[CLOSED] A Flame of Harmony

[Thrace]

The Provisional Government of the Federated Colonies
Die Provisorische Regierung der Föderierten Kolonien

"Einheit, Freiheit, und Gleichheit!"
"Unity, Freedom, and Equality!"​

C.S.S. Astral Flame
Neutral Space, Milky Way

A gargantuan space station was slowly orbiting a large and obvious uninhabited gas giant, around a red dwarf. In the pale light of the star, the station was vaguely hidden by the interference of the gas giant, but it would be easy to find for anyone looking for it. The gigantic battlecarrier next to hit would also clearly help, as the station was guarded by the flagship of the Kriegsflotte, the C.M.S. Hegemon von Scheerling. It would be pretty difficult to miss two space structures of the size of the space station and the spaceship. Not that they were trying to hide. The space station would be pretty familiar for certain people that had seen it before, though the Astral Flame had been repaired and finally upgraded in all the time that had passed from the events that had started the Second Intergalactic War. The station had maintained its size, but it was now fully black, fully armored, fully armed, and fully prepared. Even if well, the last time that the Flame had been used for diplomatic purposes, it ended up hijacked, a terrorist act that led to a diplomatic incident that had provoked an entire Intergalactic War.. the Colonials had never been the type of people to believe in superstitions. As such, as soon as it had been possible, the Astral Flame had been repaired, its upgrade had been finished, and the station returned into official Kriegsflotte service, given again to the Federal Foreign Office, for diplomatic use. It was perfect for negotiations, since the station could be moved into neutral space, and especially during first contacts, the size of the station was more than enough to convince foreign nations that the Colonies were indeed, something. And now, the Astral Flame was ready for a new assignment. To host a diplomatic meeting, that could perhaps lead to the first concerete steps taken by the Colonies to fix their relations with certain nations. The first steps towards peace. The first steps, towards harmony.

It was quiet, in one of the many conference halls of the Astral Flame. Five people, five beings, were presently inside of it, waiting for the foreign delegations to arrive. Upon arriving and docking to the station, all the delegations were going to be directly sent here, to this particular hall, so there was no need for the Colonials to wait for the others in the hangars. The hall was much more suited for a diplomatic meeting, and after all, this was where most of the discussions were going to happen. The hall itself was medium sized, with a large round table in the middle, a table that projected a holographic map of the known universe and the major galaxies in the Local Group, from its center. In the black, in a semi-darkness, a big emblem of the Colonies, the twelve stars in the a circle, around a single twelve pointed star, the so called Stars of Unity, was visible on the black wall,the golden stars slightly glowing, and in front of them, there were twelve statues, their features hidden by the semi-darkness, presumably those of the twelve original founders. A lot of twelves.

Meanwhile, three persons were sitting at the table, with two soldiers on both sides of the door, both soldiers wearing nanosuits, and both soldiers having the armband of the Volunteer Corps, the blue-red armband with the skull and the crossed bones of the Freikorps. The people at the table however, were far more interesting.

The first one, was a familiar person to those that had contacts with the Colonies before. Largely human looking, a young man, that could even be considered to be a young boy, with a messy black hair, and golden eyes that were slightly more towards orange than towards yellow. He was wearing a black suit, although it was somewhat messily arranged, with a black tie and a shirt with black and white lines. All pretty normal, until there. But on his back were two angel like, white wings. He was among the first Genome users ever created by the Science Division of the Colonial Armed Forces. Angelo. Not exactly an original name, but of course, no one would even dare to tell that to him, directly. Because even if he was the living example of calmness, it was very wise to avoid him, in battle.

The other person was slightly stranger. A young boy, looking younger than Angelo. But while the calmness of Angelo had a certain awareness in it, the other boy simply seemed not to be there, his empty, gray eyes looking in the distance, not focused on anything. His gray hair was messily arranged, though slightly neater than the angel's, and he was wearing a dark suit, with a light gray shirt and an even darker gray tie. A lot of gray, but it seemed to fit his personality. The boy was quiet, but he was sitting in the middle of the three Colonial officials, and as such, it wouldn't be difficult to realize that he was the highest ranked there.

