The King's Peace
Wenefiir Palace, seat of the Seyek Monarchy, stood out from the other buildings of the Rethelian capital. First was its height -- Seyek architecture preferred buildings low to the ground, dug into the earth in various tunnels and burrows, their exteriors often simple and no-nonsense, unless their builder had been attempting to make some sort of statement. By contrast Wenefiir was tall, with spires reaching up to the heavens, exterior richly adorned in precious metals and gemstone-glass. It had a certain grace to it that most of the surrounding Seyek buildings lacked -- indeed, that most of them lacked. The security arrangements were odd, as well -- simple alternating bars of deceptively strong metal, topped with platinum-plated spikes that signalled royalty. The main gate was flanked by two featureless concrete pillars, a pair of Seyek guards posted in small recesses cut into them. The stiff guards at the rear gate scarcely moved as a convoy of three hovercars approached. The main gate was flanked by two featureless concrete pillars, a pair of Seyek guards posted in small recesses cut into them. The stiff guards at the rear gate scarcely moved as a convoy of three hovercars approached. The center vehicle was painted a deep red. Cream stripes, bordered by two bands of black, ran down the flanks of the vehicle and through the center-line of the roof. The lead and rear vehicles had a different scheme -- still the same red, but the center stripe now black, bordered by alarming yellow. It matched the striping on a band wrapped around the right arms of each guard.
The lead vehicle pulled up briskly, the transparent aluminum on the driver's side unfolding to reveal a brown-scaled Seyek, who promptly passed identification to one of the guards. They scanned it quickly and then turned and signaled back towards the palace. The gates swung open as the guard slithered back to their post, the hovercars quietly gliding onto the grounds beyond, soon passing through an archway built into the exterior of the palace. Shadow had barely touched the interior before they emerged into the bright courtyard beyond, pulling up smoothly to a covered entranceway, flanked by two Fiiral dressed in light formal clothing. The side of the car with the two black stripes slid upwards, and the Fiiral clasped their four sets of claws together, tentacle-arms limp in deference as a jet-black Seyek slithered out. A light breeze rustled the pink overgarment she wore over her upper body as she looked at the two Fiiral, tongue tasting the air.
"Salutations, Chancellor Celessan," the Fiiral chittered singsong voices, "The King is awaiting your audience."
"Excellent," Celessan said, as her aide Xichen, a slimmer male with white-pink scales, slithered out of the car. She let the Fiiral attendees lead her down the familiar path to the King's private office, through a series of corridors. They were tastefully furnished, decorated with religious artifacts from the long Fiiral history and ornately-framed pictures of past monarchs and saints hanging from the walls. The carpet was magnificently patterned, but a bit threadbare from the shoes that tread it and the scales that dragged over it. Celessan supposed the wear added a sense of ruggedness to the sophistication, a reminder that even in these ornate settings, work was being done.
After a few twists and turns, mostly to avoid tour groups, they came to the Grand Gallery, the high ceiling held up by two rows of graceful pillars. At the base of each one was an attendant, who bowed in respect as Celessan passed. She bobbed her head slightly in return. At the far end of the hall the pillars ended and the roof -- really just the floor above -- opened up to a high vaulted ceiling, honey-colored sunlight streaming down through panes of transparent gold-aluminum. At the last pair of pillars before the staircase Celessan saw a familiar, blue-cloaked Rigellian speaking to one of the attendants.
"Ambassador Duvip, such a pleasure to see you!" she said as she slithered up to the tan-scaled man. He was accompanied by an aide, her cloak a deep maroon.
"Chancellor Celessan," he said, looking up and blinking slowly -- which belied how fast he could speak: "Good to see you! I was just here to talk to one of the Queen's secretaries about hiring some Rigellians. I have to admit, I was hoping to bump into you here today. Save some time."
"The timing is almost suspicious," Celessan said, with a wry flick of her tongue.
Duvip gave her a slow, aw-shucks shrug, "Hey, I have to hope all that lovely time we spent together at your fundraiser paid off. Some little lizards say you were trying to put something pretty similar into action."
Celessan bowed her head down slightly, bringing it closer to Duvip, "You should not always sustain every spurious rumor that happens to slither out of my office. But you are correct. Our discussion was merely confirmation that the Federation would give assent to such a scheme."
Duvip stepped back slightly, squeaking out three quick exhales of bemusement, "Chancellor. I'm just a diplomat for the Rigellian government. Our ratification is still a ways off, and it was way off when I first showed up here."
