The Promise of Harmony (ATTN: Riemaia)

[Lubyak]

LNS Cockatrice, Patrol Squadron 17-2
1300, May 29
Northern Pony Lands

<<Defiant’s reporting an unknown transmission, sir,>>¹ the communications officer of the Cockatrice spoke up, turning back to face the ship’s captain, a tall, relatively young woman standing behind the ship’s tactical display. The Cockatrice was an escort cruiser, and the command ship of the a small patrol squadron, out wandering the vast oceans of Northern Pony Lands along with two Dauntless class frigates, and a single Foundation class destroyer, and the Cockatrice’s captain was serving as an impromptu commodore, tasked with tracking and coordinating the flotilla’s actions. The communication officer’s report drew her attention, and she looked up from the display to move towards the officer’s station.

“What is it?” Captain Celeste O’Vannon said, as she approached.

<<Civilian transmissions,>> the officer reported, glancing over the data now flowing in, looking confused.

<<Not surprised,>> O’Vannon said with a shrug. <<We’re near enough to Kouralia, and the Gawdzendians aren’t exactly out of range either.>>

<<It’s not coming from there though, sir,>> the officer replied. <<It seems to be arising from...east of Kouralia, sir.>>

<<That’s supposed to be terra nullius...>> O’Vannon muttered. <<Do we have any information on what the transmissions are saying?>>

<<They’re just civilian transmissions, ma’am. Satellite communication links, mobile telephone networks...everything you’d expect from a civilian population, sir.>>

<<Could they be pirates?>> O'Vannon asked, peering over the data, wondering if she'd managed to uncover some kind of illegal outpost, meant to prey upon the rich trade lines of the northern oceans.

<<Unlikely...unless there's an entire pirate city there,>> the communication's officer said, moving and pointing at points of data pouring over the screen.

O’Vannon shook her head, taking a step back to examine the map on the tactical display, pulling the view out to examine the position of her small flotilla in relations to other landmasses. Giving a low sigh, she glanced back at the communications officer. <<Broadcast a message at the source of those transmissions,>> she ordered. <<Let’s see what we get back...>>

<<Aye, sir.>>

>>SENT: LNS “COCKATRICE”
>>RECIPIENT: Unknown Civilian Broadcaster
>>ENCRYPTION: None
>>BEGIN MESSAGE

We have detected transmissions of an unknown nature originating from this point.

Please identify yourselves, and the nature of your activities.

This message will be repeated. 

>>END MESSAGE

---

¹:The "<<Words words words>>", notation represents them speaking in their native language. Quotes would represent them speaking in English.

[Riemaia]

Riemaian colony of Helanamea
IRV Seppanen

"Sir, Incoming transmission... from the LNS Cockatrice." Said the communications officer aboard the IRV Seppanen, docked in the small port of the only Riemaian town in the whole area, the town of Manen. The communications officer was a young Lieutenant third class, a nineteen year old boy who had the noticeable stubble of someone who had been shaving since he was sixteen. The IRV Seppanen was one of the various Rena Class Destroyers that lined the ranks of the Riemaian Navy. Along with the IRV Seppanen was the IRV Vipond, another Rena class, the four Kirlsa Class Frigates, the IRV Carmina, Lei Zas, Dek Raio, and the Lumina Marey, and lastly two supply ships.

The captain was in his mid forties, shaven but with plenty of stubble showing, and was pretty hardline protocol following. "Send them the standard reply, lieutenanat."

"But sir, Don;t you want to know what it says?" the Comms officer replied, curious as to the captains reasoning.

"Just do as I say, and also let her highness know of the transmission as well, obviously this is the first official contact between another nation in the area." He replied as he looked out the windows of the ships bridge, out to the pristine sea. He knew not of what was approaching, nor did he expect anyone to notice them. In all honesty, he was infact nervous as to the next actions their new guests.

"Sir," said the radar operator, a skinny woman who was roughly the same age as the communications officer, with the normal Riemaian hair color of red. "I'm picking up a handful of ships on the main and long range radars, I think they are the ones who sent the transmission."

TO: LNS Cocatrice
FROM: IRV Seppanen
Encryption: 0/10

The transmissions you have been picking up are the beginnings of a new colony of the nation of Riemaia under the protection of the Riemaian Armed Services under the command of Captain Leland Fagot and guidance of Her Highness, Princess & Marchioness Lena Gi Noyela-Vipond. Approaching the colony any further without escort will be considered an act of ill-intent.

END MESSAGE

[Lubyak]

LNS Cockatrice

<<We've got a reply, sir,>> the communication's officer spoke, bringing O'Vannon back to the station, and handing the vessel's captain a printed version of the message that had just been received. Scanning the message, O'Vannon, nodded her head slowly.

