Chapter 38: Chapter Thirty-One Talks

Countryman made his way down the dimly lit corridor. The docking had gone without issue, and they were now docked at the alien starbase. To allay security concerns, he had extra guards posted at the main airlocks, and the security doors were sealed. The Enterprise like any warship also had remote turrets installed to defend key checkpoints, including hidden pop-up turrets near the airlocks, and even in the hangars. Although the pop-up turrets in the hangars were of a heavier caliber than found elsewhere, as they were expected to engage more than just hostile infantry. He doubted things would go that badly, but it was nice to know that they had extensive protections against boarding actions. Even if they were arguably rare. To his knowledge, teleportation technology did not exist, and the Krall certainly didn’t seem to have it. Which implied that it might either be beyond them, never occurred to them, or impossible. As the Krall seemed to be the most advanced race he had met, and he doubt option two was the case, it must be one of the other two. In any case, since teleportation didn’t exist that meant that in order to board another ship, shuttles or docking would be needed. Cutting through the hull would be difficult, so the easiest way in would be through the airlocks. Those airlocks did have emergency external controls, which could be locked down during an alert by any security station. Even so given enough time, a determined boarding party could get through either by hacking or blowing the outer hatch.

At the moment, he had his troops on standby, and the airlocks locked down. He knew that the Krall seemed to have a code of honor, something Tika and her crew exhibited, but that didn't mean he was going to blindly trust them. It pays to approach with a measure of caution. He expected the Krall to be doing the same. Afterall how this meeting goes will determine the future of Krall-Human relations, and hopefully, get Countryman the ally he believed they sorely needed. Already he had a mental list of things he wanted to acquire in this meeting. The most important item on that list would be star charts, he had a few charts from centuries of astronomical observations, and what they had stolen from the Cathamari. What they had gleaned from observation was of limited use, and the Cathamari charts largely told him where not to look. Not to mention it was an incomplete map, not every system the Cathamari had explored or owned was on it. As those ships had only had local star charts limited to the regions near Earth. This system wasn’t even on those stolen maps. So they were of limited usefulness to him as well.

Charts weren’t the only thing he wanted to acquire from the Krall. He also wanted to see if he couldn’t get an FTL radio. At least a few in fact, and maybe a few probes. Information on Cathamari fleet deployments if possible would also be useful. Items needed for his plan, one that would improve morale, and severely weaken Williams's infant movement against him. One more vital since she was starting to move with more caution. Not enough to keep him from tracking her movements and what she was doing. It was a violation of privacy, but she was his enemy. Only a fool would turn a blind eye to the enemy, especially one that would gladly sink a dagger in your back if you gave them the opportunity.  Then again, he was also planning to kill her. The only reason he had not done so already was due to the current situation aboard the ship.

There were a few other useful items he would like to obtain. Mostly items for either his plan or for longer-term goals. In the meantime, however, he was mentally double-checking his equipment. His uniform was actually a form of light armor, unlike the more intimidating suits worn by ship’s security and the marines, this armor was unpowered. It was made of resilient polymers and would stop both ballistic weapons and directed energy weapons. The polymers were the same sort of derivative used in modern overlord armor, and were layered with active gel layers placed between layers. Against ballistics it would stop most weapons even high caliber sniper rifles, but the armor was less effective against energy bolts. It would stop most low to mid yield directed energy bolts. It would likely save his life if he was hit by a bolt, but it was also an unassuming piece of armor. One light enough not to impede him as well. Not to mention he didn’t actually need the enhanced abilities better armor would give him. He was already faster and stronger than most marines thanks to his enhanced body. It was an advantage of having all four limbs replaced with cybernetic limbs. In the years since he had augmented his implants with internal armor as well, and the cannon on his right arm was an addition of his own as well. The computer in his head had also been upgraded a few times as well.

