[PRIVATE] Command and Operations Center

[unmerged(33865)]

I have summoned the American ambassador to make it clear how we would take the actual implementation of the sanctions. I don't believe that would be consistent with their continued military presence, as represented by their base in Western Eutopia, but I would be interested in your views. The seem to be sending in additional forces, which is why I upped the alert status.

At the start of my term, I made applications to both the Americans and Europeans to lift their arms embargos, if only for spare parts. They refused. We therefore were obliged to seek other sources. Since the planes we have since gotten the parts for, the F-5E II fighters, are flown by many countries, not all of which have continuing relations with the US, this was merely a matter of asking in the right, or shall I say, wrong circles. I left the details of the parts to be ordered and the price negotiation to Per Truman. He conferred with me about the payment, 30 million ducats, which was well within his budget, so I approved that expenditure. He did not advise me that he was also signing blank end-use certificates, which was not a good idea. Whether it was illegal then or not, we won't find out, because you can't try dead men. It is contrary to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but we signed that after he signed two blanks. I don't know what happened to the second one. FLEA and INTERPOL are looking into it. If it hasn't already been used, it is worthless now, since he is no longer in office. We clearly needed to get our air force operational, it was criminal to condemn our pilots to fly in those old planes without spares, and it is criminal for us not to have an effective airforce. That is what let Cuba take the risk of supporting the Friends of Durriti terrorists, we had no means of responding when we found out.

 

[unmerged(24047)]

"Jesus, Truman did an idiotic thing, and now he left us in this situation..." McGrath stood for a few seconds "We simply can't get out of this cleanly. How can we press the US to lift this sanctions? Maybe calling out to Russia? To the EU? They still have Farpoint base, with US soldiers in it. That means they will keep an eye on the situation, i hope they will be open to negotiations, how can we prove that those Nuclear parts were not our idea?!"

 

[unmerged(33865)]

We may have had an MDIS that acted like one from a rogue state, be we are a civilized country. Maybe we can turn that into a tourism slogan, "Visit Eutopia, they are such civilized rogues!" Things may get tense up near the US base at Far Point, so I don't want our Navy anywhere near there. They have a reputation for being trigger-happy, and of course they are no match for the US military, so they would be sitting ducks. We don't want needless casualties, which is why they should stay well away. The US is using land mines around the prison facility at there base, in contravention of our wishes, so this will be an issue that I will raise. It may be helpful to line up a number of the old Leopard tanks that were due to be scrapped near the barbed wire, with either turrets reversed or barrels removed, and be ready to use them to clear the mindfield by sending them forward with no one at the helm. One of our real divisions, the one near St. Esprit, could be transferred to Western Eutopia, to be ready in case things heat up further. It should be fairly easy to prepare positions for them where the base is at their extreme range, plus an equal number of alternate positions, so they wouldn't know exactly where we were. It is very important that we do not fire the first shot, so keep the weapons unloaded.

 

[unmerged(24047)]

"Don't you think that this movements could be seen as aggressive? They already sold us to the press as "rogue state", if we send our tanks clearing their mines, they'll probably get even a bit worried that we can do some very stupid further move...and frankly i don't want to be the next Iraq.
Regarding West Eutopia, that "Queen" wannabe made the right move at the right time...it's sad, very sad that she's exploiting like that her ancient and useless claims.
I will dispatch a division ready for anti-insurgency duties, with their ammo safe in their belts, only with anti-revolt equipment ready."

 

[Voshkod]

Levarge stood at attention. "Mr. President, Minister, I would like to confirm my orders before issuing them across the command networks. Mr. President, please confirm that you want to raise alert status to HANG TIME and remove the navy from the coasts off the WET. Further, please confirm that you want to move a regular unit - I'd recommend 6th Infantry - from the St. Espirit border to WET.

"I and the other chiefs remain at your disposal."

 

[unmerged(33865)]

I should have checked before now, as I thought we would have been a step lower to start with, but with the increased American presence in and around their base, and the belligerent attitude of their congress, we do need to raise our alert level. Yes, I confirm move to "Hang Time" alert status. Yes, I confirm the order to remove our Navy from the coasts of Western Eutopia. My MDIS is not to sure about the last item, moving a division, so let's discuss this some more.

