The Altian Plague
Copyright© 2026 by D M Arnold
Chapter 18: Detente
Nyk scanned his wrist as he entered the public entrance to the High Legislature assembly building. An attendant regarded the scanpad display and motioned him toward a vestibule. He passed through an arch, scanning his wrist again and found himself among a crowd. Andra’s white hair caught his eye and he worked his way toward her.
He found her with Senta, Helsyn, Aahhn and Kronta. “Where’s Sirk?” he asked.
“He’s with the Altian delegation.”
“And Pring?”
“He’ll be in the President’s box.”
“Look at this mob.”
“There’s a bigger one forming in the public gallery,” Andra remarked. “They know Wygann’s due to speak. He’s not popular in the HL, but his bombast makes for good theatre. It’s enough to create a circus atmosphere.”
An archway into the High Legislature chamber was sealed by a pair of sliding doors. Nyk nodded in its direction. “Just think, Andra — if things had worked out a bit differently, you might be behind that door now.”
“Nyk,” Kronta said, “I saw Wygann. I’m amazed he’s recovered so quickly from that wound.”
“He was never injured. The assassination attempt was a ploy to buy time for that last shipment of vaccine. It was Janna’s idea. Mykko thought it would be amusing to blame it on one of the Altian ore-workers — to throw his opposition off-balance. Wygann enjoys a good game of brinksmanship.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“We were disseminating information on a need-to-know basis, Illya. Remember?”
A tap on his shoulder startled him and he turned to see Dyppa with an older woman. “Nyk — this is my mother.”
“A pleasure,” he replied.
“Thank you for helping my daughter,” she replied.
“Your daughter has helped herself. She’s helped all of us.”
“Really?”
“Didn’t she tell you how?” Dyppa shook her head.
“No, she didn’t.”
“Ask her. Ask her how she came by that medallion she’s wearing. Maybe some day she’ll tell you. You’re sitting with the Altian delegation, no doubt.”
“Yes — I always travel with the senator. I was pleased to discover my daughter here on Floran.”
“Nyk and I returning to Earth together...” Dyppa started to say.
The sliding doors opened. An announcement quieted the crowd in the vestibule — visitors would be seated by delegation. First the Altian...
“I’ll see you afterward,” Dyppa said.
“You’ll come to Sudal with us.”
“Of course.” She waved and turned to join the others filing through the archway.
Nyk stood with the others as the Deltan, Floran and Gamman delegations were announced. Then — Lexal.
Nyk followed the others toward the door. He scanned his wrist and an attendant verified his credentials. Inside the arch an usher led them down an aisle.
The assembly hall was a semi-circle divided into terraces. Each terrace was cut into sections, one for each of the twenty-one colony planets and one for the homeworld. Inside each sector were desks for the planetary delegates, a larger desk for the head of each delegation and a podium. To the side was a gallery of benches for visitors. Nyk slid down the bench and sat between Andra and Senta.
“How are you feeling?” he whispered to Senta.
“I’m all right.”
Janna approached them wearing a jewel-studded long gown and an iridescent tiara. Andra stood, embraced and kissed her. “Mykko and I are so happy you could join us.” She worked her way down the bench, shaking hands.
Nyk scanned the hall. He leaned to Andra. “Look at all the ax’amfinen. Every delegate has at least one white-haired beauty with him. Can you tell from which school they come?”
“Not from this distance,” Andra replied. “I can always spot a Vebinad grad in person.”
“Maybe someone you know is here — a classmate.” He glanced across the semicircle toward the Altian delegation. He saw Sirk conferring with an official. In the visitors’ gallery there he saw Dyppa, scanning the crowd. He made eye contact and she waved.
Andra poked Nyk with her elbow and pointed to a circular area in the center of the hall. An older woman stood, flanked by two tall, pale young women with the characteristic oat-straw hair of ax’amfinen. “Isn’t that the High Chancellor?” she asked.
“I can’t see,” he replied. “It might be. She doesn’t usually attend these, does she?”
An older man in off-world official dress stepped into the Lexalese box and took a seat in the visitor’s gallery at the end of the bench. Nyk glanced at him. “Who’s he?” he whispered to Andra.
“I don’t know,” she replied. Mykko’s wife approached the man and spoke to him. “Whoever it is, Janna knows him.”
