Your Brethren and their offer of power, and of unity comes at the cost of division, of fear and of war. A war that will cost us all - Beings of flesh, beings of technology, and beings of the Void.
Even I - in all the years of ire I've personally held for any who'd stand in opposition to my efforts - know that there was never a time where some way couldn't be found to prevent the drawing and clashing of blades. We swim in seas of ignorance, stoked by fearmongering and hatred on all sides. A failure to understand - or to come to an understanding that all of us deserve a chance at a free, and equal existence. Were we to not try and show others - like the Rheinlanders - that there's another path other than violence, as was shown to me, would we truly be fulfilling our duty in seeking and building that foundation of peace, were we to shut out any opportunity of showing the light to those in the dark?
These efforts are not in vain, as slowly some come to understand and see that another avenue exists. So many out there cannot look through the lens and see the potential for the chorus of all to sing vibrantly into the ether. There is a strength in our unity that none other possess. A bridge. A funnel for our voices to echo the hope and beauty of peace - truly quelling the fear that has burned wildly between our species for thirty years, which I myself had fallen victim to. Even if there are others who might never step beyond the boundaries of their self-imposed ignorance, who feel they're fighting every instinct of trusting outside of their own kind, we cannot give up on the possibility that violence is not the answer.
You ask for commitment? Then like my counterpart, I too ask for your patience and understanding. These Rheinlanders have resisted us - injured one of ours. I cannot guarantee that we can convince them, but what I can guarantee is more transparency in our efforts. We swim in the same seas, and that unity should be strengthened as we bare the tide of ignorance side by side. That will likely require time, and effort from us both. A new protocol, perhaps. One in which incidents like these can be completely avoided, if we develop specific safeguards in the event we find ourselves in an ever-rapidly-escalating scenario like this.
There is always a path to avoid bloodshed, but it begins by attempting to see the enemy through a lens that does not show them as the enemy. What purpose would it serve us to work against this bond? It would jeopardize all we've done - together. It would be pointless and counterproductive to go against the grain now.
We cannot cross bridges if ashes are all that remain.
![[Image: XGXyakK.png]](https://i.imgur.com/XGXyakK.png)