Just above the ministers and military people and below the foreign leaders sat the important members of Sean's Government. The Prime Minister Countess Haruko Kawasaki, Baron Emile von Hauser Schmidt, the Leader of the Lords, Laura Goolsby, Speaker of Commons, and Mohamed Ishner, the Chief of Scholars. Scattered among them were the equivalent ministers of the other alliance members. Even the Leader of the Loyal Opposition, Archduke Percival Marconi, was in attendance, giving a disapproving look at the whole gathering. Seated with them was Samantha Ogden Lee, Sean's cousin and once regent, right next to the Emperor's older sister, Fiona Ogden Lee Romanov. The Opposition continued to attempt to get Fiona to make a claim for the throne, but she had turned down her position in the succession while Augustine and family were still alive, and the law was clear that she no longer had a claim.
Sean took in the assemblage for a moment, then looked around the walls of the chamber. The flags of the various governments were hung in honor, among the many masterpieces of art and symbols of the history of the Empire. Many of those were reproductions, the originals lost with the old palace in the Caca attack. Out from the main table were a series of round tables, complete with multimedia suites and privacy fields, in which the work groups would gather after the meal.
The least august personage at the table, a newly promoted ensign fresh from the Fleet Academy at Peal Island, tapped a glass with a knife, then raised the goblet into the air.
“The Emperor and Empress,” said the overwhelmed looking young woman. “May their reign be long.”
Most of the people at the table got to their feet and raised glasses, though there were some abstentions. Sean made sure to note those, though some were understandable. The leader of the Margravi, after all, was sitting on gravity plates in an atmosphere tent, and couldn't be expected to participate. Some of the others would bear watching.
“Quite the group,” whispered Jennifer.
And I hope nothing happens to test security, thought Sean. He glanced over at T'lisha, who was also watching the assemblage like a hawk. Many of his ministers had thought the banquet a good idea. Others a security risk that put too many important alliance figures at risk. Sean thought the risk minimal, the possible returns great. The Emperor's Own Division was deployed across the expansive grounds, a wing of fighters patrolled the skies, and a pair of Imperial battleships hovered thirty kilometers up, weapons ready. It would take a suicide attack to strike at this party, and even then the chance of success was small.
Sean himself got to his feet and raised a glass. “Confusion to our enemies,” he toasted, and every hand that could raised a glass to that.
“I am so happy to see your beautiful capital city recovering from the attack,” said Pro-Counsel Hssrat Jillarst, sitting near the head of the table on Jennifer's side. “And your home as well.”
Sean looked into the reptilian eyes of the pro-counsel, wondering what thoughts were going through that mind. The Crakista were not reptiles. They were really of no line from Earth evolution, but the closest would be the dinosaurs. They didn't sport feathers like that extinct branch of the birds, instead using very fine scales as their integument. So fine that they were indistinguishable from skin at a distance. The jaws were slightly protruding, more like a cat's than a carnivorous dinosaur. Those jaws carried an omnivore's teeth, sharp incisors and flat molars. The leader was a red, among a people that sported that color along with green and yellow. Sean didn't think the colors meant anything to the Crakista, as their other leader was a yellow.
“Thank you, Pro-Counsel.”
“Call me Hssrat,” said the being that the Emperor thought was a male member of the two gender species. “It will get tedious throwing around titles as if they really identified us.”
The Crakista smiled, an expression they shared with humans. The species was said to be unemotional, relying on logic and rational thinking for their decision making. From what Sean could tell they had the full compliment of emotions, just subdued. From what he had been told in multiple briefings the Crakista had been too emotional, almost ending their species in multiple terrible wars. A philosopher had risen among them, and the species as a whole had turned away from the emotions that caused them to attack anything that stood in their way.
There were other aliens from their empire in the chamber, among the ministers. The Crakista were said to be eminently fair with the members of their empire from other species, though they retained the top spots for their own people.
Not unlike us, thought the Emperor, looking up and smiling at the servant who had come to refill his glass.
“Hssrat,” said Sean, trying his best to get the pronunciation correct. “Do you have any disagreements between you and your co-ruler?”
“Of course,” said the Crakista, making a motion with his head, up and down and side to side at the same time. “We are living beings, and disagreements always arise. We use rational thought to come to an agreement.” The pro-council let out a slight hissing laugh. “Ninety-five percent of the time. In those times when we don't agree, we allow our ministers to vote on the outcome.”
“That sounds like a good system,” said Lord Grarakakak from the other side of the table, sitting to Sean's right and down. “I wish those members of my high council who aren't Brakakak would think rationally.”
“Your system works as well, High Lord,” said the Crakista, making the same head motion. “It might take a little longer for agreement, but it does come. As it does in yours, Sean.”
