[IC] [TWI-Only] The League of TWI (Assembly)

[Menna Shuli]

Mipax nodded. "Seventy-two hours before the incident, on February 15th, the Rayo arrived in port as scheduled in Mihêkallu. As per the new laws of my country, Mênnan Trade Department officials asked to search the ship, primarily the cargo, which the captain refused. The MTD officials stated that the ship could either submit to the inspection or disembark from port, but they could not unload their cargo until the inspection took place. As with several other Javieran trade vessels, the Rayo's crew decided to protest our laws by doing none of the above and simply remaining in port, costing my country both time and money, as well as taking up a berth that could be used for other vessels. MTD officials approached again twenty-four hours later with police escort, and the Rayo again refused inspection. Police Department of Mihêkallu officers contacted the home office of the Pride in the Capitol, who drafted an order for search and seizure of the ship if the Rayo continued to refuse, as the ship's presence was causing significant difficulties in the port."

Mipax cleared her throat and continued. "When the order was brought before the Rayo's crew on the 18th, they grew hostile and at least one punch was thrown at a PDM police officer. The police then attempted to non-lethally quell the violence utilizing hand-to-hand techniques and batons. The crew of the Rayo resisted, leading to several injuries. When one police officer was significantly injured by a blow to the head, another officer decided that enough was enough and drew his service weapon. Three shots were fired, and the crew of the Rayo surrendered. Two police officers were brought to hospital with significant injuries and one Javieran sailor was killed by the gunfire. The other injured sailors are being treated with standard measures in jail, where they are being detained. The MTD has seized the ship and its contents and are currently doing a full investigation, but I can tell you that the Rayo appears to have been smuggling drugs into Mênna Shuli. San Javier is demanding the immediate release of their sailors, claiming we have unlawfully detained them. However, it is clear that we have taken all measures required."

[Vibor]

"Can the delegate from Menna Shuli confirm with the utmost confidence that this ship was carrying cargo of a narcotics nature? I understand an investigation is underway but is there concrete evidence to coincide with this claim. Should such an accusation be justified, the State of Vibor will give full support to the nation of Menna Shuli and will offer all necessary resources and measures to counter this issue from growing".

[Menna Shuli]

"Their import of narcotics has nothing to do with their current detention," Mipax answered. "I cannot provide concrete answers during an ongoing investigation, but if they are carrying opioids as the MTD believes, that will be added to their sentencing. Their detention is for denying Mênnan law while in a Mênnan port and then perpetrating violence on officers of Mênna Shuli's law enforcement."

[Vibor]

"I sympathise with the current situation and understand the issue of the broken national laws. The detention is intended to take how long may I ask, have those under arrest been afforded he necessary legal representation and have been made to understand the reason for their detainment. I understand this may be a repeated notion, I am simply trying to ascertain all the facts of the incident in question. The State of Vibor will of course continue to offer support in the resolution of this issue".

[Menna Shuli]

"You seem to be unfamiliar with the legal system of my nation," Mipax said. "While the detained are aware of the reasons, the role of 'lawyer' as a form of legal counsel doesn't exist in Mênna Shuli. As such, no, they have not been provided representation. They will represent themselves when the time comes."

[Vibor]

"I understand now, thank you for the clarification Delegate. May I ask to what happens of those detained once the investigations are complete. Is there anything the Delegate needs or requires to assist with the investigations to ensure the matter is concluded satisfactory to Mênna Shuli?".

[Menna Shuli]

"They'll be tried before either the Prince-Governor of Mihêkallu or another member of the vêhitap'at with reasonable jurisdiction, as per Mênnan tradition," Mipax answered. "Chances are they'll face prison sentences, but if either of the injured police officers die of their injuries, an execution is possible. Our investigations don't require aid. We simply wanted to relay the facts."

[Wellsia]

Mastanaba'al, had been listening to the conversation between the Vibor and Menna Shuli delegates. The actions of the Menna was all legal and above board concerning the Javerians, Wellsia, had had her on problems with drugs being smuggled into the Empire. Then, it hit him what Mipax said about the penalty facing the Javerians.
" Delegate Mipax, clarification please, did I just hear you right, that if found guilty of the death of one of your police officers, you plan to execute a foreign national?"

[Negarakita]

"Delegate Mastanaba'al, are you suggesting that that should not be the case? Suvurnia firmly believes in the sovereignty of each nation and this includes in criminal matters. If a foreign citizen commits a capital crime on our sovereign territory they will face the penalties of our nation."

