Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11), стр. 49

“I don’t know of anything. Talk to you later.”

“Later, Willum.”

Saucy put a feed from one of the Marines up on the main screen. Crikki met them at the airlock with more BS. They managed to catch him, so that he didn’t bump his head when they stunned him. Surprisingly, they met very few stunner resistant folks on their path to see the Emperor. I had to wonder if they were being held back for a counterattack. I texted Topper to make sure the rest of the Marines in the fleet were ready to launch, if things turned bad. He gave me a strange look, but set to work. Soon enough, the screen showed them approaching a set of ornate double doors. A pair of ceremonial guards outside got stunned for their efforts. When the doors came open, several Admirals were formed up on the inside, presumably to defend the Emperor. None of them turned out to be stunner resistant. The parade continued right up to the throne, where the Marines parted to let Natti and Snappi come to the front. They knelt, and Natti said, “Your Imperial Majesty, I come to deliver my report of the negotiations thus far.”

“Is this some sort of trick? We were informed the Ambassador was killed by the infamous monkey.”

Natti raised his head. “It is I, Majesty. You have been misinformed.”

“My Admirals assure me they have the most accurate intelligence. Yet here you are. Can you explain this?”

“Your Majesty, I have no way of knowing for sure what has happened, but I have to think that somewhere in the chain of command, someone is willfully deceiving you.”

“I would hear your version of what has gone on here.”

“The first day of negotiations, Commodore Wilson and I were able to come to agreement on a non-aggression pact. When I returned to the fleet to rest, I reported my results to the fleet officers. During the night, elements of the fleet opposed to peace mutinied, and gained control of the fleet. Instead of me going back to continue negotiations, they sent a shipload of troops, in hope of capturing the Commodore’s flagship. I managed to warn the Commodore, and he met them with troops. Their assault was short-lived. The Commodore then tasked his Marines to put the fleet back under my control. Two of the ships are back in service. Weeding out the loyal officers from those who want war is taking longer than we might like. Once I had freedom of movement, I resumed negotiating, as that is my purpose here.”

The Emperor said, “I’m sure there is a great deal more detail that I will need to be informed of, but that can wait. You say you have come to agreement with the, did you say Commodore? On several points?”

“I have, Your Majesty. I have copies with me, if you care to peruse them.”

“Not at this time, thank you. How much did you have to give him to keep him from attacking?”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but you must be misinformed. Commodore Wilson has no interest in attacking the Empire.”

“Didn’t he come to Oak and demonstrate the fact his ship is immune to our drive suppressors?”

“He did. He thought he might be able to get your attention by that means, to perhaps convince you that you didn’t want war with him, any more than he wants war with you. Apparently, that attempt failed.”

“Did he not then proceed to reactivate the old Commonwealth Navy?”

“He did, but only when he realized he had mentioned his intention over a comm channel that our agents were listening to. He concluded, rightly it would seem, that our forces would destroy the Navy, if he didn’t go collect it.

His reception at the Navy yard tends to support his opinion.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sure Your Majesty is aware of the force that was sent against the Commodore at the Navy yard, and how well they fared.”

“No, I am not aware of any such force. What exactly happened?”

“Our ships jumped in, setting off the destruct charges our people had previously placed on the ships in the yard. The Commodore had removed them, and placed them where he thought our ships would emerge from FTL. He managed to put one of the ships out of the fight. The two carriers that were functional at that time dealt with the rest.”

“I thought the ships had been preserved in flyable condition. Why did you say only two ships were functional?”

One of the Marines spoke up. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I can answer that one. At some time in the past, your people had spaced all the maintenance bots, so the ships weren’t being kept up as they should have been. The Commodore had to recover the bots and get them functional again, before he was able to bring the ships back into flyable condition.”

The Emperor turned to the Marine. “You expect me to believe that your Commodore brought a whole fleet from a derelict state, to the fine fleet I see before me, in that small amount of time?”

“Your Majesty, not having any prior experience with your people, I have no expectations whatsoever. I expect you to believe whatever you see fit.” The Emperor seemed a little put off by that. He said, “You do, however, maintain that it is the truth?”

“I do, Your Majesty.”

“Did you witness it yourself?”

“I did not, Your Majesty. My unit and I were found shortly after the fleet was reactivated. I do have eyewitness testimony from my fellow Marines who were there, however.”

“I should trust that because?”

“A bot’s memory can be blocked, so that we are unable to recall events, but false events cannot be substituted by any known means.”

“I see. How many people does the Commodore have working for him, that he was able to bring the fleet to flyable condition