Crisis at the Border [OPEN]

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(Esquivel, Sierra) - It was seven o’clock in the morning, and the Sierran Coast Guard went off for their usual patrol. They usually patrol the sea borders and the waters around thirteen kilometers off of the shore of Sierra. That’s when they allegedly saw a cruiser from Cimmeria, a neighboring state of Sierra. As Esquivel is a border town, security presence along that city’s coast is more than other coastal towns. It was then when they located a Cimmerian ship that had seemed to be out of its own boundaries and inside of Sierran waters.

The motivation behind why the ship was out is obscure. Be that as it may, it appears to Sierra that it was out for its watch of Cimmerian waters. Boisterous blasts were heard in the early morning in the city and there were a few of them. "It felt like we were enduring an assault," says one unknown nonmilitary personnel. Something was enduring an onslaught, yet it wasn't Sierra. It was a ship from a neighbor.

An emergency press conference in Sierra was held after a supply ship was sunk off the Sierran Coast yesterday. A confirmed two people are dead, one is missing, and a rescue mission is to take into effect on a later date for survivors. The Sierran Coast Guard is taking responsibility for the sinking of the boat saying that the boat "violated Sierran waters" therefore it is fair game to sink. The Sierran Government has decided to not mind anything that was being said about them. "This is not an act of aggression. They violated our water space. Therefore, they will pay the consequences." said President Francisco Ohina in a press conference on the issue.

Sierra has also refused to send back the bodies of the men that perished at sea and are keeping the debris in the water as a symbolic gesture to the Cimmerians. A greater military presence along the border and on the coasts has also emerged from Sierra. Several ships have allegedly gotten to the international water borders between Sierra and Cimmeria to make sure that such a mistake is not repeated.

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His Imperial Majesty
Matthew VIII
Emperor of Mintoria
Dinsmark


Dear Your Imperial Majesty:

We are deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of your naval servicemen involved in the unfortunate Esquivel Incident. We would like to offer our condolences to all their families and friends as well as extend the heartfelt sympathies of the Lawstoner people as your country mourns this tragic loss.

Regardless of the political circumstances surrounding the incident, we believe everyone can all agree the service and dedication of any soldier to their country, especially at the cost of their own lives in the line of duty, warrants the due respect of any reasonable society in the brotherhood of free nations.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Mintoria at this time.

Pagpalain nawa tayo sa mahal na kalooban ng tadhana.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Rajesh L. Galang
Präsident der Lawstoner Republik

Dalisay Galang
Erste Dame der Lawstoner Republic

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"I hate red folders."

It had become custom for Prime Minister Madeline Ellison to arrive late to the morning meeting. It wasn't so much as she was just habitually a tardy person, but she simply liked to be the last person in the room. It was her that carried the dossiers of events around the principality and around the world, and when things came to her attention late, she enjoyed catching her ministers and the royal sisters off their guard. Today was no exception, and at 8:02 AM, the exact time in which she was expected to arrive, she did so, carrying a variety of folders. Most of them were vanilla-colored, but one was red in color.

Princess Claidie hated seeing the red folders. On the one hand, at least she wasn't awakened for it. That would have been for something more severe than a red folder and required her immediate attention. Instead, it was just another international crisis with the potential to impact the principality. Claidie had seen two too many of these in recent days. First, it was the dossier about the Fuss installation. Whatever today's was, it was comparable to that.

Madeline reached across the conference table to place the folder right in front of Claidie before taking her seat. Claidie returned the favor with the rolling of eyes before picking it up and browsing its contents while Madeline started talking.

"We recently learned of an incident between Cimmeria and Sierra where a Cimmerian ship was sunk in Sierran waters. There's conflicting reports of what exactly this ship was. Some sources say it was a military cruiser, some say it was a supply ship even more ambiguous of its origins; we don't know whether it was military or civilian in that case," Madeline said, briefing the cabinet.

"And because we don't know the origin of the sunken ship, we're not confident in the safety of our civilian cargo ships and tankers that might cross into waters they claim?" Claidie asked, seemingly in sync with her elected counterpart.

"Precisely, Claidie. We don't have enough information to say for sure that this was the fault of either Cimmeria for having a military vessel stray into foreign waters or that of Sierra for firing on a civilian vessel. We don't know, but this is scaring the businesses that operate between Prydania and ourselves."

"Then we make a statement as neutral as possible, not attributing blame, but reminding the Sierrans to be mindful of who or what they're targeting," Claidie suggested.

