RP: YSS Celia Mission 2: [Essia] Diplomacy in the Jungle

Henry smiled as he watched Motoyama follow his lead. He seemed to be impressed.

Mazda and Drake followed their orders. They stripped off their environmental suits and other clothing until they were in their underwear. After leaving their clothes and pistols in a heap by the moat, and making sure that their weapons were within reaching distance, the two Elysian soldiers folded up their wings, and took their seats above the moat water.

Henry took a deep breath, allowing himself to relax. "First, sir," he said to the green snakeman seated on the table, "allow me to thank you for your hospitality... Do you know why I am here?"

The male Separa nodded in acknowledgment of the gratitude. "Please if it gets too hot for you just push that toggle switch on your armrest to lower yourselves into the water, it's quite pleasant." A female said. The female Separa had leather clothing over their torso concealing their rather small bustlines whereas the male was shirtless and toned. "We knew you were coming but your reasons are unknown to us." The third said. "We assume you are here to open relations between our races."

Henry nodded. "We're interested in establishing formal relations, yes... Ah, but first, allow me to introduce my companions and myself. I am Henry Chen, fleet admiral of the Third Expeditionary Fleet. Sitting beside me are Lieutenant Tanaka, Lieutenant Kaori, Private Eschve, and Private Starblade. Could I have the honor of knowing your names?"

The triad of separa nodded in acknowledgment and offering welcome individually to each crewmember as they were introduced. "My name is Talris." the male said. "To my right..." He gestured an open hand to the brightly colored female. "Is Lady Rinas." Talris said as Rinas bowed her head. "To my left is Lady Neris." he said. "Pleasure to meet you." The iridescently scaled female smiled.

Tal waved to one of the serving females who slithered over and the two conversed for a moment and she nodded and headed off. "It's good to make your aquaintance, we were informed that you'd arrive today but that's all we were told. You'll have to forgive our seeming indifference to your presence; but as you've seen we are half human but we retain a lot of our old emotional state sometimes." Rinas said politely.

He sat silently beside the admiral, nodding as his name was mentioned. He quietly crossed his arms and lowered hid head somewhat. His dark grey eye sscanned the room, they seemed clouded and empty, as if he himself lacked the emotional status they had spoken of. To seperate ones self from their feelings, was to create the ability to kill without second thought. Hesitation meant death in war. It was how he had raised himself, how he'd trained. This is why he was the admiral's Security Officer.

"The pleasure is mine, Master Talris, Lady Rinas, Lady Neris, " said Henry, pausing briefly to gather his thoughts. "Now, as I was saying, we're interested in establishing formal relations between our races, but we were also hoping that your planet would join our Imperial Commonwealth. Before you refuse, hear me out. My people are explorers. Throughout our travels, we have met many peaceful, reasonable, and honorable civilizations, but we have also encountered terrible races that seek nothing but destruction and relish in killing. The Empire is always looking for enlightened civilizations to bring under its banner, not to dominate over them, but so that all of them may survive.

"If Essia decides to join us, nothing about the planet will change. The leaders of your people, such as yourselves, will remain in power. Your people's culture and way of life will be respected. You will be free to restrict the citizens of other Imperial planets from visiting your planet.

"Our Emperor and Senators will treat the rulers of this planet as their equals, and return every courtesy in kind. Essia will gain a seat in the Imperial Senate, and have a say in all Imperial affairs.

"The only thing that we ask in return is for Essia to give up the right to independently make treaties with foreign powers, so that the Empire may present an united front to those who may wish it harm.

"Now, I realize that Essia is under the protection of your goddess, and I would never be so impudent to suggest that Essia would ever need military assistance, should it ever come under attack. However, please know that the Empire would protect and defend its member planets down to the last ship and the last soldier. "

Henry paused. He lowered his chair a bit, and dipped his feet into the cool moat water. Meanwhile, Henry's eyes remained focused on Talris's face as he waited for his reaction.

Sat in silence. Listening and watching.

(Sorry. >.> Not much else for Lt. Kaori to do. )

The three Separa looked at him listening to his offer, their lower halves shifting a bit in the water, their second tongues flicking out every so often. When he was finished the three conferred for a moment before looking at them again. "We'll require a bit more time to consider your words, I hope that is acceptable." Talnis said.

Henry nodded, smiling. "Of course. My officers and I could return to our ship, so that you may deliberate in private, if you wish."

Shina gingerly touched the moat water with a toe, shrugged, and withdrew the toe. She re-examined her surroundings, and remained alert.

Meanwhile, the two Elysian soldiers seemed to have relaxed a bit more. Despite the environmental suits that they had just shed, the cool shade inside the structure was a welcome respite from the hot air outside.

Drake slid lower into his seat, placing his feet into the water. He liked this diplomatory stuff, he wouldn't mind doing this everyday for the rest of his life.

