*NSC statutory members are those who are required to be in all meetings of the Council. NSC non-statutory members are there when needed.

*If the President is not present, the Vice President takes over his role and manage the committee, as directed by the President.

ABSENTEES: ATTORNEY GENERAL Hélène Marie Bourque; SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY Hannah Morris Buchanan; and PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WORLD FORUM Nancy Arden Roosevelt.


APRIL 28, 2019
GUTZWILLER CONFERENCE ROOM, PRESIDENTIAL MANSION
 

PRESIDENT BLYTHE: Alright folks! Welcome to the first meeting of the new Executive Committee. It's been a long time since we last met in a big group like this, but we've got a lot to do.

CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF SORENSON: The last time we met, you still had some brown hair!

(laughter)

PRESIDENT BLYTHE: Those were the days! Ok, we have one topic that needs to be discussed in this meeting. It is to respond to the Frosts' reply of the ultimatum. It is a long tradition for the next most senior member to start, so, Mr. Vice President?

VICE PRESIDENT UNDERWOOD: Mr. President, members of the Committee, it's nice to meet you all today. It's my wish that there will be fruitful discussions and hopefully, efficient solutions coming out of this meeting. The Admiral on the other side made it clear that they're not going to go our way. They've called us "war criminals" for standing against justice and killing the people of the Frost Empire, when in fact it's actually them who deserve the title. If we're going to keep our international standing and make sure we come out of the battle with our goals achieved, we need to move forward and united in executing our plan.

SECRETARY IRVING: And let us not forget, our primary goal right now is to secure our territory in the Reizen and Zett islands, not to battle face-to-face with the Frost Empire. We chose to take the land in first place, because the RDC needs a stronger voice and a seat at the table. If we were to do this well, we need to coordinate a joint effort between the military and the diplomats.

AMBASSADOR LOISEAU: What [Secretary Irving] was totally correct. We must never forget our original intentions and goals. Mr. President, we've received enough international pressure already. You see the Frosts accusing us in the World Forum and allies turning against our back and pouring support and resources for the Empire. I believe we must do things in a more conciliatory manner, for the best interests of this country and of our future diplomatic conquest.

CHIEF OF PROTOCOL SECKLER: With regards to responding in a more conciliatory manner, I believe we should send more military troops and equipment moderately while also defending our stance and actions on the world stage. The latter we haven't managed to do much and we're letting our foes tread on us.

SECRETARY IRVING: I'm sorry, Mr. Seckler, but I think you may have not understood the main idea of warfare. In a battle, there are challenges in which you cannot predict in advance. That is why we send an abundant amount of resources into the war. The more we send into battle, the easier it will be for us to win. We don't want more and more of our precious resources lost in this war, but I get your point. We must do things responsibly and make sure that our actions fully reflect our interests and intentions. 

SECRETARY RASMUSSEN: So far so good. My plan for our response is that we form a comprehensive one that covers all major aspects of our involvement in the war, including military, economic and diplomatic. We should send in more troops and equipment to ensure our forces are superior to them in the battle for Reizen and Zett Islands. At the same time, as mentioned before in the Presidential Directive, we should refrain from making any attack against Frost forces. Only when they fire at us will we start firing back while trying to get to shore. We have never implemented any economic actions since the Directive was established, therefore I'd like us to sanction non-allied countries or entities which are supporting the WPR, RIM and Frost forces. And above all, in order for all of this to work, we must rally support behind it. I see Ryccia as a potential partner for collaboration in the Reizen Civil War.

DIRECTOR CORCORAN: I have to say, Secretary Rasmussen's plan is impressive and comprehensive. But I feel a need to add in just a small important detail to our mission, and that is intelligence. We have an always-ready group of agents who can help us with our clandestine and secret activities in Reizen and other specific places. Sometimes, when we are not able to command international support, that hinders our ability to achieve our goals. However, if we were to start conducting clandestine activities on our enemies and groups of interest, we can get what we want without the need to make public actions.

PRESIDENT BLYTHE: Everyone, you've been magnificent today. Your contributions and ideas help me in deciding the best course of action for this country. Regardless of how much we have accomplished in today's meeting, work still needs to be completed. The Defense Department and the Defence Staff must work together to form a military response to the Frosts' rejection of our ultimatum. Highly important. Secretary Rasmussen, please work with our Ambassadors and delegate tasks accordingly. Chancellor Carnegie, please report on our economic sanctioning options and their potential effects to our country. Other than that, everyone, you may now leave. Hold on, except for Doug (Chief of Staff ot the President)!

CHIEF OF STAFF STAMPER: Sir?

PRESIDENT BLYTHE: The parliamentary elections are coming up. Our performance in Reizen will affect our administration's and party's chances in securing a victory. I don't want to lose this at all. I'm worried. We can't afford to make a mistake now that we went so far in the jungle.

CHIEF OF STAFF STAMPER: I'll make sure we maintain good communications with the party leadership, sir.

