To Endure and Prosper (AMW only)

[Nilosahara]

Commander Sudoku shifted a bit in his seat. He had asked to fly a Ki-84 to meet with Zygarin given their military woes against Depkazia but his superiors had suggested that even a heavily updated Ki-84 would be an embarrassment against modern aircraft and they were probably right. So here he was in a government DC-6 landing in Zygarin after the first lady had taken the Presidential 747 to Kiev.

After the plane had landed, he stepped out onto the tarmac and looked around. His arrival was very low key as instructed and he made his way over to the terminal where he would meet a couple of his Immortal escorts.

[Chrinthanium]

Jon Latham and Imperial Prince Ryan were en route when they received some disturbing news: Depzakian bombers overhead of Tehran. This, of course, would seriously derail attempts at Chrinthanium to do business with Zygarin.

A flash message was sent from Capt. Robert Graves to Tehran tower:

"Reports indicated hostile aircraft over your airspace. What the hell is going on over there?"

[Europe - Prussia]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Empire of Europe-prussia

To: Amir Al-Hazajj, President of the Commonwealth of Zygarin
From: Ghunter Von Bismarck
Subject: Conference


We're very pleased that finally the Commonwealth of Zygarin decided to end his isolation from the world and decided, once again, stablish diplomatical relationships with the world. We, the Empire of Europe-Prussia, wish to stablish permanent diplomatic relationships with your country.
Also we heard that your country is organizing a conference, thats why we want to send a diplomat to such important event to your nation, however, seeing the recent tension in your northen borders, we wish to dispach a escort of Dassault Rafales along a ground escort for the protection of our diplomats in their travel to Zygarin. We wish to not bother your country with this measures, but these are security measures that we must take for the sake of our diplomats.


Expecting a positive answer,
Ghunter Von Bismarck, Minister of Foreign Affairs

[Saxemberg]

This is the life, thought the Saxemberger envoy, relaxing in the cabin of a chartered Douglas business jet on its way to Kabul, enjoying a ripe Epoisse de Bourgogne with a glass of Chambertin. Even the Prince didn't have a jet to himself when he flew to Kiev. Opening diplomatic relations with a previously isolated country definitely has its perks.

[OOC: Sorry--no time for more than this right now.]

[Zygarin]

The influx of messages incoming to Zygarin was startling. First, Europe-Prussia's acceptance to attend the conference, giving Zygarin a much better platform to launch into the rest of Europa from, then a few from the airfield itself, alerting that several foreign planes were arriving.

"We seem to have attracted quite alot of attention." said Al-Hazajj positively, looking forward to the Conference. Hopefully, as well as strengthening Zygarin's world image, new deals and treaties could be worked out between the attending parties as well.

To the Chrinthaniums, this message was sent back:

"We've got to deal with Depkazia. They seem to think applying pressure on us along the border will get us to submit. The President is hoping some of you foreigners might help with that. Prevent a full-scale war."

The tower operator sounded like he doubted it, however.

[Chrinthanium]

The Chrinthani delegation consisted of Jon Latham, the Foreign Minister and the brother of Emperor Nathaniel IV, Imperial Prince Ryan Thornton. The news, which was immediately disseminated to the passengers, was received with trepedation. The Emperor, however, would be kept in the dark about the tensions in Zygarin, until after the Chrinthani delegation returned home.

Capt. Graves request permission to land, and after it was granted, the Boeing 767 that served as Imperial Two landed.

[Spyr]

By way of Situoke and India, the Spyran delegation made its way from Sithin towards Kabul aboard one of the Lockheed JetStar aircraft still serving as ferries for the Diplomatic Committee. Due to a refueling stop at Palam, the JetStar was still at least an hour outside of Kabul before cautions reached it concerning an uninvited Depkazi Ilyushin in the area.

The Spyrans were perhaps less concerned than the delegates of more sheltered states, their pilots and those of neighbouring Kiev having spent the past half-century probing the edges of each others' airspace, provoking the scramble of interceptors before retreating once more behind the border. So long as no one pulled the trigger, such events would resolve peacefully, and next week the other side would be sure to return the favour.

Of course, present circumstances were somewhat more unstable... one state newly opened from a long term of isolation, the other ruled by a man who took occasional advice from a hippopotamus. It might be too much to hope calm heads would prevail.

