Implacable, page 21
“But then,” Dr. Cresida added dryly, “most of our theories about jump space remain pure speculation.”
Ambassador Rycerz turned back to Boudreaux. “Commander, what about the questions the Wooareek asked of you? Didn’t those tell us anything about them?”
“The Wooareek asked us many questions about human history,” Commander Boudreaux said. “They knew a lot of events and personalities. However they’ve been watching us, it’s been thorough and exhaustive, though the Wooareek didn’t give us any details beyond saying they respected the privacy of persons.”
“Whatever that means to them,” Dr. Nkosi the sociologist muttered.
“I asked them why they cared so much about our history,” Boudreaux continued, “and why they cared about what we thought about our history. And they said, ‘You can’t know where you are unless you know where you came from.’ ”
John Senn sat up straight and grinned. “I wholeheartedly endorse that sentiment!”
“Did they mean that?” Ambassador Rycerz asked, looking skeptical.
“Yes,” Kommodor Bradamont replied. “At one point they asked me why the Alliance had stopped bombarding enemy cities from space. The Wooareek didn’t ask why we’d started doing that in the later decades of the war with the Syndics. They wanted to know why we’d stopped. I used their earlier answer to frame my reply, saying that Admiral Geary had reminded us of where we’d been, and that caused us to realize where we were, and once we did that we knew we didn’t want to be there.”
“The Wooareek liked that answer,” Commander Boudreaux said. “It’s in my report. When they were happy, we’d see dark patches on their skin. This really bright purple seemed to be when they were most happy. If the colors got pale, it meant they weren’t so happy.”
“I have an extensive analysis of that in my report,” Dr. Yarovets grumbled.
“Do you agree with what Commander Boudreaux said about the coloration?” Rycerz asked.
“It’s overly simplified, but . . . not wholly inaccurate.”
“At one point,” Bradamont said, “we felt they were really unhappy, even though they didn’t say so, and it was almost as if they faded into the background.”
Dr. Nasr made an intrigued sound. “On Old Earth, species such as the octopus could change the color of their skin to blend in to their environment. I read up on them after we saw the Wooareek. Perhaps the Wooareek are the same, and when feeling worried or unhappy hide themselves.”
“I have a detailed analysis of that as well,” Dr. Yarovets hastily interjected. “An informed analysis.”
“So they wanted to know why we’d done things in our history,” Ambassador Rycerz said. “What else did they want? Why did they even want Sapphire there instead of asking us those questions here?”
“I have a guess on that,” Dr. Nkosi said, speaking cautiously. “I don’t have anything like sufficient grounds to speak definitively. But I believe it may have been a type of interview. The Wooareek, including members who may not have wanted to or couldn’t leave their own star systems, wanted to see firsthand what humans were like.”
“The Wooareek kept telling us they wanted Sapphire there so they could talk to us,” Bradamont said. “So they could see us. I gained the impression that also meant judging us based on how we answered and what we asked them.”
“There’s insufficient data to support that conclusion,” Dr. Nkosi said.
Rycerz shook her head, looking thoughtful. “While you were gone, the Dancers invited Admiral Geary and Captain Desjani to visit the primary inhabited world here. Our impression of that short visit was about the same, that it was aimed at allowing many Dancers to see humans for themselves.”
“What about these deals the Wooareek mentioned?” Geary said. “Did they make it clear what they wanted from humanity?”
It was the question no one had wanted to ask because everyone was afraid to hear the answer. He felt the way tension rose as his question went home, the way the climate-controlled compartment seemed to chill.
Kommodor Bradamont laughed softly, startling everyone. “Yes. Yes, they told us what they wanted.”
ELEVEN
“WHAT is it, then?” Ambassador Rycerz demanded, clearly puzzled by Bradamont’s attitude. “What do they want from us?”
“The Wooareek want our stories,” Bradamont said. “Our books, our music, our videos, our art. The products of human imagination and creativity.”
