NationStates Jolt Archive

Sighing, Automata Alshai Kommetrez once again thanks the portion of the Confluence that was B249 before pulling himself out of the well-traveled left-hand pilot seat of The Magician's Nephew. Climbing up the ladder, he dons his battered old fedora and breathes in the clean, if slightly thin, topside Stonozka air.

> Call me old-fashioned, but I'm still getting used to this whole Ascension thing.
# I/We know. Nonetheless, you do not regret your choice.
> Nope. Subsumption of self, honestly, frightens me to the core, whether that be human still or not. I know that You know I prefer sitting beside the godhead to the alternative.
# Of course. I/We also posit, as I/We always have, that if you decided to join Me/Us you would certainly enjoy it.
> I can't deny it; not enough information. All I can respond is as I always do--I'm simply not of the mindset to take that step now.

Waving merrily to the rooftop assault-armored guards, he steps into the roof access and down the unadorned staircase into the cubicle farm that is the upper floors of the Executive Apartments in Stonozka. Doffing his trenchcoat and fedora to the simple geometric coat-rack that stands beside the door, he walks across the large room to his desk, quickly tapping through the information of the day.

The International Relations section, despite its seeming inactivity in the public eye as of late, never sleeps.

So... what's in the inbasket for today? CINCTYCS? I don't usually get much things from mil-side. Appended by Razak, even.
Remember Largent? They seem extremely enthusiastic about supporting us militarily. I kept them from 'shoring up our defenses' by, essentially, handing him off to you diplomats. I don't know about you, but I'm still too paranoid to allow non-Trium warships in our territories.

It does seem to be open to diplomatic contact, though, so you shouldn't have a hard time with it.

--The CINCTYCS

[appendment]Look into this one, Bob. It's not often we see a friendly face.
--Razak

All right then. In his mind, connections link up.

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: Automata AK1 - Angelus Mainframe - TriumComNet - Largent
:
{Greetings once again from the Federated Segments of Scolopendra.}

{We look forward to friendly diplomatic relations with your nation. Perhaps}
{we can exchange diplomats to learn more about each other and share}
{our respective cultures. While we are already united in spirit against some}
{who do not share our views, we know very little about each other.}

{I respectfully suggest we rectify this.}
:
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/alshai_kommetrez2.gif (http://www.silentrequiem.net/triumvirate)
Advisor Automata Alshai Kommetrez
International Relations Section
Federation of Scolopendra

David Fletcher sat at his terminal when the transmition came. Wow, this is pretty big. Scolo asking for an exchange of delegates "Commander! You should see this." Cammander Derieden was a large man who had steadily climbed the rankings of the IPLSA(InterPlanetary Largentian Security Agency). He glanced at the terminal and raised an eyebrow. He went to the phone and made a call to the Director, something he rarely needed to do. Fletcher could hear the Director yelling form where he sat. Still all he got was...No...Why wouldn't I say no?...Such an idiot...Have your job...don't...call....again...you're...IDIOT!

The commander walked back over, "Well, we got the go-ahead to send the delegates. Send a message."

DIRECT TRANSMITION
To: Scolopendra
From: Largent

We accept your offer. We are happy to hear that knowledge of us and how we function is something pwople are still wondering about. We will send three delegates right away. They shold be arriving later today. We would also like to know when your delegations will be arriving so that we may properly prepare. The Emporer is rather bussy with wars and international crisis involving time travel so if you could tell us as soon as they depart it would be appreciated.

END TRANSMITION


Director Morbaker
Director of IPLSA
Head of Secret Service Operations
Head of Spec. Ops
http://sfstory.free.fr/images/MIB/26.jpg

--processing-- (grr, multiposts)

Hm. He looks like Bernardo di Medici... the trade minister for the Dominion. Interesting. Alshai quickly types up some orders as more connections snap into place in his mind.

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: Automata AK1 - Angelus Mainframe -
:
{I am deploying a standard Diplomatic Corps team via the corvette}
{Pähoa a'ukï. Diplomatic Officer Marie bin-Hassan will be making contact}
{shortly.}

{We look forward to receiving your delegates.}
:
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/alshai_kommetrez2.gif (http://www.silentrequiem.net/triumvirate)
Advisor Automata Alshai Kommetrez
International Relations Section
Federation of Scolopendra
* - * - *
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/compyart/tmbwildcat-11clock.jpg (http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/compyart/wildcat-11clock.jpg)
Aboard Pähoa a'ukï, a stern woman of moderate height watches her destination approach on a monitor in her small quarters of burnished steel as she slips into a double-breasted uniform, sky blue over black. Fitting the duty flap underneath the trianglular silver clasp anchoring her right shoulderboard, she tucks the jacket in under her broad sky-blue fabric belt and clasps the standard segmented utility belt in diplomatic-officer silver around her waist.

"We're about to make contact, Officer bin-Hassan," the intercom crackles.

"I'm ready when you are, Commander," Marie replies, checking her short and extremely professional neck-length black hair in the mirror. "I'll be up shortly."

"Acknowledged."

* - * - *

Largent aerospace control, this is Lieutenant Commander sur-Aquillah of the Triumvirate of Yut corvette Pähoa a'ukï, transporting Diplomatic Officer Marie bin-Hassan and her staff. Please coordinate approach and landing procedures with my Flight Command officer so we can expedite shuttle transfer.

