05-07-2023, 01:40 AM
(Joint Post with Lauchenoiria)
Chancellor's Manor, Geminus
To say that Chancellor Stendē was pissed would've been a grave understatement. The depth of the cold anger, frustration, and betrayal that she felt didn't have any suitable word in either Eirian or English. The best attempt at translating her emotion would've be Avarnzēbenavaca, the Eirian compound word that meant, more or less, "A building storm just before lightning strikes."
And that lightning was about to strike. Gathered on the other side of the ornate wooden desk was Minister of Diplomacy Alice Lancaster, Minister of Defense Stephen Brun, Chief of Staff Julius Riekstins, and National Security Counsel Zoē Provost.They all were gathered to advise the Chancellor on the recent announcement of a Xiomeran base in Kerlile. After their deliberation, they all came to one conclusion: The Chancellor needs to call President Arnott immediately.
The Chancellor picked up her phone, causing her advisors to pick up a phone on the other side of the study, in order to listen in. When she heard the phone pick up, she started speaking, keeping her tone neutral and measured. "Hello, President Arnott. This is Chancellor Leah Stendē of Eiria. I trust that you're doing well?"
Arnott had been arguing with her daughter when she received the call. Rosemary, her young successor on the Council, was still angry about the alt-ed debacle following the Patel Estate incident. So President Rebecca Arnott was relieved (for now) to have an excuse to pause the conversation.
"Ah, Chancellor, how lovely to hear from you. Things here are going... adequately," she said, eyeing her daughter who remained on the other side of the office with her arms folded and a scowl on her face. "I trust that things in Eiria are going okay?"
"More or less, yes. Had a few of the most mind-numbingly bureaucratic meetings earlier today. And I say that as a lawyer!" Even though her tone over the phone was joking, her expression betrayed her true emotions. "Unfortunately, I must admit that this is not a social call. I have a few... Concerns about your recent dealings with Xiomera that I hope we could discuss?"
"Ah," said Arnott involuntarily. Her expression shifted, causing Rosemary to look at her curiously. "I am going to guess this is not about the wine imports or the luxury cars?"
"Sadly, no. Although Eirian vineyards may want to expand into the international market further, that is not on my list of priorities right now." Stendē paused. "To be completely frank, I was very surprised to hear the news of a new Xiomeran base abroad. I had assumed it would have been somewhere like Eikengärd, but to hear that it was in Kerlile was quite a shock."
Arnott sighed. "You must understand, Chancellor, that Kerlile is frequently under threat. Most nations, for all the progress in gender equality, still consider us an unnatural aberration. I recognise that many nations, including Eiria, have... tense relations with Xiomera, but their assistance in the modernisation of our military has been deeply beneficial for our defence arrangements."
Stendē was speechless for a moment, incensed at the shallow answer. "'Tense relations with Xiomera.' Spoken like someone who's not actively staring down the barrel of Xiomeran Imperialism. And I get that Kerlile is in a tenuous defence situation right now, but was Xiomera really your only option? I'm appalled that you would run so freely into Calhualyana's arms, especially after their alliance with Iskiram. Xiomera was far from your best choice as a defensive ally, and I don't know how you cannot see that fact."
"Tell me, Chancellor," Arnott replied. "Who would you have us turn to? Who exactly do you think would be willing to help us out? You? No, of course not. The world despises Kerlile. You speak of choice as if it is something we have an abundance of. And the Council has been very clear to me that I must do more to ensure Kerlile's safety."
"Why not turn to us, Madam President? All you had to do was ask us. Kerlile was on the brink of reform, on the edge of progress. We never wanted that to see that progress lost to Xiomera. Would it have been a temporary political mess? Yes, but for a reformed, democratic Kerlian ally, it would have been worth it. So, respectfully, stop acting like you had no other choice, because you did. You just were too busy playing a martyr to actually realize it."
"You're right," Arnott replied... and then her voice hardened. "We did have a choice. We could choose an ally who would not interfere in our domestic policies. Who would allow us to have our unique culture. Or, we could choose you. With your qualifications, and your conditions, and your insistence that we do things your way. I support reform, but you would have us change overnight in a way that would guarantee a backlash. You would have us abolish the Council, give votes to men, change our entire system of government overnight! So, yes. Perhaps I had a choice. A choice to live or a choice to die in the civil war that would have inevitably caused."
