It has been announced by the Ministry of Defence today that the Princess Regent has ordered the nations navy at both Eastern and Western HQ's to put to sea. In the usual weekly briefing the Ministry's Press Secretary confirmed that the Alucard fleet will be focused towards helping with the situation in Lodja and will include the subs Ildibad and Eraric, the Assault Ship Rothari, destroyersAripert, Perctarit and Godepat, frigates Pippen and Bernard. The main duty of the ships will be to provide support to ongoing CNN operations which involve searching for the missing Lodjain Naval ship the Morelander. Many media analysts suggest that this is due to the nations intent at joining the CNN in the near future.

Mean while the Shaw Fleet will be conducting manouvers throughout the Straits and into the Kyne and will feature  subs Tiberon and Augustina, the destroyers Alahis and  Cunincpert, frigatesBerengar and Guy of Spoleto. While operations here are likely to be more focused on keeping the fleet in a good state of readiness it is expected that the fleet will also perhaps conduct test firing of some recently acquired Spearhead Missiles. Some analysts also believe the fleet is likely to head towards the Kyne which is becoming volatile.

---

DAY AFTER THE ARREST OF ALFONSO ROSINA

"It is clear insiders from the Palace are plotting my nephews downfall" Prince Lorenzo declared as he meet with various intelligence agency leads. "And you....you idiots couldn't stop it, you didn't know." he chastised them. "I have no choice. The estate out at Peruzia, we shall take the boy there. Just me, my wife and our trusted staff."

"I think that is a mistake." Major Rugania of the National Intelligence Service shook his head, "Peruzia is 10km from the nearest military base."

"We'll have our own security detail" Lorenzo spoke as though Rugania was a moron.

"With respect Your Highness if anyone seriously made a play for the Emperor then a 20 man security detail lacks the heavy firepower needed thats why we have the rapid reaction force so close normally. We could...." he was about to continue but Lorenzo held a hand up.

"Major I am well aware of tactical considerations. Make arrangements me and my nephew will leave in an hour." With that Lorenzo left leaving the rest of the room busy to discuss what had been said, they questioned whether Princess Brigida should be present but she'd taken control of the investigation directly and was busy with the Imperial Carabinieri and micro-managing them as best she could. Someone had tried to kill her beloved nephew and her Emperor and that meant somebody was going to have pay for it.

---

Two hours later

Peruzia was a small hilltop village that had been a happy family retreat for the Imperial family. Brigida and her brothers had played in the vineyards that dominated the slopes. A single track road spun its way up the hill with a security checkpoint at its foot ensuring no-one unexpected could utilise it. Lorenzo and his 3 year old nephew, the Emperor had however flown in via helicopter and were now seemingly nicely settled in the countryside of the Empire. It would be impossible for anyone to sneak up on them, the hilltop house gave excellent panoramic views across the countryside and the huge amount of surveillance equipment allowed them to see even the smallest detail. The fact that they'd also moved here with no pomp and ceremony that often accompanied any movement of the Emperor it was likely no one would know anything was happening here.

Emperor Franco was happy enough playing with some toy farm animals in the sunny central courtyard as members of his security detail patrolled the overlooking walkways. Lorenzo was sat in the office they had seen their own father and later brother run the Empire from and reading through some paperwork he'd brought with him when his phone rang. "Good afternoon Sister." Lorenzo said as he accepted the call.

"Shut up Lorenzo. How dare you move Franco without consulting me." She was virtually screaming. "He should not be at Peruzia" He hadn't told anyone to inform his sister and so clearly there was issues of security somewhere, maybe this was why he was in such a situation. "We're at high alert and you take him to a soft target."

"Dear Sister. We are perfectly fine here." He said confidently already hearing her ranting at him.

"You are not. I am coming there with the Section Echo to back up the slim security you have installed." Brigida literally yelled down the phone. He imagined the rather brute men of the Imperial Carabinieri's "enforcers" now streaming out of the Palace in the capital with their sirens blurring as though the very spirits of evil were descending on the nation. In truth that was exactly what was happening, a mass of trucks and cars were blazing a path through the busy streets of the capital with motorbike outriders halting traffic at junctions. Brigida herself sat in the passenger seat of one of the cars slowly fuming as she hung up on her brother.

---

90 minutes later

Brigida and Section Echo arrived at the checkpoint at the foot of the hill. The security service agent on sentry duty kept the gate shut and spoke to the Princess who was in the lead car. "I'm sorry Your Highness but I need to phone up to Prince Lorenzo to get permission to let you through. He told us...." There was no waiting for the conclusion of that statement as Brigida and a rather burly black boiler suited Carabinieri officer stepped out.

"You will open that gate now or my friend here will have you arrested." The way the Carabinieri held the shotgun he was carrying and the fact several other of his friends were now getting out of vehicles made the Security Agent reconsider his choice and he simply radioed in that the Princess and "her escort" were on there way up before hurrying back to his shed and pressing the button to open the gates. While the distance from the shed to the house was pretty short as the bird flies the lack of wings the visitors had meant a circular drive round and round the hill top meaning it would be a good five minute drive until they reached the top.

As soon as the Princess got half way up the hilltop the sound of gunfire filled the air. The men in the rear of her vehicle did their best to tune radios to find what frequency the Security Staff were using but by the time they found it they could just here shouts of panic. Even with no traffic on the road the officer driving instinctively hit the siren and planted his foot. It was nearly a disaster as they rounded the corner an old farm cart had been left across the road and the car bounced into the ditch before its left wing came off along with a wing mirror. It didn't deter the driver who having skirted the cart was bouncing through the vineyard as he snaked back towards the road, Brigida banged her head as she bounced into the roof despite being seatbelted in. A warning over the radio meant everyone else had avoided it but as they reached the summit they could see now a pair of dead security guards.

As was standard the heavier trucks that served as the Section's mobile armoury pulled up close by and perpendicular to the road giving a large defensive barrier if needed. Brigida had brought with her 25 men from Section Echo and without hesitation each was pulling on body armour from the boots of cars or running to the trucks to gear up. Sergeant Casspina appeared and without a word manhandled Brigida into the truck. "You wait here Your Highness." he covered his left ear with a hand to focus on the calls. "Security Services are saying a rouge agent began shooting at the Emperor. The Emperor is currently missing. Prince Lorenzo is being evacuated." There was a pause. "Three gunmen now reported."

Outside Captain Gabbadona had pieced together the same from the calls over his ear piece and was briefing his men, some of whom now carried ballistic shields. "The Imperial Carabinieri has never lost an Emperor. This jokers at the Security Service have ballsed up, now we sort their problem out. Our priority is the Emperor. Prince Lorenzo is not our concern. If a Security officer even considers not complying with us you shoot him twice in the chest and once in the head." The Captain hadn't seen Brigida stood at the top of the trucks steps and was half expecting instructions counter to his own.

"For the Emperor." Brigidia nodded towards the men, she herself was a proud veteran of that unit and knew exactly the mentality those men and women who served under its banner required. The group moved off and reached the courtyard entrance without any problem. The first pair of officers stacked at the corner and with a brief consultation of a mirror sprinted round and began searching for targets. Brigida could hear them yelling at someone to lie down and then the tell tale sound of a shotgun. Clearly someone wasn't complying. One by one the Carbinieri entered the courtyard and swept it, sporadic gunfire could be heard but sounded more from the rear of the home. The team worked quickly not considering the risks to themselves as they rapidly searched room to room. It was when they got towards the stables at the rear of the house that they began taking fire. They could see now pinned behind a heavily bullet riddled car a single Security Officer, his left arm soaked in blood but tucked in front of him the weeping three year old Emperor. The gunfire from the stables indicated some heavier weapons and then a crack as a Caribinieri officer fell highlighted a sniper on the roof. Without hesitation the entire gathered mass of officers blasted the roof top silencing the sniper before he could do anything else. Without confirmation whether the sniper was alive or dead several officers poured more and more fire towards his position while men with Ballistic shields ran forward towards the car, completely ignored the injured Security Agent and grabbed the Emperor. With the Emperor between them the men formed a box with shields that their ancient historical ancestors would have been proud of and hurried back to the security of what had once been a lovely farmhouse kitchen. While the gunmen might have expected a return of the shielded men to extract the injured agent that was not what happened next. A veritable shower of grenades of all kinds flew towards the stable, some thrown by hand, some by under barrel launchers. A mixture of explosions, gas and flashes of light filled the area nearly rolling the car the agent was hiding behind. The agent began screaming as one of the many pieces of flying shrapnel filled the air hit his leg. Three Carbinieri ran forward, vaulted the car and burst into the barn. Two men were struggling with a mixture of wounds, gas inhalation and sore ears when one felt the full force of a close range shotgun to the chest ending his existence, the other felt a similar weapon but this time to his legs blowing his knee cap apart. Other officers had returned and were now dragging the dead sniper down from the position he'd been in. While the squad of Carbinieri secured the area and now as a final act began giving forlorn treatment to critically injured security agent the Emperor was being put into the big heavy truck which was already expecting the Rapid Reaction Force from the base 10km away.

As the dust settled Prince Lorenzo was unaccounted for and was apparently running away with a pair of agents but Brigida had no desire to worry about that. She herself headed into the house to where Section Echo had the wounded gunman. He had been given next to no medical treatment and Captain Gabbadona knelt next to him unwrapping a first aid kit. He picked up a vial of morphine and put it on the ground. "Now Tomasso" he addressed the man who was clearly in pain. "Who paid you to do this?" he asked. He waited, repeated the question and when no answer was forth coming picked up the vial of painkiller and threw it towards the wall. The man who had been hopeful of a reprieve from his agony widened his eyes in shock. Gabbadona took out another vial and put it next to the syringe. "Who paid you." He asked again, and then having repeated his question threw the second vial. "How many vials do these kits have.....four?" he asked one of his men.

"Yes sir." The amused officer replied. Brigida had joined them and rather than intervening merely leaned against the wall. Gabbadona asked the question again and this time the man gave a name it started quiet a few in the room.

"P...Pri...Lorenzo..." he muttered.

"And you can prove this" Brigida asked as she came forward and picked up the syringe filling it with half a dose of morphine.

"Yes...Yes ....please" the man pointed towards the camera in the corner of the room. "The Imperial Carabinieri insisted on having microphones in all communal areas here. Lorenzo planned this." Brigida gave the man half the morphine. It would take the edge off but not totally. Her brother had never paid much attention to the arrangements for security or read many messages. If it involved the  Imperial Carabinieri he just assumed his sister was all over it and frankly he'd always been a bit of a snake.

"Check the footage." Quickly Section Echo made their way to the CCTV monitoring room in the attic and began quickly checking the information they'd been given. Lorenzo was missing and implicated in treason. This motivated the Carabinieri to work quickly. Soon a Corporal appeared with a grim look.

"Your Highness its true. We heard him discuss that they would kill the Emperor and then your brother would flee. He had arranged for you to then be killed by Security Agents in Ovado." That explained why he hadn't wanted her to come he was making a play for the Imperial Throne. Now it was simple, just like always Brigida would tidy up the mess.

"Download the footage. Do we know where my brother is?" Brigida asked.

"No but we'll find him and arrest him." Gabbadona.

"Arrest him?" Brigidia laughed, "Why would we arrest him, my brother died bravely trying to defend his nephew after all the security agents died." The room seemed confused as Brigidia removed the pistol from Gabbadona's holster and shot the security agent who had betrayed them. "My brother is a hero.....understand?" She handed the gun back.

"Frankly no." One of Gabbadona's men protested and instantly regretted as his Captain slapped him.

"You idiot." Gabbadona hissed. "We have always been the King makers so to speak, more so than the Imperial Guard. They just go out and smash things, we solve problems. Problems the crown often don't even know exist. If we have survivors that means a trial, if there is a trial that means anyone else involved will run to ground. If there are no survivors anyone else involved will feel safe and we, we track them down. Now we just need to get Lorenzo."

The sound of helicopter blades filled the air and the Rapid Reaction Force had arrived. Gabbadona took four of his men, including one of his men who was part of their own aviation unit. First and foremost all officers enforcers of the law but Section Echo contained a real mix of skills. Now with a Telemon helicopter in their possession they headed off after Lorenzo who having had to negotiate the vast majority of the hillside on foot was not that far ahead of them. The Telemon made a single pass overhead as Gabbadona radioed in that they had come to transport the Prince back to the capital, his sister had been injured and the Emperor was safe. The Prince took the bait and had the car pulled over as the helicopter landed in a field off to the right. Accompanied by his two hand-picked security agents Lorenzo got out of the car and headed for the helicopter, as its slide door opened Gabbadona was already taking aim with a pistol and fired two rounds into Lorenzo as his fellow officers did likewise to the Agents. The three members of Section Echo hurried forward even as the rotors kept spinning. Lorenzo was spluttering as a bullet was in his lung, the other in his stomach. His two escorters lay dead. "Shit" Gabbadona shook his head. "I owe you each a bottle of Port" he laughed the three having a sick bet as to who would not get a kill with their first shots. Gabbadona knelt by the injured Prince. "Your sister sends her regards, Long live the Emperor." he placed the barrel of the gun on Lorenzo's temple and pulled the trigger.

---

That evening the media reported the grim news. A terror attack on the Emperor at his countryside retreat. 10 dead Security Agents, several traitors and a brave final stand by Prince Lorenzo who had been executed at point blank range before the brave Captain Gabbadona had saved the Emperors life. It was a story that brought glory to the Tornincasa family, pride to the Carbinieri and shame to the Security Agents, meanwhile it did solve the Empire's problems. The clunky and awkward dual regency was gone and now Brigida would lead the Empire forward.

Yesterday was meant to be a day of celebration for the Empire as His Imperial Majesty Emperor Franco Tornincasa IV turned three. The capital was set for a day of parades, parties and the Imperial Palaces plaza had been turned into a fun fair for a birthday party attended by the Tornincasa family and the Emperors friends. This was however cut short as Princess Birgida was attacked by a gunman on her route to the event. The Princesses security convoy came under heavy attack and sustained fire from a gunman in a nearby office complex. It was suspected that perhaps several gunmen were involved however as of yet only one has been confirmed. Following intervention by the Princesses own security detail and the Imperial Carabinieri's Rapid Reaction team the area was secured and the gunmen taken to the Imperial Carabinieri Barracks medical facilities where he is described as being in a "critical condition" by medics. Meanwhile the Princess was evacuated to the same base and is reported to be "Safe with minor abrasions and a possible concussion."

The day of celebrations were naturally cut short as the Palace went into lockdown.

Today Emperor Franco Tornincasa IV was turning three. The nation was having a low key celebration because even though Aosta had a long history of celebrating its Imperial Family however Franco had never really been embraced by the people. His father had died along with his mother in a helicopter crash and while people were sympathetic to the orphan boy it was hard to feel attachment to a child who had been out of the media glare his whole life. For the time being his uncle, Prince Lorenzo, and his aunt,  Princess Brigida , were left to run the Empire. Today they were both making their way to the Imperial Palace to spending some time with their nephew on his special day. The Palace plaza had been sealed off and a party was being held, bouncy castles, games, rides, all things an active three year old would love. Lorenzo had been in Ovado for the last few days dealing with a variety of financial arrangements that the government was working on. Meanwhile his sister Brigida had been out in some of the Principalities that made up the Empire talking with them about various security measures. She was now en route via the streets of Ovado having flown to the nations main airport just twenty minutes ago. The car she was travelling in had stopped at a junction as her Imperial Carabinieri motorbike out-rider cleared the turn for them. Just as the final citizens car cleared the junction Brigida found herself thrown back into her seat as something impacted the car and a moment later all she saw was black.

