Prelude to a Cold War in the Western Atlantic (Closed, WA)

by **Aerion** » Fri Dec 13, 2024 3:42 am

Inner Court
Imperial Palace
Imperial City
Grand Empire of Aerion

As darkness settled over Imperial City's nested walls, the Imperial Palace rose from its center like a manufactured mountain, its pyramidal face reflecting the last light of day. Imperial Standards fluttered along its boundaries—silk sentinels announcing that the Pādshah Empress occupied her seat of absolute authority.

Within the Inner Court, occupying the pyramid's upper reaches, lay the sanctum of those who wielded the Empire's true might. Here, ten levels below the Imperial Residence that crowned the summit, navigating corridors of power and privilege, lay the domain of Duke Dr. Revane Kassvar, Chief Imperial Advisor to the Pādshah Empress.

Some whispered he was the power behind the throne, though none dared voice such thoughts within earshot of the ISA or loyal imperial subjects. He was their generation's Cardinal Richelieu, their John Dee—a comparison he neither encouraged nor denied. When domestic issues arose, certain factions found it useful to direct blame his way rather than toward the Pādshah Empress, a practice he seemed content to permit.

The Chief Imperial Advisor's office defied simple categorization—part library, part museum, part command center. Twin stories of knowledge and might rose around intricately woven rugs that cushioned polished marble floors. Wall panels of age-darkened wood bore witnessing figures and forbidden symbols, their carved eyes following visitors toward the elegant balcony that encompassed the room's upper reach. Modern displays shimmered beneath antique tapestries, their digital readouts contrasting with woven maps of conquered lands. Each artifact spoke of calculated acquisition: the twice-blessed Abeshala figurine, whose ownership had cost three lives; the settler's dagger that helped carve out an empire; the crown that belonged in a museum.

Dr. Revane Kassvar had long ago mastered the art of being the most powerful man in any room while appearing to be merely its most learned observer. In his early eighties, he wore his age with the same precise calculation he applied to everything else in his life. His white beard, cut in a perfect square that ended just below his chin, was as meticulously maintained as any military formation. Above his striking blue eyes – an inheritance from his Caucasian ancestors – his notably thick eyebrows remained untamed, almost defiantly so, providing a stark white canopy that enhanced rather than softened his penetrating gaze.
His mixed heritage had gifted him with features that made him difficult to categorize, an advantage he had wielded like a subtle weapon throughout his long career. His skin held the warm undertones of his Eastern Aerionian and Persian ancestry, yet was lighter than most from those regions, while his nose showed the strong bridge common to all three of his ancestral lines. Age had refined rather than diminished his features, etching deep lines of thought across his forehead and around his eyes, while his high cheekbones remained prominent despite the years.

Though his hair had long since turned white, it remained thick, worn slightly longer than was typical for an Imperial Advisor and swept back from his forehead in silver waves. He stood an even six feet tall, and while age had curved his spine slightly, he managed to suggest that he was choosing to bend rather than being bent by time. His hands moved with deliberate grace whether handling ancient texts or signing imperial decrees.

His face was a masterwork of asymmetrical balance – one eyebrow slightly higher than the other, suggesting perpetual scholarly inquiry, while the right corner of his mouth turned up just a fraction more than the left when he smiled, lending even his most diplomatic expressions a hint of private amusement. Those famous blue eyes, startling against his warmer complexion, had lost none of their acuity with age. If anything, the deep creases at their corners only served to focus their intensity, like a magnifying glass directing sunlight.

Even in his ninth decade, he moved with purpose if not with speed, each gesture economical and precise.

In this carefully curated realm of power, Field Marshal Afzal Sardarid's rage seemed almost sacrilegious. The Chief of the Imperial High Command, his judgment clouded by drink and fear, stood trembling before Kassvar's desk.

"Your Grace!" Sardarid's voice rose dangerously. "You could lead us into a war from which we will never recover. We can't fight on multiple fronts! This is madness. I must speak with Her Imperial Majesty at once!"

Kassvar stroked his beard with practiced calm, each movement deliberate. "I suggest you lower your voice with me, Marshal. I have spoken to Her Imperial Majesty. We have determined this is the way forward. We must consider our domestic politics which must inform our foreign policy. You may not see it but we are at risk of a revolution in the Empire. We need something that will unite the people and bring glory to our Empire. We have been nearly isolationists for too long. This new strategic posture with the Western Atlantic will begin with you or without you."

The Field Marshal surged to his feet, his chair scraping marble. "I will speak to the Padshah Empress myself. The general staff will never agree to this. You will lose some of my general officers and field officers."

Kassvar's eyes hardened. "Marshal. Are you threatening a coup? A revolt in the ranks? I will lose no one."

"There will be consequences."

"Oh really? Enlighten me. What consequences will there be for Her Imperial Majesty? Are Her Imperial Majesty's officers and subjects not loyal to her?"

"May I remind you that this is HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. Not your government." Sardarid's final words echoed through the antechamber as he stormed out.

In his wake, Kassvar's fingers danced across his tablet, composing orders that would seal the Field Marshal's fate. One message would reach the Empress's staff, requesting an immediate audience. The machinery of power began to turn.

The Palace of the Generals
Garden District
Imperial City
Grand Empire of Aerion

The Palace of the Generals rose like a ghost of Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace in the Garden District's genteel darkness. As Khorasani's VTOL craft descended toward the helipad, flanked by military police escorts, his young aide-de-camp's concern was palpable.

"Sir. Sir! Are you alright sir?" The aide's words chased his commander across the landing pad.

Sardarid whirled, fear evident in his eyes. "Go get my family. Quickly. There is no time to pack."

Night-clothed figures emerged from the palace doors—his wife and children, confusion painted across their faces. "Afzal, what is this about? What has happened?" his wife pleaded.

"Get onboard. Quickly. We must leave the capital."

But destiny had already arrived. A phalanx of black VTOL craft materialized from the darkness, descending upon the palace grounds like carrion birds. The military police officers paled as orders crackled through their earpieces.

"Sir, um, Sir." They approached with visible reluctance. "You are under arrest. Orders from the Provost Marshal, sir."

Imperial Security Agency agents poured from the black craft, their efficiency speaking of careful preparation. Their commandant, a woman whose satisfaction was barely concealed, delivered the death blow with relish:

"Field Marshal Afzal Sardarid, you are under arrest for TREASON by order of Her Imperial Majesty the Padshah Empress." She paused, savoring the moment. "Furthermore, your family are to vacate this palace immediately and will be placed under protection at a secured location for their own security."

His wife's screams split the night as ISA agents separated the family. "Please, my husband. My children. What are you doing to us?"

When the military police moved to handcuff him, Sardarid's dignity finally shattered. "Unhand me! I am the chief of the Imperial High Command. I outrank all of you! This is an outrage!"

"Stop resisting sir. Sir, stop resisting."

"I am the chief of the Imperial High Command!"

The ISA commandant's smile held no warmth. "Not any more you are not. You are stripped of your command, your rank, and all privileges."

As the VTOL craft lifted into the night sky, carrying Khorasani toward his fate, two female ISA commandants shared their triumph. "They never saw that coming."

A more contemplative male agent gazed into the darkness. "Treason? It seems odd for the chief of the Imperial High Command to be charged with treason after all this time."

"By Order of Her Imperial Majesty I suppose. The bill of attainder has already been signed. He is headed for the firing squad."

"This whole operation is dark. The media will be censored on it. I'm sure this will teach the general officers to obey Her Imperial Majesty."

Below them, the Palace of the Generals receded into the Garden District's manicured calm, while ahead, the cold reality of the Military District awaited its newest prisoner.

by **Aerion** » Fri Dec 13, 2024 4:11 am

Imperial Military Brig
Military District
Imperial City
Grand Empire of Aerion

The Military District materialized from the darkness, its Neoclassical and fascist architecture rising like the rigid spine of empire. Harsh spotlights carved white geometries across concrete walls as the Field Marshal's VTOL craft descended toward the prison plaza, pursued by its ISA shadows. The light rendered the scene in stark chiaroscuro, as if already composing the historical record of what was to come.

They had prepared for his arrival. A military police firing squad stood in immaculate formal uniform, medals gleaming under the artificial day of the spotlights. Before them waited Lord High Justice Dadyar Farrokhzad, his judicial robes drinking in the darkness between the lights, tablet gleaming in his hands like an auxiliary weapon.

Reality struck Field Marshal Afzal Sardarid as he descended the craft's ramp. His knees found the concrete before his mind could process the tableau before him. "Oh God Have Mercy. Have Mercy God." The words tumbled from him, stripped of dignity. "Please. I've served Her Imperial Majesty for years. I am the chief of the Imperial High Command. Have mercy. Where is Her Imperial Majesty. I must speak with her."

The female ISA Commandant stepped forward, her sigh carrying neither sympathy nor satisfaction. "I have my orders." With calculated violence, she stripped the medals from his dress uniform. Each one fell to the ground with the weight of years of service, his jacket tearing under her hands. The military police watched with rigid faces, their discomfort visible only in the slight bob of their throats as they swallowed. They knew better than to question the ISA' which had loyalty officers placed within military units across the Imperial Military.

The Field Marshal's collapse into sobbing struck a discordant note against his former authority. His pleas to God and Empress echoed off indifferent walls, making even hardened military police officers shift uncomfortably. Only the ISA team seemed immune to the spectacle of power brought low.

"You are permitted this," the ISA Commandant announced, producing a syringe. The tranquilizer entered his arm with clinical precision, muting his despair to a quieter register without silencing it completely.

A cameraman adjusted his equipment with professional detachment, preparing to document this lesson in power's consequences. The bright lights transformed a section of concrete wall into an altar of state authority, where the Field Marshal was dragged like an unwilling sacrifice.

Lord High Justice Farrokhzad stepped forward, his voice carrying the weight of law: "Field Marshal Afzal Sardarid, you have been found guilty of high treason against Her Imperial Majesty and the Grand Empire of Aerion. By order of Her Imperial Majesty and in accordance with Imperial Military Law, you are hereby sentenced to death by firing squad. The sentence shall be carried out immediately. May the gods have mercy upon your soul."

The military police positioned him against the wall with as much dignity as his drugged state allowed, then withdrew to safety. Their officer's command cut through the morning air, followed by the percussion of synchronized rifles. The concrete wall collected both blood and history as the camera recorded every detail in merciless clarity.

Thus ended the saga of a great general—not on a battlefield or in a palace, but against a prison wall in the cold light of spotlights, his fall preserved in high definition for whatever purpose the state might require.

by **Aerion** » Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:33 am

(This intelligence report would be what would be available to the Western Atlantic nations with strong intelligence sources in Aerion or shared intelligence with other WA nations)

[CLASSIFIED]
INTELLIGENCE REPORT: SARDARID INCIDENT
SUBJECT: Analysis of Field Marshal Sardarid's Execution
DATE: December 21, 2024
RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT: MEDIUM-LOW

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
================
The sudden execution of Field Marshal Afzal Sardarid, Chief of Imperial High Command, has generated significant speculation about internal power struggles within the Aerionian military and civilian leadership. While details remain unclear, multiple sources suggest a confrontation with Chief Imperial Advisor Duke Dr. Revane Kassvar preceded the execution.

KNOWN FACTS
==========
CONFIRMED EVENTS:
- Field Marshal Sardarid was executed by firing squad in the Military District
- Execution occurred within hours of leaving the Imperial Palace
- ISA forces conducted the arrest
- Military police provided the firing squad
- Lord High Justice Dadyar Farrokhzad presided over summary execution
- Family was detained and relocated

RUMORED SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
=========================
PALACE INCIDENT (UNCONFIRMED):
- Reports suggest Sardarid attended a meeting in the Inner Court
- Alleged disagreement concerned military strategy
- Sardarid reportedly left palace in agitated state

RELIABILITY OF SOURCES:
- Palace Staff: Medium-Low (Third-hand accounts)
- Military Personnel: Medium (Direct observation of aftermath)
- Government Officials: Low (Conflicting accounts)

CIRCULATING RUMORS
=================
WIDESPREAD REPORTS:
1. Military Strategy Dispute
- Possible disagreement over Western Atlantic policy
- Rumored plans for military expansion
- Alleged concerns about new military role

2. Political Tensions
- Suggestions of broader military opposition to civilian plans
- Reports of discontent among general staff
- Rumors of impending military reorganization

3. Personal Conflict
- Claims of long-standing tension between Kassvar and Sardarid
- Suggestions of competing influence with Empress
- Reports of military resistance to civilian oversight

RELIABILITY: LOW (Multiple contradicting versions in circulation)

IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH
==================
OBSERVED REACTIONS:
1. Military Command
- Visible tension among general staff
- Increased ISA presence in military installations
- Rapid appointment of acting commander
- Canceled leave for senior officers

2. Government Response
- Media blackout on execution details
- Minimal official statements
- Controlled narrative of "treason"
- Immediate censorship of related discussions

3. Palace Activity
- Increased security measures
- Limited access to Inner Court
- Canceled public appearances
- Heightened Imperial Security Agency & Imperial Security Service presence

ANALYSIS OF IMPLICATIONS
=======================
DOMESTIC IMPACT:
1. Military Leadership
- Likely purge of Sardarid allies
- Expected realignment of command structure
- Probable increase in civilian oversight
- Enhanced ISA role in military affairs

2. Power Structure
- Strengthened position of Duke Kassvar
- Demonstrated civilian control over military
- Clear message to potential opposition
- Consolidated imperial authority

REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS:
1. Military Posture
- Possible shift in strategic direction
- Potential for more aggressive stance
- Unclear impact on Western Atlantic policy
- Unknown changes to military deployment

2. International Relations
- Uncertainty about military intentions
- Possible shift from isolationist stance
- Unknown impact on regional alliances
- Unclear diplomatic implications

GAPS IN INTELLIGENCE
===================
CRITICAL UNKNOWNS:
1. Exact nature of disagreement
2. Specific military plans under dispute
3. Extent of military opposition
4. True scope of planned changes
5. Empress's direct involvement level

RECOMMENDATIONS
==============
1. INTELLIGENCE GATHERING
- Increase surveillance of military movements
- Monitor new command appointments
- Track military communication patterns
- Assess troop deployment changes

2. DIPLOMATIC ACTIONS
- Maintain heightened alert status
- Prepare for potential policy shifts
- Monitor regional military activity
- Consider diplomatic inquiries

3. SECURITY MEASURES
- Review defense preparations
- Assess vulnerability indicators
- Enhance monitoring capabilities
- Update contingency plans

CONFIDENCE ASSESSMENT
====================
- HIGH: Execution occurred
- MEDIUM: Military leadership tensions
- LOW: Specific cause and triggers
- LOW: Future strategic implications

SOURCE PROTECTION
================
[SECTION REDACTED]

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS
========================
[CLASSIFICATION LEVEL: SECRET]
[DISTRIBUTION LIMITED TO LEVEL 5 CLEARANCE AND ABOVE]
[SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIRED]

END REPORT

by **Excalbia** » Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:08 pm

Office of Aerionian Affairs
6th Floor, Ministry of State
Citadel Excalbia
7:42 am

“Imperial Intelligence believes the video is genuine,” Katya Ratina, one of the Aerionian desk officers said, as he pushed a document with a red cover across the table.

“The reports were bad enough,” Gordon Bertans, the Director of the Office of Aerionian Affairs, said, picking up the document and glancing at it before putting it back on the table. “But the video is…,” he paused, “appalling. Even by Aerionian standards.

“Do we think there’s any truth to the allegations that Field Marshal Sardarid was plotting a coup against the Empress?”

“Nothing that II can come up with,” Ratina said with a shrug.

“Our Embassy says it is unable to get any details or confirm whether or not a coup was underway,” said Tyler Jekobs, another desk officer. “But the Inner Court is so opaque and riddled with rumour and internal strife, it’s impossible to know…”

Bertrans, having served in Aerion multiple times, gave a knowing smile. “That’s certainly true.”

“However,” Jekobs continued, “the rumours are that there was some sort of disagreement over military policy that had… raised concerns among the general staff. Sardarid supposedly had a meeting at the Inner Court before he was arrested. Some have suggested that he might have gotten crosswise with Duke Dr. Revane Kassvar…”

“A powerful man,” Bertrans said. “And not one to be crossed.”

“II reports that there may have been history between Sardarid and Kassavar,” Ratina added.

“Not a surprise,” Bertrans said. He drew in a breath. “Well, I’ll brief what we know at the DG’s 8 o’clock.” He stood. “Thanks,” he said, walking towards the door, notebook in hand.

Office of the Director-General for Southern Affairs
7th Floor, Ministry of State
Citadel Excalbia
8:02 am

Heidi Rozes crossed her legs and turned to look at Gordon Bertrans. The Director-General for Southern Affairs was a former ambassador and held the rank of Career Minister - the second highest rank in the Excalbian Foreign Service. She spoke softly and was dressed in warm tones, yet she projected a certain coolness and her voice held a note of authority.

“Gordon,” she said, “what do you have on this summary execution in Aerion?”

Bertrans shrugged slightly. “Unfortunately, not much,” he said. “We’ve confirmed with Imperial Intelligence that the video they sent over on the high side is legit. The Embassy confirmed that Field Marshal Sardarid was executed on charges of treason and coup plotting. However, it is not clear whether or not there was an actual plot. Rumours point to a policy disagreement with Chief Imperial Advisor Duke Dr. Kassvar…”

Rozes nodded. “That sounds about par for the course with the Aerionians.” She paused. “I swear their internal vendettas and machinations make ‘byzantine’ seem too tepid a description.”

