Méridien (The Silver Ships Book 3) (52 page)

“I would like to visit New Terra, President Gonzalez,” Gino finally said.

“What would be the purpose of your visit, Leader Diamanté?” Maria asked. “The Confederation has better tech than us, and many of your people believe contact with my people contaminates your society.”

“That is all quite true, Ser President,” Gino replied. “It would require you and I work that much harder to find common ground for trade, or are you suggesting that two people such as us would fail at the task?”

Maria extended her powerful hand to Gino, saying, “I look forward to your visit, Leader Diamanté.”

The traveler landed aboard the
Freedom,
where it had access to a cradle. In the future, the Harakens might develop landing gear, but for now, grav-lift cradles were required at any landing zone.

Maria Gonzalez and her Ministers boarded Captain Lillian Hauser’s liner for the return trip home. In fifty-six days, New Terra would receive the
Freedom
and load it with food stocks, building materials, and work force. The latter group would be composed of techs, engineers, and EVA crew who would help the Harakens build their planet’s first orbital station. The thought of New Terra’s T-Stations operating at full capacity for years to come pleased Maria, but more than that, New Terra would have technological access to the entire gamut of materials created for the Méridien-designed orbital station.

There had been one subject that Maria had not resolved to her satisfaction. Privately she had broached the subject of travelers with beam weaponry for New Terra, but Alex’s answer had been conditional. He didn’t say no, and he didn’t say yes. He stated he needed more time to consider his decision. It was a mature answer for a leader, Maria had thought.

Aboard the
Il Piacere
, the House Leaders and their support staff were an hour ahead of Captain Hauser’s liner, bound for Méridien. Gino Diamanté sipped his drink, luxuriating in their mission’s success. Every other Méridien House Leader, except for the two in his company, had chosen not to join him for various reasons. Some intensely disliked Alex Racine. Others were incensed at the presence of Independents on Cetus—as they chose to still call the planet. And many other excuses had been offered. However, Gino knew the unstated and fundamental reason they had chosen to stay home—they feared Council Leader Ganesh.

Word had circulated throughout the flotilla that Alex and his entourage had remained aboard the
Freedom
after the visitors departed, and they were making their way to the central gardens. People began gathering in public places—parks, meal rooms, and any place they could congregate, anticipating the President’s announcement. Even the pilots and crew operating in the belt slowed their work to listen.

In the
Freedom
’s central gardens, Alex found a quiet bench for him and Renée. Alex sent.

Cordelia replied.

Alex began.

Alex’s message kicked off celebrations throughout the flotilla and planetside, although only about 9,000 Harakens lived on planet. Accommodations there remained sparse.

Many people tuned their implants to one of the SADE’s music channels. Christie and her new friends, Amelia and Eloise, had requested the SADEs set up simulcasts of multiple music channels. It was interesting that none of the SADEs had sought to confirm that the request was authorized. Few young people had more combined clout than the President’s sister, the runner organizer, and the great granddaughter of Fiona Haraken.

Around the park, many of the young tuned their implants to the same channel to dance in the syncopated Méridien style. It was interesting to watch young New Terrans imitate the sinuous dance styles of Méridien youth. As the evening wore on, food and drink were dispensed by vendors, and the pioneer restaurateur ventures took the opportunity to introduce their new recipes.

The entourage from the traveler, which had accompanied Alex and Renée, had wandered off, except for Étienne, who stood quietly to the side of their bench, continuing to keep watch. The potential for an incident was near zero, but as the senior people had agreed with the twins, near zero was not zero. Alex was too important to lose. Étienne wasn’t alone, though. Ellie Thompson’s delicate hand was curled in his.

Couples strolled through the
Freedom
’s grand park, walking hand in hand or arm in arm. It was a pleasurable custom many had adopted from the vids that circulated of their President and his partner. People passed in front of Alex and Renée, but none disturbed the President with comments, vocal or sent. Alex’s faraway expression urged them only to nod respectfully, with Renée accepting their honor for both of them.

