Northford
19-03-2008, 23:28
Backroom deals.
Sighing slowly and gently, Shane Pember left the room. “One down… two more to go”, he muttered to himself as the corridor in which he turned exited into an nice, open courtyard. Ever since Northford made their colonisation planes clear through APOC communication channels, various nations had been eager to ‘approach’ him, offering concessions and trade offers in return for involvement in the project. While there was no formal protocol for this, owing to the generally good levels of co-operation between APOC members such interactions were frequent; Northford couldn’t stop them colonising the same lands as they were, however by having ‘first call’ they were given a rather large breadth of negotiation by standard diplomatic protocol.
So far, negotiations had proceeded relatively well. Though QC/RGL channels, Northford had identified Clandonia as the main partner, in an arrangement that had transpired to a very pleasing arrangement for both parties. While the only formal interaction Clandonia and Northford had was through the proxies of the Praeto-Northford friendship treaty and the Questers-Praetonia alliance, they enjoyed a very friendly working relationship, being members of the RGL and QC, respectively. They often picked up the ‘bulk’ of the Escort work between the two alliances, lending them powerful navies, with large amounts of co-operation on trade routes common to both the League and the Commonwealth.
After several rounds of negotiation, the “Clandon-ford Pact”, as it became known unofficially, had expanded into essentially an mutual defence pact, with, strategically, elements of a friendship treaty. Both nations reaffirmed their dedication to working through the RGL/QC framework, while formally offering mutual defence of their colonies overseas where interests clash, and, further, mutual defence of the “Southford” colony site. Strategically, the pact also highlighted the importance of trade links, and, internationally maintaining a unified QC/RGL front on a wide range of common issues.
On the Southford issue, the agreement between the two countries was as follows: Clandonia would gain approximately 30% of the land, Northford would gain 50%, with 10% (an oil and mineral rich region in the northeast) under a joint mandate for industrial development. The remaining territory was to be leased to other countries on a permanent basis, often for co-operation on other issues, or for other, similar leases. The Zukariaans also extended their territory by 5%, pushing their southern boarder south somewhat.
Today, however, Pembers had been dealing with the Cohenians, who had formally approached the Northfordian Government with an aim for a territory exchange. It was a relatively simple deal, with Northford securing a perpetual 10 year lease for the southern peninsula of one of the Eskonso islands, in return for the Cohenians securing a similar perpetual 10 year lease for approximately the same area in the Southford colony. It was a relatively pleasing deal: After the loss of Kepler’s Edge in the Haven War Northford had been needing an independent base in East Haven, allowing both a location to base strategic assets, as well as allowing the Northfordian Navy its own independent Port of Call. The fact it was opposite the (Questarian controlled) island of Ceylon was also a bonus, it meant it was more easily defendable, and gave the Commonwealth as a whole a more solidified presence. Coupled with the planned territory gains colonisation in East Haven in the near future, it was, very simply, a ‘win-win’.
Despite the positive outlook, there were, however, two, rather problematic issues that needed to be addressed. After the Haven war, the Strobovia strait was identified to not only one of the main trade routes through Haven, but, far more importantly, the main route of any likely invasion into the “Commonwealth heartland” ( i.e. Questers, Aunesia, Bruxella). For this reason, as well the fact that it was the main route out the Commonwealth heartland, and into Haven, control was vital.
At the moment, control was roughly split 50/50 between the forces of NATO and APOC. NATO, through their bases on the Cloyster close and the Cravanian outpost of Carpanthium had the effective ability of ‘linking up’, while the much larger and more capable bases on the northern coastline of Northford had the ability to cause a lengthy “Blockage” , not being able to completely cease traffic, simply by virtue of their limited geographical location.
