Sarzonia
06-06-2007, 20:26
[OOC: This RP is mostly CLOSED. If you want in, you MUST TG me and I MUST explicitly say yes or you're not invited in. Cleared participants thus far are Praetonia and Automagfreek.]
News reports of the Freek invasion of British Londinium didn’t really face the Incorporated Sarzonian Government. After all, Automagfreek invading countries was par for the course in the minds of many. The fact that it seemed to be one more front in the whole rift between the Sovereign League and the Gholgoth Powers, as Sarzo took to calling that group during World War VII also had little effect.
However, one transaction brought Sarzonians great consternation: During the Freekish-Doomish war, Praetonia gave two Iron Duke-class supercapital warships to Doomingsland. Granted, Sarzonia’s authorization of five Olympia-class “large cruisers” to Automagfreek likely wasn’t viewed very highly by Praetonia, but Sarzonians made emphatically clear to Praetonia that any help given to Doomingsland was an affront.
Now, certain war hawks in Parliament were beginning murmurs that one time seemed unthinkable. However, they were still in the overwhelming minority with Luslyvanian tensions taking centre stage. Even the most zealous of war hawks knew that a declaration of war against a nation once considered the closest of allies would never be approved in Parliament. Not with President Mike Sarzo threatening to “blow the Goddamn door wide open” on such a proposal by publicly announcing a veto.
No matter how resentful members of government felt toward Praetonia for its support of Doomingsland, war was off the table. They knew it. Sarzo made sure of it. The Sarzonian people would not let their politicians hear the end of it. However, Sarzonia could still put its newly-won position as a non-aligned power to good use. It could apply diplomatic and economic pressure on its erstwhile closest allies. It could signal to the world that it would guard its newfound neutrality with a military that few nations would ever want to mess with.
Del. Janice Barclay (Moderate-Endymion) knew all this. She was by no means a war hawk, but she wasn’t exactly among the doves in Parliament. She appreciated the value of a strong military more than most, and often voted with Conservative colleagues when it came to increasing military appropriations. Now she was set to propose the biggest, most comprehensive piece of legislation in her career. Granted, she was only in the second session of her first year in the House of Delegates, but it was a huge piece of legislation.
She walked in with what she termed the Military Expenditures and Readiness Act of 2007, but she also realised it encompassed much more than military readiness. She knew that five of the seven supercapital warships authorised were now entering ISN service, but she also knew that a fleet of seven supercapitals only made Sarzonia a peer nation compared to other nations that floated those mammoth warships. She proposed an ambitious programme that would effectively put Sarzonia on track to implement a two-power standard.
Even if her programme were scaled back to a level she’d drawn up as a compromise in the event the committee balked at the trillions of dollars it would cost to fully fund her bill, it would still turn Sarzonia into a military force that few nations would reckon with. At least in terms of the numbers.
“I wish to propose the construction of seven additional Retaliation-class supercapital warships and the construction of six more Warspite-class warships,” she told the Military Appropriations Committee in a rare joint meeting with the Foreign Relations Committee. “In addition, the $50 trillion funding bill I have proposed includes massive increases in manpower and equipment for the ISA, the ISAF and the Home Guard, along with additional warship acquisitions for the ISN.”
She drew her breath in for a moment after her speech on the military appropriations.
“In addition, the legislation I have proposed includes a request to review the Treaty of Uxland in light of the Praetonian donation of two Iron Duke-class supercapital warships to Doomingsland. Furthermore, I have proposed a slate of economic sanctions against Praetonia that include a 15 percent increase in tariff rates, a reduction by 20 percent on the export of tea to the Crown Commonwealth and a downscaling of Praetonian citizens from first-tier ally status to second-tier allied status. Finally, the legislation warns belligerents on both sides to remain clear of Sarzonia or her territories and warns of dire consequences in the event our neutrality is threatened.”
House Speaker Charles Hunter, who sat as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, took in a breath carefully as he listened to Barclay. He spoke slowly, but aware of the gravity of his words, he didn’t want to miss a syllable.
“You are aware that the sanctions you propose, plus the military appropriations you have asked for will be seen as a tacit provocation by the Crown Commonwealth, are you not?”
”Yes, sir, I am,” she lied. Shit, she thought. I didn’t think of that at all. Now it was her turn to draw in a deep breath.