Lieutenant Commander sur-Aquillah
Commanding Officer
TYWS-FCC Pähoa a'ukï

At the secure Airfeild within the Largentian capital, Wincha, Largentian areospace was directing down the Scolopendra shuttle.
Pähoa a'ukï, of Scolopendra, the IPLSA has hanger #150A ready and your passengers may exit through Jetway #300B. We have a cargo transport so your cleared to land in 30, 29, 28, 27...3, 2, 1. Cleared. Your escorts will arrive once you begin to taxi. The technition was surprised by the information about this flight displayed on the terminal. A ship of such importance would, by regulations, receive 7 escorts!

Below, near the hanger 7 L-500 Eagle assault vehicles escorted the large ship into #150A. Pähoa a'ukï, this is Largentian ground control. You have fully entered the hanger. The Jetway will reach the main exit within 10 seconds. Have a nice stay.

In front of the massive air feild the limo and escorts were ready and waiting for Marie Bin-Hassin. Inside the limo sat Morbaker sat anxious but without a hint of emotion on his face. This was an exciting day.

http://www.globenet.free-online.co.uk/images/space_taxi.jpg
The Schiff Av Nytt Hoffnung soared through space. Inside Casandra Gogolos sat waiting to arrive at Scolopendra. The other delegates were supposed to come but were needed in Klonor and couldn't come. She was alone, headed to a new place. Here uniform was as clean as ever. She wore her strap, that ran from shoulder to waist, with the golden buckle, the Largentian Tiger made of platinum on her collar and her red berret. They were now only minutes from the Scolopendra atmosphere.
Scolo areospace this is the Schiff av nytt Hoffnung. We are preparing for landing, please direct us to the proper landing area.

Saturnside

The Triumvirate has always been on the paranoid side on letting foreign vessels into its territory around Saturn, even more so ever since the Sketchian Incident a few years ago. Just to be on the safe side--for the Largentian shuttle--the corvette Pähoa a'ukï escorted it through the perimeter defense net into Titan orbit.

"Raumschiff Av Nytt Hoffnung, this is Scolopendran NATC. You will be registering two radar contacts on a rendezvous course; that is an element of Phantom III fighters that will escort you to Al Mahdi Aerospace Directorate Base in the Northern Steppe. They will keep you on course until Al Mahdi ATC directs you to land. SNATC out."

Two fightercraft with a distinct resemblance to warplanes of a previous era form up with the shuttle in echelon left formation, maintaining a respectful distance through atmosphere interface and transition into Scolopendran airspace. A quick landing later over Al Mahdi's runways and landing pads, and Av Nytt Hoffnung is taxied to an open debarkation strip. Next to the allocated standing space marked out with orange rope on the tarmac is a utilitarian, geometric electric groundcar in black and red supporting a dark-skinned man in a uniform not far removed from bin-Hassan's. Most notable are the devices on the high collar and the gold open squares on his shoulderboards atop a white fabric circle device.

As the shuttle taxies into position, the man gets up and waits at a modified parade rest in front of the door. When it opens, he nods curtly, brown eyes glowing softly. Welcome to the Federated Segments of Scolopendra, ma'am. I am International Relations Advisor Alshai Kommetrez. He extends a hand in greeting. Hopefully your stay will be a pleasant one.

* - * - *

Iron Kingdoms-side

Efficient. D.O. bin-Hassan nods to herself, overhearing the comm traffic as she watches the assault vehicles out of a side window of the standard Scarab utility shuttle. Almost too efficient.

It wasn't the first time she'd ended up in a new country, and it probably wouldn't be the last. Checking her uniform one last time, she nods to the cockpit crew as the jetway thunks quietly against the portside hatch, then cycles through the airlock. Immediately making contact with whomever seems to be in charge to meet her, she bows shortly. "Diplomatic Officer Marie bin-Hassan of the Federated Segments of Scolopendra. I'm looking forward to this exchange." Her all-business stern face cracks a smile, albeit one that seems rather calculated. Nevertheless, it seems to soften her a little.

[edit: Ah, that's where you are.]

--1--

--2--

OOC: Largent shares a planet with some other nations of the Iron Kingdoms so you may just refer to it as Largent or Iron Kingdoms instead of earth. Also I'm going away for the weekend so I can't post.

IC: Morbaker was waiting for Bin-Hassan when he met her exiting the ship. He greeted her and then returned the bow because he just felt it was custom from where she came from. "I am Director Morbaker of the IPLSA, I will be escorting you to the Emperor. Also, about the assault vehicles, I'm sorry if they made anyone nervous but it is regulations that all international or government flights must have them. Now if you will please follow me to the car.

In Scolopendra Casandra shook the hand of the man who had greeted her. She smiled and said, "I hope my stay here will be good too. I can't imagine what would go wrong." It was her first time on Saturn and she was excited but she was even more excitedabout the job before her, its what she lived for, diplomacy.

Airfield, Wincha, Largent

"Understood," Officer bin-Hassan asserts, "I understand that these are dangerous times for you, and the escorts are appreciated. I'm sure your diplomat was well-escorted through the perimeter and orbital defense networks, so it's fair." She smiles genuinely as she follows the man to the limousene, moving with an almost military bearing and assuredness.

Once the two are settled in the limousene, bin-Hassan smiles again. "I'm sure the trip will not be instantaneous. Could you tell me some more about your nation so I am not wholly lost when I meet your Emperor?"

