Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God [IC|MT|Open]

[Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics]

FROM: The Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TO: President Vasilescu Tavitian
ENCRYPTION: HIGHEST.

Attention President Vasilescu Tavitian.

Our conditions for our aid are as follows:
•A promise to uphold fair and free elections for all people in your nation once the conflict has ended.
•An adherence to an anti-imperialist and anti-colonial foreign policy once the conflict has ended.
•Close ties and relations with the UASR after the conflict has ended. We want to be able to establish an embassy in your nation, and perhaps in the future work out better deals regarding trade and mutual cooperation between our two nations.
•Allow UASR assistance in the rebuilding of your nation.
•Allow goods for Civilians given by the UASR go to CIVILIANS only.


Our aid includes:
•Military advisers to help train your soldiers with our revolutionary spirit that has made the UASR's fighting force one of the most capable in the world.
•Military equipment including but not limited to: Armored vehicles, Air transport, various weaponry, and anti-air weapons.
•Food, water and medicine to the civilians of your nation and to the soldiers of your nation as well.


If you wish to accept this aid, you must agree to comply with these terms. We will begin moving these resources immediately upon your reply

-Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UASR.

Workers of the world, Unite!

[Posteastan]

Great Nortend, The King
"That would be correct, yes." Sir Alexander nodded. "To uphold the laws was always a key virtue of my family. I have no intention of changing that. In fact, I think that the will of the people should never be underestimated. Take a look at what you have seen when you came here. You will hardy find a higher degree of happiness and freedom elsewhere in the world. We are a happy people and we love our King. "I don't intend to return home to be just another bandit." Sir Alexander smiled as he placed Grand Ambassador Peter Nizhinsky's letter on the table. "Our work seems to proceed fast. Our enemies have noticed our actions."

CHURCH OF POSTEASTAN

Official Statement of the Republic of Posteastan

To: Grand Ambassador Peter Nizhinsky
Subject: Problems
OFFICIAL LETTER OF THE PATRIARCH

---

Your Excellency,

Your Excellency,

I am shocked and surprised by your words. These are indeed cruel things you speak of. I only wish you had informed me earlier on these matters. I have been confined to my headquarters for too long. I need to become more visible outside the city. Killing fallen women is not something I have or ever will allow. Let me assure you that I will personally look into these matters. Normally our men are supposed to bring such pitiful people to nunneries to help them better their ways and in case of those forced against their will to recover. I will take care that my brothers are a bit more lenient when the fight crime. The problem with these women is that, by nature of this particular sin, they often commit the crime of adultery. Now, if these women were indeed hanged for adultery there is not much I can do. With your help we try to focus on the fight against the Syndicate and shall leave the fight against moral corruption to the village and town councils. I think it is more important to rebuild the foundations of livelihood in Posteastan at the moment than to fight against sins of the flesh but men need a purpose and civilization is a thin fabric.

God be with you.

---

Patriarch
Iancu Funar

Port Serenity

"They are funny guys." The lady with the big sunglasses smiled. "I was just thinking of getting a pair of jesters for my court. I had dwarfs in mind but these two would do as well. " She turned to the hooded men "Fancy a free helicopter ride?" The two were dragged outdoors and shoved into a waiting helicopter which lifted up into the air. "We are on the way to my yacht. Be quick and tell me what you want. In case I am impressed by your story you might come aboard and we talk business. In case you bore me I will kick one or both of you out of the chopper."

Royalist HQ

Rasvan smiled. "Not muskets, no." He waved at another man close to the three. "That's Rodin Dolgan." He said. "Rodin tell them what we have!"
"Nothing Sir." Replied Rodin. "If I have learned one thing in the war it's that you don't bring guns to a tank battle." He nods toward the screen. "Just look at what is going on there. This is not a coup d'état, this is an invasion. We have nothing whit which we can stop that." Rasvan's smile vanished. "Still" said Rodin "We have to do something. Our people are gathering despite the heavy fighting, no matter what we are going to block every road and all access to the airport. I think it is time for me to get there too."

General Melisiomo International Airport
Things did not go according to plan. The airport and the runways were littered with bodies. Buildings were on fire there were screams everywhere. Things surely did not go according to plan, but then again when do they ever? Jack smiled. The war was over. They had won. He had won. Things were going to change now. Pointing at the direction of the Allaneas he yelled at Kurchin"Arrest these scumbags. Cuff them, seize their weapons and put hoods over their heads. Other than that treat them correctly. They are prisoners of war. If they do not surrender shell them till they surrender. If they still refuse kill them all."

Roztechko

Each Black Patrol would consist of anywhere between sixty and two hundred loyal soldiers, each immaculately dressed in black shirts with their newly minted silver insignia fastened to their lapels. Each patrol would compete in seemingly friendly contests of accuracy, loyalty and stamina. From the handful of particularly loyal, strong or viscous Black Patrol units, a smaller cadre of soldiers were selected.

These soldiers, handpicked by leadership, were tasked with the most dangerous of missions that required swift, brutal action. Garrote wire, knives and explosives replaced their more familiar clubs and rifles.

It was one such group, dressed in civilian attire and driving six battered panel vans, that approached a natural overhang in the clifftop road. To the east and slightly below them lay the port of Roztechko. If there was a hub, a central nexus for the poison that was sweeping Postestan this was it. It was here that all manner of foreign perversions and degeneracy entered the nation and they had been given strict orders to stop it.

Gently, ever so gently they drew the panel vans to a halt. Quickly and quietly they unloaded the cargo. Each truck contained eighteen plastic barrels, painted dark grey and blue that were gingerly unloaded by their handlers as if they would explode given a sudden jolt. Most likely because they would.

A small amount of concrete along with shaped mining charges and proximity detonators lined each barrel, carefully weighted so they would not surface but would instead bob slightly below the waterline. The barrels were laid in the water at timed intervals, so that the current would carry them towards the harbor. The random eddies making it all but certain they would be distributed reasonably evenly across the entire delta.

