Appearances:

For the Concord:

Lyra Seraphina, High Concordant

For the Severed Fold:

Scent on the Void, Raela

For the Ash Vow:

Garek

For the Scepter of Ashaya:

Director Vorlag

For the Federation:

Anka Vance, Leader of Citizens Assembly

For the Light of the Hollow Star:

Master Orun of the Silent Lament

Recording for Posterity:

Joric Memory Scribe, Memory Keeper

[Within the observation deck of the Remembrance there sits a table with 6 chairs as well as benches around the perimeter. Through the window, the moon of Shadris Vel is cracking apart. Occasionally, wincing in the corner, is the young Elari that was being used as the conduit for the Varkh. Orun has begun his work to heal the child.]

Garek:

Was that story supposed to mean something to us?

Lyra:

It was meant to show that each of us bring a unique perspective to the fight, and we saw what true harmony looked like

Garek:

I already know how to fight. 

Anka:

Are you so dim that you can't understand what a metaphor is? She was trying to show us what actual unity looks like. A group uniting for a common cause. Using their differences. 

Garek:

How dare you insult me! 

[He points to Anka]

You, who seeks to set up a new empire.

[He points to Lyra]

You, who would forgive our oppressors

None of you have authority over me. You are but children standing before a true enemy. Attempting to reason with the sky when it rains! Begging the storms not to come, despite the warnings.

Orun:

[Standing up from the bench]

Seat yourself Garek. They speak the truth. The Knight in the story admitted he was still learning, he was humble enough to say that he didn't know everything. Are you so confident in yourself that you believe you know more about the universe than the rest of us?

Lyra:

Thank you Master Orun. Now I have brought us into this room so we can hammer out an agreement of sorts. I want to form a legitimate set of accords by which we can all agree.

Raela:

We will refuse to submit to any subjugation. Our lives are our own to shape.

Lyra:

This is not meant to be governing laws. More like a framework for cooperation.

Anka:

Well I have been given authority by the Citizen’s Assembly to speak on behalf of the Federation

Raela:

I have been recognized as the Drift-Clan leader with regards to any agreement. 

Lyra:

Vorlag, you have been very silent. Do you speak for the Scepter with authority?

Garek:

Why do we care what the spies think? They will only agree to this if it benefits them.

Lyra:

Well what I’m proposing stands to benefit us all. I have four Accords but they can be improved. 

Anka:

Well, don't keep us in suspense, what are they?

Lyra:

First I want a confirmation from everyone that they are speaking with authority on behalf of their faction. So, Orun? Garek? Vorlag?

[Garek stands waiting for Vorlag to speak first]

Orun:

With what authority I have, I offer it as representative for the Light of the Hollow Star

Garek:

Yes, I speak for the Ash Vow.

Vorlag: 

[Heavily synthesized] 

Yes, I speak for the Scepter

Lyra:

And I speak for the Concord of Remembrance

Garek: 

[Chuckling]

Concord of Remembrance. Weren't you the Concordia Society just a couple years ago?

[Lyra lets out a deep breath and looks at Joric, nodding once. Joric stands up and locks the door.]

Anka:

Hey, what is this? Are you keeping us here?

Lyra:

No, I just thought it would be best if we stayed here while we worked out our new pact. Accord One is my proposal for mutual defense. I call it the Accord of the Unbroken Chain

[Lyra pauses as if waiting for objections]

Specifically that an attack on one of us, is to be considered an attack on all. 

Garek:

So you want us to protect each of you because you’re too weak to pick up a blaster and do it yourself?

Raela:

The Fold does not want your protection. Nor does it need your protection.

Lyra:

I understand many of you are used to having to fight for everything in your life. However, not everyone associated with the Fold is a combatant are they?

Raela:

No, they are not.

Lyra:

Well I am not proposing that anyone fight our battles for us. Just that if we are attacked, it would be considered by your faction as if you had been attacked.

Anka:

That's nice in theory, but what happens if the Ash Vow decides to start a fight with the Varkh. We have a citizen’s assembly that must ratify a conflict before it can go forward. 

Lyra:

It will cover only unwarranted attacks by the Varkh, or Syndicate.

[Lyra looks around hearing grumbles]

Can we agree on this? Anka?

Anka:

Yes.

Lyra:

Raela? How about you?

