NationStates Jolt Archive

INS Marauder
Someplace in the deep core...

"Nothing on scopes, sir. We're clear for several light years."

Commander Thomas Frederickson watched the sea of white spots before him, the sounds of computers and droids beeping harmonically filling his ears.

"Bring us about.", he said. "Increase sensor output 20%."
"Aye, sir."

The bridge was a bustle of activity, with the crew in the pit below scrambling about, carrying information to and from various stations. It was relatively quiet on the bridge of the Dominance-class Star Destroyer, though. And this patrol into the core was going as they usually did. Long, boring, and uneventful.

"Sir, unidentified contact. Due galactic north."
"Can we jump to it?"
"Aye, sir."
"Well then... Prepare the FTL drives."
"Aye, sir. Coordinates cleared. We're ready."
"Jump."

The stars before the ship streaked with a bright flash, and the blue vortex of hyperspace surrounded the Star Destroyer. Within miniutes, the vortex disappeared with another bright flash, and it was replaced by the stars of realspace.

"Attention unidentified vessel. This is the INS-5689 Marauder. Identify yourselves and state your intentions immediately."



OOC: Essentially this is myself and Ftagn making first contact. You can join in if you have a valid reason. Remember, GII only. And no uberfleets of doom!

OOC: Hope you don't mind...
CISNC-Claymore Kalakh, leader of Cruiser Wing 43's Deep Core Exploration Foray
Lord Tsorah Kiltah, kahntar (Kilrathi for Captain) of the Kalakh, and of Cruiser Wing 43, paced on the bridge. It was a bad habit he picked up during boring long range patrols. He glanced at the sensor screen.
"Communications, order the Predator to pick up its pace, it's falling out of formation."
The orders were given and confirmed, and the bridge fell into silence. After a few more minutes, the kahntar growled, "Sensors, are you picking up anything?"
"Nothing... Wait, I'm pinging something... it's coreward, and above us. The signal was similar to a jump drive emmision."
"What?" Kiltah was shocked. He got on the radio. "All personell, general quarters. Be prepared for a battle, warriors." He turned back to his bridge crew. "Pilot, jump to the edge of the system of the emmision's origin. Be prepared to make evasive manuevers. Communications, repeat my orders to the Predator, Rebel Yell, and Sidewinder."
After two minutes of preparation, the four cruisers entered the Warp.

The sudden beeping of an incoming transmission startled survey team leader Scipius, waking him up from a very restful nap. There hadn't been any contact in weeks of surveying planetoids. He listened to the message, then spoke in reply:

"This is Imperial Survey Ship designation INS-1653SV-2. We are en route to the deep core. This is an unarmed ship, do not open fire. I repeat, we are unarmed. What are YOU doing here?"

Scipius toggled the switch on the auxillary weapons power generator, and waited for a response.

Concealed underneath camouflaged hatches in the sides of the ship, the ship's arsenal of railgun batteries lay dormant, for the moment...

CISNC-Claymore Kalakh
Due to a miscalculation by Navigations, the Kalakh exited the warp practically on top of the other vessels.
Kiltah swore. "Goddamnit, if there is a single scratch on my vessel because of this, I will personally rip out your throat, Navigator! All crews, battle stations, heat up the MACs!"
He sent a transmission to the other vessels. "This is Kahntar Tsorah Kiltah, of the Confederated Irish Navy. I request knowledge of your affiliations."
He hit the transmit button. "Weapons, how long till the MACs are ready to fire?"
"57 seconds, sir."

"This is Imperial Survey Ship designation INS-1653SV-2. We are en route to the deep core. This is an unarmed ship, do not open fire. I repeat, we are unarmed. What are YOU doing here?"

"Well, we were sent on a deep core survey mission to plot the area as well. What a pleasant coincidence."

At that moment, an unidentified ship appeared overhead.

"This is Kahntar Tsorah Kiltah, of the Confederated Irish Navy. I request knowledge of your affiliations."

"This is the INS-5689 Marauder, Cravanian Imperial Navy. Just who the hell are you?"

