The Radical Factor (Stone Blade Book 3) Read online

  "More like fossil fuel," said Ionoski, "But still dangerous in massive enough numbers and the best the Esavians can maintain internally or buy.

  "Yes, Charles, not even the Consortium will sell the Esavians any advanced weapon tech. We don't have access to the Esavian archives, of course, but certain sources overheard in the fresher hold the opinion that the Esavians originated close to Consortium space and were moved away from it early in the Interim. Some may still be there. But think about it a milli. Are the Corpses likely to be interested in a large group of bloodthirsty barbarian terrorists just as likely as not to bite the hand that supplies them?"

  Ferrel winced. "Six-sigmas truth on that, Ted."

  "Too bad we can't box 'em up and ship 'em back," said Micah.

  Ferrel winced again but Ionoski merely nodded.

  ***

  Micah worked hard over the next two days modeling Esavian behavior and setting up scenarios in which they would, under the behaviors from the model, change their actions. Only overwhelming force brought a positive-sigma result and that none too often.

  On achieving similar results Ferrel joined with Micah and merged their models. They differed very little from each other and the results not at all. Even when they refined their data well past any verifiable information they had.

  "From what I see," Ferrel finally admitted, "we don't have enough information, still and yet. We know overkill works but we can't seem to factor out the kill."

  "Truth, brother. And, sadly, the Semids don't have enough heavy nukes to completely wipe them out." When Ferrel looked up Micah nodded. "Yes, I calculated it. Not only do they not have enough nutcrackers, they also don't have sufficient ships to strike before the retaliation window. If they tried it they'd be frosted pretty badly."

  Ferrel stared at Micah hard then popped an indigestion tablet. "Micah, my brother, I don't know if it bothers me more that you did the calculations or that it wouldn't work. That bothers me too."

  Micah shrugged. "You know I like covering my assets, even from low probabilities. Tends to keep you alive when things turn spiky. I know it is absolutely not an option and I'm not advocating it, or even a limited version of it. I haven't yet found a solid target; terrorists tend not to have those.

  "I also checked a few feasible limited-attack scenarios. Squelch and worse. Only total extermination would work and that is neither feasible nor desirable. It would have been remiss not to at least check it, though."

  "Truth if bitter." Ferrel nodded reluctantly. "Best not to tell Vera, though."

  "Double-plus no blather on that! I'm not insane!"

  ***

  When Kidwell's ship arrived and lowered its ramp two strangers, a man and a woman, walked beside her. On seeing them Ionoski broke into a smile. Micah studied them intently. They both walked with an easy grace, efficiency of motion and an attention to their surroundings that spoke of elite training. These two were dangerous and skilled.

  "Hello, Ted," smiled Kidwell, "As you can see the Federation Council honored your request. Please allow me to present Kate-Lynn Siffai and David Barstein."

  "Katie," said Siffai.

  "Dave," said Barstein.

  Ionoski introduced himself, Micah and Ferrel.

  "We're honored that you're here," he continued, "Especially considering the circumstances that brought about the request."

  Siffai smiled. "Considering the help you've given us in the past, Master Ted, it is our honor to be here."

  As the six of them walked toward their building Micah assessed Barstein and Siffai and caught Barstein doing the same of him. He smiled knowingly at Micah and nodded a brief salute.

  "Katie and I are SIF7," said Barstein, "We've had considerable experience conducting operations against the Esavians. That's why the Council sent us. We also have all of our data concerning them and their operations against us in the past. Some of those are highly classified and we must respect that."

  "Of course," said Ionoski.

  "Apart from that we are to assist you in any way possible," continued Barstein, "There was precious little evidence left after the Spire. SIFComm believes the Esavian cell operated in and around Shalim City. Whether they evacuated or died we don't know and it will be a long time before we can find out, if even we can."

  "We're also still working in an intelligence vacuum," said Ionoski, "The more you can tell us about the Esavians the better we'll be able to plan. We haven't had a lot of Esavian incidents within the League. We tracked some cells and prevented some attacks but they generally don't attack us."

