[center][h3][b][u]Gifu System, The Musashi Empire[/u][/b][/h3][/center]

[center]Darkspleen & POOHEAD189 collab[/center]
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The Gifu system was unremarkable in most aspects. It was home to seven planets, three of which were little more than searing hot balls of rock, three that where massive gas giants, and one terrestrial planet that had long ago been stripped of its atmosphere. The sole asteroid belt was home to a few minor mining operations, but nothing major. By all accounts the Gifu system should be an unimportant, backwater system and yet it wasn't. Its location made it ideal as a transportation and logistics hub for anything moving into or out of Musashi to the Second Imperium. Unsurprisingly this made it home to a fairly substancial military garrision under normal circumstances. These were not normal circumstances.

Over the past month Musashi's military presence had more than quadropled as it made preparations for an invasion of the Second Imperium. It was currently home to a staggering three hundred ships, and that number grew with every passing day. And at the center of that massive fleet one could find the [i]Musashi[/i], the second ship of the Yamato-class. It was in this ship that one could currently find Prince Shoichi, who was in the midst of preparing for the coming war. 

Prince Shoichi had recieved the message of the HRF request for an audience with mixed feelings. On one hand it was he and not Yuki or Saeko that would be dealing with them. On the other hand he wasn't keen on the HRF possessing the knowledge of where a signifigant portion of Musashi's navy currently was. It wouldn't due if they decided to warn the Second Imperium of the coming invasion. The gathered Musashi fleet had, upon receipt of the original HRF communication, strongly requested that it remain on the edge of the system once it had arrived and await further instructions and a communication from a high level government official.

Within the [i]Cleaver of Worlds[/i], Warmaster Daixanos stood tall and firm upon the pedestal of his command room as he awaited news of a reply from this 'Musashi' nation. Before him, dozens upon dozens of Hexanagallion pilots and crew members fulfilled their duties, holo helments blinking confirmations from all across the vast ship. "Warmaster," the High Pilot called to Dax. "What is it?" he replied, his voice even deeper and more ominous than most of his brethren's guttural growls. "We have been contacted, and asked to halt our ships. It seems they have a large invasion fleet at the ready just at the edge of their space." 

"Truly?" Daixanos asked aloud, though it was more of an intriguing statement than a question of confirmation. They would only be invading the Second Imperium if they were mobilizing here. Perhaps Warlord Jex knew what he was doing when he sent Dax to negotiate with this nation. Just outside Musashi space, the humble fleet of 100 frigates and the monstrous Harbinger Dreadnought slowed to a halt just as requested. 

Within a minute of the fleet's arrival it was hailed by the Musashi fleet. A human male with long white hair, his face hidden behind a mask, spoke "I am Admiral Soh of the Imperial Musashi Navy. We have recieved your request for an audience." There was a pause. "Shoichi-denka is willing to grant you the honor of an audiance on the [i]Musashi[/i]. Your representatives are to come via a transport craft. We will guarantee their safety. That is all."

The message was relayed to the Warmaster, and he replied to his First Officer. "Get my ship ready, brother." The request was fulfilled, and Daixanos stepped off his command deck and strode toward the hanger bay, flanked by 8 Honor Guards and a Priest of the Divine. As he walked, he pondered on how curious these humans would be. No doubt they would think him some dumb brute or barbarian from the edge of their own space. He had seen it enough times before when he had given warnings to systems. Many humans were dead now who had thought they were smarter than he was. 

The Warmaster shook his head at his own thoughts. It does himself and his Warlord dishonor by thinking of such petty things. He would stride into this meeting with his maw high and his words refined like true Xarkonian steel. He and his entourage stepped into the transport ship and set off toward the coordinates they were given. 

The Warmaster's ship reached the [i]Musashi[/i] unmolested. The small ship easily found space within the superbattleship's hangar. An honor guard of bushi soldiers had formed, two clusters of twenty on either side of the Warmaster's ship. In between the two clusters of soldiers stood Admiral Soh, waiting paitently for his ship's guests to arrive.

"Welcome aboard the [i]Musashi[/i], pride of the IMN" Admiral Soh said as the Warmaster's party entered the hangar. "As I introduced myself previously, I am Admiral Soh. I will escort you to where Shoichi-denka awaits." 

Warmaster Dax stood head and shoulders above the humans, but did not attempt to intimidate or intrude. "Very well." he said simply, and ordered his men to follow. His Priest stepped forward first, the Hexanagallion's head bare, showing its smoothed scales and predatory eyes. 

The admiral simply nodded before turning and heading towards a door at the far edge of the hangar. The Musashi soldiers turned and escorted the group of Hexanagallions on either flank. Once they had reached the door Admiral Soh led them through a number of halls till they reached a doorway labeled "Conference Room 1". It was here that the escort stayed behind, with only Admiral Soh and the Hexanagallion party entering.

The conference room was a large room, its center dominated by a large round table and thirty chairs. Next to the far wall stood six Imperial guard bushi at attention. A human male, his face hidden behind a mask like Admiral Soh, sat at the table. He rose as the Hexanagallions entered. "Welcome to the Empire of Musashi" the man said. "I am Yamamoto Shoichi." He paused before continuing "Here in Musashi we do not show our faces to inferiors" He gestured towards his guards, "However as a sign of respect to you and because you are acting as a representative of your homeland..." He removed his mask and set it down on the table. Admiral Soh was quick to follow suit. "Would you care to take a seat?" He gestured towards the chairs. "I am most curious about what brings you here at this point in time."

