The Final Journey [Camerania Only, PMT]

[The Ziron Empire]

Rules
- Be respectful to other participants.
- No God Modding.
- Do not ignore statements posted by other participants.
- Be realistic and follow the story.
- Follow NationStates Forum Rules and Site Rules.

"Talking must be in quotation marks."
Out of game text must be in a different colour.

Secret actions and upgrades must be in spoilers.

Participate regularly!

Tools and Resources
Map can be found here.

For those interested in joining this forum who are not stationed in Camerania, telegram me. Forum debates, discussion, and other elements can be found on the Cameranian Discord Server.

[The Norwegian Lands]

- Johan Nilsson, TNL NEWS anchor: “A pivotal night in Norwegian Landish politics comes to a close. Good evening, I’m Johan Nilsson.”

- Ingrid Fjelstad, host of The World Tonight on TNL NEWS: “And I’m Ingrid Fjelstad. Interim President Jakub Halvorsen has not sought re-election, and the first step of a multi-stage process to replace him has begun. By the end of the night, we should know who will be the next president of the Norwegian Lands, and if a runoff election will be necessary.”

- Nilsson: “We should also know which party will pick up the most seats in the People’s Council, and consequently, who will be the next Prime Minister.”

As the results came in, one was not a surprise. The Green Party, under the leadership of 31-year-old Adam Möller, won the most seats in the People’s Council. While they finished just short of a majority, Möller immediately announced his party would form a coalition with the smaller, Sámi-led Party of the North. Later in the night, the results of the presidential election came in. No candidate won a majority. Instead, a runoff election would be held between leftist candidate Marie Ellison, who gained attention as the leader of a large-scale student protest five years prior, and far-right candidate Tobin Hall, a Lucitania-friendly candidate who seemingly took advantage of vote-splitting between moderate and right-leaning candidates. The result troubled Pres. Halvorsen, who immediately phoned up his intelligence chief.

- Pres. Halvorsen: “What did your investigation find?”

- Kurt Grimstad, Director of National Intelligence: “No doubt the Lucitanians meddled. They wanted him to be president, but have to settle for him making the runoff, it appears. What exactly they did requires further investigation.”

- Pres. Halvorsen: “If we gotta investigate further, investigate further. Our democracy is at stake.”

- Dir. Grimstad: “Yes, Mr. President.”

Halvorsen hangs up and turns to his advisors.

- “You think we should break the rules?”

Senior Advisor Ian Douglas, Counselor Jack King and Advisor Hailey Ulsrud reply in the affirmative. Ignoring tradition which states outgoing presidents remain neutral in a campaign, Pres. Halvorsen begins to campaign for Ellison…

… and against the Lucitanians.

[Russia-Scotland]

“With the referendum over, and a 71% majority victory in the polls, the Free State of Russia-Scotland has voted to succeed from the Technocratic Federation of the Ziron Empire!”

Cheers erupt in the streets. A state flag, it’s golden and black bars with cream of white, have now become national. Banners are raised, and citizenry parade through the streets of Galactus, the newly proclaimed capital city of the Russia-Scotlandian people. National identity has triumphed over subordination. Throughout the halls of government, Bureaucrats and Statesman pass the bill formally in the House of Lords, tearing the red tape. Within hours after passing, Russia-Scotland is free at last. Prime Minister Harold Gilgamesh, the last name a ceremonial title from the Step Tribes of ancient times, makes a grand speech to his nation calling for equality, democracy, and the right of all people to forge their own destiny under business and free market.

Newly independent, the Free State of Russia-Scotland is now entering negotiations with the world, sending ambassadors to the Norwegian Lands, Coalminer, Brikania, and the Empire of the Wind. Russia-Scotland seeks to establish its new capitalist system on the global economy with trade, and wishes to establish relations with similar democratic nations. Russia-Scotland asks the world for recognition as a new free state.

[The Ziron Empire]

It was a bitterly cold morning in the heart of the Ziron Empire. A raging blizzard pounded the streets of Arkadia. Gale force winds whipped snow and sleet through the labyrinthine stone streets. Citizens braved the cold. Wrapped up in warm parkas, many of them boarded the citywide monorails and autonomous busses that patrolled the capital, off to their assigned jobs that this weeks schedule had demanded of them. Smartphones buzzed and blinked as weekly social credit scores jumped and fell. Drones delivered designated packages, their treads cutting through the ice as they bounded down the side streets of residential neighbourhoods. Families bought their meals, huddled around warm fireplaces, and prepared for the deep freeze that lay ahead of them.

The Imperial Palace was ablaze with activity. The marble rooms awash with shouting voices, rampant shuffling footsteps, and the smell of boardroom sweat. Men and women in suits traded USBs, folders changed hands, and aides bolted to and from the hundreds of rooms that lay scatted among the Palace complex. Television screens broadcasted live as the Russia-Scotland Referendum was signed into being, and the county succeeded from the Empire.
In a silent and still room in the north wing of the place spires, several men and women dressed in sharp suits and cutting attire glared at the screen with icy contempt.