The third person was not a human, even if it had a humanoid form. The best way to describe it would be as a blue-yellow, gelatinous slime-like mass, taking the form of something that looked like a human woman. Mostly blue, with the exception of a yellow part that kinda looked like hair, with green eyes, generally looking pretty human, if one were to ignore the entire slime part. She was wearing blue clothing, in a human fashion, with a uniform like shirt, and skirt, though it seemed to be made from a special material. The most important part of her though seemed to be the red, crystal like part right over her chest. Weird.

But well, they were the Colonial delegates. And now, they just had to wait for the foreign delegations to arrive. The matter that they had to discuss was very important.. the renegotiation of the Treaty of Luna. With the Keltakens all but gone, the HCA had declared the Treaty null and void, which meant that they were preparing to do something in the Andromeda.. and the ProvGov couldn't just stay and watch. And the only thing that they could do for now.. was through diplomacy. No matter how difficult it was going to be.

 

[The Governor]

The first delegation to arrive came from the Confederacy. They were led by a riveting blonde woman, who wore a long white dress. It was adorned with golden Fleur-de-Lies, a new symbol of the Confederacy. She had a striking face, like it had been sculpted by artists. Full lips framed her dazzling smile, and her eyes spoke of confidence as well as experience. Her fair skin was flawless, and soft as satin to the touch.

She was Ambassador Bethany Rhodes, and it had been three years since she'd witnessed the Day Of Wrath on Xalion. With the help of their escorts, they'd escaped aboard an ancient Colonial battle-carrier. The diplomat had aged little, in spite of the constant warfare of the past three years. Instead of her old Cross and Cog pendant, it carried the new Confederate flag. It had been quite some time since she had attended a real diplomatic event, and Bethany was excited about the prospect.

At her right hand was a young man in a long, white uniform coat with gold accents. He also wore white trousers and a white shirt, all with gold accents. Neatly styled blond hair covered his head, and dark glasses obscured his blue eyes. On his collarbone rested a single red fleur, indicating his membership within Imperial Intelligence. Long ago, all of it would have been dark grey, but he was a servant of a different Confederacy. Not the one that invaded the Milky Way, or the one that triumphed during the Second Great War. For three years, this man's Confederacy had duelled with the HCA.

He was Carter Sharp, and he was one of its most veteran agents. However, he was no mere spy. Carter was an unofficial prince of the Confederacy, and even if he'd been assigned to protect Bethany, he had enough knowledge and influence to finish the mission if something happened to the Ambassador.

Finally, there was another Intelligence member, an attractive woman with auburn hair and fair skin. She was armed the same as Carter, and sipped from a bottle of Nova-Cola. Dark glasses obscured her hazel eyes. Her name was Tara Gladstone, and by all measurable standards, she was as beautiful as Bethany. However, the Ambassador's inner beauty radiated through the surface, while Tara maintained an aura of mystery.

"Are you sure this was the best composition for the Delegation, Beth?" Carter asked evenly. "Three humans, no aliens, all of us looking professional and perfect. How do you know they wont mistake us for the HCA?"

The Ambassador laughed and replied to her cousin, "Not to worry Carter. If we were part of the HCA, we'd be mindless zombies. Anyone who looks at us can tell we're in control of the situation. We may be working for the Confederacy, but we do a lot more than follow orders."

"And what do we want from them exactly?" Tara asked. "I know it's important, but details like who gives what, I have trouble remembering. Remind me, Ambassador?"

"We want immigrants from the Colonies, first off. They'll be in a protectorate inside the Confederacy, and what we want from them will be part of the negotiations here. In return, we'll be offering the full support of the Confederate Military in anti-HCA operations, as well as regular arms shipments from Munitions Multigalactic. We're even going to offer them some factory worlds." Bethany smiled at her escorts and said, "Not to worry. No way they'll refuse. This is a very good offer, and as the only strong, united, stable superpower in the universe right now, we have the upper hand."

Then the lift doors opened, and the Confederate delegation approached the Colonial officials.

