ROMA

by R. A. Ender

  He knows damn well that no one here gave that boy permission to attend the meeting, Shelbus thought to himself with some measure of annoyance with his senior colleague.

  Though not senior by much. Commanding Admiral Nathan Dredmoore had been selected to join the Commanding Admirals Council second of a list of three. Shelbus had been third. Though seniority actually mattered very little on the council, it did determine seating and placement in any procession. So, of course, whenever Dredmoore went on an explosive tirade, Shelbus got the loudest ear full.

  And he had been listening to these explosions for almost twenty-five years. So long, in fact, he couldn’t remember ever living without them. But, this was neither the time nor the appropriate venue for such petty outrage, and Shelbus was the only member of the council who would openly chastise Dredmoore for his poor behavior.

  “Look, Nathan, you won’t accomplish anything by yelling in a small corridor at people who weren’t in charge. Save it for the next time we meet with the Council Secretariat director. But really, I think you’re old enough to suck it up. Do you think anyone will even care about that question? You did a great job,” Shelbus added, making sure to finish with an ego stroking comment to help calm Dredmoore. “You listened, added nothing to the story in terms of reaction and now it is another boring question.”

  And before Dredmoore could turn and jump in, Shelbus continued. “And furthermore, even if it does get some notice, there is nothing wrong with bringing some public attention to that book. The author maybe a bit of a publicity-seeking fraud, but he isn’t wrong on the overall facts about what the Imperials are up too. Some public debate and increasing concern could help our cause come Senate budget time.”

  The most Dredmoore could muster was a loud exhale and derogatory grunt. He always knew when the battle was lost and he was a wily enough strategist not to waste effort on a lost cause. Better to save your guns for the next battle, that way you have more. Complimenting Dredmoore simply made the bitter medicine go down better.

  And that had been the way the council had run for over twenty years. When Commanding Admiral Christopher Sachaolo had passed away in 1779 AA, he who had presided over the council for thirty-seven years, the council divided into two factions. Dredmoore led one faction and managed to get himself elevated to the Prefecture as a result. Shelbus had led the other faction, almost always the minority, and had managed to be Prefect for only a few years during the Siege of Veselyy, since Dredmoore was forced to step aside due to conflict of interest.

  Dredmoore’s faction had always been oriented toward a more aggressive, strong military and defensive posture. He was fond of the saying that a strong military was the best guarantee of peace. And he had been proven right on more than one occasion. Likely, had Defense Force and the Senate adopted a harder line against the Royalist League, the Siege of Veselyy would never have occurred. And, it is without a doubt that the strong and overwhelming response to the I.A.E. threat against F’lwok prevented any war from breaking out.

  But the Shelbus faction had its positives as well. Often favoring diplomatic action over military and strengthening the Confederacy’s defensive positions, it had its own successes to point to, such as the Lanwouk crisis. It was also the faction most favored by the majority of the Senate, since it sought to reduce military costs in favor of permanent allies, and reduce warfare which was generally popular with the citizenry.

  That said, the struggle continued. Neither side completely dominated the council, and the tension between them, though often colorful and contradictory, usually resulted in solid, conservative approaches which yielded the best results.

  But the next crisis always loomed around the corner and each one tested the council’s unity and functionality.

  As an institution, the Commanding Admirals Council had worked quite well. Learning from history, the founders of the Confederated Union of Worlds had sought to establish a strong military organization to protect the member worlds without ever dominating the civilian institutions. This was especially important as each member world was strongly opposed to surrendering too much sovereignty to a faraway interstellar government. Truly, the Confederated Union of Worlds was more a defense and trade organization than it was an interstellar nation. Though it had other functions, such as the enforcement of the minimal standards doctrine, at its core the Confederacy was about mutual defense and trade.

  Defense Force of the Confederacy was mandated to protect the borders of the Confederacy from aggressors, to protect any member world from invasion and ensure the safety of interstellar commerce and transportation from piracy. The Commanding Admirals Council was set up to create the framework, policies, and programs to fulfill these mandates. Twelve members, initially chosen by the first twelve member worlds, formed the council which had final authority over the Defense Force.

  The civilian government maintained control by the power of the purse. Each year the council put forward a review of the defense and security of the Confederated Union of Worlds. In that document, every program, policy, and plan of action were laid out to prove that Defense Force was fulfilling its three mandates. It was reviewed and approved by the Senate of the Confederacy, each item costed and voted on. If it felt something was missing or underfunded, the Senate could vote funds for that purpose. If it disagreed with part of the review, it could deny funding. In that way, the Senate retained final authority without micromanaging the daily operations of Defense Force. Furthermore, it was a constitutional law that once a member of Defense Force achieved a rank of officer, they were forever barred from becoming a member of the Senate. This was meant as a final guarantee against a popular general rising to the heights of power. A historic concern that the founders had sought to avoid.

