Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 28, 2022 13:35:44 GMT
Silver Cradle: Union Space
The trip wasnt particularly long. After all the diplomatic embassy district was not far from the main government complex at the heart of the main segment. The Ringworld was titanic, and of course not all of it had even been used or taken up yet, the ring itself was very visible to Esme as she looked out of the window, the transport vehicle speeding along the designated routes.
Air cars of all shapes and sizes flew over numerous residential, commercial and diplomatic areas as the head of the United Progressives party smiled looking down onto the lives of so many citizens. Her actions were helping every one of them, and she was ecstatic that the Grand Congress was starting to fully agree with her. Drane Olonos sat beside her, the shadow foreign minister, he was the official delegate to conduct this meeting but Esme had decided to come too, it would be a statement both internally and externally of a political nature.
The Unity Party and Tarn Eiasten did not want this alliance, at least not all of Unity anyway. They saw such an alliance as a potential avenue for the Union to get dragged into more conflict, ever shying away into isolation and darkness, always so fearful. They did not considering that such an alliance would yield more economic gain, something sorely needed given the current galactic circumstance, along with more military ties and cultural expansion. The Union had gained much via its alliance base over the decades, there was no reason for it to stop such now. And the Grand Congress had agreed, the votes had come in quickly and the decision was made. The Alliance would go through, with even a large portion of the Unity party agreeing. Esme may have been the opposition but seeing the ruling party beaten by democracy was clear and elating. It showed that they were changing their tune. Interventionism and outreach had always been the way.
"This is a turning point Drane mark my words" She said aloud with a large grin. The Cylaurian bowed in agreement.
"It is certainly a show politically, a big statement against the main government. I hope the people agree with it"
"Of course they do, just look at the crowds at our rallies. The alliance with the Empyrians will help us immensely, and likely help them too" The final words were said just as the vehicle began to slow down and land. The embassy district was very large, and the Empyrians had only just been finished with their teams settling in. Still Esme was excited. The doors opened and the stepped out, her light blue dress shimmering in the light of Mirachs star.
"Come on lets go greet our guests and tell them the good news"
The newly Finished Empyrian Embassy was a rather massive complex, composed of dozens of buildings, and a rather large stone and concrete wall lining the perimeter, with a huge metal gate at the front. While at first glance it seemed overbearing, the message of protection, integrity could also be interpreted out of the large complex. Nevertheless, due to the safety of the Union as a whole, outside walkways around the wall, benches, and other decorations adorned the outside wall, and the tops of the buildings poked their heads above the wall, showing more cylindrical marble and stone buildings. As the union cars drove through the gate, they were greeted to a large plaza, littered with pink flowers, walking ways, and wooden benches, with a circular road to the main building. As Esme got out of the car, she was greeted by almost 300 men and women of the Empyrian Embassy, all organized into different formations around the plaza. While most of the essential workers were not present, everyone else, on break or not, was present in full formal attire, including a contingent of around 100 Blue Beret Marines, carrying their battalion colors and the Empyrian flag, snapping in the wind. In a word, the scene was ecstatic, most of the suited interns and embassy personnel shifting and looking curiously and enthusiastically at the Unioners.
In the middle of the plaza in front of the door stood a rather tall woman in her late 30’s in a light pink dress, with tanned skin and short bleached hair. She was flanked by a small group of other top brass at the Embassy, including the commander of the Marines stationed at the embassy, Royal attaché, MoD attaché, EIS attaché, and a few others which Esme couldn't immediately identify from their uniforms.
The small group walked to meet Esme and her group at a middle ground between the cars and the Embassy building, and the pink dressed woman outstretched her hand with another great smile.
“Esme, what an honor it is to finally meet you! I’m Ambassador Nullia for the Imperial Vires of Empyria to the Union of Worlds. I trust you made it here safely?”
As they walked from the car through the embassy display Esme grinned and smiled to the various staff who were all standing on parade. The embassy looked the part and was certainly much more impressive than some of the others who had chosen to create small utilitarian fixtures rather than statements of their respective nations.
“I like what they have done with the place” She said quietly to Drane who merely nodded. It wasn’t everyday that you got a welcome like this. It was usually a dreary office where a couple of officials talked something out, but the Empyrians were putting on a fine showing. This clearly meant a lot to them, and that warmed Esme, she too felt like the Union needed to rekindle that feeling. When they had gone out into the galaxy they had grasped for alliances and friendship and each one had been celebrated by the Unions people. Now they had been jaded, and it was time to find again that same feeling when creating new friends.
Esme took Nulias hand and shook it thoroughly, swiftly followed by Drane who gave a curt bow.
“The honour is all ours ambassador! And what a display, you must thank all of your staff for us its not everyday you get to see this. And don’t worry it wasn’t a long drive over from the Congress building, we are just happy to be here. I’m aware you have already been officially told but the Congress has just voted to confirm an alliance with the Imperial Vires of Empyria. This fine gentleman here is to officialise that and I am here to liaise and help in any way I can” Drane once again bowed.
“I am the Shadow Foreign Minister here on behalf of the Union Congress, I will be finalising the alliance between us, it is a great honour” Esme was practically beaming while Drane was clearly happy but much calmer about it.
“I think we can all agree this is great news”
Nulia grasped Esme's hand firmly but at the same time delicately, a very refined and practiced handshake. She gave a very Empyrian nod of respect to Drane.
“I am so proud of the Embassy staff here, it is such a pleasure to be able to have these fine men and women by my side. I don't expect that I will be able to do these ceremonies often, we will need all hands on deck in the near future, but for such a momentous occasion such as this, I thought it necessary to call a full welcome.
But honestly, I am so elated to see that we can finally get this treaty signed and done. I know many Empyrians who are itching to finally open up to the Galaxy, and while the current economic crisis is a little concerning, putting chips on the Union I think will be a worthwhile investment on all our parts.”
Nulia turned, and the small group walked back to the Main building of the Embassy. As they did so, it could be noted that almost half of the staff here were roughly the same age, around 20 years old. This made sense for the most part, the 2 years of Mandatory Civil service wasn't just military, many of these people decided to work for the Empyrian Diplomatic Service instead, and as Esme and Nulia walked to the door, the faces ranged from “peaking over the crowd to get a glimpse of the Unioners” to “30 more seconds and I can get out of formation.” Nevertheless, as they walked through the half-grandiose plaza, Nulia spoke once more.
“So here is currently the plan so you all are not surprised. We are going to head into the main building here and make our way to a Meeting room to make sure we have all the details of the treaty ready on both sides. Afterwards, we will move to the actual treaty signing Ceremony in the Main Crypt. Afterwards though, we do have to address the press. The Empyrian Press is already here, and the Union press agencies should be let in an hour prior. I expect most questions to not be that bad, but I do know a few reporters who are here who may be on the more… aggressive side. Other than that, before we head in, any questions about the agenda?”
