It is winter back home, Alacrity’s favorite time in Trantor, but here he was, at Grand Council. Curtis having been recalled for talks with the Naltans the time was right for the Hegemon to address the Council. “Where is my speech Davis?”
“Here sir, and your notes from Curtis.” Timothy Davis had served as personal body man to the Hegemon since his time in the Council Arena Earthen House. “Try to resist improvisation. Minister Mannes has my personal number and will never forgive me if you cut loose.”
“Curtis will just have to learn to live with disappointment.”
+++
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Council, I come as the Hegemon of the Peoples of the Republic of UshraKerbal. We too long had hidden behind the worry of the grander world have justly been held back from our potential.
As a peoples we now come forward, willing and able to face that grander world and ask that you see us as fellow travelers to greater heights. As we take our first steps off our shores and over our mountains we live in hope to find open hands of friendship and mutual respect that will lead to the strengthening of all involved.
On our Eastern Continent we see quiet and peace and plan to strive for growth and understanding of all in that region, and that growth will spread as we ourselves reach out ever further.
In this light we reach out to our brothers in the West, who face a dire time of uncertainty. Be it known that those in need will find friendship among the Kerban peoples, a partner bent towards the alleviation of suffering. To the end the Arena Council of UshraKerbal under my direction is currently debating a resolution to put forth humanitarian aide for that war torn region in the form of our REA. This group, trained in disaster relief, will be available to any nation wishing assistance of a completely non military nature. Specializing in recovery operations, refugee management and relocation, and on site hunger and basic needs relief, the REA can and will help those it can, when it can.
On the flip side the UshraKerbal Republic finds it can not at this time offer any military power to the region for any one side. We feel as a peoples that it is not our place to decide matters of foreign nations, but only secure and help those persons caight in the cross fire.
It is hoped by us that the West can find middle ground and peace in the near future and we welcome all overtures toward that peace."
+++
Alacrity stepped down from his speech, and headed for the car. “See I can behave myself at the microphone.” He said handing his coat off to Davis.
“Yes you managed to only put one part of our Government on the spot under the glaring eye of international pressure. High Councilman Jarrods will not thank you for cornering him into accepting the resolution to send aide. Caroline Poplus is probably having a stroke right now.”
“She’ll get over it, it was her idea in the first place. And Jarrods knew he would have to pass it anyway with the peoples support behind it so totally, I just took the steam out of his dithering machine that would have held it up for weeks.” Alacrity sat in the back of the Le Mize limousine and poured himself a drink. “Get me back to the embassy. If I am going to get yelled at by to Ministers of my own Quorum I want to do it sitting in a comfortable chair, not the back of this car.”