[OOC: EP, do keep in mind that the Rafale can only fly about 3,700-3,800km before it has to refuel, and the trip would require military jets flying through quite a bit of sovereign airspace].

[Kyr Shorn]

In spite of the rising tensions between Zygarin and Depkazia, the delegate from the C.I.I. and his entourage of aides and bodyguards wasn't too worried about things spiraling into anything more than a pissing contest between the Caliph and the rulers of Zygarin.

The Commonwealth, or as most likely it will be called by those attending the meeting, Indonesia or perhaps C.I.I. was wanting to see what the Zygarini had to offer first before commiting to anything concrete. However the nation was hoping to find a way to make a buck off of the newly opening markets.

But if it didn't work out it wasn't as if it would be a major loss for the state.

Of course the one Manichaean in the group had his own personal worries for the small groups of Manichaeans that still lived in Depkazia even after centuries of persecution by religions ranging from Zoroastrianism, Christianity, some Muslims, and everything in between.

"But the people have survived tyrants before by the will of the Light." the Manichaean thought to himself, "We can survive a jumped up Caliph who thinks he is the ruler of the world by default."

[Acadzia]

The decision had been a rough one. As Depkazian and Zygarin forces played Chicken with one another, Prime Minister Akwasi and King Jordanus were unsure just how to go about the situation. The Acadzian Cabinet had debated just not showing up at all, but quickly deemed that to be unacceptable.

"Chingiz is just desperately trying to remain relevant," King Jordanus had claimed, during a teleconference from Jerusalem. "He is mad, but not mad enough to anger everyone from us to Spyr to Chrinthanium, and all those in between. Depkazia would be gutted like a fish if they tried anything beyond projecting their power."

The Cabinet had agreed, and so Prime Minister Peter Akwasi himself would lead the Acadzian delegation to Kabul. "We want Al-Hazajj to know that we are indeed serious about potential relations with him and his nation."

So, Prime Minister Archbishop Peter Akwasi arrived in Kabul, ready to begin the task of reaching out to Central Asia in a way they hadn't before...

[Zygarin]

The President breathed a little easier as the planes landed on the airstrip, quickly taxied to the side, in some cases out onto the sand because they took up too much space, and made room for the next in line. And this was only the first wave of delegates sent to take part in the Conference. With so many foreign powers here on Zygarin soil, Depkazia would either be forced to stand down their attack or risk an international incident.

Brushing off his old suit, ironically the best looking one he had from his six others, he looked at Kurrapadh, smiling as he said "Let's go meet our new guests. Have them escorted to Air Force Command."

Kurrapadh nodded before translating Al-Hazajj's words into Farsi for the Air Force officer next to him, who saluted smartly before turning, striding down the hall as he called up the tower on his radio.

In minutes, several cars were heading out towards the jets that were waiting, or had already disgorged their passengers. Some of them were ZC Army Hummers, foreign vehicles bought twenty years ago over the black market, others were Kiev and Byzantium style cars much older than that.

One of the vehicles was even a Byzantine BMP-2, taken from an old motor pool after the revolution. Fifty years and still running like a dream. Say one thing about the Zygarins, they knew how to care for their machinery.

Ironically, the BMP was the vehicle that pulled up to the Byzantine Emperor's jet, letting the ramp fall and allowing several ZC Air Force soldiers to depart. All the vehicles had a similar escort, whether they were from the Airborne infantry, the Army, the Air Force or even, in some cases, soldiers on leave from the Navy. Mostly, they were whoever could be assembled to form an honor guard, but Al-Hazajj had opened the role to whoever wanted to volunteer, and men from all branches raised their hands.

Ah, what a proud day for the Commonwealth.

Al-Hazajj smirked skyward, wishing the Depkazi bomber could see his look of triumph.

[Burol]

(OOC: Sorry for the late reply, Life can be rough. )

"Our plane will be landing soon at Kabul," the pilot said over the intercom. "Please hold on to your seats, the runway is quite rough."

Kieran Sherbourne wondered what was the Kingdom's interest in this poor, volatile powder keg of a country. Like the Philippines, Zygarin feels threatened by some of its neighbors, and contained big Catholic and Muslim communities. From the thin tome containing much outdated information that was given to him by Mr. Masing of the MoFA, the country recently opened itself up to the world, and the Philippines was the first to embrace it...

