08-09-2018, 09:39 PM
Government Manor, Sanctus; 8pm
Charlene Hendry cleared her throat and squinted as the overhead light momentarily shone directly in her face while it was being moved by a camera-man. One of the tv network's makeup assistants just finished dabbing on some blush - "to combat the harsh lighting", she claimed - and her aides were finishing up her speech. "Martin", she called to one of her speechwriters, "we're having an autocue, right?" The affirmative answer calmed Hendry somewhat. This was her first speech to the nation that she had had to do since she was installed as Prime Minister seven months earlier.
"Quiet please", a booming voice rang out. Hendry glanced behind the cameras right on front of her and saw an aide giving her five fingers, then four, then three. Hendry looked directly at the camera and took a breath when she saw the pilot light go red.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening.
I am speaking directly to you tonight because, for many weeks now, we've been seeing violent, distressing, and horrific scenes and images being transmitted out of Lauchenoiria, currently gripped in an ever-escalating Civil War. I speak to you because we have heard your demands to intervene and, as the people's servant, it is my duty to give you the options and facts as we have them.
Sanctaria cannot intervene in this war. We cannot send our troops. It has been judged too dangerous to send in our peacekeepers. We are mandated to be neutral unless directly attacked by our founding document, our basic law - our Constitution. It has kept Sanctaria safe since the foundation of the state and my government is determined to see it continue to prevent the unnecessary loss of Sanctarian life.
But while we want to preserve Sanctarian life, it would be deeply hypocritical of us, and completely antithetical to our ideals, for us to stand by and let innocent civilians, who want no part in a conflict, continue to be mercilessly gunned down. There are no saints in this conflict. Both sides have refused ceasefires.
Leaders on both sides, however, are now dead. Through assassination, subterfuge, or direct warfare, there are new leaders calling the shots.
Enough is enough. Too much death has been dealt. This is not the way of this region. We use diplomacy and discussion to resolve our differences, not murder and conflict. To these new leaders I say this: Sanctaria now openly calls on you, with the world watching, to declare a ceasefire, and to come to the city of Haven here in the Divine Republic for peace talks. Allow Sanctaria's experienced mediators to help you resolve the conflict and save the lives of the people you are fighting to serve.
Sanctaria cannot intervene militarily in this conflict. But we would remind all sides, including other nations involved in coalitions or military support, that we hold substantial debt for many of you. Many of you rely on Sanctarian gas and oil. You rely on investment from Sanctarian companies. You take advantage of our liberal tax laws.
Unless a cease-fire is called, we will take steps to change that. We will begin expelling diplomats. We will call in our debts to be re-payed. We will freeze the assets of your nationals in our country. We will turn off the pipelines.
The fighting and the needless death of innocents has to stop. The war has begun to threaten the International Democratic Union as a whole, as we, along with other stalwart nations such as Sciongrad, Grosseschnauzers, and Bears Armed, are no longer going to stand by and allow our region to destabilise.
Sanctaria has a venue, has mediators, and has logistics already in place. All the leaders on all sides of this civil war have to do is call a ceasefire and reach out to us to begin negotiations.
To the people of Sanctaria. I am sorry you have thought us to be uncaring towards to tragedies and atrocities being committed in Lauchenoirian region. We cannot intervene militarily, but we will take steps to ensure no more life is lost.
Thank you, and good night."
She blinked casually until the red pilot light has gone off. Chatter had begun again. Her aides gave her the thumbs up. Hendry simply pushed herself away from the desk and out of her chair and walked into her private office. She would make good on her promises of economic sanctions if necessary, but she was hopeful negotiations would be taken up. She still had faith.
Charlene Hendry cleared her throat and squinted as the overhead light momentarily shone directly in her face while it was being moved by a camera-man. One of the tv network's makeup assistants just finished dabbing on some blush - "to combat the harsh lighting", she claimed - and her aides were finishing up her speech. "Martin", she called to one of her speechwriters, "we're having an autocue, right?" The affirmative answer calmed Hendry somewhat. This was her first speech to the nation that she had had to do since she was installed as Prime Minister seven months earlier.
"Quiet please", a booming voice rang out. Hendry glanced behind the cameras right on front of her and saw an aide giving her five fingers, then four, then three. Hendry looked directly at the camera and took a breath when she saw the pilot light go red.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening.
I am speaking directly to you tonight because, for many weeks now, we've been seeing violent, distressing, and horrific scenes and images being transmitted out of Lauchenoiria, currently gripped in an ever-escalating Civil War. I speak to you because we have heard your demands to intervene and, as the people's servant, it is my duty to give you the options and facts as we have them.
Sanctaria cannot intervene in this war. We cannot send our troops. It has been judged too dangerous to send in our peacekeepers. We are mandated to be neutral unless directly attacked by our founding document, our basic law - our Constitution. It has kept Sanctaria safe since the foundation of the state and my government is determined to see it continue to prevent the unnecessary loss of Sanctarian life.
But while we want to preserve Sanctarian life, it would be deeply hypocritical of us, and completely antithetical to our ideals, for us to stand by and let innocent civilians, who want no part in a conflict, continue to be mercilessly gunned down. There are no saints in this conflict. Both sides have refused ceasefires.
Leaders on both sides, however, are now dead. Through assassination, subterfuge, or direct warfare, there are new leaders calling the shots.
Enough is enough. Too much death has been dealt. This is not the way of this region. We use diplomacy and discussion to resolve our differences, not murder and conflict. To these new leaders I say this: Sanctaria now openly calls on you, with the world watching, to declare a ceasefire, and to come to the city of Haven here in the Divine Republic for peace talks. Allow Sanctaria's experienced mediators to help you resolve the conflict and save the lives of the people you are fighting to serve.
Sanctaria cannot intervene militarily in this conflict. But we would remind all sides, including other nations involved in coalitions or military support, that we hold substantial debt for many of you. Many of you rely on Sanctarian gas and oil. You rely on investment from Sanctarian companies. You take advantage of our liberal tax laws.
Unless a cease-fire is called, we will take steps to change that. We will begin expelling diplomats. We will call in our debts to be re-payed. We will freeze the assets of your nationals in our country. We will turn off the pipelines.
The fighting and the needless death of innocents has to stop. The war has begun to threaten the International Democratic Union as a whole, as we, along with other stalwart nations such as Sciongrad, Grosseschnauzers, and Bears Armed, are no longer going to stand by and allow our region to destabilise.
Sanctaria has a venue, has mediators, and has logistics already in place. All the leaders on all sides of this civil war have to do is call a ceasefire and reach out to us to begin negotiations.
To the people of Sanctaria. I am sorry you have thought us to be uncaring towards to tragedies and atrocities being committed in Lauchenoirian region. We cannot intervene militarily, but we will take steps to ensure no more life is lost.
Thank you, and good night."
She blinked casually until the red pilot light has gone off. Chatter had begun again. Her aides gave her the thumbs up. Hendry simply pushed herself away from the desk and out of her chair and walked into her private office. She would make good on her promises of economic sanctions if necessary, but she was hopeful negotiations would be taken up. She still had faith.