"This is Kahntar Tsorah Kiltah, of the Confederated Irish Navy. I request knowledge of your affiliations."

"This is the INS-5689 Marauder, Cravanian Imperial Navy. Just who the hell are you?"

OOC: Uh... I already told you who I am... But, hey, I'll play it like I didn't.

IC:
This terran seems quite... pugnacious. Kiltah decided to answer him, letting the aggression seep into his voice. "This is the Honorable Kilrathi Kahntahr Tsorah Kiltah hrai Garak nar Thorah Kar!" [in English, Captain Tsorah Kiltah, of clan Garak, from Thorah Kar] "I am the Commander of the Irish Confed Cruiser Wing 43!" Lord Tsorah hit the transmit button, and activated the intercom. "All fighter pilots to their ships. This could turn violent."

OOC: Meh...

****************

"Well then, your Honor. What the hell are you doing here? What are your intentions?"

He looked to his XO.

"Prepare the alert fighters for immediate launch. Power up the turbolasers, and prep the rail guns and SW-IX cannons. If they open fire, they get a nice honorable death."
"Aye, sir."

The Sensors officer looked over at him. "Sir, the Cravanian warship is powering up it's main weapons!"
"Are the MACs charged?"
"Yes, the whole formation is ready to fire."
"Good. On my signal, fire a salvo, and order all fighters to launch."

He spoke to the other Captain. "Captain, my intentions are to simply patrol the space surrounding my territory, and protect it from those who would do it harm." He dropped his voice to a deep growl. "Now, the question is, are you my enemy, Terran?"

"I am not your enemy. I merely have the same orders. I do not wish to fight you. I am merely preparing for my own defense."

He paused.

"Do know that the Third Imperial Fleet is within ten miniutes of FTL travel from our current position. I am sure you have a sizable force in the area as well. I do not want to see a war erupt over our actions. Do you?"

"I am not your enemy. I merely have the same orders. I do not wish to fight you. I am merely preparing for my own defense."

He paused.

"Do know that the Third Imperial Fleet is within ten miniutes of FTL travel from our current position. I am sure you have a sizable force in the area as well. I do not want to see a war erupt over our actions. Do you?"
"Not at the moment, Captain. I'll stand down if you will."

OOC: And on that merry note, I have to go. Night!

He looked to his XO.

"Stand down."
"Aye, sir."

He looked back at the viewscreen, which centered on the Confederate ship.

"We're standing down."

OOC: G'night, y'all!

Scoutship Aludora

"We've reached System 1389F. Scanning for- Hang on! We've got contacts! Initiating first contact, commander. The Translator is online, and the weaponry is down"

The man looked up. "Well, it's the first time humanity's found a new species! This is a moment of pride for us! Come on, let's make the Alliance proud of us!"

His crew, somewhat bedraggled through months of travel, gave a cheer. The diplomat smiled. "Initiating first contact.."

A wave of energy, simple radio waves, were sent, flowing into the system on an easily decodable, wide-band transmission. "We are the Coreward Alliance. We come with no warlike intentions". Hopefully, the others there wouldn't shoot at them, seeing as the scoutship was only armed with a single cannon, and hardly a powerful one, at that...

Even more startled by the appearance of two more ships, the survey captain suppressed his knee jerk reaction of deploying weaponry, and reached for the comm.

"Well, uh, I'm hardly a diplomat, but how about we all just calm down and sort this out? Maybe we should all get in touch with our respective governments... I personally am not authorized to do anything even slightly involved with foreign entities."

"Nor are we. We're an investigatory team to discover more members or habitable planets.

Nevertheless, in the name of the Coreward Alliance, we greet you.".

The diplomat put down the transmitter. It appeared most human languages worked quite easily in the translator.. It was strange that this crew was entirely human, however..

"I have diplomatic corps on this ship, but I agree. I will be contacting my government ASAP."

He turned away from the com.

"Lieutenant. Open a com with Command."
"Aye, sir. Channel open."

A hologram appeared before him, and an older man in a white uniform appeared.

