Destiny of Empires [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 11 - August 2011]

[America (DoE)]

A public address to Sultan Ahmed V, and all other nations:

Sultan Ahmed V,

My name is John F. Kennedy, and I am the new president of America. I wish to clarify a few things for you, as you have obviously been misinformed.

First of all, North America has had great relations with the Vikings for many years. We have worked together on several large projects, of which the recent handover of Tlaxcala is one. It is a simple economic agreement, much to the benefit of the people of Tlaxcala themselves. Seeing as the Aztec lacked the technology to use certain resources, the Vikings have stepped in to provide the necessary means. It will lead to new jobs and improves relations between the Aztec, the Vikings, and the Americans.

Second of all, let us remind you that it is those who live in North America who decide what our territorial integrity entails. Last time we checked, there were no Ottoman lands in America - though not for lack of trying... It is the Native Americans, the Aztec and the Americans who decide what happens with North American lands. Not anyone else. Surely you would consider it strange if we would tell you what we think should happen on the continent where you live.

Thirdly, and here we have to blunt: stop fabricating nonsense about slavery. This has been abolished many years ago, and you know it. The pictures you and Russia have spread are nauseating, and we invite all nations to send envoys to our continent to see for themselves that no such thing is going on here.

Fourthly, you have no right to say anything about the Aztec fleet and French assistance. A large part of your army was gifted to you by other nations. The only thing we are doing, is setting up a defensive perimeter, because we have seen recently what can happen if we fail to defend ourselves. We have no plans, none, of venturing across the ocean with any ship.

Sultan Ahmed, let us speak frankly. To us, and to any bystander, it seems that you are once again trying to start a war. You fabricate stories, to justify aggression. Instead of speaking plainly, you hide behind a curtain of deceit. We have done nothing to deserve this. So I ask you to reconsider your words, to reconsider your plans. We have no interest in Port Irina. We made a peace agreement, which you have just violated by declaring war on us again, and again without even contacting us about the Aztec fleet.

You do exactly the same thing as last time: no warning, no discussion. Out of the blue you come up with strange stories and you declare war without even attempting diplomacy. Sultan Ahmed, this is not the way the world should work. You owe it to your people to reconsider what you are doing.


To the rest of the world: surely the world should not condone these actions. We do not, and I cannot stress this enough, we do not want war. We are not threatening anybody. Yet out of the blue, we are once again faced with Ottoman aggression. Please, condemn these actions publicly, and let the world and your people know that problems should be solved diplomatically. Leaders of the world: stand up for what you know is right. Stand up for peace.

[Russia (DoE)]

Official note to the new USA president J.F.Keneddy :


"Your insinuations about Russia lying are not looked upon with good eye in Moscow. As always, Russia is not using only empty words, but the truth itself. And as always, we do have a proof. Here are the recent intelligence reports about the hundreds of thousands dying Aztec citizens:





You better beware when the next time call us liars and it turns out that the only liar is you.

End of the note."

[America (DoE)]

To the Russian embassy:

Whatever is going on in Tlaxcala is a direct consequence of the fact that your allies threaten us. The fact that the Ottoman Empire has declared war on us and is sailing through our waters with destroyers, has really left the Aztec no choice but to continue to try and provide access to oil to nations that have the technology to use it and protect us. We feared this would happen when we heard about the approaching ships. We scrambled to come up with a solution to defend ourselves. But it seems we were too late.

The Aztec people of Tlaxcala have chosen to move to other places, simply to preserve peace. There is no slavery. There are no labor camps. There are just people who are trying to protect their lands, and suffer because other nations leave them no choice.

So instead of calling us liars, think about what your actions are doing to a peaceful continent. Your power, your might, can stop any fight in its tracks. Instead, you seem to fuel the flames. Please, show us that you are better than that, and instead of creating chaos, call back your allies. We will never start a war with you. We know you are much too powerful. We know we are at your mercy.

We once thought you were a large, friendly giant, who would police the world, shield everyone from harm. Our children slept well, knowing that any rogue nation from across the sea would be held back by the wisdom of the great Russian nation. But now, that has all changed. Our children fear the east, because it is the only place we know that has brought us unannounced, unchecked aggression. Let me remind you that again, just as in the previous war, war has been declared on us without any prior communication. No diplomatic effort whatsoever. None.