A middle-aged man stood at a podium in the center of the hall. He pressed a control and a chime sounded. The crowd quieted. “This session is called to order,” he announced. Wall-sized images of him materialized behind the podium. “This session was requested by the Lexalese and Altian delegations to discuss mutual grievances.
“Before we get to that order of business — I would like to make a statement regarding the recent terrorist attack on Lexal and the subsequent eviscerating of the organization known as The Seven. I’m sure all of you are aware of the details. I wanted to say, as President of the High Legislature, that all of us deplore violence, that terrorist acts will not be tolerated anywhere within the Floran Hegemony, and that we rejoice in the elimination of a terrorist threat.”
Polite applause filled the hall.
“The chair yields to Mykko Wygann, Chancellor of the colony of Lexal.”
The delegates and crowd murmured in anticipation.
Wygann stood at his podium, surveying the crowd and now his image filled the screens. “Before I begin,” he said, “I want to take a moment to address some of the rumors swirling about. First — regarding concerns about the treatment of offworld visitors on Lexal at the time of the attack: All I will say is anyone doubting Lexal’s care and compassion for innocent visitors who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time should seek one out and ask him how he was treated.
“Second — the report that Lexal is stockpiling the virus for use as a counterattack is rubbish. We deplore its creation and we believe no one has a legitimate reason to possess it. We will not rest until every trace — every vestige of the virus is eradicated from Lexal.”
Wygann paused and manipulated his handheld vidisplay. “Now,” he said, “to the agenda at hand...”
Nyk leaned toward Andra. “Here it comes...” he whispered.
“As the honorable President indicated in his opening remarks, recently Lexal was the target of a vicious and unwarranted terrorist attack — one which through the efforts of many was thwarted. However, I must differ with you, Mr President, on one issue. The actions of courageous individuals here ... on Lexal ... on Altia ... on T-Delta ... on Gamma-5 ... on Myataxya did not eliminate a terrorist threat. The threat has only been neutralized ... temporarily.
“The other day I had the opportunity to speak with one of those courageous people. I made the same mistake as you, Mr President — I rejoiced in the elimination of a threat. ‘No,’ he said. ‘You may eliminate these individuals, but until we solve the root problems — it is only a matter of time before others step forward to carry on.’
“I mulled over those words as his shuttle took off to return him and others to Floran. I saw the truth in it. I made a vidphone call to my peer — Prime Minister Kel Kyle of the Colony of Altia. I’m sure he thought I was calling to ... to curse him out for letting such a cancer grow on his colony.” Wygann shook his head. “I called to be educated on what were conditions on Altia and what were the challenges he faced. I received an earful. Overcrowding, undernourishment, a low standard of living, and lack of opportunity are what our fellow beings on Altia suffer.
“I accepted an invitation to visit him. I met Mr Kyle and toured Altropolis. I also met some of the men and women of that remarkable city. Then, he and I returned to his offices and began talking. We talked through the night. By morning we were friends.” He turned toward the Lexalese visitors’ gallery. “Isn’t that right, Kel.”
The man at the edge of the bench stood. “Absolutely, Mykko.”
Wygann beckoned Kyle to the podium. The two leaders shook hands and embraced. “We looked for ways Lexal could help the Altians overcome some of their handicaps. In the end we agreed to a three-pronged approach.
“First ... Kel and I have entered into a mutual non-aggression agreement, in which both our colonies forswear any hostile actions against each other.
“Second ... After the insurrection of two years ago — one supported by the then legitimate government of Altia — Lexal was awarded reparations, to be paid by Altia over a ten year period. The second installment of those reparations will be due at the end of this standard year.
“I have agreed to cancel the reparations and forgive the current Altian leadership of that debt, for it is one they did not incur. In addition, I have issued an executive order to our manufacturers that they are to use Altian raw materials exclusively, and to pay a ten percent duty on them. This duty will be returned to Altia to help fund domestic improvement projects.
“Finally ... I have ordered my Agricultural Minister to open additional land for food production, the fruits of which will be offered to Altia at a significant discount. And, since Lexal lacks the population to cultivate this soil, I am offering guest worker status to unemployed Altians willing to come to Lexal and work the land.”
Nyk whispered to Andra, “Bringing guest worker onto Lexal is a dramatic departure from Wygann’s policies.”
“It’s his gesture to help build trust between the colonies,” she replied.
