NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is based on the NS Earth, and if you want to get involved, please TG me or write an OOC post here. All economic data is culled from my Economic Factbook, located in my signature.

IC: Deep within the hallowed halls of the Roman Curia, Roman Emperor Rodin Hartian was meeting with the Senators. It was budget time for the Roman Empire, and the Empire, as it always had to, needed to make some difficult decisions. The decision to come, though, was probably not what many would have expected.

"Okay. Time to get started," said Hartian as the other Senators walked into the room. It was a bright and early 8AM, about a full two hours before the Curia normally went in session. The Senators were groggy, but they expected an early wakeup call during budget sessions.

"I know that many of you are not used to having to get up this early," started Hartian, who saw a few smirks come from his Senators, "but today I want to discuss more than just the budget. Quaestor Widella, the figures please."

The Quaestor, Widella Compisi, promptly took the floor and started her presentation on Rome's current economic situation. The figures for the Empire rattled her fellow Senators, except Hartian who knew what to expect, showing the following:

( Complete Breakdown (http://www.geocities.com/dadothegreat2003/RomanEconomicFactbook.htm) )

-A total GDP of C731.83 billion (US$7.3183 trillion) for the entire Roman Empire, including its client states
-An extreme surplus in agricultural production, with the Empire producing more than three times the amount of produce than what is needed in the Empire
-A GDP per capita of C1,458.83 (US$14,588.30), a figure that was up 17% from the year before but one that nonetheless rankled the Senatorial class.

"Ladies and gentlemen, to sum up my report, the Empire's economy, while in good shape, is still a long way from being an economic power. We have come a long way since the wasteful spending days of His Highness' predecessor, but it is obvious that we still have a lot of work to do," said Compisi.

"Thank you Widella," said Hartian, again taking the floor as Compisi sat down. "As you can see, my Senators, the Empire's economy is not exactly where we want it to be. This has been something I have known for a while now, and I have been thinking about the possible solutions for this problem; and my Senators, one of my solutions is a radical one that will not be easy for any of you to swallow.

"Chief among our problems is the economic gap between our provinces. Italy and Spain sit in luxury, while Abyssinia wallows in poverty. Clearly, if we want to create an economically viable Empire, we must do something about this gap, for it only brings down the Empire as a whole.

Our first option is to invest. Paul neglected to work on the Empire's infrastructure and the result is that a lot of the new territories he had gained- along with some of the Empire's other remote areas, such as the Pacific islands and Venezuela- became very poorly integrated in the Empire's economic model, leading to a significant gap in economic output across the Empire. We can correct this neglect and build up the infrastructure across the Empire, so as to better integrate the remote areas with the core areas of the Empire."

He paused for a little bit, then continued.

"Our second option is to examine the territories that we have, and only keep the areas that are economically viable, and bestow independence unto the nations that are not."

The Senators collectively gasped. The Roman Empire WILLINGLY give up land? Such a practice would be unheard of! Well, Hadrian did it, but Rome was allowed an exception.

"I am aware that this is a lot for you all to take, but I have my reasons," continued Hartian. "First of all, the question of the power of the client states has not yet been fully defined, and I have many concerns regarding our ability to really integrate each into a viable system of government and economics. So I believe our best option is to keep what we have integrated and allow our other territories to gain independence."

"...but Your Highness, what will we do with the new states? Are we just going to 'leave'?" asked Praetor Extraterritorialis Jomo Marea.

"No we won't," said Hartian. "What we would do in that situation is to create an entirely new model for the Roman world, creating a system of independent but closely-knit states. It would become a close alliance of states, working together to solve all of our problems but without having to worry about a 'central authority' meddling in their affairs. For those territories, who have long felt that they were exploited for the benefit of Rome, liberty would be accepted almost unanimously. However, we would help them grow as states, to ensure that they too become viable."

"Your Highness," said Praetor Legatus Udius Emitrius, "what will with the 'hawks' in Rome who will want us to expand, not contract?"

"It is my belief that they can be led to believe that if this is for the Empire's greater good then they will accept it," said Hartian.

"Your Highness, which states will we keep?" asked Consul Princeps Valerius Maderia.

"That will be something that we will decide, together," said Hartian. He looked at his watch. "Okay, it is 10AM. My meeting with you is over. Tommorow we will convene again to discuss this further."

Each of the Senators then left the room, talking amongst each other and appearing mostly in shock. The Empire would never be the same again.

The Roman Free Press, May 11, 2005

"Roman Empire may give up land: source"

ROME- An anonymous source close to Emperor Rodin Hartian reveals that the Emperor's plan to rejuvanate the Empire's slagging economy is to withdraw Roman authority from what the Emperor calls the 'remote and unintegrated areas' of the Empire.

The source- who chose anonymity for fear of reprecussions- said that Hartian believes it is to the Empire's benefit that it only retain the strongest lands and let free the poorer regions. During the discussions, Hartian mentioned that previous Emperor Paul XII "neglected" those areas and allowed them to fall into decay, and also said that the distance of these territories means that it would be better off if the Empire let them become independent than insist on keeping them as provinces. He also said that the Empire's lingering problem of "Client Empires"- "mini-empires" that serve almost as nations themselves but whose role within the Empire has not yet been defined- was also motivation for Hartian's ground-breaking plan.

"I am not really sure what to make of this plan," said the source, who also further refused to mention where they received their information. "We just heard it yesterday and we were all in shock. However, we like what the Emperor has done in Rome and we trust that this plan is for the betterment of the Empire."

However, when asked which territories the source believes will be let go, the source refused to clarify, stating that not even they know. "All I know is that it is not Rome," said the source with a smirk on their face.

As new developments come on this story we will keep you posted.

***********************Inside The Curia**********************************

Rodin Hartian received a rude awakening when he received his morning paper today, where he read that his ground-breaking economic option was revealed. He knew it was a Senator who revealed the option, and he became determined to find out who revealed it.

When he arrived at the Curia at 7:30AM, he carried his paper, and stood in the lobby and waited for the Senators to arrive. When they all did by 7:53AM, Hartian began to speak.

"I'm aware all of you read the paper today," said Hartian in a harsh voice, watching as all his Senators hung their heads low. "I certainly did, and I'm not pleased. Now, we can do this the easy way and nobody gets hurt, or we can do this the hard way and expel all of you. What shall we do?"

