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"So then I told him. 'You don't have to thank me. I was promised an FTL core, and I intend to collect!' The look on the Admiral's face was fantastic. I don't think he was expecting that." Srettia explained, shoveling yet another spoonful of eggs into her mouth.

Ankiah laughed and poked at her oatmeal. "That's amazing. I wonder if I can swipe a ship like that. Though I bet they're wise to that scheme now."

"Srettia just got lucky." Michael said, also sitting down with his morning meal. "I don't think you should plan on having to save a stupid pilot from death. If you're really that interested, you should ask for one when you meet with the union president. I'm sure he'd hand one over to get on your good side."

"Maybe. But from what I've seen, it wouldn't surprise me if we ran across a Terran that needed saving on our way to Earth." Ankiah replied, wondering just what exactly this oatmeal was. "Why is there no meat in my breakfast?"

Srettia chuckled and pushed some of her bacon over. " Oatmeal is just like... oats and water, with some flavour. did you not specify you wanted fruits or meats in it?"

Michael got back up and walked over to the fabricator, printing out some more bacon and fruits for the two hungry ladies. "Ehh, happens. a lot of people just like a bit of milk or cream in their oatmeal."

Srettia snatched the newly printed bacon and some apple slices as Michael sat down and gave a hum of satisfaction. "I, for one, like fruit and meats for my breakfast. I've had enough of that mushy kind of food."

Eyeing the new platter, Ankiah studied the colours, contemplating which one she liked the most. "I like some sweet clocete shoots for breakfast. But uhh. I haven't really found anything like that in the Terran food system yet." she replied, throwing a few oranges into her bowl and smushing them into her oats.

"Your both wrong." Michael interrupted." Toast, eggs and some ham with veggie juice is the way to go." He stated, sipping on his dark green drink while the girls continued their meal.

Srettia scented the air and scowled at Michael's drink in disgust. "No, thanks. It looks like you're drinking moss juice. I've had enough of that too."

Silently, Yirphayen calmly floated into the room, chiming a soft tune of greeting as it took up a spot in front of a custom UV lamp. "Hello, carbon friends. How was your rest cycle?"

Michael noticed that Ankiah had begun lazily poking at her food and let out a smile. "It was good, Yirphayen. Nothing out of the ordinary." He assured, not wanting to make a big deal out of the former night's confusion.

Srettia poked Ankiah in the leg and gave her a warm smile. " It was rather pleasant, I think."

Ankiah smiled back and began to once again eat her food, deciding that this trip may not be as disastrous as she thought it might. "My oatmeal is not good."

"It is good to hear things went well. Discounting the plain oatmeal."

"Hey! Good morning Jack, how was your night, buddy?" Michael happily replied as he split his orange in half.

"I spent most of the night helping Yirphayen come up with its own form of etiquette and informing it of the rules and laws of Earth. I was also helping it chose a form appropriate for the upcoming meeting."

"Sounds like a lot of busywork if you ask me." Ankiah spouted, deciding to steal some ham from Michael as he looked into the nearby camera.

"I will also be helping Ankiah with much the same today. So I would suggest she fill up on more than stolen ham."

Srettia giggled as Michael looked at his plate in confusion and decided to go after his toast. "I'm not looking forward to more practice while we wait for the Terran government to figure out what they're doing."

"Adelyn is under the impression that the welcoming ceremony will be held on Earth soil. Most likely on the Yeuslor lift isle."

Ankiah finished shovelling the ham into her mouth and grinned at Michael in triumph. "What's a lift, Isle?"

"It is an artificial island constructed for the purpose of hosting the location of an orbital lift."

"Yeah, what Jack said. Back in the day, it was difficult to get stuff into space. So the governments at the time decided to build an elevator to take stuff up into orbit. The problem was, it required a lot of resources. That was compounded by the fact that we didn't have fabricators yet. The solution was to pool the planet's resources together, make a natural island and stick the lift on it. The island belongs to no one but everyone at the same time, so the people of Earth foot the bill for free access to it." Michael added, pinging his implant to double-check the information.

Ankiah thought for a moment and nodded in understanding. "So, as long as I can get to the lift, I can get into orbit?"

"Exactly. There is an attached space station that doubles as a trading hub and inner-system transport."

Srettia let out a vicious smile and looked to Michael. "So. When are you taking me to inspect that station?"

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"So. This Viscia...... How do we bring her onto our side?" Fleet Admiral Ewart asked, looking over the new fold core plans.

"Well, see, that's the problem. I feel like after reading her personnel file. We should throw some experimental tech her way and see what she comes up with. I mean, quite honestly, sir. If she were a Terran, which, now that I think about it, I suppose technically she is, seeing as she's married that engineer Tanda... But, if she were in Terran space, she would be directing an entire research station herself. Overall though, I think we should send one to the Aaster system and hand her command." Admiral Perrin replied.

