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Admiral Miles sat back in shock. Currently, he was looking at the data both Jack and Srettia had supplied on the system. It had obvious signs of outside tampering and worse yet. Someone or something had destroyed a planet resulting in the near loss of the Aasteran cradle planet. As he continued to study the data, he could only grimace at his findings. The Aasteran were trying their best to survive and recover, but he could tell from the data alone, it was a losing battle.

"They're turning the debris field from the destroyed planet into colonies and ships. But they still have close to two billion people starving and freezing to death on their home planet. With over one billion in space near starving." He noted as he looked over to Tanda.

"They have just enough food to go around in their space colonies. But it's mostly synthetic rations along with some moss and fungus, some insects and a herd animal called a losus that they were able to save. The planet is another bag of suck. Enviro domes packed full of survivors fighting for whatever heat and food available. Sickness seems to be common as well." replied Tanda.

Bira had a look of horror on her face as she continued reading through the data. " We need to dispatch aid. These people are dying!"

Admiral Miles had a stern look on his face but nodded in reply. "That's if they even let us in the system. They seem to have an extreme distrust of outsiders. Hard to blame them considering the facts. That Hezexhel and his team won't even talk to anyone, he just explained the time frame for their envoy and shut up."

"What kind of help can we give with our current fleet setup?" Bria asked, looking to Captain Andriet for answers.

"We have two heavy Fabrication ships in the fleet that could pump out clothes, synthetic rations, and medicine. Not enough for 2 billion people, but we can reduce the strain until we can get a colony fleet out here to help them." Andreit replied.

"Should we send a request now? The sooner the signal gets to command, the sooner they can get out here." Bria asked, still going over the numbers. "Can we even keep the fab ships printing for a year straight?"

Tanda looked over the team of diplomats, noticing that their excitement was gone and replaced with worry. "We dropped enough repeater stations that the signal should only take about a week to reach the nearest command base. I think we should send for help. Even though we still don't know if these people will want it or will tell us to fuck off, I think we should make the call."

"Alright, Go request a level one colony relief fleet. Even if they don't want it, the worst case is we tell them to turn around." The Admiral ordered.

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Srettia continued watching the Terrans closely. To her surprise, they were discussing how best to save her people from the creeping cold. So in response, she decided on standing off to the side and answering any questions they had. "Why are you going to such lengths to help people you just met? Surely the life of your pilot was not worth so much." She asked, stunning her guests into silence.

"Because we can. It won't cost us anything other than time, something we have plenty of these days." Admiral Miles returned. "And once word gets out back home that we met your people, and you need help. It wouldn't surprise me to see millions of volunteers signing up to help."

"We're not perfect, nowhere close, but we also won't stand off to the side while people die, not anymore at least." Replied Andriet. "Fab units don't cost us anything other than mass, and the debris field can take care of that. So we have nothing to lose and everything to gain in helping you."

Srettia continued to stand in silence, attempting to absorb their words. She thought about how Michael nearly killed himself. How their soldiers just stood between the pod and her people, refusing to return any hostility. "These Terrans are stupid." She thought, looking at the time, close to forty minutes left until the delegation arrives.

"If you'll excuse me, I think I'll take a quick break before my people get here." She announced. Walking out of the conference room, she continued to think about what the Terrans had said and slowly wandered her ship.

Minutes passed until finally, she came to her senses. She realized she was standing outside Michael's pod and took in a deep breath as the door opened without her making the request. So she walked in, making her way to the med bay.

"Are all Terrans this stupid?" She asked the room, sitting down beside Michael.

"If you are comparing them to me? I would say all organics are stupid. But that's what makes them exciting."

Srettia laughed at the subtle joke. "They're more worried about my people than some of my own kind are." She said with a twinge of hate in her voice.

"When it comes to survival, It is easy to hate. I am sure if your people accept the help offered, things will get better. Terrans were much the same until the invention of the fabricator. Though said fabricator, almost caused war as well."

Srettia was surprised and looked into a nearby camera in shock. "How would it cause war?"

"It becomes hard to control things when people have all the food and clothing they could wish for. People stopped working. Others just sat around all day. Governments tried to force people into doing the needed civil maintenance. It was a very bad idea and caused much strife. The entire process took a long period of adjusting as well. But after some time, people started pursuing their dreams, creating a boom of art and technology. I believe the Terrans of today are much better people than they were."

