A Quadripartite Entente

[Adwest]

Kalstad, Adwest (1 Quartyr 1584)

The Count of Laxenhive paced back and forth with slow, heavy steps across the hall. With each moment the heel of his polished black shoes met the floor, a significant thud bounced from the dark wooden floorboards. Every so often he would glance at his wristwatch, imported from Eskkya and seemingly crafted from a diamond or three. The shimmer of the luxurious accessory - collecting such being a habit of the count - tested the patience of his attendees. Two members of the Royal Adwestene Constabulary standing guard in particular often had to look away as their superior passed in front of them; the afternoon sunlight from the open windows at the opposite side of the hall refracted from the count's watch right into their eyes.

Nonetheless, the Count of Laxenhive paid them no attention. Time mattered to him, and he was irritated with tardiness and other means of disrespecting time.

One of the doors leading to the expansive room gave way, although the Count of Laxenhive refrained from drawing to it; he had not heard the sound of a vehicle stopping outside his summer residence and so inferred it was not his guest that had just walked in.

He was right, as he heard a maiden's voice. "Tea, your most honorable eminence?"

For a second, the Count of Laxenhive stopped his repetitive walk and faced his female servant. His brows puckered as he told her "You may use your previous way of addressing me, Belinda. And no. Inform me when the Lord Halnish arrives."

The servant smiled and gave a curt bow of the head, before scurrying out with a steel tray of cups and a kettle skillfully balanced in one hand. Before doing so however, the maiden shot a flirtatious flick of her eyes at one of the guardsmen.

The affair of his household assistants escaping his notice, the Count of Laxenhive went over and opened a sliding glass door which led to one of the larger patios in the residence. Although he enjoyed the ambiance of the high-roofed guest room which was supposed to be the venue of a meeting today, the thought of fresh air to recollect his thoughts enticed him to exit for a while.

The 1st of Quartyr would be a hectic day for Neil Gore-Culross, the Adwestene Lord Protector. Already he found himself displeased that he would not be able to attend the first sermon of the Argent Church this month - he was a pious Adwestene. More than that though, he was set to discuss with the head of the Round Table Council the long-term agenda of reclaiming lost territories. This would be a normal day of affairs for the Lord Protector had it not been for several factors, however.

First, he was disliked immensely by that man he was set to plan the course of the empire today. Gore-Culross likewise reciprocated his bereftness of good graces. Robert Halnish was that man who headed the Ducal Council and who was a primary advocate of the use of force in the Round Table, and who seemed disinclined to serve under the new Lord Protector merely for the fact that Gore-Culross was a mere Count, and he a Duke. Antagonism between the High Nobility - who under the patronage of the late Lord Ashford and supposedly Queen Sophia I - and the Lower Nobility regularly flared when it came to political appointments.

Second, the fact that his consultations were now wholly with the Round Table and its members and did not include representatives say from the Foreign Ministry made it clear that the "second generation" of National Rejuvenation leaders would go on the war path. The Count of Laxenhive was, of course, at the head of this generation. An array of policymakers which included the new Chairs of the Round Table and the Ducal Council, the ministers of War and Foreign Affairs, and the generals of the Grand Army of Adwest. Gore-Culross professed earnestly as a militarist himself, but not to the extent of deviating from the Lord Ashford's "Diplomacy before War" approach.

The effective occupation and slow but sure assimilation of Westenne in the beginning of this year marked the second Adwestene triumph in her efforts at imperial restoration. The few battles that were fought in the Northern Territories and the exile of the homosexual Jonathan Rhys allegedly to Oslanburg now gave Adwestene leaders freedom to look west, the notoriously termed "Final Frontier" that would be the third and final step towards the quest for glory.

