The Sanguine Accord [Closed]

[Azura and Montemayor]

Pentášk Regional Corporate Office
Mehic, Veľká
Azura and Montemayor

The financial district in Mehic was a wide spanning section of the seventh largest city in Azura and Montemayor. Tens of thousands of men and women worked in the many dozens of skyscrapers that lined the miles of streets. It was often one of the busiest sections of the city and the one that received the most attention when it came to infrastructure and city funding. Hundreds of millions of dollar transactions took place within the walls of the numerous corporate offices that resided in that part of the city, making it a prime location for upscale hotels and restaurants marketed towards the high rollers that strolled the streets daily.

Accompanying the native Azuran and Montemayori businessmen and businesswomen were an untold number of foreigners. Lax business regulation and a low corporate tax rate allowed for many foreign businesses to operate throughout the country easily. In Mehic, a majority of the foreign business activity was Azurlav and Shalumite. The proximity of the city to both nation’s borders, as well as its access to the ocean, made it a prime location for Eracuran business and shipping.

The normally bustling streets of the financial district were almost silent today. A thin blanket of snow had formed on the sidewalks throughout the day as snow fell from the sky. It had been snowing since before daybreak, and while the city was used to snow during the winter, it always seemed to never be ready for it. During the morning commute the streets were at a standstill. The thin sheet of snow was enough to wet the streets and cause several minor traffic accidents. Those who traversed the sidewalks were open to slips and falls as the concrete sidewalks faced the same conditions. Many realized quickly that today wouldn’t be a day for driving or taking leisurely walks down the normally pristine streets.

The Pentášk regional corporate office sat amidst a block of skyscrapers in the heart of the financial district. At a moderate twenty floors, the building’s architecture was bland enough to not catch too much positive attention, but also ritzy enough to not look out of place. The two sole entrances to the lobby rarely opened, as few employees seemed to enter or exit the building from the main entrance. The quiet and clean lobby was mostly empty floor space. A few chairs sat arranged around the large two-story foyer and one reception desk was placed between the banks of elevators on the wall opposite the entrance staffed by a single woman. To many it would look unusual, but it was exactly as it should have been.

Pentášk, officially a company that sold printers, copiers, scanners, and all other office related products, was merely a government-owned front company for the Foreign Security Service. The Azuran and Montemayori foreign intelligence agency operated several buildings like it across the nation. Situated in high-traffic areas in the major cities of Azura and Montemayor, it allowed the agency to preform intelligence duties in close proximity to foreign actors and established a permanent presence. The staff of the building was made up entirely of government intelligence agents and the activities that took place in the building were far different from what the public believed. The true nature of the building was a closely held secret amongst government officials who were privy to the information. Today, though, normal protocol would be thrown aside. The strict rules that the government followed would be disregarded. Foreign actors would be brought inside the building, allowed past the lobby, and into the heart of the building where some of the most sensitive operations in the city were orchestrated.

The calm bell that alerted the receptionist of an elevator’s arrival didn’t phase her as she kept her attention on the screens in front of her. She had watched on one as the position of the elevator moved in a straight line down her screen towards the lobby. Each of the four elevators could be monitored, and while it rarely pertained to her job, she often kept the program open.

After the doors had silently slid open, a bald headed, pale skinned man emerged. Dressed in a black two-piece suit with no accessories, he appeared as many in the building did.

“What is the status of our guests, Elena?” he questioned, not bothering to glace her way as he watched the snow fall outside of the building.

“The Ossorians landed at MIA ten minutes ago. From what I’ve heard they had no issues with customs and were permitted to skip security. The Azurlavs crossed the border an hour ago. No incidents. Both parties should be here soon enough.” Elena looked away from her screens for the first time in an hour. “How do you think this will go?”

“I expect it will work out,” the man stated before turning to look at Elena. “We’ve all dealt with this same issue for long enough. The most recent conflict broke the camel’s back is all. All involved are ready to do something about it, I’m sure.”

“Of course, Director. I would have expected as much.”

