"Officially, he was only being sent to re-establish contact between Altai and the rest of mankind. Officially, his mission was so minor that Terra didn't even give him a ship of his own, but left him to negotiate passage as best he might..." (p. 342)
Something is very wrong here. Flandry's mission was only to re-establish contact between an isolated human planetary population and the rest of mankind? What could be more important? The Terran Empire regards this mission as so minor that it, the Imperium, is prepared to be represented by a single man arriving as a passenger in an alien trading ship? Surely not. What does this make the Empire look like? What message does it convey to the Altaians about their significance to the rest of mankind? What protection does it give to Flandry if any powerful Altaians resent his arrival? I ask whether the author has failed to think through the implications of this aspect of his narrative.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I have to disagree. I think the scenario used for "A Message in Secret" makes sense when you keep in mind how MANY planets had been colonized by humans. There must have been many long isolated colonies. Also, Naval Intelligence was trying to downplay the significance of Flandry's arrival on Altai, so as not to arouse Oleg Khan's suspicions. Also, even if that had not been the case and nothing funny was going on at Altai, I think it would make sense for the Imperium to try low level "feelers," precisely to minimize the chance of causing offense.
And we do see mention of Flandry bringing the customary gifts to present to planetary heads of state as part of his ostensible mission. If Oleg had been on the up and up, I think arrangements would have been made for exchanging diplomatic representatives and opening up trade with the Empire. And Flandry would have gone on to his next mission.
Ad astra! Sean
Agree with Sean — it’s a matter of scale. The planet is, to the Empire’s eyes, sort of like a minor village on some remote island.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
As so often, you expressed more clearly and briefly what I was trying to say. Altai was just a minor, out of the way "village" of a planet. Worth sending a single man to check out, but no more (except of course, there had been rumors of something odd going on there).
Ad astra! Sean
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