This is a personal statement.
Brothers and Sisters of the Clans!
Council of Ares was formed to provide common defence for those who wished to unite. Now, the strength and wisdom of that union finally meet their first true challenge.
A situation has come about where a force which has not even been considered as a 'player' by the majority of the Clan and Omni-Tek populations has emerged and made a sudden and effective grab for power. Yes, the Sentinels.
It starts to seem sometimes that the Sentinels are the best thing that ever happened to Rubi-Ka - both Clan and Omni Tek seem to be united in their outrage at this action. While I can understand why Omni-Tek is disappointed at the emergence of a protection force in one the main Clan cities, I fail to understand why certain CoA Cabinet members are already pledging the resources of the member Guilds to the fight against Sentinels.
I would like to point out that in order to avoid a disastrous situation CoA endured during its previous run, an Ares Pact has been put in place. And it is the duty of the CoA Cabinet to abide by it. There can not be a declaration of war without the Board of Leaders' authorisation. No pro-active action without authorisation. We are not warmongers and do not seek to impose our rule above the rest. Should Sentinels come to be a government of the Clans, it is within the Ares Pact for an order to CoA to disband to be valid.
However, in the present it is not so, and, in my view, it is unlikely that Sentinels will rule the Clans. President Redruum is absolutely right - no CoA member will take orders from Sentinels,they are not a government as of yet. Sentinels have no authority to give any orders to anyone but members of their own organisation.
Ares Pact includes a procedure to curtail the Cabinet when it seeks to act beyond its powers. CoA leadership and members are politically inclined towards Republican values and the Rule of Law. I, among others, would eagerly exercise my rights under Ares Pact to prevent the Cabinet from exceeding its authority.
Cabinet members should watch carefully what they say - a public post comes at a price: people give weight to the words a public figure says as the words represent those who stand behind that public figure.
Long Live the Clans!