“Extra, extra, read all about it! Get the scoop on the tariffs yet again increased by the government on the Amplectoran line!” A young boy held a newspaper in the air, with a stack of similar ones beside him. He yelled his advertisement out, competing against the shouting for taxi-cabs, the hiss of steam hydraulics of the nearby train station and the distant - but nevertheless loud - clatter of the machine works. The thin rain, oddly enough, seemed to simply slide off the paper, leaving no residue.
An apparently rather wealthy man, wearing a dark storm coat, top hat, an apparently opaque green monacle and holding a chrome like device in his hand that was making a slight whirring flicked the boy a coin, before snatching the newspaper from his hand and unfolding the front page, carrying on through the crowds, deftly dodging passers by.
AMPLECTORAN OUTRAGE AS GOVERNMENT AGAIN INCREASES RAIL TARIFFS
Nations across Amplector were again shocked last night to find that the Vjiayan government plan another hike in rail tariffs. Enemies of the plan, perhaps most vocal the Fanaglians, claim it is an ‘outright, fraudulent act’ by the Vjiayan authorities who are 'gaining an unfair percentage of profits from the railway', also claiming that the duties are devastating to their own industries.
Vjiayan officials disputed this immediately, issuing the following statement;
“What the Amplectoran governments seem not to understand is that it takes a lot of effort on our part to ensure the smooth running of goods from this continent to the East. This takes the form of rail maintenance, staff and certainly not least, the fact that the more foreign trains that pass through our lands, the less of ours do. All we’re asking that we be paid a reasonable amount to even out these costs. I assure you, we do not aim to make any sort of profit from these tariffs.”
This looks like the start of a long dispute between, in particular, Vjiay and Fanaglia, who have been at constant loggerheads regarding the railway.
More on this story on Page 3.
A little down the page, the man noted, was a story of at least equal importance, but with much less fanfare.
Crisis in Voerdeland deepens
Reports from the Zhao state are few and far between, but when they do come, it is never good news. Last night was no exception, when the Gazette learned of the conditions on the street in the stricken nation.
People jobless, children starving, disease rife, persecution on religious grounds, this is what comes when a nation overspends and forfeits its security. Their president, the one that led them into this devastation is nearing the end of his term, with no hopes of being re-elected and, seemingly, no-one there to replace him anyway.
Humanitarian organisations have pleaded for the Vjiayan government to send aid. In reply, it released the following statement,
“The situation in Voerdeland is most delicate, it is not a simple case of sending general aid, as it will be intercepted by corrupt government officials and the powerful gangs that are working the cities into the ground. Rest assured though, a plan of action is being put in place and order will soon be restored, for the security of our nation. There are many insidious individuals and groups that want to take advantage of the troubling situation, it is punishing them that will currently take priority.”
For more on this story turn to Page four.
Prime Ministers Quarters,
Upper House,
Urbaurum.
19th June, 1889.
“Reports from assets on the continent clarify our suspicions, sir, the tariffs are really beginning to grind on certain nations, with particular disillusionment coming from Fanaglia. They all see the railroad as unworthy of the investment, due to our tariffs.” Matthew Wootton, uncharacteristically nervous, presented his report to William Pelly, the Prime Minister of Vjiay, who was currently nonchalantly smoking a pipe.
“Well, let them think what they like. From what I gathered at that god-awful conference it was up to the individual nations’ to benefit from the railroad as best they could. This is the best way for Vjiay to benefit from it.” He took another intake of smoke, looking as bored as ever,
“Well sir, we are benefiting,” Matthew said, “But at what expense? We’re alienating potentially powerful nations’, we’re deepening the crisis in Voerdeland and potentially incurring a humanitarian crisis, they're even killing eachother on religious grounds." William scoffed, he was a known hater of all religion, Matthew ignored him and carried on, "There's even a risk of bringing Eastern nations into it. Mishmahigian Christians are bearing the brunt of the killings and Mishmahig looks likely to intervene. All of that is not even mentioning that we’re completely isolated in the doctrine we're pursuing.” He took a breath, resolving himself, “Frankly I think we’re doing ourselves more harm than good in the long run and for a nation that prides itself on free-market ideals and individual entrepreneurship are doing hardly any better than our communist rivals in the east.”
William had listened quietly throughout all of this and in some parts apparently been nodding his agreement. Finally, he responded.
“First, Matthew, I want you to know that I appointed you Foreign Minister because I respect your opinion and because you do a damn fine job.” He paused, giving the Minister a fierce stare, “However, you are too soft. If we didn’t have these tariffs we would be making exponential losses on this railway, no matter what the free traders argue. We put the most into this out of any of the Amplectoran nations. Not only does it spread the width of our mainland but the entire length of Valoria and we all know achieving the latter feat wasn’t without bloodshed.” He was referring to the Western Valorian tribes that had butchered around a hundred engineers who first entered the badlands, invoking the deployment of armed patrols and resulting in the deaths of around two dozen soldiers (though many more natives had fallen), “In my mind, and in the mind of most in government and amongst the populace, these Amplectoran nations owe us, and what‘s a few little tariffs in comparison to the Vjiayan blood that was spilt giving them the chance to expand West?”
The Foreign Minister, though having plenty to say, said nothing, for fear of making his superiors’ current temper worse. Instead, he nodded,
“I understand, sir. May I warn you though,” he said cautiously, unsure himself of why he was continuing, “That sooner or later, whether it be a nation or a group, this will come back to haunt us.”
