Chapter 74: ~Blunt Words.~ (1/2)
“
Sadina is untraceable. It is possible that she made contact with the Revelation Wing. If they managed to transfer her to their secret base it it is highly unlikely that we will manage to find her.
Sadina's current status: Unknown.
”
-Report File Sadina II
***Galactic Centre, Gathering-Station***
***Gideon***
It has been another three months since our last visit to Gathering-Station and our teleportation-project has come a long way during that time. We've a decently sized network around Sol and the Forlorn worlds. Even some of our other neighbours like the slime creatures and others in close proximity to Sol joined in.
But that's nothing compared to the network which is growing around Gathering. All major species want a direct connection to Gathering-Station. I can't blame them. Travelling for months or years for a single diplomatic visit isn't what I call efficient.
“Oh, it was such a nice idea to employ Exo as a baby-sitter. I still don't understand how he got fired in the first place. But after everything I heard from Saden about your old school it shouldn't surprise me at all.” Cyla leans against my shoulder while we walk down the pavilion towards the meeting hall. Aether's departure was scheduled to be after a last big gathering between the species.
“Yes, Dear. It was quite hard to coax him into his new deployment. You know, Exo isn't that fond of me, but I hope that he will warm up to our daughter.” Just tell half the truth and don't get caught in a lie. If don't want my machinations to be uncovered by Cyla, I've to walk a fine line in this matter. She surely wouldn't approve of my methods to secure Aurelia's new tutor.
It's also a big help that Saden is a bickering bitch when she is alone with other women. I wonder how many times she told Cyla that old story about me almost getting expelled and her saving the day with Paul's help.
We reach our destination and I guide Cyla to our seats inside the endless seeming hall. Our cabin is placed inside some kind of pulpit which is able to move through the circular stadium with the speaker's platform in the middle while the pulpits form a gallery around it to allow everyone a free view. Once we are seated with our lead diplomat and our fleet commander in the front, the pulpit automatically moves to its position. Paul is also attending this meeting. I notice a small toilet at our backs and start dreading the amount of time we will have to spend here.
We don't have a special role in this event, but since I am the governor of Aether I've to attend. It's mainly for reasons of showing the other species that our leadership is interested in the decisions which will be made during this gathering.
From what I've learned it is held to hear our answer regarding the defence proposal by the Anti-Drazi-Faction, as our diplomat likes to call it. I reach for Cyla's hand and listen to the various alien speakers who voice their opinion on various matters like trade, travel-rights and of course the extermination war against the Drazi.
Up until now I left the diplomats to their jobs and didn't interfere, didn't care at all. But hearing it directly from their mouths or whatever other organs they use to communicate is a different matter.
There is really a faction which is absolutely against eradicating any form of life.
Others are a little more practical on the matter and point out that it was the Zeen who gave the Drazi anti-matter technology and FTL-flight. Therefore it should also be the Zeen's responsibility to deal with the threat without involving other species.
I note down the new piece of information. Up until now we didn't know how the Zeen are related to the Drazi. But if Ayo's way to deal with us is any indicator on how the Zeen deal with others then it isn't surprising that they uplifted the Drazi.
But uplifting random other species who happen to land in the Drazi's path strikes me as equally bad. Maybe the Zeen feel guilty and struggle with all their might to keep any species in the Drazi's path from going extinct?
Another faction's speaker points out quite bluntly that the Zeen should give up their leading position among this Gathering. I realize that the Zeen are far from having complete control of the situation. There are other races throughout the galaxy who are powerful enough to speak confidently against the Zeen. But they are still a very clearly cut minority.
And if you look at it in terms of numbers and percentages, then you realize that the Zeen can probably do anything they want. Yet they just barely don't have the power to shut up those who speak against them? Or they are willing to let them speak up, according to the motto that a barking dog is better than a silent one?
After three long hours it's finally our turn to make our point of view known. I fail to comprehend why we had to listen to so many other speakers beforehand. Isn't our point of view on the matter the decisive one? Whatever, our head diplomat Gabriel isn't completely incompetent so I will trust his judgement. He was stalling the negotiations for long enough. Seven months! I would have grown impatient after a few days and blown our cover.
Gabriel rises to his feet and clears his throat, the sound is loudly reverberating through the hall. “My name is Gabriel Sergej, head of Sol's diplomatic corps. We've thought long and hard about your proposal for us to join the alliance against the Drazi.”
“First let me express our thanks to all the species whom we talked to during our time of consideration. Especially those who pointed out the trip wires in that special contract. But regardless of those who think that we are making our decision too slow, or even those who think that we are acting too fast, we've made our decision.” Gabriel takes a deep breath and utters a single word.