Nevoulas ek Philadelphious watches Comes Tagaris with a respectful eye, he is a man he has come to admire and respect with his long story not dissimilar in some ways to his own. With much murmuring following his surprise announcement that he too wishes to run for Megas like the independent Comes Ampeles. Noticing a lull in proceedings Nevoulas steels himself and stands to address the senate:

My fellow Senators, Comes Ampeles and Domestikos Aleksios make good points we must start to work the lands and reform the rebels territories we have gained. Roads need to be built, old castles changed to Towns and standards of professional training must be started and implemented in our army.

However we have many hungry, young senators such as myself who are still eager to fight the enemy on the battlefield. I go back to the original points I made previously, I believe with all my heart the current enemy of the Byzantine empire is the Seljuk sultanate. Their movements and observations of our sieges and subsequent captures of the settlements in Smyna and Sinop have been mysterious to say the least. I have intelligence to suggest that the Turkish sultan has been extending his reach eastwards and even now plots to move southwards towards the Levant.

After the magnificent capture of Antioch, I feel that it is now vital that we push forward and connect this great city with the greatest city of them all that we sit in here today. That task requires that we some time soon declare war on the Seljuk Turks. I therefore lobby and name the following edict for all to see here in the Magnaura:

Edict 2.4: After the period of 6 years has passed (1101), any senator may declare war and attack any Seljuk Turkish army or settlement.

Of course, it is usually up to the Basileus or the Megas to authorize such a call. I feel however that the current so called peace with the Turks is a political technicality, the war is in reality still ongoing and never actually ended. The Seljuks might believe us fools into thinking they have conned us into believing their words of ceasefire and trade rights, we know otherwise don't we?

I also know the loud voices of the senators who reside far away in the west may not appreciate this call, I ask you however to consider the numbers of unlanded senators in the east. By my count there is currently only one unlanded senator in the 'west' whereas there are several (Nine by my count) enthusiastic capable senators who reside in the 'east' and can easily contribute towards such a struggle.

Indeed given a small amount of time the three great houses of Kommandaukai, Asteri and the Order could build considerable armies to attack these hardy but i believe beatable Turks.

I for no minute suggest that a note of caution is not needed in the west, the Venetians are untrustworthy , this is a plain fact known within all diplomatic circles. But given our open alliances and diplomatic relations with the Catholic nations of Poland and Hungary, I cannot see the logic in openly attacking Catholic nations at this time.

Nevoulas' voice is beginning to come strained an attendant looking doubtfully, Nevoulas knows what the attendant is worried about and shrugs him off. He looks to the rather sparce looking area of where senators from the Asteri usually sit, and grunts to himself. He now realizes he is standing rather awkwardly with nothing else to say.

Nevoulas turns toward the Basileus bows and says.

I thank you for listening and am interested to hear what you make of my comments.