“We received the results of your DNA test,” the Dàifu informed them. “Turns out the donor is a Corsair named Tahlia Bokori. We tracked her down and spoke to her at length, but she claims not to know how her blood ended up on the black market.”

“Bullshit,” Rúna snorted. “She’s lying.”

“Actually, we think she may be telling the truth,” the clan head disagreed. “She admits to donating her blood but swears she turned it into the collection point, like everybody else. We’re still digging into her life, but so far nothing stands out. She hasn’t suddenly come into wealth, no unexplained trips or absences, no history of criminal behavior… well, no more than any other Corsair,” she amended. “It’s still possible we’ll find something, some sort of smoking gun, but at the moment, I’m inclined to believe her.”

“If that’s true,” Genvass mused, “then it must be someone at the collection point. It makes sense when you think about it; given the number of donors and the amount of blood passing through, it wouldn’t be difficult to make some disappear.”

“We’re looking into that possibility now,” the Dàifu confirmed, “except that the ones in charge of blood collection are the Knights,” she said carefully. “If it were any other clan, I wouldn’t think twice about it, but their sense of honor is damn near unimpeachable. Obviously, anyone can be suborned, but I’m going to need a lot more proof before I start pointing fingers in their direction. I’ve spoken to Grand Master Makar, and he’s promised a thorough investigation. Until then, however, I’m afraid we’re at an impasse.”

“Wonderful,” Ess Peon sighed from her monitor, “we’re back to square one. That vial was the one solid piece of evidence we had.”

“Don’t give up on this,” the clan head cautioned her. “Something may still turn up. We’ll stay on top of things on our end, so I suggest you do the same.”

“We will,” the ambassador promised. “If we learn anything else, we’ll inform you immediately. Genvass, clear,” he said, as they ended the conversation.

“Damn it,” Rúna swore. “I was hoping for something more concrete.”

“We all were,” the Dharmist agreed. “What I still don’t understand is why. What’s their angle? What do they hope to gain from this?” He looked helplessly at the others.

“I gotta admit, the usual motives don’t seem to fit here,” Ess Peon agreed. “Money? We control the most powerful planet in the galaxy, filled with technology that literally no one else has. Granted, most of it is still beyond us, but what could one of the other races offer that would make them turn their back on their own people, especially after all we’ve been through?”

“Maybe it’s not about money,” the Valkyrie mused. “Let’s take a moment and think this through. Assuming the Paygan is right, and there’s a ton of Precursor tech floating around out there, why would a Terran encourage the other races to activate them? What do they get out of it?”

“I’m no expert,” Genvass interjected, “and we only have a couple of examples to draw on, namely Samara’s Repository and Blye’s computer, but if another race had found them instead and tried activating them with Terran blood, what would it have gotten them? I don’t think it would work.”

“Blye’s computer self-destructed when the Troika tried sneaking a chimera past it,” Ess Peon reminded them. “And with the Repository, I seriously doubt it would bond with a non-Terran like it did with Samara, especially once it realized what was happening.”

“In both those cases, you talking about something with intelligence,” Rúna clarified. “It’s possible there’s stuff out there that doesn’t have that, but still needs blood to be unlocked. Like a weapon, maybe,” she shrugged.

“It’s something we can’t just dismiss out of hand,” the ambassador agreed, “but that still begs the question of why.”

“It makes no sense,” Ess Peon concurred. “Let’s say for a moment they find something where they just need to unlock it with our blood. Something without a mind of its own. Whatever it is, even if it’s innocuous, is going to make their neighbors uneasy.” She shook her head. “That technology in that environment is inherently destabilizing. It’s like fishing with grenades, and as we’ve already discovered, could easily plunge the whole damn galaxy into war. So why do it?”

“... unless that’s what they want,” Rúna blurted out. “To stir up trouble.”

“Again, why?” Genvass repeated. “What do they get out of a galaxy at war with itself, or worse, allied against us?”

“A casus belli,” Ess said quietly, before glancing at the other two. “A cause to rally behind, one that all Terrans will agree on, not to mention an excuse to exterminate any species that gets in our way.”

“Holy Mother Terra,” the Valkyrie whispered. “I pray you’re wrong, but… my gut says otherwise.”