"Do you think my people could be the same?" She asked Jack, looking down at Michael.

"If you accept their help, I believe you could be."

Srettia sat in silence and waited for the Aasteran delegation to arrive.

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Newly appointed Diplomat Ethuci and his aid Khasta were currently looking at the Terran ship attached to the Lottyim. "What do you make of it, Khasta?" Ethuci asked.

"It's not there, no weapons, no engine, nothing. If captain Srettia hadn't told us to watch for it while docking, we would've missed it." Khasta replied.

"Hezexhel had some terrifying footage of their warriors as well. If they are planning an invasion, I don't think we stand much of a chance. Though Captain Srettia says they want to help, and the footage shows they aren't hostile... They may even give her an FTL drive for helping their pilot." Ethuci noted, turning towards the exit way as warning sounds informed him it was time for his ship to dock with the Lottyim. "If they do come in peace, our people might finally have a chance of survival. If n-."

"We'll fight to the last, sir. We won't roll over and accept our death." Khasta quickly interrupted, not willing to allow Ethuci to continue that train of thought.

Ethuci smirked and took a step forward into the docking arm. "Let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst." He finished, putting on his war face as he took his first steps into the tube. "Onwards to our first battle then."

Walking into the Lottyim, Ethuci was greeted by both Hezexhel and Srettia. After all present exchanged their greetings, Srettia directed them to the makeshift conference room to meet with the Terrans. "Through this door Ambassador Ethuci." Srettia said, motioning the male through the door.

Ethuci stood stoically at the entrance, gathering his wits before walking into the room, where the Terrans stood to greet him. They were much larger in person. And they were... Leaking. Tapping his tail in a greeting, he decided to avoid the topic of their leakage and perhaps ask another time.

"Greetings Ambassador Ethuci, Ambassador Khasta, I am Admiral Eric Miles, Ambassador of the Terran Star Union, and these are my aids Ambassadors Bria, Tanda and Andriet. On behalf of my people. I greet you in the hopes of peace."

"Well, at least that's a good start." Ethuci thought, sitting down in his chair. "Greetings to you ambassadors. As you already know, I am task force commander as well as Ambassador, Ethuci. This is my aid Khasta." Looking around at the Terrans to gauge their reaction, he continued his speech. "We have been given full authority and the privilege of speaking for our people. I will be upfront with you. We do not trust you, and some are already wanting a war." The Terrans seemed upset at the thought of war, a pleasant reaction for Ethuci.

Ambassador Miles appeared to be the most disturbed and spoke in protest. "Ambassador Ethuci, if you were to ask it, We would sadly leave your system and never return. However, I believe that would not be in your best interest."

It was then Hezexhel that took a step forward, hissing in anger at the proclamation. Khasta was quick to hold up his tail to silence him. "Explain Terran." Khasta demanded.

"My apologies, that was poorly worded." Admiral Miles stated. "We have scanned your system and gone over the available data. At the risk of upsetting you, I will also be frank. Your people are dying. Slowly. But they are freezing to death on the surface while your people fight to keep heat generators functioning. They lack food and medicine. You have one point three billion people, almost starving, spread between refineries, mining ships, and slapped together space colonies it-."

Ambassador Andriet slammed her hands on the table, interrupting the Admiral as she stood to stare down the Aasteran delegation. "We want to help you. We have the ability to do so. Right now. We can bring in two fabricator ships, and they can print out clothes, food, and medicine."

Ethuci looked at the Terrans suspiciously as he pondered the thought. "Why would you help us? We have nothing to offer. And what would you demand of us for this boon? If you are looking to make us slaves, you can take your charity and leave."

Ethuci was unsure of the Terran's initial reaction, but he quickly noticed they seem extremely offended. So he thought hard on the offer. These Terrans just show up and offer to save his people like it's nothing to them. Accepting this proposal would put his people in their debt. Their aid would give them power over his people. They could take it away at a moment's notice if they don't follow a future request.

"We offer this aid freely, no strings attached. We want to help you. We have travelled the stars for a very, very long time. You are the only other people who we have come across. I refuse to let you be snuffed out because some ass hole ruined your system." The Admiral shot out, not wanting to let the Ambassador's fears get the better of him.

The room was silent, The Aasteran delegation speaking amongst themselves, in hushed tones and twitching tails until Bria spoke up about her own thoughts.

