A near-space, space-age, human solar system.

Horman Cambo sat before the terminal and frantically pressed keys. He turned about.

"S-sir, I c-can't quite f-figure out what the p-problem is, s-sir!"

The captain watched Horman with apparent amusement, but said nothing. Horman hoped dearly that this did not indicate that the other wanted a full report, and after a brief hesitation returned to his furious pressing. The captain was by far the least condescending officer to preside over Horman's career in communications, but he was still a captain of the Navy. The man seemed to be consumed by his thoughts, and Horman's typing was the only sound for several minutes.

"Officer Cambo, you can relax. There is nothing wrong with our instruments."

Horman's eyes widened as he forgot completely about the terminal.

"B-but, s-sir, then wh-what..."

"I believe that the problem rests with Tertius, Officer Cambo. Verdanus is eclipsed by Tertius, and Tertius is no longer relaying to us. I've a bad feeling."

He spoke into the ship's speaker.

"Turn us around."

Koagrad

The ambassadors were seated in the lecture hall - the closest semblance to a senatorial meeting house that could be found. The veil of action had disintegrated, and most, if not all, were coming to the shared, but still unspoken, realization that they knew nothing of the ambassadorial trade, nor what force had moved then from their home sectors to Koagrad. Still, the ambassadors did their best to maintain the pretense of knowledge and experience as they spoke amongst themselves.

A stocky man dressed in poorly fitting and unnecessarily flowery garments walked to the lecture podium and with great apprehension addressed the crowd.

"Guys... uhm, Ambassadors, please attend me. I am Felp Mehjar, engine- Director of the Koagrad Peace Talks."

He let his unease fester in a long pause. A grunt from an ambassador roused him to continue.

"We are here today because, uhm, we need to determine what we will do. We can... declare independence, unite, or... return to Verdan Rule."

He shrunk back as the yelling commenced.

"We can go about it in a less wasteful way. Unless we all manage to unite and keep united, the Verdans will crush us, and you know it." Ambassador Floragyas replied smoothly, his muscles working hard not to betray any emotion. "At this point, the Verdans will merely increase security to prevent something like this from happening again. I do not see any country breaking consequences if we decide to stop now here. If we do not, and continue, we will inevitably have war, and ravaging Tertius is not what Floragyas has interest in, Major General." The other ambassadors murmured silently, discussing the problem at hand, for once. "Since we KNOW they'll take advantage of us bickering amongst one another, they won't waste what little resource they have to crush us. They need our supplies, because there is nowhere else they can get them in plentiful stock."

Mulling Selvaria's words over, the Ambassador saw a lot of steam, but not much logic. "If what you say is true, than there is no point of a Union that will fall apart once the Verdans pull away. They will then regroup, and attack us once more. What's stopping them then? Unless you can provide terms everybody here agrees on, I see no further point in discussing this matter." Ambassador Floragyas noticed he had stood up. Nodding his head apologetically, he sat down and reached for a glass of water.

Ambassador Floragyas didn't like playing the role of Devil's Advocate, but Selvaria's words were very dangerous and involves taking many unnecessary risks. He had to talk some sense into the other Ambassadors before they followed her like they would the Pied Piper.

(Sorry, forgot to change the location this post is in. Still getting used to this new system.)

Koagrad (I make the same mistake)

Ambassador Ponan allowed for arguments to thrive, but himself stayed quiet. Had he continue to speak, his proposition would have been neglected, while his character was ravaged. His cessation allowed others to take the brunt of any harsh words. When the arguments had settled, however, into technical questions of who, how, and why, Ponan returned to the podium.

"A coalition. We might vote, but I fear we will remain divided. I have the reason why united action is necessary."

He was older than most, and this afforded him a brief courtesy.

"I studied in this very university, right here in Koagrad. Some of you may have studied on Verdanus, but are then only moreso aware that the University of Koagrad is the only university on all of Tertius. And even so, it is geared only to vocational education in techinical fields. What Verdanus lacks in resources, we lack in education. Only through united action can we insure that trade with Verdanus will aid our independence."

He glared.

"Else, betrayal will destroy us."

His proposal was almost shot down immediately. This much he'd figured. Reiko wasn't trying to be the all-seeing eye with a perfect solution. In fact, by almost getting on Selvaria's nerves, he'd ensured a lasting memory with her. Ambassador Floragyas however, seemed to be a little more interested in what Jorm had to say. At least he wasn't the only one who thought an all-out war could possibly be avoided if there was a chance. He liked this Floragyas. When that man spoke to Jorm, Jorm tried to show some understanding. Hopefully they could speak more freely somewhere else sometime.

