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Post by Greywall on Jul 23, 2022 14:29:55 GMT -5
Several gold inked letters would be sent from the desk of Vincent Peake, the voice of the Autarch and head of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The nations the letters were sent to were the Verak Empire, Grinvel and Federal Republic of Amali. When his assistants saw the Verak and Amali invitations they paused, "Sir they're mortal enemies, are you sure?" Peake would calmly place his finger on his lips signifying them to be silent, "The Autarch has given the order, and the Autarch's word is the lords. Do not question his will". They silently nodded and made to their duties in delivering the letters.
After a few weeks Columbia would silently prepare for the arrival the diplomats or leaders of the invited nations. Little fanfare would be done, assigned vehicles to take them would have flags of the assigned nation representative to show without saying much where they would go to be taken for the meeting and Galra was keeping the entire arrangement from gaining much if any attention.
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Post by malloc on Jul 23, 2022 17:05:16 GMT -5
Amali The Amalian government was receptive to the invitation, albeit it apprehensive upon seeing the list of invitees contained Verak. A discussion around their mere presence took place between the President, Prime Minister, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs the day the letter was received. At the end of it, there was an agreement between the three to seek partners outside Nevarra, the Eastern Granuras Kingdoms, and Pomazanniki. While stalwart, they each had their own flaws that largely meant Amali was left to fight in a potential war against Verak and/or Kumosenkan alone. If at the least, public knowledge of Amali being receptive to offers such as these would spur others to either engage with Amali with their organizations, or spur nations to build one alongside Amali.
Towards the end of the day, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs would convene a circle of nine diplomats, of which the Secretary was one, who would be headed by the President. Each of them were high ranking, and carried an area of expertise in both national development and foreign relations diplomacy. A telegram would be sent back to the Galran foreign relations office.
Verak
"Sire, a letter," a finely-dressed Varian said, holding in his furred hands a gilded envelope, and knocking on the ajar door. On the front of it, an address to the Emperor himself from the Galran government.
The aging Emperor looked up from his desk, spectacles adorned his snout as he held out his hand to receive the missive. The servant briskly walked through the office, placed it in his hand, bowed, and made to move out of the study.
"A moment, dear Ani," the Emperor said, sticking a sharp steel knife under one end of the envelope and flicking his wrist. "What could our dear friends the Galrans want?"
The servant stopped, spinning on his heels to face the Emperor once more. The knife glides along the thin paper, splitting it open, and out came the letter. His weary eyes would read over the letter, a few times just to make sure he was reading it right, and scoffed.
"A conference... For a 'new global order.' All this for a bunch of shite stains in two backwards continents, most likely... Bah, send th-"
"They've invited the Yimlusians, sire."
The Emperor continued to stare at the letter, his hand gripping the knife curling tighter around the oaken base. He silently folded the letter with one hand, placing the letter down. The servant braced for an outburst, his entire body tensing up. Instead, the Emperor requested, in a calm yet aggressive tone, "Summon my daughter. This will be her first foray, and she must learn how to deal with such banalities. Send an acceptance missive, and prepare the Royal fleet to sail for Galra."
The servant bowed, quickly rushing out of the office before anything further could happen.
The Emperor stood, grabbed his cane, and hobbled to the large rainbow-stained window. He looked out over the city below, the massive city build over millennia was bustling with the people below. The tight streets wove and turned into the more rigid grids of the Outer City, and in the near distance he could see the outcropping of the Grand City. He leaned against the window sill, staring over the harbor idly, thinking of the future. His time was limited, but his daughter would need allies to finally destroy the menace of Imel, Fato, and their followers and keep them crushed into the dirt.
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Post by Greywall on Jul 23, 2022 19:25:14 GMT -5
The various officials would be transported to the Central North of the Imperial State. Via train, car or airplane it didn't matter, one thing was common in the transportation of the officials they were shown very little.
Grinvel sent Herman Vaught a high-ranking member of the Reich government, his personal passenger car was pulled by a Grinvel 0-4-4-0 locomotive across the main continent. He was freshening up as they had long entered Galra, "My lord we're a couple minutes out." said an assistant, Vaught barely acknowledged him as he freshly shaved his head. It was something he kept from his time in the military, it was an odd custom, he despised hair his mind associating it with the Festrian and Kithium. So he had nothing, no eyebrows, no facial hair no hair on his head or body. His odd appearance and habit made him stand out, but it was his cold and calculating manner that made him climb the ranks of the Reich.
