Global Command Staff, European Imperial Ministry of Defense, Central Government District
Imperial City of Geneva, Imperial State of the Swiss Provinces, Empire of EuropaWhen the Empire of Europa was created by the Four Powers Union in 1821 which united the French Empire, Russian Empire, Austrian Empire, and Kingdom of Prussia, the status of Switzerland had been of great contemplation. The four original states along with their respective satellites in Europe were each to form as Royal State’s with their own Parliament and sovereign to form a Council of Noble’s thus led by a ruling Imperial government and a rotating position of Emperor of Europa. Thus Switzerland became the Imperial State where the central government would be housed and the Imperial monarch would take up residence, Geneva effectively became a government city, inhabited by members of the European Imperial government and by a significant portion of the officers of the Imperial Unified Forces, the unified military separate from each Royal State’s own State Forces. Entire portions of the city were devoted solely to housing and servicing one ministry or another; government housing blocks and ministerial buildings effectively dominated the city broken only by the occasional corporate headquarters, foreign embassy, and hotel. Still the city was the beating heart of an empire which spanned three continents and with territories across the globe and even commercial stakes on the Moon for Helium-3 mining, as such news reached the capital fast when it was necessary for the Imperial government, not one of the individual Royal State’s, to act.
Many call Europa tyrannical based on several factors which the European’s fiercely disputed. The first being that religion was effectively illegal within the territories of the Empire by a constitutional statute, with being a member of a faith in the overwhelming secularized society cited as a crime against the ideal’s of Europa worthy of the consequence of deportation or possibly execution if one is a member of a formal religious organization directly defying European laws as a European citizen. In rebuttal, European citizens both ordinary and in government office, within the Royal State’s on Europe itself and the Imperial Dominion’s which administrate the European holdings on Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, cite religion as one of the number one causes of conflict throughout human history and, as Europa is also a nation dedicated to scientific advancement, as one of the major dead-weights holding back logic and reason. Another accusation comes from the ban on political parties and organizations which has been Imperial Law since 1949, reasoning that the common citizenry has no voice in government, to be countered by the statement that this is an indiscriminate targeting of all political ideologies to solve inefficiency in the Imperial government and prevent the bogging down of the Imperial Parliament due to political issues. The final accusation stems from the fact that besides being the sole nation on the European continent, Europa’s control of the entire Middle East save for Iran, almost all of Africa save South Africa and Ethiopia, and Indochina and numerous Pacific territories through Imperial Dominion’s is an imperialist blight. However, the European Central Government maintains that the Imperial Dominion’s are managed as a way of bringing colonial territories up to European standards of infrastructure, administration, education, and health for eventual admittance into the Empire as a Royal State. This includes the European Constitutional laws requiring a mandatory education at state-funded schools and university attendance immediately upon graduation, the programs to develop a super highway and high speed rail service connecting North Africa with Central Africa by crossing the Sahara Desert and also establishing massive wind and solar power plots across the Sahara.
Back to the matter at hand, the topic of discussion at present for the Global Command Staff of the European Imperial Military is that of the situation developing in the Free Republic of Apikai following the military coup there with intent to restore a functioning democracy. The some sixty officers of varying ranks and of all the branches of the service were observing latest news reports on holofeed in the center of the conference room while they milled about discussing strategy if the situation turned volatile. The Imperial Military Intelligence Service or Aries as it was commonly referred to, had been compiling reports on the foreign military activity in regards to Apikai and the recent bombing of a civilian protest in the said nation. There was significant evidence, according to HUMINT sources on the ground, that a foreign asset had been involved in the bombing and this was causing great concern for the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs given the threat a rogue state operator destabilizing a fragile area of the world ever further posed to the Empire’s own interests both foreign and domestic. Perhaps it was time for Europa to step in to protect this newly rebuilt democracy and also investigate a possible threat to global stability by foreign operatives.
Admiral John Arthur Dalton, commander of the 8th Fleet currently stationed out of Kuwait, was speaking with Grand Admiral Hugo Aristade Demangé, the Duke of Normandie and the Chief of the Imperial Navy Staff regarding the concerning amount of foreign naval activity around Apikai presently. “Yes I see the concern sir, without outside assistance, the interim military government in Apikai would be hard pressed to break a possible embargo blockade by several nations at once let alone even one nation given the chaos currently awash in the country.” Demangé nodded, exactly as he expected. They’d all read the latest reports from Aries and by all accounts the government in Apikai was still taking stock of their available forces, who was reliable and what assets remained at their command cutting their effective order of battle by at least half if not more. “Indeed Admiral Dalton, however, if say a potential ally were to reinforce Apikai and ward off any attempt at embargo blockade, that would tip the scales no? By say, sending a fleet to get the message across that any attempt at incursion on the sovereignty of a neutral democracy will be met with a military response by the international community.” Dalton smirked as he got the point Demangé was hinting towards.
