-Excuse my intrusion, Elder diplomat, I have the report from the captain you asked for before you left for the meeting.
A crew member entered with a data pad in his hands.
-Additionally, the captain asked for you to meet him in his quarters at your convenience.
The crewman said, handing her the device before leaving.
The data pad contained the information that the ship's crew managed to gather, which wasn't much as their attempts to enter the station's systems were hampered by AI, making it impossible to access the data.
The only thing they managed to gather was some rumors and gossip; the ship's surveillance system managed to pick up, but it was not anything important nor was it helpful in anyway.
After skimming through the data, she went to see the captain.
He was waiting for her at his quarters, and immediately upon her entrance, he activated the privacy systems.
-So how'd it go?
He said, informally.
-It's bad, I was outmaneuvered like never before.
She admitted taking a seat and looking at the captain, who was also her uncle, a brother of her mother.
-Tell me everything.
He said with surprise in his voice.
He was an older Areni, with many years of experience as a captain of a diplomatic vessel, but she knew that he was also an excellent fighter and a great judge of character.
Without hesitation, she told him everything with as much detail as possible.
-In the end, I made a fool of myself, and even worse than that, could barely suggest opening diplomatic relations between the Empire and the Federation, to which they have yet to agree.
I think this mission is a failure.
She said with shame.
-Interesting.
The captain said with an expression of deep thought.
-The way I see it, you didn't fail, even if you made a mistake at the end.
Their way of performing diplomacy is simply too different from ours for anyone to immediately adapt to it, and you still managed to gain something, even if it's not the main objective, it is something.
The fact that they returned the identification chips had many meanings, which you most likely missed.
He continued.
-It was not simply a gesture of goodwill and honoring the dead; it was an admission that these cadets earned their respect, and it was also a threat, or more likely a warning that whoever comes to attack them will end up dead.
It's also surprising that Tanira and Runir not only hold high positions in the empire but are also Empresses.
-I think they used their bodies to climb so high.
Tanri sneered.
-That's where you're wrong.
The captain shook his head.
-From what you told me about the emperor, he does not seem like a person who encourages nepotism.
This can only mean that we might have given him two talented ladies for free.
Especially considering their achievements on the battlefield and in diplomacy, which are substantial, considering their age.
The captain explained, making her understand a lot more than before.
-So, what would you suggest we do now, uncle?
She asked.
-It's your mission, but I think we should wait patiently for their decision regarding an ambassador.
-Do you think they will accept our ambassador?
She asked.
-I think they will, mostly because even though they see the Federation as an enemy, and we have done a lot to make them perceive us as such.
We haven't reached a point of irreconcilable enmity yet.
He explained.
-How do you know that?
She asked, not understanding how he could be so sure.
-Because we are still alive.
He answered.
While Tanri was discussing with her uncle.
Andrew and the ladies were discussing the possibility of accepting the ambassador.
-I'm against it.
Runir said without thinking about it for too long.
-This is one of their military tactics.
They did the same when they conquered the Kuitans.
First, the Federation attacked, when it got a beating, they sent a diplomat who said that this was an action of the rogue elements in the military.
The Kuitans didn't believe that to much but after some talks they accepted an ambassador from the federation and that was their mistake.
The ambassador subtly undermined their leadership while gathering intelligence data.
Once everything was ready, about two years after the ambassador came to their planet.
The Federation attacked again, but this time they knew everything about the Kuitians' defenses, and with their leadership undermined and suspected of being traitors, it was chaos.
In the end, the planet fell within a day, and the Kiutan people are slaves of the Federation to this day.
She explained.
-Thank you for sharing that, but here the situation is different.
There is no government to undermine, and undermining an emperor is a quick way to get yourself executed or kicked out if the monarch feels merciful.
Arien said.
-Whatever the case, we should decline and kick them out.
Runir said with an unwavering conviction.
-That's a valid concern, but what worries me even more is that they even tried to propose an alliance with us.
It is unusual at the very least, considering that not so long ago they tried to destroy us, not to mention the previous incidents.
Aelita voiced her opinion.
-Unfortunately, this is a standard tactic of the federation.
If they can't destroy you outright, then they will send diplomats to find out your weaknesses or if you don't have any, then they will find a way to create a few and then exploit them to take you down.
They are usually counting on the fact that most civilized recesses won't attack a diplomat, and will at the very least allow them to speak with their own diplomats if not with the government.
We learned about it in our historical and political studies.
Tarina said.
-So, what do you think they will try to do in our case?
Andrew asked.
-I have no clue what they have prepared right now, but even now I can think of a few ways they can make trouble for the empire.
She answered.
-The first of which would be inciting jealousy among us, or at least trying to.
Their main approach might be to offer you a high-ranking female from the federation to seduce you and then demand that you make her the main Empress or something similar.
Other than that, they might target some people who recently joined the empire to incite dissent among them, most likely using imaginary differences in treatment between them and those that are with us longer.
There is also a possibility of planting some spies or even recruiting some from our population.
Finally, they might try to use the fact that we accepted their ambassador to rally our neighbours once more, this time to prevent the empire from allying itself with the Federation.
Or at least that would be the official story, and the ones doing the rallying would have nothing to do with the federation, at least not on the surface.
Tarina explained.
-These are the ones I can come up with at the moment, but there might be more.
She added.
-Not to mention that the families and friends of the people who died in the war with them and their allies would be angry, which might cause us a lot of problems.
Runir chimed in.
-From what you say, their primary objective is to destabilize the Empire and, if possible, pitch us against our neighbors to weaken everyone before they can conquer us.
Arien neither asked nor stated.
-Divide and conquer.
Andrew said.
-It's an old military and political strategy, and it is extremely effective if applied successfully.
He explained when the ladies didn't get the meaning of his words.
-Either way, I also don't see any benefits in having a federation's ambassador here, and a lot of reasons that we should never invite one.
Six hours after leaving the conference room, Tanri was standing before Andrew once again.
-After careful deliberation, we decided to reject the idea of accepting an ambassador from the Five Races Federation.
Tarina said calmly.
-However, we are open to the continued communication between our nations, through diplomats.
She added.
Tanri could barely believe what she was hearing, but she immediately figured out that Runir and Tarina had to warn the emperor about the trouble he might face if he decided to accept the Federation's ambassador.
Worse of all, there was nothing she could do to change the Emperor's decision since he trusted his head diplomat and Admiral's opinions and the two of them were now loyal to the Empire.
-I understand and will convey your majesty's decision to the Federations council.
She said trying to sound neutral, despite the panic she felt, thinking about explaining this mess to the council.
Andrew simply nodded.
-You may leave.
He said in a neutral voice, dismissing her.
The Elder diplomat left the room escorted by four battle droids.