Chapter 22 Chapter 22 is there

Despite Aratap's insight into the world, he still couldn't completely dispel the frustration in his heart.For a moment, it seemed to him that he was not himself, but that he had become his father again.In recent weeks, he too had led a squadron of spaceships in battle against the Khan's enemies. However, these days are not as good as each day. There should be places to rebel against the planet, but now there is none.After all, without enemies of the Khan, there would be no planets to take.He can only still be his commissioner, destined to calm down those little commotions.That's all.

However, depression is useless, it does not solve the problem. He said, "So, you're right. There are no rebel planets." He sat down himself, and motioned for Byron to sit down as well. "I want to talk to you." The young man stared at him gravely, and Aratap himself was a little surprised that they had known each other for less than a month.The lad had aged a lot in the past month, and he was no longer so timid.Aratap thought to himself, I am getting worse and worse as I get older.How many of us have come to like our people?How many of us would like them to be good?

He said: "I intend to release the governor of Rhodia and her daughter. Of course, it is politically sensible to do so. In fact, a political solution must be so. But I want to let them go now, And send them back to the Relentless. Will you pilot the ship for them?" Byron said, "Give me freedom too?" "yes." "why?" "You saved my ship, and you saved my life." "I can't believe that personal gratitude can affect your business." Aratap almost laughed out loud.He liked the boy with all his heart. "Then I can tell you another reason. Because you are only dangerous if I am still pursuing the massive anti-Khan cabal. Now that the massive cabal is gone and all I have seized is a A small cabal of the Lingen people. Then you are no longer a danger. In fact, the trial may be a danger, either to you or to the Lingen captives. The trial will be held in the court of Lingen, so we cannot Completely control it. During the trial, the so-called rebellion planet will inevitably be discussed. Although this does not exist, more than half of the people of the Tyrann Empire will believe that the rebellion planet is possible anyway, and they will think it is Where there is no wind, there are three feet of waves, and there must be drums where there is a sound of drums. In this way, we can instead establish a concept of spiritual unity among them, provide them with reasons to rebel, and paint a picture of hope for the future for them. From now to now In the next century, the Tyrannian Empire will inevitably suffer from rebellion."

"So you set us all free?" "Since none of you are completely honest! Therefore, what I will give you will not be complete freedom. We have to deal with Lingen Star in our own way, and the next Lingen Star Lord will understand that he himself will be respected by Thailand. More constraints on the Lun Empire. Lingen Star is no longer a confederate state, and from now on, trials concerning the Lingen people do not need to be held in the Lingen Court. Those involved in conspiracy activities, including those now in our hands, are will be exiled to a planet closer to Tyranids, where they will do little harm. You cannot go back to Neferos yourself, and don't expect us to restore you to your rancher status. You must talk to Li Zet stayed on Rhodia Star together."

"Very well," said Byron, "but what about Miss Artemisia's marriage?" "You want it to fail?" "You should know that we are willing to form a couple. You said that there will be a way to break up the marriage between the Tyren and the young lady." "Back then, I said I was going to do that. But what does the saying go? 'Lies are forgiven for lovers and diplomats'." "However, there is such a way, Commissioner. Just tell the Khan that when a powerful courtier wants to marry an important family of subjects, then ambition may be the motive that prompts him to do so. And a A rebellion of the people is as easy to be led by an ambitious Tyranid as by an ambitious Lyngan."

Aratap actually smiled this time. "You reason like our people. But your solution does not solve the problem. Would you like to hear me?" "I don't know what to say?" "Hurry up and marry her. It's a fait accompli. We'll find another woman for Bohan." Byron slightly—hesitating.Then, he held out a hand. "Thank you, sir." Aratap took his hand. "I don't particularly like Bohan, at least. And there's one more thing you have to remember. Don't let ambition get you. Though you'll marry the daughter of the governor of Rhodia, you won't Will be governor. You're not the type we need."

Aratap stared at the gradually shrinking "Relentless" on the visual board, and felt happy for the decision that had been made.The young man has been let go.This news has been reported to Tyron Star through the sub-ether.Major Andrews will doubtless be in a state of rage; there must be no shortage of people at court who want to recall him as a commissioner. If necessary, he can take a trip to Tyron Star.He could try to see the Khan and ask the Khan to listen to his plea.Knowing all the facts, the Khan of Kings of Kings must have seen clearly from them that there was no other way but this solution.In this way, he no longer has to worry about any possible alliances with those political opponents.

