Private Both Sides Of The Moon

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

• Meet in xxxxx Sector. An uninhabited neutral space.
• No weapons are allowed in the meeting area.
• The meeting vessel will be stationed between our two ships.
• No one is to know that the meeting is occurring, and minimal security will be allowed, but not on the meeting vessel.

"As a former CIS representative and one attempting to rejoin the fold, I swear that so long as these terms are respected, no harm will come to the Head of State, nor to any of his companions." This was the official message sent to the Head of the CIS's office.

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn, in his younger years he served as the representative of Cantoi, this was one of his many duties as First Prince. Now he aims to rejoin the group as a king. He had usurped the previous King and fought a brutal civil war to cement himself in his position. Despite being secure in his position he could not leave Cantoi for long, as such he arranged for this meeting to happen in complete secrecy lest forces who would take advantage of his absence acted. He left a decoy and had him enter seclusion but no countermeasures could beat his individual presence.

The planet of Cantoi had leveraged it's formidable infantry to provide policing and anti-pirate personnel to the CIS. Their army was trained in urban warfare and boarding actions, true masters of close quarters combat. As the CIS waned in fluence the vast troops of the planet were forced to return to stabilize the planet in the face of economic instability. Their efforts failed and the decade long civil war erupted.

With the involvement of the CiG in Cantoi's rebuilding he came to the table with no need to rely on the CIS. This was an act of good faith on his behalf, he sought new allies, and new space to deploy his vast reserves of fighting troops. He waited there on the meeting vessel, hidden behind the moon of a dead planet. A large viewing port and a table were the only things present on the vessel. Gabriel wore nothing to show his regal position, the Cantoi had always been a spartan people.

He waited patiently for his counterpart in these talks.

 

[Vemric Keldra]

KELDRA
NEUTRAL VESSEL | ARGOVIA SYSTEM
TAG: Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn

REQUIEM LACRIMOSA​

An eyebrow had raised.

The only sign of facial animation as his assistant brought the message to him from the Cantoi Sovereign's Office.
"I am terribly sorry to bring the message to you, Sir." Belle said apologetically, wringing her hands in front of her.
Vemric flicked his fingers at her while looking over the message on the datapad once more. "Madam Xazzex Xivar has enough to keep her busy." his deep baritone said, sounding almost bored. "Intelligence has cleared this message, I trust?" he then continued, glancing up at the young woman.
"Yes, Sir. They confirmed it came from the sender named. I have also received a report from them that their Agents have gathered. It seems the planet the Sovereign represents had just emerged from a brutal civil war, Sir." she said.
"Interesting." the Sephi mused. "Have Admiral Miles prepare my ship. We'll leave in the morning."
"Sir?"
"I'll honour his request, but that doesn't mean I'm making an exception for him to suddenly appear in a diplomatic vessel. The Requiem will take me as usual. If Hapes didn't take offence at her presence, then neither should he. If he does, I suppose it is high time for the Requiem to swivel her cannons once more. She's been diplomatic for far too long." he told her, voice changing from bored to a rare and cold sternness.
Belle bowed her head. "Yes, Sir. I'll draft a diplomatic notification."

"At least take a small squad, Sir, please?" the grey-haired Admiral Miles said as they both stood at the shuttle that was ready to depart toward the neutral vessel.
"No weapons, Miles. It's pointless to have a squad." Vemric said, bored once more as he stepped onto the ramp while glancing at his long-time subordinate and eventual friend.
"They do have fists, Sir." he countered.
"I am not incompetent, Miles. Now, if it comes to it, open fire, no hesitation. And notify Miss Xivar immediately and directly. Protect progress, Admiral. That's an order." he said before leaving an exasperated Miles to keep his warship ready.

Vemric's tall and regal frame swept from the shuttle, his very presence demanding respect from those in the hangar. It didn't take long to be led by an equally unarmed escort to the spartan meeting area in front of the viewport. Not that he needed to be shown. If there was one place the Sephi was more than at home on, it was a ship.

His sky-clad fell on the spartan-dressed waiting form of the supposed Hycantoi Sovereign. A brow twitched ever so slightly as his military frame strode into the area.

