Strange New World (2022 Alt-Hist Geopolitical RP) - IC

[Sao Nova Europa]

Strange New World

MAP

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OOC

CURRENT DATE: JANUARY TO APRIL

Strange New World is a geopolitical RP set in 2022, but with a twist: history has diverged from ours since 1000 AD. This opens up endless possibilities as the world can change considerably. Welcome to his new reality!

[Sao Nova Europa]

TV 7 News

Interview of President Huang Chengyu by THE host of TV 7 News Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson (TC): "I am honored to welcome to our show the President of our Republic. Welcome, Mr. President."

Huang Chengyu (HC): "I am pleased to be here."

TC: "Many voters worry that the economy has been growing at a slow pace. You were elected on a platform of reversing economic stagnation and bringing newfound dynamism to Gum Shan. What steps do you intend to undertake to strengthen economic growth?"

HC: "You are one hundred percent right when you talk about the stagnation of our economy and the frustration that people feel. We need to bring back strong growth and economic optimism to Gum Shan. My approach is a threefold one. Firstly, we need to reduce our tax burden to boost consumption and give incentives to businesses to expand, invest and create new jobs. I aim to reduce corporate taxation from the current rate of 25% to 21% and to reduce the marginal tax rates for all income tax brackets by 2%. Secondly, I aim to repeal harmful regulations that only add up red tape and increase the cost of doing business without actually protecting consumers or workers. Thirdly, I aim to expand job training programs so individuals who lost their jobs can find new employment."

TC: "Will simple tax cuts be enough to reverse the economic stagnation and deindustrialization we've been seeing in recent years?"

HC: "I firmly believe that tax reduction and further liberalization of our economy will provide the kickstart our economy needs to once again grow at a rapid pace. Private enterprise is the most potent economic force of our Republic: we simply need to unshackle it from the chains of overtaxation and red tape. It is through private enterprise - and not wasteful programs - that we can reverse our economic decline. My economic program is rational and based on things I and millions like me were brought up with: an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay; live within your means; put by a nest egg for a rainy day; pay your bills on time."

TC: "Moving on from the economy, Liberals in the National Assembly have been pushing - again - for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use on the federal level. You yourself campaigned on a platform of marijuana legalization. Past Liberal administrations have also pushed for this, but they have failed either due to lacking the necessary majority in the Assembly or due to focusing on other domestic and foreign issues. Will your administration take action on this issue soon or shall you be focusing on other initiatives first?"

HC: "I believe it is time to finally legalize marijuana for recreational use. The war on drugs has been a disaster. One-fifth of the incarcerated population is serving time for a drug charge, and this has had near zero effect on public safety or substance misuse rates; in fact incarcerated people are more likely to die from overdose after release than the general population. Lives are destroyed and people are stigmatized for no reason whatsoever. Even if we view it through the lens of economics, the war on drugs has been a disaster. It has cost Gum Shan since 1963 1 trillion Yuan. Yes, you heard that right; 1 trillion Yuan! In fact, it is estimated the federal government wastes 3.3 billion Yuan annually to incarcerate people for drug-related offenses. It is time to put an end to this mindless enterprise. In the coming weeks, I intend to issue a pardon to all prisoners serving sentences for low-level, non-violent marijuana offenses. It is also time for a health-based, rather than criminalization-based, approach to drug issues. I will implement on the national level a syringe access program to provide people with clean injection equipment to prevent syringe sharing, thus reducing blood-borne diseases."

TC: "Polls show increasing isolationist sentiment among voters. Many voters feel that government resources can be better allocated at home - to deal with domestic issues - rather than be wasted on foreign countries. Your party has been a strong supporter of internationalism and global engagement. How can you reconcile the isolationist sentiment of the voters with your party's foreign policy stance?"

HC: "I understand fully the concerns many voters have. My administration's number one priority has been to kickstart the economy and deal with domestic challenges. However, if we want Gum Shan to remain prosperous and secure, we cannot shut ourselves off from the world. We need to remain engaged in global affairs and committed to our allies, so that there may be global peace and stability - both of which are necessary for commerce and economic growth. I can assure the Gumshanian people that my administration will avoid unneeded foreign interventions or unnecessary expenses."

TC: "With that, we conclude our interview. Thank you Mr. President for being here with us."

HC: "The pleasure has been all mine."

[Dragos Bee]

Imperial Palace, Constantinople, January 1 2022

As she paced the carpets of her private study, wearing an unadorned dress of opaque purple silk, Empress Theodora IV could see it; she was not as blind as her critics implied. The Empire was overextended, offering its money and people to back Gum Shan's policies and its own prestige, only to find that the former was tired out... And so was the Empire. Despite every attempt by the Basilea ton Rhomanion to raise money and resources, they just can't sustain the foriegn policy that was necessary to break the Communist Bloc. So she was faced with a choice: Find a way to make some other nation pay the costs of her own foriegn policy, or adbicate the throne and abolish the monarchy while she was still popular.

The former was dishonorable, the latter was unthinkable for now, considering the fact that she still had children who fully expected a chance to sit on her throne. But what nation can be gotten to pay for Imperial foriegn policy? Ariana was already providing the State Mining Company - The Crown's main source of income - with various mines and processing centers in Afghanistan which pumped billions of hyperpya worth of metals, gemstones, and rare earths into the market. Maybe Afrique? No, the Basilea as a whole had more to gain from a good-faith alliance with it, Egypt, the Caliphate and Jerusalem; an alliance with that last nation was worth abolishing the Imperial System for, she mused.

Whatever she chose, she would have to move in utter secrecy. The Empire was no longer top dog even in the Mediterrenean, and the Imperial Crown was not the sole center of power in what areas still swore allegiance to the government it headed.

Hall of the Plebian Assembly, January 2 2022

The reconstituted Plebeian Assembly had its own building close the Imperial Palace and Senate House, but not too close. The lawmakers of the current Coalition Government were debating the decriminalization of marijuana, which the Abrahamic Unity Party was waging a Filibuster to prevent a vote.

The Empress, wearing her ceremonial robes of cloth-of-gold studded with gems, presided over the session personally; she would still have that right. Although ageing, she was not infirm, and listened to the AUP's party leader, Isaakios Skleros, fulminating against the evils of hashish. She was drawn to his long and curly beard, his most notable feature, as he continued his rant.

"If we allow Hashish, what next?! Cocaine, Meth, Heroin? Or some sort of new drug more addictive than any? We have had thousands of good, strong, inteligent men who could have made a difference weakened and destroyed by the drug trade and its abuses - We cannot surrender, we cannot be defeated, we must not allow the spectre of unbridled hedonism and sin to weaken the moral fibre of our society! Is it not enough that we have allowed homosexuals to marry and others to question God's given laws on gender? Is it not enough that the differences between men and women are ignored -"

There were screens which projected his face, and screens which projected the Empress' own, and it was the latter which showed her glaring at him, saying, "You speak to a woman chosen by God himself as his Vice-Regent on Earth. You have the freedom to say what you will but also the freedom to watch what you say."

She rose up, glittering in the electric lights (LEDs which used the power provided by the building's solar panels more efficiently). Empress Theodora IV then walked over to the microphone and spoke, "Forbidden fruit is the most alluring, and Hashish is the weakest of what is forbidden. And it kills less people than tobacco, or alcohol, both of which are allowed in this Empire. It is not up to us to 'make windows into men's souls'; only guide them to God's Law. And just as we tax tobacco and alchohol so that those who sin literally pay for their 'indulgences', so should we tax... Hasish. As it is, we have too many people in prison or rehabilitation for mere possession of marijuana, even when they had not crossed the 'slippery slope' you speak of."

Facing the Plebeian Assembly, she faced them and said, "I wish to sign a general pardon for every person tried and convicted for possession and use of Marijuana and that alone. I trust that the legislature would see the clemency inherent in this move."

Grand Palace Private Chamber, Later that Day

The Grand Palace had a small chamber with an upholstered throne of hard oak, and it was there where the Empress met people who were not close friends for her private audiences. Mr. Skleros was one of those people; they had things to talk about after the Assembly's session earlier.

As he approached the Empress, bowing after a safe distance, and the latter gestured for him to rise up, Isaakios rose and said, "Support for closer ties with Jerusalem. You promised that in exchange for my 'performance' in the Assembly session."

On her throne, Empress Theodora gave a nod and widely smiled, "You performed well, such that the legalization of marijuana has more support, not less, after your rant. You have my word; we will do anything to make sure that Jerusalem joins the alliance against the Communists." She then looked at him and said, "Find a way to inform the 'Liberal Party' of Jerusalem of this: That they will have the credit for the Romans' transition into a Second Republic, as well as a secret provision from us to turn against the Caliphate and Egypt if the two ever threaten Jerusalem's independence, if they can get their own nation to take an actual side..."

[Union Princes]

Spitting Image, the 2022 Reboot
Season Two, Episode One

Opening Scene: The camera pans over the Kremlin Presidium in Moscow. The heart and brain of the entire Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Inside, the Soviet bureaucrats remained vigilant in governing the vast republic.

Guiding this legislative branch is the Soviet Premier Ivan Tertel, not to be confused with “turtle” or “tortoise”, as he laid out his vision for the near future.

“Greetings, Comrades!” the Soviet head of state, dressed in his whitest white shirt and his spiny Koopa shell polished clean, “I announce that in the future…we will put a man on the Moon!”

“But we already did that!” retorted one of the legislators, before turning around to see an NKVD agent sniffing his shoulder, “What makes this so revolutionary, comrade?”

“Glad you asked, comrade!” Tertel bellowed, coughing up smoke and sparks that set his speech on fire, “Not just any man, but a WOMAN to the Moon by 2025! To show communism’s might in smashing the ancient patriarchy and promoting female egalitarianism, the finest female cosmonauts will be chosen for this effort.”

The turtle man paused his speech as the NKVD agents used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames on his podium.

“Cause we know how we view women and lesbian relationships, my comrades?” he asked rhetorically.

“IN 4K HIGH DEFINITION!” the entire Supreme Soviet roared in laughter and jeers.

“Yes! With our super advanced space telescopes, our comrades who have fancy women wearing skintight latex spacesuits get a very nice view from earth.” Comrade Tertel added. “Moving onto the next subject in question…”

The grotesque puppet blew the ash and soot from his speech papers.

“Ah yes! Islamic Terrorism! Terrible thing.” he smiled happily, “This is for our friends and workers in solidarity in Jerusalem. Due to their concerns with our methods of combating terrorism in Central Asia, the law requires that I must say that Soviet Russia will not enact our policy of “Massive Retaliation”, nor will we deploy chemical or biological weapons, nor will we indiscriminately target civilians with our punitive strategic bombing missions, nor will we target civilian sectors whom we deem to be economic engines for the terrorists, nor will we move more tanks and soldiers near the border of Ariana, nor will we send an ultimatum to the government of Ariana, nor will we plan to bomb and devastate the countryside back into the stone age.”

“Is that all?” Tertel asked the members of the Supreme Soviet for any missing claims. “I have to make sure that I deny everything that I’m about to do in the coming days and weeks. I’m already planning to do an apology video to send to Jerusalem…after we kill the counterrevolutionary bastards with poison gas and disease.”

After a moment of silence, the room moves on to the next subject on the long list.

“Speaking of that said nation.” he continues, “I once again affirm Russia’s commitment to supporting the independence of the Salemite Republic. Despite how much the country loves human rights and how we hate the concept, we can agree that oppressing Muslims is a good government policy.”

A Soviet member representing the Muslim communities raised their hand to signal to the Premier. Behind them, an NKVD officer was sniffing the man's hair.

“Don’t worry.” he assures, “We’re Bolsheviks, for Science’s sake, we oppress all religions equally, unlike Jerusalem.”

…

“Right, this concludes our meeting.” Tertel dumped his speech in the recycle bin. “I shall retire to my dacha and wrestle naked with my husband in front of the fireplace while watching anime. There is a new adult-rated show from Japan that goes over a love story between two useless lesbians living in Yagodist Russia. I shall review it to…ensure that it is safe for consumption for our loyal comrades in this glorious red republic. See you soon, comrades.”

[The National Dominion of Hungary]

The Commonwealth of Three Nations

HEADLINES

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FSO subsidiary EMP breaks ground on factory in Psary

The Izera-M hatchback and Izera-D SUV will be the first models to roll off the line

EMP broke ground at the construction site of it's first factory in Psary, north of Wroclaw. The Commonwealth's automotive sector employs over 360 000 people in manufacturing and another 370 000 in trade and various support industries, headed by brands such as Skoda and FSO. "The Izera-series which will be produced in the new Psary plant is a dream of a new Commonwealth car brand coming true." Says Agata Rzedowska from EMP. Launched in 2016, EMP or Electromobility Poland was a joint venture by FSO Warszawa and four large Crown energy corporations PGE, Tauron, Enea and Energa. The declared aim of the project was to develop an electric car that uses components from Commonwealth suppliers wherever possible. In order to meet deadlines however, this was only partially successful with Italian Torino Design helping to create the look and the electric architecture developed jointly with German Volkswagen. According to Rzedowska, this was the only way to meet the tight schedule. Initially planned to have a production capacity of 100 000 vehicles per year when opening in 2024, the plant will employ around 3500 people and when fully completed in 2025, it is to be able to produce 200 000 vehicles per year. The vehicles have been tailored to primarily fit the needs of local and regional consumers in terms of costs, accessories and parameters. Coming out on the mass-market with a range of 420 kilometers per full-charge and a price-tag to land it in among, for example, the Nissan Leaf, the Volkswagen E-Golf, the Hyundai Ioniq and Hyundai Kona.

---

Commonwealth to double size of the Koper Gas Terminal

The Koper Gas Terminal opened for business in December of 2015

The All-Crowns Ministry of Energy has announced that it has set plans in motion that will double the size of the country's planned floating terminal for receiving, storing and re-gasifying liquefied natural gas (LNG). As part of its efforts to diversify away from Soviet energy supplies which began with the ARBSD's return to power in 2012. Plans to construct an LNG terminal in the Austrian Littoral had been around since 2006 and was finally built in 2015. The Commonwealth's government has since intended to expand the installation by building a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU). Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Marek Grobarczyk confirmed in early March 2020 that aim was to have the FSRU operational by 2027-28 with an initial capacity of 6.1 billion cubic meters a year.

