Two Great White Suns, One Pair of Olive Branches

[Admiral Taiwanpenguin]

To President Teng Jia of the Federal Republic of Sinsu

I am sure by now you have heard of the response from the SICR. or at the very least noticed a large number of munitions raining down at the border. Your federal republic has found itself to reemerge from isolationism at a very inopportune time, I'm afraid. But I will get to the point.

Let me be frank and direct: I am tired of this. I am tired of this pointless bickering over the Southern Territory, the area where the Federal Republic of Sinsu resides. We have fought for nearly have a century, and the only change that has occurred is an ever-changing list of those killed and new issues of spiteful opinions on the radio.

We have killed and died at each other's hands, and now I think it is time for both of our nations to drop the rifle. What's lost is lost, and even if that means the loss of the Southern Territories, so be it.

I do not expect you to come personally, in fact, I hardly expect any response at all. But should you too find that the Sinsic and Dragoni peoples should at least come to peace, then I will arrange for you to meet me near the border, at Gaotsunbao.

From one Chinese to another, I beg of you. Please.

Most Sincerely,

Max Herminstaat, Thirty-First President of the Second Imperial Chinese Republic

[The Young Pope]

To:- President Max Herminstaat of the Second Imperial Chinese Republic

Let me be clear Mr. President that as much as I welcome this change of mind pointing towards the peace that may finally come between our nations, that it has always been us begging and not the other way around. The Sinsic people have been advocating for cooperation with our brotherly people to the north instead of this nonsensical fighting which has instead been rejected by YOU. The fact that the disgusting term 'Southern Territories' is used to contact my office still sends doubtful signals over whether a meeting will finally solve this, if we can't at least get an offical recognition of Sinsu's existence.

From one Chinese to another, I'm willing to meet in Gaotsunbao but if this proves to be other than a fruitful outcome, I'm afraid that any hope for reconciliation is forever lost and we're left to the devices as to what the Divine has in store for us and which nation will survive these terribles times as it were.

Kind Regards,

Teng Jia
President of the Federal Republic of Sinsu

[Admiral Taiwanpenguin]

Gaotsunbao, Heisen-Draumer Provinz


Max Herminstaat.

Fifty-three years old, he should be looking to securing his retirement. He should be with his family in Upper Altreich, at the summit of Yueshan Mountain, in his home village. And yet here he was, waiting in a concealed underground storm shelter, large enough for a four-person family. The only decorations were the concrete walls and the Librarius altar in the corner, its crimson candle flickering. His loyal men, the soldiers who stood waiting by the door and hatches were hardly better off. They weren't idling, though; most were pacing around nervously, one even obsessively cleaning his rifle, despite it being in pristine condition.

He shouldn't have used the term "Southern Territories" in the message, he thought. He'd known it was offensive, and yet still used it. Sinsics weren't known by dragonaii to be reasonable. They were full of hate, just like the Imperial dragonaii. Bleeding wings, they even wanted to launch a war to "liberate" the Imperial Republic. Their communique was full of doubt and their news blotted with bitterness and abuse, much like the dragoni message. He realized that he might as well talk to a bunker wall instead.

Max understood the threats of this meeting. Sinsu was a delicate subject in the Electorate. They were seen as more than a rogue state, an enemy really. Should he be found out, should a loyalist overhear - he'd be dead. Not figuratively, either. They'd bring him to Wangjianshan and shoot him for treason. Or behead him. Or drown him. They might even exile him to Sinsu, and that worried him the most. He was a dragonaii, an Imperial dragonaii at that. To be banished from the Nestland was unthinkable. The soldiers were aware of this too, and they only paced faster, their hearts racing.

He leaned back in the chair, wetting his lips, eyes anxiously darting around from one pointless subject to another. A bag on a soldiers uniform, a horn on the altar Klaniau's head, the handle of the hatch to the outside. He hoped the Sinsic president would hurry.

Either he would walk out of this with a proposal for the Electorate, or he would wind up with seven bullets in his body.

The only alternatives were all variants of capital punishment.

[The Young Pope]

Teng Jia managed to become the first female President of the Federal Republic, a political struggle that finally managed to finally pay itself off after years of winning the hearts and minds of the Sinsic people. This meant taking on any challenge that was presented unto her platter, which included dealing with their northernly neighbours to the north, the SICR. It was expected that ancient hatred between the countries on a governmental level would flare up again, however to think it happened this soon after a few years where a glimmer of hope was established on a longlasting Peace was unprecedented. Even if Teng believed herself that a large part of this has to do with SICR, it didn't come across as constructive either from Premier Deng's response which of course produced even worse sentiments towards them and vice versa.

