Ironing Out
OOC: Closed RP.
Star Office
Tsar Xavier II fiddled around with his dagger before pressing the button to call down to his secretary.
"Erika, are they here yet?"
"Soon, sir." Xavier sighed and released the button, spinning the dagger on the tip of his finger for awhile. He glanced over at Lord General Kruchina Drakonov.
"How is the civilian populace taking it?" The General shrugged.
"They knew it was coming, it's their fault at this point. No violence, though. And even if there was, it's nothing the SS can't handle." Xavier nodded and played with his dagger a little more when the secretary buzzed up to him.
"Sir, they're here. Xavier pressed a button under the massive desk, and across the room, in front of the large windows that overlooked the Andropov Square, a ramp in the floor went down into the floor under the office, and up the ramp, escorted Field Marshal Albert Hernandez, Commander of the Gernish Korps, and Chancellor Enrique Schumann, head of government for the Gernish State within the Empire. Xavier was on the other side of the thick, intricate oak and kadonisi desk, and smiled at the two Gernish officers as they turned around from coming up the ramp, the ramp closing once more, blending in perfectly with the floors.
Lord General Kruchina Drakonov, Overseer of the National Military Command Centre, nodded to both of them and sat back down in the oak chair for him. When the two Gernish officers looked back at Xavier, they saw him on their side of the desk, walking towards them, cape dancing behind him.
"Welcome to the Star Office, Enrique, Albert. Please, sit down," he said, motioning to two (very comfortable) chairs for them. He introduced everyone else in the office around the coffee table, either on a couch or a chair.
"This is Kosar Beria, Minister of Justice," he said, pointing to the middle-aged man in the black suit, who nodded in return, "Pfalzgraf Felix Zhukov von Hertzburg, Minister of Interior and Count Palatine of Hertzburg," he said, motioning to a man dressed in Dersconi noblility attire, who coldly acknowledged the Gernish officers. "And this is Lord General Kruchina Draknonov, overseer of the National Military Command Centre." Tsar Xavier II sat down in the chair for him (which was more decorative than the others) and drinks were brought from the bar in the office, to keep in line with the basic rule of Dersconi diplomacy -- there is no business without alcohol.
"So, how are things in Gernish, our newest state of the Empire?"
"Things are doing just fine here in Gernish" replied FM Hernandez. "And thank you very much for the alcohol and comfortable chairs. They both seem very condusive to business. Now what business did you have in mind?"
"We don't want any war, and please don't exploit our nation's poor people!", pleaded Chancellor Schumann.
His remarks were greeted by a cold stare from Hernandez and the Tsar.
"Quit being French! You're a German and a Spaniard. Don't insult yourself like that!", Hernandez retorted.
"Now, war could be an option, as could the exploitation of our people. We have quite a few criminals that I would not mind exploiting whatsoever. Our economy could surely use the boost, thanks to all these damned anti-business politics from the capital."
"Those 'politics' are meant to keep the PEOPLE happy!"
"Stop being so rosy about life, Chancellor, our people don't give a flying farfenhoogen about the country. Why do you think we have so many druglords in the south? Because we're not willing to make MONEY off of them. Why do you think our voting turnout is 2.3% of REGISTERED VOTERS!? It's because people don't care. Let's take advantage of that."
Being sufficiently pwn'd, the Chancellor shut up.
"Now, what business did you have in mind, your excellency?"
FM Hernandez took a sip of his vodka and got comfortable in his chair.
Tsar Xavier simply stared in wonder at the Chancellor. I should shoot him right now, he thought. He decided against it, however, as weak underlings were easy to manipulate. Gernish would not be a rebellious state.
Marshal Hernandez, however, was a different story. Xavier liked him. He was cool headed (for the most part), strong-willed, and from the record, an able commander. This meant one of two things. Either he would succeed greatly, and come under the Tsar's wing, or he would grow arrogant and unruly, in which case he would be dispatched. Only time would tell which path is followed.
Xavier's glass was empty at the moment, and he sighed. Suddenly, the wine bottle that was of the drink he was enjoying floated over and seemingly poured itself, hovering in air, and travelled back to the bar where it was stored. He ignored the reactions of the Gernishen and went about as if nothing even happened.
"Well, Marshal Hernandez, I'm interested in defining the role of Gernish within the Dersconi Empire, as well as how to solve some of your current...problems. Civil unrest is simply not tolerated within the Empire, and is dealt with most harshly."
"I see our role within the Empire being one of nautical value, as our nation is known for its naval and oceanic history. We have numerous ports as well as a fairly large Naval fleet, not to mention the best sailing school in the world.
"And about this 'unrest' as you call it. What exactly are you talking about? The young people's crimes? The drug problems? Our disgusting bureauracry which spends more time discussing how to open discussions than making decisions? What is it that you feel you need to wipe out? These are all parts of Gernish.
