A Battle Unseen

[Doc]

Office of the Emperor, Cliff Offices, Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto

The Emperor sat at his desk in the Offices adjacent to the Imperial Residence on Cliff House.  A small chime rang and the Emperor pressed a button to open the door automatically.  In walked the Foreign Minister, Lady Anya Waltrip, preceded by Chancellor of the Empire, Sir David Levine and accompanied by Lady Allison Stuart.  The Chancellor and the Foreign Minister stood before the desk, and in a moment, the Emperor invited them to take a seat in the two chairs arranged before his desk.  As per protocol, Lady Waltrip did not speak directly to the Emperor, but instead, spoke to the Chancellor of the Empire.  Lady Stuart interpreted the Foreign Minister's words in sign to the Emperor, and then interpreted the Emperor's signs in spoken Vrassan to Lady Waltrip.  The Chancellor was merely there as required in a Formal Audience.

"May it please His Majesty, We have the reports from the Etxean and Hutorian delegations," said Lady Waltrip.  "Both meetings were a success.  They have allowed us to open the a For/In Bank branch in Jildrati City, and not only will that work as a conduit for the aid we are sending, but will also allow the Artanians to access the bank.  But additionally, we have met with the Etxeans here in Kaliburg, and we talked about Etxean investments here."

"Lady Waltrip, perhaps you will enlighten us on one point:  How are we sending trade credits, direct aid, and materiel to Etxea, when Etxea is looking to invest here in Kalistan?" asked the Emperor, through Lady Allison Stuart.  "Are they just giving our money back to us?"

"It would seem that Etxean businesses are looking to expand their markets," said Lady Waltrip.  "We will certainly want to get more information from them about what sorts of business they are looking to do.  As long as they aren't directly competing with local businesses, it should be fine.  This first visit was simply a reintroduction. The question of privateers was raised."

"Will you be speaking with Etxea again in the near future?" asked the Emperor.

"I can if it is His Imperial Majesty's wish," answered the Foreign Minister.

"Please inform them that Kalistan would not object to Etxeans hiring Kalistani mariners to sail under Etxean Colors, but will no longer issue Letters of Marque from the Empire. Kalistan has had enough war and conflict, but obviously we will not prevent our people from aiding privately."

"I shall pass along His Imperial Majesty's message," said Lady Waltrip.

"Very well, and of Hutori?"  said the Emperor.

"They have publicly joined the Embargo," said Lady Waltrip.  "We've met with the King's representatives here in Kaliburg, His Highness the Prince James, who is serving as the rep from the Hutorian Government while they dispatch a new Embassy Staff to Kaliburg, and he assured me that the Kingdom actively supported the Embargo, and would begin enforcing trade restrictions between Macon and the Mainland.  We thanked the Prince for his Government's principled Stance, and expressed a desire to see more Artanians stepping up in a similar fashion."

"Excellent work."

"We should expect a visit from the Hutorian Crown Prince within six weeks," said Lady Waltrip. "The purpose of the visit is to re-establish our special fraternal relationship after a long period of mutual neglect. We advise presenting the Crown Prince with a baronetcy and an estate of 250 Acres in Green County, perhaps in the Six Sisters when he arrives. This will reciprocate for the Icehaven Estate that His Imperial Majesty possesses in Hutori."

"Very well," said the Emperor. "Have scouts select a parcel of land, probably closer to Bozo, so they can easily travel in there during the rainy season that you think would be appropriate and appreciated as a gift. We shall present the Crown Prince with the title when he visits. Is there anything else?"

"We continue to monitor the developing situation in Dolgava," said Lady Waltrip. "It is nothing now, but there are rumors that we are hearing of some incorrectness internally. We'll keep an eye on it, but disorder within Dolgava could impact trade in the Empire."

"Excellent. Lady Stuart, please thank Lady Waltrip for her report. Oh, one last thing: What is the progress on reorganization of the Regular Force?"

"His Imperial Majesty would need to meet with the Defense Minister to obtain the latest details, but in cabinet meetings, the last update we heard was that much of the officer corps was about to be cashiered, and we were going to allow the enlistments to lapse for more than 1400 Staff NCOs. So there will also be promotions as well, bringing up junior Officers and NCOs into more senior ranks. And then we will need another enlistment drive most likely. But that is something that His Imperial Majesty could certainly take up, if the Defense Ministry advises it."

"Then we are on track..." said the Emperor. "Thank you for your update Lady Waltrip. As always Chancellor Levine. And Madame Stuart, if you could call Lady Ananto for us, and have her stop over, we should like to take her to lunch this noon, and would like to ask her where she would like to eat so reservations can be made."

"It shall be done," Lady Stuart signed, and then the three left the office. The Emperor, in pressing a button on his desk, closed the door behind them.