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The chord dancer

Rheinbund

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Trier, Eiffelland

One of the walls in Chancellor Rheinfeld’s office is covered with an enormous black-and-white picture. The picture shows a chord dancer walking over a chord spanned over an enormous crevice. This picture had been introduced by himself, as a symbol of the work of an Eiffellandian Chancellor, who always has to govern in a coalition government while at the same time he has to be calm towards the opposition, because the opposition party of today could very well be the coalition partner of tomorrow. OK, a coalition without the centre-right Christiandemocrats is not possible in Eiffelland, but that doesn’t give room for too much arrogance from the side of the Christiandemocrats. When too much arrogance in the past leads to disturbed relations in the coalition, it is difficult to govern the country.

Normally not all the Ministers would be in Trier during the Ascension Day weekend, especially not when an important holiday of Islam or Judaism falls in the same weekend. But when a large neighbourcountry is falling in turmoil, the leaders of the country can’t leave their posts. So the government was still in Trier. And they had just ordered to prepare for Alarmstufe 3. The alertness status remained at Alarmstufe 1, however, although the computer security departments went to Alarmstufe 2.
It was not that Eiffelland wanted to go to war. But Eiffelland wanted to be prepared for the case of cases. When Tarusa would indeed decide to attack Ostmark, Eiffelland wanted to step in.


Meanwhile, somewhere else

A few Eiffellandian diplomats had been ordered to remain on their posts in Pannonia. The official reason was to facilitate and evacuations and coordinate refugee movement. Unofficially, an additional reason was added when the Pannonian crisis unfolded. Eiffelland initially wanted Pannonia to stay together, but at a certain moment concluded that a unified Pannonia would not have a future. And then it was needed that 1. the Pannonians would get out of the crisis in the best way possible, and 2. Eiffelland would stand on the right side of history. With The Federation entering the scene on Remion’s side, it was clear where history would lead to.
But Eiffelland had an additional problem. Well, not Eiffelland, but its neighbourcountry in the Northeast. At least that was the opinion in the government. Eiffelland did not want Ostmark to come under attack as a result of Tarusa wanting a quid pro pro when Eiffelland would take influence in Pannonia. So if Eiffelland wanted to support the breakaway republics, it had to act carefully. So no official recognitions of breakaway republics, but at the same time recognising the fact that Pannonia consisted of several ethnicities which deserved to be listened to. That happened officially by recognising the governments of the breakaway republics as representants of the ethnicities they lead. Unofficially, Eiffelland wanted to offer support as well. But how?

Raymond Fougasse was one of the few Eiffellandian diplomats who remained on their posts in Eiffelland, although in fact he was an employee of of the Eiffellandian secret service, the RND. He descended from the Francophone province of Eiffelland, Montpassart. When the Pannonian crisis broke out, he was active at the Eiffellandian consulate in Bellevue. He remained on his post. Now he had the order to contact a representative of the government of Bourdignie. In secret.
He didn’t know whether the Pannonian secret service was still active in Bourdignie, so he took his precautions to make sure that he was not followed.

Michael Wehnert was also an Eiffellandian diplomat annex RND-employee. He worked at the Consulate in Bécs-Altstadt. And also he had remained on his post. His task to stay under the radar of the Pannonian secret service was more difficult due to a higher chance on the presence of Pannonian secret service employees. But also he had a task: To meet representants of the city government of Bécs-Altstadt.
 

Jydsken-Østveg

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In Bellevue:
Raymond Fougasse was brought into contact with several Bourdignie agents in a basement cellar in an old tavern. The beer was fresh, but it was French. Despite his best efforts he was tailed from an adequate distance as the Pannonians did not quite understand why Eiffelland had not pulled all of their diplomats from what was now being called, "Bellevue." Even still, Mr. Fougasse's actions were not clearly understood. The Pannonian Security Service did not have the members of the Bourdignie Congress bugged. They only now knew that Mr. Fougasse was meeting them and that perhaps the tavern needed consistent observation. His tail would have to report this to his authorities. Fougasse was not really expected to be up to anything nefarious, and so they were taken totally off guard.

Fougasse was introduced to a few key players. "Hello, Mr. Fougasse. I am Ethan Lavoie. I am your contact to the Bourdignie Congress, and a member of the Congress as well. I come with my sister, Jeanne Lavoie. She is also a member of the Congress in Versoix. We are your only two contacts because we wish to have a degree of security for the Congress." Another man sat at the table but did not speak. Ethan continued, "the man with us here is also a member of Congress. He will not speak, merely maintain a record that all four of us will keep. So Mr. Fougasse, what would you like to speak about?"

