For Profit and the Downfall of Our Enemies

[Ayzek]

Bucharest City, Allied States
Wednesday, 25 Dosa 1587

Elias Borkson, Foreign Minister of the Holy Lanlanian Empire, was not a large man. Of only average height and being unarguably underweight, only the crisp, well-tailored navy suit and the Imperial flag pinned on its lapel made it clear he was an official representative of the most second powerful country on the planet. And arguably, the first didn't count. Elias wasn't too surprised that he was ordered to visit the Allied States. The Empire did visit it from time to time as part of its diplomatic tours of South Brigidna. Usually, however, it was a short courtesy visit to signal that the Empire recognized Carpathia and Moldova and meant no ill will as it pursued real purposes in the various other states. That the working visit was more than double its usual time was certainly a signal that something was afoot.

This time, however, he'd received a concrete agenda to pursue in the Allied States and had been given the time to pursue it. Those orders were the true surprise. His time in Carpathia and Moldova had been extended by the Prime Minister on fairly short notice, after the Allied States government had expressed their interest in closer ties with the Empire. That too had been a bit unexpected, though not significantly, given the state of affairs of South Brigidna.

The Allied States were surrounded by Lanlanian partners, after all. Though not explicitly allied with all of them, the Empire was bound to protect many South Brigidnan states and they were part of the Imperial defense stratagem for South Brigidna. The Allied States were the only holdout, and now that they were willing to work with the Empire....

The challenge was getting the Empire's other partners to understand that the Allied States could be a force for good in South Brigidna, if they could harness it just right. It could be argued the Empire's lack of initiative in South Brigidnan politics was a contributing factor, but the fact was that Allied States's neighbors distrusted it, perhaps even feared it. It would take years, if not decades of work for the Allied States to fix its relationship with its neighbors, though doing so was paramount to secure lasting regional peace in South Brigidna.

Reminding the Allied States of this and setting the foundation for it were two of Borkson's key goals for the trip. He was worried it would be too difficult. The Carpathians and Moldovans were known to be stubborn, after all.

"We are arriving," Borkson's driver said.

Borkson glanced out his vehicle's tinted windows and saw what he recognized as the Carpathian People's House looming into view. He and the Carpathians had arranged a meeting with his Allied States counterpart to start with, before introductions with key members of the Carpathian legislature. Only a minister, he didn't expect to meet with the Carpathian Dictator. Though an official state visit between heads of state was an option, for a later date.