Fwurg

[Maria Latharion]

Lady-Senator Maria Latharion looked tired and worried when she stood up to address the senate, but never the less she looked determined and dignified.

"Senators...," She started.

"I stand before you today, not as a fellow politician, but as a friend in need. The Mandalorians have entered sector 7 -4 the home of the Astrian Colonial Authority and have engaged the Union Fleet in our sector.

While this fleet has done a tremendous job of keeping the Mandalorians away from the Novalia System. They are outnumbered and parts of the Mandalorian fleets have started to block our hyperspace lane and are disrupting our holonet relay network.

The Astrian Colonial Military is doing it's best to protect as many of the trade network as they can, but they can only do so much. The ACA needs the trade with other Union members and if this stops our economy will seriously suffer."

Maria looked around the senate looking for sympathetic faces.

"I ask you all to please send military aid to our sector, not to fight the Mandalorians directly, but to protect the civilians that bravely risk their lives to feed their families by working on trade ships.

We only ask you to inform us of the route and trade fleet your fleet will be guarding, should you choose to help.

Please without your help we can't continue our trade agreements."

[Senator Harek]

Senator Harek stands up and joins in.

"The Mandalorian fleets have also invaded our sector 7,-6 and soon our trade fleet will be engaged. The Hiocan economy is just starting to bloom. Therefor we would appreciate it if one Militairy fleet could protect our most important trade fleet 1.

However how much we are worried about our own system goes our prime concern to sector 7,-5. The Union fleet are outnumbered and a breakthrough of the Mandalorian fleet will lead them to the Bozzy spine. Then all world are in danger.

The Hiocan Society sees more gain in directly engaging and defeating the Mandalorians fleets then protecting trade fleets."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"I am afraid to say that the fleet of the Teprogrenaian Consensus is not ready yet for at least 5 , and thus are unable to provide any help. We of the Consensus are also rather surprised that only now your factions actively ask for help, while the threat was already there for 13 .

Although my period as minister of defence only starts from next turn, I already say that stopping the Mandalorian fleets breakthrough in sector 7 -5 has priority in the Opinion of the Consensus. This to prevent the Mandalorians from breaking through to: the Principality of Suma, the kingdoms of Meritonia and Komèz, the Unified Empire of Azaryan Colonies, Unity, The Veolian Commonwealth and Bisidn.

We thank the Hiocan society beforehand for their understanding and insight in this matter."

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"As minister of Defense I regret to inform both your factions that the Union Defense Forces can not commit any Fleets to defend your trade fleets.

As Senator of the Praetorian Empire I have asked the Praetorian trade department to analyse the upcoming situation.

Considering that the Hiocan Society loses all trade capacity, but will still continue paying for their defence grid to the Teprogrenaian Consensus.
There spendable income will stay about the same but they lose the steady flow of 75 / which is in fact a loss of about 300 / .

The Astrian Colonial Authority will lose about 250 spendable income without their trades.

Purely economically these trades are worth defending. If the Hiocan Society and ACA are capable of acquiring military fleets to protect their trade I would advice to route as much trade as possible through the Praetorian Empire using the largest trade fleet. The Praetorian Empire is capable of redistributing the goods to the other trade partners in most cases.

We do have to inform the ACA that we are unable to route information from the IO Protocol and can not create a trade route to the Inter-System Charter Company due to the fact that they have just become a Fringe World.

Please us as soon as you know how the situation will be handled."

[Senator Gregory Konev]

Lady Senator Maria Latharion I can alleviate some of your worries the Daryan Expeditionary forces are have arrived an will help with setting your system free.

I do not know if they will protect the trade fleets but the mandelorians will have some big problems soon. If the union strategist deem it more important to protect your trades our fleet will change its activities. So I think you should not worry much.

[Nehket Aeka]

"Esteemed senator Maria Latharion, esteemed senator Harek"

The veolian senator stood to claim the floor, and focussed her attention on senator Maria Latharion and senator Harek. The tone of her voice indicated barely controlled frustration.

"I am afraid that, with the enemy at your doorstep, your call for military aid is too late. I already called for action when the news reached us that the Mandalorians started positioning their fleets 15 ago! But this call was ignored by both the Ministry of Defence, and both of your worlds.

