[color=003471][b]Santa Fe, President of the Confederation and Governor of New Houston Robert Harris[/b][/color]

[@Andronicus23][@Tiberius67]
"The state of affairs in the Key Republic is quite alarming to me", said Barnaky, "Especially as it appears to have been instigated by the Cult....it's my understanding that Suttbray is a open worshiper of the Cult's so-called "God". That, of course, means I am at war with him already, whether he is aware of that or not. I think you should know that a faction in this Insurrection, the 'Southern Liberal Concordat', is currently attempting to open diplomatic channels with me." Barnaky turned and gestured at Martin, who handed him a document from his briefcase. He then turned back to President Harris and handed it to him (OOC it is the text of Sault's offer), then continued. "They are offering me access to New Orleans and the Gulf, as well as a trade agreement, in exchange for weapons and support."

Harris shivered briefly and imperceptibly as the implications set in, and then he cursed himself. Texan intelligence hadn’t acted quickly enough to fully inform him of the situation in the Gulf, it seemed. He had felt the strange power of the Cult at the conference in New Vegas, so to hear it’s influence was that weighty so close to Texas deeply concerned him. And then there was the Sault’s offer to the Midwest. As much as he sat across from Barnaky diplomatically, they were not allies by any means. The Midwest was an old enemy that was only growing in power. Their influence in Nawlins had to be curtailed.

"While these are long standing strategic goals of mine", Barnaky continued, "I don't consider them worth the price of helping the Cult tear apart the Key Republic. It has also occurred to me that accepting this offer would contribute to the disintegration of a member of the 'Co-Prosperity Sphere', which would rightly earn the enmity of the other Nations in that Pact, as well as neutral powers such as the NCR." He nodded at General Garcia then continued, "That again would only benefit the Cult."

The Co-Prosperity Sphere as it was, which was not much. With the sudden political chaos in the Keynesian lands, Texan ambassadors had been frustrated in getting anything from the Keys about their plan. Though he knew a meeting with Bartholomew was happening soon. If it wasn’t him who was there, it would be one of his subordinates. The Texan intervention had to be coordinated.

"As this communication reached me on my way here, I have not had the opportunity to consult with Caesar about this matter yet," Barnaky said, "But my assessment is this. The Cult cannot be allowed to conquer or destroy the Key Republic, or to divide us on this issue. If the Key Republic falls into their hands, it's a direct threat to both my people and yours. To that end, I believe that all parties involved should decide on a joint course of action to put down this Insurrection and excise Cult influence from the Key Republic while it can still be saved. To that end", Barnaky continued, "I am prepared to assist in this endeavor. We've been monitoring the situation and I have a small but powerful force upriver at Vicksburg that is in position to lend direct aid, there are also other ways we can assist....I'm sure His Serenity still has loyal subjects in New Orleans willing to fight for him if provided with arms and leadership. The Concordat wants to purchase weapons and ammunition...but the River south of Memphis is a dangerous place and in spite of the unceasing efforts of my Fleet piracy does still happen in the lower River from time to time.     

"With that said", Barnaky said, "I want to make one thing perfectly clear. The only outcome of this Intervention acceptable to my Government is that the territory held by the rebels calling themselves the 'Southern Liberal Concordat' is returned to the jurisdiction of His Serenity as soon as practicable, once the rebellion is put down, of course."

Barnaky continued into his offer of support against the Keynesian rebels, framing the issue as one of a joint effort against the Cult and for the loyalists. His support of the Bartholomew’s government was curious, but he suspected the Midwest wanted to advance into the Gulf with informal trade, or was perhaps hoping for a stronger bargaining position once his stormtroopers were marching in the streets of Nawlins. “I concur with your goal of reestablishing the legitimate authority of His Serenity in Nawlins and his rebels. The Confederate Texan Army is preparing on the western border of the Concordat. As you probably know, Texan formal influence is already moderate in western Louisiana, with Texan settlements spreading along I-10 and spilling over from the nearby Houston. Motorized troops can reach Nawlins in only a few hours. And securing the sovereignty of the Most Serene Keynesian Republic is our paramount geopolitical interest. I have Texan Intelligence pursuing any leads of exploitable dissent in Nawlins while the army is mustering. Military aid would be appreciated in the coming battle.” He paused briefly, wetting the drawn flesh of his mouth’s interior. “As for this Cult’s influence in the war, you believe they are sending troops to this Suttbray? I remember him briefly from the prior Conference. If he is spreading the influence of the Cult in Florida, he should be stopped as well. I would like to hear your intelligence on the wider Cult and your war with it. We’ve received a spattering of refugees and conflicting reports from the north.”