Office of the Foreign Minister
8th Floor, Ministry of State
Citadel Excalbia
9:03 am

“There is leaked video of Field Marshal Sardarid’s execution. Gruesome stuff. No firm evidence of an actual coup plot. Or evidence there wasn’t one. Our best guess, however, based on rumint is that it was an internal dispute between him and Kassvar, the Chief Imperial Advisor,” Rozes said, keeping her eyes on the Minister.

Minister of State Grace Petersen frowned and turned to the Deputy Minister, Dr. Sir Frank Ginkel. “Frank, any direct impacts or repercussions for us?”

“I wouldn’t think so, at this time,” he said, looking to Rozes, who nodded. He noticed Lady Yulia Terekhovs, the Director-General for Consular and Migration Affairs shifting in her seat.

“Yulia?” Ginkel asked.

“We are fielding some concerns from Excalbian citizens in Aerion, as well as businesses and family members here,” Terekhovs said. They’re worried about their security if there’s instability…”

“We don’t anticipate any instability,” Rozes said.

“But it wouldn’t hurt to send out the usual reminder to avoid large crowds, potential demonstration sites, and follow local laws and directives,” Ginkel said.

Petersen nodded. “Yes,” she said. “Yulia, you and your team should work with Heidi and her team on some good language.”

The Emperor’s Drawing Room
The Imperial Palace
Citadel Excalbia
12:43 pm

Emperor Joseph set his glass of wine on the table and wiped the corner of his mouth. He and Chancellor Paul Akoak were enjoying their weekly lunch, though enjoying might have been too strong a word for Akoak’s taste. Personally, he found it a bit stuffy and the food a bit too pretentious. But then, he was a man of simple tastes, unlike the Emperor.

“So,” the Emperor said, “what about this business in Aerion? Was there a coup attempt?”

The Imperial Chancellor finished chewing a piece of pan seared salmon, then wiped his own mouth. “State can’t confirm one. Of course absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence,” he said. “That said, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that this smacks more of an internal power struggle between the Field Marshal and the Chief Imperial Advisor. And the Field Marshal lost.”

The Emperor nodded. “You know,” he said, lifting another morsel of salmon with his fork, “their ruling house is just about the only one in the region without any family ties to the House of Alsgood…”

“Yes, Sir,” Akoak said.

“And thank God,” Joseph said. “I can’t imagine being married into that insanity.”

by **Knootoss** » Sun Dec 22, 2024 8:22 am

Selection from the Minutes from the Cabinet of the Free Republic of Knootoss. Agenda item 6: Aerion Intelligence and Policy Response

PRIME MINISTER DRS. C. VAN JONKERVELDE: Foreign Affairs has prepared an initial assessment of the situation and proposed a preliminary course of action in response to the execution of Field Marshal Sardarid. Hendrik, if you could brief the Cabinet?

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE MR. H.P.F. DE LANGE: Thank you, Charlotte. The situation in Aerion is a textbook case of an autocracy consolidating power under the guise of legality. Field Marshal Sardarid’s execution was swift and opaque, with the official line being treason and coup plotting. However, our intelligence suggests it was more likely a move to eliminate a rival. More worrying for us, this may signal a move away from isolationism and towards a more assertive Western Atlantic policy.

Here’s my recommendation. First, we need to consult our allies to gauge alignment. If we’re going to act, we need to know who’s with us. Second, a formal communiqué to Aerion if a consensus can be reached. It must be sharp enough to convey our seriousness but not so aggressive that it slams the door on dialogue. I suggest framing it as a shared commitment to stability and norms, emphasising how this kind of action could destabilise the region. Third, we should hold the Nivelet designation as a tool for leverage rather than deploying it immediately. By outlining benchmarks for Aerion to demonstrate adherence to international norms, we maintain flexibility. This approach allows us to apply pressure without committing to actions that might escalate tensions unnecessarily. The key here is calculated pragmatism. We want to nudge Aerion, not shove it into the arms of more adversarial powers.

PRIME MINISTER DRS. C. VAN JONKERVELDE: Thank you, Hendrik. I will now open the floor to comments from other ministers. Hugo?

MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS GZ. H. VAN DRUTEN: Let me be blunt, Charlotte, this isn’t just some bad optics. It’s a bloody murder dressed up as a legal proceeding. Hendrik, you talk about measured responses, but every day we dither, Aerion’s leadership gets the message that we’ll huff and puff but not blow the house down. If we don’t act now, when will we? Nivelet sends a clear signal to Aerion’s leaders: play by the rules, or there’ll be a cost. And yes, I get it, their economy’s tied up with ours. But I’ll bet my foxes they’re more dependent on us than we are on them. If we’re smart about how we roll out measures, we can minimise the fallout here at home. Hell, I’ll even help work with the industries affected to keep them afloat. But sitting on our hands now that we have Nivelet as a tool to make us all act together? That just makes us and our allies look weak. Worse, it makes us Knootians look like bloody hypocrites for going after Anahuac.

MINISTER OF DEFENCE DR. P-J VAN MERSBERG: Hugo, I share your concern over Aerion’s actions, but we must tread carefully. Strategically speaking, Aerion’s military capability is formidable. Their navy could choke shipping lanes we depend on, and let’s not forget their cyber capabilities. We’d be fools to provoke them without first ensuring we’re prepared for their response. Moreover, I would caution against assuming economic measures alone will suffice to pressure Aerion. Their regime thrives on defiance, and a premature escalation might push them to double down rather than concede. If we go forward with Nivelet, I strongly recommend that we pair it with a comprehensive assessment of defensive postures, particularly maritime and cyber, to pre-empt any retaliatory strikes.

MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS GZ. H. VAN DRUTEN: Pieter-Jan, I’m not saying we charge in blindfolded. But preparation doesn’t mean dragging our feet. Let’s be real. Aerion’s leadership thrives on people tiptoeing around them. They’ll smell hesitation like blood in the water. If we’re making benchmarks, as Hendrik says, fine, but make them tough, make them public, and make damn sure there’s teeth behind them.

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE MR. H.P.F. DE LANGE: Hugo, I see your point, but there’s a difference between showing strength and setting fire to the powder keg. Acting rashly could fracture our alliances. Aerion’s leadership thrives on exploiting divisions, so let’s not hand them that advantage. We can outline clear benchmarks, legal transparency, adherence to international norms, and give Aerion a chance to respond. That way, we keep the high ground and maintain flexibility. Once we submit a request to designate, there’s no going back. There will be an independent assessment in the Palace of International Justice, or wherever else the lawyers choose to meet next.

MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS GZ. H. VAN DRUTEN: Fine. Make the benchmarks tough. But if Aerion snubs us, and let’s face it, they probably will, then what? We’ve got to make sure our response has real consequences, not just diplomatic hand-wringing.

PRIME MINISTER DRS. C. VAN JONKERVELDE: Thank you, all. I agree that we will gain leverage by ensuring our actions align with broader consensus. Hugo, your concern is well taken. Here is my proposal: first, consult with our allies to gauge support for using the Nivelet framework and align messaging. Second, we issue a formal diplomatic statement that clearly communicates our expectations of Aerion, with strong, actionable benchmarks. Third, Pieter-Jan will prepare contingencies to ensure readiness for any escalation, including maritime and cyber defences. Finally, we schedule a review within an agreed timeline to reassess our stance and next steps. Does anyone object to proceeding on this basis?

MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS GZ. H. VAN DRUTEN: Alright, Charlotte, I’ll go along with this. But if we’re serious about setting a standard, we can’t let Aerion off the hook while throwing the book at Anahuac. Our credibility depends on it.

MINISTER OF DEFENCE DR. P-J VAN MERSBERG: Agreed, Prime Minister. My department will ensure we’re prepared for all scenarios.

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE MR. H.P.F. DE LANGE: Thank you, Prime Minister. I’ll begin outreach to our allies immediately and draft a communiqué.

PRIME MINISTER DRS. C. VAN JONKERVELDE: Let it be recorded that the Cabinet supports this course of action by consensus. This meeting is adjourned.

by **Aerion** » Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:35 am

Imperial City
Grand Empire of Aerion

General Arsalan Shahriar stood before the mirror in his quarters in the Military District of Imperial City, adjusting the high collar of his dress uniform. The morning sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast sharp shadows across the brutalist walls.

General Shahriar carries his fifty-nine years with the kind of authority that comes from decades of command and the physical discipline of his special forces background. At six-foot-two, his frame remains impressively straight, defying age through rigorous daily exercise routines maintained since his days in the Imperial Marines. His bearing alone commands attention – the product of both natural presence and years of cultivating the aura expected of an Aerionian general officer.

His Eastern Aerionian features reflect his Persian heritage: high cheekbones, aquiline nose, and olive complexion that has weathered the years well. Deep-set dark eyes, sharp as a hawk's, retain the focused intensity of his special operations days, though now they more often survey briefing rooms than combat zones. Years of tactical planning and strategic thought have etched fine lines at their corners, lending his gaze additional gravity rather than diminishing its impact.

His hair, more silver than black now, is kept precisely military short, the Eastern Aerionian waves still visible but rigorously controlled. His mustache, a tradition among senior Aerionian officers, is kept meticulously trimmed in a style that suggests authority without ostentation. The combination of his facial features creates an expression of natural command – stern but not harsh, authoritative but not unapproachable.

Despite his age, his movements remain fluid and purposeful, evidence of the special forces operator beneath the general's uniform. His hands, though marked by age, are steady and strong – equally at home signing orders or maintaining the ceremonial sword at his hip. A small scar near his left temple and another visible at his collar when in dress uniform speak to his combat experience, though he's never discussed their origins publicly.

In his dress uniform, he cuts an imposing figure – the gold braid and medals not decorating him so much as complementing an authority that seems to emanate from within. Even in standard uniform, he maintains an exactness of presentation that sets the standard for the Imperial High Command. His posture, even after long hours in command centers or strategic briefings, never falters – a physical manifestation of the iron will that has driven his rise through the ranks.

Years of command have taught him to modulate his presence – he can fill a room with authority when needed or fade into the background during diplomatic functions, a skill learned in special operations that has served him well in high command. But there's always something in his bearing that marks him as a soldier's general, a commander who earned his position through merit rather than just political acumen.

The notification of his elevation to Field Marshal had arrived three days ago on imperial stationery, delivered by a member of the Imperial Herald in full ceremonial dress. Now, as he prepared for the ceremonies that would mark his formal investiture, he reflected on the path that had led him here: graduate of the Imperial Naval Academy, distinguished service in the Corps of Imperial Marines, command of elite special forces units, strategic appointments that had shown both his military acumen and political instincts.

Later through the windows of his office in the Military District's Imperial Military Headquarters, he could see preparations for today's parade already underway. The broad Avenue of Victory, running straight as an arrow through the district's severe neoclassical and brutalist architecture, was being transformed. Troops in dress uniform assembled with mechanical precision, their formations creating living geometric patterns against the pale stone of the parade ground. Above them, ceremonial banners snapped in the morning breeze, their purple and gold colors stark against the modernist severity of the surrounding buildings.

The first ceremony would take place in the Sword Hall of the Imperial Military Headquarters, a vast space where massive concrete columns met a coffered ceiling decorated with ancient military victories. Here, before the assembled general staff, he would receive the Sword of Command – a masterwork of Eastern Aerionian metallurgy, its scabbard decorated with precious stones and Persian calligraphy recording the names of previous Field Marshals.

But it was the second ceremony that made his heart beat faster. A private audience with the Pādshah Empress herself, in the Private Imperial Audience Chamber of the Inner Court. Few military officers ever saw these rooms; fewer still were received there personally by the Empress. The privilege marked not just his new rank but his acceptance into the empire's innermost circles of power.

The transition from the Military District to the Government District marked the parade's movement from martial severity to administrative grandeur. As his staff car passed under monumental arches, brutalist concrete gave way to neoclassical columns and art deco flourishes. The famous ministerial buildings, their facades a harmonious blend of imperial authority and modern efficiency, lined the route. Each window held observers – the bureaucratic machinery of empire pausing to witness this display of military power.

In the private audience chamber, the Pādshah Empress sat before him on a throne that managed to be both elegant and intimidating. The room's neoclassical imperial splendor was subdued here, as if the weight of imperial authority pressed down on even the architecture itself. The Great Officers of the Crown and Great Officers of the Imperial Household were present as well as various other courties and government officials of high rank. She spoke the traditional words of investment, her voice carrying the absolute authority that had transformed kingdom into empire: "Rise, Field Marshal Shahriar , Chief of the Imperial High Command."

The weight of the ceremonial sash being placed across his chest was nothing compared to the weight of those words. He had reached the pinnacle of military authority, and with it came not just power but proximity to the source of all power in the empire. As he rose, he caught a glimpse of Duke Dr. Revane Kassvar, the Chief Imperial Advisor, standing in his customary position slightly behind the throne. The old man's face was unreadable, but there was something in those famous blue eyes that suggested calculation.

The parade that followed was the empire's military might made manifest. Tens of thousands of thousand troops, mechanized units, air forces performing precision flybys above the geometric perfection of Imperial City's concentric circles. From his position on the review stand, Shahriar could see how the military precision below was reflected in the city's design – power expressed through order, tradition upheld through strength.

That evening, watching the sunset paint Imperial City's towers in shades of gold from his new offices in the Imperial High Command Headquarters, Field Marshal Shahriar allowed himself a moment of private satisfaction. He had climbed as high as any military officer could, and tomorrow the real work would begin. The empire was entering a new phase of its existence, and he would help shape its future.

Behind him, on his desk, lay the first intelligence briefings requiring his attention as Chief of the Imperial High Command. The reports spoke of opportunities in the Western Atlantic region, of shifting power dynamics and potential for imperial influence. Tomorrow, he would begin studying them in detail. Tonight was for ceremony, for tradition, for the perfect choreography of power that kept the empire's wheels turning.

He touched the hilt of his new ceremonial sword, feeling the weight of history in its perfect balance. Outside his windows, Imperial City continued its eternal dance of tradition and power, its concentric walls gleaming in the dying light like rings of authority radiating outward from the Imperial Palace at its heart.

Profile of Field Marshal Shahriar

Field Marshal Arsalan Shahriar (born 1965) is a senior officer in the Imperial Aerionian Military and prominent advocate for regional military expansion. Currently serving as Chief of the Imperial High Command, he is known for his background in special operations and intelligence, as well as his hawkish views on military intervention.

Early Life and Education

Born to an army officer father and homemaker mother in Astevane's Military District, Shahriar grew up in a middle-class family deeply committed to military service. His father, Colonel Darius Shahriar, served as an officer in the Royal Aerionian Army's special forces. Through his father's connections and his own academic excellence, young Arsalan secured a prestigious Royal Family scholarship to attend the Prince Artaxsher Military Academy, an elite boarding school where he studied alongside members of the royal family and noble houses.

Military Education

- Prince Artaxsher Military Academy (1979-1983)
- Imperial Aerionian Naval Academy (1983-1987)
- Corps of Imperial Marines Basic Course (1987)
- Imperial Marine Special Operations Selection (1988)
- Advanced Combat Diving School (1989)
- Imperial Military Intelligence Advanced Course (1995)
- Imperial War College (2002-2003)
- Imperial General Staff College (2008)

Military Career

Early Career (1987-1994)
- Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in Corps of Imperial Marines
- Platoon Commander, 3rd Imperial Marine Regiment (1987-1988)
- Selected for Special Operations Unit (1988)
- Team Leader, 1st Special Operations Unit (1989-1991)
- Company Commander, Special Operations Training Center (1991-1994)
* Led multiple classified operations
* Awarded Imperial Cross for Valor
* Three combat deployments

Intelligence Transition (1994-2003)
- Recruited by Military Intelligence due to special operations expertise
- Operations Officer, Western Atlantic Section (1994-1996)
- Chief, Special Activities Branch (1996-1999)
- Deputy Director, Special Operations Intelligence (1999-2002)
- Director, Joint Special Operations Intelligence Command (2002-2003)
* Coordinated intelligence support for special operations
* Developed new methodologies for regional intelligence collection
* Established joint intelligence-operations protocols

Senior Command (2003-2010)
- Commander, Imperial Marines Special Operations Command (2003-2005)
- Director of Operations, Imperial Military Intelligence and Security Unified Command (2005-2008)
- Commander, Imperial Military Intelligence and Security Unified Command (2008-2016)
- Assistant Director, Imperial Military Intelligence (2016-2024)
* Oversaw reorganization of special operations intelligence
* Developed new regional strategic frameworks
* Enhanced coordination between intelligence and operations

Flag Rank (2008-Present)
- Promoted to Brigadier General (2005)
- Major General (2008)
- Lieutenant General (2015)
- General (2018)
- Field Marshal (2024)
- Current: Chief of the Imperial High Command

Command Positions
- Commander, 1st Special Operations Unit
- Commander, Imperial Marines Special Operations Command
- Commander, Imperial Military Intelligence and Security Unified Command
- Commander, Western Atlantic Southern Strategic Operations Command

Strategic Views

General Shahriar advocates for:
- Enhanced special operations capabilities
- Integrated intelligence-operations framework
- Proactive regional military presence
- Advanced force projection capabilities
- Strategic deterrence through strength

Notable Achievements

Military Innovations
- Established Joint Special Operations Intelligence Framework
- Developed Regional Strategic Response Protocol
- Modernized special operations training programs
- Enhanced intelligence-operations integration

Awards and Decorations
- Imperial Cross for Valour
- Order of Military Merit
- Order of the White Wolf Knight Class
- Imperial Service Cross
- Special Operations Command Medal
- Intelligence Service Medal
- Multiple combat action medals
- Various campaign and service medals

Personal Life

General Shahriar maintained a relatively modest lifestyle despite his high position, living in the Military District of Imperial City. He is married to Dr. Roxana Shahriar, a professor of strategic studies at the Imperial War College, and has two children. A member of the Mehrgan Brotherhood, he holds the rank of Ostad (Master) within the organization.

