Foreign Relations (COMPLETE)

[Tiberius Anar]

The Chancellry, Thyferra.

Tiberius Anar, Imperial Chancellor and Chief of State of the Imperial Sovereignty, was in the Diplomatic Hall at the Chancellry. So called because it was here that he recived foreign dignataries. The hall was long and lined with windows evenly spaced down one wall. A single gilt chair stood at one end, it faced the double doors at the other end of the hall.

To his left, and slightly behind him, was Foreign Minister Shen. The head of the Imperial Diplomatic and Foreign Service stood motionless. He would only stir when necessary.

Anar sat down, composing himself for the comming meeting. Then nodded to Shen.

Shen, deftly maniplated a small radio control in his hand. This set off a beeper in the ear of one of his underlings. Moments later the doors opend to admit his guest.

[Sean Piett]

Piett set a leisurely pace down the richly decorated halls of the Chancellery on Thyferra. On each flank matching his speed were not the Federal Guards he had grown used to, but a Sovereignty escort. Weeks before, Imperator Sevon had sent confirmation of Sean's diplomatic status.

A simple holonet search would reveal the following (reliable) information.

Sean Piett trained on Carida, pursuing a Naval career. However, fate led him to Yinchorr and the Emperor's personal guard. After His death, Piett removed himself from the turbulent known galaxy and retired to a small, little known moon in the Unknown Regions.

After some time, Piett opted to re-enter the Empire, which was, at that point, led by Grand Admiral Thrawn. After some time, Piett left his position of Grand Admiral there to build an empire with Darth Viscera. On the side, Piett established a sizable personal fleet, SIN- the Sovereign Imperial Navy.

Under Viscera's GMA, Piett was once again advanced to the coveted white uniform and its corresponding epaulettes. From here, he negotiated with Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard and Viscera to create the Imperial Nexus, in which he was equal in stance with Darth Viscera. The Nexus was short lived, however, and Piett soon returned to his post directly under Viscera.

Piett also had rumored involvement with three Sith fleets.

Before the fractioning and factioning of the Galactic Empire, Piett was promoted to Vice Diktat. Rather than fly his own flag, the man ceded his rank unofficially and stepped into Imperator Khendon Sevon's corner.

As the entourage moved down the corridor, Piett took in the flora and art that adorned the walls. It was different, almost refreshing. The Fedaracy was bare of such things, its own halls sterile and stark. Piett breifly wondered who would meet him.

Quite suddenly, the group came to a rest. Sean found himself facing a set of doors.

"The Chancellor will see you shortly," spoke an attendant, quite politely.

Piett was slightly taken aback, and the doors opened as he nodded. He quickly dusted off his regally cut robes before stepping into the chamber.

OOC: I will edit this post with a link to Khen's approval asap.

[Tiberius Anar]

The Diplomatic Hall had been designed with just this occasion in mind, it would seem. The Imperial Fedracy's new ambassador was obliged to walk the entire length of the hall in order to reach Anar's position. When he did reach that end of the hall (some moments after entering the hall) Minister Shen stirred.

"Your Excellency may I present Admiral Sean Piett, Ambassador Designate from the Imperial Fedracy and ask that you accept his letter of Credence from Imperator Khendon Sevon of the Imperial Fedracy."

Anar rose to his feet and looked expectantly at the hardcopy document that Piett held in his hand.

[Sean Piett]

"Your Excellency." Piett bowed rigidly at the waist, keeping his eyes on the Chancellor. He quickly realized that Anar's eyes were not on his own, but on the form he held.

He straightened himself and extended the form.

"I trust you'll find things in order. I have complete authority to represent the Federacy on all matters."



OOC: Approval within. http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34455

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar opened the document and read the contents. He handed it to Shen who glanced through it as well. He nodded. Then he handed Anar the letter of acceptance that had been prepared by the IFDS the previous day.

Anar rose, and in his clipped tones said, "Ambassador Piett, I accept your letter of credence and, by afixing my siganture and seal, " he matched actions to words, "hereby recognise your status as the authorised repesentative of the Imperator."

With one siganture Anar had just granted full diplomatic priviledges, including Diplomatic Immunity, to a man he hardly knew. He handed over the letter. And extended his hand,

"Welcome to the Imperial Sovereignty, Ambassador."