The cannon he carried had originally been an E-11. A popular concealed laser wrist cannon model, at least it was about eighty years ago. The casing of his own wrist cannon still greatly resembled that old cannon, but it was a very different weapon under the hood. It was now an EX-94 Mod C. It was a high-powered concealed particle cannon, highly accurate with decent range, but a rather low fire rate. The Mod-C afterall was not that dissimilar to Ruri’s current research project, it was a compressed particle cannon afterall, but of a less advanced design. It took much longer to charge each shot, but that made it no less devastating. Especially in his hands, he didn’t need a rapid-fire weapon. The slow rate of fire was perfectly fine for him, especially when you consider the bolt was strong enough to punch through most light to medium infantry armors, and could even penetrate light vehicle armor. His little wrist cannon actually packed a punch comparable to most modern anti-material rifles. As such a single hit was more often than not also the kill shot.

His mod C was actually one of the earliest prototype designs for a compressed particle weapon. As such Ruri’s compressed particle weapons research wasn’t the first one, but she had never claimed it to be. It was something for her to reference though, so in many ways, he had an ancestor to the weapons she was working on now. Regardless in his mind, it was an excellent weapon when firepower and accuracy mattered more than a quick rate of fire. 

He checked his cannon, making sure it was properly charged. He kept it with a charged power cell at all times, but it was good to make sure before going into an unknown situation. Running a quick diagnostic he also cycled it through its firing modes. The weapon had three distinct firing modes, standard fire mode, heavy fire mode, and stun. That made it a rather unique weapon as most particle rifles and other weapons didn’t have the option to fire a non-lethal projectile. The standard fire mode was designed to fire a three-shot particle burst, that was effective against most targets. Especially effective against armored infantry, but it wasn’t the best option for attacking a vehicle. That was what the heavy fire mode was for. In that mode, it does not fire a burst, but instead, it fires a maximum compression high-yield particle bolt. A bolt that can penetrate lighter vehicle armor, such as the armor found on armored cars, and some lighter tank models. It wasn’t a mode he had used out of target practice, however.

Satisfied the system was working. He shelved the checklist. It was not something he wanted to use, but it was nice to have if something went wrong. For that reason he was also bringing two guards along. In addition he was taking Williams, mostly to keep an eye on her, but she would provide a viewpoint for her minority group. The other officer to take had been a little more difficult, Greyman as first officer would have to stay here to watch the ship. Misaki and Richards weren’t options either. Misaki because she was so young, and Richards due to her position as Chief Engineer. Kaori was the Chief Tactical Officer and would be needed if combat occurred, even if that was unlikely. Drakes, and Reynolds were needed on their own ships. That left him with a few choices. Ultimately he elected to take Eri his favorite helmsman with him. She wasn’t perfect, but would be among the best of his available picks.

Reaching the docking port where the station gangway had connected, he was glad to see the four he selected waiting for him. Williams gave him a glare when she saw him. She didn’t like him, but at least she was professional enough to follow orders. Even if all that meant was an uneasy peace between the two of them. A few extra guards were also nearby keeping an eye on the airlock.

Williams with a displeased tone said, “Next time you do something stupid, could you find someone else to drag along?”

Countryman chuckled, “Stupid is a matter of opinion. From your perspective maybe this is, but sooner or later you will realize how important this little meeting really is. Still I can’t blame a child for missing...”

Angrily she cut him off, “CHILD! I’m a grown woman! How dare you call me a child.”

Eri giggled, and shook her head.

Countryman sighed, “From where I stand you are just another overgrown child. I guess even today I still have more pruning to do.”

She frowned, “Pruning? I don’t even want to know what that mechanical mind of yours is thinking, but leave me out of it.”

He gave her a look, “You would probably be more at home during the Age of Fools. A lot more people back then thought like you do. At least they did until the ground fell out from under them. Why don’t you try to learn from those idiots, and grow up?”

Williams glared more deeply, and said, “I guess a fossil like you would know, seeing as you were alive in that age.”

