Short Fiction · Chapter
Diplomatic Immunity explained
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig confront an alien Ambassador who has landed on Earth to announce that Earth must join a galactic empire.
What happens
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig confront an alien Ambassador who has landed on Earth to announce that Earth must join a galactic empire. The Ambassador reveals that a signal is automatically broadcast to his people as long as he lives, and that he cannot stop it. Cercy attempts to kill him with a gun and then with fire, but the Ambassador survives unharmed, demonstrating a form of 'diplomatic immunity.' Cercy assembles a team including Harrison, Malley, and Darrig to find a way to kill the Ambassador. Darrig is exposed to the Ambassador's philosophy and goes insane, leaving only a cryptic doodle about Chaos and the Gorgon Medusa.
Themes in this chapter
Alien Encounter and Otherness
The Ambassador's complete alienness is emphasized; he looks human but cannot be harmed by human weapons, highlighting the theme of encountering the truly other.
Imperialism and Exploitation
The Ambassador represents a galactic empire that demands Earth's submission, echoing historical patterns of colonial expansion and exploitation.
Perception and Reality
Cercy and Darrig struggle to understand the Ambassador's true nature; the Ambassador's philosophy alters Darrig's perception of reality, driving him insane.
Characters to notice
- Colonel Cercy
Leads the mission to kill the alien Ambassador; attempts gunfire and fire, both of which fail.
- Professor Darrig
Scientist who studied the Ambassador; driven insane after exposure to the Ambassador's philosophy.
- Malley
Psychiatrist on Cercy's staff; tries to extract information from Darrig but fails.
- Harrison
Engineer on Cercy's team; operates the fire-based Plan Two and discusses the Ambassador's nature.
- The Quedak
The alien Ambassador; appears human, survives all attacks, and broadcasts a signal to his empire.
Key passages
“You didn't think that it would be as easy as all that, did you? We Ambassadors have, necessarily, a certain diplomatic immunity.”
The Ambassador mocks Cercy's attempt to kill him, explaining that his role grants him invulnerability.
Highlights the Ambassador's superior power and the failure of direct violence.
“Upon further consideration I can see that Chaos and the Gorgon Medusa are closely related.”
Darrig's cryptic note suggests a connection between primordial disorder and a mythological figure that turns people to stone.
May be a clue to the Ambassador's nature or a symptom of Darrig's insanity.