[u][b]Star System of Paradiso
RCNS [i]Anna Karenina[/i]
[/b][/u]

Paradiso was certainly a busy star system, Captain Arthur Wellesley noted. The bridge’s main holodisplays were cramped with signatures of all sorts generated by local traffic, each one diligently flagged by the CIC as it was detected, first in unknown white, then friendly blue as the CIC received confirmation of their identity. The CIC was being especially vigilant today, probably trying to show off for the UFS. Wellesley found it faintly annoying, but he wasn’t going to bother making a fuss about it. He preoccupied himself with monitoring [i]Anna Karenina[/i]’s progress in-system, cruising at about 80% maximum acceleration, partially to not look threatening, and partially because Wellesley felt it prudent to not advertise exactly how fast his ship could move.

The choice in speed had caused some friction between himself and the mission’s lead diplomat, Anderson Ribbentrop. The diplomat argued that since they were trying to secure the Federation as an ally, it would be a good idea to broadcast the ship’s capabilities as prominently as possible to underscore the value of the Commonwealth’s friendship. Wellesley strongly disagreed. Ribbentrop wanted to offer the UFS delegation a comprehensive tour of the ship, including up close looks at the weapons systems. Wellesley, once again, strongly disagreed. They’d reached something of a compromise. 80% maximum acceleration instead of 60%. The tour would not include sensitive areas of the ship, but the delegation shuttle’s landing approach would be plotted to conveniently give them a close flyby of the axial weapons and the main broadside batteries. It would let the UFS get an idea of the Commonwealth’s capabilities, without giving away too much.

Ribbentrop himself was down in the diplomatic state room on the ventral surface of the ship, a room large enough to be considered palatial for the usually confined spaces of a warship. He had clearance to be on the bridge, but by long tradition he kept clear of it while the ship was underway unless absolutely necessary. The navy didn’t appreciate civilians getting underfoot aboard their precious boats. He was, however, linked by comms to the bridge, a courtesy extended by Captain Wellesley to keep him up to date on the ship’s situation. Ribbentrop looked over the first draft of the proposal he’d put forward to the UFS delegation. It was simple enough, a mutual defence pact, wherein each party agreed to come to the aid of the other in any war initiated by a third party. Importantly, it did not cover any wars instigated by the Federation or the Commonwealth, and bound the two of them together in any defensive war, not just one with the Xim; the Commonwealth was trying to secure a partner against any possible X’Cor hostility. Ribbentrop suspected it would be the second part that the Federation might balk at; they might want to restrict the pact to exclusively the Xim, their most notable enemy, instead of saddling themselves with whatever enemies the Commonwealth might have. Regardless, Ribbentrop was confident they could reach a satisfactory agreement with a little time and patience.

 New Columbia was quickly growing larger, and after an exchange with the planet’s traffic controllers, [i]Anna Karenina[/i] settled into a parking orbit. They’d been provided with the comm frequencies of the Federation offices on New Columbia, and Wellesley took a few moments to revise the notes Ribbentrop had prepared for him about what to say in his initial message. Any invitation aboard ship had to be delivered by the captain; that was simply not within any diplomat’s authority. When Wellesley felt comfortable that he wouldn’t completely flub the message, he signalled his comms officer to open a channel. “This is Captain Arthur Wellesley, commanding officer of the Royal Commonwealth Navy Ship [i]Anna Karenina[/i], carrying a diplomatic delegation representing her Imperial Majesty’s government. We come in the spirit of friendship and cooperation, hoping to strengthen the relationship between the Imperial Systems Commonwealth and the United Federation of the Sol Sector. I understand the Federation has recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the end of the Xim War; to pay our respects, I would like to extend an invitation to a reception aboard my ship, at your earliest convenience.”