05-31-2020, 11:33 PM
(Written with [nation]Xiomera[/nation])
Emily Rouchard stood by her desk in her temporary apartment, quickly trying to sort through the mess of files. She was know in the Ambassador's League as one of the messiest Ambassadors when it comes to her office, and that reputation was warranted. The rest of the apartment was organized and peaceful compared to the warzone of her desk. She was frantically cleaning as to not show the mess to the Crow Prince, who she asked to come by to check the Eirian hackers progress on breaking the Xiomeran Propoganda barriers. I should have given myself more time to clean up.
The Crown Prince and Secretary Nōlinyauh soon arrived, their retinue causing a brief spate of attention in the street outside. The official vehicles, sleek and elegant, alone would have drawn attention. But the escort of diplomatic security and Jaguar Warriors that emerged from the vehicles to take up protective positions as the two officials walked into the apartment building were the real attention-getters. The Crown Prince noticed the curious but polite attention from the Laeralite passers-by and gave a friendly wave as he walked inside.
Once inside, the Xiomerans were quickly led to the right apartment. One of the security men knocked to alert the Ambassador of their arrival.
Emily took one last look at her desk, sighed, and opened the door. "Your Majesty, and Mister Secretary. Welcome. Please, come in". She walked in and gestured for the Solar Guard agent assigned to protect her to station outside. "Can I get either of you something to drink?".
”If you have coffee that would be lovely, but don’t put yourself out on our account,” Texōccoatl said as the two of them sat down on a rather comfortable sofa. “We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us.”
"Of Course!". She took out two mugs and some coffee pods from the cabinet and put them in the coffee machine. "What is the current status of your resources? Any new gains or losses?". She asked, waiting for the coffee maker to finish.
”We have definitely made some gains, but our progress is too slow, I fear,” Texōccoatl said in response. “We have established a fully functioning government, and we are beginning efforts to break people away from the junta. We have also begun making contacts within Xiomera itself to try to begin causing trouble internally. But we’re hoping to increase the efforts to reach our people dramatically. Nothing less than a full-scale popular uprising will dislodge the junta and this fake Emperor of theirs, in our estimation.”
She nodded, and placed both mugs on the coffee table, as well as milk and sugar. "Well, speaking of which, the hacker team attempting to take down the propoganda filters have made decent progress". She went to her office and returned with a few pages stapled together, bearing the EICA seal on the top. "It seems that they have identified a few weaknesses in the filters themselves, and are trying to exploit them to the best of their ability. We aren't able to send full news broadcasts, but we may be able to send short informational videos through to a chunk of the populace. And then there's the agents we sent in, who could resort to printing out pamphlets and handing them out, if necessary".
”Both methods seem like a good idea. The more anti-junta videos we can push through, the better. And the pamphlets can’t hurt. Please advise your agents to be careful though. If they get caught by the security forces or ASI with those kind of pamphlets, things will go badly for them,” Nōlinyauh said with a gift of understatement.
"Our agents are well aware of the risk involved with this mission. It's part of the profession, after all. I'll relay that to mission command". She sighed. "It's a hard situation to be in, Your Majesty. And I admire your courage and strength for your country. Such qualities are many times absent in leaders, and my superiors were wondering, once you are reinstated, that maybe we could cement an alliance between Xiomera and Eiria".
”That is definitely a possibility. Any nations that have helped us through this crisis will certainly be high on our list for closer relations,” Texōccoatl replied. “We has actually been considering approaching our immediate neighbors for some time now to discuss ways to come to a common understanding on issues and goals in eastern Catica.”
"Sounds like a noble effort. One that Eiria would certainly support. Anyway, is there any particular piece of information you want distributed to your people?".
”I can provide a recorded message from myself to the people. That would be one item. The rest....we can supply anti-junta propaganda, videos from scenes where the junta is committing crimes against humanity, things of that nature. We have a team here now working on putting all that together - former XIN journalists and underground press who either came here from other countries after the coup, or managed to escape from Xiomera itself. The first-hand accounts from the people who escaped are especially harrowing.”
"That would likely be much more effective than if Eirian journalists put something together. I'll ask EICA to set up a place for your journalists to send things to be sent in. Are you planning a military assault on Xiomera in the near future?".
”We are not at that stage yet. We have to put together a much larger force to accomplish that, or we’ll be doomed to failure. This is why the propaganda mission is so important. We must convince more of the military and the security forces to switch sides and support the legitimate government again,” Texōccoatl said.
