Custo' had silently watched the representative from the Reyes family with disgust until the holo-projector flickered and shut down. Respectfully he listened to Elder Laowai before silently he rising to his feet to view those around him - many of whom wearing similar expressions.
"Amigos, you know of what has happened, and why that groveling wretch of a Corsair was cornered and dragged before us. I'll admit that under different circumstances that speech may have won me over, but not today. Today I am filled with disgust.
"These pilots, no, scourges, attacked Corsairs and they destroyed Corsair ships. This in itself carries a harsh penalty - we are beset on all sides then these cancers choose to defile our nation from the inside? The ships that were destroyed could have been deployed against the Outcasts, Hessians or Hunters, no? So, additional ships will have to be deployed, and additional pilots sent out. These are pilots and ships that we cannot afford.
"The reason for this assault? You believed you did not have enough and strove to seek that which was not yours, and let me quote them from my notes here:
"We, the Reyes familia, felt that not enough was being made of our inherent advantage - that we'd become defensive - that we'd become complacent. In our ignorance, we sought a scapegoat, and found it in house Benitez."
They openly admit their greed, and how they would weaken the Corsair nation by attacking, verbally and physically, Benitez ships. That weakens the Corsair Nation through the destabilising of it's components, Si?
"The fact I find most abhorrent, other than the fact they insulted the blood that runs in my veins, is that they attacked, and shot down two Corsair Elders. Shooting down a pilot can be fatal, Si? Which leads me to conclude they deliberately attempted to murder two members of the Council.
"They then went on to engage our hermanos in the OPG. They have attacked and defiled two of the many pillars that hold up the Corsair Empire, then had the audacity to demand a seat on this very council! I demand we take action!"
Custo' paced around irritably for a moment before exhaling slowly continuing in a somewhat heavier tone.
"The Corsair people are not a tolerant race. We do not forgive easily - it is not of our nature or inclination. Nor are we a race that will tolorate being corroded from the inside. In the past traitors and deserters have been lynched, hung from the streets. I would like to think we are more civilised since those days. Now we have trials before we do such things, something those people would have to work extremely hard to avoid in my opinion.
"Senor Laowai's words are indeed wise, but I would suggest a far harsher penalty for these would be assasins and murderers. I would fully support the decision to Exile all the men of the Reyes familia. The woman and children have done nothing wrong and can live out their miserable lives with this stain of dishonour on their familia's name, something that perhaps, they could remove through a lifetime's service to the Corsair Empire?
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