Californian
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Tristan da Cunha was perhaps the most remote of the naval bases operated by the Northlands. Long held by the Northlands, the base had undergone several modernization projects while the island itself remained sparsely populated. The Maltese ships would be hailed and dock space would be allocated, with some also held for incoming Greek ships. The Northlands would redeploy several ships from the Atlantic Fleet to serve alongside Malta and Greece in the most southern region of the Atlantic. Additionally, a military cargo ship would make its way to the island to assist with some dredging efforts and expansion of the artificial wave barrier in the harbor to help accommodate the large influx of visitors.
Additionally, Northlands defense officials would contact their counterparts and put forth the proposal to secure South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in addition to the Prince Edward Islands off the coast of Africa for use by the ESP. Plans for the construction of modern naval installation and defenses on both would be presented, with a breakdown of projected costs included. The Northlands would be course willing to pay its share of the necessary expenses for construction and maintenance.
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Rachel was visibly uncomfortable with the interactions between the Japanese and Cascadian representatives. Fearing a possible escalation, she would interject and speak to the conference.
"The Northlands questions the need to unilaterally annex the Falkland Islands and the display of disrespect towards Mr. Wymore here today. I will point out the obvious: the Falklands are located in the Atlantic, which seems outside the realm of a Pacific Security Agreement (PSA).
I understand that the SOSUS lines run through the Malvinas and some level of management is required to oversee them. The Northlands owns the closest land and port to these islands with Tristan da Cunha, and I am willing to volunteer the Northlands to lead a joint-administration of the SOSUS facility and/or Falklands to ensure the continued operation and security of these lines. All PSA members should feel welcome to participate in such a venture, such that they may feel comfortable with the level of security overseeing this data collection.
Additionally, the display of rudeness from multiple individuals is unbecoming and certainly not a way to promote peace across the Pacific. We have long held stable, mutually profitable relations with the EAI and Cascadia are Northlands' allies. Please, let us work together when discussing the finer points of how to implement the PSA."
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K. Germany
Integration efforts continue to be underway in Germany. Bremen and Hamburg have unveiled plans to become leading technology and service hubs for northern Germany, taking advantage of their high speed internet and railway networks to quickly communicate goods and ideas.
Refurbishment of RNB Wilhelmshaven continues in Lower Saxony, and is slated to house the North Fleet, with auxiliary bases on the Faroe Islands and elsewhere on the continental coast. A large amount of investment to the region has come from companies and government agencies in the Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg provinces eager to more closely integrate with the rest of the Northlands.
The Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland would see a disproportionate number of refugees from Vorpommern looking to resettle in these areas. Both governments had offered additional resources on top of the compensation offered by the Nordisk Rike to lure in these Germans in hopes of increasing the population and associated economic output in the major cities of the region. Additionally, many of the Vorpommern citizens had worked in agriculture and would find themselves at home in the region's lush valleys and rural heartlands.
The North Rhine-Westphalia region continues to lead all others in terms of investment and integration by the Northlands. Bonn has been selected as the capital of the new K. Germany, and new buildings and modernization of the old are underway for the city to serve as the center of Northlandic Germany.
K. Spain
Construction has begun on a major expansion of the naval base in Gibraltar, to be renamed RNB Gibraltar-Algeciras. Located in the Bay of Gibraltar, the base is the home to a substantial number of ships in the Mediterranean Fleet, as well as the taskforce of smaller ships responsible for security in the Strait. The number of piers, drydrocks, support services, and airfields will be increased with the integration of surrounding areas into the space-limited facilities at Gibraltar. This construction will make RNB Gibraltar-Algeciras one of the larges naval facilities in the Northlands.
Additionally, efforts are underway to located locations for potential naval and military bases in Valencia and Murcia. Old Spanish and Athenian complexes are being examined for the possibility of refurbishment to help reduce costs. Security officials are also preparing lists of defenses to be concentrated on the Spanish coast to ensure the defense of the K. Spain should it be aggressively attacked.
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"Excellent, we very much support those additions as well. I'll let the Foreign Office know of the agreement made here tonight, and a treaty can be sent to Malta for your perusal and signature." He would hold up his wine glass, the wine having been refilled with death juice at some point during their talks. More more cup can't hurt, he thought as he involuntarily shuddered at the smell, instead saying "Cheers! To Malta and the Northlands!"
