~A guard bearing the livery of Farquar enters the chambers, carrying with him a single letter. As per the instructions from his master, Atilla, the guard places the letter in the middle of the table and leaves wordlessly. The letter reads thus:
"Fellow Elders and Brothers,
I send my apologies that I will not be attending the emergency meeting. The events of the last few days have left me quite drained emotionally. I write this communique whilst sitting on a hill on my estate... the red sun is sinking below the horizon...
My heart breaks at three recent events. Uno, Brother Maniaco is dead or nearly so. One of the greatest among us is lost. Dos, Brother Alexander is dying. My oldest and greatest friend is not long for this world. And yet I was not even aware he was ill.
Tres, the SCRA. Brothers, this whole thing with the Coalition is a bloody mess. Brother Montoya I wish you has consulted the rest of us before your giving the SCRA go-ahead to defend themselves. But I sided with your decision, because I came to feel it was the best course of action. But mostly because I felt it best to present a united front. But then your flip-flop over that decision has made all of us look foolish and weak. (I understand it was done in a heated moment, but Juan I have never known you for rashness and that troubles me as well.)
Now what we have basically told the SCRA is this: "Our people may shoot and kill you as we wish, but you may not do squat about it. And if you don't like it, bugger off." I cannot accept this policy and sleep at night. I know they are not our kind -- except Brother Ares of course -- but they are our friends and allies. No more than that: they have defended our homes, they shed their blood with our blood, and given their lives with our lives. In my book that makes them as much our brothers as anyone born of Corsair.
But worse still is our treatment of Brother Ares. We have called him no less than murderer and traitor. Then we demand him choose between us and his comrades. We put him between a rock and a hard place; and to his infinite credit, he chose us, his blood ancestors. Little though we deserve one as honourable as him. But mark my words, our lack of faith has sown a seed of doubt and resentment in Ares' heart, and the day shall come when we reap it.
Everyone talks of unity and singular purpose... but how united can we be, when our people are allowed to shoot our allies without chastisement? What message is that sending our young pilots and guerreros?
Brothers please forgive my insolence and negativity. I need time to think. And to mourn. Know that I shall side with whatever course of action you take, for the good of the Corsair nation.
Sincerely,
Atilla Farquar
Elder of The Brotherhood