Please, remember who you are, and who you can be. Because if you continue your present course, it will plunge the world into such darkness, that we fear we might never emerge from it. You have the power to save us all. We beg you to use it wisely.

JFK

[Ottoman Empire (DoE)]

The Daily Turkey

Editorial Section

American President calls Starvation of Tlaxians a "Simple Economic Arrangement"



The new President of America has issued several statements condoning the death and suffering going on in Tlaxcala and further stating that all of this was done with his consent and approval. Apparently, this new President is nothing more than a pretty, articulate face to hide the ugly truth of what is going on in Tlaxcala, Blood for Oil. In fact, The Turkey has learned that the wise and peace-loving former President , Dwight 'diplo' Eisenhower was forced into retirement despite being re-elected, because he would not go along with this evil scheme.

The madman duo of King Camaxtli and President Kennedy are manifestly in league with each other to stand by and allow the grisly death of thousands upon thousands of Tlaxians in order to deliver Oil to the Vikings. It is obvious that these insane butchers are unfit to command a nation, and must be removed from power before it is too late.


Make no mistake, what the Mad-Duo are doing is trading Tlaxian Blood for Oil. No matter how many flowery words they use to describe it, no matter how many long-winded speeches that the new Blood-for-Oil spokesmodel Kennedy delivers, the truth can not be concealed. The city of Tlaxcala is being STARVED TO DEATH in order to give Oil to the Vikings.

President Kennedy has described this genocide as a "simple economic arrangement" for "the benefit of Tlaxians." This is an outrage. How can starving to death be of benefit to the Tlaxians? This is simply Blood for Oil, and Kennedy is in on it. This is why he tries to defend the massacre, this macabre Faustian deal of his co-conspirator Camaxtli. This is why these murderers try to hide their blood guilt with euphemisms like "economic impulse" "lease" and "needed resource" and "simple economic arrangement". There is nothing simple about the slaughter of innocents in order to obtain the machines of War. Let us speak plainly and let the truth shine. The "needed resource" is Oil and the payment is the Blood of the Tlaxian innocents. Blood for Oil, pure and simple.

President Kennedy has lied and said that this murderous selling of the Tlaxians into slavery and death was in response to the Turks entering their waters with Destroyers. This is a lie. All nations can clearly see that the Tlaxian people were sold into slavery long before any Turkish destroyer entered American waters.

President Kennedy has further lied claiming that the dead, and massacred Tlaxians "moved to other places." This is ridiculous! What other places? If the Tlaxian truly welcomed this genocide then why would they be fleeing to other cities? If this massacre was as Kennedy claims "for their benefit, then why would they be "moving to other places?"

The truth is that Kennedy is a liar and a Camaxtli is a murderer. There is not one population increase in any of the surrounding cities that would support such infamous and shameless lies. The evidence is incontrovertable. Kennedy and Camaxtli can deny the legitimacy of the images Russia has obtained of the carnage in Tlaxcala, but they can not deny the city-report. All can see that Tlaxcala's foodstores are empty, and the city is in a state of starvation. All can see the city has lost almost half it's population in a bloodbath that defies description.



Azteca fought a war which they claimed was based on restoring the "territorial integrity" of North America, of keeping European Nations off the Continent. Now President Kennedy claims that the "territorial integrity of North America" is whatever he says it is. In other words "territorial integrity has no real meaning. It just means whatever he says it means. The "territorial integrity of North America" can be changed in meaning to suit whatever sick scheme that the evil Kennedy and Camaxtli dream up at the given moment. Well the people of Turkey do not accept this. The World should not accept this. Protests have already broken out in the streets of Istanbul and are spreading. The lovers of truth and justice and freedom are speaking out with one voice "NO BLOOD FOR OIL!"

Our sources have reported that the President Dwight 'diplo' Eisenhower actually argued exhaustively with Camaxtli over this issue, and in the end he would not go along with the evil plot to trade Blood for Oil, to trade the lives of the Tlaxian citizens for Weapons of War. As a result, Camaxtli plotted to remove Eisenhower and help his co-hort Kennedy ascend to power. Camaxtli himself delivered countless gold coins to fund Kennedy's campaign and ensure his plan would succeed.

Kennedy invokes the word "Peace." I quote from Supreme Commander Jamal's Great Treatise of International Law, soon to be published Worldwide... "True peace is not the absence of conflict. True Peace is the Presence of Justice." The stavation, occupation and enslavement of Tlaxians is an injustice and must be stopped. No Blood For Oil!



