In typical Izhitsan fashion, the letter arrived with enough stamps to make a philatelist swoon. Izhitsa's postmen charge a high but fair price, considering the dangers of traversing Izhitsa and the amount of foreign currency required to get a letter mailed internationally. And for a letter like this, you're willing to pay anything.
(https://i.imgur.com/b17TRko.png)
Formal Invitation to Izhitsan Aid Conference
To whom it may concern,
Izhitsa welcomes the many offers of aid it has received from, among others, Achkaerin, Fleur, and Clysperis. So that some order may be maintained in the disbursement of such aid in Izhitsa's carefully-balanced situation, we now invite delegates from countries willing to aid us in our plight to participate in a conference to organise this aid. Delegates will arrive at Hrada Airport and will be given police escort to the New Generation Tower, which will provide accommodation and meeting place for the duration of the conference. Live translators are available for speakers of Fleuroix, English, Latin, and Parthian.
The Provisional Government of Izhitsa is genuinely trying to leave a lasting, positive legacy on Izhitsa, and hopes that with your help, we can bring Izhitsa safely into a new era.
Signed,
Antek Dzhavid, High Lord of Yach
Matvey Karamovo, Chairman of Izhitska Ednota.
OOC: This is specifically targeted to Achkaerin, Fleur, and Clysperis, who have offered food aid to Izhitsa due to the ongoing food crisis, but feel free to join in if your country is concerned about the issue.
(https://i.imgur.com/GjUnwRN.png)
To whom it may concern,
The Achkaerinese Government will be happy to participate in this conference, representing us shall be Senator Hannelina Porter who is the Minister of Foreign Aid and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Richard Chambers. We look forward to a productive and successful Conference.
Signed
Consul Michael Williams
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZKFKGR4N/Coat-of-Arms.png)
The Kingdom of Clysperis has received your invitation and shall be in attendance to assist Izhitsa through these times of turmoil. Any time a nation is sat upon such a precipice there is an opportunity for the Orient to swoop down, bringing promises of aid and assistance, only to impose upon such measures concessions and conditions. It is my hopes that we may avoid that in this present situation and may ensure that the true matter of concern, the only one which should be considered at this time, is a path which sees Izhitsa restored to her feet and the needs of her People taken care of above any other concerns.
I shall be joined by my Vizier in attending these discussions and look forward to what we shall be able to accomplish for your People.
Akasha Di-‘nh-mi-Re, Sovereign of Sovereigns, Divine of Appearance, Beloved of Amun, Chosen of Ra, Lord of the Three Lands, Ruler of Justice like Ra, High Priest of Every Temple, the Eye of Horus, Satisfied is the heart of Ra.
Two men sat at an amphitheater in front of the exceedingly misnamed New Generation Tower. Built in 1972, it was originally the headquarters of Bartosh-Zenit, a now-defunct mining company that, at the time, accounted for nearly 7% of Izhitsa’s foreign trade by itself. In a speech by Roman Bartosh, the building was dedicated to “the bright people of the rising generation and the future of Izhitsa.” The effect of the speech—and Mr. Bartosh’s suit—was somewhat dampened when a bright person of the rising generation shouted obscenities and threw a half-empty bottle of vodka at the podium.
Bartolomey (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1720.msg15316#msg15316)looked down at his watch. “They should be arriving about… now!”
They sat, staring out at the road, listening to the wind.
Dushan (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1720.msg15315#msg15315)looked down the road. “I don’t see the motorcade. Maybe they got delayed.”
The road leading to the New Generation Tower had been cleared in anticipation of the delegates to ensure that everything went perfectly. The rooms had been prepared days in advance. A separate car had been prepared for each delegate. The local government had even gone to the trouble of painting over some of the more shocking graffiti. But now there was just this one hitch.
“It’s probably nothing,” said Dushan. “No one’s called us on the radio.”
Bartolomey frowned. “That could just mean that something’s gone very wrong.”
“Wait, I hear something.”
(https://www.ramblinrandy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RAMBLIN-RANDY-SERBIA-BELGRADE00023.jpg)
The view that greeted the delegates as they arrived at the New Generation Tower
Coming up the road was a fleet of Poutniks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_M38A1), courtesy of the Izhitska Ednota Partisan Brigade, surrounded on all sides by a brigade of Hrabohrada police cars (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Zastava_Skala_55_policija.jpg). Dushan brushed some dust off his trousers as the pair rushed to the street to meet the motorcade. The driver of the first car stepped out of his Skala. “Sorry for the delay, Mr. Hatsek,” she said. “A couple of the translators got into an argument. It’s under control now. Sir.”
“Never you mind,” said Bartolomey. “You’re here now.” He straightened himself as he and Dushan waited to greet the first of the delegates as they stepped out of their Poutniks.
3:00 arrived, and the delegates were brought one by one to a meeting room on the other side of the tower. It was clear that some effort had been made in preparing the room to meet the delegates' standards. They'd even brought in a video projector to replace the old overhead projector that had lasted the building through three owners and a war.
