AN: Hello dear reader's and or servants of the Manperor and or Omnissiah in your many forms, it is I once again with another completed chapter rewrite.
I have spent some time working out some kinks in this chapter, because of changes to the chapters pervious, hopefully this will allow for a better flow in terms of story telling, I know it's been a while and all, but hopefully with Uni over until October and with me working weekends only I'll have more time to dedicate to finishing this rewrite off.
I'd like to thank those who took the plunge and joined my Personal Discord server and continue to be an inspiration to continue writing, I'd like to thank MrMorriss for proof reading this one for me and catching some of the dumb mistakes before this one was published.
Also Thank you for being such loyal fans of my work and I hope to continue seeing your reviews as I finally catch up to where I originally left the story to continue forward, I thank you for your patience while this process creeps towards the finish line.
December 6th 2207 EMC [Earth Military Calendar] 2151 CE [Common Era].
Turian Frontier Space, Agamemnon System.
SSV Lion, The Crown Pub.
[Play: Dan Auerbach: Peaky Blinders: The Prowl.]
Liam stood beside the oak bartop, with a glass of neat Monkey Shoulder Whisky with a single faux ice cube in hand, the bar was open to off duty crew, wanting to unwind.
Much like any traditional British pub, the walls were plastered with memorabilia and other odds and ends collected and donated by various crewmen who took to touring any ports the Lion had called into.
An honest to god jukebox, salvaged and lovingly restored by various engineers played Dan Auerbach's The Prowl through the PA system, Liam's head bobbed to the music as he watched numerous crew mill about, some adding personal effects of the deceased to The Crown's memorial of the honoured dead.
Other crewmen still on duty were busy reorganising the entire pub, to create a round table for the coming negotiations, with enough seating to equally represent the parties present for the coming talks.
Humanity had Liam himself representing the initial interests of humanity, at least until the initial talks were over and done with and then a consummate professional diplomat would work with what they'd been given; whereas the feline hominid Montressian's had Lady and Commander Hsstok and volunteer senior servant H'rntin representing the interests of the Montressian Government and the Royal Family.
Whereas the Turians would have the Primarch himself as well as Commodore Nyx representing the Hierarchies interests, not surprising given the fact Admiral Nyx would have some personal biases considering it was his fleet that fought beside us.
Several Turian and two Montressian crewmen approached the bar to order a round of dextro and levo alcohol for themselves, seeing Liam standing at the bar, each of them nodded to him, as a form of an informal salute, Liam himself returned the gesture.
"How're your crews holding up?" Liam asked.
"Surviving sir, the Lion's been taken some solid blows and so far we've been pulling double duties to secure and repressurise the bow, personally sir, I've got to give it to the human engineering teams who built her, her structural members are way overbuilt, for the abuse she took yesterday." One of the Turian officers replied.
"Why is that captain? The bow I mean? there must be a reason for it surely." One of the junior Montressian's asked.
"There is, exactly what happened when we came through the relay, usual practice is to ambush ships as they transition from FTL to sub-light speeds typically this would be done by parking fleets on the flanks of the exit vector…. The systems alliance took a more straightforward approach." Liam replied as he took a sip of his whiskey.
"How so?" The other Turian asked, it was a rather innocent question at first glance but it was definitely a question directed towards information gathering.
Liam took a second, it wasn't like he was divulging anything top secret; all you had to do was look at the publicly listed countermeasures to figure out just what the Systems alliance did to deny Mass Relay transits into a secure system.
"Here's a question to answer your question; what happens to an object travelling at tens if not hundreds of kilometres a second strikes a static object without sufficient preparations?" Liam asked.
"Well sir it would be destroyed on impact, but that's only if you hit it." The second montressian replied.
"Alright, now what would be a cost effective way you can develop so you guarantee the hit?" Liam asked, after a couple of minutes each of them shook their heads in the negative.
"A net, tens of kilometres across if not hundreds of kilometres across if someone is willing to foot the bill for it, held ridgid by frames, stable with reaction thrusters, with a hexagonal in shape for the best coverage whilst maintaining tension." Liam explained in detail.
The four of them collectively recoiled at the mental image, not even a dreadnought's kinetic barriers would guarantee survival, some of the more conservative in their respective militaries would consider such a device insidious, cost effective most certainly, but insidious nonetheless.
"So the bow being so overbuilt is to effectively punch a hole through such a device?" One of the Montressians muttered to themselves as they theorised.
