Parpaldia Empire, Imperial capital Esthirant
Third Foreign Affairs Office
"I need to see the department head!" said Ambassador Sergiy Kravchenko, "There is a very serious matter!"
"Shut up you insolent barbarian! How dare you speak in such a manner to us! An urgent matter has come up recently and we are very busy and will not be meeting with any uncivilized country!" yelled the clerk. "Besides, I thought you had left after we hurt your country's 'pride' ?" she snarked.
"Your 'oversight fleet' attacked our navy's ship while we were at Fenn. Naturally, we fought back but refrained from killing your sailors since it seems your original target wasn't us."
"I see, that is a very serious matter. Wait here. I will go see if the head is available.
Shortly after, the clerk came back.
"Follow me. I will take you to Department Head Kaios. Try not to cause a disturbance."
They went through several hallways before stopping at a gilded door. The clerk knocked.
"You may enter," came a voice from within.
Kravchenko and his assistant followed the clerk inside, then introduced themselves. "My name is Sergiy Kravchenko, I am an ambassador from the Unified States of Eastern Eurasia. This is my assistant, Vadik Ignatiev." He walked forward to shake Kaios's hand but was stopped by the clerk.
Kaios spoke. "It's fine." The men shook hands.
Another man spoke. "Please, take a seat."
Kind of feels like an interview… Kravchenko thought.
These people were all representing the Parpaldia Empire. All of them had a position of authority regarding foreign affairs. The men recited their positions.
- Third Foreign Affairs Department Head
- Chief of Eastern Affairs
- Manager of the Eastern Islands
- Assistant Manager of the Northeastern Islands
- Head of the Island Groups
Kaios asked, "So you are the infamous…Useans? Yes, I think that is the term you use to reference yourselves. What is your purpose for coming here?"
"Yes, I believe you are already aware of the case with your oversight fleet. We intend to discuss the return of your unharmed troops and clear up the misunderstanding."
The Manager of the Eastern Islands stood up. "You dare speak like that to us?! You attacked our oversight army unprovoked and call it a misunderstanding?! Don't think you will be forgiven for that!"
The manager spoke to the Usean envoys the same way he would speak to any other uncivilized country. Kravchenko did not back down.
"No, it was your troops that fired on us first. We only fought back in self-defense. We have proof if you would like to see it."
The manager's eyes bulged, his face turning red with rage. Kaios stopped him and motioned for him to sit down.
"I see…you wish to clear up the matter…" Kaios thought for a moment. "Well, none of us really know about your Usea. We would like to learn more about your nation and whether or not you deserve to be associated with us.
"We have materials for you to read about our country, as well as pictures." Ignatiev passed out the papers. The Parpaldians looked through curiously.
"Wh…..a…at?"
The Chief of Eastern Affairs looked up. Usea's lands were huge, covering an entire continent in the east, 17.9 million square miles in size. Their population was quite large, at 271 million. The most surprising thing was that there was a massive continent just over two thousand kilometers east and it was never found. It was also quite shocking that such a population, nearly 4 times the empire's population of 70 million, had grown without being noticed. He read some more.
"They're from another world?!"
They claimed that a few months before the war between the Rodenius nations, the nation of Usea was transported to this world from another. If that were true, then it would make sense how such a continent had gone unnoticed. But aside from the ancient sorcerous empire's disappearance and Mu's claims, there were no other countries being transported. So as far as the Third Foreign Affairs Department was concerned, it was, simply put, bullshit.
"Ridiculous! Do you think we are fools?" The officials collectively shouted.
"We are not clear on our transference yet. However, if you do not believe us, you are free to send an envoy to see for themselves that we are not lying."
The materials did not include any detailed information about their absolute technological superiority, since it wasn't going to be believed anyways. It only contained some basic information like population, location, land size, culture, etc to spark curiosity. It was assumed to be better that the empire learn the details from one of their own ambassadors. If they couldn't even agree to that, then a normal relationship between Usea and Parpaldia was considered to be impossible.
The chief laughed. "You want us, the strongest nation in the third civilization and one of the superpowers of the world, to visit your land way out beyond the civilized zones? Stop joking around. Sure, your ship may really have destroyed our oversight army, but that is our least well-equipped force. You would've been crushed by our main force!"
That was one of our oldest non-refitted ships anyways, headed to the scrapyard if not for emergency mobilization after the transfer. Kravchenko suppressed a chuckle. He had to put up with the Parpaldians for now.
Kaios glared at the chief. "You're going too far. The emperor has the final say in our relationship with Usea."
"Y...You're right, I…I've over…stepped," the chief stammered out, falling back into his seat.
"By the way, our country rules over five civilized countries, and sixty-seven uncivilized ones. We are also preparing to subjugate Altaras and Fenn, so count it as seventy-four. How many do you rule?"
Hmm. They want to attack countries that we now have defense treaties with. "We are currently a unity of three willing states, and once covered fifteen. The twelve that are no longer part of us requested to be free so we let them. They continue to prosper in our old world, or so we assume."
"Hahaha, only fifteen at most? What kind of country lets its states go? And does that mean that if your 'willing' states become 'unwilling', you will let them become independent?"
"Well, if they want to, then yes, but they don't have any reason to…not anymore, at least."
"! GAHAHAHA, what a stupid government you have!"
"Stop that, you're being rude. Their political system probably works differently from ours. We are still in diplomatic discussions," chided Kaios. "Apologies. Regarding the envoys and the return of our soldiers, could you wait two months? We can also arrange lodging for you. There are various circumstances on our side."
"No thank you, we will return to our country and return in two months."
####
Shortly after the meeting…
"Sir Kaios, why were you so polite with them? It's unlike your normal behavior. Besides, the emperor's orders were to 'properly educate' Usea if they ever met with us. And today they did. I thought we should have just ignored their peculiarities and followed the emperor's will."
"I had a bad feeling…a really bad one about what would happen if we threatened them." If the report of the oversight fleet's defeat is to be believed, Usea is better as an ally rather than a vassal…Kaios thought.
"I…uh…Y…yes, sir." The official did not know how to respond.
The defiance of Fenn led the Parpaldian government to postpone the invasion of Altaras and moved their forces from the south to the east, with the intent to attack Fenn. Usea notified Fenn and sent four of the new Sovremenny II-class destroyers and the aircraft cruiser Besposhchadny upon spotting the movement with satellites. In the meantime, more ships were entering service and starting construction with the mass expansion of the navy due to how much of the New World's surface was ocean.
Notes
Each state within Usea is somewhat its own country, such as maintaining distinct (and respected) ethnic identities and having semi-autonomy. However, matters that involve international relations are carried out by the overarching government. In a way, Usea is a middle ground between countries forming European Union and states forming the United States of America.
- This is probably a very poor explanation