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[Il Palazzo]

There you go, dear cousins, straight from the mouth of the accused - 16 assassins in the Capital.

Li Halan, complain as much as you want about my fleet - which has an absolutely valid reason to be where it is as a part of the war against the League - but no matter how massive, it'd never be able to cause any harm to any of the noble electors in the Capital.

On the other hand, the presence of your assassins tells us all everything we needed to know about your 'noble' intentions. It is a direct threat to our political system.


The Madoc jumpgates remain open - for now. My suggestion, and I'm sure other houses will agree with me here, is that you use them to remove your assassins back to where they came from.
I swear, if you fail to do so, and those disgusting abominations will remain stationed within a striking distance of mine, or other houses' holdings on Byzantium, I'll close those skies as well.

Yours is a clear violation of the noble code of conduct, and asking the rest of us to reinforce our positions against your own machinations is beyond arrogant.

[Vertab Nukks]

There you go, dear cousins, straight from the mouth of the accused - 16 assassins in the Capital.

Li Halan, complain as much as you want about my fleet - which has an absolutely valid reason to be where it is as a part of the war against the League - but no matter how massive, it'd never be able to cause any harm to any of the noble electors in the Capital.

On the other hand, the presence of your assassins tells us all everything we needed to know about your 'noble' intentions. It is a direct threat to our political system.


The Madoc jumpgates remain open - for now. My suggestion, and I'm sure other houses will agree with me here, is that you use them to remove your assassins back to where they came from.
I swear, if you fail to do so, and those disgusting abominations will remain stationed within a striking distance of mine, or other houses' holdings on Byzantium, I'll close those skies as well.

Yours is a clear violation of the noble code of conduct, and asking the rest of us to reinforce our positions against your own machinations is beyond arrogant.

My Fellow Lords,

The Li Halan have attempted for years to deal rationally with the Al-Malik but this is how they respond.  They now have the audacity to threaten to close jump lanes not even under their jurisdiction.  If the Al-Malik interfere with Li Halan commerce or internal matters I will promise you their nobles on Byzantium Secundus will be the first to die in the conflict that they will inevitably begin.

Lord Flavius Li Halan

[Vertab Nukks]

“What you are suggesting is insane, and I will be no part of it!” exclaimed Archbishop Horace Costello.

Brother Joaquin de Moley replied, “My Order has shed enough blood for this madman. What other option do we have to end this carnage?”

Eskatonic Sister Grabielle interrupted, “None!  Already we have lost Pentateuch to the nobles.  Shall we lose Holy Terra or defenseless Artemis as well?  Let them burn Pyre to ash but why should our Orders suffer because of the Avestite Zealots!”

“You eminence you are the only one that can convince the Holy Synod to accept this proposal.  It is the only way to prevent the utter destruction of the Church.  Do you want to be part of the end of Zebulon’s legacy and the fall of what Patriarch Palemedes created over two millennia ago.” interjected Brother De Moley.

“No harm will come to the Partriarch he will simply be put under guard far away from Holy Terra for his own protection.” said Sister Grabrielle.

Brother De Moley reached under his cloak and produced a sealed letter, “Please present this proposal  to the other members of the Holy Synod.”

Archbishop Costello hesitantly reached out and snatched the letter before quickly concealing it in his robes, “Pancreator save me if this is a mistake, and both of you know this, we will all burn for this if we fail.”

[Il Palazzo]

My Fellow Lords,

The Li Halan have attempted for years to deal rationally with the Al-Malik but this is how they respond.  If the Al-Malik interfere with Li Halan commerce or internal matters I will promise you their nobles on Byzantium Secundus will be the first to die in the conflict that they will inevitably begin.

Lord Flavius Li Halan

What are you talking about, Flavius? We're not responding to your 'rational dealings with us', we're reacting to your irrational actions against the Empire and the political status quo.

But enough of this shouting, let the other lords speak.

[sk128234]

Dearest cousins,

Please pardon my shortened response, but I am in the process of drafting my acceptance address and cannot postpone for long.

I am very disppointed to see this sort of fighting within what should be an airtight alliance against the Symbiots.  I beg of you, come to an agreement so that we may focus our efforts on defending humankind instead of our own Houses.

Solemnly,
Lady Santiago, &c.
Second Regent of the Empire

[Vertab Nukks]

IMPERIAL EYE ANNUAL REPORT

In this final report as administrator for the Imperial Eye for this term, we have the following announcement that under contract with the Scravers Guild on Madoc we have leased the land rights to build an Electronics Factory on the planet.

Through Imperial negotiations with the Vau Hegemony the Imperial Eye has expanded its operations on Apshai with 1 new starport, 1 new manufacturing facilities, and 1 new military compound.  Thanks to a hefty gift of 60 precious gems from House Li Halan this purchase was made possible.

The Director is also happy to announce 1 new fighter has been added to the Imperial Eye Fleet at Byzantium Secundus.  This Fleet will continue to be used in the efforts to suppress rebel activity in the Empire, enforce embargoes, and enforce treaties between inter-house conflicts.

