The Speech

The day had finally arrived. He stood by the window, staring out at the pitch black. Could he make out the position of the Sun from here? No, of course not. It was just an obscure point of light on a gargantuan, dark background.
“Chancellor?” his secretary asked. “Are you ready?” He breathed in, and turned, smiling to her.
“Yes, thank you. In a few moments. Is my wife here?”
“Yes, sir. She’s right outside.”
“Tell her to come in.” The secretary left the room, and shortly afterwards his wife entered, dressed in her finest gown. He was wearing his usually working clothes, proudly wearing the emblem of the Earth Alliance on his chest.
“My, must have taken days to plan what to wear.” He teased.
“This is an important day. For everyone.” She said, smiling. “At least it’s better than those awfully bland clothes you’re wearing.”
“Bland? Preposterous!” he said “Oh, well. I guess I just want to represent what they can expect of us. Wouldn’t want them having too high expectations of us.”
“Are you nervous?”
“I’m giving a speech on a landmark date in human history that might define the near future of our species. Oh, no, of course not. Why should I be nervous? That’s just silly.” She lunged her hand gently at his shoulder, shaking her head.
“Come on, now. We wouldn’t want to be late.”
“Yeah, just a minute.” He said, turning back to the window. Across billions upon billions of miles across from where he was standing, a tiny solar system eagerly awaited news from this fateful meeting. “Alright then, let’s go.”

All along the hallway they walked through people had gathered, watching them. People from all ideological wings and all religious creeds had stopped, but for a moment, their bickering to observe this historic moment. If all went accordingly, they would be so touched that they would tell their grand-children about this in a hundred years. The voices of the crowd that awaited in the Grand Hall could be heard even in this nearly sound-proof shelter outside it. When he walked through that door, he wouldn’t be able to turn back. Everything depended on him now. Just beside the closed door his speech writer stood with the usual smirk on his face.
“I trust you haven’t forgotten your lines.” He said.
“How could I? A brain-dead rat could write them better than you.” the writer clapped him on the shoulder.”
“Good luck out there.”
“Thanks.” He made sure the translator chip sat properly in its place and opened the door. The crowds cheered and the Chancellor felt a strange rush run through his body as he saw the thousands that had assembled in the Hall.
“Chancellor Everett of the Earth Alliance!” The announcer cried. He had studied most of the other species that were gathered here, but he wasn’t quite sure of where to place that one. “The newest member of the Galactic Council!” The chancellor smiled and waited for the cheering to die down.
“I grew up,” he began, “watching the stars at night, wondering if I would ever fly among them. In my lifetime, the human race has evolved and colonized our solar system and developed new technologies that now have allowed us to take a place among the many species that inhabit this hostile and unforgiving universe. We have much to learn, but we are eager to. To the humans gathered out there in the crowd, I say, look around you. Look at your new found friends. We still have many problems with poverty, corruption and disease back home, but I hope, I believe, that tonight people will look up at the night sky and think at the marvels we, together, can create. With the help and advice of the very beings in this room, perhaps we can overcome these issues. This is a glorious day for all of mankind, a day of joy. But it is also one of remembrance, where we remember all those who went before us, all those who died trying to reach for the stars, all those who worked in the fields, all those who tried creating a better understanding between the peoples of Earth and all those whose names are now forgotten, but whose actions helped mankind. Their efforts made this day possible. Remember them. Do not let them down.” Everything was going as planned.