9
Chairman Malcolm Stannis
It had been a very gratifying week.
Despite his initial reservations about the massive diplomatic force of the Ildiran Solar Navy, Stannis now saw many advantages to the alien presence. The Terran Hanseatic League was changed forever; never again would it be so limited. At times, the possibilities left him breathless, and he had already filled many more pages in his journal file of ideas to pursue.
With the maniple of warliners parked in orbit, Adar Bali’nh remained at the Whisper Palace as a guest. Since Ildirans thrived on pomp and pageantry, King Ben treated him to diplomatic banquets and parades in his honor. The Adar had even taken brief trips to the lunar settlement and the industrial colonies in the asteroid belt, though the military base on Mars remained discreetly off limits.
These Ildirans seemed so human, and, yet, having watched them closely during their time on Earth, Stannis could recognize that they were alarmingly different, with certain incompre-hensible attitudes.
He still didn’t understand why the aliens were so strangely, perhaps foolishly, benevolent—offering their remarkable technology and asking for little in return. When he ventured a cautious question to see if he could make Bali’nh confess some secret motivation, the alien commander would say only, “The Mage-Imperator commanded it.” Bali’nh didn’t think any other answer was necessary.
Stardrives! Faster-than-light travel would carry Hansa trade vessels across the Spiral Arm, and human colonists were eager to plant the Hansa flag on dozens, if not hundreds, of fresh worlds … all those planets, just there for the taking!
He had already established five blue-ribbon committees, and the Terran Hanseatic League was poised for significant expansion far beyond the solar system. With all the opportunities for commerce with the Ildiran Empire, and for resource development on countless untapped planets and moons, the potential for profit and power was unimaginable. And Malcolm Stannis had a very good imagination.
Now, as the Solar Navy made ready to depart, crowds gather-ed in the Palace District for a huge sendoff. Cannons shot glittering confetti into the air, creating a multicolored celebratory blizzard. The forty-nine warliners gathered in the sky above the Whisper Palace, while King Ben and Adar Bali’nh made a final public appearance together. Stannis watched from an inner room, accompanied by Liam Hector, as the King and the Adar stepped out into view.
The King wore royal blue robes this time, delivering his speech of gratitude from the high balcony of the Palace. Beside him the Adar stood in full military dress spangled with incomprehensible medals and badges. His long dark hair blew loosely about his head, showing off his lightning-bolt streaks of white.
King Ben raised his hands and, on cue, a crowd let out a deafening cheer. “We gather to bid farewell to the Ildiran warliners—for a time. The human race owes so much to our new friends in the Spiral Arm.” He turned to Bali’nh and extended a hand for a firm handshake, a human gesture that the Adar had been taught.
Adar Bali’nh offered the formal open-palmed Ildiran salute in response. “We are pleased to welcome you as our neighbors in the Spiral Arm, King Ben. We also established new homes for ten of your generation ships. May your splinter colonies thrive.”
King Ben was grinning, and Stannis watched from an inner operations center, a corridor away from the speaking balcony. The Chairman was concerned. The King seemed too much at ease, as if he had forgotten the importance of every single word he uttered.
As another cutter loaded with human explorers rose up to the Solar Navy vessels, King Ben addressed the crowd, continuing to heighten their excitement. “While Earth builds new ships that incorporate the Ildiran stardrive, Adar Bali’nh has graciously offered to assist our explorers. We celebrate these brave pioneers who will find candidate worlds for us to colonize.”
Three hundred white doves were released into the air, flying up above the crowd like liberated spirits. The crowd gasped, then applauded. King Ben stepped forward, clasping his hands in front of him. “Oh, this is a wonderful day! Earth will benefit so much by joining the Ildiran Empire. The Terran Hanseatic League will certainly profit from such a direct alliance.”
Stannis’s eyes flew open in shock. What the hell did the King think he was saying? “That wasn’t in the script!” As he ran toward the speaking balcony, he shouted over his shoulder to his aide, “Mr. Hector, cut the sound system. Shut it down before the King gets us into any more trouble!” He felt sick and knew he couldn’t run fast enough.
On the balcony, even Adar Bali’nh looked surprised by what the old man had said. “You wish Earth to join the Ildiran Empire, King Ben?”
The very idea was absurd. Red-faced and gasping, Stannis lurched out onto the balcony between King Ben and Adar Bali’nh. It took all his self-control to quell his anger.
The King tapped the microphone, puzzled to realize that the sound had cut off in mid-sentence. No one could hear what they were saying.
Stannis grasped Ben’s robed arm, squeezing like a vise. He wanted to wring King Ben’s neck, but his image was being broadcast to billions of people right now. “Please Majesty, let me assist you away from the balcony. We have encountered some technical difficulties.” He hoped Adar Bali’nh would believe the clumsy excuse. “I’m sorry, Adar—the King isn’t feeling well enough to complete his speech. It will be rescheduled. Please, enjoy the performance.”
Liam Hector, bless him, had given orders for marching bands to come forward and play a loud and brassy fanfare in the main square.
Stannis dragged the King down the corridor and into a private room. The Chairman’s face was hot, his heart pounding hard. Ben looked befuddled and apprehensive, knowing he had made a serious mistake and he was in a great deal of trouble. “What, Malcolm? What did I do wrong?”
The idiot didn’t even know!
Finally, with the door slammed shut to give them privacy, Stannis raised his voice, “Do you have any idea what you just said? You—the King of Earth—offered to have us join the Ildiran Empire, to accept the rule of an alien leader! We’ll have to apologize, backpedal, and hope there’s no permanent damage.”
The King looked away, his shoulders slumped. He was trembling. “Sorry Malcolm. I just got carried away.” He heaved a sigh, spoke with more of a whine. “I don’t like how everything’s changed, all this added responsibility I suddenly have, spending every waking hour with an alien diplomat. I’m just an actor and a spokesman, not a leader—that’s why Chairman Burke invented the role of King in the first place. I wasn’t supposed to be much more than a mascot, somebody in charge of parades and handing out awards. All this pressure is just too much for me.”
“That’s an understatement,” Stannis grumbled. “I have no idea how we’re going to get out of this. Maybe the Adar didn’t comprehend what you said.”
“But Malcolm, even I don’t understand what I said! What was wrong with it? Wouldn’t it be best if we humans joined the Ildiran Empire, joined forces? They’ve offered us so much already.”
Stannis pinched the bridge of his nose and turned away, closing his eyes. He could feel a migraine pounding in the back of his skull. “Oh, go to bed where you can ‘rest and recuperate.’ I’m going to be up all night trying to fix this.”
Dejected, the King shuffled away. Stannis waited in the private room a long time before Liam Hector returned to announce the measures he had taken. So far there seemed to be no repercussions, but Stannis still felt nauseated. He shook his head. “Obviously, Liam, we can’t let that old fool do any more damage! I will not stand by and see our power stripped away.”