PRESIDENT BLYTHE: If we lose the election, I'm fucked. The Liberals are gonna feed us shit! And the Frosts!

CHIEF OF STAFF STAMPER: Sir, we're still in this. I'll work as hard as possible to make sure things go our way. 

He then gently pads the President's shoulder as he leaves the room.

(04-29-2019, 01:06 PM)Qwert Wrote: "If the RDC are sincere in their official agenda, then they surely will see the benefits of this plan. It is the fastest way to peace, reconciliation, and ultimately letting the people of Reizen decide the future of their province. If the RDC is as 'democratic' as they claim. Otherwise, their foreign supporters, especially from Bzerneleg, will have to reconsider their involvement. This would of course mean that the RDC would lose their only guarantor."

"I see... in that case I will try to convince the WPR to accept the Sedunnic plan. However, the WPR cannot officially support this plan, so you will have to coordinate with the Imperialists and avoid East-Central Reizen where our foreign comrades have assisted us in dealing with the RIM by air. Of course  you will have our tacit support for the saturated attack and we hope that our voices will be fairly represented through the referendum. However, there is some concern regarding the imperialists with respect to their stance regarding foreign military aid especially after the alleged attack by the RDC's patron. Will there be an opportunity to convince the imperialists of the usefulness of our comrades and allies?"

(05-02-2019, 05:21 AM)VPRB Wrote: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bayougrad

Minister Sergej Hunt sat at his desk. Lined in perfect order on the massive wooden furniture there were reports and a map of Reizen. Several underlings were standing nearby, waiting for any order from their superior. “Is the line secure?” asked Hunt, his hand hoovering over the phone. “Yes, Comrade Minister” answered on of the secretaries. “Then start the procedure and put me in communication with Minister Kuribayashi of Frost”.

“Good morning Minister Kuribayashi, it’s my pleasure to be talking with you again. As per our last informal meeting, I’d like to discuss with you new possible developments in the war in Reizen. 

So far, we have, as agreed, avoid sending ground troops but the new advances of RIM and the intervention of Bzerneleg have raised the threat posed both to you and the WPR. 

So, I’m proposing you to have our socialist ally of Kai Fa send ground troops in support of our local comrades, keeping the understanding that they will not engage Frost forces. If the WPR very survival will be at risk we will be forced to take this move anyway, but we believe that prevention is better than the cure and we’ll like to keep our relationship with your country in the current state. Also, an increased pressure against RIM forces by the WPR will sap up some of their men and resources, while freeing some of yours.  A good deal in my opinion.

Last but not least, we can be of help in mediating with The Peony, given the stance she took on the matter”.

Foreign Minister Nagisa Kuribayashi sat alone in desk reading the reports from the World Forum Ambassador. She had just finished reading the Gi-Landian pledge to support the Empire alleviate its shortage of medical supplies for Reizen when an aide knocked on the door.

"Yes? What is it?" Kuribayashi asked as she placed the report down on the desk. The aide responded, "Ma'am the Bruuman Foreign minister is on the line to speak with you." Kuribayashi's eyes narrowed as she asked, "Are you certain?" "Yes ma'am" replied the aide. Sighing softly to herself she asked again, "Is the line secure?""Yes ma'am" replied the aide. Kuribayashi then picked up her desk phone and said, "Very well patch him through..."

 "Good Morning Mr. Hunt. Indeed, it is a pleasant surprise to be hearing from you again after our productive discussion. However, the Frost Empire cannot allow Kai Fa to deploy ground troops in Reizen Province.

It is one thing to turn a blind eye to high speed jets flying over enemy occupied territory, but another thing to allow a foreign army support an insurgency.

You must understand that the Empire can not afford to be seen supporting one insurgency or the other to negotiate an end to this war. This is why we are still fighting the Bzerneleg military who seem hellbent on supporting the treacherous RDC.

Furthermore, our clashes with the Bzerneleg navy has allowed RIM blockade runners to smuggle in vital weapons and 'volunteers' to continue their war against all parties. This event has proven to be beneficial politically by painting the Bzerneleg government as reckless but our acceptance of another backer of the insurgency will bolster their [bzerneleg] narrative and push greater pressure on the WPR. Something I'm sure you'd like to avoid.

The Empire would appreciate help in mediating with the peony given the unusual stance of the matter. However, the Peony's shocking accusations hold no water over the legality of the Empire's continued governance and ownership of the province. That being said, the Empire will continue to avoid areas frequented by the WPR to reduce the chance of conflict. By the way Minister Hunt, this may seem random but did you know that the Frost Raven begins its annual migration North to Seranuma. Despite the fighting below, perhaps the WPR may be fortunate to see more ravens this year since there are many RIM corpses to scavenge."