“So that’s that.” spoke General Oscar Volski, a five star General of the Imperial Zironian Army. He furrowed his brow and sipped from the brandy filled glass in his hand. “All the crowns we pour into that region just gone.”

“Not to mention the resources.” interjected Dr. Maximus Patrick, the chief Engineer of the Ministry of Perception. “That sandblasted sinkhole just left with nearly half a trillion dollars of oil and natural gas, not to mention a good chunk of our atomic arsenal.”

“Damn separatists.” growled Volski, clenching his teeth.

Emperor Hannibal Koslov stood at the rear of the room, arms folded behind his back.
“And our options?” he spoke quietly.

“Invasion.” joked Madam Lovskia, previously the woman in charge of the region, having only recently been ousted by Prime Minister Gilgamesh. “But really, we can’t just let them leave. It will signal to the rest of the world that Zironian Imperialism count counteract Democratic Idealism. Something has to be done.”

Faces turned towards Emperor Koslov as the TV was abruptly turned off. He looked up, speaking slowly and diligently.
“Invasion makes us look like we aren’t in control of the situation. Put out a press release. We don’t recognize this breakaway nation. I want the Mediterranean blocked off. Nobody moves goods with these traitors. Our Empire won’t be intimidated by anyone, especially an infantile nation like this.”

The Ziron Empire has refused to acknowledge Russia-Scotland as a separate nation, instead referring to the government as an insurrectionist regime. Several carrier groups have left for the Mediterranean, moving to blockade Russia-Scotland by sea. Heavy sanctions have been placed on the country in an attempt to drive her to ruin.

[The Norwegian Lands]

- Dir. Grimstad: “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

- Pres. Halvorsen: “Sometimes, it’s in the national interest for the nation’s top secrets to remain as such. Other times, it’s in the national interest for them to cease to be such.”

A large pile of documents sits on Halvorsen’s desk. Documents detailing a plot to interfere in TNL’s election. Documents laying out certain Norwegian Landers’ culpability. Documents for senior intelligence officials’ eyes only. Documents that would become available for the world to see with one stroke of Halvorsen’s pen.

Among the documents declassified include intelligence memos detailing a Lucitanian plot to meddle in TNL’s election and the roles of high-profile individuals from the Lucitanian intelligence services as well as Tobin Hall’s presidential campaign. The application for a FISA warrant against the Hall campaign and two renewal applications were also released. Some documents contained more redactions than others, and some were nearly impossible to read, but all painted a damning picture of the Lucitanian bid to install Tobin Hall as president and Hall and his campaign’s complicity. Hall has condemned the declassification, noting that not three days earlier had Halvorsen endorsed his opponent in the runoff, calling it “just another rogue deep-state attempt to subvert the voices of the Norwegian Landish people.”

Elsewhere, TNL has recognized the independence of the Russia-Scottish state. In a statement, Halvorsen “welcomes the transition of power in Russia-Scotland and hopes this nation may move further away from the shadow of dictatorship and into the light of democracy in the days, weeks, months and years to come.”

[Denathor]

After the deescalation of tensions in the region, Royal Steward Robert III died of heart failure at the end of a peaceful reign, relative to the usual Royal Steward. His recently appointed successor, Michael V, has been an object if by curiosity since he took office.

Since the infamous attempt by Royal Steward Michael IV to take sole power of the nation and force unpopular reforms through the government before being forced to resign in the face of a potential rebellion in 1765, no Steward had taken that name. In fact, two men that had the birth name Michael had chanced their names upon becoming Royal Steward, Jonathan II and Marcus I, respectively.

The end result of this is not much to the government or the average Denathoran. But some hardcore nationalists still distrust any leader that takes the name Michael.

Michael scans documents in his office one more time before making his decision. It was the only one that seemed logical.

Denathor has announced that due to reasonable suspicions of foreign interference in recent and ongoing elections, they do not recognize the independence of Russia-Scotland, nor will they recognize Tobin Hall as President of the Norwegian Lands if he wins.

[New Lucitania]

The Kaiser adjusted his Pickelhaube and fluffed his golden shoulder cuffs. Today was a very special day. The Lucitanian Army was to make its grand parade through the streets of Kaas City, but with the uniforms of old. It was Remembrance Day, a reminder of the ancient and tribal wars that had been wrought upon Camerania. A reminder of the old, and the coming of the new. The Kaiser faced out from his towering balcony windows, just in time to catch two Lucitanian triplanes buzz over the top of his home. He could see his citizens down there. They laughed and played, pointed and smiled. The Remembrance Day re-enactments always brought great joy to people, and to the Kaiser himself. Though he would never admit it.

A knock on his front door broke the silence.

“You may enter.” huffed the Kaiser, finishing up the many laces of his great black jackboots.

A disheveled brown haired man entered the room.
“Greetings mein Kaiser.” he bowed shakily.

“And what is the meaning of this interruption?” spoke the Kaiser, his back straightened and fists clenched.

