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

The term Deja vu could easily be applied to this meeting, a sunny day in Rokkenjima was the backdrop as Serenity perched on her desk at Commonwealth House - her property in Rokkenjima, she was looking at the large screen on the wall of the study, it wasn't the USS Enterprise by any means but the screen was pretty decent in size, on it she could see the Round Table room in the Marble Palace and had video feeds to other advisors and heads of agencies as required. "Hit me with it what do we think?" Serenity asked
"I agree with Rion's assessment." Sally Barkley, the head of Achkaerinese Intelligence, said "This reads like a variation on the Ofdensen plot, but probably far more refined. If so then whatever Charles knew we have to assume these conspirators know and of course they will stuff that Charles didn't. I don't however think the destination is the same."
"Neither did I." Rion said
"Why?" Richard Chambers, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, asked
"Because Charles's plot a year ago was to take a wrecking ball through the Anselmo's and create a Constitutional crisis. If Alex Rowe and Lucius Stanley are involved then we're talking about people who know very well that the Rokkenjiman public is loyal to the Crown these days, they know there's no appetite to remove that. Charles wanted a Presidency I think Stanley and Rowe know that a lame duck monarch is better." Rion said
"The journey is the same, take the Anselmo's out of the line of succession, but this isn't to create a crisis it's to clear a path." Sally said
"For?" Serenity asked
"I don't know yet." Rion said "But I will."
"How serious of a threat is this?" Mark Sharpe, the national security advisor, asked
"Rowe and Stanley can't move uninhibited, which is why Groves is involved," Rion said "He's there to clear the path. Stanley's there to be the voice in the ear and Rowe's the military man, it's a shadow government play."
"Rowe's an experienced soldier." Peter, Serenity's father, said "If anyone knows how to spot PTSD it's him."
"Which may be the play." Rion said "Groves clears the path and meanwhile Rowe keeps an eye on Asuna, pile on the stress and eventually she'll crack, she takes herself out."
"What's the endgame?" Peter asked
"I don't know yet but I'll find out." Rion said "Meanwhile I'm going to start operations to try and start getting to the bottom of this."
"What do we think their timescale is?" Serenity asked
"Your Majesty." Major Kirby of the MDI said "Based on everything said this reads like a long game, there's no value in moving quickly because everything changes in a week and we all know what happens if the Rokkenjiman Empress isn't in post tomorrow."
"Taking Asuna off the board now so soon after Kyoko would be very suspicious." Rion said "And very much a needless risk considering the PTSD, if you're Rowe you let her destroy herself and if she doesn't you take her out when it's safe."
"They don't have a quick run to the line so they're going to make it a marathon."  Serenity said "Ok then. Nettie tell me about this Sophia business."

"Considering what the implications are and how Mundus usually reacts to what Asuna is attempting to set up, Sophia's going to need something to base this whole thing on." Nettie said "It won't go down well in the Diet. I think the best bet is for someone to go looking in the archives of the Diet, somewhere in there there will be an Act that recognises the independence of Josai, it'll be from the Federal Republic days, so find it and then look at how Josai came back under Rokkenjiman control. If that's suspect and considering who Beatrice's advisors were at the time it's quite possible it is then Sophia has her smoking gun and you have the means to step into the staring contest."
"What exactly are we talking about in that regard?" Adam Sheppard, the Minister of Defence, asked
"If Sophia declares Josai independent then there's going to be pressure in Rokkenjima for Asuna to retake it." Serenity said "So if that declaration comes then we're going to get diplomacy going right out of the gate, we're going to guarantee the security of Josai think of it like what Rokkenjima used to do with the JPS."
"Counting on the fact that Rokkenjima isn't going to want to risk a fight." Peter said nodding "Rowe may just go looking for one then."
"If he does he exposes himself." Serenity said "We'll make sure Rokkenjima has reasons to think twice, giving Asuna enough to not order military action and hopefully this goes off without a shot being fired. And then when the dust settles Asuna and Sophia agree a treaty that establishes the relationship between the two."

