It was an ordinary morning of an ordinary day in an ordinary country; only, it wasn't. A meeting was being held between the German Emperor and his vassals on the future of their Nation. This meeting would have an impact on the future of the German Empire as well as the rest of the world. Their industry was booming. Their military was strong. Their wealth was vast. However, all of this was quickly being eclipsed by their neighbors as well as the rest of the world. A very small deposit of a very rare ore had been discovered, something the world was calling Blue Coal. The German Empire had only found enough of the "Coal" to fuel their dreams, but not bring them to life. The Kings of the German Confederation now gathered in the Kaiser's Palace in Berlin to discuss ways to get more of this Blue Coal so they were not left behind in the Great Race for Blue.

Several men sat around a large table in a central chamber of the Imperial Palace. "King Ferdinand, I appreciate your suggestion of not trading with the Eisenkreis-Kzechverin Hegemony but all options must be explored." Kaiser Bismarck knew of the old King of Bavaria's hatred for the Austrians.

"They're not to be trusted. That bitch who sits on the throne," he spit on the floor, "is not capable of ruling the filth that I pushed from my bowels this morning."

The Kaiser slammed his fist down on the table. "We are gentlemen here, are we not King Ferdinand?" The King nodded before apologizing to his Emperor. "Very well, I do not intend to trade with The Red Queen or Princess Csilla unless all of our other options are exhausted. That is why I am sending my most trusted advisers to meet with the heads of several nations in hopes of opening trade routes for the Empire. You, King Ferdinand, will be sailing to meet with the Emperor of Japan. They are one of the most industrialized and wealthiest, when it comes to Blue Coal, or Buru Sekitan as they call it. If we can work something out with them then that will be in our best interest."

"Kaiser." Bismarck's best friend, as well as the King of Saxony, spoke up. "I have received word that the Kingdom of Naples has discovered two very decent sized Blue Coal deposits within their borders. Perhaps, we could send some soldiers in to occupy these areas and liberate this coal so that a more modern and civilized society could make use of it."

The Emperor scratched the short hair on his chin as he thought. "I don't think it'd be best to invade a country on no grounds other than for resources. We couldn't very well call ourselves civilized if we did so. We'd be barbarians." He slammed a palm down on the table as he decided, "no." He pointed to his friend. "But I want you to send your most trusted dignitary to Naples. I want a diplomat in King Pagani's court. If he could be persuaded to seek our [i]help[/i] or [i]investment[/i] to exploit these deposits then that could help us immensely."

King Widikund nodded. "I have just the man, Kaiser. Hans Olo has never disappointed me. I will send him to Italy, immediately." 

"And you, my friend, shall be heading to the Americas. I want you in the States to try and persuade the Yanks to open up trade routes." As he dismissed his advisers he pulled a long pipe from his coat pocket and began to pack it with tobacco. King Widikund of Saxony was the last one in the room and closed the doors behind the rest, so that it was only he and the Emperor left in the room. "Fuhrer, the Americas? Are you sure that we shouldn't look somewhere... closer to home?"

Bismarck smiled as he exhaled a ring of smoke. "You are correct. I simply said you'd be going to the States for King Ferdinand's sake. I actually want you to travel to Eisenkreis to treat with The Red Queen. See if we can't negotiate a deal, perhaps even an alliance with our southern neighbors."

"Ferdinand will not be happy about that." Wicca laughed. Wicca was a nickname given to him during childhood.

"His business in Asia will keep him plenty occupied." He smiled as he rose from the chair. His ambassadors would all be gone by this time tomorrow. In the meantime, he wanted a report from his scientists on their Blue Coal prototypes.