Mirror Space - Marianne de Pierres [122]
Samuelle filled the quiet with accusations and demands. ‘What in Crux’s name is goin’ on, Captain? Landhurst’s got some nerve bringing me down here. Wait till Commander Farr hears about this.’
‘Commander Farr already knows, Ms Sansarin. That is why you’re returning to the station with us, not being detained.’
‘Sammy?’ The tallest woman Mira had ever seen was stooped in the low doorway into the containment area. Samuelle nodded reassurance, and the tall woman’s eyes flew to Thales. ‘What’s goin’ on?’ Her stare shifted to Station Sec, the OLOSS guards and then Mira.
‘Not sure,’ Samuelle frowned. ‘But I say we find out. Captain?’
The Sec sergeant accompanied the OLOSS contingent back the way they’d come and up a short escalator. After passing a series of checkpoints they entered the ante-room of a large chamber.
‘Commander Farr has permitted these witnesses access to the summit meeting,’ the captain informed the door guards, and produced another audio-plant.
Witnesses? Mira glanced at Thales, but his eyes were riveted to Fariss.
They were all scanned and physically searched, before the door guards disarmed the door. Samuelle entered first, followed by Fariss, then Mira and Thales. Only the captain and the Sec sergeant followed them in.
And for good reason. The room was already filled with ‘esques and aliens, mostly seated, in a semicircle around a liquid translator hub.
They fell silent as Samuelle walked directly around the outside to stand near Landhurst.
The Stationmaster had changed little since Mira had seen him last, his hooked nose still like a badly drawn line down the middle of his face, his bow legs and wiry torso encased in blue station overalls. Only the matt comm-patch above one ear distinguished him from any other station worker; that and his arrogant air.
In fact, the entire room was thick with confidence.
Lasper Farr sat to the right of Landhurst, but not next to him. Mira recognised other faces around the semicircle from newscasts. Lutinous the skieran ambassador, the Lostolian President Gan, the uuli Convenor, Balol Butnik, and numerous other dignitaries. Between Landhurst and Farr was JiHaigh, the OLOSS All-Prime. JiHaigh was said to be the most powerful individual in OLOSS Orion. Her physical presence in this chamber was a testament to the gravity of the summit. Like Samuelle, JiHaigh wore a protective skin suit, though hers was a subtle skin tone and lay underneath her clothes. It gave her face an unusual shininess. Mira imagined that most of the others wore some kind of physical safeguard, too - protection that she couldn’t see.
Landhurst’s eyes flicked from Samuelle and Fariss straight to Thales, then settled on Mira. It took only a moment before she saw recognition light in them.
‘Baronessa Fedor?’ his and another voice said simultaneously.
Landhurst leapt up from his chair and a second figure lifted on a float-form that supported his partially paralysed body.
‘Sophos Mianos,’ hissed Thales through his teeth.
Mira took in the livid expression of the Scolar Pre-Eminence who had tried to imprison her and Insignia. Was his injury her fault? Had the paralysis occurred because of Insignia’s abrupt detachment from the OLOSS ship?
Mira straightened her back, bracing herself against a wave of anguish. What would Landhurst do? Would Mianos blame her?
‘Who allowed this?’ Landhurst spluttered.
Lasper Farr rose. ‘I did,’ he said in a mild voice. ‘I believe that these witnesses are in possession of crucial information that should be heard.’
‘Witnesses? This is not a court of law, this is a security summit,’ said Landhurst.
‘This is,’ said Commander Farr more pertinently, more dangerously, ‘a dialogue about the continued survival of our species. Now, Samuelle, before we begin, explain to me what you’re doing in the company of Baronessa Fedor and Thales Berniere.’
‘I see you do know her, Lasper. Proves that part of her story, at least,’ Samuelle said with relief.
Landhurst interjected. ‘Baronessa Fedor will be placed under arrest and taken immediately to confinement. Sergeant,