Mutually Beneficial Arrangement [Roskana - Pomazzaniki)

[VoxApocrypha]

TO: Maijistry of Foreign Relations
FROM: Roskanan Foreign Affairs Department

 Roskana wishes to send Diplomats to Pomazzaniki to discuss a trade arrangement between our two nations, regarding the sale of munitions and firearms and perhaps establishing broader economic ties alongside this. 
Respond at earliest convenience. 

[Deleted]

The short and almost curt letter would be well received at Semyon's desk. Even with the success of the Mil'Nor deal, the Maijistry of Defense had requested after the logistical nightmare that was getting arms to foreign nations to the Maij of Defense, which meant the letter left Semyon's desk as soon as it arrived. As such, Gavriil Mikhailov drafted and later sent a response to Roskana.

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REGARDING arms & munitions trading between Pomazanniki & Roskana,
SENT to the Roskanan Foreign Affairs Department,
MAILED by the Pomaz Maijistry of Foreign Relations

Communique received. Greetings. Pomazanniki is currently willing and ready to export significant figures of small arms, support equipment, groundcraft and munitions for all aforementioned implements. No naval equipment is currently being sold. Respond with estimated figures & potential material goods for exchange. Currently interested in industrial quantities of gold, electronic components and any investments parties are wiling to make; the last of which is ideal for most situations. Further economic inquires will be forwarded to the Maijistry of Economy.

Respond at earliest convenience.
Grand Marshall of the Pomazanniki Armed Forces, Gavriil Mikhailov

[VoxApocrypha]

ROSKANA at this time is not able to sell any significant quantity of gold, nor electronic systems or equipment. 
We are willing to make economic investments into Pomazziniki.
We are willing to consider parting with up-to 10,000 units of gold. As well we are willing to offer direct financial investments into the arms and ground vehicle industry of Pomazziniki in exchange for a discount to all purchased equipment within those categories. Recurring payments directly in cash from Roskana will be made as well for regular seasonal deliveries of chosen war-material to Roskana. We are primarily seeking ammunition, 30.06 and various forms of support equipment. Ground vehicles may also be on the table. 


This comes with the stipulation that Roskana be allowed to establish an embassy and a number of consulates within Pomazziniki to allow for us to maintain closer ties and to allow Roskanan investors and as well, our diplomats, ambassadors, and corporate ambassadors to be able to maintain contact with their investments and reach our government at any given moment for passport renewals and other things of such nature. 

[Deleted]

POMAZANNIKI is willing to adhere to these terms. Pomaz munitions industries specialize in .30-06, various machine gun models and we have a variety of different groundcraft designers to choose from. With ten-thousand units of gold, Roskana would be able to buy approximately one-point-one million units of munitions, and a discount is willing to be negotiated depending on investments in arms and groundcraft industries (up to a maximum of one-point-six million). Room for your embassy, assuming these figures are accepted, will be accommodated for within the Sarakhov Starfort.

We would, in addition, also like to establish a counterpart to your embassy in your capital, for the sake of clear communication and transparency. As it is with all Pomaz trade deals, any gold used for purchase will have a visible paper trail that can be requested at will.

[VoxApocrypha]

ROSKANA is willing to invest broadly into the arms industries and groundcraft industries of Pomazziniki, including potentially civilian sectors as well should such be of interest to Pomazziniki.
Terms are otherwise accepted and space for an embassy will be created within the city-limits of the Auran Metropolis. 

[Deleted]

EXCELLENT. Pomazanniki would like to forward a diplomat to Auranapolis, to further discuss and ratify an agreement that both parties find mutually beneficial. If such is possible, please forward a valid diplomatic visa, date and time for the diplomat to arrive, and any additional requirements. Additionally, a sample of various firearm manufacturing companies will accompany given diplomat, as well as a cultural gift to show good will between our nations.

[VoxApocrypha]

ROSKANA will welcome the diplomat. We will send the necessary diplomatic visa and other information soon. Anytime within the next two weeks would be preferable, particularly a week and a half from when this message is sent will be the most optimum time. We await their arrival eagerly.

[Deleted]

As soon as the pleasantries were finished through, a seasoned diplomat, Petya Pavlov, was prepared to depart. Accompanied by an array of representatives from the relevant department of the Federal government; from the Maijistry of Defense, to the Maijistry of the Treasury, even the Division of Advancement sent an envoy. Before departing from the port of Arzachensk, the crew of correspondents were given an assortment of gifts and samples, ranging from weapons to manufactured goods. Their families wished them good wills as the PFS Gilia undocked and set sail north, expected to arrive in a little under two weeks.

