“Lady d’Lyre, surely you jest, or have you forgotten the Marseilles Accords? We signed a pact to negotiate a unified peace, not to sue for separate treaties.”
Bridgette pealed off a laugh like a tinkling array of crystal bells. “The Marseilles Accords were rendered null and void the moment the Despotate detonated a Fall device and became a rogue state. Their treachery releases the Federation from all obligations and renders us free to make whatever agreements we can.”
“The Despotate’s interests may be forfeit, but nothing has invalidated the obligations between the Federation and the Royal Commonwealth. We have activated no Fall devices nor committed any breach of the Accords,” Prince Aureli said. His voice was firm and resonant, commanding attention and respect from all who heard it. I could see why he was the Commonwealth’s lead diplomat.
The Emperor raised a placating hand. “Prince Aureli of Lynwyzc, I will also end the war with the Commonwealth and your other allies. The Federation delegate and I are discussing the gift I intend to give her in gratitude for revealing the Despotate’s barbarism. You will have your turn to speak at the negotiation table, but for now, I would hear what the Lady d’Lyre has to say.”
Bridgette thanked the Emperor. “The Federation’s requests are simple. In gratitude for exposing these vermin, the Federation asks to annex any Despotate worlds currently occupied by Federation forces.”
“An entirely reasonable request, so long as you do not object to the Empire doing the same with worlds controlled by Imperial soldiers,” the Emperor replied.
Lady d’Lyre agreed before making her second request. “The Despotate has been declared a nationnon grata, yet they maintain many yet-unconquered systems in the Silesia cluster. The Federation humbly requests the now-nationless stars and their associated worlds be ceded to Federation control, to allow a seamless transition of power.”
“I care not what happens to the surviving worlds of the former Urgan Despotate. You may have those worlds which the Empire does not control, but I believe many are currently defended by Commonwealth armies,” the Emperor replied, and I tried not to start. That was true. The Silesia cluster had been one of the most active battlegrounds for the war’s duration, ever since the Commonwealth stopped the Empire’s initial blitz there with a brutal counterattack. Many Urgan planets in the Silesia cluster were defended by a mixed force of Commonwealth and Urgan soldiers, seasoned veterans all. Most Urgan armies were commanded by Commonwealth officers. Surely, the Urgan rank and file would side with the Commonwealth officers who had fought alongside themfor so many years. The Empire had not handed d’Lyre the Silesian systems outright. If the Federation chose to take them by force, they would have to attack some of the quadrant’s most militarized and best-defended worlds. Perhaps the Commonwealth held more bargaining chips than we thought.
Lady d’Lyre clearly did not expect that to be any trouble, as she waved the Emperor’s comment aside. “A detail which shall be remedied at the final negotiating table. However, there is one indulgence which I would beg of you, one final concession I ask in return for delivering this vital information to you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Prince Aureli tense. I shared his anxiety. Here it was, the moment of truth, the determination whether my day had been spent in vain, or saved the Commonwealth’s future.
Lady d’Lyre parted her cupid-bow lips and said, “The Royal Commonwealth has been stretched thin by this war. Fighting you has proven too much for their limited resources and, as a result, they have abandoned their Fallspace colonies to fend for themselves. These colonies cried out for aid, and the Noble Federation magnanimously stepped in to supply and oversee these colonies, saving them from chaos, destitution, or even destruction caused by the Commonwealth’s neglect. Therefore, as the Commonwealth has abrogated their right to these worlds, the Federation seeks permission to annex the abandoned Commonwealth Fallspace colonies.”
Once again, Prince Aureli drew attention onto himself. “Your Imperial Majesty, I protest this request on two grounds. First of all, the Commonwealth is not a conquered foe, not yet. Our armies still stand; our government has not surrendered. Our lands are not yours to give away. Secondly, the senator’s claim is based on a wild misrepresentation of the facts. It’s true, Federation troops police our Fallspacecolonies, but that was arranged at the Marseilles Accords. According to our articles of alliance, the Federation assumed peacekeeping duties in the Commonwealth’s Fallspace colonies for the duration of the conflict in order to free up trained Commonwealth soldiers for the front. At that time, the Allies thought seasoned Commonwealth professionals would be more valuable blunting the Empire’s assault than barely trained Federation draftees. It was clearly stated and always intended that the Commonwealth would resume its normal governance of the colonies at the cessation of hostilities. But now, I see our alliance was nothing more than a plot to allow Federation forces to steal desirable Fallspace territory while Commonwealth soldiers died in their stead.
“The Royal Commonwealth has spent centuries reclaiming star systems devastated by the Fall. We expended the effort, materiel, and lives to explore uncharted star systems, clear habitable worlds of still-active pre-Fall weaponry, and secure viable travel routes. The Federation has never contributed the slightest assistance in this effort, and has long publicly decried the Commonwealth’s Fallspace reclamation efforts as worthless wastes of resources which would never yield a profit. Now that the Commonwealth has established several profitable, self-sufficient, contributing colonies in Fallspace, the Federation seeks to take them and reap the benefit of the Commonwealth’s work. Federation troops did not magnanimously rescue abandoned colonies at the request of the colonial governments – they were peacekeepers requested by the Queen herself. The Commonwealth never would abandon a colony, no matter how unprofitable. Please, Emperor, do not support the Federation’s profiteering from a position of cowardice. See this for what it is: a greedy and opportunistic grab for territory at the expense of an ally who shouldered the lion’s share of the war’s burden.”
