The Pride Goeth Before All - 10.038

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Kiattaarra Feessarro, Keji'samaarraa'ssee'jaakreea, Pride Mother of the Cizerack, sat stiffly on the grratta'Saanja. The golden throne was glorious, the rays of the symbol of Saanjarra stretching above her head. The seat was covered with a golden velvet pillow, matching the enormous curtains that were tied back from the equally great windows of the iiss'grratta'Saanja, the throne room. The room was ornate and well appointed, and extremely well lit. When one entered through the dim Nomaa'iirrssa, as her guests of state were about to do, it served to remind them of the glory of the person they were meeting with.

Her power was granted by Saanjarra, and she gave the priestesses their power, and so the circular relationship continued. Since she had been thrust upon the throne after the death of her mother, the priestesses grew bold and constantly tried to assert political and religious power over her, but Kia had grown in the year since her ascension. For now the temple was as powerful as was appropriate, but the Tataur'aa was constantly looking for ways to trip her up. It was only Keerrourri Sarrtarroa Feessarro, her manservant and the Emissary of the Pride, who had managed to keep her alive and teach her what she needed to know.

At the moment the High Priestess was no doubt wishing to convey her deep consternation that the Pride Mother had not been able to conceive an heir by one of her manservants yet. Kia still felt that it was none of her business. There was a tension filled statemate at the moment, where she refused to receive any of the Sun Goddess' recent recommendations as far as males went, and the High Priestess was conspicuously missing from receptions such as this one.

The forrda would not note her absence, but the Cizeri senators would. Keer was not exactly pleased, but it was, as they said, too late. The sajoi was out of the bowl. It was ridiculous, and she was going to have to make it right very soon, but for now Kia was enjoying not having the other female's cold eyes on her shoulder.

<"The Alliance party is approaching the Court of the Sun,"> murmured one of her handmaidens, a platinum haired female from Carshoulis Prime. Kia nodded silently, and straightened her back, her red dress draped just so on her body, the plunging neckline artfully exposing her cleavage.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Senator Meorrrei had in her short term of office become practiced at this manner of pomp. Nevertheless, coming home for this sort of state meeting was a different matter entirely. The Pride Mother wasn't exactly a colonial magistrate. She held the tether that kept the Rrou'fai of House Meorrrei bound to her office. While not outright threatening to sever such a tie if displeased, Her Highness had discovered a fancy for playing with it like so much yarn. The only matter that brought her comfort was that the Pride Mother's bickering with the High Priestess seemed to be ongoing, which served to make the yarn that bound Senator Arretaura to the young Mother a marginally more appealing plaything. Nevertheless, the young Mother was a fickle creature, and there were never guarantees in such things.

"Urroa."

From behind the entourage, a dark-skinned Cizerack male appeared and presented a compact, which the Senator used to spot-check her appearance before the Senatorial party was officially received. He adjusted a fold along the shoulder of Taataani's silken mantle, then produced a small bottle from a pocket and delicately applied a few drops of perfume along the contours of her ears. She repaid his kindness with a kiss, and he returned to the trailing edge of the throng. Taataani watched him file back, her eyes passing Minister Salem Ave and a host of Alliance Senators, friend and foe alike.

Of course, never admitted aloud. No, they were all friends here. Hand in hand, together as one. The absurd notion was just the right thing to summon a pleasant yet artificial smile to her face just as two of the royal manservants pushed wide the doors of the iiss'grratta'Saanja to receive the Pride Mother's special guests.

[Delphnye Sarpin]

Situated opposite from Senator Meorrrei among the official guests, Countess Delphnye Sarpin, Senator of Vergill of the Hapes Consortium stood stiff as a rail at the sight before them. This place had an aesthetic that a Hapan could nearly appreciate. Nearly. The tapestries and sconces were vivid and ornate among majestic columns and other trappings that announced this venue as both a seat of State and a work of art. Be that as it may, the colors and styles were loud and garish, and assaulted the senses into near oblivion. And if they were unsuccessful, the wildly exotic scents of incense in the air and the sight of oiled and coiffed manservants - nearly nude save for a few bolts of Ithorian silk that manifested themselves as clothing - would suffice in fraying the calm of a civilized being.