Esme chuckled before gesturing as ready to move on. "If you had to do this all the time you might as well have the staff cast as statues. We are honoured to see it even this once."
"It is a momentous occasional when a nation opens up on the galactic stage. Its true, things are quite heated at the moment, with the market crisis and the ongoing tensions between the political blocks everyone is on edge, including the Congress. I wont lie to you Ambassador, there was a real chance of them denying this alliance. But our party and many of the opposition fought long and hard to see it approved." She added as they walked.
"The benefits of a mutual alliance between our peoples is clear, both from an economic but also strategic standpoint. We can act as a foundational anchor to assist you in climbing up the ladder of the galactic stage, while you can aid us in keeping the peace in the galactic south, an area which we realistically have struggled to maintain a presence in" Drane followed on. It was true, especially given the Royal Federation situation. Still as they walked both gave bows, smiles and nods to the staff in acknowledgement for their display. As Nulia outlined the event Esme and Drane listened intently.
"I don't think any questions are necessary, very self explanatory. As for the press, expect some interesting questions from our lot, as you have no doubt seen politics is very lively in the Union at present. But please, lead the way and lets get this occasion rolling"
Nulia smiled as they approached the door, "Well, we'll get to the press when we get there, but I expect you've dealt with more then enough reporters to spar well with them. Nevertheless, welcome to the crypt."
As Nulia stepped on the first step to the doorway, the two doors slided into the walls on either side of the doorway, leading to a grandiose crypt, dozens of aides and Empyrians in every which formal attire scurried through the large open space, talking and chatting as they went from one doorway to another.
Nulia, Esme, and their entourages swiftly made their way through the crypt, and through a few hallways, and finally came upon another set of double doors leading to a smokey feeling Jazz Lounge. As they entered, the dark wooden fixtures, glass decorations, and neo-minimalist paintings punctuated the atmosphere as one of relaxation, but still an Empyrian-esque feeling of efficiency and business.
A waiter in a black and blue suit waited at the entrance, and quickly escorted the batch of diplomats to a circular table in a corner of the lounge. While there were other people in the room, as they all sat down and got comfortable, their voices faded to silence, and while they were obviously still talking, not seeming to mind the diplomats, they were unable to be heard.
As the waiter started to pass glasses of water around the table, Nulia turned from a small conversation with the EIS aide on her left to the table.
"Welcome to the, well as I like to call it, Jazz Lounge. Its one of my favorite places at the Embassy, and I hope you all like it as well. Before we all head off to the official signing of the treaty, my fellow representatives of the Crown do wish to quickly review all the critical parts of this treaty and assure that we can present this in the best manner possible. Now, I know that at this point, there is not much changes that can be done to the treaty itself, but I would like to see to it that all the Empyrian and Union representatives here are all on the same page here that this treaty is good to go. Nulia or any of your fellow representatives, would you like to quickly bring us through all the important parts of this treaty?
Esme enjoyed seeing the inside of the embassy, after all they were essentially tiny sections of that nation and offered glimpses into all kinds of alternate ways of living, other ideologies and outlooks from non Union species. This embassy was no different and she gleefully looked around to take as much in as possible, it was also a political ploy of course, one needed to understand and know about who they were dealing with and culture was one of the best ways to learn about how another thought.
As they were brought into the Jazz lounge, quite taking Esme a back for a moment. She knew other human nations from alternate realms had much similiar history, but finding herself in a little jazz lounge just like her childhood days with her father brought a wave of comfort over her. Memories flooded back as they were offered seats and the waiter showed them their corner.
"I grew up in a place like this you know, A little Jazz restaurant back on Mirach before the second war. My father was a musician, seeing this here, it makes me happy that a little bit of that old place exists on the Silver Cradle, and even happier to know your people have a good taste in music" She chuckled. Drane took a seat quietly as he looked around and nodded to Esme.
"As far as I am aware the current critical points are as follows" He spoke a moment after.
"A full trade agreement in regards to Ancerium and Kolleronic materials, as well as limited technological sharing with all avenues open for closer operations of such in the future. A mutual defence agreement to ensure that our nations assist one another in these dark times should things come to blows. Joint military operations to assist in forces integration and assisting your forces in learning this galaxies tendencies. A full border visa program to allow citizens from our nations to work and explore one another's territories and full information sharing regarding starcharts, known threats, diplomatic agreements as well as some measure of undercover intelligence network information." Drane paused.
"Have I missed anything?"
Nulia smiled appreciatively as Esme spoke about her childhood. This was not something she knew, but it was definitely noted later that this rather small lounge compared to other places in the embassy may need to be expanded.
"Well, you are welcome here whenever you wish Esme."
As Drane layed out the treaty, a rather high-ranking Blue Beret and the Empyrian Intelligence Service official both looked at each other, then at Nulia, wishing to go first out of the gaggle of other advisors at the table. Technically, the Economic advisor, Rernin, who was situated 2 seats away from Nulia requested to go first, but the military folks had to go first just to get them out of the way. Nulia gave the two a nod of approval, and the Blue Beret spoke up. He had a tanned face and while he wasn't actually wearing a beret at the time, his officers cap signified his experience and authority.
"Rear Admiral Kiolan, Office of Strategic Advancement and Training. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, and i’m guessing Agent Dilia here and the Empyrian Intelligence Service, we want to make sure a few physical amendments are currently with the treaty as is.”
“It is the interest of my Office that in the near future should Empyria be called to the aid of the Union, or vis versa, that Empyrian forces attain not only a technological and tactical superiority, but also superiority in the informational and ISR battlespace. With that in mind, our inquiries are around these main topics.
First, Empyria would like to elaborate on the treaty, and request for its defense, a comprehensive database of the capabilities of known ships, ground forces, equipment, and weaponry which the Union has interacted with, and preferably those of Union equipment as well to facilitate vastly increased allied operational capability. In return, we will also offer the same data we have on our un-classified projects and equipment. Many of my Admirals have expressed uncertainty over possible engagements in the near future should it happen, as we simply do not have the same amount of information on- known threats, as you put it.
Secondly, The Ministry of Defense also requests either the creation of, or implementation of either a Union-Empyria or larger scale joint Tactical Communications integration program, so our forces will be better able to coordinate on the battlefield. This of course can be non-invasive software, as long as it helps our commanders coordinate more efficiently. Other than that, while I cannot speak on behalf of the Ministry of Defense or the OSAT, I can personally say I am very excited about the advancement of the Empyrian Warfighter and the protection of Empyria over this alliance.”
“Thank you, you can expect me to pop in now and again when I have some free time” Esme grinned to Nulia. She then focused back on the task at hand, this was of course mainly Dranes territory in hammering out exacts. But the comments about a joint military communications unit as well as sharing informational databases on capabilities and threats seemed solid enough. Esme would support it. Drane gave a nod of recognition and greetings to the man as he announced himself and began.
