Rauchen

[img]http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8739/ontariomap.png[/img] Can you please mark the above areas as the Republic of Ontario? Including the little islands in the Hudson Bay. Ty can confirm.

"The Prussian Royal Government apologizes for the confusion; the Ministry of the Interior had been planning a massive overhaul in our communications system, and a confusion of jurisdiction between the Interior and the military led to a rather muddled state of affairs within the Kingdom. The problems have been remedied, and the royal government is once more operating at full capacity. We request that our venerable German allies withdraw from our borders and return jurisdiction over to our government and national police force so that we may return to the everyday governance of our state." -King Alaric I

Elections have been held once more in Prussia, the first in which the Nationalist Party fragments will be competing against one another. With the NPP's fall from grace, the Democratic Peoples' Party has been strengthening bonds with the Monarchist-Meritocratic alliance, though that doesn't mean the three parties won't compete strongly for individual legislative seats. [u][b]Demokratische Leutes Partei[/b][/u] Chairman: Willamar Foth Ideology: Democratic socialism The DLP is now running on a policy that effectively amounts to maintaining the status quo; they support existing corporate regulations, green energy policies, the balance of power between King, Reichstag, and counties, a social safety net, and emphasis on education. However, Chancellor Konstantin Tolkien says that his party would like to cut defense spending in favor of a further boost to education and government research into various topics, including improvement of the efficiency of solar and wind energy sources, which already meet the majority of Prussian energy needs, as well as the possibility of using biofuel to replace petrol products in military use; the Prussian Armed Forces remain the leading consumer of fossil fuels in all of Prussia. They also support a large-scale renovation of Prussia's old passenger railways in favor of more efficient, eco-friendly high-speed trains. In regards to foreign policy, they do not have any wishes to extend Prussia's influence any further than the immediately surrounding regions, maintaining relations with European states while avoiding entanglements in Africa, Asia, and America. Domestically, they would like to reform the process of electing monarchs and chancellors from a one-round system to a two-round, allowing the populace more say in the selection of public officials. [u][b] Preußische Monarchistische Partei[/b][/u] Chairman: Dietmar Teufel Ideology: Socialist monarchism The Preußische Monarchistische Partei holds similar ideals to the DLP, but support further centralization of the government to the monarch, to the point that Wechsler's Demokratische Union Preußen has attacked them as 'absolutists.' They also support existing policies, but wish final decisions on those matters to rest more firmly in the executive's hands. Many support the implementation of a hereditary monarchy under King Alaric's dynasty. A number among them also propose a slight deregulation to private businesses, but stoutly refuse proposals by the DUP to privatize education, mass transit, and healthcare, claiming those departments are the sole responsibility of the state. They support King Alaric's policies of social acceptance of low-level drugs, such as marijuana, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms, but believe the government should take a stronger stance in regards to hard drugs, like heroin, crack-cocaine, and meth amphetamine; while not necessarily supportive of harsh prison sentences, they do believe that hard drug users should be subject to substantial government pressure to cease their habits, with prison sentencing being reserved for those who turn to violence to feed their habits. Their foreign policy consists of maintaining a presence in the Baltic region, but no further, while supporting relations with other democratic monarchies as well as Prussia's immediate neighbors- Sweden, Germany, and Vostokslavia. [u][b] Preußische Meritokratie Union[/b][/u] Chairman: Eirikr Winther Ideology: Meritocratic socialism The Preußische Meritokratie Union, which maintains close ties with the Monarchists, are entirely supportive of existing governmental policies. They do, however, wish to implement a [i]de jure[/i] system of meritocracy, in which cabinet officials and political candidates are chosen according to personal achievement as well as popular support. A [i]de facto[/i] system to that effect already exists, but the Meritocrats wish to formalize that system, while granting exceptions to lower-tier positions, such as city councils and mayors. Like the DLP, they also support a two-round electoral system for the monarchy and chancellery, but about one third of their membership supports a hereditary monarchy, like their Monarchist allies. Many of their ideals are based on those of Hethnamark and its predecessors, so they support a certain degree of regulation on big business and a strong military force. According to Chairman Eirikr Winther, the Meritocrats want to maintain a strong defense force in order to defend Prussian interests in the Baltic and northern Europe, but lean toward the non-interventionist side of the spectrum. [u][b] Nationalist Partei Preußen[/b][/u] Chairman: Sigismund Schräder Ideology: Liberal nationalism The Nationalist Partei Preußen, formerly the largest party in the entire nation, has dwindled spectacularly in their numbers and influence. Chairman and former Chancellor Sigismund Schräder has said that this split has only made them stronger, for it has culled the dissident conservatives from the liberal nationalist party. Nevertheless, voter confidence in the NPP has dropped, but out of the three Nationalist remnants (NPP, PKPP, and DUP), they remain the most influential, though that influence appears to be declining. They support all existing policies, many of which were the brainchildren of NPP-DLP cooperation, and do not wish to upset the status quo; in that sense, they, themselves, are conservative. The NPP has indicated that, despite its crippled stature, it will continue to work closely with the DLP, and, by extension, the PMP and PMU. [u][b] Demokratische Union Preußen[/b][/u] Chairman: Lothat Wechsler Ideology: Conservativism The Demokratische Union Preußen represents a portion of the growing Prussian right; they are against many existing Prussian national policies, which they claim are 'too leftist,' and wish to bring more balance to the political spectrum. According to the doctrine put forth by Chairman Lothar Wechsler, the DUP supports the removal of almost all regulations on private enterprise, which they claim stifles economic growth, a point that is hotly contended by the DLP. They want to cut funding for and privatize education, healthcare, and mass transit and funnel that funding into defense and the treasury. They seek to abolish many of the laws on the books that had been put forth by the dominant NPP-DLP union, such as the Social Security Act, Sensible Drug Policy Act, Drug Education Act, Firearm Registration Act, and the Living Wage Act. They believe that socialist policies are destroying the moral fabric of Prussia by encouraging recreational drug use, that the registration of firearms is an affront to civil liberties, and that the living wage is suffocating private economic growth. The social security system, as well as the universal higher education and healthcare, they claim, supports a sense of entitlement and discourages personal achievement. Democratic Union members believe that the government should have the right to curb civil liberties during a time of war, a point to which the DLP and PKPP are staunchly opposed. They also believe that Gotland should be pressured to integrate into Prussia as a full county rather than a semi-autonomous region. The DUP supports alliances with American, Asian, African, and European powers as is "necessary for Prussian interests," even if it means entanglement in global wars. [u][b] Progressiv Konservative Partei Preußen[/b][/u] Chairman: Sören Prinz Ideology: Progressive conservativism The Progressiv Konservative Partei Preußen represents the more center-right politics of Prussia; they support a social safety net, as they indicated in their support of the Social Security Act, but believe that existing policies regulate private enterprise too severely. They wish to remove certain environmental and wage requirements on businesses; for example, they wish to lower the $PM15.25 living wage to a $PM10.15 minimum wage, in order to further encourage businesses from both Prussia and abroad to expand their enterprises within the geopolitical borders of Prussia. Additionally, they believe that the government should hold less of a role in the populace's lives, and to that effect, they would abolish universal healthcare and the firearm registration. They support a two-round system of electing monarchs and chancellors, while maintaining the one-round system for legislators and county/city governments. The PKPP supports free trade and the abolition of most tariffs on foreign trade, as opposed to most other parties, which believe that a protective tariff is necessary in order to encourage the growth of Prussian companies with Prussia. On the issue of foreign policy, the Progressive Conservatives support a Baltic-based foreign policy with very limited forays into global affairs. [u][b] Nordlandische Partei[/b][/u] Chairman: Gunther Fuhrmann Ideology: Nordlandic Revivalism The Nordlandische Partei supports the reestablishment of the Greater Nordlandic Reich and its policies. Its policies revolve around the government that led the nation during that time period. As such, it is a far right wing party, opposing all regulation of private enterprise, the living wage, and government assistance programs. It supports the Reunification of Nordland with Sweden and the Greater German Reich, as well as a global system of alliances with powers in Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. They advocate the centralization of government, though not necessarily directly toward the monarch, and the ability of the government to restrict certain liberties during times of war. [u][b] Freie Leutes Organisation[/b][/u] Chairman: Sigibert Ebner Ideology: Libertarian socialism The Freie Leutes Organisation is a libertarian socialist front that advocates the near-total demolition of government, both royal and county. Of course, they oppose almost every government law, save for those establishing the national language and the armed forces. The extreme views of the FLO support a government with the sole responsibility of maintaining the peace and rights of its people. FLO legislators have voted against almost every law on the books, but have always stood beside civil liberties and economic freedom. Other parties have attacked the FLO as a conglomerate of crass anarchists operating under the guise of libertarianism, but despite this, they have maintained a minor standing in politics. [size="5"][u][b]Election Results[/b][/u][/size] [u][b]Chancellery[/b][/u] [b]Chancellor Konstantin Tolkien (DLP): 26.3%[/b] Dietmar Teufel (PMP): 21.2% Eirikr Winther (PMU): 18.6% Sigismund Schräder (NPP): 15.1% Lothar Wechsler (DUP): 8.3% Sören Prinz (PKPP): 4.4% Gunter Fuhrmann (NRP):3.5% Sigibert Ebner (FLO): 1.8% Heinrich von Memel (Ind.): 0.6% Null Vote/Invalid/None of the Above: 0.2% [u][b]Der Reichstag[/b][/u] [b]Demokratische Leutes Partei: 23 Preußische Monarchistische Partei: 22 Preußische Meritokratie Union: 15[/b] Demokratische Union Preußen: 14 Nationalist Partei Preußen: 12 Progressiv Konservative Partei Preußen: 6 Nordlandische Partei: 3 Freie Leute Organisation: 3 Independents: 2

