NationStates Jolt Archive

Rebuilding the Socialist Federal Republic was in itself no easy task after the loss of tens of millions of dollars worth of domestic military equipment and several highly trained personnel, not to mention the bulk of the Black Sea Fleet, nor the damage laid upon its facilities.

Some felt more keenly the loss of historic ties. The Slavs of the Russias had truly turned their back on the Pan-Slavic movement and sought now to strike down their brothers. In most of Yugoslavia this sadness was held in common and caused nothing but a strengthening of South Slavic identity. In Bulgaria, last to acceed to the Federation and first to suffer in the conflict with the Tsar, the mood was perhaps less stoic.

These weren't Belgrade's only problems. The economy was doing quite well once consideration was taken of Yugoslavia's isolation, but certain barriers were badly limiting. The alienation from feudal Europe was now impossible to rectify, but the SFRY was hurting worse from Washington's continued frostiness.

In light of League aggression and the Austrian situation, not to mention Germany's ever increasing closeness to hostile Quinntonia and the resurge of British Empire, Yugoslavia was being forced further and further into the communist bloc, the west apparently intent on ignoring Aidarov's non-alignment ideal and considering his state part of some international red menace. A self-fulfilling prophecy, it appears, as Belgrade discusses acquisition of INU-built warships to replace its Black Sea losses and the President receives frequent and appealing requests for the deployment of his considerable army forces to North Africa as part of a multi-national drive against the imperialists.

Why should he resist, when nobody else in the world will accept his administration, or his economic model?

Still, one last try, before selling the local movement to the global forces of world revolution?

Washington D.C.

It could have been a Boeing or such, but the United States' hostile attitude forced Belgrade to look elsewhere, this time to a Chinese manufacturer of small commercial jets. This one carried Yugoslavia's red star across the ocean, the star and Miss Javoric.

She was tired, and so too the crew. They'd flown via western Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Britain before reaching the US, but, as she stepped from the plane, Bojana Javoric, daughter of the formidable Army-General Bojan Javoric, who doted upon her, remained the picture of Slavic beauty. Only in her twenties she was a different diplomat, but, bored at home in Mostar, she had convinced daddy that it was time for her to begin a career fit for her family, and he in turn had convinced somebody else, most probably Prime Minister M.J.Goranov (née Miroslava Javoric).

Bojana was quite tall, slender, with raven hair contrasting her pale skin -perhaps a little more so than usual after such a draining trip- and her high cheekbones were evident in spite of the designer sunglasses that hid her usually piercing and now weary eyes.

Since the war, Italian fashions were impossible for most Yugoslavs to acquire, but General Javoric had, of course, found a way to obtain a few hundred dollars worth of shades for his girl.

Two agents of Sova-15 escorted the General's daughter. She had come to plead Lav's case, and, more importantly, to promote Yugoslavia. Or, failing these things, to deliver word of Belgrade's intention to enter the African conflict on the side of India, Armand, and Africa herself.

tag

Miss Javoric and the Blood Thirsty Germans
Miss Javoric's planes landed and refueled safety in the Czech Republic but as it came into German airspace a squadron of 10 Eurofighters flew along the plane. They had learned of the intention of Yugoslavia to negotiate with Quinntonia and were determined to protect the plane from hostile forces, or so they said. The Eurofighters began flying erratically and several of them veered towards the plane and accelerated toward the Yugoslavian cockpit. When the Germans could see the whites of the eyes of the pilot on the Yugoslavian plane they abruptly veered off, just narrowly missing by mere inches the Yugoslavian plane. This dare deviltry continued, albeit in a much more restrained fashion until Miss Javoric was above Berlin.

The Eurofighters radioed Miss Javoric and told the Yugoslavs that they would follow them down to the Chancellor Günter Shultz's personal airfield. It was clear to the Yugoslavs that failure to comply would have unfortunate consequences.

OOC: Whoa! Already in U.S. are you? I don't think so. I have a feeling the chancellor wants to speak with you.

Bojana's interception over Germany caused the immediate mobilisation of Yugoslav forces. All that stood between the Socialist Federal Republic and Germany was, of course, pitiful Austria, and so the loss of Miss Javoric would certainly have lead to Vienna's final annexation and direct war between Berlin and Belgrade. A few hours' JNA advance would put German cities within range of Yugoslav rockets, but both sides surely knew that. Bojana must be safe, or Berlin's current government suicidal.

The Chinese-built jet would come down... Yugoslavia wasn't adverse to speaking with the Germans, at least not since they'd got rid of the Nazis. Bojana would step forth looking quite fresh, tall, china-white, with defined jaw and cheek bones and piercing eyes. Perhaps she wouldn't have been such a sight hours later in Quinntonia, but here in Germany she was fresh enough to look her best.

Two Sova 15 agents escorted the General's daughter, Shipka submachine-guns clutched tight at their waists.

Over Yugoslavia L-20 Putin fighters took to the sky against the remote possibility of a Germanic conspiracy.

The Quinntonian ambassador to Germany does quetly forward a request for information as to the state of the Yugoslavian ambassador.

WWJD
Amen.

Quinntopian Ambassador Iinformed

The Quinntopian ambassador was told that the Yugoslavian ambassador was in excellent condition and will remain that way as long as the ambassador complied with German requests.

Deep within the Heart of Germany

The Eurofighters travel sidestepping Berlin and come down with the Yugoslavian plane outside of Berlin nearby a sleepy little village just beside the High Fläming Nature Park. As the planes descend a few local farmers look up to the sky and point at the warplanes coming down. An Eurofighter descends with the Yugoslavian plane onto the airstrip while the others circle the sky.