Al Mahdi SADB, Scolopendra

Advisor Kommetrez chuckles. He appears to be in his mid thirties with brown skin, close-cropped black hair in a military cut that offsets the trimmed mustache and goatee-like beard on his chin, but his softly glowing brown eyes--a few shades darker than his skin--seem much, much older than his face belies. But of course. I hope you do not mind the simplicity of the transportation, he says with a chuckle, patting the composite hide of the electric ground-car with a soft thunking noise, but we are essentially a simple people. Utility is prized over adornment and elegance over complexity. Opening the door, he lets the Largentian into the rear-right passenger seat before closing it and walking around the car in red and black colors, settling in the rear-left seat. We will do everything we can to make your stay pleasant, Ambassador... He smiles, eyes glowing a soft brown. I'm afraid you have the advantage here. Your superiors neglected to forward a dossier with your name in it; therefore, my apologies.

The car begins to move with a soft hum, trailing through the quiet streets of the military base before departing the gate, manned by several troopers in light powered armor. The view after that is for steppe almost as far as the eye can see, shin-high grass wafting in the breeze as the road curves towards a mountain range to the southwest. Occasionally a tree or three breaks the monotony of the landscape, along with a few gently rolling hills. Scolopendra is responsible for most of Titan's terraforming, the man says idly, and so we take our environment rather seriously, even if it is somewhat barren by terrestrial standards. Only the major topside cities have farmland surrounding them; most agriculture and habitation is underground in the Caves of Steel. Most of topside is just these lonely steppes, at least on Galieoa. The lower-altitude subcontinents and islands are much greener... better pressure, you know.

He looks over to his passenger. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know, ma'am?

(tag, since Alshai shares part of his mind with Angelus*
*
Also, as a note, the Angelus Mainframe does not exist anymore. Archai Angelus and/or Archai Mother has replaced the Mainframe)

Wincha, Largent
Morbaker pondered the question for a minute befor saying "Well you must know eeverything in Largent, especially in the government, is cerimonial, elegant, and efficient. Largent is also very religious, we even have a cardinal, Cardinal Lehman. He is returning so you may see him. Although he is returning because the government is about to release some bad news about the church so he must be here. Unless there is anything specific Emperor Johnston, being the kind man he is, will be happy to cover anything you are unclear about."

Al Mahdi SADB, Scolopendra
"Let me just start off by say my name is Casandra Gogolos, but please call me Casandra. What I would like to know is what are Scolopendra's main concerns? What is the government most focused on? Also, what traditions does Scolopendra have? What holidays do they celebrate and how does it function?"

Largent

bin-Hassan nods, taking notes mentally. "I see. I'll certainly have several questions for him. You mentioned religion--while Scolopendra is generally a 'devout' country in a spiritual sense, we are not as organized about it as most. We do have a large Muslim plurality, but it is quite different from what seems to be the norm elsewhere. Denominational Christianity and Orthodox Judaism didn't adapt well as the culture changed; we certainly have a few fundamentalists but they are a very rare minority. We've always prized free thinking over blind faith, which tends to be detrimental on those religions that use 'because I say so' reasoning."

She smiles wanly. "I myself am a Muslim and one of the more adamant ones. Still, I'm perfectly willing to admit that The Prophet was a historical figure and thus the Qu'ran was a historical means of control. Be true to the ideals and not necessarily over-extend on the minutae except as a benign indicator of faith." Broader smile. "Still, I doubt you intended this to become a theological discussion. Please, tell me more."

Scolopendra

Alshai smiles softly. We are concerned with what any enlightened government should be: The welfare and security of its people. We live to serve, truly. He takes a fraction of a moment to check over spending factors in his head. To achieve this, we concentrate on military spending, education, and environmental affairs. Defense from those who wish to harm us, education for the populace, and a decent place to live.

Traditions? Name some. Kommetrez chuckles. We are multicultural almost to a fault. Islamic, Christian, pre-Abrahamic, Buddhist, Shinto, Hindu... the list goes on and on. Secular traditions are usually based on our history. Hospitality is a tradition with us, as are simple tea 'ceremonies' and such.

Holidays? He starts counting off his fingers. Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Fall Equinox, Revolution Day, Constitution Day, Venice Day, and New Year's. Religious holidays are dependent on the individual. Given that the average paid vacation time in Scolopendra is a bit over a month, that's not too bad.

Alshai smiles again. And finally, how we function. In short, we are a pseudosocialist representative republic federally and a direct democracy on the city level.

Largent
Morbaker smiled, "We're here," he said. He led bin-Hassin out of the car into the Royal Garden. "The most loved place in all of Largent" he explained. "Open to the public except for the middle wich is guarded by the Royal Guards. It leads to the great fountain, you will be the first outsider to see it. Excuse my use of teh word outsider, its common Largentian terminology for the words alien and foreigner, not an insult." He led here through the giant maze of giant walls of plants. Flowers and even small trees of all sorts filled the massive walkways. Finally the walked through an archway of beutiful flowers. After which they stood before fountains of Ivory, gold, silver, platinum, and marble. Each stood about 50-100 ft high. "They are the rulers of old" Morkbaker explained. "In their hands they hold the ancient swords once used by Largentian warriors. Each sword up there is engraved in a way that symbolizes the way the person ruled. The water running down the sides and off the handle represents blood. Nice huh?" In front of them was the massive palace. 300 ft high and about 1000 ft across. "A little unnecissary but it sure is amazing inside." Before them was the final walkway. Almost 20 ft high lined with the most beutiful flowers of all. "I must let you go on from here. State your name and buissness at the door and the Emperor will greet you in the Grand Hall. Have a nice day." With that Morbaker departed leaving bin-Hassin alone.

