Julius Caesar

Julius walked over to Abigale Shayter and began to speak, "Excuse me Ms. Shayter I have two proposals for you. Proposal number one is that our two nations begin a trade alliance that may bloom into something better, I seek technology of more modern industry since we use sweat shop style factories, medical technology, and perhaps later on military technology. I can offer you iron, steel, gold, and other precious materials, and we have slaves that can be repurposed as workers or soldiers. My second proposal is that I expand the railroad into Nevada, my cousin Apollo had a dream of a railroad that would span North America and I seek to make that dream a reality."

President Lynwood Zarander - Aurodia

"Yes you are correct Mr President, you are correct."

Zarander like the United States not only because of there idelas and views but also as Aurodia was based upon the United States, during its time as NACR before it became a Hegemony on 2130. He planned to change back to the old name and become NACR once more. He would make the announcement later on.

President Lynwood Zarander - Aurodia

Zarander was even more angered.

"And you would massarce a defenseless civillian population for the actions caused by just a handful of a few militias?! I find your reasoning if not imcomprehenisble Chancellor Griff. What do you think the Brotosh were going to do against our people. They soldiers are hard trained and they give them the reward by looting our cities, murdering innnoncent and defenselees people, [censored]. I can go on and on because the British have no soul, and no morality when see thousands of my people massarced."

Chancellor Griff, Principality of Solus


"If I may be so blunt Zarander, I don't recall asking for a summary of my own morality, or the British's. You see, this is war. These kind of things happen. Don't pretend similar things didn't happen when the Hegemony attacked Alaska. Oh, but it was OK when you were the ones committing it. Tell me though, what would you do when something or someone was threatening your soldiers? Would you not give the order to eliminate any threats to them? I certainly would. I don't see why you care anyway, your people left them to their fate in the first place when you implemented the scorched earth policy. You didn't seem to care too much then if I recall. My own soldiers can attest to that." The Chancellor said incredulously.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

"I digress. Regardless, my decision stands. The Principality will neither endorse or enforce your request for a sanction. Now, I believe it's time to end the war don't you?"

President Lynwood Zarander - Aurodia

"And I admit civillian atrocities did happen in our Conquest of Alaska by unruly soldiers but not on scale so wide the British did. As a veteran of the Alaskan War and Captain of the 501st, I did see atrocities happen but you dont know the NACR....I mean the Aurodian soldier and how we train. We train our troops for there emotions to never harm them in the way of the battlefield for they can cause what? Collateral damage, massarcres, and even jeopardize the battle. In my company, some of my men had the emotions to go ramapant and wild, to go on a killing frenzy for seeing a comrade died but we dont because in doing so, we are not soldiers, but barbarians with no creed or conduct. I had militias fight against us and we NEVER attacked defensless civillians simply because of there own commmiting those actions upon us as it was their chocie. That was our conduct and we had soldiers from the various divsions commir small atroctieis and we court martialed them and put them into life imprisonment because they failed to keep in check there emotions on the battlefield."

Zarander sighed as he did abandon his people. He was pragmatic but he had to as if not, the Aurodian military in the East would have been oveverun and the British could steamroll into the Midlands and even capture the capital.

"You dont even know Chancellor how I felt when I did that. Leaders have to make decisions that affect them from the inside and that can affect the entire course of the war. I can attest to this because I am from the East, the province of New Toronto, New Feros, the shining light of the East......... I can attest for my decisions as any other leader would do so to........."

"Yes, I want this endless pandering to stop. First of, we have to discuss the Philippines."

President Robert Ashford- United States

"I disagree completely Chancellor," Ashford replied as he continued to look at the images. His face contorted with both some degree of anger and no small degree of disgust "I don't see innocent collateral damage here. All I see is murder and death of civilians, on a level of barbarity which I've only seen a few other times. Back in the United States, when the area of the Capital was still known as "the Capital Wasteland," groups of raiders inhabited the area and inflicted such death and torture on the wastelander population. This is the exact same sort of thing displayed here. Such wanton acts of cruelty that I cannot abide by. Its....uncivilized."

"General Marchment, Praetor Silver," Ashford said as he turned to the two men, "What say you in your defense of these actions?"

