azenyanistan:

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azenyanistan:

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azenyanistan:

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azenyanistan:

fleet-admiral-red:

azenyanistan:

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azenyanistan:

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The Initiative welcomed the Embrace openly, their greeting message incorporating the voice of trillions.

The designated representative of GDI was Senior Ambassador Tarais Joral, a distinguished Romulan.

His own diplomatic corvette met the Embrace in orbit around the Initiative’s city planet of Artemis.

“In the words of my people of origin, Ambassador, Jolan Tru. As the representative of the Initiative, I welcome you to our space.” Joral said in the hailing transmission to the Embrace.

Once they met, the Sayaritan-Azen Ambassador Test nodded and smiled. She said in reply 

“Thank you. And in the words of my people, the Sayaritans, I greet you with Sayanarr Istulii. And as representative of both Sayaritans and the Azen New Republic, I am grateful to be welcomed into your space. May I request that the Embrace be allowed to dock at any station or port on Artemis?”

“There are indeed several orbital stations we could use. For the sake of convenience, might I suggest Sentinel Station?” Joral proposed.

A separate information window opened up, pointing out the most impressive-looking station that was hanging in orbit.

Many vessels of all types were leaving or docking with it, a never-ending stream of ships. The local GDI patrol group of 5 frigates, 3 destroyers and a cruiser was vigilantly keeping watch as well.

The Embrace received it. And the Embrace responded

“Very well, Senior Ambassador Joral. The Embrace shall dock at Sentinel Station. We will be approaching the station in 10…15 minutes. Please stand by for our arrival and docking.”

Those minutes passed.

Soon enough, they were closing in on the station, in a docking maneuver. The Azen ship had her weapons deactivated as the ship sent a message

“We are approaching. Please assist our docking.” 

The station’s local AI, Xena, smoothly replied.

“Docking permissions granted, Embrace. Please stand by for guidance.”

As the Embrace entered the safety zone around Sentinel Station, projected tractor beams guided the ship into a safe docking zone within the station itself.

Once secure, an enclosed docking passage connected to the ship, but not before actively reconfiguring its connector to fit the docking port on the Embrace.

Xena transmitted again. “Docking complete. You are clear for disembarking, Embrace. Welcome to Sentinel Station.”

As the Embrace was being docked and guided, the captain of the ship did whatever she could, adjusting whenever it was necessary and giving simple, short instructions to her technicians, officers and crew members close to her. Once they all heard the docking was complete, the captain sighed and nodded to herself and to the crew for a job well done. She gave herself a few minutes. 

Once those minutes were over, she encountered the representative of her country, Azenyanistan and spoke to her after nodding and kissing her hand

“Ambassador Test, I must thank you again for choosing me and my ship. It is so much of an honor, I cannot stop thank-”

The Ambassador blushed and told the captain

“Oh please, darling, it is all right. No need to thank me over and over again. I appreciate it. And it was also because I wanted to see how my dear friend’s daughter was doing as a captain. Especially of the Embrace! My, how I wished to see you perform.”

The captain scratched her head, grinning out of embarassment. She giggled then and said 

“Very well, Ambassador. Shall I escort you?”

Test nods and says

“Yes you may, Captain Alliiyyah.”

And together, they were further more escorted by seven marines and four riflewomen. All of them were equipped with either Caller main battle rifles or Kaiteriza light machine guns. They flanked the two officials and disembarked with them.

@fleet-admiral-red

As the Azen diplomatic team exited the docking passage and found themselves in the docks proper, they were met by Ambassador Joral and his own escort.

The 6 soldiers escorting Joral had their helmets collapsed, showing them to be all of different alien races. Only one was human. Still, they all cradled their Guardian rail-rifles close.

Joral gave a calm, welcoming smile. “As Xena may have told you already, welcome to Sentinel Station. Please, follow me. There is a diplomatic lounge for us to officially discuss matters.”

The marines and the riflewomen also had their helmets collapse in just a moment. The marines were all women from Azenyanistan while two of the riflewomen were Sayaritan and the rest were Rasurrian. The Azens were humans while the Sayaritans had three skin colors and the Rasurrians looked reddish. Ambassador Test smiled back at Joral and said 

“Very well. And thank you once more, Ambassador Joral. We shall faithfully follow.”

And so they did, the marines and the riflewomen going after their ambassador and captain. The security details of the two women allowed their weapons to be lowered and they kept their fingers off the triggers, their safeties on but with rounds already waiting in their chambers. If anything went wrong, they were to respond to threats very quickly, according to muscle memory. But as it seems that things would go well and it would be diplomatic, the Azen, Sayaritan and Rasurrian guards kept quiet, their face masks or their scarves still hiding their faces but not their eyes. 

While proceeding through Sentinel Station, the Azen delegation were greeted with the sights of how life was like in the Initiative.

Dozens of races mingled, going about their days in peace. The voice of Xena could be heard, conversing in multiple instances with various GDI citizens. Turbolifts ascended and descended near-silently throughout the station interior, ferrying people to their locations.

The glow of haptics was everywhere, from personal screens to fairly large advertisement displays.

From what could be seen, entertainment and similar things were the most prominent services available.

Sophont machine individuals could be seen as well, apparently possessed of the same rights as any normal being.

Most interesting were the various conveniently placed replicator stations, where citizens could requisition whatever they needed or wanted and had those things appear in a flash of blue particles.

All in all, the environment of Sentinel Station showed the incredibly high quality of life and hyper-advanced technology enjoyed by the people of GDI.

To the Azen delegation, especially the officials, it was no surprise to see high technology like this.

In Azenyanistan, there were turbolifts too as well as haptics. While they still used holograms and classic LCD and so on, their military tech was good and so was the technology that people needed to work and keep their lives well and safe.

The guards maintained their discipline but they did allow themselves to look around and admire as they moved on with their officials. The officials sometimes paused to look further and observe. Then they would carry on and follow their hosts.

As they did, the Ambassador of the nation approached Joral and spoke

“Very impressive technology. While my nation is mixing both classic and higly advanced technology like this, I must say this.”

“Thank you, Ambassador. You honor us with your praise.”

The reputation of GDI’s quality of life preceded it, so by now Joral was somewhat used to hearing people marvel at what the Initiative had achieved.

Proceeding further along to their destination, they passed yet more fascinating sights. Eventually, however, the two groups arrived at a rather lavish, comfortable lounge overlooking a portion of the station’s interior.

Xena’s avatar was there to greet them as they stepped through the sliding doors into the room proper. “Welcome to the diplomatic lounge, Ambassadors.”

The Ambassador, Test, smiled at the statement. 

But once they were at the lounge, immediately, protocol had to be followed. Their own instructions dictated that the guards should split. Some would protect them at the entrance while the rest entered and there remained at attention for their officials. As for the ambassador and her companion, they entered and then they waited politely for their hosts to allow them to take their seats.

As Joral took a seat opposite the Azen ambassador, the Romulan gave a warm smile.

“As this is the first diplomatic meeting between our nations, I would ask what your people wish to achieve first once the Initiative formally begins relations.”

Privately, Joral did hope that the Azens desired peace. Most species and alternate variants of humanity did, anyway.