The Countess Senator removed from her handbag a folding fan, which she snapped into service, using it to relieve her from the heat that now conspired with her bewildered condition. She glanced to her right to see that Senator Arretaura was none the worse from the experience. No doubt her keen senses had been deadened to numbness through decades of acclimation to such excess. Still, the older felinoid's attention had found itself on her, and an explanation - requested or not - was to be delivered.

"The incense is...persistent."

Through the cover of her fanning, Delphnye conspired to catch a glimpse of that profane creature that had been installed as the Minister of State in this so-called Alliance. His eyes were, as always, white and inscrutable. If he was put off by their surroundings, he made no show of it. No, of course not. Perhaps he wallowed in it as he ought.

[Salem Ave]

The delegation paused as per protocol, awaiting their official introduction to the Cizeri court. Salem stood at the front and centre of the group, dressed for the first time in a long time in the muted greys and greens of Onderon: a short cape draped over one shoulder and the silver badge of House Basille at his throat. Ordinarily, the subdued hues would have been innocuous but against the background of the flamboyance and opulence of the Court of the Sun, the austerity of the Onderonian formal attire paradoxically made Salem all the more conspicuous.

The Minister of State kept his focus on the hall ahead of them as they waited, though he felt eyes on the back of his head. It was difficult to say what was the more challenging task: convincing the Pride that joining the Alliance was in their best interests, or reconciling the two matriarchies represented by the women flanking him on both sides.

Another day, another court, another queen, he reminded himself. If there was an area that he had garnered a significant amount of experience in, it was this.

[Jaanseerra Arretaura]

“Thjisss jisss what we have to look forrrward to asss djignjitarrrjiesss of the Alljiance: bejing made to ssstand and sssweat jin an endlessssss ssselectjion of rrrojyal wajitjing rrroomsss,” Senator Arretaura said to no one in particular, audible to the bulk of the Alliance party as she adjusted the shawl draped over her head and around her shoulders. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the profile of Salem Ave, who had surely heard her but whose lips did not so much as twitch in response. She spared a brief glance for Taataani, then turned aside and arched a thin, expectant eyebrow at one of the males standing nearby. “A cussshjion wouldn't go amjissssss.”

The male's eyes twitched towards her for a moment, uncertain, but he didn't move; Jaanseerra was not surprised. If the Pride Mother had been a gracious host, she would have provided a litter, but grace was something that the young monarch had not been born with and had yet to learn. Jaanseerra's attention wandered back to the rest of the Pride Mother's guests, her eyes meeting with those of an elderly human wearing a hat that looked like, in the right circumstances, it would make a passable cushion.

Jaanseerra smiled at the woman's observation, “And jussst the fjirrrssst of manjy odorrrjiferrrousss prrroceedjingsss herrr golden hjighnessssss wjill expect usss to ssstomach todajy.”

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

<"Senator Arretaura, from Carshoulis Prime. Senator Sarpin, from the Hapes Cluster. And Senator Ave, from Onderon."> The loud voice of the Huntress Captain who headed the Pride Mother's security detail rang through the throne room, and Kia made a small adjustment to her posture, dropping one shoulder a bit and leaning just slightly against one side of the grratta'Saanja. The Pride Mother did not sit on the edge of her seat when receiving guests. The doors from the Nomaa'iirrssa opened inward, spilling the light into where the Alliance representatives were waiting their introduction. A waft of incense drifted through, causing the senators to arrive in a cloud of humility and offering to Saanjarra. Thankfully the actual iiss'grratta'Saanja had clear air, but the Senators stepped through, blinking in the light and taking a moment to get used to the difference.

"Keji'samaarraa'ssee'jaakreea greetsss jyou and bjidsss jyou welcome," the Huntress Captain continued, in Basic. The entourages of the Senators filed slowly in behind them to stand at the back of the room as the trio approached to the middle of the iiss'grratta'Saanja, standing on a massive mosaic depicting Saanjarra's symbol, the sun. Kia studied the faces impassively, her expression aloof but intelligent, haughty, yet interested. It had taken weeks for Keer to agree she'd mastered the perfect detached gaze that implied all the right things and gave away nothing. It had been exhausting.