The Provisional Council of Åland and the Valkurheim Triumvirate both sent formal requests to the German Reich, requesting that Germany officially allow them to become territories of Prussia. Provisional Minister Halvar Ahlström offered to meet personally with German officials, and the Prussian Foreign Ministry offered to host that conference in Memel. The Valkurheim Triumvirate sent regrets that the Vostokslavic quarantine prevented them from meeting face-to-face, but they offered to link into the conference via video call.

[center][size="5"][u][i][b]Nationalist Partei Preußen Fragments[/b][/i][/u][/size][/center] As the vote for the Social Security Act nears, the NPP's right-wing and some centrist members in Lothar Wechsler's camp have officially split away from the party under Chairman [i]Freiherr[/i] Sigismund von Schräder's leadership, cutting their numbers in roughly half. Wechsler has organized the [i]Demokratische Union Preußens[/i] (DUP) in opposition to the NPP and DLP, renouncing the old nationalist banner in favor of decentralization, privatization of many public sector businesses, and deregulation of private industry; immediately after organizing, the DUP recognized Wechsler as the party chairman. "[i]Freiherr[/i] von Schräder has refused to realize that we can't afford to give a free ride to everyone through everything," Chairman Wechsler said at the first DUP rally in Reval. "We must encourage everyone to strive forward and seize their own objectives on their own power, contributing their efforts to society rather than burdening it. We already have enough assistance programs, and the Social Security Act will only weigh Prussia down in the future." However, the aggressively conservative stance being laid out by Wechsler disillusioned the more moderate, centrists in the new party, and soon after, it was further divided when Sören Prinz, former Secretary-General of the NPP, established the [i]Progressiv Konservative Partei Preußens[/i] (PKPP), stressing the necessity of a social safety net and moderate regulation of private industry, as well as reasonable distribution of power between the central and county governments. The PKPP's ranks have been reinforced by the defection of numerous centrists who had remained with the Nationalists. The DUP vainly attempted to scrape up sufficient votes against the Social Security Act, appealing to the Meritocrats, Monarchists, Nordlandic Revivalists, and even the Free Peoples' Organization. However, with the DLP united firmly behind the proposal and the PMP rallying around King Alaric's support of the bill, plus the general disunity on the Prussian right, it will be nigh on impossible to defeat the proposal. [b][u]Legislative Motion 46[/u][/b] [i]Social Security Act[/i] Proposed By: Chancellor Konstantin Tolkien For: 64 Against: 26 Abstain: 10 Approved by the King [color="#008000"][b]Motion Passed[/b][/color]

