Basil was infuriated. 'We can issue our own proclamation declaring this Confederation an outlaw government! Peter is emotionally unstable - his own actions prove it! Any Hansa colonies that follow Peter, any Roamer clans, any Theron citizens, will be considered rebels. None of them can stand up to the EDF.'

Lanyan loudly cleared his throat. 'If you're going to get into a firefight, Mr Chairman, remember that our military forces are severely limited. We're still rounding up all the wreckage and assessing the damage. We've got at least a year of all-out repair work before we have even modest functionality again.'

'We don't have a year, General.'

Lanyan took a swallow of his coffee, winced at the taste, and took an even bigger gulp. 'And we don't have the resources or manpower to do it any faster.'

Sarein could see Basil's hands trembling. 'With the industrial capacity of the Hansa, how can we not manage? Those colonies signed the Hansa Charter. They are required to do as I command.'

'Not true, in a strictly legal sense,' Cain pointed out. They specifically swore their loyalty to the Great King, not to you. The Charter was intentionally designed so that the Chairman could keep a low profile.'

Basil barely contained another outburst. 'We don't have time to bring forth a new King now. The one I'm currently grooming isn't ready, and I'm not going to risk the kind of failure we had with the previous ones. I will have to be the public face of the Hansa. For the time being.'

In a soothing voice, Sarein said, 'Considering our situation, maybe I should go to Theroc and talk to my sister. I could try to build bridges, reach some sort of peaceful solution. Would it be so bad for you to retire gracefully, if the King agreed to abdicate, too?'

Basil looked at her as if she had already betrayed him. 'On the other hand, I might offer amnesty if they overthrow Peter and deliver him to us for appropriate punishment.'

Four

King Peter

The last verdani battleship lifted into the clear Theron sky, guided by a former green priest whose body had fused into the heartwood. King Peter watched the departure with his wife from a broad, open balcony of the fungus-reef city - his new capital. From alcoves and windows of the white-walled organic structure, and across the forest floor, crowds cheered and waved farewell to the breathtaking mass of branches and thorns.

Estarra held his arm, tears streaming down her cheeks, though she was also smiling. 'Now we're on our own.'

'Not exactly “on our own.” We have the whole Confederation - all the Roamer clans, the orphaned colonies.' Peter held her close, feeling the swell of her pregnancy against him. 'Just not the Hansa. Not yet. But they'll come around.'

'Do you think the Chairman will ever resign?'

'No. But that won't stop us from winning.'