Gentlemen,
Perhaps I wasn't clear in my State of the Empire address, or perhaps you were just too busy daydreaming of ships of the line to listen. I shall write the Regency's position out again, in small words and large letters:
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER, OR ELSE THE ALIENS WILL KILL US
Does that help to reach through your dense skulls? Should I send an envoy to yell into your ears directly?
This Regency condemns unilateral capture of the Patriarch and Leaguemeister, but will have to make the best of the situation. Li Halan, you are to deliver the Patriarch and Guildmaster to the Imperial Eye immediately, and you are to deliver two scepters to each of the five Great Houses. I should have your scepters jettisoned to be quite frank, but it would only lead to more bickering.
If you see fit to keep your word and do this--which given your recent history, is a serious concern to me--then the Regency will continue to remain neutral in this matter and stay out of your business. If you decide to do otherwise, then the rest of the Empire should have no problem wiping you from the starmap.
As for the business between al Malik and Li Halan, this Regency will not lower itself to the level of petty bickering. Extinguish yourselves like our fading suns, if it will bring peace to the rest of us. Otherwise, once you have come to an agreement, you will be welcomed back into our peace and prosperity as brothers in humanity.
As soon as we determine how to salvage this situation with the Church and League, we will make a formal address.
Signed,
Lady Santiago &c.
Second Regent of the Empire