(OOC: This is an rp made by me, Luna and Tuva over what is the contentious matter of the Báslan islands. Currently the first few posts will be ones jointly written by me and Luna.)
15th August, 2024
Royal Palace, Osfjord, Norgsveldet
Wilhelm Kirkeland looked at his Witcain wrist watch, giving a small nod as he dusted off whatever dust might have gathered on his lap before straightening his red tie. The prime minister is wearing a typical black and white dress suit for the meeting he will be having. He gave two knocks on the door before placing his hands behind his back, readying a polite smile on his lips. Though he obviously didn’t show it, the prime minister had small nerves that had been gathering. That was unavoidable with what he was going to be requesting.
“Come in.” The king’s voice spoke up loud and clear through the door.
Opening the door to the king’s office Kirkeland would see the large expenses that had been made to maintain it all. With a large painting behind the king who was sitting behind his long mahogany desk, the painting being of none other than Haakon III. Arguably most popular monarch in Norgsveltian history. Certainly at least by their Akuan minority. Olav was wearing his Royal uniform as preparation for today’s meeting, with Wilhelmina pouring her husband a cup of coffee.
“Mr. Kirkeland, as precise as always.” The king kept a polite smile as he stood up from his chair, and reached out to shake his prime minister’s hand.
“It would be poor manners to arrive late for a meeting that I personally requested after all, your majesty.” Kirkeland said with a low chuckle as he gave a deep bow with his head before grabbing Olav’s hand, shaking it firmly. Or with how much tighter the king’s grip was it be more correct that Olav was the one shaking it firmly.
“And a sudden one as well. We usually hold our meetings at the end of the month.” The king said, keeping his warm smile as he then let go and gestured for his wife to shake the prime minister’s still outreached hand.
Wilhelmina didn’t raise her voice towards the Prime Minister, barely acknowledging his existence on the best of times. She didn’t shake his hand until her husband gave her a polite nudge, making her shake the baby killer’s hand.
Kirkeland gave the Queen a polite smile as he shook her hand trying best to ignore her uncharacteristic coldness. After which he was gestured by the King to sit down at the chair in front of the desk. With him sitting down as the king poured him a cup of coffee, giving him it before sitting down himself.
“Now may I inquire about the purpose of this meeting, Mr. Kirkeland? I must assume it has to be of high importance seeing it couldn’t wait until the end of the month.” Olav raised an eyebrow at his prime minister, taking a sip from his cup.
“You’d be correct, it would be of very high importance, your majesty.” Kirkeland said with a small sigh, taking a sip from his own cup to calm his nerves. His brown eyes glanced towards the Queen as he put down his cup. “One which is reserved to a matter only discussed between Crown and State.”
Olav slowly put down his cup at that, giving a slight suspicious look towards his prime minister but nonetheless gave a nod before looking up towards his wife that was standing next to him. Her short height did only make her slightly taller than him when he was sitting down. “Dear, you think you could leave my office for a small moment? I’ll try to not have the meeting take too long.” He said in a warm sweet tone placing a hand on hers, dwarfing her far smaller hand as he caressed it.
“Anytime sweetie.” The kemonomimi gave a warm smile, leaning to kiss her husband. Giving a harsh look towards Kirkeland, then taking her leave of the room. Muttering something in Nys’tat’ten under her breath.
After hearing the office door close Kirkeland would let out a small sigh before looking back towards the king. “As your majesty may know, the matter of Báslan has yet to be resolved.” He spoke in a firm and utter determined tone. “For almost ten years those islands remained in a status of joint occupation with our… partners in the UCCS. In which this year is gonna mark the end of the occupation, with Báslan finally having its own government once more.”
“Yet I can sense there is a tidbit that made the matter more difficult.” Olav said, taking another sip from his coffee cup.
“Quite. Your majesty. For almost two years now I’ve attempted to convince President Minerva Todd to withdraw from the islands, and allow for an unified democratic and equal Báslan government to be established. To avoid any further bloodshed be spilled against the Ulvriktru and Akuanist communities in those islands. Yet, despite it all, Mrs. Todd remained determined to stay on those islands.” Kirkeland couldn’t help but frown as he thought about the dozens of phone calls he had with the UCCS president. All ending up with both leaders frustrated, neither of them willing to back away from their prefered group on those islands.
