NationStates Jolt Archive

Nân, Maï Province, Sanctified Holy Empire of Chiang Maï

The doors swung open.One of the guards called out
"The most noble Kaïang Sakathri, for an audience with her Sanctified Magnificence,the Empress!"
A young man, dressed in bright orange silk trimmed with gold, strode through the doors and down the Jewelled Hall towards the throne, and kneeled six paces before the Imperial Dais.He spoke without raising his head.
"Your Sanctified Magnificence, i am at your command."
"That is well.We have chosen you to represent the Resplendant Court in Haikou, seat of power to the Allied States of Hainan, the mightiest of the nations that have not yielded to the Westerner's might.You may rise, Ambassador Sakathri."
Kaïang rose, trying not to show his anger at how cleverly he was being put out of the way; for put out of the way the young intriguer was, and most efficiently at that: he could not complain at being driven out of court, as he was being done an honour.All his plots so far-and they had been many- had been for nothing.He replied through gritted teeth
"I am deeply honoured by her Sanctified Magnificence's choosing me, her humblest and least deserving subject, for this glorious task."
Empress Lia Liuo II looked down impassively from her throne.How true that is...he really is my least deserving subject.But as to humility, i've known absolute monarchs with more of it than this snake.But with a staff loyal to me, he will be harmless in Haikou, like a scorpion without a sting.
"You shall proceed immediately by way of elephant along the Imperial Road to our winter seat of Sukhothaï, where you shall be furnished with a retinue worthy of an Ambassador of our great Empire, and from thence to Bankgok, from where our destroyer Karen shall bear you to Hainan waters.Make haste to ready yourself for the journey, and take only those personnal effects dearest you; you shall be given all that you shall need in Sukhothaï."
He gritted his teeth; the Empress wasn't taking any chances.No doubt the retinue would all be spies on her payroll, and he wasn't being allowed to take any of his own people.He very nearly snatched the scroll containing his nomination and instructions when Brasshawk Val Narya handed it to him; instead, Kaïan accepted it and the bundle of official letters, whislt glaring at him.He quickly asked permission to retire and stalked out of the hall.When the door was closed, the Empress chuckled softly and the Brasshawk smirked.

[OOC note: Brasshawk is a military rank corresponding roughly to Lieutenant-General in the Army and Flying Corps, and Vice-Admiral in the Navy.]

President [monarch like dictator to be more exact] Andrei Mrotsky had prepared his court for the occasion. While a force of Hainanese warships provided escort, mainly for ceremonial reasons, he himself prepared to greet the ambassador at Haikou. Of course some wine would be offered, and the sparkling new 5 story embassy building handed over, and he would invite the ambassador to a diplomatic lunch, but a nice military parade through Haikou was also in good order.

He quickly dialed the number to his Vice President, Leang Hoi. He never really trusted Orientals- best to repeat instructions to them anyway.

"Is it all ready yet?", he asked with some irritation in his voice.

"Yes, yes, we have Elite Guardsmen waiting, drinks, so forth", came the far more irritated answer. Hoi didn't like saying the same thing thrice a day.

Still, he was a bit impatient to meet this ambassador. He had never been a patient one. An alliance with Chiang Mai would be a boon economically and militarilly- damn meddling brits nonwithstanding.