However, speaking today at a congress in Ostrava, Minister of Energy Leonore Gewesseller revealed that the FSRU plans have since been made more ambitious. “Due to growing interest we plan to expand to at least 12 billion cubic meters.” Said Gewesseller, quoted by the Royal Press Agency (RPA). She added that the government was in constant dialogue with regional partners “to work out the final model of connections” to open for the possibility of transporting gas to them. On a visit to Prague last week, Polish Chief Minister Beata Szydlo pledged that “the Parliament of the Crown of Poland wholeheartedly supports the Realms in becoming independent from Russian energy blackmailers”, including by “doing everything to make our ports on the Baltic Sea accessible for our country's energy needs and working closely with our Nordic partners on the Baltic Pipeline project”. The Baltic Pipeline is hoped to be able to bring up to 10 bcm of gas to the Commonwealth from the Nordics annually.

Last month, Gaz-System, the public-private partnership operating the Koper Gas Terminal revealed that it was hoping to have the FSRU completed even earlier than originally planned, perhaps by 2026 or “maybe even faster” as reported by Wirtschaftsblatt. First Consul Andrzej Duda has pledged to end the import of Soviet energy supplies by the end of the current term stating that it is time for the Commonwealth to stop "funding the COMINTERN for the sake of convenience".

---

[The Orson Empire]

Kingdom of Egypt

Al-Waqa'i' al-Misriyya (The Egyptian Affairs)- Top Headlines

Malik In Recovery From Surgery

CAIRO. Malik Fuad II's operation was performed successfully at the Cairo Citadel by staff of the Citadel Medical Unit and doctors assigned from the esteemed Cairo University Hospital, as reported by the Royal Household Agency.

His Royal Highness Faud II, 70, underwent an emergency appendectomy after being hospitalized for acute appendicitis days prior, and is currently awake and responsive as reported by his wife, Queen Consort Falida. Various other members of the royal family also expressed relief and joy after the operation was completed.

Upon the Malik's hospitalization, Muhammad Ali, Prince of the Sa'id was declared Regent by the RHA with consent of Parliament and Prime Minister Fouad, granted full authority to rule in his father's name for a period of one month while the Malik rests and recuperates. The Crown Prince has asked the public to pray for a speedy recovery.

There was a significant outpouring of support and sympathy from across the realm, with Imans organizing their congregations in prayer sessions for the Malik and thousands of letters being delivered to the RHA, which has returned letters of gratitude in response. Radio and television broadcasts temporarily ceased their normal schedules to discuss the situation, while politicians from across the political spectrum offered prayers of support.

Salih Sentenced To Death

KHARTOUM. Yaser Salih has been sentenced to death by hanging at the High Court of Sudan in Khartoum.

Salih was the perpetrator of the 2016 Khartoum Stock Exchange bombing, one of the most savage acts of terrorism carried out in the kingdom's history. Salih was a disgruntled worker who had been terminated from his employment at a steel mill in 2014. He ultimately turned to extremism, advocating for a revolution among the working class and the death of Egyptian capitalism. He considered the stock exchange as the most prominent symbol of "bourgeoisie domination" and believed destroying the building would be the signal needed to cause workers all across Sudan to rise up.

On 9 March 2016, Silah drove a rental truck filled with explosives into an adjacent alleyway. The following detonation gutted the stock exchange, killing 54 people and injuring 160. After a lengthy investigation, Silah was apprehended by Sudanese police and held on charges of murder, terrorism, and possession of illegal weaponry. He was ultimately found guilty, with the execution date to be scheduled in five weeks. The verdict has been widely applauded by the general public, with survivors of the bombing and family members of the deceased believing proper justice was served.

The fallout of the bombing led to an intense crackdown on the communist-aligned South Sudanese Independence Movement, who stands accused of providing Silah with the explovises. Over the past six years, twenty-five SSIM compounds have been raided by the army and State Security Service agents, leading to the arrests of over 200 high-ranking insurgents.

Salemite Shipping Closed to Suez

CAIRO. The Suez Canal Authority, with consent of Parliament, has announced the canal's closure to all ships registered within the Republic of Jerusalem, or containing cargo and/or passengers destined for Salemite ports.

The announcement comes after years of accusations by Parliament that Jerusalem has not paid over two billion Egyptian pounds in reparations, for its role in the Second Suez Crusade, and thus voids all Egyptian obligations in the 2011 Treaty of Constantinople. Furthermore, Parliament has demanded the return of numerous cultural artifacts looted by Salemites during their wars of aggression against Egypt, dating back to the earliest crusades.

Prime Minister Anissa Fouad praised the decision in a short address to Parliament, in which she confidently declared "not a single Salemite shipping container" shall ever sail through the canal again. The closure is expected to severely increase Egyptian-Salemite tensions.

[Dragos Bee]

Imperial Palace, Constantinople, January 2 2022

On her throne, Empress Theodora gave a nod and widely smiled, "You performed well, such that the legalization of marijuana has more support, not less, after your rant. You have my word; we will do anything to make sure that Jerusalem joins the alliance against the Communists." She then looked at him and said, "Find a way to inform the 'Liberal Party' of Jerusalem of this: That they will have the credit for the Romans' transition into a Second Republic, as well as a secret provision from us to turn against the Caliphate and Egypt if the two ever threaten Jerusalem's independence, if they can get their own nation to take an actual side..."

Isaakios Skleros shook his head at that, and made his counter-offer to a bemused Empress, "The Liberal Party of Jerusalem does not have the seats for that; the others value neutrality too much. That said, they will be flattered to be offered the achievement of dissolution of the Monarchy, and it would make the other parties look like fools if they look like they stand in the way of the spread of 'Republicanism'. Then you can tell Egypt and the Caliphate that you didn't plan on abolishing the Monarchy after all and just wanted to make Jerusalem look unreasonable."

This time, Empress Theodora IV pondered the counter-strategy, giving actual thought to it before saying, "It would be the lesser risk, if it fails. We'll merely look like fools, not traitors, if this specific gamble fails... Assuming that the Salemites do not catch on to the ploy." Then she realized, "Actually, despite my sons and daugthers resenting it, I'd rather the Monarchy be dissolved while public discontent with it is still barely existent. Tell the Liberal Party of Jerusalem that the dissolution of the Monarchy is genuinely on the table if they can increase the number of seats they have by even a quarter of what they have now in the next election. That will increase our influence but also leave them with the feeling that they have a free hand."

Isaakios then responded with, "A good offer, at least on paper. May I have it in writing?"

The Empress then glared at him and said, "No, you may not. Do not forget that your party represents the Jews and Muslims of the Empire as well, and imply to the Liberals that the latter will be pleased if Jerusalem keeps to the terms of the Treaty we asked them and the Egyptians to sign just a decade or so ago..."

There was no news, in the closed chamber, of Egypt's latest moves. Which was all the better, as that would have extremely complicated things. Isaakios then bowed and asked, "Permission to depart, Your Imperial Highness?"

"Given," the Empress said with a slight note of haughtiness. Then Isaakios left the chamber, and the Empress pressed a button hidden in the oaken armrest of her chair.

One of her personal assassins (small-a) walked in, saying, "Do we need to kill him?"

Empress Theodora shook her head and said, "No. Just make sure he is carefully watched; we can't afford him developing scruples and deciding to leak all..."

[Doje Islands]

Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Prime Minister Montenegro's Office
January 2nd, 2022

While officially, government employees don't have January 1st off, it would be worse for the government to be staffed by drunks than to be understaffed. Thus, no one is reprimanded for not showing up on January 1st. That is why we look to the second, instead.
January 2nd was a very nice day in Lisbon that year. Due to its coastal location, it was like southern California (then again, most coasts in southern Europe are like southern California).
The calm weather was not a reflection of Prime Minister Montenegro's mood that day.
"You're saying we had 0% GDP growth last year?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," his aide, Pedro, answered.
"Oh my god..." Montenegro ran his hands through his hair. He turned back to Pedro. "That's... not an official statistic, it is?"
"No, sir."
"Good. It should stay that way."
Montenegro stood up and walked to his office's window. As he stared out, he spoke. "Pedro, Portugal is sick. You know this, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"She's been sick ever since 2008. And since 2008, the communists have been gaining popularity. Last year, they got a combined 35% of the vote."
"Sir, last year we got 55% percent of the vote."
"Pedro, it's all relative. The communists have never done this well. I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Montenegro turned around and gestured vaguely for a second, "if we don't fix the economy, Portugal will be lost."
"Well, you know what they say, sir. Shoot for the moon. If you miss, you'll be forced to drift aimlessly farther into the vast, empty abyss of space until a lack of food, water, and oxygen causes you to succumb to death's cold embrace."
Montenegro paused for a second. "I'm fairly certain nobody says that."
"That's true. I made it up just now."
"As far as metaphors for Portugal's domestic situation go, though, it's not bad."
"Thank you, sir."
Montenegro sat back down at his desk. "With all of that throat-clearing out of the way, help me to brainstorm ideas to fix the economy. One of them will be good, and we can work with that."

[Passingon]

The Red Stars - January 1st, 2022

Ngaoundere, Cameroon

Last nights celebrations of new year, despite the poverty, despite the lack of freedom or justice, despite the struggle and brutality of the regime, had remained in almost full-swing from yesterday. Most cities still remained in a hive of ecstasy, although that was due to ecstasy. Around 98% of the population were among the same level of class and income, with the other 2% being civil servants, businessmen with great wealth and politicians. The city of Ngaoundere was no expectation, the hardworking and down to earth people of the city remained in full celebration from the night before, hoping to forget of the long days of grafting. In what was known as Working Cities, there was always a sentiment of Revolution in the air, a sliver of what could be.

"The Celebrations of the masses, eh?" Started Rabo, looking out the dances upon the streets.

"Well, they'll fade eventually. How was Gabon?" Responded Solomon, ripping a piece of bread off.

"Fine, it seems the government are trying something there, rudimentary crackdowns.. Did we get any contacts in the capital?" Asked Rabo, spreading the butter of his piece of the bread. The room was quiet, the apartment having not been completed refurnished. Looking out the window, he spotted the slow gathering of police within the area.

"No, not enough for any sort of revolt. Around 150 outside though, looks like something might be coming off.. " He said, as Solomon went to the window as-well, taking another bite out of the bread. Solomon took a sight to a small group of policemen coming towards the apartment block, both of them quickly turning the old rifles within the bathroom.

"Get the rifles, we've got company.. " Demanded Rabo, turning the table over to act as a barricade for the assumed raid of the apartment. As Solomon grabbed the two rifles, his eyes shifted to the boxes of plans, maps etc.

"What about the boxes?" He asked Rabo.

"Leave them here. If they get them, they get them. Get behind the table". He demanded once more, as Rabo quickly grabbed the 1959 Semi-Automatic rifle, aimed to the door where the police were going to come in, they assumed.

A few minutes of silence was within the room, until a large bang came through the door, and it all went guns blazing. Volley's of bullets flung into the direction of the police, as it seemed around 50 men had been tasked to raid several buildings. Solomon saw the people forced out their homes, dragged by their legs, arms or necks. As the bullet's continued to fire, to both sides of volleying lead striking through the woods. As the two of them prepared to reload, a bombardment of ammunition was unloaded to the make-shift barricade, as the two of them felt the fury of the bullet's ringing into them. Silence came to the room, as police swarmed the building for evidence. Gathering the boxes of maps and plans, the bodies were left in the building, lifeless.

Poeple's Assembly of Cameroon, 4th January, 2022

The assembly was packed, with almost every members of the assembly discussing various different policies. The President and known as the People's Champion, Barack Ojukwu, entered the large hall, the room went completely silent. As he came to podium, a few small sheets of paper in hand, he'd look across the hall, packs of almost all men in various different suits, awaiting what their great leader was to say in the Assemblies Weekly Session. A few cameras were to the back to begin filming, all owned by the government itself.

"Hello to you all, and I hope you all had a great New Years eve, and I also hope you're ready for another year of prosperity and efficiency for the great State of Cameroon. I hope you are all aware of some rumours of a revolution by some groups down in Gabon, and I assure you all, that will not happen! The People of Gabon, since 1970, are no more, and have been re-ordered as a variant of Cameroonian. Due to these rumours, I have prepared 60,000 troops to begin a military operation within the Province of Gabon to prevent any sort of revolt or uprising from occurring. However, I have not come here to speak of what our brilliant military can do, and has done in various wars and liberations, but our domestic policy. Another year, and we must innovate, we must change for the betterment of security, and of the people. The talks of the corrupt ideologies of Liberalism and Capitalism have already plagued enough African countries, why should we be next? Via the powers put in me by the people of Cameroon, I announce an out-right ban on the ideology of liberalism, as-well as an increase to our military police. Although I will discuss this with the Select Committee, we must defend our nation, whatever the cost may be. We must not fall to the ideology which continues to plague, disrupt and degenerate the world before us. Have a good session, and may the people of Cameroon be with us".

Cameroon State Media - 5th January, 2022

War against liberalism declared in historic speech!

In a once in a lifetime speech to the Peoples Assembly, President, Chairman and the People's Champion of Cameroon, Barack Ojukwu, announced a declaration of war against the ideology of Liberalism and Capitalism, using the powers of the people to out-right ban the ideology of liberalism, as-well as increasing the amount of military police on-hand within the rebellious state of Gabon. He stated in the speech that the people of Gabon were "no more" and had been "re-ordered into another variant of Cameroonian". With rumours circling that the province could be subject to an attempted uprising, our Great leader calmed the tensions within the room, starting that "we must defend our nation, whatever the cost may be". One member of the Assembly said that the speech was Cameroon's "ultimate crusade against corruption, degeneracy and capitalism". Another stated that he "almost cried" when hearing the speech, later saying that this "began a new age" for the country.

It is said in the next few weeks, widespread raids on suspected revolutionary outposts will occur.

- Other Stories:

- Cameroonian Football to see "major reforms". - SPORT
- Economy in "very good hands" say Cameroonian Central Bank. - ECONMY
- Liberalism sees "major dip" in popularity after major crackdowns. - POLITICS
- Major electronics company "within weeks of new technology". - TECHNOLOGY

[Reverend Norv]

Come. Descend with me, as if we were two angels, this clear and cloudless January day. Look there, below us, where the steep and rocky hills spread out like a rumpled blanket. You could almost imagine that in two thousand years, nothing has changed, here in this holiest of lands. The same olive groves and vineyards still cling to the low ridgelines; the air still smells of sage. Only the slowly swiveling radar dishes that crown the hillsides – and, beside them, the boxy erector launchers for surface-to-air missiles – reveal the modern fortress that this land has become.