“While we cannot officially help you achieve technological superiority in every regard, we can certainly aid in informational and cyberwarfare. We will provide access to our databases regarding the vessels and forces we have encountered, at least those that are not officially classified. We can also provide an updated version of our own public capabilities list; however, our newest fleet ships of the Horizon fleet have not been entirely revealed to the public yet. As such I cannot officially give you the exact details of their capabilities, but I can offer to arrange for you and a select group to be given a tour and run down of the fleet’s capabilities and doctrine in person. Allowing you all to take notes and get first run of details before the official public records are given out. We are wishing to keep them somewhat…” He paused.
“Somewhat mysterious, for deterrence” Esme added. Drane nodded in thanks.
“All of our other non-classified equipment though however I can approve. And as for a joint tactical communications group I am sure that will be approved, we have similar likes with other allies and so the capacity for such is already there. We just need to set it up. I will make these amendments at once if that is to your liking?”
“Truly it will be an advancement of both of our nations collective defence” Esme responded with glee.
Kiolan and Dilia looked at each other and then at a pad Kiolan showed to Dilia. They both gave rather neutral faces, but in the wordless communications between each other and their superiors, they were both jumping out of their chairs. This was more than they were hoping to achieve, and would certainly put a giant boost into their intelligence infrastructures.
“The Ministry of Defence and the EIS will agree to these amendments should the Ambassador concur.”
“I concur.” Nulia says ritualistically, “I’m very happy to see us get to a good start here, Now we have two more people who need to clarify parts about this treaty, then we can go up and sign it. First is my Economic Advisor here, Rernin, and then our attache from the Ministry of State…” Nulia said the last part with a small drag to her normal pace, as she finally realized why they were there in the first place.
Rernin stepped into the conversation hesitantly now, nodding in appreciation.
“Thank you Ambassador. I’m the Economic Advisor for the Embassy to the Union of Worlds from the Imperial Vires of Empyria. In an effort to further build upon the treaty, we wish to make further amendments to the treaty regarding Commercial and Civilian amenities, and hopefully bring trade tariffs on those two classes of trade to a galactic standard to promote economic cooperation between Empyrian Civilian industries and Union civilian Industries. Hopefully this should lead to more trust and movement between our two states and increase the resilience of our combined economies. And of course, migration and cultural shar-“ Rernin stopped in his track as he took a accidental policy step, and quickly backtracked just as quickly as he stepped out - “Well, you know what I mean… A-anyway, is all of that agreeable to the Union Delegation?”
"Excellent, the amendments will be made in full then" Drane responded before they both listened intently for the next questions.
Esme completely nodded at Nulias statement, this was going extremely well. It reminded her of the days when the Union was out making strong likeminded allies, now it seemed those times had come again. She quickly stopped day dreamed and turned to face the Economic advisor.
"I believe we are fully happy to make those accomodations, we will have to double check however before we make exact promises regarding tariffs in case it affects our existing trade agreements but I do not see why we cannot accommodate closer civilian amenities and commercial pacts." Esme was happy to agree, and Drane gave support through his body language.
"And do not worry of overstepping, our cultural outreach programs are available to any nation, not just allies. Given our coming links I am sure I can negotiate with the Congress regarding mutual culture sharing initiatives and at least for the short term, temporary business and tourist visas before we can have official channels drawn up between us for migration. This will help any of our people travel between our nations without being caught up in too much red tape and having to wait for official channels to be set up." She continued, clearly unfazed by the overstep.
"Both amendments are agreeable to us" Drane quickly added.
Rernin nodded in sheepish approval as Drane and Esme responded, as Nulia quickly jumped in to extract Rernin from the conversation.
“The Imperial Vires of Empyria would love to continue a conversation on breaking down economic barriers should the entities you represent agree.” Nulia quickly said, still spilling out her trademark smile and formal posture.
“The Cultural Amendment though, I will have to pass off to my Attaché to the Ministry of State, Mr. Jarakn.”
Sitting directly to the left of Nulia, and until now leaning into his chair, now straightened his posture, his black suit and pink pin emphasizing his role.
“Thank you Ambassador.” Jarakn said in a slow yet calculated pace.
“I want to first make clear to the Union delegation, that both the Crown and the Office of the Prime Minister see the strengthening of relations between Empyria and the Union a critical and worthwhile endeavor, and with the rest of the delegation, every measure has been taken to smooth that process, and ensure that our two states will work in harmony for the years and conflict to come.
With that in mind, there are some amendments that must be agreed to at this time, and terms will need to be set for the treaty to be signed today.
If you were not aware, a few decades ago, Empyria was engaged in a bloody and costly civil war where a group of religious cultists, motivated by baseless claims of god’s, committed unforgivable atrocities against the people of Empyria. At the conclusion of the civil war, and the agreement of the Senate, Parliament, and the Crown, an Amendment to our constitution was made, thereby restricting the practice in private or public of any fictitious act of prayer.
Although since then, much of the population has… reviewed their opinions on the matter, it is still widely agreed in Empyria that this amendment stay in place to stop any more deaths for no actual reason, and a good part of our population still feel rather strongly of it too.
With this in mind, an amendment must be made for any cultural or immigration agreement of the following;
First, upon entering of Empyrian Sovereign Territory or ship, no public worship or prayer be done by any visitors. This includes acts of prayer, as well as the wearing or displaying of any religious items.
Secondly, any Union citizen wishing to become a Citizen of Empyria renounces any school of worship they may have subscribed to, or uphold a lack of. This is of course dependent on whether we agree to a full open borders policy, so this may not be necessary now.
Thirdly, any Cultural exchange between Empyria and the Union excludes the exchange of religious items, texts, or acts, with the firm exception for historical or research purposes when allowed by the Ministry of State.
Finally, because of the inability to fully regulate cyberspace, while religious websites or other cyberspace religious in nature will not be blocked in the Empyrian internet, on all cyberspace protected and regulated by the Union and Empyria, the Sale or advertisement of Religious items, texts, or acts, with the with the firm exception for historical or research purposes when allowed by the Ministry of State from the union to Empyria be restricted. This final amendment is more of a formal agreement because of the nature of this request, but is required.”
Jarakn leaned back in his seat now, finishing his script,
“This may be a tall request, but hopefully it will be seen in the broader context of this treaty, and accepted, so we may continue with this treaty. These terms are regrettably non-negotiable, so once we agree to this final amendments, I believe we should be done Ambassador?”
Nulia nodded in agreement, “I know this may be a particular request for the Union, so if a minute is needed to convene, we can wait for you to get approval from your higher authorities.”
"Absolutely, we will seek diplomatic conduct with them and see if they agree, if they do or don't either way we will let you know." Esme placed her hands on the table quite pleased.
However as they began to discuss the civil nature of the open congress worship and religion Esme turned to Drane and gave a raised eyebrow. As the terms were laid out very plainly Esme kept a happy face, quite amused by the situation. By the end Esme turned to Drane.
"Shall I or do you wish to address this?"
