Note: A short chapter for tonight, heading towards the final stretch of this fic now.
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INTERLUDE 10 - Woolsey
Through his career, Richard had been sent into many difficult and challenging political discussions. He had investigated and interviewed a great variety of different people, within many different organisations, and had travelled to a large number of countries and even planets. When the IOA had sent him to the Pegasus galaxy to assist in the tentative political situation with the Alliance, he had known he would be facing even more challenging, yet vital, work. Though, admittedly still somewhat nervous at the prospect, he enjoyed the work. He felt he could contribute much to establishing good connections and common ground between Earth and the Alliance through logical discussion and negotiation. It had started well too, for he had been very successful in working a neat and intelligent trading agreement with Athos.
He had even managed to school Major Sheppard, somewhat, to the delicacies of politics. It was not the easiest of jobs, but the Major appeared well liked on Athos, which wasn't that surprising since he had personally saved the Athosian leader's life – always a good building point for political relations!
He hoped that relations with this new world, Pelydr, would be equally as successful, for from what Major Sheppard had learnt from Leader Torren these people were highly respected throughout the Alliance. If he could help them understand the situation from Atlantis' side, to make them see that the city was not a threat to the military and political balance of the Alliance, then perhaps he could make a real difference.
That had been his goal and his ideal as he had travelled to Pelydr with Major Sheppard and three soldiers as back up. He was used to the military entourage, but today none of them wore obvious weaponry. Richard had been tough on that point, since Torren had appeared to stress it so significantly to the Major. He knew that the soldiers, and Major Sheppard, had concealed weapons, but that should be fine. He wouldn't want them to be unarmed. You never knew what might happen in any meeting, let alone one in the Pegasus galaxy.
That said - he had not really been prepared for how things would be on Pelydr. A race of purple skinned people was bizarre enough to be somewhat distracting, though he strove not to show it, but the complete lack of buildings and the hot sun was not all that was unusual.
He had not expected to conduct the first official meeting between their peoples while sat in a circle of stones in the middle of a park. Not that it wasn't a very attractive setting, with trees dotted around the parkland and the grass only broken up by two long twisting paths outlining the park, along which Pelydrians wandering at ease, no one caring who overheard any discussion in the circle. In the far distance he had caught the shine of sunlight on water, which he was guessing was a lake, and spread around the park there were various other circles of stones surrounding others deep in discussion. He could see some other non Pelydrians within some of those circles, which was good to see. He even recognised a few styles of clothing to identify which planets those other visitors might come from, thanks to Torren's information and those he had met directly on Athos. It was important to learn everything you could, from clothes to gestural styles, of those you negotiated with, for it all gave insight into their culture and intentions.
However, sitting out in a park under the hot sun was a little too much like a garden party for him to feel entirely comfortable, and he was feeling quite out of place.
And uncomfortably warm in his suit.
He had been given a chair to sit on at least, and as he had sat down, he had adjusted it a little further under the shade of the tree near which their 'discussion circle' had been arranged. There were two Pelydrians in the circle with them along with Mata, the Athosian who was ambassador to Pelydr, who he had met back at the Athosian wedding over a month ago. She was a very poised friendly woman, who had many years worth of experience in her work here, and Richard suspected Torren had instructed her to be a helpful facilitator in this meeting.
It appeared that there was no set government on Pelydr. They were run by a highly democratic system, by which regions across the planet appointed someone to sit in the Ruling Circle, which was the closest thing to a ruling body on the planet. It seemed it was a rather relaxed system though, with a region's representative sometimes being who was available that day to stand in as needed in the Ruling circle. That said, Richard suspected the system worked for them, for in just the half hour he had been here, he could see why the Pelydrians were held in such high regard within the Alliance.
They were a very noble people, kind, intelligent, and patient. Even the children he had seen playing in the trees had appeared well behaved. Their laughter and play had seemed joyful, but without the feeling of potential chaos that there usually was around most children. The feeling that they would act up the minute you looked away, just wasn't there. It was as if there was a calm blanket across the planet's people.
