"Hmm, I wonder," Jook replied. "What have we really learned?"
"Your Excellency?"
"Who knows what really happened four hundred years ago?" Jook asked.
"We were attacked from space, and the decadent governments of the nobility were destroyed. The generals defended the planet."
"And ruled with wisdom and perfection ever since. You have read too much official history, General," Jook said, growing introspective. "Our planet was attacked, but by whom, by what? The generals did not defend the planet—the attackers just went away. They just went away."
"But the Rule of Generals was established all the same," Gorruk said. "The noble houses lost their hold on power, and—"
"And our planet has never been the same," Jook interrupted. "The global trade networks and economic exchange agreements that were natural extensions of the noble houses were never reimplemented. The hemispheres became separated by more than just the equatorial deserts."
"But we have solved our problems," Gorruk said, amazed at Jook' s revisionism. "Our populations no longer overwhelm our resources. We have not suffered famine in over two hundred years, and crime is all but eliminated."
"True," Jook agreed. "Famine has been superseded; it is a poor government that allows its soldiers to die of starvation."
"Our armies have united the entire northern hemisphere," Gorruk said. "Given the right conditions we will reunite the planet. We will make possible a global prosperity and security that never before existed, even under the nobility."
"So says the history written by our militant ancestors," Jook said. "I am told the nobility read from different volumes."
"Bah," Gorruk said. "Their version of history is irrelevant."
"And yet our noble friends are not so helpless," Jook said. "They have assumed positions of responsibility and power in all the technologies and sciences—and even the military. And they have regained power in five southern hemisphere countries. Perhaps they are trying to rewrite history, eh, General?"
"Perhaps. And perhaps after we have conquered those renegade southern nations we should clean the vermin out of all houses."
"Hmm, it has been considered," Jook mused. "But no one has yet figured out how to make the economy run without our noble friends. The global economy has never been as robust as it was before the Rule of Generals. Even without kingdoms to rule, the nobility control the purses of the world."
"Our world has changed, Your Excellency," Gorruk responded. "Do not forget, during the Reign of Ollant the nobility directly controlled both the northern and southern prosperity spheres—a significant advantage."
"True," Jook said. "The southern tribes are spiteful and noncooperative. The deserts have given them false security for too long.
"We shall fix that!" Gorruk exclaimed. "My armies will be ready."
"Yes," Jook said, "but in the meantime, we should not overlook other opportunities. Let us return to this matter of the aliens. Our Minister of Internal Affairs believes the second invasion was different—"
"Yes, we were prepared," Gorruk interrupted. "We intercepted and destroyed the alien invaders before they came close enough to attack."
"But who were they, General?" Jook asked. "How come they to fly between the stars? Were they the same race that attacked out planet four hundred years ago? Who knows? But we should pay heed to Et Kalass' s activities. Our noble friends have even gone to the expense of funding a expedition to Genellan."
"I have heard of this alien mystery ship!" Gorruk said. "A waste of time and money. Even if true—which I doubt—any alien ship-wrecked on that ice planet is long dead. We can ill afford to expend energy sniffing about for alien bones. We have a war to plan and execute."
"Where is your curiosity, General?" Jook asked.
"I am a soldier.. .not a scientist," Gorruk answered.
"Nevertheless, General," Jook said, "Old Kalass is up to something. I desire you to watch our good minister's actions. Let us not discount Genellan too readily. Perhaps, just perhaps, there is something there. It would be wise to have an agent on the scene. You can do something, can you not?"
"I always send the best," Gorruk snarled.
Chapter 19
Exploration
"Everyone's talking about your argument, Sharl," Hudson said, plopping down next to her on the lake beach. "You went thermal."
"Damned difficult to have a confidential discussion around here," she replied.