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She was a soldier, not a diplomat.
Still, Petty Officer First Class Mek Muv Meq had little to complain about. Further, compared to a combat assignment, her job now was rather cushy.
She had nearly gotten used to her cybernetic legs. They felt and looked unnatural, certainly, but she could move normally with them, the same as when she’d had her own legs.
It still felt alien, though. Mek Muv Meq was now, and would forever be, a cyborg. Maybe it mattered less to others than it did to her, but it still bothered her that she had lost a part of her Zathruanity.
She traveled with Ruk Ruv Ruq, the External Waziri, and his staff. They were aboard a civilian transport, though it was armed and armored like a military one. The crew were half soldiers, like Mek Muv Meq, a quarter Governmental Security, and the last quarter were civilians.
Mek Muv Meq had initially wondered why they did not travel aboard a more powerful vessel, but then she realized that for a diplomatic mission, something benign probably served better.
The External Waziri had decided that, since they had a similar centralized governing body, the Doolari were the first they would pay a visit to.
During the flight, Mek Muv Meq had studied up on the Doolari. She had never directly encountered them before, let alone any other race. She was fascinated to learn how very different the Doolari government was from the Zathru.
First, the Doolari were led by a caste. Those born of that caste, across all the Doolari worlds, could choose public service as a career. They could hold elected and appointed offices and generally did so for life.
Somehow, they maintained a multi-layered governmental body that appeared largely uncorrupted. Each world had an independent government but sent representatives to participate in the Doolari Convocation.
The Convocation was an expansive governing body, consisting of anywhere from five to fifty representatives from a given Doolari world. The convocation made law and policy to guide the individual worlds, and oversaw inter-Doolari commerce, as well as their military.
Above the convocation was the Doolari Central Committees. Each committee oversaw a specific aspect of cross-sector Doolari life. For example, one committee was the Defense Committee. They were what made up the Doolari high command.
Mek Muv Meq was a Marine, and while she knew the military leaders had to be accountable to the civilian leadership of the Zathru people, they were still soldiers. The idea of leaders without military experience distressed her.
Of course, the Doolari had a very different approach to their military. First, they relied upon extremely large, heavily armed and armored craft. The Homeguard starships were the size of a dwarf moon, about twenty times the size of any craft the Zathru utilized.
Mek Muv Meq had read over an analysis of Doolari Homeguard ships. A very capable starship armed and armored more heavily than anything else in known space. Zathru analysts believed that their forces might be able to disable one, but not without deploying at least two divisions.
They did not think it would take less than five divisions to actually destroy one.
They did not believe the Doolari to be more powerful, just requiring a great deal more effort to destroy. Fortunately, they were not known to threaten their neighbors.
The transport had emerged from hyperspace and was making its way towards a most unusual space station. It was a former moon, hollowed out and moved towards the edge of the solar system. It was large enough to accommodate two or three of the Homeguard craft, and several of the slightly smaller capital ships the Doolari used.
Mek Muv Meq had read that the Doolari had chosen moons to turn into stations across all their star systems. Given their diminutive size, she found it fascinating that they preferred to work with such large and impressive elements.
She wondered if it was arrogance, or a need to show they should not be taken for granted that moved the Doolari to such works. Despite that thought, as they neared the station, she found herself even more impressed.
It was an incredible feat of engineering. Though the moon had been hollowed out, as they neared it, the metallic scaffolding and docking framework became more obvious. Though the base itself was within the stone of the moon, the starships that were present were held by metallic docks.
Mek Muv Meq was watching from the observation deck, just above the flight deck, as their transport was docking. She was in her dress uniform, which made her cybernetic legs virtually disappear. Still, it was as uncomfortable as she remembered it to be.
Somebody cleared his throat, and Mek Muv Meq turned and found that Vek Vuv Veq had entered the suite. Vek Vuv Veq was aide-de-camp to the External Waziri, keeper of his schedule, and the first point of contact for anyone not cleared to speak to the high official. He was young, he was ambitious, and Mek Muv Meq suspected his interest in her may not be wholly professional.
“Petty Officer,” he addressed her.
“Sir,” she replied automatically, only just keeping herself from saluting the official. The External Waziri was one thing, but this civilian aide of his was not deserving of the honorific.
“We are docking. His Honor wishes you to attend him,” Vek Vuv Veq informed her.
“Of course,” Mek Muv Meq replied.
