807 Meeting I
Aron, now aboard his mothership stationed at the third layer of defense, resumed his work after using the brief journey from the Colosseum to his current location to rest. Though the battle was over, his vigilance remained unwavering, mirroring the military's continued state of heightened readiness. However, this was only part of his reasoning. The primary factor keeping him from returning to Earth was the crucial obligations awaiting him next week.
He would soon oversee the receipt of the promised rewards and engage in vital discussions with representatives from the visiting civilizations. Returning to Earth, even momentarily, would only disrupt his tightly packed schedule. Given that all his tasks could be executed efficiently from his current position, Aron saw no practical advantage in leaving. With his characteristic pragmatism, he directed his focus back to the array of responsibilities demanding his attention, ensuring every detail was handled meticulously in preparation for the critical engagements ahead.
“How is the update on our captured individuals?” Aron asked Nova, his tone calm but focused. He was referring to the fighters he had defeated in battle—some fatally injured before he had intervened with healing and placed them in stasis, and the one fighter captured alive, the mecha pilot, who had been brought along as well.
Nova responded promptly, displaying live footage on the holographic display. {The ones requiring your direct healing intervention remain in stasis. The mecha pilot is the only one fully intact and capable of conversation. She remains inside her mecha, which is still operational. You can speak with her whenever you wish.}
Aron’s gaze lingered on the live feed of the female pilot, her closed eyes indicating she was actively connected to the mecha, her neural link allowing her to perceive the machine as her body. Nova’s infiltration of the mecha had rendered her unable to escape or act outside the prison of her own weapon, effectively trapping her in observation mode.
“Try conversing with her,” Aron instructed after a moment of thought. “See if she’s open to assimilation into the empire. If she refuses, I’ll handle the conversation myself—or we’ll explore other methods.”
Nova acknowledged the directive with a simple {Copy that,} immediately deploying an instance of herself to engage the pilot.
Upon receiving Nova's acknowledgment, Aron leaned back momentarily, his gaze still fixed on the live footage of the pilot within her mecha. He allowed himself a brief moment of thought before deciding there was no need to hover over the ongoing tasks. Nova was more than capable of handling the initial conversation.
He returned his attention to his own work, diving into the countless tasks and reports that awaited him. The complexity of managing an empire stretched across multiple star systems, combined with the recent victory and its aftermath, meant his schedule left little room for idleness..
Time, indifferent to the urgency or reluctance of those bound by its passage, marched forward. As the handover day approached, its arrival seemed to vary in speed depending on the perspective of each civilization. For some, it rushed forth as if the universe itself was impatient; for others, it dragged on endlessly, a weight of anticipation they could not shed. Yet, despite the subjective flow of time, the day finally arrived.
The Colosseum, now synonymous with both glory and consequence, was chosen as the venue for this momentous meeting. Its towering presence loomed, a stark reminder of the recent battles that had reshaped the dynamics of power in this interstellar region. Representatives from every civilization involved had gathered, each navigating their small spacecraft through the vastness of space toward this iconic location.
The procession of vessels was as diverse as the civilizations themselves. Ships of elegant organic design shared the skies with angular and mechanical craft, some shimmering with mana-infused energy, others bearing the distinct markings of technological precision. They descended toward the Colosseum one by one, each carrying ambassadors, negotiators, and custodians of the promised technologies.
A section of the Colosseum had been meticulously renovated to serve as the venue for the meeting. Robot attendants stood poised and ready, their polished frames reflecting the soft glow of the lighting as they awaited the arrival of the attendees. As the delegates disembarked from their ships and made their way inside, the once-quiet hall began to buzz with a subdued energy.
It didn’t take long for everyone to settle into their designated seats. The representatives of the various civilizations sat around a large semicircular table, their gazes fixed on the figure seated directly opposite them. Aron occupied the lone chair positioned at the center of the table’s radius, the vastness of the arrangement creating a stark visual contrast. While the setup might have made him appear like a job seeker being scrutinized by a panel of interviewers, his demeanor betrayed no hint of intimidation. Instead, he exuded a quiet confidence, his steady gaze meeting each representative with an air of authority and composure.
"Thank you for your attendance. With that, let us officially begin the meeting. I am the elected delegate tasked with leading this meeting neutrally," the AI referee announced, materializing at the center of the room. The decision to have an impartial AI lead the meeting was deliberate, ensuring credibility and avoiding potential biases from having Aron or any member of the attending civilizations preside.
"For starters, let us address the simplest matter first: the handover of the promised technologies. Once that is completed, we will proceed to the next topic."
The AI's words prompted varied reactions from the Conclave members. The Xor’Vak representatives appeared indifferent, while others showed signs of reluctance or sadness. Only those who were exempt from handing over their technologies maintained neutral expressions, though some couldn't completely conceal their quiet satisfaction.
Despite these reactions, the process moved forward without delay. Each civilization authorized their custodians to present the promised technologies to the waiting robot attendants. One by one, the robot maids began collecting the items, each stored in containers of unique designs and sizes, reflecting the technological styles of their creators.
The maids operated efficiently, immediately transferring the collected items to a waiting ship. Each container was secured within stasis fields the moment it was loaded, ensuring its preservation and safety. Without wasting time, the ship departed for a research facility located within the empire's inner solar system. This precaution was taken to safeguard the technologies against any unforeseen incidents at the Colosseum. With the handover completed, that part of the mana oath was fulfilled, and any subsequent destruction of the storage mediums would not compromise the oath's terms.
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