Italia News 1915

[ctwaterman]

Imperial Residence Rome – Late January 1915. Part 3

Actors:
Lucius Decumius - Commander of the Praetorian Guard
Giacomo Della Chiesa – Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church

More then an hour had passed and the Emperor had been escorted from the room by Lucius and men from the Praetorian home guard unit.   Cardinal Chiesa waited patiently for the return of Lucius Decumius commander of the Praetorian Guard.   Lucius slowly walked into the room he looked tired and perhaps just a bit apprehensive.

Cardinal Chiesa began the conversation when he quietly asked. "How long has the Emperor been sick Lucius how long has he been hiding this illness."

Lucius slowly, reluctantly replied, "For a year perhaps a little more then that, the illness what ever it is comes and it goes and the heat of summer gave us false hope."

"So, do his doctors do not know what it the disease is?" Cardinal Chiesa inquired.

"No they do not!" replies Lucius, "The poke and they prod him they thinks its Pneumonia or Tuberculosis but neither is particularly likely."

"Would the Emperor object were I to send the Pope's personal physician to see the Emperor?" Cardinal Chiesa hazarded.

"I would not despite his training in Paris" Stated Lucius.  "And If I do not his other doctors will not be allowed to object to the completion.  But, unless your doctor can see inside the Emperor with out cutting him open I do not know what he can do that the Emperor's doctors have not already done?"

Cardinal Chiesa chuckled! "I'm a lawyer Lucius not a Doctor so I would not really know but the Church will take steps the Emperor is important to the stability of the Empire and whatever can be done will be done!"

Lucius turned to Cardinal Chiesa. "Have we engaged in enough small talk, its getting late your motor car is waiting and we really should get down to business?" he asked.

Cardinal Chiesa grimaced at the bluntness of Lucius question. "I don't see why the Church would like to examine all the available documentation that Italia has about the attack on the Pope? " He inquired, "His Holiness would like to make his own judgment about what happened to his friend and predecessor."

Lucius asked, "I don't know what more I can provide you in that regard you Eminence?"
Cardinal Chiesa elaborated, "The Church is aware of the majority of the evidence but we are also aware of the possibility of a new source of information we wish to know if this source is definitive or not?"

Lucius sighed regretfully, before answering Cardinal Chiesa, "The Emperor said you might ask and that if you did I should answer, I do not want to take any additional risks with this source but I believe his Holy Father has a right to know."

Lucius paused before continuing.  "The new intelligence source is Elder Abdul Ben Ahijah, who until recently was living in exile from New Zion in Palestine."

Cardinal Chiesa looked surprised, "And what does the former Elder of New Zion have to say about the attack on the Pope?" he asked.

"Nothing definitive as of yet your Eminence, we first approached him discreetly, and only recently did we offer him both safety and security within the Empire."  Lucius stated. "However," he continued "we want to be extremely careful with Elder Ahijah as he is an intelligence source we could utilize for years and years if this peace plan actually works out."

"Why would he be so useful?" asked Cardinal Chiesa.

"Its simple Your Eminence!" replied Lucius "And it has to do with something you are probably less familiar with and that is the nature of betrayal."  Lucius hurried on, "Elder Ahijah thinks his state has betrayed him and is willing to work with the Empire as long as we can protect him and his family from retaliation by the Secret Police of New Zion."  "This is a man our age who has for over 30 years been a member of the inner circle of the Nation of New Zion, he knows how they think, how they plan, and he knows where at least some of the bodies are buried."

"Continue please!" stated the Cardinal.

Lucius nodded, "It is simple if we must have peace and it appears that international pressure from abroad may force it then this man is the key to figuring out what is happening in New Zion in the future." Smiling Lucius continued, "I can question this man about information we receive, ask him where and how to get my agents into New Zion and who to ask for answers when I get them there"

"I see" replied Cardinal Chiesa, "So the Elder will prove a very valuable resource in the future, but what does he have to say now?"