In Bécs:
Michael Wehnert perhaps knew that the odds were stacked against him. It was no matter, the Pannonian Security Service couldn't keep up. Wehnert was able to meet with the Mayor of Bécs himself on official business in a bank. "Hello, Herr Wehnert. As you know I am Edgar Müller. I'm sure you are well aware of the circumstances this city is in, and the direction we desire to take. I am honor to meet you as a representative for Eiffelland. As you are know, Bécs is the old imperial city of Pannonia. When we had a monarch, this was the place he lived. Funny that we should want to join Eiffelland, but we live in the present and aim for the future... not the past. I hope you bring good news from your superiors?"
 

Rheinbund

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Kispest, Pannonia

A train consisting of 20 double deck waggons and four diesel locomotives had just arrived at the main railway station of Kispest. This was the last train to transfer evacuees to Eiffelland. The technician decoupled the diesel locomotives from the waggons. Then the locomotives drove to the other side of the train, and were coupled to the waggons again.
The reason why diesel locomotives were used, was that the Eiffellandians anticipated on a rapid escalation of the situation leading to an electricity blackout. In that case, diesel locomotives would continue to run.
Meanwhile, quite a large crowd of people had gathered on the platform. Not all of them were evacuees though. Quite some Pannonians wanted to flee for a possible war, or wanted to flee for a different reason. The Eiffellandians decided to allow them on the train as well. Thirty minutes after arrival, the train departed for Eiffelland.


Bellevue

Enchanté, mesdames, monsieur,” Fougasse said. “Basically, I am here to offer support. I also want to discuss a strategy, and to explain some things. It is clear to my government that Pannonia will come to an end soon, thanks to Prime-Minister Kovács. We fully understand that you want to get rid of the rule of the Kovács government. There are reasons though why my government has to operate carefully.
The problem that Bourdignie has, is that it is quite isolated. It has no connection to the outside world, so supportive goods cannot reach it. If Bourdignie would get a direct land connection to Eiffelland, it would become possible to send auxiliary goods to Bourdignie. That can be food, medications, money, but also weapons. There are still some tanks to be delivered to Pannonia, and we could deliver some of them to Bourdignie instead.”

Fougasse began to draw a map of Pannonia. In that map, he indicated the areas in which Francophone Pannonians lived, and wrote “Franquais” there. Then he indicated the area of the Germanophone pannonians, and wrote “Germaniques” there. Finally, he encircled an area from Bourdignie to Eiffelland.

“Would it be possible to win the people living in this area against Prime Minister Kovács? If yes, we would have a corridor from Eiffelland to bourdignie, and we can discreetly supply you with goods,” Fougasse said while pointing at the encircled area.


Bécs-Altstadt

“Pannonia has always been the pinnacle of peaceful coexistence. Unfortunately, those days are gone. Prime-Minister Kovács destroyed the future of Pannonia. Eiffelland wants the breakup-process of Pannonia to go as smoothly as possible. And that makes things complicated. If Eiffelland would agree with Bécs Altstadt becoming an autonomous republic, Eiffelland would escalate the situation.
But what we do want to do, is giving discrete support. That could consist of food, medical supplies, money, but also weapons,” Wehnert said. "We could, for instance, deliver some of the tanks originally to be delivered to Pannonia to you instead."

He began to draw a map of Pannonia. In that map, he indicated the areas in which Francophone Pannonians lived, and wrote “Franken” there. Then he indicated the area of the Germanophone pannonians, and wrote “Germanen” there. Finally, he encircled an area from Bourdignie to Eiffelland.

“Would it be possible to win the people living in this area against Prime Minister Kovács? If yes, we would have a corridor from Eiffelland to Bécs-Altstadt, and we can discreetly supply you with goods,” Wehnert said while pointing at the encircled area.

OOC: The map Fougasse drew and Wehnert were drawing, is
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Jydsken-Østveg

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Bellevue:
"Monsieur Fougasse..." Ethan interjected as the map was drawn, "I think I should update you with the latest situation for us as well." Ethan took the map and drew in a few areas where he knew he had support, and ultimately drew the map of what was being spoken of in the Congress. "Bourdignie believes that it can resurrect the ideals of the union, eh... more perfectly. However there is not universal acceptance of our communication within the former union. Or eh, perhaps our ideas. Bourdignie believes that our future rests in one man, one vote." His sister corrected him, "or woman." Ethan nodded, "or woman. You see, democracy is our bedrock. No tyrants from an imperial city, instead a nation run through our individual votes. A direct democracy if you will."

