Dirge - Alan Dean Foster [129]
Glancing in MacCunn’s direction, Yirghiz saw no enlightenment there. Perhaps the field marshal was preoccupied with his persistent bowel problems, the admiral mused. That was not the case. MacCunn simply had nothing to say and was content to let his colleague take the lead in composing their response. It did not mean he was not paying attention.
“Could you be more specific as to what you mean when you say ‘more proactive’?”
“I have come here on behalf of the Great Hive authorized to propose a formal military alliance between our peoples. We want to help you in your fight against these Pitar,” the di-eint stated.
This time MacCunn was quick to respond. “Why?” he asked curtly. “So you were outraged by what they did on Treetrunk. All intelligent species were outraged. Only you are offering to help. Outrage is by itself an insufficient reason for actively engaging in interstellar warfare.”
“Is it?” Many-lensed eyes shifted to face the field marshal. When he did not respond, the di-eint gestured acknowledgment. “Very well. It is as you say. There are other reasons. While a large faction finds the outrage sufficient for us to respond, they are not a majority. It was necessary to build an adequate consensus, corollary by corollary.” She shifted her awkward position on the queue of cushions.
“As you know, we have been locked in an ongoing battle with the Empire of the AAnn since before your kind encountered ours. The AAnn are a devious, ruthless, expansionist race.”
“We’ve had no trouble with the AAnn,” Yirghiz felt compelled to point out.
“The AAnn are also very patient. They are evaluating your resources.” The elderly alien leaned toward them. “They are especially interested in the present conflict. While they are too clever to aid the Pitar directly, they are delighted to watch them deplete your resources.”
MacCunn frowned. “Why should they care who wins? As you say, they are completely neutral.”
“On the face of it, they are. But the Pitar have nothing the AAnn want and pose no threat to their strategies. The Pitar are not colonizers. Humans are, very much so. As are the AAnn. As both spheres of influence continue to expand, they will inevitably begin to overlap. There will come a time when tenancy of a new world falls into dispute. If the Pitar succeed in severely weakening you, or are still tying down a large portion of your military strength, the AAnn will not hesitate to take advantage of the situation that results.”
The field marshal was nodding slowly. This was an explanation he had heard before and could understand. “So by helping us against the Pitar you hope to ensure that our strength is not diminished, and that it will be available as a counterweight to future AAnn expansion.”
She did not nod. Adoption of human gestures was a habitude for the young. But she did indicate her acknowledgment. “We also expect this alliance to operate in the opposite direction.”
“Of course you do.” As much was obvious to Yirghiz. “If your government is going to send its citizens to risk their lives on our behalf, it would be unreasonable not to expect the same from us. If the AAnn attack you, you’d want to be able to ask for our help.”
“It’ll never happen.” MacCunn was darkly assured. “The world council will never vote to send ships and personnel to help defend—” He started to say what was in his mind, and hastily substituted something else. “—your kind.”
With their fixed exoskeleton the thranx were incapable of smiling. Nor were the relevant inflections detectable even to the more linguistically adept Yirghiz. It did not matter. The di-eint’s response contained sufficient inherent sarcasm.
“Bugs, you mean.”
MacCunn replied calmly. “I didn’t say that.”
“You do not have to. It doesn’t matter.” The di-eint’s antennae dipped and bobbed. “My government is prepared to leave the question of what degree of response your kind would provide should such a confrontation arise for future discussion. Our overriding concern is to assist you now.”
“Before the Pitar can weaken us to the point where we might be