NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread is a continuation of events started in this one:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=584573
(http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=584573)
I've started a new one as to not hijack the thread that is working on forming NATO.

Recap

Nations from all around had their eyes on Bermuda as five mother nations congregated on this tiny island to birth an international co-operative that looked to change the course of the 21st century. Meanwhile, four thousand miles away in Rome another group of leaders and diplomats was labouring to unite the monarchist nations of the world in an alliance greater than Octavius could ever have dreamed of. The Baltic Federation, a relatively new state at this time looked to the liberal democracies of the world for support and friendship as it worked to distinguish it's self from the empire it had worked so hard to break from. Kievskaya Rus, the empire of the Tsar and his white army was also working hard to strengthen and define it's self in this new century. Not taking well to the thought of it's run away step child signing a military defence agreement with it's most powerful of enemies Kiev had sent the Baltics an ultimatum to stop or it would impose sanctions against the Baltics. When they refused and insisted on their sovereign right to see their own best interests, the Tsar, currently a guest of the Caesar in Rome, decided to ruffle some international feathers, the resulting events ensured...


The Sky above the Baltic Federation 170km south of Qasarian (Capital of the Baltic Federation), 32km from the border of Belarus (a principality of the Kieven Empire)

18:32 Seven MiG-29s take off from Postavy Airforce base in Belarus, flying in formation they head north until they are within a kilometre of the border and begin to zig zag, following the border of the two nations.

18:57 A single MiG-29 breaks from the group and heads north west into Baltic airspace. the six others continue along the border.

19:00 Flying in a strait vector at 300 degrees: Ti-831 checks in to Postavy. Reports no incoming communications.

19:05:15 Incoming communication is received by Ti-831: Crack “Unidentified aircraft, state your business! You are currently locked on!” Crack.

19:05:30 Ti-831 "White Army Air Forces 19 Fighter...."

19:05:41 Ti-831 begins sending Mayday calls to Postavy, communications continue for twelve mintutes. Ti-831 reports massive flack damage, compromised flight capability, loss of cockpit pressure, loss of navigational systems and undetermined bodily injuries including severe bleeding.

19:18:02 Twenty Three seconds after audible communication ceases the on board computer reports that the pilot ejected

19:18:47 White Army Air Forces 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment MiG-29 crashes in a swampy forest 1.1km south west of a small Baltic village unlabelled on any White Army map. 55°49'9.75"N, 26°17'42.47"E

No communications are received from the Pilot. Postavy base tracks him using the militaries GLONASS global positioning system.


Kiev - Kievskaya Rus
Mikhailhof - The White Fortress

"Command all our units flying over baltic space to pull back immediately!"

Commands from all departments were flying about in the communications room. Polkovni (Colonel) Korolyov, still new on the job after a recent promotion was running about the massive room ensuring that all protocol was being followed correctly and continued to oversee the work on restoring the GLONASS lock on the pilot. The GPS device was in the seat of the plane, not on the pilot himself but unless he wandered or way from where he landed, or was captured, it shouldn't have been hard to tell exactly where he was. The problem was that the GLONASS, operational for less than 16 months didn't always co-operate.

"Sir" a young woman of junior rank approached him with a head set in her hands. "It's Prince Vadim, I got though to him, the Tsar did not answer".

The Polkovni put on the head set and looked back at the GLONASS tracking monitor.

"Sir, yes that it correct we have reported a man down over Baltic Airspace"

"No, no word from the Baltics yet"

"Yes, that is correct, ground based anti aircraft"

"Yes, they have scrambled fighters. Only two of the fifteen we send in are not back in our space yet, we expect they will have cleared the border within the next two minutes"

"Yes, the security service reports that the they have arrested three baltic men and one woman and have had the civilian courts issue them all the death sentence on counts of racketeering, theft from a nobleman, smuggling and woman is charged with Identity theft and international human trafficking of kieven peasants. We've announced the racketeering and theft to the officials in Qasarian, the other two will be announced at the Tsars command."

"The cyber assault will happen later tonight, in this short notice the believe the will be able to crash two national banks, the sites of some of the major parties as well as the Qasarian airport, no one can quite be sure how well this kind of thing will work out."

"Thank you sir, tell his majesty I am honoured. Oh, tell him the Quinntonian ambassador wants to meet with him."

"White Fortress out"

Rome - The Guest house of Caesar

"Well, your majesty, you got their attention all right. The problem is they got scarred and shot one of ours down. So, what shall your servants do?" Prince Vadim looked at his lord with a small smile as he quite enjoyed seeing what would happen next, he knew as well as Pyotr did that his majesty really didn't know what to do.

The Tsar, who was being dressed by his personal staff was quiet for a minute and then said "An attack on the White Army is an attack on the Tsar himself. Tell the Baltic Federation to stand down and allow our planes to complete their missions with out being fired at or next time we will retaliate, tell them we mean them no harm. Have our planes continue to fly over their airspace, but keep them far away from any major cities. Also, put all the ships my navy has in the baltic sea right now along the edge of the federations waters. send a few subs in to snoop around make it so that any ships coming or going have to pass under our guns if they wish to travel though international water. Don't shoot any, just make us look tough. Umm, send thirty or so long range aircraft out and around to circumnavigate as much of the baltics as we can, staying out of their space but showing them an air presence on all sides, stay out of Cassanose as well. Oh, tell all commercial flights to stay the hell out of baltic air space. Let's see how many of them listen to us."

At the end of the emergency meeting with the other potential NATO leaders, Volterov thanked all the nations for their support over this difficult time before leaving wondering how the hell he was going to avoid this mess continuing along its unwanted direction. If only something else unpredictable happened to turn things back.

Some sort of communication must be sent to Kiev, but the president, nearing the end of his term, could only guess what. He needed more time to think if only those Geletians would spark up in Moldova. He stopped himself how can I spark a conflict there...

He looked up the number for Akink, a number nobody from the Baltic government had ever needed to dial before. He was not going to bring up Moldova himself, but arrange for a diplomat to visit Beth Gellert to do the dirty work. After nearly an hour of discussions (and several confusions), it was eventually agreed that Qasarian could send a diplomat to Akink; much to the relief of Volterov. Several hours later, Volterov had personally sorted out the private plane to take Olev Kalspritz, the head of the diplomatic office; there as soon as possible. Once he knew the plane was in the air (and away from Kievan airspace) the beleaguered president opened a new bottle of vodka to 'celebrate'.

