Chapter 99 - Difference.

Xenon's words pierced the hearts of the other Empresses like a shard. Shi lang did not rush to help her; instead, he waited for the right moment, when his assistance was truly needed.

Vivian, the previous speaker, clenched her fists and inquired, "So, Your Majesty Xenon, what do you think we should do? Shall we ignore our people's pain and suffering? Should we let the outsiders take advantage of our tolerance? Please enlighten us."

"Only a fool would think that I'm suggesting something like this," Xenon scoffed. Her majestic demeanor was unlike anything the audience had ever witnessed. They suppressed her because she was known to be calm and patient.

Before anyone else could speak, Xenon said, "I don't have time to talk with you all. Allow me to take the initiative this time."  "There are a few conditions that your government will have to fulfill, otherwise, you are welcome to come at us," she said to Shi Lang.

Shi Lang nodded and inquired, "Please tell, Your Majesty. I will relay them to higher command, but the final decision is theirs."

Xenon said with a nod, "Your administration implied that we needed to disband our military in order to suppress the possibility of rebellion; however, the lack of a native force allowed your side such unfettered access something which allowed our people to be molested and murdered. 

This is the Xena Council's first condition. We will keep our native forces, and your side will not interfere in it."

Her words shocked the other empresses, but Shi Lang knew she would go for it.

"You can keep going, Your Majesty," he said, nodding. "Every word you say will be channeled directly to my superiors, and you can expect a response within a night." this was a convenient lie. There was no way for him to establish such a fast communication but he said it to make the people believe that Terrans were looking for peace with sincerity. 

Xenon nodded and went on, "Your people consume resources from our home; from now on, anything you extract will be limited so as not to harm our home's ecosystem. I know you're all stronger, but if you push us into a corner, you'll have a lot of casualties on your hands. Armies with rules and discipline are easier to deal with than a swarm of rebels."

Shi Lang nodded, surprised, but it was a pleasant surprise. The federation had frequently encountered leaders who would sacrifice their dignity for the sake of survival. However, there was a policy in the Terran Constitution that stated that if the forces came across a worthy rival, they were to befriend them rather than make enemies.

Shi Lang recognized that adversary in Xenon. The conditions had not been discussed previously, and the way she prioritized the welfare of her people, transforming colonization into a business partnership, blew Shi Lang's mind. The young empress proposed twenty such conditions, more than half of which were collaborative and economically beneficial to Xena and The Federation.

Shi Lang stated: "Your Majesty, you have completely transformed my perception of this council. 

Thank you very much." In front of all the other Empresses, he stood up and bowed to Xenon. 

The older ones had no chance to speak up because the more they thought about what Xenon said, the more surprised they became; they never expected her to be so good.

They were obstinate but not stupid. It may have taken them some time to acknowledge Xenon, but their silence in the later stages was the same. Shi Lang stood up and said, "I'll give you another gift because you've met all of the requirements. Celestia Ruby is the name of this planet in my planet's directory. Back on my home planet, Ruby is a red gemstone, and Celestia is a word for space. I would request that my superiors change the name in our annulments to Xena."

"Whatever the outcome, I thank you for your cooperation," Xenon said, with a faint smile and a slight bow.

Shi Lang nodded, and the group exited the building. The knight guards trailed their lieges by half a step. Major Baker was still standing at the helipad, securing the prisoners. When he saw Shi Lang approaching, his heart began to race. The situation was not as straightforward as it appeared to others. It was a diplomatic gathering with representatives from another planet.

The significance could not be expressed in words. Shi Lang approached the prisoners and, without saying a word, snatched the silver stars and insignias from their coat lapels. "You are terminated," he said.

Then, turning to face Xenon, he said, "Terrans understand how to admit and correct their errors. 

They are at your disposal, Your Majesty, and may the moon watch over you."

He used the traditional greeting to bid Xenon farewell, and everyone else on the Xena Council returned the greeting, "May the moon watch over you as well."

Shi Lang gestured to Major Baker, who took the hint and handed the prisoners over to the Knight guards before boarding the helicopter. The other Terran guards followed him as well. They were all aware of the actions that had landed their superiors in this position. They didn't want to line with such people.

One fact was that all of these war criminals acted alone; they never used a subordinate to do the dirty work, not because they didn't want to be implicated, but because they didn't trust anyone else. After all, if any good person reported them, they would not even face a trial. They'd all be dead in an instant if there was evidence of war crimes.

What happened this time was no different. Shi Lang began working as soon as the helicopter took off. He used his communicator to type in the meeting report, elaborating on every detail and the conditions proposed by the Xenite Empress. He purposefully included how she collaborated with him in carrying out the administrator's demise, as well as her wisdom.

He made a point of emphasizing the benefits that the Federation can derive from this location, as well as the importance of adhering to the ideology enshrined in the constitution. The report had been delivered to Archie Arkham, who would forward it to the superior of frontier forces. The report had been typed and sent by the time the chopper landed back at the base.

Shi Lang stepped off the chopper, and Major Baker followed. Shi Lang was supposed to wait until the new administrator did not arrive before reporting and taking over the reins. When they inquired, they discovered that the new administrator would be arriving in a couple of hours. When Major Baker read the file and details about the new boss, he became concerned.

He sighed, drawing Shi Lang's attention. The youngster inquired, "What transpired? Do you have any reservations about the new administrator? Major."

"No, sir; it's just that the individual is known to be very practical. People have always criticized his decisions for being too profit-driven. What if he also abuses his position of power?" Major Baker voiced his concerns.

Shi Lang said with a shake of his head, "You're overreacting; the outlook for the situation here has shifted. Do you understand the distinction between a Military Colony and a Business Colony?"

Major Baker's eyes widened and he asked, "Do you mean, Celestia Ruby is now a Federal Business Partner?"

Shi Lang said with a nod, "That appears to be the case based on the decision to post this person here. I was surprised that the report was sent so quickly. If they acted so quickly, the higher-ups must have been at their wits' end."

Major Baker said with a nod, "If a war breaks out, we will lose some people. Dark organizations are very active these days, and the government is having difficulty dealing with them. As a result, they do not want the war to break out."

Shi Lang said with a nod, "That, combined with the fact that this location is not only rich in resources but also has a competent population, can help us advance in our space conquest if inter-species relations can be strengthened. You are aware that this planet is on the eve of the border? 

The territory ahead of us is unexplored. A solid foothold here will give us a significant advantage later on."

Major Baker said with a nod, "That is correct, but it will take a very long time. Expansion or exploration will be costly. The Federation is unlikely to have that much."

Shi Lang made a shaky motion with his head "They have what it takes to move forward and explore, but uncertainty adds to the toll on someone's lives. Lives cannot be staked in such a short period of time."

The two people were discussing various aspects of the military strategy that could be implied on this planet and lost the track of time. They only stopped when a subordinate informed them about an inbound spaceship.. The new Administrator of this planet has arrived.