"I did it," said a contrite Jomo Marea. "I was scared, Your Highness. Your plan...it's just so radical and it just left me bewildered. I really felt like the Roman World needed to know, but I feared your reaction if I asked to go public with it, so I just decided to do so anonymously. I'm sorry."

"That is okay Jomo," said Hartian. "You should know that unless I say something about it I have no problem with any of you going to the press about anything. You can even tell them that my feet smell."

The Senators let out a laugh. "Remember, you *must* clear it with me first, because what we say in closed sessions may affect the security of our Empire, and it may be better if we at least talk things over first before we go to the public about it," said Hartian. He now turned to Marea. "Because of your remorse, I shall let you off easy. Pay me a C500 fine for breach of protocol- hey, we have rules for a reason- and we will get on with this."

As the Senators walked in, Hartian approached the secretary of the Curia and told her to write a Press Release concerning the discussions. "Go on in, I'll be a minute," said Hartian to the Senators, who went into the Curia's meeting room. "Please type up the following Press Release, Sarah:

"******Official Press Release From The Roman Government******

To: All Concerned Parties
Re: The Economic Talks

Yesterday, a Senator of mine, Jomo Marea, went to the media behind my back to discuss my latest idea for restructuring the economy of the Empire. First of all, I would like to say that Marea revealed it to me voluntarily that he had gone behind my back and will only receive a small fine, as per Empire protocol. He was not reprimanded for speaking his mind, for I do not have anything against anyone speaking their mind- I have a problem if he or anyone else releases information from closed-door sessions that I have not approved for release. I intended to go public with my plans anyway, so do not fear that 'confidential material' has been 'leaked'.

Second of all, the idea of granting independence to remote regions of the Empire is just that- an idea. It has not been an enacted plan. We in the Roman Senate are so far in discussions with regards to the economic path we are going to take. As many of you may already know, the Empire's finances, while not weak, are not particularily strong, and it is part of my mandate to correct that. Since we also have had integration and logistical problems with the Client Empires in the Empire, I proposed the idea of granting them independence because it would be a far more feasible plan, in my eyes, to hold onto the integrated areas and allow the poorly integrated areas to be free of Roman control, because we simply cannot hold onto them in their present format. Do not worry, if this idea does come to fruitition- which it may not- we have a plan to see to it that the new countries become fully independent and self-sufficient states, as well as to maintain them as Roman allies. Regardless, do not worry my citizens because, as always, the Roman Empire does have a plan.

Emperor Rodin Hartian,
293rd Emperor of Rome,
May 11, MMV

-official response from the Diplomatic office of Zeeeland-

concerning your budgeting agenda

Our nation is also in "perestroika" (restructuring in Gorbachevs Language :) ) mode at the moment too.

And congratulates your Empires Non repressive disposition towards your colonies/ incorporated states. in which you plan to give some of them a large degree of independence and autonomy. Imperialism cannot survive In todays world alone. Complete solidarity is the key to good nationhood.

Our nation is trying to set herself up in the pacific ocean. and has a growing Interest In asserting herself in this region.... (aka aquiring territory) Inwhich we may like to purchase, Barter for some of your Pacific islands. Please let the Zeeeland government know about your Intentions in this region... (ps. This may seem contradictory about my rhetoric Imperialism and then showing an Interest in your territories. but no nation is completely without self interest. correct? :)

-official response from the Diplomatic office of Zeeeland-

concerning your budgeting agenda

Our nation is also in "perestroika" (restructuring in Gorbachevs Language :) ) mode at the moment too.

And congratulates your Empires Non repressive disposition towards your colonies/ incorporated states. in which you plan to give some of them a large degree of independence and autonomy. Imperialism cannot survive In todays world alone. Complete solidarity is the key to good nationhood.

Our nation is trying to set herself up in the pacific ocean. and has a growing Interest In asserting herself in this region.... (aka aquiring territory) Inwhich we may like to purchase, Barter for some of your Pacific islands. Please let the Zeeeland government know about your Intentions in this region... (ps. This may seem contradictory about my rhetoric Imperialism and then showing an Interest in your territories. but no nation is completely without self interest. correct? :)

******Official Response From The Roman Government******

"At the present time, our territories are not for sale. If and when they are we will get in touch."

Signed,
Rodin Hartian,
293rd Emperor of Rome,
May 11, MMV

******End Response******

DAY 2, BUDGET TALKS

"So, I hope you all slept well, I know I did," said Emperor Rodin Hartian with a smirk. His Senators laughed.

"Now that you've had a chance to digest everything, what do you think," asked the Emperor.

"Well, it's a shock," said Consul Extraterritorialis Furitina Millenia, "but we have faith in you and that you know what you're doing."

"I agree," said Education Minister Emenden Farelli. The rest of the Senators nodded in agreement.

"Very well then. Today what we will discuss are the pros and cons of both options set before us. Quaestor Widella, the floor is yours."

Widella Compisi again took the floor. "As we mentioned yesterday, there are two options that we can take for the Empire. The first option is to build up the remote areas' infrastructure and integrate the areas better with the Empire's core regions, so that their economies can grow. The advantages of this would be that the Empire would get to keep all its territories and that we would be guaranteed that all of the Empire's available resources remain Roman, but it would come at an enormous cost to the Empire's already strained treasury and we have plenty of logistical problems concerning the distance of all these territories. Simply put, it will not be easy to integrate ALL these areas, and we may never achieve full integration in some areas.

"Our other option is to grant the remote areas independence and then form an alliance with these states. As His Highness said before, the Empire's greatest challenge right now is defining the role that the Client Empires serve in our system, and this may address that. This isn't the 19th century anymore- we really have to rethink how we run the Empire, and this may be a way to do it.

"Of course, what lands we keep and what we give up is something we will all have to decide, and not even that will be easy. Selling the sale of the lands to the Roman people isn't the extremely hard part- eventually, they'll understand- it's the resources we get from those areas, as well as working in a new system of government and a new relationship with Rome. Plus we don't even know if this is what the people of those areas want to be independent. However, what I want to do today is to figure out what we should do. I personally am split."

