Rombardan-Nevarran Diplomacy

[Faust]

Stay, 1945

President Saloman Castellano would be a a rather average in height but stocky in build, dressing for the cooler weather he would be wearing dark heavyset clothes. His facial features were soft if a little weathered emphasizing a semblance of youth while his hair was cut short, noticeably sporting a full dark beard with some small spattering of grey hidden within. He would reach out his hand to the ambassador and provide a firm if curt shake as he replied, "If it's all the same the notice seemed rather urgent. If the Emperor would have me now then I would go see him right away though my belongings can make their way to my residence while I stay within Auran."

[VoxApocrypha]

"Then we will take you to him post-haste." They would say, before they guided him off of the plane and away from the building, going around the security gate and taking him to the car rings, sort of like roundabouts but leading into parking garages or onto the highway and service roads. He'd be taken to a limo, and then he'd be taken to the Palace. The ride would be quick, them taking public roads and then getting onto the highway leading into the mountains.

Auran was big.
Even the sub-urban regions were rather heavily developed, visible from far away as the clouds rolled over the city and blocked the sun again. No rain fell at least.
The city had pockets of skyscrapers that stretched across the distant skyline, until the city met the mountains and seemed to merge and meld with the mountainside, entire sections of leveled and cleared land hosting forts, ancient villages made modern over the many decades that had passed. Intermixed with this was pockets of trees and parks, with greenery as well found on every street corner, along the sidewalks, all lovingly and dedicatedly maintained, though few people besides clearly state workers or essential laborers were out - an effect of the recently imposed lockdown to slow the spread of a mysterious bacterial infection.

He'd soon be traveling up a mountain road, and then arrive at the steps to the Palace, not far from Parthenon in the distance. He'd find himself greeted by more Praetorians, of whom would lead him inside of the building. Once inside, the doors are closed behind him and the guards disperse to the sides, as the Emperor would make his way around a corner, holding his hands behind his back with a soft smile on his face. His red hair was done up in braids today, and kept held back behind his head, while his uniform seemed quite bare.

"It's an honor, President Castellano." He'd hold his hand out as he approached. "I hope the trip went well. I'm sorry it was on such short notice, though this can't wait." He'd say.

[Faust]

"The honor is all mine, after all, it's not everyday one stands before an Emperor." Castellano would smile and approach the Emperor with his own hand out, coming to take his hand in a firm grip. Afterwards his hand would come to rest at his side and his smiling expression would fade as he remembered the cause for their meeting.

"When you said the meeting was urgent I made plans to come as soon as possible. I apologize for any delay but if you don't mind me asking, is there something wrong? The telegram was brief and without much detail but I hope everything is alright." he gave a look of concern to Aurelius Vex as he straightened his stance.

[VoxApocrypha]

Vex would look back at him as he spoke, and his smile would fade as he asked them if something was wrong.
With a sigh, he would nod his head. "I'll explain when we're behind closed doors but this is confidential, and I left it brief for a reason." He would tell them. An RSSB agent in black would fall in behind them, his hands behind his back and his uniform clean and pristine as he went, his face hidden behind a mask. A brief exchange in a dialect of latin is held between them, before the agent salutes and steps off into a side room.

He'd lead Castellano into a office room, the Emperor's office above ground that wasn't as generously furnished or as dirty as the one below. He'd offer them a seat, as he made his way to a fridge he had put into the corner not that long ago. It was not the kind of room he used for pictures.

"The room has insulating foam and sound blockers, both deliberate and not. The bookcases help keep things quiet." He'd say as he sat down in his seat, setting a case of sparkling water on the desk. "Help yourself to one if you so wish. You might want one before long anyway." He'd say.

"..I brought you here to talk about the URRV, our alliance, and.. Ashigawa."

[Faust]

Castellano would follow Vex into his office, taking a seat when prompted by the Emperor and taking in the room. He's perhaps only been here one other time though his memory of his time in Rombarda before was rather fuzzy given the recent war and everything that went on to occupy both his mind and time. When Aurellius paused, Saloman would reach out to take the glass of sparkling water allowing himself a few small sips before setting it down. All the while his mind was set to wonder about the topics he brought up.

