Achkaerin supports Kusan's application

By Roisin Shaughnessy: Chief Correspondent

Empress Serenity has responded to accusations levelled by the Government of Kusan against the nation, in a statement given under article seven of the Constitution she gave the following remarks:

"Mr Speaker I thank you for permitting me to make this statement, I promise not to take up too much of the Senate's time but I do believe it important that when accusations are made, especially when they are false, that they are robustly responded to. Let's start with the obvious General Kakashi Fuji is not an idiot he is one of if not the most experienced battlefield military commander on Mundus, any nation's military would be fortunate to have someone of his skill, professionalism and experience in their ranks and there are those that do. The chairwoman has called the deployment of Kusan forces basic steps to securing the security of its borders noting the turmoil that Kalasin is in. This may shock her but I agree with her in that respect, every nation on Mundus has the right to defend itself so when the Chairwoman says that the PDRK is reinforcing their borders because they perceive a spill over of said turmoil, I'm going to assume there's truth to that statement, I'm not sat in their meetings, I'm not in their chain of command, I don't determine their policy, I don't determine their doctrine. However by the same token of nations having the right to defend themselves when General Fuji sees a deployment of forces across the border he has to react to it because he is charged currently with the defence of Kalasin territory, if the Chairwoman and her leadership can perceive the situation in Kalasin as potentially spilling over then a seasoned military commander can certainly perceive a troop deployment across the border as potentially threatening, potentially aggressive and considering the rhetoric that went before from all sides concerned potentially if not probably provocative and escalating. Perception may not be truth but perception is what preparation and action is based on. Whether I like it or not the chairwoman has deployed troops, whether she likes it or not I agree with General Fuji deploying troops to mirror the Kusan positions it is a reasonable response. General Fuji is correct to imply that the reallocation of troops in this manner does take resources away from current operations which are counter terrorist focused - these are operations which are intended to prevent the very thing that she and her government are concerned about.

Now let me turn briefly to what I will politely refer to as the ill informed comments regarding Achkaerin's relationship with Rokkenjima. The Achkaerinese presence in Rokkenjima is limited to personnel who currently have responsibility for the safety of the Imperial family and before someone says it yes the Viceregent is Achkaerinese. That presence operates independently of influence from Valtheim, the Viceregent is not accountable to our Senate in the way of being a member of the Noble Moot would make him, that responsibility was deferred upon his appointment as Viceregent and will remain so until he no longer holds a position in the Rokkenjiman Government but as this point no one other than him can tell us when that may be. The Chairwoman stated 'the Achkaerinese an opportunity to impart upon the Rokkenjimans the importance of disavowing the actions of the Federal Republic instead of embracing them and whitewashing them from their history books.' Mr Speaker let's be clear this is an outright lie. I don't doubt that Rokkenjima hasn't disavowed the actions of the Federal Republic however I know very well that we have strongly recommended it on several occasions, I encourage both the Chairwoman and the Empress of Rokkenjima to read the Covenant Address of 2006 where my father, and the father of the then Empress though she didn't know it, strongly recommended such a disavowing. The Chairwoman may also be interested to know that the very man she has called an idiot was involved in the planning stages of the Anselmo restoration and made clear exactly the same thing. I don't know why Rokkenjima didn't pay heed to that but I do know that the matter was raised and here I am raising it again.

In the next few days I will be meeting with President Kaikaew where I expect most of the conversation to be about the post war situation in his country and what assistance Achkaerin may be able to provide. Kusan has the opportunity to form part of that but it must recognise that if they desire a minimising or complete removal of the coalition force in Kalasin, which based on the rhetoric appears to be the case, then creating perceptions which increase the timescale is not helpful to anyone. I suggest the chairwoman apologise to General Fuji, I suggest she downscale that military deployment and I suggest that she let the coalition forces do their jobs."

By Olivia Moore: International Affairs Correspondent

As tensions around the northern side of the Matilda Channels, General Fuji (pictured above) the commanding officer of Achkaerinese forces in Kalasin has spoken about the situation saying:

"It's absolutely pointless amount of sabre rattling that is not going to achieve anything except the opposite of the expressed intent. The Kusan government will be aware of the terms under which Kalasin surrendered to the coalition forces, specifically that the Kalasin military largely a separatist militia engaging in terrorism was disarmed, therefore when Kusan mobilises a military force to the border how is that to be read? It is a needless escalation, it has to be read as a provocation and it has to be read as Kusan threatening Kalasin, that's why we're now forced to mirror that Kusan deployment because our duty is to protect the Kalasin people, we're engaged in making sure that the terms of the surrender that lay out the path forward are met and once they are met then the coalition is under those terms withdrawing its forces, that's all public information that the Kusan Government has access to and I would also remind the Kusan Government that the Achkaerinese military conducts its operations to treaty provision. Coalition forces will not be in Kalasin a moment longer than the governing authority, which defers to whomever is elected in February, likes. If Kusan wants to see that withdrawal happen sooner rather than later then quite simply they need to stop giving the governing authority reasons to ask us to stay - mobilising military units, missile tests, and now an air force scramble following apparently a drone incursion, these are all part of provocative snowball surrounding this and it all amounts to reasons why we'd be possibly asked to stay. Dangerous rhetoric and dangerous actions will not see a resolution here and they certainly won't take our eyes off what our responsibilities are. If the Kusan government thinks that putting military forces on a border with a nation that has no substantive military of its own isn't a provocative or threatening act then they are welcome to consult any one of the many military commanders across Mundus who will tell them that it can be interpreted in that manner, we as the forces presently responsible for the territorial integrity of Kalasin must perceive it as a threat and act accordingly this is why Achkaerinese military units have been deployed to mirror the Kusan units positions. I suggest Kusan begin to deescalate this situation by standing down those units, remove the perception and let us do our jobs, because the sooner those jobs are done and the better the circumstances the sooner the coalition forces are not in country."
 

Welcome. As Daito has said if you’ve got any questions or need help, do ask there’s usually a couple of us around to help answer. Looking forward to seeing you in the RP

Valen 2-0 Nya Aland
Abertone 2-1 Medusalin
Achkaerin 1-2 Mktvartvelo
Rokkenjima 4-2 Ui Cenneslaig

Doctor Donna Steele had to crack a smile at Marcus's words the two of them had been there ten years earlier in Avalon at the first meeting of the scholars and now here they were for the latest, it wasn't just Donna present for Achkaerin Melanie Bell was also there.

"It's hard to believe it's ten years since the first time did this." Donna said "When this organisation was created the criteria for admission of sites was also determined one of which is that the site must have significance beyond its own borders to quote the treaty 'sites which are of interest to more than one nation'. When I look at this application that aspect is wafer thin. I think our Daitojin colleague should explain how this site has significance in other nations, yes it's a war memorial, yes it commemorates a horrific act that is historical but then again by that argument one could say that the village of Halsteads in Seaforth is equally as deserving of this status. I don't think the presence of names alone does enough. So as I've said I'd like our Daitojin colleague to elaborate on how this site has significance in other nations."

Achkaerin 5-0 Valen
Mktvartvelo 1-3 Theocracy of Kaitaine
Abertone 2-2 Rokkenjima (AET FT 1-1 Rokk win 3-2 on pens)
Tytor 1-2 Lodja

New Map:



Removals

The following nations have been removed:

• NQF
• Ezithea
• Kishon
• Democracy

Additions

The following nations have been added:

• Medusalin
• Valen
• Eboracum
• AUS
• Quintelia

The next map update will be the annual map purge

Abertone 2-1 Floodwater
Valen 2-2 Medusalin (AET, FT 1-1, Valen win 3-2 on penalties)
Daito 3-0 East Moreland
Lodja 1-0 Themyscira
Nya Aland 3-1 Neu Uburzis
Tytor 2-0 Reenberg
Weibenwald 0-2 Rokkenjima
Achkaerin 3-1 Mktvartvelo

Achkaerin supports the application of Gusano

The problem Emerson had was that it was somewhat suspicious that Alex didn't know there was something going on after all one, very much ill advised, press release in the previous seventy two hours had called all of Mundus's attention to the fact that not all was well at the heart of Rokkenjima. That said the odds of Alex being in any way involved in whatever they were up against was slim wasn't it? Well logically at least. "She's safe." Emerson said "But you know there are things that government officials can't say and this is one of those times. It's also the case that neither myself or Evanthe have the full picture, to get that I suggest you talk to Charlotte's favourite 'aunty' she can probably tell you what we can't and if she can't then she certainly has the means to point you to who can."

---

Rion raised an eyebrow at Kado "I'll let you know what we get off the laptop. The last thing I expect the IHC to do is anything to attract attention especially now that they've been alerted and we've been put on the defensive." she said "Getting the upper hand back isn't so easy when you lose the stealth advantage. We'll watch and wait and with a bit of luck we'll get something to go off. The stakes just got raised and we're going to have to call or raise soon. But best not to do that without all the cards and players. However it's not like we're completely out of options, how do you feel about ruses?"

