NationStates Jolt Archive

The reign of Sultan Bashir, has been always looked back upon as a reign of paradoxes ….one moment the Sultan is calling for greater reform and more freedom of thought, the next the moment …the Sultan calls for massive crackdowns on dissents and those who attempt to call for rebellions or charge…it was known within the inner circles of the Sultan friends and family that he was a man who was at conflict with himself..it pain him greatly to enact these crackdowns and watch his hard fought reforms disappear over night( The 5 of November Incident) had a profound effect on him…but he never express his pain which he kept lock away…but to whose who knew him well enough…they knew something was brothering him..but they couldn’t figure it out…all they knew was it was taking a toll on the Sultan mental health.

Sultan Office, Sultan Palace

The Meeting with Grand Vizier

“Old Friend, I call you hear to discuss matter that has prevent us from completely enacting our agenda of reforms…this matter is the ourselves…we are own worse enemy…no matter how we enact reforms…we always find a way to prevent it from working or find a way to take us back to square one…the events of the 5 of November shown us that..no matter how hard we try help them and appease them…they will always be oppress to our efforts…but how to correct is that question…do more purges…or lock them up…what’s the point…have we not learn that doesn’t work anymore….then what….shall we restore those hated polices of Sultan Mustafa bin Asad reign..just to keep them in check…well we already have….the vendetta wars have been restarted…against our will and with our will at the same time…we are force to return the iron fisted polices that we are try to move away from in the bloody first place…so what do to do, old friend?” asked Sultan Suleiman Al Bashir II (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/9cf28c18.jpg), he looked directly at the Grand Vizier and await a answer.

Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasa Sokollu (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/7bcc8e31.jpg) took a deep breath and replied” My friend…we are stuck impasse with ourselves…one moment we want to have our reforms..and the next we will fight to the death to prevent the reforms from being enacted.. Therefore we must force ourselves to accept change one way or another ... just we have to use some of the old regime tactic…to keep order and crush those who refuse to accept the new ways…just use of the vendetta wars is justified…. means justify the ends…but we must take hard stance against those who stand against us…but at the same time we can’t go completely back to our former self …so in that case we must draw a line on how far will we go back..if we have to….we’ll force the reforms down our throats like it or not…its necessary to keep our Imperium alive by enforcing such reforms…sacrifices must be made in order to keep the reforms alive.. my old friend…we must stand our ground and push the reforms forward and crush whoever stands in our way… even at the cost of our sanity..”


The Sultan smiled at the remark on sacrifices, he raised his right prosthetics hand, which he wore a black glove and he said “ Sacrifices…oh the sacrifices I have made for the Imperium….I took bullets for this Imperium…multiple times in fact and got stab in the lung barely miss my heart…and got throw off a three story building…sacrifices…I make them everyday for the Imperium…everyday. I slowly lose my sanity for the sake of the Imperium….sacrifices is a understand statement my friend….”

The Grand Vizier remark

“Indeed…it is a understatement for what we do for the Imperium…a pity no one would understand what we go thou for our Imperium…it better that they don’t know..”

The Sultan nodded in agreement and then his Intercom ring, the Sultan press the button and said” Yes?”

His Secretary begin to speak” Sultan, Dr.Klaus von Heinz, is here for the meeting with Grand Vizier and you.”

“ Good, send him in.” replied the Sultan

Dr.Klaus von Heinz (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/200px-HouseMDpromo.jpg) enter the Sultan office, and nodded to the Grand Vizier and the Sultan and took his seat at the Sultan Desk.

“Well, Dr.Heinz…give us the latest reports on the project and a mission update..” said the Sultan

The Doctor smiled and said

“With great pleasure my Sultan…the Assassins have complete all their missions and taken everyone out in the hit list…”

The Sultan eyebrow rose up and he remarked

“Everyone on the list has been taken care?”

The Doctor remarked” Yes…everyone.”

“Did they do it, according to the methods…we required them to do?” asked the Grand Vizier

“Car bombings…shooting, beheadings and last but not least poisoning them….yes all have the methods were used and we have proof that each person on the list has been taken care of…and the AMI has confirm it….would the both of you like to see the proof of their missions?” asked the Doctor

“That wouldn’t be necessary ….my good doctor…I seen enough proof…in my first year as the Sultan..and I believe the Grand Vizier would concur with me on this matter.” Replied the Sultan

“Indeed I do…I rather not see anymore proof then to what I have already seen so far…” remarked the Grand Vizier

“Suit yourself then…. with that my Sultan, I must leave for a meeting with the Imperial Senate.” The Doctor got up and left the room.

“Well that one was one bloody short meeting….my is it just me or these heads of the Assassin Project have very little to say and a profound love of seeing the proof the mission..we must we always hire the most derange cynical people for this jobs?” asked the Grand Vizier

The Sultan shrugged and replied “ Its because sane people can’t handle it…and derange people can it better…well that’s the thinking of the Intel heads and the Imperial Senate..oh well…as long as they don’t mess up or anything I am alright with it….have you ever met a Assassin face to face?”

The Grand Vizier thought for a moment and replied

“No I haven’t…. have you?”

The Sultan nodded

“Yes., two or three years ago…when I had to personal assign two assassins for a specific mission….they were dress in black ninja suits…and their faces were covered…quiet interesting ….its funny…they only wear that suit for very special missions…its odd really….normally they wear black trench coats and sunglasses for their missions..”

“Well that’s interesting…. ninja suits…what’s next…. Assassins running around with sock puppets and using them to kill people with?” ask the Grand Vizier

“I don’t really want to know..”remarked the Sultan

“Indeed, now I must leave for a meeting of the House of Viziers, Salaam my old friend.” With that, the Grand Vizier got up and left the office.

The Sultan looks at his watch and remark “ Oh goody time for tea with the family and in-laws..damn it..”

The Sultan took a deep breath and got out of his chair and walked out of his office. He passed his secretary
Anna Akhmatova (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/5b30c738.jpg) desk and his secretary was quick to remarked

“Tea with in-laws again?”

The Sultan stopped and remark “Yes …two days in a row…first with Levantine in-laws…then Moors…and again Moors In-Laws…. fun stuff if I must said so.”

“So, your just going to drink your Turkish coffee and nod your head likes always?” remark his Secretary

“Yes…that’s only way I am able to get thought these meeting with my in-laws..” remarked the Sultan

His Secretary just smirked and shakes her head and went back to work.

The Sultan continue on walking though the hallways of the Palace, he pass by the media center, a number of flat screen TVs that were displaying all the Major News Channels of the KLM and other nations, they all were being watched by AMI agents who were busy writing down notes of interest for the Imperial Government. Most of the KLM News Channels were giving updates on the war with RALM…the latest reports shown that KLM ground forces in West Africa were gearing up for major offensive into RALM held Africa…it was only a matter of hours before they made their move.

It was nothing new to Sultan, he already knew what was going to happen next, since he had already read the war plans for the war and approve them. He continue walking down the hallways, he thought about how was he going to get though this meeting of his in-laws…while making a turn into another hallway, he ran into his two oldest daughters Fatima (18) and Azeeza(16), both of them looked much like their mother Sophia. They were both dress to go shopping at the local malls in Istanbul. There was moment of awkward silence; in till Fatima broke the silence by saying

“How’s it going dad?”

The Sultan replied” Doing well…heading off to have tea with Haziqah brother…agh…so were are you off to ..Shouldn’t you two be studying for exams or something?”

Fatima and Azeeza rolled their eyes and Fatima replied “ Dad…exams at University were last week and ditto for Azeeza High School finals were last week too…. We’re on vacation…and about to go shopping…”

The Sultan thought for a moment and though to himself” damn it, they are right…” and then he told them

“Have fun and you know the rules, my children…don’t max out your credit cards.”

“Of course, father…we know better then that.” Remarked Azeeza and the both of them walk off and put on their Ipod headphones on.

The Sultan continues on walking to towards the dreaded Tearoom. By the time he reached the tearoom, his wife Empress Haziqah al Bashir (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/Sh86.jpg) had her arms cross and was lending against the door, she looked at the Sultan and remarked

“Your five minutes late.. Suleiman….”

The Sultan shrugged” Umm…got hold up in a meeting…sorry”

She rolled her eyes and grin “ Fine…whatever, come in my brother and sister are here form Morroco..its been while since we last seen them.”

Then Sultan followed his wife into the tearoom and thought to himself” Oh hell..”

For the next hour and half…the Sultan sit though pure torture as he listen to his in-laws ramble (in the Sultan opinion) on and on in Moorish Arabic about how the family was doing and etc. The Sultan was barely able to get though it without going insane….the only thing that kept him sane was taking shots of Turkish Coffee.( He took 8 shots total..) After the meeting was over and the dreaded In-laws were gone…Sultan walked out of the tearoom with his wife and his wife remarked

“ That was fun no?”

The Sultan remarked “ It was quite interesting….I hope we can have more meeting like that more often..”

Haziqah smiled, she knew well enough that her husband dread these meetings…but decide to play along..” Why of course..maybe we can arrange more of them in the near future?”

The Sultan frozen for moment…and replied “ umm..sure….now excuse my dear…I must go a meeting with my cousins…on the matter of family clan estate business.”

“Ok…have fun..I’ll check up on the kids..” replied Haziqah, then she walk off knowing full well that she had just freak out her husband with the idea of having more family gatherings with the In-laws..it was all fun and games or was it..

The Sultan remarked “ See you later then..” Then the Sultan walks off to meet with his cousins and discuss the state of affairs for the family clans estates and to relax from the stress of the meeting his in-laws. The Sultan walked outside and went to meet his cousins and brothers under the shade one of the many trees in the palace courtyard. The Imperial Black Guards were at their post, watching for anything out of the norm and fulfilling their duty to the Khaifah.

Has he walked though the courtyard, he spotted his brothers and cousins sitting under the shade of a tree, they all were sitting in a circle, they had a hookah with them and were smoking Shisha. They were speaking to themselves in their mother tongue of Ottoman Turkish; the Sultan nodded to his relatives and brothers, and picked up the hookah and smokes a few puffs…

“Damn…that feels good…its been while since I last smoked a hookah…ok guys..lets get on to family business…”remarked the Sultan

“But of course, brother. All the family clans representatives are here and accounted for.” Said Prime Minister Uthman Bin Bashir (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/Season_3_Baltar.jpg), the Sultan younger brother

“Indeed, we’re here to start this grand meeting of our clan to discuss the details of family estates and profit revenues…fun fun if I must…aren’t we glad that the elders of the family clan passed such a enlighten job to us…since they have to focus on more pressing matters such like Fiqh and etc.” remarked Vizier Abdul Aziz Bin Bashir (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/60da3997.jpg), the Sultan youngest brother

“Yes…Aziz petty sum it up…yet we have do this bloody annual meeting to review the revenues and etc….such a waste of time..” remarked Vizier Dr. Asad al Bashir (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/murphy.jpg), the Sultan Cousin

“ I concur…who’s in favor of just rushing though this meeting and going to the local Coffee shop for a bit…in facts lets just have a freaking vote on the matter, those in favor say aye” said Vizier Harun al Darius bin Bashir (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/brody.jpg), the Sultan cousin and Asad older brother

All the cousins voted in favor, including the Sultan, and his two brothers

Then the Sultan pull out his PDA and begin to speak
“Righto, then…lets just get to the main point, the estate revenues from the family clan trust investments are about 100 million dinars in profit and our trust net work is a 10 billion dinars.. for this year, I say we divided up the profits equality along the family clans and give 10 percent to Zakat funds. All those in favor, said aye!”

Everyone nodded and said ”Aye”

“Good, lets get the hell out of here and head to our favorite coffee shop and hope that our wives don’t catch us…” remarked the Sultan, with that everyone got up and jump in their BNW sedans or copes and headed off to their favorite coffee shop…

At the Coffee Ship

The Sultan, his brothers and cousins were relaxing taking shots of Turkish coffee and smoking their hookahs, as they relaxed, the Imperial Black Guards dress in plain cloths stood watch for anything out of the norm.

