It was no secret that Europaland wanted to see regime change in Engellex. The two countries were complete opposites in every possible sense. One a conservative, autocratic, hierarchical state in which women and the working classes were shut out from politics; the other a radical, libertarian democracy notorious for its commitment to feminism and lack of any noticeable class differences. Ever since the current radical coalition had taken office a powerful interventionist lobby had gained more and more influence over the country's foreign policy. Europaland had long invested in its armed forces and was now one of Europe's strongest powers at least in terms of its military expenditure. Perhaps it was arrogance but many believed this put the country in an ideal position for exporting its democratic and libertarian ideals through force.
Presidential Residence, Europa City
The President had assembled some of her top ministers and advisers for an emergency meeting at her official residence in Europa City. Among those in attendance were Prime Minister Ceitidh NicIllEathain, Defence Minister Arne Isaksen and Foreign Minister Saida Nasri. As the ultimatum from Engellex drew closer they discussed the country's options. President Nordahl first asked her Defence Minister to update them on the situation.
”We've got one ship, the frigate ES Democracy, within the immediate area which Engellex has asked us to vacate. All of our other ships are situated between Europaland and off the north-eastern coast of Havenshire, well within international waters. I suggest we've got two options, either we find some excuse to pull the ship back or we send in massive reinforcements to warn off Engellex. If you were to ask me I think the first option in the most sensible one. While Engellex has a weaker army, navy and air force than we do and is stretched in Montelimar there's no point in endangering our sailors at this time. If we want to go to war with Engellex we should work on building up the necessary coalition first.”
Foreign Minister Saida Nasri was quick to jump in: ”But we can't be seen to give in to Engellex's demands as then we appear weak before the nations of Europe. If we send in the necessary reinforcements they won't dare to attack us if they've got any sense. And if they do then we come down hard, we rain Dulwich with long-range missiles and send in our air force to bomb the shit out of them”.
While impressed at the apparent fanaticism of her Foreign Minister, President Nordahl was keen to avoid a war at this point, seeing the promotion of democracy as a long-term process that required careful planning and consideration as well as coalition building:
”I have to agree with Arne, a war right now, even if we have the advantage militarily, is quite unnecessary. I think we should scale back the deployment to those areas where Engellex couldn't possibly attack our ships without attracting outrage from the international community. We can send some of the ships home while still maintaining a big enough presence between Europaland and Havenshire to make our strength in the Great Sea known. That doesn't mean we give up our aim of destabilising Engellex though. We've got meetings planned with the FLTM to see if they can get arms into Montelimar and these will certainly go ahead. How do you feel Ceitidh?"
Ceitidh NicIllEathain, who had also been Prime Minister under the previous government, was seen as more moderate than some of her cabinet colleagues and was less of an interventionist on foreign policy matters:
”I agree with you and Arne. While we must appear strong in the face of threats there's a risk of our actions appearing excessive and overly belligerent. To undermine the Engellexic regime we need to bring other democratic states on side and encourage resistance among its own people first. States like Danmark have expressed at least some understanding for our position so we should definitely work on building an international coalition against Engellex.”
For the President the matter seemed settled: ”Okay then, we give the orders to the ES Democracy to pull back from the Strait of Cambria at once while we'll pull the other ships back towards Havenshire and send around a third of the fleet home if Engellex shows no further signs of aggression. In the meantime I feel we should all keep up the rhetoric around Engellex. It's a miracle that such a state has survived this long when it hasn't even given the vote to its citizens. We can surely foment trouble inside Engellex by increasing our support to its pro-democracy movement and encouraging industrial unrest within its factories and workplaces. ERT is already watched by many inside Engellex and we can perhaps set up a new propaganda channel aimed directed at the country”.
Revolution Square, Europa City
A crowd of over 50,000 people had gathered in the city's largest square at 5pm to demand action against Engellex, burning Engellexic flags and chanting angry slogans. Many were carrying flags and banners from the two main governing parties, others were there to represent various feminist, anarchist and vanguardist groups while there was also a small contingent of Montelimar exiles bearing their national flag. But most were simply ordinary citizens who had heard about the protest through the media or decided to join as they walked past on the way home from work.
The crowd's anger was whipped up further as a succession of speakers took the microphone. First was a Montelimar exile and founding member of the FLTM who accused Engellex of genocide in her country and made a moving call for Europaland to come to its aid, claiming that Engellex will ”kill and torture us all, will keep on massacring and orphaning our children, until our comrades across Europe begin to stand up and come to our assistance”. Then a parliamentary representative for the Revolutionary Left Alliance got up to speak, drawing cheers from the crowd as he called the Engellexic regime a ”cancer that has to be cut out of the centre of Europe” and claiming that Europaland has the ”army, navy and air force required to take out these fascist scum and ensure total liberation for the people of Engellex and Montelimar”.
Strait of Cambria
The frigate ES Democracy had been asked to accompany a NordOlje tanker as it passed through the Strait of Cambria on the way back to Europaland. The tanker had just passed through without incident and the captain was waiting to hear what to do next. As the Engellexic ultimatum drew closer the crew had become increasingly nervous, knowing that without reinforcements they were vulnerable to attack. It was therefore with a great sigh of relief that they received the order from navy command to set sail for the coast off Havenshire where the navy already had a significant presence. Europaland currently had 8 submarines, 4 frigates, 6 destroyers and an aircraft carrier as well as several dozen smaller patrol vessels in the Great Sea. Most were situated between Europaland and Havenshire and had gained a position of supremacy over the shipping channel.