"Makes since. Is there anything, besides the propoganda mission, that you require of Eiria? We are willing to help with a lot of things".
”We may need help getting some of our people back into Xiomera. If you can aid in that effort it would be welcome. Other than that, just keep scaring the crap out of this wanna-be Emperor of theirs with your naval maneuvers,” Texōccoatl chuckled. “How has that mission been going? Have any junta forces contacted or confronted your ships?”
"Not yet. It seems to be going well, from what I hear. Admiral Circè is probably scaring the hell out of them. I fear she may be having a bit too much fun with it. I wouldn't put it past her. She's infamous back home". She grinned. "But she's infamous for all of the right reasons, I suppose".
"In this case, that's a good thing. Admiral Techilō recently arrived on station there with our 1st Fleet as well. I imagine having our ships accompanying yours will give the junta some sleepless nights, which is perfect. The only other thing we might ask....while we're not at the stage yet of requesting open support militarily, if you know of any 'volunteers' or mercenaries that might be willing to join us, we certainly wouldn't decline the help once it is needed."
She shrugged. "Not many mercenaries do business in Eiria. And although I assume some Eirians would join you in a heartbeat, putting out an official request for volunteers requires a Senate vote. I'll see if we can hurry the bureaucratic elements along, but I can't make any guarantees. If you officially request aid in the future, we may commit a military force."
"That is definitely something to keep in mind in the future. If you can keep me up to date about the discussion in your Senate concerning volunteers, that would be helpful as well. Is there anything you need from us?" Texōccoatl asked.
"Well, we may need one thing. It's about Midgard. I was briefed on the situation before I left, and I was told my boss discussed Midgard with you personally, but I received a package last night, shipped from home, along with my briefing notes. The notes said to give it to you without opening." She retrieved the package from the office and put it on the table. "It had me intrigued, to say the least, but I left it unopened. The notes say it has something to do with Midgard, and was from the Chancellor himself."
Texōccoatl took the packet. "I am highly curious about its contents myself. I shall have to review this privately." He placed the packet inside his briefcase. "Sorry I can't help with your curiosity, but if Chancellor Lancaster wanted it kept private....it must be something really serious."
"Indeed. Thank you for meeting with me, gentlemen."
Emily Rouchard stood by her desk in her temporary apartment, quickly trying to sort through the mess of files. She was know in the Ambassador's League as one of the messiest Ambassadors when it comes to her office, and that reputation was warranted. The rest of the apartment was organized and peaceful compared to the warzone of her desk. She was frantically cleaning as to not show the mess to the Crow Prince, who she asked to come by to check the Eirian hackers progress on breaking the Xiomeran Propoganda barriers. I should have given myself more time to clean up.
The Crown Prince and Secretary Nōlinyauh soon arrived, their retinue causing a brief spate of attention in the street outside. The official vehicles, sleek and elegant, alone would have drawn attention. But the escort of diplomatic security and Jaguar Warriors that emerged from the vehicles to take up protective positions as the two officials walked into the apartment building were the real attention-getters. The Crown Prince noticed the curious but polite attention from the Laeralite passers-by and gave a friendly wave as he walked inside.
Once inside, the Xiomerans were quickly led to the right apartment. One of the security men knocked to alert the Ambassador of their arrival.
Emily took one last look at her desk, sighed, and opened the door. "Your Majesty, and Mister Secretary. Welcome. Please, come in". She walked in and gestured for the Solar Guard agent assigned to protect her to station outside. "Can I get either of you something to drink?".
”If you have coffee that would be lovely, but don’t put yourself out on our account,” Texōccoatl said as the two of them sat down on a rather comfortable sofa. “We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us.”
"Of Course!". She took out two mugs and some coffee pods from the cabinet and put them in the coffee machine. "What is the current status of your resources? Any new gains or losses?". She asked, waiting for the coffee maker to finish.
”We have definitely made some gains, but our progress is too slow, I fear,” Texōccoatl said in response. “We have established a fully functioning government, and we are beginning efforts to break people away from the junta. We have also begun making contacts within Xiomera itself to try to begin causing trouble internally. But we’re hoping to increase the efforts to reach our people dramatically. Nothing less than a full-scale popular uprising will dislodge the junta and this fake Emperor of theirs, in our estimation.”