News of the conflict between Shalum and Ossoria in Arzell had been met with no surprise in the capital when word had been received. The tensions between the two nations had never truly subsided, and the militarized island was a tinder box waiting for a match to be lit. When one had finally been lit, the flames grew quickly. Thankfully the casualties remained small and cooler heads were able to prevail. While it appeared that the conflict would cease and things would go back to how they had been before, the initial conflict called attention back to the ever-present thorn in the side of many on the continent. Acrea had reared its head once more in Eracuran affairs. While this time it may have helped, it was only a reminder that they were an occupying power in Shalum. While a willing client state, Shalum’s inability to properly handle its own problems and remain out of conflict forced Acrea to strengthen its grip on the nation. Acrean influence and military assets on Eracura were not something that was viewed kindly upon in several circles, and it had been decided that something should finally be done to defend against the bold and over-confident threat.

With the beginning of a session of the Organization of Tyran Nations to start soon, the nations of Azura and Montemayor, Azurlavai, and Ossoria had decided to meet prior. The peace negotiations between Ossoria and Shalum would undoubtedly be heated. The first days would likely be fruitless. It was entirely possible that neither side would reach an agreement with the other. This was all the more reason for the three to discuss what their strategies would be in dealing with Shalum and Acrea. With Ossoria under heavy scrutiny and Azurlavai a breeding ground of foreign spies, Azura and Montemayor had been agreed upon as a suitable location for the meeting.

“The diplomats upstairs were getting antsy,” the Director continued. “I had to get out of there. They make me nervous, and that’s saying something.”

“You know how it is, sir.” Elena turned back to her screens. “I still can’t believe that the government decided that here would be an appropriate location for this meeting. Blowing the cover off one of the nation’s closest kept secrets and allowing them to walk right in. Why would anyone think that this was a good idea?”

“I’ve no idea. All we can do is make sure they’re monitored the entire time they are here. Their electronic devices will be confiscated at the door and they’ll be accompanied everywhere. They’ll have the tracking devices in their guest badges as well.” Pausing for a moment, the Director moved to the reception desk and leaned his back against it. “We’ve screened everyone who will be in attendance. They all seem legit. Only one OFN agent from Ossoria.”

“You think Ossoria and Azurlavai can’t build rock-solid identities for their intelligence agents?”

“I think that we can tell when something doesn’t seem right, and that didn’t happen. Does that mean that one of them isn’t working for one of their agencies? No, it doesn’t. But we have to believe it does. Azurlavai is already one of our closest ally. Probably the closest. Ossoria hasn’t been an issue since the Great War, and I’m pretty sure they’re regretting their place in that by now. We can trust them.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Let me know when you get word that they’re almost here. I have to go back up.”

“Will do,” Elena responded. She pushed a few keys on her keyboard and the doors to the elevator that had opened to allow the Director out opened once more. He disappeared inside and a second later the doors slid shut.

[Azurlavai]

(Computer issues force me to post this short. I will work on it as I can.)

Anita Jorens was no stranger to conflict. Though no soldier herself, she had served a decade in the diplomatic corps, three as a hostage negotiator. She'd bee abducted, threatened, shot and nearly raped several times before. Though only thirty four, her face was hard as iron. Azurlavai was not kind to her citizens, and made her women in particular hard and old before their days.

War was coming once again.

Shalum, the eternal rival to the north, had gotten into a scuffle once again. With years of border tension behind the two, there was no love lost, and in fact many of HIGHCOM were actually a bit smug that, this time, Shalum had no one to blame but themselves, and had no excuse for Azurlavai's "hostility". But with Acrea reaching across the ocean again, the sleeping giant from another continent, Supreme Chairman Monika Schefer was forced to reconsider their neighbors. Everyone knew the coming OTN conference would be little more than the Soviets swinging their weight around. But after some calculations and realizations, studying the map of Eracrua pointed one small thing out; half of the north was, in one way or another, aligned with Ossoria. That royal naval power across the sea. Add Azurlavai and her ally Azura/Montemayor and Shalum was surrounded.

There was only one vehicle. A convoy would have drawn attention. The State Guards were too unreliable for something this sensitive, as well. NSB agents, in plain black suits with only hidden machine pistols, would be her protectors.

The SUV traveled the streets of Mehic, her Azurlav license plates not even drawing a glance. Plenty of Azzies from Tritonsburg here, truckers and business men and tourists who had crossed the border for a cheap vacation in a foreign nation. But this SUV pulled up to the gates of the target building, which didn't even hesitate before swinging open for the vehicle. They swung shut again after but a heartbeat.