As he stepped out into his personal car his assistants were holding a long dark black trench coat and a bowler hat. He turned his back without saying anything and they placed the coat and hat onto him, he then turned and began walking to the end of the car as the train signaled to the station ahead of its arrival with a whistle. As it pulled ot the station he exited the car facing the one attached at the end where two armed Grinvel infantrymen were waiting. They would wait for a complete stop before stepping off onto the platform and wasting little time to reach the back of the station where the Galra officials were waiting with a car, "Welcome to Columbia, Herr Vaught. Your transportation is ready, your men will have to wait here I'm afraid." Vaught nodded turning his head to his guards, "Go wait on the train." he entered the car and like a mechanized motion within a machine the infantry turned to head back to the train as the car pulled away.
It was already night when Vaught arrived, he was informed the others would be at the conference soon and his presence was needed now. For all his nationalist pride, Vaught was caught off guard by Columbia, the city was unlike anything else in Ouhiri. Massive, marbled statues overlooked what could only be described as a mega city, clean tall buildings sprawled from the ground illuminated by Staol powered electricity, as they entered the main streets hundreds of cars flooded it with orange fumes and unnatural light from their headlamps. Neon signs for businesses, restaurants and propaganda fueled an electric sense of jealousy in Vaught. Not even the Kaiserreich was this well built. As they entered the government hub at the center of the city, he saw the looming palace they would hold the conference in, "Mein Gotts, what have you built all of this with?" he muttered to himself. He knew Galra was wealthy but to this extent? No, no one in Ouhiri would know until they saw it.
As he pulled into the palace he would be greeted by several cloaked and hooded individuals, 'this...must be the infamous Inquisition' the Grinvel had the state police but even Vaught knew of the terrifying reputation of Galra's Church Inquisitors. They stood still as he walked between them on a purple plush carpet that led into the building, as he entered the large spacious entryway of the palace several servants of the Galra escorted him to a large hall brightly illuminated and largely white painted with a few paintings on the walls and busts of old leaders. "Welcome Herr Vaught" Vaught looked where the voice came from and saw the tall thin greying man approaching him, he wore expensive clothing that resembled business attire, "I am glad you managed to come here, I sent you the letter, I am Vincent Peake his holiness's voice to the unclean and unkept." Peake spoke with an almost unbearable level of self-importance and clear indication of superiority to his guest.
Vaught didn't react though, he knew why he was here, "Of course, I am glad to have been invited." Peake smiled as if a pet did something to please him, "then take your seat over there at the one next to the head of the table...that's where i'll be sitting. Feel honored. You are to be that close my presence infidel." Peake walked away to grab himself something to drink and wait for the others as Vaught did as he was told, 'Bastard Galra, watered down Grinvelian filth, who is he calling infidel? We worship Ux Voshoz properly without their amendments' Vaught thought to himself keeping it all in. He took a seat as a man leaned over to him asking if he wanted anything, "Wine."
"We don't have that"
"Beer"
"We don't have that"
"Whiskey then!"
"We don't have that"
"Fuck sake, Coffee"
"We don't have that"
"What...do....you...have" Vaught said coldly with no emotion, "Fruit drinks, water, lemon water, and milk" Vaught stared longer than he wanted in slight disgust, "Water...with lemon" the servant walked away to fetch his order, 'These people are insane' he thought but then he looked around and saw everything they had. If Galra managed all of this without alcohol maybe he was in the wrong- 'Fuck that, I need beer' he interred to himself as the servant brought him his drink. The sharp smell of fresh citrus and cold clean water filled his nostrils as he took a drink. To his surprise, it was the cleanest water he had ever tasted, the cold liquid felt like it cleansed his very soul from his mouth to his stomach. Before he knew it the entire glass was empty and the servant leaned in asking, "Another sir?" Vaught put the glass to him and said "Keep this coming."
Peake would wait at the entrance for the arrival of the Amali and Verak officials, "Now for the fun part" he muttered.
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Post by malloc on Jul 23, 2022 22:57:26 GMT -5
The Amalian dignitaries were the first to arrive to Columbia, having taken the train and despite some initial scares in the Granarduran Mountains with heavy snows. The train ride was unsurprisingly quiet, going through Nevarra, Koi, the Free Cities Alliance, and Seleucidenia. Verak's diplomatic corp would take around five days to sail from Verak, through the channel of Kumosenkan and the CMS, around Nowa Lusatia, and finally arriving in the ports of Columbia. For the initial arrivals, as they were on near opposite sides of the city, the two factions mainly only heard rumors of the other.
