That, too, was a gross dereliction of Narvo’s duty. Oppuk had not only failed to complete the conquest with association, he had also disrupted association within the Jao themselves. Gone native, in the worst possible way, killing the messengers.
* * *
So be it. The lines of association with Pluthrak in this room were strong and powerful—with the Jao as much as the humans. And now, finally, Aille understood his proper course of action. All of it, from beginning to completion. It was clear and transparent, a more limpid flow than he had ever experienced.
The dance continued. It was time for the next swing. Outward, ever outward. He had always known, after all, that advance-by-oscillation was dangerous. What he had never realized was that it could also be exhilarating.
* * *
“It sounds like a promising strategy,” Aille said, “but if we follow this course of action, we will be disobeying Governor Oppuk’s explicit orders. It is not right that others, only following my lead, should accept that risk. So I will take the responsibility entirely upon myself.”
Yaut stiffened, understanding suddenly what Aille intended, then relaxed almost at once. It was most gratifying to see that quick support from his fraghta.
“He will send word to the Naukra and demand that you be declared kroudh,” Hami said.
“He will not need to. I will declare myself kroudh. And will demand that he—or Dano, if he refuses—transmit my posture to the Naukra. And the Bond.”
All the Jao present except Yaut slipped into stunned-disbelief.
Wrot was the first to recover, his ears quivering with delight, then Hami. Hami was more solemn than Wrot, of course.
“It is a shrewd move,” she said, “very shrewd. That will relieve anyone who follows you from responsibility, but—with your status and prestige—they will surely do so nonetheless. Narvo has made itself too many enemies here. Most kochan are quietly incensed at the dissociation. Even Dano, I suspect, is unhappy. Subtle as a Pluthrak, indeed.”
She now bestowed upon Aille the posture of gratified-respect. “You will probably not survive, of course, when the Naukra convenes. But neither will Oppuk, most likely—and, if nothing else, you will have stripped him of his honor. Narvo will be greatly shaken. Shaken loose from Terra, for a certainty.”
Aille waved a hand in dismissal, deliberately using a human gesture. “That is for later flow. I will probably not survive until then, anyway. I will pilot one of the submersibles myself, leaving you here in command of the ground forces.”
He turned to Caitlin. “Explain to me what would most increase association, in these circumstances.”
He wasn’t sure she would understand, but she did. After glancing at Kralik, she said: “The human custom is to reserve shelter for the children. Then the females and old ones. It is less important now, for the females, since our customs have been changing in that regard for some time. But the children are essential. Even if only some of them, as a symbol. And they will need to be accompanied by their mothers, or, if they are motherless, some other related adult.”
He nodded, again deliberately using a human gesture, and issued rapid orders.
To Nath and Chul and Aguilera: “Begin refitting the submarines.”
To Mrat: “You are now in command at Pascagoula. See to it that Nath and Chul and Aguilera are obeyed instantly and fully. Put down immediately any who object, be they Jao or human.”
To Hami: “Order the Jao soldiers out of the shelters, all but those needed to maintain the equipment. Tell them to return to their regular military compounds. Put down any who resist.”
To Caitlin: “Instruct your father to organize the transfer of human children to the shelters, however many is possible. He can do that on his own authority directly, in this continent. Tell him to establish liaison with the other regional districts so that the human authorities there can begin doing likewise.”
To Kralik: “Since most of the Pacific Division will not be needed on the submersibles, have your subordinates organize your division to provide the needed security for the shelters. Jinau troops would be much better for that than Jao regulars. There will probably be some chaos.”