Having a chat: The continuation of war by other means?
07 Jan 2023Alysianne
An hour of aimless walking, queuing, and shuffling through paperwork later, I finally find the nondescript hotel door I was directed to. Taped to it, a sheet of paper reads “Powers Summit” in a large, sober font. Stars, he really meant it when he said “impromptu”.
A couple of Commanders are chatting in front of the door. One, bearded and with greying hair, is standing in the middle of the corridor. The other is reclining on the wall next to the door and boasts a mop of vivid, electric-blue hair. He looks up as I approach, glances at the badge pinned to my breast with my name and squadron on it, and grins widely.
“Heyy, welcome! They set up this place for us, we’re just waiting for the staff to finish moving in the table and all that. In the meantime though, did you see they were handing out pins at the entrance?”
As he speaks, he proudly taps the metallic Imperial eagle icon set next to his own name badge. Bluee, ambassador for Aisling Duval.
I look at him blankly. “Do I know you?”
“No,” he answers happily. “So you didn’t see the pins? Good thing I got one for you then, here-” He stretches out his hand, offering another imperial pin with a mischievous half-grin.
I glance over to his companion, who also boasts the pin and is visibly struggling to keep a straight face.
Oh, I see. With mock disgust, I wave his hand away. “Oi, get that low-poly eagle outta my face, you’re insulting me,” I say. “And I did see the pins, as a matter of fact - hard to miss it, they practically shoved the thing into my hands. So if you’ll excuse me…” I add, pulling out the metallic stars-and-worlds I picked up at the Representatives’ Centre and pinning it to my chest.
As Bluee feigns shock at my refusal, a voice calls from behind me. “Ah, Alysianne. I see you’re getting to know our counterparts.”
Before I can turn around, the older of the two Imperials smiles widely and spreads his arms in exaggerated welcome. “Dciskey! Long time no see, always such a pleasure to be interdicted by you,” he exclaims. “You trying, and failing, to shoot me down never gets old.”
“Mantis,” Winters’s fortification director responds as he stops next to me. “You’re very slippery with that high wake indeed. I should record you for my haulers.” He looks over to me, my hands still fastening the pin, before glancing at the little metallic eagles of the two Imperials. He sighs.
“I didn’t think I’d have to wear this ridiculous thing, but here we are I guess…” he mutters as he pulls his own Federation insignia from his pocket.
Just a moment later - “Oh! Greetings, Ambassadors, I just received word that your room was ready, let me show you in…” the Canonn councillor who welcomed me calls out as he bustles into the corridor. Starmongoose, was it? Starbeaver? As he gets closer, I discern the writing on his nameplate. Yes, Starbeaver.
I sigh internally. So many names, so many faces, so much to remember at once. It’s been ages since I did proper diplomacy, and my social machine’s gotten rusty. I mean, sure there was that reception in Votama ages back, which didn’t go half-bad since the Ice Storm have now manoeuvred themselves into effective power over the system, but still. That was pretty low-stakes. This, however? Negotiating a truce in the underground war between the dozen most powerful individuals of the galaxy? I definitely need to be at my sharpest. Especially given how the past few months have been. Ha, didn't get a moment's rest, did I. And now to be thrown straight back into the mix...
So.
I quietly take a deep breath to settle my nerves, and turn to face the approaching Starbeaver. Another Commander is trailing after him, studying us as we approach.
“Oh, this is Oskar Schwarz, he’s come to represent Pranav Antal,” the councillor adds, gesturing towards him after stopping in front of the door. Schwarz nods at us with a smile. He also has a metallic pin, with the flowing symbol of independence from Superpowers on it.
“The others should continue arriving in the next few hours,” our host continues as he knocks on the door. A faint answer comes from inside. “It’s Starbeaver, is everything ready?” Another faint answer. The Canonn researcher nods to himself, then straightens and turns to us with a mildly nervous smile, still holding the door handle. “Please excuse the… unrefined quarters, this was all quite unexpected and… Oh well, you know by now - ahem. Welcome in!”