The War Department

[Hanseatic Republics]

Kellogg beamed with excitement, "If this is the case then we can begin the transfer of weapons soon, of course there will be stipulations as to how these weapons are to be used. Just as with chemical weapons, we see these weapons of last resort, though there are a few hawks in the government who think they should be used first and foremost. As to the stipulations two officers of the Strategic Air Command will be placed within the forces receiving these weapons to monitor them and to be able to arm them if the time for their use comes. as for testing your missiles, we have ranges in the southern Silk Sea that will be useful to you."

Graves stepped in before Kellogg went on any further, "Our work here will only increase the safety of our two nations, however President Langley needs some assurances that this will be kept quiet from the lowest levels to the highest levels, instability in the Hanseatic government as a whole is worrisome to the President. This news of unrest in your country due to our dealings with Konstantin in the civil war are troubling to him as well as the developments of this possible new member state, any ties they might have to Tarusa need to be eliminated."

@Hanseatic Republics

Anja nodded, "the democracy in the Hanseatic Republics is its bedrock and we believe there is nothing to worry about in regards to what is typical fodder for tabloids and the opposition. This outrage will pass once something else enters the news cycle. As for new member states, this is an issue that bothers our Republics as well. Negotiations have been underway for the last month with rather inconsistent progress. There are changes we want to their constitutional system, namely less power vested in the monarch which they are hesitant to do. We of course also need security clearances, guaranteed mechanism for military cooperation, and other defense issues which will not be instantly possible. The Grand Duchy wants this done quickly so they can do this without getting a target on their back. We want it to be done right so we don't let in a Trojan Horse. It's messy, but we have to have faith in the process. Frankly, in our opinion the Grand Duchy being targeted by the Tartans will only expedite the process to exactly how we want it. So delays might be a good thing."

Danielius Česnauskis, tried to make it sound even more simple, "Defense is of the most importance to me and my competences. There is no way that any new member would compromise our security."

Anja interjected, "...and of course, we would like to get involved with your facilities in the southern Silk Sea. We have operated by shooting rockets into the Gothic Sea, and that caused quite a panic before. The Tarusan were a special kind of angry. Not that they aren't usually angry anyway."

 

[The Federation]

"The Gutnish Commune will see unification with Federally governed Gutland, mark me . ." Conor MacBain said over the telephone line once including Tsar Ivan and the President of the Federation, and now just Langley.

"To pit those good Christian folk in Sjokoping against ye for gain would undo them and us at value for nothing. But know that they, those well vested with us who vested with them, care about their past more so than your future. Earth caked beneath their nails, stone piled before them, and a faith." MacBain said, letting off for a moment to cough from the cold conditions imposed on the frozen halls of the Almshall he inhabited.

MacBain mouthed to his team to send files over to the Federation the Nievish plan: a Spring and Summer initiative to plant armaments in the Gutnish Commune. Nieveland's communal design on Northlaw would folly at an incidental rush, rather, it would require careful planning and cooperative investiture.

Hours earlier the delegation from Tarusa had announced its exit from the Federation. Linc Yeovil, the outgoing Commissar, had respected the communal trend of not pairing with the Federation to any gross extent. Conor MacBain, now the Commissar, would drink from any Federal tap and sup from or any federal plate. Word privately and now publicly from Twatter held that a new leader, a new regime was coming into the Federation as well - bills were on the floor of the Federation to expand their military might.

The Cantignian feast was to be offered too: resources that begged belief, and young suitors on contract to sell that splendor to Westernesse men who might not be able to help themselves. MacBain recognized that the time for theology and stuffy values was over. An inbred eagle was flapping its wings and preparing its talons at the gates of the mainland and captivated the Reich in Anglia, Ebria, and now Pelasgia.

"If . . . President Langley, if you do nor hear me now be sure your next one will: that the Order and Federation must meld now and clasp hands into the death spiral." MacBain spoke, well aware that this concept might mean nothing to a colonist like Langley. Aelis Pherson notes on the topic were more informative than Yeovil's, though they checked out, that Thaumantica's survival relied on a channel entuned with the Other new world colonies and most importantly the Federation.

Though the world knew Engwahlian they spoke it in Standard now. This vexed Engwahl, but especially Nieves who were cross over that and everything about how Thaumantica became itself and then diminished into something unrecognizable. A pigeon language folk who spoke 'standard' uncaught were the swinging dick over the world, not just the Engwahlians who spoke to their pocketbooks most dearly.

"If . . . these are your last days Laird Langley hand me a spear, tell me where to throw it and I will." Conor MacBain appealed.

Langley sat back in his chair, the handset of the phone pinned between his ear and shoulder. "These aren't my last days MacBain, mark my words, many a young fiery councilman has come for my job and many have faded away into ruin. Place your weapons wherever, as long as you remain committed to the Federation we will not ask too many questions, we cannot afford to now that we are surrounded by these dark powers. Gothland will be a great asset to the Federation and even better united with the rest of itself, keep your Gutnish Commune or allow them to come back into communion with Gothland, either way these people will be remade in our own image, that is their punishment for the sin of piracy and chaos."

"It's true that we are stuck together for better or worse, with the addition of Pelasgia into the Pressburg Pact another clash with these terrorist tyrants is inevitable, the question is where and how will it kick off and will we be ready? We are ready to open ourselves to your economically and militarily, more than we already have, our survival depends on it. We must move to shore up our own spheres and make ready for war, not just with Tarusa, but with all of Pressburg if we must."

 

[The Federation]

Langley picked up the phone, it having previously been secured for a call to the leadership of the commune.

"I'm at the edge of my rope, if I do nothing the hawks will have me and the council will replace me as quickly as this call was connected. I'm not done here, I can't be done here. And that is why I must soon enter the Federation into this war.

