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  But for Kumenoprix, in his new job of spy, there had first been a huge learning curve. He had no training as a spy and was totally ignorant of surveillance equipment, how to encrypt or encode and a thousand other details. He was also not known to be on the payroll. That was because he was never personally paid.

  Yet in the end his ignorance of this training saved him. The Keulfyd were natural spies. They were some of this galaxy’s’s best at breaking codes, infiltrating networks and guarding themselves. For nearly a century, Kumenoprix did nothing but watch. With nothing to report, he reported nothing. Not having any espionage equipment, none was found on the frequent searches he was unknowingly subjected to. And at his own request, his pay for his secondary job of spy was initially sent to his family until they all died. Then it was simply not paid as he forgot about it. He sent no instructions and did not need it anyway. He sometimes wondered what had happened to his pay but only in passing. And he couldn’t exactly enquire… So he did not get caught and became trusted as much as the Keulfyd trusted anyone.

  Chapter Four

  On the Loridsyl planet of Gekeldesoo, or Gekeldesoo Prime to give it its full name, Kasjeindid’s report and the Priskya’s official complaint caused grave concern. The Loridsyl were well aware that they were compromised. This crime, industrial espionage of their Defense Systems, was treason. The Loridsyl tended to take very seriously any individual putting their main income earner into question. It was a heinous crime. As a species, the Loridsyl tended to be law-abiding even though many of their best customers weren’t. Once alerted, their Industrial Security System had swung into action. The Production and Distribution Manager and the Advertising Director met and heard the report of the Security System Chief three days later: “It took less than twenty-four hours to find the culprit and another ten hours for the interrogation. The miscreant has since met a somewhat earlier than anticipated demise. Unfortunately, in this case, we had to include its spouses who, although not overtly involved, knew how their gambling debts and other bills had suddenly gone away and had approved. They also met an early demise, a sudden and unfortunate accident.” They all knew the reasons for this must never be known.

  “Did it work alone?”

  “We believe so. We have searched the financial records of all other employees. No sudden repayment of debt, no extra cash from an unexplained cause, no unexplained resignations. As you know, we keep surveillance on bank accounts. It used a relative’s account, but we found the debt repayment. It was very cautious, they all were; no unexpected luxuries, they all stayed at their jobs, but they had to deal with the debt and that’s how we found them.”

  The Manager and Director looked at each other. This wasn’t the first time.

  The Security Chief couldn’t help adding, “You remember I recommended nearly a year ago that all who gambled or got into debt or otherwise spent beyond their means, used alcohol or drugs excessively or had problems or tastes they could be blackmailed for, if they were in crucial positions, should be encouraged to resign. Being threatened with severe consequences arising from debt by those who want their money back often turns a hitherto honest but foolish person into a dishonest person whose stupidity puts into jeopardy, in this instance, the main income of our Race. That is unforgivable, and unforgiven. You didn’t do as I recommended, and now you are paying for it. The fix will cost billions.”

  “Your suggestion will now be implemented.”

  “A little late.” The Security Chief left, its job done. It left behind two rather humiliated executives. The Production and Distribution Manager commented sadly, “The correlation between the demise of this employee and the new policy will not be missed and not forgotten by all present employees. They will suspect. They will be right.”

  The Advertising Director added, “This unlamented employee was head of the Dispatch Department. One of the few who knew where each system was going and therefore who it was for. A well-paid and trusted employee. We thought we would be safe with our policy that few people know where the systems are going until they get there — and often not even then.”

  When most systems were installed and taught to a designated Person, the Loridsyl left without knowing for sure which planet they had been on. Most planets had similarities in geography and industrialization and were a mish-mash of architecture and Races and languages so were hard to tell apart. The view screens were seldom used precisely so people did not know where they were going, where they were, nor where they had been. Many of their customers liked it this way, both the moral and the immoral — especially the immoral.

  But installing a system on a planet was different. One couldn’t help seeing a whole planet when one was looking down on it rather than being on it. Whole planets did look different. The location couldn’t be kept a secret when a planetary Defense System was being installed. The planet was clearly visible.

  “That a Defense Shield was on Torroxell was never meant to be a secret, but the fact that one had been ordered and was due to be installed should have been. We have to deal with the Priskya’s complaint or our business could be affected. Our credibility and reliability certainly will be suspect. We have to deal with this complaint to the satisfaction of the Priskya or the complaint will become public knowledge. We cannot have that.” The Advertising Director shuddered.

  “Will a complete system, more powerful, be enough? At no extra charge. We can use the one that was to go to Kodiofeesid. It is more than twice the capacity of the Torroxell one and can easily be adjusted. The planets are a similar size and luckily have a similar gravitational pull.”

  “Can we replace that system fast enough for Kodiofeesid?”

  “With overtime we can. It will be a little later than promised but the penalties will be acceptable.”