  "Because you could swat them like a troublesome insect," said Siffai, "We cannot."

  "Our greatest need at the moment is information," reiterated Ionoski, "That is our first priority."

  "After our guests are settled," smiled Kidwell, "Which shouldn't take long." Then, to the two Semids, "We're also prepared for your dietary concerns, if that's an issue."

  "It isn't," said Barstein, "but we appreciate it. Katie and I are both conservative and not orthodox. We pray privately on the sevens and observe loosened dietary statutes. That tends to fit our jobs better."

  "But we do appreciate the effort," said Siffai.

  Micah found the meal both enjoyable and quite tasty and certainly no different from any others he'd eaten. The spices and combinations were new but those changed from planet to planet and even across a single planet.

  "It's a matter of cleanliness and purity," said Siffai when she saw Micah examining the food, "All vegetables must be thoroughly washed with clean water. All utensils and containers used in the preparation must be clean as well. The meat must not come from a scavenging animal and it must be thoroughly cooked. That's the basic course in relaxed Semid food laws. The orthodox restrict the cuts of meat that may be eaten as well as some vegetables and fruits: only those that produce seeds may be eaten."

  Ferrel examined his food. "What about soya and multein?"

  "Soya is generally acceptable," answered Barstein, "Quality control pretty much assures the basic material is clean before it's processed. Since soya plants do produce seeds they're acceptable to the orthodox and the meat flavoring is considered a spice, even if it comes from meat." He shrugged. "So say the scholars, that's good enough for me.

  "As far as multein, I can't really say. Some segments, both conservative and orthodox, hold that any possible taint of a scavenger is not acceptable. Others say that since the food laws were written before modern processing and QC standards that multein, even if processed from a scavenging animal, is clean and therefore acceptable."

  "For me it depends on the taste," added Siffai, "I'll eat it as long as it doesn't taste like silica grease."

  Chuckles.

  "Did you know the Esavians have food laws as well," asked Siffai.

  "No blather," asked Ferrel, "Are you familiar with them?"

  "Truth," said Siffai, "and yes, we are. Very! I would call them ridiculous but some might say that of ours."

  "Scavenging animals are not unclean," said Barstein, "but only certain portions of any animal may be eaten. All food must be prepared under light; food prepared in darkness is unclean. Most Esavian sects avoid cannibalism but Dhu Lan does not specifically forbid it. In fact, some portions of their history report that Moa'Dhu himself survived on the bodies of his companions when the food ran out."

  "Pardon me," said Micah.

  "Forgive me," said Barstein, "I did not mean to offend or disgust you!"

  "No," said Micah, "You didn't. The man you mentioned, Mwadoo?"

  Siffai and Barstein exchanged glances.

  "Moa'Dhu," said Siffai, "The Prophet of Dhu." Upon seeing no comprehension she continued, "He was the prophet who brought Dhu Lan to the children of Esav. He also wrote the Lan'Quor."

  This time Ferrel and Kidwell joined Micah in puzzled stares.

  "Lan'Quor. 'The Poems of the Path.' It is the Esavians' most holy book. Surely you know of it!"

  Ionoski shook his head. "As I said, Katie, we've had little m
eaningful contact with the Esavians. Even at our mission on Saddireb Libre. They report various holy days and feasts but none of the make any sense and the Esavians told our officers not to leave their building during them."

  "You must message them to obey and respect those orders," said Barstein urgently, "Else the Esavians will kill your people and repudiate any agreements you have!"

  "I will," said Ionoski, "but it won't be necessary. Those orders are at least ten years old and repeated every two to three months. Our ambassador there has very little business and infrequent contact with any Esavians. Our traders have more and they simply conduct their bargains and leave. Typically the same day they land. The locals just ignore us if they don't have business directly with us."

