NationStates Jolt Archive

Port-Roddenbery, New-Akihabara

Alexander Kirillovich Kazansky, Chief Advisor to the Emperor of Greater Prussia, smiled as he saw the first wave of settlers disembark and head for the plots of land promised to them by their government. Another deal - another drop in the population density of the Allanean mainland. Again, posters appeared everywhere around the impoverished country, singing the glories of the Frontier Myth - that which touched in the heart of every man in the nation.

And people signed up in droves. Some ran from the 20% unemployment. Some ran from the semi-demolished, ultra-violent cities. But the point was, they did sign up. The Stellar Navy was used to quickly port people from one point on the planet to another - overkill for the distance, but it allowed a quick, efficient flow of people. Soon, the people would accommodate for the conditions - and then a new amount of settlers would be moved

Kazansky was still smiling as his shuttle flew high above the first frontier-stile houses being erected in New-Akihabara - but even if he were not alone in the shuttle, nobody would be able to see it. His face was still covered by his famous helmet - after this amount of assassination attempts, Kazansky could not but be cautious - and sometimes, you do want to keep your emotions hidden.

Several hours later, the shuttle arrived to the one place that few in Allanea wished to enter- even though most Allaneans almost worshipped Kazansky as god. Minas Faerie, the Citadel of Freedom, was Kazansky’s abode. Despite it’s name, it was dark and threatening, extending 385 meters tall over the seashore, a black monument to a single man’s talent, power, and pain.

The shuttle slowly moved it’s way into one of the docking bays hidden at the foot of the Citadel. Kazansky walked out, walking at a slow, dignified pace towards one of the elevators. He spoke - his voice grim, emotionless, sounding strangely cruel behind the voice transformers.

Take me to the pool.

The voice-controlled elevator accelerated soundlessly - surprisingly taking Kazansky up instead of down.

It was to a dark room on the 50th story of the tower that he was taken - the place where Kazansky’s Pool stood. Which wasn’t really a pool - more like a large containing water - or was it water? It looked more like mercury - in it. Kazansky passed a hand over the liquid. Imperator… I call upon thee…

And the surface stirred - showing to Kazansky none other, but the Imperator of Mercury.

The High Imperator, when he used to be human, was a big man, imposing, and when he walked he took imposing, purposeful strides. Underlings cowered before his wrath then, but they didn't shake or cry or fall to their knees. At least, not normally.

Today he sat on a massive chunk of heavy metal and wire that might be likened to a very large chair. Immobile, he dominated the room, plugged in to much of the machinery inside. It was dark, but that didn't matter to him, even if he had biological eyes and couldn't see it. The temperature was regulated; all was regulated; security had long been automated and his seclusion had long been total.

He could see everything in the room, in more ways than he could consciously be aware of. Sensor networks replaced his eyes, and he could focus as easily on the bio-readouts of the fourth line commander of the 4th IWBS as he could on thermal and pressure variances within any room or hall in ALPHA 8. He didn't need to bring his conscious attention if something went wrong; he had made sure that he would not be the only thing keeping the CSF running.

But if something did occur, all he would need is to turn to look after the cell-like satellites or nodes or sensors or entire planetary networks registered that something.

The mentalic weight of Alexander Kirillovich Kazansky's voice, reaching toward him so very close, as if the entire military had been simply bypassed and the outsider had come into the very room, into his very mind... Which, of course, was exactly the case.

He looked, and saw a hand passing over a pool of water.

The name, Kazansky echoed in his mind and he rapidly searched the CSF mainframe for records and possibilities. But he didn't need to. He felt, more than anything, the impression of the one who had called to him.

Here at last, was an individual the High Imperator could relate with.

I listen, Alexander Kazansky.

OOC: Curious...

Greetings, Your Majesty. - spoke Kazansky, his voice still mechanical and inhuman - I have made certain inquiries about your person. I have made inquiries about the Combined Seraphim forces. I believe we - and our nations - are alike in more than one way.