As the beautiful yet strong Yugoslavian opened the plane door she saw a well muscled white man dressed in a finely made suit beneath the stairs and a few airway workers finishing up placing the stairway to the plane door. The man carried no weapons yet if one looked closely at the buildings in the background one could see sniper rifles behind windows and upon rooftops. A single wrong move by the Yugoslavs would be answered in kind by a multitude of German bullets.

The man looks Miss Javoric directly in the eyes and calls out to her with a smile on his face,

“Miss Javoric, what brings you today to Germany? This is a most delightful surprise and Germany is most glad to act as a host in this most auspicious occasion. We are happy to share the rich resources that this land has to offer. We will be refueling your plane free of charge with no strings attached. And while we are refueling your plane I insist that you join me for lunch. I assure you the chef is most marvelous. Right this way miss.”

He waited briefly, gestured for her to follow him, and turned around and began walking towards one of the buildings.

Germany

"I never lunch with strangers, sir, and I am rather pressed for time. Perhaps introductions may substitute for starters?"

Bojana's tone, like the expression on her face, remained somewhat aloof as she introduced herself, making reference to her formidable father. Once finding out the identity of her greeter she would, no doubt, ask after the snipers. And who might your friends be? She did not seem concerned.

Belgrade

Marshal Lav's office is not long in sending quiet messages to Berlin indicating the importance of Miss Javoric's mission and the need for promptness, while Washington is told to expect her shortly.

Belgrade Informed

Belgrade was informed that the Yugoslavian ambassador could not be reached but her planes mechanical problems were being fixed as quickly as possible.

Deep within the Heart of Germany

The man turned back to face her and smiled. “A plane cannot run empty, a nation cannot survive without help, nor can a person function without sustenance. I must insist that you join me. But pardon me. I have lost my manners. I am Federal Minister Arnwaltan Fleischer. And this is my security. They are overly protective you see and wish no harm to come to my person. I have informed our mutual friends that you are running late and they will have to wait for arrival for a few more hours it appears. So if you have no further questions...”

Arnwaltan pauses, smiles and waits expectantly.

Novi Sad

"...do not go ahead without my say-so, Kastus. This could ruin our last chance for reconciliation with Washington."

Lav dismissed his defence secretary but not his sense of disquiet. Why was Berlin causing trouble? Why were they so blatantly lying? What in the world could they hope to gain by pushing Yugoslavia still closer to the communist bloc? Quite possibly they were looking for some pretext under which to take direct imperialist action, since they only stood to profit from Javoric's US trip as things stood.

The Marshal was already penciling plans to reconfigure defence rebuilding after the League conflict, possibly sacrificing the Black Sea Fleet's recovery for extra army and air force defences.

Minister Vorobei, meanwhile, was briefing Sova 15 for a possible rescue mission in Germany, agents lifted from the top-secret mission to Africa and replaced by marines.

Germany

Bojana remains aloof, saying nothing, but she cocks her head a little to indicate her preparedness to go along with lunch. Her guards, veterans of Operation Barrikada and various operations against the KLA, part company, one following Javoric, the other waiting with the plane's three-man crew.

The party walks over to the building and as they enter the building two guards fall in behind Arnwaltan and two guards fall in behind Javoric and her guard. After walking for several minutes they finally come to closed door.

Arnwaltan goes to a panel presses his finger on the panel and softly speaks a seven digit number into the terminal. The panel beeps and flashes green and the door opens, revealing a large windowless room with a table in the center of the room. From the door is it difficult to tell how long the table is but if one entered the room it would be about twenty feet long. There is a chair and tableware at each end, a bottle of wine in the center, and a few silver serving dishes between the two ends. Arnwaltan proceeds within and the two guards behind him stop at the door and block the entrance. One of them says,

“This is where you must part company with your guard miss.”

They stand at the door and wait for her reply.

Bojana seems distracted, peering past the men into the room and at the strange table and its features.

Her guard cracks a half smile. He is like a door-man waiting for a drunk. If only Javoric would let him loose these inexperienced Germans would be snapped in half! But his mistress is not so stupid. Certainly her guard could easily kill any German, green as this nation's warriors are, but the two are deep in the middle of this land, and no degree of Slavic heroism would get them across the border to Poland once these guards were killed.

"Wait here." Javoric instructs her escort. He snaps a salute and stands firm by the door, submachine-gun in hand. This one man alone has more combat experience than every single German citizen combined, but he knows that crossing a Javoric is not the way to keep one's testicles.

"I'm going to talk to the gentleman. I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

Her words set the Sova 15 agent on a countdown, and she stepped into the room, ready to hear whatever Arnwaltan had to say.

Back in Yugoslavia, Bojan Javoric begins to ask questions about his daughter's progress, and L-20 fighters begin to fly with drop-tanks and ASMs visible.

To Lav
As inquiries seem to becoming more persistent from Marshall Lav’s Office, the Germans respond by showing a picture of Javoric stepping off a plane. She looks proud and captures the very essence of beauty.

Outside the Room

As soon she steps into the door it immediately closes and the lights on the panels beside the door changed from a blinking green light to a constant red. The five soldiers were completely closed off from the world within and nothing but the strongest explosive could dent the door. Two Germans stood in front of the door and the other two lined the hallway. They had years of monastic training but for some reason they were reluctant to try their skills against this heavily muscled man standing in the hallway with them.

Inside the Room

“My Dear! How can we possibly expect to finish this wonderful meal in a mere 15 minutes?” Arnwaltan asks. “But I understand that you have a deadline to meet. I guess that I will just have to make the best of your delightful company for as long as we have together.”

Arnwaltan smiles sincerely and then makes his way to one end of the table and gestures for Javoric to sit at the opposite end.

“These bread rolls were made especially for you by the best baker in Germany,” Arnwaltan says and grabs a bread roll from the basket beside him and stuffs it into his mouth. “There is another basket on your end of the table”, he says with his mouth half full and then reaches over and tries to point it out to her.

