Parliament's Chambers

"It is easy to speak of diplomacy while we sit here, safe and secure far from these troubles," Torinn growled in response as he too rose to speak.

The towering draconian was an imposing figure and his voice a rumbling gravely growl. The Draconian people - scarce though they had become - where well renowned for their fervent battle lust. It was known to be tempered with age though, and while that fire lived with Torinn, as it lived within the hearts of all Draconian, his words where chosen with care and precision.

"It is not we who are living in fear for our homes, and our lives along the southern borders," he emphasized roughly. "We have all seen the rise in violence, and the fire of intolerance sweeping through the eastern seaboard, and the far south. The people turn on one another in fear. We must bolster our borders if for nothing else than to assure the people of Aslund of their continued safety. If the Shintenchi land on our shores, it will be in the south where our military presence is weakest, and it is in the lands of Caldonia that Terran blood will be spilled first. Should that day come, it is our responsibility to ensure they do not spill it alone."

A number of news crews were on scene either standing around the peripheral or sitting on the third floor balcony. Miranda Gray was seated in the balcony but a camera drone floated effortlessly and noiselessly through the air to focus on each speaker as they voice their opinions. Miranda was busy taking notes as the drone focused on broadcasting the debates, her fingers dancing across a touch pad. These debates were being broadcast live to everyone that cared to watch in Aslund just as the inauguration had been.

[written by barney fife]

Chloe McGregor silently waited her turn as the various Parliament members began their debate. Her lips were pursed tightly as she quietly fiddled with her pen, and a small Datapad sitting on her desk. The Datapad was scrolling with news from various sources across Therrier-Paix.

She shook her head in silence as the Parliament members went on about Military Intervention in Shintenchi. She even scoffed silently a few times as Vlatko went on about direct Military Intervention. But she Kouanchao offered her own rebuttal.

She waited for Kouanchao to finish speaking, and then Klaić and the Draconian, before she made a face, and waited for everything to quiet down.

“Military action in Shintenchi…” Chloe said, tapping her Microphone, almost chuckling, before that chuckle turned into an outright laugh.

“So tell me! Mr… Vlatko Klaic…” She said, taking a sip of her drink.

“Are you going to hide in a bunker when the Taiyou Empire sits in orbit and starts dropping nukes because you thought it okay to invade one of their Shogunates? Mr. Klaic? Military Intervention is the dumbest idea I've ever heard, and I've heard some dumb things” She said, standing up.

“Or maybe, you’ll all have a place to hide when the AXIS retaliate with ‘Peacekeeprs’ and put us all in camps because we can’t be trusted with our own government? “ She said, laughing. “It’s hard to take you guys seriously, when you’re advocating flirting with a state that’s sworn to one of the largest Empires known to us. “ Chloe rebuked. “That’s a fools errand…”

[written by Script]

"McGregor is right," Kynala agreed, "We can't go toe to toe with an intergalactic empire that's shown in the past that it doesn't know the definition of a proportional response. Even ignoring that, it would be economically foolhardy - we can't go funding wars based on a single man's execution and our neighbour's unfortunate choices of allies. Equally, building up military forces on our coast would be seen as an act of aggression in and of itself - we don't have much room to manoeuvre."

Alison interjected with a frown, "The security of our citizens is paramount. Whilst widening the rift between us and the Shintenchi nations is unfortunate, we need to ensure our peoples' safety. We can't just ignore a legitimate threat to civilian lives. If not an increase military defence, we should at least be giving police forces in Asteria city and other affected cities greater funding and equipment to deal with the rise in racial tensions, not to mention the problems with trafficking."

{Addendum because I couldn't get on to post earlier}

Chloe turned over to Torinn, before she shook her head some more. "Bolstering military presence on our borders in the south could be seen as an act of aggression, and may provoke a wider Military response from the Shintenchi Shogunate." Chloe explained.

"I do agree that the Police require better equipment, it is better to assist the Local Police, than it is to build the Military up on those borders."

