research programs that we’re committed to. We’re not responsible for the
mission’s diplomatic and economic policies, and I can’t promise to be supportive
of them in any official capacity or public statement.” What he meant was that if
he didn’t back Conlon on this one, Conlon would go straight to the media and to
hell with the consequences.
One of the European NASO representatives next to Dulaney nodded. “That would
have to be our position also.”
“But what kind of policy are Leaherney’s people trying to carry out?” another
European asked from the far end. “From what Conlon said it sounded as if they
were equipping a full-scale Taloid invasion. That’s not token support. It’s
blatant power-politicking—meddling in alien affairs. Who sanctioned anything
like that?”
“Does it matter?” Julius Gorsche asked. “It seems they managed to turn the whole
thing into a fiasco anyway.”
“It matters to me that the name of our government stands to be associated with
whatever their next antic might be,” the European replied coldly.
Bemess spread his hands. “I don’t know. Maybe the strain of being in charge of a
mission that big, for that long a time, that far from Earth, is greater than
anyone thought,” he said. “But I can assure you, gentlemen, that the events that
have been described are not compatible with any policy of the United States
government. They must be a result either of some aberration involving the
personnel delegated operational authority at Titan, or of a misinterpretation of
our instructions. It goes without saying that further investigation of the
matter will be initiated immediately.”
Lies, Burton Ramelson thought to himself as he listened. You knew what the
policies were, and you allowed your tacit approval to be understood, just like
the rest of us. Typically, everyone was surreptitiously sharpening the hatchets
in anticipation of a possible bloodletting, and at the same time trying their
rubber gloves for size to show all clean hands afterward. But Ramelson hadn’t
yet been panicked into losing sight of the magnitude of what was at stake. He
wondered if there might yet be a way of repairing the damage done and getting
everything back on course. If so, it would best serve his purpose to see the
Orion’s management exonerated and their reputability preserved, for despite
whatever had gone wrong with the plan to assert Terran influence by aiding the
Paduans—and Ramelson had suspicions that a lot more than met the eye could have
been behind that—they were all loyal and capable, and would not be easily
replaced. Ramelson needed more time to collect the facts on what had really
happened at Titan, and was reluctant to commit himself to a hasty judgment. His
response for now would therefore be neutral, he decided, but the circumstances
would not allow any more bungling. One more miscalculation in the handling of
the Paduan situation would be enough to lead him to conclude that Leaherney’s
team was beyond redemption, and to embark on whatever course of action would
best protect his own interests and keep his reputation intact.
Having clarified his thoughts on the matter, he began, “I have to agree that on
the face of it, these are alarming allegations. But they are, when all is said
and done, just that and no more—allegations. Before we allow ourselves to be
stampeded into a witch-hunt, I would like to propose that—” At that moment a
tone sounded from the chairman’s console recessed into the table before Dulaney.
“Excuse me, Burton,” Dulaney said. “Calls aren’t supposed to be put through
unless extremely urgent. I’d better take this.” He looked down and touched a
button below the level of the table. “Yes, Bob?”
“Sorry to interrupt, Sam, but we’ve just had something through from Titan that I
thought you’d want to hear about since it concerns the meeting. It came through
from General Vantz about ten minutes ago, via his Communications Officer.”
“What is it, Bob?” Dulaney asked. He turned a knob to increase the volume, and
the others in the room sat forward in their chairs to listen.
“There’s been some kind of god-awful commotion down in Padua city that
culminated in Henry and a couple of hundred other Taloids’ getting so screaming