サムライキツネとのケルト外交 (UKUG-Ashi diplo)

[aimway921]

Rozaivna would look over the documents, before replying to the offer.

"We would also like there to be a heavy machinery department, for the development and production of heavier machinery, such as tractors and heavier, stationary engines for applications such as generators. Do you believe that would be possible?"

[Greywall]

“That would require a few additional factories that can produce those products. They use different types of machines to create them.”

[aimway921]

"And how would their addition would affect the terms of the deal you're offering?"

[Greywall]

“34,000,000 pounds.”

[aimway921]

Rozaivna contemplated the offer, looking through the documents again.

"That is a hefty sum that would take us a while to pay off..."

She then took something out from a drawer and placed it on the table, which turned out to be a copy of the Gaelian newspaper from a few weeks ago, with one particular article circled in a bold red marker.

"I'm assuming that following these news from your homeland, you won't be accepting bulk sums of silver as you did before. What other avenues of payment cod you offer us?"

[Greywall]

"If possible with Ashinarian Hryvnia, we would like to set up payments and establish a long term trade flow of currencies and trade in an increased ratio than what currently exists."

[aimway921]

"I believe that is doable," Rozaivna said, after looking through some more papers. "We would have to pay in installments stretching at least a decade, though I believe it would strengthen Ashinaran economy and allow us to participate in even more trade, progressively improving the benefits both of us gain from this relationship."

"I believe another thing we can do to pay off our debts to you is involve ourselves in development of your territory here in Touli - Zedonia. I can guarantee to you that our people would be that much more enthusiastic to spend their money buying your products if they knew that money would then be used to improve lives of people living in Touli."

[Greywall]

"That is our goal here, the UKUG wants to enrichen its empire and in order to do that it would be better to improve Touli to reach that goal. The total cost vs. the Gaelic pound is 807,500,000,000 Hryvnia. Or 34 million pounds."

[aimway921]

"Very well," Galyna said. I shall have my staff write up a formal agreement.

After asking to use the office's phone, Rozaivna got on the phone with her staff in her office, and a few hours later a courier brought a form to sign.

---

Ashinaran-Gaelian Trade Agreement of 1931
Beneficiary of Studebaker Corporation

1. Studebaker International shall set up a new branch: Studebaker International Ashinara
2. Studebaker International Ashinara shall construct 10 automobile factories in Ashinara
3. Studebaker International Ashinara shall construct 7 Heavy Machinery factories in Ashinara
4. Products released by Studebaker International Ashinara for domestic purchase by the public in Ashinara shall be branded under an Ashinaran name and badge.
5. Ashinara shall provide payment to Studebaker Corporation for the construction of the factories and initial staffing & training of employees in the sum totaling the value of 34 million Gaelic Pounds.
6. Ashinara shall provide the payment outlined in Article 5 via the Ulster-Gaelian government.
7. Ashinara reserves the freedom to chose avenues of payment, with several already discussed and agreed upon:
7.1. Cash payments in Ashinaran Hryvnia.
7.2. Various Ashinaran resources and products sold to UKUG and Zedonia at heavily discounted prices.
7.3. Export of Studebaker International Ashinara products to UKUG and Zedonia at heavily discounted prices.
7.4. Involvement of Ashinaran domestic companies and the Ashinaran government in the development of Zedonia.
8. Studebaker shall receive 45% of all profits made by Studebaker International Ashinara

Signed:

Representative of Ashinara: Galyna Rozaivna, secretary of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ashinara
Representative of UKUG: Amanda Walsh, ambassador of UKUG to Ashinara

[aimway921]

The cooperation between Ashinara and UKUG seemed to be only rising, as a few days after the prior meeting at which the Studebaker deal was agreed to, Rozaivna had once again requested a meeting with Walsh. This time, however, her mood was much more sour, and in addition to that, she was accompanied by an Officer from the Royal Army.

"Ambassador, we are here with some... grave news, I'm afraid. Taking out of her suitcase, she slid a translated copy of the Franerri newspaper, or, rather, a single article from it - the one about UST brutality at Do'Rville, as well as incursion of UST cavalry into the territory of Franerre and their brutality against civilian population there - which was no less brutal than against the Tafatu population."

"Further more," the Officer began, as he put down an opened envelope on the table, "reports from the frontlines at Ferville indicate that the UST has employed a new artillery, which surpasses the range of anything we have. Now, we have no proof of such, as we have yet to be able to breach the UST lines and capture or at least take a look at any of that artillery - but there is one enormous coincidence we can't ignore. Last year the Franerri blockade was strong-armed into letting through a Kumosenkan convoy towards UST from the East - and while they claimed they are headed towards a port in Elenria, the time it took them to reach the Western side of the blockade does not add up. We are confident they made a stop in UST. Now new powerful guns show up that surpass those of Franerre and Ashinara, nations both more advanced than UST. The Royal Intelligence Agency is convinced that Kumosenkan has supplied the UST with weapons."

