Chapter Three
Now, when the communications system was repaired,
Lord Change began to speak with the Rulers of those colonies that still
survived. At first they did not trust his sincerity, but then they
realized he was speaking from an honest heart, and they agreed to his
terms. Each race would be allowed to maintain their own society and to
develop and change as they saw fit. No race would any longer keep a
space fleet, but from now on the entire system would provide a force
that would patrol the system, and keep order. The force would be manned
by members of each race, and be under the overall command of a joint
committee made up of the Leaders of all the worlds.
2 There would be a general sharing of resources, each being given what
they need, until the emergency was over. Then, they would return to
normal trading practices.
3 It was learned that during the fighting the prison planet which had
been maintained by all the races of the system had been taken over by
the inmates who had established their own Governments. Lord Change
recognized them as a separate Government. The Leader of these former
prisoners made it clear they were their own people, but they would
accept the outcasts of any of the other races if those races so desired. There was agreement on this.
4 Only one colony, the largest, did not respond to Lord Change's
messages. It was on a moon orbiting one of the gaseous giants third in
from the outermost planet.
5 "Either they are not choosing to respond," commented Lord Change, "
or their long range communications equipment has been destroyed beyond
repair. I will go out myself, and speak with them. The new alliance
must be complete or it is worthless. We must now all work together,
prepare the three ships we have. I will depart in two days."
6 Now, before Lord Change departed, he called forth all the Priests of
The Temples and prepared a great speech to deliver to them.