Imperial Senate
Daonlathas, Ryccian Empire

It was a monumental debate. The hearing of the era. What would determine the fate of this Empire, so democratic, so free, so isolated.

This issue was hotly contested. It was approved in Congress, after so much debate and deliberation. Now, it passed to the Senate. That body where each planetary entity was represented.

There it was, awaiting the mercy or death swiftly delivered by this body. That bill that connected wires. That bill to end this isolation. The Treecuu Bill.

It, in essence, permitted the government to formally begin contact with this foreign power across the stars. On a normal society, this should've been a quick passage or just the policy of a certain Cabinet, but, on the isolationist, proud Ryccian Empire, it was a tectonic shift in the politics of the age.

For the first time in millenia, Ryccia would officially interact with a sovereign state. Internationalism finally had its chance.

Now, let the fires be ignited.

Speaker: "This Senate has convened to debate the Treecuu Star Empire Foreign Relations Act, or, as is known popularly, the Treecuu Bill. This session has now formally started"

Speaker: "Now, let us begin. The proponent of this bill, Congressman Amu Han, shall give an introductory explanation"

Amu Han was a male Kaminoan from the planet of Klist, in the Kaminoan Rim. From the Progressive Party, Amu Han was part of the internationalist coalition that transcended party boundaries. For him, meeting other species and exchanging all sorts of things, like information, technology, ideas, etc. could help to make Ryccia the dream of the Progressive Party: philosophical, rich in knowledge, scientific. An advancing, civilized Empire, with a society wealthy on educated and cultured persons, not one ignorant, lawless and barbaric.

Kaminoan culture is often cold, pragmatic and sometimes heartless. But, due to their contact with other species, they knew the value of respect, respect that travels across species. And they have the value of helping to build a better society, even if they do it in a pragmatic fashion. And if the plan involves participating in the politics of the Empire like their peers, then they will.

Amu Han: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fellow citizens of the Ryccian Empire, I come here to open the gates to the interstellar world. I, and many others, agree that prosecuting foreign relations is vital for the advancement of Ryccia, to expand our borders on what we consider our known world, to learn from others, to be a great nation. We already are, but we must be greater. Mutual contact, trade, foreign relations...these factors advance a nation to grander heights. And if we are already an excellent nation, we can become even better"

"Thus, we require to test the waters. We shall examinate the stars around us, and the peoples they contain. We shall authorize the Ryccian Empire to conduct diplomacy with the Treecuu Star Empire, a nation we know barely anything of. Our diplomatic mission will attempt to establish diplomatic relations with the Treecuu Star Empire, investigate their government, their society and the peoples they rule, open up trade, and create an embassy of some sort. We are certain that, if we succeed, we shall interact with other nations, and open a new chapter of a blossoming Empire"

Speaker: "Thank you, Congressman. We shall now proceed to the debate"

Senators pressed the button in order to be allowed to speak. Finally, the randomizer allowed the human Senator Louis Orginma from the New Daonlathas world of Itiriu.

Speaker: "The Speaker recognizes the Senator from the system of Itiriu"

Louis Orginma: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker"

"Allow me to offer my thoughts: this is a grand mistake. Interact with foreign barbarians, who might not have a sense of our democratic values?! Preposterous! For all we know, other societies are inferior to our grand way of thought. They rule and dominate other species, and we have moved on from that horrid stage eons ago. Tell me of a nation that we currently know that treats all of its subjects as equals, and that has an actual moral and political code based on truth! That all of our people have the inherent right to a democratic self-governance, that the people have unalienable rights as stipulated in our Constitution? I do not believe for a second that any other nation other than ours has achieved the liberty and equality that we stand upon now. Our brave explorers and far traders report this basic fact. Of what we know of the Tular, they have waged a war of some sort for ages amongst species, and they reject outsiders. Valiant explorers who have escaped their clutches to report this fact validate my claims"

"Let us remain with our own! Let us rid of this nuisance of asking 'are other cultures like us?'. No! There shall never be such thing. For we are exceptional and superior to all that we know. We are one in a million. We are Ryccia. And we are special in the entire galaxy"

Speaker: "Thank you, Senator. We now pass to another fellow member for the debate"

Yet again, Senators pushed the button, indicating that they desired to speak. Now, it was the turn of Senator Daari Tonkien of the Velpan Rim world of Tonshen to speak.

