[center][h2]On the Edge of Commonwealth Space[/h2][/center]

Lyon Guillot combed his hair carefully in the ornate mirror that dominated the common room of his quarters, paying close attention to avoid even a single errant hair.  After all, it wouldn’t do for the man leading the first official mission to the Commonwealth in decades to look unkempt.  Satisfied with his appearance he checked an antique mechanical wristwatch and dusted off his already immaculate jacket.  In a matter of minutes they’d finally escape the hellhole of independent planets and endless war that his government had apathetically dubbed ‘Unaffiliated Space’ and reach the border of the Imperial Systems Commonwealth.
 
Making his way to the bridge Lyon felt the near imperceptible tingling that came with every exit from superluminal travel and prepared himself for what was sure to be an interesting meeting.  It wasn’t particularly that relations with the Commonwealth up to now had been poor, but more that they had been complicated.  The Confederation had opposed the Systems Commonwealth’s expansion into the buffer of space between the two states vehemently, but at the same time had been more than willing to deal with the only other ostensibly democratic nation in the known galaxy.
 
All said, even if the Commonwealth wasn’t particularly keen on meeting him he wasn’t terribly concerned.  How could one be aboard a Charter class Battleship alongside a cadre of Destroyers and Cruisers?  With a smirk Lyon passed through the bridges reinforced triple doors and greeted the captain with a wave, “Have you made contact with them yet?”
 
The rather gruff Russian gentleman who commanded the ship, Captain Sokolov, nodded in reply, “Yes, we’ve informed them of our intent and are expecting an answer to our request for a dialogue shortly.”
 
Lyon grinned wider and took a seat to the Captains right, a position normally given to the ships XO but one granted to him for the remainder of the mission.  Soon enough they’d see just what this Commonwealth was really about.


Captain Isandis nearly had a heart attack when the Confederate 'delegation' dropped out of FTL. He was at this particular segment of the borrder expecting Confederates on a diplomatic mission, but not quite this many. He was halfway to sounding a Case Sigma and alerting the entire Commonwealth to foreign invasion when the message from the Confederate battleship came through. Isandis sat back down in his chair with emphasis. An invasion would not be coming today. Or at least, not as far as he knew. If the Confederates turned hostile, his Reliant class battlecruiser, RCNS Eclipse, would not do much to stop them, even with three heavy cruisers and four destroyers in support.

"Comms, open a response channel; This is Captain Yannel Isandis of the RCNS Eclipse. We are glad to open dialogue with the esteemed Confederation, and invite a party of your choice aboard my ship for a small reception celebrating cordial relationships between our great nations, as well as to conduct negotiations."

Isandis would have preferred if Anderson Ribbentrop, the diplomatic attache assigned to his ship, were on the bridge, but long tradition dictated no civilians on the bridge while the ship was at General Quarters or Action Stations. Anyways, he'd delivered a fairly standard address, and Ribbentrop would doubtlessly be able to smooth over any mistakes.

Sokolov nodded and merely looked to Lyon who spoke in his place, “This is Lyon Guillot, diplomatic head of this delegation.  I gratefully accept your invitation and shall make my way to your vessel posthaste so as to begin negotiations with your distinguished nation.”  
 
With that the communication was cut and Lyon stood up, again dusting off his already shining suit.  The hanger bay was a fair walk away, but it only served to give him time to think.  There was a great deal the Confederation and Commonwealth could offer each other normally, but he feared this mission had been sent for a rather solitary reason; The Dominion of Man.
 
With a sigh Lyon went about boarding the shuttle and briefing the honour guard on what they were to do, all the while thinking how best to approach the problem in negotiations.  By the time he boarded with the ISC Battlecruiser he wasn’t any more confident than when he departed for it.  With an inaudible huff he decided he may as well improvise, and when the shuttles door opened once more he was as ready as he could be.
 
Isandis, Ribbentrop, and a hanful of diplomatic staff and officers were waiting for him. Now off the bridge, Ribbentrop took over. "Mr. Guillot, I am Sir Anderson Ribbentrop, of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps. May I present Captain Yannel Isandis, commanding officer of this vessel."
Isandis saluted formally. "A pleasure, Mr. Guillot. If you would follow me to the reception hall?"

Reception 'Hall' was an apt discriptor. Tucked away at the bottom of the battlecruiser in what he'd assumed was a sensor suite was in fact a large, luxurious chamber with large windows out into the void. There was champagne, a beverage the old Imperium had introduced into the Commonwealth which had grown immensely popular. There was a chocolate fountain with strawberries so rich only a true gourmet could tell they'd been recently re-hydrated. There was even a string quartet of crewmen, all resplendent in their dress uniforms.

