NationStates Jolt Archive


Last March of the Sun (Will be re-used for stuff.)

DontPissUsOff
21-06-2007, 04:34
Parliament House, Sun City

Parliament house was abuzz with activity, unusual for such an early hour of the day. Buses and trams rumbled busily past outside, conveying the odd tourist to take a picture of the grand neo-Gothic structure’s slowly blackening exterior, but within the activity, though more subdued, was no less urgent and far more significant. The Cabinet had been assembled, awaiting the arrival of the Emperor, for half an hour. The MPs sat and talked and fidgeted, depending upon their knowledge (or lack of same) regarding the situation arising. Some knew not even why they had been summoned; they would find out soon enough. The Cabinet had had to convene once the Questerian announcement had been made. Such a momentous event, instigated by such a close enemy, was not ignorable; even less so at a time like this, when all around seemed to quake with the uncertainty of a vanishing world floating on cracking ice.

Without flourish or formality, Emperor Marcus the First entered through the worn, heavy doors at the far end of the long room, his expression one of weariness and pain. He nodded to the Foreign Minister, Jenny Farringham, who began to speak immediately he had sat down, unrolling a large blind as she did so. A small projector grumbled into action, displaying photographs, some publicly and some covertly obtained, from various places in the Questerian Commonwealth. Mostly they showed excitable crowds and braying, noisy orators atop what might as well have been soap-boxes; the content, though not elucidated, was not in doubt to the assembled Ministers. Farringham pointed simply to the pictures, letting them speak for themselves.

"Out there lies Questers and the serried ranks of their so-called Commonwealth. I'm not going to burden you with the usual rhetoric of rabble-rousers; that's the Press Officers' job." Nobody laughed, though a few cracked a wan smile. "All I can tell you is this: it looks like this time, it's going to be the big one. They're effectively throwing down a challenge to Automagfreek, and seemingly Gholgoth as well. We don't really know why." She sipped from a glass of coffee near her outstretched hand, swallowing the burning liquid unthinkingly as she watched the hazy, damp city outside. “However, the announcements we’ve seen, the intelligence we’re receiving and the pictures up there combine to form a very ugly picture.”

Mikhail Kazakov, the Minister of Defence, stepped in. "Whatever's going on in their heads, which we don't really know at present--" Kazakov was cut off by an angry snap from the Minister for Agriculture, Peter Burne.

"And why", he demanded with a thumping fist that set liquid dancing onto the polished oak surface, "do we not know what their motives are? Who is responsible for letting our intelligence network become so poor?"

"Nobody is responsible, Peter", Kazakov replied wearily. “At least nobody who’s been found. The fact is that, in the absence of a man at Imperial GHQ in Questers, we’re not going to find out much more than anyone else quite what they wish to kick this off for.”

“And why have we no man in Imperial GHQ?” challenged Burne, infuriated by Kazakov’s lack of an explanation and even more so by his dismissive tone. “How can it be that we have enough money to keep an eye on our own people but not enough to watch for foreigners threatening us? How?

“We have enough money to do both! Damnit man, I’m the soldier here, not you! If you--“

“That’s enough, Mikhail.” Marcus’ ice-coated voice cut across the room, silencing the conversation instantly as his weary, cold eyes glared along the table. “That means very little now that the pieces have been set in motion.” He slowly raised himself from his carved chair and strolled almost nonchalantly to the window, his suddenly deep and flat voice addressing Kazakov without bothering to turn and look at him. “What do we know regarding the enemy?” Kazakov sighed, shaking his head and studying his notes with a grim smile that twisted his ever more craggy, hardened face into something resembling a snarl.

“Quite a bit, actually.” There’s what our damned money has gone towards, Burne! “The Questerians seem to be spread, if our men are to be believed, quite thinly. They’re attempting to rouse their ‘commonwealth’ to action on their behalf; how successful that little trick will be remains to be seen. However, even if they can recruit a sizable force for their own ends, and retain it, they’re up against a formidably large force.” Kazakov paused, courteously letting the obviously eager Farringham interject.

“That’s something we’ve been seeing for some time,” she said, nodding slowly. “Not just Gholgoth, but NATO. The overall feeling seems to be that, since so many of our NATO allies are also Gholgoth members or allies of Gholgothians, the Alliance isn’t so much going to be dragged in as going to jump in, sooner or later.”

Marcus continued to stare from the window pane. “And what of our…” he paused, as though searching awkwardly for the words he needed. “Our situation in this great game of theirs?”

“Not exactly superb”, Kazakov replied, loathing the triumphant smirk that Burne shot at him, “to put it mildly.”