Lucius pulled out a file and handed it to the Cardinal, "Here is a brief summary of his initial debrief, a much more complete debrief will be necessary over the coming months.  He is still frightened by his actions and denies knowledge of some events, and incomplete knowledge of others.   But what is clear is that New Zion did mobilize its forces and did issue orders to attack territories of the Empire.  The Elder is currently claiming that such actions were part of a mobilization drill and that he has no knowledge of any of the Elders authorizing an attack on the Emperor or the Pope."

Cardinal Chiesa asked, "Do you believe him Lucius?"

"I don't know yet Your Eminence, I have been here in Rome, and for his own safety I have not yet been able to speak to the man!"  "Even though we have promised not to punish him for his actions he remains frightened of the Empire and terrified of this secret police in New Zion he calls the Mossad?"  "It will take a great deal of time patients and careful questioning to get to the truth of the matter, and given what he says about the Mossad and how they do not seem to report to any one individual it may prove to be impossible to ever know the truth!" stated Lucius.

Cardinal Chiesa sat quietly contemplating the answers Lucius had provided.  "So Lucius," he asked, "what is your opinion of the evidence against New Zion?"

Lucius looked up startled, "Your Eminence, you know I do not formulate policy I simply analyze and gather information and utilize it to best defend the Empire?" he asked the Cardinal accusatorily.

Cardinal Chiesa looked at Lucius sternly.  "I know Lucius, I know but you're a good man and I need an honest appraisal of the situation.  The Church wishes to prevent the possibility of any conflicts that could occur between Catholic countries and the world situation is becoming tense?" he asked quietly.

"As you will Your Eminence, I will give you my honest opinion as best as I am able." Lucius paused before beginning, "The evidence that New Zion did plot to invade Italia is definitive in my eyes, there is some question as to why and by whom the plot originated but that I believe is a question for another day.  The plot to kill the Emperor is in my opinion less clear." he stated. "We can link the attacker to New Zion, the Ottoman Empire, Italia, and the DKB.   He was a merchant seaman working in the Rift Sea and that is all we will probably ever be able to prove."  "Why he came to Rome attacked the Royal Families of Austria, Iberia, and Italia and killed the Pope we will likely never know this side of heaven."  "I am sorry Your Eminence but he took those secrets with him to the grave."

"I thank you for your honesty Lucius, but I need to know your opinion of the Assassination plot as well?" Cardinal Chiesa asked.

"It makes sense in a way, but I still don't know one way or another." Lucius then continued, "If New Zion wanted to invade and seize the Imperial Province of Burundi in 1913 they could have very well succeeded.  The correlation of forces in the region would have favored New Zion.  However, they would have had to expect an immediate response from the Empire and possibly from Nations friendly to Italia.   The only way I can see them not expecting to loose that eventual confrontation is if they already had secured an ally to protect them like the Republic of Orange, or if they thought that the Empire would be involved in a diplomatic crisis involving Iberia, and Austria, while at the same time the Emperor was dead." "In Conclusion" Lucius stated, "I do not think the Empire' case would hold up in a court of law, but I do believe that the Empire must take the possibility that it did occur and the threat that such an attack by a foreign power on the Empire's sovereignty very seriously!"

Cardinal Chiesa stood up, "Lucius thank you for the information and the opinions, I will be briefing the Holy Father on our conversation tomorrow morning." The two men shook hands and Lucius then kissed the Cardinals ring as they parted.

Cardinal Chiesa sat contemplatively in the back of his covered car as it drove him back slowly through a dark and rainy night.  So much information to process and so much work to be done he thought to himself.  And for a moment he almost regretted the passage of time that would require him to work subtly from behind the scenes rather then to order the Churches will be done!?!

End of Part 3

[ctwaterman]

Imperial Residence Rome – Noon February 12th, 1915.

Actors:
Gaius Marius Camila - Emperor of Italia
Lucius Decumius - Commander of the Praetorian Guard
Publius Rutilius Rufus - Consul of Foreign Affairs
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs

An Early Lunch had been spread around the table the meeting room was warm and the men who had been disturbed shortly after breakfast had finally gathered to discuss the day events.

"Well it appears the Idiots in New Zion have finally responded!" began Emperor Marius, "Perhaps they could have waited till the artillery has started falling and then asked for peace?"

"They did wait a very long time possibly to gage there support world wide or our support world wide?" replied Consul Rufus.

