NationStates Jolt Archive

ANN, Liberty-City

We at the Allanean News Network are pleased to be the first report that Antalia Reynes, the Libertarian candidate for the Presidency, has won the elections with 23.5% of the popular vote. After the opening of the electoral Congress, the representatives of the New World Order and the Anarchist Party were instructed by their candidates to pool their support behind Antalia Reynes, giving her a solid victory in this election.

Antalia Reynes is a strong supporter of individual freedoms and world peace, and has campaigned on that message. Desmond Keyes was originally the favorite for this election, but several things conspired against him – his gaffe relating to the West Ariddian situation, the low voter turnout, and vigorous campaigning by both Harvey Ley Jones, the Democrat, and the Constitutionalist Edward Angstrom, who have both siphoned some votes off Keyes – enough to make him lose, say ANN’s expert analyst staff, but not enough to win.

This is what the final voting results look like:

Antalia Reynes [L]: 23.5%
Desmond Keyes:[R] 21.1%
Edward Angstrom[C]: 17%
Lysander Suprynowicz [A]: 15%
Harvey Lee Jones [D]: 14%
Frederick Dalton Chomsky: [NWO]13.5%
John Smith [S-A]: 1.5%

And now, without further ado, the inauguration speech by President Antalia Reynes!

Friends! Freemen! Allaneans!

I would like to thank you all for your efforts in this election. Not just those who supported me – but everybody. The Republicans, the Democrats, the Constitutionalists, the Anarchists and the New World Order members. Thank you all for participating and expressing your opinion. You and I both know that the Allanean Republic survives through freedom of speech, through difference of opinion, through difference of lifestyle. Freedom is the lifeblood of Allanea.

As of now, Allanea will begin a new foreign policy – one where we will reduce our military actions abroad, move our military to a defensive stance, and project a new force - one of persuasion, of kindness, of trade and mutual agreement – to the world outside. We will refinance the Johnson program and begin to deploy its first graduates to embassies around the multiverse, from London to Midna Ceti, from Marxburg to Duat itself.

This new policy is not to be interpreted as an anti-Menelmacari policy, or anti-Necrontyr foreign policy. We love our Menelmacari and Necrontyr friends, who have always been valuable partners for the United States. As a matter of fact, I hereby extend an invitation for both these nations to send their officials to visit me in the White House.
I will improve the economy of Allanea through the use of the best instrument for this - personal and economic freedom. I will cut the budget of the Department of Education, devolving education to the states and to those it truly belongs to – the People. I will cut the budget of the Department of Commerce, ending corporate welfare for the wealthy

As President of the United States, I will focus on the important issues – freedom, peace, and prosperity for all Freemen. I hope all of those who worked so hard for this election campaign – even if they didn’t support my candidacy – will join me in my efforts.

That is all.

May God bless Allanea.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/allanea/characters/antalia/leader3.jpg

Antalia Reynes, President of the United States

The riding-lizard, a nauglir, or ‘cold one’ breathed heavily as it trod through the jungle, its heavy footfalls belying the agility with which it, she, Lash, could move when it wanted to. Her rider, a tall, lissom elven woman, dressed in tightly fitting ‘ithilmar’ armour that was evidently more for show than any practical use, with buoyant, dark hair cascading down her shoulders from a lofty circlet on her brow that ascended almost like a pair of silvery antlers. The riding beast twitched its long talons in apprehension, and the lady’s quarry appeared, a hulking brute on what appeared to be a gigantic diseased boar. She languidly extended an arm, and shot a narrow metal bolt from the railgun weapon, in the style of an automatic crossbow. The narrow projectile sliced into the rider of the beast, and another, from behind her, killed the fungus-creature the heavily built green-skinned creature rode.

