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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 15, 2012 13:22:40 GMT -5
The voice over the radio let out a pensive sigh.
"We cannot trust your word alone. If you can bring to us a verifiable offer from the Graal Hegemony itself, or a Hegemony high official proven willing to consider our terms and to negotiate in good faith, then we will consider a cease-fire.
"As for the Esharan WMD, the Republic has explicitly agreed to refrain from its use on Sorguth Prime. If they are pushed to use it because of the weight of their losses, it will be as much Varium's failing as theirs, and both nations will have made themselves Enemies of the Revolution."
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jun 30, 2012 22:13:50 GMT -5
For his work in successfully negotiating with the graal, and being the highest ranking Space Command field officer left, Rawn had been given the job of head diplomat in Varium, at least until Varium scraped enough money together to build a fleet.
He walked into the RWU embassy and dropped a copy of the RWU's message to Lintsya on the ambassador's desk. "We picked this one up. Aren't you boys being a bit hypocritical here?" he asked, in a voice he'd use to chide his young son when he misbehaved.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 2, 2012 15:07:12 GMT -5
Army Major-Ambassador Johan Bayer, a Varian prisoner-gone-defector and one of a handful of Varian human RWU citizen-members, was no fool.
"So the Lintsyians gave you a copy of Kazamar's demands," he stated flatly, with a bored expression on his face shadowed by the wide, red-starred helmet on his head. "Now you want to make weak analogies and try to throw us off. Bravo, you managed to put an RWU statement through the Varian spin-machine and come up with some far-flung connection to imperialism. I'm sure your news media will eat it up, since they'd rather pick up a sensational sound bite than do serious analysis that might challenge the status quo.
"Now, I have two jobs here, you know, and I'm only going to play Ambassador if you have something worth my time. So tell me why you do, or we can consider this meeting over with."
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jul 2, 2012 15:35:18 GMT -5
"Imperialism isn't just military, my dear Varian. It is also the forced integration of ideas into an unwilling society to create a puppet government supportive to your own cause, which is exactly where you are going. The tale spins well enough without adding a machine to it." He sat down opposite his countryman's desk. "I am here not for an exact diplomatic discussion, I am here for a bit more abstract discussion. Here's a question: how far will the RWU go in terms of bringing justice to the workers?"
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 2, 2012 15:47:13 GMT -5
Bayer sighed, thick fingers rubbing against his temples.
"Alright, you want a discussion. Let me start by saying your nicely-worded lies are still just lies. We're not forcing any ideas. The Lintsyian government says it's democratic, so we're calling it out. If they really believe in popular sovereignty, they'll submit to an election and let the protesters' leaders sit in on their discussions. It's the Lintsyian protesters that want this; we're fighting for them out of solidarity, not because we want to impose anything. Just like we fought for the GRF. And if they vote for an administration that does things differently than us, then so be it. That's self-determination, which is exactly what Glatia is trying to suppress by refusing to risk her power to popular vote.
"As for your question, it all depends on what you mean. We're not fools who write hard and fast rules for 'how far' we go. It all depends on context, my dear Varian. What I can say is that we take the Values of the Revolution seriously, but you knew that already." Throughout the whole rebuttal, Major Bayer's face maintained its bored, unphased expression.
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jul 2, 2012 16:13:26 GMT -5
Rawn sighed. He took up the tone he used when teaching his son outside of school. "Popular governments still can have famines, as Varium has just proved, and Lintsya which has a senate. The only difference between us and Lintsya is that Lintsya isn't used to famines, and thus its people reacted badly when one came. This isn't about popular sovereignty which it has and has proved time and again, this is about your understandable irritation at having your diplomat killed, and not so understandable overreaction." He sighed. "One must use a deft and subtle hand in these matters for fear of retaliation... Context is a rationalization. You can make up an excuse for anything if you work at it, which is why definite rules and objectives are needed."
"I fear for our nation, I worry about how long it will be before the propaganda leaflets the RWU is tacking up become soldiers claiming to know what's best for my people, and how long before those soldiers become violent. The RWU would find a reason, be it a group as tiny as the GRF were, or a governmental mistake like the Lintsyans. Many of the people fear too, and afraid people do irrational things."
His stomach rumbled. "I haven't had lunch and had only a roll for breakfast because of this cursed food shortage. Does the RWU furnish you with food? I would be envious of you if your belly is filled, and in admiration of your playing dressing up to make it that way. Would the RWU be willing to share some of its produce with a starving population?"
