Orthodox Gnosticism
30-09-2008, 16:07
(OOC: This is not a law, but a debate about passing a law. All of this is internal United Colonial dialogue. Nothing has passed without the final vote)
What drives a population to madness, to turn against one group above all others. What drives men to take up arms and deem their brothers as inferiors. Fear and uncertainty.
Caprica City, Caprica.
The Forum
The room was full, as the press sat and waited, their cameras flashing as the delegates began to take their seats. The old symbol the phoenix had been replaced with the shining sun, and the thirteen rays of light that shined from her. Aside from that, it seemed to be an ordinary session for a nearly impotent Quorum. However today was far from an ordinary day.
As the delegates sat down, the master of arms approached the delegates, each seated in the curved table with a podium in the center.
“Honorable delegates and representatives of the Thirteen Colonies of Kobol.” the man boasted, in his grey fleet uniform. The bald and aging man, on his right arm wore the patch of the phoenix, and his left, the pips of the United Colonies. “I call this session of the Quorum of Thirteen into session, on the Twenty Fifth Month, and Third Day after the Fourth Colonial Civil War.” the man projected his voice across the room.
He turned to each delegate, their nice large chairs, with the flag of their individual colony behind them. He saluted each of the delegates, then crisply turned about face and walked down the aisle away from them.
Another man approached, his hair stark white, and his face old wrinkled beyond his years. He wore a black robe, and in his arms he held a scroll. The man slowly approached the center of the room.
“Let us pray.” the priest spoke. As customary, the delegates bowed their heads. “Lords of the Thirteen Colony, and of Kobol hear our prayer. Let your wisdom shine down upon the delegates and representatives of the Colonies and descendants of Kobol. May you grace them today with your presence, as you did long ago when you lived with us at the birthplace of the human race. Guide them to right action in your eyes, and bless the United and Thirteen Colonies of Kobol, and our wayward brothers amongst the stars.”
The man raised his head from the prayer, and took the scroll and kissed it. Placing it back within his right arm he walked away from the center of the room.
Normally the Vice President, the President of the Quorum would then call the first speaker, but it had been quite some time since anyone held such a position, due to the iron grip of the Colonial Fleet. The Quorum left impotent struggled for months against their own red tape but eventually one man won the right to call the Quorum into session. Representative Tom Zarek of Saggitarion.
Tom stood up, at his desk A tall and imposing man, he stood up at his desk. “I call this session of the Quorum officially open.” he said. Looking around to his fellow delegates, “Does anyone have a motion?” he asked.
One woman spoke up, “Representative Zarek.” the dark skinned woman from Gemenon spoke up. “Geminion would like to introduce a new motion.”
“The Quorum recognized Representative Adria Hester of Gemenon.” Zarek spoke, as he held his hand out motioning her to walk towards the podium.
Adria stood up her hands shaking slightly. She was new to the quorum, recently elected a month ago. This was her first motion, as the dark haired woman, gathered her notes and began to walk towards the center.
As she stood up in the center, her heart raced. Never before had she stood in the Quorum to pass laws. Taking a deep breath, she looked out into the press. Their lights were flashing, blinding as the press took their pictures of the woman and her first address. Gently she raised her hand to her mouth and cleared her throat.
“Members of the Quorum, and peoples of the Thirteen Colonies of Kobol.” she began her speech.
“I have come to you today in a time of dire straights. The Quorum has failed the people. The fleet rampages upon our rights daily, Allies act more like enemies, and the ever present danger of the cylons along with mass extinction is ever present.”
“Are we safer today then we were two years ago, as we were promised by Admiral Cain when she and her Chaos heathens of allies committed the sin of a military Coup De Ta? No. Look around you. We have aliens walking freely amongst us. The same aliens whom have destroyed countless others, have brought other such nations low and into the ground.”
“Are we more secure today, than when President Adar Fifteen Years ago brought forth to this very body a motion recognizing certain nations that we all know now as allies. The Very same nations that destroyed this very city, and have just now nearly brought the Colonies to war in the Melinda / Daan sector. No the threats today are much more prudent, decisive and above all else critical.”
