Chapter 89 Exiled.
The next hour went by in the blink of an eye and the ships were already in the process of docking at the station while Andrew and Lanarine were waiting to greet the guests.
Both of them were wearing their armor and were armed, just in case someone had some bright ideas.
Lan was rearing the Armor he had given her and had a taser strapped to her right leg while her stun baton was on her left.
Andrew decided to wear the new armor he received from the empire.
The reason for it was simple, it looked intimidating and majestic, not to mention that it was a symbol of his status in the empire which could be useful in preventing any unforeseen problems on their guest's part.
Other than that he was carrying his Colt 1911 strapped to his right and a taser strapped to his left leg.
Terelen was the first to disembark and the Elf looked like a totally different person.
Gone was the short merchant Andrew met a few months ago and now he was around two meters tall and much leaner than before.
The only thing that didn't change was his face.
-Welcome my friend, I see that you have a new body already.
Andrew said, shaking the merchant's hand.
-Yes, the emperor ordered it earlier and only awaited for me to fulfill the requirements to be transferred.
The elf said with a smile.
-Sorry to drop by on you unnoticed with some guests, but I could not refuse the guild's order.
The merchant said apologetically, remembering what happened the last time something similar happened.
-Don't worry about it, and if what you say is true, then they won't dare to make any trouble for us.
Andrew understood that there were situations beyond their control and he was not blaming Terelen for bringing these two ships along.
While they were talking, a group of beings from the two other ships disembarked and approached them.
They were from two different species, but both were humanoid.
The first ones looked like a mix of a human, a snake, and a crocodile, with red and yellow scales covering their bodies, sharp-looking claws on their three-fingered hands, and teeth that also looked razor sharp.
The other ones were almost identical to humans, with the difference in lack of hair on any part of their bodies that Andrew could see and the fully black eyes with no pullups or at least none that anyone could see.
The last difference was their skin color which was ashen gray, making them look similar to the popular description of aliens on Earth.
-Greetings system master.
The gray-skinned alien spoke the moment they approached.
-Welcome to my station.
Andrew answered with the same courtesy his guest spoke.
-We came here to negotiate the release of Her Holiness Tibrana from your care.
The Alien who was either their leader or an appointed diplomat revealed their purpose without beating around the bush.
-I thought as much, we can relocate to a more appropriate place for the negotiations if you wish.
-That doesn't seem to be necessary.
We don't want to waste anyone's time, so let me present our proposition and if there is something wrong with it we can negotiate on the spot.
Hearing this, Andrew simply nodded, signaling for the alien to proceed.
It didn't slip his notice that the representative didn't even introduce himself or ask for Andrew's name, but he put that to the back of his mind for now.
-The Federation would like to present you with this frigate class vessel as well as the full ownership of the two women who were tasked with keeping Her holiness safe.
We understand that they are your slaves already, but with this, there won't be anyone coming for them from the federation ever again.
Other than that, the ship is fully armed and its cargo holds are full of ammunition, not to mention some very expensive materials.
The Alien representative said, pointing at one of the ships they came in.
-Of course, if you wish to negotiate, we will hear you out and see if your offer is acceptable.
He added quickly.
-Your offer is more than generous and seeing such sincerity, I have no wish to negotiate.
But the two other women are from prominent families of the Federation, will it really be alright to sell them to me?
Andrew asked.
He was not exactly happy to let them stay as they were uncooperative from the start.
-Could you call them here?
The gray alien asked.
-Yes, but what purpose would that serve?
Andrew was surprised at this request.
-There is something they need to receive personally.
The representative said, like that, explained everything.
-Tarina, Runir, come to the docking module 1 and bring Tibrana with you.
Andrew said to his comms bracelet.
-On our way.
Came Runir's answer, a second later.
The three women arrived less than five minutes later.
However, they were wearing clothes that Andrew had never seen them in before.
Tibrana was wearing a long blue robe, looking like a dress from a fantasy anime, but somehow it looked majestic on her.
Runir and Tarina wore something loosely resembling school uniforms of different designs.
Seeing Tibrana, everyone in the federation's delegation knelt.
