Transactional Diplomacy

Posted on Mon Dec 9th, 2024 @ 6:14am by Envoy Abassys & Llaudh Drusilla Creon & Dalek Muul & Centurion D'Dora Mirok
Edited on on Tue Dec 10th, 2024 @ 4:35am

647 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: DownTime [1]
Location: Shadow Four, Reman Blacksite - Unknown location
Timeline: After 'Commander to Commander'

Ambassador Creon beamed aboard the station accompanied only by Centurion Mirok. Both wore transparent infrared lenses on their eyes to account for the low Reman light. Creon wore a black tactical outfit, this was not the place for gowns and flouncing.

“Greetings, my dear Llaudh Creon. The Reman Imperium warmly welcomes our allies from the Romulan Free State.” Came the distinctly un-Reman voice of Envoy Abassys, who had been charged with greeting and guiding Creon. “Welcome to Shadow Four. I’m sorry we can’t tell you more about where you are beyond that, but operational security is paramount. Jolan tru.” The Envoy said with professional discretion.

“A pleasure, Envoy. Jolan tru. May we get to business?” Creon asked.

“Of course, this way. Is the light sufficient for your needs, or shall we raise it?” Abassys asked in return. He was a Reman originally, but he’d had such extensive plastic surgery during his time as slave to a Romulan Senator that he looked like a genetic hybrid. His refined tone and clear pronunciation reflected the extensive education his master had bestowed on him before the Fall.

“It is sufficient.” Creon told him, and they followed.

They passed through a long, unremarkable hallway, until they came into a room like a zoo exhibit. Forcefields isolated feature-rooms where single objects were suspended. An original Varon-T disruptor. A metallic cranium and upper spine from a Borg queen. A psychic resonator not unlike the Stone of Gol.

Creon was not interested in any but one, which the envoy led her to.

“That’s the whole thing?” She asked.

“That’s what our team was able to retrieve. It was not a simple extraction. Still, we believe it has everything a buyer would need to fully exploit the resource, both in knowledge and technology.” Abassys explained of the merchandise Creon inspected.

“This is substantially different to what my people reported.” Creon noted.

“We are grateful to our allies in the Free State for the intelligence that allowed us to acquire the item. As we are grateful to our allies who still proclaim loyalty to the Star Empire for providing the transwarp beaming technology that allowed us to act on that intelligence.” Abassys explained.

“What are you asking?” Creon got straight to the point.

“The bidding will start at 35 million bricks of latinum. But for our allies in the Free State, we are willing to offer an outright purchase for 40 million bricks.” The Envoy casually rolled off the eye-watering number.

“We could purchase entire star systems for that. Do you think it’s worth it?” Creon asked.

“Difficult to say, Llaudh Creon. Most of what we know comes from Free State intelligence. But it has proved most surprising in our time with it. The first two into the room with it were killed. It is as dangerous as you say, if nothing else.” Abassys explained.

“We’ll take it. Have it delivered to Remora Base.” Creon said simply, her decision made.

“I do not doubt your wisdom Llaudh Creon, but so close to the Federation base that found it?” Abassys asked with professional concern.

“The Federation does not know about Remora base, and they are not likely to.” Creon responded without missing a beat.

“As you say. We shall have it there within the week. Payment may be made through the usual channels.” Abassys said with a grateful bow.

“I understand the lights flashing means it is saying something. What is it saying?” Creon asked. The lights had been flickering intermittently since she’d first laid eyes on it, but all sound from within was muted by the forcefields.

“The same thing it’s been saying since it got here. ‘Exterminate.’” Abassys said with disdain for the creature.

Bound to the shattered, immobile remains of its casing, Dalek Muul squirmed feebly, screaming threats to those who imprisoned it from its soundproof cage.

RSS Feed