“The Norwegians have released documents regarding our alleged involvement in their elections. Public relations are sinking fast.” stuttered the timid man, dropping a small stack of disorganized papers on the Kaiser’s kitchen table.

The Kaiser flipped through them, cautiously reading each over.
“Deny it. This is clearly the fault of the Norwegian electoral system, not our Kaiserreich. Have our Digital Operations branch get in contact with the Ministry of Public Relations. Hell, force the public data out of CommonChat of you have to. I want their media flooded with disinformation and pro-Lucitanian promises. Tobin Hall must win this election.”

The man collected his papers and went for the door, stopping abruptly before he reached it.
“And what on the Russia-Scotland situation?”

“Simple.” huffed the Kaiser. “We don’t publicly recognize them. But we will be sending military aid. Organize a black market arms trade, and have the Military send advisory staff. If we can undermine Zironian control on the Middle East, we do it.”

The man nodded and left hurriedly.

[The Norwegian Lands]

Pres. Halvorsen is meeting with outgoing Acting Prime Minister Viktor Knudsen.

- Knudsen: “Well, this is the end. I tried as hard as I could to finish what you started, but clearly that wasn’t enough, as it’ll be back to the opposition benches at the start of the new year.”

Halvorsen served as Prime Minister before assuming the presidency when both Pres. Michel Ulsrud and Vice Pres. Hal Ivars were killed in a kinetic strike on the Gray House.

- Halvorsen: “Hopefully not for long. Party of the North or not, Möller and the Greens will almost certainly prove themselves to be out of touch with the average Norwegian Lander, and we should be able to win the next legislative election.”

- Knudsen: “I know I’ll face a leadership review in a few months time, but my guess is the Coalition Party leadership election will be rigged in your favor anyway, and you’d put them in a much stronger position than I would.”

- Halvorsen: “Speaking of rigged elections, what are your thoughts on the situation with the presidential race?”

- Knudsen: “I worry for the future of our country if the Lucitanians finish what they started. Any idea what happened?”

- Halvorsen: “I just declassified another stash of intel memos. While voting is by paper ballot, the results from each polling station are submitted to the returning office electronically. Their belief is that votes were taken away from Alexis Hall and given to Tobin. The two Halls are not related biologically, and are polar opposites politically.”

Both campaigns have responded to the news. The Ellison camp is using quotes from the intel memos in new advertising material and warning voters that a vote for her is a vote for the future of the country, while Hall’s campaign has praised the Lucitanian denial and states that the Denathorans’ stated refusal to recognize a Hall victory is “concrete proof that [the Denathorans] are planning to interfere in the election on Marie Ellison’s behalf.”

[Empire Of The Wind]

Waves crashed against the shore, their salty spray cascading up between broken rock and raining down upon white crystal sands. President Francisco Martín and King Paúl Sáenz picked away at their meals. Waiters appeared and disappeared amongst the kitchen, bringing with them the finest of Windian seafood, and disappearing with empty plates.

The King laughed, his voice jumping as he did so.
“And my biscuits were under the newspaper the whole time!” he howled.

Francisco wiped a tear from his eye, his chucking still echoing from the seaside balcony.
“Oh dear, oh dear.” he choked in delight. “That’s awfully embarrassing.”

The King raised his fork and pointed it at Francisco, a shrimp dangled precariously at the end of its prongs.
“But you did not ask me here on story time, no?”

“Afraid not.” answered Francisco, wiping his mouth. “The situation in Europe has grown rather tense, and I need your endorsement on a diplomatic matter.

The King frowned and threw his arms upwards.
“No! I won’t do it. You’re going to get us in a lot of trouble Francisco!”

“This could be a turning point. Democracy is breaking away from that technocratic dystopia. The Norwegians have already recognized them. It’s time we do the same.”

“Bah! Democracy. What good has that ever done anyone?” remarked the King sarcastically.
“Yes yes. I will endorse your decision. Your dear Papa is rolling in his grave with all this talk about voting rights.”

Francisco smiled and raised his glass.
“By the people.”

The King tapped his glass, letting out a ringing chime.
“And for them too!” he laughed.

The Empire of the Wind has become the second nation to recognize Russia-Scotland as an independent nation. President Francisco of the Empire of the Wind has also offered an formal alliance request to the Norwegian Lands, declaring the two nations as the twin beacons of western democracy.

[Russia-Scotland]

The Russia-Scotland banner flew defiantly over the House of Lords. Citizens moved through the streets en mass, chants of “Freedom for RS!” and “Long live the Free State!” boomed through the night air. Zironian flags took to the skies, strapped to bottle rockets or burned by the seething crowds. National mints churned out copy after copy of the new Russian-Scotland dollar while financial complexes finalized the last minute changes towards a free market capitalist economy. Independence was in full swing.

Prime Minister Harold Gilgamesh stood in his office. It’s towering bay windows faced the glittering waters of the Black Sea.
“Thank you. You have a good night.” said Gilgamesh as he hung up an old rotary phone.

“Who was that?” questioned a woman in a dark grey suit.

