Lviv, Ukraine December 6, 2015 A light rain falls on the streets of Lviv. The sun is only peeking over the horizon, and the air is cool and crisp. Few cars are on the street. A grim figure stamps through sidewalk puddles in a long wool coat, holding his black umbrella close. Giving a quick glance over his shoulder, the man veers sharply down an alleyway to his right. He throws another glance behind him, breathing heavily, and hastens his pace further. Ahead and to his left, he sees a faded wooden door, with a soiled drunkard sprawled on its step. Approaching the drunkard, he gives a final glance out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly, a gunshot is heard, echoing down the alley. He swings around to see a man stumble from behind the corner, before falling to the ground, dead. Two grizzled bums, with long dirty beards and weathered winter coats, stand over the body, and give a nod to the man. The drunkard glances up from the ground, and stares into the man's eyes. "Area secure", the drunkard reports. "Welcome sir." Rising from the ground, the drunkard raps his knuckles against the door several times. The door swings open, revealing a six foot tall man in a blue suit, silenced pistol in hand. He steps aside to allow the other two entrance inside. As the door is closed behind them, a thump is heard as the two "bums" toss the body into a nearby dumpster, before resuming guard. "Zhuk?", the suited man grunts. "Melnyk.", the other responds. "Ah, this way.", the guard gestures down the hallway behind him, to a door on the right. Melnyk steps past the guard, and down the hall. The drunkard stumbles outside again, and slumps to the ground, resuming his post. Entering through the right door, Melnyk finds a room with no windows, and a large conference table in the middle. Around that table are President Poroshenko, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk, Chairman Yolodymyr Groysman, and other stone-faced government officials. They stare up at him blankly, with sleepless eyes. "Good", Yatsenyuk mutters, "now we can begin." "What about Zhuk, and Levchenko?", Groysman asks, "Shouldn't we wait for them before commencing this meeting?" "There's no time. We can't afford to wait for them.", Yatsenyuk replies, "Tell them the meeting has been cancelled." "Alright", sighs Groysman. "So,", Poroshenko begins, "Russia has made it very clear, that there is to be nothing gained from further association with them. The filthy snake has risen from hiding, and is ready to strike. And this new... Moscow Pact, they're calling it... is troubling to say the least. I don't suppose we'll ever see our country united again. Thankfully, we may yet hold on to what remains of our Fatherland." "So the UN has agreed?" Melnyk inquires excitedly. "France has agreed. The UN will follow shortly.", Poroshenko explains, "This is enough to act. Preparations are already underway. The lock-down is coming, and soon. Arseniy." "Yes?" "Are we ready for the refugees?" "Completely,", Yatsenyuk states, "The beds are ready and waiting." "And the men?" "Cold blooded, and in position." "Excellent," Poroshenko sighs, relieved. "The rest of you, brace yourselves for the coming storm. Karpenko, I need you in Poltava, with the first regiment. Wait for my signal. Suprun, Donetsk. Melnyk, Mykolaiv. Volodymyr, I need you in the bunker. When the Russian assassins come, and they will, I need you alive to keep our government running. Samshur!" "Yes sir?", responds Ambassador Oleh Samshur, stiffly. "In one hour, you're catching a plane back to Paris, with this letter." "Yes sir!", Samshur repeats. "And Oleh...", Poroshenko pauses. "What is it?" "Whatever they want... If they request 100,000 men, promise them 100,000 men. If they demand the moon, give them the moon. I want you on your knees, if it suits them! Do I make myself clear?", Poroshenko hisses. "Perfectly... sir." "Finally, the rest of you!", Poroshenko booms, "I need you in Donetsk. You'll find a full Ukrainian military occupation within a week of your arrival. The Russians have been aiding terrorists within our boarders, and we can't abide any longer. If suspects are found to own a Russian flag, if they sympathize with Russian intentions, if they've immigrated within the last five years, I want them captured and interrogated. If we find anything that ties them to the Kremlin, or to the terrorists, imprison them! We have no time left for mercy. Do I make myself clear?" "Sir!", Melnyk speaks up, "The Ukrainian people won't tolerate such a show of totalitarianism!" "You underestimate the pride of this republic!", Yatsenyuk jumps in, "We're making contact with every news outlet in the country as we speak. We're entering a national state of high alert. We shall no longer refer to the terrorists as anarchists within our boarders. Does the west speak of it's conflict with ISIS as simple suppression of local radicals? NO! IT'S A WAR! From this point on, we are at war with Luhansk and Donetsk. These are heartless monsters, who murder innocent civilians. It shouldn't be hard to convince the Ukrainian people that enough lives have been lost already. As bombs fall on ISIS, so shall bullets rain on the LPR and DPR." "Of course, within this larger picture, this is a necessary action.", Poroshenko continues, "The day is fast approaching, when we will need to hold the line against the imperial hordes. If there are already armed Russian forces on either side of the wall, before the siege has even begun, we've already lost. Once our country is secure from within, we can properly protect ourselves from the forces without. Now, time is moving quickly. This meeting is concluded. God protect you men. Now hurry!" [hider=To France] Dear Mister President, It is with the utmost gratitude, that I write this letter. On behalf of the Republic of Ukraine and her people, and with full consultation of our Prime Minister and Parliamentary Chairman, I graciously accept your support. The country is fully open to France's military, and the forces of any other UN country that, with your approval, agrees to protect Ukraine's independence. At such a time as you have confirmation, that another country is prepared to occupy Ukraine, please contact me personally, so that I may properly accommodate them. That said, it is the opinion of our government, having assessed the threats at hand, that 15,000 ground troops may not me enough of an initial force. We respectfully request the presence of French aircraft and ground vehicles. All French jets are free to land at, and reside within, Boryspil International Airport, Ukraine's largest airport. All necessary preparations are underway to accommodate. Likewise, artillery can be stationed in Lviv, until such a time that war is declared. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you must be made aware of how grim the situation has already become. By now I'm certain you're knowledgeable of Russia's plans to unite eastern powers, and enact force upon the West. What makes this situation far more dire, is the presence of LPR and DPR radicals within Ukraine's borders. These are violent, armed, pro-Russian insurgents that currently occupy Ukraine's eastern cities of Luhansk and Donetsk. Worse still, we have every reason to believe that the Kremlin is already providing support to these forces, in the form of weapons and even additional soldiers. We cannot secure a border against Russia when we have militant Russian forces already inside the country. Nonetheless, these are terrorists, and Russia will not be able to call our fight with them an act of aggression. In short, we require your compliance and aid as we pursue the most serious military action, to stamp out this insurgency. Regards, Petro Proshenko [/hider] [hider=To Russia] Mister Putin, I regret to inform you that the Ukrainian people find your offer distasteful and disrespectful. As such, we are unable to sign any such agreement or pact at this time. Our initial offer still stands, on the non-negotiable condition that you march the totality of your forces out of rightful Ukrainian territory, posthaste. Further still, we request that you cease your illegal aid of the terrorist groups known as the Luhansk People's Republic, and the Donetsk People's Republic. Once our intelligence agencies are confident that you are no longer aiding murderers that seek to overthrow our government, and throw our country into chaos, we will reconsider your offer of helping us neutralize terrorists. Given that Ukraine is one of Russia's main suppliers of food, iron, and oil, I would hope you'd be sensible enough to see the harm that would be done to your economy, were we to end all trade. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I warn you that further disrespect to the independence of our nation will be met with punishment. Regards, Petro Poroshenko [/hider] (Edits made to tone down the flavour text, please consider updated, calmer version, as of 12/15/2015)