Yuumi gazed through the projector's mock-up of the galaxy as the lights dimmed enough to allow the full-color, slightly transparent image to really pop. The glow cast a green-white light across the table and the delegates.
The image was tilted a little toward the Lorath, but it was high enough that everyone could see it, especially the galaxy's four arms (two dominant, two trailing). The galaxy was a smaller type — just 75,000 light-years in diameter. A section of one of the main arms was zoomed on, bringing to life a 400 light-year expanse that centered on the black hole around Null and Void.
From there, the image cast off two parts of itself, using Null and Void as the pinpoint edge of a display that looked like a global pie with two, strange shapes cut out of it. Pyros, Vishta and the Envoy knew the three-dimensional map was one that was common in the Yamataian Empire, but modified to take Yamatai out of the center, instead placing it as one of many systems.
Light hazes cast over portions of territory covered by the various nations. Yamatai was an electric blue, with its systems becoming neon beacons; Nepleslia took green; the Freespacers had peach; the Gartagens, red; the Lorath, lavender; and the Abwherans, white. The Iroma, who kept their homeworld's location somewhat secret, was represented by a bland globe of tan space in the "galactic north."
The NMX were yellow. And the largest portion of the map.
"I expect the topic of the NMX will dominate this conference eventually. But before it does, I have something to address first."
Three areas — Nepleslia, the Freespacers and the Lorath — became brighter, while the others faded.
"My nation has not been a good neighbor. Violence has visited your doorsteps, and be it in pursuit of terrorists or the Mishhuvurthyar, it is inexcusable."
Yuumi's eyes gleamed in the light as she looked to the Envoy, but not with tears. "Though my nation has made some attempts at reparations, or have assisted in other ways, nothing can ever make up for the wrongs we have caused. There are times we even nip the hands of old friends — " she looked through toward Pyros — "and that is equally unacceptable.
"I won't pretend any apologies I offer will soothe such wrongs. Nor am I going to expend time trying to please you all. Instead, I offer a proposal that will give my nation a chance to redeem itself in your eyes, and will lead us, perhaps, to a time of peace."
All areas but the NMX faded away, leaving a harsh yellow glow casting a pall across the room.
"The being you all knew as Melisson no longer is in power, as she now is a captive of my nation. The reason the NMX are not here is because the leader of it now, Reiaz, is a murdering bastard who has no use for any of our kind, or yours. He wants only to conquer, to control and, failing those things, kill. He has to be stopped because, after he has finished off my nation, he will come for yours."
Yuumi's eyes crossed around the table, and her posture softened in her chair. " ... But my nation has not earned your trust, and rightly so. I don't expect us to take the reigns of any proposal to destroy this evil."
She looked directly at Pyros, fire meeting fire. "Instead of treaties or agreements, I propose an alliance of mutual goals. With the Democratic Imperium of Nepleslia leading this union, I have no doubt that we could succeed — and as the Imperial Premier to Her Highness, the Empress Himiko, I stand here ready to commit the Yamatai Star Empire to this endeavor, serving under the command of the Imperium."
Yuumi held her body slightly leaned forward, breathing slow and steady. She held Pyros' gaze, watching for a reaction, a twitch, a sign he was about to throw his flask at her head.
No risk, no reward, she thought.
The image was tilted a little toward the Lorath, but it was high enough that everyone could see it, especially the galaxy's four arms (two dominant, two trailing). The galaxy was a smaller type — just 75,000 light-years in diameter. A section of one of the main arms was zoomed on, bringing to life a 400 light-year expanse that centered on the black hole around Null and Void.
From there, the image cast off two parts of itself, using Null and Void as the pinpoint edge of a display that looked like a global pie with two, strange shapes cut out of it. Pyros, Vishta and the Envoy knew the three-dimensional map was one that was common in the Yamataian Empire, but modified to take Yamatai out of the center, instead placing it as one of many systems.
Light hazes cast over portions of territory covered by the various nations. Yamatai was an electric blue, with its systems becoming neon beacons; Nepleslia took green; the Freespacers had peach; the Gartagens, red; the Lorath, lavender; and the Abwherans, white. The Iroma, who kept their homeworld's location somewhat secret, was represented by a bland globe of tan space in the "galactic north."
The NMX were yellow. And the largest portion of the map.
"I expect the topic of the NMX will dominate this conference eventually. But before it does, I have something to address first."
Three areas — Nepleslia, the Freespacers and the Lorath — became brighter, while the others faded.
"My nation has not been a good neighbor. Violence has visited your doorsteps, and be it in pursuit of terrorists or the Mishhuvurthyar, it is inexcusable."
Yuumi's eyes gleamed in the light as she looked to the Envoy, but not with tears. "Though my nation has made some attempts at reparations, or have assisted in other ways, nothing can ever make up for the wrongs we have caused. There are times we even nip the hands of old friends — " she looked through toward Pyros — "and that is equally unacceptable.
"I won't pretend any apologies I offer will soothe such wrongs. Nor am I going to expend time trying to please you all. Instead, I offer a proposal that will give my nation a chance to redeem itself in your eyes, and will lead us, perhaps, to a time of peace."
All areas but the NMX faded away, leaving a harsh yellow glow casting a pall across the room.
"The being you all knew as Melisson no longer is in power, as she now is a captive of my nation. The reason the NMX are not here is because the leader of it now, Reiaz, is a murdering bastard who has no use for any of our kind, or yours. He wants only to conquer, to control and, failing those things, kill. He has to be stopped because, after he has finished off my nation, he will come for yours."
Yuumi's eyes crossed around the table, and her posture softened in her chair. " ... But my nation has not earned your trust, and rightly so. I don't expect us to take the reigns of any proposal to destroy this evil."
She looked directly at Pyros, fire meeting fire. "Instead of treaties or agreements, I propose an alliance of mutual goals. With the Democratic Imperium of Nepleslia leading this union, I have no doubt that we could succeed — and as the Imperial Premier to Her Highness, the Empress Himiko, I stand here ready to commit the Yamatai Star Empire to this endeavor, serving under the command of the Imperium."
Yuumi held her body slightly leaned forward, breathing slow and steady. She held Pyros' gaze, watching for a reaction, a twitch, a sign he was about to throw his flask at her head.
No risk, no reward, she thought.