“Man its feels good to relax…for once…bloody Ministers of Parliament…damn them…always yelling at each other or getting in fist fights…. bloody hell…I swear I had to break up at least two fist fights per session of Parliament.” Remarked the Prime Minister, who took a shot of Turkish coffee

“Bah….in the House of Viziers is worse…Just last night I got hit by a wooden cane from one of the older viziers after I debunk his stance…man those elder Vizier are crazy…” remarked Vizier Asad

“Yes, they are bloody crazy.. one of them try to nail me with sock full of quarters….lucky I barely miss it..” said Vizier Aziz

Everyone looked at Aziz and laughed

“Man, I seen worse..but man that’s just funny…its sounds something from a Yankee film or something…” remarked Vizier Illyas, the Sultan Uncle Vizier Bayezid son

“I second that opinion…but in keep mind guys..that we must maintain a low profile in order to avoid our wives finding out that we’re at the coffee shop…drinking Turkish coffee and smoking Hookah…if any of our wives were to catch…it will be a chain reaction and all of them will find out….lets avoid that agreed?” said the Sultan

They are all nodded in agreement and then Vizier Harun made a realization

“Wait a second…how the hell can we keep a low profile…when we are dress in black trench coats (the weather was cold that day), designer black suits and black sunglasses…. we looked like the bloody Persian Mafa in North America…we stand out often like a sore thumb. Man our ruling class and the upper class in general really needs to drop this color…” remarked Vizier Hamzah , The Sultan Uncle Vizier Ibrahim son

“Umm…look around you…everyone is dress in trench coats and designer suits chill out…we blend…but yea…we really need to find a new color one of days..” remarked Vizier Asad

“Bah.” Remarked Vizier Hamzah and he took a shot of Turkish Coffee

Then everyone attention was focus on the Flat screen, it was a News Report showing that ground war against the RSA had just begin and the announcement of massive deployment of troops and ships to defend Imperium ally Allenea after getting attack by crusader states. But none of that was new to the Sultan, his brothers and cousins.

“Meh, old news…I give the go ahead this morning…. the media is so slow at times..” remarked the Sultan

“Indeed.” Remarked the Prime Minister and he took a shot of Turkish coffee

Linda Liu (http://jdorama.com/img_a/001658.jpg), the Xenizen envoy to the KLM, sat in the shop sipping Turkish coffee. She liked the local coffee best; once you went to it it was hard to go back, and it made a good substitute for whiskey. Probably better for you in the long run anywho.

She saw the TV, and knew what was happening...taking Egyptian Arabic and Turkish was the best thing she could have done, but the pics of Kimiko Ayasugi made it dead clear what it was about. The KLM was at war with the RALM, and they had hit the RSA and the elements that supported the RALM hard.

She finished the coffee, and pondered what life was like, being 35...not quite old, not quite young. She sighed and wondered what would happen in the future. Would she have to go home? What of a nursing home? Oh dear God no....

Well, she decided to get up and use the bathroom. As she walked through the shop, she spotted some people in black trenchcoats. "Matrix rejects?" she thought. Then she saw they were bigwigs, and one was....the Sultan? Woah. Must be busy with stuff. Well....

As she walked by the Sultan's table, she was then accidentally bumped into by a busboy...and fell onto the table.

Then the UX envoy tripped and fell on the table

Vizier Asad who was smoking the Hookah stopped and looked what just happen and remarked

“ This tobacco is crazy…I am tripping out already…whoa. I see someone on the table..whoa.”

Vizier Harun looked at him and said, “ Your not tripping out…there is someone really there…snap out of it.”

“Oh..” remarked Vizier Asad

Then an Imperial Black Guard helps the envoy get up

The Sultan and PM both shots of Turkish coffee

“Why, Ambassador Lindia Liu what beings to you to our humble table?” ask the Sultan

Then the UX envoy tripped and fell on the table

Vizier Asad who was smoking the Hookah stopped and looked what just happen and remarked

“ This tobacco is crazy…I am tripping out already…whoa. I see someone on the table..whoa.”

Vizier Harun looked at him and said, “ Your not tripping out…there is someone really there…snap out of it.”

“Oh..” remarked Vizier Asad

Then a Imperial Black Guard help the envoy up

The Sultan and PM both shots of Turkish coffee

“Why, Ambassador Lindia Liu what beings to you to our humble table?” ask the Sultan

Linda then replied, somewhat embarassed, with her Egyptian Arabic: "Well, I was going to the toilet, and well, one of the busboys kinda tripped into me. Then this happened."

Chuckling, she went on, "I love that coffee though. You guys okay?"

PM Uthman remarked” We’re quite fine…no harm done…well for the most part…how goes things?”

The others continue on drinking their coffee and smoking their hookahs as for the Imperial Black Guards, a few of them were keeping a eye for the Groups wives, if they were to come around. The group would have to jump into their cars and race back to the palace in order to avoid getting caught.

PM Uthman remarked” We’re quite fine…no harm done…well for the most part…how goes things?”

The others continue on drinking their coffee and smoking their hookahs as for the Imperial Black Guards, a few of them were keeping a eye for the Groups wives, if they were to come around. The group would have to jump into their cars and race back to the palace in order to avoid getting caught.

"Well, I can only say that besides the slight bit of coffee stains, I am alright," Linda replied. "Just heard the news, the KLM is storming the beaches of RSA-held Africa. Think that'll cut the base out from under the RALM?"

The Sultan answer the envoy question

“We don’t just plan to cut off their bases…we plan to wipe them out completely from the face of this world.”

Then Imperial Black guardsmen came up to the Sultan and told the Sultan in Persian

“My Sultan, your wife Roxelane and your sister Sophia…are walking down this street…right at this moment and will pass this coffee shop in a few minutes…. now is the best time to make a get away.”

The Sultan looked the envoy and said, “ It’s been good to see, you Ambassador…but some matters have just come up that I must attend to…good bye.” Then the Sultan, his brothers and cousins got up and walked causal out of the shop, as soon as they outside. They just ran to their cars and burn out of the area at top speed.

Just standing there with their videophones recording the Sultan, his brothers and cousins running out and jumping in their cars. And send the video to the others.

“The wonder of technologic…. now we have proof…why must they always run..when see us …it makes things harder for them.” remarked The Sultan wife Empress Roxelane al Bashir (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/Eva-Longoria-The-Sentinel.jpg)

“Meh, my brothers and cousins maybe very bright…but they lack common sense at times…. And always see the need to run off in plain sight of us. It runs in the family I guess.” remarked Sophia al Bashir al Abbasid (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/ChCombs_as_Piiper.jpg), the Sultan and PM sister

“Oh well..we’re have Sophia(the Sultan wife) deal with them…sometimes they never learn…don’t they?” remarked Roxelane

“Nope…we are always one step ahead of them..” replied Sophia

In the BNW sedan …

“DRIVE FASTER DAMN IT!” yell Vizier Asad

“I am bloody am…. so shut up…”remark the Sultan as he change gears on his stick shift

In the background, Rock the Casbah by Clash was playing on the Radio

“ If anyone ask…just said…we had to get some reports for the meeting..” said the Prime Minister

“Agreed.” Replied the Sultan and the others nodded

The two BNW sedans speed though the streets of Istanbul, in till they reached the Palace. When they reached the Palace, they quickly ran into the one of the conference rooms.

“OK, everyone just pretend we’re reviewing some reports about the estates. Just take out your PDAs and file should be there.” Said Uthman

The other nodded and begin pretending to read the reports and making a remarks about them

Then they heard the dread knock on the door..

The Sultan took a deep breath and said” Come in.”

Empress Sophia al Fuad al Bashir (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/SandraBull_SLov_4681357.jpg) enter the room, she look around and remarked” Well…you guys must be busy…”

“Yes..we are…very busy….busy with reviewing all these estate reports and debating how to invest our surplus funds.” Said Vizier Harun

“Indeed….its our duty after all to review these reports..” said Vizier Asad

“That’s good to know…find if I show you guys a video…I just got a couple of minutes ago?” asked Sophia

The Sultan knew what this was leading…but he no choice and decide to follow along

“Sure…go ahead.”

Sophia accesses the desktop at the table and plug in her PDA. Then she played the video of the Sultan, his brothers and cousins running out of a coffee shop and into their cars. Right at the moment, everyone knew that the jig is up..

Sophia smirk and cross her arms together, and said “ Well guys…I recommend that you go back home and face the music…your wives are waiting for you…right at this moment…so move along.” Her voice was perfectly calm, as she spoke

Everyone got up and left, just leaving the Sultan to left to face his wife

“Well I been caught….what now..” said the Sultan

Sophia glares at the Sultan and said in her calm voice “ Well…you know that we don’t want going to those …Coffee shops after all we hate the fact your…smoking hookah…don’t let it happen again…”

The Sultan couldn’t bear to have his wife glaring at him and replied, “ It won’t happen again…” He quickly look at his watch and remarked “ I better go off I have a meeting with Heads of the arm forces…war stuff you know..”

He quickly got out of the room and headed off to the meeting. It took one glare from his wife and Sultan given in and promise not to do it again.. that was the power of the Sultan wives..one look and whatever the Sultan was doing wouldn’t happen again…

The Sultan walked down the corridors of the Palace, in till he reached the war room. Which had two Imperial Black Guardsmen who constantly guarded the room. They nodded to the Sultan and let him in the room, his Grand Vizier, Defense Minister and his deputies, and the arm forces heads were already in the room and waiting for the Sultan gets in.

The Sultan nodded to his staff and took his seat. Then he begin to speak

“This meeting of the war room is here by in session. All the Arm Forces heads, give a report now.” Said the Sultan

Head of Arm Forces - Field Marshal of the Al Muslimeen Khailfah Army (head of the arm forces) Huseyin Kivrikoglu (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/kivrikog.jpg) spoke up first

“My Sultan, our war plan against the RALM is going according to plan…our field commanders reported that our forces are pushing the RALM forces back.. Yet the RALM forces are proving to not be pushovers, they have inflicted moderate losses on our arm forces. Also our taskforce to help our allies in Allanea is on its way to help out our friends and take the fight back to its foes.”

Then Subhead of Navy- Flag Rank Fleet Admiral Saiful Muhsin Stylianos spoke up

“My Sultan, High Seas Fleet Command is please to report we have the RSA navy on the ran and we’re going to make pay hell for attacking our Imperium. Also as the Head of Arm Forces, has reported…we have send another fleet group to help our allies in Allanea…. roughly 50 percent of the Imperial High Seas Fleet has be deployed, My Sultan. 10 Percent has been deployed to help Allanea and 40 percent has been deployed to deal with the RALM.Which putting a stain on the current fleets in home waters to defend our coastlines…the Dominions fleet can make up so much without staining themselves. . It is the recommendation of the High Seas Fleet, not to enter another war for the time being.”

“Dually Noted, Subhead of the Navy, continue on.” Said the Sultan

“ Now to move on another topic, the Izmir Shipyard Design is in the process of finalize a new SSN model for the sub fleet, we expect to put in full production early next year. Also we are currently doing a joint program with our allies of Questers to create a new Battlecrusier class…we expect to put into production early next year.”

Then Subhead of the Air force- Marshal of Al Muslimeen Khailfah Air Force Izz-Al-Din Daud Shafaqat spoke up

“ My Sultan, I am please to report that the air force is having much success in the air war against the RALM and in bombing the them back to the Stone Age. Also the our Space Command is the most please with our satellite EMP systems live firing in the war against the RALM…it has proofed to a effective asset for our arm forces. Also our air attack wings have prove their worth by hitting the RSA hard and fast…its because of them the tide of the war may turn in our favor.

