A private chat with the in-laws

After that little talk (and a few other discussions around family matters as well as a desert course of ice cream from the ship’s stores) the bulk of the clan left the ship leaving just Emely, her mother and father as well as the Empress, her patriarch and second. As soon as the final one of Emely’s sisters had left after an extended hug goodbye, the Empress flopped back in her chair with a most un-imperial sigh before kicking her feet up onto the long table. “At last. No offense, Cecel, but despite everything I don’t want the others from your clan to hear the discussions I need to have with Mr soon-to-be-my-nephew-in-law ambassador over there. Smith matriarch, I assume you and your second will want to have a talk with Emely around now?” That last comment was accompanied by an idle finger circling in Meli’s direction.

The Velca woman stood and nodded. “Indeed. Second, Emely - let’s go down to the observation deck. There’s a lovely view of the palace from there, and the construction means it’s one-way viewing only.” Rye muttered something about wanting a second helping of desert before following Meli and Emely out of the room. As the door closed behind them, the Empress raised an eyebrow at Dustin. “Can you ensure privacy?” He grinned at that. “I already did. This room is as locked from scanning as it’s possible to make it, and I turned on all the protection before the meal. Wanted to make sure Emely could talk freely to her family even though you were there your majesty.” That got an appreciative nod from the Empress, before she sat upright again. “Alright. Well, I’ll keep this brief. We’re going to sign your charter obviously - that was guaranteed when we started sponsoring your application. However, I want to negotiate a trade deal right now.”

Dustin winced, he wished he had his crew for this - but did his best. Palms open, he smiled “what is it you want to trade?” The Empress shrugged. “Guaranteed Feliax comms officers to be placed on all human ships; in short we get first dibs at the comms officer role, and we’ll fill as many of those as we possibly can. In exchange, we’d offer free settlement rights for any Feliax-Human families on our colony worlds.” Dustin blinked. He’d read enough - and been drilled enough by the General back on Earth to know that colony world settlement rights were a big deal for basically everyone out there. “Why such a high price? It seems like a win-win for humanity. What are you getting out of the deal?” he asked, eyes narrowing. The Empress glanced at her husband and second for a moment, before nodding to herself. “We discussed this, didn’t we Eriff, Celinx? That I should be honest with the human?”

The other two nodded before Liselia turned back to Dustin. “Essentially, we’re trying to peacefully reorganize Feliax society. For thousands of years we’ve had slow birth rates - and to be honest there’s a real worry of population collapse in the next thousand or so if we don’t do something about it. So, the Duchesses will more or less give me a free hand in trying to get non-Feliax partners; we don’t get the same fertility switch-off in prides with non-Feliax males or at least at nothing like the same rate although we also don’t get as many children. Normally. But with humans? I’ve run the analysis personally - would you believe my qualifications before I took the throne were in bio-engineering? - and with humans we’d have at least normal matriarchal levels of offspring. So, humans equals the solution to the under-population issue; Feliax breed true-to-species, it’s a quirk of our biology that we never produce hybrids.”

Dustin nodded at this - it made sense if that was all true that they’d want to get humans as partners - but it didn’t answer the question as to why they’d offer so much for it. Seeing his puzzled look the empress smiled and waved vaguely at Cecel “you can explain the last part of the plan, Mr ultra-radical.” Cecel blushed slightly at that - it was clearly a private family joke, and one Dustin didn’t feel right prying into as the man spoke. “As my Empress commands. Dustin - if we just allow for humans to have Feliax partners, then the ducal families will monopolize the relationships that form. They’ll flood the species with people brought up to follow their matriarchs without any thoughts of their own, regardless of what the human side of the family might think. It’s not healthy for us long term, will lead to potential strife with your kind, and could set back the equality movement by hundreds of years. On the other hand, consider the case if the bulk of relationships - and more importantly the ones allowed to settle with their partners on a colony planet and have large families - are comprised of Feliax who have served aboard starships as comms officers. What would that mean? Well, the ones that’ll be most keen on that job will usually be those who are at least a little dissatisfied with the status quo. It won’t do much in the short term, but in two or three generations there should be enough new duchies created on the colonies to outnumber and overrule the traditionalist faction.”

For a moment Dustin wasn’t sure what to say, glancing around the room at the smiling fox folk looking at him. “So - let me get this right. Your plan is give us some of the best comms officers in the galaxy in exchange for us helping you fuck your way to a more equal planet? That is the most fucking bizarre thing I’ve heard since leaving Earth, and I’ve listened to Rabyth beat music. You do realize with my kind there’s a good chance some of those vessels will be warships right? Star Command is already planning on joining the anti-pirate league and galactic defence corps as soon as we can fly our own vessels freely?” The Empress nodded, her reply one he should have expected. “Of course. Honestly, that and trade ships are more use in this project than science vessels. Merchants and warriors will fight more fiercely for their families than artists or researchers if our history has anything to say on the matter. Is this an accord you can reach or do you need to contact your government, ambassador?”

Dustin didn’t hesitate. “I don’t need to contact them - rather, I should, but if I make you wait for an offer like this I’ll have an irate General trying to hitch a ride on the first ship that passes Earth just so he can give me a dressing down in person for risking such a good offer. We have a deal; I’ll notify Earth Gov to expect the appropriate documents to be signed?” Liselia nodded, smiling warmly at him. “Indeed. How soon should we send it?” Dustin typed a quick message on his tablet and hit a button. “I’ve just sent them a priority one report to let them know. Give them an hour and you should be good, your majesty.” Liselia nodded, then looked around the assembled Feliax. “Well then, my fellow conspirators - we’ve achieved our goal with the humans here it seems. By now my dear niece should be done talking with her new matriarch and is waiting for us to say our goodbyes I expect. Dustin, thank you for the meal - and for giving me something to shock some very stuffy nobles with in terms of what you have given my in-laws for Emely’s hand. Be a dear and wait here - she’ll come back once we’ve said our goodbyes I expect so that she can talk to you alone.” At that, she offered a hand for Dustin to shake, which was followed by handshakes or hugs from the other Feliax present. When it was the turn of Emely’s mother, she hugged him close enough to whisper in his ear. “Just so you know, the base of our tails are really, really sensitive.” Pulling back, she gave him a wink and added in a much louder voice “Take care of my daughter please, ambassador. Make sure you all stay safe out there in space.” Dustin had just about enough time to stutter a promise that he would look after his crew before the laughing group of Feliax left the room.