“I don’t think you’ll get $50 trillion for all this,” Hunter said. “You may get authorisation for three more Warspites and four more Retaliations, plus a scaled down version of the increased appropriations,” Hunter said. “And you may get the political and economic elements of your bill,” he continued, “but I doubt we’re going to end up with a 20 supercapital fleet. That just isn’t in the cards.”
“Don’t be so sure,” said Del. Carrie Blankenship (Conservative-New Isselmere). “There’s widespread anger over Praetonia’s ‘donation’ to the Doomies. I would consider this a measured response to what could very well be considered a slap in the face to all Sarzonians.”
“Be that as it may,” Hunter said, “Taxpayers in Sarzonia are already being burdened with the increased military budgets we’re dealing with as it is. To ask for more money to make Sarzonia a country that no two hyperpowers would dare cross is asking too much of the Sarzonian people. Let’s just get it out in the open that we want to beat the shit out of Praetonia and call an end to decades of Praeto-Sarzonian cooperation.”
”Charlie, they have willfully called an end to that cooperation. We’re just acknowledging the reality and we’re planning accordingly,” Barclay replied. Meanwhile, an aide walked in shaking his head.
”I don’t know what possessed the House to approve Haff as Senior VP,” the aide mumbled. Hunter heard him and asked him what he meant.
“Haff just went on air ripping up a copy of the Treaty of Uxland,” the aide said. “Here, look at the video for yourself.”
Hunter gasped as he heard Grant Haffner, now Senior Vice President and External Affairs Officer, say “the world has seen the Crown Commonwealth of Praetonia stab her onetime friends in Sarzonia in the back repeatedly.” He then watched with mouth agape as he saw Haffner hold up the Treaty of Uxland. “In effect,” he heard Haffner say, “they have done this.” Then, he saw Haffner’s left hand, which held a copy of the treaty in a pincer along with the right hand, snake down the length of the piece of paper whilst the right hand remained in place. The discordant rip echoed through the speakers of the computer, sending chills down the spine of even the most hardened Delegate, for that image was now being projected on a large screen in the House chamber.
Within hours, the toned down appropriations bill Hunter suggested was approved, allocating a full $35 trillion to defence and approving the slate of economic and diplomatic pressures being brought to bear. The Senate approved its own version of the same and the bill was at length signed by Sarzo.
No one knew what the future would bring, but one thing was clear. The times, they were a’ changin'.
News reports of the Freek invasion of British Londinium didn’t really face the Incorporated Sarzonian Government. After all, Automagfreek invading countries was par for the course in the minds of many. The fact that it seemed to be one more front in the whole rift between the Sovereign League and the Gholgoth Powers, as Sarzo took to calling that group during World War VII also had little effect.
However, one transaction brought Sarzonians great consternation: During the Freekish-Doomish war, Praetonia gave two Iron Duke-class supercapital warships to Doomingsland. Granted, Sarzonia’s authorization of five Olympia-class “large cruisers” to Automagfreek likely wasn’t viewed very highly by Praetonia, but Sarzonians made emphatically clear to Praetonia that any help given to Doomingsland was an affront.
Now, certain war hawks in Parliament were beginning murmurs that one time seemed unthinkable. However, they were still in the overwhelming minority with Luslyvanian tensions taking centre stage. Even the most zealous of war hawks knew that a declaration of war against a nation once considered the closest of allies would never be approved in Parliament. Not with President Mike Sarzo threatening to “blow the Goddamn door wide open” on such a proposal by publicly announcing a veto.
No matter how resentful members of government felt toward Praetonia for its support of Doomingsland, war was off the table. They knew it. Sarzo made sure of it. The Sarzonian people would not let their politicians hear the end of it. However, Sarzonia could still put its newly-won position as a non-aligned power to good use. It could apply diplomatic and economic pressure on its erstwhile closest allies. It could signal to the world that it would guard its newfound neutrality with a military that few nations would ever want to mess with.
Del. Janice Barclay (Moderate-Endymion) knew all this. She was by no means a war hawk, but she wasn’t exactly among the doves in Parliament. She appreciated the value of a strong military more than most, and often voted with Conservative colleagues when it came to increasing military appropriations. Now she was set to propose the biggest, most comprehensive piece of legislation in her career. Granted, she was only in the second session of her first year in the House of Delegates, but it was a huge piece of legislation.
