[Put that on hold for a bit. We need to figure out how to eliminate all of these Klem clusters without breaking the ancient barriers around the cities. I''m thinking total encirclement and doing a few at a time.] Max suggested.


    [If we have a Cutter hover over the top of them and extend its shields over the city, we could just Lance the region, and the Cutter would prevent the ssh damage from destroying the town.] Nico asked hopefully.


    [Do you really think that the super serious Giant Envoy would approve of that? Even a full Mecha invasion is stressing him out because of the damage to infrastructure. They haven''t faced a real threat in too many generations. They''ve forgotten how.]


    Nico''s agreement was clear, but her mind wandered away to strategies that would limitary damage as well as save the cities, so Max turned his attention back to the Envoys.


    "While my advisors are working on a n, is there anything that you all would like to see or do? We could keep talking business, but I suspect that you''ve had enough of that for a few days." Max offered.


    "Do you think that there is a Mecha simtorrge enough that I could see what it''s like for your Pilots?" The Giant asked.


    "We have the VR headsets. That will give you immersion, but it''s not quite the same as the full cockpit simtor. Is that close enough? I can set you up with a training program so that you can learn the basics, or you can watch another user''sbat footage." Max suggested.


    The Valkia got excited as soon as the topic came up. "Yes, we should go to the Arcade. Humans have the most wonderful games, but physical and virtual reality. We haven''t had a chance to unwind in a while, and I don''t think that the crowds will bother us much at an Arcade. They''re more interested in photo opportunities outside fancy hotels and high-end restaurants."|


    Max wasn''t sure how true that statement was, but the Valkia believed it, and the Giant wanted to go, so they might as well.


    "Does everyone else want toe along?" he asked.


    "Definitely. The study of human gaming systems is high on my priority list. Our young Dryad friend here will certainly want to as well. She''s always been a fan of video games." The Innu Envoy dered on behalf of herself and the Dryad.


    Max checked the map for the nearest Arcade and called for a shuttle, which finally brought his attention to the numerous missed messages in his inbox. Everyone had wanted to get ahold of him today, so he skimmed through them quickly while he waited. The Envoys took the opportunity to do the same, passing the next few minutes in silence, interspersed with various expletives regarding the things that others were asking them to attempt to negotiate.


    Most of Max''s messages were simple updates on status, which he could deal withter, but there were a few important ones to respond to, as well as a request from the Headmistress of the Academy to let the kids take their week-long vacation aboard Absolution and not just aboard Terminus. <novelsnext></novelsnext>


    That was an easy one to grant. The ship might be mostly empty, but they still had a full city formed for the kids to explore, as well as thousands of square kilometres of wilderness. That should be enough to keep them busy for a week.


    It would mean a lot more visitors as well since the parents would want to visit, but Absolution was much more suited to that than Terminus was.


    The pod took them straight to the building where the Arcade had been established, stopping above the street out front at an elevated tform specifically designed for public transit pods. The Innu Envoy practically jogged down the stairs once she saw the sign, then stopped in her tracks, torn with indecision, when she realized that it was right across the street from a coffee shop that she had never been to.


    The shop smelled of freshly baked muffins and coffee beans, but in the end, her curiosity won out, and she turned back to the Arcade to try out some of the human-designed games inside.


    "Wee, Commander and guests. What can we set you up with first?" The attendant asked.


    "At least one VR set for the Giant, who wants to experience Mecha Piloting. Then I think the rest of us will explore until we find something that catches our attention." Max replied with a smile to assure the attendant that they weren''t going to be stuffy or formal.


    "In that case, pleasee this way. We have VR bedsrge enough for the Giants over here. The lids are transparent andtch from the inside, to reduce ustrophobia, so you can lie down and getfortable for your gaming session. You will be able to select what you want once you are logged in, and all data will bepletely private, not stored anywhere outside your unit and cleared when you log out again." The attendant exined.


    They were halfway there when a game advertisement caught the Valkia Envoy''s attention. There was a new VR game where you yed a flying Demon and had to navigate obstacles and kill enemies with a sword. That was exactly the sort of game that Valkia loved, and he was shocked that a human hade up with it.


    "Oh, it''s the new bestseller. Not many flying species are on the ship right now, so you might get the top score, but a number of our Pilots are experienced with the Archangel Exoskeletons, which are nimble flying units, so you might find that the scores aren''t too easy to beat. The Mecha Pilots have a lot of experience with a sword, after all, and not all of the levels are most efficiently cleared while flying."


    "In that case, I will take a session on that one, and someone should find the Innu before she gets lost."


    Indeed, she was gone, but Max could hear her thoughts. She and the Dryad had discovered Skee Ball, and the simple game had them entranced.


    "They''ll be fine for a bit. They''re just over at one of the physical games."