Alex’s thoughts weren’t engaged with anyone, not even the SADEs. He was seeing a tug-explorer Captain, sitting alone at his bridge console aboard the
Outward Bound
. It felt like the distant past, but it was only two years ago. Then his thoughts drifted to the here and now. The people under his care were safe, and Haraken had secured a future that heralded growth and prosperity.
I just need this to last
, Alex thought.

The Swei Swee were gathered on the cliff tops of Libre’s Clarion Seas and Haraken’s Tranquil Bay, which the people had begun calling “Racine Bay.” The hives of both planets assembled every evening, nestling down on grass or soil, walking legs tucked under and eyestalks fully retracted, to hear the serenades of the Hive Singer. The hives of Libre heard Mutter many days later than the Haraken hives, but they were always assembled and waiting every evening for their Hive Singer, who never failed them.

This evening, Mutter was in her glory. She sang a song of celebration for the Harakens—human, SADE, and Swei Swee—and for herself. Her dream, her wish, the first she had held in her long existence, was one step closer to coming true.

One evening
, she thought,
I will stand before the hives when I sing
.

New Terra:

Alex Racine – Admiral of the Libran flotilla, Co-Leader of House Alexander

Amy Mallard – Ulam University professor and Alex Racine’s university mentor

Andrea Bonnard – Senior Captain of the Libran flotilla, Captain of the
Rêveur

Arthur McMorris – ex-President, resided at Prima’s Government House

Benjamin Diaz – Pioneer, Minister of Mining, “Rainmaker”

Bobbie Singh – New Terran who saves Amelia on board the
Freedom

Charlotte Sanderson – Producer at By-Long Media House

Christie Racine – Alex Racine’s fourteen-year-old sister

Clayton Downing XIV – ex-Assemblyman, then the new President until voted out

Damon Stearns – TSF Colonel and ex-outpost Commander of Sharius

Darryl Jaya – reinstated Minister of Technology

Delacroix – Pioneer emigrating to Haraken

Duggan Racine – Alex Racine’s father

Eli Roth –
Rêveur
’s starboard bay Flight Crew Chief

Eugene Pritchard – Assemblyman

Frasier Brothers – Criminals hired to spirit away Sebastien Velis after the engineer stole the TS-1 database

Fujio – Joaquin Station tech

Gary Giordano – Dagger-9 pilot lost during Libran exodus

Hatsuto Tanaka – Dagger pilot, brother of Miko Tanaka, Sheila Reynard’s second

Hezekiah Cohen – Joaquin Station Manager

House Alexander – Méridien House created by Alex and Renée

Jaime – Joaquin Station tech boss

Jason “Jase” Willard – Dagger pilot killed by a silver ship

Jerold Jameson – Naval Base Commander, stationed on Barren Island

Katie Racine – Alex Racine’s mother, Haraken Assembly member

Lamont – Haraken tech

Leonard Breslen – Pioneer, shuttle manufacturer

Levinson – New Terran engineer

Lyle Stamford –
Outward Bound
engineering tech

Maria Gonzalez – ex-Terran Security Forces General and new President

Marshall – TSF Colonel and new outpost Commander on Sharius

Michael “Mickey” Brandon –
Rêveur
’s Chief Engineer

Miko Tanaka – Copilot of
Outward Bound
, sister to Hatsuto Tanaka

Nemea Lorne – Senior Assemblywoman

O’bour – New Terran alcohol

Orma – Maria Gonzalez’s Chief of Staff

Peters – Terran Security Forces Captain

Prima – New Terra’s capital, named after the first colonist baby to survive one year

Randolph Oppenhurst – ex-TSF Captain

Robert Dorian – Dagger pilot who trains the Independent volunteers, Haraken Assembly member

Samuel B. Hunsader – CEO of Purity Ores, a mining company

Sean McCrery – Dagger-10 pilot

Sebastien Velis – TS-1 engineer who stole the Méridien database

Sheila Reynard – Dagger Squadron Leader, promoted to Commander

Stanley Peterson –
Rêveur
’s port bay Flight Crew Chief, Haraken Assembly member

Tatia Tachenko – Commander and XO of the
Rêveur,
ex-Terran Security Forces Major, new Haraken Admiral