Subhead of the Army- Field Marshal of the Khailfah al Muslimeen Army Mustafa Resid Pasha (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/cevik.jpg) spoke up

“ My Sultan, we the subheads of Army, Marines and Paratroops have to agreed its necessary to active the reserve divisions for front line duty to take off the stain from our regular corps, its necessary to keep the moral up for the troops and to rotate them to allow them to rest. We can’t constantly more deploy more regular corps to the war effort; we have to keep some at home. Therefore the reserves divisions to need to use to reduce the stain on the regular corps.”

Marshal of the Paratrooper core- General Hafiz Husam Munir and General of the Marine Core-Major General Qasim al Shakil bin Samad nodded in agreement

“As former General of the Imperium Armies. I couldn’t help to agree with you on this matter; just you have my permission to use the reserves where you see fit. Now with that done, we must discuss a matter at hand…. how to handle the POWs from this war against the RALM.. Of course we’re going to send them to the POW camps in Siberia in Eurasian Dominion, yet what to do with them…I am all hears, gentlemen.”


“ Sultan, I recommend that we divided up the POWs in two separate camps one for the NCOs and one for the officers. In order to prevent them the NCOs and Officers from working to together and starting a uprising. In our best interest to do so.” Defense Minister-Vizier Süleyman al Uthmān bin Aziz (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/Omar_Sharif.jpg)

“My Sultan, I concur with the Defense Minister..we must have two separates camps for the POWs and also I recommend that we subject the officers that have the rank of Major or higher to AMI mind torture to see if they have anything of value for the war effort or about the RALM in general.” Said
Deputy Defense Minister Jaffa Yaqub Bin Almohad (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/5ff6be42.jpg)

“I also support this opinion, my Sultan…we must subject the high ranking officers to mental torture in order to gain valuable insight from RALM, just its worth it for us to do so and kill off blasted RALM officers…the same people who dare to attack our place of worship.” Said Deputy Defense Minister Hassan Mustafa al Mwinyi (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/a716def2.jpg)

“The Political Commissar and the Arm Forces Intelligence support this opinion also…its necessary for us to do mental tortures to get the information we need in order to defeat our foes in the battlefield.” Said Field Marshal of the Al Muslimeen Army Abdul al Mejid bin Ismail Pasha (Head of arm forces Intel)

“We have to interrogate these POWs one way or another…so I agree mental torture is the best to go.” Remarked the Grand Viziers

“These salvages dare to attack us, these salvages claim their leader is a messenger of god…these salvages claim to have divine backing…they are nothing then infidels that must be purged from the face of the earth ,by any means necessary we must crush them for the greater good of mankind…just mental torture will allow to us to service our purposes of purging the world of their twisted faith..I give my full support this idea…now is there anything to be covered?” ask the Sultan

No one said anything

“Very well then, this session of the war room is over..we’re meet again tomorrow…now I am off to lunch, good day to you gentlemen.” Said the Sultan

The Sultan had lunch with his family, and went off to series of meeting with the members of Ulmea to discuss matters of Fiqh. The Sultan himself is well versed in Fiqh, because his late Grand Father (father side) often debate him on matters of Fiqh and taught him on how to understand Fiqh from the many view points from the schools of thought. Which helped him greatly when he became the Khaif of the Khailfiah. The Sultan would spend at least two hours a day to meet with the Ulmea and to discuss matters of Fiqh and then issues a Fatwa on the matter. This was one of the important parts of the Sultan workday. After the Sultan meeting with the Ulmea, the Sultan heads off to his office to do some paperwork.

When he entered his office, he was somewhat surprise to see an old friend sitting at his desk, just waiting for him. The Sultan just shake his head and said

“Oh Faruq al Mafee bin Hāni how do you constantly manger to get pass my guards and everyone else in Palace?”

Faruq smiled and said” I’ll tell that when you retired from your post as Sultan…in till then …you shall never know…”

The Sultan smiled” Why do I brother…at times.”

“Its like how people ask be how I became what I am now…I just tell the story of a political commissar who was highly regard in the service…then out of nowhere…he finds himself in himself in self-imposed exile, in that period of exile…he was doomed to wonder as ghost to land to land..but when he finally got around to ending his exile…he return to Istanbul and became one of the most well known tailors in the city. That my friend is the story of Faruq..” said Faruq

“So when will you tell us the whole story to what happen to you?” asked the Sultan

“Maybe one of these days and maybe never…but the real question that is never asked in this place…is how are you feeling?” ask Faruq

“I feel well…why do you ask?” replied the Sultan

“ Feeling well is relative to the situation …honestly tell me how do you feel?” asked Faruq

The Sultan took a breath and replied, “ Do you really want to know?”

Faruq smiled and said “ I am a tailor..its one of my jobs to listen…so yes…I want to know!”

“Very well…I feel like..that I am not the man that I use to be…” He raised his prosthetics right hand up “ This serves to me as reminder to what I have loosed…. since I have become the Sultan…its reminds me very day how many friends that have died in front of me…” Then he put his left hand on the right side of his face.” For my services for this bloody Imperium…what do I get?….For fighting in the front line during the Sino Jihad…leading our troops in the war…what I get..badly burned…and at times…the right side of my face goes numb…its serves as reminder to me…that I can never put my past between me….granted I was somewhat not of sound mind during the Sino Jihad…but that’s another story.. anyways…what do I get in return for my services to the Imperium…nothing…I lose more then to gain…now its goes back to the question…how do I feel……I feel like a man who is going insane and everyone around could care less or don’t even brother…all they care about is that I do a job well done..at the cost of my bloody sanity…damn them all..” said the Sultan

Faruq smiled and said “ And the truth comes out…how does it feel?”

The Sultan replied, “ Its feels better and yet nothing has changed…things will remained the same…in till I can retire…in till then…I have to bear with the fact, that I am going insane…and have to deal with it..”

“And my job is done…I made you realize it…now I am off to tailor some suits and Suleiman, all Sultans have to do deal with this one way or another…each had their own unique way of venting their repressive feelings…its best you find your own. ” Said Faruq, and he got up and left.

A Few weeks later

At the Sultan Palace

Cabinet Meeting

“Well, Gentlemen, what do you have to report or add to this meeting…I am all ears.” Said the Sultan

“My Sultan, our taskforce that was send to help our allies in Alleana…is now on its way back…after only firing a few shots, because the war quickly came to a close as soon as we came to the scene…. a pity we couldn’t do any more..and also our fleet of super dreadnoughts is on its way back home from its mission in the war against the RALM…we have no need to keep them deployed any longer..since our main mission is over…in fact half of our invasion fleet is returning to home port and of course, the super dreadnoughts will be put back to mothball to cut cost as always, according naval policy on the matter. Well once again our fleet has shown its flag and done little more…oh how I long for a naval batte..a misfortune that we are continuously missing out in such battles. Also the army is still busy trying to stabilize the ex-RALM lands in Africa…a on going process of fighting back and forth between our forces and the rebel forces, yet we are making headway. As for America…we are still busy crushing the RALM forces in that area.” Said Defense Minister-Vizier Süleyman al Uthmān bin Aziz

“Well our Fleet Admirals, Admirals, and Fleet Captains have to keep themselves busy one way or another…since there is no sea battles going…. in order to keep sharp…they play that board game…what’s it called…oh yes ..Battleship all day long…” Joked the Sultan

Everyone in the room got the joke and lightly laughs

“But joking aside…we really do need a naval battle for grand fleet…one of these days…the dreams of the High Seas Fleet Command of a grand naval battle may come true one of these days…in till then…the Fleet will constantly train and conduct war games to remain sharp in combat. As for the latest reports for the land war against the RALM…we just need to keep up the pressure and they will soon fall apart.” Commented the Sultan

The Defense Minister and his deputy ministers nodded in agreement so did the heads of the arm forces.

“Next on the agenda…I trust that everyone has read up on the latest AMI Intel report on New Albion…apparently the locals don’t think highly of their Neo Brits overlords…. that’s to expected no…. these Neo-British pigs never learned…and they never will..” remarked the Sultan

“My Sultan…we shall maintain our policy of not brothering with them and just sit back and watch the situation process?” asked Foreign Minister Farhri Koruturk (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/mishkin1.jpg)

The Sultan smiled and said “ Of course…I see no reason to change our standing policy with the bloody Oceanians of non inferences with their affairs as their problems don’t spread in our lands in New Albion..”

“I concur with that opinion…we see no need to inference in their affairs…just lets just keep our mouths shut and mine our own business on the matter.” Said the Grand Vizier

“Indeed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will just keep its eye on the matter and do nothing more.” Said the Foreign Minister

“Good…although I know there are number of hawks in the Parliament and House of Vizier that think otherwise and still want to burn Oceania for taking the northern half of New Albion…but we all know…that’s not going to happen anytime in the near future…so its best to remain with this policy.” Said the Prime Minister Uthman bin Bashir

“Yes and no…Uthman…its true that we don’t fight the Oceanians anytime soon …but never say never…the Imperial General Staff has already draw up the war plans in case that day comes…ever since New Albion incident…we been gearing up for that day…building up bases and key holdings…but we don’t make the first move…they have to make the first move..before we can do anything…but we don’t be caught off guard this time around.” Said the Sultan

“Isn’t that good to know…we are ready to kick the hell out of them…within a moment notice..” remarked High Chancellor Hashmir al Horatius Bin Assad (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/255965c9.jpg)

“ One has to appease the War Hawks..one way or another…and this is the only way we can do it..without starting a bloody war with the bloody Neo-Brits.” Replied the Grand Vizier

“Oh well..that’s the way things are for us…unless our relations with Oceanians improve greatly…our stance with them won’t change otherwise…now lets move on to another topic, anyone have anything to report?” asked the Sultan

“My Sultan, I am please to report that we are now training new police forces in the occupied RALM lands in Africa, they are compose of the loyalist locals NCOs and commanded by our officers they ar proving very useful for helping our forces root out the rebel cells..Also my Sultan I would to being up the topic of annexation…which regions of RALM Africa are we going to annex?” asked Minister of Internal Affairs- Minister Dr. Sayyid Faisal bin Turki (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/Abdullah.jpg)


“We are only going to annex Benin, Guinea, and Cape Verde…. as for the other lands, we’re hand them over to our allies of Malkyer…we have not intention of all annexing all their lands after all…also as for the America…we’re set up our puppet state over there…now that reminds me…any reports on the whereabouts of the leadership of RALM?” asked the Sultan

“Well, My Sultan..the latest AMI and High Guards reports say that most of RALM leadership has gone into hiding or has left to one of their puppet states, to continue on fighting…yet its only a matter of time…before the AMI hit men teams find them or the assassins get to them..” said Head of Al Muslimeen Intelligence- Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/200422_134215_2_006.jpg)

”Good..in time…we will have all their leaders heads on pikes…now any other matters to be discussed?” asked the Sultan

No one say anything

“Very well then…this meeting of the Cabinet is here by dismissed.” Said the Sultan and with that all the ministers and officials left the room. Just leaving the Sultan, the Grand Vizier, the Prime Minister and High Chancellor in the room, they were waiting for the next meeting of the economic advisers to start.

“So, any good football (soccer for ye Yanks) games on today?” asked Sultan

“Well to think of it…there’s a game between Istanbul vs. Beirut today. I believe..and I am petty sure the Beirut would take care of Istanbul and win with at least 10 goals..” remarked the High Chancellor

“Bah…that would be the day..” remarked the Prime Minister

“Meh…Sarajevo can own both Beirut and Istanbul any day anytime..so ha” said the Grand Vizier

“Oh really…. why hasn’t Sarajevo won the championship for that past six year…then?” asked the Sultan

The Grand Vizier replied” Who knows…they are just warming up..once they get started they can own anyone..”

“You keep thinking that…now High Chancellor..if Beirut wins…I will take you and your wife out to the most bloody expensive restaurant in Istanbul for Dinner today…if Istanbul wins…you take well.which ever wife that’s come along and me to the most bloody expensive restaurant in Istanbul...do we have a deal, oh Horatius?” asked the Sultan

The High Chancellor smiled and replied” Deal.”