-- The Editor

[Arabia2 (doe)]

Arabia is celebrating the foundation of their new institute in Mecca: The University of Peace and Prosperity.
A place which provides forum to talks and lectures about peace and human rights. The celebration was cut short as news about a new crisis arrived. After long debate the Arabian University of Peace and Prosperity makes the following statement:

In the name of humanity we condemn the starvation of the civilian population for any so called economical benefit. This action can not be justified. We will send out our own investigators to see what is really happening there, but until then we urge to stop the starvation of the city, if no other way then by reverting the ownership to the Azteca.
The world must appreciate the Ottomans selfless determination to save their former enemy's citizens and also their fast reaction, as if they had anticipated such an event and sent their fleet years before this atrocious event so they could arrive in time.
Unfortunately though we can't say that war would solve anything. We fear the opposite could happen: even more death, starvation and suffering.
Since we can not approve foreign aggression without any support from the American nations we recommend that the international community try to press in this matter. Even a trade embargo should be in consideration.
Nevertheless: since all parties have a feeling of responsibility about the so called american territory integrity we just hope it will be kept in mind and no one would forget what does that mean.

[Ottoman Empire (DoE)]

Istanbul... Aysecan’s chambers



Reading the latest issue of The The Daily Turkey, Aysecan sat up with a startled expression on her face...

“Hand me that speech over there on the counter Ali!” she snapped to her stylist-valet

“You mean the Eisenhower one? Why?” Ali asked, puzzled.

“Because I think this rag may have actually hit the nail on the head here” Aysecan was reading furiously, talking without looking up. “I thought there was something ominous about his farewell address... And here it is... look”

Aysecan began reading from the speech aloud...
"

“Today, I humbly address you. I wish to speak to all of you about our future.”

Eisenhower wanted to tell us about what was coming.

“But when I look ahead, I can see shapes and forms that cast long shadows.”

"This speech was clearly intended to be a warning.

“Because soon, you will have to make a choice, a choice that will affect each and every one of us.”

Eisenhower was warning us that we would have to choose how to deal with the Tlaxian genocide.

“You, as leaders of the world, are all representatives of your people. You create their future. When you order your nation to build weapons, someone will have to wield those weapons.”

This statement is directed at Kennedy and Camaxtli. Eisenhower was warning them that there lust for Oil would force them into war.

“The reason that I speak about such things, is because the world is changing. At a rapid pace.”

Eisenhower sensed the changes coming in the global politique and he sensed those issues would come to a head almost immediately after he left. How could he know this? Because The Turkey was right. He was being forced out, and he knew why.

“There are new technologies, but these technologies demand resources.”

Can there be any doubt about what this means Ali? He is obviously referring to Oil. The new technology that Valhalla possessed and the resource that they did not, Oil. He is speaking of the demands for resources that Valhalla is making for the resource they need.

“It is at times like this that leaders forget that they are representatives. It is at times like this that leaders begin to believe that they know what is right for their people, without really asking them.”

This again is about the ones forcing him out. He is saying that Kennedy and Camaxtli are just imposing their will on the people of Tlaxcala.

“I therefore wish to inform you that I have handed in my resignation as general of the American forces. The American people have chosen John F. Kennedy as my successor”

Why would Eisenhower resign his position? Because he was forced to. If the American people had “chosen” a successor, he would not need to resign, he would simply have turned over power to the duly elected successor. The fact that he announced his “resignation” is a clue that the resignation was not voluntary at all, but forced by the evil Kennedy and Camaxtli.

“It is with great sadness, but with great hope that I take my leave”

This final statement is telling. President Eisenhower is leaving in great sadness, hopeful that the Mad-Duo do not bring his nation to ruin. If he were leaving willingly, he would be happy to turn over power to his succesor, not sad."

“Your intellect is truly a marvel to behold Ayse” Ali said with a wide eyed stare.

[Aztecs (DoE)]

The entertainment hits in Azteca:


Nr 1 Dance hit:
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8SGnzW6DGU


Nr 1 Song:
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM3nLXuhCQE&feature=fvst


Nr 1 Game:
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGzov...eature=related


Nr. 1 Instructional Video

. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWS_g...eature=related

[Inca (DoE)]

The Capane stood up in the assembly. A thousand bewigged heads arched to see him high above. The silence of the oligarchs followed, its beginning and end chosen by this man. Another thousand specks and motes of dust hung in the air, still, anticipating their release from stasis. The sun shone dimly through the stained glass and turned those floating points near the Capane into an array of points of light. The Capane held his breath along with the assembled mass, and along with him held firm these motes.

