Executive Director Salhor Laandi was dressed to impress.

She had retrieved her finely woven politician’s cape from sealed storage especially for the officer’s arrival. Crisp, form fitting and with a single pleat over the left shoulder, the rich plum contrasted nicely with the natural grey of Qzetillian skin.

Laandi did notice that her Operations Manager, Au Isk, had gone for more humble attire. However, his grey utilitarian scrubs had been pressed to precision; one could not afford to be sloppy when addressing a Galactic Council Officer.

Isk’s uniform may have been pristine but his body language shivered with nerves.

“Is this your first time meeting a Commander?” Laandi remarked to her twitching coworker, “There is no need to be nervous Isk, I’m sure the Lieutenant Commander isn't going to conscript you,”

“I have had dealings with Galactic Council Rangers before Director,” Isk shot back, narrowing all six of his eyes, “I’ve just never met a Prince in person.”

Even Laandi had to pause her teasing and allow her assistant some leniency. Even though Isk and the Lieutenant Commander were of the same species, the insectoid Arvas, there was a huge difference between the Freeman and the Prince.

More than just physical and credit status could define.

“Lieutenant Commander Nako seemed quite the relaxed commander,” Laandi offered. “I will be handling most of the Contract work, and you will be doing what you do best.”

“Ensuring the schedule remains on track.” he sighed dully.

The pair stood within the receiving hall of Uleesia Stations dock, just beyond the final air-lock and decompression chamber. Sterile white ceramic tiles lines the hall from floor to ceiling, welcoming gestures painted in the standard ultraviolet spectrum could mostly be ignored; they were there to comfort the uninitiated space traveler.

The hydraulic doors opened with a loud hiss, but was overshadowed by the welcoming jingle the company insisted on installing.

‘The Esaander Corporation welcomes you to its eastern quadrant Research Division, Ulessia Station. Esaander Corp, Quick and Conclusive results.’

The beings that entered the facility towered above the citizens but were graceful even while encased in military grade armour. His Honour, Lieutenant Commander Sir Tar Nako stepped forward onto the station. His behemoth of a Captain, Sir Ara’San Tifera followed behind her lord, the floor vibrating with every steel plated step.

“Salutations Citizen,” The commander greeted, his upper and lower pair of hands fanned out, casting his rank cape over his shoulders before returning to his sides. “Forgive my appearance, there was no time to disengage from my regalia.”

“It is always an honour to serve the Galactic Council Rangers, you've come straight from combat? Do any of your knights or Rangers require medical assistance?”

Laandi was careful not to make eye contact; her attention focused on the lieutenant's badge of office. It sat pinned to his right shoulder, glistening copper against a deep blue cape. The director counted 5 pleats, trimmed with gold, 10 successful skirmishes and a victorious campaign. They were in the presence of a very competent commander.

“My assets have sustained minor injuries, but assistance isn’t necessary”. The six cameras on the commander's helmet focused on the citizens before him.

Laandi bowed her head ever so gently.

“Very well commander, I am Executive Director Salhor Laandi. This is my Operations Manager Au Isk. How may Esaander Corporation assist you?”

“I have 6 stasis pods collected from a hostile vessel containing unknown organics; you were the research facility closest to the battlefield.” His captain snorted at the remark, but the Lieutenant ignored it. “I would like to negotiate the care and examination of the unknown fauna”.

“Of course Commander.” Laandi replied, “If you would follow me to my office we can start to record a draft of the contract; Isk will take care of the coordination of cargo offload from your ship.”

Isk bowed his head, his wings flicking up nervously from his scrubs, but were quickly tucked back under as soon as he returned upright.

“Sire?” Captain Tifera’s voice echoed from inside her heavy armour, a soft and patient tone. “Shall I supervise the unloading process?” Military grade Zenthi soldiers were not known for their composure. Her long snout hovered over her commander's shoulder, she stood arched over, arms almost dragging on the floor, her long, steel coated tail doing little to balance her out. His very protective shadow.

Sir Nako raised his left hand.

“If you would Captain, I don't want to be here any longer than necessary, military and citizen protocol after all.”

