Investigating accusations against Governor Snelund of Sector Alpha Crucis, Kheraskov sends in both undercover agents and inspectors but also sends Dominic Flandry commanding an escort destroyer posted as a reinforcement to Llynathawr but with secret orders to investigate further. In this role, Flandry is not as conspicuous as the captain of a capital ship but nevertheless Snelund will have to receive him. Commanding a ship would in any case have been a normal part of Flandry's training because field operatives need:
"'...a broad background.'" (p. 388)
The Young Flandry Trilogy gives us the whole gamut.
This explains why Flandry, alone among Kheraskov's agents, is in a position to take highly unorthodox action that ends the extortion and cruelty in Sector Alpha Crucis and that also has major consequences several millennia later although we do not know that yet.
4 comments:
Note the consequences of the Technic history having no FTL equivalent of radio. Independent commands with broad discretion are necessary in that setup -- although desirable anyway.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, and that was pointed out more than once in the stories.
However necessary it was for both civil and military officials to have broad discretion, it also opened the way for abuses of power occurring. E.g., Snelund's wretched governorship of Sector Alpha Crucis.
Ad astra! Sean
Though Snelund is dangerous to the Empire as a whole not because he'd greedy and corrupt, but because he's using corruption to further political ambitions -- which is far more disruptive for everyone than merely a desire to accumulate a personal fortune.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree. And Flandry made it plain that was why Snelund was so dangerous.
Ad astra! Sean
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