PISCES STATION
YE 44.3.x
A Quiet Yamataian Bar
After working hours during the International Relations Conference, Taisho Ketsurui-Shinjuku Hanako waited in a quiet bar for the Random Alien representative to arrived, looking small behind the very solid polished wooden table of a red leather booth seat. She was dressed in the her Type 35 uniform with a pencil skirt and a great many colorful ribbons below her flower-shaped golden rank insignia. Hanako had long hair that started teal at the roots, was mostly a vivid ocean blue, and then purple at the tips, and big golden saucers of eyes. In front of her was a glass of red wine along with its bottle and an empty glass for her guest. Mentally she went over what SAINT had briefed her in preparation for this meeting, which left her both cautious and curious.
It was an unconventional place to say the least, but the Random Alien Prime-Minister, Qrr'ti Jahara ti Luta ka Wasa'haru was happy that it wasn't anything so formal. "A quiet bar," she told herself, "This is certainly not the way I expected to meet a leader for these people, but Nonetheless, I am grateful." Approaching kindly, they said, "This is the seat, and you are Hanako, yes? It is a pleasure to meet you, I shall... extend a modified greeting, so as not to make a scene, as our traditional greeting can be rather boisterous. I am Qrr'ti Jahara, Prime-Minister of the United Random Alien Federation. It is a pleasure to meet you." She smiled, as she extended her hand.
"I had it reserved for us," Hanako explained, while standing up to give the Random Alien a respectful bow and then offered a handshake. "I am Taisho Ketsurui-Shinjuku Hanako, Director of Star Army personnel. I allocate manpower and oversee the administration of staffing and people issues in the Star Army of Yamatai. I understand you have some proposal for me."
Before Hanako could give the handshake, Jahara stopped her, and said, "I will warn you against shaking my hand, should you not wish to. Phsyical contact for us is very different, and often results in a psionic link. I am willing to do so however, should you not mind. If we could sit and talk for a moment, before we begin formally." Jahara then took a seat, noting the comfort of the plush, velvety cushions.
Hanako flashed a white-gloved hand and gave her a smile. "Certainly," she nodded, and returned to her seat in the booth.
"I have a few questions before we begin... I understand your people have been involved in an... array of disputes... Might I ask what prompted you to initiate them?"
"Absolutely," Hanako nodded. "As the strongest military force in the sector, it is Yamatai's moral responsibility to defense the Kikyo Sector from hostile invasions and groups that seek to disrupt the well-being of the sector. It is also a matter of survival. If we fall, the sector falls. It is the goal of the Yamatai Star Empire to establish peace and prosperity throughout the sector and to expand beyond it. The Star Army is largely autonomous and we defend the sector as we see fit."
Jahara leaned forward, and said, smiling slightly, "We have a saying amongst our people.
Pride is the death of a person, for in humility there is a beautiful story yet to be made. I can understand your most noble goal of peace, and I will not go so far as to imply that you do not know what I say next, but... Peace cannot be achieved by an iron fist. War benefits no-one, especially when gone unchecked. Your... Less than diplomatic way of handling disputes has caused concern amongst my peers, especially considering the recent proposal our government has made."
"War clearly benefits us," Hanako countered. "It is the only reason we've survived attack after attack. That's not to say we're trying or eager to start a war, but my people--the soldiers of the Star Army--are ready to do what we must to protect our nation. We want to set an example. We want our reputation to precede us. We want everyone to know that war against us is a far worse than peaceful diplomacy. A deterrent against war only works if we demonstrate our power, and we have had plenty of chances to do that, for this is a very dangerous universe."
Jahara stared, a rather horrified look on her face. "There are no winners in war, Ms. Hanako. No one wins, there are only losses. Territory and space is material, lives are not. They are invaluable. This is primarily why we proposed this agreement, partially to better understand your people, but also in hopes that you will be able to have a greater discussion about war as a whole. Ms. Hanako, you and I both know we are not the person to see combat in this day. It is unlikely that any of us ever will. It is important to remember the impacts of war on people. On those below us. On those
equal to us. You have a rather draconian way of looking at things, and quite frankly, this is what had me concerned." Jahara said, before pushing the glass forward, and saying, "In my experience, it is people that think the way that you do that can justify any atrocity, with misguided morals, and scarce judements."
"As the head of Star Army Personnel Command I see the effects of war on people literally every day. I am in the hospitals, in the cemetery at Nataria, and in the living rooms of soldiers' families. I assign soldiers to bases and starships and missions, some of them I know they aren't coming back from. Every soldier is sworn by oath to do whatever is necessary to preserve their country and I support them all the way. We do it for the Empire because we believe in the Empire. Simply put, it's our home, it's where our families live, and its what gives us purpose. Before I was part of the Star Army, I was just a slave, and had no purpose but to be experimented on and to serve. Since then, I've come a long way and so has the empire. We've outlawed slavery and torture, and I've earned my way to admiral and got elected senator of the Yamatai System. I have no doubt in my mind that our young Empire will continue to grow in scope and character."
