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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[Stripes]

Nralakk Federation Visit and Federation-Biesel Begin Next Week: Following Solarian Footsteps?

Article 2 of Of Pale Blue Dots

Trenton McColaugh, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Ruqizori Nirvoq-Hoalo, Skrell Affairs Correspondent
Reporting from: Mendell City, Biesel, Tau Ceti

Earlier this morning, the Nralakk Federation’s Grand Council announced that talks between Grand Councillor Jrugl and President Torvald are to begin next week, following plans to widen diplomatic involvement with the Federation last month.

The currently revealed topics to be discussed revolve around the state of the Starlight Zone’s skrell refugees and their legal statuses, Port Antillia’s environmental consultations, and the future of both nations potentially combining efforts to combat the phoron crisis. More topics are also slated, but are currently left unannounced to the public.

While typically not much of a topic between Bieselites, a recent polling resulted in a total of 37% supporting the effort to expand Federation diplomacy among participants, with ambivalence towards the move, or those still undecided, at a comparatively high 33%. The remaining 30% 's opposition against the move reveals the skrell nation is far from a distant neighbor in the Spur. 

Resentment still lingers after the Nralakk Federation’s move to pressure the Solarian Alliance the barricade the Republic throughout 2458, partnered with their absence during the second invasion of Biesel in 2462, leaves many detractors pointing to these events as the reasons behind the lost confidence in any future interactions with the Federation and Weashbi Jrugl’s councillorship. 

District Eight’s Starlight Zone has erupted into a hotbed of discussion on whether the Federation should push further into Biesel politics, with anti-Federation activists in Lekan Village preparing to protest their arrival.

Ruqizori Nirvoq-Hoalo, our skrell correspondent, took to the streets of Lekan Village to hear what the skrell had to say.

Watch: Lekan Village Street Interviews

Quote

 

The hourglass logo of the Tau Ceti Times appears over a black background, completing one turn before fading to reveal a crowded street in District Eight, the Starlight Zone’s Lekan Village. A younger-looking, dull red-colored skrell with short bunned headtails is speaking passionately in Tau Ceti Basic. They’re wearing a black wetsuit, with heavy coveralls worn loosely over them, arms and headtails crossed. 

“Anyone even beginning to pay attention to the statement [the Nralakk Federation] put out can see that it’s as much of a hidden threat against us! The fact they still call themselves 'our' home is proof enough they’re just here to muscle in and take innocent people off the streets for slighting them, and I won’t stand to see quyas separated and people stolen without a second chance at life. We’re here to stay.”

The video cuts to another skrell, this one older and with long, orange headtails and noticeable tuux. A wetshirt is worn under a plain, yellow dress. Their response in Nral’malic is captioned into Tau Ceti Basic at the bottom of the video. 

“We have never had a say in the matter when we fled in the Traverse,” says the anonymous interviewee, “so why should we just stand by and let it happen again here? Living outside of the Federation is hard, but you just do not know what was chosen for you until you go somewhere where you really are free. I think we should all protect that. The people down in Severson City really want us to believe that this is for the best - my Qu'Draa [captioned with a translation reading “sibling”] stayed down there when I moved up here - but should we really have to sacrifice, just to get better conditions?”

The video then fades to black, with the revolving Tau Ceti Times hourglass logo returning before it ends.

 

 

Those in Severson City, however, spoke very differently in light of the news.

 

Watch: Severson City Street Interviews

Quote

 

The hourglass logo of the Tau Ceti Times appears over a black background, completing one turn before fading to reveal the interior of a public building in Severson City, most obviously seen with the windows showing the area to be completely submerged. The interior is busy and slightly crowded, with many skrell inside conversing excitedly. The skrell interviewee is wearing a two-piece suit with constellations embroidered across it, atop an old-looking mantle of the Nralakk Federation’s flag. They’re visibly very old, with their long headtails worn in a ponytail.

 “I’m just so relieved that the Federation remembers us,” they say in TCB-captioned Nral’malic, “that we weren’t going to be left here to be forgotten. I could wait decades and still be just as ready to go return to my home - and the fact that the Grand Councillor is coming here? It’s a sign that everything can be fixed, and the stars are with us even down here in the depths.”

The video cuts to an ad-break, debuting a new VR arcade opening somewhere in District One on Mendell City, then returns to another interviewee. A light blue, younger skrell in a black wetsuit with a starry cape draped across their body at the shoulders. 

“This is going to cause some disharmony with our moister friends above us,” the skrell starts in Nral’malic, “but with all due respect, how many criminals and anti-socials do they keep with them? They let criminals in, like the ones who bombed the embassy! The Kalas ought to come in and get rid of the ones causing all that trouble - and the [expletive]s from the synthetic ‘church’, too! If Biesel wants us to stay here and work, then the least they should do is let the Federation show them how to properly run a country.”

The video then fades to black, with the revolving Tau Ceti Times hourglass logo returning before it ends.

 

 

President Åke Torvald released a short statement over Chirper after the newsbreak under his official account at 11:32.

Quote

"I am of complete confidence that the meeting with Councillor Jrugl will be productive for the whole of the Republic. The future of the Republic is with every member of the Spur, and taking this opportunity will carry the torch forward."

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