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"I appreciate your sentiment and fully support your proposal. Consulting with the other prior to future expansions in the Mediterranean neighborhood will decrease any possible ambiguity and is easy to implement. From what I understand the Northlands has no future expansion objectives close to Malta that would be a cause for concern, however we will relay such information in the future should this change."
"Along with this, perhaps we could more formally establish relations through an exchange of embassies and possible trade and friendship treaty between our states."
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"Cautiously optimistic," he would immediately reply. "Obviously my government would have preferred to have been notified instead of blindly wandering upon the base in Tarifa and some explanation for how you plan to operate these bases and their functions would be a courteous gesture, but their existence is not one of disapproval back in Noordenwind. We've administered Gibraltar for years, I understand the importance of the Strait and the subtleties of the politics associated with ensuring its safety."
"With our recent efforts to secure the Andalusian region and oversee Ceuta, I think the more important question is where you see the future of these bases and the level of cooperation with the Northlands. We're on good terms and have a security treaty with the Greeks, and I think our history with the Baleares has shown the Northlands to be a responsible actor in the Mediterranean eager to work with like-minded nations. Frankly, the Northlands would have jumped at the opportunity to work with you on these bases and if that were still possible, we would hope that we can assist with what you hope to achieve in the area. With our access to local manpower and resources, I think our contribution would be invaluable to your mission."
He would pause, allowing himself to enjoy the delicious food and wine that the kind old Simmons had brought.
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"I can appreciate your comments and feelings especially in light of the situation in Poland. Did Alvonia act aggressively towards other nations, including Belarus who is in the room here? Yes. Did they make inappropriate comments? Based on our interactions with them in the past, I wouldn't doubt it.
That being said, the ban of Alvonian ships in the Baltic does more harm than good by destabilizing a rather delicate situation. This will only stir feelings of animosity in Alvonia and other European nations that may misconstrue these actions, for little strategic good. Frankly, if Alvonia is foolish enough to want to keep warships in the Baltic and war breaks out between us, those ships would be quickly sunk by the combined Nordisk Rike, Northlandic, and Russian Fleets that are maintained in the area.
The reality of the situation is that Alvonia is precariously nestled between every single Nordic Hammer nation and regardless of what is thrown around as rhetoric, a conflict would not end well for them. We know this, they know this, the world knows this. There is little need to make a pariah out of the Alvonian state, just look at what Romania did and how well that worked out for them.
We have the opportunity to increase our standing by allowing Alvonian access to the Baltic. If conflict breaks out, let others see that it was not the result of Nordic Hammer escalation but through other's attempts to take advantage of our goodwill. The Northlands maintains relations with Alvonia and we are willing to pursue the lifting of the Baltic blockade with the blessing of other Nordic Hammer nations."
"In regards to the peoples of Vorpommern, we will welcome them with open arms. I will send word to officials in the Northlands and the Free German Protectorate Zone to begin the process of handling an influx of new residents. Your financial contributions would be most certainly appreciated and accepted."
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This man loves his pork he thought to himself as he answered in the affirmative and thanked the King for the pork sandwich he soon to enjoy. He was optimistic as Timmermans always appreciated the taste of something new, which had been harder to achieve after his years of extensively traveling the globe.
Timmermans already knew who the man was even before he had introduced himself. He had been leading the discussions for most of the meeting, although this was the first time he would be engaged in a real conversation with Gregory.
"If I was here only to mindlessly sign some document, I would have flown some intern here on my behalf. These types of engagements have proven in the past to offer the chance to mingle and meet other nations' officials. The Northlands has so far focused mainly on diplomacy in northern Europe, although we've recently been trying to reach out to other nations and the opportunities for cooperation they bring.
The Mediterranean is one such area, and we've been eager to develop warm, if not friendly relations with the other nations in the region. I'm sure you've learned of the Northlands' recent increase in activity on the Spanish coast, and I believe we even discovered Malta and several other nations constructing a base a stone's throw away from Gibraltar. We both seem to be interested in similar things, and perhaps there's a window of opportunity for us to work together, or at least better understand one another."
"So the prospect of geopolitical diplomacy was a compelling reason to come here. And to visit this beautiful island and this most engaging host," he would say as he laughed again. He had offered to talk more with the King, and he waited to see how the man would respond. Now where were those pork sandwiches?
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Mahon had become the administrative and military center for the island, and such status was reflected in the rise of new buildings and structures that had appeared in the past decade on the island. Tall buildings in the middle of the city were the heart of the city's economic activity with small edifices forming a disheveled surrounding torus. The port was a buzzing hub of activity, with both civilian cargo as well as military traffic in the large cordoned-off section of the port, one of the very deepest and sheltered in the Mediterranean. Connected was a military airport which was barely matched in size by the civilian equivalent on the other side of town. It was at this airport the Yugoslavian Councilor of Foreign Affairs would be received by the waiting Northlandic hosts. As they stepped off the plane the Yugoslavians would be escorted to a waiting convoy to take them to a government compound in the city which was to serve as the meeting location.
The visiting delegation would notice an interesting dichotomy of the sights they saw as the vehicles moved through the city. The city was a picturesque paradise in the Mediterranean, with civilians wearing tropical clothes and on their way to local beaches. Others were busy going to and from their work, many keeping the arteries of activity at the port and airport flowing as the city served as an intermediary between the Northlands state and its Mediterranean interests.
Interspersed in this scene, however, were the unmistakable hallmarks of weaponry and self-defense. After years and several modernization directives, Mahon and Menorca was the site of a sophisticated network of defenses to slow and repel any sort of aggression. Warships were parked in the harbor, several of the many anti-aircraft emplacements could be spotted on the periphery of the town, and air shelter signs were scattered throughout the city pointing people to safety.
Those that cared to look could just make out some of the infantry drills being performed at the local base or the hangars where fighter jets were undergoing routine inspection.
It was this nature of life and death, relaxation and belligerence that the inhabitants of Mahon endured and the delegation now witnessed. They would finally arrive at the building, pleasant in its own way but out of place next to the sleek new skyscrapers, its Northlandic flag waving on its roof.
Lord Timmermans would be waiting, eager to engage in conversation with a nation whom had had somewhat limited communications with the Northlands previously. He was eager to ascertain the thoughts of his counterparts and determine how the relationship between the two states would be drawn. He was eager to share his own thoughts, and with this enthusiasm would walk to meet the leading figure that approached.
"Greetings my name is Martin Timmermans, and I am the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Northlands. I appreciate your willingness to meet with me here on only three days notice and I hope this meeting will prove to be fruitful for all here today."
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Lord Timmermans turned next to him, familiar with the distinctive stench of Death Juice which permeated the air. He'd drank gallons of the stuff when he had visited Russia and noted with some regret that he had probably exchanged several years of his life to further the relationship with their Russian allies.
He chuckled when the King spoke. "That's what my wife uses it for anyways. Last I checked my stomach wasn't filled with rusty pipes, so here I am enjoying a nice glass of scotch instead." He would extend his hand. "The name's Timmermans, pleasure to meet you."
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I appreciate the timely and positive response, and have scheduled a meeting to be held in three days in Mahon. Your flight path and arrival will be cleared by the Royal Office for Foreign Affairs when such information has been received, and accommodations will be made for your diplomatic staff for the duration of your stay. I look forward to meeting and conversing with you.
Sincerely,
King William V
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Lord Timmermans, unusually quiet at the meeting, would sign the White Cross and the Scales and Red Cross Convent of Valletta treaties on behalf of the Northlands. The League of Nations would be transmitted back home, needing to undergo further review before being officially signed. He would chuckle when he saw the Russian representative, glad to see his ally arrive fashionably late.
He stepped outside onto the balcony with a scotch in hand, looking out at the sights before him and waiting for another diplomat to approach. That was how things worked here, wasn't it?
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Coronation Day, all Hail King William!
(ooc: If you have friendly or neutral relations with the Northlands, feel free to RP yourself as having attended)
Today marked a day of euphoria and optimism throughout the Northlandic Realm. Earlier in the morning, Dante Quaeckernaeck officially stepped down as acting regent and Lord Protector of the Northlands, formally beginning the head of state transition. William V was crowned King of the Northlands by the Head Cardinal of the Northlandic Catholic Church in the Capital Cathedral in Noordenwind. The church was a who's who of Northlandic government and royalty, along with many influential figures from around the world. An official holiday was proclaimed throughout the provinces, territories, and protectorates, and hundreds of thousands of citizens flooded the streets in celebration.