"... And perhaps not immediately firing in the first place, but perhaps use more coercive methods to encourage foreign military ships to leave?" Princess Alice also suggested.

"I like the way you two are thinking," Madeline confirmed. "Now, you two should give my husband a directive to write that letter," she followed, turning her head and winking at the Foreign Affairs minister sitting further down the table.

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The Government of the Principality of Sil Dorsett has recently learned of the sinking of a Cimmerian vessel in Sierran waters. Because the facts of the incident are unclear, confidence in the safety of private companies and their vessels has been shaken. We wish to encourage the Government of Sierra to allow the passage of civilian ships in transit to other areas of the world that require travel through waters claimed by Sierra. The ease of trade between nations will only serve to benefit the economies of the world, including that of Sierra.

William Bowers
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Principality of Sil Dorsett

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Princess Dawn liked her meetings how she liked her coffee.

Because her coffee usually didnt have some dignitaries' snout in it.

She had been doing conferences on international affairs for the majority of that morning, and these were the facts so far: there's a military weapons platform miles from her border on the East side, and a nation with a happy trigger finger on her West.

The main concern was that of world peace. The Commonwealth was officially a neutral nation, but that didnt mean she couldn't play favorites when she had to.

"Miss Lily? If you would, put me in contact with the East Fleet Commander. I may have an idea of how to keep our waters calm."

Official condemnation of Sierra:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

To the Government of the Sierran state,


His Majesty’s Government has taken notice of the destruction of the cruiser, the SMS Erzherzog von Hohenpeissenberg, which was sunk at 07:00 on 6th January 2020. The ship in question was positioned in international waters at the time of its destruction. This action was malicious, and unwarranted, and will not be tolerated. The Cimmerian Realm therefore condemns the actions of the Sierran state. All travel to and from Sierra will be restricted, as will all maritime travel. The borders of the Realm will be closed for the time being, and we demand that the bodies of the naval personnel be returned to the Realm at once. Any further acts of aggression or malice towards the Realm will result in further condemnation, and more severe measures towards the Sierran state.

Signed,


The Right Honourable
Sir Frederich Hildebrandt Schachtschneider von Pourtalès
Minister of Foreign Affairs
HICM Government​

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SMS (Aleman: Seine Majestät Schiff) — “His Majesty’s Ship”

Erzherzog — Archduke

0800
RAPTOR 4
International Waters outside Sierra

"Command, RAPTOR"

"Go for Command."

"We are go on stated coordinates for ship wreckage. Repeat, go for coords."

"Copy, RAPTOR. Stand by for a flight plan over-site."

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Aboard the HMS Constellation, tensions were at a breaking point. Some of their best aviators were about to go into Delta airspace to help identify any parts or crew from the SMS Erzherzog von Hohenpeissenberg, a ship belonging to another nation.

"Sierra may have just committed an act of war, and we're about to send a plane right over-site. X marks the spot for Sierra" commented one sailor.

"Maybe if they'd keep their guns pointed in the right direction, they wouldn't have all of this attention on them. Besides, these orders originated from the crown, and it's not like we have much choice but to follow them," was the hushed response.

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0830
RAPTOR 4
Disputed Airspace

"Raptor is in position. Radar is picking up on wreckage, thermals don't show anything warm or person-shaped. Any survivors got taken, and probably any bodies, too."

The aircraft performed orbits at 30,000 feet, using a powerful beam sensor to look for anything out of the ordinary in the water.

"Remember, command: if they were willing to shoot down a Cimmerian ship for coming this far, they certainly won't like us sticking our snouts in it either. If we don't find anything soon, it's RTB for analysis."

"Copy, Raptor. Pull out at 10 minutes mission time on mark, or at your discretion. Mark."

With the radio silent, the plane went into the next of many slow turns to look over the water.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SIERRAN PRESIDENT

"Well, here we go. As everyone knows the story as of now, I feel that we should get something straight here. We did shoot down a Cimmerian vessel, but for one reason and one reason only; they were violating our waters. Anyone who violates our space is under our jurisdiction and it is our right to respond to what may be a threat. I am not sorry. Sierra is not sorry. The Coast Guard is not sorry. We were just doing our jobs to protect our people. If any of you people have problems with that, then we should be talking because that is an issue.

Next, Cimmeria. Condemn us. Please do. Cut off travel. Cut relations. We have no problem with doing so, but where we draw the line is international community intervening. Please, do not jump into this conflict. You'll just be inflicting casualties upon yourselves. The bodies of the naval men are officially Sierran property and will not be returned. Good day."