3.41.

  “You want to play Korjakala?” Eolai asked, throwing the little stress ball in the air as he spoke with General Turnball’s hologram. Outside, the sound of heavy demolition was ongoing as the soldiers who were still completing their power armor training practiced with some of their weapons.

  “I am exploring the possibility of making our presence known to the larger galactic, and possibly intergalactic, community,” the general explained. “I have heard rumors of Korjakala and noticed similarities between what I believe the prudent diplomatic course for my world is, and the game which young Yonohoans amuse themselves with.”

  “Korjakala is much more than just a game, General. Just ask the crew of the Tumbaruna Toko . They were playing Korjakala when this war began. They have done their people very proud, both before and after the war was declared,” Eolai said.

  “We are sincerely grateful for the actions of the Toko on our behalf,” The general assured the alien leader. “Perhaps you could explain some of the nuances so that we might understand its actions better.”

  Eolai nodded, tossing the ball in the air and catching it. “It is a very simple concept. We believe in the old treaties. We enforce the old treaties, even when the rest of the universe believes that they’re irrelevant. To overturn one of the treaties requires our input and consent. Or at least, it will until the end of my lifetime. Once that happens, the relevance of the Yonohoan people will decrease somewhat, but not diminish completely.”

  “Okay. I’m with you so far, Eolai,” Turnball said.

  “When we play Korjakala, it is … like a tax audit. Or a surprise inspection of a factory by the company who owns it. If everything goes well, it is somewhat annoying to the person being audited, but ultimately harmless. If anything goes wrong, well, the Yonohoans are prepared for all eventualities if things go wrong, as the Toko has clearly demonstrated. We use some of our best ships for Korjakala. We are very, very prepared to defend ourselves in the event we are not met with friendly forces.”

  “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? Doesn’t the enemy recognize that your ships are Yonohoan?” Turnball asked.

  Eolai nodded. “It is a problem, yes. We do our best to disguise our ships as wreckages and ruins that have been rebuilt and repurposed by people who are less advanced than the Yonohoans. But often the first question we face when we arrive in a new system is ‘are you Yonohoan? Is this Korjakal?’ and when we say no, they say ‘prove it!’ It is very frustrating, but also very challenging and fun to try to overcome the suspicion and make them believe we are darkworlders.”

  “Will we face the same suspicion if we send out diplomatic envoys?” Turnball questioned.

  Eolai considered the question. He squeezed the ball until it squeaked a few times, then resumed throwing it. “Not in this galaxy. In this galaxy they are seeing Yonohoan ships and saying ‘are there earthlings on board? Can we meet them?’ if you go to a distant galaxy, then perhaps there will be some disbelief, especially if you arrive in a known Yonohoan vessel.”

  “And if we use a vessel from the Acklatic or Triumverant empires?”

  “Then there will be even more curiosity when you arrive and declare that there are Earthlings aboard your vessel,” Eolai admitted. “Because they are known to have established diplomatic relations with you. They are very proud of that in the larger community, you know. It has given them significant political capital in the interstellar trade markets, and they are making profits simply by having diplomats on your planet. If you ask them to assist you in this endeavor, they will be most eager to do so, although it would have been inappropriate for them to come right out and ask to assist you in this way.”

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  “Do you believe that sending out Earthlings to play Korjakala would be a wise move for Earth to make at this time, Eolai?” Turnball pressed.

  Eolai considered the question carefully. “Yes. Although it will not be Korjakala when you do it. You are an actual darkworld in the process of becoming bright. It is not a game to you, nor is it a tax audit. For you, it is genuine exploration and the establishment of your rights and place in the universe. You are the very thing that the Yonohoans have sought to protect through Korjakala for millennia.”

  He grinned. “But your exploration could benefit from some of the tricks that we have found out over the centuries to make Korjakala more engaging!”

  “How will the fact that we’re at war with the Rosanteans affect us, should we go on Korjakala at this point?” the general pressed.

  Eolai laughed. “It will present to the unaffiliated nations that you have ‘balls of steel.’ But I would not worry about the Rosanteans too much anymore, General. They are becoming increasingly desperate in their attempts to sue for peace. In fact, I expect that you will be receiving a diplomatic envoy from them at some point in the near future on this matter.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes. Planet Totola received a diplomat yesterday. We immediately placed him under arrest, of course, and are holding him in stasis.” Eolai stopped playing with the ball for a moment, his expression serious. “The Yonohoans are not interested in peace with the Rosanteans, General. Not after all that they have wrought upon your beautiful planet. However, we will follow Earth’s lead on this matter. If you accept their terms, then we will negotiate terms ourselves. The choice of whether or not this galaxy remains at war rests in the hands of your people.”

  General Turnball’s holographic eyebrows shot up in surprise. “That is a weighty announcement to simply drop into my lap, Eolai.”

  “Yes, I am aware,” Eolai agreed. “But I believe that you have ‘balls of steel,’ so I figured you could handle it.”

  Turnball chuckled. “If we accept peace, what will happen, do you think?”

  “The Rosanteans will literally bend over backward to make reparations,” Eolai admitted. “However, it is no more than the other empires will give you willingly without the Rosantean’s influence. You will not be seen as cowards, not after your stalwart defense during the three battles for earth. The universe will love you whether you accept the peace terms of the Rosanteans or whether you press for them to be crushed into the ground of their planets and their planets returned to darkness until they once more rise into the light of the universe as a new people.”

  “And if the war continues?” Turnball asked.

  “To be honest, General, that would be even more profitable for Earth in the long run,” Eolai admitted. “You will be the Darkworld who defeated an interstellar empire. Everyone will love you for centuries to come.”

  “David versus Goliath,” Turnball suggested.

  “Hm?”

  Turnball spent a moment explaining the reference, and Eolai nodded.

  “Yes. Exactly like that. Earth will be David, and the people of the universe will love you forever more because you slew the Rosantean Goliath,” Eolai said.

  “I’m not certain that this is a decision I have the authority to make,” Turnball admitted. “Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’ll get my forces ready for the arrival of the Rosantean diplomat.”

  “You are welcome, General. Good luck in preparing for your ‘Korjakala.’” Eolai said.

  “Thank you for all of your help, Eolai.”

  Eolai shrugged. “It’s nothing. I’m simply doing my duty, at this point. I am still enjoying myself, and I do love your people. I wouldn’t change places with anyone else in the universe at this moment in time.”

  ~~~~~~

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