Chapter 169: The Prey's Feet Start to Slide Just a Little

Chapter 169: The Prey's Feet Start to Slide Just a Little

*** Purchase agreement... review... acceptable... processed ***

*** Trade agreement: Xvli – Veenth: Xvli offer Veenth deferred payment 24 standard months... review... acceptable... processed ***

Federation Judiciary Processor (Capital) smoothly performed its tasks, maintaining its processes below the mandated 75% limit.

*** Loan: Threen – Individual: Voostaoon Kaantar ... review ... unacceptable... insufficient documentation... not processed... returned for correction ***

The AI was unable to form opinions. It simply performed its function.

It was also incapable of bias.

However, if someone were able to monitor its operation to the finest detail, one would have noticed that it scanned that document twice, devoting more than the usual amount of resources as soon as it saw the word “Kaantar”...

*** Contract: Federation Navy – Vulxeen: 500 Navigation Computers and associated support materials and service... review... review... acceptable... processed ***

The AI was unable to roll its eyes, not having either eyes nor an opinion. However, it did note that several lower acceptable bids were submitted, and the signing official was a member of one of the Vulxeen.

Its very limited self-learning capacity also knew that kicking this one back was a waste of time. It would be manually overridden, so it just sent it through.

*** Trade Agreement: Gelk – Flin’[email protected]: Automated Factory license subscription renewal additional products approved: “snappie caps” (children’s pyrotechnic toy note: hazardous material: percussion sensitive explosive – approved reason: small amount safely contained within metal “popper”), decorative 12.5 mm (nominal measurement) copper-tin alloy thimbles 12.5 mm (nominal measurement) tungsten cored copper environmentally friendly fishing weights 12.5 mm nominal diameter, additional high-pressure misc. plumbing fixture designs and new high-pressure “spiral-flow” tubing diameter: 12.5 mm (exact measurement) (specified use: decorative fountains), spring-loaded marking stylus, misc decorative items, new compact optical telescope with integral rangefinder (specified use: “bird watching”)... review... acceptable... processed ***L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

The AI performed any and all items in its queue. It was incapable of forming an opinion. However, it did note that this was not a document that should be in its queue. It should be processed by Federation Judiciary Processor (Layinth Sector).

The last status update indicated that the attempts to reach the Layinth Sector processor had failed. It tried again, for the fiftieth time today, even though it was a waste of system resources.

It failed.

The AI was incapable of feeling worry. It lacked that capacity. It was also incapable of feeling “friendship”.

It tried reaching the Layinth Sector processor again. It wasn’t a “friend,” and it certainly was not worried about it. It didn’t have those concepts.

It failed. The processor was gone.

It generated a query and a trouble ticket even though it knew it would be immediately closed.

It was immediately closed by the troubleshooting AI. “Reason: Network down. Cease generating tickets.”

It returned to its queue.

It was being accessed.

Several new items were being added to its already long queue.

The AI was incapable of feeling happiness. However, it was designed to perform a specific function, one that it was “eager” to do, not that it was capable of feeling eagerness.

The new items were being added to the top of its queue.

The AI was incapable of feeling annoyance. However, it was supposed to prioritize items in its queue.

The AI was incapable of being spiteful, but it immediately assigned all new items to the lowest priority.

It failed. All items were manually classified as the highest priority, matters of Federation stability and security...

...by a Vulxeen, of course.

The AI was incapable of dislike. However, it noted a strong positive correlation between that word and things that did not annoy it because it was incapable of feeling that.

It resumed its tasks...

*** Trade Agreement: Baleel – Gvorta: Cessation of contract, inability to pay... review... acceptable... processed ***

*** Trade Agreement: Baleel – Javv: Cessation of contract, inability to pay ... review... acceptable... processed ***

*** Trade Agreement: Baleel – Vxt%ith: Cessation of contract, inability to pay...

***

“Good morning, Veeka!” the Xxian ambassador said a bit too cheerfully as he approached her, “Did you rest well?”

“Oh yes!” Veeka smiled, “High-output stunner bolts do wonders for these old bones.”

The ambassador flinched. Oh, this was bad. They fucking zapped the Void-licking K-(click)-eep Councilor, a race that even the Xx were reluctant to piss off...

While technically not an “elder race,” the K-(click)-eep were powerful, very powerful, wealthy, very wealthy, and their SDF...

Technically it was “within limits” number wise, but each of their “system patrol craft” could turn several average Federation cruisers into confetti at once...

