Le Maréchal suggests only two of these projects can be pursued, while disappointing it isn't surprising considering what our glorious house has had to endure over the last few years.
It'll come as no surprise that I am here to stress the need for the Vandoeuvres colony to be reconstructed and for food production on other worlds within the Union to be ramped up. Planet Metz is struggling. While the mentions of famine were originally thought to be untrue, that was before the destruction of the colony. The populace of the planet has been under strict rationing laws for the better part of a year now and what little food we have coming in is proving to be completely inadequate for what we require.
There are those on the surface who are trying to incite some sort of uprising against the Union and myself, perhaps aided by the Maquisards who seem to frequent the system, I genuinely fear for our control over Metz should these malcontents be allowed to continue, should the Seigneurs and Le Maréchal continue to absolve themselves of the problems faced by the planet then we may have a runaway problem that we'll quickly lose control over.
My people can survive without the mirror array for a time - it is not as urgent as the need for food and oil.
Clack, clack, clack. The sound of a cane hitting the hard floor as it announced the arrival of Amiral Félix Léandre. A survivor of war, blinded in his right eye and suffering from a seemingly permanent limp. Félix made his way into the chamber to be seated in his designated chair. The Amiral firstly listened to the concerns of de Bersaillin and smiled as he believed he had just the right solution.
Honorable friends,
I for one agree with the need to increase the our food production to meet the needs of the Gallic people. Planet New Orleans is one such Eden that can feed the whole of Gallia!
Unfortunately, the wars both domestic and foreign have demanded much from the planet. Future farmers were taken from their fields to fill the ranks of the militaries of Gallia all the while the demand on Orleans for the food stuff and drinks it produces have only sky rocketed.
I am confident with further investment into agricultural production, and allowance of soldiers from Orleans to return home, that we can meet the current and future needs of Gallia.
Furthermore, I believe it goes without saying that we should seek to rebuild our military infrastructure to not only replace but reinforce our inventory since its depletion from the wars. The reconstruction of Fourchambault Shipyard should be one of our foremost priorities, although I am not against the conversion of Briancon Station. I have it in my understanding this station is important to the clean-up of debris left over from Kusari's incursion. I believe this station would then be unable to fulfill the immediate need of a conversion into a shipyard. Not to mention the security concerns with its location when considering the ability of a determined enemy.
A radiating aura with an inadequate level of smugness shamelessly made its home around Joseph-Ignace Florentin like an armed and unusually stylish group of squatters. He was the Seigneur of Provence, one of the poorest, most desolate and most miserable places in Gallia, yet he easily exuded more confidence than any of the present Seigneurs. He didn't know and he didn't care that this was irritating, and one would say that he carried himself like this just because he could. But one would be wrong. Mostly, it was wine. But deeper inside, it was a repression mechanism that defended Forentin's personality from the troubles of the difficult life he had been living, and low self-esteem.
Starvation ? Is that what Gallia has come to ? Madame de Barsaillin, I was wondering how a 37 year old lady could achieve such a lean figure, but I had no notion that it was this grim. Allow me, s'il vous plait, to claim that with some investment, the abundant oceans of Marseilles will make your subjects as plump as the grapes of Orleans ! And with some investment, my subjects will be able to buy the famed wine of Orleans. We have everything: our oceans are vast and full of fish, our fish are meaty and fat, our fishermen are eager and diligent -- if only they could afford boats and nets. If only we could afford to build factories so that we can process and preserve this fine meat, and export it. But as I see, francs from New Paris tend to avoid Marseilles like if it's some ocean whirlpool. Perhaps, if our police was paid better, corruption wouldn't take such a toll on every investment ?
Leclerc walked into the hall accompanied by his secretary, who was trying to keep Leclerc updated about main topics and concerns of this meeting. He noticed Florentin arrived as well in... Fashionable way. His mind tried to remain focused however, but his eyes had to check Florentin now and then.
What an individual. Leclerc approached his seat, fortunately not even close to Florentin and carefully took a seat, still focused, however he couldn't help himself not to check on the present and exclusive members of the chamber. What a weird team so far... This is the team Leclerc has to work with... For better Gallia. May the God help us all.
Honorable colleagues,
I also believe our food production should be increased as soon as possible, satisfied people mean one less problem to worry about, oui? We have to prove we are much better than Confederacy et this is perfect opportunity to prove it.
