Avon City, Noveaux
19:35 12th of Octide
The Imperistarium’s chamber was roaring with arguments as the Senators caucused among themselves on the proposed Declaration of War against Sach’aqa on behalf of Alssahra with whom Noveaux had signed a rather lucrative agreement just seven months prior. The agreement stated that Alssahra would accept all of Noveaux’s prisoners who were sentenced to Death or Life Imprisonment and in return for such an exchange Alssahra would lower sanctions that had been placed against Noveaux decades prior. This was seen as a normalization of otherwise neutral relations. A clause however which had been difficult for Noveaux to swallow but the economic advancements made it a tad easier, was that either state was otherwise obligated to come to the other’s defense should they be the victim of a war of aggression. At the time intel suggested that while Sach’aqa and Alssahra had been at odds in the past there weren’t any obvious signs of aggression at present, with that the Imperistarium had approved the Act of Imprisonment reluctantly with great voices in the official opposition and some in the ruling party denouncing it as a new excuse to send the soldiers of Noveaux, the young men, the fathers, brothers and sons off to die in some foreign land for some useless cause. The Empress Satine had also been reluctant to sign it, though her own reasons for such reservations were not public knowledge yet.
The Empress raised her hand and stood, the chamber ever so slowly became normalized as the Senators took their seats and quieted down. “Senators, we digress as a state from the Policies of my reign but it is that digression that perhaps brings Noveaux into a more modern stance. No longer should we simply keep to ourselves and only look outward when it suits us.” The Empress said, her voice carried through the chamber by microphones that were miniscule but did their job adequately. “I ask that you approve this Declaration so that we may further our nation’s cause.”
As the Empress took her seat once again the Senators clapped and some stood but most remained seated and clapped half-heartedly. There was little enthusiasm in Noveaux to send soldiers off to a foreign land to fight a foreign war. It would be essentially be breaking centuries of tradition. It’s at this moment that Senator Galven stood. His robes fluttered gently in the breeze as he admired the architecture of the Imperistarium. The building was in a neo-classical design and had an open oculus at the top which shone wonderful light in, adding to the splendid amount already present thanks to the banks upon banks of windows in the round chamber.
“The Dias recognizes Senator Henri Galven of Medici.” The Chancellor said, her voice ringing out clearly and to that Henri bowed and showed his appreciation to the Chancellor eliciting a small nod from her.
“Thank you madam Chancellor. Fellow Senators, Guests and Your Imperial Highness,” he said looking to the Empress and nodding in respect. “As you know here in Noveaux an agreement, a pact or someone’s word is taken up as a vow that must be honored.” He said pausing, several senators groaned knowing where this young, freshman senator was going. “Noveaux passed the Act of Imprisonment just seven months ago, that was our word that we would come to Alssahra’s defense should it be requested or required. We stand at the precipice of showing that our word means less than a grain of sand if we don’t come to their aid. We must, it is our duty as a people to honor the pa…” He was immediately cut off from an outburst by another Senator.
“Alssahra be damned! Those fools included that clause simply to lure us into their war!” Shouted that senator. She jumped to her feet and glared at the Chancellor, Senator Galven and indeed the Empress. “It is not our war to be in,” to this the woman drew much agreement from those around her. “Victory at what cost? That is what I was asked this morning by a constituent, so I ask the Empress. Victory at what cost? How many of our sons must die before we return to tradition and become Neutral? We all know that intervention now means intervention somewhere else tomorrow!” She shouted. Upon sitting down again the woman was patted on the back by her colleagues and rapturous applause could still be heard.
“You’re right,” The Empress said standing once again. “Victory at what cost? Putting it like that shows naivety, the Declaration clearly states the Noveaux will take a support role in the war. Subsidizing the active combatants purchases of food supplies, weapon equipment and munitions. In addition, thirty-thousand Novean soldiers will be dispatched to Alssahra to secure liberated zones along with ensuring security to supply lines and humanitarian aid distribution. Our soldiers will not be on the front lines; it is our duty to the Gods to do all we can to ensure that the citizens of Alssahra do not suffer as their own nation focuses on repelling an unjust invasion.” The Empress sat once again as the chamber fell eerily silent. It was a fair point, in the Faith defending those who cannot defend themselves is an important tenet and here were the people of Alssahra beset by an enemy and not able to do anything about it. Their nation was fighting a war, allies had joined and were combating a common foe. The people still needed those to look after them and Noveaux was prepared to honor an agreement to do so.
The Chancellor banged her gavel drawing attention, “The vote on whether to pass the Declaration of War against Sach’aqa will commence through a rollcall. When your name is called please affirm by vocal response whether you are In Favor, Against or Abstaining.” So the vote began.
10:00 13th of Octide
The votes were in, the Imperistarium adopted the Declaration of War by a margin of two-hundred and sixty votes in favor to two-hundred and fifteen dissenting without any abstentions. It was one of the closest margins in the modern era for Noveaux which properly reflected initial polling among the populace. While a slim margin was indeed in favor of intervention in the Nahr War, that thin line would likely flip to the other side’s favor should any Novean soldiers be killed overseas. The goal was to move the already mobilized soldiers over to Alssahra to take up rear guard positions and occupation of liberated cities to help with a maintenance of order along with distribution of relief aid that Noveaux would be sending. The Empress upon hearing the news took to address the nation on television the following morning at ten.
We interrupt your normal program to bring you to a live broadcast of the Empress Satine Remanti’s address of the nation. Read the television screens across the nation along with on the radio stations.
“Today Noveaux will break with tradition that has been a cornerstone of foreign policy for several centuries. The order has been given to begin sending soldiers to Alssahra along with aid supplies for the affected civilian population. This comes in light of the Declaration of War upon Sach’aqa that was passed yesterday by the Imperistarium.” The Empress paused in her address as the weight of what was occurring was felt deep within her being. “It is time that our nation holds its word that was given to Alssahra seven months ago. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with Alssahra, Fornoire and Sartoria in this conflict against the aggressive and illegitimate war that Sach’aqa has chosen to wage against Alssahra.”
“Let it be known that one of my sons, the Prince Edward and two of my grandsons the Princes Alphonse and Andrew will also be serving in this conflict alongside their fellow servicemen and women.” The Prince Edward and his two nephews were three of the nearly dozen Imperial Family members in active service in the military of Noveaux. It was tradition among the Novean people that all men and women aged 18-24 would give four years’ service to the military and in return higher education would be free. “We must all give to this effort to see the rewards tomorrow. May the light of the Divines shine upon you all.” She said and the broadcast cut off.
It was quite brief for what was beginning but the Empress was not in a state that she could give prolonged visits or speeches. She decided to make some calls to the heads of the seventeen other realms that made up Noveaux and then prepared a phone call to the leader of Alssahra to discuss long term strategy for Noveaux’s soldiers and the goals they wished to accomplish.
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