A Cautious Introduction (FT, Closed)

[Kilrany]

<We’re preparing for the last jump Mullova.>

<Understood Antonov, we’ll be waiting here for a signal if you need our assistance.>

<I appreciate that, but I honestly hope I don’t need to make that call.>

<You and me both; now go, we’ll be patient.>

Without another word the three warships of the Ninth Scout Squadron activated their FTL drives and conducted their jump. Though it lasted only moments, it was enough time for Antonov to ponder the potential dangers from the message Volkova had received earlier while near Rouz.

"Greetings. We do not know your name or affiliation, however we have met before, however briefly or indirectly. While we prefer not to divulge exactly how or when this occurred, we do wish to capitalize on this opportunity to make official contact with your peoples.
This vessel represents the interests of TRIAD Enterprises, a corporate state foreign to this universe. We are always seeking to make new contacts in the interests of mutual trade and profit.
If your leaders are amenable to such contact, we invite you to send an envoy to the enclosed system co-ordinates. We have named the system Gehenna, and it is here we have established a trade station known as the TETS Profit Margins.
Thank you for your time."

He knew their own reply to this had been a simple acceptance of the offer, along with the notification that a representative with a small escort would be dispatched. In truth this wasn’t entirely accurate; a rather large escort had been sent, but quietly the bulk of it was left a relatively short distance away in a rally point in open space, only to be called upon if it turned out the situation was nothing more than a trap.

-----

Re-entering normal space holding a wedge formation with a half light-second between them, the three scouts acted upon standard procedure and ran with their size and shape hidden behind a cloaking system. To counteract any potential hostile implications behind this, all three made a point to run with their sensors active so their presence as well as their position was quite readily apparent.

As added precautions, they ensured their jump would end short of the edge of the solar system containing the supposed trade station, as well as immediately broadcasting an omnidirectional, unencrypted signal in English, “This is the Ninth Kilrany Scout Squadron carrying a diplomatic envoy, requesting approach clearance.”

[TRIAD Enterprises]

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Gehenna System - TRIAD Enterprises - MGI Refineries
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Gehenna System, a small blue-white star sitting on the edge of a region of space nearly forty parsec across. Within this region were more spatial and fractal anomalies per capita than almost any other stretch of space in the Milky Way galaxy. It was here that the MGE Refineries plumbed these rips, holes, and distortions. They served as mines and wells of various forms of exotic matter; materials that could violate the normal laws of reality in many ways. Fuel, armor, communications, drive components, and more.
Makar Greywing Industries, one of TRIAD's many subsidiaries ruled here. They contracted the TRIAD Enterprises Defense Fleet for security of their system's assets, but otherwise they conducted business more or less independently of the parent corporation, save where bound by overall corporate laws. It was here that TRIAD had chosen to meet the Kilrany, on the grounds it was the closest major TRIAD outpost to the point where the Raysian ship the Riplakish had first encountered the Kilrany.

At the time the three Kilrany scout ships entered the system, they were not immediately noticed. Numerous freighters, some almost a kilometer in length themselves, were slipping about in various traffic patterns, conducting business as usual. The most prominent features of the system were a pair of jovian gas giants and three asteroid belts that had once been planets. Around the outermost jovian was constructed a massive installation roughly one-hundred-seventy kilometers across. It consisted of a larger planetoid towed out from the belt and hollowed out to create a habitable environment. Docked and tethered to this colony was an assortment of craft both commercial and military.

It wasn't until the Kilrany announced there presence that the sensor net actually focused on their position, as several hundred nearby drones began pinging their location with every form of active scanner TRIAD possessed. Most would read dead returns, but a general indication of mass was gathered. Within two minutes of the Kilrany broadcast, a squadron of ten TEDF frigates were dispatched on intercept course, but were halted mid-way to their targets by orders from above. Seven of the frigates altered course to return to patrol duties, while three remained on course, but this time at a slower pace and with weapons offline.

A broadcast was sent by the same frequencies used by the Kilrany.

This is the TEDF frigate "Wings of Change" to Kilrany vessels. We have been ordered to escort you through outer perimeters to the trade station TETS Avarice Unchained where a diplomatic delegation will receive you. Please join our formation and follow any instructions issued by system Traffic Control. Wings of Change out."

