Firebrand

"Here here!" the Elysian ambassador bellowed, rising to his feet and slamming his furry fist down on the table. He seemed to have been moved by her speech, his amber eyes full of fire, his sharp teeth bared in a wide grin. "You already have my vote."

"Please save your comments until after the presentation," the Admiral muttered. "A rousing speech, Ensi," he continued as he turned back to Netza. "Your candor is appreciated, but what exactly are you offering?"

"We have seventeen ships of the line," Cuetz replied, hopping up onto the table and taking Netza's place as her counterpart sat back down. "Their modular nature means that they can be configured as carriers that can deploy dropships and fighter wings, retrofitted with railguns to make them into gunships, or they can be used as point defense platforms using their laser batteries. Our shipyards are already constructing more. They are jump-capable, and are roughly the equivalent of your frigate class."

"Yes, we have more detailed specifications that were transmitted by Captain Fielding of the Rorke," the Admiral said as he glanced down at his tablet. "I have to say, having a Coalition member who is able to contribute ships to our fleets would be a welcome addition."

"We have thirty thousand Commandos ready to ship out at a moment's notice," she added. "Our troops are already training with UNN equipment, and are becoming proficient with the XMR platform. We can also provide support personnel, pilots, engineers."

"Yes, we are aware of your species' accelerated learning capacity," Admiral Vos replied, referencing his tablet computer again. "Training spaceship crews and engineering teams is time-consuming, and the other members of the Coalition are not often in a position to contribute in those areas. Members are required to commit five percent of their GDP to defense spending, and I don't think that you'll have any issues in that area."

"We are interested in opening trade routes to Valbara," the Broker interjected, its many cameras and sensors moving independently of one another in a way that made Moralez decidedly uneasy. Its tinny, synthetic voice seemed to be coming from some manner of speaker that was out of view. "The great distances involved will incur additional upfront costs, but we believe that the potential for profit is large enough to justify the initial expenditure. The Valbarans have many unique technologies and cultural artifacts that could be returned to Coalition space, and we have much to offer in return."

"We are especially interested in Coalition medical technology and computer systems," another of the Ensi replied, one whose name Moralez didn't know.

"And the UNN is very interested in finding applications for your laser technology," the Admiral added, one of the Broker's many cameras swiveling in his direction. "It's inferior to our railgun systems for direct combat applications, but it could be used in range-finding and point defense."

"Indeed, we have much to discuss," Netza said. "As there are four of us, perhaps we can speed things along by discussing several areas of interest at once?"

"That's not something we usually do," the Admiral mused, "but I don't see why not."

***

Moralez watched as the Valbarans mingled with the council members, holding four conversations at once. Each Ensi seemed to have committed a specific subject to memory, such as military or economic matters. They had apparently considered art and culture important enough to devote a lot of time to it, something that interested both the Broker and Ambassador Rasheth of the Krell for very different reasons. Rasheth's interest seemed to be entirely based on his own curiosity, while the Broker was more concerned with importing media and cultural oddities. The chorus of simulated and mimicked voices was quite distracting.

Admiral Vos and Ambassador Elysiedde spoke with Cuetz at length about their military capabilities. From what snippets Moralez could catch, they sounded far closer to humanity in terms of technology and tactics than any of the other species. It was all well and good to use Borealan packs as Shock Troopers, or to train Krell to carry heavy weaponry and to act as living armor, but working with another professional fighting force would be a breath of fresh air. Captain Fielding's after-action report from the battle of Valbara extolled their effectiveness, especially as ground troops. The creatures were small and unassuming, but apparently far faster and stronger than they appeared, able to coordinate with their teams in a way that made them fight as though they were a single entity.

Ambassador Zuki of the Araxie was more interested in their culture and their society, quizzing an Ensi who called herself Cotl about their strange, alien cities at length. The Valbaran was able to paint a vivid picture of how their people lived, and more importantly, their attitudes towards aliens. What they described sounded a little too much like a utopia for Moralez, too regimented, too restrictive. Although he couldn't deny that her descriptions made him want to spend his shore leave there, the whole planet sounded like a tropical resort. A nice place to visit, but he wouldn't want to live there...