Speaker: "The Speaker recognizes the Senator from the system of Tonshen"

Daari Tonkien: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker"

"Senators, we stand at a crossroads. Either interact with the universe, and thus fall, or remain safe"

"Take it from a Velpan, a species that suffered oppression after contacting the human Ryccians. Now we have moved on from that dark tale, and I am grateful that we are, to this day, equal beings in the Empire, but take caution. Interacting with foreign powers can be a benefit, but it may be the malignant poison of this Empire. Conspirators might plot to influence our dear nation, or even worse, destroy it entirely, whether from the inside as infiltrators, or the outside, as barbaric invaders"

"Ryccia is unique. We are in ever-lasting harmony compared to other, lesser nations who fight with no end. We are not perfect, that is certain, as there is always work to do, but we are impeccable compared to the Seraphic Order, a tyrannical theocracy near our borders. Do we wish to associate with such beings, incapable of choosing freedom? While we have rights, they have tyranny. They shall see the flicker of light that we are, and then they shall try to extinguish it"

"Barbaric nations deserve no contact from us. In their stupidity, they shall fail to recognize liberty and equality as vicars of logical, free reason. Their slave armies shall ravage us with their dictatorial disease, and we shall fall"

"Will we betray our nation? Will we be traitors?"

At this, internationalist Senators were outraged. They accused Daari of warmongering and slander.

"Warmongerer!"

"Opportunist!"

"Stop manipulating!"

Daari: "Oh, shut it! Do you want to repeat history?"

A Senator, not given permission to speak, spontaneously came forth without authorization. It was the human Ladia Lertoni of the Estariya system, in Wider Ryccia. She spoke for a number of internationalists in the chamber, furiously speaking against the Velpan.

Ladia Lertoni: "Are you serious?! If this rhetoric like this against other species in Ryccia, you would've lost your job by now!"

Speaker: "The Speaker does not recog-"

Ladia: "Isolationists are racists! That is what they are! It would be unthinkable to argue like this against Ryccian cultures, you hypocrite! All the talk of 'oh we are one in a million' or whatever is pure insanity! Is that really your best argument?! Racism?! Unfounded stereotyping?!"

Isolationist Senators now were the furious party. They were flabbergasted that they were accused of such thing.

"Liar!"

"Traitor!"

"Slanderous!"

Daari: "Tell that to the Seraphic Order, traitor! Why would we engage in such relation with the unknown?! I have reason to base my fears and my concerns on the reports of our explorers!"

Lertoni: "Do YOU want to repeat history?!"

Speaker: "ORDER! ORDER! Senator Ladia Lertoni, return to your designated area, or I shall expell you from this chamber!"

Senator Lertoni reluctantly returned to her seat area, disgusted at Senator Tonkien. The Senate quieted down, as the Speaker imposed order.

The debate now continued. It was the turn of the Senator Agoglna Chirvergon from the Vurbentan Core planet of Padme to speak.

Agoglna Chirvergon: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker"

"Members of the Senate, it is clear to all my logical thought that we must initiate contact with the outsiders. We will have to at some certain point. No nation can withstand isolation forever, and so is the case for this Empire. We must, in eventuality, seek out allies for any enemies that might cross our path"

"It is my belief that we are not attempting to make any opponents in this galaxy. We are a peace-loving people, prospering in the abscence of war, apart from the pirate parasites that are eventually rubbed off. However, it is why we fear authoritarian regimes that we must gamble: seek out any nation in this region, and, if we find a most suitable friend, we can stand together as one alliance. And if we are unable to find such free states as our own, foreign contact is still necessary. After all, knowing what your enemy is results far, far more optimal than shooting in the darkness"

Another Senator, eager to confront this idea, did not leave her designated area, but proceeded to shout from her seat instead. It was Senator Raqueline Almia, from the Rim system of Magma, a planet named for its high volcanic activity in its northern plates, where it is entirely volcanic. The south houses the safe, rocky areas, which are only made habitable thanks to the city domes that have an oxygenated atmosphere. It was settled for its rich reserves of minerals.

"That is not true! If we make our presence known, we shall only encourage their anger! After all, democracy is hope! We are light!"

Speaker: "The Speaker does not recognize th-"

Agoglna Chirvergon: "No, please, let me"

"An aggressive, authoritarian plague will always spread. It is the nature of tyranny. Even if we militarize our borders, dictatorship will try to destroy light regardless. Thus, it is why we must invest on meeting new governing entities. We know little of those who surround our own borders. We cared little for such beings, for the outsiders. However, we must start to care. For we must know who they are"

"Barbarian outsiders should not meet us anywhere! We cannot interact with tyranny! Secure the Empire, do not relate to outsiders!"