... or not. There were other aircraft on the runway at Kabul. "The others are here, too. I wonder what do they want..."

"Probably the same as us," Judith O'Rourke from Trade and Commerce chimed in. O'Rourke was a big-framed matronly woman of Irish descent. "Trade of course."

"And don't forget recognition, which it needs now," interjected Keith Jamal Masing from the MoFA. "We'll ask what they need and we'll see what we can do. Our main objective here is to help, okay?" Masing then led his delegation down the tarmac to meet the officials waiting for them.

[Midlonia]

Kabul Airport, Zygarin. Imperial Siam Diplomatic Mission

The tiny Nak Puksee Airliner bounced slightly as it landed on the roughly hewn airstrip outside of Kabul, the distinctive colour scheme marking out out immediately as an Imperial Airways flag carrier for Siam made from the rather malleable and useful aircraft.

People might snigger at the small plane, but then again size didn't matter and air travel was predominantly a luxury to be used by the business classes for the time being, everything else was shipped around by rail and with the plans for the new high speed rail link on the table currently being discussed in the Parlimentary Palace in Bangkok, why buy and develop such unnecessarily thirsty and large aircraft when everyone else flew to you if they wanted to?

All that had been required for the small diplomatic craft was a stop over in India to refuel and that had been simple and easy with the state maintaining fairly decent relations with the British Empire and it's former colonies in the area.

Diplomat Emjaroen Chak ducked slightly as he stepped out of the aircraft who's engines finally sputtered and died.

Emjaroen had a diplomatic case clutched in one hand and his white wide brimmed hat in the other, his suit was also white with a carefully beige coloured tie to go with the white shirt underneath, the only apparent splash of colour on his clothing was a small badge pin of the Siamese Empire on his lapel.

One of the crew seemed to be pointing towards the aircraft dotted somewhere on the horizon, apparently it was a warplane of another state to the far north. It was of some concern but such an incident would only see pressure from numerous states placed towards who ever was foolish enough to attack such a meeting if not all out material and war-based support for the Zygarin.

Straightening out now he was out of the aircraft he strode across the sand, his neat black shoes sinking into the ground slightly as he walked, finally finding some purchase on a taxiway as a car, an old British model sold to the Byzantians and then to the Zygarins in turn.

The smoothness of the engine and lack of clattering certainly struck Emjaroen to their maintenance and replacement abilities, especially considering the dry, sandy and damaging nature of the environment to the parts inside. Climbing inside he nodded to the driver and placed his case, still attached to his wrist by a handcuff was laid on the seat beside him. Rapidly he pulled out a small pencil and notebook and began to scribble down a few items of note and what the Imperial Siamese should offer, straight to the top of the list came the obvious Siamese obsession of Railways, the vast desert and rocky lands of the Zygarin would be of a massive economic benefit.

Second up, from the way the Bomber had hovered in the distance the offer of a dozen units of Kokchasri Anti-Air vehicles, the light mobile anti-air units could fend off such bombers and other nuisances with relative ease for the peace and security needed.

Third would be something the Zygarin could do for them. Drilling equipment, even something as basic as a few experts in oil extraction would benefit the Siamese in the short term in their extraction of oil and gas in Burma, with the long-term aim of looking towards a more developed country and economy to gain the expertise to build a refinery and oil rigs.

Putting the pencil and book away he looked at the numerous other aircraft now parked in various places around the airport. Emjaroen scratched his chin in thought, it seemed however, delegation issues were at hand from a number of states from the size of the aircraft. He shrugged and folded his arms, waiting for the car to reach it's destination.

[Acadianne]

Edward Sargent was nothing more than a peon in the Acadianne government. He occupied the sleepy Middle East Desk at the State Department. Most of his day consisted of reading newspapers from the various nations of that region of the world. Acadianne was not an economic or political powerhouse. There was not usually any chance of things in the Middle East effecting what happened in his small Caribbean country.

Edward graduated from Acadianne National University in the city of Springfield. It was by far the most prestigious university in the nation. It had graduated millionaires, senators, governors, and the current president. People who graduated from ANU could often write their own ticket. Edward felt like he was wasting his talents stuck here in this bureaucratic backwater.

