| The Legate's Tower |
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A few moments later...
High Legate Sinclair was enjoying the ball with his wife as they danced with the music. This time he was more careful as he had learned from his mistakes while dancing with the Princess and didn't intend to repeat it. However, he saw Foixon emerging from the crowd accompanied by ... No! That can't be. He didn't have the time as his father was already on to him. The happye couple stopped waltzing around and turned towards the emerging group. "Ah! There he is, the son of a gun. I gotta hand it to ya, you've really made this place into something. I also see you haven't put any weight on ya. Good, I don't want you to become some lazy-ass bureaucrat." "With such I mouth you definitely wouldn't be one." The two shared some laughs and embraced each other. With Sinclair kissing his mother on her cheeks and his father did the same with Rebecca. "How did you come here?" "Well Princess Elena thought it might have been a pleasant surprise if your parents appeared all of a sudden. Besides, you haven't been the most talkative person with your parents as of late..." It was then that Foixon presented his parents, interjecting the old Stoinian's barrage of comments. "Jeff, may I present you my parents. Fixumi and Kiyuni Perushan." Jeff would kiss the hand of Kiyuni, Foixon's mother and proceed to shake Fixumi's hand. To his surprise, the Velpan actually put some force in his grip and it was then that Sinclair released his force conform the Ryccian norms. Fixumi was surprised. This barbarian is adjusting to our customs? How... Surprising.... He seems amiable enough, unlike the rumours I've heard. Fixumi responded kindly, though he may not have meant every word that he said. "A pleasure to meet you, High Legate Sinclair. I must say that I admire the work you put into this place. I'm sure many other Stoinians would have succumbed to the task." "Your people would have had my head on a sliver plate if it wasn't for your son." Sinclair and Foixon shared a smile. It was clear the two had become clear friends, to the surprise of the Velpan parents. Has our son fallen into the Stoinian's grip? Andrew Sinclair then surprised Sinclair about his newest business venture. "Well Jeff, your friends parents are apparently carpenters as well. Perhaps we should bond our businesses together as the first joint Stoinian-Ryccian franchise; bringing peace to the sector, one couch at a time!" The Stoinians laughed at his comical presentation, while the Velpans remained calm and focused. One would expect such a behaviour from a Kaminoan, but Sinclair already deducted that the Velpan couple was sceptical of him and his family. Fixumi replied in a polite manner to Sinclair's father. "The schemes you have shown me have certain merits, but it might be too soon to call a joint franchise at this stage." "Perhaps so, but I'm sure you'll change your mind once you see what me and Foixon put together." Both couples of parents were surprised. None of them had mentioned it before and Sinclair's father was quick to react in his lousy manner as Ferala responded to him. "Nah... Have ya been practicing your carpentry skills son? I knew ya should have stayed with our business!" "Oh, it's quite a work indeed. Perhaps you should all come over and see it yourselves." "Now that is a splendid idea! I'm sure my son can make the necessary arrangements, won't ya Jeff?" Foixon and his parents looked frowningly at the Legate. It was something those Velpans were good at, though Sinclair was still quite amused by their looks when doing it. "I'm sure we can arrange that. If the happy couple would have us over for dinner?" Foixon answered his friend's question positively. "I think we can arrange that. Won't we Ferala?" "Oh definitely! I'll make one of my specials." "Well that's settled then." An aide then approached Sinclair and whispered something in his ear. "Well then ladies and gentlemen. It appears my presence is requested by the Minister Wei. Even on balls matters of state don't seem to escape me. I'll arrange for your transports these evening. I'm looking forward learning to know you all better. Oh and father, please don't embarrass me." "Ha, too late for that son. Ya know it's my job to do that." The Stoinians exchanged some more laughs, some more reserved than others. It was then that the different couples split up and enjoyed the rest of the ball in the young Princess' honour. Later that evening in Foixon's apartment... The young