“10 shots of Turkish Coffee, says the Sultan will have to paid for dinner!” remarked the Prime Minister to the Grand Vizier

“Make that 20 shots of Turkish coffee..” replied the Grand Vizier

Then a Imperial Black Guard officer enter the room and said “ My Sultan, the Economic Advisers are here for the meeting, shall I allow them in?”

The Sultan nodded and said “ Very well allow them in..lets start this meeting..”

Then all the economic advisers and ministers entered the meeting room and took their seats and Sultan begun the meeting

“This meeting of the economic advisers committee is now in session. The Minister of Treasury will report the current standing of the Imperium Budget and debts.” Said the Sultan

“ My Sultan and members of economic adviser committee, I am please to report we are debt free for now, but I must this note that our budget is barely covering all the expenses from the wars and from our current projects…our revenues from our shares from Joint Companies and from the taxes won’t able to cover these expense for long …we must cut down our expenses one way or another or fine new areas of revenues or we face going to into debt at our current rate of spending.” said Minister of Treasury- Minister Ahmad Shah bin Saad (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/Erick.jpg)

“Duly noted. We will cut down our expenses soon as possible most of war campaigns are coming to close and just our expenses will go down in due time.“ Said the Sultan and he nodded to Minister of Industries and Trade to speak

“Sultan, I am have to report we are starting to import more then we export…we are starting to have a growing trade defect, do to our lack of gaining new trade partners …just we need to go out and more new trade relations in order to correct this defect for now we can bare with it. But if we don’t correct it long term…it will have grave effects on our economy long term.” Said Minister of Industries and Trade-Dr.Frederick Luther (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/lionel1_full.jpg)

“Rest assured, Minister…we will correct this problem in due time. More trade pacts are on their way..” replied the Sultan and he nodded to Minister of Economics to speak

“Sultan, as your Economic Minister..I must reported our annual growth rate of our economy has drop from 4 percent per year to 3.2 percent this year alone…our economy is slowing down due to the stain from wars and the cold war we currently have with our foes of Oceanians.. we must put more effort insuring our economy remains stable.. “ said
Minister of Economics Thierry Breton (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/2bf7f7cf.jpg)

“What should we do to insure stability in our economy, Minister?” asked the Sultan

“Well, for starters we must cut down in spending and cut taxes and give more grants and loans to people to set up new businesses which will help the economy in the long run. But we can’t do much more then that…. after all we do believe in Free Market economy..therefore we must allow the economy to find its own equilibrium on its own…just let it correct itself is my opinion on the matter.”said the Minister of Economic

“I agree with your opinion…can’t force the economy to stabilize itself…we must allow economy to stabilize itself..its better for us in the long run. ..we can only do so much…now the floor is open for anyone to comment.” Said the Sultan

“I must have a golden opportunity to take over the Americas economically…. since we will be setting up a puppet government after we finish off the RSA.. then we make them dependant on us for their oil and financially …just insuring they won’t try to break away from our influences and in turn we make a profit which will help economy.. “ Said Economics Adviser Edward Richardson (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/839886e4.jpg)

“Hmm…interesting idea…we can make sure they stay under our influence without stationing a single soldiers after the conflict…most interesting notion…if I must say..” said the High Chancellor

“Indeed…it’s a good idea and we will enact a plan along those lines…yet its ironic that Yankee expatriate is the one to come up with the idea.” Remarked the Sultan

“Well…this Yankee and his family are living in the Swiss Alps and have a nice house thanks our investments and annual check from being a employ to adviser you…so yes…I do my best to advise you whenever a opportunity like this comes up.” Replied Edward

“Also we should looked in investing more into our allies nations in order to streng our allies such as Malkyer, Upper Xen to name a few…in the long run it be profitable for our companies to do so..and it will also improve relations even more with our allies.” Said Economics Adviser Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/f6d4f9f1.jpg)

“Yes we should invest more in our allies and invest in number of nations that are friendly to towards our nation. Investements will incease trade between our nation and theirs and also in the long run correct our trade inbalance..” said Economics Adviser Andrew Bonar Law (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/c8cdedc0.jpg)

“Indeed…we will look into this matter later on…our state banking companies will take a look into this matter and decide how much to invest in each nation…now is that all?” asked the Sultan

No one said a thing

“Very well, this meeting of Economic Adviser committee is over.” Said the Sultan and with that everyone got out of the room and went along to their daily business.

A few hours later

At the Sultan Office

The Sultan was busy reviewing the latest governments reports, he rather be watching the Istanbul vs. Beirut game…but duty calls and he had to review the reports for his next meetings with his advisers. For the next 30 minutes, the Sultan read report after report. When he was finally finished reading the reports..he looked at the clock and thought to himself “20 minutes to kill…in till the game starts..whatever I should ..”

Then he was cut off in mid thought by his Secretary voice thou the intercom

“Sultan. The head of Imperial Army Medical Service Corp…is here to see you…should I allow him or have the guards escort him out..?”

The Sultan thought for moment and said” Send him in.”

“Very well..” replied the Secretary

Then within a matter of moments, Flag Rank General Dr.Qasim Varinius Ioannis, head of Imperial Army Medical Services Corp. Enter the Sultan office, he looked like hell…he had sand all over him khaki desert uniform and he looked fairly tanned from his recent travels, yet he was still fair skin since he was of the Greco-Roman minority. He took a seat in the Sultan leather seat.

The Sultan took one look at him and said “ What the bloody hell happen to you?”

The Doctor smiled and said “ Well…..what the bloody hell happen to me….I’ll tell you what ….I just good back a good will trip from the forsaken deserts of the Sahara….I been gone for the last four fuckin weeks…. Giving free treatments to Berbers tribes and the locals of the Sahara…you maybe thinking what the hell was I thinking to go on such a insane trip…simple.….I am bloody sick of that god damn desk job…all thanks to the bloody enlighten General Staff…damn fuckers.. I CAN’T stand desk jobs..I got sick of it and took the first opportunity to get out of it and lucky for me…it was a good will medical mission to the Sahara…lucky for bloody fuckin me…Now your wondering why I am here and not with my family …well I just got off the bloody plane 20 minutes ago and called my beloved wife to being up to speed on local happenings and I come to find out that Banu Bashir had two weddings at the same time two weeks ago, and also my cell phone died on me right before she could me anything more…just I decide to make my first stop in Istanbul you…before going to my family.. so I get the full story from yourself….I guess the following A) you finally took up a fourth wife and second wife for one of your brothers, if so..you lucky sob or B) one of your cousins got married or your brothers took up another wife….so which one it will be?”

The Sultan just looked at him blankly and said” Your still the crazy SOB …that you were since the day I first met you…and let me explain this…first of all I am not that bloody insane to take fourth wife…sure the option is open…but fuck no…. three is enough…. and it was my brothers Uthman and Aziz who both took up a second wife each, it was private event..only family and close friends and your family was invited…yet you were out of town…in forstake Sahara….for some odd reason.”

“Its simple really…I hate sitting around in a desk reviewing the latest medical journals or touring some random arm forces bases medical faculties…its getting mind numbing at times..half of the time…I am playing cards with my secretary…her and me play poker all day to pass the bloody time….its all because of the General Staffs wants a crazy sobs like me in desk to insure I don’t get into trouble….they underestimate me…I still find ways of getting into trouble..anyways…I been meaning to ask you..which out of the three wives do you like the most..” asked the Doctor

The Sultan looks around and made sure the intercoms was off, and answer the doctor with a smile “ My good doctor…I love all my wives equally and dearly care for them all….I don’t play favorites…I don’t how you got that mad idea..”

“Ah the diplomatic answer…wise choice…well Suleiman I must take my leave and go home …to take bloody shower and etc..feel bloody free to see me at my office….most likely you’ll see my secretary and me playing cards .. in till then my friend.”

“Later, Qasim.” Said the Sultan

With that, the Doctor took a bow and left the Office, then the Sultan took a look at his cloak and remarked to himself “ Ten more minutes in till the game starts…bloody hell..back to reading more reports it ill then..the doctor isn’t the only one who hates the desk job..”

An hour and 40 minutes later

Entertainment Center, Sultan Palace

The Sultan, the Prime Minister, Grand Vizier and High Chancellor were all seated in leather lay-z-boys chairs…they were all watching the Istanbul vs. Beirut game very closely. It was coming down to the last seconds, it was 2-2…Istanbul and Beirut was playing their best to beat each other. If they don’t score a goal right at this moment..the game will go into overtime. Then by sheer luck, the Beirut main manger to break the tie in the last second by making a field goal…All the Beirut fans went wild and the Istanbul fans were left dumbfounded and it was after all a Home game for Beirut and Istanbul was the visiting team.

The Sultan was the first to break the silence in the room by saying “ Son of bitch…they are just bloody lucky…that’s all..”

“Apparently so…” remarked the Grand Vizier

“Indeed…they just fuckin lucky..” remarked the Prime Minister

“Bah, my team pwns yours the better team won…so what time will you be taking my wife and me to dinner?” asked the High Chancellor

“I am man of my word…..so how about 8 o’clock tonight?” replied the Sultan

“Sounds good…now excuse me…I have to go back to my house and entertain my wife’s family from Nova Atlantis…fun fun…. bloody in-laws.” Said the High Chancellor and with that he left

“Poor son of bitch…..he may have won the game..but now he has to deal with in-laws….” Remarked the Prime Minister

“Indeed..” replied the Sultan

Then the Sultan personal guard Imperial Black Guard- Captain Imad Issa (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/f57486cc.jpg) enter, you could tell that he just killed someone within two hours agos…just by the look in his face.

“Damn it...Issa…who did you kill this time?” asked the Grand Vizier

The Captain smiled and said” The Prime Minister of Upper Xen…he looked at me funny..”

“Oh shit…not the bloody PM of Upper Xen…wait…does Upper Xen even have a PM?” asked the Prime Minister

“Nope…my goodness..the stone cold Imperial Black Guard has a sense of humor….” Remarked the Grand Vizier

“Indeed…now Captain Issa why are you really here?” asked the Sultan

“The Minister of Protectorate Affairs, is here to see you….he just got back from his mission overseas…shall I send him in?” asked the Captain

The Sultan nodded and said” Send him in.”

The Captain nodded and allow went out to get the Minister. A few moments later, Minister of Protectorates Affairs Ralf Gustav Dahrendorf (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/headshot_sm.jpg) enter the room and took a seat in the leather chairs and nodded to the Sultan, the Grand Vizier and Prime Minister

The Sultan smiled and said “Well, Minister Dahrendorf…please report the results of your overseas missions…”

Gustav give his trademark smile and begun to speak “ Well my Sultan…I visited our protectorates of Nepal and Bhutan…. the meeting with the leadership over there went well and they are happy to be under the protection of the Khailfah.”

The Sultan nodded and said “ Go on.”

And the Minister continue

“For the missions to Burma and Thailands….I am proud to say that we finally got Burma to “accept” our offer of protection and soon they will join the list of nations in protectorates…as for Thailand…we manger to secure deals regarding the free passage of our troops to Malaysia during times of war…yet they decline our offer for protection…yet we got some basing deals though in Thaliand for a number of air bases and for the High Seas Sub fleet…a number of ports will be open to them. In return for some State Bank aid.” said the Minister

“Very well good…you did a good job of “getting” them to see its best for them to seek our protection… go on, ” Said the Sultan

“As for my trips to overseas regions…. the Carpathian Archipelago talks are still on going…after having a series of key meetings with their leaders…I believe I am getting though to them.. Just need a little more time…also as for the Philippines…we manger to get the government of the Philippines to allow us to build a naval base in Sulu…well in Jolo. Just this is all I have to report so far, Sultan Bashir.” Said the Minster

“The Carpathian Archipelago is key region, the Imperial Government is intent on getting into our protectorate system….at all cost…Minister, you must try to get them to side our “point of view” on the matter for their own good…besides those naval bases in Indian/Pacific Ocean will prove very useful for us…in the long run…other than that, Minister…you did a fine job..” said the Sultan

The Minster nodded and said “ Rest assured, my Sultan….the Carpathians will soon see the “light.”

