Having a chat - Late-night talks.
10 Jan 2023Alysianne
“... so you must understand, the Empire’s position on this subject is categorical,” Mantis was saying, stabbing the datapad in front of him with his finger for emphasis. Yuri Grom’s ambassador - a certain “Envoy” - absently nods in agreement as she squints at her own datapad, head resting in her hand. Long-standing allies, those two, as odd as it sounds.I glance at the set of notes and communications in front of me too, trying to focus on the meaning of the words. The pale light of the datapad strains my tired eyes, and I run my hand over my face in exhaustion.
“We uh, we hear your concerns,” I start, glancing over to Dciskey, who's frowning as he types something into his notes. He still seems pretty alert, although the hours spent haggling in this hotel room are starting to catch up on him, too. I clear my throat.
“They are... quite legitimate, as you pointed out - however I have to say, uhm…” I trail off. Blast. What did I have to say, already? Ugh, my thoughts feel so slow.
I glance down at my notes, then back up at the assembled diplomats. Most are looking at me expectantly… although many have bleak, tired expressions and eyes glazed with fatigue. Much like I do, no doubt.
I sigh, and let my datapad drop on the table. “I have to say, I don’t think even another litre of coffee can keep me going further.”
I flick at one of the many empty goblets in front of me. That draws a few chuckles from the assembled pilots.
“Don’t know about you, but for my internal cycle it’s currently about 5AM, so how about we all go get some rest and continue this meeting in… Seven hours?”
“Eight,” the Grom ambassador croaks. Several relieved nods come from the audience.
To be fair, I’m one of them.
Yeah, internal cycle - spacelag. Planetsiders don’t usually realise this, but there is no day-night cycle in the Black. The sun doesn’t rise over the horizon in the morning, or set at night… and that does weird things to a person.
Like many, I ended up setting alarms throughout the day to remind myself to eat and sleep, and to keep my sanity somewhat in check. Heck, the fanciest of Saud Kruger ships even simulate day-night cycles with custom lighting shifts. Seasons, too, for the really long trips.
Anyway - it does mean that when many Commanders meet up in one place... no one is on the same internal time. Makes for some pretty interesting situations.
My attention is pulled back to the conference room as it fills with the bustle of two dozen ambassadors packing their things.
Heh. As with many things in this technically unofficial conflict between technically unofficial Powers… a tacit agreement is authority enough on many matters. We’re all very, very used to not doing things officially, after all.
I don’t immediately put my stuff away, though. Collapsed in my chair, I stare blankly at the opposite wall and let my tired mind rest for a second more.
Stars around, this has been such a surreal experience.
I mean sure, nothing’s been achieved as of yet. And a final agreement, if there is one, would likely be fairly minimalistic... Who am I kidding - it’d be barebones.
But still.
That all of us are here, talking and discussing and not at each other’s throats? Scheming and plotting and weighing each word perhaps - but still communicating? That’s a small miracle unto itself.
Crazy what the impending doom of humankind can do to people.
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Welp... That’s it for "Having a chat"! Might have overblown it by calling it a “mini-series”, I guess it’s more of a micro-series.
Or a very long episode, lol
As you might have noticed though, this was somewhat different from the usual! Namely, most of everyone mentioned here are in fact real people, in-game CMDRs and the like. And the actions described here, while obviously romanticised, do reflect discussions that actually took place in the “Defense Council of Humanity” Discord server, right after the start of the Thargoid war!
Except that long internal monologue post. That was all yours truly~
Anyhow, the uniqueness of it all inspired this short story from me, so I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed its writing
