NationStates Jolt Archive

The cannons finally were silent. King White of the First Rank threw open the hatch on his command track and sprinted over to the now captured Pretender.

"Check Mate sir, you are defeated." said the King, leveling his ceremonial blade at the pretender’s throat.

"Oh put that thing away Percy, it was a good game, I'll yield. I didn't expect you to pull that gambit, brilliant move...”

"Wasn't it though. You had some good moments too."

"Oh nothing like that, and you played so conservatively, hardly sacrificed a single piece after that too.

"Yes, about that. I think this should stop Reg."
King Percival White's troops were silent as Reginald Red the pretender looked around slowly, nervously.

"Reg, we can't keep doing this, the people aren't happy, We lost a lot of good pieces this game and the last game, and the game before that. Christ man, how long did you think this would last."

"Calm down Percy, they're just pawns, sure we lose a few nobles every game, but that’s the way it is, they know the risks, nobody has to fight that doesn't want to.”

“Just pawns? Don’t you understand? This land was built on the so-called pawns, the peasants, the poor. They are people too and for too long they’ve been forced into slavery, to fight these senseless battles for the royalty’s amusement. I’m done with the way things have been, I’m sick of throwing away lives in the games and I’m going to do something about it.”
Before Reginald could respond, Percival thrust with his ceremonial sword, skewering Reginald right through his neck, leaving him to bleed to death hanging half out of the hatch of his command track, clutching his throat futilely trying to stem the flow of his life from leaking into the environment.
Troops from both sides looked on in disbelief as Percival cleaned the blood off his sword contemptuously onto his dead opponent’s uniform.
“Today…” he started quietly.
“Today starts a new day in our History, A day after which our people will no longer kill each other for sport on the field of battle, and a day after which Eight Squared will enter the world stage as a new, free nation.”
Slowly, he walked back to his King command tank and returned to the Palace for the declaration.

To All Nations
A new day has dawned for the nation of Eight Squared; No longer do the former oppressors fight each other in games of sport using the lives of their citizens, no longer are citizens tied to their ancestral lands, whether as serfs or as nobles. Eight Squared has become a free nation! I, King Percival of the Eight Squared invite delegates from all nations to come and witness our new freedom and to join with us in alliances and trade partnerships too better our new won freedom. Thank you, and We eagerly await your response.

OOC: I must say, that's a rather nice intro

From the Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan

We congratulate the Kingdom of Eight Squared on the emancipation of their people, and their entry into the world community. At this time, we seek permission for a group of businessmen to come to your nation with the intent of establishing trading ties, and possibly a consulate.

The sattelite's eye adjusted angle by 0 degrees, 1 minute, 4 seconds, then foucsed, and refocused. Just as it was taking the new pictures, it received information on a bid, than a buy, and a re-direction on where to send the new photo of the East Pacific area it was watching this cycle.

Thirty seconds later the pneuman-tek printer was humming softly as the high quality picture paper was slowly pulled down into the top slot, shuffled through the four inking stages, air dried, and finally ejected into the tray.

Anthony Malcom personally picked up the picture and began studying it. The effect on him was one of mixed awe, and repulsion... "They actually carved up and divided an entire nation into 64 distinct districts and devoted their entire government, economy, and culture to wargames?" Exandrea Till, one of the more popular parliament members and a trusted advisor responded, "Sir, one of their nobles, a Percival White, recently had a drastic change of heart. Drastic enough to break the rules and cut the throat of the 'Red King' after one battle, and declare the games over. White now rules Eight Squared and has begun changing policy, or so he claims. They aren't anything special now, but who knows where this change may lead them. They are also a close neighbor, and reaching out to the world out large." Anthony nodded and absorbed all of this, looking at the highly detailed photo-map of the nation, made possible by the American CIA's loss of exclusive use of corporately owned and operated spy sattelites in the 90s.

Anthony activated his desk computer and took a seat, reclining as he waited for the machine to fully boot and run it's diagnostic. "This is good," he said, "But the death of a dictator can only be so good. Their new regime... it should effect real change for it's people. I don't want to do anything drastic, but our nations should at the very least never oppose each other. At best... I think I'd like to be this "White King"'s friend." The computer was active, and Anthony opened the communique panel, planning on typing the message personally to have sent as e-mail, letter, or whatever text based messaging system was primary in Eight Squared.

