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Post by zurajai on Sept 8, 2015 22:43:30 GMT -6
"Your world sounds fascinating," chimed the Yuyan as Alagh's description came to a close, "And I can surely see why such activity swells your heart with pride for your cause. A truly respectable desire."
The pair were stopped by a group of supplicants, eight individuals dressed in the rich orange robes commonly worn by ascetic amonks of the Zhen people, known for their disciplined life styles and stoic look on the world. Despite their teachings and their background the whole host of monks immediately fell to their knees, heads dropped to the ground before rising at the Yuyan's behest. Tears could be seen welling up in the eyes of the monks, several even truly crying with joy, as smiles graced their faces in a rare show of self-indulgence seen in their order. The Yuyan offered his hands to be held, placing open palms on foreheads, speaking to them in his benevolent, musical tone as he looked on with body language that spoke worlds about his kind personality. The encounter lasted nearly five minutes before the monks backed away with smiles on their faces, speaking among each other with excited tones like adolescent boys having just met a personal hero.
"Apologies, Alagh, I did not intend to take up our time. Those Monks have spent an entire year saving up enough wealth through mendication to purchase tickets for themselves to come to the Imperial City. None of them had ever been here in their lives and part of my desire to leave the palace was to get a chance to meet them. On the matter of such visits, I am curious about your thoughts on this upcoming visit of mine to the RWU?"
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Post by RWU on Sept 11, 2015 17:11:05 GMT -6
Alagh bowed to the monks as they approached, showing proper deference to such faithful and disciplined souls. Though she knew little of the Zhen people, she could tell that they were dutiful worshipers from their simple clothing and attitude towards the Yuyan.
Alagh looked a little surprised when the Divine One excused himself. "Wise One, why would you apologize for doing your duty? I am only one among many guests in this place, and I deserve no more than the others." She then considered for a moment the Yuyan's question. "Public transit is free and available to all on New Sovereignty, so you need not worry about people's ability to go wherever you are, except that the numbers you attract might make the process slow. Surely your Divine Patience will allow as much time as it takes, but if I may give a suggestion, I believe it would still be best to stop at several locations along a tour. Perhaps you could start in Victory City, than proceed from town to town along the Great Artery, our most important planet-encompassing rail line? In all such a visit, if you take a day in each major city, would last about two months. More if you wish to visit some of the more rural regions as well."
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Post by RWU on Sept 20, 2015 18:15:22 GMT -6
After her time staying in the Wuxianese Capital, Alagh Walayad would have loved to stay as a permanent RWU delegate to the Yuyan and This One's people. Yet, she had duties as a Councilor, and now she was the Admiral of the Revolutionary Workers' Navy. She managed to make time for a second voyage as temporary ambassador only because the security situation was stable -- for now. She hoped to finally get down to the details of the Yuyan's state visit, but she had other business as well. With the RWU surrounded by enemies plotting its demise, Wuxian stood as the Union's sole friend in this galaxy, and an ambiguous one at that. Walayad would need to negotiate a more concrete alliance, or else the Revolution might soon find itself under siege.
When she arrived at the checkpoint this time, the officials might think she was an entirely different person: The traditional noble attire and hairstyle was gone, replaced by the characteristic peaked cap and greatcoat of the RWU, colored dark blue for the navy, with her hair almost entirely out of sight.
"Adankhangiin Alagh Sansar Walayad, Union Councilor and Admiral of the Revolutionary Workers' Navy," she began politely. "I am here as a representative of the Revolutionary Workers' Union, seeking an audience with the most Wise and Benevolent Yuyan."
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Post by zurajai on Sept 21, 2015 1:16:25 GMT -6
Despite her change in garb the Union Councilor was well expected; no ship arrives on Wuxian without it being documented and filed appropriately. The moment she arrived and presented proper identification as to her identity she was given her Ambassadorial badge and was waived through Palatial Processing, skipping the majority of the security efforts. After all, it was certainly not acceptable to keep such an honored guest of the Yuyan waiting. At the time she arrived the Yuyan was meditating in his personal portion of the Palatial Estate, closed off to the public and for only top officials to enter during times of which the Yuyan was enjoying his privacy. For Alagh an exception was made as the Yuyan had personally requested her direction to the wing of the Palace as soon as she arrived.
"My dear Alagh," sang the Yuyan as he rose from his kneeling position looking away from the Councilor, turning on his central axis to provide a kindly bow, "My heart bursts with joy to see you once again, and so dressed in a way more befitting your soul. Tell me, what will be my pleasure of addressing this day?"
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Post by RWU on Sept 22, 2015 15:41:48 GMT -6
As protocol and proper respect dictated, Councilor Alagh bowed low before the Yuyan. After sustaining the pose for a few seconds, she rose and gave the great being a smile.
"It is no less a joy and honor to greet you today than it was the first time we met, oh Wisest One," she replied to Yuyan's compliment. "I arrive before you with two purposes. The first is as you have doubtless expected: The finalization of plans for your great visit to the Union. It is my hope that we can arrange for you to land within the next two cycles.