Korbaz was her usual surly self, sitting apart and not really participating in the discussions very much. Again, Moralez found himself wondering why she was even here.

They spent a couple of hours talking, which was actually rather fast for a council meeting, but none the less made Moralez wish that both of his legs were prosthetic. The Admiral had requested that he personally stand guard, his clearance was high enough that he could be trusted not to disseminate any classified or sensitive information. He also needed to bring in the Bug when the time came.

It was hard to judge how everyone would react, and violence was a distinct possibility from some of the less predictable ambassadors. He couldn't wait to get Blackjack in here, the Krell would be able to halt any hostilities before they began, and he'd avoid hurting anyone in the process.

When they were finally finished, the Admiral called the vote, the Valbarans returning to their respective seats around the table and waiting impatiently.

"I think we've all heard enough to come to a decision," he said, glancing around the table as he steepled his fingers. "To reiterate for our prospective members, each council member gets one vote, and a majority is required to pass the motion."

He paused to take a draw from a bottle of water that an aide had brought in during the session. Despite its relatively short length, two hours and change was still a long time to be sitting still, and even the more stoic of the ambassadors was starting to get restless.

"All in favor of admitting the Valbarans to the Coalition?" he asked, returning his plastic bottle to the table. "You may vote yes, no, or abstain if you so choose."

He gestured to Elysiedde with a gloved hand, moving clockwise around the circular table.

"I vote yes on behalf of my Lord Patriarch," he announced proudly, puffing out his barrel chest. "Elysia values strong allies, and these Valbarans are a tenacious people. Despite their stature, they fight like Borealans, and we would be honored to call them our packmates."

The Valbaran delegates seemed pleased, their feathers flashing in shades of yellow and orange. Next was Ambassador Rasheth, the Krell reaching down to tap at the bulky translator on his wrist, the abundance of charms and pendants that hung from his neck clattering together as he moved.

"I vote in the name of the Elders," he said, the deep resonance of his native language seeming to make the very deck beneath their feet vibrate. It sounded like someone trying to speak through a tuba. There was a brief delay, and then his translator kicked in, the device interpreting his speech somewhat crudely. "Like reflections in a lake, we see much of our soul in these little sisters. They do not erect barriers between themselves and nature, they do not stem the flow. They seek friendship with open arms, free of suspicion, their bellies open and vulnerable. We welcome all who seek protection into our great circle," he added with a dramatic wave of his scaly arm. "The vote that I cast is yes."

Everyone turned their eyes to the Araxie, the alien's velvety, black fur shining under the room's warm lighting. Her outfit was so appropriate for the occasion, yet so out of place on her, only making her seem even more alien to Moralez.

"Ambassadors," she began, turning her head towards the Valbarans and smiling warmly. "My people were only recently admitted to the Coalition. It happened in a room much like this one, in much the same way, and with many of the same fine people present. We too were faced with an external threat to our security," she added, Korbaz scoffing from across the table. Zuki spared her a glance, then continued. "The Coalition offered us their help, knowing that our primitive territory could give them little in return, and now we prosper because of it. The Araxie have never forgotten that generosity, and I would be remiss not to extend that same hand of friendship towards you. I vote in favor of the motion."

The feather displays from the Valbarans grew even more vibrant, flashing in shades of lemon yellow, the aliens whispering to one another excitedly in their fast-paced language. They already had three votes, and they only needed one more for a majority. There was almost no chance of the Broker or the Admiral voting against them.

The Broker was next, seated to their left, or rather standing on its skeletal legs. Its sensors and cameras swiveled as they tracked the council members, its mood impossible to discern. What was it thinking right now? Was it thinking at all? It could be communicating with the other Brokers in ways that the UNN couldn't even detect, or it might be piloted by an entire room of aliens who were sitting light-years away, holding a conference of their own.

"The potential for trade makes this decision an easy one," it said in its synthesized voice, "and growing the alliance makes each member safer. The Brokers vote in support of the motion."