Scolopendra
Casandra finished taking notes and smiled. "I see, Scolopendra could be considered a giant melting pot if iu understand correctly. To be quite honest I'm not surprised. Beleive it or not the Largent government drew a similar conclusion from past encounters, although small." Casandra flipped through a few pages of notes. "Now there is a few things Largent was keen on learning when I left. How often is Scolopendra involved in hostile conflicts bothe domestic and foreign? After the conflict, in which our two nations became aquainted, Largent relized you are part of an alliance that often is involved in conflicts involving military. What are international relations like with you at the moment? Other than that is there anything in particular i should know?

Largent

"No offense taken, Director. I certainly am an outsider, and certainly won't argue with being identified as such." The diplomatic officer nods, listening intently at the description of the monuments. At the mention of the representation of water, bin-Hassan shudders internally, suppresing any external indication of her opinion. "It certainly is an interesting artistic effect."

She does seem to prefer the natural aspects to the large monuments and palace, however, still being quite polite. Such extravagance is rather alien to the Scolopendran psyche.

Bowing shortly as Morbaker leaves, she does as she was directed and steps up to the door, announcing herself in clear tones. She then steps back one pace, plants her feet shoulder-width apart, and folds her hands behind her back at ease.

Scolopendra

We do as little fighting as we absolutely have to, Kommetrez replies, but we do not shirk from it if it is necessary. He smiles softly. Still, we find ourselves in hostilities far less often than most. We are more often involved in exploration, humanitarian aid, and extraction campaigns. We have, so far, only been in three conflicts not directly related to an extraction campaign and have avoided all the multitudinous 'World Wars' that plague Earth. I think that's a good run.

The international relations advisor chuckles. You're asking the right person. We are working on cementing political ties with others at the moment. We are generally considered the de facto leader of the Triumvirate, and we do our best to maintain the trust engendered by such. We're generally well-respected on the international scene and have mediated several conflicts, although that was a few years ago.

The scenery outside the vehicle changes to crops, fields of grains and paddies of rice interspersed. We're nearing Stonozka, our capital. I'm afraid Supreme Emperor Speaker-to-Animals is Ringside at the moment on a legislatively mandated mission, but his executive, PseudoEmperor Razak, will be available. I can make introductions when we arrive.

Yet you've traveled far. Perhaps you'd like to rest first, or should we dive right into things? The Angelan smiles serenely. Your call.

rrrrrrr double post

Largent
The Royal Guards opened the door to find bin-Hassin. They smiled and one said "Please follow me ma'am the Emperor is ready for you." They led her across the massive first room. The second nicest in the entire building, second only to the Emperor's quarters. A stream, fed by the fountains, flowed right through the middle of the giant foom. A gold bridge crossed the small stream. the entire room was filled with art, furniture, and other fine things unique to this building. They were soon walking down a rather large hallway with more statues of the Emperors. "These are different," one guard offered. "These are strictly marble and only show the emperors in a good light. They all wear smiles and they are more relaxed than the ones outside. I prefer these, most do." Soon they had reached a large door which were guarded by Imperial guards who were more traditional than necissary, unlike the royal guards. Inside the Emperor sat rubiing his temples. when he saw them he smiled. "Ah, Ms. Bin-Hassin, so good to see you. You will have to excuse the fact i was not better prepared but, like so many other times, this job is begining to take its tole. Now, come in, lets talk.

OOC: I'll have the second half of my post up later.

Scolopendra

Casandra chuckled. "Travelling is the best part of my job. What kind of diplomat would I be if I couldn't travel long distances? Lets continue."

Largent

"Actually, sir," bin-Hassan bows shortly as she speaks, "I'm honored that you are meeting with me personally. Such personal interest in diplomacy is actually quite refreshing. Seeing as you are the one with the busier schedule and the more pressing concerns," she says in a professionally concerned tone, "perhaps you would like to define the course of our discussion?"

Scolopendra

Kommetrez smiles broadly. Outstanding. The groundcar moves into topside Stonozka, fields giving away to smaller and then larger buildings in the easy geometric lines and simple vertical grace that exemplify Art Deco architecture. It finally stops on a streetside in downtown, surrounded by various office buildings dominated more by their concrete and marble facades than their windows. Stepping out, Alshai opens Cassandra's door and leads her towards a building guarded by steel-grey assault-armored troopers.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/executive_apartments.jpg
A sign at the base reads: "The Executive Apartments," repeating it in Arabic below in a formal, official-looking font.

This is what classifies as an executive building elsewhere. Alshai chuckles as he checks her through security, leads her through the simple atrium, and finally up about five flights of stairs. We prize simplicity... oh... I'm sorry. We should've used the elevator. I'm afraid I'm just used to the stairs.

The floor she finds herself on is dominated by low cubicle walls forming large cells, several 'offices' made along the edges and labeled with small blue plaques. Well, here's the office. He directs her to an office at one end with the door half open, knocking twice on it before ducking his head in. A terse conversation in Arabic later, Alshai smiles and motions towards the door.

Inside is a silver-haired man with a weathered but well-aged face, sporting a wry close-lipped grin. By the folds around his mouth, it must be a rather common expression for him. Standing as she enters the room, he bows shortly. "PseudoEmperor Julius M Razak, acting chief of state of Scolopendra. Welcome." He motions towards a seat across from the desk as he returns to his, which, not only being of an odd design with a wide notch cut into the base of the seat back, seems far too large for him.

