Chapter 10

"Now, remember, Supervisor," said Mamao'lani, "be patient and be polite."

He and Grum, with their entourage of MACOs and diplomatic aides, made their way down the tunnel to the Draco's main cavern again. Mamao'lani hoped that the recess had allowed his Tellarite companion to cool off.

"Hmph," Grum snorted. "I will try. I don't know why most aliens have to make everything so crude."

"Crude?" Mamao'lani repeated, borderline offended.

"Yes! You all think that us Tellarites just insult each other back and forth, but there's a nuance to it. An art!"

Mamao'lani chuckled. "Oh, I know all about Tellarite 'Civil Conversation,' Supervisor," he said, referring to the Tellarite code of speaking.

Grum tilted his head back to look up at the ambassador in surprise. "Really? You know about the specific intonations and terminology? To differentiate between degrees of respect?"

"I do," Mamao'lani replied smugly. "I learned it some years ago."

"During some diplomatic conference with my people?"

"Not exactly," said Mamao'lani. "I briefly dated a Tellarite." He smirked.

Grum was taken aback by this. "You?"

Mamao'lani nodded, still smirking. "A pilot on a Space Administration vessel that was visiting Earth. I had to learn Civil Conversation quickly if I was to get through all that arguing. He was actually quite pleasant once I knew how to interpret him."

Grum grunted. "Hm. I assume he left you."

Mamao'lani, now recalling some of the conversational subtleties he'd picked up from his long-ago affair, knew not to take too much insult from Grum's insinuation.

"And what makes you say that?" he asked the Tellarite. "You don't think I'm a catch?" He grinned.

"Sorry, Ambassador," said Grum. "You're just too… nice."

Mamao'lani shook his head, laughing. "Well, try to adopt some of that niceness now. Not every species has time for the intricacies of Civil Conversation."

"I suppose it does take a while to reach that level of intellectual progress," said Grum, still holding his head up. "I will endeavour to be more tolerant of less sophisticated races."

Mamao'lani sighed, realising that was probably as good as he was going to get from the Supervisor.

"But," Grum added, "I still think that it is impossible to convey one's point without belittling everyone else's. That zeal is what makes you worth listening to."

Mamao'lani stopped just before they reached the main chamber, halting the others. "Everyone is worth listening to; isn't that also the Tellarite philosophy? You'd be surprised how well most people react when you treat them with a bit of courtesy, even if you're disagreeing with them."

Grum held up his hands. "Alright, Ambassador, enough of the cultural shaming. I am prepared to abase myself."

While still not fully satisfied with Grum's outlook, Mamao'lani's prior experience once again prepared him to accept it with resignation. Further discussion, although probably futile, could wait.

He led the band into the cavern, where Caeldon waited along with the two elders from earlier.

"Clan Mother," Mamao'lani acknowledged her as he made his way to the centre. "Apologies if we kept you waiting."

Caeldon gave a distinctive growl that Mamao'lani had previously chosen to believe was mild laughter. "Your memories are as short as you are, Ambassador Daniel Mamao'lani," she said. "I have told you before that our days are not filled with many new things. You are an excitement to us. It is only fatigue and clan meetings that keep me away."

Mamao'lani smiled. "You honour us with your kind words, Clan Mother." He could feel Grum's eyes rolling.

"My companion has something he would like to say." He stood aside and Grum stepped forward.

Caeldon cocked her head, looking down at Grum as he tilted his back to look up at her. "Please forgive my earlier outburst, Clan Mother," he said. "It was… improper. I meant no disrespect." He was practically clenching his teeth.

Mamao'lani also looked up at the large Draco, nervously hoping that she would accept the reluctant apology.

Caeldon slowly lowered her head to be level with Grum, and Mamao'lani briefly wondered if she was going to eat the rotund Tellarite whole.

"No disrespect was felt, Supervisor Lar bim Grum," Caeldon said at length. "We appreciated your fire." She tilted her head at Mamao'lani. "The others speak so softly and with lengthy words, sometimes it is difficult to know what it is they mean. But your words are clear, as is how deeply they mean to you. It is… refreshing."

Grum shot Mamao'lani the mother of all smug looks.

"Now," said Caeldon, "tell us of this rock that is of such great importance to you."

"Gladly," said Grum. "And, don't worry, I shall be very direct."

It was Mamao'lani's turn to roll his eyes.