[Sean Piett]

"You're most cordial, Chancellor." Piett smiled vaguely. "It's a wonder we haven't spoken sooner." He motioned to them both. "I must apologize for my nation's.. reluctance to meet in the past."

[Tiberius Anar]

"Not at all," Anar said in his carefully modulated voice, "You have every right to protect your interests. If isolationism is the best way in which to protect them, then so be it. It is unfortunate that it has prevented us from establishing contact in the past but that is at an end now."

[Sean Piett]

Piett bobbed his head in agreement and in thought. The man's voice was entirely neutral, and his eyes and gestures betrayed little emotion. No doubt the man had many, many years of experience over the Federacy's own diplomat.

"We had a few issues at home we needed to secure. Now that we've stabilized ourselves, you may find the Federacy taking a more aggressive stance. There was little lacking in our policy, but when you compare the holdings of the Federacy to your own Empire, its obvious which route yields more." He paused, and added, "For the short term, at least."

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar raised an eyebrow at this, "You seem sceptical."

[Sean Piett]

Running a hand through his hair, Piett pursed his lips thoughtfully and jerked his head in a nod. "I suppose. You'll understand that I'm partial to my own methods."

Slowly, Piett pulled his hand off of his head and rested it at his side, leveling his eyes at the Chancellor. "But we're dropping the 'see nothing, hear nothing' act. We've already begun heightening our activity in the galaxy."

[Tiberius Anar]

That was interwesting. Anar decided that he must find out how that was beening done. But not here and now. He would have Intelligence look into it.

Instead Anar decided to make the first move in the Cabinet's plan. The Chancellor and his ministers were forever trying to find ways in which they could their vital importance to the Sovereinty's future. The Fedracy might be the key to achieving that objective. The Fedracy was rich in technology, technology that the Sovereignty wanted. Gain access to it would be a coup for Anar, the first step was to establish relations.

"Your Government is most welcome to join that of the Sovereignty upon the galactic stage. Might I offer a suggestion that would ease your entrance?"

[Sean Piett]

Piett was more than a little taken aback. He expected Anar to be less receptive to the idea- in fact, he assumed that the Federacy would immediately branded as competition.

"Of course," he cautioned, not knowing what to expect. "Any advice is always welcome."

[Tiberius Anar]

"The Imperial Sovereignty is the largest of the Imperial factions, it is also the most active on the galactic stage. With the Imperial Fedracy about to enter on to that stage once more it seems that there is a danger of conflicting intersets. It would not do for us both to be actively seeking gain in an area of the galaxy and coming to blows over it."

[Sean Piett]

Piett nodded. Though his true intentions were unknown, he at the least feigned agreement.

"With the Sovereignty between the Federacy and much of the galaxy, it would take little stress to start a conflict. One of the reasons I'm here, however, is to prevent any such thing from taking place. However," he paused, mumbling as he typed rapidly on his datapad. "A few skirmishes have already erupted. Take this one (http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34658) , for example." He stretched out the datapad for Anar or one of his atendees to grab.

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar took the pad and glanced through the report of the battle.

"Most unfortunate," he said his tone conveying just the right amount of sorrow, "It is this sort of incident that we must seek to avoid in the future. To that end I have a proposal for your government. A Sovereignty ambassador to the government Federacy."

[Sean Piett]

Piett frowned slightly, uncomfortable with the idea. He scratched his head, a cliche as he stood in thought.

"The Imperator has given me complete authority in all manners.. however, I feel this would be stretching my authority. I will contact him at my first convenience, however."

He breathed in, and made a mental note of it. He opened his mouth to speak again, but the chamber doors opened behind him. Startled and paranoid, Piett swiveled to meet the sound. Part of him was still worried that the Sovereignty may try to capture or murder him. He didn't doubt their ability to do so.

[Telan Desaria]

The Grand Admiral had his head down, eyes unrelentingly scanning an Intelligence report. The Ministry of Propoganda, everpresent voice of the Empire, had blundered yet again. Only the timely action of the General Staff had cut short a rather vile campaign to undermine the public's confidence in their Sith allies.

Baron Desaria was hoping to sort out the mistake. With a free arm, he swung open a door to where the Lord Chancellor was purported to be.

