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| The Great Game; Containing Europe | |
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| Topic Started: Apr 23 2009, 08:58 PM (373 Views) | |
| A.Q. | Apr 23 2009, 08:58 PM Post #1 |
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Beautiful Snowflake
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"Ah, Mr. Alexyevitch, such a pleasure to finally meet you!" Al Qalaa's Emir grinned sociably at his Ulganian counterpart and took his hand warmly with both of his own, shaking vigorously. Emir Qajar seemed much smaller in real life, away from the photographs in the newspapers, but no less fierce. His eyes were still keen, and though he walked with a cane, he was as healthy as any his age. Qajar spoke in his perfect Russian, a memento from his old days in the Caucasus. "I do hope your voyage from Mogadishu went well? Yes? Ah, Captain Rais, you and your men can go. Shoo, shoo!" The brown-uniformed soldiers obediently trooped their way back into the palace. The two men were left on the terrace overlooking the palace gardens. These themselves were magnificent, masterfully designed and painstakingly maintained. A natural-looking waterfall nourished a swimming grotto, which seemed rather redundant-- as if a guest wanted to swim, but was to lazy to walk in any direction to the pristine beaches of the Emir's island. A troupe of peacocks wandered below the terrace where Nikolai and Qajar were standing, making for the greenhouses. "Sitsitsitsitsit, make yourself comfortable! Only the best for friends, eh? You have no idea how ecstatic I was when you got rid of those buffoons who ruled your country before. But you, dear boy, you seem to understand! Only, I shouldn't be calling you 'my boy' any more, you're 'Premier Alexyevitch' now, aren't you? Ah, coffee." A harassed-looking servant boy tripped out the door balancing a tray with a coffee pot and two large porcelain mugs. The Emir pulled off his coat before sitting down, draping it carefully across his chair and pouring coffee for them both. "Now, my young Premier, I will stop the babbling of an old man and let you talk. What do you feel is the state of Ulgania since your brilliant coup? What do you want to accomplish in the world with your new power? And what have you to say about our mutual interest in India?" |
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| Ulgania | Apr 23 2009, 09:41 PM Post #2 |
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A better Zarathustra has never rode a horse
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Taken slightly aback by the lack of modesty in the Emir’s temperament towards his guest, Nikolai soon felt right at home in the estate. The terrace offered a pleasant view and he felt comfortable in the hospitality of the Emir. “It’s hard to come by magnificence like this in Ulgania. Our coup was successful, but we are still left with indelible signs of colonialism. Your country’s architecture is uniquely your own. It will take some time for us to change the visual perceptions of our lands. The Russian facades just feel so… bland. What’s to them? We will be uniquely distinct soon enough. Mogadishu will gleam like Hyderabad sooner than later,” Nikolai said as he prepared his coffee. “Also, I must compliment you on your Russian. Your dialect sounds practiced, unlike some of the Arabs who are in my care. They know the language but they are so… bland. They speak only if spoken too and have little taste but you… you know your tongue well.” Nikolai sipped his coffee thoughtfully. The question of the direction he wished to take the world was one that had troubled him of late. ‘The world revolves quickly. Just as quickly as the sun sets and rises can mean the difference between power and weakness. Where should I fit in?’ were the thoughts that troubled him of late. His cousin was now adventuring in India, with an ambition that matched his own. However, it was the matter of colonies, of Europe, and of the amount of land that those north of him occupied both near his lands, and from afar that bothered him. “Qajar, your lands have been sustained nicely. I have thought long and hard, and I believe a partnership is an order. We must stand as a buffer to Europe. We have usurpers of power on our doorstep, and they perceive us as sources of income before they see us as people. You ask me about India? I say we focus on the Indian Ocean! You ask me about the world? I say we keep it from being overrun!” Nikolai realized the abruptness of his speech. While he did his best to keep his cool under the conditions, he knew he had to act moderately in these conditions. “Listen, the matter of India is important to me. You said our coup was splendid; however we still owe great debts to the Byzantines, and could face destruction if the situation is not treated properly. I have 10,000 soldiers in India. I could order them to overrun the Mysorian allies the Byzantines have gained, and cripple their colony. Doing so would put Ulgania Proper in the empire’s line of sight, and we would not be able to respond. “My idea, for now, is to focus our energies on subverting the Byzantines. Show them that India is not open for business. If any direct actions are taken, I could fall from my fragile seat of power. If we pooled together, and armed the Hindus and Dravidians and had them sweep the carpet out from beneath the Byzantines. “Now, your rail line is integral to this operation. I’m willing to front capital necessary for any operations, but you have the resources we need. What do you think of this?” |