“I am not exactly surprised, Mr. Kirkeland. Mrs. Sverdrup tried for six long years to convince Todd and her predecessor to leave Báslan. With no success. In many ways you’re following behind Sverdrup there.” The king said calmly, putting down his cup.
The prime minister went quiet with that, thinking for a small moment before continuing on. “That is why, when the deadline comes, me and my cabinet have decided the best course of action is to force the UCCS’s hand. Mrs. Todd is determined on the idea of dividing that poor nation, a repeat of Atlalandr. West and East once more.” He kept a firm look towards the king. “I will make it clear, your majesty. As a nation we cannot let that happen. It is in our moral duty to ensure Báslan is unified under an democratic and equal society. To give Báslanians an opportunity to live in freedom for the first time in their lives.”
Olav was quiet for a moment, slowly nodding along as he listened to his prime minister speaking with such a level of determination. “I see… And how does the government plan on forcing President Todd to finally withdraw from the islands? They’ve been rather determined to have the authoritarians of the PPB return to power.” He raised an eyebrow at Kirkeland.
“That… is part of the reason why this meeting was called, your majesty.” Kirkeland let out a small sigh once more, feeling his back about hunch before he straightened himself up again. “My government would like to request the authorization of naval deployment. To place the Eastern Isles of Báslan under a special naval exclusion zone.”
“A blockade.” The king said firmly, interrupting the prime minister for a small moment.
“…Yes, it could be considered as such.” Kirkeland grabbed his cup taking a small sip from it before putting it down. “The purpose is to cut the UCCS’s garrison on the Eastern Islands from supply. Should Todd still not relent even after the IRN successfully does its operations, Norgsveltian and Báslanian marines will capture the islands with force.”
“That is entirely dependent on if our navy will be successful in this matter. We will likely have to face the UCCS navy.” Olav couldn’t help but narrow his eyes towards his prime minister as he spoke.
“Maybe, but it’s not a guarantee. In my opinion, your majesty. I doubt Mrs. Todd is willing to escalate the matter, the islands are not of grave importance to the UCCS. They are highly unlikely to challenge us over it when we show we are willing to fight about it.” Kirkeland leaned forward, his eyes once more filled with determination. “I assure you, your majesty. When push comes to shove. Mrs. Todd will withdraw from the islands.”
“That is not up to her now, is it? She’s not the Commander in Chief. Allio Hensen is.” The king said his eyes were still narrow at the prime minister.
“True, but then it depends if Hensen is willing to oppose his president. And If that happens, I think the UCCS is gonna have to deal with more important issues than Báslan.” Kirkeland gave a small smile saying that.
For a moment there was silence in the room as the two leaders just looked towards each other. The king simply grabbed his cup, taking a sip from it as he thought about it. “And what would the international community say? If we are not careful we can be seen as aggressors.”
“I will assure that our diplomats will be working day in and day out to have our allies be on board with this. The UCCS might be powerful, but they lack friends and they have many enemies.” Kirkeland leaned back into his chair, grabbing his cup once more, taking a sip from it before putting it down. “So I will ask. Will the government have the Crown’s approval to order the Imperial Realms Navy to set up the exclusion zone?”
Olav couldn’t help but let out a heavy sigh as he put down the cup. Part of him thought it was too risky, but in certain ways he couldn’t help but sympathize with Kirkeland’s position. Nor does it feel right to obstruct the government’s position again so shortly after the constitutional crisis two years ago. “…The government has the Crown’s full support to ensure a unified and free Báslan is established.”
Kirkeland let out a small sigh of relief at that, a smile forming on his lips. “Thank you, your majesty. I will assure you that our government will do the utmost it can with this support.” He was genuinely happy about having the king’s approval to use their navy to solve this matter.
“I would expect so. Now was there anything else that needed to be discussed?” Olav said, raising an eyebrow at his prime minister, smiling politely even If part of him wishes to end the meeting here.
“Right there is another matter.” Kirkeland had a small nervous smile before clearing his throat. Realizing the most difficult part is yet to come. “When the 28th August arrives and in which Todd will get her ultimatum. It is also when naturally, what will become known as the Federal Republic of Báslan is established. Which will have a coalition government made up of a varying range of parties.” He explained with the king nodding his head in understanding. “What I will ask of you is more of a personal request, rather than an official request from my government.” His smile turned to a more polite and confident one as he kept his eyes on the king. “I think, on the purpose of putting a moral boost to the Báslanian people and putting full hearted enthusiasm to the establishment of their Federal Republic. That it would be wise If you were to visit Báslan and hold a speech for your support to this new born democracy.” His tone was in an passionate, almost already victorious way, as he spoke.
