Fel'tethra
Government Center
Number 6, the Administrative Building
Court Session Chambers...
Even as she settled Jan didn't miss the change that had come over half of her fellow representatives. Where Alyana looked much the same as always and Falean was smiling pleasantly the atmosphere had subtly changed around the other three. Shuji was perhaps the most clear, ears falling a little and tail twisting anxiously as he took his place, clearly distraught at having been ignored. Kitsune could be very easy to read when they wanted to be, she reflected as she glanced down the table to her less expressive fellows. Yanji's eyes had narrowed at Faeden and her nose was wrinkled like someone had just shoved a handful of shit under it, where Tavin was staring appraisingly at the SIN representative. No one had missed the familiar way that Faeden had greeted him, and that made Jan wonder just how extensive Tavin's connections were -and how extensive Faeden's were. If those two team up they could be a real danger.
As the document came up she peered at it like the rest before her attention was drawn back to Faeden as he introduced his fellows. She didn't know much about the Gythian Star Republic, and judging by the lack of reaction beyond polite nods the same went for the others, but Herak got rather more attention, and not only for his perpetual glare. They all knew the Hetaevans, brutish, uncultured giants that they were, once at odds with the Dominion, but now apparently the allies of the successor state. How much had the SIN changed in the years gone by? With friends like the Hetaevans, she had to wonder if she'd even recognize Necrisis.
"The SIN, as successor state to the Necrian Imperial Dominion, formally lays claim to eight colonies on the border of the KEX. Two of these colonies, however, have declared independence from all governments, however we have gather information that says the KEX has sent ambassadors to Arh'ath and Tor'korla in efforts to sway them into the Empire. As these sovereign states declared independence from the Dominion while it was still under control of the True Throne - named as Prince Savik - we have no true claim to them. We merely ask that your representatives cease and desist until our own government can send representatives to allow a fair justication for all concern."
There was some glancing up and down the table to see who would speak. Jan took a breath. If Muldritch had been present he would have taken the lead, so she was obliged to do it on his behalf. She leaned forward and clasped her pale hands on the table. "We assembled have no direct say or control in the affairs of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps -that's a matter of the Emperor's administration- but we can certainly pass along your request to them."
"The other six colonies - named as Kor'laesha, Fel'tethra, Alno'kae, Fel'narsha, Yra'nortara, and - were abandoned by the False Dominion, ruled by The Usurper. As a rogue state with no true claim to the Blood Throne or its people and policies, these colonies were never abandoned by the Necrian Imperial Dominion, only its false representatives.
Now, my Empress understands that it is unfair to expect you to turn over these colonies, given our forced absence. But our sovereign nation still has claim to these territories, three of which were founded by the NID and the other by co-operation. She expects that co-operative governmental policies be restored within six galactic months and is willing to have such governance slowly return to the SIN over the course of a year."
He smiled at Alyana and then Shuji. "I am authorized by my Empress to reach conclusions today, without further preamble. You're rebuttle?"
More shifting around the table, but there was less hesitation this time around. "It's a somewhat ridiculous claim," Falean said, though his voice was mild. "You can disavow the actions of the Dominion under the man you call The Usurper, and I would hope that the Solar Imperium would. But the people of these colonies, and the Imperial government, can't be held responsible for what happened to it. You could claim that the true government of the Dominion was something other than The Usurper's, but the colonies were abandoned wholesale, by every entity but the Kitsune Empire. There was not even an attempt to retain them -I know on Yra'nortara the senior government outright left our world with no structure in place for continued rule. Even if there was more than one NID government, any and all of them abandoned us."
"I can only speak for Fel'narsha, but after the rule of the last Necrian Thane over us my people have made it very clear that they will not welcome back any such rule," Yanji said. "They spoke, and their voices were fire and blood."
