ic Praetorians: A Paradigm Shift [IC]

[Thevshi]

GM

 

Kinarr Khan gave the Praetorians a small smile at their condolences. "I do appreciate your condolences Praetorians, I am also fully aware that there are many who will rejoice at my father's passing." The Kahn focused his gaze on Moon-moth, giving the Lanturian a small nod. "Any hardship faced by my house is entirely a result of my father's choices and policies. But I am honored by your kindness."

 

The young Khan then focused back on Traveller, as she suggested escorting him and his entourage first to the Praetorian's headquarters on CoVic Station, before any appearance before the Coalition Council. "Of course, Praetor Shashikala. I have full faith in you and your fellow Praetorians."

 

In short order, the Praetorians and Science Officer Rex-01 were back aboard their shuttle craft, while the new Star Khan, Ambassador Malor and Justicar Vor'an (whose weapon was still in Traveller's custody) boarded one of the Khanate shuttle craft. The flight to the hangers in the Praetorian headquarters was short, but even so, by the time the shuttles landed, the Praetorians had received communication from Paradigm that Imperator Th'emme wanted the Khanate ruler and his delegation brought immediately to the Coalition Council chambers.

 

Seresk and Magnatar were waiting in the hanger, to join the group as they made their way out to the Main Plaza of the station, passing by the various embassies and other buildings associated with the various worlds of the Coalition. While news of the Khanate cruiser's arrival had been spreading among the inhabitants of the station, thankfully any news of a Khanate delegation's arrival had not (let alone that it included the new ruler of the Khanate). So, the trip was rather uneventful as the Praetorians and Khanate delegation arrived at the Council chambers.

[Gizmo]

The collective murmurings and low conversation of the assembled delegates added up to a veritable wall of sound, echoing about the circular chamber with its multitude of layered platforms. News could be very briefly kept from the station's population at large but with so many political interests represented and employing agents, informants and telepaths there was no keeping secrets in this room.

 

This was not the first or even the tenth time a potential successor of one kind or another had emerged claiming leadership of the fractured and diminished Khanate since the Incursion but the revelation that this was a a progeny of the Star Khan himself had sent an electric jolt through the representatives. Some came from cultures that gave such familial ties great deference, others recognized what that perceived legitimacy might be able to achieve amongst the Khanate's disparate elements. Some considered Star Khan a traitorous collaborator while others viewed him as something adjacent to a martyr, another victim of the Communion's swath of destruction. Others still had reasons to hold a grudge that predated the space station within which they stood and having been denied the chance to avenge themselves against Star Khan perhaps saw an opportunity for the next best thing.

 

If any of weighed on her mind the perfectly composed expression Diena Th'emme wore betrayed no hint of it. Dressed in a blue-greed pantsuit tailored to evoke the traditions of fallen Lor-Van while remaining ultra-modern in the more cosmopolitan current trends the dark-skinned Lor woman simply raised a single hand as the Khanate delegation entered and the noise around her faded within moments. Placing her fingertips together before her she looked down from her personal platform nodded graciously to the rest of the Council before turning to the new arrivals. "Welcome to our perhaps unexpectedly esteemed guests from the Stellar Khanate. While I trust many of my colleagues have pressing concerns to raise we would be remiss not to recognize the humility and consideration with which your delegation has presented itself. We can, then, extend a similar courtesy in offering the opportunity to explain the reasons for this petition." With typical deftness the Imperator forestalled the more aggressive councillors while firmly reminding their visitors to continue to be on their best behaviour. "The Council recognizes Kinarr Khan of the Stellar Khanate." She gestured for the young man to approach the podium in the centre of the chambers.

[Tiffany Korta]

The Traveller

Just before they had entered the council chambers Sitara gently stopped Justicar Vor'an for a moment.

 

“Here you’re his protector and you wouldn’t be doing your job if you didn’t have this…” she passed him back the Power Staff “If this is going to work we need to take a chance to trust each other!”

What she failed to mention was that she’d quickly patched in a kill switch, if anyone tried to use it on the council she could quickly shut it down before trouble could start. She might be willing to trust them but only so far, she’d seen her share of betrayals in the past and wasn’t willing to see another.

 

“What do you want to bet that this all involves the Praetorians getting in danger again?” she whispered to her nearest college after getting into position as part of the honour guard “I swear some deity or other loves to see us struggle!” she added with a touch of mirth.

[Exaccus]

"To struggle is to live, peace and repose are of the grave." Moon-Moth mumbled without pretense "that our troubles were less...enormous and had less wide reaching consequences would be pleasant however indeed." He admitted as he stroked his antenna back into a more formal arrangement.

