There was one constant in his people he thought to himself, Their hot headedness and their tempers. The pain in his side flared up again. Reminding him of pressing matters outside this room.
He raised his voice once more.
"It is not an Aye from me"
He leaned forward, the collective eyes on him once more and he became aware of his status as an outisider in this room. He could see Gentle looking at him darkly, flexing his cut hand. Laowai continued.
"Though it matters nought as i have no vote in this house. - You all know my views, you called me here to hear them, and hear them you have."
He nodded to gentle, who was signaling to someone for another drink. "you have the right to defend yourselves as you see fit - You gentle, state that OTC vessels were stopped and taxed. You will recall if you will, that i myself challenged one of your vessels some time ago, this is because i simply did not know who they were until you informed me, their IFF did not say Corsair, and so it is my responsibility in space to challenge such vessels."
Laowai reached across for the glass of water in front of him. The pain in his side cut slightly and he breathed in to ignore it. "No shots were fired, and as of this moment, i am unaware if your vessel's IFF status, but you must know, that we encounter time and time again traders who will tell us anything to avoid spilling their wallets, i can see why the more ignorant of our brothers made the error in question"
"i do not condone it, i state only that i can see how it happened - it is because i know you, and trust your word, that i have never challenged an OTC vessel again".
"as for the AW, i transmitted a message about that recently, it is not in our strategic interests to allow a safe haven and marshaling area for our enemies a mere one jumphole from Crete.
"but those matters gentlemen, are for Elders, not lowly independents such as myself"
A sharp pain cut through his side and he winced. His expression was noticed by a few at the table who raised questioning eyebrows.
Laowai stood and signaled for his coat from a waiting aide, who scurried off quickly.
"Gentleman, i must take my leave of this council" he said, "recently, i have.... suffered an injury in combat, the prognosis was not good. I'm afraid i will not be able to join you in the skies above Crete again for an indefinite period."
A murmer circled the room. And as he reached back to take his coat the pain cut his side again, he inhaled sharply.
"So as it stands, the weight of my words here are essentially meaningless anyway, if i cannot back them up with blaster bolts"
A small patch of blood had started to appear on his shirt above where one of the wounds he carried was situated. He knew he had to get to an infirmary, and possibly shoot the medic who did the stitching.....
He turned and strode out of the room. Each step burning, but he didn't flinch again until he was round the corner and out of sight of those assembled. He scowled in frustration... and continued down the corridor and out of the building.
