[This is not a "sex story". It is a story about a society where people have superfast reflexes... and guns.]
Chapter 9: Attack On The Conference
League Ambassador Don Miller sampled some refreshments as he eyed the crowd. The entire diplomatic corps was here, not just senior diplomats, but mid-level staff as well from all the major embassies. The League was there in full force, of course, but also there were the diplomats from the June Directorate, the Slurians, and all the other major interplanetary governments.
Quandry had wanted it this way, extending broad invitations to all the embassies, to bring their entire staff. After being cooped up for weeks in their embassies because of the hostility of the local population, most of the embassy staffs had accepted, even if they were a bit wary. Quandry had capitalized on the weariness and especially the gullibility of the diplomats, which, as it turned out, was not very difficult to do.
Grafton was a difficult planet under the best of circumstances. It had no government to speak of, so there were no unified authorities to deal with. The planet didn't recognize the concept of diplomatic immunity, which meant that embassies were not considered sovereign territory and diplomats could be shot or even killed without due process. That hadn't happened, even during this current period of ugliness. The local Graftonites took a patronizing view towards them, referring to them as 'sheep', and as long as the diplomatic corps took pains not to offend anyone there were no problems.
As least until several weeks ago. Several embassy staffs were threatened by hostile mobs, and they fled to their embassies, and soon no off-worlder was leaving any embassy for any reason.
But Quandry had given them his personal assurances of safe-conduct to and from the meeting hall, and Miller was pleased that he had delivered. There were Graftonite guards around the building who were unfailingly polite, and the hall was well stocked with excellent food, which Miller thought was a good sign. Quandry was taking pains to treat them well. That meant only one thing: he was prepared to deal.
Miller approached the Slurian ambassador, a man named Stod Rukanan. He was Miller's counterpart on Grafton, as much as any Slurian could be. Of course, all members of the Slurian foreign service were almost automatically also members of various branches of the Slurian Secret Police, usually the NGB, but that didn't mean that they couldn't be civil with each other.
Rukanan eyed him coming warily, rapidly gobbling down food from a tray, like an animal fearing that it would be taken away at any moment. Slurians were like that.
"Ambassador," said Miller, by way of greeting.
"Um," grunted Rukanan, as he eyed Miller warily. He continued to eat, only stopping when the tray was empty. Miller wondered if there was enough to eat in the Slurian embassy.
"This is an auspicious beginning, don't you think?" said Miller.
"What makes you say that?" said Rukanan, looking about for something else to eat.
"The banquet hall is very well provided for. Perhaps Quandry is prepared to be reasonable."
"You are very foolish if you trust Quandry," said Rukanan.
"It's my understanding that Slurians never trust anyone," said Miller.
"That's why we always win," said Rukanan.
"Do you?" said a new voice.
They turned to see Ambassador Steve Yardin of the June Directorate. "It seems to me that the Slurian Union has had some reverses of late."
"All lies and enemy propaganda," said Rukanan, waiving a hand dismissively.
"The industrial accident that blew up the largest power plant on Sluria, reports of low harvests and food shortages on Ufranda Prime, further reports of unrest on-"
"As I said, all lies and propaganda," said Rukanan. And then, as an afterthought, "But even if they were not all lies, they would be exaggerations, not under my jurisdiction, and caused by bad weather."
"Well, I suppose that covers all the possibilities, then," said Yardin. "I wonder when our host will make an appearance?"
They didn't have to wait long. Part of the room darkened and a hologram of Mo Quandry appeared.
"A hologram?" said Miller. "Why doesn't he appear in person?"
"Greetings, noble diplomats," said the hologram. "As most of you know, I am Mo Quandry. I want to thank you for taking the time to come to our conference."
"How are we supposed to have a conference when their main negotiator won't appear in person?" Yardin wondered.
"Perhaps appearing in person might anger hardliners in his faction," Miller theorized.
"We've had a lot of discussion and argument over the past few weeks regarding our proposal to have your governments make economic development grants to our planet. While most of your governments have accepted the idea in principal, the amounts they've offered have been insultingly small," said Quandry. "Take the League, the biggest and richest federation of planets. They offer a meager 500 million credits in aid a year, when we requested 20 billion. They might as well not have bothered to respond."
"We've gone back and forth for some time but the numbers have not moved markedly in our direction. That's why we've called this conference, to resolve our outstanding issues," said Quandry. "After analyzing the problem in depth with a blue ribbon panel of political scientists, we realize the problem is that we aren't getting the attention of sufficiently senior government officials on your homeworlds. With your cooperation, we have figured out an efficient way to deal with this problem."
He paused, and if by signal, Graftonite gunmen streamed into the room. The crowd started to murmur with trepidation.