At that remark, Stendē did something unexpected. She started to laugh, the sound an angry and jaded chuckle. "We wouldn't have expected everything overnight. You act like we aren't pragmatic, and are solely idealistic. And besides, you really think that Xiomera expects nothing of you? You really think that Calhualyana wouldn't interfere if she disliked your so-called 'reform efforts'? I'm surprised you could be that naïve, especially after Xiomera staged a coup in Auria. You've sold your soul for instant gratification, President Arnott. You've signed the death warrant for everything that your party has fought for. And you've now forced me to respond. Quite an impressive political maneuver."
"Chancellor Stendē," Arnott replied, trying to speak more calmly, "I am not naive about Empress Calhualyana's ambitions. What you must understand is that the cause of the Reform Party was greatly harmed the day Carmen Robinson was exiled. Internal Kerlian politics is... different from that of a classical democracy. The Council is divided, especially after the revelations surrounding Anita Patel's death. And I will remind you that the Council can vote to remove the President from office. A vote on which attempting to override their decision on this matter would likely have triggered."
"I recognize the challenging political situation that you are in, and you have my sincerest sympathies. However, that argument falls quite flat, for one reason: Why wasn't Eiria on the table as a potential ally in the first place? You didn't answer my points that detailed why Xiomera was objectively a worse choice, and you are now attempting to essentially say 'What's done is done' and wash your hands of what was done by the council. But if Eiria had been on the table in the first place, you likely wouldn't have had to worry about overriding the Council's vote, correct?" Stendē spoke slowly and articulately, trying to not appear too aggressive. "You are the President of Kerlile. You had the ability to propose alternatives to Xiomera. I doubt the Council was exactly eager to ally a nation that is an ally of Iskiram. Why wasn't Eiria suggested in the first place?"
Arnott thought about all the ways she could answer the question. The truth: she hadn't wanted any foreign military base, but the Council had forced the issue after the missile incident. That she feared the Patels would blame her for Anita's death, given the past between their families. That she supported reform of the system, not a complete destruction of it - making true democracy incompatible with her worldview. That they'd already accepted the missile advisors and now it was too awkward to turn back. That she did it to prevent Xiomera from turning on them.
Not one of those reasons was politically acceptable to voice aloud. Even though they were all true. That, she thought sadly, was the essence of why democracy often ended so poorly. Politics and truth were often incompatible. In the end, there was nothing true she could say, and no convincing lies.
"You say you would not have expected change overnight," Arnott said eventually, this line of argument her only option. "But tell me truthfully: would you really have offered us military support, of all things, the way things stand? When men have no vote, and no right to hold government positions? When our nuclear program continues? When we still use capital punishment? When the Council can still override the Parliament?"
The Chancellor was quite for a few moments. "If it meant depriving Xiomera of a key ally in the region? If it meant progress towards rights for Kerlian men, dissidents, and Kerlians in general? Yes. It may cost me reelection, or my reputation. But if you were truly genuine with your reform efforts... I don't see how I could sleep at night if I didn't, knowing that I just sentenced millions of Kerlians to be trapped by the oppressive status quo."
Arnott, who was now being watched intently by her daughter, began to rub her temples. "Well. That... is not the answer we would have suspected in such a scenario."
It was weak, but all of her other arguments could not be voiced. In truth, she was embarrassed about the whole thing: the Council had forced her to go back on her word regarding both Iskiram and the presence of foreign troops. She did not, however, desire to be the next victim of whichever family had sent an Aurora as an assassin.
Stendē pursed her lips. "Indeed. I sincerely apologize for the situation, but again, you have forced my hand. We cannot maintain full relations with allies of Xiomera. And, to that end..." She sighed. "Effective immediately, all Eirian embassy staff are being recalled from Grapevale. Ideally, this will not be a permanent decision. If the Reform Party regains power and decides to stand up against Xiomeran imperialism, we will be by your side. But, until then, I have no other choice."
Arnott hadn't expected the Eirians to actually do anything. Her headache got worse. "That is very disappointing to hear," she replied. She could have said more, but what would be the point? Stendē wasn't going to suddenly change her mind.
The Chancellor cleared her throat. "Well, that's all I have to discuss. Goodbye, Madam President. And... And may the Angels bless your reform efforts, before it's too late."
