The Conference of Artisans
After the The Mori made contact with Earth and imposed their space travel tariffs and other regulated taxes and fees, trade and commerce between the early Human colonial worlds suffered and resulted in the starvation of the Beta Metrios IX colony and the near-starvation of the settlement on 63 Sagittae III (later known as Driscal). Public outrage was displayed at nearly every government building on Earth and Luna but the Planetary Congress was under strict commands from the Mori and did not want to risk open war with the unarguably superior fleet of the Mori.
The League of Science organized a three-day conference to collaborate with other private-sector organizations and derive a plan of how to work together to provide for the needs of the struggling colony worlds and still stay within the guidelines imposed by the Mori. Under the direction of Professor-Emeritus Hugh C. Cook, the League of Science invited the United Confederacy of Banking, the Space Guild, the Institutes of Higher Learning, The Federation of Tradesmen, and the Engineering Coalition to participate. Only the latter two decided to attend. In addition, Prof.-Em. Cook also invited Earth Defense Secretary General George L. Lanquist and Earth Vice-President Ali DuBoise (who sent her Public Relations representative, Chaucie Steele, in her place) to observe but not participate. Prof.-Em. Cook was elected Chairman of the conference.
Among the most notable speeches given, Master Chief Engineer Lawrence B. Tabya of the Engineering Coalition gave the most skeptical address in opposition to the proposal of the League of Science. Sir Antoine Atonee DeCabrenette of the Federation of Tradesmen sided with Professor Jacques Vinoix and Professor Ingrid Haggen of the League of Science in bringing the balance of common struggle into the debate but had several of his fellow Tradesmen including Count Ibriham Gnuyen turn against him when he proposed extending the nobility class titles to more than just the Federation members. The conference almost collapsed as a failure on the first day if it hadn't been for the sharp rebuke of Lady Merilla Crandall who brought the debates into line with a higher purpose.
...all persons of sound judgement can see plainly that such conditions outlined in the League's proposal would service only themselves. What need have we to make ourselves confederate with the League or the Federation? Have we not all conditions already yet in our favor for the advancement of engineering? Neither tax nor tariff is of any concern to us in regards to a steady influx of invention and construction. Indeed it would be a major upheaval to change how things have been in operation for so long and I say 'why do it?'
Not of any concern, Master Tabya? With what tools and materials do you build with? Is not that ore mined from Beta Metrios? And has not that colony now perished with hunger? And what computational wonders do you produce without electronics from New Londyn? How do you ship it here without the Guild's freight lines? And in fine, how Master Tabya do you eat each day without the agricultural imports of Haydens VI? Lose one link in the chain of commerce and we all suffer.
A matter of unification indeed! You only suggest this to entice the coalition with fine promises of equality in stature and status. Who are you to extend your arm and pronounce nobility upon those where none exists? Of what title or position has granted you the right to snap your fingers and produce bloodlines worthy of class from the dross? No Sir! Should any organization of efforts be worthy of social upheaval, our very culture of nobility must surely be preserved, else for what were we born?
I ask of you, my dear gentlemen, just what is 'Noble'? Is 'noble' a drop of hemoglobin or a penned lineage on deteriorating parchment? Is 'noble' a collection of genealogical records stashed away on a database of wafers, magnets, and electrons? Tell me truly gentlemen, what is noble in that?" By very definition 'noble' describes the finer qualities of the human soul. The higher moral principles and ideals that elevate man above beast such as honor, integrity, loyalty, brotherhood, and the high esteem of the common good of his brothers and sisters among the stars; these are the principle elements, the DNA of 'noble'. These are the building blocks that design the very fabric of 'noble'. The sooner we begin measuring a man, not by the length of his pedigree but by the strength of his character, the sooner we will inevitably rise above the challenges we face.
After the Lady Crandall's stirring remarks, the conference adjourned until the following day, where all three organizations were receptive to a unified course of action, squabbling at times over the details, but each wanting to fulfill a higher purpose. Master Chief Engineer Lexa Novinensky of the Engineering Coalition was the first to introduce the idea of "abandoning the shackles of pretended formality" by formally disbanding each of the three organizations and merging into a new organization, with the focus toward bettering all humankind by pooling together their resources and know-how to circumvent the impedance of the Mori commands.
