Monday 31 October 2016

The Solution On Ikrananka

As at the end of the following story, "Day of Burning," Falkayn must convene a planetary conference. On Ikrananka, the conference brings together:

Emperor Jadhadi;

King Ursala of Rangakora, resisting Imperial annexation;

Harry Smit, the Ershoka (human) senior;

Bobert Thorn, the Ershoka rebel;

the mayor of the town where the conference is held;

"'...the distinguished representative of the merchant adventurers from Beyond-the-World, Da'id 'alkayn.'" (David Falkayn: Star Trader, p. 201)

Falkayn's compromise:

Rangakora to remain independent but to drop claims for indemnification;

the League will sell the Emperor firearms so that he can defend his borders and will no longer need Ershoka warriors;

the Ershoka to continue to own farms, ranches and town houses and now also to sell their services as guards of caravans against barbarians;

the Ikranakans to accept galactic missionaries;

threat of war by League (bluff) -

- "'...an equality of dissatisfaction...'" (p. 205), to be followed by unimaginable satisfactions. Of course, it works.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Am "equality of dissatisfaction?" Sounds like something masters of diplomacy like Prince Metternich would say! It also helped enormously that none of the contending parties at the conference FALKAYN (not Flandry) organized believed in a philosophy or ideology they felt fanatically loyal to.

Sean