When Mister Trent had left the room, Shogun Gok-Li nodded to the Taishogun, the Leader and his econd clearly had an understanding.
"The Taishogun shall now make His determination."
The Court was deathly silent.
"It is said that diplomacy is a three-edged sword., that is it can cut both ways, and in other ways most unexpected and illogical. Truly, diplomacy in recent years has been cutting with the third edge."
Kintaki was interrupted in listening to the Taishogun, by a Court Official - who handed him a scroll with the Imperial Seal on it. The Taishogun continued to speak as Kintaki read it.
"The Taishogun and His ancestors are nothing if not patient. We have waited for the time when the Order would seek a return to its core values and mission. It is why we have always kept a link to the Order through the exchange of scientific information - even whilst the Order sought power for its own sake, and sipped tea at the table of ignominy."
Daiymo Hirisho was interrupted at the side of the Court by several guards, who pushed aside Hiriosho's own aides, and began to wheel him out of the Court. "Shogun Gok-Li wants to see you, Daiymo."
Protestations from Hirosho's men grew louder as they moved into the halls outside the Court, and were only kept at bay by the drawn swords and firearms of the Court Guards. The Taishogun continued to speak, paying no heed to the commotion at the back of the Court.
"And so here awaits the Dragon, not ready for warm embrace - but not turning His back. Fate has decided that our destinies shall once more be intertwined - and that the the goal of the Dragon shall be further uplifted by the desire to protect and serve humanity."
With that, the Taishogun left to great applause. Some of the applause was hesitant, and it was clear that the Taishogun accepted that suspicion would still abide in spite of any reconciliation.
The floor was now open to Shogun Sum-Gok-Li, who read the following Declaration:
"By the Will of the Taishogun, the following Ordinances shall be implemented.
1) Capital-class vessels of the Order shall be permitted to dock at Sendai Research Facility, or Ryuku Base.
2) Capital-class vessels of the Order shall not dock with, nor loiter within 5K of any other Dragon base. Such vessels shall be removed from the local system at the discretion of the ranking Dragon on duty.
3) Order vessels may pass freely through Dragon space. Order vessels are wholly responsible for the conduct of any escorts they bring with them. Escorts who we deem to be suspicious or undesirable shall be turned away at the discretion of the ranking Dragon on duty.
4) Order vessels may not refuse escort and/or monitoring by the Blood Dragons within their space. The Blood Dragons pledge to respect the same within Order space.
5) To facilitate further cooperation and harmony - one Blood Dragon shall be based from Order space, and embedded into their units. The Blood Dragons shall require one Order Agent to be embedded with us. It is up to each party to maintain and supply their own agents at this time." Kintaki gasped - this is what his new orders referred to. He was to be the first embedded Dragon within the Order. His first report would be due in a weeks time.
There were murmurs of approval from the Court. The Ordinances Sum outlined would allow the suspicious Dragons to keep a close eye on Order ships - and kept away the larger ships that might attract too much attention.
The Shogun then left - he had appointments of his own waiting in his chambers...