Kaïang Sakathri was brooding.There wasn't anything spectacular in his instructions-he had secretly hoped that there was some sort of huge anti-colonial war brewing.But there was nothing of the kind in the sealed letter containing his orders-just the usual instructions issued to an ambassador being sent to potentially firendly power: trade accords, instructions to probe about the possibility of a formal alliance, limited military co-operation (which translated into plain maï essentially meant joint airshows, and maybe more later)...And he was unhappy with the staff he had been issued; not that they were incompetent, they were in fact very efficient, but they were indeed-as he had feared- there to make sure he followed instructions and to spy on him.Which they were doing as efficiently as they fullfilled their official duties.Despite his best efforts, he couldn't go anywhere without his two Imperial Guardsmen "bodyguards" staying right next to him.He hadn't even been able to communicate through hand-gestures with his erstwhile co-conspirators-he always had at least one of them where he could see his hands.
At least, the trip by ship through the Gulf of Siam,the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea had been swift.The HSMS[Her Sanctified Magnificence's Ship] Karen-one of the new Annam class of destroyers, which the Maï navy claimed where the best afloat, and although this was highly arguable(largely due to lack of radar), nobody could argue that they wern't extremely fast.Ambassador Sakathri was still brooding in his cabin when the Great Tiger[in the navy,equivalent to commander] who commanded the ship knocked on his cabin and told him they'd meet up with the Hainanese reception in two hours.Kaïang thanked the Great Tiger and dressed immediately in his best finery.He might have been displeased with his thinly veiled exile, but he was still a young, ambitious nobleman, and part of him was thrilled with the perspective of this new experience.
He reviewed his instructions one last time, checked his clothes and jewellery to make sure all was in order, and opened his cabin door.Unsurprisingly, his "bodyguards" were waiting just outside the door along with his senior aide, Kim Sumaraa, although he didn't allow this to dampen his newly-found good mood.The Karen was at her finest-the turrets had been polished to the point where the sailors joked about pistol-shots being able to pierce the armor after all that rubbing, the deck torpedo tubes had been polished until the brass shone like solid gold, the name had been freshly repaitned and the deck and hull thouroughly scrubbed, even though she was a new ship on her maiden trip and was already shiny enough for most occasions.The 6-in and 4-in guns had bunches of flowers thrust into their muzzles, as a sign of peace and friendship, as did the 3-in anti-aircraft guns;the machine-guns made do with single flowers.Ambassador Kaïang Sakhathri stood in the bow, holding his official scroll of nomination and introduction in the left hand, dressed in all his finery, with the 'Glory' turret [foremost turret] behind him, as the ship cut the waves at forty-two knots in an effort to impress the Hainan officials.

This is why I think so poorly of "good RP"

:roll:

(Why, because you can't be bothered to read anything more than two sentences long long, or that uses multisyllabic words?

Say, I've got a rather wonderful idea - if something doesn't concern you, keep out. Some of us are trying to enjoy our NationStates experience.

Hainan, Chiang Maï: Even though I fear for my Asiatic colonies and vulnerable trade routes, I've enjoyed reading this quite a bit. Do keep it up, and please ignore annoying trolls.)

Despite having no intel whatsoever suggesting that the meeting is taking place, or any business in interfering I (not my nation) launch 4,000 Barrow bombers from a location far outside their operational range, and I can afford it because I have a powerful economy.[/makingfunofthetrolls]

Anyway, this is interesting, given tensions in the area. Walmington really needs to get some spies operational. It's difficult in Asian areas when your Asian population is roughly seventeen, and fourteen of them are Sri Lankan.

Please do not feed the trolls (just pretend the reply doesn't exist)

Now, back to IC:
In the harbor of Haikou, the torpedoing of the Ajax had temporarily been forgotten to prepare for Sakathri's arrival.

The 1st Hainanese Fleet was docked at the time, the rails of its massive battleships brimming with sailors dressed in their white uniforms. President Mrotsky himself was standing at the dock, along with severak key advisers and his bodyguards. White-clad sailors were also standing outside their 18 inch shore battery turrets.

The Karen came into view, first as a distant dot, then sailing into the Haikou Harbor, as it passed the shore batteries and anchored ships of the 1st Fleet. After several minutes, the Karen itself had anchored, and President Mrotsky prepared to greet Sakathri. A ceremonial armed guard stood to both sides of Mrotsky, their rifles gleaming in the midday sun.

Kaïang strode down the gangplank first, with his bodyguards and Sumaraa a few paces behind, and the ship's Great Tiger behind them.He extended his right hand to shake Mrotsky's and then presented his letter of introduction with the left, greeting the President with the usual polite phrases.

President Mrotsky did not tower over Kaiang, but he certainly was a bit taller. He shook Kaiangs hand as several flashes went off. He warmly greeted the ambassador, and for good measure had a gift sent to Empress Liu of a pet Siberian Tiger, acquired from trading with warlords in Manchuria. Mrotsky and kaiang walked over to the waiting limousine, a large, black beasty.

The Ambassador thanked President Mrotsky in the Empress's name for the Siberian tiger-he might feel loyalty in his heart, but she had made sure he'd act loyal-then started the smalltalk off with a casual remark about the weather, before asking what types of goods were traded though Haikou.

"Well rice, furniture, yams, and iron mainly. What's traded in [name of your capital]?"

[Nân is the capital most of the year, Sukhotaï is the winter capital]
"we trade mostly rice, coal, cloth, tin and gemstones.We also purchase iron and steel, some minerals.I ear you have good production of iron..."