"The President of Amali is here!"
"Did you hear the Heiress-Apparent of Verak has arrived?"
"The Voice of the Autarch wants to see a boxing match, my money is on the Amalians."
---
The President straightened his tie, looking to the Secretary as he prepared. He asks, "What are the odds of Ludovica being just like her father?"
The Secretary pondered the question for a moment, looking out over the city, and responding, "Fairly likely. Young, but more than likely just as hot-headed. Best to ignore her, and only deal with the diplomats if necessary."
Erotas nods in acknowledgement.
---
The Heiress-Apparent, Ludovica of House Leone, would stand, in her ship's quarters as her entourage would prepare her. The massive Varian, standing at eight and a half feet tall (not including her ears), held her arms out as her dress was fitted to her. She looked back at the accompanying diplomat, asking him in a very exasperated tone, "Why are the Yimlusians here?"
"We believe the Galran government is probing their southern interests, madam," he responds. "Who better to question than two nations not involved in land-wise Touli?"
The Varian woman rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh. "Yes, but, why? They're a democracy, why would such a state care about them?"
"Well, Madam," he begins, "The Galrans are not that keen on non-human states," he motions to the room, filled with Varians, "Our guess it is likely to see if another human state in the south would be amenable to their cause."
Ludovica turned, not to face him to talk, but because the Seamstress required her to do so to stay in the light. "So, this 'new world order' is likely a human-domination thing, then? And here my father thought it was just about Touli and Arema..."
"One can only surmise that, Heiress. Is there anything else you wish to learn about Galra, Grinvel, or Amali?"
She winces, the corset being tied a little too tight. The woman shot a glance back her Seamstress, who obliged and loosened it just a bit. "No, I believe I am set for this. It is the President who is leading the Amalian delegation?"
"Yes, Heiress."
"Good. Then I believe we are ready."
---
The two mortal enemies arrived mere seconds after the servant left for another drink for Vaught. Upon entrance, however, the tension would become more palpable, thick as the cheese in the kitchen. The two major players refused to look at one another, though the differences were quite comical with the eight-and-half foot Varian woman dwarfing the five-foot-nine-inch human man. At the very least, it wouldn't be difficult to distinguish the two major diplomats from one another.
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Post by Greywall on Jul 23, 2022 23:29:42 GMT -5
A cruel smile crept on Peake's face, "Well...isn't that just a peculiar event? Amali and Verak have arrived at the same time. Welcome to the Imperial State, I hope we all can be...professional" he looked up and down at the President and Heiress with an obvious disdain he poorly masked with hospitality. "Heiress you shall sit across the gentleman from Grinvel, Mr. President feel free to pick a seat."
He was already testing them, his instructions were clear, figure which one was a better fit for the order. Applegate didn't care who was his lance in the South, they would be a means to an end.
Once the Verak and Amali representatives took their seats they would be offered drinks as well, Peake made his way to the head of the table and slowly sat down with a glass placed before him just as he finished positioning himself. The man drank milk, taking small sips until his guests were ready to proceed.
----
Vaught showed disdain to the other guests, a non-human and a republic leader. They were both walking and talking abominations of the Reich. He minded his drink and kept his hateful gaze forward until the Heiress took her seat, he kept his gaze on her finding her to be revolting, how could Galra the beacon of human supremacy allow such a creature into its holiest city.
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Post by malloc on Jul 26, 2022 20:22:05 GMT -5
President Erotas took his seat closer towards the head of the table with his entourage taking a seat just off behind him, near the wall with the diplomats of the other nations. He paid no mind to the rather sharp tone in Peake's voice, opting a friendlier gesture and a measure of reserved thanks. Amali, too, would be here to gauge the potential boon of the Sovereign Union to her own interests; would it be worth the potential imbalance the world's flow of trade by picking a side, or were the Galrans blowing hot air as they usually were?
Their turn away from democracy was a marked change in how Amali viewed Galra, having once seen them as the warriors of the north to stand against the tyrannies of the monarchs, and forced more open relations with Lusatia-Jzegrad and the United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia. Amali felt no threat towards their human-supremacist propaganda, and the banking systems quite enjoyed the lackadaisical nature of Galra's purse for loans. Most of the population's hesitance to throw their lot with Galra was their authoritarian nature; opposing the common idea of freedom that the people enjoyed. However, against Kumosenkan and Verak, another major power that was stable would prove most valuable.
