Arrival of Solvani Council Legate and A Final Offer

Solvani Legate Gosar No'Tala stared at the readout in front of him. "Slovani Council Station. Slovani" 

His principal aide, Braaka To'Peia stood next to him, clearly nervous even to an observer unfamiliar with Solvani behavior. Standing almost half a meter taller than the 2.5 meters of his assistant, Gosar left his tail, fangs, and claws uncut, in the unorthodox manner adopted many of the Intendant's inner circle of followers.

Braaka had never felt conscious of his own cut tail before meeting Gosar. It was the tradition among most members of the First Families to cut their tail before adulthood. After all, what use was there for such a vestigial appendage in the life of a modern upper class Solvani? Cutting the tail showed that they no longer need to hunt like animals in the treetops, or fight each other in single combat. But the Intendant's followers liked to hunt. And fight.

The Legate's brusque response to the Triarchy's welcoming party upon their arrival and insistence that he must address the Council immediately made Braaka worry that a diplomatic incident might occur before they had even reached the Council chambers. Gosar was clearly not pleased by recent events.

Braaka's concern melted into shock as Gosar chortled in amusement at the Gryphon's translation error.

Gosar glanced at him, noticing his surprise. "Come now Peia, one must accept amusement wherever it is found, most of all in dark times."

Peia, entirely too familiar, even to a subordinate. Another of the habits of the Intendant's circle. 

Nonetheless, Braaka followed as Gosar continued towards the Council.


They entered the Council chamber, the two Solvani guards waiting outside as protocol demanded. Braaka lowered himself carefully to a seat towards the side of the room. Although the Solvani could tolerate the high-oxygen atmosphere and the Gryphons had made great efforts to accommodate the multitude of species in the Council, it would take time to accustom himself to these 'chairs' suggested by the human delegates.

Gosar took his place at the speaker's position, surveying the assembled delegates and the holoprojections of those who had yet to arrive.

"Greetings delegates. I am Solvani Legate Gosar No'Tala, appointed by the Intendant to speak on behalf of the Imperatii Wo'Cha-Che and the Imperium.

There was a slight delay as the translator device on his collar interpreted the Legate's speech and piped it into the delegates' auditory organs in their native languages.

The nictitating membranes covering Gosar's opalescent blue eyes blinked several times as they fell upon the Amarri delegate.

"The Amarr," he pointed a clawed hand, "and their perfidious Kortl allies have exhausted our patience and tolerance. After endless months of obfuscation, lies, and delays, ignoring our longstanding offers for peace, they cast their fleets against Aquarii as we warned and knew they would. Delays and lies to the delegates of this Council," the Solvani looked around at the assembled delegates, "while these past years they had no intention of negotiating."

"Now that this coordinated invasion attempt by nearly two hundred ships has failed," Gosar chortled "as utterly as a Yistak challenging a Stalker Beast, they retreat in cowardice to throw their limbs into the air and claim to ask for peace." 

Gosar's tail slaped violently and loudly against the floor. "That time has passed, by their own choice!"

"The Solvani Imperium will not stand by as the Amarr delay yet again and rebuild their offensive fleet."

"In addition to their senseless attack on Aquarii, we made a clear demand many months ago for them to remove their spy vessels and satellites from our territories. Their only response has been to smuggle in further satellites, concealing them in nebulae deep in our space. Our offer to demilitarize Chi was likewise met with silence and the menace of another war fleet."

Gosar bowed his head slightly, blinking again several times before speaking again.

"Here is your final option, graciously extended to you by the Imperatii, whose benevolence far exceeds my own: The Amarr Empire will remove itself from Mira, which we will demilitarize. It will remove or turn over all its ships and stations in Pi. We will station observers in Wenzhou and Earthsea to guard against future perfidy. The Empire will have their Kortl allies remove their fleets to north of Borr, and the Amarr Empire will cede Aquarii forevermore to the Interstellar Trading Company, as they should have done many years ago."

"This is our last offer to the Empire, and The Para'cha Amarri stands ready to receive the Emperor Mazer's decision above Amarr Prime, as our tradition dictates."

"Good day to you, delegates."

Braaka watched the Amarri delegate as Gosar made his way towards the chamber exit. The fate of billions was now in the hands of his Emperor Mazer.