Chancellor's Manor, Geminus
To say that Chancellor Stendē was pissed would've been a grave understatement. The depth of the cold anger, frustration, and betrayal that she felt didn't have any suitable word in either Eirian or English. The best attempt at translating her emotion would've be Avarnzēbenavaca, the Eirian compound word that meant, more or less, "A building storm just before lightning strikes."
And that lightning was about to strike. Gathered on the other side of the ornate wooden desk was Minister of Diplomacy Alice Lancaster, Minister of Defense Stephen Brun, Chief of Staff Julius Riekstins, and National Security Counsel Zoē Provost.They all were gathered to advise the Chancellor on the recent announcement of a Xiomeran base in Kerlile. After their deliberation, they all came to one conclusion: The Chancellor needs to call President Arnott immediately.
The Chancellor picked up her phone, causing her advisors to pick up a phone on the other side of the study, in order to listen in. When she heard the phone pick up, she started speaking, keeping her tone neutral and measured. "Hello, President Arnott. This is Chancellor Leah Stendē of Eiria. I trust that you're doing well?"
Arnott had been arguing with her daughter when she received the call. Rosemary, her young successor on the Council, was still angry about the alt-ed debacle following the Patel Estate incident. So President Rebecca Arnott was relieved (for now) to have an excuse to pause the conversation.
"Ah, Chancellor, how lovely to hear from you. Things here are going... adequately," she said, eyeing her daughter who remained on the other side of the office with her arms folded and a scowl on her face. "I trust that things in Eiria are going okay?"
"More or less, yes. Had a few of the most mind-numbingly bureaucratic meetings earlier today. And I say that as a lawyer!" Even though her tone over the phone was joking, her expression betrayed her true emotions. "Unfortunately, I must admit that this is not a social call. I have a few... Concerns about your recent dealings with Xiomera that I hope we could discuss?"
"Ah," said Arnott involuntarily. Her expression shifted, causing Rosemary to look at her curiously. "I am going to guess this is not about the wine imports or the luxury cars?"
"Sadly, no. Although Eirian vineyards may want to expand into the international market further, that is not on my list of priorities right now." Stendē paused. "To be completely frank, I was very surprised to hear the news of a new Xiomeran base abroad. I had assumed it would have been somewhere like Eikengärd, but to hear that it was in Kerlile was quite a shock."
Arnott sighed. "You must understand, Chancellor, that Kerlile is frequently under threat. Most nations, for all the progress in gender equality, still consider us an unnatural aberration. I recognise that many nations, including Eiria, have... tense relations with Xiomera, but their assistance in the modernisation of our military has been deeply beneficial for our defence arrangements."
Stendē was speechless for a moment, incensed at the shallow answer. "'Tense relations with Xiomera.' Spoken like someone who's not actively staring down the barrel of Xiomeran Imperialism. And I get that Kerlile is in a tenuous defence situation right now, but was Xiomera really your only option? I'm appalled that you would run so freely into Calhualyana's arms, especially after their alliance with Iskiram. Xiomera was far from your best choice as a defensive ally, and I don't know how you cannot see that fact."
"Tell me, Chancellor," Arnott replied. "Who would you have us turn to? Who exactly do you think would be willing to help us out? You? No, of course not. The world despises Kerlile. You speak of choice as if it is something we have an abundance of. And the Council has been very clear to me that I must do more to ensure Kerlile's safety."
"Why not turn to us, Madam President? All you had to do was ask us. Kerlile was on the brink of reform, on the edge of progress. We never wanted that to see that progress lost to Xiomera. Would it have been a temporary political mess? Yes, but for a reformed, democratic Kerlian ally, it would have been worth it. So, respectfully, stop acting like you had no other choice, because you did. You just were too busy playing a martyr to actually realize it."
"You're right," Arnott replied... and then her voice hardened. "We did have a choice. We could choose an ally who would not interfere in our domestic policies. Who would allow us to have our unique culture. Or, we could choose you. With your qualifications, and your conditions, and your insistence that we do things your way. I support reform, but you would have us change overnight in a way that would guarantee a backlash. You would have us abolish the Council, give votes to men, change our entire system of government overnight! So, yes. Perhaps I had a choice. A choice to live or a choice to die in the civil war that would have inevitably caused."