[size="5"][u][i][b][center]Swedish Uprising Referendum Results[/center][/b][/i][/u][/size] A Reichstag-sponsored popular referendum has been held to determine the public's opinion on Prussian involvement in Sweden, Ålands, and Valkurheim. The results are as follows. [list] [*]I support intervention in Sweden and the initiatives of Åland and Valkurheim to integrate with Prussia. [b](18.4%)[/b] [*]I support Åland and Valkurheim's initiatives to integrate with Prussia, but oppose intervention in Sweden. [b](63.1%)[/b] [*]I oppose both intervention in Sweden and the integration of Åland and Valkurheim. [b](12.3%)[/b] [*]I am undecided. [b](6.2%)[/b] [/list] With a clear majority opposed to further military action in Sweden, King Alaric has called for a halt on all military action against Sweden, agreeing with Foreign Minister Ludvig Mikaelsson's assessment that the German Reich could keep this revolt well in hand without Prussia's assistance. "From this point forward, Prussia will engage in no military operations against Germany's rebels unless they launch another attack against Prussian soil," King Alaric said in response to the referendum. "Any such strikes will be matched by our defense forces, but we will not escalate or expand our involvement." He also declared his intent to seek a formal agreement with Germany to advance the hopes of Åland and Valkurheim to join the Prussian kingdom. In a similar referendum in Åland, 36.4% wished to become a Royal Free District directly administered by the central government; 35.7% wanted to be administered by the autonomous republic of Gotland; 20.4% wanted to simply become a Prussian protectorate, and 7.5% wanted either total independence or union with Sweden. In Valkurheim, the efforts of state-owned PIHS to feed, clothe, and fuel the city have endeared the Prussian monarchy to the local populace. In their referendum, sponsored by the locally-upheld provisional triumvirate, 62.1% wanted to become a Royal Free City of Prussia, 19.6% wanted semi-autonomy, 16.2% wanted to rejoin Germany, 0.8% wanted unity with Vostokslavia, and the remaining 1.3% were invalid ballots. [center][size="5"][u][i][b]Social Security Initiative[/b][/i][/u][/size][/center] Chancellor Konstantin Tolkien has proposed a Social Security Act to the Reichstag, containing provisions for financial assistance to certain, qualified individuals and retired workers. The act would guarantee a moderate royal subsidy to anyone earning under PM25,000 a year, any family with a combined annual income of less than PM50,000, any unemployed person seeking work, etc. This motion has the full support of the DLP and many of the PMP, but it has caused major division amongst the Nationalists. Just under half of the NPP legislators favored the implementation of a Social Security System, while the rest are loudly against it, now claiming that the royal government needed to be slightly restrained in its authority. NPP Chairman [i]Freiherr[/i] Sigismund von Schräder is reported to have angrily addressed his associates of the Reichstag, accusing that majority of "losing sight of the NPP's liberal nationalist roots," and his rant is said to have caused a dozen of the legislators to leave the private conference. Political analysts from PRNN and several private news agencies have speculated that the Social Security Act of 20XX may be the "straw that breaks the Nationalist camel's back." Some are predicting a formal split in the NPP before the elections, led by Lothar Wechsler, a legislator and former director at the Dreher Banking Institution, not to mention an outspoken critic of Chairman Freiherr von Schräder. The true liberal nationalists will remain in the Nationalist Party, for the most part, while the more conservative members break away and form their own party. In the meantime, right-wing Nationalists continue to filibuster the Social Security Act, delaying as they try to scrap together support against the bill from outside their party, namely the remaining Monarchists, the Meritocrats, and the Nordlandic Revivalists. Their plan to enlist the remaining PMP legislators may not come to much, however, as King Alaric has also declared support for the motion, and a number of Monarchists will swing their votes to yes in favor of the king.

[u][i][b][size="5"]Prussia Receives Refugees[/size][/b][/i][/u] An estimated 215,000 Germans and Swedes have crossed the borders into Prussia since the start of the conflict; according to the Ministry of the Interior, 135,000 have entered Preußen and Memelgebiet, 64,000 into Gotland, and 16,000 into the Ålands, reaching the latter two through both ferry and private boats. So far, most of the refugees have been checked in with the Prussian border units, but 837 have been caught attempting to shirk around them; 215 of these have been arrested for various causes ranging from resisting arrest to possession of a firearm in public. Most were merely issued a fine and directed to fill out a customs form for entering the country, then released with a 5-year work visa with one strike on it. Around 43,000 of the immigrants have applied for permanent residence in Prussia, and another 2,700 who qualified for citizenship applied for it. Grafs Faramund Adenauer of Preußen and Kasimir Förstner of Memelgebiet have both pledged to provide low-cost housing for the immigrant populations, causing them to center around Königsberg, Memel, and Wilna. Königsberg and Wilna are both undergoing expansions of infrastructure, meaning that there are numerous job openings for the German workers in this area. Gotland's ruling Conservative Party has been hesitant to open up to the foreigners so easily; Governor Anton Geier has refused to divert funds from other regional projects in order to make it easier for the immigrants to "steal Gotlandic jobs," and a number of CPG senators are calling to forward many Swedish immigrants to the Prussian mainland, but Governor Geier has refused to utterly turn his back on Gotland's Swedish kin, and so has allowed the refugees to stay, though he has issued only 1-year visas instead of the royal government's 5-year visa. As for Åland, any refugees who reached the islands were often forced to sleep in large, common tents in and around Mariehamn due to a lack of space at the present moment. [i]Generalmajor[/i] Norman Wedekind has diverted a fraction of his personnel to help build housing units in the city, and a number of Prussian businesses have donated funds to the effort, the largest being Prussian Industrial Hemp Solutions's 3.4 million PM donation to Mariehamn, Jomala, and Hammarland. [u][i][b][size="5"]Nationalists Continue Rightward Shift[/size][/b][/i][/u] The [i]Nationalist Partei Preußen[/i] has been drifting to the right for awhile now, though they've generally maintained a centrist or liberal nationalist position. Now, despite NPP Chairman Sigismund Schräder's efforts to the contrary, the party has reached a point of being more national conservative than liberal nationalist; support for business is steadily increasing amongst their ranks, and many newcomers are rightists or former Nordlandische Partei members, even a few Prussian Orthodox Church clergymen. A growing number now oppose the heavy centralization of the Prussian monarchy, and about a third of the NPP now indicates that they would prefer a greater deferral of power to the counties and heavy cuts in royal social spending. Needless to say, this shift has begun causing friction between the Nationalists and their leftist DLP allies; the DLP has also experienced a noticeable shift in their ideology, moving from hardline communism to a more moderate position of Democratic Socialism, owing in no small part to moderate socialist Chancellor Konstantin Tolkien's influence; Chairman Willamar Foth is now being pressured to resign his chairmanship to the chancellor, for the DLP has expanded enough so that democratic socialists outnumber communists 4 to 1. When asked about the future of the DLP-NPP partnership, Chancellor Tolkien said, "I have complete confidence in Freiherr Sigismund von Schräder's ability to reign in his party and set them back on the proper path. This is not the end of our cooperation; we'll continue to stand alongside the Nationalists wherever possible." Yet, while the DLP-NPP alliance falters, the PMP, PMU, and NRP have grown closer together, with the Monarchists taking the central role of the de facto opposition. The PMP, who advocate a hereditary monarchy, have endorsed King Alaric's future bloodline as the proper family to lead Prussia through the ages, therefore doubtlessly receiving a degree of support from the crown. Political analysts tend to agree that Chairman [i]Graf[/i] Faramund Adenauer made this move in order to gain the support of Alaric's admirers in the next election, in which the Monarchists stand a chance of seizing a plurality of seats in the Reichstag. [u][i][b][size="5"]A Queen To Be?[/size][/b][/i][/u] Speculation of a possible betrothal of King Alaric I von Ösel to his own secretary, Alexia Westerberg, has run rampant in the tabloids, but the king, in his usual style, has so far dismissed all questions into his personal affairs. A small number of Nationalists, those rightists who have always been opposed to what they call "the king's scandalous behavior," but many Prussians are overall indifferent towards the whole ordeal. "Honestly, I don't see it as being any different from two average folks getting involved with each other," one Riga resident told reporters. "People shouldn't try to stir up !@#$ about King Alaric and Ms. Westerberg simply because they're both high-profile figures. If it were any of us, we'd be furious if everyone else was getting involved in our relationships." Despite the story's run through the tabloids, it has failed to garner much national concern, especially next to the instability in neighboring Germany.

The pilots engaged against Swedish assets were able to detect the missiles on their radar as they were launched and relay that information back to their respective bases. The Prussian F-16s, F-111s, and Lu-65s evaded the missiles to the best of their abilities, and managed to destroy three of the missiles going after them; the remaining three were led off by individual fighters to minimize losses, causing only the two F-16s and a Lu-65 to go down. The squadrons remaining at Gotland and the Ålands evacuated as soon as they received the alert; those in Gotland returned to base in Königsberg, while those in the Ålands based in German airports in and around Vaasa. MIM-23 Hawk batteries were activated across Gotland, though the 1st SEK on the Ålands had only limited such support. The Lu-65s stationed on Åland engaged the Swedish missiles, successfully destroying one of them, but were forced to withdraw to Vaasa due to low fuel. Three F-111s had failed to get off the ground before the remaining missile struck Mariehamn, and these were thus grounded. Communications were broken up by the EMP, so each officer took command of his unit in hand, following their existing orders to serve as garrison troops. Several SEK battalions took fortification a step further upon losing contact with brigade command, creating fortified artillery batteries and troop posts in protected, rocky areas, which were common on these islands. The MIM-23s, combined with the Prussian fighters returning from the mission, managed to shoot down both of the missiles headed for Gotland well away from the coast, though all but a handful of the fighters had already withdrawn. After fierce debate in the Reichstag, Chancellor Konstantin Tolkien (DLP) has called for a referendum on Prussia's involvement in Sweden, so as to get the popular opinion of the war. With the support of both the Nationalists and Democrats, plus a handful of Meritocrats and Monarchist, the motion passed, and preparations for the referendum will be made immediately. King Alaric says that he will "take the results of the referendum into account" with regards to future decisions on the matter. In the meantime, King Alaric ordered [i]Generalfeldmarschall[/i] von Reval to restrict air involvement over Sweden, and requesting a complete pause for all operations in the region, so as not to provoke further retaliation. von Reval reluctantly agreed, and Prussian operations would halt, for the time being, though additional MIM-23 Hawks were activated to defend Gotland and be shipped out to the Ålands. OOC: Kankou, you need to post casualties from my missile/air attacks.

As the German forces pushed the Swedish rebels back up the peninsula, a debate raged in King Alaric's cabinet and the Reichstag over what further course of action to take in regards to that front. In the cabinet meetings, Generalfeldmarschall Emelrich von Reval and Minister of Defense Sigifrid Protz both loudly supported providing further assistance to their German allies, while Foreign Minister Ludvig Mikaelsson, a Swede by birth, urged them to calm themselves, pointing out that the German military had the situation well in hand. In the Reichstag, the Meritocrats and Monarchists both urged intervention; both parties were products of German ideals imported into Prussia, and so they highly favored their German kinsmen. The Democrats, on the other hand, were reluctant to commit Prussia into foreign action, and they agreed with Minister Mikaelsson's assessment of the conflict. The Nationalists were divided almost in half by the issue; many were hesitant to support a deployment unless Germany formally requested such measures. The pro-war faction in the legislature, however, fell short of the 2/3 majority required to field actual troops in Sweden, leaving any action in the hands of the King and the cabinet. King Alaric ultimately gave orders to provide limited assistance to Germany, authorizing Field Marshal von Reval to utilize "any means at his disposal, short of landing troops in Sweden, to further the cause of the German Reich in Sweden, while exerting all possible effort to minimize civilian casualties" effectively leaving the situation in his hands. The Generalfeldmarschall immediately authorized the [i]Oberste Heeresleitung[/i] (OHL) to establish contact with the German military command and begin sharing intelligence on the Swedish troop dispositions; once he'd obtained the necessary intel, he turned his attention back to Sweden. From Gotland, the 3rd Division, I Corps prepared their launch systems for use, as did the 1st SEK Brigade on Åland. Within three hours of the orders being given, the batteries were all properly set up. When complete, they received orders from OHL to proceed with the bombardment of designated targets supplied by Germany; these targets consisted of Swedish air and ground bases, as well as arms stockpiles, throughout the northern part of the country, in the counties of Gävleborg, Dalarna, Jämtland, Västernorrland, and Västerbotten. For the time being, no major civilian population centers were targeted. Fifty each of MGM-52 Lances and Pershing II's were launched, a total of 100 missiles. Generalfeldmarschall von Reval also arranged for the allocation of additional cruise missiles for later use by the 3rd Division and 1st SEK. The remaining three squadrons of German-made Lu-65 fighters redeployed to airfields in Gotland and the Ålands, along with fifteen squadrons of F-16s and ten of F-111s. Upon arrival, they would immediately refuel and fly northwest into rebel-held Sweden. Five F-111 squadrons and seven F-16 squadrons remained at their bases on standby, awaiting orders to support either the German infantry or Luftwaffe, or reinforce or rotate with their own Prussian comrades. The deployed fighters targeted arms depots, air fields, and supply lines whose locations had been disclosed by German Intelligence; Swedish aircraft would be countered with AIM-120 AMRAAMs, and ground targets would be engaged by both AGM-65s and their gatling guns as the situation warranted. The Prussian pilots had been informed by Germany that Swedish radar had been effectively wiped out, so they could approach undetected until they reached the Swedish coast.

