The Imperial Globe
Toonela Declares War;
*Sufet* Signs Decree
![[Image: vTlYoQU.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/vTlYoQU.jpg)
Sufet Carondawana waves to a crowd of international reporters shortly before their arrival at the Hall of Servitors.
First, I wish to express my gratitude once again to our people and the Onaron for having brought my life to this confluence of events. While declaring the first state of armed hostilities between the Empire and malicious forces abroad in over a century brings me no joy, to think that I, your youngest Sufet, am to be placed in such a position to serve our communities in spirit at a time of crisis is truly humbling. Only your continuing affirmation of my virtues for the post prevents me from at once resigning for fear of unworthiness.
Secondly, the solemn processes of our nation, which embody the best lessons we have learned together over the many centuries, are more than capable of preventing frightfully numerous differences in opinion on controversial issues such as the serious consideration of war against a hostile actor abroad from fracturing our unity. Though it may have taken some time to arrive at our ultimate course of action, it is a course of action near unanimity in conviction strengthens the potency of many times over. In truly momentous times such as these, it is our sense of belonging to one another, as we all belong in the Onaron, which so often sets our responses apart from those of governments who prioritize power over care. Rossia's government, clearly, is one of these latter entities that does all within its borders, and outside of them, an abiding injustice in its abuses.
Toonela Declares War;
*Sufet* Signs Decree
Sufet Carondawana waves to a crowd of international reporters shortly before their arrival at the Hall of Servitors.
After days of sometimes bitter debate amongst the otherwise serene members of the Ascended raised to serve in Toonela's House of Servitors, all but four of its seventy-nine members voted to pass an Imperial Decree addressing the current crisis within the Social Liberal Union brought on by the nearly year-long blockade of the Thor Passage by a Rossian Navy fleet detachment. The decree (Imperial No. 33), declares that a "state of armed hostility" exists between the Holy Empire of Toonela and the Rossian nation until the latter has "withdrawn from all provocative and harmful actions which offend the virtues of international cooperation and peace"; it is also notable for laying out a general outline for both the actions the Ascended have been charged with undertaking in order to nullify the Rossian threat, and those it are barred from. Amongst the former: immediate seizure of all shipping bound for Rossia through the Serichica Sea that contain supplies deemed vital for any Rossian war effort, even those shipped by other member states of the Social Liberal Union. The latter provisions forbid Toonela from undertaking "the act of or deliberate aid in, either directly or indirectly, an invasion of Rossia without the additional passage of a subsequent decree amply supported in its premise that the working communities of that country seek, voluntarily and with open arms, the presence of our armed peoples on their homeland". Crucially, the decree re-establishes the Imperial Command structure, empowering members of the Ascended to coordinate the prosecution of a war in the Toonelan's peoples' interests via the appointment of specialists drawn from relevant fields within the nation's territories and the mobilization of Toonela's Hybrid Air Vehicle and Naval Fleets.
The Sufet Carondawana duly signed off on the decree following its passage. Unusually for the young Sufet, who has not been prone to commentary on the Ascended's Decrees following their passage, they also held a formal press conference for interested citizens, as well as the domestic and international press, shortly after the signing of the war declaration. We present a transcript of that speech, with only minor edits for maximum readability, to our readers:
"Good evening everyone! As you have all probably already heard, I have just finished signing the Imperial Decree forged by the labours of our people's representatives to address the growing international crisis in the northern Goncaran Sea's Thor Passage; it was painstakingly created in a way we can all find amiable with careful enough consideration. The details of that decree's final contents are already public, so it is not to expound on them that I am giving this address to you all today. Especially so, given I am neither fond of standing behind podiums nor speaking to large crowds of people in such limited space. No, I wish to speak on some other thoughts which have strayed to the forefront of my mind over the course of this last week.
The Sufet Carondawana duly signed off on the decree following its passage. Unusually for the young Sufet, who has not been prone to commentary on the Ascended's Decrees following their passage, they also held a formal press conference for interested citizens, as well as the domestic and international press, shortly after the signing of the war declaration. We present a transcript of that speech, with only minor edits for maximum readability, to our readers:
"Good evening everyone! As you have all probably already heard, I have just finished signing the Imperial Decree forged by the labours of our people's representatives to address the growing international crisis in the northern Goncaran Sea's Thor Passage; it was painstakingly created in a way we can all find amiable with careful enough consideration. The details of that decree's final contents are already public, so it is not to expound on them that I am giving this address to you all today. Especially so, given I am neither fond of standing behind podiums nor speaking to large crowds of people in such limited space. No, I wish to speak on some other thoughts which have strayed to the forefront of my mind over the course of this last week.