Influence and Legacy

Known for combining special operations experience with strategic intelligence expertise, General Shahriar has become one of the most influential voices in shaping Aerionian military doctrine. His advocacy for integrated special operations and intelligence capabilities has significantly influenced imperial military development.

*Note: Significant portions of General Shahriar's career remain classified due to his special operations and intelligence background.*

by **Aerion** » Sat Dec 28, 2024 1:46 am

(OOC: The below intelligence dossier would be what is likely available to Western Atlantic nations with intelligence sources in the Grand Empire)

INTELLIGENCE DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Field Marshal Arsalan Shahriar
CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET
VITAL STATISTICS

Full Name: Arsalan Shahriar
Current Position: Chief of the Imperial High Command
Rank: Field Marshal (promoted 2024)
Date of Birth: 1965 (Age: 59)
Nationality: Aerionian
Location: Military District, Imperial City

Family:

Spouse: Dr. Roxana Shahriar (Professor, Imperial War College)
Children: Two (details withheld)
Father: Colonel Darius Shahriar (Special Forces, Royal Aerionian Army)
Mother: Homemaker (name withheld)

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE
Subject demonstrates calculated ambition and strong political acumen masked behind military discipline. Shows high competence in balancing traditional military values with political maneuvering. Particularly notable is his careful cultivation of relationships within both military and intelligence circles.
Notable behavioral indicators:

POWER BASE & CONNECTIONS

Military: Extensive network through special operations and intelligence communities
Political: Close access to Pādshah Empress; observed interaction with Duke Dr. Revane Kassvar (Chief Imperial Advisor)
Religious/Social: Member of Mehrgan Brotherhood (Rank: Ostad/Master)
Academic: Connection to Imperial War College through spouse
Background: Leveraged father's military connections for early career advancement

CAREER PROGRESSION

Early Career (1987-1994)

Rapid advancement through special operations
Multiple classified operations
Distinguished combat record

Intelligence Phase (1994-2003)

Specialized in Western Atlantic operations
Developed significant influence in intelligence community
Established key operational protocols

Command Phase (2003-Present)

Consistent upward trajectory
Strategic focus on special operations and intelligence integration
Cultivated cross-departmental influence

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Comprehensive military education with focus on elite institutions:

Prince Artaxsher Military Academy (1979-1983)
Imperial Aerionian Naval Academy (1983-1987)
Multiple advanced military and intelligence courses
Imperial War College (2002-2003)
Imperial General Staff College (2008)

OPERATIONAL METHODOLOGY
Subject demonstrates preference for:

VULNERABILITIES & LEVERAGE POINTS

Career: Heavy investment in Western Atlantic operations success
Personal: Maintains high-profile academic spouse
Political: Recent elevation to unprecedented access to imperial inner circle

CURRENT THREAT ASSESSMENT

Subject represents significant concentration of military and intelligence power. Recent elevation to Field Marshal and Chief of Imperial High Command positions him as key decision-maker in imperial military strategy. Particular attention should be paid to:

His focus on Western Atlantic region
Integration of special operations with intelligence capabilities
Relationship with Chief Imperial Advisor Kassvar
Influence within Mehrgan Brotherhood

RECENT ACTIVITIES OF NOTE

Formal investiture as Field Marshal (2024)
Private audience with Pādshah Empress
Initial focus on Western Atlantic regional intelligence briefings

RECOMMENDATIONS

Maintain continuous monitoring of subject's Western Atlantic initiatives
Track interaction patterns with Chief Imperial Advisor
Monitor any unusual movement patterns within special operations units
Assess changes in regional military posture under his command

NOTES

Dossier compiled from available intelligence sources
Last Updated: December 2024

by **Aerion** » Sat Dec 28, 2024 2:29 am

Command Center
Imperial High Command bunker
Military District
Imperial City
Grand Empire of Aerion

Level Seven of the Imperial High Command bunker complex thrummed with the quiet efficiency of advanced environmental systems and server banks. Field Marshal Arsalan Shahriar sat at the head of the obsidian conference table in Strategic Planning Suite Alpha, the words of Duke Dr. Kassvar still echoing in his mind: "The Empress expects decisive positioning." Around him, the general staff sat in rigid attention, their dress uniforms immaculate despite the late hour.

"Carrier Strike Group Twelve has cleared the eastern seaboard," Admiral Mehraban reported, her hand moving across her data tablet. The smart-glass table surface responded, displaying the carrier group's position in three-dimensional relief. "Piruz and her escort group are maintaining twenty knots, standard screening formation."

Shahriar nodded, his eyes fixing on the holographic representation. CSG-12 was their newest carrier group, built around the Bahram-class supercarrier IMS Piruz. "Time to designated patrol zone?"

"Eight hours at current speed, sir. Second Fleet submarines are already in position to provide deep water screen."

"Status of the submarine deployments?" Shahriar turned to Vice Admiral Kourosh, commander of the submarine force.

"Five Khorasan-class SSBNs are at patrol depth," Parsian replied, touching his tablet to highlight the general patrol areas without revealing exact positions. "IMS Shahbaz and IMS Artaxshahr are maintaining nuclear deterrent positions. IMS Sorayah and IMS Rostam are running silent, tracking designated surface groups of interest."

The room's lighting dimmed automatically as Shahriar stood and moved to the strategic plotting station. The traditional sand table had been upgraded with quantum-enabled holographic projectors, but still maintained the tactile elements that military planners had used for centuries. The Western Atlantic sprawled before him in perfect topographical detail, naval units represented by glowing markers showing real-time positions.

"Second and Third Fleet disposition?" Shahriar's hand moved through the hologram, expanding the view of key strategic chokepoints.

Air Marshal Zandian, Air Force Chief of Staff, stepped forward. "Long-range aviation assets are maintaining coverage here, here, and here." Red dots appeared, showing the patrol patterns of nuclear-capable strategic bombers. "Tanker support is structured for continuous operations."

Shahriar studied the overall strategic picture. Seven carrier strike groups, forty nuclear submarines, strategic stealth bomber coverage, and the full weight of the Imperial Aerionian Military positioned with deliberate precision across the Western Atlantic. Each unit placed to demonstrate reach without overtly threatening any single nation. A delicate balance of power projection and plausible deniability.

"Communications status?" he asked, not looking up from the display.

"Quantum encryption fully operational," reported General Rostami from Communications Command. "All units maintaining emissions control protocols. Strategic command links are hardened and redundant."

Shahriar's fingers traced the patrol routes on the sand table's surface, feeling the subtle variations in topology even as the hologram adjusted to his touch. Centuries of military tradition merged with postmodern technology in this room, just as ancient imperial ambitions were being pursued with modern military precision.

"Initiate Strategic Deployment Pattern Delta," he ordered. "Carrier groups to maintain discrete separation but mutual support capability. Submarine forces to execute distributed deterrence protocols. I want our full strategic weight felt across the region without any single point of concentration that could be interpreted as overtly aggressive."

The assembled staff acknowledged the orders, their tablets synchronizing with the central command network. Above the sand table, the holographic units began shifting into their new patrol patterns, their movements calculated to maximize strategic impact while minimizing diplomatic repercussions.

"One final thing," Shahriar added, looking up at his assembled commanders. "The Empress expects absolute operational security. This deployment pattern was personally approved by Her Imperial Majesty. There will be no deviations without direct authorization from this room."

As his commanders filed out to implement the orders, Shahriar remained at the sand table, watching the glowing markers of his forces move across the Western Atlantic. In his mind's eye, he could see each massive carrier, each silent submarine, each strategic bomber, each drone – the physical manifestations of imperial power projection sliding into place like pieces on a cosmic chess board.

The environmental systems hummed steadily, maintaining the perfect atmosphere needed for the sensitive electronics. But in that sound, Shahriar heard the echo of ancient Persian armies on the march, of imperial ambition stretching across centuries to find new expression in postmodern military might.

He reached out and touched a carrier group marker, expanding its tactical display. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned. Exactly as the Chief Imperial Advisor had envisioned.

by **Aerion** » Sat Dec 28, 2024 4:27 am

(OOC: The below intelligence report is only available for Western Atlantic nations)

[FLASH PRIORITY]
SUBJECT: Major Aerionian Naval Force Deployment
DATE: December 21, 2024
CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET//NOFORN
DISTRIBUTION: WESTERN ATLANTIC NATIONS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
================
Over the past 48 hours, Aerion has initiated an unprecedented deployment of naval and strategic forces across the Western Atlantic. Pattern analysis suggests a coordinated show of force that demonstrates significantly enhanced power projection capabilities. Intelligence indicates this deployment was ordered directly by the Imperial High Command.

OBSERVED DEPLOYMENTS
===================
NAVAL ASSETS:
- Seven (7) Carrier Strike Groups activated
- Estimated 40+ nuclear submarines deployed
- Multiple surface action groups
- Advanced screening formations detected

STRATEGIC FORCES:
- Nuclear-capable bomber patrols established
- SSBN deployment in deterrent positions
- Tanker support infrastructure activated
- Strategic command & control networks engaged
- Deployment of a large number of drones.

DEPLOYMENT PATTERN
=================
Analysis suggests Implementation of "Strategic Deployment Pattern Delta":
- Distributed force presence
- Mutual support positioning
- No overt concentration of forces
- Maximum strategic coverage
- Deliberate ambiguity of intent

KEY OBSERVATIONS
===============
1. Command Structure
- Direct control from Imperial High Command
- Quantum-encrypted communications
- Enhanced EMCON procedures
- Hardened command links

2. Technology Assessment
- Advanced quantum computing integration
- New-generation holographic command systems
- Enhanced submarine quieting technology
- Improved strategic coordination capabilities

3. Operational Patterns
- Deliberate display of force multiplication
- Strategic ambiguity in positioning
- Nuclear deterrent enhancement
- Multi-domain integration

STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT
===================
SHORT TERM:
- Immediate show of force
- Strategic positioning enhancement
- Regional power projection
- Deterrence demonstration

LONG TERM:
- Enhanced operational presence
- Strategic balance alteration
- Power projection capability
- Regional influence expansion

IMMEDIATE CONCERNS
=================
1. Scale of Deployment
- Largest coordinated Aerionian naval deployment observed
- Full integration of strategic forces
- Advanced technology demonstration
- Complete regional coverage

2. Command Implications
- Direct imperial authorization
- High-level political coordination
- Strategic ambiguity maintenance
- Deliberate messaging

ASSESSMENT OF INTENT
===================
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
1. Regional power projection
2. Strategic capability demonstration
3. Force presence establishment
4. Operational reach extension

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
1. Technology demonstration
2. Command capability proof
3. Readiness verification
4. Political messaging

RECOMMENDATIONS
==============
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Enhanced surveillance of all Aerionian naval units
2. Strategic forces readiness review
3. Diplomatic channel activation
4. Allied force coordination
5. [REDACTED]

LONG TERM MEASURES:
1. Strategic posture reassessment
2. Force structure evaluation
3. Regional alliance strengthening
4. [SECTION REDACTED]

CONFIDENCE ASSESSMENT
===================
- HIGH: Force deployment details
- HIGH: Command structure involvement
- MEDIUM: Strategic intentions
- MEDIUM: Long-term objectives

SOURCE RELIABILITY
=================
[SECTION REDACTED]

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS
========================
[CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET//NOFORN]
[SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIRED]
[WESTERN ATLANTIC NATIONS EYES ONLY]

END REPORT

by **Knootoss** » Sun Dec 29, 2024 4:03 am

Ministry of Defence
Knootian Defence Force
"Milites Praesidii Libertatis"

Ministerie van Defensie
Bisschopstraat 3
P.O. Box 20202
9019 DE LEEMTRECHT
http://www.mindef.kn
From: Dr. Pieter-Jan van Mersberg, Minister of Defence for the Free Republic of Knootoss
To: Defence Ministers and Military Leadership of the Southern Low Countries, the Caldan Union, the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria, the Holy Empire of Excalbia, the Dominion of Upper Virginia, the Kingdom of Brasland, and the Abt Republic
Subject: Coordinated Naval Escort in the Sea of Insolence & Naval Deterrence in the Avar Sea
Security Classification: Highly Confidential

Your Excellency,

Over the past days, the Aeronian Imperial Navy has mobilised seven out of their twelve carrier strike groups and a considerable number of nuclear submarines, deploying them throughout the Western Atlantic region. This follows on the heels of intra-regime unrest and the extrajudicial execution of Field Marshal Sardarid. Consultations among Treaty of Nivelet signatories had already been progressing, suggesting strong support for invoking Nivelet human rights mechanisms and coordinated diplomatic action.

Aerion's actions signal a desire by her regime to reassert control over its narrative on the international stage and suggests a broader intent to test the resolve and cohesion of other regional powers. Aerion has adopted a strategy of distributed positioning, calibrating their deployments to maximise their reach while minimising the appearance of provocation. This calculated ambiguity is a hallmark of modern deterrence theory, and it allows them to exert pressure while preserving plausible deniability.

To address this aggressive posture, Knootoss proposes a coordinated naval response between the powers with a coastline in the Sea of Insolence, designed to shadow Aerionian deployments. As an immediate measure, Knootoss will ready the 1st Vasconian Carrier Group, centred on KMS Federatie, alongside KMS Tasatiër and the 2nd Vasconian Carrier Group, to serve as a dedicated escort and shadow force. I invite your esteemed nations to contribute naval assets of sufficient capability to ensure that we can collectively shadow every Aeronian vessel in the Sea of Insolence and provide continuous submarine detection capability at key chokepoints. By presenting a united front, we can deter any attempt by Aerion to exploit divisions whilst demonstrating the strength of our shared commitment to the principles of stability, cooperation, and mutual defence.

The current diffusion of Aerionian naval assets across the region leaves critical vulnerabilities closer to her territorial waters, reducing the Imperial home fleet to five Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs). In this light, it is worth considering a measure that reinforces our collective presence there. Knootoss is prepared to initiate a phased deployment of Battle Fleet Covenant, composed of four CSGs led by KMS Zeven Eilanden, KMS Hesbayeux, KMS Chamaven, and KMS Teistergouw, to the Avar and Ishahr Seas, provided that facilities can be made available in the Skralins Islands and Brasland. This phased deployment would involve a series of calculated transits through the Aerion Strait, mirroring Aerion’s own projection of force for as long as she continues her escalatory posture. By positioning our own forces within striking distance, we maintain a proportionate counterweight and underscore our solidarity with Brasland proper and the Excalbian possessions in the Skralins Islands in a manner consistent with existing norms of freedom of navigation. Local naval superiority would be ensured if a two-to-one Carrier Strike Group ratio can be attained in the Avar Sea, necessitating the deployment of (at least) an additional six CSGs by allied nations to the region. I call on you to consider making contributions towards this end.

In addition to these immediate operational measures, I recommend that we enhance intelligence sharing to monitor Aerionian movements and refine our understanding of their strategic objectives. Establishing secure communication channels for real-time data exchange will allow us to respond dynamically to any shifts in their posture. Furthermore, strengthening our cyber defences and preparing for potential electronic warfare contingencies will ensure that we are not caught off guard by Aerion’s technological capabilities. Finally, I suggest we issue a unified diplomatic statement reaffirming our collective commitment to maritime security and inviting Aerion to clarify her intentions.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Pieter-Jan van Mersberg

This government communication has been printed on biodegradable paper. All carbon emissions associated with the creation of this government communication have been offset with new plantings, using the Pink Bunny Tree™ Carbon Offset Scheme, sponsored by the Pink Bunny Cola Corporation and the Global Hell Group. For more information about the Pink Bunny Tree™ Carbon Offset Scheme, consult http://www.futureproof.kn.

by **Excalbia** » Sun Dec 29, 2024 2:05 pm

The following was delivered in person by senior Embassy leadership at the appropriate levels of the Foreign and Defence Ministries in Knootoss, the Caldan Union, Pantocratoria, Brasland, the Southern Low Countries, Upper Virginia and Abt.

Dear Dr. van Mersberg:

Thank you for your recent letter concerning naval deployments by the Grand Empire of Aerion. We concur with your analysis of the situation and appreciate your efforts to lead consultations on this matter.

In response to your letter, we have carried out consultations within His Imperial Majesty’s Government and the General Staff of the Imperial Armed Forces, and have made a recommendation to His Excellency, the Imperial Chancellor, which he has accepted with the concurrence of His Imperial Majesty.

Therefore, I am pleased to inform you that the Imperial Navy will deploy the First Expeditionary Fleet’s 7th Carrier Battle Group, led by INV Invincible, 27th Strike Group, led by INV New Boston, and 9th (Drone) Carrier Battle Group, led by INV Osprey to support Knootoss’ efforts to shadow Aerionian naval deployments. Overall command over this force will be assigned to Admiral Thomas Parn.