Largent
"It is nothing," the emperor said. "As for what I will talk to you about... I will cover any topic, you wish to hear about, in depth. I am a patatient man and have all the time we need." He smiled and waited for her response.

Scolopendra
Casandra smiled, "I would just like to start off by saying my country is honored you wish to better learn of us and have us learn of you." Casandra quickly removed a sheet of paper from her suitcase. "If you don't mind there are some specifics our Emperor asked me to cover. Several have already been covered briefly during my trip here so I was wondering if you could tell me about your nations history in as much depth as you can."

(OOC: That'll take a bit of time... I've got it rather fleshed out but it'll take a few to articulate. This space reserved for an IC post)

OOC: Take your time, I have April Vacation week now so I wont be able to post starting tommorow and ending next saturday.

Okay, back, ready for the next post!

(OOC: Gotchya.)

Largent

"Fair enough, then." bin-Hassan (Such an odd name, really...) nods with a smile. "While it goes without saying, the Federated Segments extends its gratitude to the people of Largent and you and looks forward to peaceful and mutually beneficial relations into the future. To understand you better, I'd like to hear about the current situation in Largent and how it got to be that way... a sort of recent history lesson."

She chuckles softly. "That seems to be more pressing than the usual questions about culture, which can come later."

Scolopendra

Razak nods. "Fair enough, history it is. I'm no history major," he says with a wry smile, "but I figure I can give you what you need to know. Lessee... first, you need a basic background. In the era that the political movement that would eventually create the Segments began, the world was no longer the realm of the nation state. Instead, it was a collection of national alliances based on economic power. The last remnant of the old period was the European Union... which some call the first of the new period, but it didn't adapt to the reality it created.

"In this world, there were three major powers: The United American Conglomerate, which essentially controlled the supercontinent of North and South America, the most capitalistic and least governmental in the traditional sense; bottom line was its only major consideration. The European Union, never quite expanded into the Russian states, was more of the traditional federation of states than a mercantile group; still, having control of the developed markets of Europe made it a trading superpower. The Confederacy of SouthEast Asia, combining China, Mongolia, and all that was once considered Indochina, right up to the Indian border. They still called themselves Communist in name, but they were only slightly less capitalist than the UAC. The European Union was certainly more socialist.

"In this world, multinational corporations either attempted to consolidate their power in one of the blocs or tried the more risky--and more profitable--venture of working between them. The Capricorn Group, a coalition of multinationals based in Italy, managed to accrue a sphere of influence that controlled all of the Mediterranean basin. They moved their headquarters out of E.U. jurisdiction to Gaza and, from there, used their position as the controllers of the strategic trading points of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal to essentially control trade between the E.U. and the CSEA as well as the southern E.U. and the UAC. To maintain control of the politically volatile Middle East, the Capricorn Group bribed mullahs and imams from Mecca outward to essentially preach the corporate line.

"Life under the Group was hard, and what idealists remained in the UAC and CSEA escaped to Turkey, out of the economic spheres of the trading superpowers. From there, they found that life under the Capricorn wasn't much better, but they had funding and assets from outside the system, so to speak. Their idealism combined with their political knowhow and ability to work with the system as well as outside it, led them to create an underground resistance movement, utilizing discontent with the working conditions set by the Capricorn Group to unify distinctly different and traditionally warring peoples and establish their egalitarian and somewhat socialist ideals as the standard among the people.

"Soon the resistance became revolution; the quiet revolutionaries managed to hit a bank in Venice and make off with a large sum of Capricorn profits that immediately went into funding the Revolution. Soon thereafter, the spiritual leaders of the region started changing their tunes, calling for egalitarianism and freedom and controls on rampant capitalism. On Revolution Day, a supremely-coordinated simultaneous strike by local Revolution cels across the Capricorn Group took over practically all of their local offices while strategic plants in their private guard army kept them from using any sort of command and control; and once the Revolution controlled their paychecks, the guards worked diligently for the Revolution.

"By this time, the nations-in-name of the region were practically figureheads of the Capricorn Group; the leaders of the Group fell onto the governments for support and found them as they had made them--intentionally weak and powerless. The Revolutionaries seceeded from their previous states and formed the Federated Segments of Scolopendra; as they had both the economic and military powers of those nations the 'original' nations were utterly incapable of resisting.

"With the assistance of the newly-converted religious leaders, the traditional spiritual zeal of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean Basin was converted into a sort of civil fidelity unheard of at the time when nationalism had finally died under the name of business. Still, it doesn't help to make enemies, so the Federated Segments operated like a much more enlightened Capricorn Group, using the profits of trade-control for the good of the many instead of the wallets of the few.

"Around this time, capitalism and democracy in the former Soviet states, both completely controlled by the blatnoy and the oligarchs, completely failed and Neocommunism took root. Having already suffered decades and decades of the original Communist threat and the decades and decades of its aftermath, the federal government of the E.U.--actually strengthened by the fall of the local national governments--used economic warfare tactics against the Neocommunists, trying to utterly destroy their economy via the Ukraine and Russia.

"They were too successful.

"Those societies completely destabilized into anarchy with hundreds of petty 'warlords' taking control of regions. Resembling Holy Roman Germany or feudal China, they fell into random aggression, destabilizing all of northern Eurasia with NeoRus attacks on both the E.U. and the CSEA and each other, attacking neighbors seemingly at random to regain the security of previous Russian regimes.

"Some of the NeoRus figured out that the E.U. was to blame for the situation and fired nuclear missiles aimed at major E.U. economic and industrial centers, destroying them utterly. Never extremely strong due to internal disagreements even with the increase of federal power, the E.U. ruptured when it lost the resources it desperately needed to keep afloat.

