All That Glitters Ch. 30

"Very well then, we shall come to the Koh-Tan within one nanton to pick up the negotiations where they last ended, Sha-Ret. Until then," Raymond signed off.

Koh-Tan Se-Lam Roe ot Shem, Interstellar Space

The shuttle landed in the designated bay and was met by the negotiating team, the Jurte Pair, and the same Speaker as had travelled with Mind-Ur during their trip around Union space. Raymond, the two ambassadors, Kim, Gillaya, Ayesha, Dr. Syun Chu a Social Anthropologist from the Piscium Scientific Investigation Team, and Junelliya, formally greeted the negotiating team and their hosts, the Jurte Pair before Raymond turned to the Speaker.

"Speaker, it is good to see you again," Raymond said.

"And I you, Raymond of the Union," the Speaker returned. "How does our mutual friend fair, Raymond, in your Union?"

"She is doing well, Speaker," Raymond replied. "Though she misses her people of course."

"As would be expected, Raymond. One cannot turn away a lifetime of work and tradition without some consequences," the Speaker admitted.

"Why are you here, Speaker?" Raymond asked.

"As the Jurte Pair is the host, a Speaker is required for any negotiations to be official, Raymond. As I have travelled with you, I have been selected to ensure the needs of the Empire are met," the Speaker revealed.

"I would have thought that would be the duty of the Emperor's selected team, Speaker," Raymond commented, a little confused.

"It is so, Raymond," the Speaker admitted. "However, tradition being what it is, a Speaker is required to finalize any negotiations. This team has indicated that it is potentially ready to commit to certain agreements today, so a Speaker must be there if they do, Raymond."

"Then I am pleased that you are present under those circumstances, Speaker," Raymond said with a short bow.

"Sha-Ret, this is our first time on the Koh-Tan, are we to be graced with a tour of your vessel?" Raymond asked.

"Regretfully, Raymond, the Koh-Tan is many times the size of your vessel," Kur-Han stated. "It would take more time than we have at our disposal to provide a tour of the same level as we had of your vessel, Raymond.

"We will of course show you some of the ship, but this tour will be somewhat more constrained than your tour was. We mean no ill will to you and your people by this act, Raymond, we are simply giving in the realities of the situation and ask your understanding," Kur-Han finished.

"Very well, I understand, though I do hope that we will get to see more of this great ship in the future," Raymond stated for the record.

The group left the large landing bay and headed for the command deck where they received a short tour. Then Raymond and his team entered a large conference room with the Empire's negotiation team.

Kim and Gillaya were left outside the door, waiting for their boss to finish. It was a tense wait, as many of the Rai on the command deck were making comments of Kim's size, until Gillaya let them know that it was Kim who had taken Nam-Hur Ro's Ga-Den.

"Kherd!" one of the Rai exclaimed. "This little pup was able to take down that Ro. I find that hard to believe!"

Kim's Katana flashed and the Rai who had called Kim a 'little pup' found herself instantly missing half her hair. When other Rai inspected the 'trim' they found that the hair had been shorn very close to the scalp without cutting the skin. After that, comments about Kim ceased and the Rai gave the pair a wide berth.

After some time, food was brought to those on duty on the command deck. Kim heard Gillaya's stomach growl and laughed. She reached down to the backpack she had brought and opened it, pulling two Bento boxes out, tossing one to Gillaya.

When the pair opened the boxes, heads all over the command deck turned toward them. Kim was kneeling on the deck, using chop sticks to eat her meal, a delicious dinner of chicken fried rice, various steamed vegetables in a hot sauce, some boiled eggs and a wafer heavily laden with honey as dessert.

The Pod-Drran nearest her moved over to take bigger whiffs of the interesting smells. Kim smiled. She took out eight more Bento boxes and placed them separately on the floor in front of her, looking directly at a female Pod-Drran who was dressed in the Ga-Den of the Merchants and Trades Services Class.

The female smiled at her and came to sit, cross legged, in front of Kim. "It smells wonderful," she said by way of opening a dialogue.

"It may smell wonderful, but some of the flavours are too intense for some Pod-Drran. Others, the Pod-Drran seem to love," Kim returned.

"So, it is hit or miss?" the female asked.

"It can be," Kim admitted. "I am Oshiiru Kimiko, Kim for short. You may think of my friend and I (she pointed to Gillaya) as Jurte Rai."

