The Dance of Civilizations [Diplo Game] [Story Thread Pt6 - February 2010]

[Russia (DoC)]

Official letter of denunciation.

According to the non-aggression pact currently in effect between Russia and Persia, both nations have promised to halt espionage efforts against eachother. Russia has however seen a steady increase in Persian spy efforts towards Russia. As part of our pact of non-aggression, Russia demands that Persia immediately halt this blatant violation of diplomatic treaty.
Furthermore, Russia wishes a formal apology, as well as an explanation and a resulting reprimand of those responsible for breaking a signed treaty. If Persia will not adhere to the treaty it has signed, we see no other choice than to deem Persia untrustworthy with hostile intent.

It should also be stated that Persia has previously while promising to cease espionage efforts against Russia, continued to send spies. Clearly there is a flaw within the oversight and control of Persia's spy office. Russia calls upon its allies in Orb and friends in Byzantium to support us in diplomatically condemning a clear violation of signed treaty.

If Persia will not cease to break its own promises, and present an apology and explanation and punish those responsible, Russia may be forced to answer with diplomatic means.


Foreign Minister
Alexandr Flakovich

Prince Igor,

Our mutual espionage tresshold will remain at: 731/978 (Russia / Persia)
Our non-aggression pact will last at least till turn 366

Steward Oroetes
On behalf of Guru Beli'Az

[Egypt (DoC)]

Cleopatra, still young, sat in what she still felt was her father's throne room. She had dismissed all the throne room servants, apart from a few of her maidens, who were braiding each other's hair and quietly talking. She looked around the room. All of it was very manly, with stern statues, lots of stone, and hardly any tapestries. She missed her father, but the throne room would not be the room in which to remember him. She clapped her hands, and a servant immediately stormed in and knelt before her, his gaze towards the ground.

"Servant, relay this message to the palace steward: tomorrow morning, I shall have our finest artists come to see me. I want this throne room to become a throne room befitting a queen. The palace steward will know who we will need to make a few...changes in here."

"Yes, queen Cleopatra."

"Good. Now look up."

"My queen?"

"Look up servant, look at me", she said.

The servant slowly lifted his head, looking at her, his gaze gliding over her young body. He stopped before he looked her in the eye.

"Look me in the eyes, servant."

His eyes locked onto hers, and she could see his feelings, his passion, his admiration. She smiled, reveling in the knowledge and confirmation of her beauty. She had seen it so many times over the past few years in boys that had dared to look at her, the princess. But now she was queen, and no longer under the protection of her father... The figurative veil that had been keeping her from the outside world, had lifted. Interesting times were ahead...

"Dismissed", she said, and she turned around, leaving the servant bewildered and trembling as he hastened towards the throne room doors.

The next morning, the throne room was rearranged. She ordered one of the master painters to capture her on canvas amidst the new interior:

[Rome (DoC)]

A sudden and very aggressive rivalry between two junior Senators has surfaced on who would be sent to Egypt to become the new Roman ambassador to the Pharaonic court. Senator Aurelius left the senatorial halls with a bleeding nose, leaving Senator Caesar to gain the majority vote. Caesar has set sail with official ambassadorial credentials and hopes to be accepted into the Royal Egyptian courts as the envoy of a nation that seeks to improve its relations with the Egyptian government.

[Russia (DoC)]

The Russian Prince Igor is now officially looking for a bride.

[OzzyKP]

I don't blame him.

[Egypt (DoC)]

There was a knock on the door of the day room. It reverberated around the room, a great domed chamber, one of the most elaborate rooms in the palace. It held a large bath, and soon after she had become queen, she had the palace steward bring in many pillows made from the finest silk, large exotic plants, songbirds, finely carved marble statues and many tables on which delicacies could be served. She spent much of her time here together with her handmaidens. A handful of eunuchs served her here, relaying important messages from her advisors and other servants. Apart from the eunuchs, no men were allowed in here unless the queen expressly permitted it.

"Come in", Cleopatra said. A eunuch entered, carrying a scroll. She was in the bath, in front of one of the small fountains. Milk was pouring out of it. Next to her was one of her best friends, Nefertiti, enjoying the relaxing after-effect of a massage.