Additional support for this effort will come from the Home Fleet’s 4th Carrier Battle Group, led by INV Sovereign and 2nd Carrier Battle Group, led by INV Glorious, and supported by elements of the 101st Submarine Force. Overall command of this force will be assigned to Admiral Kurt Valjas.

We respectfully recommend that your naval commanders contact Admirals Parn and Valjas directly to coordinate joint activities.

In addition, we are pleased to offer access to all participating naval forces to His Imperial Majesty’s Naval Station at the Skralins Islands in support of this joint effort. Fleet Admiral Felix Bulvitis and his staff have been directed to offer whatever support he and his team can offer. Please contact his Chief of Staff directly to coordinate all activities.

His Excellency, the Imperial Chancellor, has also directed that Imperial Intelligence actively consult with its counterparts in accordance with your recommendations.

Sincere regards,
Lord General Rachel Gertrude, ret.
Minister of Defence

His Excellency
Dr. Pieter-Jan van Mersberg
Minister of Defence
Free Republic of Knootoss

Copied to:
The Ministers of Defence of the Caldan Union, the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria,the Southern Low Countries, the Dominion of Upper Virginia, the Kingdom of Brasland, and the Abt Republic.

by **Aerion** » Mon Dec 30, 2024 1:30 am

This diplomatic note was sent to all missions in Imperial City two days after deployment

IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
GRAND EMPIRE OF AERION
IMPERIAL CITY

DIPLOMATIC NOTE

The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Empire of Aerion presents its compliments to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Grand Empire of Aerion and has the honor to bring the following matter to their attention:

The Grand Empire of Aerion wishes to inform that, in accordance with its sovereign rights and responsibilities, it has undertaken necessary measures to secure its strategic interests in the Western Atlantic region. These actions, conducted under the direct authority of Her Imperial Majesty Pādshah Empress Ameria, reflect our unwavering commitment to maintaining regional stability and protecting our territorial sovereignty.

The deployment of Imperial naval assets represents a proportionate response to current strategic requirements. The Grand Empire of Aerion remains dedicated to preserving regional order while exercising its legitimate right to safeguard its interests.

The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests that Their Excellencies bring this matter to the attention of their respective governments.

The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Empire of Aerion avails itself of this opportunity to renew to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Grand Empire of Aerion the assurances of its highest consideration.

Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government District
Imperial City

To:
Their Excellencies
The Heads of Diplomatic Missions
Accredited to the Grand Empire of Aerion
IMPERIAL CITY

by **Abt** » Mon Dec 30, 2024 9:14 am

As delivered by Abtian Ambassadors or Envoys Plenipotentiary in person to the relevant Ministers of Defence or Foreign Affairs of the Free Republic of Knootoss, the Caldan Union, the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria, the Holy Empire of Excalbia, the Southern Low Countries, the Dominion of Upper Virginia, the Kingdom of Brasland.

* - * - * - *

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
INTO HANDS PROPER

The Abt Republic has taken due note of the current situation surrounding the Aerionian deployments throughout the entirety of the Western Atlantic. This matter was reviewed at a closed session of the Security Council and the Knootian initative was discussed with the following resolution being adopted.

We first and foremost call upon all the regional actors to not discard elements of diplomacy and a concerted diplomatic that effort may be required to adress the situation. The Abt Republic stands ready to participate in such a concerted diplomatic effort with all its regional partners. However, cognizant that the unilateral Aerionian show of force is going on right now, we understand the need for a concerted regional dissuasive initiative to balance this Aerionian move.

Therefore, we stand ready to support a responsible regional initiative to balance the Aerionian show of force.

The Republic does not maintain long distance power projection assets in the shape of strike carrier groups, having no geopolitical need for such. Our naval hunting doctrine focuses more on long range interception and elimination of hostile threats before they move into a position to threaten the Republic.

In light of this, whilst the Republic may not contribute standalone Strike Group equivalents to what the primary military powers of the region may field, the Abt Republic Defence Force shall be made available to participate in an overall regional initiative by:

In light of the above, we recommend that an ad hoc command structure be set up by the primary military powers around this initiative, to which the Republic shall adhere for the duration of this initiative.

by **Excalbia** » Mon Dec 30, 2024 9:51 am

Note No. xx

The Embassy of the Holy Empire of Excalbia presents its compliments to the Mnistry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Empire of Aerion and has the honour to acknowledge receipt of its Note number xxx, received on December 30 of the present year.

The Embassy wishes to express its gratitude to the Ministry for informing it of Aerionian Imperial naval deployments, and wishes to inform the Ministry that this information has been provided to relevant officials in our capital.

The Embassy also wishes to inform the Ministry that consistent with long-standing Excalbian policies and in furtherance of our own efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region, the Imperial Navy is continuing deployments of its forces in Ishahar Sea, the Lawata Bay - necessitating transit of the Aerion Strait, the Ambaran Strait, the Vasconian Gulf, the Sea of Insolence, and other oceanic territories in the region.

The Embassy avails itself of this opportunity to present the Ministry with assurances of its highest regards.

//initialed KV, B of C, a.e.p.//
Sealed with the Seal of the Embassy of the Holy Empire
of Exclbia in the Imperial City

by **Aerion** » Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:03 pm

Command Center
Imperial High Command bunker
Military District
Imperial City
Grand Empire of Aerion

Level Seven of the Imperial High Command bunker thrummed with its characteristic quiet efficiency as Field Marshal Shahriar studied the new intelligence reports streaming across the quantum-encrypted displays. The decision had been weighed carefully by the Supreme Imperial Council, but in the end, the strategic situation demanded action.

"Initiate DEFCON 3 protocols," he ordered, his voice carrying the weight of imperial authority. The command center's lighting shifted subtly as status indicators across the holographic displays changed color, reflecting the elevated alert status. Around the obsidian conference table, the assembled staff began implementing predetermined security measures.

"All fleet commanders acknowledge receipt of DEFCON 3 orders," reported Admiral Mehraban, her fingers moving across her data tablet as encrypted acknowledgments filtered in.

The strategic plotting station's holographic display showed the real-time shifts in naval deployments - carrier groups tightening their formations, submarine forces redistributing to critical chokepoints, long-range aviation assets moving to forward staging positions. Each movement had been carefully planned and rehearsed, the elevation in alert status triggering a precise choreography of military power.

"Status of nuclear deterrent forces?" Shahriar asked, his eyes not leaving the tactical display.

"Khorasan-class SSBNs acknowledging new alert level," Vice Admiral Kourosh responded. "Strategic forces maintaining distributed deployment pattern Delta. Additional boats moving to backup stations."

Field Marshal Shahriar nodded, watching as the Imperial Aerionian Military transitioned smoothly to its elevated readiness posture. The quantum-encrypted communications network hummed with increased traffic as commands filtered down through the chain of command, each element of the empire's military might adjusting to the new strategic reality.

"Inform Her Imperial Majesty that DEFCON 3 protocols are now in effect," he ordered. "All commands are responding as planned."

The environmental systems continued their steady hum as the Imperial Aerionian Military settled into its new alert status, ready to defend the empire's interests across the Western Atlantic region.

by **Knootoss** » Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:38 pm

((Joint post between Aerion and Knootoss))

Private Ministerial Executive Meeting Room
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Hartstad, Knootoss

The soft hum of the air conditioning blended with the distant sound of Haag's bustling streets below. A lunch spread had been laid out: white bread sandwiches with pre-sliced ham or cheese, jugs of chilled buttermilk and strong black coffee. Minister Hendrik de Lange stood by the windows, his back to the room as the Aerionian ambassador entered. The Minister’s polished black shoes reflected the light as he turned, greeting the guest with professional charm.

“Ambassador Aldaseer,” De Lange said, extending his hand with a warm, measured smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I trust you’ve had no trouble settling back into Haag’s rhythms after recent… developments. I hope your family is well?”

The handshake was firm but unhurried, a gesture as much about establishing control as showing hospitality. He motioned toward the table with a smooth wave of his hand. “Please, have a seat. Help yourself.”

HIM’s Ambassador Count Zane Aldaseer's striking features spoke eloquently of Aerion's complex heritage. In his late forties, his face bore the high cheekbones and strong jaw of his indigenous royal ancestors, while his nose showed a subtle Persian refinement – a living testament to the ancient unions between tribal kings and Persian settlers. His skin held a warm copper tone, darker than his Persian ancestors but lighter than his indigenous forebears, and weathered just enough to suggest wisdom rather than age.

His black hair, still untouched by gray, was cut precisely to complement both his diplomatic status and his aristocratic bearing. It fell in straight, thick waves, characteristic of both his ancestral lines. His eyes, dark and observant, had the slight almond shape of his indigenous heritage, but held the intensity often associated with Persian diplomats.

The three-piece black suit fit his tall frame impeccably – clearly bespoke tailoring that acknowledged both his title and position. The blue tie, knotted with diplomatic precision, provided the only touch of color to his ensemble, its silk catching the light with subtle shimmer. His bearing combined the natural dignity of his tribal royal heritage with the polished grace of a seasoned diplomat.

Standing six feet tall, he moved with the fluid confidence of a man comfortable in both ancient halls of power and modern diplomatic chambers. Though his face could maintain the impassive mask required of his profession, laugh lines at the corners of his eyes hinted at a private warmth that close associates knew well. His hands, strong but elegant, bore a single signet ring marking his status as a Count of the Empire.

Despite his age, he maintained the fitness of a much younger man, his shoulders straight and posture impeccable, suggesting someone who took as much care with his physical presence as he did with his diplomatic responsibilities.

Ambassador Aldaseer was a career diplomat, and had been appointed to the Free Republic for several years. He had a hidden background as an intelligence officer of Imperial Intelligence, but that was not officially known. He was a Political Attaché in an Embassy as cover for his role as Head of Station before later being promoted in the Imperial Diplomatic Service.

The mission had already been briefed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Military Affairs Bureau through the Northeastern Western Atlantic Regional Bureau. Ambassador Aldaseer had also been briefed by his Defense Attaché. They had been given short notice though of the actions of the Imperial Military and were caught off guard themselves.

The Ambassador met the handshake with practiced grace, his own grip matching the Minister's pressure precisely - neither yielding nor challenging. His dark eyes caught the subtle tension in de Lange's smile, reading the calculated friendliness for what it was.

"Minister de Lange, you're most kind to ask," he replied, his voice carrying the cultured tones of Aerion's diplomatic elite, Persian and French influences softening the edges of his words. "My family thrives in Haag's cosmopolitan atmosphere.”

He settled into the offered chair with fluid elegance, his tall frame carrying the weight of both his aristocratic heritage and diplomatic responsibility. The purple silk of his tie caught the light as he moved, a subtle reminder of imperial colors.

"Though I must say," he continued, allowing a touch of warmth to color his tone while maintaining his diplomatic reserve, "these developments you mention have left me with rather less time to enjoy Haag's considerable offerings." His hands, one bearing the signet ring of his noble family, came to rest lightly on the table's edge. "But then, I suspect that's precisely why you've invited me here today."

The measured cadence of his words carried neither defensiveness nor apology - rather, they held the calm assurance of one who spoke with the full weight of an empire behind him. His expression remained courteous but neutral, prepared to navigate whatever diplomatic currents lay ahead.

The Knootian minister’s posture was relaxed, the faint creak of his leather chair punctuating the pause as he seated himself before he continued: “I imagine, Your Excellency, that these past days have been something of a whirlwind for you,” De Lange began, his voice smooth, almost conversational. “I must admit, it’s not often we see such dramatic transitions in Aerionian governance. It is an unenviable position you’re in, to say the least.”

The words hung in the air, inviting Aldaseer to respond but offering no clear indication of whether this was sympathy or a veiled test. De Lange leaned back slightly, steepling his fingers as his sharp eyes studied the ambassador.

“Let me be direct,” he continued, his tone shifting into something more pointed. “Aerion’s recent naval mobilisation has raised eyebrows. Coupled with the events surrounding Field Marshal Sardarid, one can’t help but question whether this is part of a larger strategic gambit or simply a case of internal chaos spilling outward.”

He leaned forward to pour himself a cup of black coffee, the increased closeness implied by his posture underscoring his next words: “Of course, if there is anything you wish to share, whether as a formal statement or simply as insight, I can assure you it will be treated with the utmost discretion. The Free Republic values dialogue, particularly when it helps us avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Ambassador Aldaseer's expression remained carefully neutral as he took in de Lange's words, his indigenous royal heritage evident in his dignified bearing even as his diplomatic training guided his measured response. He let his dark, observant eyes meet the minister's gaze steadily.

"Minister de Lange," he began, his voice carrying the cultured tones of Aerion's diplomatic elite, "I appreciate your concern for both regional stability and my position. However, I must respectfully disagree with any characterization of these events as 'chaos.' The Imperial Military's movements are precisely coordinated actions under the direct authority of the Imperial High Command and Her Imperial Majesty.”

He paused briefly, his strong jaw set firmly as the signet ring on his hand caught the light "Regarding Field Marshal Sardarid, the situation was handled with the decisiveness required to protect our internal order. As your intelligence services have likely confirmed, he was planning actions that would have severely destabilized both internal security and regional stability."

His copper-toned features remained composed as he continued, "The carrier groups' deployments demonstrate our continued ability to secure our interests while maintaining regional order. I understand that the speed of these movements may have raised questions. However, I can assure you they are proportionate to the situation at hand."

After a moment's consideration, he allowed a subtle shift in his tone - not quite vulnerability, but a calculated showing of diplomatic frankness. "I will acknowledge, Minister, that the Imperial Military's rapid deployment timeline did catch our diplomatic service somewhat off guard. My defense attaché had limited time to prepare a comprehensive briefing." He straightened slightly in his chair. "However, I assure you that this speaks to the operational security of the deployment rather than any lack of strategic coherence."

The ambassador's words carried neither defensiveness nor apology - rather, they held the quiet assurance of one who spoke with the full weight of the Pādshah Empress's authority behind him, even if he had been caught off guard by the rapid developments himself.

Minister Hendrik de Lange’s smile took on a polished, almost indulgent edge. He gestured lightly to the ambassador, as if inviting him into a private conversation: “Ambassador,” he began, “I’ve always believed that the real power in this world lies not in displays of force, but in knowing when and how to leverage them. And yet, leverage is a game that works best when you’re sitting at the table.” He leaned back slightly, the faint creak of his chair punctuating the air between them. “You see, from where I sit, these movements have painted Aerion into a rather specific role. A big, bold move on the international chessboard, yes, but the question is whether it’s part of a coherent strategy or just the kind of gambit that leaves everyone wondering what’s next.”

His fingers brushing against the polished wood of the table as he continued, his voice taking on a tone of almost conspiratorial camaraderie. “Take it from a nation that has seen the consequences of getting it wrong. Back in… 2012, Knootoss flexed its muscles with carrier deployments that seemed so... logical at the time. Necessary even, to protect our dignity and our vital interests in the Confederation. And what did it get us? Boycotts, sanctions, and the kind of isolation that reminds you just how quickly the world can close ranks against perceived aggressors.”

He leaned forward slightly, his voice softening into something almost paternal, but with a distinct edge that suggested the intent wasn’t wholly benign: “Now, I wouldn’t want to give you the impression that this kind of spectacle doesn’t make waves. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s made waves that are already rippling through the conversations being held in the corridors of power.” His gaze sharpened slightly, though the smile remained. “You’re aware, of course, of the mechanisms available through the Treaty of Nivelet. I’m sure your government has weighed the potential implications of this gambit. What it could mean for trade, for diplomatic credibility. But here’s the thing: once the wheel starts turning and things go public, it’s very hard to stop. Insiders know how to steer that wheel before it’s in motion. Outsiders? They end up trying to fight momentum they never saw coming.” He let the words settle before he continued: “A display of force like this is bound to invite people to the table, eager to make a deal. Sometimes in good faith, sometimes not. What matters is whether Aerion chooses to be part of that conversation or risks being the topic of it.”

He leaned back again, his expression almost amiable: “So let’s talk. What does Aerion want? Not the show, not the manoeuvres, but the deal. The arrangement that ensures your interests are safeguarded whilst giving others a reason to look your way for the right reasons.”

Ambassador Aldaseer's expression remained diplomatically composed, though the lines around his dark eyes tightened slightly at the Minister's tone. "Minister de Lange," he began, his voice carrying measured authority, "I appreciate both your candor and your... historical perspective. However, I must point out that comparisons to the Confederation situation of 2012 may not be entirely apt. The Grand Empire of Aerion operates from a fundamentally different position, with distinct sovereign imperatives."

He paused briefly, the purple silk of his tie catching the light as he shifted slightly. "While I acknowledge your expertise in international diplomacy, particularly regarding the Treaty of Nivelet's mechanisms, I am not authorized to discuss specific strategic objectives or to negotiate terms at this time. Such matters fall under the direct purview of Her Imperial Majesty."

His copper-toned features remained steady as he continued, "However, I would caution against interpreting our actions through the lens of... traditional diplomatic gamesmanship. The Grand Empire of Aerion acts according to its sovereign interests and order. We are not seeking to be invited to any particular table, Minister. We are securing our legitimate interests while maintaining regional stability."