“Don’t you think this will be hard to sell on Lexal?”
“If anyone can sell it, it’s Mykko. It’ll be harder to sell on Altia. Many won’t brook the notion of their prime minister breaking bread with Wygann, much less accepting charity from him.”
“Canceling the reparations will help, don’t you think?”
“Help, yes ... Shh...”
“These measures will cost Lexal some progress and some prosperity,” Wygann continued. “I don’t view it as an expenditure, but as an investment. Priming the Altian pump, as it were. Lexal is a small colony, and our contribution must be proportionately small. I call upon the other colonies — the High Legislature — the entire Floran Hegemony to follow the Lexalese lead.”
Wygann paused and looked around the hall. “I think many of you were expecting — dreading — one of my lengthy harangues. This is all I have to say today. I hope you are not too disappointed.”
With that, he sat down.
The hall was silent. Delegates and spectators looked around at each other. After several moments the HL presiding officer took his podium. “Would anyone else like the floor?” A grey-haired woman in a Floran tunic with lifxarpa embroidered in gold stepped to the podium. “The Chair recognizes the High Chancellor.”
“Delegates and friends — secretly behind the scenes over the past thirty days a task force assembled to combat a terrible and vicious biological weapon — a weapon that threatened not just a single colony but us all. I would like to take a moment to recognize that team. Would Mr Illya Kronta please approach.”
An usher stepped to the Lexalese box and escorted Kronta to the floor. Kronta embraced the chancellor. “Mr Kronta, it is with great pleasure that I bestow upon you ... the Chancellor’s Medallion.” One of her ax’amfin attendants handed the chancellor a flat box. She opened it, slipped a ribbon over Illya’s head and gestured toward the podium.
Kronta gazed at the assembly. “Madame Chancellor — I’m just a bureaucrat and one a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Because this virus was tested if not created on Earth, and because our efforts involved several planets — my role on the ExoAgency Oversight Committee and within the administration of the ExoService meant that I was chosen to head this task force. Our group started small, but grew with the scope of our response. Too many participated to recognize them all. However I would like to extend thanks to the following individuals for their contributions.
“Mr Nykkyo Kyhana, Assistant ExoAgent-in-Chief for North American Operations.” An usher gestured to Nyk and led him to join Kronta. “Nykkyo was the first to identify the virus as a potential biological weapon. He also served as liaison to Lexal as that colony prepared for a terrorist attack. Nyk — come shake hands with the High Chancellor and receive your medallion.”
Nyk extended his hand. The chancellor grasped it. “Thank you,” she said. Her consort handed her a box and she withdrew an object and slipped it around Nyk’s neck. He looked down and saw the palm-sized disk of enamel and stones.
“Thank you,” Nyk replied and stood beside Kronta.
“Next, the team that developed the vaccine — Drs Kurso Aahhn, Geov Helsyn and Senta Tibran.” The three were escorted to the floor and received their medallions. “Finally — a brave young woman who volunteered to test the vaccine by exposing herself to live virus, and nearly paid the ultimate price. Her courageous actions paved the way for the treatment protocol, used with such success on Lexal. Andra Baxa, please come forward.”
Andra stepped to the podium and embraced one of the attendants. Her colleague handed a box to the chancellor, who slipped the medallion around Andra’s neck. She curtsied and stood with the others as the delegates rose and applauded.
Nyk sat between Andra and Suki as the monorail train sped southward toward Sudal. Across and facing them were Senta and Dyppa, engaged in conversation. Suki held Nyk’s medallion and examined it. “You’re the only one coming home empty-handed, Sukiko,” Andra said. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”
“Not at all,” Suki replied. “I’m coming home with you and Nykkyo safe and healthy. I’d give a dozen medals for that.” She squeezed Nyk’s hand. “I’m proud of you, Nykkyo. I was in the public gallery blubbering away when she put this around your neck. I’m proud of you all.”
“You can hold onto it for me while I’m on Earth,” he said.
“Senta — this is your second Chancellor’s Medallion,” Andra said. “I thought you could only receive one.”
“It was a different chancellor,” Nyk explained. “Each High Chancellor designs his or her own medallion and determines who receives them. Some hand them out like party favors.”
“Not this chancellor,” Andra replied.