<<Do we have a search on who in Ranisath's name the Riemaians are?>> she asked, glancing around the ship's combat control center.

<<Yes, sir,>> an officer called out. <<Putting it on the tactical screen now...>> he said, as he flipped a few switches on a console, and editing the display screen to show the public information available on the Grand Arctic Empire of Riemaia. Scanning over it, O'Vannon nodded slightly as she absorbed the information.

<<I wonder why they're here....>> O'Vannon muttered, turning back to glance at her communication's officer. <<Send a response then, Lieutenant,>> she said. <<Standard diplomatic opening, but add in a request to allow us to approac their colony....and send a message to the Ministry. No doubt they'll want to get involved.>>

>>SENT: LNS “COCKATRICE”
>>RECIPIENT: IRV "SEPPANEN" 
>>ENCRYPTION: None
>>BEGIN MESSAGE

Thank you for clarifying your identity and intentions in this area. We would like to request that
we be permitted to approach your colony. We notice that our nations have not interacted prior
to this meeting, and we would like to offer the hand of peace in beginning diplomatic relations
between our two states. 

>>END MESSAGE

>>SENT: LNS “COCKATRICE”
>>RECIPIENT: Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
>>ENCRYPTION: Military--Broadsword
>>BEGIN MESSAGE

LNS Cockatrice, Patrol Group 17-2. Colony of the Grand Arctic Empire of Riemaia. (Coordinates attached)
Beginning diplomatic overtures. Asssuming peaceful interaction.
Requesting instruction if necessary.

>>END MESSAGE

[Riemaia]

On their way to meet the Lubyakian ships was the Lumina Marey, under the command of Captain Claudette Merrill, a Riemaian woman in her mid-thirties, and as most Riemaians had red hair and freckles, and was only 5'2" tall. She had been in the navy for twelve years, and felt like she earned her command of a frigate, a command she dreamed about when she first joined as a Lieutenant third class. As with all Kirlsa class frigates, the Lumina Marey was equipped with a Riemaian Extensible Arm Launcher, a modular system that with minor adaptations can be equipped with any missile up to 3600kg in mass. On it, the Kirlsa had a P-800 Onyx on its arm launcher, clearly visible as it approached the Lubyakian ships.

As the Lumina Marey got within eyesight of the Lubyakian vessels, the Captain sent a simple radio message over. "Please follow us to the colony." The trip itself took no less than two and a half hours before the colony, and the other ships came into sight. Of the ships resent, the IRV Vipond was the one powering the small colony-town for the time being, as the small thorium reactor had yet been shipped over from the Riemaian mainland.

A little skipping forward....

Inside the largest building of the small town was Princess & Marchioness Lena, a 29 year old redhead, again with freckles and blue eyes. she was thin and had the curves in the right places, similar to her distant Edomite cousin Mara Obed. She was quite attractive by Riemaian standards, with her smooth skin and shiny hair. She wore a pink robe and a small golden crown, unlike most Riemaian nobles who preferred to wear t-shirts and skirts. Like many people, her face was dug into her laptop, which was on her plain desk, which she was sitting behind. "Oh hello," She said as she looked up and closed her laptop, looking at the Lubyakians with curiosity. The room they were in was poorly decorated, obviously done by someone with no sense of style, in this case the Princess. "I'm Princess Lena, fifth cousin to empress anneli, why wont you have a seat?" she said as she pointed to a handful eggshell looking seats, manufactured sometime in the seventies one would assume.

[Lubyak]

"Thank you, Princes," Captain O'Vannon said, her voice marked by a thick Lubyakan accent, before taking a seat before the princess. The journey to the colonial harbor had been slightly nervous, as the plainly obvious anti-ship missile's hanging on the launchers of the Riemaian vessel served as a testament to the fact that the patrol fleet lacked any similar weapons. Even so, it had proven uneventful, and the ships currently lay at anchor, with a small delegation sent ashore to begin the delicate process of diplomacy.

"I'm sure you were told, but we are here to open up diplomatic relations. You can, no doubt, understand, we were surprised to find a colony of an extra-regional state here. How long has your settlement been here?" she asked, trying to get some sense of the extent of the Riemaian presence here.

[Riemaia]

Lena looked on the calendar hanging on th wall, with a few important dates marked off. "Uhh. about three weeks at the most. It was a surprise to me when a satellite picture showed no towns or cities for at least a few hundred kilometers... we just had to take the chance to get a new town in a distant land, It was quite a find!" She obviously was pretty excited to meet someone new, especially when her particular Riemaian accent caused her to lisp quite frequently. "So can I ask you where country you are from? It's not every day you get to meet someone new from some obscure corner of this world."