"Those three things all together don't sound like they'll equal something good. But you have my attention Vex. Whenever you are ready to continue i'll be all ears." Saloman sat the glass down in front of him and folded his hands into his lap as he looked to the Emperor with an inquisitive expression.

[VoxApocrypha]

"They don't." He'd state plainly.

"Simply put, the presence of a potentially hostile communist state on our northern border is not only a serious source of anxiety, but it's also a series threat to the safety and integrity of not just Rombarda, but most of Northern Granuras. While we have relative parody with them right now, we are not capable of effectively beating them in the long run. The URRV has greater industrial capacity than most and as it stands.. they also have one of the largest, if not the largest land army in the world." He'd say as he set his glass down.

"The URRV's infrastructure is still fragile however, given it has not been long since their civil war has ended on the mainland. This isn't permanent, however. What I have been considering is a dramatic change of doctrine for my military." He'd say. "We want to go on the offensive and hit them while they're not capable of moving troops rapidly and quickly. Destroy their infrastructure, burn their factories, break them." He'd say. "..We cannot however, do that alone."

"That is where you come in. Alone Rombarda doesn't have the edge it needs, and while I had hoped that potentially I could avoid a conflict like this, the URRV is not something I can just ignore and wait until I'm ready. I want to ask for the assistance of Nevarra, and as well to ask for the aid of Ashigawa, in a offensive against the URRV, optimally within the year but maybe the next year at the furthest.."

"Then there is.. Ashigawa." he'd say. "..Ashigawan Imperialism is a problem, for us and for our future relations with anyone else. Most nations in the Confederacy of Granuras are not particularly big fans of Ashgiawa, and because we are essentially ignoring their actions in Granuras and their colonial imperialism, we're not well-liked either. As well, we have intelligence that says that Ashigawa is doing.. something, in Touli, involving Franerre. The extent of that however is hard to ascertain, and as of right now the RSSB has not yet found any relevant information to bring back. I have a suspicion however, that they are attempting to expand their influence on the continent for further colonial expansion, and potentially other reasons. Their disdain towards Kumosenkan possibly being one of those."

[Faust]

Saloman would listen to the words of the Emperor intently, absorbing every little bit of information he was relaying to the President of Nevarra and after all was said he would find himself leaning back in his chair, troubled, and within deep thought about what he was just told. Nevarra, though once a colonial power of course, adopted ethics of self-determination and protecting the right of a state's existence dependent on the people who created the power to begin with. And it was because of this belief that Nevarran relations with the COG have been somewhat strained as of recent. Many citizens of Nevarra have come to the conclusion that Nevarra's ethics don't align with the allies it has made, at least not one of them. But so long as status quo was maintained there wasn't much to argue about and life would go on.

Now tensions are rising in Touli and Vex stood here and told him two important things that did not sit well with him at all. To be honest he dreaded being asked questions about the URRV, Ashigawa, or any states that Nevarra has maintained a neutral or slightly positive attitude towards. The Nevarran media will do anything to tear down what they believe is a mask set up by the state so that it can reap the rewards of having powerful and close bonds while shunning their controversial activities. Emperor Aurelius Vex was confiding in him information which would upset this fragile belief that we were all finally out of conflict. That war weary Nevarrans could finally stay home and die in their beds close to their families and not in cold, muddy trenches dug haphazardly.

He couldn't deny that the URRV was a threat. It boasted a powerful land army that once having reached its full potential could turn into a red tide that threatens to engulf the whole world. At this point the URRV was at its weakest and its only going to get stronger day by day and by the time we wait to see if they are a threat or if they are harmless it would already be too late to do anything against them. Then of course there was Ashigawa. The state had been the foil for Nevarra's intentions of being part of an organization that would help maintain the balance of power. The Ashigawans were radicalized and invigorated by war, they fought with claws and teeth on the frontline, and gave their own lives for an Emperor that likely wouldn't even know their name. If word got out that Ashigawa was inciting conflict in Touli the rumor alone would be damaging to the image of the Commonwealth and destructive to the nation of Nevarra. It was hard not to think selfishly too as Saloman could hear made up cries of those calling him a hypocrite and a tyrant. The very thought made him sweat with anxiety.

