The president of the Treecuu Star Empire was the highest ranking person in the government, at least according to the constitution, and most people still believed this to be the case. In reality, Cuul, or the entire political system really, was being outmanoeuvred by the Committee for the Expansion of the Empire, and the presidency had been reduced to a mere figurehead position. Such was its power that no one had dared to openly oppose it, and President Cuul played his nominal role well, clinging to what little sway he had left. And he was popular, especially among liberal metropolitans in the Ecteen and Utac Mandates. Him attending the imperial ball in Ryccia had been a huge boost in popularity. This also favoured the Committee.

Cuul had kept to himself for most of the voyage to the Stoinian capital. He had tried to avoid the bullying of the Committee members that of course had to come with him on the state visit, by engrossing himself in degrading paperwork. For the last hour he had had to listen to a boastful debate between the Chair of the Comittee, Tham, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivict. In essence they wanted the other to know who had the best approach to dealing the subject species. They both ended agreeing that the 'governor's landing', which was a way of asserting dominance by burning the landing thrusters extra while landing on a subject world to casually cause some damage that the subjects had to deal with, was the way to go. Cuul couldn't believe it when they even debated doing this on Stoinia itself. He was grateful that they decided against it. Indeed they valued good relations with the Stoinians and saw in them a partner, or even a peer.

Cuul was relieved when the captain of the flagship of the Remote Fleet, RFS Vaan Candacteec, announced that they had dropped out of warp near Stoinia and that they could board the shuttles.


The doors of the glossy white Star Yacht opened elegantly. The first one to step out was President Cuul. He was an amphibian, a species who closely resembled humans except for a yellow skin with a rougher texture and a total lack of hair. He wore a midnight blue suit-like attire with a standing collar and a long black cloak. The second one to step out was the Chair of the Comittee, Tham. He was also an amphibian, but he wore the strict green full dress uniform of the Remote Fleet. The third person to disembark was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivict. He was an insectoid, and on the lower end of what would be considered normal height for his already short species. He wore a suit similar to the president, but all black and no cloak. The rest of the entourage consisted of service personnel, carefully select journalists and members of the military life guards remained inside the shuttle during the welcoming ceremony. Governor Seect had been forced to stay at home. He had received far too much good publicity after the first contact with the Stoinians. Also, there had to be a high-ranking Committee member left to govern the nation.

Cuul had taken notice from captain Tuuc, and started walking towards the Stoinians to meet them half way on the red carpet.