The Starkadians are not in fact fighting but are threatening to at the end of Ensign Flandry:
"'Both factions continue to assert exclusive rights to the archipelago fishing grounds.'" (p. 209)
Hauksberg comments:
"'Squabblin' over somethin' that'll be a whiff of gas in half a decade? Are such idiots worth savin'?'" (p. 210)
John Ridenour replies that they are not idiots but have been shattered by the news that the destruction of Starkad is imminent. They need time to adapt before some of them can respond rationally. Animal instincts are more basic than forebrain logic. Ridenour needs more trained staff to help what Hauksberg describes as:
"'...some primitives.'" (ibid.)
Lord Hauksberg's studied arrogance is a more sophisticated version of Ensign Quarles' casual contempt for xenos.
Ridenour, preoccupied, consents to shake hands with Flandry and to wish him luck but is back at his desk before Hauksberg and Flandry are out the door. Fortunately, however, we will see both Flandry and Ridenour, but thankfully not Hauksberg, again.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I don't think Lord Hauksberg or Ensign Quarles were bad persons and were meredly guilty showing a lack of imagination here. The only time we see Quarles he was simply young, inexperienced, and bored. He might have grown to greater wisdom as the years passed.
Now I wonder what happened to Hauksberg in later years? Was he one of those influential appeasers Emperor Hans was able to flush out of the gov't in the aftermath to the Dennitza/Chereion affair?
Ad astra! Sean
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