Horizon Storms - Kevin J. Anderson [193]
The Chairman leaned forward. “In fact, allow me to share with you a declaration that King Peter is about to sign.” He activated the tablescreen to display neat words. “Once we cut away all the flowery diplomatic and legal language, this decrees martial law against the Roamer clans and explicitly revokes any implied right to self-government or independence.”
He toggled to another page. “And here is a facsimile of the original treaty signed by all generation ships, including the Kanaka, which guarantees that none of the colonists, crew, or any of their descendants will take any action that harms Earth—which your embargo does.” He switched to a third document. “And this is a formal demand that Roamers surrender all ekti stockpiles for distribution throughout the worlds of humanity according to the greatest need.” He looked at her with a thin smile, showing just a glimpse of teeth. “I can print you a copy for your own records.”
Cesca actually let out a laugh. “This goes so far beyond the pale that you can’t hope to withstand any legal challenge.”
“Oh, there will be no challenge. In fact, this is what a majority of the Hansa citizenry demands. Would you like to see polling numbers? Roamer clans are currently considered hostile to the human race. When you petulantly cut off our ekti supply, you declared war on Earth, Speaker Peroni.”
“You never had the right to one hundred percent of our ekti output.”
“Yes, we did. King Peter declared it himself. And you’ve given us no choice but to take drastic action. Your facility at”—he scanned down until he found the name on Nikko’s images—“Hurricane Depot is only the first of several possible acquisitions we have planned.”
“Acquisitions?”
“A handful of asteroid settlements, mining facilities, and delivery ships—all are vulnerable. Believe me, if you insist on forcing my hand, then I will give the EDF standing orders to take anything they find, by whatever means possible.” Now he gave her a maddeningly “reasonable” look. “This conflict will drag on only as long as you allow it, Speaker Peroni. Surrender your ekti and settle into the greater family of humanity. Then we can get down to business.”
Given how swiftly and easily the EDF battle group had raided and destroyed Hurricane Depot, the Chairman obviously expected Cesca to bow to the ultimatum. But he didn’t know her, and he didn’t know exactly what he was dealing with. She could never return to Rendezvous with terms like those. The Roamers would throw her out the nearest airlock and pick a stronger Speaker.
“And now that you have me here, I suppose you’ll simply hold me hostage? A political prisoner?”
The Chairman cocked his head in surprise. “I would never do something so clumsy and crude, Speaker Peroni. Too many people witnessed your arrival, and it would be extremely bad diplomatic form for me to lock you up. Then I suppose the Roamer clans would be even more disorganized than usual, and I’d never get a resolution to this issue. Would you like to capitulate now and save us all a great deal of time and discomfort?”
She stood, and her voice was as calm as his. “I made an error in believing that you were a rational leader, Chairman Wenceslas. This is little more than extortion, and the EDF is composed of your henchmen. As Speaker for all clans, I reaffirm that commerce between the Roamers and the Hansa remains at an end. No further ekti, or any resources whatsoever, will be made available to you.”
Basil looked annoyed. No doubt, he was convinced that Cesca’s response would make the whole problem last longer and force him to devote his dwindling resources to the matter.
“We will hunt you down,” he said, still seated, showing her no courtesy at all. “We will seize all of your assets.”
She strode to the door, startling the guard who waited out there. “Waste your time and send your warships wherever you like, Mr. Chairman. We will vanish like smoke.”
Chapter 97 — KOTTO OKIAH
Distant sunlight gleamed from the diamond