“How not superb are we talking?” the Minister for Transport fiddled unsurely with his shirt collar, loath to risk rousing the wrath of the Defence Minister; but he had not spent years building up the best public transport and freight movement system in the world to see it reduced to ruins by some lot of foreigners, and he was damned if he was going to go back to his office ignorant.

“Not as bad as it looks at first glance. On land, the Ground Forces have been gradually receiving new equipment. The UT-1 series tank, mainly, and various derivatives of it. A lot of the tackle is old but still serviceable - mainly the artillery arm, which is still mostly of Soviet origin. National Service gives us a large reserve pool, who won’t need too much training. The biggest problem, frankly, is fuel. Diesel oil’s precious to us, and it’s sure to be the first thing the enemy goes for.” He shuffled his papers, glancing to the still silent Emperor, and cleared his throat nervously.

“In the air, things are still not too good, but better than they were. We still have many Soviet types on the books, mostly strategic bombers and fighters. Our own interceptors and medium-range bombers have replaced the old Russian types. Training-wise things are worse, however, than on the ground.”

“And why is that?” asked the Interior Minister reasonably. Hiirako Tongato was seldom a man of commotion, and saw no reason to try to castigate his old friend; he knew only too well why the Air Forces’ pilots were getting barely the minimum amount of what they called “stick time” per year.

“Fuel”, Kazakov replied simply. “Jets are horrendous fuel-burners, far worse even than ground forces in large numbers. The latest maritime patrol airframe has been designed around a particularly efficient engine, but those engines cannot, or so I’m informed, be used in anything that we want to move rapidly. Our fighters, interceptors and most of our bombers and helicopters will still retain jet engines, including the new GN-4 class being put into production now.”

“So you’re telling me,” replied the Chancellor slowly, “that we’re facing a fuel shortage for our forces in action?”

“Not for our forces in action, no. We have enough reserves of fuel for around fifty days’ sustained action, by our own current estimates. That’s diesel oil only. Aviation fuel stocks are lower, around thirty days’. Heavy fuel oil is available in about the same supply, but that’s largely irrelevant to the Navy nowadays anyway. On the subject of the Navy, I can only say that things are probably best there. The Navy still receives the bulk of our funding, and has for a while had access to newer and improved vessels and weapons at a rate denied to the other forces.”

“Including Imperceptible,” Burne acidly pointed out, setting Kazakov’s teeth grating once more. “Are we likely to see a repeat of that, Minister?

Kazakov glowered witheringly at his most vocal opponent, but held his ground. “No, we are not. We have rectified the faults revealed by Imperceptible’s unfortunate voyage. We have small numbers of almost all the new classes I mentioned in service, and a base of trained men who know their ‘ins and outs’; our reservists have, wherever possible, been sent to train on these new ships during their ninety-day call-up period. Of course it’s not perfect, but the situation isn’t too horrendously bad. The big question is essentially one of whether or not we can mobilise - and train - our population fast enough, and whether we can produce enough machines to meet the demand.”

And, of course, whether we can survive the first blows.

*****
The decision, in the end, could not swing any way other than the direction it took. The country must honour its commitment to NATO and to its allies. Emperor Marcus stood and addressed the Cabinet, briefly and tersely, after having counted the votes.

“Ladies and gentlemen; my decision is not easy. However, I must concur with your vote. We must, as you have said, abide by those agreements into which we have entered. Ready or unready, willing or unwilling, we must prepare for war, and request the aid of our friends and allies.

It is likely, with or without the aid, that this will be the last march of the Land of the Sun. It is likely, my friends,that we are marching to our doom.”

There would be no announcement or formal proclamation of mobilisation; deception was at the heart of the war-fighting strategy rapidly evolving in the High Command’s headquarters. Call-up notices would, as always, be sent by registered post; industry would be mobilised as covertly as possible. More unusually, a proportion of the available resources were to be spent simply on an actual deception force; four dozen ancient warships were already sitting, quietly being modified, under concrete camouflage pens at Star Point. Marcus knew of the various preparations that would be undertaken as soon as the Ministers returned to their respective departments; he knew also that the deceptive measures and bluffs they had so long rehearsed in a desperate bid to hide the weakness of the country’s armed forces might soon be all that stood between them and destruction.

Yes; we are marching to our doom. Marcus sighed, tired and forlorn, and gazed out over the bustling City.