"Good morning, sir. We have a situation."
"What is it, Commander?"
"Well, Admiral... We've made contact with foreign entities..."
"Indeed. Who are they?"
"Well, two ships appear to be crewed by humans... But the third ship, the second which we encountered, is crewed by strange feline-like humanoid creatures."
"Indeed... Keep an eye on them. I certainly wouldn't trust them... But still, be cordial to them. I'm impressed they made it this far in technology, and therefore they deserve some respect."
"Aye sir, on your command."
"In the meantime, you have a diplomatic corps, yes? Initiate relations with all parties. But be sure they are heavily defended when speaking to those feline beasts."
"Aye, sir."

The hologram disappeared, the blue glow leaving the bridge of the Star Destroyer with it.

"What now, sir?"
"We wait..."

The captain sent out another message, cursing the fact that no one out of his skeleton crew had any experience in diplomacy.

"I've gotten in touch with my superiors, and if you want to open diplomatic relations, I can relay your messages to them and send their responses back to you. It'd be more convenient to meet in person, though, then you could directly converse with them through my comm-link."

"Anything is acceptable.", the Commander said. He looked to two diplomats on the bridge, both of them civilians and both wearing the usual business suits one associated with politicians.

The starship Alexander was making routine scouting mission with four other ships when it came up on the sensor pick ups of a mass group of ships. The group of ships included a Mass Destroyer(Alexander), light carrier, light battleship, slipstream crusier and a scout ship.

As soon as they were in the sector the captain, Captain Lisa Jones, sent out a message in all human langauges and known alien ones. She then sat back in her chair and waited.

[OOC: Ahem. *Points at thread title* Galaxy II members only, sorry.]


OOC: oh sorry. I will disappear then. ;)

"Of course, I'd prefer you to come over here, to my humble quarters, but I'm afraid that's hardly adequate for everyone involved here. Seeing as your ship (Speaking at Cravan) is the largest here, it seems obvious that we all prepare delegations and meet on your ship. Besides... I don't trust those xenos. You never know when they'll stab you in the back..."

"The feeling is all the same here. I am impressed they have advanced this far in technology, let alone speak. In any case, I shall have the main hall prepared for your arrival. We will have some Sentries and Clone Troopers onhand to keep the area secure."

A similiar communique was sent to the Irish ship, leaving out the parts which would insult them.

We are prepared to negotiate treaties and the like with your respective governments, gentlemen. We've opened a link back to what is essentially our HQ, so if anyone wants to come aboard, or wishes to welcome one of our diplomats aboard, we'd be more than welcome to commit to either one of those acts.

The transmission ceased, and the diplomats waited. On an unarmed scoutship, albeit one almost a quarter of a kilometre long, any hostile contact at all meant they'd have to leave in a hurry..

Lord Kiltah had enough of the waiting. His homeworld was out of contact, so he decided to take some initiative. Belowdecks, he walked, picking out a diplomatic staff, comprised of one Kilrathi, and four Terran diplomats, in addition to a security detail of two elites. With this staff, he boarded a dropship and launched.

He sent a comminique as he as he prepared to burn towards the Cravanian vessel. "Commander Fredrickson, we respectfully request that you allow us to meet with you, face-to-face..."

Kiltah waited for a reply.

"All diplomats are invited aboard the Marauder. Bring your diplomats.", Frederickson replied. He then recieved the message from the Irish forces.

"Bring your shuttle into foreward docking bay three. An escort will be waiting to bring you to the main hall. I will personally greet you."

He waved to two Clone Troopers to follow him down to the docking bay, their rifles cocked and ready. He also activated his com link.

"Double the Sentry patrols. And dispatch a few squads to guard docking bay three and the main hall."
"Aye, sir."

He walked at a brisk pace, his rank insignias shining in the lights.

The hotshot dropship pilot hurtled his ship towards Bay Three, going full burn till they were nearly their, then inverting the ship and forcing it to a stop with the main thrusters. They landed neatly, skids making a pleasant whump as they touched down. With a hiss, the dropship opened, and eight people, half of them felinoid, stepped out.