Personally I'd prefer to select construction of Border fortresses in Languedoc, Lorraine et on Rheinland front. With Sirius in possession of grudge against our mighty house we may need to set up defense perimeter, in case someone would love to pretend to be a hero et take a revenge on us. More so it'd give our people feeling of safety et it brings me to my previous statement. Satisfied people are one less problem to worry about.
We aren't in need of Forchaumbalt replacement at the moment because we possess more production facilities than Bretonia and Kusari combined. Sirius trade et Debris field, these issues are going to solve over time even without are immediate attention.
Listening intently to what his peers had to say, he would have visibly shook his head in disagreement to the comments made by Florentin. Although his eccentrism was out of place in the chamber, Félix had become accustomed to those like Florentin from his experiences as a younger man on Orleans. Regardless he opposed his peers wishes to expand the food industry on Marseilles as he spoke almost brashly...
While I am sure the people of Orleans would be happy to need to compete with the fishermen of Marseilles. I cannot help but wonder just how much of it will reach the people of the planet rather than the Corse. It was somewhat of an open secret that those gangsters muscled their way into controlling the planet during the brief confederacy regime.
I think our peers would rightly see that investment into Orleans, and the return of soldiers specifically from our emerald gem of Gallia would be more prudent of an investment.
In contrast to his tone in speaking to Florentin, the matter of defence of the realm was one which he tried to no involve politics. Still he took a firm tone as he spoke on the matters of mobility versus stationary.
We would be better served by boosting our inventory of military ships to act as our defences rather than the construction of border fortresses. While I could be persuaded to see the use in such stations, I feel the need for the Union is to rebuild our lost strength and then capatalise on our military production capacity to ensure we will not be threatened again.
Eleónore would sigh heavily, shaking her head as Felix fired potshots toward Joseph. She'd stand up from her seat and throw her hands into the air before raising her voice.
Is this really the time to be arguing about who is the best to provide food? I don't care where it comes from, the people on Metz are starving and are likely on the verge of a full on revolution! I'll end up eating scraps with the rats at this rate!
She'd sit herself back down, grasping the glass of whiskey she had sitting on a small table next to her seat, proceeding to drink from it. She'd cast a glance around the hall and compose herself once more.
I'm in agreement with Felix regarding our other option. Ships. We need them. Many of our ships are former Council vessels which are simply not up to standard, my own flagship among them. We can look at more permenant options when things are much less dire.
With respect to Monsieur Léandre, I understand that Monsieur Léandre's heroism in battle may have made it difficult for him to adopt more than one point of view, but should it not be visible to the more foresightful of us that it would be best for Metz, and for our dear Madame de Bersaillin, that food is obtained not from one, but from two sources ?
Leclerc was carefully observing the situation between present Seigneurs. He was mostly impressed by a little skirmish and "show off" between Léandré and Florentin. To his surprise Leclerc didn't expect such kind of performance made by Eleónore, but he remained calm anyway.
Just don't forget there are needed constant food supplies to other corners of Gallia, colleagues. Just a remarkable note while you fight about supplies for Metz, make sure we don't sacrifice already established supply lines, will you?
Mobile assets, it's not that long since this tactic has proven to be far from excellent. Kusari steam rolled both Lorraine and Languedoc before our mobile assets could even regroup... Calling battlegroup from Zurich to Languedoc? Definitely worth it.
Defense perimeter bases will be able to hold invaders for some time, while our mobile assets regroup and prepare for strike. Take Gap as one of the examples in the Council offensive. Doesn't it make more sense than building yet another shipyard to our already big collection of these?
Eleónore casts a glance over to Joseph and nods her head in agreement, before throwing a dagger-like glare toward Felix.
I am sure we can agree that the food can come from both locations, that way neither planet will suddenly find itself with a shortage either. It makes far more logistical sense, although I can see us having to pay off the Corse to not hold up our transports at the gate. This however should be irrelevant - Gallic lives are at stake and if we want to prove that the Union is an insitution to last the test of time, this is our opportunity.
Stares intently at Eleónore, his scarred face and blinded eye making his visage seem much more menacing that he likely intends it to be. After she had finished speaking, he would sigh. Taking the opportunity to speak up before anyone else could.
I suppose... Treading the same path as the Confederacy will only make us as impotent and detested by the Union's citizens as they were. Orleanais is willing to concede to a shared investment plan with Provence. Assuming our honourable friend from Marseille finds this agreeable?