Only him and a few other higher up in the food chain so to speak knew about her upcoming meeting with President Herminstaat, for good reasons considering this wouldn't have been possible at all if she didn't receive the reluctant support of the Premier, whose tantrums had to be calmed down in order to even possibly mention SICR by name. Even if she didn't exactly face the same dangers of getting executed like her counterpart, personal prestige and chance of re-election was at stake if this were to fail as it always had, this time though everyone on both sides knew that it was more than serious than ever before, where real bloodshed would be spilled...a war was looming in the horizon.

Teng calmly tapped her fingers on the surface of the presidential car's window surface, calmly collecting her thoughts to form them into a comprehensible mindset, staring out into the wide landscape as she was provided a heavily armed escort to the designated area where this meeting was supposed to take place, the security provided by the Military Police themselves. It was now or never that a solid deal could be achieved with both parties involved, not only for the sake of themselves but also the rest of the continent of Ardia and beyond, knowing that a fully capable war taking place in this day of age would amount to catastrophically high levels of obliteration.

An MP opened the door of the limo, whereby the President stepped out and was greeted or more likely intimidated by the mere sight of the SICR soldiers. With two guards positioned on either side of herself and the rest closely behind, the Sinsic delegation made their way into the underground compound after reassuring the SICR hosts that they were the expected guests. The concrete and overall bare interior with te exception of that religious altar increased the anxiety and tension between the parties. Only time would tell whether all of this was worth enough to waste time on or not.

"President Herminstaat...it's good to finally meet you especially during these circumstances, as we have quite the few things to discuss." she held out her hand for him to shake it.

[Admiral Taiwanpenguin]

Herminstaat took her outstretched hand, shaking it firmly, and replying, "Well met, President Teng. I apologize for the state that we meet in and even so for this rather crude arrangement. Please, have a seat." He motioned towards the other chair facing him, allowing her to sit before him.

"I believe we both understand the dire situation we meet in, so allow me to begin with a promise: as the President of the Imperial Republic, I can order the IMF to stand down from any further actions against the Federal Republic. And keep in mind the IFC only fired at military targets, such as the artillery posts at the Sinsic side of the border. We avoided targeting the population and your gas, they are of little interest to the SICrR Furthermore, I apologize for my use of "Southern Territories" in my communique; in hindsight, I should have realized its offensiveness towards the Sinsic people."

[The Young Pope]

"Naturally a meeting taking place between us would have been much more favorable if the circumstances weren't necessitated by the possible outbreak of war." Jia answered him in a rather cold and reserved manner as he shook her hand, taking the seat before him as her own armed personnel took up positions close to her, facing their Imperial counterparts.

"I don't wish to be rude President Herminstaat, but before I can accept this apology of yours...May I inquire as to whether military discipline exists among the ranks of the Imperial armed forces, or it simply consists of trigger-happy cowboys who simply can't wait to set anything alight as they see fit, potentially causing grave and immediate harm to both human life and property? I also find it interesting that His Imperial Majesty hasn't issued a proper explanation as to these acts of aggression that in effect break international convention and norms? I would very much like to have an explanation to this bizarre and outraged display of reaction towards a fellow neighbour seeking to connect with the rest of Mundus."

Jia was quite interested in what her Imperial counterpart had to answer for his nation's misdeeds and if he expressed it in unstrained anger, then so be it. She simply had enough issues that was plauging Sinsu, as well as buffoons day in and day out.

[Admiral Taiwanpenguin]

Herminstaat grimaced. "President Teng," he began, "I understand your anger, but we cannot carry out this conversation if you refuse to be civil. The SICR has its faults, yes, but I am at least willing to work with you here. If you had to deal with, let's say my old guard counterparts of the LLP, then there would already be a war. I am not your enemy here.

As for the actions of the IFC: I am first deeply insulted, and secondly, the IMF is commanded by a staunch old guard. They see your nation as little more than a piece of the map to draw over. On the Emperor-Admiral and our motives to stop your Federal Republic: you must understand that many blame Sinsu for refusing to aid dragonaii during the War of Black Blood. And I know you have had your own problems to deal with, but dragonaii are slow to forget and hold grudges for ridiculous amounts of time. Not to mention, the equipment that the Oriental Commune fielded did not match what they produced, so there are even more conspiracies that point Sinsu as the cause of our civil war. That is our reason."

[The Young Pope]

Jia could only shake her head in disbelief and replied back with a neutral facial expression, as the SICR-FROS would've won an Award for Mundus' dumbest conflict to ever exist.

"President Herminstaat, I'm not sure as to why the people of SICR would suspect us of ever supplying the Oriental Commune with weaponry when their brothers in arms sought to create their own version of whatever sick vision they had of an ideal society right here in Sinsu, it's basically shooting one's self in the foot. The Oriental weaponry didn't match ours either, pointing more towards a Soviet design and I Think it would be better to hold grudges against them rather than us. Also, any qualified history professor could also tell you why no aid was sent to aid SICR in its own conflicts as well, even a simple internet search would suffice, considering our country was being manhandled by foreign interests catering to themselves rather then the actual citizens of Sinsu.

