//------------------------------//
// Heated Talks (edited by Cakebomb) 
// Story: Rise of an Empire, Fall of Another 
// by Kyuubi325 
//------------------------------//

Zebracan Plains
6:00 am
Diamond Dog Campsite
32 kilometers from Minyororo Kuvunjwa

Lieutenant T. E. Lawrence woke up from his dreamless sleep to see the sun just coming over the horizon. He ran his paws over his muzzle to smooth out patches of fur that may have been out of place. He rose from the ground and stretched, before he noticed that there was movement in the grass that surrounded them.  He quickly motioned for his dogs to wake up.

“Taylor, Bard, arm yourselves. We have visitors” he whispered.

“Shit!!!” Taylor silently cursed, before grabbing his Lee Enfield MK VI rifle with a 10x2 scope.

Bard merely rose from his sleeping pad and grabbed his modified Bren MK VII, which had an extended magazine and a shortened barrel.
They watched as the grass around them rustled as unseen creatures snuck through them. They noticed the movements had a pattern to them; one would slowly circle close to them while the others would circle at a distance. While at first glance it appeared to be a group of predators, the movements seemed off, similar to when an animal mimics the calls of another. It was clear that whoever was hiding in the grass had knowledge of military tactics, as it could be plainly seen that they were probing their perimeter.

Lawrence aimed his Lanchester submachine gun, with selective fire, at the unknown contacts in the grass.

Ambassador Ivo, who had been woken up looking worse for  wear, quickly caught onto the situation.  He removed himself from his pad and did what he was trained to do.

“Shikamoo, Jina langu ni Ambassador Ivo Andric. Ninatoka nchi ya Britannia, sisi kuja kwa amani kwa matumaini ya biashara na washirika.” 
(Hello, my name is ambassador Ivo Andric.  I come from the land of Britannia; we come in peace in hope of establishing trade and finding new allies.)

They then waited for a response, watching the movements of the unknown contacts in the grass.

“Haiwezekani !!! Diamond Mbwa ni lakini Wakatili ambao tu huduma kuhusu tamaa zao wenyewe, ni jinsi gani aina kama kujenga taifa? Je, wewe kuchukua nasi kwa wajinga?!?!”
(Impossible! Diamond Dogs are but savages who only care about their own greed! How could such a species create a nation? Do you take us for fools?!)

Ivo sputtered for a moment. How could they have heard of Diamond Dogs? Racking his memory, he found the answer: in some of the surviving artifacts from the years after the Diamond Dog rebellion, there were records of some of their people building crude ships. From what their historians could decipher, they didn't believe that the dragons and serpents could be beaten, and fled to the west in hopes of finding sanctuary. I was commonly believed that they had all perished, but if what they were saying was true, then how far had their brethren fallen?
Ivo took a deep breath.

"Tunajua si ya dhambi za ndugu zetu, lakini sisi kuja kwa maslahi ya amani na washirika, tunajua kwamba wewe kuwa mapigano kupoteza vita dhidi ya Balsam na isitoshe wababe wengine. Tunaweza kugeuka wimbi kwa neema yako, sisi umeleta na sisi silaha kubwa zaidi basi Equestrians ingeweza milele matumaini ya kutengeneza, mgawo wa chakula, na picha za wetu vifaa kwamba bado tu katika pwani ya meli yetu Tafadhali tunataka tu kusaidia.. "
(We know not of the sins of our brothers, but we come with the goal of establishing peace and finding new allies. We know that you have been fighting a losing war against Balsam and the countless other warlords. We can turn the tide in your favor. we have brought with us greater weapons then the Equestrians could ever hope to manufacture, food rations, and pictures of more equipment that remains just off the coast on our ships. Please, we only want to help.)

They waited for a few moments, and the movement in the grass stopped.

"Kama wewe kuja kwa maslahi ya amani basi kujisalimisha silaha yako sisi kupata ukweli katika kauli yako. Lakini kumbukeni jambo hili kama sisi kupata kwamba umekuwa uongo na sisi basi wewe kujisikia hasira ya wapiganaji wa Kimasai"
("If you come in the interests of peace, surrender your weapons. We will find out if you are truly here for peace.  But know this; if we find that you have lied to us, then you will feel the wrath of the Maasai warriors")

Ivo turned to Lawrence, who was giving him a look of incredulity and confusion.

“Lawrence, the unknown contacts that have been circling our camp are in fact the rebel group we have been looking for. I have stated our intentions and they have responded. They have asked for us to surrender.”

Lawrence continued to aim his weapon.

“How do we know they wont kill us?” Lawrence ask

“We don’t, but we must take the risk. Our mission is too important. If we start a fire fight we will lose our chance to ally ourselves with the local rebels, and most likely die in the process” Ivo answered.
“.......Fine. Bard, Taylor, lower your weapons”

Bard seemed to follow his orders, while Taylor continued to aim his rifle into the grass. After several seconds, he finally lowered his Lee Enfield. Lawrence nodded to Ivo.

Ivo then turned to the grass.

"Sisi ni kupungua silaha yako, naomba kuwa kuruhusu sisi kuonyesha kwamba tunaweza kuwa washirika na kufanya kazi kwa pamoja ili kufikia ndoto watu wako wa amani juu ya vita lenye bara hili. Tunachotaka ni kukusaidia aina, lakini kama wewe tu hebu. im uhakika nini kuwa na habari kuhusu sisi lakini kuruhusu sisi kuonyesha sisi ni nani badala ya nini kuwa na habari za kwetu. "
("We are lowering our weapons. I pray that you allow us to show that we can be allies and work together to achieve your people's dreams of peace on this war torn continent. All we want to do is help your kind, but only if you let us. I'm not sure what you have heard about us, but allow us to show you who we are instead of what you have heard of us.")

They waited for what seemed like hours before eight zebras exited the grass fields. They were not disappointed. Seven of the zebras had large, complex tribal coverings, and they were covered in layers of muscle. Their weapons consisted of a mix of worn but maintained Equestrian swords and Nzappa zap axes. Leading them was a zebra with a broken chain tattoo, who had a pair of saddlebags and vials containing unknown potions. They were strapped to his back with crude bindings.

The zebra with the saddlebags spoke up.

“"Wewe kutoa silaha zenu na vifaa kwetu na kisha kufuata kwetu kambi yetu. Majaribio yoyote ya kukimbia au kunyakua silaha yako itakuwa alikutana na nguvu. Je, i kufanya binafsi yangu ni wazi?"
(You will give your weapons and supplies to us and then follow us to our camp. Any attempts to run or grab your weapons will be met with force. Do i make myself clear?")

"Sisi kuelewa, sisi si kupambana na wewe katika intrests wa amani"
(We understand. We will not fight you, in the interests of peace)

Lawrence and his dogs handed over their weapons to the zebras as they grabbed the crates they had brought with them. After breaking up camp under the watchful eyes of the zebras they began the march to the Zebracan Mountains.