[Lubyak]

O'Vannon nodded in reply,making a mental note of the date she'd been given. "As for where we come from, we represent the Dominion of the Lubyak, a few thousand kilometers to your southwest," she answered. "And yes...this part of the region is relatively uninhabbited and unexplored," she answered, her own accent prominent. She was a naval captain, far from a diplomat, and O'Vannon was doing her best to keep her words as tactful as possible. "Were you just seeking to establish a city here?" she asked, trying to pry into the intentions of this princess. Her home nation was far away, and powerful, and her sudden appearance here raised many questions that had to be answered.

[Riemaia]

Like many Riemaians, Lena was painfully honest when being asked questions nicely, a trait some found bad, and of course others good. She had a habit of smiling alot, and knew it quite well, but thought it was just something that defined her character. "city? yes, we just want a city or two. We've found plenty of plants here that aren't found in our homeland, and we want to bring them back home where we have all the scientific equipment to properly analyze them and stuff." Se had a small stack of papers and photographs on her desk, looking around she picked up one of them and showed it to O'Vannon. "Like this flower, we have never seen anything like it!" The picture was of a dandelion, surprisingly one weed that had not made it's way to Riemaia, and was basically unknown to the large country.

[Lubyak]

O'Vannon blinked as the Princess waved the picture of the dandelion at her, slightly caught off guard at the woman's excitement at having uncovered something so common and widespread as a simple dandelion.

"Of course," O'Vannon replied, as was only polite, doing her best to not say something which might be interpreted as potentially insulting. "It is merely a matter of concern," she admitted. "The appearance of your colony here has..." she paused, trying to remember the proper translation of meaning. "Caught us off guard," she said, settling on the idiom. "It's a long distance from Pony Lands to Padres, and well out of the way."

[Riemaia]

"Pardes?" Lena asked as she put the picture of the dandelion down, "Never heard of that place before, Riemaia is in Cornellia... but if you call Riemaia a Cornellian country then you are asking for trouble.... we just want to be called Riemaian." Riemaians were picky about what they were called, and of course calling them the wrong thing intentionally could lead to problems in some circles of Riemaian society. "but where was I? Oh yes, would you like some lunch? theres a small diner that was completed a few days ago, I think the family that owns it are open for business, that is if you want to have lunch."

[Lubyak]

"Oh...." O'Vannon said, wondering how they'd managed that factual mistake. "My apologies, Princess," she said. "Somehow we had the wrong information on where your home was located," she said. "Where is your homeland in relation to here though?" she asked, trying to fill the hole in her knowledge.

"But yes...lunch does sound lovely," she commented rising to her feet. "..Are you still importing your food?" she asked.

[Crystal Spires]

Theme of Maven Auryn
The Restaurant of All-Worlds in the Theater District of Caltris
The Beastling States of Crystal Spires
The 29th of Sunrage 5:45 PM Mystrian Central Standard Time

The evening sun was beginning to make the passage across the horizon dim by the overcast clouds as the sounds of the festive music could be heard from where he sat, his regal composed demeanor gave an impression to an onlooker that he was perhaps an actor waiting for his next performance. He watched as he took off his glass monocle and polished it, his white gloves covering his hands as he scanned the crowd with his glassy aquamarine colored eyes. His wings spread from his back and despite his white feathery hair, Maven Auryn has a youthful countenance, something deeply strange for a man his age. No one seemed to regard this as noteworthy however due to the fact that many survivors of the wars of Attrition seemed to escape the strange affectation on their minds, and Maven was born in those hellish times and narrowly escaped his own extermination during the genocides.

This however was not to imply that Maven was world-worn or weary, on the contrary, many said he was unusually cheerful, hopeful and optimistic. This was what perhaps made him so attractive to voters as an elected official, because his promises to create positive change were actually delivered and he attempted to be positive in times of strife. But this was often an illusion played by the ringmaster who was always there to entertain. Maven did in fact see himself often as an actor, merely a spokesman for the High Council, the Chancellor and arbitrator of disputes. The ringmaster in the strange world of Spirean politics. As he enjoyed the sound of the waltz slightly swaying his hand with the beat, a brown haired grey eyed young man approached him with a smile.

"Darrus my boy, it has been a long time since you have come to discuss things with me. I daresay I hope you enjoyed your vacation in the Iglesian Archipelago..." Maven said as he realized then that it was probably not the right thing to say judging by Darrus's expression. "I trust you have a good reason for wishing to speak to me, but with that expression 'tis easy to see that you are troubled. What ails you, Comrade?"

