Bron’n acknowledged the instructions. Nira couldn’t even find the strength to struggle. The Dobro Designate looked down at her, eyes glittering.

“The potential you give us,” he said, “is the only hope the Ildiran Empire has of surviving the hydrogue war.”

110: CESCA PERONI

110CESCA PERONI

After all the terrible news the Roamers had heard in recent months, Jhy Okiah’s announcement still managed to astound the clans.

The old Speaker waited for silence to fall in the speaking chamber at Rendezvous. She stood at the pedestal on her oratory platform in the middle of the vault. Lights shone down upon her, commanding the focus of the gathering.

She exercised her veto power, putting an end to arguments and discussion, and waited for the clans to hear what she had to say. “The future will require extraordinary strength and vision—more than I have left within me.” Her firm voice cut through the cries of dismay and shouts of dissent. “I have led you through many productive years, but now the rules have shifted. My predictable ways are no longer appropriate. We Roamers must change in order to deal with the hydrogues.

“And therefore, for the good of Roamer society, and for the human race itself,” she said, “I have no choice but to resign my position as Speaker for all Roamer clans.”

She stopped and waited a second. Then the uproar began. During the worsening crisis, the Speaker had seemed to be the only bastion of stability for the Roamers. Jhy Okiah had represented the clans impartially for years and directed their discussions with an even hand. She was considered a fair and reasonable leader, even by those who disagreed with her decisions.

The aliens had followed through on their threat against all trespassers after delivering their ultimatum and assassinating King Frederick on Earth. Intimidated, most Roamers had withdrawn their skymines from the gas planets, but a few had lingered too long. Within a week, fifteen more ekti-harvesting facilities had been obliterated by hydrogue warglobes. Fewer than a hundred Roamer refugees had survived, bringing back horrific tales and images. The enemy was efficient, thorough, and completely merciless.

“We need a new Speaker, a stronger Speaker,” Jhy Okiah continued. “Someone with more imagination and energy than I.”

Seated in her private booth near the podium, Cesca Peroni could barely keep from weeping. She had known the old woman’s plans and argued with her privately, but Jhy Okiah was stubborn and implacable.

“This conflict may go on for a long time, Cesca,” she had said. “Things could get difficult… and very ugly. I apologize for the ordeal I’m about to put you through. But in my bones I sense that I may not see this war through to its end. It is better to begin with a strong Speaker at the outset, rather than increase turmoil later on, when more harm may result.”

“But I’m not ready. You know how much I have yet to learn.”