"Rion how do you intend to start chipping away at this?" Peter asked
"I'm going to start trying to get under Rowe and Stanley's skin, there's a storage lock up that Rowe's got a unit in though we don't know which unit, so we're going to do a little B&E on that." Rion said "Stanley's apparently been meeting with a woman called Rika Miyano, not sure whether it's business or pleasure but that's irrelevant. We're going to do a deep dive on her and see how they run when the heat is turned up. The INIS mole isn't an issue because none of what we're doing runs through the INIS office, this is going to be a blindside. We start chipping at them and see what they do."
"Do it." Serenity said "Same time tomorrow."

The meeting over Serenity looked at Rion, who'd been in the study the whole time, "If Alex Rowe and Lucius Stanley were involved in Charles's plot then is it possible they were involved years ago?" Serenity asked
"Yes." Rion said "And I'd like to start assuming that to be the case."
"So if we want to confirm this we're not going to find anything electronically?" Serenity asked
"It'd be suspicious if we did, all of Charles's communications, ICON, phone records, emails they were all evidence weren't they?" Rion said
"They were." Serenity said
"I do need to ask this." Rion said "If Rowe or Stanley start to pose too much of a danger..."
"I know and I'll tell you when we get there if we get there." Serenity said "What do you think the endgame is?"
"I think they want a puppet, isolate Asuna and maybe you manage that but she's not isolated, Thomas, Evanthe, Emerson, McKenna, Gemma..." Rion said "They need someone else."
"Find out if you're right." Serenity said

By Roisin Shaughnessy: Chief Correspondent

The Empress has delivered the first Life Day Message of her reign, the pre recorded speech, typically done two to three days before Life Day is shown on television in the afternoon of the day. The Marble Palace also revealed a Festive postcard (pictured above) sent out to every home in the nation, a multitude of charities, Achkaerinese embassies abroad, foreign embassies based in Achkaerin and foreign governments, a short message wishing the receipient(s) well and looking forward to the new year is on the reverse side.

The Empress's Life Day Message was as follows:

Life Day Message 2023

"Good Afternoon and a Happy Life Day, Christmas, Yule, Hannukah and festive season to all of you. For many people across not only Achkaerin but Mundus this is a time for family and I'm reminded more of that this year than I have been before, at the start of the year things weren't looking brilliant on that front with my father in a coma but little did I know that my family is actually a whole lot bigger than I thought it was at least in the biological sense myself and Simon now have two sisters another niece and a nephew and so on, and then of course as a family we rejoiced when my father came out of his coma some months later. Having that support that guidance, that advice especially over the last few weeks has been of great assistance as Mundus continues to tackle the many issues that face it.

I gave this message once before a few years ago, with Simon, when my father was unable to do so and I keep trying to figure out if it feels any different doing it now. I guess it does because now I'm speaking with more years of diplomatic experience and of course the crown is now on my head. I will always fondly remember that day in Valtheim, the gathering of friends to attend the coronation and to support the friendships between our nations and theirs, to see all that was something truly humbling and unforgettable.

It's important to remember those who are no longer around to celebrate this festive season, tragically this year will go down as a year littered with terrorism, from Mersch to Daito, to Rokkenjima, to Kalasin and now Nya Aland, it is a stark reminder of the sacrifices we ask those brave men and women of the military to make to keep people safe, not since 2014 have we had such a sequence of events. With the international community we stared down the unthinkable if not once then twice this year, when some tried to reopen Pandora's Box we kept it closed, something only possible because people were prepared to put themselves in harms way to make it happen. The festive season is a time for giving and I would like to offer all those involved in that my thanks.

2024 is a landmark year, a decade on from the formation of what we could call the first international pillars being established, I'm looking forward to the many celebrations throughout the year marking that, I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for the family and I'm looking to see what bears fruit on the international landscape. Domestically it's a big year for our Government's environmental program many of the checkpoints under the Green Energy Transition Act are about to be hit and I'm sure we'll be up to the challenge there, terrorism must be combatted, diplomacy must be pursued and must be done in earnest, nations must get along for developing friendships breaks down the barriers, but all of that's for naught if we leave Mundus worse than when we found it, 2023 undoubtedly saw struggles in this respect so 2024 must be progressive, it must be better, it must move the needle. I hope that when I talk to you all this time next year that I can do so knowing that has been really achieved. I wish you all a joyful festive season and a happy new year.