As there was over the two Pelydrians in their discussion circle. Drehle was one of the Ruling Circle, and had appeared very pleased at their visit. Beside him, sat on the grass, was a younger Pelydrian called Shklyar, who was, from what Richard understood, a political advisor. Her hair shimmered dark violet in the sunshine as she nodded along with Drehle's words. Richard tried not to stare at them both too intently – they were purple people! Even their eyelashes were purple, and their eyes varied shades of violet.
"It is agreed among our people that the rediscovery of the Ancestral city of Atlantis is most fortuitous," Drehle continued as Richard lifted his hand to his collar, the heat really building up quite uncomfortably under his jacket and shirt. "We are delighted as a people that the city is once more alive and that your people care for its walls and help assist those under conflict still from the Wraith."
"We're happy to help," Major Sheppard replied from beside Richard.
"We would welcome trade with your people," Drehle continued with a soft wide smile.
"As would we," Richard replied.
"In terms of items for trade," Drehle added with a delicate frown, "I would need to speak with the other regional circles, but it is likely that we can share some medicinal knowledge, and experience and history of the Ancestors, which we understand your people are most interested."
"Yes, we would welcome such sharing of information," Richard replied, feeling like he had somehow missed the start of this meeting. In every negotiation he had been a part of before, there was always the initial small talk first and then the subtle discovering of terms through careful verbal manoeuvring. Here, the Pelydrians had skipped straight to the heart of the matter, seeming happy to trade without any more discussion necessary."
"We also grow some fresh fruits that you may be interested in trading for, some of which have medicinal use. We also frequently trade in our skills of discussion and negotiation, working as facilitators across the Alliance."
"We understand that you work frequently with those chased from their planets by the Wraith?" Shkylar asked, the first time she had spoken since they had sat down in the circle.
Richard met her purple gaze and it was a strange, though friendly, gaze, as if she was studying him intently in a way he couldn't understand.
He cleared his throat as he reached up to his collar again. "Yes, unfortunately the Wraith have been making a concerted attack of late on a large number of worlds."
"I grieves us that so many are still unprotected from the Wraith, but it pleases us that your people can help so many," she replied with a smile to him and Major Sheppard.
"We do the best we can," Sheppard replied.
"Any difference, even tiny, affects many, Representative Sheppard," Shkylar responded. "Your good work has not gone unnoticed in the Alliance, and our world looks forward to trading with your people and forging friendship."
Richard smiled at that. "As do we," he repeated the sentiment. This was going really very well, if he could just maybe take off his jacket. He was feeling quite hot now. He should have worn his more lightweight suit.
"We would also value knowledge from the far side of the galaxy, and to hear of your own people, your planet and culture," Drehle added. "Some of our people used to travel extensively in the Portal system in previous generations, but since the formation of the Alliance, our people are too easily identifiable to the Wraith," he joked as he lifted his arms to indicate his purple skin.
Richard wasn't sure if he should laugh, so he went with a smile and nod. He wasn't sure what he could share in terms of information on the planets beyond the Alliance, but he had clear established lines around what he could share about Earth.
Next to him, sat apparently comfortably on a stool in the sunshine, Major Sheppard angled his head within Richard's view, drawing his attention.
"Representative Sitayi," the Major uttered as he nodded to the left.
Richard looked round to see two Pelydrians striding across the grass towards their discussion circle. He recognised the older woman as indeed that of the Representative to Athos. The familiar face was very welcoming.
He rose to his feet, along with the Major, as Sitayi approached. She was smiling widely.
"Major Sheppard," she called as she reached the edge of the circle and, with apparent ritualistic purpose, stepped carefully over the encircling stones. "It is very good to greet you to our world," she welcomed as she extended her right hand, having recalled handshaking.
Major Sheppard moved forward and took her hand in a strong shake, a very honest smile on his face. "John, please," he said, surprising Richard. "We're very happy to be here."
"And Mr Woolsey," she said as she turned to Richard and extended her hand to him.
He shook her hand carefully, unsure how mature a woman she was, but her grip was surprisingly strong. "It is good to see you again, Representative Sitayi."
"I am pleased to see you too," she replied, but Richard felt that most of the comment was directed towards John.
"Mr Woolsey has expressed great interest in trading between our peoples," Drehle reported to Sitayi as everyone returned to their seats. The new Pelydrian male who had arrived with Sitayi appeared into view with a chair for Sitayi. Richard glanced around, wondering where the man had found the new extra chair in the middle of the parkland.
