"Absolutely not!" shouted one particularly rotund senator, at the top of his voice.

Remus massaged his temples, putting on a level tone even as he spoke through gritted teeth. "Senators, to repeat myself yet again, the Ecumene of the Dawn has been on excellent terms with the Republic of Rema since our first contact! Not 60 years ago, many of our people even tried their religion! It was a passing curiosity, but our friendship was not! As the individual in control of foreign relations, I must repeat that completely refusing immigrants will not make us look any better on the world stage."

Another senator sniffed haughtily "Consul Remus, despite your admirable intentions, I must remind you that we do not have a limitless wealth of food. What do you expect to feed thousands, if not millions of Ecumene nationals?"

"There are the unclaimed grasslands." Said an even voice from the back of the room.

Remus and Antonius looked up in shock. Was a senator supporting the motion to accept refugees? The other senators seemed similarly shocked. Agreeing with the Consul was an unprecedented move.

A man stood up in the back of the room, then started to move towards the front, using an ornately carved cane for support. As he walked forward, Remus recognized him. "Senator Hadrian?"

As he reached the front of the room, Hadrian turned around to face the assembled members of the senate. "My colleges, are we so concerned with ourselves that we cannot offer even the slightest olive branch to another nation?"

"Hadrian, do not make a fool of yourself in your old age! The problem is that we cannot feed them!"

"Yet there are grasslands in the heart of our nation we do not own? Before saying we cannot, perhaps we should try? Remus!" shouted Hadrian, pointing his staff to the Consul, "are those lands claimed by any nation?"

"Um, no, no they are not" stammered Remus, caught somewhat off guard.

"Right. Make plans to claim them immediately. And cease your damned focus on the military! We need farmers if we are to support these refugees. Our infrastructure is infinitely more important than some hypothetical war!"

Hadrian looked around the room. "What, no smart comments from you lot? Or can you actually bring yourself to support a humanitarian effort, if only it is proposed by a senator? Shameful!"

One senator spoke up, indignation clear in his voice "You old fool! Refugees will ruin us! I reject the motion! Who else is with me?" he said, raising his hand into the air. Less that a third of the assembled senators copied his motion.

"What? You would all support this-" spluttered the senator.

"Thank you, senators." said Hadrian loudly, cutting off the man. "You may leave."

The senators filed gladly out of the room; many of those who had raised a hand shooting glares at Hadrian. When the last man had left the room, Remus spun to face Hadrian.

"Alright, spill. Why did you do it?"

"Do what, my boy?"

Remus pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation, especially at the 'boy' comment. They both know full well he was much older than Hadrian, even if he did not look it. But he was getting sidetracked. "Why did you argue for the acceptance of refugees? You know as well as I that the senate hates the idea? Actually, now that I think on it, how did you get them to assent?"

"As for the idea, I still disagree with you. I think bringing refugees into Rema can only harm our future, and dilute our culture. But I remember what you did for me. Because of your cooperation, I will live forever in the name of our sixth city, and in the legacy of our fifth." He chuckled. "They built a statue of me in Lucca. Did you know that."

"Senator-"

"Don't interrupt me Remus, I'm not finished. Though it goes against my better judgement, I will give you this, just as you gave me that."

Remus looked somewhat sated, but that didn't stop him from repeating another question. "And why did the other Senators not end your proposition now?"

Antonius coughed "Consul, no offense to you, but where you not paying attention? The senators at the end were not voting no the refugee issue." Remus looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "They were voting on the land."

"Very good, erm, advisor." said Hadrian.

"Antonius" muttered Antonius under his breath.

Ignoring him, Hadrian continued. "I proposed we take new lands to supply the refugees. To the senate, getting more lands is far greater a gain than taking on refugees would be a loss. The decision was clear to them. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going, and you must begin planning to annex some lands."

As he left, Remus just stared in a state of minor shock as the first Senator who ever supported him left the room, showing the effects of old age which would never touch the Consul.

Effect: The Republic of Rema will be incorporating several fringe areas into their territory. Map. Rema will also begin to ferry refugees from the Ecumene of the Dawn.