There was a great commotion in the Assembly Hall, all sorts of figures ran about, scurrying this way and that. Papers where practically flying from aides hands as they rushed to pass them to their repsective Archons. Amidst the commotion, the recently elected First Archon, Tyler Anan, slowly made his way from the door on the side of the great room, down near the front, towards the podium area that was center stage of the hall.
It was a rather nice podium, ivory top and oaken base. It cost more than most people owuld hope to make in several years. On top of it sat the ceremonial gavel, the handle of which was made out of the same oak as the base of the stand, with the ends of it being a covering of ivory. The seat behind the podium/desk was a black leather office chair with a wide head-rest.
Stepping up onto the area, First Archon Anan stode behind it, gently picking up the gavel and wrapping it several times. Mics that had been placed on the top of the podium picked up the sound and relayed it through various speakers, allowing the gesture to be heard even over the cacophony of sound that was emitting from the Archons and their various groups.
"Order, order in this Assembly." Anan said with a commanding tone.
Almost as suddenly as he hade said it, the noise died down. Within a minute or two, they where all taking their seats and given the First Archon his full attention.
"I officially call to order this meeting of the National Assembly of Khazaron, to discuss the decision of whether or not to support the idea of sending our armed forces into battle." He paused for a moment and toke a quick survey of the room, noting several fidgeting expressions that looked like they wanted to say something, but where just waiting for him to give the floor. "...but..." he continued "Seeing as how this is an emergency session of this Assembly, and over such an important matter, we will limit discussion over this to the speakers of the two respective camps on the matters."
First Archon Anan turned his attention to the mid-left of the hall and focused in on a red-haired individual in a blue suit and black tie. "First the chair will here from the honorable Archon from Khatos." He motioned towards the red-haired man, who quickly stode up and nodded his head in thanks to the First Archon.
"My thanks Excellency..." he began "To put it simply, we cannot allow such a nation as Atheistic Right, which threatens the very safety of the region with their dangerous ideologies and nuclear weapons to continue on the path they have chosen. As it has been shown that they are unwilling to cooperate with the region, then drastic action must be taken. We must stand by our neighbors and allies and strike a blow against this kind of terrorism, a blow that would send a message to others like them that such actions will not be tolerated.
To that end, I urge the Assembly to vote in approval of mobilization of our forces. Thank you." The red-haired man bowed slightly, recieving quite a few claps from about half or so of the Assembly, then sat back down.
This time Anan turned towards the middle, in the second row, to a man in a black suit and tie, with a gray and balding head. "The chair will now recognise the honroable Archon from Amaria." he said as he motioned with his hand towards the gentleman.
The man smiled and rose from his seat, clearing his throat. "I'll keep this brief, but to the point. My fellow Archon mentioned how we should take a stand against such a regime to protect the peace and security of the region, that these Atheistic Righters have ignored all avenues made to them. I ask though, have we truly tried at making an open dialogue with these people, or has it just been a half-hearted effort, only doen to put on a good face?
"Instead of sending our brave men and women into battle, we must think calmly and let rational heads prevail, lest we be overcome by the same fanaticism that rules in nations like Atheistic Right and Starblaydia. Let such places serve as a warning to us that we might not become what we seek to prevent. Life is the most precious thing we have, we cannot throw it idly by. To that end, I urge this Assembly to vote against the mobilization. Thank you." The man bowed and toke his seat.
First Archon Anan rose to his feet from where he had been sitting behind the desk/podium at the front, and looked out at the faces in the Assembly Hall. "At this time we will now vote on the matter. Please make your vote by hand and bring them up front where they will be counted."
Just as the sheets where being passed out and the various Archons began scribbling down theri votes, First Archon Anan's assistant, a rather striking female with blonde hair, walked up next to him and handed him a piece of paper. Reading it, Anan's face went from slightly bored, to downright melancholy.
Taking the gavel in hand again, he banged it a few times until all eyes where on him again.
"I have just recieve a note from the Patriarch's office." he said as he looked down at the paper to take it all in again. "Due to the seriousness of this matter, His Highness, James Khara, Patriarch of the Dominion, has declared an override in this matter, declaring in favor of moblizing the troops."
Anan sat down in his chair, almost as if the wind had been taken out of him. Across the hall he could he audible sounds of disapproval.
Meanwhile, far removed from the Assembly Hall, in the port city of Aska, lines of green camoed men began boarding the transports that would soon wisk them off to the place that was quickly becoming Hell on Earth. |