A week later, I warned the senate of the dangers of being unprepared, but reactions then were once again subdued. Yet another week later, when the Veolian Commonwealth offered to assist in patrolling and defending your sectors at our own expense, we were told that our help was unwanted, or that we should submit our military to your command hierarchy.

What you experience now is the result of the your own and the senate's unwillingness to acknowledge the full extent of the Mandalorian threat!"

With a much calmer tone of voice, the woman continued.

"It is with regret that I inform you that the Veolian Commonwealth is currently not able to aid in the defence of your worlds. Right now, the Commonwealth can not send its fleets to assist you as we have to engage the Mandalorian fleets besieging Nest in 9 -4, and guarantee the protection of our own population.

Once the immediate threat to our own homeworld has been removed, we will move to aid your worlds with swift determination."

((OOC: To aid in refreshing your memory:

• [ Senate ] Mandalorian Fleets coming towards Union <Senators Only>, turn 105
• [ Senate ] Mandalorian Fleets coming towards Union <Senators Only>, turn 106

))

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

"Honoured Senator's Harek and Latharion,

I'm afraid that the Sundarian Federation can offer little in terms of direct military assistance, we simply don't do not have the manpower and resources to attempt such an effort. Furthermore we share the opinion, as just set out by Senator Nehket Aeka, that earlier attempts to offer aid have either been reject by your respective governments, or the proposed actions were deemed excessive in the eyes of the Senate.

Our scanning fleets will remain in the area to provide the needed intelligence, as long as they are not in any immediate danger."

Peinaili added to the plea of the Veolian Senator before she continued,

"We are however willing, once this conflict has been resolved, to consider providing your nations with aid and financial means to rebuild your infrastructure and other critical services should that be needed. It is up to your governments to submit such a request to the Sundarian Council and argue your case, should you choose to pursue this course."

[Senator Enrorgh of Meritonia]

"Senators Latherion and Harek,"

Senator Enrorgh stood as she took a rare chance to adress the senate.

At the moment the Kingdoms of Komès and Meritonia have are active on multiple fronts as we are assisting the Union main defence's forces in 7 -5 and we are currently making preparation to join the relieve effort sent to Nest, which poses the largest risk to our own worlds and interests.

This means that we are left with only 1 fleet to defend both our sectors and ensure the security and policing on the Bossy Spine. Furthermore the Ministry of Defence has requested that we keep this fleet on standby and offer aid should it be needed in order to prevent a Mandalorian breakthrough.

As you can see, we currently cannot afford to sent further aid to your sectors. Once the immediate threat has been removed however, we will move to aid your worlds should that still be required."

[0x71A7E17A (mask of 0x71A7E17A)]

0x71A7E17A"The IO Protocol does not posses the means to provide military assistance, but will not require the Astrian Colonial Authority to meet their obligations as set in our Trade Agreement and Additional Trade Agreement.

Where possible, the IO Protocol will continue to meet their side of these trade agreements, but delivery of information is dependent upon available holonet capacity as specified in both trade agreements.

The IO Protocol will send 300 / to the Hiocan Society starting 121 and 250 / to the Astrian Colonial Authority starting 121 as aid funds to help support and maintain their systems and to compensate them for any losses incurred by the Mandalorian invasion, until notified these funds are no longer required.

[Senator Harek]

"The Hiocan Society thanks the IO protocols for their generosity, but we cannot accept your offer. We are not only losing funds but also our trade partners. The Preatorian empire will lose the availability our and other products as will the Astrian Colonial Military.

We have build up our defense in time as the planetary defense grids have been finished. We will be able to endure an attack for quite some time.
We would rather see that the used to aid the ongoing conflict."

[Maria Latharion]

"I thank the IO Protocol on behalf of the Astrian Colonial Authority and gratefully accept their generous offer.

I also thank the factions that are willing to help us in these times, despite mistakes and bad judgement we have made."

Maria bowed to the senate.

"Thank you."

She then sat back down.

[0x71A7E17A (mask of 0x71A7E17A)]

0x71A7E17A"200 - OK"