"The URRV at this point is already a great threat to us both. Even with the entirety of the Commonwealth we have seen how the reds fight. I don't understand where they get such fervor and spirit from, whether it is the fear of death or the fear of what their commanding officers might do to them if they attempt to flee. You want the help of Nevarra that much is certain. But you are also planning to call in Ashigawa. Thats the only part I remain confused on. Because if even just the WORD of 'Ashigawa is conspiring' gets out that will be incredibly damaging to us. Even moreso if we enter a war with them."

[VoxApocrypha]

"Ashigawa is not our ally, Saloman. I'm going to say that now. Politically, Legally, yes - on paper we are a cooperating international bloc. But the reality is the opposite outside of that context. Rombarda has tolerated and considered Ashigawa until now an ally of convenience but their expansionism is both at odds with your ethos and directly responsible for inhibiting Rombarda's ability to expand its network of trade and as well to forge stronger ties with Confederacy nations. Ashigawa as well somewhat revolts us with the acts it has committed in some of its new 'provinces'." He'd say.

"But I want their help, because I want to bring Ashigawa down, Saloman. I recognize they're an issue, and I want to end that before it hurts us. I'm going to tell you something that shouldn't be repeated, but we signed a non-aggression pact with Kumosenkan specifically on the grounds that if Ashigawa and them went to war, we were not going to intervene unless directly threatened. And I intend to honor that - but as well I want Ashigawa off of mainland Granuras. The best way to do that and kill two birds with one stone is, for now, to first cripple, defeat and dismantle the Veltists before they reach the apex of their strength and become able of overwhelming us - preferably by sacrificing Ashigawan soldiers into the fire first to preserve our manpower - and then close Ashigawa out of the Commonwealth of Granuras and potentially even cut all ties with them if Kumosenkan goes to war with them, and they very well might."

He'd pause for a moment, thinking.
"..And yes, I know. I know it'll dramatically harm the image of the COG and its members, and the administrations within. I have no effective means of dealing with that right now except if I can find a perfect reason to pull the others in with me in expulsion from the COG. We'd as well, be expelling Franerre if we did most likely, as Ashigawa would likely take Franerre with them."

He leaned back in his chair, taking a sip from his glass.
"..There aren't many nations Rombarda can realistically turn to for aid and you are one of the few." He'd say. "We think if we were to ask Kumosenkan and other states that aren't friendly to communist nations for material aid some might say yes, but what we need is manpower, not guns. We have a stockpile of firearms larger than most nations have produced in over a century, and while many are old they're still good. Material support at least would aid us in replenishing lost aircraft and vehicles, but.. again, bodies." He'd say. "Rombarda's Army can fight. I know this. So can the Nevarran one, our officers respect Nevarra's army more than that of any other. They have confidence in your men. Which is another reason why I'm asking for your help."

[Faust]

Mentioning the Non-Aggression Pact with Kumosenkan turned Saloman almost visibly pale as he stared in a brief bit of shock to Rombarda. A sense of guilt and shame set in but also a presence of relief as he averted his eyes momentarily to muster up the courage to say something.

"I haven't been entirely honest either, Aurelius..." he paused for a moment as if mapping out what he would say next before continuing.

