31st December 1899
No. 11 Upping Street, Kyvern, Unified Realm of Albia and Terosa
Chancellor Larios sighed wearily as a sank into his chair. Ignoring the previous (and frequent) scoldings of his housekeeper, Mrs Grey, he hefted his feet up onto his desk and glanced to his right, out of his window.
Below ran a road, Upping Street. Famous for featuring the Chancellorship residence at No. 11, there were nevertheless few sightseers lingering outside. Perhaps the slow, grey drizzle had something to do with it. A few lazy horse-drawn carts eased by, and even an automobile clattered past.
Sighing again, the Chancellor dragged his feet off his desk and pushed himself forward. Below his solid eyeline lay various sheets of paper and assorted telegrams, letters and communiques. One file caught his eye, printed with the insignia of the Albian Intelligence Bureau. It was entitled: OPERATION SPARK-IGNITE - PHASE A. Larios opened it, flicking through the pages. He smiled. Anti-Vanjanan sentiments 'ignited' near the Runtish border with the Holy Empire. That would make the 'plot' much more believable...
He placed the folder to one side and picked up a second sheet of paper, this time featuring the emblem of the Albian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. True pro-Albian/Terosan feeling was reported to be growing on the Runtish islands that were rightful Albian territory. The Terosan majority on the islands, and the somewhat smaller but still large Albian minority were stirring, perhaps now muttering against the wrongful rule of the even lesser ethnic Runtish minority. Soon Albia would liberate its loyal but misgoverned cousins across the sea.
Scooping up a pen and snatching yet another sheet of (blank) paper from his nearby pigeon-hole, he began to scribble a message to the Vanjanan Jade. He already had conformation from Parliament, the Oligarchy and the Princes. Now just to send it off...
No. 11 Upping Street, Kyvern, Unified Realm of Albia and Terosa
Chancellor Larios sighed wearily as a sank into his chair. Ignoring the previous (and frequent) scoldings of his housekeeper, Mrs Grey, he hefted his feet up onto his desk and glanced to his right, out of his window.
Below ran a road, Upping Street. Famous for featuring the Chancellorship residence at No. 11, there were nevertheless few sightseers lingering outside. Perhaps the slow, grey drizzle had something to do with it. A few lazy horse-drawn carts eased by, and even an automobile clattered past.
Sighing again, the Chancellor dragged his feet off his desk and pushed himself forward. Below his solid eyeline lay various sheets of paper and assorted telegrams, letters and communiques. One file caught his eye, printed with the insignia of the Albian Intelligence Bureau. It was entitled: OPERATION SPARK-IGNITE - PHASE A. Larios opened it, flicking through the pages. He smiled. Anti-Vanjanan sentiments 'ignited' near the Runtish border with the Holy Empire. That would make the 'plot' much more believable...
He placed the folder to one side and picked up a second sheet of paper, this time featuring the emblem of the Albian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. True pro-Albian/Terosan feeling was reported to be growing on the Runtish islands that were rightful Albian territory. The Terosan majority on the islands, and the somewhat smaller but still large Albian minority were stirring, perhaps now muttering against the wrongful rule of the even lesser ethnic Runtish minority. Soon Albia would liberate its loyal but misgoverned cousins across the sea.
Scooping up a pen and snatching yet another sheet of (blank) paper from his nearby pigeon-hole, he began to scribble a message to the Vanjanan Jade. He already had conformation from Parliament, the Oligarchy and the Princes. Now just to send it off...