The aide-de-camp stood close enough for the door to open, and then he gestured for Mek Muv Meq to precede him. She did so, and he fell into step just beside her.
They marched down the corridor, towards the lift tube. “Are you ready for your first diplomatic meeting?” Vek Vuv Veq queried.
For some reason, the young aide did not make Mek Muv Meq terribly comfortable. Small talk with him always felt awkward. “As ready as can be expected. I have a duty to perform.”
Vek Vuv Veq chuckled as they reached the lift tube, and the door opened. As they stepped in, he said, “You’re all about duty, aren’t you? Quite the dedicated soldier, Petty Officer.”
Mek Muv Meq turned to him as the door closed, and the lift began to move. “I joined because it was what I had wanted since childhood.”
“Not an officer, though?” the aide pointed out.
It was getting more personal than she liked, but at the same time, Mek Muv Meq decided there was no harm in replying. Besides, she had no doubt he’d read her complete file. “My parents are good people - hard workers who did all they could to support the six of us. The military offered us education and training that would let us be more than we had come from. No, I am not an officer...but neither am I a simpleton, Vek Vuv Veq.”
The young aide chuckled again. “And so formal. Very well, Petty Officer Mek Muv Meq, we shall remain all business if you prefer.”
She found that he seemed genuinely disappointed. Mek Muv Meq looked to the young aide-de-camp and decided perhaps she was not being fair to him. “Apologies, Vek Vuv Veq. This is not what I signed up for. I am a soldier, not a diplomat. I am not comfortable.”
Vek Vuv Veq bobbed his head in acknowledgement. “I understand. I, too, should apologize for pushing. I come from a very different world than you, and I find your bluntness frankly refreshing. Further, I know you are still in recovery from your injuries.”
Mek Muv Meq was about to respond when the lift door opened, and they were facing the corridor to the main airlock. The External Waziri, transport captain, and several others were already there.
They left the lift tube and joined the group. Mek Muv Meq was one of four military personnel present. One was a captain, though not a combat officer. The other was a sergeant - a personal aide to the captain. The last was the captain of the transport. In addition to the External Waziri and his aide-de-camp, there were two secretaries and three security officers.
Mek Muv Meq and Vek Vuv Veq joined the group. Ruk Ruv Ruq inclined his head towards Mek Muv Meq before turning to his aide-de-camp.
“Tell me again whom we will be meeting with,” Ruk Ruv Ruq requested.
Vek Vuv Veq was looking over a datapad a moment. “Aritto Xi and Piutta Go - members of the Defense Committee. Our records indicate that Piutta Go is a vice-chair currently. Additionally, there should be a member of the Homeworlds Committee or the Intergalactic Relations Committee.”
“We do not have contact information for those committee members?” questioned Ruk Ruv Ruq.
“I am afraid not,” Vek Vuv Veq replied.
“Very well,” the External Waziri stated. “Is everyone ready?”
Various acknowledgements were made, and the External Waziri looked to the transport’s captain. He touched the pad beside the airlock, and the passageway irised open.
The group departed the transport, save its captain. The ten Zathru had not gone far across the gantry before they met a Doolari delegation.
There were seven Doolari - four of whom were military. Mek Muv Meq had studied their rank insignia and recognized a lieutenant, a second lieutenant, and two specialists. The other three were civilians, all smartly attired.
Mek Muv Meq realized this was the first time she had seen a Doolari in person, and not in a HAEN broadcast or other still or video image. Their almost white skin, vertical slitted eyes, and lack of height this close was somewhat unnerving. The images she had seen never really did justice to how alien they were to Zathru.
Given the size of these adult Doolari, Mek Muv Meq momentarily pondered how tiny their offspring must be.
Her attention turned to the External Waziri, who was being approached by one of the civilians.
“Waziri Ruk Ruv Ruq?” she said, extending a hand. “I am Piutta Go.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Ruk Ruv Ruq replied, taking her hand.
She gestured to another civilian beside her. “This is Aritto Xi.” The External Waziri shook his hand. “And this is Lienno Ba, from the Intergalactic Relations Committee.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to meet with you all,” the External Waziri stated. He introduced his aide-de-camp, then the captain. Mek Muv Meq would not be introduced until they were at a conference table.
“Shall we?” gestured Piutta Go. Clearly, the Defense Committee member was taking the lead.
