Bridges in the Sky [ATTN: Federation]

[Ostmark]

CHARLEROI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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The presidential aircraft cut through the clouds like a silver arrow, leaving the familiar landscapes of Ostmark far below. President Karl Albrecht sat by the window, his thoughts a blend of anticipation and reflection. The journey to @The Federation wasn't just a diplomatic mission; it was a voyage into the heart of friendship, to reaffirm the ties that bound their nations together. As the plane descended toward Charleroi International Airport, Albrecht couldn't help but marvel at the modern skyline that greeted him. The aircraft taxied to a gentle stop, and the door swung open. A wave of cool air filled the cabin as President Albrecht, flanked by his delegation, descended the stairs. The awaiting Federation officials, with President Walter Langley at the forefront, greeted him with smiles and a sense of camaraderie that transcended mere diplomacy.

Albrecht gretted President Walter Langley and offered a handshake with a firm grip. "President Langley, it is both a privilege and an honor to be the first Ostmarkian President and Head of State to visit the Federation of Westernesse. I've always wanted to visit the Federation, a nation that has been a steadfast friend to Ostmark. Your support has been a guiding light for us during challenging times." As they exchanged pleasantries, the air hummed with a shared understanding—the understanding that, despite the geographical distances, their nations were connected by a shared history of support and a vision for a future built on collaboration and friendship.

The Federation's welcoming embrace, both in atmosphere and sentiment, set the stage for what promised to be a historic meeting between leaders and peoples, a meeting where bridges in the sky translated into bridges between nations, uniting them in purpose and shared aspirations. The story had just begun, and the chapters that unfolded in the Federation of Westernesse held the promise of strengthening the bonds between Ostmark and its friend on the other side of the globe.

As photographers took pictures of the historic moment, President Albrecht addressed the eager crowd of journalists and guests "Like i said to my friend here, President Walter Langley, it is both an honor and a privilege to be the first President of the Republic and Head of State of Ostmark to visit the Federation of Westernesse. I am here not only to reaffirm the genuine friendship between our nations and our peoples, but to personally thank President Langley and all the citizens of the Federation, for the support received during the last three years."

Albrecht then reached for his pocket and unveiled a small box. From inside the box he pulled out a five-pointed star medal bearing the colors of the Ostmarkian flag "And it is also my honor and immense privilege, to award President Langley the the honorific title of Hero of the Republic of Ostmark, which is awarded to individuals who actively contributed to the development and streghtening of the Republic of Ostmark, its international standing, its authority and its progress" he continued "For his diplomatic efforts in the defense of our democracy in 2021, and the continued support we received in the following years. President Langley, Walter, the Ostmarkian people do never forget their friends and your support and help will always be remembered by future generations".

 

[The Federation]

President Langley took the award and thanked President Karl Albrecht, turning toward the media surrounding them and smiling. "It is my honor to welcome President Karl Albrecht of Ostmark to the shores of the Westernesse for the first time. We welcome him in friendship and look forward to the strengthening of ties between our two great nations.

The two presidents were whisked away out of the cold and to the presidential helicopter where they would be taken to Cairnwood House, the Presidential Manor, a quiet oasis deep within the heart of Charleroi. President Langley sat across from Albrecht.

"It's a shame that you could not be here in the summer, Westernesse is a dreary place in the dead of winter, but perhaps that is a pertinent backdrop to this meeting. I can't help but feel that even though we have a avoided several brushes with global war that we are possibly careening toward another possible flashpoint. It is my belief that Ostmark will be the keystone of creating a lasting peace between the great powers of this world, but if anyone makes one misstep it could all fall apart. Even now I am under pressure from my own allies in Gallo-Germania to not speak to you at all! Luckily, though they have my ear, they do not lead me by it. I have attempted to be a voice for peace in this world as hard as that may be to believe, but I am forced by obligation to use the Federation's might to make our points, rather than through diplomacy. I need Ostmark to be the balancing point between the Federation and it's allies and the Tarusan Empire, otherwise I see another war at hand."