"Well Maximus?" asked the Emperor, "Will we be able to get the cease fire orders out to all our troops before the Midnight deadline passes 12 hours from now?"
Spurius Maximus looked at the clock on the wall before replying. "Only 10 hours' local time before the cease fire expires for the Force in East Africa My Lord.  However, we have anticipated this exact response or the more likely response that Orange, New Zion, or the GC would ask for an extension!"

"We did?" Inquired the Marius, "How exactly did we accomplish that?" he said.

"It was quite simple My Lord!" replied Consul Maximus, "Knowing the stubbornness of the Jews we simply gave orders for our ground forces not to begin offensive operations immediately upon the cease fire expiring.  They were to only respond to acts of aggression against themselves until the reinforcements arrived in Eritrea.  There was nothing to be gained by throwing the troops against fixed defense until those defenses had been softened up.  However we can only hope the Jews informed there own troops because if they open fire our troops were to respond with counter battery fire in overwhelming force!"

"Excellent, now Consul Rufus' what have you for us on the Diplomatic Front, what about Orange? If I read the peace proposal Orange and the Empire are supposed to make peace but I don't see how! Has there been any change in our negotiations with Orange?" Enquired Emperor Marius.

"There has not been any significant movement from their initial position that we can continue the war we started.  They seem to be missing the facts that it was they who declared war on Italia and they who launched an attack on Imperial Naval vessels within days of their declaration." Replied Consul Rufus as he continued.  "Consul Maximus how many days sailing time would it have taken for the Orange and New Zion naval forces to trap our blockading ships."

"I see what you are attempting to say!" replied Consul Maximus, "My office has examined the attack and Orange Air Ships began shadowing our forces days before the declaration of war and the attack was obviously coordinated well before the actual declaration. So yes I would say the attack was scripted to coincide with the declaration to the best of their ability."

The room was silent for a few moments while the Emperor digested the information he had been provided. 

"Well, let us assume that everyone can agree on a Neutral Commission to oversee the establishment of new Government in New Zion.  And, we will also assume that for the time being we will give that new government every opportunity to prove that it can change?  They will ratify the Haag Treaty on the High Sea's and the Haag Treaty on the Conduct of Warfare. What happens next after that?" replied Emperor Marius.

Consul Rufus pulled out a draft from Grand Columbia. "It appears" he stated, "That after that New Zion declares its neutrality, Orange terminates hostilities and goes home?"

"Will that actually work?" asked the Emperor.

Consul Maximus looked at Consul Rufus and Lucius quietly sitting in the corner. "I do not think it even begins to address the conflict between Orange and the Empire!" he stated.  "I know Consul Rufus tried to engage the republic diplomatically during the Balkan War, and he was rebuffed, he tried again during the present conflict and again Orange does not appear to engage in diplomatic discourse.  They make statements, deny everything, and take no actions to address or redress the complaints of other nations?  In my opinion unless they can be coerced into joining the ranks of the civilized nations of the world I see not recourse but to take actions to protect ourselves from there expansion and to inform the world of our displeasure with there current style of government?!?"

"Lucius?" asked Emperor Marius, "Do we have know of any reason why Orange has taken the action they have other then our Refusal to sell them our loyal subjects and citizens in the Imperial Province of Burundi?"

"No Sire," Lucius replied "At this moment I am looking into some background information on there government and recent opinions of their prominent citizens.  Other then a slight Xenophobia to all things French or having to do with Monarchies I have no clue why they chose to confront the Empire in such a manner?"

The Emperor thought for several minuets before continuing.  "We will not act hastily here but Maximus prepare our defenses, Lucius gather more information if you can, and Rufus do see if you can find at least one Orange Diplomat who know what the hell he is doing?  I don't want another war if We can avoid it but if they keep replying to our diplomatic notes with one sentence replies and no information I fear for the future!"

