NationStates Jolt Archive

Alexei Chyornyev stood on the balcony and waved as his men marched past. Rank after rank of firm, virile soldiery. "It's a beautiful sight, isn't it dear?" he said, a smile playing at his lips as he took his wife's hand.

Carolyn resisted for a moment but stepped up anyway, shaking her head. "I think it's rather frightening, Alyosha." She whispered, pulling back after just a second.

"Oh, give it up, Carin..." Alexei grumbled.


Down below, the Holy Legion walked past, their submachine guns in their arms. Grey armoured, with their faces covered, they presented a powerful image of collective evil. Each one of them was trained to the point of near perfection.

Behind them, riding on white stallions, came two battalions of Inquisitors. Their golden armour and fishmail tunics sparkled in the sun, while their red cloaks hung indolently on their shoulders. On their chests silver crosses flashed as they rose their hands to bless the congregants and salute their Tsar.

Coming up along the road behind them were the latest tanks from the Imperial Armouries, the IHWV5 Gryphon. Large and sleek, they were perfectly crafted killing machines. Their main cannons turned about menacingly, focusing on the crowd. With a loud explosion, they fired smoke at the audience of nobles and merchants, which applauded genteely.

Overhead, jets screamed and pirrouetted in beautiful dances. Alexei nodded, and turned to another man on the podium. "All is in preparation, Mister M."

M, who was dressed in a red business suit, smiled. "Well. Isn't that beautiful..." he gestured Alexei forward. "Do your thing, Alexei. Inspire them. Rouse them up. We have work to do."

"So we do, M. So we do..." Alexei stepped forward and held up his hands. "For there must be conflict in this world!" he shouted. "Without conflict, fear, pain and tragedy, the lessons of this world and the next would be worthless!"

"Joy through power!" The assembled soldiers snapped to attention and wheeled to face the palace.

"Joy is the goal of all but is bought dearly!"

"We stand ready!"

"Joy is the price of power! We must find joy in power, even as we fight and die! Who amongst you is not ready? Who amongst you will not fight? Let him stand forward now!"

"Sir! We are yours to command! Direct us as you will!"

"Then go! Return to your place of rest and prepare yourselves! The storm comes!" Alexei saluted. "And only the strong will survive!"

With a snap of their wrists the soldiers marched on, right hands raised and legs moving in long strides. Alexei watched them go, and smiled to his aides. "And so it begins."

"May you be the one to finish it, most gracious lord." M said, bowing. As he bowed, he concealed a sneer from the other men and women on the balcony. Fool.

Carolyn sighed and leaned against her husband, only to pull away when his arm went around her. "I'll be in our room if you want me," she snapped.

Tsar Adrik Alexei stood on the stage, gripping the podium to address his listeners. Behind him, his bodyguards shifted, bored but still attentive to any threat. "As I look out on your glowing faces," the Tsar began, his eyes tinged with contempt when he looked at the closer seats, but becoming friendlier as he looked up to the balconies where the sons and daughters of the Nobility and Novaya Roas, the wealthy, listened with respect, "I see the future of our nation." There was a well-rehearsed glance at the reporters and media that gathered around the stage in the Orchestra pit and each balcony.

"It is an honour to be here at my old alma mater of Kyorbirsk Academy, addressing the future intelligentsia of our glorious Fatherland." Adrik Alexei took a drink from his glass, and went on. "All of you, peasant, farmer, merchant, lord, are, through your mere presence at this august institution, guaranteed a role in the government or economy of this realm."

There was a light murmur of approval from the teachers and nobility, while the students in the lower seats quietly either seethed at being addressed such or let their egos expand. The Tsar had them where he wanted them, so he went to the point. "And I am sure that all of you, my gracious subjects, will be pleased to pursue that role as early as you can. I am pleased to announce that the National Service will be broadening and increasing its intake."

