Carpathia IV: Episode 319 - Negotiations
Shuttle Bay, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Not much happened in the ensuing hours after initial contact. Taxx called back, several times, in fact, as he became the designated liaison with Carpathia. The hardest part was not any sort of negotiation, which hadn't even happened yet, but getting the komodo to decide on a meeting location. At last, they agreed to meet at a nondescript farm where they would pick up Taxx in a shuttle and give him a tour of the ship. Negotiations would commence after.
Upon exiting the shuttle, Taxx found himself standing before a line of Shadowdancer crew, a multitude of species, some of which he recognized, and some not. Though lined up, none of them were at any sort of military-style attention for a more casual meeting. Taxx looked around, first up and down the line, and then absorbing the rest of the activity in the shuttle bay. Different people in appearance, but alike in their goals.
Taxx: This... is going to take some getting used to.
Trex: Not to worry. It'll come back to you with time. Maybe a long time, but I believe in you.
Aire approached, beaming smile, and arms wide, though not quite looking for a hug, and with Teek following behind.
Aire: Welcome aboard the Shadowdancer. As you can see, there are many who are keen to meet you, particularly our komodo crew. This is Teek Rinc, our chief helmsman.
For many in attendance, it was their first time witnessing a traditional komodo greetings. Teek and Taxx clasped their hands together and, in a blink of an eye, their long tongues shot out of their mouths and touched at the tips. Anyone who turned away, even for a second, would have missed it.
After that, introductions all around while Taxx, initially stiff and on-guard, gradually relaxed.
Joust: What would you like to do now? A tour of the ship? A soak in the sento? We have plenty of recreation if you're interested.
Taxx: Oh, maybe a tour first, but a bath later sounds like it would be nice.
Aire: A tour it is, then.
Before Aire could offer his services in that regard, Taxx added a request.
Taxx: I wonder if Trex and Teek could be the ones to show me around.
Aire paused, but only for a moment, realizing that Taxx probably felt safer around his own kind.
Aire: No problem with that at all. Just make sure the bridge is the last part of the tour and I'll wait for you there.
Trex: Right this way! Perhaps we should start with the atrium and work our way forward.
Trex and Teek lead Taxx away to begin his tour.
Joust: He'll come around, Captain.
Aire: Mmm... Maybe he will, but I understand if he feels more at ease with his own kind right now. My hope is that being at ease will help him more easily make sense of what he sees on his tour. Shadowdancer is the people, after all.
Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Aire awaited his guest on the bridge. Nearly two hours so far, but not all of it was a tour. Trex called in stating that Taxx was very keen to try out the sento. Of course, Aire agreed, and not just out of hospitality. Taxx had a miasma of odiferousness about him when he came on board and solving that would make further talks that much easier. When the lift doors opened behind him, Aire stood immediately, even before confirming it was Trex and Teek returning with their guest.
Trex: Greetings, Captain! We conclude our tour here.
Taxx and Teek followed behind, each holding a drink and a popcorn box filled with roasted beetles.
Aire: Welcome to the bridge, Taxx. I'd ask you if you would like refreshment, but it appears that has been covered.
Taxx: You got good bugs here!
Taxx popped another beetle in his mouth and crunched on it with a big smile on his face.
Aire: Glad to see things went well.
Trex: Oh yes. He's been a lovely guest.
Taxx: I've been taking a lot of notes. Seems like your power systems are very similar to ours from before the vashta came.
Aire: That'll be good for both of us. We will need some help repairing our ship and we can help you get your planet running again.
Taxx: We need all the help we can get. Truth is, only a small percentage of the vashta are in jail. The men and the lighter-skinned women are all with us. Touring this ship... I can see that we can work together. I just don't know what to do next. I've been a rebel all my life. So were my parents and grandparents.
Aire: And now comes the hard work and, dare I say, the boring part of establishing a government and a bureaucracy. Did Trex and Teek tell you about Ramewet?
Teek: Ha! Except for the places on the tour, we hardly talked about anything else.