It had only been thirty seconds at most when Brigida came too now lying on the tarmac in the road. The sound of occasional gunfire was the first thing she noticed. A Carabinieri officer was knelt beside her glancing over the rear of the car. Noticing the Princess stirring he turned back. "You ok?" He asked but Brigida heard him as though she was underwater. He asked again as he pointed at her and then made the thumbs up gesture. Brigida nodded slowly not sure if she really was. While they had been sat at the junction some kind of explosion had gone off in front of the car and then they had begun taking gunfire. Thankfully for the Princess the car was well armoured but the explosion had blown in part of the windscreen and now she could see the driver was dead.

Two more blue uniformed members of the Carabinieri  had now arrived on their own motorcycles and having parked in cover began unfolding their submachine guns. They moved over towards the Princess and while one kept watch the other checked her out for injuries. Apart from a probable concussion there seemed nothing wrong other than a few minor cuts. Sirens now filled the air as more and more help arrived, first the local police, then an element of the Palaces own emergency response team and while the fire from the office building across the road did itensify it was largely just inaccurate waste of ammunition. Three of the soldiers from the palace entered the office and around two minutes later a crescendo of gunfire could be heard and then over the radio calls of a need for a medic as the attacker had been shot. The lull in the shooting gave the Princess chance to get out of the area and while she was still complaining of problems hearing her new vehicle, a Carabinieri patrol car, took her to the units base in the capital where they had their own medical facility.

She wasn't the only casualty to arrive at the base as a few minutes later the shooter had been brought in. Along with the shooter his backpack, rifle, a hangun and a small rocket launcher had been discovered in the room he's tried to defend against the soldiers. The man had been shot several times in the torso and was in a bad way so the military medics took him straight to an operating theatre there would after all be questions to answer.

---

Meanwhile as soon as news reached the Palace of the attack on the Princess the party was over. Prince Lorenzo issued orders for everyone but his own family and the young Emperor were to leave. The huge palace emptied quickly and with the gates now locked a group of camo clad soldiers patrolled the plaza. They had lost one Emperor recently and Lorenzo did not intend to lose another quickly.

---

With an attack on the Imperial Family having taken place the overly protective arm of the Carabinieri  were tasked with the investigation and it didn't take long for them to discover that the man they had found had a heavily customised rifle. Everything about it seemed to be made to measure and it almost caused an arguement among the investigating officers about test firing it so nice was its construction. The weapon itself came from a company in Drenovia and as such their first move was to inform the Princess that they may need help from their southern continental neighbours. With that in mind a now hearing restored Princess requested the Drenovian ambassador come to the Carabinieri Base.

To the Membership

Over the last year or so the Empire of Aosta has on an individual basis sought closer ties to each member of the CNN. We have been impressed with the manner by which the organisation has worked together in order to try and support each other with their aims.

As such we would like to formally put on record our intention to apply for membership and as such would request guidance on the most potentially successful route to doing so. This is all of course assuming that as of yet we have no disqualified ourselves from membership. We believe our support of the search for the Morelander during the ongoing crisis in Lodja is a demonstration of the value we would bring to the CNN.

We look forward to your response.

 Princess Brigida Tornincasa

Thanks to Dave for the proof reading.

---

The Umberto was the perfect ship for such a scenario. The various systems had been finely tuned to allow it to suck in as much data and radio traffic as possible and now sat just outside the North of Lodja's EEZ with the Ansprand sat just a few hundred meters away should things get heated. They had picked up the message from the Herne that the Morelander was heading North, that could potentially see it pass close to if not into Aostan EEZ. As such They began marshalling in other assets. They'd got the Herne on radar and we expecting to get the Morelander on screen any moment, but it never came. A P-3 maritime patrol aircraft was ready to take a closer look if necessary and by now a pair of aircraft with anti-ship missiles were beginning to get close enough to act as a deternant should Leopold try and go further that way. Thirty minutes later still nothing and word was passed back to base.

As information passed it's way up the chain of command it was clear something odd was going on and a senior officer took the information to the two Regents. "Please pass this onto the Lodjains." Prince Lorenzo commanded.

"Which Lodjains?" Princess Birgidia added, "Their such a corrupt nation we have no idea who is on which side. We could very well pass this discovery onto their people and have it disappear or else be twisted. I believe therefore that we should utilise our agreement with the Morelanders. We agreed to maintain embassies with them and so I think we should call their ambassador here now."

Lorenzo didn't like to admit it but his sister was often right when it came to military matters and so he slid the telephone on the desk towards his sister and she made the call to trigger the Morelander ambassador being summoned.

"Well let us sign this." Princess Brigida removed a pen from the briefcase and quickly scrawled her name under the document before passing both the paper and the pen to King Finley. She then turned her attention to his concerns about wider Mundus.

"Now in regard with the Water Nomads they are one of the reasons why we are not so interested in TUNA at the moment. They are a group whose culture is very alien to us and the way things stand we would have no plans to give them a fast track to being citizens of the Empire. They so far haven't troubled our waters and we don't really have the same island interaction as Lodja. We have though seen the TUNA approach and I think it a fair one at the moment so we wouldn't interfere with TUNA's policy if that is wha you are asking."

The Princess next turned her attention to the Klara situation. "Lodja are generally good neighbours but we would be happier knowing exactly what the Queen is up to and where she is. At the moment she seems rather irrational however we do not have any issues at present. As you're in the CNN perhaps you can explain what you want to know in terms of the situation."

Princess Brigida was pleased that King Finley didn't rule out the nations ambition of joining the CNN down the line. She was confident enough that once she left the tiny village they would only need to build a friendship with the Maori. The offer Finley had put forward was not a bad one but she wanted to not have everything going through one port. So far they'd got a rail bridge with the Lodjains and if they could now open up a new route between those two CNN nations that could only be a positive for their potential membership bid.

"What I propose then is that our city of Alcuda on the East coast of our nation acts as a port of entry. Any raw materials and unprocessed items that land there from Ui cenneslag will be allowed to enter Aosta with no tariffs, on the condition that it conforms to our regulations, so for example we wouldn't allow you to send in say beef unless the cows standard of care is to a certain standard. It must also remain with in our borders, I think though we could perhaps down the line look at some agreement where goods crossing our border to Lodja could be exempt from tariffs too. Should something then move into say Marseilles we would then charge tariffs. I think then we should look at a lowering process on manufactured goods over the next five years aiming to ensure our goods entering Ui Cenneslaig have tariffs as low as any nation exempting your CNN buddies. This is something we are happy to support and think would work. We would though require details about which port you would open for us and some details about it's size and access to the rest of your nation."

The government of the Empire of Aosta are seeking to promote the economic development of countries known to have low GDP's. It is our belief that by supporting the growth of nations trying to develop their own economies both they and ourselves can prosper. As such we are extending the offer of a line of credit (not to be repaid) with our government as detailed below.

2020 - $450million
2021 - $400million
2022 - $250million
2023 - $150million
2024 - $70million

These figures however would be reviewed annually and subject to change. Conditions will be attached to how this money may be spent.

1) The funds may be used to pay for goods and services from businesses based in Aosta
2) The funds may not be used to pay for military equipment
3) Any funds not spent by the anniversary of this agreement will be forfeit.

It is our hope that should this agreement be accepted it can form a firm foundation on a strong future relationship based on trade and commerce between us.

We hope this offer is accepted in the spirit of friendship that it is offered.
Best Regards

Prince Lorezno
Regent of Aosta

Police today discovered the body of Duke Roberto Taiba in his sports-car outside the capital of Ovado. The Duke was married to the Regent, Princess Birgida between 2003 and 2011 before divorcing following "resolvable differences". Duke Roberto was discovered inside the car and police have explained that the cause of death was a single shot from outside the car to the temple. The Police as of yet have no suspects and no motive. It is understood that Princess Birgidia has been informed and that she is currently taking care of the former couples two children 13 year old Luca and 10 year old Esmerelda. Following his divorce from Princess Birgida the Duke never remarried however he was in a three year relationship with the daughter of the Duke of Lieose, Lady Carmella.