His almond-shaped eyes met de Lange's directly, "As for what Aerion wants - with respect, Minister, that is perhaps not the most constructive framing. The question is not what Aerion wants, but rather what Aerion is entitled to as a sovereign power in the Western Atlantic region. The deployment of our carrier groups represents a legitimate exercise of that sovereignty."

He paused, then allowed a subtle shift in his demeanor - not quite personal, but more intimate than purely diplomatic. "However, speaking from my years of experience in Western Atlantic affairs, I believe it would be... constructive to acknowledge certain realities. The Grand Empire of Aerion, with its unique system of governance, often finds itself in a position of... philosophical isolation from liberal democratic nations."

His strong jaw set firmly as he continued, the signet ring on his hand catching the light. "While we may differ in our forms of government, the sovereign right of nations to determine their own path of governance is fundamental to international order. Aerion's absolute monarchy is not merely a historical artifact - it is a conscious choice, one that has guided our nation through modernization while maintaining our cultural identity."

He maintained steady eye contact with de Lange, his copper-toned features composed but earnest. "The respect we seek on the international stage is not based on military might alone, but on recognition of our legitimate place in the community of nations, regardless of our system of government."

Minister de Lange rested his elbows lightly on the armrests, his fingers forming a steeple as he listened: “Ambassador, your point is well taken,” he began when the ambassador had finished. “The Empire’s assertion of its sovereignty is not in question. But it is ultimately tested, measured, and validated through the responses of other states.” He leaned back, his chair creaking faintly as he continued: “Right now, Aerion’s naval deployments and… domestic events… are being interpreted as provocative rather than constructive. And while no one questions Aerion’s right to deploy its forces, the other powers cannot help but question the nature of the interests that Aerion is advancing, and wonder if such ‘assertions’ might come at their expense. This is a dangerous position to occupy.”

“Insiders in the game of regional diplomacy understand the value of engagement. They don’t just act. They negotiate, they trade, they secure partnerships that ensure mutual benefit. Knootoss learned this the hard way in 2012.”

He gestured lightly toward the ambassador. “But this isn’t about past mistakes; it’s about present opportunities. Aerion still has the chance to define this narrative.” His hands opened in a slight gesture of invitation: “It is not for me to define what Aerion is entitled to, but rather to suggest how such entitlement can be secured in practical terms. If respect is what Aerion seeks, then surely it is worth exploring what deals could achieve that end.”

De Lange leaned forward: “Consider this: the window for negotiation is narrowing. The actions of your military galvanise others. Positions against Aerion are forming, solidifying. Once set, they are infinitely harder to undo, and the terms of engagement are likely to become less favourable. You, Ambassador, are in a unique position to influence that trajectory. And waiting for others to decide is never a position of strength. Negotiating now is not a concession, but a strategic move.”

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips: “There is a Knootian saying. Perhaps you’ve heard it before: ‘Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.’ The path Aerion charts now will determine whether its dignity is accompanied by the tangible benefits of mutual respect and collaboration or left to stand alone.”

His voice softened slightly: “You mentioned Aerion’s ‘philosophical isolation.’ I find that idea… interesting. Respect on the international stage doesn’t require adopting the full scope of liberal democratic norms. If Aerion seeks recognition and respect, I believe it can be achieved. But respect comes through engagement, not assertion. If your government values being seen as a respected insider, there are ways to achieve that.”

He let the silence linger briefly, his expression composed but expectant. “So, Ambassador, I ask again: what terms can we begin to work towards? Because I’d like to see Aerion thrive as a respected partner, rather than a point of contention.”

Ambassador Aldaseer made a subtle gesture of acknowledgment as he adjusted his position. The sound, barely audible above the office's air conditioning, carried echoes of both his tribal heritage and diplomatic training.

"Minister de Lange," he began, his voice carrying quiet authority, "I appreciate your... detailed perspective on regional diplomacy and your government's interest in engagement. However, on the matter of specific terms or arrangements, I must seek guidance from Imperial City."

He traced a finger absently along the carved edge of the armrest, a habit he'd developed over years of delicate negotiations. "Given the significance of these matters, they may require consultation with the Palace itself. At present, I am not authorized to discuss potential terms or arrangements."

"While your concerns about regional interpretation are noted, I must reiterate that the Grand Empire's actions reflect legitimate sovereign interests. As for the window of opportunity you describe..." he smoothed an invisible wrinkle from his sleeve, a gesture that spoke of carefully measured words to come, "Her Imperial Majesty's government will determine its own timeline for any potential discussions."

His expression remained as carefully neutral as possible, "Perhaps future conversations might be more productive once I have received appropriate guidance from Imperial City. Until then, I can only reaffirm what I've already stated regarding our sovereign rights and regional responsibilities."

Minister Hendrik de Lange leaned back slightly, a faintly bemused expression crossing his face. He reached for his coffee cup before speaking: “Your Excellency,” he began, “I understand the need for consultation with Imperial City. Coordination is, after all, essential in these matters. But if I may be candid, the effectiveness of a diplomatic mission abroad hinges on more than just alignment with the centre. An ambassador, particularly one as experienced as yourself, is most credible when seen as someone who can shape events, not merely relay them.”

He set the cup down gently, his gaze meeting the ambassadors’: “A deployment of this magnitude, combined with limited empowerment at the diplomatic level, risks sending a mixed message. Strength in projection, but uncertainty in intent. Leaving people like you out of the loop may serve operational security, but it rarely invites the kind of engagement that strengthens a nation’s position.”

He adjusted his cufflinks, his tone growing sharper but remaining measured. “When diplomacy feels like a series of deferrals, it risks creating the impression that there is division or hesitation. It would be unfortunate if Aerion’s clear projection of strength were undermined by a perceived lack of coherence. That is something worth considering as you seek further guidance.”

De Lange stood and gestured lightly toward the door, signaling the meeting’s conclusion. “I’ll ensure today’s discussion is reflected constructively in our internal reports. I hope, next time, we can move beyond framito finding common ground. Have a safe trip back to Wetteburg, Ambassador.”

Ambassador Aldaseer rose smoothly to his feet, years of court etiquette evident in the fluid grace of his movement. He adjusted the cuff of his bespoke suit, revealing a glimpse of the intricate goldwork on his shirt cuff - a subtle reminder of Aerion's refined imperial culture.

"Minister de Lange," he began, his voice carrying measured warmth beneath its diplomatic precision, "I appreciate your... perspective on diplomatic effectiveness. However, I must respectfully disagree with your interpretation of our engagement."

He paused, his dark eyes reflecting a calculated blend of courtesy and firmness. "In the Grand Empire of Aerion, clarity of purpose flows directly from Her Imperial Majesty through established channels. What you perceive as limitation, we understand as proper protocol. My role is not diminished by seeking guidance - it is strengthened by the full weight of imperial authority."

A ghost of a smile touched the corners of his weathered features. "As for coherence, Minister - there is no division or hesitation. There is only the measured execution of imperial policy. The fact that I must seek guidance on certain matters reflects not uncertainty, but the precise functioning of our diplomatic hierarchy.” He paused before admitting, “If you would like further peace consultations then I may pass a request to Imperial City to send a direct emissary of Her Imperial Majesty the Pādshah Empress ." He seemed a bit hesitant in admitting his own powerlessness.

He inclined his head slightly, his posture carrying the natural dignity of his mixed heritage. "I look forward to our next discussion, once I have received appropriate direction from Imperial City. Thank you for the coffee, Minister."

((I suggest we take a breather and allow the others to catch up before we continue with the military stuff.))

by **Excalbia** » Thu Jan 02, 2025 12:37 pm

Abt wrote:As delivered by Abtian Ambassadors or Envoys Plenipotentiary in person to the relevant Ministers of Defence or Foreign Affairs of the Free Republic of Knootoss, the Caldan Union, the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria, the Holy Empire of Excalbia, the Southern Low Countries, the Dominion of Upper Virginia, the Kingdom of Brasland.

* - * - * - *

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
INTO HANDS PROPER

The Abt Republic has taken due note of the current situation surrounding the Aerionian deployments throughout the entirety of the Western Atlantic. This matter was reviewed at a closed session of the Security Council and the Knootian initative was discussed with the following resolution being adopted.

We first and foremost call upon all the regional actors to not discard elements of diplomacy and a concerted diplomatic that effort may be required to adress the situation. The Abt Republic stands ready to participate in such a concerted diplomatic effort with all its regional partners. However, cognizant that the unilateral Aerionian show of force is going on right now, we understand the need for a concerted regional dissuasive initiative to balance this Aerionian move.

Therefore, we stand ready to support a responsible regional initiative to balance the Aerionian show of force.

The Republic does not maintain long distance power projection assets in the shape of strike carrier groups, having no geopolitical need for such. Our naval hunting doctrine focuses more on long range interception and elimination of hostile threats before they move into a position to threaten the Republic.

In light of this, whilst the Republic may not contribute standalone Strike Group equivalents to what the primary military powers of the region may field, the Abt Republic Defence Force shall be made available to participate in an overall regional initiative by:

1. augment friendly Strike Groups/Joint Task Forces with additional surface and submarine elements of the ARDF on long distance deployment as necessary;

2. lead a show of force or interdiction in the Vasconian Gulf independently by the ARDF or participate in a concerted effort by aligned nations as part of a combined ad hoc command structure;

3. augment the ARDF's hunting and deterrence elements off the eastern shores of Ambara

In light of the above, we recommend that an ad hoc command structure be set up by the primary military powers around this initiative, to which the Republic shall adhere for the duration of this initiative.

After receiving the Note from the Abtian Ambassador to Excalbia, Alexander Daugavins, the Ministry of State’s Director General for the Western Atlantic, donned his glasses and quickly read it, nodding at several points. When he had finished, he set it down the table and took off his glasses, which he held in his right hand.

“Your Excellency,” he said to the Ambassador, “this seems to be a quite reasonable set of recommendations. You can be assured that Excalbia fully supports both the preference for a concerted diplomatic effort to manage the situation, and a reasonable show of military force to maintain the existing balance of power. We will certainly discuss this internally and with Knootoss and other parties, and will endorse the idea of establishing an ad hoc command structure to coordinate military activities. We look forward to working closely with you and your military forces.”

by **Ernestria** » Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:39 pm

((Joint Post between Ernestria and Knootoss))

De Witte Haven Yacht Club
Twiskedijk, Free Republic of Knootoss

The Most Honourable The Margrave of Gladen, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Free Republic, didn’t sail. Oh he told people that he did but that had been 20 years ago in the flush of youth. And he liked the accouterments of sailing but without the tiresome necessity of actually going out on a boat. Talking about sailing was far more enjoyable than actually doing it.

For this reason he especially liked the club in winter when the driving rain provided an excuse to sit in the Members’ Bar. In summer this avoidance of the sea became all the more burdensome to maintain.

To say that he sat in a quiet corner of the bar rather presumed that the bar itself was busy. He liked to work from here, when the time allowed, and so his PeacockBook popped and whirled as he went through his emails. It was an ideal place to discuss the great affairs of the day, away from prying eyes and attentive ears.

Hendrik de Lange stepped into the Members’ Bar with a brisk, confident gait. He wasn’t here to sail either. Instead, he was here to meet an old acquaintance. His overcoat was damp from the thawing drizzle outside, but his expression betrayed no discomfort as he approached the ambassador’s corner. He glanced briefly at the PeacockBook, before settling into the chair opposite with a practised smile.

“Margrave,” he began, with the faintest trace of irony curling his tone, “always a pleasure to find you here. Twiskedijk suits you. Salty air. Far from the riff raff.” He gestured to a waiter for a drink without breaking eye contact, his cool, calculating gaze assessing the ambassador’s mood.

“I trust you’ve had a chance to catch up on the usual pleasantries,” he said, his voice low enough to discourage eavesdropping. “But I fear I must trouble you with less charming topics. Developments have taken... an interesting turn. I thought it best we speak somewhere... a little more private. Too many ears in Haag these days, wouldn’t you agree?”

There was a moment’s pause as the waiter returned with his drink, a brown cream liqueur. He nodded his thanks but did not touch it, waiting instead for the ambassador’s response as he glanced towards one of the private rooms.

“The pleasure, sir, is all mine,” replied the Margrave with the ghost of a smile on his face, “But yes, we live in interesting times, do we not? That’s supposed to be a curse isn’t it?” He tutted to himself. “Or so they say.”
He followed the brief glance to the private room. There was an tiny nod of the head after which he closed his laptop with an air of finality. “Why don’t we retire to the Map Room? The views across the bay are particularly noteworthy.” He looked out the window at the rain. “On a nice day that is.”

“Splendid idea”, the Minister concurred. He picked up his drink. “Even if today is not a nice day. If you would believe the Greens I now share government with, we’ll never have a nice day again. Climate change, you know,” He chuckled.

The Margrave shuddered. “Tell me about it,” he sniffed, “A grand coalition with the Socialists, our FM that old crook Hrytsenko. My God, and people used to respect us.”

“Not a grand coalition”, the Minister corrected mildly, though his finger-wagging was accompanied by a grin as he carried his drink into the map room. “Merely an agreement that provides supply. And a few people who are not socialists, but whom the socialists just happen to like.” He sat in one of the comfortable leather chairs, setting the drink beside him. “Though you may have noticed that the SLP continues to control the entire foreign policy portfolio. Including Defence. Well. Everything except the World Assembly, which is in the safe hands of Émilie”, he said, referring to the KGP deputy minister.

“I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies,” Gladen replied, “But I’ve been meaning to speak with you Hendrik, and I realise you’ve been frightfully busy. You know what about.”

“My friend, I’ve been putting off a formal meeting between us for entirely strategic reasons. Nothing personal, you understand? You know how it is with diplomacy. It’s not just the things you do, but the order you do them in. And asking your government to make a decision before we can offer something … suitable … in turn would be unfortunate. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Absolutely, and I can assure you sir that no offense has been taken, either by myself or His Majesty’s Government. This business with Aerion continues to unfold before us and it is not immediately obvious at which link in the chain Her Imperial Majesty wishes to test.”

“Her Imperial Majesty”, the Knootian minister scoffed, as though that seemed like putting on airs. “I’ve been taking point on this with Pieter-Jan. Van Mersberg. Have you met him? Frightfully brilliant. We got him back out of academic exile to take up defence.”

“Ah, yes, well.” The Ambassador looked sheepish. “Well that’s all that Protocol that is forced down our throats. She’s no Majesty at all, she’s just another tinsel-clad tyrant. Some trumped up floozy with ideas above her station.” He tutted again. “I wouldn’t take her hunting, she’d upset the game.”

He took up his coffee. “But anyway, you haven’t come here to listen to my opinions on the Aerion government, but I take it you’ve met with Aldaseer? That stuck-up prig. Frightful bore.”

“I somewhat pity the man”, De Lange said. “He’s a … Count? Yet he had no authority during the meeting. And I have a feeling he was apprised of their fleet manoeuvres at some point after I was told about them. The palace is keeping their diplomatic corps out of the loop. So all he could do was tell me about sovereignty, and that they need to send someone down from the Palace if I want to talk to anyone who can actually make a decision.”

The Ambassador inhaled deeply and let out a long sigh. “What’s their game Henrik? What do they actually want? That’s what I can’t understand. It’s not cheap to send the fleet out on manoeuvres so they must want something. But what? Respect? Fear? Do they want us to take their Padishah Empress as seriously as they do? In that case they will need more carriers, considerably more.”

“They want respect, I think, yes. You’re on the money.”, taking a sip from his brown cream liqueur and letting it warm him as he listened briefly to the rain pattering against the window, as he gathered his thoughts. “At least I wasn’t able to wriggle any more specific demands out of their ambassador, despite ample opportunity. They want respect, and they want us to move beyond what he called their ‘philosophical isolation’.”

“The thing about Dietrich, and I accept that we should not, on any account, gotta hand it to him, but the thing about Dietrich is that we all know what he wants. We all hate him for it, but at least we know. But this Aerion business, it’s so ephemeral. Which is what makes it so much more dangerous.”

The Knootian minister showed a wry smile as Dietrich was brought up, then nodded in agreement. “Quite so. But here’s where I fill you in, I think?” He looked towards the closed door, then back across to his interlocutor.

“Yes, please do. I realise efforts are currently underway in the Sea of Insolence, which is understandable, but obviously we’re concerned that Aerion may strike towards the Avar Sea and, beyond it, to the Emerald Sea. And then the Empress’ intentions move from the academic to the immediate.”

“Pieter-Jan has developed a gambit. Securing the Sea of Insolence, then sending a counterforce to do some vaguely menacing hovering of our own. Near them. It shouldn’t - need not - require Ernestria to do anything on a military level. I figure you’ll want the ships you have to secure your coast, and your shipping. But it should have the happy little side effect of forcing the Empress to either call back some of those ships, or leave her tummy exposed.”

The Margrave nodded. “That is good to hear, but there are voices in our government who feel that we should at least make some contribution towards maintaining the international order.”

“And if you want to make a contribution, Knootoss can formally invite you to do so. Or you can make the offer. Whatever plays best for you domestically. I’m not fussed.” The Knootian minister shrugged. “It will look very good on Ernestria’s CV. Especially if it were backed up by the suggestion that it may acquire some new carriers in the future. The Helder shipyards are almost done with the Rederland-class ships the KNOMA ordered, after all.”