“Good, and also the ex RALM holdings of Benin, Guinea and Cape Verde will be transfer to the authority of the Ministry of Protectorate Affairs.. is that understood?” asked the Sultan

The Minister nodded and said” I’ll make sure those regions will be ready the join KLM completely in no time.”

“Good…you may now leave and rest…my old friend.” Said the Sultan

The Minister nodded and left the room

The Sultan remarked to Grand Vizier and Prime Minister

“He is one of the best Ministers I have….he has a way of getting people to see his point of view..which is good for us…overall..”

A week later

Sultan Office, Sultan Palace

The Sultan for a rare amount of time…had some free time to himself… which was very rare for him in these demanding times of his office. He was keeping himself busy by reading “The Plague” by Camus in French. It was one of his favorite books, since childhood. In his opinion, it was best to read the book in its original text then to reading transition that loses can at times lose the meaning of the book set down by the author. He had another book on his desk to read, it was “ The Memoirs of Sultan Mustafa bin Asad.” It was just released recently, nearly 7 years after his death, as the late Sultan requested. in order to allow the his image to rest for a while, in order that the people can look at his legacy with more clear picture.

The Sultan looked at the thick book and thought to himself, what would be his memoirs…would the memoirs be that thick as the Sultan Mustafa’s….no..they wouldn’t be that long…just a page stating the following….” Sultan Suleiman al Bashir the younger, son of Vizier Suleiman al Bashir the older, a solider of the Imperium, a loving husband and father, a man who fought a never ending battle to keep his sanity as the Sultan and nearly lost it completely …a man who fought for what he believe in. A man who did anything to keep his beloved Khailfah stable at the cost of putting what he believes as right and wrong in the backseat in order to whatever is needed to be done in the gray area. That is the tale of Sultan Suleiman al Bashir the Second.”

Not a even a paragraph, oh well…its best to keep things simple..as Sultan thought to himself.

High Seas Fleet Command, Izmir Naval Yards Base, Izmir, Turkey, KLM

The Izmir Naval Yards by far was one of the largest naval bases in the entire Imperium, it was large enough to hold up a number of SDNs in its massive dry docks, plus number of other ships. It was located just outside of the port city of Izmir The Naval Yards were also one of the best-defended bases in the Imperium, it was garrison by 1st Marine Corp which duty was to guard and protect the base at all cost. A large number SAM, AA guns, and anti ship missile and guns regiments were also located on the base, plus amount number of air wings to deal with any air attacks on the base. The yards were constantly busy doing overhauls for submarines, and surfaces warships or building new ships for Imperial High Seas Fleet. It one of the many major fortresses in the Imperium and the nerve center for High Seas Fleet Command.

It was cold and rainy day in Izmir, the high was 13 degrees Celsius, which was the norm for this time of year for the region. A motorcade or black limos move though the roads of the massive base, the motorcade stopped in front of the High Seas Fleet Command building. The Marine Honor Guard stood attention, the Sultan step out of his limo and following the Sultan, was Subhead of Navy- Flag Rank Fleet Admiral Saiful Muhsin Stylianos. They quickly walked in to the building; the Marine Honor Guard walked them to command center briefing room where the High Ranking Admirals of the Imperium awaited to meet with them.

When the Sultan and the Subhead of the Navy enter the room, all the Admirals rose up from their seats and stood attention. The Sultan and the Subhead took their seats and the Sultan nodded his head to the Admirals to take their seats. The Sultan took a moment to adjust to his surroundings; all around him were flat screens displaying the latest ship deployments, stats on certain classes of warships within the Imperium or even showing the latest Intel reports on other major naval powers of the world, friend or foe…in terms of recent deployments or new classes that have been build lately. Some were detail and others were vague at best, do the fact that some nations were harder then others to get any Intel on them.

The Sultan took a deep breath and begun to speak

“Bismillah al-Rahman, al-Rahim, this meeting of the Imperial Seas Fleet Command is here by in session. Gentlemen, for this monthly meeting …I will address some issues that I am seeing in our arm forces in general and the navy in for the most part. Our defense budget is break down in the following 35% goes to the Navy, 30% goes the Air Force and 35% goes to the army…what’s odd about this break down gentlemen is the fact, we have a large army, medium size air force, and a medium size navy…. yet its begs the question, the same amount of funds as the army…yet why is it medium size and army happens to larger yet gets less funds….its simple the navy uses up a good amount of its annual funds on upkeep for its ships alone…that’s why its keep at medium size…because all know, there is a limit of how many ships we can have when we factor in the upkeep..and its cheaper to have large army then to a large navy and same logic applies to the air force. Yet I am always hearing my officers from all the branches, that we must expand our arm forces even more and give more funding to each branches…but what’s the point…we already have one of the world largest armies….we have very formidable air force…and our navy is a first class and we have no need for such a massive fleet unlike our counterparts of Preatonia and etc. What’s the reason…behind these request?” asked the Sultan

“It is simple …isn’t ..The only reason we ask for more funds…is to combat the ever growing threat of Oceania pose to our assets in the Indian and Pacific Oceans….I can’t speak for other branches , yet for the navy, I can say we only want more funds to try to bring us up to pal with our rivals.” Answered Fleet Admiral Konstanitin Von Neurath

The Sultan smiled and said “ That’s the answer I already knew and was expecting…but do we realize we can’t enlarge our fleet to the point that its equal to Oceanian fleet?…do we not realize that if we do such a thing…we may bankrupt our fair Imperium…or risk cutting back on the other branches in order to maintain this massive amount of spending..which instead of making us stronger…but only more weaker in one way or another..we must make due with what we have..” said the Sultan

The German Fleet Admiral nodded in agreement and said “ We are all in agreement, my Sultan…that is why we don’t brother to build 10 new super dreadnoughts…we rather build 20 new battlecruisers for two-thirds of the cost of a single super dread. Which we did with the Feyadeen class..its more cost effective for us and besides we need a new class of raider battlecruisers for the fleet, but we are the first line of defense in a event of war with Oceania and it is our believe that the navy should gain more funding because of that.”

The Sultan nodded and said” Understandable…but bear in mind..we already expand the defense budget in recent years by 10 fold and we can’t expand anymore for sometime…bearing that…any budget increases for the arm forces isn’t foreseeable in the near future.But we do have sizeable fleet roughly 3800 ships total…maybe its time for the navy to show the flag…the army and air force have show theirs already in our current war against the RSA and RALM..”

“Yes, maybe we should conduct a large war game maneuvers and then do a tour of ally nations ports to show the might of the High Seas Fleet.. “ said the Subhead of the Navy

“It might do us some good to display our fleet to the world in a friendly matter…and also conduct war games to show the world our power at sea.” Remarked Flag Rank Fleet Admiral Muhammad Naji al-Otari

“True…maybe we can pull out what the Yankees did with there “ Great White Fleet”…to think what show a force it would be to send our super dreadnoughts to the ports of our friends..”remarked the Sultan

“Yes, and its about time we test the defenses of our assets in the Indian Ocean..”remarked Flag Rank Admiral Ivan Yurevich Putin

“Also the Sub fleet can test our ASW systems to see if they truly work, since Naval Air Wing Command boost them to be one of the best in the world.” remarked Flag Rank Fleet Admiral Mikhail Leopoldovich Abramov (Head of the Sub Fleet

“Indeed…our ASW air wings will live up to that word…I assure you of that.” Remarked Admiral Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov Tcherepnin, the head of Naval Air Wing command and just returned recently from RSA theater.

“Very well, in a few months time…we will conduct massive series of war games in the Indian Ocean to test our readiness of our defenses and fleets. I belive Fleet Admiral Mehmood Yushua Saburo would be best suited to head these war games,if anyone has any objections to my appointing Fleet Admiral Saburo to head the war games speak now.” Said the Sultan

All the Admirals were in agreement; they all knew that Fleet Admiral Saburo was the best man for the job of testing the Imperium defenses in Indian Ocean. The Japanese Muslim Admiral was well known as gifted war planner for High Seas Fleet and just the best man for the job of conducting these war games.

“Very well then, Fleet Admiral Saburo you are here by appointed to become the overall commander of Indian Ocean Wargames of 2007. Create your order of battles and plans and submit them to me by the end of the month.” Said the Sultan

Fleet Admiral Saburo nodded and said” It shall be done, my Sultan with great honor.”

“I expect nothing less..now I must take my leave and go to meet the Army heads and then the Air Forces…this meeting of the Imperial High Seas Fleet Command is dismiss.” Said the Sultan and with that the Sultan got up and left the room. Fleet Admiral Saburo waste no time..to getting to work on the plans…


In a matter of time..the KLM fleet will show its flag to the world..

It had only been a few weeks since the Aztec envoy to the KLM had taken his post. The previous envoy who he had replaced, Zoila Chavez, sister to Congressional majority leader Christopher Chavez, was one of the most accomplished diplomats of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. However, she was promoted to Deputy Minister, and, with the opportunity to jump up from being a mid-level diplomat in the FA Ministry, Miguel Ixtacin had to jump at the opportunity to represent the Republic. However, Mr. Ixtacin was still not completely adapted to the KLM.

The envoy secretary, a university student who was doing a study abroad program, listened Miguel as he stammered over the phone line…

“What…what are you talking about? I’m supposed to meet with the Sultan and his wife at a coff…coffee shop?”

His predecessor, Zoila, said calmly over the line, “Miguel, you would be surprised how much politics takes place in the coffee shops of the KLM. Besides, this is a direct order from Minister Wellington, now you wouldn’t want to offend the good doctor, would you?”

Still having a bit of an attraction to his new superior, Miguel said in a flirtatious voice, “Ah, well, if it makes your life easier…”

“Enough of that, Ambassador!” Exclaimed Zoila. “You know the AIA, the Ministry, probably Ottoman intelligence and very likely, your wife all have this line tapped and are recording every word.”

Still not ready to give up, Ambassador Ixtacin took a breath, but Deputy Minister Chavez interrupted before he could say anything – “Call the Sultan’s office and schedule a meeting…Now.”

Acknowledging the failure of his goal to annoy the Deputy Minister, Miguel signed and said, “Yes, maam.”

The phone was disconnected and Miguel put the grey phone back into its cradle. He called out to his secretary, “Get me in contact with the Sultan’s office.”

While the phone was dialing, Miguel pressed down on the intercom button, contacting his wife, Flor. Flor, who had met Miguel during their service in the military in 1997, was somewhat more aggressive than her husband, although still polite. Hearing his voice over the intercom, she put down glass of water and asked, “Yes, Miguel.”

Miguel quickly asked, “How would you like to meet the Sultan and his wife in a bit?”

Snidely, she responded, “It’s about time you show me what the hell you do for the State, other than hassle your bosses. I’ll be ready soon...and don’t bother the Sultan’s secretary, you wouldn’t be much of a diplomat if you sparked a war between two allies.”

Miguel was surprised by that answer – maybe Minister Chavez was right, maybe his wife did tap his phone line.

The phone connected to the Sultan’s office. Miguel said coolly, although excited about the prospect of his first diplomatic meeting with the Sultan, “Hello, this is Ambassador Miguel Ixtacin, the envoy for the USRANL…Yes, I would like to meet with the Sultan and company for a bit of Turkish coffee…when is the soonest time possible?”

In a matter of time. The KLM fleet will show its flag to the world..


Sultan Secretary Anna Akhmatova merely replied “Ambassador, let me take a look at the Sultan schedule… yes he can meet you for coffee at one o’clock today at Cristo Coffee Shop.”