[quote name='Justinian the Mighty' timestamp='1334633046' post='2954649'] Vostokslavia’s government was not blind to the growing conflict in the west. One of the results was that the Prussians were trying to smuggle goods into Valkurheim via Vostokslav territory. Earlier in the year the walled city had been quarantined and 100% of the city’s trade had to come from Vostokslav companies. The only exception would be for countries or corporations which had approval from the Foreign Ministry. Since the Prussian companies did not apply for a permit to trade with Valkurheim they were considered smugglers and would be treated as such if they did not cease trafficking illegal goods through Slavorussian territory. [b]Public Statement from the government of Vostokslavia:[/b] [/quote] "The Kingdom of Prussia would like to remind Vostokslavia that Prussian companies have maintained branches within Slavorussia, and by extent Vostokslavia, since the signing of the Rigan Economic Agreement between our nations. Furthermore, we were not informed of the quarantine of the city, which also boasts branches of Prussian businesses due to our past relationship with Hethnamark and present one with Germany. We would like to implore our friends in Vostokslavia to allow commerce to continue and release any Prussian shipments back into the hands of their rightful owners." -Ludvig Mikaelsson Foreign Minister Lt. General Ebner's de facto division (still officially just the "Valkurheim Self-Defense Force") made little to no effort to stop the actions of the civilian populace, and even detained a handful of Russians with criminal records themselves, even if they hadn't committed a crime within Valkurheim. They were far more concerned with the long-term issue of feeding and clothing an entire city while under quarantine. Since the people of Valkurheim were vehemently boycotting all Russian goods, that left a number of small businesses and only two, larger Prussian companies within the city. The two Prussian companies were [i]Blut und Eisen,[/i] a weapons company with a rather small branch within Valkurheim, and the Prussian Industrial Hemp Solutions; any defense force orders were redirected to the B&E branch, which struggled to cope with the load, and PIHS began to take full advantage of the situation. Corporate headquarters in Reval wired enough funds to their Valkurheim branch (which consisted of a single warehouse connected to a processing plant and about two dozen greenhouses) to begin expanding their dealings within the city. They presented their plan to the Valkurheim triumvirate, who readily approved it; PIHS began to rent private and public plots of land, where they sowed thousands of hemp seeds, usually to be maintained by the residents, who would be added to the payroll for the time being. In the meantime, they considerably lowered the pricing on their hempen food products, so as to encourage people to begin buying. As the quarantine wore on, food prices would continue to rise, but with so many plants sprouting up across Valkurheim, PIHS products would remain cheaper. Many of the citizens of Valkurheim were certain that Vostokslavia planned to starve the city until it assimilated into Russia, but in defiance, they would become the first city to live on hemp; so long as their remained bare soil, greenhouses, and water in Valkurheim, the people would eat well. Not wanting to unnecessarily deplete food supplies, though, the Valkurheim three placed a temporary ban on recreational marijuana, citing "excessive food consumption." In the meantime, any Valkurheim resident caught outside the quarantine zone would be allowed entrance into Prussia and granted a 5-year work visa.

[i][b]Classified[/b][/i] With the current state of unrest in the German Reich, the defense condition has been raised to level 3. The 1st and 2nd Heerdivisions have been repositioned to the southern border with Germany to deal with any emigrants and ensure that the conflict did not spill over into Prussian borders. An additional regiment from the 4th Division has been reassigned to Gotland to help cope with Scandinavian refugees into Gotland. Reports estimate that around 145,000 Germans have crossed the southern Prussian border, while 38,000 Swedes and Germans have escaped into Gotland thus far. The 1st SEK Brigade under Brigadegeneral Wedekind have taken control of Åland, while the local provisional council seeks an agreement with both the Prussian and German leaders. One squadron of Lu-65 fighters have been reassigned to the Åland islands to ensure that the German rebels made no attempts to retake the islands. The Valkurheim Defense Forces have been integrated into the Prussian Royal Army as the Eleventh Division, II Corps, under the command of Generalleutnant Godafrid Ebner, and are now undergoing equipment standardization via Prussian arms companies in Vostokslavia.

"Prussia's borders will remain open to any German noncombatant seeking to escape the violence in the Reich; all refugees must check in with customs before being allowed across the border." -Ingvarr Hoffman Minister of the Interior *Private* The 1st SEK Brigade under Brigadegeneral Norman W. Wedekind set up their command center in Mariehamn and dispatched two battalions, about 2,000 men, to be posted throughout Jomala, Finström, Lemland, Saltvik, and Hammarland. Working with the provisional Ålandish government, they enacted a curfew and set up checkpoints on the roads leading into Mariehamn and the airport. No real martial law was invoked, so the SEK would function basically as a strong police force, enforcing Prussian rather than German laws. The islands' administration remained in the hands of the local Swedes and was not at all altered by the SEK's arrival; it consisted of a twelve-man council headed by a provisional minister, who headed the council and cast the tie-breaking vote. After completing sweeps of the Baltic for stray weapons shipments to the rebels, the Lu-65 squadron was reassigned to Mariehamn Airfield, where they would occasionally patrol the surrounding gulf to ensure that none of the rebel factions were attempting to seize the islands. Valkurheim's civil administration was headed by a triumvirate consisting of former German Generalleutnant Godafrid Ebner, city councilman Willamar Portner, and businessman Ernst Kurz. Generalleutnant Ebner also happened to be the leader of the Valkurheim defense forces, who were equipped with much of the same equipment as the regular Prussian army already and were now receiving additional munition and food shipments from Prussian companies operating in Valkurheim and Vostokslavia. Having been commissioned into the Preußisches Heer at their former ranks, Ebner and many of his subordinates had determined that, regardless of the fate of Valkurheim, they would be fully integrated into the Prussian military when all was said and done. In the meantime, his forces had placed roadblocks into Valkurheim, searching every shipment that arrived in or exited the city and sealing off all civilian traffic until everything had been resolved.