“Dyppa — let me see yours,” Suki said. Dyppa slipped hers from around her neck and Suki compared them. “I think yours is prettier.” She handed it back to her.
“You can hold it for me while I’m on Earth, too,” Dyppa said.
“How do you think Wygann’s program will sit on Altia?” Senta asked.
“What I like about it is,” Dyppa replied, “he’s not telling us what to do with the aid. Other aid attempts failed because the colonies or the HL would come in and mandate this thing or that. We don’t like others telling us who should run our government, how to hold elections or what to do about unemployment.”
“Just cooling the rhetoric will help, don’t you think?” Nyk asked.
“Oh, certainly — as will the fact Wygann and Prime Minister Kyle are speaking to each other instead of at each other.”
“Do you think other Altians will feel as you do?”
“If this program is announced properly, I think most of us will give it a chance.”
“Do you think any Altians will take Wygann’s offer of guest worker status?” Senta asked.
“I think we’ll leap at the opportunity,” Dyppa replied. “I know I would — if I didn’t already have a job on Earth.”
“There were quite a number of delegates unhappy with Mykko’s speech,” Andra said.
“Why?” asked Suki.
“Well — the Deltans are unhappy because they’re being shut out the Lexalese mineral market. The Gammans are unhappy because Wygann’s subsidization of Lexal foodstuffs will cut into their sales.”
“Lexal is so small even drastic measures can only make a dent.”
“Yes,” she replied. “Mykko’s actions are more gestures then solutions. He’s hoping to embarrass some of the larger colonies into doing more.”
“So, Nyk — what are your plans?” Senta asked.
“A couple days to relax in Sudal,” Nyk replied, “then Dyppa and I make transit and return to our respective, mundane jobs.”
Nyk stood on the bluff watching the sky darken. “Howdy, stranger.”
He opened his arms and Suki fell into them. “I hope you’re not cross with me,” he said.
“For what?”
“For another assignment in which I acted with a careless disregard for my own safety.”
She smiled. “For some reason, I don’t think you were in as much personal danger as that other time on Lexal. Besides — I saw the whole thing unfold from the inside. I think you handled yourself well — I’d like to think I could do as well under similar circumstances. I’m proud of you, Nykkyo.”
“You know, korlyta — you’re a hero, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you saved Senta from drowning — you saved the mind that went on to design the vaccine. Otherwise, Senta might’ve been dead and this world might’ve been in much deeper trouble tonight.”
“Might-haves don’t count, remember?” She kissed his cheek. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know Dyppa.”
“She’s quite a girl, isn’t she?”
“What is she in Earth terms? About eighteen?”
“Eighteen or nineteen.”
“She carries herself like someone much older.”
“She’s lived more life than many sixty-year-olds.”
“I do like her, Nykkyo — very much. Like I said — you have good taste in women. I like Senta a lot, too.”
“I’ve been looking at her through different eyes lately, myself.”
He took her hand and they strolled into the house and up the spiral staircase. Andra and Senta sat on a bench. Dyppa lay on her stomach on a sofa, playing a game on a handheld vidisplay. Suki looked around the room. “It looks like you’re collecting quite a harem,” she said.
“Suki — That thing with Dyppa was...”
She kissed his cheek. “I was kidding. Like I said — I like Dyppa. I wouldn’t mind sharing you with her — once in a while, that is.”
“No,” Senta said to Andra.
“Go ahead,” Andra replied. “What’s the harm in asking her?”
Senta stood and faced Suki, her hands behind her back. “Sukiko?”
“Yes, Senta?”
“I would like to sleep with Nykkyo tonight. I know it’s his last night here, and you’d like time to catch up, but...”
“Of course, Senta.” She led Nyk to Senta and gave her his hand.
“You don’t mind?”
Suki shook her head. “Not at all, if he’s willing.”
“I’d love to sleep with you, Senta,” he said.
“Nykkyo and I had time to catch up while you were in the clinic, recuperating. Besides, Andra and I have some catching up of our own to do.”
Senta smiled, then her jaw dropped. She turned to Nyk. “You used MY apartment ... as a trysting place?”
“You said I could come and go as I pleased. I can’t believe you’d be mortified, Senta. Not you.” She turned her back. “Are you rescinding your offer?”
“No.” She faced him. “I just can’t believe it!”
“Would you have done differently?” he asked.
“I ... I suppose not.”