Alexander Bishop, Grand Overseer of the Vigil

Approaching the large table as everyone seated themselves, Bishop preserved his calmness and maintained a much cheerier attitude seeing as the bond between the U.S. and Vigil would soon be stronger. Zarander and the Chancellor went at it, trading verbal blows as Ashford did a sort of mediating as a neutral party. The Grand Overseer only watched and waited until the images popped up. They were ghastly. He'd seen war at its worst but it didn't help the anger that welled up inside the graying leader. It did help somewhat, knowing his own men hadn't been so vicious. They'd accepted surrender wherever they could and did not torture innocents, nor kill them for pleasure.

" Those pictures are quite tragic. It seems this war was waged with a great malice, by my compatriots. Despite this, my stance is the same as the Chancellor's. This is war, Zarander. In war, people die. It is what we must live with. Should these things have been done to my own people, I wold not plead with the world to make the big bad men who did it pay, I'd marshal my armies and find those men, then destroy them. I am a man who values the human life and the right every man has to freedom but I cannot abide by a sanction like the one you have proposed. "

Bishop took a breath, clasping his hands together and peering around the table. " Now, shall we discuss actually ending this war? I think the message that was intended was received, that expansionism isn't going to be overlooked. "

Grand Admiral Nakahiko

The leader of the Vigil seated himself at the table, Nakahiko and this man had never spoken, but Nakahiko knew that this was the leader of the nation whose capital he had been redirected to last year by Californian forces in Hawaii. The man took a breath after giving a short speech of sorts before continuing: " Now, shall we discuss actually ending this war? I think the message that was intended was received, that expansionism isn't going to be overlooked. "

Nakahiko spoke: "You have a funny notion of justice," he laughed. "You say this war was to stop greedy expansionism, you do understand that the Imperium is the most expansive nation seated at this table, and that the whole point of this was was so they could further territorial claims that Aurordia was looking into. I'm not sure if you've looked past this fact purposefully, or if it was a blunder on your part, but either way what you just said makes you look like something of an ignoramus. Afterall, the Imperium is going to try to get the Philippines out of this peace deal, furthering greedy expansionism that you seek to stop. Hmm?" Nakahiko pushed back in his chair, relaxing and smiling in a friendly manner at the Archbishop.

"And I would like to point out, by what right do you get to be the judge, jury and executioner of what another sovereign nation does in their attempts at colonialism in a far removed region of the world, that has little consequence to the safety of your nation. The only two nations here who claim to be furthering a higher purpose are Japan and the Imperium, who are very similar in very many ways. You on the other hand represent a constitutional monarchy. You treat your people, as people, not as chattle, you give them rights, and you attempt to do what you find to be best for your people, not for your purpose. I highly doubt your people sat around the breakfast table, talking about how much their workplaces svcks and then onto how terrible Aurordium is for gobbling up the Philippines and Alaska. How many of your people do you think even care, or remotely know where the Philippines is? Expansionism is continuing if not at an accelerated rate, this war, this charade, doesn't change that. You might feel better, or feel that you've secured your nations future, at least the foreseeable future for this, but then, what you feel isn't really what matters."

Alexander Bishop, Grand Overseer of the Vigil

Frankly, Bishop was taken aback by this man, someone he'd never spoken to yet had intended to try to form a nice set of relations with. The man spoke openly and attacked the Grand Overseer's stance. In his younger days, he may have instantly taken offense but now he only shook his head.

" Well, you are certainly one to jump on the pedestal, aren't you? Calling a man you do not know an ignoramus as well, I'd say that's dangerous talk. I don't presume to know you so I wont make a similarly offensives remark. The intention of this entire campaign was to stop the monster that the Aurodium was, from devouring more land. I know you were hidden away on your precious little islands, so I'll skip the long version of this story for your benefit. A number of years ago, the Aurodium laid siege to two nations that had never harmed them a bit and killed like it was nothing. They destroyed both nations with prejudice and committed crimes just like the ones we all see. They weren't satisfied however. With no warning they continued onto gobble up more land and more land. If that isn't expansionist, the term's meaning has changed. "

" Just as well, I never stated I was any of those. So perhaps cleaning your ears is in order. I did what I thought best for my people and aided an ally at the same time. My reasoning is that it indeed could have ramifications on my own nation or perhaps my allies, which I do my best to honor and protect. Who's to say this monster wouldn't attack my lands, kill my people? The fact the Alaskas never hurt them did not stop the Aurodians from destroying them. I'll also have you know, my people are actually educated, and they know of where the Philippines are. I hope the same can be said for your own people. Just as well, my people , I'm sure, were worried if they were safe from the tyrants to the west of them. After all, the peninsula right above the Vigil province of Tersus was help by these conquerors, what was to stop them from attacking? "

