Tau Ceti Times

[kermit]

President Torvald Justifies Renewed Solarian-Biesellite Relations

Article 5 of Pharsalia

President Åke Torvald spoke to the Tau Ceti Times’ Aramis on Sunday. 

Discussed in the interview were this year’s challenges tackling the phoron crisis, physician staffing shortages on Biesel and–in focus today–the chance at renewed diplomacy with the Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations. 

Watch: President Torvald Interview - The Solarian Diplomatic Mission 

Spoiler

The hourglass logo of the Tau Ceti Times appears over a black background, completing one turn before fading to reveal a wide scene of an interview; two red, fabric armchairs seating the interviewer and their interviewee.

President Torvald sits on the left, dressed in a light grey suit and navy sweater vest, a striped tie poking out that alternates between navy and red. Opposite, there sits a cross-legged, silver Baseline synthetic wearing some gaudy, purple bell-bottoms and a black, buttoned-up suit jacket. Past them both is a glass window, looking out over Mendell City’s skyline from a relatively tall skyscraper. Shuttles whizz by up high, and a line of hover cars separates them from the conventional traffic barely visible down low.

This particular clip appears to begin midway through the interview.

“Mister President, enough of future plans, tell us about the current proceedings with the Solarian Alliance,” the synthetic, Aramis, says with a charmingly melodic, masculine voice. “Why is it in the best interests of the Republic of Biesel to seek rapprochement with the Solarian Alliance?”

Torvald nods as he hears out the question, leaning forwards and crossing a leg over the other as he wrangles the line of questioning with a calmer demeanor than most may be familiar with

“Very simply, the hair-trigger relationship we have had with the Alliance has not worked for anyone,” the president says, his New Gibsonite accent a few notches harder compared to more official appearances. “When other options have been shut down and the only recourse is to pull the trigger, we-we see blockades, we see admirals taking a chance, we see triggers pulled.”

A flat palm is raised as he looks at Aramis’ screen where the Tau Ceti Times’ hourglass logo is displayed, Torvald continues, “This is about expanding on those eh, options: hashing out issues in calls or in person, seeking safe resolutions to— territorial disagreements, such and such.”

His brows suddenly furrow, the palm now a stabbing finger as he says, “This is not about being pro-Solarian or anti-Solarian; it’s about needing to avoid another invasion— not about being pro-Solarian.”

—

After a longer pause from Torvald, the Baseline’s screen flickers and the hourglass turns; it turns once again when Aramis finishes his question, “Would an invasion be likely if these talks were to fail or to not have begun?”

The president bobs his head, face scrunched up for a moment in thought.

“It has happened before – twice – so there is no saying it eh, can’t happen again. What is important is ensuring that it absolutely will not happen again, which is what this achieves,” Torvald replies. “There is nothing to stop it right now but the threat of retaliatory force–”

“But, is a third invasion likely if these talks were to fail; is it something you or the government in the Alliance fear?” Aramis interrupts.

“No, there is no present threat of an invasion, not of Tau Ceti or any of the systems in the Corporate Re–”

Aramis interrupts again, a heavy huff coming from the president, “Will military spending continue to–”

Torvald begins to talk over Aramis who gives way, “There is no imminent conflict, but the Republic’s military forces– remain just as important as before; our armament efforts are not going to-to lapse. This is about options, and our armed forces will always remain one of them, but it is important we employ others too.”

The president glances away for a moment, before returning to give a canted stare to Aramis.

—

“The Cetian Conservatives – who you ran with – their supporters, and many other Biesellites too, have long thought the Republic’s government doggedly stand against the Solarian Alliance for its past actions. Do you not feel that you are turning your back on many of these supporters?” Aramis asks, idly drumming his metallic fingers on his knee.

“Absolutely not.” Torvald calmy replies, shaking his head. “Our government has a duty to protect its citizens from any infringement from Solarians– this includes putting a stop to any such action before it takes place. We can only do this if you know, we have clear lines to the Alliance’s government.”

“Right,” Aramis says, a momentary whir heard as he formulates his next question. “Where do you hope to see Biesel-Solarian relations at the end of your term?”

Torvald nods at the question, dipping his head to scratch the crease of his nose for a long moment. He sucks in a breath-

-and exhales, “There are a lot of changes that I um, would hope for. But, one of my largest hopes here is to see reduced Solarian-Biesellite tensions.”

The synthetic appears to roll its head structure back, a falling dwoooop heard, though Torvald continues, “I– am sure that never will tensions be zero, perhaps, but they can certainly be lowered.”

“Of course,” Aramis says in a low tone, glancing just past the camera before his voice upswings. “Thank you, Mister President. Let us have a break.”

Torvald puts on the rare smile, his hands clasped before him as he stands up. 

Then, the video cuts to the revolving Tau Ceti Times hourglass logo. But, not before an affordable NanoTrasen health insurance plan is advertised – included in most NanoTrasen employment packages, so you can work to secure a healthy future!

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[kermit]

Thousands Protest Biesel-Solarian Talks and Appointment of Solarian Ambassador

Article 9 of Pharsalia

More than three-thousand people have attended the March Against Sol protest against the reopening of the Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations Embassy in Mendell City and the appointment of Jianguo Zhu as the Solarian Ambassador in the Republic of Biesel.

The march saw disgruntled citizens from across the planets under the Republic of Biesel’s flag flock to protest, with all of the Mendell City shuttleports seeing shuttles of banner and placard wielding protestors arriving to assemble for the march.

Protestors rallied at the Xavier Trasen Memorial in District One and marched along a meandering route that ended at what campaigners believe to be the allotted Solarian Embassy building.

Similar protests occurred in other cities throughout the Republic of Biesel, with Hengsha on New Gibson and Saint Lawrence on Port Antillia each seeing over one-thousand protestors march.

Image: Mendell City Protest Placard (NTImages)

Spoiler

A wide, close-up image is embedded into the article. In the blurred background, a dozen protestors are visible; in-focus, an elderly gentleman with a fat grin holding aloft a large cardboard sign. painted with the Republic of Biesel’s flag, on it is written, “Marching Against Solarian Hegemony Since 2402”.

'[We are] here to show that whatever it is that happens, we remain standing against the Solarian Alliance,' said a protest organiser for March Against Sol. They added that the reopening of the Solarian Embassy was a ‘gut-punch for liberty’.

'It’s an insult to us who lost family during the invasion,' said protestor Kirsten Wilmann who spoke at the pre-march rally, mother of Jonas Wilmann, a Prefect in the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion who was onboard the BLV Fylgja when it sustained critical damage during the Second Invasion.

Another protestor said, “They [the Strom Administration] have no respect for us or our Republic [...] Why should we give any back?”

The Mendell City Police Department has stated that the protest had undergone the proper planning process to go ahead. However, four individuals were arrested for 'going too far' according to the MCPD’s Chirper account after defacing the anticipated Solarian Embassy building with red paint. The protest was otherwise policed laxly.

President Åke Torvald appeared very briefly before the press at the Fallanland Shutteport where he said, 'The peoples' voice never goes unheard; protests are fundamental for this in a democracy.'

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