Dubravko and the lone marine NCO had entered quietly, the Coalition personnel walking calmly and silently to their seats as the Chieftain toggled at the briefcase computer he carried. “Appears we’ve all been waiting patiently then … “ He remarked slightly, with his eyes down at the table. Putting the briefcase into a particular position in front of him the Chieftain pulled himself into his seat before he spoke on.
“So, we’re at the table now … who’s dead body are we going to be burying here?”
Once everyone had arrived, Kayabuki pulled open the sliding bamboo door to the Emperor's personal chamber. The entire Takayama family, with Emperor Nobuo seated at the head of the table, flanked to his right with Empress Takayama, and directly seated around the corner to Empress, was Crown Princess Yukiko Takayama, and seated around the corner, to the left of Emperor Takayama, was Crown Prince Shimizu Takayama. All of them quietly seated as the foreign delegations were brought into the room. Around the table were no chairs, but small cushions for everyone to kneel on, and plated before them was various Taiyou cuisines.
As Kayabuki entered, she offered a bow to the Emperor, expecting everyone in the room to also bow.
"Tennoheika, may I present to you, Einar Falls of the Varden Delegation, Viktoria Kampf of the Greater Imperial Hegemony, and Counselor Dubravko, of the Coalition." She said, the Emperor offering a slow nod.
"Be seated." He said, gesturing to the table. "You're dismissed, Prime Minister." He said calmly, and Kayabuki nodded and quickly ducked out, a pair of Imperial Guard entering behind the group, and closing the door behind them.
"I would like to welcome our esteemed allies, The United Coalition of Organized Nations, and the Greater Imperial Hegemony to this delegation, our alliance has prospered through mutual cooperation and agreement." He said, before he brought his gaze to Einar.
"However..." The Emperor said, pausing a moment. "The Circumstances to why we're here, are less than pleasent. And demands an immediate explaination."
Einar's did bow and his was of a similar depth to Kayabuki who had bowed before him. His eyes remained fast to the floor and did not seem to waver to make a glance about the room. "Tennoheika. It is indeed a less than pleasant circumstance that draws me here to this world. I cannot speak for the other delegations present."
"I have come because I was invited, because the Taiyou Empire has saw fit to declare war on the Varden, because the Varden responded to an incident on another sovereign entity’s soil that we have made a commitment to defend. This incident involved the killing of Terran civilians without any concern for their sovereignty or laws by the Taiyou. The response of the Varden, an attempt to detain said Taiyou force resulting in suicide and fratricide of that same force and the nuclear bombardment of that planet." He remained bowed.
Viktoria followed the minister into the room, her two guards following closely as she watched Kayabuki bow with curious eyes. No one bowed in the Hegemony, not to her or her father, though she knew that there were some who bowed to her step-mother. However, in contrast to the minister and the Varden delegate, the princess offered the Taiyou Emperor a stiff Scatterran salute, palm raised calmly in the air as she did so.
"Sieg heil, Tenno Heika!" She looked just below his throne, careful to follow the directions given to her. "My father sends his warmest apologies, but there were matters on Himmelsreich that demanded his immediate attention. I hope that you will not consider my presence a belittlement." Calmly still she waited for the emperor to acknowledge her before dropping her salute, taking a seat as she was bidden.
Her guards, however, remained standing behind her, out of respect for the daughter of their God.
Kampf glanced back to the man who insisted on remaining in that pathetic position, emerald gaze picking apart the obvious inferiority of his species. "Perhaps then, your people should learn not to stick their noses in matters that do not involve them." Isolationism was a prized facet of her father's state.
"Tenno Heika," The princess spoke, glancing back to the table, concentrating on what was laid in front of her. "If I might dare a question? I understand the importance of the Varden delegate, and I belive to understand the situation as it involves your majesty, but how does this concern the Greater Hegemony?"
“I’m sorry but … “ Dubravko raised a hand up from the table for a minute, having bowed quietly while the marine saluted to remain standing. “Before we delve into this topic of sovereignty … “ Drawing his finger around the table for a moment the Chieftain seemed to be choosing his words.
“For sovereignty to be violated there must first be a power in that chamber. Obviously, this situation has been caused by an incompetence in not just one, but both of the methods and protocol of operation here … Emperor, I graciously accept any explanation for the forces under your administration’s control for the actions on Terra. This planet has been wartorn … “ Taking a drink from a glass of water he folded his arms against themselves.
“However, as the orchestrators of our people’s destiny it is paramount we see the forest for the trees. This is an international incident but, … “ The Chieftain idly took his hands from the table after making a gesture towards the Varden.
“If we are going to solve any of the problems plaguing any of our societies now, we will not do so by squandering those who will provide … ‘humanitarian’ assistance to those we had been forced to leave behind.”