The group moved through a number of corridors, then several large chambers before reaching a lift tube. They moved deeper into the stone of the hollowed-out moon before they arrived at another set of rooms. They passed a mix of civilian and military personnel, but apart from the Zathru there were only Doolari here.
They reached the conference room, where another Doolari civilian and another military officer, a major, awaited them.
“Glad you could join us, Klatto Hu,” stated Piutta Go. To the External Waziri she said, “Your Honor, Klatto Hu is a member of the Homeworlds Committee.”
Everyone shook hands and then all were seated around a conference table. Mek Muv Meq found herself to the External Waziri’s left, Vek Vuv Veq to his right. The Zathru delegation held one side of the round table, the Doolari the other.
“Well then,” Klatto Hu began. It was then Mek Muv Meq realized who he was. The public face of the Doolari government, the vice-chair of the Homeworlds Committee, and Communications Sub-Committee Chairman. This was a far more public figure than they had anticipated meeting. “You requested this conference on behalf of your government. Do please explain the reason?”
“Is this room secure?” questioned the captain seated beside Mek Muv Meq.
“Yes,” replied Piutta Go. “We would have this matter no other way.”
“Very good,” stated the External Waziri. Ruk Ruv Ruq intertwined his fingers, placing his hands on the table in a gesture any Zathru would recognize to mean open-handed confidence. “There are a number of rumors swirling that an unknown force has been attacking and wiping out military units. Our intel suggests that you may have had such an experience.”
Mek Muv Meq had known that the External Waziri had intended to be blunt and direct. Looks were exchanged between the various committee members, as well as the major, who had not been introduced.
At a glance from Piutta Go, it was the major who replied, “We cannot be certain where your intelligence has gotten such information...but...our current fleet is intact.”
Ruk Ruv Ruq sighed. “I understand the party line you are upholding, but the situation is very concerning. While none of us wish to show weakness, a common threat is not something we should ignore.”
“This is Petty Officer Mek Muv Meq,” the External Waziri said, gesturing towards her. “She is the only survivor, and thus only witness, to one of these attacks we have experienced. Petty Officer, please tell us your experience.”
Despite prepping for this during the entire flight, Mek Muv Meq was nervous. She was a soldier, not a diplomat or a speaker. But she calmed her nerves, and over the next few minutes, she told of her experience.
“They were thorough and relentless,” she was concluding. “Despite the destruction of my ship, they were not content to leave me in my gunpod. It was only due to ejecting from my pod as they disintegrated it that I survived at all.”
“Neither was she unscathed,” added the External Waziri. “The petty officer is lucky to be alive and was gravely wounded.”
Ruk Ruv Ruq turned his gaze on the Doolari. “This is a most worrying matter. My government understands your reluctance to show weakness, but this is a new threat we seem to know nothing substantial about. Anything we can do together may be of mutual benefit.”
The Doolari contingent passed looks back and forth but said nothing for a moment. Mek Muv Meq tried to recall if the race were telepathic but did not believe that they were. She considered that they were deciding between them, through various looks that were likely readable to them but not the Zathru, how to respond.
After an uncomfortable silence, Piutta Go spoke. “This discussion does not leave this room?”
“Except for very explicit circles within our government, no,” the External Waziri agreed.
There were further looks back and forth between the Doolari, then Piutta Go spoke up again. “We have lost two of our Homeguard starships. All hands, no easily identifiable wreckage. Signs of some kind of energy weapon employed, residual energies and other unusual signatures noted. Apart from that, we know nothing more.”
There was a moment of silence all around the conference table, and it was terrible. Mek Muv Meq felt exzceedingly small and terribly uncomfortable.
To her own surprise, she was the one to break the silence. “Your Homeguards are much, much larger than any of our Marine starships. I watched those weapons virtually erase whatever they touched. They left practically nothing of my division. I cannot imagine what it takes to wipe out a Homeguard.”
Mek Muv Meq looked to the External Waziri. “Our intelligence also believes that some of the Human worlds have been attacked too, yes?”
“Yes,” the External Waziri replied.
She looked across the table to the Doolari. “A force to be reckoned with, moving against all three of our races, cannot just be swept under the rug. We need to work together if we have any hope of learning anything about this threat, let alone contending with it.”
Mek Muv Meq could scarcely believe what she had said and how easily it had come to her.
After that moment, her life would never, ever be the same again.