Rush Into Dawn

Chapter 15

"Captain, we are ready for you now. Please follow me to the briefing room." Jehz stood up and straightened his jacket. The eyes of all the diplomats in the room followed him as he walked, their mild distain for the Musa clear in the dismissive looks shot at him and each other, though they were careful not to do so in an overtly insubordinate way. Jehz had become used to the treatment. As a military commander on a team dominated by diplomats, he actually expected it. It was tiresome but he was here to fill a role as a military representative on diplomatic missions, a role he desperately hoped would soon end. For two years now he had suffered through a never-ending stream of political plays for money, power, and freedom by some of the most desperate politicians in the known worlds. All would hope to manipulate the presence of the Given, almost none would succeed. The Given system of governance made it nearly impossible even if a Given diplomat could be somehow bent to their will.

Jehz had discovered in the many idle moments of this assignment a newfound appreciation for the patience and sacrifice of these Given, their empathy and relentless attempts to engage the protected peoples despite the almost juvenile resistance was nothing short of amazing. He came to understand the nuance of their work and the value in calming the more uncontrollable impulses of these developing societies. It required deep insight and understanding. To a Musa soldier steeped in the physical culture of the battlefield, it was boring - stunningly, excruciatingly so. If the Rija mind projection technique he had studied for years promised him the ability to withstand even the most brutal torture in the known worlds, it could not have found a better use than the Transition meetings of newly protected peoples.

How many times over would he have to listen to the same stream of pleadings, threats, recriminations, and reconciliation attempts? Almost identical politicians with nearly identical strivings but in widely separated solar systems, light years away from each other. There really was a sameness to the ambition of sentient life Jehz had never considered possible before taking this position. Painfully predictable, especially when viewed through his role as an observer. What version of it would we see this time around, he wondered, and could he possibly ever make it to the end of his assignment without losing his mind? What he would give for even a routine patrol on a safe, settled planet, just to feel the ground under his feet and the sense of possibility and a changing landscape. One day soon, he thought as he sat down heavily in his chair, trying his hardest to look interested.

The head diplomat entered the room, his eyes quickly scanning for someone until his gaze stopped on Jehz, which he held for a moment and then began whispering to an assistant. Very unusual thought Jehz, typically he was not acknowledged or even noticed in these meetings, especially by the senior officials. Jehz chalked it up to his being a grudging reminder of the real business they were in, power and protection, not the set piece psychological manipulation the diplomats were specialists at. Though today perhaps they actually needed him?

"Ladies, and gentleman, we have ourselves a bit of a situation that has emerged during the Transition meetings on a recently protected planet, Rychon. The native peoples have raised a bit of a fuss, claiming to have taken the Musa forces and diplomatic staff hostage. Or perhaps more precisely, claiming they have introduced a unique organism into the system of all Given on the planet that will prevent them from ever leaving, at least alive. There are no Illuta on the ground but the bio scans show nothing unusual. We are not sure what to make of it but of course by protocol are taking the threat seriously. General Alta happened to be nearby on another mission and is en route with a science team and all the military might of the Morta at his disposal. With all due respect to our Musa comrade, we would hope that level of intervention will not be necessary in this case. As a team experienced in the ups and downs of the Transition, it seems clear to us the Rychii are panicking, having very little prior contact with outside worlds. We should actively take the lead in this situation and defuse though we will need to move quickly to avoid the risk of any possible...escalation."