Continuing as he drew on the map that Fougasse drew, "I think the area near you is very much up in the air. Our messages with them have suggested that they are more interested in their own independence, but the real masterstroke is the alliance we made with Hohensee. If you are not familiar, they declared their independence, but we are allied. Our vision is a collection of allied regions in confederation. This idea seems to have support in these areas, but there are some difficulties in that it is not always connected." As he finished the edits to the map drawn.

"There is a this corridor here that seems to solve your problem for supplies; however... it is not a region that would be easy to protect. It is first of all a thin strip of territory and of course mountainous. Difficult to move supplies off of the main roads. I have no idea how you could sneak in tanks. In total, we all need these regions colored in a type of red to formulate their own independence. They are slow and do not wish to upset the balance. So to answer your question, yes. We can win them over. We are in contact with all these areas. I am unsure when they would formally commit though. They may wish for a military situation to develop. But, take this map to your superiors. They need to know this is the furthest we can see Bourdignie going under the current balance of things."

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Bécs:
"Mr. Wehnert, I do appreciate your ideas, but Bécs does not have the manpower to draw from to fight. We are a city, yes, but we have no army, and we have a civilian populace of bourgeois hipsters and bankers. We want freedom, but we want you to help us secure it. We are not the capital of a Bourdignie, and we are rightfully an important and key city in this region and wish to maintain that and believe that as part of Eiffelland we can secure that. I appreciate your ideas to getting weaponry here, but I do not believe we would be able to put it to good use. Give it to Bourdignie. They raise an army. I want to join Eiffelland so that we do not have to raise an army." He waited to give Wehnert some time to digest what he said.
 

Rheinbund

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Bellevue

Fougasse looked at the map. “Indeed, this here is a chicken’s neck,” he said. “Apart from the fact that this chicken’s neck is mountainous, it is easy to block. You say that you would be able to win the people in this area over, but that they are not over yet, correct? That could mean that troops loyal to Kispest as well as mercenaries could be active there. If that would not be the case, and if the radar stations in the area would not be in the hands of Kispest any more, it should be possible to transport things by helicopter. But indeed, taking tanks through there is difficult.”

He thought a few seconds, before he continued: “I will take this map to my superiors, with your explanation. I do hope that we can give you the needed support. Make sure that you continue your efforts to win these areas over, because that is essential. Let’s also discuss a way to communicate that you managed to win these people over.
In the meantime, it could be possible if we smuggle military advisors in. Are there any other things that you need?”


Bécs-Altstadt

“I understand your problem,” Wehnert said. He already knew that the Eiffellandian government had a negative opinion on letting Bécs-Altstadt become an Eiffellandian autonomous region. It would relieve the city from some difficulties on the short term, yes. But on the longer term, it would be a controversial matter that Bécs-Altstadt would simply have switched rulers while all the lands surrounding it would have fought themselves free from Kispest.
He explained this to the Mayor.

Then he said: “I have to discuss this with my government, but at least military support could be an option, if not by means of stationing troops in Bécs-Altstadt, then by means of attacking when Bécs-Altstadt comes under attack.
Is there anything else that we can do for you?”
 

Rheinbund

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Western part of the future former Pannonia

The route to Bourdignie was free. Eiffelland started to supply Bourdignie and its allies with weapons, ammunition, fuel, medical supplies and food. Also terrain vehicles and attack helicopters were sent in, as well as military advisors and instructors. The attack helicopters were sent in with the hope that there were helicopter pilots among the soldiers that had deserted from the Pannonian armed forces. Fuel, food and medical supplies were sent to Bécs-Altstadt as well. An inquiry was started to check whether heavier material could be transported into Western-Pannonia. Maybe the tanks could come in handy after all.
The materials were sent in with the request to Bourdignie plus allies to defend Bécs-Altstadt against attacks by Kovács-loyal troops.


Eiffelland

The intention was not there, but the situation could develop in such a way that an Eiffellandian invasion was needed. Therefore, troops and military equipment were sent to Southern Eiffelland. For the case that Tarusa would get nasty towards Ostmark, everything was made ready for the movement of troops and military equipment to the Northeast, although the actual movement did not take place. Silently, the alarm level was increased to Alarmstufe 3 for the troops in the South and the troops to be used for defending Ostmark in the case that it would come under attack.
 