Sean knew why all these people were here. He had invited them to the banquet, and the meetings that would follow, so they could talk about what the region was to become after the war was over. All had great interest in that future. All were afraid that the humans, with their four separate governments, would grab too much territory and become unstoppable. Sean didn't want his allies to fear him. This week had been planned as a working get away, where they could iron out their differences and come up with a plan that all could be satisfied with.
We might be getting a little ahead of ourselves, thought Sean, a slight smile creasing his face. They still had a lot of fighting ahead of them, unless the Cacas saw reason and surrendered. He didn't think that was going to happen.
“Sometimes I wish that I had the despotic power of the kings of old,” said Sean, looking into the air.
“Then you would only have to answer to me,” said Jennifer with a laugh.
“I do not believe you could become a tyrant, Sean,” said Grarakakak, a musical laugh rising from his beak. “I knew your father, Augustine, and he would not have raised a son who didn't think of service to his people.”
“We have wondered how your system works,” said Hssrat, looking into Sean's eyes with wide open orbs. “I would not want any of my progeny to bear the burdens I find on my shoulders.”
Sean found himself agreeing with that sentiment. He preferred not to think of his eldest, Augustine, sitting on the throne. Hopefully that would not happen for a long long time, and the child would be allowed to grow into the position.
“How do you choose your leaders, Lord Hssrat?” asked Jennifer, smiling at the Crakista.
“We test all eligible males,” said the Crakista. “A complete battery of physical and mental exams. The unfortunate males who do the best go on to the next stage. The one male who posts the best score is burdened with leadership.”
“You sound like you really don't like being one of the two rulers,” said Jennifer, tilting her head. “Is there much disagreement between you and your co-ruler.”
“That's part of the test, Empress Jennifer. Scoring very low on the scale that measures lust for power is very important. We only elevate those who don't want the position. That way we get people at the top who do not lust for power.”
“And how long do you serve?”
“For life, Empress Jennifer. Though those in the upper positions of leadership tend to have shorter lives than most.”
“How old are you, Lord Hssrat?” asked Sean, wond
ering how long he would be able to deal with this seemingly reasonable being, and when would he have to work with another.
“I am one hundred and twenty of your years,” said the Crakista, giving Sean a frank look. “Our medical experts have determined that I will live another twenty years. My co-ruler is much younger, only eighty-four of your years. He was recently elevated to his position, and is still getting a feel for ruling a large nation.”
So they wait until the candidates are old enough to know better, thought Sean. He was still in his early thirties, and in their nation wouldn't be considered for leadership until many more years went by.
“If we waited that long to give a position of authority to one of our own, no one would make it,” said President Klanarat, nodding toward Hssrat.
“I understand that your species does not live long past the age of eighty,” said the Crakista, an expression of curiosity on his face.
“More like sixty,” said the Alpha.
Sean felt bad for the other leaders who wouldn't see two hundred, much less a hundred for the Klavarta Alphas. He could expect upward of three hundred more years of life. Imperial scientists had stated that the next generation of genenged Klavarta would reach at least a hundred and fifty. He felt anger at the rulers they had deposed. They had constructed the genetically engineered subspecies to be very good at what they did, and to have a very limited life span. To his way of thinking that was cruel and unusual punishment.
The conversation went on for some hours, Sean getting a connection with his fellow leaders, and learning more about them in the process. The long dinner had to end eventually, and then the gathering broke up into their working groups. Leaders to one table, military advisors to another, while the government ministers went to yet a third. Jennifer led the spouses and companions who had attended to another room set off from the dining hall. President Klanarat had brought his wife, Julia Graham her husband, and Lord Grarakakak had brought along a trio of females of indeterminate relation.
“The war is going well,” said Sean as soon as he took his seat. “Agreed?”
“Well, we have had some major setbacks,” said Klanarat, shrugging his shoulders. “I appreciate the help you have offered. Without your Empire we would even now be dealing with Caca ground forces on our planets.”
And they would be exterminating you in job lots, thought the Emperor, nodding.
“War is never a good thing,” said Grarakakak, giving a very human head shake.
Sean reminded himself that the High Lord was a very intelligent and observant being who had spent much time around humans. He had a close relationship with the Imperial ambassador to his nation, Archduke Alexandropolis, and a love of human food and drink.
“My people grow tired of the mounting casualty lists.”
“You really don't know what casualties are, Lord Grarakakak,” said Julia Graham, turning a cold stare on the avian. “I lost almost a quarter of my people to their invasion. And the Czar's nation, New Moscow, fared even worse.”
“We demand vengeance,” growled Czar Baryshnikov, slamming a heavy hand on the table.
“It is not good to make decisions based on rage,” said Hssrat, letting out a sigh. “That leads to darkness. Murder, atrocities.”
“Say that when they have killed billions of your people,” roared Baryshnikov. “We will never recover from that, atrocity.”
