A Pacific Theater (AMW Only)

[Chrinthanium]

Emperor Nathaniel left the press room of the Imperial palace in a huff. He stormed into his office where Foreign Minister Jon Latham sat awaiting his return. The Emperor removed his suit coat and tossed it on the chair next to Latham.

"Who the hell do they think they are talking to?" Nathaniel barked, "I am the goddamned Emperor and he has the balls to talk to me like I am some kind of school child?"

"Your Majesty, please calm yourself." asked Latham, "You know these Californians have no respect for people in power."

"Don't give me a lesson about the behavior of Californian reporters, Jon, I've had all I need today. The nerve of that man to insult me in my own home!" shouted the Emperor as he plopped down angrily in his desk chair. "And then the Californians demand an apology from me for my remarks if we want Drummond and Marlboro to view their humanitarian attack subs?"

"Your Majesty, you're acting like a madman right now. Will you please lower your voice and calm yourself before someone outside overhears you."

"An apology, Latham. An apology means I've done something wrong. I have done nothing wrong. Am I not right to question their motives? We share a freaking border, Latham. They want the power to fire cruise missile deep inland. We're not supposed to worry about that. They're only after despotic leaders and we have nothing to worry about they say. Then, they accuse me of being a genocidal tyrant!"

"Your Majesty..."

"Latham, stop ordering me around."

"You know, Your Majesty, your father would not be proud of you right now. He worked very hard at cultivating a relationship between Omaha and San Diego. So did your Grandfather. In one day you may have very well blown that relationship to smitherines."

Nathaniel looked into Lathams eyes with a cold stare that had never been seen before by anyone, "Do not ever speak of my father and his approval or disapproval of my actions again, Mr. Latham. Do not ever talk to me like that again, Mr. Latham. You may hold elected post, but I will fire you if you speak to me like that again, do I make myself clear?"

Latham froze. He couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Mr. Latham, I want you to get on to San Diego. Explain to them that I apologize if anyone took offense to my words. If they still wish Marlboro and Drummond to visit, they will be there when San Diego is ready for them. Also tell them that this Smedley person is warned to not speak to me like that again or else he will lose his clearance to the palace. Do it quickly, do it respectfully, and do it correctly. Good day, Mr. Latham."

Latham hurried off to his office and relayed the message to the Californians.

After Latham left his office, his brother Ryan entered.

"Yes, Ryan, what can I do for you?" the Emperor asked in a pleasant tone.

"Can we talk, Nate?" inquired Ryan as he entered the Imperial Office and sat on the plush couch. "You realize you're making more enemies that you need to on this? We could loose a good ally and friend over this, you know. And what the hell were you doing snapping at that guy from California? Since when did you talk like that to reporters?"

"Ryan, I must admit that I was infuriated by his question. I am still fuming just thinking about it. How quickly the press forgets that I have the single best relationship with the Native American people of our great Empire out of any previous Emperor, including our dear father. I have done more to help try to ammend the past than any other previous Emperor. And this Spiers-Smedley has the nerve to accuse me, on national television mind you, of harboring hatred against California because of their Navajo ancestry?"

"Nate, you need to seriously calm down. You need to think about everything once your anger subsides and allow your logical thought process prevail. I think your feelings are a little hurt right now and you are over reacting."

"God, Ryan, you sound like Latham."

"Nate, I also want to know how you went from asking people to refrain from publically criticising the project to being its biggest opponent?"

"I am concerned about our security."

"Our security? You're worried about California's Navy? You do realize that a naval war between us would be over quickly, and California would have no navy left, right? We have more people in our navy than they have in their whole armed services." Ryan looked curiously at the Emperor. "I got it." Ryan laughed for a second, "I know what your problem is."

"You do? Then, Ryan, please tell me what my problem is."

"You're jealous. They have a bigger and better submarine than you do, and you're jealous. It doesn't matter, though, that we are building one of the largest aircraft carriers in the world, at this very moment, in Walshington. You don't think that California is worried about that? Maybe this is their response to that."

Nathaniel squirmed a bit in his seat as it seemed Ryan had hit the nail on the head. There was one problem: Nathaniel had already reacted, retracted, then acted. If ever the Imperial foot was stuck in the Imperial mouth it was now.