---

Air brushed past her dark, flowing hair as the ship flew full bore into the foggy expanse ahead of them. The Gilia was a rather simple ship, a relatively new passenger liner used for such diplomatic visits, on lease from the Flotilla for the Bureau. There were an accompanying few ships, another passenger liner and a small cargo ship, holding the rest of the diplomatic crew and the sample platter for Roskana. She stood on the forward deck of the ship, just before the starboard and port side met at the bow. Fog loitered just above the waterline, wisps of steam occasionally rising. She reached into her inner coat pocket, taking a cigarette packed from inside. Bringing the front flap up and taking one of the cigarettes from the array before returning it to inside her coat. She patted down her pants, reaching inside her pockets, before letting out a heavy sigh.

She turned around fully, facing the bridge placed directly in the center of the ship, the wood elements of the structure coated in fresh skin of white paint, and the metal shining from a wax of polish. Without much haste, she went around to the port side of the bridge, ascending hesitantly to the bridge's door. It took more than a little of her weight and effort to get the hefty slab of wood and steel open. She wasted no time in closing the door, shivering before she stood parallel to the only individual on the bridge. Standing in front of various instruments at the front end of the bridge and facing the forward bow of the ship, he held a pencil in his right hand and a compass in his left, overlooking a map of the eastern side of Ouhiri and a small sheet of paper, the former littered with markings and the latter scribbled with math.

"Shouldn't you be in bed, Petya?" He said in a deep, accented and soft-spoken voice, still facing forward.

"Shouldn't you as well, Oriel?" Petya replied, following her retort with a slight chuckle. "I can't sleep. Something about the way the boat rocks makes me want to puke."

Oriel rolled his eyes in response. "Of course, I forget you're from Sarakhov sometimes." He said. Oriel placed the compass on the canvas map, using it's straight edge to draw a parallel line to the nearest coast, taking a quick glance at the instruments in front of him before erasing his work.

Petya watched him with interest. "Where are we about, do you think?" She asked. "I lost track, maybe three or four hours ago."

Oriel thought for a moment, looking up towards the sea, then back down towards his map. He pointed to a patch of ocean just of the eastern coast, before speaking. "Just off the coast of Maiz, I believe. We should be there in a day, maybe two, if we're unlucky."

"Good," Petya said curtly. "I can't wait to get off this boat, makes me sick just having to watch the waves, and not to mention how fucking cold it is. I've had to bear it for a week too long already." She looked out towards the sea for another moment. The two sat in silence for a good few minutes, Petya spinning the cigarette between her fingers while Oriel silently cursed the arithmetic he was burdened with doing. 

"Tell me, Petya," Oriel broke the silence. "Had you been on a ship before this? In a lake, on the sea, even down a river?"

"Well, no, I-I haven't." Petya said in embarrassment. "I didn't get the luxury of boating when I was young."

"Why come along to Roskana, then? Surely you knew you'd be sailing." Oriel asked.

"It's not as if I wanted to, no one else took the opportunity, and the Maij was offering a bonus, it's as simple as that." She said. "Besides, why not visit the north-"

Oriel quickly shushed Petya, pointing out to the fog. For a moment, she didn't see anything. As rain began to batter down on the deck of the ship, and the fog slowly cleared, lightning struck in the distance and created a blanket of light. The silhouette of a ship was unmistakable. Oriel straightened up his posture, placing his hand on the throttle and slowly bringing it back. As the Gilia slowed to a halt, only being carried by the current of the waves, Oriel looked to the port side, then to the starboard. As his vision panned, he saw the slow encirclement of shadows ahead of the Gilia.

He quickly opened the port side door to the bridge, quickly running down the steps and frantically looking towards the aft side. The metal bow of a ship pierced the fog, and Oriel's heart sank.

---

The two expected weeks passed. No word from the Gilia, from Pomazanniki, or any ports in Roskana. Less than a few hours after the expected arrival, however, any radio within the Sea of Attleminster would receive a straightforward message.

POMAZ DIPLOMATS CAPTURED. LEAVE 200,000 JEWELS ON AN UNMARKED SHIP WITH RADIO ON. ONE HOSTAGE IS KILLED EVERY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS.

[VoxApocrypha]

Plying the high seas on a training exercise, rode warships of the Roskanan sixth fleet.
They received the radio signal, and radioed the event back to command, of which they would then immediately follow this up with a request for the planned route to be given to them so that they could chart the ships course and begin an approach. Meanwhile, the Roskanan Foreign Affairs Department would send the message that the Pomaz diplomats had been taken hostage by pirates in the sea and that they required the route-plan taken by the ship so that the Roskanan navy could coordinate a rescue effort.

As well, as the Roskanan fleet began to move up to readiness, with marines being informed to arm themselves for shipboard operations.
A single heavy cruiser, and two destroyers with a pair of frigates for additional support, would be detached from the Roskanan sixth fleet.
The Roskanan captain of the heavy cruiser would try to get the pirates on the radio.