All planners knew that a more advanced navy, and access to such technology, would tip the balance in favor of Amali, and trigger Kumosenkan to build up more arms; but all empires reach their limit, how far would Kumosenkan be willing to go? Reports from Elenrian refugees indicated degrading social and economic life, and when bread isn't promised, violence is. Against a potential two front war, the Kumo's navy would find no solace and its empire crumble as the bloated beast would collapse in on itself from the pressures.
The problem became Verak in such an instance.
Despite the three's... Cautious-to-absolute-hatred of one another, each one was keeping the other in check. A war breaking out between any two parties would mean the third could take well advantage of the situations. Building up a more advanced land force to bleed the Varians dryer than Amali could currently was, as well, an alluring prospect; the potential to thrust a spear and finally end the beasts of Karovi was even greater.
---
Contrary to popular belief, Verak was well aware of Galra's stance towards non-humans. This meeting was more of necessity than practicality, as Verak knew the world was changing. Interests abroad were becoming more and more... Underthreat. Changes on their borders also meant new opportunities arose, and going it alone would be suicide.
The desires of the Emperor to reconnect with the bug peoples over land meant that significant pressure would be required on the newly created Dirian Federation; something that would be easy to do against such a fledgling democracy flailing about like a newborn. The main problems came from Yimlusia and Nevarra; Nevarra's protection of Diria would mean that any war would bring in the Yimlusians. A multi-front war like that had too many variables at play; not to mention that Varians would have to throw themselves either into the Great Granuras Desert, or against the wall of gunfire the Amalians had been building since the turn of the century of which neither was an alluring prospect. The arms race between Yimlusia and Verak had spurred on more than enough technological developments in air power and firearms, but having access to more potential minds was best.
The Heiress straightened her dress as she sat on the chair, very much acute to everyone staring at her. In a room full of humans, she was the only non-human aside from her diplomats. She stayed her tongue, for the most part, thanking the waiter for bringing her a glass of water. She opted to not say anything at the look he gave her, taking a slow, long drink of water. She noticed the Grinvel ambassador eying her, looking him dead in the eye for a few seconds before looking back to the Voice of the Autarch in anticipation of what he would say.
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Post by Greywall on Jul 26, 2022 22:17:21 GMT -5
"Well then, we're all here. Let's start." Peake's voice dropped the fake pleasantries giving a more assertive tone. "Everyone in this room, under certain conditions, understands why we're here, the world is changing. It's changing fast and it's becoming clear to each of us that individual effort will no longer be enough."
Peake pushed his chair out and began walking around the table, "It was with the Autarch's wisdom that we assembled you few, it is your nations that he feels will guide us all to a better future. Because if we wait and let the status quo continue, well the world will descend into chaos. Wars without end, famine, economic depression, empires being dismantled into smaller states that just kill one another for centuries. The free market and free world hasn't done us favors, Touli is the beginning. War will come to the main continent, Kumosenkan wants to devour the CMS and with it the last threads of whatever peace we've enjoyed is gone. But if we band together and form a new union, we can bring order before the chaos."
Peake snapped his fingers as two staff members brought a rolled map of Ouhiri and rolled it out for the guests to see, on it were Galra, Verak, Amali and Grinvel in highlighted areas of the world. "This is the world we deserve, Galra rules the Northwestern region and Touli. Verak and Amali rule the South while Grinvel rules the Northeastern region. A perfect balanced world, one where there is no more war, no famine, no chaos. Peace eternal. And restoration of broken rights."
The map showed Verak ruling everything East of Amali, Amali ruling the Greek nations but nothing more, Grinvel ruled Roskana, Marrlan and half of Seleucidina, Galra had the largest gains their claims ruling from Koi to Ulster-Gaelia and Touli.
Vaught chimed in, "Why is Galra's gain so much more?" Peake glared at the Grinveilian "It will be Galra lifting your nations and doing most of the work needed my friend, once we agree to this Union and its goals of administration. Galra will share its technological supremacy with you all, and with our combined economies we can make this dream a reality."
Peake made his way to his seat, "To do this, we need to strike where the world functions in its meager best, we need to squeeze the market as a combined economy. Once we control the markets, we control nations outside our Union. And once that's done, we force them into trade pacts that use a currency of our making, they use our banks and give us control of their trade. Once that's done any nation gets out of line, we pull their financial support. It'll be a bloodless takeover, but one that will save Ouhiri from a future of chaotic warfare."