Lastly, the Imperial Eye Compound on Holy Terra has held against the siege by the Holy Terra Home Guard, and three Engineers have escaped aboard a damaged Bulk Hauler and are currently above Sutek.

Baroness Cassandra Li Halan - Imperial Eye Interim Director of Operations

[Margrave]

First I must congratulate Lady Santiago of her election, long may the Empire live under her stewardship!

Second I am disturbed by this revelation of openly armed operatives patrolling just on the fringe of Embassy Row. Byzantium Secundus is perhaps the one place in the entirety of the Galaxy that any Noble, Churchman or Merchant may walk freely and guaranteed of their security. This decree has been in place for more than 400 years, and to see it disregarded so callously greatly distresses me.

It is only my long friendship with the Li-Halan that gives me pause in my condemnation of this information. I will give Lord Flavius the benefit of the doubt in that he meant no overt aggressive display here and was only supplementing the Imperial Eye with his own forces.

But I cannot stress enough that these assassins must be removed from the Throneworld immediately.

Otherwise House Hawkwood will have to greatly increase the garrison of our House holdings with forces never meant to act as such. This will only lead to a cycle of escalation between all the Great Houses in which warfare on the jewel of Humanity will be inevitable.

In my final capacity as Fleet Commander of the Regency Star Navy, I will report that we have established a safe perimeter and headquarters under the alien skies of Absolution, expanded the industrial capacity of the Tethys Garrison and added two refurbished Charioteer Dreadnoughts to act as the Flagships of the Navy. No enemy of the Empire will last long under their fusion cannons!

[Vertab Nukks]

First I must congratulate Lady Santiago of her election, long may the Empire live under her stewardship!

Second I am disturbed by this revelation of openly armed operatives patrolling just on the fringe of Embassy Row. Byzantium Secundus is perhaps the one place in the entirety of the Galaxy that any Noble, Churchman or Merchant may walk freely and guaranteed of their security. This decree has been in place for more than 400 years, and to see it disregarded so callously greatly distresses me.

It is only my long friendship with the Li-Halan that gives me pause in my condemnation of this information. I will give Lord Flavius the benefit of the doubt in that he meant no overt aggressive display here and was only supplementing the Imperial Eye with his own forces.

But I cannot stress enough that these assassins must be removed from the Throneworld immediately.

Otherwise House Hawkwood will have to greatly increase the garrison of our House holdings with forces never meant to act as such. This will only lead to a cycle of escalation between all the Great Houses in which warfare on the jewel of Humanity will be inevitable.

In my final capacity as Fleet Commander of the Regency Star Navy, I will report that we have established a safe perimeter and headquarters under the alien skies of Absolution, expanded the industrial capacity of the Tethys Garrison and added two refurbished Charioteer Dreadnoughts to act as the Flagships of the Navy. No enemy of the Empire will last long under their fusion cannons!

Fellow Lords,

At the request of our truest friends the House Hawkwood, the Li Halan will remove these elite forces from Byzantium Secundus within two years once their original intended objective has been achieved.  Which is not the murder if my fellow nobles but I will also not discuss their mission since it is a matter of internal military operations.

However, as a caveat to this agreement I must request that the Regent deploy the Imperial Fleet or Imperial Eye Security Fleet to Madoc to insure the continued flow of commerce to Byzantium Secundus from Al-Malik Intimidation and Aggression. If this is acceptable the first group of my elite forces will be removed next year after their mission is complete.

Although, asking the Al-Malik to reopen trade lanes at Criticorum or moving their massive War Fleets away from the Capitol is not part of my demands,  I seriously doubt they will do it of their own accord as I have regarding my forces on Byzantium Secundus, and I hope all of my noble cousins realize the true villainy that is House Al-Malik.

Lady Santiago we humbly await your response?

Lord Flavius Li Halan

[Il Palazzo]

House al-Malik does not object to Imperial ships over Madoc - and why would we?
We do, however, object to being painted as the villain here. It's all on you, Flavius.

Once we're reasonably certain no more assassins skulk about the streets of Byzantium, we'll open the Criticorum lanes again.

-Ibn Don

[Vertab Nukks]

House al-Malik does not object to Imperial ships over Madoc - and why would we?
We do, however, object to being painted as the villain here. It's all on you, Flavius.

Once we're reasonably certain no more assassins skulk about the streets of Byzantium, we'll open the Criticorum lanes again.

-Ibn Don

Lord Ibn Donald Al-Malik finally from you drunken stuper you exspouse a morsel of reason.  Once my mission is complete on Byzantium Secundus in two years (perhaps even one year) I will completely remove my Elite Forces  and in turn you open up the Criticorum jump lanes again to commerce. 

Also, as a sign of sincerity I propose to the Imperial Regent Lady Hazat the "Byzantium Covert Restrainment Act" that states once my forces are removed that no House shall have Spies or Assassins on Byzantium Secundus except for those belonging to the Imperial Eye.  Should any House violate the Act the Regent and Ministers may blockade or use force against the offending House until they comply.

Lord Ibn Donald if you are sober enough can you reply to express your support for this proposal?

Also, Lord Alvarex and Vladimir please also provide input on this proposal.

