NationStates Jolt Archive

Fort-Czapp

An Allanean Primary Strategic Fort is an immense construct indeed – an immense artificial mountain poured out of tons and tons of concrete, bristling with weapons turrets and filled with military hardware, built to withstand tactical nuclear attacks and bunker buster strikes. These forts are, bar none, the safest locations in Allanea itself. Of these forts, Fort-Zapp is surely the safest.

Located on the Northernmost point in mainland Allanea, the Fort is at least two and a half thousand kilometers away from any possible attacker approaching from outside Greater Prussia. Even a Khan missile, launched from Guido or New Daltona, would fall short and not strike the walls of Fort-Zapp – not that it could actually hurt the installation.

In the days after the end of the Reich War, the allies and friends of Allanea receive invitations. There are no flashy invitations, there’s no insults of the Reich leadership. Instead, there are bland phrases debating ‘the precarious nature of modern times’, but regardless, everybody knows what people are talking about.

The problem remains the same. The question is only ‘what have we learned from the conflict and what to do about it’.

And so, people are being invited to the conference – which, amazingly, will still take place.

This time, helicopters take the invites to Fort-Czapp, were they are assembled in a conference room deep under the cover of concrete, granite, and Earth. Had Amadeus Shelford strapped himself to a nuclear weapon and blown himself up on the surface, down here they would not have even heard the blast.

Actually, Amadeus Shelford, strapped to a nuclear weapon is absolutely great. Someone should get on it.

And so, deep underground, a man clad in black and wearing multiple war medals smiles to the invitees and says:

‘Hello. So, what’s your conclusion from the recent scuffle and what do we do about it?’

OOC Note: Do not bother to RP your arrival, that just delays the whole thing. If you were invited, just assume your representative is/are in the room.

Knootians arrive

Aram Koopman narrowed his eyes as he spied about the bunker. The display of military prowess was impressive... ...and it is less likely that I'll be nuked to bits like the previous batch of diplomats sent to this fucking hell-hole, he grimly considered.

For a diplomat he was an odd sort, as one who actively disliked diplomacy. But then this was probably why that fat toad in the Prime Ministers tower had sent him in the first place. Whatever. Allaneans might be a bunch of disgustingly over-armed furries, they could be useful in their own, inadequate ways. They shared Knootian values. Sort of. Kinda. And, more importantly, they had a grudge with the Reich.

One other thing pissed him off however: his nondescript diplomatic suitcase carried no documents, but rather held a big red old style alarm clock, that ticked and had a card attached to it that said "bomb". At no point had he been stopped. Gah. Either Allaneans were allergic to weapon sweeps or they were just plain retarded. Quite possibly both. He just hoped nobody else would have had a similar idea....

As the random Allanean (introductions too much to ask for apparently) spoke he cleared his throat, speaking grumpily but plainly.

“My government thinks you got a bloody nose and failed to accomplish what could have been a great goal, overthrowing the Reich. Having all those nukes flying around made us more than a little hesitant to jump in on your behalf....”

“...by the way condolences for all the dead.” he added as an afterthought. “I'm sure we can send you a commemorative fruit basket and something for the bleeding if you really need it.”

The Allanean smiled sadly. “You know… given there are no cameras, I’m going to agree with you. Why, I do think that while we technically achieved our interim strategic goal – the survival of Allanea in nuclear war – while inflicting enormous casualties on the other guy – and thus technically establishing a basis for us to say in public we won the war… the obvious fact is, we didn’t quite win, didn’t we?”

“If we had fully won, there would be no Reich. We’d not be having this conference, but a part in Vegana-City. The real question is, what we can do so Allanea succeeds better next time – or, rather more correctly, how to ensure whoever is fighting the Reich succeeds better.”

“It’s not about Allanea winning, it’s about the Reich losing.”

"Well, if you're up for round two I'd be the first one to cheer you on" Koopman smirked, regarding the Allanean with a bit more appreciation now. He even offered a small nod in recognition of the words.

