The Aomori Summit - Treaty negotiations

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The Aomori Summit

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Treaty negotiations

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The sounds and lights of the Yellow alert caused chaos on Aomori Station. The sudden announcement that a Kusari Government delegation was underway and would arrive in mere hours kicked everyone into gear. In the past weeks, station maintenance was reduced to a minimum, with the engineers being transferred to Sigma-13 and Sigma-56 to assist with the defence against Rheinland. This had a noticeable effect on tidiness and hygiene, especially on the deck used for conferences.

However, with a highly anticipated renewal of the original Aomori Treaty in sight, every guildmember who wasn't doing critical work immediately volunteered to make this summit a success. Within hours, the conference deck was cleaned and redecorated, and the delegation rooms were prepared for the arrival of the delegation.

Mo Yeo was worried. Guildmaster Mori locked herself up in her office on the Naha and likely wouldn't be able to make it ito the Summit. The war with Rheinland caused unhealthy levels of stress and she was clearly suffering from it. Mo was given the responsibility of the summit and its outcome, a rather unexpected decision. Upon arrival at Aomori he was impressed by the overhaul underway. He remembered his last visit to Aomori, at a time where the station was a completely inappropriate state to host a summit. He was glad that changed, and took the elevator to the command deck for his final briefing with the station administrator.

[Yaoquizque]

On the afternoon, a well escorted luxury liner reached the vicinity of Aomori station. The Guild's paramilitary elements present in Honshu system were keeping a close watch on the Republic military deployments since the declaration of war made by House Rheinland, weary of any move made by their other neighbor that could be directed against their interests, despite the good supports Gas Miner Guild had in House Kusari government, due to their close ties with Kishiro Technologies Keiretsu.

But this heavily escorted convoy was expected. The delegation sent by the Republic to initiate talks for the foundation of a new treaty with Gas Miner Guild...

In the cockpit of his Eagle, Otawara Moromao was watching with suspicion these Kusari Naval Forces vessels moving around Aomori to secure the vicinity of the station. He remembered several occurrences of tensions between Kusari Military and the paramilitary. Having spent so much time in Sigma 17 lately, he forgot how peaceful Kusari looked...
Well... Honshu system looked that way, at very least. That civil war did not appear to have caused too much trouble here... For now.

He hoped the Guild's leaders would do their best to protect the Guild's properties, including planet Kurile he and his companions fought so hard for.
He watched absentmindedly the liner initiating the long mooring procedures with the station, keeping an eye on that Hogosha fighter that conveniently followed the Republican convoy, knowing all too well the Paramilitary would not attempt to destroy his ship with some many Naval Forces vessels nearby...

[The Republic of Kusari]

After a few hours were spent on security checks, presentations and steps to settle everyone in their suite, the Kusari delegation eventually stepped into the room chosen for negotiations to come.
A large table was filling the center of the room, with seats disposed on the opposite sides of it. Several rows of seats could also be seen behind each side, to give some comfort to the many collaborators both delegations would require for their talks.

The team of delegates sat down on the side chosen for them, flanking the Minister of State for Okinawa and Sigma Territorial Affairs, Arata Nakaigawa, who eventually stood back after presentations were made, to formally address the representatives of the Gas Miner Guild facing them.

"A good day to you on the behalf of the Republic of Kusari. Before we begin our talks, please allow me to express our contentment to be here, so that relations between Gas Miner Guild and the Republic of Kusari can be formalized through the settlement of a new treaty, whose terms will be recognized by both parties."
Arata Nakaigawa made a pause, nodding.
"Kusari values greatly its privileged relationship with the Guild, that spans since centuries. Most of your members are of Kusarian descent. We can only wish you the best of all possible futures.
In fact, it is Kusari's interests to guarantee Gas Miner Guild's prosperity, given the close economic ties the Guild forged with Kusari economical actors during its long history."

The Minister looked down at the files disposed on the table to prepare the negotiations.
"We definitely have much to discuss, so that we can guarantee to our respective citizens safety and prosperity. The recent developments in the Sigmas region are very concerning and efforts will necessarily be required from everyone to maintain stability in the region.

Now, regarding the talks to come, please allow me to remind this assembly of the precedent liabilities.
It is naturally the Aomori treaty, signed by Gas Miner Guild and Kusari Empire in 818 after settlement, and declared as void by Emperor Kogen Jien following Kurile crisis."

Arata Nakaigawa glanced around to gauge GMG representatives mindset, following that statement.
"The content of that treaty is definitely relevant to our talks, but I can only assume it would be wise not to rely too much on its content, given its obsolete nature in view of the profound changes the Sigma region, Gas Miner Guild and Kusari experienced since its settlement."

The Minister then took a file that one of his secretaries was respectfully presenting.
"As for Kusari concerns presently, please allow me to enumerate them so that we can have a basis for the discussion to come.
1) The definition of the area recognized as Gas Miner Guild sovereign space.
2) The settlement of the conflict occurring in Sigma 17 system, between Samura Keiretsu and the Guild, and the ownership of Planet Kurile.
3) The nature of Sigma 21 system and its content.
4) Requirements to protect Kusarian citizens and Kusari corporations assets in Gas Miner Guild sovereign space, and steps to improve security in the Sigma region.
5) House Rheinland objectives.
6) Laws harmonization to ease our fight against criminality."