There was a brief cheer from the noble children. The merchants shifted in their seats, already planning ways to avoid this obligation and continue making money. It was the lower classes that grumbled. Ignoring this reaction, but raising a hand to the cheers of the nobles, Adrik Alexei said, "I'm sure that all of you will do your duty as subjects. For the glory of the Fatherlan... Yes?"

"I object!" A student leapt up, shaking his fist at the Tsar. "I am not a subject! I am not a peasant or a vassal! I am a human being!"

Adrik Alexei ignored this outburst, and went on. "For the glory of the Fatherland, you will learn to fight as a Holy Legionaire! You will destroy and conquer enemies of the state. And if you die, you will die as heroes!"

The agitator shouted out, "solidarity with the oppressed!" Several other students leapt to their feets as the auditorium exploded into chaos. "Under no circumstances will this house die for its nation!"

Adrik Alexei, for the first time in a very long time, was surprised. One of his aides leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "Tsar Alyosha, these are plainly young radicals. We should treat them like a fire. Starve them of their oxygen and the fire will explode."

The Tsar considered this. In the balconies, the nobles and merchants looked at one another in surprise, as if waiting for one of them to take action. In the stalls, the more patriotic of the peasants sat, shocked by this outrage. Finally, the first dissenter picked up a tomato and threw it at Alexei.

Who caught it in his hands, drew his pistol from his pocket, and shot four bullets into the radical at point-blank range. There was a moment of silence, and then the guards rushed in and grabbed the other dissenters, beating them and dragging them past their jeering fellow students. And then, without missing a beat, Alexei went on with, “I encourage all of you to enter the colours, serve your nation with pride, and fight with honour.” He slammed his right fist to his heart, and then extended it at an angle to salute the students. “For the Fatherland!”

The salute was returned, and the students, both those who were sincere and those who were scared to dissent by what had just happened, cheered out loud.


~~

"Opinion polls state that 59% of the Imperial Population supports the policies of the Imperial Nationalist Party..."

"Father Joachim Kleist, noted anarchist dissenter, was today defrocked by Patriarch..."

The editor sighed and flipped through the channels once more. "Which is the musical channel, Ivan? Do you know?"

"Um... 222 AM, I think." The reporter stood to attention quietly in the main office, his eyes creased with concern.

"Ah yes."

And now for Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain... As the music quietly played in the background, the editor picked up a cigarette and quietly took a puff. "Now, let's see... oh yes. 'Shock upset at Kyorbirsk Academy'? 'Student activism shows broad discontent with government policies'?"

"Sir, I only reported what happened."

"Now, I want you to hear what Ruslan reported. 'Despite an attempt by a few anarchist dissidents to silence him, our beloved Tsar Alyosha went on with his brave and patriotic appeal, supported by the broad mass of the student body, which jeered the activists as they were led out by security forces.' I wonder," the editor stubbed the cigar for a moment, "which I'm to believe?"

"Well, there was jeering, but I do feel..."

"Ah yes. That this 'shows the unfortunate indoctrination process' that education has become in the Imperium." The editor sighed. "I can't print this, you realize. It would destroy our market share. People want the truth in their broadsheets, not some reporter's opinion."

"I...I quite understand, sir." The reporter shuffled his feet, slowly turning around. "Thank you, sir."

"Oh, some gentlemen would like a word with you, my secretary told me. So if you could stop by the desk on the way out..."

"Yes sir."


Outside, several Shadow Angels, dressed in uniform and with their faces cast into shadow by their hats, sat drinking coffee and discussing last night's soccer match with the secretary. "Da, da, tovarisch." One of them remarked, before rising to his feet as the door opened. "Comrade Reporter, the Minister would like to speak to you."

((OOC: I prefer to skip back and forth between Russian and English. Non-essential dialogue will be recorded in Russian, of course. Essential dialogue will be recorded in English because otherwise only RF would understand and that would be silly, da?))

::tag::

((OOC: I prefer to skip back and forth between Russian and English. Non-essential dialogue will be recorded in Russian, of course. Essential dialogue will be recorded in English because otherwise only RF would understand and that would be silly, da?))