"You say you're from..Eurova?" Jorm asked, in almost a rhetorical question. "Perhaps my wording wasn't quite right. Floragyas may also be right in that I assume too much foolishness on Verdanus's part. Though I must say, I think anyone who is so inclined as to throw the concept of WAR so easily, has more personal interests to protect than that of millions of people and resources."

He was looking straight at Selvaria now. "What blight have you overcome in your life that you would toss a planet still fresh in coming into being, into a war? I think there has got to be a more peaceful solution. In fact, what is the full reason for these ships being docked here in the first place?"

He then thought of an idea. "A combined idea from both of you, then. We promise to return the ships back to Verdanus, which would provide us time to prepare, a stall. We arm these ships with small explosives, enough to make them blow up, providing Eurova with the bloodshed they desire."

The Ambassador of Floragyas was beginning to grow slightly impatient with the hot-headed speaker of Eurova. Not only did she interject a point he was trying to make, she forms a very biased counter. However, he held his tongue under lock and key until she was finished with Jorm before speaking once more.

"I disagree strongly with your point, Major General." Floragyas replied icily, his tone rising to match Selvaria herself. "If we refused them supplies, they will only attack sooner. If we sent them supplies, they won't be as hasty to waste the supplies we send them by immediately attacking right after. If they attacked right after, they'll be sent back to square one, with little to no supplies. That means unless they want to lose a war of attrition, they won't be as hasty to attack us if we send them supplies." The Ambassador admonished harshly.

He noticed he had involuntarily stood back up to meet the Major General's glare. Nodding in assent, he sat back down. He began listening to Jorm as he began to speak once more. "Your plan is... very risky. Explosive supplies ships can be considered a form of terrorism, since civilians that have nothing to do with them often unload them. At best, they will be guards since Verdans treasure any sort of supplies, but if it's a sudden and provocative attack, it lands Verdanus in the situation I just spoke of. If we deny them supplies, they will attack. If we send them supplies that will explode or last a short term they will attack. If we send them supplies without any sort of hostility, they will hesitate. That is how I see it.

Reiko mentally thwacked himself for being such a hypocrite at first glance. He tried to keep this mental pain to himself and not show it in his face though.

Jorm nodded, looking at both of them as they spoke. "Forgive me, Ambassador of Eurova, I suppose my attacks personally against you might have been uncalled for. It wouldn't be too far of a leap for it to seem as if I were raised by..wolves...as the saying goes, eh?" He grinned slightly when he said the expression, and let out a light chuckle. He couldn't help it, if they had even a clue. Which of course, nobody yet did. He would wait to show his hand a long time from now, but it would come soon.

"So, Eurova is in favor, to at least some degree, of the sly attack. Perhaps the details of it would need to be sorted out, but if we went along with it, it would have to get sorted out soon. On the other hand.." Ambassador Jorm stated, turning his body towards the Ambassador Floragyas, "If we were to simply supply Verdanus with their scheduled ships, and if they even 'hesitated' it's very unlikely that they wouldn't attack. If they did decide to issue an assault, how would you respond to this, Ambassador Floragyas?" He looked with extreme curiosity to the man.

"If is the operative word, Ambassador Jorm." Ambassador Floragyas answered calmly, regaining his former temperament. "If you have been listening before, if we deny them supplies any further they will take the initiative and attack much more quickly, and thus lose necessary time to even begin preparing for the inevitable. However, if we supply them it will appease them. Tertius is the only source of supplies for Verdanus, after all. There is no mistaking the fact that they will use the supplies, however since they know a source of supplies is incoming they will relax. They will wait a bit more. When they have a sufficient amount, then the possibility of attack will arise. That will give us time, instead of rashly rushing to take the initiative and getting crushed later."

Clearing his throat, Floragyas gave a pointed stare to every one of the other Ambassadors. "If they DO attack, however, it will be a brutal rush. No scouting forces, no concrete strategy. They need these supplies. Therefore, if they attack us as we are now or any time in the future, we will be crushed no matter what we pull together instantly. It's not a question of if they attack, Jorm. It's a matter of WHEN."

When Selvaria looked at the both of them, he felt her stare. He knew the embarrassment and the shame he should have felt when she did such, and when she spoke. However, Jorm wasn't your everyday male. In fact, Jorm wasn't even himself, he was Reiko, an already drastic change. When Reiko locked eyes with Selvaria, he kept his eyes on hers, without speaking a word. He just...looked.

"It seems we have little choice. Inevitably we will continue to bicker back and forth, or one of us will snap if we continue on this subject. I propose that Tetrius prepare itself for war. Simple as that. The details of how exactly we might welcome our neighbors from Verdanus can be left for a later time. Ambassador of Eurova, can you agree to this?