[ctwaterman]

Posted February 14th 1915

From: Italia Foreign Ministry
To: All Shipping Companies World Wide

Sirs,

If you had shipping in or traveling through the Rift Sea or the Gulf of Tanganyika on or about  the 12th through the 20th of January 1915 the Empire of Italia is interested in information regarding the recovery of Wreckage, Bodies, or survivors from the Naval Battle that occurred in those locations on or about the night of January 12th.   The Empire would be extremely grateful for any information you could provide to the offices of the Italian Foreign Ministry

[ctwaterman]

The Rome Times:  May 5th 1915

Roman Senate Closes' all Empire Ports and Territorial Waters to Orange Republic.

Today in a speech before the Senate of Rome Senator Marcus Tullius Cicero explained the Senates unusual decision just days after the signing of the Paris Accords ending the war between the Empire and the Orange Republic.

The Senator had the following to say. "Despite months of negotiations and the conclusion of a fair and just peace there still exists a wide gulf of philosophical and morale differences between the Empire of Italia and the Orange Republic.  These differences dating as far back as the Orange mining of the International Waters in the Straits of Hormuz during the Balkan Crisis and persistent attempts by the Orange Republic to purchase parts of the Empire of Italia's East African Provinces are simply too great to be quickly or easily rectified.  To this end the Senate of Rome with the advice and consent of the Emperor of all Italia announce the closing of all Empire Ports and Territorial waters to shipping of the Republic of Orange.   Furthermore the Shipping of the Empire of Italia is barred from utilizing ports within the Republic of Orange or passing through that nation's territorial waters.  This decision is not final the Empire will reconsider re-opening the Empire's ports, harbors, and territorial waters to the innocent passage of the Republic of Orange shipping when and if that nation honestly embraces the idea of international law and accords between nations.  Some nations will say that the Empire attempts to force another nation to sign a treaty.  To those nations I say the Empire does not force the Republic to sign any treaties.  But the Empire does have the right to choose for itself which nations in the world with which it will conduct commerce."

[ctwaterman]

Imperial Military HQ outside of Rome, sometime in May 1915.

The Actors:
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs.
Senator - Marcus Tullius Cicero
Senator - Titus Caracus Claudia

Senator Cicero began the discussion with a very important question. "Why is the Emperor still requesting a very large diversion of funds from the Economy to military spending?"

"I agree!" Senator Claudia speculated, "Why? Is all this money required for the troops and ships in addition to the normal spending for construction and maintenance, we have peace why don't you just demobilize the troops and send them home?"

Spurius Maximus, stared very coldly at Senator Claudia! "Senator Cicero I believe you should already know the answer to Senator Claudia's question from your time under my command.  We cannot just disband the troops because the troops are in Africa not in Italy and it will take months to get them back to Italy even if we wanted to move them all back to Italy immediately."

Senator Claudia appeared embarrassed. "But how can we afford to pay for all these different priorities at the same time?"

Cicero answered quickly forestalling Consul Maximus. "I believe Titus that what Consul Maximus is telling us is that we will need to do is maintain our present war time spending stance and we will have to sell it to the people of Italy and Rome."
"Exactly!" Consul Maximus stated, "The Senate is going to have to pass these spending bills to maintain the army at least until New Zion proves its going to change and until the we have completed the defensive infrastructure in East Africa."

"But, cant we cut some of the spending I mean the Imperator Battle Ship is already behind schedule couldn't we cut that funding and the Ports and other Infrastructure builds cant we delay them until after we bring the troops home?" Senator Claudia asked.

"No!" replied Maximus, "We cannot keep delaying and delaying every single military project.  The Senate approved of the actions against New Zion some factions were even enthusiastic supporters of the military spending despite warnings about possible Orange Republic involvement.  We also need that defensive infrastructure in place before we begin withdrawing the troops not after.   I see no way to avoid diverting at least some money that would have gone to domestic infrastructure projects to the military for a minimum of six months.  If we can accomplish the unit upgrades and proposed mobilization projects by the start of 1916 we will be able to draw down our overall strength in East Africa while still maintaining a viable defensive force in the region.!??"

Senator Cicero looked at Maximus and Titus, "I have a way to sell this to the Senate, the French have proposed a joint Civilian Infrastructure Project in the Alps.  Several large Hydro-Electric damns will be built and several valleys on both sides of the border will be flooded.  We have an opportunity to use the diversion of funds to purchase necessary components for those Damn projects now.   The Senate will support a small diversion of those funds to Military projects if they see the big picture as getting more work for there supporters in the near future and they know that those military projects will eventually lead to a cost savings in the Army and not a permanent increase in manning cost."

