Bennu Station, 401:6
We had a delegation come through the station last week from Yabaru---they're on the deep space port of the local system, but intrigued about increasing trade, especially with fast travel eventually coming. They were particularly interested in the energy storage platforms that we use, and the few from the core that have been shipped and sold.
They were proposing a regular shipment schedule from the core that would be transported to their region far beyond the local scanning distance of Bennu. The costs of shipping without fast travel are tremendous, and I can't even imagine what the final price tag on a deal like that would be.
Shah had me sit in on all of the regulatory discussion, even though I had nothing to offer and literally said nothing during the entire time the delegation and the Bennu officials were negotiating. The Yabarians wanted an assurance of quality on all future shipments---if they happen at all---which is why compliance needed to be present. I may not have talked, but Shah was too lazy to get out of his chair and walk around the product projection, so that's what I did. I manipulated the 3D product demonstrations for the Yabarians, and then tried to do as they wanted through the auto translation and Shah's instruction. Lots of, "rotate left---no, too far, no, back," none of which would have even been necessary if Shah had been willing to stand up.
I guess I shouldn't complain too much, because he didn't ask anyone else from the division to be present, but it still irked me. That's the benefit of being in charge, I suppose. At least I got to enjoy the food they brought in for the delegation. I was expecting something from their home world, probably with new flavours and pairings and food I've never experienced. Instead, the meal was from "^", the fanciest place in Bennu, showing off the culinary delights of the core as a means of enticing even more trade. It was catered by humans dressed fancier than any official delegate in attendance.