Questions
© 2023 by Walter Reimer



Anulka-Mei Balakrishnan sat at her desk, elbows on the desktop and paws supporting her chin. Her ears were canted forward as the armadillo recounted his meeting with his Kashlanin opposite number. Apart from an occasional blink or the twitch of her tail, the Dhole-Akita might have been frozen in place.

Her steady gaze and absence of expression was unnerving.

Her mission’s Political Officer, a corsac fox, sat stony-faced, also listening as Colonel Kamara spoke. Recordings of what transpired in the conference room were also played, and when he was finished the armadillo said, “That’s all, Ma’am. Colonel m’Dhan was going to tell Ambassador k’Ven.”

Balakrishnan nodded curtly, her ears swiveling backward as she thought. Finally she sat back and said, “Thank you, Colonel.” Her gaze shifted to the fox. “Well?”

The Political Officer post was actually a cover; the corsac fox was an Intelligence operative, one selected by ‘M’ himself for his analytical skills. “We’ve known for years that they don’t trust AI systems,” he said, “and they’ve been very reluctant to say why.”

“Hmm. Arrange a meeting with Ambassador k’Ven,” the canine said. “Just her and me. Dismissed.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Yes, Minister.”


***


Two cycles later Balakrishnan faced the vir across a conference table. “You wished to speak with me, Foreign Minister?” k’Ven asked.

Balakrishnan smiled and tapped a claw against the table. “Yes, Ambassador. Colonel Kamara told me what Colonel m’Dhan was going to report to you.”

“Yes.”

“If you want my opinion, Colonel m’Dhan brought up some very good points.”

K’Ven’s expression immediately changed from polite interest to wary anticipation. “Yes?”

“Yes, and that made me start thinking. I was the envoy to Gwath ka-shlal for over ten Terran years, and I took the time to study your history.”

“We have quite a long history,” k’Ven said.

“Yes, you do,” Balakrishnan admitted. “Now, the Empire welcomed trade with us after our relations became normalized, but you’ve never allowed AIs across the border.” The Dhole-Akita’s tail wagged slightly. “Why?”

The canine’s ears flicked at the sound of the vir’s tailspur skittering across the floor.

Hmm, touched a nerve, perhaps?

“Aka – “

“What are you hiding, Ambassador?” Balakrishnan asked.

It was interesting to watch the vir, her usual staff coterie not there to back her up, visibly make her mind up. “I will have to consult with my superiors,” k’Ven finally conceded. “It . . . it is a sensitive subject.”

“From your reaction, it would have to be.” The canine got to her feet. “We will pause our discussion until after your consultations. Fair day,” and she walked out of the room.

Hm.

Perhaps, she wondered, if her secretary would be interested in having dinner with her.