[snip]

There was another murmur among the High Elder to those near him and the priestess. She then nodded and replied, =/\= You speak of being only one who error unknown word and being a solider not a diplomat. The High Elder wishes an answer to his query, we know what those you call Klingon wanted in exchange rates for their education to us, and to their support and enlightenment of what you call sciences and of others who ply the Heavens. Va tells us even before his supposed Agents came to us and enlightened us further, that some must make choices in the moment. The High Elder says you must make a choice if you wish to trade further for our Sun Crystals regardless of what value they hold. He says you must make a choice, further choices may come later from your officials, but right now, you Captain John T Glen must make such clear now in offer. =/\= She stated with a beefy finger point to him as if to drive home her point. Verity’s words just a moment ago seemed moot, they accepted it as part of the trade talks, but the High Elder wanted Glen to make a choice/offer, any choice/offer was fine it seemed but maybe it was just the act of being willing to make a choice or offer for better or worse that the High Elder wanted to see?

The group got the feeling that despite the perhaps rough tone or demand to the words. The High Elder especially seemed inclined to do what was best in his mind for his people within the scope of Va’s Wisdom whether pre-klingons or post-klingons. The group might also suspect that though these natives were quite primitive they also were not stupid as one might expect. The idea that even though they had been enslaved and in a fashion lied too by the Klingons did not bother them and in their own way had used the Klingons for their own short or longer term means whether their enslavers knew or not was up for debate.

While Aphelion and Hunter followed the appointed acolytes and went away to read the ancient scrolls, Captain Glen stayed behind to speak to the High Elder via the Priestess’s interpretation, just a little while longer. In the meantime, various other groups from the landing party and the shuttlecraft where being beamed back to the ship without warning.

=/\= If you insist on a numerical value for the number of sun crystals being exchanged to be made right now, then I propose that we take exactly the same number that the Klingons took. This will provide continuity for your miners and provide them with work, if that was partly you concern. What exactly was your arrangement with the Klingons in this regard? =/\= John T Glen asked.

=/\= The ones called Klingons by you took each month between 50-100 error unknown word amount of Sun Crystals, in exchange for educations, building materials, combat lessons, and training on further mining operations. Their trade also established a protective ring from outsiders from the Heavens. This varied month to month however, depending on mining progress and Sun Crystals found and refined. =/\= The High Priestess said.

OOC: We might split this thread here.

OOC: Agreed!

GM CockRoach