At the Plane

German workers leave the building, enter the little airway cart and speed over to the plane. They begin attaching a hose to the airplanes fuel tank and other workers with spray cans in their hands begin approaching on the opposite side.

The Quinntonian government is already requesting updates as to the situation, as well as explanations, though as per usual, satellite information was being swiftly shared with the Germans.

Of course, the increased activity by the Yugoslavians places Rammstien on full alert, with sudden "training flights" of F-22s taking off to patrol Czech and North Austrian airspace.

WWJD
Amen.

The information going to Quinntopia is spotty at best as there appears to be confusion with the German ranks. The official line is still that the plane had mechanical difficulties and was currently being looked at by German mechanics. Although a sealed package sent to Quinntopia hinted that more was going on. Likewise information going to Germany may not be reaching all the areas associated with the diplomatic incident.

Belgrade, of course, refutes the German claim of technical trouble, saying that the pilot denies the occurrence of any such problem.

The fact that Berlin is apparently lying is what causes Yugoslav anxiety and the increased readiness of military assets. Army-General Bojan Javoric is understandably anxious to have the Yugoslav case put. The President does not want conflict with Germany to ruin his reconciliation attempt with the west, but faces mounting pressure to at least kick up a bigger diplomatic stink.

In Germany Bojana partakes of the food offered to her, so far unaware of the scale of the incident unfolding outside. The aircraft's crew look on as an unscheduled refueling appears to be starting, but see little reason to object at this point.

Marshal Lav just wants Javoric out of there and on her way to Washington... her mission is important to him as he can't delay much longer before committing to operations that will confirm the SFRY's place firmly in the communist bloc and end his non-alignment ambition.

Already Yugoslavian submarines have left their pens on the Adriatic and begun to crawl south.

By the Plane

The pilot is able to maintain contact with the home government and communicate his belief that there were no mechanical difficulties. However, the line of communication is not overly reliable as the pilot notices that something appears to be periodically disturbing the radio contact.

The refueling begins and the workers begin taping up sections of the plane and begin hastily spraying something on the side of the plane.

Inside the Room

Arnwalten finished his bread roll and looked at Javoric happily eating the food. A wisp of a depreciating smile briefly appeared on his face and then quickly disappeared into a sincere and honest smile. “Good aren’t they” Arnwaltan was once again his former self and smiled widely.

“Some say that us Germans are brutal and cruel demons filled with all manner of vice and sin. The Visigoth and barbarian blood is not far from the surface, they claim. They point to the ‘atrocities’ Germans have committed and blame us for the past”, Arnwaltan explains.

“Oh and you must try the shrimp. It was flown here from my own personal island in the Caribbean. The cook has really outdone himself once again. And that’s not even talking about the crab”. Arnwaltan reaches for a shrimp and tosses it in the air and catches it in his mouth and chews it. The sound of the tail being crunched emitted an unusual crunching sound.

Arnwaltan leaned back casually and continued, “munch munch munch. Oh and I suppose they are partly right even though they did not really consider the circumstances surrounding those events. The foreign media has a dreadful tendency to exaggerate. They have socialist sympathies you see.” Arnwaltan shook his head and smiled.

Suddenly a gut retching scream erupted from a side room and it sounded like a voice was saying something on the other side. I……V....E……TOOOLLLLDDD……YYYYOOOOOUUUU…….EVVVERYTTHINNNGG…. and then the sound was abruptly cut off. The smile did not fade from Arnwaltan’s face and he appeared to not notice anything.

Arnwaltan did not miss a beat and broke the shell of the crab in half and began eating some of it. “Stern measures have been taken against socialist sympathizers in the past.” Arnwaltan stops smiling, and frowns. He appears to be deep in thought and lets that thought hang in the air for several moments. Then he murmurs softly but loud enough for her to hear. “And history has an odd way of repeating itself.” He frowns and nods his head a few more times. But then he lifted his head and smiled in his same sincere manner. “Its simply quite astounding how events repeat themselves. But enough of this philosophical talk. We should finish this meal and be on our way. Have you tried the wine?”

After the meal/snack, Arnwaltan took a little black velvet box about 2”x4” and walked around the table to Javoric and opened it up. It was a dazzling diamond necklace, easily worth thousands of dollars. “Germans can good to their friends you see”, Arnwaltan said with a twinkle in his eye. “Do you mind if I…” Arnwaltan gently lifted out the necklace and was leaned over to put it around her neck.

Safe at Last

Arnwaltan moved over to the door and pressed his thumb to the panel and whispered the same seven digit number into the consol. The panel beeps and flashes green and the door opens into the hallway. Arnwaltan smiles Javoric and motions to the guards. “These fine gentlemen escort you back to the airplane. I have some matters to attend to here in Germany but I plan to see you again soon in Quinntopia.” Arnwaltan waits for her reply and then retires back into the room.

The guards accompany her and her guard back to the plane, where it is finished refueling.

The Eurofighters will now accompany the airplane safety out of Germany to its next destination.

OOC: I left it relatively open for you respond. I’ll be gone for a while but its been a fun little diversion.

<QUOTE>he cook has really outdone himself once again. And that’s not even talking about the crap<QUOTE>
Did you just feed her crap? This is too much! LOL!

IC-The Quinntonian embassy is flat-out demanding an explanation at this point. They mention that this is hardly befitting allies as close as Germany and the USQ.

WWJD
Amen.

No I did not feed her crap. But thanks for noticing the typo. That was supposed to be crab.

EDIT: But at least I wrote it correctly one out of two times.

The Federal Minister for the Development of Quinntopian German Relations speaks with the Quinntonian embassy. He is surprised at the response from the Quinntonians who seem to be very concerned about a minor event such as mechanical difficulties with a single airplane. He assures them that he will look into the matter personally if it please the Quinntopians but as far as he is aware there are no irregularities concerning the matter. He also requests information on the status of all the current mechanical difficulties on flights in the USQ and asks them if they would like to set up a commission on how to reduce the incidences of mechanical breakdowns in the future.

