13th July
09:36 GMT
Alert: ship has exited spatial fracture and is heading toward Hny'xx.
Thank you. Any change in the disposition of the other ships?
An image appears in my mind. There's a cordon around where the Hellwraith is floating, but other than that it looks like everyone has returned to business as usual. I nod to myself, then rise to my feet. At this point I can probably fly in-system myself without giving anything much away about my capab-.
Cream coloured light manifests around the Clan Commander's throne, shifting and writhing in an approximate uneven sphere. I step back, construct armour appearing around my body. Okay, there's a few things that could be-.
There's a crackle of… Purple lightning? From the area inside the sphere, then something flies-. I grab the object with a construct claw. A.. metal cylinder, containing… Complicated circuitry which… Doesn't appear to do anything, some plant matter and what looks like cultured meat. There's also a small repulsor drive-.
It jerks, trying to get out of my grip. Still not sure what's going on I let it go, watching as it flies back to its origin point and disappear. Right, some sort of teleportation system and… A
test sample. Testing to make sure that it's safe to send things through. Ring, prepare to destroy anything that comes through looking threatening.
Compliance.
And armour, obviously.
Compliance.
No alert from the ship yet. Technology this advanced implies Psion, as anyone else who could teleport things onto someone else's ship would use it to cut a swathe through Vega's other powers. Could be an
outside force… Qwardians would be the worst-.
The cream orb flexes
inwards then opens up, revealing a Psion in utilitarian purple overalls. He takes a moment to examine his surroundings. "Ah. A success."
"Can I help you?
"
The cream light peels away, forming a backdrop for him as he sits in the Clan Commander's chair. His eyes are.. curiously Human, though the decorative head crenulations are a little odd. "I think it's more about what we can do for one another."
"You think that I can help you get orange power rings.
"
"It would be
nice, but I am… Prepared to set my sights a little lower. We Psions aren't really the.. stomping around and conquering types. Oh, and may I say? That was a rather nice stratagem with the construct. Forcing the Admiral to call you in?"
I frown slightly.
"I thought it was one of Larfleeze's..?
"
"Too convenient. You buy a group of Tamaranian slaves from that Gordanian outpost and then a short time later a construct slave arrives in a system holding Tamaranian slaves… In a system which The Beast-. I'm sorry, which
Larfleeze's slaves have already bypassed? It might have been him, but it's far more likely to have been
you."
"There's a certain logic to the assumption.
"
"Of course, we don't really have enough data to reach a firm conclusion. So I don't feel the need to report my suspicions to the Admiral."
"Good of you.
"
"The question remains, then, why are you here? The Gordanians would be happy to gather more slaves for you and I'm certain that a Lantern could acquire technically skilled workers elsewhere. Puzzling."
"Are you going somewhere..?
"
"The Spiders think that you're working for the Guardians in some fashion. I think that unlikely. A Guardian operative wouldn't have handed that
fascinating construct-resistant woman over to us."
"What do you want?
"
"What do I want? I want what the Guardians have:
agents throughout the universe bringing me information and technology. I
want a power ring for the challenge it poses to my intellect and the convenience of making my own constructs. And what I offer in return is Psion analytics and technology. Not every challenge can be overcome with brawn."
"Do you think you can do those things better than the Maltusians?
"
"A
aaah." He thinks for a moment. "Pride demands that I say 'yes'. But… Honesty demands I say 'no'. However, I imagine that they would want a controlling share in exchange for their help. In fact, if another Maltusian group were like the Guardians… I doubt that they'd demand less than absolute sovereignty. We Psions would regard it simply as an improvement on our relationship with the Citadel; run your organisation as you wish."
"Without more personal lanterns, it would be a crippled organisation.
"
"I understand your concern, but I'm certain that -given time- we could-." He blinks, then the cream light moves to cover him once more. "Perhaps we could continue this later."
There's a crackle of purple lightning again, then the cream light collapses in on itself.
About four seconds before the room's main screen lights up with the Citadelian Admiral's face. "Orange Lantern! So good of you to come!" His eyes narrow slightly. "Such
fine looking armour you have. You simply
must give me the name of your armourer."
"It's an artisan piece. I'm not sure you could persuade them to make a suit for you.
"
"Pity. Trogaar has explained the situation?"
"You want the Construct Lantern removed. It's doable. For a price.
"
"I wouldn't
dream of insulting you by suggesting that you work for
free. I also want to talk to you about your
rings."
"Naturally.
"
"No doubt Trogaar has made his approach already. Fie, I say! What is a fleet compared to the power of a Lantern Corps?"
"Depends on the fleet.
"
"The Citadel is prepared to compensate you well for assisting us in exterminating the Beast of Okaara and taking control of his possessions. We have a history of working well with aliens and being true to our word. Assist us, and as our Empire spreads you would be second only to the Emperor in power and influence. Navies to serve under your command. Worlds, yours, their people to do with as you pleased."
"Generous, but… I have… Concerns, about the capacity of most Citadelians to make use of power rings. Yourself, your implants… I'm sure that
you could cope, but the common infantry-.
"
"And no doubt you have concerns about our numbers. Some sort of nonsense about.. the constant cloning causing some sort of genetic decay. Hm?"
"The First Citadelian was by all surviving accounts an extremely intelligent man. His descendants
aren't. Your numbers have been constant for a very long time and you need cybernetic implants to become intelligent.
"
"True. All true. But like any other people we are capable of
change. It is fortuitous that you are here. When you are done with that construct-thing, come into the base to speak with me in person. I have something to show you that I think you will find
very interesting."