-----------------

At a small hospital in southern Kabano saw some extraordinary scenes that night, first an ambulance hurried along with several police escorts, then less than half an hour later, the entire area was cordoned off by over 100 soldiers from the nearby base.

Less than two hours later a rather nervous looking government spokesman stood in front of that same hospital (which was to go unnamed for security purposes) to give an unexpected announcement.

“Today, in the midst on the Bermuda conference, Kievskaya Rus engaged in an unexpected activity which I will now give limited details.

At around 19:00 local time, a fully armed Kievan MiG-29 was spotted over Baltic airspace, over a warning was issued, the aircraft continued on course and was fired upon by an AA tank.

The aircraft was hit and downed, the pilot has been recovered and is currently under treatment at this, now high-security hospital undergoing treatment for severe burns and impact injuries. There is currently no major threat to his life.

The aircraft wreckage is currently being studied and recovered by military forces, early indication shows that it was heavily equipped for hitting land based targets and as such, a pre-emptive strike to shoot it down has appeared wise. Other Kievan aircraft which had been in Baltic airspace have now withdrawn but forces shall remain on high alert.

That is all, thank you.”

-----------------------

About five minutes before the spokesman reached the hospital, a message was sent out to Kiev.

Following the shooting down of a (perhaps rogue) Kievan war-plane over Baltic airspace, stricter temporary measures must be put in place. Kiev has 5 hours to withdraw any ships and aircraft from Baltic airspace and territorial waters. After that time, military personnel will be under orders to fire on sight. No matter what you tell us of your intentions. This is non-negotiable and this state will continue until you are otherwise noted.

The pilot of the downed aircraft has been recovered and is in an unconscious state being treated for severe burns and impact injuries.

Any negative or inappropriate actions taken by the government of Kievskaya Rus will not be taken leniently.

Foreign Office
The Democratic Federation of Baltic States

------------------

Three hours later and back in Bermuda, Volterov couldn't help wondering if Kiev was involved in the 'Error 404' message displayed on his computer monitor as he attempted to login to his party website. He phoned the Baltic yet again.

“Are there any computer issues over there?”

“The airport has lost communications and Qasarian bank has reported an attempted hack into their system, we're trying to work out what the hells gone wrong. We have traced links to St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev so far.”

“Heh, well that doesn't surprise me, try to get these systems back online as soon as possible, before some accident happens.”

The White Army command took this 5 hours of grace as an invitation fly freely for the next four hours and fifty nine minutes. In total over thirty Kieven aircraft (MiG 29, MiG31, Su-25, 27, 30 and 34) were spotted violating Baltic space. Taking care to interpret the Tsar's commands in the way that put pilots least at risk no planes spent more than fifteen minutes in Baltic space. A few planes went as far as 20km into Baltic space at cruising speeds up to mach 2, at significantly higher altitudes and split for Kiev space if radioed or radar locked. Naval ships in the Baltic and North sea began moving towards the waters of the Baltic Federation, all being careful to get close but not enter the Batlic waters.

A news statement went out across Kieven airways. According to the state controlled media the Baltic Federation had taken hostile actions against a White Army MiG-29 that was flying in accord with international agreements on military routs and furthermore threatened to attack the Belarus border if the Tsar did not humble himself and bow before their demands. People were assured that Tsar Pyotr and his finest staff were dealing directly with the situation and the peasants were encouraged to pray for the safety of their men and woman pilots who risked their lives everyday for the safety of the nation. They were also encouraged to pray for their Tsar for wisdom and courage in dealing with the enemies of the Kievskaya Russians across the border and around the world. More this as it happens.

The Baltic forces watched each aircraft enter their space during that five hours, prepared to shoot down anything once the time was up, fingers ready to fire all along the border in the tense last 5 minutes. No shots were fired, to the relief of Baltic authorities.

The Kievan news was easily found and watched, to the humour of the Baltic people who saw it on the Baltic news agencies. All over the nation people spoke of the “pathetic Russians who were unable to govern without shields of lies”; all the while wondering whether anyone in Kievskaya Rus actually believed this rubbish. Numerous videos of White Army Jets flying over areas of Balakarassia, Kabano, Olnavia and Qausnam had been posted on BaltVid.bf so there was no doubting who was lying. One of the higher quality videos, which also showed a road sign proving it was shot in Baltic territory, was added onto several areas of the Kievan National Web by an IP sourced from on the Riga University campus.

Intelligence reports had fairly easily traced the cyber attacks directly to Kievan authorities, and the government ministries and large businesses all hastily updated their virus guards and anti-malware systems. Most of the systems were now back on-line, with only the fairly irrelevant Baltic Communist Party still without its website, although this was hardly used any more anyway. This was done to prevent against further attacks from what was, as far as computing was concerned, an under developed nation with a lot of ground to gain from the net-savvy Balts.

All the acquired information; from Kievan air and fleet movements, to the cyber attacks was passed onto the Baltic allies, whilst speech-writers were working overtime to make sure everyone would be ready for meetings in Rome, Akink and Bermuda. Spyr was also contacted, if only to show that the Baltic Federation viewed them as an important ally. Volterov recently stated to his team in Bermuda that “Kiev is trying to win a diplomatic war against us, its our turn to go on the offensive”. The Baltic nation was staying true to this at every level, and looked to continue on course.

Akink, BDR

Olev Kalspritz would be met in the Geletian capital by Comrade Braeden Apcarr, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Democratic Alliance of Parties and Mass Organisations of the Beddgelen Democratic Republic, one third of the so-called Triarchy or Troika that guided Europe's only Communist state.

There was a slight delay even once the Baltic official was finally allowed into the country and through passport control, though the quickness of the elderly Apcarr's step when he finally emerged and approached Kalspritz along with the initial agitation that he quickly subdued perhaps suggested that he really had been busy and not simply forcing the bourgeois dignitary to wait.

Chairman Apcarr extended a wrinkled hand to his guest and said, "So, trouble with him next-door, is it?"

The official was used to being held up in airports and at borders, and as this was his first time in Beth Gellert, he was at least doing it in a new environment. He also had time to ensure that he was composed for when he did meet the chairman. The organisation was unusual to Olev, and the cultural differences seemed vast, his speech was targeted to his counterpart as best it could be planned, but Olev feared it may not be quite good enough, he would have to 'go with the flow' a little bit, although that seemed just what people seemed to do around here.

When Chairman Apcarr eventually arrived and remarked "So, trouble with him next-door, is it?"

This threw Olev off slightly, but years of experience allowed him to make up for it. He returned a strong handshake, in an attempt to show the the Balts were a strong people like the Geletians.

