Max left the bemused staff behind for the manager to finish her orientation and checked the rest of the ship, making time to stop and check in on the Shin.
There was a chance that they were just shy around so many bipedal mammals and were afraid to leave their rooms, despite the fact they could move quite well with their gravity control technology, and Max wanted to make sure they were having a good time.
Just as he approached, the door opened, and a room service deliveryman stepped out, bowing politely to Max.
"They have everything that they requested, and they have just put on a holographic video of a historical space battle, playing on the holographic projectors of the whole room." The crew member explained without Max having to ask.
That would make it look like they were either looking out from a ship or at a very close range on a planetary surface as the battle played on every wall and the roof, an immersive experience that Max hadn't expected them to be interested in.
Perhaps it was like watching horror movies in their culture.
Terminus certainly had enough footage of various battles taken from the historical archives for training purposes.
Max sent them a notification that they might enjoy the battle of Tanna, a jungle world that had a decade-long, Mecha-based civil war, whose footage was the basis for most nations' jungle piloting training.
[Thank you, Commander. We will watch your recommended Film right after this one. Of all the things we expected Humans to be able to provide, we never expected that you would have such an incredible variety of hyperrealistic horror films. It's like the camera crew was really there when the actions took place.] The Shin leader responded, and Max didn't have the heart to tell them that it was because they were watching actual War footage.
At least the Shin guests were easy to please.
Max was finishing his rounds when the long-range scanners detected a group of warships in the pattern commonly used by the neighboring Border Nations approaching at low warp, giving themselves a bit more time to maneuver if they detected traps or an ambush.
[All Combat Staff to your positions. Infantry, finish your orientation with the new equipment first. Incoming hostile vessels, with a chance of battle greater than fifty percent.] Max sent out to the inbox of every Pilot and member of the fighting staff.
Terminus was still at the dock, and the Exterminators were still transferring equipment to their new Cutters, so the chance that the Border Fleet wouldn't notice something was out of the ordinary within the next few minutes was very low. The question was, what would they do about it?
The few Mercenary groups that were still gathered around the Station began to fall into defensive positions, and the main guns of the mighty structure powered up to greet the unwelcome visitors, who were far from their own territory.
[Terminus Trading Company, we have reason to believe that you are providing weapons to a sanctioned group. Please stand down and prepare an explanation of your actions.] The Border Fleet broadcast before coming to a stop at the edge of the Solar System.
They were ready for this, and the other Border Nations had already made their position on bringing the Mercenaries into the fold quite clear, but so far, it hadn't come to open violence.
[The relevant Mercenary Groups are now part of the Reaver Trade Alliance, which is not on the embargoed entities list. Our deals are fair and equitable for the purpose of increasing quality of life.
The Trade Group is open to all who are willing to abide by its terms and conditions. Would you be open to receiving an information package?] The Admiral responded with the canned response that they had prepared for exactly this scenario.
[Cut the crap, Terminus. Selling weapons and manufacturing equipment to the Mercenaries is strictly prohibited, and you know it. Explain your actions, or we will be forced to recover the prohibited items by force.] The Border Fleet responded.
[As members of the Reaver Trade Group, our technology trades do not violate your sanction rules. By the terms of our mutual defense agreement, we are required to respond if you should initiate a hostile international incident.] Nico responded. Max was certain that it was her. The tone of voice was a bit eager and not the monotone version of her voice that the Ship's computer used.
[It seems we have much to discuss. Are you willing to meet us on neutral ground for a diplomatic session?] The Commander of the Border Fleet asked.
[Give us fifteen minutes to safely depart the station, and we will follow your lead.] That response was the Admiral, and Max began heading to the nearest restroom to freshen up and change into his armor, currently stored in the Flat Space of his new watch.
[Do you think they will try something stupid?] Max asked Nico, who was surely pouring through the fleet's data right now.
[Oh, I really hope so. They don't have a single Super Heavy mecha aboard their entire fleet, and the Cutters could pierce their shielding with a single blast.] Nico responded, verifying Max's guess that she had already hacked them.
[What are their protocols for the meeting? Will we be landing somewhere for a face-to-face talk?] Max asked, having not read the details yet.
[Sort of. The meetings are traditionally on an uninhabited planet, inside the Command Mecha of the respective forces, with a five Mecha escort.] Nico responded with a hint of glee.
Those terms definitely favored them.
[Prepare Cleansing Light and Shattered Pride, plus four Infernus Pattern Fast Attack Mecha. If it is held on a moon without atmosphere, we will depart directly for the surface without using a ship.] Max ordered.
That way, they could have all five Battalions at the ready, with only one of them being a wing of Crusader Class Mecha short of full capacity, and none of the Cutters would be distracted from their duties.
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