Peace Through Infamy [Solaren Theatre]

[Rheinbund]

An airbase camp in Lorraine

"What will we say to the others when we return?" The Montelimarian female pilot Valérie Hainaut asked Prince Johann in-between two kisses. They were lying naked on the Prince's camp-bed.
"I don't know. Let's say that we played rummykub together," the Prince answered.
"Haha, they'll never believe that," Valérie said.
"Yeah, indeed, on second thought... I can't even play rummykub," Prince Johann said.
"Haha, come here," Valérie said while pressing the Prince tight against her...

Prince Johann was one of the pilots currently stationed in Lorraine. He had insisted on it that he would go there. Indeed, he could have used his name to stay on the background, but he thought that that would harm his credibility. He wanted a career in the air force, so that meant that he sometimes had to act in a war. Like this time.
Two hours ago, he had returned from a patrol flight over the Long Sea. He had heard about the Nicosian fishers that had been ambushed by Solaris vessels, but he hadn't seen anything suspect. Nevertheless, Solaren seemed to have awakened out of its frozen status. Johann knew what that would mean: Danger. But he wasn't afraid. He was a well-trained pilot, and he was eager to show what Eiffellandians are worth when the going gets tough. He was ready for action.

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Syracuse, Nicosia
Royal Residence

The tiny 18x12 room's maple paneled walls bounced back almost every sound. The dozen or so ministers, nobles, and military leaders made the room an almost indelible noise as they chatted. Most were discussing the Marco incident. Each throwing out their own opinions as to the next step. Nicosia had to do something. The government had been able to keep the details quiet. All that had been reported was another incident of harassment on the Long Sea instead of the boarding and beating of a crew. Most who had real ambitions tried to crowd around the Chancellor; who for once, had no idea what the meeting was about. Finally, the loud room grew quiet as the door swung open. Almost everyone leaned to look in anticipation as the doorway remained empty.

After a few moments, the hulking body of King Alexander entered and everyone came to their feet. He moved quickly to sit down, holding his large paw like hands in the air in an effort to silence anyone. "Ladies and gentlemen, I think you can figure out why we are or at least what we are meeting about. This road has been long and is about to get longer. Today, I have contacted our allies and informed them that we will be declaring war" said the King who was cut off by various comments by those in protest. "As I was saying, we are putting Operation Urban Renewal into effect. We will work together with our allies to bring those responsible for the past atrocities to justice and we will leave Solaren a place of freedom with a bright future" said the King. Immediately, Chancellor Valdez protested further "Why was I not informed? Why?" asked the Chancellor.

The King sat silent for a moment. He knew he needed to be firm on this issue in front of those in attendance. After all, Valdez was arguably the second most powerful man in the Kingdom and he had the respect of many domestically and internationally. Alexander knew his monarchy was a dinosaur among the new and sleek democracies. "Chancellor Valdez," began the King softly, "out there it is 2011" said the King pointing with a large and meaty finger. "In here, it is 1600 and I am the King and I say when we go to war" said the King loudly and harshly, pointing to the floor with the same finger. Alexander became abruptly calm, "My dear Carlos, in the near future we will have a democracy in this Kingdom and you will undoubtedly play a massive hand in that future but so long as I have the keys to the house my word is law"

 

[Lorraine]

Lorraine-Solaren Border
5km South of Briançon

Capitaine Pierre Maritan stared out of the CP bunker across the frontier into Solaren, just as he has done every morning since his tour of duty on the border started three weeks ago, and just like every morning, there is very little change. Turning away from the view, and picking up his cup of morning coffee, he looks towards his XO, Lt. Michel Jarre.

"And they are sure that the patrol did hear the sound of vehicles across the border?"

Lt. Jarre looks down at the report then back to his commanding officer.

"Yes, sir. Sgt. Roche himself was leading the patrol and heard it. Definately heavy vehicles, though at a distance, and only when the wind was out of the south, so he couldn't make out numbers."

Maritan could only frown as it wasn't much to go on, though it was a bit more than the nothing they have been going on for the past weeks.

"Send the reports up battalion, maybe they will have more to go on. Also, considering the trouble on the Long Sea, I want you to question every soldier on every patrol, especially the night patrols, they may have also heard something and let it go thinking it was just their imagination. I want to know if this is an isolated incident or are the Solari up to something."

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Bormia Air Station, Nicosia
1500 hours

The Colonel could hear the men joking and the murmur of what must be gossip. The small room was packed with every combat pilot that Nicosia had, about 16. The Royal Nicosian Air Force was a somewhat elite field of pilots. This was possible by the tiny number of pilots and aircraft. Many frequently attended overseas training with EDF nations and all had been hand picked. The Colonel finished his call and opened the door. Suddenly the room grew quiet as the pilots came to attention.

"Be seated" said the Colonel as he took to a podium on a small stage. He could feel their anticipation. Most of the pilots were around 30-35 but the squadron leaders were much older and the three newest pilots were only around 25, one of which was a woman. The Colonel could feel them all chomping at the bit. He couldn't help it as he began to speak, a smile spread across his face- "Lady and Gentlemen, welcome to Operation Urban Renewal". He had scarcely finished saying the words before a loud cheer went up from the small number of pilots.

"Quiet down, quiet down. We will be joining coalition aircraft in preliminary strikes against Solaris forces. The main assault will be conducted by coalition aircraft against airfields, air defenses, and command structures. We will support them by using our strike aircraft against the Solaris fleet at Montevago. Our airspace will be defended by Eiffellandian aircraft stationed here. Our target are the frigates and corvettes stationed in Montevago. We will be using long range anti-ship missiles. Our goal is to cripple if not sink at least 2 ships. Squadron leaders will brief you further. We have no date set but as of now, you are all on alert" said the Colonel as a few claps went up from pilots. He almost turned to leave but a thought glued him in place as the cheers died down.

"A word of this...to ANYONE and you will be spending the rest of your lives loading luggage at the airport"

 

[Lorraine]

Royal Palace
Metz

King Charles V has sat listening to his top military and foreign advisor for the past two hours. Through most of his reign, Solaren has always been one of those matters that has been part of every discussion concerning defensive matters and it has been that way since the day Solaren theocracy was founded. Every royal advisor has said that the country was not only a blasphemy but posed a clear and present danger to the sovereignty of Lorraine. Though Charles could not argue to the contrary, other than what has been done in the past, that is heavily fortify the southern border, not much else has been done about the anti-Popes in Torrance except maintain a watchful eye and a ready military....that is until recently.

With Urban IV in now in power in Solaren, the the likelihood of a war is the greatest it has ever been. With the Nicosian Affair, the Solaren seizing civilian Lorrainian vessels and Solaren troop increases along the border, King Charles forsees that it will be during his reign that the Solaren question will finally be answered.

"....and it was not only the report from Briançon, but a dozen other spots along the border was the sound of heavy equipment being moved was heard," Marshal Desmarets was saying," and in most cases it was believed the movement was towards the border, not away. Checking satellite survailence, additional heat signatures from vehicles have been detected and considering the locations and positioning, indicate a more offensive deployment than a defensive one. There, Your Majesty, I ask permission to deploy additional mechanized forces to the border as well as artillery as air support."

When the Marshal finishes, Charles looks to the man next to him.

"Does the Secretary of War concur of additional ground forces?"

The Marquis de Louvois stands.

"I do, Your Majesty."

Charles had no doubt that the Louvois would agree with the Marshal, but out of coutesy, he still asked. Next, Charles looks to the Secetary of State of the Air.

"And what of you, Seigneur de Beaulieu? What does the Air Force have to say?"

Though Beaulieu was head of what one would call the junior ministry, as both of the positions of Secretary of War and the Navy had been around for centuries, the modern world had made the air force indispensible, and so Beaulieu's opinions held a great deal of weight.

"Your Majesty. With our own air forces, in addition to the rest of the coalition, we estimate we have a overwelming numerical advantage over the Solarens, so any conflict that starts, I am confident we will be able to obtain and maintain air superiority. That being said, it is my opinion that, so as to keep casualties on our side to a minimum, that we, the coalition, should conduct surgical strikes to iliminate Solaren air defences and bring Urban to his knees quickly and not wait until he attacks us. To wait until he is ready to strike would not be a wise move on our part."

Charles looks at his Air Force minister with surprise. Undoubtably he has been talking to his EDF counterparts.