"By all means" Drane replied with a hand gesture. Esme then began to speak.
"Thank you for putting forward something such as this at the first hurdle. It speaks volumes about your nations openness and willingness to address problematic subjects first to get across the largest obstacles in diplomacy" Esme spoke with calm and calculated speech before finally becoming much more relaxed.
"However. This matter is not an issue whatsoever. We ourselves if you have personally not delved into Union history, had a majorly detrimental era in which open worship of our leaders, the Angels, caused considerable backlash and instability. The religious movement saw the creation of the peoples Congress as an affront to the Angels, despite they themselves creating and mandating it. Thankfully calmer and more intelligent heads prevailed, and since then theistic religion as well as open worship in Union space is banned. Of course certain diplomatic residences overcome this law and non theistic faiths are still permitted. You will find no Unioner who openly prays, displays their symbols or ascribes to a faith in your terms. Of course we have much in the way of religious documents and more, for historical, philosophic and academic purposes but we will not be openly sharing them unless for such purposes on request."
She grinned.
"As such it is a non-obstacle and my nation is more than willing to sign these terms. No deliberation is required"
"That is correct, this are perfectly acceptable" Drane added.
The whole table was dead silent for a few seconds as the Empyrians digested what they heard. A few had done some former research and heard a bit about the angels, but after the Union experience with Gilitim, they didn't fully expect a full agreement off the bat. Nevertheless, there was an emotional wave of relief from the Empyrian side of the table.
Nulia was the first to take initiative, as the State Attache leaned back on his chair, a surprised yet agreeable smile.
“Well, that really does oil the gears, I was expecting a much more bumpy road to an agreement, but seeing as we have, I believe our amendments are all done on the Empyrian side.
Should the Union side have no amendments it wishes to proposes at this time, I’ll send an aide from our side and yours to print up a formal final draft of the amended treaty, and of course the digital version will be sent to both parties' offices immediately.”
Nulia finished a glass of water next to her, clasping her hands in finality,
“So, anything else we need to discuss, or are we ready to go meet the press and get this signed?”
“Any other nation it may have been a sticking point, but it seems you came to the right place” Esme chuckled “We have no amendments on our side, the terms of the treaty regarding mutual defence, economics and closer relations are what we are truly eager for. We will be ready for the official version whenever you finish it, and I will relay it straight to the Congress and Prime minister”
“I think that would be all. We are ready for the official signing and public appearance” Drane added gesturing for them to move whenever everyone was ready. Esme patted down her dress and made sure she was looking the part.
“This is my first official diplomatic signing so forgive me if I am a bit nervous” She awkwardly smiled “I am still very excited however for what this will bring”
Nulia gave a nod of appreciation, getting up from the table, and leading the delegations out of the bar, escorted by a gaggle of aides and Marines.
“A few aides are running to get the printed copy of the treaty, and the digital version is of course available to everyone right now as we continue on.
Here is the basic idea of how this is going to work. Esme, you and I are going to walk up to the podium, you know the type. Drane, you are welcome to come with, and if you do Jarakn you outrank the rest of the other diplomats here, so you’ll be my Plus one. We’ll both wave, smile, and you’ll say a word or two to the assembled crowd, followed by me. I will sign the treaty then, followed by you. Afterwards, you can follow me to the press room nearby, and we’ll answer half a dozen questions and hope our cyberwarfare professionals can hack the AI which chooses which reporters can get a question answered so we can have some softball questions instead of… well, you know the type.”
Nulia said the last joke with a hint of laughter, but it was of course a prelude to the heavily mixed press retaliation to this treaty.
As the tangle of diplomats walked through the hallways of the seemingly labyrinth embassy, they were met with the nods and smiles of the dozens of other lower level staff, gawking Union or Empyrian citizen or business representative, or stone faced Blue Beret Marine. The tone was rather high though throughout the embassy, and after some time, they wandered upon what seemed to be an important door. Behind it was a red carpet leading to a podium, with a very fancy and newly printed piece of paper on it.
“Well.” Nulia said contently and a bit excitedly.
“After you Esme.”
Esme laughed at the jokes and listened intently as she was given the run down. Drane rapidly agreed that he would also be present and as they moved to the final moment Esme steeled herself. Professional face, this would be absolutely key to gaining more political favour and having her party rise above the Unity party.
“Thank you Nulia, lets try make it to the other side, shall we?”
She smiled and went first, walking out across the red carpet she held herself high and strode with confidence and purpose. Already pictures were being taken and countless individuals had turned up to observe the proceedings. Nulia walked just next to her, and soon enough after what felt like a lifetime, they reached the podium. Both waved, before Esme came forward to speak.
“The galaxy is in a tumultuous time. One where things may not go as we planned. One where we may not have the things, we take for granted today. But today, we take another step towards avoiding that darkness, that uncertainty. Only together can we overcome the dangers and evils of the galaxy, and on this day of days another friendship, forged through mutual understanding, will help pave the way for yet another step towards stopping those dangers. I stand here on behalf of the Union of Worlds, to announce and authenticate the official signing of an alliance between our nations and our peoples. May this be joining in friendship lead to a prosperous and bright future” She grinned as there was a round of applause. Esme then stepped back for Nulia to speak.
Nulia gave an appreciative smile to Esme as she took a step back, and let Nulia take center stage. To her Right, Jarakn, the Royal attache, stood motionless, but the message of his presence was felt across the room- a signature of approval- a heavy one at that if he was actually standing there next to Nulia.
Nulia gave a look around the room before she began, breathing in in a concentrated manner,
“When Queen Rossana said that Empyrias Destiny is Peace among the stars, many interpreted it in different ways. Many said how Rossana Hoped that Empyria would isolate, giving peace to herself and her people, defiant and ignorant of the galaxy around her. But, I hope to show what she truly means by that statement today. Empyria, instead of becoming Ignorant, has now become Enlightened, Ingrained and Entrusted in the new Galactic Community, and with the help of other states who wish for peace among the stars like us, we hope to push forward a new agenda of peace, democracy, liberty, and freedom, for not just us, but Everyone.
Ignorance is Selfishness, and today, Empyria and our Close Ally, the Union of Worlds, hopes to end the Ignorance and Selfishness of Isolation, and together, bring forward not an agenda, not a plan, and not a message, but a Promise. A promise- that all people of this Galaxy shall, in due time, have peace among the stars.”
As Nula and Esme signed the treaty on the podium, the assembled reporters, diplomats, and other attendees of both states gave a light applause, not a thunderous uproar, but a more toned down and polite clap. While for Many it was a very joyous occasion to see all their Diplomatic Work come to fruition, for many the bittersweetness of this treaty was evident. Empyria had officially opened up, and with Galactic Tensions being what it was, many believed Nulia had just signed the death of billions of Empyrians in the wars of liberation to come.
Nevertheless, Nulia and Esme gave a final nod and appreciative lip, and left the podium, through the red carpet, with the sliding doors closing behind them.
