Camari continued in the same tone, confronting Narval directly, "I voice the profound hopes of the peoples of our diverse cultures, and yet, of our common species, that your threat is nothing but idle chatter."

He turned his head to right and left, taking in the others at the table.

"What say you, leaders of INOR, to this threat from a criminal let loose among us from Callisto? Will you yield to Narval your const.i.tutional rights and authority so that he personally a.s.sumes the power to dictate to your nation and to your people?

"I, for one, reject his proposal with contempt and declare, here and now, that the UIPS will fight to the death any attempt by Narval to impose his will on the United Inner Planetary System or, for that matter, on any nation in the Solar System."

Around the table, and in the seats beyond, a shocked silence fell. They were indeed cynical and self-seeking politicians, and devious ploys were their stock in trade for getting and holding power.

Narval's past was well known to them all. His words were a direct challenge to their positions, their regimes, and their lives. Faces clouded, they appeared overcome by the realization that Narval's capture of the Terminals was merely one part of a far greater conspiracy to destroy their sovereignty.

Advisors leaned forward to whisper to their Masters. Suspicious glances were cast at Narval who responded with a look of mocking amus.e.m.e.nt.

"This is all without significance," he thought, "by now INOR military forces are committed to me."

Camari sat quietly, letting it all happen. The dice had been cast elsewhere.

Ram entered and strode swiftly around the conference table toward Camari. Something in the way Ram's elongated frame stooped and flexed as he walked created an impression of suppressed excitement. Camari tensed with apprehension. Ram caught Camari's eye as the UIPS leader leaned back in his chair.

Ram bent and whispered into Camari's ear. His urgent manner and Camari's close attention stirred the conferees. Several at the table and in the seats beyond glanced at each other, eyebrows raised; others eyed Narval. This was to have been his show.

Narval sat motionless, eyes hooded, his normally ruddy face visibly graying.

Camari held up his hand for attention. It was an unnecessary gesture; all eyes had been on him and Ram from the moment Ram entered.

"I understand an unusual spunnel communication has arrived from the Planet Pluto Special Zone." Camari announced. "It is addressed to all Heads of State attending this convocation. The message calls for an audio-visual presentation in the view tank. Any objections?"

Without waiting for a response, he nodded over his shoulder. Ram murmured into the tiny transmitter in his hand.

The view tank, centered above the conference table, lost its soft neutral glow, blinked, and the Planet Pluto sector appeared. The tank displayed the debris of a s.p.a.ce battle: ruptured ships, unrecognizable ma.s.ses and fragments, and bloated human bodies. In the background were the Slingshot Terminals, intact.

From around the table came sounds of breath drawn sharply, gasps and muttered curses.

The view narrowed and zoomed in on a broad sheet of drifting metal. It bore the emblem of the Jovian Combined Strike Team. Large letters emblazoned above the emblem spelled out the partial word "Windst..."

All eyes in the room were spellbound, fixed on the tank. All, except for President Pazzim of Callisto.

At the sight of a drifting sc.r.a.p that had once been the pride of his fleet, he groaned loudly, hunched his shoulders and lowered his head. He did not look up again.

The hull of a battle cruiser formed along the tank's outer edge and tumbled slowly end over end toward center. Bow collapsed, the ship drifted into and out of view. Experts from the back seats leaned forward and whispered. The lifeless hulk had been the Plutonian Battle Cruiser Dragon.

Camari shifted his eyes to Narval, half up from his seat, face putty-white, lips quivering, eyes transfixed on the view tank. Tearing his eyes away, he pointed at Camari and screeched.

"It's a trap." His voice trembled in panic and became a wail. "This is another stratagem concocted by Camari to frighten us."

He gestured wildly and his mouth dribbled. "I know your ways, Camari. You're trying to divide and pit us against each other so that you can move in and take over. It won't work. Since you cannot shake our unity and resolve with empty appeals for Slingshot, you now invent battles that never took place. They just couldn't have happened. We're on to you. You're a fraud and a cheat. I move this convocation be terminated immediately. I, for one, have no intention to remain and be subjected to further lies."

Even as Narval squealed and pounded the table, the scene in the tank faded into a broader view of a phalanx of disabled warships, several bow-to-stern, and others in a disorganized cl.u.s.ter. Again, the secure Terminals were the backdrop.

The scene cut to the command deck of a warship.

A face, contorted in anger and despair, appeared and addressed them.

"I am Captain Klars Abou, Commander of the Saturnian Combined Strike Team, now acting as Commander of the INOR Combined Fleet, or what's left of it. I make this statement of my own free will. The original mission given to me by my President was to join with other military forces of INOR to take and hold the Slingshot Terminals hostage as insurance for an outcome in negotiations that would be favorable to INOR.

