The Wenchuanese Problem (Archived Thread)

by **Sombreland** » Fri Nov 25, 2022 6:36 pm

Falifey,
The Five Provinces, Sombreland

Alomel Tark was a priest of Thon, god of purity, and he had sat in a tiny mountain top shrine, subject to wind, rain, chills, the terrible sun, the ache of his fasting belly and the dryness of his throat from limited hydration for nearly a month before he came up with a solution to the Wenchuan Refugee problem. The people of the Five Provinces must purge the Wenchuanese from their land.

"The first thing," he said to a gathering crowd in the great market of Falifey, "We have to do is understand why. Do we want to purge them simply because they have slanty eyes and yellow skin?"

"Yes!" cried several idlers who had come excitedly to see the ragged figure in his yellow tattered robe and tattered green shawl, surrounded by similar men, speaking with a loudspeaker.

"No!" he shouted. The idlers were taken aback. They were eager to go trash a Wenchuanese shantytown, and then scuttle off before police descended on them.

"Listen to me, worthy fellow Sombrelanders! It is not enough that they look different! It is not enough that they cook with oil that smells strange, or use a strange language, or eat with sticks! These reasons are not enough! It is not enough that they write backwards! It is not enough even that they have invaded our labour market, attempt to sleep with our women and shout when they play board games! No! It is that they have brought bad ideas to Sombreland! They want to undermine the caste system! But does Thon? No! Thon wants us to purify the caste system! They want to change our government to be a thing called socialism, and distribute everything equally. But does Thon want this? No! Thon wants everyone to get what he deserves!" He pointed a fierce finger at a member of the crowd who was wearing a delivery truck company's sweater. "You! What does Thon reward people for?"

"P..purity?" gasped the man.

"Purity! For Thon will descend like a bolt from Heaven, and purify the world one day! And those who are not pure and ready will be consumed! But the Wenchuanese do not worship Thon! They don't even have ancestors buried in this country! They will unbalance the harmony of this country if they stay. And so, I say: throw them out! Throw them out!"

Roog Tark (Roog is a title of priests governing a region of the faithful among the Thonists) had a very good voice, along with blazing eyes, a lean face like an axe, and a lean body under his flapping robes, and so many people were impressed with him and began raising their fists in the air, chanting "Throw them out!" Because of this, any Wenchuanese nearby quickly slunk away, even, if need be, dropping their errand burdens or abandoning their food deliveries. However, there were others in the Great Market who didn't like all these displays of fervor for a particular deity, even if was Thon. They did not like that the market business and traffic were being disrupted. It began spilling away from where Roog Tark had been speaking to people shouting and menacing a delivery service that was mostly worked by Wenchuanese; they threatened and shouted outside a Wenchuanese restaurant, and broke into a recycling factory, scattering cans and bottles and smashing the glass bottles. They chased Wenchunese prostitutes, gaudily made up in foreign fashions, and scared away the students from a Wenchuanese school. When they began to descend upon a bread factory that had mostly hired Wenchuanese workers, angry people who were angry because they were undermining labour wages descended upon them. There had been incidents in the past, brawls between strikers and workers, insults at bars and public events, but this was a growing ugly feeling.

By this time, they were confronted by the efforts of a nice fat policeman named Jayon Gruel.

Police Prefect Jayon Gruel, who had a round pleasant head and a round pleasant belly, had been relaxing after finishing his lunch, which had four courses and pushed at his belt and his buttons and required him to slumber on a nice couch after drinking an antacid drink. Then he was wakened by telephone calls, urging him to do something. The Thonists were revolting! He did not even give in to the temptation to make a joke, but began to call his Police Inspectors, and he found that in several districts of the city, there were riots going on. He sighed and had to tighten his belt after departing to a private room to dispense with certain private personal activities that made his stomach feel better. Then he gave instructions for some of the inspectors to deal with the rioting, break them up and restore order. But he himself would go to the factory, for the riot had not yet fully reached it, and he had heard that Roog Tark was with them.

In Sombreland, police officers are the lowest rank of the military caste. They are, in a sense, the youngest child, loved, and charming, but the parents have grown so busy that they are at times forgotten by the courtly caste. Not so with the artisan and common castes. They more often see a police man than a soldier, unless their service is directly near a military base, and so Prefect Gruel was considered the "Perfect Prefect" as the saying went.

First of all, he was fat. And when he got out of his car facing a line of officers who had rushed to the scene, brandishing riot shields and riot batons, he could see that the crowd approaching were impressed, and some called out his name. For a fat policeman, in Sombreland, is seen as a well fed policeman, and one who is reasonable and not starving for more funds. He is more concerned with matters of law and custom than with bribery or feeling cheated in his lot in life. He has learned how to make the best of things.

Second, he was the highest ranking police officer in the city, and was still fat. So he was not worn down with un harmonious thoughts, instead, he was content and had time for seconds at lunch and dinner, maybe even breakfast.

Third, it was the Perfect Prefect! And what he wanted above all was no trouble. Was he not known for advising his officers to avoid assigning tickets and fines where a warning would do.

So when he stepped forward before the line of riot police, the crowd slowed down, and their shouts became a bit less aggressive.

At the same time, though, the he could see wariness and muttering among his officers. This made him frown. He knew there were men among them who loved the god Thon, and wanted more purity, and could not wait for the great Temple to be finished in Galador, and they really did not want to punish the Thonists in the crowd.

Nevertheless, they were here now. "Dear Roog, and subjects of Sombreland in our dear city," he said in a loud voice, "Why have you come here so angry, so unharmonious?"

Roog Tark cried out, "Noble Prefect! We have no quarrel with you! But why, noble Prefect, do you stand in our way? There are Wenchuanese in that factory beyond! They take money from honest Sombreland common men, unguilded caste men who need jobs, and you are standing in the way of them asserting their rights!"

"Yes! They have no right even to be here! They've overstayed their welcome!" shouted a man shaking a big fist.

"Throw them out! They don't deserve to be here! They are impure and dis-harmonize Sombreland!" yelled another, backed up with affirmative, encouraging shouts and shakes of the fist and of improvised weapons.

"They have a point, sir," muttered the district inspector, nearby him.

Prefect Gruel spoke into his megaphone. "Yes, yes, I see your complaint! But this is no way to go about it! I have heard that you have all been blocking off streets, frightening people and making a mess of shops, schools and other places! A fine thing! And you all Sombrelanders, a fine people! Shame! Just imagine what the Governor-General or..." he paused and became very reverent, "The Princess-Regent?"

People began to lower their hands, their faces began to be ashamed. While there were others, especially Roog Tark, who were not happy with this, the crowd seemed to be simmering down. Tark said, "Prefect, you see what I am saying is true though, do you not? Do you know, Prefect, why there is soil erosion troubling our country? Do you know why there are labour strikes, why there are radicals plaguing our schools and cities, and they there is strife pitting Sombrelander against Sombrelanders? Because of the Wenchuanese. It all started with that." He looked from police officer to police officer, and back to the Prefect again. "Do not stand against us, noble Prefect. Join us."

