Yuri Orlov had remained silent as he listened to the rest of the delegates speak, responding with a small smile and a slight bow of his head each time one of them mentioned him directly, or made reference to something he had said in his speech, and had continued taking notes on his portable communications device, when someone of those present made an interesting observation or statement.
The Magister scratched his chin thoughtfully once everyone had finished speaking. He understood Mrs. Abonwood's fear that an assumption of a Corsair protectorate in Theta would cause more conflict, now with the Outcast, no doubt they were not going to be happy with something like what was being proposed being signed. In the same way, he agreed with Dr. Holliday that the Zoners were not interested in any conflict with the Outcasts, because the fight with them was an exclusively Corsair problem, of purely historical origins. However, it was obvious that no decision made at that summit was going to make everyone happy. Orlov knew that pleasing everyone was something that was most desirable for a diplomat, but he was also aware that it was rarely possible. Normally there would always be someone who would felt damaged and disadvantaged by any of the choices that others could approve and, when that reality was accepted, the best way to decide correctly the best option, was always to evaluate the damage that was going to be caused with it.
If they accepted the conditions of the treaty there could be problems in the future with the Outcasts as a result, yes, it was a plausible scenario, but the crude reality is that currently the Theta Zoners already had an extremely serious problem with the Corsairs. A violent conflict that was exhausting them, that was not leaning in their favor despite all the efforts invested, and in which they also were completely alone. This war was something that they necessarily had to end, as soon as possible, especially taking into account the Outcasts seemed like they had become completely disinterested about Zoner cause once they have achieved their personal goals, and that no other local powers seemed willing in participate on their side.
On the other hand, the Corsairs not only seemed to want to agree on a ceasefire, but showed real interest in ending the conflict completely, offering long-term conditions of friendship and mutual prosperity. Furthermore, in his previous intervention, the Magister had made several amendments to the points of the treaty presented by the Executor, and the truth was that he had been quite surprised to see how Francisco Javier had accepted them in their entirety, even with good grace. Orlov had clinically scrutinized Corsair's face carefully, trying to observe some kind of involuntary gesture that would reveal some hidden intention, or at least some repressed anger, but he had been unable to see anything. There didn't seem to be any falsehood in his words, nor in his actions, so Yuri had to assume that that man really wanted to do what he said, and for the reasons he said. Finally, and as an important personal positive point to Orlov, it had to be added that the Corsairs had favorably received the idea of making a collaboration against the Nomad aberrations. Both the Executor de Creta and Cesar Gutierrez had recognized the seriousness of the Nomad threat, and had expressed their commitment to coordinate with the Pontifical Guard Navy in defense operations.
Obviously, he was well aware that no one does anything out of pure altruism, except perhaps the people at the MFE, but at least the Corsairs had never tried to hide their personal interests at that summit. Ending the war with the Zoners was clearly good for them, so they could focus on their other enemies, and a military protectorate on Theta would imply a step in their favor in their eternal war with the Outcast, but the reality is that that mattered very little to Orlov. The only thing that interested him was that both parties would immediately benefit from the agreement, that the conditions demanded by the Corsairs were, in his opinion, acceptable, and that the New Covenant Church could once again dedicate itself full-time to its Sacred goals. He didn't need more to know what was the best decision he could make.
The Magister waited for Francisco Javier de Creta to finish signing the document, drank a little from his glass of water and addressed those present. "Ladies and gentlemen, I think we should congratulate ourselves, at least for the way in which we've carried out this meeting." Orlov paused briefly as he looked affectionately at all the attendees one by one. "We've started with certain tensions, on the other hand logical, given the circumstances, but we've managed to overcome it, and do our job. We haven't disappointed the people who have placed in us their trust, and their hopes about a better tomorrow."
Yuri joined his hands, and paused again for a few seconds, staring at the table, searching for the right words to express what was clear in his head. Then he raised his gaze to the others again. "I'm aware that we're at a crossroad, a complex crossroad, in which none of the paths offered in front of us are completely safe. However, these paths are the ones we have, and there are none more." The Magister looked at Mrs. Abonwood, Dr. Holliday, and Administrator Voncloud. "In front we've what the Corsairs present to us. Most of the points predict positive consequences for Theta, and probably for all the Omicrons and part of the Omegas, but it's true that there are certain aspects that we don't know what they will cause in the medium and long term. I think it's a feeling shared by all Zoners here that we prefer not to offend the Outcasts because we don't want to have problems with them, but at the same time we cannot continue with the current situation. We're now on the path to our own destruction."
Yuri pointed to the Corsair delegation, still looking at his Zoner interlocutors. "Our current enemies offer us peace. A peace without surrender and without humiliation. A peace that can be understood between equals, based on mutual reparation and support. A peace that makes us all prosper." The clergyman smiled bringing his hands together again. "Yes, the Corsairs are now our enemies, but not so long ago they were our friends, and the reality that I see is that now they sincerely want to be again. And why not? Here we've seen that some of their interests fully coincide with ours, mainly in terms of stopping killing each other and focusing our efforts on achieving a better future for all." Orlov made a demonstrative gesture with his left hand. "As for Corsair interests that don't agree with ours... Do this really affect us? We aren't going to be their military allies in their campaigns, we will not have to be enemies of their enemies, but nevertheless the Corsairs do offer to defend us from those who want to harm us. I don't know about you, but this is something perfectly acceptable to me."
The Magister made a gesture of disinterest with his hand. "The truth is that I've nothing in particular against the Outcasts, and I think that it couldn't even be considered that they've deceived us by abandoning us in this war, it was clear that they would only support our cause as long as it was in accordance with their personal objectives. But then, why all the fuss? What is owed to the Outcasts?" The clergyman repeatedly tapped his finger on the table, to make his point. "By abandoning us to our fate alone to face the Corsairs, they have placed us in this desperate situation. I think that anyone who isn't a complete hypocrite will understand that we now do what we've to do to guarantee our security, and our way of life."
Yuri looked around those present again with a serious expression. "In my humble opinion, I think the time has come to think about us, the inhabitants of the Omicrons. It's time to make the effort to leave the past behind, and think about the future we want for our people." Orlov looked back at Jerard Voncloud, and smiled him sympathetically. "I know that this is a difficult effort, I know that it requires fighting against our instincts, and our anger, but it's an effort that we've the duty to make. All of us who are here are leaders of our respective communities, and must remember we owe ourselves to them and their interests, not ours."
The Magister opened his arms to others. "Dear delegates, today we're required to make a decision that will affect the lives of many people. I ask that when deciding, you keep in mind what these people more urgent needs are right now, taking into account the situation in which we find ourselves. To me, it's pretty obvious: a future as far as possible from massacres like the one we're experiencing, where we try to treat each other as human beings, human brothers. Will we achieve it by signing this treaty?" Orlov shrugged, while smiling. "I don't know, but I'm sure that if we don't sign it we won't achieve it. Therefore, I'm willing to risk checking it out."
Yuri Orlov took his electronic pen as he turned on his portable communications device, opening the digital bio-neural signature document. He scrolled with his finger to the end of the document, and signed with his name, adding below his status as delegate. Then, he approached to the screen of the device his ring with the electronic seal that His Holiness had given him for the occasion, and digitally stamped the Pontifical Seal, next to his own signature.
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