08-10-2023, 05:23 PM
Inwokuwuk, Whetosonghnee
1034hrs - Local Time
"The Speaker will see you now." Said the aide sat behind the desk.
"Thank you." Said Princess Janet Mäss of Eikangaärd, before stepping towards the double doors leading to the office of High Speaker Jimmy Seven-Feather of Whetosonghnee. After hearing of the military junta of Eïkangärd had requested the extradition of herself, her family, and the government in exile. Likely to stand trial in a kangaroo court and either be locked up for life, or - more likely - to have them all executed as 'traitors to the country'. Which was the most disgusting joke she'd ever heard.
She wanted to make sure she wouldn't be the punchline.
She knocked.
"Come in." Answered the man in question from the other side.
She opened the door and stepped inside.
"Ah, Princess, good to see you." Said Jimmy, standing up from behind his desk and walking around to stand before her. He bowed slightly in respect, though in all honesty, she didn't care for the formalities today.
"Thank you for meeting me today, High Speaker." She said, returning the bow. "I was hoping to discuss the issue of Eïkangärd's extradition order?"
Jimmy's expression fell and he leaned against his desk. "Yes...that's definitely an issue." He said, tacitly agreeing with the Princess' thoughts. "I'm sure I don't think I need to tell you that they've all but threatened invasion if we don't honour their request?"
She bristled slightly. "Yes, I am aware. I hope you're not seriously considering serving us up on a silver platter!"
Again, Jimmy sighed, running a hand through his short hair. "I don't know. That decision's not up to me but the Council."
"Do they honestly think that this will appease them?!" Janet snapped, panic seeping into the pit of her stomach. "All this will do is further embolden them! What of the over one-million Eikans living in Whetosongnee? What happens if they demand their return?!"
Jimmy chuckled mirthlessly. "They won't ask for their return, I don't think. They'll ask for the lands they're concentrated in instead. And I think the council believes the same, for the most part."
"So then why?" She asked. "Why are they considering handing us over?"
Jimmy looked her in the eyes before taking a breath. "Because we simply aren't ready to fight them. They have over five eight times our number in active personnel, with at least 220,000 soldiers already on the border. Even if we activated our reserves, we'd barely outnumber them. And military intelligence believes that it would take only a few months for them to double that figure." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "They outnumber us in artillery, tanks, aircraft... frankly, the military isn't confident in our ability to resist their assaults."
"So they're considering sending us back to buy time, is that it?" The Princess asked, though she already knew the answer to that. Jimmy's lack of response confirmed it.
...
"What if we could raise more soldiers? Plug the gaps?" She asked after an awkward silence.
Jimmy shook his head. "The council wouldn't approve of a return to conscription. They still believe that the people wouldn't support it."
Janet shook her head. "I'm not talking about conscription. I'm talking about forming a foreign legion of volunteers."
"You can't be serious!" Jimmy's eyes widened. "How would we even pay for that?! Even if we don't end up paying, they'll still need to be equipped and trained!"
"I have significant wealth from the royal coffers." The Princess answered simply. "To the tune of hundreds of millions. It's yours if you need it. There's also old equipment from the Eikan Royal Army stockpiled in various locations around the country. We could refurbish it and bring it back into service. It won't be as good as the best equipment available, but it's something we can use and matches the equipment in service with much of Eïkangärd's army."
"And who would volunteer for this? How many do you expect to get?" Jimmy questioned.
"As many as we can get. I'd imagine there are a few loyalists in the Eikan diaspora that would be willing to sign up. Plus those from abroad who wish to fight for us against tyranny." The princess answered, shrugging. "If I had to guess, I'd imagine I could get at least 50,000 volunteers. 100,000 if we're lucky."
Jimmy sighed, rubbing at his eyes. Another silence descended upon the pair, broken only by the ticking clock on the Speaker's desk.
"Do it." He finally said. "I know the council wants to pass a spending increase to try and build up our capabilities against Eïkangärd. Maybe I can pressure them to formally induct this Foreign Legion if you can get it off the ground."
The Princess smiled. "Thank you Mr.Speaker. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave, now."
