2
Adar Bali’nh
He had met and interacted with humans before, in small groups. He didn’t dislike them, simply failed to under-stand them. But he was the Adar, supreme commander of the Ildiran Solar Navy, and the Mage-Imperator had honored him with this assignment to lead a formal delegation to the King of Earth.
Adar Bali’nh had studied all the information available to him. The competent computerized companion OX, a diminutive robotic servant and historian from one of the retrieved generation ships, had briefed Bali’nh thoroughly during their voyage from Ildira. After their many conversations, the Adar felt he under-stood OX better than he understood humans.
The Ildirans had numerous discrete kiths, like breeds. In general, they were similar to humans in appearance—at least the noble kithmen were—but Bali’nh did not let himself be fooled that humans were the same. All Ildirans were connected by an invisible web of telepathy, the thism, centered on the Mage-Imperator; the thism bound them into a tight community, allowing them to act with unity. Humans had no such connection; they were separate and alone. He tried not to pity them too much.
Bali’nh would discharge his duty, make the Mage-Imperator proud by treating King Ben with formal respect … but deep in his heart, Adar Bali’nh knew that opening the Spiral Arm to these ambitious humans meant that his steady, predictable life was over.
The Ildiran Empire had changed little over the fifteen thousand years of its existence. Every event was chronicled in the Ildiran epic Saga of Seven Suns. His people did not react well to change.…
As his maniple of forty-nine warliners descended toward Earth’s capital city, Adar Bali’nh gave orders for all ships to deploy their grandiose thermal-radiating panels, and extend the colorful decoration on the warliners’ hulls so that the Solar Navy provided a most spectacular show.
Seven groups of seven warliners spread across the sky in formation while the Adar dispatched his flagship to the designated zone in front of the Whisper Palace.
Below them, King Ben’s residence was an ornate structure surrounded by parks, fountains, and statue gardens. Regarding the view from his command nucleus, the Adar could not put aside his racial pride. Even though this was an impressive place, Earth could not match Ildira with its dazzling seven suns that bathed the planet in constant golden light. Night fell here on Earth, and Ildirans did not like the darkness.
As the flagship landed in the Grand Plaza in front of the Whisper Palace, Bali’nh mused to the human-shaped robot, deciding to be polite. “So this is Earth. Your descriptions have not done it justice, OX.”
The little compy turned his golden eye sensors to study the city before him. “I have not seen it for a long time, Adar Bali’nh. In fact, I never imagined I would see it again. Each generation ship carried a compy such as myself to serve as a teacher and historian to preserve the memories of home for successive generations. When I departed Earth aboard the Peary one hundred forty-nine years ago, the Whisper Palace had not yet been constructed. My knowledge is extremely out of date.”
“Then we will both learn the current situation. Shall we go and meet Earth’s King?” The two descended toward the departure deck.
Stabilizing fields kept the landed flagship balanced perfectly in place, barely kissing the pavement. Ordered ranks of King Ben’s Royal Guards marched up to stand before the warliner as the ceremonial egress ramp extended from the bottom deck.
When the hatch slid open, Adar Bali’nh took a long breath of the air of a new world, felt the warm sunlight, looked out at the blue sunlit sky, and decided that Earth was a fine world after all. He could be comfortable here for their two-month official visit.
The Adar and OX walked down the ramp, followed by their own honor guard of burly, bestial-looking guard kithmen in full crystal-scale armor; many other Ildirans were observing via sensor screens aboard the warliners. The Adar believed himself to be perfectly safe.
Bali’nh stopped at the bottom of the ramp and faced the captain of the Royal Guard, who stood with his anxiety well-concealed. He extended his palm, fingers splayed in the traditional Ildiran salute, and then smiled because OX had taught him to. “I am Adar Bali’nh. With the blessing of our omnipotent Mage-Imperator, I have come to Earth to begin formal relations with your King.”
The Adar’s features were similar to those of humans, though squarer, stronger, and his skin was not pale pink, but rather a greenish-gold color. His black hair was long and flowing, shot with two bright streaks of white that originated from each temple.
He indicated the small compy. “I am also returning your competent computerized companion, whom we rescued from the generation ship, Peary.”
“You brought one of the old compies back! That’s a nice surprise.” The Guard Captain gestured behind him as his men stepped aside to form a long, open corridor in their ranks. “This way, Adar Bali’nh. King Ben will receive you in his Throne Hall.”
Inside, the Whisper Palace was quite spectacular, the Throne Hall alone as cavernous as a warliner’s cargo hold. The old bearded King sat on a high dais approached by a long succession of stone steps; his throne was situated before a broad window that looked out upon Earth’s open skies. The clouds were turning golden with the setting of the sun, and Bali’nh wondered just how dark this city would get, but OX had assured him that humans kept the darkness at bay with artificial lights, just as any Ildiran splinter colony would.
Bali’nh stood at the base of the steps, looking up at the King. The Adar’s red cape hung from his squared shoulders. He addressed King Ben in the manner that OX had taught him. “Your Majesty, in all the history of our empire, as is told in the Saga of Seven Suns, Ildirans have encountered no other intelligent race—until now. This is a sign of great things, and our Mage-Imperator offers to share Ildiran knowledge and technology. We welcome humans as our friends and partners into the civilization of the Spiral Arm. We are impressed by your boldness in sending out your generation ships on what was surely a very risky quest.”
From his throne, King Ben cleared his throat, “Yes, they were quite brave, those pioneers. We thank you for rescuing them.”
Bali’nh nodded again. “In the years since we first encountered the Caillié, we have located all but one of your generation vessels and delivered them to suitable worlds for settlement.”
King Ben used a ringed hand to stroke his lower lip; he fur-rowed his brow as if deep in contemplation. “We owe you a great deal for all you have done for us, Adar Bali’nh.” He leaned for-ward, as if noticing OX for the first time. “And now this compy from the Peary—what a relic! He must have fascinating stories.”
OX took a half step forward. “Yes, your Majesty. Not only did I chronicle the voyage of the Peary, but I discovered a greater purpose when I began learning from the Ildirans. Over many centuries, their Solar Navy has mapped hundreds of habitable planets, but their empire has no interest in colonizing those planets. In other words, Sire, all those worlds are un-touched and unclaimed.”
Bali’nh nodded. “There are many habitable worlds across the Spiral Arm. We do not lay claim to them. And the stardrive we offer will allow you to explore and settle new territories.”
The King glanced to one side, and Bali’nh caught a glimpse of a man in the shadows of an alcove. The King’s expression suddenly changed to one of worry. He said in a more uncertain voice, “We look forward to reconnecting with our lost children. The first generation ship you encountered, the Caillié—how is that colony doing? You delivered those people to a heavily forested planet, I believe?”
“The planet is called Theroc,” Bali’nh said. “The Caillié refugees have adapted to the great trees and appear to be thriving on their new world.”
OX spoke up, “Perhaps someday, a representative from Theroc will come to Earth, just as I have.”
King Ben smiled. “We can only hope.”