Office of the Imperial Chancellor -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)
The Lord Chancellor's office serves as the nerve center of the Imperium. All communications and orders to the various departments of the Imeprial government pass through here on their way toward their destination. As befits the magnitude of the work carried on here, no expense has been spared in its appointments. A plush Gamont rug covers the teak flooring. The walls are of finely embossed marble. Recessed wall sconces display priceless portraits of great CHANCELLORS of the past and other works of art.
A massive mahogany DESK dominates the interior of the room with a high-backed leather chair behind. Two smaller leather chairs stand before the desk and in one corner is a sitting area made up of a settee and two chairs. A priceless antique coffee service decorates the sitting area. BOOKSHELVES on the north wall store display a series of hundreds of identical red-bound leather volumes--the Great Convention and its countless commentaries from the millenia.
All in all the room conveys a sense of quiet dignity, and efficiency reflecting its current occupant and the tradition he serves.
Players:
Mikhail Cromwell
Exits:
Wooden Door <W> leads to The Imperial Embassies and High Imperial Offices -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)
Cromwell folds his hands and rests them infront of him, takes a deep breath, then begins, "Your Lordship. We have an explosive situation on our hands. The circumstances of the situation place us on opposite sides, but I think that we both desire the same outcome. A return to a stable and secure state of affairs here on Kaitain. I asked you here today in order to see if we might be able to work together to reach a satisfactory resolution to this crisis."
Mikhail nods, a small smile forms on his lips. "I will do what I can to asist the Imperium in this matter, though I do not know of how much help I can be." He pauses, idly drumming his fingers on the arm-rests of the chair. "The Siridarat as a whole is quite frankly scared out of its collective wits. Our greatest fear has always been A sardaukar doing somthing like this. I know that the chance of it ever happening again is quite rare... Though, some sort of small even symbolic assurance that it will never again happen may help to calm things somewhat."
Cromwell returns the slight smile, "Your Lordship, you are an asstute enough politicain to realize that if the Emperor where to give the Siridarat what it wants, namely an increase in their aloted bodyguards, it would be taken as a sign of weakness by all the Great Houses. Besides which might I remind your Lordship that the current limitaions on bodyguards were enacted in response to an armed patrol opening fire in the Imperial Hotel, an incident which resulted in the server wounding of an Imperial Princess."
Mikhail nods, "I well know _why_ the current restrictions are in place, Chancellor. I myself welcomed them, the last thing we need is more Landsraad troops running about Kaitain armed with varied sorts of weaponry. I didn't say you should even think about allowing more than the number of bodyguards than you do now..." He exhales sharply, "If I recall correctly I said 'some small symbolic gesture'. Somthing that will tide them over while this investigation is going on. Either that, or try the poor Bastard quickly and get this over with. The Landsraad exsists now in a state of mass panic, half of the Great Houses don't even want to wait for the trial, they're ready to pack up and go home now, the other half is out for blood."
Cromwell spreads his hands flat before him, "You Lordship, I can empathize with the feelings of the Landsraad in this matter. Beleive me, your alarm is completly understandable if not wholely justified. Perhaps if you could give me some sort of indication as to what 'small gesture' would we appropriate I can see what I can accomplishe before the up coming Landsraad Congress."
Mikhail shakes his head slowly, "That's just it, Chancellor, I have no Idea what to give them in this case, perhaps have the Emperor re-state his word bond? Give them somthing concrete to hold on to."
Cromwell nods slowly, "I think that can be arranged. There is just one other item I wished to ask your Lordship. I wanted to ask your permission to attend the Landsraad Congress tommorow. I noticed that the announcement made no mention of Imperial representatives being invited, so I thought I would see it you, as a High Councilor, would allow an exception."
Mikhail nods, "Though we 'Landsraaders' often do our best to deny it, Corrino is always welcome in Congress, and in this case more than welcome." He stiffles a slight chuckle.
Cromwell chuckles as well, "I do not know if 'welcome' is the best word, but I thank you none the less. I would also like to thank you again for coming to see me. I hope that I have made it clear, that the Emperor and myself sincerly want to find some way to reach a solution to this crisis. With your help, and that of the Lady Garamod-Lear, I feel we have a excellent chance of doing so."
Mikhail nods slightly, "I hope for all of our sakes that we can resolve this quickly, as well as peacefully."
Cromwell smiles and rises, "Well your Lordship, I thank you for your time. I look forward to see you at the Landsraad Congress and if there is anything I can do for you feel free to ask."
Mikhail nods as he too rises from his seat, "Thank you Chancellor."