Pentášk. An innocent office supply provider on the front, but Anita knew the heart beating under the shell. The guard standing out front took one look at the coming vehicle before swiftly averting his eyes, and the driver waited only six seconds before pulling towards the parking structure. That was all the team needed, and the three NSB agents, faces hard and shoulders broad, turned to shield her from any attention...or sniper fire. The door opened to admit them to a single attendant, who stood next to a basket at a security station with two more guards. It didn't take a genius to know what they wanted, and Anita and her guardians submitted their phones (three kPhons and a Gryphon mobile), firearms (secreted away in but a moment), and one agent's hidden boot knife.

That was expected of course. The Azurans and Montemayori expected to take weapons from the Azurlavs just the same as their allies expected to be monitored. The cameras, certainly. Maybe trackers somewhere, Anita wondered as the four took their guest passes. Regardless, they were brought into the office, and though the place had an unnatural stillness in the air they still felt eyes, everywhere.

As they were drawn into the belly of the beast, Anita shivered. Not in cold, not in fear. Anticipation. Like this was a long time coming. But it was something more. Something more like the chance to finally, finally do something about these incidents.

The Nordlandurs would regret their transgressions with this latest violation. If it had to be under the treads of URA tanks the guns of Ossorian ships or the wings of Azuran planes, then so be it.

[Ossoria]

The Ossorian delegation, consisting of the diplomats Lasair O'Naghten, Naoise Hearne, Cassán O'Brien, Aveny MacVeagh, and Treasa O’Riordan, came under the guise of investors. As such, they didn't come with an armed escort or in a convoy of armored vehicles. It was just the five of them, with no aides or security personnel, let alone firearms. They arrived in an unassuming private jet, kept by the Royal Ossorian Air Force for such occasions, boarded an equally unassuming vehicle, which had been provided by the local consulate, and were calmly driven to their destination.

Normally, they would have arrived on a liveried government jet and driven in a motorcade decked out in Ossorian flags, however, the current international climate compelled them to take a less ostentatious mode of arrival. With a new and unwanted border war mounting in Arzell and increasing pressure from other nations and from the Organization of Tyrannic Nations, which was (currently) inconveniently headquartered in Kenlis itself, the High Kingdom did not want to draw attention to this meeting. The fact that it was happening at all could easily make things even more unpleasant in the Royal City, and so the Powers that Were had decided that it would be best to at least try and keep things under wraps. That was, at least until a deal had been signed and the rest of Tyran could be presented with what amounted to a diplomatic fait accompli.

After an unhurried drive through the city, their vehicle arrived in the designated building's attached parking garage. The diplomats walked through security carrying only their briefcases, having left their personal devices in their aircraft's safe, which should have been safe enough even without the military personnel who crewed it.

That done, they took their visitor badges and went into the lobby of the not-corporation to find the person who would lead them to where they were to go, and would make equally sure they didn't go where they weren't wanted.

[Azura and Montemayor]

“Ossorians in ten seconds.”

Elena was still sitting at her desk in the same position she had been the last time the Director had come down to the lobby. Since his last visit, the Azurlav delegation had arrived and been taken up to the conference room that would be being utilized for the talks. Now, the final guests had made their way to the parking garage and into the building.

The Director ran his hands down the front of his suit jacket to smooth it out and turned to face the door that the Ossorians would soon be coming out of. “Have they already gone through the welcoming committee?”

“Yes, all of their electronics have been confiscated and they have their guest badges.”

Elena had just finished speaking when a nondescript door on the left side of the lobby swung open. The first through the door was one of the men assigned to security for the building but following him were five people that the Director had only seen in pictures until this point. The group shuffled through the doors single file, remaining silent the entire time.

“Thank you, Andrej,” the Director nodded at the security officer. The man quickly disappeared back through the door that he and the others had just emerged from. Turning to the assembled group of Ossorians, the Director continued. “I’m glad that you all made it. I assume you had no issues with your travels?” Despite the question, he gave them no time to respond. “If you would follow me this way, the others have already arrived and are waiting.”

He led the group to one of the elevators that were positioned on either side of the lobby. The metal doors slid open silently, allowing the six individuals to step inside. The elevator was large enough to fit everyone comfortably, and once everyone had made their way inside the Director hit a button on the control panel beside the door labeled “16.” Like when they had opened, the doors were silent as they slid shut. There was a slight, barely noticeable jolt as they began their ascent to the sixteenth floor.

