Embassy War by Walter Knight Page A

coming, anyway.”
     
     
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    The gym was packed. Private Skyhook Johnson led the Legion team to a big halftime lead. It really was not much of a contest. Legion players just tossed the ball to the rim, and Skyhook dunked it. Scorpions were quick, but their claws were not made for passing and dribbling. And, scorpions can’t jump. I talked to the players in the locker room just before the start of the second half.
    “Keep the score down,” I suggested. “Let the scorpions think they have a chance. That way we can make money on a rematch.” “I want my stud back,” responded Skyhook, glaring. “That’s my stud.” “Not now. I have something special I want you to do. That routine with the bucket of water. I want you to douse the Queen.” “And get thrown in jail again? You must be crazy. No way.” “That was not a request,” I replied. “It was an order. Don’t worry, I have your back. I talked to the Queen. She knows it’s just a gag and has agreed to go along as part of our basketball diplomacy.”
    On that note, I led the team out on to the court. We gathered in a circle, hands extended to the middle, and gave a cheer. “Legion rules!”
    Soon Skyhook was squabbling with the referee over a foul. Skyhook went for the bucket of water, chasing the ref along the perimeter of the court. I stood directly in back of the Queen’s entourage and bodyguards, as amused as everyone else at what we all knew was going to happen. The ref ducked down, and Skyhook let the bucket of water fly.
    Actually, it was red paint. I saw to that earlier. No one expected that. Alert bodyguards to the front immediately raised plastic riot shields. The Scorpion Queen was saved, as planned. However, the red paint splattered everywhere, creating the perfect distraction. I drew my sidearm, and shot the Scorpion Queen twice in the back of the head before fleeing through the chaos and confusion of the crowd.
     

 
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    Scorpion generals brushed past servants into the King’s inner sanctum, intent on waking His Majesty. The King needed to be told of the disaster. Command decisions needed to be made. The future of the Scorpion Kingdom was at stake.
    “Your Majesty, I apologize for interrupting your sleep,” advised the Chief of the General Staff. “But Her Majesty the Queen has been assassinated by the humans.”
    “Are you sure?” asked the Scorpion King, methodically rubbing the sleep from each of his ten eyes. “You can verify that?” “I saw the assassination myself on TV. It was during the basketball game at the human embassy on Arthropoda.” “Did our National Team win? I had money on that game.” “No, Your Majesty.” “Damn!” exclaimed the King, slamming a claw on his nightstand, now fully awake. “You are right! We must take action at once!” “You will order the fleet to attack?” asked the general. “No, you fool! We are getting better basketball players for our national team. Don’t you know the Olympics is only two years away? Even if we have to recruit aliens from the colonies, I want to see improvement, or else!”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.”
    “I want players who can jump! How about some of those wasp-like creatures we conquered, that taste so good. They have excellent muscle tone. Some of them must be athletic enough to keep up with those humans one-on-one. Tell me we did not eat them all.”
    “Yes, Your Majesty,” repeated the general. “There are a few wasps left. But what about our beloved Queen? Her Majesty’s tragic murder may have dire galactic consequences of epic proportions. Our space fleets and armies are mobilizing, waiting for your orders to attack and destroy the humans.”
    “Attack the United States Galactic Federation?” asked the Scorpion King. “Are you out of your fucking mind? What if we lost? I can always get a new Queen, but how am I going to get a new Kingdom?”
    “Our national honor demands a decisive response,” insisted the