"Three and a half million? I call bullshit." Minister Gishath tapped his knuckles on the table, his face a mask of scoff at the newspapers arrayed before the cabinet. "Call bullshit," Defence Minister Nezahl said, lighting a cigar before taking a puff. "Go ahead. If I hadn't been to Acrad myself, I'd say they're inflating the numbers for shock value as well. But you haven't seen how tightly Acrad packs their cities. And unless they're sitting on stocks of rifles, uniforms, fuel and food, that army is going to be as effective as a horde of [i]futball[/i] hooligans. Destructive, but not about to destroy an armored division. Hastur will be in real danger of running out of bullets within a week when that peasant horde goes to war. We can expect orders for everything an army needs to operate in the field within the week- [i]from both sides[/i]." Prime Minister Tishana continued to glare at the papers- Hasturi propaganda, Acrad Corporate Rags, and Verdasou financial press. Along with a half dozen government reports in various states of mess across the Minister's Dining Hall. It was a working lunch without the lunch, and she was glad that the sky was overcast outside the windows of the Minister's Residence, else she could expect another tension headache. "Three and a half million- even armed with nothing but sticks, batons, and pistols- is still nothing to sneeze at. I expected more time to find a way out of this mess. Hastur wanted our backing for a peace conference and they put a gun to our head to get it. Now we have general mobilization and our two largest markets are shooting at one another. We have a full-fledged depression on the horizon now and no markets to recoup any losses." "Not necessarily," Gishath said, his jowls jiggling as his jaw twisted into a cheshire smile. "I had a letter forwarded to me from a friend of mine, Laquarius. Elyr is an untapped market in far south Karakus. They're friends of Acrad but within Hastur's diplomatic orbit, traditionally, and Queen Bree is not too happy about being dragged to war. But if she breaks from Hastur or Acrad, they'll need a new food supplier. "We're a bit stretched at the moment. But if we enforce neutrality and cut ties to Hastur, Elyr would allow the ranchers to recoup some losses. Plus I've received confirmation that several more of the abandoned ranches have been reclaimed from the Overgrowth and will be operating in time for the next harvest. Elyr doesn't have money in spades, but international trade must continue. Especially if we cut ties to Hastur and keep our contracts with Acrad." Nezahl damn near ate his cigar when the Minister of Agriculture suggested continuing to supply Acrad. "Gishath, I can't send our ships into an active war zone! Once the Acrad and Hasturi ships start trading broadsides, all it'll take is one shooting incident to try and drag us into the war on a favorable side. Not to mention the Coral Market will go into a tailspin when the insurance premiums for convoys spikes." "Nezahl, if we default on our current trade agreements we'll have the RWP clawing their way to parliament when the depression spikes- this is the only way to keep credit flowing and maybe, [i]maybe[/i] go to recession levels instead. If we can start selling warship hulls to Acrad to supplement our income-" Tishana had heard enough of [i]that[/i] talk. "No, Gishath. Nezahl is right. There's a declaration of war, that means the danger of us getting dragged in has become too great to keep going about our business. I want the Harbormaster to begin an impound process- no shipments are going to Acrad or Hastur from our ports. We'll fulfill the contracts, but if they want their supplies, [i]they'll[/i] come to [i]us[/i]. Dock in port, the teamsters will load the vessels, and send them on their way. If Acrad can neutralize the Hasturi fleet, it'll go a long way to restoring the old trade terms. Now, as for Elyr..." [center]- - - - -[/center] [@Roby6Com] [hider=Telegraph to the office of Ada Zoux, from Foreign Minister Vona, 8:49 PM Acradian Time] Minister Zoux, Message received re Dresdal and A.S.S. Seven Dresdal ships are currently impounded for "inspection", three expected back to port by month end. The remaining seven still at large. Acradian intercept, jailing for "piracy" will be protested but not opposed so long as crews treated well. No ships should be armed, if are, they are in violation of Verdasou laws. Navy has serious concerns with shipping freight into Verronto Sea. Until Hasturi fleet neutralized, Acradian orders will await pickup by Acradian ships at docks of Verdasou. - Foreign Minister Vona [/hider] [center]- - - - -[/center] [@Blenheim] Laquarian's initial response to Queen Bree II was brief, a very diplomatic and wordy note that could simply be read as "Let me call some people, don't go anywhere!" For about two days after it was dispatched via cable, that was the end of it. The wheels of internal bureaucracy were spinning across the sea, even as the papers were being filled with more and more fanciful stories of mass mobilization and border skirmished between Acrad and Hastur. The Queen's private telegraph sprang to life at roughly 4:40 AM Elyrian time on the third day, the palace staff hurriedly translating what came through. [hider=Your Majesty Queen Bree,] Word has reached us of the troubles across the sea. Your plight is difficult one, not impossible to resolve. Hasturi water now too dangerous to reach without risking incidents. Elyr looks more favorable for trade Cartels on Coral Exchange. Beef, corn, coffee, sugar and rice can be shipped in limited quantities immediately. Fourfold increase by this time next year. We will require monetary payment or trade in arms or manufactured goods from Your Majesty's Government, along with an unorthodox favor. Hastur has privately threatened to release gold reserves onto the international market as a way of forcing to favor their position in the conflict and establishing a war chest to continue war. Should they carry out this threat will carry dire ramifications for international trade market, already on shaky ground after the Age of Ice and Ash. Utmost importance, should Hastur pull trigger, Elyr should buy gold entirely and transfer to a vessel flying our flag. Would not be too disruptive for Elyr to keep one-tenth so long as was stored in currency reserves to strengthen Elyrian bank notes. Will reimburse for whole of purchase. This plan cannot be communicated in public or private until gold is safely in our hands. Should you consent, Laquarian will be dispatched on next ship to Elyr and will act as Ambassador within local branch of Glass Bank. - Foreign Minister Vona [/hider]