Velpans' apartment was rather luxurious compared to Sheilan standards, though it might have been slightly above average for Daonlathas. Nonetheless, all of the guests were impressed as they toured the apartment. Foixon had come a long way from his home of Sheilan, many would have thought it near impossible, but fate had decided otherwise. The large table seemed a little overcrowded, but the Stoinian couple certainly didn't mind it, if anything it made them even more open. Before dinner was ready the Velpan parents had asked questions on how Sinclair had adapted to Ryccian society. To their surprise, he was nothing like the rumours they had heard. Sinclair certainly seemed civilized and showed strong opinions on certain matters, though they were amiable to his opinions. Then the prize of the evening was ready and dinner was served. Ferala had made a traditional Velpan stew made from Gisall, a chicken-like creature from Sheilan, though it was much larger and juicier than your standard chicken. "My compliments Ferala. Truly delicious. Rebecca will have to give everything in her to top something like this" "Indeed Ferala, maybe I should try this recipe one day. If I may know your secret that is." "Oh, I'll be happy to share the recipe with you. I'm sure you'll be able to master it yourself." It was than that Kiyuni reminisced the days of Foixon's childhood. "Oh I remember the days when we and our sons would come home after a hunting trip with dozens of Gisalls." Sinclair's father was surprised by this answer and wanted to know more. "Really? I thought ya Ryccians looked down upon hunting?" "Most yes, but we Velpans have predatory roots and hunting has remained somewhat prominent on world within the Velpan Rim. Such as our homeworld Sheilan." "Interesting... Well, cheers to hunting then. We Stoinians pride ourselves in those fields. Call it pioneer culture eh?" "Is your homeworld a rural planet then?" Sinclair interjected as he didn't want his father to embarrass his nation. By now he had grown accustomed to be a diplomat. "On the contrary. Louisiana was one of the first thirteen colonies inaugurated by King Iulian the Starwalker. It has become a central planet within the Core Sector of Stoinia. However, our pioneer and frontier spirit has never diminished, hence why maintain certain traditions mostly practiced on rural worlds. Louisiana is famed for its car industry amongst other things. However, if you really want to experience a good hunting trip, you should visit Hyperion. Millions upon millions of Khison roam the many plains there and has become a hunting spot for the entire Star Kingdom." "And what are these Khison like?" "Large hairy cows is their best description. Though their meat and leather are highly prized. We even used its leather to make the couch over there. They travel in large herds as far as the eye could see..." It was then that Fixumi asked surprisingly, to his son's disapproval. "I'm amazed you haven't yet hunted them to extinction yet." "Father please..." "Oh it's quite alright Foixon. We Stoinians have learned from the mistakes on Old Terra and respect nature everywhere. We hunt to provide ourselves, yes, but it doesn't happen without respect. We don't kill for fun and often deliberate whether we take an animal's life or not. Blatant killing hasn't brought us anywhere and contrary to what most Ryccians believe, we sometimes even decide to not take the life of an animal if we don't feel its right. My father can confirm that, he once refused to kill a large and magnificent Lousianan Moose. Tell us more about it father." "Ah yes. I had decide my target from far away. As we travelled to put ourselves in an optimal position we stumbled across this giant Lousianan Moose. When I say giant, I really mean it. That feller was maybe 3 to 4 meters tall and boasted a magnificent pair of antlers. Truly it could have been the prize of a lifetime However, I was awestruck by it and I couldn't bring myself to kill a creature I had just stumbled upon. I had my eyes on another target and it felt wrong to just shoot on something I stumbled upon. It doesn't feel like a hunt then. I'm sure you get what I mean." The elder Velpans were confused. Any Velpan would have shot that giant moose, if anything this was luck at its finest. They couldn't comprehend how the Stoinian would have thrown away this chance, but the older Stoinian was happy to elaborate. Suddenly the old man had shifted from his more comical approach to a more serious tone. One the Velpans did welcome. "I'm not sure I quite understand? You said yourself it was a prize of a lifetime. Why didn't you shoot it?" "Well... Ya see... Once you decide to pick a target you stick with it. Something young Jeff didn't understand back then. That's part of hunting, you don't just shoot whatever comes to your way. You go after a specific animal and go after it. You create a rivalry of sorts and don't change your objective. That's what a hunt is all about." "I think I begin to understand." Although the Velpans didn't fully understand it, they noticed his sincerity. These Stoinians lived with certain codes of honour which were commendable. Not at all as to what Ryccian media has portrayed them to be... They truly are an enigma. The rest of the evening they continued chatting about different subjects such as politics, trade, commonalities between both worlds... And most importantly, the couch made from the Kiyusni wood Fixumi had gifted to his son. Both parents were surprised by the quality and artisanship their sons had put into the craft. They were so impressed that they started to discuss how to improve it and the two fathers started to study their sons' blueprints. To the surprise of the rest, Fixumi had opened up and became more and more amiable with Andrew with each passing second. Andrew's passion for carpentry ran as deep as in Fixumi and both of them started to form a bond of sorts. After spending hours at Foixon's apartment, the Stoinians had decided it was late enough and returned to the Ambassadorial Tower. Not before they had finalized the plans for their joint business venture. To the surprise of everyone but Andrew and Fixumi, they had come to an agreement and Foixon and Jeff would be their first shareholders. Thus Sinushan Inc. was born with their motto; bringing peace to the stars, one couch at a time. Their joint luxury couches would surely create a new wave in the artisan sector on both markets. This was the first time a Ryccian and Stoinian company decided to work together and all of this was possible due to Jeff's work here. Sure it would take a month or so to fill out the paperwork, but the older duo was set with the idea. Sinclair's mission here was becoming a success and he was overjoyed. His joy would however be overturned as Ryccian paparazzi awaited him at the apartments entrance. They shouted many questions such "Will you punch me too Sinclair?" "What are the Princess' stances on the trade between our nations?" "What are you doing here in this apartment complex?". Sinclair knew he didn't have a choice now and before his father could step in and create another diplomatic crisis, he stepped forward with a clear message. "I'm here on a private visit to my Ryccian Advisor. Sadly I won't take any of your questions as of now. If you would please leave me and my Ryccian Advisor alone, it would be very much appreciated. However... I will take this opportunity to announce that I will appear on an exclusive interview on INN. If you have any questions for my, redirect them to INN and I will answer them. Have a good night." Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
Daonlathas, Ryccian Empire
The Caesar Flickerman Show, National Imperial Network Ryccian holovision was extravagant in its style, and the Caesar Flickerman Show was no exception. It was part-political, part-celebrity show in its theme, as Caesar interviewed various politicians and turned their talks into a glitzy show, with a cheery audience and all. Politics in this show was turned into entertainment, and although Ryccians were smart enough to distinguish politics from comedy, this show brought out the “human side” of the politicians, or so it claimed. Besides, it was fun to see. Tonight was an interview like no other. For the first time, a foreigner was a guest for the show. High Legate Sinclair was invited by the NIN to be interviewed by Caesar Flickerman. Due to the fear of ultranationalist attack, security was subtly increased, with Imperial soldiers in “plainclothes” (lol) being placed amongst the audience to keep an eye on any suspicious activity. “Ladies and gentlebeings, your master of ceremonies, Caesar Flickerman!” The show began, and in usual pompous fashion, Flickerman entered the stage, and the audience cheered. ![[Image: sketch-1607142098876.