Why not both? [RESTRICTED]

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

"There has been nothing brought up that is enough of a concern to reverse our views," Naiya said pleasantly, smiling close-lipped at the other delegates. "The Taraskovyans have my vote of support."

Part of her wanted to let her smile rest on Vitras for a moment longer than necessary, but wisdom overruled the slightly childish impulse.

[Sunset]

"I think it would be reasonable to move forward," Erika agreed. "At the least it would give them an opportunity to address any concerns that we have, and for us to see how willing they are to discuss the hard issues. Just as we should be."

[Reploid Productions]

"Well, there's certainly nothing presented thus far to preclude initiating greater diplomatic interaction with the Taraskovyans." Zeroel nodded in agreement with the other representatives who'd spoken up so far.

"Consider that the Shogunate's formal position as well." Tsume concurred with the shipmind. "Nothing presented at this meeting has sent up any warning flags that would discourage at least open diplomatic interaction, and through that venue we can all gain better insight as to whether or not they might be a good fit for the Triumvirate. We certainly don't lose anything by being open to diplomacy, after all."

[Menelmacar]

The elves had indeed been quiet through the meeting so far, but they had also been listening, and conferring among themselves quietly.

Sirithil finally spoke up. There were probably a lot of FutureMap traders who were going to lose money on what she was about to say; certainly nearly everyone here expected her to say something else. But the calculus had changed, and it was, on analysis, more beneficial to the Menelmacari.

"The concerns of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar have been adequately addressed, and at this time we see no compelling reason to oppose the application of Taraskovya. We are in favor."

[Scolopendra]

The sole First-Among-Equals couldn't help but quirk one eyebrow just a touch at that. It was certainly surprising. Still, the ways of the Ancients could be most curious to mere mortals; Mballa wouldn't be surprised if Sirithil were playing an extremely long game. At least the local immortals were in agreement. By all reports, such was a good sign.

She ran some simple numbers in her head and smiled. "With the glowing report from the Jerk--er, the Joint International Relations Committee--about their hearing with the Taraskovyan ambassador-at-large, my office fully expects the Legislative Unit to approve of Taraskovyan membership by a comfortable margin. The Berserkers are comfortable with federal monarchies, the Karmabaijani and the Suuntoans would look forward to the new business, and the Hard Idealist Halishi bloc which votes against anything not sufficiently mom-freedom-and-roast-centipede still only has about a ten percent showing amongst the Halishi. As such, barring the unexpected, the Federated Segments' vote will be positive, far from an abstention or a veto.

"Shoddy," she said with a slight smirk, her tone changing with her word choice, "let your friends know they're basically clear to launch. Should be a pretty smooth drop for them from here on out. Now," Mballa returned to addressing the group, "anything else vaguely official we should get to before availing ourselves fully of the wet bar?"

Topic: Taraskovyan membership

For: 9 (Zero-One, Sakkra, Sneaky Bastards, Kajal, Dread Lady Nathicana, Sunset, Reploid Productions, Menelmacar, Scolopendra)
Against: 1 (Kaenei [per previous direction])
Remain to be Heard From: 2 (Cetaganda, Tiburon)

Percentage For: 90% (9/10)
Minimum Possible Percentage: 75% (9/12, assuming Cetaganda and Tiburon against)
Percentage Needed: 66.667% (2/3 majority)

Motion carried, membership granted

Assuming no one changes their minds.

[Tarasovka]

Everybody loves conference calls

"Now joining," the female robotic voice said, followed by the presentation of the new participant in a voice quite well known to those participating in the conference call. "All your noms are belong to me."

"Ambassador Kweedrat Menek," the voice of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Taraskovyan Empire welcomed the newcomer into the conference call. "I believe some congratulations are in order."

"A project well managed, Pan Ambassador," the Chancellor of the Taraskovyan Empire herself concurred.

"Your High Excellency, Your Excellency," in came the voice from maybe the most well known Praksan in the universe. "Thank you for your kind words."

