Fiction:Tertius Bellum/A Serious Summons

Aurestor paced the halls of the Rambo Royal Palace, his eyes darted as an anxiety overwhelmed his mind, looking left and right to catch a glimpse of the Rambo High King. Whatever was on his mind, it was clearly not something ot celebrate. Aurestor strode by ambassador without saying a word, clearly occupied and deep in thought. As he walked by one of the Royal Guards, the guard saluted him in respect. Despite the etiquette of giving a nod, Aurestor did not respond, walking past with no signal of recognition as he continued with his search. Passing another, Aurestor snapped out of his trance and gave a nod.


 * Aurestor - I seek his majesty the high king, have you seen him?

The guard stood to attention and saluted. The guard nodded in appreciation and saluted again. - Rambert was placing back an ancient paper scroll when he saw a movement in the corner of his eye. Aurestor bowed when he entered the chamber, displaying respect for the Rambo monarch.
 * Royal Guard: Your Excellency! His Royal Highness is currently in the private library.
 * Aurestor - Thank you sir. Good day.

Rambert smiled and nodded. Taking a seat at a table his hand gesture indicated Aurestor was welcome to sit as well. Aurestor however remained standing. Rambert raised an eyebrow in amusement. Rising from his chair he proclaimed he was honored and that he had no intention of letting the paragavatus wait.
 * Aurestor - Am I disturbing, your majesty?
 * Rambert: Not at all your Excellency! Please how may I help you today.
 * Aurestor - Pardon me your majesty. I came searching for you as I have news. His majesty the paragavatus wishes to speak to you.

Aurestor opened the door to his office, inside the holoprojector suite installed within had converted his modest office into the paragon's throne room on Alcanti. The door was situated somewhere half way through the hall and at the far end, Rambert could see Maxios sitting with legs open and a dominating presence within the great golden throne. Aurestor made a gesture that Rambert could walk in first, and he would follow in behind. The room was strongly illuminated from the great windows behind the throne, creating a strong rim of light along the structure's edge but masking much of Maxios in shadow.

As Rambert entered he made a slight bow for the Paragavatus. Rambert narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms in front of him, clearly unsure of what the paragavatus was hinting at. Rambert raised his chin in defiance. Maxios straightened himself a as Rambert remained standing still, clearly being uncomfortable. Rambert snorted, obviously by executing the NCR ambassador in public he didn't expect that allied forces would call him upon it. Facing the discontent of his own senate was one thing to deal with but to face the Paragavatus and the Imperium voicing discontent with it as well made him second guess his act.
 * Rambert: ''Hail your majesty the Paragavatus, what a delight and honor to meet with you on this sunny day".
 * Maxios - If only the same could be said for everyone, High King.
 * Maxios - Shadows are being cast. Recent events in the Quadrant Galaxies have spread virally across the internet your majesty, in particular the recent death of one of the New Republic's ambassadors.
 * Rambert: That lizard committed capital treason as the New Republic engaged friendly forces within our sphere of influence.
 * Maxios - Such is the nature of war, your majesty. But as an ambassador to Rambo Nation he would have been operating as an agent of an enemy state. The Imperium may have committed many athrocities in its long life but to execute a foreign diplomet for their involvement in a state of war is something we find grossly abhorrent.
 * Maxios - When you accuse him of capital treason. Is that trason against the Republic, or another party?
 * Rambert: I did what I though was right for my Nation. We warned the New Republic what would happen if they would attack friendly forces at Lianna. They were given the same warning I gave France a few years back. Instead of being smart, Apollo dared to call my bluff.
 * Maxios - The ideological war that grips your cluster is of little conern to me. Who is to blame and for what reason, I could not be less interested. But when you show publicly that in an act of war you would sacrifice foreign emisarries for the sake of a threat of retaliation. When you show that when war comes you disregard even the most base of civilities; that I cannot ignore.
 * Maxios - Every single time I watch that recording, every time I observe it over and over, the message I see is that in the event of war, you would rather sever all ties and burn bridges. The declaration is one where the only resolution is for the enemy to be ashes or begging for mercy they will not be given! Is this how your reign will be marked, high king?

Rambert leaned forward and pointed his finger at the Paragavatus, his eyes seemed darkes as his voice hissed. Rambert looked down, realising the position he placed himself and his Nation in. Rambert nodded. Maxios stood up from his throne and looked down towards the Rambo king. With a scowl drawn on his face, Maxios descended the stairs towards Rambert. Rambert narrowed his eyes. Rambert face turned dark and furious, but knew very well that he made an error in judgement by following Adelheidis suggestion to execute the New Republic ambassador. Someone had to pay for that. Not wishing to make an enemy of the Imperium Rambert reluctantly said the following word.
 * Rambert: It is up to Apollo now, I warned him what would happen if he would awaken my wrath.
 * Maxios - And what he does is of little interest to me as this is his war and not mine. But there were others at the embassy besides the one now dead, were there not? What fates did they suffer?
 * Rambert: None, they are still free and in office your majesty of the Draconid.
 * Maxios - So only the chief ambassador was punished for treason.
 * Maxios - Ever since that act, Aurestor had grown anxious over the lives of our emissaries in your capital. If this is how you are to see the dignitaries of other nations in your home, then perhaps they are safer returning to familiar space.
 * Rambert: Your majesty, with all due respect. How can I convince you that your emissaries are safe.
 * Rambert - I will not be comfortable unless you swear that by the word of whatever you swear by: be it your gods, your position as High King or your ancestors. Whatever it may be, that no foreign dignitary, ambassador or emissary will be allowed to suffer a similar fate, without fair trial, in your borders. That any foreign dignitary is protected from persecution by your state. And that you will respect any reprecussions should you fail to do so!
 * Rambert: Are you threatening me and my people your majesty?
 * Maxios - You threatened every ambassador to your kingdom with your barbaric decision on one life that was not yours to command. For my and other emissaries to feel secure, assurance must be made that this cannot happen again.
 * Rambert: You have my word your majesty that any dignitaries and emissaries will be treated fairly and according to the law before judgement will be given.
 * Maxios - Thank you, your majesty. I shall pass on your word to the Imperial Diplomatic corps. - Maxios turned around after giving a nod of respect, moving back up towards his throne - I am glad we had this time to talk. Is there anything else on your mind?
 * Rambert: Glad that we could sort this matter out your majesty. If that was all?
 * Maxios - That is all, high king. I will allow Aurestor to see you out.

Returning to his throne, he watched as Aurestor made a gesture to join Rambert in walking out of the room, back though the door that materialised halfway down the throne chamber's central aisle. While Rambert returned to his own private office, he thanked Aurestor for hosting him though Rambert himself was furious, slamming his first in a nearby wall he vowed that one day all the enemies of Rambo Nation would bend the knee for him.