Perhaps your memory has already began to fail you, Monsieur Steiner. - Pierre replied - Quite surprising at your age, but let me remind you that we aren't the Gallic Royals, we are those, who have fought them, often alongside your own, although for a few decades longer. Whatever they've done is the responsibility and the burden of the Enclave now. If there's anything about the document causing apprehension, it's the lack of quality and organisation, but I'm willing to help you out on those, should you require. - he finished with a brief sneer before turning to the Maltese.
A mere oral, non-binding gentleman's agreement doesn't sound like anything to be shy about, n'est pas, Consul Escudero ? Although they are rarely referred to as treaties either, but I digress. I do, however, remember the mention of a secret section, making me quite curious about it. The wars have ended, and we all are here now to discuss how to proceed within the region, so why don't you tell us a bit more about your earlier thoughts shared between Malta and Bretonia ? Perhaps we could find some useful, clever ideas among them, which we could solidify between ourselves in a more definitive manner than an oral agreement. Perhaps with an actual treaty. What do you think ? - even the mocked curiosity couldn't perfectly hide that the "useful" and "clever" parts were sarcasm, as he did rarely expect such from outcasts. It wasn't displayed, but it is still obvious to those, who are familiar with the relations of The Council towards Malta, and at least suspected by those, who are familiar with the general attitude of a gaul.
Escudero was calm as always and with a grin stood up and in a polite manner typical for him addressed the Councilard:
"You see, esteemed Gallic representative, whether you fought the Royalists or not, you are still a Gaul and Malta owes you no explanation as to our external political moves. Similarly, as you owe us no explanation to why planet New Paris is not subdued to someone who would have taken more drastic steps to prevent any further Gallic aggression. Our gentlemen's agreement with Bretonia is for Bretonian gentlemen only - should you want a Monseigneur agreement - we are all ears, but I believe in some privacy of bilateral relations, this is why they are bilateral per se. In addition, I would give you an advice of checking the news sources you are addressing: some opposition media can confuse you to an extend wherein you can cause some diplomatic fallouts out of a hoax."
Consul sat and continued:
"Gauls are here anyway to discuss Gallic stuff. I assume, we lived in Taus quite well before you arrived, and so we intend to do so. Taus are not yours de jure and the spoils of war in that region are to be adjudicated to the rightful owners as the result of this very conference, I surmise. Whatever the business of Maltese Hispania and Bretonian Crown in the Tau region is beyond your claims."
Consul Riley listened to the back and fourth between LaFlamme, Steiner, and Escudero. He found himself just as unconvinced by Consul Escudero's explanation of a verbal "gentlemen's agreement" as General LaFlamme, but his role as arbitrator prevented him from calling out the Maltese and Bretonian delegations over it. While the others were speaking, Riley jotted down a short note that said "What do we know about this secret treaty?" and slid it over to Commander Fairfax. Commander Fairfax quickly glanced over the note, before flipping it over and quickly scrawling across the back, "Little, will elaborate in private."
Riley read Fairfax's reply, then stood to address the delegates. It was getting late in the day, and he was starting to get a little tired. As a result, when he spoke, his accent slipped a little from the perfect Recieved Pronunciation he had been using and started to take on some of his native East End, betraying his working class origins to those with an ear for Bretonian accents.
"Gentlemen, I won't deny that the existence of a secret treaty between Malta and Bretonia could have an effect on our negotiations here, particularly to those of us who could potentially be caught in the middle, but we can't allow ourselves to be pulled off track." He glanced at the Bretonian and Maltese delegations. "We will return to this, but for now, we need to address the item currently on the agenda. Definition of what constitutes a war crime, and who tries those responsible for them?
Riley paused for a moment.
"If I may, I'd like to make a suggestion on the latter point. Rather than each nation doing it individually, I suggest a tribunal composed of judges from each nation involved be given the authority to handle these matters. This way, everyone's interests are represented, and nobody can claim a failure of due process. Your thoughts, gentlemen?"
Riley sat back down and waited for the next delegation to speak.
The woman seated beside Morales, who had thus far had been leaned back in her seat, silent, and occasionally scribbling down notes, took the pause to rise, leaning against the conference table and glancing around the congregation.
"Representatives. I am Guildswoman Elke Schneider."
She looks over to the former Conseiller, now turned statesman-proper.
"General LaFlamme, it's a pleasure to meet in person. If you recall, I was a representative in the teleconference you hosted when the conflict broke out. I hope that is no ill omen, because as I'm sure you remember that conference fell apart far too soon."
Sighing quietly, she turns her attention to the general assembly.
"I am in agreement with my colleague on most of these matters, but to my view, the conversation is getting sidetracked from the Guild's primary concern. The reason why we have sent a delegation is to come to a peace agreement with the Kingdom of Bretonia. The war is over, the motivation for the aggression the Guild has faced has been satisfied. Realistically, any other agreements on the post-war phase must begin with a peace treaty.
Though the negotiations on the future of the currently-divided former Kingdom of Gallia are no doubt important and will play a major role in the future, it is not our primary concern.
