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Photeianos: Prime Minister Aesop, it is good to speak to you again.
Aesop: And a pleasure to speak to you, General Photeianos. Apologies that it must be under such… unusual circumstances.
Photeianos: Circumstances caused by Cassids.
Aesop: Hence why I said unusual. But I must insist, the Cassid government has nothing to do with the feral insanity sweeping across your lands! Why are you leaping to such claims?
Photeianos: Because every single race has been affected by this apart from Cassids. If this was not race-specific, then you would all be as insane as Thanatians. Yet we have zero cases of Cassids being infected.
Aesop: Where are your sources?
Photeianos: These are sources not just from Rethan experts, but from the combined work of Rethans, Vreka, Vohra and Thraki. We have also had reports from the Lanex. Not a single Cassid has been infected, have they?
Aesop: You… are correct, our population has only been on the receiving end of attacks from your feral, uncontrollable madvok. But alas, had this illness not been created by an unknown and equally insane Cassid, no Cassids would have been harmed now.
Photeianos: I am sorry for any Cassids harmed, but right now I am trying to stop Rethans from killing one another. The death count is rising and I need to be certain that you are on our side.
Aesop: You have lost someone.
Photeianos: I have. My beloved Vice General is trapped on Kolasi. He was on a peace-keeping mission with the Vohra, who we all agree are impossible to work with when it comes to peace-keeping missions, when his ship went down in a heavily infected area.
Aesop: Oh my… I am so sorry! Is he alive?
Photeianos: Yes. His Ksa located him but they too have succumbed to the plague. I am thankful that the Ksa programming overrides the plague, so Elkay is… mostly safe. It is not just him though. One of the Queens of the Vohran Queen Council, Tanui, was nearly savaged to death. King Ver of the Vreka has lost the majority of his ten Princes and most of their Barons too.
Aesop: What about the Tharebay?
Photeianos: I have no idea. But you can see clearly now why we need to act. Why we need your help to fix this. We’ve already seen in neutral territories of Cassids being hunted down by feral monsters. I have Rethans on that.
Aesop: We can try and find an antidote, one that works in the same way as the actual illness.
Photeianos: I assumed you already had Cassids on that?
Aesop: We did, but we are pushing it to a higher priority. This is an off-world problem so we treat it as such.
Photeianos: What do you mean by that?
Aesop: It doesn’t really affect us, with nearly no effect in Cassid territories.
Photeianos: So those living outside your territories… You were planning on leaving them? You do remember the Maza agreement, do you not?
Aesop: I did not sign it.
Photeianos: Neither did I, but our predecessors did. It is our duty to uphold that. By the tone of your voice, do you not LIKE being part of the Maza?
Aesop: Um…
Photeianos: You are planning on splitting off?
Aesop: It is being debated. I hope the idea doesn’t pass. I personally enjoy the safety of the Maza, but others feel like you are all, in their words, “leeching off” of us.
Photeianos: If you leave, you lose access to all the resources that have made your race as profitable as you are. Whatever. This is not the time for this. We will discuss this in a meeting when the crisis is over. Until then, we would like your assistance in tracking down whoever created this illness, and finding a cure for it. I promise to do my best and make sure no more Cassids are harmed. Our General of Medical Works will be in touch soon, with the information we have so far. Does this sound fair?
Aesop: As this is, essentially, our fault, yes. That is fair. I do have something I must ask of you though, General.
Photeianos: What do you need?
Aesop: I need assistance in convincing my members of parliament that the Maza is a good thing.
Photeianos: You want me to speak to someone?
Aesop: No. I want your Vice General to speak to them. I believe he has the tone and the strength needed to turn the minds of Cassids.
Photeianos: Of course. I can ask him when he returns from Kolasi. He will need a brief break, so perhaps a trip to the Glass Towers will help. Why Elkay though?
Aesop: We, ah, have been studying him. His speeches are always well-received. He has a unique way with words that can convince anyone to do anything.
Photeianos: Not everyone.
Aesop: Yes. Very well. Thank you for your call, High General. I shall send the orders out now.
Photeianos: Thank you too, Prime Minister.
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