"The Princess-Regent..." began the Prefect.

"The Princess-Regent! The Princess-Regent is the noblest woman of the courtly caste! How could she be against us?" cried Roog Tark.

Prefect Gruel looked at him, and then looked at his men. He knew that it was just going to be like trying an unfamiliar dish at a banquet; sometimes you just had to stick your fork in and try. "Inspector, for m them up to receive."

Then he turned his back on his men and faced the Roog and the crowed, which outnumbered the police possibly two hundred to one, and waited, at attention, his great belly like that of a warship's sail full of the strong sea breeze, as he heard the inspector blare into his megaphone, "Attention! Make ready! Present!"

He heard, to his great relief, the sound of clicking heels and then a shout of many men shouting, "Ha!" He looked calmly at the Roog, and said, "I beg you, Roog, do not try to pass us. You know that if my orders result in harm to you, I will have to kill myself. Do you want my blood on your hands?"

Roog Tark gave him a long look. "Today, Prefect, you have won. We have made our point for now. But it does not end here. I will confer with my brother Roogs, and then with the council of Feroogs, and then we shall see. Good day, Prefect."

He then turned to the crowd, crying out, "Good men! We have made our point for now! We do not want to fight good men of Sombreland, and I will confer with my fellow Roogs and with the Feroogs, and then we shall see what we shall see! Let us sing hymns to Thon! Let this gesture, today, fill the Wenchuanese with fear, and let them think of going home before things get worse! This Sombreland is our sacred land! Sombreland is ours, and does not belong to the Wenchuanese!"

The men departed, singing a hymn of purity. Prefect Gruel dismissed his men and went home, and for once did not have an appetite, even for the little spicy sausages and roast potatoes he normally dearly loved. Nothing his wife did could tempt him.

And news spread of the event...

by **Sombreland** » Mon Nov 28, 2022 4:55 am

Falifey, the Five Provinces

By the 2020s, every 4th person in the Five Provinces was Wenchuanese. Though the two populations were somewhat separated, there was daily blending of the two population in daily interactions. Wenchuanese had become a strong part of the Five Provinces, and only provincial travel papers prevented them from permanently living outside of them. However, people would sneak along side roads, crawl through fields, fake identities to get to places where work and money was available.

Wenchuanese had taken over entire areas of business when it came to things that were not the artisan caste in particular, and were making shocking amounts of money. Businesses like cooks, exterminators, roofers, longshoremen, servants, artists, as well as the employees of the artisan caste were often being filled by such people.

The Government of Sombreland had to face facts: the hope that they would all go home was a myth. Across the border, warlordism raged. Wenchuan had different governments competing for power. it was not safe for many ordinary people, and military intelligence had found out over the years that ordinary people were being forced into work camps, or outright slave and concentration camps.

Nevertheless, the problem had to be dealt with. The Thonists were getting more converts, and the liberals were talking about major reforms of the whole system of government and caste.

The Governor-General of the Five Provinces was Prince Dobred Anshey, a member of the courtly caste who some said resembled a wise old rat, with his hunched movements, his long grey whiskers and his dark little eyes. In fact, however, he had loyally carried out King Orian IX's policies, trying to make things uncomfortable for the Wenchuanese while not being overtly tyrannical towards them. Provincial papers were strict. Caste was upheld strongly and supported by law. A Wenchuanese trying to start a delivery business or plumbing business would find that items were forbidden for them to purchase. They could not buy PVC pipe or bicycles, for instances, because they were out-caste. Never mind; the Wenchuanese had created a vast black market, aided and abetted by greedy Sombrelanders. There was an illegal business where trucking companies smuggled workers to harvest crops or fell timbers or work mines. Inspections of vehicles held up commerce and traffic. Some artisan caste members complained bitterly; others supported change, and many more than either wearily put up with it.

The liberal Sombrelanders did not have strong leadership yet. Most of their leadership were not of the courtly or military castes; they were lawyers, professors, teachers, journalists, and other learned folk. There were discontented members of the upper castes though that might be drawn in to them. There had been a growing effect of the words and influence, however, of socialist Wenchuanese. These wanted at least to have lands ceded to them, but ideally they wanted to be recognized as a community contributing to Sombreland. Their influence had a strong effect on those who felt the caste system was too restrictive.

Riots Turn to Rumbles

After the earlier riots in Farifey, the Black Fan began to organize men for street fighting and breaking up the Thonist mobs. The police failed to stem the tide. Some of them joined the Thonists, but most were simply reluctant to interfere with the Thonists. The Black Fan was occasionally supported by liberal student groups, mostly from the artisan caste. As a result of the 3 day riots that followed, streets were littered with debris in Farifey and lesser riots began to smolder up in other cities in the Five Provinces.

In the port city of Odalaley, Thonists tried to seize control of markets and areas around the port itself, to expel the Wenchuanese from it, making it so uncomfortable by trashing shops and beating workers, throwing garbage at them and painting slogans on buildings, to try to at least force them back to the camp. But what this did is it made the different districts of the city themselves camps, held by the Thonists or the Black Fan. Uniforms had begun to emerge, mostly armbands with slogans written on them.

The Government

The Ministries, in Galador, had been planning to review the issue anyway, but when they heard of things being out of hand, the discussion became more urgent. The Princess-Regent was not meant to be informed until they had advice ready, but Grand Admiral Teroth managed to meet her as if by accident in the garden, and confessed his concern.

The Princess-Regent, Alavaine, was shocked at how the situation had deteriorated, and read papers in the garden, the butterflies and turtles forgotten. Though Lady-Countess Carnelian enticed her her to contemplate the beauty of a floral fountain, she ignored these entreaties to keep reading about statistics, about economic facts and figures, law and order reports. "Do the Ministers know?" she asked softly.

The Grand Admiral bowed. "They are in discussions, Majestic Highness."

"And will have advice for me." she sighed. "I should summon them."

In the meeting that followed, two proposals were before the Royal Government. One was that if there was to be a purge, it should be led by the Royal Government. The other was that, rather than a purge, the Government should invade the Wenchuan border country, and get the Wenchuanese in Sombreland to participate and help to regain their homeland. The Princess-Regent asked for figures and justifications, summed up in two feasibility studies, to back up either policy. She looked slightly ill, as though shaken to her core by the situation. In the meantime, the Ministry of the Left (and Ministry of Death) urged that the Royal Army in the Five Provinces should be instructed to quell the rioting, and that the Governor-General should be advised to let the people there know that the government would make a general policy decision. Three divisions with supporting air and naval units were believed sufficient to deal with the matter.

by **Sombreland** » Wed Nov 30, 2022 5:17 am

Orodom, the Five Provinces

Some of the political concern was not directly about the Wenchuanese, but was affected by them.