Unfortunately, the Chancellor was busy.

Never one to be embarrassed, he stormed ahead with impassive face and imposing demeanor.

[Tiberius Anar]

As the doors burst open Anar's head snapped around in the direction of th intruder, a rebuke on the tip of his tongue. He was just about to unleash his sharp tongue across the hide of which ever being had been foolish enough to intrude upon such a sensitive meeting when he saw who it was. The words died in his mouth.

It took him only a moment to recover, however, "Ah, Admiral Desaria. You were looking for me?"

[Telan Desaria]

" I was. It is a small matter. And who is this?"

The Grand Admiral recognized the uniform as something not under his jurisdiction. He commented icily," That is a Federal uniform."

[Sean Piett]

Piett looked up and smiled at Telan.

"I'm surprised you don't recognize me, Desaria. I'm Sean Piett, once Grand Admiral and Vice Diktat under Viscera. I beleive I saw you at a function on Coruscant once, when you were a Fleet Admiral, but I could be mistaken."

[Telan Desaria]

" Perhaps. Those were - better times. I have put my memory far from them until they are here again. You understand that my memories of the Fragmentation are not fond."

The Grand Admiral searched his memory but could find this man not. It was indeed possible that what he said was true, for life in the Thyferra Sector did not allow much time for a perusal of the senior command.

" What rank do you hold now?"

[Sean Piett]

Piett continued smiling cordially, suspecting that Telan was highlighting the fact that he outranked him.

"Ambassador Admiral, and second in command of the Federacy. I can't say I'm not surprised that your Inteligence hasn't brought you at least that much." Piett leaned in a little, and lowered his voice slightly. "In Lord Viscera's empire, however, I retain my rank."

[Telan Desaria]

" I await the day when the Empire stands as one. But we cannot concern ourselves with what should be until we confront what is. Herr Diktat, you have my apologies for my lack of memory. Intelligence files are often quite thorough - and I do not concern myself with matters I cannot change. Relay to your Imperator my regards. We served together some time ago.

" Welcome to Thyferra, Admiral."

Piett was now ambassador, as such a man his senior. With Chancellor Anar in the room, he felt distinctly unwanted. He turned to depart.

[Sean Piett]

Turning to Anar as the Grand Admiral began to leave, the ambassador tilted his head and quirked an eyebrow. He quickly looked back to Desaria, or rather, his back.

"My visit concerns you as much as it does your Chancellor. Perhaps, moreso."

Desaria didn't step away. Not yet.

"You'll have to forgive me for my rudeness. I'm not as.. diplomatic as my position demands. However, one makes due."

[Telan Desaria]

" Oh? What use can I have to you, Ambassador?"

[Sean Piett]

"Border disputes. Conflicts. Our nations are a stone's throw from war. Being a man of war yourself, don't you see the role you play in this?"

[Telan Desaria]

" Our borders are not in dispute, Ambassador," Desaria spat, angrily. He had seen the reports of skrimishes along the border and was rather enraged.

" My men have orders to act only in defense of themselves and our territorial sovereignty. If your ships are conducting maneuvers close to the border and crossing it, then my men are acting in defense alone.

" I have repeatedly sent entreaties to the Federacy for a pact, alliance, treaty - anything. We're all on the same bloody side. It is you who seem bent on forestalling any step towards the wholeness the Empire once espoused.

" I welcome a cease fire. I have explicit orders in place that forbid under threat of execution any of my ships from entering Federal territory. Do you?"

[Tiberius Anar]

"Gentlemen, please," Anar said in his most soothing tone, "The skirmish was a mistake- mistakes happen. Let us see to it that there are no further incidents. Agreed?"

[Telan Desaria]

Desaria blustered in his own defense - and defense of the Imperial Military.

" My orders stand."

[Sean Piett]

With a faint smile, Piett continued looking at the Grand Admiral.

"We aren't a greedy people, Desaria, but there are certain things that need to happen before we make any oaths of our own."

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar was seething inside. He had just been ignored. Ignored him! The Lord High Chancellor, ignored by an admiral and an ambassador! This was outrageous.

Fortunately his anger at being so easily ignored did not show on his face. His face remained impassive- not that the two men would have noticed. They were staring straight at one another like wrestlers sizing each other up before a fight.

