“That is not how our members feel about the United Intergalactic Coalition,” asserted Tolstoi Remu.
“You claim to respect the rights of stable autonomous worlds,” said Kazar. “Yet, you are threatening to destabilize ours so that you can topple our government.”
“What are you suggesting?” asked Tolstoi Remu, suggesting her hands were tied on the matter.
Emperor Hiron saw the door that Kazar opened, saw the opportunity before him, and he capitalized on the opportunity. “We need aid in the form of funding.”
“That’s preposterous,” said Tolstoi Remu.
“To provide fiscal aid to the Feng Empire would be like personally funding our enemy,” snickered Bobot Tegrit, who until this moment sat silently, listening to the exchange.
“You claim to want to strike an accord in the name of peace,” pressed Emperor Hiron. “Yet, you drafted terms that would lead to a hostile takeover of the Feng by your United Intergalactic Coalition. This is just another contrived…no, engineered, nation-building exercise.”
“I can assure you that this is not our intention,” said Tolstoi Remu.
“I have already admitted that we are not the empire we used to be,” said Hiron. “Vice Executor Kazar indicated to you that our government is on the verge of implosion. If we agree to the rems of this accord, then we need to be given the means to succeed as a non-aggressor world.”
“He has a point,” said Martin Rayban, drawing dirty looks from the others around the table.
“Let us recess to consider your proposal and reconvene at a later time to continue negotiations,” said Tolstoi Remu. Everyone around the table, reluctant to agree to this idea of fiscal aid to the Feng, nodded their enthusiastic agreement to recess.
“I look forward to your response,” said Emperor Hiron, failing to mask his sarcasm.
The holographs of the foreign ministers vanished into thin air, and the conference room was once again private and secured by the Feng digital firewalls.
“I cannot believe they are actually going to consider rendering fiscal aid,” said Kazar, incredulous.
Hiron considered his vice executor carefully. The man appeared to be a little too open to negotiating with the United Intergalactic Coalition. His admission of the possibility of governmental collapse to a council of Barberoi was borderline treason.
However, Emperor Hiron was pleased with this development, but for a different reason than his vice executor. Hiron had no intention of bowing to the United Intergalactic Coalition. If he played his cards right, he would lay the groundwork for Operation: Catalyst, in which case the bloated, stretched thin United Intergalactic Coalition would be in danger of implosion.
“You laid the foundation for my request for aid,” said Hiron, clapping a massive hand on the smaller man’s shoulder. “You have done well.”
Kazar beamed at the praise from the emperor.
“Now you must leave me to my thoughts,” said Hiron, standing up. “I have much to consider.”
Kazar rose, too, and bowed deeply. He left the room, leaving Emperor Hiron alone to calculate.
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
Colony Down: Battlefield Mars Book 2 Page 18