Another krork, seeing itself outnumbered, charged at the giant lizard, evidently planning to head butt the ten foot monster into submission. The lizard ate it. Ranisath sauntered up beside the woman, astride another of the creatures, “The thing is, they really do enjoy fighting so much they enjoy fighting even when they’re dying. A seriously demented species. Unfortunately, when we find them, it’s generally only prudent to make sure they’re contained. They fight and kill each other all the time anyway… You’ve just got to make sure they don’t build starships and get out to tread on people’s toes…”

“Why not just kill them all?”

“Well, the mortality rate from blowing up the occasional starship construction effort is no higher than their own base one anyway, and they’re a useful long term culture to observe krorks in the wild. We have one for tyranids too, in a great big null field, again, about a hundred thousand decent size ones on a little planetoid with an dense core”

Ranisath paused for a moment looking around with deliberate slowness, in an nanosecond replies to the latest few dozen pieces of business were sent.

From: Ranisath Cuilahîr Cuilévaher
To: Antalia Reynes
Subject: Congratulations.

Congratulations on your recent election and rapid inauguration. I’m curious though, who precisely are you inviting? Anyone in particular, or diplomats in general?

Official Communique

We are sad to hear you and your cabinet have decided to cut the budget of the Education Ministry, this is a move that will surely hurt Allanea's international stance, as well as Allanea itself.

Official Diplomatic Telegram:
To: The United States of Allanea
From: The Democratic Empire of Great Vantania
We would like to congratulate the USA with a withdrawl from the Random Gifts Box. You're gift for today consists of:
Three Pounds of Anticheese
Five Cavity Infected Boar's Teeth
One Fancy Calligraphic Pen
Two Bottles of Dyspepsi Cola

-Erika Redmark; Empress of the Democratic Empire, Queen of Great Vantania, Liberator of the Workers, Lady of Redmark, President of the Sovereign Commonwealth, Holder of Titles

Official Telegram:

Lord Sumguy wishes to send his congratualations to Antalia Reynes on her victory, and is gladdened that a fellow Libertarian now leads the great nation of Allenea.

Official Response From: His Imminence George Patrin The Divine Canoarch
To: The Rt. Hon Antalia Reynes

We are, in a word, disgusted. What have these people wrought to deserve such a travesty of leadership, such an amalgam of untruths and capriciousness? Why should such a illustrious nation as Allanea be saddled with the leadership of one whom draws support from anarchists and liberals? The Waldenburger Empire shall exhale a sigh of relief when your government, and quite possibly your entire way of life, comes crashing to the ground burning in the bile of it's supposed "Free Speech." And if this were not enough, they elect a women. Your great nation shall be lucky if you are able to even contemplate and maneuver your ladyship's passage out of bed without her Excellency's mind melting from the task.

Such tasks are better left to men, men who understand the workings of government, and it's place under the Divine. We must kneel now to spit on you, spit on you and your filthy whore of a president. May the archangels come in your sleep and remove your stain from the world. May the Divine Wind pass over you and remove your spawn, your officers, and your very soul to be condemned to hell for such pretensions as you have made. In time , perhaps far away, your people will realize the folly of their ways and create a proper nation, until then all you shall have in our scorn.

Signed:
His imminence Harold the Cardinal Thousis Cenobiarch of The Holy Church
His Imminence George The Cardinal Patrin The Divine Canoarch

We are pleased to hear that Antalia Reynes has succeeded in the leadership race and we hope that the people are still represented even in such a close leadership race hopefully there are no stark differences of opinion, unresolvable in regards to public opinion so as to destabalize Allanea.

ICCD is willing to offer a new consular/foreign department service to allow for Allanean's to have access to the Dian education system via the Allanean exchange program which will open up to 10,000 educational spots for Allanean's within ICCD who are denied access to education due to lack of funding.

Likewise we will open up Visa's for the wealthy of Allanea to move to ICCD if they feel persecuted or disenfranchized (pun), in their own lands.

ICCD officially states that it supports Allanea's intention to promote peace.


Dispatch of the Logothe's Office

In the White House
“No, no, I do not approve this plan whatsoever. This is completely wasteful. Look, I realize the Hexagon thinks they need this device, but it’s taxpayer’s money, and taxpayer’s money does not exist to buy the military shiny toys. It may be a novel experience for you to find that out, Senator, but the military exists to secure the life, liberty and property of Allaneans, not welfare for your favorite arms company.” – Reynes slammed the phone with satisfaction. The Senator in question was always an obnoxious fool – and destroying his spending bill was, it seemed, one of the perks of her new job.

“Oh, hi Marusin’ka” – she smiled at the intern.

The intern, a girl in a traditional Jewish skirt that reached down to her very soles and a modest buttoned shirt, smiled uncomfortable. “Your Honor, there is a message from the very Elenaran himself – it is addressed to you, Your Honor.

“Quite, quite interesting.” – smiled Antalia. She expected something like this – normally you can expect a reply if you address a foreign leader in your first speech in office.

Marusia curtsied – pleasantly surprising Antalia Reynes yet again – and handed her a small tablet.

“Oh I see, Marusin’ka, I see. So, what would a girl that was the secretary of the great Mark Johnson himself advise me to do?”

“Why, reply to the message, Your Honor.”

“Oh, I understand, but my motives are not quite something that would be good to show the Elenaran. He might laugh.”

“Oh, please. You consulted me before the speech, your Honor, and I say to you now what I said back then – he won’t mind.”

“Oh very well. Can you help me with the exact wording, Marusia?”

“I’d be honored, Miss Reynes.”

“Oh, and make sure they deliver gifts along with the message. Some amount of ornate swords, artwork, and so forth. He will find a good use for it, he is after all Ranisath.”

Honorable Elenaran!
To be frank, I would most prefer if You visited our wonderful capital yourself. But I realize consorting with the Allaneans would affect Your renome elsewhere a bit negatively, and so did expected you to be… too occupied to answer our invitation. Further, since this administration believes Allanea should at least take a very long break from offensive warfare against your foes, this may too make you reluctant to reward us with your glorious presence.

Please understand that we in Allanea are not in the slightest hostile to You. Rather, we remain loyal to both Her Majesty the Queen and, more importantly, the Freedoms that her Majesty, with Your most esteemed aid, has helped us to secure again.

As such, we would most prefer You visited Liberty-city in person to discuss
the future relationship between Your foreign service and Allanea, as well as to enjoy yourself here – we have quite the entertainment industry, quite enough even to please a God. But I realize that You would likely consider us unworthy of Your visit. As such, any Necrontyr officials that Your Lordship would see fit to dispatch would be welcome in Liberty-City.

Please do not take offense at any breach of protocol that was permitted during the writing and delivery of this missive.. I guarantee that during Your, or Your emissaries’, stay in the city, Your back and the back of Your emissaries will remain delightfully dagger-free, and we will do our best to make Your stay pleasant.

Sincerely Yours,
Antalia Reynes,
President of the United States of Allanea.

Secretariat for External Affairs
PDSRA
Official statement

The PDSRA extends its congratulations to President Reynes. Although your government's policies will no doubt differ widely from our own, Ariddia wishes you the best, and commends your admirable stance in favour of peace and diplomacy.



http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9117/pdsraembsmdz4.gif
République Démocratique, Sociale et Populaire de l'Ariddia

The vast shape of the necrontyr flagship Shicaraissatel – Cala Drian fell through the air over Liberty City with a slightly leonine roar as the air swept along its underside. Those in higher buildings could make out, on the mile long vanes and spikes decorating its underside, hundreds of thousands of strange, scuttling constructs, riding on the outside of the five mile necrontyr ship. The vessel had a few windows, lit from behind in the shadowed surface of its underside, but they were comparatively rare on its surface, only really present on the vast but superfluous observation deck.

The ship came to rest over the sea, on the horizon, in an effort to be of minimal inconvenience to the city’s denizens. It didn’t land, mainly because there was almost no way it could land in the water without causing flooding nearby.

A narrow, arrow-head like shape of black material flew from one of the two underside bays in the necron craft, even this was a large vehicle, fully a hundred meters and then some in length. The vessel didn’t quite touch the ground, but below its pointy tip, a thick blast door slid up, to reveal a lavishly decorated interior.

The Grave class assault shuttle, of which this was a modified example, was actually quite rare; on the whole the necrons had no need for such a thing, however, they sometimes required small craft to travel to other systems, and two hundred examples of this hundred and ten meter craft existed, in use to occasionally ferry small numbers of troops to places where it would be inconvenient to send a larger warship.

This one, however, was a personal shuttle, and as such, instead of the Spartan interior, it had creamy white walls within, highlighted in gold, with cloak rooms, and similar useful areas visible from the disembarkation area.

The ‘man’ if he could be called that, that stepped down from the shuttle was dressed in those same colours, his white clothing seeming to cast a light on the ground before him, his gold trimmed shoes making no sound, and seeming to hover a tiny distance from the floor, before he rocked up onto the balls of his feet for a moment, offering a little bow, his dark hair falling to the side of his back as he did so, before leaning back up, smiling.

Accompanying the Elenaran were a pair of golden armoured, owl-helmed figures, armed with lofty war scythes, and cloaked in violet. He smiled slightly, “Splendid,” he said, his voice seeming to be impossibly rich and pleasing to the ear, the very pinnacle of sound, “it’s good to be back again…” he said, the words seeming to be spoken in the listener’s favourite language, in Antalia’s case, English, his light blue eyes shining with quiet amusement.

“Airborne! Prepare to receive His Majesty the Elenaran!”

In a single, swift motion, several hundred troops in parade uniforms swung their rifles to their shoulders. From where the visitors stood, he would witness the glint of dozens of war medals, the shine of oversized bayonet mounted on heavy rifles. Privates and NCO’s in green, officers in black and silver, the Airborne Infantry prepared to receive him.

“Glory Eternal to the Elenaran and his Empire! May he reign forever in wisdom!” – the rifles were shouldered. Slowly, quietly, a strange vehicle floated into view – a form of an open-top luxury car –except, of course, it did not touch the ground. An Allanean appeared.

As it is usual with the Allaneans, she was a bit peculiar. She had all the appearance of an impossibly cute ten-year-old with golden hair and blue eyes, except for wearing an officer’s uniform.

“Greetings, your Majesty. I am Marshal Susie Mark One. Do not be deceived by my appearance – I’m an AI Avatar. In reality, I am a Peaceful Engineering Platform. I am in command of this reception. Please make yourself comfortable. Excuse me…” – he turned to the troops.

“Airborne! Embark!”

And so the foreign guest would make his way out of the airport – with the Allanean troops escorting him in open-topped hovertrucks, still at attention, their rifles at port arms, their wide-brimmed hats clean as if they were made yesterday.

“Your Majesty, it is an honor to me to say that we approach the Jackson Intersection. Here, technically, the city begins. And now…”

The trucks slowed down and the procession was joined by a different group of soldiers. “Marines! Prepare to receive His Majesty the Elenaran!”

Now they rode through the suburbs – a ten-minute ride even at the immense speed of gravitic vehicles – and the procession became longer and longer as troops fell back and others were granted the honor of escorting the Elenaran’s vehicle. Hovertrucks, tanks with their hulls freshly painted and division banners flying proudly in the wind, low-flying Durandale fighters – by the time they reached the city promenade, the escort was three miles long.

The Allaneans have advised the public of the visit in advance, and the Promenade was closed off to traffic – but thousands and thousands of Allaneans came out to see Ranisath. Some threw flowers, which failed to reach the middle of the promenade. Others – they were in the distinct minority – waved protest signs.

Susie concentrated for a second. “Your Majesty, on your left is the USS Queen of Allanea. I have ordered the beginnings of your…”

The giant 24-inch cannon fired their first salvo. The city entire seemed to shake.

“…salute.”

Then, the VLS systems fired. The sky was flooded with color – the Allaneans have armed their ship with an immense amount of oversized fireworks.

“God bless the necrons! God bless Menelmacar! God bless the Queen!” – a man shouted, and the crowd erupted in a roar. What exactly they were screaming was unclear.

“Your Majesty, we are reaching the corner of Liberty Avenue.”

On to the main street of the city they went. Here, they parted ways with the giant convoy. For the last few hundred meters of its journey, the vehicle was escorted merely by a hundred Allaneans on large – and quiet – gravbikes, wearing Command Armor. One of them wore a white scarf.

“Your Majesty, the White House.”

Here, an honor guard of Sisters of Liberty formed on the right, and the strange bike riders stood at attention on the left, forming a human corridor straight to the White House doors. They pressed some form of buttons on their armor – and it folded away into nothing, revealing two rows freshly-ironed parade uniforms on the left and on the right.

“Glory to the Elenaran!” – said Victoria Sheshet (of course the Sister Superior was there!)

“Glory to Our Queen!” – replied the man in the white scarf.

And then the doors opened, revealing Antalia Reynes, wearing a long green dress and smiling as if she was merely inviting a neighbor in for tea.

Welcome to Allanea, Your Majesty. Please come in, I hope you do like it here. I do hope you did not find our reception too imposing.

Ajer, Yafor 2

Eliana Dagora thoughtfully chewed her lower lip, trying hard to concentrate on the matter at hand. Allaneans were, well, open, and trying to analyze them from the perspective of an Allanean citizen was turning out harder than expected. Allaneans were simple, from a Yaforite standpoint, at least, and thinking like an Allanean was not an easy task for a Yaforite. After all, Allaneans were motivated by concepts like "patriotism" and "liberty", concepts that were, at beast, foggy for a Yaforite to understand - though a Socialist like Eliana would have understood the ideals that motivated an Allanean better than a Libertarian-Capitalist, something that most foreigners would have had trouble explaining.

Kurisir "Nabo" Toralen, the Chief Minister, chuckled softly. The former Minister of Agriculture and Governor of Chelmar, a skilled administrator, and her personal choice for the position tended to be a bit of a sarcastic man. His sense of humor tended to clash with that of the Foreign Minister - Jyorin Kiamelar was a sober Libertarian-Capitalist who had been chosen purely as a political move, though he certainly had the experience to be a very good Foreign Minister. This was a discussion in his zone, after all, and he was the most senior in this general area (making the presence of the third man in the room, Internal Minister Davrain Nayadol, rather irrelevant) and his opinion was close to the most important - excluding the Elected Duchess', of course.

"She's not sincere. She can't be sincere." The Chief Minister had spent the last half an hour propagating that very position. He was a Socialist, like Eliana, but far more extreme and unbending, and, moreover, he hated everything that Allanea stood for - rampant violence, hatred, and death. "She can't be sincere at all. Look at her! Look at what she's done!" He hurled down copies her recent speeches down on the table. "Are these the words of a sincere woman? You tell me, Eliana!" He was faking anger again - it was one of his few faults that he was, to put it nicely, a prima donna. Of course, he enjoyed it as much as anyone else around did. This was not the time for that, however.

"She was running a campaign to become president, Nabo." Foreign Minister Jyorin Kiamelar put in softly. He rarely raised his voice or even shouted at anyone, preferring instead to keep his emotions under control and locked up. It was part of what made him such a skilled diplomat. "She has a spotless record, and, if you took the time to look it up, the way she's gone, against expansion of the military in all quarters, I can readily say that's she's in our ballpark. She has, after all, moved the Allanean military to a far more defensive stance (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=540189)." Nabo Toralen's face remained dubious. He had heard this from Kiamelar before, after all, and it had failed to convince him. He was very stubborn, and refused to change his opinion based merely on a "record".

"That doesn't mean anything and you know that. Records can easily be forged. Or she could have even done it to become president. You know that that's possible." Nabo was talking quicker now - if Eliana had not known him better, she would have said that he was flustered or confused. As he was, he was probably acting. Or not. It was difficult to tell with Nabo Toralen, sometimes. "She's Allanean, by Enalla's eyes!" Nabo continued, anger still plain in his method of speech and his reaction. "You know that trusting an Allanean regarding...anything is like trusting a rich Questarian with your wife alone! Or trusting a Doomani with a gun and some "infidels"!" Nabo was clearly very irritated now, and Eliana could tell that he was completely serious.

"That's enough, Nabo." The Elected Duchess' stern voice shot through the room. "I can tolerate disagreement, but not racism. We're Yaforites. We're better than that." Her tone was one that brooked no disagreement. "We have an Allanean who might - might just, listen to intelligence. This might just be the time to heal the rift between our two countries that has existed ever since the conflict between Allanea and the Reich. You know that. The Foreign Minister casually shook his head, a polite, but firm, refusal. "I don't think if it's that simple, Eliana. There's a lot more there." At the time, he had been ambassador to Pacitalia, but had kept close watch on the situation.

"Let's hope she can listen to reason, then." In five hours, messages had been drafted and sent to the Allaneans, asking about, perhaps, the fact that maybe they would like to heal the rift between the two countries - in far more diplomatic language, of course. Never mind that sending such messages was distinctly against Yaforite law.

Congratulations

To: The United States of Allanea
From: The President of The Armed Republic of Delexo

The President of The Armed Republic of Delexo has asked me to write to you on the subject of your recent presidential election, which was won by miss Antalia Reynes a few days ago.

The President has asked me to pass on his best wishes to you after hearing Anarchists should support your new president. As fellow Anarchists seem to be doing so, it is only right The Armed Republic of Delexo do so.

Again, congratulations.

Yours,
Mrs. A.C Scott
(Aide to the President of The Armed Republic of Delexo)

Imposing was not something that Ranisath was truly capable of experiencing, and while the epic scale of his welcome wasn’t entirely lost on him, he wasn’t truly awed by such things. He spared a glance for Victoria as he passed, and a smile, too, and paid similar attention, though to a lesser degree, to those with her, being immensely careful to avoid any favouritism, not that it showed in his face or deeds.

He’d found the way ‘Susie’ had introduced ‘herself’ to be quite entertaining, though he’d said nothing. Not entirely wanting to be outdone in the fireworks department, though, he decided to have a little fun, and with a slight note of irritation at the cold, had his ‘self’ intrude in the upper atmosphere, “We’ve got light shows too…” he said, with a little grin.

Visible from Liberty city to Grafton and Fort Henry, covering the entire sky with light twice as bright as the midday, a curtain of crackling gold and silver shone in the sky, vast columns of lightning discharging diffusely into mountains, only avoiding levelling them entirely by a prodigious expenditure of effort. It was a light show that was seemingly inexplicable and would, from orbit, make it look for a few moments as if the land itself had exploded.

Concentrated columns of light, none actually bright enough to blind anyone, could be seen over the central province of the nation, with rippling curtains of more diffuse light laying over the oceans like sheets of brilliant flame that made the water itself shine back as though seas of golden flame with foam of silver brilliance.

This lasted only a few minutes, before disappearing again, with apparently very little disruptive effect on the environment, save that there were now no clouds over the entire nation…

There could be only one reaction to an awesome firework like this. For a moment, everybody in the crowds – including even some of the protestors- took pause, admiring the display. And then, the crowds blew up.

“Long live the Elenaran! Long live the Elentari! Long Live Menelmacar and the Empire! God bless the Queen! Hurrah!”

At the White House, later

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” - smiled Antalia as the Elenaran was led to the table. - “Of course we all realize that you require no such thing as our earthly foods, but we do hope that you find our savage cuisine pleasant if nothing else.”

“Oh, I am sure the President didn't mean that last one” - Kazansky replied, the mold of self-effacing diplomacy not quite yet fitting him - “Our cuisine is not that savage. As a matter fact the President's cooks arranged for Stossel tea here. It is served in every office of Allanea's government, of course, but this here is the Thé Royal, the very best kind of it. We would be most pleased if Your Majesty were to try it, wouldn't we, Miss Reynes?”

Even Antalia took pause as to this, but then recovered. “Oh, yes, Your Majesty. His Honor the Count of Centreville is completely right about the tea – but we are not here to brag about our kitchens. Is Your Majesty satisfied with the reception? If not, I am sure His Honor will adequately deal with those responsible.”

Message to the Yaforites

So here come the Yaforites.

You are the people who have sided with the Dominion in their “condemnation”of Allanea during the Second Allanea-Reich conflict.

You are the people who have continously expressed nothing but disdain for the greatest of Allanea's leaders, for Allanea's struggle for freedom world-wide, for our war against the very Reich itself – and yet failed to condemn the Reichites and their acts of genocide.

You claimed and continued to claim any and all foreign interventionism is illegitimate on it's face. This is a claim the current administration is not prepared to take. The fact President Reynes opposes military action abroad by Allanea, does not mean she regards it as completely illegitimate, in the same way as she opposes, say, decreasing the salaries of Senators, even though there's nothing illegitimate about that.

Now you seem to believe you can manipulate us on some carrot-and-stick doctrine. What the hell is this, Clandonia? This ain't Clandonia. This is Allanea. Who the hell do you think you are that you can deride us, offend upon us, side with out enemies who want to genocide us - and then think we're going to run to your side like a beaten puppy once you whistle to us, without as much as an apology?

Your previous leadership has expressed their dislike – in fact, we would not be going too far to call it [i]hatred[/u] of Allanea several times before. Your current leadership claims to want relations with us – and yet lacks the common decency to even apologize for that in public.

You even lack the common decency to make this request for negotiations in public. As such, we will do what you lacked the decency to do yourself, and post the request for download off the Deparmtent of State website.

Yes, the Reynes Administration is going to continue on a policy of peace.

Yes, the Reynes Administration is dedicated to the ideas of peace, justice and liberty.

That however doesn't mean we will degrade ourselves to dealing with the likes of you.


Your request is hereby DE-NIED.

Ranisath was somewhat interested in the ‘savage cuisine’ they might have available, if for no other reason than comparative aesthetic qualities. He glanced at Kazansky with a half-interested look, he supposed that their queen’s preference for the stuff might be reason to suppose he’d like it. In truth, he rarely ‘drank’ (though of course, he only really consumed such energies by mass-energy convesion because it was more convenient than simply teleporting ‘food’ and ‘drink’ somewhere. The energy was stale and essential irrelevant to him.

Nonetheless, he nodded and smiled in acquiescence to the request, he did after all, have nothing better to do at this precise moment. Ranisath smiled a little, “I thought it was delightful,” he said. In a very literal sense it was true, there was some empathic pleasure to be gained in most emotions, and a large public celebration such as that was a generator of delight that he could savour, “Certainly one of the best receptions I have received in some time. I wouldn’t want that kind of thing too often though,” he added.

The President of Allanea gave the Elenaran her most polite smile. “Your Majesty, I hope you are really not upset by the change in our foreign policy. I beg your pardon and would be happy to discuss some adjustments to it – but first, after the desert – which will consist of the most wonderful Allanean chocolate, you know that we have a wonderful array of chocolates produced in this country –“

As she spoke, several golden dishes on which a variety of chocolate bars and candy lay were brought in by Girl Scouts in their famous short skirts.

“After this, you will be taken to the Presidential Box of the Royal Allanean Theater. We apologize for not being able to open the Royal box at the moment, it is, eh, under renovation.” – in actual fact, the Royal Theater’s charter forbade the use of the Box for any but the current occupant of the throne. Hopefully Ranisath didn’t know that. – “You understand, the Royal Theater Company will put up a special performance in your honor.”

The theater, styled after rococo buildings of the 17th century, was absolutely enormous in size, and bound to astound everybody – except of course the C’tan. And today, Allanea’s best and most amazing theatre was prepared to amaze His Brilliant Majesty the Elenaran with their rendition of Much Ado About Nothing, played in period costumes of course – the Royal Allanean Theater did not have any penchants about ‘modernist’ performances.

Ranisath, of course, did know. He knew practically everything. He of course, had no intention of admitting that, but rather, in causing them a considerable worry, mentioned absently that, “Yes, I can see the need…” while glancing up at the royal box, and giving the knowing smile that had been his predecessor’s trademark.

“As,” he said, waiting for the interval, and chuckling or laughing at almost all of the play’s jokes, including the ones that seemed outdated, such concepts had no meaning for him, he simply viewed such things in the original context, he had walked on human worlds with identical cultural norms, “for your foreign policy, pray elaborate…”

To: President Antalia Reynes, United States of Allanea
From: Louis B. Steinberg, President, Kramden of West Cedarbrook

I wish to extend to you congratualtions on your recent election as President. As I have led the Libertarian Party in my own re-election here last month, we look forward to productive and profitable relations with Allanea in the near future.

“You see,” - the President began - ”I don't see it as the duty of Allanea to spread liberty by Her Majesty's Sword. Sure, sometimes it's necessary, but we need to dispel the myth that our arms are there for the lending of every misfit that requires defending, every cause that sounds good. It doesn't work out well for us to be deployed on a dozen fronts. But more importantly, look at the last Havenic war. How senseless! The entire of Allanea almost got eliminated because... why? Because we annoyed too many people while being conveniently situated. Millions of people died throughout Haven.”

“I believe it is time for Allanea to take up the role of the preacher for peace – especially in Haven where, due to the very nature of the region, any war would be extremely protracted, violent, and bloody. War in Haven is to be avoided at nearly all costs.”

In the meanwhile, the FieldMarshal of Allanea – who, as many already knew, had already handed in his retirement notice – was sitting in the corner of the box contemplating something not of this world, smiling wistfully.

Then he spoke up: “I agree wholeheartedly with the President. Another war would be needlessly bloody, and of course Her Majesty would likely disapprove. Glorious Lord Elenaran... I believe the President has forgotten something.”

Antalia shook her head. “No, I have not. In fact, here, in this box, with thousands of viewers looking on, is precisely the right moment. Lord Elenaran, for your actions during the attempted Siecle Treachery, for your aid in the preservation of Allanean liberty, and for your general actions to preserve liberty world-wide, I, the President of Allanea, hereby award you with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Only one foreigner was ever awarded this medal before, Your Lordship. Outside the Crown of Allanea, it is the highest civilian honor Allanea has to offer.”

And Kazansky simply looked at the Elenaran, and his mind sent forth a simple message.

I humbly request a private audience of five minutes with your lordship. I beseech your mercy and compassion.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s never appropriate, but I agree that, for now, Allanea could probably use a sustained period of peace… I’m sure you’ll find, both individually and as a government, other ways to contribute…“

He took the box, opened it, and smiled for the cameras, taking the medal out for a moment to examine it, and then put it back, closing the box and putting it down beside him, “I’d be very interested,” he said, “to hear more more about your new foreign policy…”

“It’s no trouble for me to talk right here…”

"In essence our main focus will be uniting Haven through peace and trade. However we are also negotiation with various Haven nations to set up a network of military bases throughout the region to boost not just the defense of Allanea, but of the entire strategic sector. This will persuade our neighbors and allies they have a common interest with us. Further, even now I am debating the constitutionality of an aid system, where the Allaneans will send billions of dollars to our Menelmacari and necron friends as gifts.

Your Majesty, as you may know, my retirement papers have already been handed in. As a private citizen, I wish only to dedicate myself to the service of Our Noble Queen- the procurement of gifts to please her mind, and the destruction of foes whom she may find unpleasant – or whatever other service she might require. So about this service and these gifts – you are lucky enough to converse with the Queen often.. Perhaps you could suggest to me some things I could do for her amusement and in her greater glory, if I properly applied myself?