Diplomacy Spider Lillies

[Junko Ike]

The news came to them first... the royal palace gleamed white high in the mountains. Well one of the palaces... a smart leader knew how o move around and there were several palaces across the planet... even down in Chitei where the emperor or empress had visited on different times. Hardlight holograms let them interact for meetings and talk while protecting and having security. Junko had been summoned by Seiryuti the Rice Wine empress who had been in Seito at the time. her husband was there in the hardlight hologram on a throne looking at reports. "Are these true." His voice came out and it was gruff but still curious.. Junko raised an eyebrow while she was standing there and the empress turned to look at her. Black hair in golden robes and atop her head in a bun with three ponytails that had been braided to look complicated and hold up her ankle length hair.

"By all accounts yes it is." She held up a finger though and turned to look at Junko... the Rice Wine Empress was something else... the jedi master knew that people would make jokes about her title outside of Atrisia and her colonies. She had brought back well something the people needed... excitement... fun and morale... She inspired the people to take joy in the small things they managed to do and small things would become bigger things and add up. Ripples were important and Junko stood a little straighter as the empress spoke. "We have news, Sakura has declared itself free and formed an empire of its own... a unique development." The emporess seemed amused by it... and Junko knew why... an important thing about what the restoration of Atrisia had meant was... isolation and mostly beig cut off from the colony worlds.

"That actually is empress." She was surprised and the empress spoke with a bow of her head. "We do not know much more then that..... but one ofthe colony worlds we were forced to abandon being able to pull itself up does give hope for the others we are slowly working with and returning to." That was the other things.. they hadn't cut themselves off completely but working to discover new hyperspace routes and ways to get there so they could ensure safety and security would be an important thing. Have Tokaido their hyperspace lane... network of lanes or whatever function to do just that.. be exclusively Atrisian and the rest will be part of the hyperspace security network to protect the systems of the Commonwealth. Junko spoke. "If they have managed to do that then well it is good correct... less to worry about with Parliament."

The emperor had been quiet but he spoke with a smile on his face. "It proves the power of spirit and resolve... the people of Sakura have never been mistreated but they were also always expected to cater to the nobility with their serene world." The emperor was checking out more of the report. "Their empress could be an ideal standard to inspire others... if the colonies could see the gumption and will that protects itself... then we could have allies rather then just an extension of our will. Imagine the commonwealth being able to share more with those who could match us... innovation for innovation... inspire new ideas rather then just adapt the latest thing we have worked on. This could lead to a new golden age for trade and commerce between our worlds... the only real problem is attitude. We do not know the disposition of the people of Sakura."

He clapped his hands once and spoke. "We shall send a message of intent and a delegation to await outside their borders. We will not barge nor shall we surprise them. I wish to if not meet this empress then to at least establish something of a correspondence between her and us." He looked at the empress who nodded her approval with a nod of her head. "it seems fitting... nothing to overt but nothing that looks like we don't respect them. We want to see their reaction and try to get everything off on the proper footing." They were thinking of how best to do it and Junko was finally receiving the reports to review it. There wasn't a lot and really she wasn't worried about it.. she shared that view of progressing Atrisia into the Jishi era and getting past its hurdles. if they could get the colonies to become their own groups... their own worlds instead of just extensions of themselves... well then the future could be mutual instead of everyone making them great.

The emperors excitement was actually kind of contagious to the empress. she had given in and agreed that it would serve a better purpose to well... try and be friends and make a sort of mutual exchange... the sharing of ideas sure and friendly competition to push innovation. There could be some malcontent but over all friendly competition that strives to push each other forward instead of being regressive was a lot more beneficial in the long run. So Junko had been given the task of finding a way to meet them and invite them here. Junko was just going to have to figure it out as she exited the throne room and stood there for a moment breathing in and then out the scent of the garden. Her handmaidens who served with her and learned about using the force stood there awaiting her.