“Indeed. We do share a troublesome neighbour in Kiev, they seem to want to dominate everyone with their old-fashioned monarchic politics. A politics which seems as arbitrary and crude as it is foolish.

Basically the Baltic Federation is looking for moral support against them, if the nations of the world can show solidarity against the Kievan government and their invasive actions then we can at least knock them down a peg or two. Whilst historically our nations have few ties and relations, we can at least agree that a strong, imposing Russia is bad for both our nations.

We are, as you surely know, a young nation, where as you have a long and great history. We want to know how best to deal with them. Currently they stand on your historic lands of Moldova [insert any BG name here], yet you are not at war. Clearly the current resolution there is temporary, but this may be what we and our allies need, some time to force Kiev back. How did you stop Kiev? And just out of curiosity, will you be moving onto the next phase of your plans in Moldova any time soon? That's assuming that your not giving up on Moldova...”

Manzhouli, PRS
Even before Qasarian reached out to contact Sithin, news of a White Army fighter downed while violating Baltic airspace had sent obvious ripples through the People’s Republic of Spyr as fighters were scrambled and militia units called up to supplement the nation’s air defenses. While intelligence had not indicated the Kievens massing for ground assaults, the Tsar’s intentions were far from clear, and no one in Spyr was willing to give Kiev the benefit of the doubt.

Manzhouli, sitting on the Kiev-Spyran border, was the site of particular activity… traffic was halted along the only rail connection between the two states, officially due to ‘terrorist threats’, and the guards on the Spyran side of the border crossing were reinforced in case of trouble as the border post itself was closed to traffic, adding to the already-significant tensions present in the border city.

Sithin, PRS
While military reaction is rapid by necessity, a response from Spyr’s civil leadership is a few hours in coming as officials attempt to grasp the details of the situation. The rapidly developing political situation and (perhaps more importantly) the characteristic impatience of Spyran news media do not allow the Party too much time before making its position known in a televised statement by Ushu Daiwei, deputy secretary of the PRS Diplomatic committee.

“… once more the feudal despots in Kiev have demonstrated their belligerence and flagrant disrespect for the sovereignty of their neighbors, attempting to direct the course of the Baltic peoples through force of arms as they did during decades of occupation brought to an end just a short time ago.

The people of Spyr stand in solidarity with the peoples of the Baltic Federation against the menace of feudal imperialism, ready to take all necessary action to preserve the rights of freedom and self-determination they have struggled so long to gain.

This action, hostile and unprovoked, serves as a reminder to the world of the danger posed by Kiev, and that all free peoples, be they European, American, Asian, or African, must stand united in a front against the evils of the feudal order.”

Subsequent media questioning acknowledges that the Revolutionary Army has elevated its readiness along the border in case hostilities escalate, and civilian passage between Spyr and Kiev will remain suspended until the Baltic issue is resolved.

Spyran diplomats also seek contact with their Baltic counterparts behind the scenes, hoping to coordinate intelligence on Kieven movements, and perhaps to arrange a high-level visit by Spyran officials to Qasarian once President Volterov had finished with negotiations in Bermuda.

Qasarian, Baltic Fderation

A incoming message from the office of the Tsar:

"Commanders of the Baltic federation, we have stood down and ordered our air forces to withdraw and stay outside of Baltic Federation territory. Please return to us the wreckage of the downed aircraft along with it's flight recorder. Please return to us the pilot and all of his gear including the ejected seat and parachute. Please guarantee to us an independent international investigation into the actions of the persons responsible for firing on an aircraft during peacetime and appropriate military trial if recommended. In return we will allow all baltic citizens currently within the borders of our empire, of whom we estimate there are currently well one thousand, to return to baltic soil.
Understand that the Holy Empire of Kievskaya Rus will not back down on our demand that insists on a 500km "enemy free" zone around our borders. Know that we do not consider the Baltic Federation an enemy, nor do we consider Germany or Cassanos enemies but count them amongst friends and trading partners. We do how ever not have established friendship with the United States of Quinntonia or the British Empire and regrettably must consider them enemies."

OOC: did you catch it, a slight slight change in stance on the issue. Also I have no idea if military planes even use flight recorders but I guess mine do. Assume they are encrypted and protected by the best of military security.

Warsaw, Republic of Cassanos

It was generally considered unusual for an armoured security truck to deliver fruit baskets but today was an unusual day. It wasn't all that unusual though for security trucks to make deliveries of consequential government documents. The staff of the government offices would find the fruit basket containing a letter addressed to President Blazek, stamped with the seal of the Tsar. Inside was a letter from Graf (Count) Denis Grebeshkov; the vice seneschal to the Tsar.

"President Blazek
We would like to apologize to your nation for the distress that our conflict with the Baltic Federation has put you in. Please know that we understand and respect your commitment to the peaceful existence of Baltic Federation. However, the loss of this part of the empire was not only a blow to the hundreds of Kievrussian land owners but a blow to the security of the nation as a strategic piece of our national defence was lost. In the days of Tsar Anton we were able to peacefully coexist with the separatist governments of the Baltic states and finally the Baltic Federation. However, this safe and peaceful coexistence is being threatened. Not only is the Baltic Federation seeking to establish military strongholds for our most dangerous of enemies, again nations we respect your friendly relationships with, but Baltic forces have maliciously acted against the Kieven Empire by shooting down a White Army aircraft. This action was not provoked by violence, nor was our pilot even allowed time to identify himself. Our recording of the event (and we are working on negotiating the return of the wreckage and flight recorder) shows that our pilot was addressed once by the Baltic ground forces, requested to identify himself and then promptly shot down with out warning. We will provide the international community with proof as soon as we have the flight recorder.
The Tsar is troubled and rightly so that the Baltic Federation has demonstrated they no longer desire peaceful safe coexistence. They seek to bring the enemy to our gate and provoke us action that will ensure retaliation from our enemies. His majesty knows that you will not stand by and allow a neighbouring democratic nation of good relation to you to be steam rolled by the White Army, understand we have no such intention. Please be patient with us as we seek to resolve this conflict reasonably and know that we value your international friendship and do not desire to compromise the good relationship we have established over the last decades.

Garf Denis Grbeshkov; Vice Seneschal to the Tsar.

Eastern Kievskaya Rus
Business was usual for the White Army's eastern divisions. The West was on high alert, almost every ship in the navy was on the move and border defences of all kind were being aimed at the imaginary lines that separated the great and holy empire from the quickly escalating neighbours. But in the east the commanders has chosen to all but ignore what Spyr was doing. No one really believed Spyr was pick a fight so they decided to give them as little reason as possible to make them think Kiev was interested in any kind of clash.