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/157634348949045250/811113553527832607/sketch-1607142098876.png) “Thank you! Thank you! Welcome, welcome, welcome welcome to the Caesar Flickerman Show! Now, in about five minutes they’re all going to be out here, including our special guest. We’ll save the best for last. Are you excited?” The crowd cheered, and it only intensified upon his command. “Let me hear it! Ha ha ha ha ha!” “Our ten-year anniversary! Can you believe it has been that long? How long have I been at NIN? Don’t answer that. Ah ha ha ha. I don’t look that old, now do I?” ”No!” “Good answer. Ha ha ha ha! Now, our first guest is the Senator from…” A plethora of politicians paraded for the cameras. Tonight was no exception. First was a Senator, then a Minister, and then a Governor. Finally, it was time for Sinclair to appear. “Now, our final guest is a special one, and for our ten-year anniversary no less. I have been waiting for this one all night. He is from Stoinia” A few people in the audience were annoyed. Others cheered a bit as he mentioned this country. One person booed. An expert at dealing with crowds, Flickerman tried to use this to steer his own narrative and own the show. “We all have our conflicting views on this country. I’m contractually obliged to not cause a fuss, but I sure wouldn’t try to pick a fight with our special guest. He’s a military veteran, and we certainly saw that a few weeks ago with that fight in the Imperial Academy. Feisty, wasn’t he? I wouldn’t want to gamble my life with this one! Ha ha ha ha! From the planet of Louisiana, you know him as the Fighting Legate, but we know him as Jeffrey Sinclair!” Sinclair entered the stage. The audience stood up to applaud him. Despite the Empire being divided on opinion, most Ryccians were still polite enough to Stoinian officials to grant this basic amount of respect. Besides, due to the harassment of the ultranationalists, Sinclair had earned significant public sympathy with the public, so it was not surprising. “Jeffrey Sinclair! That was certainly quite the fight you put a few weeks ago. I have to say, we were very moved, I think, when we saw you defend your assistant and your children. Barring that frosty incident, how are you finding Daonlathas?”
Deputy Regional Minister of the Planning and Development Agency(March 8-May 19, 2014)
Local Council Member(April 24-August 11) Court Justice of TSP(August 15-December 7)
Sinclair stepped on stage in his full dress uniform hosting a couple more aiguillettes above his right arm as well as the golden Stoinian Stars on his epaulettes. Sinclair had learned to always expect the worst with a Ryccian crowd. He expected to be thrown foul things at him and was pleasantly surprised by the applauding crowd. It was a trick to appreciate the good things in Ryccia and as of late, such pleasant surprises were becoming the norm. Some might have expected Sinclair to come in a more casual attire, but nonetheless he felt he should wear his uniform. He was still representing Stoinia here and her military traditions were essential to it. Sinclair surprisingly showed to be very comfortable with the show's host. He wasn't thrown off-guard by any flying holocameras or other exotic technologies as by now he had grown accustomed to them. Maybe even fond of them.
"Well Mr. Flickerman. My comments when I first arrived here still stand. Daonlathas is truly an inspiring place and I honestly can't wait to see Cornucopia to be like Daonlathas. Though I do miss the green sometimes when looking at all that shiny metal, hence why I filled our Ambassadorial Tower with them!" Sinclair's joke resonated with the audience and even Caesar Flickerman let out a laugh. "As for that fight... I think I have made it clear you shouldn't mess with the family or men of a former Stoinian Marine. Me may seem feisty at times, but we certainly have big hearts. We have to maintain our reputation as the Bulldogs of the Star kingdom. I'm sure you of all people can understand the necessity of keeping a good appearance." Sinclair looked with a devious yet friendly smile at Sinclair. If the holocameras were to capture it, it would have made an excellent humour platform for the Ryccian youth if they captioned it. Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"I see, we have a lot less green. Interesting observation. I suggest you take a vacation to Mahogany. It's a great planet, I assure you"
A few people in the audience cheered. Some of them had gone to Mahogany before. "Ah, I see someone likes Mahogany. I also like it. After all, how could I not like my homeworld? Ha ha!" "Trust me, Sinclair, you'll get used to it. Now, let's take a seat" "So, tell us, Sinclair, where in Louisiana do you come from? What is your homeworld like?"
