Unification against aggression

[Greywall]

The Kumo-Frannerre war had stirred the United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia quite a bit, the unchecked aggression of the Kumosenkan Empire had prompted the following response. 

Several nations were asked to come to Baile Glas, the capital of the UKUG to discuss a new reactionary defense bloc over the Shawbalt and really most of Touli against further aggression. 

Roskana
Mil'Nor
Ashinara
Pomaz
Frannerre
Marrlan
Maiz
Xaspeshi

All were invited to meet to discuss the possibility of a future assembly that would oppose further expansions of the Kumosenkan. Taoiseach Richard O'Donnell would oversee the meeting. 

[callmedelta]

Franerri Director of Foreign Affairs Phillipe Mesny did not want to be here. Opinions of Ulster-Gaelia weren't exactly high in Franerre post Notch-War, and at the very least the Lusatians had the decency to send an aid package to smooth over relations. The King was just back from his brief trip to Lusatia, securing some rather large arms deals, and wasn't up for anymore 'foreign excursions.' First Chamberman Dufour was still dealing with the political fallout of being the man in charge when everything went wrong and was trying to ensure his government didn't collapse. Yet, something like this seemed to go beyond the purview of a regular ambassador, requiring a special touch. That left Mesny at the perfect confluence of important enough to do it, but low enough to get the job pushed onto him. Low being a relative term, when one was one of the most important men in the nation. Still, regardless of his wishes to be here or not, a part of Mesny had hope, at least. Hope was free, after all, and pretty easily discarded. You could have hope for a lot of things. You could hope for Gaelians discussing plans for a war against Kumosenkan to happen immediately. You could hope for Gaelian arms to flood into Franerre, free of charge. You could hope for more than a slip of paper not worth the ink and stationary used to write it when it came to war time. Easy come, easy go, hopes went. Only time would tell. At the very least, he might be able to get a good Gaelian whisky while he was in the country.

[aimway921]

Queen Yuzura herself would attend the meeting. Accompanying her would be several advisors - curiously enough, none of them being any of the Ministers of Ashinara. Only one of the advisors looked like he was from the Old Nobility, while the other 3 people in the suits were around the same age as the Queen herself - in their early 20's, and one appeared to be in his late 30's. The younger ones were the heirs to several of the noble houses who held the mightiest of Ashinara's industries in their pockets, while the older one was an advisor of Baron Churko - he was here to present a report of the UKUG donation going to good use to the tsunami recovery, as a display of the nation's trustworthiness when it comes to investing into it. Another person who stood out was a woman in a military uniform - the Ashinaran Royal Army's Chief of Staff, Simona Petlyura.

[VoxApocrypha]

The Roskanan Delegation was later than it typically would be to arrive.
In recent weeks a growing sluggishness had seemed to have overtaken the government within Roskana, at least in terms of communication. But they had appeared to attend the meeting, and done so with a few of their relatively new crew, though 'new' would be stating it lightly. Within the institutions of government a fair portion of the new hires had been previously old government officials from earlier in the years of democratic transition, and some still earlier - from the time of the Tsar, though having been themselves rebels. The head of the delegation was a Festria Barraban, named Ajakis Veherna.

He wore a large, black cape with two white stripes surrounding a gold and black swirl, rising up the back to come to the furred collar.
He as well, wore a great-coat underneath that was adorned with medals and campaign ribbons, and overall he had a older style of Roskanan formal dress. He was clearly as well, older - his pelt had turned a lighter hue of red and his fur around his muzzle was greying, same with the ends of his curly red hair. He'd be surrounded by a few advisors and some other representatives of the armed forces and arms of the government, to which typically accompanied such meetings.

[Kira]

The Valderan delegation, consisting of Deacon Tolvaj and the recently promoted High Admiral Torres, would arrive at Baile Glas on time. The invitation had been hotly discussed under a special meeting of the Frozen Council. Kathrine had hoped to keep Valderan promises to a bare minimum with this meeting, the pact her father had signed with Kumo dancing in her thought. That trip had yet to show if it was truly worth the trouble, with this invitation to the UKUG feeling far too much like stepping into a Taratect’s den.

