Jade leaned up after hearing what the Hacker had to say. She was not impressed, moreover she was rather angered. A one-sided set of options. She was more than annoyed by this state of affairs to begin with let alone having to work with these circumstances.
"Now forgive me for being blunt, but this doesn't sound like something allies would be speaking like. What I'm hearing is a one-sided control of terms to alliance without being willing to negotiate any other possibilities that would be presented. Honestly to me it sounds like the Hackers have already made up their minds and are just showing us the basic routes they'd take based on how we react. I don't take kindly to our internal affairs being manipulated in such a manner."
She wasn't going to hesitate to voice her opinion. To her, this was yet another attempt to control the battlegroup, to have someone other than themselves determine their purpose. She wouldn't stand for this. It happened to her before, she wasn't about to let it happen again.
"Our battlegroup is not just a tool for the Hackers. Especially attempting to use your influence in such a way, when you yourselves don't even know the full story and work to ruin something that may be possible before it can even begin. For a group of highly intelligent people, which you are, this is a very short-sighted action."
Adrian Malprave genuinely smiled when Jade expressed her outrage and noted her vulnerability to provocation. When she mentioned that Lane Hackers want to ruin something before it could even begin she unintentionally betrayed the state of negotiations with the Legion. Lane Hacker typed in a short encrypted message to the Professorship and sent it directly from his wrist pad. He also almost laughed when the script prepared by the Professorship once again anticipated a turn in negotiations.
- Quite the contrary, Captain. While the Professorship has obviously provided me with complete terms for each scenario, I have received a clear instruction to insist you come up with your own proposal. - he once again smiled while looking at his personal wrist pad - Let me quote: in order to promote genuine partnership and equality.
Adrian Malprave looked for a second at Jade before calmly explaining something all too obvious to him.
- Our command perceives Battlegroup Harmony as a worthy partner and is genuinely interested in maintaining our alliance. Captain Lindford, if we wanted to manipulate you we would have already staged a provocation aimed to put a wedge between you and the Legion. If we wanted to treat you as our tool we would have already laid out our terms at a proverbial gunpoint. Certainly, I would have not wasted last two hours explaining complexity of our situation and our general strategical paradigm to a mere tool. Wouldn't you agree Captain?
Lane Hacker envoy turned to the Admiral.
- We have been completely transparent with our justified concerns with you. What would you like to propose to address them?
She grew continuously more weary with every word that left the Hacker's mouth. But she had to listen, had to make a decision. At least soon if not right away. The situation regarding both the Legion and the Unioners appeared to be a constant up and down. And considering their importance in this negotiation they made felling a decision difficult.
"Infiltrator," She said, using his rank to address him like the Soldier he presented himself as. "Both of us have no small investments in this alliance. We value-." She was interrupted in her sentence as the door bell notified the people in the room that it'd be opened.
The officer stepped in, saluted and reported: "Admiral Knight, pardon the interruption, sir but your presence is required on the bridge." The Lieutenant said apologetically. Knight allowed herself a nearly inaudible sigh before getting up. "At ease, I'll be with you in a minute, Lieutenant. Dismissed." She responded, returning the salute after a moment, allowing the junior officer to leave with a nod. Then she looked back at Malprave.
"I apologize for the interruption, Infiltrator, but I wouldn't have been called were it not important." She explained and looked at Captain Lindford. "I take it that the Infiltrator can stay on the ship and a cabin be readied for him to use? See that someone brings him there, then come to the bridge." She said, making to leave the room.
Adrian stood up instantly in a defensive posture like he was expecting to be attacked any second. His mask fell completely when his survival instincts kicked in.
- With all due respect. I will rather return to our base immediately.
Adrian Malprave spent fraction of a second looking around, recalling position of the guards and assessing his situation. It did not look good.
Knight stopped on her way out, looking at the Hacker with a hint of confusion. That expression slowly vanished as she felt only insulted.
"There is a group of my officers on Cochrane, Infiltrator." She noted. "I merely offered you to stay so we'd have a chance to finish our talks as soon as possible." Her reply short and her posture dismissive.
"If you wish to leave, by all means ready your ship. If you can remember where you are though and that the biggest threat to you is outside this ship, wearing the same uniforms as we do, please ask my Captain for your quarters." She explained and then went to leave. Though she stopped shortly again, looking at the now not very soldier seeming Hacker. "Dismissed." Then she left the room, no doubt on her way to the bridge.
For Adrian Malprave these negotiations were already over. There was only one reason why Admiral Knight would decide to dismiss him in the face of the current crisis of trust between them. If the Hacker envoy decided to stay, he could easily end up being a hostage and a bargaining chip in future negotiations. And even if the Admiral returned with good news, the damage was already done. Knight relegated The Lane Hackers to a level of an unimportant nuisance. Nothing good could be achieved from such a position. The only logical course of action was to return to base immediately. Guards escorted the Lane Hacker to his ship without a word probably sensing the grim atmosphere of the failed meeting.
Once Adrian launched his Vindicator fighter and left Discovery several thousand clicks behind he opened encrypted channel to Mactan HQ.
- Malprave here. Reporting mission failure. High possibility of the red scenario. I repeat. High possibility of the red scenario. Returning to base. Over.