This Final Frontier encompassed the territory of three sovereign states; the People's Republic of Falsea, the Republic of Cynas, and the Grand Duchy of Sindar-Astrasia. The Lord Protector wanted their reconquest to be in one fell swoop, but he knew this would be a difficult if not outright impossible task altogether. In addition, foreign reaction was an ever-present danger that threatened not only to stop the reclamation of the Final Frontier but destabilize the region and Adwest as well. The silence of the world regarding the takeover of the Northern Territories was a boon that would not last long, the Lord Protector knew.

Through this thinking, a plan to achieve their final aims and at the same time shore up Adwest's safety and security in the international community was hatched by him. And this was none other than to build a coalition of nations that would support Adwestene imperial ambitions and take a slice of the pie for themselves. It was a win-win situation, as Gore-Culross had already acknowledged the security umbrella Taeunas had over Cynas and the difficulty of pushing historical territorial claims onto Falsea - which did not entirely become part of the First Kingdom of Adwest in reality.

The strategy the Count of Laxenhive wanted to pursue, in his mind, did not differ from that pursued by his predecessor. The late Lord Ashford courted a number of fellow reactionary regimes from Nerysia to as far as Tieguo as a safeguard in case the international community with their "international laws" and "democracy & freedom" came knocking around. The proxy conflicts in Brigidna and elsewhere helped to stave off attention from Kvaenna save for the exception of Kolhar, yet even Kolhar's issues were settled without the participation of outside powers.

Today's balance of power was different from that of the time of Lord Ashford, and pickings for reliable failsafes were now slim. Concessions had to be given, and eventually the grumblings of several of the Lords were silenced when the new Lord Protector presented his plan to cut up the Final Frontier between Adwest and a number of other powers; what he named the Great Partition.

Five minutes after lounging around in the patio, the Count of Laxenhive reentered the house only to catch sight of Lord Robert III Halnish entering as well. The Duke was in full military dress, in the shade of a midnight blue. He stared at the Count, stiff more because of his formality than out of anxiety.

"Good afternoon Neil" greeted the Lord Halnish.

The Count of Laxenhive returned the greeting, offering him a seat and a lukewarm smile. He held back a sigh of amusement at the fellow's get-up; both he and Halnish knew the latter wore that military uniform only because he was part of the Round Table and not because he was a soldier in any sense, unlike the former.

He took a seat as well, glancing one last time upon his watch. The Lord Halnish arrived five minutes after the set time of one in the afternoon. They now need only wait for the representatives of the other stakeholders.

The beginning of the end had come.

[Jamzor the Jaxxor]

Ceadda Eadinga sat in the back of a nondescript, black car escorted by police through the streets of Kalstad. As he watched the buildings go by, he thought about why he was here. Arrenland was an old power in Kvænna, but especially on the high seas. She used to have a mighty island empire in the Avidnan and Æsean Seas. Now, that empire had slipped through the kingdom's fingers. Eadmund Dunstan, the new chancellor, thought that it was the weakness of past generations that had allowed Arrenland to fall to second-rate status. The new firebrand chancellor was determined to regain the glory of ages past. That was why Eadinga was here.

Eadinga was not a well-known public figure. Quite the opposite, in fact. His official position was Assistant Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, part of the Directorate of Intelligence under the Ministry of War. It was rather mundane, at least on the outside. Eadinga was what one might call a "career patriot" who did whatever was asked of him in order to serve the home isles. He was also the son of the Earl of Hwitburg, a "high noble" in the parlance of the Adwestenes, which should grant him some respect among them.

To put it plainly, he had been sent here to put together a plan for the division of Cynas, Sindar-Astrasia, and Falsea. Chancellor Dunstan saw an opportunity to increase Arrenland's power and prestige through the good, old-fashioned method of territorial acquisition. Although Eadinga might not agree on some parts of the chancellor's plans, the chancellor nonetheless thought that now was the time to make this move, so Eadinga went.

Soon enough, the car pulled up to the residence of one Count of Laxenhive.

