Fatal Error - Keith R. A. DeCandido [10]
Softening, Miko said, “Of course, I’m sorry, Reger. These are troubling times, and I forgot myself.”
“That is all right, Speaker,” Undlar said, his voice getting more subdued again. “It’s just that—there is a Pevvni trading ship in Brioni Port that might be able to make the journey. It is an experimental ship that has circuitry independent of the Great One.”
Ansed’s already-wide eyes went wider. “What?”
Shock spread around the table as the other four Speakers expressed similar outrage. “Who approved this?” Biral asked.
Undlar straightened. “We did. The Pevvni came to the clergy with a special request to construct this prototype. They built it as an experiment, in case further dealings with the Federation led to more out-of-system travel beyond the Great One’s ability to control.”
Angry once again, Miko said, “That should never have been approved without consulting the Speakers!”
“I don’t see how that matters,” Undlar said indignantly. “We are the Caretakers of the Great One, and so the Pevvni wisely came to us to gain approval for this prototype. We thought it was a worthwhile experiment, for precisely the reasons they gave.”
“And you didn’t think to consult us?” Biral asked, his face turning indigo with outrage.
“Reger,” Ansed said calmly, trying to keep this from turning into a shouting match, “perhaps you didn’t realize the political implications of what you were doing.”
“What political implications?” Undlar asked, now looking confused.
Ansed sighed. Priests are wonderful for spiritual matters, but they can be shockingly naïve. “One of the reasons why we have remained so stable over the millennia is because we are united under Ganitriul. We have had no war, no upheavals, and no strife for three thousand years.”
“The Pevvni colonization could safely be called an upheaval.”
Save me from youth, Ansed thought, trying not to groan. Undlar hadn’t been born when the ninth planet had been colonized by the Pevvni. “Not at all. It was an orderly process that was debated around this very table, and voted on by the people. Eventually, the Pevvni were granted permission, but the process by which they got there was orderly. To secretly grant the Pevvni the right to construct vessels independent of the system is not orderly.”
“It was never meant to be secret,” Undlar said defensively. “We simply did not see it as a concern.”
“Well, you should have,” Ansed said, trying—and failing—not to sound condescending. “There are those among the Pevvni who have expressed an interest in breaking off from Eerlik—and from Ganitriul. This is exactly the kind of thing they might use as a weapon against us.”
Before Undlar could respond to that, Speaker Talu said, “Ah, First Speaker, with all due respect, is this really the time to reprimand Reger Undlar for information that may well save us?”
Ansed was brought up short by Talu’s statement, which was delivered in the older woman’s usual measured tones. But then, she thought, Talu has always been the voice of reason among the Speakers. “You’re right, of course, Talu. If this ship does have circuitry that is independent of Ganitriul, then we must see if we can use it to fly to the moon immediately. If no one objects, we should adjourn to Brioni and see if this ship—”
“The Senbolma,” Undlar said.
Ansed nodded. “If the Senbolma is truly spaceworthy.”
“I’m not going out there,” Biral said. “It’s insane. And just walking from my home left me dehydrated. You’re not getting me to Brioni—that’s at least a couple hours’ walk.”
Every other Speaker chimed in with similar responses—even Talu, from whom Ansed had expected more (though she was quite elderly). Truth be told, Ansed felt the same way in her heart, but she had a duty to perform, and she would not shirk it, even if the others would.
“Then I will go myself,” she said, getting to her feet.
“As will I,” said Undlar, doing the same, albeit somewhat less steadily.
“That is unnecessary,” Ansed said, not relishing the idea of supporting the wounded priest throughout the walk. “It would be a waste, Reger, especially