"Though I am not advocating a first strike, I do agree that, if a war starts, it should not be Urban that sets the time and the place of his convenience. But if this is going to be a EDF operation, we will need to have a mission plan. We are in the end responsible for the defence of Lorraine, and it is your job is to make sure that if Urban decides to attack, we are ready for him, but if we go in after him, we and the EDF need to be on the same page, so I want to see plans before I agree to any offensive operation. Marshal Desmarets, that is now your job, you are in command of all Lorrainian forces. Do what needs to be done, but no Lorrainian will cross the border without my expressed permission. Is that clear."

Marshal Desmarets comes to attention.

"As you will it, Your Majesty."

 

[Montelimar]

An Airbase in South-Central Lorraine

10:00 hrs
In the airbase headquarters building, the commander of Montelimar's air forces in Lorraine watches as his squadron and other unit commanders as they file into the briefing room. Général de division aérienne Charles Delancy, or Major-General by EDF terms, has just taken official command of the ęr Escadres Expéditionnaires or 1st Expeditionary Wing of the Royal Montelimarian Air Force. Made up of three attack squadrons and one fighter squadron as well as a myriad of other support units including maintenance, logistics and security, Gen. Delancy now commands the largest single force deployed outside of Montelimar in decades. Stepping up to the podium, the room goes silent as Delancy speaks to his subordinates.

"Officers of the First Expeditionary Wing, as there is much to do still, I will make this short. We have been sent here for one reason and one reason only, to fight the Black Templars of Solaren. Though we will show all due respect to our Lorrainian hosts as well as our EDF allies, we are not here to indulge in making friends or to be Montelimar's ambassadors of good will, that is the job of politicians and diplomats back in Valmy. We are here to do what we are trained to do, simply said, to kill people and break things."

"Since we are not privvy to the whens, wheres or hows of the enemy's plans, we need to be ready for all contingencies, therefore, I want readiness reports from each and every command by 16:00 hrs, and do not dissapoint me. Of you who have served with me before, let those who haven't know what happens when I am disappointed. Dismissed."


Fecamp Naval Base
Montelimar

With the docks of the base busy unloading equipment and supplies from far off Anglyn and Guiana, the aircraft carrier Brissac and its escorts leave port. Though its destiny is not known to those who watch the huge carrier depart, they guess that it was bound for the Long Sea would be only partially correct, though now that Carentania was also making noises, the battle group might just be needed there after all.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Long Sea

The EDF was up to something - and there was little doubt it was an attack on Solaren. Carentania had carefully observed the suspicious troop movements, as had it recorded the activity of EDF forces within the Long Sea, for quite a while now. This sea, the Long Sea, was Carentania's Sea after all, it was it's backyard, it's hometurf and, perhaps more importantly, it's lifeline as the country slowly became more and more dependant on ressource imports to fuel its industry. A war in those waters was both a danger and an insult to the aspiring regional power - but perhaps more worrying was the prospect of EDF expansion into a country of such strategic location. The axis Carentania-Coronado had guarantueed the freedom of the Long Sea to the socialist world. An EDF-controlled government in Solaren could easily tip off the scale, placing the Workers' Republic in a rather disadvantageous position.

Carentanian destroyers, a few of them newly built and with crews that had been placed together just recently, were running patrols in the Long Sea as they always did in times of tension around Carentanias borders. Their runs were extended far north, to monitor the shores of Solaren as well as Nicosia with fully active RADAR systems, noting the presence of each and every ship and plane in the area, keeping tabs on those believed to be of EDF or Solaren origin. It was a staple of Carentanian defense policy, almost an obsession which however, so the Commissariate for Defence hoped, would allow for a devastating first strike against anyone who could pose a danger to Europe's oldest socialist society. If ever needed.

The imminent EDF war on Solaren was an insult and a danger to Carentania, there was no doubt about it within the ranks and files of Carentanias government and military. And yet, there was indecision. Striking against the EDF could be mislabeled as support of Solaren, the "Arch-Reactionaries of Europe", as the Carentanian propaganda-term for them did go. Even worse, the EDF was large and powerful, with many times the military and industrial strength, as well as political influence, that Carentania could muster. Carentania's military capabilities, it's well-educated officers and brilliant generals were respected throughout Europe and even ideological enemies sometimes grudgingly admitted it. But there was only so many times one could defeat odds and an exhaustive prolonged campaign against the EDF was certainly not in the best interest of the Workers' Republic.

