“Collapsed?” Montescu said. “That’s very sad.” For him, Waters thought, it is indeed sad. The untold Imperial Credits he and his fellow bureaucrats had hoped to loot from the corpse of the Union would not be reaching his grasping hands, at least not soon.
“I see. I hope that military cooperation between our fleets will continue,” Marchiesi said.
Davis nodded agreement. “Yes, so far as I know,” he said softly.
“I note that your visiting battlecruiser is lawfully an entirely civilian ship,” Marchiesi continued, “a wise distinction that will greatly please some barbarians beyond the pale. But what led to this failure in the negotiations?”
“The Elizavetsian Republic,” Davis answered. “They have never been part of the Anglic Union, have no interest in joining, and given their history would be entirely unwelcome if they asked us. Alas, the Imperial government in its wisdom categorically refused to consider accession unless the Republic came in as part of us.”
Governor Montescu looked up at the ceiling. “I was asked before the latest Decade Talks were opened to advise on possible outcomes. I received a very polite reprimand for being the only Imperial Governor to predict what I gather has now happened, namely the Elizavetsian question was insoluble, though it was apparent two years ago that no progress was being made on this question. Now you, too, can criticize me for being right.”
“To the contrary, Governor Montescu,” Waters said, “I would praise you for your perspicacity, though I suspect neither of us was surprised by the outcome.”
“And your ship,” Marchiesi asked, “I’d expected it would have been sent to the breakers after the Imperial navy founded it unfit for purpose. Is this an example of the Anglic Union’s legendary thriftiness, giving you a ship of dubious soundness?”
Davis shook his head. “Sir, your Navy and our Space Services have diverged in our ideas on ship design.” Actually, Davis thought, they never converged in the first place. “So far, the Langley has proven to be highly reliable, and performs the way we had hoped and wanted. But it is a model of thrift.”
“Thank you for your time,” Montescu said. David and Waters backed out of the Lesser Throne Room. The majordomo closed the doors behind them.
