Sangria is Thicker than Water (Aragon-Kingdom of Italy)

[Avalanche]

Lady Natalia of the Order of the Thistle arrived in Milan bearing a royal parcel for the King of Italy. The package consisted of a pair of generously sized bottles of fine sangria and a handful of novelties and niceties surrounding a parchment letter that bore a bright wax seal laid intricately with the arms of the House of Alba de Tormes.

My Dearest Cousin,

It is phenomenal to once again correspond with not only a fellow sovereign, but to do so with, distant as our relation may be, kin. Regal and devout leaders such as ourselves, as well as our relations, are few and far between in this age. I do so tire of the presidents and premiers and their soulless manners, of the annoyances of electoralism and the incontinuities it raises, of being made to treaty with the heretic and the heathen as if they were not in most dire need of His light. To, for once, speak on favourable terms with not only a true equal but with one I might so warmly call cousin.

While I would be thrilled to have had the time to contact you freely, and I should like to continue writing you when I do catch a spare moment, the circumstances under which I must write you are of much greater import to our nations than the mere whims of relatives or monarchs. Our ways are under threat from the foreign infidel that would style herself so brazenly as Queen, Catharine al Victoria. Her host is many and her allies powerful, as we all, from the Euxine to the Vergivium, know so well. It is matters concerning her that I find myself wrestling with nightly, and that I do write to you about presently.

I commend your valour, interceding on behalf of the French Republic. It was with great bravery that you stood proudly in opposition to tyranny, of the communist west and of the imperialist south, a stand we found ourselves making together, and a stand that I would we not only uphold, but advance forwards from. I will be blunt, for you are my blood: I loathe the state our continent has fallen to, so weak and divided that Africa is so largely responsible for our politics, and that the singular figure that dictates such policy does so flagrantly and with no regard for what is best for the myriad nations individually or collectively.

It is with this in mind that I ask of you, dearest cousin of mine, fellow Christian and lover of Christ, wise King of Italy, to stand with me and my compatriots for a new Europe, strong, united, and allowed to exercise our God-given right to self-determination. Together we are strong, and by the grace of the Lord together we will triumph, of this I am sure.

Yo la Princesa Real

[Markus Wilding]

A slightly less extravagant letter was sent back, indicating whether this proposal indicated a separate agreement from JACHQF and whether or not this signaled a departure from the united from with Chad and Syria.

[Avalanche]

To paraphrase Aragon's reply,

Chad, Syria, Mexico; these nations are valuable allies, but they are not like us — we, Aragon and France, would that a formalised international agreement for the security of Europe be drafted and ratified, and the full support of Italy behind the formation of that agreement is desired.

An attached postscriptum also made clear that La Provi is quite earnest in her desire for a close personal relationship with her extended family, separate but not unshackled from matters of business.

[Avalanche]

Aragon offers its Italian ally a comprehensive arms deal, as an interim solution to the development of domestic Italian industry. The deal offers the sale of several thousand CETME rifles, quantities of some other assorted small arms, and a couple hundred Pinzón attack helicopters, as well as licenses, tooling, and technical assistance for the domestic production of these items, and on top of that general industrial aid for the modernisation of Italian industry. In addition, Aragon offers Italy partnership in the Future European Fighter Aircraft program.

[fcSolar]

The Kingdom of Italy graciously accepts Aragon's generous offer, and agrees to partnership on the FEFA program. Milan will assign its best aeronautical engineers to the program.

[fcSolar]

A letter from Queen Margherita II arrives:

My Dearest Cousin,

I had discovered your letters to my late father among his personal belongings. It is unfortunate that he passed before you could correspond further, unburdened by such things as necessity. I doubt my father's replies to these letters were terribly enthused, as he was terribly busy. I wish I could say that it was his duties as king that he was busy with, but I cannot, for he was far too often engaged in his proclivities. Should you still be interested in building a personal relationship with what remains of House Savoy, I would like to extend an invitation to visit the Royal Palace in Milan when I am less preoccupied with my duties.

Signed,
Margherita II, by the Grace of God, Queen of Italy

[Avalanche]

Back home at the Palau Reial Major after the emergency deployment to Mexico, La Provi takes the time to pen an enthusiastic reply to her cousin indicating she will be making preparations for a cordial visit to Milan posthaste.

[Avalanche]

A message arrives from the headquarters of Aragon's armour corps, requesting the chance to study the Italian P 55/68. The message explains that they are investigating the possibility for evaluation of a new tank to replace the VCB-105, and design studies found Italy's MBT to be one of the few extant models to already or readily fulfill many requirements. They ask to either send a team of engineers abroad or be allowed to simply purchase a handful. They stress that should this little experiment go anywhere then any large-scale deal would be rather lucrative for Italy.

[fcSolar]

A reply is sent:
We would gladly allow our great ally the chance to study our P55/68 tank. We will forward the necessary information for you to contact the procurement department to purchase the tanks, or to contact an armoured regiment for your engineers to study them here in Italy.

[Avalanche]

The offer to purchase the tanks is graciously accepted.