Ch 26.
The caviar and vodka where exquisite, as was the fish and meat served by the various Russian politicians, oligarchs and Lord Michael and his allies as Lellouch, Kallen, Shirley, Suzaku and Jeremiah where on the opposite side of the table away from them.
"You...desire an...accord with the Republic?" Lellouch said, carefully masking his reaction.
"Yes your majesty. The current state of affairs is abysmal for both our nations. The most prosperous period our country went trough was when we formed Euro-Britannia. The vassalage tax was much lower than what the EU asks and you kept your nose out of our business." Vladimir, the leader of the Russian oligarchs said.
"I was under the impression that the Empire had assigned Governors to dominate this region." Lellouch said and looked towards Michael.
"I held the title. But we decided to govern this country by comity and vote with the other local leaders." Micheal said and he received nods of approval from the before mentioned leaders.
"I see. We will draft a proposal and hash it out tomorrow. Gentleman, we will now retire in order to work on it." Lellouch said and after an exchange of pleasantries they left for their quarters.
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"This is a disaster in the making!" Suzaku was the first to say it out loud after Jeremiah did a sweep to make sure that the room was bug free. For although Suzaku was the least politically capable of them, the sheer magnitude of this potential catastrophe was so grand that even he could see it clear as day.
"With South America having established semi- official alliance ties with us thanks to Euphemia's efforts, the EU and the Chinese will not stand by idle and let us forge a close alliance with Russia. There will be retaliation." Kallen said.
"Maybe we can get Todoh-san to help us. The power shift has already started in Japan!" Suzaku said hopefully. As Lellouch paced the floor back and forth, running over hundreds of scenarios in his head.
"That will take to long. And even so, Todoh will try and sit this one out. He's that kind of man. This could not have come at a worse economy is still recovering, the army and navy is still reforging itself. We have no stockpiles of munitions or fuels big enough for a conflict of this size. And the Titans are still at least 6 months away from completion. Not to mention if the relationship sowers we'll be left with incomplete Titans that we can't finish, let alone crew or use." Jeremiah said in half despair and he opened and closed his fist in anger.
"And the people will not support such a move. The scars of the Great War are still fresh, electoral victory or not. We won't survive next year...yare, yare...What a way to spend the holidays." Lellouch said in a half chuckle as he stopped pacing and sat down.
"It's obvious that we can't join forces with them, but if we refuse then that might make us seem weak in the eyes of the world. Also Russia might throw their lot back with the EU or China and march against us as a reprisal for us rejecting them." Kallen said and Lellouch gave a nod of approval, she was coming along very nicely with her political mindset.
At the way things where going Lellouch was certain that after his second term is done he could retire from politics and pass the reign to Kallen. At least that's what he thought anyway, genius that he was.
"Looks like there's only one last option for us."
"What's that?" Suzaku asked.
"Gamble, and we do it with loaded dice. The Indians are also causing trouble for the Chinese, and there's the usual tension amongst the EU nations. So here's what we are going to do. We'll give terms that we'll only agree to a deal if the Russians get China on board, along with at least half of the EU." Lellouch replied.
"Is that feasible?" Kallen asked.
"Feasible no. Possible yes. There's bound to be plenty of states that are disillusioned with the EU. If we kick up the hornets nest enough, then we can use that to negotiate with both the EU and China enough to placate the Russians and prevent this whole powder keg from blowing us all up." Lellouch replied.
"We should focus on Germany and the African countries. They are the ones with the most 'neutral' relationship with Brussels. As for India, might I suggest we hold a friendly game of Senshado between the Republican Team and the Indian team." Jeremiah suggested.
It was an old trick to get leaders to meet face to face without the need for a big conference or international visit event.
"Invite the Russian team and the Japanese team as well. That should send a message to Beijing and Brussels. But let's do a bit more brainstorming, we have to make this thing as big of a chaotic show as possible. What's the easiest way to spread chaos in government I ask you? The answer: a referendum! We'll stipulate that every country that wants to join us must hold a referendum. That will prolong the proceedings and give us even more leverage to negotiate." Lelouch replied.
"And it will also drain the EU and China of resources and spy personal as they will use them to make sure the results of the referendum does not go in out favor." Kallen added and once more Lellouch smiled that his main protege had learned his lessons so well.
"Perfect. Let's retire for the night. We have a busy day ahead of planning a political movement that must intentionally crash and burn." Lelouch said with delight as he made his way to his room. Once there he crawled into bed, only to jump off it and pull out a gun at the body that he felt was in his bed.