(https://i.imgur.com/TiFgTWT.png)
The Izhitsans were already seated at the front. On the right side of the room sat Matvey Karamovo and Dushan Ondrevich, and on the left were Antek Dzhavid and Bartolomey Hatsek. The translators fitted the delegates with earpieces before standing behind them and putting on their own. One of Karamovo's assistants, smartly dressed, sat behind a computer which looked like a direct import from 1998.
Dzhavid cleared his throat as a slide depicting a map of Izhitsa appeared on the screen. "Honored guests," he said, "You know why you're here. Izhitsa is unable to feed itself, and as members of both the local community—" he gestured to the Achkaerinese and Clysperi— "and the republican community—" he gestured to the Fleuroix and Tytorians— "you have admirably answered our call for help."
Karamovo coughed. "But," said the Chairman, "you'll need our help to organise your efforts to truly help our people. Next slide, please, Gabriela, thank you." The screen now showed the agenda for the meeting. "First, we'll be explaining the lay of the land and the needs of the people. Then, we'll be discussing what resources you have to spare, before coming to an agreement about the distribution of those resources." He paused for nods and murmurs of agreement.
"Let us begin with the Ved Region," he said. The screen changed to a map of the region.
(https://i.imgur.com/q4brhQt.png)
Karamovo frowned. "Gabriela, wasn't the map supposed to have roads on it?" His assistant shrugged. "Hm. Well, that's okay. First, you'll notice that this is the only region that is split between the administrative zones. This is because the region presents a significant governance problem that can't be overcome by just one alone. As the center of the rebellion, it not only requires significant policing, but also is littered with the discarded mines and munitions of the nationalist cowards."
Dzhavid spoke up. "You'll notice that most of the major cities are on the Izhitska Ednota side, while the more rural areas are under Yachese control. This was done to make use of the communists' labor connections and my own military's mobility advantages." At the phrase 'my own military', Hatsek's face involuntarily twitched into a scowl before quickly returning to its normal, more placid expression. "Ved's most defining feature is its extensive forests, which can be found anywhere there isn't cultivation, and which have been littered with landmines since 2018. Our most pressing food supply issues here are in Fara and Hrada, which each each have about 300000 inhabitants each."
The slide changed to a different region of Izhitsa.
(https://i.imgur.com/VLgnVgt.png)
"This is Kher," said Karamovo. "The land is fairly hilly before it joins the Shtan plateau. The area south of Kherhorod has always lived on food imports from Kherhorod. That reliance put about 3 million people at risk of starvation in mining towns across the mountainside once food prices started rising. With our rationing, we've been able to reduce that to about 700000."
Karamovo signaled for his assistant to change the slide.
(https://i.imgur.com/V3NyiJS.png)
"This is Dzelo," said Dzhavid, taking a sip of water. "In a way, Dzelo is the reason you're all here today, because it was Izhitsa's traditional breadbasket. The nationalists decided, during their retreat, to burn and loot the countryside while riddling the area with landmines. As a result of this, the area is in almost complete ruin."
Karamovo coughed into his fist. "Not to mention a certain accident caused by someone's military in Trkh."
Ondrevich tapped him on the shoulder. "Chairman, perhaps now is not the time—"
A fire lit in Dzhavid's eyes. "Chairman, there is no proof that the fire was caused by our airstri—"
"No proof?" said Karamovo. "None but the eyes of dozens of young partisans who—"
"Gentlemen, please." Hatsek stood up and whispered something into their ears. The flush left the Chairman's face and the fire evaporated from the High Lord's eyes as they continued their presentation. "As I was saying," said Dzhavid, "Dzelo represents our strongest challenge. About five million Dzels survive on government benefits alone. In addition, the mines need to be cleared before the area can be cultivated and we can turn Izhitsa into a self-sustaining country again."
Karamovo's assistant moved on to the next slide.
(https://i.imgur.com/IZSA39R.png)
"This is Shta," said Karamovo. "The first thing you'll notice is that there's quite a lot of it. However, only around 7 million people live there, mostly in self-sufficient mining communities. Part of our effort in Izhitska Ednota has been to settle people in more such communities across the area to relieve pressure on our food system. The land is mostly mountainous, but we've had a lot of success with small terrace farms and herding across the region. A few of the towns there, mainly Khorska Pevnot and Dozortse, relied mainly on tourism and food imports. However, they are well-covered by our rationing program."
Dzhavid cleared his throat as the slide changed again.
(https://i.imgur.com/vVS4Cca.png)
"This is Yach," he said. "Don't let your eyes deceive you. It's very much as large as it seems." There was an awkward pause as he waited for a chuckle which never came. "Anyway, while we have about 17 million citizens, we're generally able to keep them fed reasonably well. Our main concern is the refugee camps that have grown around our cities, primarily displaced people from Dzelo. Our current estimates show about 2 million people living in camps from Tilhuitnah to Assif Ushaa, with poor sanitation, low access to food, and high rate of disease. We've been trying to help them as best we can, but there just isn't enough to go around at the moment."
Ondrevich cleared his throat. "Before we continue, are there any questions on the state of Izhitsa for the Chairman or the High Lord?"