"Coronation Presumptuous" was the fourth of six licensed short stories published by FASA in Stardate Magazine, this one in vol.1 #7. It was written by Jefferson P. Swycaffer, who also wrote "Boarding Party". In the story, a planetary cease fire was threatened by defiant leaders, putting a Starfleet Admiral in the middle of a potential civil war.
Summary[]
A military expansion into space by forces from Trieba III was halted by a Starfleet task force led by Admiral Robert Morgan. As a neutral observer during the cease fire, Morgan is now assigned to ensure a peaceful transfer of world power to a new king. He supports Potohocan, who controls the government palace, but the worlds' priests prefer Mahanigan. Natives believe that their deity imbues their planet with life by transmitting it through their king, so if a coronation doesn't happen by dawn, their priests promise a mass suicide, sparking anarchy and civil war.
Morgan appeals for a compromise, but neither will yield. Suddenly inspired, Morgan asks if the priests would support him as king instead, and they accept. Potohocan and Mahanigan are suspicious but hopeful, and allow the coronation to proceed to a bewildered population. Morgan decrees that he will be king only until all claimants can agree to another candidate. Three hours later, Osoltuchtan is nominated and crowned the new King of Trieba.
After returning to his flagship, Morgan asks for a decorative sword and shield to be fabricated. He was asked by priests on Trieba to donate them for display along with swords and shields belonging to their last five kings.
References[]
Characters[]
- Mahanigan • Robert Morgan • Osoltuchtan • Potohocan • Athalos Steldan
Starships and vehicles[]
Locations[]
Races and cultures[]
- Human • Trieba native
States and organizations[]
Science and classification[]
- chronometer • fabrication • hallucinogen • knife • pistol • sword • shield • weapon
Ranks and titles[]
Other references[]
- bacteria • beer • bell • blockade • boot • cap • cease fire • chain • chapel • city • civil war • coronation • crop • culture • day • docking bay • drum • empire • excommunication • farm • fire • flag • fleet • glass • gold • hour • incense • insignia • ivory • life • mountain • music • mythology • nitrogen • orbit • palace • planet • religion • shrine • stone • suicide • sun • The God • throne • uniform • war • wine
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- TOS comic: "The Third Party" – After leading assault teams to take over the capital city of Nuofo, James T. Kirk urged warring leaders to hold elections, resulting in a surprise victory for a third candidate.
Background[]
- Robert Morgan and Athalos Steldan also appeared in "Boarding Party".
Images[]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous story: Planetfall |
FASA short stories | Next story: Boarding Party |
| Previous story: first story |
Stories by: Jefferson P. Swycaffer |
Next story: Boarding Party |