NationStates Jolt Archive

Barkanos, Ralkovia

Josh sat at his throne listening to richard cory by simon and garfunkel. He sang along, the death guard stood along the parapets and the advisors go the palace ready.

The tocrowkians would arrive here and negotiate a lasting peace between ralkovia and tocrowkia. The Ralkovians just hoped that they wouldn't be forced into any major concessions that would destroy the barely stable ground ralkovia now stood on.

Ralkovia's first order of business was to secure and ensure that the structural foundation of the empire would remain strong.

High Chancellor Strife Piett (http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/GhodaLadki/misc/Heroes/peter.jpg) adjusted his sunglasses as he, and his considerable escort walked up the steps of the the palace. All told, over a dozen highly trained body guards escorted him. Of course, nothing less could be expected when the second most powerful man in the Tocrowkian Reich was visiting a former enemy. The war with Ralkovia had been short, but brutal. The use of atomics made casualties high on both ends, and though the Reich's casualties were much smaller than Ralkovia's, Strife wanted to ensure that conflict between the two would have occur again.

An agent of the S.S. had brokered a cease fire with a captured Ralkovian prince, the agent acting as a conduit between that prince and the Steward him self. And though Strife was glad for the peace, he found the terms...unsatisfactory to say the least. He'd have to fix that. Walking into the palace, he glared at the death guard, having been made well aware of the atrocities they committed against Tocrowkian forces in the war. He wished he could tear into each of them with his bare hands for what they had done, but he had to keep his temper in check.

(Sorry for the short post in the beginning. I was half asleep at my computer and I couldn't even think straight)

The death guard grunted and opened the heavy doors. Made out of thick pieces of metal, lead, and concrete the door could withstand a nuclear bomb going off right in front of it. Each doors weighed over 10 tons and while the death guard were pulling most of the work was done by two large arms.

Josh Raskov sat at his chair. The song had changed to Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. While Ralkovia had been badly harmed by the war, Josh Raskov had stepped up the amount of death guard and their numbers were just reaching around 20 million and the death guard were ready for war.

Outside the palace the sound of death guard executing prisoners could be heard. This palace was only a temporary "office" as the emperor called it. The palace was extremely large but it seemed cramped to the Emperor.

His old palace had covered almost 10 square miles almost 30 square miles including the rolling fields. It had been the single most expensive building in ralkovia almost 800 billion dollars. This palace was only 2 square miles, still huge but cramped with over 20,000 death guard who took up occupation.

Raskov watched as the doors opened and smiled before greeting the man. "Hello Mr. Strife, I hope you're flight wasn't exhausting. Here let me get you a chair," raising his left hand, which was covered in a gauntlet, he moved his pinky finger and a chair made from the finest satin money could buy. Its arm rests were made of Scarborough wood* and cost over 4 million.

*Scarborough wood is extremely rare wood, it is a type of tree that reproduces once in a thousand years(the seed is the size of a pumpkin) What also adds the extra cost is that the tree actually coats itself in iron it pulls from the ground and it only grows near iron deposits that are extremely close to the ground. This tree is a bit PMT but its one of my favorite.

"As well as can be expected." Strife replied, giving an uneasy glance at the chair, wondering if it were perhaps some sort of trap. However, he doubted even the Ralkovians would be so bold as to cause him any sort of harm on an official diplomatic mission. He took the seat, but look hardly rested when he did. He looked ready to spring up at a seconds notice in fact, even with his guards surrounding his seat. "Our nations, as you are well aware, have agreed upon a cease fire. However, I think we both know which of us are stronger." Strife said, locking his eyes with the Emperor's.

"Your wanton nuclear attack on our forces caused considerable damage to the Mailed Fist of the 1st fleet. We request, nay, demand you pay 50% of the bills in order to restore or replace ships lost in the battle."

He looked to the man, his eyes narrowing. "This ceasefire was negotiated by my nephew. He is no longer a commander," his eyes showed the other truth. He wasn't even alive any longer. Should strife look at the Emperor's trophy wall the Princes skull was planted on it next to that of the 10 incompetent generals who had lost the province.

