by T J Bryan
As the General of the Right described the shielding facility he placed on the table the complete specifications for the defensive mechanism. There followed the Xitang's specifications for their missiles, and a complete listing of their fleet dispositions and placement. Toni was simply stunned by the complete openness of the Xitang generals. Clearly they were in as desperate a strait as the OCN.
As the meeting wound down, the General of the Right said that on board the Chieftain of Yuwen they had a supply of what in their judgement the OCN needed most; anti-matter.
The Emperor who had sat quietly for hours motioned for another cup of tea. "Commodore Hamilton, we seek alliance. Perhaps we must simply extend the hand of friendship first, then have some degree of cooperation before you are accepted into Xitang as a vassal state. But let us begin now."
Toni was startled by the mention of Jamon becoming a vassal state of Xitang. Toni chose not to react.
"And how much anti-matter fuel do you intend to provide to our OCN?" she asked.
The Emperor looked to the General of the Left who replied, "Enough for perhaps 80 of your torpedoes. And we have the equipment required to siphon off the dangerous liquid from our storage to your torpedoes."
"And in return what do you require?"
Chief Minister of the Left, Xiahou replied, "We seek only vassalage as we have from our barbarian allies. There is no..." Toni saw Xiahou searching for a word. "There is no real Suzerainty from Jamon implied or required. However our celestial Empire cannot be subservient to anyone including the Megra."
He paused as Toni and Smilot consulted their inter-tabs for the exact definition of 'Suzerainty'.
After reading Toni realized that the tradition bound Xitang Empire always did foreign relations on its' own terms, but that these terms were often just words. The relationship they had with the Terantos were described in barbarian vassalage terms, yet from the description the Terantos were actually of equal and valued partners. Tradition could be such a burden and weight Toni realized, and it often lacked any real meaning. Toni took a long look at the Emperor's toy soldiers and realized they were all bluff and bragger.
Toni looked up. "And how do we become vassals of the Xitang Empire and therefore receive the antimatter we need?"
The Emperor responded, "You take the oath of allegiance and agree to submit to our Celestial Mandate, you bow three times to my august presence, and you pay tribute. Then we add the name of the Jamon Commonwealth to our august title." The Emperor smiled.
"And this tribute we are required to pay, what is the tribute to be?" Here Toni thought this might be the rub. They might well ask for millions of credits of production for years and the OCN was in no condition to allocate any added resources to any alliance. Even Toni knew the Commonwealth was essentially bankrupt.
Again the Emperor smiled and motioned to the Minster of the Left. "We require tribute in the form of six ounces of silver to be paid on your submission to our Celestial Empire. This amount is to be paid to our Emperor every one hundred years on the anniversary of your submission, or for as long as the stars shine in the Empire."
Toni swallowed. "And for this subservience to your Celestial Empire we will receive anti-matter for eighty torpedoes?"
The Minister replied, "Yes. And other emoluments as you may require."
"And other obligations?" asked Toni.
"Only one." replied the Minister. "With each payment of tribute on the hundredth anniversary of your submission, you or your descendant's Toni Hamilton will appear before the celestial throne and bow before our Emperor. There is no other requirement or obligation. For once we have added the name of your Commonwealth to our long line of Imperial responsibilities the obligation becomes entirely our own. But as you know at this moment we cannot fulfil those obligations as one might wish."
"And if you need to command us to actions?"
Here the Minister laughed. "You are barbarians, and we have no expectations that you will actually follow any orders from the high throne. No, this arrangement is a formality and is needed to ensure the support of the Gods."
By the 'Gods' Toni realized the Minister meant the political forces of tradition or perhaps even that of the populace of Xitang.
Toni thought a moment. "Let me consult with our ally the Great Station of Wu before I reply." The Emperor nodded and with great fanfare that took over ten minutes left the conference room.
Toni turned to Smilot. "Well what do you think?"