[Kilrany]

Had it been physically possible for him to do so at that moment, Antonov would have nodded his head in understanding as his voice could be heard again in reply, “Acknowledged and understood Wings of Change, we will follow you in now.”

With little more to say to their escorts for the moment, the Kilrany warships did however continue to speak amongst themselves, using their narrow beam, encrypted signals to keep it private.

<I take it then that you’d rather not chance startling them by conducting a short-ranged jump, Antonov.>

<Indeed. Besides, I figure if they wanted to let us do that, they’d have suggested it to us in the first place, and assuming their offer of peaceful contact is honest, I’m sure they’re just as paranoid of our intentions as we are of their own.>

<And traveling at sub-light also gives us more opportunity to have a look around before we get there.>

<There’s that too. In any case, let us try to follow Volkova’s lead, and not repeat any of the same mistakes Maltsev and Umova made.>

<You’ll get no argument from me on that.>

-----

Without any complaint, the three Kilrany warships followed their escort in towards the station, complying with any request to alter their heading or adjust their speed. Within due course, they eventually closed on the Avarice Unchained and took up a holding position relative to the station clear of any of its approach vectors.

Lacking docking capabilities, the lead warship dispatched a small and distinctive Alpha type shuttle from its hangar. Breaking through the cloaking barrier surrounding the larger ship, this sixteen meter long shuttle made towards the station and requested clearance to dock.

Wasting little time, it was not long before it was setting down and a side hatch was opened to allow a lone male figure standing ten centimeters short of two meters, to disembark. Appearing to be of Slavic descent in his mid to late twenties, he wore a non-descript black uniform, had brown eyes, and dark hair.

Stepping forward past the shuttle’s wings towards the greeting party, he held his hands casually behind his back and addressed them in a friendly tone, “Greeting to you. I am Antonov, representative for the Quinquevirate; current governing body for the Kilrany people.”

[TRIAD Enterprises]

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Gehenna System - TRIAD Enterprises - MGI Refineries
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The welcoming party consisted of a mismatch of personnel. Most prominent were various civilian dockworkers who happened to be nearby when the Kilrany shuttle touched down. With production in full swing, the station Commander didn't want to shut down use of a whole bay just for some outworld visitors. This had caused protest by the Diplomatic Corps people, which in turn triggered a chain-of-command bicker up in Command & Control, which thankfully never made it down to the docking bay. It did mean however there was about a hundred spectators and gawkers of almost a dozen different species present when the Kilrany exited their craft.

The crowd of onlookers was pushed back as a squadron of TEDF Marines stormed into the bay and surrounded the shuttle. Initially this might be seen as a hostile move, but a second look showed that the marines had rifles slung, sidearms holstered, and only batons in their hands which they used to 'encourage' the most eager bystanders to back away. The crowd finally parted and three figures approached. One was a Marduk, it's humanoid frame similar in design to the delegate assigned to the Galactic Assembly. The second figure was more exotic, a Shanii padded along, wearing a simple tunic on hir upper torso and a vest-like covering draped over it's lower back. The third member of the delegation was an Irukan with blue and black tribal markings on his fins.

The three delegates approached the Kilrany contingent, where the Marduk and Shanii bowed, the floating Irukan dipping his head in the air. It was the Shanii who stepped forward and spoke, "Greetings Representative Antonov. I am Janeel Halzen, of the Shanii species. I am the primary spokesperson for TRIAD Enterprises aboard this station. These are my companions and secondary spokespersons. Haylee, of the Marduk people, and Reef Wisher, of the Irukan. We welcome you to this station, and to TRIAD territory. On behalf of the Home Office, I would like to thank your people for accepting our invitation, and it is my personal hope that we may both come away from this meeting mutually benefited.