[Telan Desaria]

Desaria wanted to ask what those certain things were, but he was not prepared to get into an arguement with the vice-commander of his nearest possible enemy.

Instead, he turned to Anar.

" Lord Chancellor, I apologize for my brusque behaviour. I take my leave of you."

The Grand Admiral gave a regal bow, then turned towards his sparring partner.

" Good day to you, sir."

With that, he turned to leave.

[Sean Piett]

This second time, Piett didn't stop Desaria as he walked out. Instead, he called out, "A pleasure meeting you, Grand Admiral."

He turned to the Chancellor, catching the eye of minister Shen as he shuffled his feet. He smirked at him, ever so slightly.

"I beleive I owe you an apology, myself. I tend to bring out the worst in people." He bowed slightly, hands at his sides.

[Tiberius Anar]

Yes, you do, don't you

"Not at all, the Admiral is somewhat wary of the unknown. The Federacy is an unknown quantity to him, to all of us, and that puts him on edge. Your presence here will, I am sure, help put him at ease once more."

Anar glanced at his chrono, "Alas, I am short of time. My Foreign Minister is most eager to discuss the possibility of sending a delegation to your Imperator," he waved a hand in Shen's direction, "Please, stay and discuss it with him."

He extended his hand to Piett, "I look forward to meeting you again, Ambassador."

[Sean Piett]

"Of course. I hardly expected such an honor as to be greeted by yourself."

He took the mands hand and shook it firmly.

"I'll be happy to treat with your capable Minister."

As he released Anar's hand, he bowed his head slightly.

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar smiled at the Ambassador before turning on his heel and walking away. Behind him heard Shen saying, "If you'll follow me, Ambassador Piett, I have a speeder waiting to take us to the Foreign Ministry."

He stepped out into the corridor, passing the two guards who would, shortly, be receiving a wigging from their CO for having allowed the meeting to be interrupted, and turned left. His bodyguards, four thickset men in non-descript suits, fell in around him. He walked down the long corridor out of the ceremonial section of the Chancellry into the Executive Wing- the working part of his mansion.

As he walked he was lost in his thoughts, replaying the events of the meeting to ensure he knew what had been agreeded.

Nothing!

Only the presence of a foreigner in his capital city in exchange for which he had got nothing!

When he stepped into his office he was not best pleased, sitting in the conversation circle, immaculate in his white uniform, was Desaria.

[Telan Desaria]

" You're playing with fire, Chancellor."

Desaria stood to look at the room's entrant.

" Khendon Sevon and I have never faced off over open sights, but I know enough of him to be wary. He is secretive and underhanded to the nth degree. Do you wonder why he has sent his chief lieutenant? Something is amiss and I don't like it!"

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar closed the double doors saying as he did so, "I am also secretive and underhanded but that has never caused you concern."

[Telan Desaria]

The Admiral would have chuckled were the circumstances any different.

" But you owe your allegiance to the Empire. That man and his lot do not. They know nothing of loyalty and would strike us if the time were right. Do well to remember that - they have no reservations about speaking with forked tongues."

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar crossed to his desk and surveyed the papers laid out upon it. He moved some of them about.

"I know how to handle their sort," he looked up, "You suspect something. Is there any evidence or is this gut instinct?"

[Telan Desaria]

" My gut, Chancellor. I know how Sevon rose to power, and such dealings are not beneath him. Nothing is."

[Tiberius Anar]

"Then I shall trust your guts, as they have so often proven to be right in the past," said Anar with a smile, "I'll have Shen assign some particularly observant guards to Piett's diplomatic protection. Will that ease your concerns?"

[Telan Desaria]

" I would detail nothing less an entire battalion of Inquisitoriate security troops. Keep his residence, ship, person - everything - wired at every moment of every day. Keep a vigilant watch over his every move. Copy without exception every transmission - no matter how heavily encrypted."

The Grand Admiral plopped back down in his seat, facing away from the Chancellor and out towards the Xucphran city-scape.

" No good can come from this. The worst times are yet to come..."

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar stopped moving his papers and looked at Desaria, or rather the back of Desaria's head. "You have a habit of taking things too far, Admiral. I cannot surround him with troops and I certainly cannot order him to be bugged. To do so would be to infringe his diplomatic imunity, which I cannot do." He laid a subtle emphasis upon the pronouns he used, just enough to highlight them.

