# Diplomatic Immunity explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Robert Sheckley.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/diplomatic-immunity
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_48_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters