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Diplomacy and Events / Re: Council of Albion - Message to Merina
« on: July 14, 2020, 11:45:55 AM »
Ife Atandje; Council of Albion Headquarters, Gaia, Lodja
Ife stifled a smirk at the little exchange between the foreigners, dutifully jotting down a couple of notes as he digested Lynwood's proposition and composed his own response. Between the Fleuroix prickliness and Tytorian presumption, these foreigners were hardly the formidable opponents his brother had warned him about, though this Bakkeryaman Duke - seemingly in concert with his Heliusan compatriot, the Lord Berisov - did seem quite set on getting their armies into Merina. It was rather fortunate that none of the other Merinans around the table seemed any keener on the proposition that he did, though perhaps it was those Merinans not around the table that ought to be troubling him.
In any event, he elected to speak for himself, tactfully skipping over the little spat:
"With regards to Duke Lynwood's proposition" He began, careful to keep his expression neutral "While we appreciate the indication that we may yet be able to come to a mutually acceptable compromise, alas, this is not so. I cannot countenance any such withdrawal of the Merinan security forces. We have fought, and fought hard, to secure the future of our country against the excesses of these terrorists, and it would be unthinkable to surrender any number of kilometres of liberated Merinan soil at this juncture. While we are concerned that, with each passing day and week of this ceasefire, violent extremism has further opportunity has further opportunity to embed itself in those areas of our nation remaining under terrorist occupation, we remain hopeful that the best interests of the Merinan people are truly in the hearts of all we privileged few who walk these hallowed halls"
"Therefore" He continued, allowing himself a meek smile "I would like to suggest the following compromise: observer teams - of a composition which is found acceptable by those represented here - will be attached to our Security Forces at the front, and given unobstructed access to the present ceasefire line. Similar teams can be dispatched to those areas currently under occupation to oversee the peaceable disarmament of these extremists - and I have confidence it may be peaceable, once suitable guarantees have been made here - with a view to discerning weather or not the remaining populations in these occupied areas do, once the threat of terrorist violence is removed, indeed desire to be liberated, or not, whichever the case may be"
"In return" He added, despite the rising feeling that he was pushing his luck here "I would like to see the present blockading force, the mighty fleet presently sitting off our coast, withdrawn. Weather or not it is intended, there is a threat implicit in the existence of such a force, and we believe the removal of such a threat would be conducive to a peaceful outcome. As a gesture of goodwill, we are willing to facilitate your bar on new imports of weaponry with joint inspections teams - of a similar composition to those attached to frontline units - being established to monitor shipping at Merina's deep-water ports, namely: Kankato, Qarkhoi and Donze"
There was an element of theater in all this. Ife had not, per se, gone out of his way to either shock or offend, though neither had he precisely expected such a proposition to be accepted without fuss. It was a measured withdrawal from his previous position, and one couched in language he hoped would appeal to the Council. The other Merinans around the table were no more pleasured to be described as 'terrorists' or extremists' as Ife was to be labeled as 'the regime', though while he possessed the diplomatic bearing to gloss over such clear and obvious bate, some others were not.
"Preposterous" The Eorl Belawi spat, quietly at first, his voice rising as he spoke "Preposterous! Extreme, the very cheek of it. Is it extreme for a man to live on his land - the land of his forefathers, and the land he'd pass to his own wee bairns, if he's so lucky - in peace? Are ye terrorized by me!? Good, you'd better be" That was aimed squarely at Ife, though the bombastic Eorl now shifted to address the Bakkeryaman Duke "When I wae a lad, my told me, he said 'son, aye, if ye fight ye may die, and them that run may live... at least a while. Death comes to us all. Every man dies, but how many take their place in the Valhöll as a man who has truly lived?' A grim man he was, aye, but true nonetheless"
"So listen this to me" He directed his ire back towards Ife, who remained impassive "There is a difference between us, aye there is. You think the people of your country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. So, listen here lad, I've a proposition of my own for ye. Have ye armies strike their colours and fuck off straight back to Merina, stopping at every Pindari home the' pass on the way te beg forgiveness for a hundred years of theft, rape and murde'. Do it, and ye men may live. Do it nae, and ye'll find nae peace in our hills. And maybe then we'll give ye reasons enough tae be terrified of us"
Between the wild eyes, the white-knuckled grip with which his good hand held the big oak table, and the fact that the point of his hook had embedded itself deeply into the hardwood surface, the Eorl made quite the impression. As he tore the tip irritably free, dislodging a chunk of timber in the process, the room erupted as the various Merinan delegations each attempted to talk over themselves, each other, and the assembled delegates.
"A peaceful Pindari?" The National Liberation Army's lead negotiator, Colonel Valentin Bemba, was heard to quip to a college "Didn't know they made them like that?"
"... two kilometres?" The exasperated voice of Noah Tergat emerged from the din "How are we to do that? The perimeter in Qarkhoi isn't that deep... not all the way round...?"
"...he's got a point about their fleet... don't give me that, what exactly do you think they'll do with it?..."
"Tamoran... slavers"
"...don't get me started on those bloody imperialist Tytorians..."
"At least Rokkenjima isn't involved... yet..."
"Shh"
"...don't you shush me..."
"Who does he think he is?"
"...thin end of the wedge..."
"...cochons anglais!"
"Shh!"
"Merde..."
Eventually, the little outburst did abate, and the room began to fall quiet again. Looking slightly abashed, despite his team having mostly stayed aloof of the worst of the tirade, Ife glanced to Lynwood, then to Alya, then finally to the Lodjan group, hoping someone had remembered his argument, or would at least seek to move the conversation forward.
