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Post by solar on Oct 13, 2015 22:41:42 GMT -6
It was with great caution that the Averi reached out into the starry void of space. They were wary of attracting unwanted attention. But the benefits far outweighed the risks.
A shuttle branded the Minas exited the wormhole near the RWU's home system. It hosted two pilots, two security guards, and a diplomat: Korius Mandeba.
A pilot fiddled with some controls on his side of the terminal. "Whenever you're ready, Korius."
Korius nodded, then cleared his throat. "Greetings. I am Korius, a diplomat representing the Republic of Lintsyia. I come with the intention of opening a peaceful dialogue between our peoples."
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Post by RWU on Oct 13, 2015 23:34:18 GMT -6
The Republic of Lintsyia. Perhaps the only other state in the galaxy besides the RWU that could truly be called democratic, at least until the day the ANF stranglehold over Asteran politics ended. That being said, it was still a bourgeois state with bourgeois rulers, even if the workers of Lintsyia enjoyed greater freedom to organize than anywhere but the Union. But in the current circumstances, a progressive bourgeois democracy was as good an ally as the Workers of the Revolution could expect.
It was with these facts in mind that Orbital Director Chandreven Romon of the People's Proletarian University directed the foreign vessel to one of the docking bays of the PPU Orbital Branch. The choice of representative and location were obvious, tailored to Lintsyia's well-known emphasis on scientific development. Romon, a rather tall Ayar at nearly six feet tall, was accompanied by a human aide and a Kwazan guard when he met the Averi delegation.
"Greetings, Diplomat Korius," ze began, "and welcome to the People's Proletarian University Orbital Branch. My name is Chandreven Romon, and my companions are Leona Di Vorcia and Hajar Lesoto Okunye. Please follow me, if you don't mind we will negotiate in the calm of the Xeno Gardens." With no pomp and hardly a moment for the Lintsyians to reply, the Director motioned to the foreign party, turned around, and began walking through the halls of the University.
Even though it was an orbital research facility, this branch of the PPU did not lack the proletarian characteristics the institution was known for. As the many-species parties walked, they saw not only lecture rooms but hydroponic farms, industrial workshops, and even culinary training rooms with students seemingly moving freely among them all. There were no distinctions of class to be seen, only the occasional grey greatcoat with red stars to signify belonging to the RWU central organs. Director Roman had such a coat. Finally, ze and zir companions led the Lintsyians into the Xeno Gardens, an enormous greenhouse with an artificial atmosphere hosting hundreds upon hundreds of species of alien flora, and some insectoid fauna as well. A conference table was placed conveniently on a short outcropping overlooking much of the gardens, and it was there that the Director, the aide, and the guard sat and awaited the same from their guests.
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Post by solar on Oct 14, 2015 9:46:39 GMT -6
Korius marveled at the University's facilities as the group walked. The tour was engineered to show them off, Korius knew. But he marveled nonetheless.
The gardens brought out the scientist inherent in all Averi. He'd seen multitudes of flora on Lintsyia, but the plants in the Xeno Gardens were completely foreign to him. He studied the plants and insects intently as he was led to the conference table.
When the group finally sat, Korius smiled. "An impressive University your people have here, to be sure. I would believe that the terrestrial counterpart to this place is even more grand. Already I feel we could accomplish great things together, however rash that feeling may be." He retrieved a Terminal Pad from his jacket. At the top of the screen scrolled the text "CONNECTION TO PRIMARY NETWORK UNAVAILABLE.", but Korius dismissed the message and opened a document containing terms and conditions approved by the Senate for international treaties and trade agreements. "Now then, good Director. I am authorized to negotiate a great many things between our peoples. Our goal this day is to lay down bedrock for these things."
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Post by RWU on Oct 15, 2015 17:46:08 GMT -6
"Great to hear!" Chandreven Romon let out jovially...or at least as jovially as translation devices could relay. "We in the RWU are interested in agreements for trade, free travel, and possibly mutual defense between our nations. What sorts of agreements in your government interested in?"
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Post by solar on Oct 15, 2015 19:04:13 GMT -6
"All of those may be possible," Korius said, grinning. "Let me see... forgive me. The Senate's list of approved agreements is rather long, and I have not yet had the time to memorize them all." He looked down at his pad and fiddled with it for several seconds. "Aha," he finally said. "Trade, free travel, and mutual defense are all approved. It even appears that the Primary Network Identification Management Committee is willing to accept applications from qualified personnel to receive limited access to the Primary Network. Lovely." He paused. "I must be frank with you, Director. While our agreement may be for 'mutual' defense, I feel it will be more of a parasitic relationship. At this time, the Republic has little in the ways of an army or navy. We are working towards establishing such things, but these efforts are in the early stages. If we must invoke this agreement before they are complete, we will have little to contribute."
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Post by RWU on Oct 15, 2015 19:12:39 GMT -6
"If the other treaties go through," the Director countered, "then we will have a stake in your safety whether or not you can return the favor. I feel confident we can trust Lintsyia to build necessary defense forces in due time, and until then, if the RWU comes under attack, perhaps you can send us economic aid instead. Oh, and by the way...what's the Primary Network?" With this last sentence, Chandreven's black, bulb-like eyes somehow seemed to widen even larger. Ze had caught the scent of something of potential scientific interest.
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Post by solar on Oct 15, 2015 19:34:25 GMT -6
"Very good," Korius said. "Ah, the Primary Network. It is... a network of networks, to say the least. A citizen will apply for an ID number and matching password to access it at the age of puberty, though they are taught proper conduct in interacting with it long before that. The Primary Network houses most, if not all, of the information ever created exists on the Network, accessible to all those who have an ID. ...well, within some limit, of course. What the Senate has agreed to do is allow your people, or others who the Republic makes an agreement with, to ascertain their own identity on the Network so that they may access it. This identity will be limited in, scope, of course. If I understand the documentation, it will only allow access to history and scientific information." He paused again. "Shall we write up a document?"
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Post by RWU on Oct 15, 2015 19:40:05 GMT -6
"Ah, over here we call our version the Free Web. It used to be called the Royal Digital Communications Service in the Antoviyan days. Now it isn't centralized or state-regulated anymore, except for certain sub-sections created and maintained by the Central Organs. So except for those, everything should be accessible as long as we get a connection established."
The Director looked to zir companions briefly to read their moods. They seemed to be in agreement. "Yes we shall write up a document!"
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Post by solar on Oct 25, 2015 15:00:41 GMT -6
"Very well." Korius fiddled with his pad and brought up a blank holographic display. "Pad write," he said. A blinking cursor appeared in the hologram's upper right corner. He thought for a moment.
"Agreement for Trade, Free Travel, and Mutual Defense between the Republic of Lintsyia and the Revolutionary Workers' Union.
"As of the Adoption of this Agreement by both the Senate of the Republic of Lintsyia and Union Council and the Union Council and the Revolutionary Workers' Congress of the Revolutionary Workers' Union, the Terms defined Herein shall be Validated and Immediately Applicable to All Relations between the Republic of Lintsyia and the Revolutionary Workers' Union.
"Pad stop. How is that for a preamble?" The words he had spoken were scrawled across the hologram now, translatable for the RWU's representatives.
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Post by RWU on Oct 25, 2015 16:06:27 GMT -6
"Perfect!" the Director replied happily after taking a moment to read the words. Ze was soon eagerly discussing the details with zir counterpart across the table. This would be a good day for the Union and the Republic.
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