With both delegations gathered and the room secured, both members sat opposite one another in an uneasy atmosphere. It became clear that no one was willing to deliver an opening statement from the Coalition delegation, probably because they expected the Bretonians to do it, and the Bretonians weren't expecting the Coalition to even show up.
It became apparent to Weber that since he had a hand in organizing this meeting, it feel to him by default to deliver the opening statements.
Gentlemen, he began, Thank you all for coming. I need not explain to you what the purpose of this meeting is about but just so we are all on the same page, our business today is to discuss the relationship between the Kingdom of Bretonia and the Coalition revolutionary army. This will include discussing Economics, Military matters, Geography and of course intelligence. In order to keep this discussion as civil as possible, only one person may speak at a time, and that the respective topics be discussed by the appropriate people, for example, the representative from the Armed Forces will not lead discussions related to trade, although they are welcome to have input.
He paused to gather his thoughts, choosing his words as carefully as he could. We will also discuss the matter of this system in due course, for the time being however we should begin discussing military matters, since the war is still very much on, so..Mister Thomas Fraser, if you would. He said gesturing to the Bretonian Flag officer to continue.
Fraser stood up, looking around the table. Gentlemen and women, let me get straight to the point. The Kingdom intends to lay claim to the system of Omega 49 along with Planet Gran Canaria. Why invite you then you may wonder, considering that this system is as much in your sphere of influence as in ours. Well, the simple reason is that the Admiralty and I suppose the War Cabinet as well, do not want a war with the Coalition.
We have been reducing tensions and building a growing relation over the course of the last one or two years of the war without any real incidents. Therefore we decided to extend our hand for cooperation instead of senslessly sheding each others blood while our real enemies laugh at our incompetence.
To make this clear right from the start, we do not intend to drive everyone out of the system apart from us. Our main objective is annexing Gran Canaria, preferably with minimal violence. The War Cabinet will reach out to the Zoners within the near future to negotiate about a possible friendly takeover of the planet without derooting families and taking peoples belongings. But there is a matter that will most certainly not solve itself, namely the Corsairs. Both our nations know of their barbaric nature and their willingness to burn every hint of civilisation down for an easy profit. I suppose even in the best of cases not all of them will leave the planet on their own wich leaves us with the question how to treat them. The Admiralty proposes a rather conventional solution. Every Corsair who did not leave the planet will be considered a combatand and treated accordingly.
To sum it up. From a military perspective the prefered outcome for the Admiralty would be a takeover with no loss of life whatsoever, but more likely there will be fighting with Corsair settlers. We see no reason to kill Zoners if they do not decide to take up arms against us. We see no reason to fight your forces or those of the Hessians or Mollys for that matter, given this is a mutual interest. The Mollys have had to feel Gallias inhumanity by themselves recently, I can see no reason why we should reignite fighting with them even if the non agression pact is not signed yet.
The Armed Forces see no problem with your ships continuing to travel the system and refuel on Gran Canaria, should we come to an agreement. I personally would consider the desired result a more than zero sum game. We will gain ground for refugees to settle, you will not be bothered by Corsair activity in the system while retaining full access and maybe the future can bring our combined forces to bear down on the heart of their activity in our backyard, Cadiz.
As the head of the Military everyone looked to Keller to follow up what had just been announced by Fraser. And so he would, standing up and straightening himself out before beginning to calmly speak in response. "Herr Fraser. Battle-group Stirling's intrusion into Omega-49 is not only brazen, but it is greedy. We understand the threat of the Corsairs, we share that mutual enemy. But a fortified Bretonian presence in Omega-49 would be a major obstacle to the Coalition and by extension to the Triumvirate operating within the region. As much as it would be easy for me to take your side and evict the Corsair, I'm receiving a heavy amount of advice to not simply fall in line with your agendas."