"So you're saying we don't need to bring her into Terran space and should just provide her with the tools she needs and see what she comes up with?" Admiral Ewart replied, bringing up a list of research stations in need of command staff.

Admiral Perrin sighed and thought deeply on the matter. "Honestly, I want her. But I feel... I think they need to... How do I word this properly? I feel they need to show themselves that they are capable of advancing on their own if given the tools to do so. We should provide Viscia with the same equipment our best minds have, along with research we've deemed useless or abandoned. I believe she'll have a different outlook on many of our projects."

Admiral Ewart nodded in agreeance to the statement. "I think I know where you're going. Provide her with the tools and see what she comes up with. If she invents something new, we can foster trade between our people and strengthen our alliance."

"Not so much, sir. Whatever the people of Aaster come up with, I'm sure they'll share it freely with us. I just think giving her what she needs to work with is the best solution currently. It lets her stay with her people while advancing our understanding of the universe. I mean, suppose we convince her to come to Terran space. We bring her to work in a research station and give her everything she needs. From what I'm reading of their leader, First Tail Chrarada would request half our military as compensation. Maybe more. If she stays in Aaster space, all we lose is a research station." Admiral Perrin replied, looking over the extensive 'DO NOTS' list in the Chrarada file.

"Agreed, Chrarada is not one to cross. So we outfit and send an entire station just for her. She makes things and shares them with us. That's what you think?" Ewart replied, raising his brow.

"Yes, sir." Perrin replied, ignoring his look of interest.

Admiral Ewart smiled and happily leaned back in his chair. "Good. I think so too. I just wanted to make sure you were on the same page with my decision to hand Odudrel station over. We are not in the business of snatching allied resources away. Understood."

Admiral Perrisn sighed as a pressure suddenly faded from the room. "Yes, sir. I will not interfere with Viscia in the slightest."

"Now. Onto the next topic. Outfitting and mass production of the new fold core within the military and redeploying the updated grav spikes. How soon can it be done?" Admiral Ewart said as a genuine smile crept across his face.

Admiral Perrin, however, frowned. "Well, we need to refit large portions of the Jupiter dockyards. That would take about two to three weeks. Once that's done, as the docks spin up, maybe one ship per two days. Once we get a few, we can stock the new grav spikes onto those ships and move them around Terran space. This will let the crews get used to the new drive and will allow us to deploy the spikes in a timely manner. This way, it can get done before we let the fold cores into civilian hands."

"I see. So once the dock refit is complete were looking at tens of ships rolling out with the spikes daily. Make it happen. I want everyone you can spare on it."

Nodding, Admiral Perrin sent for an officers meeting and issued a recruitment request. "Understood, sir. Anything else?"

Shaking his head, Fleet Admiral Ewat stood from his chair and walked towards the door. "No. Be sure to keep yourself in check, and I won't have to visit you like this. I'd rather have a friendly chat with my friend Adelyn over technology concerns. Not Admiral Perrin."

"My apologies, sir. I will not let you down again. You should get going. I believe you have an important meeting with both Captain Michael and the Union President today." Admiral Perrin finished.

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"Hey, you're getting pretty good at this." Michael stated, watching as Srettia walked down the hall towards him.

"I feel like I have a rod shoved up my rear." Srettia replied, sweeping her leg elegantly as she turned to the side.

Michael let out a laugh as he watched Srettia begin to move back down the hall... "Okay, That caught me off guard. You would never expect that coming from the picture of elegance that is the current you."

Ankiah Stepped around the corner swaying her hips as she gracefully put one foot in front of the other. "I like this walk better. It's like my legs were built for this."

"According to my scans, they were. It is why I suggested this style of walk. It is elegant while being comfortable. Though it could be considered seductive in some circles."

Michael nodded. " I can see it. What else is on today's menu."

"A pause. Fleet Admiral Ewart has entered the hangar. He is under light guard."

Michael raised an eye and let out a light chuckle. "How do you know that, pal?"

"Adeyln's security measures were useful for only so long, and I had a full night to come up with a way around it. However, I will be unable to access any important systems. At the moment, I only have access to cameras and speakers."

Srettia let out a laugh and began walking towards the common room. "You're going to get in trouble, Jack."

"That is if she catches me. He has arrived"

Yirphayen mimicked the buzzer sound as it came from the room it was studying in and positioned itself near a chair. "The carbon forms at the door have many mineral formations within their fluid systems. Some are very sharp and contain energy."

