NationStates Jolt Archive

Reeven didn't hesitate on that point. Execution was execution, no matter who pulled the trigger...

"Agreed."

He would need to run this past his superiors, of course, but they weren't there at the moment...

"I understand that on occasion national laws will come into conflict and whilst we are willing to negotiate extradition agreements and such, if the crimes committed within our borders are of a grander scale then they take precedent."

"Agreed."


Mercy skimmed over the data sent by Boris, then sent the Tanaan legal data data was sent to each nation's interface. "Tanaara too has harsh, swift judgements, and punishments, some that many claim are human rights violations. We have both the death penalty, and penal slavery. And our judges aren't afraid to hand down sentences that may be un popular."

"I agree Boris, Reeven, greater crimes take precedence over lesser."

Aeris finally spoke, having remained quiet for some time. While the others had been discussing the current topic of crime, she had been compiling pertinent information regarding Tarlachian law and crimes. They would see that Tarlachia too held a very strict approach, though certain crimes were given to courts, while others led directly to punishment.

Even if it meant death.

"I will also endorse this regional Interpol." she said, tapping the holoscreen to pass the information compiled to the others. "Seeing how those of us who have spoken have quite similar approaches to crime, I suggest we set up international laws under the power of this Interpol so as to keep things uniform and avoid bureaucratic red tape. Thus, Interpol remains efficient and effective."

Reeven nodded again in confirmation...

"I second the motion..."

He was beginning to enjoy himself, which was more than he could say for his bodyguard, the stone-faced Special Forces soldier to his left...

"What sort of International laws?" Mercedez questioned. "Tanaara refuses to be a part of the UN because we refused to have an outside interest dictate to us. We have no wish to participate in a regional version of the UN."

She spoke firmly but politely. She had no wish to cause problems but neither was she going to allow the idea of a regionally effective intellegence agency turn into FTUN.

"If you are merely talking about a code of ethics and standardized operating proceedures, I don't consider those 'laws' if that clarifies my question" Mercy added.

The Argonian Captain didn't much care for the UN, either. It appeared, and acted, as an outdated shell of what it had been, and could very well be again if not for the politics, red-tape, and beurocratical bickering that currently plagued it. He hated to think of it that way, but there was no other way around it...

"Again, I agree with the Tanaaran Representative..."

Aeris raised a hand in apology, "a poor choice of words on my part. That is what I meant." she said as she looked at Mercedez. "Included in the standard operating procedures, a monthly or quarterly official report sent to each government through secure channels, reporting on statistics and general alerts. Higher priority alerts would be delivered instantly as applicable, obviously."

She waved her hand as if to dismiss the issue, "The rest of the details can be hammered out in time by those we place in charge of doing so."

Mercedez relaxed back in her seat, satisfied with Aeris's quick response and explaination of what she really meant. She had been pretty sure that Tarlachia felt the same way as Tanaaran's did on the subject of anything resembling the UN But perhpas they don't all but spit at the mere mention of that abject failure of a potentially grand dream.

"Quarterly reports at the very least." She nodded agreeably as she waited for any one else to state objections, concerns or suggestions.

When several minutes passed and no one there had anything to add, complaint, comment or advice, Mercy stood to address the second half of the proposal.

"I propose a regional defense force. Not toothless tigers like the blue berets of the UN, but forces who train and fight together with a unified command structure."

She paused a moment and looked around the room, catching each ones' eyes "I'll be blunt. On the whole, each of our nations are agressive, eager to kick ass and not bother with the ineffeciency of taking names. And I think we ought to harness that. We have been incredibly fortunate. The Dark War was the first non civil war in the region in as long as can be remembered. We don't fight among ourselves, and that has made us a powerfull, wealthy region. However, how long before covetous, or jealous, eyes turn our way?"

Aeris nodded thoughtfully, putting her hands together at the tips of her fingers. She waited as Mercy finished speaking before taking her cue to follow suit.

"Much like the unified forces we had during the Dark War on the western border between Arithon and The Golden Simatar... Ready to be called upon at a moment's notice for whatever legitimate concern faces the region. I don't see a problem with this as it will provide a more stable regional security persona."

Cara had been busy durring the commentary on a regional form of INTERPOL, but then again, she doubted that there would be any sort of reprecussions against Imitora if one of the police agencies came to them and they were politely, or not so much so, told to leave. And if a criminal was caught in Imitora, regional politics be damned, he or she would be tried under Imitoran law and punished in Imitoran prisons. But that was neither here nor there.

However, she did take quick issue to the topic now raised.

"Well, before I can offer my feelings on the matter, can we exactly have defined what this regional defense force is to be?"

Mercy's smile had little sweetness in it, it was far more a wolf's snarl. "An independant force composed of units from nations of the region that chose to send forces. A force with the equipment and training to take on anyone, or anything, that comes in from ouside the region to attack, harrass, or invade any member of the region. I'm not talking about binding ourselves with treaties, but like family we unite to take on any one who comes at us."

"However waiting until the fight's begun, and then throwing together forces doesn't work. Oh we made it work to a degree during the Dark War, but it was bulky, redundant, ineffecient, and dangerous. Each of our nations have strengths and weaknesses, thats to be expecgted. No one nation has it all, or can - so if we each send our strengths that bulwarks others weaknesses, I think we could field a team that would make mince meat of any enemy force."

