The Red Sun Rising upon the New Horizon

[StaolDerg]

"Indeed," the Austari agreed, tapping the pen back to its inkwell. "I'll see to that a meeting is arranged at some later date. We'll allow them to sort out transport of the materiel. Naturally, I will have to confer with my colleagues in the Homeland Commission to confirm the deal, but I'm confident that a consensus will be reached. But until that point, I think there's plenty of time for us to tie up any thing else we need to discuss."

It was certainly something, at least, the demihuman thought to himself. Some less-dated arms were infinitely preferable than the alternatives of being unarmed and meek in the case of an attack. But the idea of payment worried him- just what would Elenria Horizon pay to keep her ground? Honor, at least for his people, seemed to be a commodity waiting to be used, and he had poor understanding of these foreigners.

[aimway921]

All throughout the interation, Koda has been examining Vayn, and numerous times noticed Vayn examining him. "Vayn-san," Koda finally addressed his suspicion. "I can't help but be overwhelmed by a feeling that there are some uncomfortable questions you wish to as of me, as a representative of Ashigawa. Please - I will try to answer them as best as I can."

[StaolDerg]

Vayn paused at the question, then sighed, setting the pen down, folding his hands again. 

"Ambassador Koga, it would be unceremonious as the host for me to complain about by all means an incredible generous gift that has been extended to my people's nation, and especially so in such trying times. Forgive my own directness, but... the matter is simply that of word from Elenria Proper. Of famine, caused by anti-Kumosenkan elements, with allusion that spurring by agents of Ashigawa were responsible for their arming and radicalization. If only to seat the concerns of myself and my compatriots in the Homebound Commission, what can you tell me?"

[aimway921]

Koga looked down at the table for a bit. This was a topic he certainly would've wants to avoid, but there was nothing he could do to avoid it.

"It is sadly true," he began. "According to the reports we have, an agent was sent out to Elenria in secret by the more radical elements of our previous government, when the previous Emperor was still on the throne, and before the government reforms of the current Empress. They had a vile hatred towards Kumosenkan, same as you and as we still do - however they were too short tempered to await a diplomatic resolution. Their primary goal was to push our nation into war under the pretext of liberating Elenria - a noble goal, except they were forgetting that neither Ashigawa nor the Elenrian rebels are ready for a full-on war with Kumosenkan.

From what I know, the famine was caused by blowing up a train that carried food, when the rebels assumed it only carried Kumo weapons.

Sadly, by the time the Empress, who at that moment was still Princess, found out, it was too late to do anything to avert the tragedy - the agent that the radical elements of our government have sent was long in Elenria, and most likely has already committed the horrid act.

I do not know wether or not the signal has reached you and if you heard the live radio broadcast, but Empress Yuzuru has delivered a public apology on behalf of the entire Ashigawan nation, and pledged to atone for this sin - and many other sins perpetuated by previous rulers of our nation. Last I've heard regarding this situation, a huge ship filled to the brim with food was sent out to Elenria to help revert the famine and keep more lives from being lost, although Kumo government demanded that shipment be redirected to them and they handle it from there.

I unfortunately do not know the fate of the agent responsible. We are hoping whoever it is, they are still alive so that they can stand before public court for their crimes."

Koga took of his glasses as he was finishing telling his side of this unfortunate story, wiped them clean of some blemish he might have spotted with the fur of his fingers, before putting them back on when he finished. The look on his face, the absolute lack of motion in his tail and the way he held his ears made it obvious that he was ashamed for his nation for what it had done.

"To quote the Empress herself - a long path of redemption lies ahead of us. We are only taking the first steps on it right now."

[StaolDerg]

Vayn was quite for a minute, thinking. So Ashigawa was indeed responsible for the deaths of thousands- or at least, for causing the Elenrian rebels into fighting. He wasn't sure if by the rebels he'd meant the FNCAE or the Greatfern enclaves, but with the state of Far-Elenria, he figured it would not matter, given the desperate climate of the Homebound Commission. 

The others in the Commission would never let this go. The old ones especially would almost certainly call the deal bloody.

He thought to honor, and the values he'd been raised with: ideals of vengeance and nobility, of fraternity with home, no matter how far away. By all measures of his honor, he should take the trade deal in his hands and hurl it into the fireplace, demand the ambassador out of Far-Elenrian soil.

He looked up briefly at the solemn attitude of the Ashigawan, considering carefully.

Redemption was too a virtue of honor. Surely the Ashigawans deserved a chance to prove themselves better? Koga had said that the princess had been unaware of the whole plot, but who was he, a foreigner to Ashigawan politics to know? In fact, who was he to believe any of this? No no, better to keep all the doors open, just in case. Better to wait for the agents to report back- well, if they survived the journey, that was.

He wasn't exactly subtle, despite his best efforts. The doubt crept across his face like a dulling sheen across the flecks of scales that raced across his cheeks and forehead as he faced the mahogany of the desk.

"Ambassador Koga, I will be frank. This does complicate matters by a wide margin. I will, well, once again as I have said before, talk with the rest of the national leadership. This... does not mean the deal is off the table, but there will certainly be hesitancies and not by a small number. Nevertheless, I will contact you when all is said and done on the outcome, so that a suitable relationship can be worked out."

[aimway921]

"Please let them know," Koga said in response, "that we are ready to pay for the sins of our predecessors. And working towards preventing future lost lives is how we chose to do it."

With the meeting drawing to a close, Koga stood up and bowed. Those at least slightly familiar with Ashigawan customs would notice, that he bowed deeper than one would bow to an equal, but not as deep as one would bow to a superior.

[StaolDerg]

"Then I will hold you to your word," the Far-Elenrian responded, reciprocating the farewell with drawing his sword and pointing towards the floor. "May you find fortune and success," the Austari declared, sheathing the blade, "and may your people find prosperity and safety."

He motioned to the soldiers, who would guide Koga out and back to his transport.