(05-03-2019, 01:01 PM)Qwert Wrote: "It is essential that the WPR officially supports the plan. The WPR, the Empire and the RDC need to return to the Grovne Agreement. If the international community sees a united Reizen front against the RIM, further foreign involvement and escalation of the war can be avoided, and countless lives be saved."

"It is apparent to the WPR that returning to the Grovne Agreement will see further foreign involvement and an escalation of the war! Furthermore, foreigners will always intervene in this war, as they have done so from the start of this accursed war when they supplied aid for us, the imperialists, the capitalists and the RIM. 

You need to understand that I currently do not have the political influence to push through official support for the Sedunnic plan. The most I can do is provide unofficial support until I can convince enough politburo council members to sustain a simple majority to silence the ideological purists within the WPR. At the moment these ideologues have stated that they will oppose any attempts to return to the Grovne accords and have convinced enough Politburo members to be successful in their opposition. Ergo, I need an opportunity to peel the less resolved ideologues from their hardline counterparts.

So what I am asking for is for your country to be pragmatic here. Start your plan with the Imperialists, so that the city of Seranuma can breathe. To give our exhausted partisans a chance to rest and make their voices heard within the party. Our luck against the RIM can only be attributed to the generosity of our Socialist brethren, your special forces and the tenacity of our partisans. So the politburo has little choice but to listen to the Partisans who are urging the WPR to publicly support this.

Now I am also fully aware that the Grovne accords will allow the WPR fair representation through the referendum, and that our allies will ensure that we are fairly represented in a post war Reizen. However, some of the Politburo members do not know that and I can use their uncertainty to our mutual benefit. However, that can only happen when they feel as if we are losing an opportunity for a strong hand at the negotiating table. 

On the flip side, if you convince Bruuma to support your plan, the ideologues will have no choice but to heed their words, but that is simply an alternative to what I am asking for."

Commander Konicki grinned as his army swelled with each village that was "liberated" by his soldiers. Thousands of villagers were conscripted into Martyr groups to serve as the RIM vanguard in their push to liberate Zett island from the weaklings and the Foreigners. The Martyr groups were particularly effective when dealing with the weaklings allowing them to save precious sarin gas and mustard gas for the attacks against the foreigners.

Commander Konicki was planning their next move when a report from Captains Zom and Bi came in. The two captains had just reported that the RDC fled from the Martyr vanguard allowing them to push through to the southern outskirts of Zett city and putting them in range of chemical mortar fire. The foreigners were competent dealing 4,000 casualties, but thanks to the martyr groups the losses didn't matter and it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed by sheer numbers or despaired at the fact of killing noncombatants. "Soon..." muttered Konicki "Its only a matter of time before we can crush them and take back what is ours!"

(05-03-2019, 05:59 AM)VPRB Wrote: "Fascinating!" exclaimed Hunt with an amused grin "Birds hold a special place in our belief systems..." He switched back to a more serious tone: "Anyway, we will honour our understanding and respect your decision... for the time being, since Seranuma is still not threatened. We will continue to provide material and aerial support to the WPR and direct it against RIM, hoping it will be able to inflict an heavier toll on them. Should you reconsider our offering, you know where to find me. Always a pleasure talking with you Minister, may the Loas  grant you a bright day!".

"Thank for understanding and respecting our decision... of course when we have a proposition regarding the fate of the WPR, we will be in touch Minister Hunt. It is also a pleasure talking with you Minister Hunt and I wish you a pleasant day as well"

Minister Kuribayashi then hung up the phone and breathed an audible sigh of relief after what she hoped was preventing a repeat of the Serevan war within the Empire. She then drafted a report of the conversation with the Bruuman minister to deliver to the President when another file was delivered to her. This time it came from an encrypted email written by the Frost Ambassador to Sedunn. In it was a confidential offer labeled Musical Cartography and for her eyes only. She lifted the phone again and contacted the president.

I can't believe I survived that hell. The boys I served with deserted the garrison and for some odd reason I don't blame them for doing so. They couldn't shoot their friends and family held hostage by the monsters in front of them and I didn't know if I had the resolve to do kill them either. I don't know if our Bzern friends have that kind of resolve too, but they saved my life. Picked me up from among the debris and corpses. When I came to in the RDC field hospital, the medic who treated me let me know that the RIM were all dead when they saved my life. He also said that the artillery strikes that killed everyone was caused by a battle our foreign friends fought against the tyrants. That Fortress Epsilon's mighty guns have fired at the island to kill us all. I don't know if its true or not, but at the very least I do know that I got to find the Bzern unit who saved my life and thank them.

The morgue of Forward operating base November was known to the garrison as the "Freezer" because it was a former slaughterhouse freezer. The hooks were all removed and replaced with tables where the dead were laid to rest temporarily until they could be laid to rest properly. Looking over at "Hip-Hop" the captain said, "Don't make me regret undoing your restraints, Hip-Hop." as she removed the handcuffs and gestured for the Sedunner to grab a jacket and follow her into the morgue.