There has been many a time, in our own human history, a place or point of reckoning where every man and woman has challenged the cherished ties of cultural and emotional attachment. Wherein men and women have of necessity introspected their own plight and condition in life and asked themselves why things are not different. 'Because it simply is not done' all the more becomes insufficient to satisfy the human curiosity of 'why not?' Why not travel to the stars, we once asked. Because it has never been done, culture and antiquated wisdom told us. Well, we chose not to listen to culture and what was then regarded as wisdom and because of that we grew into a star-faring society we never before imagined. But what if we had heeded that voice of caution? Doubtless, we would still be crowded on our home planet, eager to bicker and disagree with one another. I ask you now, after all the voices heard today, after the inspiring wisdom brought to us by the great Lady Crandall, should we now heed cultural wisdom of today or is it time once again to ask ourselves the next 'why not'? ...Suppose we were to cast aside our pride and our prejudices, abandoning the shackles of pretended formality and status? Suppose we were to unite ourselves into a new creation? What if we banded together now, not as Leaguers, Coalitionists, or Federals but as a new kind of order; one that would be eager and willing to thrust aside the human frailties of character and promote the advancement of each other not only as a species, but as the human family? ...So the question laid before us now is whether we shall linger against each other, or boldly ask 'why not?'
After Master Chief Engineer Novinesky's speech, Prof.-Em. Cook called for a vote in support of the idea of uniting and reorganizing under a new order. The vote passed by a 2/3rds majority (42 votes for and 27 votes against).
Scholars, men and women of science, tradesmen, and honored guests. There is quite a lot to think about today, and albeit perhaps burdensome to add yet one more, I wish to relate to you an experience I had two years past - which if you're in the circle of conversation with Professor Cook you have most definitely heard this story already, as I am told it is contributing to our current understanding of cosmic physics. Off the Llorien Front in the Monocerotis star group, my shuttle sputtered with a malfunction of the thermal compensators which pulled my ship off course and burned out my steering regulator. In short I was going to fall into the surface of the Delta Monocerotis star itself and be burned up in the blink of my eye. I, being a pious man by virtue of my nature, took it upon myself to pray to my maker that my life would be spared. Instantly, as it were, I felt my forward momentum arrested and my impending doom halted. My ship was caught in an energy stream that had such astounding authority over the gravitational pull of the nearby star. My life was spared, and although Professor Cook has his own theory of what happened - all of which he says can be naturally explained without the interference of deity - I attribute my good fortune to be the boon of my maker; an answer to my prayer. I have reflected upon those moments many a time in the last four and twenty months since, and I am convinced that if we create an organization after the manner of men, it shall endure but for the life span of a man; but if we create this organization after the manner of something higher, spiritual even, then it shall stand for a millennia to come. Just as these Solar Winds have stood and will continue to stand - timeless as to human standards - let us also organize ourselves into something just as timeless, just as majestic and eternal. And should we strive for this, we could even become as though an order of knights akin to those of our distant past, bonded together by life & limb and our profession too, swearing to one another - as did our forefathers of long past - this we 'pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor'.
