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In the two years since the Ferizzians and the Earthlings signed their temporary treaty there has been the negotiations to secure a long term peace and prosperity. Owen was now in the police department here on the Treaty Planet where all negations and meeting take place, all the federated planets with fingers in the pie. Toshiko happily delving into the tech side of things. John was… John of somewhere shagging god knows who… or what.

Ianto and Jack settled on the M class planet that became the meeting point for these negotiations in neutral space, the revelation that the Ferizzians had a base on this previously thought uninhabited planet causing a stir, especially once humans started to visit and found it as lavish and settled as their own planet, under the safety of a huge dome that covered almost an eighth of the planet, the space docks and landing pads like blots on the thick black soil.

Nothing grew here.

Some thought that once it did but the Ferizzians had decimated it, others argue that it was once worse and the Ferizzians were trying to cultivate and repair it. The arguments amongst the outer fringes continued and the conspiracy theories reign. With other alien planets agreeing to the sector truce talks, there is bound to be a mess, right?

Jack and Ianto have secured themselves jobs here working in the shadows and enjoying the society and safety of these creatures while still able to maintain contact with home. The Saxon thing was long since over, the man put to death along with his minions they had managed to scoop up and finally, Ianto was safe. He is now just another off-world human working in the Neutral Zone. They have even started to consider the chance of a family… once they have a more financial backing. Expensive to purchase one of those.

Today Jack is in the mechanical pool, arguing with a Deriffilat over the state of his Away Vessel, knowing it will not see the creature another flight. They will negotiate a good price, Jack will replace the seals and charge less, and the creature will come back again for more work. Jack likes being a nobody here.

Ianto's job however… still what he loves being too. A Translator. Those that recognise him do not say anything, those that do not know him have no idea of the skill that makes him highly sought after by those high up the food chain. Today he is melding in with the humans all here for the planetary talks, the United Planets which now include Ferizzian representatives. In short… it's a shit show.

Delegates from around the worlds - six for each planetary nation - sit at green tables with thin black microphones. The Ferizzians will not sit... they don't seem to. Everyone wears white earpieces. Some read. Others whisper. We move up over a row of booths overlooking the room, to a window onto the Chinese Interpreter's booth. We move down the row of booths for Arderiffol, Ruwillian, Spanish and French. (Chinese have two Interpreters working; Ruwillian, Spanish, Arderiffol and French have only one. in all booths, an extra Interpreter waits in the background ) The building has dampening fields so no one can use 'powers' to control a vote.

They are waiting on the Ferizzians to arrive for the latest peace talks. The elders do not care to take part so Ianto knows it will be a shit storm with the younger generation being a little more demanding. The aliens have travelled here for the talks via the TransMat and are likely still a little ruffled hence everyone being kept waiting. The American Ambassador checks her watch and nods to a yuppie advisor sitting behind her. He stands.

Through the glass onto the English booth, while Ianto works at the controls to prepare for the talks, the Yuppie Advisor enters behind him. The simple device, like a Morse code tapper, sits waiting so it can relay his taps to the arms of the Ferizzians who will wear bracelets that send the taps to their wrists, letting them 'hear' the conversation while Ianto interprets their replies via the same method from the wristlet of one of their own. He watches the room. None of those in the building know Ianto's connection to the aliens.

The Prime Minister is speaking to those around the room, begging for patience as these creatures move on a different time to us humans. At the marble table above the podium, a UN Cop whispers to a burly Russian in their President's chair. Irritated, he stands.

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Owen and Rory wait in the centre of the room next door, in receiving still. It has a large reception desk and two small side rooms, which are lounges for the Secretary-General and United Planets President. There are four exit doors: two out to the UP restrooms, one to the Foyer and another to stairs that leads up to the booths. A UP Cop is posted at each exit. The UP President enters from the Hall. His demeanour suggests this is a routine he's been through too often before.

Owen speaks calmly as the Ferizzians enter" Our perimeter has been compromised. The Ferizzians are splintering for some reason."

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Ianto and the Yuppie Advisor come out of the English booth. He says to Ianto as he hurries him along to interpret for a meeting "This is an off-record informal, OK citizen?"

He moves left toward a staircase but Ianto goes right. Ianto points to a small Red Light at the top of the stairs. "Interpreters aren't allowed in the Greenroom during a security alert."

They walk past the doors open onto other booths; we hear various Interpreters working. The man adds "It's with the Ferizzians, so I've been asked to remind you of your professional oath of silence… Which we realize is offensive. So I've also been asked to apologize."

Ianto and the Yuppie Advisor come out of a guarded opening at the back. They move toward the front along the left wall, beneath booths for technicians and transcribers. They cross on an aisle that intersects the Hall. They walk quickly behind desks for New Monaco, Mexicoliy, Motoboing, Mauritranvil. They move down the Hall's right wall and behind a press box.

Ianto and the Yuppie Advisor come out of the Hall between Two Guards. Two women greet Ianto as they pass. They nod politely as they pass, one of the women looking back to enjoy the tight arse. He is still appreciated, even if he is clearly bonded to someone.

Two Cops hurry around them. The Advisor checks his watch. Ianto and the Advisor move through a bustle of International Types: a Samoan who wears a skirt with dress shoes and tie, a few Arabs, a rumpled Arderiffol hurrying past, tying his tie.

They pass the press conference area and arrive at two massive wooden doors with Four Guards. He enters. Ianto looks up to letters on the wall: "Security Council." Ianto takes a deep breath, and follows.

Ianto stands behind and to the right of the New American Ambassador. The Ferizzian Ambassador enters with two underlings and an aura of haughty indifference, his robes a pale greenish white with solid green hem. He is still an underling in the 'Great Hall' of his kind. Ianto tries to hide his surprise at this meeting as this one should not be anywhere near this place. Ianto of course… should not know this either… if he is just a lowly translator. He shields his thoughts quickly as he does NOT want this to blow up. The New American Ambassador waits until the alien is close enough to speak in hushed if angry tones. "I do not want to choose between a world that my ancestors fought to leave me and an unknown future for my grandchildren."

Ianto translated gently on the arm of the demanding one, then waited as it replied, answering for it "Then you'll have to abstain."

"Don't think we won't."

Ianto waits for the reply and turns to look up at the Ferizzian with surprise on his face before he interprets "Then you choose the bed of fleas."

The New American Ambassador storms from the room as the Ferizzian one wafts off, leaving Ianto there with a sour taste in his mouth.

This was not a good start.