  The review was mostly public, though parts were voted on by the Senate outside of public scrutiny. As with any military organization, complete freedom of information was not possible.

  The budget for Defense Force came from taxation of the member worlds. All members were required to finance a portion of the budget based on their relative population to that of the Confederacy as a whole. Even worlds that had requested and been granted permission by the Senate to deny Defense Force access to their near and outer system space, were still required to pay to defend the Confederacy as a whole. Each world was also required to maintain a certain number of Agamemnon-class Dreadnaughts for planetary defense, even if they chose to crew and manage them themselves.

  Only three worlds had ever taken the formal step to request of the Senate to forgo Defense Force garrisons and ongoing protection, each for very different reasons. Even during a known crisis, permission must be given before any Defense Force vessel enters these worlds outer systems space. Only an invasion by an aggressor trumps their right to sovereignty. For two of these worlds, Watabaeg and Minnipuka, it was about power. Each was a powerful trading and manufacturing world that had the resources to pay for its own protection and a populace sufficiently independent to want to go it alone. Watabaeg had even developed its defenses to the point where the Watabaeg Militia, the name of its defense force, was widely viewed as the most advanced, robust and powerful planetary military force in the galaxy, among the new species at least.

  The third world, New Desh, was a different story. A pastoral planet with a history as a refuge for religiously persecuted peoples, it sought a path of non-violence, which had been written into the Constitution of the Confederacy at its inception, and had remained so to this day. It maintained a “policing” force alone and had somehow managed to avoid even a single instance of invasion, war or piracy in its entire history. The populace attributes this good luck to the piety of the people. More sober-minded scholars point to the poor and agricultural nature of the world, as well as its far-flung location in the Old Colony Region, as the reason it has been a less attractive target

  The independence of the worlds within the Confederacy had always been a source of disunity. Each member agreed to join the Confederacy for different reasons.
Many sought the safety of mutual defense. Others sought the free access to trade and commerce. Whatever the reason, all members agreed to grant to the Senate of the Confederacy constitutional powers over their worlds in specific and circumscribed areas.

  The first, as already mentioned, was mutual defense. All member worlds agree to cease any military aggression against other member worlds and are encouraged to turn their planetary defense over to the Defense Force. Only nearspace police forces are permitted unless exempted by the Senate. Furthermore, all member worlds must participate in funding the Defense Force at the level set by the Senate.

  The second is free and unfettered trade and commerce among member worlds. This agreement explicitly includes planet side trade and commerce as well as nearspace, inner system and outer systems space. Along with this requirement is an agreement to follow the rules and regulations of the space lane system of interstellar travel.

  The third is the minimal standards doctrine. Not wanting to meddle in the sovereignty and independence of the member worlds has been a tradition of the Confederacy. Therefore, the interstellar government has sought to avoid taking sides and becoming involved in domestic concerns of the individual worlds. From its foundation, the Confederacy knew it would be toxic to its long-term survival to become involved in how other peoples governed themselves. The lessons from the wars of the states of New Earth educated this view when the Confederacy formed. Additionally, Old Rome had a long history of building and maintaining its territory through agreements with client kingdoms of various descriptions that all followed minimum standards of behavior, so such a policy had deep historical roots.

  But non-interference had limits in a modern community and it was agreed that it would be equally toxic for any citizen of the Confederacy to be denied a certain minimal level of protection. So, the minimal standards doctrine was created.

  The doctrine requires that any domestic planetary government must ensure each and every person residing on their world must receive a minimum standard of care. Specifically listed, these minimum standards include food and water sufficient for survival and good health. Shelter from the elements is also required as it is considered necessary for good health. Security and safety of the individual and their property must be guaranteed and protected. And lastly, the thoughts and words of the individual must be free from persecution unless they violate the security and safety of another individual.

  As long as the world upholds these four minimal standards, they are proper members of the Confederacy and gain its full protection. They are permitted to send their three representatives to the Senate of the Confederacy. If the world fails to uphold the minimal standards they can face fines, public criticism and ultimately expulsion by a vote of three-quarters of the Senate. To date, only one world was ever expelled from the Confederacy. Septimius, a member of the Royalist League, had a king who ascended the throne and brutalized his world. The expulsion of Septimius from the Confederacy inspired a palace coup, leading to the death of the tyrant king.

  All other powers are held by the individual worlds. Several formal interstellar organizations that include all members of the Confederacy have been created to manage certain areas of common interest, such as interstellar communications and outer systems borders. Otherwise, the members retain complete sovereignty and power.

  This arrangement has created a fragile Confederacy of sovereign worlds, and many times its demise had been predicted during its nearly 900 years of existence. However, the benefits of mutual cooperation within a structure that permits independent, free and sovereign worlds to live as they wish, has been an unparalleled success.

  The Confederated Union of Worlds has been the most successful human organized government in history, Old or New Earth. The founders had truly hoped they had struck the right balance, learning from their own history. Watching Old Earth history play out over the centuries had certainly helped reinforce this view among the general public. It had also led to ever-increasing scholarly questioning of the role and power of the Bxtozil in the founding of the Confederacy.