In his speech, King William V promised to lead the nation to a new level of success and prosperity by continuing to promote strong economic and diplomatic ties with allies and the other nations of the world. When discussing the armed forces, he made a personal note of thanking his rescuers and highlighting the bravery of the other captives, including the late Lemaitre. He also outlined planned changed to increase and augment the current military capabilities of the nation to support itself and its allies.
Perhaps most awaited was more details on the recent annexation of parts of Germany and Spain. In a highly unexpected move King William V announced a complete overhaul of the structure of the government and state, noting that a larger population and geographical realities necessitated change. In the coming weeks, the nation will be reorganized into the Kingdoms of the Northlands, Germany, and Spain, which will be centrally ruled and continue to be known as the Northlands.
The Council of the People will be increased to 500 representatives, with 200 each from the K. Northlands and Germany and 100 from the K. Spain. The High Council will continue to be composed of 20 members appointed directly by the King. Upon stepping down, Dante Quaeckernaeck was made a member of the High Council by King William for his "extraordinary services to the state of the Northlands."
Germany
Elections are to held in one month's time for the election of Germany's 200 representatives to the council. Ten of these seats would be elected by general vote and twenty would be selected by the provincial governments with an emphasis made to represent minorities and disadvantaged groups. The remaining seats would be accorded to the provinces based on population, to be decided in a general election. The former German states are to be divided into the following provinces:
Saarland will become the Saarland province with a population of 1,018,000. The capital will be Saarbrucken.
Bremen will become the Bremen province with a population of 661,000. The capital will be Bremen.
Hamburg will become the Hamburg province with a population of 1,751,775. The capital will be Hamburg.
Lower Saxony will become the Hanover province with a population of 1,119,526 and capital in Hanover, Brunswick province with a population of 894,814 and capital in Braunschweig, Schaumburg-Lippe province with a population of 3,911,566 and capital in Bückeburg, and Oldenburg province with a population of 1,864,653 and capital in Oldenburg.
North Rhine-Westphalia will become the Rhineland province with a population of 9,229,314 and capital in Bonn, Westphalia province with a population of 6,131,941 and capital in Munster and Lippe province with a population of 2,070,000 and capital in Detmold.
Rhineland-Palatinate will become the Koblenz province with a population of 1,524,695 and capital in Koblenz, Rhineland-Trier province with a population of 512,990 and capital in Trier, and Rhenish Palatinate province, with a population of 2,011,381 and capital in Neustadt an der Haardt.
Spain
The K. Spain's delegates will be allocated to each of the four regions based on population and selected via general election.
Valencia's port, one of the largest in the western Mediterranean, would undergo a modernization project in line with those occurring in Germany to upgrade the port's facilities and expand its cargo capacity as well as usage for military purposes. Beyond better integration with the other Spanish regions, the port would allow for greater trade with the rest of the Northlands especially in the strong Valencian industries of car manufacturing, marble, citrus fruits, and other agricultural products.
Murcia would likewise see upgrades in its rail and road networks to act as a crucial link between the larger Andalusian and Valencian regions. Its main industries include fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other agricultural goods.
Due to its population, size, and geographic importance, Andalusia would remain at the forefront of integration into the Northlands. Main industries include olives, other agricultural goods, aerospace, iron and other metals, and tourism, which are to be linked to the rest of the Northlandic economy.
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Relations between the Northlands and Yugoslavia had been somewhat silent, with the Northlands having concentrated its diplomatic efforts elsewhere as it found its place in the world. But with its increased interest in the well-being of its Mediterranean regions and discovery of a military base being constructed in Spain, the Northlands was eager to reach out to Yugoslavia, a nation whom held strong relations with several of the Northlands' allies.
A note would be sent from the Northlands inviting Yugoslavia to a diplomatic meeting to be held in Mahon, Menorca to discuss relations and possible areas of collaboration. With the successful negotiation of a treaty with Greece, it was hoped such good will could be sustained and propagated elsewhere in the Sea.
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Thanks for the update Mogar. A few small notes, the German state of Hesse should be marked as part of the Northlandic protectorate, not annexation. Additionally, the Northlands declared a protectorate over the Azores instead of Cabo Verde, thanks!