“His Majesty has given the Foreign Office the green light to offer protection to Apikai until such a time civil order has been restored and their defense forces reorganized rather than chaotic then? 8th Fleet is close enough to make a long-term deployment sortie to Apikai in full force and with or MANTIS guns now installed on the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf the Iranian’s can’t challenge us for control of the Gulf even if 8th Fleet leaves its post. I take it then that I will not be the only asset we are offering to protect them with.” Demangé shook his head and let out a hearty chuckle as he handed Dalton a data pad with a file displayed called ‘Operation Tiger Dawn’ and an order of battle for assets to be transferred to Apikai once the European government arranged an agreement of alliance and a guarantee of independence for the country. “Hmm, aside from 8th Fleet, submarine assets from 23rd Fleet based out of Ceylon have also been allocated for active sortie in the potential zone of operations, and six airborne battalion’s and an armored brigade in Indochina to draw on as well. Impressive, should be enough to ward off any threat posed by a foreign power, and with its current situation can Apikai afford to turn us away as a potential ally when we’ve prepared such a significant force count to come to their defense should it be needed. But my question is what do we get from this besides wielding our diplomatic and military influence?”
Demangé did not hesitate to respond, he knew the reason and had found it sound enough to not refuse His Majesty’s request when organizing Tiger Dawn. “We’re hoping for strategic basing rights to Apikai’s ports as an equal partner and ally. That’s all, and in exchange they would of course become a major trade partner to Europa which would be extremely profitable to their economy and also we would give them access to our Helium-3 research and possibly a test pile for energy production trials.” Helium-3 was a rare but powerful resource on Earth but extremely plentiful on the Moon, hence why Europa stared mining it on the Moon back in 1997. Helium-3 produced massive amounts of energy even in small quantities, a twenty-five ton chunk of it could power Europe for half a century, and presently the Empire also utilized Helium-3 for its experimental weapons development programs such as the development of shielding technology and energy weapons. “European investors would help finance a revival of Apikai’s civilian and military infrastructure and we would assist them in upgrading their armed forces.”
Dalton stowed the data pad inside his jacket and saluted the Grand Admiral. “Well then I’ll get on the first flight to Kuwait and be off when ordered.”
From His Imperial August Majesty’s Office of the Ministry for European Foreign Affairs as regards the Empire of Europa
To His Excellency the Spokesperson of the Apikain Congress, Joseph Blume
Your Excellency,
Your nation is currently going through a chaotic time as you take actions to return your nation to that of a functioning democracy for which I and the citizens of Europa applaud your efforts and intentions. Yet, the international community seems to think otherwise and the wolves nip at your heels despite perfectly sensible actions on the part of your government o come to a peaceful resolution, and foreign militaries are beginning to move their forces into play on this chess board. The Empire of Europa has been watching attentively and declares that Apikai should not stand alone against foes both numerous and bearing ill-will towards your people, for we shall stand at your side. His Imperial Majesty, Erwin Ludwig Stadtfeld di Europa I, Emperor of Europa, does hereby assert that the Empire recognizes your government as legitimate and to have been formed in a legal manner according to your constitution and we have instructed our ambassador to the United Nations to begin preparing a statement for the General Assembly to declare our recognition of your government. By the authority of His Majesty, the Empire of Europa does also declare its guarantee of independence to the Free Republic of Apikai and its intent and duty to respond be it diplomatically or militarily should that independence be threatened. Already we are prepared to deploy several military assets to your aid should the international community react in a volatile manner and should that be the case then Apikai will have the full support of Europa in the matter.
It is the wish of His Majesty’s government to arrange for a state visit by His Imperial Highness Victor August Nieman dal Europa, 6th Prince of the Empire of the Imperial House, as a goodwill ambassador to affirm the friendship which can blossom between our two nations. His Highness would also be accompanied by several military advisors to help your military better assess its strength and assist in reorganization of your currently active forces.
With warmest regards,
His Excellency, Pieter Jan-Vokkers
Minister for His Imperial Majesty’s Office of Foreign Affairs
The United Nations, New York City
International TerritoryToday the Right Honorable, Baron Julius von Aarnsdörff, European Ambassador to the United Nations, will speak to the United Nations General Assembly in a short statement during the emergency session currently being undertaken to determine the situation in Apikai.
“Good day to you all fellow representatives of the nations of the world, I am here today to convey a message from the Imperial Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pieter Jan-Vokkers, and by extent His Imperial August Majesty, Erwin Ludwig Stadtfeld di Europa I, Emperor of Europa regarding the situation in Apikai. Firstly no European delegation will attend the proposed summit in Apikai, for the simple reason that we wish to take it a step further. As of one hour ago, His Imperial Majesty’s government signed into action, with the consent of all fifteen Royal State’s of the Empire and the accompanying signatures of their respective sovereign’s and Royal Chancellor’s, a declaration that the Empire of Europa formally recognizes the legitimacy of the interim government in Apikai and the legality with which the armed forces enacted their coup there to restore a functioning democracy as per Apikai’s constitution. Accompanying this is a formal pledge that Europa will guarantee the independence of the Free Republic of Apikai against any foreign body attempting to violate said, and should Apikai’s independence be threatened by military force, Europa will respond in kind. We are prepared to impose a total economic embargo on any nation attempting to act militarily against Apikai. That is all I have at present, Good day to you ladies and gentlemen.” The Baron stepped down from the podium as the General Assembly chamber erupted in hurried conversations and outbursts of shock. Was Europa truly willing to go to such lengths to preserve a potential ally? A total economic embargo by Europa, an extremely resource wealthy nation, was a serious thing and so was military action. Time would tell just how serious the Empire was...