[center][h2]Paradise Station, Paradise System, Sovereign Star Confederaton[/h2][/center]

The nineteen podiums of the cabinet chamber were filled, and below them all Steve Woolsey stood on a small platform looking up at the judging countenances of the distinguished cadre to which he’d once belonged.  It was a sobering feeling, even if he wasn’t there in the physical sense.  Regardless if it looked, even felt real, he reminded himself that this was just an illusion conducted by the many hidden projectors below him.  He was still on Bushu, left to his exile.  

With a restrained smile Kaela started the session, “Steve, It’s good to see you again.  I take it something has already come of your efforts in Musashi?”

“Likewise First Chancellor,” Wooley paused as he caught the momentary glare of his replacement, Richard Ainsworth on Sevaren’s right, but continued unfazed, “I have a number of things to report.  Firstly the Embassy nears competition and we expect to open within a matter of days, which puts us on target-.”

With a stifled huff Ainsworth interjected, taking no efforts to hide his contempt, “Surely you’ve not come before the Cabinet to waste our time with trivialities, [i]former Chancellor[/i] Woolsey.”

Woolsey remained composed enough, even if he fantasized about slamming the fools head into the table for embarrassing his country.  Ainsworth had never been able to put on a mask and carry on, he was a creature of unrestrained emotion and in times of tragedy it was always men like him that people turned to.  They could sympathize with him, see their own feelings in his booming speeches.  Woolsey couldn’t blame the voters for that, even if it was foolishness to trust a man because he lacked the calm to restrain himself.  With a nod Woolsey forged on, “Of course not Chancellor Ainsworth, as I said there were a number of things to report.  If it is the Cabinet’s wish I can skip the lesser concerns for the moment?”

With a sigh and a glance at Ainsworth, Kaela nodded, “Perhaps that would be best Woolsey.  What is the primary reason for this briefing?”

Woolsey adjusted his tie for a moment, and looked up again, “Very well First Chancellor.  The foremost reason for my addressing the Cabinet pertains to a visit I received from the Imperial Princess the other day.”

At that Chancellor Sally Cooper of the Foundry Worlds Alliance, seated to Sevaren’s immediate left, perked up, “The Princess Yuki?”

Woolsey shook his head, “No Chancellor Cooper, to my surprise it was the Princess Saeko.  If you’re not familiar with her she is the Emperors niece, and due to the strain caused to Yuki’s reputation by the Laioning Crisis a valid contender for the throne of Muashi.”

Cooper leaned back in her chair and brushed a lock of blond hair out of her eyes, “Interesting, what was Princess Saeko’s objective in this visit?”

Woolsey hesitated, all too aware of how Ainswoth would twist his words, but spoke, “Ostensibly the visit was to offer the Confederation a defensive pact similar to that which the Dominion recently signed with the Empire.  However, Princess Saeko only offered this deal begrudgingly and with conditions.  You see, the Princess informed me quite explicitly of Musashi’s intent to invade the Second Imperium in concert with the Dominion in a war supposedly aimed at rectifying the refugee issue.  She offers the defensive pact only if we deem such an intervention legitimate and refrain from intervention.”

Murmurs filled the room and Ainsworth all but shouted, “Outrageous!  They have the audacity to align with the Dominion, embark on a war of aggression, and try to mollify our concerns with table scraps?”

Sandro Espanta, the Iberian Chancellor, rubbed his brow and looked over to Ainsworth, “I have to agree with the British Chancellor, this is unacceptable.  Furthermore such a defensive pact offers us nothing, as it stands it is Musashi and not our Confederation that risks reprisal.  They declare their intent to assail the most unstable sector of space in the known galaxy, if we accepted their pact we’d only be forced to defend them when their designs backfire.”

Woolsey agreed, though reluctantly, “That was a concern of mine I was to mention Chancellor Espanta.  That said, we must be cautious in outright rejecting the proposal.  From my brief meeting I can attest to a simple fact, Princess Saeko is not our ally.  She showed a thinly veiled scorn in her negotiations that goes beyond simple inexperience and arrogance.  I am certain her conduct was at least in part intentional, given she only looks to gain if it appears Princess Yuki’s peace is failing so soon.”   

Ainsworth smirked, “Of course she has something to gain, but what does it matter to us?  Musashi will never be our ally!  We should reject this Saeko’s proposal and openly condemn her actions and conduct.  Or are we really going to bend the knee to monarchists who offer us unequal treaties as if they were deigning to do us some favour?”

A number of the Chancellors shared glances, silently debating if the admittedly uncouth statements from Ainsworth had merit.  Eventually Sevaren herself spoke, quickly gaining the attention of the room, “Woolsey and Sancho are right in saying the defensive pact offered would be to our detriment.  Beyond that it is also clear that Princess Saeko’s behaviour was unacceptable.  Yet we cannot bury our heads in the ground and pretend the internal politics of our neighbours have no bearing on us.  If this Saeko is not our ally we cannot allow her to gain the throne in Musashi, even more so if it looks like she might favour the Dominion over us.”

Most nodded, even as Ainsworth scowled.  Looking over Cooper spoke again, “Perhaps we could refuse their defensive pact and counter with one of non-aggression?  As much as it may benefit the Dominion and Muashi’s hawks to be left alone to invade the Second Imperium, we shouldn’t pretend we have any immutable interest in stopping them either.  Having the Dominion embroil itself in that quagmire surely serves to lessen the danger posed by Faust no?  Beyond that Yuki would suffer less of a hit to her reputation, and we could undermine this Saeko by directing a formal complaint to the Emperor concerning her.”

Ainsworth seemed to be satisfied by that and Sevaren nodded and addressed all the Chancellors, “Very well, all in favour of turning down the proposed defensive pact and renegotiating a non-aggression pact as well as issuing a formal complaint concerning the Princess Saeko’s behaviour, do speak.”

The majority spoke their ayes and Woolsey nodded, “Very well Chancellors, I shall make preparations to do as you say at once.”

With that the room around him disintegrated and he stood in a small grey chamber, isolated from any surveillance.  He leaned against the wall and sighed, Ainsworth was a problem that would only grow larger, but at least he could see reason.  Even if Woolsey thought an official complaint regarding Saeko was disproportionate, he had to agree it was an acceptable compromise, and one that might lessen the impact the Cabinets decision would have on Yuki.
 
Standing up and smoothing out his suit Woolsey stepped out of the chamber and prepared for what was certain to be an interesting next few days.