 

[Ostmark]

Albrecht leaned back in his chair, the weight of President Langley's words hanging in the air. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding.

"I appreciate your candidness, and I understand the concerns your allies in Gallo-Germania might have. It's not lost on me that we stand at a delicate juncture in global affairs, and every move we make could carry profound implications. I want to assure you that Ostmark is not taking these steps lightly, especially considering the complex situation in the Gothic Sea region."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "The non-aggression pact with Tarusa and the subsequent economic cooperation is not a decision made in isolation. It's a calculated move aimed at fostering a more harmonious and peaceful environment in Germania. For too long, our region has been marred by historical animosities and the looming specter of conflict between Ostmark and its eastern neighbor. I believe you would agree if i said that Ostmark needed to break this cycle."

Albrecht leaned forward, his tone earnest. "And I must be frank and transparent. You know as much as me that Ostmark is not a military juggernaut, nor an economic powerhouse. Our economy is stable, it is growing and enjoying the benefits of international trade and modernization.. but our ideological stance must align with pragmatic realities. We do not support authhoritarism, we do not support expansionism, we reject war and saber rattling. But we are Germania's lowest GDP.. and we cannot ideologically reject cooperation with Tarusa, we must secure our existence in one way or another, and also our economic prosperity. Under the new leadership of Tsar Konstantin, Tarusa offers a chance for positive change. The issues we, as the Republic of Ostmark, faced with the Tarusans were with the previous Tsar, Ivan. Konstantin has approached us on friendly terms, signaling a shift in our relationship. This, I believe, can only contribute to de-escalating the age-old tensions between our nations and pave the way for a future of peace. This does not mean that we support Tarusa's foreign policy or authoritarian system, but what happens in Tarusa stays in Tarusa. We have our own system, they have theirs and.. even if we wanted to pursue an ideological war against Tarusa, we'd stand no chance. We'd love to live in a world where democracy and freedom has triumphed, from Touzen to Westernesse, from the Gothic Sea to Himyar.. but we must accept the reality of the world we live in."

He gestured toward the window, as if symbolizing the broader horizon. "We seek a peaceful coexistence, not only for our sake but for the entire region, for the entire world. It's an opportunity for economic growth, for a stable peace and most importantly, stability. If we can demonstrate that old enemies can find common ground, we can set a precedent for a more peaceful Germania and, therefor, a peaceful Europe. I understand the concerns of the Hanseatic Republics and your allies, and I am committed to maintaining open lines of communication. Together, we can navigate these challenging waters and build a future where diplomacy prevails over conflict. In this aspect, i promise you that Ostmark will do whatever it can"

Albrecht offered a conciliatory nod, hoping to convey his sincerity.

 

[The Federation]

Langley listened patiently to Albrecht's response, "I understand completely and were I in your position I see myself taking the same steps that you are now. No doubt the people of Ostmark have put their trust in the right man. However the problem with Tarusa is that what happens there does not usually stay there and the rest of us have to deal with the problems they seek to create when executing their policies. This is not to say that I expect Ostmark to rise up and criticize everything that they do, but a word here and there might be all that it takes to change the course of a decision... Ah, it looks like we have arrived."

The helicopter set down and Langley and Albrecht were escorted into the warm presidential manor of Cairnwood House.

Now seated in the office of President Langley continued, "I hate to talk your ear off about Tarusa, but as you can see it is a major topic of discussion within the halls of Federation government. Take for example this new problem that has been created for me, We have been invited to discuss the future of the European Forum in your country, however only a select few have been invited to attend, by deliberately leaving out the Hanseatic League, the Tarusans have once again forced the Federation to make a decision. No doubt this was done on purpose, it is no secret that Tarusa loves to place blame on other nations for things like this failing when it was they who set it up to fail in the first place. If I listen to the pleas of my allies in the Hanseatic's then the Federation does not attend, the meeting falls apart and once again we are forced to defend ourselves against baseless accusations from Tarusa that we do not want peace to succeed. If I attend without the Hanseatics it looks like I am abandoning them. I must ask you for a favor, we will request that they be allowed to attend followed by your open support of the Federation's request. We think with your support, it will make Tarusa more open to the prospect and perhaps lessen tensions between your own nation and the Hanseatic League."

