NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: For reference, Hevena is a modern Austro-Hungarian Empire. They occupy the former portions of the now dead state, including the old Italian lands of Austria. They also have some sway over the Southern German states(Bavaria, Baden, Saxony, Wutternburg), who swear loyalty to the "Holy Roman Emperor"..even if he carries no power these days.

Vienna, The Empire of Hevena
The Hofburg Palace
Some Years Ago

"By the grace of god, Francis IV, Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation and so forth, Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, of Dalmatia, of Croatia, of Slavonia, of Galicia, of Lombardy-Veneto, of Lodomeria, and of Illyria, King of Jerusalem, and so forth, Archduke of Austria, Grand Duke of Tuscany and of Krakau, Duke of Lorraine, of Salzburg, of Styria, of Carinthia, of Carniola and of the Bukovina, Grand Duke of Transylvania, Margrave of Moravia, Duke of Upper Silesia, of Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, of Auschwitz and Zator, of Teschen, Friuli, Ragusa and Zara, Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Goritz and Grandisca, Prince of Trient and Brixen, Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and in Istria, Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, and so forth, Lord of Triest, of Cattaro and of the Wendish Mark, Grand Voyvode of the Voyvodie of Serbia, and so forth, Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece."

The titles meant nothing to Francis II. He was the second of that name (the first being the genuine Francis I von Habsburg). If anything, he had been a usurper. The old lands of the Austrian monarchy under the antiquated Habsburg dynasty had been reunited, but at what cost? Francis was not a monarch. He was not suited for court. He was meant to lead the armies of the empire, to secure the reign of the Borbonais dynasty. Why had his father chosen to die on this day? And now he had to speak to the Hofburg court. The fluffed aristocracy, who were out of touch with the world. If anything, they chose to ignore their nation's innoble defeat in the Great War, almost a century ago. They never spoke of "Austria"...it was "Hevena" now.

"Your majesty," A voice spoke quietly. "Come. You must attend to court! They called your titles out almost five minutes ago. Come on, come on. You cannot dwaddle. You are the new emperor, and thus you are the new voice of the nation."

Thus relunctantly, the new emperor was pushed into his duties.

--

Milan, The Kingdom of Lombardy-Veneto [Administrative Division of Hevena]
The Ducal Palace

How time flied. Atleast that is what Archduchess Sophie, only child of Francis II and heir to the Hevenan throne thought. It seemed years ago that she was just a child. And now, she was going to be leaving her summer vacation months early, in order to be crowned Empress, just one of her many titles. The woman seemed calm, but in reality, her insides were shaking. The court was already quite divided--was it legal for a woman to take a throne that had been created by a man? Maria Theresa had been civil ruler in her right--but even then, she had to have her husband made Holy Roman Emperor. Could this petty girl be something a woman centuries ago could not be?

But there was things to do before being crowned. Such as addressing the court. Yes, even in mourning, every high ranking aristocrat was able to make way to Milan to see their new autocrat and monarch. It was quite un-nerving, as Sophie prepared her address.

"By the grace of god, Sophie I, Holy Roman Emperess of the German Nation and so forth, Emperess of Austria, Apostolic Queen of Hungary, Queen of Bohemia, of Dalmatia, of Croatia, of Slavonia, of Galicia, of Lombardy-Veneto, of Lodomeria, and of Illyria, Queen of Jerusalem, and so forth, Archduchess of Austria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and of Krakau, Duchess of Lorraine, of Salzburg, of Styria, of Carinthia, of Carniola and of the Bukovina, Grand Duchess of Transylvania, Margravine of Moravia, Duchess of Upper Silesia, of Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, of Auschwitz and Zator, of Teschen, Friuli, Ragusa and Zara, Princely Countess of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Goritz and Grandisca, Princess of Trient and Brixen, Margravine of Upper and Lower Lusatia and in Istria, Countess of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, and so forth, Lady of Triest, of Cattaro and of the Wendish Mark, Grand Voyvode of the Voyvodie of Serbia, and so forth, Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece."

And there was the voice. The voice that summoned the sovereign of the empire to greet their people. Sophie in her insides certainly didn't want to go out there, but it was demanded. Still, those who waited, the haute bourgeoisie that had bought their way in--or the ancient aristocrats..they were her subjects. If anything, they could simply wait. Sophie was still in mourning, it was quite rude of her to be thrust out of black already, to wear frilly clothes. An insult to her father's memory. Time slipped, mere seconds turned to minutes.


