Glorious Stars Turn 1 Assembly Debates

[virtutis.umbra]

I confess my delegation's original wording regarding use of military presence within a system is founded on the basic reality that the Indep Worlds, wracked as many are in lawlessness and piracy. If a House informs the citizens of a system that they are now under its protection, but commerce raiding or human rights abuses or local warlordism continues unchecked on that system's worlds and star-lanes, what message does that send about the benefits of repatriation? Not to mention the nearly-unspeakable possibility of reprisals or outright civil war between those who favor repatriation and those misguided enough to think their worlds are better off remaining untethered from the legitimate authority of this Assembly and its constituent Houses... No, any way you slice it, House Phoenix believes our obligation is clear: Marginal systems would be poorly served to find themselves under the banner of a House but not its aegis.

Additionally, it's worth emphasizing that the clause stipulates singular military presence by House starships, which serves to ensure that the presence of multiple House fleets in orbit within a system while they hash out who shall have control of that system is a dangerous precursor to unfortunate escalations. For example, if Houses Winton and Phoenix both had ships in Tau Ceti, and the system was legitimately repatriated to Winton by this Assembly; suddenly House Winton would have a pretext for claiming military infringement on their territory by House Phoenix, and might even authorize a punitive strike! This would be a terrible, terrible misunderstanding, and the sort of thing for which much later apologies and reparations might be elicited; but such things happen, in the heat of the moment, and it is just such posturing and shadow-skirmishing which the Repatriation Protocol is explicitly designed to prevent.

For the former reason, we believe some armed starships should be present in a system as a precondition for repatriation; for the latter reason, we believe all such ships should fly the flag of a single House. Nothing more or less than these two beliefs drives the wording of the Repatriation Protocol.

However -- You raise an interesting counter-proposal, Factor van der Broecke. The ability to rapidly stage existing security forces into a system via a Major Jump Lane would indeed serve as a better measure than nothing at all, and it is true that the improved trade and transit capabilities that infrastructure investment would allow does indeed serve an additional good for the NEE as a whole.

House Phoenix would be amenable to considering, in the next legislative period, this revised version of the Protocol should the currently proposed Repatriation Protocol measure be voted down.

And, if the existing Draft Law passes the Assembly, we would still be amenable to entertaining further debate addition of wording around non-military methods by which a House can establish sufficient interest and commitment to warrant repatriation rights by nonmilitary means.

In either case, Amabassador van der Broecke, I look forward to further discussion with you about this important situation and the legislative niceties of its solution after the tallying of votes. Bravo, by the way, for stepping up and taking such an active voice in the charting of a course for our great civilization -- you do your House, and all humanity, a great service by participating in the Assembly so adroitly.

Citizen Shareholder Landry Aigrette
Senior VP of Interstellar Affairs, Incorporated Republic of Phoenix
Ambassador, NEE Assembly - Arcturus Delegation, New Earth Empire

[Stad]

House Phoenix

It has come to our attention the pressing need of Kapteyn's Star has reached a critical moment.

Being the closest power to them, En'Scootra sent an expeditionary force to provide food and infrastructure.

We are willing to establish a trade relation of perhaps sharing resources once the matter has resolved.

We will respect your wishes, especially since they are a focal point of the Ecabore Treaty.

We await your decision. We just want to make sure the civilians there do not suffer.

[Takeyabue]

In either case, Amabassador van der Broecke, I look forward to further discussion with you about this important situation and the legislative niceties of its solution after the tallying of votes. Bravo, by the way, for stepping up and taking such an active voice in the charting of a course for our great civilization -- you do your House, and all humanity, a great service by participating in the Assembly so adroitly.

Citizen Shareholder Landry Aigrette,

It had been our intent to await announcement of the outcome of your proposals toward House Cirle and House Scoote, however as it appears that absences are ending and debate is once again moving forward, let me extend the following on behalf of myself and my fellow factors:

A Border Treaty which recognizes the existing borders of House Phoenix and House Suratte.

A Trade Treaty with acknowledgement of the following additional terms due to the delicate nature of the systems along our interface and your existing negotiations with House Cirle:

Recognition of Pleides Cluster as being a Special Security Zone of House Phoenix. Military movement through Pleides Cluster by non-Phoenix warships shall require advance approval of a routing request filed with Phoenix Interstellar Sub-Directorate (Pleides).

Recognition of Zeta as being a Candidate for Protectorate Status by House Phoenix. House Suratte agrees to freely pursue the at-will introduction of Trade Fleets into Zeta system, but refrain from moving military units there. Phoenix Naval elements will approach Zeta System independently; determine whether their security situation is intact; render assistance if necessary; and offer full protectorate status to Zeta if they require space-defense assets to fend off pirates, suppress an insurrection, or otherwise restore order and infrastructure appropriate to an interstellar system.

Designation of Waypoint as a System of Free Trade by which House Phoenix will agree to provide notice to House Suratte, whether private or public, prior to movement of any warships in the system. Movement of civilian shipping will require no such notification and House Phoenix would be welcome to establish trading routes into the system as desired and possible.

And should the Pleides Accords between House Cirle and House Phoenix be ratified by both parties prior to any agreement on these accords with house Suratte.

Encouragement of House Cirle to approach Starfall and extend similar Protectorate Status to that system if they have the wherewithal and resources, with House Suratte's recognition of that Protectorate Status, should it be declared, retroactively guaranteed by this Accord.

Pieter van der Broecke
Factor Resident
House Suratte