I would also like to say this that I have so far acted quite civil and haven't raised my voice either, President Herminstaat. The fact that you have the privilege to even discuss a solution with me instead of Premier Deng who happens to be of a rather much more aggressive opinion, proves to show much I'm willing to cooperate. So kindly, never state something about me which isn't true, thank you very much.

Now, I would be very much inclined to hear what His Excellency has to offer for a permanent peace between SICR and FROS, rather than squabbling about what each nation could've done and couldn't have done."

[Admiral Taiwanpenguin]

Herminstaat crossed his arms, sighing. "Very well then. His Majesty and the Electorate issued a joint official statement a few hours ago, and I'm sure you'll see yourself when you return. As much as many of our kin despise your autonomy, we are extremely faithful to the Librarius, the dominant party in the Electorate. And luckily for you and Sinsu as a whole, they support your independence, recognition, and even membership to the regional alliance, SANE. The Emperor-Admiral himself was heavily influenced by the Librarius, and is, therefore, more sympathetic to your cause than you believe him to be. This influence is what he hopes to use in order to peacefully resolve this situation and support your independence. The rest of the Electorate will be forced to follow in suit. Our reasons for doing so include The Empire of Rokkenjima, the nation that so kindly decided to park a missile destroyer in your port to support your independence. And allow me to remind you that they are too a monarchy."

[The Young Pope]

At last it was something that Jia liked the sound of, as Max assured her of the political forces who actually seeked closer cooperation with their neighbour in the south. "Well if what you're saying holds actual merit to it, then I can only say that it's great that full realization has been finally realized within the borders of SICR within those who hold power and the ability to change circumstances for the better, because the truth is that it's something the majority of Sinsu has always wanted.

As for Rokkenjima, it doesn't matter to us whether the country's a monarchy or not, Mr. President. As Premier Deng stated some time ago, we seek to establish relations with anyone who's willing to do so with us, holding no reservation whatsoever whether they're deemed "acceptable" or "controversial" towards everyone else in Mundus. The fact that Rokkenjima of all Ardian neighbours decided to kindly send assistance, no matter how small or big it is, tells us about their character and agenda. If it wasn't alright, we would have naturally told them to disengage from their course heading towards Sinsu or if that didn't work, obliterating it to the deep depths of the sea would've sufficed as well."

President Teng answered him pretty straightforward, considering Sinsu wasn't the type of nation getting taking advantaged of anymore, not like in the past when foreigners could open and close down ports as they so damn well pleased. This also served as a symbol that Sinsu wasn't alone either in times of crisis, and could count on quite the few friendly countries who'd be willing to stand side by side.

"Sinsu's willing to enter in a permanent state of peace with SICR, with the hope that this will grow into something of fruitful relationship where squabbles of the past is replaced with a positive and common outlook on the future. SANE would definitely be a part of that process."

[Admiral Taiwanpenguin]

Progress, thank the Dragons.

"I'm happy to hear that. My 20- year long presidency is coming to a close, but perhaps I can convince the LAP to submit a sympathetic candidate for the upcoming election. Who knows, maybe our successors might reunite both of our nations under a single, equal banner of the Chinese. But that's a bit far. For the present, I'm more than happy to report back to the Electorate and give them the knowledge that the Sinsic are willing to cooperate. As for the border, I will have the IMF demobilize the defensive line and have the sympathetic members of my party propose a basic trade deal. If all goes well, perhaps a second meeting can be arranged to talk over a closer relationship."

[The Young Pope]

"That's wonderful to hear, Mr. President. Hopefully this crisis between our nations will end sooner or later, under conditions that are of course favorable to one another." President Teng would surely eat those words of hers one day, as the predetermined fate bestowed upon Sinsu would meet the same one that was labeled on SICR. But for the moment she couldn't help but feel proud and accomplished over the course of this meeting thus far, and the results seemed to be of a positive outcome.

"Is there something else you'd like to inquire about by any chance?" she asked.

[Admiral Taiwanpenguin]

"As am I.
As for if I've anything more to say? Not really, and while I'd love to further talk, I equally dislike having the BIS storm in and arrest us both, if not worse. If you have anything more to say, I welcome you to give voice to it now. Otherwise, I think we should part ways, and stop this nonsense before it escalates any further."

Herminstaat waited for her response, then held out a hand to shake.

"Thank you for the time and energy that you have spent here, and may the Dragons' bless you in their own ways."

He felt a wave of relief and satisfaction. A successful meeting. Controversial? Of course, in all due time, the SDP would beat the ever-loving stars out of him for treason. But well worth it for an ancient peace. A peace long overdue.