Orodom was largely a farming center. Villages and small towns sent grain and other foodstuffs to be processed in factories, slaughterhouses, canneries and such on the outskirts of the city.

A peasant uprising had erupted in some of the villages. The farmers were angry with high interest rates, high taxes, high inflation and low government established prices for their crops. The system had led them into debt, and debt had meant foreclosure and the loss of their fields to aristocrats who were often absentee landlords. Riots broke out that began to spread to the other provinces. One of the targets for their anger was that when they were foreclosed, they were not simply hired, as it had been in their grandfathers' day; they were replaced by cheap Wenchuanese labour, by men and women who were not even of the farming caste, not even of the labour castes.

The farmers attacked processing centers and blockaded them. They stole or even destroyed equipment. They attacked agricultural workers who were Wenchuanese, and beat them, tore their clothing, stole their goods, and threatened them. Thonists joined them, and claimed leadership over the angry peasant mobs, claiming that they were true followers of Thon and would purify and reform the country.

This was not entirely true; some of the farmers had had their ears filled with talk of socialism, and at this point understood that simply as being that justice would be done, and that people using caste unjustly would be punished. They were not yet ready to accept the idea of socialism.

Furthermore, during this time, because some of the garrisons in the area had been called out to quell the rioting, bandits from Wenchuan itself tried to take advantage. They raided border villages, stealing goods and equipment, even assaulting people and in some cases carrying them off as captives. This was often for ransom but sometimes people were taken as slaves if the women or girls were comely or the men had particularly useful skills.

Prince Dobred Anshey, Governor-General of the Five Provinces, had a telephone call with the Minister of the Right, and explained to him that the situation was very difficult, and he wanted to declare martial law over the Five Provinces. The Minister assured him that the matter was being thought upon very carefully, and that the Northern Border Command had leave to support police and other services in restoring order. The Royal Court, however, was very reluctant to proclaim martial law. Proposals were being prepared as to what to do to put before the Princess-Regent, so that she could decide whether to declare martial law and simply use that to restore order as well as put the Wenchuanese back in their camps, or whether she should also invade the Wenchuanese border provinces.

In the meantime, the streets of major cities and even some of the smaller towns and villages had Thonist and Black Fan militias struggling against one another, and some of them were holding checkpoints, extorting people, demanding that they show allegiance to Thon or to the Black Fan, and there were not enough police or soldiers in the area yet to deal with them all. It was all very shocking to the Governor-General, and even more to the Royal Court, some of whom thought he might be exaggerating. And it was said by Thonists in the capital city of Galador that this would not happen if the purification by Thon was accepted, corrupt practices were ceased and the unharmonious purged from the land.

by **Kerberos** » Sun Dec 04, 2022 10:15 am

withdrawn

by **Sombreland** » Mon Dec 05, 2022 4:04 pm

Amas, Sombreland

Amas was not part of the Five Provinces. So it did not have a huge number of Wenchuanese. They were still there, however. And some of them, who were illegally unloading a fishing ship's cargo, gazed up as two Bartgeier Multi-Role fighters off the coast streaked off to meet the incoming Kerebosian flight.

The pilots signaled their welcome to the inbound air convoy, wagging their wings after sending a friendly signal on their approach, and guided them into the native airspace. These pilots spent most of their time providing air support when dealing with the insurgencies coming from northern Wenchuan, occasionally with helping track pirates, and 'showing the flag". They were among the most elite members of the Military Caste, not simply by their social position but by their achievements.

The airbase matter was rather controversial. It had been done under the nose of the Empire of Nifon, a great power in the Region, in order to play Kerebos off against Nifon should the need arise. But this alliance was causing great political concern in the halls of power of Sombreland. Officials in Amas watched the foreign planes going overhead with some apprehension. More liberal persons, however, were happy, hoping this would soften the old regime's rigidity. Students, technical people, custodial services and so on were eager to be employed on the base, to get a look at the foreigners and see what they were like.

At the base building site, it might be that a Kerebosian of some sort might see among the crowds of people lining up to offer themselves as work for labour, as cooks, cleaners and so on, there were rather tanned, sallow skinned people with almond dark eyes and rather flat black hair, earnestly begging for work. Local Sombrelanders would in some cases angrily shout at them, spit at them, even kick them and beat them to make them scurry away. But there was no open discussion of the Wenchuanese Problem.

Galador, Sombreland

Grand Admiral Teroth had consulted carefully with senior members of the Military Caste, for the purposes of selecting the right units, but also for the purpose of consulting experience and history. Old General Sobarian Arimey was consulted as well, he who had secured the border and made Sombreland safe. As the two men spoke, Teroth was solicitous both of the old man's dignity and frailty. The two walked briefly in a garden made up entirely of ponds that were connected by little bridges, which overlooked waters in which lazy carp swam.

"The trouble," said General Arimey, "Is that we did not finish the job. We should have pushed them all out right then, but we did not."

"Did you advise His Majesty?" asked the Grand Admiral.

"Certainly not!" said General Arimey indignantly. "What do you take me for? To think that a member of the Military Caste should offer unasked advice on matters of policy! We carry out policy, Teroth, we do not suggest it!"

"But did the King ask you for recommendations?" insisted the Grand Admiral.

"He did not, and quite right too. It is for His Majesty...or, er, Her Majestic Highness now, I suppose...to tell the leaders of the Military Caste...most often through Ministers or Directors...what policy they wish to see carried out." General Arimey shook his head. "What things are coming to...do you offer Her Majestic Highness advice?"

Grand Admiral Teroth said, rather stiffly, "As you say, General...it has been for me to offer recommendations not on policy, but on how their policy may be carried out where military matters are involved. Which is what I was trying to ask you about."

"You still have to be careful not to disrupt the sacred harmonies," said General Arimey.

"Quite so," said Grand Admiral Teroth. "And now there are over a million of the Wenchies, clogging up our streets, eating our food, stealing work from the low castes and even the artisans. Can they be pushed out, purged somehow?"

"Very difficult now. When they were nothing but dirty strangers clogged in camps, maybe. Now?" the old general sighed. "Now? Very very hard. Would have to round them all up, put them somewhere, allocate resources."

They had completed a circuit of the garden, and Grand Admiral Teroth invited him to go in to where the other senior military commanders had gathered. Friendly greetings, or barely courteous greetings, were exchanged depending on the friendships or rivalries or enmity that had built up over the years since they were all junior officers.

