A Lasting Peace, Prologue

My father looked down upon the Human woman, a frail, somewhat elderly-looking woman, with wrinkles about her face and graying hair, similar in color to storm clouds. He towered over here, but she seemed to have a power of her own. It was subtle, yet unflinching. She was also strangely warm and inviting, as a neighbor or friend. Nevertheless, she did not recoil before my father. Rather, she seemed to bask in her shadow, politely smiling. If I was not the wiser, I would think she amused at the spectacle my father created. Indeed, with great fanfare and a whole company of Imperial Life Guards flanking us, saluting us with their weapons, we floated above the ground, aided by our powersuits and the powers of our minds, and gracefully made our way to the Human entourage that greeted us, which included this woman, whom they elected leader. The woman was flanked by a Human military officer decorated in medals, wearing some sort of formal uniform, and a squad of their supersoldiers, clad in suits not terribly dissimilar to our own, but far more primitive.
My father, my elder sister and I floated along. My father had his arms crossed, his posture upright, proper, looking down at the crowd of Human reporters and honor guard and dignitaries. His gold-white cape flowed gracefully behind him. My sister was not used to using her suit in this manner, and so she balanced herself by opening her palms and having them face downward. She seemed shaky. I was more used to the suit, and so while I did not have the grace and majesty of my father, I was steady in travelling beside him. The anti-gravity generators rumbled to a shutdown as we carefully touched down onto the tarmac of the spaceport. We landed within arm’s length of the Human dignitaries.
“I am J’Kir VI,” said my father in a deep, resounding voice. “Of the House Sakir. Emperor of the Erdellian Empire. Lord of Krett, and of Zond, and of Parvo, and of Mydaria, and of a thousand-thousand other worlds and their nations. Protector and Arch-Representative of All-Erdellia. First-among-equals of All-Erdellia. Guardian of the Fawnd, and of the Exe-Mac, and of the Reblans, and of a thousand-thousand other thinking species. Defender of the Faith. Vanquisher of the Rak’Thalak’Nak, and of the Mekhanites, and of the Xyphonites, and of a thousand-thousand other enemies of All-Erdellia.” He then gestured to my sister and me. “This is my daughter, Drila. Princess Imperial of the Erdellian Empire. Grand Princess of Parvo. Minister of Science and Technology. And this is my son, Drakeon. Prince Imperial of the Erdellian Empire. Archduke of Zond. Marshal of the Internal Forces. Minister of the Interior.”
The old woman smiled and nodded, the translation software enlightening her on what my father said in the High Standard Erdellian Imperial Dialect, or HSEID.
“I am Doctor Ruth Charet. President. The Unified Earth Government. This is Lord Terrence Hood.” She gestured to the Human in the resplendent white uniform. “Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Space Command, the military of Earth. As the highest representative of all Humanity that looks to Earth, I bid you welcome to one of our colonies, Mu.” Now the translation software became acclimated to the Human dialect of English, and thus, translation was almost instantaneous.
“Doctor? So, you are a physician?” asked Father.
“In a way. I am a sociologist.”
“A scholar of society? And your species chose you to lead them? How intriguing.”
“Father,” I started, “perhaps we should continue this conversation at another venue? Our ship is still powering down its afterburners and I am not so certain holding a conversation with such noise is appropriate.”
Father looked to me, and quickly said, “Yes of course.” He then turned to Dr. Charet. “Shall we, Doctor?”
“Of course,” replied Dr. Charet. “We have arranged much in the way of hospitality. Of course, your meeting with the Sangheili will occur later in the day, but for now let us speak with one another.”
“Indeed,” replied Father.
About an hour passed when we found ourselves in a magnificent palace, perhaps the administrative headquarters of the planet, and we were allocated a large, spacious room. I surmised that it was a meeting or assembly hall of some sort. My sister and I flanked Father as he looked out the large floor-to-ceiling window, admiring the cityscape before him. Then, a bleep was emitted. We turned to see what it was, and one of the Human supersoldiers placed a holo-emitter down onto the center of the table. A figure, diminutive, appeared.