So the forces of Carentania stood idle for now, restraining themselves to the mere role of careful observors, dutifully noting each and every move of the hated imperialists, waiting for the response of the fundamentalist lunatics - while the Commissars at the top of Carentanias government debated about the most sensible of the many possible paths the Workers' Republic could take from here on out.

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Senior Staff Officer's Meeting
Camp 6, Southern Lorraine


General Storace slowly brought the room to order. A handful of division and regimental commanders had taken over the camp's briefing room. Many were professional soldiers, but many still were reserve officers. A room full of Colonels, Majors, and a few Generals took a bit of time to reign in.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Let us begin. Operation Urban Renewal. Now, what happens here, stays here for now. You will be able to brief your officers and individual units at a later date. This is a preliminary briefing" said Storace as the men and women in the briefing room began to listen intently.

"You will receive notes from this briefing and a secondary and more detailed briefing approximately 24 hours before you brief your subordinates. Now, the Solaris military has obviously focused the bulk of their forces on the Northern border with Lorraine. Around 850,000 are on the border. This constitutes the majority of Solaris ground forces. About 650,000 are dispersed throughout the rest of the country. They currently have 95% of reserves mobilized. Colonel Santariano?"

Colonel Santariano took to the small stage infront of the gathered officers who were fidgeting in their folding chairs. "The infrastructure in Northern Solaren is and has been on the verge of shambles. Most of the money has been poured into the Solaris south. Here, main roads are in fair and bridges are maintained at their minimum. Intelligence reports indicate that Solaris tanks must cross some of the bridges one at a time. Secondary roads range from fair to very poor. As for the electrical grid, it seems to be the only damn thing they have cared to maintained. Hydroelectric and coal fired plants provide 95% of the energy. Trade and transit are highly reliant on an efficient rail system. You will all get area specific reports when the time comes" concluded the Colonel before turning to Storace and giving him a firm nod and leaving the stage.


To be continued...

 

[Gunnland]

Capitoline City, Tibur. The Holy See was said to have a hundred thousand ears, so Gaspar Cardinal Puopolo didn't have to use the Judas chair to make the old Eiffellandian curate break the seal of confession. The Tiburian Curia already knew the EDF countries were making preparations to invade Solaren. He just enjoyed it.

The Prefect for the Evangelization of Peoples was reclining at table, strawberry juice running down his wine-stained chin, when his fellow prefect Rodrigo Cardinal Sarlo entered the chamber. Rodrigo could only guess that the redhead half-hidden behind the table was giving Gaspar a handjob underneath his red robes. Another lithe young prostitute was caressing his curly black hair. If Gaspar noticed the involuntary shudder that ran up Rodrigo's spine, he didn't say a word, but simply held up his hand.

"Oswald went home to Cantigny to convince them to exert whatever influence they can to Christianize the savages in Butuan. So I..." He gestured with both hands around the near-empty gilded rooms "...decided to have a feast alone to celebrate the crusade against the Antipope Urban! Sit! Eat!"

Rodrigo nodded and took that to mean the working day was over. With Pope Stephanus already bedridden, the Tiburian Curia had been especially busy since his mentor, Cardinal D'Ursaque took ill. If only old Angelo had seen Gaspar today... masturbated in the curial chambers! Or His Holiness! He turned to leave the debauch, knowing that Gaspar himself knew Rodrigo would never perturb the ailing Angelo Cardinal D'Ursaque with news of his colleague's perversity.

And the Camerlengo would not believe him.

It was good news at least, Rodrigo thought, leaving, that the crazed Urban's time had come. The antipope had been a thorn in the side of the Catholic Church, defaming the name of Jesus, for far too long. Urban was a monster.

Gaspar called from behind him.

"...Although, Rodrigo, between you, Oswald, and me, I think the Camerlengo will send a mission to Urban to normalize relations with us. To bring the Solaris Church back into communion with Tibur and relinquish his absolute power. A peace deal. Have you ever been to Torrance? Beautiful. And the mineral-rich lands of the east..."

Gaspar must have been drunk, for his loud voice echoed through the marble halls of the Capitoline City long after Rodrigo glided out of the curial chambers and into the piazza.

It was there that he had the sinking feeling that the Camerlengo would be putting Gaspar's plan in motion at that very moment.

