Xi Peace Summit

[Ravenna Nagash]

Ravenna's face remains expressionless, her eyes sizing up her opponent. She proceeds in a neutral tone, while slowly shaking the ice cubes in her whiskey-filled glass.

Debating about sovereignty will get us nowhere fast.

She gestures towards Eduardo Montalban.

You also similarly know that we've made incursions in Beta and Alpha before, without the need of any base. Logistically, we can re-supply our fleets in Xi and move just as effectively into your territory. We don't need a station in order to mount attacks against you, if this was our intent. Similarly, Deterrence can contact other allies. I'm sure they'd be more than willing to accommodate us for that purpose. If I recall, isn't Akabat very close to the Beta Jump-hole? Not to mention, you are fully aware, that there are alternative methods to reach you directly, if necessary, by-passing any blockade.

She concludes with a dry half-smile. A small sip of the whiskey in front of her, she begins her next point patiently.

Outcasts and Corsairs not being able to transit between Xi and Beta would also be impractical. It would require enormous effort on both parts, as well as maintaining a proper blockade on each side, in order for us to enforce such prohibition. Having to dedicate and hold down a sizeable force to a single area is not strategically sound. I suggest that we keep the freedom of movement unrestricted and instead - to establish proper protocol of conduct within that space. In my experience, any congregation of ships leads to unnecessary escalation of tensions. The purpose of this meeting is to avoid that.

Furthermore, I would like to remind you that any agreement that we come to here will be between Deterrence and the Malta Hyperspace Starfleet. As mentioned, we do not speak for every other Corsair faction, nor do we wish to. Similarly, you cannot promise that every Outcast out there will follow whatever deal we come up with.

But let's not get distracted from the task at hand. Having anticipated such possible turning point in our discussion, I've already drafted a potential treaty that outlines common contentious points that either side might have.

She snaps with her fingers and transmits a digital document on Leon and Eduardo's screens.

Please, do take your time to review and let's discuss any points you might have. I trust this agreement would alleviate any concerns on both sides.

She turns to Leon with a slight apologetic smirk and points to a little engraved tobacco box. As she lights herself a hand-rolled cigarette, she asks innocently:

I hope that's not a breach of any of your station's regulations?

She takes a small drag and shakes her glass in a rhythmic circular motion, while waiting for her counterparts to review the treaty. The ice cubes make a satisfying sound inside the amber-colored liquid.

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Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.