She walked in with what she termed the Military Expenditures and Readiness Act of 2007, but she also realised it encompassed much more than military readiness. She knew that five of the seven supercapital warships authorised were now entering ISN service, but she also knew that a fleet of seven supercapitals only made Sarzonia a peer nation compared to other nations that floated those mammoth warships. She proposed an ambitious programme that would effectively put Sarzonia on track to implement a two-power standard.
Even if her programme were scaled back to a level she’d drawn up as a compromise in the event the committee balked at the trillions of dollars it would cost to fully fund her bill, it would still turn Sarzonia into a military force that few nations would reckon with. At least in terms of the numbers.
“I wish to propose the construction of seven additional Retaliation-class supercapital warships and the construction of six more Warspite-class warships,” she told the Military Appropriations Committee in a rare joint meeting with the Foreign Relations Committee. “In addition, the $50 trillion funding bill I have proposed includes massive increases in manpower and equipment for the ISA, the ISAF and the Home Guard, along with additional warship acquisitions for the ISN.”
She drew her breath in for a moment after her speech on the military appropriations.
“In addition, the legislation I have proposed includes a request to review the Treaty of Uxland in light of the Praetonian donation of two Iron Duke-class supercapital warships to Doomingsland. Furthermore, I have proposed a slate of economic sanctions against Praetonia that include a 15 percent increase in tariff rates, a reduction by 20 percent on the export of tea to the Crown Commonwealth and a downscaling of Praetonian citizens from first-tier ally status to second-tier allied status. Finally, the legislation warns belligerents on both sides to remain clear of Sarzonia or her territories and warns of dire consequences in the event our neutrality is threatened.”
House Speaker Charles Hunter, who sat as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, took in a breath carefully as he listened to Barclay. He spoke slowly, but aware of the gravity of his words, he didn’t want to miss a syllable.
“You are aware that the sanctions you propose, plus the military appropriations you have asked for will be seen as a tacit provocation by the Crown Commonwealth, are you not?”
”Yes, sir, I am,” she lied. Shit, she thought. I didn’t think of that at all. Now it was her turn to draw in a deep breath.
“I don’t think you’ll get $50 trillion for all this,” Hunter said. “You may get authorisation for three more Warspites and four more Retaliations, plus a scaled down version of the increased appropriations,” Hunter said. “And you may get the political and economic elements of your bill,” he continued, “but I doubt we’re going to end up with a 20 supercapital fleet. That just isn’t in the cards.”
“Don’t be so sure,” said Del. Carrie Blankenship (Conservative-New Isselmere). “There’s widespread anger over Praetonia’s ‘donation’ to the Doomies. I would consider this a measured response to what could very well be considered a slap in the face to all Sarzonians.”
“Be that as it may,” Hunter said, “Taxpayers in Sarzonia are already being burdened with the increased military budgets we’re dealing with as it is. To ask for more money to make Sarzonia a country that no two hyperpowers would dare cross is asking too much of the Sarzonian people. Let’s just get it out in the open that we want to beat the shit out of Praetonia and call an end to decades of Praeto-Sarzonian cooperation.”
”Charlie, they have willfully called an end to that cooperation. We’re just acknowledging the reality and we’re planning accordingly,” Barclay replied. Meanwhile, an aide walked in shaking his head.
”I don’t know what possessed the House to approve Haff as Senior VP,” the aide mumbled. Hunter heard him and asked him what he meant.
“Haff just went on air ripping up a copy of the Treaty of Uxland,” the aide said. “Here, look at the video for yourself.”
Hunter gasped as he heard Grant Haffner, now Senior Vice President and External Affairs Officer, say “the world has seen the Crown Commonwealth of Praetonia stab her onetime friends in Sarzonia in the back repeatedly.” He then watched with mouth agape as he saw Haffner hold up the Treaty of Uxland. “In effect,” he heard Haffner say, “they have done this.” Then, he saw Haffner’s left hand, which held a copy of the treaty in a pincer along with the right hand, snake down the length of the piece of paper whilst the right hand remained in place. The discordant rip echoed through the speakers of the computer, sending chills down the spine of even the most hardened Delegate, for that image was now being projected on a large screen in the House chamber.
Within hours, the toned down appropriations bill Hunter suggested was approved, allocating a full $35 trillion to defence and approving the slate of economic and diplomatic pressures being brought to bear. The Senate approved its own version of the same and the bill was at length signed by Sarzo.
No one knew what the future would bring, but one thing was clear. The times, they were a’ changin'.