Jimmy returned the smile. "Pleasure speaking with you, Princess."
1034hrs - Local Time
"The Speaker will see you now." Said the aide sat behind the desk.
"Thank you." Said Princess Janet Mäss of Eikangaärd, before stepping towards the double doors leading to the office of High Speaker Jimmy Seven-Feather of Whetosonghnee. After hearing of the military junta of Eïkangärd had requested the extradition of herself, her family, and the government in exile. Likely to stand trial in a kangaroo court and either be locked up for life, or - more likely - to have them all executed as 'traitors to the country'. Which was the most disgusting joke she'd ever heard.
She wanted to make sure she wouldn't be the punchline.
She knocked.
"Come in." Answered the man in question from the other side.
She opened the door and stepped inside.
"Ah, Princess, good to see you." Said Jimmy, standing up from behind his desk and walking around to stand before her. He bowed slightly in respect, though in all honesty, she didn't care for the formalities today.
"Thank you for meeting me today, High Speaker." She said, returning the bow. "I was hoping to discuss the issue of Eïkangärd's extradition order?"
Jimmy's expression fell and he leaned against his desk. "Yes...that's definitely an issue." He said, tacitly agreeing with the Princess' thoughts. "I'm sure I don't think I need to tell you that they've all but threatened invasion if we don't honour their request?"
She bristled slightly. "Yes, I am aware. I hope you're not seriously considering serving us up on a silver platter!"
Again, Jimmy sighed, running a hand through his short hair. "I don't know. That decision's not up to me but the Council."
"Do they honestly think that this will appease them?!" Janet snapped, panic seeping into the pit of her stomach. "All this will do is further embolden them! What of the over one-million Eikans living in Whetosongnee? What happens if they demand their return?!"
Jimmy chuckled mirthlessly. "They won't ask for their return, I don't think. They'll ask for the lands they're concentrated in instead. And I think the council believes the same, for the most part."
"So then why?" She asked. "Why are they considering handing us over?"
Jimmy looked her in the eyes before taking a breath. "Because we simply aren't ready to fight them. They have over five eight times our number in active personnel, with at least 220,000 soldiers already on the border. Even if we activated our reserves, we'd barely outnumber them. And military intelligence believes that it would take only a few months for them to double that figure." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "They outnumber us in artillery, tanks, aircraft... frankly, the military isn't confident in our ability to resist their assaults."
"So they're considering sending us back to buy time, is that it?" The Princess asked, though she already knew the answer to that. Jimmy's lack of response confirmed it.
...
"What if we could raise more soldiers? Plug the gaps?" She asked after an awkward silence.
Jimmy shook his head. "The council wouldn't approve of a return to conscription. They still believe that the people wouldn't support it."
Janet shook her head. "I'm not talking about conscription. I'm talking about forming a foreign legion of volunteers."
"You can't be serious!" Jimmy's eyes widened. "How would we even pay for that?! Even if we don't end up paying, they'll still need to be equipped and trained!"
"I have significant wealth from the royal coffers." The Princess answered simply. "To the tune of hundreds of millions. It's yours if you need it. There's also old equipment from the Eikan Royal Army stockpiled in various locations around the country. We could refurbish it and bring it back into service. It won't be as good as the best equipment available, but it's something we can use and matches the equipment in service with much of Eïkangärd's army."
"And who would volunteer for this? How many do you expect to get?" Jimmy questioned.
"As many as we can get. I'd imagine there are a few loyalists in the Eikan diaspora that would be willing to sign up. Plus those from abroad who wish to fight for us against tyranny." The princess answered, shrugging. "If I had to guess, I'd imagine I could get at least 50,000 volunteers. 100,000 if we're lucky."
Jimmy sighed, rubbing at his eyes. Another silence descended upon the pair, broken only by the ticking clock on the Speaker's desk.
"Do it." He finally said. "I know the council wants to pass a spending increase to try and build up our capabilities against Eïkangärd. Maybe I can pressure them to formally induct this Foreign Legion if you can get it off the ground."
The Princess smiled. "Thank you Mr.Speaker. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave, now."
Jimmy returned the smile. "Pleasure speaking with you, Princess."