“Greetings, Dr. Charet,” said the figure.
“Hello, U Thant,” said Dr. Charet. My sister and I looked to Father, whose vision narrowed into a hostile gaze. His eyes then darted to Dr. Charet.
“Is that an artificial intelligence?” I asked, attempting to ascertain the true situation.
“Yes,” said Dr. Charet. “Artificial intelligence has aided our species for many generations now. Thant here is one of my most trusted associates.”
“I will not hold any conversations unless all thinking machines are removed from my presence,” said Father with an almost guttural tone. He spoke in such a manner only when containing intense anger.
Dr. Charet looked down at the artificial intelligence and frowned. ‘Thant’ seemed confused. Dr. Charet sighed. “Very well. I’m sorry, Thant. We have to ask you to leave.”
“I understand, Doctor,” said the machine. “Spartan?” The supersoldier likewise deactivated the projector and picked it up.
“Escort Thant out of the room,” said Lord Hood. “Hand him over to Maj. Jepchirchir.”
“Yes, sir,” said the supersoldier, who subsequently departed the room. After that, Father relaxed in his posture, letting out a very slight breath. He still looked intensely at Dr. Charet.
“I take it you don’t look highly upon artificial intelligence?” asked the Doctor.
“Artificial intelligence represents an incalculable threat to organic life,” quickly replied Father, almost stepping over Dr. Charet’s own words. “Long ago, my people waged a brutal war against an uprising of thinking machines. Many worlds were ruined, and many billions perished, but in the end we crushed them, and banned their existence in our Empire. We will not allow ourselves to become obsolete, to have our own technology supersede us. The supremacy of life must be maintained, or else life itself it will be extinguished.”
Dr. Charet and Lord Hood looked at each other, with the male making a slightly exasperated face. “I see,” replied Dr. Charet. “As your belief in this seems quite firm, I won’t entertain debating with you on this matter.”
“I appreciate this understanding of Erdellian thought, Doctor,” said Father.
“Spartans, disconnect yourselves from AI,” said Lord Hood. “Now.”
“Father,” began my sister. The following conversation was not translated for the Humans, who subsequently observed us with patience tinged with confusion. “Surely we can be more accommodating to our hosts? Is this not their planet? Are we not in their space, as their guests?”
“This is true, but the very notion of having a thinking machine eavesdrop on confidential discussions with the highest dignitaries of an alien species is objectionable.”
“The Humans might also find objectionable the blatant disregard of their cultural norms and mores. Surely we would take great offense if they refused to partake in Nisunna?”
“And if they do we will surely abstain from it. At least until we can teach them our ways.”
My sister looked to me, as if to have me resolve Father’s stubbornness. “Can you believe this?” she asked me with her eyes. I simply made a shape with my mouth that denoted a rejection of her proposal as well as a reminder to just carry on with Father’s own notions. I tilted my head and stared at her to emphasize this, to which she responded with an eye roll.
“So, we are no longer in the presence of thinking machines?” asked Father.
“Correct,” replied Dr. Charet.
Father looked to me. I did a thorough scan of the room with my right eyepiece. No artificial intelligences present. It would appear the supersoldiers did indeed disconnect their suits from any AI. I looked at him and gave him a gesture of approval.
“Very good,” said Father. “Let us begin. First, I would like to remind you, Doctor, that as Emperor I am head of government and of state of the Erdellian Empire. What I say is the Empire’s policy. My daughter, Drila, and my son, Drakeon, are some of my most trusted advisors. They will assist me if need be.”
“Of course. As Lord Hood is one of my most trusted associates as well, he shall stay with us while we have these discussions. The Spartans are for our protection.”
“A wise precaution. But you may not fear us. We come not in war, but in peace. But all three of us are very capable of defending ourselves if need be.”
“I don’t doubt that at all. So, shall we begin?”
Father nodded in approval.
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