To be frank, I am not sure I would make any committed statements on the Guild's stance on the divided Kingdom - not to be cynical, but it does seem like those circumstances could change very rapidly in the near future."
Turning to the Crayter delegation, her voice becomes acrid.
As for the traitors of the Crayterian Republic, I imagine you will struggle to find any Guildmember that will ever consider a working relationship with these....people again in our lifetimes. Perhaps though we can still salvage some level of neutrality, if they cease their aggression. Though, we find it hard to believe that this is not a result of long-term plans started when the conflict did. We have serious doubts about the legitimacy of the official story of the 'rogue' Olympus battlegroup and your recent actions strongly suggest you have been planning to move against our Barrier and Tau holdings for some time. Fortunately, we have anticipated those actions as well."
She pauses briefly, giving the table a few pensive taps.
"Mr Steiner, Mr Redmond. It is you I am mainly addressing. If Bretonia is seeking peace with the Guild as we are, we would like to hear details."
Not having been able to help but chuckle at the Guildswoman's words towards the delegation, Admiral Townley was awoken by a ping on the datapad she was carrying, she looked down at it, reading the message not being able to hold back a smirk on her lips. She looked around the room and then stood up, clearing her throat before she turned to the Guilds delegation her voice calm, collected.
"Guildswoman, delegation.
I would like to remind you that our course of action in recent times has stemmed from the acting of the Guilds Leadership and may I point out that the guild has not even bothered to send a Guildmaster to our meeting here? I have only heard the voices of guildswomen."
She glanced around the room slowly at the other delegations.
"The guild speaks of creating peace with Bretonia, to perhaps create a neutrality with others. Yet I have just received reports of disturbing news while the guilds representatives sit here at this Conference."
She held up the datapad in her hand.
"It seems that our friends of the guild, whos delegates may or may not be informed about it, but as battle rages on in the system of Tau 37, the Guild has sided with Forces of the Enclave, someone whom we all condemed as Terrorists here at this conference. I ask the esteemed delegates of the Guild. Is this your thought of peace? Is this your though of condeming the Enclave for what they have done? Miss Morales spoke earlier of condeming the Enclave for their Crimes and bringing them to Justice. Is this Justice, esteemed delegates? Is it Justice for War Crimes to be siding along these terrorists as the Guild has today?"
She set the datapad down on the table then, taking a deeper breath and looking around once more before she sat down.
John let out an audible sigh. He had hoped to let Steiner do the talking, and step in when military matters reared their head, but Steiner did not seem to have an answer for the Guild as to their request for peace negotiations, so John took to the floor in his stead.
"Guildswoman Elke Schneider, your Guild has caused us no small amount of trouble, and continues to do so to this day. We never wished to fight you, but through sheer force of stubbornness, some on our part too, we came to blows. After Aland fell to our forces, there were many times you could have stopped your aggression against us, but you sided with terrorists to blow up Cardiff, admittedly originally your own base, you have repeatedly attacked patrols within Omega-3, Dublin and so on. You have sided consistently with our foes at every opportunity. And now, you are bereft of support, losing Liberty as a compassionate party, and rejecting any normalization of relations with Crayter, and your only hope against us, Gallia, has gone home, save for the Enclave. If you want peace, you must stop working with our foes, and you must stop fighting our friends, at least, if you insist on fighting with them, the bare minimum condition for peace is your removal from Bretonia. Which is to say, Newcastle and Dublin." John took a moment to rub his eyelids, seemingly frustrated that he had to start a discussion with the IMG, when he was more concerned about securing the return of Bretonia citizens who are essentially indentured servants in Gallia.
"If you wish for me to be honest with you, the current mood of the Bretonian government is that we will extract a heavy price for peace. While Bretonia is not exactly in the best of conditions - a typically Bretonian understatement - we do not feel overly threatened by the IMG, such is your own situation. I am most concerned with making a reasonable Peace Settlement, our next topic I believe, with Gallia. Here is a strange idea, perhaps the Guild can convince Gallia to lobby for peace between the IMG and Bretonia as a concession from Bretonia to Gallia? I do not know what you will have to do for them in return, but you would stand a better chance if Gallia can secure peace for the IMG, and in exchange they can provide Bretonia with a concession in return. But that would require you to have some friends in Gallia, I wonder how likely that is?" John's suggestion was convoluted, but he felt it would buy him some time at least, and draw the IMGs attention to Gallia.
"As for the current discussion on war crimes, I fear we wont have enough time to cover this point in this conference, not without sacrificing the rest of the agenda. I feel we have got the ball rolling, so if all signing parties can agree that this can be taken up at a later date on a separate occasion between signing parties, we can move on to the next topic." Johh could probably have done a better job at hiding his desire to move the conference onward, to the end, quickly.
Schneider, who had been staring bemusedly during Townley's brief interjection and intently, with furrowed brow, during Redmond's, rose again to speak.