After the bath, she would rest on a plateau, and Nefertiti would pour honey over her. It made her skin soft, and removed impurities. It was one of her favorite treatments.

"Speak", she said to the eunuch.

"Milady, I bear several messages. First of all, there is an important Roman senator by the name of Caesar, who wishes to become ambassador here. He has just arrived, and has requested an audience with her majesty tomorrow. Secondly, Prince Igor from Russia has made it known that he is looking for a bride. Thirdly, King Basil II of Byzantium has expressed his interest in a formal union. There is also the matter of Osirisia, and the settlers near Nicomedia and the settlers in the North. I have sent the message you drafted earlier, but we have had no response yet."

Cleopatra sighed. So many things to do already. She looked over at Nefertiti, who rolled her eyes and smiled. She looked back to the eunuch.
"Invite Prince Igor here, as well as Basil II. Let Caesar wait until they are both here. I want to see the three of them together, but also separately. This will make a fine opportunity to judge their character. Also, tell Basil that I need him to respond to my message soon. My settlers are anxious to start their work." The Eunuch wrote it all down diligently.

Nefertiti looked over to her and smiled lazily.
"Well, so many suitors already. Are you planning to marry one of them milady? Why bother with inviting them? Just pick the most powerful one."

Cleopatra laughed.
"My marriage may mean a lot for the future of Egypt, but it also means a lot to me. I plan to marry not only for power, but also for myself. My future husband will have to win me over. I'm not just a commodity, you know."

Nefertiti stood up, and picked up the jug full of honey.
"Of course not my queen, you are far more than that. You are a prize to be won."

Cleopatra smiled. She got out of the bath, and noticed how some of the girls looked at her. Even her own sex would sometimes gaze upon her longingly. A prize indeed. Egypt was a land surrounded by giants. She had to make sure that the prize was only given to the one who deserved it.

She lay down on the plateau, and relished the feeling of the honey poured onto her by Nefertiti. She gazed into the distance, her gaze not fixing on anything, thinking about it all, and wondering what her father would have advised her to do.

[Persia (DoC)]

this is a story about Media and New Persia

---

Minister Flakovich,

Media and Persia has not increased it's espionage threshold on Russia.
I have double checked our documentation.
Neither have we sent any spy across your border.
You are mistaken and advised to examine your records again.

Steward Oroetes

[Russia (DoC)]

In the Russian foreign ministry


What in the devil is going on here? This report on my desk clearly states that Persia has increased espionage spending against us. Yet when I have my own men go through it I can't seem to find this evidence! This is nothing short of an outrage, it could well cause an international incident! I want to know who is responsible for this!

-Minister Flakovich, I believe I may know who is behind this. It seems that Brigadier General Volukovich has been running a number of covert operations within the intelligence agency. I have just received reports from informants that he has not only played around with numbers on certain reports, he has also been creating a loyalist core of officers and cadets.

The Minister stared in utter shock at the young deputy informing him that a coup was brewing right under their noses. His head turned tomato red and he burst out with such fury that spittle flew across the room and landed in neat patterns across the deputy's shirt.

You knew about this and did not inform anyone until now!?

-Sir, I had only suspicions and indications. It was difficult, even dangerous to convey and confirm any of them. However, I did find out that certain key figures were not involved, ensuring the stability of Russia. Unfortunately this has only caused the General to respond by leaving Russia. I was just given a tip that he has commandeered a ship, a platoon of loyal grenadiers and set sail from the harbor in the early morning. There is nothing we can do now, but to try to hunt him down before he causes any trouble. As far as my informants can tell me, he is headed directly across the al-Jazeera.

That will cause a war! Russian soldiers on Russian ships landing on Arabian lands! Get me an Arabian representative. We must make them understand that this is entirely a rogue operation not at all sanctioned by the throne! And get in contact with the high command and the palace, we need to handle this extremely quickly and delicately. We will need the eastern fleet to attempt an intercept and we need loyal troops who can hunt down these traitors and stop them from causing a disaster! I must confess that the General could not have chosen a better time, Prince Igor has just left for Egypt and will not be returning for months! I will have to personally take charge of this mess.

