->>]Confused Greeting, Empress. I seem to have been excluded from a meeting I was invited to? [<<-

“Frustrated Apology, Representative. Humans playing political games: People that are used to being in power testing those that they don’t have confidence in. Good to see you V’tek’Clor.”

->>] Relieved understanding. We had feared that the offense of our previous accusation was taken harshly. [<<-

“Amused reassurance. No, and your gifts were more than necessary for an apology. So much so I have a token of appreciation to assure the collective that we are still cordial relations.” I pull out a vial of Aether ink and hand it over.

->>] Delighted acceptance. In our estimation, the finest product humans produce. Discussing product, we would like to address a point of accounting that we wished to discuss at this meeting.[<<-

“Focused opportunity, Representative. While my Consul of Finance and Trade is occupied, I am still able to negotiate.”

->>] Reluctant procedure. We are not unhappy with our opportunity, Empress, but we do not believe that a fee for sending product to our collective is sustainable. [<<-

“Tentative agreement. However, Representative, there must be an opportunity cost. For example, if there is no cost for sending goods to your collective, we must entertain a contract fee for the exclusive access to resources in the areas you have requested. This would of course be tailored to the resources you wish to be exclusive, or if you wish to tax certain luxuries to carry the burden, or even a mix of those approaches. We wish to be reasonable, but also responsible with the Empire’s resources.”

->>] Thoughtful consideration. I believe we understand. As our agreed upon year free of trade fees is approaching, we will deliberate and calculate our preferred approach. Would it offend if I returned to Elysium immediately? [<<-

I gesture dismissively, “Understood expedience. I would like to have an expected code of conduct for visitors and a provisional list of laws for those that violate said codes so that we can alert travelers and Guests headed to Elysium and Asphodel.”

->>] Content compliance. We will send the documents along with our preferred plan of recompense. [<<-

I nod my head at the tree being, “Safe departure, Representative Clor.”

He bowed and turned toward the landing field behind the building.

“Why do I get the feeling that aliens respect you more than Humans do?” Camacho asks.

“You have eyes? Their culture was sent to investigate my creating a very dangerous weapon. Astoria had two moons once upon a time.”

“But there’s no debris field.”

I laugh that she caught on to the most important part so quickly, “Yep. That’s the scary part. Very few things are designed for a sudden void. Impacts? Sure. Explosions? Absolutely. Shit goes missing? Nah, couldn’t happen. I haven’t tried to re-create it. But imagine what a moon-sized void in the middle of a planet or a star would do. Humans don’t have access to those reports and haven’t seen me being powerful. So they don’t believe it. At least the power hungry don’t.”

We sit there for another ten minutes, waiting for our new security members. Melissa excuses herself and starts walking in the direction of Aelea. A pair of EVA-kitted servicemembers riding one of my hoverbikes pass her on the way up.

Speth is a tall athletic man, possibly a runner, where the woman that hops off the bike is short. Like 1.6m short. When her helmet comes off, the tight blond bun and the sneer on her face make me think of a very angry gymnast.

She has a brief non-verbal conversation with Camacho before coming to attention in front of me. “Corporal Solari reporting for duty, Admiral.”

I return the salute, “At ease Marine. What’s your focus?”

“Focus ma’am?” Her confusion evident, her voice sadly matches her stature in volume and tenor.

“What are you honing your swarm or symbiote to focus on?”

“Ahh, I converted on the cusp of tier one. Once I heard that conversion was possible, I maxed my modules into perception and reflex tech, you know, the stuff compatible with further mods. Aiming for infiltration, Admiral.”

“Do your senses extend into the EM signal range?”

“They do?” The look on her face makes me smile. Uncertainty is funny on people that think highly of themselves.

“Alright. You’ll be with me. Camacho, I want you on the Governors’ side, and Speth, I want you monitoring my shuttle’s sensor suite while occasionally showing yourself in the meeting room. Tessa, I want a log of every comms or EM attack on that shield if you can. Keenan and Melissa aren’t working alone on this.”

“Admiral, I don’t think trading me out for Solari is a good idea.”

“Thanks, Sergeant.” Solari scowls.

“That’s part of the idea Sergeant. It doesn’t LOOK like a good idea, and I’m half doing it to irritate the both of you. Camacho, you look like a sharp battle axe, waiting to be wielded. By the Governors it should make them understand consequences, but not be nervous that you’ll fly off the handle. Solari here looks like eager and barely restrained violence. With her size, you don’t know if you’re getting Chihuahua or honey badger, and no one wants to risk a surprise honey badger encounter.

“As for Speth, you look reasonable, I don’t want anyone to be comfortable, so you’re support.”