Raela:

The Fold will agree.

Garek:

But what exactly does this get us?

Lyra:

You get allies who can assist you. Or are you capable of fighting off the Varkh on your own indefinitely.

[Lyra points out the window at the cracking moon]

Garek:

[Garek stares out the window at the moon breaking into millions of pieces]

Very well, we agree. 

Lyra:

Orun?

Orun:

The light will go where they are needed. But we will honor this accord.

Lyra:

Vorlag, how about you?

Vorlag:

[His hologram looks around the table]

Agreed.

Lyra:

Excellent.

[She pulls out her data slate and moves to her next point]

Accord Two is the Accord of the Sovereign Will. This states that any planet, liberated by a member faction of the Pact, will be given the right to self determination.

Anka:

That is foolish! Many of these people are so terrified after being free that they would just rather go back to the cage! You mean to say that if the planet is freed by us, they can still choose not to join us?

Raela:

Do you plan to tell the citizens that you will be their new overlord as well?

Anka:

Hey! That’s not fair. We are freeing these people from tyranny.

Lyra:

And if they don't accept you as liberators? What if they see you as the oppressor? 

Vorlag:

What of the Varkh citizens?

Garek:

They should be all killed

Anka:

No! They are not all valuable assets for society.

Vorlag:

They are collaborators who benefitted from their system of oppression. They deserve punishment.

Lyra:

And those who are guilty of crimes will be punished. The Federation has facilities where they can house criminals.

Garek:

Bah! And let them use those same criminals to advance their own aims!

[The Elari child lets out a cry]

Vorlag:

I have to agree with Garek here. The best thing to be done is kill the high ranking officers quickly and in front of as many people as possible to show what we will do to every one who helped them.

Anka:

That's demented and sick. Typical for Scepter. No, we would put them to trial. They would answer for what they've done. 

Lyra: 

Lets not get distracted. A liberated planet should be free to choose its own future.

Raela:

I wholeheartedly agree with this. The Fold stands for autonomy over all else, and we will stand by this.

Orun:

I also agree with this. Freedom means freedom to make mistakes. To hold someone contrary to their wishes is the same as slavery.

Anka:

Well, that makes sense. Hopefully it never comes to that. However, the Federation agrees

Garek:

She does not get to weasel out of this situation. She would harbor collaborators.

Anka:

Imprisoning is not the same as harboring. People who have hurt others will obviously pay for their crimes. 

[She squares herself up to him]

How many people have you hurt? Families? How many children have suffered when an Ash Vow legion kills their parents?

Garek:

I don't have to stand for this!

[Goes to the door and attempts to turn the handle]

Lyra:

I told you it was locked. We need to all answer for ourselves. We are creating something here that will outlast us! That will prove that we are better than the Varkh. When they control a planet, their people do not get to choose. So, do you agree to the Accord of the Sovereign Will?

Vorlag:

This Accord is acceptable to the Scepter. 

Garek:

Very Well. The Ash Vow will agree.

Lyra:

The next is one I think we can all agree on. The Accord of the Unbound. The practice of slavery, bio-indoctrionation, and the selling of human life is outlawed within the worlds of the Pact.

Raela:

I would dedicate my vote to Mala Soulwarden who sold herself into slavery to save her fleet, while we were here fighting over this planet. The Fold supports this measure.

Anka:

We have all seen too many people suffer under the Varkh and the syndicate to allow it to continue within our control. The Federation will agree to this accord. 

[Looks to Raela]

We will also support any effort to bring back a brave captain such as that.

Garek:

Yes, this is agreeable.

Orun:

The Light supports this accord.

Lyra:

Vorlag? 

Vorlag:

And what of the jobs currently done by those very slaves. Do you believe that the galaxy will suddenly become a place to easily transport ones self? No, ships require Iridite drives for FTL. And to get the Iridite you need the use of a labor force. The Varkh and the Syndicate may be the enemy, but we still need those resources.

Lyra:

The Varkh and the Syndicate have caused enough pain and torment across the galaxy off the suffering of those unfortunate enough to be their victims. Raela and the Severed Fold have Sarthari void navigators, they are ten times as fast as an Iridite drive. We are also not suggesting shutting down iridite mines. Merely compensating the workers for their products.

Vorlag:

You are an idealist and that is not a realistic solution. 