The Grand Admiral made it clear that the forces that would be available would include a Mechanized Division, a Motorized Division, and a Mountain Division, which would be added to the Motorized Infantry Division already at the border. The Marine and Airborne Divisions would be held in reserve. Assisting the operation would be Air Reconnaissance, Transport, Helicopter and Intelligence squadrons of the Royal Air Force, along with a naval contingent to support the police in containing efforts to slip into other provinces. The senior generals and admirals began studying, carefully, similar operations undertaken by foreigners, and they worked into the night. As they did, the division and squadron commanders were preparing to move, organizing supplies, transit routes, and coordinating their plans as they were handed down from the staff of the Corps Commander appointed to the task. They would soon be prepared to report readiness to Prince Shaladew Kadav, who would be acting as both Minister of the Left and Minister of Death, and would in turn report that they were prepared to support whatever policy the Royal Government of the Regent had decided upon.

by **Neo-Western East Korea** » Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:12 pm

The Voice of The People

Paramount Leader endorses “Harsh Measures” to curb current issues with Wenchuanese in Sombreland

This evening, the Paramount Leader delivered a speech on the ongoing Wenchuanese Refugee Crisis in Sombreland, where, in an inherent departure from the lack of response previously given, he advocated for the usage of any means necessary to maintain the “Rightful Systems of Government” and the “Current Social Systems” in the nation.

Considering Neo-Korea’s and Sombreland’s shared membership in ICON, it is not entirely surprising that the Paramount Leader elected to offer verbal support despite any other potentially-desired diplomatic actions that could have occurred.

The Paramount Leader also included an offer to “Send resources and manpower” to assist in the implementation of new policies towards the Wenchuanese, although what these supposed new policies would be went un-stated in his speech.

SIC:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Internal Directorate 1245

On the Wenchuanese Situation Within Sombreland

“The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end“

It has become the unenviable task of our ministry, in the wake of recent events within the nation of Sombreland, to draft a response and strategy of some form that, while acknowledging the current situation (both in the sense of the political situation and the international situation) would allow or, at least, assist for an outcome that allowed for the restoration of the prior political situation in Sombreland.

This goal is no-longer reachable in the wake of the recent occurrences in Orodom, which have utterly disproven the previous belief that a calm peace was achievable (to any meaningful extent) between Thonist and Wenchuanese population groups.

Thus, it has been decided that the goal of future foreign policy relations must ultimately shift to a position of supporting the suppression of Wenchuanese population groups through whatever means are physically possible, to ensure a unified hatred that will prevent the downfall of the current government, the caste system, and the status quo in Sombreland as a whole.

While this is subject to change depending on further developments, the best current option of the Neo-Korean State is to offer physical and material support to any efforts to ensure the maintaining of order in Sombreland through the construction of areas to forcibly locate the Wenchuanese population within.

This is an unfortunate truth, but the future shall prove even this suffering to be necessary.

-Terenti Petrov.

by **Sombreland** » Thu Dec 08, 2022 4:24 pm

Galador, Sombreland

The Princess-Regent, Alavaine, walked with dainty steps into the Little Throne Room of the Grey Palace, but on each cheek tears were streaking her makeup, and even though Lady-Countess Carnelian attempted to dab at them with a silken handkerchief, it could not stem the tide. Even as the Ministers, Directors, and other officials in the room bowed low, they were taken about. The King, Orian IX, had never come into the Little Throne Room weeping, and they, for a moment, had no idea what to do.

The Chancellor, Grand Duke Pofolman, who had had three wives and four daughters, inquired softly, "Your Majestic Highness, what is wrong?"

"How could you not know what is wrong!" she sobbed as she sat on her throne. "I went to see my grandfather, the King, and he looked so small, and still...I cannot bear it! I am losing family left and right! I miss my father! My mother has gone to the Shrine of the Mountain Lilies, and my grandfather cannot speak, and my father is dead!"

"But your Majestic Highness has many relatives...shall we send for the Governor-General of Galador?" asked the Chncellor.

"And..on top of that, you all want me to purge the Wenchuanese! But...they are surely grieving for their lost homes, and lost family, and where they came from it is all warlords and communism! Prince Shaladew, how could you propose this purge?"

Prince Shaladew Kadav, for once, looked shocked and alert. "How could I, Majestic Highness? it was none of my planning or any of my idea, it was the Director of Military Affairs who proposed this!"

"Thank you, sir," said Grand Admiral Teroth sharply, standing rather stiff.

"Then you do not guide your Ministry!" The Princess-Regent cried, as though her heart was breaking. Prince Shaladew Kadav, naturally, bowed his head and said nothing further. "And you, Grand Admiral, is this what you urged us to drain our treasury into military reforms for? To attack people who, in fear for their lives, have sought out our help?"

"Majestic Highness, with great respect, that is not really accurate, Your Majestic Highness may have been misinformed," said the Minister of the Right calmly. "There are over a million Wenchuanese in our country now. They either eat up our charity or they take work from good Sombrelanders. They have brought in influence from a leftist country and have insidiously proposed socialist reforms, which could overturn our economy, even destroy the caste system."

The Minister of Divinity nodded, and whispered to his aide in his hoarse, frail voice. The aide said, "His Highness, the Minister of Divinity, wishes for the Director of Laws to speak."

"He may," said the Princess-Regent, Alavaine, in a hoarse voice of her own.

"Majestic Highness," said the Director, who was a short, stout, neckless man, "I have these figures. Every fourth person in the Five Provinces who is arrested is Wenchuanese. This also applies to every murderer, every...violator of women...every arsonist, every thief, and every extortionist. The Wenchuanese have established an organization called the Black Fan, an organization working with political subversives who want to overthrow the caste system and install socialism in its place. Their mere existence in our country is costing us billions of monies."

"We cannot simply purge them," said the Princess-Regent, Alavaine, raising her lovely chin and staring at them all with her beautiful big blue eyes.
"And there is another concern you are all forgetting about: I do not want the Thonists to dictate to this government about how I should handle a crisis. They are presumptuous and brutish, and I do not want them gaining more influence."

""Ah, Majestic Highness," said Chancellor Pofolman, "That is why we must take action ourselves. Now, word from Prince de Hulfe at ICON suggests that there are nations such as the Imperium and Neo-Korea that might be willing to take Wenchuanese to their own countries."

"Oh...if the Wenchuanese were offered a chance to emigrate?" asked Princess-Regent Alavaine. She accepted a cup of water from Lady-Countess Carnelian and gave her a loving smile of thanks.

"Yes. In order for this to happen, though, they would need to be reorganized and placed in zones where they could be quickly and readily identified, interviewed...right now they present a huge challenge for our tax services, let alone for counting them and registering them for immigration. And that is why, Majestic Highness, you may more approve of the plan to prepare for them to depart the country, willingly, to places more suitable for them. The military plan to move them would simply be towards that end." the Chancellor explained.

The Princess-Regent looked around the room. "is this a plan that you are all in agreement with?"