Relations with the Cravanians, however, despite their opposing ideological stand points, were the warmest they had been since the end of hostilities. With Cravanian help Brookes had been re-instated as Prime Minister (somewhat to the chagrin of the Questarians), with his loose coalition winning the two successive elections afterwards. The latest foreign minister had spent several years in Cravan during the GASN years, and had a Cravanian wife. While, politically they were increasingly becoming isolated from each other, they retained excellent working relationships on the Carpanthium boarder. Indeed, despite the status of the Northford within the Questarian Commonwealth, the Governor of Carpanthium, Richard Crawley was the only “National Leader” that regularly met with the Northfordian foreign minister. As well as this, the ex-Monarch of the East Havenic empire, Matt Cravan, regularly dined with Prime Minister Brookes, often in their two respective official residences. Indeed, Steir Castle, the official residence of the Ex-Monarch, actually contained several battery packs designed for Brookes personalised life support system that he was left with after his severe illness during the Haven War: During harsh winters, when the Northfordian Parliament was adjourned it would not be unusual for him to reside there over night when they were meeting for dinner, lest the frail Head of States’ health be risked further during rough travelling.
In fact, by a coincidence only known in pre-planned Role-plays, it was this “regular meeting” with the Carpanthium Governor that Pembers was heading to now, for it was 3:15 pm, Thursday, and therefore the time of their usual meet up. By convention they varied the location, between the Governors official residence and the Northfordian foreign office. In the brief agenda messaged between the two governments, the Colonisation was on the list of topics (after the Haven War they had an unofficial agreement to discuss large ship movements around Carpanthium, to avoid the possibility of a ‘provocation’ incident), as was the latest organised Crime wave in Arterus and the recent progression of the Questarian form of Government towards democracy. While, of course, the Governor for Carpanthium had little remit outside of his own territory, these meetings were usually attended by the Cravanian Ambassador, and, on occasion other members of the two nations.
In today’s meeting, the Ex-Monarch, Mathew Cravan was invited, as was the regular Cravanian Ambassador, and Prime Minister Brookes. On the surface, there was important reason for this: the colonising fleet would consist of approximately 1000 various cargo ships from Clandonia and Northford, protected by around 500 ships of the Northfordian and Royal Clandonian Navy. Further, a capital ship, rented off the Franberrians was to be used a temporary HQ was to be deployed. While it was completely unarmed, and intended to be used for approximately three months while the foundations of a concrete based coastal fortress was laid, the sight of a ship over a kilometre long required explanation, regardless of the realities of the situation.
There was, however, another issue that required the assembly of so many people for a usually quiet affair. There were rumours abound that despite the relatively cordial public relations, the security situation between the APOC and NATO blocs was deteriorating, especially when referenced to the ‘Allanea situation’. The Questarian Empire had Covertly raised the alertness of several bomber squadrons, while several long range Reconnaissance planes running off escort carriers had detected large troop movements between several NATO countries. Frankly, no one in Northford was none the wiser, but Brookes, Pembers, and several key players in the Northfordian foreign office were keen to discover whether any of these actions would interfere with the colonisation planes for “Southford”. There were other reasons for this too… Northford had lined the nation of “Akimonad” to act a neutral buffer state between the Northfordians and the Allaneans in Cloysters Close. By probing the Cravanians, the Northfordians hoped to find out whether or not this was really necessary.
Finally, as an aside, Brookes was due to return to Cravan for his regular health check up with his Cravanian doctors that had saved. There was a…proposition… that had been working on in secret with Pembers that meant, perhaps, he would not be travelling to the Eastern fringe of Haven alone…
===
Put this up here first for people *cough* Crave to check through IC inaccuracies before we get into the action (people get sick of me bugging them every 5 minutes....). This is going to be a closed RP between various national leaders, while also following the build up to launching the colonisation force. Presently, for OOC background, there are several small (~dozen) teams of the Northfordian Geological Survey over at 'Southford' aiding cartographers in wetland areas, along with a couple of small corvettes watching the site where a 'mullberry' (more on this later) dock will towed, preventing pre-sabotage.