Gilgamesh smiled.
“King Sáenz of the Empire of the Wind. Never thought I’d get a call from a King.”

The woman stood from her chair near a great bookcase.
“A friend?”

“I think so.” answered Gilgamesh. “Between them and the Norwegians, that makes two.”

The woman raised an eyebrow.
“And the Empire?”

“Largely silent.” laughed Gilgamesh. “If you continue a blockade silent.”

“And what’s our plan of action?” she frowned. “We only have enough food to feed us for so long.”

Gilgamesh paced about the room, looking at a small spec of gum that had become stuck to his loafers.
“We ask for help. We can’t risk attacking Zironian shipping outright. It could trigger an invasion. Right now it’s sign language with destroyers.”

The woman looked down.
“Let’s hope somebody answers.”

Russia-Scotland has pleaded to the outside world for an end to the Zironian blockade. Russia-Scotland has begun military preparation in the event of a Zironian invasion, but Ambassadors have been sent to the Empire of the Wind and the Norwegian Lands in hopes of forming a Democracy oriented alliance between the three nations.

[The Norwegian Lands]

Letters have arrived in the Gray House mail room. Renée Ramírez, the Gray House Clerk of Presidential Correspondence, scans over them before passing them to Halvorsen’s secretary, Danielle Wåhlström, who in turn runs to the Executive Office to pass them to the President.

- Wåhlström: “Mr. President, you’ve got mail. One from the Russia-Scots, one from the Windians.”

Halvorsen takes the letters.

- “Still corresponding by mail. I thought the Zironians’ use of fax was old-fashioned.”

He scans them over, then types up his response and has his senior advisor, Ian Douglas, deliver it to Ramírez to be sent back to Russia-Scotland and Empire of the Wind. TNL has accepted the Russia-Scottish offer for the formation of a Cameranian Democratic Triumvirate, consisting of either himself or Prime Minister Knudsen, Prime Minister Gilgamesh and either King Sáenz or President Martín.

Later that night, the first debate was held between Ellison and Hall. Throughout the domestic policy section of the debate, the two candidates’ differences in policy could not have been any more evident. Then it came time for the foreign policy segment.

- Jim Lindahl, Channel 7 News anchor and debate moderator: “The first question is whether or not you support the independence of Russia-Scotland. Ms. Ellison?”

- Ellison: “I do.”

- Lindahl: “Mr. Hall?”

- Hall: “I don’t.”

Commentators were quick to note that Hall’s response was in line with the official Lucitanian position on the matter.

- Lindahl: “Moving on to our next segment on foreign election interference. Mr. Hall, you have stated that the government of Denathor is seeking to interfere in our election on Ms. Ellison’s behalf. There is no evidence to support this claim, while on the other hand, publicly-available intelligence memos suggest that the government of New Lucitania is seeking to interfere in our election on your behalf. What is your answer to this?”

- Hall: “It’s bogus. The Lucitanians have said they’re not interfering, and they seem like people who can and should be taken at their word. And besides, this so-called ‘information’ was compiled by an intelligence agency under the leadership of a Halvorsen appointee, and Halvorsen has proven to have a bias, having broken past protocol by weighing in on an election and endorsing my opponent. This intelligence mess is just another attempt by the unelected Halvorsen regime and their Denathoran backers to hide the hide the real interference, and that is what Denathor is seeking to do to get Marie Ellison elected president.”

Crowds are stunned by this comment, but Hall refused to back down on it, saying, without proof, that “the evidence reinforces my claim.”

[Denathor]

As Denathor still recognizes Russia-Scotland as part of the Ziron Empire, and Denathor has usually had some form of alliance with the Ziron Empire, Denathor begins dropping aid by plane into Russia-Scotland. The bill to formalize aid was actually defeated in the High Council after clearing the Ring of Governors, but Michael was able to force parts of it through via an executive order.

Denathor also calls the accusations of Tobin Hall "complete nonsense from a crazed lunatic who has little chance of winning his election fairly and is thus attempting to muddy the waters of an otherwise clear democratic process." Denathor further warns Hall against making such statements in the future for the sake of his country's alliance with Denathor.

[The Ziron Empire]

Emperor Hannibal Koslov analyzed the documents carefully. His eyes fell up and down the screen as each sentence was meticulously read and read several times over. The reports never got any better. The Democratic World was on the side of Russia-Scotland, and he was alone. The Empire was at its greatest ever territorial extent, from the Mongolian step in the east, to the Ukrainian mountains of the west. The great Zironian Technate was the most technologically sophisticated civilization in Earth, with a colossal standing army and nearly unrivalled economic might to back it. But not even the Empire could go it alone against the Triumvirate and the Denathorian juggernaut that backed it.

The Emperor looked up towards the vaulted ceiling and spoke with a sharp tone.
“R’ha, summon the Silver Crown Council.”

“As you wish.” grumbled the laconic computerized voice.

A moment later, several shimmering holograms shone into being around the Emperor. A tall pale man with slicked black hair in a grey suit, a heavy set man with broad shoulders and a great moustache, a shorter man with a knotted beard and military medals adorning his cap appeared.