Rheinbund

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Eiffelland

The recognition of Bourdignie implied that large parts of western Pannonia were no longer considered Pannonian soil by Eiffelland. This gave some possibilities according to the Eiffellandian arned forces. The authorities of Bourdignie were asked permission to escort the Eiffellandian transports with armed soldiers, and to enter Bourdignian airspace with military planes when needed.

The Navy knew its submarines through and through. It knew everything about them. About the newest two, the Rügen and the Bergen, because they were Eiffellandian-made. But also about the older ones they once bought from Pelasgia, called the Bremerland-class and the Thorsringen-class in the Eiffellandian Navy. There were already thoughts about improving the computer systems of these older submarines, but now the Navy decided to replace all the computers of their submarines, also the ones to be decommissioned soon.
 

Rheinbund

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Refugee camps in Southern Eiffelland

As a result of the war in Pannonia, a large stream of refugees started. Some of them went to Eugenia, some of them went to Bourdignie, and some of them went to Eiffelland. The refugee camps in Southern Eiffelland were filling up, first with people who fled from the war, then with people who fled for the Horváth regime. Meanwhile, there were about 500,000 refugees in Eiffelland. Previously developed plans to spread these refugees over the country were activated. Refugees were also transported to Ostmark.
While the war developed and Horváth took the power in Csengia, more and more refugees requested political asylum. That was not a new phenomenon. Already during the Kovács regime, people fled from Pannonia to Eiffelland for political reasons, and requested asylum here. But as soon as people who fled Csengia started to tell stories about torturing under the Horváth regime, the number of request for asylum increased. Soon the rumours about torturing turned out to be true.


Klinikum der Fürstlichen Universität Würzwald

Two military MEDEVAC helicopters landed on the helicopter deck of the university clinic of the university in Würzwald. They both transported severely injured patients who needed advanced hospital care. The patients were refugees from former Pannonia. They had been transported to the university clinic from two of the refugee camps. The patients were taken to the emergency room.

The jaw surgeon and the plastic surgeon who would treat the patient with several facial injuries had an easy task. At least that was what they said. They had received a picture of the patient from before the injury, and based on that they would 3d-print a bone prosthesis, implant it and apply some skin transplants.

The neurosurgeon would fuse the broken vertebrae of the next patient. But the patient would never walk again.

The orthopaedic surgeon whistled between his teeth when he saw the CT-scans of the broken limbs of the third patient. “This is going to be a long trajectory, but it is possible to cure you,” he said to the patient.

Assistenzarzt Balthasar Stoiber was an accredited plastic surgeon. He had absolved the complete Facharztausbildung, with very good notes. And he was extremely good. But he was also young, and had only recently absolved all the exams to become a plastic surgeon. That was the reason why he was still an Assistenzarzt, although he was destined to become a Chefarzt, possibly even in Köln, Trier or Weissenfels. But now he had the patient he would remember for the rest of his life.
That day he was accompanied by an intern. They read the status written by the doctor at the field hospital together. The patient in question had undergone an extensive flogging, as was written in the status. One sentence was a bit ominous: “We did not dare to change the remainder of the bandage after we removed it from the right scapula.”
“Hhmmm, prepare yourself for something,” he said to the intern. Then they went to the patient, and removed the bandage on the right scapula. An enormously stinking smell set itself free. The intern started to gag. But Stoiber had no choice; the bandage had to be removed, how difficult it would be. When they were half-way, the intern couldn’t hold it any more, ran to the closest-by garbage bin and vomited there. Stoiber went to him to support him. A few minutes later, they continued.
In the end, they saw the complete back of the patient. The flogging had been so extensive, that there was hardly any skin left on the back of the patient. Stoiber and the intern looked at a mixture of necrotic tissue, pus and the patient’s back muscles.
Sakrrament,” Stoiber stammered. “Himmel Herrgott Sakrrament … Wie kann jemand dazu imstande sein?” [How can anybody be able to do that?]
The intern ran to the garbage bin and vomited again. Stoiber walked to him and started to talk.
“I completely understand your reaction. I myself haven’t seen this before, either, and it could very well be that even Professor Bergmüller never saw this. But if we don’t care for this patiewnt, who will?” he said. “In any case, this must become public.” Stoiber arranged for a photographer who would photograph the patient’s back before treatment started.
 
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