The Ghost Ship Message Board: The meaning of an Ultimatum...

This was a private letter, not a political statement meant for the government of Atlantis. Cypress' messenger, the same Godslayer dragon, returns the next night with another inked letter, back to the maritime city of Atlantis.

Trystan Denasco,

Salutations. I am pleased to see your family still holds the throne of Atlantis. I am that by my continued efforts to preserve friendly relations between Atlantis and the Mutiny Alliance, that your country will be able to prosper in these dark times.

First, a lesson in dealing with me. I will not pretend to kiss your Royal ass like other leaders and figureheads will. I will be straight up with you, regarding matters of the gravest of importance.

When I say that failure to comply with my demands will result in war - I mean exactly that. When I say the continuance of your people rests within your hands, now, I mean exactly that. I will not negotiate with you under these conditions, I will not bargain with you.

If Atlantis makes another belligerent manuvere against either the Mutiny Alliance or her compatriots, then you will face a massive maritime assault on a number of fronts that will only end with your unconditional surrender. So, if you have any love for your people, I calmly advise you to choose your next response very carefully.

The reason I have not taken action yet, is that I respect the sovereignty of your people and their right to be under their own control. Some of my monarchist allies may not have been so considerate, had I not taken the initiative to deal with this conflict.

Regarding your waters, if you wish to make requests to me, you will do so in written word and not with sword or sorcery - because that will only get you and those you are responsible for governing into a very destructive war. And, with all due respect to your "sciences" Trystan, I will burry your ass.

I will also not apologize for waging war against an enemy that desires nothing less but totalitarian annexation of all factions, nations, and peoples - and the genocide of any one not compliant with their fascist aegis.

If you are willing to ensure peace by complying with my original demands, then I will bring up the issue of your country's waterspace to my allied leaders, as I understand your concerns - even if I am compelled by my ideology and rank to deal with your tactics in such an unforgiving manner.

The fundamental problem lies in tactical concerns. If the M.A. and her co-belligerents withdraw all operations from your waters then the Warlock Order will do one of three things. The first, and highly unlikely, is that they will withdraw all of their naval activities as well. The second is that they will laugh at us, and harder at you, and attack your country as well. The third is that they will request that they be allowed peaceful access for their submarines at your city and use your watersurface as a "safe zone" for their ships. This is unacceptable - and will result in a declaration of war, forcing your country into the Warlock Order's camp - a faction that will do nothing but use and discard Atlantis, if it does not fall to a multitude of enemies at once.

If the Great Alliance's maritime forces are withdrawn from Atlantian waters, you have basicly a 1 out of 3 chance to avoid total warfare. From one leader to another, and from an uncle to his nephew, I urge you to be wary of the treachorous web that can easily ensnare your people into its clutches.

Ultimately, if you sincerely have no interest in avoiding warfare, then allowing our operations to continue unhindered will prove beneficial to Atlantis. Unless the threat of our ships is removed, I sincerely doubt the W.O. has the resources or the manpower to attack Atlantis. And, should it prove to be so strategically inept, the immediate presence of her enemies' naval power in the area will deal a crushing blow to an already outnumbered fleet that has concentrated most of its activites to guarding supply convoys and defending home waters. ((OOC: This is true, as I gave Jeremy the power to help the W.O. when you weren't around -ss- he designed a means of guarding the waters around Galen Thal and protecting the oceanic supply lines, but it put the Order's navy on an extreme defensive stance. The M.A.F. already has used balloons and planes to find out this basic info.))

Think. Consider. And send me your response. Within seven days, we will see what happens. Hopefully you can benefit your people and your self-acclaimed desire for seclusion and peace in your actions.

With regards,
Cypress Dreadslay