The ride was quick and quiet. There was no need for small talk. The Ossorians were not here to speak with the Director, but the assembled diplomats that awaited them in the conference room they would soon be in. He, likewise, was not there to speak to them, but to merely direct them to the right place. I don’t know why I needed to be here, he thought to himself for what felt like the millionth time that day.

The group emerged into an empty hallway. There were two doors visible in the section of the hallway that the elevators emptied into while the hallway could be seen to turn at each end to continue to another part of the building. The only sound was the sound of the footsteps on the spotless white ceramic tile floor as the Director led them to one of the two visible doors. He swung the door open and allowed the Ossorians to step inside, only to close the door once they had without going in himself.

The room was a well-lit, windowless room with white walls and a floor like had been in the hallway. In the center of the room was a conference table with twelve chairs, five on each side and one at each end. Four of the chairs were already taken, leaving the five Ossorians to pick from the remaining eight seats. Once everyone had been seated, a woman who looked to be in her late sixties spoke.

“I’ll spare us all the prepared statement that the Foreign Ministry supplied to me and get straight to it. We all know why we’re here, I’m not going to summarize the events of the last many weeks. I’m sure we all are fully aware of the ongoing situation and what is at stake.” She paused and looked around at those assembled. “With that said, I think introductions are in order. I am Apolena Holub, and these,” she gestured to the other two Azurans at the table,” are my colleagues Dominik Matějka and Agnesa Hrabe. The Foreign Ministry assigned us to be the liaisons between our little group here and the government. Anything discussed here today will be relayed back to those in the know, and if need be I am able to contact the Prime Minister directly. She’s aware of the meeting and is waiting to take any call I place.”

She turned her attention to the Ossorians at the table. “Considering it was the Ossorian government that requested this meeting I think it only fair that they are permitted to lay out their case and detail their situation and viewpoint first.”

[Ossoria]

Lasair O'Naghten, the head of the delegation, stood at the Azuran representative’s invitation. “Certainly, but first allow me to introduce myself and my fellow envoys. I am Lasair O'Naghten, charged as Her Royal Majesty’s plenipotentiary for these negotiations. Dame Naoise Hearne, as I myself do, comes from the Office of Foreign Affairs. Colonel Cassán O'Brien, of the Royal Air Force. Sir Aveny MacVeagh, who is from the Office of Commercial Affairs. Finally, there is Captain of the List Treasa O’Riordan, representing the Royal Navy.

“As you all know, not too long ago, aircraft of the Imperial Shalumite Air Force crossed the maritime border off the northern coast of the main island of Arzell and violated both our sovereign territorial airspace and the Air Defense Identification Zone surrounding the Archduchy. They accused our fighter patrols of having violated Imperial airspace and ordered our aircraft to withdraw. I am led to understand that the radio messages became increasingly heated until the Shalumite pilots made missile lock. At this point, our pilots opened fire, believing that they were about to be fired upon themselves.”

O'Naghten paused a moment before continuing. “Yes, we did fire the first shot, but it was hardly without provocation. And as the next hours and days demonstrated, it was not us who was ready to launch such an attack. The Imperial Army crossed the border after we had driven off their air incursion, using their false claim that it had been us who had violated their territory in the air as a pretext to push into our territory ashore. Within hours, all of our border patrols, who had not been expecting an attack, had been forced to retreat from the border with casualties. This left the Imperial Army in complete physical control over the actual border itself.

“This invasion seems to have not been very well planned, as it stalled when it ran against our border fortifications, which is where it remains today with little change in the relative positions of the forces in contact, although skirmishes have continued and intensified as new troops were deployed and both sides have deployed and used heavy artillery. The Imperial Air Force, however, does not appear to have much stomach for another tangle, as they have thus far declined to exert themselves over our positions as much as they could. However, the Imperial Navy has been seen preparing what we can only presume to be a blockade of the Archduchy, and in response, the Royal Navy has mobilized and recalled the bulk of its forces and is preparing to deploy against the Shalumites.