My country lost 20% of its forces. Furthermore, I have lost control of 40% of ralkovia's oil and over 60% of the oil refineries have been destroyed. Ralkovian losses have shown that you are correct in the assumption that you had the stronger force.

Our wanton attacks was to defend a province that was rebelling. Ralkovia will pay only for the soldiers who lost their lives on your ships."

"You make the incorrect assumption have a choice in the matter. You do not. Ralkovia will pay for the repairs and replacements of the 1st fleet." Strife replied, narrowing his own gaze. "And if the prince is no longer in command, then the status of the ceasefire is questionable, is it not? The peace between our nation is fragile enough as it is." Strife said plainly. His hardened face showed no sign of being intimidated by the prospect of renewed conflict.

"As you said this is a ceasefire, I am not stupid enough to try and kill you and risk losing my country but I am certainly stubborn enough to continue this war. Attacking one of my provinces might be easy but I am certain when you attack my country as you surely will try my men will take this personal and fight for their lives.

And surely you have seen the Ring of Hah-gah-nah* that you had to fly over. I am sure that you would have guessed its purpose as well. I can continue this war at my front and win or at least cause massive casualties.

My country will pay only for the cost of the current lives lost...." Seeing he could not change the mind of Strife he would need to change the subject. Ralkovia was endanger and so was his position but he knew the ring would be able to hold off any fleets and gave ralkovia a deep advantage in defense.

"Why don't we go to your other issues and discuss this later."


*Ring of Hah-Gah-Nah is a geographical formation of islands that ring around ralkovia. The islands are about 80 miles out from ralkovia and in reality are part of the largest underwater mountain chain. Ralkovia has utilized this by building large fortifications and bridges to connect these islands. Underwater they put submarine traps and mines. There are only 3 gaps between these over 2000 islands that are more than 5 miles wide. All of them are heavily guarded.

Depending on what year we are in MT or PMT the ring might not be finished. The project was started in the 1920's and was finished by 2030. If the year is 2010 the project will be mostly completed except for the large bridges and nets. However all the islands by this time have at least 2 forts that are capable of launching guided missiles most forts are unmanned and technicians on the mainland or on the largest of the islands operate them.

Of course this ring is not really a ring but it does cover most of ralkovia's coast. There are other ways and if we do go to war I will explain all of ralkovia's geographical features and provide you with a map.

The body guards shuffled, but all Strife did was close his eyes and exhale. "I am not an unreasonable man, Emperor of Ralkovia. But the Steward is rather...stubborn. But still, neither of us would willingly condemn the Reich's sons and daughters to death for a pointless conflict that can easily be prevented." Strife had of course seen the ring, and even read a 280 page proposal for the invasion of Ralkovia provided by his military. It pictured the Tocrowkian Reich winning the war of course, but not without heavy casualties. The plan proposed use of nuclear weapons to bypass the ring, but Strife was weary of using atomics once again, especially as an opening blow.

"Now, if you refuse to pay for the repairs to our navy, this is one more option. Become a protectorate of the Tocrowkian Reich. Hand over command of your military to my self and the Steward, for a period lasting no less than ten years."

The halls echoed with laughter, a mad man's laughter."My friend, let us change the subject what other issues do you have?"

(Can you get on MSN?)

"I'm afraid that if you do not accept, we have nothing more to discuss and hostiles will resume." Strife said with a theatric sigh. "I will of course, urge you to reconsider. You speak of your nations economic turmoil, imagine what we could do to help you. We spend more on our military than your nations entire gross domestic product. And imagine what that could do, if we redirected funds into repairing your shattered nation." Strife said, hoping this last request would not fall upon def ears.

"Maybe...." he said rubbing his chin. He was faced with a hard decision war or losing pride."I will have to think hard about that offer."

OOC: If it really comes down to it the Scandinvan Empire would be willing to pay for the damage done to the 1st fleet...

I know this is closed, but I just wanted to make it clear that I do not want this conflict to continue.

"Just don't take too long." Strife warned. "The Steward wants an answer by tomorrow." with that, he calmly ran his hand over his own gelled hair and sighed as he reclined into his chair and lit up a cigarette and took a long, satisfying drag, uncaring if it offended any strange foreign custom of the Ralkovians.