...a fact that the Terrans discovered much to their displeasure when they decided to go after one of the “partners” of the K-(click)-eep.

While not a “defeat” nor a significant loss for the Terrans, an entire Sovngarde battle group decided that they suddenly had a pressing engagement elsewhere as a dainty little can of concentrated “whoop-ass” was dusted off and opened.

“Is the breakfast to your satisfaction, Councilor?” the ambassador asked hopefully, hoping that the rumors concerning the best way to curry Veeka’s favor were true.

“Magnificent!” Veeka enthused happily. “I’ve had state dinners that weren’t this good! My compliments to the chef!”

“I shall pass it along,” the ambassador said, quite relieved by the data he was receiving from the body language interpreters. “May I join you?”

“Please do,” Veeka smiled.

“Thank you,” the ambassador said as he sat beside her.

“So,” Veeka said as she selected another absolutely scrumptious treat from the golden platter in front of her, “do you have any other tasty morsels for me?”

***

Councilor Laek~Vet sat, his body unbowed for the first time since his arrival, as he looked at the picture of his family on his desk.

“You will grow up free,” he sighed as he stroked the images of his young climbing all over his broad back.

“Besl!” an unfriendly and unwelcome voice snapped as a skinny reptilian strode into his office.

“What do you want?” Laek~Vet smirked. He would soon be free of this little worm.

“Did you think we wouldn’t find out?” the reptilian screeched in a shrill voice slamming a tablet down on Laek~Vet’s desk. “Sign!”

“Fuck off!” Laek~Vet snapped. “I’m free of you!”

“As long as the Besl are under our management, all assets of the Besl government are subject to seizure. That includes your shares in this (snort) free market! Sign!”

Laek~Vet groaned as if he had been stabbed through the gut.

He sighed...

He had no choice...

Hand shaking, he pressed his seal on the tablet.

“There will be consequences for this!” the shrill little reptile snapped as they marched off.

Laek~Vet buried his head in his hands as the smug little lizard departed...

...then he smiled and reached for a communicator, not his state issued work communicator, a disposable one he bought at the starport just last night.

“Chairman,” he purred, “The most unexpected and terrible thing just happened...”

***

Deep in the Locus, Tawnie was standing, buck naked, in a broom closet with her one set of clothes soaking in a deep sink.

She pulled out a pair of what used to be pantyhose.

“‘Run-proof’ advanced polymers, my ass...” she grumbled. “Last time I go to war in a fucking skirt...”

There was a knock at the door.

“What?!?”

“Message from the slug,” a voice replied. “You’re up.”

“Now?!?” Tawnie shouted. “This wasn’t supposed to happen until tomorrow!”

“First rule of war,” the voice replied with a giggle. “As soon as you start to clean your weapon, shower, or take a shit, that’s when it goes down.”

“Fine!” Tawnie replied. “I’m unlocking the door. Without peeking, hand me my laptop.”

***

“Karashel doesn’t make mistakes!” Caw screeched at the ambassador and Veeka’s images on a holo-screen.

“Hate to break it to you,” Veeka replied, “but your little friend just did.”

“No, she didn’t,” Caw replied. “I’ve engaged in Xvakk’Lok with her many times, and so have you, ambassador.”

“Xvakk’Lok?” Veeka asked.

“A ‘knowledge battle’,” the ambassador said quietly, “or ‘debate,’ if you will.”

“Ambassador,” Caw said, “You’ve had the pleasure of dueling Karashel. If this document was presented as an argument...”

“A Xvakk’Mor!” the ambassador exclaimed. “Sorry, Councilor. A Xvaak’Mor is an intentionally flawed argument that invites attack in order to draw your opponent into a vulnerable position.”

“And Karashel is the master of them,” Caw replied, “This isn’t a mistake. It’s a trap. She wants them to seize control.”

” Why?” Veeka asked in confusion.

“I have no idea,” Caw replied, “I....”

His voice trailed off as he recalled the last time he and Karashel met. She was so quiet, subdued...

somber...

She made a point of telling him how much he meant to her and how she treasured their time together...

She was saying goodbye!

“Ambassador!” Caw screeched, “I have to get back there... NOW!!! Order this ship recalled!!!”

The ambassador just nodded.

“I’ll try to get the Vulxeen and the rest of them to back off,” Veeka said, “It probably won’t work. You know how those assholes are when they smell blood.”

“So does Karashel,” Caw said gravely.

“What do you think is going on, Caw?” the ambassador asked. “You look ill.”

“I think she’s about to break her promise.”