Archive:Nathan Maine/The Desolaran Civil War

**Presented By:** Major Executive Nathan Maine

**Date:** January 18, 2014

Members of the Triumvirate, as I have no doubt you already know, the Triumvirate has been engaged in war. Most of you may have found out as my proposal for a declaration of war made its way through the Executive and Administrative branches mere days ago, but for many others, waking up this morning to find our Union in conflict may have come as somewhat of a shock.

In order for me to justify this war and describe how we will go forward, allow me to explain how this began. On December 12 of 2013, I received a message from a man who called himself Thomas Armethol, the Governor of Pania, which is the sixth state of the nation of Desolare. He wrote to me stating that he was in desperate need of assistance, as his state was on the verge of rebellion against its nation. He described to me the background of Desolare, how it had been formed, and how tyranny had spread through the unjust government that had been formed and was quickly twisted to oppress the people of Desolare, but, in particular, his state of Pania. Governor Armethol wrote that he had "read about your belief in justice and about your stance as a force for good, so it is on behalf of myself and my people that I implore you to help us" and concluded by stating that, "If you can help us, if there is something you can do, then we are forever gracious." I quickly sent the message along to the Chief Ambassador and Chairman of the Joint Command Council, Jackson Mearl, who began speaking with Governor Armethol to attempt to find a peaceful solution and consult with him on resolving the issues without a rebellion. After several weeks of this process, things had only gotten worse, and the rising resistance against Desolare and its Capital had resulted in Desolare putting restrictions and additional rules on the state of Pania. Governor Armethol wrote myself and Chief Ambassador Mearl once more, this time insisting that time was up, civil war was on the horizon, and he asked that we would extend our hand to help them. I told Governor Armethol that I'd request that my Union would assist him when war occurs, and we began making plans for the day when hostility would begin. Shortly afterwords, I tabled to the Executive Branch a proposal for a declaration of war against Desolare so that Pania could be aided in its formation of an independent nation, and after a few days, passage from the Executive and Administrative branches and Governor Armethol's go ahead, the Triumvirate declared war on Desolare mere minutes after Pania declared itself independent from Desolare. It was then that the Desolaran Civil War, the war we are at the dawn of, began.

You may ask, is it our duty? Should we be responsible to help those unrelated to ourselves? What right do we have to settle a foreign dispute? These are fair questions, ones that many of our people and members of our government have asked. In response, I can only say that which I told the Executive Branch when I first proposed we assist Pania: "I believe, and I hope you all believe, that it is time this Union makes a difference elsewhere. We should not sit idly by when there are those who not only need, but have asked, begged, for our help. It's time we step up and show the world that we will always serve the cause of intelligence, order, and intelligence, the world over."

Regardless of opinion, this Union is now at war, and it represents the largest force in this civil war between Pania and Desolare. On one end, I am proud to lead this Union in such a just cause; on another, I am mournful that I will be the Major Executive to witness this Union's first war. Though the war may rage on, I expect this Union to carry on much like it always does. Most of your lives will remain unchanged, you will continue running businesses, voting on bills, investing in bonds or shares, and working hard to make this Union a better and brighter place. Certainly myself, Head of Intelligence Ascencia, and General Mearl will all be preoccupied in the weeks to come, but rest assured that your government stands by you, and it will always put the well-being of the Triumvirate above all else.

I assured Governor Armethol, who, with his state's declared independence and formation into the nation of Pania, is now known as President Armethol, that my Union would be honored to harbor and give protection to his citizens as the war persists. Chief Ambassador Mearl and myself have helped provide Pania some assistance in allowing them to print their charter and declaration of independence here and, in the days and weeks to come, we may see new faces in the general sphere of the Triumvirate as citizens of Pania take comfort with us as they fight for their freedom. I expect nothing less from the Triumvirate than that we will treat them as well as we treat each other; after all, among those who have fought together, a friendship unlike any other forms.

With that in mind, and the dawn of war knocking at our door, let me leave you with these words to carry us through what may come: A just act is never a wasted one.

-*Nathan Maine, Major Executive of the Universal Triumvirate*