Fwurg

[Nehket Aeka]

Today's schedule shows that the veolian senator Nehket Aeka wishes to adress the full senate.

The veolian platform in the senate was unusually empty, with only one of the normal four aides present. In fact, the senator herself was still absent. Fortunately, there was still a minute left for her to still be on time; and she has a reputation of punctuality.

Half a minute before the scheduled time the senator's twi'lek slave walked onto the platform, bringing the rest of the aides with her. The senator, still absent, seems to be cutting it very close with punctuality. So close in fact, that she only has tens of seconds left to appear...

[Serrah]

Exactly on time, Serrah rises from her seat. She casts a glance at the astrian senator before addressing the whole senate.

"Senators,

I speak to you today because the Veolian Commonwealth wishes to issue a formal complaint about the recent statements by senator Doshima of the Astrian Colonial Authority.

In a recent communication on a trade negotiation I had with senator Doshima, he starts of with assuming that I am uneducated. He immediately apologizes for this... But follows up his apology by suggesting that any agreement I make in name of the Veolian Commonwealth will not be honoured. He literally uses the following words: "I have no assurance that any agreement between us will be honoured by the Veolian Commonwealth"

He further continues his insult by adding that I am not his equal, and are therefore incapable of representing the Veolian Commonwealth by stating "being a representative would require a level of equality you simply do not have".

I have written an open letter to the Minister of Justice asking her to make a ruling on whether a member of the Union can decree that the representative of another member of the Union is unfit to represent their world, and whether this voids the agreements negotiated by this representative.

Furthermore, I hereby formally request that the Astrian Colonial Authority publicly apologizes for this grave insult at my person and the Veolian Commonwealth."

After her speech, Serrah remains standing, and in turn looks at the senators of all the assembled worlds. While she looks around, the letter To minister Mathi-ey C'b'rton: Accusing the ACA of negotiating in bad faith is sent to all delegations.

[Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima]

Kachiso stood up to respond. He looked directly at Serrah as he started to speak.

"Miss Serrah, I believe there to be a misunderstanding. You are, by your own claim, a slave, owned by senator Nehket Aeka. By my customs that makes you the victim of a terrible crime.

Now I admit I am arrogant, but not arrogant enough to believe I can change the customs of the Veolian Commonwealth. However I can attempt to help people I think need help. I made an attempt to lighten your workload, Miss Serrah. An attempt to create a little rest in a life of slavery. I fabricated a reason that I assumed would have the best chance to be accepted. The words in my message where mine and mine alone.

As the saying goes: 'No good deed goes unpunished.' But if that must be the case, then let that punishment fall on the man who did that deed. These actions where done of my own accord, the Astrian Colonial Authority had no knowledge of them what so ever."

The Astrian man looked around the senate in silence before continuing.

"It is no secret the ACA strongly voices their opinion. Often that opinion clashes with that of other Union members. It has come to a point were we now have a vicious cycle leading to distrust of the ACA and the ACA isolating itself in order to prevent conflict. It pains me to see that when an Astrian speaks with good intentions, he or she is met with such hostility."

On the last sentence his voice took a sad tone.

"I do not ask for your forgiveness, Miss Serrah, just for your understanding."

[Serrah]

Serrah stood there, her expression a mix of anger and trepidation.

"Senator Doshima you told me, and I quote your own words here, that I 'have no power or influence of my own what so ever'. Now that you are suddenly confronted with the fact that this is not true -- that I do have the the power and influence to stand up for myself, that I am actually not a lesser being you can simply insult if you feel like it -- you try to twist your own words such that you come out looking like the victim.

But even in doing so, you show your true feelings! You refuse to offer an apology, and instead presume that you are better equipped to determine whether my workload is too high for me or not, once more showing what you really think of me."

Serrah calmed herself.

"If you would have only taken the short amount of time to actually give a cursory glance at my culture, you would know that I do this work because I actually enjoy it, not because I am forced to do it. I negotiate trade treaties for the Veolian Commonwealth because I like the challenge, and the interaction with the representatives of other Union worlds. That is, until you decided that I am to be insulted and treated like a lesser being, and that you are somehow in a position to inform me that I can not be the representative of the Veolian Commonwealth simply because you do not understand the way our culture works.