 

[Thrace]

As the Confederates arrived on the same level as the conference hall, they were welcomed by two soldiers. The first of them was wearing a standard Colonial Battle Suit, the Schlachtanzug, as it was known in Colonial Standard, so there wasn't much to say there. The suit was currently in its standard camouflage, the field gray color, and it was of course, a complete suit, covering the user's face and head, complemented by a standard rifle. However, the one next to the first soldier was far more interesting, especially since Carter, and the Confederate Ambassador, knew him personally. A young man, with a messily arranged ash-blonde hair, with the pale complexion, and sickly yellowish eyes of a true, native Xalionian. He was wearing a full dress officer's uniform, but one with the new color scheme assigned to the Colonial Volunteer Corps, the older variant of the field gray, the one that was much closer to dark green than it was to gray, together with the red accents, and the ranks of an Obersleutnant, or lieutenant colonel, in other languages. The young man, and the soldier in the suit next to him, were both wearing the new, or better said, old, black armband of the Volunteer Corps, with the Corps' emblem. The skull with its crossed bones, with the words FREIKORPS written below. The Volunteer Corps had started to evolve from the volunteer based militia it had been a few years ago, and it was closer and closer to the position that it had at the very beginning of the Colonies. The position of a volunteer, elite force.

"Welcome on board of the CSS Astral Flame.", Obersleutnant Gilbert Wendelin said, as both he and the soldier saluted. "The Colonial delegation has been awaiting your arrival. Please follow us.", And with that, the two volunteers started to walk, leading the Confederate delegation to the conference hall. Of course Gilbert might have wanted to say anything, after all, he knew two of the members of the Confederate delegation.. from back then, on Xalion. From during the Day of Wrath. They had saved his life, and he had saved theirs, but well, he was on duty right now. So, he had to act accordingly. As such, the two simply led the foreigners to the hall. The doors were guarded by two other soldiers, who stepped aside, and the doors opened, leaving the three Confederates and two Colonials in.

As they entered, the three Colonial officials stood up, and the two volunteers took their positions next to the other soldiers. The first one to speak was the gray haired and gray eyed boy. "Let me welcome you to the CSS Astral Flame, the largest diplomatic space stations of the Federated Colonies. I am Alwin von Leiningen, Chancellor of the Colonies.", the boy introduced himself in a calm and relaxed voice, followed by the Genome user to his left. "I am Angelo. Angelo Maizière, but I do not tend to use my last name. I am a product of the first generation of the Genome Project, and I currently work with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Pleased to make your acquaintance.", the angelic man presented himself. Then of course, it was the turn of the slime like, humanoid alien. "I am Glynzenia Sekav, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is a pleasure to meet you.", she said in a clearly female voice.

And now, the Colonials waited for the answer of the Confederates.

 

[Drakorphobia]

The second delegation to arrive belonged to the Fylkirate, in all its glory. The head of the delegation was none other than Jarl Grimma 'Watcher-of-the-Void'. A Drathian of dark purple skin, and midnight black hair, offset only by the glowing orange eyes of his people, he was aptly named. Not only for his colouration, but his track record as well. Before the destruction of the breeding stations, Grimma was the head of the Drathian Eldritch Corps. Now, however, he was resigned to diplomatic duty, and while he certainly wasn't the friendliest of faces, his shrewdness as a politician was a valuable asset to the Fylkirate. Grimma was not alone, though, as he was accompanied by two others.

The first of these folk was a female Globlionian by the name of Hervia Seclant. Like most of her people, who were rarely seen in the Drathian higher ranks, Hervia had a mostly human appearance. Her distinguishment as an extraterrestrial species came in the form of beautiful grey feathered wings that sprouted from her back, and feathers of the same colour that replaced what on a human would be normal hair. Her beauty was only enhanced by the fairness of her face, and delicateness of her form, which was carried with grace and dignity. As a Goblonian, Hervia was exempt from the black uniforms with the green armbands worn by most Fylkirate officials. Instead, she chose light white robes with a golden trim, whose airiness gave her wings room to stretch and move. All around her neck was a plethora of fine golden chains, that nearly hid her pale skin as a single garment.