 

[Voshkod]

Levarge's voice carries across the crowded room. "Attention! By Presidential order, we are now at HANG TIME. I repeat, we are at HANG TIME." Orange lights flash on the big board for a moment, and a dozen staff officers start relaying the orders. In the middle of the chaos, Levarge walks down the line of officers, giving each one particular commands. The President and MDIS can catch parts of it.

"Bring the squadron to a five minute status . . . . move that task force south, away from Farpoint . . . . message to LIRA is OBSIDIAN . . . . tell Sixth ID to prep for movement, one hour notice . . . . message to OSO is DROPSHOT . . . ."

 

[unmerged(24047)]

McGrath stood silent, waiting for Levarge to finish the orders sending.
"President, what about that Queen Maria thing? Can he just come back after years and say "Here i am, give me back my land" like a goddamn Monopoly game?! That would mean returning to feudalism!"

 

[unmerged(33865)]

You think not, and I would agree, but it will take the courts years to straighten out the matter, so it is not an immediate concern.

Do you think we should move the 6th up to Western Eutopia? We may want to seal in their Far Point base if they choose to put sanctions on us. Of course they could keep it resupplied by air and sea, but cutting off water and local food would mean they would have some inconveniences to put up with. We could also insist that they remove the land mines, and allow Red Cross and Amnesty International access to their prisoners, and eventually demand that they leave, but the latter is far more permanent than I expect the sanctions will be.

Also, I want you to arrange for someone to select and make arrangements for a refueling airstrip in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We have permission from the British, provided we call it a research station. We need to get it set up pronto, so rent rights at an existing facility and get a stock of jet fuel pre-positioned there, enough for one week's activities by 20 fighters.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

A message arrives from the President

General Levarge,

The Americans know we have increased our alert status and asked why. I gave a truthful but incomplete answer. They have asked us to cede the Far Point base and some adjacent land to them in perpetuity in exchange for their President vetoing this sanctions bill. I will be discussing the matter with a council of former Presidents and advising them of our decision tomorrow. Should we refuse, I expect that they would merely impose sanctions, but they could decide to seize a larger portion of Western Eutopia by force or simply take over key government points throughout our country to create a regime change. I consider both of these unlikely and the latter extremely unlikely as the regime here is due to change within a year anyway, but I have been wrong before. Please deploy the 6th in the manner you see fit given this operational situation and advise MDIS and myself. I decline the use the emergency government location at this time. Please also try to avoid any accidental firefight from breaking out. Remember, safety is no accident!

God be with us,

 

[Voshkod]

Levarge issues an operational order for the 6th Infantry.

Entrain division; earliest opportunity rail march via Hurteau, Sable, Chateauvillon, Neuwestbaden. Operational pause of indeterminate length in Neuwestbaden, then proceed via rail to Heorot, Gilford, Dunwich, Harton, Farpoint. Disembark Farpoint, await further orders.

Additional orders are issued via codeword to LIRA and OSO.

 

[unmerged(24047)]

Major McGrath excuses himself and reach a separated office, then comes back after abput 15 minutes.
"Sir, i ordered back at the Quadragon to assemble a delegation to be sent at the Turks and Caycos. Can my men have passports visas from the MTIA or the MESA? Just to make things a bit less clear for any curious?"

 

[von Streusser]

Out of the corner of their eyes, both Levarge and Major McGrath notice a watch officer suddenly stiffen as he listens to something over his headphones. He quickly writes out a report, tears it off his notepad, and rises to hand it to the two men.

"Sirs! Flash report from assets in Buen Puerto! They say that the entire Tilapian fleet is putting to sea!"

He hands the paper over and reaches for a nearby computer, punching up a display showing the most recent tactical information on the location of the Tilapian navy.

"The carrier group Reina Francesca I was already at sea, conducting routine exercises, but now the Isabella group is moving out of port too, and the Francesca group hasn't returned. Early indications show the whole fleet sailing west along the coast, sirs!"

vS as GM Events

 

[Voshkod]

"Minister," say Levarge, turning toward McGrath, "you'd best inform the President and put him in touch with the Tilapians. I assume this is about New Bengal. I'd recommend we put the Western fleet to sea."

 

[unmerged(33865)]

A message arrives from the President and MTIA

As a courtesy, I informed the Tilapians of our increased alert status, since they were not involved in our decision to raise it. They responded with a long message, the relevant portion of which follows:

I appreciate your keeping us appraised of the situation, and have forwarded your note to the Consulate and the Queen. I have thus far only received a response from General Summers, who is dialing back air patrols from your border. Apparently shortly after it became apparent that your alert level had been raised, our air force began more aggressive patrol routes closer to the common border. As you have reassured us of your country's stance, these patrols need no longer get so close to the line. We apologize for any inconvenience or stress this may have caused you, but of course we had to be certain.