Lady d’Lyre laughed her crystal-bell laugh again. I wanted to grab her by the neck and squeeze. However, her derision was not directed at me, but towards Prince Aureli. “You can’t stand to see a former province eclipse your glory. It’s not the twenty-three-hundreds anymore, it’s the twenty-fifth century. Stand aside with grace before we force you aside. Your time has come and gone. Now it is the Federation’s golden age.”
It was a play for sympathy, hoping to strike a chord with the ‘might makes right’ mentality of the Imperial lords, but her mocking words played straight into Lynwyzc’s hands. He turned to the watching demons and began a thunderous tirade.
“Do you see how she speaks to me, her ally until today? Surely you see how the Federation will treat their allies of tomorrow. Lady d’Lyre talks of peace, prosperity, and a golden age she thinks she has earned, but her real aim is power, pure and simple. Not only power over her erstwhile allies, but over the Empire as well. If you allow the Federation to become the unchallenged hegemon in this quadrant, who do you think they will come after next? Not the docile, subjugated relic of a Commonwealth, nor the disunited League states, but you, the only true challenger left. If, on the other hand, you ensure the Commonwealth’s power in the region, we will keep the Federation’s grasping aspirations in check, and act as a natural counterweight to Federation expansion. The balance of power will be maintained, allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your conquest unmolested. I implore you, not for our sakes, but for your own, do not allow the Federation to partition the Commonwealth.”
Lady d’Lyre opened her mouth to respond, but the Emperor stood, silencing her counterargument. “You both have spoken, and I have listened. Lady d’Lyre, although my Empire owes you much, you ask for that which is not in mypower to give. As the Duke of Lynwyzc says, the Empire cannot give Commonwealth worlds to the Federation. If you wish to seize those star systems by right of conquest, that is your prerogative.”
So it would be war. Astrid would not support the Federation takeover, but nor would she oppose it. With the bulk of Commonwealth soldiers already on the front lines, and plentiful Federation armies no doubt already on their way to the border systems, it would be a race to see if the Commonwealth could hold off the Federation long enough to negotiate a settlement. Things were bleak, but not hopeless.
Then the Emperor spoke again, and my heart leapt.
“However,” the Emperor began, “it is our preference that the Commonwealth retain their colonies. It would be a cowardly and dishonorable trick, to force a friend to fight for you, to offer to police their colonies so they may send more soldiers to die in your stead, then reward their bloody sacrifice with a greedy grab at their profitable star systems. Especially when the bravery of Commonwealth soldiers saved your nation from domination, it seems unjust to punish them for their largesse. No, the Federation shall honor their agreement and return the colonies to the Commonwealth, in honor of their valiant stand against Imperial forces and to preserve the balance of power in the region. We shall take it as a sign of trust, for if the Federation cannot be trusted to keep their past agreements, the Empire cannot expect them to remain true to any agreements we may make in the future.”
I was stunned, unsure of what I’d actually heard, but once my brain parsed the Emperor’s formal language, I nearly cheered with delight. She’d seen reason! Someone had talked sense into her. I knew not who, but I would have kissed them if I knew.
Lady d’Lyre did not look pleased. “It is unfortunate tohear you take such an ungrateful position in this matter, Emperor. Are you certain your Empire agrees with you?”
Immediately, Astrid’s eyes flashed with anger. “I am the Empire. When I speak, it is the Empire’s words which are heard. My wish is the Empire’s command.”
My heart swelled to hear this, but a note of worry wormed into my brain as Prince Selnikov stood.
“My Emperor, I must speak. You have not consulted your court on this matter, and as its leading member, I believe I speak for all of us in saying we cannot support your actions here,” the massive demon said.
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed into slits as Prince Selnikov continued. “The Empire has no historical quarrel with the Federation. The Commonwealth, however, is our most ancient and dreadful enemy. While we applaud your dissolution of the hated Urgan Despotate, we refuse to accept your restoration of an intractable foe, especially for so mean a reason as the balance of power. The Empire is all the balance the Federation needs. Your choice to keep the Commonwealth in arms when you have the chance to destroy them forever shows remarkably poor judgment, as has your choice to halt the advance to hold this jubilee, as has your choice to conceal the New Melbourne Fall event from your court and advisors.”
“You dare contradict me in public?” the Emperor hissed. “You are lucky I let you live. Be seated now, and I shall consider letting you keep your head once I turn my attention to you.”
“I will not sit, Emperor. One misstep might be excused for your youthful inexperience, but three such grave errors in so little time implies a vast inadequacy for the post you hold,” Prince Selnikov shouted.
“Guards, seize him!” the Emperor commanded. Ankhelina’s blade was bare in a flash, and several guardsturned their swordstaffs on Selnikov, but many demon lords stood, baring their blades in defense of the demon prince.
Ankhelina grinned, ready for the coming fight. “So, you choose treason and death.”