 

[Coronado]

Conferrence Room
Presidential Palace
Toledo, Coronado

President Fernando Calderón Juarez is not happy with the latest report concerning the EDF deployments in Lorraine nor the increase of EDF warships in the Long Sea. Though he knows it is a buildup to to finally rid the world of the Arch-reactionary, Urban IV, it also means that if successful, the EDF will have nothing to prevent them from looking a little further west towards Coronado, the only bastion of socialism in Gallia. Once Solaren is under EDF control, they could then strangle the lifeblood from Coronado at their leisure.

".....in addition to what we have detected already in the region," Defence Minister Carlos Mendez is saying, "one of our subs is shadowing a Montelimarian carrier group out of Fecamp heading south towards the Long Sea. Though there is little response out of the usual vocal Urban, the EDF has gathered an almost overwelming force, able to launch attacks against Solaren by land, air and sea."

Pausing, the Defence Minister waits to see if there is any questions before continuing. President Juarez takes that opertunity to do just that.

"What of out allies, especially Carentania. What do we know of their response?"

Picking up another document, Mendez scans the first page to allow himself a moment to switch his train of thought to that of Carentania and away from the EDF.

"They are doing what we would expect them to do, to remind the EDF of their presence. Unlike Coronado, Carentania has a respectable surface fleet, though not in the same class as the Franconians, Montelimarians or the Anglysh, it is one that even the EDF cannot ignore. On the other hand, the Anglysh are having troubles of their own in the Implarian, combine that with a possible war between Butuan and Cantigny, with Engellex and Anglyn taking opposing sides, I think the EDF will have to draw some of what they have deployed in the Long Sea to send to the Implarian tipping the balance of power back towards our favor, that is if we commit our naval forces to the support of Carentania."

Juarez rubs his chin while thinking about what Mendez had just suggested.

"Are you saying that we commit the Veinte de Julio and our submarine force to starring down the EDF?"

"Camarada Presidente, what I am saying is that we, along with our Carentania ally, can, by committing our naval forces, most notably the carrier Veinte de Julio, with theirs, and our proximity to Solaren, we just might end up with a say in what Solaren will look like politically once Urban has been deposed."

A half smile comes to the President's face.

"Contact Rijeka. Tell them they will have our complete cooperation and will coordinate with them future naval operations in the Long Sea. Also, order the Veinte de Julio battle group to Carentanian waters, it will be of more use in the Long Sea then stuck this side of the Nicosia-Framandie Straits "

 

[Rheinbund]

Lorraine

Also the Eiffellandian pilots were briefed about what was yet to come. War was not something Eiffellandians liked, but they were prepared for it. Even a frozen Solaren under Pope Urban was a thread to the world in general and the EDF in particular.


Headquarters of Eiffellandian Navy

"What are the Carentanians up to?"
"What do you think? They want a piece of the cake. We are getting too strong according to them."
"Of course. So by fighting this war, we are building the fundaments of the next war."
"At least of the next diplomatic controversy to last for a couple of decades. They are afraid that we will close the sea for them, and we are afraid that they will close the sea for us. That can last a long time."
"What are we going to do now?"
"We issue the orders to our ships to ready themselves for the attack against Solaris targets and we make sure that we know what the Carentanians are doing. They might join in so that they have a say in the future of the region. Maybe we should discuss with them. I will notify the government about that."

 

[Anglyn]

Aboard the fleet carrier, King Cedrick VIII
Somewhere in the Western Great Sea

Rear Admiral Harald Camden is in his quarters reading the latest readiness reports. Since the KC-8 battle group set sail, it has done nothing but sail around the Great Sea keeping an eye on the Touzen and their Loyalist allies in Aresura and conducting training exercises at the live fire range on Tamarach Island. Trying to keep the crews from losing their edge out of sheer bordom has been at the top of Camden's agenda as he waited for the orders from the Admiralty that he is sure to receive, soon, he hopes but sets down reports to mused on whether those orders would ever come. As if on cue, a knock on his door.

"Come....."

The door opens and his Chief-of-Staff steps inside.

"Sir. An urgent communique from the Admiralty has just been recieved."

Swivelling in his chair, Camden turns towards the officer.

"Well Commander, read it to me."

"To Rear Admiral H. Camden,RN, Commander, Battle Group K-C-8, from Vice Admiral J.P. Murdock, RN, Commander, Great Sea Operations Command. Message reads....FACEMASK...end of message."

A smile comes to Camden's face.

"Was that all?"