Celessan flicked out her tongue again, tasting the air. Rigellians were very difficult for the more mammalian species to read -- the scaled plates that made up their faces left very little in the way of expression, and their propensity for cloaks made reading body language difficult. But Seyek were similar, and could read the slight biochemical changes their emotions triggered. Other species would have to settle for hiring a Betazoid. Right now Duvip wasn't giving her much of a read, but she could tell he was a little nervous -- the kind of nervous that mixes with excitement, at the thought of doing something vaguely naughty and getting away with it.
Celessan straightened, "I respect you, Duvip, so I will accept your statement." She blinked one eye, a human expression she knew Duvip was familiar with, "But it is something of an open secret the Federation and Rigellian diplomatic services work closely together -- and see with far sight."
Duvip nodded his head, "I'll take that compliment." He turned to his aide, who stretched her head out in the direction of the door, "But as fun as conspiracy spinning is -- I gotta go. I've kept you from the king long enough."
Celessan nodded and Duvip and his aide both gave her short bows. They blinked, and then in unison thumped down towards the other end of the Grand Gallery. Celessan turned back to the stairs and slithered towards them. Flanking either side were two Fiiral in full ceremonial guard outfit, all purple fabric and glossy metal. Helms of chromed tritanium, with purple tassels hanging off the end, more chrome of a breastplate, purple-and-gold fabric visible underneath. Celessan nodded to them as she slithered by and up, "Chins up, soldiers." They didn't respond. The gleam of the very sharp bayonets on the ends of their plasma rifles glinted in Celessan's eyes as she went by. They'd mounted those as standard on their rifles during the first war in an attempt to give them extra reach in close-quarters -- far too many Fiiral had died with their fragile bones crushed in the coils of a Seyek assault trooper.
And now they let a Seyek slither by them to be alone with their King. Progress, Celessan supposed, but one extracted at a bloody price.
More guards awaited her at the first landing, and then another pair at the top of the stairs. One more outside the door to the King's private office. In the old days, he'd have sat on a throne on the landing below her and issued decrees and proclamations to a court. But that throne was gone, literally and figuratively -- the Palladium Throne had been destroyed in the final war, sabotaged by Fiiral fanatics. As for the powers of those who sat in it… well, by that metric, Celessan's unextraordinary council seat was its successor.
She came to a final pair of guards, outside the last unassuming door between her and the King. "Just a moment ma'am," one of them said. She waited for several seconds outside the unassuming door that led to the office, lowering herself slightly so as not to tower over the guards. The other guard gave off a more pungent heat, leading Celessan to suspect he was sick. A sniffle confirmed her suspicion. The sick guard pressed a hand to her head and then nodded at Celessan, before opening the door.
She slithered through to find the King, dressed in simple (but no doubt-well made) clothes, standing in front of the armchair in which he usually sat for these meetings. "Ah, Celessan!" he said. "I apologize for the delay, there were some family matters that needed attending to."
"Of course, your highness." During the first war, the wry observation from a comedian that 'Seyek do not kneel' went from statement of fact to rallying nationalist cry. Celessan, indeed, lacked the knees with which the traditional supplication pose required, but she did her best with a low head bow of respect, nose almost touching the floor.
"Well, now that the formality is concluded," Iifirdir said, settling into his chair as Celessan straightened again, drawing her coils under her as she stood relaxed, "What shall we discuss today, Celessan?"
"Serious matters, I am sorry to say your highness." Iifirdir straightened somewhat in interest, "Some concerns have been raised by the citizens concerning the recent close-to-skirmishing between the Federation and the Cardassians and their Sydraxian allies during the Kadak-Tor incident."
"I thought that incident was as peacefully resolved as it could be?" Iifirdir said, head cocked, "Aside from the unfortunate crew of the Kadak-Tor and a few Federation shipping vessels, it turned out about as well as could be expected."
"This is true, to be sure. But for many, the positioning of the Explorer Corps near our systems while standing off against the Cardassians was… a step too far." Celessan curved her body slightly in annoyance, "They believe that we came close to a war with the Cardassians, one that would be waged near Rethelia, not the Federation. Such concerns had existed before, of course, but the Explorer Corps seeking refuge in our space has crystallized them." She expanded her hood slightly, a rare expression of nervousness from the elder Seyek stateswoman, "It has… seen the rise of tensions between Fiiral and Seyek. Fiiral is much closer to the Federation's space, and Seyek believe that it will be they who suffer most in the war. We also suspect the Cardassians of psychological operations designed to sow such discord between our peoples."
