Hour of Discontent (Open)
City of Carthage, nation of Urceo-Carthage. This city is the capital of the Urcean Kingdom of Urceo-Carthage, and a historical city. In recent times, it has became a boiling point of politics. In this boiling point, three political figures meet. One of them, the King, Nero Augustus II. The second, the Imperial Governor, a representative from the Urcean capital of Rome, Mario Barducci. The third one, however, was not from the same political ranks as these other men. His name was Major Colonel Narabius. He was the head military officer in all of Imperial North Africa. It was raining outside, and the weather was quite fitting for the occasion. The three men met for the future of the country. Several things were up on a "deal", the lives of 450,000,000, 200 planes, $5,000,000,000, among other things. You might call them conspirators. You might call them traitors. They thought of themselves as all-righteous freedom fighters, however. Once the meeting was over, they were all in agreement. Their course of action was set: there was no debate left. Those under them had been informed, and those who might snitch mysteriously dissipate.
HOLOCOM #5802, CENTRAL TUNIS HOLOGRAM PLANT, OPEN MESSAGE
FROM: Supreme Command of North African Forces, Major Colonel Narabius
TO: Captain Gullo, Captain O'Neil, and Lieutenant Colonel Jackson,
Orders from 20JUN07 are effective now, June 25, 2007. You may execute on your orders now. Godspeed.
HOLOCOM #5802, CENTRAL TUNIS HOLOGRAM PLANT, CLOSE MESSAGE
This message was sent from the Colonel to his men. Similarly, a message was sent to USCOM in Rome
HOLOCOM #95902, URCEAN STRATEGIC COMMAND HOLOGRAM COMMUNICATION WING, OPEN MESSAGE
FROM: Major Colonel Narabius, Nero Augustus II, and Mario Barducci
TO: Emperor Julius Nero and his subordinates,
Your reign has ended. We have seized power here in North Africa. The Imperial Kingdom of Urceo-Carthage has been formed into the Free Kingdom of Carthago-Tunisia. Our military forces have been mobilized to defend our new glorious nation. The Hour of Discontent has ended for us, and has descended upon you.
HOLOCOM #95902, URCEAN STRATEGIC COMMAND HOLOGRAM COMMUNICATION WING, CLOSE MESSAGE
In ROME, one million men from all over the European military bases were being gathered. Urcea, along with Constantinalia, it's colony, declares WAR upon the Kingdom of Carthago-Tunisia. Constantinalia itself gathers 930,000 to contribute to the allied force to CRUSH Carthago-Tunisia and absorb it back into the Empire.
((OOC: Which was it that helped me out with the Rogues from the Technocratic Union?))
OOC: Urcea, of course. Carthago-Tunisia emerged shortly after than event.
+++President Fan Baonu, along with Premier Jin Jiahua, were meeting with the Minister of Defence, Zhao Tounu, in the National Parliament (Chinese: 国民大会; Pinyin: Guómín Dàhuì; often referred to as the JNP in English, and 国大; Pinyin: Guódà in Chinese) in a conference room set aside for special discussions, such as what was going on in Urceo-Carthage.
+++'This can't go un-responded to, Xiāndào,' said the Minister, referring to them both by their customary unitary title, which roughly translated to 'someone who sets an example for others to follow'. It had been the custom ever since Jeuna had been a republic (sponsored by the United States and its allies in the early fifties, during the time when China had begun its revolutionary process of turning into a communist state). 'The media will be all over it, and we'll look like fools if we do not report it first.'
+++'We can keep a lid on the news,' replied Jiahua, brushing a stray hair out of her face. 'But not forever,' she finished quickly, before Tounu could finish what he was about to say to that comment. 'So you're right, Minister. But what do we say?'
+++'It does not seem right to support an imperialist power—especially one that overthrew a legitimate republican government,' mused Baonu, rubbing his finger under his nose. 'But then again, it will be hard to justify supporting these...ah..."freedom fighters", as you called them, Minister.'