The deacon would be dressed in her usual formal meeting attire, with the High Admiral wearing a newly made uniform with several service medals attached. While the political situation was left to the Deacon, Torres had been sent to about possible refits and vessel purchases Valdera could get for its navy.

Alongside the two Mil’Nor would be the Kithium Empress, who had been brought along from her stay in the Valderan capital.

[Greywall]

With the assembled parties, Taoiseach O'Donnell would have several staff escort them to their seats. Offering food, drinks and other amenities, Gaelic staff members would tend to their guests in any manner reasonable.

As they made their way to be seated, O'Donnell would begin.

"Thank you for coming all this way, we'll begin while you all get comfortable. I'm sure you're all aware of the recent events concerning the Kumosenkan Empire and their incursions into the Kingdom of Frannerre. As it stands, we hold peace by a very severable line of thread make one misstep and we're facing a massive outbreak of war unlike anything Ouhiri has seen. It's not just Kumosenkan, the Sovereign Union challenges much of the globe as it grabs up member states left and right. The Entente is bogged down in facing the threat of Galra in the Reserian region, but while we watch the SU we cannot allow Kumosenkan to go unopposed. Their flagrant war mongering, threatens us just as much as the Sovereign Union. It's time to respond to the spider, we propose a multi level organization, one that will impose our military, political and economic willpower into preserving our national sovereign borders and keep Kumo imperialism checked."

[VoxApocrypha]

The Roskanan and Marrlanian representatives would look to O'Donnell as he spoke, with the Festria and the Shazzak together then looking at one another, and then at them again.
It was a bit of a high bar to try to pass. Especially considering that Roskana had recently gotten into a economic deal with Kumosenkan to buy raw iron from the nation to supply its foundaries and to help build a new Roskanan steel industry. In the case of Marrlan it wasn't as difficult a proposition to swallow.

"..Kumosenkan's war mongering is a threat to global peace and the security of trade on the sea, of that I can agree. But... economic concerns have me skeptical. My government would likely agree in full, but.. it would likely come at a rather substantial price. We recently signed a deal with Kumosenkan, to buy large amounts of raw iron from Occupied Elenria. If we were to join it would potentially put that deal in jeopardy, so I ask, would we be able to sign an agreement to then fill that gap with the UKUG?"

[Greywall]

O'Donnell pointed to the Touli delegation, "They can, Frannerre needs income to rebuild and Mil'Nor has substantial amounts of raw materials, the UKUG can support of course but this new arrangement can utterly supply what our economies need while cutting Kumosenkan off. Which brings me to the next step, cutting the Kumo Empire off our trade network is the first step we need to also upgrade our new partnered military allies. Roskana can benefit greatly in selling arms to Ashinara, Mil'Nor and Frannerre. UKUG can supply Kithium, Xaspeshi and open our military industrial complex for fixed rates to assist in the bloc."

O'Donnell grabbed a glass pausing for a moment to take a drink of water before continuing, "We need to coordinate our military forces to display to Kumosenkan and Galra that their aggression will no longer be tolerated in the Shawbalt or Touli."

[callmedelta]

With O'Donnell finished, Mesny took the floor. "I have my doubts as to whether this alliance can counter both Kumo and Galran aggression," Mesny said. "I've heard that Galra's navy is capably of giving the most - sorry, second most powerful fleet in the world a run for their money. Any significant Gaelian military action against either Kumo or Galra, on the offensive or the defensive, would leave Gaelia open to a strike from the other. It will be impossible for rest of us, save the pairs of Roskana and Marrlan and Valdera and Kithium, to actually reinforce each other without the Gaelian navy, and at that point the entire alliance may as well be null and void. If I sign a piece of paper here today, and tomorrow Kumo decides to cross the River Taln and finish what they started, how can I be actually sure the Gaelians will respond and leave themselves open to a Galran attack? How can any of us be sure of a Gaelian response, beyond simply wasting Staol guarding weapon shipments that didn't accomplish anything in the end, of course."