[Rommy]

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Hall was reviewing notes preceding the meeting he was to attend shortly, a meeting which in a way placed the aspirations of Aeriland on his shoulders. Luckily, he was there more as a junior advisor to Senator Sierra Landacre, chairwoman of the Senate's kvaennan relations subcommittee. While Hall was a relatively important staff member for the Joint Command Chairman in the Aerilandic central command, most of his work pertaining to advisement on the continuing evolving situation of Adwest; Aeriland's biggest trading partner and simultaneous biggest threat.

According to Aerilandic tradition, each civilian representative of the Union, was to be accompanied by a military advisor who would simultaneously serve as the official protector of the civilian. The tradition was a response to Adwest during the initial wars of Aerilandic independence capturing civilian representatives and then torturing them to death during various peace talks. At one point, the War of the Seven only ended when Aeriland sent a regiment to guard their delegation to the talks, a show of strength.

Hall personally found Landacre a curious case study, someone who represented President Sarah Roman in that Aeriland needs to take a more proactive, even more aggressive approach to the mainland of Kvaenna. However, Roman had an interest at the same time of protecting democracies, something Adwest specifically was not. To Aeriland, keeping it options open represented a way to further its ambitious goals for the continent, as well as its own personal morals.

After a few minutes, the motorcade finally arrived to the site of the meeting.

[DeSchaine]

Etain Conolly scowled during the entire ride from the airport. She'd been in a foul mood ever since they landed in Kalstad. To be here, discussing this topic... it irked her. She thumbed through the files sitting next to her on the seat, as Maj. Gavin McKenna sat in the seat across from her, gazing out the windows of the vehicle. It gave her a small measure of amusement, knowing full well that he hated these diplomatic functions as much or more than she did. The man was a combat soldier, much more at home in a set of BDU's than in his dress uniform.

Etain scowled some more. A conference to determine the fates of democraticly governed nations. Adwest she expected it from. They had been looking to restore their empire ever since the first days of the Taeunas revolution. The beginning of their downfall she thought. No, what made her raise her eyebrows was that both Aeriland and Arrenland were invited, but Goldecia was not. Probably one or the other still sore about the Kolhar debacle.

She looked down through her notes. Cynas was out. They'd had a solid alliance with Taeunas for years, to the point that their military was entirely made up of Taeunas designed and built equipment. Sindar and Falsea were a different story. There was no bad relations, but just not as close as Cynas. It would also be a point of discussion for the Seanad to take up, if the military was going to get involved in a foreign war not covered by treaty. Still, it would have to cover it's own interests with respect to all the other countries involved.

These were sure to be contentious negotiations. The vehicle pulled into the estate and stopped at the entrance. McKenna put his jacket on and stepped out first, looking around for threats as was typical for a soldier on enemy soil. He nodded to Etain, who made her exit. She took note of the other vehicles already parked and realized she was the last to arrive. Good, she thought. Let them take this as a small glimmer of how Taeunas sees this business. With Maj. McKenna at her side, and their aides following, she headed in for the conference.

[Adwest]

The wait for the arrival of the foreign delegations did not last long, to the appreciation of the Lord Protector. As soon as he was informed by one of his servants that the Arrenlanders had set foot in his sprawling residence, he immediately made the effort to stand and greet them personally. Mostly because he wanted to obtain a moment away from Halnish, who was bent on interrogating him nonchalantly regarding the job given to him by Her Majesty. That man is a tool, the Lord Protector thought to himself as he made his way to the foyer.

The sight of Eadinga greeted him, and he went on over to him with an easy expression and a firm hand to shake. He engaged the Arrenlander in light conversation, albeit making sure to circumvent the more serious matters of state this meeting was called to discuss.

