NationStates Jolt Archive

And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks
~ Isaiah 2.4

A small box was delivered to the ‘President for life of Tor Yvresse-Mars, contained within it were a number of items. First was a handwritten letter.

To The Seer Council of Tor Yvresse, greetings,

Too long have the ghost of past aggression menaced us. Too long have my crimes in the past haunted you. I speak of course, of our hostility, and I wish to bring it to an end. I am not who I used to be, and I have changed in these past centuries, as you are no doubt aware to some extent. However, I doubt you are aware of just how much I have changed.

So I propose to you that there should be a peace and truce between us, and that I be allowed to explain myself to you, though not at first in person, but by long range communications, as you no doubt, and with good cause, question my sincerity. Find enclosed with this letter the spirits of those believed lost to you in the depths of space some years ago, as a token of my sincerity and repentance for my past. As well as which, I have had included data on an effective means to communicate with me, via a narrow beam transmission from your territories on mars to an orbiting satellite and then to mine.

Yours,
Mephet’ran.

With the letter came another piece of paper, on which, in a language of the so-called mon-keigh, were detailed instructions for communications and targeting data for an orbital trajectory. Finally, in the bottom of the elaborately carved box sat five items, rose coloured crystals, smaller than a man’s hand, that glowed with an inner light. Spirit-stones taken from a Yvressi ship destroyed over Mars many long years ago now, and picked up in a later sweep of the debris.

The Council was split; at the heart of the confusion was simple conflicting argument… The Jackal was known as a Deceiver the type of being that would plot for a Millennia before deciding on a issue, at the other side of the coin was that to set aside the war with Yngir, to truly not need to worry about this would ensure Yvresses’s future… and peace with the Yngir would help advance that goal by leaps…

This is why a week after the strange message and the equally strange gift the council had not left the Dome. Indeed three days ago a protocol rarely used was placed into effect, and now Doctors could be seen circulating amongst the Farseers bringing in Intravenous Drips and looking up the Council to them, and all the time the council seemed unaware of this, they had not moved from where they had sat as their minds reached further and further into the future. The only sign that life still continued in the Council was the continuing swirl of Runes and eyes flickering over them as they danced before the eyes of the council, and still no sign of movement or answer had been arrived at…

Two Weeks pass and still nothing, eventually Iyaana awakens and speaks… ‘All my visions show this to be a genuine offer, have any of you seen different?’
Slowly the council comes round and collective shakes are her answer.
‘Then this is the policy we should advance under, are we in agreement?’
Slow nods where her only reply, none of them felt happy with this course but none could think of any other to advance under.


Transmission to Satellite pre-recorded.
We shall hear you out then Yngir, we cannot promise more but we agree to speak on this matter in One day Iyaana shall visit Mars and speak with your people through this channel.’

Farseer Council

Almost instantly the reply came, "Agreed..."

Mmmmm, tagalicious

The room itself was as safe as possible in the colony, buried deep
In one of the Military bases scattered around the former territory of
New Roan. The Eldar where taking no chances with a communication to
the Yngir. Her opening communication was brief 'I am here then, as I said I
would be so let us talk'

After a moment the answer came back, "Excellent. I'm
Glad to see you."
'Indeed well I would like to say the feeling was mutual, but I
Suspect you would know that as a lie, shall I say then that I am
Intrigued to see you?'
"Intrigued is good, yes," he said, "I take it you
Found my message intriguing also?"
'Indeed and I thank you for the Carrec you returned, this
Surprised us. We did not know we had missed any over Mars, but are glad that
Those we did have been returned to us'
"I imagined it would surprise you," he said, "There
Are many similar surprises..."

A Momentary look of, not quite greed for this wasn't a person
Seeking personal wealth more perhaps hope mixed a little with fear
Crossed Iyaanna's face. 'Oh, yet I must ask what the price of such
surprises would be...?'
"I will give freely," he answered, "Though, I would ask something as a result..."
nodding a moment 'Oh and that would be...?
"That such would be interpreted as, on my part, a sign
of... well, to be honest, repentance, and peaceful intent..."
'You ask a lot... You ask us to put aside what we have known
From ages gone by, you ask us to accept that, White has become Black,
It is a difficult concept to accept, maybe not an impossible one, but
A difficult one'
"I shall leave you time to consider it," he said, smiling.

Iyaanna nods, 'We shall consider your words, and speak with others
As a gesture of thanks however for your gift, when we speak next what
Name would you wish to be known by. I suspect many of our names for
You are far from diplomatic?'
"You may call me Mephet," he says, "Somewhat less
Respectful than my full name."

'Agreed then Mephet, we shall speak shortly,' with that Iyaana
Broke her side of the Channel and left the room she had much to discuss
With the Council, the first communication had left most questions
Unanswered and those answers they had received may have simply
Provided them with other questions.