By Zoe Tate: Entertainment Correspondent

The Chipmunks and Chipetes, a CGI and AI generated group spun off from a television series and based at the Royal University of Music, have taken Life Day number one spot in the charts with their cover of Bad Romance. It is a significant milestone for the prestigious honour as this is the first time the award has gone to technically animals instead of humans although as Dina Mellor (the bands 'manager') explains it's a little more complicated than that saying "This is a huge achievement for us, we're just a group of research students that produce a childrens music based show that runs for half an hour in the week, so to win something like this is great and shows that innovation in music can be successful, we only started using AI a few months ago in respect of the voices to create a more authentic vocal range for the six characters we have and then syncing that up with the CGI, we are considering using the AI to assist in other ways as well but for the moment we're really happy."

The winner of Life Day Number One traditionally headlines the New Years Day concert in Valtheim, it has been confirmed that the Chipmunks and Chipettes will be doing so, event organisers commented saying "When it became possible that they could be number one on Life Day we started planning for it and we believe that we can deliver a fully immersive experience for the audience even though we're talking about digitally generated characters singing as opposed to a live band."

At Questions for the Crown, Empress Serenity stated that there would be a response to the proposed Concert of Democracy, we have since that session seen a response to the concerns raised by the Empress provided by the Kōshaku. While we acknowledge that the Kōshaku is attempting to provide a view that the proposal is workable, it is not workable under the current text for the reasons Empress Serenity raised, we can assure the Kōshaku that she and the Empress were reading the same text and we would strongly encourage the Kōshaku to read it more closely, the concerns and reasoning stand as follows:

The first concern mentioned is that the proposal essentially has its members give up the right to defend themselves - this is raised in regards to the following two articles:

1. The Parties pledge never to use military force, and never to plan to use military force, against one another except in the event of a coup or revolution within a specified member nation.

7. Action pursuant to article four and consistent with the purposes of presently existing international law, including the use of military force, may be approved by a two-thirds majority of the parties.

Article one clearly rules out the possibility for a member to defend itself against armed attack by a fellow member, the article relies entirely on good faith something which organisations throughout Mundus's history have proven incapable of fostering. It is also evidenced in Mundus history that nations have signed treaties and then disregarded, or sought to disregard them when they became inconvenient. The existence of an organisation is not sufficient deterrent in this respect.

Article seven puts the ability of a nation to deploy military force in certain circumstances in the gift of an international organisation, which invokes foreign political agendas and to some extent means member nations would be giving up command authority over their militaries, that's not an acceptable set of circumstances. Ultimately there should be no mention of military elements in this proposal whatsoever.

The second concern raised by Empress Serenity is that the Concert ""impose(s) by proxy conformity to international treaties that its members may not be signatory to" we would at this point refer the Kōshaku to article 3 of the proposal:

3. The Parties commit to uphold internationally recognized civil and political rights for all their citizens and to make these rights enforceable by an independent judiciary, including rights recognized by the MCUR and Abrahamic Declaration.

The final part of article 3 is what raises the concern as presently worded it states that rights guaranteed under international law are to be enforced by the judiciaries of member states and that these include rights under the MCUR and the Abrahamic Declaration. Let's consider a nation such as Tytor which is not signatory to either of those treaties, if Tytor signed up to the Concert then by the current phrasing of that article Tytorian Courts would be required to enforce the rights of the MCUR and the Abrahamic Declaration despite the sovereign right of the Tytorian Government to determine which treaties it does and does not sign. In effect signing up to the Concert means a nation is by proxy signing the MCUR and the Abrahamic Declaration.

In the Imperial Address the Empress spoke about wanting to return to the Common forum, if the Concert is an attempt at that it presently falls short because it isn't open to all which a common forum must be. We would strongly encourage the Rokkenjiman Government to recognise the issues that exist and for them to do the necessary leg work to address concerns that they know exist if they wish their aims to come to fruition.

By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Senate has concluded the calendar years business program with the final session of Questions for the Crown, the session which is a weekly occurrence when the Senate is sitting sees Senators pose questions to the Monarch, this the last session before Life Day is typically more jovial and light hearted, it sees those involved in the session turn up in festive jumpers as well. The questions posed to and answers given by Empress Serenity were as follows:

Can the Empress tell the Chamber what her engagements are for the festive period? (Consul Michael Williams, Unity Party)

"I intend to spend Life Day with family and friends, I'll be attending a Constellation Ball in a few days time, I'll probably be eating a fair bit more than I probably should, getting into snowball fights and building snowmen with my daughters."