The Grand Overseer smiled the same way the admiral had, finding this man quite humorous. " I'm intrigued to hear what you think your wisecracks did and I'd also like to know what makes you think you have a place to speak. If you think your ' allies ' in Aurodia above betraying you for your land in their twisted version of Manifest Destiny, you're not quite the genius you believe yourself to be. "

President Ashford- United States

Ashford pinched his nasal bridge in a bit of annoyance at the situation once Overseer Bishop and the Grand Admiral had begun to fight over the images of the massacre being shown by Zarander. This was certainly not something he wanted to deal with right now, especially when it involved two nations he valued as trade partners and allies,

"Gentlemen, Gentlemen please," Ashford said, raising his hand in an attempt to halt the conflict between the two, "This fighting is going to get us nowhere in these peace talks. Frankly though, Overseer Bishop, I believe the Grand Admiral does have a point: although I do not believe he communicated it in the correct manner. I cannot help but agree with his statement that Aurodium is hardly an imperial power of the same magnitude as the Imperium. It seems to me to be a paradox to attack a nation without warning for expansionism, at the behest of another expansionist power. You and I heard from the mouth of Marchement himself that the actions of the Imperium were to ensure their own ambitions were not challenged."

"But in any case," Ashford said, sighing deeply, "You and I have already discussed this, and we have come to terms. Suffice it to say, Grand Admiral, the Overseer had his reasons, and while we might not agree: I will not argue and look to the past at the moment. What instead needs to be done is we all need to look forward to the future and the conclusion of an acceptable peace agreement."

"That said," Ashford continued, as his eyes turned back to the images of the massacre, "I cannot abide this sort of savage barbarity, which I can only assume is a vision of this 'Great Truth' which I have heard Marchment discuss. Though I highly doubt economic sanctions will be sufficient to punish this sort of outlandish behavior: the Imperium is far too imposing with regards to its trade power, and the British have their markets in Europe as well. "

"I will however, denounce this barbarity as unacceptable for the sort of civilized nation that the British claim themselves to be. This is nothing sort of savage tribal or raider behavior in my opinion. Take that statement for what it is worth of course, but my disdain for the actions of the Imperium in this war only increases. Tell me Lord Silver, did you approve this sort of thing?"

Alexander Bishop, Grand Overseer of the Vigil

Nodding his head in agreement and with no hatred in his eyes, Bishop agreed to what Ashford had said, in his mind appreciating that the President had had his back.

" I agree, quarreling over things in the past will get us absolutely nowhere. I've been reminded of how others' perceive my notions the entire day and frankly I don't care anymore. What I do care about, is what we're going to do to solve this business. While I am allies and acted with the Imperium in this war, I can't abide by just how brutally these people were killed. War is war, people die, I know that better than I daresay anyone here, but to maim and torture to take such pride in it as well, it can't be allowed to go by the wayside. Marchment, my friend, Praetor Silver, I remain your ally but this ugly display wasn't something I wanted when I agreed to wage war alongside the Imperium. I intended a swift, strong, short battle to stem the tide, not kill for the joy of it. "

Grand Admiral Nakahiko

?The Admiral held back his retorts, at the behest of the American President. "I apologize, to you, Mr. Bishop, if I have offended you, I hope you can forgive, like you, I try to help and protect and honour my allies, which at the time was Aurordia, just as if this had happened in your country or your allies country you would have the same venom in your words."

"I believe we are all in agreement, that firstly economic sanctions won't work in a country like the Imperium that can operate an internal economy and mercantilism quite easily, and secondly that no one is willing to entertain the idea. As such we should move on, Zarander wants to discuss the Philippines. He wants the isles back, the Imperium wants the isles to remain their's and I have mixed feelings about the isles going either way. Does anyone here, have any input on what to do with the Philippines."

Marchment allowed various others to say their pieces before interjecting.