This was not a lie. The CSF - like Allanea at one point in time - had few allies. It had little of a way to maintain itself from any form of troubles save direct military pressure - and a combined international task force could probably change that, too. Kazansky has come to change that, drastically. Very drastically. He folded his hands on his chest and resumed speaking - and since he was wearing his helmet, to the high Imperator, he was entirely motionless - and emotionless.

I believe, your Majesty, that the CSF - and the Greater Prussian Empire for which I work - can establish a relationship of sorts. A… working relationship.[/I - he sat down as well - in a strange throne-like chair that appeared behind him as he made a strange motion with his left hand, then resumed his position - except now, sitting. [I]You see, the Combined Forces - although I am sure that as you get more known on the international scene you will want a more official-sounding name - is apparently in need of certain… supplies. Kazansky emitted a strange laugh as he said the words ‘international scene’. Allaneans were not really fond of the term. They despised it only slightly less than the words ‘international community’. I believe basic food is one of them. I believe the Greater Prussian Empire can help you with them. We can also help you with such things as… recognition within the ‘international community’. If you need it for anything. He looked at the Imperator’s face - knowing that the man would understand the humour You know. Embassies. Trade. Opportunities. If that thing calling itself Elijah can have embassies, then certainly you should. It would make life easier for you. He explored the Imperator’s face silently, waiting for the man’s reply. Externally, he remained absolutely motionless - but the Imperator would surely know that his face is being studied - not with the curiosity of a plebe - but with the interest of a great man admiring another’s greatness.

The High Imperator performed the mental equivalent of dissmissively, lightly waving his hand. Internally he felt a kind of amusement, and he wondered whose influence that might be. Possibly his own core of humanity. Oh, he was prideful and he knew it - and he knew the Kazansky knew it, but he knew also that what the man had beamed had truth.

Yes, he responded, guarding his internal dialogues (out of habit, the majority of his cybnernetic awareness, and all it's physical extensions, were already guarded). There is an opportunity. You play the diplomat; I know you control far more of the Greater Prussian Empire than you allow. We will arrange a trade, resource for resource. Others will arrange specifics. They are beneath us both.

He reflected a bit, or paused; either way he was in no rush. The 'military could use an ally, a trade partner, it was true, but things were not so dire as they might seem to outsiders. Food was not a major concern when so many personnel were sub-zero. Though...

...or perhaps they are not? I understand your Empire is not one engaged out of sense of charity and cooperation. No polity would be. You have correctly guessed one of our needs, but now let us discuss your own. There can be no benefits to an Alliance born out of less than equal relations.

The Chief Advisor smiled. Very good. They were speaking the same language. There was nobody here - none of the lies they needed to show to others. No false politeness. No propaganda. No dancing around. Simply - a conversation between two great minds, each capable of creating an entire nation where before there was nothing but barren soil. They were visionaries - and realists - all at the same time. They could talk - and be understood.

He spoke: What we need? We are a new alliance - well, not new to Earth. New to the vast expanses of space. We have made a new leap - and now, we’re yet upstarts. A small child tugging at the cape edges of the adults - on Earth, we’re adults ourselves. We’re growing - we are building - we’re expanding.. But we’re new to the race - in which we were among the best when on Earth. In real races, when a racer has a disadvantage, he’s sometimes allowed to have a small advantage… an edge to balance it out.

You are correct - we are not simply here to make people happier. Or perhaps we are here to do that - but mainly to make our people happier. Our people, of course. And for that, we need an edge. That edge is the Seraphim technologies in your possession. And the friendship of your nation."

An advantage...

Yes, the High Imperator reckoned, there were some useful engineering feats and technical processes that the GPE was sure not to have. To provide an advantage to others is no small thing; it is to an extent a disadvantage to oneself. To support a friend however, bears less and more risk.

Could Kazansky be trusted? Of course not - trust was useful, perhaps, for children and their parents, or for lovers, but in the darkness, lodged in the pits of Mercury or the hollow of space, such concepts were less useful. Kazansky could be trusted to follow his own interests. It just happened that said interests coincided with those of the High Imperator.

