[center][h3][b][u]Commonwealth Embassy, Bushu, Musashi System, The Musashi Empire[/u][/b][/h3][/center]


Since the Musashi had granted them permission to establish an embassy, a veritable swarm of diplomats had come flying out of the cruiser that had conveyed Kessel to Bushu. Even now they were establishing themselves in an office building in the heart of the capital city; not far, Kessel noted, from where the Confederate embassy was being completed.

Even without ideal terms secured, establishing an embassy was still plenty enough to keep Kessel busy. There were, as it turned out, a remarkable number of private Commonwealth citizens in the Empire, and as soon as they heard of the embassy they were beating down Kessel's door demanding he clear up this trade dispute or that embargo. It was in the middle of one such busy afternoon that Henry Kessel found himself entertaining an unexpected visitor.

"Ambassador Kessel," his secretary's voice came over the comm, "One Xaio Zhi, Minister of the Interior of the Musashi Empire is here to see you, along with a guest."

Kessel looked up from his desk in surprise. "Send him in please, Dessena." He quickly prayed the woman had correctly used her mask.

Two masked figures stepped into the room, a man and woman. Both wore hanfu of the highest quality, their masks were a combination of gold, porcelian, and purple paint. Both rendered low bows before removing their masks, revealing the woman to be quite beautiful. She looked at Kessel with a soft smile on her face.

"I am Xaio Zhi, minister of the Interior of the Musashi Empire" The man said, his tone neither particularly warm nor cold.

"And I am Xaio Xiang" The woman said. "You may use my given name if it pleases you."

"I thank you for seeing me on such short notice" Zhi said before asking "May we sit?"

"Yes, please Xaio-dono." Kessel said, gesturing at the luxurious leather armchairs in front of his desk. He removed his own mask as he did so, fairly confident that was the correct protocol. Xiang gave him pause momentarily; humans of asiatic descent were comparitively rare in the Commonwealth, and Kessel found her quite striking.

"How may I help you today, Minister?"

"I am here to follow up on a number of matters you had previously discussed with Yuki-hime." Zhi answered. "The Emperor has decided to allow further negotiations in regard to trade and has tasked me with overseeing those negotiations. I would like to start these negotiations off by knowing how many how much trade you hope to establish and what items you wish to import to Musashi."

"I'm glad to hear it." Kessel said with a trace of genuine enthusiasm. He personally was an investor in some of the Commonwealth's interstellar shipping companies, and thus his interest in trade with the Musashi was more than just professional.
"As discussed, sources of potential cultural contamination are strictly off limits; we would be more interested in the areas of industrial goods, raw materials, and high end consumer products. I have a complete list here," Kessel offered the Minister a data pad.

"Let me see here..." Zhi quickly skimmed over the list as he commented "Ok, ok. Mhm. Ok. Take a look over this." He handed the pad to Xiang as he offered Kessel a data pad that he himself had brought. "And this has a list of goods that we will not allow to be brought into the country. And some rules for clarification. For instance your citizens may bring these items with them so long as they remain either on a ship originating from your country or your country's embassy. I can not stress enough how important it is that any citizens coming to Musashi understand that trying to distribute these banned materials, or even carrying them on their person, is a bad idea. They will be tried under our cultural purity laws and may face further espionage charges." The list of banned goods listed much of what one would expect: books, music, movies, and other such items not originating from Musashi.

"Now I believe that your government was willing to drop taxes on our merchants in exchange for opening up trade. What exactly could we expect in regards to this?" Zhi asked.

It was a somewhat arbitrary point; the number of Musashi traders in Commonwealth space was comparitively tiny. However, Kessel also had to consider how that civilian traffic might increase. He could be afford to be generous, but not foolish.

"Her Majesty's government is prepared to concede a 2% reduction in tarrifs on Musashi merchants, Xaio-dono." Kessel said carefully.

Zhi slowly shook his head as he listened to Kessel's offer. "That is a pityfully small reduction Kessel-dono. Would you instead be willing to reduce your tarrifs to twenty percent? This is opening up a whole new market for your merchants after all."