Changes become more visible as we descend into the valley of Zion. Here, outside the old city of Jerusalem, we find a modern middle-class suburb. Rows of tidy, three-story townhouses, all built of golden sandstone, are set back from quiet streets behind long, communal vegetable gardens. Electric trams hum softly down those streets, and traverse traffic circles; note, at the center of each traffic circle, the concrete pillbox with its watchful machine gun. Here, a column of reservists finishes its formation run, and the middle-aged men and women disperse and return to their various workplaces; there, two pensioners waiting for the tram play an impromptu game of chess, and argue about politics.

But if we pass on, on to where the land starts to rise toward Mount Zion, we find an ancient stone wall: medieval, dating from the first days of the Crusades. This wall separates the present from the past, for beyond it lies the Old City. Suddenly the streets are pedestrian-only, winding and twisting into narrow staircases before broadening into small market squares, and every flagstone is worn smooth by a millennium’s worth of pilgrim feet. The air smells of incense and Arab coffee and frying falafel, and the tolling of church bells mingles with the call of the muezzins. Catholic tourists weep on the Via Dolorosa; football commentators chatter on the television in a basement café. Turn right, and the streets wind and climb toward the Temple Mount: toward the Western Wall, and the al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock. Turn left, and the streets descend toward the many domes of the Church of the Sepulcher.

You and I are travelers in time and space. How many wonders have we seen and imagined, in how many timelines? And yet this place still has the power to take my breath away. Jerusalem, Jerusalem: the place where King David sang, and Christ was crucified, and the Prophet ascended in the night to visit Heaven. In each timeline we've witnessed, Jerusalem is different; but there is always a Jerusalem, and Jerusalem is always holy. It is a fixed point of the universe. And in this universe, much will depend on decisions that are made here.

Those decisions are being made now, just after noon on this crisp winter day, at the Tower of David. Turn left and come with me, through the crowds of pilgrims and shoppers and conscripts, to the far western end of the Old City. Here stands a Crusader castle: its crenelated walls and soaring minarets were built in the 12th century, but they are constructed using giant Herodian stones that were first cut in the time of Christ. Behind those walls, among the vaulted halls and ancient chapels, most of the government of Jerusalem has its offices – including the Prime Minister and her cabinet. Altogether modern figures stand sentinel in front of the medieval gatehouse: Kerak Legion special operators, lean and dangerous men in olive-drab battle gear and dark balaclavas.

Neither ancient walls nor modern laser-tripwires, however, can hinder travelers in time and space. Pass through the wall with me, and let’s find our way through the stone courtyards and cloisters, around the gently burbling fountains. Drift through the crowds of military officers and bureaucrats and government staff, and eventually you will find yourself at the base of a great round tower, set into the very heart of the citadel. Come: the likes of us can ascend swiftly enough, and here – at the apex of this round tower, the highest point in the Old City – we find the cabinet chamber of the Republic of Jerusalem.

It is a circular chamber entirely surrounded by ancient Gothic windows, which are now filled with clear glass to keep the weather out. You can see a remarkable distance from here: out over the crowded roofs of the Old City to the sandstone suburbs beyond, and then to the rocky brown hills beyond that, and finally to the hazy, olive-green horizon. The floor is simple medieval stone; the domed ceiling is adorned with mosaic in the Greek style. At the center of the chamber is a round oak table, weathered by great age. Around the table’s margin, inlaid in bronze, is inscribed a quotation from the Book of Proverbs: “By insolence the heedless make strife, but wisdom is with those who take counsel.”

There are about a dozen men and women in this room, but I want you to notice one of them: the tall, slim woman who has pushed her chair back a short distance from the table, and who is studying that inscription. Prime Minister Gila Amsalem is a handsome Jewish woman in her mid-forties, with dark hair tied back in a ponytail. She is pinching the bridge of her nose. Jerusalem’s cabinet is usually on vacation this week, and they have been called back for this emergency meeting. Two hours ago Amsalem was hiking with her husband in the mountains near Tiberias; her staff rushed her straight to the Tower of David, and she is still wearing leggings and hiking boots and a fleece vest. She looks like a modestly successful real estate lawyer, which is what she was before she entered politics.

Still – when Gila Amsalem raises one hand, the anxious voices of her ministers fall swiftly silent. She takes a deep breath, and speaks in Franseys: the language of government, and of the men who built this ancient castle. “All right. First things first.” The Prime Minister looks at Guarin Fairneau: a compact, graceful Frankish man whose fine white hair is combed back from a high forehead. Fairneau is the Attorney General, and he was visiting his grandchildren this morning; he is wearing a shabby tweed jacket and a bulky scarf. Now, he meets Amsalem’s gaze as the Prime Minister asks: “Do we actually owe Cairo two billion Egyptian pounds?”

“No.” Fairneau’s voice is firm. “After the Second Suez Crusade, we agreed to pay compensatory reparations for actual damages to the property of the Egyptian government – not general reparations to compensate for broader economic harm. Our experts evaluated the amount of actual public-property damage at eight hundred million Egyptian pounds. The Byzantine government agreed. We paid that money over eight years, ending in 2019.” Fairneau shakes his head. “If the Egyptians claim now, eleven years after the treaty, that they are entitled to another two billion pounds – then it is Egypt that is violating the Treaty of Constantinople, not the Republic.”

Amsalem’s attention is still fixed on Fairneau. “And these artifacts?”

“Well.” The lawyer shrugs. “The international legal consensus is that robbing the cultural patrimony of other nations is never a good thing, even if it happened centuries ago. But there’s also a consensus that the original owner has no legal right to demand the return of its artifacts, either. If they did have that right, I dare say that the Louvre and the English Museum would be a great deal emptier by now.” A low chuckle rolls around the circular chamber.

Fairneau is not done. The attorney general clasps his hands on the ancient oak council table. “Citizen Amsalem, it’s important to emphasize that free navigation of the Suez Canal is a cornerstone of international maritime law. Whatever the merits of Egypt’s claims, Cairo has already undermined them, just by using these means to achieve its goals.” Fairneau spreads his hands. “Squeezing us for reparations payments by closing the Canal to our trade – that is like getting the bank to pay you interest by robbing it. Whether or not the bank actually owes you that money, your way of getting it is unacceptable. The legal high ground here belongs to us. The moral high ground too, I would say.”

The Prime Minister nods slowly. She turns to Cateline Lariot, the foreign minister: a Frankish woman of about fifty, with a blonde pixie cut and flinty blue eyes. “Citizen Lariot – do you concur? Is the world behind us?”

Lariot thinks for a moment. “It will be,” she says carefully, “if we play our cards right.” She nods at the Attorney General. “As Citizen Fairneau said, free navigation of the Suez Canal isn’t only a priority for our Republic. It’s a priority for every country with any stake in global trade. By attacking the principle of free navigation, Egypt is threatening the entire world economy; it is claiming the right to stop any nation’s shipping, at any time, for any reason. Today, it turns that power on Jerusalem; tomorrow, it could do the same to Germany, or Russia, or any other country. It is in everybody’s interest to impress upon Cairo that it cannot get away with this.”

“I doubt that Gum Shan and Japan are too concerned that Egypt might close the Canal to them.” The voice is flat and gravely, and the speaker matches it: a lanky Frankish man with close-cropped, steel-grey hair. Geoffroi Marcelet is the Defense Minister, and he is wearing plain olive-drab fatigues; he was called to this emergency meeting directly from a field exercise with his reserve legion. Now, he nods at Cateline Lariot. “If the Pacific Treaty Organization thinks that Egypt will leave the Canal open to its members, why should it care if Cairo closes the Canal to everyone else?”

“Because,” Lariot replies grimly, “President Yuan and Prime Minister Mataichi know that when Egypt threatens the shipping of non-PTO nations, it drives those nations directly into the arms of the Russians. Alienating the neutral world is a good way to lose the Cold War.” Lariot glances at Gila Amsalem. “We can exploit those tensions to our advantage: if we hint that Egypt might be forcing us to align with the Russians, then the PTO itself will probably require Egypt to reopen the Canal to our ships.”

“And,” Guarin Fairneau adds, “we can bring additional pressure to bear by seeking international mediation, or even adjudication before the United Nations. We make it clear that Egypt is in violation of maritime law, that it’s engaged in illegal economic warfare. Then, if Tokyo and Jingning back Cairo anyway, it will look like imperialist aggression against a small neutral country. If Tokyo and Jingning force Egypt to back down, on the other hand, then they get to look like the protectors of small nations everywhere. God knows that they’d love that kind of public-relations victory against the Russians.”

Geoffroi Marcelet grunts skeptically. Gila Amsalem glances at him. “Citizen Marcelet?”

“Well and good,” the Defense Minister says. “And if we can get the international community to solve this problem for us, then so much the better.” He shakes his head. “But surely we don’t want our Republic to seem like it’s dependent on the protection of Japan or Russia or Gum Shan. Right? I understand the diplomatic usefulness of playing the victim, and asking the world to defend us from the big bad Egyptians. But if we play the part too well, the Caliphate and the Byzantines will start to think that our Republic is easy prey. We want international support, sure. But we also need to show strength.”

Amsalem glances around the room. Catelin Lariot reluctantly nods. Amsalem looks back at Marcelet. “I do not want to mobilize,” the Prime Minister says. “Not yet. It will send the Egyptians into a panic, and in a week we could be fighting the whole capitalist world.”

“There are other options,” a quiet voice notes. Hassan Karimi is the Director of Clandestine Operations – the head of the Assassins. He is a slightly built Arab man of about sixty, with neatly parted hair and a fussy little mustache and frighteningly cold dark eyes. “For every day that the Canal is closed, a major Egyptian company could suffer a cyberattack, for example – costing Egypt the same amount of money that Egypt is costing us. For a more direct approach, the directors of the Suez Canal Authority could find their personal bank accounts emptied. Or their children abducted.” Karimi shrugs. “I have second-generation operatives in Egypt: the children of sleeper agents who were sent to Cairo in the fifties. They’ve been waiting literally their whole lives for a moment like this. So - we have a wide variety of contingency plans available.”

Amsalem shakes her head. “Not yet. We give the world a chance to act first – and we give Citizen Lariot a chance to do her job.” The Prime Minister pauses. “But we will make it clear that if the world does not act, then we will. The Egyptians know well enough that this Republic does not make empty threats.”

A grandmotherly Greek woman of about seventy, her grey hair tucked into a messy bun, leans forward. “There is one more thing.” This is Loukia Stethatos, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff and top political advisor. “Television and radio covered the Egyptian announcement this morning. The public has mostly kept calm, but there is a great deal of concern that basic goods might become unaffordable. There’s fear of rationing. We’ve heard some reports of people buying up flour at grocery stores.” Stethatos pauses. “And there’s a great deal of anger, too. The people feel that the Republic is being bullied. They want to see us respond. Forcefully.”

“I understand that,” Amsalem snaps. For the first time, she stirs in her chair, and she bunches one fist on her knee. “Before God, I do. But I will not lead this Republic to war against the entire Pacific Treaty Organization - not for the sake of injured pride. That would be just what that bitch Fouad is hoping for.” Amsalem shakes her head. “I will not be bullied, Loukia. But I will not be goaded, either.”

Stethatos nods. “Nevertheless. We need to be transparent here. If the people hear that the government has a plan, they will close ranks and follow you. If they hear nothing, they will start to panic.”

Gila Amsalem lets out a short breath. “All right.” She pinches the bridge of her nose for a moment, and you can almost see her mind whirling through possible strategies, messages, rhetoric. “Has the Warden been briefed?”

Loukia Stethatos nods again. “Less than an hour ago.”

“Let’s bring him in, then. If the people need reassurance, there’s no one better than the Rock of Arish.” Amsalem drums her fingers on the table. “And let’s find the Mufti, the Archbishop, the Chief Rabbi. All the usual suspects. We’re about to ask the people to have patience. At a minimum, that means we need to show that we are taking the situation seriously.”

On this, at least, there is no dissent. Gila Amsalem glances from one minister to the next. “I think it goes without saying that we are all sleeping in our offices until this is resolved, yes?”

Geoffroi Marcelet snorts. Catelin Lariot smiles ruefully. Guarin Fairneau sighs, and says: “At least I replaced my sofa recently.”

A gust of laughter fills the ancient medieval chamber, and Amsalem stands. “Good. I will see you all here again this evening. And now,” she concludes with a wry smile, “you will have to excuse me, citizens. I need to find my breastplate.”

* * *

Leave the Tower of David, now; fly out with me from that soaring minaret, out into the open air above the Old City, and descend again into the warren of narrow streets. Here we find a small café, tucked into the basement of a stone building that seems as old as the city itself. At a few tables, old men play chess and gossip about their grandchildren; slightly younger men – and a few women – sit at a battered bar and nurse little glasses of arak. A flat-screen television on the wall shows yesterday’s football game: Acre against Nablus. Everybody saw it live; nobody pays the replay much attention. A thick haze of pungent Latakia tobacco smoke swirls against the low ceiling.

One of the men at the bar is talking to the proprietor. “It’ll be the price of bread, first,” he predicts grimly. This is Petros Tzipoureles; he is the owner of a small company that offers guided tours to Byzantine pilgrims, and he often spends his afternoons drinking in this café. Now, he wags his finger at the proprietor. “Do you know how much of our wheat is imported? Yes, first the price of bread, and then the price of gas. It’ll be a cold February, Yussef, I’ll tell you that much.”

“We’ll get by,” Yussef Fanous replies. He is a small, wiry Arab Christian of indeterminate age; he polishes a shot glass with the slow and regular motions of a meditative ritual. “We always do.”

“Ach.” Tzipoureles sips bitterly at his arak. “I was in the active reserves back in oh-nine, you know. Fifty-ninth Reserve Legion. Frontline. Ismailiya sector. We should have nuked the damn canal before we withdrew. Maybe that would have taught the goddamn gippos their lesson.”

Fanous does not bother to reply to this; instead, he simply refills Tzipoureles’ glass. And then, suddenly, the quiet of the cafe is shattered: a deafening fanfare of medieval trumpets rings out from the television speakers. Fanous turns, almost dropping his glass, and finds that yesterday’s ball game has vanished from the television screen. Now, the screen shows only the crescent-cross-and-star heraldry of the Republic.