Also accompanying Hervia and Grimma was Owain, a Drathian man who was yet to earn his surname. Owain, with his short cut hair of yellow and emerald skin, was always an energetic and peppy fellow, much unlike the brooding Grimma. He wasn't particularly tall, but by the way he carried himself, and how the darkness of his uniform stretched, one would easily be able to decipher that he was toned with muscle. Nonetheless, he at least attempted to act modesty in front of the foreign delegations.

These three, as well as four Drathian guardsmen, found themselves at the entrance of the conference hall. "Remember," Started Grimma. "Be proffessional. Owain, no jokes, Hervia, no preening. Relations with the Colonials are strained at best, and the last thing I want is an incident that will further separate us from our oldest ally."

"After all the namecalling and accusations, my lord, you still consider the Colonials as allies?" Asked Hervia with keen interest, and a tilt of her head.

"I do." Grimma responded. "The debt the Fylkirate owes them, I doubt, can ever be truly repaid. Until it is explicit that they no longer want any dealings with us, then I will continue to call the Colonials our allies, and friends, in this unforgiving cosmo."

 

[Thrace]

As soon as the delegation of the Fylkirate arrived in front of the doors which led to the conference hall, a group of soldiers opened them, the same group that had led the members of the Confederate delegation to their places earlier. More specifically, four soldiers, three of which were wearing the usual grayish battle suit of the Colonial Star Guards, of course, all of them without any visible weapons, this was a diplomatic conference, after all. The fourth soldier was however.. standing out, in a way. He was not wearing a battle suit, instead wearing a ceremonial, field gray uniform, with the standard Freikorps armband, the one with the human skull and the crossed bones. But what was perhaps more important was that, unlike the faces of his comrades, his face was not covered by a mask. The boy, or well, the young man depending on one's point of view.. seemed to be human and not human, at the same time. He was no certainly no normal human, but his appearance did not have that same, unnatural grace that Genome users had. His light blonde hair, his pale skin, and his yellowish eyes.. he looked sick. He looked like a Xalionian. And well, for a certain reason.. he seemed to be maybe just a little scared of the aliens in front of him...

Regardless, the soldiers saluted as they opened the doors, showing the respect needed for such a foreign delegation. And once the doors were opened, the Drathians were able to properly enter the conference hall, where the Confederates had already arrived. Once the Drathians entered, the three Colonial officials stood up again, while the Colonial soldiers behind them closed the doors. The first one to speak was the Colonial boy staying in the middle, a human looking, gray eyed and ashen haired boy. He was wearing a dark suit, which gave him a certain.. professional look, but his eyes.. his eyes just seemed empty, for some reason. Still, as soon as the Drathians entered, the boy smiled. "Welcome on board of the C.S.S. Astral Flame.", the boy said, in a really calm and even somewhat soothing voice. "I am Alwin von Leiningen, chosen Chancellor of the Federated Colonies on behalf of the Concordia political alliance. Next to me are Angelo, representing Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution", the boy continued, showing the golden eyed man standing to his right. "It's an honor to meet you.", Angelo declared, and then the boy continued. "And Glynzenia Sekav, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs.", showing the female alien standing to his left. "A pleasure to meet you.", she replied with a smile. Once the introductions were over, all the various representatives took their seats.

"Let's get directly to the subject, time is of the essence, after all.", Chancellor von Leiningen told his guests. "To be short, the Federated Colonies are more than willing to pursue better relations with the Confederacy and with the Fylkirate. However, the presence of the Treaty of the Andromeda is there to stop us. As such, we have come to the conclusion that the treaty must be modified. With the Keltaken Empire no longer with us, it is up to our three nations to modify it if needed. In the light of the recent expansion of the Human Colonial Alliance in the Andromeda, we basically wish to replace the clause which blocked the Colonies from ever returning to the Andromeda. Of course, we will also agree to replace the clause which blocked the Confederacy and the Fylkirate from entering the Milky Way. This could hopefully serve as a first step in a bigger process of reconciliation, of course, if your nations are also interested."