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| A.Q. | Apr 25 2009, 07:41 PM Post #3 |
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Beautiful Snowflake
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The Emir's expression hardened for a moment, as he was calculating the Ulganian's sudden proposal. Nikolai couldn't recognize it, but the old man was succumbing the ruthlessness that had let him keep his grip on power for so long. The eyes he was wearing right now had been the death sentence for countless men, friend and enemy alike. But Alexyevitch was lucky, because the gaze was not on him. Rather, Qajar stared off at the sea to the East, weighing the risks and rewards of Nikolai's proposal. He nodded subtly and spoke to his new ally, but his eyes were still fixed on the horizon, and his voice lost the colloquialism it had carried before. "You know your rhetoric, Ulganian. You speak well, and you believe what you say. And your people clearly love you for that. But, don't expect me to be swayed so easily. I'm an old man, in more ways than one." "Your plan is bold, but it is risky. The Byzantines are no strangers to intrigue, and if the Mysorians are not destroyed quickly then the Romans will be able to hunt down your Hindus and Dravidians, and they will point back to us, sooner or later." "But I will help you in this game. The greatest strategic threat to Al Qalaa today is encirclement. This city," he pointed towards the pillars of factory smoke in the distance, "is clothed by Indian linen, fed by Chinese rice, and built with Tanzanian wood and metal. If we can't get those resources, bad things happen. So I will send you the weapons you want, and lend you my railway, and my navy will protect you from retribution, but I want your oath that you will be my man. And I will bind myself to you likewise. But I need to be absolutely sure that you are willing to go all the way with this." |
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| Ulgania | Apr 26 2009, 02:12 AM Post #4 |
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A better Zarathustra has never rode a horse
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“A bond such as the one created today should not be broken. I do not believe that it can be, for our goals remain similar. You will have mine and my people’s loyalty, for if it were not for your people we would not have this conversation. Any fig leaf I can offer will have come of a seed dropped by your tree. I hope to repay my debts by creating greatness, but we will need our plans,” Nikolai said. Deciding further gaff being unnecessary, he stopped to sip what was left of the coffee before him. Seeing that another cup was being hurriedly prepared, fixed the way he made it earlier with care, he relaxed. “I can have people mobilized very quickly, my friend. There will obviously be unforeseeable problems ahead, but for now anything that occurs will fall squarely on mine and my Viceroy in India’s shoulders. It is fair to let you know that there are plans that are already underway in India. Over a month ago, I send an order to Hyderabad to start training a force of natives to act as operatives. It’s nothing special, but they’re the equivalent of thugs. We pay them, and they cause trouble. They’re offered a sum of money as a group, and all who return can collect a fair share. They have the full understanding that what they do is dangerous, but that risk means if fewer people return, than those who are successful reap greater shares. We leave the means they employ to themselves, mostly, but so far we’ve been able to drive out Roman influence from the colony. “My point, for now, is to give you an idea of what I have to offer. Several of the local tribes are under my control, but they’re loyalty is as fragile as these sums of money. If the Romans were to exploit my tribal dependencies, everything could unravel. I am prepared to consolidate these tribes, but with your help and armaments they will stay on our side, and face considerably fewer casualties.” Nikolai monitored the Emir’s expression. He was sure he could read the man’s feelings, but his specific thoughts were escaping his grasp. ‘I know he wants my loyalty, and I know he sees foreign interests, but where will our bond take us down the road?’ he asked himself. |