Over the Bering Sea

“This is Col. Rogers to Capt. Simpson, last report in before going full stealth with radio silence.”

That was the radio call that Capt. Simpson, commander of the grouping of seven F-15E Strike Eagles that were currently streaking over St, Lawrence Island on their way to make a minor and loud incursion into Tsarist airspace was hearing from his higher-ranked hot-shot counterparts. His flight group was being ordered to make for Tsarist airspace at a full 55,000 ft. And running fast. They would simply run up to Tsarist airspace near Anadyr and breach Tsarist controlled space, and if they ran into any resistance, they would bug out. It was expected that they would be monitored coming in and that, judging from the intel on reaction/scrambling times plus the nearest birds that the Tsar-monkeys could call upon in this remote Siberian area, that they would be met very shortly after they entered Tsarist airspace. It would be very tense, but his pilots were very well armed and very well trained should things go south. But his hope was that he would receive the unfriendly escort that the Balts didn’t give his Tsarist counterpart. But, times were tense, and it wasn’t all that certain what those Ruskies would do at the best of times.

But the real mission was Col. Rogers’.

WWJD
Amen.

Mikhailhof - Kiev

Graf Denis Grbeshkov sat red in the face staring at the phone in the centre of the table. Price Vadim had organized a conference call to the Tsars chief officials in Kiev and as it turned out the fruit basket suggestion was not supposed to have been taken literally. The Graf wasn't sure what was worse: The fact that he was being yelled at by a telephone and was still afraid of the prince's intimidating presence or that he was being yelled at over speakerphone while sitting in the executive chair in a meeting of Kiev's most powerful men and women.
People didn't know what to make of the royal orders coming from Rome, either the prince had decided to try something out of the usual or these orders truly were coming from the Tsar. The instructions were clear: the Baltic Federation had 24 hours to deliver the wreckage and pilot or every Baltic citizen unlucky enough to get caught on the Kieven side of the border when this began was to be rounded up and detained at a comfortable yet secure nobles prison.

Anadyr Air Force Base - Chukotka

WAAB (White Army Air Base) Anadyr could hardly be called a base. It was connected to a town of about 11,000 in the remote province of Chukotka. It was home to low ranking noble who never even used his title. Folks in these parts simply called him "Big Nik". Nikolai really did love his people and worked hard to ensure that his workers were paid well and that families in need were provided for. His mother had only built the air force base so that the town could have a runway able to land large commercial jets and receive money from the Tsar to build it.
The base was small, it had only a half squadron of 8 Su-27s (the entire squadron was split between Anadyr and another small base) and three Tu-95 Bombers. The peasants tolerated the noisy aircraft out of national pride and more than one child born in this town had gone on to become a pilot for the white army.
Senior Lieutenant of aviation Dmitri Filimonov was old by air force standards. He had begun his career in the early 80's and was no stranger to engagements with the quinntonians and canadians. Dmitri often bragged that once while while flying extremely close to a CF-18 Hornet the pilot had flashed him the centre fold a playboy magazine and the two had exchanged approving thumbs up. It had been many years since the last time he had directly engaged westerners. He had mixed feelings about today however. Having been so long since anything like this happened over the bearing sea he really didn't know what to expect. He hoped for a routine flight escort but the quinntonians weren't as predictable as they used to be. The only thing predictable about them these days was that for every global action there seemed to be an equal and opposite quinntonian reaction.
Word had come in only a few minutes ago: Quinntonian fighters, probably Eagles, were nearing the Kieven border. It was too late to catch them in neutral territory, Kieven airspace would be breached. The other thing bothering the Lieutenant was that there was possibly more Eagles heading his way than there were Flankers (as the quinntonians called them) flying with him.
Dmitri soaked in the roar of of the turbofan engines and was pushed back hard in his seat as he took off and climbed at 1,050 feet per second towards 55,000 ft. He had brought a small digital camera along and hoped to snap a few up close pictures to show his son's class next week when he would be representing the Air Force at the career fare.

Versaille, Rome

At first Caesar was content to leave the Kievskayans and the Baltics resolve this on their own, but now that the entire western world decided to get involved, Caesar authorized Imperator Marius to respond to the Western aggression. With German forces being put on alert, Roman forces responded in kind with increased air patrols along the German border and increased naval activity in the Mediterranean.

It was not hard to miss the Quinntonian battle group moving east through the Mediterranean. Three Rubis class submarines Hades, Mars and Athena followed the escorts of the group, staying away at a safe distance, though with their torpedo tube doors open. They knew that at least one more QUinntonian sub was in the area, so they kept watch on their sonars constantly, sometimes using the Russian Crazy Ivan technique to ensure that they were not being followed. It was decided that at the appropriate time, they would ping their targets to show the Quinntonians that they were not the lords of these waters and that they could not go wherever they pleased.

On the surface, the carrier group Pope Leo X kept a close eye on their Quinntonian counterpart as the Maximus launched Rafale fighters with Exocet and AA missiles toward the group. They flew at an altitude of 10 000 feet, and would not go past the first layer of escorts. If they should encounter any resistance, they would bug it back to the Maximus. The Pope Leo X knew that a Quinntonian submarine would be in the area as well, so they were very vigilant on their sonars listening for even the slightest noise. If a fish sneezed the Commodus Pollos Vitruvius wanted to know about it.

Hail Caesar!

Volterov had decided to stay for the remainder of the conference, mainly in defiance of Kiev. Defying Kiev was what the voters wanted, but it was a precarious situation, and one that required careful planning.

The country had come through the recent cyber attack relatively unfazed, mainly because of what seemed to be poor preparation, but their would be more, and the later ones would no be so poorly planned out.

Volterov needed to stall Kiev, and he (with the help of his staff), had brainstormed some ideas to do just that. After throwing a few of them out, they had decided on a course of action.

The Democratic Federation of Baltic States is pleased to note that your forces have withdrawn from Baltic territory.

Much of the aircraft that was shot down has not yet been recovered (due to the aircraft landing in a swamp and disintegrating on impact). The flight recorder has not yet been found, but we have teams working 24 hours to find it and it will be returned as soon as it is found.

What has been recovered of the aircraft, along with the ejector seat and parachute, will be taken to the border post at Narva/Ivangorod to be collected whenever you wish. The pilot is in a poor but improving condition in hospital; for his safety, we must ask for a specific delivery time for an ambulance team to collect him at the said border post.

