05-26-2020, 06:10 AM
Laeralsford
May 25th
Crown Prince Texōccoatl found himself slightly bemused by the meeting he was about to have. He was hosting Rua Karauria, a former Milintican President, who was now representing that tiny nation as its first-ever ambassador to Xiomera. The fact that Milintica, which was notoriously paranoid concerning Xiomera, had actually decided to send an ambassador was itself a historic milestone. The meeting between Karauria and Texōccoatl would also be the first-ever meeting between any officials from the two nations ever. The historic milestones, however, were a bit diminished by the fact that they were taking place in an embassy far away from Xiomera, with a Xiomeran government that controlled little more than the embassy grounds and a naval task force that was currently en route to Eiria to participate with joint maneuvers with that nation.
Texōccoatl would never have believed that such a meeting would ever take place, considering how afraid of the Xiomeran Empire the Milinticans were. Given that the false government of the new Emperor had just made a subtle but unmistakable threat to Milintica, however, the Crown Prince suspected that the Milinticans were far more afraid of Xochiuhue and the junta than they were of Texōccoatl's government in exile. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, indeed, Texōccoatl thought as Karauria was led into the office.
For her part, Karauria had no illusions about the man who stood up, smile flashing, to shake her hand as she walked in. A native Paora, Karauria wasn't possessed by the fears and ancient tales many Huenyan Milinticans were about Xiomera. But Karauria wasn't naive either. Xiomera was, at its heart, a repressive, imperialist state with a nationalist and racist core ideology behind its much-touted 600 years of history. Xochiuhue's predecessor, Yauhmi, had claimed that she wanted to change all that. Texōccoatl, the son, claimed the same thing. Karauria was willing to give them the chance to prove it - but prove it they must. Even if Karauria had been inclined to simply take Texōccoatl's word for it (which she wasn't), no one else in Milintica would ever give the Crown Prince a free pass. His own ancestors had done too much wrong for that, and Milintica's odd and struggling history was exhibit A of Xiomera's checkered past.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, your Majesty," Karauria said as she eased herself into one of the plush chairs in front of the desk. She brushed a strand of iron-grey hair back and accepted a cup of tea offered by a servant. "I am honored to represent the people of Milintica to your government."
"The honor is mine, Ambassador," Texōccoatl responded. "Xiomera and Milintica have had a troubled past for many years. If anything good comes out of the situation this illegal coup has caused, I am hopeful that a friendly relationship between our two countries will be that good thing."
"We are hopeful for this as well, your Majesty." Karauria sipped from her teacup before continuing. "I am actually here to discuss ways for bringing that result about." Texōccoatl made an encouraging noise as he sipped from his own cup of coffee. Karauria pulled a folder out of her briefcase. "As you know, the 'new' government of Xiomera has made some subtle, but unmistakable, threats to Milintica. We are quite concerned about this. As a result, we have decided to throw our support behind your government. Milintica is admittedly a poor nation, but one thing we do have in abundance are people willing to fight, and who would rather defeat this Xochiuhue on his home turf before he consolidates power and invades our own country with a united Xiomeran Empire behind him. You need people to help you fight Xochiuhue. Milintica can supply those people. Huenyans and Paora alike are united in our determination to defend our homeland. In this case, that defense begins in Xiomera, not on our own shores."
As Texōccoatl raised an eyebrow, Karauria passed the folder to him. "Our offer is simple. Our two governments open diplomatic relations, and Milintican 'volunteers' will be provided to help you supplement your own army. We will probably require help with arms and transport - again, we aren't a wealthy country - but if you can get us to the battlefield and arm us, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the result. In return for our help, once the coup is defeated, your government will agree to sign a treaty guaranteeing Milintican independence from Xiomera, and opening talks on further economic and military cooperation."
Texōccoatl steepled his fingers. "We definitely do need help, and the more the better. But I have to ask - and forgive me for this, because I don't mean any disrespect at all - "
Karauria nodded, gesturing to the Crown Prince to continue in the manner of someone who already knew what the question was.
" - but how much help can Milintican volunteers provide? Milintica is not exactly known for being a military power," the Crown Prince finished with a tone of slight embarrassment.
Karauria decided to make a point. "I'm an old woman. I don't look like I can do any damage to anything, do I?" The Crown Prince slowly nodded, unsure if he should agree. Karauria nodded, then threw the teacup she was holding against the far wall with a vigorous overhand swing. The teacup shattered into a dozen pieces. As the Crown Prince watched, stunned, Karauria leaned back into her chair. "Appearances can be deceiving," she said calmly.
After a moment of silence, Texōccoatl laughed eagerly. "I think you just taught me a good lesson, madam ambassador."
"That's a good place for us to start, then," Karauria replied. "Don't get me wrong, we'll need the help I mentioned, as far as transportation and arms. But once we're there, and we are armed....Huenyan Milinticans are descended from the same people as Xiomerans, Necatli, Itotemoc and Tepiltzin. They share the same martial attributes. As for my people, the Paora....it is a longstanding belief around the world that we are pacifists. That is only partially true - we are pacifistic by choice. We can choose not to be. And when we do....let me put it this way, we are more than capable of being the substance of nightmares for Xochiuhue, General Xōchhuitl, and the rest of that cabal. The junta around Xochiuhue isn't only threatening the Huenyans in Milintica - they're threatening my people too, and my homeland. We would have preferred not to get involved in this matter, but Xochiuhue has made that decision for us. We are ready to help you. The question is: do you accept the offer?"
Texōccoatl slowly smiled. "I think your offer is a brilliant way for our two governments to work together. I would be honored to accept it."