Washington D.C.

At last arrived, on the second attempt, Bojana Javoric is feeling better than last time, and looking more impressive.

Her esteemed relative, Prime Minister Goranov, had just declared in proud voice that Yugoslavia's economy was about to pass the quarter trillion dollar mark in yearly productivity, and had sworn that the military was back to its proper strength after the fighting with Austria, Italy, and the Russian Empire.

She even said that the air force had acquired Meteor air-to-air missiles, far better than anything the League has, though this was in fact untrue. Yugoslavia had acquired good but not so revolutionary L'Angelot Maudit missiles surplus to Soviet requirements since their introduction of Meteor and it had recently been hinted that Mumbai might be willing to provide Meteors in the future, but no deal had yet been struck.

The PM's address made no mention of what Yugoslav and foreign experts feel may be an approaching economic storm. There is little confidence amongst those in the know that Yugoslavia's growing but still delicate economy is properly braced to weather the developing global energy crisis brought about by expanding conflict and the shocking collapses of the Armandian Combine, United Elias, and Neo-Anarchos within months of one another.

Still, Marshal Lav continued to invest in new military technologies, often in co-operation with the Indian National Union, and had begun to aggressively deploy against secessionists and Holy League agents his Uprava Državne Bezbednosti -state security directorate- or UDB, seemingly committed to continuing hostilities.

Javoric, though, is in Quinntonia to talk peace. She has been tasked with repairing Aidarov's image in the United States, and wishes an audience with the highest representatives in the land.

Lav, she tells cameras, is not a natural thief, and not the villain in the tale of Lavrageria's miserable collapse.

Ms. Javoric was greeted as soon as she cleared customs, as a regular citizen without diplomatic status in any way, as currently the USQ does not recognise Yugoslavia as a legitimate state, nor Aidarov as anything but a massive thief and embezzler. She was greeted by the Assistant to the Sub-Director of Eastern European Diplomacy for the Department of Ambassadorial Relations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was a nice 24 year old man named Mr. Anthony Sterr. He had a slightly unkempt beard, wore a stark black suit and had very long hair, down to his bottom. He did, however, have an infectious an friendly smile, and dripped sincerity and trustworthiness from every pore. He held up a hand written sign after her very thorough going over in customs and waved at her enthusiastically. When she walked over to him, he began talking excitedly, “I am so excited to get the opportunity to meet with you. I just finished doing my Master’s thesis on the formation of your fine nation. Please let me take your bags for you, just follow me and we will go to the car and I will show you to your hotel. I’m sorry, but you didn’t forward an itinerary, so I am unsure as to what you wanted to do, but I will be available to you the entire time you are staying, if you need an assistant of your own, or any other staff, I can get that for you. I would like to set up our preliminary meeting for as early as tomorrow, if you are able to do so.... Wait. You didn’t know that I would be handling the negotiations? Please rest assured that I am more than qualified, and I will advocate on your behalf should anything come of this. And, let me be blunt, no one else wants to talk to you, at least not yet.” He would then lead her out to a two door sedan that served as their chariot, and took her to whatever hotel she wished, as she would be expected to pay for it.
Yes, there were cameras, but they only served to show the slight that she had just been given. If she wanted to roll the dice and make something here, it would be an uphill battle, an audience with the highest representatives in the land, indeed.

Analysts of the visit talk about the what ifs of the USQ/Aidarov relations. There was a time when the USQ was the peace broker, under the regime of PM Jesse Obed, and vowed to go to war with the Tsarists should they attack the embattled Aidarov and his people. They also gave him over 10 billion USD. Tax payer’s dollars. Public dollars. Dollars that every Quinntonian felt belonged to them. And then, he stole them, left the people of Republican Lavrageria, and used their funds to mastermind and finance a coup under the banner of Pan-Slavism, and build up a one man vendetta against Wingert (though not without cause) using Quinntonian funds. That lead to a reaction against national aid and a more non-interventionalist attitude in Quinntonia for years after, which many argue that lead to the USQ not taking as an active role in stopping many of the HL’s ventures all over the world, and pushing them to a closer relationship with the League. It is highly believed that Aidarov wildly underestimated the extent to which this would destroy relations between the two nations. Though analysts were definitely split over whether the Soviet and Progressive continued influence in Yugoslavia would have happened anyway if Quinntonia had not withdrawn their support, or if they forced Aidarov to look for powerful friends.

Whatever the case, the next morning, young Bojana should not be surprised when she wakes the next morning to 100 or so fairly quiet protestors making their voices heard.

WWJD
Amen.

Javoric apologises to Sterr for failing to provide a detailed itinery this time around, and says with a slightly harsh inflection to her Slavic tone that such things have proven difficult in light of Washington's continued refusal to recognise Yugoslav government offices, and to Berlin's interference with her prior plans, which had to go out the window at the last minute.

Bojana's Sova-15 and OZNA (Organ Zaštite Naroda (Armije), Department for Protection of the People) escorts of course arrive in the Chinese-built private jet armed with Shipka submachine-guns and side-arms, and remained in and immediately around the aircraft when the diplomat first arrived, but Miss Javoric would prove relatively co-operative when it came to her staff. So long as some were with her, she was, it seemed, prepared to negotiate on their condition of armament. At least so long as her multi-million dollar jet remained partially under their protection.

Though only occasionally passive-aggressive in defence of her nation and its government, Bojana gave off generally an air of confidence, as is fitting for a General's daughter and all around well-to-do sort.