"Your majesty," A voice spoke quietly. "Come. You must attend to court! They called your titles out almost five minutes ago. Come on, come on. You cannot dwaddle. You are the new emperor, and thus you are the new voice of the nation."

"Hush," Sophie spat. "I bet you told my father the same thing. I am not ready to attend to court Drake, and I except you to hush up those foul people till I am damn ready to go out there."

"Yes, I told your father the same thing." The man named Drake replied, stepping out of the shadows. "But he was much more willing to listen to me. It is funny how time flies. I can recall when your father was in diapers. Then I recall his coronation. Now I can recall the same thing of you."

"You are blubbering," Sophie spat. She did not want to look weak in front of Drake, even if he was more of a father than her own. "Father died much too young. If anything, I excepted you to be dead by time I became empress."

"Yes...you are just seventeen. Your father was crowned when he was thirty. And you were born only a few months after. But enough talking. We should go greet the guests..."

--

Official Hevenan Statement to the Nations of the World

FRANCIS II DEAD!
We must report sadly to the nations of the world that our honorable sovereign Francis II has died, following a horrible accident at his summer palace in Triste.

As per tradition, his eldest would have succeeded him. However, due to a lack of any children aside from his daughter, his daughter shall take up the purple and become Empress of Hevena.

We invite the leaders of the world to attend the coronation, in order to end rapid isolationism that took place during the reign of our last two emperors. It is well unknown of the roots of the Borbonais dynasty that now rules us, except from the fact they are come from a long line of exceptional military leaders, as well as being part of the old Austro-Hungarian nobility.

Obviously, with their wit and tact, recreated the old order under their fist. The Borbonais may be reactionary, indeed curbing all civil and political rights, but they have proven their love for what we now call "Hevena"...

All hail Sophie, the newest Autocrat!

Signed,
Grand Chamberlin and Minister of State,
Drake Rlugia

OOC: That will do for now. I invite you to come to coronation, meet the new monarch, and let the new story unfold...

HMS Azazia, Pacific Ocean

At twenty years of age, George Barent struck few as particularly impressive. Slightly built and of only moderate height, the neat cropping of brown hair atop his fresh and well-cured skin seemed oddly out of place among the caps and braids worn by his companions, ratings and officers of the Royal Navy. Since his youth, George had been enamored with the sea and preferred to spend his holidays fishing rather than drinking as was often expected of a man his age – though he smiled as he let his line drift off the stern, for the mess refrigerator did have a more than adequate stock of rum.

George had been born late to his father, Reginald, and by the time of his 18th birthday his father had reached the ripe age of 71 – his mother noticeably younger. However, their divorce and the subsequent death of his father from natural causes left young George with a massive estate and an even larger mantle. He glanced back towards the small ship’s superstructure, enjoying the clustering of lieutenants and captains conversing in hushed tones. Turning around to gaze off the stern, he found a small speck in the distant sky, obviously an aircraft keeping a close eye on the yacht.

Upon his father’s death, however, not much had been expected despite the new-found honours and glories. It was the death of his uncle that brought him the most fame and new-found international recognition. He quietly ignored the footsteps on the teak deck behind him, for the death of his uncle, who had neither wife nor children, had left him to be—

Your Majesty,

King of Oceania. King George turned around and found a captain waiting just behind him,

Yes Captain?

Sire, You have a direct call from the Prime Minister, he claims the nature of the call as most urgent.

Very well, then. George lifted his youthful frame out of the magnificently comfortable deck chair and handed the fishing rod to the Royal Navy officer. If you would be so kind as to watch the line.

Absolutely, Your Majesty.

Sealed Letter

Grand Chamberlain and Minister of State Rlugia

It is with profound sorrow that the United Kingdom of Oceania hears of the death of a monarch. It is, however, a sorrow sweetened only by the news of a successful succession to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. Although neither His Majesty nor His Government have had contact or relations with Hevena, it is the distinct wish of His Majesty King George to visit your reportedly splendid empire and pay his condolences and warmest wishes to Empress Sophie.

On the Behalf of His Majesty, King George and His Government

Emily Deveraux, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Sealed Letter to the United Kingdom of Oceana:

It would be of great desire that King George visits the Empire of Hevena. We are a nation of tradition--greatly isolated from the outside world. Perhaps with the visit of the King, we can finally open our doors to the world again. We will be able to show everyone what it means to be Hevenan--the great powers to unite the fractured people and restore the old order. We deem it quite acceptable to meet his majesty.

As such, as have set aside July 23rd as a date for your King to enter Hevena, for an extended stay. As required of all foreign vessals, he shall dock at Triste, where a grand delegation of the Viennese, or rather Milanese court, given her majesty's love for the Italian portions of the empire.

