Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread] . PART 12 (July 2009)

[Pitboss Maya]

[Pitboss Greece]

Public letter from Alexandra, daughter of Alexander II, true heir to the throne of Sparta.
To: Archelaus II, puppet of Rome.

Archelaus,

When will you stop this sell-out of the once mighty Spartan Empire?
First you removed the true Spartan Emperor from power by a malicious coup.
Then you sold Korea to the Romans, now you are about to give in to more Romans demands by giving up Samos, our ancient settlement on New Sparta, symbol of Sparta's ownership of New Sparta?

I demand you to stop this insanity and act like a true royal leader of Sparta.

Alexandra

[Pitboss Russia]

From: Minister of Domestic Security Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko, Council of Transition and Stability
To: Mayan Republic
Subject: Espionage

This is a sad day indeed. No sooner had I sat behind my new desk as Minister of Domestic Security than evidence of Mayan infiltration of Russia's Provincial Government was uncovered. Civil Disorder had broken out in Petrograd and Smolensk for no apparent reason. Where citizens had happily lived under a benign and progressive Government for decades riots suddenly erupted.

What was Russia to think? Who could gain from such an act?

Blame seemed easy to apportion twixt but three suspects and investigations were launched to root out the malefactor who had to come from her traditional enemies or close neighbours. What did the CIS discover? A Mayan agent was caught red-handed attempting yet another act of subversion!

An explanation and formal apology is required immediately!

Minister of Domestic Security, Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko
For, and on behalf of, The Russian Federation

[Pitboss Russia]

From: Foreign Minister Evgeni Plushenko, Council of Transition and Stability
To: All Civilised Nations of the World
Subject: Federal Election, Cabinet Reshuffle and Conference in Rostov

Much to Prime Minister Aleksandrovich’s disappointment no candidates have chosen to stand against him in the forthcoming General Election. This could be construed as a negative statement upon Russian Democracy so therefore, unless someone puts themselves forward at the last moment, the Election will be changed into a Referendum upon the current leadership.

A major reshuffle has taken place with Anastas Mikoyan retiring as Minister of Trade to be replaced by a political heavyweight in Olga Cherkasy. Ms Cherkasy has enormous experience in a number of Russia’s principal retail outlets as well as operating her own business during the evening in Moscovy catering for many different tastes amongst her clients.



Natalia Kharkova has taken over as Education Secretary from Gennady Yanayev who has been forced to take a long earned rest due to predicted severe, even life threatening, ill health. Ms Kharkova is finely suited to her new position having attended High School until the age of thirteen before having to turn down a University place in order to study street hygiene issues.



Christina Chernigova has taken over from Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko as Minister of the Interior who has moved to become Minister of Domestic Security. Ms Chernigova has a deep knowledge of how to satisfy a Russian at home and has proven this in practice to the Prime Minister.



Fine choices all and an example to the World of equality in both gender and class within Government.

The Conference goes on with discussions upon the grave issues facing a World within which Russia longs to live in Peace. News of Mayan espionage was of particular concern as well as the increasing numbers of Warships within Russian Territorial Waters.

Deputy Prime Minister Anna Nazarova barely had time to consider her despatches prior to today’s meeting.



The Prime Minister was only able to spend a short time briefing Junior Ministers during a late afternoon session.



The World faces troubled times indeed but Russia will remain a neutral and peaceful nation regardless of the warlike actions of others – save if they are directed at Russia herself.

Foreign Minister Evgeni Plushenko
For, and on behalf of, The Russian Federation

[Pitboss Greece]

Alexandra leads People revolt against Archelaus II



Archelaus was about to hand Samos over to the Japanese when a large population of Spartan and Knossos' citizen grouped together and demonstrated against the hand over of New Sparta.

Alexandra was in the mids of them.
When Archelaus showed up on the balcony of his palace in front of the big square he was yelled at by the people.
"Bastard King" "Illegal King" "Murderer of Alexander"
Archelaus look-a-like puppets were hanging as if he was executed already.



Archelaus raised his hands, trying to calm down the crowd.
"People of Greece" he said.
People booed at him. "SPARTA" people yelled. "WE ARE SPARTA"

"I know you are angry!" he continued
"ANGEEEER" people yelled.
then the crowd chanted: "ANG-ER ANG-ER ANG-ER ANG-ER"

"I AM ANGRY TOO" Arcelaus then yelled.
"I am ANGRY because we lost our territory and we lost our pride and we lost our HONOUR against the Romans!"
The square fell silence....

"Do you think that I WANT to hand over Samos? - NO I DON'T" he yelled.



"I do not sell Greece out, I CARE about GREECE, I AM GREEK"

"SPARTA" someone yelled with a great voice

"I am a SPARTAN.........." Archelaus then said
"I am an Athenian, I am a Thebian and a Corinthian, a Knossosian and an Samosian" he yelled

"Traitor" a woman screamed

Then Archelaus raised his arm and said: "Yes, I am a traitor, I have betrayed the Spartan Empire, I ended it. I am a traitor."

"I AM A TRAITOR because BRINGING DOWN Sparta was the ONLY WAY to SAVE GREECE,
if saving Greece makes me a TRAITOR then I AM ONE" and he raised his arm even higher.

