The Political Slog (Part 1)
Posted on Mon Dec 9th, 2024 @ 8:51pm by Commander Keisuke Takahashi 'K.T.' & Lieutenant Commander Chrirhc Chihc & Lieutenant Commander Kurumi Ebisuzawa & Lieutenant Ami Rori & Lieutenant JG Jane Sinclair & Commander Chiyomi Anzai
1,180 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Captains and Contraband
Location: Rheuysian Reichstag Building
The legislature of the Federal Rheuysian Republic, the Rheuysian Reichstag, met for joint sessions at its corresponding building located along Rheuys' equatorial region. Though the building was designed to accommodate both of the Bicameral legislature's houses, the Congress and the Parliament, the building was only regularly used by the lower house, the Rheuysian Congress. The upper house, the Rheuysian Parliament, met at a separate location.
Today, however, both the Congress and the Parliament had gathered as the complete Rheuysian Reichstag for a joint session to process the allegations being levied against the Republic by the Federation. Naturally, with the entire legislature being present, there was an increase in security measures: The Reichstag's chamber, for instance, was fitted with transporter inhibitors, protecting the Reichstag from attack via transporter. This meant that anyone beaming in would need to do so in the grand entrance hall, the building's main lobby. This massive room was designed to project Rheuysian Power, and contained several statues and paintings of important Rheuysian political figures, including their infamous "Kaiser from the Stars"- the first Kaiser of the Rheuysian Reich, the Republic's direct predecessor- who so also happened to be a rogue Federation historian. Painted on the ceiling of the grand entrance hall was a mural of the Rheuysians' first warp flight and subsequent first contact with aliens.
It was in this impressive chamber that the away team from the Myogi materialized in. The Starfleet officers materialized not far away from an information desk where members of the general public could take tours of the building, once they were processed by building security upon entering.
Kurumi couldn't help but smirk. "Overcompensating much..." she muttered to herself under her breath clearly amused.
"Too much pomp, not enough quality," Commander Anzai scoffed, evidently less amused than Kurumi was. "The plaster on the ceiling looks as if it wouldn't last 5 years, let alone a hundred..."
"Ge'nau he'ir ent'lang! (Right this way!)" a tall, slender man with long blonde hair and a pointed jaw called out over the din of the crowds. "Bit'te he'ir ent'lang. (Please, this way!)"
"Ne'in, du id'iot. (No, you fool)" A blonde woman beside him responded. "We were supposed to collect them, not summon them!"
"Looks like we've got company, fellas." Keisuke said as the duo approached.
"Her'r Takahashi; F'rau Anzai," the Blonde man greeted politely as they drew up to the away team. "My name is Feldmarschall Eber'Mont Braush, Security Administrator for the Federal Rheuysian Republic, and this is Fre'Da Stokh, a staffer for the Kaiser. On behalf of Her Majesty, we formally welcome both you and your affiliates to the Reichstag."
"The pleasure is ours, Feldmarschall;" Keisuke put a clenched fist over his heart and bowed, an acceptable alternative to the traditional Rheuysian greeting. "I just wish it were under friendlier circumstances."
"Indeed," the male, Braush, nodded. "You must understand, however, that such allegations are not to be taken lightly; we cannot allocate our resources to combating a threat whose existence remains unconfirmed outside of your given word; both the Kaiser and the Legislature must have indisputable proof that such an organization is actively working against the Republic's best interests before we can hope to contest them."
Knowing how badly out of turn she would be for speaking, Jane remained quiet but stood tall. These people represented in many ways some of the values that she spent her career resisting. Whether they would give the benefit of the doubt that there was something nefarious afoot behind the scenes, or implicate the government directly and possibly make the Federation's problems much worse, remained to be seen. And would be the responsibility of Commanders Takahashi and Anzai. Stay quiet. Speak when spoken to. But also don't look away.
Kurumi kept her eyes locked on the Rheuysians. She was ready to jump in to protect the away team at any time. She didn't like how 'hostile' these people seemed to be.
Ami glanced around as she stood in the middle of the group, taking in the architecture and the obvious German influence in the language and just... structure. She leaned towards Jane slightly and whispered barely audibly, "Panzerfahren. Tankery. Germans were masters." It was a breathy comment and likely not overheard by anyone not immediately next to her.
"Well, Her'r Braush, I'm sure the Kaiser will receive what she seeks." Chrirhc spoke up. "My team has gone over the information that was recovered from Gamma Zednor, and it's quite comprehensive. The question is; are your major military manufacturing companies ready to undergo a major shakeup in their ranks?"
Stokh glanced uneasily at Braush when the question left the Hebitian's lips. She knew that the major military manufacturers held seats in the Reichstag. Rheuysian law guaranteed that the military would have a direct voice in government, and if what the Hebitian said was true, the Parliamentarians from those companies would not react well to what the Starfleet personnel. In all honesty, they were the ones stalling the Reichstag from taking any action, and motioning for the allegations against the government to be dismissed on the grounds that they were baseless.
"Perhaps, in due time, they will." Stokh spoke first. "It depends on the nature of the information."
"Well, then; let's not keep the Reichstag waiting, then." Keisuke said, motioning for the Rheuysians to lead the way.
"But of course," Braush nodded. "Can we be anticipate any others to be joining your party?"
"Someone from Medical should be beaming down in the near future." Keisuke responded.
Braush turned to Stokh and nodded. "You go on ahead, F'rau'lein; I will wait for the others."
Stokh nodded.
"Right this way;" She said.
The legislative chamber of the Rheuysian Reichstag was a massive, two-story room with a large main floor lined with upper balconies on the second floor. At the front wall of the room, facing the semicircle of seats on the main floor, was a podium where the leaders of the two houses of the Bicameral Rheuysian Legislature, and the Rheuysian Kaiser, presided over the Reichstag. The seats on the main floor were occupied by members of the Rheuysian Congress; the lower house of the Reichstag whose members were directly elected by the Rheuysian people. While the upper balconies housed the members of the Rheuysian Parliament, the upper house of the Reichstag; some of whom were elected officials, while others were appointed to their positions, such as the representatives of the Rheuysian Self-Defense Force and the major military defense contractors.
Heid'Marr Shnauf, the current ruling Rheuysian Kaiser, had the unfortunate task of presiding over this joint session, called upon by the Parliamentarian representatives of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, involving allegations against the Rheuysian government that the companies whom their colleagues represented had been producing and selling arms to the Confederacy of Independent Planets. Something said other Parliamentarians denied. The floor had descended into a period of debate, as the Reichstag had reached an impasse as to how best to handle the allegations.
To be continued...
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