Javoric arrives at a complicated time. Belgrade is trying to deal with complicated regional problems. Its Islamic minority is far from widely observant at this time, but the rise of the Depkazi Caliphate spells uncertainty for that future. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Bojana will freely explain to her host, have suffered since war with Italy and the Tsarists, and the latter conflict has also driven at the heart of the pan-Slavic ideal, which even Lav wishes to promote. The Bosnian-Serb says that German-Quinntonian hostility has probably resulted in a missed opportunity for the Protestant issue, as Lav's Yugoslavism has risen to almost religious status, with more and more citizens self-identifying as ethnically Yugoslavian and ideologically Yugoslavist.

"By this" she explains, "I mean to tell you that Yugoslavia isn't going to go away. We aren't going to back down, and we aren't going to turn on our President. Whatever the world may think of us, we are here, and we are the Balkans."

Bojana has a lot more to say, and only narrowly restrained herself from saying it to the protesters outside her quarters after a worried look from one of her aides prevented her from deciding to throw a carton of milk from the window.

OOC-I will post a reply soon, but just wanted to mention that your aides would be limited to two people and they would be thoroughly searched (X-Rays and body cavity) before allowed into the airport main area. Of course, an MP escort would follow the car that Mr. Sterr was driving and they would be joined by a large MP contingent, who would secure the hotel and mirror their movements wherever they go, as well as provide for her armed security. As a regular visitor to the nation, if they break any laws, they would be arrested and detained. But, they are issued special visas so that they can move about.
As far as the plane, after the weapons are confiscated, the plane will be treated as a normal civilian unit, which means that after people disembark carrying weapons, the plane will be thoroughly searched and examined by the military. The crew and any further security personnel will be disarmed and detained for the duration, though they will be treated well and not questioned at all. After the plane has been secured (and the ambassador would not be informed of this until after it occurs when then her people will be allowed to contact her) they will be allowed to observe the rest of the inspection. No damage will be done to the plane, unless they for instance suspect that there is something that is hidden under the floor or something. I am not actually expecting to find anything, but it will be thorough enough to find anything, should it be there.
I know that you will thin this onerous, and a large portion of the government will see these measures as some kind of petty vengeance, but there are people in the government who do want to see something come out of this, but their hands are tied with the fact that you have no diplomatic status and thus, most of the things that diplomats would be able to have, like armed guards, untouched transport, unexamined boxes, which are simply not open options to an ordinary visitor.
You will notice that your visa says the Yugoslavian nation of your birth, or if you are from Lavrageria, “Republic of Lavrageria.”
WWJD
Amen.

OOC: Jolt ate my long post! Oh well here goes again albeit less stylistically. Anyway I almost forgot about the stuff I spray painted on the side of your plane. Well I am finally going to tell you what I did.

Javoric Arrives

As Ms. Javoric’s plane touched down there was a large German media crew focused on the side of her plane where there was a large picture of some kind. On closer view, there was a large cross beside the smaller figure of a man on one knee with one arm extended towards the cross. Underneath was written, Your Obedient Supplicant, Marshall Lav .

Arnwaltan Fleischer Arrives

Shortly after Ms. Javoric’s arrival came Arnwaltan who stepped out of the Airbus and in a characteristic fashion, smiled and waved at the assembled news media. His eyes sparkled and white teeth glistened with each successive camera flash. After reaching the ground, he gave a short speech to the media.

“I am here to assist the Yugoslavian diplomatic envoy in their desire to make amends for the lost money. I am convinced that their recent change of attitude, indicated by the design on their aircraft, will be received warmly by our great friends and allies, the Quinntopians. When the Yugoslavs humbly fall on their knees and ask repentance, I am optimistic, that like Christ, our allies will accept them.”

“No more of this”, declares Arnwaltan with a twinkle in his eyes. “I have work I must attend to.” Arnwaltan, escorted by his guards, then left the media. His aide had sent a detailed itinery at the beginning of the long flight and Arnwaltan was hoping his Quinntopian hosts would be able to meet with him in the next morning.

With the setting sun gentling warming his back, Arnwaltan walked confidently off towards the horizon.

OOC- OK, who is this Arnwaltan? I mean, what position does he hold with the German government? Also, why is walking into the tarmac?

IC-After she gets settled, Mr. Sterr shows up at her door asking for a list of anything she needs. He explains that the conference room in the hotel has been booked for their use for the duration of her stay. He also apologises profusely for his government’s actions thus far and says, “Listen, I am among some of the newer thinkers in my country. In my thesis, I argued that the USQ made a fundamental error when they turned their back on Lav and the Balkans, but we are of the minority. I have authority at this stage only to find out what you want, what you offer, and to report my findings to my superiors, with my recommendations. It is then and only then that they will decide if something meaningful can come of this. Remember just how politically volatile Lav is for our government. The Prime Minister is in a minority government and is facing a surprise election; the news says that it cold happen any day. If she is seen as being soft on Lav, that could cost her support, and her party is lagging behind in the polls already. For this to blossom to the point of official talks, there needs to be something of substance here. I do promise, as Almighty God is my witness, that should it not do violence to my conscience, I will do everything I can to advocate on your behalf while you are here. And I will act as a guide through every step of the process, I promise you. Now, We can meet tomorrow in the conference room at 9am, after you’ve had breakfast, and then you can explain to me what you want with us.”

WWJD
Amen.

Javoric's escorts, though most are internally seething at her blasé acceptance of Quinntonian restrictions, all accept them with outwardly emotionless stocism, and behave in a professional manner as befits some of the most dangerous agents of Aidarov's successful government.

Yugoslav state media, when it gets wind of the German-like paranoia and petty confrontationalism of the US hosts, will take a different line should the visit fail to deliver what Belgrade (or, most of Belgrade) wants, but for now that is not an issue.

By the next day, Bojana and her two escorts -one a Sova-15 agent who came from Lavrageria with Aidarov and fought both Kiba's nomads and Wingert's legions, the other an OZNA operative whose experience is in chasing down and dealing with French espionage assets since the first Yugoslav PM's assassination- are more relaxed, and Javoric ready to talk shop.