Later that day, at the Cristo Coffee Shop

The Sultan and his wife Roxelane were sitting in doors, and watching the rainfall, it was another typical winter day for Istanbul. They were both taking sips of their Turkish coffee, was they waited for the ambassador and wife to show up. The Imperial Black Guards stood watch, but were laying low and were in civilian clothing.

The Sultan often looks at the hookah and then look at Roxelane who scold him for even thinking about smoking the hookah. The Sultan was just wearing his black suit with a blue tie, as for Roxelane was wearing black hajib, a black overcoat ,a blue blouse and black dress pants.

It was a close distance from the embassy to the coffee shop, and, for one reason or the other, Ambassador Ixtacin insisted they walked over to the coffee shop. This did nothing to ease the temperament of Flor, who, although well dressed for the rain in a long slender trench coat, hated cold, rainy weather. Her husband struggled to keep up with her, since she held the umbrella.

“There it is,” Miguel pointed out to the coffee shop ahead. “The Cristo Coffee Shop, the Sultan should be inside.”

Losing her edgy temperament, Flor asked, “Have you heard of it before, I hope it’s good.”

In a light-hearted manner, Miguel stated, “Well, if the Sultan will go to it, the shop shouldn’t be to bad.”

The two walked down to the coffee shop and entered. Quietly, Ambassador Ixtacin wondered “I wonder if any of these people are guards in disguise…Oh well, all the more protection.”

Flor grabbed the tan sleeve of Miguel’s trench coat, getting his attention. He quickly noticed the Sultan and the Sultan and his wife, Roxelane. Trying to not feel embarrassed by not at first noticing the world leader, he smiled and said, “Ah, many greetings, Sultan Bashir. It’s a pleasure to meet you and your wife.” Turning to his wife, Miguel said, “this is my wife, Flor.”

As soon as he said the word “my”, he felt the dulled tip of the umbrella be pressed down hard on his toe. Trying not to grimace, Miguel said politely, “Both your friend the Premier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs send their thanks for hosting us today.”

The Sultan and his wife rose up and greeted the Ambassador and his wife

“Ah Ambassador its pleasure to finally meet you and your wife at last.” Said the Sultan

“Yes, we hope this will be the start of wonderful friendship for all of us.” Said Roxelane

Then a waiter served the ambassador and his wife two cups of Turkish coffee

“So how is the Premier and Foreign Minister doing recently?” asked the Sultan

Although Miguel had heard that the Sultan and his wives tended to be friendly, it was good to see that quality personally. Feeling more at ease, Miguel replied, “Thank you, so far the transition to living in the ANL to here has been easy. It’s interesting to see the political, economic and cultural similarities in both of our nations, but more importantly, it’s good to personally see and learn about the differences between our civilizations.”

After hearing what Roxelane said, he continued on, “Yes, the fact that our nations have worked very well in the past makes the job of representing Aztlán easier. When I was a junior diplomat a couple of years ago, I remember working in embassies of hostile nations - it was dangerous to even look out the window, much less the security gates. I prefer to talk about economics and policy, not why our nations shouldn’t declare war.”

Hoping that his hosts would find that last remark amusing, he grabbed his cup of Turkish coffee and sipped it – ‘strong’, he thought, but damned good.

Flor took a sip from the coffee as well and said, “I can say that I’ll be back to this coffee house since it’s so close to the embassy and, plus, it’s good – far different than the either the traditional or Western coffees back in the ANL. It’s funny, the Aztec government allowed the coffee and tea industry to be privatized, thinking it wouldn’t be profitable, and now both products are all the rage. Markets even in centrally planned nations can be unpredictable.”

Nodding his head in agreement, Miguel responded to the Sultan’s last question – “Ah, yes the Premier and the Foreign Affairs Minister. Premier Nochtli, his wife and son are doing fine – the Premier’s on a diplomatic mission right now and his wife Angelica, is now the chair of the Sociology department at the University of Tenochitilán, the top university in the nation. His three-year old son, Xihuitl is staring preschool and has become somewhat of a celebrity in the nation.”

Taking another sip of the coffee, he continued on, “Dr. Wellington, although doing fine now, had to take a temporary leave after breaking a leg in a helicopter crash two weeks ago. That’s why the previous envoy to the KLM was replaced - she was promoted to Deputy Minister and took over many of Dr. Wellington’s duties. He reluctantly took his first vacation since becoming the Foreign Affairs Minister, but he’ll be back in February, although she’ll remain as the permanent Deputy Minister and I'll remain the permanent envoy...well, at least until the Ministry grows tired of me.”

Curious to how the KLM was doing, Flor said, “Well, I’m curious how your nation is doing, Sultan. How’s the nation doing with those wars – thank goodness they’re coming to a close. We wish we could’ve helped out, but there were about 80 legislators prevented the authorization.”

“Glad to hear there doing well…” The Sultan took a shot of Turkish coffee, before he answer Flor . “Well the answer to that is relative to the situation isn’t it…. for now the war is going good and we have the RALM terrorist and their puppets on the run…it won’t be long in till they be done and over with….and there’s our cold war with Oceania another situation and matter for another day…”

Roxelane smiled at Flor remarked about Turkish coffee while compare to Western coffee and said

“Turkish Coffee is rather strong and unique …most people take a very few shots of it…do to its strong nature.. And it will keep you up all night…if you have more then six shots daily..” She look over at Sultan and smiled “ But…I prefer to have tea daily and have Turkish coffee very so often…. So Angelica is now the chair of Sociology department…good for her, power to her…as I said. Maybe they can visit…. its been while or we could visit them.”

The Sultan remarked “ Maybe in the near future…”

Miguel took another coffee…it’s only been a few minutes and already the affect of the coffee could be felt. He was utterly exhausted before this meeting began. Rainy weather made it difficult for Miguel to go to sleep. He had spent a good portion of the night before reading reports, papers and other things from the AIA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Quickly, he tuned back in to the conversation at hand…

Flor continued on, “Coffee is good for waking up, but tea has certain elegance to it that I enjoy.” Turing to Miguel, Flor asked “About the Premier and Angelica visiting, I remember you saying something about that.”

Miguel, hoping that the Sultan and his wife didn’t notice his lapse of attention, said, “Ah, yes, I talked with Angelica recently. She was saying that she was trying to schedule a small trip with her husband once a couple of issues in the legislature are cleared up. She distinctly told me that she wanted to spend at least a couple of nights here and catch up with your family, Sultan Bashir.”

A vessel of some sort caught the corner of his eye that he wasn’t familiar with. The ornate device seemed to be connected to some sort of mouth piece. However, there was a political issue at hand to be dealt with. “Concerning the establishments in America, there is some concern amongst the more reactionary officials in Aztlán about potentially influencing our government and our economy. Premier Nochtli has made it completely clear that he will not get the nation involved with the situation up north. However, as you and your government may have noticed, we have some major interests in the South Western portion of North America. To get to the point, Premier Nochtli wants to know if you have any plans for those regions.”

Overcome by curiosity, Miguel looked at the bizarre pipe, pointed to it and asked, “If it’s not classified, what is that pipe-like vessel over there, the one with the hose and mouth piece?”

The Sultan smiled and took a shot of Turkish Coffee and said” Ah, the question of the hour..that bogs our minds….is the KLM going to stay in America….well after we’re done and finish with the RSA and made sure they don’t return to power…we plan to leave the Americas , once our mission is done ..we’ll be gone…your nation has nothing to worry from its old friends..”

Then Sultan listen to Envoy ask about the Hookah and was about show him out to smoke the Hookah, but he realize if he did that..his wife would back hand him faster then he would knew it. So the Sultan just called out his Imperial Black Guard-Captain Imad Issa, who looked just he killed someone to show the envoy out to smoke the hookah.

“Its Cherry favor..” Remarked the Captain in a Berber accent, and show the envoy to how to smoke the Hookah, after that showing him, he went back to his table and return reading his magazine, which was called “2006 best drive bys in the world.”

“Hope you enjoy it…its more favorable then your normal tobacco cigars.” Said the Sultan

Miguel was more intrigued by the hookah than politics at the moment…He was an epicurean at heart…But politics got in the way once again. “Those plans are certainly acceptable in the short run, but, I’m curious, and I’m certain the ANL would be interested in long term plans – after your forces depart from the region, will the puppet nation there be left standing or will it be allowed or forced to dissolve itself?”

Not wanting to sound too pushy, Miguel added, “Of course, if the puppet government is allowed to exist and becomes its own sovereign entity, we’ll be more willing to work with it.”

Finally, with the question asked, he took the pipe and tried this different treat. It was rare that he ever smoked anything, but, this was indeed much easier than the cigars made in the ANL. Looking over to Flor, he asked, “Do you want to have any, this is pretty good.”

Trying to be polite in the presence of important company, Flor declined. However, Miguel could tell his wife’s distaste with this new vice. As he took the mouth piece again, he thought, almost aloud, ‘Maybe I need to do what my “degenerate” brother does when my wife has an umbrella – wear steal toe shoes.’

The Sultan took another shot of Turkish and smiled “ There won’t a puppet government…left in place when we leave…we want no connections to them…they will left to own. I reassure you, the KLM doesn’t want to have any bases in Americas…we have no need for them…besides we only want good relations with the Americas.”

Roxelane watch Miguel took a hit off the Hookah and thought to self..” Agh…Suleiman…you got another bloody poor soul hooked on that bloody hookah….I swear men and hookahs..”

“So how you guys enjoying Istanbul so far?” She asked the Couple.

Flor, trying desperately to get her mind of her husband’s new vice, turned to Roxlane and said, “I’m enjoying Istanbul, while he’s working away non-stop, I’m usually exploring town. I was particularly impressed by the Hagia Sophia…That’s probably some of the most impressive architecture I’ve ever seen…all the history here is amazing.”

Meanwhile, Miguel said, “Yeah, I haven’t gotten out much in these past three weeks. I’m planning on applying for some vacation time in the nearby future.” He laughed lightly and then said, “But, knowing the system at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it may take up to 90 days before the application even gets a review, but, we’ll see.”

Taking another hit off the hookah pipe, Miguel quickly asked, “So tell me, how’s the rest of the family, everything’s going good?”

Roxelane replied “ That’s good to hear there any many places in surronding regions, you can vist each filled with a rich history…and the family..we’re all doing well…perhaps you guys would to come to dinner sometime in the near future.”

The Sultan was just sitting back and nodding along…he was just taking in the moment.

The Khailfah al Muslimeen
Istanbul
Sultan Suleiman Al Bashir II's Palace
Sultan Suleiman Al Bashir II's Office

Ambassador Marguerite Leblanc was an Amestrian woman of Persian descent. Her family had been one of numerous upper middle class who had emigrated to Amestria from the Middle East during one of its many troubled periods and who now returned as the merchants, dignitaries, and civil servants of their adopted home. They tended to be proud yet polite; westerners with a deep knowledge, appreciation, and respect for Eastern culture; Muslims who practiced an unrecognizably liberal form of Islam and spoke Arabic/Persian with a Franco-Germanic accent. The Amestrian State and various Amestrian commercial organizations had taken to employing them, quiet effectively, as intermediaries.

Leblanc was an attractive woman in her early forties with long black hair, dark eyes, and full lips. She and the Sultan were, over tea and in immaculate English, having their regular friendly chat on Amestrian-KLM relations (which were otherwise uneventful). As their conversation drifted from politics to literature, music, and tea. As a present Marguerite had brought Bashir one of her favorite little books of North Amestrian Poetry, “Voix dans le vent,” which the Sultan had expressed an interest in during his last meeting with Leblanc. Now nearing the end of their secession the Ambassador turned to events in New Albion.

“As you are undoubtedly aware the situation in Northern New Albion has continued to degenerate. Violence has become epidemic, the local administration remains incompetent, and the United Kingdom has yet to deliver on any of its promises.”

