When the first Spaniards arrived at Valx they brought real opportunities to the beleaguered old Prince Halbaat who was surrounded by seemingly insurmountable problems. Halbaat had ruled for many years and his grasp on power was slipping as his appetite to rule faded. His modest city was neither wealthy nor militarily powerful and was overshadowed by its neighbours. The Spanish wanted to trade and were prepared to pay well for the Martian items, especially, liftwood which they sought. Then their traders brought new ideas and technology to boost the local economy and slowly Valx began to thrive. Spanish trading vessels soon boasted impressive weapons that were more than a match for the local pirates and High Martians.
Halbranx, the young princeling, was in awe of the Earthmen and their devices and their power. He studied their languages, their customs and their ways, he very much wanted to be like them. After five years his father had seen his own city slip more and more from his control to the clutches of “grasping aliens”. He resented the power they had over him and wanted them gone. When in November 1885 the Spanish King Alfonso XII died, Prince Halbaat planned to attack the Spaniards and drive them from his city. As he said, “Those that would not leave would stay forever as dead guests”. He primed his personal guard and was to strike when the bulk of the Spanish where at a mass at the Church of San Juan de Dios. He planned to capture those who surrendered and kill those who resisted.
Halbranx heard of his father’s plans and was torn between loyalty to his father and to his Earthmen friends; he decided to warn his friends. The attempt to capture the church goers was a total failure with the Palace Guard decimated and routed. The vengeful Spanish stormed the Palace and killed the old Prince on his very throne while his son pleaded for his father’s life. They then proclaimed Halbranx as the new prince but that Valx was now a protectorate of the Spanish Empire. In late May 1886 the city of Valx was formally annexed by Spain to celebrate the birth of the new King, Alfonso XIII. Prince Halbranx is a vassal of the four year old King Alfonso and takes ‘advice’ from the local governor and all matters. He has nothing but a ceremonial role and feels betrayed by his earthmen friends, many of which have since returned home. He dreamed of working as an equal partner with them but ended up as their figurehead and hostage.
