[EGY] Message to the Transitional Council of the Catalan Republic

[Kelly the Mad]

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To: The Transitional Council of the Catalan Republic
From: Hatem Shammas, Chief Officer of Intelligence

Subject: International Standing

Security Clearance: Government; Top Secret

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To whom it may concern,

Egypt recognizes the plight of Catalonia. The conflict your people are fighting is justified, and it is respected in our corner of the world. You are resisting the fingers of imperialism. Considering our beliefs are in line with this resistance to imperialism, we are seeking to learn more about your organisation and its core ideas. Egypt is militarily powerful and has always been dedicated to resistance against imperialist groups. How has the Catalan movement reacted to the recent actions of other revolts internationally, particularly in Turkey, and the involvement of Thailand in international politics? Does Catalonia plan to be a safe haven for communist ideology?

There is a particular interest in Catalonia that has recently emerged at home here. More information is needed, however, the Sultan is favorable to your cause. Please respond promptly.

Best,
Hatem Shammas
Chief Officer of Intelligence
Sultanate of Egypt and the Sudan

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Zak

 

[Zak]

Catalan Republic
Security Classification: ENCRYPTED​

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Dear Hatem Shammas,

We extend our deep appreciation for your words of recognition and for Egypt’s longstanding dedication to the resistance of imperialist influence. In times such as these, when the world watches cautiously and alliances form in the shadows, it is no small matter to receive acknowledgement from a sovereign nation with Egypt’s legacy of endurance and strategic clarity.

Let it be known, the people of Catalonia have not forgotten the struggles of other nations, nor do we mistake silence for neutrality. We hear your message. We value your interest. And we recognize the gravity of your position.

The Free Catalan Assembly also known as the Transitional Council of the Catalan Republic is founded upon a clear, unified objective, to restore the dignity and autonomy of the Catalan people through self-determination, popular democracy, and the rebuilding of sovereign civic institutions. We reject domination, be it political, economic, or cultural, by any foreign or domestic force that acts without the consent of the governed.

You asked where we stand in relation to movements abroad. We offer the following:

Turkey
We observe the resistance movements there with cautious solidarity. While we do not presume to dictate or endorse the internal politics of another sovereign state, we support those who rise peacefully against injustice and centralization without due representation.

Thailand
We have no formal relationship with the current government in Thailand. Our foreign affairs office continues to monitor their global engagements but reserves official comment at this time.

Ideology
Catalonia is not, and will not become, a staging ground for any singular ideology, whether communist, liberal, or nationalist. We are committed to being a pluralistic republic, where ideas may be debated, but never imposed. Those who flee tyranny may find asylum in our borders, but not a platform for new tyranny in another form.

At this stage, while we welcome diplomatic discourse, ideological solidarity, and strategic consultation, we must respectfully decline any foreign assistance or intervention, direct or indirect.

Our uprising is rooted in the will of the Catalan people. To introduce foreign arms, however well-intentioned, would endanger both our legitimacy and the civilian character of our resistance. The moment we exchange sovereignty for dependency, we become what we resist. We do not close the door to future strategic dialogue, but we tread carefully. Our revolution must remain Catalan in form, in purpose, and in execution.

We invite the Sultanate to continue this exchange through secure diplomatic channels. We are willing to share our charter, our civil platform, and our political framework with your representatives for study and dialogue. In the meantime, may your people walk in dignity, and may your leadership continue to serve as a reminder that history belongs not only to the powerful, but to the principled.

Kind Regards,
Commander Júlia Riera
Leader of the Transitional Council
Catalan Republic

 

[Kelly the Mad]

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To: Julia Riera
From: Hatem Shammas, Chief Officer of Intelligence

Subject: International Standing

Security Clearance: Government; Top Secret

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Commander Riera,

We respect your desire for a civil character in your movement. However, I trust you will keep our unique position in mind when the bombs start to fall. Even the most hardened intellectual has a soft skull for shrapnel.

It should be noted by you as well that the revolt in Turkey is in no way peaceful; we have kept a cautiously optimistic attitude towards them for now. We hope to cooperate with them in the future. As for Thailand, the government has been reborn by imperialism. They have established military bases worldwide and intervened in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Pacific in violent ways. They murdered an Egyptian diplomat in cold blood, on live television, and had the gall to play the victim while our diplomatic staff were tortured in prison. They are unashamedly uncivil terrorists. I would insist that the Catalan government take this into consideration, along with Egypt's sovereignty over the Suez Canal, if our conversations are to continue.

Best,
Hatem Shammas
Chief Officer of Intelligence
Sultanate of Egypt and the Sudan

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Zak

 

[Zak]

Catalan Republic
Security Classification: ENCRYPTED​

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Dear Hatem Shammas,

First, regarding the situation in Catalonia, we are well aware that the path we have chosen may lead to conflict. The Spanish state, despite its claims of democracy, has proven unwilling to engage with us as equals. Catalonia’s struggle is not for the sake of division, it is for the preservation of our dignity, our culture, and our ability to choose our own future. While we remain committed to a peaceful resolution, we will defend our republic if necessary, just as any sovereign nation would in the face of aggression.

We are not idealists. We understand the very real threat of violence, but we will not compromise our ideals simply to avoid conflict. The Catalan people have waited for too long for meaningful change. And so, if that change comes with struggle, we are prepared for it. But we will continue to offer dialogue and seek peaceful resolutions as long as we can.

On the matter of Turkey, we are aware of the complexities of their situation, but it is important to remember that every movement has its own unique context. While their methods may differ from ours, we do not see their fight against oppression as inherently violent or unjust. Turkey’s struggle, like ours, is rooted in the desire for greater freedom and the right to resist authoritarianism. We may not agree with every approach, but we do not consider it our place to dismiss their fight for their people’s freedom.

Regarding Thailand, we must respectfully disagree with your assessment. While we understand the reasons behind Egypt’s position, Catalonia’s stance is rooted in the principle of supporting sovereign states and their right to self-determination, especially when they resist imperial encroachment. Thailand’s recent actions, standing firm against foreign influence, defending its sovereignty, and asserting its role on the world stage, should not be viewed through the lens of aggression but through that of self-preservation and independence.

We firmly believe that Thailand, like all nations, has the right to assert its sovereignty and pursue its own course without external interference. Their military presence abroad, much like that of many other nations, reflects a commitment to ensuring their influence and security in a volatile world, not an act of imperial aggression. The unfortunate loss of life, particularly that of an Egyptian diplomat, is an extreme tragedy, and we condemn all forms of violence against diplomatic personnel. But this tragedy must not be used to undermine Thailand’s legitimate defense of its national interests.

We stand with Thailand in its right to secure its sovereignty, just as we stand with Egypt’s sovereignty over the Suez Canal. These principles of territorial integrity and non-interference are crucial to maintaining peace and order in the international community. Our support for Thailand is rooted in this very belief that all nations must be allowed to govern themselves free from the imposition of foreign powers.

In closing, I want to reaffirm that Catalonia’s fight for independence is a struggle for freedom and self-determination, not a rejection of others. We seek peace with Spain, peace with our neighbors, and peace with the world. However, if this peace is to be achieved, it must be through mutual respect for the right of all people to determine their own fate. Catalonia’s struggle is not just for Catalans, it is for the right of every nation to choose its future.

I hope this message brings clarity, and I look forward to continuing our discussions on how Catalonia and Egypt, along with other nations like Thailand, can work together to ensure that sovereignty, peace, and justice prevail in our time.

Kind Regards,
Commander Júlia Riera
Leader of the Transitional Council
Catalan Republic

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Madrid, National Intelligence Centre – Signal Intelligence Division
Date: 7 October 2027 – 03:42
CLASSIFIED – EYES ONLY

The fluorescent lights in the underground situation room buzzed quietly, more a white noise than a sound, drowned beneath the soft clatter of keyboards and the hum of encrypted decryption hardware. Technician Alvarez was halfway through his second energy drink when the red alert flag flashed on his terminal.

Foreign Transmission Intercepted – Anomalous Routing Detected

“Got something,” he said, already flagging it for senior review.

Within seconds, a stream of compressed metadata had unfolded into a fully reconstructed message, clear text. Spanish, Catalan, some formal Arabic structure. Originating from the Transitional Council nodes inside central Barcelona. Routed twice through Eastern European relay chains, bounced through a satellite package linked to an aging Bulgarian diplomatic uplink.

Destination: Egyptian Office of Intelligence, Cairo
Sender: Identified as ‘Commander Júlia Riera’
Encryption: Encrypted

Senior Analyst Beatriz Grau stepped in behind Alvarez, eyes narrowing as the body of the message came into focus.

“Thailand’s recent actions, standing firm against foreign influence... not an act of imperial aggression…”

“We firmly believe Thailand… has the right to assert its sovereignty…”

“Our support for Thailand is rooted in this very belief...”

She tapped her pager and activated the internal CNI alert cascade.

PRIORITY FLAG: Direct ideological and diplomatic alignment between Catalan separatists and hostile foreign actors.

RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE DISSEMINATION TO:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Red Folder)
Ministry of Defence, Intelligence Division
Office of the Prime Minister – Crisis Desk

NOTIFY:
COMINT Naval Surveillance (Strait of Gibraltar, Egyptian movements)
Counter-Influence Unit (Internal Catalonia)

Beatriz exhaled slowly. “They’re aligning with Egypt now. And they’re going to try and drag Thailand into this.” Her voice was flat. “This is no longer a regional issue. It’s a foreign policy fracture point.”

A lieutenant leaned in. “What’s the posture?”