*****

It took Farringham around an hour to send out a mass, high-encryption message to various other NATO member states, requesting information on Questerian intentions and on how much, if any, military force they could spare in the aid of her country. She held out but little hope; Questers’ commonwealth and the Sovereign League would likely absorb almost all the attention of NATO’s more potent members. Her country would have to fend for itself, and hope, even as all hope seemed slowly to be fading away. But she had to try; and so she sent the message to everyone, from AMF to Tyrandis.

From: J. Farringham (MFA, DPUO)
To: NATO Nations
Subject: The gathering storm

To our allies in NATO:

It is becoming increasingly clear to all that Questers means to attack Gholgoth. The number of Gholgoth nations also members of NATO, and the proximity of NATO member nations who are almost certain to aid Automagfreek, makes the likelihood of an additional attack against Havenic NATO very high; of this you are all doubtless aware, and we will not dishonour our pledges to NATO and its members by attempting to back our of any military action that might be necessary.

We are, however, a nation in little state to take on an opponent so strong and close as the Questerians and their cohorts. We therefore request that, if at all possible, you provide us with something, anything, that might aid our defence. Manpower, equipment, money, intelligence; we are in our time of need, and we ask that NATO aid us, for without NATO’s help we cannot help NATO.

We stand with you, doomed as we may be. We shall not think ill if you can spare us nothing to relieve a plight of our own making. In any case, may the Light go with us all in this hour of Darkness.

Yours,
J. Farringham (Minister for Foreign Affairs)
Cravan
21-06-2007, 05:22
Imperial Palace
Cabinet Room

"The Dontians are calling for support.", Director Gallens announced as Emperor Robert II gazed out the window, stirring the martini glass which he clutched in his hand ever so gently. "We have units in close proximity."
"We also have allies in close proximity.", Robert replied, turning his head over his shoulder and glancing down at several folders laying on the glass table. The folders were lined with red tape, marking them as confidential of the utmost priority. Only two other men were present in the room besides Gallens, they being Director Waddingson of the Imperial Department of Intelligence and Director Klatch of the Imperial Department of the Military. Both leaned against the far wall as the sun cast a shadow on the upper halves of their bodies. It was noon in the capital city of Cravna.

The Emperor set his martini down on the window sill, and picked up one of the folders which lay on the table. In it was intelligence gathered by an IDI agent implanted deep in Northford, codenamed Dreamcatcher. (Link. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=530633)) In it were several reports on the reinforcement process Northford was undertaking, as well as its military mobilization.

"Northford mobilizing... How close are they to the Dontian homeland?"
"Pretty God-damned close enough.", Klatch replied, "The Questarians can deploy from almost anywhere in Haven by this point, nobody down there is safe. Especially our territory at Carptanthium."
"Where my father currently enjoys his retirement...", Robert said while staring off into the cityscape beyond the window. "When the shit hits the fan..."
"Which hopefully it won't...", Gallens interupted.
"Oh get out of your fantasy world, we're down to weeks, perhaps days to prepare. Nothing is stopping the Questarians at this point. And they're already angry at us for joining NATO. Cravanian flags burned left and right over there."
"Luckily I believe we have a following in Northford.", Waddingson remarked. "We've done enough to help the Northfordians that they value us over the Questarians."
"Question is does Brooks value us over the Questarians? By the looks of this report, I think not.", the Emperor returned.
"He seems rather torn..."
"Well we'll see about that."

Silence settled in the room again as the men paused their discussion. Then, Klatch spoke up.

"So what of the Dontians?"
"A fleet of Imperial Navy ships lies spread out throughout the line which we've drawn across Haven. Nothing will penetrate into southern Haven without meeting a NATO force somewhere, be it Cravanian or any other allied nation."
"Problem is we'll be busy defending our own assets if necessary."
"Our own assets are right in line with the Dontians and other allied territories. If anything it will be a united front against League and Commonwealth aggression. The Dontians will have our assistance, whether or not we are there to personally defend their home isles if we are steamrolled over early on."
"You're talking like a madman, John...", the Emperor said. "Almost like you are perfectly fine with taking casualties. Every Cravanian life matters, that's one of our military's most dearly held beliefs."
"People die in war. It's a fact", Klatch responded coldly.

The Emperor looked down for a moment, then made eye contact with the Director of the Military.

"But ideas do not."

The Emperor gave his words a moment to sink in, then returned to the business at hand.

"We'll be transferring all intelligence we have on the current situation to the Dontians. At the moment I don't want to send funds, considering they won't do much good on such notice. And I will let them know that the Cravanian military is there, ready to act as a shield over southern Haven."
"Now raises the issue of Cravanian-Questarian relations."

Robert smirked, raising his martini glass in a mock toast.

"Let's hope everything turns out nice.", he said with a smile. "The only way that's going to happen, though, is if they don't fuck with our allies first."

