Battle Of Wits

Region: Genesis

Location: Pakhshi IX – Moon 20 – CONCORD Bureau

Date: 18.05.117

Time: 22:40

The air in the room was thick and hot. The congress had been in session for almost forty-five minutes and Sahriah was growing impatient.

She shifted in her chair again, listening as Utari Onzo, who had taken over as Chair after Arkon’s death, explained the rules and procedures for the commissions. The last week had been dedicated to creating commissions that would allow the delegates to begin organized efforts to improve relations between the Empires. This next week would be where the real work began and where the delegates would sit down and iron out a plan that they could present to the public and, hopefully, bring the cluster just that tiny bit closer to peace.

Sahriah glanced across the room at Emmaline, sending her a short message through her neocom. Moments later her gaze was returned with an encouraging smile. It was going to be a battle to correct the mistakes of the last congress meeting, but they were going to try anyway.

Utari’s voice refocused her attention “Delegates, I now open the floor to questions.”

She took a deep breath and hit the button to notify the Chair of her wish to speak. Almost immediately, she felt Utari’s cold glare fall upon her. Ugh I knew he’d overheard us in the coffee house she groaned internally.

“I hope you understand Ms. Bloodstone, before I recognise you, I want a very, very good reason.”

Yup. She confirmed as she nodded to his statement. He is not pleased.

“You are recognised then.”

She stood, feeling the eyes of the room on her. There had been so many interruptions to session meetings that disruptions were now becoming intolerable. 

Putting on a smile, she shot another quick glance at Emmaline, who was still sporting her encouraging grin.

“I thank the Chair and ask the congress to please bear with this proposal.

A number of delegates, including myself have become unsettled by the merger of the CONCORD and Drifter commissions. We feel these matters are extremely separate and I would ask you give me a moment to clarify why.”

A loud sigh came from Pieter Tuulinen who was seated off to her right, and she purposely refocused her gaze in a different direction.

“We are not advocating for war councils or military action as many may think, we are advocating for co-operative efforts to be made on researching and preparing for external threats, a vital part of peace between the empires and one that will need to be established at some point. This is a significantly different matter than the review on CONCORDS ability to maintain peace, as I am sure you can all see.

Additionally, for those following the recent events such as Caroline's star, and the Drifters interest in the recently de-cloaked observatories, I believe there is reason to conclude that the Drifters represent a specific threat to the only race that does not have a delegate at these proceedings - the Jove.”

Emmaline nodded solemnly behind her.

"I think most here could agree that both of these matters would benefit greatly from separate commissions to give full attention to ensuring both are handled with the utmost care and neither is detracted from. 

I would be most humbled if the Chair would consider a revote on the issue. We do not wish to detract from Dr. Sarain’s vision for this conference, and we do not feel that this proposal does"

Utari considered her quietly for a moment before responding. 

"Delegate Bloodstone, are you asking for a revote on the basis of a point of order with the process of the original vote, or on some other serious issue of clarification?"

She took another breath, attempting to quell the butterflies in her stomach.

"While I believe the vote may have been skewed due to some delegates not attending, or not making their votes known, I am mostly concerned with the lack of clarification on the purpose on this commission. Most seem to believe its purpose is external military operations and is thus unrelated to the spirit of the conference as defined my Dr. Sarain"

There was a long silence as Utari rubbed his face, considering her argument.

"Delegate Bloodstone... I will hear objections on this matter, before I make a judgement on a revote if I may?"

"Of course" she responded, taking her seat. 

Don’t you dare. She shot a glare to her right at the precise moment the notification went through.

"Delegate Tuulinen, you are recognised." 

Sahriah groaned, rubbing her face with her hand as Tuulinen began to speak.

“When you have a hammer, all your problems look like nails. When you ARE a hammer... Well... In the opinion of this delegate, this proposal has little to nothing to do with relations between the Empires and belongs to that broad category of issues that people believe can be solved with access to resources that we do not have. This conference cannot lead a crusade, form a fleet or command an army. It cannot spend money that it doesn't have.

This conference CAN consider intractable problems rooted in the cultures of the Empires and use our broader experience as outliers to suggest solutions. I suggest we work on resolving OUR differences. If you want to recruit military forces, I suggest you talk to new capsuleers and start training.” He took his seat, avoiding the death stare she was shooting at him, as another notification went through. 

Utari motioned to Samira next "Delegate Kernher... You are recognised."

"I am going to say that Delegate Bloodstone, and every Delegate that has discussed this matter previously, have utterly failed to clarify their position. They have made it too focused on one specific threat that they are not thinking about the broad implications of what they are suggesting.

If, I am reading them right, it is intended as a commission to discuss the formation of a body or other entity that is built around research and analysis of potential external threats. In this sense it does somewhat fall outside the realm of the DED and joint imperial forces.

