*
Petra gazed at the holonet form of the Premier of Kidron. "Falstaf, the planet is now unguarded and only governed by Academicians. It should be easy for the KSD to establish dominion over it and expel these outsider interlopers."
The Premier nodded as the slow relaying of the message was received in spurts. The anomolies in and around the Elrood System interfered at times with holonet transmissions making the reception hard to establish and, if established, slow going.
"My Lady, our scans found the soldiers of Elrood enroute and we did capture them. But they also brought evidence showing an attack upon their world and their proof indicates KSD complicity."
The words, though slow coming, were not surprising to Petra for it was she herself who arranged the attack and arranged to make the attack look like it came from Kidron. "Premier," she began with a smile. "I did not realize you launched an attack..." her voice trailed off.
"I didn't!" he snapped back. "Someone is making it appear like we did. So their response is understandable. They did not initiate hostilities but there are a good many 'Kappreeesseeeaaans'," (he sounded out the unfamiliar name), "being held here."
"Well then, that's all their military and they have acted against your sovereignty. You could act now!" Petra advised in return. "They could lose their colony before their Empire has a chance to act upon it. Why would they spend the credits to fund a retaking of a colony so far away?"
She grinned, "It's yours."
The Premier frowned as her words finally reached him. "That's all very well and good Lady, but unfortunately, their is a Kapreeseean starship in orbit above us demanding answers."
"WHAT?" Petra stood up in anger, mostly because she had not known about the intrusion. And your KSD just let them in?"
"Lady, they bypassed all known protocols and exited hyperspace near Kidron itself. The KSD is having to turn around.."
"Then hold out. Your ships on the planet and your ships returning will have these outsiders in a vise!"
It was then that Petra noticed that the Premier had inclined his head as if he was speaking to someone out of range of the holonet projectors.
Her eyes narrowed but before she had a chance to inquire, the Premier responded. "I dare not take action against these people, Lady. Their ship is more powerful than anything we currently have. The KSD is not equipped to handle this kind of problem. Freighters and the occassional pirate squadrons are dealt with... Not military warships."
Petra brought her hand down. "SMASH THEM FALSTAF! That is your charge! You defy me and you will face my soldiers!"
The Premier looked decidedly uncomfortable but then he faded from site.
Was the transmission cut? She checked and saw that they were still sending.
Suddenly another figure entered the projector's sphere of transmission. "Lady." bowed the rather young man. "Colonel Vinda here. The Premier was nice enough to let us know about many planets in this owing fealty to you. We asked him to contact you in case you might know who arranged to have our colony attacked and people killed." He smiled grimly. "It seems you just answered that question."
The face became stern. "Know this Lady Petra. The sovereign planet Kidron is under Commonwealth protection. Any attempt to attack Kidron will be considered an act of war against the Commonwealth. And we have the Providence 1st here on Kidron to kick your soldiers off world if need be."
His eyes flashed, "We will not continue to seek retaliation. However, any further attacks upon ourselves or Kidron and our warships will be seeking you out to bring you and your followers to trial for justice."
Lady Petra cut the transmission.
Matthias had been standing in the room with the newly arrived Herridian Wye of the
Stellar Explorer.
Herridian spoke first, "It will be another month or two before more ships from the Commonwealth can make the trip so we are all there is for now." He turned to Vinda, "You know what you've just committed us too?"
The Premier was shocked at Vinda's message but now found his voice. "You have my word that we did not attack you and I appreciate your concern but we have no desire to be a subject nation..."
"We aren't asking you too..." Colonel Vinda retorted. After their scare with death as the KSD ships approached their lightly armed shuttles of soldier's, Vinda had seemed to find some semblence of backbone. "But we need each other. Both of us have somehow incurred the wrath of this Lady Petra and her dominion. We need you as much as you need us. What we are proposing is a partnership. Elrood is a member world of the Commonwealth, but you need not be. A separate Treaty between Kidron and Elrood to define our roles could be drafted.."
"Mutual defense and all that but more importantly, a sharing of ideas." Herridian began, "Elrood is slated at being a premier educational facility for practical expertise in all areas of life.
We offer our schools to your own young. We offer our knowledge and we would like to share your knowledge."
"I...I would like to think about it and confer with my advisors.." Falstaf said weakly as what these outsiders were offering began to appeal to him.
"Take your time. In the meantime, our ship must return to Elrood but we would like to set up communication stations in orbit so that our people can better talk."
"I prefer to take things slowly." the master of Kidron stated. As the the others were leaving he called out, "..and after Elrood? Where will you go?"
Herridian Wye stopped and stole a glance at the leaders of the 1st Providence, Vinda and Mathias, before responding. He knew they still had quite a bit of work to do and already his department heads on the ship wanted to skin him alive but...
...being out here is what we are all about! It's what we were meant to do! "Premier Falstaf, our mission is to raise the sword against chaos, against anarchy, against that which threatens justice and freedom. The sword has been thrown and has led us here."
He grinned, "This area of space is new to our people. We will continue to expand our knowledge and seek out all the diversity the galaxy has to offer."
Conviction entered Herridian's voice, "We will continue in the direction of that thrown sword."
And so Elrood, the growing educational center of the Commonwealth, a premier center out of many, formed a mutual free trade and knowledge exchange with Kidron. And while formally not a part of the Commonwealth, the trade that opened with Kidron only served to increase the wealth of material, knowledge and diversity.