"That or guarantee that one ship could effectively collapse the net, causing the whole device to wrap around a single target." One of the Turians said to the other, Liam smirked before nodding to the quartet and excusing himself as Commander Nyx walked into the bar.
"A pleasure, as always but I've an arrangement to see to." Liam stated before turning and making his way to the opposite side of the bar.
As he did so the jukebox began playing The High Kings: Irish Pub through the local PA system.
Ka'mara spied Liam as he moved to a clear spot towards the far side of the bar, walking towards the same spot she joined the captain, as she did so she watched multiple crew finishing the changes to the venue, whilst a few of the off duty officers sat around the bar proper.
Ka'mara approved of the changes, afterall what truly mattered the most was first impressions; with the Primarch coming in attendance the crew were pulling out all of the stops.
It didn't matter to the crew that the Lion had seen combat, or that her bow had taken an absolute battering; it was no excuse for being unpresentable when foreign dignitaries were making an appearance.
Especially when said dignitary was the commander and chief of the largest Naval force in known space, the Alliance matching only in sheer numbers when including the Systems Alliance's naval auxiliaries.
The Crown Bar itself was just finishing up on its reorganisation as multiple clerical crewmen prepared the room for the signing ceremony, which while audacious it got directly to the bone of the matter.
Direct Politics, apparently the Hierarchy hated politics which 'beat around the bush' as it were and would rather get things over and done with, apparently according to the rumour mill on board, the Hierarchy continuously pissed off the Asari Republics by refusing to play their political games.
A pastime Liam believed the Systems Alliance's own politicians would be using with great effect, especially if it riled up those who believed themselves superior to everyone else, it'd be fun taking those blue supremacist parasites down a peg or two.
Though Humanities political elite would play as nice as they had to, to prevent a full blown war while humanity secured any and all Relays into human space, there was no way in hell Humanity would be led by the fucking nose by anyone.
The Montressians had a like minded attitude, the cat-like race being a prideful lot refused to be pulled into the political machinations of others especially if they were going to be used against their 'new' human and potential Turian allies.
Not bad considering the Lion had almost slammed bow first into a Montressian colony ship when she jumped into the Montresor System.
Liam reached behind the bar pulling out a data pad, quickly typing in his ID and password to access the cloud.
Sitting with both his glass of whisky in his right hand and data pad in the other, Liam took a good swig of his glass finishing the liquid. "Barman, a Turian Brandy for the lady if you'd be so kind; I'll also take a pint of coke as well." Liam ordered.
The Turian barman glanced at Ka'mara for a split second, before pulling the ordered drink from the shelving behind the bar top. "Enjoy ma'am." he said as he placed the drink on the bar top as she took her seat next to her commanding officer.
The barman returned with a pint of coke for the good captain. "Your coke captain." He announced.
"Cheers bossman." Liam thanked as he quickly pulled a card from his breast pocket tapping it against the contactless tip machine.
"You know it's bad form to be reading reports while off duty in a Pub captain." Ka'mara sniped, Liam snorted a second before locking the device.
"How right you are m'lady, it is bad form especially seeing as I frequent this fine establishment so much, I should've known better." Liam laid it on rather thickly, Ka'mara just shook her head in response.
"How bad is it?" Ka'mara asked.
Liam just sighed. "Damage is pretty extensive on the bow; Damage Response Teams have found at least seventeen capital grade rounds buried in the Dradis hardware as well as at least thirteen rounds that have ricocheted down and through several maintenance access corridors."
He paused a few seconds taking another swig of his fizzy beverage before continuing on. "The two batteries that were ripped clean off of the ship were retrieved, the scrap remains have to be melted down before re-building the damn things, it'll take at least a year with the on board facilities, good news is that the DRT's have patched the hole so we've got time on our side."
Turning towards the Barmen dutifully organising the mirrored shelves. "Barman, when these lot are done with their duties, one round of drinks on me." A small chorus of cheers broke out from the announcement.
Turning back to Ka'mara he addressed as he stood from his bar stool. "Ka'mara I'll be in my quarters finishing off my personal reports and finishing the last of my paperwork, I need you to organise the honour guard and ships band to receive our guests this afternoon."
"Aye sir, any particular preference to the band's song?" Ka'mara asked as Liam knocked back the last of his coke, placing the glass on the bar top, he stood silent for a few seconds. "Tell them to play something traditional."