"I would also like to request at this time, Mr President", Barnaky said, "Your aid in securing a audience between Brother Martin or I and His Serenity, to discuss how we might be of assistance to him in this dark hour, and the future of our relations as well. While we may disagree on several issues, many of which admittedly stem from the form of Government events forced me to Institute in my lands, there is no reason we cannot live in peace with each other." 

“Yes, I believe The Free Confederation of Texan States and the Midwestern Brotherhood can ultimately cooperate in trade and dealing with these threats to the stability of America. I was also in the process of organizing a meeting with His Serenity, though it will probably fall to Governor Riviera to meet with you as my schedule is becoming full. Either of you could join, and we can discuss the means by which this will be carried out later. We should also try to establish a reliable means of coordination and communication, as we cannot afford to have a conference like this everytime we need to coordinate.”

“If it would please your eminences Caesar and Barnaky", Gladstone said, "Might I have permission to withdraw with your aides for deliberations over when and where the Western Brotherhood’s military forces will enter the fray against the cult?”

So the Brotherhood is united on the issue of fighting the Cult? He found that interesting. They must be a truly severe threat. Histories of the Brotherhood had been procured in the New Austin archives and they often showed the Brotherhood typically only mustered against existential threats to humanity. Though the Midwestern Brotherhood was certain proof of change, with their organization of a nation. Then Caesar spoke up as Barnaky sent away a representative to speak to Gladstone.

“I sympathize with the Ruler in the South who fights these cultists….I’ve not had the chance to speak with Bartholomew myself, but rumours of his reputation proceeds him. However, I am concerned with over-extension of our forces. More than 20,000 sons of mars are now deployed to the east with my finest commander at their head. And if the information coming back to us from the front is true, the Warmaster is on the move. The actions of the Cult in stirring up disorder in the Keys via this ‘Suttbray’ could very well be a ploy to draw more men away that could be sent against them. Blood that is needed east will be sent south, its an old tactic, but not without merit does a stratagem become such.”

“It seems the Cult has connections across Eastern America”, Harris mused. “They seem to spill over into any opportunity for increased influence like a mold finding food scraps.”

Lucius nodded then continued. “I agree that allowing the Cult and the rebels to tear apart the Keys, or any stable nation neutral to these affairs, is not desirable,” Lucius continued, “But our focus must be kept to the east. I am willing to send a small force to help intervene in these Southern troubles and aid his Serenity in securing his position, but we should not distract ourselves. If the Keys fall, it is unfortunate, but should we burn Pittsburgh to the ground...and if we can silence The Cult forever by sticking the head of their blind prophet on a stake and raising their ‘Monolith’ to rubble….then it is a trade worth making.  That is our true objective, and I wish to ensure we do not lose sight of it. That would be all I have to say on the matter.”

Harris was silent for a moment, calculating the matter in his head. He was rapidly realizing that this Cult that had once been an ominous oddity was the existential threat to humanity the Brotherhood and Legion pegged it as. If the Legion was willing to cross half the country to fight the Cult, then what should Texas do? If they occupied Florida, it wouldn’t be long before the Cult became dangerously close to Texas. He had felt a twinge of what the Cult could do in New Vegas. What if they used their strange power on New Houston’s ghoul population? The city would burn. He had to do something. Though it wouldn’t earn him many friends back home, he would have to send a force to help. It might only be him who knew it for now, but facing this Cult would be a part of the legacy he left behind to Texas. “Your small force is welcome, Caesar.” He pronounced it as was proper in the Legion. “I would also like to send a small expeditionary force to aid in your efforts to the north. A detachment of Texas Rangers and elite infantry seem appropriate to me, but what is it the war effort is in most need of? Though I can only do so much now. Texas is sleeping right now and many in Congress and in the major cities would oppose sending a large force that far north.”