"Well aside from the fact that my girlfriend and I have broken up, I would say that Councilmare Glimmering Dew has reported unusual activity in the North Pony Lands, and we have discovered they are Pardesian, like the New Edomites, but they are not New Edomites."

"Come now Darrus, you broke up with that Iglesian Actress? It was bound to happen my boy, these things are inevitable with someone so young. Either way, fear not, there's always an opportunity to rise again from the sting of rejecti-" Maven said with a frown.

"She didn't dump me, I dumped her. This is irrelevant, anyway! I have the dossiers on the actors in the area, but it seems to me that the Lubyakans are once again playing police in the Northern International Waters." Darrus said as he showed the newest information revealed from Krichen Nylion.

"So then we should contact the Pardesians as soon as possible, and perhaps give them a fine Spirean welcome then don't you agree?" the Storkii said with a wry smirk to the young man whose gray eyes seemed tired. "Why what kind of polite beings would we be? Such terrible manners have we that there is no welcoming party other than the boorish Lubyakans."

"So, I gander that we would need to contact the Lubyakans and notify them that we are approaching?" Darrus asked with a furrow of his eyebrows as he watched Maven's long white wings stretch out as he stood, wearing a beret and a navy blue and gold uniform.

"No, this will not be something done on the Lubyakan's terms. I am exhausted of doing things on the Lubyakan's terms. They do not own the whole region, and marching around like they do exhausts me!"

"So what will you do Maven?" Darrus asked Maven with confusion. "What will you do in the region? Will you make an official statement? Will you approach with aggression or an open hand?"

"An open hand. This is a message of comradeship. An open dialogue offered to the Pardesians to allow for more of an investigation of their desires and purposes in the region. A formal alliance offered is a good gateway to investigate what kind of nation we are discussing with." Maven said as he put his monocle back in. "Now, I may not immediately do so, but I will write a message to the Pardesians. When I do, I know not what they shall do. I have not interacted with them, not once, and in doing so we shall break the silence. No nation is completely autarkic, and so we rely on one another to survive and live well. It's part of what makes Beastlings, Humans, and other races with functioning societies social creatures, this allows for us to open a dialogue and offer what they themselves alone cannot provide."

To: the Unknown People in East Kouralia,
From:The Beastling States of Crystal Spires

---

Encryption Level:Draconian
Code: Mirabelle

---

Slmlivw Ovzwvi lu gsv Vzhgvim Kvlkovh,

Dv lu Xibhgzo Hkrivh drhs gl luuvi lfi nlhg sfnyov dvoxlnv rmgl gsv Ivtrlm lu gsv Klmb Ozmwh uiln lfi Nzrmozmw rm Nbhgirz. Dv drhs gl rmjfriv zh gl blfi kfiklhvh rm gsv ivtrlm zmw zohl dlfow orpv gl kviszkh vhgzyorhs wrkolnzgrx ivozgrlmh, zmw hl vmxolhvw rh z trug lu hdvvg Xzhgvooz, z slmvb xzpv xivzgvw uiln gsv Yvvh dsrxs dviv vcxofhrevob trevm gsv mvxgzi lu Svzgsvi uoldvih rm gsv tolirlfh Nzqhgzw kozrmh, R slkv rg hfrgh blfi gzhgv, zmw rg dlfow kovzhv nv gl szev z wrkolnzgrx nvvgrmt ru rg hfrgh blf gl kilxozrn gsv Hkrivzm nvhhztv lu fmrevihzo uirvmwhsrk!Dv slkv gl svzi uiln blf hllm, zmw hszoo szkkrob drhs ufgfiv kilhkvirgb zmw kvzxv fklm blf zmw blfi ldm!

Dzin Ivtziwh,

[Riemaia]

Lena got up out of her chair and grabbed her phone from out of her desk, and looked back at O'Vannon. "It's about a month and a half away by ship, or like nineteen hours by Concorde, not counting the six refuels needed... so like forty-thousand kilometers away? It took me about three days to get here with all the stops and such, so most travel to here would be like long term visits and pretty pricey. Though i'm thinking for commercial flights to here would involve those nuclear powered aircraft, know what I mean?" She said as she walked to the door of her office, where an armed man stood there with a large package.

"This just came for you, your highness, it's from a place called Crystal Spires." The armed man was one of the Imperial Life Guards, tasked with protecting members of the Riemaian Imperial Family, and in this case Princess Lena. His uniform consisted of a gray-blue service dress uniform with silver buttons, polished black leather boots, and a tall blue shako with a large Moa feather on top of it. On his shoulder was his rifle, in this case a ceremonial but fully-operational Schmidt-Rubin. His uniform showed no rank, but he was a Lieutenant First Class, the third officer rank in the Riemaian Armed Services, one that took at least seven years to achieve. "Want me to open the box, your highness?" He asked as he placed it on a small nearby table.