December 6th 2151 CE [Common Era] 2207 EMC [Earth Military Calendar].
Turian Frontier Space, Agamemnon System.
Turian Sixth Fleet, HNV Spirit of Palaven.
Flag Officers Bridge.
[Play: David Bowie: The Man Who Sold The World - The Man Who Sold The World.]
It'd been six hours since the arrival of the Primarch and his team of the Hierarchies finest diplomats and lawyers, six hours of gruelling debriefs and reporting later and they were still to get to the situation at hand.
The SSV Lion and those that crewed her, the newly termed 'Super-Heavy-Dreadnought' not to mention the absolute political shitstorm surrounding the fact that the Hierarchy were performing an independent first contact
Something the Council charter heavily penalised against, but considering the fact that Humanity could be the Hierarchies independent lifeline if the Salarian and Asari started tightening their noose on necessary produce to feed the billions of Turian Citizens scattered throughout the known Galaxy.
It was a gamble, some would say a reckless one at that, but the Hierarchy was teetering on full blown civil war, a civil war comparable to the Unification Wars all those centuries ago, something the Hierarchy had to avoid at all costs.
Even if it meant burning political goodwill with their standing allies to do so.
"Do we have any idea on Captain Spruce's negotiating objectives? What is motivating humanity to ally with us specifically, other than just returning our lost to us." One of the many Hierarchies finest diplomats asked all those assembled in the room.
Newly promoted Fleet Admiral Gavilan Nyx was the first to respond to the question. "Though I have had little to no time to talk to my daughter in depth considering the situation, the few facts she has given to me in her spare time indicate that the Systems Alliance would rather make friends with us than make war…." Gavilan took a moment to pause.
"Humanity has an extensive Navy, Army and Airforce around sixty five to seventy percent our total fleet numbers, including what has to be the largest Auxiliary supply fleet in the known galaxy, they could fight us to a complete stalemate, but the casualties would be astronomical. For both sides." Gavilan finished.
Commodore Ardella Nyx spoke up next to her husband. "A species with the capability to wage war not seen since the Krogan, but with a calculating mind of a Salarian knowing their own strengths and weaknesses would be an absolute nightmare to fight."
That got a round of nods from all parties involved in the room. "Do we have any preliminary data on what Humanity wants out of our proposed alliance?" Another Diplomat asked this one however was a female.
"Only that they wish to open formal negotiations with us, that and the fact that they want to establish their borders with the greater galactic community, no not really. I do have one bit of good news, the Captain has been informed on our traditions and as was custom in the old ways, offered both a flag as a token of goodwill and a first contact package so we can observe their traditions, values and standards as well as supply us with a the entire known history of Humanity."
The entire room perked up, this was something not one of them had expected, not the diplomats, the lawyers, hell not even Primarch had seen that bit of information coming, that's when everyone in the room took notice of the two wooden boxes sat squarely in the tables centre.
"Do we know the flag's cultural significance?" one of the female lawyers asked.
Gavilan gave a single nod. "It's a Naval Ensign, one which has flown aboard the oldest commissioned vessel in Systems Alliance space, one HMS Victory, currently berthed in drydock number two in HMNB Portsmouth on Earth, humanities home world." Gavilan informed everyone.
"Just how long has this vessel been in commission?" Primarch Tullius Romullianus asked Gavilan.
"Four hundred and twenty nine years. Sir." Now that had gotten everyone off guard, Tullius's mandibles clicked once then twice in thought. 'For humanity to offer such a flag of such cultural significance, it could be both a sign of sincerity or one of desperation…. such information I could only gleam from meeting this Captain Spruce face to face.'
Breaking the Primarch's thoughts, Commodore Nyx spoke up. "What of the Captain himself, what do we know about him?" She asked.
Gavilan took time to open up his Omni-tool, expanding it for the room to see without issue. "Captain Liam Spruce, is highly valued in the systems alliance reserve, most actions have been suppressing insurrectionists in the outermost of humanities colonies, multiple citations from peers, superiors and those serving under him show him to be level headed, calculating man willing to put life and limb on the line to complete the mission objectives…."
Gavilan took a second or two to pause to let the room assimilate the information. "He has personally been awarded medals such as the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for Gallantry in the face of combat with the enemy, the Navy Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct medal for no less than ten years continuous service as well as multiple campaign medals. Gavilan finished.
