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Slices of Life in Elben

Elben

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Naval high command read the newspaper just like everyone else in Elben. And it had access to intelligence data from Amt. This or that datum flowed through the intelligence apparatus down to the end users like the navy where planners had already set to work laying out what would be done. Opportunities like this didn't come too often. Of course, unlike an exercise with allies where everyone was on the same team, it would be necessary to stay clear enough so that there were no misunderstandings that could lead to a shooting war... Red lines were drawn, large areas of the ocean were deemed no-go zones. But still, the sailors based in the Augustines would have a chance to show what they had learned since they had been dispatched to His Majesty's colony on the far side of the world.
 

Elben

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New Palace, Eschenbach

Things were happening fast. Reports of civil strife in Bourgogne were quickly followed by an intelligence briefing on Neustria building a relationship with the Burgundian People's Republic. Then during the night, the king had been awakened and informed that his daughter-in-law was in labor.

Oh God, I need sleep, Karl Maria thought to himself. He was waiting for von Schlabrendorff and the chancellor to arrive for a formal consultation on the Empire Bill that had been passed by the Gunnish Thing. Everyone had already talked over the phone during a conference call with the ambassador to Gunnland who had provided a running account of the vote.

The foreign minister was announced and the count came in and made his obedience. "Your Majesty." Karl Maria gestured for him to take a seat and he did so with gratitude. That was about the only sign he had been up longer than the king.

Karl Maria downed the last of his coffee and stated, "We're going to accept the treaty."

"We are?" Schlabrendorff had not expected such a clear statement of intent.

"We are. The Gunnish want an empire and we're going to give it to them. We've been doing it now for centuries with northern Slavonia and Krasnislavia under Elben. If they want to join us, we shall certainly not let them down."

"Hmm, indeed, Majesty." The minister opened his briefcase and pulled out a copy of the Gunnish bill. "This police force they want to set up along with the courts. We'll need clarification on ultimate authority, who will be appointing judges, and the council of cities they have in mind."

Karl Maria leaned forward. "Your task is to see to it that Elben comes out on the right side of all this. In the meantime, I intend to take a firmer hand on our other problem."

"Bourgogne?"

The king nodded and refilled his cup. "Coffee?" Schlabrendorff shook his head. "Not only the situation with this brewing civil war, but I expect the idea of joining an empire will not please everyone in Chagny. A firm hand will be needed."
 

Elben

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The final equipment was being placed. The SOSUS warning nets expanding out from the Augustine Islands would give Naval High Command a good idea of what was moving on and under the sea in the vicinity of the islands.

The data from the portions of the net already in place flowed into a command center outside the capital of Karlshaven where the navy had its base of operations. There were monitors showing the raw sound data that was interpreted by sonarmen and then there was a large screen on the wall. The computer read the data and created a graphical interpretation with the islands in the center, the Implarian to the west and Numenor to the east.

With the diplomatic dispatches flying back and forth, the officers and men of the navy waited from their front row seat for the conflict between the Justosians and the Numenoreans to begin.
 

Elben

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The coat of arms of Elben appears on the screen while a portion of the royal fanfare plays. The graphic fades out and is smoothly replaced by His Majesty King Karl Maria standing at a lecturn in the main council chamber of Eschenbach City Hall. Arrayed around him are city fathers, the chief magnates of the realm, and senior members of the clergy.

"People of Elben, people of Slavonia, people of Krasnislavia, good evening. Tonight we wish to speak to you on a most important subject, one of empire. The news is widely known that first Gunnland and then Bourgogne approved measures for the recreation of a Holy Tiburan Empire in Gallogermania. Many asked, 'What of Elben?' What of Elben? Tonight we speak finally of Elben...

Onward he continues. Soon he speaks of Elben and its unity that has allowed it to hang together for so long.

"Our people, in our kingdom we have long been united by our love of fatherland, our love of homes and families, and most importantly our love of and communion with each other in Christ's Church. All these things are good. They will always define us. They make us what we are. Without them, we're nothing, mere wisps in the wind without anchor, without a place to call home. We are able to accept our differences by recognizing what unites us now and for all time...

After speaking more about his homeland and what it can bring, it was time to declare his final intention.

"And so it is that we speak to you now. It is our decision as your king to take Elben forward into a new day. Together we will lead the way and join our brothers and sisters in Christ not only in spiritual communion in the Church, but in political union in Empire, a Christian Empire. May God bless us all!"

All present rose as one and applauded as the camera zoomed out to show the entire chamber.
 

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New Palace, Eschenbach

It had been two days since and most of Team Alpha had perished. Assembled in the conference room in the New Palace was the king and his various subordinates from Elben and Bourgogne, some present via video conference technology. All had been fully briefed on the situation...

When the cruise missiles had hit the government building, the assault group and its covering group had perished along with everyone inside the building. No one had made it back to Team Alpha's base. The support group manning the base had given any possible survivors who could make it back the time allotted to do so and then quickly broken camp, destroying anything they couldn't take with them. Their convoy, smaller than when it had arrived, had left the chaos of the city and driven straight through to the border where it had made contact...

Prime Minister Villiers spoke into the camera that was set before him. "Your Majesty, we have fully deployed our border guard units to maintain Burgundian sovereignty. Nothing is getting in from Pillau or Neustria that isn't supposed to do so."

A general from Bourgogne broke in and said, "Your Majesty, now is the time to attack with everything we have. Pillau's leadership has been decimated and its most effective forces are tied down in Neustria. We could sweep in and take back Pillau's lands virtually unopposed!"

Murmurs came from all taking part in the meeting both in Eschenbach and Chagny. An Elbener general nodded slowly and said, "It could be done," to the Burgundian army attache from the grand ducal embassy. Others started assessing the Burgundian weaknesses in materiale.

The king thumped the table with his hand a few times to bring the meeting back to order. "Gentlemen, and lady," he nodded to his daughter-in-law's face on a screen, "I believe Count von Schlabrendorff has something to say."

The count had up until now been listening, but he had gained the king's attention with a raised brow and now he spoke. "What I have to say is secret. We have intelligence from Amt that indicates that Pillau had been in negotiations. And we certainly know that Kadikistan has recognized Pillau and declared Chagny illegitmate. Attacking now could be perilous."
 

Elben

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Army Staff Field Headquarters

The summer maneuvers were wrapping up and the general staff had concluded its field work. Now everyone was packing and getting ready to head back to analyze and review what had gone right and what had gone wrong.

General Povorosky's field office was actually not in the field. It was a sumptuously appointed room in the home of the Elbener nobleman who had surrendered his grand house for the summer for the use of the army. The general's aides had packed up all the papers and gear and returned the room to the state in which they had found it. Now the general sat on one of the divans and admired for the last time works of art he had been enjoying the last few months.

"Igor, you're still here. Knowing you, I thought you would have gone before lunch." It was Freddie, Povorosky's old friend from the academy. He wore a wide smile as he referred to Povorosky's habit of rising early and getting right to the day's tasks.

"After last night's send off, even I lingered in bed. Now I'm just admiring the room before heading out."

"Then I shouldn't keep you, Reichsmarshall sir!" Freddie snapped off a parade ground salute. You have our best going with you. Better not keep they waiting and set the wrong example."

The new marshal smiled and clapped his friend on the arm. "We'll meet again soon in Chagny. Take care, Freddie."

Povorosky turned and headed out for the staff car that was waiting to take him to the airfield. Bourgogne and the new imperial capital awaited him.

@Gunnland
 
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