OOC Carrec is Soul, Erm IRC Log of Ctan and I

'That then was the entirty of my communication with Mepht, and so we must decide how to proceed.' Iyanna's voice contained much hidden emotion, distrust, and a small amount of hope.
'Again we return to the issue of trust High Farseer, Can we afford to trust this creature, and yet can we afford not too? Can we truely believe such as he can change?'
'Why not we did, it took the Fall but we changed, can not a Yngir, is it simply that these creatures are set in their crulty or are they truely of free will. If they are set as they are then the Star Gods are not to be trusted.'

Again Iyanna spoke again 'Indeed If they cannot truely change then we are being tricked, yet in this we have a solution, if it is in his nature then he will slip, and we shall observe it. So until then I suspect our best option is too act under the belief they have changed, and wait to see if this bears up. However I am only willing to extend this belief to Mepht, the others do not show such signs.'

Nods, 'Then it is agreed we shall speak to Mepht again under the belief that he has changed as he suggests, and see where this leads us, yet we watch for regression.'



To:- Mepht.
Re:- Discussions.

Sir it is the decision of the Council that we shall proceed under the belief that you change is genuine and wish to speak to you again. Therefore we suggest another communication under the same arrangments as previously. does this meet with you approval?

Farseer Council.

"Excellent I do of course, agree. Now, as another token of good faith, I shall give you a little information that may be very much against my interests.

[Co-ordinate string]

In the past, disinformation has caused you to search for the Talismen of Vaul here. They are in fact...

[Co-ordinate string]

...in this area. Good day.

Mephet."

Hmm well that is unusual, I suppose we can redirect the Vaul Fleet to examine this area of space in closer detail.

'Make the arrangments to send the Vaul Fleet out to that region of space at least for now.'

'I have my doubts that we can truely view this as sincere High Farseer, it was too easily given, the Yngir have no reason to be this generous, they seem to be buttering us up. I don't understand their actions.'

Nods from the rest of the council, 'still until we know more we shall move forwards if nothing else we shall gain much at the moment we do not seem to be commited to anything. Set up the next meeting'

It was a while before the Council sent another message to the Yngir, such things take time after all... yet Send such they did. Iyaana's face once more appearing as she contacted the Yngir...

'We must admit that your information last time appears to have been acurate.'

What Iyaana did not reveal of course was that the appearance of accuracy had been arrived at not because they found a Vaul Talisman but because they had found evidence of their presence in the area. It was a little Bluff, hidden in a truth, but it was after all almost expected, they may be discussing peace, but such a thing was not going to be easy.

Mephet smiled, "Excellent," he said, "I'm glad you have found that information of some use." He of course suspected that they'd not found it yet, but still he considered this welcome news. "Let me get to the point then. I have, hard though it is to imagine, changed. That was perhaps the most compelling evidence I could give at short notice to prove that assertion. What I want now is peace with your people..."

Iyaana's face was blank as she listened to Mephetran's words, she had allowed herself to fall into the fullness of her role as Farseer and in that place no emotions existed. 'So you have said, and yet, again we return to the simplest of questions, can you change. Are a being capable of this. Again I cannot answer this, we have an impass, so let me make this tentative offer, we shall watch. We agree to a how shall I put this....'

She paused a moment and nodded to herself before slowly looking back at the screen and towards Mephet'ran. 'A Cease-Fire of hostile intent for say a Decade or so, a blink of the eyes to us both, yet perhaps time enough to see if you are truely sincere. After all gifts and words are easy, and fleeting but actual deeds, they are telling. Would this be acceptable to you?'

"Your terms are acceptable," he said, he'd expected some demand like that all along, "then a decade it shall be," he added with a smile, "and I think you will find that all living things are capable of change..."

OOC: Yay abuse of fluid time…

The time had come, and the Emperor sat once again at the transmission equipment, turned it on, and smiled, “So. How are we to proceed?” he asked to the empty night…

Iyaana thought a moment then nodded 'First one would I think exchange ambassador's would they not, We can doubtless find suitable ground within the Martian Colony after that, I think it would be approiate to meet, face to face and discuss in greater detail our new understanding. I doubt we could ever become allies, but peace is... a start is it not?'

This is not going to be an easy post The first Catumen to the Yngir from the Kionash stood watching as her staff made it self at home in the new Embassy. Of course certain security precautions where in place here in Sentinel 2, for example no Webgate would be established linking the Embassy to their home. Later perhaps but for now it would be kept simple.

As such she had a small staff, and as her gaze swept over the arrangments she smiled grimly to herself, another sacriface had been the near complete absence of Infinity Matrix based hardware, instead they where relaying upon 'Mon-Keigh' designs...

Of course some sort of function would have to be held at the official opening of the Embassy, and so the Invites would be dispatched, it would be a small meal, and some minor entertainment. Enarc-Orkan would be happier if she did not have to hold anyfunction still, courtesy, and her role here made it importent she hold some sort of event.

and so the arrangments would proceed, for now her plan was to simply invite the Ctan local repersentative of the Emporer, and of course the Emporer himself. Perhaps a few local Ambassador's from allied states, it would not be a grand affair.

((Enarc-Orkan Green Gem as for Catumen, if you can't guess that... Well.))