Proximan Hospitality

“We are... pleased to meet you, Commander—excuse me, Captain—Takahashi, plenipotentiary representative of the Terran Empire,” Birch said, extending her hand to shake Ayaka’s. She paid no attention to the marine guard contingent standing like statues, weapons in hand—albeit politely pointed toward the ground—and rendered anonymous by their unmarked SLEEK suits. “I am Birch, and through me you may speak to Oak, Crabapple, Mangrove, and Cypress as well.”

“Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Lady Birch, and the others as well,” Ayaka said, taking Birch’s hand and politely shaking it. Her other hand signaled the rest of the diplomats, then she broke the environment seal on her SLEEK suit and removed her helmet, followed by the three remaining diplomats. “These are my colleagues: George Stefanopolous, an expert in contractual and treaty law—”

“Pleasure, Lady Birch,” George said with a slight bow of his head.

“Dr. Leigh Ayers-MacDougall, a xenobotanist expert and the scientific adv