"Yes sir,"

"Mr. Pascal, notify all commands, prepare for a course change. New headings will be transmitted presently....and tell Captain Ashford there will be a command briefing in one hour."

 

[Gunnland]

Capitoline City, Tibur. "Well, is war with the heretics inevitable or not?"

The camerlengo, Cardinal Von Haaksbergen, rasped a question that was, as always, awkwardly direct. A flushed-red Cardinal Puopolo looked down at his silver plate, stabbing at melon balls with his knife. He was getting no less plump, the other cardinals had noticed, than the chubby angel babies on the ceiling frescoes.

Still livid, Von Haaksbergen had just shared with the lesser-ranking members of the Curia his displeasure that Cardinal Puopolo and Cardinal Millbank were cheering Cantigny's neocolonial ventures in Oceania even as the chief diplomatic officer in Vesper was calling the camerlengo a sodomite. Unlike the more dramatic cardinals, Middelhuis Cardinal von Haaksbergen was soft-spoken. But his eyes betrayed his simmering rage, an electric force that seemed to make his wispy gray hair stick out on end around his scarlet zuchetto.

"Well, there is only one way to find out," he wheezed. "The Holy Father relieves you, Gaspar, of your duties at the Secretariat." An invincible lie. "I will go to Syracuse myself."

He turned to the silent fourth cardinal at the table, who had theretofore been silent. "Cardinal Sarlo, you will accompany me to Nicosia." Now there was a surprise.

"The meeting is to be a diplomatic secret."

 

[Gunnland]

Syracuse. The two secret visitors, in scarlet mozettas, bowed low to one of the last European monarchs whom Pope Stephanus still styled fidei defensor. Would Alexander prove as faithful as King Nicholas? wondered Rodrigo Cardinal Sarlo, returning home to Nicosia for the first time since he was a young curate.

The camerlengo spoke in a quiet, rasping voice that commanded attention. With the pope gravely ill, Middelhuis Cardinal von Haaksbergen and his Apostolic Camera was the Holy See. The camerlengo alone could tell the world what the Holy Father wished, none could gainsay the closest servant of Stephanus IV.

Medieval formalities were exchanged, then the camerlengo sat amidst a retinue draped in folds of black, purple, and amaranth. "His Holiness is deeply conflicted, Highness. Solaren is a nation captive to heresy, yes. But what faith! The Federation..." He pronounced 'federation' slowly, as if it was unfamiliar. "...will not revive the Germanic empire. Yet the Federation is also on the cusp of the greatest crusade since 1644... We seek the counsel of Your Royal Highness. Solaren cannot be won back to the Mother Church just to be lost to the insolence of modernism."

The camerlengo drew his scarlet cassock around himself like a volcano reconsidering itself. "After this war, it is the wish of His Holiness that the true Archbishop of Torrance be restored to rule Solaren, one who will swear fealty to Frederick Wilhelm II, not as the Wieser emperor, but as the Holy German Emperor, and one faithful to the Holy Father."

Meanwhile, back in the Capitoline City, Gaspar Cardinal Puopolo was summoning the ambassador from Eiffelland to explain the Federation's military buildup in Lorraine.

 

[Rheinbund]

Capitollium

After the Papal States collapsed, the whole entourage leading the Catholic Church moved from Dominici to Capitollium. Eiffelland's embassy to the Holy see moved as well. And so Ambassador Siegfried Bergmann found himself back in Capitollium.

"Good morning, Your Eminence," Bergmann said to Cardinal Puopolo while kneeling to kiss the Cardinal's ring. "What can I do for you?"

 

[Gunnland]

Capitoline City, Tibur. "I apologize, Ambassador, that the camerlengo could not join us. Middelhuis is taking some sea air, I believe." Which was true of his secret visit to Syracuse, in a sense. Regardless, the cardinal could be rest assured that the upper echelons of the Church - a vast empire of spies, after all - was more or less spy-proof.

Cardinal Puopolo adjusted his zuchetto and waved away the two lithe young women who had been milling amongst his retinue. "We are to see the Holy Father," he said, by way of explanation to Bergmann. It was the first audience anyone had been granted with the pope in months.

Puopolo himself pushed open the vast brass doors to the massive frescoed audience room, white columns inlaid with gold and barreled ceilings with scenes of angels and saints, under which the papal throne sat. Pope Stephanus IV looked out of place in such stately surroundings, gaunt and crumpled like a useless thing discarded by his surroundings. Which was almost right, Cardinal Puopolo thought, a slight curling smile he couldn't help appearing at the sight of the withering pope.

