[@Zadubadabu] [b][u][color=salmon]Hostel System, Second Exploration Fleet[/color][/u][/b] The Fleet Commander was taking a nap when he was shaken awake by one of his bridge crew. Being the Fleet Commander, he had enormous amounts of work to do, from paperwork to giving orders, and so sleep wasn't a luxury he often had. No matter if they had tablets that tricked the body into thinking it just had twelve hours of sleep, real sleep actually revitalized. Yawning, the Commander stretched, and slowly got to his feet. If an important matter was at hand, he'd already be in the bridge, but he didn't consider the aliens to be too terribly important. He nearly tripped and fell, from shock, when he saw one of the Council member standing in front of him. But no; as the form turned to face him, he realized he could see through it. [i]Thank Caelrath it's just a holo,[/i] shot through the Commander's mind. [color=lightyellow]"Fleet Commander Dreth, how nice it is to see you. Report."[/color] The Fleet Commander snapped to attention, firing off in sequence, [color=cornsilk]"Sir, contact has been made with an alien warship, damaged or unfinished. We took the ship as a prisoner and brought it to refueling base Denizon Farthar 96 Alpha 2. As per standard procedure, we offered foreign vessel chance for diplomatic negotiation, but we were interrupted by multiple warships of the same foreign origin, claiming they had usurped our prisoner and were coming to execute her. Based on data given, they had joined with a larger empire to overthrow the current monarchy, which then went on the run. Having found their target, they are now requesting talks for future negotiation, and for possession of our new prisoner."[/color] The Fleet Commander kept cool under the piercing gaze of the Council member, before they both relaxed, their apparent staring contest finished. [color=lightyellow]"Continue on with negotiations. However, you have one order: move alien ship and prisoners to Routing Point Code Thirgan, and ensure their safety. I want their ship transferred to the same Point, where a fleet will be waiting to dismember, dismantle, and study the alien technology. And if you can- get a bargain with the foreigners. I want something to dangle over their heads by the time you're done, besides their "queen." Do you not think it is amusing they still refer to her as their queen first, rather than an exile or traitor?"[/color] The hologram flickered, and disappeared. Letting out a small sigh (along with everyone else in the room), the Fleet Commander started giving orders. : Inside the Orbital docks, Stehlruh's face paled (for a Hocklyn; it'd be unrecognizable for an alien), while the XO took in the information stoically. Turning, the destroyer Shipmaster addressed the Queen and her two aides. [color=salmon]"Diplomacy with you and your new faction will begin elsewhere. Due to orders from people higher than my Fleet Commander, we are moving you to another, safer location. Your ship will be attached to my own, and I will... accompany you to your bridge. Attempts to take me hostage will lead to both yourself, your ship and crew, and myself, and my ship and crew, being destroyed by escorts. Your ship will be taken apart and studied, and your people will tell us how to do so, and tell us anything we need to know about your technology. En route to our new destination, you will also inform me of anything in particular unique to your race, such as implants, psionic abilities, et cetera. Otherwise your enemies will probably use that against us to get to you, so I'd recommend full cooperation. Any edge we can get would be useful. Refusal is not an option; go quietly or go unconscious. Lead the way, Queen Spear."[/color] Shortly therafter, the Stern-class [i]Cyrus[/i] reached out with clamps, attaching itself to the alien ship as it undocked, and tugged it away from the docks, the alien fleet, and the planet's gravity well. After several minutes, being closely escorted by a small fleet of several cruisers and destroyers, and multiple refueling drones dumping their load into the ships, the small fleet disappeared, leaving the large, still very substantial exploration fleet, and the not so substantial foreigners. [color=cornsilk]"This is Fleet Commander Dreth. I have received word from my... superiors, who wish for further diplomatic negotiations. If you want your traitor Queen, you'll have to talk to myself further within my own space. You may bring one medium cruiser and two destroyers, or the equivalent of, but no more. If we detect any attempts to jump without permission to coordinates we cannot identify, you will be fired upon. Send your diplomatic negotiators in on your cruiser. Your destroyers will not be allowed anywhere near anything of importance, nor will they be allowed to land. If you run out of any sort of FTL drive fuel, portal will be provided for transportation, rather than giving you fuel that may or may not be able to run. You have three hours to make your decisions, rearrange your crews as you see fit. Your diplomatic envoy will then be under diplomatic pardon, and diplomatic restrictions. You will be allowed to enter our space as long as a fleet of equal size to your own is present and giving you permission, and you will be expected to maintain a cease fire. Any firing of drone, unauthorized communication, energy weapon, tractor beam, kinetic weapon, or extra shields will be taken as a possibly hostile action. If we detect any attempts at deception, we will immediately open fire. If you detect drones moving towards your ship, you will not fire on them. They are there for observation and to ensure that you do not activate anything before you do anything against us, such as readying a weapon to fire. Your ship group will not be allowed to come forward."[/color]