[Wellsia]

“No, Delegate Gao, it is not Wellsia’s place to interfere with Menna Shuli authorities, I just wanted to clarify what I heard. The truth is I was doing some lollygagging and thinking more of the supper of rose and orange petals salad, roasted doves candied with honey and cinnamon, game gumbo with venison, rabbit and pork, finshed up by a peach cobbler topped with ice cream my cook is making. I’m sorry my mind wandered, as I was saying all I wanted was to make sure I understood Delegate Mipax correctly.”

[Menna Shuli]

"The traditional sentence for the murder of a law enforcement officer on duty is death," Mipax nodded. "It would be up to the Hitap passing the sentence and whatever advisory judges they have on hand to decide on that."

[Vancouvia]

"Delegates, I feel it is necessary to hear the other side of the story, regardless of how cut and dry this case appears to be. The Javierans, although once a relatively lawless people, have achieved great stability over the past couple of years, in thanks in part to our efforts to cement the infrastructure needed for the country to prosper."

Augustia was referring to the train line nearing completion in San Javier, which was a significant investment in a significantly precarious nation. Congress did not want its money pouring down the drain just because of one allegation.

"My office informs me that a delegation should arrive to the I.D. within the hour. I would like to advocate for that delegation getting the opportunity to speak on this issue."

Augustia tapped her pen against her desk and then stood down. She had an air of authority in her mannerisms. It was obvious she was trying to railroad the other delegates into allowing the Javierans an audience, and she wagered that no one would dare deny free speech in such a democratic-espousing chamber.

[Menna Shuli]

Mipax shrugged. "I see no reason why they shouldn't be allowed to say their piece. An equal opportunity to defense. I'm sure the facts will support themselves."

[Wellsia]

Mastanaba’al chuckled, “I’m willing to hear a good excuse not to obey legal authorities, if it’s good enough maybe I’ll have something to use next time I find myself in trouble.” Mastanaba’al then broke out laughing.

[Menna Shuli]

Entering the room was a middle-aged man with weathered, brown skin and a gray beard. He wore a military uniform. Not a dress uniform however, but a set of combat green fatigues, shining black boots and an orange beret. His epaulets were new, blue and orange with the stars of a colonel. He had a surprisingly bookish face, with a pair of half-moon spectacles perched upon his nose. Following him were two aides, one in another set of military fatigues and the other in a charcol gray suit.

"Good day," he stated as he entered. "On behalf of the People's Freedom Coalition and the people of San Javier, I would like to thank the League for allowing us to come here and represent the case that stands before us. I am Colonel Carlos Ortiz. I served in the army of the ECSJ for thirty years before the unification, and am now a chief diplomat with the newly formed People's Diplomatic Service of San Javier."

He made his way to an area set aside for guest delegations. After taking a few moments to get situated, he began his prepared remarks.

"I would like to begin that while my nation has at this point refused to join the League it is not for disrespect of the work that is done here. It is because my nation has great issues to deal with internally before we can claim to be prepared to address foreign and external issues. My nation holds a great respect for the work of the League and hopes that, when we are prepared, we can enter into service for the stability and peace of these Isles. That is actually why we wished to address this case here.

"With all due respect to the government of Mênna Shuli, they are misrepresenting the case as it stands.While the timeline of events they have presented stands, several facts have either been left out or altered in their description. Firstly, the Mênnan account of events is that they provided the Rayo, a ship owned and operated by the Javieran state merchant corps on behalf of small, local tobacco producers, a chance to leave harbour when they refused to allow her to disembark her cargo. This is disingenuous. The ultimatum of 'bow to inspection or leave' was provided, but when the Rayo attempted to gain clearance to leave port, the port authorities prevented her under the pretense that her cargo had not been checked and therefore she may be carrying contraband out of Mênna Shuli. The Rayo was trapped in a Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmare where she could neither disembark her cargo or crew without inspection on the suspicion that she could be smuggling contraband in, nor could she leave without inspection on the suspicion that she could be smuggling contraband out. How, I ask, could she smuggle contraband out if no one had been allowed onto or off of the ship? She was trapped with no options except to allow the military police of a foreign power onto her with the intent to seize cargo."

He knocked on the table with his fist. "This leads me to the second point. The reason that the Rayo as well as other merchant corps ships have been ordered to resist inspections is not because we have something to hide, but because the Mênnan Trade Department and the Pride, the military police of Mênna Shuli, have been colluding to seize Javieran cargo so that their government can later make controlled sales of tobacco themselves without the proceeds returning to San Javier. Immediately after regulations were put in place, two ships that had been in port at the time, the Hernandez and the San Martin, had their cargos detained and confiscated with no proof of wrongdoing. The Mênnan account makes it seem as if the Pride only became involved later in the case of the Rayo, but we know that they had been present from the outset. The corruption of the Mênnan authorities in matters like these is already known. Until such a time as we know these regulations are being carried out in good faith, we will continue to refuse to submit to the seizure of our goods by a foreign power."

