Hyperspatial Travel
23-09-2006, 13:20
OOC: Closed, completely.
The shuttle landed, delicate thrusters allowing it touch gently upon to the pad. The ambassadorial shuttle's door opened, and a woman stepped out, her hair pulled back into a braid. She was nondescript, plain, even, and she raised a hand, clutching a datapad, showing the guards her identification.
"I am Rayl Meridos, Ambassador by special appointment from Earth. I've come to meet with the Directorate Council."
The guard who met her nodded, and led her down, into a building. It was only a short walk from the shuttle bay, and into a hallway. There, they stepped into an elevator - it was almost a minute ride down to the depths of the earth in Mars, where the Director made her home. Mars had eternally lived under the shadow of Earth; a shadow which imposed itself with fleets of powerful warships. Indeed, to have a government hosted on the surface of the world, even terraformed, as it was, would've been the sheerest folly.
As the elevator stopped, the guards stood, waiting for the elevator to take them back. So. She was to go up alone. She smiled, and walked into the meeting room, automated doors sliding open at her arrival. Apparently, the Directorate wanted to intimidate her. They would not succeed.
She sat down, on the chair directly in front of her. As she did so, a screen flickered to life. A screen?! The Directorate Council was paranoid! She spoke, unevenly at first, her voice slowly becoming completely calm, emotionless.
"I am the Ambassador from Earth. I have come to Mars to bring an off-"
"We will not be servants of decadent Earth. We will not become part of your star-spanning empire"
The voice came from the speaker below the screen.
She steeled herself, and spoke on. "Let me continue. Earth does not wish for Mars to become part of our empire. However, due to recent.. events, regarding the Kafers, as our soldiers so adroitly named them, the EarthGuard have decided to bring an offer to alliance. If you will allow Earth ships to port in Mars shipyards, and vice versa, we feel that the Sol system will have a far more effective defense."
The voice came again. "And? Then what? Will we be forced into accepting demeaning agreements, ones blatantly favoring Earth's massive fleets, against Mars's single cruiser, until we are no more than a puppet of the Earthhuman hand?"
She sighed. Apparently the Directorate had no intention of signing the agreement. Diplomacy with Mars was always short, and always sharp, unlike diplomacy with other systems.
"No. We will, in fact, grant you the right to end the agreement at any time without repercussions, and will, in addition, grant you a pair of frigates at such time we are able to spare them for the defense of Mars. The alliance Earth offers is one of necessity.. if the Sol system is violated, we will need to stand together in solidarity, or we will fall together. These aliens are far faster than anything we've ever seen, and with weaponry that apparently exceeds ours in many capabilities."
The voice came again. "Very well. We have checked over your agreement, and we agree to it".
That was a shock. Of course, she had fifteen years experience as an ambassador, eight of those to Mars, but the Marshumans never decided that quickly to agree to something. Ever. She breathed out quickly, and nodded. "I will remain within the ambassadorial quarters if you wish for me to talk to you about the treaty. As for now.. let alliance be joined."
It was the shortest diplomatic meeting she'd ever taken place in, finishing in little under a minute. Ah. That was it. The EarthGuard had apparently taken the liberty of creating a simulation of the battle between the Kafers and the Earth initial force, and.. the Marshumans had seen it. And apparently, that was what had won them over. Two more ships against such an enemy would not do much, but it could mean the difference between having cities, and having slagged ruins.. She smiled. That was easy..
The shuttle landed, delicate thrusters allowing it touch gently upon to the pad. The ambassadorial shuttle's door opened, and a woman stepped out, her hair pulled back into a braid. She was nondescript, plain, even, and she raised a hand, clutching a datapad, showing the guards her identification.
"I am Rayl Meridos, Ambassador by special appointment from Earth. I've come to meet with the Directorate Council."
The guard who met her nodded, and led her down, into a building. It was only a short walk from the shuttle bay, and into a hallway. There, they stepped into an elevator - it was almost a minute ride down to the depths of the earth in Mars, where the Director made her home. Mars had eternally lived under the shadow of Earth; a shadow which imposed itself with fleets of powerful warships. Indeed, to have a government hosted on the surface of the world, even terraformed, as it was, would've been the sheerest folly.
As the elevator stopped, the guards stood, waiting for the elevator to take them back. So. She was to go up alone. She smiled, and walked into the meeting room, automated doors sliding open at her arrival. Apparently, the Directorate wanted to intimidate her. They would not succeed.
She sat down, on the chair directly in front of her. As she did so, a screen flickered to life. A screen?! The Directorate Council was paranoid! She spoke, unevenly at first, her voice slowly becoming completely calm, emotionless.
"I am the Ambassador from Earth. I have come to Mars to bring an off-"
"We will not be servants of decadent Earth. We will not become part of your star-spanning empire"
The voice came from the speaker below the screen.
She steeled herself, and spoke on. "Let me continue. Earth does not wish for Mars to become part of our empire. However, due to recent.. events, regarding the Kafers, as our soldiers so adroitly named them, the EarthGuard have decided to bring an offer to alliance. If you will allow Earth ships to port in Mars shipyards, and vice versa, we feel that the Sol system will have a far more effective defense."
The voice came again. "And? Then what? Will we be forced into accepting demeaning agreements, ones blatantly favoring Earth's massive fleets, against Mars's single cruiser, until we are no more than a puppet of the Earthhuman hand?"
She sighed. Apparently the Directorate had no intention of signing the agreement. Diplomacy with Mars was always short, and always sharp, unlike diplomacy with other systems.
"No. We will, in fact, grant you the right to end the agreement at any time without repercussions, and will, in addition, grant you a pair of frigates at such time we are able to spare them for the defense of Mars. The alliance Earth offers is one of necessity.. if the Sol system is violated, we will need to stand together in solidarity, or we will fall together. These aliens are far faster than anything we've ever seen, and with weaponry that apparently exceeds ours in many capabilities."
The voice came again. "Very well. We have checked over your agreement, and we agree to it".
That was a shock. Of course, she had fifteen years experience as an ambassador, eight of those to Mars, but the Marshumans never decided that quickly to agree to something. Ever. She breathed out quickly, and nodded. "I will remain within the ambassadorial quarters if you wish for me to talk to you about the treaty. As for now.. let alliance be joined."
It was the shortest diplomatic meeting she'd ever taken place in, finishing in little under a minute. Ah. That was it. The EarthGuard had apparently taken the liberty of creating a simulation of the battle between the Kafers and the Earth initial force, and.. the Marshumans had seen it. And apparently, that was what had won them over. Two more ships against such an enemy would not do much, but it could mean the difference between having cities, and having slagged ruins.. She smiled. That was easy..