“Greetings, Emily, it is good to see you.”

“That is Ambassador Kaldaz to you, Chieftain Collins,” Emily snapped at him, “Act professionally, you’re here for business after all.”

Moimir furrowed his brow, confused by her reaction. He’d known Emily for years, given that she used to be part of a clan that worked for his own, and she never spoke to him like that. 

“Very well. How are you feeling? I know you’ve had to deal with some sudden changes.”

“How I am feeling is irrelevant, Chieftain Collins, we should get to work.”

“Alright, alright,” Moimir leaned back in his chair and took a swig of his mead. He took some time to study the carvings on the walls, annoying Emily in the process, before he began to speak. “As you know, our King has ordered me to travel here every two months to check up on this whole operation. Could you give me your report of what happened here in these past months?”

Emily grabbed her tablet. She had prepared for this, of course. Moimir’s lack of knowledge, and the King’s apparent lack of trust in her grated her a little, though. “After the signing of our alliance with the Undefeated, a number of things happened here. Firstly, there were the people of ‘New Ishtar’ who brought with them their own, pre-built addition to this station. I hear it’s quite impressive.” 

“I’ve seen it from the outside. A bit pompous, don’t you think? All you’d really need is a long hallway, an office, and some places for guards to sleep in,” Moimir snickered at his own sense of humor.
 
Emily glared at him, but made no comment. “Then there were the Zetans, the cyborgs,” she added quickly after seeing the Chieftain’s confusion, “who announced that they were renaming themselves to the ‘Enlightened Symposium’. Do keep your comments to yourself.”

Moimir, of course, had opened his mouth to say something but chose to remain silent.

“Furthermore, the Khanate of the Apes, a nation made up of genetically modified Old Earth apes, has given a strange gift. My hypothesis is that it is some sort of dog, although it is unlike any dog that can be found on Kudrion, a different strain, perhaps. I’ve tasked Captain Róg with taking care of it, as I have my hands full”

Moimir just nodded silently. Beli Róg, Captain of the Kudrioni Royal Guards on the station, was a good man, and if anyone knew what to do with this creature it was him.

“We have also received a message from the White Flower Democracy,” Emily continued, “ who asked to exchange ideas on our energy-projection technology. I recommend we do not reply. Showing them how our technology works will mean we lose a possible advantage in case of war.”

The Chieftain took some time to ponder what ‘energy-projection’ meant until he realized Emily was talking about the hardlight swords. “That is precisely why we must reply. It is more honorable to fight an opponent that is as strong as you are. Send a message that we accept their offer.”

Of course, she’d forgotten about the stupid code of honor that most on Kudrion still clung on to, even if it resulted in defeat. “Chieftain, I must protest. We shouldn’t give away every secret that the Kingdom has.”

“Ambassador Kaldaz, you will send that message to the WFD, that’s final. Now, was there anything else to include in your report?”

“Yes,” Emily said, resigned, “there was also the incident with the Kamenyans. Two smugglers, operating in the fringes of our home system, managed to enter a Kamenyan ship by pretending they were diplomats. This was only discovered when the Kamenyan ambassador came aboard this station.”
 
“I’ve heard of that. Don’t you think that you punished those men a little too severely? The law may call for trial by combat, but even the King often takes clemency on those whose crimes were not too severe.”

“No, Chieftain, I do not think that they were punished too severely. I am not only the Kingdom’s representative, but I am also charged with upholding our laws for Kudrioni citizens in this system. You would do well to remember that.”

“And if you were not? Would you still have condemned those men to their probable deaths?”

Emily paused for a moment. For whatever reason, it was not something that she wanted to think about, but she steeled herself and gave her reply: “Yes, I would have.”
[hr]

Adressing [@Tortoise]

[hider=Message to the White Flower Democracy]
Hello, Liaison Affan,

I am Ambassador Kaldaz, and like you, I represent my nation on the Meeting Place. I have indeed heard about the Hollywoodite Holograms, and I accept your request for an exchange of ideas. 

Sincerely,
Ambassador Emily Kaldaz
[/hider]