“What is the meaning of this?” barked the heavy set man, his voice booming across the office.

“Relax Briggs.” jostled Hannibal. “The Empire has found itself in a rather unpleasant spot at the moment.”

“And so you consult the past to deal with it.” spoke the tall man, combing back his hair.

The Emperor paced about the room, accompanied by these whispers of the past that followed him. Previous leaders of the Empire, recreated down to the last detail from old video files, biographical writings, and accounts from those they once knew. Adam Vines, Stegnov Petrovich, and Trench Briggs.

“And so the Red Revolution is threatened again.” smiled Vines, putting away his silver comb. “And how can us old folk help now?”

Hannibal explained the situation to them. Of Russia-Scotland and of those who threatened the Empire.

“Troubling indeed.” spoke Stegnov, picking at his beard. “Perhaps the situation lay in Europe. A continent involved in strife cannot aid a state in need.”

Hannibal cocked his head to one side.

“The Lucitanians.” growled Briggs. “We can’t work with them. They’re a threat to all we stand for.”

“And so we won’t.” spoke Hannibal. “If the Norwegian Lands is paralyzed, they won’t come to aid. The Windians will pose no threat...”

“And the Stewards?” questioned Vines.

“Perhaps my brother can help us with that.”

The Ziron Empire has continued its blockade of Russia-Scotland, but has not fired upon Denathoran relief. The Ziron Empire has begun investing in the Tobin Hall campaign in secrecy, with the inclusion of mass advertising on Zironian social media platforms. An invitation to a state dinner has also been sent to Alexander Koslov of the Soviet Union.

[The Norwegian Lands]

- Andreas Kolstad, host of Kolstad Tonight on TNL NEWS: “We have breaking news. TNL NEWS has just received previously classified audio recordings purporting to show a phone call between presidential candidate Tobin Hall and senior Lucitanian government officials. TNL NEWS has not independently verified the tape, but if it is legitimate, it features a lengthy discussion between Mr. Hall and Lucitanians, mostly about foreign policy issues. Have a listen.”

As stock photos of Hall appear side-by-side with various images of Lucitanian government buildings and officials, an excerpt of the call is played. On the call, Hall speaks in Norwegian and the Lucitanians in German, but subtitles on screen paint a picture of a Lucitanian bid to undermine decades, and in some cases centuries, of Norwegian Landish foreign policy, particularly as it relates to countries such as historical allies Denathor and Brikania, historical adversaries Lucitania and the Better USSR, and the Ziron Empire, which has been both an ally and an adversary of TNL in the past. While only excerpts from the call are played on air, a translation of the full transcript is posted on the websites of TNL NEWS and several other Norwegian Landish news outlets.

The Gray House, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ellison campaign quickly released separate statements condemning the phone call. Hall, however, responded in typical fashion, accusing the TNL Network of using deliberately misleading subtitles and stating, “It’s unfortunate that the Denathorans are using the state broadcaster to advance their pro-Ellison agenda,” calling for the TNL Network to be defunded. While it receives the bulk of its funds from the Department of Communications, the TNL Network is operated independently of the government or any politician or political party and Norwegian Landish law bans the news media from exhibiting any bias in their reporting.

[Denathor]

The High Council meets in a chamber in the depths of Iredale Castle

The Royal Steward stands to call the meeting to order. Hushed discussions that were going on before quickly fading.

"First, I am aware of the rhetoric coming from the Norwegian Lands. It is not worth discussing, so I shall not."

A murmur of asset rises in the chamber.

"Next, there has been no change in the situation in Russia-Scotland. Worse, the Zironians seem to be reestablishing ties with the Better USSR. We don’t know what this means for the region, but it’s safe to assume it will end poorly, as everything they touch tends to die. Now, we obviously have plans for a worst case scenario, but as hawkish as many of you are, we will try to hold our fire until the situation gets out of hand.

"Finally, I’ve heard the rumours."

The members of the High Council sat stone-faced at this announcement.

"Yes, my friends, I’ve heard them. I know some of you don’t trust me, and that’s simply too bad. I am the ruler by right. If any of you have a problem with that, you can tell me to my face. Just don’t put a bullet in my head while I sleep. That’s the coward's idea of confrontation."

With one final glare at the Council, the Steward takes his leave.

[Empire Of The Wind]

The sun shone brightly on the polished decks of the WRV Starfish as its hull cut through the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The Windian destroyer and its fleet of twelve frigates and many dozen transport ships had come from across the Atlantic with supplies to relive the nation of Russia-Scotland. Crewmen walked aboard nervously, scanning the horizon as they did. Only two hundred miles to the east sat the Zironian blockade. They didn’t have the firepower to match an Imperial blockade, but they doubted it would come to that. The destroyers would hold position just one hundred and fifty miles from the exclusion zone, but the transports would continue ahead. Russia-Scotland would have its aid.



