Reclamation(24)
“By time measured in the Hundredth Core, five years, ten months, four days, and seven hours. Renewals have been specifically requested four times,” said Avir
Ivale nodded and opened his mouth again, but Uary signaled for speaking time.
“I have a security issue,” he said as Avir acknowledged him.
“Please outline this issue, Bio-technician Uary.” There was an edge in Avir’s words. Basq suppressed a smile. Uary had been the one to discover the genetic evidence in Eric Born’s blood that had solidified Basq’s claim that Born had come from the Home Ground. As a result, Uary’s words carried weight, but evidently, not that much.
“Basq permitted Stone in the Wall to regain the composite globes she carried and use them as weapons. He is thus directly responsible for the loss of the human-derived artifacts as well as the globes. I submit that the Ambassador does not know enough about the artifacts to make real-time predictions of their behavior or provide adequate compensation for such behavior.”
So that is why your eyes burn, thought Basq. I lost you those globes.
“Further,” Uary went on, “it is still unknown why the floor restraints were not activated soon enough to prevent their loss.”
“A true statement and a fair issue,” said Kelat.
Basq almost broke then, to make obeisance to the Contractors, to shout it had been a mistake and there would be no repetition. Do not deny me this chance. Do not remove me from this work. Fear underscored the thoughts, because the issue was real and the criticism too well deserved.
Trust those who hold your name. Trust that they have seen this, too. Trust that they have an answer, Basq told himself firmly, but another, older, ever-present fear began to crawl into his thoughts. No. Even Uary would not try to hold me accountable for Jahidh.
Avir nodded in agreement with Kelat. “But let it be remembered alongside the facts regarding Ambassador Basq that you authorized the release of the globes to Ambassador Basq without providing proper security or oversight of their disposition. The video record of the transaction shows that you sent only one Intership Ambassador with the globes and did not give him instructions to remain with them and ensure their safe restoration to your laboratory.”
Avir’s words hung heavy in the air and all the people at the table turned their attention to Uary.
“I acknowledge my responsibility,” said Uary calmly. “My Contractors have my report and my detailed admissions of the fault in my procedure. But that fault was in trusting the knowledge and experience of Ambassador Basq. I am concerned about trusting him too much when the Reclamation of the Home Ground is at stake.”
Basq didn’t know whether he wanted to scream or simply fall down and die. Trust, trust, trust, he ordered himself. Avir and Kelat will not let this go unchallenged. They will not. How they are remembered is bound up with how I am remembered. Uary will not mention Jahidh, even if there is no way I can make a good answer about his defection. He was removed from my supervision. He is not my fault. He has nothing to do with this.
Kelat rested his fingertips against the tabletop. “Bio-technician Uary, can you here before formal Witnesses cite flaws in Ambassador Basq’s research?” he asked.
“I cannot,” admitted Uary.
“Can you cite errors in the conclusions he has drawn based on that research?”
After a long pause, Uary said, “I cannot.”
“Then the issue is not organic to the contract we propose for Ambassador Basq. The issue is procedural. If the Ambassador’s contract is approved by this committee, I propose an additional contract will be drawn up with a Formal Witness agreed upon by the committee. Bio-technician Uary will have veto powers of the choice of Witness. The Witness will have final say over any and all security decisions regarding Ambassador Basq’s work and will have the authority to subcontract other Witnesses and services as may be required to enforce prudent and reasonable security for that work.
“Will that satisfy your issue, Bio-technician Uary?”
Uary considered the matter.
He’s going to do it. He’s going to remind them about Jahidh. He will lay the faults of my child, my child I was not allowed to supervise, at my feet. He’ll cast doubts upon my memory any way he can to keep me off the committee because I lost him those globes and his chance for promotion.
“Contractor Avir, it will satisfy my current issue,” said Uary.
A flood of relief washed through Basq and he had to work to keep it from showing. Even if I must endure a Witness, it’s all right, Basq told himself. If the Witness watches me, the Witness also watches Uary, and I believe it is Uary who will provide the more … entertaining show.