Empress Addresses The EmpireThe Empress addressed the Empire in light of political discontent. Thank you all for joining me this evening.
In the past few days we have seen a wave of discontent that has seemingly manifested itself overnight. Yet, I would argue, that is not the case before us; whether they be domestic or foreign in nature we have seen a concerted effort to attack and discredit Chrysanthemum Throne that far exceeds anything we have seen in modern history. Let us begin with the stated issues, the first of which are the launch of the Nagareboshi missile to eliminate all possible threats posed by the failing Remei-9 satellite. This is a maneuver which Rokkenjima has utilized with great success before, and it was moved forward upon by and with the advice of Imperial High Command due to the threats posed by the satellite in question and the security issues of allowing unauthorized contact with the satellite, whether that be by those lacking such clearances in Rokkenjima or the utilization of foreign platforms to effect its return otherwise. This decision was taken with the utmost care and attention to detail and there comes times where as Empress you have to make difficult decisions with the information available to you.
In future incidents we have laid the framework for alternative methods to be employed through the formation of the Imperial Rokkenjiman Space Section. This subset of the Imperial Rokkenjiman Armed Forces will have but one purpose: utilizing Hakken to retrieve failing Rokkenjiman assets in space or, when recovery is not an option, developing manners in which to effect their safe re-entry into the atmosphere of Mundus. This is a solution which has my fullest support, and one which addresses the concerns raised by Princess Kyōko in our discussions on the matter. We will, naturally, work and cooperate with our partners in the shared heritage which is space to ensure that the ideals of the OSSC are always at the very heart and core of all Rokkenjiman space operations.
Furthermore, we see in the continued efforts of Princess Kyōko a new future for the Cross-Straits System, one which she will share as her work continues. Discussions continue with our counterparts in the international community and I remain confident that those discussions will bear fruit. It was never going to be an easy task following the Saisei Empress, which is why I stood up when the moment came to ensure that foundation upon which the Crown Princess shall build her reign is solid, stable and positions her best for success. While it may be easy for some to lay the totality of blame before Rokkenjima in regards to the events which led to the destruction of QAMB one need only to review transcripts and the chain of events to see that this was not some malicious operation, but one which preserved Rokkenjiman national security and prevented a scenario which could have seen bullets fly between the forces of Rokkenjima and Heyra.
While I understand that the Saisei Empress and myself may have differing views on the prior Rokkenjiman-Heyran relationship that specific Treaty would have, eventually, spelled the end of our relationships with Achkaerin, Tytor and quite possibly East Moreland had we prioritized and maintained it. This is a Treaty which was entered into against the fierce objections of the Vicegerent, discounting his geopolitical and foreign affairs insight in the pursuit of resurrecting QAMB and forcing Rokkenjima back into the Illumic against the wishes of many Peoples and Governments. In that pursuit there is much she traded off, and we are stronger today with the demise of that Treaty. While the relationship may have appeared to be strong, in truth, it only remained strong as the ambitions of the Saisei Empress and her Heyran counterparts were fulfilled. It was a bad deal for Rokkenjima and while the terms upon which the Treaty ended were unfortunate, it should never have been signed in the first place. We also have trust in our military commanders to make difficult decisions in the heat of the moment without a moment of hesitation and, in that moment, I retain my full belief that Rear Admiral Forrester served in her duties with decisiveness, dedication and honour. We must also remember that the specter of slavery hangs over Heyra, and while I share the hopes of the Princess that this specter may one day be dispelled, we must operate under the facts which exist at present. Until such a day Heyra satisfactorily puts these notions to rest the attention of the First Empire and her allies shall not let up, not upon Heyra and not upon those who do business with the Republic.
I respect why many love the Saisei Empress, I love her as she is my family, but there is a reason why she is no longer on Chrysanthemum Throne and it's a reason she, herself, recognized. Her resignation was not forced, coerced, or in any other manner a decision that was not of her sole volition. Indeed, I was surprised when I was informed of the decision she had made and the plans for me to assume the Throne to ensure the Crown Princess could continue as normal a childhood as possible. She recognized that she was not the right ruler for Rokkenjima any longer and stood down, perhaps best exemplifying her duty to the Empire by recognizing when it was time to step aside. While we all can see the issues the Saisei Empress faced, and recognize her failings, we can do that while honouring her successes and the good that she did for Mundus during her Reign. That being said we must also continue our march forward, we cannot and should not clamour for the return of the past and should instead look to the world we, together, can build.
I invite you all to join me in that pursuit, to help me lay the strongest of foundations for the Crown Princess, through continuing to support the work of the Imperial Government. Now is not the time to give into the temptation of fermenting instability, as that is a state of affairs which benefits only the interests of a select few beyond our borders. Princess Kyōko is a firm partner in our joint pursuits and has shared her belief that she is nowhere prepared to serve as Regent, however, she is prepared to serve as my Councillor for Foreign Affairs, a position I take great pleasure in bestowing upon her. As she shared with me before speaking with you all,
'We are all in this together, and there is no one individual prepared for this era than you. I refuse any notion of myself serving as Regent and continue to support you without doubt. For the Crown Princess, we are stronger together.' There is no disunity within Pyrena, and while the Saisei Empress may have other ideas for the First Empire we've been there, we've tried them and, beyond the era of turmoil with the United Soviet Russia, they no longer work. We will move forward together, as one First Empire, and we shall not fail in the task before us.
Thank you all for your time. May Islyna guide you all into the warmth of her providence, and may she always bless this First Empire of Rokkenjima.
Initial reactions to the remarks of the Empress have been positive, but it will take a few days to see if her message resonates with the Rokkenjiman People. The RBC will continue to bring you updates on these developments.