The Radical Factor (Stone Blade Book 3) Read online

  "Ted! More work! How could you?"

  "Link to Chalo while you're about things," said Siffai, "When they receive Vera's information we should have it here as well."

  "Also please try to find some friendly librarians," said Ferrel.

  He and Micah chuckled at this but the rest simply looked puzzled.

  ***

  By the time the advisors began arriving Ferrel and Kidwell had started a solid information structure. The Unitites learned quickly; they simply hadn't thought of many things League citizens took for granted. Frond and LaDimaan grumbled at some of what Orris proposed but, he assured his friends, only for show.

  Mietz sent them good news from Chalo. She sent them a large package of Charraud's raw data, now broken, with some correlates already started. They also had a tentative translation on more of his dataspools, which Meitz now classified as mission reports both formal and informal.

  "Quite a few of the transactions," said the holo of Meitz, "tracked back to incidents among the Esavians. Those have weapons, rations - or consumables! - and transport but no 'khav.' We're also about seventy percent on certain actions taken against the Jengiil. The League forwarded some information from Vezieri operations in progress: they've had a spate of attacks from the Esavians. None major, or none reported as such. They're gathering what reliables they can from Jengiil space."

  "Not many ops there," said Ionoski, "Or so I heard. I'm also working our Mekhajan sources. We have a few interesting people there but they're in different orbits from ours."

  Meaning, thought Micah, more interested in internal politics than external events.

  "Mark this as interesting," said Kidwell, "The Mekhajan share a lot more border then the Jengiil or the Vezieri but they've had markedly fewer incidents and no major ones at all."

  Micah finished his current correlation query and called up their information on the Mekhajan. Before the Collapse the Imperium established colonies on their capitol worlds Mek-Soulda and Mek-Daira. They then populated them with several groups of nomadic tribesmen with a habit of causing trouble elsewhere. Late Imperium astrographical data showed the two worlds and the ones surrounding them, the ones that would become the Mekhajan Collective, as isolated and unlikely for any further exploration. When the Collapse hit the inhabitants of the two worlds survived handily, mostly by virtue of having few truly permanent structures other than the starports. They also had, per capita, a lot less in the way of critical advanced technology.

  Mid-Interim saw the two worlds claimed by large bands of pirates as bases and repair depots. The pre-Mekhajan didn't particularly care since the pirates only claimed the ruins of the starports and the relatively few buildings around them. The nomads were only too happy to trade food and other goods they made for what technology the pirates could provide that they wanted. Over the centuries the two cultures merged: the pirates settled and the nomads began building towns and cities, all the while maintaining the trade between them.

  Before long the two worlds began trading more heavily among themselves and with the other close worlds, and taking measures to protect that trade. The informal arrangement between the now-former pirates and the native nomads gradually evolved into a government based strongly on tribal membership, family ties and mutual protection of trade and trade routes. Though prone to personal duels, some of which involved dozens of participants, the overall government stabilized and remained so.

  By the time the League stabilized and expanded to within trading distance the Collective had coalesced and absorbed quite a few of the systems surrounding its capitol worlds. They didn't try to expand aggressively but, when encroached, defended their systems fiercely. By reports from the League merchants who traded there the Mekhajan took hospitality, family and trade very seriously. Once a trader was accepted by one family or tribe he or she was expected to trade exclusively with them, or at least give them better prices. That worked both ways and the few League citizens willing to travel the distance profited greatly. Toward the League itself the Mekhajan were, collectively, cool and distant and not eager to change that.

  Toward the Vezieri and the Jengiil the Mekhajan were only too eager to trade. Both sovereignties vastly outnumbered the Mekhajan both in population and in numbers of planets yet neither had managed to conquer and absorb them. The Mekhajan accomplished this by careful and crafty trade. They maintained internal technology only a little inferior to the League and far superior to anything the Jengiil or Vezieri could match.

  When the Jengiil or Vezieri decided to annex the Mekhajan they suddenly found themselves facing the other, with their opponent well-armed and supplied while their own prices rose to the high orbits. Although the two were not openly hostile toward each other the Mekhajan worked to keep them from becoming close enough to join forces.

  "Why should they suffer less Esavian hostility than anyone else?" Kidwell pondered this over a 'stick. "There is moderately reliable data that the Mekhajan and Esavians do trade, but it's at least five sigmas the Mekhajan don't worship Dhu and the Esavians don't hate them for it. Call that last two to three sigmas.

  "Is it because they approach trade similarly? In both cases reaching the deal is a sometimes-long process that follows specific and rigid rules. Bargaining is valued as much for itself as for the result and the deal, once struck, is inviolate. After the fact all courtesy is shown and violators of that particular rule suffer consequences ranging from dire to downright barbarian. That is similarity, but is it sufficient?"

  Micah slirped her data and began checking hypotheses.

  "Hrm. Vera, check these correlates and tell me if I'm wrong. If you subtract Dhu and add some civilization the Esavians aren't that different from the Mekhajan."

  Kidwell examined his work. "Flames! I wouldn't go that far. That's outer-orbit even for you!"

  "Sloppify your tolerances and stretch them a bit," he replied, "I'm not saying common origin, just worldview and attitude."

  "We'll take that as a provable hypothesis," she said after some consideration, "I'll send it to Sarah and have her do some research on it. Ted, same for the League, please?"

  When the data arrived, League first, Micah and the rest examined it critically. The League now had a lot more information on the Mekhajan and the Esavians than before, whether from ops in place or, more likely, declassification Micah neither new nor cared.

  "There's a critical piece missing, Ted," said Kidwell.

  "There's a lot missing," replied Ionoski uneasily, "Non-perfect universe. Was that a general statement or a specific one?"

  "We don't have any intelligence on Mekhajan intelligence," she said, "I'm discounting Esavian agents; judging by what Micah and Charlie found they won't be too hard to spot. We know for truth that the Jengiil and the Vezieri both have active intel operatives hence an agency because we've caught a few of them. We've never found a spy from the Mekhajan Collective, though, and they're both advanced enough and justified in having it. There's plenty of inference that it's there, we just don't have anything on it."

  "Likely because we don't have anything on it," countered Ionoski, "The League does take great care to keep its intel agents and operations secret. Even from themselves. Even from the League itself at times. Why should the Collective be any different?

  "For truth, given the relative sizes of the Collective and its population against the League, or the Jengiil or Vezieri, they'd be even more cautious. For that matter, if Micah's hypotheses are within an L-shot of accurate they would keep their Esavian information even more secret."

  Kidwell doodled some rough information graphs. Then she refined them.

  "My thoughts are this: we should investigate the Mekhajan. I don't know six-sigmas it will lead anywhere but at the moment it feels right. There is something they have or something they do, possibly something they are, that keeps the Esavians away."

  "I concur," said Ionoski, "I also believe we can safely assume the League has .or will have soon, limited operations progressing inside Esavian space. I
f so they can look for rich, transplanted merchants who fit in too well for rich, transplanted merchants. That will point us in the right direction, if it happens."

  "Slib," said Micah, "Do we start Mekhajan-forward or Esavian-backward?"

  "Mekhajan-forward," said Kidwell, "until we find a reason to stop. The pious question is how?"

  ***

  "You want what?!" Joshua Orris gazed at Kidwell incredulously. Then he transferred it to Ionoski.

  "A trade party to parley with the Mekhajan, First Orris," replied Kidwell calmly, "They're not that far away by link and they do trade fairly."

  "But your reports say they do not like the League."

  "Truth," countered Kidwell, "nor do they dislike us. They are distant and uninterested in large-scale trade with the League but they do trade with the rare individuals who will make the trip. That is irrelevant, though, because you are not the League."

  "She's correct," said Ionoski, "By all inferences we've made they will be at least mildly interested in trade with the Unity. Besides, you will want to at least explore the possibility of trading with other sovereignties. Why not start there?"

  Orris eyed him critically. "There is truth to that, and a truth even LaDimaan acknowledges. Still, I suspect you will be doing... other things there. Possibly deleterious to trade or relations. Should we elect to establish regular trade there neither I nor the rest of the Circle want to begin with indelicate incidents or scandalous affairs."

  "We understand fully, Sirra Orris," said Kidwell, "I assure you there will be no such blemish upon the Unity of Triumph. You will have full deniability. We will be doing nothing more than simple, lawful investigation and observation; and we'll be nothing more than the crew of the ship you hired to travel. There will be no connection whatsoever between us and our actions and the Unity and its representatives. For truth, no one outside you yourself need even know our true mission."

  "Please understand," added Ionoski, "we can absolutely complete this mission using other means. If it troubles you too greatly we'll do so gladly. This is nothing more than an opportunity: should you choose to take it, the Unity benefits. If you decline there will be ample others."

  Orris thought a moment. "Please allow me time to consider and consult with my fellows on it."

  Chapter 7. New Traders, Old Wine

  The passenger and cargo transport Belle Anna settled to the ground gracefully with her gravitics keeping her two meters above the tarmac as she moved slowly to the berth closest to the administration building; the berth normally reserved for official government vessels. The crowd, excessively boisterous by Unity standards, gathered to watch and snap holos as the gravitics powered down and the ship settled slowly on her struts. By the size of the crowd it seemed every resident of Triumph vied for a good position to observe the ship as she lowered her ramp. Understandable: today marked a truly historic event! Port workers began servicing the sleek but non-new vessel and before long her captain, first mate and several other officers descended the ramp. Brethren in their formal finest stood to greet them with open smiles and friendly hands.

  Scattered applause broke out as a party of nine men moved from the port administration building toward the ship. In the lead walked Senior Page Christopher Laray, Third to the Circle, Unity. He offered the captain his hand, they shook and applause exploded from the entire crowd. Laray and the captain both smiled and waved at the crowd and Laray presented the rest of his party.

  Second in line stood Trevor Maas, noted merchant and cousin to First of the Circle Quincy Maas. Next came Page Caden Rhyse as official assistant to Laray in representing the government of the Unity of Triumph. With him and serving both as liaison to Trevor Maas and representative of his cousin Quincy stood Page Hadley Ellis. Julius Greene, an executive in Maas' company finished up the official delegation. Behind them came a detail of Brethren assigned to the mission.

  The applause continued well after everyone had shaken everyone else's hand and UNA reporters jostled and worked to extract even more information for their subscribers. After a few more minutes of smiles and waves the entire party ascended the ramp and the Unity of Triumph's first official trading mission outside its own space began.

  "Impressive," said Kidwell, "I'm glad you talked me into traveling tourist instead of crew, Ted. Cousin Trevor is drooly and accessible!"

  "And married," added Ferrel, "Don't forget that one."

  "Duly archived O lazy one," replied Kidwell, "I'm also surprised they made such an event of a simple trade envoy. It's not like they've never traded outside their own space before."

  "Individuals have," said Ionoski, "Even some private companies but the government itself never participated in trade outside regulating it. That caused a lot of friction between Maas and Frond."

  "Likely will again," said Micah, "Too much new too fast tends to make the old guard dig in their heels and fight hard."

  Kidwell shrugged. "Not a bad thing, no blather."

  In addition to the Unity party the Belle Anna carried eleven other passengers. Micah and his team plus Barstein and Siffai made six and he assumed the others comprised a trouble team sent in for backup or, perhaps, extra information collection. Ionoski didn't say either way but he did admit that he asked to have such a team on standby. They all acquainted themselves in due course but none of the other five let slip any hint, nor did Micah and the rest.

  At first aloof, the Unitites soon relaxed somewhat. Trevor Maas and Julius Greene spent the most time mingling with the other passengers and crew but only by a relative measure. Eventually the rest, led by Laray, made a few forays into the lounge and other common areas. Kidwell and Ionoski both made extreme efforts to put them at their ease. It helped fill the hours until they crossed into Mekhajan space.

  Micah watched Mek-Taniston appear and grow in the lounge display. Of all the Mekhajan worlds it lay closest to the Unity of Triumph and within feasible distance to Mek-Daira. Ionoski and Orris advised the Circle to choose it for that very reason. Orris also suggested and the Circle agreed that none of the trade party should know of the League agents' presence aboard the ship. Micah suspected Trevor Maas and Laray knew but they certainly gave no inkling of it if they did.

  After the planet grew past the edges of the holovee the display centered on a smudge on its surface. Before long the smudge grew into a grainy smear and finally into a starport with a city around it. The captain grounded them skillfully, moved them to their berth and announced the completion of the landing protocol. After two hours of details he announced the first official Mekhajan welcome to their youngest brothers-in-trade and their invitation to debark.

  ***

  "I tell you, my brother, this is the life to lead!" Ferrel sat back with his new terminal, purchased locally and with the seller's assurance that adapting League terminals to local protocols would cost much more, complete with tourist information and standard modules. He wasted no time investigating local history, landmarks, points of interest, restaurants, shopping plazas and the like. "Data, data, data, data! Data and a very fast, sweet global net and information linked to other likely planets of destination. Ahhh, bliss."

  "But have you accomplished anything," asked Siffai.

  "Bulk freighters of it, my dear! Even though I am not personally related to any Brothers of the Table I still managed to find some pointers on Esavian trade. They advise great caution and courtesy and all but mandate the presence of an expert. No information on where to find such a person but I have some shrewd guesses. It would be the same purveyors of information concerning trade with the Jengiil, Vezieri, Fourre Rift Confederacy, the Brotherhood of Tharq, the Kensie Free Systems and even the Luvarzian Empire."

  "Flames," exclaimed Micah, "That's a mighty extensive list! Some of whom are rather less than comfortably close to the Consortium."

  "Truth and pure," said Ferrel, "Trade information with the Consortium is not secret at all. It is prohibited, forbidden, completely taboo and deemed imbecilic and stupid. There are numerous h
istorical references to incidents early in Mekhajan history in which the Consortium tried to take over Mekhajan worlds both individually and collectively. What they did to the Consortium officers they captured before returning them is neither civilized nor pleasant, and this is the tame version."

  "What do they say about the League," asked Kidwell.

  "Not much. 'Trade if you must but only if you must.' Virtually the same for Semid worlds but with an extra caution against sending inexperienced under-merchants."

  "Sela'hai! This is favorable," said Barstein, "Perhaps we shall establish trade here as well!"

  ***

  Micah opened his beeping door groggily. After a very successful if brief introduction and welcome on Mek-Taniston, the Brothers of the Table, the Mekhajan version of the Merchant's Guild, urged Maas and Laray to travel to Mek-Daira where they would receive a proper ceremony to begin trade between the Mekhajan Collective and the Unity of Triumph. Astonished, grateful and no small amount overwhelmed, Page Laray agreed instantly. As soon as his ship cleared orbit Laray and Greene began talking avidly to anyone who would listen!

  "Their hospitality was incredible! Simply incredible," said Laray, "They knew nothing of the Unity but we left many copies of the Writ there and they were interested! They were hungry for it!"

  "The Great Father is infinite in His wisdom," said Greene, "and even more so in His generosity. Perhaps greatest yet in His willingness to surprise His followers."

  "That is truth under the Light, younger brother!"

  Micah smiled. "I believe 'Let those who follow His path keep their eyes open to see, their minds open to know and their hearts open to receive His blessings showered upon them' is appropriate here."

  Caden Rhyse, who sat mostly in silence, looked at Micah in surprise. That amused both Laray and Kidwell.

  "Yet more generosity, by the Light," said Laray, "The Mekhajan also seemed quite eager to trade with us."

  "More than seemed, brother," said Maas, "They are strongly interested, and shrewd traders as well. This was an excellent first choice."