Divine Commonwealth Appeals to the Hydian Expanse for an End to Unnecessary Hostilities

The Divine Commonwealth recently approached Emperor Talak Kasra of the Krath Empire seeking something remarkably simple: peaceful neutrality. We asked for no territory, technology, wealth, tribute, or political concessions. We asked for a conversation.

This followed a series of increasingly strange diplomatic encounters. A dispute involving three sets of Heavy Battle Armor reportedly left Emperor Kasra “unhappy.” High Priest Xanxus Drol offered to return the disputed property personally if the Emperor would simply speak with him. The armor in question was looted from Xanxus over a decade ago, when Xanxus followed galactic law to reclaim the property it apparently was very upsetting to the Krath Emperor. He declined to speak with Xanxus over the issue.

. When the Commonwealth later sent another diplomat, that representative was reportedly “laughed away.”

Nevertheless, we tried again.

Our faith teaches the Divine Imperative of Concord: the sacred obligation to seek peaceful settlement of disputes, reconcile willing adversaries, and offer honorable peace to all who will accept it. Acting under that obligation, High Priest Drol wrote directly to Emperor Kasra and proposed putting aside whatever hostility exists between us in favor of simple neutrality.

The Emperor's answer began by dismissing the proposal as “self-righteous, sanctimonious drivel.” More importantly, he explained that the Commonwealth remains an enemy of the Hydian Expanse, and that any meaningful reset would therefore require the Expanse as a whole.

He then concluded his response with:

“We'll use your corpses to wipe the slate clean for you.”

And signed it:

“Worst regards and forever your enemy.”

The Emperor's position is understood.

However, beneath the insults and threats, Emperor Kasra provided one genuinely useful piece of information. If the obstacle to peaceful relations is our status with the Hydian Expanse, perhaps we have simply been speaking to the wrong people.

TO THE HYDIAN EXPANSE

The Divine Commonwealth has no quarrel with you, and we seek none.

Whatever history produced our current designation as your enemy, we ask a few simple questions: What quarrel do you have with us today? What has Divine Commonwealth (or Crimson Dawn previously) done to upset the Hydian Expanse in the first place?  Should we suffer for eternity because I (Xanxus Drol) once was a zann member years ago? 

All questions proposed by Xanxusl, leader of the government, who also asks the public an important question. Emperor Kasra said “No idea where you people get the notion that you can antagonize half the galaxy” Xanxus asks the galaxy “Whom have we mistreated or antagonized, prove it to us. Emperor Kasra, good luck proving that statement with factual evidence!”

If grievances exist, tell us what they are. Send your diplomats. We will receive them respectfully. Let us discuss your grievances and ours, correct misunderstandings where they exist, and determine whether there is actually a reason for our peoples to remain enemies.

We are not at war with anyone currently, in our stances.

We do not ask you to embrace our religion, approve of our government, or particularly like us. We ask only whether continued hostility serves either of us. Why are you hostile towards us, when we have never shown you anything remotely the same?

The Commonwealth would rather establish another neutral border than create another battlefield. We would rather open trade than exchange fire. We would rather shake hands than count corpses.

CONCORD OFFERED

We cannot force Emperor Kasra to speak with us, abandon his hostility, or stop laughing at our diplomats. Those are his choices.

Our choices belong to us.

We chose dialogue. We offered reconciliation. We proposed neutrality. Emperor Kasra chose to answer that offer with a promise of corpses.

Our obligation is to offer honorable peace—not to endlessly pursue those determined to reject it. The Commonwealth therefore considers its immediate Imperative of Concord toward Emperor Kasra fulfilled. He, who has been given almost 5 opportunities to come to understand much of anything.

But the door remains open to the Hydian Expanse.

If Emperor Kasra is correct that you are the reason we must remain enemies, then we invite you to tell us why.

And if there is no longer a good answer to that question, perhaps it is time we stopped being enemies.

— Divine Commonwealth News Service