"So do you have a plan?" Phaidor was there looking at her with a small grin. The southern island girl was petite with a bronze colored skin from the sun and hair that always seemed to be soaked and or oiled. The scents of fruit and coconuts mixed with everything. She had remained in mostly her clothing she had brought with her not adopting the traditional Atrisian kimono for court which is what made her stand out. She looked at the others who were there and they had taken the time to well dress and look beautiful in the face of the others who were here... most had been trained for self defense and Mara was taking personal interest in making sure they had some form of combat training to be better at protecting. She had spoken with the leader of her Yovshin swordsmen and Onna-Bugheisha that were training.

She had worked with many of them as well on their skills in the force and each were raw potential. Mara though had returned to work with Beifong for the Atrisian navy and its protection... a new slew of ships that would be designed in system and stations they could use. She was heading towards the airship as it hovered overhead. The sleek design used repulsors and had been set up to reduce ship and shuttle use outside of designated area for the environment. That was why they had created the Anshin megastructure far above and around the planet. Industrialization and shipyards had been moved. Reforms to restore sections of the world and convert to newer materials that would be better and longer lasting were another part of it. Junko had spearheaded the restoration of several temples.

She entered the private chamber and it was large, her handmaidens following behind her as she sat down and leaned back on the silk cushions. One of the screens wrapped around her as others who were not part of her entourage weren't permitted to see her. The Jishi era was going back to some traditions and the screens served for protection fom sun and wind bu also as a means to lear the character of a person before ou see the exterior of them. She used what information they to try and get a message to Kimiko Taiyou and the Sakuran Empire. 'To the Empress of the Empire of Sakura, I deeply apologize for some formality as we do not have concrete information to ensure this reaches you directly. I am a representative of the Emperor and Empress of Atrisia and they wish to converse with you and open new diplomatic talks.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

The day was bright and the palace was lively, more so than it had been since it's construction. News of Lord Dax Perl 's return from a multi-year absence were apparently invigorating for some of the staff. Several council members were going about their daily business around the central offices. The Imperial Guard was in the middle of their regular shift change, their ceremonial white and gold armor shone in the sun. Imperial Knights, every level from master to initiate were managing to get in some training, physical and mental, around the grounds.

Among it all, the Royal Family, was enjoying a leisurely day spending time with one another. Right now, the Crown Princess, Tsubasa, was getting in some flight hours performing maneuvers above the palace grounds. She was pushing her fighter to its limits with all sorts of high speed turns and loops. The aerial acrobatics garnered applause from the two younger princeses, the Zeltron Saya and the Akaran Ojo. The young prince Oji, was off a bit to the side, in the middle of a fencing match with his Knight mentor. The older male Akaran was attempting to teach the young prince how to balance his raw power with the natural agility, and Oji was being stubborn as usual and not listening very well.

Ki herself took it all in with a warm smile, enjoying the personal time. She did however, feel the presence of her messenger before he made his presence known,"Your Grace, there is a message for you in your quarters from Atrisia, requesting a response from you." She raised a brow and sighed. So much for family time she thought before raising,"Saya dear, take Ojo to the hanger for when Tsubasa lands and I'll meet you for dinner okay? Your brother and Master Sonoda will go about their own business." She gave her daughters a loving smile and tight hugs before standing and calling to her son,"Oji, listen to Master Sonoda and pay attention to what he is trying to teach you. Master Sonoda, he is yours." The trio bowed to the other before Ki turned her attention to the messenger.

Ki found herself in the communications room of the palace, listening to the transmission for the third time. It sounded straight forward and easy, a reach-out for diplomatic talks. She was more than eager and happily had the crew send out an agreement in response. She spoke to members of her council and they each had their own input. The trip itself however, would take some time to prepare for and actually undertake, so the individuals began doing exactly that.

