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756 - Negotiating V
🕑 Added 2024-10-11 11:02:04 +0000 UTCAron paid no mind to Liasas's astonished expression. After a moment of silence, he seized the opportunity to further outline his expectations from the other civilizations.
“We will accept the Trinarians' demands if they agree to provide us with their knowledge of spatial manipulation, their latest wormhole technology, and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated Trinarian fighters.
We will agree to the Valthorin's demands if they agree to share their expertise in crafting and forging honor blades, the process of initiating a soul imprint, access to something akin to the Pride Nexus, and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated Valthorin fighters.
We will accept the Shadari’s demands if they agree to grant us their knowledge of stealth, allow us to purchase their star system-specific minerals at a twenty percent markup from the mining price, and provide the body and equipment of their defeated Shadari fighter or fighters.
We will agree to the Galvinith’s demands if they provide us with knowledge about the symbiosis process, bonding techniques, and the body and equipment of their defeated Galvinith fighter or fighters.
We will accept the Zelvora’s demands if they grant us their understanding of mental abilities and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated Zelvora fighters.
We will agree to the Erythians' demands if they provide us with their knowledge in bioengineering and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated fighters.
We will accept the Symetra's demands if they agree to share their knowledge of Void energy, the crafting of weapons and living weapons, and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated fighters.
We will agree to the Elara’s demands if they provide us with their knowledge of magic and body enhancement, along with the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated fighters.
We will accept the Feryn demands if they share their expertise in magic engineering and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated fighters.
We will agree to the Yrral Coalition's demands if they provide us with their knowledge of production technology, their war records, and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated fighters.”
In the same systematic manner, Aron continued to enumerate his terms, each acceptance contingent upon the other side providing their specialized knowledge and the bodies of their fallen fighters.
When Aron finished listing his counter-demands from all twenty-three civilizations, an eerie silence fell over the assembly. Both those involved in the negotiations and the observers watching the proceedings were taken aback, left speechless by the audacity of the Terran Empire's negotiator.
He had directly targeted the most coveted technologies that had elevated these civilizations to their esteemed status within the Conclave, demanding access to knowledge that had been closely guarded and cultivated over countless generations.
However, as the initial shock wore off, many began to reassess the situation. While Aron’s demands might seem brazen, they paled in comparison to the aggressive terms put forth by the other side. Moreover, his requests were narrowly focused on the specific abilities and technologies that the top civilizations wielded—often tied to their unique racial traits. For most of these civilizations, the knowledge would be nearly useless to the Empire, as they lacked the innate abilities to fully utilize it.
During the silence, Aron remained patient, allowing the weight of his demands to settle in.
…………..
A few minutes ago.
A moment after Liasas conveyed their individual demands, the representative who had initially proposed those terms observed Aron with keen curiosity. They were eager to see how the Terran Empire’s negotiator would respond. Would he dismiss their requests and attempt to renegotiate, or was he so blinded by confidence that he would accept their demands outright? Their minds raced with possibilities.
In addition to the content of his response, they were also keenly interested in his emotional reactions; these would reveal the level of assurance he held regarding the Empire's position. However, to their surprise, they were met with the same calm expression Aron had maintained throughout the negotiations.
“We will agree with the Xor’Vak’s demands…” The beginning of Aron’s sentence caught everyone off guard; not only was he quickly outlining his own demands, but he also implied that if their side's terms were accepted, the Empire would accept the individual demands from the Conclave forces without any negotiation. The shock in the room intensified when he articulated the specifics of those demands, leaving the representatives staring at the Xor’Vak’s envoy with pale expressions. To say their demands were overreaching would have been a colossal understatement.
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!” The Xor’Vak representative erupted into laughter upon hearing the Empire's demands, a sound filled with amusement.
‘Did he not understand the demands, or has he lost his mind out of anger?’ nearly everyone in the mental network wondered, their minds racing. They were certain that one particular clause in the Empire's terms—the ticket to challenge the Xor’Vak leader—would ignite fury in any Xor’Vak. If the impossible were to happen and the Empire were to win and had their demands enforced, they could use the ticket to challenge the leader for a fight. A victory in that battle would mean gaining control over the entire civilization, holding power until another challenger arose.
Given the audacity of that demand alone, many believed that the Empire was pushing for the impossible, a mere protest against the overly harsh terms proposed by the Conclave. This was a strategic move, they thought, designed to allow for negotiations where the Empire could later retract some of their demands, showcasing their willingness to compromise in exchange for a reduction in the severity of the Conclave's demands.
Recognizing the cleverness of the Empire's move, they all felt a sense of respect for the strategy employed. However, before they could fully explore this line of thought, the laughter from the Xor’Vak representative finally subsided. With a serious tone, he declared, “Sure, we agree to their demands. If they can defeat our challenger, then they would have earned that right anyway. However, if they prove disappointing, they will pay for speaking the leader’s name.”
His demeanor had shifted dramatically; the casual attitude he had previously displayed was replaced with a grave seriousness. The implications were clear: he had only accepted this after receiving permission from their leader, signaling that the Xor’Vaks were now fully aware of the stakes and prepared to back their words with conviction.
‘They are fucked,’ everyone thought in unison, their surprise at the Xor’Vak's response palpable.
Before they could fully process the implications of that declaration, Aron resumed listing his demands, moving on to the Valthorins and addressing one civilization after another. This time, a wave of unbelievability swept through the room as gasps escaped the lips of the representatives. The imperial negotiator seemed determined to catch everyone off guard again, provoking an endless cycle of shock. It felt as if he were deliberately pushing the boundaries to incite anger and turn potential allies into enemies.
If that was indeed Aron's intention, it appeared to be working; everyone who heard the demands from their civilization began to simmer with anger. They felt as though they were being looked down upon, their pride wounded by the audacity of the Terran Empire’s negotiator.
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