Emerald Repatriation Society: The Power of Silence (Part 31)
08 Dec 2024Vasil Vasilescu
A house slave escorted Katarzyna from the private landing pad, through the halls of her aunt Octavia’s winter villa on Emerald, and to her meeting with Octavia.
“Stăpână Octavia,” announced the slave once he and Kat entered a large study overlooking an alpine valley. “Miss Katarzyna Lova.”
Octavia stood with her back to them, looking out at the valley that had belonged to her family since the formation of the Empire. She did not turn around. “Thank you, Edmund. You may leave. See that we are not disturbed.”
Edmund nodded, backed out and closed the door.
Octavia said nothing more, did not move or otherwise acknowledge Kat's presence. She stood like a queen quietly admiring the rugged beauty of her homeland, or perhaps deciding the fate of a traitor to the crown. Her striking auburn hair was perfectly styled, as usual, and nearly as vibrant as the perfectly fitted Aldandiri silk dress she wore. Octavia demanded perfection in all things, not just her appearance, and her cold silence began to make Kat suspect she had done something judged to be imperfect.
Kat stood by the door, hesitant to say or do anything until Octavia addressed her. She thought that Octavia summoned her to talk about Emerald Repatriation Society operations in Sol, but now she was not so certain. Octavia rarely gave a reason for ordering family to a meeting, making the meetings feel like an ambush intended to expose a shortcoming Octavia found inexcusable.
Kat grew uncomfortable with the long silence as Octavia continued gazing out over the valley to the jagged, snow-capped peaks of distant stone mountains. Kat’s mind raced. What had she done to upset Octavia? As ERS VP of Housing and Relocation, Kat thought everything was fine. There were no food or supply shortages. A new settlement was under construction. And four settlements recently given their autonomy had declared Octavia as their client. What could possibly have upset Octavia?
Finally, Octavia turned from the window and sat at a large, curved writing desk. She nodded toward a chair for Kat to sit opposite her. As soon as Kat sat down, Octavia calmly asked her niece, “How many were on the Sol rescue ships?”
Relieved that the meeting was about efforts in Sol rather than an unrealized mistake she had made, Kat checked her pad containing the compiled figures gathered from ERS agents and the Emerald Dawn rescue carrier operated by ERS. She knew all Octavia cared about was the number of Imperial citizens who perished. “Just over five thousand, assuming all were lost when the Thargoids destroyed the Pilot Fed rescue ships.”
“Is that all? I thought there would be more.” Octavia took the loss of 5000 Imperial citizens and potential supporters better than Kat had expected. In fact, Octavia seemed disappointed it was not more.
“Luckily, there were not more than that,” said Kat. “However, there are another fifteen thousand registered for transport but still trapped in the system. Captain Whitney should have them safely on board the Emerald Dawn in a week or so.”
“Five thousand dead and fifteen needing transport. Those are not large numbers, Katarzyna. Barely a township worth of people.”
Kat knew exactly what Octavia was saying without actually saying it. Instead of five thousand Imperial deaths, it would be better propaganda to blame twenty thousand on Federal incompetence. Also, was it worth the effort to pull fifteen thousand people out of a system with billions?
In her heart, Kat felt every person, whether they were Imperial or Federal, young or old, wealthy or destitute, had value. Even though Kat knew Octavia was using ERS as a means to gain popular support and political influence, Kat believed in the ERS mission of saving people and giving them a new start. She knew Octavia was about to decide that a loss of Imperial lives in Sol would serve her political ambitions more than saving them. Lives in exchange for propaganda was not something Kat could agree with. She had to stop Octavia ordering the Emerald Dawn to halt its rescue efforts in Sol.
“There are other, unregistered, people,” said Kat. “Not just in Sol, but in nearby systems. Out of 22 billion souls, if just one in a thousand are Imperial, and if only one percent of those needs our help, that is two-hundred-twenty-thousand people.”
Octavia studied Kat with a mixture of suspicion and admiration. Kat feared the gaze. It meant Octavia was deciding if the target was trying to manipulate her. Rarely did it end well for those Octavia suspected of misleading her.
The gaze withered Kat’s resolve. She felt the urge to further justify why rescue efforts needed to continue but said nothing. She remembered her uncle Vasil had once told her that silence is often the most powerful statement a person can make. It can force the other person to speak their mind in order to fill the silence, but most importantly it can keep you from speaking yours.
She also remembered Vasil telling her that Octavia respected confidence, and to never back down. Weakness to Octavia was like blood to a shark. "Ultimately, it is your decision," said Kat, "but I believe stopping rescue efforts in Sol would be a mistake."
The left corner of Octavia’s mouth twisted up in a knowing smirk. “You sound like Vasil, but less sarcastic and more respectful,” she said. “Fine. Let Captain Whiney know the Emerald Dawn is fee to proceed as he sees fit with regards to rescuing Imperial citizens from Sol.”
Considering the discussion over, Octavia stood, smiled politely. “Why don't you stay for lunch, Katarzyna. Sir Halston and other honorary board members will be joining us. I’m sure they’d like to hear about your plans for ERS housing and relocation.”
The impromptu lunch invite was offered pleasantly enough, but Kat understood it to be an order, not an invite. She answered with an equally pleasant smile. “Of course, Aunt Octavia, I’d love to join you.”