Incorporated states of Guathic
From Head of State, Anthony Malcom

Greetings Percival White,
It is an honor to send this first communication to you, and opening up what is possibly the beginning of a new Era in cooperation between our nations.
We strongly support several recent changes in Eight Squared's government policy, and would appreciate seeing similar. As a matter of course, we would also like to aid you in affecting these changes in any way we can.
If any kind of relations between Guathic and Eight Squared appeals to you, please contact our parliament and arrange for a meeting between us.
I look forward to conversing with you, Percival White, and many within our government and industry look forward to long lasting good relations between our nations.

Signed,
Anthony Malcom

OOC: Actually, the actual wargames took place on a rather small portion of the nation's land, but otherwise, correct.
and Guathic, check TGs
and finally, thanks for the complement Rosdivan
IC:

Reply to Rosdivan

We thank the nation of Rosdivan for their support in these times and welcome your delegation to our nation. We look forward to their arrival and hopefully, to cementing new bonds between our two nations.


Eight Squared News Network (8^2N^2)

In a move almost as shocking as the recent deposement of the Red King, Percival White has ordered the imprisonment of several Key noble families, including the Red Bishops and White Knights. Aimed at limiting the reaction of the College of Nobles to the White Kings Sweeping reforms, it seems the orders came to late and now the Red Bishops are holed up in their own home, under siege. It seems that sympathizers gave the Bishops advance warning enabling them to muster enough loyalists to throw off their would be captors, at least for now.
With the Secondmost powerful Noble family still at large, the crucial votes King Percival was hoping to pass through the College of Nobles may be stalled, with far-reaching consequences for Percivals planned reforms.

OOC: Fortunately, I never specified how the battles were fought. But I am implying the country looks like a giant chess-board.

IC:

Well met Guathic, We thank you for your interest and support and look forward to establishing strong connections with your nation. You understand of course that currently, we are undergoing major re-organizations of the government and are un-able to dispatch a delegation to meat with your parliament at this time, we however look forward to a time when we can spare our diplomats for such a mission.
Instead, you are welcome to send a delegation to our humble nation to establisht he beginings of a relationship between our two nations.

Incorporated States of Guathic
From Head of State, Anthony Malcolm

Greetings Eight Squared Government and Percival White,
We are more than ready to send a delegation team to meet with you. I would like to join this team myself, and hope to meet with you as well.
Please prepare a place for us as soon as you can, within two weeks at the latest. Five delegates will arrive and we are requesting ambassadorial status for all, myself included among the five. There will be two squads of Marines accompanying the delegation as security. We would appreciate being allowed to utilize our own ground and air transportation to move about your country as well.
Among the issues mentioned by you thus far, we can most readily offer assistance in government reform in a totally advisory capacity, as well as give an economic boost in agricultural trade from our Beef and Trout industries. Let's discuss further details in person.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Anthony Malcolm

OOC: It's certainly a novel concept.

IC:

Such messages were becoming far too scarce in the newly-formed Argonian Democratic Government's national datafile. The Internet was such a new concept that the desk-dwelling operators that systematically read and forwarded such diplomatic requests routinely lost two or three requests a month. Yet somehow, one interesting request got through...

To All Nations
A new day has dawned for the nation of Eight Squared; No longer do the former oppressors fight each other in games of sport using the lives of their citizens, no longer are citizens tied to their ancestral lands, whether as serfs or as nobles. Eight Squared has become a free nation! I, King Percival of the Eight Squared invite delegates from all nations to come and witness our new freedom and to join with us in alliances and trade partnerships too better our new won freedom. Thank you, and We eagerly await your response...

The reader's fin-ears pricked up slightly. The President would indeed be interested in such an event. After he'd checked it for viruses, he forwarded it to the President's secretary.

The small voice coming from the computer's speakers roused the half-asleep Argonian secretary from her semi-slumber...

"Odd... We don't get too many of these, considering the nation's condition..."

She quickly called up a response window to key in an answer before breaking the ice to the President herself...

To His Majesty King Percival of the esteemed nation of Eight Squared:

We of the newly reformed Argonian government would be honored to attend your diplomatic gathering. With the turmoil our own nation's governmental reforms and modernization has caused, we can only hope your own governmental changes proceed more smoothly. A diplomatic envoy will be dispatched in the next few days, or at any time your majesty finds more suitable. Perhaps after things have stabilized within our borders, we can return the favor of a diplomatic hosting.

-From the office of President Kaleena Tawk, President of the Argonian nation of Black Marsh

The secretary clicked the 'Send' button without a second thought, then rose from her desk to inform the President of the new development...