What does the Empress think of the situation presently unfolding in Nya Aland? (Senator Barbara Mason, Endeavour Party)

"I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The situation in Nya Aland is one that we had hoped to see resolved without violence, sadly this hasn't happened. Appropriate steps in regards to safety will I'm sure be taken by the Foreign Office, and I can see the Minister nodding in his seat, the Government remains committed to supporting the people of Nya Aland at this time, the year 2023 will be remembered for many things including the reaffirmation across the international community that we stand against terrorism, and it doesn't matter who you vote for at the ballot box that remains the commitment. I have faith that the Nya Aland leadership are capable of handling this issue and if they need our help then we'll be there just as we were several years ago in Uppsalla."

What reaction does the Empress have to the Rokkenjiman Imperial Address? (Senator Ajax Semantar, Liberal Party)

"I found it underwhelming and greatly disappointing. To see the Empress of Rokkenjima take aim in the way that she did is not befitting of the office she holds. Neither King David nor Princess Freya need me to ride to the defence of East Moreland, because they've both articulated very well why the Rokkenjiman Empress is wrong. My reaction in more detail is this - The Empress of Rokkenjima speaks about how 'the Northfort Experiment has failed miserably, leading to losses of life not seen since before the Covenant/Commonwealth era' first is there such a thing as the Northfort Experiment? No. What I've seen over the last decade is that as the international community has grown the political landscape has changed, the CSTO is no longer fit for purpose, the international community is no longer as it was it's no longer a group led by Rokkenjima and a group led by the USR it has far more to it than that now. East Moreland are very good at not only making but keeping their friends, rather than criticising them Rokkenjima would do well to learn from them. The Empress states what is true insofar as the loss of life now is something not seen since before the the Covenant/Commonwealth era, but and it is a big but the Covenant/Commonwealth era extends from 2014 through to 2019, therefore it is also true that the loss of life during the Covenant/Commonwealth era was far greater than anything since. Insulting the armed forces of the two nations that carried so much of the load at the CTO is not going to help the Empress's pitch especially when we look at what happened in Marseilles and ask what happened to the 30,000 Rokkenjiman soldiers, fleet and aircraft that were promised. It makes you wonder how many people who died liberating Marseilles would still be alive if those Rokkenjiman's had shown up, how many civilians would have lived if more support had been on the ground. What would have helped the Empress's pitch is her taking a swing when the opportunity was there which was at the Festival of Sail."

What is the Empress's opinion of the Concert of Democracy proposal? (Senator Adam Lonsdale, Republican Party)

"For me it's a non starter, there will be a formal response once it is written but having read the proposal I will say this - no sovereign state would ever in their right mind give up their right to defend themselves and no organisation should ever attempt to impose by proxy conformity to international treaties that its members may not be signatory to. It's not a viable proposal and we will not be involving ourselves in it. If the Empress of Rokkenjima truly wishes to restore a common international forum then she must look at why the predecessor failed. And that's not a difficult answer, it failed because the same two nations, Achkaerin and East Moreland repeatedly bore the load of having to enforce what the resolutions required, it failed because nations preferred to rake over old ground rather than focus on the real issue of the moment, it failed because the overwhelmingly majority of its members treated it as box to tick rather than a serious diplomatic forum, as evidenced by who did and did not show up when push came to shove. It's not pride that causes us to avoid engaging in such endeavours, it's experience we've been there before and we've seen what it brings. Restoring a common international forum requires assurances that we have not yet seen."

Is the Empress looking forward to the Constellation Ball? (Senator Judith Roberts, Green Party)

"Yes I am, I'm going to be attending the one in Midvale and I'm taking my daughters along. I believe we're in for quite the season this year."

What are the Empress's early engagements in 2024 and what is she looking forward to? (Senator Carolyn Oakes, Progressive Party)

"We're going to be hosting the President of Kalasin early in the new year to discuss the post war situation in that country and what we can do to support the rebuilding effort there. In January we will mark ten years of the Fair Seas Concordat, one of the pillars of international law. I'm looking forward to following the Senate's business when it returns because it will be getting to grips with the matter of artificial intelligence. There is the matter of my niece's wedding to attend and we'll see what else comes up."