[Greywall]

"Because we intend to build a combined bloc fleet, UKUG has some of the best shipwrights in all of Ouhiri, we can build you up. So the next time the Taln is crossed, Frannerre can actually defend itself. It will take time to make this work, but the long play is possible to create a deterrence to both nations and keep the peace."

[aimway921]

"You give a very enticing proposal, Taoiseach," the Queen said. "However, a well armed military is worth nothing if it can't supply itself, and if the supply lines run all the way across the ocean, when our two main opponents are first and second most powerful navies on the planet, it won't be able to supply itself. We would be much greater interested in assistance of developing Ashinara's industrial base and infrastructure. Given our positioning just off the coast of Elenria, I believe if we turn Ashinara into a fortress to be reckoned with, forcing the Kumo fleet to always divert some of it's attention on us, never being able to concentrate their full might anywhere else. What's more, should, as Mr. Mesny pointed out here, Kumo decides to cross the Taln and occupy Franerre, Ashinara's proximity will make for an excellent staging ground for a liberation effort."

"Besides," one of the advisors jumped in "we can rest assured that even though we consider them both our enemies, they shall never work together. Galra's radical ideas of racial supremacy on the institutional level guarantees that. Perhaps we should conduct some... subversive activities to bring Galra and Kumo to fight each other rather than us."

"Even if we do go for the route of importing our weaponry from Roskana, as long as Roskana would be interested in producing our designs to sell back to us," the Army's Chief of Staff, Petlyura responded to O'Donell's comment on the matter. "As far as I'm aware, diplomats between our and Franerri nations have agreed to a willingness to participate in a joint arms development program, and we wish to stick to it. Most important part for us is not needing to change to a different caliber than what we're using now - and if we do, it be a caliber of our choosing."

"All the benefits you promise us, of course, are great," the Queen took the word again. "But what responsibilities would you expect of Toulians in return?"

[callmedelta]

Mesny was caught off guard. "I...have my doubts about that plan," Mesny said. "Gaelian shipwrights are only so large, unless you intend to give us the technology and advisors necessary to build our own free of charge. That's not to mention that navies are expensive to build an maintain. Half the representatives in this room are from Toulian powers, and I don't think I'll be offending anyone in this room when I state the fact that we are extremely poor when compared to the likes of Gaelia or even some of the other powers on the mainland. We would almost certainly require Gaelian funds to build anything even coming close to comparing to Galra or Kumo, and if Gaelia had those funds then why aren't you building them yourself? Not to mention that building ships takes time. If Galra or Kumo were to attack sometime within the next two years - which they have proven very capable of doing - this grand navy of yours would still be in the drydocks."

[Kira]

"Navies do not conquer cities and towns, Mr Mensy." Kathrine rose from her seat, giving the Director a glare of annoyance before continuing. "Men with guns do. The Kumo navy may be ferocious in it's might, but I am not convinced of their ability in a true fight. The war against your Kingdom was little more then a light skirmish for them, but it also came right after your own bloody crusade into the UST. The Kumo have not had a fight against a true peer since the war with Gaelia, and that was on the waves."

"As for supplies, The Tafatu and UST remnant's have been forgotten about for far too long. I propose the construction of a great rail way between Franarre and Valdera, which will link up to the UKUG's colonies. Travel that would take months could be shortened to days, allowing our modernized militaries to fight on a closer footing to that of our foes."

[callmedelta]

Mesny returned the Valderan's glare with one of his own. "When the majority of your largest population and industrial centers is within range of naval bombardment, Franerre has so painfully learned that navies do quite well at conquering cities and towns. That's not to mention the disastrous effects a blockade could have on an economy. And if you think that Kumosenkan's invasion of Elenerre was a 'light skirmish' for them, I think Franerre's general staff, and the veterans of that war, would tell you quite a different story. As far as a railroad is concerned," Mesny continued, "while it is a good idea, I believe there are two problems with it; namely the Union of South Touli and the Kithium League. My predecessor proposed a meeting on this exact topic in the wake of the Union war, and neither of their representatives showed."