"Gentlemen," he said finally. "'tis not in the manner becoming of those present here to continue thusly. Firstly I doth suggest that if we doth intend to bring a close to this conflict then attempting to impose any-kind of sanctions upon me is not the way to go about things and speaks volumes on your character and ability. Secondly, forgetting of course that this is nought thine affair Mr President, I doth not feel I hath any need to justify the actions of Brytish personnel to thee, nor indeed listen to moralising from the Enclave; nor must it be said was there a debacle on this issue whenst we were destroying thine enemies in Florida Mr President.

With regards to matters of actual relevance to the proceedings I doth believe that the Philippines Islands should largely fall into Imperial hands and that we, Admiral, should continue to discuss the future of the region together."

President Robert Ashford- United States

"Not my business? Hardly General Marchment, " Ashford replied gruffly, "When an imperialist expansionist power wages war on an ally of the United States under the false pretense of bettering an alliance the majority of whose member nations did not agree to such a thing, I make it my business General Marchment, and I will place the input of the United States where I feel is necessary. Regardless of your sentiments."

"And as for the supposed non-objections to British atrocities in Florida, forgive me General Marchment but I was not aware that such things occurred in the attack on Florida," Ashford fumed, "Possibly because your Imperium forces actually intended to colonize the area rather than sack it and mutilate its population. However, if I am wrong, would you like to confess to such actions? In which case I would happily denounce those as well, in the name of my wife if nothing else. The morality of my nation has perhaps been in question in the past, without doubt, General Marchment, but I would never allow my soldiers to behave like uncouth barbarians in captured territory simply because they cannot contain their desire for such wanton blood lust. I have known raiders in the capital wasteland to have been more civilized than what seems to be suggested by these images."

"In any case, continue on with the peace discussion. We've already agreed that economic sanctions against the Imperium is a fool's endeavor."

OOC: Before anyone asks, I'm aware that the Enclave lecturing on morality is a bit of an irony. However, this is more about the fact that these are U.S. allies as opposed to the atrocities themselves. I have a hard time conveying that. Ashford also just likes to call the Imperium out on whatever he can.

Marchment rolled his eyes. "Believe what thy will Mr President for thine interpretations of "allies" doth appear to be as liberal and circumstantial as that of which you doth accuse me of being; we were your allies also, and far greater ones too, you hath merely seized upon this supposed "travesty" - which in actuality doth pale considerable to what thine own nation doth intended with the world - as an excuse to abandon your own allies in NASP. NASP would hath benefitted from this action, and considering you hath left the remaining NASP members hath now benefitted from this action. 'tis also far easier to "condemn" mine actions after thy enemies are already dead in Florida Sir; you'll also hath to pardon mine own in-difference to thine accusations of the conduct of my forces, they are proles - hath they had conduct would be more of a concern."

President Robert Ashford- United States

"I was not aware, General Marchment," Ashford replied coldly, "that the British word for ally was that of 'expendable political tool', your secret alliance with the Mexicans and the formation of the Imperium itself is enough proof to me that something was amiss. Your track record of back-stab and betrayal also does not suit me particularly well. I'm sure the NCR and former Confederacy can attest to such things."

"In any case, this is pointless bickering. I have spoken my peace and will refrain from speaking more on the matter. A peace treaty must be formed, and I would rather it be sooner rather than later."

Grand Admiral Nakahiko

"I agree that we should discuss the future of the south pacific region, so let's do that now. Japan cannot accept that the Philippines become a territory of the Imperium. That is absolutely out of the question, an Imperial staging ground so close to the main isles of Japan, we cannot allow that to happen. As a whole we would prefer you focus your expansionism somewhere else. Though I do feel that you find that out of the question."

"Nor shalt it escape the attention of any-of-those assembled here that thy doth not hath a retort in thine own defence, merely more in the way of slander. I hath not betrayed thee, nor indeed the Confederacy who's admittance to NASP I forwarded, unlike thine own sponsorship of the New England Commonwealth which I can now no longer see as anything but self-serving; you betrayed us all from the very begining."

"Imperium expansionism?" Marchment scoffed. "It doth seem to escape the notice of everyone here that the Aurodium Empire hath conquered far more land than the Imperium hath outside of our home nations sir; they, a single nation, more than two far greater in population. They in-fact colonised the Philippines first correct? Why doth they not hath to answer?"

President Robert Ashford- United States

"I'm sure those assembled here are more interested to hear of the peace involving a recent war waged of expansion by an Imperial power, not the echoes of a long by-gone past which I see as nothing more than a veiled attempt by your person of a red-herring defense. I offer no defense because no defense is needed, General Marchment," Ashford replied simply, with shrug of his shoulders.

