“Another major engagement between the Federalist and Royalist Air Forces has concluded over the skies of the Free Confederation of Westlauren. It was a surprise attack of approximately three hundred airframes from the Federalist Air Force to strike important targets in the Free Confederation. Air Defense sites, strategic railways and roads, ammunition depots, headquarters, and other hard targets were struck. Throughout the course of the operation, however, Royalist forces resisted valiantly. Air defense sites shot down fifty aircraft alone. Sorties from approximately a hundred fighters from air bases in Westlauren shot down more. While the Federalist strike, including the follow-up attacks with cruise missiles, managed to do some damage to support their ongoing offensive, it appears insufficient to justify their airpower losses.”
- Liberty One Radio
+++
Levantine Empire
Bit-Stav City
August 14, 2025
“This place is way too hot,” Amelie complained to William as they exited their vehicle. “I didn’t know the Middle East would be this bad. How do people even live with this?”
Amelie thought that her spoiled behaviors had been long gone. Unfortunately, upon stepping out of the airport and feeling the strong heat from the equatorial sun, she had been an annoyingly sissy woman. That, and Levantine seemed excessively arid. It was as if she needed to moisturize twice as normal to not dry up.
“I don’t know, I think I’m going to faint,” Nia complained as she held onto her forehead. William just chuckled as they pulled their bags out of their car.
Naturally, in response, Amelie quickly dived into her bag to search for a water bottle. She found one, and she quickly handed it to Nia.
“Drink that up, or you’d die of heat stroke,” Amelie said. Nia took it and drank from it as if her life depended on it.
“Chop chop then, you two. Better get inside now to have that AC blasting the two of you.”
Amelie and Nia quickly followed suit. Levantine security guards surrounded them, blocking the press from trying to get close. Amelie tried her best to smile and wave at the people inside the building. Many just wanted to hear the thoughts of the Orlish Queen about her private visit with the Empire’s leadership. Unfortunately, Amelie could only smile.
She was under a strict time constraint.
At least it’s cold here. Amelie thought as she groaned internally inside. Goddess…I swear, if I have to visit an actual tropical or even hotter country soon, I’d hate this crappy crown…
She sped up her pace though. Adelaide and her team must be waiting for her already.
And that is exactly what she confirmed when they reached one of the guest rooms on the second floor of the building. Inside was Adelaide and her secretary talking over tea. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, upon seeing Amelie, William, and Nia, smiled pleasantly, as she allowed them inside.
“Take your seats, please. Make yourself at home. Though, Miss Wittelstein out here appears to be quite under the weather.”
Nia forced herself to smile awkwardly.
“Uhh, not really, Foreign Minister. Just a bit too hot and I’m unused to it,” Nia said, as she timidly took her seat beside Amelie on the sofas.
Adelaide calmly sipped her tea as she nodded.
“Understandable. I was the same when I started this job. Some countries are a bit too cold, some a bit too hot. Way too hot, even. It’s great luck that the Orlish mainland is temperate at most, and mildly cold at worst. Other countries aren’t so lucky in that regard.”
William placed his officer’s cap on the table as he fixed his OPM uniform.
“Anyway,” William started. “What’s the air in the Levantine government? Are they still a bit pissed at our force redeployments? Surely, they’ll understand quite quickly that we need our boys more over there in Latia and Constania than here, right?”
“Director Porter, it is, of course, just an understandable development. No country facing an existential threat would like to be suddenly abandoned by its allies to protect another ally facing the same existential threat. It is an…expected response.”
“Oh, come on. These prissy ass morons aren’t even facing a massive CFN offensive from the north. And their frontlines are mostly mountains and deserts. Even I know that no one in Velikov is crazy enough to plan for a serious breakthrough to take Vaeyoxan Levantine for themselves.”
He leaned back on the sofa, shaking his head in frustration.
“I mean, the Levantine Canal is blown open anyway and will take months more to repair. They’d gain nothing by trying to cut off Piera’s land route to Vaeyox. The Verdean Sea is now closed with Asturia controlling the Strait of Alcazzo and the canal here is unoperational. At this point, we’re bending over backward to provide every country with weapons for their little blackmail here and there. We still have a damned civil war to fight at home.”
“Everything to keep the alliance together,” Amelie said. “The deal with Princess Kawasaki alone will be defanging our navy for a few weeks. Except for those operating in the East Vaeyox theater. Regardless, we needed to expedite the operation’s timeframe, as you said.”
