Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [38]
With an Ildiran stardrive, ships could travel several times faster than light. Many of them served as couriers, delivering news and important diplomatic communiqués, but even using the fastest vessels such messages required days or weeks to arrive at their destination.
A green priest's telink, though, was instantaneous, regardless of the distance, so long as a worldtree and a priest were at each station. Such communication was not a luxury—not a frivolous convenience—but an absolute necessity in order for the Hansa to keep growing and thriving.
Unfortunately, green priests were people, not machines, and using telink required their cooperation. The Hansa could not force their hand, and the Therons certainly weren't volunteering.
"We don't dare turn them against us by being too overt, Mr. Chairman," said the Yreka representative, still uneasy because of her planet's recent troubles with the pirates.
"I wish we could just force Theroc to sign the Hansa Charter," said the pale Dremen envoy.
"Not feasible unless we want to declare war," Basil said.
"We would win," Admiral Stromo pointed out.
"As always, I value your input, Admiral, but zealous actions are often ill-advised actions. I will not be seen as the Chairman whose brash decrees tumbled us into a galactic recession."
Stromo continued to press. "There have been other upstart worlds, repressive regimes or religious fanatics that have tried to turn their backs on the Hansa." He glanced quickly at the Ramah representative.
The man regarded him coolly. "Devotion and tradition do not make one a 'fanatic,' Admiral. We simply find the Terran Archfather and the broad official compromises of Unison to be bland and generic. We prefer to return to the basic teachings of the Koran."
"I'm sure the Admiral did not mean to cast any aspersions on Ramah," Basil said, "but there have been more extreme circumstances."
Stromo focused on the Chairman instead. "Yes, and with the simple application of sanctions, cutting off all interplanetary commerce, every one of those colonies came crawling back, or they perished."
"Be careful where you push," said the Ramah envoy. A henna tattoo marked a starburst beside his dark left eye. "All Charter signatories retain the right to determine their own government, religion, and culture. We can maintain our own local language, rather than Trade Standard. I will vote against any attempts to use strong-arm tactics simply because one planet happens to be rich in a resource the Hansa needs. Any one of us could find ourselves in that situation."
Basil gave him a condescending frown. "Rules often change when one party has riches that another does not. Look at your history."
Although the Ildiran stardrive allowed fast travel, strict government across such a large canvas was all but impossible. The Ildirans managed it only because the Mage-Imperator and his planetary Designates could think with one mind through the telepathic connection of thism. Human colonies, however, were too separated for a single Terran leader to make sensible decisions on a local level on some distant world. Hardy colonists were not likely to listen to dictates issued from far-off Earth by a man who had never visited their colony. On the other hand, the business of shuttling goods and services from world to world in a burgeoning economy provided a framework for a common set of rules. The Terran Hanseatic League had been modeled after the confederation of commercial cities and the various guilds that had operated in medieval Europe with such success.
The Ramah envoy rested his chin on his knuckles. Then he grudgingly said, "If my people must bow to certain necessities, the Therons certainly can."
"Therons may be a thorn in our side, but they are so...endearing it's difficult to be angry with them," the Yreka envoy mused.
"I believe a solution is at hand," Basil said with confidence. "The old Theron ambassador has just departed for home, and I have made arrangements that she be asked to retire. 'Iron Lady' Otema's successor will be far