Hanseatic Republics
Establishing Nation
It was an odd setting. The Chancellor and a few select cabinet ministers standing in a record store. Chancellor Bakken selected a record with Kristianias Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven, and proceeded to go to a listening room where they gathered and decided to hold a conversation. It was not unusual for them to speak to each other in such a place, in fact quite customary. Cafes, parks, and even once on the beach. Austwegians weren't a particularly obnoxious people, and respected everyone's privacy. Or perhaps, cultural traditions led many to just leave each other alone. Quiet, was perhaps a good word to describe people in Østveg.
All things considered, the members of the government sat undisturbed at a record store, and decided to conduct business.
The topic at hand was Ivernia. Chancellor Bakken began, "I need to know what exactly is going on in Ivernia. With our party dropping in the polls to this railroad scandal, I haven't had time for anything foreign this year."
Foreign Minister Haavi chimed in, "Well from what I understand it's a bit of a civil conflict."
"That's all you have?" Bakken retorted?
"Admittedly, we've not really paid much attention to it. It's a backwater, and while once an allied nation, it isn't of geopolitical importance to us."
The group was quiet for a second.
"Since when was something not of importance to us?" The voice came from an older gentlemen. Known to everyone else as Admiral Braaten. Seen as a bit of a Hero among most Austwegians. "I think everything is important to us. We are in a unique position. We're unchallenged as the power of the Gothic and Great Seas. We have no threat of hostilities on our home soil. Additionally, we have so much to draw upon internally... it's only a wonder of when we'll decide when external affairs becomes something we wish to chime in upon."
The Chancellor nodded. "He has a point, and I think it's simply unacceptable that we haven't even an ear in Ivernia."
"Why don't we commission a special military intelligence division?" They all looked over to the younger man, who sat next to the Admiral. "Should we not be engaging in espionage? Especially in a case like this." He was the Minister for Her Majesty's Navy.
Braaten agreed, "Why not? We can test the waters so to speak and place this unit under my command."
Bakken looked unamused, "I don't want the military engaging every curious happenstance around the globe. I don't need another scandal."
Haavi paused, "Certainly it cannot go under my jurisdiction. Imagine a foreign service department found spying about. All our embassies would be closed." Bakken nodded, and stated, "I think the only thing reasonable is that this is a new entity. It will report to myself directly for now. I want the Admiral to oversee its creation. Teamwork is the way to go about this."
"What should we call it?"
"Austwegian Intelligence Service is fine."
All things considered, the members of the government sat undisturbed at a record store, and decided to conduct business.
The topic at hand was Ivernia. Chancellor Bakken began, "I need to know what exactly is going on in Ivernia. With our party dropping in the polls to this railroad scandal, I haven't had time for anything foreign this year."
Foreign Minister Haavi chimed in, "Well from what I understand it's a bit of a civil conflict."
"That's all you have?" Bakken retorted?
"Admittedly, we've not really paid much attention to it. It's a backwater, and while once an allied nation, it isn't of geopolitical importance to us."
The group was quiet for a second.
"Since when was something not of importance to us?" The voice came from an older gentlemen. Known to everyone else as Admiral Braaten. Seen as a bit of a Hero among most Austwegians. "I think everything is important to us. We are in a unique position. We're unchallenged as the power of the Gothic and Great Seas. We have no threat of hostilities on our home soil. Additionally, we have so much to draw upon internally... it's only a wonder of when we'll decide when external affairs becomes something we wish to chime in upon."
The Chancellor nodded. "He has a point, and I think it's simply unacceptable that we haven't even an ear in Ivernia."
"Why don't we commission a special military intelligence division?" They all looked over to the younger man, who sat next to the Admiral. "Should we not be engaging in espionage? Especially in a case like this." He was the Minister for Her Majesty's Navy.
Braaten agreed, "Why not? We can test the waters so to speak and place this unit under my command."
Bakken looked unamused, "I don't want the military engaging every curious happenstance around the globe. I don't need another scandal."
Haavi paused, "Certainly it cannot go under my jurisdiction. Imagine a foreign service department found spying about. All our embassies would be closed." Bakken nodded, and stated, "I think the only thing reasonable is that this is a new entity. It will report to myself directly for now. I want the Admiral to oversee its creation. Teamwork is the way to go about this."
"What should we call it?"
"Austwegian Intelligence Service is fine."