Chapter 419 - Far Future, Ch. 129 – Race Relations (1/2)
”I understand you have a matrix of souls that you use with your soulstones. Don't expose any souls caught in them to vivic fire. They will be dispersed and returned to the Land. It is not the Warp, but they are still circumventing the Law of Death, and so vivus will return them to the land just as it does undead... and creatures of the Warp.”
He pursed his lips slightly as he looked at the vivic fire. ”And why would we consider this worthwhile knowledge?” he asked freely, suspicion, curious, wary.
”It does the same to undead, demons, axiomites, and unnatural energies. It is the unnatural energy of our reality... vivic is to them what warpfire is to us. It feeds them to the Land, and reinforces the Land around them, settling down warp storms and breaches, cleansing and purifying their corruption. The details and features are in the data download and the data crystal I have delivered to you.”
”Interesting. And why have you given this to us?” He asked, doubtful, amused, warning that she would not take advantage of him.
”There are only upsides to having more danger to the Warp and unnatural creatures around... such as the Reapers, the Dwellers, or the Aberrants, all of which use unnatural energies and vivic fire will punish for it.
”To humanity, the elvar, and other races born of this reality... vivic has no effect, unless they are breaking the Law of Death, as your cloistered souls are. In any event, it will still save souls from the Warp, merely dispersing them naturally into the Land, to be gathered up randomly and be born anew as life once more.”
The elvar captain considered her words, and the serious and sincere undertones she was using calmly and patiently. Despite its danger to their cloistered souls, it really was a dangerous weapon against the Warp... and their Dark Elvar kin, who seethed with the influence of the Warp they tried to hold at bay, and which painted their skin so dark with their sins.
”And what do you expect us to do with such a boon?” he asked further.
”Spread it far and wide as fast as you possibly can,” she admitted with tones of searing truth, impetus, and warning of danger. ”The Warp does not want knowledge of vivus spread, and they are already taking actions to restrict its spread in the Empire. I would say at this point they have already killed a million souls and spent some assets they have cultivated for centuries just to stop the spread of vivus.
”And they will act against you. Carry it far and fast, Sunhawk, or you will not carry it far, at all.”
His eyes flickered. Tones of grave danger, urgency, solemn warning. The Coronal Knights did not enjoy playing political games.
He nodded slowly, amused at the idea that it would also remove him from this system and the potential prey he might have netted here. ”I will do so. Is there aught else you would have me do?” Mocking, humor, but acknowledging urgency.
”On a completely separate matter, we have potential business you may be interested in. We have knowledge of a vein of Sunwater Silica, known among your kind as flowlight crystal. I understand that it is a primary component of the psionic lattices in your ships and Starhomes. Now, the Empire has never used this as anything but circuit boards in some more fluid nanotech adaptations, and there are substitutes. But it has great value to the elvar.
”We are wondering if you would like to trade for it?”
His look suddenly got very predatory. ”Interesting. The Coronals, dabbling in matters mercantile?”
”We are seeking Void Osmium. I understand your people can manufacture it, but have little use for it. We can trade for it at two thousand to one for the raw ore, or a thousand to one refined. I understand your refining is a touch more efficient then ours. The rating on the ore is 27, our refinement brought it up to 30.”
Boring data, data, data. He sat back and stared at her, an expression like a cat hunting a mouse on his face. ”And how shall such things be delivered? Trade between our people is rather fraught with danger, my dear Coronal Captain.” Fun, trust me, let's play...
”You will be given the location of the freighter with the cargo when we receive the tested Void Osmium. You can choose to purchase the ship with the cargo, or simply take the cargo on yourself.”
”Us, deliver first? And we would find this acceptable how?” he asked archly. Mocking, rebuking, admonishing.
”Because of the reputation of yourself and your people, which is fraught with broken contracts for miniscule reasons and desires, and replete with acts of piracy hidden behind the desire to not trade equitably... and the reputation of the Coronal Knights is that we deliver on our promises!”
Fact. Steel. Dare to refute.
The elvar captain steepled his fingers thoughtfully. ”And how much flowlight are we speaking of?” Greed, standoffish, assessment.
”We have only refined ten thousand tons at this time. The expected volume of raw ore is 2.33 million tons.” Fact, fact, fact.
Now his glowing eyes grew wide indeed. That was enough ore to craft a new Starhome... or an entire fleet of ships. Perhaps both!
”This...” This was a very big deal, indeed. Gaining hold of that much flowlight crystal would gain him resounding fame among his people. Of course, if he could trick it out of the humans it would be even better... but he was dealing with a Coronal, who were depressingly aboveboard in all their dealings, and would only be seeking a mutually beneficial trade in response. ”I do not believe I can arrange for that much oblivichrome in short order...”