(OOC: Hey Ralk can Ernesto apper somewhere cause I know if I had been active I would have been in this)

(Naw sorry soviet this is between Tocrowkia and me. Toc your going to kill my emperor!!!!!! smoke is bad for my people thats why we have 0 tolerance for pollution and my death guard always wear masks, your going to start another war. Thats basically the achilles heal of my people.)

As the stench of a lit cigarette perforated the room. Some of the aides and the Emperor himself began to choke. The death guard immediately rushed to his side and placed a ventilation mask on him.

Several of the aides collapsed on the floor. One of the old sprinklers on the roof began to go on spraying water. One of the aides shouted for the man to put out his cigarette.

Death guard immediately drew their weapons at strife.

Strife raised a brow. All this for one light? These people really were insane. And now he was soaking wet. As his body guards drew their own weapons, so did Strife, two silver semi-automatic .45 caliber sidearms as he stood, spitting out the ruined cigarette as he did so. I've heard of no smoking zones, but this is ridiculous." He murmured to him self. It was a terrible joke. Well and truly terrible, but it made at least him self grin.

The aide spoke up,"Our lungs cannot survive inhalation of smoke, a few breaths of smoke can kill a man in a few minutes. That is why all of us carry masks. A few of us can stand it mostly mixed."

(Thats why ralkovian soldiers where masks...ALWAYS)

Smiling to him self at the silliness of it all, and keeping a stiff grip on his weapons Strife nodded to the Emperor. "I see. Accept our terms, or we'll smoke you out. Literally." he was still formulating a plan to shoot his way out of here if all else failed of course.

(Can you get on MSN I just want to know what the conditions are for me to become your protectorate)

(Hey Ralk give me ur MSN)

Smiling to him self at the silliness of it all, and keeping a stiff grip on his weapons Strife nodded to the Emperor. "I see. Accept our terms, or we'll smoke you out. Literally." he was still formulating a plan to shoot his way out of here if all else failed of course.

"I guess I have no choice than," he said looking at a map of ralkovia. The exclusion zone, he traced the outline of the land. He would lose his military here but he would definitely remain in power in the Grand Islands. It had been ruled by Ralkovia in secret for almost a 120 years. No knowledge of its possession ensured the secrecy of its value.

It was tucked away in the pacific ocean and with a population of over 100 million it was a miracle it had not been discovered yet. The nation had been conquered from a polynesian race.

This ralkovian possession would be hidden from the tocrowkians. It would remain ralkovian forever. With over 15 million death guard being trained there he would and could remain in power forever there should the tocrowkians betray and take ralkovia over.

"I will have to take your offer of becoming a protectorate," he said as several aides dropped what they were carrying. One death guard even dropped his weapon in awe.

G-d was bowing before a human.

"Excellent. You're making the right choice. Now...if you'll excuse me, I have a bunch of paper work to prepare then." Strife said, holstering his weapons and motioning for his guards to escort him out of the building and out of the country. He of course sent a text message to the Steward, and the commanders of the military on the limo drive to the airport that the Ralkovians had accepted their terms. Within the hour back in Tocrowkia, over 700,000 troops were being prepared to be shipped into Ralkovia as an occupying force and to stomp out any resitance. A sizeable naval force was to transport and accompany them of course to ensure a smooth transition.

He sat in his throne and watched as the death guard filed past him. The death guard all the way at the end stopped and saluted. Josh looked to the death guard before calling him up.

The death guard bowed before the Emperor.

"Do you know the Spencer initiative?"

"Yes G-d"

"Would you fulfill the messenger?"

"I would be more than honored"

"Then son you have the job. Come here so I may give you my blessings."

The guard dropped before the G-d and G-d kissed him lightly on the face mask. He had been tasked with the Spencer Initiative. It was an end all strategy that would destroy or hide all R&D projects and transfer all the data over to a heavily guarded building in the grand islands.

The death guard would have to run to section 13 and alert them. He would then be given the task of killing himself. Section 13 would be abandoned and he would detonate the kiloton of explosives underneath it.

Ralkovia's future might depend on the fact tht several hundred classified weapons could be used to destroy the tocrowkian army. One of those was the Funeral of Gatling. Over 300 satellites had the funeral of gatling capablity and those must be kept hidden at all costs.