The Mech Touch

One of the reasons why Ves wanted to talk to Calabast was to determine how to manage his relationship with the Cybernetic Empire.

A discussion on the Polymath could not be avoided for that reason.

For better or worse, she had become the singular most powerful Star Designer in the Red Ocean.

She not only possessed the most versatile 'specialization' among her kind, but she also commanded the most technologically advanced empire, even if it was technically confined to a single massive star system for the time being.

She also had a lot of uncommitted military forces at her disposal. Anyone she chose to reinforce with her massive armada would definitely be able to endure the pressure of one or several massive alien threats.

Yet was the Polymath willing to send her soldiers straight into the meat grinder only for others to reap most of the benefits?

Ves did not think she was that noble or altruistic. She would only go out of her way to others if they had a purpose in her master plan.

Even then, whether she would actually put in the effort to save others depended on whether she completed a favorable cost-benefit analysis.

She was definitely the sort of person who would instantly end a 100-year old friendship and stab her former comrades in the back if she believed that

Calabast smiled. "Ah, the Polymath. I am not entirely aware of the relationship dynamic between the two as I am not privy to all of your information. However, I can read the clues and make my own judgment. As far as I am concerned, the Polymath is neither your enemy nor your friend. That means she can be used."

"Pardon?"

The spymaster leaned forward. "What I mean by that is that you can continue to engage her as if you are a free agent and a mercenary. I can see that you have very little trust in her, but that you also have little fear that she will strike against you. This means that it is best to maintain a detached relationship with her and her empire. You can cooperate with the Cybers, but you must ensure that you do not commit too heavily to your relationship with them to the point where it may seem that you are taking their side."

Ves frowned. "What if I fail to do so? What if I become too friendly with the Cybers?"

"Then that will strain your relationships with others. The Polymath is the most polarizing Star Designer in the Red Ocean. She has easily surpassed the Xenotechnician and his suspected ties to the Cosmopolitan Movement. That should tell you how the public outside of Bridgehead One sees her at the moment. Since they have appeared, the Cybers have quickly developed a reputation for being stingy, greedy and unwilling to send out most of their forces to save red humanity. Compared to the Red Three and the newly independent colonial alliances, the Cybernetic Empire completely lacks their honor and nobility."

That caused Ves to chuckle. "Hehehe. Figures. That is what you get when you put the most rational Star Designer in charge. She may have worked with many mech pilots over the years, but I doubt she truly understands what drives them. The emotional connection simply is not there. Humans do stupid things all of the time that make our race seem flawed, but so what? Not all flaws are deplorable. It is a mistake if the Polymath thinks she can replace honor with technology. Perhaps this is another reason why the Cybers have produced very few high-ranking mech pilots. They have replaced faith in themselves with confidence in their own tech."

Of course, he wouldn't be saying this if the Cybernetic Empire's technology was a lot more advanced than what it had shown on the surface.

There came a point when superior technology produced such crushing advantages that no honor and glory could overcome the massive gap in strength.

"Let us get back on topic." Calabast said. "The Cybernetic Empire currently suffers from bad PR. If the Cybers want to address this, it is not enough for them to take action directly. It is much more effective if they can convert outsiders into agents who can vouch on their behalf. I predict that in the following years, the Cybers will try to cultivate a network of friendly associates that can serve as a humanizing interface between themselves and the wider public. They may even take over a few states if they see an opportunity."

"What does that mean for me? Do you think that the Cybers will try to win me over?"

Calabast seriously nodded. "That is what my analysis has revealed. You are popular and a proven innovator who cannot translate all of his ideas into reality because you lack access to advanced tech and robust R&D support. The Cybernetic Empire happens to have all of the tech and researchers in abundance, but it lacks a popular mandate. You have to remember that the Polymath did not ascend into power in a very legitimate fashion. This does not matter in the long term, but for now she is still regarded as a thief and an opportunist more than an actual empress."

He agreed with her. When people thought of the current Star Emperor of New Rubarth Empire, their minds would immediately get overtaken by all sorts of myths and feelings. The emperor was not a Star Designer or a god pilot, but he was a sovereign who was larger than life in his own way.

Nobody thought that way when it came to the Polymath. The masses may respect her and look up to her for her many accomplishments in mech design and other fields, but what did that have to do with governance?

Even if people were clamoring for her massive armies and advanced tech, that did not automatically cause her to be seen as a good ruler.

It took more than that to acquire legitimacy.

"So the short version is that we happen to be able to address each other's deficiencies, is that right?"