The trip wasnt particularly long. After all the diplomatic embassy district was not far from the main government complex at the heart of the main segment. The Ringworld was titanic, and of course not all of it had even been used or taken up yet, the ring itself was very visible to Esme as she looked out of the window, the transport vehicle speeding along the designated routes.
Air cars of all shapes and sizes flew over numerous residential, commercial and diplomatic areas as the head of the United Progressives party smiled looking down onto the lives of so many citizens. Her actions were helping every one of them, and she was ecstatic that the Grand Congress was starting to fully agree with her. Drane Olonos sat beside her, the shadow foreign minister, he was the official delegate to conduct this meeting but Esme had decided to come too, it would be a statement both internally and externally of a political nature.
The Unity Party and Tarn Eiasten did not want this alliance, at least not all of Unity anyway. They saw such an alliance as a potential avenue for the Union to get dragged into more conflict, ever shying away into isolation and darkness, always so fearful. They did not considering that such an alliance would yield more economic gain, something sorely needed given the current galactic circumstance, along with more military ties and cultural expansion. The Union had gained much via its alliance base over the decades, there was no reason for it to stop such now. And the Grand Congress had agreed, the votes had come in quickly and the decision was made. The Alliance would go through, with even a large portion of the Unity party agreeing. Esme may have been the opposition but seeing the ruling party beaten by democracy was clear and elating. It showed that they were changing their tune. Interventionism and outreach had always been the way.
"This is a turning point Drane mark my words" She said aloud with a large grin. The Cylaurian bowed in agreement.
"It is certainly a show politically, a big statement against the main government. I hope the people agree with it"
"Of course they do, just look at the crowds at our rallies. The alliance with the Empyrians will help us immensely, and likely help them too" The final words were said just as the vehicle began to slow down and land. The embassy district was very large, and the Empyrians had only just been finished with their teams settling in. Still Esme was excited. The doors opened and the stepped out, her light blue dress shimmering in the light of Mirachs star.
"Come on lets go greet our guests and tell them the good news"
The newly Finished Empyrian Embassy was a rather massive complex, composed of dozens of buildings, and a rather large stone and concrete wall lining the perimeter, with a huge metal gate at the front. While at first glance it seemed overbearing, the message of protection, integrity could also be interpreted out of the large complex. Nevertheless, due to the safety of the Union as a whole, outside walkways around the wall, benches, and other decorations adorned the outside wall, and the tops of the buildings poked their heads above the wall, showing more cylindrical marble and stone buildings. As the union cars drove through the gate, they were greeted to a large plaza, littered with pink flowers, walking ways, and wooden benches, with a circular road to the main building. As Esme got out of the car, she was greeted by almost 300 men and women of the Empyrian Embassy, all organized into different formations around the plaza. While most of the essential workers were not present, everyone else, on break or not, was present in full formal attire, including a contingent of around 100 Blue Beret Marines, carrying their battalion colors and the Empyrian flag, snapping in the wind. In a word, the scene was ecstatic, most of the suited interns and embassy personnel shifting and looking curiously and enthusiastically at the Unioners.
In the middle of the plaza in front of the door stood a rather tall woman in her late 30’s in a light pink dress, with tanned skin and short bleached hair. She was flanked by a small group of other top brass at the Embassy, including the commander of the Marines stationed at the embassy, Royal attaché, MoD attaché, EIS attaché, and a few others which Esme couldn't immediately identify from their uniforms.
The small group walked to meet Esme and her group at a middle ground between the cars and the Embassy building, and the pink dressed woman outstretched her hand with another great smile.
“Esme, what an honor it is to finally meet you! I’m Ambassador Nullia for the Imperial Vires of Empyria to the Union of Worlds. I trust you made it here safely?”
As they walked from the car through the embassy display Esme grinned and smiled to the various staff who were all standing on parade. The embassy looked the part and was certainly much more impressive than some of the others who had chosen to create small utilitarian fixtures rather than statements of their respective nations.
“I like what they have done with the place” She said quietly to Drane who merely nodded. It wasn’t everyday that you got a welcome like this. It was usually a dreary office where a couple of officials talked something out, but the Empyrians were putting on a fine showing. This clearly meant a lot to them, and that warmed Esme, she too felt like the Union needed to rekindle that feeling. When they had gone out into the galaxy they had grasped for alliances and friendship and each one had been celebrated by the Unions people. Now they had been jaded, and it was time to find again that same feeling when creating new friends.
Esme took Nulias hand and shook it thoroughly, swiftly followed by Drane who gave a curt bow.
“The honour is all ours ambassador! And what a display, you must thank all of your staff for us its not everyday you get to see this. And don’t worry it wasn’t a long drive over from the Congress building, we are just happy to be here. I’m aware you have already been officially told but the Congress has just voted to confirm an alliance with the Imperial Vires of Empyria. This fine gentleman here is to officialise that and I am here to liaise and help in any way I can” Drane once again bowed.
“I am the Shadow Foreign Minister here on behalf of the Union Congress, I will be finalising the alliance between us, it is a great honour” Esme was practically beaming while Drane was clearly happy but much calmer about it.
“I think we can all agree this is great news”
Nulia grasped Esme's hand firmly but at the same time delicately, a very refined and practiced handshake. She gave a very Empyrian nod of respect to Drane.
“I am so proud of the Embassy staff here, it is such a pleasure to be able to have these fine men and women by my side. I don't expect that I will be able to do these ceremonies often, we will need all hands on deck in the near future, but for such a momentous occasion such as this, I thought it necessary to call a full welcome.
But honestly, I am so elated to see that we can finally get this treaty signed and done. I know many Empyrians who are itching to finally open up to the Galaxy, and while the current economic crisis is a little concerning, putting chips on the Union I think will be a worthwhile investment on all our parts.”
Nulia turned, and the small group walked back to the Main building of the Embassy. As they did so, it could be noted that almost half of the staff here were roughly the same age, around 20 years old. This made sense for the most part, the 2 years of Mandatory Civil service wasn't just military, many of these people decided to work for the Empyrian Diplomatic Service instead, and as Esme and Nulia walked to the door, the faces ranged from “peaking over the crowd to get a glimpse of the Unioners” to “30 more seconds and I can get out of formation.” Nevertheless, as they walked through the half-grandiose plaza, Nulia spoke once more.
“So here is currently the plan so you all are not surprised. We are going to head into the main building here and make our way to a Meeting room to make sure we have all the details of the treaty ready on both sides. Afterwards, we will move to the actual treaty signing Ceremony in the Main Crypt. Afterwards though, we do have to address the press. The Empyrian Press is already here, and the Union press agencies should be let in an hour prior. I expect most questions to not be that bad, but I do know a few reporters who are here who may be on the more… aggressive side. Other than that, before we head in, any questions about the agenda?”
Esme chuckled before gesturing as ready to move on. "If you had to do this all the time you might as well have the staff cast as statues. We are honoured to see it even this once."
