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Date Posted: 16:51:58 02/03/02 Sun
Author: Senator Decius
Subject: Decius stirred a little in his seat
In reply to: Lady Rogue 's message, ""You realize..."" on 23:55:45 02/01/02 Fri

Pantera's words pricked through Decius' aloof detachment and aroused a small, white-hot flare of anger in him. Did any of these Senators ever think in the long term? How could they walk these halls, see the pieces of the past dotted about on the walls, and not develop a wider perspective? Before he spoke, he forced back into place his glacial calm and genial manner. It did no good to betray one's feelings in a Senate meeting - it conferred too many advantages upon those who may well misuse them.

"I did not for a minute propose that we do nothing, Senator Pantera. I simply mentioned that effectively making Cybertron a Draconian Protectorate may not do much for our reputation as a first-rate power in this galaxy, presuming we and it survive the coming disaster. As all-encompassing as this may seem, we must not lose track of the fact that presuming we survive, we will still have a planet and colonies to govern and maintain."

Decius stood and moved to the centre of the senate room, waving his hand and sending a coded instruction to the banks of datascreens Lye had used earlier. They lit up with various views of Cybertron. From orbit, the streets, from every angle. Decius looked at them all, turning in a circle in the centre of the room. As he turned, he caught each senator's eye.

"This is not empty posturing on my part, fellow Senators. I would welcome Draconian assistance, but surely help can be given without a battlefleet settling into orbit? Let me remind this senate of one thing history tells us - once a foreign power gets a handhold in new territory, it is surprisingly loathe to hand it back again. We will be trusting much to the Draconians should we show ourselves as being so militarily weak." he pointed to the ring of datascreens. "We are here, regardless of faction, to serve, protect and defend this planet at all costs. We cannot do that if at the first sign of serious trouble we pass most of the responsibility for a military response to a foreign power, however friendly it is! If this is the policy of the Senate, why not send emissaries to the Dalek Empire, or the Jaridians? I feel sure they will send a few battlegroups to our aid."

Some of the Senators stirred at that and started to speak. Decius waved his hands, calling for silence and reminding them that he still had the floor. "We have other weapons at our disposal, Senators. Weapons developed during the Great War and classified following the Treaty of Darkmount. Nova bombs, subspace imploders, transwarp mines.......and technogenic weapons. Refined strains of Corrodia Gravis. Many of these are cheap to produce and if I recall my legal precedents, can be used under emergency action laws governing Cybertronian military response under threat of imminent invasion."

There was absolute silence in the senate now. No-one had spoken of these weapons since the great leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons has signed the law forbidding their use centuries ago. Decius judged that many were worried, vacillating between the thought of asking another power for help and using weapons of such frightful power that the Gods themselves feared and cherished them in equal measure. Pressing the moment further, his voice dropped slightly. "I do not suggest this course of action out of pride, Senators. Certainly, ask Dracon for help. Materiel, intelligence, anything......even military aid outside of home system - but if we cannot prove to our populace and to the wider galaxy that we can manage a defense of Cybertronian home space even in our darkest hour, then we will be cast from office and all of our plans, agendas and projects will be cast out with us. We will have failed our offices, our electorate and the sacred trust we all hold in our hands.

We must be able to stand on our own two feet, Senators. We must show that we can manage a defense of home system. We are not without resources - we have a fleet, scattered though it is, that can adequately defend home space. Our colonies can send material aid and tactical updates. Our allies - such as the Dracans - can also be of invaluable assistance. We also have a population that, though tired of war, has over ten million years of experience in the business and will be able to rise to the occasion one more time.

Senator Pantera, I know your reputation as a.......loose cannon, I think it is? Yes........I know your reputation as a loose cannon has set us at odds in the past, and will no doubt continue to do so in the future, but it gives you a perspective into the advantages of being self-reliant and doing what you want to do - you are dependent upon no-one else for counsel, help or aid. Were I to put a gun to your head now, would you strike me down yourself, or call for Betacron to help you?"

Decius walked back in the direction of his seat, waving a hand at the datascreens and shutting them all down, bar one directly above Decius' chair - the latest telemetry from Cybertron's most distant observation satellite. In the middle of the screen Cybertron hung, suspended as a brilliant technosphere against the darkness of space. "I have put a motion before this senate for discussion - the declassification of weapons and technogenic spore research for application in our military. I would also like to see the fleet recalled to Cybertron. However, our over-riding priority should be gathering informaton on this foe. Without that, even the pride of the Draconian battlefleet will doubtless prove useless."

Decius sat down again, pleased that he had managed to capture the attention of some of the Senate. Again, Embyr betrayed nothing either way. As he looked at each of them, all he saw in his mind's eye was that one screen, now behind him, with the image of their home planet on it. This room had to defend that planet, and make plans for its future. He just had to make sure they were the right ones.

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