Chapter 296: Princesses Pride
Jace stood in his armor with a VE Assault Rifle. He deemed the Wildfire too overpowered for a protection detail. He did the same thing with several other weapons. So the rest of his squad were mostly just wielding some stunners while he and Nila were the only two that had lethal heavy armaments.
It was because he and Nila would be by the High Priestesses side the entire time she was negotiating. They stood at the hangar door of the Venture as there was a loud metal clanging noise. He looked over at the High Priestess who stood next to him and was still staring. They could already begin to make out the cheering crowds.
"Where is the sword you took from Nila? Did you sacrifice it to reverse engineer the metal?" The High Priestess asked as she looked over him.
Jace blinked in surprise. She had been staring him down since she arrived. He was wondering why. But it made sense that she was thinking about the missing sword. He had left it out of his mind because it had completely changed. While Nila was not specifically aware she did always make a point to clean the revolver she stole from him.
"Did General Isaiah not tell you?" Jace asked in surprise as the hangar door loudly groaned and began lowering. With light peaking in through the top as the armored door became a ramp to lower them down into the massive trading station they landed inside of. It was nicknamed the ’Princesses Pride’ because its creation was spearheaded by Princess Phila the second royal of Natius’ line. Which was why she was called the second Princess of Vexical and not the first princess.
"Tell me what?" The High Priestess asked but Jace was already facing forward since the ramp had lowered about halfway down. She made a growling noise and looked forward, "you will tell me later." For this event his Cerberus Squad were all in their armor. While the High Priestess was in what the Victorium called the Negotiation Robe. It had aggressive red and black colors with a white background color. With some plates of armor hidden under the robe itself that are visible as moves.
"Understood." Jace answered, fully willing to do that. He thought the General would have informed them about the sword. But he might have been holding his tongue on account of him being beaten.
The ramp fully lowered and the station came into view. They could see the town reaching up the side of the structure as the station was built like a round planet but the inside of the round planet was the living quarters. Which was where they were coming out to. It was a sight to behold to see streets and buildings built towards the center of the structure.
At the bottom of the ramp approaching was the Princess with a mercenary commander on either side of her. One of which Jace recognized and made a slight audible chuckle at the sight of, causing both the High Priestess and Nila to glance at him.
There was a loud metal clicking noise and Jace nodded his head, "keep your heads on a swivel." They began walking down the ramp with the High Priestess leading the way.
The Princess was dressed in a dress with purple and gold coloring. "High Priestess of the Victorium, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. This is Astella Romav of the Red Sanix Mercenaries and Benze of the Free Trade Troupe. I hope you do not mind them joining our negotiations as my own security." The Princess explained as they both bowed their heads.
"I do not mind. My own security are members of the Cerberus Squad. A unit combined of both Victorium soldiers and Vexical’s MILD agents. These two are the ones joining us: Nila the Imperius and Spectre Jace." The High Priestess waved at them respectively. But only Nila bowed her head.
"Oooo...?" Astella turned to him and he flinched for some reason. "Coming up in the world aren’t you Jace?"
The others all blinked in surprise. "You know Spectre Jace?" The High Priestess asked in surprise.
"She has also met General Isaiah. She was on the space station where we captured him." Jace explained quickly as Astella stepped closer and looked over his armor.
"Do not be shy..." Astella chuckled as she backed away. "I first met him because my husband walked in on him having his way with my dear daughter." She then looked at the Princess. "He is the talented engineer I told you about." She then turned back to him. "But in less than a year you went from a Cadet straight to a Spectre? That is quite a jump in rank."
"Thank you for the complement." Jace answered and then nodded at the float they had prepared to escort them to the location where the negotiations would take place. "But it would be best if we get on our way." They would first ride through the city while people celebrated them. Then they would enter a private room to do the actual negotiation and write up a contract. Once that was done they would do a public signing notifying the people that the Victorium were in ownership of the Vexical Empire since the princess was the only legitimate and known heir.
They walked to the vehicle and as Jace boarded it he got a notification. "That person is on the way to the site. They should arrive before we are even halfway there." Jace told the High Priestess as they climbed on to the vehicle and it began moving. It was like a giant float with an open back. It was incredibly vulnerable to a long range attack from a rifle or sniper. But around them was a mix between a unit from the Venture and the Red Sanix Mercenaries.
The Princess and High Priestess began waving at the crowd as the vehicle moved. "I hope you do not mind the theatrics. I thought it would be best to boost the Victorium’s reputation in the Vexical people’s eyes before we came under their rule. There is no telling how long it would take to integrate us into your Victorium."
"As long as you do not mind that the Victorium is in the midst of a reorganization." The High Priestess answered, causing the Princess to momentarily halt.
The Princess responded with a question of her own, "Will this impede the protections you provide the Empire’s territories? I know I am coming in to replace my father after his death with this negotiation but I still do care for my people. Unlike my greedy brother."
"Do not worry." The High Priestess made a noise that sounded like a chuckle. But came out as cackle just because that is the way the Mar’talic are. "You will be our human face for the Victorium by the time these negotiations are done."