"I had no doubt that he would," Sitayi replied as she sat down. "Though Mr Woolsey, it is very warm today, feel free to remove your jacket."
Richard paused, surprised, but deeply grateful. "If you don't mind," he replied as he quickly set about removing his jacket.
"I like the fabric around your neck," Shkylar noted indicating his tie. "Does it reflect your rank or clan?"
Richard didn't miss Major Sheppard's amused smile at the question. "Ah, no, not as such, but they are traditionally worn by certain types of workers on our world."
He took the excuse to loosen the tie and pull it free, thereby allowing more air around his neck. "There are some traders on Athos who we have shared the designs with already," he said as he handed across the strip of fabric.
Shkylar fingered the tie with deep interest, "It is a very enjoyable fabric," she noted as she passed it to Drehle who appeared as curious. Maybe there wasn't anything like silk in Pegasus, or at least in the Alliance.
Richard sought to find something to ask in return. "I notice that your people all wear small charms from your clothing," he asked, "do they denote rank or your clan?"
"They indicate that and more," Drehle replied as he passed the tie to Sitayi. "These show the region I was birthed and that of my parents," he said as he lifted several charms. "These my travels, and these my work."
"How do your people show such information about yourselves?" Sitayi asked as she passed the tie back to Richard.
He took it and laid it across his jacket on the grass beside his chair. He felt so much more comfortable in this heat without either of them, and the Pelydrians appeared to be very relaxed types. This really was a far more informal meeting than he had ever been part of before.
"I suppose that we indicate such information through our choice of clothing, our language, and accents," he considered.
"We too have regional differences in dialect and accent, but our people have one unified language," Drehle replied brightly. "Many of our population do not travel through the Portals though, so are not all fluent in understanding other languages from outside our world."
"Do you both come from the same region on your world?" Sitayi asked.
"Not the same area so much, but we work for the same organisation," the Major replied carefully.
"Your military?" Sitayi asked.
"Um, no, well, I work for the military, but the expedition to Atlantis is overseen by a group selected from various countries on our world," Sheppard stumbled through.
"Our ruling system works similarly," Sitayi replied with a smile. "Each region is represented and heard in all matters."
Richard saw the Major's glance towards him. He no doubt wished the IOA was run differently than its current state. Some days Richard wished it was too.
"When you say 'regions'?" Sheppard deflected quickly.
"Our planet is divided up almost equally between the massive mountain ranges across the upper part of the planet, the flat plains spread below, and the wide coastal fertile lands set around the small seas. Often it can be said that a person's attitude and skills can depend on where in these three areas they are from." Drehle and Shklyar smiled, as if it was a joke.
"And where are you from?" Sheppard asked her, working his newly forming polite conversational skills that Richard had been trying to install in him.
Sitayi smiled widely at his question. She seemed particularly pleased to see the Major. If she had been a younger woman, Richard would have been suspicious that she was attracted to Sheppard, but with her years, it seemed almost as if she was oddly proud of him.
"I am from the plains," she replied, "but my father was from the clans of the mountain regions. I would be happy to tell you of the ways of our people, as we all would. Perhaps you might even enjoy taking a walk with us? There is a most wondrous view of the local plains and the lower mountains in the distance from the ridge over the lake."
"Sounds nice," the Major agreed.
Drehle leant forward. "I would hope as well that you might enjoy a feast with us tonight, we have already called for the rest of the Ruling Circle currently away to return to meet you. They should be here by nightfall. We would welcome you to stay here for the night if you wish. We have sleeping cabins available for visitors, and tomorrow the regular Portal market will be full of traders. We would be happy to introduce you to some of our allies and friends who shall be visiting for the event."
Richard felt a rush of success. "We would be honoured," he replied.
"We'll have to check in with Atlantis first," Major Sheppard added with a pointed look his way, "but it should be fine."
"Wonderful," Sitayi replied. "Then we can take our walk and I can show you some of our world."
This was going so well. Another successful negotiation seemingly already under his belt, Richard was feeling more relaxed. The IOA would be very pleased.
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TBC