[Nân is the capital most of the year, Sukhotaï is the winter capital]
"we trade mostly rice, coal, cloth, tin and gemstones.We also purchase iron and steel, some minerals.I hear you have good production of iron..."

[Nân is the capital most of the year, Sukhotaï is the winter capital]
"we trade mostly rice, coal, cloth, tin and gemstones.We also purchase iron and steel, some minerals.I hear you have good production of iron..."

"Yes, and oil production is starting to pick up as we build facilities in the Parcel and Spralty Islands"

"i wonder, how much iron and oil you ship abroad each year...what tariffs do these countrie splace on your exports? many Western countries have been using quite protectionist tarriffs these last few years, after the Depression..."
[OOC:sorry about the triple post :(]

"Were reducing tariffs, and iron production can be stepped up if necessary if demand rises. Oil production is increasong... say 30 million barrels so far, but it's increasing.?"
OOC:
IRL are those millions of barrels per day or per year lol?

[OOC:i don't know, where did you get your figure from?it might also be per month lol...i think Saudi Arabia produces about a billion barrels a year, that would mean they come up with 3 million a day....though i'm not sure, i'll have to check]
"that's a respectable figure...how much do the countries you export to take in tariffs of their own?"
[eh,i actually meant that the first time, but your president seems to have thought i meant Hainanese tariffs ;)]

[OOC:that data was old, apparently the Saudis have reached 12million barrels per day :shock: ]

OOC:
Let's say 30 mil per month.
IC:
"Japan and CHina don't have too much tarriffs thankfully. But both wouldn't mind annexing us-hence our slightly oversized military."

"when you're all but surrounded by a giant of a colonial empire like we are, you soon take the position that if a military is only slightly oversized, it should be expanded"
[OOC:letting it drift away from trade for the time being, since you don't suffer from high-tariff export markets]

"Well even for us, slightly oversized is an understatement. I guess you would still expand it, but were fine so far. Also, would Queen Lui be willing to consider a Mutual Defense Pact?"

[OOC: it's Sanctified Holy Empress Lia Liuo II, or Empress Lia for short :P :x ]
"Her Sanctified Magnificence has expressed a definate interest in such a proposiont, yes.That interest has even gone so far as to consider different possibilities for a draft document; my aide carries these papers, once we arrive [OOC: where are we going, actually?to your presidential palace or the (presumably newly opened) embassy?] i am sure we cna go over them and come to a satisfactory agreement."

OOC:
To your embassy, though youre coridally invited to a diplomatic lunch.
WHoopsies about Lia being Liu.
IC:
"Excellent, of course I am interested in it as well. How about looking over them and making adjustments where necessary over some nice Szechuan Food?"

"I would like that very much.There is nothing like a good lunch to put one in a good mood."

"Very good. Arrangements have been made for some food to be delievered to your embassy, although of course a menu has already been sent."

OOC:
And good chinese food
:roll:

They were nearing the Embassy by now.
"Incidentally, we'll be holdign a fly-by and demonstration of our newest aircraft near Nân for Her Sanctified Magnificence's birthday in two weeks...would your flying corps be interested in participating?

They were nearing the Embassy by now.
"Incidentally, we'll be holdign a fly-by and demonstration of our newest aircraft near Nân for Her Sanctified Magnificence's birthday in two weeks...would your flying corps be interested in participating?"

OOC:
Gtg now, be back tommorow

[OOC:ok, cya :) ]

OOC:
Sorry about the triple post.
IC:
"We'll be glad to send an elite squadron of I-4's. Hopefully the imperialists will take the hint that we have equal to better equipment."

"indeed.Though we have often found that Westerners will view the Eastern nations as subservient, even when we thrust the contrary in their faces;still we will be showing our latest designs to the world, and the imperialists would be fools to neglect their strength[OOC note:"latests designs" means at least half-a-dozen different aircraft, the Imperial Flying Corps tend to get any new toys they want, so that when most countries would get one new aircraft(new fighter, new torpedo bomber, etc) Chiang Maï usually gets at least two, because different designs for the same role have different attractions, and it's often simpler to get small number sof several than to argue it out (if they argued it out, they'd be at least fifteen more designs by the time they'd finished, so they'd have to do it over again ;) )].I take it your nation is also building up her fleet?" at this point, the car stopped next to the Embassy.