Deputy Regional Minister of the Planning and Development Agency(March 8-May 19, 2014)
Local Council Member(April 24-August 11) Court Justice of TSP(August 15-December 7)
Sinclair sat done in his couch which was surprisingly comfortable. Though not quite as comfortable as his own creation...
"Well Mr. Flickerman or should I call you Caesar? Louisiana is one of a kind really. Ya see... It's a bit larger than most planets we inhabit in our Star Kingdom. The plant and wildlife is very reminiscing with what little we have here on Daonlathas. Or this so called amazing planet of yours, Mahogany, I suspect. Though the rainfall can be extreme at times, luckily our Neerian engineering prevents from it becoming a burden. Louisiana is a prime example of balance between civilization and nature. While Louisiana is famed for its industry, especially automotive industry, the nature of the planet doesn't pay a price for it. We aim to keep the nature intact on our planets and not to destroy it. In many ways contrasting people live on it as we have massive factory complexes and yet still have cowboy herding nerfs around the plains of the planet." "Personally, I grew up in the suburbs of one of the larger cities there, Jacksonville. Right near the mighty Mississippi river which goes all the way from the highest mountain ranges to the ocean while crossing an entire continent. On those shores I grew in my carpentry family and my father and older brother, John, would take me along on driving trips and even a drag race here and there. Louisiana's automotive industry specializes in muscle cars and our family had its own share of them. But at 10 years old, the Velutarian War broke out and ever since then I vowed to serve my King, country and people since then in whatever way I can. Most of my free time since then I devoted to train to become a Stoinian Marine. And now here I am." Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"I like nature. I'm sure our audience does too. After all, where else are we supposed to go on vacation? Ha ha! That's an interesting balance you have there! Imagine that, cowboys in the capital! That would be hilarious!"
"A soldier and a patriot, I see...so, that fight wasn't just for show, huh? Ha ha ha! You were a marine, I see. Could you tell us more about your service?" "Now these are some interesting words you've thrown at us. Drag racing? Cars? Peculiar terms...could you explain what these are? Since you've mentioned the automotive industry, I'm guessing you refer to a category of vehicles, no?"
Deputy Regional Minister of the Planning and Development Agency(March 8-May 19, 2014)
Local Council Member(April 24-August 11) Court Justice of TSP(August 15-December 7)
Sinclair knew that he could expect such remarks. He personally hated it, but he was here to gain the trust of the Ryccian people and that is what he would do. He continued to smile as he joked around.
"Oh nature is for sure on Louisiana. As for the cowboys... Well... I can't argue with your statemen as we sometimes see them in our cities. Though they are quite the cheerful folk. I'm sure the Vurbentans would find that to their liking." "As for my service... I'm not a man to brag about it. We had to do some things we're proud of and some things we're not proud of. We all answered the Lion's call during the timed it most desperately needed." Sinclair let is sink for a few heartbeats. If the extravagant Ryccian knew anything about social norms within the military, he would know not to further indulge in Sinclair's past. He would try to divert the man's attention to something else. "Well... A car is basically like your flying speeders on wheels. You know those old round objects people used back in the day. Well wheels just help your main part of the car where you sit in to "hover". Albeit through mechanical engineering. You see, we Stoinians prefer to have a sort of connection with the road." Sinclair chuckled at the thought of it. Even a simple meaning as a road may not have much meaning to these people. "It's difficult to describe. Perhaps it would be best to experience it for yourself one day. What do you say? Is a race to drive as fast as possible in a straight line something for you Caesar? I think you might like it." Sinclair gave Caesar a sort of devious smile. Maybe one day Caesar Flickerman would race against him. Sinclair quite enjoyed the thought of that actually. Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"Oh, Mr. Sinclair, we are certainly aware of what a wheel is. Ha ha! Although it is curious to see such...pardon the expression, arcane technology still in use"
"Thank you for the invitation, but that's not my sort of thing. Besides, clandestine racing in Daonlathas is forbidden, so I don't want to burden your country by granting me asylum for diplomatic immunity! Ha ha ha!" In truth, the aristocratic culture of the Core worlds meant that racing was professionalized. Most people would never participate in such acts themselves, but racing shows were popular. You had equestrian racing, luxury speeder racing, and so on. However, in the frontier worlds, this "pedestrian" type of racing was more accepted. "So, your "cars" have wheels that stick onto the ground. Very curious. It seems that you are a people that like nature and the soil very much. How do they fly for aerial transportation? Do they use some sort of special repulsorcraft technology? Do your "cars" use some sort of rocket?"