"You requested a meeting, Your Highness?" came the baritone, tone suddenly aloof and to the point.
​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

Vemric Keldra

"The Honorable Vemric Keldra, I greet you as the voice of Cantoi. Your willingness to meet with us under these circumstances will not be forgotten." He gave the most cordial greeting he could manage. However his attention lie elsewhere. In his hand he held a data slate containing graphics of Keldra's very own flagship.

"That vessel is truly a marvel. I couldn't count all the armaments present on it. I had to rely on one of those abominable scraps of metal to get an estimate alone." He laid the data slate on the table and motioned for the lone chair opposite of his own at the granite table. Shoulda Keldra seat himself he would join him shortly.

"I doubt our boarding ships would manage to leave their hangers before my entire vessel would be void-rabble." The noble rarely offered compliments but it was rare to see such a weapon of war. He had only seen two like it in his life. "In all honesty had you shown up in anything but a war-fighting craft i'd have sought allies elsewhere. I would even consider killing you. You do not disappoint" His own intelligence was limited, he had to rely on Data from a decade ago and it was unlikely that he had anything of substance on Keldra. It was likely that their own information was outdated as well. The king was far more powerful now than he had ever been before, but that meant little infront of a flagship.

"We're both busy men, i'd like to get to the point. Cantoi seeks to rejoin the fold of the Confederacy."

 

[Vemric Keldra]

KELDRA
NEUTRAL VESSEL | ARGOVIA SYSTEM
TAG: Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn

REQUIEM LACRIMOSA​

Vemric's chin remained raised as he regarded the man in front of him as he spoke.

He did, however, incrementally incline his head in acceptance of the compliment before folding his tall frame into the seat that was offered.

"In all honesty had you shown up in anything but a war-fighting craft i'd have sought allies elsewhere. I would even consider killing you. You do not disappoint"

A dark eyebrow disappeared into his hairline at the words.
"I've been a military man far longer than a diplomatic one, Your Highness. I still protect the very space you still represent like I used to do three decades ago. Take care, for those armaments can very quickly turn from protective to hostile at threats like the one you just made." His tone hadn't changed much. It was still aloof yet respectful, but there seemed to be the slightest chill that seeped into it. He'd seen civilisations rise and fall in all his years in the Galaxy - one more wouldn't make a difference to the Sephi.

"We're both busy men, i'd like to get to the point. Cantoi seeks to rejoin the fold of the Confederacy."

The eyebrow didn't lower as Vemric regarded him regally.
"While we would be honoured, as Head of State, I have to ask - what can Cantoi bring to the table, so to speak?" he finally asked. "The Confederacy seeks to advance progress and ensure stability in the Outer Rim while still granting member-worlds their independence on internal matters. Only when the two goals are in conflict with one another, will the Confederacy intervene." he then explained.

"So, respectfully, what kind of progress would Cantoi add?" ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

The greatest threat to Cantoi, was the Hycantoi themselves.

In the spirit of cooperation when Cantoi had initially joined the institution they revealed their cultural studies, the people of Cantoi were bloodthirsty, If not for measures to prevent the production of weapons of mass destruction they would have wiped themselves out long ago. The planet is heavily armed and fortified, most fortifications were created with the intent of protecting the citizens from one another. With the most recent civil war just settling one would think that the people of the planet would have had enough of the violence, but no, they craved more, and as such a violent maelstrom was brewing. Gabriel needed the CIS, he needed war fronts and hot zones to deploy his troops to to satiate their glory-hound ways.

"Lord Keldra, as you know the people of Cantoi reside in the mid rim, with easy access to the Mara corridor, our moon can serve as an important trade depot for the CIS with enough development. Along with the protection of my people it would be a stalwart bastion of the Confederacies expansion." This was a truth, but he would quickly get to the real reason he needed this meeting.

"The outer rims also struggle with piracy and lawlessness in certain sectors. I'm sure you've worked with some of my Hycantoi brethren before and have witnessed their ferociousness in anti-piracy actions and the policing of urban centers. We can provide you with millions for the sake of peacekeeping efforts if you so willed it." These words were as true as could be, the younger member of Cantoi's military was mainly used in ship boarding actions where they were likely to meet death, and those who survived would go on to become stalwart veterans with great decision making and mental fortitude. These older forces would then be transitioned into policing actions.

"Also we've recently began efforts to tap into our cortosis reserves with the help of big players in galactic manufacturing. We plan to ramp up our previous arms and armor production significantly. Surely this will be of great benefit to the cause."

Vemric Keldra