Four Tribes

Sola slid seemingly effortlessly through the gravitational riptides at the heart of the trinary star system they were currently crossing. In fact, her smooth flight was down to a great deal of work during the weave jump from Sol by both Meli and Sammie, the two women spending more or less every moment of their workday on this one piece of navigation for the past eight hours. Realistically, this system should have been navigated by taking a wide, looping path around the erratic orbit of the third star; doing so would be the safe option.

It would also be an option that would take them almost three entire days of sublight travel, compared with a mere six hours if they timed their passage to use the stars’ gravity to slingshot them out towards their onward jump point. An easy decision to make - albeit one that then required a massive amount of pouring over stellar cartography and simulations on the part of their pilot.

While the women dealt with the tricky issues of stellar slaloming, Dustin was for once not on the bridge. His presence there was unnecessary - if something went wrong with the transit, it’d be up to the ladies to resolve it in any case, and adding his own layer of orders onto what they needed to do would only slow his lovers down.

Thus, while Sola danced her route through the stars, Dustin sat in his ready room listening to a briefing on their next destination from Emely. “The situation ahead is not the most ideal - but they are open to our providing assistance. If we can show that we’re friendly and not what the news broadcasts the Durathisians are releasing make us out to be, then we should be able to convince them to join our side.” The fox girl’s mood was upbeat as she spoke, tapping her tablet to lay out the situation for him.

“This area of space is home to four species of note. Before they were found by the council, they had actually managed to colonize a number of worlds using a primitive form of weave-jump - uncontrolled, highly dangerous, and caused a lot of fatalities among their explorers before they found safe routes.” Emely paused, taking a sip of her drink before sliding her tablet across to him. “Interestingly enough, they ended up in conflict with each other before the council turned up. One species had managed to subjugate the other three by the time outsiders arrived.”

Dustin nodded, flicking through the history file she’d left open for him. “Initial interactions with the council were hostile… the little star empire they’d built fell apart when the other species were contacted and given the option to be independent with council support… huh. So, what’s the current situation? This all happened almost a thousand years ago.”

Emely shrugged. “It’s fascinating actually. After the first few hundred years, the former satellite species formally voted to transfer their governance back to the ruling empire. Apparently, they’d found that the constant arguments between their own kind and the other satellites were slowing down their progression to the point that it was making their colonization efforts unmanageable, and so the four nations reformed into a unified entity under a single throne. That’s both good and bad for us.”

Frowning, Dustin skidded the tablet back across to her. “Good and bad, how exactly? If they all listen to one ruler, all I have to do is convince that leader, surely?”

The Feliax woman sighed and shook her head. “In theory, yes. That’s the good bit,” she began, tails twitching erratically as she figured out how to explain the bad. “With most species we’ve met before, it’s been pretty easy to get in touch with the rulers - you’ve been an official council sanctioned ambassador, on an official mission. Now, we’re nobodies, and specifically nobodies that the Durathisians are trying to make out as hostile to the council. We can’t just waltz up to the imperial palace and expect a friendly greeting.”

Groaning, Dustin leaned back in his seat and stared at the ceiling. “Of course it can’t be that easy. I presume you and Meli have a plan? There’s no way the two of you would be having us take this long a trip without a scheme to get us at least a meeting with whoever is in charge.”

Standing to retrieve another drink for them both, Emely grinned, one of her tails brushing Dustin’s arm as she walked past. “Of course, Sir. It’s fairly simple - we just need to get one or more of the subservient species to put in a good word for us. So that’s the plan - we go help them out, they get us in to talk to the emperor, you are your usual amazing self, we walk out with new allies. Simple, really.”

Simple it might have sounded in theory, but Dustin was pretty sure it wouldn’t be that easy to put into practice. Leaning forward again, he gestured to the holo. “Alright, then. Tell me about the species in more detail, and what exactly you’ve got cooked up for us to help them with.”

Emely set the drinks down on the table and shrugged. “The junior species are fairly straightforward - all are biological, no silicate or synthetics. All are mammalian, too, which is handy. The Uil’l are hard workers, evolved from burrowing animals and are largely subterranean as a result. They provide the bulk of the empire’s industrial power, and have about a million tech issues that Rye could help solve if we approach them.”

She paused, tapping her chin in thought before continuing, “then there’s the Moa’thif. Airy, artistic, and utterly scatter-brained half the time. They’re architects, although their designs leave something to be desired on any world that doesn’t share their home planet’s rich atmosphere and erratic orbit. As far as helping them out - they’ve an open request for new eyes and styles, it should be fairly easy to share some of humanity’s architectural sensibilities and get them on side.”

Dustin nodded. “And the others? The last of the vassals, and the imperial power?”

The redheaded woman winced. “Please don’t call them vassals - they’re officially called common union states and they get very touchy about it. But… the remaining junior power are the Hoxx. Honestly, they’re the easiest for us to get an agreement with, but also the least likely to have any sway with the ruling house - the Hoxx are jovial, sportsmanlike, and utterly obsessed with physical prowess. Arm wrestle one of their dignitaries and we’ll get them on side, based on what Bleu tells me you should be able to beat their champions without breaking a sweat.”

She gestured at the starmap now spinning on the hologram. “Our best bet would be to get all three onside before we approach the Tho’uun. The ruling power, evolved from a species of herd-based herbivores. As to what they’d want for our aid… they’re a little old fashioned about ambassadorial treaties, erm…” Emely hesitated, then gave Dustin an apologetic grin. “Meli and I sort of already spoke to the rest of the ladies about this just in case. There’s a good chance you’ll have to accept a member of the imperial family aboard.” Seeing his expression, she waved her hands rapidly. “They don’t insist on intimacy or marriage! Just… they’re sticklers for protocol, and that means someone joining the crew is non-negotiable as far as they’re concerned.”

Dustin pinched the bridge of his nose. “So, another crewmember - who no doubt you will try and persuade me to take to our bed… no, don’t say anything, kitten. I know you. Fine, fine… they will be useful allies. So who do we go and see first?”

Emely blinked. “That’s your decision, Sir? That’s why Meli asked me to talk through the situation with all these species with you.”

Glancing at the starmap once more, Dustin frowned. “Let’s go see the Hoxx first then. A nice easy win and friends there should help us get to speak to the others I’d hope. And right now I don’t want to think about where this whole mess is going to end up.” With that, he set his mug down and stood, stretching before glancing at the clock. “And on that note… we should get going. You’ve got a scan to get to in the medbay, don’t you?”

Emely bit her lip and nodded. “I do… but, Sir… I’m scared.” The fox girl rose slowly, taking Dustin’s offered hand before she explained, her reasons being exactly what Dustin had guessed. “I should be pregnant by now, Sir. Dustin, what… what if I can’t?”