiser, and with more speed and stronger shields.
“The Keshmarans don’t have