Several seconds of stunned silence were finally broken by Geary. “Our books?”
Commander Boudreaux nodded. “Yes, Admiral. The Wooareek desire agreements for the sharing of what they called ‘creations.’ That’s what the Wooareek call things like music, movies, books, art, anything like that.”
“Why?” Captain Badaya spread his hands in bafflement. “Why would someone like the Wooareek care about human books and movies and pictures?”
Bradamont smiled. “The Wooareek told us, ‘Your stories are windows into how you think, your art shows how you see, your music shows how you feel.’ Apparently, they’re fascinated by the different perspectives different species bring to such things. How they view the universe and each other.”
“Sort of like how humans enjoy experiencing other human cultures?” Captain Duellos said.
“That’s a rough comparison,” Dr. Nkosi said. “But roughly accurate, as far as we can tell.”
Captain Armus leaned forward, plainly skeptical. “The Wooareek made it clear to you that they had closely surveilled us for who knows how long. That means they must already have had plenty of access to our music and movies and such.”
“Yes, sir,” Commander Boudreaux said. “We brought that up. The Wooareek said they’d used those things for scientific purposes. But the Wooareek claimed they haven’t sold or exchanged or distributed any of that music or other things within their society. Because, they said, they haven’t paid for it.”
“They haven’t paid for it?” Rycerz stared at Boudreaux. “They want to pay for it?”
“Yes, Ambassador,” Kommodor Bradamont said. “The Wooareek told us they need to have agreements with the creators of the ‘creations’ that allow them to distribute those things. And they said they’d pay for those agreements.”
“They already have them,” Captain Badaya said, openly skeptical, “but they think they still have to pay for them?”
“Yes,” Commander Boudreaux said. “They insisted on it.”
“Ethical aliens,” Captain Duellos said, looking torn between amusement and disbelief.
“If their technology is that advanced, and we can trade them popular songs for it, why wouldn’t we do that?” Captain Smythe said, smiling.
Everyone turned eager looks on Commander Boudreaux, who shook his head, looking unhappy. “We asked the Wooareek about technology. They said . . .” He grimaced. “The words were polite enough, but they amounted to absolutely not.”
“ ‘No way,’ ” Bradamont quoted. “Maybe it was just how their translator worked, but listening to their reply, I and the others had the distinct impression of adults telling an eager child, ‘Maybe we’ll talk about that when you’re older.’ They’re not going to transfer technology.”
The silence following Boudreaux’s and Bradamont’s statements was broken by Captain Smythe, speaking in a plaintive voice. “But I want it now!”
Once the laughter had died down, Geary looked at Ambassador Rycerz. “I guess getting access to any of the Wooareek technology will be a long-term diplomatic issue.”
“And a business issue,” Rycerz said. “If the Wooareek want deals for creative products such as songs and books, that would mean negotiations with those holding the rights to those things. All the Alliance government could legally do is exert oversight of such business negotiations.”
“What were they talking about paying, if not knowledge or tech?” Captain Duellos asked.
Kommodor Bradamont smiled slightly. “Precious metals. Jewels. Other precious natural items. Their own art. They showed us some amazing carvings of what seemed like corals. And, of course, the deals would create sales access for the human creators to all of the Wooareek-occupied star systems.”
Tanya Desjani spoke up. “I don’t get it. These Wooareek appear to be incredibly powerful. They control awesome technology. Why are they asking us about making deals? Why aren’t they telling us what deals we’re going to get?”
“That’s what humans would do,” Captain Badaya agreed matter-of-factly.
“But instead they want peace and mutual agreements?” Desjani asked. “They want to pay us for what they already have? What is up with that?”
“They’re ethical,” Captain Duellos repeated.
“So? I’m pretty ethical, too. I think most if not all of us here are ethical. Or mostly ethical, anyway. But the Wooareek seem way too good to be true.”