This is a public service announcement. Every television and radio broadcast in Jerusalem – even every home computer screen - has been taken over in the same way, at the same moment. In Outremer, these disruptions are rarely good news. “Shit,” Petros Tzipoureles mutters succinctly.

On the television screen, the heraldry vanishes, replaced by a ceremonial tableau. The setting is a scenic viewpoint on Mount Zion, overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem: in the distance, the Temple Mount and the Sepulcher and the Tower of David are all clearly visible. In the foreground, silhouetted against the city, stand a man and a woman. The woman we have already met: Gila Amsalem stares into the camera, her face set like flint. The man at her side is a Frank: about seventy years old, but still slim and graceful; he has broad shoulders, and an eyepatch covers his right eye. This is Sir Baldwin Guinard, the Warden of the Republic, known as the Rock of Arish: he is Jerusalem’s ceremonial head of state, and its greatest living war hero. Both the Warden and the Prime Minister wear full dress uniform: dark blue tunic and white trousers, gleaming steel cuirass and tall riding boots, their shoulders heavy with gold braid. Both leaders wear cavalry sabers sheathed at their sides; Guinard’s white-gloved hand rests on the hilt of his sword as if he knows how to use it. The Republic’s political leaders are flanked by its religious leaders: the Old Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem stare grim-faced into the camera, each dressed in his full formal regalia.

It is a powerful picture: a visual representation of the Republic’s military tradition, religious harmony, and sacred homeland. It is also the tableau that, in the era of television, the Republic’s government has typically employed when it informs the public that Outremer is going to war. “Shit,” Petros Tzipoureles repeats.

“My fellow citizens.” Baldwin Guinard’s one good eye is fixed directly on the camera as he speaks, and it feels as if he is looking directly into this little basement cafe. There is absolute silence, but for the faint echo of the same broadcast reverberating from a radio next door; a hush has even fallen over the tourist shops in the market square outside. “You will by now have heard that the Kingdom of Egypt has closed the Suez Canal to the shipping of our Republic. I can tell you this afternoon that this act of aggression will not stand. In the coming days, every citizen will be asked to play his or her part in guiding the Republic through this moment of danger. I ask nothing more than that each of you do your duty.”

”Many of you are angry today,” Guinard continues. “You have a right to be. Freedom of navigation through the Suez Canal is a cornerstone of the international system. It is one of the rules by which not just Jerusalem and Egypt, but all the nations of the world, manage to live together in peace and prosperity. The Egyptian government has violated this rule, in the hope of blackmailing billions of bezants out of our Republic. Its conduct endangers not only the economic security of our people, but the peace of the world.”

“We have reason to hope that a peaceful resolution is still possible. I can assure you that Prime Minister Amsalem and her government are doing everything possible to reach such a resolution. And in the end, whether by diplomacy or by force, we will vindicate the Republic’s right to freedom of navigation.” Guinard pauses. “But before we achieve that victory, there may be lean months ahead. Until this Egyptian blockade is defeated, many things will likely be more expensive. The Republic expects that every citizen will make sacrifices for the common good. If the price of bread rises, there will still be plenty of potatoes; if the price of gas rises, we may all need to bundle up until spring.” The Warden smiles. “My daughter has already promised to knit me a sweater.”

“In conclusion, citizens: stay true to each other. Stay true to the Republic.” Guinard’s voice thrums with commitment. “These temporary discomforts will pass, and leave in their wake the solemn pride of a people whose undaunted courage faced down foreign thugs, and who emerged triumphant and free. Just as we always have.” He pauses. “And now, Prime Minister Amsalem has a few words for you as well.”

In the cafe, Petros Tzipoureles growls: “Damn straight.” Distantly, his attention elsewhere, Yussef Fanous nods.

On the television screen, Gila Amsalem steps forward, her back ramrod-straight. “Citizens, your government is committed to finding a peaceful solution to this crisis. For this reason, I have not ordered any general or partial mobilization of the Reserve Legions. However, as of oh-six-hundred hours tomorrow, the Republic of Jerusalem is under a National Security Alert. All leave for active-duty personnel is cancelled; active Republican Legions are to mobilize in readiness for immediate action. All exit visas for members of the active reserves are revoked; active reservists are to return immediately to their military districts and maintain readiness for reserve mobilization. Should Egypt escalate beyond this illegal act of economic warfare, the Republic will be ready to respond.”

“And make no mistake: the closure of the Suez Canal to our trade is an illegal act of economic warfare.” Amsalem’s clipped tone does not conceal her obvious anger. “This Republic has paid eight hundred million Egyptian pounds in reparations to Cairo. It has complied with the terms of the Treaty of Constantinople. And yet Prime Minister Fouad has presented us with a blackmailer’s offer: either pay two billion pounds, and surrender artifacts that have been part of Jerusalem’s cultural heritage for centuries, or Egypt will close the Canal to our shipping and inflict shortages of basic goods upon our people.”

Amsalem takes another step toward the camera. “I ask you – President Yuan, Prime Minister Mataichi – is this the global order for which the Pacific Treaty Organization stands? Does the PTO exist to help larger nations extort smaller ones? Is this the treatment neutral powers can expect from your alliance? Have we no recourse but to seek protection elsewhere?” The Prime Minister shakes her head. “And I ask you – General Secretary Schmitt, Prime Minister Steenhuisen, Chairwoman Cloutier – if Egypt should succeed in using its control of the Canal to blackmail one neutral power, why would Prime Minister Fouad stop there? Why would she not use the same tactics against your nations? Freedom of navigation is like any other law: it either protects all of us, or it protects none of us.” Amsalem places her hand upon the hilt of her sword, and her tone turns solemn. “In the name of international peace and order, I call upon all the nations of the world to condemn the Egyptian government’s conduct toward this Republic. The world must make it clear that there is no place for international blackmail in the twenty-first century.”

“And to Prime Minister Fouad, I have this to say.” Gila Amsalem raises a white-gloved finger. “The Republic of Jerusalem is prepared to negotiate, without preconditions, concerning the amount of reparations that the Treaty of Constantinople requires. We are prepared to negotiate, without preconditions, concerning the proper ownership of any artifact in our museums. We will gladly submit those issues to international mediation, and to the adjudication of the International Court of Justice. And we will abide by the judgment of those bodies.” The Prime Minister’s hand drops back to her sword. “But we will never negotiate concerning anything while you hold hostage the bread and heat and petrol of our people. We will never give in to bullying: not by you, not by your powerful friends, not by anyone. Never. We will entertain requests, but we will never yield to threats.” Amsalem raises her chin toward the camera. “And should you persist in this course, it is within our power to inflict on your people the same pain with which you now threaten us – and more. It is the hope of a peaceful resolution that has stayed my hand, Prime Minister Fouad. But the patience of my people has limits. Test them, and you will live to regret it.”

With that, Gila Amsalem steps back, and glances at Baldwin Guinard. The Warden stares intently into the camera. “My fellow citizens," he intones, "the path of our Republic has never been easy. But we have passed through the crucible time and time again. What is a cold winter to a people who weathered the Cataclysm and bid defiance to the Caliphate? What are bread prices to the defenders of Kerak?” Baldwin nods. “We stand today for international law against international blackmail; for the rights of small countries against the bullying of great alliances; for peace and justice against barbarism and banditry. All the peace-loving nations of the world, capitalist and communist alike, stand at our back. We will prove worthy of our mothers and fathers, worthy of the name of Jerusalem. And in days to come, we will tell our own children of the days when we faced the iron rod of Pharoah, and bid defiance to his threats.” Guinard salutes: his gloved fist crashes against his polished breastplate. “God save the Republic!”

“God save the Republic!” cries Gila Amsalem. Behind her, the assembled clergy echo the shout. And in a little basement café in the Old City, Petros Tzipoureles and Yussef Fanous – almost unconsciously, in a reflex instilled since childhood – join the cry.

For a moment, the camera holds its focus on Guinard and Amsalem. And then the café’s television screen fades to black – and switches, with jarring suddenness, back to yesterday’s ball game.

Petros Tzipoureles and Yussef Fanous share a long glance. Then Fanous pours himself a shot of arak, and clinks his glass against Tzipoureles’.

“Well,” he says softly, “here we go.”

[Zedeshia]

Méhdia, Kingdom d'Afrique

The Old City, January 6th

A soft breeze, carrying the ever-present scent of the sea, slowly wound its way past the sun-scorched streets of Méhdia, through broad windows of styles both foreign and familiar, past grandiose monuments of long past, and over stones centuries old. The city was one with a long history, of many names in many tongues and many peoples living in its bounds both past and present. With the inevitable passage of time, it had slowly transformed from one stage to another, always shifting and adapting to new eras, new cultures, and new thoughts.

But time often has more sway in some places than others. While much of the nation's capital was a bustling, modern metropolis, the Old City, as antique as the first days of Norman rule in Africa, remained practically unchanged since the 17th century. The buildings were constructed of carven stone and clay, made in the unique Renaissance and Baroque-Arabic styles of the Afrique Golden Age. The streets, winding and narrow, were laced with the same old cobbled bricks that had been placed there ages past. Many sights, unthinkable elsewhere, be it a passing patrol on horseback or a peddler shouting out his wares from secluded tarps along some obscure sidestreet, were common affairs, old remnants of a storied past

However, today was an exception to the unspoken rules that seemed to govern the Old City, separate from the rest of the capital. Where usually it was a place of relative quiet, few passing through its alleys besides the occasional pedestrian or curious tourist, the streets of the ancient quarters were bursting with life. Vast crowds surged throughout what little space there was, people packed back to back, side by side. Hundreds huddled close to their families, trying their best to find a spot with a good view. Those not in the streets gazed out from windows, balconies, rooftops, and anywhere they could to catch a better glimpse of what was to come. Despite the great number of people suddenly amassed, an unusual quiet had overtaken the streets. Besides a few hushed mutters rolling amongst the crowd, very little could be heard but the gentle blowing of the wind and the subtle cry of waves against the beaches not far away. Then, a distant sound could be heard, and in an instant all eyes were turned to Saint Andrew's Way, the widest of the roads that wove through the Old City.

Ratat, Ratat, Ratatatatatat

It was the distant thundering of drums, beating regularly at a steady pace. Soon, flutes and horns joined them in a regal, marching melody. The spectators, previously silent, suddenly broke out into excited cheers.

"Deuh sauhlve l'rei!"

"Longue vie au roi!"

"Liahmi alrabu al-mulik!"

"Vi louhn a'rei!"

From Afrancique to Arabic to French, and countless more, thousands of wild exclamations echoed throughout the streets as the procession advanced. At first, it was the royal heralds and flag-bearers, perched attentively on horseback as the striking royal colors of white, gold, and blue trailed behind them. Then, it was the royal military, marching at a brisk pace behind. Some were with instruments, playing old military tunes and royal anthems as they passed, while others brandished rifles at their sides, antiquated models and largely decorative. Finally, the target of the crowd's fervent attention arrived, the Hauteville royal family. Surrounded by mounted members of the Royal Guard, the Afrique royals trailed behind in sleek, armored cars. Their pace was painfully slow compared to those who came before them, the rough cobblestone of the Old City streets making crossing even slightly a difficult task. However, this did not seem to perturb one man, who calmly stood at the head of the royals, unfazed by the roaring of the spectators.

A man of older age, with graying hair and a well-trimmed salt-and-pepper beard, Roger XI discretely wiped his brow as he waved out to the crowd. While the early months of the year brought much relief to the usually sweltering coast, it was an uncharacteristically clear day, and the sun bore down on the black metal of the royal escort with a vicious intensity. He sighed, voice lost in the nigh endless noise surrounding him. It was a tradition among the Afrique monarchs to march across the outskirts of Méhdia before passing through the Old City and to the Cathedral of Saint Eugenius every ten years, something said to have descended from Roger II's return to the city following the conclusion of the Eighth Crusade. The King himself had done so once before, though the constant, manic energy of the crowds tired him to no end.

Turning his gaze forward, his eyes narrowed on the sight of the cathedral in the distance. It would not be long before the ceremony begins.

---

Saint Eugenius Cathedral was an ancient church by any standard, one of the oldest in the city. It had first been constructed under the watchful eye of Simon I, and throughout the centuries had seen a series of renovations and reconstructions. Here, one could find the worn stones that had made up the Medieval walls and archways, there, one could find Renaissance frescoes and reliefs, elsewhere modern repairs on the ages-old basilica's dome and stained-glass windows. Usually, like much of the Old City where it laid, it was empty, few visiting except for pious members of its congregation and the occasional visitor from afar.

However, with today's occasion, it was full of life. On every side the Afrique nobility situated themselves: along the pews, against the walls, and any other place they could find, Lords and Ladies from the western fringes of Algiers to the eastern reaches of Bérens. All but one place: the center entrance that led to the main altar, where the Archbishop of Méhdia and the Grand Lieutenant of the Eugenian Order awaited.

All was still, until with the sharp cry of trumpets, the grand doors at the Cathedral's entrance slowly opened, and the procession entered one-by-one. First was Roger, now adorned in the ceremonial garb of the Afrique kings, a grand crown glistening gold and silver atop his head and a fine cloak of dark blues and purples billowing from behind. Then, his nearest of kin, a dozen or so of brothers, sisters, cousins, and more, hailing from Bougie, Cyrenaica, Constantine, and wherever else the crown granted them domain. Splitting into two groups, six each, they soon arranged themselves on either side of the aisle. Two, however, continued to march behind, unlike the others not of the royal line. One was an older man, tall and robust despite his age, and with a careful grace in his steps: Lord Bernard d'Filangiers, Consul Nobilis. The other was a younger woman, in her thirties, dark olive in complexion and with straight black hair modestly tied behind her back: Joahn bint Ahmad al-Ayari, the Consul Elect.

Approaching the two at the altar, Roger's steps slowly came to a halt, as he bowed his head in a sign of acknowledgement. The Archbishop, a man who had held his title long before Roger's reign even begun, gave a slight nod in return, before clearing his throat.

"Today is a day of the renewal of promises, of liege to his most loyal subjects, and subjects to liege in Name of the Holy Faiths."

His voice boomed unwavering across the space, without any need for any aid. The cathedral interior had been carefully designed so that even the slightest sound could be carried to any attentive ears.

"Do you, Majesty, swear before your subjects and men of good company, before the Lord eternal, to speak so that all you say be done in unblighted truth and sincerity?"