That morning she broadly describes to Sterr the grim foresight that guided Aidarov's actions from mid way through the Franco-Tsarist invasion of Lavrageria, the wilderness of which he tried to make a nation state.

From the Marshal's point of view, says the young diplomat, Lavrageria's situation as a Republic became hopeless the moment it was realised that the post-Bull government of the United Kindom was not going to risk military confrontation with the Holy League. It was then -and remains now- the belief of the Lav and his surviving Lavragerian allies that other nations outside of the so-called Progressive Bloc were not going to render direct practical aid to the resistance campaign. This, she says, is in contrast to Washington's insinuations that help was on the way from the United States.

"Ten billion dollars would have been well received by the Republicans" she admits, "if it had been in a form that we could use to halt the advance of Estenlandic soldiers or deflect French missiles. Truthfully, we feel, the mistake here was also Washington's.

"Where could we spend Quinntonian dollars? The British expeditionary fleet sent to the Baltic stood down, the Tsar's troops moved to cut the borders, we lacked heavy infrastructure and the means to develop it in that situation. The aid would have been greatly useful a year or two earlier, but, coming as it did during war, there was no use for it. We could not get weapons in without western military assistance in doing so. We did not have that. We had Drapoel pilots, Strathdonian mercenaries, Hindustani commandos, but the borders and seas belonged to the Tsar and the King of France.

"Yes, Larionko Aidarov took the aid in Lavrageria's name and used it to Christen Yugoslavia, but what choice did he have? That is what I might like to ask your government and your people. In Aidarov's position, what would they have done? Would you have stayed to be captured by the Dauphin with ten billion dollars in your pockets?

"I am not a Lavragerian, but I for one am glad that Larionko made another choice. I am glad that he used the money to help my homeland and bring unity, and I am glad that he has not rested on that. He continues to build Yugoslavia as a force for hope in a Europe ever more tightly controlled by Versailles and the Tsar. I am sure, absolutely, that he has not forgotten Lavrageria and his responsibilities to the Lavragerian people, responsibilities worth far more than ten billion dollars.

"If liberation forces swept into Europe tomorrow, the Yugoslav People's Army, built partly with Lavragerian aid money, would be with them, racing for Lavrageria."

OOC: Arnwaltan is Federal Foreign Minister and he's walking to his hotel room, not down some random runway strip. You might have thought the imagery was stupid but leave me alone, I think it says something about him. So no Quinn you can't run over him on some random tarmac!

Anyway, he really does want Germany to become better friends with Yugoslavia and is not there to mess stuff up. Just a tip and take it or leave it but I think a good strategy for dealing with Quinntopia is exactly what Arnwaltan stated. Honestly omiting mistakes or failures were made and then saying how it will not reoccur in the future is probably more effective than and not trying to cover up past wrong doings. I felt I had to clarify a bit because Arnwaltan not the best source, his past actions considered. But despite of his character he is in a position to help Yugoslavia. Again, I hate having to explain what may be obvious but he can and will try everything to improve relations. I think I'll probably TG you with more information. I hope you don't hate me for partly hijacking this RP.

Also, is Javoric still wearing that necklace Arnwaltan gave her?

So I'm just going to wait for Quinn to set up a meeting before preceding.

Me Teutonic Deutschland tag

As Washington's position against the Holy League hardens, Javoric can't help but push Lav's defiance all the more strongly. The brave Socialist Federal Republic has suffered the near total destruction of its little Black Sea Fleet fighting the Tsarists who now think to challenge US maritime might, and has gone toe to toe with the legions of Rome and survived.

If Quinntonia comes to war with the powers of Europe, would not Yugoslavia be a valuable partner? Possibly the only nation willing and able to directly alleviate military pressure on Washington's greatest continental allies in Berlin? That the Yugoslavian majority are even willing to oppose traditional Orthodox allies in Russia is not something that Aidarov alone can guarantee forever if it becomes a thankless and hopeless task.

Arnwalten will be seen immediately by the Foreign Minister, Deacon Rebecca Klages, and she invites him to her main offices to be seen in both a meeting with aides present in the near conference room, and that being followed up with a private meeting in the Minister’s office with no one else present. This was aided by the almost perfect fluency of Ms. Klages in German. The press was also notified, so there would be photo opportunities entering and leaving the meetings, with the option to make a short joint statement following.

As for Mr. Sterr, he did point out that Quinntonia had guaranteed the easy movement of non-military goods into Lavrageria in the Washington conference, and that material aid was being presented by the British government of the time, as well as the pre-Tsarist Russian government. That, and your security was also guaranteed by the USQ, with a full division ready to counter-invade and the massive air support at Rammstein in Germany ready to bomb Ukraine into the stone age upon the resumption of hostilities. He further states, “The Quinntonian people were firmly behind you at that time, and would have fought to defend you with everything that we had. We just couldn’t place even more assets than that at the ground, because the Dra-poel Wars were so fresh at that time and our strategic situation there was very much in peril. But we died by the hundred of thousand in Dra-pol, defending the people of Hamhung, and were very much prepared to do the same for you. Admittedly, we desired no war, but never underestimate the will of the Quinntonian people. We confess Christ. In Greek, the word confess is homologeo and the two words in conjunction there mean homo=one and logos=word. The next thing to consider is that this adjective and noun is here used in a verb from, meaning that we are taking action. We speak together “one word.” We are of one mind under God. As the Creed says, “I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” I myself have prayed for your nation in my personal devotional life for years on end. Do you understand that? Even should you not believe, you should know that people you have never met, who you have considered your enemies, spent much time on their knees in expectant hope of a healing of reconciliation.”

