Council of the Corsair Elders

[Carlos_Benitez]

Carlos listened to the Elders who had already made their opinions regarding the Reyes familia known. He then stood up and spoke.

"Senors, I was one of the Elders who where shot down by these people, and luckily survived to tell the tale.
It became clear that the fighting with the Reyes was causing considerable damage to the nation, and so I brokered a deal with them stating that they would cease all disrespectful actions if I allowed them to adress the Council. This is a deal I intend to hold them to in the future.
However, as has been made very clear by mi amigos around this room, allowing their actions thus far to go unpunished would make a mockery of our leadership, and our entire nation. It seems clear that the Council believe these men must be made example of.
I can also understand how the request made by the Reyes representative has offended many of you. These people are certainly ambitious, but their actions thus far clearly speak louder than any well written speech, and to grant them a seat here in spite of what they have done would devalue the achievements of each representative that sits here today."

The elders listened intently, afew nodding occasionally, others exchanging whispers.

"Despite the damage they have done, and the insulting and disrespectful behaviour of their pilots towards mi familia, and myself, I do recognise something of myself in their familia. As mentioned by Elder Alexa, not long ago (although despite our best efforts) politics and fate lead to my family sitting in a similar situation as the Reyes do today. Few among this council today would dare suggest today that alienating our familia was not a mistake."

A couple of elders exchanged glances, but remained silent.

" We are stronger because we have learned to stand together as equals.
I can empathise with the Reyes familia, but I cannot condone or dismiss their conduct. The difference between our familias is that they have found themselves in this situation out of self-righteous aims and a consequentialist philosophy that the end they might have achieved would justify the means they employed.
They chose this path when they turned on their bretheren, and now, inevitably, they must face the consequences.

I must therefore vote against appointing a Reyes representative to sit on this council, and cautiously vote in favour of exile of these pilots from the core of Corsair space, at least for the time being.
I hope that they can remain fierce warriors and channel their fury into doing some good at the fringes of our empire. Hopefully, life on the front line, living in fear of the Bretonians and Rhinelanders will teach them some humility, and they can one day return with their honour restored."

Carlos sat down, his vote cast, and watched the reaction of the Council.

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