Fwurg

[Teprogrenaian Consensus]

((OOC: This thread is private to the Teprogrenaian Consensus and the Veolian Commonwealth

I assume all the necessary preparations have been before this meeting.))

The Teprogrenaian embassy was located in the senate building, somewhere on the 28th floor. The interior was simple and robust. The reception looked like it could survive a bomb blast, not that it was necessary, it appeared more like teprogrenaian design for beauty. Despite the raw design, it looked like comfortable in a way. The couches were coated with soft leather, and the lighting was slightly blue for better concentration. There were some plants placed and on the floor lay a carpet.

When the Veolian delegation arrived, Senator Danar Tassar was there to welcome them.

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Welcome, Torig informed me you are interested in the purchase of capital ships." He said, straight to the point. Tassar made a small bow. "Given the delicate situation and the difference in culture I thought it to be a good idea to participate as well. Do you like something to drink?"

[Nehket Aeka]

Senator Nehket Aeka arrived at exactly the agreed time, flanked by a single aide.

Both women wore clothes that made them fit right in with the setting, simple yet elegant. It seemed they had done their homework on Teprogrenaian culture, or at the least had themselves informed about where they would meet.

"Senator Tassar", the veolian senator greeted, and followed him to the meeting location. "No thank you, I just ate."

"Before we start negotiations, I would like to know why the Teprogrenaian Consensus thinks this is a delicate situation. From my point of view it is a simple business transaction..."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Well, we think this is a delicate situation precisely because of this kind of questions. We consider the transaction of capital ships one of great importance and influence on the galaxy, and the transaction should be treated with care. Given the reputation of the Veolian culture within the Consensus we need to negotiate this carefully, as we do not want to lose the Veolian Commonwealth as future trading partner.

If you would like to follow me, this way please."


If the Veolian delegation didn't had any more questions before the negotiations, they went to a relative small room, meant for around ten people. In the middle was a robust round table in the same style as the reception. Danar Torig was already waiting in the room and greeted the Veolian delegation once they entered.

((OOC: If you do not have more questions, I will start the actual negotiations, otherwise the Veolian delegation can ask some more before they entered the room.))

[Danar Torig]

"Avé, Tassar" Torig greeted Tassar, who greeted with an 'Avé' back.

"Greetings senator Nehket Aeka." After she greeted back, he waited an appropriate amount of time for Aeka to introduced her aide if she wanted to. If she introduced her aide, he greeted her as well, otherwise he just started. He and Tassar took place next to each other at the table. Tassar offered the Veolian delegation a few seats next to them, so the distance was still comfortable, but they could see each other over the round table.

"Before we, of the Consensus, will agree upon selling capital ships, we would like to know why you think you need them, and what your plans are with them. We understand this might appear like we want to interfere with your economy, but you must understand, the times of chaos are only shortly over for this part of the universe, and we like to keep it that way."

[Nehket Aeka]

After introducing her aide as lady Saha Akara, senator Nehket Aeka sat down.

"The Veolian Commonwealth is looking for shipyards for the construction of a military fleet in part due to the fact that our economy has been growing since we joined the Union. And, as we joined the Union, we ratified the Alliance Declaration, of which article 3 states: 'Union members will, when their economic situation allows for this, develop their own military forces to be able to defend themselves from foreign attack.'

We feel our economic situation allows for this, so we wish to develop our military forces to defend ourselves, our peers and allies, and the Union itself. As the Teprogrenaian Consensus has clearly shown that they are capable engineers with the construction of the Cradle, we look toward you as you maintain one of the few shipyards capable of constructing capital ships."

Senator Nehket Aeka spoke in a friendly and soft voice, and completely ignored the implication of privateering Danar Torig off-handedly made.

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Alright, I have a few questions, some of them about hypothetical situations. It is nothing personal, the Consensus simply likes to know where the goods would be going to." Tassar continued professionally, but the Veolian senator might be able to hear a hind of regret in his voice.

"At first some simple questions, mostly a formality. Who and how would be decided what the tasks of the fleet would be, and how will the high ranking officers be determined?

And now a hypothetical situation: What if the Unified Empire of Azaryan Colonies will drop out of the Union, and they will invade your system?" Tassar completely ignored here that the Azaryan Colonies had done this before as he was interested in what the Veolian senator would say.

"If the Unified Empire of Azaryan Colonies leave, it will free you from any boundaries to use their system as expansion ground, a fleet will be very useful to support the expansion of the Commonwealth that way, or to take any retaliations from past events. How will the Veolian Commonwealth see and use this situation?"

[Nehket Aeka]

Senator Nehket Aeka had thought that, with her answer about the Alliance Declaration -- which clearly outlined why any Union member would want to built up their military -- and the ignoring of a veiled insult, she could get to the actual negotiations. She was surprised when they just continued questioning her in a most aggressive way.

"Senator Tassar", Aeka started with a sweet voice, "your formalities sounds more like an accusation. I came here to negotiate the buying of Capital ships, not to be accused of sponsoring privateers, nor to be interrogated on the recruiting policy of the Veolian Commonwealth, nor on our response to hypothetical belligerents. It is as if the Teprogrenaian Consensus has already made up its mind, and you are searching for a reason to deny us these goods. If this is so, just tell me; it will save us both some time."

By the time Nehket Aeka finished speaking, she sounded decidedly cold, instead of friendly.

