“Not Jace. The Pilot,” Khoth corrected her. “Humanity will be trained and then have access to Altaeth technology from ships to weaponry. Are you really claiming that the Alliance wants an unallied species with such advantages for itself?”
His mother’s expression had stilled. “The ships here are Alliance, not Earth’s own--”
“I intend to have ships and weaponry sent to Earth as soon as possible. I may not be representing Earth, but it is my home and its people are my people. I won’t have them left unguarded and defenseless,” Jace said quietly, his fingers tracing figure eights on the table in front of him. “Earth will have its own defense force. I won’t allow it to be dependent upon Alliance largess since, as you’ve made clear, you don’t see humanity as worth saving.”
“So, basically, Nova, you let us in or we just start our own club,” General Intoshkin grinned.
“They don’t know how to use the tech!” she cried.
“They’ll be trained. Humans are adaptable. They thrive on difficulties. Change, though challenging, spurs humanity on to greater heights,” Jace explained and spread his hands wide. “I truly wish to see humanity as part of the Alliance. I think they could learn much from the other species. But if you won’t make them a part of it, I have to put other safeguards in place. So I say again, humanity will be part of the Alliance or--”
“Humanity will be part of the Alliance,” she agreed tightly.
“Good,” Jace said.
The third demand was for access.
“The Osiris and whatever armada I put together will have free access to all of Alliance space,” Jace had said. “But we will not be bound by its laws.”
“Ah! You truly are human in your outlook by asking for that!” she had scoffed. “You want all the benefits, but none of the rules applied to you.”
“We’re going to honor your laws. What I mean is no surprise inspections. No obscure laws being used to impede our progress. That sort of thing,”Jace explained.
“We will have all the gate codes,” Khoth said. “We simply don’t want Alliance ships getting in the way of our mission.”
“And what is your mission exactly?” she demanded to know.
“To stop the Khul in whatever way possible,” Jace answered. “It’s the only way to save everyone.”
“Anything else?” she snapped, clearly thinking they had asked for way too much already.
“High Councillor Voor,” Khoth said coolly, “you could have been executed for your acts against the Osiris and Earth. The crew of the Ashaton and every other vessel under your command could have been spaced. The Pilot could have simply taken all of the ships around Haseon and all Alliance worlds away and given them to those who would ally eagerly with him, such as the humans you despise so much.”
“That might not be such a bad idea that last bit,” General Intoshkin stated with a chuckle. He wasn’t getting all he wanted, but he was getting a lot and he’d had to do little for it.
Khoth leaned forward, his eyes narrowed to slits, as he looked hard at his mother. “You have been given the gift of a second chance. Treat it as such or prepare to be removed.”
Mother and son regarded each other. She saw the truth in his eyes. He would not only advocate for this if she betrayed Jace in any way, he would be the one to enforce it. She knew this. He wasn’t one of those pathetic exiles that begged and pleaded to be recognized once more by family. He had chosen to leave the Alliance because of her wrongful actions. As he had listened to Jace negotiate with her, he had come to see that Jace was right that he wasn’t the one who should skulk about and act ashamed. He was loyal to Jace.
And maybe he was a little angry.
But just a little.
“I understand the Commander’s position,” she said softly.
Was there hurt there? It was petty and foolish to want her to hurt. But he did. He wanted her to regret her actions. But would she? She was never one to look back. Ever forward. She used to tell him that regret only slowed one down. The past could not be undone. It could only be left behind.
“I think that’s all from me. General?” Jace asked as he turned his head towards the general.
But General Intoshkin lifted his hands as if in surrender. “I believe that this is acceptable to us.”
“Then let’s adjourn. For now,” Jace said as he rose from the table. Khoth did as well. “Flight-Commander Thammah and Gehenna will escort you back to your ship, High Councillor Voor. You are free to return to Haseon, with the appropriate ships remaining behind of course, to prepare the Council for what’s to come. I will be escorting the human contingent to Haseon once we’re settled here.”
She stood and gave a sharp nod. “I will keep you apprised of my progress.”
“There’s no need,” Jace told her with an easy smile. “I’ll know everything that happens. If you need something in particular… well, I’ll know that too. But you may contact the Osiris.”
She nodded more slowly this time. Gehenna already was clanking towards them, but Thammah held back for a moment. She caught Khoth’s eye as a message popped up on his comm.
