While Erich was getting acquainted with the latest diplomat to arrive at his court, a similar instance was taking place in the world of the Confederation of Human worlds. The human race, or what it had transitioned into after centuries of interbreeding and mixing of cultures, had very little contact with the outside galaxy.
A few of the colonies had been visited by alien species who were at a similar level of technological development of themselves. But the average citizen of the Confederation considered this to be little more than the madness that accompanied those who lived on such barren and inhospitable worlds. In other words, it was the musings of the of peasants, and not something to take into serious consideration.