[Danar Torig]

Torig mumbled something like: "And this is where worlds collide."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Nehket Aeka please, if the Consensus already had made up their mind in that way we wouldn't even sit here. The Consensus will ask these questions to everybody who would like to buy our ships. Even when the peace loving people of the Silver Forests of Remunzia or the Hiocan society would come to us.

And there are no wrong answers, only stupid ones. See it as a job interview with plenty of jobs, except instead of a job, you get your fleet."

Tassars tone was sincere as he meant what he said, he hated to do this but this was part of his job and he knew that.

[Nehket Aeka]

Senator Nehket Aeka eyed the two teprogrenaians, as if searching for some hint of their emotions.

"Senator Tassar, I ignored his insinuation that the commonwealth would support privateering, and I will ignore his remark on our culture. However, if your advisor has any more derogatory or insulting comments we are done."

"I advise you, should your faction require information before negotiations such as these, to send a letter with your questions to the Veolian Embassy. That way it would have saved us both some time. Regardless, as I am already here I might as well answer your questions.

The assigned fleet admiral will decide upon the tasks of the fleet, at the behest of his imperial majesty Saret Ilius. The high ranking officers will will be commissioned by the emperor as well. The great houses might commission their own fleets. In this case, little changes, except that the admiral and high officers are commissioned in name of that house. The house, of course, is beholden to the emperor.

Your question on the Unified Empire of Azaryan Colonies is completely unfounded, as you are fully aware. Their is little chance that they would invade, as their monarch thanks her continued rulership to the Veolian Commonwealth. Furthermore, their current economic system can not support a full invasion. But to give you some answers, I will play along with your scenario.

Should the colonies leave the Union and invade our territory, they would no longer be protected by Article 1 of the Alliance Declaration. The emperor will most likely send the fleets to defend our territory, through posturing if possible. Should the colonies directly attack our assets, we will inform the senate of this forthwith. Articles 5 and 4 of the Alliance Declaration clearly outline the status of these attacks.

Should the senate be unable to come to a timely conclusion, we will be forced to execute a police action against the Unified Azaryan Colonies to ensure the safety of our population."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

Tassar and Torig looked at each other for a moment, no words were needed as they both already had made up their minds: "There was a long debate whether or not to provide other factions with capital ships, the procedure we followed is the consensus we reached to the letter. I can tell you more about this if you like. But to cut to the case, the Teprogrenaian Consensus will be happy to provide the Veolian Commonwealth with their needed capital ships.

And the scenario, might it ever happen, you got the Teprogrenaian Support to send them back to their homeplanet and beyond."

Tassar looked at Torig and give him the word: "Torig."

[Danar Torig]

"Now we have this unpleasantry behind us, lets continue to the fun part." Torig sounded a lot more happy now they could continue. He pushed a few buttons and a holographic overview showed up with the necessary numbers.

"The Consensus currently has a building capacity of 180 per , but we are short of materials to fill this capacity without stopping our economy.

At this moment, we can produce 78 per ourselves, but then they will cost 2.9 per 1 . When the payment will be done with goods instead of taxes, this price can be severely lowered , as the Consensus then does not has to sacrifice our economy for the ships.

For a more optimized production, per we build, we need a set of 4 and 2 replacement products in either for the first 78 , for every after that, we need 4 and 4 . We have a production surplus in and and capacity surplus in which might be useful to optimize the trade."

[Nehket Aeka]

"You have an interesting culture, senator Tassar. I would indeed like to hear more about this, though at a later moment. Let us handle business first.

We accept your offer: we would like to buy 6006 at the price you offer. You can start delivery in 82, with a tempo of 78 per , in return we will transfer the required 226.2 each turn. Of course, the rounding issue will be solved by accumulating until a whole tax can be transferred, and rounding up the final sum, 17417.4 , in your favour.

Now, senator, please do tell me about the procedure I just went through. I am most intrigued."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

Tassar looked at Torig again: "Are you sure about the price Torig?"

[Danar Torig]

Torig had already seen the numbers: “Yes, I saw that, and I see the issue. Some idiot miscalculated the difference from Teprogrenaian counting to galactic counting. I will see personally to it that she will be properly sacked. As of the price, it should had been 4.8 per . At least she did check the preliminary results. Well, we can’t do much about that now any more.” He sighted and mumbled something like: “this is what you got when you let others do the work.” He looked at Nehket Aeka: “the first 2000 can be sold for 2.9 per , that won’t be a problem, however, for the other 4006 we would like 3.4 per to pay for the necessary investment and ensure a steady supply, the total price increase will be 2003 more than the original offer, making the total 19420.4 , we can start sending the ships in turn 82.”

[Nehket Aeka]

"While it isn't normally our method to haggle and negotiate on the prices of goods... We accept your offer, as clearly a mistake was made somewhere."

Lady Saha Akara softly said something to senator Nehket Aeka, the language sounded soft and fluid.

"Lady Saha just informed me that my next appointment is in fifteen minutes. I'm afraid that your explanation on the procedure will have to wait for a later time, senator Tassar. I will have one of my servants contact Torig to work out the paperwork."

She stood up to leave.

((OOC: I think we have enough details on the deal. Let's save the actual paperwork for more interesting deals, such as the information cartel.))

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"That settles the deal then," Tassar said, leaving the details up to the people of the economy.

"Thank you, Senator Nehket Aeka, and our apologies of the mistaken price." He made a small bow and escorted the senator out, on their way he said: "Maybe we can talk about the reasons behind the procedure later in Purgatory with the pleasure of drinks and no political stress?"

((OOC: I think we are indeed done here.))