Their job done, they burned the vans and piled into two minibuses that followed. Not for them was the glory of seeing their plan unfold. They would return to their stronghold, safe in the knowledge that they had struck a mighty blow for their people.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF POSTEASTAN

Official Statement of the President

To: The Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Subject: International Solidarity
OFFICIAL TELEGRAM FROM THE PRESIDENT

---

Comrades!

We are very interested in your help and your terms are agreeable. However, there are a few clarifications needed. You want free and fair elections, a demand which we support. However, you also demand guarantees for your nation after these elections. It is by no means certain that we will win the elections, especially if we have to restore order through the use of force. What if we do not win the elections? In that case we cannot guarantee the rest of your demands. Or do you mean that kind of 'fair and free' elections that guarantees that the right party wins?
Long live the international Solidarity

---

Comrade
Vasilescu Tavitian
President

[Karevka]

As soldiers of the Karevkan National Army, we advise you, Colonel Wilson, to lay down your arms and surrender. If there is no surrender, we shall shell your location until you and your men either die or give up. Your decision must be broadcast over the PA system. Make your decision quickly.

The mortar crew fired the shell at the Allanean's location while other KNA grunts dug foxholes and trenches, in anticipation of a counterattack. Kurchin and his company were about move out, but were ordered to rest by a NCSP political officer. At the fortified entrance, soldiers raised the flags of their respective nations, now allied in a war to oust Posteastan's tyrannical government.

[Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics]

FROM: The Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TO: President Vasilescu Tavitian
ENCRYPTION: HIGHEST.

The Elections must be free and fair, but also free from bourgeois influence and imperialist intervention.

We are aware your party has since long been out of commission, but we are confident that if you are able to build a new party with popular support, boosted by a victory in this conflict, you will win with no problem. If needed, the UASR can also provide political advisers for the construction of a new popular front party to help in your combat against the reactionaries.

If any other party in power opposes relations with us in the wake of this conflict, we will exercise our right to pull out our aid in development and reconstruction of your country.

We have faith that you will be able to prevent such an event from happening.

We are also aware of the situation in regards to entering your country. Most of our goods will be shipped via heavy cargo helicopters from a small group of UASR naval assets that will make way to your nation's waters here in the next few days. To assure what you want arrives to you safely, we will need you to provide a safe area for us to land. We are sure that you can coordinate such with us.


Workers of the world, Unite!

[Great Nortend]

ISLE OF CORNEY, GREAT NORTEND— “Your Majesty,” said Sir Donald, bowing to the newcomer King. “I represent the Posteastan Alms Society, which has been established officially to deliver alms and humanitarian aid and assistance to the people of Posteastan. To this end, I have written to Valaska, who is claiming to be the President of Posteastan, and secured his approval to send humanitarian alms to Leozina, which we intend to begin to do as soon as we secure the assurances from our officers there already.”

Sir Donald's batman, his gentleman's servant in other words, came into the room and bowed. “Sir, I have received important intelligence from Leozina,” he said quickly, addressing Sir Donald.

“Please excuse me, Your Majesties, Your Excellency” he said, bowing his head obsequiously to each man in turn. His batman quickly filled him in on the latest telegrammes from the legation in Leozina. The airport had been attacked by what appeared to be troops from Karevka, with additional reinforcements being flown in as they spoke. There was also an uncorroborated rumour that Allanean aid troops hitherto stationed at the airport had been captured by the invading forces.

“It seems, Your Majesties, Your Excellency, that the situation in Leozina has developed in an unexpected way.”

As he explained the circumstances wherein they found themselves, his mind was working away, trying to figure out a solution based on the flimsy knowledge of events which he had. Who were the Karevkans working with and what were their plans?

[Karevka]

The second wave brought tanks and helicopters to the soldiers, adding to the scout cars and light armor they already had. Most of the helicopters were gunships, some of which had limited troop carrying capacity while others were loaded with missiles and gun pods. Colonel Danya Yurakin was in charge of all of this. He led from the front, believing that a commanding officer should eat, sleep, fight and die with his men. As such he had a assault rifle slung over his shoulder, and wore a helmet marked with a red triangle with a star of the same color in it denoting him as a commander. "Captain Kurchin, you deserve a promotion for this." Colonel Yurakin was inspecting the daring paratroopers who led this assault, clearing the way for his forces. "It is a shame that you being redeployed. I could've used men like you." the paratrooper captain smiled at the compliment. "Dismissed, now get on that plane." the paras, injured and tired, soon left. They had fulfilled their mission.

[Newark Aristocracy]

Somewhere on Crime Syndicate coastline lands,ISIS arms traffickers land,ready to sell the Syndicate weapons and ammo,hoping to get support from the Syndicate in their conflict against Kathly.

[Allanea]

From: Grand Ambassador Peter Nizhinsky
To: Patriarch Iancu Funar
Re: Difficulties.
Your Holiness!
I cannot presume to interpret the Bible better than you, and of course different people do have some differences on the issue of the Good Book and what is said by it. But I do wish to point out that even some of the strictest religious societies in the world replace the death penalty in these cases with something like exile. You may remember also that in the Bible the prophet Samson associated with prostitutes without killing them, and of course so did the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Now to be blunt, at this moment the situation has taken itself beyond your reach, or mine. The airfield is beyond the control of your men – brave though they might be – and it appears some faction is threatening to take the aid troops hostage. This is not something I can prevent right now, and I do hope the situation will resolve itself. However if you wish us to keep sending you money and men after the situation doubtlessly restores to a semblance of sanity a solution to this deeply unfortunate prostitute hangings issue will need to be found.

Yours, Peter Nizinsky.