Senator Claudia looked at the reports in front of him. "Do you mean these increase will lead to decreases in overall military spending?" he asked.

"Yes, they will by decreasing the amount of time it will take to mobilize our forces and by increasing the number of units we can keep in reserve while at the same time increasing the combat power of the full time units we will be able to actually decrease the over all Army defense budget by a small percentage!" Maximus replied.

Senator Claudia looked overjoyed.  "Well if I can tell my supporters we are making a short term sacrifice to the military to gain a long term reduction in overall military spending I think I can convince them to support the spending bills."
Cicero smiled, "Then its agreed the Senate will pass the next appropriations bills for the military, with the understanding the expense now will lead to reductions latter and more importantly once New Zion has a new government hopefully tensions in the region will be reduced significantly."

"Has anyone heard anything about the abdication of the King of New Zion yet?" Cicero asked.

"No we have not and we are still waiting for that and clear signs of the withdrawal of all Republic of Orange forces from New Zion.  Our forces have in effect completed their pullback to our borders and are only maintaining a forward screen while they await final redeployment orders! I think you will have to talk with Consul Publius for that information."

Senator Cicero and Claudia exit the room as Maximus returns to his office and the waiting pile of reports and paper work.

[ctwaterman]

May 9 rd 1915 New Zion/Eritrea Border and New Zion Burundi Border.

Upon receiving final orders and in a coordinated action screened by mobile forces the last Imperial Troops withdrawal to prepared defensive positions just inside Imperial Italia Territory.   The withdrawal is punctuated by occasional explosions as the last block houses and bunkers the troops had occupied are destroyed behind them.  All ammunition and supplies have been removed from New Zion's territory nothing of value is left behind.

[ctwaterman]

Last Call Last Call any Nobles, Presidents, Ambassadors, or Heads of state attentding the Royal wedding Kaiser Kirk and I our putting the finishing touches on the guest list and write up and we need a final list of who is attending.  If you havent postes a story by Monday we will have to assume you skipped out but please include a list of who attendend names and titles please.  And a list of wedding presents.

The Bride is registered, at all the fine jewlers in Rome, Paris, Madrid, Vienna and likes jewlery and small tropical islands with quaint natives and drinks with those paper umbrella's in them.  ;D :o 8)

[Borys]

I'll PM in the evening.
Borys

[Walter]

Well, Japan would be coming if invited, but what I read from the Bavarian December 1914 news, no invitations were sent to the East...
("In the Royal Palaces of Europe, and the presidencies of the great Republics,  Blue and white Envelopes are delivered.  Inside are formal invitations to the grand wedding of Princess Gundelinde Maria Josepha of the House of Wittelsbach to Prince Tommaso Cecilo Filberto Giovani, Prince of Savoy.")

[ctwaterman]

Late Spring 1915

The office of Spurius Valerius Maximus, Consul of Military Affairs in Rome.

Actors:
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs.
Publius Rutilius Rufus - Consul of Foreign Affairs
Titus Fabia Quintillius - Magistrate for Italia East Africa.

It was a glorious spring afternoon in Rome, and Consul Maximus, Consul Rufus, and Magistrate Quinitillius were having a working lunch on the veranda of Maximus office.

Consul Maximus sat down his glass still beaded with perspiration from the Ice within. "Well Titus" He asked, "what exactly is going on in New Zion now?"

Magistate Quintillius paused to organize his papers before replying. "The problem is that nothing appears to be going on in New Zion at the moment!  Our Troops and Oranges have withdrawn, but New Zion is resisting allowing any foreign troops or advisors to enter the country to oversee the transition to a new government per their agreement in the treaty they signed!!!?!!!"

"Really?" Maximus inquired, "So they agreed to the peace but have the King and his family even left the country or are they still in New Zion?"

