To The Empire of Rome

[Luna]

Most Serene Republic San Marino​ From: Stella Espasito, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of San Marino To: Camilla Urbana Colombo, Consul, Empire of Rome Your Excellency, As Chair of The Congress of State and Foreign Minister, it is my distinct pleasure to write to you after the election of our new Captains Regent. I'm sure you have read about San Marino's constitutional amendments which have mostly concerned the Captains Regent. I can assure you that these changes were in the best interest of San Marino and the Sammarinese people. The government and the former Captains Regent approved these constitutional changes despite some unfounded objection. I am confident that we made the right decision. I can't wait to see how much our republic will continue to improve over the next few years. I would like to organize a diplomatic meeting between representatives of San Marino's government and representatives of the Empire of Rome. Please let me know if the Roman government would be interested in this kind of an event. I, and the rest of the government, feel strongly that a close relationship between San Marino and Italy is very important. I can't wait to hear back from you, and perhaps even meet you in the future. Yours Truly, Stella Espasito Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of San Marino

​

 

[Luna]

@Logan

 

[Logan]

Transmitted By the Authority of the Senate and People of Rome
TOP SECRET
Encryption Level: High




​

Madame,

It's my pleasure to receive this message and welcome San Marino back to the stage of international politics. A strong tie between our nations is vital and in the best interests of both our nations, and I can speak both on my own account and on that of the Princeps, the Senate, and the people that such an event would be most welcome. I look forward to it.

Peace be Upon You,
Camilla Colombo
Consul of the Senate
SPQR

 

[Luna]

Most Serene Republic San Marino​ From: Stella Espasito, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of San Marino To: Camilla Urbana Colombo, Consul of The Senate, Empire of Rome Your Excellency, One of our new Captains Regent, Her Serene Highness Luna Angelis, has volunteered to visit Rome to represent our republic. She is one of the heads of state and government of San Marino, and has my permission to go. Please let me know if this would be acceptable, she has told me that she is excited at the idea of visiting Rome. Yours Truly, Stella Espasito Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of San Marino

​

@Logan

 

[Logan]

Transmitted By the Authority of the Senate and People of Rome
TOP SECRET
Encryption Level: IV




​

Madame,

That shall be acceptable, and we are excited to welcome her to the eternal city. I will meet with her, as well as the Princeps, should he be available, and she will be welcomed by a Senatorial delegation. I most definitely will be looking forward to welcoming her to Rome and discussing the future of our countries' relations.

Peace be Upon You,

Camilla Colombo
Consul of the Senate
SPQR

@Luna

 

[Luna]

Luna paced back and forth in her room while she waited for the Foreign Minister to arrive. She was still wearing her day-clothes, but it was now well past her normal bedtime. She was atop Mount Guaita, inside one of the rooms of the fortress where she had a bed, books, a telephone, and some other amenities. There was a small staff, which included security, inside of the fortress as well that was seeing to her. She had found the idea of living inside the fortress interesting, at least, but now she knew she wouldn't like it without some major changes. Firstly, the fortress had been there for a thousand years. It had no modern amenities except for some rudimentary plumbing that had been recently added in so that she could have a bathroom. It was also freezing, especially this time of year when the wind blew hard at the top of the mountain. Luckily, though, the Ministry of Culture said she was allowed to light a fire in the fireplace to keep her warm. The fact that she had to sleep in the fortress to begin with, though, was something that she had not entirely been made privy to yet.

Shortly after her election, the Foreign Minister told Luna that it was to keep her safe. Her explanation was that her father's home, where she lived, was not secure and that it would need some changes to be made so that she could live there. Luna believed this, but there were virtually no threats to a leader of San Marino now or in the past 40 years. Luna did feel alone up there, on the mountain, even though there were others watching over here. During the day she went down among the people, and at night she looked down at them and their twinkling lights from the highest point in the city. At night, all she could do was watch.

"Did you know that this was a prison on a couple different occasions?" asked a voice behind Luna. The surprise nearly made her scream. She turned around and saw the Foreign Minister, Stella Esposito, standing in her doorway. While Luna was only 18 years old, Stella was moving towards her late 20s. As far as young adults go, Stella was old.

"I didn't know that," Luna replied. "Is this one of those times?" she asked back.

Stella laughed as she walked in, and closed the door behind her. She took hold of a chair in the room and leaned on it. The Foreign Minister was very pretty, but every time Luna saw her, all she could think about was the angry speeches that she gave before she was elected the leader of the National Conservative Party. Luna wasn't extremely political, but she knew enough about the Grand and General Council to know that Stella was very tactical, to say the least, when it came to how she conducted politics. Luna only understood partially why she had been chosen to be one of the Captains Regent; she feared that she wasn't going to ever find out why. People seemed to really enjoy keeping her in the dark.

"You're free to leave here whenever you want, your Serene Highness," Stella replied sympathetically. "I'm sorry if you don't like it here, but we need to keep you safe," she said as she sat down in the chair she had leaned on for a few moments.

"I'm one of the richest people in the republic," Luna said. It was true, since her father recently died. "I think I should be able to go back home, and I should be able to afford whatever changes need to be made. Can the government just tell me what needs to be done?"

Stella looked at Luna with sympathy and nodded, "I couldn't agree with you more, Your Excellency. It's outright wrong that they've stuck you up here, where you're so disconnected. I've already stepped on some toes by having them bring furniture and plumbing and some electricity up here, I think the Ministers of Culture and Tourism are both very unhappy with me right now, but I am going to go talk to the Ministry of Civil Defense. You are one of our Captains Regent - you should be able to sleep wherever you like!" she said emphatically.