*

Wilson turned to his men. "Okay guys. Let's be totally clear here. We're fucked. I don't know who those guys are. They don't look like the monarchists to me, and I don't think we can expect any kind of sane treatment if we surrender. Get ready. I know it's not… what we've expected when we came here, but it's what we have." – he reached for the PA again.
[i]"Who are you, and what the hell do you want with us? Again, we are not on any side here. If you want us to help you in the same way we helped the Christian guys, that can be negotiated. Let's talk to my superiors and we can arrange help. Of course, if you want to have a fight we can fight… but I think you want the airport intact… and I bet you'd love to keep getting weapons and supplies from my government, too. So let's talk this out."

[Lux Pulchrae]

Leoniza

Gentile was almost angry at this point, the royalist were weak, they needed men and they needed weapons. Without an airport it was virtually impossible. In his pocket was a satellite phone, dispersing from the little group he sent a message and returned "Rasvan, tell me who else is stationed at the airport. Maybe we can work out a limited truce with whoever is there and retake the airport. Forgive me for the crudeness but assemble every man that can hold a gun, and stop standing here with our cazzi in our hands. Agreed?"

TO:GMOD
>Royl=weak
>Need men/arms ASAP!
>Airport=no good

TO:NERO
>Royl=weak
>Need men/arms ASAP!
>Airport=no good

Soon after ideas were thrown around, Gentile received another message, he heeded it and spoke to the crackpot think tank before him "We use the river that passes by this city. Use humanitarian aid as a cover to ship supplies, but it will be loaded with troops inside!"

Great Nortend

Cleone sighed, readjusting himself into his seat, he dreaded the pretender's answer "We suggest you highly reconsider, Lord Bardi. We hoped that your monarchy would have an active role in your government, then what would be the point of having you around? You'd be a puppet, no offense to you. I'm not going to have my men die for a puppet king. I want them their sacrifice to mean something, that if they die, it would get you closer to power. Back home, as King, I am my nation's father. I am their leader because I am given the power to lead by God and my authority is absolute. As Christ is the King of Heaven and rules absolutely, so must we, the kings of the earth, rule absolutely. Because in the end, all kings shall bow before Him and all nations will serve Him." a beep came from one of his coat pockets, it was his phone. It was a message from Gentile. He had a clear displeased look about it but continued onto Bardi "Which brings me to my second point, an alliance with these 'Moralists'. No king can rule without God on his side, or without absolute faith in Him, because it is He that grants ALL authority. I ask that you speak with your bishop, or at least have your men speak with your bishop in finding a way to unite. A kingdom and church are mirrors of each other, a temporal and spiritual respectively."

A couple seconds went by and Gregorio spoke "We would also like your permission to move troops into your country, Leozina specifically. The royalist cause is going to die if we don't do something now. Your airport has been overtaken by Karevkan forces and your forces are weak. Just give us the okay, and we will send the permission to our delegate in Leoniza and send in as many as we can in an instant. We can use the rivers to send in 'humanitarian aid'" He took his phone out, coincidentally he received similar updates from Gentile at the same time as Sir Donald has. "You're not the only one getting updates Sir Donald." (OOC:this was written before yours GN but something came up. So now I gotta adjust a bit.)

Port Serenity

"I love free helicopter rides!" the one in shades said in fake excitement "We used to give them to degenerates and dissenters back home. Until His Majesty found out, then we were taxed. We still do it occasionally, but 'waste management' is getting expensive"

The man received a message from his phone, it was a sat phone as well. He responded with a message as well

TO:GENT
>Sggst rivr angl
>Humn aid covr
>We try here
>Busy atm

"Well Your Highness," the one without shades said mockingly "If you wanted clowns you could've gone to your own parliament. But we're not here for that. Now we've gone over our intel extensively. Our official government stance supports the royalists, and they hold the city of Leozina, for now. But I just received word that the airport is taken over. We thought this might happen so now we want to use your connections at the ports, and let our men through. We understand one of your colleagues, Nechin? Nechia? Anyways he controls the other port, the one that streams into the river which happens to pass Leozina. We need that passage to move our men. We can move it under the guise of 'humanitarian aid' if you think that suits you better."

"In exchange, we'll give you...whatever you want. Ask and you shall receive. You can call me 'Shades' by the way. I was born with them on and have not been called anything else." he handed the oligarch a card that read 'Shades' on one side and nothing else.

"And you can just call me Nero." he smiled "Have we got you hooked or do we show ourselves out the door?" he opened the door voluntarily.

[Great Nortend]

ISLE ON CORNEY, GREAT NORTEND—Sir Donald understood where the monarch of Lux Pulchrae was coming from; even in Great Nortend there had been constant debate about the role of the Sovereign. Most of the Government agreed that it was important for the King to have and to hold real power.

“Your Majesty, I would respectfully evince our position that a puppet king is better than no king at all. I would, however, urge that Sir Alexander take a more active role in government and public life as King. A strong Government and society needs a strong monarch and Sovereign. The situation with the Moralists is very fraught and whilst I would urge for the establishment of the Orthodox Church as the state church of Posteastan after a successful restoration, it would be likely damaging if we were to join forces with the Moralist faction.”

Sir Donald looked suspiciously at the mobile telephone Gregorio pulled out but bit his tongue. “The Posteastan Alms Society have secured permission from those presently in control in Rostechko to send humanitarian alms to Leozina by ship or barge. I am wary of how you would plan to disguise men as aid though. Perhaps if you were to mark it as a diplomatic ship?”

[Lux Pulchrae]

"Fuck it then. Pardon my language." Gregorio excused himself "We'll have our aid protected my military transport, nothing to cover up. We'll send food and medicine, it'll just so happen to be encased inside personnel carriers and sharing crates with weapons and ammunition. These trying times seem to be justification enough for the use of such assets to protect the precious cargo, no?"