The Lady Beatrice Essex then called for a vote to be taken. Chairman Cook corrected her that a vote could not be taken as there was no new proposal on the floor. Lady Essex then revised her request and proposed the name of the new order be 'The Knightly Order akin to the Solar Winds'. Debate was called and Chief Engineer Vic Istic moved to amend the proposed name to be 'The Knightly Order of the Solar Winds' to which Sir Scott Frederick Crandall moved to further amend the name to 'The Knights of the Solar Winds'. The question was called by Professor Jean Armond and the Chairman called the vote which passed by 96% (66 votes for and 3 votes against). With a new air of excitement and inspiration whirling in the room, the business progressed at a much faster rate. Master Chief Engineer Lexa Novinensky representing the Vocational Organization Committee altered her proposal on the spot and tailored it to the theme of the Knights of the Solar Winds, calling for eight structural divisions within the organization called 'Knightly Orders' which craftsmanship, engineering, and science would all play an equal role yet be divided according to a specific field, such as medicine, space travel, etc. Debate was not called and the vote was taken. The proposal passed unanimously (69 votes for and 0 votes against). Professor Ingrid Haggen on behalf of the Rules Committee then proposed a framework whereby the organization could modify and amend the rules and structure. The rest of the day was spent ironing out the framework for the rules which ran late into the evening. Sir Crandall proposed that the rest of the "details yet remaining" could be created within the framework proposed and that the entire conference could safely be concluded with a final vote. Lord Lyon Leyotta called for a roll-call vote, which Chairman Cook stated would require consent by a mojority of the voting body to allow. The move to make the final vote be a roll-call vote was approved by 52% ( 36 votes for and 33 votes against). Chairman Cook called for the final vote on the rules proposal for the Knights of the Solar Winds which passed by 78% (55 votes for and 14 votes against). A formal 3-year time-line for integrating the three organizations into The Knights of the Solar Winds was voted on and passed. Actual Unification was concluded nearly 6 years later. The Final Vote
...all persons of sound judgement can see plainly that such conditions outlined in the League's proposal would service only themselves. What need have we to make ourselves confederate with the League or the Federation? Have we not all conditions already yet in our favor for the advancement of engineering? Neither tax nor tariff is of any concern to us in regards to a steady influx of invention and construction. Indeed it would be a major upheaval to change how things have been in operation for so long and I say 'why do it?'
-Master Chief Engineer Lawrence B Tabya
Not of any concern, Master Tabya? With what tools and materials do you build with? Is not that ore mined from Beta Metrios? And has not that colony now perished with hunger? And what computational wonders do you produce without electronics from New Londyn? How do you ship it here without the Guild's freight lines? And in fine, how Master Tabya do you eat each day without the agricultural imports of Haydens VI? Lose one link in the chain of commerce and we all suffer.
-Sir Antoine Atonee DeCabrenette
A matter of unification indeed! You only suggest this to entice the coalition with fine promises of equality in stature and status. Who are you to extend your arm and pronounce nobility upon those where none exists? Of what title or position has granted you the right to snap your fingers and produce bloodlines worthy of class from the dross? No Sir! Should any organization of efforts be worthy of social upheaval, our very culture of nobility must surely be preserved, else for what were we born?
-Count Ibriham Gnuyen
I ask of you, my dear gentlemen, just what is 'Noble'? Is 'noble' a drop of hemoglobin or a penned lineage on deteriorating parchment? Is 'noble' a collection of genealogical records stashed away on a database of wafers, magnets, and electrons? Tell me truly gentlemen, what is noble in that?" By very definition 'noble' describes the finer qualities of the human soul. The higher moral principles and ideals that elevate man above beast such as honor, integrity, loyalty, brotherhood, and the high esteem of the common good of his brothers and sisters among the stars; these are the principle elements, the DNA of 'noble'. These are the building blocks that design the very fabric of 'noble'. The sooner we begin measuring a man, not by the length of his pedigree but by the strength of his character, the sooner we will inevitably rise above the challenges we face.
-Lady Merilla Crandall
After the Lady Crandall's stirring remarks, the conference adjourned until the following day, where all three organizations were receptive to a unified course of action, squabbling at times over the details, but each wanting to fulfill a higher purpose. Master Chief Engineer Lexa Novinensky of the Engineering Coalition was the first to introduce the idea of "abandoning the shackles of pretended formality" by formally disbanding each of the three organizations and merging into a new organization, with the focus toward bettering all humankind by pooling together their resources and know-how to circumvent the impedance of the Mori commands.
There has been many a time, in our own human history, a place or point of reckoning where every man and woman has challenged the cherished ties of cultural and emotional attachment. Wherein men and women have of necessity introspected their own plight and condition in life and asked themselves why things are not different. 'Because it simply is not done' all the more becomes insufficient to satisfy the human curiosity of 'why not?' Why not travel to the stars, we once asked. Because it has never been done, culture and antiquated wisdom told us. Well, we chose not to listen to culture and what was then regarded as wisdom and because of that we grew into a star-faring society we never before imagined. But what if we had heeded that voice of caution? Doubtless, we would still be crowded on our home planet, eager to bicker and disagree with one another. I ask you now, after all the voices heard today, after the inspiring wisdom brought to us by the great Lady Crandall, should we now heed cultural wisdom of today or is it time once again to ask ourselves the next 'why not'? ...Suppose we were to cast aside our pride and our prejudices, abandoning the shackles of pretended formality and status? Suppose we were to unite ourselves into a new creation? What if we banded together now, not as Leaguers, Coalitionists, or Federals but as a new kind of order; one that would be eager and willing to thrust aside the human frailties of character and promote the advancement of each other not only as a species, but as the human family? ...So the question laid before us now is whether we shall linger against each other, or boldly ask 'why not?'
