Council of the Corsair Elders

[Carlos_Benitez]

A pilot stepped into the Foyer of the council chamber, and placed a wrapped parcel on the desk. The clerk sat up, and looked the pilot in the eye.
"A gift for the council." the pilot announced.
The clerk's gaze diddnt break. "From whom is it adressed?"
The pilot replied "It's from the Benitez. They diddnt want to come in person to this meeting. They say that this gift of good faith will speak for them."
The clerk deliberated, and finally accepted the parcel. The words "I'll lay it in the council chamber" met the pilot's ears, and he left.

The chamber was busy. The clerk squose past chatting pilots and Centurions, and laid the package on the platform in the centre of the amphitheatre. He pulled the sheath off of the cube-shaped object, and made his exit.

After some time, the council took their seats. One rose. "I hear the traitorous Benitez family will not be joining us for this meeting."
The Cube, sitting in the centre of the room, un-noticed by most of the elders, burst into life. A lense was revealed on one of it's vertical faces. A laser shot from it, striking the member who had spoken, causing the muscles in his body to momentarily spasm, pushing him back into his seat.
He looked back in shock, but said nothing.

A stream of light shot from the top of the cube, hitting the domed roof of chamber. The green light cascaded over the walls of the chamber, illuminating the entire room with it's piercing glow. Suddenly, an empty quadrant of the ampitheatre was filled with the figures of seated pilots and captains, heads held high and sporting awards and medals they had themselves earned. One, not the eldest of the group of translucent figures, but with a face aged by years of leadership spoke;

"The Talos is in orbit. We, the officers of the Benitez family are seated in our quarters on the mighty flagship, ready to participate in this meeting.
In a past meeting of 2 organisations of our people, order and respect where difficult to come-by. Our cube, whilst facilitating our attendance here, will also work towards ensuring that these hallowed halls not be tainted by the exchange of petty insults.
May negotiations that take place today be beneficial for all concerned. "

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