SRA-Victoria DiploMagic

[Markus Wilding]

President Connally headed to Dar es Salaam on Victorian request, with relatively little fanfare.

[Sabriel]

The SRA President was once again invited to Dar es Salaam. He was taken to the Royal Towers and greeted by King Atieno, who made small talk until the Queen entered the meeting room. One of her arms was still bound in a sling from the attempt on her life, and her wings were missing. She wore a laughing mask of bone.

"Alexander, we're going to have a problem." She gestured to an aide who placed a folder on the table. "I know about Leviathan." She gestured pointedly to her wounded arm.

[Markus Wilding]

President Connally briefly let a flash of worry cross his face. The CIA and Joint Chiefs had informed him of the recent events in Victoria concerning Queen Catharine and the assassination attempt, but he didn't think it would come to this. "I see," he said plainly. "Is there anything you would like from Atlanta? We do have some very fine medical technology, perhaps I could arrange for a doctor to be flown here, assist your... I presume there is a royal doctor, yes? There's a very fine doctor in Atlanta I trust with my life, I'm sure he would be happy to help your household physicians in treating you. How have you been, by the way?"

[Sabriel]

"You won't blame me for not trusting foreign doctors at the moment. But, how very kind of you to ask about what you can do for me. Because, surprise! I have something in mind." The queen gestured Atieno over and took one of his hands in hers.

"The Soviets have become a problem. They've been backing and supporting revolutionary communist agitators all over. And I have reason to believe they had one of my Colonels killed in Turkey. They've been interfering with my allies in the Covenant as well. This is not something I'll tolerate. So I want you to join me in removing them as a threat. You can put your own troops in Moscow when we're finished, so that it's communists occupying communists. And you can bring the rest of their bloc into line once they've fallen. I don't want revolutionary communism to be an issue for the world anymore when we're done.

"And once we've completed that, I think I will have forgotten what the word Leviathan means. Do you understand?"

[Markus Wilding]

"You would have Atlanta occupy Soviet soil, because you believe them to be responsible for the death of your Colonel in Istanbul." President Connally looked over the file, studying its contents intensely for a few moments. After he was done, he set it down slowly, taking just as painfully lethargic a sip of warm tea. "Alright. This can be done under one condition, however. America's airborne, who I am sure the Victorian military is well-acquainted with, is currently engaged in Cascadia. This will leave the task up to the Socialist Republics Marine Corps, and as I am also sure you are well aware, the Soviet Union has no sea border. We in Atlanta are broadly aware of Soviet plans to recapture St. Petersburg, and we will assist them in taking the window to the west. When all is said and done, and the Soviets are celebrating their victory in St. Petersburg, American Marines will march to Moscow, seize the government offices, and Victoria can apprehend the government officials and do what Victoria does best with them. This is the only way that Atlanta foresees this operation being undertaken successfully."

[Sabriel]

"What a limited imagination you have," the queen laughed beneath her mask as she spoke. "The Soviet Union itself doesn't have a sea border, that is certainly true. But their ally in the Volga does. And Kazakhstan is a wonderful launching point for Covenant operations. There's no need to subject any more nations to Soviet aggression."

[Markus Wilding]

Connally sighed, nodding with a resigned look about him. "Very well. As I said, the Marines can be tasked to assist, but I can promise no further than that."

[Sabriel]

"Marines are excellent. I'd hope that you'll provide additional air support, beyond what comes from their landing ships? They'll be moving quite far inland, after all, and I'd hate for the RAPS to get all the glory again."

[Sabriel]

The Victorian embassy in the SRA passed a simple message to their American counterparts. "Queen Catharine expects you to honour the agreement made regarding the Soviets. The time to act is now."

[Markus Wilding]

ATTN: QUEEN CATHARINE AL VICTORIA, VICTORIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
TOP SECRET!

CIA ADVISES THAT A POTENTIAL MODERATE SOVIET POLITICIAN HAS BEEN FOUND... CONDITIONS GOOD TO PUT THEM IN HIGH LEADERSHIP POSITION. POSSIBLE TO AVOID FURTHER BLOODSHED AND REIGN BACK SOVIET UNION DIPLOMATICALLY. PEACE WITH USSR MAY BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE MILITARY DEPLOYMENT.