you have exploited Worlds with native populations. Those Worlds will also be allowed to choose what gates, if any, they wish."
"And you're going to put these gates up out of the goodness of your heart?" Jacob Montgomery was apparently the only spokesman for the Earthers.
"Actually we figured we'd put up gates to here for free and charge for any more. The cost will depend upon the ability of the World to pay, and will most likely finance this attempt at cross-dimensional civility."
"We can put up our own, you won't be able to hold us up for much." Urfa placed his elbows on the table and looked stubborn.
Garit nodded. "We are not planning to field an army to keep the peace. We'll add investigators, negotiators and observers as we need them. So far our monetary needs are few, thus the gates will be inexpensive."
"And all of your agents will be from Comet Fall?"
Garit shook his head. "No. At the moment we are all seconded from The Kingdom of the West. King Leano made it clear that while we are assigned here, this was where our loyalty is, even when he is in the wrong. We hope that you will both agree that a mixed force is a good idea and that all agents must be able to operate independently. Including the ones you assign here."
Xen nodded as he met their eyes. "Yes, that was an invitation. Right now there's just the three of us. Garit Negue in charge, myself and Quail Quicksilver. So to start, why don't you each send two people. People whose integrity you trust. People who, if they come to your ambassador and tell them that your World has screwed up, you will trust them to be telling the truth. But please realize that we will know if they gloss over their home's errors or try to make one of the other Worlds look bad. We want real, honest, agents."
Garit flashed a grin. "And don't rush. At the moment we're pretty much twiddling our thumbs with nothing to do. But we would like to have them in place before we start placing gates, as observers to, hopefully, all parties agreeing and keeping the peace."
Urfa nodded. "And what about these 'corridors'? Wolfson has hinted that they could be thrown in to sweeten the pot."
Garit looked at Q, who met Urfa's gaze. "There are four engineering firms in the Kingdom of the West that can set up corridors. No doubt a bunch of freelancers as well. So long as you are not engaging in cross-dimensional war, we will not interfere with anyone hiring them." Her mouth quirked slightly at his skeptical look. "I own one of the companies, Oldham Engineering. They're very busy, what with me defecting to the D-cops. I'll be glad to introduce your people to both them and my rivals."
Garit took over smoothly. "This brings up the matter of cross dimensional financing. No doubt our bankers will enjoy figuring out our exchange rates. For the short term we will establish accounts on all three Worlds, so we can buy, sell, and pay in whatever currency our agents and various employees, desire."
"What about those Von Neumann magic potions you lot so cavalierly sling around?" Dr. Etli frowned across the table at Xen.
"Import and export controls will be a matter for the diplomats." Garit shrugged. "I understand your caution. We haven't had any sort of problem, and tend to be, as you imply, quite casual about the joy juice. We will be establishing both a hospital and a library here. You will be able to send people here for treatment, and they can stay until the nanos have completed their work and disassembled themselves."
Xen caught the Oner's attention. "Have you seen any long term problems with the nanos I distributed, umm, four years ago?"
The man glowered. "No. Your safeguards have held so far."
Q leaned to look down the table at him. "We can manufacture medicines with the nano repair molecules already in it, but no assemblers, no Von Neumanns. Would that be acceptable to you?"
"I would need to be certain of the filtering. The danger of Von Neumanns is that a single one can destroy a World."
"In
"And you're going to put these gates up out of the goodness of your heart?" Jacob Montgomery was apparently the only spokesman for the Earthers.
"Actually we figured we'd put up gates to here for free and charge for any more. The cost will depend upon the ability of the World to pay, and will most likely finance this attempt at cross-dimensional civility."
"We can put up our own, you won't be able to hold us up for much." Urfa placed his elbows on the table and looked stubborn.
Garit nodded. "We are not planning to field an army to keep the peace. We'll add investigators, negotiators and observers as we need them. So far our monetary needs are few, thus the gates will be inexpensive."
"And all of your agents will be from Comet Fall?"
Garit shook his head. "No. At the moment we are all seconded from The Kingdom of the West. King Leano made it clear that while we are assigned here, this was where our loyalty is, even when he is in the wrong. We hope that you will both agree that a mixed force is a good idea and that all agents must be able to operate independently. Including the ones you assign here."
Xen nodded as he met their eyes. "Yes, that was an invitation. Right now there's just the three of us. Garit Negue in charge, myself and Quail Quicksilver. So to start, why don't you each send two people. People whose integrity you trust. People who, if they come to your ambassador and tell them that your World has screwed up, you will trust them to be telling the truth. But please realize that we will know if they gloss over their home's errors or try to make one of the other Worlds look bad. We want real, honest, agents."
Garit flashed a grin. "And don't rush. At the moment we're pretty much twiddling our thumbs with nothing to do. But we would like to have them in place before we start placing gates, as observers to, hopefully, all parties agreeing and keeping the peace."
Urfa nodded. "And what about these 'corridors'? Wolfson has hinted that they could be thrown in to sweeten the pot."
Garit looked at Q, who met Urfa's gaze. "There are four engineering firms in the Kingdom of the West that can set up corridors. No doubt a bunch of freelancers as well. So long as you are not engaging in cross-dimensional war, we will not interfere with anyone hiring them." Her mouth quirked slightly at his skeptical look. "I own one of the companies, Oldham Engineering. They're very busy, what with me defecting to the D-cops. I'll be glad to introduce your people to both them and my rivals."
Garit took over smoothly. "This brings up the matter of cross dimensional financing. No doubt our bankers will enjoy figuring out our exchange rates. For the short term we will establish accounts on all three Worlds, so we can buy, sell, and pay in whatever currency our agents and various employees, desire."
"What about those Von Neumann magic potions you lot so cavalierly sling around?" Dr. Etli frowned across the table at Xen.
"Import and export controls will be a matter for the diplomats." Garit shrugged. "I understand your caution. We haven't had any sort of problem, and tend to be, as you imply, quite casual about the joy juice. We will be establishing both a hospital and a library here. You will be able to send people here for treatment, and they can stay until the nanos have completed their work and disassembled themselves."
Xen caught the Oner's attention. "Have you seen any long term problems with the nanos I distributed, umm, four years ago?"
The man glowered. "No. Your safeguards have held so far."
Q leaned to look down the table at him. "We can manufacture medicines with the nano repair molecules already in it, but no assemblers, no Von Neumanns. Would that be acceptable to you?"
"I would need to be certain of the filtering. The danger of Von Neumanns is that a single one can destroy a World."
"In
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