The pope was silent, only nodding frailly as Bergmann kissed his signet ring and said, "Your Holiness," and smiling weakly.

Cardinal Puopolo did the talking. "War is an abomination, as you know. But the Antipope Urban must be removed from power so that the rightful Bishop of Torrance can be enthroned. The Holy See is in communication with the underground and true Catholic Church in Solaren, whose martyrs, as you know, have suffered greatly under the perverse Urbans. By what means do you plan to depose Urban, His Holiness wishes to know? And will you reassure the Holy Father that the Church - and now I mean the True Church - will continue ruling Solaren? His Holiness is prepared to have the true bishop of Torrance swear fealty to the Holy Tiburian Emperor, to Armand Phillipe or Frederick Wilhelm, if either will take the title from the Holy Father. But so much damage has been done to the souls of Solaren, we fear, that the Church must continue its rule for another century to undo the damage of the heretics who have ruled in its name."

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Torrence

The small black car followed the police car down one of Torrence's wide boulevards and stopped with a small squeak of its brakes in front of the Pope's austere and looking palace. With nearly all of Nicosia's diplomatic staff evacuated, George Stassino was the only real diplomat left. His security guard, aid, and driver were the only other staff left. They had already spent the last week or so shredding papers and burning the remains. They had even poured concrete in the toilets of the embassy. Nothing was to be left in case the worst happened.

The three men all exited the vehicle in front of the main entrance and walked the some 50 or so steps to the doors of the palace. Inside the palace, it was like nothing like anything Stassino had ever seen before. Various members of the Pope's schizophrenic government were running about with various duties. Phones appeared to be constantly ringing. As Stassino walked with confidence down the hall, he noticed several Solaris military staff staring him down and he tried not to smirk. It appeared at first that nobody even would bother confronting him as he entered. No security, no aides, not a single person. Finally, as he climbed the grand staircase, he saw it. A wall of politicians with a few bishops and cardinals blocked his ascent. Stassino stopped on the step second from the top and decided to speak first: "What is the meaning of this?" Stassino asked firmly.

"His Holiness...." began a Bishop before being interrupted. A small, impish looking man stepped forward. Stassino recognized him as Urban's right hand- Paul Calesteno. The man was perhaps more psychotic than Urban himself. Stassino had met him at least 20 times before in social and diplomatic settings. He was rumored to have a coke habit and like paying for women of the night. The short, overweight, and bald Calesteno peered down over his glasses. "His Holiness is far too busy to meet with the likes of you. If you wish to talk to me perhaps, we can use the conference room downstairs" said Calesteno. Stassino scratched his shoulder and looked at the wall of people looking down on him. "Pity" said Stassino as he opened his brief case and removed a few sheets of paper and handed them to Calesteno. "Good day gentlemen" said Stassino turning around and slowly descending the stairs.

To His Holiness Pope Urban.

From the Desk of Carlos Valdez on behalf of the King and people of Nicosia.


Your Holiness,

As you are undoubtedly aware, the circumstances that surround us both are not of the ideal nature. Your actions against Nicosia and her people have led us to this point; a point that is a threshold between peace and horror. This is true despite the horrors that you have committed.

We, like any other nation, have a right to defend ourselves whenever we are threatened. Your choice to repeatedly test our will has placed Solaren in this situation. Without a doubt, you are now aware that Nicosia's allies have not shunned from this challenge to the world's morals.

This potential conflict is not about land, religion, or a matter of wealth. This is, plain and simply, a question of morals. While the rest of the world sat and ignored the deteriorating situation, we were forced to stand alone against a withering tide.

We have given the world numerous opportunities to intervene; but the world has failed. Only now do they listen. Likewise, we have given your nation numerous opportunities to back down. But instead, rather than leaving us be, you continue to poke and prod us. Now you obviously have no choice but listen to us and end your silence.

The world may stand by and ignore terrorism, but Nicosia and her allies will not. If we do not receive a response within 24 hours, we will assume you will not negotiate.