"The Menelmacari and the Kajali votes are quite surprising, Ambassador," the Chancellor mused.

"They are. But I can only speculate that a combination of my positive impact with the Necrontyr during my tenure as Ambassador to Duat and internal pressure from with the Triumvirate proved decisive," the Ambassador concurred. "If I may come forward with a suggestion, Your High Excellency, Your Excellency."

"Please feel free, Pan Ambassador," the Chancellor quite obviously agreed.

"The favourable Menelmacari and Kajali vote must be followed up as soon as possible with tangible actions," the Ambassador explained.

"This is undersandable, Ambassador," the Foreign Minister acknowledged. "In fact, me and Her High Excellency here have already agreed on a course of action to adopt. Once everything is official and the Veche approves the motions to join the Triumvirate, you will be appointed as Ambassador at large for all Yut-related matters. Including fostering better relations with all of the countries, specific priority going towards the Menelmacari and the Kajali."

"Should you accept this, of course, Pan Ambassador," the Chancellor said. "We have consulted with His Excellency and concurred that, given your experience in the domain, we cannot risk any hick ups with somebody less... knowledgeable. Their Excellencies the Ambassdors to Kajal and Menelmacar will be briefed accordingly to provide you with all the assistance required."

There was several seconds of silence as the Ambassador was considering his responce.

"Your High Excellency, Your Excellency, I will of course be extremely honoured to take up this new mission.

[Scolopendra]

Scolopendran Independent News
"Everyone has a little S.I.N. in their life"

Taraskovyan Entry Into Triumvirate Confirmed

PORT AURORA - After receiving confirmation from the Segment Executive Delegations, Supreme Emperor Mballa Ipolla voted in favor of the Taraskovyan Empire's membership in the Triumvirate of Yut. Process observers noted that the vote went very smoothly compared to previous Triumvirate membership votes, with no actual debate and what appears to have been a statement of protest by the Serene^Union of Kaenei. The observers, from the University of Stonozka political science department, said that this led credence to the common YutLink hypothesis that the informal Council gathering at the Triumvirate Building two weeks ago was a dry run of the voting process. Taraskovyan representatives could not be reached by press time for comment, but both the Supreme Emperor's office and Master Control Program S.H.O.D.A.N. of Zero-One refused to comment, citing Council confidentialty policy.

"What I will say," MCP S.H.O.D.A.N. stated in an official interview to Titan YutLink, "is that over the course of the past few months the Empire and we have demonstrated to each other that we are willing to accommodate each others' needs, much as the Queendom and the Empire have been for some time on Mars. Our interests have been aligned for a long time yet, as any student of history can tell you, it is sometimes the small disagreements which can become the greatest impediments to progress. I doubt that Elentári Sirithil nos Fëanor would mind if I said that her positive vote was indicative of such progress." When questioned regarding the Kaeneians' sole negative vote, she only said that it was "representative of a more fundamental disagreement, which closer relations will give us an opportunity to address."

The Segment Executive Delegations were broadly supportive of Taraskovyan entry into the Triumvirate. The delegations of Berserker, Suunto, and the Timperium were all unanimously in favor; only Rudolph Byquist (SL1, Halish Taytanni) and Mineyo Mitani (SL2, Titanian Karmabaijan) voted against. In a joint voting statement they noted their opposition as "symbolic," saying they were "representing those in our constituencies who would be inevitably opposed to Taraskovyan entry but are not in the majority." The motion for membership passed handily through the Council of Yut, with the Menelmacari casting a surprise positive vote and leaving only the Kaeneians in opposition.

Senior Civil Servant Wantanabe of the Supreme Emperor's Office read a prepared statement welcoming the Taraskovyan Empire into the Triumvirate and looking forward to a mutually beneficial friendship in the future. Various Triumvirate exchanges closed higher on the news.