"This is when we started launching extraction campaigns to save as many people as we could from the encroaching anarchy and war from both the NeoRus and UAC exploitation forces. Crimea and all of Europe were hot zones, and the only way we could do it was with our extensive orbital military capability--vertical envelopment to an extreme--to counter the rest of the world's more conventional military forces. Also, the fact that we avoided conflict as much as possible except to save people helped.

"During these extraction campaigns I made first contact with the kzinti, our major nonhuman sentient species."

"In the madness, the subSaharan African nations south of Scolopendra formed the Economic Alliance of Africa, using their marginally developed economies and vast--relatively untouched--resources to press to where the money and stability was... Mediterranean Scolopendra. Spurred on by a lack of funds and an absolute need for the stable markets of North Africa, the EAA launched full armored assaults into Egypt along the Nile river basin, always stopped, repelled, and annihilated by orbit-deployed Scolopendran forces.

"In the meantime, the CSEA and UAC started pressing on the Japanese and Pacfic Islands nation of Karmabaijan and the stable NeoRus federation of Suunto in Kamchatka. Finding ourselves in similar circumstances, Karmabaijan, Suunto, and Scolopendra formed the Triumvirate of Yut as an alliance of necessity. Using our technology, Suunto's resources, and Karmabaijan's business expertise, we constructed a colony fleet to Titan as an emergency measure just in case everything went to hell back home.

"The ships were launched, and reality broke. The world I had grown up, lived and fought in for a good fourty years disappeared, and here we are now, talking over a desk." Razak chuckles wryly. "Depending on who you ask, it's been somewhere between thirty and four hundred years since we left; now there are elves and demons and aliens and all sorts of oddities that simply do not make sense."

The silver-haired man flashes that wry grin again. "You see, we're all quite mad."

Scolopendra
Casandra scribbled furiously as she took notes. "Well, sorry to put tou through that but you can tell alot from a nations histroy." She forces a smile. "Now I'll go a little easier and ask a more simple question. This may seem odd at first but is actually important to us for our points of view on the world. How do you view nations weaker than you? Good for the taking, in need of help, an equel in diplomacy regardless of military? And does anything help to sway your governments actions on such topics?"

Largent
The Emporer smiled. "I dispise histroy lessons but this is something I must do. Largent is experiencing terbulent times. We have an agent on a time travel mission, our newly appointed Cardinal had to leave the Vatican to deal with religious problems in Largent and we recently experienced a civil war. Now let me explain why. First of all, our agent is on his mission in Tappee because of the way Largent was first treated when it was founded, an outcast, unworthy of a point of view, good for the taking. Now as terrorists threaten to ruin Tappee and their past we feel obligated to help a friendly nation. As for domestic problems, that is because of Largent's diversity. It is divded into 7 different areas. All have their own government and each area has its own customs. I have the unfortunate position of ruling all these people giving my home territory an upper hand in the government. Largent has tried to unite these people but we have failed. Luckily, when needed Largent can unite under one banner to fight for a soul cause, our freedom. This is why we call ourselves a militaristic union. Whats nice is things seem to be calming down. the economy is peaking and a long try at diplomacy has brought peace among the territories. Other than this Largent is a quiet, peacful nation after so many years. So, whats next?"

Scolopendra

Razak chuckles, maybe not so wryly as before. "Just as some nations appear to be weaker than us, we appear to be weaker than other nations. We keep that in mind in our relations with them. They are equals in terms of diplomacy, but the strength of any antagonistic diplomacy, should they choose to go that route, is measured by their military strength to enforce it. We have made it a point to equitably trade with smaller, 'weaker' nations, but we do not accept any sort of belligerency from them. If they attempt to threaten us, then they will reminded that such actions are inappropriate given their relative strength.

"If anything else, we are more likely to intercede on behalf of a smaller nation suffering meaningless belligerency from others larger than it. We did this for Shi Shi Shooku some time ago, although since then we've seem to lost them in the folds of the multiverse. A shame."

Largent

"I don't mean to ask uncomfortable questions," Marie replies with a slight shrug, "but it is telling. The Segments are also a broad collection of ethnicities and cultures, but it sounds far more unified than your nation. Perhaps we can help with that. Perhaps we can also assist with the religious problems, ourselves having been rather successful at integrating various forms of worship to at least respect each other.

"Time travel, you say?" bin-Hassan arches an eyebrow. "It's been theorized to be possible, but we're generally convinced one can't change the present with it. One can only create additional alternate timelines to go with the infinite possibilities of consequences--the timeline the traveller comes from will always happen at least once--or else paradoxes in causality occur, such as the traditional loop. We've never bothered much with it because we've had no real need as of yet, but someday we may take it up for research or some such. I think."

She chuckles. "Not really my area of expertise. What made you interested in Scolopendra in the first place?"

Scolopendra
Casandra sighed. "Always nice to hear that these days. Too many large arrogant nations if you ask me. Also, I'm glad to see you basically have the same views on this topic as Largent. Although recently we haven't had much contact with a large number of nations for varied reasons. Any way that question was just so I could better understand your answer to the next one. What we found surprising was your willingness to let our voice be heard in a rather large conflict. You had never even heard of us and yet you decided to allow us to fight, our rather, pledge our support to the side that was fighting for what we belive in. In most conflicts we would be ignored but this time we weren't. Is there any reason for that?"