“Well, this one I don’t understand,” William frowned. “We should be sending every gun and munitions to the Latians and Constanians. They’re fighting a war of survival out there. Surrounded by Lombardia, Poznek, and Larissa. They’re dead if we don’t get there fast. Dead. The entire Valken region will fall for no good reason. Operation Citadel is supposed to be for them. Not for these arrogant ass Levantinians.”
“Diplomacy, Director,” Adelaide crossed her legs. “The Levantine government is the only way we can ship weapons toward those two countries. The best thing we can do is to lower their asking price for letting our shipments pass through them.”
“Maybe we should just apply pressure on them by backing the Latians and Constanians in the MN General Assembly. Tell all the other countries that their prissy government is trying to sabotage the MN alliance. See how it goes,” William nearly raised his voice. “This is just ridiculous.”
“Adelaide, what’s their price to let our stuff go?” Amelie calmly asked.
“In exchange for us rerouting our military presence from their northern front toward the Valken front, we’d have to send them three hundred modern tanks, enough infantry equipment for thirty-thousand soldiers, eighty self-propelled guns, and most importantly, a hundred LF-12 fighters. That one’s non-negotiable, they say they need those new fighters to replace their losses.”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“And of course…tons of munitions and other goods?” Amelie asked.
The Foreign Minister nodded.
“See?! They’re treating us like we’re their golden goose,” William said. “It’s not like they’d need all of that immediately. The goddamned Kusaris or Gallians and again, the two Valken Kingdoms need it more, but they see the smell of opportunity. So they trynna get into your soft side, Amelie, and weasel some weapons for free. Those are worth billions of Orlish blancs.”
“Won’t we benefit from it anyway though?” Nia asked. “I mean, I imagine there’s a massive downside to losing that equipment now, but…well, they’re our allies, so ultimately, it’s still pointed at the CFN.”
William wheezed as he shook his head.
“Unlike the Asanaians, these greedy wankers won’t be joining any offensive operations unless you twist their arms. Again, their northern front is secure. There’s no reason for them to join any major MN operation unless their lives depend on it.”
“I’ll try to talk then to Empress Aviel about this,” Amelie said. “Maybe I can get her to lower the asking price.”
+++
Empress Einav Aviel entered the room. There was a brief photo shoot with Amelie and the Levantine Empress shaking their hands and smiling at each other. There were also a few minutes of ‘negotiations’ that they could show to the press before the cameras and officials walked out of the room.
Empress Aviel was already in her late forties. From what Amelie knew, she led the Empire relatively well during the height of the Cold War. Nominally an ally of Orlish interests, the Levantine Imperial Armed Forces was trained and equipped by her country. In exchange, the Empire exerted great control over their vast oil reserves in both Vaeyoxan Levantine and Pieran Levantine.
They also controlled four major countries in the Pieran continent under their personal union. Unfortunately, except for this thin strip of land where the actual Levantine people lived, the rest of the Empire was underdeveloped. The core lands and the twenty million Levantine people were all citizens of the Empire.
The rest of their one hundred million population lived under the Empire’s appointed feudal lords practically under serfdom. They were mostly conquered people only kept together by the Empire’s military, funded exorbitantly by their oil money. That, however, tied them greatly to Orland, their patron. Yet, Empress Aviel somehow kept out of the Great War until the last year, conveniently when the peace treaty was signed.
It was for that reason that Amelie was a bit wary. This woman was clearly a ruthless manipulator.
She’s smiling at me.
“So, now that those distractions are out,” Empress Aviel started. “We can now begin talks of actual business. Ah, wait, would you like a good drink for today? Levantine tea is quite exquisite.”
“Ah, no, no,” Amelie smiled. “I would rather not. I’d just like to smooth over the deals being signed by our people. You know…that…”
“Yes, yes, indeed,” the woman nodded to herself. “Well, you see, it’s an unfortunate war we’ve been dragged into. Being a close ally of Orland, of course, we had to join in when the need came.”
“Mhm,” Amelie nodded. “And my country is thankful for that. We’re also thankful for your great efforts at repairing the Levantine Canal. I hope security is well tightened this time.”
“Oh, no, no, no. Absolutely no more of that pirate business will come any time soon,” the woman smoothly reassured. “We are working day and night, and we’re vigilant. Very vigilant, I must say. But you see all these…operations. It’s costing the Empire of its needed resources…”
“I can see that,” Amelie said. “But you have to understand that our allies in the Valken region need it more. Well, of course, we’ll send you as much as we can, but…even Orland is stretched thin.”