"Well, that's not entirely true. We do want something in return." She interrupted, flinching as all eyes in the room descended upon her.

"Umm... A cultural exchange, perhaps? Stories and dramas? Is that acceptable?" She questioned near silently.

Ethuci eyed up the Terran female? Her shoulders sank in, and her face began turning red as he slowly realized what she had said. "They want to trade stories and drama for saving my people?" And was she leaking? He looked at Khasta, who seemed to have the same train of thought. And the two suddenly burst out in laughter with tails going wild.

It had dawned on Ethuci then that if they wanted to enslave his people, he wouldn't be able to stop them. So if all they were asking for is media, why not risk it. "I don't trust you, Terrans." He began, pointing a clawed finger at the lead male. "But, you can have all the stories you want if you deliver on your promise."

"You can't be serious!?" Hezexhel questioned.

Ethuci looked at Hezexhel in return. "Tell me. After doing combat with their soldiers, could you stop a legion of them? Or an invasion force? No, I think not. Accepting aid may enslave us to them, but they could enslave us either way, could they not?" He saw Hezexhel pause for a moment to think, grinning as his began face contorting in anger and understanding.

"I assure you we have no intention of enslaving anyone. We would rather you join us amongst the stars as equals than as slaves. This is just a first step towards that goal," The Admiral stated.

The group then spent the next few hours hashing out the details of their agreement. The Terrans would pledge aid in return for Aasteran culture. Much of it would need to be looked at by lawmakers, diplomats, and leaders. But in the end, the resolution would allow for Terran relief and fabricator ships access to the Aasteran system.

The Terran ambassadorial team stood as one with smiles on their faces, their excitement poorly hidden. "Ambassador Ethuci, It will be my absolute pleasure to sign this agreement with you." Admiral Miles announced, pressing his thumb onto the datapad and signing his name.

"Likewise, Ambassador Miles." Ethuci returned, pressing his thumb down and signing his name. "May this be the first of many friendly agreements between our peoples."

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Srettia silently sat beside Michael with a smile on her face. "Look at what you did, you dumb idiot." She whispered, holding up the agreement her people had just signed. "The Admiral said he'll gift me a D class shuttle with a type two loadout. The kind your people use to move asteroids around. It's going to have gravity beams and Terran weapons, like a rail gun of some type and a fab unit. Oh, right, it'll have a warp drive too. Just like I wanted. And you missed all of it."

She looked over to the medical screen, though, not really understanding it. But the lines were getting better every time she visited him, so she liked watching it. "When do you think he'll wake up, Jack?"

"At his current rate of healing, it will likely take up to another eighteen hours. He sustained deep tissue damage, and repairing it is remarkably painful, requiring him to remain sedated. He is lucky his brain remained unharmed."

"I see, and how are you doing? He was your partner, right?" Srettia asked.

"I do not doubt his recovery, as he is a resilient man. Though he may require extra care for a few days once he awakes. However, I do not foresee any problems arising."

"You know, you're very good at dodging questions about your feelings. This is the second time you tried." Srettia smiled out, waving a hand towards the camera.

"Michael was my first flight partner. So it is my duty to make sure his recovery goes smoothly."

Srettia chuckled, "Okay, Jack." She replied. Getting up, she looked into the closest camera. "Just make sure he doesn't randomly die, alright." She said, walking out of the med bay and continuing to leave the pod.

After a short walk to the bridge, she sat down in her pilot's chair. "Alright, let's see, no engine power, great. So what do I do while waiting for my new shuttle and for that idiot to wake up? I guess I can read my story." Picking up her datapad, she resumed reading her adventure book, starring a roguish bounty hunter and his misadventures in space.

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Jack had a lot of thinking to do. Getting to watch so many new organics try to interact with each other was exciting. The Aasteran boarding team and Terran commando team was utterly fascinating.

The Terrans could have easily crushed the Aasterans but chose to attempt reason.

And when the delegation finally arrived for the peace talks. "The mistrust from the Aasteran delegation was a delight to analyze. And the human reaction to the mistrust humorous." He thought.

Observing the Admiral and the force commander compromise on the initial treaty was also exhilarating. He looked through a camera at his first friend, an 'Idiot' according to a certain someone. "You missed all the fun, partner." He said aloud for the sleeping Michael to hear. Making sure his friend was comfortable

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