“You’re sure they have weapons?” Geary asked Bradamont, Boudreaux, and Iger. “Did you say they confirmed they have weapons?”
Boudreaux grimaced. “They admitted they’d developed weapons to defend themselves against dangerous creatures in their home world, and dangers they’ve encountered in space. That was as specific as they got.”
“The Wooareek didn’t act ashamed of having weapons,” Bradamont added. “It was just, ‘Yeah, we’ve got that sort of thing. No, we’re not worried about anyone else attacking us.’ It wasn’t bravado. No waving around of weapons or boasting of what they could do. We’ve all seen that sort of posturing. It was . . . confidence. The sort of deep-rooted confidence that comes from being the best at something.”
“That same impression was shared by nearly everyone aboard Sapphire,” Commander Boudreaux said.
Lieutenant Iger nodded. “My assessment is that the Wooareek are at peace because no one dares pick a fight with them. And if anyone does attack, as the Kicks or the enigmas might, the Wooareek could easily make short work of them. More likely, the Wooareek simply avoid them so they don’t have to deal with species like the Kicks.”
“So,” Captain Badaya said in arch tones, “these Wooareek are armed to the teeth but also ethical? Why?”
“I also don’t understand the connection between ethics and peace,” Captain Armus said, frowning. “It seems to me the ethical always get stomped on by the unethical. If these Wooareek are so powerful, they can do whatever they want. The fact that they seek agreements with us for things they can take seems an admission of weakness.” There were murmurs of agreement following his words.
Dr. Cresida, frowning, looked about her. “Ethics is often mistaken for weakness.”
John Senn nodded quickly. “That’s been a frequent error throughout human history.”
“Then explain the Wooareek behavior,” Captain Armus said.
Kommodor Bradamont shook her head. “What is there to explain? Why are you all questioning this? Of course an ethical species would be a peaceful species! None of them would ever decide to take something belonging to someone else just because they wanted it. None of them would go to war to take things by force instead of negotiating a mutual agreement. None of them would let others suffer by withholding things they have which they could easily part with to help another!”
“You mean like the Syndics would,” Captain Badaya said pointedly.
“Yes, like the Syndicate Worlds,” Bradamont agreed.
“No one would describe the Syndicate as ethical,” Colonel Rogero said. “I had to look up the word just now to understand what you were talking about.”
“If the Wooareek are that ethical,” Duellos said, “why do they even want to do business with humanity?”
“I asked them why they’d make agreements with us,” Bradamont said. “Because I wondered the same thing. And they said ‘You’re not always Melos.’ None of us have been able to figure out what that meant. It doesn’t seem to match any person or world in our databases. There’s just some ancient historical reference to an island on Old Earth.”
“Melos?!” John Senn said in surprise before looking abashed as everyone switched their attention to him. “The Melian Dialogue. That must be what the Wooareek meant. Yes, it’s ancient history on Old Earth. Thucydides wrote about it. There was a city called Melos that remained neutral in a war between . . . Athens and Sparta. Athens sent a strong force to attack Melos anyway, and in their demand that Melos surrender didn’t pretend to make any ethical arguments. They just said, ‘The strong do what they want, and the weak endure what they must.’ ”
“Power politics at its most basic and most brutal,” Ambassador Rycerz observed.
“And an awful lot of human history reflects that attitude,” Senn said. “Not all of it, though. If the Wooareek said we’re not always Melos, then they must mean humans aren’t always . . . unethical. So they’re willing to at least give us a chance.” He looked even more surprised. “The Wooareek know Thucydides? They must have already acquired a lot of knowledge about us.”
“The enigmas proved how easy that was,” Captain Duellos said. “How long ago was this Melos thing?”
“Thousands of years old before humans even left Old Earth.”
“I wonder how long they’ve been watching us. Did the Wooareek give any indication of how long they’ve had interstellar space travel?”
“They wouldn’t say,” Lieutenant Iger replied.