“We’ll pay for some of them,” the Empress smiled. “That can be added to negotiations. Certainly, asking for some of that free lend-lease is nice, but if Orland needs to be paid, then we can also pay. Perhaps for those shiny new tanks. Or half of those shiny new planes.”
“Well, that’s nice, but…you see, there’s industrial limitations. Truth be told, money is…available, Empress Aviel. This is war. Money is the least of our problems. The industrial capacity though, that’s the real problem. We can’t…we can’t send everyone what they want when they say they want it.”
“Oh, but those people you’re sending arms to, they’re not going to be paying you anytime soon,” the Empress laughed, shaking her head. “They’re going to end up too financially squeezed. Their countries are economically destroyed. Levantine…we have everything. Food. Oil. Rare-earth metals. You name it. Untouched.”
“And that’s the point. The Empire isn’t in a live-or-die situation. I’ve consulted my advisors. You can wait, Empress Aviel. You can wait. Let us ship these weapons to Constania and Latia. Do not disrupt Operation Citadel.”
“Oh, but we can certainly do that if Orland doesn’t act like how an ally would act,” the Empress smiled even more sweetly. “We’re friends, right? We’re a paying friend. Why not give us priority treatment?”
“You’ll probably just use those armaments to gun down the oppressed people in the Empire anyway,” Amelie lost her cool for a moment. “I apologize.”
“No offense given!” she said, almost playfully. “Though, I disapprove of that notion. It’s called, maintaining stability, Your Majesty. Orland ought to learn about that term.”
Amelie almost clenched her fist at the offense.
“But I can see that you’re asking for something reasonable. Perhaps,” the Empress said, looking at Amelie with slight amusement. “Hmm…would you like tea?”
“For a second time, I just want to conclude this business.”
“Well then, as I’ve said, quite reasonable. Of course, of course. And we don’t want to unilaterally block shipments anyway for Operation Citadel. That’d harm my country in the future.”
“I’m glad you can see that.”
“But you see,” she leaned toward Amelie. “There might be delays if the…situation isn’t smooth. Now, we know how awful those revolutionaries are. Would you want to be responsible for two Kingdoms and their innocent people falling just because…you didn’t want to send some extra weapons to a good friend?”
Amelie felt her chest tighten.
“No.”
“Exactly,” the Empress pulled away. “So, how about we compromise? Ah, indeed, it’s a lovely word, isn’t it? You send us…mhm, around forty percent of what we asked for within the next two months. The rest, we’ll get it…in six months! And we’ll pay for around half of the equipment sent at a good discount. In exchange, we’ll stabilize every route toward our ports in the Verdean Sea from rebel activity. Smooth things out. And, the weapons will get to our good allies cleanly. It’s a sound deal, no?”
Amelie looked at her eyes. Damn you! What do you mean I’ll be responsible if people die just because I didn’t make this deal? You created this deal, asshole! She wanted to frown and pout at how she was snaked into this nonsense. She needed those weapons for other, more critical things after all.
“I…well…” Amelie stuttered.
“Come on, now, good friend,” the woman winked a bit. “It’s a good deal. And it will save a lot of lives. And a lot of trouble. For both of us. And, well, for the Latians and Constanians.”
“Are you going to use it at least for fighting side-by-side with us?”
“Oh, of course, of course. The Empire always fights with our sisterly allies,” the woman nodded enthusiastically. “Now, is Orland receptive to these terms?”
“I’ll consult—”
“No, no, no, no. Consult, consult, oh… consultations,” she wheezed. “You’re the Queen. Act like it. Besides, I might just find whatever ‘adjustments’ your people propose as less juicy. We don’t like that kind of…complication. So how about between you and me, royalty to royalty, we make a good deal for our people?”
Amelie feared any further delays. Looking at the extended hand of the Empress, she was forced to pick between two poisons. Either she’d send out a lot of critical equipment from her arsenal or potentially stall a deal that would save people. She almost wanted to faint while looking at it.
After many moments of nearly fainting due to indecision, she shook the woman’s hand.
“Ah, lovely, lovely!” the Empress said. “We already sent the details to your delegation. They can hash out the nitty gritty tonight. Then tomorrow, we sign together. Good work.”
“Yeah…yeah…” Amelie said, dazed. “Good…work…”
Damn you! Damn you! I knew you were going to pull something on me!