NationStates Jolt Archive

{Encrypted (low-level) Diplomatic Communique}

The Empire wishes to offer to re-establish the EOTED presence in Knootoss. Following our exit from SATO, we were forced to abandon the base in Knootoss that we had built and manned briefly. The Government has been considering options over the past week or so, and has decided to authorize the Diplomatic Corps to make an offer - actually several offers. For brevity and ease of reading, I will put these in bullet-point style.

Firstly, however, I note that all of these are options. Any option is possible, either independant of all the others, or in co-operation with one or more of the other options. All is open to negotiation.

* the Empire can offer Knootoss up to Rlh37billion in military aid
* the Empire can offer to construct and man an airbase in Knootoss, or renovate the old naval base and re-stock and resume occupation of that base (with the permission of SATO)
* the Empire can position defensive satelites in orbit above Knootoss to guarantee rapid reaction of the IDF AF in the event of conflict
* the Empire can send military consultants to Knootoss to provide training (if it is felt to be required)
* another option to be suggested by Knootoss

The last option is merely intended as an example, and to display that we would welcome further options on this matter.

The Empire is committed to its friendship with the Honourable Knootoss, and looks forward to further negotiation on this matter.

~ High King (First Minister) (High Lord Commodore) Semir-randil I

To: High King (First Minister) (High Lord Commodore) Semir-randil I
From: Prime Minister Lousewies van der Laan
Subject: re: military aid

Minister Hans van Mierlo has brought up your offer in the Council of Ministers and I must say that we are all intrigued by it. While we would be quick to accept some points of your proposal, several other points may look bad in the light of the international politics at the moment. Therefore we believe that engaging in such a special and durable relationship requires further negotiation.

The council of ministers has decided to send a team of top negotiators over to the Empire of the Eternal Dawn for a peace summit, if this is acceptable. The military discussions could be blended in with an agenda of establishing a cultural exchange programme and strengthening diplomatic relations. As a sidepoint, we feel that economic relations should also be discussed.

The team will need three weeks in order to prepare for the negotiations that will follow, should you accept.

Yours in friendship,

Prime Minister Lousewies van der Laan
Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss

*sends negotiating team AKA BUMP*

[OOC: Hey, Knoot. I'll need to speak to ya on IRC before we can move much further on this...

...however....... having said that....]

IC:
{Encrypted (low-level) Diplomatic Communique}

Such is the current international climate that we most assuredly agree with the specifics thusfar outlined for the negotiations to commence when your people are ready. The Empire would be proud to lay on transportation to Imperial House, Nenya, should it be required.

~ High King (First Minister) (High Lord Commodore) Semir-randil

{Communique Ceases}

Island of Earthly Delights,
Off the Coast of Knootoss.

Two NGF troops relaxing in the cantina.

- Hey, the nenyans are coming back to Knootoss.

- Ne-who?

- You know, the pointy ears...

- Oh, elvians!

- No... the nenyans... you know - EOTED.

- Oh... is it good or is it bad?

- I don't know.

- Are they friends or ennemies?

- I don't know.

- More vodka?

- You bet! Oh, and its pronounced 'elves', not 'elvians'.

- No-no! Its elvians! After all, if they are 'elves', than we are 'tarasovkans'!

- Euh... they are nenyans...

- Pointy ears?

- Yes.

- So they are elvians!

- Elves. Euh... Nenyans... euh... just pour the vodka!

[OOC: In other words: tag :roll: ]

Publicly broadcasted statement

Today the Empire of the Eternal Dawn and the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss announce that they have reached an agreement to strengthen bilateral ties further. While the agreement is primarily military, several cultural and economic measures have been included.

The Knootian government expresses it's gratitude at the great generosity of the Empire of the Eternal Dawn, and hopes for positive cooperation in the future. Imperial soldiers will be welcomed once again on Knootian soil.

The Nenya-The Hague Accord
Military aspects:
- The EOTED will give the DDR Rlh37billion in military aid
- The EOTED will renovate the old naval base in Hoek van Holland, Knootoss and re-stock and resume occupation of that base.
- The EOTED will position defensive satellites in orbit above Knootoss to guarantee rapid reaction of the IDF AF in the event of conflict
- The EOTED will send military consultants to Knootoss to provide training

Non-military aspects of the accord include:
- The DDR and the EOTED will establish a a cultural exchange programme
- The DDR and the EOTED will strengthen diplomatic relations
- The DDR and the EOTED will strengthen economic ties

The Empire of the Eternal Dawn is pleased and proud to acknowledge the announcement of the agreement of the Nenya-The Hague Accord with the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss.