Of the three invited to today's affair, the Arrenlanders were perhaps the most eager for the supposed carving up of areas of control. Their people had a long and proud history of empire, although notably theirs was more of a maritime nature compared to Adwest. It was nonetheless a time to look back to - and for the new leaders of Arrenland, an age to bring back. Dunstan's election couldn't have been more fitting; his desire to revive the glory of his country made him liable to support Gore-Culross' ploy and become a reliable ally against those who could possibly stand in the way of imperial restoration.

Whereas the Lord Protector counted on the similar interests Arrenland held and was sure of their support, that was more than what could be said of the next delegation that arrived. Aeriland, a conservative popular republic, once held the title of being Adwest's closest ally at home at a time when it was most needed; it publicly and militarily supported Adwestene interference in Kolhar, and mitigated the dangers of isolation for Adwest for many years. In turn, Adwest bankrolled those people who sought positions of power and granted Aeriland a favorable trade agreement alongside loans and other forms of aid.

But that was the problem of democratic states. Even with a bit of tampering, their temperament still changed depending on who were in power. Aeriland's last few elections saw the imposition of distance between two previously close neighbors. But despite the different priorities of the new government in their foreign dealings, they dared still not to meddle with Adwestene expansionism - because they themselves had their own designs for the region, territorial or otherwise. This Gore-Culross had been advised by his Foreign Minister.

Still, the Lord Protector offered his greetings to Senator Landacre and Lt. Col. Hall in the same manner he did the first ones to arrive. He had one of his servants immediately lead them to the guest hall however; he knew enough that they came here for business, and not necessarily to give their country's seal of approval to the partition.

And then came the delegation from Taeunas. Those people, ever since their violent uprising centuries ago and secession from Adwest, had always juxtaposed itself to everything the Grand Kingdom stood for - honor, tradition, order. Although they had been pretty much lax with regards to Adwest's campaigns, it was moreso because they had no proper justification to intervene and halt the efforts of the fatherland at reunification. If they had a chance to be a thorn, they would not only take it; they would pounce.

It was for this fact alone that the Lord Protector had been counselled by many names in the court not to involve them. But the Lord Protector knew better than such names to ignore them.

They were a country with their own interests, and they were merely biding time in wait of the perfect opportunity. They would chance upon any opening that would increase their own national power, despite the fondness for unproductive rhetoric their leaders and diplomats possessed. Their mere presence in Kalstad today verified that fact to the Lord Protector.  Better to deal with their unpleasantness through the table than through the battlefield if it could be realized.

Gore-Culross immediately identified their delegation as they disembarked from their vehicle, clicking his tongue as he saw them. That woman, Conolly, perhaps the only sane career officer in Taeunas' Foreign Service Corps and thus the only one they send, retained a notorious profile in Adwestene diplomatic circles as the public face of the southern mob state. She would be difficult to deal with no doubt, but not impossible.

He greeted the two and led them to the guest hall. On any given day, the wide space would be lined up with a number of luxury sofas for informal merrymaking between Gore-Culross and any guests he had invited to his favorite summer residence in the country. If not a shared drink with his favorite iced whiskey, then his guests would have the leisure to admire a portion of the man's collection of busts and paintings at two sides of the hall. This particular hall held pieces from Marzanna.

Today was different however. In the center of the hall were four lengthy tables facing each other, made of oak in an ebony shade. Each had two chairs with rests and a plaque containing the delegation it was assigned to. Further behind each table were five seats allotted for the adjutants of the delegates, but nothing more. The rest would have to stand up. The Lord Protector had no interest seeing the hall being crowded after all.

At the northern wall, at a spot where a life size portrait of a Severyan Czar previously hung, lay a projector screen displaying a political map of Kvaenna. It lay behind the table where Halnish and Gore-Culross were supposed to sit, for easy reference by the three foreign delegations.

Once introductions were done, everyone was seated and refreshments were served, the Lord Protector began. It was thirty three minutes past one.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.  As I'm sure the correspondence between our governments have kept you informed on what is to be done today, I will spare you and myself the spiel I prepared. Needless to say, this is a historical opportunity that could very well benefit all of us."