...I can provide.

Embassies, representatives - these things, such integral parts of legitimacy and international activities - were sadly necessary. But they too could be useful, if they signalled an increase in overall strength. Alliance was binding, but friendship less so. No agreement could bind nations; autonomy guaranteed that theoretically, any agreement could be broken. Reality meant that nations sometimes endured alliances out of despair. His would be no such nation.

In exchange we will consider our nations friendly, and build embassies, and exchange emmisaries. But know that in our dealings there shall be no greater office than this... communication, you and I, have chosen. One cannot trust others with one's will.

No one 'represented' the High Imperator. The underlings could only hope to carry out his will. He knew that Kazansky would understand. They were both creatures of will.

Very well

Kazansky’s voice rang heavily, emotionlessly, like a judge’s gavel sealing the fate of a convict, like the sound of a rifle bolt chambering a round, like the sound of a guillotine’s blade falling. It was the sound of something that had happened - and that could no longer be undone. The sound of decision.

Very well - however, your Majesty, I must warn you I have no position of actual power. I am merely the Chief Advisor to the Emperor of Greater Prussia, his Majesty Napoleon IV. I cannot actually order things to be done. However, this does not mean I am entirely unable to get them done. I own, privately, a small amount of corporate resources all over Allanea and outside it.

He paused, looking intently at the Emperor, thinking of how to continue this. I further have some… personal ties in Allanea - a nation I used to lead and where I am still greatly respected. I know for fact the Allaneans would gladly accept your embassy. They are… nice hosts. I am sure your ambassadors will enjoy their stay in Port-Allanea greatly.

Alexander Kirillovich paused for a moment, then continued:

Further, I will arrange for my ships - my private ships, of course - to transport a shipment of food and basic supplies to Mercury. Your people will be given the exact identification details of the vessels, so that no… unfortunate incidents of mistaken identification occur between us. There’s entirely no need for that to happen. After you receive the food, you will send back ambassadors - and a high-capacity disk containing some sample… set of blueprints. Some new technology - a simple blueprint to some cannon only the Seraphim knew how to build. Something like this. A small bit out of Ali-Baba’s treasure trove, of course. And if you like the food - he did not need to say ‘and if the design isn’t faulty’. He knew the Imperator would understand deceiving him was not the best of ideas. - then we can proceed with the deal. In the meanwhile, I’ll talk to Emperor Napoleon.

I understand, beamed the High Imperator understatedly. Even his own power, he admitted, was not absolute. There was always a struggle, somewhere, somehow. His nation, an extension of himself, was far from perfect; it's machines imperfect, it's personnel mere humans, most of them. It needed him, just as, obviously, the Emperor of Greater Prussia needed a Chief Advisor. Kazanzky would not be blamed if he couldn't do as he was now committed - but he would clearly not be as advantageous a partner, and things would then be different.

Blueprints are not in our possession, though I could extrapolate them myself. A similar method, such as reverse engineering of said sample, will surely satisfy.

The hand disappeared - the link was broken.

The High Imperator, still silent and immobile, now contemplated to himself. Subconsciously, he ordered the arrangements to be made - imperators alerted, bases and personnel readied - and prepared for the changes to come. On other levels of his consciousness, power played out along winding roads, to probabilities of outcomes, and certainty of his rule.

Several days later, in orbit of Mercury

Several freighters appeared out of hyperspace just out of range of the CSF FTL inhibitor hardware and began to approach the planet, beaming out identification signals already familiar to the CSF. They would land on the planet - comparatively slowly, in order not to arouse any needless suspicion. They carried basic foods and supplies - such as could be stored for a long-term, the equivalent of military MRE’s. Perhaps not very tassy, but, on the other hand, extremely nourishing. They could also be stored in a comparatively large amount of calories per cubic meter of ship space - allowing, de-facto, more food to be sent to the CSF personnel. Back in Allanea, an embassy building was already being prepared for the CSF embassy - though it would probably have a different name now, as Kazansky predicted. And at Mercury, the captains of the merchant vessels Profiteer, Added Value, Total Buyout and Excellent Deal were not yet aware of the simple fact that they had made history that day.

