The following day Eirik was up early. The news about Dalle was very welcome. As important as it had been to him to establish his own empire, he found office work to be tedious. The need for his arm to first grow back, and then get trained back up had been a blessing in disguise as it gave him the needed time to set everything up. Now, it was done. Another 2 weeks, maybe 3 and the war with the Kloxna would pull the attention away from his new empire. Playing his cards right, the Terran Empire could end up with a debt of honor towards Libertalis.

Checking his datapad, Eirik saw several updates on the whereabouts of the diplomat from Terra. When he saw that they had visited the escort bureau, he smiled to himself. Why were people in power so predictable? He would have to review the footage before the next meeting. As he was about to go to the next message, he felt a tap on the should and turned around to see the madame herself with an angry expression and an envelope in her hands.

She said nothing but held out the envelope for Eirik to take. He did, and upon opening it, he saw a bunch of pictures, all of them depicting 2 of her working girls in the station's medical clinic, looking like they went 15 rounds with a heavyweight boxing champion.

Eirik looked over each picture which was taken from different angles. "The diplomat?" Was the only thing Eirik asked.

"No." Her voice was that of ice and embers. "His 2 goons. They wanted to go together and, according to their boss, *Got a little excited*, and told me to bill you for any inconvenience." Looking Eirik up and down with a menacing look, she continued. "I don't take you for the kind of man that would approve of this, Captain, which is why I am here with the pictures instead of the written cancellation of my lease. What are you going to do about it?" The madame took a wide stance with her hands on her hips.

Eirik, agreeing with the woman that this was so far beyond reason that it required immediate mending, opened his datapad and placed a call to Jesper who picked up at the second ring.

"Yes, Captain?" Jesper's voice was raspy and he sounded tired.

"I want the diplomat's 2 bodyguards from last night here, now! The moton in a silk suit is welcome to attend, but I want the 2 soldiers here at once!" Eirik's voice was hard and unyielding, a stark contrast to his usual merry demeanor.

"And if they resist?" Jesper sounded alert and awake, the prospect of trouble always riling up the man.

"Alive. Their condition is less important but try talking first. They are still part of a diplomatic envoy." As tempting as it was, causing a diplomatic incident during your first dealings with other empires would not be well received.

___________________________________

Jesper radioed the 5 troops wearing PESSA armor, on standby at the security office, and told them to meet up with him outside the hotel the diplomat was staying at. He then gathered the nearest 2 dozen regular troops and headed to the hotel. They arrived within 5 minutes and Jesper sent half of the men with him to cover the backdoor before he planted himself in the middle of the street and shouted "MR SMITH! THIS IS THE HEAD OF STATION SECURITY. YOU WILL SEND OUT THE 2 SOLDIERS THAT WERE ACCOMPANYING YOU LAST NIGHT, AND YOU WILL DO SO IMMEDIATELY! I WISH TO RESOLVE THIS AS PEACEFULLY AS POSSIBLE AND AVOID ANY INCIDENT. DO EVERYONE A FAVOR AND JUST COMPLY!"

For a minute nothing happened and Jesper drew in a breath to shout again but as he did, the door to the hotel flew open and Smith came out in a hurry, flanked by 8 of his bodyguards, all wearing weapons. He started speaking the moment he stepped outside.

"These men are part of my delegation and as such enjoy the same protection that I do as a diplomat." He stared defiantly at Jesper and his 8 guards held their weapons at the ready, a stark contrast to Jesper's troopers who all had a relaxed stance.

"If you do not surrender them, I will go and get them myself. Charges have been pressed and as such, we must investigate. That tends to be easier with the accused in custody. Be warned, Mr. Smith. There is nothing you can do to stop this from happening. The only thing you have control over is HOW it happens." Jesper stated in a calm and professional tone of voice.

"You will die before you get past the first of us here if you try! And what makes you think my soldiers will lose to your guards? There is a reason they protect diplomats!" Smith sneered back. Accustomed as he was to being placated by anyone and everyone around him, this situation was not possible in his mind. His will was law outside diplomatic talks.

"Mostly them," Jesper replied nonchalantly as he pointed to his left where the 5 PESSA troopers could be seen approaching the hotel at speed.

"...What on earth are those!??!" The leader of the diplomatic guards exclaimed as his brain caught up to what his eyes were seeing.

"One of the reasons the Captain is certain that the Terran military will push for a military alliance, as I am certain the Captain suggested an exchange of technology, on the condition that the alliance became a reality?" Jesper ended his reply in a question directed towards Smith who nodded in stunned silence.

"They are also the main reason," Jesper continued, "That I feel confident you will surrender the 2 soldiers without issue. You are, of course, welcome to attend both interrogation and court proceedings. We pride ourselves in our justice and we wish for you to observe that everything that happens is as fair and unbiased as it can get. Take it or leave it."

Without much of a choice, Smith did as he was asked.

_________________

Seeing the wisdom in getting this over with as quickly as possible, the trial was set the next day. There was a lot of grumbling from the people that were called in to work outside normal hours, but a promise of double pay during the overtime silenced the complaints fairly quickly. A lot of the white-collar workers* were family people and getting a boost in the paycheck was always appreciated.

The case was quickly ruled in favor of the women and the 2 soldiers were sentenced to 9 months. Prison or community service, convict's choice. As they both chose community service, Eirik suggested they be sent to help out on a farm he knew of. Located on a nearby planet within the Empire, this was accepted and Eirik sent a message to Trasti, telling him to expect 2 Terran arriving to serve their sentence on his family's farm. He also told him that he would be shipping out soon and would appreciate having a communications officer on board.

Smith, of course, raged to no end but could not find any fault with the way the situation was handled in court and had to grudgingly accept the verdict.

"Terra will not take kindly to this!" He tried warning Eirik who replied in kind

"Then Terra is protecting and approving the actions of convicted felons, guilty of gross assault. I don't think that is a story you want us to spin!"

"We will send a representative to sign the alliance treaty soon!" Smith finally said as he decided to leave. He could not stand another minute in the same general area as that infuriating Eirik.

As he and his entourage walked away, Eirik called out to him. "BY THE WAY, SMITH."

"What?" The diplomat hissed as he turned around.

Eirik winked at him and sent him a malicious smile. "I know everything!" Eirik tapped the side of his nose twice with his index finger as he said it and he saw Smith turn pale as a ghost. Satisfied with the reaction he could not help himself and added "Now, be a good little diplomat and go make my alliance happen!"

When the ramp to the diplomat's ship closed Eirik could still hear him cursing the station and everyone in it.

____________________

3 days later, Eirik received a video recording of his grandfather. The old man was not even mad, merely resigned with the way things were. He scolded Eirik mildly for treating the diplomat the way he did but praised him for punishing to accompanying soldiers for the crimes. He detailed the war, how it was going and where they stood, what kind of help they would most likely need. Ships, help with logistics, and whatever help they could provide in finding a way to overcome Kloxna'svoid superiority. He also requested that Eirik share the discovery that regrew his arm, more specifically, the discoveries that made the treatment viable for use in the war due to the vastly decreased time needed to regrow.

The message ended very differently from what Eirik expected.

I am not going to blame you for doing what you did. Seceding. You are right, we have been using you. I have been using you. Which is why you will find me on the side that supports you when the leaders of Terra are gathering tomorrow to discuss the stance we are going to take on your new empire, regardless of the military alliance.

One day, I will come and visit you. And we will speak, as true equals.

With love, Your grandfather Benny.