Security around the Princess and her family has been increased however it is believed that they are under no threat.

To: The Membership of TUNA

Having considered full membership of TUNA for some time we are still not confident that joining the organisation is in our best interests. We do however believe that we can be mutually supportive of each other and thus we would like to suggest the creation of a similar if not identical economic agreement as that which exists with TUNA and East Moreland. It is our hope we may be able to meet and discuss such a proposal soon.

Best Regards

Princess Birgid of Aosta

Walter Armani had to admit that this restaurant was rather special. The setting was something he'd never seen before and if the food was as interesting as the venue then he was pretty confident that it would be a good meal. He was rather pleased that the Emperor seemed intent to discuss business matters as making small talk was something he never considered a strength and he suspected that as someone the royals wanted to use for this kind of occasion he suspected he may need to improve that. "Any decision on the matters you've asked about are in need of approval by the Regents. I am confident however that on most of them you'll find the Empire happy to accommodate. You're a member of TUNA and it is an organization that we have some interest in building links short of full membership with. As such you can rest assured our nation will have nothing to do with helping the slave trade. I think you'll find the Regents are already enforcing the ideas you talk about and would welcome the trade conditions you propose. As for the second matter of a youth visa I suspect that as we would see easing of travel conditions one of the things we would like with TUNA that the agreement of a fast tracked youth visa a step towards that in the short term. If it eases Your Imperial Majesties mind then I'll be recommending that we accept both your proposals." Having given his view on behalf of the Empire he left the discussion to others while he tucked into the crab souffle.

Lorenzo felt slightly embarrassed, the island looked much bigger and so he had assumed it would have a decent sized market there but clearly now it was just a mere outpost of the Lodjains. He would clearly need to ensure he was better briefed for future meetings. "In the case of what you've just outlined I think we can therefore agree to the first plan we came up with. Therefore as things stand at the moment can we agree to the following."

The Nations of Lodja and Aosta agree to the formation of the Cross Albion Economic Corridor (CAEC). In this agreement the two nations shall.

1) Connect their freight and passenger rail networks on a route passing East to West across the continent beginning in the West at Ovado before passing through Rayo and terminating in the East at Gaia.

2) Agree a common practice involving rolling stock to ensure transit along this route is as expeditious as possible.

3) Designate a station handling freight at each city identified in Article 1 to be a Free Trade Zone. At these points the following shall apply.

a) Goods certified as being produced in the partnered nation may enter without import duty. To be considered as being produced in a nation a product must have had 75% of its manufacturing process take place in that nation.

b) Goods may be exported with no taxation or fees beyond those normally charged for use of the railway.

c) All goods entering must comply with local rules concerning health and safety.

d) Duties will be chargeable on products if they enter a 3rd nation having first entered the partner nation through one of the designated FTZ.

4) Prior to any other nation being added to the CAEC both Lodja and Aosta must be in full agreement.

Signed________________
Signed________________

"How does this appear?" The Prince asked his guests.

To:- His Majesty King Finley of Ui Cenneslaig

Since the death of Emperor Franco Tornincasa III it has fallen to myself and my brother to take care of the Empire for his son and new Emperor Fanco Tornincasa IV. The two year old Emperor is some way off fully inheriting the reigns to the Empire but as regents we have agreed that it is now our duty to ensure the Empire he finally leads is in a much stronger position internationally than the one our brother left. With this in mind I would be excited to meet with you and flesh out the beginnings of a strong relationship focused on co-operation across the Alucard and methods of improving trade. I hope that you would therefore permit me to come and visit you in Claith at your earliest opportunity.