Ife stifled a smirk at the little exchange between the foreigners, dutifully jotting down a couple of notes as he digested Lynwood's proposition and composed his own response. Between the Fleuroix prickliness and Tytorian presumption, these foreigners were hardly the formidable opponents his brother had warned him about, though this Bakkeryaman Duke - seemingly in concert with his Heliusan compatriot, the Lord Berisov - did seem quite set on getting their armies into Merina. It was rather fortunate that none of the other Merinans around the table seemed any keener on the proposition that he did, though perhaps it was those Merinans not around the table that ought to be troubling him.
In any event, he elected to speak for himself, tactfully skipping over the little spat:
"With regards to Duke Lynwood's proposition" He began, careful to keep his expression neutral "While we appreciate the indication that we may yet be able to come to a mutually acceptable compromise, alas, this is not so. I cannot countenance any such withdrawal of the Merinan security forces. We have fought, and fought hard, to secure the future of our country against the excesses of these terrorists, and it would be unthinkable to surrender any number of kilometres of liberated Merinan soil at this juncture. While we are concerned that, with each passing day and week of this ceasefire, violent extremism has further opportunity has further opportunity to embed itself in those areas of our nation remaining under terrorist occupation, we remain hopeful that the best interests of the Merinan people are truly in the hearts of all we privileged few who walk these hallowed halls"
"Therefore" He continued, allowing himself a meek smile "I would like to suggest the following compromise: observer teams - of a composition which is found acceptable by those represented here - will be attached to our Security Forces at the front, and given unobstructed access to the present ceasefire line. Similar teams can be dispatched to those areas currently under occupation to oversee the peaceable disarmament of these extremists - and I have confidence it may be peaceable, once suitable guarantees have been made here - with a view to discerning weather or not the remaining populations in these occupied areas do, once the threat of terrorist violence is removed, indeed desire to be liberated, or not, whichever the case may be"
"In return" He added, despite the rising feeling that he was pushing his luck here "I would like to see the present blockading force, the mighty fleet presently sitting off our coast, withdrawn. Weather or not it is intended, there is a threat implicit in the existence of such a force, and we believe the removal of such a threat would be conducive to a peaceful outcome. As a gesture of goodwill, we are willing to facilitate your bar on new imports of weaponry with joint inspections teams - of a similar composition to those attached to frontline units - being established to monitor shipping at Merina's deep-water ports, namely: Kankato, Qarkhoi and Donze"
There was an element of theater in all this. Ife had not, per se, gone out of his way to either shock or offend, though neither had he precisely expected such a proposition to be accepted without fuss. It was a measured withdrawal from his previous position, and one couched in language he hoped would appeal to the Council. The other Merinans around the table were no more pleasured to be described as 'terrorists' or extremists' as Ife was to be labeled as 'the regime', though while he possessed the diplomatic bearing to gloss over such clear and obvious bate, some others were not.
"Preposterous" The Eorl Belawi spat, quietly at first, his voice rising as he spoke "Preposterous! Extreme, the very cheek of it. Is it extreme for a man to live on his land - the land of his forefathers, and the land he'd pass to his own wee bairns, if he's so lucky - in peace? Are ye terrorized by me!? Good, you'd better be" That was aimed squarely at Ife, though the bombastic Eorl now shifted to address the Bakkeryaman Duke "When I wae a lad, my told me, he said 'son, aye, if ye fight ye may die, and them that run may live... at least a while. Death comes to us all. Every man dies, but how many take their place in the Valhöll as a man who has truly lived?' A grim man he was, aye, but true nonetheless"
"So listen this to me" He directed his ire back towards Ife, who remained impassive "There is a difference between us, aye there is. You think the people of your country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. So, listen here lad, I've a proposition of my own for ye. Have ye armies strike their colours and fuck off straight back to Merina, stopping at every Pindari home the' pass on the way te beg forgiveness for a hundred years of theft, rape and murde'. Do it, and ye men may live. Do it nae, and ye'll find nae peace in our hills. And maybe then we'll give ye reasons enough tae be terrified of us"
Between the wild eyes, the white-knuckled grip with which his good hand held the big oak table, and the fact that the point of his hook had embedded itself deeply into the hardwood surface, the Eorl made quite the impression. As he tore the tip irritably free, dislodging a chunk of timber in the process, the room erupted as the various Merinan delegations each attempted to talk over themselves, each other, and the assembled delegates.
"A peaceful Pindari?" The National Liberation Army's lead negotiator, Colonel Valentin Bemba, was heard to quip to a college "Didn't know they made them like that?"
"... two kilometres?" The exasperated voice of Noah Tergat emerged from the din "How are we to do that? The perimeter in Qarkhoi isn't that deep... not all the way round...?"
"...he's got a point about their fleet... don't give me that, what exactly do you think they'll do with it?..."
"Tamoran... slavers"
"...don't get me started on those bloody imperialist Tytorians..."
"At least Rokkenjima isn't involved... yet..."
"Shh"
"...don't you shush me..."
"Who does he think he is?"
"...thin end of the wedge..."
"...cochons anglais!"
"Shh!"
"Merde..."
Eventually, the little outburst did abate, and the room began to fall quiet again. Looking slightly abashed, despite his team having mostly stayed aloof of the worst of the tirade, Ife glanced to Lynwood, then to Alya, then finally to the Lodjan group, hoping someone had remembered his argument, or would at least seek to move the conversation forward.