[Roleplaying] Allied Council, Geneva - 2525 Terra

[Dave Baughman]

Allied Council Chambers
Geneva, Terra
17 September 3090

General Belle Lee was decidedly uncomfortable facing down the Allied Council - normally that would have been Victor's job; however, with Steiner-Davion on Mars supervising the destruction of yet another recently-unearthed Blakist WMD cache, the task of dealing with the occupying powers fell to her.

"Gentlemen," she said with her best attempt at a friendly tone, "and Ladies," she ammended with a nod towards the Countess Lamon, "I'm afraid General Steiner-Davion is away on pressing business."

"So, its my turn now to ask you if you have reached a decision on SHAFT spending priorities. I know y'all have been deadlocked since the occupation tax got hung up, but the SHAFT forces can't operate at peak capacity - much less set the stage for establishing a real, functional civilian government - until we get some spending authorization."

She paused for a second, "There's another matter also. I know you were all bracing for a big Werewolf uptick around the sixth of June, but it didn't materialize. The press is saying that this is a sign the toasters are beaten, but SHAFT intelligence believes that the dropoff in Werewolf activity means they are preparing for something big. Doctor Lear has asked me to request you all consider increasing the size of your garrisons to deter any kind of large-scale attacks."

General Lee, having run out of things to say, paused to await the response of the council...

[Tan]

saKhan Ragnar Magnusson:

"The Rasalhague Dominion of Clan Ghost Bear has already been reactivating dormant Galaxies in anticipation of conflict. Our Loremaster concurs with your intelligence reports. Our Warriors are ready, in fact eager, to bring the Blakist remnants to battle.

"As regards SHAFT spending priorities, the Dominion's view is that, in our occupied sector at least, it should be focussed on industrial reconstruction. What the other Alliance members want in their sectors is their own business."

[Mekorig]

 Enrique waited for the Bear saKhan to finish. "The Taurian Concordat could help the SHAFT, both in militar and economical ways, but it could take some times while i consult with my superiors. It is a real shame that the typical avarice of the Succesor Lords and Ladies is creating such a problem now".

[Daemonknight]

Ambassador Zhao pressed the button that would activate the microphone and carry his voice to the entire chamber.

"The Draconis Combine has entered into a deal with the Raven Alliance to both garrison and detoxify two worlds within the WoB Protectorate; Ozawa, and Ronel. Are there more specifics on targets of this military buildup, or are we expected to simply move the majority of our forces into the Protectorate and wait?"

[Dave Baughman]

Belle Lee turned to Ambassador Zhao, "I'm afraid," she said, "that our intelligence on the Werewolves is severely limited. Every attempt so far to infiltrate agents into their organization has ended... messily. However, based on the limited information we have, we are expecting attacks intended to undermind confidence in the occupation government, so if I had to protect anywhere, I would defend the Prefectural capitals."

"SHAFT forces are fairly strong in Prefecture X, but we have only limited presence in the outer prefectures, generally only one regiment of Principes Guards. We are doing our best to cover the main hotspots of pre-Blakist sentiment, but I feel obliged to emphasize that SHAFT does not currently have sufficient forces under arms to garrison more than a handful of outer systems, and our spacelift capacity is seriously limited."

[Daemonknight]

Zhao looked at his datapad, accessing the notes he had recieved from Luthien earlier. His requests had meet with initial approval, although anything formal would require the assent of the Coordinator, as his proposal would limit the Combine's own transportation capacity, and therefore its ability to respond to a crisis within it's borders.

"General Lee, does SHAFT require spacelift assistance to carryout it's mission? The Combine has multiple transport groups that could be moved immediatly to the Prefectures and used to move SHAFT forces as required, if that would assist you in controlling the Blakists. Also, the DCMS High Command has informed me that the Coordinator has approved and put into place an aggressive recruitment and rearmament plan to replenish our depleted roster. Initial reports are quite good from our training cadres and academies. Hopefully the influx of troops will stabalize the region. And i have been informed that the Coordinator's wish is to see that SHAFT funding be put to use attempting cleanup and rebuilding operations within the Protectorate."

[Dave Baughman]

In the absence of any further guidance from the council, General Lee nodden once more and addressed the body as a whole.

"Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. As there appears to be no opposition to Ambassador Zhao's proposition, SHAFT will allocate its respources to support detoxication and infrastructure renewal projects."

Turning back to Zhao, she added, "Ambassador, unfortunately our own spacelift abilities are somewhat limited. As you know, our coalition troops relies extensively on House and Clan transport assets during the invasion, and now have to make due with only the small number of vessels SHAFT captured from the Blakists during the final phases of the war. I appreciate your offer, as I imagine will Doctor Lear, but I will need to consult with him and SHAFT's admirals to determine our exact needs. I will follow up with you."

Glancing at the old-style clock on the wall with just a bit of relief the General concluded, "Councilors, it appears that we have reached the end of this month's formal meeting. I am certain General Steiner-Davion is eagerly looking forward to next month's session."

[GreyJaeger]

 " I beg your pardon General, but there was no support for the measure either. There was no vote that I am aware of. So, is that how this "council" is going to be run from now on? If so, why bother having these meetings?"

[Daemonknight]

Ambassador Zhao looked at the Lyran ambassador with a faint scornful frown.

"There was support in that I advocated a course of action. There was plenty of time for the various other representative here to offer their opinions. Your silence is evidence enough that you have no alternate ideas. If you would like SHAFT to focus on other objectives, pray tell what those might be?"

[Aleksandr]

"Clan Wolf has no objection to the measure... but it does set a precedent, if it goes by without a vote. Therefore, I call for a vote on the matter." Katya paused a moment, looking toward the Draconis ambassador. "Assuming my call is seconded, Clan Wolf votes aff on the matter."

[Daemonknight]

Zhao: "I have no objections to a vote. I am simply stating that the Lyran Ambassador seems to forget that in order to oppose something, he must speak up. Silence is the simplest form of assent."

[GreyJaeger]

 "Or perhaps I did not speak until such time as it was appropriate. I found the time appropriate, so I spoke."

[Daemonknight]

"Waiting untill the General attempts to close the session is the correct time? If that is how the Lyrans conduct themselves, waiting untill the last minute to shoot down an idea, and then not even offer up an alternate solution, then I think you have no right to question the procedures of the Council."

[Aleksandr]

"Children, please." The Wolf Loremaster put on her most patronizing impression of a grandmother. "Declare a trial or save your hissyfits for later. Time is a factor, now."

[Daemonknight]

Ambassador Zhao simply stares at the Lyran Ambassador, apparently not hearing(or simply ignoring) the Wolf Loremaster.