Largent
Emporer Johnston chuckled. "No, not an uncomfortable question at all, perfectly lagitiment. Now, to answer your question, what first attracted us to you was the whole conflict with Melkor you started. I don't mean to condem you, rather I wish to congratulate you. Your willingness to stand in the face of evil and to so quickly build a force against a nation with such an agressive history, frankly, is something I never thought to see in my life time. In fact I have something for you to see." The Emporer pulled a stained suit from a large storage compartment in his desk. "This is the suit I wore when I received the report the day you sent that first message to the world. I spilt and entire thermos of coffe on my self. I keep it as a reminder for people who ever question if something is a good idea. I simply point to this ruined suit and tell the story behind it. Is it affective, I'm not sure but it is to me. If it hadn't been for that one early morning you wouldn't be here right now." Johnston shrugged and gave a small smile. "You may keep the suit if you like." He watched as Marie gave a forced smile. "It was a joke," he reassured her.

Scolopendra

"It's never wise to discount a helping hand," Razak replies with something bordering on a genuine smile, "just as it's never wise to underestimate an advesary. We stepped forward with an offer and waited to see who would come, and in this case we've discovered several interesting peoples where continued contact seems... enlightening." Borderline-smile again.

"Actually, it's a shame that Supreme Emperor Speaker-to-Animals--my boss--is Ringside at the moment on a legislatively mandated mission. He's the real diplomat of the group; I'm just his executive officer and an old trooper." The silver haired man chuckles softly. "Still, we've always tried to make it a point to be friendly to new people. We only really pull out the barbs on those whom we've had a history with."

Largent

Marie bin-Hassan smiles genuinely. "Well... that is what we do. 'Idealism at Any Cost.' Whenever we can make a difference, we try our best to. The Ardan menace was getting too big for its britches and thus needed to be taken down a few notches. When it threatened our allies, there was no way we would stand down. Alliances and treaties mean nothing--they are simply words--if they aren't backed by the convictions of the people who sign them."

The diplomatic officer turns a bit prouder--not overbearingly so, but an obvious shift towards assertiveness. "We never put onto paper what we aren't willing to do in reality. The rash of genocides that exemplified the period of a few years past has completely vanished, probably in no small part to our extraction campaigns and our vigilance against oppression. There are still oppressors that we cannot oppose through sheer force alone, but we struggle against them nonetheless. Some would say it's a calling, but that's making it too high.

"It is our duty."

Scolopendra
Casandra pondered what she just heard for a minute. "Well, thats an uncommon point of view these days. Or so it appears. Has that way of doing things ever lead to trouble for you? It just seems to me trust is not exactly common place because so few can be totally trusted."

Largent
Johnston arched his eyebrow. "Your duty? I see. Is that just the way you do things or have you reached that position because of your past. I mean did you appoint yourself to such a duty or has it became your duty in another way?"

Scolopendra

"It's been troublesome at times." Razak sighs. "The Empire of Sketch used our willingness to trust to stab us in the back once. It's been difficult to adapt to the point of being realistic enough to protect ourselves while remaining true to our ideals. But it's working out, with time." Another wry smile. "It's something we get from the kzinti..."

He clears his throat momentarily, then continues in a harsh, gutteral language that sounds very hard on the throat. "'Ksargunj yahughnost'ss t'kovary raob tadi yahughnost'ss humadizhjr. Adapt and live or stagnate and die."

Largent

"It's self-appointed. We believe it is the moral obligation of any person to help what they can when they can, and in a similar manner it is the moral obligation of our state to help how it can when it can. That's why we've run extraction campaigns to save oppressed from genocide; it's why we accept expatriates and refugees from across the multiverse with open arms."

Marie shrugs lightly. "We think that's the right thing to do. I suppose there's a historical basis in that the Mediterranean, Balkans, and Middle East that we hailed from originally have been the site of some of the most horrid genocidal wars in the history of the world, but I think it's primarily that we simply believe in doing our best and therefore all the things we do fall under it. We're an idealistic people."

Scolopendra

Casandra looked surprised. "Sketch did this? If you don't mind could you give me just a brief explination seeing as Largent one of its two capitals in an area very close to Sketch. I hope this won't affect our relationship in any way. We have pledged no alleigence to Sketch anddon't plan to. Our sharing of territories oly happened after The Order fell to peices and Sketch returned to Europia."

Largent

A smile crept across Johnston's face as he heared bin-Hassen speak. When she was finished he knodded to himself for a moment befre saying, "Self-appointed, terrific! I find your morals worthy and worthwhile. Also, not having to be forced into the position you find yourselves in is nice. I agree your people are idealistic. We find that we are not so idealistic but we too have run several campaigns like yours. For example, were you away of Misssion: Blue Dawn? It was a terrorist sweep in Chile we were involved in. Unfortunatley The Gulf States declared war for our seemingly hostile actions. Although Trixia was hit harder than us we have cut off all communications between GS and their allies. One of which was Dark Terror, nasty group of people."

Scolopendra

"Well," Razak begins with a sigh, "we are generally the diplomatic leaders of the Triumvirate. We began a policy of befriending other nations with the intent of increasing trade and such. Sketch was one of those nations with which we signed treaties of friendship and nonaggression.

"During Automagfreek's poorly-secured operation to assault Melkor Unchained, Sketch used that nonaggression pact to mount a sneak attack on the home of our Angelan allies. For some reason, the Order of the Seraphim has something against us but as they are primarily embroiled in self-conflict we want nothing to do with them whatsoever. The OPO also indicates that their connection with this r-brane is relatively tenuous and I don't particularly like the idea of any of my troopers falling off the face of reality because they're dealing with the wrong sort."
The silver-haired man shrugs. "Historically, the Empire of Sketch cannot be trusted. It's that simple."