At this time, the "Relentless" on the visual board became only a bright spot, and the stars that appeared from the nebula gradually submerged it, and it was almost impossible to distinguish it from the stars. Ritzett stared at the Tyranid flagship with its vision panel gradually shrinking.He said, "That guy just let us go! You know, if all the Tyranids were like him, I'd be damned if I didn't join their fleet of ships. It's kind of confusing me. I There is a certain prejudice against the Tyranids, but he is an exception. Do you think he can hear what we say?"

After adjusting the automatic controller, Byron turned around in the driver's seat. "No, definitely not. He can follow us through hyperspace like he used to, but I don't think he can send us a monitoring microbeam. You remember when he first caught us, all he knew was That's what we had him overhear on the fourth planet. Nothing else." Artemisia stepped into the cockpit, her fingers pressed to her lips. "Be quiet," she said. "I think he's asleep now. Byron, are we almost at Rhodia?" "Ata, we can return to Star Rhodia in one leap. Aratap has already calculated it for us."

"I have to wash my hands," Richter said. They watched him go.Then, she fell into Byron's arms.He kissed her forehead and eyes lightly, then hugged her tightly and kissed her lips.This kiss was so lingering and long that both of them couldn't breathe.She said, "I love you deeply," and he said, "I love you beyond words." The conversation that followed was much the same, and it warmed their hearts as well. After a while, Byron said: "Will he let us get married before we touch down?" Artemisia frowned slightly. "I tried to explain to him that he is the governor of Rhodia and the captain of this spaceship, and there are no Tyranids here. But I don't know why. He is restless, not at all like him The way it is. Byron, he'll be reasonable."