"But I can't justify taking us to war with the Taiyou Empire over one man, let alone the entire AXIS, the cost significantly outweighs the return." Chloe added.

Victor listened to the debates as he flipped through the TIB folder taking notes as others spoke. He had spent the last few days busily talking with local government officials in Gonthar. There was a deep fear among the people but Victor felt that the citizens in his region were fearful of the wrath of the Taiyou empire.

"I agree, direct military action against the Shintenchi nations would be disastrous. We cannot risk an armed conflict though we cannot allow ourselves to be forced into submission either. "

"We need to put more funding towards defensive installations, and deterrence forces. We must make it clear that we will defend ourselves if we are attacked that we will not waver. If we ignore Shintenchi then they will continue to threaten us into submission. We are walking a fine line, we must show resolve and stand firm against these provocations."

Flicking through the packet before him more to refresh his memory than anything else, Max's eyes moved between the debating Parliament members and various notes. Notably absent from his business-like attire was the brilliant orange scarf he was almost notorious for wearing, and his hard face was set in a neutral expression. Allowing Victor his words, Max gave a brief glance at Rhea before rising himself.

Holding up a hand, the man's calm voice filled the gap. "I might remind the our good friends Torinn and Victor that we're essentially at a state of readiness to engage in a conflict. Pouring more money into a budget that really has sufficient resources covering the borders under scrutiny at this moment is not needed. I will say that my perspective tends towards increasing our presence along the border, but I also understand, from the myriad of reports we've had filing in, that factors are just as confusing over there as they are here."

"I won't endorse the execution of a TNG citizen, but neither will I condone it, pending more concrete intelligence. Was there a trial we were not aware of? What sort of motivations were at play? Who truly bombed the bridge? These are open air questions people, and what we have is a mass of one sided information. Mobilizing troops on what amounts to secondhand accounts and filtered reports is not justification."

Rhea pursed her lips as the debating ensued, but one point rose to the forefront of her concerns.

"One would think this goes without saying, but let me remind us all that our duty is to every single citizen of the TNG," she remarked. The look she gave was pointedly directed at Chloe. "Our decision to act on a matter should not be made over whether it was one man, or a million men, only whether or not the proposed action is proportional to the offense committed. With that said, a military incursion into Shintenchi would not bring justice to anyone, and only serve to inflame the situation."

In response to Max's inquiry into intelligence and information on the matter, she continued. "As I understand it, the NPA is investigating whether or not any criminal act was committed in the execution of Joshua Mattrix, and what breach of protocols - if any - where made that may require reconciliation. Pending further information, I propose we dismiss the matter from the days agenda and turn our attentions back to the terrorist attack. Somehow this ship got past our planetary defenses. How? And how can we prevent this from happening again."

She looked to Max on this one. No doubt he had been scouring over every bit of information available to find that answer himself since he had taken his office. If anyone had any potential light to lend on the situation it was him.

"Inflame the situation, Prime Minister? Or ensure the complete destruction of this planet." Chloe rebuked.

"Need I remind you that I live here too." She added, shuffling some papers. Pausing as the discussion shifted to something else. "Our decision to act should be made on the risks, versus the possible benefit to this Nation. Justice is not worth the genocide of your people, Ms. Vaeros." She said. "The Taiyou are as relentless as they are barbaric, a sleeping dragon that should never be provoked. You forget that they nearly exterminated my people over what? A perceived offense to their interests?" Chloe said, standing up.

"To be frank our orbital defenses are a joke." She said, sitting back down, skulking.

Inclining his head at the Prime Minister's question, he sighed. "From what I can gather, the ship that made the bombing strike exited FTL inside the atmosphere, made its run, and then escaped the same way. Given the depth of it's entry, our orbital radar missed it, but our anti-air radar caught it. Given the location of the strike, it's my assessment that fire control hesitated at the thought of shooting close to or over the border, notwithstanding having any assets capable of being deployed to cover that portion of airspace to begin with. While our orbital assets could have identified it more quickly, their attention is more focused outward at this current time."