Duke Flavius Li Halan

[sk128234]

Dearest cousins,

The Empire is able to support deployment of peacekeeping forces to Madoc, and will comply with this request.

I request that the other houses first debate the proposed Act before action is taken.  While I have my own opinions on the matter, I wish to comply with the desires of the majority when reasonable.

Yours,
Lady Santiago, &c.
Second Regent of the Empire

[sk128234]

((turn still in planning, but here's the big regency post))



STATE OF THE EMPIRE in the year
FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE anno Domini, the Dawn of the
SECOND REGENCY OF THE EMPIRE and of the
FIRST REGENCY OF LADY SANTIAGO, GRAND DUCHESS OF THE HAZAT

To the most revered Commanders of the Hazat Military, assembled here today;
to the distinguished Lord Protector Alvarex Hawkwood, Regent Emeritus of the Empire;
to the honored guests of the Great Houses Hawkwood, al Malik, Li Halan, and Decados; and
to the respected ambassadors of the League and Church, warmly welcomed despite diplomatic strain:

I am deeply humbled and honored to accept the duty of the Regency as bestowed upon me by the leaders of our Great Houses.

I stand before you today even as great turmoil spreads across our Empire.  The Patriarch of the Holy Church, once venerable and infallible, now teems with madness and lays siege to anyone he may meet.  The Leaguemeister, once respected for his brilliance and efficiency, now tries to tear our very economy to the ground in hubris.  And even our Heads of Houses, once noble and cordial, now accuse each other of intrigue and insolence.

I shall not allow the empire to continue down the road it has walked for the past ten years.  To do so would be to cast the Regency to the ground and declare the Empire a lost cause.  On the contrary, this Empire must remain united if we are to withstand the attacks of the Symbiot menace.  No longer can we afford to fight each other.  In the words of the philosopher Benjamin Franklin, the first great King of North America on Holy Terra: "We must hang together, lest we hang separately."

In the next ten years, the Hazat will find peace with the Church and the League, and I implore the other houses to do the same.  We cannot continue to steal the land of our Holy and League brethren, as this will only lead to resentment and more war in time.  We must live as brethren--as one family of the stars--in order to survive and regain the power of the ancient Second Republic.

In order to achieve this goal, my first act as Regent is to assign the Ministries of the Empire as follows:

• In light of recent tension between the Houses Li Halan and al Malik, I cannot in good faith provide the power of our Empire's intelligence to either while remaining impartial.  I will therefore appoint Lord Vladimir of Decados as the Chief Director of the Imperial Eye.
• It is plain to me that the House al Malik, with their recent acquisition of League warships, is well equipped for orital military action.  I will therefore appoint Lord Ibn Donald of al-Malik as High Admiral of the Imperial Navy at Stigmata.  I am certain that Lord Ibn Donald will hold this office solemnly, knowing the consequences of temptation while holding the Imperial Navy in his hands.
• Despite my opinion on the events of the past decade, I still hold our Regent Emeritus in the highest regard.  I intend to carry on his tradition by leaving the Imperial Fleet in the hands of the Regency.  In other words, I will inherit the title of Grand Marshall of the Imperial Fleet.

Put simply, and in conclusion: I vow to all of you that this Empire shall rediscover peace in the next decade.  There is no place for any Church, Guild, or House that does not share this vision.  Under my watch, our family will finally find the Emperor (or perhaps Empress) that it very much deserves.

Fortissimum ad Universum!

I am very humbly yours,
Lady Santiago Eduardo d'Arc y de Aragon, of the Hazat
Second Regent of the Empire

[Margrave]

Fortissimum ad Universum!

One more tumultuous decade ends and another precarious stage begins!

Also, as a sign of sincerity I propose to the Imperial Regent Lady Hazat the "Byzantium Covert Restrainment Act" that states once my forces are removed that no House shall have Spies or Assassins on Byzantium Secundus except for those belonging to the Imperial Eye.  Should any House violate the Act the Regent and Ministers may blockade or use force against the offending House until they comply.

House Hawkwood would be willing to sign this treaty. We have no need for skulduggery on the Throneworld. We thank House Li Halan for showing the grace we've long attributed to their Noble House in these trying times.

[Gollor]

House Decados greets Lady Santiago on her Regency!

I agree to sign this treaty. Byzantium should stay out of wars - and there are reasons for this. Non-agressive state of a planet should cover not only direct warfare, but also all covert and assassin operations.

[Vertab Nukks]

Lord Vladimir and Alvarex thank you for supporting the proposed "Byzantium Covert Restrainment Act" and to Lady Santiago for supporting the will of the Majority to enforce this new law after I withdraw my forces in the next two turns.  However, I must insist this Act has unanimous support and the voice we are missing is the wise Ibn Donald Al-Malik who has not yet provided his support of the new law.  I also request this fall under the Jurisdiction of the Imperial Eye for enforcement since they have a huge number of assets on Byzantium Secundus to track down and I believe should be authorized to "neutralize" any covert forces regardless of the House they represent.

Ibn Donald we await your response?

Duke Flavius Li Halan