Clicking his mandibles for a third time Primarch Tullius addressed the room. "Admiral, contact the SSV Lion, please inform the captain I would like to formally begin negotiations as soon as possible…."
"Sir!" Gavilan barked.
"...Everyone is to assemble everything they could possibly need, we're going into an unknown situation be ready to depart at five minutes notice, in the meantime I want my chief negotiator, chief lawyer, Admiral and Commodore Nyx to return here within the hour I would very much like to learn everything I can about Humanity from their first contact package." Primarch Tullius finished.
With everything said and done the whole room dismissed to attend to their assigned duties.
December 6th 2207 EMC [Earth Military Calendar] 2151 CE [Common Era].
Turian Frontier Space, Agamemnon System.
SSV Lion, Captains Quarters.
Hours Later.
[Play: Dire Straits: Sultans of Swing - Sultans of Swing.]
After finishing writing up and finalising his pile of daily and weekly reports, Liam decided to freshen up in his en-suite bathroom, re trimming his beard and washing away the day's grime before putting on his dress best for the upcoming negotiations.
A brief knock on the door, pulled his attention from inspecting his dress black uniform. "Enter." He answered as he adjusted his tie, Ka'mara stepped into his quarters dressed in her Turian navy blue dress uniform, two rows of awards on her left breast were arranged in two parallel vertical columns.
Whilst a smattering of medals had been arranged on her right breast in a single horizontal line, with three badges pinned upon a violet sash with golden trims and tassels looped from her left shoulder to her right hip.
"Ah Ka'mara, do me a solid would you and inspect me, can't go looking like an absolute slob to such a momentous occasion now can I?" Liam asked standing to attention so Ka'mara could inspect him properly.
Ka'mara's sharp green irises and slit pupils could pick up any minor imperfection from 300 metres away if she really tried, so taking a solid couple of minutes she inspected her commanding officer like she would any peer or subordinate crewmen.
The Systems Alliance black dress uniform, contrasted with the golden rank insignia on his lapels and cuffs; looped over his right shoulder under the armpit and pinned to the right collar of his uniform was a golden Aiguillette which hung just over the first of two rows of polished buttons, which were arranged into two rows of four, with a white dress shirt and black tie underneath.
Likewise, a royal red sash looped under the Aiguillette to his left hip, his left breast had three rows of horizontal ribbons, each one marking an operation or tour of duty; whilst a row of various medals had been pinned directly underneath them.
Finishing up his uniform were a set of matching black dress trousers, immaculately polished black shoes, a peaked cap with an officer's dress sword sheathed in a black leather scabbard with gold polished gold trims.
Taking a moment to walk around him to inspect his back, she nodded to herself in satisfaction. "I have to say sir, you could teach a few of our enlisted in the Hierarchy on how to dress, I'd be willing to put credits on you being the best dressed officer if you were serving in the Hierarchy right now."
Liam visibly relaxed at the praise. "That's a load off, do you know how long it took me to adapt Turian dress uniform regulations to suit my uniform? Weeks I tell you Ka'mara, weeks." Ka'mara visibly did a turian smirk.
"Are we ready for our first face to face Ka'mara?" Liam asked seriously.
"As ready as we'll ever be sir." Ka'mara replied honestly.
Liam nodded. "Ten minutes, here's to hoping the brass was right about sending me of all people to open full diplomatic negotiations between our people."
"Sir, it's my honest opinion that the Systems Alliance couldn't have picked someone better for the job, a spirits' be damned diplomat would've sent a bit of a mixed message." Ka'mara responded.
Liam let the message sink in for a good few seconds, before nodding to himself. "Would the fine lady oblige me by allowing me to escort her to our shared destination?" Liam asked, laying the received pronunciation on pretty thick.
"It would be a privilege." Ka'mara replied.
December 6th 2207 EMC [Earth Military Calendar] 2151 CE [Common Era].
Turian Frontier Space, Agamemnon System.
SSV Lion, Starboard Flight Pod, Main Hangar Deck.
[Play: The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers: The Sappers - Wings (The Corps March).]
Much like before the crew were assembled as an honour guard, with a row of marines baring arms on the front most ranks facing inwards, the crew were dressed in such a way that the smallest of the crew were in the innermost files with the tallest members in the outermost files making a very gentle curve in the middle.
