The Outbreak of Peace

After a string of costly victories, Space Marshal Wilbur Hennings is sent to Pollux V to open peace negotiations with the rival Twin Empire. His hosts have prepared an elaborate procession, complete with gleaming uniforms, cheering crowds, a historic spaceship, and enough ceremony to test the patience of any seasoned commander. Hennings would much rather be assessing the military situation than parading beneath the bright local sun.

Behind the spectacle, the interstellar conflict is entering an uneasy phase. Troops remain entrenched across several worlds, rival agents court defections, and diplomats carefully avoid mentioning the motives that truly drive the war. As Hennings gathers his advisers and reviews the latest reports, every detail of the conference suggests that military success may be far easier to achieve than a satisfactory settlement.

Wry, brisk, and filled with colorful military personalities, this science-fiction tale turns the machinery of war and diplomacy into a sharp comedy of manners. It offers a lively look at what happens when proud empires, complicated alliances, and ceremonial politics collide in the name of peace.