“I only have a pistol, Ma’am. Not favorable for overwatch.”

“A ploy for Empress supplied munitions? I like it.” I reply, pulling my hand-made pulse rifle out of my inventory. “Holding the trigger charges the capacitor longer, so don’t do it. Also, if you have to put more than ten shots down range, pause a few seconds before continuing.”

Both Camacho and Solari look at me expectantly. “Camacho, because you might be firing at me, this is going to Solari. Both of these pulse weapons can damage my armor, and Speth, I swear on my crooked nipple, I will punish you for a century if you clip me with that thing.”

I hand one of my pulse pistols to Solari. “Fires like a recoilless full auto pistol. Doesn’t overheat before it runs out of ammo. Fifty shots.”

“Bunch of bullshit.” I hear Camacho mutter and I chuckle at that.

“These are my least violent weapons. I’m not using the others in an enclosed space. Who’s ready for a meeting?”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

All three of my guards grumble at that.

When we walk back in through the side door, I see that a good deal of the gathered men and woman are working. Color me surprised. I can feel the eyes on me as I walk up the steps to the gallery seating and to my throne. Solari stands next to me, close enough to catch a bullet.

There’s a rather intense discussion between a man and Consul Mercer before I cough loudly. They both look up and the Governor gets up and goes back to his seat. It’s only been an hour, but people seem to be ready to discuss.

“Before we get to a general discussion, I would hear if the Consuls have any thing to add, subtract, or alter beforehand.”

A wiry man, my Consul of Foreign Affairs stands. “There is no provision here giving the Vassalages the remainder of the rights not listed. This is an important note for Vassal state identity and independent management.”

“Hmm, I remember something like that in the old Constitution. Also where rights are retained by citizens if not mentioned by Imperial or Vassal law? I like that, my AI will be live-updating the document, so send if you have preferred wording.”

Mr. Mercer is the next to stand after Foreign Affairs showed how easy the process could be. “Vassal States request that ‘Intersystem trade’ be changed to ‘Trade outside of the Empire’ for the exclusive purview of the Empire.”

“Hmm, not sure I love it, but it’s not unreasonable. Especially if more foreign species decide to set up a colony in my systems. Alright. If Consul Mercer and Consul Constantine agree with the stipulation” they nod, “so be it.”

“A similar change is requested for in-system disputes.” One of the Governor’s stands.

“I understand why you want this, but no. If a ‘dispute’ happens, then the two Vassalages have failed to come to an agreement. I will be the arbiter of such disagreements. With the advice of my Consuls of course. The same will be held true of a petition of local laws levied against a Vassal State by a citizen.”

“What if you or one of your Consuls commits a crime?”

I knew this would come up, of course. “I’m glad you asked Governo Baker. First, neither I nor my Consuls reside in a Vassal state. They reside on my personal land. If they wish to maintain a residence or primarily deal in a Vassal State, then they will be beholden to the laws in which they operate, but their punishment will be reviewed by me. This is only valid for my personal staff, of which the Consuls are. For citizens that visit other Vassal States, I assume that the Governors desire their laws to be enforceable, so I recommend discussing extradition policies amongst yourselves.

“As for myself: My decrees are law. You will not be allowed sue me for injury or recompense. If the majority of my Consuls agree I have made a miss-step worthy of renumeration, I will decide the scope of compensation.”

“How is that even remotely fair?!” Keenan blusters.

“It’s not, nor is it intended to be. Understand this: your opportunities are at my leisure. I am giving you the opportunity to govern yourselves, with caveats, because I want the people of my Empire to feel so empowered. I have invited all of you to participate. Take that for the show of faith and trust that I intend it to be.

“If any posturing games persist, ala Governor Keenan and Melissa’s behavior, I will banish you to Earth, or send you into Solastra and merely frown at the inconvenience. Now, back to the Code, any more concern Consuls.”

“Yes, Empress.” Consul Summers stands, “Since we are bereft of several Consul positions, the Governors decided that I would be the least confrontational to approach to discuss work as a criminal sentence.”

“Of course, why not. The want to move from punishing the Empress to Slavery? So be it.” I take a deep breath to calm myself so I don’t lash out and murder people when they inevitably interrupt me, “Forced work of all kinds is Slavery to some degree. Voluntarily contracted arrangements such as military service, do not count unless unlawful orders are made. Same goes with all contracted labor. Before anyone chimes in, let me go into my spiel on this. Coercion to engage in a work contract is also tantamount to slavery. Ala, work for me or I’ll blow up your yacht-full of kittens.

