President Vaclav Kravec hadn't planned to attend these talks in person. His original plan had been to send Markus Bathory to represent the Republic of Slava Lavosk and treat with the Heads of State of the major powers...including King David of East Moreland, Emperor Peter of Achkaerin and Empress Beatrice of Rokkenjima. There, with the leaders of the original powers conveniently in once place...to nuke the city and cripple his rivals by decapitating the leadership. Ah...another brilliant plan that no one would ever realize was a coin flip away from altering Mundus for all time. Kravec had decided that that was ultimately not in the best interests of Slava Lavosk...long term. So, at the last minute, Kravec had joined the delegation under Paracambi protection and made his way to the talks.
There, Kravec listened in stoney silence as the various speakers made their remarks. When Kravec judged the time right, he stood up slowly. Instead of begging for his turn to speak, Kravec spun his chair around and slid it next to the table. Using it as make shift stairs, Kravec stepped up onto the heavy conference table, towering over the people seated. There, in the center of the table Kravec grasped his hands behind his back, still and quiet until a hush had fallen over the delegations.
In a deep, gravelly voice, he began.
"I will speak for Slava Lavosk."
" I had hoped that these talks would be a turning point. I had hoped, dared to dream, that for the first time I, as the leader of my people, would be spoken to...not with the respect due a nuclear nation...but with the common courtesy due any human being and child of Mundus. Once again I am slandered and insulted. No more. Slava Lavosk's human rights record is impeccable. Far better than the nations of Rokkenjima, East Moreland and Achkaerin in fact, each of which have committed crimes in the name of national interest. My people, almost alone, stood against slavery in the face of dire threat and declared jihad. Any failings are mine and mine alone. The girl, Dilara, as mentioned, was a citizen of Slava Lavosk, though with Tamoran heritage. She was accused of a crime under the Slavan Criminal Code, was prosecuted and tried in a Slavan Court under Slavan Law. She was found guilty by a Slavan jury and sentenced by a Slavan Judge. My error, in a moment of anger and weakness, was to not commute the legal sentence. It is a decision that I have to live with, but it is not a decision within the purview of international whim nor does it constitute human rights violations or a 'record' thereof."
"My nation and I are repeatedly declared terrorists. We have threatened no one, only sought to secure our own future in the face of imminent threat and a declared jihad. In no way shape or form does Slava Lavosk even remotely meet any reasonable definition of terrorist. If the Empress Beatrice is just going to continue to slander and lie and present alternative facts just to fit her own narrative, then Slava Lavosk will withdraw from these futile talks and those of you that wish can continue to yell into your own echo chamber until the second coming."
Here, Kravec pause to gather his thoughts...
"Now to the real business of these talks. Many times today I have heard the delegates say that nuclear weapons are not needed to deal with todays threat profile. For rich and powerful nations like yourself, perhaps. But none of you face jihad from an empire five times your size,with chattel slaves in a number almost the same as your entire population. We did what was required. We broke no treaty we are signatories to. None of you have the right to tell me how to defend my people."
"I also believe Rokkenjima's pledge to disarm is paper thin. With a successful test, they immediately halted their program of disarmament and sent those warheads right back to their silos and submarines. Should Slava Lavosk abandon its nuclear weapons program, what guarantees do we have that they will restart it? What guarantees do we have that they won't make good on their threats against us? What guarantees do we have that Tamora won't flood across our borders and kill and enslave our people...it wasn't long ago they annexed their last Kingdom."
"All three of you sit in your golden castles upon your shining cities and look down on poor marginalized, Slava Lavosk. You call me dictator. You call me dangerous. But of all the nuclear powers....I am the only leader that was elected. I was chosen. Not you. Since I became President in 2006, I have seen each of you...."
Kravec points a finger, each in turn, at King David, Empress Beatrice and Emperor Peter, like the Spear of The Avenging Angel...
"...fight off at least one insurrection and coup attempt, as your own people...sometimes your own blood...sought to topple you from your palace of absolute power. When you consider that the three of you are in fact dictators, it makes sense that you would attempt to keep the rest of us on a less than equal footing...
Primo Imperare Ferreo. At this time, under these conditions of hypocrisy,...I specifically mean your references to the Uppsala Convention and other treaties, while failing to take military action against Tamora for flagrant violations of the MCUR...and a constant smear campaign waged by Empress Beatrice and the Rokkenjiman Empire...I cannot at this time, and in good conscience, reveal details of our nuclear weapons program."
Kravec walks over to stand before Emperor Peter Azurewind...
"Your grandfather rended the Heavens. Now it is time to reap what you rent and render unto Slava what is Slava's. We will not be disrespected. We will not be slandered. There are two types of injustice in the world. The injustice of when a law is broken, and the injustice of the unequal application of the law. We have broken no laws and no treaties. What can you tell me of Slava and the second injustice?"
Waling back to the center of the table, Kravec slowly turns, looking each delegate in the eye.
"I second Emperor Peter's call for a short recess. It will give the adults time to re-establish control of this conference. A conference that Slava Lavosk will withdraw from immediately if, upon our return, The Empress Beatrice does not issue Slava Lavosk a full and formal apology."
With that, President Kravec walked off of the table and out of the conference room, trailed by his delegation. The last and youngest of which picked up a chair and tossed it onto the table before turning and heading out the door as well.