“I have no more idea than you,” Naneci-tok replied truthfully. Several times her tongue flicked out to tap the floor, a sure sign of personal discomfort. Looking to her left, she regarded the Deyzara out of eyes that were sorrowful as well as penetrating. “You not the only ones who have been deceived.”
The Deyzara were not mollified. Snapping the two digits of her left hand together sharply, the female once more assailed the human administrator. “If the Sakuntala Hatas can no longer control their own people, then we must assuredly have protection from Commonwealth forces. If we accept, albeit reluctantly, that the local authorities are no longer able to enforce restraint among all elements of the indigenous population, that clearly leaves us at the mercy of its most fanatic components. We have begun to resist, to fight back, but we would prefer that the Commonwealth intervene on behalf of what is right.”
Wonderful, Matthias thought moodily. Just what she needed: an all-out civil war between the two local sentient species.
“I can’t authorize armed intervention on behalf of the Commonwealth in the absence of proof of extensive casualties. There have been some confirmed deaths, but nothing on a scale that would allow me to justify Commonwealth intervention.”
“Why not?” the male inquired bitterly. “Because it might mean some humans would die, instead of just lowly Deyzara and Sakuntala?”
“We will go and speak to the local representatives of the Church,” his companion declared.
Matthias eyed her regretfully. “I can tell you right now that the United Church will not intercede with force in favor of one side or the other. The local padres are authorized to defend themselves and their missions, but not to intervene in such matters. Nor will they, since they minister to Sakuntala as well as Deyzara.”