"Greetings," said one of the Kilrathi, a large, scarred one, wearing a black hauberk and red cloak. On his chest, Kahntar Kiltah was stenciled boldly.

"Welcome to the INS Marauder.", Frederickson said. One didn't need telepathy to tell how uneased he was. "If you would please follow me to the main hall..."

He performed a perfect military turn on his heel, and walked through the small docking bay. His jackboots clanked as he led the diplomats to the main hall.

The Terrans in the party had to hide their amusement at Frederickson's unease. The Kilrathi, on the other hand, were not amused. As they walked, the Kilrathi made sure to stand straight, showing off their 2 meter, 500-pound frame. They figured that they made a pretty strong impression on the crew by the time they reached the main hall.

Lord Kiltah observed the hall. "Is this where our meeting will take place, Commander?"

As the captain boarded the shuttle, he thought for a minute about bringing some of his crew along. He decided not to share in the glory of first contact and instead activated two of the Slaughter-class attack drones that the ship carried as a nasty surprise to any would-be boarders. The pre-launch testing finished, and the shuttle was rudely catapulted into space, when the thrusters took over and guided it towards the looming Star Destroyer.

The shuttle reached it's destination and the captain disembarked, holding his ship's comm-link module under his arm, and followed by two excessively dangerous looking machines.

Commander Frederickson noticed the xenos tried to impose their physical characteristics. When none were watching, he made a motion to two Sentries, 7'6" tall combat droids. They walked along behind the commander, taking the attention away from the beasts.

"Yes, this is where our meeting shall occur. I apologize for it being nothing fancy, but this was the best we could muster considering it was filled with power cells and other components ten miniutes ago."

Meanwhile, four clones walked up to the new arrival.

"Welcome, sir. We are here to escort you to the hall."

"Very well, I'm following. Lead on."

He involuntarily shuddered on seeing the aliens present. With a thought, he brought the drones to attention and had them flank him more closely. He didn't want to be any closer to these heretical monsters than he needed to be.

Isktar. Malnis.

The two 'command words', as such, the diplomat had memories to trigger certain brain patterns. He glowed for an instant, his form framed with light, and faded out.

A transmission went across to the Marauder. "A diplomat has teleported in. He is unarmed, and will be meeting with you on behalf of the Coreward Alliance"

A spark of energy flew across, at the speed of light, to the other ship. A few seconds later, it reformed in the safest 'human' environment, coalescing in perfect human form. The ambassador smiled, and spoke, his voice gentle, with a hint of chimes. "Greetings. I am Thyal."

The sound of blasters cocking was heard for the diplomat. Three rifles were pointed at his face from a patrol of Clone Troopers.

"Greetings, I am Delta-0098. What the hell are you doing on my ship?", a Clone Trooper said to the newly arrived ambassador. His com in his helmet went off, and he listened for several seconds. He then held his rifle at rest, and saluted. "I am terribly sorry, sir. I was uninformed of your arrival. If you would please follow me to the main hall."

**********************

"Greetings!", the Commander said, closing the distance with the Ftagn man. He sighed a breath of relief as he approached the man.

Finally, a human in an authority position.

Kiltah noticed the foreign Terrans shooting glances at him and his fellow Kilrathi. Suspicions slowly coalesced in his mind. ...This will not end well...
Cpt. Lucas McDougall, the captain of the Kalakh's fighter squadron leaned over to him, and whispered, "I don't think they like you very much, Kahntar," with a slight grin.
"I've noticed, Captain," the Lord said quietly, "That is why I want you to handle this meeting. I think you'll leave a better impression. Understood?"
"Yes, Kahntar."
"Good. Don't agree to anything, but... just try not to start a war this time?"
"Yes, Kahntar."
Lord Kiltah spoke normally: "I am sorry Captain Frederickson, but some very pressing matters have arisen on my ship. Would you like to escort me to my shuttle, or do you trust an alien running loose on your ship?"

Commander Frederickson was slightly taken aback by the beast's comment, but instead motioned towards the door and spoke in a cordial manner.