The Imitorans had been to war plenty of times in many a regional alliance, and had always found that beyond some concept of training together or using the same equipment that was always raised as a regional defense force, communication between commanding officers was always the more important feature. Then again, Imitora was also the nation that would cruise missle hospitals after a major attack to slow down and hinder the recovery efforts of any nation they were at war with.

However, Cara would let the game play out.

"And who would lead these forces?"

"We hire the best outsiders we can find. Mercinaries, so no one nation could control the Regional Defense force. No national feelings hurt if their offiers weren't chosen to be RDF officers - any nations officers who make the cut will have been chosen for skill, NOT political correctness, political connections, family or fortune."

She knew about Imitoran Officers, and wouldn't have the vast majority of them if she had been handed them on a platter. Their noncoms however were a whole nother matter, few nations had a better noncom section than Imitora did.

Cara nodded. She was about to speak, but Irving placed a gentle hand on her arm. While he respected her to the upmost, she had never combat expierence, nor military life at all. She understood, and allowed Irving to speak on behalf.

"Thats very well and good, Your Highness, but if I may, are we willing to put the defense of our region in the hands of private contractors? Let people with no emotional attachment, no true reason to fight, no real desire to protect us beyond the availability of cash command our forces?"

He took a long pull on a cup of coffee he had just made up, and continued. "And further, who do we go to. To other nations? To other regions? What would be the different between appointing an Imitoran officer, and say hiring a contractor from Reflex International? Or one of your own officers or a representative from a contract organization within your nation?"

"You have very good points Mister Irving. I may have spoken confuseingly. I didn't mean to sound like I was suggesting hiring wholesale lots of mercinaries. I mean to hire one man, or woman, as the over all commander, And let them choose the officers from among those troops that the various nations will be ...donating, if you will"

"Surely such outsanding militaries as Imitora's, Tarlachia's, Tanaara's and others could produce acceptable officers, so that there is a mix to be had"

Considering the military nature of the current discussion, Boris decided to let Peter speak on any matters involving Assington as he had full confidence in his MoD.

Taking note of the conversation rather intently, Peter scribbled down a few notes as he contemplated the possibilities involved with a regional military. Whilst he did support the idea, the notion of some foreigner at the helm did not sit well with him. Waiting for an opportune moment, he activated his mic and voiced such an opinion.

"I'm going to have to agree with Mister Irving. Even if it is only one mercenary, the idea of a foreigner being in charge the security and protection of our region does not make a lot of sense to me. I know you wish to avoid conflict over who will be in charge but I do not think this solves the issue."

Taking a moment to gaze upon a few more notes, Peter continued.

"Currently I do not have a better solution, but I'm sure our combined efforts can throw something together that will be acceptable for all."

Mercy sat back and sighed inwardly. She had hoped that the others would be ameniable to a professional coming in. Some one with no one nations agenda behind them, captive to no one nations mindset.

There wsa no way she'd place her people under an Imitorans command. She didn't want them facing a war crimes tribunal some day. She understood the philosophy that Imitora practised, even if she and her nation as a whole disagreed with it. They were terrible opponents in a war, but they made for damned uneasy allies at time.

Tarlachia was toor worn down from the decades long Dark War, her officer corps nearly nonexistant, Assington she didn't trust completely, TGS, and BAP didn't have the expertise, none of the other nations did.

However there was also no way under the sun that she was going to suggest a Tanaaran.

"Unfortunately," Irving commented, "I doubt that anyone really can suggest anything better than having a regional local to handle the security of this region. Of course, this is always the problem with regional security. No one knows who should head up the organization, and sometimes we are asked to wonder if a regional defense force is even best. I know not from my own personal feelings, but from serving with the men and women of the Imitoran military, that it would be a very cold day in the proverbial hell before they fight under any other flag but an Imitoran one. Of course, that can be handled at a later date with organizational set ups."

Of course, he wouldn't recomend an Imitoran outright, it was the obvious move. However, of everyone in the room, he honestly felt that it would have to be an Imitoran. But that was just him.

"I'm willing to hear suggestions," Cara offered, "of any other ideas of managment of a possible regional defense force."

Mercy let the room sit silent for a good five minutes before silently conceeding defeat and speaking up. The resignation she felt did not show in her manner or her tone .

"I guess then, that a Regional Defense Force is not going to happen."

She tabed her padd into 'sleep' mode and stood.

"Is there anything else that any one feels is necessary to be adressed on a regional level?"

Cara waited for the room to offer any responses, and then nodded at Irving, who took his turn to speak.

I guess then, that a Regional Defense Force is not going to happen.

"I wouldn't say it is over yet. When it comes to national defense, Imitora and her people have always been one to look outside the box on the concept of defense. If I may, First Speaker Rydell and myself, in discussion have found that a specific program might be more suited to the idea of a regional defense concept."

Irving removed a small flash drive from a diplomatic brief pouch, and slipped it into a data port. He waited for a recognition before continuing.

Mercy swept her gaze around the room, finding no demural on any face and turned back to Irving.

"Please proceed with your presentation Mister Irving"

She'd certainly give the Imitorans idea a fair hearing, but her stance on an Imitoran commanding would never waver.