March 12, 2174 / April 30, 3024
Sol, Earth, Brétigny-sur-Orge Air Base, 27 km southeast of Paris, Walker Cluster
Stephan Köhler stretched a little as he stepped out of the Angelika, one of his two Leopard class dropships. They had landed two days ago in this place, on a nice tarmac runway that looked well maintained. This place had been a military base until about twenty years ago, housing a fighter squadron. While some parts of the old base were still maintained to act as an emergency runway, most had been left to itself, partially looted and unusable for his mercenary company for the time being.
He looked around and breathed in the fresh air and over towards the town that butted to the base in the northwest. Brétigny-sur-Orge, a french name that was more at home in the Suns and looked like it had a long history behind it. Most of the people around spoke English to various degrees of fluency however, and they had been able to find themselves a place to buy food at a large Metro store in town, which usually supplied restaurants and smaller markets.
This whole place was strange to him. Angelica had orbited the planet for a while and the night side was alight with artificial lighting. He was not sure, but even Luthien hadn't had this many lights. Not to mention the orbitals. They were packed with ships, stations and satellites. There were dozens if not hundreds of truly massive stations orbiting around the Libration Points of the planet and its single moon and even the dark side of that moon had seas of light covering it.
He stared into the distance, wondering what they had found out here. This was not some primitive periphery world. Sure the tech these people had was bound to be primitive, but the population and the culture? Far from it. He himself had been out and in a bar. There had been a TV in a corner, showing a football match, Paris St. Germain playing Bayern München in something called Champions League. It had been a fun game to watch, even if Stephan would have liked to see Paris win for playing the better game. At least the beer and the wine were excellent.
He turned around, as he heard a car pull up, its electro motors whining a little bit as they slowed the vehicle down. He looked at his watch. That would be the Rothikel Brothers, owners of a 'traveling construction company' that had been suggested to them by some locals. If this interview went well, they would get the buildings of the base up to local standards, which were hopefully good, and construct some mech hangars. He then looked over to the entrance to the base, frowning a bit. They would need to replace the guards with some of their own soon. The local army people were looking professional in their snazzy uniforms, but he rather had someone he could trust. And they could at least have told him that the two business men were arriving.
The doors of the car swing open, and he blinked as two animals jumped out. As he waited for their owners to follow them, he looked them over. They looked dangerous to a degree. They were about three meter long bipeds, and covered in earth toned feathers, making them look like birds, but their heads looked more reptilian. Both were wearing vests of some sort, as well as necklaces and bangles with various trinkets. Their owners must like them.
He looked over to the car, still waiting for two humans to leave the car, when one of the animals spoke.
"Bonjour, Mr. Köhler," the taller of the two animals said in a friendly and enthusiastic tone of voice. "I am Adam Rothikel, this is my brother Jamie."
Stephan blinked and was unsure how to react. He knew that some birds and other animals could be trained to talk, but...
"What." was all he could say, making the two animals tilt their heads looking at him.
"I'm Adam Rothikel," the taller one repeated, again pointing at the other. "He's Jamie. We're from Rothikel Construction. Your 11am appointment?"
'Adam' looked around.
"You wanted to hire us for getting his place into shape."
"What" Stephan repeated and continued to stare at these two apparently intelligent animals. No. Aliens.
'Jamie' looked at his 'brother'.
"I do not think that he expected Ormiold," he said in a gruffer sounding voice.
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March 13, 2174 / May 1, 3024
Sol, Earth, New York, Walker Cluster
"Mr. Durenbaker," Tondyn of Nemefo, the Ambassador of the United Colonies to Earth, said, carefully controlling his reaction and plumage, his lower arms crossed and his upper arms places on the table in front of him. "I do not believe a single word you have just said. Frankly, it is impossible."
Maxwell Durenbaker, who had been put into this situation by his superiors in the UNOOESA, nodded.
"I know how this mist look, but..." he started before he was interrupted.
"Humans from outside out little area of space? How do you expect us to believe something like this."
"I do believe it handily," Morul Lye'mosu, Ambassador of the Empire of Jerat, countered his colleague from one of the Quetzal survivor nations at 61 Virginis. "The Emperor has foreseen such an event fifty years ago and given out orders..."
Tondyn had his feathers fluff out in a threatening gesture.
"You and your Emperor," he hissed out. "You seem to have an answer to everything, don't you?"
"Gentlebeings," Durenbaker said and held up his hands, trying to prevent the Quetzal from attacking the Tiaunt. Again.
"There is no need to..."
Tondyn turned back to the human.
"I you want me to believe you," he said, steel in his voice. "You better give me unrefutable evidence. Evidence my nation can double and tripple check. Without that evidence, I will not believe a single word."
With that the Quetzal rose from his seat, dropped to the floor and slithered out of the room, almost all the aliens present making various gestures of approval.
Durenbaker had to suppress a sigh. Diplomacy with aliens was hard, especially when their diplomatic methods were different to those of humans. At least the Quetzal were direct...