[OOC: Niet, I'd understand, too. :p ]

((OOC: Yes, I should avoid sweeping generalisations. But point still holds, tovarisch.))


The samovar bubbled away merrily in its corner as Adrik Alexei inspected the report. He gave a casual sigh, and tossed the paper into the fireplace. In front of the crackling warmth, a large dog shook itself and walked out. The Tsar shook his head. "Atepis," he hissed at the man sitting low in the chair across from him.

"That's hardly a word for Princes, my lord Tsa..."

Adrik Alexei reached across and delivered a ringing slap to the man's face. "It seems I was remiss in my appointment. After all, if you force a fool to pray to God..."

"I have hardly banged my 'head on the floor', Adrik Alexei Daniilevich. Do give me credit." Nikita roused himself and blocked the next slap. "My lord Tsar, I do request that you consider things from my the point of view of the army. We can not expect to absorb new territory while we digest what we have. As such, my attentions to those nations that can benefit us is well worth the price paid for their quiet and support."

"...very well." The Tsar considered this. "We will see if your policy will bear fruit, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikita Romanovich. Inform the Empress that I will meet with her representative at her discretion, hum?"

Eliana entered the Palace at Tarnaqin with a look of distaste. This building is entirely too big. Who needs this much space?

She looked at Valeriana, one of the seven bodyguards that Lady Arya had insisted accompany her, and rolled her eyes. "Better get this over with." Valeriana grinned, and they picked up the pace a fraction.

As the Gorgaminean ambassador and her guards made their way down the long hallway, Eliana surveyed her surroundings and had to suppress a shiver. The white marble was so...cold. She passed by several large stained glass windows that depicted what she assumed were scenes from Imperial history.

When they finally reached the end of the hallway, Eliana looked up at the twin staircases and large wooden doors. She looked around for someone to ask about an audience with His Most Illuminated Divine Majesty, but all she saw were dozens of stone-faced guards.

Even his TITLE is ostentatious! She groaned inwardly, then composed herself fast as a great lumpy tower of a man was barrelling her way with a huge smile on his face.

"Welcome, welcome!" The large man barked, his beard waggling manically. "You must be the Gorgaminean ambassador! Heard so much about you!" By sheer force of personality he swept Eliana up and dragged her into a large office where the ubiquitous samovar bubbled. "Tea? And of course you'll have drink with me!"

"Do not be concerned, we understand that you will not have much understanding of our customs! I will be introducing myself! I am Ruslan Ivanovich Zostin! You would be calling me Special Minister for State, I am thinking!" Ruslan took a breath. He didn't have much understanding with elves, and he wasn't overly sure of his English, which he was sure would be the only language they had in common. So the normally peaceful man was compensating by bellowing his words in a loud, clear voice. "Perhaps your guards would like rest? It is a long trip down the river!"

The rain briefly intensified casting its downward patterns of grey against the windows filling the cabinet room in a dull blue light. Despite the warmth of the room thee was a cold kind of tension, of fear and anxiety.

“Look, nobody knows what exactly they are doing - ” “and that’s the problem” interjected Defence Minister Alloxtria. The green uniform balanced off his broad shoulders and his face was cast a greyish colour making his jaw a dark grey outline where the stubble grew.

“My point” the Prime Minister started again “is that we can’t jump to conclusions, but, we do have a reason to be concerned. Any expansion of imperial - ” “fascist” someone mumbled at the other end of the table, “ power is a threat to the stability of the region but I don’t think we can conclude this is a direct threat to the republic, as of yet.”

“At a time like this I think it’s an opportune moment to send a representative on a fact-finding mission. I’ve heard your arguments and I appreciate that some citizens and even our neighbours could be upset but unless we do nothing and hope for an unlikely outcome we must do something so I’m giving this proposal my support.” There was noticeable pause to underline that this decision was final. “As that’s all this meeting is dismissed.”