Terran Security Forces (TSF) – New Terran system police force

Ulam University – University in Prima named after Captain Ulam

Wayne – student at Ulam University

William Drake – reinstated Minister of Space Exploration

Yoshiko Ishikawa – Finance Minister

Zeke Krausman –
Outward Bound
engineering tech

Confederation:

Ahmed Durak – First Mate of the
Money Maker

Alain de Long –
Rêveur
security escort for Renée, twin and crèche-mate to Étienne

Albert de Guirnon – Leader of House de Guirnon, brother of Renée

Alia – Bergfalk tech treated by Terese

Amelia – Independent teen girl, organizer of the runners

Angelina “Lina” Monti – daughter of the Independent Leader, Tomas Monti; Haraken Assembly member

Asu Azasdau – starship passenger liner Captain and Haraken Assembly member

Bertram Coulter – engineer and Independent on Libre

Bibi Haraken – daughter of Fiona Haraken, Haraken Assembly member

Clarion Seas – ocean waters on Libre

Claude Dupuis –
Rêveur
engineering tech

Cordelia – SADE (self-aware digital entity) of the
Freedom

Dane – starship passenger liner SADE

Darius Gaumata – Libran Dagger pilot trainee, ex-shuttle pilot

Deirdre Canaan – Libran Dagger pilot trainee, ex-shuttle pilot

Delores – Libran tech

Deter Schonberg – Libran philosopher, Haraken Assembly member

Devon O’Shea – House Leader, Planetside Transportation

Diada – Libran tree and Eloise’s “perch”

Edouard Manet –
Rêveur
navigation specialist

Elizabeth – starship passenger liner SADE

Ellie Thompson – Libran Dagger pilot trainee, raced atmo-ships

Eloise Haraken – thirteen-year-old great-granddaughter of Fiona Haraken

Eric Stroheim – Director of House Alexander and Haraken Ambassador

Ernst Hummel – Haraken Minister of Energy Production

Étienne de Long –
Rêveur
security escort for Renée, twin and crèche-mate to Alain

Fabrice – Libran implant engineer

Federico – Ore transport Captain

Fiona Haraken – Libran sky-tower building engineer and Elder of Libre’s Independents

Gratuito – Libre’s only city

Geneviève Laroque –
Rêveur
passenger

Gino Diamanté – House Leader, Infrastructure and Environmental Services

Giovanni Tetra – Libre’s Elder prior to Fiona Haraken

Gregorio – an elder left on Libre

Guillermo De Laurent – father of young man at Libran town meeting, Haraken Assembly member

Heinrich – young tech aboard the
Unsere Menschen
, who dies fixing jets on the hull

Helena Bartlett – Libran weaver and friend of Cordelia; Haraken Assembly member

House Bergfalk – House responsible for the Independents’ colony on Libre

House Brixton – House responsible for the design and creation of SADEs

House Diamanté – House responsible for infrastructure and environmental services

House Ganesh – House responsible for construction of commercial buildings

House de Guirnon – House responsible for building passenger liners

House O’Shea – House responsible for terminals and planetside transport

House Pasko – House responsible for implants

Jason Haraken – grandson of Fiona Haraken

José Cordova – Captain of the
Freedom

Julien –
Rêveur
’s SADE

Karl Beckert – Station Director on Orbital Station Ein over Libre

Karl Schmidt – starship passenger liner Captain

Katarina Pasko – House Leader of Implants

Lazlo Menlo – new Captain of the
Money Maker
and Haraken Minister of Transportation

Leeson Darden – Captain of the flotilla’s second freighter

Leo Tinto – Haraken Minister of Fabrication

Lillian Hauser – starship passenger liner Captain

Lucia Bellardo – Libran ex-Captain, now a shuttle pilot

Mahima Ganesh – Council Leader of Confederation

Marcel Lechaux – Terese’s brother and an Independent on Libre