"You will be held at this facility for the next 50 hours. Your governments will be told that if they do not agree to pay, you will be executed."
The murmur grew into a roar.
Quandry raised the volume of his broadcast. "Naturally, I'm sure it will not come to that. We are all civilized people, aren't we? You will be kept comfortable and safe during this period, but you will not be allowed to contact your governments." He paused. "One last thing: I ask, for your own safety, that you do not attempt to leave or interfere with my diplomatic representatives. I would not want to needlessly create a diplomatic incident."
Graftonite gunmen fanned throughout the room, carrying weapons detectors. Their detectors flashed when they scanned two Slurian diplomatic representatives. The Slurians moved to draw their weapons--and were shot dead before they could get their hands on their blasters.
"If you want to live, drop your weapons now," said Rocco, speaking loudly. After a moment's hesitation, there was a clatter as weapons were dropped to the ground. The gunmen fanned out and picked them up. Once they were done scanning the crowd, they took up positions along all the exits.
"This is not good," said Miller. "I'm not sure if my government will pay."
"I'm certain my government won't," said Yardin.
Yardin turned to Rukanan, who before Yardin had a chance to ask the question, bitterly said, "What do you think?"
"Well, perhaps we will be rescued," said Miller.
"We don't have more than a handful of military guards at our embassy," said Yardin. "And none of them would have a chance against Graftonites."
"Our situation is the same," said Miller.
Rukanan said nothing.
********
"We're changing the scramble code every half second, but even that is no guarantee of complete security," said Croft, eyeing the hologram.
"Elements of the Eighth Fleet are already on their way to Grafton," said the image of the Chief. "But it's unclear if they're going to make it in time or not."
"Is negotiation not an option?" said Tane.
"You're wasting your time," snapped Croft. "He wants to execute the captives, but he needs an excuse to do so. He's not going to negotiate."
"You've got a point," said the Chief. "What, then, are our options?"
"I could attempt a rescue," said Croft.
"The nearest Column team is more than four days away," said the Chief.
"When I said I, I meant 'I' as in 'I' singular," said Croft.
"That compound is ringed with Graftonite guards. How do you propose to rescue the ambassadors while holding off all of the Graftonites on your own?"
"I don't know... yet," said Croft.
"I'm leery about a haphazard rescue attempt," said the Chief.
"What alternative do you have?" said Croft.
The Chief was silent for a moment. Then she said, "You do have a reputation for achieving the very difficult."
"I have a very good publicist," said Croft.
The Chief appeared to stare at Croft intently. Could he do it? "All right," the Chief said finally. "We have no other choice. What is your plan?"
"I'm afraid you can't micromanage me this time, because even I don't know all the details of my plan yet and I can't tell you what I don't know," said Croft. "I'm not even certain it will be possible to rescue them all safely. I may only be able to rescue a handful of people. I'll try to do what I can." Before the Chief could respond further, he said, "Croft out." And cut the connection.
"I rather liked that," said Croft.
"I know you did," said Tane. "What can I do to help?"
"You see that spot?" Croft asked, pointing to the ground.
"Where I'm standing?"
"Yes," said Tane.
"I need you to stay precisely on that position," said Croft.
"Why? For how long?"
"Until further notice," said Croft.
"How can that help?" Tane asked.
"You're an analyst, not an operative," said Croft. "No, this work is only for the operations guys." He reached out and put a brotherly arm around the Clapper.
The Clapper squealed and pulled away. "Not to touch!" he said, trembling.
"Let's go and have a look at that building," said Croft. He turned to go, but saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned back to the Clapper.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" Croft asked.
The Clapper looked nervous, avoiding eye contact. "...noooo...."
"Are you sure?"
The Clapper nodded.
"Then can I ask a question?" said Croft. "Just a small one?"
The Clapper, considered, then nodded.
"Why is there a fire coming out of the bathroom?"
Red Sally stepped out of the bathroom, a small flame coming out of her fingers. "I got bored," She complained.
"You came back to Grafton against orders because you got bored, or you lit a fire because you got bored?" Croft asked.
Sally thought about that one for a moment. "Both."
"I thought I told you to return to August," said Croft.
"I followed your orders," said Sally, making a face. "I did return to August. But then I got bored again. I'm tired of training exercises. All they do is try to do is to keep me from starting fires."
"They're such villains, I know," said Croft.
"Please don't send me back," said Sally.
Croft started to say something, stopped, and started again. "All right. Maybe we can use you."
Sally smiled and actually jumped into the air for joy.
"On one condition!"
"What?" said Sally.
"You must not ignite any Graftonite without my permission."
Sally considered, looking crestfallen. "You drive a hard bargain."
