Sanus Jafaarsan, First Senator of the Merchant and Noble Houses, whilst sitting through the midday session of the Senate, reflected on the embassy he had received that morning from the mainland. A ragtag group of noblemen, chieftains, merchants and other miscelaneous types from the East Coast of Taltheran had appealed to him for support from the Kaeirean Republic, bemoaning the dire straits the Merchant's Council was in on the mainland. The embassy's spokesman, a cousin of his through Jafaarsan's mother's clan, cleverly reminded him of the origin of the Republic in Agrigax's royal centralism. "Lord Cousin Sanus, we on the mainland have all read and heard of the hard struggle the Houses had to win the freedom of at least part of Taltheran, namely the islands, from that tyrant in Tal. The Republican Green that flies over Kingsbane Keep, here in the capital is a mighty sight indeed, free of the stain of any symbols of royalism. But while you were struggling an enjoying in your new found freedom and liberty, we have had a new king hoisted on us. This Czar, nothing merely than a trumped up general, seeks to destroy our ancestral rights, privileges and powers, whether we be a rural aristocratic house or a urban mercantile house. I know not what the politics are of the Kaeirean Senate, but I appeal to you, help us. I know you all talk of liberating the mainland, of the freedom of your green banner and republicanism, but we need help now! Speak for us, and persuade the Senate to give whatever aid they can to the Council!" At that point, his far-flung cousin's remarks struck two chords: the critical need for Kaeirean intervention on the mainland, and the potential danger that Lord Basiluddin and the other Guard Commanders posed to the Green Republic. Interrupting the mind-numbingly boring apparachik from Basiluddin's pet Republican Information Secretariat, and his dull treatise on the development of a systematic Department of External Hand-Set Hydro-Driven Printed Propaganda, Jafaarsan exercised his right as one of the three First Senators to speak. "Enough, brother, we are all very impressed with the success of the Secretariat. May it inspire the Revolution even more." Surveying the dozen men seated around him, he relayed the Mainlanders' plea, he urged firstly that the Senate should redirect military efforts focused on the mainland towards relieving the Merchant-Houses in Port Tirmar; secondly that republican propaganda in the coastal region held by the Taltherani Council of Merchant-Houses be stepped up immediately and at maximum effort; thirdly, that the cultivation and development of committed republican movements be encouraged in all coastal Taltherani towns and cities; fourthly, that the Council of Merchant-Houses be invited to establish a political mission in the Republican capital of Port Kaeir and that they invite the Council to send a permanent representative to the Kaeirean Senate so as to further allow the development of a republican identity; and lastly, that the Kaeirean Guard should assist the Mainland Houses to drive back the neo-royalist forces. To this, Lord Jafaarsan added, the Senate should also commit the Republican Fleet to a blockade of Tal, so as to relieve pressure on their brethren on the mainland, and make the crushing of the neo-royalists easier. "To do anything less would be admit failure on our part, that the Revolution was a piece of tomfoolery, and to acknowledge the legitimacy of royalism", Jafaarsan finished. [Historical note to the student and reader: Lord Jafaarsan's speech, as strange as it may seem to us now, was a momentous thing in the early republican period. It established Jafaarsan's position in the Republic, placing him on equal status with the previously untouchable Basilludin, Commander of the Guard. More importantly, it gave a political desperate motivation to the republican movement, something which had never been lacking amongst the fiery-hearted masses, but which had previously slowed down amongst the political elites. Within weeks, aid, arms and republican volunteers started flowing across the Strait to the mainland, and was followed shortly after by official Republican aid. >>From this point onewards, the Northwest Midsea begins to witness a serious of increasingly more radical and momentous actions and events as the forces of royalism and republicanism are played out. - T.Moore] NOTICE: This communication is meant only for the addressee(s) named above and may contain information which is confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the named addressee(s), or the agent responsible for receiving and delivering this communication to the named addressee(s), this communication has been sent to you in error. If so, kindly contact us immediately for retrieval purposes. Unauthorised dissemination,distribution, copying or reliance on this communication is prohibited and may attract criminal penalties. 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