An Outside Perspective (Linna)

[Anya Venari]

[member="Linna Beorht"]

It was raining in Santaissa. As Queen Tirathana VII looked out the window of her office she could see the river turning into a ribbon of fog as the strong winds picked up.
A gentle tap at the door announced her secretary. "The Princess is asleep, Majesty," she said softly.
"Good, thank you Tena. Please show my guest in when she arrives."
The other woman withdrew and went to comply.

The Queen brought her mind back to the present as the door opened.
"Welcome, Ms Beorht," she said in Basic, extending a hand, as was outsider custom. "Settling in here okay? Thank you for coming by, I had some items we need to discuss."

 

[Linna Beorht]

[member="Anya Venari"]

Doctor Linna Beorht accepted the handshake and the idiom as evidence that Her Majesty was making an effort to greet the galaxy on its own terms. Linna hadn't worn a hat; between the raid and the fog, she found the Royal office pleasantly warm, or would have if not for the windows. Colour and light affected the mood, and the sight of the weather gave her a psychosomatic chill over and above the dampness of her hair. She repressed a shiver and adopted a bright grin. "Your Majesty, it's my pleasure. What can I do for you?"

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Linna Beorht"]

Anya Venari had much to recommend her as Queen, and one of those things was a deep empathy and ability to notice turns of mood. It seemed like the weather was bothering her guest, though she was not showing it.
Therefore the Queen gestured and the heavy drapes closed over the windows, one by one, and the hearth in the corner blazed to life with a flick of her fire powers.

"Please, sit, Ms Beorht. I wanted your advice on some matters outside of Kaeshana. Firstly, I believe you know something of the Fringe. Recently they have been encroaching into the neutral zone. Do you feel their intentions are hostile? If we were to claim some neutral systems near Kaeshana would they react?"
"Secondly, there are many worlds outside the Protectorate which I was considering bringing civilisation to. The world of Karideph for instance presents options for us. The planet is divided into feuding clans, and the plague has wrought much chaos there. However it has considerable prospects if incorporated into the rule of the...Protectorate."
Which meant of course the Protectorate, as guided by Kaeshana and the Eldorai.
"Thoughts?"

 

[Linna Beorht]

[member="Anya Venari"]

Grateful, she began to warm up.

"I feel the Fringe can be best understood in terms of chaos theory. Chaotic systems can create random manifestations of unity, approximations of order, their location and succession unpredictable. There's no way to predict whether any given collective action of the Fringe Confederation will gain momentum, fail, become part of a larger pattern, be followed up by anything that makes sense -- I firmly believe that when the Confederation takes or, ah, protects a world, it's as a result of a random collection of high-level individuals who just happen to have the time, on the spur of the moment. There are predictable elements, or at least directions, but those elements work with glacial slowness compared to other examples of more...frenetic expansion. In short, I believe they would want to react, but neither they nor we can predict whether they actually will. I suspect we could safely...protect Halm without retaliation, but that would be the extreme Fringeward limit of potential expansion I'd recommend. Noe'ha'on or Copperline would be safer, certainly -- I can basically guarantee no response from the Fringe.

"As for the Karideph system, while a population of roughly a hundred billion Kari has much to recommend it, we would be dealing with a significant cultural barrier. Simple generosity with hyperspace technology, plus the unification effort you suggest, could bridge the gap, but only partially. Few worlds allow the Kari to immigrate, for reasons of population explosion. On the one hand, their distance from Kaeshana could let us play the distant benefactors, while insulated from the emigrant rush. On the other hand, oddly enough, we may be able to take a lesson from the Fringe, who've had to deal with a major Lugubraa population. They've opened internal borders entirely -- Lugubraa hordes, for lack of a better term, seem to have taken root on most major Fringe worlds, with some level of economic benefit resulting. Insofar as Fringe economics can be measured, anyway. A potential exists for a symbol of welcome -- perhaps using large-scale space platforms like your existing trade station. I doubt most Eldorai would appreciate their world overrun by Kari hives."

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Linna Beorht"]

“Interesting,” the Queen replied. “So the Fringe has no single leader, no King, Queen or other titled head? I had heard they were led by a Council, is that still true?”

“My people are not the most…accepting…of others. They have just about been reconciled to humans and near humans, but the Kari are another matter. I will have to think more on this matter. Are there any other worlds in this rimward area which presents an opportunity?”

“The Fringe are an unpredictable neighbour, if what you say represents their foreign policy aspirations.”

She shuffled some papers and produced a new one.

“It is no secret that Kaeshana seeks to strengthen itself. To this end we would like to stop being dependent on companies outside this system for basic items; meaning we are planning the construction of shipyards. Small to start with, but then larger and more impressive to help construct vessels for customers and our own defence. Do you see any adverse reaction to this from outside?”

 

[Linna Beorht]

[member="Anya Venari"]

"There will be noise, certainly, because the only way to get competitive is targeted import restrictions, over and above what you already have. The real challenge will be qualitative. Import substitution industrialization efforts often have trouble matching imports for quality, and quality is expensive. Considering Kaeshana's economic foundation, I believe it can work, but it won't be profitable for years without just the right opportunity. Whether that is an acceptable cost is up to you.

"As for the Fringe, their Council members are elected, but other power players have an equal voice, de facto. High-ranking military officers, for one. Arbiters like Spencer Jacobs - Arbiter is a quasi-judicial position tasked with preventing and resolving internal schisms, patching things up at the highest levels. And then there are the corporate magnates. Santhe/Sienar, Silk Holdings, NeuroSaav and Akure Executive Interstellar are all strong voices in Fringe space. Also, some local rulers have a degree of influence, like Emperor Kaine Zambrano of the Pacanth Reach. Fringe leadership exists in constant tension between autocracy and consensus."

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Linna Beorht"]
The Queen considered Linna’s words carefully for a moment before replying.

“Kaeshana has wealth, but it can only be pushed so far. In the last years we have invested in the Tirathana Skyport, the Citadels of Dusk and Dawn and Ashira’s Crown defences. This, along with the ships and other advancements have been extremely costly. I will not burden you with financial matters, but creating shipyards too will be a considerable further drain. However, I feel it is necessary. Kaeshana must be prepared and able to stand on its own, though it would not be our choice to do so.”

“Such an oligarchy sounds unstable,” the Queen commented regarding the Fringe. “An event seems able to push one faction ahead of others leading to rapid policy changes. They must be treated with caution so as not to provoke a reaction. I feel it would be wiser to concentrate on exploring the areas within nominal Protectorate space and discovering any worlds there which could be settled or upgraded. Worlds to the galactic south around Karideph are still possible also.”

Leaning forward, the Queen fixed Linna with a quizzical look. “Ms Beorht, as you are probably aware, I will soon be made Exarch of Kaeshana as part of the reorganisation. Though I have experience in the galaxy, I have less in ruling multiple worlds. I’m hoping I can count on your advice for these other worlds when the appointment is made?”