Deputy Regional Minister of the Planning and Development Agency(March 8-May 19, 2014)
Local Council Member(April 24-August 11) Court Justice of TSP(August 15-December 7)
Sinclair smiled.
"Well... I think we Stoinians have a preference for arcane technology. We just feel more... Connected that way." "Oh don't worry, we have dragstrips dedicated for such a races. Indeed, I wouldn't suggest you go down drag racing on the streets. Could you imagine the headlines?" The crowd laughed at the thought of seeing Caesar drag racing in arcane cars. Sinclair liked it, he enjoyed throwing something at Caesar instead of always being on the "defensive". "Ah... You assume that they can fly... This might come as a shock, but they actually can't do that. They can only drive on land and have no rockets or repulsor engines. And I don't really see them coming anytime soon. It would make for one hefty legislature for our politicians." Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"Well, I don't have the courage to break the law. A speeding ticket would be the least of my worries! Ha ha ha!"
It was going well. People were warming up to Sinclair. However, when the Legate spoke of the specifications of the vehicle, the Ryccian audience, who had taken repulsorlift technology for granted without hesitation, was shocked at this revelation. The Stoinian ambassador had essentially admitted, although indirectly, that the Stoinians were inferior, at least on technology. This was a known fact by the higher-ups in the government and the savvy news reader who consumed media as if it were dogma to do so. But for the average Ryccian, who was concerned with domestic issues and who saw the Stoinians as a distant curiosity, this was a surprise. Perhaps they had heard a minor headline or two about it on the news, but to hear it straight from the mouth of the Stoinian ambassador on late-night holovision was "revealing" indeed. The more xenophobic share of the interstellar viewership only saw vindication on their beliefs. These Stoinians are truly barbarian scum stuck in the ancient Petroleum Age. To them, it was a miracle that these savages had attained spaceflight in the first place. The more "condescending internationalist" part of the citizenry also saw their beliefs vindicated. These poor souls were barbaric due to their technological backwardness. They require guidance and instruction from the superior and enlightened Ryccian Empire, surely! Flickerman was no fool. He had not been interviewing politicians for years because he was an idiot. Secretly, this entire event had been covertly staged by supporters of closer economic ties between the Ryccians and the Stoinians. Various economic titans had begged or pressured the NIN to make the Stoinians more relatable through interviews like these. This public admittance of inferiority could subconsciously reinforce xenophobic and/or supremacist ideas. He knew his job was to subtly influence public opinion by humanizing Sinclair. That is why he tried to ask him about his career in the military: a heartfelt story of courage and sacrifice for one's friends and family could move even the most fanatical pacifist. It had appeared Flickerman had gambled too much on prodding on this front, for Sinclair seemed reluctant to share these experiences. As someone with zero military connections or experiences, he had underestimated the Legate's trauma. With haste, Flickerman tried to shift the topic to something else. Family, yes, that would do. That could do the trick. He had planned to introduce this topic later in the show, but he had to bring it to the fore to quickly move on from that. "Well, tradition is important. Just like in every society, the family is a crucial tradition that everyone cherishes. Your parents, your grandparents, your children, and even the in-laws! Such fun and love for sure! Ha ha ha! Say, speaking of family, Sinclair, could you tell us a favourite anecdote of yours regarding your family?"
Deputy Regional Minister of the Planning and Development Agency(March 8-May 19, 2014)
Local Council Member(April 24-August 11) Court Justice of TSP(August 15-December 7) |
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