The LoE (Invite Only)

[Britanania]

Palatio Imperatores, Nevermore

Back in the Capital, Alexander was going over the reports from his Father's death. Logically, it didn't make an iota of sense. The Emperor had recently seen his doctor, and his medical results revealed a man in the prime of health, the report even acknowledging he had another 50 years to live, with the level of health he had. The official autopsy ruled he died of cardiac arrest, but there was nothing in his records to explain why.

There were other inconsistencies; one of his Guards was reported missing only hours after the body was found, a Captain of the Imperial Guard. They simply did not just disappear. The there was the FEA announcement that very day of the formation of the SFEA. Alexander was convinced they murdered him. he recalled reading a report from the Hungarian Wars that an assassin attempted to kill General Kurtz with a syringe. There had been no leads, but the theory was he was a foreign agent. The syringe was shattered, but forensics declared that the liquid would have been fatal.

[North-East Ohio]

Saarbrucken, Germany
*In the aftermath of the Hungarian war, relations between the French and the Germans had become some of the most friendly in the world. The two nations were best friends and this was shown very prominantely in the Saarland, where Germans and French lived in peace. However, there had always been a fear in the minds of the Germans that the French might try something, especially with an Empire in France that had annexed Wallonia. Mikhail and Jean Beaumont, son of Francois Beaumont, made their way to Beaumonts house. Outside the house was the French flag. They entered the house quietly.*

Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
*In Czechoslovakia, there had been an active Communist revolt since the end of the war. The movement was lead by General Rybar, who had been barred from government. The Communists were most prominant in Slovakia and there was now rumors that Rybar might lead a march on Bratislava.*

[Britanania]

Palatio Imperatores, Nevermore

Everything was prepared. Cameras to all major news stations were trained on the platform where the Emperor would emerge with a major announcement. The Grand Vizier saw the Emperor before he was about to go on.

"Are you positive you want to go through with this?"

"Yes, Uncle, I am."

"I believe what you are saying, but there just isn't enough evidence."

"Then what would you have me do?" He snapped. The Grand Vizier said nothing more as his nephew arrived on the scene.

"Citizens of the Imperial Republic and Citizens of the world. What I am about to say will shock many of you, but I am positive of its truth. My Father, His Imperial Majesty Lucius, did not die of natural causes but was murdered."

He paused as he produced several documents,

"The Emperor's doctors reported he was in perfect health prior to his death, and with the advice of leading physicians, the autopsy report suggests he died of a heart attack, even though there is no evidence he had any heart issues. That and other inconsistencies from that night suggest he was murdered by an Imperial Guard who went missing the day my Father died, and I would not doubt it if he had outside assistance."

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
*President Gordon, O'Neil, and the rest of the Politburo watched the Emperor's conference intently. They looked nervous.*
Gordon: "He knows. He obviously knows..."
O'Neil: "Now hold on. He didn't mention us. He might not know it was us."
Gordon: "But he probably suspects us...I would't be surprised if he did."

[Britanania]

Palatio Imperatores, Nevermore

"Although we lack definitive evidence, the fact that the President Gordon decided to pick the day of His Majesty's death to declare his SFEA, there is a fear that members of his government authorised the murder."

Another pause.

"If President Gordon does not make an official statement on this, we will assume he is responsible, if he does and he incriminates those responsible, he has our thanks. Thank you and good day."

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
*The rest of the Politburo looked at Gordon.*
Man: "What will we do?"
Gordon: "We'll give a press conference, suggest we know nothing. We'll tell them we would support helping them find out who's responsible but we could assure them that we have no idea who did it."
O'Neil:"Alright. We'll go and get the cameras and podium ready."

[Britanania]

Berlin, Germany

The President clenched his teeth. The revolt in Czechoslovakia would likely be successful, and he could do nothing about it. Unlike in Prussia, no Czechs were calling for German help.

"Verdammt," cursed the President, "Scheiß auf die Russen."

[Vergenskia]

Budapest, Hungary

Felicia stands stoically on the balcony to send an urgent message to the Hungarian people.