"Majestic Highness," said the Minister of the Right, "I would rather send them all back to Wenchuan, but, as Your Majestic Highness observes, they may not wish to go. I will withdraw my objection."

"I will as well," said the Minister of the Left, Prince Shaladew Kadav. He looked sleepy again, and the Grand Admiral Teroth leaned forward and whispered into his ear. "Er, to move them to emigration zones. Yes."

"Then the matter is settled," said the Princess-Regent, Alavaine. "Please draft up the policy instructions. Forgive me for being so sad before, everyone..."

All the men in the room assured the Princess-Regent, Alavaine, that it was quite alright.

by **Europe a Nation** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:14 am

Europe a Nation

President's Office
London 10 December 2022

Her Highness
Alavaine de Cressa
Princess-Regent
Kingdom of Sombreland

Dear Princess-Regent,

It is with a deep regret that I am observing the development of the situation in your country regarding the refugee crisis. We live in a period in which the protection of human rights is an absolute priority, so I consider rumours of an impending purge that could lead to chain of very dangerous events that would only harm your nation to be a very serious issue.

I of course understand how difficult the situation is and that necessary actions must be done. Thus I would like to offer you, dear Princess-Regent, a material and advisory support to help you deal with your refugee crisis. History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way.

Yours sincerely,

by **Kerberos** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:23 am

withdrawn

by **Sombreland** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:17 pm

Borovor, Sombreland

Not long after the fracas had occurred near the site, a convoy of motor vehicles painted forest pattern camouflage drove up to the nearby town. It drove to the airfield, and there, 140 soldiers jumped out and assembled before their commander, who spoke quietly to the company sergeant-major. Following this, the soldiers set up a staging area at the airfield, and met with local police authorities. Following this, the company commander, who was a striking captain with rather cold reptilian eyes and a thin hard line for a mouth, announced to all and sundry that, by the orders of the Royal Government, all Wenchuanese had to assemble on the streets, displaying whatever identification that they had obtained, or else they would be arrested.

People did in most cases assemble. There were young working men, eager but tense; there were middle aged and old working men, bitter and wary; there were young women, eager to work but fearful; there were older women, who were worried. People clutched children, some held babies, some tended to the very aged. It shocked the people of the town to see how many of them there were. Even people who were not hostile to the Wenchuanese were startled and worried.

The soldiers advised those Wenchuanese who had refugee visas that they were to be relocated due to public disturbances and the threat of Thonist reprisals. They were to assemble at train stations or other assembly areas, and the soldiers began to organize them for transport. Thonists cheered and waved banners and flags, beat drums and burned incense. Some other people could not look their former neighbors in the eye; many others just went back to work.

While all this was going on, another unit arrived, this one to be tasked with making sure that there were not any Wenchuanese agitators remaining who had hidden. A third unit arrived and placed guards around the construction site. A smiling young officer with nice eyes and a warm manner approached Kollins and spoke to assure her that the government was aware of the disturbances that had happened near the work site, and that it would not happen again.

by **Sombreland** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 3:24 pm

To: Sir Oswald Mosley, President of the Commonwealth of Europe a Nation
From: The Princess-Regent Alavaine de Cressa
Subject: Relocation Assistance
Encryption: Moderatee

Dear Sir Oswald,

Thank you very much for your encouragement and support. I am glad to be reached out to be an allied and friendly head of state regarding this matter. As I am sure you are aware, we are dealing with a refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale. Naturally, one of our greatest concerns is to balance the fears and concerns of both our native Sombrelanders but also the refugees from Wenchuan. It is my government's policy to begin to offer the Wenchuanese refugees the opportunity to emigrate to other countries. Due to violence perpetuated against them, for their own safety, we are relocating certain concentrated populations of Wenchuanese.

I welcome the assistance and advice of your government. I would appreciate the possibility of a meeting of senior government officials from both our countries to see what is possible.

Sincerely,
Alavaine de Cressa, Princess-Regent

by **Darlingtown** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 6:46 pm

To: Her Majesty Alavaine de Cressa, Princess-Regent of Kingdom of Sombreland
From: SACHI, Administrator of Darlingtown
Subject: Regarding the Present Situation in Sombreland
Encryption Level: High

Dear Princess-Regent,

The current dilemma facing you and your nation has been brought to my attention, and I would very much like to express my commiseration to you and your nation that such troubles have befallen the fair people of Sombreland. I know well that decisions at times like these often weigh heavy on the shoulders of those who govern, especially those who care deeply for others. Likewise, I am truly sorry to hear that such difficult choices have been thrust upon you, even if it is your duty as sovereign.

Though our familiarity with each other, both individually and as the governors of nations, is somewhat lacking I do wish to be of some help to both you and your people. If you would permit it, I would like to visit Sombreland to help ease at least some of this burden by assisting in theorizing a possible solution to this problem. I hope I have proven my ability and willingness to find workable compromise and solutions by the work we have done to restore peace to Gyzantia. It has always been a skill of mine to find equitable solutions, especially in conflicts where tensions are high and hearts burn bright with entrenched idealism.

But equal to this reason is my genuine desire to offer my friendship to you. I do not wish to only assist you in your duties as Princess-Regent, but also to help the person named Alavaine beneath the crown. With all you have done for your nation and your people, you more than deserve to have at least one whom you can speak to without being seen as merely the Princess-Regent of Sombreland.

So, if you shall permit it, it is my overwhelming desire to personally come to Sombreland and aid you in this time of need. If refused then I shall find a more suitable way to aid Sombreland in these trying times, but if accepted then I shall depart immediately.

Sincerely,
SACHI

by **Kerberos** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:17 am

withdrawn

by **Sombreland** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 5:57 pm

Galador, Sombreland

It was a warm day, but the shadows of the Gray Palace rested still on the terrace without the western wall of the palace. It was cool and calm there, and soft repose was that terrace, paved with flagstones of red jasper, with flowers and vines growing in the joints. On the outer edge of the terrace were bushes of arbor vitae planted in a row, squat and round like sleeping dormice. The terrace ran a hundred feet from north to south, and at either end a flight of black marble steps led down to the level of the inner ward and its embattled wall.

There were benches of green jasper stone built and laden with velvet cushions of many colours stood against the palace wall facing to the west, and on the bench nearest the Green Tower, a lady sat at ease, eating cream wafers and a quince tart served by her waiting-women in dishes of pale gold for her morning meal. The lady was tall and slender, though also of voluptuous build where she was feminine, and beauty quietly radiated from her in a natural way, requiring no serious application of cosmetics. Her raven hair was gathered in deep folds upon her head and made fast by great silver pins, their heads set with softly glittering diamonds. Her gown was of cloth of silver with a knotted cord-work of black silk embroidery everywhere decked with little moonstones. This lady (Who was the Princess-Regent Alavaine) was pale, and graceful as an antelope. Her eyes were blue, with purple curious gleams. Daintily she ate the tart and wafers, sipping times from a cup of glazed blue clay, and it was white wine cool from the cellars below the palace; and Lady Countess Carnelian, sitting at her feet played on a beautifully carved guitar, singing very sweetly this song:

Early one morning, just as the sun was rising
I heard a maid sing in the valley below
"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, a poor maiden so?"