"It's just words Toni. Take the offer. In fact sweeten it a bit, if that does not insult them. We need that anti-matter and we need it now. Who cares about words and the next obligation for tribute is well out at a hundred years. By that time we will have great grand kids swinging on our knees or we will be cosmic dust in a long forgotten war. Pride has no place in war. Go for it."
Toni decided.
The next morning Toni dressed in her OCN naval uniform boarded the Chieftain of Yuwen accompanied by sixteen fully armored OCN Marines, twenty random citizens of Wu and a number of OCN crew. Captain Smilot had found all kinds of adornment for her citizens, who were to act, she guessed as witnesses to the act of submission to the Emperor. Somehow among the debris left behind by the pirates she found feathers, plumes, outrageous clothing, and Lamé cloth that simply shouted 'gold'. The citizens of Wu looked to Toni like something out of a theatrical comedy, but she knew that an occasion like this required as much ostentation as Wu could provide. Her own OCN crew she had outfitted in red slippers that rose up to the knees and filigreed caps of silver thread. Toni prayed that Abel would never see vids of this ceremony. But as she approached what she soon realized was a grand hall with the Emperor seated high above on a dais, she saw numerous vid cameras all placed to capture the majesty and humiliation of the Jamon Commonwealth.
I do this for weapons, she thought, as her arrival was announced by the Minister of the Left. Over an hour was spent in speeches and ceremonies that Toni did not really understand. Before where Toni stood was a small table upon which was placed six ounces of silver and an ounce of platinum. The room was choked with sweet smelling incense and a dozen holy men chanted loudly from a loft above the throne as the Minister spoke. The cacophony of the great hall was such that Toni could hear nothing. Toni thought to herself, I am only a Commodore, and if Abel does not like this he can always disown me and my oath of allegiance to the Emperor of Xitang. Somehow this thought did little to make Toni feel better.
Suddenly a gong sounded from far away. It was time to bow Toni realized. She stepped forward, and the Minister of the Left spoke in an ancient tong and then motioned to Toni. She dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead to the deck as instructed earlier. This she repeated three times. Then she rose.
Something like trumpets sounded from above but they were not melodic but rather like screeches of birds. The Emperor rose and the Minister of the Left handed him a robe of state. The Emperor stepped down from the dais the robe in his hands. The robe was on a deep black field and embroidered with shining stars and planets and on the back all she saw was a Xitang annulus ship and a fair copy of the Crusher New Kara destroying an enormous dumbbell ship. As she looked closer the ships moved and the Megra ship exploded in a flaming death. The Emperor stepped down from the dais and wrapped Toni in the robe and the trumpets screeched again. The ceremony was over.
The following morning Toni and six of her station crew together with Captain Smilot and one of her staff met with both generals and their staff to exchange information and to more fully understand the capabilities of each others military forces. All of the representatives of Xitang were men with one exception. A young girl, perhaps no older than 16, had joined the meeting. She was not introduced and Toni noticed she was quite thin weighing no more than forty kilos. Her dress was magnificent and the intricate stitching which decorated her silken blouse was an explosion of flowers. One startling detail of the blouse was the lace image of a bee which fluttered amongst the peonies and camellias. She wore lengthy tro
users also of a silken material which completely covered he small feet. Occasionally Toni noticed the tip of a red slipper but for the most part she was entirely covered. Her face was round with a small nose and almond eyes. Her hair was jet black and held in a pony tail which hung to her waist. While she said nothing during the conference Toni could see that the generals paid her great physical deference. Toni often found the young girl staring intently at herself and occasionally Captain Smilot.
While the meeting was underway, a container of anti-matter was brought aboard Wu Station together with a variety of linkage mechanism that would allow the transfer of the deadly explosive to the OCN's disabled torpedoes. In return Toni authorised the transfer of one 'K' class missile, a sand caster, one of the new seeker mines, and an empty torpedo. The Xitang seemed very appreciative of the transfer and Toni knew full well they would analyze the weapons and perhaps improve the design or certainly in the case of casters try to reproduce them. However casters she knew would present a very real challenge given their GWP propulsion. Toni made it abundantly clear that all Greayson GWP systems were booby trapped and that any attempt to disassemble them would lead to an explosion. The generals seemed to understand Toni's warning, but somehow she doubted they were really listening.