Then, in a moment they exploded into a frenzy, the Capane opened his mouth and spoke:

"Much is made of the suffering of the Texians," he said slowly and calmly, in deep and aged tones.

"Much is made of the 'freedom' of the nations of the world," he said with the same dedication to the sombre passage of time.

"Much is made of 'economic development'," and a slight chuckle escaped with the phrase.

"Much is made of our 'gifts' to others," and a far more audible chuckle escaped, "as though the Inca are in the habit of giving away millions of incos worth of property for no cost," and the chuckle reverberated through the crowd.

"Much is made by the Ameican president," he continued, "claiming this and that and whatever high ground he pleases as the Texians starve under plans he apparently helped design."

"And much is made of peace in a world that knows none."

And he paused and his gaze shifted above the crowd into the trapezoidal windows of the great hall, out into the airs of the Pacific and beyond. The stillness returned to the room, and the quiet.

Drawing in a breath, the thousands of specks were pulled into his being and consumed. Transformed, the air returned from its ordeal in ordered waves.

"So what am I to do?" his voice raised, "We all know our interests and we all know our concerns." nods abounded. "Our concerns don't include the Azteca who have so fully ignored our appeals for integration and regional solidarity. Our concerns cannot include a people who have so fully entrenched themselves under the trenchcoats of the French and Vikings," and a passion and timbre filled his words, "for when has any other power ever debased itself so far as to gift a central city to another? Some peripheral fueling station or wayward and inconsequential colony on the odd side of the world is one thing, but to gift a central city to another for 'economic development'," and with that the communal chuckle returned. The speaker paused for a moment for it to pass.

"This isn't the way of the civilized. So what am I to do now, proclaim our upset over the enslavement of these people? Claim we are justified in military intervention in Aztec affairs? Claim the Turks are as well, granted our blessing in their course?" no response, not even a cough, was given by the sapanes.

"No, we have our interests, and we no longer have the Azteca's interests to worry over. We do have the interests of the Natives to worry over, as they see militaries as unfit for their peoples. So be it, we respect their pacifism. They have taken to heart and hand their convictions. Among all the nations of the world, whom can we respect so much as them?" he stopped and with his right hand took a glass of water to his mouth and drank patiently.

"No, what lies can we tell? I won't even bother with the pretense. The Aztecs have given away a jewel of their people in order to satisfy Viking oil lust. We cannot have such things in our hemisphere. Both shall pay for their hubris."

Silence regarded him.

[Native America (DoE)]

He Who Serves stood before the doors and wrung his hands. Panic began to set into his thoughts. He thought wild thoughts of running, of hiding, of anything except finding someone to help. But He knew it would be futile.

The doors remained closed. No sound emanated from within. His timid knocks had not been answered. Time was important, but he knew not what he should do. Mind of Heaven had not been seen for five days, now. The Council needed direction. There were those on it who were beginning to ask penetrating questions about Mind of Heaven. But even in this extremity of need, He Who Serves simply could not bring himself to thrust the doors open.

Behind him, there was a sudden sound. The doors at the end of the hall were thrust open, and a man strode through. Tall he was, and substantial. He Who Serves knew at once who it was, and swallowed with apprehension, and curiousity. The massive shape of Salt of the Earth strode towards him, and stopped.

"Well? Aren't you going to open them," Salt of the Earth asked? "Or are you afraid of what you will find? I wonder which you fear most: that Mind of Heaven didn't manage to commune with Coyote, or that he DID."

He Who Serves opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Shock that Salt of the Earth knew what Mind of Heaven did behind these doors paralyzed him, for that was supposedly a secret known to but a few. Obviously, it was known to Salt of the Earth.

"Can't wait all day," Salt of the Earth said. Stepping briskly past He Who Serves, he thrust the doors open, and walked within.