She then motioned towards Ms. Kung, the representative of The Workers State of New Dornalia. “Are me more unified today as we were promised by the Workers State?” she asked. “Aside from a new logo, and a new title.... United, we are far from that. Colonials are still killing Colonials, in the name of hold hatreds and prejudices. Ships are nearly at ships throats, and dispite the unification and the efforts of my esteemed colleague Representative Kung, little has been done or passed to truly unify us.”
“Who is to blame?” she asked the Quorum. “Is it our allies and enemies? Is it the Fleet? Is it Earth? No. It is our own fault. The Thirteen Colonies of Kobol have utterly failed to protect themselves, to lift ourselves up.”
“Look at this group. We are cowards, we are sheep. We run from the sound of the Colonial Marines, and the Red Navy. We let foreign nations dictate our circumstances. I say no more. I call on the Workers State of New Dornalia, Aeralon, Aquaria, Canceron, Caprica, Gemenon, Leonis, Libria, Picon, Sagittarion, Scorpia, Tauron and Virgon. Set aside your old prejudices of your fellow tribes of Kobol. Set aside the frustrations of the past to usher in a new age of United Colonial strength and unity. Let us show the verse, that we are not a nation of bickering Emos and drunks and let the galaxy know with one voice, that we will not allow anyone to subvert us.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the United Colonies. We are not alone in this universe. Our safety and security are undermined by our very traditions and laws. How can we secure our borders, and protect our people, when the very nature of the threats we face is debated in local politics.”
Take the force users. Caprica has strict anti force laws, where if someone is seen using the Coredian god, they are deported. If they injure anyone with it, they get life in prison, and the death penalty if they attempt murder with it. On Aeralon, you can shoot a jedi in plain view of the police and they will not lift a finger, as force users are considered non humans. Yet on Aquaria, they are seen as people with full rights, no different than anyone else.
“On Earth, they are embraced, either due to local customs or massive mind tricks by the Coredians. They even have a cult, the Ouendan, who have been driven to madness by the ways of the force. They have been driven so mad that a branch of this group nearly started a riot in this very city during the trial of Empress Katrina Masaki of Coredia, a known war criminal and butcher of millions. How can we stop their corruptive influence if we can’t even stop them from boarding a chartered flight legally due to the differences in national laws.”
“To this end I purpose the first in a series of laws designed to unify us against external threats. The Unified Anti-Force Act.
1) Any and alien force users must depart United Colonial Territory within forty eight hours after this is passed by the quorum. Alien is defined as anyone not being born in the United Colonies. Alien Force users are hereby considered a threat to the national security of the United Colonies.
2) The force is defined as any person or persons that possesses supernatural means, such as Telekinesis, Mind control, Telepathy, and other acts that are unnatural to humanity through natural and non technological ability.
3) Any and all property by such persons that are a threat via the force as defined by the above two proclaimations to the national security of the United Colonies will forgo any and all property, which will be seized and auctioned off by the state for use in public works and for the public good.
4) Any alien force users found after this resolution to be residing or within United Colonial Space and territories will serve a sentence of no less than six years in prison, guarded by the Ta’Nar force inhibitors at a secure location on Kobol, after forty eight hours of this passing. After the sentence has been served, said force user will deported to a nation of their choice that will take them in. If said fugitive returns to the colonies, the penalty will be life in prison on Kobol, with no possibility of parole.
5) Well begin to set up a new branch of government designed specifically to hunt down these alien fugitives, using the best tools at the disposal of the thirteen Colonies able to enter freely and leave any United Colonial planet or territory without notification. They will be empowered by law to do what is necessary to bring these living weapons to justice.”
After laying out her radical agenda, Adria Hester looked at the group. “Ladies and Gentle of the Quorum. Do not let the Jedi or the Sith deceive you. They are a very real threat, and one that we must take seriously. If we can not unite behind this one basic truth, then we may as well surrender right now to the Empire or Coredians. We are worthy of Survival and we must show the galaxy with one voice that we will survive.”