In addition to weapons both sides provided detailed knot line maps for their systems as well as current assessments of the systems through which the knot lines passed. Toni briefly looked at the maps provided by Xitang and saw a number of lines she did not know existed and were not found in the EG. The Xitang seemed to welcome the latest edition of the EG and discovered to their intense satisfaction a shorter route to their homeworld.
Discussions of Megra weapons, tactics, and strategy took another day of meetings. The Xitang had not yet seen the new missiles or swarming mines experienced at the Fourth Battle of Wu, and they asked that the vids of the battle be played several times. With each playing of the vid Toni was once again reminded of the cost and the pain of that battle.
The Chieftain of Yuwen was scheduled to return on its' voyage back to Xitang the following day, and although Toni had not seen the Emperor since her act of submission as a barbarian vassal state, he was going to meet with Toni and Captain Smilot as they departed the following morning. The first portal the Chieftain of Yuwen would enter was the portal to Timmons Rock and Toni began to wonder if perhaps that portal was poorly or perhaps improperly mapped. The Eleos expedition had begun at Timmons Rock and now Chieftain of Yuwen would also depart in that direction. She made a note to look carefully at the new maps supplied by Xitang.
Toni rose the next morning and knew that there would be ceremony for the Emperor's departure. It seemed that every act of the Emperor required a ceremony, even leaving a room seemed to require fanfare and complex protocol. Toni allowed herself a moment to wonder if ceremony even followed the Emperor to his toilet, but of course she knew the answer.
Once again Toni and Captain Smilot dressed in their finest uniforms which were amended at the last moment with plumes and feathers. Toni felt odd adding these adornments, but as much as she loved her dress whites, she needed something in addition. She also wore the magnificent cape given by the Emperor at the submission ceremony. The cape looked heavy with brocade but was in actuality extremely light. And as Toni walked the cape seemed to flow about her body and on her back she knew the colorful display of the destruction of a Megra ship played over and over again. How the Xitang managed this display in a soft light garment with brocade and silken embroidery she did not know, but the overall effect was of great impact on all who had the opportunity to see it.
As usual everyone assembled upon the dock to await the Emperor who had remained on the Chieftain of Yuwen for the past three days. At exactly 11:00 ET the hatch opened and the six warrior guards entered and took up station. Moments later the generals followed. Just inside the hatch Toni could see Chief Minister of the Left, Xiahou, standing and waiting. Then he stepped forward and bowed to Toni and then to Smilot. Odd thought Toni, as 'barbarians' she thought they would not deserve a bow. Then Xiahou began to announce the entrance of the Emperor. As the Emperor entered the dock, again resplendent in gold on black robes, Xiahou spoke.
"All bow and tremble in the presence of the Emperor of Xitang, Protector of Jamon and Wu,, Ruler of the Celestial Skies, Dragon of Shen Shi, Protector of the Vassal States, Immortal of the Ages, Guardian of Shang, Destroyer of Gui, Right Hand of ..."
Toni knew this announcement would go on for some time, but she was surprised that the status of Jamon and Wu was placed immediately following the pronouncement that the Li Bian was Emperor of Xitang. As the latest vassal state, and she thought least important barbarian ally of Xitang, their name would be placed last. She thought she would need to ask later about this placement, but the possibility was limited, as the Chieftain of Yuwen was leaving upon the conclusion of the ceremony.
Emperor Li Bian allowed Yuwen to complete his lengthy list of Imperial titles and as he finished somewhere deep within the ship Chieftain of Yuwen, Tony faintly heard the screeching of trumpets. As the trumpets completed the rather annoying fanfare the young woman she had seen during the conferences stepped forward.
As she entered she did not bow to the Emperor but only nodded her head slightly. Toni realized she must be of high rank. Li Bian took the young woman's hand and together they stepped forward to Toni.