[Iansisle]

"Mr. Latham, I want you to get on to San Diego. Explain to them that I apologize if anyone took offense to my words. If they still wish Marlboro and Drummond to visit, they will be there when San Diego is ready for them. Also tell them that this Smedley person is warned to not speak to me like that again or else he will lose his clearance to the palace. Do it quickly, do it respectfully, and do it correctly. Good day, Mr. Latham."

Latham hurried off to his office and relayed the message to the Californians.

On receiving Mr Latham's communication, the Californian foreign office accepted, if somewhat conditionally, the Emperor's apologies. Damage had been done to the Californo-Chrinthani relationship, Minister Barth explained, but certainly nothing that could not be repaired. Senator Drummond and Admiral Marlboro were still welcome to visit Submarine Base San Diego, although Barth stressed that the amount of confidential information which could be revealed would depend on the strength of the relationship -- and surely that bond would be reinforced if the Emperor were to publicly retract his statements about Project Blue Water and the Californian people?

((ooc: sorry for the short, crappy post. New Years and whatnot.))

[Chrinthanium]

Minister Latham received the communication from San Diego with apprehension. While he knew the Emperor would completely and totally apologize for his disparaging remarks against the Californian people, he was uncertain the Emperor would retract his statements of opposition to Project Blue Water.

Still, Latham quickly responded to the communication explaining that the Emperor would apologize for his comments about the people of California. He also stated that he would get the Emperor to realize the folly of his ways and admit that he was wrong about the concept of Project Blue Water. All of this without the concent of the Emperor, a definite offense in the Empire.

((OOC: Don't worry about it. I drive a cab at night. Last night i was so busy that I can hardly keep my eyes open. I apologzie for the lackluster RP.))

[Iansisle]

Not knowing that Latham was working without direct imperial approval, the Californian foreign office happily accepted the communique and told the Prime Minister that the issue was settled. A date was forwarded for the visit of the senator and the admiral.

((again, sorry. Running out the door to work. Sorry to hear that your New Years was so busy!))

[Chrinthanium]

((OOC: No problem. I'm glad it was busy. Gave me some good money!))

Latham received the response from San Diego and informed His Imperial Majesty about the agreement. This met with high approval from Emperor Nathaniel, who was still doubtful about the merits of the program.

"Your Majesty," Latham asked, "I have to inform you that the Californians still want you to change your opinions on the project and to stop publically decrying their endeavors."

"Mr. Latham," responded the Emperor, "at this moment in time, I will not retract my statements, but I will refrain from other public statements until Drummond and Marlboro return with what ever information California is willing to share. Send with Drummond and Marlboro our plans for the IFC Nicholas V. Sharing this information may allow San Diego to breath easier as the size of our new aircraft carrier."

"Your Majesty, while I say this with all due respect, I believe you are wrong."

"Latham, whether or not your believe I am wrong, and whether or not I am proved wrong are two different things. As far as we knew, these ships were for humanitarian aid and relief, not war. Right now California is in a position to launch attacks far inland with little to no warning. Who is to say whether a government is infringing on the rights of others. Remember, Latham, as a ruling monarch, I am sometimes refered to as a tyrant who restricts his own peoples rights."

"Your Majesty, while I can understand peoples objection to imperial ways, our Empire has a very high level of civil and political rights. Outside of electing their leader, they have all the rights that citizens of Califonia enjoy. I am certain that San Diego would not wish to start a war with the Imperial Federation because they thought you were a tyrant."

"Perhapse you are right, Latham. However, the comments remain my firm position until such time as I have the correct information about Project Blue Water."

[Spyr]

‘Imperial Tantrum’, editorial cartoon from the Daily Messenger.

The aftermath of Emperor Nathaniel’s press-conference outburst saw many worried faces in Sithin. To some, it was assumed to be an aberration, a momentary loss of control which spoke more to the problems of monarchies than to any shift in policy from Omaha, an event soon to be forgotten save for caricatures recurring on Californian late-night sketch comedy shows.