Junko Ike

 

[Junko Ike]

The waiting... that was the most well important part. not receiving anything could mean any number of things but she was..... rarely nervous about things. Nervous energy inclined a lack of decorum and Junko had taken great pains to make sure that the Atrisian court was about decorum... even down to the simple and mundane... the farmers of Atrisia who were now being given comfort with pre-fab buildings designed to take away some burdens like temperature control.. they wouldn't freeze in winter and they wouldn't bake in the summer. The energy required could be produced within each module itself through different cleaner means.

That was what she focused on while awaiting an answer from the empress Kimiko Taiyou or someone she designated to discuss things.... or there was the chance it wasn't able to reach them and oh god that would mean a lose of face and she would have to find a better way to do things. No no no that wasn't an option and Junko remained there willing her body not to take what nervous energy she had and pace around. Her handmaidens were with her though and Naori stood next to her... she had well started to be more comfortable around the others at least sos eh didn't always seem tense and worried about them learning she was not actually Atrisian.

Still didn't matter to Junko... the fox like woman was well welcome at court and she had swore herself to protecting and helping Junko. Her hands coming out as she smiled offering a look.... "You should relax princess, you have said that one needs to be careful in their interactions.. allow them to make the move and then go from there... do not fret just yet." She offered a smile and her eyes flickered as she followed Junko stationing one of the others in the room to get them as soon as there was the hint of a reply. Naori brought junko over to one of the fountains and it had small fish swimming around in the waters below. She spoke with a smile on her face.

Junko laid down and Naori spoke as she moved standing over the lounge area... the open room sending a small breeze from the garden where the small pool that had been crafted and adorned with statues from Junkos hands. Crafted with the special force enriched clay and smoothed b the force so the images of different important figures she had met were able to be seen and the kitsune handmaiden pulled a winesack out. "I know you do not drink princess but I do and it works to handle some of the stress... plus well calming for the nerves as you are practically radiating them into all of us." Junko turned her head as she laid there and looked up at the woman.

"What are you talking about I am not nervous Naori." She said ti and remained there as she held a neutral expression on her face before crossing her arms under her cheek and scrunching her nose. The kitsune smiled looking down and knelt with one of the small cases as she opened it and set up the ink wells. "Yes yes of course princess. you are not nervous and internally wanting to run around crazy or will the empress to post. You are a picture of calm and serenity." She said it and Junko nodded as she knew they could feel her... they had created a meld after all and were able to sense emotions between the princess and her handmaidens so Junko stayed there.

She fel tthe breeze along her back and didn't need to look up while Noari was fixing the ink. The tip of the brush like a feather touch before she was writing and tracing. The atrisian script slowing across the back of her neck where it tickled but she couldn't move... down to her shoulders and along her back taking care to just barely wrap around at her ribs. There It went down and the script was an atrisian poem from the isle of Horai. Thuria had shared it with her and displayed it within her own pillow book the first time of the festival as she had been attending. Naori finished and the black ink suddenly sent shivers as she blew across it to dry the ink.

Then she wasn't certain of how much time had passed... a message came and Junko opened her eyes looking aound the room as she rose up and stood with a smile on her face. Stretching her arms out and she was much much more relaxed as she moved and looked at the screen. Feeling a little breeze from the cooling evening air and her hair shifted around when she read it. Sednign a reply with swift fingers and she had composed such an idea... well different ones and this seemed the best kind. Preferably well... preferably well meeting somewhere on an even standing so they could talk but finding a place like that that was secure wasn't exactly an easy feat.

There was a whole lot of logistical planning to take place... somewhat demands or important parts on both sides that would need be to going. Tama would see to it. She liked being paranoid about security for the royals within the family and she was a wizened warrior of Atrisia so that helped... some renowned could go a long way while her other generals like Jubei and Hanzo were off doing what they could or needed to do. Junko sent the list of small things like handmaidens and security. Nothing to large on either side, mutual location both could secure and wasn't a security risk. The world of Spira had private beaches and was renowned for security to protect its guests.