Chapter 26: Cold Weld — Part 4
Baron Esteban waved his broken wrist aggressively, but did not bring it down on the table a second time. “Send Thomson then, see if I care. But if he gets us under attack from both sides, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Baron Johnson smiled. “Good, now that we’ve settled that issue. I believe that this meeting is concluded.”
Baron Thomson had no real desire to travel across space and meet some unknown almost human life forms in an attempt to gain another chip in the favor of the Triple Union. He was wise enough, apparently, not to discuss his personal desires. Instead, he sat still, quietly considering the holes both in his ambassadorial skills and his knowledge that might prove detrimental to first contact.
“There’s one other problem.” Baron Esteban said, pointing to a section of space. Just above and behind his Barony on the map. “A Barony of the Grison Cynosure lies just next to our borders and those of the Vodia Coalition, and this sector of space between those worlds is most likely a heavily monitored and secured region of space. If the enemy were privy to your presence in that sector, they might risk crossing borders to get to you. Your head would be quite a prize for any Ship’s Captain seeking Grison’s praise.”
“We don’t intend open contact with the enemy.” Thomson said.
“You’ll definitely have to be cautious.” Baron Johnson warned. “You won’t be armed for a serious incursion.”
Thomson thought about it. “Of course not, we can’t spare a garrison for such a trip. Even if we could, it’d be useless that close to the Cynosure. I’ll have to go in a small, unnoticeable ship. If I don’t get back alive, then you two will have to chose a third Baron quickly, to maintain political stability among the baronies.”
“I don’t see why we’d need a third.” Esteban said,
“Because you two argue incessantly. Without a tie-breaker, such as myself, nothing would ever get done.” Thomson said curtly.
Susan smiled in her sleep, as if remembering some great secret, long forgotten. She held her children close to her swollen breasts, their lips greedily suckling the milk. Another year and they’d be up and walking, free of her grasp. As she woke up, she realized how stiff her arms were from holding them. As soon as she hushed the children back to sleep, she set them hanging in their sling hammocks so she could wash up. After tying her breasts to her body, Susan went through her daily exercise ritual, exerting her muscles to the fullest. Joni and Trina had come back to Antans for a visit, promising to help her with her children. They came into her house at about the time she’d finished her exercise routine and taken up her kids again.
“We missed you.” Joni and Trina yelled from the ground. Susan dropped out of her house, landing gracefully. Joni greeted her with a kiss, and Trina nibbled on her neck. “How are your children?”
“They’re growing fast, real fast. Sebastian is a little pudgy, and Tonya a little thin. And they’re both beautiful. I see you have a new friend.” She said, adjusting her sash.
“Yes, this is Kris, Laura’s main squeeze.” Trina teased.
“I’m pleased to meet you.” Kris said, bowing slightly so he could kiss her. She drew him close and humored a hug, kissing his cheek.
I see your people have adapted a little of Antansi culture as well. Susan teased.
Only on Antans, my sister. We prefer armor on our world. There are still armed conflicts between family and clan, but the killing has stopped.
Different, yet the same, as is with all humankind.
I’ve got a few hours before the twins wake up and need feeding. Fill me in on Vodia’s current events.
“Let us hold them for awhile Susan,” Joni said, “Give your arms a break.”
Joni and Trina held the babies closely and took them away from the discussion, walking out along a branch and settling in the mist, some several paces from the exterior of the house. Kris smiled, mostly at Joni and Trina’s exquisite grace, then returned his attention to Susan, her breasts swollen with milk, her nipples equally expressed. He spoke quietly even in the absence of the babies, not wanting to risk waking them so far from their mother.
“Rather than go over recent history, just yet, we’d best discuss some important business, if it isn’t too rude.” Kris continued when Susan nodded her approval. “Just as we were coming into the solar system, we received a most peculiar query. It was from the Triple Union, and they’re requesting an alliance with the Vodia Coalition. Apparently nobody has told them that we are actually the Antans Coalition. But who am I to argue semantics? I’m just a pilot. At any rate, they’re requesting diplomatic contact, and have transmitted a time and place in a trading sector of space, for a dignitary to meet with them.”
