Transformation Space - Marianne de Pierres [32]
Eating and walking always calmed Balbao. Doing them together was almost like meditation. By the time he reached EVAC #1, he’d reached a decision. If the invasion threat was real, he must take action. The survival of Sole’s chosen sentients – not to mention his own skin – could depend on his decisions.
The Balol guards on duty saluted and opened the outer hatch. He nodded at them to stand at ease as he disappeared inside. EVAC sentry duty was the most boring rotation on the security roster.
Ahhh. The smell of slightly stale air, catoplasma and titanium residues summoned sharp memories of his early years, which he’d spent on cramped ships in distant systems, dropping payload and studying data flow. He felt a sudden longing for the past, but brushed it away. Sentimentality would not help him sort out this mess.
He settled in front of the com-sole and activated the ’cast. First he tried to contact his immediate reportage, Commander Lars Unthak at the Group of Higher Intelligence Affairs, which was based in the Alnitak system. The ’cast faded, so he switched to the Balol coding. It took some time to get a reply on the emergency line, and then it was only a harried junior officer at the Balol trans-cast relay station.
‘This is Chief Astronomein Balbao, from Psuedoworld 9176, Class 18. Transmitting OLOSS ident.’ He waited for the pingback before speaking again. ‘I’m unable to make contact with my direct reportage at GHIA. I require a risk analysis of our situation.’
‘Chief Balbao, I can’t help you,’ said the young officer. ‘All the senior personnel are in conference. Stand by for instruction.’
‘Stand by? For how long?’ spluttered Balbao.
‘I can’t be exact. Within six hours.’
The chief grunted and pushed away from the com-sole to swallow some more gnarls. Sometimes he felt the meat concentrate was the only thing that kept him going.
Moud, inform the tyros that the meeting has been transferred to this location.
At what time, Chief Balbao?
Now.
Now translated into much longer.
Balbao counted the group as they squeezed into the comm-cabin. Moud, where are Javid Jividdat and the uulis?
Uuli Ummman and Nummun are in commune, and couldn’t be disturbed. Godhead Jividdat is nowhere to be found.
‘Javid’s probably off with that piece of skin and bone from the service crew. And as for Um and Nu … of all the ridiculous times to be off with the Humm,’ said Miranda Seeward sourly. She was squashed uncomfortably into the second comm-seat, her dimpled flesh overflowing like a spilled jelly.
‘What’s the idea of this?’ Lawmon Jise demanded.
‘What does GHIA say?’ asked Labile Connit.
‘Calm down, please, and listen.’ Balbao took a long swill of his water tube. ‘The station comm is rimming, as you may have gathered. I’ve had to use the emergency ’cast.’
‘To Balol?’
‘To the relay station, to be precise. I am waiting for an answer, hence the location of our meeting.’
‘Are things so dire, Balbao, that you must wait here on their whim?’ warbled Miranda.
Jise pinched her arm to quiet her, and she squealed.
Balbao glowered at them both. To think they were considered the greatest minds in their fields. In their fields. Remember that, he told himself. And you are the greatest in yours.
‘Having had time to reflect and possibly confer with each other, do you have any theories on the Entity’s sudden disappearance?’
‘Isn’t it obvious?’ said Miranda. ‘The Entity is unimpressed with this ridiculous war and has decided to avoid it.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Connit. ‘The war could not touch Sole. It is beyond such things.’
‘Is it?’ This came from Ra. The strange jewel-eyed Lostolian had not spoken since taking a seat in the cramped comm-cabin. He sat stiffly, legs crossed, wary of damaging his skin on the lifeship’s surfaces.
Thin-skinned weirdo, thought Balbao. ‘What are you saying, G-Godhead Ra?’ He stumbled over the pretentious title.
‘I’m saying that I have seen glimpses of Sole’s inner world, and the Entity is not without purpose.’
‘None of us are without purpose, Ra,’ said Jise impatiently. ‘Is there something