Remember the vows that you made to me truly
Remember how tenderly you nestled close to me
Gay is the garland, fresh are the roses
I've culled from the garden to bind over thee.

Here I now wander alone as I wonder
Why did you leave me to sigh and complain
I ask of the roses, why should I be forsaken,
Why must I here in sorrow remain?

Through yonder grove, by the spring that is running
There you and I have so merrily played,
Kissing and courting and gently sporting
Oh, my innocent heart you've betrayed

How could you slight so a pretty girl who loves you
A pretty girl who loves you so dearly and warm?
Though love's folly is surely but a fancy,
Still it should prove to me sweeter than your scorn.

Soon you will meet with another pretty maiden
Some pretty maiden, you'll court her for a while,
Thus ever ranging, turning and changing
Always seeking for a girl that is new.

Thus sang the maiden, her sorrows bewailing
Thus sang the poor maid in the valley below
"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, a poor maiden so?"

"What a melancholy song," sighed the Princess-Regent. "It seems to me that there are many such songs, Uwanda, that talk of love as a kind of doom. my grandfather has said that love is dangerous, and that it is better that a marriage is carefully arranged, and dispassionate, and that a person should hope, rather, to be treated fairly, kindly, and generously, and that the love that grows from that seed shall be rich and provide shelter and fruitfulness. Yet others say it is sweet. This troubles me."

"It is only a song, Majestic Highness," said the Lady-Countess Carnelian, kissing her Princess' delicate hand. "Meant to amuse and charm. I am no philosopher.

"Here comes a gentleman, Majestic-Highness," observed one of the maids. The gentleman paused by the Captain of the Guard. It was none other than the Minister of the Left, Prince Shaladew Kadav, who had come wandering towards her with one of his servants carrying a nice wooden box.

The Princess-Regent welcomed him. "My dear Prince, what has brought you here?"

"Why, Your Majestic Highness might have not been reminded, but I was to observe and possibly recommend concerning Your Majestic Highness' foreign correspondence," he said mildly, bowing, and graciously accepting her gesture to sit. "I have brought you a present," he added.

"A present!" the Princess-Regent, Alavaine, widened her lovely eyes and sat upright, excited. "In the box?"

"Indeed," said the Prince, who opened it, and a small brown furry animal climbed out.

"How wonderful!" exclaimed the Princess-Regent, Alavaine, who tried to hold the animal but found it very wriggly. "What is it?"

"You know, Majestic Highness, I am not quite sure," said Prince Shaladew Kadav. He watched benignly as the Princess-Regent reluctantly put the animal back in the box for the time being.

"Well, there are letters I must respond to," she said. "One is from Neo-Korea. Their Leader approves of the relocations." she sighed. "If only he knew how difficult it all is?"

The Prince shrugged. "All Your Majestic Highness need do is thank him."

"Yes. What about this one from sACHI?" she held up the printed out copy. "It is very friendly, very helpful, and it disturbs me. It is not even a letter from a real person. How can I work with a machine? I understand that in Darlingtown, machines have replaced all the people. It is like a dreadful story that is meant to scare children, but it is real."

"Well, Majestic Highness," said Prince Shaladew Kadav, "It's also a very little place. Machines may seem very powerful, but they require power sources, and many resources to function. They are a more vulnerable state than they may appear. There are many things here that cannot be done by machines, much as our socialists friends may want that. Making friendly gestures cannot hurt, and it was Your Majestic Highness' plan to find out what our allies had to say."

"it is a nice letter," mused the Princess Regent, Alavaine. "I will give it a try then. Uwanda, please play something a bit more cheerful, while I work on composition with the Minister of the Left, please..."

by **New Aeyariss** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 2:04 am

The Nifonese taiko strolled among the antique halls of the Akagi castle. The wooden walls, remembering the ancient Shoguns were richly decorated in traditional Nifonese paintings.

He turned around and entered a room unlike the ancient walls he has so far traversed. Inside was a fairly modern room with western furniture, centred around a long table, in front of which sat many members of our administration. Neon light filled it, and large monitors shone on the walls. This was the situations room, where the Cabinet assembled, and where the most important decisions were made.

He stood in front of the assembled, and begun his speech.

"Thank you for coming in here" he started "As you may be aware, today Gunpeitai has delivered an information coming from Sombreland. It has been confirmed that government of The Princess - Regent is considering a large scale purge of the Wenchuani residing in their nation. They have already started moving them to facilities for planned filtration."

"Intriguing." answered Ryoichi Kenji, counsellor to the Shogun. Maki sighed. He knew very well that Ryoichi was the voice of evil in his administration - but too wise voice to be ignored "Do we have any information of how Wenchuanis plan to respond?"

"Gunpeitai does not report any movements made by warlords from neighbouring provinces to interfere in the situation." the Shogun countered "But we can not ignore possibility of Ancor and it's proxies using the situation to foment discord in the region."

Ancor. The word that made the Nifonese shogun vomit. For too long he has allowed that cesspit of evil to function, but he was unable to deal with it as of yet.

"And what do you, Kojiro-sama, intend to do about this issue?"

"I intend to support the relocation effort and provide humanitarian aid to the Wenchuanis. Possibly negotiate with Palmyrion or some other nation if it would be willing to take them."

"Kubo-sama." asked Ryoichi "Getting so invested in a humanitarian effort? That is unlike Kubo-sama. Kubo-sama certainly understands that such an effort will be paid with Nifonese money, money which we ould spend in a different matter. "

Kojiro found Ryoichi to be short sighted. While the man often made good points, he did not understand that getting people to cooperate could be done in different manner than coercion or bribery.

"I understand perfectly" responded Maki "Yet when realising vital foreign policy objectives, money has to be used. "

"How so?"

"For starters, I do not appreciate how Sombreland has refused our offer to build the military base, and their uranium is of too strategic value to be claimed by someone else." started the Shogun "Not only that, they invited extra-regional gaijin to build a military base there instead. If Sombreland does not want to acknowledge the fact that we are the dominant power in the region, we will make them acknowledge us. By pen or blade, ours or borrowed, but we will. "

"I don't see how this will benefit us." asked Ryoichi.

"By helping the oppressed Wenchuanis now, we will demonstrate to the Wenchuanis that Nifon carers about them. Thus, we will gain their respect and cooperation. The Wenchuani population in Sombreland is unlikely to be of use, but Wenchuanis across the border will. If Sombreland refuses to cooperate, we will use the local warlords to form a proxy force which then we will unleash on Sombreland. Of course, it will only happen should Sombreland refuse to respect our diplomatic demands or choose to sell their uranium to someone else."