"Yes, we have a fleet, and an airforce, as it's pointless trying to fight a ground war and our streategy is to never be invaded", Mrotsky replied as the door was opened.
[OOC: I-1=MiG-3, I-2=Yak-3, I-3= Yak-9, I-4=La-5FN. I-4 being a bit better than the rest.]

"A wise decision when you're an island nation.We would rely on our Navy and Flying Corps to cut off our agrresor's colonies from his homeland, should we be invaded.We have recently been developping heavy bombers with the purpose of destroying colonialist might that could be brought to bear on us in mind."They moved towards the formal reception hall, where the food would be[OOC:i suppose] served.

[OOC: Yep]
IC: "We also have some tanks to try to drive an invasion into the sea- other than that it's BT-7U's which will be used for guerilla warfare should we be invaded"

"unfortunately, we have no such armored vehicles.Our army is clamoring for newer weapons, and has been for some time, but all the investments budget goes to the Flying Corps and Navy, and of course the Imperial Guard, but the Guard spends it mostly on aircraft.The Army still uses Lee-Enfield Mk I rifles, 10pdr Field-Howitzers and the same model of Maxim machine-rifle as the brits used at Omdurman.The nearest we come to a tank is an elephant bearing a Maxim."

"But with all those jungles, you don't really need tanks. Get in the forest and shoot the "manly" colonialists on the road. Weeee!"

"Anyway,", Mrotsky continued as they walked into the new embassy, "How about looking over those papers for a mutual defense pact over lunch?"

"Indeed, along Iansislean Mekong we have jungle, where an elephant is probably more usefull than a tank. The same goes for our ill-defined border with Calarcan malaysia, and anyway it's just jungle with neither people nor ressources down there so i can't imagine them really making an effort to settle it to their advantage.On the other hand, the Birman border could allow the deployment of the tanks Iansisle is purchasing from Walmington.As for those papers" he gestured to Sumaraa who had stayed on hand- within eavesdropping distance, of course-and who promptly came up and handed over the papers, which he had among a bundle of documents he carried"a discussion over lunch would be the best solution."
[OOC:i don't think we need to RP the nuts and bolts in great detail, since OOCly we know the outcome of the crisis, just RP out the broad agreement and gloss over the small print, assuming they come to an undertsand during the lunch about that]

[OOC: You can say what's on the paper]
IC: Mrotsky and Sakathri walked over to the table, where the food was waiting.

Kaïang sat opposite to Mrotsky, and spread the main document out between them, sweeping a few dishes aside.it read
"We, the Allied States of Hainan and the Sanctified Holy Empire of Chiang Maï, recognizing the increasing threats posed to any Eastern nation by the land-hungry power-grabbing colonialist nations of the West, furthermore worsened by the ambitions of the empires of China and Japan in the Gulf of Tonkin region, henceforth declare that any act of agression on one, is an attack on both, and promise to stand together in case of war with the imperialist powers."
Annex documents went on to describe protocols of military co-operation, propose an agreement on the exact locations of the borders of each state, and set conditions for a joint hegemony over the Gulf of Tonkin, and even tentative trade accords.Kaïang watched Hainan's leader intently as he read the document.

Mrotsky was only too eager to sign it, however, he suggested cooperation on military developments be added.

Kaïang thought about it-for a split second only- and brought out a pen and paper, hastily drafting a protocol for joint development, and limited reciprocal access to developmental facilities then submitting it to Mrotsky.

Mrotsky quickly looked over it one last time, and signed it as more flashes went off.

Kaïang added his ambassadorial signature to the Sanctified Seal, shook hands firmly with Mrotsky, smiling broadly for the cameras, and the deal was done.After all, this job isn't half bad he thought, as he sat down again and picked up the menu, still grinning.

Mrotsky took a small sip from the bottle of Vodka on the table. He was no drunkard [OOC: *cough yeltsin cough*, "accidentally" deploying torops into Yugoslavia lol], he certainly did not mind an occasional drink. He placed his order, and sat back in his chair. There was nothing much to discuss really, having just signed a treaty to everything he had wanted, but he still casually asked about the queen's palace in CHiang Mai.

Kaïang placed his own order, and poured himself a glass of wine.While the staff chatted amicably around the table, he replied "Oh, it's quite large really, heavily decorated-frescoes, bas-relief of gold, gemstones, ornamental columns- several stories high, with 'wooden lace'[ooc:unsure if that's the right term,lol] on the oustide.The Jewelled Hall, well, i'd sya it quite deserves it's name.The title of 'Resplendant Court' wasn't forged out of thin air; it really is dazzling.The palace in Sukhotaï is smaller and less decorated, though still superb; but they've called the Imperial Palace in Nân the 'Versailles of the East' at one point."