Kessel paused, mulling it over. "Nevertheless, we must consider the long term prosperity of our realms. Twenty five percent would be more appropriate."

"Hmm... well.." Zhi began to respond, but paused as Xiang spoke up for the first time.

"Uncle, our economy is just beginning to pull out of a recession. We our industry needs those raw resources and an export market for durable goods." Xiang flashed Kessel a smile while Zhi wasn't looking at her. "Perhaps the Commonwealth would be willing to lower its tarrifs on our goods to eighteen percent and any media goods we export to five percent, in exchange for us dropping our tariffs to them to twenty percent and the tariffs on raw materials specifically to two percent. Would that be acceptable?"

Zhi eyed her for a moment before answering with a nod. "Yes, it would be. Kessel-dono?"

Kessel briefly lost his train of though, reboarded it, and examined the figures in his mind. "Yes, that would be most acceptable," he concludeed.

"Excellent!" Zhi said. "I'll send you an official document later this evening. Now I believe we have the matter of a non-aggression pact to discuss." He paused for a moment before continuing "In light of our new trade relations, Musashi is certainly willing to consider signing such a treaty."

"That is excellent news," Kessel exclaimed. "While we are not sure of the results of your negotiations with the Dominion, my government is confident that no good can come of conflict between the Commonwealth and the Empire. It is greatly reassuring to know that Musashi has not been....overly influenced by recent negotiations."

"Oh?" Was all Zhi said.

Xiang raised an eyebrow as she said "The Dominion has yet to overtly interfere in our affairs. Although they were the first to offer us a hand in friendship after the Confederation stabbed us in the back."

"Xiang-chan" Zhi said with a hint of warning in his tone.

"My apologies" Xiang responded, the words flowing from her mouth without feeling.

Kessel spread his hands appealingly. "I meant no disrespect. The Dominion remains a source of concern for my government and our citizenrry, but that is our issue, not yours. I am simply happy to negotiate for a brighter future between us."

"Indeed. As are we." Zhi said.

"Pardon me for asking" Xiang spoke up again, drawing a curious gaze from her uncle. "But there is something I would like you to shed some light on, if you could. Are your government officials members of an... aristocracy? Are you, for instance, of noble birth?"

"Ah, that is an interesting question." Kessel said, pleased at Xiang's interest in his own culture. "I myself am not of noble birth. There is indeed a nobility within the Commonwealth, but it is primarily confined to the old Vit'azny Kingdom. Thus, Vit'azny members of our government more often than not are part of this nobility, but non-Vit'azny members seldom are. Our minister of the interior, Sir Cato Telemachus, is a most accomplished Rhodesian with no landed title to speak of. The same can be said of Sir Paul Alexander, a human like myself and Lord Exchequer of the Treasury. Of the Parliament of the Sovereign Reich, fewer than one quarter have any titles pertaining to the old Vit'azny nobility. Does this answer your question?"

"Yes it does" Xiang said with a smile. "Here in Musashi one must be either an officer in the military or hold a comparable rank in the government to be a noble. Even one born into nobility must become an officer of government official in order to keep their noble status once they reach adulthood." She leaned forward ever so slightly as she said "As much as I would love to continue this conversation I fear that my uncle surely has something to attend to." Xiang and Zhi exchanged a look: Zhi one of agreement and Xiang one of resignition.

"That is indeed the case" Zhi said as he rose to his feet. "Assuming we have nothing else to discuss of course."

"I believe that is all, Xaio-dono. Thank you for your time. A pleasue to make your acquaintancee as well, Xiang..." Kessel floundered for a moment, unsure of the charming young woman's precise status, before settling on the familiar: "...dono. I hope to meet you again in the future."

"As do I, Kessel-sama" Xiang said as she rose to her feet. Zhi's raised eyebrow was visible for a moment before his face was hidden behind his mask. Xiang flashed Kessel one last smile before hidding it behind her own mask.

"I'll make sure the official documents reach you before nightfall" Zhi said as the pair rendered a bow. "And it has been a pleasure working with you. Hopefully we'll have the chance to socialize outside of an official function at a later date."

"One can only hope" Xiang said as the pair made their way out of Kessel's office.