[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/5Ydx5tC.png[/img][/center] [center][i]Secretary-General Eridani on behalf of the Terran Federation and her citizens would like to pass along his best regards to President Larson and the people of Earth, and would like the further reiterate his acceptance of the United Nations offer to host a peace conference. A delegation is being organised as of the moment this communication was sent via subspace ansible. Peace and goodwill, in name of humanity. -Foreign Secretary of the Terran Federation, Minerva Heatherwood.[/i][/center] [b]=====================================================================[/b] [h3]Cornucopia, Copernicus Prime, Copernicus System, Perseus Arm[/h3] Secretary-General Hardian Sirius Eridani looked out the windows of the Federation Secretariat Building, viewing the midday view of the megalopolis of Cornucopia. It was a majestic view, the influence of Neo-Deco architecture pronounced throughout the city, seen across the enormous arcologies and skyscrapers. The view however, was also a distraction. “I implore of you Secretary-General to reconsider. The delegation, I can make it work. I promise you, do not throw away this chance” a soft voice spoke from behind the Secretary-General, almost on the verge of tears. The speaker was one Princess Astoria Edrosia Carmilla of the imperial house of Justinaria. The Terran Federation was a strange and complex place in, even to its head of state. Despite being ruled as a direct democracy, the Federations citizens still put incredible amounts of faith and trust into old bloodlines and titles of the fallen empire, such as possessed by the young girl standing behind him. The princess was only a pretender in truth, the Terran Empire having been unclaimed for 150 years now, but the absence of the empire did not make her family's titles disappear in the eyes of many Terrans. “I-I will do whatever Heatherwood asks, just allow me to… to…” “To do nothing” Eridani finished. He turned then, looking the the Terran pretender-princess, the teenage girl essentially a child compared to the wizened former Fleet Admiral. “Your highness, if I must repeat myself, I will. You will not be attending the conference. The meeting will include some of the most violent xenos in the galaxy, and we have no way to ensure your or even our own diplomats safety, as it will be held on neutral grounds”. “I can handle myself. I have gone to dangerous places before, so I am not afraid”. Eridani sighed. Arguing with small girls was the last thing he wanted to be spending his time doing. It was sad too, he supposed, because he sympathised. This conference was a lost cause, mostly because none of the warring factions had any intention of actually making peace, even his own. “Princess, I applaud your bravery, but now is not the time. The Federations people demand action, not words. If you truly want peace, then by all means go and speak with my constituents, perhaps even try to steal some voters from the Restoration Party with your royal charms” Eridani spoke as politely as he could, trying to pull off his old grandpa routine as much as he could in a speech that essentially told her the people voted for war. [i]Grabbing votes from the Restoration Party might be the Princesses greatest strength, at least until the Justice Party goes and steals the rest of them[/i] Eridani thought. The truth was, if he actually tried to make the conference work, it would be almost certain political suicide for him and the Homeland Party. His approval ratings were already floating in the low 40’s, and the Justice Party was now rapidly growing in popularity. The end justifies the means is what they say with this kind of situation. If it meant keeping the Justice Party out of power, he would do anything… even intentionally allow a peace conference to fail. “Regardless, my hands are tied, the party has already made its decision and the delegation has already been chosen. I am sorry princess, but I under no circumstances can I allow you to be present at that conference”. Eridani said. The Secretary-General and the princess were silent for nearly half a minute, staring at each other. The princess’ expression morphed from sadness to anger, then suddenly became expressionless. “Thank you Secretary-General for meeting with me and taking some of your time to hear my request. I will take your words to heart and try to win over the people. I bid you a good day” “And to you as well your highness” The princess then made an effort to walk out of the office as officially as she could muster, leaving the Secretary-General alone. [i]Another days work[/i] Eridani thought. [b]=====================================================================[/b][h3][i]Roughly the same time[/i], Himalaya III (Terran Federation), Himalaya System, Orion Arm[/h3] “So, do you want me to crash the party or not?” A shadowy figure at the lonely back end of a red light district nightclub spoke to what appeared to be a hologram standing on the table. “No… just watch it” The hologram spoke, the hologram a mere form with no features, its voice distorted and artificial. The shadowy figure gave a short snort and then reclined back further in the nightclubs couch. “Usually you have me for kill jobs, not surveillance. Seems like the perfect time to stir up trouble, why not?” The shadowy figure argued. “The conference serves our purposes significantly more as intended than as a crater. As for your work, usually you do as you are told and do not debate orders” the featureless hologram shot back. “Touche”. “Now then” the hologram returned to a more neutral tone, “Eridani is not fool enough to risk actually agreeing to anything at the conference, however his mere involvement in it will be all the propaganda we will need.” “So I am there because…” The shadowy figure held the question in the air. “We believe one of the xenos will ‘crash the party’ as you say themselves. Your purpose is to be the cavalry and kill but more importantly expose any xeno attempts at terrorism, thus we may discredit both Eridani and any xeno-loving policies” The featureless hologram said. “You will engage in no attacks or false-flag operations before the xenos attack” the hologram continued, expecting such as response. “Do you understand?” A brief silence followed, until the shadowy figure stood up, revealing a rough face covered in many scars with a head covered by a thin black buzzcut. The face was smiling, but it was clearly one hiding annoyance than anything else. “I understand” The scarred man said before picking up a large pistol from the table and finishing his glass of whisky. “[b]Glory and justice[/b] my friend” the hologram spoke before vanishing. “[b]Glory and justice[/b]” the scarred man finished to no one in particular.