"Sounds magnificent. Here in Haikou I have a presidential palace, though it pales in comparison."

[OOC:and there are still things to be discussed, maybe not in this lunch but this thread has no need to die yet ;) ]
"I am sure you do yourself injustice.Incidentally,i wonder if any of your merchants would be interested in participating, along with the Resplendant Court and some of our own companies, in modernizing Haiphong.It's still in the state it was when we took it over from the Annamite Empire, and they didn't trade much outside of their realm, so it's in pretty shabby condition...but now with the increase of trade with your nation, Haiphong is ideally placed, just across from Hainan."

[OOC:and there are still things to be discussed, maybe not in this lunch but this thread has no need to die yet ;) ]
"I am sure you do yourself injustice.Incidentally,i wonder if any of your merchants would be interested in participating, along with the Resplendant Court and some of our own companies, in modernizing Haiphong.It's still in the state it was when we took it over from the Annamite Empire, and they didn't trade much outside of their realm, so it's in pretty shabby condition...but now with the increase of trade with your nation, Haiphong is ideally placed, just across from Hainan."

"Yes, I can order some merchants to set up shop in Haiphong."

The lunch proceeded on, and the Hainanese leader returned to his palace.However, the next day Sumaraa told Kaïang an important telegram had been received.Kaïang immediatley phoned Mrostky, to ask to see him rapidly concerning a delicate issue....[OOC:it's the wireless telegram sent after having received vague news of the Ajax incident]

"Andrei Mrotsky", the president simply said as he picked up the telephone.

"this is Kaïang Sakathri.We just had news of an incident involving a destoryer flying Walmingtonian flag in your waters...i trust you already know about it?have they attempted an invasion?"concern showe din his voice."or could we have any more specific details?Her Sanctified Magnificence has ordered the fleet strengthened, in case this should highlit hostility from the colonial powers..."

"The destroyer was escorting a convoy but veered of course and ended up heading straight for Hainan. Naturally we assumed it was escorting an invasion force, and the HNS Lurker torpedoed it twice. The Walmingtonian Government has not responded yet." [OOC: Because he's in London.]

"Ah.I undertsand the reasons for your ship's actions....the message will be passed on.Hopefully they will see the mistake their ship made.Good luck, and good bye."
[OOC:yeah,to bad that :( but patience is a virtue :) ]

"bye"
[OOC: Well were having an arms race, and I'm developing a certain gunboat :wink: ]

[OOC:which comes from a really most interesting website ;) whoever drew up those "Furashita's Navy" ships came up with some good ideas ;) ]

OOC:
Theyre all cancelled projects, I think.

Or we could jointly develop it as our 1st bilateral development- lol about that thing cruising up and down the Mekong, blasting the $@&* out of smaller gunboats.

[OOC: that would be great, i think Ian is digging in around the Mekong delta.....the Aki could make that a costly idea ;) ]

OOC:
:lol:

I can get specs for it by tommorow [or later today].

[OOC: that would be...nice ;) or is fun the term :twisted: ? ]

OOC:
Tommorow I'll make a thread about it, and yes fun since this thing can engage any Iansislian or Walmingtonian battleship.

OOC: i can imagine that scene....."Cpatain! a gunboat is engaging us!""well then just crush the fools, lieutenant!"*big explosion heard*
lieutenant:"i think they just sunk us, sir" :lol: :lol: :lol:

OOC:
:lol: :lol:


Even funnier if they send a destroyer to kill off "that pesky little boat"

OOC:
On 2nd thought, Ill make it now.

*goes off to write up specs*

OOC:
hehe, they are more than welcome to send a destroyer to "kill off that pesky little gunboat":
http://navysite.de/weapons/mk48ex3.jpg
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
they can send more if they like :wink:

OOC:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:twisted: :twisted:

[strokes chin]

[WoS, you got some threads to catch up with ;) ]

OOC:
hehe, they are more than welcome to send a destroyer to "kill off that pesky little gunboat":
http://navysite.de/weapons/mk48ex3.jpg
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
they can send more if they like :wink:

OOC: The aussies been practicing with their Collins class subs here?