She turned to Tom Zarek. “I now turn this motion over for debate and amendment.”
What drives a population to madness, to turn against one group above all others. What drives men to take up arms and deem their brothers as inferiors. Fear and uncertainty.
Caprica City, Caprica.
The Forum
The room was full, as the press sat and waited, their cameras flashing as the delegates began to take their seats. The old symbol the phoenix had been replaced with the shining sun, and the thirteen rays of light that shined from her. Aside from that, it seemed to be an ordinary session for a nearly impotent Quorum. However today was far from an ordinary day.
As the delegates sat down, the master of arms approached the delegates, each seated in the curved table with a podium in the center.
“Honorable delegates and representatives of the Thirteen Colonies of Kobol.” the man boasted, in his grey fleet uniform. The bald and aging man, on his right arm wore the patch of the phoenix, and his left, the pips of the United Colonies. “I call this session of the Quorum of Thirteen into session, on the Twenty Fifth Month, and Third Day after the Fourth Colonial Civil War.” the man projected his voice across the room.
He turned to each delegate, their nice large chairs, with the flag of their individual colony behind them. He saluted each of the delegates, then crisply turned about face and walked down the aisle away from them.
Another man approached, his hair stark white, and his face old wrinkled beyond his years. He wore a black robe, and in his arms he held a scroll. The man slowly approached the center of the room.
“Let us pray.” the priest spoke. As customary, the delegates bowed their heads. “Lords of the Thirteen Colony, and of Kobol hear our prayer. Let your wisdom shine down upon the delegates and representatives of the Colonies and descendants of Kobol. May you grace them today with your presence, as you did long ago when you lived with us at the birthplace of the human race. Guide them to right action in your eyes, and bless the United and Thirteen Colonies of Kobol, and our wayward brothers amongst the stars.”
The man raised his head from the prayer, and took the scroll and kissed it. Placing it back within his right arm he walked away from the center of the room.
Normally the Vice President, the President of the Quorum would then call the first speaker, but it had been quite some time since anyone held such a position, due to the iron grip of the Colonial Fleet. The Quorum left impotent struggled for months against their own red tape but eventually one man won the right to call the Quorum into session. Representative Tom Zarek of Saggitarion.
Tom stood up, at his desk A tall and imposing man, he stood up at his desk. “I call this session of the Quorum officially open.” he said. Looking around to his fellow delegates, “Does anyone have a motion?” he asked.
One woman spoke up, “Representative Zarek.” the dark skinned woman from Gemenon spoke up. “Geminion would like to introduce a new motion.”
“The Quorum recognized Representative Adria Hester of Gemenon.” Zarek spoke, as he held his hand out motioning her to walk towards the podium.
Adria stood up her hands shaking slightly. She was new to the quorum, recently elected a month ago. This was her first motion, as the dark haired woman, gathered her notes and began to walk towards the center.
As she stood up in the center, her heart raced. Never before had she stood in the Quorum to pass laws. Taking a deep breath, she looked out into the press. Their lights were flashing, blinding as the press took their pictures of the woman and her first address. Gently she raised her hand to her mouth and cleared her throat.
“Members of the Quorum, and peoples of the Thirteen Colonies of Kobol.” she began her speech.
“I have come to you today in a time of dire straights. The Quorum has failed the people. The fleet rampages upon our rights daily, Allies act more like enemies, and the ever present danger of the cylons along with mass extinction is ever present.”
“Are we safer today then we were two years ago, as we were promised by Admiral Cain when she and her Chaos heathens of allies committed the sin of a military Coup De Ta? No. Look around you. We have aliens walking freely amongst us. The same aliens whom have destroyed countless others, have brought other such nations low and into the ground.”
“Are we more secure today, than when President Adar Fifteen Years ago brought forth to this very body a motion recognizing certain nations that we all know now as allies. The Very same nations that destroyed this very city, and have just now nearly brought the Colonies to war in the Melinda / Daan sector. No the threats today are much more prudent, decisive and above all else critical.”