"Ged-Han Mae," the female responded.

"Merchant or trades?" Kim asked.

"Merchant, but there is little call for that until we get to The Home Star," Ged-Han replied.

Kim returned a non-committal murmur by way of reply.

"Will you eat all of these?" Ged-Han asked, curious.

"No," Kim admitted. "I have two more in my pack that we will eat later if needed. These, I have brought for trade."

"Trade? You, a Jurte Rai, will trade?" a surprised Ged-Han asked.

"Are you sharpening your trading claws in your mind, Ged-Han?" Kim asked in a playful tone, surprising the merchant in front of her.

"You can see into my mind, Kim?" Ged-Han asked.

Kim barked a laugh. "No, Ged-Han," Kim admitted. "However, traders all over the galaxy are the same," she informed Ged-Han.

Ged-Han gave Kim a tight-lipped, Pod-Drran smile. "I suppose they would be," she admitted.

Kim reached down and picked up a closed box. "These are called Bento Boxes, in my homeland," Kim explained. "The word means convenience but has come to mean a lunch box. I made these myself."

Kim opened the box and let the scents carry to Ged-Han, whose mouth literally watered.

"We have some rice, mixed with little pieces of meat and flavoured with salty soy sauce, which gives it the dark colouring. There is some pork meat that I left in a sauce all night before I cooked them, we call that marinating but I don't think that word translates, I then placed them in this box. There are different vegetables, these are pickled in different sauces to bring different flavours out.

"In the box that I am currently eating, the vegetables are raw and not flavoured. However, I do have extra flavoring in the rice. I also have hard-boiled eggs, and mustard sauces to dip the vegetables in," she told Ged-Han, while pointing out the various features as she spoke.

"Nothing in these boxes is dangerous to the Pod-Drran, but flavours are a different matter. Some Pod-Drran may not like all that is in a box," Kim informed.

"These are beautiful boxes," Ged-Han said.

"These are common items on my home world. So common, they are used for disposable lunch boxes," Kim explained, getting a surprised look from Ged-Han. "If you ate what was inside, and cleaned it, it would make an excellent gift for a special friend," she said, giving a wink to Ged-Han, who smiled in return. She had not thought of that but this was something of a surprise use, especially considering that each box was different.

"You do not reuse the boxes for other lunches?" Ged-Han asked.

"Of course," Kim conceded. "But these are all new boxes, as I thought I might lose them to some of your people today."

Ged-Han smiled. She looked closer at Kim's outfit. "May I?" she asked, leaning in to touch the colourful outfit.

"It is made with silk," Kim explained, as Ged-Han felt the material. "This is imported directly from our original home world, Terra. It is the only place that silk can be made, so it is expensive off the planet."

"How expensive?" Ged-Han asked.

"One meter," Kim showed her with her hands approximately how long a meter was, "would cost around six credits on Terra. On Liramor Prime, where my family lives now, we would be lucky to find rough silk for twenty credits a meter, and it would cost twice as much for fine silk, which this outfit is made with," Kim told her. "This outfit would require a minimum of three meters of silk to make."

So, 140 credits worth of material and labour then, Ged-Han thought. One could double the price of a finished piece such as this one wears.

"It is very colourful," Ged-Han said. "And this pattern on the silk?"

"My family crest, with a modification to make it my own symbol," Kim explained.

"Your weapons are unlike anything I have ever seen before," Ged-Han said, looking at the green coloured weapons.

Kim drew her Tanto and showed it to Ged-Han. The Rai in the room suddenly took note of the little weapon. Kim held the weapon loosely in her fingers and flicked the steel with the finger of her other hand, causing it to make its distinctive sound.

Kim flipped the weapon through her fingers, showing that it was superbly balanced. The Rai had all taken note. Kim returned the blade to its scabbard and took out her Wakizashi, showing the blade to Ged-Han, who noted the inscriptions on each side.

"What do they say?" Ged-Han asked.

"It is the name of the weapon 'Protector of the Destroyer'," Kim told her. "The Katana, the other sword is named 'Destroyer of Evil'. On the other side is the name of the person who made the weapon."

Kim flicked the steel, getting a similar sound to that of the Tanto. She returned the sword to its Saya.