Genvass just sat there, stunned at the possibility. “I know there’s a lot of resentment, even hatred, against the other races,” he said at last, “but this? You’re talking about the genocide of multiple species. If we go down that path, there’ll be no stopping us. We’ll be a thousand times worse than the Troika ever dreamed of being… with the power to enforce our will forever.”

The trio spent a moment contemplating that dark future before Ess Peon finally spoke up. “If that’s true, if that’s truly their plan, then who could be behind this?” she wondered aloud. “It would have to be someone with good reason to hate the other races, some sort of justification, at least in their eyes, for their xenophobia. Someone who’s suffered a great tragedy at their hands. Someone with nothing to lose. Someone…”

“... someone like the Proteans,” Rúna exclaimed, snapping her fingers. “Think about it. Their clan is in shambles, the Troika used them like guinea pigs for years, and Terra alone knows how many ended up mutilated… or worse.” She looked at the other two. “You think it’s a coincidence there’s a Protean aboard that stolen ship?”

“You mean Samara,” Genvass said quietly. “You think she’s a part of this?”

“Of course she is,” the Valkyrie snapped. “She was an assassin, for god’s sake! Oh, and let’s not forget that bloody little terror campaign of hers. She unleashed a plague on Ipqi, one so virulent they had to torch the whole damn planet. It’s as dead as Earth, thanks to her, and that’s not counting the half dozen other worlds still fighting the pandemic. Billions dead, just from that incident alone.”

Ess Peon slowly nodded. “She makes a strong case.”

“I’m not so sure,” he wavered. “I don’t disagree with anything you just said, but you and I know Samara. I have a hard time believing she’d be a party to something like this.”

Rúna leaned forward, eyeing him. “Ambassador, I don’t think anyone knows Samara,” she countered. “Not really, not where it matters. You mentioned speaking with her prior to our departure. Did you have any inkling she was going to steal that ship?”

Genvass shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”

“Well, there you go,” she replied, her point now made. “And if I’m being completely honest? I don’t think this is a subject you can be objective about.”

His eyes narrowed. “Just what is it you’re implying?” he demanded.

She sighed, her features softening. “Genvass, she played you,” Rúna said gently. “She had you wrapped around her little finger, and it wasn’t until she pulled a gun on me and Maggie that you finally saw the light.” She held up a hand as he bristled. “This isn’t an attack, Ambassador… this is a dispassionate assessment based on the facts. Samara is still in your head.”

He readied himself for an angry comeback before forcing himself to reconsider. As much as he wanted to disagree with Rúna’s analysis, his own integrity compelled him to reconsider. He’d struggled with Samara’s betrayal for a time but had honestly believed he’d long since put it behind him. Was it therefore possible he wasn’t as over it as he thought?

The others watched in silence as he wrestled with his emotions before deciding. “Okay. Honesty dictates that I admit you may be right, and if you are, it’s a threat we simply can’t ignore. I’ll pass this on to the Dàifu and have her look into it. Maybe she can locate some of the surviving Proteans and see what they know. It’s something, at least.”

“Thank you,” the Valkyrie said contritely, bowing her head. “I know this can’t be easy for you.”

“It’s not,” he agreed, “but weighed against the safety of not only our race but the entire galaxy? My personal issues seem rather small in comparison.” Taking a moment to mentally prepare himself, he glanced at his advisors. “Are we ready for the conference?”

Rúna rose to her feet.

“... Let’s hope so.”

Unlike the previous day’s receiving line, the events currently scheduled were much more informal. The Paygan materialized seemingly out of nowhere in his role as designated host, flanking Genvass while Rúna and Lance Corporal Arthur scanned the crowds, their heads on a constant swivel as he led them through the palace.

“I’ve arranged for this first symposium to be limited to a handful of the more influential races,” the Ixian explained. “Of course, all the delegates wish to speak with you, and I can easily arrange it if you so choose, but I suspect you might find that somewhat draining.”

“Thank you for that,” Genvass said in honest appreciation. “I’ll probably have to still speak with most of them anyway, but I value your efforts on our behalf.”

