[Xiomera]

(Joint post with Lauchenoiria)

At the same time as a ship carrying 97 Lauchenoirian specialist anti-terrorist operatives arrived in Huenya, the Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria prepared to make a phone call that, if the Huenyans had known of it, would have caused them to turn the ship away immediately. In her office, Josephine Alvarez sat with Sandra Pavía as the pair prepared to implement an insurance policy in case their operatives in Huenya failed - or in case Huenya decided to act unilaterally once more.

Unlike during the call to Tiachihitli a few days earlier, Alvarez intended to follow protocol, allowing her assistant to make the call and waiting for the connection. In this instance, the Lauchenoirian Prime Minister understood that she certainly did not have the upper hand, and if she wanted to save Paul she would have to play this smartly and carefully.

"Do you think she will be receptive?" Alvarez asked Pavía as they waited for the connection.

"She will do what benefits Xiomera," Pavía replied, poised with a notepad. "Xiomera needs allies more than it does enemies, and the Empress believes that Lauchenoiria can be turned away from Huenya. She will encourage that."

"Perhaps. Even so, perhaps especially since... this is a dangerous game," Alvarez warned. "I've chosen to trust you; do not make me regret it."

Pavía nodded as the line clicked, signalling that the call had been connected.

At the other end of the line, the Attendant to the Golden Chamber answered. She raised an eyebrow slightly in bemusement, although she maintained her professional tone of voice. The call was soon patched through, and the recipient raised her own eyebrow in a mirror image of her servant. A smile crossed her face slowly as she took the call.

“Prime Minister Alvarez. This is an…..unexpected pleasure,” Empress Calhualyana said.

"Empress Calhualyana, thank you for taking my call," Alvarez replied, her tone carefully neutral. "I trust that affairs in Xiomera are going smoothly?"

”Indeed. Things are proceeding quite well here,” Calhualyana responded. “We seem to be making progress towards our policy goals even faster than I had hoped. I hope that things in Lauchenoiria are proceeding as well,” she said with an exquisitely honed blandness of tone that sounded perfectly sincere but at the same time, clearly was not.

"Well, we are certainly doing our best to serve the people of Lauchenoiria," Alvarez responded. "A difficult task, to be sure, especially when there are certain... bumps in the road that cannot be avoided."

”Yes, those bumps in the road can be quite difficult. Especially if one ends up losing their way because of them. Or ends up on a road best avoided.” Calhualyana double-checked to make sure the call was being recorded for future analysis, before smiling a bit wider. “Serving one’s people and their best interests is a paramount concern for any leader, though, so I can relate to your difficulties.”

"Our present difficulty involves your neighbour, Huenya. Their growing terrorist problem is certainly a cause for concern," Alvarez paused, "especially since they have begun targeting neutral nations who simply wish to observe elections to ensure their legitimacy."

”Ah, yes, that unfortunate incident. I am sorry for the situation that your citizen finds himself in. The instability, growing terrorism and lawlessness in Huenya is certainly a problem for us all.” The Empress sighed. “I don’t imagine the Huenyans have been much help to you, either. They can be rather stubborn at times.”

"Huenya appears to be under the same misguided impression as the terrorists are. That our presence at the election was an endorsement of their government, rather than an attempt at observing the procedures of a fledgling state," Alvarez took a deep breath, then spoke as if adding an afterthought. "Of course, I'm sure the Golden Blade would regret their actions should they serve to force us into taking action against them where previously we were neutral."

”I imagine they would,” Calhualyana said calmly as if they were discussing the weather. “Such an action would not benefit anyone, especially if it did reinforce the misguided impression that the Huenyan government has your support.”

"We have always been neutral with regards to the conflict which culminated in the creation of the Huenyan state, I hope that has been clear," Alvarez spoke with false concern. "Alas it is a pity that the Golden Blade expect us to work with the Huenyan government on this matter, despite it being our citizen in their hands. If only there was a way to resolve this situation without the barrier of the inexperienced Huenyan government standing in the way."

