Imperial Diet V

[OverKnight]

Matthias looks a tad indecisive, but decides to speak.

First let me congratulate Count Becker on his taking of Bucharest. I will be quite interested in how this new gunpowder artillery performed in a siege. Our battles against gunpowder troops have shown the limited utility of the new weapon for front line soldiers, but I believe their use in cannon might be more productive.

Matthias takes a deep breath.

But now I must move onto a less appealing matter, the disappearance of the Prussian HA, the Vilnius garrison and some other units. This deeply concerns me. A large army, most likely made up of these elements, was spotted south of Vienna. One does not have to be a map maker to draw a point between Thorn and Vienna and follow that line further. I fear Peter might be intending to attack our allies, the Byzantines.

I have no evidence of this, but we do know Peter and Tancred, and their men, have abandoned their posts, ignored their orders and disappeared. Even by itself, these are serious crimes.

I ask the Steward to issue charges of desertion and dereliction of duty against Peter von Kastilien and Tancred von Tyrolia. If they are found, I ask that they be arrested and brought to trial for these charges. If they indeed plan an attack, I ask that charges of treason be added as well.

I do not want Unification with Byzantium, either of Church or State. It is folly. Even now a Mad Monk stirs the citizenry of the Empire against it, and any further move closer to Unification will unleash rioting and rebellion. It seems even some of our soldiers and nobles are not immune. I ask the Kaiser to stop negotiations now, before anything worse happens.

However, the Byzantines are our allies. I have been content with a standard alliance, and it has benefited both Empires. Any overthrow of this alliance by a rogue army, unsanctioned by either Diet, Kaiser or Charter, would be a heinous crime and needs to be stopped. If it does occur, the perpetrators of this treason should be tried and then drawn and quartered as traitors to the Reich and the rule of law.

Many of us do not agree with the Kaiser's actions, but they are legal. If we use illegal means to thwart a legal action, we will have betrayed everything we have fought for, everything we have gained, and chaos will soon follow.

Matthias sits down heavily.

[econ21]

Elberhard: Well said, Matthias. I fear what you surmise is true - the army marching south through Austria is that of Peter von Kastilien. As you know, I have tasked the Imperial Army, under the command of my brother Duke Hans, to intercept the rebel force. While Hans is still far away from his objective, he has received the following communication from Peter:

Duke Hans;

I have learned through a way that I shall not reveal that are moving your army to intercept me. I beseech to do no such thing.

Once upon a time, your birthright was usurped by a worm named Siegfried, who I, in my blind love, trusted. It is time things are made right.

The trustworthy Franconians have been notified as to my plans. Trust me. I am taking action upon something that only direct action will solve. Feel free to come East, it will save you the trip later, but do not attack my army. I would have no choice but to immolate your forces and Swabia does not deserve to lose such an honorable man. I do not want to kill Germans.

Peter von Kastilien, Bane of Poland and Greece

I fear this letter confirms much of what Count Matthias Steffen has warned. By his own words, Peter von Kastilien has indicted himself as a traitor and a deserter. Duke Hans is authorised to arrest him and bring him for trial before this Diet. If he resists, then we may have to witness the terrible spectacle of two great German armies battling against each other. But in such an event, my brother's recent victory must leave us in little doubt that the side of law and justice will prevail.

[Privateerkev]

Jan just sits there in shock as the realization of what they are discussing sets in.

Well, it seems that Count Peter has made his choice. And now we have made ours.

May God have mercy on us all for what we are about to do...

Jan crosses his chest.

[AussieGiant]

Arnold:

Ahh yes the first signs of rebellion have begun.

I think the ex-Chancellor is totally correct in his analysis, YET again!!

Peter has clearly deserted his post and is in breach of a number of orders at this time.

I think what this clearly shows is that if I called an ad hoc show of hands here in the Diet, I'd be more than able to show a clear vote of "no confidence" in the Kaiser and his reunification plan.

What is more pertinent on a operational level is that the only Army actually between Peter and the Byzantines is the 1st AHA under the command of Becker.

Having completed his mission already it might be wise for him to block Peter as best as possible so Hans can catch the rebel army commander.

What say you my Prinz!!??

[Stig]

Ansehelm:
If anyone punishes my brother it is me, I'm still his Duke, and would he disobey orders he disobeyed mine, not yours. Furthermore as of now he has done nothing wrong.
I have asked Hans, asked, to intercept Peter and try to stop him. His goal is Constantinople and he doesn't intend to stop till he's there.
Furthermore, would Hans manage to stop him he will not be punished for disobeying orders or desertion, as I never gave specific orders for the Prussian Army and he never did so himself.
And would there be any kind of trail it would be in Frankfurt, a real German city, by a German court, with as "judges" 4 Dukes, who are German, and have seen the Reich, not some Prinz who has never properly been there.

More over, would I gave him my full support he would not disobey orders or desert. As I could simply agree with him.
Is it not also a crime to go against Edicts? Is it not also a crime to gift away two cities for which so many men have fallen?

[econ21]

Elberhard: Duke Ansehlem, thank you for confirming the traitor Peter's destination. It seems that Count Matthias was right about that too.

You are incorrect in your claim not to have given specific orders to the Prussia Household Army. These were public and clear for all to view:

The Prussian (Eastern) House Army is to defend Thorn and later Krakow, would enemy units infiltrate the Reich it also has to defend Breslau and Stettin.

[Stig]

Ansehelm
Direct orders are to be given by the commanders themselves. I only gave the base of operations so that the Chancellor knows not to move the army to Hamburg. The commander of the army can do as he wants with it.
If anyone disobeyed orders it's Tancred as I gave him specific orders to join me and head for Saxonia.

[OverKnight]

Matthias nods at Arnold.

A vote of confidence is an excellent idea. And before the Steward asks, it wouldn't be binding, only an emergency session would make it so, and I don't see the support for that, yet.

I will instruct my scribes to start an informal poll.

[Ignoramus]

Wolfgang Hummel smiles as he marches into the Diet.

So it would seem that our beloved Kaiser is ignoring the Diet again? I remember mein father pursuing his own course against the desires of the electors, and he got impeached.

Does this Greek think that he can receive special favours from the Diet? He is our Kaiser, but Kaisers are not gods. Nevertheless, there are far more important enemies than our own Kaiser - for the moment.

The French are a countinual threat to the Reich's western borders. Without the efforts of brave Swabians, they would have penertrated to Rhine long ago. I hope that the Kaiser does not forget that the Reich does indeed have enemies that have to be fought and defeated.