  “When will it be ready to go?” The Advertising Director was feeling a little more hopeful.

  “Three months at minimum. Less if we strip the warehouses. The finishing can be done on the way. It will be a little costly with more personnel needed to go with it.” There was a long pause. This was not the main problem and they both knew it. “What is the chance Torroxell will come under attack?”

  The Advertising Director was well aware of this. Its duties included directing the Research and Development area ( so it knew what was being developed) and keeping up with politics, disputes, business, and expansion so it knew where the best customers should be. “Our political analysts say it is 40/60 against, with the Defense System. Without the Defense System, it would have been attacked again as soon as a fleet could have got there — in about three months. But the Keulfyd might decide they cannot let this challenge to their invincibility go unanswered. They are becoming a laughing stock. Jokes are flooding the internet. All the marine planets are celebrating their first ever victory and it is over the Keulfyd. They should shut up. Their merriment is most unwise. It is foolish to taunt the Keulfyd.”

  “And the Keulfyd will think they know exactly the capacity of the system.”

  “True. And this might make an attack more likely.”

  “We cannot risk the system failing.”

  “We cannot.”

  The Production and Distribution Manager had been thinking hard and now summed up. “It is now a total of three of the last twenty-one systems where People have known in advance that the Defense Systems were coming. All three times, we have managed to indicate the leak was more likely to have come from the customer’s side but twice, we now know, the leak was from our side and in the other case, probably. This makes the third that we know of a certainty that it was our fault. This is unacceptable. Our reputation is in question. The Torroxell Shield must not fall. I will send the Kodiofeesid system to Torroxell and ensure that Shield does not fail.” It looked at the Advertising Director. “That fool has cost us billions,” it said angrily.

  “Maybe. But I have an idea.”

  The Manager looked up hopefully. The Advertising Director had come up with some brilliant suggestions from time to time.<
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  Several minutes later, the Manager called up Personnel, amused and relieved, to organize recruitment for what the Advertising Director had suggested. It stressed, “Secrecy during recruitment is essential. So is timing.”

  When the two executives met again later, the Manager said, “I was calculating costs and thinking if this works we could recoup some of our losses. By the sound of these Terrans, this is a possibility. If they agree. If they have the psyche to take risks and it seems they might.”

  The Advertising Director replied, “Our huge advantage is that whatever Race attacks, we know exactly what we face. We Loridsyl are the best gatherers of industrial espionage. We are very good customers. And there are always those who are prepared to sell information. Eventually we might recoup all our losses. But it is a terrible risk. Still, what is life without risk? And it isn’t us that will have to take the personal risk. Just the financial one. There will be no shortage of qualified and motivated volunteers for the personal risk. And the cost of this plan isn’t too bad. It will be lucrative if it works. Eventually. Volunteers will be found. Every Race seems to have its risk-takers and we are no exception to the general rule. If we offer a contract for several months at five times the pay, we will get a large number of enthusiastic applicants. These contracts are very popular.”

  “But they are hazardous. Why would someone be so foolish?” wondered the more cautious Manager.

  “I did one myself when I was young and foolish and it set me up for life,” said the Director. “They’ll get free keep, there’s usually nowhere to spend the money — that’s certainly the case here — and five times the pay. It’s a huge temptation and a legal one. One that not only the young find irresistible. Implicit in the pay is an admission that risk is involved, but it is a curious feature of most Races that people do not really think they will be the ones to die. Others, maybe, but not themselves. So they take the risk and anticipate the pay.”

  The Manager left, relieved. Once more the Advertising Director had come up with what might be the solution. It felt good. This could work.

  Chapter Five

  Kumenoprix was a natural researcher. He studied, first, Keulfyd physiology. He was fascinated. But another factor crept in. Kumenoprix’s knowledge quickly outstripped the understanding of Cukudeopul’s other physicians. Eventually, he was so far ahead that there were none that he could discuss his findings with. This was when, lonely and frustrated, he had been allowed to exchange information with other Okme and, over the last fifty years or so, with Helkmid.

  All outgoing information was scrutinized, but by a security system that did not understand what he was talking about. The security team was neither stupid nor ignorant. Security was an important and well-respected profession among the Keulfyd and attracted their brightest. Kumenoprix found them to be reasonable and he understood their dilemma. Faced with this challenge, they came up with a way to check it. They got him to recite random lines and explain them. His explanations had to match each other when repeated the next day: liars are usually caught because their memories are not good enough. Kumenoprix was up to the challenge. He had a photographic memory. He had always kept this a secret as he had learned that this was one of his advantages at school and it made him unpopular with some of his classmates. They felt that this, added to his superior intellect, gave him an unfair advantage. They explained this to him in the time-honoured method of schoolchildren of many Races and he got tired of being knocked over, ducking inanimate flying objects, cleaning up the mess after he didn’t see the inanimate objects coming, and dealing with stolen, destroyed, or altered schoolwork.

