When we arrived on Imperial City, we landed at the Imperial Palace, and once again I was a guest in the massive building. There was a party of dignitaries waiting. They first apologized on behalf of the Emperor for not meeting us in person, and then explained when we would be speaking to the Senate. It was going to be within the next two days.
I was given a difference room in the palace, but that did not mean anything to me. The room was still far more luxurious than anything on Earth. My fellow terrans were given similar quarters. We arrived late during the night, Galactic Standard Time, but the planet was still on full tilt. There was activity everywhere.
I do not know what the other diplomats did with their time. I was told they had full military escort, so I wasn’t worried about them. I took the opportunity to explore the more seedy areas of the city. There were places in the lower levels of the planet that made Mos Eisley look like a church.
Before I knew it, the time had come. I was sitting in my room at the palace when one of the other diplomats from Earth knocked on my door and informed me that we would be taken to the Senate building in the next few hours. I prepared by getting into my best cloths and taking slow, calm breaths. I met with the other diplomats and we all left together.
We arrived at the Senate building shortly after what would have been lunchtime on Earth. We were shown to our box, and sat down. We were told that the Emperor would be introducing us. We sat for a while, listening to all that the other senators had to talk about. Problems here and there, complaints about Imperial taxation, and all the usual things you would expect.
Then it was our turn to speak. Our podium floated out and I began my speech.
“Representatives of the many worlds of the Galactic Senate. I come from the planet Earth, which was, until recently, unknown by the rest of the galaxy. An Imperial warship discovered us and over the past few months, have had the opportunity to experience intergalactic life. I’ve visited several worlds and seen many things. We are, by your standards, behind the rest of the galaxy and I am here on behalf of my world to ask for assistance. If I may, I have a small list of technologies in which we need the most help.
First, in my short time exploring the galaxy, I’ve seen materials that are most amazing. Transparisteel, durasteel, and similar building materials are unknown to us. We ask for information regarding the production of such materials so we might be able to build stronger and taller buildings.
Second regards the issue of transport. The people of my world, with some exceptions, are stuck on our world. We use internal combustion engines to move about on the ground, and depend on aerodynamics and rocket-style engines to rise into the atmosphere and low orbit. The introduction of repulsorlift drives, sublight engines, and hyperdrives would allow us to quickly join the rest of you among the stars.
Some other technologies that we would find useful that we would like to include are shield technology, so we can protect ourselves from technologically advanced unfriendly raiders, energy production technologies, so we can power our world without worry of damaging our environment or power outages. Information about how droids and computers are able to use advanced artificial intelligence would help immensely. Last, but not a priority, would be weapons technology. We have made our own attempts to create beam-style weapons, but they are costly, inefficient, and not made a size that make them effective for use by a single soldier. It would make defending ourselves much easier if we had the ability to face any potential enemies on their own terms.
Before I finish, I do want to add one thing, we do not wish to petition for membership into the Empire. We wish to remain independent. Perhaps sometime in the future, when we have caught up with the rest of you, we may join.
Thank you for your time. We hope you will make the right decision in helping us.”
I remained standing, for a moment, at the podium, waiting to see if anyone will have anything to say in response. Then I turned and sat down.
The rest of the Senate meeting was uneventful. It appeared that there would be no discussion concerning Earth. When it was over, the other diplomats and I returned to our rooms at the Imperial Palace. We slept and the next day left for home.