That was it, they were in. Moralez smiled as he watched the Valbarans bob in their seats, their feathers going crazy, but it wasn't over yet. Even if they had enough votes to pass the motion, the council still had to hear from the last two ambassadors. Everyone would get their say, regardless of the outcome.

Korbaz was sitting with her arms crossed, her amber eyes switching between the different council members. Moralez wondered if she was going to vote against them just to be a pain in the ass, he wouldn't put it past her.

"Not that the Rask vote ever counts for much," she muttered, "but I must concur with my Elysian counterpart."

Moralez almost fell over, Korbaz was actually agreeing with Elysiedde. Hell had finally frozen over, and squadrons of pigs were soaring over the base in formation.

"This is a military alliance," she continued, "we need warriors and ships if we are to keep our enemies at bay. My Matriarch welcomes those who are willing to shoulder that burden, to throw themselves into the fires of combat without complaint. As small as these...Valbarans are, they are eager, and they have much to offer. I see no reason to turn away a willing ally."

Last was Vos, and Moralez could already guess how he was going to vote.

"Then it's unanimous," the Admiral said with a clap of his gloved hands. "I vote in favor, of course. The motion is passed. Effective immediately, the planet Valbara is to be made the seventh member of the Coalition. The next steps will be to establish a permanent embassy and to ship some Valbaran personnel to Fort Hamilton for integration training, though it sounds like you already have a head start on that front. Since there is already a Coalition fleet in orbit around Valbara, everything should go smoothly."

"Your generosity continues to humble us," Netza said, all four of the aliens bowing their heads and flashing a feathery salute in deep crimson. "Thank you all for your consideration. This is the Galactic community that our ancestors dreamed of joining when they gazed up at the stars, one born of cooperation and friendship. We will defend it with the same zeal that your own soldiers displayed during the war for our homeworld."

"A satisfying outcome," Elysiedde said jovially. "You should return to Borealis with me, ambassadors, on the flagship of our fleet. We would give you a taste of Elysian hospitality, a banquet in your honor! I promise you that you have never seen such a variety of meat dishes and exotic sauces, the best that the planet has to offer."

"We have not even set foot outside of the council chambers, and already you seek to bribe our new allies with treats?" Korbaz muttered, shooting daggers at him. He shrugged his massive shoulders, returning her angry stare with a toothy grin.

"Dining and politics go hand in hand in Elysia, Ambassador. Perhaps a juicy steak dripping with fish oil would lighten your mood. There is ample room on the flagship for more passengers."

"There is one more matter that needs to be discussed before we adjourn," Admiral Vos said, all eyes turning to him. Moralez felt a knot growing in his stomach. It was finally time for the Admiral to show his hand.

"Let me apologize in advance for being secretive about this," he continued, glancing about the table as the ambassadors looked on in confusion. "But I didn't want it to influence the outcome of the Valbaran vote in any way, and I wanted the Valbarans to be able to have their say too, as this concerns them as much as the rest of us. Now that they have been made full members, they will be able to cast their vote on the matter."

"Are you going to keep teasing us like kittens with a string?" Korbaz complained. "Out with it already."

The Admiral nodded across the room at Moralez, who put a finger to his earpiece, giving Harry the order to bring her in. He folded his prosthetic arms across his chest, waiting, hoping that the Admiral was going about this the right way.

"Know that the safety of this station and its inhabitants is our utmost priority," the Admiral added, "and that all possible precautions have been taken. The subject has been under Marine guard during its entire stay, and we would not be presenting it at this meeting without the certainty that it is completely harmless."

"Are you bringing in a wild Archeox?" Korbaz scoffed, glancing at the door curiously.

"Sir?" Moralez asked, gesturing to the door. "They've arrived."

"Proceed," Vos replied, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers again. Moralez had rarely seen him so worried, his brow was furrowed in a frown, his jaw clenched. The Chief walked over to the door, feeling the eyes of the ambassadors on his back as he opened it, Harry and Blackjack stepping through. Harry's visor was down, perhaps he wanted a little anonymity in this case, and Blackjack was in full combat gear too.