Taking a final gulp, the Emperor downed the last of his drink.

And to think I'm doing any progress my father and Koslin ever made with the Questarians...

((OOC: Too lazy to proofread, take it as is. =P))
Hamptonshire
22-06-2007, 01:36
Federal Chancellery Complex, Obsidia

The past few months had not been kind to the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Marcelo Paredes was having to assist and advise a man he had no confidence in. The Acting Chancellor grew more and more unpopular as each week, and terrible decision, passed. The only solace Paredes could find was that Codreanu had very little interest in the day to day workings of the government. Now faced with a brewing crisis that threatened to destabilize Haven, Codreanu was still no where to be seen. Marcelo and the nation could not wait for their lackluster interim leader to act. Once again he had to call together a meeting of key officials and handle a situation by himself.

One by one senior administration members made their way to the complex. The weather in the Capital Cities was unseasonably warm and more than a few of the ministers thought to themselves that the day would be better spent relaxing in a park than attending a dower cabinet meeting. Despite temptation, they all came: the Defense and Finance Secretaries, and the Ministers of State responsible for Intelligence and Haven Affairs. Paredes began the meeting in the ornate library just off from the Chancellor's main office. He poured himself a cup mango accented iced tea and pointed his guests to their seats.

"Gentlemen, as you all read in your morning briefings there is a bit of a situation coming to a simmer in both Haven and Gholgoth. As Mr Codreanu and Secretary Larsen outlined in yesterday's full Cabinet meeting, the United Realms will continue to pursue the standing policy of armed neutrality. This meeting is not directly about the larger situation but the impact of actions upon national security." The four other men in the room looked at each other a bit nervously. "The Dontian government has decided to side with the combined NATO-Gholgoth faction."

Sir Geoff Kirkssen relaxed slightly at the news. He had prepared himself for something much worse. "That is a troubling development indeed, though I would not go so far as to say that it is an intolerable threat to national security. As per the meeting yesterday I have ordered Royal Armed Forces to increase their presence in the Havenic dominions. Other units have been told to increase readiness, but we should be fine." Valentin Cholmondeley, the ever-creepy Intelligence minister, reached for his briefcase and removed several stacks of papers.

"The situation is not as straightforward as we would like. RAFIS has received information from contacts within NATO and from intercepted communications that lead us to believe that Emperor Marcus's government has requested financial, materiel or personnel assistance from other NATO nations. We do not yet know what their responses will be, but conservative projections have several large non-Havenic military formations deploying to their nation. We further surmise-" Kirkssen interrupted Cholmondeley.

"They could cut us off from Oltremare. Even if they don't actively pursue such a policy, the mere presence of foreign military assets in our nearest neighbor changes the rules of the game." Marcelo raised his hand to pause the conversation. He wanted to get control of the situation before anyone said something they might later regret.

"There is little reason to believe that the Dontians have any hostile intentions to us in any way. The threat is in that non-Havenic powers could comprise the safety and integrity of intra-imperial commerce and transportation. There is also the question of the Merchant Marine and civil sea transport with hostile powers. Several of the more civilized NATO nations respect the rights of neutrals but most Gholgoth powers wouldn't understand the definition of neutrality if they looked it up in the dictionary."

The Minister of State for Havenic Affairs Lord Pete Easton clasped his hands together in thought. At age forty he was youngest in the group, but his fifteen years of experience in the Foreign Office made up for his relative youth. "I believe our first move should be to get a feel for their intentions. We have to open the lines of dialogue so that we can better gauge the situation. I highly doubt Marcus will withdraw the request but I do think that might be able to wrestle some assurances from his government. What has Secretary Larsen said about this?"

Marcelo drank his iced tea and quietly mumbled, "The Foreign Secretary is otherwise engaged. He left this morning for a Dominions Government conference in Cyptra, so he will be out of the loop on this one." The other men in the room quickly realized that the conference was only cover. Ever since Chamber President Codreanu became Acting Chancellor, the Foreign Secretary became less and less reasonable. He was becoming a self-righteous stubborn ass, and no one was sad to see him left out of this situation. "Deputy Foreign Secretary Agano will be running the administrative end of things but I'd like you, Lord Easton, to actually run point on this. If you don't object."

"I will get in contact with our ambassadors immediately." Lord Easton replied, "I'll also have my office draft a letter to send to the Dontians asking for clarification. We need to set up clear avenues of communication as soon as possible. It may even be necessary for someone to go to Sun City to talk with them face to face."

