For immediate distribution to all Imperial subjects of noble rank within the Black Pike sector.

On behalf of the Royal Family, your Princess-in-Waiting hails you and wishes you a pleasant and restful Festival of Joyous Labors. May your responsibilities rest lightly on your shoulders and may you recognize in one another the tireless contributions that keep our Empire strong.

In the name of my Liege and yours, Sykora of the Black Pike, I bring news of great consequence issued from the Prelate system.

The world Maekyon, homeland of the Prince of the Black Pike, is receiving special dispensation of self-sovereignty. Standard annexation efforts are to pause.

This weighty decision was reached after three drawn conclusions, which in trust of your loyalty, Her Majesty is prepared to disclose.

Firstly—Maekyon’s people are a firmament-wide anomaly. Maekyonites are a spermatogenic species whose males are immune to Taiikari compulsion. His Majesty Grantyde, Prince of the Black Pike, wishes to make it clear that although he cannot be compelled, he remains steadfastly loyal to Princess Margrave Sykora. His obedience and loyal companionship to Her Majesty act as ready substitutes for the biological abnormality of his people.

Secondly—criminal noncitizen elements are responsible for a subversive attempt to sabotage the Maekyon operation. These individuals will be brought swiftly to justice. While security enforcement is ongoing, a key strategic consideration is ensuring their plans are foiled. By varying the approach from standard Imperial doctrine we intend to baffle any pre-existing scheme awaiting Her High Majesty’s servants.

Finally—The Empress in her wisdom has ordained that Maekyon be a co-operative venture between the Black Pike and Glory Banner sectors. Princess Margrave Sykora celebrates the unprecedented cooperation between herself and her sister, Void Princess Narika of the Glory Banner, and marks this occasion as a historical turning point—not merely in the history of the sector but that of the Empire.

In recognition of these singular challenges and opportunities, this operation requires a novel approach. Your Princess has chosen hers. Glory to the Black Pike and the Empress.

Princess-in-Waiting Vorakaia of the Black Pike

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Wen and Tik—

The news must have reached you by now. Yes—I’m immune to compulsion. Some of my unbothered behavior during the Shoskia affair probably makes a lot more sense now, huh? You must have thought me pretty reckless.

You were right and I am. More reckless than my friends and business partners probably deserve. I just also happen to be a firmament-wide oddity and freak of Imperial nature.

It’s not the Taiikari way to say sorry, but I’m pretty far from Imperial baseline already, so please accept my apology regardless.

And know that even though I used to be required by my Empress to keep this from you, your friendship means more to me than a bumpkin from a backwater planet can say. Even after they put a crown on my head.

I know the Alien Groom Squad’s had its share of ups and downs and roster shake-ups. But I still consider myself a card-carrying member.

With love,

Prince Grant Hyde of the Black Pike

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Grant—

The Alien Groom Squad has been through assassination attempts, industrial sabotage, and house arrest. With all due respect for this revelation and the bravery it required: you won’t get rid of me that easily. Nothing so immutable as your species or protean as your gender could damage the friendship or loyalty we owe you. Whoever or whatever else you are, by birth or choice, you’re our Prince first.

It’s surely stressful times aboard the Pike. If your task should afford you the chance at rest, you are welcome to the place at Qarnaq II. Orlo found out you play a Maekyonite instrument called the gutiar (spelling?) and desperately wanted to pick it up. We’ve gotten him a strala instead since there’s no export market off Maekyon yet, and he’s gloriously terrible at it, and desperately wants to show off for you.

Wen is over my shoulder demanding I mention that she loves you too and you don’t have to call into the next business review, which I would think rather obvious as a Prince doesn’t have to do anything he doesn’t want to do. But when I explained that to her Mavakai declared her ambition to become a Prince, thereby to avoid her trip to her fangs appointment, so I ought to have kept my mouth shut.

Your friend,

Tik

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To Her High Majesty Zithra XIX, Empress of Taiikar—

Your servant Narika sends felicitations and a plea issued in humble recognizance of your might and power.

Whereas word of Maekyon’s preternatural immunity to our Taiikari gift is spreading across the firmament, and the natural order of compulsion therefore thrown into question, the time is nigh to reveal to the Imperial Peerage the existence of Compound 70. Should we fail this test of trust, it is my conclusion that the breach shall be made instead by the rebel element which even now moves against our interest on the surface of Maekyon—I speak of the infamous Penitent, whose malign schemes were lately foiled by Princess Margrave Sykora of the Black Pike.

High Majesty, my sister witnessed the Penitent’s use of this tool during the Daemon Affair, and we are convinced that the only reason the secret has not been divulged by this treasonous noncitizen is that she has been waiting for the most public and ruinous moment to break covenant and reveal its existence. Our best hope to foil her is to pre-empt her, with guile and strategy. Myself and the ruling family of the Black Pike have formulated advance plans for this reveal in the attached memorandum for review and approval. We are confident that this epochal moment can be met and navigated with grace deserving of its capstone in your august reign.

Yours Eternally in Loyalty,

Narika of the Glory Banner

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To my esteemed cousin Void Princess Narika of the Glory Banner,

No.

Fondly,

Empress Zithra XIX of Taiikar

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High Majesty—

I will take your terseness as instruction and be likewise brief.