+++Zhao shrugged. 'The Americans had a very clear idea of what was legal and what was not, and they went ahead and started their revolution,' he commented. 'I think it turned out that they were right.'
+++'But is it the same here?' asked Jin. 'What warranted the overthrow?'
+++'We don't know that,' Zhao answered. 'They didn't say, but I can assume it was probably something about the provinces having too little representation, or something. A desire to return to republicanism.'
+++'But they didn't make an attempt to secede peacefully—the legal and proper way,' Fan said.
+++'Neither did the Americans,' pointed out Zhao.
+++'But the Confederacy did,' replied Fan.
+++'The reason the Colonies revolted was because the King of England was clearly insane, and wouldn't listen to reason. The American federal government in the 1800s had some sense, at least,' Jin furnished.
+++'Was—or rather, is—Nero insane?' asked Fan. It was an honest question, and he looked around for opinions.
+++'I do not think so,' replied Jin. 'Nothing he's done has shown it.'
+++'Not mentioning grabbing power from the Italian government and setting the clock back on their government several thousand years,' Zhao grunted, folding his arms.
+++'That is not insanity,' replied Jin.
+++'But it is an indication that he—Nero—wants power. I would say power leads to a corrupted mind—'
+++'But that is your opinion,' Jin interrupted.
+++'Granted,' Zhao replied, a bit testily. 'Yet even so, I think it is a very well-founded opinion.'
+++'In any case,' interjected Baonu. 'We don't have any solid facts that Nero would not or could not listen to reason, and there is no reason, at this time, to believe the revolutionaries or side with them.'
+++'But we need to get a statement out before the press,' urged Jiahua.
+++'I know,' Baonu replied. 'And that is why I think it would be best if we sided with the established Urceo-Carthaginian government. We may not even have to provide support to them, unless they directly ask us.'
+++Tounu put his face in his palm, while Jiahua nodded.
+++'All right,' the Minister finally responded. 'But I want you to know I am following this decision while protesting, and that I do not want my men and women to die for a government I cannot condone.'
+++'Duly noted, Minister,' replied Fan Baonu.
———
+++'. . .And in a statement earlier today,' continued the young and attractive anchorwoman, scarcely taking a breath between stories. 'President Fan Baonu and Premier Jin Jiahua have jointly released a message saying that, concerning the events currently in progress in Urceo-Carthage, the Government of Jeuna and the Presidency of Jeuna do not condone the actions of the revolutionaries currently in control of the "Free Kingdom of Carthago-Tunisia". Neither the President nor the Premier said they supported the Imperial Kingdom, however, and it is presumed that they continue to maintain a stance of non-involvement in the situation—'
———
+++Zhao breathed a sigh of relief as he turned off the television at his house. The bastards hadn't sided with anyone, thank God. It wasn't as good as putting Italy and Turkey back together again, but at least he wouldn't have to lie through his teeth to the flashing cameras and waving microphones that he really and truly believed supporting the Imperial Kingdom was in Jeuna's best interests.
'. . .And in a statement earlier today,' continued the young and attractive anchorwoman, scarcely taking a breath between stories. 'President Fan Baonu and Premier Jin Jiahua have jointly released a message saying that, concerning the events currently in progress in Urceo-Carthage, the Government of Jeuna and the Presidency of Jeuna do not condone the actions of the revolutionaries currently in control of the "Free Kingdom of Carthago-Tunisia". Neither the President nor the Premier said they supported the Imperial Kingdom, however, and it is presumed that they continue to maintain a stance of non-involvement in the situation—'
After a quick cough, she continued to speak...