Vaught nodded, this was good, Grinvel would benefit greatly from Galra's support alone but Verak and Amali would guarantee it to seize its destiny to rule the Northeast. "This is an ambitious idea, but Grinvel's Reich supports it."
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Post by malloc on Aug 29, 2022 21:36:04 GMT -5
The Amalian President was no stranger to the maps drawn as it was a worst case scenario: Verak on two major, large borders that wasn't pushed back to the Southern River. The southern border would become a hot spot for tension, as the fewer encampments there due to currently-friendly relations with Pomazanikki meant such fortification efforts were largely elsewhere along its northern sliver with Verak. But this wasn't about fair and just borders, no; fair and just borders would mean either Amali or Verak would be subsumed into the other to create a lasting peace. There was no other option.
Nary, this would provoke further war, and Amali would be isolated as the sole democratic power left in the world to fend against three empires. The eagerness of Grinvel to annex Marrlan and Roskana meant that their occupations would be met with stiff resistance post-conquest, leading to protracted guerrilla warfare in urban and mountainous terrain, respectively that would ultimately sap Grinvel of offensive strength for generations to come, if they even managed to quell formal and organized resistance. Verak's control over Pomaz, control over the Mestrian-Kumosenkan straits, and control over Diria would mean their entire attention could focus East.
However, most keenly aware to the President, and to the Princess, was the noticeable zones of control over Koi; or rather, the obvious lack of any representation beyond Galra in the Koian Crater. Galra and Grinvel were too close together, and would likely continue their partnership they had at the moment until one or the other felt they had the upperhand. Verak could rely on the massive oil reserves in Diria and coal in the post-war CMS, or rather its supposed-Mestrian puppet. Amali would have Nevarran sand and Eastern Granhuran rubber; fairly little to wage a proper war in the modern era. Amali would be starved, and then ultimately crushed.
This wouldn't be a peace, this would be a death sentence.
The President looked briefly back to his entourage, feeling cold eyes fall on him as he turned to quickly look at the Princess of Verak who was staring straight at him. Not one for subtlety, he supposed.
--
The Veraki Princess looked at the map, eying the territorial gains. Her father would die before such a peace could be properly in place, but with it her own legacy would be cemented as the Empress of Southern Granuras and the reclamation of the title. A truly worthy project for her own long reign.
However, the occupation of Koi became a pressing concern. Verak was relatively stable as is, focusing on an array of power sources rather than just Staol. Though, it was still a major portion of the Empire's share, it wasn't nearly as large as most of the other nations. Her ears wiggled, as they do in times of anxiety, as she thought on how fast she could convert her country's industry to new power sources before they could be shut down. There was no telling how long Galra would maintain Staol shipments to a nation they deemed "inferior", so work would need to be done quick, and start as soon as victory seemed assured.
The sight of Amali, though, instilled in her a mix of anguish and manic giddiness. The "Great" Nation of Yima, alone and isolated, at the mercy of Korovi's seat. She had to assume Amali knew what it meant, too, given that the balance of power would be too much in the Veraki's favor post-war. She looked at the Yimlusian President, awaiting to see what he would say to get out of this.
--
The President of Amali took a few seconds to think on his words. The deal was a no-brainer no; this would be a poor excuse for a deal.
"While this is all fine and dandy, Voice," the President begins, "I fear there comes one small problem: the continued flow of Staol for all four nations. I believe you can understand my qualms, and if the other two nations wish to examine more closely, Galra is in sole control of the Staol, putting us at the mercy of a power who has, now, proven desire to shape the world in its image. Koi's very independence assures that Staol flows freely to all nations, regardless of war or hostilities. Should Galra decide it doesn't like Amali, Verak," he looks to the Princess, "Or Grinvel," he looks to Vaught, "he could immediately put the nation under siege by shutting off Staol shipments. What guarantees do we have that you will maintain such neutrality as Koi does? Or are you willing to walk back such claims and allow a version of Koi to exist and keep Staol moving freely, or zones of occupation?"
The Princess thought on his words carefully - or at least, pretended to do so. She merely was hoping Amali would walk from this deal.