He sighs and goes on, “But this polemic is getting us nowhere, let us talk now about what your vision of our future together. I know that my boss in the Foreign Ministry is meeting as we speak with the ambassador in Germany. Now, I am not privy to the conversation that is going to occur there, but though I don’t think that he would work actively against us, I think it is legitimate to be concerned.”

((OOC: Tag. I love your foreign posts sometimes, Quinn. That old time religion sure can make for some potent arguments on the table.))

((OOC: Tag. I love your foreign posts sometimes, Quinn. That old time religion sure can make for some potent arguments on the table.))

Thanx, I enjoy pointing out the thought pattern of the Quinntonian people, which I think in foreign perception is widely misunderstood. Particularly, the huge place in the consciousness of the AMW players of the culture and actions of the USA, which is so very unlike that which is found in the RL world. Our foriegn policy is just a jumble of paradoxical inclinations, as we don't act our politics, but rather our faith. This is especially hard given the administration of PM Moerike, in that she very much did try to play the politician and was far less forceful and far more vascilating than the sainted Jesse Obed. Which is why she is in danger of a snap election. Which, when I get time, will be fun to play out.

Yeah, in essense, the Quinntonian people are apolitical in the worldly sense. They are not against socialism as an idea, nor even against facism, monarchy, democracy (which they are not), etc. No, rather their against people who do violence to the Gospel, or try to extirpate its movement. That is why we feel the Soviets are the greatest evil threat that we face since the collapse of the USSR, their militant atheism. That is also why we have a difficult time calling those nations that do allow the free preaching of the Gospel to repentence, such as the HL, to repentence. WE most likley would have led the charge, but there was simply a far greater evil to deal with. At least the oppressed souls under, say, France, were able to be delivered unto salvation, whereas not only are the people under the Soviets unable to hear, but they are militantly opposed to the idea and seek to expand their darkness over the Earth. So, we have adopted a program of uneasy pragmatism, with the Soviets and also Dra-pol seen as the first priority, with the HL next in line.

WWJD
Amen.

From the Lavragerian and, by extension through Lav, Yugoslavian perspectives, the Quinntonian's comments on the Drapoel situation at the time of the Franco-Estenlandic invasion come in a different light. The Unified People's Army, after all, managed to send experienced pilots to the embattled Lavragerian Republic to help man its infant airforce against the ultimately unstoppable Tsarist stormfront. If they could spare it at the time, it's hard to imagine the US being less capable in the same circumstances.

Still, Bojana does not speak of this. She is not expert on the matter, and knows only enough to leave Choson-Lavragerian collaborations out of US-Yugoslav relations.

Javoric says that Belgrade wishes to halt the Socialist Federal Republic's slide towards reliance on the Indians. As things are currently shaping up, Yugoslavia will either end up losing neutrality to the progressive bloc, or worse yet may become caught-up in Igovian disputes with the Armandians and other leftists. But, if Quinntonia regards the Yugoslav President as an enemy, which in turn is bound to colour Germany and by further extension Cassanos against Belgrade, where else can the SFRY turn if it hopes to continue defiance to the cruel and brutal League?

Yugoslavia is proudly independent, drawing strength from its new-found sense of south-Slavic unity, but the foray into Austria and heavy fighting with both Italian and Estenlandic air forces has proved that, alone, thirty million people in a lower-middle-income economy can not produce defence equipment enough to fight an entire alliance bloc and expect to suffer less than the brunt of a strategic bombing campaign on its home soil.

Marshal Lav wants nothing more than to see a secure Yugoslavia hosting Quinntonian tourists on its sunny coasts, mountain ski resorts, and historic fortresses and religious sites rather than a militarised nation forced to make ends meet by selling small-arms to half of war-torn Africa. But this is no simple task!

Mr. Sterr and Ms. Javoric and their staffs en up spending the next several days working through a monotonous mountain of material, and Mr. Sterr makes his thesis available to her, though understanding if she could not find time to read it. He spends his “off” time every night culling the political science departments of the nearest universities, looking for volunteers that would be willing to construct analysis and case studies, as well as set up an HQ in a run-down portion of town on Mr. Sterr’s own personal dime that begins serving as a coordinating centre that starts using undergrads to make phone calls and raise the issue on the Hill. Mr. Sterr is fairly popular in the academic community, and his volunteers spend a lot of time for free doing grass root lobbying, attempting to get the conversations that are occurring in that hotel conference room to move beyond the theoretical. In order to get the internet and phones, as well as a couple of computers and fax machines for that run down office above the pawn shop, he quietly sells his car. Meanwhile, at every break, he is furiously typing into his Blackberry to everyone who he can at the Foreign Affairs Office, trying to make the perception of this work the top point of conversation at every water cooler and every lunch room in the department, hoping that Ms. Klages will finally notice. Though, so far, he hadn’t heard that Germany had convinced her to shut him down entirely.

Basically, the following topics start to arise:
1. The history between the people of our nations must be addressed, in some way.
2. The Dra-poel and Soviet influence in your nation must be addressed.
3. Whether some form of alliance, be it political, military, or just economic, can be discussed, between the two nations.
4. Stance on the freedom of religion/treatment of the Christian population.
5. Will your Progressive ideology, as it is, bring you closer to the Soviets and Choson, or will your pan-Slavism eventually bring you closer to the largest Slavic populations on Earth, Ukraine and Russia?
6. Where does Lavrageria come in?

AS these things start to occur, Anthony gets a message on his Blackberry, and finally leaps up, scrambling to turn on the TV in the corner of the room to CSPAN, during Question Period.

“The Leader of the Lord God’s Loyal Opposition, the Member from New Jersey.”

