A Show of Force by Ryk Brown Read Free Book Online Page A

of me to lead such fools into prosperity, especially against their very will.”
    “If not you, personally, then perhaps your house?” Mister Rostaur suggested.
    “Deliza?” Casimir replied, holding back a laugh. “She is still a child. Besides, she is far more interested in matters of science than those of politics and economies.”
    “She is quite an intelligent young woman,” Mister Rostaur insisted. “I grant you, she is young. However, that will not always be the case. Besides, if she can understand astrophysics and systems engineering, then she can certainly be taught to understand socioeconomics and interstellar politics.”
    “The worst leader a society can have is one who assumes the role by requirement, rather than by choice,” Casimir said, “regardless of their qualifications. I shall not pass that burden onto my children. The people, not the nobles, of Takara will have to figure out a way to govern themselves fairly. The Takar system ceased being a ‘settlement’ centuries ago, and so did its need for a single, all powerful ruler. The concept of nobles and commoners should have been abolished long before I was born.”
    “The nobles will never willingly relinquish their positions,” Mister Ullumbrach warned.
    “Unless we can convince them that it is their only means of continued prosperity,” Casimir insisted, “perhaps even their very survival.”
    Both of Prince Casimir’s aides looked at one another, the full impact of their leader’s words evident on their faces.
    “Do not worry, gentlemen,” Casimir assured them, “I am not about to hold a gun to their heads… Although I have considered it on occasion.”
    The door to Casimir’s office opened, and a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of House Ta’Akar stepped inside. “Excuse me, sir, but you requested to see Mister Hiller?”
    “Yes, indeed.” Casimir looked at his advisors. “Gentlemen, I thank you both. We shall meet again, tomorrow.”
    “Of course, sir,” Mister Ullumbrach, the senior of the two advisors, replied as both men rose to leave.
    The middle-aged man in uniform pulled the door open widely, allowing Mister Hiller to enter the room while Mister Ullumbrach and Mister Rostaur departed.
    “Yanni,” Casimir called, his previously serious tone suddenly becoming lighter and more friendly. Casimir had a genuine liking for the young Terran, as did, he had noticed, his oldest daughter, Deliza. The two of them spent much time together, discussing numerous topics of interest to them both. It was the first time that Casimir had ever seen his daughter interested in anything other than science and technology. He was sure that it was due in large part to the young Terran’s personality. The man was full of life and enamored with knowledge itself, as was Casimir’s daughter.
    “You wished to speak with me, sir?” Yanni asked politely as he entered the room.
    “Yes, thank you for coming. I hope I didn’t pull you from your work?”
    “Not at all, sir,” Yanni assured the prince. “There is really very little for me to do now. I believe that your people are now far more qualified to care for the cores than am I.”
    “I see,” Casimir said. He gestured toward a seating area near the big windows that overlooked the city of Answari only a few kilometers distant. “Please, sit.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Then I take it the project is going well?” Casimir inquired, already knowing the answer.
    “Quite well,” Yanni replied. “The copy process is nearly complete, and the translation of the data into Angla passed the forty percent mark just this morning. Translation into other languages, such as Takaran, will take longer, I’m afraid. Angla is so similar to English that the translation process is much faster than into other languages.”
    “We are all very excited to see what new technologies the Data Ark has preserved for us all these centuries,” Casimir exclaimed. “Much is riding on what is found on those