"Yes, open it!" Lena said excitedly, not expecting to have received a package this early in the life of the colony, and also curious as to what Crystal Spires was, that is until she received an e-mail on her phone. "Wait one moment," she said as she pulled out her phone and looked at the gibberish on the screen, not knowing how to decipher it.

As Lena was reading the message, the Life Guardsman opened the box, and peered at its contents, with his eyes widening when he saw it. "Its... CAKE!" He shouted, "Honey Cake actually... haven't seen anything thats looked this tasty in at least two months..."

To Crystal Spires
From Princess Lena

I am sorry, but I can't read what your message says... my phone does not have the ability to decode anything that isn't the most basic of codings, such as morse code or pig latin. I assume you are the one who sent the cake? I thank you for it, just received the box and opened it up, it looks and smells delicious!

[Crystal Spires]

Vinyelaujor's High Council Building Office of Foreign Affairs
The Beastling States of Crystal Spires
The 29th of Sunrage 6:45 PM Mystrian Central Standard Time

The inside of the office of foreign affairs was crowded with piles of papers. It was as expected with the summer heat, which was getting to Darrus as he prepared for another long trip abroad. Of course this meant that in order to get ahead of the game he would have to try and convince the The Cornellian Imperials that establishing diplomatic relations with the Spires was a worthy goal, especially with the new stint of anti-Spireanism in the region. Darrus would wait for the High Council's order to head out toward the new colony to perhaps present the best Spirean foot forward and give Princess Lena the warmest welcome to the region that he could offer.

"Well I'll have to get everything done before I get ordered to go, so which should I get...?" He wondered as he looked at the different gemstones. It was clear that presenting a gift, as Spirean tradition demanded would require a lady's touch. Darrus, being completely awkward around women, in light of being dumped couldn't seem to get what would be the best gift. Despite what he told the massive birdman, he was not the one who ended the relationship with the Iglesian, but he wasn't about to quash the little pride he had. He looked at a beautiful gemstone of an almost clear stone with a hint of blue. A rare color in the Spires, which was unique in its beauty. He had it hung upon a mithril silver necklace which was shaped like interlocking mallorn branches as it was inset upon a silvery shell shaped into the symbol of the Eye of the Just God. A beautiful amulet to be sure, he was not sure if it would appeal to her Highness's sensibilities.

"Why do women have to be so complicated?" He muttered to himself as he took the gleaming necklace and put it in a box and took his ceremonial silver blade and put it at his waist as he prepared to see if he could deliver the message of friendship to the Riemaians on behalf of Crystal Spires.

To: The Eastern Kouralian Peoples,
From:The Beastling States of Crystal Spires

---

Encryption Level: none
Code:none

---

Honored Princess Lena,

We of Crystal Spires apologize deeply for the confusion and wish to offer our most humble welcome into the Region of the Pony Lands from our Mainland in Mystria. We wish to inquire as to your purposes in the region and also would like to perhaps establish diplomatic relations, and I do hope you enjoyed the sweet Spirean Castella, a honey cake created from the Bees which were exclusively given the nectar of Heather flowers in the glorious Majstad plains, it would please me to hear that it suits your tastes and I would like to arrange a diplomatic meeting to discuss the future of international prosperity over tea, and also to proclaim the Spirean message of universal friendship!We hope to hear from you soon, and shall happily wish future prosperity and peace upon you and your own people!

Warm Regards,

[Lubyak]

"...Crystal Spires? They're here? When in the Star God's name did they arrive?!" O'Vannon said in slight disbelief as she watched the Princess look at the package in excitement, and her subsequent shouts of joy as she had it opened, and commented on what was inside. A cake, apparently.

<<Typically Spirean...>> she mumbled to herself as she shook her head in frustration.

"Princess..." she began. "I would not be so quick to embrace the Beastkin," she said, accidentally using the harsh nickname the Spireans had picked up within the Lubyakan military. Many said it had originated from the Alteans, and O'Vannon wasn't one to disbelieve that much. The human Mystrians seemed to have a special level of hate for the beastlings that was viewable from high orbit. "They are hardly trustworthy folk," she mumbled.

[Riemaia]

"I'ep vime lenete u omek, divim jevna o nel kesvs?" Lena said without realizing the Lubyakians couldn't understand what she was saying. "Oh sorry... I wasn't expecting a cake, maybe they are nice people? I mean if you send someone a cake right when you meet them, you gotta be some nice person..." She said as she looked back at her phone. "I see they really like sending messages in this general direction... one of the naval ships picks them up, and if they seem important they send them to me, but this one is directly addressed to me, how odd yes?" She said as she walked ever further outside, into the courtyard of her small walled house in the colony. There were a few other members of the military working there, Seabees to be precise, working on hooking up the Princesses water fountain. "And you mentioned beastkin... what do you mean exactly by that?" She curiously asked as she turned around to O'Vannon, looking at her phone.