Roger's response was firm.

"I do."

"Then may in His everlasting grace this ceremony be conducted with pure hearts and good will."

The Consuls of the Grand Assembly then stepped forward, one bearing the royal sceptre of the Afrique crown, pure gold and engraved with intricate flourishes, the other the royal banner of the Kingdom, wrapped firmly against their forearm. First came Count Bernard, who gave a deep bow before kneeling to the king, offering the royal sceptre upwards.

"Do you, Your Majesty, swear to renew your promises to the vassals, to uphold the sacred laws of the Kingdom, and to honor the name and legacy of all that came before in these halls?" The consul's voice was deep, but clear, echoing throughout the grand basilica.

"I do."

The king placed his hand on the center of the staff, but took care not yet to lift it, facing once again to the Archbishop.

"Then let it be so, for as of old it was written in scripture that 'Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows'. Rule in service of your subjects with just and righteous thoughts held close to your heart, and keep ever present the laws of which have been upheld and shall be upheld. Bring not harm to any free of guilt, but serve proper justice to those who upset the right order with ill intentions."

Roger carefully grasped the sceptre as the Archbishop recited his verse, first in Afrancique, then Arabic, then Latin. Then, the Consul Elect approached, bowing as did Bernard, but remaining upright as she she offered the royal banner.

"Do you, Your Majesty, swear to renew your promises to the people of the lands, to the layfolk and the laborer, to those both close and foreign born, to respect their unbreakable rights and privileges, to uphold their dignity in honor, to ever serve their will and right powers?"

"I do."

Once again he rested his hand on the cool cloth of the banner as the Archbishop started once again.

"Let it be so, for it is written 'A king is honored when he has many people to rule, but a prince is ruined if he has none', and without just faith and kindness, and without righteous honors of subjects be known, a king shall rule over not one living soul. Uphold the position of those whom you rule, and with grace and even-mind let their words of council be heard. Threaten not the peoples' will, and be sure of heart and mind."

Roger slowly grasped the banner, bringing it up towards his chest, and casting partially it over his shoulders. Just as he did, the Grand Lieutenant of the Eugenian Order, descended from the Bishops side. He was a man Roger's age, grayed hair contrasting sharply with a complexion deeply tanned by many days under the Mediterranean sun. An old friend of the King, there was a friendly demeanor in the way he walked, unlike the stiff, rigid gaits of those else presiding over the ceremony. Grabbing the royal sabre by its scabbard, the knight smiled lightly and kneeled before his king, placing its hilt on his open palm.

"And do you, Your Majesty, swear to renew your oaths to ever keep the security of the state close in mind, to be willing to take up the sword at times of war, and the pen at those of peace?"

Roger resisted the urge to laugh at the words. While the Afrique monarchs held great power over matters of state, besides the Royal Guards the military had long been in the hands of the Grand Assembly.

"I do"

"Then, as head of the blessed Sovereign Royal Order of Saint Eugenius, excepting your gracious Majesty, and as the chief bearer of the eternal duties of the sword, take upon yourself once more the right to wield just powers as God wills."

Roger took the sabre for himself, holding its hard leather handle tightly in his hands. Cheers and applause erupted from all present, echoing thunderously in the wide chambers of the cathedral. All but two, who stood not far from the King himself, silent amongst the members of the royal family. It was the dawn of a new era in the Kingdom's history.

---

Hérauhld d'Méhdia

RENEWAL CEREMONY AT SAINT EUGENIUS A GREAT SUCCESS, MASSIVE CROWDS CONGRATULATE HIS MAJESTY

Témoin Bérençois

GRAND ASSEMBLY TO MAKE STATEMENT ON SUEZ SHIPPING CRISIS, INSIDERS REPORT

[Dragos Bee]

Office of Imperial Intelligence (Formerly Office of Barbarians), January 3 2022.

It was a good thing the Empress' offer didn't even reach Jerusalem. It was even better that it was discovered as it was being made. It had become clear to Imperial Intelligence that the Empress had to go, considering how she was spending money on foriegn affairs when domestic issues were starting to ramp up, and would accelerate at a rapid pace due to the crisis at the Suez. Heck, it was even obvious to the Empress herself that she had to go and the Monarchy had to end; it was only her stubbornness in her old age which had kept her from dissolving it herself. Or at least, those were the thoughts of one Basil Mouzalon, Head of Imperial Intelligence.

Thin, old, but not balding, clean-shaven man had led Imperial Intelligence through countless operations and counter-operations, doing the dirty and not-so-dirty work needed to implement the Empress' foriegn policy, which would have been brilliant if she had not overestimated her resources. But she did, relying on the Imperial Mining Company's holdings in Afghanistan to funnel mineral wealth into her attempts to maintain the Empire's influence in the world, all the while stubbornly hoping to delay the day of reckoning until a miracle happened.

Basil shurgged in his upholstered chair in his small-o office, before booting up the computer on the mahogany desk before him. The latest reports were of Afrique's 'renewal ceremony' for its King going well, and Cameroon declaring war against Liberalism, something that the Empress would pounce on once she had been informed.

But Basil had a harder heart; not one coin of hyperpya will reach the Gabonese rebels; the Imperial Treasury will not see one coin be spent on yet another unaffordable expense. The Empress would object, of course, but by the end of the night, her opinion will no longer matter; by the beginning of the next morning, the Monarchy will not matter. And if he played his cards right... He would not have to shed a drop of blood.

Imperial Palace, January 3 2022

Issakios Skleros had been arrested on his way to the airport by the Bureau of Customs; he had been smuggling cocaine in his car, or so she had been told. The Empress was also privately informed that he had privately recorded their conversation anyway, and that the recordings were now in the hands of Imperial Intelligence, whom she had butted heads with over costs in the past. She had used them to overthrow governments (not all of them dictatorial) before; now they were doing the same to her.

Now Basil Mouzalon was facing her in the private audience chamber she had spoken with Skleros in just yesterday; he didn't bow or scrape or make excuses. Instead, he was delivering an ultimatum, flanked by a dozen or so of the dreaded Vigila; Imperial Special Forces a match for her Varangians.

"You are going to retire from office, and keep the question of your successor in abeyance," the nearly-bald man was saying to her; she wanted to strangle him. "We will apply 'gentle persuasion' to your sons and daugthers to refuse the throne or delay their claim on it. If you refuse, we'll tell them that you were betting the Monarchy's existence to the Jerusalemites anyway and planning to betray our Egyptian allies. Word will then reach the PTO and the people and, well..."

Empress Theodora IV Kastellanos knew when she had lost, and so she managed to be incompratively graceful as she conceded, "If the Monarchy should go, it should be with dignity. The Queen of England has not cooled in her grave; we will use my grief for her as an excuse for my decision. However, my daugther, Princess Irene, is to be given the title 'Warden of the Republic' when you make your Second Republic. Otherwise, I will risk civil war, regardless of your threats."

She knew that Basil will accept this face-saving measure; he knew full well that humiliating his Empress would not set a good precedent for the future; she was popular enough that humiliating her and her family will create hardliners which would prove to be a cancer on the 'Second Republic', just as her humiliating him by seeming intrasingent would create hardliners against the Monarchy and her family.

And for the last time, in her tenure as Monarch; she was right.

The Roman Times, Newspaper, January 4 2022

The Roman Times
EMPRESS THEODORA IV KASTELLANOS ADBICATES, CITES HEALTH REASONS, LEAVES QUESTION OF SUCCESSOR IN ABEYANCE

[Union Princes]

Rossiyskaya Sovetskaya Federativnaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika
January 6th

Ivan Stanislawovich Tertiel was always the man of the NKVD securocracy. Yet in many ways, he stood out from his predecessors due to his contradictory views on Yagodachina. Whereas they were sexuality conservative while maintaining the legalization of homosexuality in 1972, Tertiel was one of the few openly gay heads of state despite being openly disdainful of overly effeminate men and male crossdressers. Whereas they were loud orators to sway the masses, he is reserved and observational, using his tact and political acumen to cement his power. Whereas they genuinely believed in Yagoda's propaganda of the "Transitional Approach to Economics", he held no such illusions that this was capitalism under a communist paint job; a secret kept only unto himself. Yet, despite this new era of peace and prosperity, coming out of the 20th century with new hopes and a greater sense of community with the foreign world, Tertel was and still is the noble crusader of Marxist-Leninism surrounded by rivals and traitors.

From day one of being named the new Premier in 2000, Ivan Tertel has been known by many names by many people. To the revisionists, he was a Fuhrer. To the capitalists, he was another megalomaniac. To the Russians, he was a dark horse successor—an unusual man for unusual times.

After two decades of his rule, another crisis has landed on his lap. Another day, another Suez Crisis. But as an optimist would say: better the Suez than the Bosphorus. The capitalist Kingdom of Egypt closed off the Canal from Salemite shipping and sounded off the alarms in Jerusalem as the result. Another example of the Perfidious Asians and the Decadent Feudalists enacting imperialism onto a smaller and weaker nation, even if it was the ungrateful, backstabbing, egoist state of Jerusalem. How many times did Soviet Russia come to the aid of Jerusalem only to be prepaid with political inconveniences and inquisitorial press conferences? Even though he had reaffirmed Russian support for Jerusalem a day before the Suez Crisis, Tertel had to do it again now that Jerusalem is releasing a call for aid.

One day, that state in the Middle East will be the death of Russia. No doubt the Assassins plotted a thousand and one ways to cause the nation to implode. As he gritted his teeth knowing that Jerusalem will take advantage of Soviet kindness, Tertel nonetheless had to maintain his position on national television.

To the Prime Minister of Egypt and to other members of the Pacific Treaty Organization, I must say that I am quite impressed with your unrelenting attitude towards your agenda of maintaining your alliance's hegemony in the world...by mercilessly bribing, coercing, and threatening smaller, neutral nations into joining your bloc or in Jerusalem's case, to force them to cow to your imperialism. If Russia had done the same: undermining foreign elections, forcing communism at gunpoint, and performing economic colonialism, the PTO would be far more egregious towards my country. So, let me speak plainly.

The alliance led by Japan and Gum Shan is all but a farce for freedom. They are hypocrites and thieves. Enabling transgressions towards other member states is not part of the PTO. A disgraceful act that Egypt is threatening to starve Jerusalem into submission for monetary gain. This isn't overdue reparations, I know that you know that Jerusalem has paid it back in full, this is a protection racket. Utterly criminal for Egypt to sow lies and deceit.

As such, Russia once again stands with the Salemite Republic. I implore Prime Minister Gila Amsalem not to negotiate nor concede with any of Egypt's demands. I believe you owe not a single coin to the Kingdom of Egypt nor should you waste time returning the cultural artifacts. Given the issues of Islamic terrorism happening in the country, the historical artifacts are much safer in Jerusalem. Nonetheless, the Suez Canal is too vital for the world's trade network to be closed for any nation...regardless of how we view each other.

For Prime Minister Anissa Fouad, for your immoral transgressions against your neighbor, Russia will not look too kindly to Egypt or its businesses. If you do not cease, desist, and formally apologize to the people of Jerusalem, consider Egypt a target of Russian sanctions. All grain, food, and energy shipments ceased to be delivered. Egypt's foreign assets are frozen. The Egyptian people will be barred from engaging in Russian businesses. Even Egyptian banks will be removed from SWIFT under my guidance. Most importantly, any Egyptian currently residing in Russia will be detained and placed under house arrest until this situation is over.

You have been warned.

Do not, I repeat, do not engage in this course of action ever again.

You have 24 hours to reopen the strait to Jerusalem.

[Doje Islands]

Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Portuguese Cabinet meeting room idk
January 6th, 2022

Prime Minister Montenegro pushed the double doors open and walked into the meeting room without breaking his stride. It was pretty intimidating, visually speaking. Taking his seat at the center of the really long table, he began to speak.

"Thanks for coming, everybody. We have several items to get through so I'll try to make this quick. First," at this, he looked at the Foreign Minister, "exactly what is happening between Egypt and Jerusalem?"

"I'm glad you asked," the Foreign Minister said. "Basically, Egypt thinks Jerusalem still owes it two billion pounds from the whole Second Suez Crusade hullabaloo, as well as numerous artifacts taken by the crusaders centuries ago. To get all of this, Egypt has closed off the Suez canal to all Salemite ships. Jerusalem's response has been, in effect, 'No.'"

"So, the Salemites are being blackmailed?"

"Yes, but the Egyptians might have a point."

"Regardless of whether they have a point," Montenegro said, "closing off the Suez isn't the way to make it. I don't want to fracture the PTO, but we need to insist that the situation be sorted out through proper channels. I mean, this is the kind of thing that could push Jerusalem closer to the Russians."

"Speaking of the devil, the Russians are taking Jerusalem's side in this."

"It's settled, then. We'll stand with Jerusalem. Issue a public statement that denounces the economic warfare and urges both sides to settle their differences peacefully. Also, send a private message to both Cairo and Jerusalem, where we'll offer to serve as arbiters between the two."

'Yes, sir."

The Prime Minister checked his watch. "It looks like that's all the time we have for today. We'll reconviene tomorrow to discuss what we missed."

And with that, the meeting was dismissed.

To: Kingdom of Egypt and Republic of Jerusalem
I think we all know where this is going.
The Portuguese government is very concerned about the current Suez crisis. Obviously, nobody wants another war in the Middle East.
To that end, we'd like to offer our services as arbiters between the Kingdom of Egypt and the Republic of Jerusalem, in order to help the two nations to settle their differences peacefully and privately, before anyone gets hurt.
- Rui Rio, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal

OOC: identical copies of this message were sent to both Egypt and Jerusalem.

[Dragos Bee]

Kallipolis/Gallipoli, January 5 2022

Imperial Princess Irene was getting on in years as well but was still canny enough to say to Basil Mouzalon as she met him at a private resort close to the Aegean Sea, "Warden of the Second Republic... I like that exclusive honor. If you had spoken to my other siblings and their children first, though... I wouldn't be so amenable."

She had a regal, elegant beauty in her grey hair and only slightly-wrinkled cheeks, while her lips were still unwithered. "Very well, I will lend my voice to your plans; I will be the Warden of the 'Second Republic'. That said, I have a price - Margarita Iagaris is too closely-linked to my mother's policies; I want her to lose her seat as 'Prime Minister' in the next general election."