[b][u]Private[/u][/b] Foreign Minister Ludvig Mikaelsson took the messages and reports from Valkurheim and Åland back to King Alaric, who had taken a keen interest in the state of affairs in allied Germany. Apparently, both of these small territories were clamoring for Prussia to extend their authority over them, and their regencies had both contacted the foreign ministry requesting Prussian protection, eager to stay out of the growing conflict between Hamburg and Germany. After a brief conference, Alaric had a reply sent to each of them, informally accepting Valkurheim as a royal free city, which placed it directly under the king's authority, and also extended protection over Åland. The Prussian Military High Command extended a permanent line of communication to the Valkurheim Defense Forces, integrating them into their ranks as the Valkurheim Detachment, which consisted of somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 men. Their orders were to maintain order and ensure that the city's borders were secure, but to do nothing else. The 1st SEK brigade was deployed to Åland via Luftwaffe C-27J Spartans; while they were en route, the Åland provisional government was advised to raise the Prussian flag to indicate that they would not take part in the Hamburg rebellion. Arms sales to the dissident factions were cut off, though sales to Germany and other countries would be allowed to continue, for they were considered legitimate trade partners; Alaric would not allow violent revolutionaries to be armed against his German allies. A squadron of Lu-65s and another of F-16s were sent from Gotland to locate the shipments sent by the previous Ålandic regime to the rebels; they would make contact with the crews, ordering them to dock at the nearest Prussian port or risk falling victim to their ATS missiles. Once captured, the cargoes were seized by Prussian authorities as contraband. German officials would be informed of the situation. [b][i]Private to Germany[/i][/b] "Åland and Valkurheim have both agreed to remain neutral in the ongoing Hamburg revolt, on the condition that they be allowed to join Prussia, either as protectorate or a territory. Both areas are currently under our control and will do nothing to assist the revolutionaries in any form so long as that remains unchanged. Anti-German sentiment has grown surprisingly strong in both territories, and we fear that if we reject their terms, they will rebel against the Reich and possibly even target Prussia for refusing them." -Ludvig Mikaelsson Foreign Minister

[u][b]Public[/b][/u] "The Kingdom of Prussia will not grant formal recognition to any of the dissident factions at this time, though we hope that this can be resolved peaceably." -Alaric I von Ösel King of Prussia [u][b]Private[/b][/u] The 3rd and 4th Heer divisions were deployed to the southern border with Germany in case tensions came closer to the border. The 5th Division was shifted to Gotland to secure ports and make sure no agent provocateurs from any of the factions entered Gotland. Though they would not formally recognize any of the movements, the Foreign Ministry extended lines of communication to both the Free City of Hamburg and any pro-Prussia groups within Valkurheim.

"The Kingdom of Prussia extends formal recognition to Northumbrian government of King Frithuwald II." -Ludvig Mikaelsson Foreign Minister

A study released by the University of Riga has shown a moderate disparity in the economic strength of the various counties. According to researchers, Preußen and the northern districts of Livland receive more royal grants than Ösel, Memelgebiet, Kurland, and the rest of Livland combined. It was also noted that Reval, Harrien, the third-largest city in Prussia, the unemployment rate remains at a steady 8.7%, while in Riga, Livland, the unemployment rate is only 2.1%, a pattern that is repeated throughout much of the nation. As a result of this study, the Counties of Ösel, Memelgebiet, Kurland, and Harrien, plus the autonomous region of Gotland, have all joined their voices together to request that royal assistance be dispersed based on actual need, so as to ensure a fair standard of living to all Prussian citizens, regardless of location. In response to this highly popular motion, King Alaric drafted a plan to disperse a total of 5.3 billion PM (Preußischmarks) in royal aid to expand existing progress in some counties and foster quicker growth in others. [list] [*]County of Livland receives 750 million PM, of which 625 million is to fund economic enterprises in southern Livland, including, but not limited to, Dünaburg, Jakobstadt, Rositten, and Wolmar [*]1.25 billion PM to the County of Harrien to fund economic enterprises across the county, including in Reval, Dorpat, Narva, Kohtla-Järve, and Pernau [*]500 million PM to Ösel to promote creation of jobs in the energy, defense, and agricultural sectors [*]750 million PM to the County of Kurland to provide for the expansion of ports at Windau, Libau, and Riga-Strand; expansion of the civilian and military airfields located in Mitau; expansion of opportunities in energy and transportation [*]600 million PM to Memelgebiet to encourage energy, agriculture, and shipping across the county and expand the capacity of the port in Memel [*]1.15 billion PM to Preußen to restore historical landmarks, encourage energy, agricultural, and financial markets, and expand the port and airport of Königsberg. [*]300 million PM to the autonomous region of Gotland to expand ports in Visby, Slite, and Fårö, as well as provide for renovations to Visby Airport and improve air and sea travel between Gotland and mainland Prussia [*]A panel of seven officials will be appointed to Royal Aid Oversight Committees in each county/region in order to avoid misappropriation of royal funds. [/list] Democratic and Monarchist leaders have voiced their support of the plan; it allocates sufficient funds to the poorer regions of the country, while still ensuring that development in the more urban areas continues. A few influential Meritocrats and Nationalists have declared their opposition, some of them reasoning that the aid shouldn't just be handed out; counties like Ösel and Kurland should start the march of progress on their own accord with their own finances, they argue, rather than becoming reliant on royal assistance. Supporters argue that these counties should at least be granted the same chance as Livland and Preußen in terms of funding; once they have further developed their industries, they will become more self-reliant. Governor Anton Geier of Gotland and his Conservative colleagues have mixed feelings on the bill. Governor Geier admits that, "...Gotland is in a fragile state right now, fresh from the transition from Swedish reign to autonomy, and while the kinks are being worked out of our system, a little charity would not hurt." Geier says that he will support the bill, despite the implementation of a RAOC in Gotland, which has many Conservatives on edge about the line between Prussian guidance and Gotlandic autonomy. They are expected to go along with the plan, though, as their Nationalist allies are pushing hard for them to accept the proposition, and the CPG's control of the Landtag is dependent on the full cooperation of both the Nationalists and the Gotlandic Independence Movement. [u][i][b]Legislative Motion 45[/b][/i][/u] [i]Royal Assistance Plan[/i] -Proposed by King Alaric I von Ösel For: 58 Against: 31 Abstain: 11 Approved by the King [color="#00FF00"][b]PASSED[/b][/color]