Mr. Maven... whatever the hell your last name is!

On behalf of the Grand Arctic Empire of Riemaia, I would be honored for you to come to my small town for a diplomatic meeting, As a member of the Riemaian Imperial Family, I am considered a representative of Riemaia, and am allowed to sign most legally binding treaties without immediate approval from the elected parliament. As a side note I am curious as to your reasoning behind calling this place "Pony Lands," for I have not seen any form of equestrian life in the area in my past few weeks of being in the area.

Sincerely,
Princess Lena Gi Noyela-Vipond

[Lubyak]

O'Vannon flushed slightly, as her faux pas was brought back up. "The Spireans are nation of beastlings," she explained. "Half human, half animal creatures," she explained. "We...sometimes call them beastkin or beastmen," she detailed, taking a sigh before continuing. "And I fear that their cake may not be the token of kindness you believe, Princess," O'Vannon continued. "They potray themselves as sweet and harmless, but they want nothing more than to spread their brand of communism around the globe, and overthrow every state that doesn't toe their line," she said, regurgitating propaganda and stereotype as if it had been set in stone as cold, hard truth.

"It doe not surprise me that they are contacting you," she continued. "No doubt they want to see how wiling you are to support their ends."

[Riemaia]

"Well last ime I checked, Commu... wait did you just say half animal?!?" Lena said with astonishment, wondering what on earth she was on about. "Now I don't know if you are serious or not, but talking about someone like that with someone who as never really met one of them, well thats just wrong! But you know, someone as cute as yourself..." She said as she walked up to her and put her hand on her arm, "Well I think I can forgive you!" she continued with a friendly giggle, obviously coming onto her. "So lunch, let's not forget that!"

The diner was one like you would see in old movies, thin like a trailer with a row of booths on one side and a bar with stools on the other, behind which was a few stoves and ovens. The owner was a fat man by the name of Leo, who usually wore a white t-shirt and apron, and blue jeans. IT was fairly empty, with four other people just drinking coffee in one of the corners. "Sorry about this, but it's the only place open so far..." Lena said as she sat down in one of the booths, looking at the owner who walked over to them.

"Ma'am, your highness." He said with his deep fatman voice, holding two glasses of water, that he put on the tale. "All we have for the time is tomato soup, water, and coffee, if you want anything else, I could go grab some rations, but those things... well let me not get started on them. Now how about that tomato soup?"

"that works for me, how about you Celeste?" Lena asked her,

[Crystal Spires]

The Boeing C-32 Elysia Mareil
10,000ft above International Waters around the Colony of the Grand Arctic Empire of Riemaia
1st of Risingtide 7:05PM Mystrian Central Standard Time

A young man sat in his deck nervously and his group of security officers were chattering cheerfully in D'rɑgolɛth as the TV was releasing the newest song by the Pop Idol Vermina Talis. The Guards sang along in their tone deaf manner as the young Spirean girl sang her song, her beautiful gleaming blue almond shaped eyes sparking with happiness as her long wavy blue hair flow down her back like a gentle ripple on a lake, her slender waist meeting to her hips which were beneath a deep pool of water, which revealed a smooth, silvery scaled fan shaped fish tail, as her pearly skin gleamed in the limelight, her voice melting hearts like warm melting Spirean chocolate:

"vɑɲɛy no vɛd'keruki d'ʃiin'ndu
I hold you eternally in my heart,

kɑt͡su'ndu viɲɛ t͡suu
From dawn to Sacred night

d'lɑhin zorter le ɔmeyjrzale
My love persists unshakable and unstoppable

vɑɲɛy no vɛd'keruki d'ʃiin'ndu ʃɑɑle
I hold you eternally in my heart everlasting,

valino l'miriɛ mamoraj lɑhin vɑɲɛy no
The Heaven's Light will protect Love eternally

Darrus sighed as the other Spireans sang with the adorable pop idol as loud as they could, but awfully. They could sing it well if they desired, but given that they were happily drunk, surely everyone thought their singing was the best as they all belted out in a tone deaf manner their laughter echoing as the song continued. Surely the song was mocking him. He took his lesson with the Iglesian as a simple matter, don't be the rebound guy. It's never a good idea to be the rebound guy.