"I'd like to see the Reich overthrown as much as the other guy, but I don't think millions of Knootians dying for the purpose will be a real vote-winner. Getting the Royalists in power in Iesus for example would however."

He shrugged. Whatever, really.

"If you do the cooking, we can do the dishes. I'm sure that Knootians would be more than happy to be part of any occupying force, assuming a successful invasion of the Reich is ever mounted. Oh, and moral support. Lots and lots of moral support. Still, you can plain forget about us getting involved in any of your nuclear games, Allanean."

"Don't blame us, blame Shelford. And blame the Leafanis and Franberrians and whoever else for most of the firepower unleashed in that one. Frankly, we don't want the Reichies dead... we want them free. That we would kill their entire leadership, military infrastructure, and so forth to set them free... is a different matter."

He paused. "Would you like a drink, Ambassador?"

General Karaka Rakhamov was blessed early on with a photographic memory, and he began scanning the installation as he arrived and went through it. I may look into upgrading the Dersconi system. He chuckled at the thought. As if it needs upgrading. Foreign Minister Zheleztsolupp Kabanov was travelling behind him. Along with them were two Honour Guards -- seven foot tall majestic alien creatures with shiny gold, red and black armour with staves as tall as the creatures, with twisted blades the size of a man's torso that can cut through reinforced concrete. An imposing sight, but entirely impractical, due to their location, both being in an allied nation, and being in one of if not the most secure installations in Allanea.

They entered the room, the guards staying off to the side as the two Dersconi officials approach the conference table. General Karaka moved his ceremonial sword onto his lap when he sat, as to not scratch the scabbard (and to avoid being probed). The Foreign Minister sat next to him.

Minister Kabanov also did not particularly enjoy diplomacy -- he used to be an SS general that commanded the labour camps in the northern reaches. However, his consistant talkings with the local tribes and his friendship with Field Marshal Darii Razladanov -- who in turn was friends with Tsar Xavier -- got him the position he was in today.

After the Minister made his comment, General Rakhamov grunted. "This war was handled poorly on our side. Too much muddling around -- and I don't know what the hell was going on with the NMCC in Derscon, that we did nothing -- and the Reich, as you are aware, still exists.

"While we took a lot from them casualty-wise, we didn't actually gain anything, therefore we didn't win. However, they didn't win either. Stalemate at worst, phyrric victory at best, as we took heavy casualties as well.

"However, there is one plus -- we just showed the world that the Reich can be hit, and we showed them how. The less fanatical in the Reich governments may see this, but the Catholic Fascists will be too busy patting themselves on the back for driving us away to notice.

"Anyways, that's my assessment."

"Pink Bunny Cola" Koopman simply demanded, drumming his fingers nervously on the table until it would arrive.

"And yeah yeah... freedom and all that. It is the same for us, as you know. As bloodless as possible. Especially when it comes to Knootian blood. And you gotta understand that random religious folk dying to gain that Freedom is far less shocking for our KNN-viewers at home. Getting involved in a post-war mopping up quagmire however seems to be just the thing for this government of ours to do."

His lips formed a cruel smile as he playfully stared the Allanean down.

"And you misunderstand. We're not blaming you for this nuclear disaster, we're just not joining you in being a post-nuclear wasteland every time Galadriël has her period."

He just ignored General Karaka Rakhamovs irrelevant assessment. If the Reich had been some sort of divine beings it might have been a plus to show that they could be hit. But, again, whatever.

"As for us, we'd like to be part of the cooking, if possible."

A lone figure stepped from the shadows of the meeting room. Hitched to his back was a massive sword, the sheath constructed of titanium with gold and silver inlaying, with the seal of the Allied Union on the hilt. This blade, more fit for a giant than the 6'2" man, glistened as he walked to the table. Notable was his jet black spiked hair, and a pair of black sunglasses, wrapped in a red cloak, the back of which emblazoned with a lightning slash and armored helmet, symbol of the Stürmrüstung Corps. His deep, slightly raspy voice captivated the occupants of the room, leaning forward against the table, allowing his sunglasses to slide down his nose a bit, revealing his penetrating red eyes.

