NationStates Jolt Archive

Three ships winked into existence on the outskirts of the Kaisar system. The foremost, an unarmed sloop with the Republic's insignia emblazoned on its prow beside the laurel wreath of Neo-Roma, slowed to a sedate speed, flanked by two Republican Gladius-class frigates.

<Hypatia Control, this is Republican diplomatic vessel Eudaimonia> the unarmed craft beamed directly at the homeworld of The Unbroken Eye. <The Republican Senate has received your petition for re-entry into the Republic, and looks upon it favorably. The Honorable Tiberius Gracchus of Neo-Roma has been sent to negotiate the terms. Do we have permission to approach the homeworld?

As expected, Neo-Romans. It is well that you have come. Co-ordinates have been transmitted to your ship, and you may land on the home of the Unbroken Eye, the station Aretē. Basileus Kantophetes will meet you there, and negotiate the terms of our inclusion into the Republic.

Inhibition fields went down. The sloop could now jump to the station within seconds, had it the capability. While the defenses of the Hypatia system were still active, they were not expecting any trouble.

<Understood. Gratias agimus>

Within a minute, the trio of Republican ships engaged their tesseract drives and jumped straight into orbit above Hypatia. The diplomatic sloop proceeded forward into the planet's atmosphere, while her two frigate escorts remained in orbit.

Aboard the Eudaimonia, Tiberius Gracchus adjusted his toga and muttered to himself about a dozen different things. He was rather fussy for a Neo-Roman; his people tended to be stone-faced and unflappable when dealing with others, hiding their thoughts and emotions behind poker faces made of solid rock. He was still debating with himself on whether it would be presumptuous to greet a Basileus in Greek as he stepped out of his quarters into the main corridor of the ship, where the dozen Neo-Roman Marines that would form his honor guard were finishing donning and checking their white armor. The corridor filled with a chorus of soft clicks and hisses as the Marines pulled their helmets on last of all, and the suits sealed and pressurized themselves. They came to attention as he passed them on his way to the bridge.

"We're entering Hypatia's atmosphere now," the ship's pilot told him. "Arete Station is right below us. We shall arrive within ten minutes."

"Bene," Gracchus replied, satisfied. He gave his toga one last fastidious tug and returned to the main corridor, where his Marines came back to attention, their spearheads glinting dully in the artificial lighting. Their assault rifles were unloaded and sheathed beside their gladii, as a show of good faith that combat was the last thing on anyone's mind.

The Eudaimonia arced gracefully out of Hypatia's sky and touched down on the designated landing pad. A ramp folded down from the sloop's belly and Gracchus descended to the ground, followed by his twelve Marines, who marched in crisp double file. Gracchus proceeded eagerly to approach the Basileus and his party, extending his forearm and saying, "Greetings, ave, and chaire, Basileus!" In the end, he had decided to just cover all his bases.

"Ave, honoured Gracchus."

There was not much decoration in the throne room, for, whilst the Basileus was an absolute ruler, he was not a proud one. Lines of age marked his face, and streaks of grey dominated his hair. Like most of the Realm, he was not a tall man - at least, not compared to the Neo-Romans.

Nevertheless, the air of authority was about him, and, whilst he moved slowly, he did so with grace. He stood, and inclined his head regally.

It would be remiss not to notice the hundreds of guards who stood at attention, lined along the walls. Each stood perfectly still, sheathed in metallic suits of armour, carrying guns that seemed oddly large, for their small frames. Each gun, however, was pointed at the roof, resting in the arms of the guardsmen.

Kantophetes had not bothered disarming the Neo-Romans - if they came in poor faith, and slew him.. well, he was replacable, and it was likely his mind could be salvaged through the grand network which had a presence in each mind of the Eye.

As Gracchus approached, a twitch came from one of the guards.

"Akinitos."

The word stilled the guardsman, and he was still once more. With a lopsided smile, he reached out, and clasped Gracchus's hand to his.

"It is good to see you, emissary of the Republic. I believe we shall have much to discuss, though you know of our desire to join the Republic. I know, of course, that the Republic does not turn away those who wish to join her ranks, especially those who were once part of her, in times immemorial. Yet I am curious. What terms would the Senate place on the Unbroken Eye, upon our joining?"

Gracchus inclined his head to Kantopheles. "As you are no doubt aware, the Republic is at war with the Dratherian Imperium and her allies. The Republic would expect The Unbroken Eye's unconditional military support, especially in defending the Republic's home space. A number of our systems have been raided by the Dratherians of late, no doubt in an attempt to distract us from our offensive efforts. We have had little trouble beating them off, but their ability to penetrate our space remains... vexing.

"And, of course, there are the standard conditions of any nation joining the Republic; namely, that you give up your sovereignty and acknowledge the Republican Senate." Gracchus watched the Basileus carefully as he spoke, for this was always the hardest thing for prospective nations to swallow. "I have little doubt, however, that you and your closest officials will soon be Senators yourselves, and thus will have influence on Republican policy. Your military will be largely subsumed into the Republic's military, although you will keep a substantial force in your territory at all times to serve in your defense."

He paused there, to get the Basileus' reaction to all this before moving on.

OOC: Note that, in an out-of-character capacity, I can't participate in the war against Drath. As I have Loriiea there already, that would be puppetwanking. You would just justify that as the time it takes to incorporate my military into the Republic one, I think, however.

IC: Kantophetes merely nodded. "These are all things, of course, I expect. One must understand, however, that you would not remove the neural networks that link the Unbroken Eye, and, except through the loyalty of individuals, you would not be able to penetrate it. However, we are a military organization at heart. Whilst we would obviously suffer a loss of power, I believe, most importantly, our military would merely be incorporated, not disbanded? The Realm, and, through it, the Unbroken Eye, is a military at heart. We are not a people given over to the extravagances of peace and wealth."

"The neural networks will not be touched," Gracchus promised. "As for your military, it will merely be reorganized into fleets and legions that fit with Republican standards. The Republic maintains the armed forces of its provinces at all times." He smiled with relief on the inside. The big issues had gone through seamlessly. "Upon your formal acceptance and the institution of your Assemblymembers, you will be free to participate in the Republic's government. And once you and your people have earned Senate seats with services done for the Republic, they will be free to run for any of the available Senatorial magistracies as they are elected." His smile spread to his exterior now. "Have you any more concerns, Basileus? If not, then let me be the first to welcome you and The Unbroken Eye to the Republic."

"It is done, then. I had no other concerns, merely those which lie between my people and those of Taledonia in long-gone history. We will transmit codes to the Republic military so that they may enter our inhibition fields without forcing us to take them down. Consider us officially part of the Republic.."

Kantophetes smiled. "It is strange, but one Consul Yalltar sent me a message, of sorts. It is a very short message, and I was asked to read the end of it out if our inclusion into the Republic took place."

He cleared his throat. "Kindly congratulate Senator Gracchus upon both his success and his promotion. I will expect to see you in the Senate in tomorrow's morning light, provided you travel well, Senator."