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Post by Greywall on Aug 30, 2022 20:52:21 GMT -5
Peake grinned, "Our occupation of Koi is to prevent further aggression in the new world, it is our goal to preserve peace and stability. Galra possesses the military, the infrastructure and ideal location to properly distribute the Stoal. Any objection, well is clearly because of post operation ambitions." Peake glared at the Amali president before shifting his eyes to the Verak Princess.
Vaught remained quiet having already made up his mind.
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Post by malloc on Aug 30, 2022 22:50:23 GMT -5
"And yet Grinvel will need a hefty supply on their own to rebuild the occupied territories of Marrlan and Roskana, no?" The President asked, shifting his attention to Vaught. "A deal that would leave Grinvel at a significant disadvantage monetarily or materially given the Herculean task of rebuilding two entire subsumed nations. Or Verak, who will have to contend with the proud people of Kumosenkan and Pomazanniki constantly rebelling against them. Reconstruction," he stared right at the Princess, "and dare I say, colonization, will be extraordinarily costly." The President turned back to Peake, stating, "And what guarantees will there be in a post-war world that Staol continues to flow to the rest of us? You could shut us all off and take our nations one by one. Start with Grinvel, the nation with the massive populations that will be constantly revolting and playing guerilla? Push into Verak hoping Amali will turn a blind eye in the hope to remain economically afloat while the Dirians, Pomazanikki, and Kumosenkans drain the Empire of her resources? Reach across the Granuras Desert in the hopes that Amali will concede quickly to save its investors and allow our industries to run dry as the fuel runs low?" "Gentlemen, and lady," the President would continue, "Galra's proposal only buys you a few years of peace before you, too, will be facing down the barrel of their guns, tanks, and planes... And you'll be too weak to stop them with this careful division of making sure you possess large quantities of nationals who would rather have your head on a pike than on their currency, while they primarily secure the overseas colonies and may find new resources to make the next war that much faster. Your economies are not prepared for such a war of attrition. By agreeing here and now, you will have perished before the next war starts."
The President would stand, saying, "I'm afraid there isn't a world order here that Amali can be sold on, Voice. If this is all Amali has been called here for, we shall take our leave. Mayhaps in a previous life, Galra and Amali could have been bastions standing together for what is truly right. We appreciate the time and consideration, however."
With that, he would signal his entourage to leave with him, most of them now noticeably having a light amount of papers and notebooks for the meeting in comparison to other individuals.
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Post by Greywall on Sept 2, 2022 20:23:26 GMT -5
Peake would chuckle, "Well, that answers the question the Autarch has been having, Amali or Verak. Well Princess, how about it? Do you want to stand over that man and his broken nation? To avenge the empire once and for all? Or continue to remain in mediocrity until the inevitable comes, they outgrow you economically and leave you broken."
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Post by Greywall on Oct 11, 2022 19:25:46 GMT -5
Princess Ludovica rapped her knuckles on the table and nodded, Peake turned to Vaught who simply said "The Reich is in." Peake grinned, "Very well, let's start the process then." After several hours of hashing out details, Galra, Grinvel and Verak had come to a set of agreements and a formal treatied alliance that would form the Sovereign Union. All signatories would align themselves economically and militarily to one another, an attack on one was an attack on all. Galra would begin 'uplifting' the Verak and Grinvel militaries to SU standards. An absolute unanimous vote must be had to add members but founder states of the SU hold more votes than added ones. SU headquarters shall be in the Galra city of Columbia and meetings among approved officials shall be held quarterly.
 Sovereign Union of Ouhiri ---
After the meeting concluded, Ouhiri's newest alliance bloc was now its most powerful, Peake remained in the meeting room now alone and in the quiet until the distant sound of footsteps approaching him broke the eerie silence. "You did well Peake, our lord god surely made you a man worthy of his tongue." Autarch Applegate entered the room, he had been watching from afar and showed that he approved the outcome. "We didn't get Amali your holiness, a blow to be sure, their coffers would have made the advancement of technology far faster." The Autarch shook his head, "Amali was never going to join, I had them come to invoke the Princess and push Verak into overlooking our differences. With Verak and Grinvel the first step in our plan is in motion." Peake smiled, it was a complete victory then after all.
Applegate turned to exit the room, "Once the Staol railroad is complete, nothing will be able to stop our Union from slowly squeezing the world into submission." Peake spoke without expecting a response, "and if they resist?" Peake looked up to see the Autarch staring at him from the shadows of the room, his eyes illuminated by the light staring at him, "We purge them. As the lord intended."
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