He was talking to the emperor but looked around the small group as he did so to include them in the conversation. Risyn held back his dislike of the male. He had disliked him on sight but couldn’t figure out why yet. Perhaps it was all humans… He hadn’t yet met one he actually liked.
They were from an inferior species, regardless of what the genetics said. Sure, they might be related to the Lathar, but they had to have been from an inferior subspecies or something like that. No way would any of them be able to host a ke’lath and access cyberspace the way that the B’Kaar did.
Daaynal paused and looked pointedly toward Risyn, who suppressed his sigh. He doubted the human could understand the nuances required to explain even half of what the database and algorithm did, so this was going to be painful as he tried to put such complexity into small words so the human could understand.
“The genetic database is compiled and all markers have been isolated. Algorithms have been coded and tested against controlled subjects,” he said, keeping his voice smooth and deep without inflection.
He saw the flicker of Murphy’s gaze toward one of the suited B’Kaar warriors and could easily discern what he was thinking. To such unevolved creatures the B’Kaar would seem like gods, cybernetic beings of such magnitude and intelligence it must be intimidating.
“I would have thought such genetic matching would have been more the remit of a doctor rather than a digital data cruncher?” Murphy’s eyes flashed a dark warning as he turned to the emperor, offering a pointed look at the Ambassador instead.
Daaynal hadn’t moved, sprawled in his seat opposite Murphy, his leather clad arms spread over the backs of two chairs either side.
“I mentioned before that we’d moved on to collating a database and compiling an algorithm to match suitable individuals for mating. That work is best done by those whose ability to manipulate data of all kinds is unmatched. While the healer's hall is the best in the known galaxy, they deal with physical and mental injuries best. When it comes to data, we call in the B’Kaar.”
Murphy sat back, a small smile playing over his face. “Forgive me. I must have misunderstood. Please do continue…”
He hadn’t misunderstood. Risyn knew that as sure as he knew the exact composition of the next breath he took. Murphy had just wanted to make a point that he knew Isan, the Izaean ambassador, was a healer. And that he knew Latharian clans and culture were separated by specialty. He bit back his snarl, forcing down his disgruntlement. The human was way too clever and arrogant for his own good. Risyn didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him.
“As I said,” he continued, his voice low and steady as though he hadn’t been interrupted. “We have performed the first tests on our control subjects with one hundred percent accuracy. We are now ready to go to the first stage of testing with live subjects.”
“Excellent. I was hoping the Lathar side of things was progressing as swiftly as the human side.”
Murphy leaned back in his seat, as relaxed in his own way as the emperor was in his.
“Signup to the program has been robust. It seems many of Earth’s women are fascinated by the idea of being matched with an alien warrior. To the point we have had to turn some away.”
“You have been turning females away?” Rohn demanded, his expression fierce. “How is that meeting the conditions of our treaty?”
No B’Kaar liked to be allied with a K’Saan but for once, Risyn had to agree with the prince.
Murphy turned his attention to the bigger warrior seated behind Daaynal. “We have strict criteria for signup to the mate project. All women must be within a certain age bracket, although I have been told that we can expand the upper age limit beyond what we’d originally agreed, and that they must be unmarried.”
“Why?” Rohn demanded. “If your females wish to mate with us, it is the fault of your males that they can’t keep their females interested in them.”
Murphy’s expression didn’t alter at the challenge, but his tone was firmer and slightly chiding as though he was schooling a youth.
“It is less to do with the interpersonal relationships between a man and a woman and more a legal issue. We wish to ensure that all women who wish to enter into a relationship with a Latharian man are legally unencumbered and able to do so.”
The prince snarled in frustration, opening his mouth to argue, but Daaynal held his hand up for silence. Risyn’s eyes narrowed as he spotted the smug little look in the backs of Murphy’s eyes. It was only there for a second, the merest flicker before the human locked his expression down again, but Risyn saw it.
Smug little draanthic. He thought he was so clever.
Risyn hid his grin. Murphy only thought he was cleverer than the Lathar. Already Risyn had found and exploited a backdoor into the human base's system, through the announcement protocol on the train. The human digital security systems were so pathetic that he hadn’t had to exert any effort into breaking them. They were so simple even a child could do it. Already he was within their systems, mapping them out and looking for information that would aid the Lathar cause.
“It sounds like things are progressing on track.” Murphy switched his attention back to Risyn with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll be happy with the intelligence suite that we have prepared for your use, along with a full staff of analysts to work with you.”
Risyn smiled, his expression utterly blank as he looked at the human. “That will not be necessary. There is no way any human could understand or operate our systems. They would only get in my way. Please have them removed.”
“Well? What do you think?”
Elise looked up as Cam ducked through the door of the observation room. He was still in the suit he’d worn to welcome the aliens on their arrival, albeit with his tie a little loosened now. He’d been wining and dining them for the last few hours but still looked as fresh as a daisy. She offered a smile as he dropped into the chair next to her and studied the screens.
They filled the wall in front of them, showing each room in the area sectioned off for the Lathar. Only in the public areas of course. There were no cameras in the bedrooms, or the bathrooms, something that General Haney, the current head of intelligence, had argued vehemently against. He’d been all for recording every moment and everything the aliens did until someone else had pointed out that not only were the Lathar technologically more advanced than humanity, but that they were also bringing cyber specialists with them. Cyber specialists who, presumably, would know instantly that they were being recorded.
Starting from a place of mistrust would screw things before they’d even started.
Now, looking at the different screens in front of her, she was glad Cam had overruled the general.
The Lathar had split into three different groups. There was the VIP group, containing the emperor, whom she recognized instantly. He had been to Earth a few times and although she had never met him, his face was all over the briefing note she had been given. With him was his champion, a light-haired man who looked like he’d happily rip the heads off anybody who came near him, a younger man covered in scars that made her wince just to look at, and a dark-haired man who just had to be related to the emperor.
She flicked through her notes. It wasn’t War Commander Tarrick K’Vass. The man’s hair was long and braided. Which as far as she understood Latharian culture, meant that he hadn’t progressed past a certain rank, certainly not as high as a war commander.