Largent

"I'm afraid we haven't heard of that, but we have had to deal with Dark Terror in the past," Marie replies. "Our largest operations were in the One Ring when we secured and airlifted out the inhabitants of New Auschwitz, the Empire of the Eternal Dawn when we attempted to defend that ally from Ardan agression, and Iraqstan where we successfully airlifted over two hundred million civilians away from a genocidal maniac who was planning on 'cleansing' them. We're good at what we do."

Scolopendra

"So," Casandra began, "do you imagine the fact that we are near them will strain our relationship?"

Largent

Johnston continued to smile and said, "Well, you don't cease to amaze me. You do such honorable work and it seems you do it extremley well. I congratulate you, air lifting that many people is quite an underr taking...Hell the lower levels of our army can't get troops out of the atmosphere sometimes, but usually theres a good reason for it, well, actually that is so sad there is no excuse for it. To lighten the mood would you like to hear that story? I usually try to get it in when my meetings are so serious I feel it would do good to loosen things up to some degree.

Scolopendra

Razak chuckles. "Of course not. We're hardly going to hold your neighbors against you. That just doesn't make any sense. We'll just warn you about them instead."

The man leans back into the oversized chair, obviously not designed for him. "It took us a while to recover from that; our current diplomatic expansion is our slower, more careful method of making friends."

Largent

"Certainly. I am here by your good graces, after all," bin-Hassan replies with a smile.

Scolopendra

"We will take your warning to heart and be very cautious of our neighbors."

Largent

Johnston shrugged, "Okay, here it goes. During a time when we were moving mass amounts of troops, for several reasons, we had just commisioned new transports. Well, some new pilots weren't as familiar with the technology as their trainers claimed, some filing accident." Johnston rolled his eyes. "Anyway, 10 transorts carrying tanks crashed right in the middle of an important airforce base. Some landed in buildings, some spiraled out of control and landed in all kinds of places. Amazingly, no one died but several people got good hard smacks. Now, it seems we have gone off track so, shall we get back down to buissness?"

Scolopendra

"Forewarned is forearmed, afterall. Any other questions?"

Largent

"But of course." Pausing a moment, bin-Hassan taps her fingers together. "This is always an interesting question to broach. What are your opinions of the various forms of meta- and nonhumanity in the multiverse?"

Scolopendra

There are no other specific topics I was asked to cover. Is there any word you would like to get in before our meeting ends?

Largent

Johnston frowned for a moment. "I'm not sure I understand your question. Do you mean inhumanity? If this is so, then I have to say I despise it, yet it is part of life. There has been evil ever since the universe was created, we just have to try our hardest to stop it. Although, sometimes you can only fight inhumanity with inhumanity, in short, you have to use the military."

Scolopendra

There are no other specific topics I was asked to cover. Is there any word you would like to get in before our meeting ends?

Largent

Johnston frowned for a moment. "I'm not sure I understand your question. Do you mean inhumanity? If this is so, then I have to say I despise it, yet it is part of life. There has been evil ever since the universe was created, we just have to try our hardest to stop it. Although, sometimes you can only fight inhumanity with inhumanity, in short, you have to use the military."

Scolopendra

Razak chuckles. "Only that I hope you enjoy the hospitality of the Segments during your stay here. There are advantages to us being made of an Arabic plurality, and hospitality is a tradition among us. You are welcome to stay as long as you and your nation deem fit. It may be too quick to start building embassies, but we would gladly provide billeting."

Largent

"Oh, that is a given," Marie says with a slight smile, "inhumanity in the terms of improper conduct is quite a sad reality of our existence and must be regulated with great care. By nonhumanity I mean the non-human sentient species that seem to abound in the multiverse of so many different varieties. Metahumans are those considered to be relatively close to humanity in form such as elves, dwarves, posthumans, and the like while nonhumans would cover everything else ranging from the mollusk-like Snel to sentient mechanoid life."

Scolopendra

Casandra knods, "I hope to be able to stay for a day or two, as for embassies we hope to exchange them soon although there is no rush.

Largent

"Ah, my mistake. My views on that are simple, we treat them the same way we would treat people of other reaces, with total equality. Humans originated on earth and nonhumans cover our universe, we are the minority. This gives us no right to feel superior to them which does happen every once in a while."

Scolopendra

Casandra knods, "I hope to be able to stay for a day or two, as for embassies we hope to exchange them soon although there is no rush.

Largent

"Ah, my mistake. My views on that are simple, we treat them the same way we would treat people of other reaces, with total equality. Humans originated on earth and nonhumans cover our universe, we are the minority. This gives us no right to feel superior to them which does happen every once in a while."

Scolopendra

Razak nods. "Excellent, then. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see, or shall we just get you situated and let you wander about? Either way is perfectly acceptable to us."

Largent

Marie smiles broadly. "Excellent. That matches up quite well with our own ideology, being a rather heterogeneous nation in that regard. It's been our experience that opinions on such matters varies greatly and so it's best if we determine the attitude of those we talk to before pressing matters in any given direction. We don't get along very well with racists, you see, although the benign sort we're willing to tolerate. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, but if they act on that opinion in a way that it infringes on others... well, that just won't do.

"Who is Largent closest to diplomatically, if anyone?"