At that remark, Stendē did something unexpected. She started to laugh, the sound an angry and jaded chuckle. "We wouldn't have expected everything overnight. You act like we aren't pragmatic, and are solely idealistic. And besides, you really think that Xiomera expects nothing of you? You really think that Calhualyana wouldn't interfere if she disliked your so-called 'reform efforts'? I'm surprised you could be that naïve, especially after Xiomera staged a coup in Auria. You've sold your soul for instant gratification, President Arnott. You've signed the death warrant for everything that your party has fought for. And you've now forced me to respond. Quite an impressive political maneuver."
"Chancellor Stendē," Arnott replied, trying to speak more calmly, "I am not naive about Empress Calhualyana's ambitions. What you must understand is that the cause of the Reform Party was greatly harmed the day Carmen Robinson was exiled. Internal Kerlian politics is... different from that of a classical democracy. The Council is divided, especially after the revelations surrounding Anita Patel's death. And I will remind you that the Council can vote to remove the President from office. A vote on which attempting to override their decision on this matter would likely have triggered."
"I recognize the challenging political situation that you are in, and you have my sincerest sympathies. However, that argument falls quite flat, for one reason: Why wasn't Eiria on the table as a potential ally in the first place? You didn't answer my points that detailed why Xiomera was objectively a worse choice, and you are now attempting to essentially say 'What's done is done' and wash your hands of what was done by the council. But if Eiria had been on the table in the first place, you likely wouldn't have had to worry about overriding the Council's vote, correct?" Stendē spoke slowly and articulately, trying to not appear too aggressive. "You are the President of Kerlile. You had the ability to propose alternatives to Xiomera. I doubt the Council was exactly eager to ally a nation that is an ally of Iskiram. Why wasn't Eiria suggested in the first place?"
Arnott thought about all the ways she could answer the question. The truth: she hadn't wanted any foreign military base, but the Council had forced the issue after the missile incident. That she feared the Patels would blame her for Anita's death, given the past between their families. That she supported reform of the system, not a complete destruction of it - making true democracy incompatible with her worldview. That they'd already accepted the missile advisors and now it was too awkward to turn back. That she did it to prevent Xiomera from turning on them.
Not one of those reasons was politically acceptable to voice aloud. Even though they were all true. That, she thought sadly, was the essence of why democracy often ended so poorly. Politics and truth were often incompatible. In the end, there was nothing true she could say, and no convincing lies.
"You say you would not have expected change overnight," Arnott said eventually, this line of argument her only option. "But tell me truthfully: would you really have offered us military support, of all things, the way things stand? When men have no vote, and no right to hold government positions? When our nuclear program continues? When we still use capital punishment? When the Council can still override the Parliament?"
The Chancellor was quite for a few moments. "If it meant depriving Xiomera of a key ally in the region? If it meant progress towards rights for Kerlian men, dissidents, and Kerlians in general? Yes. It may cost me reelection, or my reputation. But if you were truly genuine with your reform efforts... I don't see how I could sleep at night if I didn't, knowing that I just sentenced millions of Kerlians to be trapped by the oppressive status quo."
Arnott, who was now being watched intently by her daughter, began to rub her temples. "Well. That... is not the answer we would have suspected in such a scenario."
It was weak, but all of her other arguments could not be voiced. In truth, she was embarrassed about the whole thing: the Council had forced her to go back on her word regarding both Iskiram and the presence of foreign troops. She did not, however, desire to be the next victim of whichever family had sent an Aurora as an assassin.
Stendē pursed her lips. "Indeed. I sincerely apologize for the situation, but again, you have forced my hand. We cannot maintain full relations with allies of Xiomera. And, to that end..." She sighed. "Effective immediately, all Eirian embassy staff are being recalled from Grapevale. Ideally, this will not be a permanent decision. If the Reform Party regains power and decides to stand up against Xiomeran imperialism, we will be by your side. But, until then, I have no other choice."
Arnott hadn't expected the Eirians to actually do anything. Her headache got worse. "That is very disappointing to hear," she replied. She could have said more, but what would be the point? Stendē wasn't going to suddenly change her mind.
The Chancellor cleared her throat. "Well, that's all I have to discuss. Goodbye, Madam President. And... And may the Angels bless your reform efforts, before it's too late."
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