Chapter One Hundred and Five: Establishing Boundaries
Kentares IV, July 1st, 3025
"We can agree to the trade negotiations." Thomas said, "But we won't be able to be a part of the mutual defense treaty unless you both renounce your claim on the title of First Lord."
Ian and Hanse exchanged a look and simply sat there for a moment before Ian spoke up. "If I renounce the title of First Lord, I need to be absolutely certain that both the Taurian Concordat and the Lyran Commonwealth have the Federated Suns back in war and in peace."
"I have no need for the title of First Lord." Katrina said after a moment's hesitation. "While it has always been my dream to see the Star League reborn, and their technology brought back again, that dream has been mostly fulfilled by the beginning of peace, and the sheer amount of technology growth that has occurred over the last two decades." She Inhaled a little shakily, her icy look melting for once as she seemed uncertain at first before steeling herself. "I Katrina Steiner do forfeit my claim on the title of First Lord of the Star League, and commit myself and my nation into making this trade and mutual defense pact into a lasting peace for the generations to come." She sat back down, and resumed her icy stare.
"Well, can't be outdone by the Lyrans on any sort of battlefield can I?" Ian said with a grin. "I Ian Davion, and all of my heirs after me do forfeit our claim on the title of First Lord of the Star League, and swear to put everything we have at our disposal into making sure that this trade and mutual defense pact turn into a lasting peace." Ian chuckled. "We are going to have to come up with a name for this thing eventually aren't we?"
"DAN" I spoke up for the first time in the meeting. "Defense of Allied Nations." I shrugged, "Or something like that anyway, It's a work in progress, but it can work until we settle on a name."
Three hours later…
"Okay, we seem to have hammered everything out." I said with a smile. "Everyone looks unhappy, so I'm fairly certain that the compromises that we agreed on will work."
"I would like to extend an invitation to the Magistracy of Canopus in a year's time." Thomas Calderon spoke up. "They would at the very least like to opt into the trade networks, and their medical technology is some of the greatest in the known galaxy."
"I would like to eventually extend the offer to the new nation that has taken over the former Rim Worlds Republic worlds that the Lyran Commonwealth did not take." Katrina said. "I believe they are calling themselves the Wolf Confederation or something and have also curbed piracy in its entirety in that region of space."
"And eventually, the Outworlds Alliance would probably be a good place to at least extend trade deals to." Ian offered up. "They do make fantastic Aerospace fighters and pilots after all, and are probably terrified that one day Takashi or someone else will decide to show up and just take everything from them."
"I drew up the documents," I said, "And there are allowances for other nations to join in the provisions made., I'm sending copies to your slates now, review them and let me know if there is anything that was missed."
The rulers of the various nations and their advisors scrolled through the copies, and began to go through them with a fine toothed comb.
Kentares IV, July 4th, 3025
"It is in this historic moment, on July Fourth of Three Thousand and Twenty-Five AD, that the nations of the Taurian Concordat, The Lyran Commonwealth, and the Federated Suns are signing what is being called the Kentares Accords." A reporter said as she stood in front of the public arena. "This is a mutual defense treaty and and trade alliance that is said to be the start of a new era. We are still awaiting the full details of the treaty, but it appears that we may begin to have the start of a lasting peace."
"Turn that crap off." I said as I walked into my living room. "I'm taking a nap after dealing with all of the headache-inducing negotiating that the last week was."
"Is that any way to talk to your liege lord?" Ian asked as he propped his feet up on a coffee table.
"Get your feet off of the coffee table. There's literally an ottoman for that over there." I pointed. "And while you're eating my food and using my stuff, you don't get to dictate what's on the Tri-Vid."
"Ooh, check that one out." Ian pointed to a specific channel. "I don't think you've seen this movie yet."
"For some it was a time of loss and sacrifice." An aerospace fighter flew over a base and dropped its payload. "For others, it was a time of great opportunity." The intro to the movie said, before it cut to a Warhammer kneecapping an Atlas.
"Please tell me this isn't what I think it is?" I begged Ian.
"Oh, it gets better." Ian smiled, "It gets way better."
"Stupid Davion Trolls." I muttered. "Let me get Natasha in here." I said, at least someone here will enjoy this."
What was intended to only be a few people gathering around, instead ended up being a gathering of everyone important on the planet gathered into the private Tri-Vid theater of the Ducal Estate.
"Just so you're aware," I started. "I have not seen any of the tri-vids they've made about the Marksman or myself, and I have very low expectations, so let's just see what they came up with."
Author's note: If anyone wants to write an omake about the tri vid they just watched then they are welcome to it. I'm not going to be writing it though. Also, yes the intro was stolen from MW4Mercs.