Private Closing the Loop

[FN-999 (restored)]

Arihasa was one of Caragach's hidden treasures.
​

Located deep within the towering Javartan mountain range in the continent of Cutlis, Arihasa was built atop a long-dormant supervolcano towering nearly a kilometer above the high plateau on which it stood. At the city's center was Lake Hariti, a crater lake renowned since ancient times for its crystal clear water and an abundance of life that made it an oasis amidst the unforgiving landscape of the Javartans.

In the present day, Arihasa was a sprawling resort city host to nearly one million beings. Centuries-old villas coexisted with modern skyscrapers, the latter carefully curated to complement centuries of architectural evolution. The enormous garacrete defensive walls of medieval Arihasa had been repurposed into emitters for a city-wide deflector shield, ensuring that no harm could strike its people from orbit.

Of all the modern additions to the ancient city, the Palace of the Sky was by far the grandest. A government center, diplomatic venue, military hub, and gateway to the city all contained in a single building, the Palace loomed above even the tallest of Arihasa's skyscrapers. Its main spire afforded commanding views of not only the city but also the sprawling plateau around it and the jagged peaks looming even further beyond.

Today, the Palace would play host to what could be one of the most pivotal diplomatic dialogues in Caragachi history.

Two men sat in a private conference room high atop the main spire, the wall behind them a single transparisteel window facing into the heart of the city below. The first was Prime Minister Alfin Gudo, a brown-skinned Kogai whose large, long strands of ink-black hair were arranged in a neat row behind his head, its ends resting on the back of his dark purple suitcoat. Sitting on his right was FN-999, High Marshal of Caragach. His features were unreadable beneath his omnipresent stormtrooper armor, its scars betraying his long service in the armies of half a dozen different empires.

Both men awaited a very important guest: Aurelian of Vandemar .

Though Alfin had never met the Lord of Vandemar before, FN-999 had interacted with him long before he assumed his current title. When they last met, fate had brought them both to the Unknown Regions: Aurelian to revive the relic that was the Eternal Empire, and FN-999 to command the armies of the only slightly less antiquated First Order. Neither of the states they had served survived long after that meeting, but both men had continued to thrive. Furthermore, it was clear from their previous dialogue that there was a significant degree of overlap in their goals. Now that they both had far more stable positions, they could resume their dialogue in a much more meaningful manner.

Then, at long last, the pair could close the loop between them.

 

[Aurelian of Vandemar]

C A R A G A C H

D I P L O M A C Y

FN-999 (restored)​

Caragach. The Caragachi Commonwealth. The Unknown Regions were vast and yet there were few neighbours that were more than tribes, raiders and lost peoples. Caragach had been home to a prospering civilisation for a long time and now was starting to play its cards at the table of Galactic powers. Their unity was admirable, so was their pragmatism and while not claiming a heritage or legacy to the New Order, they were amicable to Imperialism. Very similar to Vandemar. The Nephilim appreciated that, simple truths run deeper than bloated claims, though he wondered what the dark secrets and ailingments of this state were, how deep they ran and if there was reason for concern.

As it turned out, they shared another connection. Aurelian knew the leader of their military, memories stretching back decades to when they fought alongside each other under Emperor Rurik Fel for the New Imperial Order. The Baron of Borosk. Nines. FN-999. A military man, practical, strong and not having an understanding limited to martial matters only. Some time ago they had met again, following a brief revivalist movement of the First Order devotees seizing Zakuul and the Hegemon with his ancient ties and influences helping to defuse a potentially problematic situation.

But now, now the Hegemony and Commonwealth were to meet officially. The Planeshift had changed much for Vandemar and it needed diplomatic relations, commercial ties and perhaps even military alliances to continue its unobstructed existence. For that purpose the two realms had agreed on a summit on Caragach.

It was common for Aurelian to use ships for travel and he did so now as well, a white-golden hulled shuttle brought the Hegemon and a small delegation to the designated location of Arihasa. There were no viewports for the gold-clad figure to gaze at the world, but he needed none. His senses pierced through the metal and air, taking in the refined scenery. And it was beautiful. A brief notion of regret ran down his spine, not to have more time to spend on the simple beauties of the Galaxy.

Aurelian, Hegemon of Vandemar, Master and Protector of Zakuul, Lord Indomitus and former Moff of the Empire stepped out of the vehicle, followed by two individuals, one dressed in quartered blue-red robes and heavily augmented, the other a black armoured figure with a winged helmet, engraved armour that was partially covered by a yellow-black checkered surcoat whos skin complexion seemed almost unhealthily pale.

 

[FN-999 (restored)]

Tags: Aurelian of Vandemar

The moment the golden shuttle entered Caragachi airspace, the pair were notified.
​

Leaving their seats and papers behind, FN-999 and Alfin made their way to the floor's high-speed elevator. The duo sped downwards just as Aurelian's shuttle arrived within view of Arihasa, arriving at the ground floor shortly before it landed. When the Lord of Vandemar and his retinue stepped foot in the city, they were met by the two men around ten meters ahead of them and drawing closer.

"Greetings, Lord Aurelian." began Prime Minister Gudo. "I do not believe we have met before."