"As of yet, Acrean forces have not yet moved to intervene in the conflict, but that is by no means certain to continue. As all of our governments are painfully aware, the Acreans tend to take poorly to anyone other than themselves involving themselves in Shalumite affairs, even if it is to defend themselves against the Shalumites. All the while, they will inevitably assert that they are acting only within the bounds of their 'defense treaty' with Aragon, even if it was the Empire itself which was the aggressor nation. Her Royal Majesty believes that it is only by standing together that we can deter further Acrean and Shalumite adventurism in Western Eracura, and throughout our respective areas of interest.

“That about sums up the situation on our side of the crisis, as well as our hopes for this conference, though if any of you have any questions, we are at your disposal.” O'Naghten then sat down, yielding the floor to the other nations’ envoys.

[Azurlavai]

Ossoria was a sometimes rival. Unlike Shalum, the only real conflict between the two more western nations was a sometimes clash over territory and control of the seas. So far as the historians could tell, first blood had been drawn over a misinterpretation, ironically, because both sides though the other was Shalumite, back in ancient times. Since then, any war between the High Kingdom and the various Azurlav regimes had been at worst a side affair. Anita knew her history, as she had to, and heard the bitterness in O’Naghten’s voice as she described the situation. Whatever eternal rivalry existed between the URA and the Empire seemed a mere triviality compared to the bad blood between the Nordlandurs and the Ossorians, much as it pained any Azzie to admit.

Anita held her tongue, however, studying the various royalist representative staff. The Royal Ossorian Navy and Marine Corps were fearsome adversaries, the former one of the strongest fleets in the world and the latter making up for their smaller size with fearsome training (the air force, while still quite potent, was considered on par with the Luftstyrke). The other civilian officials she ignored, focusing on the two in uniform for now. While she’d have to speak to the party as a whole, she knew a lot of the information told and shared here would involve those two, O’Brian and O’Riordan. They would of course take this data back to their parent organizations. Though Anita had carte blanche to negotiate on Azurlavai’s behalf, she was aware that at times more specialized individuals were required in these sorts of situations. But she had done this job before on her own, and knew how to do so now.

As O’Naghten sat, Anita stood, clearing her throat lightly. Behind her stood her bodyguards, watching the exits and other participants keenly. They would not be speaking here at this meet, as they were protectors, not diplomats. If they said anything, then things had gone sorely wrong.

“Anita Jorens, Ministry of Foreign Relations,” she replied in Azuran, nodding to their three representatives first. They were, after all, the host party. “I welcome the chance to return to Azura, though I haven’t been in Montemayor in some time. I much enjoy the cooking, far more flavor than back home.” She smiled slightly, but it was mostly calculated small talk. Mostly. Then she launched into business. “As our eastern allies know, Shalum has been a problem since the very birth of our nation. The Iron Island Incident, just a bare year ago, was a result of these border tensions. I know Chairman Schefer has been asked if we intend to get into the war brewing to the north...to the press, she replied no. Behind the scenes, the Chairman admitted to me in private that ‘we may as well be’. And, as you are all aware, she is correct. Your war was our war when you pulled the trigger. We cannot afford to ignore such a conflict so close to our borders, even if we are not officially in it. But there you are.”

She spread her hands out, using them in flat angles across the tabletop, framing an invisible map as she began listing off points.

“Border tensions with the Empire have been at their highest since the Great War. There are at least a dozen...incidents a year along the border due to ‘training accidents’. They hold territory stolen from us by treaty enforced through atomic fire, send spies into our lands constantly. Criminals from both sides move back and forth across our border, and Maldorian slavers steal Azurlav citizens while the Empire refuses to do anything about it. But I’m certain I tell you no secrets. Our subs and drones were spotted plenty of times by Ossorian sensors.” She paused, finally glancing between the Ossorian delegation and the Azurans. “When word came south that the Arzells were being contested, the Republic military spun up. The State Guard reinforced the borders and began fortifying it. Naturally, the Imperial National Guard did the same. Then Acrean forces were spotted scouting the border. And now, the Chihonese garrison, there for ‘training’ has been snooping around as well. I’m certain you all can see the writing on the wall, just as we did.” Anita’s frown deepened. “Even when we are not directly involved, you see how we are constantly beset? The time has come for action, whether through force or diplomatic pressure...and I am here to ensure it carries through.”

With that, Anita Jorens sat, her intentions announced, hands folded on the table before her and eyes narrowed as she awaited the coming trials.