Her eye lingered on the male senator, before she looked to her Emissary to begin the reception.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Where as the Pride Mother was expected to receive her guests with a regal countenance understating her high station, her arr'fai - her first man and Emissary, was an extension of her gracious hospitality. Clad in an elegantly-embroidered robe, he approached the throng from the right hand side of the grratta'Saanja, positioned between the Senators and Her Highness, but never in a fashion that impeded their view of her regal splendor.

Keerrourri bowed, an elegant flourish with knees bent slightly (gracious, but not to meet the ground and show subservience to the guests) with his right hand held palm raised above his head and left hand at his breast. Even his tail, no errant appendage, complied with the display, slinking along his left side closest to his young queen, with the tuft draped deferentially before his feet. There was none of this salutation that was done by accident. Every bit of it was careful in its implementation.

When the Emissary spoke to Her guests, his voice filled the iiss'grratta'Saanja with a sing-songy baritone cadence. Even if they were to receive their guests in Basic, no other liberties were to be taken to cheapen such an exclusive audience.

"The hourr of the hjighesst ssun jiss at hand...the ljight of Saanjarra'ss grrace to be sseen bjy all made flessh beforre jyou...casst awajy darrk jintentjion ljike fleejing sshadowss and bearr wjitnesss to ourr Grreat Motherrr...forr herrss jiss bjy rrjight the hjighesst domjinjion and ssacrred authorrjitjy...gjiven bjy Saanjarraa to herr mosst favorred people."

The greeting chant now ended, Keerrourri rose as gracefully as he had bowed, his hands clasped before him.

"Mjy mjisstrresss, Kiattaarra Feessaarro, Hjigh Motherr of the Prrjide of the Cizerack, welcomess jyou to herr courrt, and sshall hearr jyou jin turrn."

[Alli Tiawarrh]

Representative Tiawarrh stood just behind the much older senators, near Senator Meorrrei. Her plan for this momentous occassion was to keep her mouth shut and simply be ready to present the contracts when required to do so. The throne room was dazzling, and her eyes were watering from the sudden change in brilliance, a sneeze attempting to break through. She managed to keep it at bay, her eyes blinking and looking at the Pride Mother for a moment.

She is even younger than I am, she noted with surprise, then looked away lest she be caught staring at the monarch and start some sort of intergalactic incident. Taataani's presence was comforting, as the other senator had helped her perfect the contracts they were going to offer to the Pride. Mineral rights in exchange for ships. Krant was suddenly important, and Alli wasn't sure she liked it.

[Jaanseerra Arretaura]

As the doors were thrown inward and the light of the throne room blazed before them, Senator Arretaura made no attempt to hide her discomfort, her lashes fluttering and the already wrinkled bridge of her nose becoming further furrowed as the glare momentarily blinded her.

“Sssubtle as a cub jin krrree-rrrrrrou,” she sighed as the group around her drifted forward as one. There ahead of them, on her golden throne, was a girl no more than a fifth Jaanseerra's own age. She had the look of her predecessor about her, haughty and aloof, though it was difficult illusion for the Matriarch to immerse herself in, when she could recall a time when Kiattaarra Feessaarro had been a mewling puss squabbling for a mouthful of her mothers teats.

Naturally, the honour of speaking first fell upon Jaanseerra's shoulders. She took a step forward and bowed her veiled head in supplication. When she spoke, her voice carried well through the chamber.

“jI apprrroach asss a... daughterrr to the arrrmsss of the Motherrr, rrreturrrnjing frrrom mjy jourrrnejys to herrr embrrrace. Thossse wjith me arrre... chjildrrren frrrom otherrr landsss, herrre to petjitjion the Motherrr'sss favorrr, and arrre under mjy prrrotectjion.”

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

The Pride Mother straightened a bit, inclining her head just so toward the supplicant Matriarch. Arretaura had been a part of the Council of Matriarchs since her mother's time on the throne, her extreme age making her politics unchangeable. A known quantity.