#Tag#
:)

Nod Orbital Station; Stationary Mercurial Orbit Opposite Sol

Ruth stood, looking out one of Nod's many viewport, sighing softly as the ships popped into existance. She slowly shook her head, murmuring softly, "No good will come of this..." The information gathered by the numerous sensors on Nod were streamed down to the Basin itself.

Internal link initiated
[Ruth(less)] You seeing this, Elijah?
[Elijah] Yeah. I thought they sunk into the Earth.
[Ruth(less)] Aparently not. Perhaps a fractal split? Lucky us.
[Elijah] That's one word for it. Still, we've persued our own agenda without consulting the Cherubs.
[Ruth(less)] Speaking of...
[Elijah] Yes, yes. I'll light a fire under Habakkuk's ass. Seems a convergence of magnetic strangeness between Earth and Mercury have made communications difficult. He's promised me a full update soon.
[Ruth(less)] Good. If we've got GPE/ESUS/Haven coming up here...
[Elijah] I think it's only one of those now... hard to tell, it keeps changing.
[Ruth(less)] Still. We don't need Mercury turning into another Mars. We don't have the wang for it. Anyway, course of action?
[Elijah] Just observe for now.
[Ruth(less)] Joy.
Link disconnected

Ruth shook her head and strode back to the command module of Nod Station. "Observe, indeed."

*Reichsburg, Reichskamphen: Capitol of the Greater Prussian Empire*

It was an unusually cold day. Reichsburg in the middle of the summer is usually sweltering.

The city lay on the Sauvegarde river in North Central Reichskamphen...a relic and an anachronism that would not be moved by time's marching. It appeared rather similar to historic Paris, Vienna, and Prague. Only five years ago had the King allowed modern construction around the historic sections of the city, most dating back to the mid-1700's and the mid 1800's.

Now, in the very centre of the city, a pile of scaffolding was beginning to rise from the dust and a marvel of the world was set to be built: a monument to the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Empire.

The city was now quite familiar to Kazansky as his residence was established in the Imperial Palace.

Napoleon was notified immediately when Kazansky's plane had touched down. The Cheif Advisor had sent a message telling the Emperor to clear his schedule. White-wigged nobles lined the halls of the palace, the axis upon which the great Empire spun, and soon perhaps the axis upon which the entire world would spin. They chattered incessantly about the differant matters which plagued their own provinces, the Army, the Haven theatre, and any number of things which amused them. More than one stopped talking entirely when they noticed Kazansky walk by. His figure was the most easily recognizable. He did not dress in the manner of the nobles, and that eerie helmet also set him apart quite well. His personal guard, given to him by the Emperor, accompanied him as he approached the Emperor's drawing room.

Kazansky motioned for the two Guards at the door to open them. This they did with terrible quickness, coming to attention and saluting the Chief Advisor. His own personal guard remained outside as Kazansky entered the drawing room and the doors were closed behind him.

"Marechal, how are you today?" the Emperor of Greater Prussia nodded to his advisor. He was seated, relaxed and perfectly at home in his Louis XIV style drawing room. "I heard you had some very important matters to discuss. Have a seat." Napoleon raised two fingers ever so slightly, and immediately three servants rolled out a silver cart with silver trays upon it. Instantly one servant set about to arranging two brilliantly white porcelain cups, another began pouring thick melted chocolate into two silver pitchers of warm milk. The third servant stirred them rapidly mixing them into frothy perfection as the first man set the cups infront of the Emperor, and his advisor. They poured the first cup for both and immediately made their way out so as not to be accused of eavesdropping.

"It's good to be the Emperor." Napoleon said with a twinkle in his eye as took a sip of Chocolate. "Don't get too used to this Kazansky. Napoleon the First made that error. Now what was it you wished to discuss?"