We bare no restrictions for your King's visit, and are quite anxious for his visit.

Your Humble Servant,
Grand Chamberlin and Minister of the State,
Drake Rlugia.

--

Milan, The Kingdom of Lombardy-Veneto
The Ducal Palace

"You shall be having a visitor in a few short days." Drake replied. "I do hope that is suitable. If you wish to be viewed as the legitimate successor of your father, it is of upmost importance that you gain some international standing. The King of Oceania has requested a visit to the empire, and I have agreed to allow it."

"Fine," Sophie said curtly. "But it doesn't matter. People will contest my succession even if all the rulers of the world recognized me. No man can stand to see a woman, or a girl in my case sitting in such a lofty position. Especially as one as stubborn as myself!"

The Empress sighed and rose from her position. She was tired of the world. The past few days had been quite horrible, not to mention mundane and the same. She would rise in the early hours and be addressed by the Chamberlin and the various Ministers. Then the rest of the day would be spent in her office, filling out papers and addressing the nation. How her father did it was quite unknown to the empress. She would have gladly abdicated, aside from the fact that such a thing was illegal. Sophie did not know why she was unable to abdicate, but the organic laws of Hevena created by her grandfather refused such things.

"L'état, c'est moi," Sophie said quietly. "Drake, tell the court we move at day break. We will be taking up housing in Triste. We shall take the train there, of course."

"Yes your majesty." Drake said with a bow. "I shall issue the proclamation right away."

[Bump.]

HMNB Philadelphia

Damn this weather, George muttered watching the wipers push beads of rainwater off the windshield of his limousine. An unusual rainstorm had swept across the southern portions of the Home Islands and had begun to drench them, flooding out roads here and there. Although sitting in the back compartment, he had requested the shield lowered so he could watch the limousine pass underneath the entrance signage signaling that he had left the civilian side of Philadelphia, the financial capital of the United Kingdom, and on unto a land where military justice ruled supreme. In the distance, beyond the Victorian-styled administrative buildings rose tall spires and mountains of antennae and satellite dishes and domes. That, he muttered again to himself, must be my destination.

Within twenty minutes, the royal motorcade had processed down the palm-lined avenues of the military base, the roads lined with infantrymen from the Royal Marines summoned from their barracks on the base and in nearby Devonshire. George watched from the interior as they stood at perfect attention underneath ponchos that hopefully served to keep the Marines dry. Finally, the car made a quick turn onto a side street that opened up into a massive pier adjacent to which sat two truly massive vessels painted in a light grey colour, flags fluttering in the stiff breeze and sailors standing on the rain-swept decks.

The limousine pulled up next to an awning that led to a covered entrance onboard the dreadnought, stretching nearly some 800 meters in length. Along the walkway joining land to ship, George read the name of the warship, HMS Venture. He continued walking along the carpeted path, though the carpet had long since been soaked by rainwater and the not-so-calm waters inside the harbour, waters agitated by the storm off the coast. At last he made the transition to the Royal Navy dreadnought and a band, similarly covered, triumphantly struck up the anthem God Save the King. As the monarch made his way forward, covered by an umbrella held by an attendant, he took time to inspect the massive guns and their turrets. He glanced upwards at the massive superstructure, the top of it hidden from sight owing to his location on the ship. The tune shifted to Rule Azazia, an adaptation of Rule Britannia, altered to fit the nation of English colony in Azazia, since supplanted by the United Kingdom of Oceania.

Your Majesty, a lone voice called out amid the pattering of rain upon the metallic hull and harbour water. Your Majesty, the formal-sounding voice called out louder. George finally turned his head away from the massive armaments of the ship and found an officer, apparently of the rank of Rear Admiral, standing before him. Your Majesty, the officer finally said in a calmer and quieter tone, Welcome aboard the Venture.

The Sovereign nodded, She is a large vessel, Admiral Collins.

Indeed she is, Sire, however, the admiral paused, allowing himself a smile, she is not the largest in the Royal Navy.

Once more the monarch nodded, never before appreciating the size and scope of the Royal Navy. Indeed, perhaps we shall take our formalities inside, Admiral, for the weather appears ready to contradict my schedule.

The officers and attendants laughed politely before a Royal Navy officer opened a hatch that led to the massive interior of the dreadnought. When the hatch shut, the pageantry quietly disbursed and from adjacent piers and quays several small frigates and destroyers cast off their lines and made their way out to the Pacific Ocean where the Venture would greet them within the hour.