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Post by Federation of Varium on May 24, 2012 10:13:16 GMT -5
"This is the Varium Defense Craft Pioneer, is anyone home?" Captain Maller asked into the radio as his ship approached the unfamiliar planet with two freighters in tow. Two weeks ago a comet harvester had detected unfamiliar communication signals and followed them until it reached a planet with an alien civilization on its surface and possible ships in orbit.
"What have the sensors picked up?" Maller asked.
"At least a dozen major cities, and a number of irradiated zones on the surface. Between the C02 content in the atmosphere and the radiation on the surface I'd say its a factory world that just went through a nuclear war" Science officer Brennan said.
Maller repeated his message. "Unfamiliar civilization, this is the Varium Defense Craft Pioneer we are here on a mission of diplomacy.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on May 25, 2012 20:00:44 GMT -5
Before any vocal reply arrived, a digital package including RWU civilization and language files was transferred to the Varium vessel.
"This is New Sovereignty Port Authority to the Pioneer," the reply came after a long silence. "Welcome to the hard-won territory of the Revolutionary Workers' Union. You may have known it as Antoviya in times past: If you did, know that times have changed.
"We have sent you our language and civilization files, as well as instructions for landing in the capital, Victory City. We request that, before landing, you reciprocate with your own language and civilization files, in order to make the translation process more efficient, and therefore our communication more swift."
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Post by Federation of Varium on May 26, 2012 0:02:47 GMT -5
Maller and his bridge officers took a moment to examine the files. They contacted Space Command and were instructed to proceed with caution.
Replying to the data package was difficult: they hadn't prepared for friendly contact, and were limited in what they could send. In the end science office Wren sent over the handful of language and history textbooks stored on the Pioneer's hard drive"
"This is Captain Johm Maller, commander of the Pioneer, I am proceeding to your Victory City, and no, Varium has never heard of you before. We have yet to meet friendly sentient life" Mallers said over the radio once the package was sent.. Then on the fleet channel: "Freighters remain in orbit, Pioneer is coming in for landing. Get ready to run if it goes south." The Pioneer followed the directions towards the Victory City.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on May 31, 2012 18:51:16 GMT -5
Upon landing in Victory City, the Varium vessel was subjected to a series of lengthy security scans, and its captain to a lengthy interview over radio as to his mission and cargo.
Once the Port Authority officials seemed satisfied, the humans were finally given clearance to exit:
"You may now send out a party of five, no more. Only one rampart may be lowered for their exit. You may be armed, but weapons must remain in holsters or on slings at all times. You will be met by our representative and a platoon of Revolutionary Guards; this is necessary security protocol under current conditions."
_
Waiting to meet the Varium party was none other than the RWU President-Premier himself, flanked on both sides by laser rifle-armed Ayar and human soldiers. Overlooking the scene, atop the landing pad's control tower, was a small laser beam-cannon, ready to slice the foreign humans to pieces if anything went wrong.
The President-Premier's drab grey greatcoat and leggings and the scars marking his face were offset by the vibrancy of his demeanor and tone.
"Greetings to you, good representatives of the Varium. I am Jawalir Leneru, elected President-Premier of the Revolutionary Workers' Union.
"I apologize for the heavy armed presence: Royalist Terrorists have recently threatened to attack this city. If you like, and if you are willing to leave three of your party here, we can move to a more comfortable and less confrontational environment inside the control tower's conference room."
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jun 1, 2012 17:03:04 GMT -5
Maller adjusted his uniform in the mirror, trying to look authoritative. It was difficult as the uniform was plain black with only the bars on his shoulders to distinguish his rank. Behind him were Brennan and three guards. All had holstered their weapons. He sized the President up. The guy was plainly dressed, but very lively. At the same time he looked formidable, like he could fight a sandbeast. Maller listened to the President's introduction and felt a bit nervous. Had they landed in a war zone?
"Greeting Mr. President, I am captain Johnathan Maller of Varium space command.
"I understand, we will come inside to being diplomacy" he said, then turned to Brennan. "Come with me, the rest of you stay here" he ordered, then they followed the President inside looming tower.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 1, 2012 23:02:35 GMT -5
The conference room was plain but comfortable, even inviting. The massive windows at its end offered a breath-taking view of Victory City's super-industrial centers, underground-aboveground housing complexes, and Revolutionary monuments, all reflecting red sunlight back at the evening sky.