[Persia (DoC)]

this is a story about the Resistance Army of New Persia

---

Former King Darius leads Resistance Army Former King Darius I of New Persia had been hiding in the woods on the borders of New Persia and New India. Under the cover of the trees he has been building up a large army of loyalists to the New Persian royal line of Achmal. While Median workers kept chopping down the woods, the place for Darius to hide his army decreased. Soon word spread towards New Persia (cap) [former New Moscow] that the old King was approaching the border cities of former New Persia.

[Byzantium (DoC)]

Basil looked confused at the intelligence reports he was receiving.

"The Ottomans and the Russians combining to destoy the Arabs?" I can't believe it. Send messengers to all three nations - find out the truth - is this really an invasion of this continent by Halcon?

[Arabia (DoC)]

Saladin is rushing to Mecca from the interior mountain retreat, following reports of a rogue Russian general setting sail for Arabian territory. In the capital Russian insurgents have been reported to defacing monuments to the immortal Saladin and gathering sympathizers. The National Guard have been mobilized to quell the growing unrest. All shops in Mecca have been boarded up and the people fear for their security. Fires are breaking out and persons attempting to put them out have been attacked. Civil unrest is on the brink of all out riot. Troops have been dispatched to the hills about Mecca to be on the lookout for Russian ships.

[Russia (DoC)]

Brigadier General Yussuf ibn Volukovich stood aboard his Galleon staring across the channel. Trouble was brewing, more trouble than he had expected. His attempt at initiating a coup had not gone as well as he intended. Though many officers at the Military Institute in Moscow were favourable to his ideas of reform, too few would support action against the Monarchy. Even now that Prince Igor had gone away did the fence-straddlers refuse to act.

The General was in possession of a sharp mind and saw opportunity where others saw problems. Getting together the elite Grenadier Battalion of the Moscow Military Institute, he set sail for Arabia. Reforms and trouble had been brewing there for some time and the General knew that his troops and his cunning would allow him to dominate Arabian politics completely. Once in control of Arabia he could use its resources and proximity to further his aims of seizing Russia's government. Emperor ibn Volukovich of Russorabia. A new power rising. Ambition seethed in his eyes.

Then a cannon fired. Looking behind he saw the NKV Tolstoj. Flagship of the Russian fleet. The finest naval crew ever trained, aboard the best armed ship in the Russian navy. The General had known this would happen, but he knew that despite its supreme firepower, the Tolstoj was a slow ship and would not be able to catch the quicksailing Galleon until it had reached the Arabian shore.

-General, sir! Pirates on our port side!

The General blinked. Pirates? Had the Russian navy called in Privateers to halt his advance? He had not considered this eventuality. The Pirateship was quickly closing the distance. If they were boarded the results would undoubtedly be victory, but it would mean losing speed resulting in the Tolstoj catching up. And the Galleon did not have the firepower to fight a sea battle. The General wracked his brain.

The Pirate ship was not flying colours, only the skull of death. He knew that nowhere in the Russian military budget had funds for Privateers been allocated. The conclusion was simple. The Pirate ship had randomly sailed into Arabian waters looking for easy prey. And it had found it in the Galleon the General had commandeered. The General quickly ordered the captain of the Galleon to change course.

[Persia (DoC)]