Though Olav was quiet for a moment, simply raising an eyebrow at the prime minister gave a curious look down at him. “Are you asking me to go to Báslan on the same day as the blockade of the Eastern Islands will be enacted? Despite the risks that would entail should the UCCS choose to escalate the matter?”
“Your majesty, there are no risks involved. I am certain that President Todd will not escalate the matter in any way or form. You will be completely safe, and it is better if you’re there at the establishment of their republic to show solidarity with our Báslanian brothers and sisters.” Kirkeland spoke in a completely friendly tone, though not saying it. This was the main reason he came here personally. He needed the king to be at Báslan for this to work, Todd would never risk war If Olav was in Báslan, it would be a practical demand to start a continental war.
“Mr. Kirkeland, how can you be sure of that? How are you so certain that she wouldn’t try to escalate the matter?” Olav kept his eyebrow raised, his arms crossed as he questioned his prime minister.
“Your majesty, I have spoken with her several times. Rest assured I know her, she will not try to challenge the IRN’s exclusion zone when it is enacted. You have my full confidence that you would be completely safe in western Báslan when all of this is occurring.” Kirkeland kept his friendly tone, taking a sip from his cup again, finishing it. “If needed we will increase the security in the west if for some reason you still think it wouldn-”
The door was less than politely thrown open, with the queen storming in, raising her finger to point towards the prime minister. A flurry of Nys’tat’en words coming out of her mouth and utterly incomprehensible to Kirkeland, Olav barely able to understand her when she doesn’t surpass her Borean accented Nys’tat’en. However Kirkeland could most understand her point despite the language barrier.
Both mens eyes widened at the sudden opening of the door and yelling that came soon after, the prime minister standing up from his chair hurriedly as she approached him with rage in her yellow eyes. His chair fell to the side as he did so. His hands up in the air defensively as he looked down at the short Queen. “Y-Your Majesty I assure you, you must be misunderstanding things.” He said in a nervous tone as he took a step back, the bit older man speaking in Norgsveltian.
Olav was also quick to get out of his chair as he walked around the desk saying a few words in Nys’tat’en to calm his wife down as he placed his large hand on her shoulder pulling her away slightly. “It’s alright, calm down sweetie. I can handle it.” He said now in Norgsveltian, speaking in a soft tone.
She did not in-fact, calm down as her husband tried to pull her away. Wilhelmina giving a few more unkind words in Nys’tat’en towards the man before finally speaking in some broken Norgsveltian. “You’re not risking my children’s father on your…” She spoke something in Nys’tat’en. As she gestured her finger towards him. “Baby murdering political-” She spoke more in Nys’tat’en, letting loose a whole number of issues she had with Kirkeland.
“Your majesty I assure you, your husband will be completely safe. I would never ever suggest risking the life of our dear king.” Kirkeland said in a reassuring tone, placing a hand on his heart, while taking another step back which caused his back to hit the desk. “I promise you, he will be safe.”
Olav still kept a hand on his wife’s shoulder both to try to stop her in his tracks but also to comfort her as he spoke once more a bit in Nys’tat’en to calm her down. Or attempt to do so.
Wilhelmina being held back by her husband couldn’t advance any more towards the man. Though her words still haven’t stopped, her Nys’tat’en breaking every now and then for Norgsveltian. “Father first! You preve-” She keeps her accusing finger towards him, “You’re problem baby killing father kil-” Another break up in Nys’tat’en.
“I think… It would be best if we end our meeting here, Mr. Kirkeland.” Olav said in a serious tone as he looked down towards his prime minister, giving a gesture with his head for him to leave.
“I… I think so as well.” Kirkeland said, letting out a tired sigh before straightening his tie giving a nod towards the King and towards the Queen, though he only got a respectful nod from the King. The Queen simply glaring and cursing him in Nys’tat’en. He had to move a bit sideways to avoid getting too close to the Queen. Though before he left the office he stopped up and turned towards Olav. “Do… think over my suggestion, your majesty. I think it would be wise.”
Before Olav could even respond, Wilhelmina spoke up instead. Kirkeland vaguely understood some parts of her very lovely Nys’tat’en words towards him implying that he eats dead baby’s hearts… That or he gets sensual satisfaction from abortions numbers being high. He didn’t quite stick around long enough to find out what she meant.