"This isn't an easy decision. On the one hand, if we do part with lands we'll lose the resources, and that won't be good, but we'll be able to run a more efficient and integrated state. On the other hand, investing may take a lot out of us, and we don't seem to have the cash for that," said Farelli.

"Perhaps if we re-envisioned 'The Empire' as an alliance, and not as a state then maybe we'd be able to sell the idea of 'selling off land'," said Praetor Extraterritorialis Jomo Marea. "The problem is deciding what constitutes the new states."

"I personally like your idea, Praetor," said Hartian, "but will it work?"

"What if we gave them a choice?" asked Millenia. "Then nobody can claim that this was all an 'Imperial decision'."

"Well, it's obvious that we're going somewhere with this," said Hartian. "Later, I will make a more formal announcement. We must gague the public's reaction to this first."

The Senators nodded in agreement. With that, their meeting ended, but it was just the beginning of the biggest Imperial reorganization in history.

"Empire A Nation, Not A Business"

The Roman Free Press (Editorial)

A few days ago, Roman Emperor Rodin Hartian hinted that the Roman Empire may be willing to grant "remote areas" independence in a radical but perfectly logical move to restructure the finances of the Empire, which have long been teetering on the brink of collapse in recent years. While we find it noble that the Emperor is willing to consider granting any area independence from Rome, we wonder if his motives are indeed the right one.

When the Roman Empire reached its current size somewhere in the mid-90s with the annexation of Venezuela, Arabia, the southwestern US and northern Mexico, it did so under the pretext of preserving order and to preserve the shipment of resources those countries provided to Rome. At the time, Roman Emperor Paul XII, Hartian's predecessor, said that the Romans undertook the moves because those nations plunged into anarchy and that Roman control was better than no control, and, while the Romans have allowed their external territories extensive autonomy, the areas have not always favoured Roman rule. In one of the many issues that curtailed his rule, Paul never addressed the issue and only heightenned the problem, with extreme taxes that only impoverished the areas even more. It should come as no surprise that as the Roman GDP per capita collapsed so did Paul's government, and, when Hartian rose to power under the banner of resuscitating the Empire's failing economy, there was new hope within the client states that they would be rescued from their woes and that they could gain a greater sense of autonomy, if not independence itself.

Instead, Hartian's approach has been not to address the economic concerns across the entire Empire itself but rather to take a good look at each of his lands and keep only what's viable to him. In other words, he seeks not to grant independence to areas because there is a deep-seated *need* for independence in those areas but because they simply don't turn a profit for the Empire, and thus they have to go. The whole process is wrapped up solely in numbers, and is so galling that it becomes simply irresponsible.

You see, to Hartian, he doesn't see a nation, he sees a business. This may be understandable considering that Hartian was once a businessman, but unlike a company, a nation is a lot more than just profits. A nation is human lives, with its laws and policies affecting every aspect of those lives that their value cannot be measured in coins. For example, the Solomon Islands, whose resources amount to little more than fish and timber, may not provide much to the Empire's GDP but, with its great weather and its relative remoteness (not to mention its hospitable people), has become one of the Empire's favourite tourist destinations in recent years, and, if the Empire invested in it, the Islands may one day become one of the world's favourite tourist hotspots, giving the Empire as a whole an economic windfall and international goodwill it may only dream about.

However, Hartian does not see the long-term ramifications of such and only sees the numbers, and the numbers show that the Solomon Islands are just not turning a profit. Never mind the chaos that could erupt on the Islands if they are forced to adopt new laws and policies, and never mind that one day, if Rome actually cared about it, the Islands' value as a tourist hotspot could turn into a huge boon for the Empire's economy and for its image across the world- they simply don't turn a profit now, and they have to go.

To be fair, Hartian has not said much about his plans or which areas he intends to keep, but regardless the message is clear: he doesn't care about the lives of his citizens, he simply cares if they make him money. That's not a way to raise loyalty. While it may not be enough to cause riots in well-established Roman areas such as Italy and Texas, in areas such as Venezuela and Abyssinia, where Roman rule is tenuous at best, it may cause an insurrection so great that Rome may never recover from it. The Romans have been fighting a political battle for years to show themselves as un-Imperialistic and "for the people", but once the so-called "remote areas" realize that the Romans only care about the coins they bring in they may have to leave those areas by force. By then, Hartian will not only have enemies too numerous to contain, he may also have to face a windfall of public backlash that would sweep him from power once his term is finished- if they even allow him to finish his term.

Perhaps it's too early to villify Hartian when he hasn't actually revealed much about his plans or even enacted anything, but so far his "plan" to revitalize the Empire is no better than Paul's wrongheaded policies that swept Hartian to power in the first place. He can claim all he wants that the Empire's resources are not sufficient enough to invest in the short term, but as every good ruler knows, no country ever remains stable if all it does is think in the short term, and certainly if it never thinks about his people. Hartian came to power as a populist- now it's time for him to show it.

DAY 3: Rodin Hartian Addresses The Nation.

9AM, the Curia- LIVE on national TV.

"My fellow Romans, I come to you today to calm your nerves, and to set a few things straight about the things that the media have been reporting about my government and my nation.

"First of all, we would like to state that the Roman Empire is not giving up any land. This idea that we would quickly abandon our own provinces and citizens is appalling, and should be dismissed immediately. We are committed to ensuring that our citizens receive the most that they can out of this Empire.

"However, in these new times we must examine the way that the Empire is run. No longer is it sufficient to administer provinces directly from thousands of miles away, because not only is it logistically difficult we don't believe in presenting ourselves as 'faraway rulers'. Our Empire is extremely diverse, with many different cultures and ways of thinking, and our administration must reflect that. I ran on a platform of greater autonomy, and I plan on doing just that.

Thank you."

With that, the transmission ended.

******************An oil field, Riyadh, Arabia*********************

It was almost noon as Faisal and his friends went off for lunch. They had been working very hard at Roman capital of the Arabian colony, with their oil field looking to produce as much as 2% of the Empire's total oil.

"Abdul, Husayn, what do you think of all this talk about the breakup of the Empire?" asked Faisal to his friends on their way to the breakroom. "Do you find it scary? Uplifting?"

"I really don't know what to think," said Abdul. "The Empire has done a lot for me and for our country, and it's all my children have known. If it's gone, what will replace it?"

