Betharan Palace
Fineberg, New EdomThe announcement of General Adam Nicanor’s retirement was quiet. Little fuss was made. It was mentioned in the newspapers, that the General was unwell and that after a long life of public duty had gone to a much needed retirement. It was rumoured that he was to be granted the title of Count but this was unconfirmed. Count Lalery, it was said, preferred to focus on the Ministry of Finance. Count Emil Sharra, the Minister of the Interior, would be confirmed as the new President of the Council of Ministers.
“What a dingy little room,” growled Count Thomas Lalery, Minister of Finance, as he entered it, looking around at a group of dour little dark wooden chairs that had been set up. A long mahogany table stood in a corner, and other than dull wallpaper featuring the House of Obed crest it was without decor, no windows. “Why the hell are we meeting here?”
“Security,” said Prince Enoch Tubal-Cain. “I don’t know if you’re aware, Thomas, but there’ve been several more bombings or terrorist attacks recently. One reported from Neue Regensburg, another in Vionna-Frankenlisch, but we just got that from some news our embassy picked up, we don’t have any idea of what’s going on yet.”
As they came into the room, they could see several of the other Ministers gathered there, looking similarly uncomfortable. Smoke hung in the air from cigarettes and cigars. Geta, among those present, was at the mahogany table, where stood a lot of glasses, bottles and snacks. He was pouring himself some wine, and had overheard the conversation as the other two men came in. “Yes, we have had our ambassador make some inquiries and express concern, but also Johnny,” he nodded towards General Ashdod, the Minister of Police, “said that his people are directly contacting Vionna-Frankenlischan intelligence community to find out the details.
“What barbarians,” said Lalery with a shake of his head.
“Gentlemen, ladies, do sit down,” said Count Emil Sharra, gesturing at the chairs. “Our duty today is to summarize information for Their Majesties. As you all doubtless know, I did not want this job. There is much work for the Ministry of the Interior to oversee, including its subordinate ministries and directorates in Justice, Health, Education, Agriculture and Culture. But we all must do our duty. His Majesty told me that because of my responsibilities over domestic affairs I would be ideally suited to this task.”
“That is true,” said General Unwerth with a brisk nod. He idly traced the braid around the upper brim of his kepi’s visor. “You are well respected, not merely as a man of the highest birth but also as a man of letters and science, and few have done more hard work to improve our economy, our academia and our production. I think we can safely say we have every confidence in you. So to business then?”
“I think so,” said Sharra. “I haven’t seen anything in the summary so far that pertains to security...gentlemen?”
Unwerth, Ashdod, and Balaam all shook their heads.
“Right. On to economics then.” Sharra looked at Count Lalery. “Thomas, there have been threats directly from Montenbourg and from Ardoki.”
“Including,” said Geta with a straight face, “These words,
The ambassador from New Edom in Ardoki will no longer be invited to any of His Grand Imperial Majesty's famous balls, and New Edom will be blacklisted forever from ever having the chance of holding one of His Grand Imperial Majesty's concerts.“That a promise?” chuckled General Unwerth, as others snorted and laughed as well. “I’m serious, have you ever heard his work at one of those ridiculous international music festivals?”
“I’m afraid my daughter watches the stuff sometimes, a lot of racket,” sighed Sharra. “May God protect us from the excesses of modernism! I cannot understand it, most of the so called singers and musicians have excellent vocal range and yet cannot manage more than a few atonal notes and repetitive bars less evocative than the tones of a marsh warbler. If Man is made in the image of God, they are twisted images indeed. Regardless...Hosidius has already told me that this approach of Montebourg’s is rather serious and it is clear that their government will not respond directly to our diplomacy. They are calling for a very specific policy, attacking our finances. Thomas, you are on top of this, yes?”
“Yes.” Lalery crossed his legs. He wore, on this day, a cream coloured suit with a sky blue cravat with his raven hair combed and oiled netaly. “It is not an idle threat, let’s be clear about that. We have already felt elements of this economic attack. I do not know how related the events are, but the following international corporations have collapsed financially. Coeli Concínnant, Forza Automotives, Asai Motors. I don’t really know at this stage how connected this is, but it does not give a good impression and it hits us roughly, thousands will be out of work as a result, as well as some tough blows to our own investments. There are also disturbing rumours about Goldwing Finance, which is one of the major foreign banks. I got intelligence from Misabel, who was watching them since the bankers are from Brytene, which is a nest of anti-SACTO sentiment, and guess what? They haven’t been taking any new accounts, offering any new loans for the past few days. That could just be timidity in the face of a crisis, but the crisis is in Fineberg, their main offices are in Nass. So it troubles me.”
