The LHC Meets

[Justin Mattew-Moir Courterier <celery@hobbiton.org>]

Log edited with Logedit v2.5, on Fri Jun 16 12:54:47 2000

Editing out: GAME @channel 
-----------log begins-------------

Praxton enters the Office, a thick leather case under his arm. His
heels rap sharply as he strides 
towards his central desk, stopping only to snap a greeting towards his
fellow Council. "Your 
Honor."
Mikhail looks up as if startled by your address. He returns greeting,
"A good eve to you Chairman 
Atreides," he replies. Mikhail glances back down at the blank paper
before him. "I..." He begins 
slowly, "have just read his Majesty's latest decree." He sets the
quill down beside the paper, 
sighing softly.
Praxton stops behind his desk, dropping the attache case on its
mirrored surface with an overloud 
'BANG'. He swings the chairback around, saying, "I was reading it
myself on my way here. Twenty 
times over, it seems." He pulls a face, "I had not felt quite so
insulted in very many years."
Mikhail nods slightly as he reaches down under his chair to grab the
portfolio sitting under it. 
"Mmm... I should say that I have never _been_ that insulted before."
He says as he sets the 
portfolio down on the desk. "We are assured our physical safety while
here of course, but he seems 
to brush off every item mentioned in the open letter save for his
dismissing breech of word-bond. 
He has given his Sardaukar carte blanche. It seems they and he can do
whatever they deem 
appropriate pertaining to the safety of those here."
"It is carefully worded," Praxton concedes, thumbing the lock of his
case and flipping it open. "And sounds, like most Imperial
broadsheets, like the speech of a benevolent father. However," he
raises a transparent sheet and reads, "it is certainly neither
conciliatory nor pacifying. The Throne asserts its rights and denies
us ours."
Mikhail nods again, frowning slightly. "It is as they say
'sugar-coated', but the true message is there none the less." He
removes a sheet of paper from the portfolio, scanning it over briefly.
"Indeed, I find it most troubling that our most benevolent 'father'
would assert his rights whilst denying ours. The other day during a
meeting with the Emperor, we were discussing the matter, and he
replied that the safety of the 'lesser' beings mattered little to him.
He did not care what we did, came, left, congress or none."
Praxton makes a face, eyes downcast. "What a sad state of affairs," he
laments, "when the Emperor himself cannot put forebearance before
pride. How can a man call himself just, yet deny men the privileges
due their station?" He raps a knuckle on the desk, sharply.
Mikhail shakes his head sadly. He averts his gaze from you for a
moment. "Because he is the Emperor. The Emperor has always presented
himself and just an honourable at all times, though his actions may
not speak loudly as his words."
A thoughtful pause. Praxton reflects on this a moment, only to change
subjects. "The law clearly gives us the right of it," he says. "If I
offered you word-bond to parley, and set a madman to watch out for
you... if the man endangered you purposefully, I would be guilty of
breaking word-bond."
Mikhail nods, stiffling a laugh at the thought, "Aye. You would be
guilty of such crime." He pauses, then quizically he says, "Where do
we go from here? Word-Bond or not should we bring charges upon Corrino
we are as good as dead here."
Praxton says, "It is clear, Your Honor. We emitted a clear warning,
and a threat. We must follow through, inasmuch as the Congress
validates our actions. If there is dissent, then we must pause, yes?"
Mikhail nods slightly, "Aye. If there is dissent we must pause." He
smirks slightly, "Though what Siridar upon Kaitain now feels safe? Any
of us? The Sardaukar have been given carte blanche to do what they
wish. And we are restricted to having only two bodyguards with us at
any time."

"My concern," Praxton replies thoughtfully, "is not so much for the
Siridarat as it is for their families and retainers. The Siridari get
the best of their elite cadre of guards... the rest make do with
lesser protection. No match for Sardaukar, in any case. Ours is an
illusion of safety only, I'm afraid."

Mikhail nods, "My family I fear most for now. I've thought several
times about ordering the withdraw of Rastanyev from Kaitain, save for
myself and few key personel." He gestures to the paper, "I was about
to write the order in fact."

Praxton says, "As have I. A man cannot live in fear." He takes the
filmpaper of the Imperial statement from his case, leaves it on the
desk. "This is what I propose. You and Lord Iohannes will tasks
yourselves with garnering unanimous support for our plan. Find out if
any of the Houses have the infrastructure to seed the Congress and the
willingness to extend word bond to all and sundry. The Landsraad dues
involved would make it very worthwile for the poorer Houses."
Mikhail nods smiling at this. "It will be done. My word-bond and
resources I shall extend to all that should require safety in such
times." He sighs, "I shall order preparations for the withdrawl of all
non-essential personnel from Kaitain effective immediately. I will not
risk the lives of my family more." He sighs again, bringing himself
back to the here and now, "I can get the Bajazet to support us, they
owe me that much. The Alvstad I believe will trust my word on the
matter..."
Praxton returns the smile, if somewhat gravely. "That leaves me to
parley with the Harkonnens, the Moritani, and the Ginaz. It shall be a
busy week." A pause. "Are you certain your homeworld can host the
Congress? At present we only require the -ability- to move the see,
and the will to do so. Hopefully the Throne will come to its senses as
we prevail on the Houses to close their Embassies..."
Mikhail nods with a small sad smile of his own. "The Alexandara Palace
is by far spacious enough to host the congress should need be. Should
one palace not be enough, we have only to thank the frivolous spending
of mine ancestors that there are two more to fill."

"It will do," Praxton replies. "I shall draft the Congressional
resolutions then, to the effect that the Landsraad See is moved to
Garrushu, and that House Corrino stands accused in violation of
Section 248."

Mikhail nods briskly, "And I shall begin talks with the Great Houses,
and see that my homeworld is ready should need be." He rises from his
seat, placing the papers into the portfolio.
Praxton swings out from his place behind the broad desk, his heels
clacking as he chimes, "To work then, my colleague. We must be very
swift, and very crafty. Best of luck to you, I must take my leave."
Mikhail nods again, "Aye we must. The best of luck to you as well. May
whatever God ye believe in protect and send his mercy upon you." With
that, he closes the portfolio and steps out from behind his desk.

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