"Really? You think that?" asked Husayn with a snarl. "The Romans don't care for us, they care for our oil. That's why they hold onto us like fine china."

"Yeah, but can you really say that your life would be better without the Romans? Before them, we were never given the opportunity to vote, the opportunity to free speech, and the opportunity to have a lunch at a decent time. They've done so much for us- do we really want to throw it away?" asked Abdul.

"Okay, so you guys are divided. I see," said Faisal, who really had no position on the matter. "Personally, I'd be worried about what change would bring, but maybe we could use some independence. We don't have to take all our orders from Rome anymore."

"Yeah, but do you really think a King will respect our wishes? Do you not remember the Saudis?" asked Abdul in a serious tone. "We were oppressed, but under Rome, we are free. To me, this is a no-brainer."

"Really, what do you think we can do? We're just three oil workers out in the desert making sure the Romans can drive their cars today. Do you really think the Emperor will listen to us?" snarled a disapproving Husayn.

"Do you think we should try?" asked Faisal. "I mean, he must get millions of letters a day, but if Rodin Hartian is true to his word that he's 'for the people' then eventually he'd get to us."

"No use in not trying," said Abdul. "I say let's do it."

"Good. Just what to we write?" said Husayn, still unconvinced.

"Well, we ask for you Husayn we ask for greater autonomy, for you Abdul, we get assurances that the Romans will continue to help us as much as they have been before, and for me, I say we ask for some economic help, because we could use it. I mean, just imagine what this country could bring!" said Faisal. He was suddenly excited.

He then grabbed the nearest pen and the nearest thing he could write on, which, in this case was a few napkins. On it, he began to write the message to the Emperor that his friends had agreed that he should write. His message was this:

"Your Excellency,

We are Faisal, Abdul and Husayn, three friends who work on an oil field in Riyadh. We write to you today because we are scared, because we're not sure if we want to live in a world without the Roman Empire. Before the Romans came we were oppressed and now we are free, and we don't want to lose our freedom. So we come to you today to ask that you, O great Emperor, to look at our nation and please don't abandon it. Be true to your word and allow us autonomy, but please, invest in us and take care of us so that we too may one day return the favour to the Empire. We may be just three Arabians, but please, Your Majesty, we are scared, and we write this to you in the hopes that you will aleviate our fears.

Signed,
Faisal, Abdul, Husayn."

As soon as he got home, Faisal looked for an envelope and a stamp, and, as soon as he found one, he mailed his letter to the Emperor. "Here goes nothing," he said, "but hopefully, it will work."

It was almost noon when Rodin Hartian checked into his office for his lunch break. It was usually then that he sifted through the deluge of letters that he received daily, from which he would sort out which to respond to and which to throw away.

As he was sifting through the letters, he eventually came across a letter sent to him from Arabia. It was not often that the province sent him anything, and, when it did, it was usually something big, like a camel. Usually they had been hospitable to Roman Emperors, and with just cause (so he thought)- it was the Romans who overthrew the Saudis and it was the Romans who established freedom for the first time in Arabia. However, he was intrigued by the letter- was he to receive yet another camel?

When he opened it, he was immediately taken aback. "A napkin? I'm pretty sure we import paper there..." thought the Emperor when he saw the letter. "How odd." He then read:

Your Excellency,

We are Faisal, Abdul and Husayn, three friends who work on an oil field in Riyadh. We write to you today because we are scared, because we're not sure if we want to live in a world without the Roman Empire. Before the Romans came we were oppressed and now we are free, and we don't want to lose our freedom. So we come to you today to ask that you, O great Emperor, to look at our nation and please don't abandon it. Be true to your word and allow us autonomy, but please, invest in us and take care of us so that we too may one day return the favour to the Empire. We may be just three Arabians, but please, Your Majesty, we are scared, and we write this to you in the hopes that you will aleviate our fears.

Signed,
Faisal, Abdul, Husayn.

"How weird," he then thought. "They don't want me to abandon them but they want greater autonomy. Some people...they just can't make up their minds."

He kept it near him, though, and sifted again. A lot of the letters he received that day were filled with "don't abandon us" statements, some containing little more than a sentence while others gave elaborate and rather thoughtful arguments on the subject. Yet, as he sifted, the "Napkin From Arabia" as he began to call it, really stuck in his head.

He then began to write:

"Dear Faisal, Abdul and Husayn:

I thank you for your letter. Being that I usually don't receive napkins as a form of letter, it really stuck out in my mind, but what really stuck out for me is your concern. You should already know that millions across the Empire share your concerns, and believe me, I understand them. I want to reiterate, though, that the Empire will not, under any circumstances, abandon anybody. We are fully committed to the areas that we have under our control, and we are fully committed to ensuring that all of our territories become thriving, viable areas.

As you know, the face of the Empire is changing. This is not a matter of my own personal will but a matter of the changing of the times. Our previous administrations believed that ruling the Empire as if it were a colonial structure was the way it should be run, but in the 21st century this is far from the case. It may have been true in the 19th century that 'ruling from afar' was an effective way of ruling the state, and, while I personally dispute that, the reality is that now that format of rule is clearly not an effective option. The various peoples of the Empire deserve a voice, and it is my duty to uphold that right.

Having said that, I do not wish to employ the mistakes my predecessors have used in the past. When Diocletian decided that the Empire was no longer fit to be ruled as a single whole, the Empire itself nearly disintegrated, and is a legacy that cannot be repeated. We have to make sure that, in any incarnation, the Empire will be a viable state, and I assure you that this viability will extend to your region.

I would like to end by thanking you for your concern and to say that I will take full note of them.

Signed,
Rodin Hartian,
293rd Emperor of Rome,
May 17, MMV"

As he finished the letter, he got up from his office to go to a vending machine. Along the way, he bumped into his Consul, Valerius Maderia.