 

The coalition council was always a stressful thing for myothizar, with its noise and fury, it's diversity made it strong but also cacophonous and discordantly loud with it's frictions between member worlds

 

"After this, I think I will return to my meditations for a few weeks."

[Thevshi]

Paradigm

 

Justicar Vor'an took the offered power staff with one hand as he gave Traveller a small nod. "Thank you Prator Shashikala." He replied, before using his free hand to reach up and pull back his hood and the remove his helmet. Vor'an was a young Zultasian, appearing to be close in age to Kinarr. He met Traveller's gaze as he continued. "You have my word that I will only use it here to defend my Khan. I understand you likely have little reason to trust the word of a Justicar, I intend to prove that you can trust mine." He then moved to follow after the new Star Khan.

 

Paradigm had been waiting on the lower level of the council chambers when the Praetorians arrived with the young Star Khan and his entourage. The Praetorian leader had been meeting with Imperator Th’emme during the time the inspection of the Khanate vessel had taken place, and remained at the council chambers while the new Star Khan was led to the building. Her yellow eyes briefly regarded the young Khan and those accompanying him.

 

The small Khanate delegation stopped at the edge of the lower level of the Council Chamber, as they awaited to be acknowledged and granted leave to speak. When Imperator Th’emme quiette the commotion with in chamber and then greeted the young Star Khan and provide formal recognition for him to speak before the council, the young Zultasian moved forward to the podium located at the center of the chambers.

 

As Kinarr Khan moved forward to the center of the chamber, he looked up at the gathered Coalition representatives before focusing on Imperator Th’emme. The young Khan resembled his father, tall, with grey-blue skin, high cheekbones and a flowing mane of white hair and tapered ears. However, unlike Kinan Khan, Kinarr’s black eyes did not have the same cold and cruel gaze.

 

Stopping at the podium, he gave a slight bow of his head before looking back up. "Imperator Th'emme, other great and distinguished representatives of the Republic and Coalition worlds, I thank you for your gracious welcome and am honored to have the opportunity to speak before you, I will seek to not waste your very valuable time, as was done not so long ago by representatives sent by my father." The young Khan began. "I recognize that there have been decacycles of hostilities between our worlds and nothing I can say today can erase that history, much of it from before I was born. But I hope that each of you listen with an open mind and give fair consideration to what I have to say."

 

"During the Incursion, I had not yet reached the age of majority, but I still led a small contingent of Khanate forces that joined the Coalition. I will not attempt to claim false valor with regard to my efforts against the Communion, which pale in comparison to those of so many in this very room, but I made what contributions I could to the effort, as did countless other beings from across this sector. Following the defeat of the Communion, I watched as your worlds and citizens moved forward in rebuilding from that terrible event, working together for the betterment of all."

 

"As one of the honored representatives of this assembly so correctly pointed out to one of my father's ambassadors several cycles ago, following the incursion, the Khanate was afforded an opportunity to move forward in a better direction. I am sorry that I was not in a position then to have prevented those elements within the Khanate entrenched in the old ways from maintaining control over and assisting my father in regaining enough of his health to launch the ill-advised attempt to restore the Khanate."

 

"But now, my father is dead, and I have ascended to rule as the new Star Khan. Now I am in a position to seek change. So, I stand before you, unarmored, unarmed, expressing my desire to enter into formal peace agreements with the Republic and all Coalition and allied worlds. To those worlds represented here that were once part of the Khanate, I hence forth renounce any claim, while fully acknowledging that such claim was only ever based on the brutal conquest of my father. I wish to open the boarders of the Khanate to free trade with your worlds, so that the citizens of the Khanate may join the citizens you represent in working together to create a better future for all."

 

The young Star Khan paused a moment, as murmurs began to spread throughout those gathered in the chambers. But he quickly continued, stepping forward a pace or two.

"Finally, there is one last matter, one that is by no means the least for me. I have also come to ask the mighty Paradigm for her hand in marriage." Kinarr turned toward the Praetorian leader, taking a few steps forward and dropping to one knee as he continued. "Amara Val-Ren, your deeds are those of legend which echo across two millennia. During the Incursion, you and your fellow Praetorians stood as beacons of hope amid the darkness. Since then, you have become symbols of stability and justice. Your beauty, as majestic and aloof as the stars, has captivated my heart. I ask that you join me in ruling the Stellar Khanate, so that together we may ensure a lasting peace with the Republic and Coalition, and a great and glorious future."

 

Paradigm, who had generally had an impassive expression though most of the young Khan’s speech, was now staring down at the young Zultasian, a look of shock now on her face at his marriage proposal.

