Snippet #2557931

Growling static across the network, Korsican trigger pings to his subordinates, calling for caution status, sending a neural request to the Argus AI to elevate to ready stations. Patching into the Comms sector, he generated a direct line communication to Admiral Hanley aboard the Esteem.

"Didn't know ahead of time Esteem Actual, and the wording of the treaty on our end was specific. We don't discriminate states based on prior enmity of allies, so long as they demonstrate good business practices. As we've had peaceful previous contact, accepting trade relations was simple procedure."

Switching to the wide band open channel, the captain nearly snarled. "CONCORD vessels, we are in allied relations to the Aschen, request stand down and maintain distance from Esteem Actual. Repeat, request distance and non-aggression. Dammit, we came here to discuss business, not engage in a bloody shooting match."

Fire Control went into caution, turrets cycling out of stow, coming to bearings not quite on target on both the Aschen Reverence and the CONCORD corvettes. A clear message garnering an impulse of approval from Captain Jovis. Power outputs were elevated to combat ready status, fighter pilots given orders over their implants and dispatched to their ships as precautionary measures. The hulk of the UDW Apophis was shaking awake, the slumbering super-heavyweight warship prepared, if not committed, to conflict.

With a mental sigh, Korsican transmitted on wide-band, with all parties in mind.

"Let's all pull our adult belts back up and holster our guns, discussing this current situation like rational men and women, shall we?"