Surprisingly, there was some light, though from where it emanated was unclear. He Who Serves followed Salt of the Earth, and let his eyes adjust to the even lower light levels of the room. He began to look around the room, for to his surprise, no one was on the bed that lay at the back of the room, in the center of the wall. But Salt of the Earth saw it first, the little envelope, and quickly crossing to the table, snatched it up. With an irreverant ripping of the paper, he tore it open to reveal the hidden message. Quickly he scanned the few lines therein, and, grunting once, dropped it to the floor. Looking around the room, sweeping it clean with his eyes, he nodded sharply, and then withdrew without a word to He Who Serves.

He Who Serves walked over to the dropped paper. Upon it he found the following message:

"To Salt of the Earth:

Long you have coveted my position. Denied to you it has been solely by my recalcitrance in leaving this world. That has ended. Coyote's plan is clear to me; He has made His will known. Thus, I leave the Council to you. Use it as needed, to guard The People. Guard them from rashness, from greed, and from overly great trust in the man-things. They know not our ways. Our way is straight, narrow, and assured. Follow it."

No sign of Mind of Heaven was left. He Who Serves sank to the floor. "Now, what can we do", he worried.

[England (DoE)]

The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen!

[Ottoman Empire (DoE)]

The Daily Turkey

National Day of Mourning for the Departed Leaders of Turkish Allies



The "Free Tlaxcala" and "No Blood For Oil" protests ceased for a National Day of mourning in Turkey. The people of Turkey are crying in the streets with sadness at the rumors of the passing of Mind of Heaven and Queen Elizabeth in such close proximity. The mourning was spontaneous, with no prompting from the Government, but many important officials have joined the mounrners in the streets. Said one Turk in Istanbul... "The wise Mind of Heaven! and now the Legendary Elizabeth too? It is more than my heart can bear!"

The Sultan Issues a sealed Olive Branch to the People of America



Our sources have confirmed that Sultan Ahmed issued a secret offer of unofficial Peace to the Americans. The Sultan has always maintained that Turkey has no real quarrel with the Americans, other than their peculiar support for the schememing Azteca. Those close to the Sultan say that he regards the new American President as a illegitimate Azteca puppet. The editors of The Turkey are not quite as generous. We regard Kennedy as a War criminal, as equally blood-guilty as his partner Camaxtli...

[Ottoman Empire (DoE)]

A point of Clarification to the President of America:



President Kennedy,

I wish to issue a public correction to your erroneous assertion "Last time we checked there were no Ottoman lands in North America"

This statement is patently false, for two reasons, unless the "last time you checked" was decades ago. First of all, Turkey has mature, developed, territory in the Alaskan Yukon, and has had this land, brimming with people, and bustling with infrastructure and commerce for centuries. This land has been claimed since the long-ago days of President Washington. There is no stretch of the imagination that could claim that the Alaskan Yukon is not part of North America. There are thousands upon thousands of loyal Turks who were born in North America, died in North America, and have never set foot in Europe or Africa. Therefore, these Turks are as North American as any citizen of America or Azteca.

Second, Azteca began preaching their mantra of "North American territorial integrity" when they were demanding that Havana be returned to American control. Havana is a Caribbean-Leftsea island, not part of the North American Continent. So if North America includes the Leftsea, as Azteca and America have previously asserted, then the Turkish island of Port Irina is also part of North America. If Port Irina is not part of North America, then neither is Havana.

Consequently, Turkey is also a North American power, by your own definition, and we have every right to concern ourselves with the goings-on in the part of the world that is inhabited by so many of our citizens. I hope this clarification has been helpful.

Aysecan, Public Relations, Mediator of the India-Japan treaty

[Aztecs (DoE)]

To all readers of Ottoman, Russian and Incan propaganda we say the following:




How more words are needed, how more the truth is concealed.

[Inca (DoE)]

Yupat slowly slid through the crowds around the Cuzia in Capaco. He was never one to pay much attention to the nature of a din, but the din in this particular place and time reached out from the din of all dins he had ever found himself ignoring and grabbed his ear and wandering mind, which in turn put a stop to his wandering body. This din-instance was in fact fairly un-din-like and perhaps a good bit more roaring-crowd-like, and that didn't quite fit.

"What's going on," he inputted into a random, anonymous contributor to this anomalous crowd.

"The Capane, he's talking of war," the figure returned.

"Well, we don't know that," another return with a different flavor.

"Yeah, more or less hand waving and theatrics for the domestic crowd, I think," yet another return.

"I think perhaps he might be a bit drunk or tipsy," the first returned. "He seems to be having problems focusing, so I hear."