"They say you Terrans use your weapons differently than our Warrior Class. Can you show us some of your sword exercises?" Ged-Han asked.

Kim nodded, stood, and moved into the center of the room where there was space to move about. She knelt and took in a cleansing breath. Then she moved.

She stood and drew the Katana so fast that the action was a mere blur to those watching. She moved through several exercises and forms, always in motion, only stopping for a fraction of a second to show the effect of a blade thrust, or strike. After a couple of minutes, she performed a traditional Noto, bringing the sword back to its Saya and sealing it in place with the distinctive click of closure.

Kim sat back down in front of Ged-Han, who was looking at her with new-found respect.

"I have never seen sword play like that before," Ged-Han stated for all on the command deck. "It was most amazing to watch and I thank you for that demonstration."

"That was only a simple sword Kata, or exercise. There are many more than that and some much more complex," Kim explained, getting a nod of understanding from Ged-Han which she could see being repeated by the other Rai in the room.

Ged-Han brought her fingers together and clicked her nails in front of her. "Shall we get down to business," she asked of Kim, with a smile. The trading was brisk and very profitable for Kim.

************

The negotiations were intense, as was to be expected. The two teams covered many items, from general trade to more specific items of science and electronics. Raymond had let the Pod-Drran know, in no uncertain terms, that FTL technology was not on the table and would not be for some time in the future.

Most of Raymond's team let him and the two ambassadors work the trade deals, contributing on occasion to specific questions. Junelliya was sitting beside Raymond and he frequently interacted with her in quiet head-to-heads.

"Raymond, why is it that you interact so frequently with Junelliya, who tended to our brood while we were on your ship?" Sha-Ret finally asked.

"I told you previously, Sha-Ret," Raymond answered, "that I considered your brood to be important to me while you and your family were on my ship. Junelliya is not one who normally tends a brood, Sha-Ret. She is a person whose counsel I respect.

"You did note that not only Junelliya, but Ululla Mbibo, my most trusted warrior, was part of the team that supported your brood on my ship, did you not Sha-Ret? Do you understand now, how much importance the Union places on these talks?" Raymond asked. Sha-Ret nodded, suddenly much more aware of the situation.

"Junelliya, if I may ask, what is your specific function at this table?" Sha-Ret asked.

"It is not my place to speak at this table, Sha-Ret," Junelliya answered. "I provide support to Raymond, my employer, and answer the questions he puts to me regarding that which has occurred. Raymond's mind is on the negotiations, while mine is on the interplay between the various team members. I am also looking at how these items would be received in Union space. These are the questions I answer for Raymond."

"Very valuable counsel indeed," Sha-Ret remarked. "And you Dr. Ayesha, are you here as an observer too?" Sha-ret asked.

"No, I am a delegate," Ayesha said. "My knowledge of human medical practices, techniques, and machinery is an asset to mutual trade items between our peoples."

"You Dr. Syun Chu, what is your role here and, why does the translator do funny things when we say Doctor for you?"

"With the Pod-Drran a doctor is a Sin-Dae or Sin-Don," Dr. Syun began. "With humans, this can also be true, however, the term Doctor is a specific honorarium, a distinction given to those who have completed specific instructions.

"Humans go through education at several different levels. The first is Primary School, which teaches the basics. The second is Secondary School, which prepares our teenagers, your Kisory, to be part of the greater whole of humankind.

"There is a third level of education beyond Secondary School, which can be referred to in different ways. You can go to Trades School, where you learn a specific trade, or you can go for Post Secondary Education, College or University. College provides you with a certification in specific trades and businesses, while University provides you with higher education levels in different fields, a degree.

"In university, there are three levels of degrees: the Bachelor, the Master, and Doctoral degrees. I am referred to as a Doctor because I have achieved the highest level in my field. I have a major and a minor degree, which means that I have a degree of focused studies as well as a degree that supplements the major. My major degree is in Social Anthropology, the study of societies and cultures and how they interact. My minor degree is in economics and how it interacts between societies and cultures.

"That is why I have been asked to attend these meetings. I am to try to prevent major changes to both of our cultures due to the introduction of significant items into each other's societies," Dr. Syun explained.

"I do not understand," Hat-Mun Lom-Mae stated. "Is it not in your interest to sell and create a market for your items?"