"It is a momentous occasional when a nation opens up on the galactic stage. Its true, things are quite heated at the moment, with the market crisis and the ongoing tensions between the political blocks everyone is on edge, including the Congress. I wont lie to you Ambassador, there was a real chance of them denying this alliance. But our party and many of the opposition fought long and hard to see it approved." She added as they walked.
"The benefits of a mutual alliance between our peoples is clear, both from an economic but also strategic standpoint. We can act as a foundational anchor to assist you in climbing up the ladder of the galactic stage, while you can aid us in keeping the peace in the galactic south, an area which we realistically have struggled to maintain a presence in" Drane followed on. It was true, especially given the Royal Federation situation. Still as they walked both gave bows, smiles and nods to the staff in acknowledgement for their display. As Nulia outlined the event Esme and Drane listened intently.
"I don't think any questions are necessary, very self explanatory. As for the press, expect some interesting questions from our lot, as you have no doubt seen politics is very lively in the Union at present. But please, lead the way and lets get this occasion rolling"
Nulia smiled as they approached the door, "Well, we'll get to the press when we get there, but I expect you've dealt with more then enough reporters to spar well with them. Nevertheless, welcome to the crypt."
As Nulia stepped on the first step to the doorway, the two doors slided into the walls on either side of the doorway, leading to a grandiose crypt, dozens of aides and Empyrians in every which formal attire scurried through the large open space, talking and chatting as they went from one doorway to another.
Nulia, Esme, and their entourages swiftly made their way through the crypt, and through a few hallways, and finally came upon another set of double doors leading to a smokey feeling Jazz Lounge. As they entered, the dark wooden fixtures, glass decorations, and neo-minimalist paintings punctuated the atmosphere as one of relaxation, but still an Empyrian-esque feeling of efficiency and business.
A waiter in a black and blue suit waited at the entrance, and quickly escorted the batch of diplomats to a circular table in a corner of the lounge. While there were other people in the room, as they all sat down and got comfortable, their voices faded to silence, and while they were obviously still talking, not seeming to mind the diplomats, they were unable to be heard.
As the waiter started to pass glasses of water around the table, Nulia turned from a small conversation with the EIS aide on her left to the table.
"Welcome to the, well as I like to call it, Jazz Lounge. Its one of my favorite places at the Embassy, and I hope you all like it as well. Before we all head off to the official signing of the treaty, my fellow representatives of the Crown do wish to quickly review all the critical parts of this treaty and assure that we can present this in the best manner possible. Now, I know that at this point, there is not much changes that can be done to the treaty itself, but I would like to see to it that all the Empyrian and Union representatives here are all on the same page here that this treaty is good to go. Nulia or any of your fellow representatives, would you like to quickly bring us through all the important parts of this treaty?
Esme enjoyed seeing the inside of the embassy, after all they were essentially tiny sections of that nation and offered glimpses into all kinds of alternate ways of living, other ideologies and outlooks from non Union species. This embassy was no different and she gleefully looked around to take as much in as possible, it was also a political ploy of course, one needed to understand and know about who they were dealing with and culture was one of the best ways to learn about how another thought.
As they were brought into the Jazz lounge, quite taking Esme a back for a moment. She knew other human nations from alternate realms had much similiar history, but finding herself in a little jazz lounge just like her childhood days with her father brought a wave of comfort over her. Memories flooded back as they were offered seats and the waiter showed them their corner.
"I grew up in a place like this you know, A little Jazz restaurant back on Mirach before the second war. My father was a musician, seeing this here, it makes me happy that a little bit of that old place exists on the Silver Cradle, and even happier to know your people have a good taste in music" She chuckled. Drane took a seat quietly as he looked around and nodded to Esme.
"As far as I am aware the current critical points are as follows" He spoke a moment after.
"A full trade agreement in regards to Ancerium and Kolleronic materials, as well as limited technological sharing with all avenues open for closer operations of such in the future. A mutual defence agreement to ensure that our nations assist one another in these dark times should things come to blows. Joint military operations to assist in forces integration and assisting your forces in learning this galaxies tendencies. A full border visa program to allow citizens from our nations to work and explore one another's territories and full information sharing regarding starcharts, known threats, diplomatic agreements as well as some measure of undercover intelligence network information." Drane paused.
"Have I missed anything?"
Nulia smiled appreciatively as Esme spoke about her childhood. This was not something she knew, but it was definitely noted later that this rather small lounge compared to other places in the embassy may need to be expanded.
"Well, you are welcome here whenever you wish Esme."
As Drane layed out the treaty, a rather high-ranking Blue Beret and the Empyrian Intelligence Service official both looked at each other, then at Nulia, wishing to go first out of the gaggle of other advisors at the table. Technically, the Economic advisor, Rernin, who was situated 2 seats away from Nulia requested to go first, but the military folks had to go first just to get them out of the way. Nulia gave the two a nod of approval, and the Blue Beret spoke up. He had a tanned face and while he wasn't actually wearing a beret at the time, his officers cap signified his experience and authority.
"Rear Admiral Kiolan, Office of Strategic Advancement and Training. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, and i’m guessing Agent Dilia here and the Empyrian Intelligence Service, we want to make sure a few physical amendments are currently with the treaty as is.”
“It is the interest of my Office that in the near future should Empyria be called to the aid of the Union, or vis versa, that Empyrian forces attain not only a technological and tactical superiority, but also superiority in the informational and ISR battlespace. With that in mind, our inquiries are around these main topics.
First, Empyria would like to elaborate on the treaty, and request for its defense, a comprehensive database of the capabilities of known ships, ground forces, equipment, and weaponry which the Union has interacted with, and preferably those of Union equipment as well to facilitate vastly increased allied operational capability. In return, we will also offer the same data we have on our un-classified projects and equipment. Many of my Admirals have expressed uncertainty over possible engagements in the near future should it happen, as we simply do not have the same amount of information on- known threats, as you put it.
Secondly, The Ministry of Defense also requests either the creation of, or implementation of either a Union-Empyria or larger scale joint Tactical Communications integration program, so our forces will be better able to coordinate on the battlefield. This of course can be non-invasive software, as long as it helps our commanders coordinate more efficiently. Other than that, while I cannot speak on behalf of the Ministry of Defense or the OSAT, I can personally say I am very excited about the advancement of the Empyrian Warfighter and the protection of Empyria over this alliance.”
“Thank you, you can expect me to pop in now and again when I have some free time” Esme grinned to Nulia. She then focused back on the task at hand, this was of course mainly Dranes territory in hammering out exacts. But the comments about a joint military communications unit as well as sharing informational databases on capabilities and threats seemed solid enough. Esme would support it. Drane gave a nod of recognition and greetings to the man as he announced himself and began.
