Vagrancy

[Kazinsal]

"The Crayterians made us a deal."

Harold Kane, Minister of Relations, stood before three of his four co-ministers in the strategic planning room aboard the OCS Repentance. The fourth, Minister Delacroix of Intelligence, was preoccupied with replacing equipment and securing short-term supplies through his contacts at Barrier Gate Station, where the Octavarium Fleet was temporarily moored.

"They're offering complete autonomy for our people as the first non-Crayterian member of a new federal republic in their space. And, regardless of whether or not we accept, humanitarian aid for our people and a place for Aquila to effect repairs on our ships."

There was silence. Kane brought up the Crayter Republic's drafted agreement on the display table.

"Fully autonomous governance, mutual defence, open use of Crayter installations, full Republic residency for all our people. And, most importantly, an opportunity to help colonize a planet located away from the Gallic fleet. Borneo. Tau-44. It'll be open to settlement by all members and allies of the Crayter Federal Republic."

Florence Clemens, Minister of Engineering spoke up from across the table. "So we'd be Crayterians, then?"

Kane met her eyes with his. "No," he asserted. "We are, and always shall be, Octavarium. It doesn't matter what colours people think we're flying. I told the Crayterians as much. We are Natio Octavarium, not Crayter. We would just be allied with them, working in mutual interests. Their laws, social programs, diplomacy, all nearly perfectly compatible with our own. And I've been assured that we have autonomy over our diplomatic affairs so long as they don't cause harm to the other members of the Crayter Federal Republic -- currently just the Crayterians themselves -- and their people."

He looked over to Minister of Finance, Tobiah Nitzan.

"This is the kind of change that defines a turning point in a nation's history," Nitzan said. "It's not something we should consider lightly at all. But it is necessary to consider it for the survival of our people."

Kane nodded and turned to Minister of Services, Ellen Rey.

"We don't really have any other options," she said matter-of-factly. "But we still need to vote it. And this is a critical nation-level change that will directly the whole of Octavarium, so it has to be unanimous."

The military leader slash face of the nation cleared away the drafted charter from the display table and called up a voting interface. He entered a unanimous requirement to pass, and the other parties present confirmed the requirement as accurate. Each Minister had a simple choice placed on the massive display panel in front of them, yes or no. Their vote would be recorded and archived as soon as they selected their choice.

"Okay. Natio Octavarium to become an autonomous member state of the Crayter Federal Republic. Yea," he said, pressing the affirmative response on his side of the table.

Immediately, his response buttons changed to a green checkmark, and at the same time, the absentee vote from Minister of Intelligence Victor Delacroix appeared to his right. Yea.

Rey looked for a long moment at Kane's face before closing her eyes and exhaling slowly. Her hand came down on the display slowly, and as she released it, the voting panel switched to a green checkmark. "Yea."

Clemens submitted her response almost instantly after Rey. A green checkmark appeared. "Yea."

Kane nodded silently and looked to his left.

Nitzan looked down at his panel for nearly half a minute in silence before bringing his hand down and speaking. "It's the only way our people are going to survive. At this rate, Gallia will not rest until they've crippled Sirius, or worse. Small nations like ours are the easiest targets for extermination. They blockaded us into Kansas with a pair of Valors. The weight of the Crayterians might be just enough to keep them at bay, but a publicly known and recognized military and national alliance? That could force them to reconsider." The green checkmark appeared. "Aye."

The center of the display table proudly flashed two simple words that would change the future of Natio Octavarium forever.

Vote passed.