After a brief chat over the comms and an assurance that the merchant didn't have a problem entering an active war zone to conduct her business, she got permission to enter the system.
Andrew delegated handling the newly arrived merchant to Jalina and asked Tanera to help her, since the elf had more trading experience.
If the circumstances were different, he would meet the merchant himself, but he had to focus on the war and the elven fleets that arrived at the same time as Venra.
The elves were divided among all the portals and delegated under the orders of Lantean admirals, which they were not that happy about, until Lysara contacted them and explained why it was necessary, and advised them to follow the Lanteans ' lead, and maybe they would survive and learn something.
This was enough to quell their dissatisfaction at least temporarily.
However, soon they found out that the Lantean empire's forces, though small in number for the standards of the Battle-Verse, were extremely efficient at turning the enemy forces coming through the portals into scrap.
Additionally, the moment they got to their positions, they got a sample of the same teaching methods that Lysara's fleet experienced not that long ago.
With that, their dissatisfaction evaporated, as did their arrogance as fresh graduates from their military academies, erased by the reality of their first real battle.
While that was going on, the merchant ship finally arrived, and it was the size of a battleship with corresponding armaments to boot.
-This is nothing new.
The pirates in the Battle-Verse are way better armed than the ones in your universe, so the merchants usually use at least a cruiser-class ship to transport their merchandise, unless they are jumping through the portals, and even then, they never send an unarmed ship.
Especially if it's their first visit to a new potential client's territory.
Teleren explained, after Andrew asked about the reason for such a heavy ship.
-Also, there is an additional space for all their cargo, and independent merchants usually have a lot of cargo with them.
Gezrin added.
-Well, I hope she carries some useful stuff, or she would have made the trip for nothing.
The emperor commented.
-I don't think so.
The elf shook his head.
-Even if there is nothing you might need or want in her inventory, then she will most likely want to buy some stuff from you.
The merchandise from the new arrivals in the Battle-verse is usually in high demand.
As for the payment, then she can use credits if there is nothing that you want to buy from her.
-Let's leave this matter to Jalina and Tanera to deal with, and focus on taking care of the Mushroom bastards.
The emperor said, cutting this discussion.
The two ladies he mentioned were awaiting the arrival of the new merchant while discussing the problem of lacking a proper spaceport in the system, which forced them to use the docking module if the visiting ship was larger than a cruiser, as it would not fit in the shipyard hangar.
-It would be a nice thing to have, but with the war at our gates, no one thought about building one for now.
Jalina said.
-The moment we get rid of the Kinokians, we should suggest this to Andrew, since I have a feeling that this is only the beginning of merchant and diplomatic activities for the empire, and a proper space port will go a long way in making it all easier to deal with.
Tanera suggested.
-You might be right, but we won't be able to build such a structure anytime soon, unless we put a hold on the construction of Atlantis.
-Not necessarily.
The elf smiled.
-A space port is not a city ship, and it does not need such big parts for its frame.
I'd need to discuss this with Aelita and Nairin, but I think we should be able to build one using the component manufacturing modules, especially since we upgraded them to tier five.
Their further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the merchant ship.
As soon as it docked, the young merchant disembarked.
-Hello, ladies.
She greeted the two of them with an enthusiastic smile.
-Will the emperor not join us?
The merchant asked, looking around, like she expected to meet with the monarch.
-Unfortunately, the emperor is busy dealing with the attack on our territories, so he won't be able to attend, unless there is something that requires his personal attention.
Jalina responded with a slight smile.
Tanera and Teleren told them long ago that it is customary for the leader of a star nation to greet a new independent merchant.
However, it was not mandatory, and defending one's territory was way more important than interacting with a merchant.
-Alright, that's understandable.
Vanra said, with a bit of disappointment in her voice.
She was hoping to meet the monarch personally to see if he was truly interesting, but she understood that this might be difficult under these circumstances.
-Since that's the case, then let's get down to business.
She added and took out her tablet, displaying a list of her merchandise, which was quite long.
Jalina smiled and invited her to the conference module, as it would take a while to review this list, and the merchant would need to see the list of merchandise that the empire was offering for sale.
-You have a very long list of items here, and many of them I have never even heard of.
Vanra said after studying the list for an hour and not even going through half of it.
-Most of these Items are from the emperor's home world, and if you wish to learn more about them, then you can use the terminal before you to view them and read their descriptions.
Tanera explained.
-Would it be alright for me to stay here for a few days, as it seems that it will take me at least this long to review your offer?
The demon-like alien asked.
-I see no problem with that, but there are some areas of this installation that you can't enter, and you will need to carry a comms bracelet at all times, so we will be able to determine your location in case of an emergency, as well as be able to contact you.
Jalina explained the restrictions that would be imposed on the merchant if she wanted to stay at the station.
She would also like to have more time to review the list of goods that this young merchant offered, and at least a few positions on that list had to be shown to Andrew.
Especially the one she found offering to sell slaves.
-Alright, I agree to these rules.
Venra said with a smile, as staying at the station increased her chances of meeting the emperor and gave her more time to gather the information for her older sister.