-Your Holiness, it's a pleasure to see you again.
The leader said with respect.
-Likewise minister Darge, I take it that your visit means that our stay here is over.
Tibrana said with certainty.
You may all rise.
She added, and everyone stood up again.
-Yes, Your Holiness, but it's only your stay that is ending, these two are staying here.
The minister explained.
-And why would they stay here?
She asked surprised at this development.
-Even if their families have forsaken them, I'll take them as my servants.
These two did their best to carry out their orders and went above and beyond what I was expecting from them to ensure my safety, even after they were captured.
This grants them my gratitude and recognition.
Tibrana said, defending the two of them.
-Be that as it may, Your holiness can't take them in as servants, it would be against the Federation law.
The minister said almost apologetically.
-And which law would that violate exactly?
The priestess asked with a clear challenge in her voice.
-The one about taking in, helping, or sheltering the exiles, Your holiness.
The minister said and nodded at the two of the scaly aliens to step forward.
-Runir, a cadet of the fleet command academy in the planetary kingdom of Zatul, and Tarina student of diplomatic studies at the Diplomatic Institute of the Areini planetary republic.
From this moment forth both of you are stripped of your ranks, expelled from your academies, forsaken by your families, and exiled from the federation for the rest of your lives.
If it so happens that you enter the federation space again, the federation laws will not protect you and every citizen will have the right to do with you as he pleases.
Additionally, from this moment on you are these system master slaves and there will not be any dispute from the federation no matter what he decides to do with you.
After delivering the sentence, the minister looked at the two aliens from before which was the signal, the two of them approached the girls and ripped their uniforms to shreds before anyone could even react.
In just a few seconds, both of them were left in nothing more than their underwear, but they were so shocked that neither of them even tried to cover themselves.
Once the aliens were done ripping their uniforms to bits, each of them took out three black envelopes and threw them to the ground right in front of them, before returning to their previous spots behind the minister.
Andrew, Lanarine, and Terelen were speechless at what just happened.
-Was it really necessary to humiliate them like that?
Andrew asked after a moment of shock.
-This is a light punishment for their crimes, normally they would be publicly tortured to death and their corpses would be left hanging from the torture tower as a warning to others.
However, their families pleaded for them so their sentence was reduced.
The minister explained.
Andrew nodded as a sign that he understood, but he didn't like it one bit.
-Lan, take them to their modules, to get dressed.
She only nodded and took both girls with her.
Tarina and Runir only stopped for a moment to pick up the envelopes from the ground and they were gone.
He might not like them much, but being the target of humiliation on numerous occasions, he didn't wish to take part in humiliating others without a good reason for it.
-Is this all? Or do we have some other matters to discuss?
Andrew asked, in a much less friendly tone than he was using before.
-If you release your control of Her Holiness, we shall be on our way.
Darge said.
-Chip 07, lower the control level to 0 and deactivate.
Andrew said immediately.
He didn't want them to stay even for a moment longer than they needed to.
At the beginning of this encounter, he thought that it might be possible to at least live amicably with the federation, but that changed the moment he saw their treatment of their own people.
Even though he would not be openly hostile to them if they left him alone, he would never consider working with them after what he just witnessed.
Tibrana immediately felt the full control of her body returning to her.
-Thank you, and I'm sorry for my previous behavior, I also hope that we will be able to avoid becoming enemies in the future.
The priestess said, turning to Andrew.
-We shall see.
The human answered coldly.
-Thank you for agreeing to our proposal, system master.
The minister said, but Andrew only nodded.
-Lord Terelen, please send our thanks to the guild for their assistance in this matter and assure them that we will hold on to our part of the deal.
The gray-skinned alien said to the merchant who also nodded.
-With our business concluded, we must bid you farewell.
After these words, everyone from the federation turned to leave except Tibrana.
-Please treat the two of them well, I'll try to lift their banishment and if I'm successful I'll return for them.
She asked.
-You have my word, that they won't be mistreated as long as I'm their master.
Andrew promised sincerely, seeing that she really cared for the two girls.
-Thank you and goodbye.
She smiled slightly before leaving with the rest of the delegation.