"Hello Consul," said Hartian.
"Hello Your Highness," said Valerius.
"I have been doing some thinking," said Hartian, "and I think it may not be in our best interests to simply break up the Empire."
"Noted, but isn't that what you'd thought all along?"
"No, not really. When I say 'independent', I mean 'independent'. I liked Praetor Jomo Marea's idea about turning the Empire into an alliance, but I think that may be too radical, and too soon."
"So, what do you have in mind?"
"I thinking somewhere along the lines of the British Dominions."
"Ah...a nice idea. I like it; but what do we keep?"
"Well, we keep control over the Empire's entire armed forces and foreign affairs, while letting them basically control their own local affairs. They can even have a local army if they want to, but we'd be able to call it up if we need to."
"Interesting."
"I'm also thinking about reconquering Helvetica."
"What?"
"Those Helveticans have been bothering us for years. Raiding our border towns. We need to teach them a lesson."
"...but sir, we can't be seen as bullies."
"I know, we just need an opportunity, that's all."
"Do you think this would be a good idea?"
"Maybe. Every year they keep adding me to their ballot boxes in mock elections, staged every year in protest to the Helveticans' refusal to hold elections. So, clearly, they want us."
"I don't know..."
"Well, it's only a thought now."

With that, Hartian went back to his office- he had more letters to respond back to.

OOC Note: Any reference to any other NS nation is PURELY coincidental and is not meant as a threat to any NS nation.

wow this is good stuff. a very definate tag if i can think of something......... :)

OOC: Thanks Zeeeland :) .

It was 4:45AM when the alarm went off in Faisal's room. It was the start of another long day at the oil field, and though he didn't like the start time, at least he enjoyed being in the sun.

After he made his breakfast, he decided to check his mail before he went to work, as was his custom. As he leafed through his mail, he wondered if the Emperor had received his letter and replied, which, to his delight (and through the deluge of bills he received, much to his disdain), he did.

He hurried inside with excitement building with every step that he took. The Emperor got back to me! The Emperor got back to me! he thought in delight, and, in doing so, completely forgot that he didn't get much sleep the night before. He sat down at his kitchen table, opened the letter and began to read:

Dear Faisal, Abdul and Husayn:

I thank you for your letter. Being that I usually don't receive napkins as a form of letter, it really stuck out in my mind, but what really stuck out for me is your concern. You should already know that millions across the Empire share your concerns, and believe me, I understand them. I want to reiterate, though, that the Empire will not, under any circumstances, abandon anybody. We are fully committed to the areas that we have under our control, and we are fully committed to ensuring that all of our territories become thriving, viable areas.

As you know, the face of the Empire is changing. This is not a matter of my own personal will but a matter of the changing of the times. Our previous administrations believed that ruling the Empire as if it were a colonial structure was the way it should be run, but in the 21st century this is far from the case. It may have been true in the 19th century that 'ruling from afar' was an effective way of ruling the state, and, while I personally dispute that, the reality is that now that format of rule is clearly not an effective option. The various peoples of the Empire deserve a voice, and it is my duty to uphold that right.

Having said that, I do not wish to employ the mistakes my predecessors have used in the past. When Diocletian decided that the Empire was no longer fit to be ruled as a single whole, the Empire itself nearly disintegrated, and is a legacy that cannot be repeated. We have to make sure that, in any incarnation, the Empire will be a viable state, and I assure you that this viability will extend to your region.

I would like to end by thanking you for your concern and to say that I will take full note of them.

Signed,
Rodin Hartian,
293rd Emperor of Rome,
May 17, MMV

"Wow", he said to himself. "He really DOES care about us!" He may have voted for Faruk Mombek, the current Arabian Governor, in the Imperial elections, but Hartian didn't need to know that.

At 6AM, he started his drive to the oil field. Normally, it took him about an hour to get there, but in his excitment he went twice the speed limit and arrived in half an hour. He just had to tell his friends that the Emperor replied to him, despite the fact that it wasn't all that rare that the Emperor even replied to anyone.

His friends, as they normally did, arrived at 6:45 as their normally groggy selves. "Man, why can't the Empire rule Java so we can get a decent cup of coffee," complained Abdul. "Yeah, I know- Yemeni coffee really doesn't do it for me," agreed Husayn.

Upon seeing his friends walk into their work station, Faisal immediately ran up to them. "Guys! Guys! Guys! The Emperor replied! The Emperor replied!" He was giggling like a little schoolgirl, which prompted some weirded looks from Abdul and Husayn.

"I see," said Husayn bemused. "Well, can we see the letter?" He still wasn't convinced that the Emperor actually bothered to write back to a commoner like Faisal, let alone one that uses a napkin.

He opened the letter that Faisal had already opened, and, with Abdul, read its contents. "Ah, a Diocletian reference...interesting," said Husayn, who, as the only historian among the three, knew the name. "The times are changing...really...", he continued as he was reading. "More rehashed statements from his address...typical," he concluded, snarling at the letter.

"I thought it was great," said Abdul. "He really sounded concerned."

"Please. The man used 'Diocletian', a name most Arabs don't even know, unlike the Romans who Hartian clearly speaks to. Oh, and I love how he says that he's committed to keeping our 'areas' thriving- care not to name them, 'Your Highness'?" said Husayn, with the "Your Highness" coming in mockery.

"C'mon," said Abdul. "Just because he doesn't know Omar doesn't mean that he's a bad Emperor. Last I checked he had to run the Empire, not make sure he knows everyone's history."

"In fact, that just may be creepy," butted in Faisal. "Okay, okay- I know he didn't mean 'our' histories as in the three of us, but the way he said-". He cut himself off when Abdul and Husayn gave him stares of incredulity.

"Okay Abdul, you're right- the Emperor doesn't need to know who Omar is to run the Empire; but don't you think it's a little ignorant of him to use 'Diocletian' in his letter?" asked Husayn cynically.

"Yeah, but the guy's trying to draw a comparison between Diocletian's reorganizing and how the Emperor wants to do things differently," said Abdul.

"Do you know who Diocletian is? Do you?" barked Husayn.

"Come on. Let's get to work. Sometimes you get too worked up," said Abdul, as the three of them moved into their work positions- with Husayn still barking, of course.

DAY 9: THE AGREEMENT

It was 8AM. The Senators slowly arrived their usually groggy selves into the Roman Curia, where today they had hoped to hammer out an agreement with Roman Emperor Rodin Hartian over the budget- or at least finally know how their advice stacked up in Hartian's mind, because it was ultimately Hartian would make the final decision.

As they filed into the boardroom, Hartian greeted every one of them and took his seat last. He had a look of restrained confidence on his face, while his Senators all looked liked they just rolled out of bed.