An police investigation and a separate Capitol Council inquiry into what happened have already begun, and will most likely be completed within the next two months, details will be forwarded to you at that time.

We must insist that allied forces, just as allied citizens must be able to travel within the Baltic Federation, under our guidance and following our laws. As long as these people are in our country legally, they must be treated as our people would. They would remain under our custody.

We cannot stop any other nation from breaking the 500km barrier elsewhere, so to impose it here, on a separate sovereign nation, is at best abusive. We will make every attempt possible to ensure that your borders and sovereign rights are protected and will discuss such matters with our allies.

President Karl Volterov
The Democratic Federation of Baltic States

The pilot did indeed need to be collected by ambulance, he had lost a lot of blood, and suffered from burns and broken bones in several places.

The flight recorder had been found, but the Balts were keeping this a secret whilst trying to get the information from it, something that was proving easier said than done. Just to make sure that Russia thought they were still looking for it, they had white-coated civilians paid to wander the area where the plane was downed to "look for anything suspicious".

It was regular administration for the Capitol Council to review important issues such as this, they were also currently busy reviewing the goings on at Bermuda, something that was in their mind, more important.

Southern Odessa Oblast, Southwestern Ukraine

Ordinarily, the skies near here were filled with Beddgelen patrol aircraft. East and southeast the Black Sea, dead south the BDR itself, north and northwest the People's Republic of the Transprut, and only to the northeast was the rest of the Tsarist Empire adjacent. The whole region was claimed by Akink, and until not seventy years ago administered too. The fact that Tsarist taxmen drew tribute here and Orthodox crosses pierced the skyline was perhaps the greatest shame still afflicting the Geletian state, and would have been so even without Beddgelert's modern Communism.

Today, though, what would commonly have been a routine maritime patrol by Celtic forces turned out to be something else. The Tu-16BG that had a thousand times skirted Tsarist airspace out to sea and returned to shore on a path that took it close to the border today strayed from its expected course.

In fact, two such aircraft were flying dangerously close to one another, perhaps hoping to appear as one on radar. Far from being conifgured for maritime patrol, one was a Tu-16-Belka Badger-H-BG stand-off EW/ECM platform, and began to cast out powerful jamming signals shortly after entering Tsarist airspace. The other deployed men and materials by parachute, as Celtic nationalist and Igovian Communist partisans mustered below.

Several kilometres into Tsarist territory, the two Badgers performed an impressively tight formation turn and headed out to sea, losing altitude quickly as they went. One would break off at near wavetop height and head back to the BDR while the other resumed the normal flightpath of the regular maritime patrol. Today, the true patrol would go undone, but it was hoped that the Tsarists hadn't coincidentally been playing any submarine offensive that today.

Bermuda

It was a strange way to have a cabinet meeting, grouped around a mahogany table in one of the smaller dining rooms, but the government of the British Empire was going to have to manage. Nursing tea, coffee and strangely shaped toast, various ministers pored over a large, highly detailed map of Northern Europe. Ring-bound folios containing force estimates, combat projections and other miscellany covered the table and, in some cases, spilled onto the chairs and floor for passing aides to trip over. They came in and out, carrying folios, faxes and satellite printouts in massive, precarious stacks. Telephones brought in especially for the occasion trailed snaking wires to the walls and out the doors, there being a dearth of outlets in the room. It quickly became apparent that for those planning to stay in the room, the best policy was simply to pick a space and occupy it so fully that nothing else could impinge. Accordingly, most stood firmly in place, or else paced out a narrow defile.

Strathairn was of the former variety, planted erect beside the table with one arm crossed over his chest and the other occupied with tapping his chin. He gazed at the map meditatively, weighing options. Certainly, Britain was well placed to cut off Kiev's Atlantic and Mediterranean trade, and it had the ability to do so fairly easily. One of the admirals present had already pointed this out, and the military end of things was being securely held down by Field Marshal Davies and Admiral Band. The question now became: when threatened, would the Russians back down? Most of the paperwork before Strathairn was the purview of advisers, many of them Kievanists by education. They were also present, many of them conferring in groups about the degree of seriousness felt by the Russians. After some time spent conferring, they made it known to the room at large that there was every chance the Russians were intent upon sticking fast to their demands, but also a chance that they were bluffing. Having thus failed to resolve the issue at all, they were politely dismissed, and invited to take a well deserved break.

"Bluff or no," Strathairn observed as they left, "the current Russian demands are unacceptable. Either we call them on their bluff and get what we want, or we refuse to abide by it altogether. In any case, the result is the same." He pursed his lips and regarded the map for a moment. "Issue a press release to the effect that as long as the Russians seek to maintain a five-hundred kilometer exclusion zone, the British Empire will do the same." Someone giggled softly, but Strathairn ignored it. The Tsar, no doubt, would find nothing funny in this. A five-hundred kilometer exclusion zone would prevent Tsarist traffic through the English Channel, a large chunk of the North Sea, and both exits to the Mediterranean. Effectively hemmed into an area encompassing the North-Eastern Mediterranean and the East North Sea, the Tsarists would almost certainly have the poorer end of the deal. And if the Germans could be convinced to declare likewise, the Skagerrak and its narrow seaway would be cut off as well, forcing all Tsarist blue-water naval operations to be conducted from Arkangel and Vladivostok. Should that come to pass, the Empire of Kievskaya Rus would cease to be a legitimate naval power.

"And Christina?" Strathairn asked. "See if you can get me a meeting with the German chancellor, would you? I think I have something to discuss with him."

[OOC comments: So far, only air force and some naval units have moved to the Baltic theater, German land forces are still close to their peacetime positions, though there are preparations made to move out.]

In the air, close to the Baltic-Kieven border
„... Reindeer flight, this is Eagleye: Kieven aircraft are retreating towards international border. Do not pursue, I repeat, do NOT pursue. Maintain current position, over.“
Captain Philipp Taylor of the Canadian Armed Forces Air Component acknowledged the command from the Quinntonian AWACS-airplane circling over the Baltic Sea and pulled his CF-18 into a long turn, back towards Qasarian. His wingman followed closely. Phew, that was close, he thought. Another ninety seconds and he might have been ordered to fire on the Kieven Sukhoi which was now heading back to its own airspace.
Even though Taylor understood the importance of his mission here, he was glad that he wouldn't be the one to fire the first (or rather, second) shots in what might escalate into a world war.
He put his mind onto other things, and the first thing he wanted to do when he was back on his base was to find the guy who invented these provisional codenames. Reindeer flight, bloody hell....