“Well God only knows our CV could do with all the help it can get,” he sniffed, “I suppose the question is what. We can contribute some of the fleet but, as you say, it is rather stretched at the moment. Qubti is, well, Qubti. And if they have their 50th War with the Cyretans then they remain, as they say, a known unknown. But we still have our base in Breucia, sovereign Ernestrian territory, it always helps when you write the independence treaty. Anyway, it is not too far from the Skrallins. It might not be needed but I’m sure we can arrange for it to be at your disposal, if required.”

“That might be helpful. I’m not an expert on naval logistics, but Pieter Jan will probably be happy to hear it”, Hendrik de Lange said. “And a token contribution, a few ships. It lets us stick another flag on the website for the operation. Makes it seem more like a regional thing, you know, rather than just Excalbia and Knootoss throwing their weight around and dragging the rest of the region along.”

“Well I imagine that’s what the Empress wants. If she can sell it to her own populace that plucky Aerion is at the mercy of the big powers then it will do wonders for her stock. But a concerted effort on all our parts will show her the limits of whatever pseudo-philosophical bullshit Aldaseer tried to feed you.”

“He really didn’t try to feed me anything. He tried to look dignified saying nothing”, the Knootian minister said with a shake of his head. “But if she really needs a foreign enemy, she might be weaker than our intelligence guys assess her to be.” He made a dismissive sound, then reached for his cup again, but he simply held it in both hands rather than drinking from it just yet.

“There are a few things I wanted to get your bearings on. The first is the military component, making sure that you’re not feeling left out in the cold. The second is to get your view on invoking the Nivelet human rights provisions. I already understand that your government will support it. But I do want to make sure that the timing is right. If we announce an investigation now, we’ll have lost our leverage. The lawyers will insist on an independent inquiry, and I doubt Aerion will come out of that inquiry in a way that would allow us to vote down sanctions. Takes away flexibility, you know? I’m still hoping that we can bring them in, get them to commit to a bare minimum of decency in exchange for being invited to all the good parties.’

The Ambassador stroked his chin. “I agree that to invoke it now would be to escalate the situation. But it is certainly something to bear in mind, and more than that, to prepare for. To answer your question, yes, we would support invoking the provisions of Nivelet against Aerion. I think the human rights violations are abundantly clear. We will also go one step further; if it helps then we will submit it to the Committee. As a participating nation in Nivelet but not an actual member then it may provide a little diplomatic cover if we, with our more detached status, bring the case against Aerion.” He sipped his coffee. “If that helps, of course.”

“Honestly, my friend, I think it’d be more credible coming from Ernestria. And it’ll have my full support, when it comes. Perhaps a strategic leak of what we’re working on might help. Something deniable. Non-escalatory. A proposal by an NGO, or something.”

“Well quite,” agreed Gladen, “And I imagine that nothing will hurt the Empress’ pride more than being put in the same corner as Dietrich and the Reds.”

“Hmmm”, the Knootian Minister agreed. He finished his drink then, covertly glancing at his Synthexis smartwatch. It lit faintly up as it recognised his gaze. “So is there anything I can do for you? The beef thing. The cheese thing? I really want to maintain an open dialogue on that stuff, even if we both have local business crying in our governments’ ears.”

“Oh they certainly cry,” agreed the Ambassador, “But we both know that Ernestria needs Nivelet more than Nivelet necessarily needs Ernestria. We’ll have to see what government takes shape after the upcoming elections but I think we can both see that, short of Divine Intervention, it’s likely to be another Grand Coalition. Maybe the Socialists will emerge the larger, maybe the Christian Democrats will hang on in the countryside. We shall have to see. But I think the direction of travel is to loosen those restrictions which our negotiators felt obliged to argue for. I suppose I only have two points, if I may, which I’d like to ask whilst I have you here. First, we’ve talked around the issue of carriers but it might be fruitful if we can arrange a meeting between Pieter-Jan and our Defence Minister, whose name escapes me, in order that we can actually come to some sort of agreement such that the next time Aerion or Ostmark or anyone else decides to challenge the accepted order then Ernestria has more to offer than warm words and coffee. Secondly, and perhaps the more fraught question, is over Nivelet itself. I realise that the arrangements obtained from Nivelet amount to 90% membership but, and you know what I’m going to ask Henrik, 90% is not 100%. You know I’ll be asked by Bodendorf whether I mentioned this again when I debrief them later.”

“I’ll set up the carrier meeting”, De Lange said. A smile had been growing in anticipation of what the ambassador was going to ask. “And you can tell them that we’re considering it very seriously. Excellent progress being made. Whatever keeps them happy.” He smiles. “But between you and me, I think it just needs a little time. As far as most Knootians are concerned, every country west of the Vasconian mountains consists either of swarthy savages or countries that look better attuned to 19th century fairy tales than 21st century politics. Big moustaches, long titles. That sort of thing. Now you know that Ernestria is different, and I know that Ernestria is different. But we’ve got to give the electorate a little bit of time to catch up. The Excalbians strong-armed us into letting the Ajubans in. And that’s three to ten extra seats for Staalman right there…” He looked rueful.

“Well quite,” said Gladen, “And the last thing either of us needs is another farmer protest.”

“I think full membership will be fine if Ernestria manages to be part of the open market, meet the stability strictures, and manage to not financially collapse in the next… four to eight years? It’ll give your social democrats an extra incentive to keep a tight lid on the government purse, in the event that they happen to win those elections.”

“I suppose the only other thing, and you’ve reminded me, I was going to ask about was your government’s position on this business between the Cyretans and Qubti? I note that the Jrawan President recently came on a visit and met with Viljoen and that Breucian woman of his. So I know it’s ‘on your radar’ so to speak.”

“We’ve an understanding with Jrawa”, Minister de Lange confessed. “They were nervous about getting dragged in, so we’re helping to provide some deterrence. If they invade Jrawa, we send Viljoen and his girlfriend to visit them”, he joked.

“That would be enough to put anyone off sending tanks across the border.”

“In all seriousness, Charlie still believes it’ll be nothing. But you know our sympathies. We may intervene if Qubti invades Jrawa, or if it looks like the Cyretans are being overrun. Please tell me that there’s no scenario where the Cyretans invade Jrawa and then get overrun by Qubti, because I swear, I’m just going to quit and go back into consultancy if that happens.”

“Well no, indeed, but I must confess that you surprise me Hendrik. We both know that Aksel is a brute but he is, at the very least, a brute we can do business with. The Qubtians still claim to be a socialist state, despite everything. I would rather have thought you’d be more interested in seeing their plans for regional hegemony thwarted.”

“We let reds take territory during the Mittelmeer affair, because we didn’t level with Excalbia. I’m not planning to allow something like that to happen on my watch”, Hendrik de Lange assured. “I’d just rather wish the Cyretans don’t muck things up by acting against Jrawa in any way. If your people can get that message across to them, so much the better.”

“I’m afraid what currency we had in Cyretia has been somewhat spent,” replied the Margrave sadly. “You know how it is. There’s a sizeable Muslim population in Chelmany and they’ve rather taken against elements in Aksel’s government plotting to start a race war and then getting murdered to cover it up. Politics, dear boy, politics. But despite our Ambassador having been withdrawn I can say in confidence to you Henrik that we have no desire to see Qubti prevail against Cyretopolitania, as much as we might not say so in public, not least with an election ‘round the corner.”

“I think we’re on the same level, Clemens. There’s only downsides to this for us. Any way you slice it”, Hendrik agreed. “That’s why Charlie would rather this just go away. And you take my point about swarthy savages. None of these people look good on KNN.”

“I suppose,” ventured the Margrave, “We’ll have to see which way the Excalbians fall. If they decide not to assist the Emperor’s Little Helpers on the Emerald Sea then why should we?”

“To prevent … a Qubtian Union stretching from coast to coast…” Hendrik de Lange spread his arms, as though to embrace the entire continent.

“Well I agree, it would look bad, but how would we square that against supporting someone for whom ‘Traitor’s Gate’ isn’t just a story you peddle to gullible tourists.”

“Doesn’t he have a … royal cousin in exile or something?” Hendrik de Lange asked. “Honestly, I’ve not looked into the Cyretian internal dynamics closely, beyond the daily intelligence briefs. It’s your neck of the woods, Clemens. If your people can develop a way of making the Cyretans look more like plausible anti-communists, I’d welcome it.” He paused. “Not … voicing cabinet support for regime change, you know. Just spitballing between friends over drinks.”

Clemens raised his eyebrows in thought. “There’s a Crown Prince. He married a Braslander, well they always do, so I don’t know what that says about his judgement. But I’m sure we can make something work if needs be.”

“I’m sure that, if the worst comes to it, it’s better to abdicate to a relative than it is to be crushed under communist tank threads. And I’m sure someone will take him in. We can if nobody else will. He’s rich. He’ll be comfortable.”

“Hmm, yes. But I rather see your point about everything west of Kaap Chamaven being a mess. Wouldn’t look good in Rederland, would it?” He stretched and, in so doing, surreptitiously looked at his own watch. It didn’t light up but his man wound it for him every morning. “Well, I didn’t drag you down here Hendrik to talk about the hole Aksel has dug for himself, so I’m grateful you humoured me on that point.”

“I’ve got a constituency meeting in 30, anyway”, the Knootian minister replied. “Global Hell. The KEM now. They want to help the government contribute to.. Erm. Anyway, they need more government funds.” He looked apologetic. “Always good to talk to you, friend.”

The Margrave stood. “And you Hendrik. I’ve got to go myself. The Bodendorf Philharmonic are on tour and I’ve got to try and drum up support for a Knootian leg. As you do. Why anyone would want to see them is beyond me. Modern rubbish, anything after Wagner is trash if you ask me, which no one does. I’ll speak with the FM, if he’s sober, and let you know about the base, the contribution etc.”

by **The Resurgent Dream** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 2:32 pm

Smoking Room, Kilburn House
Tarana, Caldan Union

It was cold winter day in Tarana, with heavy snow drifts rising to either side of the roads and walkways, and the Prime Minister was receiving his guest in what was still called the Smoking Room, though it had been literally decades since anyone had smoked there. The Prime Minister was relaxed, gracious, at his ease. The mugs of warm cocoa lemonade that sat on the table had been brought out not by a steward but by his wife, Marguerite, who had stayed a few moments and spoken to the visitor, asking about his wife and children and even his grandchildren, all of whom she remembered by name.

He had been Prime Minister for more than three years now. He had only recently won reelection. Although the second landslide had not been so thrilling as the first, Caldans remained excited about Calvert in a way they hadn’t been for any of his immediate predecessors. Depreux had been an intriguing man, a genuine intellectual, but ultimately he had had no real chance to shine. His lot had been only to cling to power a few years longer after Lola Foster’s Labour Government had been mortally wounded by the South Epheronian settlement. That had been a test of character. The deal had been sprung on the principals with no notice and little reasonable chance to prepare for such an eventuality. Privately, the Prime Minister had long thought she had passed it, though Aerion was now leading him to question that assessment. Publicly, of course, he considered the matter settled. Practically, he understood why the left had savaged her for it and knew he would not now be in office if they hadn’t. Foster herself had been a professional type, a woman one might expect to see in any respectable law firm or bank branch. Sir Malcolm Stuart, cousin to the queen, had been a strong, steady hand, but one reliant upon tradition. He had been a candidate rooted in a yearning for ages past, a vote for the reassurance of tradition in an uncertain world. Then there was George Flynn, the officious lawyer; Oliver Welton, the vapid political celebrity; Amber Trinh, the vexatious right-wing academic; Rhodri Jones, the unpredictable but stubborn old bulldog. Altogether too many prime ministers for a decade and a half. You had to go back all the way to Viscountess Kairis to find a Prime Minister Caldans really admired. The Prime Minister, naturally enough, viewed his predecessors through the lens of history. He knew that all of them had come to power with the promise of something fresh. He knew there had been a sort of malaise among Caldans that had lingered since the bombing of Solomon and the Iesian War, a yearning for the hope that characterised the nation in the first decade of the century, when the future had seemed theirs, the days of promising regional conferences and endless dynastic marriages, of victory in Marlund and bold new alliances. The Prime Minister did not know how history might judge him.

For now, however, the Prime Minister still seemed something bright and new, a rebirth of hope. The media, the electorate, official Tarana, all seemed charmed by him. He was, after all, quite charming. Young and strong, rich and handsome, and yet candid and cerebral. The candor, or the appearance of it, was part of the appeal. People seemed to believe him, to believe he sympathised with them. Everyone left his presence thinking they had a friend and an ally in the Prime Minister. He seldom argued with petitioners. He would grant most of their points. It was right, reasonable, at least understandable. However, it wasn’t possible. Not yet anyway. Not this week. Not this month. Perhaps not this term in office. He was a practical man, decisive but not quixotic. He wasn’t a soft idealist but neither was he part of the Old Guard. He was of the generation who had fought the Iesian War and not as brass far behind the lines or as some junior staffer. Now was the government of FAC skippers and company commanders. Modern men, reasonable, humane, but hardened by war. That, at least, was the public image, though the Prime Minister himself was one of very few in his government who fit the description.

The visitor was Anthony Borne, Lord Cavaignac, the pinnacle of the Old Guard, the embodiment of the Establishment, a proper gentleman of an earlier era. Lord Cavaignac had the confidence of the good, sound men from the shires on which the National Party still depended. He himself, of course, was not a member of a political party. He had been an independent peer in the old House of Lords for the few years he had sat there and, of course, the College of Peers was no place for politics. He was a man who served his country, not a political party, raised in a tradition of service. He had attended White Oak and Avonbury and his acquaintance included military officers, clergymen, Civil Servants, diplomats, lawyers, academics, and, with slightly more reserve, politicians, businessmen, and powerful people behind the scenes in journalism, sport, and entertainment. He had served himself. He had flown a plane in Marlund and, as a civilian, had been appointed Chief of Defence Logistics during the Iesian War. He was a man who knew power, where it lay, how it was exercised. He still had his security clearance, and was on all manner of advisory boards and commissions. He knew to whom to speak and to whom not to speak. He knew that real power did not belong to those who wanted too badly to see themselves on the television screen or, these days, to have millions of social media followers. That was for the sort of vulgar politician only a step above actors and musicians and sportspeople, themselves little more than clowns and prostitutes, or such was his view of the world. For those of a certain sensibility, Lord Cavaignac’s social circle was coextensive with respectability. They were not exactly circles where the Prime Minister was unknown. He was the son of an ambassador, the grandson of a provincial senator. His wife was the flower of Arcadian high society. Still, he was not Sir Malcolm or Rhodri Jones who, for all their eccentricities, had been very much men of a certain class, or Viscountess Kairis of whom men like Lord Cavaignac still spoke much as they spoke of the Queen. Neither was he Amber Trinh, never truly belonging and yet understood, a useful symbol, a point to make, or like the endless array of Labour prime ministers whom Lord Cavaignac despised but, also, understood. The Prime Minister was not exactly an outsider, though, like all opposition campaigns, he had portrayed himself as one in his first election as Leader of the National Party. There was something not entirely respectable about his father. A few rumours, a few associations. There was his brother, Henry, in the Senate, and his brother, Peter, Attorney General of New Arundel. It was a bit too much. A bit too grasping. And the family history was a little too colourful. A descendant of Hiberno-Norman aristocrats but also of Ambaran pirates and a great many ancestors of no especial distinction. Besides, while practically every National Party leader called themselves a one-nation conservative, Calvert meant it a bit too strongly. That was great for winning over the centre, and he had won them over, but there was something about all that education talk and all those pretty wildlife overpasses that seemed a little too liberal, a little wet, a little soft.

There was nothing soft in Lord Caviagnac. That wasn’t to say he was an unrefined man. He was witty and graceful and had once been the life of the party. He was friends not only with the great and powerful but also with Joseph Owens and Benjamin Urman and Henry O’Toole, with men of letters. When he had served in the Ministry of Defence under Glenn Duggan, he’d been known for his impressions of this or that troublesome field commander.

Lord Cavaignac and the Prime Minister were getting on rather well. They had not known each other before the Prime Minister had run for office. The Prime Minister might have appealed to the nation’s idealism but he had a cynical side too and overt idealism, at least in others, at least in matters of policy and the persons of those who held power, that made him uncomfortable somehow. He preferred a man like Lord Cavaignac. Tart. Worldly. Wise. The two men spoke between sips.

‘You can’t always trust the foreign service,’ Lord Cavaignac was saying. ‘Half of them think in Dutch and half of them think in French.’

‘French is a Caldan language,’ the Prime Minister said. ‘It is my wife’s language.’

‘It is the language of my fathers,’ said Lord Cavaignac, ‘but it is different in an Arcadian accent.’

‘Wyrick is handling them,’ the Prime Minister said.

‘I’m sure,’ Lord Cavaignac said drily. ‘And he is well advised?’

‘Some of the best and brightest minds from Avonbury, Spence, and the University of Narich,’ the Prime Minister answered.

‘And Dilworth?’ Lord Cavaignac pressed slightly.

‘Highly recommended by Nelson and the Chambers people,’ the Prime Minister said.

‘Chambers...’ Cavaignac said ominously.

‘Leslie Chambers is the Premier of Anata and a leader in the party,’ the Prime Minister said piously.

‘I don’t know politics,’ Cavaignac lied.

‘I do have to run for reelection,’ Calvert added.

‘I understand,’ Cavaignac said. ‘The practicalities of politics...’

‘I am interested in people,’ Calvert said.

‘Anyone in particular?’ Caviagnac asked.

