Loretti Basque's Story

The video picked up then with the point of view shifted behind the person who’s point of view it was supposed to be. Vena was standing before a number of Aschen soldier outside of the Patronus temple. “It is a decoy.”, offered Einar with an attempt to explain why the point of view was not where it should be. “Rhea! May I join you and this delegation in the dining hall? I believe we have a vested interest in this meeting.”

The Aschen raised their weapons and Admiral Nagala spoke. "You're not welcome here. "The Varden are allied with the Taiyou bent on the destruction of our people as a race, tell everyone to get to safety... now." Nagala turned to a woman near her with white hair. EGO had read the woman’s lips and put the words at the bottom of the video. “Whisper, if this turns violent I need you to do your thing.” The Aschen Admiral then turned back to Vena’s decoy. "There are elderly and Children here. I will fight you any time, any place. This is not the place. Leave."

Before Vena could act a man with gray hair stepped up and silenced the Admiral, cutting off any reply Vena could issue. "Enough! This is neutral ground. There will be no hostility here, from either of you, while you both remain our guests. I don't ask you to like each other, but to tolerate one another's presence. You're each acting as ambassadors of some form, this is no different to any other negotiations. Even enemies don't draw their blades or guns on one another in such circumstances.” A faint amber-orange glow issued from the man’s arrow sheathe his hip.

The white haired woman stood close to the Admiral and offered no words. Vena’s decoy took two steps forward and an indicator came up on the left side of the video screen. Einar spoke to explain. “EGO is warning her that the decoy is failing and will not last much longer.” Vena’s decoy spoke. "We do have a vested interest in this meeting. The Varden defend the interests of the Terran people through our council's mandate."

Nagala lowered her weapon slightly. "We're in a state of War with the Varden Hegemony, we're not participating in any negotiations with her present." She then spat before continuing on. “For all I know it could be a trap. Let's go, I don't think the Taiyou have missed our arrival, it won't be long before they arrive to kill everyone here.”

Rhea spoke now. “An attack upon yourselves would be an attack upon this temple. Vena. I invited you to accompany me to Wing City so that you might discuss your business with the appropriate people, people that can't be found here. The Patronus are not the Terran Government, and any negotiations in regards to matters of these wars are better directed elsewhere. This is not the place for war councils, intergalactic diplomacy, or planetary defenses. I will have to ask that you wait outside while this matter is concluded.”

Rhea then looked to Nagala. “I will speak with you.”, she said to the Admiral. Your men can wait here if you wish. The girl may accompany you.” The party turned away and then the screen went black, the video ending.

Cain Genesis watched in silence throughout, only offering a nod when Einar explained the various anomalies in the footage. Once it finally ended and the screen went black, the man leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"So the Varden are at war with the Aschen. You are not acting with the Taiyou, are you? As far as I was aware, the Taiyou declared war on the remnants of the TNG and that makes them just as much my enemy, especially if they see the TNG as the only lawful governing figure on Terra."

Still, it wasn't like he could do much about it whatever the case. "So, is that it?" He went on to ask, trailing his fingers around a glass of water that he occasionally sipped. "What of Terra itself? The planet is in a state of anarchy, are there not regional governments taking power over areas of the planet? Warlords expanding their influence and using the chaos to their advantage? Or not even an attempt to restore the National Government and with it, order?"

Einar Falls nodded, leaning back in his chair. "The Varden have been at war with the Aschen for about a year but have been unable to act until recently. Inaya and Ithica, the Varden council world is more than one billion light-years distant but let me easy your mind. We are not working with the Taiyou. How could we work with someone who has such disregard for life?", Einar said, referring to how the Taiyou were treating Aschen civilians.

“There is more to show but I will answer your other questions first. There are some minor warlords that have risen to power, mostly in third world nations or places that the Terran National Government does not have an established hold over. Despite the failing of your government, the people have united more than I think you would believe. I am not saying that crime on your world had not risen exponentially. It has. Most of the grasping or talks have been made by extraterrestrial power blocks. Some others on the planet have spoken out for reform. Invictus is one of them. ”

"I see. Invictus being the private military contractor, yes? At least, that's what I've heard of them. I'm not sure what interest they have in reform, but I trust their intentions are honourable."

"The issue I have now is simple: what do I do next? This war has been going on for some time and soon, the fighting will slow and the process of rebuilding will begin. When that happens, when civilians leave the bunkers and the protection of militias to rebuild their lives, will they forget the reasons we joined together to protect ourselves? Will we disband our forces and go deaf to the call of arms that would mean we at least have a fighting chance against the next nation that tries to condemn us to annexation or puppetry?"

"People have a tendency to be like sheep; ignorant and all alike. They chew cud and ignore the wolf until it enters the field, but when the wolf leaves, they make no effort to prepare for it's return. They just go back to eating and reproducing."

He was being strangely morbid, and he realized it. Perhaps he was just stressing over the overall situation. He probably needed a good night's sleep.

"We need a reform, that much is true. But we need strong leaders, leaders who will act instead of just discuss and debate. Leaders who are intelligent, powerful and just. Leaders who can ensure that Terra is not just swept under the machine of a new Empire seeking dominion over it."

Einar Falls raised a brow. "Maybe sooner rather than later. Counsilor Rosenthal recently requested the suspension of the Varden's declaration of war on the Aschen. They have been granted a two week reprieve. Two weeks or until an Aschen representative meets the council. I could show you that video but those short words pretty much sum it up.", Einar stood, leaving the touch pad in front of Cain. “That doesn’t much matter though. The Aschen have just surrendered to UCON.”

He looked hard at Cain then as if appraising him. “I think you are a better leader than you give yourself credit for. I heard your speech. It was one of the reasons we contacted you.”, he said, paused and pushed the chair in and under the table. “There is a peaceful delegation meeting. If we leave now we can get there fashionably late. Will you be one of those that represent Terra? Of course…”, he said and then delayed the words following. “I am not a son of Terra. We cannot represent you, nor would we choose to.”

Cain Genesis could not help but smirk. "I doubt I have the authority to be one of those who could represent Terra at such a delegation. And even if I did choose to try, I would not know what I would say, or do, or strive to achieve. Still, I have to admit I am curious about what will happen and seeing it personally would definitely be an experience."

"Besides, I would be lying if I was to say I was a son of Terra myself. I wasn't born here, or raised here. My parents were, but the Terra they experienced ended with the total decimation of the planet and most of this galaxy. So you can understand why, when I was given the chance to come back here and try to change things, I jumped at the opportunity."

"To travel to an alternate universe and risk everything to try and save a strange planet from a fate that might not even happen here... Well, I suppose you could say it's my home now, as much as anyone's."

He groaned, stretching his arms up high with a pop as he stood out of his chair. "Very well, I'll go to this meeting. Where is it taking place?"

Einar Falls just smiled and then casually pointed up. The hour that followed would have Cain and Einar jump onto a frigate, travel faster than light, and arrive fashionably late to a meeting that they really had not been invited to in the first place. Einar gifted the touch pad device to Cain. It could be that the device would assist him in the coming talks or in the near future.

The Rocketeer stops, muttering something about having to get off-planet, and fast.