Kobus Alderliesten, who had only been appointed Finance Secretary the week before after serving as the department's Acting leader for six months, decided it was time to join the discussion. "This plan sounds fine on its face but I fear there are some serious holes in this operation, Marcelo. I will be among the first to say that Codreanu and Larsen are incapable of providing sound leadership in a situation like this, but we cannot simply toss them aside. Under the present circumstances the Senor Cabinet can legally govern with the consent of Her Majesty but we run the risk of politically undermining the entire government if we operate behind the backs of two senior government officials."

"They are not being tossed aside," Paredes calmly responded, "the Cabinet is simply asserting its legal right to act as a collegial body in the absence of the actual elected Chancellor. Now, truth be told, Codreanu and Larsen do not have any interest in the current situation. Until such time as they interject themselves into the process, all efforts will be run through my office. I am in daily contact with the President of the Privy Council and I will be meeting with Her Majesty this evening to discuss the situation. What we must do is form a united consensus so that the Acting Chancellor is forced to act within a framework of our choosing."

The ministers looked around to each other and shook their heads in affirmation. They all knew there was much to do, but only time would tell if they could do it.


From: Lord Pete Easton, Duke of Port Easton; Minister of State for Havenic Affairs (URHE)
To: Ministry for Foreign Affairs (DPUO)

To our friend and neighbor,

These are dangerous and unfortunate times that we all find ourselves in. Chaos and barbarism routinely threaten the security and stability of states such as ours. It was with concern that the Foreign Office learned of your intention to pursue a close line of allegiance to forces within NATO. While we have no fear or concern of a deterioration of relations between our two states, the current situation involves many variables that could unnecessarily and unintentionally disrupt order within Haven.

We want to assure Emperor Marcus I and His Government that the United Realms of the Hamptonian Empire continue to practice our policy of armed neutrality. We have no desire to be drawn into a pointless military conflict. Our first priority is to maintain the security of our nation. Second, to maintain the clear and open links between ourselves, our Dominions and our friends throughout Haven. The Federal Government wishes to enter into discussions with your government to attain assurances and guarantees that the safety and stability of Hamptonshire and its interests throughout Haven will not be disrupted.

Yours faithfully,
[signed]
Lord Pete Easton, Duke of Port Easton
Minister of State for Havenic Affairs
United Realms of the Hamptonian Empire
Granzi
22-06-2007, 19:20
Official Communiqué
The Foreign Ministry

TO: J. Farringham, Minister for Foreign Affairs
RE: The Gathering Storm

Sir,

I realize that this communication will find our friends in DontPissUsOff in dire straits. Know, however, that as long as the Commonwealth of Granzi has its honor, we will not hesitate to aid one of the closest allies we have.

I personally sympathize with the plight of your people, having seen the death and destruction that overwhelmed my country in years of the Second Civil War. That war stemmed from an incident with the terrorist organization of Jaxus, at a time when the Commonwealth was abandoned by its allies and left alone to fend off the vigorous wolves gathering on our borders. We could not do so without outside aid, and so I watched in helplessness and rage as the lands of the my ancestors were defiled at the hands of ruthless invaders. It is a lesson that will be with me always, but I will not see it repeated in my lifetime.

The Defense Ministry is prepared to offer what it can as the Commonwealth mobilizes for the coming war. Elements of the Commonwealth Navy have completed this task, so with the permission of your government, the Third, Fifth, and Eleventh Battlefleets will sail toward Dontian waters and take up defensive positions along your nation's shores. Along with these ships will travel the Fourth Expeditionary Force, composed of several army and marine divisions with sizeable air support.

Finally, allow me to donate the sum of five-hundred billion USD to the Dontian military effort. Together, the forces of NATO will triumph over the Questarian aggressors.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/Granzi/FM_Sun.jpg
Wenyuan Sun
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Borman Empire
22-06-2007, 20:58
...2VX Encryption...
Official Encrypted Imperial Communique:
To: J. Farringham (MFA, DPUO)
From: Chancellor Licinius

We have been made aware by mutual allies that you may be in need of military assistance in the coming war. While we are not members of NATO, we do bear the Gholgoth standard and would readily aid you, if allowed to do so.

If you choose to accept them, we are prepared to offer you the 10th through 13th fleets, inclusive, as well as two full Imperial Armies. These units shall remain under our control, however, you may choose where they shall defend your nation, so as to best plan your defense.

If you choose not to accept these forces, we understand your concerns and hope that they remain dormant in the coming conflict so that they may sail to defend you when the times arises.

Sincerely,
Chancellor Licinius, Chancellor of the Borman Empire
Ending Transmission
...Ending 2VX Encryption...