For OOC comments or corrections, keep it to IRC, or the parent thread: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=551193&highlight=Northford
Sighing slowly and gently, Shane Pember left the room. “One down… two more to go”, he muttered to himself as the corridor in which he turned exited into an nice, open courtyard. Ever since Northford made their colonisation planes clear through APOC communication channels, various nations had been eager to ‘approach’ him, offering concessions and trade offers in return for involvement in the project. While there was no formal protocol for this, owing to the generally good levels of co-operation between APOC members such interactions were frequent; Northford couldn’t stop them colonising the same lands as they were, however by having ‘first call’ they were given a rather large breadth of negotiation by standard diplomatic protocol.
So far, negotiations had proceeded relatively well. Though QC/RGL channels, Northford had identified Clandonia as the main partner, in an arrangement that had transpired to a very pleasing arrangement for both parties. While the only formal interaction Clandonia and Northford had was through the proxies of the Praeto-Northford friendship treaty and the Questers-Praetonia alliance, they enjoyed a very friendly working relationship, being members of the RGL and QC, respectively. They often picked up the ‘bulk’ of the Escort work between the two alliances, lending them powerful navies, with large amounts of co-operation on trade routes common to both the League and the Commonwealth.
After several rounds of negotiation, the “Clandon-ford Pact”, as it became known unofficially, had expanded into essentially an mutual defence pact, with, strategically, elements of a friendship treaty. Both nations reaffirmed their dedication to working through the RGL/QC framework, while formally offering mutual defence of their colonies overseas where interests clash, and, further, mutual defence of the “Southford” colony site. Strategically, the pact also highlighted the importance of trade links, and, internationally maintaining a unified QC/RGL front on a wide range of common issues.
On the Southford issue, the agreement between the two countries was as follows: Clandonia would gain approximately 30% of the land, Northford would gain 50%, with 10% (an oil and mineral rich region in the northeast) under a joint mandate for industrial development. The remaining territory was to be leased to other countries on a permanent basis, often for co-operation on other issues, or for other, similar leases. The Zukariaans also extended their territory by 5%, pushing their southern boarder south somewhat.
Today, however, Pembers had been dealing with the Cohenians, who had formally approached the Northfordian Government with an aim for a territory exchange. It was a relatively simple deal, with Northford securing a perpetual 10 year lease for the southern peninsula of one of the Eskonso islands, in return for the Cohenians securing a similar perpetual 10 year lease for approximately the same area in the Southford colony. It was a relatively pleasing deal: After the loss of Kepler’s Edge in the Haven War Northford had been needing an independent base in East Haven, allowing both a location to base strategic assets, as well as allowing the Northfordian Navy its own independent Port of Call. The fact it was opposite the (Questarian controlled) island of Ceylon was also a bonus, it meant it was more easily defendable, and gave the Commonwealth as a whole a more solidified presence. Coupled with the planned territory gains colonisation in East Haven in the near future, it was, very simply, a ‘win-win’.
Despite the positive outlook, there were, however, two, rather problematic issues that needed to be addressed. After the Haven war, the Strobovia strait was identified to not only one of the main trade routes through Haven, but, far more importantly, the main route of any likely invasion into the “Commonwealth heartland” ( i.e. Questers, Aunesia, Bruxella). For this reason, as well the fact that it was the main route out the Commonwealth heartland, and into Haven, control was vital.
At the moment, control was roughly split 50/50 between the forces of NATO and APOC. NATO, through their bases on the Cloyster close and the Cravanian outpost of Carpanthium had the effective ability of ‘linking up’, while the much larger and more capable bases on the northern coastline of Northford had the ability to cause a lengthy “Blockage” , not being able to completely cease traffic, simply by virtue of their limited geographical location.
