DIPLOMATIC CORPS BRIEFING - ATTENTION ALL DIPLOMATIC STAFF

Posted on Sat Sep 12th, 2026 @ 2:36pm by Avalon [ADMIN NPC]

Mission: Season 6 - Episode 8- The Price of Home
691 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

DIPLOMATIC CORPS BRIEFING

THE PRICE OF UNITY — ZYPHERA PRIME SUMMIT

Classification: Mission Essential
Distribution: Diplomatic Corps
Date: 11 August 2398

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Secure sufficient cooperation between the Rin'thar, Varn Ascendancy, Ael'ven and Zypheran Concord to allow development and eventual construction of Erebus.

No single participating civilisation currently possesses everything required.

Neither does the Federation.

The central diplomatic argument is therefore simple:

Nobody can build Erebus alone.

FEDERATION POSITION

The USS Elysium requires Erebus as a potential route toward the Milky Way.

However, construction would create technology of enormous strategic value to Circinus.

Commodore Lalor-Richardson's preliminary position is that no single participating power — including the Federation — should exercise unilateral ownership of Erebus.

The exact governance mechanism has NOT been determined.

Do not promise:

- Federation ownership.
- unrestricted technology transfer.
- exclusive access.
- permanent military access.
- commercial licensing rights.
- guaranteed construction.
- guaranteed successful transit.
- access to the Milky Way.
- Federation membership, protection or treaties beyond current authority.

RIN'THAR

Warrior culture with a strong concept of honour and consequence.

Physical characteristics include powerful leonine builds, silver scale patterns, four-fingered clawed hands and prominent crests. Battle scars may carry cultural significance.

They are aware of events on Niea IV.

Do not assume they accept the Federation interpretation merely because Kerilia was rescued.

Their concern includes whether the Federation believes its morality supersedes another civilisation's sovereignty.

Directness is likely to be more effective than evasiveness.

VARN ASCENDANCY

Avian-descended, corporate-technocratic civilisation. Modern Varnians combine distinctive feather-like cranial crests, acute forward-facing vision and natural bioluminescent markings with extensive cybernetic augmentation.

Technology, information, access and influence are treated as commodities.

Ambassador Keth Varn, industrial magnate and one of the Ascendancy's most influential technology figures, is expected to lead the delegation. Elysium has dealt with him previously during the power-generation work that made the current Erebus model possible.

Keth's negotiating interests are expected to include:

- control of key manufacturing standards,
- licensing rights over specialised Varn power components,
- long-term maintenance and calibration agreements,
- preferential participation in future aperture construction,
- access to technologies contributed by the other participants.

Do not assume a demand for formal ownership is his only route to influence. A politically independent Erebus could still become industrially dependent upon Varn components, calibration systems or expertise.

Do not agree to commercial terms without appropriate authorisation.

Do not mistake Keth's genuine desire to make Erebus work for political friendship or altruism.

AEL'VEN

Empathically sensitive civilisation.

Ael'ven describe emotion in terms of resonance and lies as discord.

They have agreed to attend initially as observers.

Their primary concerns appear to involve the long-term consequences of Erebus rather than immediate profit or military advantage.

Personnel should assume attempts at deliberate deception may be detectable.

ZYPHERAN CONCORD

Hosts.

Zyphera Prime operates under a broad neutrality doctrine.

Governments, commercial organisations and other interests may maintain representation here under Concord rules.

Zypheran neutrality should NOT be interpreted as ideological agreement with the Federation.

They value stability, negotiation and commerce.

LONIAN CONSIDERATIONS

No official Lonian delegation is presently confirmed.

The political relationship between Elysium and the Lonian Houses following Niea IV remains unresolved.

Personnel are reminded that competing narratives concerning Operation Sunrise are circulating.

Do not engage in unauthorised debate concerning responsibility for the destruction of the Lonian frigate.

Do not promise the return of Teevs Dosivi or Kerilia Dosivi.

OTHER POWERS

Galatonian interest would present significant security concerns.

Thaih'ea interest would represent both a political and potentially existential threat to the project.

Smaller Circinus governments may legitimately question why four major powers and an extragalactic vessel should determine control of technology capable of transforming regional transportation.

That question deserves an answer.

DIPLOMATIC OBJECTIVES

The Corps should work toward:

1. Agreement that Erebus merits further study.
2. Agreement to share sufficient technical information to test feasibility.
3. Establishment of construction and research protocols.
4. Preliminary governance principles.
5. Non-proliferation safeguards.
6. Neutral construction-site discussions.
7. Procedures for adding future participants.
8. Agreement regarding military use.
9. Mechanisms for resolving disputes.
10. Preventing the summit from collapsing before any of the above can occur.

CENTRAL QUESTION

Every delegate is eventually going to ask:

What does my people gain by helping Elysium go home?

Be prepared to answer it.