"To rectify the gap, the most we really can do is increase the capacities for our radar across the board. Actually stopping something of that size, however, would likely call for heavy anti-orbital weapons capable of striking targets nearly instantaneously with complete stopping power."

A slight scowl kissed the man's face. "Something I'm reluctant to endorse or implement, given the same anti-orbital weapon could be misconstrued as intercontinental artillery."

Victor listened to the discussions taking particular note of Rhea's comments and questions. When Chloe spoke Victor only shook his head slightly and scribbled something down.

When Max began talking about the attack and the lack in Radar Victor took particular note.

"I agree that Orbital weapons may be seen as an act of aggression, however I would not be opposed to strengthening our Radar systems, possibly along with a ground based defense system. I'm not suggesting any particulars but I'm sure with proper funding Terran based research could begin work on a new system." Victor said.

"Forgive me, Prime Minister, but I'm reluctant to so readily postpone discussion on what I feel is the most important topic of this session," Rubano looked towards Rhea, "I agree that we should forego a formal decision until the case becomes clearer - but we are not without facts." The chairman held up the TIB packet. He thumbed his glasses back over his nose ad opened the pamphlet.

"According to this intelligence," he began, "Joshua Mattrix was a Terran citizen living in Solinus City. He was being investigated by the NPA for the possible kidnapping of a young Volarian girl named Shanthi, who, as I understand it, is one of the Matriarch's most beloved servants. Unfortunately, Mr. Mattrix was mysteriously kidnapped before our officers could detain him. The next we heard of him, he was dead. Beheaded, in public, under the Matriarch's orders." Rubano looked up at Alison. "Forgive me if I'm wrong, Ms. Keating, but I do believe that the perpetrator behind the slave trafficking ring that captured Shanthi, Kenneth O'Leary, was apprehended by your men - and that Joshua Mattrix was, in fact, noted as an accomplice. This would suggest that Joshua may, in fact, have been guilty of the crime the Matriarch charged him with."

He looked up at the rest of Parliament. "Now, if it comes to light that Mattrix is guilty of the crimes that the Volarians charged him with, then there is no doubt that he deserved to face justice for his actions." He thumbed his glasses off his nose. "Real justice. With a trial. And jurors. And all the dues and considerations that a sentient being deserves to have when its life is at stake. But the fact of the matter is this - a foreign powers took one of our citizens - perhaps even took him from his very home on our land, where he was protected by our laws - tried him under their own laws and condemned him to death with evidence that has not yet come to light, if it exists at all." He smirked. "I would be curious to see if he even received the courtesy of a trial. This is something that I do not think Parliament, as the voice of the Terran people, can let stand."

He looked at Torinn. "As for your dilemma, honorable chairman, I cannot help but incline my support. There is no doubt that the Shintenchi isles, particularly the Shogunate and the Volarians, have become increasingly militarized over the past few years. Our vague-at-best diplomatic relations with them gives me little confidence that our eastern borders are safe." He nodded. "Still, I do not believe that diplomacy between our nations is dead, and an outright military garrison would do little to strengthen the possibility of absolute peace between us. To this end, I propose a compromise - one that will, ideally, allow us secure to our eastern and southern borders without the gaudy shows of force and fire that the Shogunate seems fond of."

"My compromise, honorable representatives, is this. Rather than garrison armies and post ships in orbit around the Shintenchi borders, we build a military instillation in the southeast - a mirror of our own Veritas here in Central Aslund. This new compound, this fort, would be responsible for training new recruits, surveying TNG interests in eastern Aslund and protecting Terran security." He nodded. "This would provide our southern and eastern borders with a first line of defense in the unlikely event of an outright attack, and would bring security to the currently vulnerable southern cities. It would also, I feel, do little to spike any serious aggression on the part of the isles. We are not posting a legion of Triremes around them or fencing them in with walls or erecting a standing army on their doorstep - we're building an outpost. A guardtower, of sorts." He reclined in his chair. "Truth be told, I've been meaning to submit proposals for a series of military instillation across our land for some time now."