He very much was. Countryman even helped end that age, although no one did more than the man that became known as the Demon President, he played the role of villain, but it was a villain the world sorely needed. While some of that man’s acts like the purge of congress were widely detested, they certainly yielded results. By the end of that era, corruption was widespread, the economy was crippled, and the middle class had virtually disappeared. The demon president was elected near the end, and after he purged congress he moved on to purging both major political parties. Even making affiliation with those parties illegal by executive order. People may have vilified President Trump, but that man was a true villain. It was also under his tenor that the second American civil war had occurred.

He pushed the thoughts aside, “Oh, yes I was around. It certainly wasn’t the most pleasant era, but we can continue this later.”

She continued to glare at him but said no more. They didn’t have to like each other, but he wished she wasn’t so abrasive. It made it hard to restrain himself from shooting her. Still years of practice let him do that. Honestly, he shouldn’t have engaged with her, but what was done was done.

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Tika watched Countryman’s company filter in. She had been called here to be an advisor to the station commander. Mainly since she had the most experience with humans, even if she would have preferred being with her ship right now. The Teketh needed her, and yet circumstances brought her here.

Suddenly the weapon sensor alarm went off. Countryman had just stepped through and his two guards were still standing outside. She blinked. Why did it go off on him? She saw no sign that he was carrying a weapon.

A nearby guard, said, “Um, sir. Normal courtesy is to leave weapons outside of the meeting chamber. I am going to have to ask you to leave your weapon with your guards.”

Countryman chuckled, “That might be a little difficult.”

Then to Tika’s utter stupefaction his right arm opened up, skin covered metal plates retracted backward revealing alien cybernetic machinery. She had seen a prosthetic of this manner before, but never something so sophisticated. She also spotted the weapon in question, a small wrist cannon about half the length of his fore arm, as it extended out of the arm to provide a clean line of sight. “As you can see, the weapon in question is physically part of me, and cannot be easily removed.”

“That arm is rather impressive,” interjected Tika.

“Thank you. Glad to hear that, since much of the work is my own.”

Tika noted the one woman gave him a seemingly hostile look, but she ignored it. It wasn’t her problem. “Your own work?”

“Oh, yes. The initial work was done by the doctors on Luna, but that was decades ago. Since then I’ve made upgrades to the various cybernetic implants they installed. Anyway I know we didn’t come here to discuss my implants.”

“No we did not,” said Tika. She was curious now about his implants. A moment later the station commander said, “Yes, well we should get started, and let him keep his weapon.”

Tika would have said the same thing. From the looks of it, the cannon was completely integrated into his forearm, leaving no easy way to remove it. Some of the components might be more removable, but it was clear that the cybernetic components required special tools. They would likely need to removed the whole arm, and frankly that would not be right.

It took only moments for them to settle around the table. The station commander leaned forward slightly, and asked something, “For the official record, what would you want us to refer to you as?”

Countryman sighed, “That has actually been a matter of debate for some time. At the moment we are largely split between two names, the Sol Refuge, and the Sol Remnant. Both names are popular due to being more inclusive of the colonies, and we do have people from the colonies and not just Earth among our number.”

“Hmm, that can be a tough one, but I would suggest Refuge. The connotations are better.”

Tika noticed the woman, glare at the station commander, while the younger female officer beside Countryman said, “That is the argument I made as well.”

Countryman chuckled, “I guess the decision has been made then. We will be referred to as the People of Sol, or the Sol Refuge.”

“In that case, lets begin the first official diplomatic meeting between the Krall Imperium, and the Sol Refuge.”

What followed were a series of introductions, before things turned to the mundane of diplomatic discussions. There was a lot to talk about, but eventually, things moved from simple diplomatic discussion to something far more important. The negotiation of a treaty outlining their formal relations, and discussions of trade opportunities. Naturally the People of Sol wanted a chance to stand strong on their own, something the Imperium could respect. It would do what it could to help, but its own resources were stretched protecting its own interests. Still there were a few things they could do. More than simply providing star charts in fact, they could also offer safe harbor if it was ever needed.

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