The Emperor spoke, "May I introduce by niece Mai Li, Marchioness of Shen, Countess of Tsiang, and Protectress of the Temple of Seven Mountains."
The Marchioness took a step forward and offered her hand. Her handshake was firm and she stared Toni directly in the eye. As small as this woman was, Toni realized she was both tough and sharp.
"I am honored to meet you Marchioness," said Toni
"And I pleased to finally meet you Commodore Hamilton. Our fates are now joined."
The Emperor stood for a moment and then two men appeared with sliders hauling forth a very large crate. The crate itself was covered in high relief and depicted forest scenes with mountains and temples in the distance. These were not mere crates thought Toni but something else. Something important. A few moments later additional crates appeared until much of one side of the dock was crowded with similar large decorated crates.
Toni was about to ask the Emperor what the crates contained, but she knew it best to remain quiet. Li Bian would explain in his own time.
As the last magnificent decorated crate arrived the Emperor spoke to Toni and Captain Smilot. " My Niece Mai Li, Marchioness of Shen, Countess of Tsiang, and Protectress of the Temple of Seven Mountains, shall now become Guardian of Jamon and Wu. She shall be our emissary and I hope she shall take up residence in the Habitat of the Commonwealth to ensure the prosperity and success of our alliance."
Toni momentarily found herself at a loss for words, but then without thinking replied, "We are honoured by your appointment of Mai Li as Guardian."
The ceremony of departure and return of the Emperor took even longer than his arrival at the dock, but eventually the Chieftain of Yuwen undocked and began its' departure from the Wu System.
As the Chieftain of Yuwen pulled away, Mai Li turned to Toni. "I am sorry you received no warning of my mission, but I myself was surprised at this assignment. As for all this clutter, my baggage of state, much can be placed in cold storage. It will not be needed."
Toni responded, "I shall arrange transport to Jamon as soon as a SAR rotation is scheduled. But that will take a few days."
Mai Li nodded. Toni continued, "Marchioness please understand that our Commonwealth is based on merit and not on lineage. We shall honor our bonds to Xitang and accept you as emissary of the Great Xitang, but you may need to adjust your expectations as to our way of life."
Mai Li responded, "I understand, and perhaps at some point I may tell you of my life and my suffering. But for now I am tired and I require only a bunk in one of your modest hotels and a good days rest."
Toni looked at Smilot who immediat
ely took action. "Please follow me Emissary, I am sure we can find quarters suitable for an ambassador from Xitang."
Within a minute Toni Hamilton found herself standing on the cold public dock of Wu Station wondering what she had done, or undone to the Commonwealth and its' allies.
Abel is going to kill me she thought, as she walked slowly back to pier 4 and Eir which would return her to Holgata Station.
Chapter One Hundred Eight
Jamon System - Navy Dock - Year 3248 September 18 ET 11:32
Abel stood on the cold deck of the Navy Dock awaiting the arrival of the SAR Skeggjöld. It had become his custom to greet OCN ships upon their arrival, as well as their departure, but the increasing pressure of his office made such meetings more and more difficult to arrange. However Toni Hamilton's dispatches, which had been sent 22 hours before, as Skeggjöld entered the portal from Dello, compelled Abel to be present. The arrival of an ambassador from Xitang as well as the alliance surprised Abel. Reading Toni's dispatches took an hour and then he reread them carefully and that took almost two hours. At first he found the language of subservience of the Commonwealth to the Xitang Emperor annoying, but upon reflection he realized that Toni was right. Words were just words, but anti-matter torpedoes would kill Megra. And Toni's report indicated the possibility of the first alliance of military equals that might stem the time of Megra aggression. Xitang was not without resources and had successfully fought off numerous Megra attacks. And now, as they were approaching the desperate, the Commonwealth and its allies needed an ally who packed an equal punch.
Skeggjöld soon docked and a good two dozen of families and friends had stood on the dock to welcome home their kin. There was no band, no crowd, no vid crew, since the arrival and departure of OCN ships had become commonplace. Abel appreciated the more quiet dock upon the arrival of an OCN ship.