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(CNRP2)
The Northlands has collapsed.
(CNRPA)
Northlands in Germany
Many have begun to question how the German states are to be integrated into the Northlands centralized government structure. The Rhine-Westphalia alone is comparable in size to the ceremonial countries of Belgium and the Netherlands and has a population approximately 2/3rds of the entire continental Northlands. William V has promised to address this issue in his upcoming coronation ceremony.
Royal Engineers have completed preliminary reports of roads, rail, and other infrastructure to be given priority funding throughout western Germany. The Germans have proven to be able administrators and there is widespread hope that large scale public works projects will be sustainable, profitable investments throughout the region.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Ruhr Valley is to be designated a Technology & Industry Corridor, with several favorable tax policies put in place to encourage continued investment and entrepreneurship in the region. Many of Germany's largest companies are located here, and the Northlands is eager to continue this. The government, in cooperation with the North Rhine-Westphalia, is creating a Royal Rhine Organization is oversee navigation and maritime regulations of the Northlandic parts of the Rhine. Strong efforts are being organized by authorities in Rotterdam and the North Rhine to increase the amount of trade on the river.
Lower Saxony has been a major center of military activity for the Northlands, with several military bases to be located in the state, along with the large naval installation in Wilhelmshaven. This is expected to provide a large number of jobs in the construction and services sectors as these are completed, with permanent support staff to assist in the local economy.
Bremen and Hamburg, largely following the efforts of the North Rhine and Lower Saxony, currently have their ports under construction to increase their capacity and relevance with the large amount of ship traffic between the Northlands provinces. This will be used to supplement the services heavy economy of these city-states.
The highest level of support for integration continued to be in the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, due to the growing tensions in Germanic France and the seemingly random nature of Alvonia's foreign policy at times. There would however not be a large buildup in troops in these regions and efforts were put in place to establish local police and border guard forces. The largest industries in the state are winemaking and chemical and pharmaceutical production, all of which are to be integrated into the Northlandic trade network. The state's location make it particularly able to become a leader in exports for the nation.
Northlands in Spain
In Andalusia, Northlands soldiers noticed the construction of a multinational military base by Tarifa, prompting the involvement of local and central government officials to open up communications channels with these nations. The Northlands would help demarcate a parcel of land to include Tarifa and several surrounding kilometers of land for this base, with the hope of close cooperation with these other Mediterranean nations to promote peace and trade.
In Murcia and Valencia, assurances have been given to maintain the respective cultures for these areas. One of the few changes to be introduced would be the status of Nordlandic as an official language alongside Spanish and Catalan. Those hoping to pursue a career in the central government would have the opportunity to learn Nordlandic in schools and community programs.
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Quaeckernaeck had slipped to the side to receive an important phone call. He would learn that the heir of the late King William IV had been rescued, which he would relay that information to the other participants of the conference with obvious elation before continuing.
"We will support the admission of Belarus into the Nordic Hammer. We look forward to working with you as an ally and partner in Europe. As our friend from the Nordisk Rike notes, we are hopeful that we can be a positive force for good in Europe.
While all members are here, we wish to discuss the recent Polish crisis and relations with Alvonia. We support the agreement between Belarus, Hungary-Slovakia, and Alvonia regarding peace in Poland and we believe that the Nordic Hammer should assist in maintaining that agreement. To that end, we believe a complete ban of Alvonian access to the Baltic and its ports there destabilizes the situation, and we wish to work with the Nordisk Rike to return normalized access as soon as possible."
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Ortega-Vazquez would nod at the concerns mentioned by the French. "We are certainly interested in maintaining the Pacific peace, and can assist with maintenance and operation of surveillance equipment in the region. We would be willing to partner with nations such as Cascadia and the EAI in naval exercises. It seems like we would have no issue with becoming part of the Pacific Security Agreement as described here."
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Annexing: western Germany (Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland) and southern Spain (Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia)
Protecting: Canary Islands, Azores Islands, Faro District (Portugal), Melilla, Ceuta, and east Germany (Hesse, Thuringia, Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt)
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Protectorates Established
With orders received from High Command, military operations would commence in the following regions:
Azores and Canary Islands
15,000 men have been dispatched to the islands to establish a formal relationship with the Northlands.
