Quote
Originally posted by -REDCHIGH-:
**Message to: Mamajama
From: Azdgari
We notice you fighting the miranu alone (Without your fleet), and wonder why.
We are about to give you a reason.
In return for cutting all ties with the miranu, we will help support your planet in times of need. Not to mention giving you access to all but the highest security military technology. We will ship food to end the drought we've heard about on your homeworld. We will relocate older citizens to more peaceful planets within our space. Look at the size of miranu and azdgari space. There is no way for the miranu to win this war, even with coalition help the casualties will be in the billions. We are not bloodthirsty. You notice, we are only disabling miranu vessels. We are going to take the civilians to our space and give them comfortable lives until benden is dead, then we will give them back their space. Reply si'l vous plait.
End
**
Poch, Zimla System
Mamajama stared at Admiral Redchighs proposal. Drought relief. Alliance with a galactic power. New trade markets. Hmmmm. And a later message asked to use the Zimla system as a hideout from the war with the Miranu.
I cant speak for the Planetary Council on Poch, or even for the House for Jama, anymore. I left my son, Jo Jama, in charge, so that my family wouldnt be associated with my "treachery." But the House of Jama is the largest of the ruling Houses, and someone would have to present the Adzgari proposal. Should be easy to persuade Jo ..
"Mama, you did what??!!!!"
"Yes, yes, Jo, I p______d off Admiral Benden, our largest client and patron, because of something that happened thirty years ago. If you really want to know why, its a long story but right now, we have to deal with reality. Our planet is in a drought, and the Azdgari are offering relief. Benden made a mistake 30 years ago, and I made a mistake in following him. I found that planetary genocide is not only not good business, because it makes potential trading partners distrust you, it also annihilates those potential trading partners. I killed off billions of potential clients and customers when I blew up Veltes. Thats just not good business."
Jo Jama buried his handsome head in his hands. "And you blew up Bendens precious antimatter, and that is good business? Mama, mama, mama. What are we going to do with you.?"
Mamajama smiled. When her oldest son started to condescend to her, she knew she had him where she wanted him. He would present the Adzgari proposal to the Poch Planetary Council. They would probably have the same objections, but eventually come around to accept their changed reality. At least, she hoped so.
After a pause, she said, "Jo, heres another thing to consider. You know that we have installed the slug repeller fields on our ships? Well, they dont seem to be 100% effective. Eventually, the larger slugs learn to compensate for the field, and they seem to be intelligent enough to locate the source of the electrical current and shut it off. Were going to have to do better if we want to stay slug-free. Im giving a skilled salvage operator orders to capture a live baby slug or two, feed it Grivan brains, and see if we can figure out any more about what makes them tick. The operation will be conducted in an isolated old freighter, and the scientists will work by remote robot controls where possible. Slugs have been sighted in Nemnel, one jump away. OK with you if a freighter tries to capture a slug there?"
After Jo gave his consent, MJ added, " And there is one more thing, maybe the most important thing. Some unknown enemy, possibly related to the pesky "peaceful" Attar, has been blowing up stations and devastating planets. Weve read reports from DSN2131, and now Helios. So far, whoever it is has just attacked renegade and independent worlds on the rim of the known Galaxy; however, we cant assume that they arent working their way inward. These attackers are powerful; We may need to ally with the Adzgari simply because they have a huge fleet of ships. Be practical, Jo; think with your wallet like a good Miranu.
Jo gave his mother a knowing look. "You arent sharing any of this slug research with your new Adzgari allies, are you?"
Mamajama smirked. "Of course not. We have to keep something in reserve. You can be sure that Admiral Redchigh hasnt told us all of his plans, either."
Jo clicked through some screens until he found the report from Mo Jama in Zanat.
"Mo has dropped off all of the refugees on Kitrak, as you had requested. All of the surviving Jama fleet is now in position in Zanat, awaiting action by the Adzgari. Do you have orders for them?"
"I think well have to see what our Planetary Council has to say about an alliance with the Adzgari."
Later, Mamajama leaned over her little grandson's crib and cooed like a good grandma. She had attached a loop of wire to the tiny toy Azdara she had rescued from the devastation of Veltes. She suspended it above the infant's crib as a mobile.
"Better get used to these, sweetie. You may be seeing more of them."
<TRANSMISSION>
TO: Admiral Redchigh of the Adzgari
FROM: Mamajama
RE: Possible alliance, hideout
Admiral,
You may not be aware that I am only one member of a ruling house on Poch. I am inclined to favor it, although we both would have to overcome the long and bloody history between our peoples. My son will present your proposal to the Council, and we must await that decision. Until then, I prefer that you not retreat to the Zimla system. However, the nearby system, Nemnel, is uninhabited....
<END TRANSMISSION>
ETA:
Planetary Council meeting and decision: 2 posts
Live slug research: 3 posts
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My karma ran over your dogma. - bumper sticker