Potsdam, Germany
Even though the increase in Roman patrolling near the border was recognised very soon, it was decided not to do anything about it. As long as they stayed on their side of the border, they could fly around as they liked. It would not do to draw them in any further, this crisis was escalating fast enough.

Cassanotian-Kieven border
Alarmed by the sudden mobilisation of Kieven units across the border, the Cassanotian land forces prepare to deploy to defensive positions at a moment's notice. But so far, no unit is officially mobilised.

Warsaw, Republic of Cassanos

Aleksander Blazek was a man with many years of experience in both national and international politics and had received a good many of gifts from foreign leaders over the years, but seldom he had seen such blatantly bad timing. It appeared to be true that the current Tsar was a little... excentric, to say the least.
However, the letter attached to the flamboyant fruit basket was more interesting than bananas, peaches and kiwis.
He went through it again.

“We would like to apologize to your nation for the distress (now THAT's an understatement...) that our conflict with the Baltic Federation has put you in. Please know that we understand (blah blah, yes...) but a blow to the security of the nation as a strategic piece of our national defence was lost. (... ...) Not only is the Baltic Federation seeking to establish=2 0military strongholds for our most dangerous of enemies, again nations we respect your friendly relationships with (how nice of you...), but Baltic forces have maliciously acted against the Kieven Empire by shooting down a White Army aircraft (which was in Baltic airspace...).
“
Blazek crumpled the paper in his hand again. It was not so much the hardly veiled threats the Kievens made but rather the extreme arrogance with which those were made. Anyway, this crisis had to deescalate, and soon. He called prime minister Edelman in Bermuda once again to discern the Cassanotian course of action. After a short while, they had agreed on one.

Later...
Katarina Edelman finished her quickly but carefully staged statement for the press.
„... and as such, we cannot allow one of our treasured neighbours and allies, be this alliance yet officially formalised or not, to be threatened by any nation. I do not need to remind you that Kiev is the aggresor here which started this crisis by breaking into an allied nation's airspace.
Once again, I declare in the name of the Cassanotian and all peaceul peoples of the world that our military will not engage in offensive actions, but also that we will not tolerate our neighbours, who had only recently freed themselves from oppression, being bullied.
Therefore, we have decided to impose limited trade sanctions against the Holy Empire of Kieven Rus, which will be detailed in the press release you will be supplied with.
That is all. Any questions?“

Bermuda
Chancellor Ahler, who had just given a public statement very similar to prime minister Edelman's, had just returned to his rooms to change his sweat-stained suit (Bloody spotlights...) and maybe have a short rest, when his aide told him about Strathairn's invitation. Sighing, he slipped on his fresh jacket, bound his tie and set off.

There you are, in a carribean paradise, and then... Bloody international pissing contests.

Bermuda

Chancellor Ahler looked a little tired, Strathairn thought as the German was shown into the small sitting room that was doubling as an office. Clearly unused to the oppressively warm days, as Strathairn was, the chancellor's color was rather off. Strathairn himself was on his third large glass of ice water, and his tie was uncharacteristically loosened. He and the chancellor exchanged cordial greetings and opened a pair of french doors leading out onto a veranda. A few pair of padded wicker chairs surrounded a small table, upon which sat a few coasters.

"Please, have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?" Ahler assented gratefully, and Strathairn produced a jug of ice water from a wood-paneled fridge disguised as a cabinet. He poured Ahler's glass, which immediately began to sweat in the heat, and placed the jug on the table before taking a seat beside his German opposite number. "It's been quite the day, what with all this insanity coming from Kiev. I trust the climate isn't too oppressive?" They passed the time in amiable small talk for a few minutes, touching only slightly on the conference and the current crisis. It was a pleasant enough evening, and the sea breeze was cooling things nicely. Before Ahler could grow too impatient or Strathairn too hungry, the British prime minister steered things towards the recent Kievan ultimatum.

"Now, obviously this is unacceptable, and if Kiev proves intransigent I am prepared to close a five-hundred kilometer zone to Russian military traffic. This would effectively trap their fleet in Sevastopol, but our position would be strengthened immeasurably if Germany were to declare likewise. As I'm sure you are aware, Baltic Sea access is restricted by the Skagerrak and the Kattegat, and both of these waterways fall within your exclusion zone. Of course, if the Tsar were to try and force either passage, you could expect complete aid from the Royal Navy.

"Obviously, I will need to speak with President Volterov as well. If he is willing to accept Kiev's demands, we would be rather unfounded here. However, I trust that he is not, or he has no reason to attend this conference. Moreover, I want you to know that this is only a ploy to pressure Kiev. We will absolutely not allow this to reach the level of military conflict, but it is my hope that being deprived of their blue-water capability will convince the Russians to see reason."

[OOC-I hope I'm not jumping the gun here]

Volterov had received the plans of the British movements, and the potential for Germany to follow suit. He needed to clarify his position to the other delegates. He reached for his notepaper again.

The pad, in his opinion was vile. The paper was coloured a sickly yellow that for some odd reason was typical of diplomatic and parliamentary papers. At the head the foreign office crest was prominently displayed, a crest that Volterov had previously suggested be changed to something grander; the current one frankly looked a bit of a mess.

Either way, now was no time to think about paper varieties, he had a job to do. A message was sent out to both Germany and Britain to clarify matters.


Following your message regarding fleet movements, I feel that I must clarify my intentions.

I will not back down and allow Kiev to hold its 500km exclusion zone; not under any circumstances. I am also firmly in favour of joining your nations in NATO, precisely to stop Kiev and others from bullying other, more peaceful states such as the Baltic Federation.

I think that if Kiev continues to insist on the 500km ruling then your idea may be very good for pressuring Kiev to drop it, as otherwise it will become crippled and isolated. However, I am waiting for a response from the Tsar and the World Royal Conference regarding the matter and I hope that this escalation will not be required.

I am extremely grateful that you are taking the concerns of my nation so strongly, and I can see that we will become strong allies in the near future. I am perfectly willing to make time in my now hectic schedule to meet with you to discuss these matters further; in fact, it would be my pleasure.