"General Mikhail Zarkovsky, Allied Union Defense Force Stürmrüstung Corps."

A small jeweled flask poured a brown aromatic cognac into a crystal glass, while the hand covered in rings swirled it around, bringing it to the mouth and letting a small bit fall into the throat. The Parthian defense minister, Lord-Marshall Rostam Bahari lit one of his favorite Cohiba cigarettes, inhaling the smoke deeply into the lungs, before letting go a puff of powdery vapor. He paused, then spoke, "I'd generally say that aside from causing massive destruction to the Neo-Crusading lot, we seem to have accomplished relativley little, though I could conceivably call it a victory, albeit a costly one."

OOC: Out of twon til tommorrow.

OOC: I can see why I wasn't invited.

Rear Admiral Matthew Simpson had been detailed by Fleet Command to attend this conference. Why him in particular was somewhat of an open mystery (it was generally thought to involve a list of available flag officers and a dartboard) but it actually made a good deal of sense. Admiral Simpson was one of the very few Rosdivani who did not have a deep-rooted horror of the strategic use of nuclear weapons, such as had been prevalent with the Allanean-Reich War. He was even known to propound a theory of warfare based on the idea of conducting nothing but such strategic attacks. How he had made flag rank with such views was another great Navy secret, and not one that anyone had been able to figure out.

"If you'd like my view, what we've learned is that we cannot openly confront the Reich, at least not militarily. Rather hard to free the oppressed and all that jazz if both times are turned into radioactive ash in the process. Anythinig that we do will have to be done through covert means, or military actions that they can't pin on us with a degree of certainty large enough to start tossing nukes about for."

OOC: As a matter of fact, all allies of Allanea are invited.

IC:

The Allanean shrugged. “Frankly, I agree with the General here. Clearly, we've proven that the Reich Strategic Defense Initiative is not impervious, and it can be defeated through sheer blunt force trauma to the face – or in other words, by assaulting the sattelites with nuclear weaponry. Additionally, we are currently considering several systems that will allow us to kill these sattelites better, cheaper, and easier. But this is not the point.”

He paused, and turned to one of the soldiers.

“Anatoly, please bring us a few bottles of Pink Bunny Cola. Glass bottles, will you? And some glasses, and ice to put in them – that's how I like mine, and I'm sure the honorable Knootian representative will like his just that way, isn't that right?”

“Here is the point: The offensive failed due to lack of international legitimacy.”

He paused. “Yes, I personally feel that the Reichites are the bad guys. I am assuming – since you're present – that you do, too. However, the world does not run on morality. The events – the fact it was Allanea that getting attacked, the fact that we have been seen as having provoked the attack by the Presidents'... not very responsible rhetoric... these things have reduced Allanea's ability to act diplomatically against the Reich, and particularly, against Iesus Christi's government.”

“Which is precisely why we invited the Knootian ambassador here – Knootians are the masters of international intrigue, and it's quite likely their advice will prove very useful in this endeavor.”

Koopman raised both his brows in surprise at this obvious flattery.

"There is no need to flatter me, Allanean" he said simply. "we are hardly the masters of international intrigue you make us out to be, but I am always willing to provide some advice if you trust us more than your own people.

He shrugged.

"Whatever scheme you are planning on, it shouldn't be seen to involve Allaneans at all. The international 'community' or 'Nathi and Siri's knitting society and the dancing United Nation care bears' as I prefer to call it dislike Allaneans and they will side against you whatever happens. Doesn't really matter what your cause is, as you've experienced."

He shrugged.

"That leaves deception, war by proxy, or using actors within the Reich itself. Why else do you think that we've been cuddling the Iesus royal family back home?"

"I agree with Herr Koopman." Marechal Alexandre Brune chimed in.

Joseph-Napoleon's representative to the conference was the Supreme Commander of all Imperial Military Assets and the Former Commander of the GPE Military in the Reich War. He also had served as a field commander under Napoleon IV and a co-head of state with Rev. Dr. Peter Graves during the period known as the New Genevan Protectorate which pulled Reichskamphen out of the anarchy that resulted when nuclear blasts destroyed its capitol and most of its noble families were killed.