@Ostmark

 

[Ostmark]

President Albrecht considered President Langley's words carefully, nodding in understanding. As the helicopter descended, the landscape of Cairnwood House unfolded before them. They were ushered into the warmth of the presidential manor, where President Langley continued their conversation.

"I understand the delicate position the Federation finds itself in regarding the meeting in Wien. I want to assure you that Ostmark is committed to fostering an environment of dialogue and cooperation. While we are honored to host the meeting, we don't see ourselves as arbiters but as facilitators of discussion. If this meeting will become the first of many meetings, and eventually evolve into some sort of International Organization or authority, it is very unlikely that Ostmark itself will play an active part in it. We have yet to find out what the planned outcome is, even tho this does not mean that we will isolate ourselves from the rest of world. Like we always do, we must preserve our foreign policy doctrine of non-interference as to protect our nation from possible threats that we would not be able to counter ourselves. We also are in a very delicate position, and we must act accordingly."

He leaned forward, emphasizing his commitment to inclusivity. "But in the spirit of open dialogue and the friendly relations between our respective nations, the Ostmarkian government presided by Kanzlerin Berger will certainly support the Federation's request to include the Hanseatic Republics in the discussions. Like you I believe it's crucial that all relevant parties have a seat at the table to ensure a comprehensive and constructive conversation. I will use my influence to encourage Tarusa to consider this request seriously. It's in the interest of all involved that we work towards a more inclusive and cooperative future for Germania but, as i mentioned earlier, we shouldn't be considered as arbiters but rather as facilitators. The Government has no issues with the participation of the Hanseatic Republics, in a sense that we don't personally hold any hostility towards our south-western neighbors and we don't see any reason to prohibit their delegation to take part to the meeting, but i believe this decision has to be eventually taken by the main organizer of this meeting: the Empire of Tarusa"

 

[The Federation]

Coffee and tea were brought out to the Presidential office and drinks were prepared to the liking of both Albrecht and Langley.

"I understand your position, but It is my opinion and only my opinion that Ostmark has the chance to take this opportunity to find itself as more than just a facilitator of this event. The Empire of Tarusa may have called for it and we certainly will not argue against their role in organizing, but it is my belief that Ostmark should take the initiative it has here and seat itself at the table as more than just a silent watcher."

Langley took a sip of his hot tea and allowed it to warm him for a moment.

"This new organization needs to be a little more than what the European Forum was before it's fall, it needs to be more than a rubber stamp for the leading member nations. However I think we can discuss that more at the summit itself. All this time I have been talking about what the Federation needs from Ostmark and now I think it is time to talk about what the Federation can do for Ostmark."

 

[Ostmark]

Albrecht took a long pause and stared in the void for a few seconds, before going back to Langley

"What i fear the most, President Langley, is another war in Germania. Our economy will not survive another 'Days of Sorrow'. We need to work, and work harder, because all that my nation has to offer is a skilled workforce specialized in heavy industry, machinery, cars manufacturing, microchips, minerals extraction. We have some of the largest uranium deposits of Europe but.."

He paused, once again, then continued.

"We don't have the money to extract it. What Ostmark seeks is not merely investment, but a commitment to our shared future. A future in which Ostmark has an economy that can sustain the turbolent geopolitical dramas of Europe and Germania. We envision collaborative ventures that create jobs, stimulate economic development, and empower our communities and our workers. Investments in Ostmark will not only benefit our economy but also contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region as a whole. We need investment to fully unlock our economic and industrial potential."