Consul Rufus answered "We cannot confirm that they have left New Zion, the Grand Columbian ship arrived to take them to safety but we cannot confirm that it has left.  In addition there has been little or no movement on any of the other terms New Zion agreed too.  What it comes down to is that Grand Columbia, Orange, and Italia have all carried out the terms of the treaty that applied to them but New Zion has complied with none of those terms and is resisting actively any attempt by the CSA and ESC to send advisors to oversee the creation of a transitional government!"

"So before I take this to the Emperor we need to gage the response of the involved parties!" stated Consul Maximus.  "Have we given them enough time to comply or should we wait a short while longer?  I will sound out the Senate before I take this to the Emperor."

Consul Rufus paused and then replied.  "I will sound out the CSA, ESC, and the Grand Columbian on the matter but for now I believe diplomacy is the weapon of choice.  There can not be much to gain by simply returning to where we were in February but sooner or latter someone is going to realize that New Zion truly is the rouge state we claimed they were."

"I agree Rufus, for now Diplomacy and Titus return to East Africa and see to the defensive stance of the troops, it does not appear that we will be able to call them back in to Italy this fall as originally planned." Maximus stated.

Rufus paused while Titus left the room. "Is there any chance of getting a briefing on what our guest was able to provide us on the inner working of New Zion.   I am receiving many inquiries from the Senate and simply saying NO isn't going to work for all that much longer?"

Maximus paused contemplatively "Its possible but security will remain extremely tight as the man fears for his life and probably with cause, we promised him protection and he is going to get that protection!"

Rufus nodded. "Of course I will discuss it with several of the Senators!?!"
Maximus continued.  "Excellent now tell me about these purchase from France, and the deal the Admiralty proposed to build a Foreign Battle Ship???"

The talk fades out into a discussion of foreign policy and the upcoming vote for the positions of Senatorial Electors.

[ctwaterman]

Late Spring 1915

The office of Spurius Valerius Maximus, Consul of Military Affairs in Rome.

Actors:
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs.
Commander Gaius Julius Caesar

Commander Caesar had been standing at attention a most unnatural position for someone of his rank and breeding, however in the case of Consul Maximus he was willing to make an exception!

"Commander Caesar reporting as requested Consul Maximus!" He replied as the Older man returned his salute and waved for him to be seated.

Maximus chuckled as he took the seat behind his desk and young Caesar the one in front of his desk. "As Ordered Commander as Ordered" he chuckled, "you really must get that correct sometime soon!"

"Sorry Sir" Commander Caesar quickly replied!

"The reason I summoned you here is your report on the recent fighting in East Africa.  It was quite an interesting read and the performance of the reconnaissance aircraft was within acceptable standards.  Now would you review your suggestions for me again in your own words?" Maximus inquired?

"Yes Sir!" Caesar replied. "My report covered the points in detail but my suggestions were quite clear.  First the aircraft currently in use are not up to the task of offensive operations but we should have some prototypes ready for testing by the end of the summer and if they work production can begin in 1916.  While that is going on I suggest we continue and expand our Pilot training program while the current aircraft are not the weapons we were looking for they are perfectly adequate training aircraft.  And lastly we will need to overcome a few technical obstacles' to make our aircraft into truly effective weapons."

"And those technical obstacles are what exactly?" asked Consul Maximus.

"The technical obstacle' are two fold!" replied Caesar, "The first is that aircraft with an engine pulling the aircraft are proving to be more efficient then aircraft with and engine pushing the aircraft we will need to find away to equip our next generation of scouting aircraft with an effective forward firing gun.  The engineers are looking at several mechanical methods to synchronize the guns and with ways to mount the guns either over the wing or out on the wings to fire around the propellers.  The last obstacle' is communications air to ground, we have tested a few small radio transmitters but the current generation is simply too short ranged and too unreliable for effective use either air to air or air to ground!"

"I see" relied Maximus, "And the new engines did they perform adequately as well?"

"They did Sir" Commander Caesar answered, "however, the designers tell me they are working on making some of the newer Motor Car engines small enough and light enough for use in aircraft that is an ongoing R&D and industrial project that will impact not only aircraft performance but also the performance and reliability of the new armored cars and I understand small diesel engines for ships as well!"

"Excellent" Maximus said, "did the pilots perform well I understand there were some losses and possibly even combat losses?"