  "Typical," said Barstein, "In their minds the Esavians are insulting you. They are refusing you knowledge of Dhu which automatically condemns you to an afterlife of torture and suffering. By denying you Dhu Lan they believe your souls will suffer eternal torment." On seeing Micah's expression he continued. "I know. Yet as I said it is typical of the Esavians. They will smile and watch you until you're not looking, then they attack. If you have the audacity to defend yourself you have insulted Dhu and Esav and your infidel lives are forfeit. Any Esavians around you will swarm to the attack and not stop until you or they are dead."

  "They do understand superior force, though," said Siffai, "Our sources report their fleets massing around their planets. After the Peace Spire we sent a protest to Barrhi Esav."

  "And?"

  "The Esavians refused our ship permission to land," said Barstein, "Which we expected. The ship then broadcast the message in clear and not encrypted. They responded by opening fire with their shore batteries. Also expected. As our ship retreated it recorded all the responses they transmitted. Some almost contained civil language but none expressed even a milli of remorse."

  "SIFComm considered military action," said Siffai, "but given the level of chaos on Iarru and in the rest of the worlds in general they decided to defend our worlds instead and to ask you for help. There are times I wish the Federation was ten times its size."

  "Do you have any ideas on what to do," asked Kidwell.

  "Mass extermination is tempting," said Siffai, "but not an option nor desirable. We of the Semid follow a path of peace both by nature and by beliefs. Even the harshest SIF7 operative would not pull the trigger on such an operation. Even though the Esavians are evil past redemption there is always the hope that someday they may become civilized."

  Kidwell opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked from Siffai to Micah then back.

  "Absolutely not an option," said Ionoski, "Agreed. Micah?"

  "I agree, Ted. Besides, it would take a prohibitive number of nutcrackers to ensure proper overlap and do the job correctly. That's heavy-duty nukes, Katie," said Micah at her questioning look, "Ones big enough to crack through a planet's crust, penetrate into its core and disrupt it. Problem is you'd need at least four hundred to completely destroy an average-sized planet. You'd also need to increase that number because you'd be bombing and not placing for maximum effect."

  "Micah..."

  "Look! I wouldn't want to commit that mission either but I did calculate it to establish a good, solid baseline. Even if it will never come to pass!"

  The following silence grew both loud and awkward. Finally Siffai raised her glass.

  "To the establishment of baselines," she said, "even though they will never, never come to pass."

  After another awkward pause Kidwell raised her glass and the rest followed.

  ***

  Micah cleared his mind and began his workout. Ionoski took Siffai and Barstein somewhere after lunch, Micah knew not where. They left him ample time to study and even more new material for fodder. His first treasure came quickly and it concerned Esavian society. More specifically it concerned Dhu Lan because that comprised the entirety of the Esavian peoples. Dhu and his worship dominated Esavian society and custom even more so than the Writ ruled the Unity of Triumph. While Unitites might have different interpretations on some matters of the Writ they never came to blows over them.

  Not so the Esavians! From what Micah read brawls, duels, riots and even pitched battles occurred frequently among the different sects of Dhu. Even a few battles between different Esavian planets happened, though not often. Even when physical mayhem didn't occur the Esavians constantly squabbled and bickered among themselves. The only guaranteed way to unite a group of them was interference, insult or attack by non-Esavians.

  He also discovered the meaning of 'marks.' Male children attained their manhood sometime between the ages of thirteen and eighteen and thereupon underwent various rites of passage. Completing these came with ritual scarring or tattoos, mostly about the head, shoulders, neck, arms and upper torso. Nor did the rituals end with manhood: learning, and marking, continued for life. Different sects and planets had different marks but 'highly marked' meant wisdom universally.

  'Earning marks' happened both with learning the proper ways of Dhu and with performing outstanding acts in his service. Any man who dishonored himself or brought shame to his sect or family might 'lose his marks,' or have them removed. Micah didn't speculate long on how that might be accomplished. A quick cross-check against Shrubbs' memoirs revealed that the prisoners who committed suicide had suffered disfiguring wounds to their torsos or arms. Healing them would have left scars or required skin replacement.

  Micah felt Siffai enter the room but, respectful of his activity she remained silent and started her own workout.