"You may come and go as you please. I hope that the situation on your ship clears up with little incident. I am sorry you must go so quickly.", he said with a smile. Deep down, he took a breath of relief...

"Well, then. Let's get on with this, shall we? Continue on. I'm sure you're as anxious to get on with negotiations as I am... I'm following you."

He gestured at the Commander to keep walking.

The diplomat looked momentarily nonplussed, as the troops cocked their rifles at him. Of course, all Coreward Alliance scout and diplomacy vessels went completely unarmed in every aspect possible, so even seeing someone holding a rifle was a surprise to him.

"Of course."

The diplomat eased off on his enhancement of his personality, it was facile, he felt, and although it put weaker minds in a friendly state, he felt that honesty would probably be a better policy than this new civilization finding out he had influenced their minds. Hell, he thought. If any member of the Branch found about me using psionic powers on someone not consenting, I'd be looking at ten, maybe twenty years..

The clones escorted the diplomat to the main hall, and the Commander greeted him. With all of the diplomats present, he motioned to a table in the center of the room with enough seats only for the diplomats and himself. The alien being was lucky to have left, since he wouldn't have been very comfortable sitting in the chairs designed for humans.

"Welcome, gentlemen.", he said with a smile, sitting down. He motioned to an aide to fetch some refreshments for the newly arrived guests. "In any case, let us get down to business. Then, if we have time later, you may get a tour of the ship if you wish."

"I thank you, Commander," Kiltah said, as he about-faced and walked out the door.
"Well, now that the kitty's gone," said McDougall, "We can get down to bussiness, now can't we?" Lucas flopped into one of the chairs and slouched.

"Alright then." The commander settled down into a chair then plunked the monitor he was carrying onto the table. "You'll be talking to this for most of the time. It's a subspace communicator, and has almost no lag that is inherent in most systems. Just speak, and High Command will hear you. High Command will be speaking for the Emperor, as he is too busy at the moment."

"Now, what's first on the agenda?"

"Well, I thought we could begin with trade.", a diplomat said, having taken his seat. The Commander was standing off to the side, since politics weren't quite his thing.

Lucas flipped out a notepad and a pen, and wrote "Trade" one the top of the first page. "Trading what, exactly?"

"Well, resources you may be in possession of... Various commercial products... Other such things."

"So tell me, friend-Commander, what would you be willing to trade?" Lucas asked. "Weapons, fuel..." he settled his head on his hands and leaned in, "Slaves, perhaps?"

These guys probably enslave non-Terrans, thought McDougall, Maybe we can rescue some of them...

"Slavery is against the law in the Empire, so no to that one.", the diplomat said, apalled at such a suggestion. "Weapons, technology, fuel, various resources and materials, other such things... Well, whatever you may have to offer."

"Slavery is against the law in the Empire, so no to that one.", the diplomat said, apalled at such a suggestion. "Weapons, technology, fuel, various resources and materials, other such things... Well, whatever you may have to offer."
No slaves? Sounds like a lie to me...
"So, what is it that you want?"

A voice came out of the speakers on the portable comm, sounding slightly muffled, and introduced itself.

"Greetings, I am Consul Viri, representing his Imperial Majesty of Ftagn. We can offer fuel, raw resources, and more industrial goods than you could ever possibly need. I am afraid weapons and technology are forbidden to trade, but we've had our own designs turned against us in more than one occasion before. We do have a large variety of slaves available, but I gather at least one of you aren't really interested in that, judging by Captain Scipius's reports of the Confederacy's alien friends.

Lately, the Emperor has been interested in expanding research into shielding technology. It hasn't been going very well, and he wonders if you could help in that respect. Hmm?"

"Greetings to you as well. To answer your question, we do have various forms of shielding, ranging from our EM fields which block energy weapons to our gravatic shielding which block projectile weapons. At the moment, however, we are not willing to share such technologies more or less for the same reasons which you described. In time, however, we may be able to work something out.

"As said before, we have no use for slaves, seeing as slavery is forbidden in the Empire. We would be interested in raw materials, commercial goods, and other such commodities for now."