Janeel gestured to the marines, and another hole was opened in the crowd, which was already starting to disperse as work crews returned to their jobs. Janeel gestured down the cleared aisle of marines, "Please, if you will follow us, we have prepared a conference room where we can conduct our talks. I have anticipated a few questions, so allow me to answer those as we walk. First, you might ask why you are here. This one is simple. TRIAD Enterprises is a corporate state, and like any corporation, it is always seeking new customers and clients. Our holdings and industries are varied and vast. We trade in many things: raw resources, technology, exotic luxuries, and even information at times. It is hoped that somewhere within our assets will be something your people will want, or need. You are here to begin the process whereby we can each see what the other has to offer, and to try and come to some initial agreements which will benefit us both." The otter-like being's voice was slightly high-pitched, a clear alto if shi were a singer. Her stride was carefully paced to allow the humans to keep up easily as they walked down the station's corridors, flanked ahead and behind by six marines which cleared the halls of any further onlookers.

[Kilrany]

While Antonov appeared to pay the crowd and the marines little heed, he did raise an eyebrow initially at the appearance of the Shanii and Irukan, both being the first true ‘alien,’ aliens he; or nearly any Kilrany, had ever seen. At the same time though, if anyone had been closely watching the shuttle he had exited, they may have noticed the minute signs of the small black domes located on the upper and lower side of each wing rotating slightly as they tracked a potential target, or merely slowly surveyed the crowd.

<Well this is new.>

<You don’t say. Oh, by the way, try not to shoot anyone.>

<Really? Gee, and here I thought I was supposed to broadcast oorah really loudly as I opened up on anything that moved. Don’t worry Antonov, I’m not an idiot.>

<Heh, you volunteered to carry the drone here, there must be something wrong with you.>

<Oh hardy har har. Stop your time-wasting and get up there.>

<Oh yes, because I think one of them might have almost finished blinking in the time we’ve talked.>

<Shush you, that one there is more then likely aware we’re talking.>

<Yes, but as the Raysians proved, you don’t have to be a machine to talk wirelessly, and this is encrypted so I’m not terribly concerned. Likely already know what the Raysians did from the Riplakish.>

Allowing a hint of a smile to play upon his face, Antonov bowed his head towards each of the three delegates; putting his shoulders ever so slightly into the gesture for added effect, as Janeel made the introductions. Unsure as to their individual customs for greeting, he kept it simple, “It’s my pleasure to be here Miss Halzen.”

Nodding his head then slightly, he began to follow the trio while Halzen spoke, listening intently to what she had to say and showing no further signs of even noticing she was not human, “Then I can tell you right now the Quinquevirate will be most pleased. It has been our intent for some time now to establish trade relations to bring in new goods for our people.”

[TRIAD Enterprises]

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Gehenna System - TETS Avarice Unchained
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Assuming the Kilrany were using electromagnetic transmissions to communicate, then it was true that both the Marduk, Haylee, and the station's shipminds were aware of the communication. Also true was that the exact nature of their conversation was still secret and private. It might have been possible for the combined shipminds to break the encryption, however they had no orders to do so, in fact the Kilrany were to be treated with courtesy at all times during their visit, so there was no attempt to snoop. Still, it was standard procedure for anyone coming onto the station, foreign or domestic, to go through the pathogen scan. This measure was quick and non-invasive, a simple curtain of light, the sensation of static raising the hairs on one's body, and it was over.
Janeel smiled and nodded at Antonov's response, "I'm pleased. With the recent events at the Galactic Assembly meeting, then the news about New Haven, I was concerned that this would be a short meeting. TRIAD isn't well liked by those in the Hermes Alliance; with the exception of the Dersconi that is."

The Shanii was silent for the rest of the trip, Reef Wisher breaking off along the way after being called to other duties. In time the group arrived at the conference room, a circle of what might be mistaken for beanbag-chairs in the center of the room. Janeel gestured to the other seats, then settled into one hirself, demonstrating how the jel-chair conformed to her body comfortably. Instead of a table, the center of the circle was dominated by a holographic display tank, within which TRIAD's logo spun slowly. Haylee stood off to one side, and bowed slightly, "May I offer you any form of refreshments? I see that your bodies are synthetic, however courtesy demands I at least make the offer."

