Appealing to the Empress

[Sophie]

"Very well. We'll send out our first shipments first thing next week." Hanyu sighed. "You're dismissed. You found your way here; I assume you can find your way home." She waved the humans away lazily.

As soon as the two humans were out, one of Hanyu's assistants, Munakata, brought a new idea to the table. "I know we're all disappointed with how few arms those monkeys decided to purchase, so how about we play both sides here?"

"What are you talking about?" Hanyu barked, annoyed.

"I mean," Munakata continued, "The Union of South Touli is totally fractured. According to the latest reports I've been allowed to read, there are at least four factions fighting against the former overlord. Why pander to these youngling breakaways with nothing really to offer? Let's reach out to the UST. Offer them our vastly superior arms and ammunition in return for loyalty and cash."

Hanyu glowered at her assistant for a moment, just long enough to make her squirm in her seat. "I really want to hate that idea. Start working on a draft for the UST. I'll get a message out to the Empress for permission to send it."

---

Several months of bureaucratic hell later.

---

Baraka Okeena,

The collapse of your nation has not gone unnoticed by the main continent. Our intelligence experts have reported that your failure is all but imminent without intervention. We believe it would be in the best interest of all Touli that you remain in power and bring stability and peace to the continent of Touli. Kumosenkan is willing to aid you in this journey of peacekeeping. Should you be interested in keeping your holdings across south Touli, reach out to us. We are eager and able to supply your peacekeeping forces with arms, ammunition, artillery, food, and fuel to continue your rule on the continent. You may respond to us anytime to set up a diplomatic mission regarding this message.

Meiteru Hanyu
Ministry of Foriegn Affairs
Kumosenkan

[Greywall]

It didn't take long for Okeena to respond to the Kumosenkan, his entire military was deployed but the loss at Le Troi stunned the nation. If he failed to hold onto the North the entire Union would turn on him and the oligarchs. He sent a reply:

Meiteru Hanyu,

I hope this finds you well, we agree to your terms and invite the Kumosenkan to Noyva Bukhta to settle this concord between our nations. The UST will repay this kindness and remember its Kumosenkan allies. 

Baraka Okeena,
President of the Union of South Touli

[Sophie]

Baraka Okeena,

We must decline the invitation to Noyva Bukhta as the current threat to our personal safety is far too high to excuse a direct visit. We instead invite you or a delegation under your authority to Midway Fleet Base. We are willing to dispatch a Hunter Killer escort to ensure your safe passage to our waters.

Meiteru Hanyu
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kumosenkan

[Greywall]

Meiteru Hanyu

We will arrive at the base and location using one of our own ships, please entail location and me and my staff shall meet you there.

President Okeena

Okeena was already visibly exhausted when he boarded the UWS Putain a rather old and outdated Ironclad Battleship that served as the Union's flagship. He felt it would be better if he had a UST ship show up rather than use a Kumosenkan warship believing they would deem him weak if he didn't. 

[Sophie]

Another message was sent to indicate the exact place Okeena was to meet. However, the area given was in international waters a few miles off of the midway islands. Once the ironclad reached the designated area, two Kawakaze class Hunter Killers sat idle in the calm blue ocean awaiting them. Once the Hucks spotted the battleship, they very rapidly accelerated towards it. In a show of agility and force, the two Hucks swung themselves around and made a full one-eighty in less than fifteen seconds. They did ensure to save a decent three hundred meters between themselves and the battleship, so it would stay within torpedo activation range.

The two hunter killers, once lined up with the ancient battleship, were evidently longer than the battleship, stretching over a hundred meters long to the battleship's ninety. Once ready to escort, the two hucks blew their horns and slowly guided the battleship into the massive midway naval base. Although as the trio approached the docks, it was rather evident that some of the extended facilities of Midway Fleet Base were allowed to fall into disrepair. After the acquisition of Hawaii, Midway's importance as the halfway point between Kumosenkan and Elenria had diminished.

Once everyone had settled into dock, a small delegation awaited afore of the gangway and quickly led the president to the fleet's headquarters, where a room had been set up for the discussion. "Good afternoon, President Okeena." Meiteru Hanyu greeted the man as he entered with a deep bow.