Balaam seemed moody, but she said, “I will make sure Misabel probes into them more deeply.”
“Our economy has been improving, but it’s vulnerable. We are dependent on outside investment into our factories, into our refined metals, our fuel, pharmaceuticals, and finished agricultural products like cigarettes and stuff for foreign breakfast cereals and snacks. Much of our foreign trade outside of nations like Nifon, the Shrailleeni Empire, the Imperium, Ghant and so on is through foreign banks. If Goldwing is pulling out, and if others do as well, it would further hurt our trade. We could not even overcome tariffs through escrow.” Lalery spread his hands. “We can normally expect that the two main regional moderates, Adiron and the Shrailleeni, will undermine any outside efforts to force major change in our policy. The Adirans fear we will simply side with the Imperium, the Shrailleeni that we will turn the rest of the Region against matriarchalism. So at the end of the day while we are vulnerable I doubt anyone is going to push us around. They know that if they do
Novitera will be there to jump right in.
“Then there are our agreements with the
Recon Empire and
ViZion, or rather their companies and trading groups. These are private capitalist organizations, not trade agreements, with a number of services that provide us with information technology, medical services, educational services and other provisions, as well as the grants from private foundations in the Recon Empire. Through them, our modern, up to date communication services and internet, regular medical supply and research funding is provided, and it cannot be interrupted by merely getting some ruling political party swayed, but by dealing with these mega-corporations themselves.
“Finally, while it would cause strain, we can compete out of Region through other allies. It would cost us in transport costs, but if we begin exploring these options and planning now, we should be able to weather any difficulty. The Bank of
Yohannes will continue to provide us with an international trading bank, as will the
EDEBC .” Lalery paused and lit up a long slim Othmani cigar. “In short, due to the careful planning of my predecessors and me, we have built up a careful armour against such tactics. Unless Montenbourg gets major trading partners against us, it just won’t work.”
“What doesn’t work is any coalition anyone tries to form against us,” said Geta with a smile. “They always fall apart due to differing policies and tactics. Let Montenbourg smell the taint of Ardoki’s oppressive policies. I hear some of the protestors ran into their embassy. What possessed them? I bet they’re rounding them up for emperor worship as we speak. Adiron has had many opportunities to form economic or political blocs in our Region, and every time they hesitate over their own internal politics. Montebourg’s Foreign Minister tried to blame us for Homofront, even, a feeble attempt at...what do the feminists call it? Victim blaming, yes yes. Like all coalitions formed against us, it is held together with spit and good intentions. Like all those before it, it will fail,and fall, and it will be business as usual.”
There were fierce thumps on the arms of the wooden chairs, growls and nods of agreement.
“I’m very glad to hear it, Thomas,” said Sharra with a smile. “I have,” he waved a letter at them, “A good response from the Governor of Bara Province, who has assured me that more than adequate medical stores are being shipped in by train to make up for losses from storage due to the crisis, and that also 2 chapters of the Purple Cross--without, I might add, the supposed political baggage foreigners imagine they carry--are coming in to help as well.”
He glanced at the Minister of Culture. “Marcus, it would be helpful if we got to work on producing some programming to counter the foreigners words. I think part of the problem we are facing stems from the end of the Second Civil War. I recall there was a young firebrand of a fellow who wanted to be elected in Carnmag and had been protesting for better working conditions for tobacco factory workers. It seems to me that most of the people complaining are intellectuals, university students, the privileged and the spoiled, to be frank. We must find a way to cut the working class support from under them. Make it clear that the military, the aristocracy, the judiciary, and the real working clergy, not the intellectuals of Fineberg, support the working man, the farmer, the miner, the logger, the factory worker, and highlight the improvements of the last five years. The ordinary Edomite,” he said with firm conviction, “Doesn’t care about philosophy and politics, save where it promises him that he will be well treated if he is injured, that his widow and children will be cared for, that he gets a fair wage, gets training so that he can work with greater skill and earn more, that his church supports the community through good works, that his judges are honest, his landlords follow the law. He cares that the military defend us well and that when he serves he is honoured and respected. Above all, he expects us to do our duty and not sell him down the river.” Sharra gave them his calm, kindly smile. “Make it clear, Minister of Culture Marcus Cotta, who his friends are and who his enemies are.”
“I will, gladly,” said Cotta. “It will be my pleasure.”
“Gentlemen, was there anything else?” Count Sharra stretched. “Ah! Then, I think, a good meeting of the new Council of Ministers...not that we’re any of us new, just a bit of shuffling around--and with your permission, Prince Enoch, let us prepare a summary for the Monarchs.”