A Faded Star

Free A Faded Star by Michael Freeport Page B

Book: A Faded Star by Michael Freeport Read Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Freeport
of actual
representatives arrives.” Thun fell silent for a moment while he considered his
next statement. “The alliance I am a part of was formed thousands of years ago
in reaction to the incursion of a hostile and warlike species. The alliance is
made up of five different species. Each species contributed to the plan that
eventually defeated this hostile species. Since their defeat, we have devoted
ourselves to the exploration of scientific knowledge and gaining a deeper
understanding of the universe and ourselves.
     “The alliance is made up of five different species, as
I said earlier. These species are Xalcek, my species, the Unam, the Yaderiedea,
the Hontoata and the Gol. Each species maintains a central political structure,
mostly on their planets of origin. My home planet, Xalcek, is where the capital
of the alliance is located. There is a separate political structure that
governs the alliance independently from the planetary government. Each species
elects representatives to the alliance government. These representatives help
to determine how the alliance and individual species interact with each other.
     Vice President Owens looked suitably impressed. “Five thousand
years is a very long time to have a government of such size endure. How do you
avoid stagnation and complacency causing overwhelming bureaucratic overload?”
     Thun considered the question for a moment. “That is a
complex inquiry. I am not initiated into the deeper understandings of how our
alliance government works, but there is one principle that has kept all of our
planetary governments from destroying themselves under their own weight. Every
one hundred years, each planetary government is required to make a clean sweep
of all laws, regulations, political offices and rebuild from the most basic of
structures. The alliance has the ability to put this off for up to an
additional fifty years if there is a crisis or need to do so, but this has
never happened. Each government starts with a set of basic rights and
responsibilities and the new representatives must use that framework to
establish new laws, regulations and principles to govern the people for the
next hundred years.”
     “What's to stop the new government from just copying
what the old government did for the previous hundred years?”
     “Many times they do, but it allows the government to
respond to the younger generation each time they are born. Often, this keeps
planetary governments from keeping old, irrelevant or useless rules and laws.”
     Owens looked surprised. “New generation? How long do
you live?”
     “The Xalcek have the shortest average lifespans in the
alliance. Usually, we live three hundred to three hundred twenty-five years.”
     “Ah.”
     Simmons broke into the conversation at that point. “Do
your species live this long naturally or did you achieve this lifespan through
some technological advancement?”
     Stokes shot Simmons a withering glance that stopped
her stopped on the edge of saying more. “My apologies, sir. Miss Simmons,
please restrain your exuberance.”
     Owens chuckled and gave Thun his best politician's
smile before glancing at Stokes. “Thank you, Commodore. I will see Mister Thun
to the conference rooms. Please carry on.”
     Stokes saluted smartly and said, “Aye, sir.” and
watched as the Vice President, Thun and the rest of the diplomatic delegation
disappeared into a lift. He then addressed his assembled bridge officers.
“Everyone is dismissed with the exception of Miss Simmons. Get your divisions
secure and release them for shore leave.”
     The bridge crew hustled back up the boarding tube to
carry out the orders. Simmons stood, watching Stokes expectantly. When he did
not begin after a moment, she said, “I apologize, sir. I was merely trying to
ascertain the level of technological advancement the alliance may have.”
     “Are you an intelligence operative now? When a
lieutenant is in the presence of the vice

Similar Books

The TRIBUNAL

Peter B. Robinson

Fate of Elements

M. Stratton, Skeleton Key

The Receptionist

Janet Groth

Crimson Vengeance

Sheri Lewis Wohl

Snowfall

Sharon Sala

Firewall

DiAnn Mills