[center] [b]Malarayan Hills Rolvius III[/b] (Third Moon to Rolvius Primary) [b]Overlook Resort[/b] [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Beautiful_Meadow_in_Yellowstone_National_Park.JPG/1024px-Beautiful_Meadow_in_Yellowstone_National_Park.JPG[/img][/center] Minister Roalesk Ran had once had to organize a wedding with twelve days notice. His daughter was betrothed in a love match and her other half was due to ship out with the Rolvian Navy to join in the reconstruction efforts on one of the outer moons of Yeral II. A major Corporate Alliance Speaker's daughter did not merely elope without any sort of fanfare- it reflected poorly on the family name and bank accounts. The caterers, the booking, the music, the entertainment, the guest accomodations and the reporter pools nearly drove him into a nervous breakdown, even with three assistants at his beck and call. Organizing the largest impromptu diplomatic summit since the Treaty of Detente was signed with barely five hours notice was significantly easier, he found. Especially when one had the backing of the Military to make people get out of the way. Two brigades of "Peacers" with Uulaka mounts, and a considerable number of Green Agents had descended on the Overlook Resort within three hours in a frantic invasion. Fortunately the resort was in its slow season, so only a dozen individuals had to be ejected off the premises, but the staff was being checked, re-checked, and in some cases of politically questionable opinions, given the boot to be replaced with Army staff. As Minister of Trade, Roalesk had plenty of business dealing with facts, figures, and foreign star nations. There was no "Minister of Foreign Affairs" or similar position. Not yet, at least. Rolvians had enjoyed being shielded by the Ashtar and allowed to grow to their own fruition. But now, he was being asked to fill that role more and more. And he wasn't sure if he was ready. Case in point, the Overlook Lodge had many amenities for rich, foreign tourists coming to hunt exotic game or recover from Rolvian medical operations and gene treatments. Spa. Highly rated restaurants. Pool (both indoor and an open lake). Hot springs. Even a craft workshop for those who found working with wood and leather to be a fun diversion. What it lacked- still- was a formal landing pad. Oh, it had a landing zone. There was a formcrete tower with secure com systems. But the actual landing zone was a cut field with marker lights. It lent something to the rustic charm of the place, but by the Gaea it looked backwards as Hells for a diplomatic summit. His Uulaka's four eyes were fixed on a herd of Chalratha off to the west of the landing field, grazing lazily while their matriarch's long neck was extended, watching the guards and the docile Uulaka mounts they rode. Uulaka were gengineered to be docile in the presence of their riders and other Rolvians, to obey commands. But out in the wild, four eyes, claws, and venom would reduce a two-ton Chalratha to so much mincemeat in a matter of time. Wouldn't that be a show for one of the arrivals? Of course we're a great and strong Star Nation! We would like to speak to you about matters of intergalactic peace and security. Right this way! Please mind the corpse though... [i]Well, let's see who I have to entertain first. The sooner Vannifar gets here, the better.[/i] --- [b]The Executive Branch Bough Rolvius 22:34 Since Foreign Fleet Arrival in Rolvian Space[/b] Vannifar stood at her desk, unable to bring herself to sit at this hour. Sunset was approaching through the Executive Branch's foliage and streamed through a dozen projected screens of news analysts, talking heads, and government broadcasts- all set on mute. She had long since changed out of her formal-wear and had donned what her staff called "executive loungewear" while sorting through deployments, force call ups, and literally dozens of diplomatic communiques in foreign capitals that she needed to oversee, review, or write personally. This was, in no uncertain terms, an unmitigated disaster. Two foreign flotillas were now inside Rolvian Space, approaching the capital world's third moon at Vannifar's invitation- and it was patently clear that if she tried to stop them then the Rolvian Navy would get rolled without the support of local strike craft fleets. She no longer had to worry about a re-election campaign because, if something went wrong here, there wouldn't be enough Rolvians left to run a campaign for. They were still digging up bodies on Manir from the Great War. Individual Rolvians on Manir were calling themselves up in militia networks and preparing to fight off an inevitable invasion. The Ashtar "tomb" was still under firm government control, but if tempers didn't calm down soon, there would be a confrontation between the reactionaries seeking to seize the dig site and the government forces protecting the site- and her geonuclear option. As if that wasn't bad enough, the diplomatic networks were reporting that the Federation's 12th Fleet was amassing at the borders for "war games". The Chancellor of the Federation was definitely aware of what was happening here in Manir, and the withdrawal from the Detente treaty came as a genuine shock to Vannifar. But the reality of the unraveling galactic peace was overpowering the old forces that put the treaty in place to begin with. Without the Ashtar around to oversee the peace, there was no guarantee of Rolvian sovereignty. She desperately needed a drink, a shower, and a shuttle to the Overlook Lodge, but the mobilization of military assets and readiness checks of the Strike Groups was necessary. The Superdreadnought Gaea was en route to Rolvius from Mezla, accompanied by the Fifth Fleet escort elements. The Rolvian Starfleet was small by every measure, but they still had one Big Stick to show off to the Asrians and she'd be damned if they weren't aware that the Rolvians could roll out a ship of that tonnage like they could. Then there was the Federation to consider in this ever growing web... [hider=Alanna,] [@Taeryn] Let's not mince words here- I don't have time for diplomatic niceties. The situation in Rolvius is changing rapidly. You can link up to any of our media networks and see that I have the Lokoids and Asrians within my borders, unannounced and uninvited. It's only by the grace of Gaea that the Asrians are moving to our third moon now for a diplomatic summit, rather than straight to Manir to take what they wish and damn the consequences. Any military vessels the Federation sends to our territory will be entering a dangerous situation. I will allow your forces to enter Manir orbit and make contact with Neuveau York's settlers and begin their investigation with Morgan's crew, and to examine the wreckage of the Federation cruiser [i]Triton[/i] in orbit. I will ask the Admiralty what escorts can be provided, but inform your personnel that they can expect to be accompanied by a number of Corvettes and nothing more. Your warning of the Federation Wargames is appreciated, but know that any mis-step from the Federation military may set something in motion which cannot be undone. Our old obligations for the restoration of Terra have tied our people together since Detente was signed. I would perhaps be interested in pursuing closer, more formal relations if the Federation Fleet is able to navigate this delicate situation without incident. - Vannifar[/hider]