As the cabinet drew out of the room Minister Alloxtria remained in his seat until the room was empty except for the Prime Minister. “Benjamin I want a military person on this as well.” The Prime Minister tone raised a little “You know I’m not comfortable with that kind of involvement in foreign affairs, and neither is the cabinet.”

“No, none of you are because you’re all to scared, but you know and I know that we could be crushed flat in a day by them. We need someone who can give as a more… realistic report on the situation. I have a list of names in this file” he handed over the manila folder “please consider this, putting military people into these diplomatic circles has worked before.”

“But it certainly didn’t please our neighbours last time they found out.” Benjamin held the file but looked uncertain, wavering. Alloxtria continued “No but it’s all aboveboard this time. I can have the paper work completed by the end of the week. You know we need someone there for this kind of job.”

“I’ll think about it.” The Prime Minister turned and stalked out of the room shuffling the file into the small pile he carried with him.

Eliana gratefully accepted a cup of tea from Nikita. "It was a long journey, thank you." She turned to Valeriana, "Pick three of the girls to wait for me outside. The rest are free to go and relax for now." Valeriana nodded, and the guards went out.

Eliana turned back to Nikita, politely refusing the vodka he offered. "I despise alcohol." She took another sip of her tea before asking, "When will I be able to see His Illuminated Majesty?"

Nikita blinked when she refused his offer, and coughed. "Of course not." Foreign rubbish... The Special Minister leaned forward. "You understand that His Most Illuminated Divine Majesty is an exceptionally busy man, of course. But your Priestess's desire for a Treaty of Amity and Co-operation has been noted."

The polite fiction was maintained as the man leant backwards. "I am given to understanding you have proposals for me?"

"No..." Eliana frowned. "I have proposals for his Illuminated Majesty. My Lady Arya wishes me only to negotiate with the Tsar himself. So you see, it is important that I gain an audience with his Majesty as soon as it can be arranged."

She sipped her tea again, a determined, no-nonsense expression on her face. Her expression hid her annoyance.

This is absolutely ridiculous. The Tsar should have seen me at once. These humans are incredibly rude.

Nikita leaned back in his chair and eyed her for a moment, quietly placing his hand palm-up on the table. "Well, I am...sure that can be arranged, Lady Eliana..." he smiled. "There's just...all that paperwork and everything...it could take time."

Arya warned this might happen. Thank the Gods I'm prepared, Eliana thought.

"Minister Zostin, I understand how difficult all that paperwork can be. And I would be more than happy to...ah...reimburse you for your time. Say an entire case of the finest Gorgaminean chocolate?"

The Minister smiled and pressed a little button. "Third door on your left, then the second door on the right, keep going. Knock twice." He nodded his head. "Good luck..."

~~

"WesternAustralia wishes to send an emissary?" The Foreign Minister frowned, chewing on the edge of his pencil. "What do the neighbours want from us?" He sighed, and started to dictate his response.

Adrik Alexei might not like it, but if you ran a foreign policy entirely on the way the Tsar wanted, you'd probably invade everywhere.

The Presidential Residence, 80 Astral Avenue, Crystal City, Tiburon

A highly tense and clustered atmosphere eminated in the War Room, now host to the most powerful figures in the modern United Solaris Federation- a normal day for the National Security Council. Of course, the cliched overcast weather and a news report on one of the most repressive regimes since North Korea didn't help.

"...but surely we can't be appeasing the Tsar of Roania?" pointedly asked a smallish, elder fellow dressed in a black suit and glancing nervously around the room. His chair, facing a few of the portraits of the great Tiburonese presidents of the past (in this case, President Chen-Lee Hsien), had a small golden plaque etched with the words "Somo Ylbyl- Assistant Secretary of Defense".