The Emissary opened his mouth to speak, and Kia flicked her fingers at him, using the sign language they employed in matters of state when the Mother dared not sully her reputation by speaking her own words. Make it short; invite the Senators to private council. Speaking freely was more useful than this tedious reception.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Keerrourri was just about to carry on the reception in long-form when the Sor'Rrou'Fai cut short such a foray. A polite smile and a pause. So much the better.

"Wjith Saanjarra's favorr, ourr Motherr rrecjievess jyou and the chjildrren underr jyourr warrd, and jinvjitess jyourr companjy to rrecjieve you furrtherr."

The words themselves were command enough for the servants at the private chambers to the left of the iiss'grratta'Saanja to throw open the doors. The Emissary dutifully prostrated himself, bidding the women and the Minister of State to accept the invitation. Soon, his young mistress would finally be able to show her prowess on a larger playing field.

[Salem Ave]

In deference to the customs of the Pride, the Minister of State deferred to the rest of the senatorial party as they were ushered into another chamber. It was Salem's understanding that a public welcome followed by a private reception was the standard protocol when meeting with the Pride Mother. The reception room was no less grand, however. Following at the rear of the party, Salem caught the eye of young Representative Tiawarrh as she looked somewhat wide eyed about the place, and offered an encouraging smile.

It was not clear whether there was further ceremony to be indulged in, so Salem remained standing and silent for the time being.

[Delphnye Sarpin]

As they filed in for their private audience, Countess Sarpin could only find amusement that she was once again in the court of another child queen - although at least this Kiattaarra Feessarro was positively sagely when compared to the figurehead that the Chume clung to with impunity. Her eyes flitted to Keerrourri, again with detached curiosity. This creature had a brain; certainly moreso than the sum of the scantily-swaddled rabble she'd seen clinging to the shadows of the court's periphery as if the air those recesses contained was somehow sweeter. Men were certainly changeable things, but the systematic contempt the Cizerack caste held them in was exotic even for a Hapan noble.

But they were here for matters beyond conjecture, no? Loyal lapdogs for the minister, come to suckle at the Cizerack bosom for a supper of starships? And surely the Hapans would prostitute themselves second. As disdainful a notion as it was, this was a minor enough corruption for the Chume to ask, and for Delphnye to acquiesce.

Despite any imposed drudgery, there was still opportunity within this meeting. She would let the most esteemed Minister have his say first, naturally, but the Countess was already calculating that the historic meeting of the two great Matriarchies of the galaxy would be auspicious enough that even Kiattaarra Feessarro would not ignore it. When her time came, Delphnye planned to expound upon such a concord.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

The Senators were arranged by importance, the Minister, despite his sex, was seated nearest to where the Pride Mother would recline, while the other two senators were equidistant, with the diminutive Representative a slight bit further away. Each was allowed to bring two attendants, though the Krantian human female had but one with her on the trip. The assistants were all female, so as not to offend, and were offered seats by the wall.

The private chamber was large enough that it did not feel cramped with so many people inside, and was decorated with comfortable seating made of luxurious fabric and rich exotic wood. The Pride Mother's seat was more of a chaise, and set slightly above the rest of the room, with the Emissary's chair to the right and below. He entered the room just behind Kiattaarra, but she was concentrating on walking to her position with the proper amount of grace and sexuality. The red dress hugged her curves before cascading to the ground, the long skirt dragging on the carpets behind her, though the slit to her thigh made it easy enough to walk.

She draped herself over the chaise, a barely clothed manservant carefully arranging her dress as she settled down, and then disappearing to the wall, almost literally. There were ten of her personal guard in the room, around the periphery and serving mostly as decoration. Should there be any hint of a threat, however, they would spring into action.

Kia smiled at her esteemed guests, meeting Minister Ave's eyes for a moment before moving on to the rest. "jI welcome jyou, frrrjiends, to the Carshoulis Clusssterrr. jYou majy feel frrree to ssspeak to me herrre, wjithout fearrr of rrreprrrjisssal." Within reason, of course.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani inclined her head as she spoke.

"Ja irra korra'nai, Sorr'rrou'fai." She addressed her queen by a more familiar honorific than was reserved for open court.

