Assembled dignitaries,
In the face of renewed hostilities between the House Hawkwood and the League, I must insist that we continue to strive for peace among the Houses and Factions of our Empire. While we may be inclined only to see the warships and implements of death, it is easy to overlook the innocent clergygoers and bean counters (O! those mighty counters of beans) whose livelihoods we take with every assault and siege.
With the above considered, I present to the Assembly the following Decree, to minimize the impact to the bystanders of this senseless war, as well as to incentivize cooperation among us all:
Ecclestiastic and Economic Investment Act
WHEREAS lasting peace is desired with the True Believers and the Great Economists of this Empire; and
WHEREAS Great Houses continue to take possession of the men and machines of these groups;
NOW BE THE FOLLOWING DECREED:
1. All captures of Church or League space-faring ships to Great Houses must be announced to the Imperial Assembly.
2. All captures of Church or League profit-generating officials (of at least 1000 Firebirds per annum) must be announced to the Imperial Assembly.
3. Such announcements will specify the number of civilian (i.e. unarmed) and the number of military (i.e. armed) units captured.
4. This Act shall only apply to those Great Houses at war with the Church, or the League, or both at the time of enactment.
5. This Act shall cease to apply to a Great House when that House obtains peace with both the Church and the League, and announces this peace to the Imperial Assembly.
Your imminent thoughts are greatly appreciated, as every moment wasted is another innocent casualty on the road to peace.
Respectfully,
Lady Santiago, &c.
Second Regent of the Empire