You sit very upright in the high backed chair trying not to sweat in the bright lights and trying not to stare at the arlazu representatives on the other side of the stage. Even ignoring the awkward breath mask gear and the auto-translators hugging the sides of their heads the crystalline shard 'hair' and extra arms make for quite a sight on their two meter plus bodies. You can hardly make heads or tails of all of the markings on their apparel, much less guess at genders, but there are quite clearly three different sorts present in their eight being representation. One arlazu wears purple robes of some sort, an ambassador you guess, which would make the two others is slightly less impressive robes aides or assistants. The four arlazu in the padded jumpsuit looking outfits are probably bodyguards of some sort because what being in their right mind would send out a diplomat without some sort of guard. The last arlazu wears a much sleeker jumpsuit in a regal blue with a red sash. A military dress uniform of some sort jumps to mind.
The diplomats, human and arlazu both, have managed to drone on for forty seven minutes by your count about about opening up trade and diplomatic relations between the Star Empire and the Arlazu Assembled Accord. Much of it goes in one ear and out the other to you, diplomats speaking diplomatic crap, until a pair of red leather and purple crystal bound folders are brought out.
“...And now, to sign and make official the first treaties between the Star Empire of Humanity and the Arlazu Assembled Accord, we welcome the first two captains to make contact between our great empires. Please welcome Captain Lawrence Warde of His Majesties Surveyor's Corps Ship Night Horse and Shard Master Mashitari of the Arlazu Assembled Accord Navy Ship Static Flow.
Your eyebrows want to climb up into your hairline at the thought of being the man to sign an official document on behalf of the crown but you swallow your surprise and rise to advance on the podium. The diplomat, whose name you never managed to catch, touches your wrist in passing and whispers to you.
“The arlazu copy is carved into crystal at their request. That 'pen' is loaded with acid and has the yellow band about the nib.”
“Got it, thanks. I take it the blanks are already marked?”
“Yep.”
You give a slight nod and move to the podium. One folder sits before you and other before the Shard Master. You open the cover to the discreetly marked page and see with some relief that you have the human paper copy to sign first. You reach for one of the two pens at the side of the podium, select one, and check the nib for the yellow mark. Not seeing one you raise it and sign the document in the marked blank space. Your penmanship isn't the neatest but at least it is distinctly yours. Blotting the page dry you pass it off to the arlazu diplomatic aide and take the mildly heavier arlazu copy in exchange. You open it to find only two tablets, one for each cover, etched in infinitely tight script wincing at the equally small space that you have to fit your name you take up the acid loaded pen and glance at the nib. It has quite the fine point but otherwise feels like it will handle just like any other pen. You gently bite your tongue in concentration and just barely manage to fit your name in the blank provided without going over any other lines of script.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The arlazu diplomatic aide takes it back to give to his ambassador and you turn to shake the hand of the Shard Master. He grips your forearm instead of your hand so you do the same in return.
“I must admit you ship scared the shards off of my head when your ship jumped in like that.”
“The same. I had bad intel that said the system was empty so imagine my shock when I jumped in and there are ships and stations all over the place.”
“Ha! That makes two of us then. Do you think the Night Horse could have taken my Shards in a fight?”
“Up against three ships with twice my total mass and four and a half times my guns and presumably firepower? Not a chance. I might have chipped your armor some, perhaps even gotten one Shard, before you blew the guts out of the Night Horse if we were forced to fight. My only real chance would have been to run as if the Gods Below were after my ass and hope the Navy proper showed up in time.”
“That is good to hear. That the Shard Masters of the Star Empire are smart beings that is. I was terrified you might make a run at a planet and that nothing could stop you in time.”
“I think the diplomats want to speak some more.”
“Ah, the awards part if this performance that I was warned about.”
You release your grip and step back to let the diplomats take the podiums again. The arlazu diplomat steps up first and gestures with one of its secondary hand for yourself and the Shard Master to linger nearby.
“To further bind our nations I am proud to announce and present the following on behalf of the Arlazu Assembled Accord. Shard Master Lawrence Warde please step forwards. In recognition of your gallantry and courtesy in being the first non arlazu visitor to our home system we bestow upon thee the title of Shard Friend.”
One of the arlazu diplomatic aides materializes with a small crystal box in their secondary hands. They open it and extract and crystalline purple starburst upon a red ribbon. They look as your existing medals, all neatly pinned and arrayed into a 'salad bar' then back at the ribbon in their hand in confusion. You realize they were expecting a sash to tie it about and that their usual protocol has fallen to shambles. You incline your head forward slightly.
“Over my head and around the neck perhaps?”
“Ah, that is the human tradition, thank you.”
The arlazu drapes the ribbon about your neck and discreetly tucks one of the crystal points of the starburst into the fabric of you uniform to stop it from dropping out of place. You raise your head and step back once the applause begins to diminish. The arlazu diplomat steps back as well to allow the human one to step forward.
“In the same vein I am equally proud to present Captain Warde with the Crown Unit Citation for gallantry and extraordinary professionalism in the face of the unknown under exceptionally difficult circumstances.”
You step forward once more and a human aide brings over the silver cross on it's blue ribbon and attaches it to your uniform slightly out of place in the gap between the Shard Friend badge and you usual salad bar of decorations. The diplomats do the same song and dance for Shard Master Mashitari, awarding him first the 'Friend of the Star Empire' badge and then an arlazu award for what you presume to be gallantry or bravery but the title doesn't exactly translate. After that your part is over and you resume your seat and wait for the ceremony to end. Mentally you make a note to yourself to get a cybernetic eye so that you can discreetly read something to pass the time.