this is a story about the Resistance Army of New Persia

---

Darius conquers half of New Persia Darius lead his guerilla army to many victories on New Persia. First New Novograd fell to the Neo Persians, then Nieu Bretagne, And New Nova Sjembla. In the south Nieu Britain and Nanih Waiya were conquered by the Neo Persians. The colony was about to fall into the hands of the Anti-Hastogianists. Oroestes left to New Persia immediately to challenge Darius personally Everybody in Media and Persia knew that the fate of the future of the nation(s) was to be decided between Oroetes and Darius. Oroetes, the steward in the name of a Guru nobody had seen for over 200 years. Darius, heir of Persia in the line of Achmal. The future of Media and Persia was to be decided on the fields in front of New Persia City. Would Persia continue to be a Hastogianistic nation, self aware and aggressive, or would Darius reform Media and Persia into a peaceful multicultural nation. The spirit of the ancient Gurus versus the visions of the modern monarchy. The ancient gurus..... Nobody had seen a guru for over 200 years. Faith in the Guru's started to fade. Farza and later Oroetes had lead the nation. There were doubts in the hearts of the Median and Persian soldiers. Was the Guru Line worth to fight for? Or should they turn against their Steward and accept Darius as the King of Media and Persia..... Would Darius win, then friendship with the Indians would be the rational next step. Peace and growing of the empire. Would Oroetes win then the Hastogianistic line would continue. The people of Media and Persia were on the edge of their seats. Hoping in silence for a better future. Fear the power of the Steward nevertheless.

[Byzantium (DoC)]

A present from Basil to the Beautiful new ruler of Egypt leaves constantinople to the wonder and amazement of the crowds:

[Native America (DoC)]

The Early Life of Chief Pontiac

Born to a wealthy Ojibwa mother and prestigious Ottawa father, young Pontiac seemed destined to play an influential role in the life of the Native Americans. His father sent him to exclusive schools and he befriended the children of the rich and powerful in Native American society.

Pontiac was strong and athletic, but not terribly large. In fact he was only 5'4'' by the English measure, below the average Native height of 5'7''. As a kid he was picked on often for this. He never backed down and was constantly fighting. He grew to have a scrappy tenacity. Once, at 14, while in a fight with a larger student he bit his nose deeply. Onlookers would say Pontiac had a crazed look in his eye. The boy had to see the medicine man and returned with many stitches. The teasing largely subsided after that.

His parents secured him a place in the prestigious diplomatic corps program at Cahokia's Oxford University (no relation to Oxford University in... every other nation). They had grand plans for him to work his way up through the diplomatic corps and take a seat in the Native American cabinet alongside Metacom.

Pontiac had other plans.

His peers preparing for a life of diplomacy spent countless hours honing their ability to compliment, to grovel before authority, to impress others. They sought to be loved by those with power and influence and thus work their way up the food chain. This disgusted Pontiac. He read the work of Russian philosopher, Machiavellskij, and was fascinated by it. To be feared, not to be loved, is the truest way to maintain control.

A shrewd mind, he would test out the theories of Machiavellskij, and those of his own, on his classmates. How best could he exert influence over them? How could he best impose his will upon them? He was an attractive and charismatic young man, so that surely helped, but it was in the exercise of power that was truly successful. He became a master at it. Soon the boys who once bullied him now followed him around obediently.

He shocked his parents by informing them he would not attend Oxford, but would instead enter the military.

[Native America (DoC)]

Pontiac's Military Training

The Native American military was in a sorry state. The soldiers were far more familiar with their peace pipes than their rifles. Pontiac entered officer's school with a keen determination to reform the military. He quickly distinguished himself as a fierce competitor with a sharp intellect who inspired loyalty and obedience of those around him. He won many honors at the school. He surrounded himself with others at the school who were similarly disgusted at the state of the Native military. Pontiac's most loyal companion through his training was Arminius. Arminius was a large, powerful man, and a brilliant tactician. They agreed on a great many things.

Brave men like the Russians fought in war after war, distinguishing themselves proudly on the battlefield. The Persians dominated their neighbors, the mighty Indians intimidated the entire world and win battles without even firing a shot! That is fear. That is power. The Natives were one of the most advanced nations on the planet, but submitted like a dog to others. Retreated with their tail between their legs when the Persians kicked them out of New India.

As his final project in officer school Pontiac did an exhaustive study of Native American military engagements throughout their history. The report was rather short. The military has been primarily been used to kill pirates and wild animals thousands of years ago. The military has no combat experience whatsoever. It was shameful, and something Pontiac was intent on changing.