I understand that your job is hard -- I know because I have been doing that job for longer than you. I have gained an appreciation for the members of this senate, and their wit and sharp minds. Your theatrical sadness and lack of an honest apology are telling, and I'm confident that they will draw their own conclusions based on what they have heard."

Serrah looked at the members of the senate, inviting them to speak their mind, before sitting down.

[Senator Lonco Morubixaba of Skuldda]

"It seems that the accusations of Senator Kachiso Doshima are rather unfounded indeed. If Serrah would have felt unappreciated in any way, or forced to do her work, she could easily go to the embassy of the Hiocan Society or Remunzia to ask for asylum. It is no secret that their factions are all to willing to harbour slaves. And there are many factions more who to whom Serrah could have escaped to if she felt threatened in any way. She even could have gone to my faction and race for a stable position in my society.

So it is clear that Serrah is purely voluntarily slave. Forfeiting the accusations made by Senator Kachiso Doshima."

[Senator Shahkra of the Federal Republic of Bisidn]

"Serrah, Senator Kachiso Doshima," Senator Sahkra spoke, "it appears that we are getting two interpretations of an exchange of written words. If you two both agree, would it be possible to view the complete relevant texts ourselves? So we can place the statements in context."

[Serrah]

Serrah stood up to speak again.

"I have no issue with making the complete conversation public, though I would understand if senator Doshima wishes to make my observations about the current political situation in the Astrian Colonial Authority unreadable before making the conversation public. Those observations are not at issue here, and might impact the Astrian Colonial Authority negatively if made public."

[Asalla Dy]

Asalla Dy was sitting quietly next to Ardios Eldrilith in the senate. Asalla was moved by the spoken words. She waited for the matter to sink in. When Serrah had finished her last words she stood up as well.

"It is a shame that this situation occurred. Serrah is a respected negotiator representing the Veolian Commonwealth in an official capacity. I believe she should be treated as such and deserves respect for her skills.

Senator Kachiso Doshima may I remind you that you represent your faction and in this capacity your words and actions will be interpreted as a interpretation of the opinion of the ACA by most.

We believe context is required to judge this matter. If this is not possible in the form of this conversation we would like to inquire how others in the ACA view this matter. Is this really just your opinion?"

[Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima]

"I am willing to share the full chain of messages between myself and Miss Serrah. Though I am worried Miss Serrah's conclusions might reflect badly on herself. Had they not been made in..."

Kachiso stopped mid-sentence. He closed his eyes and frowned, looking slightly confused. His expression solidified when he started to speak again.

"Members of the Senate, the Lord-Master of the Astrian Colonial Authority wishes to address the Senate."

He bowed his head as a lifesized hologram of his ruler appeared.

[Lord-Master (mask of Lord-Master)]

Lord-MasterThe Lord-Master's gaze went around the Senate. It skipped the Astrian Senator and finally settled on Serrah. Standing straight, with his arms at his sides, he looked her in the eye. Then he bowed, deeply. As he bowed, his voice was clearly made audible for everyone by the senate's speaker system.

"On behalf of the Astrian Colonial Authority, I offer you my sincerest apologies for the grave insult my subordinate gave you, Miss Serrah." Having said that he ended his bow and turned to face the whole Senate.

"Equality. To Astrians it is one of the most important rights a sentient being has. For despite the vastly different physiology and biology we all have, we are all intelligent beings made of the same elements. Because of this I, personally, do not believe a sentient being can be the property of another. However, it also obligates me to view those who believe differently as equals and treat them with the respect they deserve.

The words used by Senator Doshima do not reflect my or the ACA's view on Miss Serrah or anyone else. I understand this does not take away the insult nor the ACA's responsibility for it. For that I ask her, and the Veolian Commonwealth's, forgiveness.

It will not happen again, of that the Senate has my assurance."

The Lord-Master only now looked at Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima.

"Is there anything you would like to add, Kachiso?"

[Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima]

"Just my personal apologies to Miss Serrah, my lord." The Astrian Senator said.

Then he bowed to Serrah.

[Serrah]

Serrah listened to the Astrian Lord-Master with a hint of a smile.

"I accept the apology by the Astrian Colonial Authority, and the apology of senator Doshima.", came the simple reply by Serrah.

"Now, it only remains to be seen what the decision of the Ministry of Justice is in this matter."