A Captain's Negotiations

Posted on Wed Mar 8th, 2023 @ 5:22am by Captain Calypso Skyie
Edited on on Wed Mar 15th, 2023 @ 10:33pm

Mission: Trade And Tribulations
Location: Trarim Arena

The Liari trader was clearly an amphibian, with barbels that dangled below his chin as he sat imperiously in the chair, the blonde human-looking rather young-looking woman in a sheer and gauzy light blue standing behind and to the left. Calypso made sure ignore her, even though the entire reason she was over here was due to the woman's presence. Trader Br'raa'ran, I was hoping to have a word with you?" She repeated the traditional words that the Liari used when a desire to do business was had.

The Liari looked up at her, the semi-humanoid waving a webbed hand at her to approach, "Of course... You have an advantage over me, knowing my name when I do not have yours."

"A hundred pardons," Cally was surprised that the translation that had been uploaded to their universal translators was so refined, given the software differences, it was even prompting her with proper forms of address, "I am Captain Calypso Skyie of the United Federation of Planets, commander of the USS Chimera, a science and exploration vessel."

"Indeed?" The Liari said, "I've never heard of this United Federation of Planets, but you bear a close resemblance to my Servant here.. Is Tial a member of your empire?" His voice sounded bubbly, something perhaps to bring up with Rebecca, if it were a common thing about amphibs.

"No, which does bring me over here, as our Federation, a willing partnership of worlds rather than an Empire, are a very curious people. Our mandate is for exploration rather than conquering people, trade instead of aggression." Cally said as an explanation, "And to find someone that looks much as we do truly makes me wonder as well. I was hoping to request a few moments of conversation with her?"

"That can be arranged, indeed." He burbled, "Servant, attend." He waved the woman over, who inclined her head into a bow, "You have my permission to speak to this... Captain Calypso Skyie, answer her questions and see more of your debts repaid."

"Milord." The woman bowed her head again, then gestured in a naturally regal manner towards a corner of the balcony, "If you'll follow me, Milady." Then set actions to words and led them mostly out of earshot of most beings, "I am at your service Milady." She said subserviently.

"Please, stop with the Milady'ing," Cally waved it away, "I'm not your um..."

"Owner?" The woman asked, "This is nothing more than slavery under another name. We are not part of the Hegemony, the Empire or the Republic, we should not be subject to their laws. Tial is only starting to explore the stars, not an experienced starfaring race."

"What we as the Federation have learned is that our own values hold only so far as we can ourselves enforce our own will." Calypso half-shrugged, "In our three hundred years of exploration, we eventually decided to follow the policy of 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'." She wasn't sure if it would translate properly, "If we follow the local laws, it causes far fewer problems."

"That makes... Sense." The woman reluctantly agreed, "Although I still hold that we shouldn't have been subjected to... This. I offered to make reparations if we could only return to our world, but that was outright rejected by first the Hesteri and now the Liari. Of course, the Hesteri didn't have any intention in the first place. It was they who attacked our ship without provocation."

That concerned Calypso and she cast an eyeback towards where the Governor sat with Fulvia, then to the Liari trader, whose eyes were only for the pugilist championship going on in the arena. "And with the Dashians being hands-off outside their own territory, they're not going to interfere. But I don't have your name."

"I am Tessa'e'Sera di'Orion, Daughter of... Well, that matters not at this time." The woman clearly was used to introducing herself with more than that, "My companion's name is Cass'e'Indira, my sworn protector, which is why she decided to take on the task of earning my freedom and her own. Against my own will. I would gladly be down there with her, sharing the risk, but she would hear nothing of it." The words of Cass had rung sharp in her ears, admonishing her to do nothing stupid.

"This is wrong..." Cally said quietly, "Just outright wrong." Her eyes were cast down for a few seconds, "Just how good is she? Can she win?"

Tessa d'Orion gave a very quiet laugh, "Br'raa'ran hasn't stopped telling me about each of the others in the final fight, very excited he was about it. All he wanted was one in the finals, guaranteed a fair bit of prize money. I was down with her earlier, with Milord's permission of course, and she informed me of a discussion he had with her. He told her to 'die well and not first', intimating that if she did poorly that I would be the one to pay the price." She shook her head slightly, "But to answer your question: She is a Priestess of the Fourth Class of Bey'a'Dande."

Calypso gave her a quizzical look, "I'm sorry, but that really doesn't tell me all that much. We're.. Not familiar with your pantheon."

"Oh you of little faith, My Lady." Tessa said with a sly, mischevious smile, "He thinks she's going to fail, but I know her far better. You saw her last combat, but not The Butcher's. I've seen him go through a handful, and he was... Fair. I may not have been able to defeat him, but Cass's victory was a foregone conclusion. It was only a matter of how she would do so. Against seven others all at once? I have confidence in her. With my life at stake?" She nodded.

"Oh by the Four..." Calypso whispered to herself, already knowing that she was going to do something stupid. But she was a Starfleet officer, and besides, as Fulvia herself would say, 'Easier to ask forgiveness than permission.' "I can't guarantee anything, mind you, but if I can get your debts erased, I would be more than willing to take you home. It may not be our first stop, but we are explorers and it would be good to make new friends out here."

"My Lady, you don't need to do anything." Tessa smiled warmly, "I have been studying Trarimi law when I can and we'll survive a few more months until Cass can win our freedom."

"Our mandate is to help the innocent, besides, I think I have a deal that Br'raa'ran could refuse." Calypso said, glancing back over at the Liari and then the Governor as well, "It does benefit us being new to these parts. Let's go see him." She didn't even let the Tialan argue anymore, instead going back over to the Liari.

"Did you find out what you desired, Captain Skyie of the United Federation of Planets?" The creature burbled in question.

"Yes, Trader Br'raa'ran of the Liari Republic, I did have many of my questions answered and I would like to purchase the debts of both of the Tialans from you if possible." She had to at least try this, not that she believed it would work.

True to expectations, he made a slashing gesture of negation, "I regret that I have much invested in these two. If I were to sell the debts of this one, the other would have no reason to perform and I will not sell that one's debt, because they are very profitable thus far."

"Then perhaps I can place a wager on the outcome of the fight?" Calypso asked, "Do you favor your fighter to win the finale?"

The Liari gave a hesitant gesture, but it was still in the negative, "While she is a doughty fighter, there are three that are better than her that will outlast the Tialan. While I hope that she does have the wit to realize when she is beaten and live, I do not hold high hope of her victory."

"Then let us wager." Calypso outstretched both hands, raising the one on the right, "Should your fighter win the finale, consider her and her companions debts paid. Should she die or retire from the fight, I shall give to you the remaining contract on my own servant," She gestured to Fulvia, "The first Starfleet Servant in Trarimi history, as well as one of the shuttlecraft from my starship. You would be the first being in this area to have a piece of our technology. In that position, I would also ask that you consider this one's debt paid as well. The shuttlecraft, should you sell it, would more than pay her debts and still allow you to retire a wealthy being."

The Liari gave a look at Fulvia, still talking to the Governor obliviously, now that the champion of the pugilist match had been crowned, his bloody opponent dragged off to the healers. He had to weight the pros and cons of the attempted deal, but greed won out and he reached out and placed a hand palm down on the second hand, "I accept, though without the fighter, I am unsure as to how you will have that one work off her debt to you. That is no matter to me. We will speak again after the fight, see, they are beginning to announce them! Go, sit, enjoy your Servant for a while, soon they will be mine!"