NationStates Jolt Archive

The Hegemon breathed a sigh of relief as she finished the last of a stack of paperwork that had been placed upon her desk the previous day. She chanced a glance at her watch, and was pleasantly surprised at how early it still was. It had been a good day, if rather stressful upon her writing hand, and a soft breeze was floating through the window. Slowly, she slipped into a doze, but was snapped out of her moment of contentment by the intercom on her desk. "Ma'am, a Miss Alessandra Condozzi to see you."


Mary frowned, puzzled. The ODECON Foreign Affairs Secretary? I wonder what the occasion is. She leaned towards the intercom, speaking into it "Show her in."

Having just been forwarded the edited version of her statement to the Commonwealth of Independent States, Alessandra was smiling a little on the way to Basset's office. It was a good edit of her original -- she made a mental note to give her assistant a bonus if the message had any positive impact on the growing conflict.

She was shown to the Hegemon's office by a rather prim and proper-looking man who carried himself well better than most people she actually knew. As they reached the door, the thought of the impending disaster crossed her mind again, as such things are apt to do. Her smile faded.

Entering the office, she walked right up to the desk and held her hand out. "Ms. Basset," she said as the other woman briefly gave it a shake. "I am to understand that you have sent a rather sizable naval force to Parilisa, yes?"

Direct was always best in urgent matters.

"Indeed I have, Miss Condozzi." The Hegemon replied with a friendly smile. "For the purpose of dissuading any further...rash acts on the part of Wolf-Holdian or Nachmerian forces. Is there something you wish to know regarding the deployment?"

Alessandra attempted to have the firmest, most serious face she could as she spoke. "Your fleet, judging by reports from my sources, is at least twice as large as anything else anyone has in the area. According to a report I received on my way here, Greal has sent similar numbers."

She took a deep breath as Basset acknowledged her statement, and then continued, "To put this to the point, I want to ask you to call back at least some of your deployment."

"To what end, Miss Condozzi?" Mary looked puzzled now. "We sent such a large number for the purpose of convincing the nations currently engaging in hostilities against Parilisa to withdraw by showing them that further attempt to combat ODECON forces is pointless, since they seem not to understand our written warnings. We feel that a display of our naval might may motivate them to act more reasonably."

"They have not heeded written warnings because we have not given the time to heed them. We have not even given diplomacy a chance and are already in war footing. The CIS will not look kindly upon a massive show of force and I highly doubt they're in a position in which they would not feel confident attacking whatever ships we place in the area. This massing of ships looks like an assault force, not a defense of Parilisan waters."

"If they are to attack our forces in the area again, Miss Condozzi, then I would prefer that we have as many ships there as reasonably possible, that any threat they may pose can be quickly neutralized with minimal loss. The Wolf Hold and Nachmere have palced warships in our waters illegally, fired upon our fleets, and conducted a missile attack upon a Parilisan city. It is only because of our mercy and wish to resolve the situation with diplomacy that the Wolf Hold navy is not currently being utterly destroyed." Mary sighed. "I will concede that it may appear to be an assault force, but such a fear, if the nations of the CIS have it, will soon be dispelled, as the admirals in command of our fleet are under orders to hug the coast of Parilisa, and not to confront Wolf Holdian or Nachmerian forces."

"And can you promise the same of the Greali? What about Stevid? Any force that doubles, triples the size of the deployed assets make it that much easier to advance the lines, and if there is further attack, they will do so. And then where will they end? At the Wolf Hold? At Osea?"

She sighed and sat back in her chair. "Military strength can only go so far. A cornered dog strikes at those cornering it out of no other recourse. As more ships are deployed, the more defensive the Wolf Hold and the CIS will be. All I ask is that you limit your forces to a more reasonable number. They haven't made it far, yet, and you can easily send more should the CIS declare war against us. There is no reason to make it look as though we're chomping at the bit.

"Please, Ms. Basset, I know you're a reasonable person. I'm not asking for much."

"The fleets of Greal and Stevid are not under my control, I'm afraid." Mary said, then paused to think for a moment. "I'll tell you what, I can order a large portion of the fleet currently en route to Parilisa to dock at coastal cities upon arrival. Such will show that there is no offensive intent in this deployment, and that our only concern is to ensure the safety of our ally's mainland. Would this be acceptable to you?"

Alessandra considered for a moment. "I was under the impression that Greal was a part of the Hegemony?"

"Unfortunately, your impression is incorrect." Mary replied. "Following the formation of the Alliance of Maritime Nations Greal resigned it's membership of the Hegemony and joined AMNAT, a move I neither forsaw nor yet understand. As of now I hold no more sway over Greal than I do over any ODECON member. Possibly less even, given the tension that has resulted from Martin Watson's recent enaction of startingly authoritarian and statist policies."

Mary smiled sympathitically. "I wish I could be of more assitance in that regard, but alas I cannot."

"Is that so. I am sorely disappointed in my sources. But surely you have more sway than I ever could? You could at least attempt to speak to them. Do something. If we don't look as though we want a war, we won't have a war."

She nodded as she spoke and her tone grew softer. "But failing anything more, your offer is at least some progress."

"I will send a message to the Greali government. If nothing else I command the Look Inc. fleet that sails with them, and will order it to turn back for now. Is there any way in which I may be of further assistance?"

"What about withdrawing the Hegemonic fleet? I appreciate your dual loyalties, but this really doesn't involve the Hegemony in fact. The last thing I think we need is to be equated."

"The Hegemonic Fleet, Miss Condozzi, is comprised solely of Sumguaian vessels and sailors. A number of years ago the entirety of the Sumguaian army, navy, and air force was incorporated into the Hegemonic Internaitonal Defense Force, and remains so today. I assure you that the deployment of this fleet is an action by the Holy Empire as an ODECON member, and not on the part of the Hegemony."

"And the Commercial Federation? They have even less to do with ODECON than the Hegemony does." She frowned, noticeably concerned.

"The ships of the Commercial Federation have been contracted by the Holy empire for this operation, as we do not wish to everextend ourselves, for a large number of our ships are already overseas in other theatres. While the Commercial federation may not be of ODECON, it's forces are of Sumguaian nationality and are under the command of the Holy Empire."

"Should they not remain at home to protect your own waters, then, if you are indeed so overextended? Honestly, Ms. Basset, I see no reason for the numbers you seem so content to throw into a barely-existent fray. What of the waste of the money, if nothing else will appeal?"

"Ah, but we are not overextended, because we turned to the Commercial Federation. The monetary cost is of little importance, Miss Condozzi, in comparison with the neccesity to protect and ensure the safety of the Parilisan people."