- Master Chief Engineer Lexa Novinensky
After Master Chief Engineer Novinesky's speech, Prof.-Em. Cook called for a vote in support of the idea of uniting and reorganizing under a new order. The vote passed by a 2/3rds majority (42 votes for and 27 votes against).
Vote to disband and reunify. Listed by organization.With the decision to unify under a new organization passed, the Chairman called for committees to be established from among the delegation to draft a framework for the new organization. The committees each worked well into the night in preparation for the following and last day of the conference. On the last day of the conference, Lord Lyon Leyotta of the Naming Committee in conjunction with the Entitlements Committee proposed the name of the new organization be called The Unified Order for the Advancement of Humanity. Debate was heard and Professor Anita Sanchez proposed to amend the title to 'The Unified Artisan's Order for the Advancement of Humanity' but her amendment was voted down. The vote was called and the proposed name failed to pass with 72% of the votes in opposition (19 votes for and 50 votes against). With the failure on the name, the rest of the delegation became nervous that all their time would be wasted on the simplest of matters and not have any time left for debating the actual structure of the organization until Sir Edwin Norfolk was recognized by the Chairman to speak who then suggested the name should coincide with The Solar Winds which he had accidentally discovered two years earlier.
- The League of Science: 21 Yea, 7 Nay
- The Engineering Coalition: 17 Yea, 10 Nay
- The Federation of Tradesmen: 4 Yea, 10 Nay
Scholars, men and women of science, tradesmen, and honored guests. There is quite a lot to think about today, and albeit perhaps burdensome to add yet one more, I wish to relate to you an experience I had two years past - which if you're in the circle of conversation with Professor Cook you have most definitely heard this story already, as I am told it is contributing to our current understanding of cosmic physics. Off the Llorien Front in the Monocerotis star group, my shuttle sputtered with a malfunction of the thermal compensators which pulled my ship off course and burned out my steering regulator. In short I was going to fall into the surface of the Delta Monocerotis star itself and be burned up in the blink of my eye. I, being a pious man by virtue of my nature, took it upon myself to pray to my maker that my life would be spared. Instantly, as it were, I felt my forward momentum arrested and my impending doom halted. My ship was caught in an energy stream that had such astounding authority over the gravitational pull of the nearby star. My life was spared, and although Professor Cook has his own theory of what happened - all of which he says can be naturally explained without the interference of deity - I attribute my good fortune to be the boon of my maker; an answer to my prayer. I have reflected upon those moments many a time in the last four and twenty months since, and I am convinced that if we create an organization after the manner of men, it shall endure but for the life span of a man; but if we create this organization after the manner of something higher, spiritual even, then it shall stand for a millennia to come. Just as these Solar Winds have stood and will continue to stand - timeless as to human standards - let us also organize ourselves into something just as timeless, just as majestic and eternal. And should we strive for this, we could even become as though an order of knights akin to those of our distant past, bonded together by life & limb and our profession too, swearing to one another - as did our forefathers of long past - this we 'pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor'.