"As we stand here today, we watch as the world around us collapses into anarchy. We must stay a beacon of stability and intelligence in these troubled times. We shall not fall to these urges that many of our brainwashed citizens may have. We must stick to our traditional ways and stay true to the prosperity that has been awarded to us. Communism shall not rise within our Magyar Kingdom. We will stand true to our brothers and sisters and fight against the heathens that threaten the very society us Magyars struggled to rebuild. Now, I send an urgent message to our brothers and sisters in those fledgling communist states. We shall hold Asylum for you. Come back to your Fatherland and we will hold you until we can return your homes, ourselves. Brothers and sisters of Magyarország. We welcome you."

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
*President Gordon walked up to the podium and began his speech.*
Gordon: "Good day Comrades. Earlier the Emperor gave a speech suggesting that our nation could have been behind the death of the former Emperor. I would like to assure His Majesty that the Soviet Federation of East America had nothing to do with the death of Emperor Lucius. We where just as saddened by his death as the rest of the world was. However, if the current Emperor has information concerning the death of Emperor Lucius, we in East America would be more then happy to join him in trying to figure out who was responsible for such a terrible crime. I hope the Emperor hears this message and I hope it ends his suspicion that we where involved."

Prague, Czechoslovakia
*With the Communists taking Bratislava and their march on Prague soon to begin, President Fiala signed a paper that had him resign his post as President and hand power over to Prime Minister Hornik who would be in power until elections were held in the country which would occur the next month.*

Eastern Europe
*Meanwhile, throughout the Communist and non-Communist countries in Eastern Europe, propaganda was being used to get people to not go to Hungary. Commercials and posters depicting the violence and destruction Hungary had caused to Eastern Europe were used to scare people and to get them to distrust the Hungarians. While this was going on, violence and discrimination towards ethnic Hungarians in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was becoming more and more common. The only country to maintain formal relations with Hungary was Poland, Hungary's traditional ally and friend..even if Poland was moving towards closer relations with the Eurasians and the Communist party viewed Hungary with suspicion.*

[Britanania]

Palatio Imperatores, Nevermore

The Emperor read over the reports.

"Damn it Tarkin, the SFEA wants to play hardball. Well, I'll show them hardball. Issue a statement that we will no longer export manufactured materials to the SFEA, and an increase in tariffs from Communist nations."

The Grand Vizier bowed and released the statement, officially in the form of an Act of Parliament.

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
*The report came in that the Imperials were cutting trade and they where imposing a tariff on all Communist nations.*
Gordon: "So that's his plan? Well alright. Who needs the Imperials anyway? Get me online with the Eurasians, I think it's time we officially became friends..."

Saarbrucken, Germany
*In recent days, the Saarland has been riddled with ethnic problems. It started out with graffiti in French urging the French to rise up against the Germans. Then it escalated with violence by some of the French population against the Germans, and then a German was murdered by a group of Frenchmen.*

[Britanania]

Paris, France

The French National Assembly, after much debate over the Saar conflicts, put it to a vote; 300 favouring the end of French military occupation of the Republic of Germany, and 277 against. The Act was signed by President Rosaline de Britanania and made into effect, with the French leaving active immediately. Another provision of the Act gave tax write offs to Frenchmen living in the Saar region who moved back to France.

[North-East Ohio]

Saarbrucken, Germany
*Mikhail read the news.*
Mikhail: "Hmm...France wants to help stop this from happening. We'll just see about that..."
*Just then he got a message, he was to return to Moscow at once. He sighed and told Beaumont about this.*
Beaumont: "Don't worry friend. I'll keep the violence alive. Soon, we'll have Germany and France at each other's necks once again."

Washington DC, SFEA
*Gordon was on video chat with Orlov.*
Gordon: "...And that my friend is why I think that our two great nations should become formal allies."
Orlov: "To have two strong and powerful Communist nations ally together would give legitimacy to our cause and would strengthen us. Eurasia accepts your offer."
Gordon: "Excellent. I shall arrive in Moscow in one week to solidify our new alliance. Thank you Comrade. Have a nice day."
*He ended the chat and smiled.*

[Britanania]

Berlin, Germany

President Finck von Finckenstein was clearly upset at the news coming from the Saar. He, and most Germans, enjoyed the alliance with the French Empire. After all, France was the most powerful European state and the two enjoyed wonderful trade, and he knew that even though Germany was a military power, it would never survive against the French and their Imperial allies. After a conversation with the French Ambassador, he issued Martial Law in the Saar, implementing a curfew after sundown and granting the military to arrest anyone suspected of terrorist activities

