Otema and the Chairman had a great deal of history together, much of it frustrating and combative. As the Theron ambassador to Earth, Otema had stonewalled Basil at every turn, and the Chairman resented her for it, calling her old-fashioned and needlessly restrictive, hindering progress and commerce that would benefit all humanity. She suspected that he had engaged in numerous manipulations to see that she retired, and a much more cooperative Sarein took her place.

“These events are unfolding at this very moment.” The old woman rapidly summarized the warglobe appearance at Earth and the sealed environment tank that held the hydrogue emissary.

An annoyed, then astonished Basil Wenceslas heard her words. The Mage-Imperator reclined in his chrysalis chair, also intent. Adar Kori’nh looked from his leader to the green priest, absorbing the necessary information.

Basil said, “King Frederick can’t handle this situation himself. He’s never done such a thing before.” He looked up at Otema, all business now. “He needs my guidance. Can you relay instructions? Does he have a green priest nearby?”

“He has a priest and a tree beside his throne.”

Basil clenched his fists so hard his nails left half-circle marks in his palms. “Good. Tell him that—”

Otema held up her hand. “The alien emissary is speaking.” She listened to echoes of repeated words through the forest telink. “He says the hydrogues will no longer tolerate trespass by dangerous rock dwellers—that’s what he calls us.”

“What does that mean?” Basil said.

Otema repeated words that the hydrogue emissary spoke. “He says, ‘We will no longer allow parasites on our worlds.’ ”

“Frederick, you’d better not muddle this one up,” Basil muttered. “Has the King responded?”

“I think he is as astonished as you are,” Otema said.

“Tell him to stall,” the Chairman said urgently. “Don’t agree to anything.”

Otema repeated this through telink, but she added her own comment back to Basil. “Mr. Chairman, I do not believe the hydrogues are seeking any sort of concessions from us. The emissary is simply delivering an ultimatum.”

Basil looked aghast. “They won’t let us near any gas-giant planets? Preposterous! That means no more skymining, no more ekti—”

Adar Kori’nh turned to the Mage-Imperator. “Liege, without ekti for our stardrives the Ildiran Empire will crumble.”

Basil interjected, “And the Hansa will fall apart as well. The hydrogues will starve us out. Trillions will be isolated and die. We cannot comply.” He pointed a finger at Otema. “Tell that to King Frederick. He has to say it to the alien ambassador.” The Chairman lowered his voice. “Damn, I wish I could put words in his mouth.”

After Otema relayed the message, she observed genuine fear on Basil’s face. Neither Ildirans nor humans could tolerate the restrictions the deep-core aliens had just imposed. A shutdown of ekti processing would effectively destroy space travel in the galaxy.