Diplomats can lie as well, if not better, than politicians, but I thought you should be informed, for what it is worth. If their air activity doesn't diminish as projected, please let me know.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

A message arrives from the President.

To: General Levarge, Chief of Service, Army
From: President Loic de Fourgéres

Re: Army Division Deployment in Western Eutopia Province

It now appears more likely that we may come to a diplomatic arrangement with the US concerning the economic sanctions, however some of the possible terms, when they become known, may lead to either anti-American violence or separatist violence in Western Eutopia. As the American are well armed and can fend for themselves, the objective in the first instance would be to prevent our citizens from making martyrs of themselves in a foolhardy assault on the American base. This is probably the consideration of lesser importance.

My primary concern is to prevent even a chance of a separatist uprising from getting the merest hint of momentum. As you know, a considerable portion of the population in Western Eutopia voted for independence during term VIII. Therefore please position effectives in or around the locations that such a movement would want to seize, like city halls, radio and television stations, and most of all the provincial offices. Be ready to cut power to cell phone towers and shut down other means by which a grass roots organization could communicate, other than face to face conversation. Please monitor local radio and television shows and have some Topan speakers, preferably not from Western Eutopia, monitoring broadcasts in those languages. I hope these precautions will be unneccessary, so try to minimize the impact during the deployment. Ask your troops to be nice, and smile. After all, they are not invaders, and the locals should be friendly. However, in this case, a stitch in time will save nine. If something starts, I want it nipped in the bud.

The people of the United Provinces of Eutopia are counting on your troops and you to preserve our nation from this threat. Please advise me when the troops are in 90% in place. I will try to hold off making the announcements until then.

Respectfully,

 

[Voshkod]

Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah

On hold with the Diamond Office, General Levarge starts drumming his fingers.

When she walks, she’s like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ooh

 

[unmerged(33865)]

"This is the President."

 

[Voshkod]

"And when she passes, I smile - but she doesn’t . . . Sorry, Mr. President. Levarge here. Received your latest orders. The Sixth ID is at Neuwestbaden undergoing an operation pause to ensure continued divisional integrity during the rail/road/route march. We'll have them in the WET in a day or two. In the past, using troops for internal policing missions has required approval of the Legislature, though this has not been scrupulously followed. Has the President obtained such permission?"

 

[unmerged(33865)]

The troops need to be in place, so let their deployment continue. We will use that time to work out any addtional authorizations regarding what they will do when we get there.

Part of their mission, albeit the secondary objective, acting as a buffer between the Americans and our possibly outraged citizens, isn't policing. If there is a rush and a few of our citizens are captured by our troops, I would expect that they would be turned over to either FLEA or the provincial police, depending on the nature of the crime, so the actual arrest and charging would be done by the usual channels. As a practical matter, if your troops are in the right places, preventing access to the American base, then any violence would be directed against our military personnel while on duty. I am sure there are some appropriate regulations in your code regarding what can and cannot be done in those circumstances. But if you think otherwise, please let me know.

For the main objective of the mission, prevention or quashing of an illegal rebellion, we need to avoid getting to the point where we have to send troops in to take over a position already held by insurrectionists, as understandably, like in Isabela, our troops may refuse to fire on our citizens. How would you best see this objective achieved? Legislative approval requires 'sufficient debate' and the designated time for voting. This would take about five months (OOC: 10 days life as 5 days are required for voting, and I assume a similar time for sufficient debate) just to get through the GA. By that time, the matter will be settled, one way or another. In the US, the President can commit troops for 60 days before going to Congress. We haven't bothered to write a similar rule here. Will agreeing to get legislative approval within six months or return the troops to their usual duties be sufficient for your purposes? Alternatively, would bringing the GA Speaker and UMP party leader, John O'Floinn, into this discussion, and getting his nod for the interim period suffice? We recently used that to let Commissioner of Justice seek an advisory opinion from the High Court on treaty signing powers.

Speaking of their usual duties, I am not sure why we have as many troops as we do near St. Esprit, given their de-emphasis of things military, but that is a subject for another day, that I will leave to the MDIS and you.