"Right." Calabast confirmed. "There is nothing inherently wrong with trying to help each other out, but you must take care not to turn a transactional relationship into a ruler-vassal relationship. If Her Imperial Majesty is truly rational and seeking greater advantages for herself, then she cannot ignore the substantial benefits she can obtain by bringing you into the Cybernetic Empire. If you meet with the Cyber representative tomorrow and receive a lucrative offer that will try to bind you into making long-term commitments, you must be vigilant."

Ves frowned. "Do you think that it is an attempt to ensnare me into becoming a subject of the Cybernetic Empire?"

"That possibility does indeed come to mind. Before we talk any further, please answer this question to me. Do you object to becoming a citizen of the Cybernetic Empire? You should know that with your current status and prestige, any star nation will be glad to absorb you into its ranks."

"Uhh… why would I even consider this option, Calabast?"

"If you think that it is too tiresome to dance on the tightrope all of the time and constantly have to worry about putting the safety of your family at risk, then joining a major power is not a bad idea. The Cybernetic Empire is a great choice all-considered. It has just merged from a greater spacetime bubble and is in urgent need of outside talents such as yourself. It is located in one of the rear-most positions of human-occupied space and has transformed into the most fortified star system by an enormous margin, so you and your family will be safe. Above all else, so long as you integrate into their mech industry, you will gain access to many advanced technologies. Do you not feel tempted?"

Ves would be lying if he said no.

Yet the thought of serving the whims of the Polymath immediately caused him to feel unsettled.

He vigorously shook his head!

"No. Absolutely not. I do need access to advanced tech and so on, but I do not want to do so if I have to sacrifice my freedom for it. The Cybernetic Empress is very clear about the necessity of handing over absolute power to a single ruler, which happens to be herself. Others can advise her, but dissent is taboo. When I founded the Larkinson Clan, I did so with the conviction of never putting my life in the hands of an uncaring ruler who can betray us at any time. While I am willing to be flexible and accept certain arrangements, I doubt the Cybers are willing to extend the same courtesy."

This did not surprise the returned spymaster. "Then the answer is clear. Since you are unwilling to trust Her Imperial Majesty and the Cybernetic Empire, then you should maintain a healthy distance from them as best as possible. Do not agree to any invitations to visit or settle in Bridgehead One. If they propose an exchange that binds you to them over several years or decades, try to find a way to reduce your obligations. You must signal your unwillingness to bind yourself to their upstart star empire."

Ves looked pensive. He could understand what she was getting at, but what were the consequences of trying to remain aloof towards the Cybernetic Empire?

"Won't I offend the Cybers if I do this too much?"

Calabast shook her head. "No. Negotiations can get ugly at times. The Cybers have no reason to turn against you, and you can leave most of the talks to the Larkinson Clan. At most, you can list out your demands and what you are willing to do for the Cybers and send it to our negotiating team."

That sounded like the more prudent approach, but Ves still wanted to talk to a Cyber at least once in person.

Much of what he knew about the Cybernetic Empire came from third-hand information. That was not a solid basis to formulate a policy that determined his future.

"Do you think that it is a mistake for the Larkinsons to engage with the Cybers in the first place?" He asked.

Calabast did not answer right away.

"It is not my place to tell the clan what to do. That is what the matriarch and the other governing institutions are for. In my professional opinion, the Cybernetic Empire is too new, too volatile and too ambitious. It is a disruptive force that is only tolerated because Bridgehead One is unassailable and because the Polymath can still help red humanity resist the alien tide. You can potentially obtain massive advantages if you are willing to assist the Cybers in expanding their influence across the Red Ocean, but your obvious distrust towards them precludes this course of action."

Ves firmly nodded. "I think they can be described as a necessary evil. The Cybers are not as threatening as the unambiguously hostile aliens that are pressing past our border regions, but their vision for red humanity is one that has completely surrendered to the Polymath's rule. That is a vision that I cannot accept."

He would rather see red humanity fracture and split up into many diverging groups than to accept unity under the Cybernetic Empress.

Whether he was able to prevent that from happening remained to be seen.

After talking a bit more with Calabast, he came away with a much more solid idea on how to approach his upcoming talks with the Cybers.

Of course, Ves also thought about Calabast's underlying intentions.

Ever since she and the other EdNet graduates came back, Ves could not help but grow suspicious about whether the RA had compromised them in any way.

From tampering with their cranial implants to subliminally hypnotizing them during their sleep cycles, Ves could think of a hundred different ways the mechers could subtly subvert them into advancing the interests of the RA over the Larkinson Clan.

So long as the manipulation was subtle enough, neither Ves nor the Golden Cat would be able to pick up any ill intentions from their words and deeds.

Was the Calabast trying to cautious Ves to maintain a healthy distance from the Cybernetic Empire because she thought it was best, or because it was the outcome that the Red Association favored the most?