"This might be the bias talking Sir Donald, but a puppet king is no king at all. It is not how I was taught, neither my father, grandfather, or even great-grandfather. What exactly could go wrong if we joined forces with these Moralists? If they're as moral as their name suggests, they can be reasonable enough to understand that we are their best option. They encompass, or are backed by, the whole Orthodox Church of Posteastan correct? I'm assuming their goal is to maintain an uphold a good Christian society. The allowance of 'freedom' in the since of ideas and ideologies allows for the bad to be mixed with the good. Nothing good comes from freedom. Atheism, paganism, republicanism, anarchism, if we allow democracy, we allow this and there will be no more church and no more kingship. The church and the monarchy can and must work hand in hand for the benefit of each other." Cleone countered, he knew these other two nations had their own church, but they were all sons of Rome at one point. He knew most of what was said was babble but the least he could do was appeal to their shared belief in the absolute order of things as their churches did. He looked to Lord Bardi and awaited his response.

[Great Nortend]

“Your Majesty, it is true that kingship requires a firm and strong hand, and no firmer and stronger hand can be found than in our King, I can assure you. However, in these trying times, it would be unwise to force upon the people of Posteastan an authoritative monarchy. I fear that they will reject it, rather than embrace it should we be too hasty. The Moralists, it is true, appear on paper to be devout and holy. However, their actions speak louder than their words, and their actions are truly against the word of God. Jesus said, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone'. They seek power not to spread the word of God but to satiate their own lust for power, not for the glory of God, but for the glory of themselves. The church is fractured, for the Patriarch of the Church seeks glory, money and power for himself in the guise of advancing the word of God. Though we must advance the word of God, and indeed the Church and King are ordained by God to be interwoven, it is to me imperative not to be caught up with the Moralists themselves and their godless ways.”

Sir Donald caught his breath and turned to Sir Alexander. He felt that the King had missed the point entirely. Without Sir Alexander on the throne, there would be no advancement of the Church of Posteastan. It was more likely that a violently atheist dictatorship would arise than a pious theocracy, however much he disliked the idea of either. To him, the only way forwards for Posteastan would be to rally support amonst the people for the monarchy and King, rebuild a civilised and decently pious and law-abiding society, and to restore Sir Alexander to the throne.

[Danlina]

Telinburg, The Presidential Palace
Rozen considered Valaska’s offer for a drink. “I’ve heard that the Porto in here is good”. “Well you’re not wrong” said Valaska. The two sat on the couches in front of each other, with a crystal bottle of Porto on the small table between them.
“So,” said Valaska, “What is so urgent?”
“Well, at the time of me sending you the telegram I had information that was very valuable to you, but because you insisted to take your time this intel isn’t up to date anymore”
“If so, why did you come here?”
“The thing is that you might be interested in my method of gathering such intel”.
“I’m listening” said Valaska as he leaned forward.
“Before I begin, I must clarify that everything we will be talking about in here stays off the records” said Rozen. “Agreed?”
“Agreed”.
Rozen poured herself half a glass of Porto, and continued talking. “I am in charge of a special intelligence agency within Danlina. Way before I’ve started engaging in diplomatic affairs in Posteastan, my agents have infiltration the country and many of its political powerhouses. I have active agents monitoring and engaging targets all over the country, and the crime syndicates are basically BEGGING me to engage with them. Besides, it’s going to be extremely difficult for you to engage in espionage, everyone knows that you’ll be right around the corner. Me, on the other hand, I’m a new player in this war. No one will suspect my agents, even if they discover that they work for me”. Rozen stopped to take a sip of the Porto. “So, what do you say? Will my services be any good for you?”

[Posteastan]

Isle of Corney, Great Nortend
"Pareto, I see. And Machiavelli of course." Sir Alexander sight. "Good reads, good reads indeed. I wonder if you might have an original issue of Il Principe at your disposal?" With a mild smile, he gestures at the bookshelves behind him. "I would pay a keen price for a 1532 edition." Still smiling he uses a fine handcrafted carafe to pour each of the men a drink, a drink that smells suspiciously like iced tea. "Now, our moralist friends, you know they would have you flocked in public for speaking about fornication in public? If you are lucky that is. The judge might rule that this amounted to swearing which would have much more severe consequences. I agree that we need their support, and we will get it. As you well know, a gentleman walks but never runs. We will not rush things, we have to rely on strategy not on tactic. The only thing that outnumbers the amount of guns in Posteastan is the amount of opinions. I understand your obsession with fear but fear will get us nowhere. There will always be someone more frightening than you could ever imagine." He takes a long sip from his iced tea. "As Sir Donald here has pointed out we need to win the hearts and minds of the people. It does not come as a surprise that I will always favor the Lions, right? But we are not the Lions. We are the Foxes in this game. The day will come when we will be Lions but the day is not now. "And again he takes a sip from his delicious tea. "From what I can see, your liking for fear might become useful in the next days. If we play our cards right, we can make a lot of ground, and fear can play a crucial role in that. The Northern Alliance has not invaded Posteastan for a reason. For decades, government after government have informed their citizens of the dangers of communism, about how wives and nuns will be collectivized, about how every last bit of property is seized, about the closing of churches and the mass-executions. Hate is always fueled by fear and if there is one thing the people of Posteastan fear it is a communist invasion. And if there is one thing they have leaned to hate it is the scummuinsts as they are called at home. The invasion turn might turn out to our advantage. In a war it is never those who inflict the most who win, it is always those who can endure the most. If we can link the invaders to Caracasus or communism in our propaganda it will give us a certain advantage and a lot of legitimacy to resist them. If we can provoke them to drop the mask of civilization, the better."

Telinburg, The Presidential Palace
The Porto indeed was good. For the first time in days Valaska felt slightly relaxed. “I see where you come from.” He said, helping himself to another glass. “Like a spider in her web, no?” He said in a cheerful voice. “Deadly, and all knowing?” He chuckled. “Intelligence is the new currency. Intelligence is what will win you wars. Your help in gathering intelligence is not without value, but tell me little spider, what do you want in return? It is clearly not money you would have contacted the Oligarchs in that case.”