The King and President of the Empire of the Wind have publicly denounced the Ziron Empire, calling it ‘an Empire of Evil’ for the government’s willingness to starve a sovereign nation into submission. The Empire of the Wind has promised aid, and more conveys are beginning their trek across the Atlantic. The Triumvirate would stand strong.

[New Lucitania]

“They did what?!” boomed the Kaiser, hurling a crystal glass towards his secretary.

The secretary shrieked, ducking her head as the glass crashed into the marble wall, shattering into a million tiny fragments. Deep coloured brandy and iridescent ice chunks dripped slowly down the great collection of ancient books, staining their priceless leather-bound texts.

“The phone calls, mein Kaiser..” whimpered the terrified secretary. “They were released yesterday.”

The Kaiser stomped towards the great southern windows and shook his gloved first towards the dusk sky.
“Who does that bastard Halvorsen think he is! Are we not the soldiers of Lucitania! Those Norwegian barbarians have no regards for Lucitanian honour! I want a telegram sent immediately! They will apologize for these accusations. As far as the world knows, these could have been fabricated. Deny everything. Cover it up. Bury the witnesses. Everything!” huffed the Kaiser as he filled another glass and drank from it hurriedly.

The secretary nodded her head obediently.
“Yes Sir..” she spoke softly, and left the room.

A small trail of blood soaked the white rug of the Kaiser’s office. A small piece of shattered glass protruded from the bottom of his shoe. He leaned down and pulled it out without so much as a wince. He rolled the bloody broken shard in between his fingers, the white velvet gloves staining a deep red as the shard moved over the digits.

This was beyond accusations now.

[i]New Lucitania has denied all involvement in Norwegian politics, calling it a campaign to degrade Lucitanian prestige and honour. New Lucitania has condemned the Norwegian Lands on the world stage. The government has demanded an apology, and rumours circulate that the Lucitanian government may demand the German speaking territory of Norwegian Alsace-Lorraine as compensation, should the accusations continue.

[The Norwegian Lands]

Tobin Hall has quoted a tweet from the Lucitanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denying interference in the election. “There’s your proof! No Lucitanian involvement in the 2019 election! Time for Denathor to follow suit and stop getting involved themselves!” He added another tweet, simply stating, “This is the documents [sic] the Denathorans, Halvorsen, the intelligence services and the state broadcaster don’t want you to see!” accompanied by a link to a Dropbox folder purporting to contain letters exchanged between the Denathorans, the Ellison campaign, the Gray House, the Norwegian Landish Security and Intelligence Service and the TNL Network which documented a widespread Denathoran effort to undermine the election by having Norwegian Landish government-linked people and organizations spread “propaganda” favoring Ellison and opposing Hall.

The legitimacy of the documents is quickly debunked. Fact-checking organizations note that some documents draw heavily on German-language grammatical rules, while others are written in a style consistent with Hall’s tweets. When opened in Word, one letter, purportedly from Halvorsen and sent to Dir. Grimstad and TNL Network News Director Simon Forsberg, had its author displayed as a high-ranking Lucitanian government official. Hall deleted the documents from his Dropbox not long afterwards, while maintaining the Denathorans were actively intervening in the election.

[The Ziron Empire]

14:00, Eastern Mediterranean

The wailing chime of a radar beep echoed throughout the flickering bridge of the IZS Cyrus. A satellite feed showing the advancing Windian transport fleet flashed into being, covering many of the command centre’s glowing screens.

An Officer stood to attention and saluted.
“Captain, we have transports closing! Thirty miles. Moving east at 23 knots.”

A man stood at the rear of the bridge, his arms folded behind him.
“Hold position. We don’t engage until they enter the exclusion zone. Begin with star shells to signal them to stop. If they don’t. Fire a warning shot. After that, we board.”

A thundering boom seemed to tear the skies in half as a white flame jumped from the ship’s great guns. The angelic white fire kept into the sky and erupted into a shower of sparks. A signal to the Windian fleet to halt or face Zironian retaliation.

Down with the Traitors
The grinding of treads on concrete tumbled through the streets of Akmola. The province of Kazakhstan was abuzz with military activity. Jackboots clattered against concrete, fuel was pumped into troops carriers, and the sound of jets tore through the overcast skies.
A force of nearly three million was being assembled for a potential push into the rogue province of Russia-Scotland. The Emperor has declared this a ‘Zironian matter to be dealt with by the Zironian government’ and has issued an ultimatum to Russia-Scotland demanding that the state move back into a state of Zironian influence. The timeline is unspecified.

[The Norwegian Lands]

TNL has announced the sale of a hundred used buses from the Port Oslo Metropolitan Transit Authority to Denathor. The buses are low-floor accessible and had recently been rebuilt and re-fitted with new engines so that they run like new. The buses will cost Denathor the equivalent of £515,000 (≈$1,211,165 CAD).

All proceeds from the sale of the buses will go to funding Russia-Scottish defense efforts.

Elsewhere, the second leadership debate is held.

- Johan Nilsson, TNL NEWS anchor: “The other day, the Lucitanians announced that they might be looking to retake Alsace-Lorraine. This is a historically-German-speaking part of France, though the majority of the current population is Francophone.”

