Redeemed

By Steve Matthew Benner

A highly respected diplomat is sent on a mission to negotiate a peace treaty with an alien confederation that has been at war with his Earth-centric Alliance for decades. The first council of the Alliance used the distraction of the peace conference to plan and execute a surprise attack on the alien confederation without telling the diplomat. Humiliated, but considered a hero by the populace, the diplomat returns to his work in the administration but immediately starts to undermine his superiors in order to obtain the peace that he was originally sent to establish and regain his reputation. He must try to do this while subjected to constant surveillance, intimidation, and assassination attempts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steve Matthew Benner
• Release date: Jan 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301404322

Steve Matthew Benner

Dr. Steve M. Benner received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Ohio State University in 1979 and has worked in industry, academia, and the federal government. He retired from NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland in 2016 after 28 years of service. He has written numerous scientific articles as well as several articles on ancient history. Dr. Benner's extensive knowledge of science and history has led to his having an ego the size of New Jersey and may account for his being one of the most self-centered people in America today.

Book preview

Redeemed

Steve M. Benner

Smashwords Edition

Copyright Steve M. Benner 2008

Paul McKenzie stared absentmindedly at the backs of his hands as they rested on the conference-room table. He noticed that they seemed to be much older than the 51 year-old frame to which they were attached. Maybe it was just a trick of the pale blue light that flooded through the room’s cathedral windows. He felt like he’d aged ten years during the last three months of negotiations, but he hadn’t thought it showed. At least now it appeared as though it had all been worthwhile. The Horologi representatives had left the room, most likely to communicate with their leaders back on their home world of Horolog. The delay of about 15 minutes for transmissions between Sirus V and Horolog would mean that the conversation would take a while. Paul was confident that the terms would be accepted. He had made sure that the delegates had agreed to all the points in the treaty before he had recommended that the Horologii take a break to talk among themselves. Luckily, First Consul Gibbon had given him full powers to negotiate with the Horologii, which saved him from having to constantly contact the Consortium’s leaders for their approval on specifics. Gibbon had clearly spelled out to Paul what he would accept in terms of concessions, and, after being an ambassador for 22 years, Paul was confident that he knew what was best for his people. It wasn’t like Gibbon to give anyone this much power, but Paul was considered the grand old man of diplomacy, and Gibbon may have felt that they would obtain a better treaty if his representative wasn’t tied down by too many restrictions. Not that Gibbon really had much choice. The enemy had asked for Paul specifically and wouldn’t even begin unless he led the talks. His reputation for fairness and honesty had taken two decades to establish, and now it was paying off with the settlement of a war that had lasted fifteen years and destroyed millions of lives. Paul felt his position in history would be guaranteed by the signing of this treaty.

He was right, but not in the way he thought.

After about an hour and a half, Paul began to worry that they might not get an answer today. Then he heard the door open and the Horologii re-entered the room. His heart dropped into his shoes as soon as he saw them. Their hairless faces, with only slits for eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, were always hard to read, but there was definitely something wrong. Paul had gotten used to reading their minimal expressions over the last few years. He remembered their disgust and anger at the start of their meeting three months ago. Their demeanor changed with time to the point that, in the last few days, they almost appeared happy. But he had never seen the expression now on their faces; it was clearly a burning rage. Paul was shocked; he had been sure the terms that had been agreed to would benefit the Horologii as much as the Consortium. He couldn’t believe that they had rejected them.

As Paul rose from his seat, the leader of the Horologi delegation walked to the table opposite Paul and addressed him. The words flowed out of the translator.

I have never experienced such treachery as I have witnessed at this table. For the last few months, we have negotiated in good faith to end a war that I believed we both wanted to bring to a close. Obviously, I was wrong.

The blood drained from Paul’s face as the words struck him like slaps on the cheeks. He now knew there was something else going on behind this negotiation.

The Horologi leader continued, I have just been informed that the Consortium has launched a major operation against the Denebolan system.

Paul was stunned. This system was one of the main points of contention between the warring powers. Both sides claimed the system, and both had civilian and military bases scattered throughout its planets. The loss of the system would be a major strategic blow to either side. One of the major compromises of the treaty negotiations had been to declare the system a non-military buffer zone.

The Horologi leader said, If it were in my power, I would have you arrested and immediately executed for war crimes. But we are on neutral ground, and I will honor the safe passage agreement of the delegates. Should we every meet again, however, be warned that I will kill you myself. He turned and stormed out of the room followed by the four members of his delegation.

A stunned Paul fell back into his chair. The other delegates in the room were in a similar state. He couldn’t get his thoughts in order as his mind was flooded by images and suppositions. His aide, Theo Farthing, walked up behind him and bent down to whisper in his ear, I don’t understand. What’s he mean we’ve launched a major operation?

Theo’s words sounded to Paul as if they were coming from a great distance, and the words sunk in very slowly. He didn’t understand why the Consortium had attacked Denebola, but there surely must have been a good reason. Regaining his equilibrium, he stood up and looked at Theo. Paul saw fear and shock in his deep blue eyes. Theo was only 25 years old and still new at this, but Paul had brought him along because he had one of the sharpest and quickest minds he had ever seen in someone so young.

Paul had to get back to Earth and find out what had happened. He turned to Theo, Tell everyone to pack their stuff. We’re leaving immediately.

~

Paul sat in the communications center waiting for a link back to Earth. He could feel the strange electricity in