Port Serenity Costin Helicopter Tours
Mirela genuinely laughed. "You guys are hilarious! You have to start a show as comedians once you are done with your lives as hitmen." She carefully listened to the proposed cooperation. "No need to jump, we have a deal!" The helicopter landed on the almost vulgarly expensive yacht. "I need a bit of help with some certain troubles I have here in Kuronami. I want to be a special envoy of Lux Pulchrae with full diplomatic immunity. And I need a few people removed. Would that be possible?"

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF POSTEASTAN

Official Statement of the President

To: The Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Subject: International Solidarity
OFFICIAL TELEGRAM FROM THE PRESIDENT

---

Comrades!

This sounds good. We have a deal. If you could wire 2,000,000 Syndicated Yen to our offshore accounts that would be sufficient funding for our party. We will soon declare the takeover of the nation and we need you to instantly recognize us when this happens. We also need you to work hard in the international community to help us find acceptance. You need to prepare the ground and convince your comrades in Uan aa Boa to recognize us and have them influence other nations to work with us. We need political backing that way we will win.

Long live the international Solidarity

---

Comrade
Vasilescu Tavitian
President

[Karevka]

The order was ludicrous. That's what it was, absolutely foolish. Colonel Yurakin had only been there for at least a few hours, and now he was being told to abandon their hard won airport? It was a vital piece of infrastructure to them and yet some asshat was telling him that he had leave. The engineers weren't even allowed demolish the runways dammit! He entered the lead infantry carrier showing obvious frustration, and looked over the map "Jack" had given him. It would a take two days to reach the rally point in Tabolov.

[Kenmoria]

In the lonely port of Roztechko, things were beginning to look a little less deserted. Some of this was merely a psychological trick of the mind: the ever-present drillings and constructions of the necessary infrastructure creating the illusion of hustle and bustle. Likewise, a large part of the daily atmoshpere’s light and colour was the flashing blue of the Construction Enterprises logo apparent on the workers, relaxing in local amenities on their rare and previous free time. However, some of the port’s prior daily activities had returned; the families who had left the area for fear of the Syndicate or any factions in the war started to go back to their homes.

Not all of them did so, partly because of the destruction of houses by opportunistic vandalism before the cast-iron order of the Syndicate was employed, and partly because of demolition by the corporation and its worker to make way for the new telephone infrastructure. With the country experiencing the levels of deprivation it was, a few Euros of aid to families would be more than enough to pay for the destruction of gardens and porches. Sometimes, the company didn’t even bother with conversion into the local currency, for the Syndicate had left some so poor that even the raw materials from the notes and coinage would be enough.

However, this necessary carnage experienced a pyrrhic help from the activities of the Black Patrol, a group who had recently dealt a devastating blow to the people of Roztechko, and a not insignificant irritation to the project managers of the local work. Several barrels containing proximity detonators and sculpted mining charges were placed into the water and, after just a few hours of being swept into the port, were ripped apart into plumes of fire and water. Although some had been detected by the Syndicate and safely destroyed, or perhaps stored for use against any annoying royalist or statist movements, and a few were spotted by local workers looking into the harbourside, most exploded right in the middle of the port.

As soon as the first had been noticed, all the workers were called via their radios and told to say inside, but others weren’t so fortunate. The local populace, along with one or two tourists who had come to see the construction of the new phone network, had been caught in the blast. Casualties from the Construction Enterprises side numbered just two, lone workers who had left their radios at home in spite of contradictory instruction and died from their wounds in a makeshift hospital. Posteastan residents, however, perished in almost a hundred altogether. Quickly, the company released a press release on their website condemning the attack, and urging citizens to stand firm with them against the Black Patrol. Secretly though, the managers were somewhat glad. Although the damage would have to be fixed, causing a delay in the production of the opening parts of the telephone network, it made people all the more willing to volunteer to work for the company, against the other factions.

In roughly the same time period as the company made plans for repair, which only took an hour or two due to the fact that what once was could easily be repeated, an order was put through for all the necessary parts for the signal wiring. The electrical parts could be brought from Kenmorian companies for a relatively cheap cost, and local businesses were wired messages for the raw materials. The work would be going ahead, with no regard for whomever would try to oppose the involvement of foreign agents.

[Lux Pulchrae]

Great Nortend

"I guess you're right on the kingship, it should start slow. Once proper order is brought, and hierarchy is taught and taught well, maybe it can shift. But for now, I guess I will concede." Cleone agreed and would support the decision to start the monarchy off at a slow pace. "On the topic of the church, do you have any evidence to back this claim? That the church, its faction and its patriarch are in it for themselves and are, as you say, 'godless'? What they have they done exactly. They deem what is bad because they still, even as a church broken away from Rome(I'm assuming), have an ounce of truth to discern right from wrong. Do better than that of 'the first stone' quickdraw." Cleone questioned Sir Donald.

"And if they are as godless as you say, we'll be more than glad to plant our own bishopric as the Christian backbone." Gregorio chimed in.

Cleone awaited an answer from Sir Donald when Lord Bardi spoke. He looked on as the lord spoke, a mix of faint emotions ran in his mind. On the thinkers, Pareto was mostly glossed over in the mandatory curriculum of education but Machiavelli, along with Mussolini and his Doctrines of Fascism, was among the most required readings for the politically aspirant in Lux Pulchrae's Italo-centric culture, especially the heir apparent. "I think I have an early print of The Prince, never left 1500s. Can't remember if it's in my personal study, or the national archive. A prized possession of one of our long ago kings." sighing, the king continued "But, Lord Bardi, please spare me the Shakespearean dramatics on hate, fear, the people and the court of 'diverse opinions'. As well as your church's prudish nature, I am a pious man but even I know what fun is. I know people too, and they are not complex. Give them food, a home and a job and they will happy. Give them the lord and they will be happier. Give them freedom, and they will be slaves, not in the earthly material sense but in the spiritual and metaphysical sense. They will be slaves to their own wills and passion. One will go this way, one will go that way and eventually brother will be against brother and daughter against mother, politically, socially and spiritually. This divisiveness will be the downfall of a country, for a house divided amongst itself will surely fall. But strong and united in its faith and ideas, and it will be unstoppable. Personally, I could care less for 'freedom' when I care more about order."