Standing there before this leader Yamamoto, it dawned on Daixanos yet again how different their species were. He supposed the thought came to him because of how similarly to his own people this man spoke, other than the 'inferior' comment. He was about to insist that he stand. His Golden and red ridged armor was made for war, not resting. However, he decided he would honor this request, and he sat opposite to this man. The seat was quite cramped for one such as he, but he reclined as best he could without complaint. 

"I am Warmaster Daixanos Kel'atar, leader of the Fel'Blade system, as well as over two dozen Vassal systems. I have been given leave by my Warlord to speak for the entirety of my nation. I have heard little of you, as you no doubt have heard little of us. I hold no love for humans just as the rest of my kind, but nor do I believe they are inherently evil. I am more...tolerant of your kind than some of my brothers. I am to understand you and this...Second Imperium have received billions or refugees in recent years from Reaver attacks at the edge of space. It was our Honored forces that were responsible, for these systems held slaves, held allegiance to the Imperium, or attacked us initially." He glanced behind him, only for a fraction of a moment. More because he was wary of an attack for such a proclamation. He gazed at Yamamoto Shoichi fully once more, and his presence seemed to grow as he spoke. A born leader was he. 

"For over a thousand years, ever since the Imperium assimilated our world of Hexana, we have been growing and multiplying. Honing our abilities and advancing our technology. Building ships and growing warriors. Watching the Galaxy as history unfolded. Now, we are ready to begin what is our destiny. We have set off upon a holy crusade that shall consume the Galaxy in holy fire and drown the makers of chains in spilled blood. Our prophets have foretold such events, which has lead us inexorably here. I have other news to tell you that is perhaps unknown to you, that at the edge of your space, we have recaptured a single system that holds our ancient homeworld. Such an act, coupled with our prophets, has set my people in a zealous mood, to put it lightly." His great tetradactyl hands were placed together  in a contemplative fashion as he spoke.

"I must admit that I was not expecting to be treated in such a manner. Many humans view us with fear or outright hatred. I will honor you however, with being blunt and presenting to you our terms that we shall provide all others. Allow me to make something perfectly clear. Compromise is not generally our strong suit. We are not here because we need you. We are not here because we like you. We are here because honor demands it. Because without honor and respect, you and I are no different than the Xeno barbarians that ravage this part of the galaxy. That being said, here are the terms we have come to present to you and to all nations who will listen. One, there is to be an abolishment of both slavery and oppression of citizens throughout the galaxy, particularly non humans. Do not mistake me however. Even at this very moment, we are cutting a swath through the Agonis Collective and liberating humans who are enslaved. Two, there is to be no recreation of the glory of the old Imperium. Such an act would only promote oppression from humans and remake mistakes long since forgotten. It is a pleasing sight to see your fleet at the ready to invade the Imperium we have so long hoped to meet in combat. And three, a mere request. We ask that you allow us passage through your nation, if need be that is, to reach our ancient home world without conflict. Perhaps such a request might not be needed, for it seems we share a common goal of obliterating this Second Imperium and will likely invade in time, just as you are." He let out a growl, though not threatening. Merely a gesture. "If you agree to these three terms, I would offer you my friendship, and my fleet as it is to help in your attack. If you accept the first two terms only, I will leave respectfully and not raise arms against you unless provoked. If you accept none of them, I will still leave and not raise arms against you. But I cannot promise the future, or my nation's future actions. I can guarantee however that soon, there will be little places to hide in this galaxy. Forgive me if I have been percieved as 'rude.' We tend not to mince words, and I have not negotiated with humans for many years. What say you, Yamamoto Shoichi of this Musashi nation?"

Shoichi listened to Daixanos intently, raising an eyebrow at more than one point but otherwise revealing little about how he felt. When Daixanos was finished speaking Shoichi simply regarded him for a moment. Finally he said "My sister often says that a civilized xeno is far superior to an uncivilized human. I admit that you are the first xeno I have ever spoken to. I am also quite surprised to find that you are indeed far more civilized than many of the humans from beyond Musashi that I have encountered." He tapped his mask with one finger as he continued. "Many in our culture follow what is called the Bushido code. This code has eight core tenets: rightousness, courage, benevolence, respect, sincerty, honor, loyalty, and self-control. I feel that, even if you do not know of the Bushido code, that you yourself follow it. No person, either human or xeno, is a slave to another in Musashi."

"You demand that we do not aspire to recreate the Old Imperium" Shoichi continued. "You need not fear that from us. We have learned from the past. The Imperium failed. Those that wish to see it rise again, the Second Imperium, Imperial Remnants, and Dominion of Man are all rotting cultures that know nothing of honor, rightousness, or self-control. They are all doomed to suffer the Imperium's fate. I have spoken to men who hail from the Dominion. They claim to be civilized but I found them to be quite barbaric." He looked Daixanos in the eye as he said "Had you simply demanded that Musashi grant you transit rights to this homeworld of yours I would have declined. Instead you showed proper respect and for that I shall grant you the passage you request. And I will offer you something more. These beings that you call the Xeno barbarians are a known entity to us here in Musashi. Once we are finished with the Second Imperium, we may be willing to establish a unified front with you in order to destroy these xeno barbarians. Would your... leader find this agreeable?"

Dax met his gaze, and determined that this man was not mocking him, he believed.  He let out a low thrum of a growl as he contemplated. "I will relay your message to him on that count. And you honor me with your words and manner. It seems we both have our wars to fight, and as I leave here in friendship, I determine that we shall meet in the middle and create a new galactic landscape upon the field of victory." Warmaster Dax pushed himself out of his chair slowly, made the gesture of 'comrade' in the air, and placed his guantleted fist upon his broad chest. "This has been an interesting but fruitful meeting, Yamamoto Shoichi. Let us hope that our words are followed through with actions in the months and years to come."