Regards
Karl Volterov

Those keeping an eye on the conference in Rome would note that with very little warning the Tsar of Kievskaya Rus left Caesar's guest house surrounded by a security detail and made his way to the airport where the royal jet "The White Eagle" an Il-80 airborne command post was fuelled and cleared for take off. Due to the circumstances a Roman military escort was requested see the Tsar safely to a point a few kilometres west of Istanbul. There the white army would meet him with a squadron of 16 Su-35s. From Istanbul the flight path took them across the Black Sea and home to Boryspil airport outside of Kiev. Prince Vadim had promised to take care of everything until the Tsar was finished with his responsibilities during holy week but Pyotr was feeling a bit of frustration, he asked the flight servant for a drink. For the first time since he had inherited his birth right he was actually interested in what the rest of the world was doing. The whole NATO talks fascinated him and the idea of the whole world to afraid of him yet so resolute to never give in to his demands left feeling a sense of power quite different from what he was used to. He had grown accustom to people jumping to the snap of his fingers and growing silent at his mere presence. This was something else. Entire nations were moving in reaction to his words. He could just picture the little group of leaders in bermuda sweating bullets as they tried to figure out how to stop the almighty power in Kiev, the voice that casually makes orders that cause the nations of the world to cower with fear. With that last thought the tsar passed out. Overcome by his drink, a mixture of Irish cream liqueur and spiced rum that a Canadian delegate in Rome had introduced him to Tsar slipped from drunken dreams of wild grander to silent dreamless sleep.

OOC: Just a short update, sorry for the lack of international communiqué.

The Summer Palace
Kiev - Kievskaya Rus

Pyotr had spent almost a week travelling about the empire. In this the third year of his reign he had made a point of making it to as many holy week events as he could, travelling from Kiev to Moscow to St. Petersburg, back though Moscow and to Kiev again on the end of Pascha Sunday. For the tsar this was no great act of piety, he had shed tears during Great and Holy Friday in Moscow but it was the close up he got on the evening news; wiping his tears with a cloth the montastic women had presented to him that had really made the weekend great. If asked why Pyotr loved the men and women of Kievan Rus he would with all honesty reply "Because they first loved me".
All that behind him now Pyotr returned to his palace with excitement knowing that Ms. Rivka Rosonova would be in the capital for at least the next two weeks. She was the first girl Pyotr had actually thought of making his Tsaritsa, but this was not a decision to rush, a change of lady friends was always a great opportunity for fanfare, a divorce could leave a sour taste in hearts of his subjects.
Rivka was already booked into her guest room when he arrived from the airport. However, it was nearly three in the morning by the time he arrived back at the palace. Pyotr had considered going to wake her up but before finding her he ran into a most unexpected guest. Maarika. Sitting on a chair beside a small table along the wall in the hallway she sat with her face mostly hidden from view she was smoking long thin cigar.
Pyotr had a hard time recalling the exact events around his meeting Maarika. He recalled it was in Minsk probably close to a year and a half ago. Maarika was unlike anyone Pyotr know. She was quite unlike Rivka, his dainty fair haired sweetheart, born to the best of Kievan aristocracy and raised in school singing God save the Tsar. Maarika was dark haired fair skinned woman with shapely, almost exaggerated feminine curves. Her dark red lips and long dark eyelashes were a charm that could enchant far more chaste a man then his majesty, and he found himself well bound within that spell. Pyotr didn't know much about Maarika, she was 27 years old, lived in an apartment in north east Kiev and though not known amongst any of the aristocrats she definitely wasn't a peasant. What Pyotr did know was that the last place he ever wanted to see her was within one hundred miles of Ms. Rosonova. It made him furious that this woman would set the terms in their relationship. He would have felt much more comfortable if he could call on her at his own pleasure but she rarely took his calls, she usually call him back within a day or two and arrange a time and place to meet. Tonight was unexpected and Pyotr was noticeably cold towards seeing her.
"Maarika! how did you get in here?"
"Relax dear, Gustov is working tonight, he knows I'm allowed to be here."
Pyotr gritted his teeth, he hated that she was here right now but couldn't find it in himself to tell her to leave.
"Rivka is here."
"Rivka went to bed early, Gustov said he'd wake her if you got back so we have a few hours before he wakes her. But I'm not here strictly for pleasure."
Pyotr raised an eyebrow. Her expression changed from a very serious glare to a saddened face seemed to ask for his sympathy.
"Pyotr, it's this war business. They keep talking about potential war on the television. Pyotr please, my grandmother lives in Vilnuis, it's close to the border and they are very afraid. Please, she's lived though enough wars, It would break my heart if she had to fell her home again. It's all she has left in this world."
Pyotr was speechless, this woman, this woman who's blood was so removed form royalty that she might at best be qualified to be a palace maid was asking him to change is foreign police on account of her grandmother who was at best a peasant and at worst a traitor to the Kievan nobility?! He stuttered a few times before he could even begin to make out words.
"Maarika, I, I...."

15 minutes later
The guest house of Caesar - Rome

Prince Vadim was quite disappointed and truly felt the conference in Rome had been largely unsuccessful. Yes, they had signed an alliance with Rome but Vadim was quite disappointed at the lack of interested from any other party. The Baltic Federation was preparing to give their own case to the attendees and though Vadim was quite confident in in his ability to prevent the Baltic delegation from making matters worse, those matters were not as good as as the prince had hoped for.
The sun had set a short while ago and the Prince was finishing his day with a stiff drink and a fine cigar. As he gulped down the last of his drink and rattled the ice in glass for a second when his phone rang. It was his Tsar, it had been almost a week since he had left and the prince was just as glad that he had not spoken to him in that time. He answered.
"Hello your majesty, you're up late."
"Vad, do not ask me to explain myself, I will tell you later if I decided to change the state of affairs. Listen close okay? There will be no war with or over the Baltic Federation. Understand? I don't want a war with them. They called my bluff and now it's over. We will withdraw our threats and seek a diplomatic resolution in the form of some kind of treaty. Do the best you can, I'm counting on you to make this work. Do you understand?"
The prince sat quite, he felt himself tense up and his stomach seemed fall out of it's proper place and slide down into his lower bowels.
"Yes, yes I do your majesty"
Vadim snorted and his heavy breath could be heard over the phone.
"Okay Vad, I'm letting the Duma know that you will explain this to them tomorrow. Be on the next flight home." *Click*
The prince bit his lip hard and then threw his phone as hard as he could against the wall, it didn't smash as he had hoped so he kicked it across the room and swearing loudly grabbed the bottle beside him poured a another drink, he expected to need several more to get though this night.

2 Hours later at the Summer Palace

Tsar Pyotr lay awake in his bed with Maarika beside him sleeping soundly. He felt absolutely sick. He looked at the sleeping woman beside him and for a moment wanted nothing more than to strangle her, she rolled a little and the hair fell away from her face exposing her sharp chin and her deep red lips. Tsar Pyotr stuffed his face into his pillow and cried.

