Duke grinned at Kat and then followed it up That's not aknife.... this is a knife and then pulled out the long sword that he often liked to carry around when attending 'dangerous missions'.

"If you give me that when we get back, I'll make it go through anything like butter he offered.

This is a Peace Mission not a weapons show, leave them here.

OOC- What are the locals wearing??

"Its a bowie knife. Not as big a deal as a sword" she says sarcastically. She also has a gauss pistol.

OOC- OK, Awaiting a GM Reply...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 280):

The group are armed with laser rifles, but they are slung ceremonially. As the outer door opens, they form up properly, and a Burgundy carpet is rolled towards the entrance. Three officials stand at the far end of the carpet and are waiting for you by the time you outfit adjustments are made.

OOC: Please indicate the order you approach in. We are at sea at the moment, sorry for the delayed response! I expect to be back on land in 2 weeks, but I will post before then!]

Cyril wear his Pistol then and has the others do the same. The sword is OK as long as it is in the scabbard and stays there , barring some sort of serious fight.

Cyril will lead, followed by Natalie and Kat, then the others with Duke in the rear where he can look around freely


OOC - No issues, didn't know that but will keep it in mind across all games.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 282):

You form up roughly and walk out, somewhat less formally than those you went to meet. Despite the high altitude, the air is thick, as predicted, but breathable. The race have claw-like fingers, but it is their attention to detail that sticks out on closer inspection. The uniforms are meticulous, and the movements of those falling in behind you are well practiced and faultless. As you approach those at the rear, you are greeted respectfully and asked to accompany them to formal meeting chambers.

We Nod agreement, following while we see if our translators have figured out enough of the language to function at some level.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 284):

With the locals using Low Vilani, you can understand them easily enough. You are led towards the edge of the plateau where a large structure stands. It is like a squashed ball in shape, with about six floors indicated by the bands of glass windows. A door opens as you approach, and your guard stops there as you are beckoned to follow the two leaders inside.

We follow, Natalie doing the talking as Cyril speaks only high Vilani and suspects it would create more problems than it would solve, but he follows the conversations very closely, offering comments in English to Natalie and asking her to relate what is said, back to the others, regardless of their language skills.

She will listen and looks to see if they react to her differently and are there woman around on their side.

In reply to Katherine 'Kat' Steele (msg # 287):

With Natalie translating into English, most of the officials talk to Natalie, through the body language addresses Cyril. It is hard to tell if there are women among them, as the race is alien and you are not sure of their biology. But they do not appear to treat any of you differently.

Led into a large entrance hallway, you are met by several individuals in somewhat more exquisite ceremonial dress. It appears to be very fine durasteel threads with gold and silk interwoven. More surprisingly, there is a human there in a very unusual but unmistakably Vilani outfit. Standing as a group near a door on the opposite side of the room, they invite you to enter what appears to be a conference hall.

The human is male?

we follow along and do as bid, while watching and trying to remember all we see.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 289):

Yes, the human is male, typical Vilani, though somehow different.

You are ushered into what is clearly a conference room, with a large glass wall opposite you through which you can see the most ordered metropolis within the mountain you have ever seen. It is a classical grid pattern, with street spacings and lights synchronized so that no vehicle stops. Different layers make it an extraordinary scene.

While you are transfixed, one of the aliens gets up to speak in low Vilani, though more accented.

"Welcome to Elom. You are the first guests we have had in 500 years. We are a peaceful and ordered society who like all things to be in their place. However, our last guests, whose descendants are here with us, informed us of the mighty Vilani empire, who do not like the idea of us being independent, and we are told the defeat and control any other race they come into contact with. They had not heard of you, however, so tell us about yourselves. "

OK, Natalie, if you would give them the run down with your Visual Pad please.

Duke looked out of the window, and all the agitation about going unarmed and unarmoured fled as he saw the vision. It was kind of breathtaking from an engineer's perspective, everything seemed to fit perfectly and work  in a way that had an odd aesthetic appeal.

He'd learned to program a while back, but had always loved the way engines, machines and computers could flow and move with some kind of purpose and rhythm to it - it was also like his guitar, he considered.

"Well, aint that something" he said before the conversation started up.

In reply to Raymond 'Duke' Vurhund (msg # 292):

"Of course, sir."

As she starts, they offer her a plug for her screen. It is of typical Vilani design, a design that has not changed in centuries as there was never any need to. A design that she would have an adapter for, so she plugs it in. Vilani standardization proves once again to be invasive, and the large projector screen lights up with the contents of her tablet.