The Francophone population is staunchly pro-TNL.

- “Mr. Hall, if you’re elected President and the Lucitanians attempted to annex this parcel of land, would you allow them to?”

- Hall: “Of course I would!”

The crowd gasps. Hall realized what he had said and quickly added something that he hoped would take away the gravity of what he had said.

- “… but I’d ask for Francophone Switzerland in exchange!”

- Nilsson: “Ms. Ellison?”

- Ellison: “I’m worried that Mr. Hall was sincere about that first part, but not about that second part.”

- Nilsson: “Mr. Hall, your answer?”

- Hall: “Um… you’ll have to take that up with my foreign policy advisors. I don’t have a clear answer right now.”

Polling taken after the debate showed Ellison’s lead over Hall up to over sixty points…

… prompting Hall to turn to the Lucitanians for a solution.

[Russia-Scotland]

President Gilgamesh strolled about the vast and sprawling base, Russia-Scottish soldiers cheering or greeting him with stoic salutes. Trains thundered through the base, stopping with a screeching slowing roll. Russia-Scotland was preparing for war.

“How are we?” spoke the President, facing a formally dressed, wide shouldered gentlemen in a dark green military uniform.

“All good, Mr. President.” spoke General Aayid el-Rauf. “Our northern border is being secured as we speak. Wire, minefields, trenches, the whole shebang. If the Ziron’s are gonna come through, they’re gonna run our gauntlet.”

“And our troops?”

The General looked uncomfortably around. He leaned in a whispered to the President, walking him to a quieter location as they went.

“The Lucitanian advisors on site have been a boon for our war efforts, even if their methods are.... questionable.” whispered the General as he walked.

“I see.” Spoke Gilgamesh. “And what of our allies?”

“The Norwegians have sent much funding across the sea, and the Windian transport fleet is currently making it’s way towards the blockade.”

“And the bombs?”

The General paused abruptly in his step.

“We can’t mentioned the arsenal.” Hushed the General.

“The Zironians know we have them. It was their weapons we left with when we succeeded. We may as well make use of them.”

The General furrowed his brow and glared at the President.

“I will not allow my homeland to become a radioactive ash-field over a war we may be able to win. If Russia-Scotland is to be martyred, it will come at the very end.”

“I see.” hushed the President. “Alright General. Let’s get this underway.”

Russia-Scotland has moved its large home army to the northern border in hopes of forcing back any Zironian army that may cross. Defences are being erected around the country, and local militias are working alongside the main armies.

[Empire Of The Wind]

The sky above screamed as the glittering star shell exploded into a million hot white fragments. Below, the crew of the Windian transports looked up in awe and disbelief.

“Sir! Captain! Are we under attack?” a junior seaman shouted from below deck, his voice cracking as he spoke.

A grizzled elderly man leaned upon the railing above, thick smoke trailing from his cracked ivory pipe.
“No. No, if we were, they would have sank us. That was only a warning. Stop the engines! Drop anchor! We let them board! Let them inspect us. They will only make fools of themselves.”

The mammoth boilers of the great cargo ships let out a ghastly whistle as their power grew faint and the ship slowly came to a halt in the warm sea. Upon the mast’s flagpole, the blue Windian flag flew defiantly above the flag of Russia-Scotland and the Norwegian Lands. The mast of the Democratic Triumvirate stood strong and bold against the vast horizon.

Suddenly, the coming quiet was broken. A great slamming followed a quiet whistle. An arching shot whipped over the heads of the transport crew and slammed into the wooden deck the approaching Zironian destroyer.

The Zironian destroyer, only half a mile from the Windian relief convoy, erupted like a Roman candle. It’s colossal chassis seemed to leap nearly fifteen feet into the air, before crashing into the water and splitting down the middle in a violent and earth shattering explosion. The shockwave boomed outwards, blowing out the windows of every ship within a kilometre. Soon, the burning Zironian wreck sank into the dark depths. The air was soon full of red hot steel and supersonic lead.

Under the belief that their transports were under attack, the Windian escort fleet has sank a Zironian destroyer and a naval battle has broken out on the waters of the eastern Mediterranean. The Windian government has blamed the Zironians for their usage of unconventional star-shell signalling, which they blame as the cause. A declaration of war has not been announced.

[New Lucitania]

Tobin Hall sat on the end of the line, German hold music playing softly through the phone’s cracking speaker. His eyes darted around the room. He’d checked it for bugs. He was sure there were none. His eyes widened in panic. Had he checked the lampshade? Of course he had. That was the first place he’d....

“Guten abend, Herr Hall.” droned the monotone voice as the hold music cracked into conversation.

Hall fumbled with the wire, rolling it between his fingers and paced nervously around his desk.

“Guten abend, Mr.. Herr Macklynntire! Good afternoon! As you can probably guess..”

The voice abruptly cut him off.
“You are losing in the poll, no?”

“No! I mean yes. I mean I’m doing great, but..”