[OOC: Vilnius was destroyed a long time ago, either Karrakiv or Kabano would be good substitutes for where the woman lives.]

Mistricova was approached in Rome not long before he was to give his speech by a very smart looking man but also a troubled looking man, it didn't take long before Mistricova realised that it was Prince Vadim, the main Kievan figure remaining at the conference.

After greeting him as warmly as he felt he could, Mistricova asked what it was Vadim wanted, when he was told that Kiev wanted the situation to end Mistricova felt the power he now wielded but was careful not to show it.

“Well, I think although we shot down an aircraft we have been as open and diplomatic as we can, including the return of the pilot after looking after him in hospital. We make this one demand, and this one only. For our national sovereignty to be respected, including allowing who we wish into the country, just as we let you have who you wish to stay in your nation as you see fit.

In return, we will end the territorial ultimatum imposed on Kievskaya Rus and when I give the speech later, I will announce the situation to be resolved and that Kiev has been fully co-operative. We can even shake hands in front of the camera's if you wish. The threats of war will be over, nations will be at peace. All you have to do is say yes now. What do you say?”

OOC: well, I suppose I've been slow to actually issue you a statement about what I'm saying to you, I've been hoping that "your side" (anyone from NATO) would make an action for me to respond to before I gave my piece. But I must add that the above is not exactly what the Prince did.
Second of all, I almost feel like apologizing for how silly my reason for backing down is but I enjoyed it too much, it's just too much fun to try and work my foreign policy around these random whims. I hope everyone else finds my Tsar to be fun.
Also, sure, let's say then that this woman live in Karrakiv


"Mr. Mistricova, Mister is it? Honerable Mister Mistricova? Well, Thomas." A tall man with a greying beard in a black suite with white seams and white epaulets sat cross the table from Thomas. Roman delegates were asked to sit as witnesses in this otherwise privet meeting of the two men. Unsure if Thomas spoke Russian a translator also stood by the Prince and was ready if needed.
"You must know my profile already so I'll save you the introduction, but I'll remind you that I speak on behalf of the Holy Empire of Kievskaya Rus."
At this point Prince Vadim picked up a paper and began to read it to the room. It was obvious to everyone present that he was deprived of sleep and was in a most grumpy state of mind.
"Delegates of the Baltic Federation" He looked up at the single delegate before him and shrugged "The Holy Empire of Kievskaya Rus does consider the defence of it's borders the prime objective of the White Amry. War can be expected from any nation or alliance that threatens our empires security. With the establishment of the alliance between Kiev and Rome, the White Army had seen fit to abandon the policy of enforcing a 500 kilometer radius of security as the Roman policy has made this impossible as well as unnecessary. Understand then that Kiev grants permission to the rebel provinces now called The Democratic Federation of Baltic States, to participate in international alliances freely and as their leaders see fit. Your alliance must be advised however that the empires policy is shifting from "a radius of protection" to "counter measures". For every British or German soldier stationed within the Baltic Federation your alliance can expect a Kieven soldier stationed in Gaul. For every Cassanosian, we will station a man in Belarus. Let Quinntonia know that we have more missiles and and more powerful bombs. Don't confuse this change in policy for backing down."
Vadmin grinned a little as he said the last part. He then folded his hands and leaned across the table towards Thomas.
"Consider our border open again as soon as you happen to find that flight recorder."

If the Honerable Mister Mistricova still offered to shake hands and smile for the camera still Prince Vadim Moerikavich would be happy to pose with him on the steps of Caesars Palace.

Tomas sat quietly for a moment, before a sly smile crossed his face, Tomas quickly regained his composure and suppressed the telling smile.

“Although I cannot see how an alliance with Rome would directly effect your policies in the Baltic area, I must say I am pleased that you have dropped the most disrespectful policy of the 500 kilometre security radius as you put it.

I also find it odd that in the same sentence you call us rebels but also announce they we are fully independent, but I'll put that down to a lack of sleep.

With regards to your policy of what you call counter measures, I would personally advise against such an idea so that we can from a trusting relationship and gain long-lasting peace, but it is no doubt an improvement over the 500 kilometre policy.

The Baltic will open its side of the border accordingly, however, the security will be much tighter than before due to your policy of stationing troops so close to our borders.

I personally urge you to look towards a less violent solution to this than threats, something the Baltic Federation has been aiming for all along. However, I would happily shake your hand in front of the cameras if you wish, even though as far as you say it is only your internal policy that has changed.”

OOC:To explain my position a little. The official policy change is because of our treaty with Rome. Because it states that we will defend any attack against each others borders we had the problem of what would happen if my 500km radius was breached. Rome wouldn't be obligated to lift a finger and if I happened to provoke an attack they would have no obligation to protect me from someone I attacked first. Also I'm obligated now to defending Rome's borders as if they were my own. There is no way Kievskaya Rus could ever set up a 500km border around Rome (hi Germany, hi Brittain, our policy says you need to be keep your army and airforce out of your country). Also the 500km policy was only ever enforced when we felt like it anyway. It's unlikely we would have shown any concern if Cassanos has started dealing with the USQ unless it started getting out of hand.
Okay, back in character.

I would personally advise against such an idea...
I personally urge you to look towards a less violent solution to this than threats...

Prince Vadim raised his right hand and pointed his index finger at the table in from of him. He then drove it into the table making a thump sound and continued to push it down on the table. He looked coldly at Thomas and leaned forward over table a ways.

"Honerable Mister Mistricova, I personally fought against you in your little war for independence. I happened to be appointed as seneschal and advisor to my lord Anton the week after he was crowned Tsar and if you recall it was in the third month of his reign that we granted you full political autonomy. You should consider for a second that our policy, that is: my policy, has always and will be to do with your little nation what ever the hell I want. Twenty years ago it suited me to and my lord to cut our losses and grant you full autonomy, what you now claim as independence. The empire has never recognized you as anything but a fully autonomous (and rebellious) state within our borders. We've treated you relatively nicely since then, not interfering much with your business. But do realize Mister Mistricova that our treaty with Rome binds them to protect our borders as we define them as if they were their own. So that would mean..."
The prince leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath before he continued
"that if ever it suited the empire I could have the White Army and the Roman Legion take that autonomy away. So, I advise you to tell your president to try just a little harder in the future to appease the Tsar with your nations international policies. That is, unless you feel big enough to topple the Holy Empire of Kievskaya Rus and Imperium Romanum."
With that said the Prince smiled warmly though his greying beard and stood up to leave the room on his way to the press conference that was waiting on the steps of Caesar's palace.