The War of Pawns (The Human Chronicles -- Book Three) Read Free

there came a time upon Axlus when Malor the Great felt he had fulfilled the terms for membership set forth by the mysterious Klin. There was nothing left to do now but proclaim the unification, and for The Others to finally make their appearance.
     
    It was called The Proclamation Ceremony, and it took place atop the Kacoran Plain, at the sight of the first landing.
    Several million Juireans had gathered atop the plain for the Proclamation, along with billions more from around the planet watching transmissions of the event. Technicians had constructed 100 powerful spotlights around a massive stage, encircling the original Klin spacecraft and aimed into the sky. The brilliance of the event was staggering, and designed to be easily seen from space, including by any observers in orbit around the planet.
    So with music playing and gigantic flags waving in the soft breeze, Malor the Great slowly climbed the 100 steps of the stage and took his place before the podium. Then with ceremonial sword held high above his head, Malor’s voice echoed around the planet and into space, as he recited the words that would change his world – and his people – forever:
    “I, Malor Ra Unnis, hereby declare this planet united, and proclaim that from now and evermore it will be known as the planet Juir! ” A tremendous cheer erupted from the gathered throng that lasted for several minutes before Malor could continue. “We are now united as a planet, and as a culture, and as the supreme ruler of Juir, I hereby demand membership in the Cluster Alliance, as promised at the time of First Contact. Come, land upon the planet Juir. We Juireans (more cheers) are ready to join you!”
    The rest of the night was spent in celebration; music, mirth and intoxicants, and a spirit of hope and transition that had never been felt before to such a degree. The people – now the people of the planet Juir – were happier than they had ever been. An era in their existence as a race was drawing to a close, with a bright new future about to begin. For the billions of Juireans, each held their own vision of what wonderful new future lay ahead.   At this point, all the blood that had been spilled to reach this moment in time was an acceptable price to pay for the emotions they were feeling.
    The Juireans knew The Others must have been watching them throughout the Unification Wars, as well as the preparations for the Proclamation Ceremony. They knew, down to the depths of their souls, that the aliens would also have been preparing for their own arrival. And so they waited that night, with every Juirean across the planet knowing it was just a matter of time before The Others would soon drop out of orbit and descend to the Kacoran Plain…
    But as daybreak came, and still no arrival, the most-weary among the revelers began to disperse and head for their homes. By mid-day, the crowd of several million was down to a few thousand, including a completely humiliated and furious Malor the Great.
    Where were the aliens? Why had they not come? Was it simply a miscalculation on his part as to when they would be arriving, and that in a day or so, The Others could descend from orbit and welcome his planet into the Alliance?
    Whatever the reason, the moment never came.
    Within a few weeks, there was such a terrible backlash over the entire Proclamation Ceremony and the Unification Wars that Malor feared for his ability to maintain control over the angry masses. Several opposing groups began to make noise concerning his effectiveness as a leader, and that maybe it was his role as leader that was keeping the aliens away. The growing discontent and rebellious nature of the people of Juir could not be tolerated, not if he was to retain his position.
    And so Malor lashed out with his still-considerable military force, battle-trained from the seven-year Unification Wars, to squelch any pockets of rebellion. The following three years were brutal, as Malor consolidated a power base he