The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances by Kevin J. Anderson Page B

plains outside the main Dobro settlement. All the people he had once roused to violence now worked together to unload the equipment and structures, including the modular dwelling units that had been in storage for so many years.
    Like a puppy dog, Ramirez hurried up to Chrysta. “I’ll go organize the setup of our prefabs and lay out the village street grid. It’s all colony basics, Captain. We’ve been ready to go as soon as we found the right planet.” He ran off, calling over his right shoulder. “Don’t worry about a thing. You can count on me, Captain.”
    She watched him go, cold and annoyed. When he was out of earshot, she muttered, “If you think I’ll actually trust you again, Mr. Ramirez, you are sadly mistaken.”

9
    CHAIRMAN MALCOLM STANNIS
    It had been a very gratifying week.
    Despite his initial reservations about the massive diplomatic force of the Ildiran Solar Navy, Stannis now saw many advantages to the alien presence. The Terran Hanseatic League was changed forever; never again would it be so limited. At times, the possibilities left him breathless, and he had already filled many more pages in his journal file of ideas to pursue.
    With the maniple of warliners parked in orbit, Adar Bali’nh remained at the Whisper Palace as a guest. Since Ildirans thrived on pomp and pageantry, King Ben treated him to diplomatic banquets and parades in his honor. The Adar had even taken brief trips to the lunar settlement and the industrial colonies in the asteroid belt, though the military base on Mars remained discreetly off limits.
    These Ildirans seemed so human, and, yet, having watched them closely during their time on Earth, Stannis could recognize that they were alarmingly different, with certain incomprehensible attitudes.
    He still didn’t understand why the aliens were so strangely, perhaps foolishly, benevolent—offering their remarkable technology and asking for little in return. When he ventured a cautious question to see if he could make Bali’nh confess some secret motivation, the alien commander would say only, “The Mage-Imperator commanded it.” Bali’nh didn’t think any other answer was necessary.
    Stardrives! Faster-than-light travel would carry Hansa trade vessels across the Spiral Arm, and human colonists were eager to plant the Hansa flag on dozens, if not hundreds, of fresh worlds . . . all those planets, just there for the taking!
    He had already established five blue-ribbon committees, and the Terran Hanseatic League was poised for significant expansion far beyond the solar system. With all the opportunities for commerce with the Ildiran Empire, and for resource development on countless untapped planets and moons, the potential for profit and power was unimaginable. And Malcolm Stannis had a very good imagination.
    Now, as the Solar Navy made ready to depart, crowds gathered in the Palace District for a huge sendoff. Cannons shot glittering confetti into the air, creating a multicolored celebratory blizzard. The forty-nine warliners gathered in the sky above the Whisper Palace, while King Ben and Adar Bali’nh made a final public appearance together. Stannis watched from an inner room, accompanied by Liam Hector, as the King and the Adar stepped out into view.
    The King wore royal blue robes this time, delivering his speech of gratitude from the high balcony of the Palace. Beside him the Adar stood in full military dress spangled with incomprehensible medals and badges. His long dark hair blew loosely about his head, showing off his lightning-bolt streaks of white.
    King Ben raised his hands and, on cue, a crowd let out a deafening cheer. “We gather to bid farewell to the Ildiran warliners—for a time. The human race owes so much to our new friends in the Spiral Arm.” He turned to Bali’nh and extended a hand for a firm handshake, a human gesture that the Adar had been taught.
    Adar Bali’nh offered the formal open-palmed Ildiran salute in response. “We are pleased to