“You just keep up your end of the bargain. We’ll take it from there.” soothed the silver tongued drawl from beyond the speaker.

New Lucitania has taken to flooding Norwegian social media sites with pro-Lucitania and pro-Hall media bots. Comments on political material are flooding in on mass. Lucitanian Political sleeper agents and Lucitanian loyalists within Norwegian communities have also begun to seek electoral positions, sympathetic to Tobin Hall and the Lucitanian government. Rumours circle that New Lucitania is planning to rig the election, but these accusations are clearly false.

[Denathor]

A jingle plays as the news comes on.

"Good afternoon, Fort Optimus. Channel 5 News reporting, here are your top stories.

"Still no official response from the government on accusations made by controversial Norwegian Lands presidential candidate Tobin Hall several weeks ago on alleged proof of election meddling by Denathor. Hall was later forced to admit this proof was doctored, but still maintains Denathor is meddling in the election. The government has only referred reporters to their previous statements denying any wrongdoing.

"The region is on edge after an humanitarian convoy from Empire of the Wind attempting to deliver aid to the Schrödinger’s nation that is Russia-Scotland attacked and sunk a Zironian destroyer that was part of the naval blockade. Windian authorities are blaming the Zironians for their unusual warning shots, causing the Windians to believe the vessels were under attack. No comment from the Ziron Empire so far.

"Finally, Royal Steward Michael V delivered a speech today at the High Council denouncing the Ziron Empire's use of military against Russia-Scotland. He announced that Denathor will now call on an independent delegation to oversee a second referendum on Russia-Scottish independence. In the meantime, Denathor still continues the occasional airdrop of aid into the country.

"That’s all from Fort Optimus, Channel 5 News signing off."

[The Norwegian Lands]

POMTA Director Dale Berglund is showing off some of his organization’s used buses to a group of transportation officials from abroad.

- “Here we have one of our oldest low-floor buses. This particular one was built in 1996. It’s a model built before the passing of the Buy TNL Act, so it was built in the UCSR before being shipped by boat to TNL.”

He climbs aboard the bus and attempts to lower it so that the visiting transportation officials, as well as Pres. Halvorsen and his advisors, can get on more comfortably. The bus doesn’t lower. Berglund looks at the bus number. It’s bus 1508. He looks at his clipboard. “BUS: 1508. ISSUES: KNEELING MECHANISM NON-FUNCTIONAL. BACK DOOR DOESN’T OPEN AT TIMES. ✔️ WHEN RESOLVED:” with the checkbox unchecked.

- “So this one actually hasn’t been fixed yet. I don’t know why they had me use it for the demo. It will be fixed by the time we sell it, however.”

The others board. With Berglund driving, the bus leaves the garage. Berglund demonstrates what the bus is capable of, including a section of highway driving where he’s able to get the bus all the way to 100 km/h.

- “These are a lot faster than some of the buses we’ve recently purchased. While most of our routes don’t involve any highway driving, when they do hit the highway, a lot of the time, we can’t get more than 80 out of them.”

After a while of driving, they return to the garage.

- “We’ve got hundreds, if not thousands, of buses waiting for a new home. All will be rebuilt and many of the oldest will receive new engines. Any other defects, such as this one’s kneeling function and rear door, will also be addressed. We’ve got two different lengths to serve you. These ones, our regular ones, are forty feet long, but we have some smaller thirty-footers, which we mainly use for shuttle, dial-a-ride and feeder service, but sometimes show up on other routes.”

- Halvorsen advisor Jack King: (to fellow Halvorsen advisor Ian Douglas) “Saw a small bus on Route 12 the other day. That couldn’t have been fun.”

Route 12, which connects the seaport with the northern suburbs, passing through Lower Downtown, Denathor Village, Upper Downtown (including stops right in front of the National Legislature and the Gray House), Embassy Row and a major shopping district, is the busiest bus route in Port Oslo.

- Berglund: “Anyway, that’s all for now. I hope you consider placing a bid on some of these vehicles.”

After the tour wraps up, Berglund has a private conversation with Halvorsen.

- Berglund: “I’m guessing all’s gone according to plan?”

Halvorsen nods his head.

- “The Russia-Scots have confirmed receiving the check from that first batch that we sold to the Denathorans.”

- Berglund: “Excellent. So now we sell some more and funnel those funds there as well?”

- Pres. Halvorsen: “Indeed. Set a starting price of, let’s say, £5,000 per bus and hope that the bids start pouring in. We’ve got a lot of buses to sell, which could bring in a lot of dinero, which in turn will help Russia-Scotland fight off the Zironian menace. That first batch netted them over £500k. Depending on how many we sell and for what, we could make them millions.”

- Berglund: “Perfect. Funding resistance movements overseas never felt so good.”

The buses are put up for auction. The starting cost is £5,000 ($11,754.59 CAD) for a 40-foot bus and £3,500 ($8,228.22 CAD) for a 30-foot bus. The official reason for the blowout is that POMTA needs space in the garage for new arrivals and that they’re looking to develop public-transit systems elsewhere in Camerania.