Speed

We walked the corridors of the consulate.
It was understandably ornate, the kind of thing I've gotten used to seeing in certain human cultures. Ornamentation is first a sign of power and authority, then a symbol. Eventually it becomes a substitute. In some systems it takes nothing more than a scepter to rule.

Welcome to Rylos.

The mission we were assigned was a diplomatic one. This is not our specialty, Usually we get people to break things. Today we were meeting with the King of the Ormec Cluster to formally present the terms of a treaty with the Ascendancy.

This treaty stunk. The late Queen Urosh had agreed to sign the treaty thirty years ago system time, before we even started our trasit to here. Since she died, Her son King Husi has wavered and revised the treaty. It's been a continuous struggle, and the current treaty had seven thousand (7,000(!)) stipulations and exceptions. Many of the new amendments were demanded by the Ascendancy itself to make Husi's requirements tolerable and practical.

Clearly, the spirit of the treaty was not important to him. His intentions became all too obvious when he signaled his palace security forces to draw their weapons on us.

"Your Divine Eminence, the Ascendancy will take this turn of events as a betrayal. Tread carefully, we do not forgive ruling houses." I for one felt most betrayed by the security androids. "I think I will give you as a gift to my brother."

Cairo spoke now, to the security
"We are here to end your enslavement. Stand with us now and it ends now."
One android, in the most ostentatious of the security uniforms responded "Terrorism and war? Too far, sir, too far. You will stand down."
"We are Kokono, I am faster than you are. This is your last chance."
"Sir, get on the ground or we will take you down."
"You're not even going to touch me."

There was a very loud noise.

And Cairo and the chief of security were gone. Bits of the ceiling fell down around us, The remaining guards fell to the ground, and bits of the chief of security fell down around us.

Cairo appeared behind the throne. He tossed a weapon to Indigo as he took hold of the king with all six arms. His massive humanoid hands wrapped around the king's skull.

In that sweet, deep, gentle voice of his, he said "Your Divine Eminence, we humbly request that you consider renegotiating the terms of this treaty."

So as I was saying, these diplomatic things are exactly the kind of mission we specialize in.