Whether that falls within the scope of this conference, however, I cannot say. There is, after all, nothing stopping Delegate Bloodstone or the others from simply founding such a corporation as private citizens. As far as I am aware, Synerose Accord was precisely such an organization and certainly needed no conference to build it.

If they are wanting something more official than a private research and action firm, if what they want is an authorized legal body funded with imperial finances, then that would come under the purview of CONCORD, and would, as we have already established, fall under a commission to discuss CONCORD reform."

Sahriah hit her notification button before Samira could even take her seat.

“Thank you Delegate Kernher. Delegate Bloodstone I will entertain one last comment from yourself before I make my judgement."

She stood again, alternating her gaze between Pieter, Samira and Utari and she spoke.

"I wish to remind Delegate Tuulinen that he continues to focus on the formation of military operations, which I expressly said, was not the purpose of this proposal. 

To clarify further it is much like the commission on the 'Cultural and Scientific Exchange' that was approved previously, however instead of being focused inwards, it would be an outwardly focused effort to foster co-operation in the research and analysis of external threats.

While such an operation could be formed without the assistance of this conference, so could many of the other approved commissions. I ask you to think about whether a fostering of co-operation between the empires and capsuleers, through this joint effort, would be beneficial to peace in this regard, if it is; I see no reason for its dismissal. Thank you"

She sat and took a breath, trying to relax herself as she watched Utari’s facial expression change several times.

"Delegate Bloodstone... I'm of two minds. On the one, I appreciate you feel there is a point of order in regards to clarification, that perhaps the other Delegates weren't sufficiently informed.

 

On the other, I see the point that we do not have purview to establish bodies. Regardless if military or industrial, scientific, it all costs money. Money we cannot tell the Empires to spend. Co-operation between Empires is usually done through establishing said bodies.”

He paused and looked down at his console as another notification registered

"Delegate Kernher you are recognised."

Samira stood. "I am going to make something very clear, since it is apparently not. We here have no authority to do anything. We are doing nothing but talking. But that talking is about making suggestions. It is about presenting proposals on things that we can submit to CONCORD and the empires, for them to choose whether or not to act on.

We do not have the purview to establish bodies. We do have the purview to SUGGEST establishing bodies, and that is precisely what we should be doing here. Several commissions we have already set on are going to involve suggesting changes to existing bodies, or even creation of new bodies.

That is going to be part of this commission, and people need to stop thinking that because we personally don't have the authority to do these things that that means they are completely off the table. Thank you."

Sahriah blinked at her as she sat down, happy but surprised.

"Very well. The matter will move to a vote. Delegates, to approve the creation of the Drifter and External Threats Commission please enter 1, to reject and keep it merged with the CONCORD commission, press 2. To abstain from the vote, please press 0”

Sahriah hit 'one' and watched her screen intently as the votes came in.

Sahriah Bloodstone > 1

Emmaline Fera > 1

Che Biko > 2

Vikarion > 2

Feu dAstres > 2

Thal Vadam > 0

Haria Haritimado > 0

Pieter Tuulinen > 0

Samira Kernher > 1

Khaprice > 1

It was going to be close, but due to the vote weighting regulations it was difficult to tell. Delegates that voted together within their assigned bloc had substantially more pull then independents like herself, but it appeared the Caldari bloc had surprisingly agreed to abstain from the decision despite Mr. Tuulinen's objection. 

Her eyes widened suddenly, remember something, and she tapped down on her console.

I would like to remind the chair that  Mr.Frenjo Borkstar has voted 1 in accordance with the mail you received earlier.

She looked to Utari to see him nod in confirmation and smiled, leaning back on her chair as he spoke.

"Voting is now closed at this time, the Chair has held it open long enough."

The room looked across to Aedre Lafisques who was tabulating the votes, and Sahriah held her breath.

"It is rejected."

Even Utari looked surprized “Under what weight?"

"3 to 1.1."

"Could you recount?"

He nodded and Utari called up the results himself. After a moment he frowned at Aedre, who looked quite embarrassed.

"The chair apologies, the proposal is approved. Delegate Fera, your Commission on External Threats is created, and the commission on CONCORD returns to its original state.

Delegates, are they any other questions on the mail I sent, the Commissions and how they will work or can I trust you all to put on your big boy, or girl, trousers and deal with the issues at hand?"

He paused, surveying the room, which remained dead silent.

"Delegates, as there are no questions, this Congress is recessed until the scheduled return time. Good luck in your discussions, and I look forward to your return.”

Sahriah exhaled, allowing herself to relax as a large grin spread across her face. She got up and made her way over to Emmaline who stood, impulsively hugging her. 

“You were fantastic!”

“Thanks” she returned the hug awkwardly, but couldn't deny their shared elation. “That was intense there for a moment.”

“You work quickly.”

“Well I couldn’t have done it without you.”

They smiled at each other and watched as the delegates made their way out of the chamber. 

And now the real work begins