"It is," Raymond assured her. "However, humans have had a history introducing items that severely damage unprepared cultures by making unexpected and serious changes to their societies. We would prevent that if possible.

"In your people's case, Kur-Han, you are a space faring race, yet you are also very much a warrior based race that would attack humans or other species you deem to be inferior to yourselves. Which, in accordance with your doctrines, is anyone other than the Pod-Drran.

"We too, were once like that, however, we have learned over the centuries that this attitude does not work very well when dealing with other cultures. For this reason, we will not give you our FTL drive or its components as you would eventually pose a threat to us.

"We cannot and will not allow that as that would necessitate the destruction of your people. That is something we wish to avoid, if possible. Isolating your people is a better option for us than destroying your species.

"That does not stop us from trading items that would help you advance yourselves. For instance, we note that you have serious problems with pollution on your planet. We can provide technology that will help you in that regard. That is part of these negotiations in fact. You also have items of interest for our people," Raymond ended.

"Very well then, Raymond of the Union. It is obvious that we will not come to an agreement this day. I therefore move that we end discussions for now and conduct more negotiations at a later time," Kome-Nar, the head of the Pod-Drran delegation stated.

"I agree, there is still too much on the agenda and little that could be included in an agreement this day. Very well, we shall end negotiations for the day and resume on another day," Raymond finished.

*************

As the door opened on the conference room, Kim was chatting with several of the Pod-Drran. Raymond gave her a significant look and she just patted her backpack and raised an eyebrow by way of commentary.

The group was guided back through the ship to the docking bay they had arrived in.

As the group slowly made its way through the open docking bay on its return to the shuttle, they were suddenly confronted by a large Rai with a small group of Kirlen in tow and a larger group of likely supporters behind her.

"Kit-Zur Rai, what are you doing here?" Sha-Ret demanded of the other Rai. There was a snarl in her voice as Kit-Zur was a long-time and bitter rival of Sha-Ret.

The other Rai gave Sha-Ret a rather nasty, open-mouthed smile, a Pod-Drran challenge.

"Sha-Ret Sai-Rai, I have come to exercise my right to Yudha-Seypec!" the Rai snapped.

"Kit-Zur Rai, I decline challenge, as is my right as Jurte," Sha-Ret spoke clearly but formally.

"It is not you whom I challenge, Sha-Ret, it is your pet, Raymond of the Union," the Rai snarled gleefully enjoying the shock she was creating amongst the senior leadership.

"The Terran is not part of our people, Kit-Zur. He and his people are exempt of the Yudha-Seypec," Kur-Han returned.

The Speaker thumped his staff of office on the deck and all commentary stopped.

"While it is true that Raymond and his group are not of our people, they are on this ship and thus subject to the laws of our people. What is it that you want, Kit-Zur Rai?" the Speaker demanded.

"I want to test myself against these humans who have already bested a notable Ro," Kit-Zur stated, making sure that all knew her disdain for the humans she saw before her.

"And if they decline, Kit-Zur?" the Speaker asked.

"Then I want them banned from ever again interacting with our people, Speaker!" the grin on Kit-Zur's face said it all, she knew she had them over a barrel. She could halt all future progress in the negotiations or force combat against one of the humans. She was positive she would win that combat.

The uproar that resulted from her comment was ended when the Speaker slammed his staff of office into the deck.

"Challenge has been made," the Speaker spoke in stentorian tones, silencing all. "It is your right, Kit-Zur. However, you walk a thin edge by doing this. If you succeed and defeat this human, you may start a war between our people. A war that we cannot win.

"This goes against the wishes of the Emperor himself. If you fail, you could become Kirlen to this human, who will take you away from your people. Or you will be killed according to the laws of our people for defying the will of the Emperor.

"Why do you seek to do this, Kit-Zur, when it goes against all that is good for our people?" the Speaker demanded.

"I do not believe that these humans are able to destroy this fleet or our home planet. I do not believe that these people can defeat a determined Rai in battle. I do this for the benefit of our people, Speaker," Kit-Zur stated, for the record, never once taking her eyes of Sha-Ret Sai-Rai.

"That is not true, Kit-Zur," Junellieya said in the sudden silence. "I saw how you were looking at Sha-Ret while you made your bold statement. You don't care at all about your people. You just want to do something that will prove a threat to your rival, a person who you cannot legally challenge."