Swiss Protectorate

[Hereno]

Saxon troops have arrived in Bern and created a Swiss protectorate of the state of Saxony. All former lands of Switzerland are comprised of this protectorate, and military cooperation with the locals has ensured maximum success.

[Hereno]

[Classified]
 
Italian troops began moving across the border into the former nation of Snowhaven in the early hours of the morning. The troops crossed the border in four places (via the coastal road to Monaco and Nice, through the Saint Bernard Tunnel into Valais, through the Mont Blanc Tunnel into Savoy, and in foothill areas of Ticino), immediately establishing positions in the towns across the border. Within the hour more troops were streaming across the border and moving deeper into Switzerland and Provence.

[Private]

After hearing the announcement the Saxon government sent a message to the Cisalpines.

"Woah woah, Switzerland is a protectorate of Saxony, and we have the area highly fortified. You're welcome to talk things out about co-administration of the former territories but as of now any movements into Switzerland by Cisalpine troops will be repulsed and considered an invasion force. There is no need for violence, and we support your movements into the rest of Snow Haven as a security force which are not unlike those of our own here in Switzerland."

Saxon troops and armaments, air force, etc. were all put on high alert, and messages went out to the Cisalpines on the ground informing them of the Saxon military presence in Switzerland and that the Saxons would not at this time be moving out of the Swiss territories either into the rest of Snow Haven or back into Saxony. They would be well informed miles before reaching the majority of Swiss territories, although things were a bit trickier along the Swiss/Cisalpine border.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

[Private]

 

The message sent by the Saxons was sped through the bureaucracy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and to the Directorate until it worked it's way onto the desk of Achille Oberti. A command was dispatched to the Italian troops moving into southern Switzerland. They would halt their advance and dig-in in any towns and villages they had already occupied but would make no further advances. A diplomatic cable was sent back to the Saxons:

 

"We would be prepared to negotiate with the Saxon government over the future of the Swiss regions of Snowhaven. We would like to invite a member of your government to meet with the Directorate in Bologna."

[Hereno]

[Private]

"Chancellor Robert Foerstner will be arriving in Bologna within the hour."

---

Saxon troops dug in where they were, watching the Italians carefully but being sure not to start any sparks. They maintained radio communications, where possible, to ensure this. Depending on the area, some of the communications were rather friendly, whereas in others, things seemed more cold and impersonal. The quiet was loud throughout the Swiss territories, with a certain amount of inevitable tension between the soldiers on the field who were not always entirely and correctly informed of the political machinations at work behind the scenes.

Among the Swiss population, the largely German-speaking inhabitants welcomed with open arms the Saxons, finally happy to be rid themselves of the Snow Haven yoke.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

The Saxon chancellor would be met at the airport by the Secretary-General and a guard of honor. After pleasantries and photos the two leaders would be spireted away to the Palazzo d'Accursio to meet with the Directory. When they were appropriately seated and refreshments had been served, Achille Oberti would formally begin the meeting. "Welcome to Bologna signore Foerstner. I hope this meeting will be able to settle the issue of Helvetica quickly."

[Hereno]

"I'm terribly sorry about this whole mess", the Chancellor stated, with truth. "We will be allowing the Cisalpines to take complete control of Switzerland. Simply send your men in after we have given the orders to pack up and move back to Saxony. We're happy to see the Cisalpines taking responsibility for the ex=Snow Haven lands."

A well-coordinated plan would leave almost no time at all between the troop switch of Saxony to the Cisalpine Republic.

"However, since we're here, why don't we talk politics?"

[Aggressivenutmeg]

"That's it? You're just going to hand over all of Helvetica too us? No haggling? No demands to retain the Germanic regions?" One member of the Directory asked looking quite surprised, which was soon followed by murmurs from the rest of the members.

 

"Signore Foerstner, while this is an unexpected development we thank you and the Saxon State for being so accommodating to us. I can assure you, the rights of the German speaking population will be upheld." Oberti said loudly over the chatter, causing the Directory to fall silent. "This recent incident has however highlighted a mutual interest between us. I'm sure that your aim was to prevent Alvonia gaining control of yet more land, am I correct?"

[Hereno]

"Well, yes and no..." he replied, laughing politely. "Our goal was to ensure that the German speaking population of Switzerland would not see their homeland turned into a battleground. Once we saw the willingness of your government to work with us towards that goal, we were comfortable with a withdrawal to allow you full control of the area. Undermining the expansive Alvonians was a secondary goal, which was, of course, also accomplished. It is rare that two states can find a compromise through which both achieve all of their objectives and more, isn't it? That, my friends, is the benefit of working together toward the same goal rather than against each other while pretending to be interested in compromise, and it is something Saxony prides itself on. Seeing as we have this mutual interest of ours, we'd be more than happy to enter into other, erm, agreements with your government, should you rightly feel that much can be accomplished by working together."

[Aggressivenutmeg]

The Directory members would quickly mutter amongst themselves for a few minutes curiously discussing the Chancellors proposal. A friendly state up north would definitely give France and Alvonia pause if they ever decided to retake Switzerland and Provence. Soon Oberti would turn back to the Saxon. "What kind of agreements do you have in mind?" he asked with a smirk.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Aggressivenutmeg

[Hereno]

Now the acting Chancellor of the new Reich in Greenland, faces all around the room were awkward as the negotiations continued the next day. Chancellor Foerstner broke the ice.

"Well, assuming you're still interested, we'd be interested in an NAP. We're also interested in sharing military intelligence and possibly working together in military affairs. I'm not sure military access is really needed, but we'd certainly enter into a defense pact."