[VoxApocrypha]

 It was like listening to a pair of children bicker with their parent, the Roskanan and Marrlanian ambassadors looking across the table to the Kithium and to the Valderan ambassadors in turn, before their eyes drifted to O'Donnell as they took the brief silence between replies to interject, with the Festria raising their large gloved hand and holding out a palm, leaning forwards and setting his elbow on the table as he looked first to O'Donnell. 

"You are correct, and that could be a benefecial arrangement, especially with Runan's guidance to help arrange a proper trade deal with them, and the framework for future trade." He said, his eyes then drifting to the Franerri representative. 

"And I understand that in the wake of the Notch conflict your government is on shaky legs. But I don't know if your people would be massively thankful if you were to take a opportunity both for better weaponry in vast quantities for relatively cheap, atop of access to a advanced foreign market with substantial military power to back it regardless who it's sandwiched between, and effectively disregard a chance to gain from it for relatively cheap." The Festria said. "The UKUG may not be the world's largest navy but it stands as the third most powerful and with Roskanan at its back as it has been for some time it is a real contender. We can protect our trade lanes and yours." 

"And as for the question of if Kumo were to cross the river tomorrow, if you signed that treaty, Mesny."

He'd say. "You'd have to be more worried about the ocean you can't control than the land war you can at least hope to fight well enough it bleeds the Spiders long enough for us to get there. The UKUG and Roskana can both reinforce you overseas without having to commit the vast majority of either of our navies - unless Kumosenkan were to do the same, which is unlikely. Marrlan has a demonstrated expeditionary capability of its own, as you saw in the UST conflict. Ultimately for now, Kumosenkan has gotten what it wanted from you - their pound of flesh is taken. Being stubborn and overlooking the benefits of this due to a bridgable distance is a unwise decision. At least, that is how I see it." He says this as he would then clear his throat, the Marrlanian representative adjusting herself in her seat and putting her hands in her lap as she awaited her turn to speak, though as she saw them look to the Ashinarian representative, their attention was firmly fixed on the Queen.

 His eyes drifted to the Ashinaran queen after. 
"Understand please that I don't mean for this to sound offensive, but our arms industry isn't going to shift to produce Ashinaran weaponry to sell your own design back to you without you having to pay incredible fees for making them retool their factories and assembly lines to produce them. Our weapons technology is a generation ahead of your mainline infantry and artillery weaponry, and our naval technology is similarly so." He would say. "You would be better off just buying weaponry from us and producing 30.06. The bullet kills the eight legged freaks just as well as any other of a similar size, and both the UKUG and Roskana produce it in vast quantities. Ashinara could as well, and we would be willing even to authorize talent exchange endeavors to teach your people how to produce the ammunition and to perhaps even make domestic designs on par with Marrlanian weapons." He'd say. "Which can extend to other matters including industrialization and electrification and as well fortifying the islands, among other critical items if we have a proper free trade agreement within the framework of this agreement."

 The Marrlanian and the other Roskanan staff had though, full knowledge that their own ambassador was speaking more out of the interests of trying to sell the other two on the idea overall. But realistically, they all imagined that at best they'd be working more with the UKUG to protect and uplift a number of primitive nations, to which one of them had signed an agreement with Kumosenkan and likely couldn't be trusted to do much more than simply twiddle its thumbs if a crisis were to break out - the Valderans were of little use in their eyes, unless they could demonstrate they had any worth and that what trust might be placed in them would be of any value. 

 The Kithium empress was among them, her distrust of the Valderans growing day by day if only little by little. Their trade alignment with the nation that had imposed its will on them despite their victory in the conflict was a distinct and clear dent to their relationship as nations and the rather substantial losses of Kithium troops in what many considered a Valderan war had definitely not helped a slowly worsening public image in what would otherwise be a staunch ally.