Post by Dominion of Zabéara on Jan 26, 2015 1:39:48 GMT
History is rarely a truly linear story; the actions of individuals and petty organizations up to the largest and most complex institutions is often the story of many different currents, interests, and forces pulling this way and that. On rare occasions though, the many currents of history converge and pull in one direction. It was one such convergence that led to an extraordinary convening of the Dominion’s key institutions.
The most Holy, Serene and Orthodox Dominion is a true polyarchy; its various bureaucratic elements, while unified in a single state, act with a great deal of autonomy. The dominion’s complex bureaucracy is a mazy of veto points, checks and balances, and convoluted procedure. This only served to make the meeting even more extraordinary.
Assembled in a huge stone chamber deep in the dark underground heart of the Holy City were the key representatives of the Dominion. The patriarchs, whose vibrant robes provided a stark contrast with the rest of the surroundings, sat at the back of a long, three-sided rectangular stone table. On the sides sat representatives of government ministries, holy orders, the Admiralty and Holy Army. At the head some distance from the others sat the Emperor cross-legged raised on a stone platform, silent and still as befitting the dignified abstraction of his position.
‘’The Diamond Empire must be dealt with.’’ The Red Patriarch said almost matter-of-factly. ‘’Previously, they resupplied the killers Dominion civilian craft. Despite requests to cancel their supply rights with other empires, they have refused.’’
‘’ Repeatedly they have violated our space with ships, despite warnings. This last one went through the home system itself! It practically buzzed Zabeara! Huffed Biunz-ata, a Lord Commander of the Holy Army.
Kanzinzi-ai-tu of the ministry of unconverted aliens putting his hands together and speaking as if he were holding something back, as he always did, stood up in his turn. ‘’Diamond-iz is, with our current technology, barely a 3 month voyage from these very halls! Given their behaviour, this is a security risk we can ill afford.’’
Murmurs of agreement. ‘’Especially,’’ the diplomat added, ‘’when one considers we are caught between the vice of two great powers that threaten our friends on opposite ends of the galaxy. We must look to ourselves and strength our frontiers.
’’
The extraordinary council continued like this for some time. Most seemed to be agreed, action against Diamond was, in one way or the other, in the interests of every Dominion institution. But there was a voice of dissention.
Admiral Karazum-li, one of the 6 chief admirals of the Admiralty, was concerned. ‘’This is an abyss of which I cannot see across. Crossing it is not the only difficulty, what we may face on the other side makes me shudder. Praise be to the Maleki Ozthra, provide the Navy with the means, and we will deliver unto this council victory, if this victory is what it wants. But I find it disagreeable.’’
Karazum-li was overruled. The Emperor, silent until the end, gave one voice for the consensus and spoke that war would be made upon the Diamond Empire, codenamed case blue. But in an act breaking with convention, the Emperor added that Admiral Karazum-li would lead the expedition.
And so Karazum-li, Lord of Case Blue sailed for Diamond-iz at the head of an armada of over 4 Million Dominion warriors, which made its way silently to Diamond space.
The most Holy, Serene and Orthodox Dominion is a true polyarchy; its various bureaucratic elements, while unified in a single state, act with a great deal of autonomy. The dominion’s complex bureaucracy is a mazy of veto points, checks and balances, and convoluted procedure. This only served to make the meeting even more extraordinary.
Assembled in a huge stone chamber deep in the dark underground heart of the Holy City were the key representatives of the Dominion. The patriarchs, whose vibrant robes provided a stark contrast with the rest of the surroundings, sat at the back of a long, three-sided rectangular stone table. On the sides sat representatives of government ministries, holy orders, the Admiralty and Holy Army. At the head some distance from the others sat the Emperor cross-legged raised on a stone platform, silent and still as befitting the dignified abstraction of his position.
‘’The Diamond Empire must be dealt with.’’ The Red Patriarch said almost matter-of-factly. ‘’Previously, they resupplied the killers Dominion civilian craft. Despite requests to cancel their supply rights with other empires, they have refused.’’
‘’ Repeatedly they have violated our space with ships, despite warnings. This last one went through the home system itself! It practically buzzed Zabeara! Huffed Biunz-ata, a Lord Commander of the Holy Army.
Kanzinzi-ai-tu of the ministry of unconverted aliens putting his hands together and speaking as if he were holding something back, as he always did, stood up in his turn. ‘’Diamond-iz is, with our current technology, barely a 3 month voyage from these very halls! Given their behaviour, this is a security risk we can ill afford.’’
Murmurs of agreement. ‘’Especially,’’ the diplomat added, ‘’when one considers we are caught between the vice of two great powers that threaten our friends on opposite ends of the galaxy. We must look to ourselves and strength our frontiers.
’’
The extraordinary council continued like this for some time. Most seemed to be agreed, action against Diamond was, in one way or the other, in the interests of every Dominion institution. But there was a voice of dissention.
Admiral Karazum-li, one of the 6 chief admirals of the Admiralty, was concerned. ‘’This is an abyss of which I cannot see across. Crossing it is not the only difficulty, what we may face on the other side makes me shudder. Praise be to the Maleki Ozthra, provide the Navy with the means, and we will deliver unto this council victory, if this victory is what it wants. But I find it disagreeable.’’
Karazum-li was overruled. The Emperor, silent until the end, gave one voice for the consensus and spoke that war would be made upon the Diamond Empire, codenamed case blue. But in an act breaking with convention, the Emperor added that Admiral Karazum-li would lead the expedition.
And so Karazum-li, Lord of Case Blue sailed for Diamond-iz at the head of an armada of over 4 Million Dominion warriors, which made its way silently to Diamond space.