Commander Caesar looked at his notes for a second before replying, "Yes, Sir there were several combat or operational losses flying long distances over water will require more extensive navigational training perhaps even dedicated navigators in the larger longer ranged aircraft.  In addition several of our reconnaissance flights ran into unexpected opposition by aircraft of New Zion.   It appears in the future we may need to escort reconnaissance or bomber aircraft against enemy scouts.  Our pilots appeared to be better trained my only conclusion was that New Zion had received a small number of aircraft from foreign sources?"

"That was our conclusion as well." Maximus concluded, "So it appears that the investment in pilot training is paying off that's good because it appears that very soon the number of Aircraft world wide is going to blossom and we will need all the trained pilots we can get.  To that end you are to oversee the continued training of more pilots this summer.  Withdrawal some of the pilots from active units to act as instructors of complete basic training here in Italy and forward those pilots to active units for advanced instruction.  Whatever you think will work best but double the number of Pilots we have by the middle of 1916."

"Yes Sir!" Commander Caesar said.

Maximus chuckled "You are dismissed Commander, I understand you have a few days of leave here in Rome coming, I suggest you enjoy it while you can!"

"Yes Sir" Caesar replied smiling and saluted before exiting the room.

Maximus sighed before settling deeper into his chair.  He could be heard to mutter to himself "That young man is going somewhere if he survives!"

[ctwaterman]

October 23rd 1915
Early morning Rome inside the Imperial Palace.

Actors:
Gaius Marius Camila - Emperor of the Italia Empire.
Publius Rutilius Rufus - Consul of Foreign Affairs.
Armedo Ferdinando Camila, Prince of Savoy, and Duke of Turin

Consul Rufus was escorted into the Imperial Study by a young man in the uniform of the household regiment of the Praetorian Guard.  Consul Rufus felt the difference caused by the obvious absence of Lucius Decumius.  Inside the study, the Emperor did not look well and by his side sat his grandson Armedo Ferdinando Camila.  Consul Rufus bowed to the Emperor and was waved to a seat.

Gaius Marius' breathing was visibly harsh. "So Rufus what is this problem you bring me, a revolt in Bharat, and why does this concern Italia?"

Consul Rufus replied "That is simple my Lord, merchants and missionaries from many Christian countries all do business in Bharat.  The local uprising seems to be directed more at foreigners then at the actual Bharat government.   If the Bharat government does not crack down on the rioters soon it might become necessary to evacuate large numbers of Christian missionaries, Muslims', and foreign merchants from Bharat."

Gaius Marius' waved to his grandson while he coughed and breathed slowly.
Armedo looked at Consul Rufus. "Is the Vatican likely to request aid of Italy and how do you judge the reaction of the other European Powers ??" he asked.

"That is hard to say my Lord!" replied Rufus, "We need to communicate and organize any potential evacuation or relief effort.  The situation is quite complex."

Armedo looked to his grandfather for approval before proceeding. "Excellent then we will need to contact the concerned foreign powers, I believe that would be the East Sea Confederation, France, and the Deutscher Kaiserreich Brandenburg.  We should probably contact Iberia, and Habsburgs as well as the attacks on missionaries, and churches will undoubtedly concern them as well.  Perhaps announce the use of our East African port of Mogadishu as a place to evacuate displaced person to until such time as they can be resettled in a place of their choosing."

The Emperor and Consul Rufus both looked pleased by Armedo's response. Consul Rufus replied. "I will start moving on the diplomatic contacts immediately, is there anything else I should do?"

Armedo considered for a moment before replying "Yes Rufus there is, make sure you announce that we will be rescuing anyone in need of rescuing, the Empire has a great many Muslims in it an I see no reason to limit our rescue operations solely to Christians and Europeans.  Anyone who wants to flee the madness they should be protected in their persons and in their property to the best of our ability and removed to a place of safety."

Emperor Marius smiled at Armedo "Excellent Armedo" he stated "Excellent indeed, Rufus you get to work on the Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic contacts I will get the military side of things moving!"

Rufus bowed and exited the room as the Emperor began cough violently into a handkerchief already spotted with a few red stains.