The eyes of many of the security personnel were turned toward the table, and Sean worried that they might have a diplomatic incident in the making. Fortunately, the Czar closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I apologize for my outburst,” said the middle aged man who had been been so far from the throne of his kingdom before the Cacas had come. He had lost a parent, brothers and sisters, children, nieces and nephews. The family line had been all but obliterated.
“It's understandable, your Majesty,” said Sean in a soft voice.
“We have too many angry leaders here,” said Hssrat, eyes wide open and unblinking.
“You can say that,” hissed Julia Graham, her face scrunching up in rage. “We may not have been hit as hard as New Moscow. But I toured planets that had hosted billions of inhabitants, and where mere millions still existed. When that happens to you, tell me that we are overreacting.”
“Everyone needs to calm down,” said Sean, raising a hand and moving it in a patting down motion. “We have lost billions as well. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone at this table.”
Everyone was silent, digesting the exchange. Sean closed his eyes and took a breath. He had been hoping that this meeting would bring all the powers closer. What he couldn't afford was a growing rift.
“We need to talk about the end of this thing,” he continued. “We aren't there yet, but unless we screw up royally, we will be the victors here.”
“I think your people have a saying,” said Lord Grarakakak, looking into the eyes of Sean. “Counting your chickens before they've hatched. We believe that there is still a lot of fight left in the Ca'cadasans. And with this new Emperor? What do we have in store?”
That was something that concerned Sean as well. The Cacas at the front were acting uncharacteristically calm and composed. His offensive hadn't reached very far in, but they were finding organized resistance in what seemed a planned strategy to cause as many casualties as possible, while preserving their own fleet. Sean was still sure that they would eventually be victorious. The scientific establishment of the Empire was far ahead of the Cacas, and the allies were making their own contributions.
“Also, what does you Empire have planned when victory is ours?” asked Hssrat, his nostrils twitching. “You were already the greatest power in the region, prior to the Ca'cadasans finding you. Now you are immeasurably more powerful. When this war is over the combined might of the human nations will be enough to roll over us and the Elysium Empire without a problem.”
“Would you have rather the human powers had let the Cacas beat us,” growled Graham, eyebrows rising. “You would soon be dealing with your new rulers. I wonder what they would have thought of roasted Brakakak, or stewed Crakista.”
Sean could tell that she had hit a nerve with that last statement, as both alien leaders gave what had to be their species equivalent of a wince.
“Point taken,” said Grarakakak, closing his eyes. “I would prefer that no one ruled us but us. But at least I wouldn't have to worry about a mass slaughter if the Emperor Sean was in charge.”
“We do not want others to rule us,” stated Hssrat, his muzzled scrunched in a predatory manner. “We have our government, it suits us, and so it will stay so.”
“And I have no intention of attempting conquest,” said Sean. “We will go back to our prewar borders, and work out a deal for all of us to supervise the Ca'cadasan territories.”
“Territory, once gained, is difficult to relinquish,” said Hssrat, his reptilian eyes looking levelly into Sean's.
“Lord Hssrat,” said Julia Graham, eyes narrowed. “While we appreciate all that you have done for my Republic, you must realize that we have a lot to make up for after being invaded by the Cacas. While we appreciate the forces you lent to us...”
“A good portion of our fleet, President Graham.”
“And we put our fleet under the command of you admiral. We trusted you. Isn't it about time you returned that trust?”
“You really had no choice,” said Hssrat, looking back at her with a frank expression.
“Yes, we had no choice, if we wanted to have your ships in our order of battle. But what I'm saying is we gave you our trust. Can't you do the same?”
“Unfortunately, you are part of the human side of the alliance,” continued the Crakista. “You will always be on their side, against the Crakista and Brakakak.”
“You don't know much about us, then,” said Graham, a tight smile on her face. “My nation was founded by people who didn't want to live in a hereditary aristocracy. The Czardom was founded by people from my Republic who wanted to o
nce again bow and scrape to their betters. We really don't get along, unless something, like the Cacas, forces us to.”
“But you are still human, and I think you have a saying about blood being thicker than water,” said the Crakista. “And now you bring another human nation into the alliance.” Hssrat turned a stare on Klanarat. “They may look different, but they are still human at the genetic level. And with a history of xenophobia. And you wonder why we are distrustful.”
“Right now we need to concentrate on winning this war, and worry about the aftermath when it is over,” said Sean. The human leaders, including the Klavarta Alpha and the Klassekian president, nodded at his words, while the leaders of the two alien powers looked at him dubiously. While he wished they would have shown agreement to his statement, he would have to settle on what they did give. Ships and crews.
The meeting went on until the wee hours of the morning, with more argument and counterargument, and the Emperor was beginning to think that nothing would really be accomplished here. He finally adjourned the meeting, thinking it better to start the process going the next day when everyone had good night's sleep.
Exodus: Empires at War: Book 17: The Rebirth Page 6