He let that sink in, looking around the room and taking a clear glance at everyone's faces and making direct eye contact with everyone seated. After the pause was felt, he decided to continue. "Bretonia is desperate, I understand. It's only human that when faced with the near destruction of your Kingdom that you would do what you feel necessary to survive and prevent further damage. But the annexation of Omega-49 will inevitably cause us to butt heads. There's no guarantee that you wouldn't use this position to push into Omega-52, and furthermore a close ally of ours simply does not want us to honor this agreement and help you expand behind their flanks. Unless there were serious compromises and a guarantee of an equal stake in both the system and the Planet, then I cannot guarantee that we will see eye to eye, let alone move forward through this together. If we are to grow to tolerate one another, the system cannot simply become yours."
He was being very frank, he'd heard enough on the matter and from multiple perspectives to know that things were not going to be as simple as Fraser made it out to be. "There has to be a give and take. If this agreement is just going to work out to be mostly in Bretonia's favor by a vast majority, then it paints a very sorry picture for the status of the Coalition. Our People have needs as well, and among them is a good quality of life, peace and security. All of these would be in jeopardy were we to just blindly accommodate only your needs in the region. Resistance against the Stirling among the local populace is already mounting, I would encourage you to handle this situation with a fair hand and not one of greed, which the Stirling's current incursion fully embodies."
"Knowing Humanity - We will be duty, bloody and unavoidable."
After Keller finished speaking the table had apparently fallen in silence again, for a few moments. With the Field Marshal having spoken, Minister of Plenty holding back and the Bretonians seemingly finished for the moment, an opportunity came up for the Premier to speak.
"Mm. It's quite a delicate situation, one that is sure to have quite a lot of effect on the area, and not just our polities. Keeping up with all the factors has been quite the challenge, and I get the distinct feeling that the situation will be even more colorful before we reach a resolution here. "
The Premier took a moment to straighten out and get into a more suiting posture.
"My opinion of this is in line with my field marshal. The People's Republic has managed to keep its ideas for generations. I might sound slightly hypocritical in stating so, but I think it will get the point across. We aren't too used to breakage and we certainly don't intend on starting such a habit."
Taking an energizing breath he continued.
"That said. I think there is enough in an entire star system to satisfy immediate needs without excessive cost to the Coalition or Bretonia. The Corsairs, on the other hand, are the ones who need to be metaphorically extorted."
Having made his response to the presently standing points the Premier sat back, not wanting to expend too much enthusiasm in what was still just the opening phase of the negotiation.
The Director was quiet while he listened to the responses to the Coalition members, he was pleasantly surprised to find that, while they weren't happy with the situation, they were willing work it out. Something he did not expect the coalition members to be willing to even consider. Indeed, while they expressed their displeasure, they did so with such manners as to give the Director every reassurance that he had indeed picked the right side to do business with.
I agree with you gentlemen. The introduction of a battle group into this system has certainly caused some alarm on the planet's surface. However the Premier is also correct. There is plenty of system to go around for us. We appreciate your positions and have no intention of blocking you into your home territories, let that be made clear now. Furthermore, the Corsair population on the planet, as has been mentioned, is the greater concern. There are three key assurances I wish to bring up, first and foremost is the matter of your ships. They whole reason we sat down with the Coalition to begin with, was so that you would assist in the war against Gallia. Locking you into your Home system wouldn't do anyone any good so we have no intention of doing so. We are more than willing to allow your vessels to fly about this system as they do now, free from harassment. Secondly is of course the planet in and of itself, the population of Bretonia is, I presume, greater than that of the Coalition, with that said your people need to eat as well. Would you be willing to accept the current Corsair held farmlands on the planet as your own territory if the rest is placed under Bretonian Jurisdiction? And thirdly is the matter of trade. Omega-49's position makes it a gateway to not only your home system but also to the wider Omegas, I am no expert on the matter of trade but I would guess that this system could prove to be an extremely valuable trading hub to both of us if the Corsair and Zoner question was resolved. So gentlemen, how say you?
The Minister of Plenty had remained silent for the time, nodding in agreement but never speaking until it came to a topic where he specialized. He spoke, calmly
You are not incorrect Director, Omega-49 has for sometime been a sort of super-highway into the deeper Omegas. From the abhorrent Corsair Smugglers to the venture seeking miners looking for the next big field. There is a very good reason that the Zoners set up shop here and it wasn't just for privacy. The riches of Dublin trickle from there into the Omegas filling the coffers of the Zoners with credits inconceivable to the common man in Sirius.