‘Charlie Rutherford has told me this will be his last term in Parliament,’ Calvert noted. ‘I was wondering if you’d given any thought to running for the seat?’

‘I am a Peer,’ Cavaignac said dismissively.

‘The rules of the College of Peers are different,’ Calvert said unnecessarily.

‘It might be constitutional,’ Cavaignac allowed, ‘but still improper.’

‘Are you sure?’ Calvert asked. ‘Parliament would benefit from the wisdom of men like you.’

Cavaignac simply shrugged.

‘But I am sure you have thoughts,’ Calvert hinted.

‘I have a list,’ Cavaignac answered, ‘but I am sure you wanted to discuss something a little more urgent.’

‘I wanted your thoughts on Aerion,’ the Prime Minister said.

‘I was around during the initial regime change,’ Cavignac answered. ‘There was a lot of strong feeling at the time. Princess Ameria was and is suspected of regicide and fratricide or at least complicity. Her subsequent elevation of herself to empress and her creation of a more authoritarian regime only made things worse. Some considered it cause for war.’

‘You can’t ask a man to die for that,’ the Prime Minister commented. ‘You can’t have a war over that in the 21st century.’

‘Perhaps not,’ Cavignac conceded. ‘Your predecessor certainly did not believe so. We did nothing to directly challenge Aerion at the time. The foreign ministry acted on the generally accepted principles in international law of sovereign equality and that a state might chose the title of its own head of state. However, we declined to instruct protocol officers to treat the Aerionian monarch with the deference traditionally accorded to the Emperors of Excalbia, Pantocratoria, Tehua and, somewhat grudgingly, the Westbund. If anyone asked, those were matters of tradition which preceded the more modern understanding. There were some wits who had a certain amount of fun with it.’

‘I remember,’ the Prime Minister said. ‘They paraphrased Disraeli in The Sun. The Queen of Aerion, as a Queen, has a dignity as old and great as any in the Atlantic but the Padshah Empress shall always be a parvenu empress. The chat shows had more fun with it.’

Cavignac shrugged. ‘Words he wrote to a usurper. Be that as it may, the Padshah symbolism is important to he regime’s consolidation. I think not giving it much credence is a useful response. Too strong a response seems too strongly affected by it. It gives it more power.’

‘The Aerionian navy, on the other hand, is not symbolic,’ the Prime Minister said.

‘To an extent, it is,’ Cavignac suggested. ‘Unless your people believe they are preparing an attack on any of the nations in the region?’

‘No,’ the Prime Minister confirmed. ‘At least, we don’t believe so. It’s a provocation. A show of strength. It’s a carrier-oriented navy, designed for forward deployment and, to an extent, showing the flag. It’s the kind of navy we had a decade ago before Welton’s retooling programme in the wake of the Iesian conflict. Our navy is designed to use dispersed power to win a conventional great power conflict, mostly with assets we don’t want seen. However discretely they operate, a carrier is itself a huge concentration of force and quite vulnerable operating close enough to any advanced enemy to be useful.’

‘So could it be an option to simply not provide a response? If we’re prepared to defend ourselves and our interests, in case something actually does happen, perhaps we avoid any direct response? Let it look like bluster?’ Cavignac did not speak the words as if he believed them. He was simply prompting the Prime Minister to continue.

‘Unlikely,’ the Prime Minister said, as expected. ‘Shahriar is not the sort of go away if you ignore him. If he’s not confronted now, I worry he would find a time and a place to actually fight. Besides, the region will respond to this provocation and we don’t want to show division. The Knootians and Excalbians have already indicated as much. I will urge the same on the Pantocratorians.’

‘Very interesting,’ Cavignac said, as if he hadn’t already known that. The Prime Minister and his Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence had already made the proper communications and issued the appropriate orders. Pericles and its ‘loose’ carrier group would be the Caldan contribution to the shadowing operation for as long as it might take. Sarsfield and its carrier group, assigned to the defence of Vasconian Caldas, would also participate so long as the operation remained in its allotted range.

‘You think I’ve made a mistake?’ the Prime Minister said, more earnestly than he ever did to his own ministers or closest aides.

‘No,’ Cavignac said, after a moment’s hesitation. ‘There is no other viable response.’

‘So about those names?’ the Prime Minister asked. In truth, that was what he had wanted most.

‘Let’s start with Sonal Sinh, just our type, if you can endure the inevitable puns...’

by **Snefaldia** » Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:50 pm

Passili Palace, Sargedain

The emergency meeting of the King's Chancellery took place at the state-of-the-art SCIF built in the sub-basements of the High King of Snefaldia's official residence, a 16th century Mannerist palace used as archival storage and remote offices that had been first hastily, and then carefully, converted back to use as a residence-cum-government office for a country rediscovering, some felt, an ancestral disposition for being subjects of a hereditary leader. The King's government, and the King himself, were listening dispassionately, with furrowed brows and screwed-up mouths, to the urgent intelligence reports on the Empire of Aerion. The deployment of Aerion's fleets, and the unmistakable upgrading of their security security posture, produced immediate alarm in the both the civilian and military intelligence apparatuses, which had now been compiled into a full report for the King and his Council.

The seating in the SCIF was circular, but with a single elevated seat behind the northernmost chair where the King sat, directly behind Zylvá Hossä, his Lord Chancellor. A central holographic projector threw up images of Aerion's fleet deployments, flipping between projections showing their vessels and aircraft relative to Snefaldia's territorial waters, naval projections, ADIZ, and so on. From his seat Colonel Mursili Atub, the head of the Citadel, Snefaldia's secret intelligence service, delivered his report on the situation as it was understood by. Atub, a tall, aquiline-nosed man with a thinning widow's peak of grey-black hair, resembled a crow in the shadowy light; he was a career intelligence man who'd first come up through the army (working for the now-King when he was a general) and had remained loyal to his old commander during the Almost War.

His low, smooth drone trailed off, and Lord Chancellor Hossä rubbed his eyes. "Bottom line, then, Colonel."

"Yes, sir. From what we have been able to ascertain from the situation within the Aerionian government, the unprecedented deployment of military forces, and the sudden purging of high-level officials, coincide with a sudden shift in the political calculus of, presumably, the Empress to assert Aerionian claims - ostensibly, given their diplomatic notes - within the region. It appears, from all indications, that the Aerionian government is quite serious about asserting a strong Aerionian position, quite suddenly, but has been otherwise vague about this. As you are aware, from Citadel reports we have believe that the Empress has constructed since her accession to power and the assumption of her Imperial title a highly personalist monarchy with a rigid system of imperial authority; the sudden decision to focus outward into the region suggests that the internal situation in the country has reached a stage where all direct threats, check and balances - informal or otherwise - have been eliminated. It is also possible that the Empress's government has either been suborned by, or heavily influenced by, key ministers." Atub droned on a bit until Ilionás Sondrásái, the Minister of State and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, raised a hand.

"Motivations and reasons aside. For all intents and purposes this looks like a prelude to armed conflict in our own backyard. Naval Group One has been on Base Alert since their fleets deployed, and the Air Force has strengthened patrols and surveillance of the Air Defense Identification Zone in the Ishahr Sea." he said. Atub nodded.

"Yes, sir. Thus far we have had no violations of Snefaldian ADIZ control by Aerionian aircraft, nor have we seen any violations of our territorial waters. However the posture of the Aerionian naval forces is extremely threatening and provocative."

A throat was cleared; that was Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Lord Admiral Ta'us Rata'aa, the most senior military official serving in the government and a man whose picture was in the dictionary next to "political survivor". "To say the least. However it does not look like a prelude to war - yet." he said. "The disposition of Aerion's naval forces, though inescapably provocative, is too wide to be a prelude to armed conflict at this stage - unless they plan to go to war with everyone in the region. Given the highly idiosyncratic and personalist nature of the Empress's regime, that's a possibility, however. But an unlikely one."

At this stage the Chancellor ran his fingers through his beard and put a hand on the table. "I have already requested, through the Foreign Ministry, emergency meetings with the representatives of Excalbia, Knootoss, the Caldan Union, Pantocratoria, Brasland, and Ernestria to gauge the responses of both the Nivelet treaty signatories and other key regional powers. I do not relish, ladies and gentlemen, what I am about to tell you - although it is true that the analysis of the Aerionian deployments do not indicate any coordinated malintent or focused mission of attack, the daring and provocative nature of the mission and the expansive scope means we cannot ignore it. To that end, earlier today I convened a meeting of the Central Military Commission - " he nodded to the two Vice-Chairmen and the five other members, seated in the back of the SCIF - "and am ordering the Snefaldian Navy to sea, round-the-clock patrols within the scope of our Air Defense Identification Zones, and putting the Strategic Missile Command on High Alert. Additionally, in consultation with Lord Admiral Ta'us, we will be advancing fleet reorganization plans laid down last year to counter this threat. Lord Admiral?"

A few buttons were pressed and the holograms in the center of the SCIF changed. The admiral highlighted a few portions. "In accordance with the Naval Reorganization Protocol 2024, Naval Task Groups II and III, stationed in the Snefaldian Sotahr Islands and Antarctic Snefaldia, will be redeployed and reassigned within the Western Atlantic as a combined Naval Task Group II, and will be stationed at the Palahša Naval Base in Hapalla and Seha to form a northern task force in the Mittelmeer. Some ships, notably the cruiser Ishuwa, will be reassigned to Naval Group I. Additionally, littoral and coastal flotillas in Karduniash, off the Vasconian Gulf, are on high alert for violations of our maritime territory. This deployment will give Snefaldia an additional carrier in the region. We will also be advancing timetables at the Ishahr Naval Yards to complete planned naval construction ahead of schedule to combat this new threat."

From behind, in his seat, the High King gave a light cough, saying nothing. The Lord Chancellor nodded. "Foreign Minister Atatäri has summoned the Aerionian ambassador for an audience with he and myself for tomorrow morning so that they might explain the situation and we might convey our stance. That stance is this: we welcome the continued involvement of the Grand Empire of Aerion as a valued regional power, trade partner, and close neighbor. However, the State of Snefaldia will exercise its own rights in accordance with international law to ensure the safety of Snefaldian citizens and interests, and work with our international partners to ensure freedom of navigation in international waters. To that end, Snefaldian armed forces are on a state of high alert in keeping with the Aerionian stance. To you, I say, His Majesty's government will not be intimidated and we will not allow our interests to be threatened. Nor can we allow Aerion, which has thus far been a quiet member of the regional community, to threaten the continued growth and development of Snefaldia or challenge our interests to the south and north of the Asharaatsuyts. Thank you, that will be all. Long live His Majesty the High King!"

by **Xirnium** » Fri Jan 10, 2025 8:06 am

“‘E.’! Head of ‘E.’, get in here!”

Lúdvig Anúlyth, the kind of fifty-something man most people immediately forgot, was Head of ‘E.’, the section the Secret Service Bureau (called the ‘Parade’) concerned with the Caldan–(Excalbian–)Knootian–Pantocratorian axis which was the dominant military alliance in the Western Atlantic. ‘E.’ was for Europe-Atlantic; the desk had changed names, but the initial had stuck.

Wearing a very dark-grey three-piece suit, Lúdvig walked briskly across the fifth floor of ‘Lady’s Mantle’ House on Valthrâza Parade (from which the name). Originally built for the Post Office Savings Bank, it was a good example of the type of grand Baroque Revival style which had been popular for public buildings in the Bright Republic from the end of the XIX century to the Great War. It had pinkish-red brick and white-grey limestone facades, slated false mansard roofs with timber pedimented dormers, and timber sash windows with glazing bars and fixed upper lights.

Inside, the offices and workspaces of the ‘Parade’ were tired and drab, their walls in institutional cream and yellow with minimal pale green patterning, the air heavy with the smell of paper, stale tobacco, and dust. The fifth floor was very sparsely finished with exposed cast-iron columns and steel beams, its maple wood-block and tile flooring in need of polishing. The majority of timber partitions and corridors had been removed to create vast open-plan spaces, dominated by overhead strip lighting.

The desks were square and wooden, with black rotary telephones and stacks of folders (stamped with enormous red type). Each was separated by shoulder-high partitions of ugly frosted glass, and each had a glass desk pad, so that no writing indentations could be left. Those desks which were unoccupied looked as though abandoned—desk drawers were left open and had to be empty, wastepaper bins were placed on top of desks at the end of every evening (institutional paranoia allowed nothing to be hidden from supervision).

Lúdvig passed a fifty-something secretary, with blue-rinse hair, a grey cardigan and a firm, intelligent face, who was closing a cardboard archive box inside a creaking dumbwaiter. She hit the red button to send it down to Registry on the fourth floor, a vast archive of intelligence, staffed by ‘Parade’ researchers. On the fifth floor, the offices were containers mounted on blocks, so that they did not share walls to prevent overhearing. Outside one of these offices, shuttered with aluminium blinds, a coffee trolley with a stainless-steel urn provided basic amenity.

At the end of the fifth floor stood a soundproof container with no windows. Climbing the step, Lúdvig entered and shut the door behind him. A brief, faint hiss escaped as the door’s hermetic seal closed. Then there was a heavy, muffled silence. Every wall in the calustrophobic room was finished in orange eggcrate acoustic foam.

‘D.’ was for Director of the ‘Parade’, and he sat at the head of a large square wooden table, in a brown tweed suit he had owned for at least a decade. By now he must be seventy, and he looked every year of it. Paranoia had been etched deep into his sallow features.

In front of him were a pair of pen holders and a crystal whiskey decanter. Ranged against him were Rúprecht Gorthâlyn, Arnaud Thalyndôr and Gudrún Vyrlanthêra, none looking happy. Gerda Xalvyrân sat to the side in a raffish single-button skirted suit, her otterproof suede boots up on the table.

“‘E.’, sit down,” said ‘D.’. Lúdvig unbuttoned his suit jacket and walked around the table to his seat at ‘D.’s’ left. Lúdvig was ‘D.’s’ man. “Take a look at this nonsense,” ‘D.’ said, stubbing out a cigarette in a faceted art glass ashtray.

Lúdvig flipped open the manila file in front of him. A moment later, he narrowed his eyes behind his horn-rimmed glasses, and flipped to the next page.

“Report by the Aerionian High Command on their recent naval deployments in the Sea of Insolence,” ‘D.’ explained. Lúdvig continued to read. More than forty nuclear submarine deployments (Operation ‘Delta’). Quantical artificial intelligence integration. New anechoic naval technology. Even a recommendation from Field Marshal Shahriar to continue broadening close cooperation with the Imperial Security Agency. On the other side of the table, Gerda revolved slowly in her chair, nearing the end of her copy of the file. “Just what the Board of the Admiralty has been insisting we produce some information on,” ‘D.’ observed.

“Where did you get this?” Lúdvig said. He looked astonished.

“I didn’t,” said ‘D.’, gesturing to the man at his right. ‘Rúprecht and his little circle walked in with it.”

Arnaud, seated beside Rúprecht and wearing a burgandy polka-dot silk-jacquard bow tie, took an enormous calabash meerschaum pipe out of his teeth and tried to explain: “Look, ‘D.’—”

“Shut up!” ‘D.’ snarled.

Holding her cup of jasmine tea in one hand, Gerda flicked casually through her finished copy of the file with the other. “Style? Appalling,” she summarised in a lazy drawl. “Patently a fabrication, from beginning to end.” Then she looked over her wire-framed glasses at them. “Just could be the real thing...” she suggested with a wintry smile.

“Well, if it’s genuine, it’s stardust,” said Lúdvig, skimming the remainder of the contents of the file. “But its timing makes it suspect,” he said.

“Lúdvig is suspicious, Rúprecht!” said ‘D.’ with false surprise.

“Where did it come from? What’s the access?” Lúdvig asked.

All good questions.

Rúprecht paused a moment too long before answering. “A new secret source of mine,” he said, somewhat arrogantly.

Lúdvig looked unconvinced. “But how could he possibly have access to—”

“He has access to the most sensitive levels of imperial policy-making,” Rúprecht assured him. While Rúprecht spoke, ‘D.’ picked up a faceted tumbler and drained his whiskey, his agitation growing. Rúprecht shared: “We’ve named the operation ‘Thaumaturgy’.”

“Oh, Rúprecht and his associates bypassed us, Lúdvig,” ‘D.’ said. A cold fury was rising in voice. “Gone straight to the Minister!” Rúprecht sighed, shaking his head slightly in denial. “Rúprecht has been allowed to keep the identity of his new friend ‘above top secret’!”

“The Minister agrees with me that too many secrets are blown around the ‘Parade’,” Rúprecht countered. “Too much failure, too many scandals. Too little solid intelligence!” he said, drawing the words out with disgust.

Gudrún, a top University of Närväryn IX Vogàret post-graduate who became a devoted airborne infantrywoman in the Parachute Regiment and a committed Cold Warrior, attempted to take some heat out of the room. “Rúprecht does have a point, ‘D’,” she said. “We should be fighting plutocratic capitalists and counter-revolutionaries—not each other.”

“Well,” said Rúprecht, still bristling, “we’re losing our reputation, our partners—”

‘D.’ sneered: “The fucking Committee of Safety!”

“And we’ve had enough!” Rúprecht shot back. “There’s going to be changes,” he added, glancing around the table meaningfully.

“We need to decide if we want to be part of the past,” agreed Arnaud, gesticulating with his pipe, “or part of the future.”

“I should have left you where I found you...” ‘D.’ realised with a crawling horror.