"And please, General Marchmen, the United States betrayed? To prevent the Imperium from capturing more land and enslaving American citizens? Damn well right I voted for the NEC acceptance into NASP. To prevent that very outcome. You would have split it apart and had your way with the land and people. If you call that betrayal, then you have a strange sense of the word. If you believe I betrayed NASP, then you might consider the reason why the majority of its member states formed with me and the good Vice-President. The United States is NASP, General Marchment."

"Perhaps you should speak to Overseer Bishop on whether or not he fears Imperium expansion as well."

"If they doth believe chemical mass-genocide to be merely an "echo" in a nation that ist entirely recognisable with that nation sir," Marchment laughed. "Then I doth not know what to expect from thee.

You doth appear to hath adopted, not for the first time it must be said, a hypocritical stance; are the citizens beyond thy sovereignty US citizens or are they not US citizens sir? Florida and its inhabitants hath nought any value to thee despite it being former US soil, an arguement thyself made. But when it doth suit thee to appear as the noblemen thy were stepping in to defend the US citizens of another country in-the-face of Bryitsh brutality; doth not, again, attempt to disguise thine own intentions with the NEC, nor try to appear as a "hero" for it doth not suit thee. Again I doth say, I brought in nations to strengthen us where-as thee did it for personal gain."

President Robert Ashford- United States

Ashford shook his head,

"Whichever the case may be, General Marchment, but what you refer to is no longer the policy of the United States, and has not been for some time. If you wish to continue to bring it up, then I will continue to say that such talk is pointless, given the current situation and the immediate matters that should be attended to."


"Of course, forgive me," Ashford replied, folding his hands in front of him, "Perhaps I shall ask the NEC whether or not they believe they should have had the right to be attacked and enslaved by your forces. In any case, General Marchment, my hypocrisy, as you so call it, is non-existent. The U.S. Government as a sovereign entity reserves the right to determine who and who might not be considered U.S. citizenry. Your objection is curious though, coming from a nation which espouses the Great Truth and to whom sentimentality to nationality is pointless. In any case, were I to receive the territory you now hold. I would undoubtedly find myself beset by proles similar in calibre to what those gentlemen on the screen are. I beheld an opportunity to save the NEC and I took it. Consider it a betrayal or not, but I hardly would think that it harmed NASP in anyway. It did indeed strengthen it. Lets be clear on this, it harmed your ambitions for territory in the region."

Alexander Bishop, Grand Overseer of the Vigil

" I thank you, Grand Admiral, ad I accept your apology. I would also like to apologize for my own unseemly behavior. Undoubtedly, you speak the truth, I would have been just as angry, if not more so. "

Bishop noted the vehemence in which Ashford and Marchment argued with one another. The President was quite irritated, as was the British Duke. The Grand Overseer decided to try to steer the topic onto what they had assembled for.

" Now onto this war. I believe we must speak of it promptly else we'll be sidetracked and lose our focus. The Philippines aren't of my concern, for I have no stake in that region. What I would like to know, how this will affect the landmass formerly identified as Canada. This other discussion can be handled at a meeting deigned for it, please gentlemen, let's try to iron this out. "

"Fables Mr President and thy doth know it; 'tis pleasing to hear though that citizenship - for the United States - ist such a flexible programme and entirely dependent on the will of-those in-charge and the present circumstances. 'twas it that thy doth preached earlier pertaining to thy reverence of thy culture and customs? We doth appreciate the need for an international culture too exist, for one whom doth steep thyself in the glory of the past this is a curious direction to take with a fundamental principle of thy nation. Of-course the NEC would hath preferred thy intervention, 'twas that the reason thy intervened - intervened, I should say, in a scenario that doth not happened as thy vouched for the NEC's membership after a settlement between the Brytish and themselves hath been reached."

Alexander Bishop, Grand Overseer of the Vigil

The Grand Overseer, a patient man more and more as the years passed, was becoming agitated by this bickering. Now he saw why Ashford had stopped the earlier verbal-scuffle between the Japanese man and himself.

" Please, gentlemen, that's quite enough. We aren't here to argue about your problems and mistrusts between one another. We're here to end a war, now can we please get on with it and stop this petty mud-slinging? "