At what seemed like exactly the half hour mark, a suitable amount of mingling time later, Ribbentrop approached Guillot and gestured towards an enclosed room on the upper level of the reception hall. "Mr. Guillot, I thought it time we spoke formally. If you would accompany me to the Salon? Please, inform any staff you wish to accompany you."

The Salon was equal in luxury to the reception hall. Lyon was caught somewhat off guard by the resplendence; the descent to the diplomatic area from the port hangar bay had been through highly utilitarian corridors and lifts. To find such a luxurious venue, so open to space, was somewhat unexpected. Ribbentrop sat down on one side of the long table, two staffers seemingly materialising from thin air beside him. Ribbentrop shuffled a chiffe of papers, then looked pointedly across the table. "So, Mr Guillot, the Dominion."

Lyon smiled, briefly reflecting upon how much he’d fussed over how to introduce the subject with mild amusement.  Interlocking his fingers he met Ribbentrops gaze, “The Dominion indeed Mister Ribbentrop.  As it seems we’re on the same page I’ll dispense with the pleasantries and promises and state it like it is.  I’m sure you’re aware that they’ve gotten a great deal bolder since they dug their claws into Earth, and now it seems they’re assembling the support they need to expand their repulsive crusade to the rest of the galaxy.  Needless to say, it would do for those of us certain to be on the other side of that conflict to start preparing for it.”

"Mr Guillot, I hope I do not presume too much when I say I am relieved to hear those words from you," Ribbentrop said with genuine relief. "The Dominion threatens not just our way of life here in the Commonwealth, but literally the lifeblood of over 80% of our population, mine included." He shuffled through the chiffe of papers, and withdrew a moderately long document. "Mr Guillot, as you said, let us dispense with the pleasantries. I have here a rough draft of what could be a mutual defence pact between our nations. Obviously we have not had the chance to consult with the Confederation, so it is a [i]very rough[/i] draft, completely open to negotiation and moification." Ribbentrop assumed an almost conspiratorial whisper. "Between you and I, Mr. Guillot, my government would be willing to discuss stronger ties between our two nations, the only democracies to survive the fall of the Imperium." His tone changed back to something more formal. "However we recognize such an association could be viewed as openly hostile by various third parties, so perhaps it is better to focus on mutual defence for the moment."

Extracting a pair of reading glasses from his jackets pocket Lyon accepted then skimmed the document, quickly finding the clauses he knew would have to be altered before replying, “It is as you say Mister Ribbentrop, for now we prepare.  Anything else can come later.  Regarding a defensive agreement I’m as relived as you that our governments have similar stances on the issue.  If the Dominion is arrogant enough to presume it can spread it’s hatred as it pleases it will soon come to realize how severe the folly of that action is.”  Looking up to Ribbentrop and removing the glasses for a moment, letting them hang in one hand, Lyon asked, “Would you believe they had to audacity to offer my government a similar pact to the one we’re contemplating here?  It boggles my mind that Faust imagines we’ll fall in line with his perverted vision simply because the Confederation is a mostly Human state.  I swear the madness of that man is incomprehensible, next thing you know he might be offering the damnable Alorians a treaty and crossing his fingers behind his back like a toddler.”

Ribbentrop shook his head. "I would not have believed it, Mr. Guillot. To think that Faust imagines all the great nations of the galaxy will abandon their principles as easily as he does...unbelievable." Ribbentrop pointedly avoided bringing up the Alorians. He was still personally uncomfortable with their defensive pact. It was possible Guillot already knew of the pact and was trying to force him to openly aknowledge it, but Ribbentrop figured if that was the case, let the man expose his hand before confessing anything. He turned the conversation to happier subjects.
"I have full confidence of the crown to negotiate a defensive pact, barring final approval of course. Shall we get into the fine details?"

Lyon nodded, "Indeed we shall Mister Ribbentrop."

It took a few hours, many pitchers of water, and a few strained moments to hash out an agreement, but ultimately the two diplomats produced a document they felt would be satisfactory to both their governments.

Standing Lyon pocketed his glasses once more and covered his mouth as a yawn beyond his conscious ability to suppress escaped.  Extending a hand to Ribbentrop he smiled, “This has been a most pleasant meeting overall Mister Ribbentrop.  I look forward to our nations ratifying the agreement we’ve forged here, and perhaps with time others may follow.”