Byron smiled lightly. "Don't worry. He'll be reasonable." There was a clatter of footsteps when Richter returned.He said: "I wish we still had the tug. The cabins here are too small to breathe." "We'll be on Rhodia in less than an hour," Byron said. "We're going to make the jump soon." "I know." Richette had a look of hesitation on his face. "We still have to stay on Rhodia until we die. It's not that I blame others. Of course I'm happy to be alive, but this ending is too ridiculous." "The outcome is uncertain," Byron said in a low voice. Richter looked up. "You mean, we can get back together and make a comeback? No, I don't think so. You might be okay, but I can't, I'm too old, and I have nothing to do. Lin Genxing will be with them, and I'll never see you again Here she is. That, I think, is the one that bothers me the most. I was born there, and I lived there all my life. I never get used to living in a foreign land, anywhere else. You are young, you will Forget Neferos." "Ted, there are many planets on which we can rest and rest, besides our home planet. It is our greatest mistake not to have recognized this fact for the past hundreds of years. All the planets are our home .” "Yeah, maybe that's a possibility. If there's such a rebel planet, well, that's about it." "Ted, the Rebel Planet does exist." Richter snapped, "I'm not in the mood for a joke, Byron." "I'm not talking nonsense. There is such a planet, and I know where it is. I would have known it weeks ago. Every one of us could have known it. All the facts are out there. Facts pounding our heads , but I didn't get it until on the fourth planet when you and I knocked Jondee down. Do you remember? He stood there and said we'd never find the fifth without his help Planets. Do you remember what he said?" "Exactly? I don't remember." "I think I remember. He said, 'There's an average of seventy light-years of space around each star. If you're figuring it out without me leading you, the chances of you getting within a billion miles of any star are two One in a billionth of a billionth.' Remember, any star! I think it was at that moment that the truth hit me in the head. I felt something in my heart, and it dawned on me." "I don't feel anything inside," Richett said. "You better explain." Artemisia said, "I don't know what you mean, Byron." Byron said, "Don't you see that it takes a one-in-twenty-five-billion-a-billion chance to deny Gilbret's story! Do you remember the story he told? The meteor hit his spaceship, Hit the spacecraft off course. And when the jump is completed, the spacecraft is actually in the vicinity of a solar system. Unless there is an incredible coincidence, it is completely impossible to happen." "Then, Gilbret's story is indeed a madman's fantasy, and the rebel planet doesn't exist at all!" "Unless there are conditions under which the chance of getting into the vicinity of a certain star is not impossibly small, such conditions do exist. In fact, there is one, and only one , he will, and will definitely fly to a star system." "yes?" "You guys still remember the reasoning of the Lord of Lyngen. Gilbreth's spacecraft engine was not touched, so the power of the superatomic engine didn't change. In other words, the distance of the jump remained the same. The only thing that changed was the heading. And The change of course can still make the spacecraft fly to one of the five galaxies scattered in the vast nebula. This explanation, even on the surface, does not make sense." "But what if, instead of heading, the power is changed?" "Hey, neither power nor course has changed. There is no reason to assume that the direction of travel has changed. The only assumption is that nothing has changed. So what if the ship is following its original course? It has Aim at a galaxy, so it must arrive at a galaxy. There's no question of chance here." "But the galaxy it's aiming at is..." "It's Rhodia. Therefore, he returned to Rhodia. The reason is so obvious, so it's not easy to see, is it?" Artemisia said: "But then. The rebel planet must be in our home system! This is impossible." "Why not? It's in the Rhodia system. There are two ways to hide an object. You can put it where no one will find it, say, in the Horsehead Nebula. Or, It can be placed where no one wants to see it, for example, in a place where people can see it at a glance." "Think about it, what happened to Gilbret after he landed on the rebellion planet? He was sent back to Rhodia and he was alive. His reason was to prevent the Tyranids from searching for the spaceship. Because his spaceship was far from the rebellion planet. The planet itself was too close to risk exposing them. But then again, why let him live? Wouldn't the same purpose be served by sending the ship back with a dead Gilbrecht? And, in this way, Gilbret never had the chance to tell it all, and in fact he did tell it after all. "Besides, there is another point that can only be explained by assuming that the rebel planet is in the Rhodia system. Gilbrecht is a Xinriad. Apart from Rhodia, what other planet would so reverence a Xinriad?" Riad lives?" Artemisia suddenly clenched her fists tremblingly. "But, Byron, if what you said is true, then my father's situation is extremely dangerous." "It's been dangerous for twenty years," Byron agreed. "But maybe it's not as serious as you think. Gilbret once said to me how difficult it is for a person to pretend to be a half-understood and useless piece of shit, let alone pretend to be So realistic that this man must live like a show before and after. Of course, as far as your poor father is concerned, he mainly relies on himself to pose like an actor and get that look. He doesn't really act like a show Life. Atta, it is very easy for him to reveal his true feelings when he is with you. The play was made for the Lord of Lingen Star. He even felt the need to play for me, because the time we have known each other is too short. "However, I think that it is possible, if there are sufficient and necessary reasons, for a man to really give himself up to such a life. A man may live by a lie even as long as he is with his daughter; He would not risk a dreadful marriage, nor would he risk the cause he had dedicated his life to. Besides, it depended on the trust of the Tyranids for success; he would rather be thought half-mad..." Artemisia couldn't hold back herself, she said hoarsely, "What did you say!" "Ata, I don't mean anything else. He has been the governor of Rhodia for twenty years. During that time, Rhodia has been continuously consolidated due to the territory granted by the Tyrannos, because they feel that giving the territory to him I am very relieved. In the past twenty years, he has never been interfered by them in organizing a rebellion, because he is so obviously following the rules." "Byron, you're speculating," said Richter. "It's as dangerous as any speculation we've ever made." Byron