[Russia (DoC)]

Brigadier General Yussuf ibn Volukovich watched as his Galleon sailed eastwards. The Russian flagship, the NKV Tolstoj kept in pursuit from the southeast, as did the Pirate ship from the east. By skillful sailing, the Galleon had put itself in a position that prevented the Ship of the Line and the Pirate vessel from spotting eachother. When the Galleon quickly turned northeast, the Pirate and Flagship of Russia were suddenly within close range of eachother. General Volukovich knew Admiral Flakovich, they had studied together at the Moscow Military Institute. The General knew Admiral Flakovich's feelings towards pirates. His grandfather had been among the settlers that were drowned when pirates sank the Russian colonial expedition several decades ago. Watching with glee as the Pirate vessel was engaged by the 32 cannons of the Tolstoj's port side, the battle would last for at least an hour as the pirate ship attempted to escape and the Tolstoj mercilessly pounded it into the clear blue sea. Brigadier-General ibn Volukovich had succeeded in escaping the grasp of Moscow and would soon be ready to land upon Arabian shores.

[Native America (DoC)]

Rise to Power

Pontiac, Arminius, and their allies began their careers in the military. With no wars or conflict to distinguish themselves, they focused their efforts on training, drilling, discipline. Before long the units led by Pontiac's young allies were the best trained in the army. Soon people outside of the military started taking notice of young Captain Pontiac. He started spreading his ideas about national unity throughout the military and his ideas started to spread through the public as well.

Pontiac promoted a number of ideas that he felt would make his nation strong and unified. He promoted rule by an elite promoting the state as the ultimate end, protecting the class system and promoting class collaboration, rejection of egalitarianism, promoting the militarization of a nation by creating a class of warriors, demanding that citizens perform civic duties in the interest of the state, and utilizing state intervention in education to promote the creation of warriors and future rulers of the state.

Pontiac began to use the Roman symbol of the "fasces", a bundle of rods, to symbolize strength through unity. Whilst each independent rod was fragile, as a bundle they were strong. His movement began to be called "fascism". Combining the fasces with a traditional Native American eagle, he produced an enduring symbol of the movement:



After several years of successfully working to change and strengthen discipline in the military, Pontiac left the army to focus on building a political movement. Pontiac and the fascists managed to be simultaneously revolutionary and traditionalist; because this was vastly different to anything else in the political climate of the time, it was sometimes described as "The Third Way". The Fascists,formed armed squads of war veterans called Blackshirts with the goal of restoring order to the streets of the nation with a strong hand. The blackshirts clashed with communists, socialists and anarchists at parades and demonstrations; all of these factions were also involved in clashes against each other. The government rarely interfered with the blackshirts' actions, owing in part to a looming threat and widespread fear of a communist revolution. The Fascists grew so rapidly that within two years, it transformed itself into the National Fascist Party at a congress in Cahokia.

Pontiac's Rebellion

Supported by the military, the business class, and the right-wing, the new National Fascist Party grew quickly throughout the nation, and even spread to the colonies. The party experienced some small legislative success, but then, on October 27-29, Pontiac led his supporters in a march on Cahokia. Known as Pontiac's Rebellion, his blackshirts were able to seize power in a coup d'état. Metacom's successor, Chief Minister Wamsutta, was powerless to stop the Fascists. Pontiac became the new Chief Minister of Native America. But he was just getting started...

[Rome (DoC)]

Pontiac began to use the Roman symbol of the "fasces", a bundle of rods, to symbolize strength through unity. Whilst each independent rod was fragile, as a bundle they were strong. His movement began to be called "fascism"

Roman right wing senators are clamoring about a resolution for the introduction into the national seal of the fasces symbols in direct support of the new philosophies of the new Native American movement. Senator Aurelius, amongst the most vocal of them, passing by the Senatorial Foreign Affairs Committee, sent an envoy to Captain Pontius to discuss sending private aid from his extensive family funds to the Native movement.