"The second concerns galactic politics since the reactionary takeover of Asteron. The Union Council has no regrets about RWU organizing work on Astera, and indeed now the self-organized workers and peasants have more class power than they ever did under the junta. Yet, because the reactionaries managed to capture the high state machinery, we lost perhaps our only military ally. It is no secret that they and the other capitalists and monarchists of the galaxy plot our demise. It would go a long way towards easing our fears if the most Wise and Benevolent Yuyan were to sign an alliance with the RWU. Naturally, given the Syndicalism integrated into Wuxian and its unique position as a state under a Divine One, we would agree not to do any organizing or interventions of any sort in Wuxian, unless requested by the Wuxianese state, so long as State Syndicalism remains and your Majesty remains in power."
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Post by zurajai on Sept 25, 2015 11:08:58 GMT -6
"Then we must speak first on your desire for closer ties," sang the Yuyan as he raised his head and cocked it slightly to the left in deep thought, "Trust me when I say that I wish for nothing more than to keep those peoples taken from this world and those whom they have worked for so much with safe from the harm this galaxy offers. However, a military alliance is not something I can provide. Wuxianese law, put forward by myself and the Secretariat many years ago, provides that the Wuxianese military is strictly a defensive force. In no circumstances may we engage enemies on their worlds. However, the Secretariat currently works with Imperial Marshal Tse Tak-Sohng on modifications to previous laws that would allow the military to take a more active stance on the world stage. Perhaps it is evidence that some sort of pact be made that these two events coincide so closely.
I can offer this, dear child, that the Wuxianese people offer a pact of solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the RWU. A mutual defense pact, stating that if at any time one of our peoples are put in harms way the other will step in to defend them. However, if such actions paint one or the other as aggressors then, at least by Wuxianese law, the other may not come to their aid. Does this meet the appeal of your directive that has sent you here, young one?"
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Post by RWU on Oct 13, 2015 22:44:38 GMT -6
"Though it does not extend our friendship as far as we would have hoped, your proposed treaty can bring only mutual benefit and security," Admiral Walayad replied graciously with a small bow. "Of course I accept, on behalf of the Union Council and the Revolutionary Workers' Congress." Hopefully, this would be the first step towards a stable partnership. The Wuxian Empire and the RWU were the two leading powers of the galaxy, albeit with Wuxian far ahead of the Union economically, and they were both Syndicalist at least to some extent. Together, they could move the galaxy towards a brighter and more democratic future.
"There is one other matter," Alagh continued. "We are deeply concerned and frustrated by Asteron's wildly disproportionate use of force against the officials of our Asteron branch unions. The timing, secrecy, and paramilitary nature of the mass strike leads us to believe that it was a deliberate union-busting operation. The good souls of the PUF have pushed for an investigation, but they have no way to force anything on the ANF. It would bring us much comfort if the Wise Yuyan would oversee a proper, international investigation of the incident. We would involve our own investigators, but you would be the ultimate arbitrator of the case."
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Post by zurajai on Oct 13, 2015 23:15:25 GMT -6
"Such actions would be widely considered as threatening," warbled the Yuyan as his primary set of arms crossed in front of his chest in thought, "Their actions were legal within the laws put on them by their democratic government and to openly oppose them would appear totalitarian; a viewpoint I have nothing but disdain for. However, unbiased Wuxianese investigators pose no threat as we are friends to all who would strive for peace. Such activity should be proposed to the Asteron government as their approval is necessary before any further action is taken; if foreign powers are to respect our laws then we must respect theirs."
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Post by RWU on Oct 13, 2015 23:24:26 GMT -6
"With all due respect, oh Wise One," Walayad replied politely but firmly, "the ANF has shown only disrespect for us in this action. They never sought cooperation with us on apprehending these criminals, they gave absolutely no consideration to creating conditions for the union members to elect new representatives, and they chose the most militarized operation possible to seize them. I refuse to believe these elements were unintentional. The legality of the debacle does not make it any less threatening to us, especially after we thought we had resolved our differences with your wise mediation.
"If Asteron declines our investigation proposal, which we fully expect, and if you are not willing to apply pressure to move them, then we will be forced to work directly with the PUF, providing them assistance and resources to conduct a proper investigation. You know well how such a course could shake the sensitive situation, but the Union Council has made it clear that there must be an investigation, ideally but not necessarily with the cooperation of the Enlightened and Wise Yuyan."
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Post by RWU on Oct 18, 2015 19:25:50 GMT -6
A simple message was sent to Wuxian through established diplomatic channels, both to their embassy on New Sovereignty and to their capital from the RWU embassy there.
The Revolutionary Workers' Union hails the Wuxian Empire as comrade and ally. In seeking detente with the Kwazan Conglomerate, a policy no doubt in line with the preferences of the Wise Yuyan, the Union requires supplies to complete a new orbital spaceport. Sadly, with funds and resources already irrevocably earmarked for other projects, we are in need of assistance for the project if it is to go through this cycle. We humbly request aid in the form of 16 trillion Galactic Standard Credits and 35 million man-hours of industrial output. The Union is willing to pay back the sum in full next cycle, if the Great Yuyan so wishes.
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Post by zurajai on Oct 18, 2015 19:47:44 GMT -6
The reply was as succinct and to the point as the original message sent as a request to the Wuxian bureaucracy.
The Chancellery has thoroughly read through your request and desires to grant such an offer but is unable to at this time; instead, the Wuxianese people are able to grant the RWU the requested resources in an allotment of 15,000,000 gsc. and 30,000 projected industrial hours. The Yuyan regrets that the Empire cannot be as accommodating as requested but hopes to provide as much as he can to restore the RWU economy to proper status.
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