[Ecalsneerg]

Galvanic

 

As they led the Khan in to the chamber to speak, Chlo'zel stood off to the side with the other Praetorians. She kept a fairly neutral expression on her face throughout his speech. She didn't necessarily trust the Khanate, even leaving aside her personal acrimony with the Khan's father, they'd long been a problem in the galaxy. But if he was indeed sincere, if he was indeed reaching out, if this was indeed not a ruse, then surely peace was admirable and desirable. Galvanic had never been a soldier. And the open borders... well she'd maybe like to visit some of those worlds peacefully. She heard some of them were truly beautiful.

 

"Peace would be good," she remarked to Sitara and Myoth. "Thinkbelieve he's sincere?"

 

8 hours ago, Thevshi said:

Paradigm

The young Star Khan paused a moment, as murmurs began to spread throughout those gathered in the chambers. But he quickly continued, stepping forward a pace or two.

"Finally, there is one last matter, one that is by no means the least for me. I have also come to ask the mighty Paradigm for her hand in marriage." Kinarr turned toward the Praetorian leader, taking a few steps forward and dropping to one knee as he continued. "Amara Val-Ren, your deeds are those of legend which echo across two millennia. During the Incursion, you and your fellow Praetorians stood as beacons of hope amid the darkness. Since then, you have become symbols of stability and justice. Your beauty, as majestic and aloof as the stars, has captivated my heart. I ask that you join me in ruling the Stellar Khanate, so that together we may ensure a lasting peace with the Republic and Coalition, and a great and glorious future."

 

Paradigm, who had generally had an impassive expression though most of the young Khan’s speech, was now staring down at the young Zultasian, a look of shock now on her face at his marriage proposal.

Chlo'zel covered her mouth, stifling the noise that came out of her mouth with a cough. For a brief moment, her subcutaneous antennae lit up on her forehead, a shocking shade of electric blue that left a crackling whiff of ozone. Dropping her hand, she turned back to look at her fellow Praetorians, so shocked she forgot they didn't actually understand Tempestian. "<<Were they even dating, or has he just turned up and done an unexpected public proposal with a woman he wasn't even courting? During a major political summit? Wrackbeast's den!*>>" Devoid of the context her language sounded like a rapid staccato burst of syllables, clicks, hisses and chirps. 

 

Exhaling slowly, she ran a hand through her hair, waiting to see how the hell Amara was even going to respond to this.

 

*NB: "Wrackbeast's den!" is a metaphor found in the Tempestian language which roughly translates to 'it should be really obvious that this is kind of rude and undesirable.

Edited February 8 by Ecalsneerg

[Tiffany Korta]

The Traveller

It was pretty difficult to surprise Sitara, she had seen almost everything through the centuries, but this one managed to catch her unaware. They’d been so looking out for betrayal they’d missed the obvious idea of a political (love?) alliance.

 

 

“I might join you on that meditation retreat, or hit some dive bar and get blind drunk, again!” she whispered to Moon-moth

 

 

Then with a skill gained through many a night weaving through large crowds (often to reach the bar) to work her way toward the lucky blushing bride.

 

 

“Should congratulations be in order?” she whispered into her boss's ear, it might be a serious political alliance but she couldn’t help but enjoy the moment.

[Exaccus]

This was gonna be one of those cycles it seemed.

 

"Perhaps when we find where the cosmos is hiding it's matchsticks and it stops trying to burn itself down." Moth mumbled in response to travellers offer

 

His observation of the man who would be Khan lead him to believe he was earnest about his intentions at least.

 

Perhaps it was his harsh youth, thankfully romanticism and heroism were the better outcomes of hard life's, more so than cruelty and despair anyway.

 

Ths was not gonna be Juffo-wup.

[Gizmo]

While the council chamber erupted in indistinct explanations and hurried words Th'emme continued to look directly at Kinarr with a politely neutral expression. The only sign that she was surprised by anything he'd said was a slow blink; such was her composure that not even the practiced telepaths in attendance overheard her silently counting to ten. "Well," she replied once the assembled representatives and politicians had schooled themselves back into something close to silence. "Fortunately, each of those... proposals can be addressed individually. And with varying degrees of privacy; obviously by Delaztri custom anyone speaking further on a matter of courtship in a setting such as these chambers would be... well! 'Gauche' doesn't cover it, certainly."

 

One of the representatives from the station's dockhand union helpfully suggested an adjective with which most of the translation methods present struggled. "Graphic and well put, Gaffer. Now, on the subject to trade agreements..."

