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748 - The Voice of Reason
🕑 Added 2024-10-05 08:32:33 +0000 UTCBy the sixth day, the Empire had succeeded in obliterating many of the smaller organizations that had allied with the weaker civilizations, pushing those civilizations themselves to the brink of destruction.
However, the Empire wasn’t unscathed either. They had lost nearly five hundred and fifty thousand ships, along with over seven billion breaching pods destroyed before they could even make it aboard enemy vessels.
Realizing the escalating toll, the opposition began to scale back their aggressive expenditure of weapons. It became clear that the Empire’s arsenal was far from running dry—its seemingly endless supply of firepower suggested that they had prepared for a protracted conflict, and this forced the other side to reconsider their approach. Their hope of outlasting the Empire in a battle of attrition was dwindling as it became evident that they might run out of weapons before their opponent even showed signs of slowing down.
……………
“I think we need to act decisively, or we’ll end up retreating with nothing but losses—and leaving behind an enemy with terrifying weapons,” Xylor, the Zelvora fleet commander, said, his expression grim as he sifted through the six days' worth of battle data they had gathered.
The Zelvora, thanks to their unique ability to create a mental network that allowed for coordinated, unified attacks, had fared better than most. Their combined efforts had enabled them to generate a massive shield around their fleet, protecting them from much of the carnage that followed the Empire's devastating black hole attack. As a result, they were one of the few fleets that had sustained minimal losses during the brutal tit-for-tat exchanges.
"Based on their craziness, they'll destroy their entire star system before accepting defeat," Liasas remarked, recalling the extreme and reckless tactics their enemies had displayed.
"You're right," Zorvas agreed. "But from what we've seen, I actually think they might be worthy of joining the Conclave. If we can convince both sides to end the hostilities and cooperate, we can prevent them from annihilating themselves if they lose, limit our own losses, and still gain access to these so-called mana stones."
Liasas frowned. "But will they even listen? The Vlathorins will see any form of negotiation as dishonorable. And the Xor'Vak? They'll only agree if they believe the other side is strong enough to justify a treaty. Then, of course, there's the chance the Empire's leaders are just as unstable as their soldiers, and won't accept peace even if it means risking total destruction."
Her words cast a shadow over the discussion, highlighting the deep uncertainty surrounding any potential resolution.
When those in Zelvora's mental network heard her reasoning, a brief silence followed as they collectively considered how to address the potential deal-breakers. Thanks to their interconnected minds, the Zelvora were one of the few species whose entire race shared a unified sense of logic and understanding. There were no misunderstandings, distortions, or miscommunications—issues that often fractured other races. This seamless connection allowed them to always arrive at the most rational decisions, ensuring the best possible outcomes while minimizing losses.
As a result, the Zelvora had earned their reputation as the voice of reason among most Conclave members.
"How about we just give everyone what they want while also ending the conflict now, without inflicting further damage on the fleets and their people?" someone proposed in the network, breaking the momentary silence.
"And how do you plan to accomplish that, Tylar?" Liasas inquired, acknowledging the suggester while emphasizing the hierarchy within their society. By stating his name, Liasas granted him permission to speak, a necessary protocol given the structure of the Zelvora.
In their society, names ending with -an or -en indicated low-ranking individuals, such as civilians, recruits, or workers. Those with names ending in -ar or -orn were mid-ranking skilled professionals, while -as or -or denoted high-ranking commanders and elite leaders. The suffix -ath or -is indicated noble ranks, including lords and governors, whereas -on or -yx was reserved for royal lineage or rulers, signifying ultimate authority.
This hierarchy meant that Tylar held a rank below all those currently speaking, so Liasas needed to grant him permission to share his ideas. Without such acknowledgment, Tylar would not have been allowed to continue.
“As you previously mentioned, while bringing forth this agreement seems to be the best possible outcome from this situation, limiting losses to the current ones, the two hot-headed races are unlikely to accept it as it stands. There's also a chance that the other side won't agree. What if we frame it in a way that leads to a win-win situation for everyone involved? The Valthorins would have the chance to redeem their pride, the Xor’Vaks would have the opportunity to face a formidable foe, and the opposing side would avoid the annihilation of their civilization while gaining a path to join the Conclave.”
As he recounted this lengthy yet seemingly redundant analysis, no one interrupted him; they recognized this was his moment to gain recognition from the higher-ups. They allowed him to elaborate as long as he presented a solid idea at the end. However, if he wasted everyone's time with a foolish proposal, he would face the consequences.
Finally, he transitioned to his core idea. “All of these strong-headed races share a common trait: they respond to powerful individuals. So, why not establish a framework that capitalizes on this?
"We establish an agreement that clearly outlines how the two sides will interact, covering essential aspects such as who the empire can sell the mana stones to, at what price, and other relevant terms. Most factions on our side will agree to this framework, leaving the Valthorins and Xor’Vaks in a position where they cannot refuse outright.
For these two groups, we present an opportunity to face the strongest individuals from the other side. This could serve as a means for them to redeem their honor or simply to engage with formidable opponents. In exchange, should they lose, they will have to forfeit certain benefits. However, if they emerge victorious, they will either gain equal or slightly greater benefits than the rest of us.
"Once our side has reached an agreement, we will inform the empire that we have crafted a deal beneficial for both parties. At the same time, we should issue a warning: since they possess what we desire, we will relentlessly pursue them, regardless of how many times they manage to thwart us, until we achieve their annihilation should they refuse our offer.
If they express interest in our proposal, we will present them with the initial terms, which will be slightly exploitative in nature—terms they are unlikely to accept. Once they express their unwillingness, we can then provide them with an opportunity to negotiate terms if they agree to face our chosen challengers which will be the Valthorins and the Xor’Vaks.
We can leverage the other side's lack of knowledge about the Conclave to create the impression that they stand a chance of winning or that the fight will be closely contested. This will allow them to negotiate the terms based on their potential victory or defeat, encouraging them to raise the stakes willingly.
This approach will lead them to believe that, depending on what they decide to stake, they could secure the most favorable deal if they win. While the agreement may turn more exploitative if they lose, the potential gains will likely overshadow their concerns about what they stand to lose if they fail. In either scenario, we will benefit from the arrangement, ensuring that our interests are protected regardless of the outcome.
If they agree and negotiate the rewards, we can solidify the arrangement by signing a mana oath, ensuring they cannot back out once they witness the true strength of our two races and come to realize their likelihood of losing.
That’s my proposal; feel free to use it as a template and adjust it as needed to fit the circumstances with the information you have at hand."
With that, he concluded, feeling elated at having captured the attention of everyone in the network—an achievement he could chase for the rest of his life.
