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He listened as Dankien spoke of the Corsairs. He nodded his agreement and understanding.
"The old leader of The Corsair Brotherhood I mentioned earlier," he answered. "Elder Miguel Sephardi and I built some respect and kept lines of diplomacy open. It was never easy but we always understood each other." Doc sighed as his face dropped, "He attended my wedding to Midori." He paused a moment as the thought of his former wife was bittersweet and finished, "But last I knew, Elder Sephardi was a very old man and I'm guessing deceased. The Empire needs another like him."
Doc took their glasses and refilled them at the counter while Dankien spoke of the Nomads. As he poured, he gave a quick chuckle, "Fear not, I am not infected by the Nomads." He finished pouring and turned around and walked towards his guest.
"It took a lot of one on one with Nomads to learn what I did," he explained as he handed Dankien his drink and found his seat, "I still have much to learn about them and it will be some time before I can begin to even think of teaching others." He leaned forward and gave a sharp look, "Stop shooting at them. It's a damn good start."
Sitting back, he listened on the subject of the IMG and Jack Henderson. He nodded, "Yes, I know of Jack Henderson but I don't know him personally. Our paths have never crossed but if he's helping cardamine addicted people, boy do I have some stuff for him. Again, research I have performed but only had limited success with. If he's helping people fight that evil, he has my respect."
He gave his guest the respect of listening. Med Force Enterprises continuing it's own operations while working with other groups was what he wanted. He would have support from the science and medical teams of the group. Finally, someone who shared his vision.
He did get a bit annoyed though at the mention of Bretonia. His relations with Bretonia were always difficult and he blamed the government for his failures on Freeport 1. But, civilians. That was something else. He gave a deep sigh.
"I have no love of Bretonia. They bullied us at Freeport 1 and Gran Canaria and the Queen talked down to me like a pauper but civilians........." He sighed again, "I won't let them suffer. I took care of the needs of refugees at Port Jackson and won't let them suffer."
"As to Gallia, I must tread lightly. I have access to it and routes there. I don't want to cross them as I get goods there you just can't get locally."
He smirked as an idea crossed his mind, "A young lady, a protoge of mine, might like to work Bretonia. She's got experience there. I'll talk to her about it."
"I know little of Outer Rim University," he stated. "I didn't even know it existed but if you need me to teach, well, I don't have a problem with that. I was lecturing at Cambridge Medical Institute some time back so I would enjoy that."
He looked over to Dankien, "You hungry?"
"Stop shooting at them. It's a damn good start."
I'll try that... but that seems easier to say than to do. However, it depends on the situation. I remember a few times I went to omicron-Alpha and there some peaceful nomads. Maybe the outcasts could also give us some hints. Anyway, I've also conducted some research on cardamine effects, and I've transmitted the results to Jack Henderson. He proposed me to meet a scientific team of IMG also working on that topic. Maybe you could join me when I will attend this meeting. I am sure they will be interested in your researches.
I am sorry about the experience you had with the Bretonian government. I had only a few contacts with them about trade regulations, that was ok. (Dankien sighs) It is really a shame that Houses always make pressure on their neighbors, especially when they are military weak like us. Sometime I am discouraged by their attitude and think I should leave Sirius to found a new settlement in a galaxy far away.
And now Gallia... I am very suspicious about them, I consider them as the worst House. Invading Sirius with hostile intentions, including what they did to the Zoners and TAZ. So far I've stayed away from them.
But you are right, time to have diner. We'll talk about the University while eating.
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He gave only a brief answer about Gallia. "What they did to TAZ they were doing largely after I left. I had made positive steps to cooling the fire before some decided to derail that effort. I'll take what good will I have with them for medicinal goods and services."
Doc rose and went to his refrigerator where he had freshly caught trout ready to prepare.
"Fish," he said with a smile, "brain food. I catch it fresh each morning and I keep some in a smoke house by the stable."
They were good sized fish, were split and baked in breadcrumbs. Fresh greens and wild rice were served with it as was a loaf of fresh sourdough bread.
Doc knew very little about Outer Rim University. For now, the ball was in Dankien's court.
"Perfect," Doc said of the meal, "Cooking it in old style ways always brings out the best flavor."
After rinsing his mouth with some table wine, he shifted focus.
"So tell me more about Outer Rim University."
While watching the trout Dankien outbursts:
"Oh my god... this is real fish! I can't remember the last time I ate some.
Let me say that you really know how to welcome people!"
During the dinner, Dankien congrats Doc Holliday for the cooking.
"So, yes, the University. This is another big project. It is located near Corinth Research Station in omicron-74. OSI is giving a big hand to finish the construction and bring the supplies.
The Outer Rim University has several purposes. On the short term, the University has the mandate to collect and gather knowledge.
We believe education is one of the keys to a better future. So we need to educate people. And we need to do it at the cheapest possible cost to educate as many people as possible.
On the long term the objective is even more ambitious. As I mentioned earlier, it is about defining the basis of this better society. A society that involve equity, justice, prosperity and so on for the greater good of all. So you understand there is huge work to build this societal model. Develop indicators to assess sustainability, change the economic paradigm, etc... And even when this societal model will be ready, most of the work will remain. I am talking here about the transition from our current society to this new society. Like I said, We do not expect the House governments will support this project since we propose an equitable share of resources while they currently do not really enforce a fair share of wealth... It is clear that many people will have to loose part of their privileges and wealth to let the other people join the world of prosperity. The tricky part is that we want a peaceful transition path.
