[center][u][h2]1st Fleet of Faithful Intent, Edge of Ecumene Space[/h2][/u][/center]

After the prerecorded message had concluded Theodore was left in the relative silence of the fighters cockpit to muse the implications of what he'd been told.  It wasn't that he disagreed with Lucien’s plan, quite the opposite actually, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation when he considered the myriad of ways this could all go so, so wrong.  No, he knew that line of thought was a trap.  The decisions being made were above his pay grade, he’d been given a job to do and it was best he focused on it.

Of course, there wasn’t a lot to focus [i]on[/i] just yet.  The Ecumene had called this meeting, and they’d have the initiative in whatever discussion took place; at least until he found an angle that let him push the agenda he’d been given.  Well, if nothing else he could make sure he was composed.  Before he’d left Theodore had tried his best to look prepared, but already he could tell the cramped journey was going to take its toll.  The fighter wasn't [i]hot[/i] but a mixture of nerves from his recent revelation and a rather poorly chosen meal, he'd been expecting a proper shuttle with facilities after all, had begun to worry him when it came to the state of his appearance.  Finding a more reflective black screen to his side, its function a mystery he didn’t care to unravel, he surveyed himself.  It wasn’t much a mirror, and the way it distorted his face hardly helped, but with a grimace he noted the already disorderly state of his once carefully combed brown hair.  With little else to do he went about correcting that. 

It was hours, of that there was no doubt, but still he managed to be surprised and unprepared when the HUD flashed a warning and the long range fighter dropped out of warp.  He couldn't see them, but the small crafts sensors assured him a fleet equivalent to those that'd been fighting at the front back home was waiting for him, which was a tad disconcerting.  Nevertheless he did his best to finish straightening  out his suit as an Ecumene transmission came through, the fighter automatically recognizing the command and complying with the request to accept an escort.

The landing went smoothly, and Theodore stepped out of the cockpit with as much grace as he could summon, but at the end of the day climbing down a little ladder was only so dignified.  Once he was out he made his way to the four waiting for him, at least two of which he could easily identify as guards and disregard when it came to the forthcoming greetings.  The other two he identified by their dress.  He knew enough about military trends to identify the officer, and the priest was a given considering the nature of the Ecumene.

There was a rather stark juxtaposition between Theodore and the two though; where he wore a simple black suit, the diplomatic uniform of ancient Humania, the Ecumene's delegation were rather unabashedly opulent in their fashion.  A trifling detail, but one that spoke at length about who he was to negotiate with.  The Ecumene officer spoke first, “Welcome aboard the Righteous Truth ambassador. I am Admiral Talaran Victrix, commander of this Fleet and High Lord of The Ecumene Navy. The individual next to me is his holiness Raynald Dagenais, High Priest of Orion.”

Theodore smiled cordially and shook the mans hand, “I am pleased to be here.  Theodore Allard, designated and empowered representative of the Economic Council of the Great Resurrection.”

With that out of the way the priest invited him to follow the pair into the ship proper.  The length of their walk spoke to the scale of the ship, the tapping of the Priest's staff serving to set a pace that while not rushed delivered them to their destination as expediently as could be hoped.  The room they stopped at was clearly outfitted for relaxation, or more likley purpose built for diplomatic exchange, either way it was more luxurious in its furnishings than anything Theodore had seen on a military vessel in the past.  Talaran ordered the guards to wait in the hallway and the three seated themselves, Theodore keeping a respectful distance but not going so far as to make conversation inconvenient.  A minor, but important part of the game.

After Theordore sat Rynard began, “We can speak here for a time, afterwards you can proceed on into the sanctuary,”  He motioned towards a pair of large elaborately engraved doors on the opposite end of the room that bore artistic depictions of Orion’s legendary life, “What happens in there then is between you and The Conclave.”

Theodore nodded as an android went about serving some minor refreshments.  He partook, though not in excess.  The candy he helped himself too was good, though a fair bit sweeter than he was accustom to, its centre filled with a paste that could only be lightly flavoured sugar.

“Your war with the Scorpines, it’s become quite the talk of the Coalition membership. How do your people fare against those….threats?” Raynald asked, his voice tinged with unmistakable disgust as he said the word ‘Scorpine’ almost as if he was repulsed at having to pronounce it. 

“Ah,”  Theodore paused a moment in thought, “I cannot attest to the details, I am not a military man of course, but favourably enough that the setback of two years ago was news.  A layman I might be, but I cannot imagine a single hiccup in thirty years speaks to anything but the superiority of our forces.”

"We've heard scattered reports that you're mounting a successful counter-offensive. Although I imagine it may be some time before the Scorpines are broken completely," Talaran added, as he withdrew a small candied confection from the plate and popped it into his mouth, "We've received communications from various Scorpine military sources requesting to know why the Fleet is stationed so close to their territory. We've provided the same response each time: the Fleet of Faithful Intent is here to ensure that the war does not spill over into the Ecumene. Nothing more. A deterrent if you will. I'm not surprised they are uncomfortable however, considering the reputation of this fleet amongst non-human elements of the galaxy." 

As the Ecumene officer spoke another android entered, this time bearing an assortment of drinks.  Though he showed no sign of it, Theodore waited for his turn to seize one with the mad anticipation of a man who'd been thoroughly unprepared to sit in a cramped cockpit for hours on end with only limited food and drink.  When he tried the drink it was fruity, and clearly expensive, but above all else it was refreshing enough Theodore suppressed the urge to grin.

"The Admiral had previously been assigned to the Cygnus V system," Raynald explained after the drunks had been passed out, "The fleet was deployed to crush the resistance against humanity there, and ensure it fell once again back into the rule of the heirs of Orion's Mantle. The treachery of the Alien can indeed be a devious prospect. Thankfully, the full firepower of the fleet's carriers made them see the error of their ways." 

"A philosophical question Ambassador, if you would be so kind as to indulge me while we wait for your audience to begin," Raynald continued, "Where do you see the path of humanity's destiny leading? What is our purpose here now and throughout these long years of our existence? From the mists of our earliest days, through the misguided domination of the Empire, to now: where is our path taking us?" 

Now that, Theodore thought, was an unexpected question.  Of course, he supposed philosophy was the natural domain of priests, not that he was religious enough to have any real firsthand experience in the matter.  Still, nobody lacked for opinions on matters like that, religious or not.  In his case, Theodore held the same opinion as the man he was here to represent, “Our destiny?  A large question, High Priest, but one that all have considered I suppose.  I imagine you might expect a different answer from a Resurrectionist, after all in no part of the galaxy do the stereotypes about us fail to precede our arrival, but if I were to guess what our purpose is?  I would say Prosperity.  In ancient days wars were fought with resources in mind, and indeed what is the point of amassing resources is they are not used to better the lives of their possessors?  It seems to me that in from our earliest days to now the greatest drive of man has been his own well being.  Some would call it a selfish thing, but only if they fail to see the truth of it.”

Theodore took a greedy sip of his drink and went on, “To care for ones self is to eventually, inevitably, care for others.  Our natural aim and our greater purpose are one in the same, to bring about prosperity for [i]our[/i] species.  The Empire was misguided as you say, and perhaps doomed because of it, but even it had that goal in mind.  Ressurectionism, and many other ideologies besides, posit a great many things, but ultimately they suggest solutions to the problems which weigh us down and hold us back from attaining the utopia we have dreamed of for as long as we have existed.”

“But,”  Theodore looked to the priest, “I must imagine you have your own opinion as to that question?”