Eastern Germany
50,000 men have been given official orders to maintain security in Hesse, Thuringia, Brandenburg, Berlin, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt at refurbished Northlands military installations across the protectorate. The remaining 50,000 men would be concentrated primarily at the non-Northlands border of this protectorate.
Lower Iberia
An additional 15,000 men are to be dispatched to secure the Faro District along with Melilla and Ceuta, with another 35,000 men being dispatched to support current integration operations in Andalusia.
Northlands Naval Acquisitions
Citing ongoing changes in Northlandic defense policy particularly in light of recent annexation efforts in Europe, High Command has announced the completion of another Amphibious Assault Ship, 6 frigates, and 24 corvettes, with more under construction. Fleet compositions are to be updated accordingly, with many of the corvettes being used to help patrol the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas.
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Rhine-Westphalia
Cologne has been selected as the headquarters for the powerful Kredianstalt Fur Wiederaufbau (KfW, Reconstruction Credit Institute). Incorporated by the Northlands decades ago during administration of the Free German Protectorate Zone, the KfW is responsible for distribution of economic aid from the Northlands, particularly towards public works projects to establish and upgrade infrastructure and transportion as well as measures to promote trade, industry, entrepreneurship, and business. Additionally, the KfW works with the Royal Central Bank of the Northlands to set monetary policy in east Germany, currently established as a protectorate.
The Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland
Integration of these states into the Northlands will expand the border with France as well as establish a border between the Northlandic and Alvonian states. Measures have been ordered to bring the border controls in this territory in line with established standards as per agreements with France and Alvonia. There would be an enhanced border guard presence due to the current unrest in German France, although as of yet this has not spread to Germany proper.Lower Saxony
Northlands officials have begun integrating this state, seen as a vital link between the continental Northlands and the German provinces in Schleswig, Holstein, and Mecklenburg. The Wilhelmshaven region has been deemed a highly suitable port location and preparations are being made to refurbish the naval base for use with the North Sea Fleet. Royal Engineers have been tasked with upgrading the transportation infrastructure, particularly roads, rail, and airports, to allow for transit to the German Northlands.
Bremen and Hamburg
Both city-states have voted for admission into the Northlands as individual provinces which mirror their current land borders. Engineers working in Lower Saxony are also being tasked with assessing the ports in Bremerhaven and Hamburg and the KfW will be allocating funds to improve the technology and business industries for these regions.
Andalusia
The fueros charter has been approved by the Andalucian Parliament, which will be allowed some legislative autonomy as agreed upon. With this, Northlands officials have begun the process of integrating the region into the Northlands proper. Discussions have been started between Gibraltar and Andalucia officials for closer relations and the creation of a greater Gibraltar-Algeciras economic development zone.Military officials have also begun drawing up a list of locations suitable for military installations.
Valencia and Murcia
Similar measures are underway in Valencia and Murcia. There would be heavy traffic between these regions and the Baleares, the Northlands' heart of economic and military activity in the Mediterranean. Measures are underway to approve both Spanish and Catalan as official languages in the region alongside Nordlandic.
[1/7: Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Lower Saxony, Hamburg Bremen, Andalusia, Valencia, Murcia]
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BREAKING NEWS: HEIR APPARENT RESCUED
The government has just confirmed that William Haber-Bosch, heir to the Northlandic throne, has been rescued in dramatic fashion from a warehouse outside of Berlin, Germany. William had been taken hostage months ago along with several other high ranking government officials, although there has been a complete media blackout on the ongoing incident. Lord Protector Dante Quaeckernaeck provided more information at a press conference.
Noordenwind
"Citizens of the Northlands, people of the world, I am incredibly grateful to report the safe return of heir to the throne William Haber-Bosch along with 14 other officials, all of whom have spent several months as captives. Due to the sensitive and highly volatile nature of the situation we had been unable to communicate any details about the situation, however I hope to present a clear and concise timeline of the events that took place since the most recent Great War.
Towards the conclusion of the War, with the defeat of Romania and her allies imminent, the Northlands government was infiltrated and key members taken hostage in a desperate attempt to thwart the imminent victory of our coalition. It was then that King William IV was assassinated during the operation, due in part to several Romanian sympathizers in the government. Although this effort was in vain and obviously proved unsuccessful, his son and the others remained in the custody by remnants of the defeated and were being held in an undisclosed location.