Then all other people on the balcony raised their arms with Archelaus.



"Do you think that we can keep Samos and not face the wrath of Rome?" he asked.
"YES WE CAN" a Negroid man yelled.

"YES WE CAN" the crowd chanted
"YES WE CAN"
"YES WE CAN"
"YES WE CAN"

Then Archelaus screamed with the greatest voice he had: "NO...........WE..............CAN'T"
it echoed over the great square of Athens.

"If we won't give up Samos then we will have to give up EVERYTHING" Archelaus said.
"Rome is too powerful, they will invade our cities and enslave us.
We will become slaves of the Roman empire, is that what you want?"

Then Alexandra stepped forward with a huge megaphone.
She climbed upon a crest and said with a great voice to Archelaus:

"You talk about this future of doom Archelaus, but you don't know the future!
The future is uncertain! All we can be sure about is the PAST
and the past is that you SOLD OUT SPARTA
and now ONCE AGAIN want to SELL OUT Sparta by giving up Samos!
You are not the TRUE heir of the throne of Alexander!

LEAVE US NOW!"



The crowd went crazy

"LEAVE US NOW

LEAVE US NOW

LEAVE US NOW"

Then Archelaus once again raised his hands.
A shot was heard. Archelaus grabbed his chest. He fell forward, tumbled over the balcone and dropped to the ground from at least 20 meters......

Silence......

Alexandra stepped from the crest and walked to the balcone.
The people made room for her.
She bowed over the body of Archelaus.

"May my cousin rest in peace" she whispered.
Then she turned towards the mob and grabbed her megaphone again.

"Today justice has been brought to Sparta!
Here is the new Emperor of the Spartan Empire:
True heir to the throne of Alexander I and Alexander II"

The crowd cheered and chanted her name: "ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRA"

Then she said: "CLEOPATRA, are you LISTENING?
You have had enough! We are Sparta, we will NOT GIVE UP SAMOS!
You took Korea, you took the Gobi, now LEAVE US ALONE"

"LEAVE US ALONE" the mob chanted

"LEAVE US ALONE"

"LEAVE US ALONE"

"LEAVE US ALONE"

"LEAVE US ALONE"

[Pitboss Greece]

Cleopatra of Rome,

Your puppet, Archelaus is gone.
We believe that Sparta has suffered enough.
We will not give up Samos.
Count your blessings and let us live in peace as neighbours.

Alexandra, Empress of the Spartan Empire

[Pitboss Rome]

"It was the laughter that frightened me", said the commander of the Roman army's Korean defence force to his naval counter part.

"No, its the eyes. The way they seemed to narrow and come alive at the news".

"Let's face it, we all knew that Cleopatra would order the invasion of Greece, didn't we. What else could she do. This fool Alexandra has renounced the treaty of Durango. She has to be removed"

"I know, but did Cleopatra have to seem so pleased to be ordering the invasion. The eyes, the laughter, the palpable excitement."

"She is frumentarii all right. Whatever she did, whatever she saw during the Korean uprising, its done something to her. There's a ruthlessness, a lack of empathy there, that Marcus never had. I hope the Greeks surrender soon - I think orders will be coming through which I will shudder to obey"

"The Roman way - the old Roman way - it seems to be ebbing away"

[Pitboss Rome]

Proclamation of Direct Rule

People of Greece,

I am hereby taking Greece back into direct rule from Rome, as a result of your failure to live up to the commitments you entered into in signing the Treaty of Durango.

Armoured units of the Korean Defence force have already crossed the border.

Your army is massively outnumbered and outgunned. Resistance is futile and will lead to massive, exemplary, destruction to the fair land of Greece.

Cleopatra Custia of Rome

[Pitboss Russia]

Greek Quiz

Russian historians can reveal the following information.

Alexander II. Fornicated with grazing animals and had far too much in common with Oedipus for comfort.

Achelaus. It never has been admitted by Greek authorities as to the genus of Craterus but rumours have him to have been a Goat as it is doubted if Achelaus was equipped to deal with a Sheep.

[Pitboss Greece]

Alexandra was very confused.
"So unexpected...." she whispered.
"You really believed the Romans would not respond?" her father's chief scribe asked.
"Such a large army...... there are so many of them!" she said.

"What do you order?" the scribe asked.


Roman tanks cross the Taebong River

"What about the Portuguese?" Alexandra suggested.
"Your father cursed them. We have cut off all connections with them. We would be a fool if we would hope for their help"
"The Khmer?"
"They already responded that they are not going to help us when we are about to commit suicide....."
"The Metalheads?"

"Empress........ We are on our own! Maybe you should not have acted that reckless!"
"SILENCE, I am your empress, do not question my actions"

Alexandra walked out of the room with large steps.

"Empress.... what do you order?"
Alexandra turned around. "What will happen next days if we go full frontal at war with Rome?"

"Pusanos will fall first, Knossos and Thebes immediately next year. Then Sparta will fall within 2 or 3 years. They have Modern Armors, we only have tanks. They have bombers, we only have 2 jets."