His speech had grown nearly frenzied. "Finally, the Mênnan timeline suggests that a crewman of the Rayo was the first to commit violence, when we have evidence that Mênnan police, on previous attempts to enter the ship, had already perpetrated violence against the crew in an attempt to intimidate them into submitting to inspection. I can provide manifests from the ship's doctor describing the steps she had taken to patch the injuries done to crewmembers in the seventy-two hours the ship was in port before the incident. The crew of the Rayo were defending themselves from violence from a foreign military power committing what was essentially state-sanctioned piracy! Regardless of who took the first swing, the crew had already been pushed to the breaking point and cannot be held by the Mênnan state. Beyond that, we all know the abysmal state of Mênnan prisons. Across the Isles they have a reputation for brutality, and prisoner deaths are common. If even one of my fellow Javierans dies in a Mênnan prison, my state will see it as an intentional execution of our people and will respond accordingly."

Ortiz took a breath and leaned forward on the table. "The People's Freedom Coalition is attempting to seek a peaceful answer to this problem. We do not have the will or the capacity to pursue justice by any other means. Please use logic and make the Mênna answer to their crimes."

[Negarakita]

"Ortez Bey, these accusations are very serious. Do you have access to any footage or audio recordings which would back up your case? Right now all we have is he said she said, which is no basis for policy or a resolution"

[Dormill and Stiura]

Van Adrichem sat and listened to the colonel, keeping track of his story and the Mennan story in an effort to piece the two together and create his own counter-argument. His orders from home were to appeal to the Mennans and support them, even though he knew that they should be the last people to try and sway to the side of Dormill and Stiura.

"Even acknowledging the failure of the Mennan port authorities, the fact that your 'government' has given orders to refuse the lawful demands of the Mennan government is not something to be ignored. The crew of the Rayo refused to comply with the demands of port authority, which forced the Mennans to get physically involved to compel the crew into submitting to the inspection. I know full well that if my National Congress issued similar legislation and the Rayo sailed into Kapolder Port, the same demands would be made. And considering the, shall we say, cordial relationship your People's Freedom Coalition has with the various cartels of the Javerian Steppe; I doubt anybody would believe the veracity of a claim that the ship hadn't been covertly supplied with some kind of contraband in the time it was docked."

He looked around before considering to speak further, "I suggest for the sake of your future in this League, Mr. Ortiz, that you return to your 'government' and ensure that they submit to the lawful orders of any port ships in its service enter."

[Menna Shuli]

Ortiz first addressed the Negarakitan delegate. "We do not have video. Unfortunately the Rayo is not equipped with security cameras. The only ones who may have footage of the incidents would be the Mênnan authorities, who would be naturally reticent to release anything that would shed a poor light on them."

He glanced at Mipax, whose aides were whispering in her ears. Ortiz clasped his hands on the table and continued. "We have audio recordings of reports sent to us by Captain Philipe-Manuel Montenegro and Dr. Maria de Costa, which you will be able to verify the dates of by metadata. We also have the written reports of Dr. de Costa and the manifests of Captain Montenegro. All of which we are happy to turn over to the League."

He shifted and addressed van Adrichem. "The relationship between the People's Freedom Coalition and the cartels is one of necessity. We have called for a ceasefire and truce with them. They have agreed to allow us to operate in areas that they have traditionally held by strength of arms, and in exchange we have provided key members of the organization amnesty for past crimes. That is as far as the relationship stretches, and it has no bearing on the illegal activities taken by the Mênnan Trade Department.

"Our ships are refusing to comply with inspections while in berth. If the authorities wish to inspect goods once they have been disembarked, we have no concerns with that. What we have concerns with are, firstly, allowing foreign military personnel upon our ships and, secondly, the fact that our ships have not been allowed to leave if they refuse. My government asks little, only that the crew of the Rayo be released, that the goods seized by the Mênnan government be returned, and that we be paid reasonable reparation for the death of the crewman who was slain by the vigorous actions of the Mênnan police under direction of the Pride."

[Vibor]

"This does seem to be a open and shut case. Domestic and maritime laws have been clearly flouted, resulting in a needless and tragic death. The Mênnan Government has every right to detain the shipping crew and confiscate all articles found within the vessel due to this. Should illegal items be found then additional charges be added and suitable punishment in place. I see no reason to offer any form of compensation since the death was a result of ignorance for local laws".