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 2, 2012 19:06:57 GMT -5
"So, basically, your explanation for the riots is that the Lintsyian masses are ignorant?" Bayer raised an eyebrow on his otherwise expressionless face. "Or that, for some reason, they're crying 'injustice' where there's none? You must really think badly of people outside your privileged, upper-middle-class circles.
"Anyways, you have nothing to fear. In fact, the RWU would really rather rebuild and repair relations with a nation like yours, respecting the will and interests of its people. Other than the Synod and the Holdworlds, the Federation is probably the only nation that even comes close to a Workers' Democracy.
"Now you did make a solid proposal. Yes, the RWU gives our embassy food, and our soldiers and personnel have been actively sharing it as much as they can without starving themselves. As for the big picture, the RWU is happy to discuss a deal to ship food to Varium. Maybe this can be a first step to easing your fears?"
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jul 2, 2012 21:16:06 GMT -5
"As to my first statement, no. The Lintsyans have never experienced a famine before. Ignorance is not the same as inexperience. No person no matter how well read can be prepared for a famine, as Lintsya proved. And upper middle class circles?" Rawn sighed. "Varium's education system has failed you. We are all equal in the amount we starve. The President and the lowest citizen on welfare both had a roll for breakfast, no lunch, and will have a bowl of nutrient paste for dinner, you remember that disgusting grey much, don't you?"
"We will take you up on your offer. At the end of this year Varium will still have a deficit of 3,000 standard units of food. We are willing to pay 60 IP for it to be shipped over."
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 3, 2012 1:20:33 GMT -5
"I meant to imply that you look at masses with disdain, not that you don't know starvation yourself," Bayer clarified flatly. "Riots tend to mean that someone's doing bad things to the people, not that something bad happened by accident, and to suggest otherwise is condescending no matter how you put it.
"Back to the food offer. It's a deal. Of course, your news anchors would claim the food was a magical catch of space greens before they admitted where it actually came from. We're still working on getting our commercial infrastructure together, so you'll have to pick it up with the same freighter you use to carry over the currency. Work for you?"
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jul 3, 2012 5:57:53 GMT -5
"The state does not control the news so I'm afraid your right" Rawn said, and chuckled. This one was actually funny. "We'll be sending the freighter over immediately."
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 4, 2012 19:27:41 GMT -5
Major Johan Bayer's visit to Rawn was scheduled the moment news came out of the Federation's recognition of Eshara's military junta.
"You know Eshara has a rightful government," the Major stated flatly, "and that is the one they elected. Not the one that shot down people in cold blood until it took the reins of power for itself.
"It's funny, given your outrage at an RWU action that could be possibly construed as imperialism, that you turn a blind eye the obvious imperialist ways of the military government that hides behind the so-called monarchy. They already bombed our embassy, and claim terrorist Royalists as our rightful leaders.
"Or do you actually want to repeat exactly the situation you put yourself into with the Graal? Will you be joining the next powerful batch of slavers and autocrats after the Hegemony and join their wars against the world's democracies, except your own?"
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jul 4, 2012 21:21:00 GMT -5
"I am with you on this one. So is the President. There are however enough senators who think either you are worse or this is the same old Eshara to overrule him." Rawn held up his hands. "Help us prove them wrong. Videos, statistics, anything that can be displayed when congress convenes tomorrow me and the President need."
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 5, 2012 0:21:01 GMT -5
Bayer's eyes squinted slightly as he pondered for a moment.
"We have video and audio from the assault on our embassy, and records of Dominion officials claiming Ayar Royalists to be the legitimate government of the RWU. I believe our tapes also include sightings of Esharan resistance groups, a few interviews here and there by our embassy staff, but mostly shots of them fighting Dominion forces. I'm willing to give you everything we have from our embassy on Eshara from the beginning of the coup until the building's destruction."
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jul 5, 2012 1:09:41 GMT -5
"That will be good, thank you." Rawn took the tapes.
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Post by Federation of Varium on Jul 5, 2012 1:27:05 GMT -5
15 minutes before Varium's official response:
Rawn reported to the RWU embassy in a slightly optimistic mood. "Good news my countryman" he said, and handed the RWU's message to Bayer. "Thank you for your help."
"Oh, and we had a freighter bound for Esharan space but it has returned home. We would like to begin trade with you."
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