I remember reading a speech by old Rygaard that once said we would find ourselves here standing at a precipice, that we would have no choice but to jump in. The Federation was built for you'd inevitably, we will either be victorious no matter the cost or be thrust into a second brother war that would tear the Federation apart just like the old Sylvanian republic. I shudder to think what would come out of that war. Regardless the choice has been made for me. Soon we will be at war, join us if you will but I hold you to no obligations to do so."

@Thaumantica

 

[The Federation]

Langley went to the hotline and had a secured line readied with the Tarusan Emperor.

"If there is even an ounce of honor left in you, you will end the blockade and abandon this madman Alfonso immediately. What he has done is beyond the pale."

@Tarusa

 

[Tarusa]

Konstantin was summoned to the communications room of the Kremlin where he was shown the message from Langley.

"We have not provided any aid to the Kingdom of Ebria under Alfonso. Quite to the contrary, we have been the only force that has attempted to de-escalate and bring an end to the bloodshed in Ebria before it had reached this point. My government has repeatedly stated that foreign forces needed to be withdrawn and foreign support end. We knew of the Ebrian chemical weapons program, as they feared conflict with Ivan, we do not know of their stockpiles or the types but we estimate them to be quite significant.

When you corner a dog, the dog will bite. There are currently active in the Kingdom of Ebria four foreign nations, The Occidental Republic of Josepania, the Republic of Radilo, the Socialist Commonwealth, and the Pelasgian Empire. That does not include the nations that have provided arms and munitions to the republican cause. The world clings on to the reports of the white terror of Villareal, skipping the red terrors that have unfolded hidden behind the republican media in Villaneuvo and Sahagun, and are unfolding currently in Avila and Ranero as one cannot say they are just letting the traditionalists live their lives after capitulation when the traditionalists made up nearly half of the legislature of the Kingdom prior to this collapse.

Our position remains staunchly and firmly in place. We will not continue to allow foreign involvement in the Ebrians domestic issues in an effort to limit the loss of life. Throwing more foreign personnel into the grinder will only cause the dog to be more ferocious. The world condemns the use of the weapons against military personnel, the world should view this as current restraint that was carried out by the 3rd army by only using them on the foreign military forces in the open field of battle instead of the urban meat grinder such as Valls or any other positions on the front lines.

The addition of foreign military support only encouraged the republicans to carry out countless offensives and cling desperately to Valls which has led to its mass destruction in this conflict, when they could have withdrawn and declared it a free city instead of forcing the populace to endure this hardship.

Instead of attempting to counter my nation at every corner, perhaps the federation should work hand in hand with me to bring these conflicts to an end. The Radilan navy is in tatters, its army and airforce in Himyar are virtually destroyed, they have now found themselves crippled in Ebria. In Ebria while the Alfonsists have been losing, they have shown they will fight to the end if they are continually pushed, and more and more foreign involvement will only drive that further.

The choice is yours on where and how much more blood must be spilled, my hands and my conscience are cleaner than the western worlds hands are in this crisis that has developed."

 

[The Federation]

Langley received the message and skimmed through the multiple pointless paragraphs of whataboutism.

"Your blockade is a sham, go on about your clean hands all you want, we know soldiers of your Pressburg pact of killers have been captured in Avila and that Pelasgian state back mercenaries have gotten through your blockade. You aren't fooling anyone, just like you haven't fooled anyone with your sham attempt at cleaning up your image with a new European Forum, killed in the womb by none other than your own.."

@Tarusa

 

[Tarusa]

Konstantin could tell from the mannerism of the reply that Langley wasn't getting the answers he had wanted, it was clear that the Federation and the Republic of Tianlong were itching for a fight.

"You can call it a sham if you wish, that only makes the Catholic Navy blockade as an equal sham as we have not interfered in their own efforts either to this point. The Pelasgians were in country before our blockade was in place, if we wanted, our own troops would already be on the ground. We could turn the tide of this conflict in Ebria if we wished but we have not made the hostile moves that fits the narrative that is desired.

If its a fight you are looking for, its a fight we will give if we must, otherwise I recommend that you President Langley join me in calling for the foreign forces fighting in Ebria to stand down and be withdrawn and the ending of military aid to both sides. In which case I will open dialogue with the Pelasgians to see if we can get representatives for negotiations underway to at the very least find a mutual agreement under which terms of a ceasefire can be arranged or a series of ceasefires while negotiations are underway."

 

[Imimoya]

The naval forces of the Southern Tianlong Free Navy, composed of the aircraft carrier battle group Index and Oite, after reuniting off the coast of Azraq, headed north towards Valetta, their task was to reach the naval forces of Radila , those that remained still capable of sailing, and had the order to place themselves Radila fleet and the Pelasgian ones, acting as a shield for Radila. A Federation carrier group was expected to arrive shortly thereafter as reinforcements.

The group consisted of 2 aircraft carriers with more than 170 aircraft of combined strength, 4 guided missile cruisers, 4 AA guided missile destroyers, 4 ASW guided missile destroyers, 4 submarines, 1 hospital ship, 3 auxiliary support ships. The high command of the Tianlong Free Navy had given the green light to engage the Pelasgian forces if they demonstrated hostile behavior towards the group. Furthermore, a note in the report invited extreme attention to be paid to the civilian merchant units of the Pressburg Pact countries, which could be considered enemy combat units if they refused to keep their distance from the group and if they refused to be boarded to verify that their cargo did not contain anti-ship missiles hidden in containers, like the Angliarque loved to do.

There are currently 2 submarines, 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers remaining in the Strait of Azraq with patrol functions.