As she and Basil sat across from one another, separated only by a small round table, the latter mused that he had forgotten the other most powerful woman in the Empire - A dangerous oversight. Nevertheless, he kept his cool as he said, "I've been preparing for this ever since your mother began losing her grip on reality, back when the Afghan Mines opened in 2001 and the resulting flow of wealth addled her senses. That money could have gone to better uses, such as the Bulgarians."

Irene nodded and said, "My brother Nikolaos is popular with the Bulgarians and Serbs; less so with the Armenians. More dangerously, he is in the Bulgarian provinces right now and would most probably have heard of my mother's abdication. Tell me you've managed to undercut the local leaders in Tarnovo and Sofia -"

Basil looked at her, almost glaring, "I made the requisite promises; now I need you to use the last of your authority as a Princess to put some weight behind them." He then passed her the paper containing a public proclamation of additional subsidies for Bulgarian cities and institutions, paid for by the money which had been going to various anti-communist movements in Africa and Asia... As well as devolved powers to the Bulgarian and Serbian provinces."

Irene frowned, turning up her lip even as she drew her pen and signed the paper in her distinctive Greek handwriting. She then said, "What about the Armenians?"

Ani, January 5 2022, Later that Day

Andreas Kastellanos was the youngest of the former Empress' children, and popular with the Armenians just as his brother Nikolaos was popular with the Bulgarians and Serbs. And the Armenians were rabidly anti-communist and cannot just be bribed out of that position, not with the Soviets occupying their homeland right next door. Thus, just one word from the short man with a full mustache and beard and the Armenians and the Imperial Army regiments were prepared to join the reservists in a revolt to put him on the throne... Unless they acceded to his terms.

Basil Mouzalon's co-conspirator, one Lukas Psellos, was not the sharp man that his superior was, and so instead of making a counter-threat, the middle-aged man, whose own hair, mustache, and beard were still black, restated the terms brought to him and said, "You... Want to retire to South Africa or the Philippines and start a Private Military Company?"

Andreas nodded, "Yes. Unlike you, I'm loyal to my mother's vision, as costly as it is for a nation. Now, as you're stingy with start-up funds and I have an entire set of holdings in the Empire to liquidate, I want advisers, trainers, and diplomatic cover for my actions... Which involves helping the Gabonese."

Lukas nodded and said, "I suppose you'd want to take a contingent of Armenian ex-military personnel too?"

"Yes," Andreas said as he offered his own contract to sign. "Now, put in your handwriting and there won't be a civil war..."

[The National Dominion of Hungary]

The Commonwealth of Three Nations

HEADLINES

---

First Consul Duda urges PTO unity over Suez Crirs

"It is imperative that the PTO works tirelessly to mediate tensions between members and third-party states." First Consul Andrzej Duda said during a press-conference in Prague earlier today. "However, the alliance must also show determination and steadfastness in the representation of it's allies, especially in light of Soviet exploitation of tensions between members and unaligned states for it's own political gain."

The First Consul went on to reiterate that the Commonwealth of Three Nations remains committed to the hope of restoring stability to the region and finding an equitable diplomatic solution, acceptable to both sides. "I hope my Egyptian counterpart, Prime Minister Fouad will be open to negotiations and stands ready to drop some of the Egyptian demands made upon Jerusalem, it is imperative that the Soviet Union is not allowed to exploit the Suez Crisis to bring a cornered Jerusalem closer to the COMINTERN. I have spoken to the Egyptian PM on more than one occasion, I know her to be a person who can clearly see the bigger picture, under her leadership, an equitable political resolution can surely be found without resorting to needless, wanton violence.

"However, Jerusalem must also show it's commitment to diplomacy. After all, not only one side can extend a hand if the other is unwilling to do so. If one party engages in needless military posturing, that very same party makes it difficult to conduct negotiations in good faith, despite the words spoken being those of one's government hoping to find a diplomatic solution. I sincerely hope Gila Amsalem truly means what she stated earlier, that the Salemites are indeed ready to come to the table and negotiate without preconditions. It is imperative to the continued operation of the global system and for international shipping that the situation in the Sinai and remains stable and navigable."

---

HM Karol Olbracht expresses concern over Byzantium

"The abdication of Empress Theodora of Byzantium marks the end of an era, not only for the Empire, but for the entire world." Says His Majesty the King in a lengthy written piece posted yesterday. "The Empress was a remarkable woman, steadfast in her commitment to duty and to her country. She exuded both confidence and a certain humility. As Empress, she invariably put the demands of her position, indeed it feels tawdry to call it a job, above whatever personal impulses she might have felt about it. She witnessed extraordinary events during her time upon the Byzantine throne, however, perhaps the most enduring trend has been her country’s struggle to find its place in the modern world."

The King notes that the abdication has also prompted a spirited debate about the meaning of the Byzantine Empire and her, and her family’s, role within it. Her personal life was no less tumultuous. In sharp contrast to the stoicism and calm that she demonstrated, family dramas played out in the public eye. Her children and grandchildren had messy and acrimonious marriages, divorces and affairs. There was no doubt about her devotion to them, however, and that love was another, formidable component of her image.

While duty and service were the hallmarks of her life and reign, those who knew Theodora best also spoke of her “wicked sense of humor.” The King writes. Members of the Royal Family of the Commonwealth have their own memories of the Empress. Both King Karol Olbracht and Crown Prince Karol Andrzej spent part of their time studying at Constantinople and the Crown Prince met the Empress and other members of the Byzantine imperial family while there.

Any honest assessment of the queen’s reign must also acknowledge the extraordinary costs extracted by the empire over which she ruled. That Theodora strove to rise above that, and did so successfully for long does not negate the damages wrought to the Byzantine state by the foreign adventurism of her reign. Her successor will lead a country in turmoil, and for some things there can be no real preparation. The economic difficulties created by Byzantium's entanglements are being felt in the state's running deficit which has increasing numbers of economists in Constantinople and Athens increasingly worried.

"Empress Theodora, with her unyielding sense of duty and commitment to service, helped fill the gaps as her countrymen grappled with many questions about what it means to be Byzantine and what the role of their ancient empire in the modern world should be. She was the glue that held the nation together. That glue is now gone at a time when Byzantium may need it more than ever with the instability in the Sinai. She will be missed." The King wrote.

---

[Ard alAkhua]

Grand Mosque of Medina

22 Rabi al-Awwal 1444 AH (18 October 2022 AD)

As the golden-orange sunlight of dawn breaks the darkness of the night, starkly outlining the deep green domes of the Masjid al-Nabawi and casting its warmth on the city, the sound of dozens of calls to Fajr prayer can be heard echoing throughout the city. "Allahu akbar, alaaaahuuu akbar! Ash-shahadu an la ilaha ilAllah, ash shahadu an la iiilaahaa ilAllaaah! Ennah Muhammadun Rasulallah, ennah Muhammmaduuuun rasuuul Allaah!" Thousands gather inside and outside the mosque for today's prayer, not only out of piety and devotion to Allah (God), but also because today is the day that the Caliph will speak on political and regional developments and issue a fatwa (religious declaration) in regards to the most pressing ones.

Caliph Umar ibn Muhajid al-Qatada, clad in elegant but simple white robes and a red and white checkered headscarf and with an intricately bedecked sword in a gilded sheath, steps out onto to the mimbar (podium) in the mosque, in front of a microphone. "As-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh! (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all)" he firmly pronounces, and is met with a chorus of "wa'alaikum as salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh"s in response.

"In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, Most Compassionate, and invoking His blessings upon the final Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him), I begin this discussion today. As most may be aware, Egypt has closed the Suez to Jerusalem in regards to the failure of that Crusader state to pay proper indemnities they owe to the aforementioned country.

Though Egypt is overwhelmingly a sectarian Shia state, holding to the incorrect political doctrine of rejecting the first three Rightly Guided Caliphs and various other interpretations of Islam we do not fully agree with, it is still a brotherly nation of Muslims and one that is rightly seeking reparations for violence and suffering caused by the Crusader imperialists over many years. Things are looking as though they may lead to a serious war, and at this moment I do not believe it is in the best interest of the Caliphate to get involved in what could possibly become a world war, in shaa Allah (God willing) this does not occur.

However, I do believe we should seek closer relations with Egypt economically and politically, and massively increase aid to the muhajideen seeking to liberate the occupied Muslim lands within the Holy Land and establish their own system of Islamic governance or, perhaps, to join with us. As such, and after much consultation with the Shura Council and the Grand Imam and elected representatives, it has been decided that the Caliphate will provide $5 million in light and heavy arms, ammunition, and training to the Islamic Army of Al-Quds, Jihad al-Filasteen, and the Ansar al-Quds to intensify their struggle against military and police targets ONLY within the Crusader state, and only in places such as the Muslim Quarter of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Hebron, Ramallah, and other such dominantly Muslim areas.

Also, we are going to declare a complete embargo on the Crusader state, and encourage other countries to follow suit. In shaa Allah this can distract them from any military adventures they may be seeking and cause them to suffer economically and weaken their internal unity. In shaa Allah, the Muslim community of the Crusader lands will be liberated and be able to implement a righteous system rooted in Shariah.

As for the very expected Soviet declaration of intensified persecution against Muslims in Central Asia who are seeking liberation from that totalitarian, arrogant atheist dictatorship, we are going to be giving $10 million to groups there waging jihad against the Communist tyrants; once again, only to attack MILITARY and POLICE targets. Though this will not be popular, it is my belief that this is unfortunately necessary in the struggle against religious repression and Russianization of Central Asia. May Allah be with those fighting for freedom of belief and expression there and around the world!

Either way, on a positive note, we are seeking closer cooperation in all terms with Ariana, Byzantium, and Indonesia against Communism and forced secularism. In regards to Islamist militant groups in Philippines, we will do all that we can to get them to side with the government against the Communist menace in that country. May Allah be with us, with the Muslim Ummah of the world, and against the perversions of liberalism and Communism, ameen.

[Dragos Bee]

Kastellanos Foundation Hospital Ship, the HIMS Saint Kosmas, Eastern Mediterrenean January 5 2022

Part of Byzantium's 'soft power' was its usage of various hospital ships to sail around the world, providing free medical care to those who cannot afford it all around the world. From drastic surgeries, lifesaving treatments, and even just providing disinfectants en masse, the hospital ships of the Empire had won it a large amount of goodwill since the 1980s. Partly funded from donations from The Crown, the Orthodox Church, and various private donors, the HIMS Saint Kosmas and its three other 'sister vessels', ought to be one of the last projects Imperial Intelligence would defund after Theodora IV Kastellanos' abdication.

The Empress Emeritus was not taking any chances that it would be the case anyway.

She knew full well that despite 72 years of reign, since the Second World War, when she had rallied the Empire to fight for freedom against the Axis, the Empire and the Crown's struggle for relevance would prove too costly for the former's people and the latter's existence. The opening of the Afghan mines had delayed the moment of reckoning for twenty more years, and for a few years, she had thought that said reckoning was not going to come. But come it did, and the Empress Emeritus was glad that she had put the largest of the hospital ships, the newly-built Saint Kosmas, under her personal ownership.

And now, it was sailing for Afrique, to the capital itself, hoping to dock in port in time for King Roger's Renewal Ceremony, during which the Empress Emeritus would seek permission to revictual, resupply, and even give emergency medical care to those in need. If asked about her future plans, Theodora planned to say, "I'm going to cross the Straits of Gibraltar, and go straight to Gum Shan's east coast. There I will seek donors to ensure that this ship is kept running as well as 'reconnect' with the Byzantine diaspora in various cities. After that, well, who knows? I can go south to Gran Colombia and hug the coast all the way to the southern tip, or even sail straight to Cape Town then continue sailing all the way to Mataram."

She then imagined herself smiling, then continuing, "I plan to circumnavigate the world before I turn 106..."

Office of Imperial Intelligence HQ, January 6 2022

The first set of operations to be cut off was the high-risk, low-reward, and highly-immoral initiatives that backed terrorists and the less pragmatic kind of dictators; Basil Mouzalon was not sad to see those go.

The second set was the high-risk, low-reward, and highly-moral projects that spent money on principled loners and fringe organizations; doomed moral victors in totalitarian regimes that the Empress' money and influence kept from being crushed; now those were deprived of their lifeblood, although more gently, with forewarning and ample delays. In some cases, private donors and other nations were offered the chance to take over the responsibility of nurturing these people through an uncertain future; even then, the withdrawal of support will be a great disaster, but the Empire's needs came first.

The third set of operations were the ones that had proved they had the capability to win against great odds; in their cases, the odds will only become slightly more overwhelming without Imperial aid. For some of them, help would not entirely cease, just be renegotiated to terms that will ensure the Empire received something in return, namely economic concessions. But a few regimes whose sole reason for getting aid was their anti-communist credentials will be cut off entirely; let Gum Shan fill their pockets instead.

Sitting on his upholstered chair once more, Basil Mouzalon clicked the cursor on his laptop, giving his assent to the implementation of various plans he had drawn up for when Theodora's reign ended, which thankfully, had come with no bloodshed; he will admit he had been lucky...

[Shohun]

Patna, Maha Bodhi Empire
Prime Minister's Office
January 6, 2022

It was only a few days into the new year and already there was a crisis in the Middle East. Prime Minister Modi grimaced as he heard the news of the Egyptian closure of the Suez to Jerusalem ships, and Jerusalem's response. Sitting in a conference room among his cabinet and other advisors, now it was time for the Empire to plan out how it would respond. "What do we know?" Prime Minister Modi asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Jaishankar opened a file and read aloud, "According to our reports, the Egyptians have completely closed the Suez canal to Jerusalem shipping, in response to the alleged failure of Jerusalem to return artifacts and reparations for their 2008 war. Jerusalem has responded by calling for talks and threatening military action. They are threatening to declare a 'National Emergency Alert,' mobilizing their active forces. "

Modi nodded. "And what of Egypt's response to this?"

"We have heard nothing from Cairo yet, but we believe they may see Jerusalem's threat to mobilize as a provocation." replied Jaishankar.

Modi grimaced. "We are left in a difficult position. What options do we have to support Egypt?"

Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance, spoke. "Why must we support Egypt at all? We have billions of dollars worth of trade with Jerusalem, currently being cut off by the Egyptians. Why do we take the fall so that they can start their aggressions? If they are our ally, then they will end the closure immediately!"

