Bureaucracy is normally quite the drag, especially when it comes to just trying to keep things together. This especially turns out to be the case when someone new decides to join our ranks. Recently, the Universal Titans got word that humans were looking to join in on the Titanic Compact. I never thought I'd see the day where they'd finally reach any of us, and apparently, neither did any of the other Titans. It was a shock to our usual system, but how we were going to induct them shocked many more.
I was simply taking care of business in my office like usual when Gerrok, the head of the Eldian delegation, stormed into the room, practically blasting the door off its hinges. "What in all creation's name is this?!?" He held up the copy of the drafted proposal about the Terrans being inducted in, pointing at one line in particular with his veined, trembling hand.
Under normal circumstances, all delegations who come to serve in the Titans' Consortium are allowed a single representative. The resolution, however, specified that Terrans will be getting four. For rather understandable reasons, it caused an uproar among the delegates, but for the sake of decorum, the motion was brought forth for consideration anyway. It appears, however, that there are some much more willing to confront me on this matter privately.
I turn to my intruder with a face dripping with exasperation. "That's the draft of the induction of the Terrans. And yes, I know what part you're pointing out. It made it through the initial legislation phase and is now up for a vote, so there's nothing you can do to change that." I was used to getting complaints from many of the over 300 delegates, but Gerrok was perhaps the most belligerent of any of them. I hear from his homeworld no less than once every two weeks with some new tedium to have to address, and now he decides to waste my time with this...
No sooner do I get the word out of my mouth does he slam his hand into my desk. "I know that! Why are they getting four seats?!? No one else gets that many!" His voice was dripping with venom; of all the delegates, he's probably the most hostile to any government other than his own.
"They get those seats because that's what the drafters thought would be best for the Compact. Now either give me a complaint I can actually act on, or-"
He smashes his other hand into my desk, cutting me off. "Don't give me that! Sonaron is one of the founding members of the Titanic Compact, and you are its leader! You were one of the people who wrote that bloody compact, so I want to know why the hell you let those unpredictable lunatics into-"
This time I'm the one to cut him off. "Because we need them, you imbecile." I wasn't one to insult, but it usually got me a word in edgewise when I needed to do it. "The Titans' Consortium has grown stale and complacent with its place in the cosmos. We're all used to being the strongest powers we know. You ask why I would let someone so unpredictable into the Consortium? It's because they're unpredictable. We need someone like them to keep us on our toes, and the more of them there are, the more we'll need to account for. Their much shorter lifespans give them a perspective we will never have. After all, how much would you try to do if you knew you only had 80 years to live instead of 80 thousand? Besides... you would do well to remember exactly what my heritage is."
He was stunned into silence. It's an oft forgotten fact, but I myself am human, or at least I used to be. I couldn't help but rub it in just a bit. "That's what I thought. Now as I said before: give me a complaint I can act on, or get out."
The only thing I could hear from him was a string of Eldian curses as he tromped out of my office. He may not have wanted to admit it, but I could tell he knew I was right.
And with him dealt with, all I need to do is figure out the Terran delegates to appoint...
devon333 t1_ja9n0bz wrote
Reply to [WP] Tradition dictates that each sentient species is given one seat in the Galactic Parliament. When humanity made contact with the galactic community, it was decided that planet earth deserves to have four senators. by Spozieracz
Bureaucracy is normally quite the drag, especially when it comes to just trying to keep things together. This especially turns out to be the case when someone new decides to join our ranks. Recently, the Universal Titans got word that humans were looking to join in on the Titanic Compact. I never thought I'd see the day where they'd finally reach any of us, and apparently, neither did any of the other Titans. It was a shock to our usual system, but how we were going to induct them shocked many more.
I was simply taking care of business in my office like usual when Gerrok, the head of the Eldian delegation, stormed into the room, practically blasting the door off its hinges. "What in all creation's name is this?!?" He held up the copy of the drafted proposal about the Terrans being inducted in, pointing at one line in particular with his veined, trembling hand.
Under normal circumstances, all delegations who come to serve in the Titans' Consortium are allowed a single representative. The resolution, however, specified that Terrans will be getting four. For rather understandable reasons, it caused an uproar among the delegates, but for the sake of decorum, the motion was brought forth for consideration anyway. It appears, however, that there are some much more willing to confront me on this matter privately.
I turn to my intruder with a face dripping with exasperation. "That's the draft of the induction of the Terrans. And yes, I know what part you're pointing out. It made it through the initial legislation phase and is now up for a vote, so there's nothing you can do to change that." I was used to getting complaints from many of the over 300 delegates, but Gerrok was perhaps the most belligerent of any of them. I hear from his homeworld no less than once every two weeks with some new tedium to have to address, and now he decides to waste my time with this...
No sooner do I get the word out of my mouth does he slam his hand into my desk. "I know that! Why are they getting four seats?!? No one else gets that many!" His voice was dripping with venom; of all the delegates, he's probably the most hostile to any government other than his own.
"They get those seats because that's what the drafters thought would be best for the Compact. Now either give me a complaint I can actually act on, or-"
He smashes his other hand into my desk, cutting me off. "Don't give me that! Sonaron is one of the founding members of the Titanic Compact, and you are its leader! You were one of the people who wrote that bloody compact, so I want to know why the hell you let those unpredictable lunatics into-"
This time I'm the one to cut him off. "Because we need them, you imbecile." I wasn't one to insult, but it usually got me a word in edgewise when I needed to do it. "The Titans' Consortium has grown stale and complacent with its place in the cosmos. We're all used to being the strongest powers we know. You ask why I would let someone so unpredictable into the Consortium? It's because they're unpredictable. We need someone like them to keep us on our toes, and the more of them there are, the more we'll need to account for. Their much shorter lifespans give them a perspective we will never have. After all, how much would you try to do if you knew you only had 80 years to live instead of 80 thousand? Besides... you would do well to remember exactly what my heritage is."
He was stunned into silence. It's an oft forgotten fact, but I myself am human, or at least I used to be. I couldn't help but rub it in just a bit. "That's what I thought. Now as I said before: give me a complaint I can act on, or get out."
The only thing I could hear from him was a string of Eldian curses as he tromped out of my office. He may not have wanted to admit it, but I could tell he knew I was right.
And with him dealt with, all I need to do is figure out the Terran delegates to appoint...