Long Sea Cooperation Initiative [Attn: Eif, Aur, Ser]

[Serenierre]

Vice Admiral Pompadour noted that Minister Leverkuhn was a rather thirsty woman. Within the span of a few moments she had almost constantly been sipping her water. Perhaps she was on some drugs that left her especially parched.

“Well, Friuli and Nicosia are unobjectionable. However Lars is according to our intelligence, unreasonably close to the Post Delegationist ideology following the collapse of the previous government. We should be mindful of that. Furthermore, I believe the Pelasgians have done nothing effectively when it comes to their navy. I am surprised that Trier is willing to lean on their support even now,” the Vice Admiral was of course alluding to the Pelasgian refusal to aid Eiffelland in the war last year and its exit from the Trier Concord. “However, if an effective system which respects all our national interests is presented, Serenierre will endorse it.”

“Deputy Minister Mirza, I concur with you vis-a-vis the Engellexic. I am glad there is consensus at least on that point.”

 

[Ostmark]

"I am aware that such levels of cooperation between our countries have no precedent in our recent history. But the mere fact we all agreed to sit around this table and discuss the subject of piracy and maritime terrorism is, in my opinion, a great step forward. For now, i propose the release of a joint communique in which the nations of Ostmark, Auraria, Serenierre and Eiffelland-Retalia announce a close partnership and cooperation in the fight against piracy, in strict accordance with common international law and each according to its capabilities and available forces. This does not automatically translate into the establishment of a 'High Command' of any sort, but we should keep this table open to discuss further escalations or incidents that might occur in the Long Sea and in the Retalian Sea. The Volksmarine is ready to fully cooperate with the navy of the Union of Eiffelland-Retalia in the Eastern Long Sea and begin, by this evening, joint patrol operations in proximity of our respective territorial waters. Is there any volunteer willing to write the communique?" asked Horst Grasser.

 

[Rheinbund]

Minister Leverkühn didn't take any kinds of drugs. The reason why she drank relatively much water was a medical one: She was recovering from a pharyngitis resulting from a cold.

"Let me draft something," she said. She started to type on her laptop, and typed the following text.

The nations of Ostmark, Auraria, Serenierre and Eiffelland-Retalia, concerned about recent events in the Long Sea that are related to piracy or privateerism, and that have the potency to destabilise the situation around the Long Sea, announce a close partnership and cooperation in the fight against piracy and privateerism in the Long Sea and the Retalian Sea, in strict accordance with common international law and with full respect for the legal, social and commercial importance of free sea traffic. This cooperation is based on equivalence between Ostmark, Auraria, Serenierre and Eiffelland-Retalia. Each of these four nations will contribute to the cooperation according to its capabliities and available forces. This cooperation is not exclusive; other nations are encouraged to cooperate with us on keeping the Long Sea secure, and we will also individually cooperate with other countries when needed.

"I think we should not give this cooperation a formal character in the form of a treaty or an alliance." Minister Leverkühn added.

 

[Rheinbund]

Minister Leverkühn's mobile phone rang.

"Lady, gentlemen, please excuse me," she said. She walked out of the room and answered the call. It was Chancellor Rheinfeld, who informed her about the incident with the Espoo crisis and the Anti-State's ultimatum to Auraria.

"Das sind keine gute Nachrichten," Leverkühn said. She immediately realised that the Espoo crisis and the Anti-State's ultimatum. "Wie haben die Aurarier reagiert?"[That is not good news. How did the Aurarians react?]
"Zusammengefasst, die Aurarier haben eingelenkt," Chancellor Rheinfeld said. "Es wird also keinen Krieg geben. Wie geht's bei Ihnen?" [In summary, the Aurarians gave in. So there will be no war. How are things going at your side?]

Leverkühn gave a description of the events. She ended with the draft joint communiqué.