"Do we have at least a small chance?"

"No."

"Then ask Cleopatra what her terms are to end this war" Alexandra responded.
The scribe finished the letter to Cleopatra immediately and sent it, while shaking his head. "Some people thought a new age of peace would arrive when women would rule this earth....."

[Pitboss Maya]

Spy

Dear, Minister of Domestic Security Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko, Council of Transition and Stability.

We are at this moment searching our files and big books with letters, for our huge spy network and other employers. Up to this moment we could not find any spy in active duty. What we did find was strange dressed foreigners buying large quantities of traditional mayan spy wear. and heading to the Russian border....

Kind regards, dhr. Zabbadeaiaporodonimayaliki Lulu, Minister of Beaurocratic Affairs and Paper Stamping

p.s. for extended information please fill out form 57890.rt.98, and send it in tripled to the Department of Information, Fishing Licences and Beaver Affairs.

[Pitboss Rome]

Cleopatra Custia of Rome, to
Alexandra, spokeswomen of the Spartan people
Greetings

I understand that you have come to realise that Sparta’s future lies within the peace and security of the Roman Empire.

I am pleased.

Since Roman forces have met no serious resistance at the Korean/Spartan border, and you have repented of your rash actions before serious war fighting has begun, I am prepared to overlook this incident.

The Spartans are an ancient, proud and worthy people. Therefore I would prefer for Sparta to continue to have self-governance, rather than imposing direct rule from Rome.

However, to avoid the possibility of a recurrence of this recent burst of foolish anti-Roman nationalism, it is necessary for Rome to take responsibility for your military and foreign policy to ensure continuing peace and stability in the region.

Furthermore recognising your royal blood, I am prepared to consider granting you the title “Queen of Sparta” and appoint you to rule the Greece people on my behalf. You will have complete freedom of action, save for military and foreign policy.

I urge you to sign the deed of vassalage immediately, before the tanks of the Korean Defence Force enter you main urban areas.

[Pitboss Greece]

Alexandra read the letter again.
Then she mumbled: "This so unexpected..."
"And yet it is reality" the chief scribe said.
"So they effectively want us to capitulate and become a vassal of the Roman empire...."

Alexandra had an empty look in her eyes.
"Father what would you have done?" Alexandra said towards the sky.
"Your father is gone, Alexandra.... you have to make this decision"
"What would my father have done, you knew him best Scribe..."
"Alexander.... he would have brought his entire army against the Romans...."
"That would be suicide....!" Alexander said with horror in her eyes
"Remember how your father died....." the scribe said.

Alexandra slapped him. "Don't talk like that about my father!"
"Your father was a fool!" the scribe said, while wiping the blood from his face.
Alexandra became enraged
"Archelaus was a wise man, he made peace with the Romans and saved Sparta from Roman surpression, don't you see it?" the scribe continued.
"You think I'm a fool as well?" Alexandra asked.
"I will answer this question after you made your decision" the chief said firmly.

"What are our options? Do we have anything to negotiate with?" the Empress asked.

"We can give up Samos....."
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Alexandra said furiously.
"The people expect me to keep Samos at all costs!"

"Then there's not much left........."
"Do we have any army hidden near Roman borders?"
"No my lady, we don't. Nobody expected this."
"So those Roman armies invade our territory and we can do nothing to defend ourselves?"
"We can bring our tanks against their modern armors........"

"That's not an option!" Alexandra *****ed.
"Then you are wiser then you father...."
"He did not face modern armors back then! He had a chance, we don't have one"
"Then you can't do anything but give in to their demands" the scribe concluded.

"What if we give up the Land Bridge?"
"You don't want to give up Samos, but you do want to give up the Land Bridge? we have two very productive cities there, not to mention the insence and the oil....."
"What about........."

"Rome is not going to accept anything but capitulation my lady. They want to end this for once and for all and they are not going to accept anything but capitulation..."

"What will the people say?"
"Tell the people that you have secured Sparta's borders by signing an alliance with Rome."

"Alexandra spit on the ground.
How have I become worse then Archelaus, she wondered"
Then she sent the letter of capitulation to Cleopatra

[Pitboss Russia]

At least we are saved from Alexandra going 'full-frontal' to the Romans!

[Pitboss Rome]

Cleopatra Custia of Rome, to
Alexandra, spokeswomen of the Spartan people
Greetings

I acknowledge receipt of the deed of vassalage, duely signed.

I hereby:

• accept Sparta into the Roman Empire
• appoint you Queen of Sparta, with full authority to rule Sparta in all matters, save military and foreign policy
• appoint my minister Gallio to manage Spartan military and foreign policy - he will be arriving in Sparta forthwith

I have ordered the Korean Defence Force to return to the Korean side of the border.

I look forward to Sparta's development within the peace and security of the Roman Empire. Roman acknowledges Spartas greatness, particularly in science and is sure that these arrangements will be to both nations' benefit.

Queen Alexandra, you should come to Rome. I recognise in you the same determination and courage, ruthlessness and steel that I am known for and the male leaders of the nations appear to lack. There is a new world to be forged.

Cleopatra, Custia of Rome.