Read Online The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances by Kevin J. Anderson - Free Book Online

welcome you as our neighbors in the Spiral Arm, King Ben. We also established new homes for ten of your generation ships. May your splinter colonies thrive.”
    King Ben was grinning, and Stannis watched from an inner operations center, a corridor away from the speaking balcony. The Chairman was concerned. The King seemed too much at ease, as if he had forgotten the importance of every single word he uttered.
    As another cutter loaded with human explorers rose up to the Solar Navy vessels, King Ben addressed the crowd, continuing to heighten their excitement. “While Earth builds new ships that incorporate the Ildiran stardrive, Adar Bali’nh has graciously offered to assist our explorers. We celebrate these brave pioneers who will find candidate worlds for us to colonize.”
    Three hundred white doves were released into the air, flying up above the crowd like liberated spirits. The crowd gasped, then applauded. King Ben stepped forward, clasping his hands in front of him. “Oh, this is a wonderful day! Earth will benefit so much by joining the Ildiran Empire. The Terran Hanseatic League will certainly profit from such a direct alliance.”
    Stannis’s eyes flew open in shock. What the hell did the King think he was saying? “That wasn’t in the script!” As he ran toward the speaking balcony, he shouted over his shoulder to his aide, “Mr. Hector, cut the sound system. Shut it down before the King gets us into any more trouble!” He felt sick and knew he couldn’t run fast enough.
    On the balcony, even Adar Bali’nh looked surprised by what the old man had said. “You wish Earth to join the Ildiran Empire, King Ben?”
    The very idea was absurd. Red-faced and gasping, Stannis lurched out onto the balcony between King Ben and Adar Bali’nh. It took all his self-control to quell his anger.
    The King tapped the microphone, puzzled to realize that the sound had cut off in mid-sentence. No one could hear what they were saying.
    Stannis grasped Ben’s robed arm, squeezing like a vise. He wanted to wring King Ben’s neck, but his image was being broadcast to billions of people right now. “Please Majesty, let me assist you away from the balcony. We have encountered some technical difficulties.” He hoped Adar Bali’nh would believe the clumsy excuse. “I’m sorry, Adar—the King isn’t feeling well enough to complete his speech. It will be rescheduled. Please, enjoy the performance.”
    Liam Hector, bless him, had given orders for marching bands to come forward and play a loud and brassy fanfare in the main square.
    Stannis dragged the King down the corridor and into a private room. The Chairman’s face was hot, his heart pounding hard. Ben looked befuddled and apprehensive, knowing he had made a serious mistake and he was in a great deal of trouble. “What, Malcolm? What did I do wrong?”
    The idiot didn’t even know!
    Finally, with the door slammed shut to give them privacy, Stannis raised his voice, “Do you have any idea what you just said? You—the King of Earth—offered to have us join the Ildiran Empire, to accept the rule of an alien leader! We’ll have to apologize, backpedal, and hope there’s no permanent damage.”
    The King looked away, his shoulders slumped. He was trembling. “Sorry Malcolm. I just got carried away.” He heaved a sigh, spoke with more of a whine. “I don’t like how everything’s changed, all this added responsibility I suddenly have, spending every waking hour with an alien diplomat. I’m just an actor and a spokesman, not a leader—that’s why Chairman Burke invented the role of King in the first place. I wasn’t supposed to be much more than a mascot, somebody in charge of parades and handing out awards. All this pressure is just too much for me.”
    “That’s an understatement,” Stannis grumbled. “I have no idea how we’re going to get out of this. Maybe the Adar didn’t comprehend what you said.”
    “But Malcolm, even I don’t understand what I