As he held his silvery sword in his hand, a symbol of his knighthood, he remember why he took his duty to serve. The blade of the knight was a symbol of serving the greatest ideals you have, and in Darrus's case he chose equality and freedom. The idealist was to hold to their principles firmer than to life itself. To struggle and hold firm to them was the way of a Spirean knight, and Darrus had to remember in times where his heart was stung by the pangs of loss, that he was still holding onto his ideals for a better future.

As a Foreign minister it was his duty was to act on behalf of the interests of the Spirean people, and if this was to be a worthy endeavor it would mean the sprouting of a new friendship. If he failed however he knew the consequences. Death, imprisonment, rejection, shame, and dishonor were likely the consequences of failing. It was not unusual for Spirean ministers and ambassadors to be slain and reacted to with violence or cruelty, and it was even worse for High Chancellor. The High Chancellor's life expectancy in Spires was less than 4 terms, which was about solid years before they regained their sense of self-preservation or died in a terrible fashion. This was, however, a mark of selfless patriotism and duty because everyone knew that being a politician is a thankless job, and the chance of being murdered in a terrible way was high.

Let's hope this will be a fruitful visit. Darrus thought to himself as he mused on what type of woman this princess may be.

Code: Select all

"Local air traffic control, this is Crystal Spires, Diplomatic Transport, callsign
"Elysia Mareil".  We are entering your airspace on official diplomatic and economic pretenses.  Requesting
clearance to land and a suitable landing location.  Over.

[Riemaia]

Back aboard the IRV Seppanen, the Radio operator and the Radar operator were listening at the transmission and watching the plane respectably. The radio operator listened in as carefully as he could, wondering why they were flying over. "Attention Elysia Mareil," He said in a casual tone. "This is the Imperial Riemaian Vessel Seppanen, hull number R112. I regret to inform you that there is currently no runway in this area." He said as he looked around the bridge. The captain was gone, the only others there was the useless sonarman and the radar operator, with the rest on their lunchbreak. "Well then, I guess it's up to me then... Elysia Mareil, I don;t know what to tell you, but if you can see the meadow to the north, feel free to attempt to land there. Also the Princess will be waiting for your delegation at the only diner in town, can't miss it."

[Crystal Spires]

The Boeing C-32 Elysia Mareil
10,000ft above International Waters around the Colony of the Grand Arctic Empire of Riemaia
1st of Risingtide 7:05PM Mystrian Central Standard Time

"No landing pad? PAAAH Details! We know what to work on now don't we Darsei?" The pilot Captain said with a smile to his Co-Pilot.

"Details, Either way, I'll notify the suits." he said with a laugh. "Nodorik jɑr hɑrt ɛri menel't͡suu klaka livɛk vɛh'hɛɛrɛn."
At this point in time expect a little turbulence as we land

Darrus sighed as he looked at the ground below and strapped his seatbelt and strapped himself in along with the rest of the crew. The crew spotted the field ahead and saw that it was barely cleared, but it had enough clarity and space to get a proper landing, but it would be a rough landing.

The struggle to land made Darrus dizzy, and he would be happy to be out of the plane once they landed. He felt his heart leap up to his throat as they scraped the ground and dragged across it slowing the fall but naturally testing the tread of the wheels.

"Alright it seems like we've made it boys! Didn't crash into a burning wreck is a good start!" The pilot said cheerfully as there was a cheerful "URRAH!"

Darrus rushed out to see the dimly darkened night sky. The puffy dandelion seeds danced in the air, disturbed from all the displacement. As he looked in the distance he saw a small quiet town. Beautiful and rustic with dutch colonial architecture. The warmth of the smokiness from the rough landing pushed away by the smell of fresh wildflowers as the Timber framed houses peered at them from the distance. Darrus pulled out his luggage and approached the town and slowly readjusted himself as he realized it would actually be a bit of a walk to get to the town. The walk however was an easy one.

Such a beautiful place. It is a lot like Vinyelaujor, it'll be easy to help if they need it. he thought as a dark feeling passed over him. Of course, they might not receive us so warmly, though I'm really hoping they do.Optimism Darrus! Optimism.

He headed in the town, the cobbled stone leaving a nice gentle touch for the walkways as the smell of food and baked goods wafted in the breeze. The people were lively and rustling from place to place, their bright red hair standing out in the dim light as Darrus's dark hair and his Aurothi and Tor Companions seemed to stand out with their blond and black hair respectively. As it was Spirean manner each one of the men and women were deeply cordial to the people, greeting with a bow and a warm 'Joy and Salutations' and 'Well met' as was Spirean custom.

"We were told to go to the only diner in town? I suppose this one might be it?" Darrus said openly. "These people speak Common, so it's best to try and stay speaking in Common so as not to offend."

