Fiction:Ballatay

"A talented diplomat has many masks. He is a peacemaker, warmonger, hero, villain, good samaritan, and thief wrapped up into one."

- Prince of Ballatay

Vavi Deruno (born 2735), officially referred to by his full title as Vavi of House Deruno, Marquis of Ballatay, Sixth Prince of Rusha, Foreign Minister of France, or by his taken diplomatic pseudonym of Prince of Balatay''', is a Filbere diplomat currently serving as the French Foreign Minister. An accomplished statesman, administrator, and negotiator, Ballatay served for thirty years in the Filbeer Kingdom, surviving the transition or overthrow of four monarchies and two dynasties until he was finally exiled by the third in 2797. He was appointed Foreign Minister of France by President Maxime in 2801. With the Gigaquadrantic Conflicts escalating by the day, he immediately embarked on a diplomatic tour of the Gigaquadrant to strengthen France's alliances and forge new ones.

Ballatay's reputation as a charismatic and fair negotiator hardly do credit to his abilities. He has described himself in private as a machiavellian with many faces, donning one or the other to fit the needs of the situation. This has allowed him to worm his way into many social circles and learn more than he probably should. His most dangerous attribute is the fact that nobody knows––not even his allies––what his true face is.

Early Life
Ballatay was born on Catana VI, the capital planet of the Filbeer Kindom, the sixth child to what was then the royal family. As he grew up, he was schooled in the arts of war, diplomacy, and art by the finest tutors, though was forced to flee at the age of twelve when his eldest brother's rule was overthrown by a rival family. He was taken in and fostered by his uncle, who sheltered him despite the danger he posed to the new monarchy as a claimant to the throne. Surviving assassination attempts and the betrayal of numerous friends, Ballatay grew to appreciate deceit and learned how to find it in others.

As a young man, he made a name for himself by storming into the throne room of the Filbeer ruler who murdered his brother. Rather than facing the usurper or defying him, Ballatay astonished everyone by kneeling and announcing that he would hide no more: he was relinquishing his claim to the Filbeer throne and placing himself into the servitude of the monarchy. The monarch accepted his oath of fealty, and thus began Ballatay's thirty years as a servant to the Filbeer throne, no matter who sat in it. He quickly made himself invaluable as a formal advisor and emissary and was able to retain his position through the transition of four rulers by keeping a foot in every pond of Filbeer politics, sometimes turning his coat at the last minute to fall in line with the victor. Finally, in 2797, Ballatay made a mistake and a vengeful usurper of the Filbeer throne banished from the kingdom.

Foreign Minister of France
Ballatay spent much of his early exile on, wearing out his welcome with what friends he had left as well as making new ones within the French government. In 2801, he heard through the grapevine that President Maxime was in the process of selecting a new foreign minister. This seemed to pique his interest, as he had his candidacy slipped into the long list of hopefuls through his connections in Maxime's office. Unexpectedly, he was chosen for the position and, after meeting with Prime Minister Valéry, he embarked on a diplomatic tour of the Gigaquadrant to strengthen France's position in the universe, with the Great Xonexian Schism looming on the horizon.

Starship
Glorious Enterprise
 * Designation: E-02 Glorious Enterprise
 * Type: Excellence-class presidential transport
 * Launch year: 2800
 * Propulsion:
 * Hyperdrive
 * Wormhole drive
 * Participated in:
 * Gigaquadrantic Conflicts

The aptly-named Glorious-Enterprise is Ballatay's official diplomatic transport as Foreign Minister of France. Completed in 2800, it is the only other Excellence-class in existence aside from the presidential transport. The pinnacle of French civilian engineering, it employs numerous advanced systems as well as a wormhole drive bought from the Draconid Imperium. This allows it to travel instantly from one point in the Gigaquadrant to another, which is invaluable to a diplomat.

While not a combat vessel, the Glorious-Enterprise has the capability to defend itself, but will easily fall prey to a dedicated warship.

Appearances

 * Equals (2801)

Quotes
"My dear Prime Minister, there are two Machiavellians in this room and nobody is fooled. Can we at least be honest with one another?"
 * By him

- Upon meeting, 2801

"Now look who’s being dishonest. In bowing, you hide your eyes. I can’t tell if you’re telling the truth. You’re Vavi of House Deruno, Marquis of Ballatay, Sixth Prince of Rusha––the infamous Prince of Ballatay who could as readily make a Basilius laugh as convince a Klingon to agree to peace. You’ve charmed your way into so many circles and survived so many governments that I have to ask––Why? Why come here in your exile?"
 * By others