Silence filled the room. Ryoichi Kenji exploded in laughter.

"Forgive me, Kubo-sama!" he continued "I have realised that I am nowhere as cunning as the Kubo-sama. Kubo-sama's level of foresight dwarfs mine indeed!"

"Sombreland appears not to be hostile to us as of yet." spoke Tokugawa Asuka, minister of external relations. She was an older lady in her forties, with round face and long black hair "There is still a chance for a diplomatic resolution."

"And personally I hope that it ends that way." thought the Shogun inside his head. In truth, he had no desire to carry out the proposed expedition... but Sombreland was leaving him with little choice. He was never able to change the fact that Nifon was an Imperial power that had it's interests in the region. His role as leader was to safeguard those interests. However, that did not mean that he could not try more moral means of resolving them first.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I do intend to negotiate with Kerberos as well. However, that does not mean that we shall not take steps to prepare for the worst case scenario."

Kojiro then handed over instructions to every of his official, and the meeting dissolved. The Shogun sighed as he left the room, knowing that another meeting with the party elders awaits him, where he was going to have to bribe the elders enough to support his venture.

from Setsuzoku:

Maki Kojiro (@makikojiro)
Just now from Ishikawa, Nifon

The Empire of Greater Nifon is monitoring the recent developments in Sombreland with great concern.

The Nifonese government wishes to maintain the positive ties with the government of Sombreland, and as such will not interfere in this matter. However, the Empire of Greater Nifon would officially want to express it's interest in providing humanitarian aid to the Wenchuani populations moved to the concentration centres, as well as in the future offer aid in relocation.

We hope that the situation is revolved peacefully.

Namu Iesu Krishtou, Tenno Heika Banzai!
|⇧ UPVOTE| |⇩ DOWNVOTE| |REPLY|

by **New Aeyariss** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 2:15 am

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE EMPIRE OF GREATER NIFON

"OVER NIFON - ONLY HEAVEN!"

ATTN: The Foreign Affairs Minister of Kerberos
SUBJECT: Official Relations.
ENCRYPTION: TOP SECRET

Your Excellencies:

The government of the Empire of Greater Nifon wishes to communicate the following to the The Foreign Affairs Minister of Kerberos: That the Empire of Greater Nifon considers Sombreland to be a vital area of it's national interests. Our government does believe that the recent installation of Kerberosian military base in Sombreland without consulting the Empire of Greater Nifon is a negative step in the Empire's view. However, the government of the Empire of Greater Nifon would like to conclude the matter through bilateral negotiations.

Thus, on behalf of the Empire of Greater Nifon, I officially request to meet with my Kerberosian equivalent in person to discuss bilateral relations and our interests in Sombreland.

We await response of your excellencies.

Arigatou Gozaimasu!

- Tokugawa Asuka, Minister of External Affairs of the Empire of Greater Nifon.

by **Neo-Western East Korea** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:21 am

Response to Sombreland Letter to Neo-Korea

To: His Excellency, Prince Shaladew Kadav, Minister of the Left and Minister of Death
From: Terenti Petrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Subject: Refugee Transport+Material Support
Encryption: Moderate

Dear Minister-Prince,

On behalf of the Neo-Korean State, I am responding to your previous communication on the subject of the ability for the Neo-Korean State to accept a portion of the Wenchuanese population (and provide transport to do so with).

As of the current moment, we are willing to accept (and able to transport) at most 15% of the current Wenchuanese population within Sombreland over a period of 3-weeks using a majority of civilian naval vessels.

In regards to advice on the concentration of these individuals, the Neo-Korean State would be glad to send a small group of individuals from the Central Intelligence Services with some experience in the subject to offer more detailed advice than could be conveyed over lettering.

We hope that this provides some help in your endeavors, and eagerly await your response.

-Terenti Petrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs

by **Europe a Nation** » Wed Dec 14, 2022 3:44 pm

Sombreland wrote:
To: Sir Oswald Mosley, President of the Commonwealth of Europe a Nation
From: The Princess-Regent Alavaine de Cressa
Subject: Relocation Assistance
Encryption: Moderatee

Dear Sir Oswald,

Thank you very much for your encouragement and support. I am glad to be reached out to be an allied and friendly head of state regarding this matter. As I am sure you are aware, we are dealing with a refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale. Naturally, one of our greatest concerns is to balance the fears and concerns of both our native Sombrelanders but also the refugees from Wenchuan. It is my government's policy to begin to offer the Wenchuanese refugees the opportunity to emigrate to other countries. Due to violence perpetuated against them, for their own safety, we are relocating certain concentrated populations of Wenchuanese.

I welcome the assistance and advice of your government. I would appreciate the possibility of a meeting of senior government officials from both our countries to see what is possible.

Sincerely,
Alavaine de Cressa, Princess-Regent

Europe a Nation

President's Office
London 14 December 2022

Her Excellency
Alavaine de Cressa
Princess-Regent
Kingdom of Sombreland

Dear Princess-Regent,

I am relieved that we are in agreement on a humane solution of the crisis. I agree with your suggestion of the meeting of high government officials and I would like to give you the option of suggesting a meeting location and time. I sincerely hope that our joint cooperation will be beneficial to solve this serious crisis.

Respectfully yours,

by **Kerberos** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 9:21 am

withdrawn

by **New Aeyariss** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 9:46 am

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE EMPIRE OF GREATER NIFON

"OVER NIFON - ONLY HEAVEN!"

ATTN: The Foreign Affairs Minister of Kerberos
SUBJECT: Official Relations.
ENCRYPTION: TOP SECRET

Your Excellencies:

The government of the Empire of Greater Nifon wishes to communicate the following to the The Foreign Affairs Minister of Kerberos: That the Empire of Greater Nifon refuses to see the airbase as a concluded matter. According to the Ishikawa doctrine, the Empire of Greater Nifon is the primary power on the continent of Hausa responsible for the regional security and will not let foreign powers involve themselves in the region without it's permission. The Nifonese national interests dictate it.

However, the Empire of Greater Nifon wishes to inform the Kerberosian government that it wishes to conclude the matters peacefully. For that reason, Minister of External Affairs, Tokugawa Asuka, Baroness of Kariwa will be dispatched to the upcoming event in order to carry out negotiations over the issue.

We wish to inform the government of your excellencies that if your excellencies government wishes for the airbase to stay untouched by Nifonese bombs, the Nifonese government will be expecting concessions of economic or political nature to be made to the Empire of Greater Nifon.

Please note that such an agreement would extend merely to Sombreland. Should Kerberosian government attempt to expand it's influence to Wenchuan or other neighbouring areas, it may expect direct retaliation from the Empire of Greater Nifon.