“It is the very least I can do,” the Paygan smiled, as they entered the conference room. A half dozen representatives awaited their arrival, each with a small staff of their own, seated around a large circular table. Someone had strategically placed drinks and refreshments nearby, as were the ubiquitous Ixian sentinels posted throughout the space. Each of the guards gave the human escorts a suspicious glance, only for that initial distrust to quickly turn into respect when they spotted the sword at Rúna’s waist.

As Genvass took his seat, the Ixian addressed the others. “To those with whom I am unfamiliar, I am Paygan Kuosha Xeing, acting at Emperor’s behest. We are honored to welcome you to Achxii, and it is our sincere hope that these discussions bear fruit. With that in mind, allow me to introduce the Terran ambassador, Ser Genvass Shaafvaazif.” Gripping the hilt of his sword, he bowed his head and withdrew a half-step. “Ambassador, the floor is yours.”

Genvass slowly stood up. “Thank you, Paygan,” he nodded, before addressing the panel. “I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with you today; the first, I hope, of many such conversations. The Perseus Arm has undergone drastic change in a short time period, and it has left many of us reeling, struggling to find our footing. With the Troika’s defeat and the Yīqún’s banishment, I truly believe we are witnessing the dawn of a new age in this region of space. It is my most fervent hope that our shared efforts will bring us all closer together, in the days to come.” With a bow and a smile, he took his seat once more, as one of the others, a Tai-Okeeq, rose to their feet.

“Ambassador, I and many of the others here have grave concerns regarding your species’ newfound sovereignty over the Precursor planet. There are rumors you are in the midst of constructing an invasion force with their technology. Is this true?”

The other representatives leaned in as Genvass shook his head. “I can assure you that we are doing nothing of the sort. We have no hostile intentions towards any race, and as for the technology of New Terra, it will be the work of many lifetimes before we can master even a small fraction of it. Simply put, that sort of strategic leap is far beyond our capabilities and is likely to remain so for many years to come.”

Another delegate rose, a Durzix, picking up where their fellow envoy had left off. “I know my people would be much reassured if you allowed us access to your new homeworld,” they requested. “If we could see for ourselves that there was no such fleet being assembled, it would go a long way to calming many of our fears.”

“I wish I could accommodate you,” the ambassador sighed, “but I regret to say that it’s impossible.”

“Why?” the representative demanded. “Are you not in control of the planet’s defenses?”

Genvass shot a quick look over at Rúna, who gave him a tiny head shake in return. He understood what she meant and why, that it was a bad idea to give away military secrets to potential enemies, but in this case, he disagreed. Simply stonewalling them was likely to just agitate them further, while telling them the truth might help to ease tensions.

Besides, it wasn’t as if they could do anything about it.

“I’m afraid it’s not quite that simple,” he explained. “The artificial intelligence created by the Precursors operates under a series of instructions and protocols that are hard-wired into its programming. While we are in communication with the AI and have found it to be extremely helpful, we cannot alter its operating guidelines. It will protect the system from anyone not descended from its creators and were we to attempt escorting you past its defenses, it would not prevent the destruction of your ship. I’m sorry,” he apologized, bowing his head, “but as much as I would like to show you our new home, I cannot.”

A scaly Limiodria jabbed one of its digits at him. “Either you are lying to us, or you are merely pawns, doing the Precursors’ bidding. I do not know which possibility is more disturbing. How are we simply to take you at your word when you claim not to be a threat?”

He sensed his security detail bristling at the provocation and hurriedly signaled for them to stand down. “I promise you, neither is the case,” Genvass said in what he hoped were soothing tones. “The AI, which we refer to as ‘Athena’, simply protects the system from anyone not meeting the profile laid down by its creators. That’s all. We can’t change that. As for trusting us, I’d hope that you judge us by our deeds. We have gone out of our way to avoid conflict with your species. In fact, we actively sought your cooperation when we created the Alliance. That same Alliance, I remind you, that helped to break the Troika’s hold on the galaxy once and for all.”

“And what of your superweapon?” the Yait’xaik representative insisted. “The ship killer we observed during the final battle. How are we to know if you are preparing to export it to other worlds?”

With a heavy sigh, Genvass dug in and prepared for a siege, while the Paygan looked on in sympathy.

It was shaping up to be a long and grueling conference.