“While we cannot officially help you achieve technological superiority in every regard, we can certainly aid in informational and cyberwarfare. We will provide access to our databases regarding the vessels and forces we have encountered, at least those that are not officially classified. We can also provide an updated version of our own public capabilities list; however, our newest fleet ships of the Horizon fleet have not been entirely revealed to the public yet. As such I cannot officially give you the exact details of their capabilities, but I can offer to arrange for you and a select group to be given a tour and run down of the fleet’s capabilities and doctrine in person. Allowing you all to take notes and get first run of details before the official public records are given out. We are wishing to keep them somewhat…” He paused.
“Somewhat mysterious, for deterrence” Esme added. Drane nodded in thanks.
“All of our other non-classified equipment though however I can approve. And as for a joint tactical communications group I am sure that will be approved, we have similar likes with other allies and so the capacity for such is already there. We just need to set it up. I will make these amendments at once if that is to your liking?”
“Truly it will be an advancement of both of our nations collective defence” Esme responded with glee.
Kiolan and Dilia looked at each other and then at a pad Kiolan showed to Dilia. They both gave rather neutral faces, but in the wordless communications between each other and their superiors, they were both jumping out of their chairs. This was more than they were hoping to achieve, and would certainly put a giant boost into their intelligence infrastructures.
“The Ministry of Defence and the EIS will agree to these amendments should the Ambassador concur.”
“I concur.” Nulia says ritualistically, “I’m very happy to see us get to a good start here, Now we have two more people who need to clarify parts about this treaty, then we can go up and sign it. First is my Economic Advisor here, Rernin, and then our attache from the Ministry of State…” Nulia said the last part with a small drag to her normal pace, as she finally realized why they were there in the first place.
Rernin stepped into the conversation hesitantly now, nodding in appreciation.
“Thank you Ambassador. I’m the Economic Advisor for the Embassy to the Union of Worlds from the Imperial Vires of Empyria. In an effort to further build upon the treaty, we wish to make further amendments to the treaty regarding Commercial and Civilian amenities, and hopefully bring trade tariffs on those two classes of trade to a galactic standard to promote economic cooperation between Empyrian Civilian industries and Union civilian Industries. Hopefully this should lead to more trust and movement between our two states and increase the resilience of our combined economies. And of course, migration and cultural shar-“ Rernin stopped in his track as he took a accidental policy step, and quickly backtracked just as quickly as he stepped out - “Well, you know what I mean… A-anyway, is all of that agreeable to the Union Delegation?”
"Excellent, the amendments will be made in full then" Drane responded before they both listened intently for the next questions.
Esme completely nodded at Nulias statement, this was going extremely well. It reminded her of the days when the Union was out making strong likeminded allies, now it seemed those times had come again. She quickly stopped day dreamed and turned to face the Economic advisor.
"I believe we are fully happy to make those accomodations, we will have to double check however before we make exact promises regarding tariffs in case it affects our existing trade agreements but I do not see why we cannot accommodate closer civilian amenities and commercial pacts." Esme was happy to agree, and Drane gave support through his body language.
"And do not worry of overstepping, our cultural outreach programs are available to any nation, not just allies. Given our coming links I am sure I can negotiate with the Congress regarding mutual culture sharing initiatives and at least for the short term, temporary business and tourist visas before we can have official channels drawn up between us for migration. This will help any of our people travel between our nations without being caught up in too much red tape and having to wait for official channels to be set up." She continued, clearly unfazed by the overstep.
"Both amendments are agreeable to us" Drane quickly added.
Rernin nodded in sheepish approval as Drane and Esme responded, as Nulia quickly jumped in to extract Rernin from the conversation.
“The Imperial Vires of Empyria would love to continue a conversation on breaking down economic barriers should the entities you represent agree.” Nulia quickly said, still spilling out her trademark smile and formal posture.
“The Cultural Amendment though, I will have to pass off to my Attaché to the Ministry of State, Mr. Jarakn.”
Sitting directly to the left of Nulia, and until now leaning into his chair, now straightened his posture, his black suit and pink pin emphasizing his role.
“Thank you Ambassador.” Jarakn said in a slow yet calculated pace.
“I want to first make clear to the Union delegation, that both the Crown and the Office of the Prime Minister see the strengthening of relations between Empyria and the Union a critical and worthwhile endeavor, and with the rest of the delegation, every measure has been taken to smooth that process, and ensure that our two states will work in harmony for the years and conflict to come.
With that in mind, there are some amendments that must be agreed to at this time, and terms will need to be set for the treaty to be signed today.
If you were not aware, a few decades ago, Empyria was engaged in a bloody and costly civil war where a group of religious cultists, motivated by baseless claims of god’s, committed unforgivable atrocities against the people of Empyria. At the conclusion of the civil war, and the agreement of the Senate, Parliament, and the Crown, an Amendment to our constitution was made, thereby restricting the practice in private or public of any fictitious act of prayer.
Although since then, much of the population has… reviewed their opinions on the matter, it is still widely agreed in Empyria that this amendment stay in place to stop any more deaths for no actual reason, and a good part of our population still feel rather strongly of it too.
With this in mind, an amendment must be made for any cultural or immigration agreement of the following;
First, upon entering of Empyrian Sovereign Territory or ship, no public worship or prayer be done by any visitors. This includes acts of prayer, as well as the wearing or displaying of any religious items.
Secondly, any Union citizen wishing to become a Citizen of Empyria renounces any school of worship they may have subscribed to, or uphold a lack of. This is of course dependent on whether we agree to a full open borders policy, so this may not be necessary now.
Thirdly, any Cultural exchange between Empyria and the Union excludes the exchange of religious items, texts, or acts, with the firm exception for historical or research purposes when allowed by the Ministry of State.
Finally, because of the inability to fully regulate cyberspace, while religious websites or other cyberspace religious in nature will not be blocked in the Empyrian internet, on all cyberspace protected and regulated by the Union and Empyria, the Sale or advertisement of Religious items, texts, or acts, with the with the firm exception for historical or research purposes when allowed by the Ministry of State from the union to Empyria be restricted. This final amendment is more of a formal agreement because of the nature of this request, but is required.”
Jarakn leaned back in his seat now, finishing his script,
“This may be a tall request, but hopefully it will be seen in the broader context of this treaty, and accepted, so we may continue with this treaty. These terms are regrettably non-negotiable, so once we agree to this final amendments, I believe we should be done Ambassador?”
Nulia nodded in agreement, “I know this may be a particular request for the Union, so if a minute is needed to convene, we can wait for you to get approval from your higher authorities.”
"Absolutely, we will seek diplomatic conduct with them and see if they agree, if they do or don't either way we will let you know." Esme placed her hands on the table quite pleased.
However as they began to discuss the civil nature of the open congress worship and religion Esme turned to Drane and gave a raised eyebrow. As the terms were laid out very plainly Esme kept a happy face, quite amused by the situation. By the end Esme turned to Drane.
"Shall I or do you wish to address this?"