The Ambassador smiled. "At the very least this presents us with an excellent opportunity to cause Prime Minister Alistair Tetley some well deserved pain prior to a General Election and bring further attention to the illegitimacy of the Oceanian occupation…as well as, how do they say, throw a bone to some of the more chauvinistic and hard-line members of your Parliament and House of Viziers, who I understand remain deeply dissatisfied over the partition. Such idle minds are always busied by foreign quarrels, be they truly serious or trivial.”

Leblanc sipped her tea.

“Oh, I just remembered,” she remarked upon returning her cup to its saucer, “L’Comité de Amestrian-Asiatique Intérêts will be sending a report concerning policy changes and points of discussion that would further trade between our two countries. I trust the proposals within shall be enthusiastically received and discussed by your government…”

L’Comité de Amestrian-Asiatique Intérêts and the collection of Amestrian companies it represented were harmless enough. Their proposal concerned targeted trade liberalizations, the discussion of investment options (L’Comité asking the KLM which such options it recommended the most), and tax breaks aimed at improving trade relations and the furthering a positive climate for investment. Knowledgeable of the KLM’s restrictions on “special interest groups,” the report was written in a neutral academic elegance and inoffensive legalese, amounting to a simple commercial study.

The Sultan listen to what the Ambassador had to say and he replied

“There is a great many within the Imperial Government that wants to put this matter behind us and move on to more pressing concerns..but yes the Hardliners are dragging their feet on the matter…certain “projects” are in motion…but I am not of liberty to discuss these projects at the moment…and as for the L’Comité…the Ministry of Industries and Trade shall review the report…odds are that they are going to be open more relax policies for trade between our nations.”

Once a week, the Sultan had a videoconference with his Ambassador in Oceania; the conference took place in a secure room for Ambassador and the Sultan office for the Sultan. The data uplink was highly encoded and secure for these kinds of high-level meetings.

The Sultan waited for the data uplink to load and just he can start the meeting.. it took a few moments for the date uplink to be secure and ready, then it was ready and the Sultan sitting at his desk, saw his ambassador to Oceania

“Greetings, Ambassador Diamandis, how are you this day?” asked the Sultan

“Greetings, Sultan…I am doing well, you appear to be uneasy is something wrong?” asked Ambassador Elizabeth Diamandis (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/266f2037.jpg), she had come to know the Sultan to relatively clam and rarely appeared to be uneasy unless something major was going on..
The Sultan sigh and said “ Its that appearance isn’t…. you would feel the same ..When you find out that the hardliners have gotten a number of Ministers and Viziers from my party (Unionist-Reformist bloc) to see things their way…and apparently recent budgets reports have shown that we can support four more flag fleet groups and two new Super Capitol ships doesn’t help much either for my case of warming relations with Oceania…all they need to push them over the edge to pass the act to expanding the navy.. Is just one incident with Oceania in any shape or form…and also if Oceania has anti détente government after its elections…the Imperial Senate tells me they won’t delay the AMI and GRU pet projects any longer…just..let us hope a pro détente government wins the elections…I can only do so much…so yes…I am very uneasy about this matter..”

“Yes, a anti détente government would make current relations more stain then there already are…and make our cold war…go even more colder…rumors go that opposition party plans to expand the arm forces, mainly the navy to in their view improve the defenses of their empire…which in return will kick start a arm races between our nation and theirs…and the AMI and GRU pet projects going into effect…the situation will become even more worst for both sides..by all means we need the current détente government to remain in power, in order of us to make a hard run for making a lasting peace between them and us.. From what I am seeing over here…the election can go either way…” said Ambassador Diamandis

“Well that’s refreshing to know isn’t it.. I rather make lasting peace with a détente government then make useless concessions with bunch of bloody war hawks in a anti détente government…this war with RALM and their puppet states has taken some of the attention off this matter for us for some time…but everyone will refocus on this matter in time or if any major incident were to arise between us and them…the faster everyone wants to combat them in one way or another…which is something I rather not do…” said the Sultan

“Yes…arm races do little good for these kinds of situations…they make tensions even worse….we need more détente and less tensions..but that’s wishful thinking…” replied the Ambassador

“Indeed …well Ambassador our time is up, in till next week.” Said the Sultan and Ambassador nodded with that the to conference was over

In the streets of Istanbul, the Sultan conducted his weekly walks thought the streets of the Istanbul to discuss and see how his people are doing. The Sultan (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/bb0afdf2.jpg) when out on these outings, dress in civilian and low key clothing, he rather not wear his black suits while walking though the streets of Istanbul. He was never without his Imperial Black Guards who were in civilian cloths and always by his side was Imperial Black Guard-Captain Imad Issa, who was on the look out for any threats against the Sultan. The Sultan always stop by the local coffee shops and market places to see how his people were fairing and to hear their problems and opinions on many matter. What he heard that day was most unnerving, a great many of them supported the hardliners bids to expand the High Seas Fleet in order to combat the threat of Oceania, which will led to arms race with Oceania. What was most unnerving to the Sultan was the fact that most of the people who were supporting the bill in Parliament to expand the navy, were moderates and etc…the Sultan knew it was only matter of time before the cold war with Oceania, got bit more cold in matter, the Sultan found himself agreeing with the hardliners on the matter, it was time to show harder stance against the Oceanians.

Whatever the outcome of the vote in Parliament and the House of Viziers, the Sultan will stand by his believes and his government enacts more hawkish or détente policies, but he will stand by them. At the market places and coffee shops, the Sultan engage in debate with the people and listen to their opinions in order get a better understanding with his people. He would travel over the entire city (and the entire day) to meet and discuss with his Muslim and Non-Muslim subjects alike and the people treated him with respect and as normal person. Unlike in other nations, the head of state in KLM was able to travel freely without much media attention. The Mutual consensuses of these meetings were the Imperium must stand up and show Oceania who was the lord of the Indian Ocean and to defend our kinsmen in the Pacific Ocean. By night the Sultan and his guards stop by the Sultan favorite local Chinese restaurant and had dinner with his six guards before heading back the Palace, as he drink his green tea, he couldn’t but help to feel the change in the winds in terms of the future and were not to his liking and phase “War is King” pop up in his mind as he reflected the days meetings.

The following has been post on a Imperial Government website

Act of Defense (2007)
Intro :We the Imperial Government of Khailfah al Muslimeen believe in the best interest of the Imperium and in light of recent events. That we must increase funding to the arm forces by ten-fold in order to improve their ability to defend the interest of the Imperium around the world.

1. The Navy shall be granted most of the increase funding for the construction of four new heavy battle fleet groups and to build and purchase 8 new super dreadnaughts for the Imperial High Seas Fleet.
2. The Army shall be granting enough funds to build a series of new fortifications for Imperiums Far East holdings.
3. The Air Force shall be granting enough funds for Research and Development of new anti-ship missiles and other classified systems.

Passed by the Parliament and House of Viziers
Approved by the Imperial Senate
Sign into effect by Sultan Suleiman al Bashir II

The Roma Restaurant (Italian Cuisine), Greek Quarter, Istanbul, Turkey, Khailfah al Muslimeen

Every once so often, the Sultan and Sophia, Roxelane, and Haziqah(his wives) had a chance to go out together for dinner without being held down by their families or business related matters. For these rare times where they had some free time, they decide to go out and eat at one of the many local ethnic restaurants in Istanbul, particularly the ones in the Greek Quarter. For this time, they decide to go to a local well-known Italian restaurant, which was known for its famous classic Italian cuisine. There was little fan fare or media attention when the Sultan, his wives and his two guards came to Restaurant, it was mainly because the culture of the region was to treat everyone like a normal person and nothing more then that, even the Sultan was looked upon as common man just with special duty to the state, which was to run it.
The Restaurant staff understood that Sultan and his wives wanted to be seated in a remote area of the restaurant, the owner of the restaurant knew the Sultan and his wives, they were regulars to his restaurant and just he always had a table reserve for them, whenever they called in advance. When they enter the restaurant no one took notice and continue on their business of eating their meals. They were quickly settled and the waiter took their orders and soon the food will serve. The Sultans two guards took their seats in a table, which was right next to them. They only ordered some coffee and some sweets, their job was not to eat but to guard and keep watch over the Sultan and his wives.

The Xirniumite Embassy to the Khailfah al Muslimeen

Valérian Athrêdiel awoke today at his usual hour (that is to say, around nine o’clock) and, for a time, had quite completely forgotten all of his troubles and concerns. The morning’s sun seemed full of promise and cheerful optimism, as it had always seemed to him. Of course, Valérian would not quite have gone so far as to claim that the world was one’s oyster, as Shakespeare had once famously claimed; nonetheless, he thought, what couldn’t one accomplish, if one only put one’s mind to it?

As it happened, two matters served to quickly check Valérian’s good mood. The first was the disturbing realisation that he had awakened, not in his wife’s bedchamber, but on his study’s heavily stuffed and buttoned chesterfield sofa. The second was the grim recognition that this was, in fact, the fourth consecutive day in which this had occurred.

Gradually the ambassador (for so Valérian was) remembered all that had previously taken place. His wife had discovered on Monday that Valérian had been having an affair with their children’s pretty governess (how he had fallen for those large brown eyes and sensuous red lips!), and now entirely refused to see him, or even to leave her own apartments. In his mind’s eye, Valérian recalled with crystal clarity every painful detail of the terrible quarrel. Most upsetting of all had been the profound hurt in his Adriènne’s eyes, the betrayal that she had so obviously felt upon finding out about his unfaithfulness. Now he was left only with remorseful grief, and the acute guilt at having upset his gentle wife. Frowning in despair, Valérian reflected on the hopelessness of his position.

No, she will never forgive me, for that she’s much too proud, thought Valérian gloomily.

His wife’s mingled expression of horror and jealous fury, her violent, tirelessly unending torrent of cruel words, all seemed to indicate quite strongly against a reconciliation, in Valérian’s assessment. Indeed, he recalled that he had only just narrowly ducked out of the way of a particularly well-aimed glass vessel! With vehement wrath, Adriènne had promised to take her two children and return forever to Xirnium, and Valérian knew that such was no mere idle threat. Valérian’s loneliness was unbearable, and he strongly missed his family. Although his youngest was much too small to understand what had happened, Bénédicte was nearly seventeen and an extremely clever girl. Now she hated Valérian too, for having hurt her tender mother.

The first person to see Valérian this morning was the ambassador’s principal private secretary, Célestine Haldàthiel. Standing in the study’s doorway, with slender arms folded disapprovingly over her chest, the Xirniumite lady narrowed her lovely sapphire eyes as she regarded her superior coldly. To her disgust, the ambassador was still dressed in his robe, a grey dressing gown with azure-coloured silk lining and dark tasselled cords, and wore soft slippers trimmed with gold morocco. Hardly attire fit for work.

‘I suggest that you get dressed, Valérian, you’ve rather a busy schedule ahead of yourself today,’ lied the secretary as, with an elegant movement, she swept open the window’s rich velveteen drapes, allowing the morning’s warm sunlight to spill into the study and over the room’s gilded wainscot panelling. She wore an expertly tailored, expensive grey business suit, its close fitting and flattering skirt cut to just above the knee.

Célestine felt no sympathy at all for the despondent gentleman before her, although she rather pitied Adriènne, a lady whom she had always felt quite fond of and whom she considered a close friend. Of course, the secretary had absolutely no objections to extramarital relationships per se; in fact, she personally did not care much for monogamy. Although herself married, Célestine often had flings with other men. Célestine did, however, find the deceitfulness with which her superior had concealed his dalliance from poor Adriènne rather distasteful. In any case, it was difficult not to take the side of so charming a lady as Adriènne, who always brightened the room with her smile and had only ever expressed the most touching kindness for Célestine. That Adriènne and the governess had been close friends for several years must surely have made this whole ordeal all the more intolerable to her, and one felt one’s heart break at the thought of so wonderful a lady so deeply miserable.

Still, Célestine thought, their marital difficulties were certainly no business of hers, and the principal private secretary left Valérian to be alone in his study.