Raqueline's words made Isolationist Senators chant a slogan. "Secure the Empire", they said. In a syncing melody, they refused outside interaction in order to save their country.

Speaker: "Order, we shall have order in this chamber! Let the Senator from Padme finish!"

As the cries for safety dimmed, Agoglna Chirvergon finished his remarks.

Agoglna Chirvergon: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker"

"As I was saying, we must know who we are facing. Safety comes with knowledge, not through isolation and ignorance"

Speaker: "Thank you, Senator. We now pass to another fellow member for the debate"

As routine, several Senators called forth to speak. And the lucky legislator was the human Senator Helene Milterr, of the Wider Ryccian system of Helias.

Speaker: "The Speaker Speaker recognizes the Senator from the system of Helias"

Helene Milterr: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker"

"Honourable colleagues, most distinguished members of this Imperial Senate, we are in a crossroads: to become the most ignorant and backwater of nations, or to extend our hands to the universe"

"We cannot transform into a foolish dunce, the laughingstock of the region. We shall eventually stagnate, and our greatness shall collapse eventually. Civilizations require advancement. And they expand, either through conquest or foreign interaction. Isolationism only stalls a civilization, and it prevents an otherwise wonderful destiny to forge into a backtracing nightmare, always inferior to others"

"Clearly, it is with no doubt that innovation originates from freedom. Not just social freedoms, but freedom to exchange ideas, freedom to trade between nations, freedom to learn and to teach. It is imperative to continue to enhance our society. It is of upmost urgency to open up now. For we will have a strong standing based on our liberty, and we will gain a wider pool of intellect: not just our people, but all that we can ever know"

"What good is our democratic value if we become bland and dull? What good is it to bask in our superior values when the chances of improvement dimish? In order to continue a rapid stream of progress, we must open up and learn from others, in addition to being a teacher ourselves. A teacher in the civilized ways of liberty, a professor instructing on equality. We hold a most prestigious place in this universe. If we are as exceptional as the isolationists claim, let us spread our ideas, which are clearly superior"

The chamber let out a roar of applause, mainly from internationalist lawmakers, but also from a trickle few isolationists, respecting her opinion as very much a valid one that could stand against their logic.

Speaker: "Thank you, Senator. We now pass to another fellow member for the debate"

Once again, the roulette of chance, of speech, rolled forward. Now it was the turn of Senator Aikar Lekled, from the Vonmisian Core world of Jip. The temper of her species was known, but she was an exception. For this, she was an outcast in her childhood, always quiet, calm and reserved. From a poor, working family, she had grown to be a successful banker and stock market investor, thus being very wealthy, and an example for success in her homeworld. She was elected to the Senate, as she genuinely cared for the people. Some called her corrupt, but, through the lens of the omnipotent OOC creator (Me), she's clean and somewhat idealistic. Odd, I know, but I pull the strings, so, shut it.

Speaker: "The Speaker recognizes the Senator from the system of Jip"

Aikar Lekled: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker"

"Fellow members of this chamber, I must ask you: what is a fundamental rule of economics? Trade is essential to an economy. The freer it is, the more an economy grows"

"In general, the wider the market is that a civilization has access to, the greater the resources, the greater the trade. And if we open up our markets to those around us, we will gain access to theirs in return"

"I hope we can all agree that growing our Empire's finances is optimal. Free trade, and more of it, creates economic growth. We should not bother with the differences we might share with another state in this galaxy. Instead, the standard of life of our citizens should be prioritized before any other"

"The economy, in a near or distant future, shall eventually stall. We will reach our limit on our own. We have a massive market in our Empire, but, as trade and growth are bound to increase forevermore, there is always a limit, a peak that we can reach if we are limited to a specific area"

"It is our duty, and our responsibility, to ensure the continuing innovation and financial growth of our beloved nation. It is time to the test the waters. We must, or our posterity will stagnate eventually"

Speaker: "Thank you, Senator. We now pass to another fellow member for the debate"

This continued on for the remainder of the session, which lasted hours. Moments of confrontation surfaced, as was expected of such a controversial bill. But, the Senate decided in the evening. And what did it decide?

Yes to foreign relations.