He paused thinking for a moment. The Coalition has a vested interest in the farmlands of Canaria her bounty could feed Coalition mouths far better then any Solar Garden strapped to a station ever could. We must also not forget that Gran Canaria is one of the largest sources of Dueterium in Sirius which, with the recent loss of Birmingham at the hands of the Gallic Scourge, leaves Bretonia in dire straights for fuel for her military. How would its sourcing be dealt with? Administrated by the Crown no doubt, but would the Coalition be granted access? Lastly, I am doubtful that the crown won't implement its taxes upon the people of the planet, on the farmlands owned and operated by the Coalition what kind of bureaucracy should we anticipate from your side? I find it very hard to believe we will be granted full autonomy and privacy.
The Minister of Plenty had touched upon a very important subject, that being the matter of what Bureaucratic policy would fall upon the territory that the Coalition would be allowed to claim. This would greatly affect the Coaliton's freedom to Govern, Administer and most importantly Secure its claim upon the land which would perhaps soon be theirs. "To the Minister of Plenty's point, I will so frank as to say that the Coalition cannot and will not tolerate Bretonian bureaucracy applying over the land allotted to the Coalition. Our People would not stand for it and from a military stand-point it would be akin to shooting ourselves in the foot."
Polite but firm, there was no need for theatrics here, there rarely ever was. This was clear-cut politics, a methodical dance of a slow pace and more often than not one with high stakes and a variety of outcomes. There was a slight hint of frustration to his tone, but it didn't seem to be very obvious and it would most likely pass off as simply his general attitude. "The land you intend to hand to us, though a show of good faith, must be recognized as a sovereign planetary territory of the Sirius Coalition. In return, you must recognize our sovereignty over Omega-52. Your Libertonian benefactors might find this hard to swallow, but surely you'll be capable of navigating that fork in the road when you stumble upon it."
"Knowing Humanity - We will be duty, bloody and unavoidable."
The Premier didn't really show it, but the pills the Bretonians were serving to him and his men were quite well loaded with lead. It wasn't a pretty situation, but it was the reality of desperation and need. Likewise, he knew in his head that the Coalition's type was a quote-unquote "dangerous" sort of idealism, and that was true too, no matter how over or under the table they tried to play it, Bretonia was making a deal they didn't entirely like swallowing either.
Things were going to get drawn out over idealism and saving face and all that, it seemed. What both sides seemed to be quickly forgetting, in the Premier's eyes, was the swift pragmatism that had made the negotiation possible to begin with. His next words came to him in light of his mental considerations.
"Mmm... quite. If we are to reach paper with this, Bretonia will need to be willing to accede to the People of the Coalition the fundamental right to stake claim in these matters. Otherwise, I imagine we will be here for the next few years of our natural lives trying to come to terms, and, of course, neither you nor we really have that sort of time at our disposal. "
"That said, if there is a point of unanimity, again, it is the Corsairs. They must go, and so must their sympathizers. A fight, though, that we do not fight without recognition. The People's Republic will have its land, and the space required to access it. One, sovereign, and indivisible from New Moscow. I brook little more patience for negotiation on this point personally, it is doing neither of us favors going in circles."
"Either way, we will be better served getting up, looking over the paper now, and arguing over it in some comical Libertonian sit-com fashion, than putting this table between us."
A slight chuckle escaped the Premier's lips as he waited for the inevitable Bretonian rebuttal.
Gentlemen, please. When we say, you will be given certain assurances including a considerable portion of land, we mean it. We have no intention of putting it under our control and letting you settle there, but under our laws. It will be your land under your laws, a land border will obviously be established. But yes, we can recognize the territory given as sovereign, as well as your control over Omega-52. The corsairs are easy, we do not want there here anymore than you do, so let us work together to get rid of them.
"My point, we need to move on to action now. I think we both know what we're looking to achieve out of this arrangement, and the more time we spend, the more time our common adversary has to adapt to the shift in positioning. At least for now, we need to stop talking and get down to business. "
The Premier was getting quite impatient, and it started to show.
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