Others were more concerned. The Chrinthani Emperor held significant power within his state, and Nathaniel was an educated adult who would not be expected to react in a childish manner. If recent statements were in fact indicative of a new direction for Omaha, there was quite a lot to be worried about.

On the matter of Californian submarines, and the implication that they might be ‘threats to the world’, Spyr had good reason to be concerned. Not only were the parties to Project Blue Water both close friends of the People’s Republic, but their project was merely a quieter, conventional variation on themes the Strainist Revolutionary Army had been exploring for decades. Missile-launching submarines were a key component of a survivable deterrent against Kiev, after all, and submarine transport of troops and supplies for foreign intervention remained a cornerstone of SRA strategy, one which was being employed at that very moment to supply the beleaguered Inka against a horde of violent would-be-Conquistadors. If San Diego, friendly and without a history of foreign interventions, could be accused of being a threat by Omaha, the same thinking would certainly see Sithin painted in those same colours.

In that context, talk of the new Chrinthani carrier as a ‘defensive weapon’ were ominous indeed. An aircraft carrier could be an expression of national pride, a vessel for the policing of international trade routes, or one of many other things, but a defensive weapon it was not: it was a tool of power projection, outclassed at home by ground-based airfields but giving a nation a base for aircraft operations where it had no airfields at all. To believe a carrier was a defense meant that Chrinthani defensive strategy included projection of power to foreign shores as a defensive act... and in the same speech they seemed to indicate the threats they might be moving against.

The fact that the Avargan-Californian submarine was a capable boat was thus quite a relief for Sithin’s military planners, a guarantee that Chrinthani shipping on the American side of the Pacific would be vulnerable should Omaha be planning a campaign of overt imperialism against its neighbours or East Asia. Once the median of the Ocean was crossed, the Spyrans were confident their own submersibles could keep matters well in hand.

[Kyr Shorn]

Presidential Palace, Jakarta, the Commonwealth

No matter what else was going on inside the Commonwealth, if it is bombings, failed coups, upcoming fertility festivals, or something else, the world keeps on spinning and the Brahma Administration has to keep up with the times.

Even when their President is being referred to as a "tinpot dictator", but since Emperor Nathaniel had had a shred of tack enough to not say who he was talking about directly the Commonwealth government could pretend he was referring to someone else.

Like the so-called Christ-Emperor for instance, who really WAS a tinpot dictator.

It was the facts behind the snafu that had the government worried, an arms race was starting to heat up between California and Chrinthanium. A race that was aimed at East Asian supremacy, a new wave of Colonialism was coming their way under a brand new name.

The Commonwealth Army, on it's own lacked the ability to stop it. Granted it was the largest all-volunteer Armed Force in Asia and yes they had decent equipment and arms.

But it was all a hodgepodge of things purchased over the last few decades, Kievian, British, Trade Federation, German, etc. A collection of things purchased (legally and otherwise) and maintained by the nation's small armaments capacities. But the nation was not building major military equipment on it's own, it currently lacked the financial resources to do so. Delem did hope to have that capacity in a few years but now it seemed that there wouldn't be enough time to do so.

So the Commonwealth would have to shore up it's alliances and build new ones so that if either California or Chrinthanium wanted a piece of the C.I.I. they would have to fight a near WWIII to do so.

But in the meanwhile the Commonwealth media was having a field day with the story (under the government's instruction) to promote this new arms race as a direct threat to the independence of the Commonwealth.

A new wave of barbarians were coming and they were not Geletain or Yashimese, they were American.

[Chrinthanium]

Despite Lathams many attempts, the Imperial Tantrum was front and center on every news program around the world. Latham, never mistaken as a cool customer, was going insane trying to come up with an answer for Nathaniel IV's attitude towards the Californian project. Even with the letter sent, and California's agreement to allow Drummond and Marlboro, the frantic Foreign Minister was trying to figure out the Emperors next move.

The fact that the Spyrans, always the reliably distrustful, seemed to greet Californian Naval advancement well while distrusting the new carrier, which was becoming a very large symbol of national power. The Senate itself wasn't helping matter discussing the possibility of purchasing or building new submarines as well. And through all of the newly minted turmoil, the once vocal Emperor went into self-imposed censure.