'-In Europe, however, tensions are rising. Several areas of North Africa have seceded with Carthago-Tunisia. We've prepared a map-'
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6015/urceanwarks5.png
'-Blue indicates Urcean territories. Orange indicates the Urcean Kingdom of Constantinalia, which is fighting on the side of Urcea. Dark yellow indicates Carthago-Tunisia. Dark Green indicates the two recent secession nations: The Free Algerian Confederacy and the Liberated Empire of Libya. Dark red indicates areas claimed by the secessionist nations, but have not seceded, or have seceded but the secessionist government has been replaced with a loyalist one. We will continue to cover this story as it grows-'
OOC: ...I think I'm still at war with Constantinalia..
OOC: ...I think I'm still at war with Constantinalia..
OOC: How's that? Constantinalia was annexed quite awhile ago.
OOC: Ahah, somehow missed that happening, I think. That or I just forgot about it. :D Anyway, might get involved still, if I find the time. Haven't really decided which side yet, but hey, I've got the time, ne?
OOC: No, in a matter of days, a giant shark will eat whatever side it chooses. So join quick!
[ Why are the guys in North Africa seceding? Is Nero a really bad person, are they tired of under-representation, or are they just hungry for power? Actually, to be more accurate, how much would the world know about their motivations? ]
[ Why are the guys in North Africa seceding? Is Nero a really bad person, are they tired of under-representation, or are they just hungry for power? Actually, to be more accurate, how much would the world know about their motivations? ]
OOC: The three men in Carthago-Tunisia were actually just hungry for power, and the restrictions of being a Kingdom [similar to a republic in the Soviet Union] were too great for them. The others were actually not represented at all, and they were part of a territory called "Unincorporated African Provinces", which was governed by the Israeli Kingdom.
OOC: The three men in Carthago-Tunisia were actually just hungry for power, and the restrictions of being a Kingdom [similar to a republic in the Soviet Union] were too great for them. The others were actually not represented at all, and they were part of a territory called "Unincorporated African Provinces", which was governed by the Israeli Kingdom.
[ Okay. I'll wait for a formal statement by the Free Kingdom before I start steering Jeuna for involvement (probably not military, but I think I might be able to work something else). ]
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/245/flagofurceocarthagecopygf5.png
ATTENTION: The World
SENDER: Carthago Tunisia
We have separated from our evil captors, Urcea. However, they are attempting to subjugate us again. We plan to conquer Africa as a sovereign state: an over-seas nation is trying to stop our forging of an empire and is trying to stop our sovereign cause. So, we beg the international community to help us. Emperor Nero Augustus, signing out.
In a press conference today Saint Benard I and his Chief of Staff Lt. General Grant William Smith urged Carthago Tunisia and Urcea's North African Provinces to stand down. The Kingdom of SaintB has announced that it is imposing economic sanctions on the 'wayward states' as an incentive.
"We also urge the Urcean Government to approach this situation with more diplomacy. The last thing the Mediteranian region needs is war on a massive scale." Benard I said during the conference.
Shortly before the conference began the Ulysses Class Carrier 'Scylia' and her escorts were dispatched to demonstrate off the coast of Carthage in a move to prove that SaintB will not tolerate a war so close to her borders.
11:00 Hours, Medeteranian Sea: Bridge of the "Scylia', 3.7 KM off the coast of Carthago Tunisia
Rear Admiral Sancho Pancho stared out the window at the vast expanse that was the Mediteranian Sea, watching and waiting to see the coast on the horizon. On the ships scanners a detailed map of Carthago Tunisia was displayed, radar blips representing vessels of all types floated about in the otherwise empty expanse that was the sea, he knew that Cruising at 30 knots he could expect to see the coast within the next few minutes.
"Sir."
A comm officer interrupted his watch for the coast, "We have recieved a communique from HQ, it is being decrypted now."
"Thank you soldier." He didn't wait for the salute and instead walked over to watch the moniter as the message streamed across it.
HOLD ONCE YOU GET WITHIN SIGHT OF THE COAST ---
DEPLOY A SINGLE SQUADRON OF FIGHTERS JUST OUTSIDE OF CARTHAGO AIR SPACE WITHIN RADAR RANGE EVERY HOUR ---
AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS