NationStates Jolt Archive

7th Battlegroup deployed to exercises off Kahanistan

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The single ship of the Imperial Navy Reserve that performed exercises off Kahanistan last Christmas.
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From 'The Kingston Herald'
Page 4

The War Office has announced that the Imperial Navy's exercise deployment near Kahanistan will consist of the full 7th Battlegroup of the Grand Fleet. Although a regular occurance, last year's exercise deployment consisted of just a single ageing frigate in the Imperial Navy Reserve, the PWRS Hedgehog. A spokesman for the Imperial Navy said that the exercises, which will be the 7th Battlegroup's first in more than 3 months, will prepare the fleet for "a range of combat situations," but refused to comment further.

Each of the Grand Fleet's battlegroups are supposed to hold independent exercises for lone operations against the navies of minor powers every year, but so far this year only four battlegroups have done so. This is due to lasting disruption caused by the navy's total mobilisation and rapid subsequent demobilisation for the 4 day war, which has caused chaos with maintenance and exercise timetables. The War Office claims that the deployment to Kahanistan is a "simple logistic convenience" to allow the 7th Battlegroup, which is already in the area, to safely delay significant maintenance work by another year.

However, speculation is rife that the deployment has been deliberately timed to coincide with the Kahanistani elections, which will see two collectivist, anti-trade parties compete on the shared platform of abolishing the country's Special Economic Zones. The CPI [Confederation of Praetonian Industry] has estimated that this move, which will see the entire country's economy organised along socialist/fascist lines, will cost Praetonian investors upwards of twp hundred billion Crowns in capital depreciation immediately and upwards of a trillion Crowns in lost earnings over the next ten years.

In last week's Parliamentary debate on the issue of Kahanistan, all three parties expressed support for firm action to be taken to protect Praetonian investments in the country, with the Crown Loyalists calling for "reciprocal seizures" in the event of SEZ abolition. Many have interpretted this to mean invasion and annexation of the country. In his closing statement to the House, Sir Thomas Richmond [acting Prime Minister] refused to rule out any form of action against Kahanistan, "including the use of military force to defend the property of the King's Subjects" but said that his government would not make any decision "until the form of Kahanistan's future government has been established and its intentions made plain."

Speaking for the CPI, the Duke of Warburton expressed his "sincere sadness" that Kahanistan had "failed to honour its commitment to the Special Economic Zone project." The Duke, whose nuclear electricity company, Consolidated Fission, is a major supplier in Kahanistan, stands to lose more than a billion Crowns if the company's Kahanistan venture is forced under by rising costs after a Communist or Nationalist Party victory, told The Kingston Herald that the CPI would support "appropriate coersive action" to protect their property in Kahanistan.

32nd Fast Battleship Squadron joins Praetonian 7th Battlegroup on exercise near Kahanistan

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Clandonian Royal Navy destroyer at sea alongside the Praetonian Battlegroup

From the Warminster City Times
Page 8

This Christmas around the world millions of Clandonian servicemen and women continue their valiant work in the defence and security of the Crown, none so less than forces currently off the coast of Kahanistan where Praetonian naval forces are conducting a large scale mock battle exercise with several hundred warships. The War Office and Admiralty issued a statement on Christmas Eve stating how the small force of eighteen warships is aiding Praetonian exercises and on routine intelligence gathering duties. Fears of a victory by either communist or left wing leading political parties have been expressed by the Praetonian Government with a large amount of both Clandonian and Praetonian capital invested in Kahanistan the CBI (Clandonian Business Initiative) fears a nationalisation and ending of the Special Economic Zones could cost one hundred and twenty billion Crowns to Clandonian investors and damage stock in Warminster.

A spokesman for the CBI hinted that the Crown Government would support military action to safeguard Clandonian and Royal Georgian League allies private property should an attempt of nationalisation take place. The Royal Navy has been showing extra support for Clandonian business worldwide in recent months after pirates attacks and privateering forced the government to task Fleet elements to protect the vital trade routes around the world and into Haven. Current travel advice to Kahanistan advises Clandonians to take 'extreme caution' due to the extremely nationalist and socialist feelings in the wake of nuclear destruction caused to their Havenic territories by forces of Doomingsland in the dying days of the 4 Day War.

Bump.

"Greetings, comrades! This holiday season, as workers all over the nation celebrate the day off in the annual Forestry and Manufacturing Workers' Day, citizens of the nation of Kahanistan -- once a proud communist state like Murra itself, but now forced into the twin evils of moderate, quote, 'socialism', unquote, and social liberalism due to the machinations of the evil imperialist Doomani scum -- gear up for national elections. But, my fellow Murrans, these are pivotal elections! For, standing against the tide of petty nationalism and bourgeois sentiment, a true communist party has once more returned to the forefront, and is likely to be voted in as the rightful leaders of the nation, once more restoring it to greatness from its current state of capitalism-induced poverty!

"Displaying their hatred for all things free and democratic, the vile, bourgeois Praetonians have -- in an act of blatant imperialistic warmongering -- deployed their military forces on 'military exercises' near Kahanistan. The purpose? My fellow Murrans, that should be obvious! They aim nothing less than to pressure the Kahanistanis into not voting for the rightful Communist Party, regardless of the actual popular sentiment that is strongly in favour of the same! We now take you to Glorious Revolutionary Square, where Senior Oligarch Proshchiutov speaks to the world media on the subject of Kahanistan."

Reporter: Oligarch Proshchiutov, what is the official stance of the Murran Government on Kahanistan?

Oligarch Proshchiutov: The Murran People's Oligarchy will do everything in its power to see the Global Revolution spread further and to ensure the success of the Communist Party in these elections. The Praetonian imperialists must be countered; Praetonia must learn that it and its capitalist cronies do not and will never rule the world, for the will of the people always prevails and someday Praetonia too shall fall to the hammer and sickle.

Reporter: What options are you prepared to use in order to ensure that the Revolution is spread?

Oligarch Proshchiutov: We have already provided advertisement for the Communist Party across Kahanistan, including posters and TV and Internet ads. Furthermore, we intend to encourage voters to vote Communist on Election Day; and we intend to discourage other parties by various means. Should the Praetonians intervene, we are leaving all options on the table.

Reporter: Doesn't that make you just as bad as the Praetonians, then? Interfering in the process of open democracy.

Oligarch Proshchiutov: You are obviously a counter-revolutionary spy.

[A black van with tinted windows drives by at high speed, then stops short; its back door opens and four hands grab the reporter and drag him inside, slamming the doors immediately. The van then takes off again.]

Oligarch Proshchiutov: Are there any other questions?

Second Reporter: Do 'all options' include the so-called nuclear option, the use of military force?

Oligarch Proshchiutov: 'All options' means 'all options'. If military force is deemed the best way to spread the global revolution, then so be it.

Second Reporter: Uh..... um..... would that not needlessly imperil the lives of Murran servicemen and women?

Oligarch Proshchiutov: You're a traitor!

[The van appears instead and the Second Reporter disappears inside. The van then zooms off once more.]

Oligarch Proshchiutov: Are there any other questions? No? Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the press.

[Oligarch Proshchiutov walks off towards the building, then explodes due to a bomb-chucking anarchist; as do the other reporters, his guards, and the camera.]

"More on this situation will be brough to you as it develops.... In other news, the price of cheese has hit a record low of only 75 dinars a kilogram, down from well over 100 dinars a pound!...."

The 4th Battle Fleet, 1st Armada, the only Kahanistanian naval unit that was still reasonably strong after the last war, spotted the hostile forces off their shores.

Aboard the cruiser RKS Krasni Noyabr, Vice Admiral Anton Grovski, commander of the fleet of 72 ships, knew he stood no chance against the Praetonian fleet, not with just one carrier, and with many of his surviving ships being refitted to remove their guns to make more space for missiles (and work for people), outnumbered... and out-skilled; he had been a mere captain during the war, and like many of the General Staff, had been promoted to replace the lost Generals and Admirals.

Admiral Grovski did not wish to fight the Praetonians if he could help it: during the ViZion conflict he had fought alongside Questarian and Praetonian forces, and had been very reluctant to fight the Questarians, but he would do what he had to do to protect his nation's security.

To avoid an international incident (such as the loss of a Praetonian warship, or an invasion) the Kahanistanian Admiral opened a channel to the Praetonian fleet commander.

"This is Anton Grovski, Vice Admiral of the Republic Navy and commander of this fleet. I must warn you in the interests of the Praetonian and Kahanistanian fleets... that the seas around here are heavily mined. I urge all Praetonian assets to remain more than fifty kilometres from our shores, and to request a Kahanistanian escort should they wish to resupply at our ports, so as to be guided away from the mines."

In fact, the seas were relatively lightly mined, as the Army was getting most of the defence budget, but even one mine collision and lost Praetonian ship could be seen as an attack if they were not warned. Admiral Grovski also knew that the world would see the attack - this was not some intelligence coup - but they would sit back with their thumbs up their arses, or if anyone did intervene, they would run off with their tails between their legs when the going got tough. As such, he knew war had to be prevented at all costs.

He wondered if General Sklenova, the leading communist candidate for President, would know this. She was blonde, yes, but she wasn't stupid. A bit too idealistic in some ways, though... the Admiral hoped her idealism would not lead to war with another nation that Kahanistan was not officially hostile to.

Clandonian News Network HQ,Warminister 2000 Hours

"This evening we welcome Foreign Secretary Sir Alan Philips to show. Sir Philips its a pleasure as always, the country is particularly interested the situation in regards to Kahanistan. What is the governments policy in the event that the Special Economic Zones will be abolished, will the government protect or reimburse to the millions of Clandonians that have vested interests in companies and banking circles?...

Leaving the studio twenty minutes later, the situation was rather tense with a further additional Clandonian naval taskforce in the region, adding one hundred more warships questions were being asked by the larger financial situations who had investments in Kahanistan of what the plan was for them. Many were already reinforcing their security arrangements in the Kahanistani SEZ's or even going as far to move their investments altogether out of the country adding the further speculation of the Clandonian stock markets. The helicopter travelled from the roof of CNN's Warminster Broadcasting House to helicopter pad of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

"Good evening Minister, I trust the interview went well?" Asked his Parliamentry Private Secretary escorting the Minister under the umbrella to the building riverside entrance.

"Yes Steven, jolly good. Were the boys and girls watching. So sorry we had to drag you in over the Christmas period."

"Not at all Sir, its our duty to the Crown besides I was getting sick of turkey leftovers for the second day in a row."

Stepping into the warm Ministry building the Minister was handed over a freshly printed report.

TO: FLEET HQ
CC: WO, LAND HQ, STRIKE HQ, STRATEGIC HQ, FCO, JOC, CISF
FROM: 20th Grand Expeditionary Fleet
Ship: HMS Devonshire (FLAG)

Fleet reporting in: Made contact and confirmed operational status with IPN 7th Battlegroup and CRN 32nd Fast Battleship. Position: 60 miles of Kahanistani Teritorial Waters. Orders: Conduct Joint Naval Exercise with allied forces and maintain position until further orders from FLEET HQ.

---Message Ends---



---


20th Grand Expeditionary Battlefleet 'Loyalists'

The battlefleet had been on routine overseas duties, rather than to carry on with the mundane duties of convoy protection which small units were capable of the Admiralty had ordered it to rendezvous with the current Clandonian force from a Fast Battleship Squadron. Adding to the Praetonian force there was now a sizeable deterrent to the Kahanistani navy and hopefully to the political establishment on the issues of economic freedom in the SEZ areas. The large battleships and guns of the Royal Navy swung over as practice rounds were fired, causing deafening booms from the larger capital vessels.

Fleet carriers laden with attack aircraft protected by the Ring of Steel defences of the large battleships and their heavy armour, then with the small anti-air and missile cruisers covered by the destroyer and frigate picket lines. Their orders were to remain on 'exercise' many of the sailors wondered how long while the plotters and diplomats in Warminster and Kingston pondered over the Kahanistani General Election results and the staunch anti-free trade stances of the fascists and communists.

The election (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=546542) for President had completed, and the Communists ended up victorious. It was now up to the new President to conduct negotiations with the states whose warships were "wargaming" outside their coasts.

A conference was convened in the Presidential Palace, and the Praetonians, Clandonians, and the Kregaians who had requested an invitation, were invited to attend. The main topic of discussion would be the Special Economic Zones and their future, though economists were welcome to suggest alternatives.

HM Foreign Office

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His Majesty's Government is pleased that the Kahanistani Government is willing to accept foreign displeasure at the planned theft of destruction of the property of foreign nationals. It is heartening that Kahanistani policy is not so intrasigent as it has been in the past, where this intrasigence has acted greatly to Kahanistan's disadvantage. Hopeful of a quick and peaceful resolution to this issue, His Majesty will be represented at discussions with the Kahanistani President.

His Majesty is concerned, however, that the proposed venue for the conference, the Kahanistani Presidential Palace, which is, in fact, a three storey house of no greater quality than a commercially-built private residence in the Crown Commonwealth, is not adequately equipped to host a multinational conference whose outcome will be key to Kahanistan's future. As such, His Majesty must insist upon the fleet carrier PWS Triumphant, currently at anchor 600km from the coast of Kahanistan, as the site of the conference. The ship is well equipped with flag facilities and first-class military communications.

The invitation extended to Kregia to attend this conference by Kahanistan will still stand as an invitation to come aboard the PWS Triumphant, although His Majesty must indicate that, although Kregia's position is likely to be very much in line with His Own, as there has been no preceeding agreement of policy, the representative of the Royal Georgian League Board of Trade, His Majesty's Government and His Clandonian Majesty's Government will conduct nominally seperate negotiations with the Kahanistani delegation.

As PWS Triumphant is an operational aircraft carrier with substantial aviation stores and munitions often on deck, no firearms will be permitted, and the movements of the attendees will be strictly limited to the staterooms, gallery and flag deck of the flag areas.

President Sklenova agreed to the constraints. She decided to attend personally, not believing the Praetonians so low and cowardly as to hold a foreign delegation hostage.

After brief discussion, a light transport aircraft landed aboard the Praetonian carrier [OOC: I detest RP'ing arrivals] containing the new Kahanistanian President, a slender woman in her early to mid 30's with straight blonde hair and an athletic frame, and the new Foreign Minister, an older man in his late 50's with a receding grayish hairline. Both officials were dressed in professional Western garb - the President appeared in a navy blue dress and the Foreign Minister in a suit and tie.

[OOC: No problem, I hate arrivals too.]

The Royal Board of Trade representative, Mr Banks, irritably swept the dust off his suit and adjusted his bowler hat as the Kahanistani plane screeched to a halt on the unusually empty deck. Clutching an umbrella, he was dressed for the grand old banks of Kingston, not for a ship. The Triumphant irritated him greatly with its constant noise and motion. He made no complaint, but some had come to notice that he gripped his umbrella rather harder than normal when a plane took off, or the ship jerked more violently than normal as a particularly strong wave crashed against its bow. Next to him were two further suited men, a representative of the Praetonian and another of the Clandonian Foreign Office. At the head of the line, however, was Admiral Sir Alfred Huxley-Brighton, Commander Taskgroup for the Kahanistan area.

"Good day, Madame President, Foreign Secretary" the Admiral greeted the two as they stepped off the plane, and introduced the three others. "If you would follow me, I will show you to your staterooms, and then we can proceed with the conference."

OFFICIAL IMPERIAL STATEMENT

The Sacred Emperor consents to His Majesty's proposal to host the conference aboard PWS Triumphant; to the Barronian air of suspicion, we may only reply that there is absolutely no point allowing diplomats to carry weapons, and indeed such an act flies in the face of millennia of tradition. Furthermore the Sacred Emperor's august personage is infinitely more secure aboard the Triumphant than aboard a Barronian airship.

His Divine Majesty is confident that the Triumphant will provide a calm atmosphere, and that all the delegates will be able to reach a satisfactory and mutually profitable solution to the issues facing the interested parties.

Signed,
Abram Vidann, Minister of Foreign Affairs

* * *

OOC: I'm assuming the same fellow greets me, we go to the conference room, et cetera.

Some time later, the Sacred Emperor's delegation reached the Praetonian carrier. The Triumphant loomed below, its deck almost empty as Ishamael's personal jet descended to a landing, bumping up and down for a second before smoothly rolling across the flight deck to a stop. A second later, the door to the cabin opened, folding down into a small set of stairs. Sacred Emperor Ishamael appeared, dressed as the occasion demanded in the black-and-gold ceremonial armor of his position. His gray eyes were carefully neutral as he glanced around the flight deck and descended the stairs, followed closely by an aide and a pair of unarmed Immortals; regardless of the prohibition of firearms, protocol demanded that the Immortals escort the Sacred Emperor wherever he might go, especially to a conference such as this one. He smiled a politician's joyless smile as he shook the hand of an aristocratic-looking gentleman who introduced himself as Admiral Sir Alfred Huxley-Brighton, and followed the Admiral, making polite small talk about the martial grandeur of the vessel and the fleet as a whole, to the conference room.

The Foreign Office had not predicted the presence of a foreign sovereign. Ettiquette dictated that the Kregian Emperor was greeted by His Majesty in person, but the only aircraft with sufficient range were unable to land on the deck of an aircraft carrier and landing the King in Kahanistan was not thought particularly wise. By way of compensation, the crew of the Triumphant put on a special show for the foreign Emperor, conducting an impressive overflight of the carrier deck as the Admiral greeting him with a full company of marines stood to attention with fixed bayonets. The Kregian Emperor's flag flew from the carrier's towering island alongside King George's penant.

President Sklenova stepped into the conference room. She was pretty, by Kahanistanian standards - slim, fit, early 30's, blonde hair, grey eyes. The Kahanistanian leader sat down across the Praetonian lead representative, next to her own newly appointed Foreign Minister.

"Nadia Sklenova, President of Kahanistan," said the leader. "This is Dragomir Karovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs." The older man nodded curtly, and following Sklenova's suit, extended his hand to the Praetonian.

[OOC: Im assuming that the Kstanis introduced themselves to the Kregaians already.]

Mr Banks shook the President's hand, then the Foreign Minister's, slightly confused at having to introduce himself again. "My name is George Banks. I am in the employ both of His Majesty's Foreign Office and the Treasury.

"I have just received a proposal from Kingston on which I am told the respective governments of Praetonia and Kregaia agree."

He handed a piece of paper to the Kahanistani. "I am sure you will find it perfectly clear, but please do ask if you require clarification."

The paper, entitled 'An Agreeable Proposal for the Future of Kahanistan' set out that Kahanistan was to become a protectorate of the Crown, with King George IV as Lord Protector. The Kahanistani Government would be unchanged, except that Acts of Parliament and declarations of war would require the assent of the Lord Protector. Praetonia, Clandonia and Kregaia were each assigned an unobtrusive, sparsely populated area of Kahanistan to build a sovereign base for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the agreement. This would ensure the Special Economic Zones remained secure, that Kahanistani foreign policy would not again endanger Kahanistan's safety and ensure finally that Kahanistan was protected from another invasion.

"We propose to call it the Treaty of Haversham, after the Triumphant's affiliated city, since our location does not lend itself to names," Mr Banks said as he saw the Kahanistani look up from the paper, knowing full well that this would not be the topic of the Kahanistani's reply.

The Clandonian delegation, freshly flown onto a Clandonian County Class Carrier a few miles away from the Praetonian ship had seen the advanced version of the paper. It been drafted by Clandonian and Praetonian civil servants from the respective Foreign Ministries. Sites for bases had already been scouted, to give control over the country with devastating firepower to both defend Clandonian private property and defend Kahanistan. Thinking to himself the Clandonian thought, if Kahanistani's didn't realise that their fate of their last remaining piece of homeland was in jeopardy. The Clandonians considered the four fleet carriers they had in the area a bigger and better and more realistic tool of negotiation, 138,000 tonnes of carrier diplomacy and with the backing of a battleship and Royal Marine assault force.

The Clandonian followed the Praetonians words, awaiting the reply from the Kahanistani delegation.

General Statement
As His Serene Majesty's subjects have a number of direct commercial interests in Kahanistan, we feel that the outcome and results of this conference concern us, and request that His Excellency the Lord Cellachan deMalara, the Macisikani Ambassador to Kahanistan, be permitted to attend to represent the interests of His Serene Majesty's subjects and government at this conference.

The Praetonian guarantee of safety and surety is deemed a sufficient provision for His Excellency's safety.

Ministry of External Affairs

******
At the moment, the Minister was idly interested in the results of the conference. Once she found out that the Praetonians, Clandonians, and Kregians had gone forward without even bothering to consult any of the other nations with interests in the Special Economic Zones, she would be slightly upset.

As President Sklenova read through the joint proposal, Ishamael studied her carefully. Her initial reaction would be of great importance, and reveal much about how he would proceed. In the meantime, he smoothly followed the Praetonian banker's monologue with some comments of his own.

"Madam President, we understand the political situation you personally are in, and we are sure you are devoted to the principles of your Communist Party." His expression betrayed no hint of the disdain he felt for the Reds as he spoke. "We are also aware that those principles, and just as importantly, the fact that your people support them, dictate that you should not tolerate the current state of the Special Economic Zones. However, as the head of state, you must of course consider the future of your people.

"Your nation's weakened state will prevent it from holding its own, alone, against the powers that wish it harm; one cannot but think of Emperor Maximus and his thralls in this regard. Furthermore, without the Special Economic Zones there is little practical reason, if you will forgive our saying so, why Kahanistan should be aided by foreign powers at all. Our Imperium currently regards Kahanistan, despite the results of the recent election, as a noble veteran of the war against the Doomani and an ally to be protected. However, if your nation was attacked, such respect may or may not justify sending thousands of warships and perhaps millions of soldiers to fight and die for your independence. Your fall would be a lamentable occurrence indeed, but in such circumstances, we would lose very little in terms of concrete resources, as opposed to having sent countless soldiers to fight for you. A simple choice: send troops that may or may not succeed, and either way at great price, or leave you to your fate, and lose nothing.

"You have two options, Madam President. The first is to reject the help of foreign powers and abolish the Special Economic Zones. Your principles encourage you to do this, and perhaps you believe it is the right thing to do. However, doing this will not only remove all the interest that other nations have in your survival, it may very well infuriate them. This will denude Kahanistan of its foreign protection, and there will be no one to stop the Doomani or any other conquerors that come knocking. Furthermore, it will destroy what is left of your economy and prevent you from rebuilding on your own. The alternative is to preserve the SEZs and accept the investment and assistance of foreign powers. This will invest other nations in your future, gaining you powerful allies, as well as provide the only way for your economy to recover, which will eventually allow Kahanistan to rise again stronger than before. We are not trying to bully or prod you, Madam President; we are only stating the facts, and they indicate the right path quite clearly. This treaty is the key that will unlock Kahanistan's potential; without it, you will never be great again."

The Sacred Emperor finished, studying the President carefully to see what effect his words had had on her, and crossed his arms over his breastplate, his mind racing behind his piercing gray-eyed gaze.

Foreign Minister Karovic looked over his copy, apparently unaware that the Vice President had forwarded the Macisikani request to attend the conference to the Praetonians whose ship the meeting was being held on.

"Let me get this straight," said the older man to the Praetonian, with a brief pause between each word. "You want us to surrender our legislation for royal assent, like a colony... and make us ask permission of your king to defend ourselves? Last time I checked, it was not our foreign policy that got us invaded, it was the Questarian Commonwealth's ill-advised invasion, with no provocation whatsoever from our end, and no attempt to even defend ourselves until the surprise Kriegos missile attack and Northfordian - Doomani penetration of over 100 kilometres into our borders. Prior to that, we sought peace with the Whyaticans even as they battered at our gates, while focusing our military strength against the Doomani. We are not a warlike nation, but when we are attacked, we will defend ourselves with every drop of blood we have, with or without the permission of your king."

"The Kahanistanian government will abide by the agreements it has made previously," said President Sklenova. "The zones are a compromise between the socialists, like myself, and corporate interests, both foreign and domestic. I personally see them as ill-advised, and would like to see them removed. Never mind the capitalistic exploitation of our workers as a cheap labour force of wage slaves. The zones are crime-ridden cesspools of depravity. 'Rich'", she made air quotes at the word "rich," "foreigners get mugged all the time by poorer people. Probably half of our law enforcement is focused on the zones, and the other half on keeping terrorists out of our borders. We're trying to work with various corporate security forces on this. Drug dealers and prostitutes can make more money there, so they go there too. Kahanistan has no laws against drugs, but many nations from where the investors and executives come do, so dealers can get more money there."

"Here is what I propose," continued the President. "If not a first-world wage, at least higher than a third-world one for the workers. Containing the S.E.Z.'s - that is, no expansion, and current businesses can stay but no new ones will be allowed in, for now, until our economy is back on its feet - then we come back to the negotiating table to decide how to proceed. A massive operation to wipe out the crime in the zones. I'm not a criminologist, so the details would have to be worked over by the Justice Ministry and the Health Ministry, if they're doing this out of poverty. Of course, we will retain full sovereignty of our borders - I cannot see my first major act as President being to give the nation to the Praetonians. Besides, the Senate is still controlled by the Nationalists - they would never go for it even if I wanted to."

Mr Banks sighed at the Foreign Minister's remarks. "You misunderstand, Sir. Assent of the Lord Protector would only be required in order to declare war, not for Kahanistan to defend itself from a foreign assault. Furthermore, once under the protection of His Majesty, Kahanistan has her Sovereignty under His guarantee - in other words, an assault on Kahanistan will be as an assault on the Crown Commonwealth, and will provoke the same response. This is far better protection than any Kahanistan could produce herself. It should also be understood that the Lord Protector shall grant His assent to all bills except those related to changing the status of the Special Economic Zones - if Kahanistanis wish to impose collectivism on themselves within their protectionist trade zone then that is your own affair, as far as His Majecty's Government is concerned.

"As," Mr Banks turned to the President, "is Kahanistan's inability or otherwise to police itself. I have visited the Special Economic Zones myself, at least the areas under Praetonian ownership, and I must say that what I saw - largely high-rise factories and skyscrapers, was much closer to Kingston prosperity than to the nineteenth century opium den scene you would have us believe. Nobody lives there - the land is far too valuable for that - and you flatter yourself if you think your petty drugs dealers can compete with the industrialised pharmaceuticals industry," a slight scowl crossed his face as he trumpetted the superior production methods of substances whose legalisation in his country he despised.

"Similarly, your complaints about wages disguise where the blame for Kahanistan's present state of destitution truly lies. The businesses in the Special Economic Zones pay better than anywhere else in your country - if they did not, why would people queue to work there? Wages are lower than in Praetonia because in Praetonia everywhere is a "Special Economic Zone," and so a glut of businesses must compete for labour, just as in Kahanistan a glut of labour means workers must compete for employers. You, like all collectivists, promise that if you are but given complete power you will deliver your people into a land of milk and honey free from the vagueries of private enterprise and individual self-direction. His Majesty's Government has no particular objection to this, but He must insist that you do this before you destroy the prosperity of others - both Kahanistani employees in the Special Economic Zones and Praetonian shareholders in the businesses there. If you can provide what you claim, what reason would a Kahanistani have to consent to 'wage slavery' at the hands of an 'exploitative capitalist business'? Why must you ban employment produced by private labour when you claim to be able to out-compete it?

"Nonetheless, the deal we are offering is the deal that is on the table. Kahanistan is in no position to make demands, and the fact that both political parties have so quickly backtracked on Kahanistan's previous commitment to the Special Economic Zones - I wonder for whom the employees of SEZ businesses voted for? - means we can no longer consent merely to trust you. Moreover, this agreement will provide a cast-iron guarantee of continued Kahanistani sovereignty, with which the Kahanistani government may act as it wishes outside of the Special Economic Zones. I cannot emphasise enough how vital this agreement is to the future of your country."

"Most of the S.E.Z. employees, I believe, voted for the Libertarians or Democrats," said Karovic. "Communists, of course, campaigned there as opposed to wage slavery. I do not feel comfortable submitting the Legislature to the will of the King of Praetonia. If relations deteriorate, which they almost certainly will under this arrangement, theoretically the King could withhold assent to vital infrastructure appropriations bills or funding law enforcement - or worse, medical care, defence, or other areas."

"Even if we were to go ahead and abolish the S.E.Z.'s, your businesses would not be expelled. They would merely be subject to our minimum-wage laws and other regulations. We have no intention of declaring war; I do not think we have declared war against anyone since the ViZion conflict, in which we were co-belligerents. I must, therefore, question who you claim to wish to protect from our military. We stand at just over a million troops. The forces under Admiral Grovski, whom your 'wargaming' fleets encountered, are a very large portion of the remaining Republic Navy."

"We have no intention of obliterating trade with the world. I could argue for a military alliance with your nation, although the military would bristle at joining forces with an ally of a nation that attacked us without provocation. Where, Mr. Banks, would you place the blame for our 'destitution?' On our generals who fought to defend us? The commander who ordered the nuclear strikes against invading forces when all was lost? The Doomani commander who ordered our glassing?"

Karovic did not want to express fear of the Praetonian military - so mentioning that abolition of the S.E.Z.'s could trigger an invasion was not on for him. "I have stated the intentions of this government. The S.E.Z.'s stay, and we keep our sovereignty. If you wish to protect our nation, and by extension, your businesses' investments, we will allow the construction of Praetonian military bases. I would want to place a Kahanistanian liaison officer in each base, to ensure the bases are not used against us."

"Mr Karovic, your destitution is the fault of the socialist economics with which you wish to subsitute the only islands of relative prosperity, and your lack of a strong protector. I cannot help the former, although in my remit in service of the Crown demands that I protect the property of the King's subjects by the maintenance of the present Special Economic Zones.

"As I had thought I had also made quite plain, His Majesty can no longer trust Kahanistan to keep to its word. Nor, I am afraid, can He afford to station a fleet permanently on long supply lines off your coast, which is surely the only reason you have not already abolished the Special Economic Zones as your pre-election rhetoric in the absense of any overt response from the SEZ powers stated. I have no doubt that, should the fleet be withdrawn, and sufficient time elapse, you will have yet another sudden 'relevation' and your policy shall switch again. No, Sir, there will be Praetonian troops in Kahanistan, one way or another..." he left the statement hanging for a second.

"And as for your implication that His Majesty would use the legal powers granted in the treaty to deliberately deprive Kahanistan of infrastructure, do not be under any illusions that His troops could not be in New Masada before the month is out anyway if He so wished. His Majesty has no interest in damaging the lives of ordinary Kahanistanis - if he wanted to he could do so much more easily without this treaty - indeed, as a protectorate and a long-term site of Praetonian investment, it is in his interests to make the country as prosperous as possible."

The Minister clenched his teeth. "If it is explicitly stated in the treaty that only S.E.Z. related bills and declarations of war will require royal assent, then I will sign. What the Nationalist-run Senate does with it is out of my hands." He was offended at the Praetonian's statement of Kahanistanian military weakness. While it may have been intended as a statement of fact, it was one he did not wish rubbed in his face.

Mr Banks paused for a minute, thinking. The agreement was in principle sound, but it seemed quite open to abuse. "How do you propose it would be determined what is a SEZ-related bill and what isn't?"

"Well," said Karovic, thinking, "a bill that regulates the activities in the S.E.Z. So far, they are untaxed and exempt from our national minimum wage, and exempt from many safety and environmental regulations that govern our native businesses and those foreign ones outside the S.E.Z. As such, they are crushing our native corporations, which the government is propping up by giving contracts to them. A few native businesses, like Samizdat Corporation and some security companies, are still thriving, but most are either out of business or going out of business."

"Some politicians have proposed taxing the businesses and imposing workers' rights; some are sincere and others are going along with the intention of encouraging the businesses to leave voluntarily, for reasons of worker equality, or for nationalistic reasons. I might ask how you would define an S.E.Z. related bill?"

"I cannot, and therefore I do not see how this system would be at all workable," Mr Banks replied. "A great many bills lie in a grey area. For instance, the Kahanistani government could decide to withdraw funding for road maintenance around the Special Economic Zones - does this fall under the category of a SEZ bill as it would affect SEZ residents, or is it a non-SEZ bill as it does not take effect inside the SEZs?

"The only way to settle such issues where there is disagreement normally is through a constitutional court - but would this court be Praetonian or Kahanistani? Would either trust the other? No, I must insist that the more coherent and comprehensive system of assent is adopted. Praetonia has no interest in using this to interfere in general Kahanistani affairs, and, as we desire change where this power only grants the power to entrench the status quo, it would be little use in that regard anyway."

"We could define an area around the S.E.Z. as subject to Praetonian interests and covered by this treaty. Let's say we wanted to push a bill that the King saw as a threat to Praetonian interests that had nothing to do with the S.E.Z., for example, a large troop buildup or nuclear weapons programme that could be seen as a threat to Praetonian military forces in our nation. The troops may be mobilising to meet a threat from another power, or as a deterrent force against invasion, and if assent is withheld, disaster could strike. But if the assent were restricted to the S.E.Z.'s and, say, all the infrastructure surrounding them to a radius of, say, three kilometres... and all four-lane or larger roads entering them, such a scenario would not occur." Karovic didn't trust the Praetonians any more than they trusted him, and he didn't want to allow even the theoretical possibility of interference if he could help it.

Official Declaration by the Star Chamber of the Imperial Council:

On behalf of His Divine Majesty, the God-Wolf Ianovich I, we, the Star Chamber, do hereby declare that the Kahanistan government has our full support in the current negotations and we hope that their nation is allowed to flourish without any outside interference.

Money is fleeting, and temporary. We applaud the Kahanistani emphasis on national self-determination and superior quality of life for all; despite their bolshevik tendancies this is a people we can work with.

The Empire of the Wolf will be watching proceedings closely, and will not hesitate to intervene in any armed conflict to liberate the Kahanistanis from any foreign capitalist aggressors.

Janucek Vilovic
~ Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee of the Star Chamber

"I think you are missing the point, the idea is to place Kahanistan under the protection of the Crown Commonwealth and thus the Royal Georgian League. The idea of Clandonia and Praetonia having sovereign bases in your country is enough of a deterrent for any invader, the Kahanistani government will never have to worry again as I can guarantee there will be a good amount of money spent on investments to Kahanistani national infrastructure along with a substantial military deployment including elements of the Royal Navy. As to His Majesty's view on taxation and regulation, we are heavily against it as it contradicts Clandonian economic policy. The taxation would affect job creation and put off Clandonian firms from investing in the SEZ's. As for regulation, well we have always believed as a government that business is capable of self regulation and that government pressure only would stifle further economic progress and reconstruction in Kahanistan."

The Clandonian put down the drafted paper.

"I think its best if you accept that you will need to be pragmatic and go against your idealogical principles of statist collectivism."

[OOC: You guys know you can't see into my aircraft carrier, rite?]

"An Act of Parliament is not required in order to deploy your army," Mr Banks said, "I do not understand why you are so resistant. His Majesty intends that, with Kahanistan as a protectorate, Kahanistan will be aided and developed by the Crown Commonwealth, not fought. Our interests, so to speak, become yours, and vice-versa. I do not think that it is possible to make a largely arbitrary division of legislation work. However it is worded, it is almost impossible to seperate any bill entirely from affecting the SEZs."

Karovic looked to President Sklenova. He felt his back was against the wall, that he had failed to protect his nation's interests. The President nodded gently, and the Foreign Minister signed the treaty, then handed it to her. The President signed the treaty as well.

The Foreign Minister had done well enough, given his weak negotiating position and the fact this was his first international conference, as he had been newly appointed to replace the last one, who probably would have told the Praetonians to piss off - and had told just that to an Aurum Doman firm when it offered what she felt a cheap rate.

"It is out of my hands," said Karovic glumly. "I will... urge that the Senate debate it, but whether or not they accept it... is not within my purview as Foreign Minister."

OOC: Of course we can't, but we can monitor the airwaves for media reports and suchlike. :)

Mr Banks stood up and shook the President's hand. "You have served your country well today. I am sure your Senate shall also act in Kahanistan's national interest by signing this document.

[OOC: What's now the legal status of the treaty? Is it now in force by executive signature, like most US international agreements?]

[OOC: What's now the legal status of the treaty? Is it now in force by executive signature, like most US international agreements?]

[OOC: In force, pending Senate approval. This is an intentional check on the President's power, to prevent the approval of grossly unfair or unequal treaties.]

Sklenova smiled weakly. She had made a painful concession, but it was necessary to prevent war with a grouping of powers she could not hope to defeat with the mere million active military personnel at her command. Even if there were hope of defeating Praetonia, Clandonia, and the other nations whose interests were at stake, the war would have devastating consequences up with which the population would not put.

She had a copy of the treaty faxed to the Senate President. Within hours, Foreign Minister Dragomir Karovic would testify before the Senate on the need for the treaty - while he opposed many aspects of it, on the whole it was a useful instrument of protection...

CVS HQ:

As the news of the preliminary acceptance of the treaty came into the Imperial External Intelligence's department responsible for monitoring the situation, an officer spat.

"They rolled over. Spineless fucking Bolsheviks. Thank the Wolf things are changing around here, I'll be glad to get back to killing scum like them."

His anger sated for the moment, he place his head in his arms, and went to sleep.

Future IN Portland Down
Kahanistan

As the Kahanistani President and Foreign Minister, along with the Kregaian Emperor [OOC: Im assuming Warmaster has no problems with this, since it's what we agreed in our "embassy talks" beforehand] were waved off the carrier at the conclusion of the conference, the taskforce's amphibious element moved up to begin the construction of the sovereign basing on the designated site upon receiving confirmation that the Kahanistani President's signature had brought it into force.

The site, which was currently little more than scrubland encircling a natural harbour, would soon be abuzz with helicopters, troops, marines and all manner of industrial equipment. The project would even include the building of a town outside the limits of the base to house Kahanistani construction workers who would be employed on the project, and thereafter be able to make a living supplying the base with amenities and luxury goods not provided by the military rations... provided their government's laws made it viable.

Meanwhile, industrial equipment and flat-packed buildings, as well as defensive equipment, was being assembled in Praetonia for shipping directly to the base, as they would arrive after the first stage of dredging and port construction was complete. The base was to be centre of Kahanistan's defence, as well as a site for ensuring treaty compliance. As such, it would house an army corps - significantly less than the Kahanistani army, but a number judged sufficient for the task at hand - as well as a substantial group of ships and submarines to provide for seaward defence.

Soon the Clandonians would also begin construction, on the other side of the island in order to provide greater coverage from attack across the ocean.

OFFICIAL DIPLOMATIC COMMUNIQUE

To: President Sklenova

We are very pleased that you have accepted the joint proposal; may this herald a new era of cooperation between Kahanistan and the Imperium that will last for many years to come. The Sacred Emperor is of the firm belief that you have done a great service to your country, and even now we have a list of corporations applying for an interest in the SEZs.

In the meantime, Imperator Malustar is anxious to begin construction of the new military installation; we ask that you would begin resettling any civilians who do not wish to become Kregaian subjects (Imperial law defines a subject of the Iron Throne as any person living on Kregaian land), so that we may dispatch workers to begin construction. Preliminary estimates for the size of the base predict a permanent garrison of 120,000 soldiers and assorted support vehicles and aircraft, as well as at least 500 warships present at any given time. We also plan to contract at least half the construction work to local companies, obtain the building materials locally, and use Kahanistani transport companies to keep the finished base stocked with mundane goods such as medical supplies and foodstuffs. In short, the Imperial base will stimulate business throughout the area, and provide an invaluable line of protection for Kahanistan. A true win-win situation, Madam President, and we thank you for the opportunity.

Signed,
Abram Vidann, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Vidann,

I am thrilled to begin the immigration of an estimated 40 million of my people back to our nation. Our nation's native businesses, straining under the S.E.Z. regime which grants advantages to already strong foreign investors, will be overjoyed to receive such a massive contract.

Might I inquire as to the possibility of joint military exercises? The Anti-Catholic Party is still a threat, and if they become powerful I fear they may provoke a third Doomani invasion we can ill weather.

Signed,
Nadia Sklenova,
President of Kahanistan

---

Sklenova handed the list of corporations to the new Commerce Minister, Ali Jabri. "That damned treaty prevents us from even limiting S.E.Z. expansion without royal assent," she said crossly. "We're little more than a self-governing province of Praetonia, a damn mine of cheap labour. Give the corporations a litany of crap, but if they get suspicious, let them in. Find ways to turn them away - we don't have room in the S.E.Z.'s, we have to inspect their building plans, the crime is bad there, I don't care. I want as few of them as possible in here. Just don't piss their government off too much."

OFFICIAL DIPLOMATIC COMMUNIQUE

To: President Sklenova

The Sacred Emperor and Imperator Malustar welcome the idea of joint exercises, and further propose an officer exchange program in order for mutual benefit. As for the Doomani, they are powerful foes on land, but on the sea they would face all the vast fleets of the Imperium and, of course, the tenacious courage of the Kahanistani. We shall aid you however we can, and soon not even the Doomani will need be feared.

Signed,
Abram Vidann, Minister of Foreign Affairs

* * *

Lord Anchises Diadochus was by anyone's standards a fantastically successful man. Heir to the massive conglomerate, the Ilium Corporation, that was the biggest company in the Empire, he was its CEO and one of Kregaia's few trillionaires, as well as the uncle of the late Sacred Emperor Lucifer. At sixty-eight years old, he had many years yet to enjoy his wealth, and his nephew's successor promised to continue feeding Ilium with the military contracts that had formed the core of its success.

However, this particular afternoon, while he was in his study reading Gibbon, his manservant Robert Pendleton-Asquith knocked on the door and entered, as was his tradition, two seconds thereafter. Bowing slightly, he stated in a clipped accent, "My Lord, His Divine Majesty is on the line." There was no question of refusing the call or delaying; the old man stood up quickly and strode into the adjoining soundproofed telephone closet: this allowed him the convenience of a telephone near his study without disturbing his reading with its ringing. Picking up the receiver, he said smoothly, "Divine One, to what do I owe the honor?"

"Anchises. It's business, I'm afraid."

"Hmph. Of course. Well, Great Lord, what do you require of me? Is this about the Kahanistan investment?"

"Yes. I've heard from Latium Airlines that they're being stalled with bureaucratic nonsense, and I was curious as to how the Ilium Corporation is doing on that score."

"Well, Great Lord, since you asked, we too are being confronted with bureaucratic delays. The Kahanistani government asked to see the plans for our planned local headquarters building and for the factories, and declared that neither was in accordance with local fire ordinances or that the land in question was being considered for police stations or other so-called essential buildings..."

"I see. Clearly they're not eager for foreign investment. Well, they're biting the hand that feeds them, and I intend to see Kahanistan rebuilt, whether Sklenova likes it or not. I want you to prod them, Anchises, and I'll tell the other investors to do the same. If they literally refuse to let you in, then let us know, and we'll have to use diplomatic methods to push this through. If needs be I'll get the Praetonians to back us up. Really, they don't have a leg to stand on anyway; the zones aren't really theirs anymore, and they should have no objection to foreign companies investing in their nation."

"Yes, Great Lord. Thank you."

"Always a pleasure, Anchises. Goodbye."

The reaction was simple:
It wasn't long at all before a message arrived at the Kahanistani Presidential Palace, top priority.