"Okay- today is the budget. Over the past few days, I talked with our Quaestor who advised me greatly over the course of action I should take when drafting the budget, as well as the rest of you from time to time and the deluge of concerned letters that I received from all across the Empire. Without further adieu, this is the budget," said Hartian, who began passing out 100-page documents containing the particulars of the Roman Budget.

"First of all, there is no tax increase this year, just like last year," said Hartian. The Senators all smiled.

"Secondly, I will announce today a comprehensive new development plan for the Empire, where we build everything from roads to rails to new factories, mining operations and other facilities to encourage business development. We will be pouring in some C400 billion into this infrastructure development program, secured by the sale of exports (particularly in food) as well as foreign aid."

The Senators again gasped- foreign aid? The Roman Empire? The Emperor has to be nuts- how can we be seen as great if the Empire needs AID?

"Shocking, I know," said Hartian, "but we live in the 21st century. The era of pointless 'posturing politics' has come to an end- we must learn how to run the Empire efficiently, and if that involves foreign aid, so be it."

"...but sir, how will we sell this to the people? They've been taught since the day that they were born that Rome was strong and will always be strong- and now we're showing them that we're weak?" said Jomo Marea.

"No, we're showing them that we're responsible," snapped Hartian. "Strong nations are not irresponsible." He then motioned his hand indicating that he was continuing his speech.

"Thirdly, I am announcing today that the 'Client Empires' will become 'States', and will be virtually independent (and will also retain the right to call themselves whatever they wish- Kingdom, Principality, etc., except 'Empire'. That is reserved for the Empire as a whole). With it will come a complete overhaul of the Empire's taxation system. Currently, there is an across-the-board tax of 35%, but that tax shall be reduced to 10%, because this tax- now called 'The Imperial Levy'- shall only be used for Empire-wide projects and does not need to be huge. The States shall be given the power to tax their own people, but the total tax rate of the States and the Imperial Levy cannot exceed 45%. Currently, all State tax rates shall sit at 20%, giving the Empire a combined 30% tax rate.

In addition to new taxing powers, the States shall also be given the right of local self-governance, local foreign affairs (meaning only pertaining to the region around them and not globally, which will remain Roman) and the right to their local armed forces, which can be called in by Rome at any time. The Imperial Government shall retain the right to issues that pertain to the Empire as a whole, like overall foreign affairs and Imperial defence, while the States shall govern themselves as they wish locally. The Constitution shall remain as it always has been- able to only be amended by 65% of the entire Imperial population and the approval of all the States and Provinces (which will replace 'Republic' in terminology).

Now, I will let all of you sit on this information- contained in detail in the package I gave to each of you- so that you can ask me questions on the subject by the end of the week. Good day."

With that, Hartian adjourned the meeting, with the Senators all filing out of the boardroom in various moods of acceptance and bewilderment.

Early Friday morning, the Emperor made his grand speech about the budget. In it, he'd announce a massive reorganization of the political and economic structure of the Empire, giving more autonomy to the peripheral regions, restructuring the tax system and- what was more important to the average citizen- a lessening of the tax burden for the average citizen by 5%. Spending in certain areas now went to the newly-created States, such as Health Care and Education, as well as the divesting of "local matters" to State control. The Empire also announced a massive spending program involving investing in the local areas' economies designed to boot the Empire's economy, with a target of increasing the GDP to C1.4 trillion. Certain areas would benefit more from the spending than others because of their poverty, but the Emperor maintained that in the end, the whole Empire will benefit from the spending.

Drawing more shocks was the political reorganization. The Empire essentially became a confederation, with the States now gaining almost complete control over local matters and even some control over foreign affairs and defence, although only in a regional context. The Empire regained control over matters that pertained to the Empire as a whole, such as overall defence and overall foreign affairs, but in effect, the central government became nothing more than an overseer- the States were in effect semi-soverign nations.

In Riyadh, the three oil workers talked about the merits of the reforms after the Friday prayers, where they had heard the news of the Empire's shakeup. Unexpectedly, all three of them were in agreement that the reforms were beneficial, although Husayn retained his traditional skeptical doubt and Abdul retained his traditional overt optimism; and Faisal just sat as the moderator making sure the other two didn't go too far over the line.

"So...what a day. We get billions in spending AND nominal independence. I didn't see this coming," said Faisal.

"Yeah, I'm surprised. I'd never think that the Romans would swallow their pride and divest power. Sure, they've slowly went along this route as the Empire grew in size, but to think we'd get it in one fell swoop- wow," said Husayn.

"I don't care. Finally we're getting an economic boost. That's something we could all use," said Abdul.

"Yeah...but I wonder how he's going to do that. I mean, doubling our GDP? That's astronomical," said Husayn, "and I really wonder how 'independent' we'll be. It's good and all that the Emperor is giving all these territories power, but I wonder how much power that will be."

"I suppose we'll have to wait and see for that," said Abdul, as the three of them continued to walk through the night.

The Roman Free Press, May 28, 2005
Time to rethink the East
Turks, Palestinians demand states

Emperor Rodin Hartian’s budget speech- containing not just a massive overhaul of the taxation system but also of the entire Empire as a whole- sent shockwaves well throughout the Empire, providing relief to the Empire’s long-impoverished regions and stunning many right-wing Romans, many of whom advocate the stronger centralization of the state.

Of course, the gradual process of turning the Roman Empire into a practical confederation from a strongly-centralized state began long before Hartian, beginning when Tiberius VI created the concept called the “Client Empire” to organize Rome’s new external colonies into a viable state. Tiberius’ creation- meant to provide clear lines between the powers of the central government and that of the provinces- created more questions than answers, leaving a poorly-integrated and highly bureaucratic mess that perhaps proved too much of a headache for Keylusus II or Paul XII to deal with in their reigns.

However, when Hartian assumed the Imperial throne with a resounding electoral victory in 2004, he vowed two inherently contradictory promises with regards to the Empire’s governmental structure- to preserve its unity and to give the peripheral states the ability to run their local affairs as they pleased. On the former, he pledged to finally resolve the centuries-long dispute between Constantinople and Rome and finally re-unite the two states, and, while he’s done nothing in that regard since he assumed power, his term is still in its relative infancy, so he’s off the hook for that for now. On the latter- which he displayed so dramatically yesterday- he was true to his word, creating a new kind of governmental system that effectively saw the Roman Empire become a collection of almost-sovereign states. Some pundits have called it nothing more than a “glorified alliance”, while others are hailing the new “Roman Confederation” as a step in the right direction.