“Of course Sire,” Tifera nodded her head.

“Your honour doesn't have to be so strict.” Laandi assured the officer. “When you hailed us and announced your arrival I ensured you'd only be in contact with authorized personnel, any Freq-sensitive citizens are within the required minimal distance from the dock; you will not be disturbing our citizen assets.”

This seemed to relax the commander a little, but he still persisted.

“Regardless, I need this contract drafted as soon as possible. Please lead the way Director.”

That's when Laandi felt it, the intensity of the Commander’s Emotional Frequency. Military grade armour did its best to filter out as much of the harmful signals as it could, but they were still powerful for a citizen such as herself. The Commander was doing his best to keep an even and tempered signal, but his urgency was winning out. Better to give in to the Commander’s demands for a swift conclusion rather than risk staff injury from an unexpected pulse from the military grade life forms.

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“Of course Your Honour, this way.” Laandi bowed her head lower with respect then turned her back, leading the commander to her office.

“Captain Tifera” Isk addressed the armoured giant, tapping away at his dataslate “I'll escort you back down to the docks-”

“Just tell me where my men can unload the cargo.” Came the suddenly harsh order. “The sooner we can return to Branch the better.”

Isk nodded enthusiastically and swept past the knight, she was straight to the point and no nonsense. Working with Rangers was so much simpler than with scientists.

Laandi lead the Commander down the vacated halls of Uleesia station. The Director’s office was located opposite the habitation wing, taking up almost a third of the entire floor.

She waved her hand over the sensor and waited for the door to respond.

“Executive Director Salhor Laandi” came the placid voice as the doors slid open.

Laandi’s office was standard across most corporate designs, the boardroom desk with allocated stools situated just to the right of the room, the holo display protruding out of the round table. Laandi’s personal terminal and desk located at the far end of the long room, her hab-bed and ration dispenser tucked away behind against the right corner. Wardrobe and accessory compartments tucked away on the far left wall, but by far the most prominent feature of the entire office was the floor to ceiling window, [3 meter] wide industrial-grade glass separated them from the void outside. Laandi’s desk sat in front of it. While most directors and politicians expressed their power through ever-increasing and ridiculous outfit trimmings, the Director had instead expressed her power and experience through the window’s statement.

Sir Nako suspected her belief in the karmic ways of the universe was devout.

Laandi activated her terminal, issuing voice commands to retrieving the contract templates from her terminal.

The young Commander stood by her desk, seemingly to enhance his need for urgency.

“I suppose we will start with a Council Request and begin from there?” she offered, pulling up at least a dozen scripts to recite. Council request, Military Assistance, Asset Insurance, Data patents, all standard council protocols but Nako simply raised his hand again in polite dismissal.

“Actually Director, I was hoping to be able to do this under a Private Contract?”

Laandi stopped her terminal from loading any more scripts, daring to raise her gaze to the Knights neck.

“A Private Contract?” she asked “But this falls under Galactic Council military jurisdiction, unless,” she dipped her head, closing her eyes before adding, “You've gone rogue and claimed that council corvette as your own?”

Sir Nako let out a chittering laugh, appreciating the joke.

“No, no, I am very much still aligned with the GC,” The Commander’s posture relaxed, comfortable now he knew he would not need to throw his Freq guided influence to get what he wanted. “Which is why I am pushing for the Private contract. I understand it is unconventional, but,” His voice lowered, “I believe this may be very time sensitive, and if we wait the weeks required for the Galactic Council dictation to be validated we might lose what little advantage we have left. My superiors will overlook this little transgression when we deliver the information of the new bio-organisms.”

Laandi returned her head upright at the end of the commander's speech, thankful she had read the young man’s disposition correctly. The full confidence of her client was the first in many steps to ensure a lucrative and successful venture.

“So, a personal contract…” She repeated, changing the request from her terminal. “And you will guaranteed we, that is to say Esaander Corp, will not be violating the Conglomerate Information Act?”

Sir Nako stepped forward, leaning over the desk and Laandi behind it.

“Director,” His voice shivered her skin, “You have my word on my honour.”