The courier explained in polite tones that Ambassador deMalara presents his compliments to the President, and requests that she meet with him as soon as possible on a matter of some urgency... at least that was what the words said. The subtext said "Now", and was reinforced by His Excellency's car being parked out the front.

The President arrived at the Palace - more accurately, a three-story structure that appeared a large house converted into an office building - to see the Ambassador's car parked outside, with Macisikani diplomatic plates. She pulled behind the car and stepped out, still dressed from her meeting with the other S.E.Z. powers, in a navy blue business suit.

Seeing nobody in the car, she assumed the guards had let them in - she wasn't that long from finishing the meeting - and they were inside waiting for her. She stepped into the Palace foyer / meeting room, which resembled the foyer of an old Victorian-era house.

---

After some bureaucratic bickering, the man with connections to the Sacred Emperor was allowed in. Minister Jabri, prodded by Kahanistan's foundering airlines, continued to feed Latium Airlines some crap about integrating air traffic control and preventing noise pollution over major cities, then over how to fit an international airport into the S.E.Z.'s, where land had already been acquired for other businesses.

Ambassador deMalara was indeed waiting inside, with three men and a woman. Two men were clad in non-descript suits; bodyguards. deMalara, was clad in a three-piece suit of black satin complete with top hat, cane, and cloak. The woman was wearing a late 1900's dress (also black) with hat (black, but with dark blue relief on top), while the other man was wearing a cleric's uniform; the white part of the dog collar bore a purple cross. Apart from that, the only relief from the black was provided by the shine of buttons, cufflinks, and a couple red hankerchiefs.

Someone must have said something as the President entered, as the party turned around. The two male diplomats swept off their hats and bowed from the waist, while the woman dipped a curtsy.

"Madam President," the cleric said as they straightened, "I present to you His Excellency, the Lord Cellachan deMalara, His Serene Majesty's Ambassador to the Free Republic of Kahanistan. I am Reverend Peter Mayhew, aide to His Excellency, and this is Sera Janic Lukova, C.H.M."

The Ambassador stepped forward and doffed his hat a second time.

"Good day Madam President, I trust you are well?"

Even though they were extremely annoyed, they were still polite.

"I am," said President Sklenova. "We've had a change in Foreign Ministers. This is Dr. Dragomir Karovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs." She introduced an older, paunchy man in a Western suit. He looked close to 60 years old and had lost most of his hair.

"What is the urgency?" asked the President.

Kahanistan becomes Crown Protectorate

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40626000/jpg/_40626157_xredbannerbrand_071.jpg
As the country lies destitute, Communist President Sklenova agrees not to "keep the Red Flag flying here".
___________________
From 'The Kingston Herald'
Front Page

The Foreign Office has announced that the President of Kahanistan has added her signature to the King's in signing the Treaty of Haversham aboard the fleet carrier PWS Triumphant, flagship of the 7th Battlegroup that is now to be stationed permanently in the country. Sir Thomas Richmond described the agreement, which will see the Special Economic Zones in Kahanistan safeguarded permanently, as an "historic step forward" for the beleagured nation, which has been victim to crippling foreign attack and domestic economic mismanagement over the past years.

The CPI has welcomed the agreement, which the Government says will be used to "safeguard foreign investments, not only belonging to Praetonians and Kregaians, but to all of the SEZ powers." Several CPI firms have already announced significant further investment in Kahanistan that is expected to create large numbers of new jobs for Kahanistanis. Imperial Central Bank plc. shares alone were up 0.8% on news of the deal, and general confidence in the Praetonian banking sector, which has invested heavily in the Kahanistani economy, has been reported strongly up.

The Kahanistan Government has received widespread praise from the free market liberal Royal Georgian League press for adopting a more moderate economic policy, having previously been expected to enforce a hard-core marxist philosophy on the country's economy. The Foreign Secretary has expressed hope that this will herald greatly improved relations between Kahanistan and the free trade powers whose citizens command significant sums of potential investment capital.

The proclamation of King George IV as Lord Protector of Kahanistan is also expected to herald significant interest on the part of the government in developing the country, and the acting Prime Minister is rumoured to be planning talks on the delivery of aid to Kahanistan in exchange for further trade liberalisation before the next election.

More on the Treaty of Haversham: pg. 4, 5

[OOC: Not as long as I'd hoped but Im a bit rushed.]

"Minister," deMalara nodded to the man.

"Straight to business then? Very well. Madam President, we would like to know the outcome of this conference you just attended," deMalara's tone was cool. "Seeing as we were excluded, and that no-one has lowered themselves to discuss any of the proceedings with us... or anything else to do with it for that matter. Despite it being directly relevant to our interests."

Both the cleric and the lawyer's faces had gone stony while the Ambassador spoke. It didn't take a psychic to realise that they were taking the whole thing as a deliberate insult.

"Well... the Praetonian warships off our coast, and the state of our navy at the best of times... didn't exactly lend themselves to discussion, and the Praetonians' absolute refusal to negotiate..." began the Foreign Minister.

"We basically signed over as a Praetonian colony," said President Sklenova, handing the Ambassador a copy of the Treaty of Haversham. "We're as self-governing as Praetonia itself is, that is to say, their Parliament also needs royal assent to its legislation, if I'm accurate in my understanding of the Praetonian government. This won't look good...

"The Senate stands a fair chance of approving it," she said dejectedly. "They won't risk military confrontation with a larger power while we're still recovering from the last war. The best we can hope for is that royal assent will be a reserve power - something that they never actually use. The communists will oppose it because of treatment of the workers, like I did, but the more centre-left communists and liberals will go along. The Anti-Catholic Party usually votes alongside the Nationalists, but they'll break ranks here - anything that gives us strength, at whatever cost, is good to them. Even some moderates in the Nationalist Party are going along, because it's 'good for the economy.'"

Lukova and Mayhew read it over the Ambassador's shoulder, and eyebrows were raised in unison.

When they were done, deMalara's face froze over, while Lukova frowned and bent closer to the paper, displacing him by means of a well-placed elbow. Mayhew simply stared at the President, his expression asking if she'd taken leave of her senses.

"This treaty greatly advantages these three nations over the rest of the SEZ powers," deMalara's refined voice was dry and bland, with only a trace of pain. "I will of course be lodging an official protest with your government over this unfair and unconscionable treatment, on the principle that, unlike your new overlords, you do us the courtesy of listening... yes?"

Lukova had whispered something in French, and deMalara craned his head back to see the text of the treaty again, one hand guarding his ribs. She pointed at it, and said something quite colourful in the language. deMalara frowned severely.

"Madam President," he said slowly, over a muttered stream of Gallic profanity, "You do realise that there isn't a sunset or exit clause in this treaty, don't you? You will remain a "protectorate" of Praetonia forever, or more accurately, a self-governing part of the Praetonian realm..." he regarded the treaty with disdain. "They've conquered your nation with a piece of paper."

Karovic looked affronted. "They conquered us with those warships outside our coast. Were we supposed to insist on negotiations when they adamantly refused? Do you expect us to fight?"

"Enough," said President Sklenova over the Minister's muttering of Croatian obscenities. "We do plan for independence, when we are stronger. The nature of being a protectorate is that of a weaker nation seeking a powerful protector. When we are not weak, we will no longer have need of a protector. We will do you the courtesy of listening."

deMalara looked at the Foreign Minister.