"The mission to take the Terminals has failed. We were attacked and defeated by the military forces of the United Inner Planetary System. We were betrayed by the Plutonians. The Commander of the UIPS Military s.p.a.ce Force has ordered all our warships, except those of Planet Pluto, to return to their home stations. The INOR military forces, at the outset, had neither strategic nor tactical plans for the confrontation that we have experienced. Our forces are in utter disarray; we have no choice but to comply with the orders of the UIPS Fleet Commander. I have therefore directed the dissolution of the INOR Combined Fleet and ordered the vessels to return home. The UIPS fleet commander has granted us leave to use the spunnel system for this purpose."

Captain Abou's features faded. An ominous quiet descended on the conference room. Narval, stricken and silent, remained half-standing, looking from the tank to Camari, and at the faces of his co-conspirators. Camari returned Narval's gape impa.s.sively.

There was more. Drummer's features replaced those of Captain Abou. His features were stern and his head shook slightly with tension and anger.

However, his voice was grave and measured in tone, deep and vibrant.

"Leaders of Solar Governments. To those who do not recognize me, I am Deke Drummer, formerly an advisor to Reen Narval and, also formerly the Commander of the INOR Combined Fleet. I confirm Captain Abou's words. The mission against Slingshot failed. The reasons are many, but failure is the fact. You now have the task, at your convocation, to seek solutions to our common problems through other means.

"All military forces and government administrators of Planet Pluto are under my command. I proclaim the Government of Reen Narval is fallen. I have established myself as Regent over Planet Pluto until a lawful President is chosen by the will of our people. I hereby declare Reen Narval persona non grata on Planet Pluto, and have instructed my warships to attack and destroy his vessel should he enter Plutonian jurisdiction. I remind you all that Narval came to Planet Pluto as a criminal outcast from Callisto. I suggest to the President of Callisto that he take custody of Narval and deal with him on the basis of the crimes he committed within Callistonian jurisdictions.

"To President Camari, I herewith declare that the original understandings on cooperation and collaboration with the Government of Planet Pluto until Slingshot is launched remain in effect. Planet Pluto is an independent nation, nevertheless, I request that, in this singular situation, that you personally represent our interests at the Conference. I look forward to an early exchange of Amba.s.sadors and consultations to review our mutual interests and objectives.

I have in mind three people whom I hope you will consider for high position in your representation to my Government. I shall communicate with you separately on that matter."

Chapter FORTY-SIX

SOLAR LEADERS REACH ACCORD TRANS-SOLAR NEWS SERVICE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FLASH: SYSTEM-WIDE Filed at Solar Conference Site

The meeting of the Solar System's Heads of State is a success. President Camari of the UIPS opened the proceedings with a brief speech. Ignoring past differences, he emphasized common interests, interdependence of peoples and nations, and benefits through collective efforts to meet the needs of the dispersed communities of humankind.

"The singular authority of the old United Planetary System," Camari said, "had no need for means to resolve issues among separate nation-states.

That is no longer true. We must provide for interregional and international deliberations and decision-making. Furthermore, our diminished reserves of metals, minerals and other essential substances, on the one hand, and the benefits of an operational Slingshot, on the other, creates new challenges of common concern and more options in the search for solutions. Unless we accelerate our collaboration to resolve the resources crisis our civilizations may well erupt once more toward potential disasters such as the one we are here trying to escape."

Following President Camari's opening remarks, the conference was addressed by INOR Chiefs of State.

Each expressed the aspirations of his or her people and their capabilities toward attainment. All agreed that their meeting was timely, that the problems were mutual, and that the agenda be addressed without delay.

The exchanges were intense as the conferees sought a balance between inalienable rights and solemn obligations. Many issues were extremely complex: What are an inhabited planet's or satellite's jurisdictional limits within territorial and contiguous s.p.a.ce? What are the rights and obligations of one Region's military and commercial vessels and citizens when inside the lawful boundaries of another? What is the definition of "innocent pa.s.sage" in the context of a multi-national Solar Community? How are our dynamic and constantly changing interplanetary and interregional s.p.a.ce lanes to be maintained? Who will pay for such services? Questions posed in one context were injected into others or phrased to highlight a wide range of diverse interests and nuances.

Discussions among the primary conferees were, at times, suspended for caucuses of Heads of States...o...b..ting a central planet with their advisors. Ad hoc committees were set up to explore options in depth, or at minimum, to provide clarity and context to the issue. The meeting rooms along the periphery of the a.s.sembly hall filled with specialists who argued loudly, in whispers, and at length.

Often, additional data was needed from Seats of Government. The spunnel communications channels were loaded with traffic, and archives throughout the system opened, many for the first time in millennia. The Conference Disk's computers absorbed facts and expert opinions and spewed distillations of new conclusions.

Slowly, positions clarified and consensus took form.

A draft Declaration of Principles emerged from the back rooms. It dealt with only a few of many problems that needed immediate attention, leaving a broad array of issues open for further review.

After hours of debate the Draft Declaration of Principles was approved by the Leaders of the Solar Community. (See Appendix.)

All agreed that the First UIPS-INOR Conference augured well for the future of humankind.