The ships band were assembled playing: Wings (The Corps March) of the Royal Engineers as the lift carrying the shuttle of the Primarch of the Turian Hierarchy entered the hangar bay, which would be followed by the Royal Marines: Symphonic Marches of John Williams as the members inside the shuttle stepped in to the bay proper.
Standing one pace to Liam's left and two paces behind was Ka'mara holding a tri-fold flag, the flag which had been present aboard the HNV Invictus, to Ka'mara's right Lieutenant Hstokk the senior most officer of the Montressian observers and diplomats.
The ship's band seamlessly switched songs, the Turian shuttle's side door opened outwards before sliding back to allow the Turian delegation to dismount.
Two Turian Cabals, one male, the other female stepped off first to provide security. Primarch Tullius Romullianus was at the forefront of the delegation, snapping a Turian salute towards Liam, Liam saluted him back with the sabre in his right hand by raising the blade vertically in front of his face, before dropping it back to his right hand side.
"Permission to board Captain?" Tullius asked Liam as he dropped his own salute.
"Granted sir, it's both an honour and a privilege to host you aboard the Lion, we've been anticipating your arrival a little over a year now." Liam responded.
"Before we begin talks in earnest, I must thank you and your crew for making the sacrifices that you have, for both the sake of the Hierarchy and her people. Thank you." Tullius bowed his head towards the Lion's captain and crew.
Stepping out after the Primarch had taken his first steps aboard the Lion, Gavilan Nyx and his wife Ardella Nyx followed suit, both snapping salutes on which the Lion's Captain returned repeating the salute with his sabre.
"Admiral Nyx, it's a pleasure to have you aboard once more." Liam stated, Gavilan gave a nod before replying.
"It's a privilege to be aboard once more, I'd like to introduce you to my loving wife, Ardella." Gavilan said as he motioned towards his wife.
"It's finally nice to see you in person, the picture on your profile does some justice, captain, but it's not the same as meeting the man himself." Ardella spoke.
"It's nice to put a face to your name finally, your daughter has said nothing but kind words about you since our journey began." Ardella's mandibles clicked twice.
Liam smiled before making an about face. "Ships honour guard! Atten-Shun!" The entire guard snapped to attention; their dress uniforms immaculate. "Honour guard, present arms!" The entire guard saluted the Primarch of the Hierarchy, Admiral Nyx and Commodore Nyx in perfect sync, all the while the band continued to play in the background.
"Sir's, Ma'am my Executive Officer as well as a member of the Montressian delegation would like to present you with tokens, before we make our way to the Crown, where we'll begin official talks." Both female's hearing their commanding officer give the go ahead both stepped ahead of Liam, presenting a pair of flags.
Wordlessly Admiral and Commodore Nyx stepped forward to receive them. "It is with pride and honour; I Commander Nyx return the flag of the Hierarchy's HNV Invictus to take its place on the mausoleum of the Fallen." Ka'mara passed the tri fold flag to her mother.
"May the Spirits guide those who couldn't make the journey home, it shall be displayed for their families to pay their respects as tradition dictates." Ardella replied.
"It is with my deepest apologies that I couldn't present a flag on our first meeting Admiral, as traditions must be upheld, I present to the Hierarchy the Naval Ensign of the Montressian Royal Navy as a gift from my people to yours." Hstokk addressed Admiral Gavilan Nyx.
"The Hierarchy is proud to receive such a gift Lieutenant; take pride you stand amongst friends this day." Gavilan replied accepting the tri-fold flag from the Montressian officer.
Liam quickly barked out an order. "Honour guard, three cheers for the Commander, Lieutenant and the Turian Delegation. Hip, hip!"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip!"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip!"
Hooray!"
To Be Continued….
AN: Here it is over and done with Chapter 15, complete, with all the new bells and whistles as well as a better selection of music for your listening pleasure.
With this done, I can start on Chapters 16, 17 and 18 and hopefully release them in bulk, whilst I've been writing I've been proposing multiple new fanfictions, From Aliens to Halo, Star Wars, Star Trek and more even niche stuff like Frostpunk or Summoning Japan (But Bigger, Better and British).
Other than that, Drunk Leroy wasn't really present in the making of this chapter, though he'll probably end up turning up at some point!
If you want to join my Discord and have a hand at driving me to even greater depths of insanity feel free to use this link. QvKurmG3tU on Discord's search function.
I look forward to our future interactions.
GRLS Signing off.