Iifirdir was quiet for a moment, "A grave concern for our Union to be sure. But what are the odds of a war between the Federation and the Cardassians now? It was my understanding that the Cardassians had withdrawn from the larger galactic sphere after their… mishandling of the Kadak-Tor."
"That is what we had hoped, but some concerns have arisen over a system called Bajor. Both the Federation and the Cardassians have expressed an interest in closer relations with the Bajoran state, have sent envoys and ambassadors. It has the makings of a flashpoint."
"The Bajorans are a deeply spiritual people, are they not? How could they possibly wish to become one with the Cardassians? They are, by all accounts, hardly tolerant of such things."
"We suspect the Cardassians would enforce secularization measures at disruptor point," Celessan said, bluntly.
An awkward moment passed before Iifirdir spoke again, "You'll forgive me some impudence, Celessan, but I am sure you can understand why I would say the Bajorans have my sympathy."
"Indeed I do, your Highness. It is my desire -- and the desire of your government -- that the mistakes we, the Seyek, made a hundred and fifty years ago are not repeated between the Cardassians and the Bajorans. It is a moral imperative from our direct experiences," Celessan paused, "but also a practical one to reduce the chances of all-out hostilities on our borders."
Iifirdir whistled with amusement, "I would never expect you to undertake an action soley out of idealism, Celessan." Iifirdir tapped a claw on his armchair in approval, "An admirable plan in any case. But, unfortunately, this seems like high-level intergalactic relations. I do not see how I could help you navigate these troubled winds in a way the very talented members of your government could not."
"You underestimate yourself, your highness. You are a symbol to many in the Union -- to the Fiiral, a divine manifestation, or at least a nationalist touching-stone. To many Seyek, a sign of our magnanimity and tolerance -- the truth of such things does not matter so much to them. My government has settled on a two-stage plan for you that will gain us internal stability and then hopefully soothe the tensions between the Federation and Cardassians.
"The first stage is for you to survey the worlds of the Seyek Union, not matter how large or small. You will make public appearances, speeches to the masses, tour the facilities and industries that keep our Union slithering forward."
"Surely you would be more equipped for that, Celessan. You are elected by the people."
"Ah, but were it so. Only forty percent of citizens chose me last election. From me, it might seem simply crass. But you are removed from the trappings of politics. You are something more."
Iifirdir nodded, "A tour it is, then. I would enjoy getting out of this castle and seeing more of the Union. I don't believe a single monarch has ever visited all of the Union."
"That is so."
"And the second stage?"
Celessan paused for slight dramatic effect, "We invite the Federation and the Cardassians -- and perhaps their affiliates -- here for a state dinner and summit. Something less weighty than the Bajor situation as the excuse for it, perhaps, but something to get them sitting across the table from one another. Open diplomatic ties slightly more. As it is with our people, it is so in the Federation and the Cardassian Union -- they view you as removed from politics, useless even. You will be a neutral party in a non-neutral state. They will possibly view this as you staying relevant."
Iifirdir chuckled, and based on what Celessan tasted in the air and the way his heat became more pungent, it was out of nerves, "Really, Celessan. I am gracious that you think so highly of me -- in apparent contrast to most of the quadrant -- but I am hardly a diplomat or a scholar. I am not sure I will be up to the calibre of whomever they all send."
"You will have as much time as it takes for you to complete your survey of our systems, and then after that, however long it takes to negotiate the circumstances of their visit. It will furnish you with time to educate yourself on their leaders, if you feel that is necessary. But for the most part, you are simply to be the glue that brings them together." Celessan straightened up, slightly with pride, "Iifirdir, I have seen you grow from a young prince to our young sovereign. I guided you as my predecessor guided your mother. I would not ask this of you if you were not sufficient."
Iifirdir waited a long time, the mechanical clock he'd built on his deck ticking away. Finally, he rose. Celessan coiled herself, bringing herself to his eye level. He nodded, firmly. Regally. "We are in agreement with our government's plan, Chancellor."
Celessan bowed low again. "Thank you, your Highness."
"Is there anything more for the government to report?"
"Nothing of importance, your highness."
"Very well. A pleasant and insightful conversation as always, Celessan. I only pray that the gods can guide me along the path you envision." Iifirdir raised his hand and made the traditional symbol of dismissal, "Go in peace, Chancellor."