He lethargically flipped through a newspaper, until something caught his eye. There was a small blurb about the Commonwealth of Zygarin. Ed sifted through a pile of books, memos, and, and other various papers piled up on his desk. He found his atlas, and flipped through it. There it was. Zygarin was a fairly large nation, but had stayed in the diplomatic Dark Ages for most of its existence. “No fault in that,” Edward thought, “Acadianne has never been one of the biggest birds on the international fence either.”

The career bureaucrat picked up his phone and punched in an extension. “Yes, this is Sargent at the Mid East Desk. I’d need a few minutes with the Secretary.”

The secretary of State had 3 free minutes after lunch. Edward was penciled into the slot.

Several hours later, Ed was standing in front of Secretary of State Robert Babineaux.

Babineaux was a tall distinguished looking man of 56. He came from an aristocratic family that had settled in what is now Acadianne several centuries ago. The Babineaux family owned one of the largest sugar plantations in Acadianne, and several sugar mills throughout the nation.

Now, he stared at Edward over the rims of his glasses. “So, Mr. Sargent, what’s the latest from the Middle East?”

“Mr. Secretary, I wanted to talk to you about the Commonwealth of Zygarin. According to this article…” Edward pulled the blurb he had read out of the breast pocket of his rumpled suit jacket.

“Sir,” Edward continued, “Zygarin’s making efforts to end its isolation. With their situation on the world stage not too different from ours, I thought it would be a good idea to look into reaching out to them.”

Babineaux held the small article close to his face as he read over it. He nodded as he looked it over.

“Mr. Sargent, I think you’re on to something here. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll bring it up next time I speak with the president.” Babineaux stood and offered his hand, indicating to Edward that the meeting was over.

Several days later, a note was sent to the Commonwealth of Zyngarin from the Republic of Acadianne.

TO: President Amir Al-Hazajj of the Zygarin Commonwealth, Kabul
FROM: President Sullivan K. Murphy of the Republic of Acadianne, Lafayette

Dear President Al-Hazajj,

I was happy to receive the news from my secretary of State concerning the efforts your government is making to emerge from isolation. We understand the predicament that you face. Only several short decades ago, Acadianne was making its first hesitant stes onto the world stage.

Rest assured that we welcome you with open arms into the world community. Although our nations are half a world away from each other, it is my desire to build a long-lasting diplomatic relationship with you and your government.

I would be honored to travel to Kabul and confer with you about forging an alliance between our two nations. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,
President Sullivan K. Murphy

[Zygarin]

Though the message from Acadianne was sent when the President was currently awaiting his visitors in the airport terminal, the response later was sent back to Al-Hazajj's counterpart in the Caribbean.


[align=center]*********************************
From the Presidential Office of Zygarin

TO: President Sullivan K. Murphy of the Republic of Acadianne, Lafayette
FROM: President Amir Al-Hazajj, Zygarin

Mr. President,

It gladdens me to see just what kind of effect the act of ending isolationism can have worldwide. Already, including you, I have half a dozen foreign countries to discuss diplomatic relations with. I'd be more than delighted to meet with you as well at the Conference, and hope you can arrive before any important decisions are made.

Allah guide you,
~Amir Al-Hazajj
President of Zygarin
[align=center]**************

In the present, however, all that was left was for the vehicles to ferry the dignitaries over to the air terminal from their planes. Most of them were Humvees, but there were exceptions, such as the Byzantine cab, the BMP armored personnel carrier, and even a simple sedan. The vehicles of the ZC Air Force were not plentiful, especially around Kabul.

[Europe - Prussia]

Kabul, Commonwealth of Zygarin

After some hours of travel from Madrid, and a small scale in Bari for refueling, the jet that was transporting the diplomat from Europe-Prussia finally landed in the airport of Kabul. When the engines finally died and the ladder was in position, the door slowly opened. Then the dean of the diplomats(equivalent of deputy minister of foreign affairs) Alfonse Gabrielli stepped out of the jet, escorted by a small group of agents of the secret service.
Walking towards the vehicle that the goverment of Zygarin had ready for him, the dean started to think about the great diplomatic movement that the Empire has been doing lately. At the same time, two diplomatic equips were in the island of Sardinia. One, in secret negotiations with the Vatican, although he didn't give much hope to that negotiations; the other, in the summit about maritime law; both being hosted by Avarga. Even the new Kaiser along the Chancellor were preparing for a very long travel around the world, just to strength the position of the Empire in the world affairs.
However, that wasn't the problem of Alfonse. Right now his only job was to start relationships with Zygarin, and if it was possible start negotiations regarding some raw materials that Zygarin had, more specifically oil.

[Kremistan]

The Kremistani Prime Minister slid into one of the vehicles, followed by Picov Andropov. Andropov usually acted as the PM's driver, but since transportation had been supplied, he was just a butler. As they rode, Yakov studied the papers supplied to him by his ministers, preparing for the inevitable discussions.

[Kyr Shorn]

The delegate from the Commonwealth stepped into one of the provided vehicles from the Zygarin government after a couple of his bodyguards had taken their positions. Like most of the citizens of the Commonwealth Umar Wirahadikusumah was a Hindu and a Sundanese by ethnicity.

"Ye gods I hope that this is worth it." Umar thought to himself, the dry heat of this place was doing murder to his skin. He prefered the tropical climate of his homeland. As he and his entourage traveled to their destination, Umar began reading up on his personal notes. This meeting would be an important first step in establishing relations with this nation and the Commonwealth needed new friends.

Even ones that were not global powerhouses by any stretch of the imagination.

[Somewhereistonia]

Confederação de Florida
Foreign Office
Official Communique

To: Amir Al-Hazajj, President of The Commonwealth of Zygarin
Subject: A solution to your problems

Recently the Confederação de Florida has heard of the plight of the people of Zygarin, and the many difficulties the government understandably face. Now, I can see that with the influx of foreign diplomats to your nation, eagerly trying to rip the resources from your country without a second thought, attempting to quickly broker a deal, you will be busy. What I suggest is you wait, and once the conference is over perhaps you could come and visit Florida so we can have a productive one-to-one chat. One where we can come to a deal that gives advantages to both nations, not just the one looking to get some resources for a few years on the cheap before moving on.

In the meantime, Florida will send a selection of our best engineers to review the infrastructure of your nation, allowing them to produce a report for in time for our meeting, to propose the best course of action to ensure that Zygarin receives only the very best services. Not only can we offer you the best when discussing infrastructure building, oil extraction and other industrial practices, our arms factories also produce some of the world's finest defensive systems. We may be willing to offer Zygarin a number of now retired aircraft, such as F-20 Tigersharks as well as a range of other weaponry at below market price to help defend your nation from foreign attack. In the meantime, please accept the 200 million escudos in aid to help your nation on it's way. This is only a preliminary part of the funds that may become open to Zygarin (with parliamentary permission) should we be able to work together as nations.

Thank you,
President José Sócrates


OOC: E-P, you could not hope to fly Rafale's from Italy to Kabul without refueling. Also, it seems you flew warplanes over Byzantines territory, was there permission?
OOC2: The Floridian escudo is about equivalent to a RL American dollar.

EDIT: OOC3: I'm deliberately trying to keep a low profile at this conference. ONLY Zygarin should be aware of a potential deal with Florida. There was just a message to them. The only thing other people MIGHT note, should they be particularly observant would be Floridian engineers surveying stuff, but this is unlikely to be in the same areas as where all the diplomats and heads of state are. I hope to not get noticed. I'm looking to make a deal without global politics getting in the way. The aid that has been given is just that. Aid. More aid may come, depending on how Zygarin may wish to follow Florida's development goals e.g. akin to the world bank, just more direct. If nothing else, the money should get Zygarin's attention.

Also: what "shadier deals" had Florida been involved in? As it stands I'm a term term ally with California, I was with the allies in WWII. It's a capitalist country, but one that, for the most part is open about things, no more "shady" than any other state. There's certainly no illicit trading going on that doesn't happen in Saxemberg anyway.

EDIT: That 200 million is to be paid in installments leading up to the meeting and slightly beyond. It's the first part of a planned strategy to bring Zygarin closer into a deal with Florida. There are several ways Florida can benefit from this in the long run. I don't want to give too much away though.

[Chrinthanium]

Latham and Imperial Prince Ryan disembarked from their plane and proceeded to one of the provided vehicles that would sweep them away to the conference. They were leary of the Depzakian military aircraft that seemed to be trying to enforce its will upon the Zygarin people, but they felt secure enough to not mention it on the way, at least not too much.

Ryan didn't travel much without being by Nathaniels side, but the Emperor was busy doing things back home at the present time. He decided that Ryan, being his right-hand man, was they person to take his place. It was often Ryans job to step in for the Emperor when he couldn't attend functions, and it was a job that Ryan enjoyed. Unlike his brother, Ryan didn't have throngs of paparazzi and accredited media following him around everywhere he went. He could afford to relax a few moments, and even if the Chrinthani media was around, it was most likely a few photographers taking snaps to document the Imperial Princes' current role.

[Saxemberg]

The Saxemberger envoy's first impressions of Kabul were not favourable.

Satan's justice, what a dump, he thought.

But soon, he began to notice the city's more positive aspects. The snow-capped Himalayas marched around the horizon, creating a really beautiful view, and the people were very picturesque. With the right promotion and infrastructure improvements, the city could easily become one of the world's trendiest alternative tourist destinations.

On second look, the Zygarin capitol began to seem less like a slum and more like a poor but respectable working-class neighbourhood in Leopoldville--a neighbourhood of close-knit families who saved their money and cared about appearances. The sort of neighbourhood where fathers stayed sober and handed over most of their paycheques to their wives. The standard of living was low, but morale was high.

This, the Envoy decided, was a place where people could make some money.

During the ride to the conference, the envoy began to think about strategy and tactics. The first order of business would probably be damage control. He had no doubt, for example, that the Trade Federation was throwing its usual one-two punch of slander and bribery--bad-mouthing the other conference attendees while offering a large amount of 'humanitarian aid' with 'no strings attached.'

The envoy made a note to mention some of the shadier deals in which the Federation had been involved...just in passing, of course...

[Depkazia]

Registan, Samarqand

Once a multi-storied building at the heart of secular learning in Mid Asia, the modern Ulugh Beg Palace was now a cavern occupied by a great hulk of a Caliph who shifted heavily on his throne as the sound of a solitary wax droplet falling from a candle resounded against the guilded interior. The hulk stirred. Heaving out the summons as a chain of grunts Chingiz called, "Mrrrgh, Chorpan! Chorpan, where are you, blast your eyes!" and through a concealed door a man not a third of the Caliph's breadth entered, covered similarly in the ornate and archaic regalia of the Depkazi court and bearing something like a medicine chest.

The Caliph's Chief Vizir, and Prime Minister of the Turkic People's Republic, was reduced on a daily basis to the role of imperial gopher, but Chorpan remained dignified as his fat lord flailed grasping hands in the direction of the chest from which the Vizir was extracting a silver vile. Better running errands for one's master than running for one's life.

"You know, Chorpan, I had to kill that Indian doctor, after all! He was one of Them, as it turned out. He tried to tell me that my quicksilver tonic was poisoning me, just like all the others who don't want me to have the secret." Chingiz made a dramatic chopping gesture with his right hand as he greedily swallowed down the offered solution of mercury, jade, and milk drawn from a teat best not contemplated. Finishing it with a smile, the Khagan quite suddenly let our a shriek at the top of his lungs, "Bastards!" before sitting back in his fabulous seat and appearing perfectly serene.

"Have you heard back from Steravovich, Chorpan? I do want what's coming to me."

Disappointed by his Vizir's reply, Chingiz turned his attention back to the south, scooting his chair around to face that direction in the room, causing Chorpan to wince as the scraping sound echoed harshly.

"I don't believe that we aren't having more success, Chorpan. That man has repressed the faithful, they won't flock to him now because he suddenly allows some twisted version of the most basic spiritual liberties, Chorpan! Our Ulema must be getting through to some of the people. I am their Caliph! Tell them to listen to our clerics! Send more clerics! Send better ones! A big one! Get a big one, what about that tall fellow who used to teach here?"

"You had rocks put on his head so he wouldn't get taller and perhaps glimpse your bare head's barren patch from above, my lord. He's quite dead, I'm afraid."

"Oh, well, send a fat one. Just make sure he has a good voice. And send some of our own mujahideen on Zygarin papers. Have them blow-up a Church, that should get things moving, what! Just find even ONE Zygarin local to star in a video about it and claim responsibility. Are you getting this, Chorpan?

"Oh! And I have decided to play in the world cup, so that we will definitely win. Are you getting this, you wretched skeleton?"

And so the stream of Hanafite clerics flowing into Zygarin from the north became a river, and with them several young mujahideen with vital orders from their Caliph. Find at least one local who is prepared to fight the good fight for his land's integration into the holy Caliphate, produce a video in which he identifies himself and requests his brothers to join the struggle, and then launch an attack on one of the Churches linked to recent anti-Muslim disturbances.