Spyran cartoons depicted the Emperor as a spoiled brat who didn't get his way, while Californians decried the Emperor as someone attacking the once great Native Americans. Even the media in the Commonwealth were having a field day. And, not to be outdone, the Chrinthani press were consuming every news broadcast with the topic as if war was emminent, eventhough the Empire had no such notions.

"Emperor Throws Tantrum," "Nathaniel Verbally Bashes Californian Defense Project" you name it, the headlines read it. The once kind media finally made Emperor Nathaniel eat his words. His status went from sex symbol to tyrant seemingly overnight.

The problem was, as Foreign Minister, he was thrown to the wolves himself. While he did have reason to gasp at the California-Avargan project, he knew that you have to be diplomatic and not call people out on International television.

"What a nightmare." remarked Latham as he spoke to his secretary. "The Emperor stuck his foot in his mouth bigtime on this one, Claire. Here I am, working out trade deals with California, then the Emperor wants to slam the door in their face and mine with an outburst like that."

"Minister Latham," responded Claire, "I think that the Emperor is telling the truth. A lot of Chrinthanians are upset at the Californian announcement. Don't you watch the news?"

"What are you talking about?" Latham asked.

"Look, I know that they are having a field day with this, like you say, but the people agree with the Emperor. They feel threatened. Especially after that reporter and his outburst at the press conference. They think that California is going to attack. Doesn't matter how true that statement is. The people think California is talking about Emperor Nathaniel when they refere to tyrants and dictators. They think that the past will be avenged by Californian technology." Claire replied.

"Claire, where do you get that?"

"This internet stuff. These Chrinthani bloggers have already started formulating that California wants to attack Seattle or Portland. Maybe they could even reach Boise. The Emperor, no matter how out of touch with the world he may seem, is very much in touch with the people."

Claire pointed to her terminal and showed Latham a blog written two hours after the Emperors press conference.

Californian Subs To Attack Chrinthanium?
by indespensiblefodder

Though the Californians say their new subs are for humanitarian aid, Emperor Nathaniel IV called them out today in a press conference. While the Emperor did resort to some petty name calling, the overall tone of the press conference was one of concern, not contempt.

The Emperor was defending his position that the Project Blue Water was nothing more than a tool to promote Californian values throughout the world. At the same time, there is concern about the use of such subs in the world for humanitarian aid. The ability to fire those missiles far inland, and run virtually undetectable underwater, could mean those attack submarines could be in Puget Sound without warning, retalliating against the Empire for past attrocities against Native Americans.

Then there was that outburst from some flabby Californian reporter (no doubt getting fat causing trouble) implicating the Emperor had it in for the Native American populations. If that's the mentality back in San Diego, then we are on the same list of potential targets at Jakarta.

The Emperor is right, California has no right to such submarines considering that, and while I hate to resort to name calling, the Californians really are just a bunch of pot-smoking hippies who believe they're somehow better than everyone else because they invented the internet.

I say that the Californians are busy bodies who'd do better to keep out of Internation Politics. Pretty soon they will be telling us about preemption and fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here. Pish, they should learn to live and let die.

Leave Comment (3) Comments

Comments:

Posted by ImperialSubject at 7:19pm

Yo man, those Californians are like busy-bodies. All that fame and fortune has gone to their heads, man. Like we need to nuke them or something.

Posted by oregonhottie87

Wow, San Diego doesn't have anything better to do with their time than try to infringe on Britains role in the Pacific? Like they really care about some poor schmuck 5,000 miles away from them. All they are is a bunch of rich snobs wanting to force their views on the world. I say we build three of those Thornton-class behemouths and sink their navy for the sake of peace.

Posted by ihateliberals

While I understand what California is trying to achieve, they shouldn't market their new program under a humanitarian aid package, and then create advanced attack submarines to do it. The Emperor is quite right to call them out on this one. Hizzah, Emperor Nathaniel. For once, I agree with you.

Latham continued to read blog after blog in support of the Emperor. Sure, there were those who believed that California simply wanted to help protect the world from evildoers, but at the same time, many of those in support of California still wanted an answer as to what kind of humanitarian aid you can give with a cruise missile.