Port Serenity
"Who said we were hitmen? Almost insulting Your Majesty." Nero laughed as Shades joined him, there was a clear power difference in the two where Nero was the leader of the pair. "We work on behalf of the government, official and unofficial business. This meeting sits in a limbo, we request aid for our friends in the official aspect in Leoniza, but this meeting entirely is not recognized. All outgoing information to the officials is 'anonymously' sourced."

Shades had his hand on his chin, seemingly confused "By 'special envoy' and 'diplomatic you're saying that you want to be the diplomat of Posteastan to Lux Pulchrae or...?"

"We'll do the deed that needs to be done, but first we want clearance for the port. Give me that, and you'll have some really convenient 'suicides' happening in Kuronami. Make the call." Nero said, his voice stern and face was more serious.

[Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics]

Office of the Premier, Worker's Palace, Revolutionary City, UASR


Vinsky was on his phone when the Foreign Affairs minister stepped in..
"Yes, I want 2 million dollars wired to these accounts. This is part of the party's initiative to support an Anti-imperialist movement." Vinsky listened in on the phone, taking a puff of his cigar as he listened before saying "Alright. Just don't make it look suspicious or anything. Send it in reasonable increments, and do it via some state owned company. Good day." Vinsky hung up the phone and looked up to the Foreign Affairs Minister "Comrade Minister, an honor to see you." He said, gesturing for the gentleman in the office to sit down. "Now. How goes the message for uhh.." Vinsky looked down at a piece of paper on his desk, reading the name on it slowly "Uan aa Boa?"

"Comrade Premier, my secretary has just finished the edits to the telegram we intend to send to them." The minister replied, leaning back into his chair and inhaling before saying "Surely another Marxist nation will understand the logic of our decisions."
"Of course, of course." Vinsky replied, shifting the papers on his desk a bit, nearly knocking over his cup of coffee as he did so. "What's the status of the Navy?"
"The Navy, according to the Comrade General, is prepared to deploy tonight." The Minister Replied. "One Kuznetsov-Class carrier, two Sovremennyy Class destroyers and a Kirov class cruiser." The Minister reached down, pulling a yellow envelope from the bag he set by his chair and handing it to the Premier. Vinsky quickly grabbed the envelope and began flipping through the documents in it "Good. I want them heading out by tomorrow morning." He handed the envelope back. "And get Uan aa Boa on the side of Tavitian."
The Premier then laid back in his office chair, relaxing for a few moments as the Foreign Affairs Minister walked out. As the door to Vinsky's office closed, his desk shook and the cup of coffee on his desk fell over, spilling all over the Premier's lap "No! Augh!"

FROM: The Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TO: President Vasilescu Tavitian
ENCRYPTION: HIGHEST.

Attention President Vasilescu Tavitian.

The UASR's state oil company AlbanOil will be wiring the money to the accounts as you requested, in reasonable amounts to each in order to assure upmost secrecy.

Our Navy is on it's way to your nation to begin the delivering of aid, weaponry, and military advisers. It will likely take some time for our forces to properly reach your location, so please prepare your own forces and try to build up the best you can in that time.

We will contact our comrades in Uan aa Boa about giving you political support.

-Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UASR.

Workers of the world, Unite!

FROM: The Union of Albandrite Socialist Republics's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TO: Uan aa Boa REVOLUTIONARY WORKERS' COUNCIL WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ENCRYPTION: HIGHEST.

Comrades!

First of all, the Communist Party of Albandry expresses it's full support and solidarity for your revolution!
Secondly...After recent contact with President Tavitian, he asked that we direct a level of communication towards you.

Now as a fellow revolutionary socialist nation, we are sure you are aware of the importance of Anti-Imperialism as a fundamental stage to building up a proletarian movement in a nation. We do not consider Tavitian an ideal candidate or a representative of the proletariat in their nation, however due to the encroaching forces of Imperialism threatening to suffocate their nation, we must collaborate with them in order to defeat the larger enemy.

If we are able to defeat Imperialism in Posteasten and a stable national government is established, the likelihood of an equally strong and stable proletarian movement arising among its workers will increase. It is in the interest of Socialists internationally to critically support Tavitian now and we ask that you join the UASR in recognizing Tavitian as the legitimate leader of Posteasten and providing support for his upcoming popular front party.


-Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UASR.

Workers of the world, Unite!

Naval Port, Northern UASR
The ships of the UASR People's Navy began to leave the port in the morning. Pushing full steam ahead towards their destination. Captain Arnold Belinski was put in charge of the entire operation, he watched carefully from the bridge of the Aircraft Carrier towards the morning sun. Watching the pelicans fly by from the nearby port and into the sea to hunt. A sea that he had become too familiar with..He was eager to see foreign tides.

[Great Nortend]

ISLE OF CORNEY— “Well, I'm sure our own bishops have no doubt heard of the turmoil in Posteastan and are itching to get a foothold there. I must confess I have only hearsay to corroborate my assertion. People need a society where they have a purpose. Too much freedom is dangerous; it create discord, disunity and selfishness. But no freedom at all is similarly bad, in my opinion. God gave us a mind and desires; we must be able to indulge some of them.

“And let us get to the point here; the matter of importance right now is not the policies of a future government which may or may not exist in the future, but rather the actions which we must take in order to effect the establishment of such a state. We can debate all day long about the particular shade of yellow for the national flag, or the exact design of new road signs, but all is for naught if there is no container in which to actually change the situation.