"We have been given the chance to improve relations with the Stellar Imperium, and any chance to not only improve relations with a nation which we have not sent an ambassador to in 110 years but also possibly spread the democratic ideals is not one to blithely throw away.", retorted a younger, Kennedyesque person sitting close to the President. His plaque read "Nytara Kashuan- Secretary of State". His chair was facing the portrait of President Nova Starfighter.

"We may be facing another North Korea situation. Remember what happened back in the Old Common Era- in response to Allied openness, they nearly carried out nuclear war on our nation. And with this nation, nuclear weapons are the least of our concerns." This time, it was a stout middle-aged man, Admiral Hiitera Pyalimiira of the USF Navy, facing the portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"Or maybe not. Remember, we have a significant advantage over them. Our people are spread out across the galaxy, making a decisive attack on Tiburon virtually impossible. We also have much more military power than they do- and we have the Jump Nodes. The Whirlpool Union* agrees with me. It's final." And this, coming from the President, was indeed final.

-------------------------------------------
To: HMIDM Tsar Adrik Alexei Chyornyev, the Divine Stellar Imperium of Roania
From: President Alitair Lykaga, the United Solaris Federation of Tiburon;
Secretary-General Ilominich Kudarev Ivanov, the Whirlpool Union
Subject: Greater Diplomacy

Tsar Chyornyev,

Despite our historical aversion to various aspects that have surfaced between the Tiburonese-Roanian official diplomatic situation, which for many reasons shall not be listed here, we shall honor your request of a conference to reestablish relations and set up a diplomatic system between our two nations.

Sincerely,
President Alitair Lykaga, the USF of Tiburon
Secretary-General Ilominich Ivanov, the Whirlpool Union

OOC: The Whirlpool Union is a group of Roanian refugees in Tiburon working to (re)institute democracy within the DSI.

Eliana left Nikita's office with a small triumphant smile on her face. "We're in." she said to her guards, and they followed her down the hall.

"Third door on the left, second door on the right..." she whispered Nikita's directions to herself over and over again as she made her way down the hallways. When she reached the correct door, she knocked twice as she had been directed, and waited for some response.

The door silently swung open, revealing an immaculate red office, richly textured and heavily ornate. On the carpeted floor, images of firebirds danced across the fabric, heavily detailed. It was a room that in another nation would cost a fortune. Here, the Tsars had claimed it as their right and ordered it made. And their payment had been the execution of the designers so that nothing so beautiful could ever be made for someone else.

Clearly, when the Palace had been built 400 years ago there had been different standards of beauty. But the current incumbent didn't see a problem with living like this. And he also wasn't above a bit of playing around, either. So the door had swung open with no servants visible, and Adrik Alexei busy reading a newspaper behind his large, old, wooden desk.

A moment passed, and then he gestured over the top of the newspaper for Eliana to enter and take a seat. "You're about 2 minutes late, by my watch."

"Then Your Majesty should tell his Minister of Foreign Affairs not to keep your appointments waiting so long." Eliana sat down in the offered chair, arranging her low cut green dress in the chair, making sure to choose a postition that showed her cleavage off to advantage.

Arya said he would be easily swayed by...feminine charms. Let's see if she was right.

To: President Alitair Lykaga, the United Solaris Federation of Tiburon
From: Boyar Jeraboam Talisin, Supreme Minister of the Fourth Department of His Most Illuminated Divine Majesty
Subject: Regrets

President Lykaga,

There is a saying amongst our people. В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят. 'Do not bring to another monastery your own charter'. Perhaps you would say, 'When in Rome, do as Romans do.' While the Most Beloved Tsar would be delighted to pay host to a Tiburonese representative, we regret that we can not allow it while you still maintain such enemies of the state as Kudarech Ilominich Ivanov within your territory.

There is a warrant for Kudarech Ivanov's arrest, and a rather large reward. The crimes are serious, and we would hate to believe that a respected country such as Tiburon would support them, nevertheless there is the evidence of our own intelligence services, and this missive which lies upon my desk.