[Iansisle]

WTF?
From a blog by JupiterMagi, a prominent defense writer with a URL in Tucson

OK, so I've been doing my time reading Chrinthani blogs. I know, dumb idea, right?

Not so much! It turns out that the combined level of failure in their 'military expert' bloggers can be used to start a perpetual motion machine of lolz. I was just reading this abortion of a post by indespensiblefodder when I finally was able to stop laughing long enough to type up a reply.

First off, Admiral Fodder assumes that one of the Blue Water boats would be able to sit around in Puget Sounds lobbing missiles into Seattle. First off, what the fuck kind of anti-sub net to the Chrins operate if even a modern D-E is able to get that close into the only harbor they have that's worth a damn? I know there'd be some serious levels of epic phail involved if a hostile submarine were to surface in San Diego Bay, and we don't even HAVE a navy at this point. Second, what kind of submarines do they assume we're building that we have to park INSIDE AN ENEMY HARBOR to hit them?

The confusion here is at the root of the Blue Water "scandal," if you ask me. It's the simple misunderstanding between ordinance and a delivery system. We already have Manzanita missiles. They've been around for years. They're being modified for fitting on the Blue Waters, sure, but they're the same basic airframe that they've always been, with the same basic flight characteristics and, most importantly, range. I know none of the pussies in the Foreign Office will say it for fear of offending his ever volatile majesty, but the fact remains that right now a Manzanita launched from San Diego would have enough range to hit Omaha!

Let me say that again: using missiles that we've had since the '80s, we could drop almost a thousand pounds of high explosive on the imperial palace launching from our capital city. If we were to, oh, I don't know, station Manzanitas on the Rio Grande, we could hit Chicago or Detroit. The fact that we haven't done so over the past three decades! ought to serve as notice to his paranoid majesty and the Chrinthanian bloggers that we're not acquiring a launch platform inferior to the ground-based stations we already have with the intention of bombing him. We'd deliver a huge cup of foot-in-mouth, but he seems to have that covered well enough on his own.


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Stop the hate! :'-(
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[Chrinthanium]

Latham continued to peruse this internet thing reading what he could about the situation. He was deeply troubled with the Imperial stance, and at the same time, upset with San Diego. He was torn between the two sides. Then, like lightning, an idea hit him.

"Claire, we need to get the Emperor to read these blogs. He wants to be Mr. Media Celebrity, then he needs to read this stuff. Maybe, just maybe, if there is enough bad press against him, he'll back down and we can get past his outburst and go on with our lives. Search this internet thing and find all of the blogs you can. I want to know how many blogs here at home are against the Emperor."

"Yes, Mr. Latham."

"I also want to know the tone of all the Californian blogs."

"I can tell you that they are definitely against the Emperor. I've read ten of them, and none support him so far. I'll get the staff cracking, Mr. Latham. We'll need about a day to compile and then we can tell you."

"Very good, Claire. If this plan works, you'll get a nice raise."

"Bribary, Mr. Latham, will get you everywhere."

[Chrinthanium]

Imperial Press Release
January 8, 2010

Emperor Nathaniel to Make Public Apology

Emperor Nathaniel has scheduled a press conference for 4:00pm Central Standard Time to issue a formal apology to the Californian Republic for disparaging remarks made during a recent press conference.

The Emperor also will be speaking on his position regarding the recent announcement of the Avargan-Californian submarine venture Project Blue Water.

He will also address a few housekeeping issues for the Imperial Federation of Chrinthanium. The gathered press will be allowed to ask questions after the Emperor makes his remarks.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Ross
Imperial Press Secretary

[Chrinthanium]

Emperor Nathaniel IV, always the spontaneous person, moved his press conference up a few hours. There were no official notices, other than to the press corps itself. Even the National Networks were caught off guard when Marjorie Ross called them to inform them the Emperor would move his press conference from 4pm to 10am. However, the Emperor has something to say, and he didn't want to wait any longer.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the gathered Press, thank you for coming on such short notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. While we had scheduled the Emperor to speak at four o'clock this afternoon, His Imperial Majesty decided it would be best for him to attend to this press conference early." spoke Marjorie as she stood at the podium.