Natalie proceeds to give a brief history of the last 20 years of Terrans interactions with the Vilani in a brief she had clearly prepared earlier. Towards the end, she pauses and looks at Cyril at about the time when she would move on to the meeting with the Labrysians.

Duke, for much of it, is transfixed by what is happening out the window. History was never his strongest point, and this history lesson he knew very well anyway. The well ordered city, on the other hand, was something new. The cars seemed to be electric, perhaps with a central control, you wonder, noting the number of small signal and control antenna at regular intervals on the roads. There are a number of antigrav vehicles floating around as well, all at set altitudes. You note that emergency services seem to use antigrav vehicles, and these have their own altitude that others do not enter, and cross only with caution.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:25, Thu 04 Oct 2018.

Cyril nods and tells her to fill them in on the restoration of the Labrysian's Republic.

Kat just listens as she figures enough people are talking. She continues to look around.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 294):

Most of the initial focus was looking at the way in which the Vilani had largely been ineffective in dealing with Terrans, but as Natalie described the end of the first Interstellar war in 2122 the human proposed that the Vilani simply did not take any notice of the barbarians as they were beneath their notice. He smiled as Natalie described the progress of the third war up until 2148, however, towards the end of the discussion he fell silent with mild surprise as Natalie recounted the successful counterattacks and the lack of Vilani response, culminating in a peace agreement that still held.

At Cyrils comments, she continued.

Covering the meeting with the Labrysians, the Government and the Rebel forces and the resultant end of the conflict. This particular chapter engages their interest much more keenly, and there is some disagreement between them regarding whether trading would be worthwhile.

Once Natalie finishes her discussions of recent history, she sits, and opens the floor for questions. The human is the first to speak.

"So the Vilani have accepted the loss of a planet? When our forefathers left, they vowed to seek out and subjugate any Vilani dissidents...do you know if that policy has changed?" He addresses Cyril in High Vilani.

Responding, Cyril replies (in High Vilani) The Policy may still exist, but it is not acted upon. The leadership has fragmented in it's priorities and does not work together toward a common goal. The emperor seems weak and the imperium seems to almost be several different  polities led by warlords. If nothing happens soon, I expect the Vilani Empire will soon fall apart into smaller sectors under strong leaders. The Terran empire is small but active, driven and quite willing to take over disgruntled Vilani systems, which it has done quickly and effectively. It will be the equal of most of the ex-Vilani Warlords sectors.  There are a few distant sectors which may be bigger, but are not close enough to matter until the warlords between us are dealt with. Meanwhile we grow and gain strength through trade and alliances.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 297):

"You do realize that the Vilani warlords usually command hundreds of systems, and would no doubt be happy to add yours to them as you are no doubt weaker than any sector command. What steps have been taken to stop a powerful leader rising to power in the sectors that border Terran space?"

Duke wandered around, casting half an ear to listening to the conversation as it unfolded, but ultimately was still mesmerised by the way in which the city was made. IT seemed very alien to anything even resembling villani and he wondered  what might be present that was hidden from his initial glances.

A good port or harbour he thought before reaching into his pocket to retrieve a cigar, and placing it in between his teeth. He glanced around the room and then leaned back against the window and drew a wooden piece to light.

In reply to Fate (msg # 298):

Actually I think you are mistaken, those close are weaker and those big enough are far away and have other issues to solve before they can get to us. There are other differences as well, not the least being the Vilani's unimaginative approach to most problems. So who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?

OOC - I am assuming I do not recognize this human and he doesn't recognize me?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 300):

"I am Harigura Sarashid, a Kimashargur dissident, or at least an ancestor of one. We created a pocket empire in the Dingir region comprising of a number of colonies living peacefully outside of the Vilani empire proper about 1200 years ago, before the Imperium gathered a war fleet and forcibly annexed any and all dissidents they could find. At that time, our ancestors fled towards here, slowed by the lack of supplies and difficulty in navigating. A base was established in this sector and we slowly, over the course of the next 500 years, moved this direction before deciding to stay here and live peacefully here. But if we are discovered, they will forcibly come and annex us too.

The Vegans thought that they could defeat them 200 years ago. They had a powerful star empire with about 10 planets and two home worlds that were defended so heavily that not even the entire Imperial fleet could break through it. But they were reduced to nothing by barrage after barrage of nuclear missiles, until nothing was left to defend.

A leadership change may have occurred that is not interested in expansion now, but what is to say another leadership change will not change that back? What then?

The Apishlun and Dingir systems each contain many systems more than you, each with at least 20 systems which by now no doubt contain strong populations with high production capacity. Can you match even their productions?"