"They could speak in a different way, I think," Jan took the segue as it presented itself, glancing at Yanji before turning to Faeden. "Regardless of what we may personally think, Ambassador, we did not come unprepared. The Imperial proposal is thus: on each of the six colonies a referendum will be held as to whether or not the residents there wish to accept joint Necrian-Xiscapian control of their system. The exact dates will be of Imperial choosing, under Imperial supervision, though the SIN will be invited to send inspectors to verify the legitimacy of the votes. Concurrent to usual Imperial law the referendum will be open to all non-incarcerated voting-age residents of the colonies who have been living there for the past four years, regardless of whether or not they are nominal Imperial citizens. The issue will be decided by majority vote. Those which vote in favor will have their representatives then negotiate with the Solar Imperium on behalf of the Kitsune Empire for the exact terms of the joint control."
She paused to take a drink from the cup of water provided to her, allowing her proposal to sink in even as she did her best to ignore how Harek was scowling at her.
"From what I've been told, the Empire simply cannot hand over control of any of the six colonies to a state that it regards as having given up its rightful ownership of them when it left those systems to fend for themselves. More to the point, to do so without taking into consideration the desires of their people would be foolish, and the Empire also has its obligations to its own citizens living in the colonies, and to its interests, both of which must be protected. Thus, this compromise, out of respect for the relationship it had with the old Dominion. However, it cannot and will not cede territory wholesale which it has governed for years; like it or not, the Empire has a responsibility to all six of the colonies now. So it looks to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with the Solar Imperium that can suitably welcome it back onto the galactic stage."
Number 6, Adjacent Office...
The room that Second Lieutenant Warukashi and the senior staff of his platoon and their militia counterparts occupied wasn't much different from the chambers that the delegations were now meeting in right next door. That was good in case something happened since he knew exactly what to expect, but in reality the tod already knew what he was expecting: nothing would happen. Nothing ever did at these kinds of meetings. Even the NFP threats were just that, bluster to remind everyone that they still existed in places other than Tortuga. The typhoon made things slightly more interesting, but it really just boiled down to being a generally miserable "day" on Fel'tethra.
Or maybe he was just feeling a little too sympathetic for his troops outside. Certainly the rest of his staff didn't seem to share his feelings, he thought as he looked across them. His cathar medic was busy chatting up the pretty Night Guard militia radiowoman at one end of the table, his forward observer was telling some kind of war story from his days on Ranus V to his Necrian counterpart, and even his quiet tod communications/guard was talking shyly to the militia medic as they shared a cigarette. No doubt they were happy to be out of the elements. Only his platoon sergeant, that grizzled kitsune, had chosen to stay out in the rain with one of the rifle squads. When he came back in then it would be his turn to go out, Warukashi decided. Let the PSG dry off and get a hot drink while he checked the roadblocks and got to be with his soldiers. I'd rather be out there now but one of us has to be here in case something happens. Yeah, right.
Then a presence tapped into his neural link. Lieutenant, this is the Government Center Network Security Admin, the civilian vixen's "voice" sounded in his head over the network. I wanted to let you know that we just experienced an intrusion. The pattern matches that of a known local hacker called "Fucking Genius 33245."
Warukashi scowled. Is there a threat to the delegation?
I don't believe so, Lieutenant. The intrusion looks like its a vector for viruses and spam, the kind of thing that'll brick a machine with porn or otherwise be annoying, but harmless as far as physical security goes. I'm working on isolating it now and I've already contacted law enforcement to go out and bring her in. We've experienced this kind of thing before. Shouldn't be much of an issue.
Understood. Should I inform the delegates?
No sir, I don't think that's necessary. There is one thing though. Kind of odd. Usually I can trace where she's coming from, what backdoor she used to get entrance to the network, but this time I'm not seeing it. Probably just means she got better at it, but still.
What are you saying?
Well, normally that would be indicative of an attack coming from inside our network, by someone who has physical access. That's not possible, though. If she was here we would know about it. So there's really no cause for alarm. I'll track her down eventually.
Keep me updated.
Yes sir.
Sighing, Warukashi pushed off from the wall he'd been leaning against and waved over his Necrian fellow. "Talon Commander. Network Security Admin just contacted me. Apparently there's some local wannabe hacker trying to make trouble on the government sites here. Shouldn't be anything to worry about, but keep an eye out just in case. Some punks might decide they like the idea of doing some real vandalism to go with their digital vandalism or something."