Best Regards

Princess Brigida Tornincasa
Regent of the Empire of Aosta

"Your Divine Majesty its a great honour to meet you." Prince Lorenzo lied. He didn't really put much weight on the Lodjain royals because there was no way they had a long noble line such as the Tornincasa family had and then the insane belief that a Goddess lived inside this woman. "We have a great deal we wish to discuss." Lorenzo looked at the number of Lodjains and was worried that perhaps they hadn't brought enough cars to ferry everyone to the Palace but in his mind the Ladies in Waiting were just simply boubbles of the Queen's vanity and so he packed them off towards one vehicle while he rode in another with the Queen and her Finance Minister. "The Empire is exceited about what could happen here today. We're kind of in a strange situation of stradling the whole of Albion which at times makes our nations industries a little stretched. I hope we can today put aside the lack of co-operation in the past and put together an arrangement that helps both nations and allows us to both make some money for our people." To Lorenzo this was just a step on a road map to something bigger but with one step having been taken the second must now follow.

As they reached the Palace a huge marble forecourt was surrounded by high dark black iron fences topped with golden coloured spikes. The cars stopped on the spot appointed at the foot of the staircase to the Palace itself. "I wonder whether your traditions dictate us all meeting together" Lorenzo asked gesturing to the car with the four Ladies in Waiting exiting. "If you prefer I can arrange for your Ladies to tour the Palace and perhaps relax a little or naturally we can all meet together." Lorenzo awaited the Queen making her decision before heading inside the Palace to the lounge on the ground floor. It was one of his favourite rooms in the Palace as it caught the sun most of the day and the artworks of the various members of his family hanging on the wall always reminded him of when along with his older now deceased brother and his sister Brigidia the three siblings would sit with their parents and listen to stories about great-great-great-great-grandparents. He imagined in a hundred years time his own descendants sitting in the room doing the same but first he had a deal to conclude.

"If I may get us straight to the task at hand" The Prince presented a map showing the current railway network of Aosta, "The map does include what we know about the Lodjain network but I'm not entirely sure how accurate it is." Lorenzo shrugged his shoulders. "What we would like to create is a step further than where Ardia went with their Southern Line. They merely explored a high speed rail-link, I would like this to have more. What I envisage is a three step plan." He placed several overlays onto the map.

"First is that we connect our networks to ensure that all our major cities can be reached as swiftly as possible. For us it would be a single ultra high speed line from East to West with hubs along the way allowing passengers and freight to jump off and head North or South. Ideally I'd like to think that once completed the project would see freight be able to make the 5,000 or so kilometer journey from Ovado to Gaia in around 24 hours for passengers and 48 hours at most. That would require us having an average speed of around just over 100kph for freight, double that for passengers."

"The second step is to develop a common type of engine and rolling stock to make the process even quicker as we can interchange the loads and pulling engines as quickly as possible to therefore make sure that we can speed up the transfer of cargo and passengers after all they do say time is money and the aim of this project is to help us make money."

"The final step is the key I believe to making this work. I would like us to designate certain rail-heads as Free Trade Zones. I purpose one in Ovado, one in Rayo on our East coast and one in Gaia. They would be big enough to allow temporary storage of goods and materials while also allowing for speedy offloading onto more localised traffic. Any goods or materials that enter through one of these Free Trade Zones and originate from Aosta or Lodja will be able to enter tariff free. Should they then cross any national border a tariff will be paid. So if I may give an example. A company in Bemposta a small town just outside the capital of Ovado here. They make bicycles for the sake of the example. They load a container of their bikes onto a train in Bemposta which then moves to the local hub and onto our rail-link. 36 hours later it arrives in Gaia and is offloaded tariff free and the bikes then head in Lodja and lots of people enjoy riding them with their family. Meanwhile some of them head to a nation on your southern boarder and then the bikes would be liable to be charged a tariff. It would allow us each to have a controlled route into the markets of each other but also cut down the amount of time moving products across the continent as currently sea routes for bulky goods is a 17,000km sail assuming Runavik allow us to thread through their islands. What do you think of this proposal?"