The solution is ingenious and so understated that we might not fully appreciate it. The Seven in Space have secretly supplied the Baburites with ships whose parts cannot be manufactured on Babur or that deteriorate in a hydrogen atmosphere. Attacked by the Hermetian navy and the League independent companies, the Seven withdraw from supporting Babur. Realizing how they have been duped and used and that their ships are now rapidly deteriorating, the Baburites must cease hostilities. That would enable the Solar Commonwealth and the Home Companies to seize control of Mirkheim, to move into space and to impose a caretaker government on Hermes. However, such a move will now be opposed by the independents, Hermes and the Baburites. The Commonwealth must accept that Babur becomes a protectorate of Hermes which also administers Mirkheim as Supermetals had originally requested. Long live the independents.
There is a much more subversive message in something that van Rijn says:
"'The Commonwealth government can never recognize the independents as rightful agents, no more than it could ever recognize the League. Hemel! Something beside another government having the right to decide things? Might get folks at home wondering if they do need politicians and bureaucrats on top of themselves.'" (XX, pp. 278-279)
That could and should be the beginning of a whole new novel but, unfortunately, the Commonwealth is due to collapse and not to be replaced by anything better.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Absolutely, what Old Nick said! And I would expand on what he stated to add the kind of gov't the Commonwealth was becoming is what will happen to Hermes at the hands of pols like Christa Broderick. Similar bad ideas and policies will end in similarly bad results.
To be fair to the Terran Empire to be, for centuries it was not too bad. Which is all we can hope for from any gov't.
Ad astra! Sean
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