The Master’s Hand |
Back to the
Master’s Hand Archives
Decision:
By Markus Thyme:
Previous episodes are in The Master’s Hand archive.
A day passed while the prisoners sat in silence with their
backs to the wall. The next morning, Fovea sat behind Pervez’s desk in
the Colonel’s office. Maliki, Kamil, and Pervez sat in chairs around the
desk.
“It seems we are at an impasse,” growled Fovea. “Those humans just sat there. I suppose if we allow it they will do so until they starve to death.”
“Or explode with their own urine,” smiled Maliki.
“They are a stubborn bunch,” agreed Pervez, “and quite perceptive, I would say. They caught on to our strategy within minutes.”
“I regret that I must agree,” said Fovea. “Perceptive and able to communicate.”
“Until they realized we were listening they spoke among themselves. That is clear.”
“What can we do now, sir?” asked Pervez.
“Since we can learn no more from them, I suppose we must dispose of them. We certainly cannot take them back to Calania with us.”
“Why not?” demanded
“Why should we do either?” snapped Pervez. “These humans you so adore have slain 13 of my marines and countless civilians.”
“I know that and I regret it, Colonel Pervez. But, in honesty it was not they who attack us.”
Pervez and Fovea cast cold eyes on
“You had best hold your tongue in this matter, Madam Hamas,” snarled Fovea. “Slain marines are not a matter to be defended.”
“I will hold my tongue, sir, when I make it clear that if you slay these prisoners I will report it. These are prisoners of war and entitled to the protection of our laws. If you slay them you had best slay me too.”
Having spoken,
“Slay you, you say?” snapped Pervez. “That is the second time you have made that bluff. Where my marines are concerned, you had best not tempt me!”
“Please, please, please,” said Maliki holding his palm out in a gesture of reconciliation. “Gentlemen, Madam Hamas, please let us be calm. This bickering does not help.”
Maliki, as the Emperors regent was able to intercede with some safety.
“What would you have us do?” demanded Fovea.
“Be reasonable,” replied Maliki. He turned directly to the Admiral.
“Sir, you know we cannot murder these prisoners. It goes against everything you vowed to uphold as a military man.”
“I know,” mutter Fovea, “but it goes against my grain to just release them.”
“Think about it, Admiral,” argued Maliki. “Why did we capture them?”
He paused for a moment, but got no answer.
“We wanted to learn if these humans were indeed sentient. I believe we have answered that question, though we may not like the answer.”
“So what?” snarled Kamil. “I have dead marines to take home. Would you like to explain to their kin that we had some of the enemy and released them out of kindness?”
“That is quite enough, Major,” said Pervez sharply.
“Sorry, sir,” said Kamil.
“He turned to Maliki. “I regret my words, Regent Maliki. Please forgive me.”
Again Maliki held his palms out.
“No offense taken, Major,” he said. “Let it be. Let us reason together.”
“Indeed,” agreed Fovea. “It is time to stop the rhetoric and decide what to do.”
“Yes,” added Pervez. “As to these prisoners, I see no gain in taking them back with us. It would serve no purpose. I believe we have learned all we can learn from them.”
“True,” remarked Fovea.
“As to their release,” said Maliki, “why not? I think back to how they treated our men with honor. Even when they themselves were at risk, they took the time to build a cairn.”
“They did that,” said Pervez. “They had nothing to gain, but they did it.”
“So, let us release them,” argued Maliki.
“Agreed,” sighed Fovea. “However, that leaves us with the bigger question.”
“Such as?” queried Pervez.
“What do we do about this world and its inhabitants. Agreed, we cannot, in good conscience slay them, we must still access the risk and act accordingly.”
“With respect, sir,” said Maliki, “is that a question we should answer?”
“I grasp your point, Regent,” replied Fovea. “Perhaps that is a question for the Emperors privy council.”
“Indeed, Admiral, especially since we have found these humans to be a sentient species. It is not a decision I would want to make independently,” said Maliki.
“Even as a member of the privy council?” smiled Fovea.
“Only one of several members,” laughed Maliki. “No, sir, I am not so high that I could not lose my head.”
Both laughed at that. It was not quite gallows humor, but it did show a great respect for a constant danger. Being privy to the Emperor held some risk along with the advantage.
“Then, how will we proceed?” asked Fovea.
“We do have the prince’s yacht, Admiral,” reminded Pervez.
“Oh, yes, so we do,” agreed Fovea, “and it is very fast. What say you Regent Maliki? Would you be disposed to take the Yacht home and lay this before the council?”
“I see why not,” agreed Maliki. “Would you wait here then, Admiral?”
“I must. Until we know the Emperors wish, I cannot abandon the planet. My ship is outfitted for two years duty. I can keep a garrison at this place and rotate marines to regular duty.”
“I will go then, and return in good time, I hope.”
“Will you need a crew?”
“I can take two me if you are so disposed, Admiral. Actually, the prince’s yacht can run itself. It has had to do so many times while the prince was busy recovering from a Talonberry infection.”
Fovea snorted with mirth as did the others in the room. Even
“I will send two junior officers to the yacht within the hour,” said Fovea. “feel free to leave as soon as you are ready.”
“That will be within the hour,” agreed Maliki. “It will be best to resolve this as soon as possible. Even with the yacht it will be at least four weeks ere we can be done with this place.”
“That will be if the emperor is in a good mood,” remarked Fovea.
“It does happen, but I suspect my news will not so dispose him. It would surprise me not if some heads were to roll at the Abdul-Aziz Packing Company.”
“Indeed, the Emperor is sure to feel deceived,” agreed Fovea. “Just return as soon as you can.”
“I will do that, sir.”
“Now then,” said Fovea. “Major, I know you are a marine first and an advocate second. I will entrust you to take these prisoners to the edge of the compound and push them into the forest. After that, they can fend for themselves. Do not send your men out there. Just let them go. We have suffered enough losses.”
So it was that
“Over here.” He hissed. “I be over here.”
The five recognized the voice of a fellow and turned toward
it.
“You be Randolph of Willets,” he remarked.
“Indeed, and you be Donald of Boone, I so believe.”
“That be true,” agreed Donald.
It was a time of joy and reunion, but also of sadness as the five told Randolph of the doings of the folk and the Invaders.
“For the time,” said
“Indeed, we should learn all we can, but we must also send word to the folk,” said Donald.
So they chose one of the five by lot to return to the tunnels come first light. Then they watched as the prince’s yacht rose into the air and disappeared into space.
Back to the
Master’s Hand Archives