Perhaps you are unaware of the gravity of Kudarech Ivanov's crimes? I shall enumerate them for you:

* High Treason

* Lese Majeste

* Resisting Arrest

* Formenting Unrest

As you can see, while you continue to pay host to him, there is very little we have to talk about.

Yours in friendship,
Boyar Talisin

With the approval of Tsar Adrik Alexei

The flight had been uneventful but long with clear weather over Roania providing opportune views of the country from above. There was little to be read about Roania giving the delegates several hours to sleep. Slightly ruffled from the cabin conditions but none the less well rested they arrived at the Black Castle, stunning the delegates in its unprecedented ornateness as they were escorted to meet the Special Minister.

"Then Your Majesty should tell his Minister of Foreign Affairs not to keep your appointments waiting so long." Eliana sat down in the offered chair, arranging her low cut green dress in the chair, making sure to choose a postition that showed her cleavage off to advantage.

Arya said he would be easily swayed by...feminine charms. Let's see if she was right.

"Ah-hm. Ah-hm." There was that sound again, either an unfortunate tic or a strange laugh. The Tsar put his newspaper down, rather pointedly looked her up and down, and then said, "Green isn't your colour. All you elves, so traditional, yes, but... it distracts from your rather more obvious assets."

Adrik Alexei stared at her perfectly shamelessly, and then put his hand out. "You have papers. I trust that you will allow me to view them?"

The flight had been uneventful but long with clear weather over Roania providing opportune views of the country from above. There was little to be read about Roania giving the delegates several hours to sleep. Slightly ruffled from the cabin conditions but none the less well rested they arrived at the Black Castle, stunning the delegates in its unprecedented ornateness as they were escorted to meet the Special Minister.

Ruslan Zostin studied the two representatives, while happily devouring a large bar of chocolate. The unexpected treat had made his ordinarily dark outlook on life decidedly sunny. "Good day! Good day!" He barked. "A hearty privet to you! Welcome to Roania! Glad to see WesternAustralia!"

Outside the Kremlin's windows, a light rain was falling, casting the entire room into a grey which was only kept back by the shimmering candles. "I am to regret that His Most Illuminated Divine Majesty is unavailable for your meeting with him now! Perhaps later!" The man finished the one bar of chocolate. "Perhaps you would care to meet our WesternAustralia Expert!?"

To: Boyar Jeraboam Talisin, Supreme Minister of the Fourth Department of His Most Illuminated Divine Majesty
From: President Alitair Lykaga, the United Solaris Federation of Tiburon
Subject: Re: Regrets

Supreme Minister Talisin,

None of the branches of the government of the United Solaris Federation were aware of such crimes that have been charges against leveled against Secretary-General Ivanov by the Divine Stellar Imperium. In accordance with our continuing support of diplomacy to uniting the nations of the universe, however, the USF government has decided that Secretary-General Ivanov may no longer stay within any Tiburonese territory. Because Tiburon does not currently maintain an extradition treaty with Roania, we regret to inform you that we cannot legally honor any request to extradite him to Roania. However, we do maintain an extradition treaty with the Stardust Unity of Cocentrica, and our two nations have accordingly agreed to extradite him to the Stardust Unity, where he awaits his justice.

Sincerely,
President Alitair Lykaga

OOC: No, no. I didn't give up that easily. Cocentrica is a Tiburonese puppet state- but only about 4 or 5 nations other than myself actually know this. It's still OOC.

Originally posted by Roania "Ah-hm. Ah-hm." There was that sound again, either an unfortunate tic or a strange laugh. The Tsar put his newspaper down, rather pointedly looked her up and down, and then said, "Green isn't your colour. All you elves, so traditional, yes, but... it distracts from your rather more obvious assets."

Eliana's jaw nearly dropped when the Tsar insulted her outfit. She quickly took a deep breath and regained her composure.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I have no papers. I have comitted Lady Arya's positions and requests to memory, if you would like to hear them. I apologise if this is inconvenient, but I trust your Majesty will understand that it is traditional.