"Ehrlich gesagt, hat die Espookrise alles verändert. Wie die Sache jetzt steht, kann von einer gesamten Bekanntmachung, dass wir zwecks Stabilisierung des Langen Meers und des Retalischen Meers militärisch zusammenarbeiten werden, nicht die Rede sein. Die Fakten haben Grassers Initiative überholt. Aber meines Erachtens ist das nicht nur negativ, denn ich hätte es nicht für klug gehalten, wenn wir dieses Kommuniqué mitunterschreiben würden. Auch wenn wir klargemacht hätten, dass unsere Zusammenarbeit mit den Sereniern, Aurariern und Ostmarkern keine Allianz beinhalten würde, hätten Staaten wie der Natal, Engellex, Pelasgien, Beautancus und der Antistaat es als ein Bündnis angesehen. Und das hätte unsere Beziehungen mit diesen Ländern schwerer gemacht, denn die Regierungen dieser Länder hätten uns nicht mehr vertraut. Im Falle Beatancusses ist mir das egal, die Kussier hassen uns sowieso, aber im Falle der anderen Ländern ist mir das nicht egal. Ausserdem will ich nicht, dass wir in ein Zwangsbündnis mit den Serenier geraten. Sie haben schon gesehen, was es für uns heissen würde, wenn wir mit den Sereniern verbunden sein würden: Die behandeln uns jetzt schon wie Vasallen, das würde dann nur schlimmer sein, weil sie wüssten, dass wir nirgendwohin könnten. Jedenfalls haben wir jetzt einen guten Grund, das Kommuniqué abzusagen. Bitte machen Sie das," Rheinfeld said. [To be honest, the Espoocrisis changed everything. Like it is now, a joint communiqué that we will cooperate militarily to stabilise the Long Sea and the Retalian Sea is impossible. The facts tracked down Grasser's initiative. However, according to me, that is not only negative, then I would not have considered it wise that we would have signed this communiqué. Even when we would have made clear that our cooperateion with Serenierre, Auraria and Ostmark would not imply an alliance, countries like the Natal, Engellex, Pelasgia, Beatancus and the Antistate would have considered it an alliance. And that would have hampered our relations with these countries, because their governments would not have trusted us any more. I don't care in the case of Beautancus, the Cussians hate us anyway, but I do care in the case of the other countries. Furthermore, I don't want us to be forced into an alliance with the Sereniens. They treat us like vassals already now, that would be even worse when they would realise that we can't go anywere. In any case, now we have a good reason to cancel the communiqué. Please do so.]

After the telephone call, Leverkühn described the Espoo crisis to Grasser, Pompadour and Mirza, and then said: "I'm awfully sorry, but under these circumstances, we consider it unwise to issue this communiqué."

 

[Ostmark]

"The People's Republic of Ostmark will never tolerate or submit to the interferences of the Anti-State in its national affairs, and i am not willing to take part to talks or discussions with the Anti-State or any political entity associated with it" Grasser stands up from his chair and walks closer to a map of Gallia-Germania, pointing his left arm in its general direction.

He then turned around to his guests and continued "It seems clear to me that Gallia-Germania is not ready to set differences and old rivalries aside, even tho i do see some willingless to do that by all the representatives in this room. Our lack of action, however, allowed the Anti-State to prepare its next move - and by issuing an ultimatum to the Aurarine Republic, they made it clear that anyone who refuses to cooperate with the Anti-State, and do so at their conditions and with their rules will face retaliation, which equals war. This pre-condition leave no room for a debate or a civilized discussion with the stateless entities of the north and the far east."

Horst pauses for a moment and turns to the direction of a flag of the People's Republic of Ostmark standing in one of the corners of the room "We will not surrender this country and its people to the false song of post-delegationism and free market liberalism, even if it leads to a deterioration of diplomatic relations with the entire continent, or even with the whole of Europe. There are compromises we cannot accept, and when our national sovereignty is at stake, threatened by a degenerate ideology that seeks to dismantle the very fabric of our society and our nation, let it be known that the People's Republic of Ostmark Ostmark will never accept a capitulation and never accept any other terms except its own, at its own conditions. When the time will come, if the time will come, we will be prepared to defend ourselves."