This does not resolve the other dispute that has been dogging Rome for almost a century, and that is the question regarding the status of the East. Ever since the Ottoman Sultans voluntarily rescinded their power to Rome in 1910 to thwart a threatened Russian invasion, the entire Eastern Mediterranean has been under direct Roman control and never assumed the status of “Client Empire” that many thought it would get. At the time, both the Ottomans and the Romans rationalized the move by going back into history and stating that Mehmed II’s assumption of the title of “Kayiser-ii-Rüm” (“Roman Caesar”) after the capture of Constantinople in 1453 made the Ottomans a “Roman” state and thus spun the union as the final resolution of the centuries-long dispute between the Eastern and Western Empires created by Theodosius I in 395 (even though the Constantinopolitans managed to hold onto Varna after 1453 and the Trebizondians, another “Roman” state managed to hold off Mehmed’s advances in 1461). However, soon after the union it became apparent to both the Turks and a surprising number of Romans that the union turned into a complete subjugation, with none of the powers expected to be bestowed on the Ottomans actually given to them, besides the role of Turkish Governor, which the family still holds today. Keylusus did try to address the issue during his long rule, but never did focus a lot of attention to the matter except bestowing “special status” to the newly created province of Malatya, where the Ottomans were permitted to continuing ruling as the province’s Governors where they were able to enjoy a little more autonomy than the other provinces, but not nearly at the same level as the Client Empires. While the introduction of universal suffrage helped quell some of the Turks’ anger, the common feeling among the Ottoman leaders and the common Turks alike was that they were jobbed by the Romans, leading to a number of independence movements arising soon after the union, the most important one- the People for the Independence of Turkey- being led by Mustafa Kemal, the self-proclaimed “Atatürk” or “father of the Turks”.

Kemal’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed with the Roman Government- it was after Kemal made waves in Turkey that Keylusus granted them “special status”- but it shouldn’t be surprising that successive Roman Senates could never reach a consensus of the issue, partly due to Keylusus’ highly-centralizing attitude and partly to what many Romans saw as an anti-Turkish attitude by the central government. The situation- predictably- never got any better under Paul XII, whose wasteful style never allowed for anything other than a bureaucracy-choked, centralized-by-accident mess. Small wonder that when Hartian spoke of greater autonomy that the Turks voted him in massive numbers- he received his highest approval ratings in the highly Turkish Anatolia, as well as in the mostly Arabic Syria and Palestine.

Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Turks were once again in full force shortly after Hartian released his budget. The Ottoman Sultan, Ertugrul Osman V, again called for the “independence of the Turkish state”, while the Palestinian Independence leader Mahmoud Abbas (the official opposition in the Israel Province’s legislature) also called for Palestinian independence. The Egyptians also made noises about independence for them too, although the strong Roman contingent at Alexandria leaves the question of Egyptian independence mixed. However, if Palestine, Syria and Turkey all become independent then so too- probably- will Egypt, considering the land gap that will accumulate between Egypt and the rest of the Empire. Cyrenaica, already heavily pro-Roman, will most likely remain a Roman province considering its proximity to Italy and its already strong Roman connections.

Of course, the independence question is not as simple as simply telling nations that they’re free- these new states need to be viable, and, ideally, need to conflict as little with Roman interests as possible. Some Roman politicians favour a pullout entirely from the East, while others think that “a modified Malatya” should be the only one to be granted independence. Then there is the thorny question of Jerusalem- how do you decide which state- Palestine or Judea- deserves the city the most? Under Roman rule it can continue to serve as a cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic city, but if the Romans pull out of the area, then both the Muslims and the Jews will fight for ultimate control over the city. The Jews over in Hebron, outside of Roman control, already think that the Romans are unfairly occupying the city, but Rome’s comparative military advantage and the Romans’ fairly liberal policy regarding access to Jerusalem has eased the hostility most Jews have for the Roman Empire and the Roman people in general.

Regardless, it is imperative that the Romans figure out what path they want the East to take- will it be integrated? Will it be free? Will some parts of it be free and others still Roman? Certainly, these questions need to be answered before Hartian attempts to solve the Constantinopolitan dilemma, because if he can’t determine how to organize his own lands, how can he organize the creation of a unified Roman-Constantinopolitan state?

Ottomans to gain independence- Emperor

MALATYA (RFP)- The Province of Malatya is becoming the independent state of the Ottoman Sultanate, Roman Emperor Rodin Hartian declared resoundingly today at a press conference in the Cappadocian city.

"The Ottomans deserve their sovereignty- we have held them in captivity for far too long," said Hartian with conviction. "Why this has not happened in the ninety-plus years since this arrangement began I don't know."

The terms of Ottoman sovereignty were not revealed in much detail, but Hartian stated that he and Ottoman Sultan Ertugrul Osman V did agree on the following:

-The date for Roman withdrawal from Turkey is set at no later than November 1, 2005

-The re-establishment of the Ottoman State in the Province of Malatya, the area where the Turkish independence movement was the strongest and the only area of the Empire where the population was more than 50% Turkish

-The establishment of an alliance between the Ottomans and the Romans ("the arrangement that should have happened in 1910", said Hartian), primarily in regards to defence and economics

-The maintenance of trade and economic links between the Ottomans and the Romans, as well as the freedom of mobility between the Turkish State and Rome

-The adoption of a "modified" version of the Roman Constitution in Turkey that better accommodates the Shari'a (Islamic Law), the new law of the land in Turkey

Shortly after the Emperor's speech, many went out in support of the Emperor's decision, stating that finally the Roman Empire had learned its lessons regarding the 1910 arrangement that allowed Rome to absorb the Ottoman State as a "Protectorate" in light of Turkey's sagging fortunes. However, some dissent lurked over Hartian's refusal to deal with Palestine, the other pressing Eastern issue, and over Hartian's handover of a "piecemeal" Turkish state.

"The Ottomans keep on fighting for the piece of the pie they deserve, and all they get are the scraps?" opined Roman Liberty Taskforce Consul Jason Agron. "What the Romans gave them was a slap in the face; and don't get me started on Palestine- how the Romans can ignore one independence request and honour another is beyond hypocrisy for me."

"I don't agree that the Ottomans are getting a raw deal," said Eastern demographer Pinellus Rimenden. "Based upon population alone, the Ottomans couldn't have anything other than Malatya, since that's where most of the Turks are. Besides, it's not like we're abandonning them- we're allies now."

******************Inside the Imperial Offices*********************

"Well, that's done," said Consul Princeps Valerius Maderia. He immediately called Hartian after his press conference finished.

"Hello?"
"You know, Your Highness, I sometimes don't know what you're doing."
"Valerius! How are you?"
"Please...stop with the pleasentries. I know you're up to something. You usually don't ignore things in your speeches unless you have a plan."
"Of course I do. I'm the Emperor."
(pause)
"Look, Valerius, I know that you're probably wondering why I decided not to deal with the Palestinian issue. It's because I'm developing a strategy to deal with them."
(Feigned excitement) "Ooooh! A strategy? Can I get in on this?"
"Valerius, you are aware you're breaking Imperial protocol, right?"
(Valerius grunts) "Fine. Just understand that us Senators are a little worried. You seem to do a lot of 'things' without us even knowing about them. Half the time we're even shocked that you said some of the things you say. I mean, we're supposed to be your advisors yet you don't really use us. I appreciate a really strong-minded leader such as yourself because far too often we get people too afraid to do anything, but I'm worried that maybe you're going on impulse a little too much and may not be thinking things through. Don't you think we've been through enough turmoil in recent weeks?"
"I suppose. However, I ran for and gained office by being a man of action, and I fully intend on keeping that promise. Besides, everything I've decided in recent days has been in full consultation with you guys in the Senate. So, relax.

If you want, we can talk about this more when I get to back to Rome. Right now, I have some other things to work on. Bye."

Hartian hung up his cell phone and proceeded to the Imperial limousine, which was so large it had not just a hot tub but a pool as well. As he took a dip in the pool, he began to think. That Palestine...how do I deal with it? I could kowtow to the individual states and grant them independence, but they'll all fight over Jerusalem, so what good would that do? Just then, a thought hit him. That's right! Integration! We've been so successful at creating Jerusalem into a cosmopolitan and multi-cultural city that we can do it in all of Palestine! Jews and Arabs- all under one roof. The Roman roof. Force them to work together and then they'll solve all their problems. If we draw lines in the sand, that just fosters rivalries due to the division, so we create no division. He smiled. Wait until the Senate hears this... He grinned, while relaxing in his pool.

***********************Rome***************************

It was 9AM when Rodin Hartian finally re-entered his office after visiting Malatya. After he sat down at his desk, Valerius Maderia knocked on his door.

"Who is it?"
"It's Valerius."
"Come on in."

"Hello Consul. What can I do for you?" asked the Emperor to the Consul.

"Well, I've come to talk to you about the East. Your Highness, you're creating a mess out there," said Valerius.

"Am I really? I think I'm doing well over there."
"You see, sir, I'm concerned that by giving the Ottomans their independence we may be heading down a slippery slope where we can't hold onto the East any longer."
"I'm listening."
"With so many cultures and peoples in the East who have clamoured for independence, it may have been better to hold on to the Ottomans than to let them go, despite our better intentions. By letting them go, the other peoples might rise up and say, 'Well, if the Ottomans can be free, why not us?'"
"The Ottoman situation is different than that of other peoples. They are clearly ready for a state, while the other areas are simply not. Just look at Palestine- how many people want to have Jerusalem? We can't simply assign it to a nation and have five other nations fight over control over it."
"Well, I'm not saying we need to grant independence to other nations- I'm saying that we need to review the East. Call in the regional leaders, set up a conference and see how we can organize it. I think that's the least we can do."
"Fair enough- and I'll leave you in charge of organizing it."
"Thank you sir."

Maderia then promptly went back to his office, while Hartian pondered on what it was exactly that he'd done.

****************************Riyadh****************************

It was 3PM. Riyadh's own Al-Hilal was playing a tuneup game against Abu Dhabi's Al-Nasr, their final game before the soccer season would get underway. The game essentially meant nothing, but since both teams had developed into rivals, the game drew thousands of eager spectators anxious to see the final result.

As the three oil workers got to their seats, they were debating the possible outcome of the game. "Do you like our chances?" asked Abdul. "I think we could actually win the game this time."

"Don't hold your hopes up. If our goalie plays like he did last year then Al-Nasr will have their way with us. I'm telling you, that guy couldn't stop a beach ball."
"What about the three new defenders we got in the off-season? Surely they'll help alleviate the pressure?"
"Maybe...but that still doesn't change the fact our goalkeeper stinks."

"What do you guys think about this 'Turkish independence' thing? Is the Empire falling apart?" asked Faisal, intruding on the conversation.

"About time I say," chimed Husayn. "The Ottomans had been oppressed for far too long, and finally Rome did the right thing."

"Yeah, but will that mean that Palestine will get independence too? I mean, if Turkey can get it, so could they," said Faisal.

"I don't know. The Emperor made a bold move in giving Turkey independence, even if it's just that little area. Certainly he's got an even bigger plan in the books after doing that," said Husayn.

"Yeah, but what does that mean about us? Will the Romans abandon us?" asked Abdul.

"I doubt it. The Emperor sounds pretty serious about helping everyone out. Besides, a lot of people here like the Romans- especially after they announced just yesterday that they'll be investing in research and development so that Arabia is financially viable after the oil runs out. So I doubt we'll kick them out anytime soon," said Husayn.

"Whether or not we should...I don't know," Husayn continued. "After they gave Turkey independence, announced billions in aid and gave us nominal independence, I'm not so sure that they're as bad as I thought they were. I dream of an independent Arabian state one day, but the current Emperor is a worthy ruler. Certainly as long as he's Roman Emperor we should have the Romans involved in our nation, because Rodin Hartian seriously does want to help us."

When he finished, the game was just about to get underway. As soon as Al-Nasr lined up for the opening kickoff, the three stopped their discussions and watched the game. They were not sure where Hartian would take them, but they were certain that this game would end- hopefully, in Al-Hilal's triumph.