She nodded, and placed both mugs on the coffee table, as well as milk and sugar. "Well, speaking of which, the hacker team attempting to take down the propoganda filters have made decent progress". She went to her office and returned with a few pages stapled together, bearing the EICA seal on the top. "It seems that they have identified a few weaknesses in the filters themselves, and are trying to exploit them to the best of their ability. We aren't able to send full news broadcasts, but we may be able to send short informational videos through to a chunk of the populace. And then there's the agents we sent in, who could resort to printing out pamphlets and handing them out, if necessary".
”Both methods seem like a good idea. The more anti-junta videos we can push through, the better. And the pamphlets can’t hurt. Please advise your agents to be careful though. If they get caught by the security forces or ASI with those kind of pamphlets, things will go badly for them,” Nōlinyauh said with a gift of understatement.
"Our agents are well aware of the risk involved with this mission. It's part of the profession, after all. I'll relay that to mission command". She sighed. "It's a hard situation to be in, Your Majesty. And I admire your courage and strength for your country. Such qualities are many times absent in leaders, and my superiors were wondering, once you are reinstated, that maybe we could cement an alliance between Xiomera and Eiria".
”That is definitely a possibility. Any nations that have helped us through this crisis will certainly be high on our list for closer relations,” Texōccoatl replied. “We has actually been considering approaching our immediate neighbors for some time now to discuss ways to come to a common understanding on issues and goals in eastern Catica.”
"Sounds like a noble effort. One that Eiria would certainly support. Anyway, is there any particular piece of information you want distributed to your people?".
”I can provide a recorded message from myself to the people. That would be one item. The rest....we can supply anti-junta propaganda, videos from scenes where the junta is committing crimes against humanity, things of that nature. We have a team here now working on putting all that together - former XIN journalists and underground press who either came here from other countries after the coup, or managed to escape from Xiomera itself. The first-hand accounts from the people who escaped are especially harrowing.”
"That would likely be much more effective than if Eirian journalists put something together. I'll ask EICA to set up a place for your journalists to send things to be sent in. Are you planning a military assault on Xiomera in the near future?".
”We are not at that stage yet. We have to put together a much larger force to accomplish that, or we’ll be doomed to failure. This is why the propaganda mission is so important. We must convince more of the military and the security forces to switch sides and support the legitimate government again,” Texōccoatl said.
"Makes since. Is there anything, besides the propoganda mission, that you require of Eiria? We are willing to help with a lot of things".
”We may need help getting some of our people back into Xiomera. If you can aid in that effort it would be welcome. Other than that, just keep scaring the crap out of this wanna-be Emperor of theirs with your naval maneuvers,” Texōccoatl chuckled. “How has that mission been going? Have any junta forces contacted or confronted your ships?”
"Not yet. It seems to be going well, from what I hear. Admiral Circè is probably scaring the hell out of them. I fear she may be having a bit too much fun with it. I wouldn't put it past her. She's infamous back home". She grinned. "But she's infamous for all of the right reasons, I suppose".
"In this case, that's a good thing. Admiral Techilō recently arrived on station there with our 1st Fleet as well. I imagine having our ships accompanying yours will give the junta some sleepless nights, which is perfect. The only other thing we might ask....while we're not at the stage yet of requesting open support militarily, if you know of any 'volunteers' or mercenaries that might be willing to join us, we certainly wouldn't decline the help once it is needed."
She shrugged. "Not many mercenaries do business in Eiria. And although I assume some Eirians would join you in a heartbeat, putting out an official request for volunteers requires a Senate vote. I'll see if we can hurry the bureaucratic elements along, but I can't make any guarantees. If you officially request aid in the future, we may commit a military force."
"That is definitely something to keep in mind in the future. If you can keep me up to date about the discussion in your Senate concerning volunteers, that would be helpful as well. Is there anything you need from us?" Texōccoatl asked.
"Well, we may need one thing. It's about Midgard. I was briefed on the situation before I left, and I was told my boss discussed Midgard with you personally, but I received a package last night, shipped from home, along with my briefing notes. The notes said to give it to you without opening." She retrieved the package from the office and put it on the table. "It had me intrigued, to say the least, but I left it unopened. The notes say it has something to do with Midgard, and was from the Chancellor himself."
Texōccoatl took the packet. "I am highly curious about its contents myself. I shall have to review this privately." He placed the packet inside his briefcase. "Sorry I can't help with your curiosity, but if Chancellor Lancaster wanted it kept private....it must be something really serious."
"Indeed. Thank you for meeting with me, gentlemen."
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