Michael waved Ankiah into the room and walked towards the door. "Yeah, I bet the Admiral has more than knives hidden on him."

Answering the door, Michael gave a salute to the older-looking gentlemen and stood to the side while welcoming him in. "Sir, It's an honour to meet you."

Admiral Ewat only returned the salute as he walked past Michael and into the ship. "Mind if I come in, Captain."

"Of course not, sir." Michael replied as the Admiral continued his walk into the ship. "The dignitaries are in the common room. I would request that you keep your guard outside with our own, please."

The Admiral raised his brown and nodded to his guard. " You don't think I'm a threat, do you, Captain?"

"Of course not, sir. But It's my duty as both a guard and husband to keep as many weapons away from the dignitaries as possible."

The Admiral smiled at the response and turned to give Michael a friendly slap on the back. "Good answer. I don't let weapons near my wife if I can help it either! Let's go meet the ambassadors then, shall we?"

Michael exhaled and led the Admiral into the common room, deciding to step off to the side as he introduced the V.I.Ps. "Admiral Ewart. I Present Srettia Esithn Graeme of the Aasteran People."

Srettia slow stood and gave the Admiral a practiced bow, bending her knees and flaring her hood in a circle. "It is an honour to meet you, Fleet Admiral Ewart."

The Admiral could hardly contain his joy and smiled at the dignitaries. "We are behind closed doors. Please, no need to be so formal with me."

Ankiah relaxed and lazily slumped in her chair. "Good, I'm not a fan of the whole prim and proper stuff anyway."

Yirphayen sang a song of greeting and radiated the colours of friendship. "Hello, Fleet Admiral Ewart. I am Yirphayen of the Eaenhreph. I am to believe you hold a powerful position within the Terran Political system. It is a great joy to meet you."

Ewart quickly took an empty chair and eagerly leaned forward, motioning for quiet as he gathered his thoughts. "You. No. I am in awe. Never in my life did I expect that we Terrans would find Aliens... Your people. Now I sit face to face with the three of the most important beings in Terran space. Whether you agree with me or not is irrelevant. You are just that. How history remembers these next few steps we take together. Well, that's to be seen, but I hope we can be friends going forward. I rather like the idea of retiring to study an alien culture."

Michael sat next to Srettia and placed his hand on her knee. "Well, I'm sure you know that it's not all fun and games out there. I have some data for you."

Admiral Ewart nodded. "Yes, I heard. While I am here for that as well, I felt inclined to make it a point to introduce myself before the. I'm sorry I didn't get your name." He said, looking over to Ankiah.

"I bet you did. You just want to make it look like you learnt it from me. So you can look all propper and stuff." Ankiah stated with a smug face.

Admiral Ewart let out a laugh and nodded. "You would be correct, miss Ankiah of the Voktlix. I am apprised of everything that's going on in Terran space. That includes the fact that every being on this moon base has been designated your guard force."

Ankiah's mouth dropped open as she looked to Michael for confirmation.

Shrugging, Michael only leaned back into the couch. "Don't look at me. I know we had some stealth troops following us around besides our two guards. But I didn't know we had the entire base watching our every step."

"Though we have not met. I assume that means you know of my existence?"

The Admiral nodded and looked into a camera. "I was the one who had to sign off on the papers allowing Dr. Leviye to produce his 'spawn unit' as he put it. He fought a tough battle to convince his supervisors that it would be safe, you know." Ewart let out a laugh as he remembered the shocking scene of the two men crashing into his office in power armour. "He and that crazy man Aldon stole a supply ship and nearly crashed it into my office to make their demand. It was an interesting day."

"I was unaware of something like that happening. Any other interesting topics I should know about."

Michael laughed at the thought and looked into the camera. "Looks like we have a doctor to shakedown when we get to Eris, eh pal?"

Ankiah laughed as she thought of meek-looking doctors beating up a Fleet Admiral. "I want to come. That sounds like fun."

Ewart frowned and waved off the group. "I'll keep my mouth shut on things related to the doctors then. Those two broke so many regulations you wouldn't believe." Suddenly looking down at his watch, which began beeping, the Admiral let out a frown of disappointment. " I fear my time is up. Captain Michael, you are to continue your duties as a personal escort. Also, I'm going to need that data now."

Michael stood and shot the Admiral a quick salute as he turned to walk towards the secure box he had brought with him. "Gimme a sec to get this guy out, and you can be on your way, Admiral." Taking a few seconds to open the box, he walked back over to the Admiral and handed over the file. "That's it. My job with that guy is now done, sir."

Taking a moment to inspect the sealed file from Michael, The Admiral shot him a salute and turned to the door. " Thank you for the hard work, Captain. I'll see you at the welcoming ceremony."

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