Avantia was seated within the great hall of the royal palace with a pair of guards flanking either side of the alabaster dais. Their white and gold piped garb marked them out as those of her royal guard, and both were armed with a pair of spear like weapons; though, on closer inspection one might take note that they did not appear as any traditional spear. The ends were curved and barbed for melee combat, but the haft was thicker than was traditionally required, and the grip that was sculpted along the length of it was reminiscent to that of a gun. One could only speculate on what the weapons might fire.

The rest of the large hall had been prepared for the arrival of Stryfe and her people with a large table set for Stryfe's men to seat themselves at should they wish. Both food and drink had been set out and were both plentiful.

The grand doors that led into the great hall had been left standing wide to allow Stryfe and her people entry into the hall; though, all to enter the great hall would have been relieved of weaponry. Any of Stryfe's men who wished to remain armed would remain outside the hall - though no less welcome within the city itself.

Another pair of Avantia's royal guard kept vigil at the main entrance to the hall.

Stryfe wasn't big on the idea of removing her weapons, but she had Nina and Anodyne with her. One was a close quarters combat expert who probably knew who to killa man five times before they hit the ground and the other was Anodyne.

"Cyrus, you and the others stay outside. We'll go in alone, fill me in if someone can get in touch with Mary." Stryfe ordered, "You got it, Big Kahuna." Cyrus responded, he and the rest of the Invictus soldiers Stryfe had brought, about twenty of them, taking positions in the area. Their eyes searching for anyone who might be a problem or any signs of a problem at all brewing.

The trinity of Stryfe, Anodyne, and Nina made their way into great hall. Stryfe donning her usual black pantsut, Nina and Anodyne wearing their usual uniforms and armor.

"All this food and I didn't bring you anything to eat." Stryfe said to the Avorians as she moved towards the large dining table. "I'm a terrible cook, so maybe that was for the best." Stryfe joked, "Anyways, shall we get down to business?" The Invictus leader asked.

Shanthi stepped forward and spoke quietly to Avantia as she translated Stryfe's words for her. Avantia's response came in her native tongue of Volarian.

Shanthi inclined her head briefly before she turned to speak in turn to Stryfe.

"The Matriarch says that you are guests in her hall," she explained to Stryfe by way of explanation of the offered food.

While Shanthi translated for the Matriarch, Avantia rose from the cushions that she was nestled among and made her way down the steps of the dais.

"She thanks you for making the trip to Volary and hopes that you enjoy your time here, but that she understands you did not travel all the way here for pleasantries. She asks what it is you have come to speak with her about."

"For one," Stryfe began, taking a seat at the table. "I would like to hope to convince you that joining the TNG is the best course of action. At least when it comes to handing things that aren't very... native to the planet. It has a long history of invaders and random lone wolf terrorists showing up." Stryfe told Avantia.

"I hold no position within the TNG at all, what I'm doing is purely out of concern and to strengthen the unity of this planet as I hope you know. I also want to thank you for your diamonds. I imagine they'll come in handy sooner or later." The Invictus leader continued.

"Secondly, I'd like to offer any Invictus assistance to you if you made it in the future. We are technically for hire, so we don't have a problem helping others out or doing the less important stuff while they do ither things." Stryfe said, "Plus, I think it'd help build some trust if we work together. I mean, I'm sure it's no secret to you how I feel about your relationship with the Taiyou. But, that's not what I'm here to talk about."

Stryfe paused for a moment, "Actually... I did bring back their gold. I was hoping you could pass it along."

Avantia raised an eye as Shanthi translated Stryfe's words and her voice held a note of curiosity as she responded in turn.

"The Matriarch says your customs are very strange to her," Shanthi translated. "She says that you accept our gift to you, but come to our city to return the gift of our friends and allies to the east while asking us to join with the TNG."

Avantia shook her head as she continued.

"She says that the Taiyou have done more for her people than this TNG. She says that she would not dishonor Volaria by forgetting this and turning to the advice of the people who so openly extend insult to those who have proven friend and ally to the Volarian people. She says that you claim no ill will towards the Taiyou Shogunate but that this gesture is a deliberate insult that speaks of the truth behind your words. She says that if the TNG wishes allies of the Volarians so too must they make allies of Losenji and the Taiyou Shogunate."

"I never said, once, that I have no ill will towards the Taiyou." Stryfe corrected, her voice becoming firm. "I have much ill will for what their government has done in the past to the people of Terra. Just because they haven't done it to you I should forget all of the deaths? The destruction? The kidnappings?" Stryfe asked, "Call it an insult, call it whatever you want. I did not acceot this gift from them, they insisted it upon me the same way their government has tried to insist their rule on Terra." Stryfe said, clearing her throat.