She then motioned towards Ms. Kung, the representative of The Workers State of New Dornalia. “Are me more unified today as we were promised by the Workers State?” she asked. “Aside from a new logo, and a new title.... United, we are far from that. Colonials are still killing Colonials, in the name of hold hatreds and prejudices. Ships are nearly at ships throats, and dispite the unification and the efforts of my esteemed colleague Representative Kung, little has been done or passed to truly unify us.”
“Who is to blame?” she asked the Quorum. “Is it our allies and enemies? Is it the Fleet? Is it Earth? No. It is our own fault. The Thirteen Colonies of Kobol have utterly failed to protect themselves, to lift ourselves up.”
“Look at this group. We are cowards, we are sheep. We run from the sound of the Colonial Marines, and the Red Navy. We let foreign nations dictate our circumstances. I say no more. I call on the Workers State of New Dornalia, Aeralon, Aquaria, Canceron, Caprica, Gemenon, Leonis, Libria, Picon, Sagittarion, Scorpia, Tauron and Virgon. Set aside your old prejudices of your fellow tribes of Kobol. Set aside the frustrations of the past to usher in a new age of United Colonial strength and unity. Let us show the verse, that we are not a nation of bickering Emos and drunks and let the galaxy know with one voice, that we will not allow anyone to subvert us.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the United Colonies. We are not alone in this universe. Our safety and security are undermined by our very traditions and laws. How can we secure our borders, and protect our people, when the very nature of the threats we face is debated in local politics.”
Take the force users. Caprica has strict anti force laws, where if someone is seen using the Coredian god, they are deported. If they injure anyone with it, they get life in prison, and the death penalty if they attempt murder with it. On Aeralon, you can shoot a jedi in plain view of the police and they will not lift a finger, as force users are considered non humans. Yet on Aquaria, they are seen as people with full rights, no different than anyone else.
“On Earth, they are embraced, either due to local customs or massive mind tricks by the Coredians. They even have a cult, the Ouendan, who have been driven to madness by the ways of the force. They have been driven so mad that a branch of this group nearly started a riot in this very city during the trial of Empress Katrina Masaki of Coredia, a known war criminal and butcher of millions. How can we stop their corruptive influence if we can’t even stop them from boarding a chartered flight legally due to the differences in national laws.”
“To this end I purpose the first in a series of laws designed to unify us against external threats. The Unified Anti-Force Act.
1) Any and alien force users must depart United Colonial Territory within forty eight hours after this is passed by the quorum. Alien is defined as anyone not being born in the United Colonies. Alien Force users are hereby considered a threat to the national security of the United Colonies.
2) The force is defined as any person or persons that possesses supernatural means, such as Telekinesis, Mind control, Telepathy, and other acts that are unnatural to humanity through natural and non technological ability.
3) Any and all property by such persons that are a threat via the force as defined by the above two proclaimations to the national security of the United Colonies will forgo any and all property, which will be seized and auctioned off by the state for use in public works and for the public good.
4) Any alien force users found after this resolution to be residing or within United Colonial Space and territories will serve a sentence of no less than six years in prison, guarded by the Ta’Nar force inhibitors at a secure location on Kobol, after forty eight hours of this passing. After the sentence has been served, said force user will deported to a nation of their choice that will take them in. If said fugitive returns to the colonies, the penalty will be life in prison on Kobol, with no possibility of parole.
5) Well begin to set up a new branch of government designed specifically to hunt down these alien fugitives, using the best tools at the disposal of the thirteen Colonies able to enter freely and leave any United Colonial planet or territory without notification. They will be empowered by law to do what is necessary to bring these living weapons to justice.”
After laying out her radical agenda, Adria Hester looked at the group. “Ladies and Gentle of the Quorum. Do not let the Jedi or the Sith deceive you. They are a very real threat, and one that we must take seriously. If we can not unite behind this one basic truth, then we may as well surrender right now to the Empire or Coredians. We are worthy of Survival and we must show the galaxy with one voice that we will survive.”
She turned to Tom Zarek. “I now turn this motion over for debate and amendment.”