The results are in for the Gotlandic Autonomous Region's first elections. In a referendum, Gotlandic voters decided by a narrow margin to forgo the traditional Prussian system of county administration, with a strong central figure (the Graf) and a small Administrative Council. Instead, they have instituted a more traditional parliamentary system, with a Governor and a unicameral Landtag, both chosen through direct election, and a judicial branch that will be appointed by the Governor but approved by the Landtag. The Landtag will consist of one representative per 5,000 citizens; Gotland has 173,000 residents now, so there will be 35 members. Precincts have reported an astonishing 93% voter turnout. [u][b] Governor[/b][/u] [i]Anton C. Geier (CPG) - 26.4%[/i] Corbinian K. Ebner (PMU) - 19.7% Tyko A. Landau (DPP) - 17.9% Torbjörn O. Alvarsson (LL) - 15.3% Markus C. Schreck (PNP) - 9.4% Halsten M. Adolvsson (GIM) - 5.2% Kayetan L. Spannagel (Ind.) - 4.3% None of the Above/Invalid Ballot- 1.8% [u][b]Landtag (35 Seats)[/b][/u] Conservative Party of Gotland - 11 seats Prussian Meritocratic Union - 8 seats Democratic People's Party - 5 seats Leftist League - 3 seats Prussian Nationalist Party - 4 seats Gotlandic Independence Movement - 3 seats Independents - 1 seat The Prussian Meritocratic Union's support flagged towards the end of the race on the matter of Prussian involvement in Gotlandic affairs; when PMU gubernatorial candidate Corbinian Ebner came out in support of full reintegration with Prussia, the entire party's numbers fell. Conservative Party leader Anton Geier capitalized on their decline by touting a strong, Gotlandic government, ruled by Gotlanders, not a Prussian import party. Division between the Democratic People's Party and Leftist League spoiled either's chances of gaining the governorship or a solid grip in the Landtag. The Gotlandic Independence Movement, which only registered as an official political party in the last two weeks before the election, managed to take in a solid 5% of the gubernatorial vote and three seats in the Landtag. The Prussian Nationalists failed to re-energize their old political following in Gotland, and performed only slightly better than originally anticipated. The Conservatives have formed a coalition government with the PNP and GIM, giving them the minimum 18 members required for a majority. DPP Gotland Chairman Tyko Landau tells reporters that they have begun attempting to find common ground with the rival Leftist League, and hinted at agreements being made with the PMU. The Conservative Governor Anton Geier has said that his primary concern at present is to work out the kinks of transition and find competent candidates to fill his cabinet, regardless of party affiliation. "In this time of transition, it is important that we remember to look beyond our political affiliations and remember, we are all Gotlanders. We must work together to form a strong, self-sufficient republic, while still cooperating with our venerable Prussian brothers," Governor Geier said at his inauguration. "My first orders of business as Governor will be to organize and encourage all travel between Prussia and Gotland and improving ferries to German Sweden, and make improvements to the shipping capacity of ports in Visby, Slite, Klintehamn, and Fårö. And of course, I will select a panel of the fairest judges in Gotland to interpret our laws and protect our freedoms." The members of the Landtag convened to elect the President of the Landtag; an individual requires a majority of votes to attain this office. The fragility of the Conservatives' coalition showed in this moment, as the CPG encountered disagreements with the Prussian Nationalists on their chosen candidate, a former Order of Falkenberg member named Joakim Bjorkman, and their four members cast their votes instead for the Meritocratic nominee, Dietmar Brandr, giving him 20 votes and the presidency. Brandr is expected to favor the opposition, but also cooperate with Governor Geier when necessary. All election results were verified by joint Gotlandic-Prussian electoral boards.

The weeks following the reintegration of Gotland were filled with frantic yet steady political reorganization. Remaining elements of the old Gotlandic branch of the Prussian Nationalist Party were the first to do so, but they appear to have lost a significant amount of the support they'd once boasted from the island. Instead, the Prussian Meritocratic Union, a complete newcomer to the Gotlandic political scene, has secured an estimated 23% of potential voters to their ideals. The Democratic People's Party is also making a strong showing, with around 15% of voters now registered with the Gotlandic branch, but they must compete with the local Leftist League, a combination of the old Swedish Socialist Front, Swedish Democratic League, and former DPP members, to keep their voting base. A Conservative Party of Gotland has also been formed, consisting of small Swedish conservative organizations and many less-notorious members of the Order of Falkenberg; the CPG has been toeing the 10%-support line for the past few weeks, though they have reached a low of 4% and a high of 19%, making it difficult to project how successful they will be when it comes time for elections. A failed Nordlandic Revivalist branch was also absorbed into the Conservatives just last week. Many Gotlanders remain undecided on who to vote for in the election, claiming that time has not yet allowed clear agendas and no true political leaders have come from any of the major parties. 44% of voters say they have no idea who to vote for, 46% say they know who to vote for, and 10% say they are either leaning towards one party or did not intend to vote. When asked what their biggest political concern was, 47% cited the local economy, which had been struggling due to the Swedish war with Finland, then Slavorussia, and the transition to Hethnamark control and continued hostilities with Slavorussia. 26% claimed that civil rights were their foremost concern, having lived under wartime conditions for several years. 16% said that defining the line between Gotlandic autonomy and Prussian authority was the greatest issue; the remaining 11% was divided between various religious and cultural issues, including a 1.5% group that wanted to secede from Prussia and remain independent. Gotlandic and Prussian officials have tentatively placed the election two months from today; candidates for offices were to organize their campaigns within the next month.

Please mark Gotland as part of Prussia once more.

The Kingdom of Prussia accepted the reentry of Gotland into the nation and sent administrative advisers to help ease the transition from Hethnamark to Prussia. The 10th Army Division was sent to reoccupy military installations on the island, and King Alaric visited personally with the Gotlandic provisional government. He declared that the provisional government will remain in power for the duration of reintegration, at the end of which the Crown would oversee elections. The new government would remain generally autonomous, but must accept certain aspects of Prussian law. Despite pressure from much of the Reichstag, Alaric refused to grant the National Police Department the authority to enforce laws in Gotland, leaving that liberty to the Gotlanders. *Private* Alaric sat in a soft leather chair in his private chambers, staring out the window, holding in one hand a sort of cigar and in the other a copy of the [i]Preußischen Zeitung[/i] espousing on its cover the integration of Gotland and the merge of Hethnamark and Greater Germany. He still wore his button-up shirt and suit pants, with his tie undone around his neck; the coat he had left on a rack beside the door. Beside him on a short, rolling table were a bottle of cola and a bag of chips, which he appeared to have forgotten. He was frowning as he peered out the window, eyes fixed on the moon, just a few days shy of full. He moved only to puff the cigar, and he wasn't even reading the paper; he just couldn't discard it. Occasionally, his eyes drifted down to a smaller headline on the front page, "A Change in the Wind?" It was an article detailing the progress of the Hethnmark-German merge, and discussing possible repercussions of the merge. The king let out a deep sigh, then yawned, belying how truly exhausted the Gotland visit had left him, but he did not sleep, merely squinted at the moon. A soft squeaking sound accompanied the opening of the door behind him, and Alexia slipped in and closed the door behind her. She wore only her dark blue bathrobe, and her blonde hair was down, cascading to just below her shoulders. She crept up behind him and touched his shoulders on either side of the chair. "I didn't know you had gotten back," she said, looking at his cigar. "I thought you'd quit that." Alaric shrugged and looked at the half-burnt cigar. "I just couldn't sleep, thought this would help. It was a gift from the growing company's CEO, so I figured it would do the job." "And has it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Getting there," he chuckled weakly, Alexia reached for the cigar, and Alaric let her take it; she puffed on it a few times and handed it back. "Something wrong?" she asked in a choked voice before coughing four times. The king sighed and looked back at the moon for a moment before answering. "It's probably nothing, but it was a dream I had last night. I was looking at the horizon, at the sun...actually, suns; there were three. A massive red sun dwarfed the large orange one beside it, and both were high in the sky, while the third sun was just poking over the horizon, bluer than the sky around. The orange sun grew smaller and drew closer to the larger one, and one day, as it neared what seemed to be its sunset, it was...absorbed into the largest sun. The small sun was now proudly over the horizon, but the flames thrown by the big sun grew closer and closer, and before my eyes it began to turn black, stained by what bizarrely looked like blood." His secretary sighed exasperatedly and shook her head. "Do you really think this dream actually means something, Alaric? Perhaps that's your problem." She pointed at the cigar. "I hadn't had one of these before today," Alaric replied wearily. She snorted. "No, really! When have I had time to before now?" "Fair enough," she said. "What do you actually think it means?" "A new age has dawned, whether great or terrible it remains to be seen. I also believe there may soon be great trouble at home, perhaps before any abroad." Alexia massaged his shoulders and neck as she leaned over the back of the chair and listened. "You're way too stressed out," she said in an accusatory tone. Alaric rolled his eyes, not in the mood to argue with her. "You should be sleeping," she insisted, walking around to try and pull him from the armchair. Alaric placed the cigar in the ashtray and rose, somewhat unsteadily. Alexia laughed. "Tired yet?" "Not quite," the king said, smiling down at her. "But you can help with that, right?" Alexia laughed, and Alaric allowed her to lead him to the bed, trying to forget his problems for the moment, knowing full well they'd be back on the morrow.