[Thevshi]

Paradigm

 

Amara Val-Ren had been watching the young Star Khan closely once he entered the council chambers. Years of hand-to-hand combat experience (both when she had first become a Praetorian and since awaking in this era) had taught her much about watching for signs of deceit in an opponent. She had further honed that skill once her position as the leader of the Praetorians had required her to regularly engage in diplomacy and with various intergalactic leaders. The young Zultasian before her appeared very different than his father, although, she would admit that her only experience with Kinan Khan had been after he had been captured and ‘modified’ by the Communion.

 

But still, unless Kinarr Khan was a skilled actor, he did seem sincere about wanting peace. And that was when he had turned to her and asked for her hand in marriage. The proposal was so completely unexpected that Amara could only look at the young Khan with shock for a moment, as she tried to consider the best way to respond in a way that would not offend him or somehow jeopardize the possibility of peace he had just presented.

 

The Naram gave a slight sideways glance as Sitara as she came over and asked about congratulations, clearly enjoying the moment. Thankfully, Imperator Th'emme spoke up, providing the perfect excuse for Amara not to provide some sort of answer right then.

 

Kinarr looked up at the Imperator as he slowly stood back to his feet, holding his hands out to his side and giving a slight bow of his head in acknowledgement of the Imperator’s invocation of Delaztri customs. He looked back at Amara, who gave him a slight smile. "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance Kinarr Khan. We will speak again, after the appropriate time, and in the appropriate manner." She said before taking a step backward with a slight bow, before turning to make her way towards a side exit that led back to the chambers of the representatives.

 

The young Khan then turned back toward the assembly, focusing on the Th'emme. "Of course, Imperator." He responded, moving back over toward the podium at the center of the chambers. "May I present Ambassador Malor, who is prepared to discuss any such agreements in much more detail." He added as the ambassador stepped forward and Kinarr moved back over near Justicar Vor'an.

[Ecalsneerg]

Galvanic

 

Chlo'zel wasn't especially interested in trade agreements. She was sure they were very important and as such much more important people than her should listen to the details. Hovering a few inches over the floor, she shot over towards the side exit, reaching it around the same time Amara did. She whirled to fly backwards, her arms folded and an expectant look in her eyes. "Not to put pressureobligation here, Amara, but..." Galvanic shrugged, unsure what exactly to add to this deeply awkward situation. "Need to be alonesolitary, or need us to attend talks? Or..."

 

Her attempt at looking professional faded, and she leaned forwards, suddenly the gossipy farmgirl from a backwater world instead of a Praetorian that had torn multiple spacecraft apart bare-handed. "Did you expectsee that coming? What... what..." Chlo'zel stumbled over her words. "Just dropped Imperiatrix. Now you add... Queen? Khatun? What's the titlehonorific?"

[Tiffany Korta]

The Traveller

Sitara was only a few steps behind her fellow Praetorian, trade talks never made for an interesting experience.

 

 

“Consort is always a good option, if you’re not big on all those titles!” as serious as it was she couldn’t help but enjoy the moment

 

 

“If you need someone to talk to about this I’ve been married…” she counted out on her fingers “...five times, one of each, was technically a monarch for a hot minute but a lot was going on that day…” she went a little wistful at some very ancient memory

 

 

”But I also get that even if it’s for political reasons, you can’t help but remember all the other people you loved, however, many years have gone by...”

[Thevshi]

Paradigm

 

Amara could not help but smile slightly as first Chlo'zel and then Sitara followed after her, both clearly enjoying the moment considerably. The Naram could not quite blame her two teammates and friends, given how frequently they seemed to deal with situations that could have far reaching consequences for numerous beings, it was something of a change to have something that was not a life-or-death situation, even if still could have far reaching consequences. 

 

"No, I did not see this coming, Chol'zel." Amara answered. "And I am not really sure what the title might be, although I have never really sought any sort of title, save for Preatorian."

 

She glanced over at Sitara as the other woman, as was so often the case, offered some wisdom from her many long years of exploring the galaxy. "As is normally the case, you have far more experience than I do Sitara." The Naram replied. "Since I first joined the Praetorians, I…have never really made any time for any sort of romantic or intimate relationships. Those first five cycles were primarily focused on proving I was not just Daar's little sister." A slightly wistful expression came to Amara’s face as she mentioned her older brother, who had died fighting the Communion over two thousand years ago.

 

"And then since waking up in the current century, there has been so much to do since defeating the Communion there has been little time for much else." She smiled slightly looking back too Sitara and Chol'zel. "I have reached the age where, as a Naram, a decacycle is not really a significant amount of time."

 

Amara let out another small sigh. "But all that aside, it still does not address the proposal at hand. Unless he is a very good actor, Kinarr Khan was being sincere about his desire for peace with the Republic and the Coalition. He did not explicitly tie any such peace to a betrothal, but…" She stopped as they reached the entrance to Imperator Th'emme's offices when she was on the station.