[img]http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs17/i/2007/200/f/a/Palace_by_RQuack.jpg[/img] [b][u]Laona[/u][/b] [b]Present Day[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The warm sun bathed the Dominion capital of Laona, its gentle rays moving down through the trees and painting soft shadows on the streets. Built in a hilly region of the Dominion heartland the city had an almost wave like appearance as the streets undulated up and down and the meandering rivers formed small lakes on every dip. King Tetan Serin had been summoned by the senate and now walked the main road of the city to the domed building that held the heart of the Dominion. All around him were people, some asked questions and others made idle chatter with him. Though some monarchs, and truly his father, would have found the idea mad Tetan had always felt that the nation existed for its people and he would never raise himself above them on a ceremonial wagon with a guard keeping them at a distance. The crowd parted as he reached the guarded bridge and was escorted into the building. With a kind wave he bid them farewell and headed to the grand home of the senate. As he neared the entrance guards opened the ornate doors and permitted his entry. In a small chamber within he changed into a simple purple regal robe and proceeded though an adjacent door to the Senate meeting chamber. As he entered through the door on the raised platform and preformed an honorary bow many in the senate called their greetings. As Tetan took his place on the kings chair overlooking the senate, the Speaker Sharod Kephage walked to the centre of the room and looked around, motioning for the senators to quiet down. "I present, King Tetan, presiding over this session of the senate."Sharod turned to the king. "The senate has presented some serious issues, demanding your attention." He walked to the king and handed him a piece of paper with two things written on it, two simple words that were so important. [i]The Somnus and the Plague.[/i] "My king, we have an issue regarding the Somnus, many issues have arisen in their borders that could directly affect our nations well being. The potential for even more refugees has risen due to conflict but more so, the possibility of spies slipping through our nets. At the present, Refugee camps are well supplied and segregated but with the turmoil along a majority of the north eastern borders.. well.. there is a potential for disaster." The crowded senate began talking about the issue, some hateful things could be heard, "we should just eradicate the problem." and across the isle, "maybe we can convert them." Sadly, this uncertainty was the reason the King was there, to throw in his outside opinion and sometimes a definitive order. Tetan was smart though and knew that upsetting the senate with direct orders could result in big issues later on so he would have to be tactful in his answers. He however also knew that for the time being, The king was accepted and respected in these halls. Sharod motioned for the crowd to settle down then spoke, "Now we will hear from the king. Once he has spoken, rebuttals will be accepted." He turned to the king once more, "My king, you have the senates ears." Tetan had expected the words before him. Truly the history of the Dominion in the last century could have been summed up as such, if it was not an effort to stem that horrible blight it was an attempt to integrate or deport the refugees of their once enemy that had streamed into the nation over the years. Still, the issue had grown no less serious, and no less worthy of his full attention. After observing the document and eyeing who had said what on the floor Tetan decided to speak up, “True enough we feed the Somnus who come to our gates, and true enough the terrors behind them have only grown. However it seems to me this issue has gone on far too long. The Imperium is a phantom for us and a memory for those who had once lived there, what it is that we must face is the fact that the camps we assembled are no permanent solution and those who come across the border will by all chances continue to do so. The time has come to attempt something greater than a petty containment.” “What I propose is simple. We must either make it so that these unfortunate souls can integrate into the Dominion as citizens or we must make it so that they can go home without the fear of war and suffering.” The room burst out into discussion again, many saying things about deportation. After a few moments they started to quiet down. One older male stood up among the crowd and walked towards the center stage. "We have to look at this diplomatically. There are so many states forming in the old somnus. It's unsettling but sending these people away could be disastero-" Before he could even finish, another stood up and spoke, "And why do we need to worry about their well being?" The older man just pinched the bridge of his nose. "Because we aren't monsters.. not the people that would just give someone the boot and send them to die." "I'm sure they would do that to us." the other added. "And that's why we are better people, why we aren't monsters. They already practice their faith within reason in our borders. we even have justinians in some of our major cities. Yes, their views to most would be radical but there have been many crusades and did they rush to join the cause?" he gave a smirk to the other senator, "No, they practiced safely. most would even say their ways have been questioned by a diluted leadership around their so-called living god." The other man just sat down. His anger obvious but there wasn't any rebuttle to the facts that the old man had brought. "My king, I believe we should work towards a citizenship plan. " Sharod walked forward, "Should this be put to vote?" The majority of the senators rose their hands. "It seems a vote is called. By tradition though, the king is allowed to speak regarding his position on the matter. What would your ideal belief be?" The senators looked to the king, with each expecting to hear him reflect their own beliefs. The king would know that he is about to piss off half of them but