"Other nations have interests in yours. A Menelcamari gravship could annihilate that Praetonian fleet without raising a sweat, you could have pointed that out to them," he replied in neutral tones; not being critical, merely stating facts. "And I doubt the elves would have been as demanding."

"Madam President," his attention returned to the Kahanistani leader. "You are broadly correct; a protectorate seeks protection... but usually they ask the protector, and the protector undertakes not to interfere in the internal affairs of the protectee as long as certain conditions are met.. however, the demand that every single piece of legislation must be approved by the King qualifies as interference, and you didn't ask for this," he finished with a sigh. His annoyance and anger had blown themselves out.

"But Madam President, in the dark of the night, ask yourself this; do you really think that they'll ever let you grow strong enough to do without them? When they effectively control your budget, your laws, your economy? Do you really think they'd surrender that power?" his tone had shifted gear; he might have been discussing the weather.

The lawyer and the cleric watched with bright eyes, alert and interested.

"I should begin..." said the President. She nodded to an officer standing next to the door. "Lieutenant, have the building swept for bugs." She couldn't trust the Praetonians not to have put a spy in the Palace, though such an attempt, if detected, would have resulted in her being informed.

While the security sweep was going on, she lowered her voice. "I'll have to consider increasing the size of the black budget." The black budget was a portion of money squirreled away for "general classified use."

"Enough to dilute the effectiveness of the Praetonian interest. The Nationalists have the idea of subsidising native businesses to enable them to move into the S.E.Z.'s. This might work, but it adds the ideological problem of our native businesses behaving like many of the other investors... not naming anyone in particular." As a communist, she disliked the idea of any business being able to lock out workers, break strikes, or any of the other nefarious capitalistic practices normally illegal in Kahanistan.

"There is the option of receiving aid from a third country, or even a fourth. My degrees are in political science and philosophy - I'm no economist. But I figure that adding the number of funding sources will weaken the grip any one funding nation has. In a matter of months, or at most a year... we might be able to negotiate withdrawal from the treaty."

HMS Nelson set for leisure port call in Kahanistan

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/madnukedude/NelsonClassSuperDreadnoughtresize.png
HMS Nelson, Grand Flagship of the Home Fleet

From the Warminster City Times
Front Page

The War Office confirmed today that HMS Nelson would make a port call on its cruise near Kahanistan for a leisure stop and for consumable supplies to be loaded on from the new Clandonian naval base of Hereford. HMS Nelson was the first warship of the Clandonian built and designed Nelson Class Super Dreadnought. Ministers denied comments from various strategists and military commentators that the port call was in response to the terrorist attack the Praetonian owned fish canning factory in Westport. Clandonian businesses in the Special Economic Zones have increased security as a result with the government pledging more another division of troops to the growing basing at RAF Leominster. Once construction of the base has been completed two hundred thousand tri-service personal will be based with a sizeable air, armour and artillery complement to maintain Clandonian sovereignty over the Crowns economic protectorates. HMS Nelson at just over a one thousand metres long is armed with several thousand missiles and eight triple 30.5 inch guns carrying over five thousand. Built to as a symbol of Clandonian naval power they have never seen military action but have been in various fleet exercises with both the Royal Navy and allied Praetonian and Questerian forces.

The Times has learnt that there is a fear of outside inference and a suggestion that a foreign power may have supported financially the terrorist attack. The port call of a large super dreadnought warship is unusual due to the huge logistical task of moving supplies and men from the ship with its large draught to dry land via boats and helicopters. Several cruisers and battlecruisers from the 20th Expeditionary Fleet which is on continuing patrol around Kahanistan assisted its arrival. Our correspondant in Kahanistan reports the situation is tense with fears of an increased terrorism threat forcing many foreign nationals into the safe compounds or the hotels where Clandonian troops have been deployed with light armour and anti-suicide vehicle weaponry including automatic numberplate recognition and automated coaxial machine guns. Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice advises Clandonian and Royal Georgian League nationals to maintain a discreet profile when travelling and to avoid areas of communist support. There have been several spates of anti-Clandonian and anti-Praetonian protests since the Treaty of Haversham. In Kingston the government is still deciding on an action after the attacks, commentators have suggested a colonial naval force will be dispatched to suppress any future attacks and uprisings.

Continued on page 7...

deMalara opened his mouth to comment, and closed it as Lukova whispered in his ear. When she was done, he sighed again.

"I'll try not things more difficult for you than they already are," he said to the Minister and President, now sounding tired. "No denouncing this travesty in the street or suchlike. The Seven Nations Minerals Corporation has indicated they wish to maintain their operations in your nation, and will voluntarily comply with your wage laws, and allow their worker's guild to liaise with the native unions, as well as liaising with your department of trade over any concerns you might have, but as partners, not overlords," he looked righteous, and added "that is the act of gentlemen," tiredness returned at his next words though.

"Unfortunately, you will be hit with a travel advisory; I can't do anything about that. My lawyer here advises me that you will be classed by the Central Government as a self-governing part of the Praetonian realm as long as the treaty holds, and as we have no diplomatic relation with them, and they refuse to talk to us, we will have to advise our citizens to avoid non-essential travel. My deputy will be up later today to lodge our protest," he looked resigned.

"By your leave, Madam President," hats were swept off again as they bowed.

Sklenova frowned. "I'm glad your corporation is willing to follow our trade and environmental laws. That is a major step forward... I'll listen to your deputy's protest, if there is some reason you can't lodge it with me right here." She was clearly a relatively inexperienced politician - in her early thirties, she simply had not the time to garner political experience and had likely been nominated because of her war record and history with the Communist Party.

deMalara smiled slightly, gently.

"They must also comply with our laws, and codes of behaviour," he replied. "There's a simple reason I cannot lodge the protest right now; I don't have it with me. It's delivered in written form, the usual letter of how we deplore the situation and protest our exclusion, find the treaty material and substance to be abhorrent, and so on and so forth," he delivered an elegant shrug.

"Read it, put it in a drawer, table it in your parliament, put it on the front page, I don't care," he finished.

The protest letter, when it was delivered by the Deputy Ambassador, was the standard formal Macisikani diplomatic letter; calligraphy on vellum with an illuminated border, each element painstakingly and meticulously hand-drawn. It was stamped with the Ambassador's seal. It wasn't as strongly worded as it could have been, and the tone was more annoyed than angry; rather critical of Praetonia's handling of the conference, and equally critical of the "negligent complicity" of the Clandonians and Kregians. It closed by stating that the treaty was unconscionable, a bullying action. It actually sounded like a teacher reprimanding a student who had taken another's lunch money.

Sklenova had the letter sent to the Senate. As it was not classified information, the media also got the letter and ran with it, putting various spins on it - it was securing the nation's economic survival, making the Doomies think twice about messing with them, and removing dependence on the Allaneans who cut and ran... or making Kahanistan a Praetonian colony - political sections of nationalist newspapers ran what became recurring cartoons - the Praetonian flag flying over the Kahanistanian one at the Presidential Palace, King George of Praetonia putting his hand up a puppet model of President Sklenova, and maps of Praetonia that included Kahanistan as "Praetonia Occidentalis" - West Praetonia.

In the Senate, a resolution was pushed that demanded a sunset or exit clause be added to the Treaty of Haversham. The Nationalist Party which dominated the Senate had no desire to remain in need of a protector, and the Communists still desired to push out "slavers."

[OOC: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13345112&postcount=10 <- This post says the treaty has already been approved. I'm a little confused here.]