With any luck, Chingiz had told his deputy, they would spark conflict that could only be turned to Samarqand's benefit. "No need to send up any more aircraft just yet, Chorpan, no need!"

[Zygarin]

As the foreign leaders and diplomatic delegates began to filter into the terminal of the airfield, Al-Hazajj had to admit he hadn't anticipated so many. A half-dozen would have been good, yes, but the way things were looking, and the increase in the number of messages he'd been getting signified that almost twice that number of countries were interested in what Zygarin had to offer!

The President finally decided to descend to their level of the building, quickly speaking with Kurrapadh.

"I see they brought their translators. But you may need to pick up the slack. How many other languages are you fluent in?"

"Nine. Six foreign languages, including English and Russian."

"Then you'll have to pick up the slack if someone hasn't brought their own. I'll get one of the students from the university if that happens to translate for me. Allah knows he'll screw up half of what is said, but its better than having them misinterpret me."

As soon as he had made it down the stairs, Al-Hazajj smiled warmly, holding his arms out wide as he said, in the more worldy-recognizable Farsi, "Friends! King, Presidents, Ministers, Emperors, it does not matter. Here, everyone willing to seek peaceful negotiations with the Commonwealth is a friend. Allow me to introduce myself, as I doubt there are many pictures of me in the foreign news. I am Amir Al-Hazajj, President of Zygarin, and I once more welcome you to the Conference. If you'll please come with me, our direct ride to the Council Chambers is right outside."

The 'direct ride' as he so eloquently put it, was no limousine. No Commonwealth President had ever ridden in a limousine before, such a symbol of personal wealth and no concern for the people. Instead, an old Kiev BTR-80 sat outside. The wheeled APC was faster, quieter and roomier than its older counterpart, the BMP-2. As the Presidential bodyguards opened the doors to allow the President and the foreign delegates access inside, another car, this time one of the Army Humvees from a checkpoint around the city, pulled up behind them, only one soldier in it. This vehicle was for those accompanying the delegates who could not fit inside the BTR, and another Humvee from the ones already at the airfield was being summoned already for even more.

[Kremistan]

Yakov mused over the use of military vehicles as diplomatic transport. Was the issue with Depkazia that bad? Was it an attempt to impress the foreigners? Or was it just their chosen transport? Whatever the reason, the ex-general entered the BTR and made himself comfortable.

[Jatriqya and Hoya]

The aide to Emperor Tiberius looked at the others, unsure as what was to happen. Here he was, flying right over Tehran when bombers had been spotted there just days before. And apparently, someone forgot to inform the Zygarian government that he was coming. Never mind that, as he quickly sent the Zygarians an email indicating their imminent arrival in Kabul.

"This better be worth it," he thought as the Ilyushin dropped down lower into the poor spectacle of Kabul.

In the Byzantine Empire, textbooks that hadn't seen the 'updated' version of Kabul still showed pictures of the Emperor's Palace of Kabul, the large parks and the European-style housing in the Byzantine Quarter. He could not find any of that. This Kabul was considerably less impressive than the one he had learned about.

The aide had learned Spanish, English and German while in university, but he now spoke Farsi fluently, the product of Graduate study. He hoped that that would have a positive impact on the image of his country.

"Oh well, at least they would have a good reason to accept our economic aide," he mused out loud.

The Captain of the Ilyushin contacted the back: "I have just indicated the control tower of Kabul's airport that we are arriving, sir."

OOC: Please assume this was before your last post.

[Midlonia]

Chak frowned when they were presented with the BTR-60, all of the usual diplomatic nonsense had pointed towards 50 year old isolationistic stances with little chance of such modern Kiev military equipment getting through to the nation, the majority of their equipment placed it as older WW2 equipment or post-war era of the 1950s or so. Something to note that perhaps Zygarin hadn't been as isolated as they had claimed to be. He adjusted his hat a little as he climbed into the armoured vehicle, noting somewhere between worry and concern.

Was the warplane a prequiste to an invasion that necessitated such military matters? Was security so poor? Or was it that infastructure was genuinely so terrible that such a vehicle was necessary?

Chak dismissed these thoughts for now as he settled down into one of the side seats, finding it soon packed with other irate, confused and worried looking delegates.