[Athara Magarat]

"Pardon me delegates, especially Mr Ortiz!" Thomas MacArtair coughed. "In light of the death toll from fungus-infected Yak Maruwa hornets now exceeding 50, we would like to inform the delegates present that it would be wise to restrict travel to Athara Magarat."

"As for the Rayo incident, Mennan law ought to respected but we do hope that the governments of Menna Shuli and San Javier can come to an agreement. Thank you."

[Menna Shuli]

"So the fact that the Mênnan government is effectively holding all Javieran ships hostage and refusing their departure means nothing to the League?" Ortiz asked. "The men and women serving on those ships have families in San Javier that they deserve to see again."

Mipax suddenly spoke up. "I would like to clarify," she said, "that while the Rayo was denied departure, it was not for the reason that Colonel Ortiz states. The Rayo's departure was denied for safety concerns, as there were other ships coming into port and the Rayo could have caused logistical problems at that time."

Ortiz shook his head. "That was not the communication received by Captain Montenegro," he stated. "And it also does not explain other ships that have been denied their right to depart. I would like to note to all of the honourable delegates present that the delegate from Mênna Shuli has a conflict of interest in representing this case before the League as her brother, Hitap Mipax Atta, is the Prince-Administrator of the Mênnan Trade Department. Any decisions made by the League that countermand the decisions made by the MTD would look poorly on her family, which the League will note is a culturally sensitive topic for members of the Mênnan princely caste in general and Ms. Mipax in particular. She has notably fought a half-dozen honour duels in her time, after all."

[Vibor]

"The State of Vibor sees this to be a standard case of broken laws. We don't wish to see this fall into back and forth bickering. Vibor officially backs Mênna Shuli and it's investigations and agrees that the measures taken by Mênna Shuli to be deemed sufficient and adequate for the accusations".

[Almorea]

Reid looked askance at Ortiz. "It would seem, judging by your reversal to ad hominem attacks, that you sense yourself being backed into a corner. If your country's grievances have merit- which they may- it wouldn't be wise to obscure them with that kind of rhetoric. The League functions with the aid of mutual respect."

[Menna Shuli]

Ortiz's brow furrowed. "These are not ad hominem attacks. They are facts. Delegate Mipax is the younger sister of Hitap Mipax Atta, Prince-Administrator of the Mênnan Trade Department. Their mother, sometimes refered to as 'the Spider', is a senator in the Mênnan government with a reputation for establishing her family members in positions of political importance to allow her influence over the functions of Mênnan administration. I argue that this makes her testimony suspect due to the obvious conflict of interest. In addition, Mênnan culture places a vast value on individual and familial honour, especially in their princely and warrior castes. The Mênnan delegate is famous for fighting more honour-duels than just about anyone alive for this very reason. Again, I argue that this provides a natural incentive for obfuscation and diversion. Any one of these claims can be verified with a cursory Google search of any of the individuals noted. I, personally, see this as being pertinent to the case at hand."

Mipax visibly tensed, her fingers dancing a series of terse bush-sign symbols. Then they stilled. "I am simply presenting the facts of the case as they are being relayed to me," she said coldly. "Mipax replied.

"As am I," said Ortiz. "Our ships will comply with your demands for them to leave if you allow them to leave. We will cease sending ships to your country after that point. However, above all else, we demand the immediate release of our nationals who are in your prison. That is non-negotiable."

An aide leaned over and whispered in Mipax's ear. Mipax's face remained impassive, but the tension left her cheeks and forehead. She turned to Ortiz. "If this is the case, then how do you respond to the fact that the MTD has completed an initial reporting of seized cargo from the Rayo, and that significant amounts of opioids with chemical markers matching those sold by gangs and smuggled through Mênna Shuli by related warbands have been found within the seized goods. As you stated, the Rayo is operated by the Javieran government, meaning that this shipment was either being smuggled under your noses by the crew, who can now be held on drug charges, or the People's Freedom Coalition is complicit in the shipping of drugs to Mênna Shuli, at which point we could very well add espionage charges."

Ortiz frowned. "Is there evidence of this?"

Mipax smiled. "It is being forwarded to the League as we speak. If the League likes, they can send their own independent investigators to verify."

[Miklania]

"If I may," Dominic interjected. "Miklanian Coast Guardsmen have been assisting the Mennans in establishing port security, mostly for protecting oil and other export shipments from theft and harassment, and have access to port authority communications. If it pleases the League, and is amenable to the Mennan government, I suggest that we request testimony from them to confirm or deny Delegate Mipax's claims as to the reasons behind the detention of the ship, and the presence of drugs aboard. It is certainly not proper to continue with personal jabs."