How Do You Pronounce This Again?

[Markus Wilding]

The following message would be sent to the Nordboerne Kongedoemme's foreign ministry:

 

 

To whom it may concern,

 

I have been instructed by Director Wilding to obtain an audience with Nordboerne high government personnel, to discuss matters of mutual interest and other such topics. We can host a representative in Vienna or I can travel to the Kingdom personally to discuss these matters.

 

Regards,

Foreign Minister Finn Powers

 

[Zoot Zoot]

A response would accept the invite, but would explain that due to the nature of Icelands present state of affairs, it would be requested that Director Wilding fly to a Norse airbase before boarding a chopper to HMS Frederick II to meet directly with the King.

[Markus Wilding]

Private

 

"They want you," Finn said as he lit up another cigarette.

 

"What? Why?"

 

"I don't %*#@ing know. I have a feeling they might be a little ticked if I go there instead of you."

 

"Well, I suppose I needed to get out of this office anyway. Get the engines started."

 

End Private

 

A response would be sent back, indicating that Director Wilding was on his way to the Norse airbase.

[Zoot Zoot]

On his arrival, the fanfare would be minimal due to the on-going disaster relief across the island. The helicopter would do a wide circle over what remained of the cities before moving to the battleship which would host the meeting. Coming in to land would include a flyby from the airforce and a 21 gun salute from the big guns of the battleship.

 

Once he landed, he would be escorted by a marine to the ships boardroom. Once shown inside, Frederick would stand and greet the director.

 

'Director Wilding, welcome to my seat of Government' he said after offering his hand.

 

'I apologise for requesting you make the trip yourself, but as of late, I find myself with little time for anybody but the head man so to speak. So let us get down to work Director, how can I be of assistance to Alvonia?'

[Markus Wilding]

"Don't apologize, it was merely unexpected is all. I needed the change of scenery anyway. As far as assistance, you were one of the few to support us during the crisis with the Eastern Bloc, and despite the incident with Milan, I hope we could begin discussions on economic treaties, perhaps even military as well. What do you think?"

[Zoot Zoot]

'We saw the eastern bloc as a force of aggression in that circumstance Director, but as the conflict continued and Milan went nuclear, we had no choice but to withdraw our support for political reasons, most likely the same reasons Alvonia cut off its own ties with Milan, it is only a stroke of luck that Milan did not fire nuclear weapons at your own state for cutting ties like they did to my own' came the resigned response. Frederick was clearly drained and exhausted.

 

'At the present time I cannot sanction a an economic agreement simply because nearly all of our domestic industry has been obliterated apart from our military industrial complexes and shipyards and my current focus is in turning Iceland into a fortress and rebuilding what we have lost, so sadly, no trade agreement can be made here today. However, a military agreement is as good a point to begin relations with mainland Europe as any, so I propose an optional defence agreement with a period of review after ten years for an upgrade to a mutual defence agreement.'

[Markus Wilding]

"A shame, the economic treaty. I can offer some assistance in the form of money and materials, if it would be agreeable to the Kingdom."

 

"An optional defense pact sounds like a good place to start. Is there a draft available?"

[Zoot Zoot]

'I do not have a draft to hand no Director' he said, gesturing to the spartan office around him.

 

'Assistance and financial assistance would be greatly appreciated in relation to the ongoing humanitarian disaster on the mainland. Whilst we are coping, it is stretching our resources at the moment.'

[Markus Wilding]

"Well, I'm sure we'll be able to hammer out something in the future regardless. That being said, I can authorize 10 million Reichsmarks in aid and 2,500 volunteers of the THW to assist in rebuilding. That should help in rebuilding."

 

Taking a sip of water, Wilding added, "Europe has a problem, King Frederick. So soon after the Great Collapse, and here we are acting like it's still the 1870s. We're divided politically, and I would wager that were it not for the diplomatic offices of Yugoslavia and Romania, my country would again be at war to stave off the Italians in their attempt to annex historic French lands. But there's larger problems then that. Carthage holds half of Spain, an already weak nation. I don't believe I've heard anything from their government since they proclaimed existence. The entire continent of Africa is acting as one, and one of their states is advancing upon Europe like the Moors of old. I'm not one to put much stock in regionalism, but this is a threat, and definitely not one Europe can take on divided. Do you have any thoughts?"

[Zoot Zoot]

'Unless Alvonia can unite Europe against Carthage what would be the point? You could sit and point out the hypocrisy shown by Europe when Babylon moved men into Crimea and how it nearly started a war with Yugoslavia over Constantinople as Babylon was not seen as European. I to have not heard anything come out of Spain, but likewise, the territory controlled by Carthage at the moment, represents the Carthaginian territory before Rome destroyed Carthage. Their historical claims are legitimized by the fact that nobody moved to stop it in the first place and with France being neglegent over the continent and even its own territory, what would be the point in starting anything?.' said Frederick calmly.

 

'To remove a threat to Europe requires that Europe act as one body on the matter without infighting, and frankly, with the Eastern bloc seemingly growing stronger and stronger with each passing day, perhaps the threat is not from Carthage but from within? Again however, what would be the point in going to war with a bloc that has a tongue as smooth as silver and pockets deep enough to bribe the right people?'