"I expect Occlus will want to have authority over a set of historical archives and artifact containment and study; whether it is on Barrayar itself, from a re-outfitted fleet ship, or a constructed space station is dependent on where you'd like to put the atrociously powerful but - if left alone - ultimately peaceful Sith Lord. She will resent being told that she must set up shop somewhere in particular, but she will not resent being greeted politely and then told that there is a space prepared for her arrival with all resources she'd like available to her.

"Some of my people might prefer to live planetside instead of staying in orbit, and if it's viable I think I'd like to let them. Otherwise, it depends on the circumstances and what we decide to focus on, and how much Barrayar is willing to invest."

He thinks about this.

"I would want a citizenship oath from anyone who planned to administer an archive of dangerous artifacts on Barrayar itself, and I would want to know that that oath was being taken seriously, but I would not interfere needlessly after that. If you judge that Darth Occlus would prefer to keep her archive elsewhere under those conditions, then I am prepared to offer assistance in constructing a station. I can also grant you that manor you've been staying in and its grounds for use as an embassy, if any of your people want to live planetside without formally immigrating."

She smiles, slightly.

"Thank you. The embassy sounds like a fine idea, and a station sounds like it would be best for Occlus."

She just cannot see 'Occlus takes an oath of citizenship' going well in any way, shape, or form. Her teacher would get along with the Barrayarans just fine, but she would not be able to fit into their oath and honor system. Occlus much prefers answering to no one.

"As for the question of asylum..."

He falls silent for a moment, and leans back slightly in his seat before he speaks again.

"You have been very forthright with me, so I will return the favour. Granting you asylum from the Sith Empire is obviously the right thing to do and I fully intend to do it. But in so doing, I am incurring a risk on behalf of Barrayar, and I need to know that the benefit to Barrayar will be worth the risk. I don't want a formal payment and I'm not going to bully you. I just want to hear, in good faith, that you will be good neighbours."

Callida nods, solemn.

"Darth Occlus is many things, but stupid is not one of them. We have every reason to be good neighbors. Whatever could be gained from mistreating Barrayar or her citizens wouldn't be worth the loss in trust, collaboration, and infrastructure. Any attempt to conquer or control you would be far more trouble than it would at all be worth," in more than one way, Callida would likely not stand for it, "and it is far easier and more agreeable for Occlus to just remain and see to her archives. She doesn't want dominion over an empire, she wants dominion over herself and to be free to study history and the mysteries of the Force in peace. Bothering an empire needlessly would be tiresome, not fulfilling.

"Any refugee of the Sith Empire would fall under my or Occlus's jurisdiction. If someone decides that they'd like to not neighborly, we will deal with it accordingly."

Pause. "And while I would hope that my opinion of the Barrayaran Empire and its subjects should be clear by now, I give my word that I mean you and those under your charge no ill will, and want only peaceful collaboration."

That last part was said with precisely the weight and sincerity one would expect from a Barrayaran giving their word. What can she say, the place is rubbing off on her.

"Then We welcome you," he says. "The manor is yours, and you and your fleet may make yourselves at home in Barrayaran space and look to Barrayar for protection in the unlikely event that the Sith Empire comes calling."

She has the composure to not cackle gleefully at this pronouncement, but she does smile.

"Thank you," she says, eyes alight. The thanks are sincere, but just saying 'thank you' seems insufficient somehow. It's a pity she can't call him 'my lord' or 'sire,' that might help make it slightly less insufficient, but whatever. She'll make due. "I hope our presence will be beneficial to us both."

"I hope so too. I look forward to working with you," he says. "Was that all for now?"

"Yes. I'll inform my teacher of the news and get a list of what artifacts will be entering your territory. And also what she'd like to have in her space station and what resources will be required for it."

(Eeeheehee she's making this work it is so great.)

He nods. "Good day, Lord Callida."

She stands, and bows again.

"Good day, Emperor." She can't call him 'sire' and for some reason that kind of annoys her. How odd.

Lord Callida departs, subtle smile intractable on her face. She and Occlus have worked out a schedule for when to make contact, and they knew when Callida would be meeting the Emperor. They scheduled a contact time for a comfortable time after Callida expected it to be done. So Callida dismantles her lightsaber for its crystals, happily flits around the manor (her manor, now) and doing logistical work to properly settle in.

She sends a message to Cordelia, because waiting to contact Occlus is annoying and she's excited and therefore she's gleefully juggling as many things as possible. Have you been informed of my fleet's new status?

I have! Congratulations.

Do you know what you're going to call yourselves now that you are no longer a Sith Imperial fleet?

Thank you!

I have absolutely no idea. I'll ask for name ideas and perhaps run a poll for which people would prefer to fall under. I do think I'd rather it wasn't something incredibly uncreative, such as the 'New Sith' fleet.

In your position I'd be tempted toward literary allusions but of course I know next to nothing about the available selection of literature in your galaxy.

We have available literature, but also so much of it that many of us wouldn't be able to agree on precisely which literary allusion we'd like to make. I could name the fleet from on high, I certainly have the authority, but I believe I want something my people will appreciate, too.

Of course. I'll let you know if I think of anything clever, shall I?

Yes, thank you.

And then the time to contact Occlus arrives, and she gets her crystal set together and sits in a quiet room in her manor and reaches out.

Occlus.

Tendril reaching, searching, grasping-

Apprentice.

The Emperor of Barrayar has agreed to let us set up in Barrayaran space as a foreign and sovereign entity. He would like to request a list of the artifacts you're bringing and their safety requirements so he can be aware of what dangerous things exist in his territory, but he has no desire to claim any of them as his own and would like to assist in building a space station for your archives.

Is that faint smugness? It sounds like it.

It is good that you have secured permission. Well done. I have not yet finalized the list of which I will be bringing, but I do not think I will be choosing anything that requires more in the way of precautions than 'do not touch'. As to the station, it is a good idea. But accept only aid in the form of raw materials, I do not wish to have to sweep for foreign surveillance. And all systems will need to be compatible with the Archivist.

Thank you. Any specifications you'd like the space station to follow?

Something along the lines of the PyraTek STE-233. Use your judgement. And see if the natives have any useful innovations to incorporate.

Yes, she agrees, and then pauses, considering. It will go faster if I can get use of their manufacturing facilities. Not for everything, and carefully looked over for surveillance equipment, but I think there's a better balance to be found that will have the results you want than accepting only raw materials and constructing it ourselves.

Likely true. If you think it wise.

I do. They are... she trails off, and some of her affection for Barrayaran culture and its citizens bleeds through. I like them, they are incredibly sensible. If I were to ask their Emperor to please not put surveillance devices on your space station, he would likely nod and agree, and then actually keep his word, even if it would give his security fits. They want to get along with us, we have a lot to offer to each other.