Nico made it to the beleaguered delegation of negotiators in only a few minutes, rescuing them from the Innu by virtue of her unique technologies.
"Gentlemen. Welcome to Terminus. I see that you have met the Innu, this section of the Universe's greatest lovers of technological gadgets. Please don't be upset with them. The chance to see a new piece of technology is a huge event in their lives, as important as the birth of a child." Nico greeted the confused group.
The Innu tourists nodded happily, confirming her analysis, even as the mechanical arms of Nico's harness rearranged the ones who were getting too grabby. The clamps simply picked the overjoyed Innu up and moved them to the side, where their analysis of the Tech Adept Harness wouldn't interfere with other guests trying to navigate the ship.
"Our in-house Innu Technicians have analyzed the Tech Adept Harness and filmed the process. Their Tech Nomad broadcasts contain a full four-hour feature on the device, including basic design elements, if you are interested." Nico informed the crowd, then sent a short-range broadcast to their devices so that they could watch the stream's replay.
"Oh, thank you, Miss Rage. But what is with all the relic laser pistols? Is it a thing? Like historical cosplay?" One of the Innu asked.
"Sort of. They are ceremonial items that the negotiation teams carry with them to meetings. They show the long history of the groups present, as well as a veiled threat of violence should someone break the rules of decorum." Nico explained, relieving one of the negotiators from the Cygnus delegation of his weapon so she could show it to the group.
"See, it is functional, though not optimal, because they are not intending to have to use it, but having a non-functional device would defeat the purpose." She added, then handed it back after the closest Innu had time to examine the pistol.
"Forget the pistols, that watch. I haven't seen something like that outside of a museum. Is it seriously just a timepiece and communication device?" A tall girl whose hair tentacles were adorned with braided ribbons in a rainbow of color asked.
"It really is. Even among the humans, this is a relic, made of precious metals and worn as a show of simple elegance." Nico told her.
"I see, so as the really wealthy Giants do. They don't wear any technology at all and have a servant with anything that they might need." The girl suggested.
"Similar, but without the assistant having access to his private communications." Nico agreed.
The team looked a bit miffed at being talked about like they weren't present, but with so many new species roaming around, they weren't willing to say anything that might be taken as rude. They were professional mediators, after all.
While they were talking, one of the Valkia landed on a tentacle that Nico had extended overhead to keep it out of the reach of the Innu, then hopped down to examine the humans.
"How quaint. Are these the primitives of your species? They don't have any of the nanotechnologies that your crew does, and they aren't enhanced to the same standard that you are." The winged alien with satin smooth silver skin and long black hair asked Nico.
"It is considered rude to call them primitives. They are unaugmented humans, yes. Their culture is catching up quickly, though, and they are our allies. They will be doing the actual negotiations here." Nico informed the haughty Valkia.
"I like them. They're like wet clay, just waiting to be molded into a masterpiece." The alien told her, then leaped back into the air and vanished in a powerful flap of his wings.
"Those ones won't be easy to deal with, will they?" The Cygnus Noble asked Nico as the Valkia left.
"Not at all. They don't even consider most humans as civilized since their technology and culture aren't up to standard. By their rules, you really are primitive savages, but we can change that soon enough. Give it a generation or two, and we will have most of the Cygnus Empire up to a standard where they at least consider you to be a civilization.
The Kepler-born humans got a bit more consideration thanks to the System and its nanobots. But they're still leery of us, as they consider us too violent."
That made the Reaver delegates laugh out loud. "They consider you as too violent to be considered civilized? Well, imagine that. I think there are at least four human nations who would agree with them on that count."
"Oh, I saw that video. No, it can't be that one. Everyone died, so there wasn't anyone left to call her uncivilized." One of the Innu tourists called out.
"She did what? You know what? I am going to have to keep up with an entire alien social media site just to keep up with the battle strategies of the Terminus Trading Company. We're on the same team, and the aliens still knew before I did." The delegate replied with a frown.
"That one wasn't broadcast. My sister is working here as a Technician, and she sent me a snippet." The girl told him, then smiled at Nico.
"Who would have thought that there could actually be violent bugs or humans who tried to integrate with them?"
The Reaver glared at Nico. "I need a full debriefing on this one. Seriously, doesn't anyone report important developments to the council anymore?"
"I did report it, though. There is a whole incident report waiting for them to review it. It only happened a few weeks ago, and they are pretty backed up with all the battles that have been happening, so fights in Klem space are low priority." Nico offered.
"Fair enough then. As long as I'm not out of the loop on anything that might come up in the negotiations." He agreed.
"You are going to negotiate the new trade deal with these humans? Can I come with you? Do you have good cameras? Is there a live streaming agreement?" The Innu closest to the Reaver asked, clinging to his side and giving him her best version of a pleading look.
The Innu did that by twining their hair tentacles together like crossed fingers, as well as wide open eyes and pouted lips, so the man might not understand right away, but even the best pleading wouldn't change the answer.
"Negotiations are confidential until the deal is signed. I am very sorry, Miss, but no unauthorized personnel is allowed, and absolutely no cameras."
"What sort of a negotiation is that? Surprise plot changes are so last decade." The girl complained.
The Reaver turned to Nico for an explanation, only to find her laughing silently and failing to hide it behind her hand.
"Trade Negotiations aren't a reality TV show. They are a serious political deal, like a Royalty adjustment." Nico told her.
"OH! We are here for something really big, then. The Royalty rates haven't been adjusted in decades. If human nations are doing something like that right now, it is huge news. We should set up daily updates when these guys come back." She cheered.
"Is this what Innu Paparazzi look like?" the Reaver questioned, but Nico could see softness in his smile as he noticed the genuine excitement in her attitude.
Perhaps she should provide the humans with data on intimate interspecies relations before they got into a situation they didn't expect.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