Carlos P. Valdez,
Chancellor

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Torrence

Stassino again walked through the great hall andthe hustle and bustle of Solaris workers really hadn't changed much. He was too impressed with his own bravado to have noticed if there had been any change. However, he was not distracted enough to be oblivious to the sound of somebody slowly jogging behind him; their dress shoes slapping against the cool marble floor. Stassino smiled. Somebody was going to grab him by the shoulder and throw apologies at him. He stopped to turn and found that the short fat man, Calesteno himself, had been running after him. "His Holiness apologizes" said Calesteno before raising a small pistol and quickly shooting all three men in the head before at least 100 Solaris government works.

Calesteno pulled the Nicosian message from his breast pocket and tossed it on one of the bodies. The room was mostly silent save for a few whispers and phones ringing. "Well don't just stare, clean it up" said Calesteno with almost no emotion.

 

[Montelimar]

Palais Royal
Valmy

King Armand sat quietly in his study. He needed some time alone to think and here, even the Queen would think twice about disturbing him. The King had spent two hours discussing the deployments of forces in Lorraine, before spending another two being briefed about a situation in one the former colonies where the crown still has some influence. If that wasn't bad enough, Armand had spent another round in a continuing arguement with the Queen over the rumor of who her brother might be becoming betrothed to. And lastly, the discomforting information, or lack there of, coming out of the Holy See. While the first was now in the hands of the generals, the second being handled by the foreign ministry and the third a family affair, it is the last one that has the King attention the most at this moment.

Normally, the King would become privy to what was, what is and even what was going to happen in the Holy See before the world in general did, especially when it came to church policy, being a direct descendant of the last Holy Tiburan Emperor gave him some perks, but lately that has not been the case. Lately his ambassador to the Holy See has been pretty much kept in the dark, and even the King's contacts outside of official channels have also gone silent including, and what was the most disturbing, his direct channel to the Holy Father himself. All Armand was getting was rumors and second hand information.

This he could not be allowed to continue. The Kings of Montelimar, whether they wore the crown of the Holy Tiburan Empire or not, have always been a defender of the One True Church and now on the eve of battle against one of the greatest forces of the devil in the modern world, to now become ill informed of the Papal agenda does not set well with with this particular Defender of the Faith.

Picking up the phone next to him and pressing a button, he is immediately rewarded by a womans.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Contact the Papal Nuncio, His Eminence Albert Cardinal Svar, and tell him he is invited here, to the palace, and that I will expect him...put an emphasis on expect... at seven tonight. Tell him His Eminence Jean Louis Cardinal Rochambeau will also be in attendance...but before you do, put me through to Rochambeau's private line."

"Dialing now," comes the voice at the other end, it only takes a few seconds before she speaks again,"Your Majesty, His Eminence Jean Louis Cardinal Rochambeau."

"You Eminience."

A familiar voice comes back over the phone.

"Your Majesty, what can this poor servant of God do for you this day."

Armand grins.

"For one, you can be here tonight at seven..."

 

[Gunnland]

Valmy. A mark of Montelimar's importance to the Holy See, the apostolic nuncio Albert Svar wore the scarlet of the cardinalate. In the backseat of an old FMW limousine, sixty-two year-old cardinal was relieved to hear the camerlengo's voice, "Middelhuis, Middelhuis! Of all times, now we must have a united front. You must rein in Cardinal Millbank and especially Cardinal Puopolo."

Svar knew that the ultra-conservatives had illusions that the papacy could recreate a Holy Alliance of states that would counterbalance the Federation. The Guelfs and Ghibellines of the twenty-first century. Cardinal Von Haaksbergen, his voice barely louder than a whisper, assured him no such thing was taking place: "You may apologize to King Armand. The Holy Father is ill, and the homosexuality issue is consuming us. Tell him that. We have not had time to formulate a coherent policy with respect to Solaren; we urge restraint and caution, but give the Federation our blessing. Then drop the bomb, Albert. Tell King Armand that the territory is rightfully a bishopric that should be governed by its rightful bishop, appointed by the real pope."

And so Albert was joined by Luc Cardinal Dubois, the retired nuntius whose accent betrayed his origins in Metz, an expert in the political aspects of canon law. The case of the Holy See was, simply, that the claim of the Bishops of Torrence to rule Solaren was not invalid per se. It was just that the present Bishop of Torrence was a usurper who did not swear fealty to the Holy Tiburian Empire, as Dubois - who had been quietly named bishop in partibus infidelium of the titular see of Torrence - would surely do, to King Armand.