If Adrik Alexei was disturbed by this threat to his beloved paperwork, he didn't show it. The Tsar reached down underneath his desk and pulled out a large notebook. "I'm listening, then, Lady Eliana..." His eyes occasionally returned to her cleavage as he sat there, jotting down notes on what she was saying.

Eliana cleared her throat and began. "The Lady Arya has considered your request to build on Gorgaminean soil with the promise of protection for Gorgamin if it ever should become necessary."

"The Lady is amenable to this request under one condition. The Gorgaminean forest is not to be touched in any way. No trees are to be cut down. If you require wood, you are to bring it with you. If you find this acceptable, we can begin to talk terms."

Tsar Adrik Alexei stared at her in disbelief, then he quietly drew up a document to that effect, and passed it quietly across the table. "I'm pleased to find that we could come to an agreement so...quickly, Ambassador." He said, his eyes lingering on her breasts as he glanced at the young woman. "Please, do take time to make further considerations. I regret that I have another appointment, but... I'm sure we shall meet again."


~~

Boyar Jeraboam Talisin looked around the room, and nodded briefly. "Okay, tell the Tiburonese that they can send someone now..." He sighed. "We'll have to get that traitor somehow, but we'll let it rest."

An Aerospaceport at the Imperial Capital

Brigadier General Takashyn Fitzgerald Naviyala posed an interesting figure while stepping down from the USF diplomatic plane he was granted. He had a Ford-like quality to slipping on multiple steps, and had an extremely small limp in his left leg, owing to a particular battle accident in which many Allaneans were cursed- and eventually defeated, but that was beside the point.

He was also a highly-regarded diplomat, and he would represent the USF in this most delicate situation.

Minister President (to pick one title) Nicademus Darsalin stood patiently on the tarmac. Refusing to let what was to him nothing more than a peasant speak first, even before Naviyala stepped off the step he was walking forward. "Greetings...sir," Darsalin said, using a title which he was positive the ambassador wasn't entitled to. "Welcome to the Divine Imperium."

In a second, Takashyn appeared to be sizing the Minister President up, and he managed to conceal the disgust for the overt lavishness, spinelessness, and sheer cowardice, not to mention irrelevance, of this type of aristocracy. He didn't like one thing about him- especially not the insolent tone of voice. Still, this was what he was handed. "Greetings. I am Brigadier General Takashyn F. Naviyala, from Tiburon, and thank you. And you, sir, would be?"

Nicademus sniffed and drew himself up to his imposing 6'. "I, sir, am Lord Chancellor of the Divine Imperium of Roania." He replied, tapping the prominently displayed firebird cross on his chest. "What I hear, the Tsar hears. What I see, the Tsar sees."

The Lord Chancellor smiled wanly. "Of course, that is certainly true at the moment, yes? I was asked to meet you and...clear you for contact with him, whatever that means."

Naviyala did a peculiarly Tiburonese bow after this gaudy introduction. Clearly Asian, it was neither completely Indian nor completely Japanese, but had that peculiar quality that faintly equalized all men. He straightened up after a few minutes and smiled in a manner that seemed a bit too friendly. Walking over to a limousine clearly meant for themselves, "Right, then. I was interested in improving the relations between our two nations..."

"I'm sure you are." Darsalin answered, curtly. He slid into his seat and indicated for the ambassador to take the one next to it. Once that was done he knocked on the privacy screen and his driver started off. A small table slid out from the area between Darisalya and his host, and Nicademus slid some papers forward. "I want the names of all of Kudarech's associates, please."

Takashyn responded with a cold stare and a prefabricated response. "The United Solaris Federation has not at this moment nor at any time aided, abetted, or collaborated with the Whirlpool Union, and we remain neutral on the continuing disputes between the Divine Imperium and the Whirlpool Union,", he responded drily.

He turned his head away from Nicademus and towards the window, looking through tinted windows at the bleak and desolate winter landscape, clearly refusing to make any more statements on the particular matter.