Reichsburg, Greater Prussian Empire

‘Indeed, Emperor’ - replied Kazansky. He sat down, and began his explanation of the project at hand - ‘As you know, my position confers a varying list of disadvantages. It is summed up in the fact that I have no power or authority. However, this is also an advantage - I can act, and you will never bear any authority for my actions unless you follow up on them with your own orders, your Majesty. And this, my Emperor, is what I did.

I contacted, Sir, a person known as the High Imperator of the Combined Seraphim Forces - and I told him that I could, perhaps, recommend him to you attention. His… nation used to be once the actual military of the Order of the Seraphim. They seceded from their actual nations when ordered to commit a series of wanton atrocities. Now, they occupy most of the planet Mercury. Of course, they possess a large amount of advanced technologies - which they might sell to us at a cheap price. They are running out of food. I have funded a small shipment of it out of my own pocket, and very soon we will receive a sample of the technology."

"The goal of this Imperator person is simple - he wants his group to be recognised as a nation, which is in my eyes a rather worthy idea. They also want to support and be friends of the Empire - without officially being members. For a group that has just recently achieved independence, I believe it is understandable. And of course while I do not believe we should rash headlong into an alliance with those fellows, the Empire should give them the little things they desire - transports of basic necessities and help with establishing embassies abroad. On the other hand, they will send us information on their technologies and possibly give us access to the surface of Mercury."

‘Throughout the years, the Order - and now the CSF - has fortified Mercury to an impregnable fortress. Layers upon layers of defense grids, sensors, bunkers, spacedocks and infantry bases cover nearly the entire planet. Mercury is basically safe as a Menelmacari lockbox - and if we play our card right, Emperor, we will be able to store our own gold ingots in there."

"This is all, your Majesty"

Napoleon sat his cup down and stared blankly into the distance, pondering the idea. "Who are their enemies?" he asked finally. "Such nations seldom come without extra baggage. By helping them, whose feathers are we going to ruffle?"

"This depends on the form of help. I understand that their former masters, the Order of the Seraphim - of whom the main members are Tappee, Vrak, and Steel Butterfly - have a plan of retaking Mercury in the future. It also seems that they are unable, currently, to carry it out. The only thing that will worry them is if this technology gets to their enemies. The one group - if you may call it that - that we should worry about is the Caloris Basin, and if we don’t cross their borders, we’ll be more then fine, we’ll be golden."

He paused.

"And, of course, the Seraphim are enemies of the Triumvirate. So helping their enemy makes us look good."

OOC: A Mercury forum has been set up. Join everyone!

Here (http://s12.invisionfree.com/The_Planet_Mercury/index.php?showtopic=2) are the basics of the official contract in which the CSF sells land to Allanea.

Official Request from the Confederate States Government

We, the People of the Confederate States, as represented by the Legislative and Executive Authorities of Allanea, would like to request from the government of the CSF a plot of land - of approximately 551,695 km² in size - for development by the Confederate States. We will pay for it in money, food supplies, and transport to out-of-sol-territories as designated by the CSF.

As we are a friend and ally of the CSF, and as we have already shown our generosity to you, we believe you understand that the CSF itself would benefit from having us around.

For your consideration,

William Demarque, President of the Confederates States of Allanea
Pyotr Klychevsky, Confederate States Senate Majority Leader [R-DA], and President of the Anime Association of Allanea
Friedrich Nordgren, Confederate States House Majority Leader [R-AX].


The agencies of the Combined Seraphim Forces, in due representation of the High Imperator, allows that the merits presented by the Confederate States of Allanea are sound, and after having thoroughly analyzed the situation, has agreed to the sale of 136,329,352 acres of undeveloped Mercury land, as marked by [these coordinates]. The monetary value of this property is at $122,696,416,305, but a portion of payment no greater than 15% of it's value will be accepted in the form of food and intangible goods as mentioned.

Imperator T. Oberdean, Joint Interplanetary Forces
Imperator Venakis, Contact Agency