"No, he speaks to well to be drunk. He is just tired, I think, tired of others' theatrics," returned by a new member of the crowd.

Yupat moved off, wanting to find a group that could return a bit more than such meager insights and conjecture. Typical, even in its extremity this din was full of gossip about the powerful and their personal issues. Soon, his ears picked up the language of political refinement and insight. Slowly, it came into proximity and picked up into more than the disembodied pieces of senteces and separated key words he had first noticed.

"...oil and geopol..." it was carried off slightly by a few "his eyes look sunken..."s and "did you see what his wife was wearing?"s and "I heard he called the leader of Azteca a 'llamanochutcota'"s. Then it came back again, "...European power struggles... ...playing out in the North...." and the confusing noise threw in a final "well, that's what you get for such a conservative pallaca" with an obnoxious one-liner for its finale. Then, he was beside the target group, and the surrounding mess no longer intruded on his thoughts, relegated back into "typical din" and ignored as is only proper for such things.

"Yes, I'm sure there will be a cultural explosion in the city as they try to pry away the remaining Texians from their new Native orientation. That or it's all just a sideshow, and the real action is occuring somewhere we would consider 'on the sidelines'," a tall, businessman said to his three friends.

"And what is the government here doing about all of this?" a completely typical and average man at his side responded.

The third man, standing beyond the second, dressed in a simple tunic and hat said, "well, there are the reports of the mobilization of the various hazco guards and the IDF, as well as the Pacific fleet and the flagship Cloud II. I wouldn't be so sure that he's just doing his typical bloviating, but then it wouldn't be Inca politics without a good dose of hot air and rhetoric."

The group laughed fully and the last man added in sardonically, "yeah, I'm sure it'll take him about two weeks this time before he's saying, 'oh, yeah, right, about that whole 'Azteca-Viking evil alliance, um, peace and prosperity forever, not our problem, we did what we could, what, do you want us to go to war actually? What is this the Classical Age again? harharhar'!" And the laughter exploded beyond its previous bounds.

The first man added, "yeah, this wouldn't be the first time the Inca fleet and continental guards got activated. I'm sure they'll even send them out to Azteca, maybe step off the boats, put on a good show, then board again and come home. Should take all of three months to pull off the newest Inca military adventure..."

The third mocked, "yeah, maybe this time they'll pillage some farms or set fire to a few huts just to prove they were there. Something for the papers, you know..."

After the laughter died down, the group turned serious again. The fourth man took up the lead and asked, "so, what do you say about the taxes, though? That's new, so far as I know."

"Oh, just some cyclical thing. They do this constantly, it's nothing new. Coincidence, that's all," the first assured him.

"Yes, but the treasury is already as full as it's ever been. Why tax us when foreign exports are providing 150% of the operating income for the state now? Seems we've finally hit our exporting stride just to get shook down by the local publicanes for no apparent reason. Doesn't make sense..." the first responded.

The second man said, "yes, but it wouldn't be the first time. There's a very long history of loaning. We're almost sure to see this money returned through investments and technological advancement two-fold, perhaps three-. Tax us hard now, and we skate by for the rest of our generation tax-free, riding loan repayments and interest and late fees. It's not a bad way to go. Bear it today eagerly, knowing full well we'll see the government step off taxation altogether for a very long time to come. One year of heavy taxation now will lead to perhaps five years of basically no tax down the road. Don't fret so much, it's just another exercise in 'Inca diplomacy'."

The man in the hat said somewhat worriedly, "yes, but threatening the Vikings. What was he thinking? We've no problems with them ever, and certainly this is nothing to get upset about. So, they want oil? We do to. Everyone does. Well, of those who can actually put it to use at least. Why go at them like that? It's uncalled for."

The tall man said, "it's an odd thing how all the people who can use the oil have to go to such extents to get it and those who can't use it seem to have it all for now..."

"aye, the Creator surely is a mischeivious being. Sol deceptor indeed!" came from the group.

Yupat noticed that the four men all came from the different corners of the empire. The first, tall man was undoubtedly a born-and-raised Capacan merchant. Yupat trusted his instincts that he was a commodities trader, he wasn't exactly sure why though. The second man was dressed somewhat flamboyantly, and his accent clearly marked him as a Tamazonan or Guacanan. Likely also a merchant, although unlikely to be an exchange trader. The third man was so obviously from Caczcoyna that it's not worth doubting, and the fourth had the serious and more austere look of a Talchan about him.