[Greywall]

Okeena and his entourage a few advisors stepped into the room still trying to get used to the fact their hosts were spiders, most South Touli had only heard stories, rumors maybe even elaborate stories, but one thing was clear. They needed their help, Okeena awkwardly nodded at Meiteru in return to her bow having done little to no foreign work during his time as head of state of the UST. "Thank you for having me here, we appreciate Kumosenkan for reaching out to us."

[Sophie]

"It is our pleasure to offer aid to those in need." Hanyu spoke. "Please, inform us of the current situation in South Touli, and tell us what we can do to help."

[Greywall]

"The situation was under control, we were taking control back from terrorist rebels when suddenly without provocation or a proper route of diplomacy we were mercilessly invaded by Frannerre and Ashinara who now support these terror groups. Our Union stands at a difficult junction, Galra takes our land and the Frannerre want to install a puppet in our North."

[Sophie]

"We have taken notice of the involvement of Franerre and Ashinara." Hanyu nodded. "Those two nations, in particular, have been a mosquito in the ear for quite a while. Ironic that they see you as oppressors when they intend themselves to rule over any land they take. Tell us what you need to beat these oppressors back into their own land. We have arms, ammunition, artillery, warships, and more that we can sell to you to repel your invaders."

[Greywall]

Okeena was surprised but felt there was more to this, despite his own government's corruption he knew a thing or two about individuals who wanted something from him. But for now he needed them to supply whatever they could give him.

"We need better rifles, ammunition for rifles, machine guns, artillery, warships, bombs i'll take everything you have to offer. I need to beat these damn invaders from my country."

[Sophie]

"To help you repel these egregious invaders, we are happy to supply anything you need." A small smile broached Hanyu's lips. "We have millions of Dokueki bolt action rifles wasting space in stockpiles and more than enough ammo to keep them firing for years. We are willing to share with you our recently phased out type forty-five two-hundred-forty-millimeter howitzer and type thirty-eight one hundred-fifty-millimeter-howitzers. We could offer you our old type three light machine gun, but it may be a bit too large for you to use in anything aside from static defenses. It fires twelve-point-seven by one-hundred-and-eight-millimeter rounds. Our warships are not for sale, but we are willing to use them to guard our own ships entering your ports."

[Greywall]

Okeena grinned, it was the best news he had heard in some time, "and your price? We have plenty of silver and gold coming from our mines. Granted All of those things, I need them."

He knew the Kumo would want a lot, but he also knew the dark ending waiting for him if he lost the war. The people of the South tolerated their government as long as it kept them safe and somewhat provided for, but losing the North would shatter the UST economy and have a rope around his neck in front of hundreds of angry people. "I need 600,000 Dokueki rifles and ammunition for them all, as many of the forty-five howitzers you can sell as well as the type thirty-eights. And knowing my enemy, they would disrupt our shipments. Kumo ships would have access to our ports."

[Sophie]

"That can be arranged," Hanyu practically purred. "We can sell you six-hundred-thousand rifles, twenty-four-million rounds of ammunition for them, we only have a thousand of the type fort-fives, and we can sell you well over ten thousand of the type thirty-eights as well as a hundred rounds of ammunition per howitzer each. Having our ships guard our trade vessels will be free, as a gesture of kindness."

"I think a fair price would be, say..." Hanyu took a moment to pretend to run the numbers in her head. "One-hundred-seventy-four-million Jewels. We'd prefer the payment in Yairen or Jewels, but we'd be willing to work with you on accepting gold and silver."

[Greywall]

It was a massive price, but Okeena needed to win the war. "We can supply you that in gold and silver, raw bars that can feed your economy. When can we expect the shipments to begin? Not to rush but every day the Coalition prepare to send more and more reinforcements against me."

Okeena could feel the eyes of his entourage staring at the back of his head, likely not approving the massive amount of money he was signing up for, the entire crisis was brought upon by his lack of discipline with the Seleucid loan.

[Sophie]

"You agreed so readily. I guess I should have asked for more." Hanyu stifled a laugh. "Shipments will start today as soon as I get a message home. I imagine they'll begin arriving in two weeks if unimpeded."