Standing, a rather large man in bright Red Robes and a Cardinal’s hat stands up and says, “Mr. Speaker, I would like to know what this government is doing to help the plight of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox in Yugoslavia? What are they doing to alleviate our Christian brothers and sisters living in an incredibly militarised overtaxed and overburdened society that has become that way due to its right to defend itself against the Holy League neighbours that encroach from every side? And how does this government explain to the people of Quinntonia that we are not only making them politically and economically more and more isolated, but in this time when we need allies the most, my friend and colleague Deacon Rebecca Klages refuses to meet with their emissary, who has been waiting in country for some weeks?” This was resulting in a huge amount of yelling and cheering in support from the opposition parties, and surprisingly, from the smaller of the coalition parties as well.

“The Honourable Member from Kansas City.”

Ms. Deacon Rebecca Klages, Minister for Foreign Affairs stood and said, “Mr. Speaker, as everyone with any ounce of foreign policy experience knows, which aside from kowtowing to the Pope the Member from New Jersey has none, these things take some time, and I have my top experts working with Ms. Javoric right now, and we are going to be ready soon to present our findings to the Prime Minister’s Office. I ask the Opposition to be patient with their government, and when we need your advice on foreign policy, we will speak to the Vatican directly.” The last comment was too much as everyone erupted and the speaker had to call for order again. As Minister Klages sat down and started typing into her laptop, Mr. Sterr’s Blackberry went off again. He read the message, smiled, and said, “We are pulling an all-nighter, we need to have our ducks in a row with smething to show by tomorrow evening, we are moving to the big leagues!”

WWJD
Amen.

Javoric doesn't disagree about any of the issues in their basic form, and tries to give her opinions as the educated daughter of a General in the Yugoslav People's Army.

"Yugoslavia" she says, reciting a popular adage, "is as a small country with seven neighboring countries, six republics, five nationalities, four languages, three religions, two alphabets and one political party." She adds, "And that was before the Bulgarians acceded to the union!"

Javoric insists that there is no repression of religion except as it becomes infrequently associated with efforts against the state, such as when extreme Serbian nationalists use the Orthodox Church as a rallying point against Albanian Muslims, when Albanian Muslims do the same in turn, or when Croatian extremists invoke Rome as an instrument against the union and expose Yugoslavia to the threat of the Holy League. She claims that Belgrade does not tend to consider religion an important matter for the state, differing greatly from, for example, Dra-pol in this regard.

Though maintaining some animist superstition from his Glakatahn childhood, Lav is arguably a nominal Christian himself, though it is not clear whether he has been baptised into any particular Church, and it is thought that he may not be keen to choose lest he be seen to reject one minority or another.

Javoric maintains the party line in saying that religious observance is in decline of its own accord, without state intrusion. She says that Italian and Russo-Estenlandic aggression has hurt both Roman and Orthodox churches, while Bosniaks tend to be at most moderate Muslims if they are observant at all, and are not yet obviously moved by the rise of the Depkazi Caliphate.

Bojana is more concerned by the fifth point, admitting that opposition to Russia does not sit well, especially with Serbs. Few in the SFRY think that the Tsar was in the right in his aggression against Bulgaria, or indeed Lavrageria, the Baltic states, Moldova, and Hungary, but if Moscow were to radically change its tactics in dealing with Belgrade it is hard to say how the population might respond in the long term. Lav reportedly places hope in Cassanos as a focus of pan-Slavic sentiment for outward-looking Yugoslavs, and so long as the Tsar continues to do little to reduce strife in Slovakia and the Czech Republic he is likely to be seen as responsible for fractures in the brotherhood. Still, an issue of some concern.

((OOC: I'll have to get back to you on the rest, but I'm thinking about it!))

OOc-Trying to wait patiently.

Quinntonia

Bojana Javoric had been silent for some time. The Quinntonian had reason to be concerned. Famed as one of the Balkans' most beautiful women, the tall, dark, Slavic socialite had looked drawn, tired, and pale on her arrival. She had worn Italian designer sunglasses and cited airsickness and her unexpected detention by the Germans for her withdrawn nature.

For some time Bojana had been sat, apparently clutching the arms of her chair, her gaze lowered in contemplation. Now it was apparent that she was actually bleeding slightly. Some of her long nails had dug into her palms, and some had been damaged, bent back so firmly were her hands clenched. Her right leg, crossed over the other, was shuddering.

She raised her eyes to look over her glasses and said relatively calmly to Sterr, "You have to get me asylum."

Mostar

Alessandro's head was bowed of habit rather than of the weights pulling on Bojana's. He was, as ever, humouring the lady of the city's grandest house. She, in evening dress despite the early hour, was pacing, heels ready to crack the marble, proclaiming to the distant ceiling and its chandeliers.

"And, spread across London, Berlin, New York, interest from these debts will be so..." She was interrupted, an inconvenience to which she was much unaccustomed. Glass shattered, wood shuddered, cries rung off the tiled walls.

"Miroslava Javoric! You are under arrest and here by charged with intrigue against the Slavic fraternity and with treason against the Socialist Federal Republic!"

Alessandro fell from his stool and cowered on the floor as he sighted the big Croatian bodyguard Zvonimir slumped against the bay windows, but Miroslava flew around in a fury, eyes wide and arms raised, "What!?" She shrieked, "You dare call me that? Miroslava Javoric? It is Prime Minister Goranov to you, my child!"

By now the Prime Minister was surrounded by UDBA operatives with Shipka submachine-guns. "Come with us."

Sofia

"General! General!" A mercurial little cadet came skipping over the field like a flat stone off still water. At first he attracted no more attention, but, like the stone's bounces, his fifth or sixth call raised eyebrows. "General!"

"Continue the exercise!" Army-General Bojan Javoric barks at his immediate subordinate before waving the cadet towards his field command, a fabric awning pulled from the the back of a truck.

Less than forty minutes later, Javoric's battalion -he only commanded army groups in war- was removing yellow safety fittings and abandoning the flats for high ground.