Reiko had heard about all he needed to from these people right now. He wasn't much of a politician, and his charisma worked in different ways, not behind a desk. He wanted to see more of these other two ambassadors though. Especially Selvaria, something about her caught his attention.

"You have done nothing to attempt to appease, nor have I ever suggested you to be a warmonger, Major General Selvaria." Ambassador Floragyas said. "You are committing ad hominem attacks on myself, and I ask you to watch where you tread with your words!" Settling down, the Ambassador was beginning to think the Major General was more likely to spew out ignorant trash than think out her words carefully in this situation. However, he kept this to himself, instead regarding Eurova's hot-headed representative with a disdainful stare.

"Also, Major General. You seem to be forgetting one vital fact as well," the Ambassador added on, his unbroken stare continuing to bore into her. "The supplies also go to the people. As you know, we are the prime and only source for Verdanus. What does that mean? It means that it's not JUST the military and war machines the supplies go to. It also goes to the people, the health care, the cities, the infrastructure, the transport, and everything else an entire planet needs to run on, Major General." He finally looked away in slight disgust, taking a sip of water from the glass. "If you are to be a little more open minded, you will then realize that much of the supplies we give them will go to making sure that their planet will not descend into anarchy!"

"Well, let's assume that it DID all go to the military, to satisfy your point of view, Major General." Ambassador Floragyas said, his voice gaining strength. "Well, then the people would rebel, structures would collapse, there would be massive amounts of inflation, there will be riots, robberies, crime rate will shoot up!"

"And what will happen then, Major General?" Asked Floragyas, "Well, then the Consulate would have to turn it into a military rule, meaning they will have to spread their forces thinly all over the PLANET. Do you think, then that they will be able to invade and attack us? Do you honestly think that giving them supplies would leave it to go all straight to the military?"

"There you are, Major General, using ad hominem methods to undermine my position." Floragyas said. "If that is the way you operate, you and Jorm may both do as you please." He got up, and ushered to his guard. His face remained smooth and emotionless, as he left the room knowing for a fact that Selvaria had been outmatched, and simply decided to use logical fallacies to bring him down.

"Ready my ship. We are heading back to Floragyas." The Ambassador said silently, exiting through the front doors, and walking down the steps. A black car pulled up to the curb, and Ambassador Floragyas got in, slamming the door shut behind him. The driver nodded, his sun glasses shading his eyes. The Ambassador took out a phone, and pressed in the digits necessary for whoever he was calling. The machine rang once, twice, then was picked up.

"How did it go?"

"A complete success. That fool Eurova sent has done exactly as you predicted, boss."

"Excellent. Where is our man?"

"Still observing.""

"That is good, Ambassador. I will notify our Verdan friends myself. Thank you."

"The pleasure is mine, boss."

Antony stood in his chair and began to march towards the exit. Pretenna was going to have the final word, it was clear, and, by the time they had the courage to muster their fleets, Tertius would have solved its internal turmoil and surrounded itself with armies ready to massacre any arriving Consulate forces. The Prefect who had sat behind him stood as well and scuttled up to his side. "Antony, what are you doing?" The Prefect asked.

"I'm leaving," Antony replied.

"But they haven't had a ruling yet," The Prefect muttered.

"Yes they have," Antony said. "Its clear what the decision will be. Pretenna said it just a minute ago, nothing. I'm leaving, and I don't just mean I'm going home I actually mean I'm leaving. The planet."

The Prefect was taken aback by this, "...Why?"

"Because I'm going to Tertius," Antony said. "I'm going to use my finger as a gun and hopefully convince the rebels that I have a fleet of Consulate murderers following me."

"You know leaving like this is illegal, don't you?" The Prefect said.

"Only if I loose, in which case Ill be dead anyway," Antony chuckled, before pushing his way out the doors.

OOC: I meant to put the Consulate as my location, sorry.

(On the rouge research ship that has recently lost communication with the planets and is now returning...)

"Set us planetward, but keep us in Tertian shadow. I want to find out what is going on before we are to be assigned to new objectives."

Horman Cambo assented and complied. He was dumbfounded, but perhaps so was the captain. Horman would probably have swung to get a line of sight beam to Verdanus to contact central, but the captain seemed always to think ahead. It was an irregular lesson, to learn to avoid one's superiors when pursuing one's own aspirations, but Horman was glad to accept it - space communications were not nearly as exciting as he had once imagined.

"C-c-captain, what d-do you think we'll d-discover?"

"Officer Cambo, what did you study at Uni planetside? Well I studied social cataclysms."

Horman considered answering the question - he had studied the conversion of speech into thoughts and emotions, but doubted that the captain really wanted a response. This was a fair assessment.

"I think that communications with us are neglected because... But that's just paranoia. We'll see on Tertius."