"By all means" Drane replied with a hand gesture. Esme then began to speak.
"Thank you for putting forward something such as this at the first hurdle. It speaks volumes about your nations openness and willingness to address problematic subjects first to get across the largest obstacles in diplomacy" Esme spoke with calm and calculated speech before finally becoming much more relaxed.
"However. This matter is not an issue whatsoever. We ourselves if you have personally not delved into Union history, had a majorly detrimental era in which open worship of our leaders, the Angels, caused considerable backlash and instability. The religious movement saw the creation of the peoples Congress as an affront to the Angels, despite they themselves creating and mandating it. Thankfully calmer and more intelligent heads prevailed, and since then theistic religion as well as open worship in Union space is banned. Of course certain diplomatic residences overcome this law and non theistic faiths are still permitted. You will find no Unioner who openly prays, displays their symbols or ascribes to a faith in your terms. Of course we have much in the way of religious documents and more, for historical, philosophic and academic purposes but we will not be openly sharing them unless for such purposes on request."
She grinned.
"As such it is a non-obstacle and my nation is more than willing to sign these terms. No deliberation is required"
"That is correct, this are perfectly acceptable" Drane added.
The whole table was dead silent for a few seconds as the Empyrians digested what they heard. A few had done some former research and heard a bit about the angels, but after the Union experience with Gilitim, they didn't fully expect a full agreement off the bat. Nevertheless, there was an emotional wave of relief from the Empyrian side of the table.
Nulia was the first to take initiative, as the State Attache leaned back on his chair, a surprised yet agreeable smile.
“Well, that really does oil the gears, I was expecting a much more bumpy road to an agreement, but seeing as we have, I believe our amendments are all done on the Empyrian side.
Should the Union side have no amendments it wishes to proposes at this time, I’ll send an aide from our side and yours to print up a formal final draft of the amended treaty, and of course the digital version will be sent to both parties' offices immediately.”
Nulia finished a glass of water next to her, clasping her hands in finality,
“So, anything else we need to discuss, or are we ready to go meet the press and get this signed?”
“Any other nation it may have been a sticking point, but it seems you came to the right place” Esme chuckled “We have no amendments on our side, the terms of the treaty regarding mutual defence, economics and closer relations are what we are truly eager for. We will be ready for the official version whenever you finish it, and I will relay it straight to the Congress and Prime minister”
“I think that would be all. We are ready for the official signing and public appearance” Drane added gesturing for them to move whenever everyone was ready. Esme patted down her dress and made sure she was looking the part.
“This is my first official diplomatic signing so forgive me if I am a bit nervous” She awkwardly smiled “I am still very excited however for what this will bring”
Nulia gave a nod of appreciation, getting up from the table, and leading the delegations out of the bar, escorted by a gaggle of aides and Marines.
“A few aides are running to get the printed copy of the treaty, and the digital version is of course available to everyone right now as we continue on.
Here is the basic idea of how this is going to work. Esme, you and I are going to walk up to the podium, you know the type. Drane, you are welcome to come with, and if you do Jarakn you outrank the rest of the other diplomats here, so you’ll be my Plus one. We’ll both wave, smile, and you’ll say a word or two to the assembled crowd, followed by me. I will sign the treaty then, followed by you. Afterwards, you can follow me to the press room nearby, and we’ll answer half a dozen questions and hope our cyberwarfare professionals can hack the AI which chooses which reporters can get a question answered so we can have some softball questions instead of… well, you know the type.”
Nulia said the last joke with a hint of laughter, but it was of course a prelude to the heavily mixed press retaliation to this treaty.
As the tangle of diplomats walked through the hallways of the seemingly labyrinth embassy, they were met with the nods and smiles of the dozens of other lower level staff, gawking Union or Empyrian citizen or business representative, or stone faced Blue Beret Marine. The tone was rather high though throughout the embassy, and after some time, they wandered upon what seemed to be an important door. Behind it was a red carpet leading to a podium, with a very fancy and newly printed piece of paper on it.
“Well.” Nulia said contently and a bit excitedly.
“After you Esme.”
Esme laughed at the jokes and listened intently as she was given the run down. Drane rapidly agreed that he would also be present and as they moved to the final moment Esme steeled herself. Professional face, this would be absolutely key to gaining more political favour and having her party rise above the Unity party.
“Thank you Nulia, lets try make it to the other side, shall we?”
She smiled and went first, walking out across the red carpet she held herself high and strode with confidence and purpose. Already pictures were being taken and countless individuals had turned up to observe the proceedings. Nulia walked just next to her, and soon enough after what felt like a lifetime, they reached the podium. Both waved, before Esme came forward to speak.
“The galaxy is in a tumultuous time. One where things may not go as we planned. One where we may not have the things, we take for granted today. But today, we take another step towards avoiding that darkness, that uncertainty. Only together can we overcome the dangers and evils of the galaxy, and on this day of days another friendship, forged through mutual understanding, will help pave the way for yet another step towards stopping those dangers. I stand here on behalf of the Union of Worlds, to announce and authenticate the official signing of an alliance between our nations and our peoples. May this be joining in friendship lead to a prosperous and bright future” She grinned as there was a round of applause. Esme then stepped back for Nulia to speak.
Nulia gave an appreciative smile to Esme as she took a step back, and let Nulia take center stage. To her Right, Jarakn, the Royal attache, stood motionless, but the message of his presence was felt across the room- a signature of approval- a heavy one at that if he was actually standing there next to Nulia.
Nulia gave a look around the room before she began, breathing in in a concentrated manner,
“When Queen Rossana said that Empyrias Destiny is Peace among the stars, many interpreted it in different ways. Many said how Rossana Hoped that Empyria would isolate, giving peace to herself and her people, defiant and ignorant of the galaxy around her. But, I hope to show what she truly means by that statement today. Empyria, instead of becoming Ignorant, has now become Enlightened, Ingrained and Entrusted in the new Galactic Community, and with the help of other states who wish for peace among the stars like us, we hope to push forward a new agenda of peace, democracy, liberty, and freedom, for not just us, but Everyone.
Ignorance is Selfishness, and today, Empyria and our Close Ally, the Union of Worlds, hopes to end the Ignorance and Selfishness of Isolation, and together, bring forward not an agenda, not a plan, and not a message, but a Promise. A promise- that all people of this Galaxy shall, in due time, have peace among the stars.”
As Nula and Esme signed the treaty on the podium, the assembled reporters, diplomats, and other attendees of both states gave a light applause, not a thunderous uproar, but a more toned down and polite clap. While for Many it was a very joyous occasion to see all their Diplomatic Work come to fruition, for many the bittersweetness of this treaty was evident. Empyria had officially opened up, and with Galactic Tensions being what it was, many believed Nulia had just signed the death of billions of Empyrians in the wars of liberation to come.
Nevertheless, Nulia and Esme gave a final nod and appreciative lip, and left the podium, through the red carpet, with the sliding doors closing behind them.