Modi did not hesitate as he responded, "That is not a option. We have a treaty commitment to the Egyptians. They are a part of the Pacific Treaty Alliance after all. If the alliance is seen as weak, then our deterrence against China fails. Then it is not just tensions in the Sinai and skirmishes in the Himalayas, but it is an emboldened Jerusalem and war with China! 7 billion dollars worth of trade is not enough for us to harm our deterrence."

Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh nodded in agreement. "We have nothing to lose from throwing our weight behind Egypt. I am sure Japan and Gum Shan will be able to convince them of a just and peaceful compromise. Russia's statements and Jerusalem's threats are far more concerning. I propose we mobilize a brigade to deploy to reinforce our troops in the Sinai, along with additional defensive units. It will be a show of strength and unity we desperately need."

Modi considered for a moment before accepting. "See to it that it is done, and Jaishankar, ready a statement in response."

Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maha Bodhi Empire
January 6, 2022

As the Maha Bodhi Empire continues to monitor the concerning developments in the Suez Canal, the Empire strongly urges all sides to pursue a just and peaceful resolution to the dispute. The Empire stands with its Pacific Treaty Alliance partners, and will not hesitate to defend Egypt from hostile aggression.

Egypt has a right to reparations and the return of stolen artifacts, taken by Jerusalem's colonialist aggressions of the past.

India calls on Jerusalem to cease any military mobilization, counterproductive to peace talks. India calls on Jerusalem to come to the table without threatening military escalation that would imperil the whole of the Middle East. As of 8 AM today, the Empire has begun mobilization of a Rapid Reaction Brigade to prepare to deploy to the Sinai for peacekeeping and defensive purposes. Should the situation continue to devolve, the Rapid Reaction Brigade will be promptly deployed to reinforce the Imperial Sinai Defense Battalion currently deployed in Egypt.

Further, the Empire strongly condemns Russia's blatant attempts to interfere in business other than its own, and threats against the Pacific Treaty Alliance. Russian provocations, urging further escalation to the crisis, only increase the chances of unnecessary violence. Russian hypocrisy, in blaming Egypt for economic transgressions, while threatening economic transgressions against the PTA only endanger the fragile peace.

The Maha Bodhi Empire urges Egypt to not be intimidated by Russian threats, and stands ready to provide immediate economic relief should unjust sanctions go into effect. Russian economic warfare will not be tolerated, and will result in a response.

Again India calls on all parties to pursue de-escalation and a peaceful resolution.

[Zedeshia]

Pahlais d'Porte Shámord, Kingdom d'Afrique

Chamber of International Affairs, January 8th

Slowly painting vibrant colors across warm sea and sky, the sun rose over the Mediterranean, dawning a new day on the city of Méhdia. It had been scarcely two days since the Renewal Ceremony in Afrique, a time of resworn promises and cheerful festivities amongst the peoples of the Kingdom. The holiday, a rare occasion enjoyed only once a decade, was savored each and every last moment, celebrated throughout the week. Even now parades marched through the streets, banquets were held across the nation, and prospects of a new, happy year were fervently anticipated.

However, while many in the Kingdom were in high spirits, the same could not be said for those outside the country. In barely a week's time strife had already struck Afrique's neighbors. Francis Anteis d'Ahsrahpointe, head of the Grand Assembly's diplomatic department, turned his attention away from the grand window that overlooked the Méhdian Bay. The Pahlais d'Porte Shámord, once one of many Royal estates in the capital, had acted as seat of the Grand Assembly since the turn of the 20th Century. It was a sprawling complex of a building, a mixture of old constructions dating from the height of the Kingdom's old colonial empire to increasingly modern additions; and while the vast majority of the large space was dedicated to the Assembly, many of the nation's ministries were situated in the older, more remote corridors. Francis’ office was one of these, an orderly, ornate space centered by a circular meeting table of worn, carven wood, elaborate paintings of knights and kings past, thick velvet carpets covering the floor, and other intricate decorations, some aged more than a century. Not only that, but the office was one of the few spots in the grand palace that overlooked the eastern reaches of the city's coastline, a rare tranquil sight in a place seemingly always strict and dutiful on matters of state.

Francis turned away from the window as he caressed his furrowed brow, trying to fight back a mounting headache while focusing his attention on the combination of newspapers and intelligence reports scattered in front of him. Unwittingly, a deep sigh escaped from his lips. There were details about the crisis over the Suez just to the Kingdom's east, of the unexpected upheaval of power in Eastern Rome, and as well as other events. Hearing a knock on the thick, mahogany doors of the office, he gathered his papers before nodding to his attendant to answer. The last of those to attend the meeting had finally arrived.

Once the ministers had situated themselves, Francis cleared his throat before speaking.

"Gentlemen, the state of the world has seen better days. I've been instructed by both Consuls to address any current issues as promptly as possible, before the Kingdom falls behind internationally. If the chamber fails to do so, the Assembly will be little pleased."

The sound of paper fluttered through the air as he sorted through his documents, meticulously organizing one sheet after another, before at last finding what he needed.

"Our first matter of the day is the situation at the Suez. Your thoughts?"

His tone had shifted from casual to stern and business-like as his gaze passed from one minister to another. Gone in an instant was the man who had been groaning in frustration just a moment before.

"The PTO has remained silent on the matter as of now, but some of its member states have already shown their opposition to Egypt's measures..." Fouad al-Arazi, a tall, relatively young man for his position, gradually began to speak.

Before he could continue, another minister quickly interrupted. "But we cannot afford to risk angering the organization."

Francis nodded his head at the words, a slight frown appearing on his face as he silently grit his teeth. Afrique was in a difficult position. On one hand, it did not want to sour any relations with Jerusalem or find its own tentative trade cut short by Egyptian ambition. That would mean a sure disaster. On the other, the Kingdom required continued PTO funding if it wanted anything resembling full economic recovery, and not even the most optimistic amongst the Grand Assembly saw any hope in a potential stand-off with a militant, hostile state just beyond its border.

"We will need a... gentle, but firm response to the current crisis. Nothing that would spark resentment on either side, but will make sure that our stance is clear," He mused slowly, "I will be sure to draft an official statement for the Consuls to review later this evening."

Mutters of assent echoed throughout the room.

Another minister, a pale, wizened Afrancique man well into his seventies, asked a question of his own. "What of the Byzantine abdication?"

Francis shook his head. "I have already discussed the matter with His Majesty in private. There will be an official response mourning the deprivation of a great ruler from their just powers."

"As for the Saint Kosmas..." Francis' voice softly trailed off to a halt. The royal Byzantine vessel had arrived at the capital shortly after the King's Renewal Ceremony. While it had been allowed safe passage into the capital's harbor, no permission to resupply or make landfall had yet been given. If they did so without prior approval, they would risk provoking the anger of either the King, the Assembly, or what remained of the Byzantine government in Constantinople.

"...We will be providing any needed fuel and equipment, as long as it is within reason. His Majesty plans to welcome the former Empress and grant her audience in the afternoon to-morrow."

The minister and his colleagues gave silent nods before continuing. Of all people in Afrique, a diplomatic decree made by the King was not one easily challenged. Francis turned his gaze once more to his papers, exhaling quietly, before preparing more plans himself. The Chamber would need a long, tiring day to resolve any issues foreign and domestic in such a chaotic world. Little did he then know how much more chaotic it would become.

---

Western Gates of Touggourt, Later that Day

The midday sun seared overhead, scorching the Saharan landscape with its unrelenting rays. It simmered atop the seemingly endless dunes, battering any unlucky enough to cross by with sweltering power. During the height of the day, very few were often out and about in Touggourt, an ancient city in its own right. Even the cooler early months of the year provided little respite from the unbearable heat, forcing the people of the oasis town to find refuge in the relative comfort of their homes.

However, the same could not be said with the western reaches of the oasis. Where usually silence reigned unperturbed, not a single soul to be seen along the outskirts of the city, long lines of people now awaited, enduring the harsh sunlight that scorched onto their shoulders. Dozens of families stood huddled together, worn and beaten by the unforgiving conditions of the desert. Some had great bundles of tarps, food, and whatever else they could carry tied closely by their sides. Others were less fortunate, with little to claim for their own beyond the sand-weathered clothing on their backs. All were equally desperate, a sense of immense exhaustion and despair evident in their weary eyes and stooped posture.

Slowly, one by one, the people entered past the city gates, stopped by soldiers standing careful guard on either side of the grand entrance of the old stone walls that encircled the settlement. Each provided yellowed papers of documentation, each were questioned, and each were, after a seemingly agonizing amount of time, granted entry to the wide field of scattered tan tents that lay beyond.

By the time the last of refugees had at last entered the city, the sun had sunk to the distant horizon, once more coloring the sky in warm hues as it began to set. The guards, which had before stood with all due attention, at last relaxed. Most broke away from the company which had overlooked the entrance of the refugees, each man finding whatever path would take them either to family in the city, or the nearest military quarters.

Two, however, remained, leaning against the ancient stones where the shade could provide them what little respite could be found.

One of the two soldiers, a lanky Arab with short-cut hair and light scars across his body, pulled a canteen from his waist, its aluminum exterior flashing in the dimming sunlight. Uncapping it, he drank deeply, not minding the metallic taste. In the Touggourt heat, every last drop was a blessing. Breathing deeply, he lowered the flask from his parched lips, before extending it outward to his comrade.

"A drink, Muhand? I'm surprised that you're still able to stand after being out for so long without." The soldier's voice was deep and rumbling, his Afrancique almost lost in its sound.

His companion, a native of the city, nodded as he reached out and grasped the container in his hands. He was old for a military man still in duty, with wisps of gray etching along his dark hair and a thin mustache. After emptying the rest of the canteen, he lowered it along his knee before speaking in his own native Berber.

"You have my thanks. I would have not had to worry about such a thing if we didn't need to be here the entire day." The veteran slouched forward, sighing. "To think this would be the third group in the last six months alone..."

The soldier had no choice but to shake his head and let out a low "Aye'' half beneath his breath in response. The group from earlier had hailed from a small village to the southwest, forced to leave their homes behind as their precious few sources of water dried up in the ever intensifying heat. They were not the only ones either. In the previous year, similar groups came to seek refuge in Touggourt, their settlements in the interior of the Kingdom lost to drought or buried in sudden duststorms. The city's ruling lord, a kind-hearted but hapless man, had relocated them in the mostly empty western plazas, allowing the people there to erect tent camps for the time being, but, with already tight funds, lacked much aid to spare.

"God w-"

Rrrbbrbrbrbrbrsssssss...

He began to speak once again before suddenly freezing in place. It was slight, barely perceptible, but he was sure that the dry earth beneath his feet had just tremored, slowly shifting the sands of distant dunes.

"Is something the matter?" The soldier's comrade raised his brow inquisitively. Evidently, the old veteran had not felt what he had.

The soldier shook his head quickly, as if attempting to shed the thought from his mind. His mind must have played tricks on him after standing beneath the desert sun for so long.

"It's nothing. God willing, we can only pray that something is done soon, before we have even more trouble arriving at our doorstep seeking refuge." The soldier rose to his feet, still somewhat shaken by his vivid premonition.

Suddenly, the sounds of panicked shrieks and the blasting wails of sirens echoed around the men, causing both to jolt upwards instinctively. The trembling from before began once again, growing more and more powerful with each passing moment. The air of calm between the two shattered in an instant.

"What is it!?" The soldier's companion jumped upwards, barely able to keep himself steady as the ground beneath him seemed to tear itself apart. Turning, he quickly set his eyes towards the source of the noise, face turning pale and mouth opening agape in shock. Towering above even the tallest of buildings in the city, a massive, swirling wall of dark sand and dust tore through the refugee encampment, through the winding streets, over the walls and plazas and old monuments. Roaring a thousand times louder than the most violent of storms, it approached the two soldiers, covering entire city blocks within only a breath's time.

The canteen slid from the veteran's grip and landed onto the dry sand below with an audible clank. Panting in shock, he swiftly whipped around and pushed his comrade forward. Quickly glancing at one another, both men began to dart away in a quick sprint. Soon, the mass sped towards their direction, consuming all that laid in its path like a ravenous beast upon defenseless prey.

The soldier's heart pounded faster and faster as he ran in terror, daring not to look at what befell that behind. His gaze remained ever focused on the sun, setting with a few last rays of fading light. But it would do him no good. Just a moment later he too was swallowed whole by the shrieking cloud of upturned earth, reaching out in vain as everything transformed into an all-consuming darkness.

---

Official Statement of the Afrique Chamber of International Affairs, by Will of the Grand Assembly and Grace of His Majesty Roger Ihsai'ah-Alexandre XI d'Hauteville

As a close neighbor and collaborator with both the Republic of Jerusalem and Kingdom of Egypt, Afrique has kept a close eye over current affairs in the Suez. After a consensus amongst the Grand Assembly and Ministries, the Kingdom has made note of warranted causes of concern amongst all parties involved, and hereby calls for the end of any potential crisis with a diplomatic solution. While the grievances of the Egyptian people are, of course, to be heard, any closure of access past the Sinai to one or more nations puts international trade, peace, and security under threat. The denial of Salemite ships through the Suez has set a dangerous precedent, one that cannot be allowed to pass.

The government of Jerusalem must also take an active role in de-escalation. Any militant posturing in response to Egyptian demands, no matter how unreasonable they may appear, is unacceptable. The Republic, just as Egypt, is equally responsible for upholding the terms of peace established by the Treaty of Constantinople. Any violations of this against the PTO only endangers the wellbeing of the region.

Now is an imperative time that peaceful resolution, not unnecessary bloodshed, is sought after; and Afrique is more than willing to take that position upon herself, and act as a patron to any potential future negotiations.

...

The abdication of Empress Theodora from her rightful throne, and the current lack of evident heirs to the crown of Eastern Rome has greatly saddened both His Majesty and the people of Afrique as a whole. The royal families of both states have long held each other in warm regards, and to witness such a respected monarch step down as head of state is without a doubt an immense tragedy. Byzantium has possessed a rich legacy of rule by their emperors for more than a millennia, and has acted as a shining model of what other realms should strive for in an ever-changing world. What the future will hold for the nation if no such uniting figure arises once more is deeply troubling.

The Empress, and all of her kin, shall always be welcome in the Kingdom, no matter how unfortunate the circumstances.