"This must also not be repeated either but we had a delegation between Nevarra and Kumosenkan awhile after we went to reestablish and normalize relations with them again. In the past when we were both more prominent colonial powers we had a series of treatise established that left vague duration. Going over these treatise again we decided best ratify them once more and formalize our old non-aggression pact with a new one still rooted in the treaties prior. The truth is I have been rather suspicious of being dragged into any sort of conflict in Touli and somehow being part of yet another great war. The Empress shared these feelings and did not want to taint our long history of cordial relationships with a large red splotch of blood. I apologize for not having been this open with you prior but I hope you can understand the situation called for discretion. I would have still been able to supply you but under no circumstances were Nevarrans and Kumosenkans to engage one another. Knowing this, I hope you will forgive me and moreso I..." he paused for a moment to catch his breath as anxiety began to build up in him before continuing once he steadied himself.

"All of this is so complicated. My people are tired and war-weary. But knowing how resolute they are we have fought and survived five great wars and will fight another five great wars if it comes to it. It would be naïve to deny what a threat the URRV has become and throughout our history we have always stood side-by-side. So if you will still have me... I'll do it. There will be consequences and the people will certainly be angry but better know while the spirit to fight is still within them."

[VoxApocrypha]

Vex's eyebrow briefly twitches, the movement almost imperceptible but otherwise not worth noting, or noticeable. His eyes drift a bit, and he would manage what looked to be a smile again.
"..Can't fault you for that, I suppose. Even if I am a little offended on behalf of my country." He'd say to them as he would cup his hands together over his stomach, letting out a quiet sigh as he looked to the ceiling.

"..We will fight another five wars if it means that our homeland is safe and strong. We will not let a potential juggernaut build strength on our border until they can overwhelm us. It ends this decade. There will be no more URRV, and there will be no more Eonia either." He'd say as he looked back to them, expression once again stoic. "And we wouldn't want anyone else by our side when the time came." He'd say. "..We will have to start organizing quickly, but we as well can't make much noise as we do it. We're already drafting plans for how we'll do it, and we're considering as well measures that could bring the International Community in on our side, or at the least provide a justifiable Casus Belli."

"It will just take time. Maybe between now and when we decide to launch the offensive, we can potentially find some solution to this that does not require bloodshed, or at the least shedding of our blood." He would say.

[Faust]

Saloman returned back to looking inquisitively to the Emperor as he said those words. "What do you mean there will be no more Eonia? I understand wanting to dismantle the URRV but not leaving a state for the Eonian natives afterward will only breed resentment and contempt if you or someone else plans on occupying them. It may make many sympathetic to Veltists and soon whoever would be fighting an underground war long after if the former government were made martyrs. I would follow you into war once again Vex but you have to promise me, i'm already going against my values as is, that if a war should occur that a fair map be drawn for an Eonian state to exist."

[VoxApocrypha]

He'd sigh.
"..I acknowledge their sovereign right to choose their own way forwards. But I have to choose the way to safeguard the safety of my people and their right to choose that way forwards as well. I can't just let a nation that large exist on my border forever. It opens the chance that if we do win, we'll be fighting that same war again in fifty years' time, or less." He would say. "If I win, it will not be a victory to celebrate anyway. We're going to end up having to rebuild a lot of cities and infrastructure potentially, and by the end of it, I very well intend to cut them into the old Eonian state or the URRV, and then build a buffer state between me and the rump state I leave behind. If I do anything else it leaves the potential for an opponent who can bounce back. Much like the fools who drafted that daft treaty with Galra at the end of the war have done now." He would say to them.

"I can offer you a map with an Eonian state, and a Rombardan controlled Eonian buffer. But I won't create a situation where I'll potentially be faced with a powerful resurgent enemy on my border in the future, distant or close as that might be. They'll have a nation, two in fact, but one will be my buffer, and the other will be made to be only able to defend itself and that is it."

[Faust]

Saloman sighs, "Thats all I can really ask for. To prevent infighting of course we would need to guarantee the new states. Still its hard to imagine that the north won't end up looking like a war-zone regardless of what way we shape it."

[VoxApocrypha]

"It won't be the first time Saloman. This just might be worst time." He would reply. "But hopefully, it'll also be the last." He would tell them.

"I believe that it might be wise if you were to ask for material aid from the AP. I doubt that any member nation of the Pact would say no to at least limited material aid. We'll need everything we can get."