Contrary to his expectations, Valérian’s spirits did rise slightly as the day went on. Adriènne, of course, still flatly refused to see him, and had shrieked shrilly at Valérian when he had tried to knock timidly at her door. Nonetheless, the ambassador found that preoccupying himself with diplomatic work helped somewhat to keep his misery at bay. It also served to make the morning pass rather quickly, and before long it was lunchtime.

‘I make it a quarter past twelve,’ announced Célestine as she entered the ambassador’s office, a small leather folder in her well manicured hand. With a casual air she placed it on the elaborately inlaid desk, not bothering to describe its contents.

‘Oh?’ asked the ambassador, removing his reading glasses and cleaning them with a cambric handkerchief.

‘That’s right,’ replied Célestine, her stern face softening slightly. The hint of a deliberately friendly smile played upon her dark, lipstick-coated lips. ‘You know, Valérian, it’s been some time since you’ve taken me out. I think that we should have lunch.’

‘You do?’ asked the ambassador, frowning as he signed the end of a letter with a disinterested flourish.

‘It could be your good deed for the day,’ remarked Célestine, a callous tinge of hardness in her voice. Archly touching an errant curl of sable hair, in an effort to moderate her critical tone, the lady added, ‘oh come on, Valérian, it would do both of us tremendous good to have a nice chat.’

Valérian idly adjusted the pearl cuff links of his silk shirt and cast an eye about the room, searching for his overcoat. Truth be told, he had not the courage to defy his secretary. ‘I would love to, Célestine,’ replied the ambassador finally, ‘what’s more, I know just the place,’ he added with a wry smile.

In the event, the restaurant that the two Xirniumites went to was a modest and rather unassuming little establishment in Istanbul’s Greek quarter. By the lavishly decadent standards of the Eternal Republic, Célestine thought, the Roma was nothing particularly remarkable.

‘This is your idea of treating me to lunch?’ whispered Célestine doubtfully, frowning slightly at the place as the ambassador courteously held the door open for her. In Xirnium at least, the secretary was accustomed to slightly more conspicuous splendour.

‘I really don’t know what you mean,’ replied Valérian in his soft voice, after the two had been shown to a vacant table. Helping Célestine politely to her seat, the Xirniumite gentleman walked over to his own chair and began pouring over the wine menu. ‘The food at the Roma is splendid, the sultan himself regularly eats here. We dined here only last month, in fact.’

This comment brought fresh pangs of guilt to Valérian, as he remembered with longing how Adriènne had been here with him on that occasion. How happy she had seemed back then!

‘Oh, and you are a friend of the sultan, sir?’ interjected a waiter who had been hovering nearby. From their lovely accents, strangely unplaceable but definitely, he thought, continental European, in addition to their stylish (if, perhaps, overly formal) attire and fair complexions, the attendant correctly deduced that these two were most certainly not from the Khailfah al Muslimeen.

‘We are slight acquaintances, you might say,’ replied Valérian vaguely, before asking for two large carafes of red wine and a sweet style vermouth apéritif just for Célestine.

Still scanning the extensive list of antipasti, Célestine ordered a meal whose main dish, fonduta, was a hot, melted Fontina cheese casserole with bread bits and white truffles, a specialty of Piedmont. Valérian, for his part, ordered bistecca alla Fiorentina.

‘Forgive my inquisitiveness, sir, I ask only because it happens that the sultan is here now,’ indicated the waiter as the first appetisers began to arrive. Célestine began by trying a stuffed mushroom. ‘Would you like me to convey a message to him?’

Valérian frowned at the man, impatient to be left alone so that he might continue to converse privately with Célestine. For all the frosty harshness she occasionally exhibited, the ambassador admitted to himself that Célestine was nonetheless one of his dearest friends. ‘Please give the sultan my kindest regards; from the Xirniumite ambassador,’ he clarified.

‘Very well, sir.’

The Sultan and company were just starting to enjoy their meal, when the waiter came them and told the Sultan in Arabic “ That Xirnumite Ambassador, gives his regards.”

The Sultan looked up and smiled bitterly and remark to his wives in Persian.
“Oi…everywhere we go together…we always have a habit running foreign envoys or something along those lines…it must just my plain luck isn’t?”

“Well you are the Sultan, comes with the job.” Replied Sophia in Persian, who took a sip of her water and Roxelane and Haziqah

The Sultan Sighed and replied in Persian “ Indeed…comes with the blasted job” and then he looked at the Waiter and said in Arabic “ Tell the Ambassador, after he has finish his meal, he is welcome to join us for tea and sweets.”

The Waiter nodded and left to give the message to the Ambassador, with that the Sultan and his wives return to eating their meals and discussing along themselves.

The Sultan, his wives, and the Xirniumite Ambassador were not the only VIPs currently enjoying the Roma Restaurant. Ambassador Marguerite Leblanc and Rustam Khwaja, the Chief Executive Officer of FIRUZ, a major KLM information technology company, where seated in a corner of their own. Dressed in black three piece suits, conversing in Persian (albeit Leblanc with a Franco-Germanic accent), they both appeared typical members of the KLM ruling class. However, unlike Bashir and Athrêdiel, they were at the Roma to discuss business.

Wi-Fi was currently the hottest area of the KLM information technology market and vast sums of money were being poured into R&D as numerous domestic companies sought to provide newer and better services and products first. Among those KLM companies was FIRUZ. They were joined by a number of foreign IMT companies with the equipment, know how, and personnel to assist them. Among those foreign companies was Grösseres Amestrian Technique Forschung.

Grösseres Amestrian Technique Forschung (Greater Amestrian Technical Research) was an impressive Amestrian information technology company with questionable ties to the Amestrian State. Although not one share of stock was nationally owned, it received all kinds of government assistance, be it subsidies, State contracts, and cozy partnerships with State researchers. Economic nationalists considered it an important champion national and those of mercantilist persuasion in the Foreign and Commerce Ministries tended to assist it in foreign deals far from domestic prying eyes. The GATF was not a member of L’Comité de Amestrian-Asiatique Intérêts, but it was loosely associated with the lobbying organization and often used L’Comité de Amestrian-Asiatique Intérêts as a conduit to get what it wanted in the Middle East, and what it presently wanted was an exclusive contract with FIRUZ. Through L’Comité de Amestrian-Asiatique Intérêts it had discreetly lobbied FIRUZ and gotten Ambassador Leblanc as an advocate. Her lunch with Mr. Khwaja had been planned as the finishing touch to what many hoped would be a mutually lucrative deal.

The lunch had gone splendidly. The middle aged Khwaja had found Leblanc absolutely delightful, a charming combination of the exotic and the familiar. She had not only convinced him that giving Grösseres Amestrian Technique Forschung the Research and Development contract was the right decision, but provided such interesting company that Khwaja invited her to attend a formal dinner with a number of his friends. Marguerite coyly promised to check her calendar.

As they were being served their gelati deserts (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Ice_Cream_dessert_02.jpg), the waiter leaned forward and whispered to them that their “sweets” were on the Sultan. Leblanc was rather surprised and flattered by the unexpected attention. Fully aware that Bashir and his wives dined at the Roma as an escape, she had not had him informed of her presence, yet he had noticed her and was now providing a complimentary desert.

Well this is awfully nice, Marguerite thought pleasantly to herself. She removed the ice cream covered waffle biscuit and bit into it. I really must remember to bring a little treat for him at our next meeting.

She quickly made a note in her planner and underlined little treat twice.

As the Ambassador left the restaurant she caught sight of the rather unimpressive Valérian Athrêdiel, Xirnium’s Ambassador to the Khailfah al Muslimeen, and a young Xirniumite woman who was not his wife. Neither of them seemed to be enjoying themselves, and they appeared somewhat uncomfortable with their surroundings, alienated even.

Leblanc dismissed them both from her mind as she strode out the door.

Meanwhile at Chinatown quarter of Istanbul

At Muslim Chinese Restaurants, the Peking Palace in one of the private dining rooms. The Grand Vizier, Prime Minister and High Chancellor were on highly classified meeting with the leader of the free radicals, their goal was to save face and prevent what they saw for coming. Just they decide to have the meeting over a friendly meal of Chinese food.

They all speaking in Levantine Arabic

“ Hilmi al Malik bin Houssam, Minster from Jerusalem, Bilad al Sham, what will it take to prevent your faction members from leaving the current party system and creating their own?” asked the Prime Minister

The middle age Minister replied

“Things are already in motion…there is little that can be done now..its best to accept it now and deal with us now or face the vote..”

That remarked disturbed the Prime Minster greatly, there was little he could do to prevent the vote if they were to get enough seats in the government.

“Surely there is no need to use threats here, oh Hilmi we are kinsmen after all. Besides I believe we can work a reason agreement that will be acceptable to both parties…without the current coalition government breaking up at all cost..” said the Grand Vizier

“ With all do respect, Grand Vizier..I don’t believe that will work out…yet I believe we can create a reasonable power sharing agreement AFTER we break off from our current parties.” Said the Minister

“Well, there is no point continuing on this matter, since it won’t produce any results…now Minister, can you give us a number of how many ministers and viziers that may join your new bloc in the government?” asked the High Chancellor

Hilmi smiled and said “ The Numbers the following 350 ministers for Parliament and 100 viziers for House of Viziers.. Sizeable power base wouldn’t you say and also number of ministers in the Sultan Cabinet will be resigning when this happens, such as the Defense Minister, Internal Affairs Minister, and the Grand Vizier of the Dominions. I believe you all already aware about the Cabinet ministers item, but not the exact number of ministers and viziers correct?”

“Yes, we are aware of Cabinets Minster resignation matter and have already picked their successors and has for the numbers…they are quiet unnerving for us… a mighty number of Ministers, just giving your faction and new party a strong majority within the Parliament and a sizeable voice within the House of Viziers…after this break off happens…we will have to come to reasonable agreement, its for the best of the Imperium to show that her government is able to maintain unity and then to show a government filled with infighting between the power blocs.” Said the Prime Minister

“Indeed, that is why I agreed to come to this meeting in order to create a understanding and avoid unwanted chaos within the Imperial Government.” Said the Minister

“So what is the name of this new party, oh Hilmi?” asked the High Chancellor

The Minister smiled and said

“Glad you asked, it’s going to be called Hizbu-Rāshidūn (Party of the Righteous).”

“Ah, good name, fitting for your movement..” remarked the Grand Vizier

“Indeed, now gentlemen I must take my leave and go home to my family, thank you for the wonderful meal and Salaam.” Said the Minister, who got up and others said their Salaams to him, before he left the room.

After the Minister was gone, the Prime Minister remarked

“Well…our grand government is fucked..in my humble opinion.” Remarked the Prime Minister

“That’s understatement, of the fact.” remarked the High Chancellor

“Well, shall we contact the Sultan….I know he out eating with his wives…he has to know one way or another…”said the Grand Vizier

“I’ll do it…I’ll just text message him now..” said the Prime Minister, who pull out his cell phone and started to press away and remarked

“Bloody hell. I have no idea how my nieces can do this so bloody fast…. what’s the best message in shorthand to explain what just happen in our meeting to the Sultan?” asked the Prime Minster

“How about…we’re been pwn… meh I pick it up from my son..” remarked the Grand Vizier

“That’s ingenious and I shall do it.” Just the PM text the Sultan a message saying

“ The meeting was a failure, we been pwn.”

The Sultan while eating his meal, read the message at Roma Restaurant and remarked in Ottoman Turkish “ To his wives, oi Uthman did finds humor in such depressing situations…what a noob..”

“Noob?” asked Roxelane perplexed

“Gak…nevermind.” Replied the Sultan

Back at the Peking Palace

The High Chancellor, the Grand Vizier and Prime Minister get up and pay the bill. Head out of the restaurant and went their separate ways and they had long night that lay before them..night of making phone calls to a number of ministers and viziers to brace for the worse…