"Please remember to be respectful to the Emperor at all times. Please note that questions will be reserved for the end of the press conference. Also, afterwards, in the Palace Banquet hall, a large brunch will be waiting for those who wish to partake." she continued.

A man in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie walked up to Marjorie and whispered in her ear that the Emperor was outside waiting to speak. The man stepped off stage to where the Emperor, would was just outside of the door to the press room, was waiting.

"It appears the His Imperial Majesty is ready to speak. All rise for His Imperial Majesty, Nathaniel IV, Emperor of the Imperial Federation of Chrinthanium!" she announced, "All hail Nathaniel IV!"

The Chrinthani press corps stood at that announcement. They responded in unison with, "All hail the Emperor!"

Nathaniel entered the press room. He wasn't smartly dressed as usual. He wore a white button up shirt, black slacks and black shoes. He appeared more ready to attend a movie than a press conference.

"Ladies and Gentlement of the Press, please be seated. I'll make my remarks as brief as possible to allow ample time for you to ask questions." Emperor Nathaniel took a deep breath. Mea Culpa's weren't his cup of tea.

"During my last press conference, I made disparaging remarks against the people of the Republic of California. I apologize for my crass and insensative comments. I apologize if in anyway I have offended or otherwise hurt the great people of California. I hope that you will accept this apology, and forgive my reprehensible actions. To the members of the Press, I apologize for exibiting such a display within your view, and I also apologize for storm out of this very room in the manner I did. I ask that you forgive me, and accept this apology."

He continued, "Project Blue Water, as I understood it to be, was a simple humanitarian aid project. While I believe that humanitarian aid is best achieved with shipments of food and medical supplies, I also realize that humanitarian aid can come in the form of military action to prevent the oppression of people in distant lands by their governments. I applaud California for standing up for the rights of people everywhere with their joint venture with Avarga. I applaud their dedication to equality for all. In no way did I wish to detract that from their stated purpose."

"Sen. Drummond and fleet Admiral Marlboro will be heading down to San Diego, with their permission and at their convenience, to view these submarines. The Republic of California has offered complete transparancy, and we are more than happy to be invited. I thank the Government of California for this opportunity. I also invite representatives from California to take a trip to Bremerton to view the construction of the IFS Nathaniel IV. I do this in a bond in international friendship, and international trust."

"I also wanted to take this time to apologize to the Chrinthani people. They expect their Emperor to act as diplomatically as possible and at all times remember that I am their representative, not the other way around. I apologize to the world for causing such discourse and concern. I hope that the world can forgive my tantrum." The Emperor proceeds to hold up the Imperial Tantrum cartoon from the Omaha Ledger. "I think Spyr forgot that my crown is a little bigger, and my mouth should have my foot in it, right there." He pointed to the mouth on the picture.

"Please understand that I am not the man my father was. I have, for the last several months, tried to live up to his standard, and his standard is quite high. I hope that one day, I can stand in front of you, and achieve his standard of leadership."

"Regarding some things within the Imperial Federation, I must ask reporters to stop asking me about the Chrinthanium Monthly magazine photo shoot that was released this morning. It was for charity, and I make no apologies for participating. I am also wanted to assure people that, despite the police activity outside of the palace gates two nights ago, the security of the Palace was never in question. The Omaha Police department informed me they captured a man who was wanted to grand theft auto who escaped the custody of the Norfolk, Nebraska police department. I have also signed into law legislation banning the use of cellular telephones without some sort of hands free device. I hear California is making great strides is these headphones, some without wires. We believe this will reduce the number of accidents on our roads."

"Now, if there are any questions, I am ready to answer them." The Emperor awaited the press to hammer him for changing his position.

The first question came from Graham Norton, reporter for the Detroit Times, "Your Imperial Majesty, I know I can speak on behalf of the Chrinthani press when I say that we accept your apology. However, Your Majesty, how will you go about repairing the damaged relationships?"

"Graham, I will work that out with those governments whose relationship I have harmed. As for now, the first and most important thing I can do is apologize." The Emperor looked directly at Salvador Piers-Smedley at that moment.