Taxx: That's true. In a bit, I'm going to send my report down to my people and wait to see what they want to trade. I'd also like to get a list of things you need. That said, Trex mentioned the books your King Riven wrote about creating a government. Can we get a copy of those?
Aire cracked a wide and immediate smile, always delighted to hear about someone's interest in King Riven's books.
Aire: Absolutely! I believe we have two komodo language translations?
Trex: That is correct, Captain.
Aire: Call it a freebie. Kit, prepare some tablets with complete collections of King Riven's works in the two komodo languages.
Kit Yes, Captain.
Taxx: Captain, your hospitality has been like nothing I've experienced in my life. If you don't mind, I'd like to send your list of things you need and my report to the others. It'll take time for them to decide what we would like to trade. In the meantime... I would... erm...
Taxx paused while Aire gave him time, barely hiding his amusement.
Taxx: ...could I try out that thing you have called "bowling?"
Aire: Ha! You can bowl all you like. Trex, Teek, please escort our guest to the conference room and I'll work on finding you some bowling buddies.
Taxx: Thanks so much!
Trex gestured towards the port side stairs.
Trex: This way, if you please.
Taxx followed the way that Trex pointed and ascended the stairs. Upon reaching the first landing, however, he paused and then turned to Aire with a placid, yet slightly confused expression plastered across his face.
Taxx: Captain, with this ship, you could very easily fly down to the surface and take whatever you want. But... you don't do that.
Aire responded with a solemn shake of his head.
Aire: No, that is not our way. We believe in peaceful coexistence and mutual cooperation.
Taxx paused again, contemplating Aire's words.
Taxx: You're no vashtari. I think you said "elf" before. I will be sure to inform the others that there are no vashtari here. Only elves.
Aire: And we see future friends.
With a nod, Taxx stepped up the next flight of stairs and disappeared into the conference room with Trex.
Joust: Well, shall we get volunteers for some bowling then?
Aire: Find a mixture of species. I think he's ready for that now.
Joust: That definitely won't be a problem. We'll have all ten lanes full in no time.
Aire: Save me a spot.
Ready Room Lounge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
After a spirited game of bowling, which Taxx throughly enjoyed despite being terrible, it was time for negotiations. Both Aire and Taxx agreed to finish this part first so that fun could commence after. Aire chose a comfortable place, his ready room lounge, for the dealings. Though the liquor supply was slightly diminished, broken bottles from the battle, there was still plenty to offer Taxx and he opted for a nice, simple beer.
With everyone seated, they could begin.
Taxx: Before we start, I have a message here from the resistance leaders. They have authorized me to do the negotiations. They will debate and render a verdict on our result.
Aire: That sounds sensible.
Taxx: So, you need several hundred tons of various ores for your matter synthesizers. A supply of silmarite for your engines. Some food. Help with hull damage repairs.
Aire: That's right.
Taxx: The only problem is going to be the silmarite. The vashta don't use it and we don't have much. We need as much as we can get for when we build our own ships and it will take time to re-establish mining operations. The food is easy. You can have what the vashta left behind.
Aire: That'll be very helpful.
An hour of negotiating later
Aire: Right, 10,000 tons of ore. One ton of silmarite. Repairs. Food. For you, five shuttlecraft, two matter synthesizers, a supply of breeding beetles, and the complete works of King Riven. Would you like to send that down for approval?
Taxx: Erm... One more thing, if you don't mind. Could your people show us how to build a bowling alley?
Aire: Hey, if you have a vacant building, we'll build one for you. Maybe we'll find some other recreation you might like. You have a lot of work rebuilding your culture. Fun, between the working times, will be necessary.
Taxx: The last day has been so strange. I've been a resistance fighter all my life... well, in equipment maintenance, but still... We have a lot to learn.
Aire: Well, send that on down to your leaders and we can show you other things that might be helpful. I'm looking forward to meeting your leaders.
With a few taps, Taxx sent the details of the negotiations down to the planet and then stood.
Taxx: I could use a rest. I've been up all day. If you have a place for a nap, that would be good.
Aire: We've prepared guest quarters for you just in case. Now is a good time to use them, I think. I will show you there.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
