Fwurg

[Maria Latharion]

The senate was cleared of non-essential personnel. The lights where dimmed as the senate roof closed.

"Senators, in light of the revised Union Security Act questions have been raised about the intelligence aspect of the Union military." The Astrian senator started, clearly taking her role as the Union minister of defence. "I referred you to the State Secret Act and promised I would return to the subject. I did this because such matters are highly confidential and it could be dangerous to discuss this openly."

Maria Latharion paused to let her words sink in.

"Currently most of our military intelligence is based on counter-intelligence and early warning systems. The funds spent on this are relatively small compared to what is spent on the fleets.

Seeing the size of most military fleets it is highly unlikely they could appear on our border without anyone noticing.

I understand if these words don't provide you with any reassurance, so feel free to ask any questions you have. I will try to answer them as best I can."

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

"Thank you Minister," the Lady de Montrève stated after the introduction was made by the Minister of Defence, " It should be noted that I have real grounds to doubt our current capabilities in this field, nor do I doubt the reliability of the current intelligence available to us. However, in light of this new Security Act, it strikes me as odd that measures to improve and maintain military intelligence seem to have been missed.

In my opinion the Union cannot afford to have large fleets, and run military operations without making an effort to ensure accurate and reliable information and intelligence. So I was wondering whether or not it was a deliberate choice of the cabinet not to invest into expanding our capabilities in this field because no investments were deemed necessary, or was the subject not discussed, and thus overlooked when the proposal for this act was composed?

[Former Senator Aunzora of the Confederacy of Excaria]

"The Confederacy of Excaria agrees. We propose that the Chancellor draw up an amendment to the new security act to bring in additional funding for this most vital matter."

[Nehket Aeka]

"I shall convene with the cabinet on how best to implement this."

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

"You misunderstood my question Senator Aunzora," Peinaili interjected shortly after the chancellor said she would look into the matter, "I didn't not request an amendment, I merely asked for a reasoning behind the proposal and the fact that nothing has been said about Military Intelligence."

She then took a stand and spoke to address the senate once more.

"Senators, Chancellor, I do not wish to pressure an amendment on Military Intelligence to the current proposal for the act, which, if enacted, could be explained as favouritism towards the Sundarian Federation. This area has the obvious interest of the Sundarian Council given the investments already made in this area and the addition of such an amendment could be harmful to the public opinion.

If my line of questions implied such favouritism then I shall try to express myself better and more clearly and I do apologize."

[Nehket Aeka]

"We are currently looking into the issue, and will present our proposal to the senate soon."