If you insist on keeping this secret beyond its obvious expiration date its stench will overtake any effort to conceal it. This is no time for infirmity of will or—I hesitate to suggest it of your august personage—pettiness.

Again I request your review of the reattached plan, and your proper consideration.

Narika of the Glory Banner

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To my esteemed cousin Void Princess Narika of the Glory Banner,

You are not much good at being terse.

I have read your plan already, I have given it due consideration, and my answer remains no. No, you will not divulge the secret.

I share your perfectly logical conclusion that the Penitent intends to break the news across our face like a glass bottle. I have shared it ever since Sykora let her slip away. I cannot control her the way I can you, and I tell you no. My preparations for the unknitting of the secret remain underway, and are extensive, and they do not involve you or your sister spilling the Imperial ink all over my desk. Every hour available to me before the truth is unveiled is precious—far more precious in their totality than Maekyon, which I have already written off to its foreordained doom.

If and when the Penitent attempts to strike with C70, you are ordered to foil her if possible, with every element at your disposal. If and when she reveals its existence to the Imperial citizenry, I will act, and expect you and your sister to suborn yourselves to that action.

Does this infuriate you? Good. Practice mastery of it. To be Empress is to be infuriated by the unfairness of your limits. If you think getting my chair means suddenly you get everything you want, you are hilariously mistaken.

This is your test. Ask your sister about hers, and then complain to me if you judge it too light.

With genuine affection, despite myself,

Zithra XIX of Taiikar

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Glad tidings to Egon of the United Nations from Sykora of the Black Pike. I bring you word of an important Imperial decision.

In the spirit of full disclosure, there has been spirited debate within the Empire on the question of your Annexation. Please understand that exception to Imperial doctrine is rare to the point of nonexistence for the past several centuries. But it pleases me to announce that we are prepared to recognize the sovereignty of Earth’s combined governments over its homeworld, as you entreated in your previous correspondence.

Maekyon, as our Imperial language designates it, will remain for the Maekyonites—the humans, to use the English term. We will not interfere with your governance of Earth, its moon, or your solar system.

Further, we offer citizenship to the Taiikari Empire to every human. If, by their own free will, a human desires to enter covenant with ourselves and our Empress, they may declare themselves self-annexed. We will provide them with integrational services and access to our Empire’s technology and territory.

To supervise efforts, and to bind tighter the compact between our people, we intend to create an embassy city on Earth, to be governed, garrisoned, and maintained by our Empire. We will be grateful for your assistance in securing a location of approximately 500 square kilometers of unoccupied land, which we might purchase at a rate to be negotiated with its steward. Inhospitability is no object; we will be as pleased to build in the polar arctic as in the driest desert.

On a more sobering note, we bring a warning and offer for aid. A dangerous criminal of our kind has concealed herself among you. She is named Yniai; by alias we know her as the Penitent. We have reason to believe she has been in contact with anglophonic leadership on Earth, and has provided Taiikari technology to your people. You must be aware that it is her intention to sabotage the safety and partnership between our species. She must not be trusted. Any assistance you may provide in locating her will be greatly appreciated, and any assistance we may provide in bringing her into custody, we will tender unhesitantly.

Twenty-seven hours from now, we will make global, public contact with your species. The ruling family of the Black Pike and the Empress we serve are eager to make the acquaintances of your people.

With anticipation for that glad hour,

Princess Margrave Sykora nai Kei’na Terokai

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To Princess Sykora:

Your message of peace has been joyfully received. In the annals of Earth’s history there have been many imaginings of our first contact with extraterrestrial life, ranging from the nightmarish to the utopian. What profound relief that it should be your enlightened people. Earth stands ready to receive you.

Respectfully, at this accelerated pace, our nations require additional time to prepare their disclosures of your approach. We must not rush such an epochal moment for our world. I am sure you will agree. Of specific note: the right to repatriation into the Empire is one that must remain with the governments of Earth, not to be unilaterally provided by the Taiikari.

With that in mind, we call upon the Taiikari Empire to provide us with an alternate disclosure plan that ensures the ability of our governing bodies to maintain the peace and sovereignty you recognize.

Sincerely,

Egon van den Broek

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Egon:

We acknowledge your previous message, and happily anticipate our meeting. The spirit of hospitality and cooperation is strong with the Taiikari, and I look with great eagerness to the months and years to come, when my new world will intermingle with that of my birthplace. While the values held by my wife’s species differ in some ways from those of humanity, there is much we share as well. And as I believe my union with the Princess of the Black Pike demonstrates, there is ample room for our species both as friends of the Empire and as citizens within it.

In your initial reply to our overture, you exhorted the self-determination that exists as the cornerstone of your species’ self-perception. We take you at your word and will honor this Maekyonite custom. But our recognition, in its completeness, will brook no exception.

You contend that it is the freedom of every Maekyonite to choose. I have fought for this same principle tirelessly from my place aboard the Black Pike, and it’s with relief I join with you in its advocacy, and joy that I see it acknowledged by my Empress.

Your characterization of our offered citizenship as unilateral is incorrect. We recognize the sovereignty of every human, Egon, in keeping with this principle. The decision to join the Empire we offer to you, and every monarch and elected official and magnate and truck driver and night-shift worker, simultaneously. We lay it at their feet. Everyone’s, everywhere.

Our deadline remains in effect. See you in twenty-one hours.

Yours in common humanity,

Prince Grant Hyde nai Kei’na Terokai