”Their inexperience and incompetence is definitely making things worse. I don’t blame you for wanting to find a way around them. If there was such a way…..how would you make use of it?” Calhualyana deftly kept the triumphant tone out of her voice that her smile was demonstrating.

Alvarez had to suppress the urge to groan in humiliation. She could not believe she was doing this. She cursed the day she had first heard of the country of Xiomera. Nevertheless, she continued. "It is in the interests of Lauchenoiria that we are able to contact the Golden Blade directly, without Huenya's knowledge. They, of course, have ideological concerns that they prioritise over the safety of our citizen. Our priority is his safety, and we are willing to consider an arrangement which can secure that."

The Empress paused for a long moment. “I am not, of course, stating that the Xiomeran Empire has any connection to the terrorist organization in Huenya. But we may be able to facilitate a deal that would bring about the release of your citizen, or at least open a line of communication between your government and the terrorists. Imperial Intelligence does have its resources. We would normally be pleased to offer such help as a gesture of goodwill, but to be honest, we have not received much goodwill from your own government as of late. It was just a few short months ago that you imposed sanctions against us. ‘Enough is enough,’ I believe you said…and that you would ‘stand against us’. We can certainly help in your dilemma, but cooperation works both ways, Prime Minister. What arrangements are you willing to consider, in that light?”

From across the room, Pavía looked pointedly at Alvarez, who rolled her eyes in response before returning her focus to the call. "I regret that we had to take such a stance in public, after the rumours spread by Milintica following the IWC. It, of course, has been a strain on our economy as well, and perhaps it is time that we re-prioritised the economy over... media perceptions, by removing such barriers from trade between our nations."

”That would be a welcome sign of goodwill, and one we would be happy to reciprocate.” Calhualyana sighed slightly. “There is, of course, one other matter in which our nations have been on opposite ends of lately. The situation in Auria.”

Alvarez swore internally. She had been hoping Calhualyana would be satisfied with an end to sanctions, and the ability to one-up Huenya by dealing with the problem they could not. Unfortunately things hadn't gone according to plan.

Pavía slipped a bit of paper in front of Alvarez as she hesitated. The Prime Minister scowled, then sighed, then bowed her head in resignation. "Another situation we had hoped would have been resolved by now. I'm sure you know of Suleman Chaher? Then you'll know why my people consider it a danger when violent transfers of power occur. Why they insisted we take action."

”I can indeed understand your concerns in that regard. I daresay that has also colored your views on what has taken place in Xiomera over the past year or two, and how I came to power.” Calhualyana adopted a slightly warmer tone. “We may not ever be particularly comfortable with each other as nations, but we need not be enemies either. I hope that your government is open to a solution to the situation in Auria that does not require conflict nor the forcible overthrow of yet another government there. If avoiding violent transfers of power is our mutual goal, surely using force to remove King Andrew is not desirable.”

"Andrew is not the legitimate king any more than that filthy Aurora Charissa Clarke was the legitimate Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria," Alvarez said, before thinking. Pavía reached over immediately, hitting against the desk and shaking her head in warning.

"Uh, my apologies, Empress, I think someone dropped something in the corridor. As I was, uh, saying I simply feel that it would be better for all concerned if we could all agree that governments need legitimacy. And the present regime in Auria does not have that. It is a pity that they have taken no steps to show they are not insurgents with no right to rule or lead."

Pavía passed another note. You're talking too fast. Flattery gets you more places than insults.

Alvarez took a deep breath. "What I mean to say is, after the unfortunate matter of Xochiuhue you ensured you had the mandate of the people of Xiomera, in a referendum. King Andrew has yet to prove to the world he has any right to sit on the Aurian throne. We surely cannot recognise a claim without proof, especially in light of the threat Auroras pose to all civilization, as evidenced by our own civil war in 2018. Who knows what else they could be up to?"