"Have countless dictators not used the same logic, of imperial might and national worth, to justify countless more atrocities?" Came the simple response from Jahara. "Anyone can be manipulated into doing something for the wrong cause, with the right intentions at hand. Bigger stick diplomacy, in my experience, only paints you as the enemy. As for your... history... I understand that. It's unfortunate to say the least. I would say I understood, but to be honest, I don't. What I can say, is I understand the impact war has on someone more than you might think. No matter how justified any war, it is always a crime." Jahara said, before noting, "I have no doubt you will continue to change, but will it be for the better?"
Hanako gave a little laugh like she had heard a bad joke. "You have to understand that nations are just animals doing whatever they can to survive, no matter how lofty their intentions are. Just like an otherwise rational and peaceful person might strangle an intruder to their home, so must the Star Army spill our blood and the blood of others to protect what we care about. It's not a crime. It's just the circle of life. And if it ever ends we'll go down fighting with honor, because giving up is not a Star Army value, nor a Yamataian one."
"I would not call any murder, rational." Jahara said, deadpanning and looking at Hanako. "I believe there is a fundamental cultural difference, between our peoples. I do not wish to change that, nor do I expect you to learn what I mean just yet. Just know, the arrogance does not suit you."
"Arrogance is thinking that life can be protected by ideals and laws. When a Mishhuvurthyar is set on trying to kill me, there's only one option to protect myself." She took a sip of her wine, thinking about the darkness of her past. She could sett in her face that was obvious that she had been subject to the horrors of the Mishhuvurthyar first-hand.
"I only respond to you with this; you don't always need to survive, or protect yourself, to win. Our species is a living testament that peace can be achieved without war. However, that is besides the point, I'd like to discuss our deal. Clearly we have our differences in opinion, but that by no means should prevent us from working together, and learning from one another. Whilst i have enjoyed this... interesting... discussion, I believe it would be in both our best interests to cease. I'd like to disguss an agreement going forward, an exchange programme of sorts..."
"I hope you do not think I am some sort of distant commander who does not know what real war is like, or that I am arguing in favor of war for the sake of war or preserving my career. Being in the Star Army has not been easy for me. I have been stabbed shot, drowned, burned, frozen, captured, tortured, raped, implanted with eggs, marooned, illegally cloned, and I have lost three gunships...the
Sakura,
Plumeria, and
Elfin Princess. I helped conquer Lor, the saved Lor, then accidentally caused a Lorath civil war. I led the so-called Freespacer genocide, and I was at the battles of Nataria, Elysia, and Yamatai during the Second Mishhuvurthyar War and saw the war to its end by personally leading the attack on NMX headquarters. I led the Third Battle of Nataria that turned the tide of the Kuvexian War. I've seen things you wouldn't believe."
"Regardless of what I may think, Ms. Hanako, that does not mean we cannot work together." Jahara said bluntly. "There's something you may not know about our species, but people in my role must live through the darkest time in our history in order to be elected. We must live out the life of a child, a parent, and a soldier, all within our minds. I am fairly certain I could believe you. I fought in a war of my own, and to be frank, I don't think it's fair to compare what I've gone through to your own experience. It may also be hard to believe, but I've felt the pain of loss, the sting of abuse, and seen the horrors of war. I've lived three lives, in addition to my own, all tarnished by war, but one."
"I like it when I have things in common with others but it is with no joy about sharing that kind of pain. Let me put a question to you: what interest does your military have in the Star Army?" Hanako asked. "Our exchange program is designed to help two military forces work together better in case we have to combine forces to defend our space together. Is it realistic to think that that scenario will be necessary?"
"It is not. I will admit, my motives for this are less than secret, as our military is generally not considered such. They are an exploratory force, dedicated to searching for different means of understanding. I do not expect we will ever have to combine our forces, rather, I expect tha tthis could be a valuable learning experience to better relationships between our nations, and our people."
"The military?" Hanako grinned incredulously. "You want to experience relations by going through the military?" she giggled. "For a supposedly peaceful nation this just seems really like a really weird angle to me!"
"I cannot dispute your warlike nature, so It is better to embrace it in the interest of cooperation."
"I do not know if I would consider
Yamatai to be warlike. The
Star Army of Yamatai is sort of a distinct subculture and nation within a nation. While I am a senator of the Yamataian government, I cannot claim to represent the nation as a whole. That falls to the Imperial Premier and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Himiko. Also, keep in mind these wars were forced on us."
"I know. And to better understand your people as a whole, this is something we must do. You defend the people, it is best to know how you do so, to better understand your cultural ideals, and what exactly you hope to protect. I trust you understand this not the only thing we are doing to understand Yamatai on a deeper level."
"That is fair, and I know that," Hanako smiled warmly. "I am personally grateful for your interest in the Star Army, and it is my understanding that the Empress has an interest in gaining a friend in this universe in your people. It is in everyone's interest that we understand each other and to work together. I suspect the more you learn about Yamatai, the more you you will see why we must be what we are and who we are, and that, we too are trying to be a force for good in the universe."
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JP by
@Deleted User and Wes