First, I wish to express my gratitude once again to our people and the Onaron for having brought my life to this confluence of events. While declaring the first state of armed hostilities between the Empire and malicious forces abroad in over a century brings me no joy, to think that I, your youngest Sufet, am to be placed in such a position to serve our communities in spirit at a time of crisis is truly humbling. Only your continuing affirmation of my virtues for the post prevents me from at once resigning for fear of unworthiness.
Secondly, the solemn processes of our nation, which embody the best lessons we have learned together over the many centuries, are more than capable of preventing frightfully numerous differences in opinion on controversial issues such as the serious consideration of war against a hostile actor abroad from fracturing our unity. Though it may have taken some time to arrive at our ultimate course of action, it is a course of action near unanimity in conviction strengthens the potency of many times over. In truly momentous times such as these, it is our sense of belonging to one another, as we all belong in the Onaron, which so often sets our responses apart from those of governments who prioritize power over care. Rossia's government, clearly, is one of these latter entities that does all within its borders, and outside of them, an abiding injustice in its abuses.
We are proud to be unlike such nations.
By our guiding lights, the Social Liberal Union's member states must not only differ from the malicious and corrupt in rhetoric, but also in our actions. The Toonelan people have lived up to those principles again today, in declaring that we will play no part in occupation or expansionism cloaked by the honied words of solidarity and liberation. Nor will we seek to gain by deceit that which cannot be gained with earnest, voluntary conversion. If those who toil within the borders of Rossia cannot come to see by their own efforts, as some undoubtedly already have, that the beasts of ill fortune need not allocate their lots in life so low relative to their leaders (and are in fact more within their grasps then they might otherwise believe), who accumulate ill-gotten gains at their own expense, then it is not liberation we would be enacting upon them by approaching their shores, but an endangerment of the solace those living justly have already found in.
We must not forget how many past polities (some of which others have deemed 'empires', though they are nothing like our own) spoke joyously of the common cause they had made with some 'civilized minority, held back by the perspectives of the barbaric majority' in other lands, only to find upon their invasion of such places that the ravages of war had brought even their good intentions to ruin. What good, then, is the best governing, most ethical polity, if having been installed against the wills of her obstinate peoples, every one of its members are hated by those who would otherwise have reason to rejoice in its practices? If our allies within the Social Liberal Union mean to put lie to this lesson of history, so often repeated, then they must engender in some way consent by those most affected, the Rossian people themselves, for the fall of a government which they have otherwise tolerated, however arduously, these recent years. It is not enough to express solidarity for Rossia's toiling people in the abstract if that solidarity is not sought by the toilers themselves! We understood this when we did not protest with arms the voluntary ascension of our good friends in Etsuast to the Rameliae government, when we could have chosen instead to 'express solidarity' with that minority amongst their peoples who perhaps privately opposed such a move, extolling the whole time that a majority among them would 'soon emerge' to support 'their own best interests'.
The First Concords are indisputable on this point. Piyeci 3 states: 'Seek not to fill the lands with venom, least the secret clamor of the anguished become the winds of an engulfing storm.'
This reaffirmation of our faith aside, the duty ahead of us is grim. Residents and citizens of our communities must now continue to collaborate in this project of war-making which we have not endeavored together at all these recent generations. Already, the militarized H.A.V.s and the Imperial Naval Fleets are being organized in preparation for use after the appointments to Command which I am told will be made later today. Efforts at coordination with our fellow members within the Social Liberal Union will be made, should it prove desirable for all involved. The elimination of the Rossian fleet threatening the Thor Passage shall be total, should that country's malicious government not capitulate on this, and perhaps other, points of conflict between our and other peoples post-haste.
As the people speak, so they must be heard!"
The Sufet answered some questions while mingling with the crowd afterwards, before excusing themself to catch a train back to their birth province to 'seek the company of community elders before an upcoming meeting of the Realm's Council there'.