Turning on the lights he saw that it was that green haired witch lying on the mattress, eating pizza.
"What are you doing here, how did you get in? Why are you wearing my shirt?" Lellouch asked in outrage.
"This is a man's shirt? I thought it was a womans?" The green haired witch said teasingly.
At that Lellouch felt his blood boil. "Mental note; get new outfit." Lellouch muttered to himself as he holstered his gun and went to take a shower.
He was naked and stepping into the shower when Kallen came into the bathroom with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.
"Who is that?"
"A crazy woman who somehow outsmarted the KGB and is lying in my shirt, on my bed."
"And why is she there?"
"Because she's a new ally that's to dangerous to be left unchecked." Lellouch said as a matter of fact, that calmed Kallen down a bit. She believed him when Lellouch said that he was interested in her for power's sake and nothing else.
"She's very pretty." Kallen said to him.
"So are snakes, but their bite sends you into agony. And that woman...I barely know her and I'm already stocking up on aspirins and anti-acids." Lellouch said and started showering.
He noticed that Kallen left after that. He was glad for the few minutes of quiet that he now had. His life as a politician was an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
When he was done, all he wanted was some peace and quiet, and what he got was a face full of carpet as he tripped on something as he was leaving the bathroom.
Looking at the incriminating object Lelouch saw that it was a pile of Kallen's clothes. He followed the trail of them and saw that they lead to the bed where Kallen and C.C where now covered with the blankets and probably naked under neath.
"What's going on?"
"I am establishing friendly relationships with another potential power broker, and avoiding conflict." Kallen replied with a red face.
"Sure you are. This is all for politics sake. Nothing for your own 'pleasure'" C.C whispered in Kallen's ear, making her blush intensify.
"This was not what I had in mind when I tutored her on 'aggressive negotiations' " Lellouch said as he starred dumbfounded at the sight in his bed. He didn't know what protocol demanded of him, but not being crazy enough to repute the open invitation of a warrior queen and a witch he decided to join them in bed.
Needless to say he was very tired and sore the next day, he just knew Nunnally would be mad at him for some reason now.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After another week in Russia, during which the chaos from what was no doubt Lellouch's blond hidden rival subdued itself, the final draft of the treaty was made public.
"The Commonwealth, I must admit that I thought the LSD name for the party was your craziest idea. But this...oh this is crazy.
1-A nation that any country can come and join for a period of 5 years by popular referendum.
2- It's chairman elected by direct vote by it's candidates.
3-No border taxes and open market for it's members.
4-Members will by default give economic aide to other members.
Lellouch, I have never seen a bill like this designed to fail so spectacularly."
Rivals said with a grin as the two where enjoying some leisure time.
Namely Lellouch was playing chess against 49 other skilled opponents that where all from various parts of the military, the LSD, Lloyd's lab personal, and a few nobles, former numbers and commoners that agree to play against Lellouch.
It was a classic circle of tables with one chess set on each of them. Lellouch was playing black while his opponents where all white and for now Lellouch was winning each match.
"Quite so Rivals. And when this farce is over, and we properly negotiate with the EU and China, we can celebrate with a game of Senshado." Lelouch said with a grin as just then Shirley came running to him with a note.
A note what upon reading it, made Lellouch's face contort with disbelief on his features.
"The...the...the referendum passed...They...they are all joining. Algiers, Morroco, Egypt, all of the African ...Germany has declared
...the Russian and Indian people are declaring for the Commonwealth!"
Lellouch read the notice outright.
"It's not just that! Europe, Australia, New Zealand and even China they...they've all holding referendums! The whole world except for Switzerland is joining the Commonwealth!" Shirley said in a panic.
"B...but...Why! They hate us! They went to war with...us..."Rivals said, flabbergasted at this development.
"They are bankrupt from the recession, and we are the only country that was money now from the Titans and the Kyoto Conference." Lelouch said as he ripped up the paper and then walked all across the circle and made a two move checkmate on each player.
"Gather everyone now! This is a national emergency! Send the word out that it's all hands on deck. All official and unofficial money sources are a go. All agents are to be activated. I want bribes, blackmails, brown-beats on every potential ally, neutral and foe. In short we must do everything we can to make sure that I do not win this election and become the legitimate leader of the world, all the while making it look like I am trying to do that so as to not lose face!" Lelouch said angrily as he made his way towards his main conference room.
This was proving to be a very, very interesting December.
xxxxxx
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