Calhualyana found herself even more amused as she listened to Alvarez growing more flustered. But her remarks about Auroras had given the Empress a useful clue. “I very much agree with you, which is why I haven’t retained or tolerated an Aurora presence in Xiomera the way the Huenyans have. It is rather odd, how they have done so. At first, I thought it was simply one of Yauhmi’s affectations. But she is out of power, and yet, the Auroras remain in Huenya. And they seek to find and house more of them, even now. It does make you wonder what the intentions of the Huenyans are.” Calhualyana paused. “In any event, you are correct, there should be a mandate for the seat of power in Auria. Perhaps the King needs to demonstrate that his government does in fact have support as we did in Xiomera a year ago.” And if he can’t….perhaps someone else I choose can, Calhualyana thought.

"It is of great concern to us, Huenya's affinity with Auroras," Alvarez agreed. She practically spat out the word 'Aurora', as if its very presence in her mouth was somehow offensive to her. "My people are merely concerned about the trend of coup after coup spreading across the globe like an infection. We do not wish to dictate to the Aurian people who should be in government there; we merely have concerns over the how of them gaining their position. I think we should all be concerned about the present leadership in Auria... after all, their actions have already proven they cannot be trusted. By anyone."

”I have similar concerns,” Calhualyana said. “I know that, politically speaking, it would not be feasible for Lauchenoiria to simply withdraw from the blockade. I only ask that you be open to the possibility of allowing new leadership to take over. And, perhaps, suggesting to your fellow participants in the blockade that supplies for non-combatants be allowed to reach Auria if a new leadership takes over. Allowing the people of Auria to suffer for the acts of the coup leaders does not help anyone, after all.”

"On that we can certainly agree," Alvarez replied. "And we would rather avoid a long and deadly war in Auria. Should new leadership emerge in a more peaceful manner, most of our concerns would be alleviated. And then we would be glad to no longer feel the need to partake in the blockade."

”That is an acceptable compromise to me. Along with the removal of sanctions by both our nations, of course. With that agreement, Xiomera would be most pleased to intervene and ensure the safe return of Mr. Ramirez. I believe you will find Xiomera to be far more effective than Huenya at making that happen. I also hope that this will set a foundation for mutual cooperation in the future, should a similar unfortunate situation arise.”

"We are grateful for your support in ensuring the safety of our citizen," Alvarez replied, her tone neutral but her face gave away her embarrassment. "I shall endeavour to keep relations between our nations more positive going forward than these last few months."

”I will do so as well. I am glad that we were able to work together on this troublesome issue. Our government shall begin working on the release of Mr. Ramirez and you should hear from us shortly. Is there any other way that I can be of assistance to you?” Calhualyana inquired, tilting her head slightly.

"That should be all for the moment," Alvarez closed her eyes and tilted her head back as if praying for some kind of salvation. "Thank you for taking my call, Empress."

”Of course! Please feel free to contact me if Xiomera can be of assistance to you again. Have a good day, Prime Minister.” Calhualyana ended the call, and once she could do so unheard, gave out a long, slow laugh that was absolutely delicious to her. She then made another call, to the director of Imperial Intelligence.

Once she'd checked the call was definitely disconnected, Alvarez let out a groan and sunk back into her chair. "What am I doing?"

"What you have to," Pavía replied. "Xiomera may have won for now, but we will take precautions so we are not in this position again."

"The travel advisory won't be enough," Alvarez sighed. "Keeping our people out of Huenya doesn't change the fact that Lauchenoiria is seen as a weak pushover, and that there seems to be nothing I can do to change that."

"Yet," added Pavía. "There's nothing we can do to change it yet. For now, let them think that. It means they'll underestimate us. Now, should I go and make sure the travel advisory is issued?"

"Go," nodded Alvarez, sitting up. "There's nothing else we can do just now."