Janeel waited for hir guests to be seen to and make themselves comfortable, then leaned forwards. "Now then, shall we get down to business? Allow me a bit of introduction, if you will. TRIAD Enterprises is a corporate state, with diverse subsidiary corporations in all facets of our society. We originate from a universe not normally connected to this one, however we discovered a gateway to this universe a year ago, and in that time we've founded what we call a Branch Office here. This colonial effort has two primary goals: harvest and obtain additional material resources for import back to the Home Office, and to foster relations with as many foreign nations as we can, in order to export whatever we can. I will be honest, we are here to make a profit and increase our assets; however this goal and ensuring our customers are well seen to are not incompatible."
The Shanii gave hir best smile, which on hir lutrine face might not come across the same to a humanoid. "So, what can we do for the Kilrany people?"

[Kilrany]

Knowing little about any disagreements between other member nations and TRIAD, there seemed little Antonov could say in response to Janeel’s comment about Hermes, thus he gave a slight shrug of his shoulders while adding simply, “I can only speak for the Kilrany Miss Halzen, and we have no reason not to do business with your people.”

Truth be told though, at that moment he was slightly more concerned with the scanner his avatar passed through then any of what he assumed to be little more then business disagreements between other Hermes members and TRIAD.

While his exterior was a very convincing façade, he had no passive means of hiding the simple fact from any scanner capable of detecting pathogens, that his skeleton and skin were not normal, nor biological. Comprised of multiple composites and armour plating, only an active jamming signal could have possibly blocked the scanner he detected, and that would have no doubt caused more alarm then his non-organic nature.

His concern seemed confirmed, if only partially, a few moments late when Janeel offered him refreshments and spoke of his true nature, leaving him to politely decline with a simple, “No thank you.”

It was not so much that his particular kind of Kilrany did not anticipate others discovering their true nature, but they typically preferred to reveal this knowledge on their own terms. Usually only after they’ve had time to get to understand whom they were speaking with, and had exposed any potential prejudices they might have.

Seating himself comfortably then in the unusual chair, he listened intently to Janeel, genuinely interested in all she had to say. Only when she had finished did he begin with business first, “Quite simply Miss Halzen, we’re looking to open trade relations. For quite some time Midgard has been isolated from the rest of the galaxy, and the Quinquevirate would like to see this change. Chief among the desires of our people would be consumer goods, technologies, new foods to try, and even simply new stories. The only difficulty would be a lack of common currency, which is admittedly only a minor difficulty easily worked around, and no doubt one you’ve dealt with before.”

[TRIAD Enterprises]

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Gehenna System - TETS Avarice Unchained
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Janeel's smile did not falter on hir muzzle as she ticked over the Kilrany's points in hir mind, silently consulting Haylee on each of the Kilrany's needs. On the final point, Janeel broke hir silence and nodded, "It is an issue we are quite familiar with. You see, internally TRIAD does not recognize or accept the currencies of other nations. This mainly stems from many nations declaring a fiat currency, which in TRIAD's tightly regulated internal economy would be utter disaster. The value of our Credits is a direct proportional fraction of our gross domestic product, so it is impossible for us to accept a currency for which there is no physical good or service to back it."
Here Janeel paused to let the Kilrany consider this, then went on, "We have found a solution however. Since we cannot directly exchange currencies, all external transactions are done on a variation of a barter system. Goods for goods. Values can be negotiable, however some form of goods must be exchanged. Hopefully this does not pose a significant problem for your people? In any case, I'm certain we can come to some sort of mutually beneficial arrangements."

((OOC Note: Sorry this took so long, for such a short post.))

[Kilrany]

OOC: No problem, we're into the small talk phase now anyway, and it is after all summer, I do realize that that unlike myself, not everyone has a distinct lack of social life outside of their work, heh.

Antonov nodded his head slightly, "I understand fully; it is the same for one of the societies of our domain. Maintaining a stable and functional economy in a post-scarcity environment is not a simple task, and the currency they use would be worthless beyond the area they reside in."

He then continued after the barest hint of a pause in response to TRIAD's solution to the problem of trade, "I thought it would be the case; as counter-intuitive as it may appear to be, the simplicity of the barter system seems the only reliably way various civilizations could possible conduct commerce with each other. Especially when you have many such civilizations capable of directly converting energy into mass; such as ourselves. But to answer your question directly, no, that would not pose a problem for us, for we have begun to recently do so with others."