 

[Serenierre]

Pompadour smirked. He didn't expect anything else from the spineless Eiffellanders. Their pretensions were laid bare. A toothless tiger. He was sure in Serenierre, it would be the talk of the town. Though he stayed quiet. He would wait to hear what the others said. Before commenting. Clearly, Eiffelland had shown the rest of the Long Sea nations, the terminal decline of its status as a power had begun.

 

[Rheinbund]

“Maybe it is good if I explain my stance a bit further. I did not say that I refuse to start the cooperation we are currently talking about. I only said that I consider it unwise to announce our cooperation to the international community. Given the fact that we are neighbourcountries along an internationally important sea strait, we have no other choice than to cooperate. Furthermore, given the fact that we border the Long Sea, we have a responsibility to keep it safe. On the other hand, we have to face the fact that the Long Sea is important to the complete international community. Not only to the countries bordering it, but to the complete international community. Trade between East and West goes through the Long Sea. We are not the only countries with an interest in the Long Sea. We have to realise that,” Minister Leverkühn said.

She looked around the table, took a sip of her water, and continued.

“Also I consider the position the Anti-State is taking strange. Auraria’s actions against the ship threatening Tauritania were justified. Auraria’s actions against the Espoo were justified. Apparently there were orders to destabilise Eastern Occitania. Whatever your opinions on the regime in Eastern Occitania are, this is condemnable behaviour. Auraria was in the right; Pohjanmaa was in the wrong. And the Anti-State is in the wrong with its support of Pohjanmaa in this matter. Clearly in the wrong. We would have supported Auraria when it would have come to war. However, I also have an understanding for it that Auraria was afraid of going to war, because such this war could follow some nefarious pathways. Furthermore, war should always be the last resort. If Auraria wants to find out if it can make the Post-Delegationist stop their actions in the Long Sea by first giving in to the ultimatum and start talking, then I consider that a good decision. Luckily, the Post-Delegationists are different kinds of people than the Cussians, who are only interested in intimidating and pushing forth its own agenda, while the Anti-State has voiced its intention to open discussions. In any case, this is all in the past now. Auraria has given in to the Anti-State’s ultimatum. We can have our opinions on whether this was a good decision or not, but the decision has been taken. We have a new situation now, so we have to change our plans. At this moment, we help Auraria, and ourselves, in the best way by supporting Auraria in the upcoming investigations and discussions on the events in the Long Sea gearing up to the current situation. We have to support Auraria when it shows all the evidence on the assault on Tauritania and the sinking of the Espoo. We have to make clear that Auraria was in the right. On the other hand, I have the impression that the Postdelegationist countries won’t stop arguing about the Long Sea before we listen to their arguments and take their concerns away. Of course we also must have a very thorough conversation with Pohjanmaa about its recent destabilising actions in the Long Sea, but then we have to make clear to them why their actions make us nervous, and why their actions have a destabilising influence on the situation in the Long Sea. And we have to get additional support on this.”

Minister Leverkühn took another sip of her water. Her throat began to ache again.

“Finally, we can have our opinions on Post-Delegationism. We in Eiffelland-Retalia have them as well, and they are such, that we don’t intend to adopt it. It won’t be helpful, however, if we refuse to talk to the Post-Delegationist countries. Simply because refusing to talk to them will lead to war, and war should be a last resort.”

 

[Serenierre]

"Merci beaucoup for your wise words, Madame Minister," the Vice Admiral smiled, "Among your talents, brevity too, it seems is your strength," you said somewhat sarcastically. God, that woman droned on and on. "So, what are the final intentions of the nations at this summit? Are we headed for an impasse? Or will we take something positive to our capitals?"

 

[Rheinbund]

Minister Leverkühn deliberately ignored the Vice-Admiral's sarcasm regarding her longwindedness. Her role was not to be brief and blunt, according to her.