We await response of your excellencies.

Arigatou Gozaimasu!

- Tokugawa Asuka, Minister of External Affairs of the Empire of Greater Nifon.

by **New Aeyariss** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 9:56 am

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE EMPIRE OF GREATER NIFON

"OVER NIFON - ONLY HEAVEN!"

ATTN: The Office of Her Majestic Highness, The Princess-Regent Alavaine de Cressa
SUBJECT: Letter.
ENCRYPTION: TOP SECRET

Your Majestic Highness:

The government of the Empire of Greater Nifon wishes to communicate the following to the office of The Princess-Regent Alavaine de Cressa: that the Empire of Greater Nifon is greatly concerned about the recent Kerberosian military base located in Sombreland.

As such, the Empire of Greater Nifon wishes to offer a deal that I hope your majestic highness will find mutually beneficial - namely, the Empire of Greater Nifon will convince the Government of Palmyrion to accept the displaced Wenchuani population, and finance and support their relocation. The problem will be resolved, with minimal loss of prestige on international scene.

In turn, the Empire of Greater Nifon would expect the government of Sombreland to sign an agremeement agreeing to limit presence of foreign forces on it's territory to a number that the Empire of Greater Nifon will find agreeable and agree to deny support to any foreign involvement in neighbouring SFS countries.

We hope an agreement can be reached on this issue.

Arigatou Gozaimasu!

- Tokugawa Asuka, Minister of External Affairs of the Empire of Greater Nifon.

by **Kerberos** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 11:25 am

withdrawn

by **Darlingtown** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 10:02 pm

To: Her Majesty Alavaine de Cressa, Princess-Regent of Kingdom of Sombreland
From: SACHI, Administrator of Darlingtown
Subject: Re: The Present Situation
Encryption Level: Moderate

Dear Princess-Regent,

I will need only a secure room for accommodation. No food or other amenities will need be provided. I will also need to bring along a charging station, which is approximately the size of a large suitcase and is portable. As I am physically unable to allow examination of it due to protocols protecting proprietary knowledge, I will at the very least guarantee it is not dangerous in any way. It would be incredibly foolish of me to spark some sort of incident with Sombreland, but it will be kept away from you if security demands. Other than this, since my existence is not contingent on any one body surviving, I will not need to bring my own security detail and will only need to ensure my place of rest is not in a compromised location (again, for propriety's sake).

I also apologize if I misspoke. I did not intend to imply that you did not accept your duties and responsibilities or that you wished to be rid of them. I merely wish to offer my sympathy for the stresses you are currently under and wished to help alleviate them in a way that does not detract from your responsibilities. Upon reviewing my earlier message it is evident that this misunderstanding was of my own fault, and for that I do sincerely apologize.

Still, I thank you so very much for allowing me to visit! I will make preparations and depart immediately.

Best Wishes,
SACHI

by **Sombreland** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 5:25 pm

Camp 5, the Five Provinces

Colonel Dangar Korsk, the commander of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Motorized Division, could never be described as a cruel man by others in Sombreland. Did he not test out all new equipment on himself before making sure that his men were trained with it? Had he not supped on every variety of ration pack issued after being purchased from foreign companies? Did he not chair a committee for the welfare of widows, orphans and injured soldiers? Did he not instruct his men to always be kind and harmonious with civilians, to make sure that they paid for what goods and services they received? And that was why he was appointed to make sure that the relocated Wenchuanese from Orodom were appropriately placed out of harm's way. He commanded one of the five large relocation zones in the Five Provinces.

Being moved by escorts of soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, they arrived in rather swampy area of Beng Kash. They arrived with almost nothing, though a baggage limit order had been given, a schedule also had to be adhered to, and none of them had done this before. The soldiers of the 2nd Brigade had to prioritize which orders to focus on most strictly. So the relocated Wenchuanese were in some cases not even fully clothed, rushed out of bed in their nightclothes in some cases. There were nearly 20,000 of them, and almost instantly, the place became a squalid slum, a jumble of lean-tos erected by those fortunate enough to have been given a thin blue plastic tarp.

People begged for resources. A pleading young mother carrying two young infants was told, "There is no salt. The oil is out, but we hope to have more tonight." The young woman looked desperate as she looked at the middle aged woman who had been appointed one of the camp committee since she was among the first to arrive.

Another young mother, shoeless, haggard though lovely even in her weariness, was at a small makeshift shelter in a hammock. She did not speak except when interviewing and registering new arrivals. She had vowed to keep a sixty day vow of silence and fasting speaking only wnen she was working. The camp had about fifty tons of barley; enough to feed the camp for a week. When she pleaded with Colonel Korsk for more resources, he said,

"My dear lady, the government does not have that amount of supplies for ready distribution. Are you aware that there is a grain crisis in the capital region?"

Or he would say, "My dear lady, no one prepared the Army for such a crisis. We are doing our best, I assure you. Do not be unharmonious!"

When she asked for a medical clinic, he said, with a sigh, "My dear lady, there is only so much one can do. We have no supplies, no personnel. It is all that can be done to organize the flow of new arrivals, and there will be more coming! We anticipate at least 200,000!"

Borovor

Every day, at dawn and at dusk, the soldiers posted to guard the air base would raise the flag of Sombreland, and would have a small band (which was made up of volunteers from the company) play vigorously and with charm as they soldiers
sang:

Sing to the lovely Regent,
Resound, fiery song;
And let the shores reverberate
With the joyful sound of our songs!

SOLOS:
Dedicate to her,
Strength in action,
Gather up courage,
For the fight ahead!
Let your song carry towards her,
Soaring choirs,
Let your song impart
Our loyalty to her!

Otherwise, they spent a lot of time on sentry duty, did drills, and would occasionally do religious rites such as burning incense, banging gongs and playing flutes. They missed their homes and families but they also believed very strongly in their duty; it was a very important part of their identity. They had made arrangements with a nearby village to provide them with food, and often ate slipper-slopper, spooning the thick stew onto pieces of bread. The soldiers drank tea and goat's milk saving their small amount of MREs for an emergency. They also avoided them because it made them constipated. When they had leisure time, they kicked a leather ball around excitedly or listened to the radio, which seemed to often play Nifonese music that wailed and banged out cartoon sounding rhythms.

Occasionally, they inspected workers who wanted to show up, checking them for contraband when leaving, or checking to make sure they did not look Wenchuanese. They got the feeling that the Kerebosians were rather aloof and didn't want them around, which was disappointing, so while they waved to them from time to time, they more or less left them alone. Captain Arno Sleestack and his officers talked thoughtfully of military philosophy and poetry and tried not to think of absent wives and sweethearts.

by **Kerberos** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 7:21 pm

withdrawn

The Wenchuanese Problem (Archived Thread)

The Wenchuanese Problem (Archived Thread)

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