"It would be nice of you but you see, we would have no way to contact you if you did. We can however, arrange a place for you to rest while you're here." the female on the right said quietly. The water was clear and rather cool to the touch but harmless. "We will of course have food provided, just do not eat the fruits you see in trees, it is... fatal to humans."

Henry was considering the problem of re-establishing contact as well. Lending them a communications device was out of the question, he supposed. "Of course," he replied in response to the female Essian. "We appreciate your hospitality."

Shina smiled shyly when she realized that Henry was only wearing his boxer shorts. There might be more peace in the galaxy, if more diplomatic meetings took place where all participants were in their skivvies.

(OOC: Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight: The snake is telling him to NOT eat the apple? )

He nodded quietly to the individual who spoke to them. "Perhaps an escort for Mazda and Drake," he motioned in their general direction, "back to the shuttle so that they may pick up provisions. Personal belongings that involve the grooming of our species. It would be greatly appreciated." He looked over at Henry. "I'll be making a list, Admiral Chen, feel free to add what you need," he said quietly, and went back to sitting rigidly.

OOC: Sorry for not posting in so long, I got caught up in life; as in I got a job so that explains it

With a stone grinding sound, the circular "door" opened into the chamber by the massively powerful Issus. The sun had begun to sink below the horizon in it's endless trek. "Issus here will show you to your temporary domicile and yes you may return to your craft to retrieve whatever you may require." the male Separa said politely. "Please feel free to explore our village, but please don't stray too far, it's easy to get lost in the jungle." the females said.

Henry exchanged a glance with Motoyama, and then nodded. He raised his chair to its original height and got out of the moat, gesturing for the rest of his party to do the same. His feet were still wet, and Henry smiled as he realized that a towel would actually be kind of useful right about then.

Shina, being as nimble as one would expect a Nekovalkyrja to be, was the first to follow Henry out of the moat.

While waiting for everyone else to exit the moat, Henry turned to his hosts. "Master Talris, Lady Rinas, Lady Neris, thank you for your time. Please take all the time that you may require to come to a decision," he said, bowing slightly. He then walked up to Issus. "My officer speaks the truth. I will need to send two of my soldiers back to our shuttle, to gather supplies. They will need an escort, so that they do not become lost in the jungle."

He kindly bowed respectfully to the snake-like creatures, and nodded as he stepped up beside Henry. "Yes. Admiral Chen, and, Your people," he said towards Issus, "Perhaps could send someone whom they could converse with about your culture, and share points. So that we may bring closer any gaps that may lie in our communication branches." He cleared his throat, rarely showing his diplomatic capabilities. He much preferred to be feared for his ruthless ability to kill... Which few witnessed first hand.

((moving us along))

The three elders nodded, "if you really wish to converse on that issue, you may ask anyone of the templars you were escorted here by." Neris said. Once the Star Army personel were dismissed the separa nodded to them as they departed the room. They were out in the fading sunlight of the world; the grinding sound seemed to echo behind them as it closed. Issus, who had just closed. "So you require a guide back to your ship?" he asked as they descended the stairs. "Understandable." he said and issued forth a low frequency thrumming sound that reverberated through the stones and the ground.

The female from before would meet them at the base of the pyramid, ready to show them where to go. "Salmis will guide your men in that case, I'll personally show you to your domicle for the evening."

Henry gestured for Mazda and Drake to come to him. "Nito Hei Eschve, Santo Hei Starblade, follow Salmis back to the shuttle and gather the supplies on this list," he said, handing Mazda a data pad. "Also, send a message to Chusa Megami. Let her know that we're safe. Then come right back. We don't want to inconvience our hosts anymore than we have to."

By this time, Shina had already put her environmental suit back on, but the helmet was left cradled in her left arm. The modest Neko could have created some holographic clothing over her swimsuit if she wanted to, but she didn't want to scare the Essians.

As the Snakewoman and the two Elysians disappeared into the dense jungle, Henry turned to Issus. "Please, lead the way."

The Separa surrounding them didn't seem too fazed by Shina's nudity, most younger ones were looking more at her two legs. Not out of a sense of pervertedness, but more out of a sense of curiousity, theyhad never seen a bipedal pair of legs before. Shina herself did have rather nice legs worthy of attention from any male but these people were different.

The massive Separa Templar guided them to the large treehouse that was set aside for guests. He didn't have any trouble climbing up the pole that lead up into it, his long heavy body coiling around as his powerful arms helped pull his weight up effortlessly. In a few moments a pulley operated elevator came down for the Star Army people. "Please I know it's time consuming but board it one at a time and I'll bring you up and show you how to use it. I'm sure it's not as advanced as you're used to but we like it." he said from above.

Meanwhile, the female Separa lead the elysians back to their shuttle in the landing area they'd originally landed in.

Drake quickly gathered the materials on the list as Mazda mailed the aforementioned transmission, and then he exited the shuttle.