said: "This is not speculation at all. The last time I talked to Jondee about this issue, I said to Jondee that the traitor who assassinated my father could only be him, not the governor of Rhodia. Because, I My father would never be so stupid as to easily tell the Governor of Rhodia about the situation that might implicate him. But the problem is - I knew it then - that's what my father did. Gilbrecht passed He had no other way of knowing Jondi's position in the cabal than eavesdropping on my father's conversations with the Governor. "However, there are two possibilities here. We used to think that my father was working for Jondi and trying to get the patronage of the governor of Rhodia. So why is the other situation not equally relevant? Possibly, even more likely? That is to say, my father works for the governor of Rhodia, and as the representative of the rebel planet, his task in the Jondi organization is to prevent the premature eruption of the uprising on Lyngen. Because In that case, the rebellion plan carefully prepared for twenty years will be ruined in one go. "Think about it, after Gilbret short-circuited the engine, why did it seem so important to me to save Aratap's ship? It wasn't to save myself. No matter what you think, at that time, I didn't Didn't expect Aratap to let me go. Not even entirely for you, Atta. I did it to save the Governor. He's the key among us, and poor Gilbret doesn't understand that." Richter shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I, Jane, can't bring myself to believe all this." At this time, a new voice came in. "It's better to believe. It's true." The governor of Rhodia stood outside the door, with a burly figure and melancholy eyes.The words were his voice, but not quite his voice.The meaning of that sentence was as clear and definite as it was itself. Artemisia jumped at him. "Father! Byron said..." "I heard everything Byron said." He stroked her hair slowly with his hand. "It's all true. I've even given you permission to get married." She took a few steps back from her father's arms, almost embarrassed. "What a strange voice you have, it almost sounds like..." "Looks like it's not your father," he said sadly. "Atta, I won't be like this for long. As soon as we get back to Rhodia, I'll be like you used to see me again. You'll have to get used to me like that." Li Zete stared at him intently, his normally rosy face was as gray as his hair at this moment.Byron also held his breath and remained silent. Hinrique said, "Come up here, Byron." He put a hand on Byron's shoulder. "On one occasion, young man, I was ready to sacrifice your life. This may happen again, until the day when I am able to protect you. I have no other choice but to be a man as usual. You know this A little bit." All nodded. "Unfortunately," said Hinrick, "the damage has been done. Twenty years ago my position was not as strong as it is today. I should have killed Gilbreth, but I couldn't. Because I wasn't You know, there's a rebel planet, and I'm its leader. Everyone knows that now." "Only the few of us know," Byron said. Hinrique smiled wryly. "You think so because you are young. Do you think Aratap is less intelligent than you? The fact that you used as an argument to deduce the location of the rebel planet and its leader is also in front of his eyes, and he can be like you It’s just that he’s older than you, he handles things more prudently, and he has great responsibilities, so he must know exactly. "Do you think he released you because of his emotions? I believe the reason for your release this time is the same as that of the previous release—simply put, you can lead them further in my direction." Byron's face paled in shock. "So, I have to leave Rhodia?" "No. That would kill you. Looks like you don't need to leave Rhodia unless it's really necessary. Stay with me and they'll never get to know us. My plan is nearly complete. In another year, Maybe, not more.” "But, Governor, there are a few points that you probably haven't noticed. There is a document..." "The one your father asked for?" "right." "My boy, your father has not had time to know all about it. Besides, it is not safe for anyone to know all about it. The old rancher alone discovered the existence of such a document in the reference books of my library. He's great. Because he recognizes the significance of this document. However, if he had consulted with me, I would have told him that the document no longer exists on Earth." "Indeed, sir. I'm sure it's in the hands of the Tyranids." "No! You must be wrong. It's in my possession. I've had it for twenty years. It's what the founding group relied on to create Anti-Planet. I only understood after seeing this document that we can keep our something that was won." "So, it's a weapon?" "It is the most powerful weapon in the universe. It will destroy the Tyranids, and it will destroy us as well. But it will save the Nebula Kingdoms. We may be able to defeat the Tyranids without it, but we can only take this One feudal despotism for another. Just as the Tyranids were plotted against, we will be plotted against. Our and their outdated political systems should be thrown in the dustbin. Just like the earth Once the time has come, a new type of government will emerge, as has ever been in the world, and this new type of politics has never been attempted in the entire galaxy. In that system, there will be no khans, no monarchs and viceroys, and no Rancher." "My space," roared Richter, "and who?" "people." "The people? How do they rule? Somebody has to decide." "There is a way. Although the blueprint in my hand only involves a small part of a planet. However, it is also applicable to the entire galaxy." The governor smiled. "Come, children, I might as well arrange the marriage for you. There will be no more trouble now." Byron held Artemisia's hand tightly.She smiled at him too. They felt dizzy and tingling as the Relentless made its precalculated direct jump. Byron said: "Your Excellency, before you start to marry us, can you give me a little talk about the blueprint you just mentioned, so that my curiosity can be satisfied, and I can concentrate on Ata in the future. , okay?" Artemisia smiled and said, "Go ahead, Dad. I can't stand a bridegroom who looks like something has taken his soul out of him." Hinrique smiled. "I can recite that document, listen to me." Over the visor panel hangs the Rhodian sun shining brightly.Hinrik began to recite.He spoke an ancient language that was less -- far less -- ancient than that of any planet in the galaxy save one planet. "In order to form a more perfect union, to establish the rule of law, to safeguard the stability of the country, to provide common defense, to promote the general welfare, to ensure the freedom and happiness of ourselves and our posterity, the people of our country hereby formulate and establish this country the constitution of..."