---

Hérauhld d'Méhdia

GRAND ASSEMBLY MAKES STATEMENT ON FOREIGN STRUGGLES, HIS MAJESTY TO SOON WELCOME EMPRESS THEODORA IN CAPITAL

Al-Majalat Alwadi

VIOLENT SANDSTORM SUDDENLY SWEEPS THROUGH TOUGGOURT, HALF OF CITY DESTROYED, THOUSANDS DEAD OR INJURED

[Dragos Bee]

Pahlais d'Porte Shámord, Kingdom d'Afrique, January 9 2022

The Empress Emeritus no longer had the right to her regalia, but made up for that in general poise and magnificence; she wore a gown of white silk studded with diamonds and pearls and a plain white circlet of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver. Others might criticize her for her taste, but she knew that in her case, opulence was a way of avoiding admitting weakness. As she was allowed in for an audience with the King of Afrique, hopefully a private or semi-private one, she already prepared to reharse her words.

Once greetings were said and given, once the small talk was exhausted, Empress Emeritus Theodora IV Kastellanos planned to say, "I heard about the sandstorm in Touggourt; my hospital ship can help any survivors." If the King planned to bring up the subject of the Empire - Or rather, the Second Republic - She would say, "I am a loyal citizen of the Roman People; whatever my place is among them. Besides..." she hoped her tone would be delicate enough, "I am not entirely innocent in this matter; the Empire - well, former Empire - just isn't rich enough to affect the world in the way I want it and I can do more as a private citizen."

The error she had made which cost her her throne was unforced, a genuine blunder which she didn't have to make. She thought she was being clever but to be honest, if she and Isaakios had made those disastrous proposals, her lifetime of service would have meant nothing compared to the tragic end she'd have brought to her career afterwards. At least this way, her career would continue and she can make up for her mistakes... Or make more without risking her beloved nation.

She then segued back to the topic of the HIMS Kosmas by saying, "My ship and the volunteers and paid workers within it can help for two weeks, or considering the situation in Touggourt, a month or two. I can always switch to soliciting donations online instead of going to Gum Shan directly... Or sell the dress I am wearing right now."

Obviously, that was a joke; she had other dresses to auction off. Then she sighed and said, "But I do plan to cross the straits of Gibraltar eventually; here's hoping that the French do not send corsairs or otherwise arrange for an accident..."

Manila, Philippine Commonwealth, January 10 2022

Andreas Kastellanos was quick to set up in a mansion in one of the Philippine Capital's nicer neighborhoods, a mansion once owned by a dismantled political clan and which he had bought at a bargain price. While the Commonwealth wasn't as corrupt as other third-world countries, its intense anti-communism meant that dubiously-legal arrangements can be made with various officials as long as it involved fighting communists everywhere in the world. And by that, Andreas had set up a Private Military Company staffed with Armenian and Greek (and a smattering of Bulgarian) ex-military personnel and chose the Philippines as a source of recruits as well as a location for Jungle Training.

He was also buying up 'hackers' and 'internet trolls' in order to attack Cameroon's government, its digital presence in the world, and expose its atrocities in Gabon, as well as drain the online bank accounts of businessmen all over the world who had unethical and illegal links with that radical Communo-Fascist nation.

Yes, he was being discreet and trying to create layer after layer of security, thank you very much!

[Sao Nova Europa]

January 18th, 2022
Sunni civilians killed in Shia revenge attack in Iraq

More than fifty Sunni civilians were killed and a hundred and sixty injured in a terrorist attack by a Shia militia in eastern Diyala in Iraq in the Arab Caliphate. This revenge attack was a response to the massacre of twenty Shia civilians by a mob of ultraconservative Sunni Iraqis. Human rights groups and NGOs had accused the local authorities of failing to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the original massacre, causing widespread unrest amongst the Shia populace. This unrest eventually manifested in this horrible terrorist attack by a Shia militia group.

This is not the first time that sectarian conflicts between the Sunni majority and the Shia minority escalate into open violence, but it is one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in years. The Arab government has been trying to unite the public against common enemies - such as communists, liberals, and the state of Jerusalem. It has also shown a willingness to cooperate with the Shia state of Egypt. But on the local level, discrimination and sporadic violence against the Shia minority persists. The failure of the central government to ensure that local authorities would prosecute anti-Shia violent protestors has been blamed by NGOs and human rights groups for this turn of events.

The central government of the Arabian Caliphate has announced a series of anti-terrorist measures and is sending additional security forces into the region to crack down on Shia militias, but critics claim that this will only worsen the problem. "The government needs to engage with the Shia community," social scientist and NGO worker Abdul Fattaah el-Hamady said. "It needs to send a clear message that sectarian violence and religious discrimination will not be tolerated, and announce economic measures to level up Shia regions of the country. Instead, the government is clearly choosing a securitization of the crisis. Instead of talking to the local communities, it will repress even harsher Shia regions in the name of counter-terrorism while failing to prosecute violent Sunni extremists. I fear this approach will motivate more people to join terrorist Shia militias and intensify the conflict to the point where we will not be talking about sporadic attacks anymore but rather full guerrilla warfare."

[Dragos Bee]

Cyberspace, January 19 2022

Byzantine foreign adventurism had not been eliminated by the abolition of the Monarchy and its replacement by the Second Republic; it had merely transmuted into a new form. Absent the steady and sometimes overbearing hand of the state, the umbrella of politically active organizations and 'activist groups' harnessed by the Empire of the Romans to advance its agenda worldwide had now fragmented into a thousand tiny actors, each one of which was as dangerous as a poisoned thorn. In cyberspace, hackers and professional trolls and influencers-for-hire were making offers to The Commonwealth, to Japan, and to Gum Shan; anyone not Communist.

What was the relevance of this to the Caliphate? Because one day after the crackdown on Shia citizens by the Caliphate, an organization called the 'Friends of Alexandria' began a coordinated cyberattack on Arabian computer systems, particularly those connected with the military and security apparatus. Websites would be shut down or infected with ransomware, social media pages would be flooded with troll comments, and military communications would be leaked to the public internet, including as much military info as can be stolen in just two hours. The most viral message spreading across video hosting sites was a speech by a group of Shia residents of a nondescript Syrian town proclaiming, "Egypt, Peace with Jerusalem, Fight the Caliphate!"

Dissection and analysis of the video would point to it being a deepfake that contained elements from multiple videos. The original point of upload was unknown but was speculated to have come from a merchant ship with a larger-than-usual satellite dish. Further investigation of the 'Friends of Alexandria' would reveal that they were made up of people with close links to the Skleros Family, strong supporters of the Abrahamic Unity Party in the Second Republic's Plebeian Assembly. Their patriarch, Isaakios Skleros, had posted bail for a 'drug offense' he claimed was politically manufactured, and was now trying to raise votes for the first-ever Republican Elections in the Second Republic's history by publicly advocating that Egypt and Jerusalem should make peace and join forces against a greater enemy - The Caliphate itself...

[The National Dominion of Hungary]

The Commonwealth of Three Nations

First Consul Duda shifts focus from Middle-East to domestic economics in recent press conference

---

While speaking in a press conference earlier in Prague, the First Consul was asked by a number of attending journalists regarding the instability in the Middle-East in regard to the Suez-Crisis and the recent terrorist attack within the Caliphate of Arabia. The First Consul kept reiterating that the Commonwealth remains committed to supporting it's PTO allies in Egypt and making sure the shipping lanes connecting Europe and Asia stay open, as they are critical for the world system and especially for the nations of the Pacific Treaty Organization while urging both Jerusalem and Egypt to avoid escalation and find a diplomatic solution. "The management of tensions in the Middle-Eastern region is very important." The First Consul again reiterated. "Especially now with the increasing radicalization of the Shia community in the Arab Caliphate, it is the hope of me and the government that the Caliph will extend an olive branch to the other major branch of the islamic faith, increased internal conflict will only bring tragedy and heartbreak to the people and families caught within."

The First Consul quickly brought the focus of the conference to the upcoming economic policy packages that the All-Realms Block for Stability and Development hopes to pass through the National Consulate in the summer of this year. These plans were loudly proclaimed and propagated throughout the 2020 Consular Elections and doubtlessly played a part in Duda's re-election. "Starting in May, the All-Realms Block for Stability and Development will be focused entirely on the economics of the Commonwealth, the damages done by the 2008 Financial Crisis was significant, even now more than a decade later we are still living with the consequences of this." The First Consul said.

"It is imperative we kick-start the growth engines of the national economy across the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors and provide a framework for equalized development across the country. In Poland and Austria, close to 40% of the population live in rural areas while in Bohemia it is close to 25%, these are citizens of the Commonwealth same as the urban dwellers of our great cities and we will provide rural areas with new investment and growth opportunities while not neglecting our urban centers by providing the service sectors with increased support and launching a number of significant infrastructure projects. In the end, we will make sure to provide new opportunities for the people, especially those who have had issues and trouble finding job stability, I reiterate my administrations full dedication to putting an end to the so-called precariat." Duda said.

---

PZL and Aero Vodochody unveil new joint project for a training and light attack aircraft

---

With significant support from the state in the form of an RnD risk mitigation program, the Commonwealther aviation companies PZL and Aero Vodochody have unveiled a mockup model of a new light attack and training airplane. Marketed immediately as a "counterinsurgency aircraft", the Aero-PZL P.25 is to have a maximum service ceiling of 10 000 meters and a climbing rate of 35 m/s. The two companies are looking to partner with foreign companies, mainly Gum Shannese, Japanese and Salemite to provide advanced electronics for the aircraft such as it's INS and the planned inclusion of a Japanese airborne weather mapping system. The turboprop engines are being developed internally by PZL's Rzeszow branch, though there are rumors that a more expensive version with two light jet engines will be made available later if interest in the aircraft proves high enough.

"We see how conflicts change in the modern era, with many nations around the world suffering from instability which gives rise to rebel movements and insurgent groups. We see the peacekeeping missions undertaken by the PTO which the Royal Armed Forces of the Commonwealth themselves have participated in. Fighting an irregular enemy with little anti-air capabilities using modern combat jets is simply not cost-effective given the maintenance, facilities and supplies that they require, often in remote locations along with the high costs per combat-mission flight hour. This reality is what gave birth to this project, a low-cost aircraft that can land on a country road a be supplied from a medium 2.5-ton standard military truck." Said one representative of PZL in a press release.

This new aircraft, the Aero-PZL P.25 is, according to the goals set by the two companies, to have a unit cost of no more than 20 million GSY and a combat-mission flight hour cost of no more than 500 GSY, intended to be a low-cost system operated in low-threat environments. It is planned to be a twin-engine turboprop aircraft with it's engines in a push-configuration, the two engines are to have a combined output of 1200 kW's giving the airplane a top speed of 620 km/h. The P.25 will be armed with a nose-mounted 23mm autocannon with 600 rounds, as well as 9 hardpoints, 4 under each wing and one under the fuselage which are to be able to carry a wide variety of weapons, including precision-guided munitions. The P.25 will weigh 1800 kilograms and is to have a maximum takeoff weight of 5000 kilograms.

---

Foreign Policy Moves

---

Greetings of peace and salutations to our valued Friends in the North.

As the specter of the Suez Crisis still hangs over us and with the recent Soviet threats of embargos, the Royal Commonwealth of the Three Nations looks to strengthen it's security. The Commonwealth and Nordics have had an increasingly positive relation in strategic terms, something the Commonwealth's government readily welcomes. The completion of the Baltic Pipe LNG pipeline aids us much in freeing our country from dependence on a blatantly hostile state. While there is hope for a detente in PTO-COMINTERN relations we cannot hinge our national security policies on hope. In light of this, the Commonwealth hopes that the Nordic Government and Saab Aerospace Industries will consider a deal wherein the Royal Air Force will purchase for it's use three SAAB 340 Erieye AEW&C aircraft for the estimated price of 1.25 billion GSY, including maintenance training, ground equipment, spare parts and operational training. We hope that this will no only improve the security situation in Europe but also lay the ground for deeper cooperation between the Nordic Empire and Royal Commonwealth of Three Nations.

---

[Arvenia]

Dagens Nyheter
January 6, 2022

---

A New Suez Crisis Threatens To Tear PTO Apart
EGYPT - A new Suez Crisis has seemingly taken place in Egypt after the Egyptian Parliament allowed the Suez Canal Authority to close the Suez Canal to all ships hailing from the Republic of Jerusalem. The announcement came after the Egyptian Parliament spent several years accusing Jerusalem of not paying over £2,000,000,000 in reparations for the latter's role in the Second Suez Crusade. The Egyptian Parliament has also demanded the return of numerous cultural artifacts that Jerusalem had looted during their past wars. PM Anissa Fouad praised the decision before declaring that "not a single Salemite shipping container shall ever sail through the canal again". The closure went on to fuel tensions between Egypt and Jerusalem.

Many countries within the Pacific Treaty Organization (PTO) has expressed concern over the crisis, especially the Commonwealth. PM Magdalena Andersson (SDAP) has also expressed concern in this following statement:

"It is very unfortunate that Egypt and Jerusalem are at each other's throats again. The Suez Canal is vital to international trade and shutting off certain ships from it is detrimental to the global economy. I beg for Fouad to open the canal to Salemite ships again and abstain from causing further chaos."

It is unknown how this situation would unfold in the coming days, but it wond end well.

---

Premier Tertel Reacts To The New Suez Crisis
RUSSIA - Ivan Tertel, the current Premier of Russia, has recently made a statement on the closure of the Suez Canal. He took on a very harsh stance in regards to Egypt and the Pacific Treaty Organization (PTO), whom he accuses of being imperialist and bullying other smaller nations. He also declared his sympathy for Jerusalem, while encouraging Gila Amsalem, the Prime Minister of Jerusalem, to not give in to Egyptian demands. Tertel also affirmed that cultural artifacts taken from Egypt were "much safer in Jerusalem", given the recent surge in Islamic terrorism across Egypt. Tertel ended his statement by threatening Egypt with economic sanctions, while giving Fouad 24 hours to allow Salemite ships back into the Suez Canal.

Dagens Nyheter
January 20, 2022

---

Cyberwarfare Across The Middle East
MIDDLE EAST - Yesterday, there was a series of cyberattacks against the Arabian Caliphate. The attacks were launched by a group called the "Friends of Alexandria", who described them as retaliation for a brutal crackdown on Shi'ites by Arabian authorities in Iraq. The situation seems complicated, but it is possibly tied to elections that are to be held in the Byzantine Republic, a state that was recently proclaimed as a successor to the old Byzantine Empire.