[Native America (DoC)]

Fascist Reforms

Chief Minister Pontiac was one of the youngest leaders his nation had seen. He worked quickly to consolidate power and modernize the nation. Initially favorable to business interests, early in his administration, Mining Incorporated was founded in Poverty Point. Also, a massive foundry and iron works was established in Mound City. This foundry provided steel for the new rails Chief Minister Pontiac's government built connecting cities and speeding transportation and unity between far flung cities. Trips that once took days now took mere hours. The new rails together with new technologies such as the telegraph and the new political climate Native Americans started to feel less loyalty to their local tribes and clans, and more loyalty to the Native American nation as a whole.

The reorganization of the military was a top priority. Chief Pontiac made large strides while in the army, but now as leader of the nation his goals were more ambitious. Pontiac made his close ally Arminius a general, ensuring the loyal support of the military no matter what the future might hold. He directed the creation of a new headquarters for all branches of the Native American armed forces. All branches would be housed under one roof, in the most massive building the world had ever seen: the Pentagon.



A unified military command together with the innovative training and discipline techniques of Chief Minister Pontiac and General Arminius greatly enhanced the quality of Native American troops. Together with their modern equipment, the Native infantry and machine gunners were growing in strength. Under General Arminius' direction, plans were made to start building a grand military training facility. While early in the planning process, the government purchased land at the west point of Mound City on which to build this new military academy.

A new Native America was taking shape. In the north, the Pentagon and the Iron Works dominated the city of Mound City, making it the center of industry and the military. The ironically named Poverty Point became the focus of commerce and religious devotion for Native followers of Hinduism in the west. And in southern America, Cahokia, the ancient capitol remained the seat of government, administration and science. Working together with leading corporations and leaders of industry, Chief Pontiac directed all cities in the fatherland in a campaign of industrialization. Factories would be built to boost the productive capacity of the nation.

A new day was dawning.

[Rome (DoC)]

Fascist Reforms

ooc: nice work!

[Native America (DoC)]

Native machine gunners were the fiercest the world had ever seen:

[India (DoC)]

Indian military on high alert in New India

A massive Perisan army apporaches the border. New India decided on full border close towards both Media and the Persian rebels.
According to the Indian intelligence no significant rebel forces are operating near the Indian-New Persian border so bringing such a big army close to our coloniy's capital can not be tolerated. If the army continues to march that will be the violation of our non-aggression pact by Persia.

announcement from New India's Governor

edit*
India is actually a bit confused whose army is it.. diplomacy even more complicated..

[Byzantium (DoC)]

On arrival at the Egyptian capital to meet with Queen Cleopatra, Basil looked through the latest diplomatic post and news reports.

Reading through the lastest top secret files from the group which had worked over the centuries encircling India and building opposition to her, he smiled, jotting down the names of various Byzantine officials who needed to receive handsome rewards for their recent successes.

Then in the new file he almost spat out his fine Antiochene wine when he read this in the communications from the Natives:

Brave men like the Russians fought in war after war, distinguishing themselves proudly on the battlefield. The Persians dominated their neighbors, the mighty Indians intimidated the entire world and win battles without even firing a shot! That is fear. That is power.

Calling his secretary he dictated a letter:

Chief Minister Pontiac, I hail your rise to power in America, and stand in awe at your military reforms and developments. America, from a Byzantine perspective long the distance, silent, giant, has definitely woken and the world will never be the same again.

In some of the early news emerging from your reforms, however, we saw an amazing error which, forgive me, caused some shaking of heads here in Byzantium. It was reported here - perhaps mistakenly - that the Americans believed that "the Indians intimidated the entire world and won battles without even firing a shot!". Can I be as bold as to remind you that the Indians have actually fought one war in history in which they were utterly annihilated despite their long planning, extensive espionage and their overwelming technoglogy. Thus I believe that the Indians actually have the worst military record in history. They have great sucess in religion and technology but I hope for your sake your pentagon examines more successful militaries.

Byzantium wishes you well - as the world continues to shrink maybe soon we will be neighbours, and we hope friends.

Basil II

[Korea (DoC)]

Indians intimidated and defeated the English in the last war witohut firing a single shot..

Ancient hisotry of the proud Byz versus India is forgoten in Nativia

[Robert Plomp]

New Story thread: http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190409