Presidential Residence, Europa City
The President had assembled some of her top ministers and advisers for an emergency meeting at her official residence in Europa City. Among those in attendance were Prime Minister Ceitidh NicIllEathain, Defence Minister Arne Isaksen and Foreign Minister Saida Nasri. As the ultimatum from Engellex drew closer they discussed the country's options. President Nordahl first asked her Defence Minister to update them on the situation.
”We've got one ship, the frigate ES Democracy, within the immediate area which Engellex has asked us to vacate. All of our other ships are situated between Europaland and off the north-eastern coast of Havenshire, well within international waters. I suggest we've got two options, either we find some excuse to pull the ship back or we send in massive reinforcements to warn off Engellex. If you were to ask me I think the first option in the most sensible one. While Engellex has a weaker army, navy and air force than we do and is stretched in Montelimar there's no point in endangering our sailors at this time. If we want to go to war with Engellex we should work on building up the necessary coalition first.”
Foreign Minister Saida Nasri was quick to jump in: ”But we can't be seen to give in to Engellex's demands as then we appear weak before the nations of Europe. If we send in the necessary reinforcements they won't dare to attack us if they've got any sense. And if they do then we come down hard, we rain Dulwich with long-range missiles and send in our air force to bomb the shit out of them”.
While impressed at the apparent fanaticism of her Foreign Minister, President Nordahl was keen to avoid a war at this point, seeing the promotion of democracy as a long-term process that required careful planning and consideration as well as coalition building:
”I have to agree with Arne, a war right now, even if we have the advantage militarily, is quite unnecessary. I think we should scale back the deployment to those areas where Engellex couldn't possibly attack our ships without attracting outrage from the international community. We can send some of the ships home while still maintaining a big enough presence between Europaland and Havenshire to make our strength in the Great Sea known. That doesn't mean we give up our aim of destabilising Engellex though. We've got meetings planned with the FLTM to see if they can get arms into Montelimar and these will certainly go ahead. How do you feel Ceitidh?"
Ceitidh NicIllEathain, who had also been Prime Minister under the previous government, was seen as more moderate than some of her cabinet colleagues and was less of an interventionist on foreign policy matters:
”I agree with you and Arne. While we must appear strong in the face of threats there's a risk of our actions appearing excessive and overly belligerent. To undermine the Engellexic regime we need to bring other democratic states on side and encourage resistance among its own people first. States like Danmark have expressed at least some understanding for our position so we should definitely work on building an international coalition against Engellex.”
For the President the matter seemed settled: ”Okay then, we give the orders to the ES Democracy to pull back from the Strait of Cambria at once while we'll pull the other ships back towards Havenshire and send around a third of the fleet home if Engellex shows no further signs of aggression. In the meantime I feel we should all keep up the rhetoric around Engellex. It's a miracle that such a state has survived this long when it hasn't even given the vote to its citizens. We can surely foment trouble inside Engellex by increasing our support to its pro-democracy movement and encouraging industrial unrest within its factories and workplaces. ERT is already watched by many inside Engellex and we can perhaps set up a new propaganda channel aimed directed at the country”.
Revolution Square, Europa City
A crowd of over 50,000 people had gathered in the city's largest square at 5pm to demand action against Engellex, burning Engellexic flags and chanting angry slogans. Many were carrying flags and banners from the two main governing parties, others were there to represent various feminist, anarchist and vanguardist groups while there was also a small contingent of Montelimar exiles bearing their national flag. But most were simply ordinary citizens who had heard about the protest through the media or decided to join as they walked past on the way home from work.
The crowd's anger was whipped up further as a succession of speakers took the microphone. First was a Montelimar exile and founding member of the FLTM who accused Engellex of genocide in her country and made a moving call for Europaland to come to its aid, claiming that Engellex will ”kill and torture us all, will keep on massacring and orphaning our children, until our comrades across Europe begin to stand up and come to our assistance”. Then a parliamentary representative for the Revolutionary Left Alliance got up to speak, drawing cheers from the crowd as he called the Engellexic regime a ”cancer that has to be cut out of the centre of Europe” and claiming that Europaland has the ”army, navy and air force required to take out these fascist scum and ensure total liberation for the people of Engellex and Montelimar”.
Strait of Cambria
The frigate ES Democracy had been asked to accompany a NordOlje tanker as it passed through the Strait of Cambria on the way back to Europaland. The tanker had just passed through without incident and the captain was waiting to hear what to do next. As the Engellexic ultimatum drew closer the crew had become increasingly nervous, knowing that without reinforcements they were vulnerable to attack. It was therefore with a great sigh of relief that they received the order from navy command to set sail for the coast off Havenshire where the navy already had a significant presence. Europaland currently had 8 submarines, 4 frigates, 6 destroyers and an aircraft carrier as well as several dozen smaller patrol vessels in the Great Sea. Most were situated between Europaland and Havenshire and had gained a position of supremacy over the shipping channel.