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| A.Q. | Apr 26 2009, 09:09 PM Post #5 |
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Beautiful Snowflake
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Qajar nodded, satisfied with Nikolai's explanation. He leaned forward and finally looked the Ulganian straight in the eye. "I will do this thing for you if," He pointed a wary finger at Nikolai. "if you can guarantee that Al Qalaa will get a handsome cut of your Indian resources. Tea, coal, timber, we can use it all. You have my word that your people will get fair prices, but I want to make sure that there is a nice westbound train loaded with your cargo every month. Do we have an accord?" Nikolai agreed to the bargain. Qajar stood then, and shook his counterpart's hand. He grinned and suddenly his original kindly-old-man demeanor was back. "I believe that is all we need to cover for today, at least, but we still have much to discuss. But that is for tomorrow. Meanwhile, I'm feeling that a walk through my gardens are in order. Captain?" Rais appeared immediately at Qajar's side, as if he had been listening the entire time. "Would you mind showing our dear friend to his accommodations for his visit? Make sure to make him as comfortable as possible. That is the responsibility of the host, no?" Nikolai started to be led away, and the Emir called after him, "Don't let the Captain give you a hard time. He's all soft, on the inside." Nikolai's escort furrowed his brow and clenched his jaw, but kept his eyes locked forward. |
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| Ulgania | Apr 27 2009, 09:22 PM Post #6 |
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A better Zarathustra has never rode a horse
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Hamil Ali read over the requisition form. “What are those colonials thinking?! This is twice as much as we’ve ever produced in a month!” he said more to himself than to the messenger. “I’m sorry sir. It’s not my call. I can tell it’s a little tough, but I’m only a messenger.” “No, I understand. It wouldn’t say much of me to punish you for delivering a message,” Hamil said. Giving him a 2 rupee note to pay for the telegram, Hamil returned to the cabin that served as his office. The telegram itself outlined that the coal facility in his administrative district would have to increase output from 8 tons per week to 15. This increase is necessary to facilitate exports to the Qalaai rail lines to satisfy trade agreements. “Harumph. These trade agreements better bring me more cash. I can barely sustain this operation,” he said to himself. At that, there was a knock on his office door. “It’s open!” he called, not looking up from his desk. “Hullo, you are Hamil Ali, is that correct?” the newcomer said in broken Russian. “Yes. Please, sit down,” Hamil said in flawless Russian. After some hesitation the stranger sat in a chair by his desk. Sighing, Hamil said in Arabic, “You look like you can acknowledge this tongue better than Russian?” “Oh, yes, thank you,” the stranger said in Arabic. “Arabic has been native to these lands for some time. We have many languages, but I never imagined Russian being necessary to know,” he said. “My name is Tanguturi Prakasam, and I was sent by the Colonial Government. Mistress Prestonovna has acknowledged the needs for more coal may be a strain on the current mining operations. Do you require any assistance?” “Ah, this could turn out to be the best news I’ve heard all day.” Elsewhere in the colony, Boris Drakovitch was overseeing a larger establishment: several plantations in an area that had formerly been a disorganized collection of subsistence farms used by the natives. In these plantations, assortments of cash-crops were being harvested, the chief product being tea. The burgeoning demand for the product in Europe made Boris’ location more than profitable. However, that changed as received his own telegram. By order of Nikolai Alexyevitch, 51% of the products grown and manufactured in the Drakovitch Estate shall transported to the Hyderabad branch of the Nasrudin Company of Al Qalaa. The telegram contained more logistical information about delivery dates, times, loading areas, but Draco had quickly noticed the lack of any explanation. “Huh, usually these communications have a rationale. It’s probably something to do with our governments though. I’m not too surprised they’d withhold at least a few bits of information,” Draco said. The messenger simply shrugged. “Hey, it’s not my responsibility to be critical. I just work for them. I’ve sent about 8 of these out today though. Thankfully you’ve remained a little calmer than some of the others I’ve met with, but I need to deliver another batch. By the looks of things Alexyevitch has something big in mind.” “Indeed. Safe travels to you, comrade,” Draco said, giving the messenger a five rupee note. Edited by Ulgania, Apr 27 2009, 09:23 PM.
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