"jI have come wjith the Mjinjissterr and Ssenatorrjial entourrage to djisscusss matterrss of ssecurrjitjy forr ourr alljiance. jIn parrtjicularr, we arre tassked wjith bolssterrjing the sstarrfleet of ourr fledgljing unjion."

Senator Meorrrei paused, looking sidelong briefly at Minister Ave, before proceeding.

"Each parrtjy beforre jyou rreprressentss a facet of thjiss commjittment. jI have made mjy prrjivate holdjingss avajilable forr cooperratjion wjith the Alljiance mjiljitarrjy. Ssenatorr Tjiawarrrh of Krrant hass made prroductjion contrrjibutjionss, and Ssenatorr Ssarrpjin asssurress Hapess wjill alsso prrovjide rressourrcess to the fleet."

She had framed the situation as it now stood. Minister Ave would likely now make his case.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Steepling his fingers together, Keerrourri waited for the Minister of State to present his proposal to his mistress. He already had enough of an inkling as to the nature of what would be asked, and he'd briefed Kiattaarra well before the meeting of his appraisal. It was no secret, after all, that one of the first priorities of the Alliance after a peace accord was signed would be to shore up their holdings. And to do that, they would need a proper starfleet.

He glanced at Taataani as she took her seat, and then across to Senator Arretaura, whose contributions to this proposal had been interestingly silent. He imagined she attended as a matter of solidarity, as it would appear unseemly to let her junior Senator get involved in such a proposal unchecked. It was no secret that they were political rivals.

[Jaanseerra Arretaura]

It wasn't that Jaanseerra wasn't interested in what was being discussed; quite the contrary. She had heard, rehearsed at some length, the arguments that Taataani and Salem were likely to present to the Pride Mother. She wasn't precious about the discussion at hand. If it pleased Senator Meorrrei to appear as the architect of these proceedings, Jaan was content to sit back in comfort and allow her the younger female her moment in the sun.

Nevertheless, a contribution of some sort was expected from her. Head tilted, she offered a benevolent smile first to the Emissary and then to her fellow Senator, the kind of smile one might favour a cub upon seeing them swallow their first whole sajoi.

“Sssenatorrr Meorrrrrrreji ssspeaksss wjith mjy blessssssjing, and Mjinjisssterrr Ave wjith mjy consssent.”

[Salem Ave]

It was a mild surprise to find himself sitting if not within arm's reach of the Pride Mother, then certainly closer to her than any other member of the Alliance diplomatic party. He smiled when she looked at him, and wondered what exactly a reprisal from the young monarch might entail.

When the appropriate pause arose, Salem picked up where Taataani had left off.

“The Alliance has already received a number of generous commitments from public and private supporters alike... yet we remain outnumbered and outgunned by the Galactic Empire.”

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Kiattaarra smiled at the Cizeri senators, and turned her gaze on the male as he spoke. He had good facial structure - strong cheekbones and a nice mouth - but his ears were ridiculously tiny. "jYess, a prrroblem when trrranssjitjionjing frrrom a terrrorrrjissst rrrebelljion jinto a galaxjy sspannjing goverrrnment." She smiled. "And jyou wjisssh to bujy ssshjipsss frrrom the Prrrjide asss the ssshjipjyarrrdss at Sssullusst arrre sstjill damaged frrrom the confljict, and Dac alone cannot ssupporrrt the demand. jIsss that about rrrjight?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani's ears nearly flinched at the word terrorist. It was perhaps more confrontational than was warranted, although from a Cizerack perspective, a faction dedicated to raiding and pillaging Imperial supply lines could certainly warrant the perjorative.

"Wjith rreassonable compenssatjion, Hjigh Motherr. The Ssenate hass alrreadjy passsed an emerrgencjy powerrss budget forr the purrposse of sself defensse. The purrsse sstrrjingss have alrreadjy been pulled open. All that rremajinss jiss forr a sstrrong and capable natjion to sshow thejirr prrowesss to the Alljiance."

Senator Meorrrei glanced to Urroa, who stepped forward with a datapad which was given to the Sor'arr'fai, to in turn be given to his mistress.

"Fjiftjy bjilljion crredjitss forr a thrree jyearr consstrructjion obljigatjion of sseventjy-fjive capjital sstarrsshjipss."