The President-Premier motioned for the Varium representatives to sit and waited for them to do so before sitting himself. Standing by the doorway was a single Revolutionary Guard, wary for any hostile moves the foreigners might make.
Leneru, unlike his soldier, was too captivated by his natural scholar's curiosity and optimism to be suspicious.
"Allow me to share with you my joy at the discovery of so advanced as Republic as yours. Of course, I mean not in the technological sense -there are plenty of those alongside both of our nations-, but rather in the social sense. A Republic that embraces both Political and Economic Democracy, both Political and Economic Rights, is a rare one indeed.
"Now, as you have arrived here on your own terms, have you any proposals to bring to the table?"
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jun 1, 2012 23:54:24 GMT -5
Maller thought for a moment. He'd come here to make first contact, not negotiate. Still it had been ingrained into his instincts centuries ago to take a moral opportunity for betterment when he saw it. He met the President's eyes. "We came here to establish diplomatic and trade relationships. It is nice to see another government run by the people out here." The pre-draft political student in him's interest was piqued by what he had read about the RWU. Time for library-gazing later though, now he had some groundbreaking work to do. "We wish to construct an embassy here at the moment" he said. "And we offer you an embassy on Varium. From there we can make further negotiations."
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 4, 2012 12:13:14 GMT -5
"A reasonable starting offer," Leneru agreed. "This is more than acceptable. Would an additional provision to initiate free trade be feasible as well?"
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jun 4, 2012 21:52:33 GMT -5
The emergency transmission reached Maller before he could make his response. "Pardon me" he said, and read it. He went pale. "My apologies sir, but my government has issued general order 2. Namely: all ships and personnel must return home immediately regardless of current activities. It is only used in the most dire emergencies. I am sorry, this will have to continue later" he explained, then leapt to his feet.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 4, 2012 21:58:46 GMT -5
Leneru's expression turned from eager curiosity to concern in the span of seconds. The message of Varium's de facto declaration of war would not reach him until hours later, well after Maller and his fellows were out of system.
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jun 6, 2012 15:21:30 GMT -5
A lone Varium mining ship dropped out of FTL on the edge of the RWU home system and broadcast a single message systemwide. It included the latest galactic news announcement and a message afterwards: "The Esharans will wipe the Graal from existence, including the GRF. We may be on the opposite sides here, but I think we can both agree against genocide and using WMDs, as we both have experienced their effects in the past."
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 6, 2012 17:55:17 GMT -5
The reply was curt:
"Abandon your ties to one government of oppressors and imperialists, and we will have the groundwork to address the other."
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jun 15, 2012 11:48:38 GMT -5
The Varium tried again. An unarmed transport dropped out of FTL and approached the planet, broadcasting a 'white flag' symbol to all.
"I am Jon Wallis, Varium command. I have come to negotiate for peace between The Confederation and the RWU. There is a way this can work, so our soldiers can stop dying in a senseless war." Jon was an agent of Varium; the elite of the elite, the operatives trusted to do what no-one else could do on all fronts. He did not fear death if the RWU chose to destroy him. What he feared was for his countrymen on Sorguth Prime, and the consequences if the war kept going and they failed to stop the Esharan superweapon.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 15, 2012 12:20:22 GMT -5
Again, the reply was curt:
"The Confederation already knows our demands. Self-determination and free, fair elections for Sorguth Prime. Rights and a voice in politics for the Workers of Gruul He'a. An end to Graal Slavery and Imperialism.
"If the Varium wish to see an end to the death of its soldiers, it must either push for these terms or cut ties with the Hegemony altogether."
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jun 15, 2012 12:53:40 GMT -5
John had been given ultimate negotiating authority for Varium. He knew the plan. "Varium can do that. The Graal are our allies and trust us because we alone have stood with them. We can use influence and advisors to modernize them. I can't promise perfection, but we will push the Graal away from slavery and imperialism, and we will aide Sorguth prime. I wasnt just talking about varium when I said the dying had to stop. I was including the Graal and RWU."
"One more thing. you have undoubtably heard about the Esharan WMD. Our nations might be on different sides here, but we both have problems on with that plan, perhaps we can meet in the middle."
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