  His very confidence relaxed the security people. They thought he was harmless and truthful. Almost always that was the case. When he described systems or lines of data, he simply described it all as Keulfyd, when often it wasn’t. He remembered to substitute the systems. He remembered everything. But there was a limiting factor. If he only sent small amounts of data, those on the the security team were not worried — and he was forbidden to send large amounts. Kumenoprix understood, but it was a huge frustration.

  The other factor was a shared interest. Kumenoprix loved puzzles, particularly codes, number games, and word games. So did most of the brightest of the security teams. There was one language puzzle called a daily code that often came with the morning dispatches. Most of that day’s security team competed with each to solve it and then make up one for the outgoing dispatches. Many mornings the little Okme could be seen having a race with the security team to solve the puzzle. Often he supplied the puzzle for the outgoing dispatches, after the local team had done it first. It is more difficult to suspect someone whom you socialize and play games with. And 99.99 percent of the time Kumenoprix was exactly as he appeared. Under these circumstances, it was not logical for their scrutiny of him to remain vigilant. They thought it a waste of their time.

  Cukudeopul loved how he felt post-treatment. His mind was never clearer, no drug side-effects, he would sleep well, he was wide awake, his memory good, no confusion, clear understanding, and so little medication until the little Okme analyzed everything and recalibrated all his treatments. Long gone were the days when he could go years without drugs after a Treatment.

  Now he had to catch up. So much had happened while he was in the Healing Machine. His staff had supplied a summary for him and he was reading flat out. That’s right, he remembered, Oberterk had been taken, although the Nashi had that one. It would look too suspicious for the Keulfyd to get everything so this was allowed to go to the Nashi, but they would be well paid for their assistance and the Keulfyd wanted the Zeobani weakened. It was a win-win.

  And Torroxell was under attack. A very nice planet, good climate — he would put in an official bid, openly, and buy it outright from all legal creditors who would be desperate to recoup their losses and solve their cash flow and investment panic. He chuckled. Once the Keulfyd bid went in it would scare some others away. But he must be seen to be fair. He would make it a reasonable bid so no one could claim he underpaid. The loot on the troopships would pay for a major portion of the planet price. A good way to do business.

  Cukudeopul was patient. He knew he would not live to see his ultimate goal achieved and the slower it was achieved, the better their chances. His plan was to manage it so that only one Race was wiped out at a time and only one within living memory for most People. Since some lived very long lives, this made progress very slow. Yet haste could threaten all this planning. Cukudeopul was not worried about not receiving any recognition for his part in all this. His own knowledge was all that counted. He thought the Keulfyd would be safer in a galaxy they controlled and only they inhabited. He was convinced he was acting for the good of his people. He thought he was ensuring the survival of his Race.

  He remembered with amusement that for the first race they wiped out, they were not even suspected of being involved. Even better, several other races got the blame, chiefly the Niseyen. It was deliciously ironic. Cukudeopul’s predecessor but one had achieved that, and the Keulfyd managed to get three of the Kaldalei’s eight planets while the Oriwikk got two. Cukudeopul had been racking his brains for centuries to come up with as good an outcome. It had been sheer genius, and a case of changing the final plans because a better one had suddenly appeared when the Niseyen took advantage of the increasing weakness of the Kaldalei and overthrew their masters. The existing weakness that had been worsened by the Cleaners.

  But the Niseyen had then been targeted as another Race to be eliminated precisely because they had been able to do that with such frighteningly small numbers and such a low level of technology. The Keulfyd saw them as a potentially huge threat — and the Keulfyd wouldn’t tolerate threats.

  Two Niseyen tactics had led the Keulfyd to plan their extinction: suicide bombers and passive resistance. The first tactic had overthrown the Kaldalei. The second had ensured they were not taken over by another Race that had sought to get them from within, from an elected government of their own
who were on the other Race’s payroll. It was so long ago Cukudeopul couldn’t even remember the Race but the Niseyen turned out not to be the anticipated pushover. The orders had had to be enforced by the equivalent of the Niseyen police and military but although the leaders were bought, the individual police and soldiers were not and they rebelled at shooting their own unarmed people who were not fighting back. So the Race he couldn’t remember were defeated by passive resistance.

  But to the Keulfyd, the most frightening revelation was that a whole population could work together with total commitment. This was unusual. He knew he would never be able to get his people to do it. Self-aware people did not generally choose these tactics and tended to be reluctant not only to make any personal sacrifice at all, but also to make any commitment to others. This whole strategy therefore went against normal self-awareness. This was a dangerous and potential threat. Worse still was that people who were self-aware, would work together with total commitment, and would give their lives for the good of the whole, were not normally aggressive. That was the true danger. That was the combination that frightened Cukudeopul.