Lyra:

I may be an idealist but at least I prefer to see the best in people. Including you. I believe that while you may only look out for yourself and prefer to see the world in binary. That everyone is only doing things to benefit themselves. 

Vorlag:

You are doing all this to preserve your legacy, no?

Lyra:

No. My name will appear nowhere except as a signatory. I seek only to make this galaxy a better place for everyone. If that means that Iridite production slows down in our sectors then that is a sacrifice we must make. 

Raela:

We will lend navigators to the cause if it means that all will be free.

Vorlag:

Very well. The Scepter will agree.

Anka:

That means all of us will get access to navigators?

Raela:

It is a rather complex thing to transport fleets this way. However, we have ships everywhere. We will give all access to our navigators as well. 

Orun:

The light will also lend members to each faction, if they so choose.

Garek:

What help are a bunch of priests and Mystics going to be in battle?

Orun:

We are not just priests, we are healers. Those whom you call mystics are healing the galaxy. A wound that has been festering for fifty thousand years. We can heal scars and mental anguish. 

Lyra:

In that vein I also offer members of our Quartermaster Corps. They will be a connection through the rest of the pact. We can assist with grain shipments, act as unbiased representatives or messengers.

Vorlag:

So spies?

Lyra:

You were the one that wanted to be realistic. If we are to be taken seriously, we need to have supply lines. The Quartermaster Corps will handle the exchange of surplus food and supplies. Sending them where they can be of the highest value. We have no bias beyond harmony. 

Anka:

You may be. But everyone that is a part of your faction believes the same as you?

Lyra:

We all believe that a life is worth more than value can ascribe. Many of us have suffered more than is visible on the surface. But scars remain. Each of us has decided to say no more. The cycle of suffering must end at some point.

Vorlag:

So is that it? Are we done here?

Lyra:

Almost. I have one last Accord. I call it The Accord of the Shared Echo. All intelligence gained by one faction must immediately be shared with all signatories.

Vorlag: 

This is ridiculous! None of you people can be trusted with secrets like these. The Ash Vow will immediately burn it all down, The federation will send it across fifteen different people and by then the source will be burned across half the galaxy!

Lyra: 

Then we will set up an intelligence office that all must be passed through. Since the Concord is offering members with the Fold and the Light, then perhaps it can go through one of those? They have no side beyond freedom and peace.

Anka:

And you’ll tell us when necessary? No, we will be a part of that decision making process.

Vorlag:

You don't make decisions. You agonize over minutiae, counting the fibers in a web that is still being spun. 

Lyra:

We need to work together. You all know this. I have said it countless times. I realize that the galaxy has been forcing us to each other's throats for longer than any of us have been alive. We need to move beyond the pain, beyond the anger. Trust that we will be there for you. And we will trust that you will do the same. Besides, your organization is not the only one that can gather intelligence.

Anka:

What do you mean?

Lyra:

All of us know different things are happening across the galaxy that might be of use to others. 

Garek:

What would you know that would be of use to us?

Lyra:

For one, the Varkh’s actions on the moon have caused a crisis on multiple planets. We were not the only ones who felt that child’s pain. It crossed the galaxy, and we heard reports of mass hysteria. Once we finish here, I will be taking the Remembrance to resolve one of those issues. I’m sure many of them will have reasons to hate the Varkh. 

Vorlag:

I still do not see what benefit the Scepter would gain from this agreement at all. It seems as though you are using our skills and leaving us to the wind.

Lyra:

All that we have agreed on will be contingent upon each faction holding up these accords. That means that if you do withhold information, then the Quartermasters will withhold supplies.

Raela:

And The Fold will pull its support. We will support this accord. We have more numbers than almost all of your factions combined. We are the refugees left floating in the void. If we pull our support then you will be left alone. Each of you. 

Anka:

The Federation will accept this accord.

Garek:

This will not prevent us from taking action, but yes, the Ash Vow will agree.

Orun:

The Light offers its guidance in acceptance of this accord. We are knowledgeable about many things within the galaxy. 

Vorlag:

I see I am outnumbered. Very well, The scepter accepts.

Lyra:

Then we have officially ratified the Shadris Vel Accords and legitimized ourselves to form the Lucent Pact. This is a brave step forward for the galaxy.