"But all that was mere speculation until this." The officer picked up a long bag he brought with him. Opening it, he revealed a battered, mud-stained and possibly even blood-stained rifle. Placing it in front of Murphy, he pointed his finger at the receiver. Kumo letters have been stamped there.

"This rifle was recovered from No-man's-land at Ferville. This is proof that our mutual adversary has involved themselves in this conflict. We don't know what their goal might be, but the way we see it, it achieves only one end - the war would last longer, and more lives would be needlessly lost on both sides."

[Greywall]

Walsh showed a most serious expression, the war in touli had become a bloodbath and now the UST received foreign aid from their direct rival. “What would ashinara need to counter these…additions to the Union army?”

[aimway921]

"As much as you can spare," the Officer began, as he produced a piece of paper with a list that he put on the table in front of Walsh. "Chiefly we need long range artillery, something that can beat those Kumo guns. We have just began a program to develop our own, but that would take too much time, and the Union could gain the initiative. They have already wrestled the initiative away from us at Ferville and turned it into a standstill. And without long-range artillery, all we can do is dig ourselves deeper into the ground to find protection from their shells.

Speaking of protection from their shells. Some have thrown about the idea of issuing helmets to the soldiers. So we would need some of those too, at least a small amount to test if helmets would really be useful, before we set up a domestic production.

We have through of increasing the mobility of our firepower. The tachankas we have are great, but they are too vulnerable in the face of the massive amount of enemy troops we're facing. The Tankettes we received from you previously might be great, but the frontline commanders are afraid to employ them in face of the overwhelming artillery fire - with how few of them we have and how expensive they are, they are waiting for perfect conditions, but I think it's obvious that we won't get those on an actual battlefield.

Furthermore, our Ranger Corps are requesting Light Machine Guns to test out new offensive tactics they're formulating to try and break the stalemate - as massed infantry charges that have worked in the past are showing to be futile in this new age of machine guns and long range artillery."

As the Officer has finished rattling off his list of demands, Rozaivna looked stunned.

"I'm sorry..." She turned to the Officer. "You do realize how expensive that would be? Our government is already massively in debt to the UKUG. Who's going to pay for all that?"

"As of now, the people of Tafatu are paying for it," the Officer snapped back. "By our estimates, this war has brought over a million deaths so far. And over 75% of those deaths are civilian casualties from the UST carrying out, and I won't be afraid to use that word - a genocide against the Tafatu people."

[Greywall]

“This is a very tall order, even with the atrocities being committed the crown will not likely be able to deliver on everything requested. It has to appear before the parliament and then his majesty the king has to sign off on it. For now, we might start off a bit small, the light machine guns and helmets are something we can get moving for lend lease. Well, the guns anyway. The helmets might stay with you.”

[aimway921]

"Great," the Officer quickly snapped, before Rozaivna could say anything. He took out a pen. "Do you have an empty piece of paper? Let's sign off on the highest amount you'd be able to provide in the shortest order."

"With all due respect, Colonel Kudasov," Rozaivna stoop up. "You are overstepping your bounds here. Such deals are jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Security Service OR the Army!"

"Tell that to the raped women and bayonetted children of Tafatu," Kudasov said, the man visibly angry. The fur on his tail was standing up, as it was on the back of his neck, and his eyes looked like he was ready to pull his service revolver and shoot the woman on the spot. "In fact, I can arrange that. I can have you conscripted and sent to the city of Tarafan by this time tomorrow, where you can see the effects of the Unions genocide first hand. And our men and women who went there to stop that have to see it every day when they move through the country. And the longer this goes on, the more people die. Both theirs and ours."

The Colonel then turned to Walsh. "By order of Minister of War Khmelnitsky, and my direct superior, General Chazayiv of Security Service of Ashinara, I'm taking over negotiation for any and all lend lease deals." He took out an envelope with the Security Service's crest on it. "Their signatures on this are in there, if you won't take my word. You are dismissed, Rozaivna. Go home, and think about your priorities."

Kudasov took the seat that Rozaivna vacated as she left.

"I apologize for my outburst," he said, as the door behind Rozaivna closed. "One can't help but get a little... emotional... when so many innocent lives are needlessly cut short, especially when once has to read through reports of more and more of them being cut short every day. But, let's get back to what we were discussing.

How many helmets and light machine guns would the United Kingdom be able to provide, at what price, and when can you make the first delivery?"

[Greywall]

Walsh was rather perturbed by the scene that took place, but she decided to do her job regardless. "First 50,000 helmets will be free a gift from the Crown to Ashinara. We have 30,000 light machine guns we can sell for 90,000 units of rubber, the rest will have to be put into order for our factories at cost. If I could get an order invoice I can have a price list given."