EOTED will immediately deploy what will now be referred to as the Knootian Defence Taskforce (KDT), lead by the newly commissioned IDS Peacekeeper. The exact configuration of the Taskforce is classified.

The Empire pledges to move MISATs into position within the week, in accordance with the Accord, and the Primary Hoek van Holland Naval Base is expected to be returned to working order within three to four weeks. IDFL dropships will be dispatched within twenty-four hours to begin refit and repair operations on-site; IDF consultants will travel via standard air travel routes to Knootoss, and will arrive in The Hague within the next two or three days.

The Empire is proud to further improve its relations with the DDR of Knootoss, in line with long-term foreign policy goals. The Empire looks forwards to a long future of peaceful co-existance; and also to short-term mutual benifit from the economic and cultural components of the Accord.

May our future be brighter than the radiance of this day.

~ Empress Rialla ux-Rihad II

[OOC: IDS Peacekeeper is a Devastator class cruiser. She'll be accompanied by two other cruisers, and ten submarinal defence, plus two submarinal support ships.]

-------------------------
Juggling loyalties /
Carol of the Bells
-------------------------

As the ships from the Empire of the Eternal slowly arrived returned to Knootoss, the local population was celebrating Christmas. The politicians, convinced that they had not juggled enough with loyalties, went home for good food and gift-giving. Meanwhile, the soldiers came back in and reoccupied the formerly SATO naval basis that had been empty since the Empire had abandoned it.

But the Knootians had left a little surprise for the nenyans. A big Christmas tree now decorated the central square in the base, and little lights decorated the edges of the base. Though it was still in the late afternoon, the sun was already setting in these darkest days of the year. Across the base the carol of the bells resounded, welcoming the disembarking Nenyans.

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away

Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,

The Knootians had remembered the EOTEDS bravery during the shadow war. If there was anyone who were the old, and the bold, it was them. That the Knootians were the young and the meek was merely implied…

Ding dong ding dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling

One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'ry where
Filling the air

And in the air, the dark sky over Knootoss, new stars appeared. Small lights, basking in the reflected glory of he sun. Defence Satellites overhead, repositioned, bringing a renewed sense of protection to the DDR.

Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,

Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here,

An official delegation, and a group of soldiers in parade uniform cheered when the base was transferred. The sound of salute shots filled the air. Slowly, the flag of the Empire was raised again over the base. Proudly, it flappered in the chilly December wind.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/ma-tek.jpg

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send ,
on without end,
their joyful tone to every home
Dong Ding dong ding, dong Bong

The Nenyan soldiers that are assigned to the base - from the IDF Special Forces - look fairly bemused at the singing, at first. Christmas isn't celebrated in the Empire, so the tune is not all that familiar to them. But smiles come to their faces - albeit measured ones, although they do not lack sincerity - as they listen to the words.

These IDF SF soldiers are the cream of the IDF; soldiers who did not quite 'make the grade' required for the Imperial Palace Guard. Most of them are only 'deficient' in the emotional stakes; too emotional - that is, they smile or laugh or act emotionally - they were shunted into the newly formed IDF SF.

And so, haltingly, as they disembark from their dropships, they sing along... not very well, as they do not know the words, but they make the effort. A few, a very few - all of them officers - pause to look up at the sky as the new MISATmk1b's move into position, their mercury-mirror telescopes flaring in the Sun's rays as the protective sheathes blossom open far far above the Earth to expose the sensitive detection equipment inside.

The timing, as ever with EOTED, is all perfect. The ships sail into the harbour area just as the 'modernizations' are completed - with the usual ruthless efficiency that the IDF Engineering Corps is known for. In truth, very little was required - just patching up here or there, a dab of paint here, a repair there...

The IDF SF soldiers form up in front of the flagpole, guessing that the Knootians present will hoist the flag - and they guess correctly. As the flag raises, each soldier brings their left fist to their right breast - the strange exact inversion of the MIDF salute that the EOTED IDF embraces.

The new base commander steps forwards to speak to whoever looks like the leading Knootian, offering a hand to be shaken. "Most glad to be here," she adds with an easy smile.

Meanwhile, the warships 'drop anchor'. In truth, they don't 'drop' anything. They simply halt, using their MI-assisted engines to hold position even as the water shifts around them. Their upper decks re-orient, presenting the PDEF-beam clusters and comms/sensor units instead of the armour that had been presented previously.

And in the waves around them, submarinal defense ships surface gracefully.

EOTED arrives.