It is clearly not for tomorrow, but I am confident we are moving in the right direction."
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[color=#FF0000"Oh my god... this is real fish! I can't remember the last time I ate some.
Let me say that you really know how to welcome people!"][/color]
Doc gave a smile and a snicker, "Since it looks like I'll be getting back to work after our meeting, I'll be sure to pack some of what I have on ice to send with you and some smoked fish as well." Then he shrugged, "I'll have to come here periodically to catch more of it too. Glad you like it."
Doc listened as his guest talked about Outer Rim. He liked what he was hearing and liked the fact that he could make a contribution to it. It was what he needed, a new sense of purpose. Services and research were quietly doing well within his Enterprise and this gave him a chance to work with an old friend.
"I think I've heard what I've needed to hear," he explained, "I like what you offer and what your mission is. I would like Med Force Enterprises to be a part of it."
He paused to wet his palate with some brandy, "I do have a patient to see in Omega 49 but I won't be long getting to 74.
In the meantime, I would ask docking permissions for [MFE] tagged ships. As I said, Commander Alicia Cook is currently basing off of Freeport 9 so she will be your first contact."
He sighed a moment with a look of satisfaction, "Yeah food on station or ship isn't much to be desired. I won't touch that Synthe Paste and would have Midori make up fresh rations for long trips."
He sighed again as his face dropped. It was obvious. He had a lot of regret about his late ex-wife.
"I think I've heard what I've needed to hear," he explained, "I like what you offer and what your mission is. I would like Med Force Enterprises to be a part of it."
Dankiens smiles: "I am glad to hear that. I will make the necessary so the Med Force Enterprises ships can dock at the University.
I will also invite you to the Seraphim discussion channel so you can see the ongoing projects and dispatch MFE resources accordingly.
I never had the pleasure to meet your wife. She seemed so nice. I think sometime that I should spend more time with human to establish deep relations. But you know what it is, a lot of projects and time past so fast.
Also, it has nothing to do with what we were taking before but I had always asked myself: what truly happened in Baffin during this zoner council? You remember? The Order claimed that TAZ were using nomad technology. Do you have details?
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He wiped his mouth with his napkin as Dankien praised Doc's late wife and his own admission of more human contact.
"She was wonderful," he smiled softly, "a great mother, a great wife and just a great person. I did her wrong and I admit it so yes, Dankien, get more human contact in your life before you regret it. Hopefully fate will allow me another chance at it."
His look to Dankien got a bit stern at the mention of TAZ and Nomad technology. It was a sore subject but one he couldn't run away from.
"Two Popes wanted to build a ship with some experimental tech as I was told and so I signed off on it, thinking nothing of it," he explained, "what I didn't plan on nor do I still think it's right that the Order shows up in Baffin, demanding the tech be turned over. If it were in their space I might feel differently. Golanski and I have very different views on the Nomads. I research THEM, not their technology and I don't care what he thinks of it."
He took a breath and a drink, still cross on the issue, "Golanski soured his relations with me when his people stormed Shasta during a conference. I barely escaped with my own life. My only regret is that I didn't squeeze the trigger of the rifle I had aimed at one of his people. I mean, I helped the Order after Toledo was destroyed and they seem to forget that. I won't go after Golanski or his people but I just won't deal with them. The ball is in his court if he wants to patch things up."
"As to the technology, the ship in question, I have no idea as to it's whereabouts nor do I care at this point."
He then smiled a bit as thoughts of TAZ crossed his mind, "It was a good life in TAZ. Malaclypse gave me a great opportunity."
He then shrugged, "But, as time grew, so did philosophical differences between me and many Popes. I did all I could. With that, the loss of Midori and that conference, I walked away without regret."
Dankien listens carefully to Doc Holliday.
"After hearing all you have said today I realize I might have been wrong all my life with the Order. Up to this day I thought they were the defender of the humankind against nomads. But now I have a doubt. I supported them very much when I was with the ZTC and the Omicroners. I think I really need to learn more about the nomads.
Now I feel like the Order are more or less like the Core. By the way, what do you think about the Core? I don't know very much about them but what I have seen so far is not really good. They seem violent, claim territories, impose laws, etc.
For now I am in cordial relation with the Order, maybe I could work on them to re-establish a cordial relations between the two of you. I know you don't ask for it but I am pretty sure it would benefit to all, I mean not only you and the Order.
That conference was a shame. I remember I had to be rude with the TAZ representatives to be able to break the embargo on that station. I feel lucky I was able to leave the system in one piece."
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"The funny thing is, Dankien, is that I don't dislike the Order," he responded. "Golanski may be arrogant but many of his agents aren't that bad. I will admit, however, that after the incident at Shasta and the strong arming Golanski attempted in TAZ space that he lost a lot of respect. As I said, I'm interested in the Nomads themselves, not their technology."
Doc shrugged, "You can try and bridge the gap between him and I if you want but it's not high on my list of priorities. No doubt that he would strong arm me again if he felt the need. I owe him nothing."
Doc re-filled his drink as well as Dankiens as he thought a moment. "As to the Core. My dealings with them is minimal but from what I know of them, I don't trust them. I mean, people who fight for money such as bounty hunters? They're unpredictable."
He then looked over where Dankien had been eating, "You want more?"
But aren't you in disagreement with the Order because they fight nomads while if I understand you properly it seem possible to live in peace with them?
Dankien sits comfortably on his chair, taking from distance from the table.
"Thank you, I am fine, I won't be able to eat anything more"