-Sir Edwin Norfolk
The Lady Beatrice Essex then called for a vote to be taken. Chairman Cook corrected her that a vote could not be taken as there was no new proposal on the floor. Lady Essex then revised her request and proposed the name of the new order be 'The Knightly Order akin to the Solar Winds'. Debate was called and Chief Engineer Vic Istic moved to amend the proposed name to be 'The Knightly Order of the Solar Winds' to which Sir Scott Frederick Crandall moved to further amend the name to 'The Knights of the Solar Winds'. The question was called by Professor Jean Armond and the Chairman called the vote which passed by 96% (66 votes for and 3 votes against). With a new air of excitement and inspiration whirling in the room, the business progressed at a much faster rate. Master Chief Engineer Lexa Novinensky representing the Vocational Organization Committee altered her proposal on the spot and tailored it to the theme of the Knights of the Solar Winds, calling for eight structural divisions within the organization called 'Knightly Orders' which craftsmanship, engineering, and science would all play an equal role yet be divided according to a specific field, such as medicine, space travel, etc. Debate was not called and the vote was taken. The proposal passed unanimously (69 votes for and 0 votes against). Professor Ingrid Haggen on behalf of the Rules Committee then proposed a framework whereby the organization could modify and amend the rules and structure. The rest of the day was spent ironing out the framework for the rules which ran late into the evening. Sir Crandall proposed that the rest of the "details yet remaining" could be created within the framework proposed and that the entire conference could safely be concluded with a final vote. Lord Lyon Leyotta called for a roll-call vote, which Chairman Cook stated would require consent by a mojority of the voting body to allow. The move to make the final vote be a roll-call vote was approved by 52% ( 36 votes for and 33 votes against). Chairman Cook called for the final vote on the rules proposal for the Knights of the Solar Winds which passed by 78% (55 votes for and 14 votes against). A formal 3-year time-line for integrating the three organizations into The Knights of the Solar Winds was voted on and passed. Actual Unification was concluded nearly 6 years later. The Final Vote
| Aye | Nay |
|---|---|
|
|
- Total Attendance: 84
- Voting Participants: 69
- Location: Armstrong Convention Center, Sea of Tranquility, Luna
- Chairman: Professor-Emeritus Hugh C. Cook of the League of Science
| League of Science | Engineering Coalition | Federation of Tradesmen | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prof-Em. Hugh C. Cook | M-Chief Eng. Lawrence B. Tabya | Sir Scott Frederick Crandall III | Gen. George L. Lanquist |
| Professor Jacques Vinoix | M-Chief Eng. Lexa Novinensky | Lady Merilla Crandall | Chaucie Steele |
| Professor Ingrid Haggen | Chief Engineer Gnuyen Dey | Sir Antoine Atonee DeCabrenette | |
| Prof-Em. Ella M. O'Dell | Chief Engineer Omar Otto | Count Ibriham Gnuyen | |
| Professor Jean-luc Chevrolete | Chief Engineer Vic Istic | Lady Anna Swanson | |
| Professor Jean Armond | Chief Engineer Is Debrujerlan | Lord Lyon Leyotta | |
| Professor Anita Sanchez | Chief Engineer Agabad Ibidinalbad | Sir Edwin Norfolk | |
| Professor Carlton Wheatton | Chief Engineer Aleksandar Troykovsky | Count Mohammed Kumed | |
| Professor Andrea Schmidt | Chief Engineer Royance Iklinski | Sir Ethan Essex | |
| Professor George Heidelberg | Chief Engineer Ping Cheng | Lady Beatrice Essex | |
| Professor Vickie Beighlie | Full Engineer Arnold Abridand | Lady-in-waiting Alexandria Littleton | |
| Professor Arty Shaw | Full Engineer Ana Tsolenov | Lord Jergen Wesson | |
| Professor Benjamin Goodman | Full Engineer Peter Pchenkov | Lady Mary MacGaskon | |
| Professor Isumi Miagi | Full Engineer Mesha Pyrinkov | Sir Isaac LaRousso | |
| Professor Isabeau Larent | Full Engineer Hannah Grinkovinsk | * Each with their Executive Secretary | |
| Professor Gregory Brinkinhof | Full Engineer Vladimir Ptolomensk | ||
| Professor Elsa Silvestra | Full Engineer Po Hen Huang | ||
| Professor Mitsumi Imisuma | First Engineer Troy O'Mary | ||
| Professor Susan Thatcher | First Engineer Moisha Malualana | ||
| Professor Imli Imamoto | First Engineer Trista Schoonmaker | ||
| Professor Frederick Eggelston | First Engineer Carla Mantoban | ||
| Professor Charles Smith | First Engineer Onita Vasquez | ||
| Professor Kayden Duncan | First Engineer Charles Johaneson | ||
| Professor Nina Haggen | First Engineer Cheryl Eaggret | ||
| Professor Mina Anstein | First Engineer Mason Everette | ||
| Professor Steven Johnson | First Engineer Mona Smyth | ||
| Professor Moises Morales | |||
| Professor Arvind Tiwary |
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