In the space between conversations, Yupat spoke up and introduced himself. He asked the men their thoughts on the events.

The first spoke clearly and loudly, "you know, I'm just worried that this is going to disrupt the hell out of trade. Closed borders, cancelled major trades. Too bad speculation is proscribed here, I could make a killing if it wasn't. Instead, we're all pretty much hunkering down for what looks to be a very rough decade. Can't say I blame them for talking this way, but it's really bad for business. Uncertainty and all..."

The second interjected, "uncertainty my ass. He's a businessman too, and he knows what the rammifications of his words are. It's not going to be a big issue in a few weeks, just let him talk what he will. Let the Coasters go to war, send off all their guns and materials and production into the sea, get it sunk or abandoned on some Azteca field, what do I care? Our sons aren't going to fight, we don't bother with these things. If the war comes, I will go back across the mountains and enjoy the considerable trade and economic growth we'll get regardless of the international situation."

The third berated him, "oh, yes, if only we all could live barricaded on all sides by other states. No matter what happens in this world, you Guacana will always be secure, so of course you don't bother yourselves with military affairs. You can't look down on the Coasts for caring, though. We're always a few hours away from an invasion if anyone so desired it. You have the English and us to protect you, we've got seagulls and whatever we provide for ourselves. It's not like we haven't managed some great economic activity. You keep up your domestic businesses; we're the exporters of the empire, we're the reason you have Roubles, Yen, and Troglos in the first place." He paused and continued, "what do I think? I think I don't want to see my friends and family sent off to fight for some goddamned Leftsea issues. Might as well be an issue over the Nile. I'll leave caring about that to you guys, Pollan."

The fourth man responded, "yeah, it will be we who lead this and we who die, if it happens. And if it goes wrong, you guys won't have to worry as Talcho gets overrun by Azteca rifles. You think the Leftsea doesn't affect you, but you couldn't be more wrong. If the Vikings get oil, they're giving it all back to the Azteca. You think we need the Azteca, the Azteca who won't sign on to regional treaties and now make themselves European puppets, you think we need them with destroyers and rifles and infantry of their own? Ridiculous. Mount Pan has divided us well, and likely would have been a sufficient barrier to assault had it not been for this humanitarian travesty..."

The second chided him, "Oh, 'humanitarian travesty' my left nut. Sapa No'am is right, you know, they only use that as a thin ideological cover for their new rampant militarism and creeping fascism. You'll trot of to war on those words, and they know it. They don't give a **** about the Texian people. They don't care, hell, he basically just said as much, but sure as the moon follows the sun there'll be a dozen editorials tomorrow proclaiming that saving the Texians is the reason we need to go to war. Hell, just look at the international 'press', it's all over those rags. And the 'Capaco Sun' has been running a similar opinion-news campaign for a month now. Tomorrow, everyone will start in earnest. You think they're going to print the parts where he mocks public opinion and ideological veils? You think most of the people here even recognized those parts, or was everyone too busy talking about his side comment on Ayescan to notice? The papers certainly are going to ignore them. That was for the sapanes, and the sapanes don't care about putting so much as a fig leaf on their unbridled militarism now. But the papers, yes, the papers are the buffer, and they do well to distill such vileness into something digestible to us."

The first responded, "yes, well, I've got to get back from lunch." And the others murmured similar statements and the group disbanded. Yupat turned around and walked out of the square as the doors to the Cuzia opened and the crowd acoustically erupted behind him. Some figures made their way down the steps and into their coaches, but by the time they pulled out of the square themselves Yupat was a couple blocks away sitting in a cafe.

He sat down at a table with a new group of men, and suddenly realized he was seated with dignitaries from what must have been some international meeting nearby on lunch. Everyone introduced themselves, this man from Asgard, this from London, this from Washington, this from Neander, that from Paris. Immediately, the group began picking his brain, feeling him out, trying to grasp the situation. He openly responded to their inquiries. The first asked...

[India (DoE)]

Confusion reigns in India.


The state is in anarchy, the government has fallen, a power vacuum exists yet no one wishes to take power. Meanwhile the expeditionary fleet, the only part of India still in some form of order is having trouble getting home due to Japanese borders. Admiral Bumajamhad has requested open borders rights to be able to return home.