"My suggestion would be to establish communication lines between our navies that we will use for handling safety issues in the Long Sea and the Retalian Sea. Those communication lines are unofficial; we won't announce anything about it. At the same time, however, we must be open for cooperating with Pelasgia, Engellex and, unfortunately also, the Anti-State for keeping the Long Sea secure. It is clear that the Anti-State fears that our actions have a negative impact on the freedom of access to the Long Sea. It is highly probable that Pelasgia and Engellex have the same fear, even if they didn't phrase it," she said. "We must be open for cooperation with those countries, otherwise I foresee that those countries will go to war."

 

[Ostmark]

"If the debate is about the cooperation of Gallo-Germanian nations with the Pelasgian Empire, an ancient state with a recognized status as Long Sea regional power, or Engellex, that's one thing. But cooperating with Post-Delegationists is unacceptable. We believe the report presented by the Aurarine Republic is true and unbiased. Post-Delegationist entities are funding, promoting and carrying out piracy and sea-terrorism to destabilize the region and use it as a pretext to increase their presence, a military one, infront of our coasts. This will likely allow them to create the premises for an attack, and our lack of action is fueling their confidence in their moves.

Cooperating with them would only reinforce the widespread opinion that Gallia-Germania is easy to bow down to foreign interferences, and the People's Republic of Ostmark cannot be part of this course of action. We will neither cooperate or come to terms to with the Anti-State, considering it recently enacted economic sanctions against Ostmark and the way it influences the World Zionist Congress to promote unrest here in Wien and discredit my government.

Nobody in this room questioned the importance of trade and the passage of trade vessels in the region, but who attacked first, sinking a civilian vessel in an act that can be described with no other words but piracy and sea-terrorism? The same people who are moving their fleets and submarines in our backyards on the premises of protecting so-called 'free trade'. Assuming the Post-Delegationists will declare war on a Gallo-Germanian nation, how will they sustain prolonged combat activities so far from their homeland? What bases will they use to support their fleets and their troops? And how will they keep up a chain of command and supply, considering their rejection of delegation and the lack of allied military infrastructures in the region? Gallia-Germania can either react with a show of force and keep far eastern barbarians out of OUR sea, or allow political degeneracy to infiltrate our societies and wait for the next Post-Delegationist burst, this time in our backyard.

The main goal of this summit was to formulate an answer common course of action in the face of growing threats from an enemy that we couldn't see, identify and track down. Now we know who the enemy is. The answer of the People's Republic of Ostmark is: Not a step back!"

 

[Rheinbund]

"Well, that's clear then," Minister Leverkühn said. She decided to give in on Volkskanzler Grasser's wish regarding a stance towards the Postdelegationists. At least for now. Later on, the harsh stances of Grasser and the Sereniens could be used in a good cop bad cop strategy against the Postdelegationists, where Eiffelland-Retalia would take up the good cop role.

 

[Serenierre]

As the meeting concluded, it did not surprise Pompadour that Leverkuhn was convinced by the Volkskanzler's robust stance. The Vice Admiral was impressed at his approach and advice and would certainly communicate the same to Premier Martinique. In this day and age, such brilliant foreign policy moves by fellow Marxist nations was a huge asset to Villesen. He wondered if Grasser could predict his rise in Villesen's estimation and all that meant for his economy.

 

[Oneida]

Adilah was quietly scrolling through her phone as a flurry of text messages were coming in, alerting her to what was happening in Solis. If all the messages were true, then Solis was facing a humiliating defeat. She hit the lock button on her phone and the black screen reflected her face – she could see her own worry.

It was stunning to her that in this conference she would leave having a stronger opinion of the tyrannical Volkskanzler than the Serenien.

“Minister Leverkühn,” her silence finally broke “The Aurarine Republic gave into nothing. The Anti-State gave an order that it would attack the Republic should its ultimatum not be met. After that threat, the only nation here that took a strong stance was Ostmark. The silence of the Eiffeloretalians is deafening and Premier Martinique’s abrupt betrayal undermined the Republic more than anything else and galvanized the continent’s enemies.”

“If this is how Gallo-Germania’s powers will respond in times of crisis then what hope do we have?”