The past several months we have dedicated significant resources to discovering this location as well as attempting to negotiate the release of these individuals. The location of the warehouse was discovered just as intelligence suggested the hostage takers were preparing to harm the captives. I made the executive decision to launch a special operations operation on this warehouse to retrieve the hostages and bring the criminals to justice.
The special force teams, in cooperation with state intelligence and local police, successfully carried out the operation and were able to rescue almost everyone, including William and Rontgen. Former Royal Officer for Foreign Affairs Alexandre Lemaitre was killed shielding the other captives during the operation and was the only casualty involved, besides more than 20 Romanian terrorists who were killed and injured in the attack.
The government is making the necessary preparations for Prince William to assume the throne and I am prepared to step down as regent of the Northlands at that time. However, I ask for the nation to join me in mourning for the next five days to honor the memory of the late King William IV and Lord Alexandre Lemaitre. May their contribution to the Northlands and world never be forgotten."
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Operation Lighthouse
In cooperation with local authorities, Northlandic forces from Gibraltar and the Baleares would arrive in the southern coastal regions of Andalusia, Murcia, and Valencia and assume security duties from the local police forces in the areas. French authorities would be notified of the actions and informed that the Northlands' actions would not affect the current situation in northeast Spain.
Along with the soldiers, government officials would arrive to begin the process of integrating the local government, utilities, security, and other administration in line with Northlandic policies. This would be the culmination of several rounds of meetings with local officials from these regions about its future. These meetings would be heavily attended by Balearic Northlanders who were eager to see the Spanish and Catalan people reunite under a single umbrella on the world stage.
While numerous regimes have assumed control over the Iberian peninsula in recent history, Valencia and Andalusia were both regions that still possessed unique cultural identities and posed a unique dilemma to the centralized Northlands state government.
A conclusion was reached with the intent to begin incorporation of Murcia as a province and Andalusia and Valencia as autonomous communities. The 'autonomous community' designation will provide these areas with additional powers which are to be formalized in fueros charters. The communities will be required to pay fewer taxes to the central government and will receive fewer services in return. Additionally, these citizens will be allowed to fulfill their military service obligation by remaining in the Mediterranean region.
Operations Reclaimer
The government has given its intent to begin incorporation of the West Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Lower Saxony, Hamburg, and Bremen states into the Northlands proper. This move is being widely hailed by both Northlands citizens as well as German locals, citing the shared history and culture and the list of failed states that have ruled over the area. The people are eager to return to stable government rule and the Northlands has already given its commitment to igniting and expanding the regional economies.
100,000 Northlands soldiers are moving into the remaining German states of Hesse, Thuringia, Brandenburg, Berlin, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt to form a German Protectorate under Northlandic supervision. These regions, excluding Vorpommern, would being establishing closer ties to the Northlands.
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Quaeckernaeck would would subconsciously make a small shudder, as if he had seen a ghost, as the Empress talked to him. That was weird...
He would take the seat that was offered to him and respond to the Frenchwoman's proposal. "The non-aggression pact between our nations has certainly withstood the test of time. The Northlands would be interested in closer security ties with France because of the success of this agreement, although I think it would be wise to not strain our newly developing relationship. Having spoken about similar issues with Alvonia, the Northlands would be willing to sign an optional defense, and optional aggression, clause with France for the time being, with the opportunity to elevate this treaty in several months time. This allows both of our nations the maximum amount of flexibility as we learn to work more closely together without committing ourselves to a nation we may not yet fully trust.
The situation in Poland is extremely complex and the Northlands has no desire to be directly involved. We first and foremost support the efforts of our ally the Nordisk Rike in the region, especially in the interest of Baltic security. We also believe that Alvonia has a historical and cultural claim to much of western Poland, especially the areas which were once directly part of Alvonia. We hope a peaceful resolution can be reached amongst all the current parties involved and will take steps to facilitate that if necessary.
How does France see the situation in Poland, and any potential involvement on its part?"
Operation Honeymoon
in Fantasy RP (IC)
Posted
Minister for Foreign Affairs Lord Martin Timmermans would respond in the affirmative and travel to Munich for discussions.