---

The reason Rion was good at her job was that she had a true understanding of the maxim 'see the whole board' she'd known that to remove Kyoko from the line of succession in Rokkenjima was a bold move, a risky one and yet clearly one that had a reason it did do many things - it was a step towards isolating the Empress, it removed an experienced figure from the equation. But the question that hung over it was why? What leverage did these conspirators have over Kyoko to force her to take such a step? Well this was where Mei came in, fresh off the heels of the annual Ambassadors forum in Valtheim, she was the newly appointed ambassador to Rokkenjima - a move that had been expected based on her having grown up as Kyoko's sister. Now though Mei found herself walking into what was politely put 'Kyoko's house' - Rishiri. As an ambassador the cloak and dagger shenanigans of Achkaerinese intelligence were not matters she usually found herself involved in, however her relationship with Kyoko was thought a suitable enough cover to ask the question and while people in the intelligence community may have been pulling their metaphorical hair out over the press release it did help, even if it helped far less than it hindered.

Knocking on the door she waited to be shown in, when she was she smiled "You don't call, you don't write, what did you go off into space and not tell anyone or hibernate or something?" Mei said cracking the joke before sighing as they sat down "Ok serious question and then we can do whatever. What does Groves have on you that forced you out?"

---

"And who do you think taught your mother how to make those lunches?" Serenity's voice carried into the room from the kitchen, Michelle had opened the door just before Asuna had spoken so the sound had carried "In case you're wondering that would be your grandfather."
"That'll mean she's making lunch then." Michelle said heading out of the room and straight down to the kitchen, a few moments later Gemma walked in carrying a tray laid with food and drink, putting it on the table she closed the door and sat down to eat with Asuna. In the kitchen Michelle was splashing some water on her face, trying to think about everything she'd heard.
"That bad?" Serenity asked
"Somewhat." Michelle said "I think I know what the problem is but the root cause is a whole other ball game."
"Think you can help?" Serenity asked
"Yeah." Michelle said quietly as Gemma came back with an empty tray "Just got to figure out who I'm talking to, a girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders worrying about moral quandaries or this almost frightening persona spoiling for a fight."
"That's her Freya mask." Gemma whispered prompting an eyeroll from both Serenity and Michelle. "The moral quandaries girl is Asuna, the rest is her rather poor poker face."

After lunch it was time for a stroll in the garden, it wasn't a huge patch of greenery like in various palace grounds but it was decent, there was a small bit of decking, stone steps down to a swimming pool, a well kept amount of grass where Serenity's daughters were kicking a soccer ball around and then a very small orchard which was self contained within the grounds and from where you could look out at the lake and the small island, the latter was also part of the property. It was the orchard where Michelle and Asuna found themselves.
"We normally don't show this." Michelle said taking what looked like a leather wallet out of her pocket and opening it inside Asuna could see Michelle's ID but also behind where the badge was there was a picture "It's called a heaven and hell picture, they're used to show the contrast between good and evil, light and dark etc." she took a breath "They mean different things to different people, to some they can be about redemption, to others the consequences of sin. But to the Justicar, and we all have one, they remind us of why we're called the Angels and Demons of Achkaerin, most of the time we're the angels we're the protectors, the shield but we also know there are times we need to step into the shadows time's we must do that which we cannot speak of and what we will likely never be forgiven for. We don't go eagerly into the dark, but we go willingly because we know it must be done, you wondered earlier about when we become evil, if you want to be arbitrary about it there are people right now on your side who have done that which would be considered evil, the key difference between them and you is their preparation, their training and that's true in the most basic of tasks you find yourself dealing with all those moral quandaries are largely created by the pressure and stress you feel because you've never been there you've not been prepared for it."

Taking a moment to look out at the lake Michelle smiled a little "I'll tell you a story from history to see if it makes more sense, the Achkaerinese civil war in the late 1600's early 1700's is known for a great many things most famously it's remembered for how it ended, sword on sword single combat between Djana Azurewind the future Empress and Caleb Elsif, eldest son of the traitor house but also consider this Caleb was the father of Djana's son, he was the man she loved, inside the great arena in Valtheim she cut him down and ended the war, she robbed her own son of a father and herself of a likely husband but that death saved thousands that would have died in pitched battle. Now the thing that sometimes gets forgotten is that Djana is the one who threw the gauntlet at the feet of Caleb's father and that he refused to pick it up so Caleb did. You see the catch twenty two? It's what's called the bad call situation, or to use the popular culture reference it's the Kobayashi Maru, there was no victory for Djana but she made her choice. I appreciate you're not in school anymore but a little homework for you, think about what that means." taking a breath she thought for a moment, which also gave Asuna the opportunity to absorb what she'd said

