Lesser Throne Room of the Imperial Governor of All Barham
Barham City, Barham
Martigale 10, 853 AIS

Hiram Waters, clad in the multiple layers of silk robe Imperial etiquette prescribed for ambassadors of other human powers, waddled to the prescribed ten paces from the Imperial Governor’s throne and bowed the required three times. Andrew Davis walked to his right, two paces behind him. Davis wore the AU Astrographic Service dress uniform, gray trousers, tunic, and jacket, its dullness only broken by the Service’s bright shoulder patches.

The walls of the Lesser Throne Room were synthetic white opal, their colors being reflected by the polished white marble of the floor. The thrones, today, Waters thought, two of them, were elevated on a five-foot high dias; you had no alternative other than to look up at the imperials. Sitting with the System Governor was the System Fleet Commander, Grand Admiral of the Violet Randolph Marchiesi.

Imperial Governor Montescu nodded politely in acknowledgement of the bows. “Consul Waters, welcome to this Our Court. Welcome also to your guest, Captain Davis, Anglic Union Astrographic Service. Thank you both for bringing us so promptly all these interesting messages.”

“Indeed,” Admiral Marchiesi said, “your promptitude in travelling here is most impressive. I gather, however, that the route involves ultradrive passages, meaning that the Invincible Solarian Imperial Navy would have no interest in them.” Captain Davis nodded. “However, a point that was unclear in the messages that we have read thusfar, when the Anglic Union adheres to the Empire, will you still be allowed to use them?”

Waters looked over his shoulder at Davis. “If I might answer?” Davis asked.

Montescu nodded.

“As of the date I left, the accession negotiations had collapsed, and it was understood that they will not be renewed. I just fly a starship; I’m not involved in Diplomacy.”