  Their most ancient alien species friend, the Bxtozil, had been deeply involved in the rapid and controlled development of New Earth. Indeed, none shed too many tears as New Earth and human society avoided the barbarism and problems that Old Earth experienced. However, as time rolled forward and the lessons learned on Old Earth were seen and dissected, it became increasingly clear that the Confederacy was too well designed, avoiding too many flaws inherent in human society. Far too many and too perfectly that it became impossible to believe that the founders truly had as large a hand in crafting the Confederacy as popular history believes. The Bxtozil design seems to become clearer with each passing year.

  But all that is political science and history of a great human societal experiment that seems to be working well. Being a student of history, Shelbus was perhaps more interested in all the details and reasons why than most. It was rare that he did not read any new book about the Confederacy, its present, its past and its future.

  Though the new book by Tacitanus had yet to be read, Shelbus had it on his list. The writer always included something explosive in his books to garner attention, but he does write very well and with a great view of history. His latest book does the same as it explores the centuries-old conflict between the Confederated Union of Worlds, specifically the human worlds, and the Imperial Alliance of Empires which is dominated by the Blessals species.

  It is truly awesome to review the history of conflict between the two peoples. Not a decade goes by when a conflict, big or small, significant or petty, is not recorded. The greatest wars of the Confederacy have been fought with the IAE or their allies of that time. These days, thanks in part to the efforts of the CAC over the past twenty years, the Blessals have become isolated in the galaxy. Their oldest allies, the Canua and the Lanwouk, have either abandoned them or been rendered unable to join them in causing trouble. And as humanities ties with the Bxtozil continue to decline as the ancient species withdraws ever more from the galactic stage, their old nemesis, the B’taliyx also no longer engages with the Blessals as they can no longer benefit in giving their ancient enemy problems by participating in wars against the humans.

  The history of the New Earth colony and the Blessals is truly an epic tale and from all accounts, Shelbus thought to himself, Tacitanus tells it well. I will have to remember to purchase that book soon.

  Thinking of things he needed to remember to do, Shelbus was suddenly reminded of another. Turning to the nearest Praetorian guard, Shelbus spoke. “Can you go back into the rotunda and fetch Fleet Admiral Richard Hilbornus. Bring him to the council chamber immediately.” The guard took only a moment to listen to the direction before saluting, turning on his heels and walking back toward the rotunda.

  Almost forgot to invite him below to chambers! Shelbus thought to himself, especially annoyed as it had been his idea to invite the Admiral and to forget him would have been quite insulting.

  And it was a good thing Shelbus remembered when he did, as the procession was beginning to descend the staircase to the council chamber elevator. Located deep under the main structure of the Defense Force headquarters, it had been designed to withstand the blast and drag of a direct graviton bomb detonation. Once they had all reached the bottom of the short staircase, all the council members entered the elevator that would drop them down the rest of the way to the council chamber. Unlike the rotunda that had only one official entrance but several side exits, the council chamber had only a single way in or out, the elevator. If the elevator broke, it was possible to climb up the shaft, however, it would be a very long climb. Certainly longer than any of the members of the council could handle, the youngest being 67 years old.

  As the doors closed and the elevator began to drop, Shelbus heard Dredmoore muttering to a colleague about that “damned annalese.” Maybe he hadn’t given up the battle after all, Shelbus thought to himself with a chuckle.

  CHAPTER 7

  It was
not the first time that Richard had descended via elevator to the council chamber. Since becoming Admiral of the Fleet, he had reported to the Commanding Admirals many times, and always in chamber. Only his good friend, Admiral Shelbus, visited with him outside of official duty time. The Commanding Admirals, by tradition, always maintained an aura of unapproachability and secrecy.

  Richard could still remember the first time he met the father of his second in command, Robin Shelbus, at the Shelbus family estate on New Rome. He had made the trip by gravlift, along with Robin, down long winding roads which were well kept, free of vegetation and debris. This was unusual for any road since gravlift’s had long since replaced ground transportation. The airspace around the large country estate was off limits to anyone, even the Admiral himself, to avoid the risk of someone accidently shooting down a Commanding Admiral or not shooting down someone intent on causing harm.

  The trip took several hours as the gravlift traveled the winding road. It gave Richard plenty of time to think and worry about what to expect. And his expectations spun through his head, constantly swinging between no big deal, he’s just a regular guy like me, to a Commanding Admiral who will be in full uniform and order him around. At that point in his career, just after the Veselyy Siege, he was a newly minted ship Captain and had never met a Commanding Admiral, let alone had to consider living in the house of one for a weekend.

  Robin had tried to calm any fears, but of course, nothing she said had an impact. As they entered the gates and drove up toward the huge home, Richard was certain that he would be commanding an interstellar ore transport by the end of the visit.