Luna folded her arms around her chest and nodded in agreement. Finally, someone understood her. "Thank you, Ms. Espasito. I'm happy someone from the government is finally paying attention to me," she responded as she sat on the edge of her bed.

"Oh please, I told you that you can call me Stella. You outrank me, remember?" Stella said with a friendly look on her face. Luna politely smiled back at her and nodded.

"I'm going to make sure that they get you moved out of here as soon as possible, and back to your home. You have my word.. Do you think you could do a favor for me?" Stella asked in return.

"Oh, well sure. What can I do for you?" Luna asked curiously.

Stella was wearing a more conservative and less fashionable dress than Luna. It was a dark blue and went down further than Luna's. Stella crossed her legs, and folded her hands in her lap as she prepared her statement.

"I know that you've never left San Marino before. That's.. that's pretty remarkable, if I'm being honest with you. That's why I had the Foreign Ministry fast-track this for you," Stella said. She pulled out a small booklet from her purse. It had, "The Most Serene Republic of San Marino," written on the front of it.

"This is your passport," Stella continued. "I've spoken with the Empire. They'd like us to send a delegation to Rome. I think that you would be the perfect person to lead that delegation," she said.

Luna's face turned white and she shook her head. "I can't do that, Stella. I've.. I've never been to Rome. The only Italians I've ever spoken to were the ones that visit here. It's so dangerous there, would I even be safe? Why don't you go?"

"I would go, but I think sending you would be more of a message. For us, who in the world is more important than our friends in the Empire? You are, of course, one of our heads of state. I would send your counterpart," Stella said in reference to the other Captain Regent, "but I think you've both made it quite clear that he's to work on things at home, and you are to focus on more things abroad. I'm not sure it would send the right message if he visited our friends in Rome. And of course you would be safe there! The Romans take safety very seriously. What do you say?" she asked in a way that almost sounded like she was trying to hurry the conversation along.

Stella could tell that Luna was hesitating. She got up from her chair, and sat right next to Luna. She rested one of her hands on Luna's knee and looked down at her.

"It's going to be okay, you're going to do just fine," said Stella in a confident, sure voice.

Luna suddenly felt very vulnerable and blushed. She avoided making direct eye contact with Stella and just looked down at her lap. "Okay.." Luna said quietly.

Stella handed Luna her passport and opened it to the second page. She gave Luna a pin so that she could sign her name on the document. Luna signed it, and gave the pin back to her. Stella swiftly stood up with a smile on her face.

"You will travel there by car. Some of my people from the Foreign Ministry, and the National Conservative Party, will go with you in case you need help. There will be security too, of course, to keep you safe. But I'm sure the Romans will be more than capable of keeping you safe. We've spoken before about what we need to talk to the Empire about - do you remember?" Stella asked. She was now practically standing in the doorway again.

"Yes, I do," Luna said as she looked down at her passport.

"Good," Stella replied. "And just in case, the people from the Foreign Ministry will be able to remind you. Just be polite to the Romans, like you would anyone else. I'm sure they'll take you somewhere interesting, or show you something interesting. There's a lot to admire about them.. Stay strong, Your Excellency. I can't wait to see you on television tomorrow," Stella said as she walked out of the room. Luna was once again alone with just her own thoughts. She changed into her pajamas, restocked the fire, and read a book before she went to sleep for the night. She had several nightmares in the night, one of which was about wolves. The howling sounds of wind atop the mountain appeared to be corrupting her mind.

In the morning she, the representatives from the Foreign Ministry and the National Conservative Party, and the soldiers from the Noble Guard rode in a few Italian-made cars from the capital to the border of San Marino and the Empire. San Marino police provided an escort up to the border, and then allowed Roman Police to take over the escort. Luna felt goosebumps all over her body as they crossed from San Marino, and into the Empire. Nothing had changed, but she immediately felt different. The cars took the most direct route to Rome so that she, and the rest of the delegation, could meet with the Romans.

@Logan

 

[Logan]

A VM-90T carrying 4 Military Policemen and 1 Military Intelligence Specialist of the Imperial Protection Commission would provide an escort for the Captain Regent's drive to Rome, with the military policeman up top manning a .50 Machine Gun. They would be met by another pair of VM-90Ts with the same complement as they arrived in Rome.

Arriving in Rome, the Escort would lead Sammarinese head of state to the Quirinal Palace, where they would stop outside of a courtyard and motion the Sammarinese to proceed in. Awaiting them would be the Consul, an attractive woman in her 30s, wearing a modest dress not uncommon to Italy, and the First Citizen (hereafter, Princeps). 46 Years old and 5'10" Amadeus was not obscenely tall by any means, but still stood a couple of inches above the average Italian. Adding to his imposing figure, however, was the military uniform he wore, adorned with several awards he earned in service of the old republic, as well as the Roman League, before being chosen to lead the new "Empire." To their side was a man in a plain, scarcely decorated, dress uniform, with a white top, jacket, and cloak, and black pants. His shoulders would be adorned with the 3 stars and Eagle of an IPC Senior Captain.

The Princeps would be the first to speak to the Captain-Regent, followed immediately by the Consul.

"Your Excellency, I wish to welcome you to Rome, and wholeheartedly look forward to our countries' future partnership."

"As do I, Your Excellency."

@Luna