Furthest Perimeter [ATTN TRIVODNIA BERGENHEIM ELBEN]

[Remuria]

The military attachés of the Grand Duchy of Nichtstein in each of Elben, Trivodnia and Bergenheim request urgent private audiences with the ministers of defence or foreign affairs of each of the listed countries.

Should such be granted in all due haste and urgency, the military attaché comes with a verbal message, studied and memorised letter by letter, phrase by phrase.

Specialist teams, Recon-Observation-Combat Control (ROCC), to be deployed. Low profile. No insignia. Confidential. CBS border. Authorisation required for immediate deployment. Should request be authorised, liaison expected at embssy with code phrase "quoth the Raven, Nevermore". Liaison to expect permanent basing at Embassy for the duration of operation. Should request be denied, a letter is expected with the code phrase "nothing more".

The attachés then finish the audiences and return to their embassies. All verbal communications would be denied though official channels if leaked to the public.

 

[Bergenheim]

First Fist, Minister of Defence, General Lotti Degurechaff found herself increasingly busy, much to her own private elation. She badly wanted to authorise this, and sensed that the development of things in CBS could only further the need for herself, her forces, and further her own career and potential to serve her country faithfully, and more importantly, kick ass while doing so.

Unfortunately, the message had come via diplomatic channels, which meant the Administration had to clear it, and give her orders to respond. And the House of Burghers would not formally reconvene untill Jan 1st at the earliest. Still, Archchancellor Vogt had summoned her, and a formal response would come.

But probably many days too late to make a difference.

So, she let her contacts in Trivodnia and Elbe know that this situation was out of her hands, heavily implying to go ahead with whatever was necessary while she waited for her own government to sort things out...

 

[Polesia]

With President Meier Lauterpacht having centralised all power and authority into his office, the communique from the Retalian military attachés came directly to him. The vacuum caused by the election had meant the national defence and external affairs ministries were staffed purely by apolitical functionaries, while the escalating regional tensions meant many accepted the need for decisive leadership - and action.

Lauterpacht didn't have to reread the message from the Retalians to sign off the request. "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore".

The Trivodnian President would soon learn of the Bergenheimer decision to decline the Retalians' offer. Yet the subtext from First Fist, Minister of Defence, General Lotti Degurechaff's message hinted she wanted to do much more. Lauterpacht decided he would reach out to her personally.

 

[Elben]

A note is delivered to the Nichtsteiner embassy in Eschenbach...

Nothing more.

 

[Remuria]

TOP SECRET

GRAND DUCHY OF RETALIA
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY

TO THE REPUBLIC OF @Bergenheim

ON AERIAL TRANSIT

The Grand Duchy of Retalia requests that Retalian military aerial assets be allowed safe and unimpeded transit through the airspace above Bergenheim, heading towards Trivodnia.

The Grand Duchy further requests that such authorisations be kept confidential between the two States.

 

[Bergenheim]

ON HONOUR MOST SECRET

Republic of Bergenheim
Office of the Archchancellor

TO THE GRAND DUCHY OF @Retalia

ON AERIAL TRANSIT

Acting in my full capacity as emergency-empowered Archchancellor, I must decline your request to move millitary material above or through our territory. I am sure I do not need to remind my esteemed counterparts in the Grand Duchy that to do so would faciliate most unnecessary tension, and jeopardise our status as neutrals.

Regards,

Sigrid Vogt

 

[Remuria]

TOP SECRET

Grand Duchy of Retalia
Defence Ministry

To the hands proper of Her Excellency the General Lotti Degurechaff, Minister of Defence of @Bergenheim

Dear Lotti,

I hope that some informality shall not put you off, as I'm somewhat less skilled with diplomatic flavourings.

Our formal approaches to your management appear to come back unfruitful and, I shall admit, my own management is finding the situation less and less... conciliable with what strategic plans my management has in their heads.

Now, you shall most clearly understand and know that I have already ferried some assets across your nation simply through civilian flights. I apologise for not asking in advance, yet given the current reactions, asking anything would've led to unnecessary delays.

In fact, I could proceed with the current ninja stealth arrangement even for larger scale movements. Going as far as painting military cargo freighters into less olive-drab colours to pass them off under civilian planes. We already have a couple shell companies in place.

At any rate, I would like to quite frankly discuss any creative ways for me to operate in your skies, without resistance from your side and without the need for me to disgrace fine military hardware with civilian livery. Or without me simply sending the boys and girls in with fine escorts.

Looking forward to your reply and suggestions.

Should you require anything from my side, whether high profile or low profile, please, I shall be happy to oblige. Unfortunately, my knowledge of your needs is lacking, so I will appreciate any orientation.

Most cordially,
Willhelm

Willhelm von Kappel-Touvinoff
Minister of Defence
Grand Duchy of Retalia

 

[Bergenheim]

BURN UPON READING
ON HONOUR MOST SECRET

Office of the First Fist
Republic of Bergenheim

To William von Kappel-Touvinoff of @Retalia

Dear Bill,

I like a man who can speak straight. As you may be aware, i am not one to stand on ceremony, and I speak as frankly as my position and powers allow.

It is not my place, and nor is this the time, for me to comment on upper management. Suffice to say they have very clear ideas about how things should go, and reality has...different ideas.

Concerning acts of trespass, I remind you of the old proverb: A dead man keeps all secrets, but between two or more there are none.

It would as such, be extremely irresponsible of me, as the nominal head of Bergenheim's National Defence, to suggest in any way that there are flagrant gaps in our radar coverage facing friendly nations such as Retalia and Eiffeland.

It would be borderline treasonous for me to go further and remind you that our air forces have been closely co-operating for decades, and that the National Air Force Reserve uses more or less the same air codes as your own nation and Eiffeland. I would never suggest you time your flights to coincide with when such....unworldly pilots were on patrol.

If I were to do such things, naturally, it would be a grave risk, not only to my position but to my freedom, and to my country. I would have to be owed a very substantial favour if I were to do such things.

I trust we understand each other.

Your Friend,

Lotti