"As said before, we have no use for slaves, seeing as slavery is forbidden in the Empire. We would be interested in raw materials, commercial goods, and other such commodities for now."
OOC: OH!!! I thought you were talking about what you were offering before, not what you wanted...
IC:

"So, what is it that you're offering?"

"We have a virgin world rich in resources in our system. We could easily offer some of these resources to you. We are also currently terraforming the world of which I spoke, and would be willing to share that technology as well since it is a peaceful technology."

OOC: Also, we were asking if you guys had slaves to sell to us. So we could free them, of course. We're the good guys after all.

IC:
Lucas scribbled what Frederickson said down on his notepad.
"Well, that's a very interesting offer, I will make sure my superiors see this," he said as he closed the notepad.

OOC: Also, we were asking if you guys had slaves to sell to us. So we could free them, of course. We're the good guys after all.

[OOC: If you notice, I did somewhat respond to that.]

IC: "We would be interested in such terraforming technology. There is an excess of uninhabitable planets within the Imperium... You need only name a price."

The diplomat sat, and listened. After awhile, he spoke.

"We have much to offer. Although we are not selling technology, the raw resources the Coreward Alliance possesses are beyond measure. We are also open to offers of alliance from other nations."

[OOC: If you notice, I did somewhat respond to that.]
OOC: Oh, I see that now. But, considering this is our first official contact, you wouldn't have knowledge of our stance on non-humans/non-Kilrathis. This leads me to believe that you are spying on me...

IC:
"Ah, Consul Viri, I believe you said something about slaves?" Lucas chose his words with precision. "While we are, of course, not superior to the Kilrathi, it is a fact that our two races, Terran and Kilrathi, are the two most worthy species in this galaxy. However, some of our work programs on the homeworld are falling behind, and a helping hand, bought and paid for, would be a most welcome aid. Perhaps you could give me a sort of... catalogue?"

OOC: Oh, I see that now. But, considering this is our first official contact, you wouldn't have knowledge of our stance on non-humans/non-Kilrathis. This leads me to believe that you are spying on me...

IC:
"Ah, Consul Viri, I believe you said something about slaves?" Lucas chose his words with precision. "While we are, of course, not superior to the Kilrathi, it is a fact that our two races, Terran and Kilrathi, are the two most worthy species in this galaxy. However, some of our work programs on the homeworld are falling behind, and a helping hand, bought and paid for, would be a most welcome aid. Perhaps you could give me a sort of... catalogue?"

[OOC: That's certainly possible, but my people generally see in terms of human, or non-human. The fact that you might treat other non-humans different than the Kilrathi is not assumed.]

IC: "You surprise me. We have a great deal of slaves, most of them indigenous to a few planets that have been assimilated into the Empire. The rest were taken in out of system raids, so we have quite the variety. I can get some lists drawn up for you, but there's no formal catalogue, as they are generally owned by the Imperial government and handed out to a few corporations. In the mean time, however, what do propose to trade? Slaves don't come cheap, you know.

As I said earlier, any information you can give regarding shielding technology would be greatly appreciated. Our scientists would be very interested to examine some working specimens."

[OOC: That's certainly possible, but my people generally see in terms of human, or non-human. The fact that you might treat other non-humans different than the Kilrathi is not assumed.]

IC: "You surprise me. We have a great deal of slaves, most of them indigenous to a few planets that have been assimilated into the Empire. The rest were taken in out of system raids, so we have quite the variety. I can get some lists drawn up for you, but there's no formal catalogue, as they are generally owned by the Imperial government and handed out to a few corporations. In the mean time, however, what do propose to trade? Slaves don't come cheap, you know.

As I said earlier, any information you can give regarding shielding technology would be greatly appreciated. Our scientists would be very interested to examine some working specimens."
OOC: Well, no, we treat all non-humans the same. This is just a ploy to rescue some slaves from... slavery. Lucas happens to strongly object to slavery, as do most of my people.

"Shielding technology? We might be able to help you with shields, although I, of course, can make you no promises. I'll speak to my superiors, though."

