Sword and Lion

[Ashkelon]

GIECZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
GIECZ, UPPER SWIECZIEMAN FEDERATIVE MEZHIST REPUBLIC

It was a new year, and the dawn of a new age. At least, that was what Deputy Overseer Cyryl Deren thought to himself. A reasonably intelligent man chosen for his acumen, Deren had finally reached his desired post of power after some twenty years working his brains out and delivering excellent results. Yes, it felt like his present post had been created specifically for him. Well it had been reorganised from Deputy Premier immediately after the creation of the new position Nadzorca, but that position had been vacant for several months due to some kind of political oversight or another. It was clear that because of the intrigues going on in the old Upper Swiecziema, some new blood had to be injected. And while Deren was by no means new, he was at leas the right kind of blood.

The Nadzorca saw that quality in him, and it was finally his time to shine.

The representative from Sikandara would be arriving soon. Old friends and a stable trading partner. Thanks to the Sikandari agricultural surplus, ever so generously sold to the Mezhist Union at an affordable price, they were able to ensure a stable growth of the Sarmatian population over the last generation, growth that was direly needed when facing up against the Red Miroslavan Hordes. Now that the Miroslavans had dealt a considerable amount of damage to the Zarmaj and GCS farmland, there was definitely a need to increase the amount of imports, at least as a stopgap, while the farms were rebuilt and the Preparation H technologies and equipment matured and increased in number. Now, it was time to renew these ties, and perhaps take them to the next level.

Deren crossed himself and mouthed a short prayer. Let this go smoothly.

 

[Serenierre]

To visit the Sarmatian plains in winter was not particularly a smart idea, Grand Councillor Khan thought to himself as he stepped down the stairs and onto the tarmac, so he was grateful that his hosts had not kept him out for too long. Remarkably quickly, the guard of honour was presented and the formal reception completed and within an hour of arriving in the northern state, the Sikandari delegation was within the warmth of the state guest house. As an older man, born long before the Mezhist ideology had taken root in Sarmatia, he had preferred not jumping straight into the official talks. So, being as accommodating as they were, the Sarmatians had arranged the meeting following an official lunch, hosted by the Sarmatian foreign minister.

So by the time the two delegations met again, Khan was in no mood to delay the conversation any further, he knew that he would be seated next to his counterpart and felt that it would be better to begin the talks at lunch. So, as the first course arrived, the Sikandari foreign minister started the conversation by bringing up the communist menace that was Miroslav. "Our Ambassador in Giecz informs us that the war is proceeding well and the Reds are getting a hearty beating by your boys. These are not good days to be communist, are they?" he asked, chuckling, "What with this offensive raging up north and the Danes battering the Raigestan isle, I am sure Volodymr must be feeling rather boxed in." His face became serious, "But my friend, we mustn't be lulled into a false state of calm... the menace is forever present and I hope that we can come to some understanding as how best to deal with it."

 

[Ashkelon]

Kondrat Olbroz was an intelligent man, this was certain. Having been alive to see and understand the repercussions of the falling of the Imperium and the rise of the Union, he nevertheless understood that some things had to be taken a hard line to. At the time a University student who was deeply enamoured with the writings of St. Anastazy, it didn't take long for Olbroz to pitch in his support to the growing Niebswi movement, and on the day of the Glorious Steel Revolution, took to the streets to join hands with other people who supported it. Since then, he had finished his studies at the University of Giecz, which reopened less than a year later, after certain things were rearranged in accordance with the new government. From there, he took up some civil service position and worked his way into the International Affairs Directorate, and finally arriving at his current post some years back.

And now, as Olbroz sat down to lunch with the Sikandari Grand Councillor for Diplomatic Affairs, a man certainly his senior, and certainly aged long before those Caretanian Mezhists arrived to change Sarmatian history forever, he consolidated his thoughts about the intentions of the united governments of Giecz and Wislica. The Director of International Affairs laughed with the little quip about how bad it was to be a communist today. And indeed it was. Nevertheless, as soon as the Grand Councillor's tone became more serious, Olbroz quickly matched this, understanding that the talks had now truly begun.

"I agree completely, my dear Sir Khan. As I understand it, the Union is preparing to enact measures that should well complement our efforts to cooperate more closely with the Empire in combating the Red Horde." Olbroz raised his teacup to his lips and began cutting up his lamb. "More factories, more weapons, ammunition, vehicles... I've heard there are leanings towards even more drastic action. The issue of materiel is certainly a simple one, where we can quickly align. But as to other matters, we believe that a common foreign policy would make sense, in dealing with the communists, and in the sharing of resources, tangible and otherwise. Let me commend your starting an intellectual Round Table."

 

[Serenierre]

While Kondrat Olbroz spoke, Khan had been carefully listening to the man while stirring some sugar in the teacup, his eyes fixed on the small whirl in the light-brown milk tea. "Yes, Olbroz-sahib, the industrial might of the Union is plain for all to see... and the Union's commitment to our southern bastion of civilisation has helped also been chiefly responsible for the rapid growth of our heavy industry sector over the past thirty years, for which the people of Sikandara are forever thankful to our most noble northern brothers. And our agricultural might, which allows us to dispatch the many millions of tons to the Union, I can understand what you mean about the consolidation of our strengths."

He began cutting the succulent lamb steak before him, with the ornate knife, most probably dating back to the days of the royals in Sarmatia, still looking at Olbroz. "But a common foreign policy and pooling our resources," Khan said, masking his scepticism, "is a matter that requires serious discussion, since it would be binding on both our parts, I do think that before any such talk is carried on forward, we need to adequately hash out where we, each, stand and what we expect to achieve by doing so. And so, since Jenaab brought it up, I would like to hear, in detail, what you suggest." He put down his fork and knife, for a sip of water, his movements, though slow, were full of a certain sobriety that was at times lost in other eastern cultures.

"Ah, yes, the Shahdara Roundtable," he cleared his throat, "is quite an interesting initiative that our academicians are undertaking... so one should only commend the University of Shahdara and the Imperial Society for Intellectuals, since the government has only been involved in facilitating the foreign guests arrival. But I accept the honour on their behalf," he finished, smiling at his host. "I do imagine that a delegation from Sarmatia will be visiting Shahdara for the Roundtable," he asked before enjoying the first bite of the lamb steak before him.


Terminology - Sahib is a formal term of honour, placed after the surname. Jenaab is again a formal term of reference but is used without the name, its a very respectful way of saying 'you'.