Duellos made a face. “But we do know they know a great deal about us. They must have been collecting that information for a long time. Why wait until now to contact us?”
“That’s the same question we’ve asked the Dancers,” General Charban said. “The answer is always something along the lines of ‘the time was right.’ ”
“We contacted the Dancers,” Desjani pointed out. “They didn’t reveal themselves to us. We came knocking on their door. Maybe we need to knock on doors before any of these species will deal with us.”
“The enigmas and the Kicks have responded to knocks on their doors by trying to kill us,” Badaya said.
Lieutenant Jamenson pointed to the star chart floating above the conference table. “We’ve never seen enigmas or Kicks in Dancer space, except when the Kicks followed us and the Dancers helped us fight them off. But the Taon and the Wooareek both seem to have free passage through Dancer-controlled space. Maybe they’re all part of some association, and knocking on one of their doors is the same as knocking on all of them?”
“That is entirely plausible,” Ambassador Rycerz said. “Not necessarily something as closely bound as star systems belonging to the Alliance, but some association allowing contact and trade. If so, when we entered Dancer space we may have knocked on the doors of every species belonging to such an association.”
“But they’re all judging us independently,” Geary said. “The Taon certainly did, and it seems the Wooareek are doing so as well.”
Rycerz nodded. “An association in which each member species retains considerable autonomy. Did the Wooareek say how they intended to get our response to their requests?”
“They said they’d be back here,” Commander Boudreaux replied. “They said they realized it might not be feasible for now, but ultimately they wanted to be able to visit human space to negotiate directly with creators.”
“That’d go over great,” Captain Badaya said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “Can you imagine the reactions in human star systems to the sort of show that the Wooareek put on when they brought Sapphire back?”
Captain Smythe snorted. “That kind of display of superiority wouldn’t play well.”
“I don’t believe a display of superiority was what the Wooareek intended,” Bradamont said, gesturing to emphasize her words. “I think they did it because they could and because it was fun. Just like humans having fun maneuvering battle cruisers all out or those warbird aerospace pilots doing stunts.”
“What they intend matters less than what humans would think,” Ambassador Rycerz pointed out. “There’s going to have to be a lot of groundwork laid to make that happen. Does anyone disagree with the need to reach these deals with the Wooareek?”
“I think,” General Charban said, “we need to consider how the Wooareek would react to dealing with the likes of Ronald Yangdi.”
“There comes a point where we cannot control that,” Rycerz said. “Not under the laws of the Alliance.”
“Realistically,” Captain Smythe said, “we can’t keep the Wooareek out of human space except by negotiations and reaching agreements. As it stands, if the Wooareek wanted to visit Unity, we couldn’t stop them.”
“We’d fight to the last if it came to that,” Captain Armus said. “Even it was hopeless, we would not submit without fighting as long as we could.”
“Even if it was hopeless,” Captain Desjani agreed.
“But surely it would be better not to fight,” Ambassador Rycerz said. “Not if we can reach agreements that, as far as I can see, would not harm humanity.”
Geary looked around, wondering if anyone would openly disagree.
No one did. Not even Colonel Webb, who, given his past distrust of aliens, Geary had thought would be leery of dealing with the Wooareek.
But Webb sat, silent, his eyes hooded. Something about his demeanor didn’t feel right to Geary, who made a mental note to check up on Webb after this.
Captain Armus nodded toward the ambassador. “I wouldn’t object. There have been too many deaths already.”
“Midway will need to have a place at the table when these agreements are made,” Colonel Rogero said. “Did the Wooareek indicate a willingness to deal with us?” he asked Bradamont.
“They did,” Bradamont said. “Though they kept making a reference to an umbrella. That’s how their translator rendered their word. Umbrella.”
“Specifically in reference to an agreement?” Rycerz asked. “I see. An umbrella agreement is basically something written broadly enough to cover both current issues and any future issues that might arise. It could also refer to an agreement that covers all Wooareek and human interactions.”