The Lord Protector took a second, his weary eyes scanning the men and women, trying to detect any hint of rejection to his words.

"We will divide this meeting into two segments. First, we will discuss the nature of our countries' understanding in recent months in order to understand what is at stake and what we all could possibly gain, to clarify any misunderstandings or assumptions, and perhaps the most important, to affirm your respective government's support for this undoubtedly.....notable endeavor."

The quadripartite entente between the four months was clear; there would be a division that would take place, and initially there was support for this. But the lack of further dissection on what that meant and how it could be achieved remained a dilemma that would either be hashed out today or would wind up as a source of tension. The delegation from Taeunas, and to a lesser extent from Aeriland, could prove to be troublesome if they disliked the method of division or backtrack their positions.

Their affirmation would be absolutely critical if this meeting were to go anywhere. If such support was lacking, then they would have to be expelled and plans diverted elsewhere before they could get a hold of what the Lord Protector had in mind.

"When we come to a clearer understanding, we will then proceed with how we will go about this matter. We will ponder plans that are forwarded by each delegation and we will decide what course of action is best to take. ."

The Lord Protector hobbled over to the map, a device controlling the projector on his right hand.

"Are there any questions? would anyone like to jump right in ahead of me? We are in an obviously enclosed place, so I invite all of you to speak freely."

[Jamzor the Jaxxor]

Eadinga tapped his fingers on the table while listening to the Lord Protector. He did not look directly at the man, but stared at the wall while listening, as if thinking at the same time. He whispered something to his aide and then turned to the Taeunasian delegation. "Miss Conolly, I would like some clarification. How far is the Republic of Taeunas willing to go in the pursuit of our... common interests, and what are your administration's intentions with regards to the Republic of Cynas?"

[DeSchaine]

"Taeunas' intention is the same as it has always been. We will honor the letter and the spirit of our treaty with Cynas. Plain and simple." Conolly said. "And to be perfectly candid, many people in our administration, the Taoiseach included, wonder what possible justification there could be for depriving the peoples of the other nations of their sovereign rights? We know Adwest's justification. Resurgence of their failed empire. But bastions of democracy such as yourselves... it leaves us wondering."

[Jamzor the Jaxxor]

"You speak as if, because we are a democratic nation, we cannot have interests which sometimes conflict with those of other nations? We have no special dislike for the people of Falsea, Sindar-Astrasia, and Cynas. It is simply the case that at some points in history stronger nations overtake the weaker ones," Eadinga said.

"I can assure you, however, that my nation has no interest in coming into conflict with Taeunas and, by extention, Cynas. I do believe, however, that Cynas is in a weak position. It would do them good if, perhaps, their treaty with Taeunas was... expanded? You already supply them with practically all of their military hardware. It would be best for all if they were to fall further under your wing in a more, let's say, official capacity."

[DeSchaine]

"I fail to see what you mean by a weak position. It would seem that their position is actually quite strong with Taeunas as trading and defense partners. In any case, for Cynas to fall under our... more official capacity... there would have to be a mandate from their people. Without that, Taeunas has no desire to meddle in their affairs." She tapped the folders in front of her.

"The same can be said of the others as well. While we agree they have certain value in strategic and material, thats no excuse to run roughshod over a people that have chosen their own path on the world stage. Yes, conflicts happen with nations of all government types, but what conflicts exist to justify the hostile takeover of Sindar and Falsea?"

[Jamzor the Jaxxor]

"The greatest conflict there is," Eadinga answered simply. "The conflict of who will dominate, the conflict of the weak against the strong. Of course, many in the public will require more elaborate and sweetened wording, but that is the bare, basic core of the thing."

"As for Cynas," he waved a hand dismissively. "Without Taeunas, they are nothing. That means that, ultimately, it is within your administration's power to decide their fate. You need a mandate from their people? Fine. I am sure such a thing could be arranged."