Laandi was feeling it for the first time, that invisible pressure that embodied his will, Sir Nako was using his Frequency. It was sudden, cool, like a blast of refrigerated air, refreshing as it sent another shiver over her body. The Director marveled at the Knights restraint, so many other Commanders would have simply forced their way, overriding her resolve to serve their own agenda. It was humbling to see a Prince’s integrity in action.

She could never show it however, that would tip the negotiations in his favour.

“Time sensitive you say? In your initial transmission you mentioned the cargo was sealed within stasis pods, it won’t matter to the organisms how long the dictations take to complete.”

The Knight sighed, “Director, I must be honest, I didn't take the pods from a pirate captains hold as I originally insinuated, rather, I retrieved them from a Rajavan troop transport.”

Laandi just about snapped her neck from whiplash from the statement.

“What?! A Rajavan troop transport? Here?!” She exclaimed in distress, standing from her desk. Sir Nako was quick to reassure that the proximity of their enemy was nothing of concern.

“Yes, I was surprised when my fleet came upon the Gene-harvester’s vessel, this quadrant isn’t on any of their usual flight patterns. The subjugation of their ship is a great victory for the Galactic Council and the Arvas Imperium.” He stated, shoulders back in a point of pride. “The Council will release the news soon enough.”

Laandi nodded her head, taking a moment to compose herself.

“The organisms, they are Rajavan cargo?” She inquired, dreading what kind of amalgamations the insipid Rajava had forged this time.

“Yes, and none of those specimens are ones that I recognise, none that the Military database recognises.”

Laandi’s heart skipped a beat, and her curiosity returned. Specimen's unknown? New genetic material to uncover?

“I see.” she lingered, understanding his need for urgency. The Rajava maximised their potential through genetic engineering, removing what they deemed unnecessary for their existence and the continued ‘growth’ of their machinations. This often included the sentience of entire populations. Laandi started to wonder if her facility would have the capacity to hold such profane specimens.“So, you will want this research to be conducted quickly, and quietly.”

“As quickly and as quietly as possible.” He confirmed.

The Director raised her hand to her chest.

“You have the Company's promise that we will provide you with the essential data you require. Esaander may be small, but we are thorough and reliable.” She promoted the company's oath. “Quality results every time.”

That was all the Commander needed to hear.

“Excellent. I have your confidence this information will not be released on the Corporate Audchive?”

“Of course!” She smiled slyly, “Provided you verbally agree that Esaander retains a co-ownership of all the data gathered on the biomasses for further study, once the contract is complete of course.”

He was almost taken by surprise, but he was dealing with a negotiator construct, forever searching for the best leverage was part in her nature.

“Co-ownership of all data? You drive a hard bargain Director.”

“I could ask for complete living clones of the organisms Lieutenant Commander, data is a fair price for risking my conglomerates integrity with this venture.” she reminded him.

“Alright, I’ll comply to the terms,” he humoured her, eager to hurry the proceedings along. “Concerning confidentiality, I would prefer you contact me directly at this IP.” Sir Nako instructed, turning his wrist to view the dataslate embedded into his armour, a 16 digit serial number flashed on screen. “It is my private Comms, when requesting my line, only mention that it is a private contract, and I will return your message when I am able.” He instructed.

“I am not a modifier your Honour,” she chuckled softly “I may be close to degeneration, but my wits are still sharp. I can understand what ‘isn’t being said’.

“Ah, forgive me,” He replied “it is not very often that I get to speak with nuance. Concise and blunt is the reliable tactic when dealing with soldiers and the chaos of war.”

Laandi was liking this Commander more and more, she would certainly go the extra mile to ensure his return patronage.

“And chaos will be what follows you Lieutenant Commander,” Laandi looked up into the Knights mask, eyes still respectfully kept their gaze inadvertent from his. “The Universe rewards great actions.”

“And Akira bestows her callings on the worthy...” He answered her scripture with his own.

The Director and the Knight understood each other's position, their place in the grand scheme.

Laandi finished placing the script block for the contract, it was ready for them to dictate.

“Now then, your Honour, please state your name and I will begin the contract recording.”