Friends, Despite the History (Franerre-Lusatia Diplomacy)

[alxeu]

Stefan Kaminski was too busy a man to go home even this late at night. Stuck handling news regarding affairs all across the continent, the recent flurry of activity across the world meant he was stuck aiding his subordinates in preparing cabinet briefs. It was, therefore, to his relief that the Franerri Ambassador called him, sure that the late night call had something to do with negotiations in Noscovo regarding the conclusion of the conflict in Touli. Janos probably just wanted to revise arm shipment numbers, maybe even purchase another round of aircraft for future use.

Answering the phone, Kaminski greeted Janos, "Good evening Ambassador Janos, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

[callmedelta]

"Good news from Pareau," Mattieu lied, "The National Chamber is still waiting on the exact terms of the deal, but we're potentially willing to lease you two ports and military bases in Franerre. One in the eastern city of Desterque, and one in the western city of Elenerre. I can go right over to the Foreign Ministry and discuss terms in person right now." It was a risk, selling it like this, but knowing how dire straits Franerre was in would sour any chance of getting a good deal, and put Franerre so far in Lusatia's debt it might never get out. That was a price Mattieu, and he suspected the National Chamber, wasn't willing to pay easily.

[alxeu]

The Foreign Minister scratched his head. Surely Janos knew now was a horrible time, with most of the cabinet adjourned and already home for the night. Wouldn't it have been better to talk about something this major in the morning?

"Is that so?' Kaminski responded, trying hard not to sound too surprised. "You can head over to my office, if you insist on hammering this out tonight."

[callmedelta]

"It's a plan then," Janos said, hanging up the phone. He closed his suitcase and snatched his coat from the hanger, heading for the Embassy's garage.

~

Esrellia 13th, 3:38 p.m. Pareau, Franerre/10:38 p.m. Kazimierzgrad, The United Kingdoms of Lusatia and Jzegrad

Ambassador Janos stepped outside the parked car, walking towards the Foreign Ministry building with confidence and purpose in his steps. At the very least he had the latter in spades, if not the former. But appearances were important when selling a lie. Matthieu just hoped this gamble would pay off.

[alxeu]

A handful of tired-looking staffers welcomed Ambassador Janos to the the Foreign Ministry and led him to Foreign Minister Kaminski's office.

As Matthieu was led inside, he would notice the Foreign Minister looking over a map of Franerre, with the cities of Elenerre and Desterque circled and hasty distance and travel time calculations scrawled on, as well.

Kaminski welcomed Janos, saying, "Good evening, Ambassador. One of my aides got me a map indicating the cities you mentioned in your phone call. I can happily confirm Desterque is about where we'd want a base, but Elenerre is more poorly situated as a location. It's simply so far into Bromsoll Bay that it lacks strategic utility against anyone but Elenria and their Kumosenkan overlords, which would limit the operations any fleet based there can undertake. Is there any particular strategic benefit to Elenerre in particular as a base, or is there perhaps another eastern port your government is willing to lease instead?"

[callmedelta]

Janos felt just as tired as those staffers did, though he certainly didn't show it. "That's understandable at first glance," Matthieu said, "But I think a port and naval base far away would have it's uses. If the Galrans were to initiate a first strike from their Toulian territory, a base right on Galra's border would be the natural target for a first strike. One on the other side of the country would be, for all intents and purposes, immune to such a first strike. A base that far east would also allow anything the Lusatian government might want to keep in-country but under wraps, whereas a base closer to Galra would be more vulnerable to spying." He paused for a moment, before adding, "And to mention the spider in the room, I'm sure the Gaelians would appreciate another set of eyes on Kumosenkan, and this is the physically closest either of you are going to get without sailing the Gaelian fleet back to Hawaii."

[alxeu]

Kaminski sighed, "Such concerns are worth considering, yes. Your point regarding the Galran issue is a stronger concern for our government than Kumosenkan's maneuverings. Despite how our Gaelian friends feel about their nation, Lusatia can ill-afford making an enemy of them. Galra's already a threat to our existence; unnecessarily risking our overseas possessions to the fleets that vanquished Ulster-Gaelia is folly. As long as they don't move further against our allies and interests, our current mutual not-interest is preferred."

"Still," Kaminski continued, "If you vouch for the location and facilities of Elenerre, it ought to do just as well as any other city in the Bay. What does Franerre want for them?" 

[callmedelta]

Matthieu just barely managed to keep from smiling. "Looking over your initial offer, the only thing the National Chamber found unpalatable was the length of the lease," Matthieu explained, "We were hoping for a shorter lease with the opportunity for renewals, and for it we would be willing to accept a reduction in the discount on military equipment, say a five-year lease for a 30 percent discount on any military imports."

[alxeu]

Kaminski frowned, "Five years is shorter than we'd be willing to agree to as a minimum. By the time we have set up the bases to our standards, we'd be looking at three full years of stationing in those locations and a final year of withdrawing once more if you opt not to renew our agreement."

"Lusatia would prefer a 10 year minimum lease. If at the end of the initial ten year term either Lusatia, Franerre, or, as is most likely in such a scenario, both nations, are in conflict, a five year renewal is to be automatically flexed at half whatever leasing price we agree to tonight. Further terms for whatever length and price is mutually agreeable will be negotiated at future dates. Lusatia would be willing to offer up to a 45% arms import cost reduction as incentive beyond whatever lump sum is agreed upon, in this scenario, which will last as long as the lease is in force."

[callmedelta]

Matthieu pretended to think the offer over. In reality, the Lusatians had a damn good point, and he was already risking so much by not revealing the full truth. "If you're not willing to go less than ten, I think that's just about the best deal the National Chamber will get," the Ambassador said. "As far as a price on the lease..." Matthieu dug through the papers in his suitcase for some relevant figures, and after some quick math came up with a figure. "3 million Złoty annually? Since most of that will likely be going back into the Lusatian economy in the form of arms imports, I doubt you'd see that much of a sustained cash loss, and this would avoid the issue of arms imports pumping silver into Lusatia's economy."

[alxeu]

Kaminski was satisfied with the offer, "3 million Zloty annually is perfectly acceptable. Send a telegraph back to your nation regarding the details to ensure they are satisfied, and we can sign an agreement before the end of the workday tomorrow. I have no concerns over getting the agreement ratified through the Cabinet."

[callmedelta]

Discounting the travel time of over a day in total back and forth over the telegram wires, it took a week to hear back from Pareau. At the very least, it was good news: the deal was approved on Pareau's end without any sort of modification, and Lusatian troops could head out as soon as possible.

[alxeu]

The Lusatian Defense Ministry, taking over plans for moving troops, confirmed that the first regiments would be sent within 3 months, depending on how long it took to find the right units to select and bureaucratically reassign the units.

However, army engineers and some officers would be sent ahead of time to plan out modifications to the leased ports and future base locations, so that construction could begin before troops arrived.

[callmedelta]

'Three months?' Janos thought. Franerre may very well not exist as a nation in three months! Matthieu sent a response to the Lusatian Defense Ministry stating that, while perhaps not up to the Lusatian standards, that Franerre's ports were used to host the Franerri Navy, and would most likely be able to host Lusatian ships.

[alxeu]

The Lusatian government confirmed that a fleet would head to Franerre, leaving the mainland, travelling first to Nowa Lusatia, and then to Franerre, led by the Battlecruiser LNS Vitava. This would be the main fleet until the ports were evaluated as acceptable for larger battleships and/or aircraft carriers.