He watched to see if Desaria picked up on the hint, some visual key.

[Telan Desaria]

The Grand Admiral was not as perceptive as some of his peers among the former Twelve, but he had learnt a thing or two.

Thusly, his ears perked.

" But I can. Chancellor, I should like to officially inform you that while any Federal citizens are in Imperial Space,I find a threat to the Seucrity of the Empire to be clear and present. As such, I am, informing you of my intent to hand this matter over to Imperial Intelligence - I will affix orders to my suggestion detailing a significant circumvention of Admiral's Piett's immunity. This knowledge, of course, cannot leave this room."

[Tiberius Anar]

"As I am a civillian I have no jurisdiction over military intelligence, nor can I countermand such an order if it issued by your hand. I must however lodge my offical protest at this course of action and advise you that this action may cause serious damage to our relationship with the Imperial Federacy if it is discovered."

The words were formal, the voice serious, but the face was creased by a thin smile of stisfaction.

[Telan Desaria]

" Your concern is noted, Chancellor. However, Intelligence does not do sloppy work."

The Grand Admiral let slip a rather uncharacteristically evil smile.

" So - what do you think of the Federacy here?"

[Tiberius Anar]

"In our space? I am indifferent," answered Anar with a slight shrug, "They have yet to do anything to earn my favour nor ahve they done anything to earn my wrath. For now I am content to allow their presence."

He walked across his office to the conversation circle and dropped into a chair, indicating with a wave of his hand that Desaria should do the same.

"You suggested earlier that you know something of Sevon. I am ashamed to say that I know precious little of him myself. I don't suppose you would care to tell me what you know?"

[Telan Desaria]

The Grand Admiral traversed the chamber. Seated across from the aged Chancellor, he relaxed into the chair.

" Khendon Sevon is a Force user, first and foremost. That is the primary thing that has secured his rise. Through the lower echelons and into command, it was that perverse sixth sense that aided him. Th Diktat took notice and elevated him accordingly. As such, Sevon bound his chariot to Viscera's star. He became totally subservient, thinking little of his loyalty to the Empire in comparison to his loyalty to the Diktat.

" I know also that he is ruthless. There was once a command ship, the Eclipse-class Destroyer Erebus. He did not think twice before ordereing the extermination of a half million men he considered tainted. He is, in a word, evil.

" That, at least, is how we see him."

The Chancellor looked perplexed - was the Supreme Commander of the Navy suggestion foregin policy? He quickly gave into unheard suggestion and clarified.

" He was always seen as more of a politician than a true soldier - never a fellow officer or comrade in arms. We never saw him as one of us. What I have told you is from the rumors that have trickled about over time, but they are hard to ignore."

[Tiberius Anar]

"It seems foolhardy to base our foreign policy upon rumours. But then rumours generally have some grain of truth to them."

[Telan Desaria]

" Even if they have a mere fraction of truth, would you place any faith in the words of such a man? I would not - and to be frank, I do not. I have done some things in my career I am ashamed of, but never anything even close to that. Even if it was only say - a hundred men - I still refuse to accept the idea that a Dark jedi or whatever the hell he is would keep his word."

[Tiberius Anar]

"None the less he is the head of a government that we now recognise, and as such we must take him at his word until such time as he proves himself to be untrustworthy," said Anar carefully, "To do otherwise would be undiplomatic."

He lapsed into a ruminative silence. A finger idly rubbed against the fabric of the chair in which he sat. After a moment he looked back to the admiral.

"Was there anything else?"

[Tiberius Anar]

After the Grand Admiral departed, Anar sat behind his desk fingers steepled, eyes fixed on some unknown point in front of him.

This situation was not one that pleased him. The fact that he had to treat as a foreigner a man who, until five years ago, would have been a fellow citizen was irksome. But that was an ideological concern. A more practical concern plagued his mind.

I know too little about this. Too little

He moved his left hand over to the intercomn. His long index finger tapped a switch.

"A want a report on Admrial Piett and Imperator Sevon. The usual sources and checks."

The spy networks and intelligence community of the Imperial Sovereignty swung into action. They would find all and bring it to him.

How reassuring.