“I agree that our first step need must be that we get some of our soldiers into Leozina. Currently, we are already preparing to send a platoon of our guardsmen, infantry really, by disguising them as aid workers. Well, in reality they are indeed what would be considered aid workers in the strict sense of that word, and we are simply not revealing their, er, day occupation. We are preparing a ship of goods to send to Leozina—food, grain, cloth, paper, printing presses, tools, household goods, firearms and ammunition; the latter two of course secreted deep in the hold. Once there, the plan of the Alms Society is to train the Royalist troops and build support for the Crown. Your Majesty, Sir Alexander, Gregorio, I believe it is important to get our forces into Leozina and Posteastan, and to rebuild the society there. We cannot restore the monarchy if the citizens of Leozina are living in squalor, hungry and dispirited. It is imperative that they see and get an afore taste what good things will happen once Sir Alexander is back on the throne. Esto nobis praegustatum regis coronati, as it were.”

[Karevka]

They passed a road sign, which was riddled with bullet holes, which stated "Tabolov Province Checkpoint, 50km". It would be a few hours, but the men passed the time by playing games played by families on road trips.

[Lux Pulchrae]

Leoniza
News spread of the attacking forces of the airport backing off, essentially withdrawing from the airport, back to wherever. This lifted Gentile's spirits a bit, as now they can breath a little easier. Plans were rearranged, talks of taking the airport and fortifying it for good. Talks of troops, goods, aid and more.

Gentile sent another message through his sat phone

TO:GMOD
>Airport clear
>Men gtg for mobilize

Great Nortend
"Tutti sottomettera a Roma, Inglese. Tutti." the young king said coldly under his breath.

A sigh came from Gregorio "Anyways, why the need for deception? It is clear that military presence is not only allowed by the other 'governments', but expected. There will be no surprises coming from my men. They are what they are, necessary military protection for our portion of humanitarian aid sent to the people of Leozina and its province of Telin. We like your idea of the bottom of the crates being used for the true 'aid'." the grand minister smiled. His phone beeped again, only two people had access to the phone connections, it was Gentile. "Well, another update men. Airport is clear for. Assailants just packed up and left. I highly advise we still occupy the river accesses into Telin province."

(OCC: Completely messed up on "sottomettera". I typed "sommottera"

[Cat-Herders United]

The shipment of humanitarian aid and its escort cruiser arrived at Pibtsy and after some cash discreetly changed hands the terminal’s cranes unloaded the containers from the freighter. Trucks were taken right out and loaded up with the supply containers, and due to the news of a flu outbreak, it was decided that the convoy must depart immediately. So they drove westwards towards the Milila River which they planned to cross north of Telinburg.

Meanwhile the government prepared a second, much larger shipment primarily of medical supplies against the epidemic, which would follow once this shipment reaches Kolvce successfully. However in light of the increasing violence and chaos that seemed to be taking place on the ground, the CHUS White Cat was deployed into international waters near Posteastan. Not for its amphibious warfare capabilities but merely for its ability to launch helicopters should an evacuation of personnel be necessary.

[Great Nortend]

ISLE OF CORNEY, GREAT NORTEND—Among Sir Donald's many skills was not any actual understanding of Italian. However, even he could get a vague understanding that the King was irritated. He tried to translate it: 'Everyone does something from Rome, English, Everyone'. Was the King admitting his lack of understanding of Latin? How extraordinary, he thought.

“I am more concerned about the potential of attack from these Karevkans should it become clear that we are sending armed troops in. I intend on sending... a number of persons who may better operate if they are not known to be linked to the Nortan military. Men who receive orders from... higher up. I hope you understand what I mean. I still believe a key part of success will be by winning over the people of Leozina to prove that firstly, their King supports them and cares for them. As I am sure Your Majesty is aware, allegiance is a two-way street.

“They've left? I agree with your contention; it's important that we gain control of the city region, if not the entire province. Is the airport in an operational state?

He checked the time on his pocket-watch.

“It's getting late in Posteastan, Your Majesty, Gentlemen. I shall send forth commands to immediately begin shipment of our aid. If the ship sets sail to-night, I believe it can arrive at Posteastan within a few days. In the mean-time, a team of my men, representing the Posteastan Alms Society of course, will fly by aeroplane to Leozina, where there is a military airport controlled by the National Guard. We have secured permission from the leader of the National Guard to use it, and shall begin setting up our base of operations in Leozina itself. Your minister, Gentile, I believe is there?”

---

PALACE OF ST MICHAEL'SGATE, GREAT NORTEND—The King was in his study, meeting with the Foreign Clerk. The Queen was at St Oswalds, dedicating a new pipe organ. A maid was in the palace grounds, hanging up some clothes, when down came no blackbird and pecked not off her nose.

“Drachington, go through the plan again; what are these men going to do?”

“Sire, it's fairly straight forwards. The men from Her Majesty's Official Mounted Guard will land at the military airfield near Zilom railway station, only a few miles from Leozina proper. We have of course secured the necessary permission from the National Guard, which control the airfield, and they will be arriving in the guise or rather, the character of an almoner with the Posteastan Alms Society or what is more commonly known abroad as an aid worker. They will, if question, say that they are preparing Leozina for the arrival of alms, which will be shipped in on the River Telin by ship. This, they in fact will do, however their main mission there is reconnaisance and securing the city. We have already obtained the use of a large house in the city centre from where the Alms Society will base their operations. Your Majesty's envoy and minister there, Michael Thatcher, is already liasing with the citizens and I believe... a delegation from the Kingdom of Lux Pulchrae. Their involvement may complicate things, but to my knowledge, we shall be running separate formal operations, but cooperating.”

“What is the support for Bardi amongst the citizens of Leozina? I've read that only a little over a hundred people turned out for the protests and demonstration a few days ago. That won't be enough in a city of over three hundred thousand.”

“From our initial reports, the one hundred and fifty or so people who've demonstrated or joined the Royalist movement overtly is only a tiny fraction of the Royalist sympathisers in the city. I am led to believe that around half are keen supporters of the monarchy in private, and another third or more are open to the idea if it means an improvement in their living conditions and society. Possibly that percentage may be even greater. There are a number of refugees from other provinces in Leozina though, possibly almost a quarter of the population currently residing there abouts, and their opinions are not known. Our policy is to prove through works that their lives will be better under the monarchy and hopefully convince them.”