[Tarasovka]

From the Empire’s Diaries:

* - * - *

Veche Ratifies Accession to Yut

In a historic vote, the Duma of the Taraskovyan Empire approved the instruments of accession of the Taraskovyan Empire to the Triumvirate of Yut. Deputies present at the Duma chambers stood up to applause as the final vote tally showed an overwhelming majority of 814 in favour of the accession. In protest, members of the Handalarian Alliance staged a walk out upon the results. Members of the National Patriotic Christian Alliance, who also voted against the instrument of accession, have remained seated with gloomy faces as the jubilation erupted. With the Senate having already approved the instrument of accession in yesterday's vote, the Taraskovyan Empire is set to adhere to the closely knit international alliance within weeks.

More on the story...

[Tiburon]

OOC: Whoooops. Time management, I am not good at it. Heavily abusing wibbly wobbly timey wimey in this post (and the thread overall). I'm still planning on posting the formal version of the convo we had, T, so I'll definitely be sending something your way once I get a tad more time.

Pre-Meeting Socialisation

Naiya's gestures had been small, perhaps, but their warmth and invitation were unmistakable. For Saraswati, it was a quite a welcome reprieve from the insatiable tension of her own anxieties.

No, that wasn't quite right. Not small, but subtle. It made her feel all the more welcome, and that too from the very first person she had met at the conference. Saraswati chuckled and blushed slightly at Naiya's totally unnecessary apology. This was not at all what she had expected.

"No need to apologise! I really should have been looking where I was going. That would be absolutely delightful! Sara," she replied, now positively beaming, "Saraswati Tripathi-Fähnrich of Akasha. I'm so sorry, I'm just very much the new person around. Eight hundred kiloseconds is barely enough to let me catch my breath after moving in, really. It's also a bit relieving, if you don't mind my saying so, to meet someone who's still new-ish to much of this. I might have to ask you to show me the ropes, if that's all right," she added with a small giggle.

The Conversation Proper

Now on her second drink – a nigorizake from the Shogunate – and comfortably in her seat next to Naiya, Saraswati's tensions had significantly eased, but she still preferred to observe the spirited discussion going on between the much more well-established Council members. The thought crossed her mind that despite the informal tenor of these talks – and the quite nice sampling of drinks on offer – this room contained the most powerful people in the solar system. The most powerful group in the solar system. For better or worse, after all, the Triumvirate had slowly de facto if not de jure become the guarantor of the international order in the system.

And they're my peers now, she thought. That's certainly not weird to think about.

Naiya's comment about her nation being problematic elicited a small cough of surprise from Saraswati. Of all things, she certainly didn't expect the discussions to be this candid. Especially given the friendliness with which Naiya had received her, it seemed quite gauche to mention that Akasha and the Dominion represented fairly opposite ends of the Triumvirate's political spectrum. The strength of our diversity, perhaps...?, she wondered.

She finally broke her silence. "I've had chance, in the Solar Assembly, to have a lengthy conversation with His Excellency Menek, the Ambassador-Plenipotentiary, the minutes and notes of which you should be able to see," she started, as she uploaded the documents in question. "Overall, the conversation was quite pleasant, and highlighted much of what has been already discussed. Given the Union's and the Combine's highly technoprogressive stance, I don't think it'll come as much surprise that their relative conservatism doesn't make Taraskovya and Akapendra a totally isomorphic fit."

"But, of course, they're not applying for Akapendran membership, so any of my uneasiness on that end really doesn't matter. In fact, I think their relative moderation is quite a benefit in this situation. For better or for worse, we've essentially become the guarantor of the international order in the solar system, and with such a status comes somewhat more gravity in our decision-making. Naiya mentioned that some of us have caused a bit more noise, shall we say, than others in the international sphere, and certainly my nation back during the days of the Tiburonese Union was one of them."

"We've had to learn to moderate our stance on certain issues, and with that has come I think an appreciation for the value of careful analysis and dialogue from a variety of sources. Honestly, I think that's ultimately the fundamental strength of the Triumvirate, and why it has succeeded where several other organisations populated by major powers have faltered. Given the value they place on stability, and the unique perspective they bring to the table, I think we're very well served ourselves adding the Taraskovyan voice to our discussions. Personally, I'd very much vote in favour."