She shook her head. "Nope. I don't think so."
Chapter Fifty-Six
A tall woman dressed in a drab, gray robe that emphasized what Hammerhand assumed was a frail frame narrowed her eyes, which were made that much bigger by the glasses she wore.
"If you'll allow me, let me see if I understand this correctly. You intend to overthrow FEMA City, as well as to depose and throw out those owl-faced jackals?"
Hammerhand inspected their surroundings. He had never been the best at diplomacy and usually helped those in need, pounded his hammer into those who required it, and moved on. Those who had the skill handled the complexities of maintaining the peace he had so carefully arranged.
As such, he wasn't sure if the woman was incredulous, sarcastic, or legitimately asking a question.
They were at the edge of a massive lake made from a crater, which measured almost ten kilometers across. A small island in the center provided the access point to the bunker below. The water was mostly still and only the surface was buffeted by the powerful winds. Every few minutes, a heat exchange tower would emerge from the clear blue surface, remain visible for a minute, and vanish into the water again, only for another to appear at a different point in the lake.
It was an incredible view and one he would have enjoyed a little more if they weren't surrounded by a group of mechs while he had elected to leave his Excalibur a few hundred meters behind them with the other Knights and the Desert Warriors who supported them. Only a handful of each group had come as a guard. The Prophet stood at his side, though, and they were surrounded by a troop of mechs painted blue, silver, and yellow.
Thankfully, only five of them stood close, while others appeared to patrol the edge of the crater lake. Even so, five would be more than enough even if they were in the dismount position.
They were called the Gene Guard, at least according to the woman they were in discussion with, who went by the name of Archivist General Nina2. It was difficult to guess what she was thinking as her face was mostly expressionless and also hidden by the large, thick round glasses. Her voice was always a monotone, so that provided no insight either.
But with them all seated at a small table sheltered by a small tent that was erected beside banners showing truce colors, it was clear that she at least intended to parlay with the Knights and Desert Warriors.
Levi Stone had made the trip to meet once word had gotten back to them that the Gene Bankers had been willing to talk. He’d insisted that he was probably in a position to make concessions in exchange for their help. There was far more to it than that but Hammerhand hadn't followed most of what he’d said.
In all honesty, there was something about the man that irked him. Maybe it was the clothes or the fact that he was somehow so clean all the time. There was no sign of grease on his hands and not even a hint of a callus. In a world where people needed to work to survive, how did he manage to have soft hands?
It wasn't something Hammerhand would ever address openly, of course, but he'd learned long before to trust his instincts, and those told him unequivocally to keep a watchful eye on Levi.
They had been joined by the commander of the Gene Guard as well, Lord Captain Gustav15. A tall, burly fellow, he had all the familiar looks of a man who spent most of his time inside a mech, including the blue, grey, and yellow flight suit and not even a hint of hair on his skin.
"Overthrow might be a little harsh a term," Levi stated and folded his hands on the table. "Attacking them outright would end poorly, so we aim to force them into an agreement by removing their ability to be maintained by the surrounding area. We are, in the end, looking for an end to their oppression of this region with as little bloodshed as possible."
"But there will be bloodshed, yes?" the lord captain rumbled while he scratched his chin idly.
"We can't rule out the possibility that FEMA City will try to break us," Hammerhand interjected before Levi could speak. "But our goal is peace and certainly not a protracted war."
"If that is the case, we have no reason to support either side in the conflict. Combat would drain our resources and all things considered, if the fighting makes it to our lakes, we are more than capable of defending ourselves. We have all we need and so, it seems, you have nothing to offer us in exchange."
"True enough, in the short-term." Levi was quick to speak and glared at Hammerhand in an unspoken warning. "But you know the numbers the city commands and the weapons. Should they suddenly decide to remove you, they will be able to do so. With great losses, true, but your losses will be far more significant. You know what they did to the Hall of Ecologists. What is to stop them from offering you similar treatment?"
Gustav15 clearly didn't like being spoken to in such a manner, and his hands clenched on the table. "The Gene Guard would withstand—"
"Enough." Nina2 interrupted him and raised a hand toward the lord captain. It was clear that he held a great deal of respect for the older woman as he immediately fell silent. "As you say, Mr. Stone, we stand to profit greatly from each other in the long-term. However, for that to come to pass, certain guarantees must be in place for the Gene Bank's security."
"Of course."
"Firstly, and above all else, all parties present will recognize and guarantee the Gene Bank's independence from FEMA City. This will include the Knights Mechanica, the Prophet and his Desert Warriors, as well as the New York Western Railroad Company."
Hammerhand couldn't help the feeling that