Relations with the Cravanians, however, despite their opposing ideological stand points, were the warmest they had been since the end of hostilities. With Cravanian help Brookes had been re-instated as Prime Minister (somewhat to the chagrin of the Questarians), with his loose coalition winning the two successive elections afterwards. The latest foreign minister had spent several years in Cravan during the GASN years, and had a Cravanian wife. While, politically they were increasingly becoming isolated from each other, they retained excellent working relationships on the Carpanthium boarder. Indeed, despite the status of the Northford within the Questarian Commonwealth, the Governor of Carpanthium, Richard Crawley was the only “National Leader” that regularly met with the Northfordian foreign minister. As well as this, the ex-Monarch of the East Havenic empire, Matt Cravan, regularly dined with Prime Minister Brookes, often in their two respective official residences. Indeed, Steir Castle, the official residence of the Ex-Monarch, actually contained several battery packs designed for Brookes personalised life support system that he was left with after his severe illness during the Haven War: During harsh winters, when the Northfordian Parliament was adjourned it would not be unusual for him to reside there over night when they were meeting for dinner, lest the frail Head of States’ health be risked further during rough travelling.
In fact, by a coincidence only known in pre-planned Role-plays, it was this “regular meeting” with the Carpanthium Governor that Pembers was heading to now, for it was 3:15 pm, Thursday, and therefore the time of their usual meet up. By convention they varied the location, between the Governors official residence and the Northfordian foreign office. In the brief agenda messaged between the two governments, the Colonisation was on the list of topics (after the Haven War they had an unofficial agreement to discuss large ship movements around Carpanthium, to avoid the possibility of a ‘provocation’ incident), as was the latest organised Crime wave in Arterus and the recent progression of the Questarian form of Government towards democracy. While, of course, the Governor for Carpanthium had little remit outside of his own territory, these meetings were usually attended by the Cravanian Ambassador, and, on occasion other members of the two nations.
In today’s meeting, the Ex-Monarch, Mathew Cravan was invited, as was the regular Cravanian Ambassador, and Prime Minister Brookes. On the surface, there was important reason for this: the colonising fleet would consist of approximately 1000 various cargo ships from Clandonia and Northford, protected by around 500 ships of the Northfordian and Royal Clandonian Navy. Further, a capital ship, rented off the Franberrians was to be used a temporary HQ was to be deployed. While it was completely unarmed, and intended to be used for approximately three months while the foundations of a concrete based coastal fortress was laid, the sight of a ship over a kilometre long required explanation, regardless of the realities of the situation.
There was, however, another issue that required the assembly of so many people for a usually quiet affair. There were rumours abound that despite the relatively cordial public relations, the security situation between the APOC and NATO blocs was deteriorating, especially when referenced to the ‘Allanea situation’. The Questarian Empire had Covertly raised the alertness of several bomber squadrons, while several long range Reconnaissance planes running off escort carriers had detected large troop movements between several NATO countries. Frankly, no one in Northford was none the wiser, but Brookes, Pembers, and several key players in the Northfordian foreign office were keen to discover whether any of these actions would interfere with the colonisation planes for “Southford”. There were other reasons for this too… Northford had lined the nation of “Akimonad” to act a neutral buffer state between the Northfordians and the Allaneans in Cloysters Close. By probing the Cravanians, the Northfordians hoped to find out whether or not this was really necessary.
Finally, as an aside, Brookes was due to return to Cravan for his regular health check up with his Cravanian doctors that had saved. There was a…proposition… that had been working on in secret with Pembers that meant, perhaps, he would not be travelling to the Eastern fringe of Haven alone…
===
Put this up here first for people *cough* Crave to check through IC inaccuracies before we get into the action (people get sick of me bugging them every 5 minutes....). This is going to be a closed RP between various national leaders, while also following the build up to launching the colonisation force. Presently, for OOC background, there are several small (~dozen) teams of the Northfordian Geological Survey over at 'Southford' aiding cartographers in wetland areas, along with a couple of small corvettes watching the site where a 'mullberry' (more on this later) dock will towed, preventing pre-sabotage.
For OOC comments or corrections, keep it to IRC, or the parent thread: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=551193&highlight=Northford