Arnaud stood from his chair and spat out his pipe. “Look, ‘D’—” he started, ignoring Gerda’s cautioning arm, his voice rising.

Several began arguing at once.

“I— I’ve made—” Gudrún tried to say over the heated exchange.

“Out!” ‘D.’ barked, standing from the table. “All of you!” he added, looking away furiously.

There was an awkward pause, then Rúprecht, Arnaud and Gudrún gathered up their paperwork, collected their briefcases, and filed out of the room. Gerda looked silently at ‘D.’ for a moment, who returned her stare coldly. She then adjusted her glasses, picked up her teacup and saucer, with her file, and left as well.

Once they were alone, Lúdvig spoke. “If,” he suggested, cautiously, “‘Thaumaturgy’ is genuine...”

“Nothing is genuine anymore!” growled ‘D.’, wearily.

by **Uncle Noel** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 6:22 pm

Huitznahuac Building, The People’s Commissariat for State Security, Itztlan, The Socialist People’s Fiefdom of Anahuac

Recirculated and filtered a thousand times, there was a metallic taste to the air. The room was windowless. White walls and a faded carpet displaying the fashions of forty years ago. A ceiling fan lazily circulated the stale ambience.

The Divisional Meeting of the VKS was no small affair. Most of the men and women sitting around the polished bogwood rarely saw each other in person. That is how it should be. If they regularly met then they’d talk, and if they talked then there might be consequences. No one likes consequences.

The First Division went first and everyone found this boring. Rounding up dissidents, spying on cocky academics, harassing those who demanded something more; this was little more than police work. Any psychopath with basic literacy and opposable thumbs could work in the First Division, they all knew it.

When the Second Division spoke, people sat up. Foreign Intelligence. Now here was the glamourous stuff, the work that mattered. How could blackmailing a priest to rat on his parishioners compare to the life or death struggle against the bourgeois powers?

“...Of course,” continued II, whose name (of course) was classified, “It seems likely..” He paused and looked down at his notes again. “It seems certain,” he spoke the word hesitantly, nothing was certain in this game, “That Kassvar was behind the arrest and execution of Sardarid, for reasons that we cannot know for certain but which we can all guess.”

V reached across for a glass of water. “A power struggle?” she asked.

II shrugged. “Presumably,” he replied in a noncommittal tone, “But clearly he was presumed not to be in favour of the Grand Empire’s current quest for ‘a place in the sun’. It’s obvious the Aerionian fleet went to sea only after he’d been shot.”

Mimich Quiahuitl scribbled down a note on the yellow pad in front of him. “Interesting,” he said, “Interesting.” Unlike the others, the Director did have a name. Technically he outranked them all, and most maintained the polite fiction that he did, but just as power flowed from the barrel of a gun so too did authority in the VKS flow down from the desk of the People’s Commissar. Mimich Quiahuitl didn’t have a codename because he wasn’t important enough for a codename.

“What does Aerion hope to achieve by putting,” he flicked back through his pad, “Seven carrier fleets to sea and over 40 submarines?”

“We don’t know for certain,” replied II, “To test the resolve of the region? To project strength on the global stage?”

IX leaned back in his chair which squeaked in protest. “There’s got to be easier ways to do that,” he scoffed, “Put out a press release. Announce a new official map showing all the bits you now claim. It’s what we’d do.”

“Yes,” agreed the Director, “But we’re not them.”

II tapped his pen on the table. “I think they overestimated the Knootian response.” Everyone at the table pulled a face at the mention of the other hated enemy. “They’ve managed to corral the rest of those running-dogs to match the Aerion fleets on a two for one basis.”

"What did they do, foreclose their mortgages?” There was always a joker and it was always IV.

“Maybe we should put the Red Fleet to sea,” suggested X, “After all, an expansionist Aerion is a threat to everyone.” The general consensus was that X was an idiot.

“Why?” asked IX, “Why should we waste any effort in propping up an international order that is arranged against us. So what if we send a carrier to Sankt Euphrosyne, do you think the Knootians will thank us? Bullshit, they’ll just throw us under the bus with the rest of the Nivelet clowns. If Aerion wants to test the resolve of the bourgeois then let them. Put up a picture of their Empress in Revolution Square.”

III looked uneasy. “The Aerionians are an absolute monarchy. They’re hardly natural allies.”

“Who says we’re allies,” continued IX, “But if they want the same thing as we do, an end to the Knootian Order in the Western Atlantic, then we should help them. What’s the worst that could happen, the Nivelet dogs sanction us more than they already are, or soon will be? We’re not Agitprop—ideological purity is their game, not ours. We’re the VKS, god damnit, the sword and shield of the Party. And sometimes that means shielding our adversaries if it means sharpening the sword against our enemies.”

“Interesting,” said Quiahuitl, “Interesting. I will put that to the Comrade People’s Commissar when I next meet with him.”

“You should,” said IX, who had already done the day before, “Moments like this come rarely. We shouldn’t let the opportunity pass us by.”

II cleared his throat. “Well anyway,” he continued, “I should probably talk about the situation in Zamimbia…”

“Oh fuck,” said VI, “Not Zamimbia.”

by **Xirnium** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 8:27 pm

From the Board of the Admiralty of the Newly-Modelled Navy of the Eternal Republic

To the Admiralties of the Caldan Union, the Dutch Democratic Republic, the Empires of Aerion, Excalbia and Pantocratoria, and the Socialist People’s Fiefdom

On Our Observations of Increased Military Traffic and Adjustment of Patrol Patterns

The Right Honourable Lords High Commissioners of the Admiralty, in consultation with Cabinet, present their compliments and wish to draw attention to a matter of shared interest concerning maritime security.

The Admiralty has observed increased naval traffic across key maritime regions in the Western Atlantic, including the Sea of Insolence, the Avar Sea, the Ishahr Sea, the Aerion Strait, the Ambaran Strait, and the Vasconian Gulf.

These laneways are vital to the global and national economy, seeing over 500 Xirniumite merchantmen transit daily and the annual transit of 1.7 billion tons of Xirniumite cargo. Furthermore, they are areas of important oceanographic and meteorological survey, hydrographic charting and scientific research, including the vital work of the Society of Närväryn for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge.

Safeguarding the integrity of these critical shipping routes is the fearsome responsibility of every civilised nation.

Accordingly, the Admiralty has ordered that Counter Admiral Iveta Bêthanhazy Commander-in-Chief ‘Western Atlantic’ Squadron, from her flagship light fleet carrier ‘Thunderer’, conduct a fractional enhancement of periodical patrols transiting key maritime regions, including those previously outlined. This effort will begin with the attachment of the large light cruisers ‘Swiftsure’, ‘Revenge’ and ‘Melancholy’ leading XXIX Cruiser Division to ‘Western Atlantic’ Squadron.

As a benefit for our younger (and not so young!) ship spotters in the region, including tomorrow’s Admirals of the Fleet watching frigates and corvettes from Southport, Landing and St. Casimir, XXIX Cruiser Division and the ‘Western Atlantic’ Squadron have been prioritised for updated dazzle paintwork, always a crowd pleaser.

The measures outlined above align with our shared commitment to the principles of freedom of oceanic communication and collective maritime security. The Board of the Admiralty affirms its readiness to coordinate with regional naval actors to maintain peace and security in these waters and invites direction of any enquiries to Counter Admiral Bêthanhazy.

For Peace, Plenty and Parliament!

Thus sealed and signed this ninth day of Atharlothë in the MMMDCCCV year of the Bright Era as reckoned by the Committee of Safety, at Näväryn the Beautiful in the Eternal Republic

Admiral Xavière-Faustine-Hyacinthe LXXXVIII Marchioness zy Veúpre
First Sea Lord and General-at-Sea
Board of the Admiralty

(Fine for unrestricted circulation.)

by **Excalbia** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 12:57 pm

The following Diplomatic Note was delivered to the Foreign Ministries of the Caldan Union, the Pantorcratorian Empire, the Abt Republic, Brasland, Ernestria, Snefaldia, and other members of the Treaty of Nivelet.

Note No. xx

The Embassy of the Holy Empire of Excalbia and the Embassy of the Free Republic of Knootoss present their compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Caldan Union of the Resurgent Dream/the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria/the Kingdom of Ernestria/the Republic of Abt/the Kingdom of Brasland/the State of Snefaldia etc and has the honour to request the presence of Minister ((name)) at an ad hoc summit to be convened on ((date)) at the Excalbian Foreign Territory of New Excalbia.

The Embassy wishes to reiterate the importance of this summit, which will be jointly convened by the Holy Empire’s Minister of State, Grace Petersen, and the Free Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hendrik de Lange, to discuss a coordinated approach to the reemergence of the Grand Empire of Aerion. Events in Kemetia, including developments in Cyretopolitania, Qubti and Breucia, will be also be discussed among interested parties.

The Embassies of Excalbia and Knootoss avail themselves of this opportunity to present the Ministry with assurances of its highest regards.

//initialed ((Excalbian Ambassador and Knootian Ambassador, a.e.p.//
Sealed with the Seal of the Embassy of the Holy Empire
of Exclbia in ((capital city)) and that of the Embassy of the Free Republic of Knootoss in ((capital city))

by **The Resurgent Dream** » Sun Jan 12, 2025 2:30 pm

(([Joint Post between The Resurgent Dream and Knootoss))))

Reception Room, Gordon Building
Tarana, Caldan Union

William Wyrick, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Richard Byrd, the Minister of Defence, sat on comfortable couches, looking towards their Knootian counterparts. The room was elegant but designed to be somewhat relaxed. It was a place to talk comfortably, not a place for formal ceremonies, and was laid out as such. The couches were at an angle to one another with plenty of room for a wheelchair to roll up. The Knootians were given a view of the window, looking out from the second floor of the Gordon Building over St. Andrew’s Park. ‘We could be persuaded to send another carrier group to the Skarlins Island and, perhaps, to participate in shadowing in the Avar Sea. If there is anywhere in the region a conventional carrier duel could happen, it’s there.’ Byrd said as if he considered it a rather large if.

“I feel fairly confident saying this is more a test of wills than a test of arms,” Wyrick said.

“I agree,” Byrd confirmed, ‘but we have to be prepared for any eventuality. Far more likely than any direct naval conflict would be Aerionian interference somewhere. Ambara, Epheron, Kemetia…’

Pieter-Jan van Mersberg, the new Knootian Minister of Defence, had angled his wheelchair so as to best face the two Caldan ministers, though the traditional design of the reception room would only allow for a diagonal. It did not seem to bother him, as he gestured with one hand and held a notebook with the other, elaborating on his desired strategy: “While Aerion maintains its distributed threat posture, carriers are more symbolically valuable in the Avar-Ishahr sea”, he said, “The Aerionian Imperial Navy has only five carrier groups left at home, and readiness will degrade while the threat posture continues. Ships at sea will need to be cycled out. Having ten allied carrier groups at the Skralins, Brasland and possibly also the Ernestrian base in Breucia sends a clear message that Aerion cannot leverage the naval advantage it has over each of us individually to intimidate the region collectively. She can then either continue the posture and accept the symbolic disadvantage in her home waters, or wind down the operation and de-escalate.”

“Whereas the joint operation in the Sea of Insolence keeps us relatively safe from similar concentration”, Knootian foreign minister Hendrik de Lange said, having had to sell the plan a few times now during various meetings. He sat comfortably on the couch opposite the Caldans, nursing a cup of black coffee while van Mersberg did most of the talking.

“Exactly. Shadowing the Aeronian fleet in the Sea of Insolence takes blue water assets, but not necessarily carriers”, van Mersberg went on. “As my Pantocratorian interlocutor pointed out during our deliberations, air superiority can be maintained by the Insolent Powers…”

“... we talked about this, that phrase is really not a good shorthand. Please don’t don’t use it in public and get it trending on Twatter”, Hendrik de Lange intruded on his Defence counterpart, though he sounded good-humoured about it.

“... by the Sea of Insolence powers”, van Mersberg corrected as though barely registering the interruption: “... air superiority can be maintained to a significant degree from land within the Sea of Insolence. The Pantocratorians are sending their two newer Majesty-class carriers out west, whereas they will deploy a more… traditional… force at home. The Imperator Andreus and two cruiser groups will help us shadow their forces in the Sea of Insolence.”

“Right. In the Sea of Insolence, we really need bodies, so to speak. The better we can shadow their forces, the more credible our deterrent will be”, Hendrik de Lange agreed, hopefully pre-empting a long and technical explanation of the process by his counterpart. “Though between us, I’ve also been in informal discussions with the Ernestrians, and they would feel more reassured by a significant deployment in their neck of the woods, the Skralins and their base in Breucia. I hardly blame them for that. And they are our friends now through the Treaty of Nivelet, with concerns worth taking seriously.”

“Yes, yes,” Wyrick said.

“I wouldn’t describe the Aerionian investment in a large carrier fleet as individual naval superiority,” Byrd said, “or as, so to say, new fashioned. It is reminiscent of our navy before the Iesian War when it was largely devoted to peacekeeping, the implicit assumption being that direct conventional conflicts between great powers were a thing for the past. As you know, our lessened emphasis on supercarriers is the result of over a decade of wargaming, research and development, and consistent defence policy aimed at preparing the Caldan Union to fight a war with a peer or near peer. For the same reasons that we have air superiority in the Sea of Insolence, a carrier-based attack would not be our favoured means of, hypothetically, waging war near Aerion. Our dispersal doctrine also requires that we avoid showing most of our cruisers, frigates, corvettes, destroyers, and the like to the enemy. At least not on purpose. Excepting, of course, those already assigned to carrier groups. However, they do maintain a great deal of prestige and are probably the best vessels for showing the flag, so to speak.”

“And shore defence what they’re least good for?” Wyrick said, perhaps prodding his colleague for a specific response.

“Thank you for your expertise,” Byrd said sarcastically. ‘But I take your point. Perhaps we don’t need to keep our other carriers quite so close to home. We could add one more group to Avar Sea and send another to Skralins. Madrigal and Victory.”

“Your reasoning is well founded, Minister Byrd,” de Lange replied smoothly, offering a small nod of approval. He set his cup down with deliberate care, as if punctuating his point. “I’ve always admired the Caldan Union’s the Caldan Union’s ability to make the tough calls. Abandoning most supercarriers wasn’t just practical, but politically courageous. Adaptation to modern threats requires difficult choices, and your dispersal doctrine speaks to that foresight. Not every government has the political fortitude for such measures.”

Van Mersberg shifted slightly in his wheelchair, one hand reflexively brushing the corner of his well-worn notebook. His tone remained even, but still sounded like a note of protest: “Of course, in Knootoss, our approach diverges by necessity. Our 10 Rederland-class carrier groups grant us operational flexibility across multiple theatres. They serve as mobile command hubs, allowing rapid power projection and sustained operations far from home waters. The strategic depth they provide was crucial during the Iesus Christi Civil War, and while no such deployments have been necessary since, the capability remains integral to our doctrine.”

He gestured subtly, as if laying out a diagram in the air. “Carrier groups allow for layered defence and offensive reach simultaneously, though I acknowledge, as Minister Byrd rightly noted, they are less suited for shore defence. A balanced task force integrates air wings, guided missile cruisers, and submerged assets. These form a coherent response structure to both conventional and hybrid threats. We view it as less a matter of prestige and more a matter of operational necessity. That said, I agree that shadowing in the Sea of Insolence is best handled by lighter, more agile ships. Our multi-role frigates and cruisers are well-suited for sustained patrol and interception. They can track Aerionian movements without escalating the situation.”

De Lange leaned back slightly, glancing towards the window before returning his gaze. “And, naturally, our alliance obligations encourage forward presence. Reassurance to our new Ernestrian partners is paramount.” He smiled, reciting the foreign policy slogan, barely preventing himself from making the heart-shaped figure with his hands that the planned advertisement on KNN was to show some hybrid pop singer make: “Ernestria matters.” After a pause that was just slightly too long to be convincing he added: “As do Ambara, Epheron, and Kemetia, of course.”

Byrd nodded slightly. “I would not dispute their operational importance. By saying they were the best tool to make a symbolic point to the Aerionians, I hardly meant we kept four major naval groupings around solely for that reason. They were decisive in the Second Ambaran War. Still, I do have to say that Iesus Christi is precisely what set us rethinking our doctrine. That conflict left us desperately wishing we had not concentrated so heavily on our carrier fleet. Even with strong screening elements, they proved too visible and too concentrated as targets. Of course, it would be virtually impossible to cross such a breadth of ocean without carriers, but current doctrine would call for a force composition…” He paused, realising he might be belabouring the point here. “Perhaps our navies should coordinate more closely and discuss these things in greater detail, but the point now is that we have four carrier groups and are prepared to use them in responding to the Aerionians.”

Van Mersberg inclined his head faintly. “Having Caldan, Excalbian, Pantocratorian and Knootian carriers in the Skralins would reinforce our shared deterrence without overextending. Meanwhile, the Sea of Insolence remains under vigilant surveillance with our lighter combatants.”

De Lange offered a wry smile. “All in all, gentlemen, it seems we’re aligned on strategy.”

“I think so,” Byrd agreed.

Prelude to a Cold War in the Western Atlantic (Closed, WA)

Prelude to a Cold War in the Western Atlantic (Closed, WA)

Intelligence Dossier of Field Marshal Shahriar

Naval Deployment in the Sea of Insolence

Begging the indulence of le Carré and Alfredson

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