"Aye Darrus, we're prepared." Sergeant Mulbran said as he followed behind the wayward diplomat as his bright silvery blonde hair and blue green eyes stood out. Racially Qaglenek, he was one of the oddest ones out, but they were certainly not nonhuman. It was Maven's memory of the strange reactions to him in New Edom that reminded him to send a human team specifically so as not to startle the locals. Surely they would react more than a little strangely to a nonhuman team, so it was better to play it safe. Darrus entered the Diner with a warm and welcoming manner. He Spotted her Highness with a Lubyakan woman as he stood out like a sore thumb. He did not wish to approach immediately as he was polite and tried to wait for a signal to approach.

[Lubyak]

-snip-

"Yes," O'Vannon replied, nodding her head. "I did not mean 'half animal as an insult, Princess," she said, flushing slightly at the error in communication. "I meant it literally...if you ever travel to their lands, you'll understand what I mean," she continued, before flushing a deeper red as the Princess lay her hand on her arm.

"Oh...thank you, Princess," she said, in response to the Princess's giggle, letting a small coy smile sneak onto her face. In hindsight, the Princess herself was far from unattractive, and the flirting was not undesired. "But, yes...lunch would be quite nice, Princess."

O'Vannon smiled as she looked over the diner. It was not unlike the kind she had grown up with as a small girl in Ilan, and it was almost nostalgic to see such a place, even in a far foreign land. She sat down across from the Princess, and took a slight sip of water from the glasses provided by the owner, as he explained the shortages.

"Soup will be fine, your Highness," she answered, to the Princess's quetion, slightly surprised at the use of her first name. "I'm rather impressed," she said, after taking another sip. "For only a few weeks, your people have done some fine work here."

[Riemaia]

"Why thank you! We had most of the parts prefabricated, but we were able to get the right look out of the buildings." The small town had a mix of two styles, Swiss chalet and Dutch colonial, which gave the small place a very cozy and inviting feel. "Now once we have enough people living here, I will be the first Duchess of this lovely place... exciting isn't it? Also, why is someone as cure as you in the military? Maybe you would like to go to a gala with me next week?" Lena knew she was jumping around with topics like a madman, but couldn't help herself. she had seen the man she presumed to be from Crystal Spires, noticing from how differently he looked and dressed, waving him over to some sit with her and Celeste.

[Crystal Spires]

Darrus bowed cordially as his guards removed their blue berets and followed suit and bowed politely. Darrus approached without looking at the Lubyakan and gave a warm smile.

"Joy and salutations to you, your highness, it is an honor to be in your midst. I am Darrus Tethyr, Minister of Foreign affairs from D'hɑlbrisir, or so we are often called, Crystal Spires. I did not wish to interrupt your company, but allow me to present you with a gift and a welcome from our people. If it is not too much trouble..." he started as he looked at Celeste with a warm glance as he held out a bar of delicious silky smooth Spirean Chocolate and gave it to the Lubyakan and then presented a small box with the jeweled necklace within and presented it to the princess. "And, as well with you milady, it is an honor. I regret interrupting, if I have, I apologize. Please don't let me trouble you, we have much time to get to know one another."

Darrus was benign and patient beyond most Spireans, and his calm and gentle demeanor gave a friendly impression to anyone he met, but of course this was still no guarantee that it would be successful enough to promote friendship. Darrus was told of rather terrible stories about his predecessors and it made him very nervous that the Lubyakan minister was there, but in the very least he would hope to keep his best impression forward.

[Lubyak]

O'Vannon nodded in appreciation as the Princess explained the nature of the buildings within the town that slowly rose about the empty terrain. "Would that be a rise in position?" she asked. "One would think Princess is...a grander title than Duchess," she said, choosing her words and expression flirtatious and inviting, offering the Princess the idea that her affections were accepted and even returned.

"As for the military," she said. "It's a family tradition...my father served in the Skirmishers. My grandfather fought in the Second Continental War...I had not even considered not pursuing this life," she answered, smiling at the happy memories of her father congratulating her as she'd left her home for the Naval Academy on the mainland. "It is something that I've never regretted...." She flushed deeply as the Princess proposed taking her to a gala.

"I am not sure..." she admitted. "I shall consider, Princess. If the powers that be let me take the time..."

Even as she answered, she glanced up and saw a figure approaching. For a minute, she payed him no mind, but he quickly identified himself as a Spirean, and her eyes narrowed in suspiscion, not warming, even as the Spirean looked over her with a warm smile. Her face stayed solid even as she accepted the bar of chocolate from the Spirean, and set it aside.

<<Hello, Beastkin,>> she said softly, as a test to see if the man could understand her native tongue.