"Basically," Nina interjected, "Big Kahuna and the rest of our organization are not asking you to pick a side. They're asking you to make sure that when the time comes, you'll have many suitable allies. The allies of the TNG become your own, after all." Nina explained, "We could just ask you to join the Invictus, but... that's not our thing." Stryfe said, taking some time to regain her composure.

The sight of someone growing angry or frustrated probably wasn't new to the Avorians, but to Nina and Anodyne it was a rare sight from the Invictus leader.

"I can't speak entirely for the TNG. I have my doubts they'll ally with the Taiyou at all in light of recent events and past encounters." Stryfe said, "The Taiyou attempts to occupy this planet are what inspired me to start trying to rebuild a stronger, better, federation to protect it and prosper." The Persian woman told her hosts.

"You are quick to defend them, I can only assume my time here will be a waste."

Avantia's tone sharpened.

"The Matriarch says that these Imperial Taiyou that you speak of are not the Taiyou of Shintenchi," Shanthi continued. "She says that you condemn the people of Shintenchi for their ethnicity and that you judge them for the actions of an Empire a galaxy apart from this place. She says that people are to be judged for their own actions rather than the actions of their forebears, and that these people have lived peacefully in Shintenchi for many years."

"She says she will not support those who would support racism and ethnic persecution against a people who have not committed the acts you speak of."

Avantia moved away as she looked out over Volaria from one of the towering windows that lined the hall.

"She says that it is still her wish to pursue trade and open relations with the other peoples of Terra, but that she sees now that this claim of a unified Terra with equal representation is a fallacy."

Avantia sighed and shook her head.

Shanthi hesitated a moment before she translated the remainder of Avantia's words. "The Matriarch says that a federation that supports the rejection of an entire ethnic group for nothing more than their ethnicity is not a people that Volaria wishes to ally itself to. She says this is the same intolerance that you claim to stand against and that you are no different than these people you hate so much."

"You do know what a Shogunate is, right?" Stryfe asked, "In Imperial Japan shoguns were lords who ruled over various parts of the Japanese Empire for the emperor, it was like being the governer of your own state. When it came time for war the shogunates would fight for the Emperor. It was their people, their mean, their weomen, aiding the cause, whatever it may have been at that time." Stryfe explained.

"You say because they aren't in the same galaxy, buecause there's smenatics with their name that they weren't involved in the atrocities that were committed here?" Stryfe asked, "And, ma'am, do not ever again twqist my words and insult me the way you just have ever again." Stryfe added, "Unlike them, I have no murdered people for having land I want to take. I don't know about you, but I don't support feudalism and genocide."

"I am not rejecting an ethnic group, I am rejecting the long arm of the Taiyou Empire." Stryfe said, "If the Taiyou of Shintenchi are serious about their distance from the Empire, tell them I'd like to speak to them and I ask for them to officially renounce the Empire and their support." Stryfe continued.

"In exchange... in response... that support will be replaced by that of my organization, the Invictus, with no questions asked. If I can convince them, and I will try, the TNG will offer their support as well."

"You can't be serious." Nina said, looking from Stryfe to Avantia, "I mean, I get it, politics. But... come the fuck on. Let's just leave, this lady supports them and their murders. I, for one, am not a fan of the Taiyou or their friends anyways. I think it's a bad call." Nina told Stryfe, "No offense." She said to Avantia.

"The Matriarch says that the Taiyou Shogunate has not been affiliated with the Taiyou Empire since the Tripartite was overthrown," Shanthi continued. "She says this has changed nothing in how they have been received, so why would it now? The Shintenchi Taiyou have stood alone as a sovereign people for many years already."

"She says that it is too late for such promises and that the Shintenchi Taiyou seek to rejoin the Taiyou Empire. She says too that if you do not support feudalism then you do not support Shintenchi and that you will find few friends here."

"She says though that you are guests here and that remains true regardless of this difference in positions. She says that you are free to leave when you wish, or to remain and enjoy the offered meal. She expresses regret that your trip was made in vain and hopes that one day an accord can be struck between the peoples of Shintenchi and the TNG."

"I'm fine with that." Stryfe said, "I'm a supporter of democracy. If you aren't, well... I'm happy that I won't find any, or many, friends here." The Invictus leader told Avantia, turning to head for the exit with Nina and Anodyne in tow.

"I'll have your diamonds sent back within the week." Stryfe told her hosts, "I don't want to keep gifts from someone who proclaims they are no friend of mine." The Invictus leader said before finally leaving, and taking her people with her.

"Alright, you kids stay out of trouble. Don't get into any vans with Scooby Doo curtains and don't get murdered by vampires." Nina told the three hunters, offering them a flourished bow before she and the others bwgan to depart. Only a few police officers sticking around to let as many people as possible know what's going on.

The people needed some peace of mind. They needed to know that what happened wasn't the precursers to something worse. But, that's all one could hope. That it wouldn't get worse.