"While I am open to change, especially if change involves money flow, I want Gernish to be able to keep its national pride and character, even as it helps to bolster the Empire in any way it can."
Hernandez stared at the bar as the Tsar had, but no vodka floated toward him. The Chancellor stared dumbfounded, not knowing how to handle a real political discussion.
Hernandez then added,
"As for military support, we would be willing to pledge use of our special forces units (choppter, HALO, and amphibious) to Dersconi Empire operations. We are not sure that our small regular forces could be of any use, but our special forces are very well trained.
And the drug problems in the South? Really they're not as bad as our country states. They're not dealing with cocaine or opium. It's actually mostly something the locals call 'Cannabis', I believe a more Spanish version of marijuana. I would not call it as much of a war as a skirmish. The military position on this would be not to waste forces on the area, but rather legalize marijuana. It helps the economy and if the people are high they'll care EVEN LESS about what we do to our country."
He let loose a quick smirk directed toward the Chancellor, showing his ascendency. Then he walked over the bar and refilled his drink.
Tsar Xavier listened to the Field Marshal speak and nodded.
"Excellent, excellent. You seem to know what you're doing, good. Yes, your civilian administration has disappointed me greatly. Derscon prides itself in having efficiency in government, at all levels. Gernish has continued to fail in that aspect. Gernish also, evidentially, is not capable of producing competent civilian administrators," he said staring at Chancellor Schumann. "Such things Derscon cannot tolerate. Gaurds!" When the Tsar called, a secret door opened within the office and two of the genetically engineered and biologically enhanced Praetorian Guard, dressed in their diamond and kadonisi armour, came up behind the Chancellor and literally pulled him up out of his chair and knocked him out.
"Take him to the Kremlin Dungeons. He is too incompetent to be allowed to ever see the light of day again." The Guards made no response as they carried away the body of the Chancellor to what was described in some (highly classified, as the dungeons, officially, do not exist) reports as "Satan's playground."
When the door shut once more, Tsar Xavier sighed. "Well, that may have been part of your problem. Using my authority as divine autocrat of Derscon, I am hereby disbanding your entire civil government, and placing your Senators under arrest for treason. As of now, you are no longer Field Marshal Albert Hernandez, but Praetor Albert Hernandez. I grow tired of civilian incompetence, so Gernish shall be a stratocracy, until we can construct a proper and competent civilian government in Gernish." He took another sip of his drink before continuing. He did not risk offending the Marshal, now Praetor, as he knew Hernandez was competent and -- it seemed -- loyal. Now for real business, Xavier thought.
He listened to Hernandez continue on describing the situation in Gernish, but grimaced. "Well, it is Imperial Law that marijuana is illegal, as stated in the Code of Morality imposed by Tsar Aleksandr VIII. However, we don't feel the problem can just be solved by arrests. We do, however, want the problem eliminated.
"So, really, it is up to you. I can have a Schutzstaffel division move into Gernish to exterminate the problem, or you can do it yourself. I imagine you'll have enough trouble with running a proper government and fixing all the pieces the civilian one left behind, however."
Hernandez stared dumbfounded for a few moments, not entirely sure what had just happened. He had just been placed in the position of FM a few months ago, and now he was Praetor of a straocracy? Well at least he knew the Tsar meant business and had no problem taking out threats to the Empire, no matter how 'important' they seemed to the small nation. That would have to be filed away into his memory bank.
Finally coming back to full functioning senses, he took a drink to steady himself before responding to the Tsar's statement about the drug problem.
"For now, I believe that the Gernish government, since I now have the authority to speak freely for it, would like a chance to take care of the drug problem on its own before Empire troops go marching through our rainforests. We just got in the first shipments of F-35 fighters from the strategic operations department, so we will have them firebomb known druglord hideouts, then deploy our Gernish Helicopter Special Forces in
MH-60's to do the clean-up work. We could give it a few months of hit and run style raids, and check the drug problem then, before deciding on a more drastic invasion of our own country."
Tsar Xavier nodded, listening to Praetor Hernandez. "That sounds like a suitable solution for the moment. If you feel you can handle the situation, I will allow you to do so. If the situation is not contained, however, I will move SS troops in to deal with the situation to allow you to focus your efforts on Gernish as a whole."
OOC: Meh, short post, short on time.
"Thank you for your trust." replied the recently 'appointed' Praetor.
"Now as for matters not pertaining to another new government for our state. Gernish would like to discuss the naval capacity that it is willing to offer the Dersconi Empire. We could offer training for your Naval operations and Coast Guard, both with engines and by sailpower. Anything else you need Gernish to provide, save obedience?
"I was also hoping to discuss with you what this new 'alliance' will do to improve life in Gernish. Military protection? Economic supports? Social help? What IS it that Gernish will get from this proposition?"
Finishing off what he feared would seem too brash a statement, he quickly looked at the ground, then reverted back to his standard habit when he was uncomfortable. He finished off his third glass of vodka.