  Women received little esteem in the eyes of Dhu. Micah found the term boer'khai Dhu, '... younger sisters of Dhu,' used to describe them but the Semid files presented a different image. Male Esavians were expected to protect and defend them exactly as a farmer would guard prized livestock. That description more accurately reflected women's role in Esavian society. Micah cringed at the thought of Kidwell loose in that society. A part of his brain chuckled at that thought: infiltrating Vera into an Esavian world might be just the cure they needed!

  Micah took two deep breaths and started his next routine.

  Dhu Lan cautioned against waste and futility and praised thriftiness and martyrdom. Apparently that encouraged fierce fighting against the infidel unto and past the point of death, provided the one fighting took at least one enemy with him. More enemies killed equated to greater glory and pleasures in Allhai'Dhu, the Paradise of Dhu. By what Micah read before stopping for this workout he could tell little difference between futility and martyrdom, only the death of at least one enemy. Or infidel.

  All infidels were enemies but not all enemies were infidel. Serious fights between Esavians or Esavian sects were just as bloody and apparently just as sanctioned, but fallen foes received some honor if they fought well. On martyrdom from such battles Micah found nothing.

  Micah finished his routine and bowed to Siffai, who returned it. He drew a glass of water and sat to watch her workout. Efficient, he decided. The routines she executed were meant to kill or disable quickly and with efficiency, whether against one foe or many. She shared many moves with Micah's routine and only the order differed, which made no real difference.

  "Impressive," he said when she finished.

  "Thank you." She got water and sat beside him. "You are dangerous," she said, stating and not asking.

  Unsure of how to respond Micah merely shrugged.

  "I mean no insult, or praise if that would offend, Micah, but you cannot deny the fact. You are dangerous. You fight to kill quickly and have done so many times."

  "I could say the same of you."

  "Truth. And you would be correct. We could also say it of David. He and I have fought for our lives many times and against frightening odds. Only our skill and our trust in each other gave us the victory. And survival."

  "We've all trained," said Micah neutrally.

  "Sela'hai. But not. The others, Ted and Vera and Charles, they have trained. But not. They are soft, y
ou are hard. You are solid and hard and one I would trust behind me, did the need arise. Have the other three even fought past training?"

  "They have. We've all fought for our lives. I suppose I just show it more."

  "Because it is such a part of who you are. When you look at me, Micah, I see the eyes of liff'khatia. The desert cat known as the whisper of death: the last thing you hear before you die. Liff'khatia is deadly dangerous but loyal to the others of its pride."

  Micah shifted uncomfortably. Siffai struck close to nerve more than once.

  "Can you speak of it," she asked, "Will you? We of the Federation must often fight for ourselves and our freedom, our families, friends and our way of life. This we all have in common, all of us in SIF7. It is what gives us our edge when we are in the field."

  "I understand," said Micah, "I trust my life and all I hold dear to Ted, Vera and Charlie, and have on more than one occasion. As for me... I'll talk if you want but it isn't pretty."

  "Please, Micah."

  "Slib." His expression hardened. "Have you heard of the Commonwealth of Caustik? That's polar, not many have. It was a highly toxic world left on its own during the Collapse and Interim. Its government evolved from a necessary system of prioritization into a rigid stratification under which the privileged rich, highcarders, had everything they wanted while the rest didn't. Those were the lowcarders. Me and my family. We struggled to make it and were doing it when my fiancée and I were assaulted by three highcarders juiced up on turbo.

  "I had a choice between a years-long death sentence detoxifying the equator or military service. You can guess which I chose. The unit I landed in was called 'elite.' It wasn't. Have you ever heard of juice troopers?"

  Siffai gasped.

  "Exactly. I was one of their best until my CO turned coward. He gave me the big boot to cover his own assets and I landed in the League Marines. That's when I learned the truth about my former unit: it was dirty. It was as dirty as it's possible to be." Micah clamped down hard on his emotions. "They conditioned us subliminally to cover what we did, what they did, but when I left it all came out. We did the things that would make any decent person or military puke their guts out."