there was no choice. Tetan looked over the crowd, so full of expectation and every one convinced he would side with them. Still, he had made it clear that these people deserved a home and if the Dominion could not be that home what use was he? What use was the nation his line and the senate had been building for centuries? No there was but one choice available, “You speak true, we are not monsters and we should not hate those simple because of their faith. The only way to resolve this without horrible sacrifice is for the Somnus who had fled to our lands to become citizens of those lands. No matter how much time has passed we must remember that we were once a single people, and perhaps this is a chance for us to be that again.” He watched the faces of the crowd, some with hate and some with inspiration. Regardless Tetan knew he had done the right thing, and for all the mistakes in his life he hoped he continued in that. The room became silent as his speech ended. Many had remembered how the nations were united but many also remembered the tales of the horror was during Justinians original crusade. Times had changed and had it not been for Justinian, it'd have been a easy choice. As the senators placed their vote via colored stones placed in a bucket. The room stayed silent. Many were looking at one another, wondering how their opponents would vote. It was quick though, orderly. And only minutes later, the tally was in. Sharod stepped in to the exact center and spoke up. "The vote is in, thirty to six, in favor of allowing them to become citizens." Only a few people seemed upset but were quiet about it as such a landslide vote would possibly put them off to the side in future votes. "Plans for a path to citizenship will be written up. It shouldn't take too long but it will be a difficult task." The room stayed quiet though as people were anticipating the king to say something regarding his win. Tetan looked out and smiled at the room, “I thank those who voted for this, and for those who voted against know this. The days of sectarian war are passing, the plague serves as enemy to us all and we must be united in our effort against it. In the coming months as this plan comes to fruition, no matter the difficulties, I ask that you all remember that.” The senate were silent towards the answer, but many seemed happy. Regardless of that, something far worse was brewing within the walls of the room. "We now discuss the other situation. The plague." The senate stayed silent. This was a touchy situation as for many of them, it was an unknown. all they had was tales to go on.. few had been to the borders and those that had only seen quiet forests and bland fields stretching in to the distance. "We..." Sharod cleared his throat. "We have reports of... plague.. " The senators began whispering at this point. "We have reports that the eastern city of Nasita has ad sightings of the plague." Those words would potentially confuse a man as the plague has no real.. look. But they were likely referring to some sort of group and people with dreams. It was still an unknown, and the senators, especially the ones from that area really needed the kings guidance. "There needs to be some sort of response. Many people are going to be confused in that city and possibly the surrounding region." The group turned to the king once more. That struck Tetan as news. The plauge? So far from the walls? How was a question, but the more important one was what to do now. Tetan cleared his throat and started, “As for this... Most troubling news, I feel we must act swiftly. The Imperium fell in two years, what we do now may well decide our own fate. So it is with a heavy heart, but firm conviction that I suggest we quarantine the city and all surrounding towns. The measure is extreme, but who here knows how the plague spreads? Anyone? No we need time to be sure and only a quarantine gives us that. The military must be deployed.” Tetan rubbed his head and looked down, clearly upset with his own words before he continued, “There must be no hesitation in our actions or we risk ruin.” It would be strange to anyone to see the Senate unannamously agree on anything but this was a special case. Without hesitation, people spoke up, "We must send the military." and other similar phrases. The older man stood up and began to spoke. "As this is a prudent act, shouldn't we be smart to keep the effort as low key as possible? As of now, people will be confused and scared but only hear it as a rumor. If we go in, full armor clad and weapons at the ready, it may throw the entire area into chaos.. refugees from our own nation flooding futher west." Many senators seemed to agree with that statement, "My suggestion is to still make a lighter quarintine, perhaps using scouts rather than full military forces to be the ones seen along the roads, use our regulars to patrol the forests. And we definitely need to send agents in to offer comfort but also figure out what is going on." The group, as usual, looked to the king now. In times of conflict, the Senate is who declares former war, allowing the king complete use of the military in offensive opertions. These acts though fell during peace so many actions are touchy in regards to the armed forces. These traditions and rules were starting to falter though, as the world grew darker, the Dominions conviction towards its security was growing stronger. Tetan had to blame himself for not seeing the panic a full deployment might create, a foolish mistake. In response he spoke out, “You are correct. Perhaps I was hasty to recommend a full deployment, matters like this require as much discretion as they do force. I am in agreement with the limited deployment plan presented, but I suggest we do withhold a larger force in the event that… In the event that things begin to spiral beyond our control.” [hider=Actions] -Dominion begins allowing refugees from the Somnus a path to citizenship. -Armed forces are dispatched to the Nasita region to begin a quarantine -Drathans recieve a "thank you but for now we have everything under control." letter. Though the option of accepting Drathan aid isn't written off. [/hider]