“In the same vein, work as a sentence is touchy. Sentences that include public service are okay, but I would like to see an equivalent, non-death sentence to choose from. Absolutely no work as sentencing to a for-profit enterprise.”

“That doesn’t leave us a lot of leeway, Empress.” I don’t even look to see who said it, I just snap reply.

“Then don’t consider slavery, douchebag.” The room goes silent. “I’ve considered how far I’m willing to go to benefit my Empire. Slavery is not it, not even for my enemies. I will recycle your bodies of course, but not slavery.”

“Moving forward, if you have questions on if your sentencing is toeing the line, I will field said questions until such time I appoint Justiciars. Now, let us move on. What else?”

“What about space between systems?”

“Oh! Great question. If you pull up a system map of the Empire, you will see a lightyear thick defense zone that counts as the Empire. You will see a much wider, 10ly zone that is the Empire’s economic zone. These stipulations are set by the Andromeda System. Therefore, I claim the defense zone: anything within a lightyear of a system center with Imperial infrastructure is Empire space and subject to its laws. The 10ly zone will be considered frontier space and will regulate for finance, trade, and registering claims only. This will be to facilitate short-range vehicles to capitalize on risky markets and to help develop maps of our neighborhood and possible expansion.”

A rather long period of devolution occurs as Governors discuss prospecting, and other western frontier ideals are discussed with imaginary future credits piling up in their eyes. Greedy fuckers. Then again, I have enough money to do what I need, so I shouldn’t comment.

Solari leans over and whispers in my ear, “you thinking about Imperial Prospectors?”

Surprised that I hadn’t really considered funding prospectors on my own, “I am now. Though prospectors that I could hire to be Pirate Breakers would suit me better.”

“Frontier Sheriff has a nice ring to it.”

I laugh at the gleam in her eye and put that in my list of things to consider.

Overall, the biggest dispute of the day, which surprised me because I thought commerce and taxes would be the most argumentative, was the right to bear arms—or lack thereof.

“I hear what you’re saying Lady and Gentlemen, but I refuse to have every random citizen be carrying any weapon they can think they want. This is not the old USA, and owning an assault rifle in case you ever go hunting will not be allowed by the Imperial Code. If you, the Vassal States wish to allow this in your territory, that’s fine. Unincorporated Imperial lands will not tolerate weapons of higher impact than personal defense against the wilds or, while in shipping lanes, pirates.

“Frontier space will of course be different, but that is not the base of this disagreement. A citizen does not have the ‘right’ to bear arms or organize a Militia. And before you get into this limiting freedoms of speech and expression, freedom of expression does not extend into violent actions against unwilling citizens.”

This devolves into a series of “what ifs” that make me want to pop some heads. I keep telling them, if this is an issue that can be solved by discussing with other Vassalages, then do that. It’s amazing how staunch the resistance to my intrusion was at the beginning, now they’d rather deal with my edicts than talk to each other. Bunch of arrogant, prideful primates the lot of us.

I call recess around 5pm and call to reconvene at 8am, with groans all around about the early call time. With the day a full 4 hours shorter than Earth, the day is easily split into two 10-hour segments. If we waited any longer to start the meeting, it would be midday. Moods brighten when I tell them that lunch will be funded.

I set up a two-day fund, that should be enough for people to eat like me, and specifically label the money as lunch fund for two days. I give everyone in attendance access during the lunch periods and see how responsible they can be. That’s a lie, it’s a greed trap, plain and simple.

“So, fun times right? Who’s coming back to the Castle?” I ask the good Sergeant.

“Solari and Speth are both being assigned to the night watch. They need to get used to the area, and everyone that is entertaining being a part of your personal guard has to do a day and a night shift.”

I raise an eyebrow at the both of them, not knowing that there was still interest in being in my guard. “Alright, I have dinner scheduled with some friends and as Camacho may have mentioned, my spaces are the most vulnerable from lift access both on the roof and in the courtyard.”

Tessa, I would like to install a second lift that I can lock down for Imperial use only if I need it.

That should be no trouble, since none of your upper floors are occupied except 39, Francesca moved into 39 River.

She couldn’t resist, huh? It’ll be good to see her more at least.

“That being said, I would like a shuttle overwatch and a courtyard watch for tonight. I will be selecting modules tonight and I would like the extra security.”

“Copy that Admiral. In the event you separate Empress and Admiral protection, you should consider private defense pool of equipment.”

“Once I get some Imperial Justices and socialize the idea of Justiciars, I’ll worry about that.”

“So, want to talk more about these Justiciars, Empress?” Solari asks.

“Heh, not at this time. It will be a position of great trust, so start from there.”