Cesare I
Cesare Calabrese is the Chancellor of the Dominion, and second in command to Nathicana. This remains a mystery to some, given as he was the mastermind behind the last unsuccessful coup attempt, and one of the few remaining survivors involved in it.
“The Imperatrice should see this.”
“She will, Tony. But I wanted to get your impressions on it before we brought it to her attention. She has a lot on her mind at the moment, and I’d like to avoid complicating an already tense situation if we can avoid it.”
The tall older man, his jet black hair shot through with silver, sits with his hands resting on the silver wolf’s head of his ebony cane as he views the message on the larger screen he and his younger colleague have been going over. The cane, in part for support, in part affectation, and in part hidden technology had become as much a part of himself as the neatly-trimmed mustache and goatee he had sported for years now. The familiar lines of it give his hands something to connect with while his mind ran over the various unknowns of the problem at hand.
“Officially, we’ve had very little contact with the Paragons, if I recall,” he says, brows creasing slightly. “Did Patroni have much more to say on them?”
Antonio Pellegrino, Dominion Minister of Intelligence, spreads his hands slightly. “There wasn’t much to tell. They’re a militaristic group who seem to have woven their religious beliefs in and around their technology, their ethics, and their purpose. A very touchy group, from what I’ve learned, and none too pleased with the more peaceable efforts the Dominion has supported on Mars. Highly suspicious if not outright hostile towards anything non-human, with a reputation for results when they set their mind to a purpose.”
“As you can see from their missive, they believe themselves to be the source of Light and Truth in the universe, or at least so it appears from an outside point of view. The fact that they are requesting an audience with both nations, considering the history of Arda at the very least, and our own meddlesome reputation is surprising to say the least. Clearly, the situation has them concerned. I’m not sure this is a good thing.”
“So more or less, a heavily-armed group of fanatics who more than likely view a good number of our allies with suspicion or hostility, who now wish to concern themselves in our affairs which could be either dangerous or beneficial, but only if we were able to limit our ties and interactions, and use them to further our own purposes without providing them leverage against us in the process,” Calabrese offers wryly, fingertips lightly drumming across the back of the hand clenching the cane’s head.
“More or less,” Pellegrino agrees, shrugging subtly. “It may well be as dangerous to brush them off as to accept their offer of diplomatic discussion. Proceed with caution, is my suggestion.”
“Isn’t it always?”
“Only the paranoid survive, my friend.”
“Point. What’s the word from our men on the ground?”
This was a touchy subject, and one he hadn’t wanted to bring up in Nathicana’s presence, all things considered.
“More of the same whitewashing, and they are being kept more or less in isolation, though not as prisoners. ‘For their own security’ and to better keep track of who is where on the part of the Ardans while they sort things out. And the leadership is being referred to now as the ‘emperor and empress’ rather than their traditional titles. Telling. Communications are still sporadic, but there you have it,” Pellegrino replied, clearly not amused. “She should have never agreed to have them separate. I understand the argument for the military training, however limited in scope, or protected she might be. But to not allow her own guards to be with her was something she should have never allowed.”
“It is my understanding the Principessa argued rather strenuously for it, saying it wouldn’t really be training if they were interfering all the time, no less hovering. I highly doubt the Angsiyan would put her in harm’s way, but still. I agree that it should have been handled differently, though I agree with the training she’s receiving. In the end, I think it will help her, and our own forces down the line. This is seriously bad timing more or less,” Calabrese says, somewhat apologetically. He had, after all, in the end supported the idea, however much the idea of letting Naiya out of sight for that long made him twitch, for various reasons.
“Still, we have had regular reports from them, and from the heir apparent, and all until now has seemed to be going quite well. They seem to have been as surprised as us. Which granted, does nothing to ease my worries. That the Ardans of all people had an attempt under their very noses like this … I don’t like it, Tony. There’s got to be more to this than a simple uprising. And I don’t think Naiya was an incidental target.”
“Neither do I, Cesare. On all points. I didn’t wish to upset her any further, but unlike the Minister of Defense, I think we need to keep an open mind on the possibility that this is the prelude we’ve been preparing for. No one wants to jump the gun on this thing, least of all the Ardans. But if they were concerned enough to give us the heads up months ago, we’d be fools to dismiss it out of hand now, in spite of their reassurances that this is something completely unrelated.”
“I take it you’ll do what needs doing then?” Cesare asks quietly, two pairs of eyes meeting, and exchanging unspoken understanding.
“It would be the prudent thing, Chancellor.”
“Understood. In the meantime, I’ll continue to publically support the stance our Imperatrice has taken. All said, there’s a good bit of it that if taken to heart, will benefit us all in the end. It’s getting to the end that has me concerned. I’m afraid we have a very long road ahead of us, Minister. And if it is as we fear, I doubt very much we’ll come through unscathed this time around.”
“The devil will have his due, they say,” Pellegrino agrees, pausing, then letting out a slow, steadying breath. “Keep a close eye on her, Cesare. She’s a little close to the situation. In that last meeting, it showed.”
The two men rise, shake hands briefly, and Cesare nods in affirmation. She was, and it had. Now to pen an appropriate response to the Paragons, and get Nathicana to sign off on it, while Pellegrino contacts his counterparts.
To the Honorable Dawn Paragons in response to the recent request for an opening of diplomatic discourse, allow me to accept on behalf of the Imperatrice. Discussion amongst those who have no cause for enmity is always a welcome step towards, as you suggested, a better understanding between diverse peoples.
Permission is therefore granted on the condition that while weapons will be allowed on entry to our nation, we request they be absent at the actual meeting. Given that your reputations precede you, we have no doubt that this will prove to be a small inconvenience. You have my word, and that of our Imperatrice that you will leave our good nation as safely as you will arrive in it, regardless of the outcome of these discussions, so long as a similar courtesy can be afforded us on your behalf.
It is unfortunate such considerations need even be voiced, but in these troubled times, we find it best to leave no room for misunderstanding, or misinterpretation, especially between those who have thus far had limited contact.
With Respect,
--Cesare Calabrese, Dominion Chancellor, Second to the Imperatrice