Lucas paused for a moment. "You know, energy webs are quite a powerful technology. I imagine that could rescu-" He cleared his throat, "purchase quite a few slaves..."

OOC: Well, no, we treat all non-humans the same. This is just a ploy to rescue some slaves from... slavery. Lucas happens to strongly object to slavery, as do most of my people.

"Shielding technology? We might be able to help you with shields, although I, of course, can make you no promises. I'll speak to my superiors, though."

Lucas paused for a moment. "You know, energy webs are quite a powerful technology. I imagine that could rescu-" He cleared his throat, "purchase quite a few slaves..."

[OOC: I know it, and I said my people would think that too, which is why he was surprised that you would purchase alien slaves, probably being against your sense of morals and all. You've just managed to confuse my poor ole' ambassador.]

IC: The Consul didn't notice Lucas's slight fumble, assuming it to be bad reception.

"I suppose that depends on exactly how helpful you are. There aren't many other things we are in need of."

[OOC: I know it, and I said my people would think that too, which is why he was surprised that you would purchase alien slaves, probably being against your sense of morals and all. You've just managed to confuse my poor ole' ambassador.]

IC: The Consul didn't notice Lucas's slight fumble, assuming it to be bad reception.

"I suppose that depends on exactly how helpful you are. There aren't many other things we are in need of."
OOC: Your ambassador? I've just confused myself. (Insert "I'm Dumb" smiley) Oh, wait, I think I might understand now... nope, I lost it again

IC:
Lucas slouched back in his chair. Damn, almost blew it. I hate negotiating when I can't promise anything...

"Well, then, Consul, I think slaves for shields is an offer my superiors will find very... interesting."

There was little else for him to offer. However, he did make a standard overture. "Excuse me, but do any of your nations contain psykers, psychics, or other beings with 'special' powers?".

It was a straightfoward question, as the Coreward Alliance existed to bring such together..

There was little else for him to offer. However, he did make a standard overture. "Excuse me, but do any of your nations contain psykers, psychics, or other beings with 'special' powers?".

It was a straightfoward question, as the Coreward Alliance existed to bring such together..
Lucas grinned at the Coreward representative, and subtly nodded.

A flicker of thought was sent to the LNI representative. Are you one such?.

No reply would obviously indicate a no, however, a reply would tell him yes. Finding an operant, or semi-operant race would raise him to a far higher diplomatic rank.. He felt the warmth of the Unity, the giant pool of memories, of thoughts, of friendship, of sheer joy, and realised why he had not reached out for it. Unity was a vitally hidden secret, and revealing it was something no single member had the authority to do..

Lucas was not enough of a psyker to send a full reply, but he managed to send an empathetic image across. He tried to convey pictures of many people with full abilities, under the CIS flag.

Interesting. This meeting, it seems, has taken a different turn

He spoke. "Gentlemen, I'm afraid.. something has come up. I must leave you. If your shields are raised, could you kindly lower them, as I cannot teleport off a shielded ship.."

Psykers, huh? The galaxy just got a lot more interesting...

"Of course. I'll lower the shields ASAP. In the meantime, yes my nation is in possession of such beings. Infact, my government utilises some for... 'Special' purposes..."

"Ah, telepaths. There are such individuals in the Empire, but they are quarantined and employed only by the government as dangerous to society. You can imagine the danger of some psychic reading a government official's mind and finding something... embarrasing. All officers and important personnel, people who know things better left secret, are given special implants to inhibit the effect of psionics on our brains, among other functions... I'm sorry to hear that you must go, and I hope for continued talks between our respective nations in the future..."

As the diplomat 'ported back onto the ship, his compatriots looked at him. They were all part of Unity, but, as all could, they chose to dip into it from time to time, rather than keep themselves in the all-loving, all-embracing bliss.

He spoke. "Operant metapsychics in one, I believe, normal psychics in other."

It was enough. The ship quavered, and was gone. It was news of the highest order, as metapsychic others was enough news to make the entire nation quaver, just like the ship..