"I am Alfin Gudo, Prime Minister of Caragach. It is an honor."

"We meet again, Aurelian." stated FN-999 matter-of-factly. "I am glad to say it is under better circumstances than before."

"We will show you the way." declared Alfin, extending a four-fingered hand in the direction of the palace behind them.

The pair turned to return to the Palace of the Sky, guiding their guests forwards. They walked through a long, elevated plaza built of unblemished white quartz, the same as that of the palace, the city walls, and most of the city's buildings. The plaza was almost entirely empty of other beings, having been cordoned off to ensure the group's safe passage.

In the distance stood the Caragachi Honor Guard, outfitted from head to toe in violet formfitting armor and equipped with ornate greataxes as beautiful as they were deadly. They stood silent watch over the delegation, still as statues aside from their heads that keenly tracked the movements of the delegates as well as any commotion beyond the plaza.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the inner entrance to the palace. A pair of massive, pearly white doors swung open inwards on silent hinges, revealing a grand hallway beyond. Though it, like the plaza, had been cleared of its usual crowds and was packed full of Honor Guardsmen, a commotion could be heard from some of the adjoining rooms. Even now, there were more local exchanges to be made, more trade agreements to be hashed out and more troop deployments to be scheduled.

"This," explained Prime Minister Gudo, "is the Palace of the Sky. It is the purpose-built political, economic, and military center of Arihasa. Beneath us lies the enormous generator uses to power the city's deflector shield, and above us is the conference room we will be meeting in today."

The group arrived in front of a large white elevator, its exterior just as ornate as the towering arched hallway it stood within. The prime minister pressed a clawed finger to the elevator's security interface, prompting a scanner to briefly run across his face. A moment later, a noise similar to a bell ringing sounded from inside the elevator, and it opened up, revealing an interior large enough to fit the group several times over.

As soon as the last member of the delegation stepped inside the elevator, the doors closed and it began to rise: slowly at first, but soon passing by nearly a dozen floors per second. It took less than two minutes for the elevator to reach its destination, opening up to a far smaller but no less embellished hallway.

"It should be the second door on our left." explained FN-999 as the group set out, leaving the elevator behind. As the door in question arrived, the prime minister moved forward to open the door, holding it for the rest of the delegation before he entered himself.

"Take a seat." urged Prime Minister Gudo, extending his hand towards the rectangular marble table around which five white cushioned chairs had been arranged.

"I believe it is time to begin our discussions."

 

[Aurelian of Vandemar]

C A R A G A C H

D I P L O M A C Y

FN-999 (restored)​

"Prime Minister, High Marshal." The Hegemon offered a respectful nod to the two considerably shorter individuals, his voice formal, words precise. He acknowledged and in fact, highly valued the relationship he had with Nines, but this official business was bound to formality due to his relatively unawareness of Caragachi customs and culture. "Indeed, may it lead to a brighter future."

"This is Artifex Lord Adleric of the Vandemarian Techwrights and Grandmaster Wulfgar of the Third Host of the Indomitus Legion." His hand calmly gestured towards the blue-red robed figure first and to the armoured individual afterwards. Aurelian had chosen the duo for very particular reasons to reinforce his presents today. The Artifex Lord was responsible for prospection, extraction and refinery of raw materials beyond Vandemar and therefore the most likely spokesperson for potential trade and commerce as well as economic cooperation, topics that Aurelian could get data of, but not experience. And Wulfgar and his Third Host were one of the units of the Indomitus Legion currently deployed to the Unknown Regions.

As they walked, Aurelian adjusted his stride to keep the same pace subconsciously while his gaze wandered around. He could not help but to approve. Caragach had beauty, not pure functionality, but the union of the two. The architecture, the layout, the materials were equal in aesthetics and usefulness, a welcome reminder of Vandemar itself.

While they proceeded along the plaza, into the palace and towards the elevator, Aurelian paid special attention to the honour guard. He knew FN-999 and his soldiering, but he did not know the Caragachi martial traditions. Arms, armour, bearing, eyes, surface emotions, everything revealed some information to the Hegemon about the military ideals and capabilities of this realm. Enclosed armour, engraved greataxes, watchful eyes. They were impressive on guard.

Once they arrived the in the conference room, Aurelian took a seat, with the Artifex Lord on his right and the Grandmaster on his left. Both only sat down after their Hegemon did. After the Prime Minister opened the floor, the ruler of Vandemar offered immediate reaction.

"The Commonwealth and Hegemony may have many similarities but two stand out: we are far in the Unknown Regions and our central hierarchy is strong. Independent of where each of us draws our legitimacy from, we have the benefit of ruling instead of merely governing. A necessity the perils of our astrographic location imposes."

"From such common ground, we will be quite ready to establish that mutual relations are beneficial. Even if the Unknown Regions are far, neither of us can escape the gaze of belligerent invaders and idealistic interventionalists for too long. I brought Lord Adleric and Grandmaster Wulfgar with me as extensions of what I deem a priority: economy and military strength. And those are the points I would offer to address first."

Aurelian finishes, looking towards Prime Minister Gudo and High Marshal FN-999 to invite their thoughts and comments up until this point. It was a dialogue and an opportunity for both realms to prosper beyond their established limits.