Short Fiction · Character

Colonel Cercy

A military man who empties six rounds into an alien Ambassador and watches him reappear unharmed, still politely explaining why Earth cannot refuse.

major

Also known as Cercy

First appearance: final examination

As a major figure in Short Fiction, Colonel Cercy is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Leads the mission to kill the alien Ambassador; attempts gunfire and fire, both of which fail.

In the storyDiplomatic ImmunityOpen this moment free

See Colonel Cercy in Diplomatic Immunity Book page

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Cercy sits across from the Ambassador as the alien calmly describes an undetectable, unjammable beacon that will broadcast Earth's location for as long as he lives — and that he cannot switch off. Cercy's response is immediate and physical: a silenced pistol, six shots, and the unnerving discovery that the Ambassador's 'diplomatic immunity' is literal. Back in the control room with Darrig and the psychiatrist Malley, he pivots to Plan Two, carrying the story forward as the question shifts from whether the Ambassador can be killed to what his prepared 'philosophy' might do to them.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Colonel Cercy sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Colonel Cercy in final examination

Character Web

21 connections

A slice of how Colonel Cercy sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Professional
Other

Character groups

Military and academic mix
Functional and minor roles

+16 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because Morrison reaches the psychological breaking point of his twenty-first day…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Professor Darrig
rivalry · negative
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig are intellectual adversaries, each believing their… How this plays out →
Malley
professional · negative
Harrison
professional · negative
Professor Darrig
rivalry · negative
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig are intellectual adversaries, each believing their… How this plays out →
Malley
professional · negative
Harrison
professional · negative
Harrison
professional · negative
Professor Darrig
rivalry · negative
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig are intellectual adversaries, each believing their… How this plays out →
Malley
professional · negative

Professor Darrig
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig are intellectual adversaries, each believing their approach is superior.
Malley
Colonel Cercy is Malley's superior officer, often berating him for incompetence.
Harrison
Colonel Cercy and Harrison are military colleagues with a history of mutual distrust.
Professor Darrig
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig are intellectual adversaries, each believing their approach is superior.
Malley
Colonel Cercy is Malley's superior officer, often berating him for incompetence.
Harrison
Colonel Cercy and Harrison are military colleagues with a history of mutual distrust.
Harrison
Colonel Cercy and Harrison are military colleagues with a history of mutual distrust.
Professor Darrig
Colonel Cercy and Professor Darrig are intellectual adversaries, each believing their approach is superior.
Malley
Colonel Cercy is Malley's superior officer, often berating him for incompetence.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Colonel Cercy in final examination

In the story

Colonel Cercy appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Diplomatic Immunity

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Colonel Cercy unlock in the free preview.

See Colonel Cercy in final examination

See Colonel Cercy in Diplomatic Immunity