May 25th
Crown Prince Texōccoatl found himself slightly bemused by the meeting he was about to have. He was hosting Rua Karauria, a former Milintican President, who was now representing that tiny nation as its first-ever ambassador to Xiomera. The fact that Milintica, which was notoriously paranoid concerning Xiomera, had actually decided to send an ambassador was itself a historic milestone. The meeting between Karauria and Texōccoatl would also be the first-ever meeting between any officials from the two nations ever. The historic milestones, however, were a bit diminished by the fact that they were taking place in an embassy far away from Xiomera, with a Xiomeran government that controlled little more than the embassy grounds and a naval task force that was currently en route to Eiria to participate with joint maneuvers with that nation.
Texōccoatl would never have believed that such a meeting would ever take place, considering how afraid of the Xiomeran Empire the Milinticans were. Given that the false government of the new Emperor had just made a subtle but unmistakable threat to Milintica, however, the Crown Prince suspected that the Milinticans were far more afraid of Xochiuhue and the junta than they were of Texōccoatl's government in exile. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, indeed, Texōccoatl thought as Karauria was led into the office.
For her part, Karauria had no illusions about the man who stood up, smile flashing, to shake her hand as she walked in. A native Paora, Karauria wasn't possessed by the fears and ancient tales many Huenyan Milinticans were about Xiomera. But Karauria wasn't naive either. Xiomera was, at its heart, a repressive, imperialist state with a nationalist and racist core ideology behind its much-touted 600 years of history. Xochiuhue's predecessor, Yauhmi, had claimed that she wanted to change all that. Texōccoatl, the son, claimed the same thing. Karauria was willing to give them the chance to prove it - but prove it they must. Even if Karauria had been inclined to simply take Texōccoatl's word for it (which she wasn't), no one else in Milintica would ever give the Crown Prince a free pass. His own ancestors had done too much wrong for that, and Milintica's odd and struggling history was exhibit A of Xiomera's checkered past.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, your Majesty," Karauria said as she eased herself into one of the plush chairs in front of the desk. She brushed a strand of iron-grey hair back and accepted a cup of tea offered by a servant. "I am honored to represent the people of Milintica to your government."
"The honor is mine, Ambassador," Texōccoatl responded. "Xiomera and Milintica have had a troubled past for many years. If anything good comes out of the situation this illegal coup has caused, I am hopeful that a friendly relationship between our two countries will be that good thing."
"We are hopeful for this as well, your Majesty." Karauria sipped from her teacup before continuing. "I am actually here to discuss ways for bringing that result about." Texōccoatl made an encouraging noise as he sipped from his own cup of coffee. Karauria pulled a folder out of her briefcase. "As you know, the 'new' government of Xiomera has made some subtle, but unmistakable, threats to Milintica. We are quite concerned about this. As a result, we have decided to throw our support behind your government. Milintica is admittedly a poor nation, but one thing we do have in abundance are people willing to fight, and who would rather defeat this Xochiuhue on his home turf before he consolidates power and invades our own country with a united Xiomeran Empire behind him. You need people to help you fight Xochiuhue. Milintica can supply those people. Huenyans and Paora alike are united in our determination to defend our homeland. In this case, that defense begins in Xiomera, not on our own shores."
As Texōccoatl raised an eyebrow, Karauria passed the folder to him. "Our offer is simple. Our two governments open diplomatic relations, and Milintican 'volunteers' will be provided to help you supplement your own army. We will probably require help with arms and transport - again, we aren't a wealthy country - but if you can get us to the battlefield and arm us, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the result. In return for our help, once the coup is defeated, your government will agree to sign a treaty guaranteeing Milintican independence from Xiomera, and opening talks on further economic and military cooperation."
Texōccoatl steepled his fingers. "We definitely do need help, and the more the better. But I have to ask - and forgive me for this, because I don't mean any disrespect at all - "
Karauria nodded, gesturing to the Crown Prince to continue in the manner of someone who already knew what the question was.
" - but how much help can Milintican volunteers provide? Milintica is not exactly known for being a military power," the Crown Prince finished with a tone of slight embarrassment.
Karauria decided to make a point. "I'm an old woman. I don't look like I can do any damage to anything, do I?" The Crown Prince slowly nodded, unsure if he should agree. Karauria nodded, then threw the teacup she was holding against the far wall with a vigorous overhand swing. The teacup shattered into a dozen pieces. As the Crown Prince watched, stunned, Karauria leaned back into her chair. "Appearances can be deceiving," she said calmly.
After a moment of silence, Texōccoatl laughed eagerly. "I think you just taught me a good lesson, madam ambassador."
"That's a good place for us to start, then," Karauria replied. "Don't get me wrong, we'll need the help I mentioned, as far as transportation and arms. But once we're there, and we are armed....Huenyan Milinticans are descended from the same people as Xiomerans, Necatli, Itotemoc and Tepiltzin. They share the same martial attributes. As for my people, the Paora....it is a longstanding belief around the world that we are pacifists. That is only partially true - we are pacifistic by choice. We can choose not to be. And when we do....let me put it this way, we are more than capable of being the substance of nightmares for Xochiuhue, General Xōchhuitl, and the rest of that cabal. The junta around Xochiuhue isn't only threatening the Huenyans in Milintica - they're threatening my people too, and my homeland. We would have preferred not to get involved in this matter, but Xochiuhue has made that decision for us. We are ready to help you. The question is: do you accept the offer?"
Texōccoatl slowly smiled. "I think your offer is a brilliant way for our two governments to work together. I would be honored to accept it."
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