[North-East Ohio]

Moscow, Eurasia
*A few days later, Mikhail arrived at the KGB HQ. There he met with Colonel Krupin, head of the KGB.*
Krupin: "Well, it seems that France and Germany are still friends."
Mikhail: "Yes sir, I'm sorry sir."
Krupin: "No need to be sorry. We should have known we couldn't break that friendship. It's too strong. However, I have a new mission for you. As you know, our new neighbor, the United States of Asia, is relatively fragile at the moment. If one domino where too fall there, the rest would fall with it."
Mikhail: "What are you suggesting?"
Krupin: "You're going to Ulanbattar. You are going to help the rebels in Mongolia achieve independence from the USA and bring them to our side."
Mikhail: "Alright. When do I go."
Krupin: "A plane to the city leaves tomorrow. You'll be on that plane."

[Britanania]

Palatio Imperatores, Nevermore

The news from Europe was not good. In the recent elections, Czechoslovakia had fallen to Communism, and EF soldiers would move in to occupy soon. The conflict in the Saar was beginning to let up, but at the cost of French military occupation of Germany. To make matters worse, the EF and the SFEA were close to a formal alliance.

The Emperor threw his phone at the wall in anger.

"Damn it all."

[North-East Ohio]

Ulanbattar, Mongolia, USA
*Mikhail's plane landed in Ulanbattar. It didn't seem out of the normal for the USA. Russians were common in Mongolia so a plane full of them didn't seem to weird.*

Washington DC, SFEA
*President Gordon sat in his office. He was happy. Things were going well for the Communists. There was just one thorn left in the Communist's side. The Empire. He had to find some way of destroying the Empire. He decided he would call the Emperor to meet him.*

[Britanania]

Palatio Imperatores, Nevermore

"This is Alexander."

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
Gordon: "Good day Your Majesty. This is President Gordon calling. I'd like to invite you to Washington DC so that we could try and work out the situation between our two countries and maybe get on better terms with each other? What do you say?"

[Britanania]

Palatio Imperatores, Nevermore

"Yes, that would be beneficial. I can come as soon as possible."

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
Gordon: "Excellent. I'm sure that it will be a good time." *He hung up. and walked out of his office. Outside the office was O'Neil.*
O'Neil: "Hello Comrade."
Gordon: "Ah excellent news Sam! The Emperor is coming to Washington soon to possibly defuse the situation between our two countries! We may finally know peace."
O'Neil: *his expression darkened.* "What happened to 'destroying the Empire at all costs?' "
Gordon: "That can wait Comrade. The Empire will collapse on itself eventually. But for now, there should be peace, now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and get ready."
*Gordon ran off. O'Neil stood there frowning. He was mad. He didn't want peace, he wanted the Empire destroyed at all costs. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to someone.*

[Britanania]

Washington DC, SFEA

The Imperial Shuttle was flanked by a dozen Fighter jets and touched down at Reagan International Airport. Alexander was accompanied by a detachment of his Imperial Guard, the Grand Vizier, and several other Courtiers. They made their way to the White House for the metting

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
*President Gordon met with the Emperor.*
Gordon: "How about we do this outside your majesty? It is a lovely day here and I've got a table set up outside the White House waiting for us."
*Meanwhile a man dressed in all black made his way to the top of the Washington Monument. It was closed at the moment but he had special access. He brought with him a briefcase.*

[Britanania]

Washington DC, SFEA

He nodded.

"Of course, Your Excellency." The men moved to the Table whilst the Imperial Courtiers hung around, waiting to advise their young Emperor.

[North-East Ohio]

Washington DC, SFEA
*The two men sat down.*
Gordon: "I must say it is truely and honor to sit down here and discuss this with you your majesty. Now, how about you tell me what you think we can do to end the tension between our two nations."
*Meanwhile, the man in the Monument opened his briefcase. Inside was a sniper rifle that he had to assemble. It was one of the most advanced Snipers in the world. Capable of extemely long distance shots and was very powerful. After he had it assembled, he got in position and took aim. He aimed right at the Emperor's chest.*