Suffice to say, the rest of the Larkinsons had mixed feelings about the outcome of the negotiations. Ves got pulled into another virtual meeting to discuss the implications of what happened.
"Bringing in the Oblivion Gate Consortium has turned our clan into a junior partner." The Saint Commander said with an air of complaint. "I know why you had to do it, Ves, but involving your mother and the Evolution Witch has made us lose a measure of control over our relationship with the Cybernetic Empire."
"We have also gained their protection." Ves argued back. "Our previous deals were guaranteed by our own soft and hard power, which are limited and not a real deterrent to a major power. Now that my mother has directly negotiated terms with the Cybernetic Empress, the former implicitly extends her protection to us. The Polymath has even less reasons to stab us in the back, because doing so will not only offend my mother, but also lose access to the Oblivion Gates."