An iridescent glint of pink and white caught the light as the Betelgeusain ambassador walked into the room on her dainty feet, her long, feathery antennae and her gossamer gown seeming to float in the air behind her. She looked about the room with her pink eyes, both pairs of hands clasped neatly in front of her, and then the silence was broken by an angry hiss.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Korbaz bellowed, dragging her hooked claws across the mahogany table and leaving deep furrows in the wood. The Valbarans were flashing shades of shocked yellow and dismayed blue, Elysiedde's cat-like nose wrinkling like a snarling tiger. The Krell and the Araxie were more neutral, certainly shocked, but not reacting so strongly. The Broker's many lenses were fixed on the Bug, it was impossible to ascertain its mood, or whether it had known in advance about the Bug's presence on the station.

"Calm yourself, Vice Admiral," Vos muttered. Korbaz looked about ready to flip the table and start turning people into mincemeat. "You have my assurances that all possible precautions have been taken."

"Why is that thing in our council chambers, rather than lying on a dissection table?" Elysiedde snarled. He was more restrained than Korbaz but obviously just as disturbed, his massive hands clenched into tight fists. The Admiral gestured to the Bug, and she bowed her head deferentially, then began to speak.

"Honorable council members," she began, every eye in the room turning on her.

"It speaks?" Elysiedde wondered aloud, his fascination distracting him from his anger.

"I apologize for any distress that my sudden appearance might have caused you, but it was thought best that my presence on this station remain a secret until I could make my case before you. I have traveled here to serve as an ambassador for my people, to represent the Jarilo colony. My mission is one of peace, of cooperation, of mending."

"Ambassador?" Korbaz snarled, her furious gaze darting between the Bug and the Admiral. "Explain this!"

"During the battle for the planet Jarilo, my colony was defeated," the Bug continued. "We surrendered after being pushed to the brink of extinction, and the Coalition granted us their mercy. For many months now, the colony has been in a state of limbo, its fate uncertain. We had no rights, no status, there was no precedent for what had occurred on Jarilo. Now, I come before you with a plea, that my people be permitted to join your Coalition."

"Bugs do not surrender," Elysiedde snarled, "is this some kind of ruse?"

"I should kill you where you stand for this insult," Korbaz growled, rising to her feet and leaning across the table. "You desecrate the graves of every Rask warrior who has given their lives in service to their Matriarch, and to this Coalition."

"There is much that you do not understand about my people," the ambassador replied. If she was afraid, she was remarkably composed. "There is also much that we can offer you. This opportunity would never have been extended to us otherwise."

"How is it that you can talk?" Zuki asked, the Araxie looking the alien up and down. She seemed more inquisitive than her Borealan counterparts, but it was unlikely that any of her people had been sent into battle against the Bugs yet, she had perhaps the most neutral opinion of them of anyone attending the meeting. "It was my understanding that Betelgeusians only communicated through pheromones?"

"I realize that my mere presence here may be offensive to those of you who have suffered at the hands of my species," she replied, her eyes turning to the carpet. "But no apology that I could give would make up for that. If you would grant me just a few minutes of your time, I can explain everything."

Korbaz looked about ready to pop, and Moralez inched a little closer to her, but her curiosity seemed to get the better of her. She sat back down, drumming her claws on the now scarred table, her round ears flat against her head. The Valbarans remained quiet, huddling together protectively, no doubt wondering what they had gotten themselves into.

"Speak," Rasheth said, his rumbling voice seeming to jolt some of the other ambassadors out of their stupor. "And we will listen."

***

"Of course you would try to distance yourself from the insect hordes who have wreaked bloody havoc across the Galaxy," Elysiedde snarled. "You tell us that you are not like the others, that your hives do not cooperate, that you face the very same threat as civilized peoples from marauding Bug fleets. What a tangled yarn you spin."

"I do not lie to you, honorable Ambassador," she replied with a low bow of her head. She was standing a good distance away from the table, coming closer to the Rask delegate might be unwise. "I speak the truth. Betelgeusians are as much a danger to one another as to alien races. If a hive fleet jumped into orbit around Jarilo tomorrow, they would not make a distinction between the human and Jarilan colonists."