Putting her warrant card away Michelle looked at Asuna "There's a bit of folklore in Achkaerin, it goes like this 'The Empire will not fall while the brave raven watches over the Fox.' it's about the ravens that live in the Temple of the Brave but the funny thing about folklore is that it can take on new meaning as Justicars we all have callsigns mine's 'Shuffle' and my boss's is 'Raven' can you probably guess why she chose it." she said putting her hands on Asuna's shoulders and pivoting the Empress so she was looking at where Gemma was doing juggling tricks with a soccer ball, much to the amusement of Astrid and Lisa, "Gemma's is Karasu I think you know what that translates to, wonder why she chose that? What if we change the story? 'The Empire will not fall while the brave raven flies in the starry sky.'  The old saying is a problem shared is a problem halved, Gemma's not just charged with your physical safety, she's charged with the protection of your immortal soul that's your mental and spiritual sides, that's what your Grand Maester says, she's your companion soul so perhaps it's time you let her in and stop treating her with contempt."

Michelle still had her hands on Asuna's shoulders as he nodded to Serenity who walked over "Now as for your moral quandaries, you spoke about obliterating a lot of people because they'd done harm but..."
"Much like your mother you couldn't see the whole board." Serenity said "I can't tell you no one would have died if you'd fired those missiles but I can tell you the death count wouldn't have been anywhere near what you're imagining, because I know that the moment those missiles were seen they'd have been intercepted why do you think I had a Specula class and the Northwind there? Could it be because I knew my niece was a first time commander in chief with no prior experience of anything like it?" she glanced at Michelle "No win scenario's?"
"We've talked about them." Michelle said
"Good." Serenity said giggling slightly before handing Asuna what looked like a diary "My great grandfather's diary from the late great war years of his reign... in short more homework." she sighed "I'm the world's biggest critic of your mother but I had her back when push came to shove and I'll have yours the same, but don't expect me to pull punches I'll tell you straight up what I think whether it be good or bad. "

"Now normally I'd say homework time and there's a lovely table over there in the fresh air for it." Michelle said she gently pushed Asuna past Serenity toward Gemma "But first I think there's someone you need to talk to."

Group A

Kalasin 0-2 Medusalin
Lodja 1-1 Jugland

Group B

Reenberg 1-3 Floodwater
Ui Cenneslaig 0-1 Theocracy of Kaitaine

Group C

Achkaerin 2-1 Rokkenjima
Daito 1-0 Semelberg

Group D

Abertone 2-1 Mktvartvelo
Tytor 0-2 Nya Aland

Final Blind Womens Group Standings

Womens Blind Football Quarter Final Draw

Medusalin v Nya Aland
Achkaerin v Floodwater
Theocracy of Kaitaine v Daito
Abertone v Themyscira

Group C

Kalasin 2-1 Cantabria
Mktvartvelo 0-0 Theocracy of Kaitaine
Semelberg 1-0 Jugland

Group D

Rokkenjima 2-2 Tytor
Reenberg 1-1 Lodja
Weibenwald 0-0 Asadal

Final Womens Group Standings

Womens Last Sixteen Draw

Achkaerin v Kalasin
Valen v Semelberg
Medusalin v Mktvartvelo
Theocracy of Kaitaine v Ui Cenneslaig
Abertone v Reenberg
Rokkenjima v Neu Uburzis
Daito v Tytor
Lodja v Nya Aland

Group A

Ui Cenneslaig 1-1 Medusalin
Floodwater 0-3 Achkaerin
East Moreland 1-2 Valen

Group B

Neu Uburzis 1-2 Nya Aland
Kaitaine 0-1 Abertone
Daito 2-0 Themyscira

Current Womens Group Standings

Group C

Medusalin 2-2 East Moreland
Kalasin 0-2 Lodja
Asadal 0-0 Floodwater

Group D

Neu Uburzis 4-0 Semelberg
Ui Cenneslaig 1-4 Achkaerin
Rokkenjima 2-1 Tytor

Final Mens Group Standings

Mens Last Sixteen Draw

Abertone v Floodwater
Valen v Medusalin
Daito v East Moreland
Lodja v Themyscira
Nya Aland v Neu Uburzis
Tytor v Reenberg
Weibenwald v Rokkenjima
Achkaerin v Mktvartvelo