“I see... well we shall see I suppose. Will you be at the Opera to-night Drachington? We haven't seen Lady Drachington for quite some time now.”

---

POSTEASTAN—A telegramme had come through to Mr Michael Thatcher's legation in Telinberg, and quickly transmitted to the base of the Royalist movement.

OHMS STOP
POSTMAN ARM SOCIETY TRIO ENDGAME TOMMOROW STOP
HIDDEN ROSE GARDEN STOP DRAGON STOP

Thatcher read the telegramme and quickly decoded it using the standard Erbonian diplomatic codes.

“Gentlemen, I have received orders from my Government to receive three officers of the Posteastan Alms Society. I am currently lodging with Mr Dobre, a representative of my Government. You are welcome to take rooms there as well; his house is a lodging house and has room enough for the both of you and our officers.”

[Caracasus]

Caracasusian temporary aid coordination Hub

If the logistical challenge of invading an army seemed daunting, the logistical challenge of distributing aid was far higher.

A conservative estimate placed the cost of transport and distributing of a tonne of food in a warzone at somewhere approaching two hundred times the cost of growing and processing it. This assumed contact with something like an established government and some ground infrastructure in place.

For regions where air distribution was the only way to ensure supplies reached the country, those costs excelled twelve thousand times the cost of growing and processing the food. Mid range airships had already been sequestered by International Affairs and diplomacy for such an eventuality, much to the annoyance of several other departments. Air deployment carried significant problems aside from the massive cost. Without workers on the ground there was little way of guaranteeing the aid would not be used to bolster one competing faction or another, and it was not unknown for a paradropped pallet of supplies to come crashing down through the roof of a house. A popular satirical magazine in Caracasus had photographed such an incident during a recent crisis and captioned it “death by kindness.”

Then you encountered the problems of distributing medicine. While the basic six medications that formed any relief aid were specifically chosen for their durability and longevity, the complex cocktails of antivirals that Posteastan required needed to be kept at certain low temperatures and could only really be administered by trained medical personnel. A lack of both resources on the ground was simply another headache that would have to be solved.

Caracasus was fortunately not the only one supplying support. Cat Herders United had already dispatched medical and food aid to the nation and Allanea had sent containers full of medication and several portable solar generators to ensure they would remain chilled. Other nations would surely follow suit and begin to contribute to the struggle to ensure that the people of Posteastan made it through the coming months and years.

---

Caracasus Industry and Trade – Antiimperalism Subdivision

Already the wheels within Industry and Trade had begun to turn and planners had begun looking to the post civil war reconstruction efforts that Posteastan would require. Along with many similarly aligned nations, Caracasusian rebuilding protocol emphasised a need to establish a degree of independence from other powers.

When South Cardulan declared independence, Caracasusian botanists and geologists were on hand to help develop and distribute seed crops to ensure the fledgeling nation's food supplies and that South Cardulan would no longer have to rely on foreign aid. Networks along the Hypothetical Zone were established to support a growing economy and Caracasusian universities and schools opened up to South Cardulan students, ready to establish and educate the next generation of thinkers, doctors and teachers. It had worked, with the usual minor tweaks, in many other previously war torn nations.

Posteastan posed its own problems. Decades of anticommunist propaganda would no doubt elicit significant problems for any Caracasusian led intervention on any level.

---

Reconstruction and Independence

---

To: Forestian Nations

Greetings.

While it becomes evident that Posteastan will require significant humanitarian intervention, we cannot stand by and watch as yet another nation finds itself subjugated to those who control the flow of aid to it.

For Posteastan to fully recover it must first gain both legal and factual independence before it can stand among other nations as equals.

For this effort, we will require significant levels of cooperation and coordination. It is recommended that first and foremost Posteastan is placed in a position where it can produce enough food to support its people. For these purposes, several strains of hardy potato plant, corn and root vegetables have been isolated. We will of course require on the ground observations of soil acidity and mineral depletion to ensure crops do not perish.

Further from that, a fund must be set up to ensure the educational development of future generations of Posteastan citizenry. This will require further coordination with whatever power emerges as the de facto administrators of the nation.

Special councils have already been established to look into the feasibility of supporting Posteastan exports, however without cooperation from factions within the nation, this will be impossible.

We need a coordinated diplomatic response to the growing crisis, in all honesty we needed one several months ago. However the second best time to plant a tree is today. Caracasusian diplomatic channels have been reopened with numerous factions across Posteastan and we will keep Forest informed of any further developments, and would ask that our comrades do likewise.

Caracasus Council Elect.

[Keilersmoor]

Recipient Region of Forest REPUBLIC OF KEILERSMOOR Topic: Crisis in Posteastan I sincerely thank you for the information on the conflict between the Northern Alliance and Posteastan. As more and more secrets of this dirty conflict come to light the public opinion in Keilersmoor has shifted further towards the position of Uan aa Boa. From our perspective direct peace talks between Posteastan and Oehiton are the only possible solution to solve the reparations problem. I hope our position on humanitarian aid will not be disappointing. At this stage of the conflict Keilersmoor does not intend to deliver any form of supplies to Posteastan. The port of Roztechko has been mined and there are military engagements at the Leozina airport. The nations of Forest have not come to a conclusion which side to accept as partners and there is no mandate for an armed intervention in Posteastan. Without a mandate either from Forest or the recognized government of Posteastan we cannot deploy as much as a single armed guard to Posteastan without breaking Forestan or international law. Without armed guards the humanitarian aid is not going to reach its destination. We are not objecting other nations delivering help and if those deliveries turn out to be successful we will deliver help to our Forestan friends for re-distribution. We are now waiting for Uan aa Boa to give their perspective on the recent developments. Sincerely Rutger Thorbecke Foreign Minister