Federation forces developing planets to respect the human rights. However, when the same planets ask it to uphold human rights, the Federation drops nuclear bombs on them having decided that upholding the human rights is just too expensive.
If you reject our proposal, even a victorious war will be catastrophic for you. If you accept it, you remain a beacon of democracy and freedom. In the case of war, you will find yourself without tactical troops but with a reputation of a militaristic state. In the case of peace, you will obtain again the most reliable soldiers in the Galaxy and the reputation of a peaceful country!'
'What will happen to the Emperor?' the state secretary asked.
'What's wrong about having an Emperor?' the official objected. 'There are kings and emperors in various states of Earth — in Arabia, in Belgium. The Emperor will be the symbol of the nation and the country will have a first minister and universal elections.'
'And Earth will be accused of forcing democracy on you, won't it?' the state secretary inquired.
Shavash spread his hands.
'It's unlikely,' he said, 'that Earth will be accused in forcing democracy on us in the current circumstances.'
Somebody snickered.
'Also,' the official added, 'we have already silenced the most bellicose blabbermouths so that you won't get too upset.'
'You did it as preliminary measure before instituting democracy,' General Al Saad noted.
Shavash preferred to ignore the comment and continued, 'We are not talking about Weia; we are talking about the Federation. Will it prefer to become internationally isolated and fall apart or to obtain a strategic stronghold and flourish? Take into account that in twenty years you will have to spend forty times more for a war against Gera than you would have to invest now into economics and infrastructure of the Federation's new state!'
'We will think your proposal over,' the state secretary said.
Bemish left the hall together with Fifth Fleet commander Al Saad.
'What do you think about this?' Bemish inquired.
'Do you know,' the general answered, 'this joke? A man is walking down a forest and an old woman points a blaster at him. 'Weren't you going to rape me, dearie?' — 'Absolutely not, granny!' — 'You don't have a choice, dearie!'
Bemish burst out in laughter.
Five minutes later, tired and hungry Bemish ascended into a small triangular hall. The tables for the delegation stood there, filled with appetizers and dishes. The guards were everywhere and a dozen of journalists waiting for the negotiations to finish, hunted the solitary delegates.
Having come in, Bemish discovered that the adroit journalists and attendants had already taken care of the food and only the most exotic dishes were left. Bemish made himself comfortable next to a dish of a sauteed dog and Al Saad, having hesitated for a moment, followed him.
A wide TV screen stood in the right corner of the hall. It showed a Weian meeting next to the palace walls, first, and the Geran envoy's speech, second. The Geran thanked Kissur and the selfless Weians for uncovering the intrigues of Earth warmongers. He confirmed that Gera was ready to assist the exploited and mislead Weian people if the Federation dared to attack them.
Then Shavash entered the hall accompanied by two or three attendants. Shavash probably didn't want to approach the Assalah director but he clearly wanted to eat. The only edible object left on the table was the sauteed dog that Bemish sat next to.
Shavash came to the dog and started cutting it with a knife. Bemish pointedly turned away.
The anchorman on the TV screen read the announcement of Geran president. The president promised assistance to Weians and everybody else. He suggested to everybody exploited by the Federation to unite in defense of the betrayed Weians and to join their ranks fighting 'the corrupted democracy of the Federation.'
The TV set was not performing well. An indistinct web of blue and green lines pulsated on the screen. It was an indication that a powerful two channel trans communication unit was working somewhere nearby. The state secretary was probably speaking directly to the Federation president. Bemish stared fixedly at the green lines on the screen as if he could figure the conversation's content out of them.
The palace servants came in, changed tablecloths and covered the tables with new dishes. However, Bemish was full. In about an hour, green and blue ripples disappeared and, almost immediately, envoy Severin entered the hall. Severin approached Shavash and asked him to walk upstairs.
'The Federation president would like to talk to you,' he said quietly, 'on the transcom.'
Shavash walked upstairs; Bemish and the general followed him simultaneously. A number of people were present in the room upstairs — a dozen diplomats and the same number of technicians. Nobody stopped Bemish and the general when they entered the room following Shavash.
A simple computer with a transcom unit connected directly to the parallel port stood on the table. Shavash leaned over the keyboard, somebody quickly pushed a button and president's Kerry face appeared in front of Shavash on the wide monitor screen.
'Mr. Shavash?' the president said.
'I am listening to you,' the small official replied.
'I discussed your proposal with the heads of the Federation states. We concluded that it would put the Federation in a difficult, almost critical financial situation. However, it is mutually profitable and honorable. The executive heads of the Federation will agree to your proposal on one condition.'
'What is it?'
'Your personal actions, Mr. Shavash, are extraordinary, or more directly, monstrous. You obtained quite a scandalous reputation even on your own planet. It's possible that, thanks to your successful actions, the people will choose you as the head of the new Federation state. It will be very unpleasant for us to see you in the Assembly of the heads of the states. Our condition is the following — we will accept Weia into the Federation as long as you don't participate in the new elections. If you really care about your country's well-being, you will find it easy to agree to our condition.'
For a while, Shavash expressionlessly looked at the screen. Bemish suddenly recalled with malice how the small official had regretted a while ago that the Federation hadn't conquered Weia and he, Shavash, couldn't become the Federation Emperor's slave and worm his way into the Assembly of the heads of the states.
'I agree,' the first vice minister of finance finally said.
Half an hour later, Bemish sat in the garden with a laptop in his hands, deeply immersed in calculations. The year before last, the total volume of direct and portfolio investments into the Empire's economy was four billion dinars. The last year, thanks to Bemish's example, it was sixteen billion. Just before the elections, the investment flow increased a bit more and it dropped almost to zero afterwards.
The total sum of allowances, benefits and investment credits for a new Federation member would be, accordingly to Bemish's calculations, six thousand four billion dinars — six trillion.
Somebody approached and stood next to him. Bemish turned around and saw Nan and Shavash.
'Why are you pouting, Terence,' Shavash asked. 'Can you imagine how much Assalah stocks will cost tomorrow?'
'That's why I am upset,' Bemish grinned. 'You could at least give me a hint. Confess, how much have you made on this deal?'
'I don't really know yet,' the small official spoke. 'I, however, have a gift for you, Mr. Bemish. During the crisis, I took it upon myself to buy Assalah bonds at the total sum of three hundred million dinars. On the average, I paid eight cent for a dinar. I would like to give you a half of them.'
Shavash paused.
'Also, as you remember, I am authorized to invest Special Weian fund's money in whatever way I see fit. During the emergency, the fund was buying everything it could.'
Bemish raised his eyes at him, shocked. Of course, he immediately realized that for every stock that Shavash had bought for the fund, he had bought twenty for himself.