"Representatives. I am sure it will need no further explanation that we are unwilling to discuss anything regarding our defenses with our enemies. Although, it reveals a deep callousness and cynicism that the Crayter delegation would even attempt to somehow formulate our ongoing struggle for survival in the Taus against the Outcast, one of the great enemies of humanity, and a struggle they shared with us and received great assistance for for many years, as something to turn against us."
She thumbs over her notes briefly.
"Mr Redmond, I am not quite sure what to make of your proposal. Now to us, vacating South Shields and towing out the Hood seems rather close to the worst-case scenario if we continue the conflict, and thus I am not sure any other guildmember could be convinced to accept such a deal. To put it bluntly, if you wish to remove those holdings anyway, we wouldn't really have anymore to lose to hold onto them by force.
But as for the second part of your statement, I am intrigued, and I must admit I am not sure I've understood you correctly. You wish for us to leverage a peace deal between the Guild and the Kingdom of Bretonia as a bargaining chip towards the Gallic Enclave, so they might more readily accommodate a peace deal overall?
It's an interesting plan, although I fear we may not have the leverage you expect. Despite what you might have heard, we have no ties beyond a mutual war against you.
I genuinely do not know if we could achieve anything to that effect, nor if the Guild would agree to it. I don't see how I could sell a peace deal to the Guild which involves relinquishing our remaining Bretonian holdings."
John saw the IMG representative misunderstanding his second point, and decided to make a quick clarification. "Representative, when I say Gallia, I mean the real Gallia, the one represented here today. There will be no peace settlement with the Gallic Enclave, the only thing I want from them is their heads in baskets. The real Gallia however, represented here today, has much Bretonia needs, and peace between Bretonia and IMG stands a better chance if the Gallic representatives here today feel an incentive to negotiate it on your behalf, you should keep this in mind when we get to that agenda item. Soon hopefully.
As for your reply to my first point, military realities of your situation inside Bretonia aside, my main focus was on continued cooperation with our enemies. I did not want to join the choir of voices now making accusations against you today in regards to the Tau-37 issue, but I too have received reports that your forces are working alongside the Enclave, a terrible mistake if you wish to have peace. And no, arguing that the Enclave just happened to be there at the time does not hold water, Enclave has no interests in Tau-37, which implies you are working with them, perhaps even so far as a nascent alliance of sorts. I don't need to remind you that these people are genocidal maniacs, right? I would even demand you shoot them on sight as another condition for peace" John tried to clear up the confusion as quickly as possible, as he noticed others were itching to speak.
Hold on for a second ! - Pierre quickly stood up as hell apparently was about to break loose. - Quite severe accusations are flying around related to an incident some of you seem to know more about than the others. Accusations, which if true, can put the IMG in likely the worst light possible, but I came here today to negotiate and I am not willing to abort that based on mere rumors. - he then turned towards the Crayterian delegate. - Fleet Admiral Townley, could you provide further explaination and details about this battle in Tau-37, as well as the circumstances of IMG associating themselves with the Enclave, possibly with evidence to support your claims, s'il vous plaît ?
D'Argenlieu let out a purposefully audible sigh. "IMG this, Crayter that... Truly, you've made the best and most stable friends during your tenure as hero of mankind, Laflamme. Look at us now, dealing with the galaxy's rabble like equals... he muttered bitterly, just loud enough for all to hear.
"Although I deeply share my esteemed colleague's curiosity about the trivial affairs of our equally esteemed Tau... Partners (he spat the word as he would have a particularly nasty phlegm),I should like to address Consul Riley's point about war crimes. We can come back to petty squabbling later. My government's stance on the matter is clear : justice will be rendered, as it must. There are inquiries going on as I speak, and they concern various members of the former Gallic government and military. There will be trials, many in absentia sadly, but trials still. Gallia herself will judge and condemn her war criminals. There will be no extradition, no barbarous public execution for all of Sirius to see. I assure you, however, that justice will be swift and severe... as is our way."
He threw a sideways glance at Nivaggioni, with somewhat hostile intent. The Corsican noticed and smiled, if slightly.
"The current Gallic authorities are keen on putting all of this behind us, my friends. While it is clear that we must handle our dirty laundry ourselves, you can count on us to cooperate with your various services in the pursuit of those criminals that are out of our reach currently, since the Royalist exodus to the Hébrides rid us of most of that lot. Gallia has just as much, if not more interest in putting an end to the Enclave and seeing them all pay for their actions. But when we do catch them, we demand that they be sent back to us for judgement, as they are first and foremost Gallic citizens and thus fall under Gallic law."
This seemed to meet d'Argenlieu's satisfaction, though he had one last thing in mind. "And what of all those nobles and military cadres with troubled consciences, that are known to have gone into hiding in your territory, Nivaggioni ?" he asked, pointedly.
"I'm investigating this... rumour" replied the Corsican, abruptly.
(06-14-2019, 12:25 PM)Sombra Hookier Wrote: If everyone was a bit more like Lanakov, the entire world would be more positive. Including pregnancy tests.