[s]"This doctrine mirrors existing Prussian policy, but we will sign and support this doctrine."[/s] "On further review, we have decided that we cannot support this doctrine on account of Section VI. We view it as a legitimate strategy, as long as no noncombatants are harmed in the process, of course. So long as this section exists, Prussia will not ratify it." -King Alaric I

"The Kingdom of Prussia fully recognizes the Republic of Finland as a sovereign nation, and we invite their foreign ministry to exchange ambassadors and embassies with us." -Ludvig Mikaelsson Foreign Minister

[quote][center][u][b][size="6"]Confucianism on the Rise in Kurland[/size][/b][/u][/center] Eastern philosophy has stood within Prussia since its foundation, though typically none of those faiths have commanded a significant number of adherents; Buddhism has averaged around 5% of the population, and Confucianism, Taoism, and other East Asian ideologies were observed by only 3% of the populace. However, since the integration of Preußen and Memelgebiet, these beliefs, especially the teachings of Confucius, have begun to spread throughout Prussia, though the upsurge is centered in the County of Kurland. The county capital of Libau, population 215,000, is now home to an estimated 95,000 Confucians; the port city is now becoming known throughout Prussia as the birthplace of Prussian Confucianism. Around 9% of Prussians now cite a form of Confucianism as their philosophy, and that figure continues to grow rapidly. It is widely accepted that Confucianism's growth has been strongly influenced by the meritocratic ideas brought into Prussia by the former Germanic counties, though the Confucian populace in those two counties has experienced only a minimal boost. While Confucianism is continuing to spread in the other counties, it is not believed that Preußen or Memelgebiet will be severely impacted on account of deep-rooted Norse polytheist traditions. Prussian Confucianism, according to adherent and noted theologian Hemingr Dürr, accepts many of the values originating from China, but rejects certain rules regarding societal roles, such as that of women, and has slightly altered the laws regarding relationships and filial piety. "In truth, Prussians are not so much adopting Confucius's teachings so much as they are shaping them to their lifestyle," Dürr noted. "Though there is no presently established authority on Confucian laws, so specific ideals may vary from person to person, and I don't believe that there will ever be a ruling Confucian hierarchy here in Prussia, because that goes against what many Prussians view as a central pillar of Confucianism: individual accomplishment. It is generally accepted by not only the Confucian community, but Prussia as a whole, that organized religion serves only to stifle individuality and personal creativity." On the topic of organized religion, Christian sects (representing a cumulative 16% of the population) in Kurland appear to be reviling the surge in Eastern philosophy, perhaps in part due to a not-insignificant number of their followers converting to this "foreign" faith. Acts of violence in Livland, Kurland, and Harrien against professed Confucians, Buddhists, and Taoists have been traced back to members of several Christian congregations. Though generally limited to assault-and-battery and vandalism, there have been three cases of murder in Libau where the victims were found with crucifixes carved into their throats and the words "Jesus Loves Me" cut into their foreheads. The culprit has not been found yet, but the Commissioner of the Libau branch of the National Prussian Police Force, Otmar Kaube, has declared that this killer will become his first priority. Graf Sverrir Hall, who himself is a humanist atheist, also issued a statement, saying, "I will not stand for any form of violence while I am count, especially not in the name of an invisible man in the sky. I applaud the Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist populations for restraining themselves from retaliation thus far, and I hope to see that continue. But I will not rest as long as any of my constituents fears victimization for their beliefs." On that note, the Kurlandic Council passed a "No Tolerance for Intolerance" bill, which sets the mandatory prison sentence for religiously-inspired violence to 3 years for vandalism, 8 years for assault and battery, and authorizes expedition of the death penalty in cases of first degree murder. Nationalists, Meritocrats, and Monarchists across the country are advocating the Reichstag to adopt a similar policy on a national level. King Alaric has declared that he supports the right of the people to exercise their own religion, as is guaranteed in the Prussian constitution, and also added that "extreme violence by any party will be met with the full justice of the Kingdom. We are a country founded on individual rights and philosophical freedom, and I will consider zealous attacks on adherents to other faiths to be an attack on the very core of Prussia." He says he will not enact a decree like that of the Kurlandic Council, but would support it if it were to pass through the Reichstag, unless a large-scale religious attack occurs against any faith.[/quote] *Classified* In response to recent German mobilizations, DefCon has been raised to level 3; the 1st Army Corps has been redeployed to installations near Memel, Königsberg, and Pillau. The 2nd Army Corps has been relocated to Mitau, Libau, and Wendau. Twenty squadrons of F-16s and F-111s apiece have been relocated alongside the Army units.

Did you expose yourself to a policeman?

"...um....okay. To each its own, I suppose." -Foreign Minister Ludvig Mikaelsson "I, for one, welcome our new mouse overlords." -Thisissparta0420, random Prussian internet user