Conference on the Status of Shei Ren

"That's ridiculous! For example, did Lorbank pay 50 million Aureias worth of metal for its independence from Xentherida? No! Why should Shei Ren?!"
 
"Those 'reimbursements' are absolutely absurd. We will not accept them either if Nebula doesn't come down to Eras a little bit."
 
"Oh, for the love of the infinite universes!" Malachit snapped. "50 million is barely enough to build six Delta fighter jets!"
 
"Doesn't matter. It's still absurd. Wanna know why?" Atlas interjected. "Because these people should not have to pay anything to you, if they were on the island first. Feel lucky we are not asking you to pay them."
 
"Are you shitting me?" asked Malachit. "This is going to be your only shot at getting Shei Ren freed peacefully, and you're throwing it away because your sense of morality is kicking in? After waging brutal war in Rhuvanland and Cronaal, you're refusing to pay a trifling sum so we can end this stupid debate?"
 
"Your utter lack of morality and propensity for greediness, whether it be keeping Shei Ren or leaving with a payment, is what upsets me." Atlas replied calmly.
 
"Shei Ren is strategically important. You would do the same in our position and don't try to deny it."
 
"No, I wouldn't, and I am going to try to deny it; because unlike Nebula, Syrixia is not a nation of warmongerers anymore. We do not choose locations to look into based on military strategy."
 
"Nebula has a booming chemical industry. Anything Shei Ren has you probably have too."
 
"Think, man! We can process only as much tantalum ore as we have tantalum ore, for example. Shei Ren is an excellent source of strontium ore."
 
"Shei Ren could easily trade Strontium Ore with you if they wanted to. There is no need to conquer them and use economics as your rationale when trade is just as viable an option."
 
Malachit turned to Nanh. "After our occupation of your country, would you consider trading with us? Answer honestly."
 
"If it will get you out of here, then yes. We want to open trade with all nations and forge amiable relationships."
 
Malachit thought for a moment. "We would like the ability to choose the first economic advisory committee. The payment will be eliminated if this term is met."
 
"By doing that," Nanh said, "you would perhaps attempt to sway us and our economy by picking pro-Nebula councilors, and using them and their advice. Do not take us for fools, Malachit. You are trying to find various ways to hold onto your yoke on our island, but you fail to understand that that yoke coming off is inevitable."
 
"Ah, I see, you want to create another puppet? Yeah, no." Atlas remarked. "Shei Ren will get what Shei Ren wants."
 
"No!" said Malachit. "Are you at all listening? We want socialists, but not necessarily ones in our back pocket!"
 
"Your nation is socialist, and has a record of expansionism." Nanh said. "Whenever you say you want a nation to be socialist, it is most likely, based on numerous examples in the recent past, that you will turn such a nation into a puppet state."

Atlas began to speak. "If you really do not want Shei Ren to be your puppet, prove it. Right now."
 
"Do go and look at Guslantis, will you?" Malachit said. "Socialist, and we've not even considered trying anything."
 
"I wouldn't even call them socialist fully. They may have the economic model of a socialist nation, but they HAVE A MONARCHY. If you think Guslantis counts on your hegemony hit list, you may as well count nations like McMasterdonia or even Andulus, for crying out loud..."
 
"And Hiskjraana? A notably leftist nation, not at all far from our shores, and we've made absolutely no activity in regards to them."
 
"Thinking like a warlike Nebulan, of course you wouldn't care about Hiskjriaana. Unless you wanted to attack Kalti and bomb the hell out of them, of course. Nebula's probably itching to bomb SOMETHING."
 
"If you do not apologize for your blatant insult, negotiations end here and Shei Ren remains under the Nebulan thumb."
 
"Why should we apologize? It's true. All due respect, Mr. Malachit, but your country has an alarming propensity for expansionism which is a threat to many countries. It needs to end. This conference is how that will end. If Nebula is to become an upstanding member of the international community, it must end."
 
"But that is not what we, the native Sheireni people, want for our island." said Nanh. "We have the right to craft our own system of government. I did not say we would cut ties from Nebula, but we do want to forge ties with other nations as well." He paused briefly, then continued. "If Nebula does not let go of our island and end its record of expansionism, I sincerely doubt Nebula will become an upstanding member of the international community. Nebula must learn, as other nations already have, to thrive without utilizing aggressive expansion. It is a win-win situation. I will be frank; right now Nebula is seen to many nations as a threat; something worrying or even bad. Is that what you want your nation to look like? You can change that."
 
"There is no need to scream, Mr. Malachit." Nanh replied. "All we are saying is that Shei Ren must be fully independent and must be allowed to choose its own political system."
 
"Perhaps a compromise would be best?" Atlas noted. "Syrixia is capitalist and Nebula is socialist. Maybe Shei Ren could follow a democratic socialist system?"
 
"By all means," said Malachit, thinking, Of course, Nebula is democratically socialist too, but your 'kill the commies' mental complex won't let you believe that. Quite understandable.
 
"Deal. The 'cuddly capitalism' of democratic socialism (OOC: aka Nordic model) will be a good compromise. So, we have a deal?"
 
"Deal? We have only negotiated the political and economic portions of this. We need to also discuss the matters of military and trade. Nebula needs assurance that nothing will prevent us from opening trade with Shei Ren."
 
"I was talking about a deal concerning those portions of our agreement. It's best not to jump to conclusions." Atlas replied. "Now then, let's get back to business. Military and trade." Nanh nodded at Atlas, then turned to Malachit. "Agreed. Nebula has full assurance that trade will not be restricted between Nebula and Shei Ren. We have no contempt for the Nebulan nation; we only are politely asking Nebula to leave. As for our military, all we need ourselves is an island guard; a police, if you will. We have no desire to make what many consider to be a military, as Shei Ren has no military interests and wishes to remain neutral in all military conflicts."
 
"Would Nebula be allowed to retain a military base on a nearby island, to help protect Shei Ren if things go sour?"
 
"Deal," Nanh said, "But only if Syrixia has one on another island as well." Atlas nodded, and said, "I can agree with that. It's a good compromise."
 
"There's a small island. Part of RPI, and we all know how things have been going over there. We plan on annexing it. You can have a base there, or on the fringes of Galacta."
 
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