"Whatever we do, we cannot make it seem like Allanea is running the show. Indeed it is preferrable if it is not. I believe people would be willing to join and support Greater Prussia in an effort against the Reich as long as Allanea did its best at laying low...but I also think that someone who is a member of Siri's knitting circle should be a part of this attack."

"Further, I think the idea of restoring the Royalists in Iesus is a marvelous idea...but implausible. We should strike at a weaker target. Remove Amadeus Shelford, or the Reich controllers in St. Dominic."

The Allanean shrugged.

"Amadeus Shelford... strange things are happening in their nation. I believe him being dead already. As for St. Dominic... currently we are negotiating a certain cooperation with their government."

"But let us all do what we are best at. Mr. Koopman, I agree wholeheartedly. Allanea should not be seen as running the show, as, admittely, we're not quite good at it. But perhaps, on the other hand, the Allanean government may somehow help your plans for the Iesus royal family? With money or resources, perhaps?"

"Marechal Brune, I agree with you as well. While we... are not the most-popular members of the... 'international community', it's perhaps is necessary that someone among those people - perhaps even Greater Menelmacar itself - is somehow persuaded to help. Already now Allanea received massive aid from the C'tan to rebuild our nation after the war. But perhaps the Knootians will be better at securing help for this?"

"I think the main problem we suffer is that once people make up their minds, they tend not to change them. Greater Prussia made up its mind about Allanea long before they acted to remove it from occupation by Sentient Peoples and LONG before any of this mess happened. It is unlikely that we are going to change it. There are members of the Empire who have left due to their dislike of Allanea, but their idiocy has not shaken the opinion of the Imperial Crown that Allanea is a valuable ally and member of the Empire.

The same sadly is true of those who truely dislike Allanea, and not merebly because it is fashionable in the same way it is fashionable to dislike the Empire. Those who have their minds hard set against you will be unlikely to budge."

Brune took a sip of his Cola. 'A bit odd, but good.' he thought to himself.

"Obviously, if there is even a remote chance of reinstalling the Royal family in Iesus...we will be more than willing to assist. His Majesty is always willing to support a fellow Monarch."

A worried looking man arrived rather late to the meeting. He stumbled in on "support a fellow Monarch" and raised a rather small ruckus as men carried in equipment.

A well dressed, gray suited man placed a suitcase on the table, opened it and revealed it was chilled and contained several bottles of well aged scotch.

Yet more gray suits moved in, opening various cases and distributing dossiers. The man apologized and introduced himself as "John, just call me John." His uniform revealed that of a Vice Admiral in the Leafanistani Navy but was a bit dusty.

"I apologize for the mess, it appears as though our scientists have recovered more important debris and this is important strategically that we study these as much as possible."

He sat down as a gray suit poured him a finger of scotch, he seemed more calm after that.

"It is true that many of us here have garnered perhaps even earned a bad reputation in the international community. Forgive my ignorance and lateness but what of the Glorious Republic, what do my fellow diplomats think of the Glorious Republic?"

"Oh, surely we support the Glorious Republic. Again we thank you for your aid against the Reich invaders. So, here's my suggestion for a first diplomatic strike against the Iesus regime:

Visualise a movement – spearheaded by our Knootian friends – to get as many states as possible to withdraw diplomatic recognition from the Iesus government. Let's do it in all our nations, and lean on Knootoss' friends in Pantrocratoria and on anybody else we can lean on to get them to do the same. The very controversy this will engender will gain support for our issue."

"Also, on a general term…. what about an open and public Anti-Reich coalition or alliance? Of course, Allanea will not lead this alliance, for obvious reasons. Someone more… respectable is to be found."

"I doubt that would work", Koopman replied stoically. "Our diplomatic credibility with anyone is 'zero' right now. Sure, we can publish a nice letter, but we're hardly the ones to be seen leading some sort of crusade right now."

He took a sip from his cola.

"We've done too much of that in the past already."