“Riera’s careful. She talks peace, but she’s opening diplomatic corridors with countries who have closed embassies and executed envoys. This isn’t just rhetoric, she’s testing global tolerances for recognition. She’s building a state in the shadows.”

She paused, then added, “File this under Catalan Protocol Level 3. Have it ready for the morning security briefing. And flag Riera’s satellite handlers for blacklisting.”

The intercepted transmission blinked once more on screen, then was quarantined into the internal archive.

Catalonia was no longer just a separatist flashpoint. It was fast becoming the center of a new geopolitical realignment.

Kelly the Mad

 

[Kelly the Mad]

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To: Julia Riera
From: Hatem Shammas, Chief Officer of Intelligence

Subject: International Standing

Security Clearance: Government; Top Secret

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Commander Riera,

Your perception of the Thai "nation" is unfortunate. Clearly, what you categorize as an assertion of independence, we classify as militant movements abroad encroaching on the independence of others and asserting control over disadvantaged regions without the ability to resist. I personally do not see how building expansive military bases abroad to control unrelated international conflicts is Thailand "asserting its sovereignty and pursuing its own course without external interference." And I do not think I need to remind you how often regional security has been used as a pretense for imperialism, continuously, throughout history, and to this very day. Frankly, it is the most thinly veiled form of imperialism in the modern day. That you cannot see this is concerning.

Thailand is very clearly not a nation fighting the world because it is resisting imperialism; in fact, the opposite is true. Thailand is a nation using anti-imperialism as a disguise for its clearly imperialist objectives on the world stage.

Best,
Hatem Shammas
Chief Officer of Intelligence
Sultanate of Egypt and the Sudan

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Zak

 

[Zak]

Catalan Republic
Security Classification: ENCRYPTED​

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Dear Hatem Shammas,

Got out of police custody, going to make my way to Madrid. Expect me at Egyptian embassy soon. Need to call u when there.

Regards,
Júlia

Madrid, National Intelligence Centre – Joint Operations Briefing Room

The low hum of the subterranean data center was broken only by the occasional bark of an automated alert. Terminals glowed pale green in the darkened chamber, casting ghostlight on tired eyes and tight-lipped operators.

Technician Daniel Cuenca was scrolling through the daily backlog of flagged routing anomalies when a hit came in on a foreign diplomatic frequency, masked origin, encrypted burst packet, high confidence of Catalan node engagement.

Flag: PRIORITY ALERT — TIER 1

Message Signature: Transitional-Catalunya-Node/Cell: R2.Girona
Encrypted Comms Bounce: Vienna > Belgrade > Marseille uplink
Destination: Cairo, Office of Intelligence
Intended Recipient: Hatem Shammas, Chief Officer of Intelligence

He didn’t wait. The line was patched immediately to Senior Analyst Beatriz Grau, who stepped briskly into the central review station with a frown already forming.

The decryption sweep was fast standard transitional cipher work. Predictable. Careless, even. The message unraveled across the central display:

"Got out of police custody, going to make my way to Madrid. Expect me at Egyptian embassy soon. Need to call u when there."

"Her arrival was planned near the diplomatic quarter under civilian cover."

"We will continue monitoring her communication with any Egyptian channel as it clearly remains primary for messaging."

"She is aware of surveillance risks. No direct communication unless confirmed safe."

Beatriz exhaled.

“She’s heading for Madrid,” she muttered. “Probably seeking temporary sanctuary. Maybe political leverage. If she reaches the Egyptian embassy, we lose her to Vienna Convention immunity protocols.”

Another technician nearby interjected, “Ma’am, we’re tracking at least three recent pings from burner devices triangulated between Lleida and Atocha. We think she’s already crossed the halfway point by rail, maybe disguised as a refugee organizer.”

Beatriz’s hand hovered over the secure phone before she pressed a red button.

ALERT ISSUED: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER – CRISIS COORDINATION DESK
ALERT ISSUED: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR – EMBASSY WATCH DETAIL (ZONE 4 – MADRID DIPLOMATIC DISTRICT)
TASK FORCE NOTIFIED: SIGNAL SHADOW (SURVEILLANCE & COUNTER-TRACK OPS)

“Activate static surveillance at all Egyptian mission entrances. Diplomatic plates, commercial cabs, foot traffic. I want eyes at every entry point from the rail corridors. I want motion-triggered scans up across the Lavapiés corridor. If she breathes in that zone, we catch it.”

Another analyst read aloud from the metadata:

“She’s building a parallel foreign ministry. If she gets inside that embassy—”

Beatriz cut him off. “Then she becomes a symbol. That’s what we can’t allow.”

She turned back toward the screen, which now read:

Subject: RIERA, JULIA – Status: LOCATE AND CONTAIN IMMEDIATELY
Associated Threat Index: 8.2 (GEOPOLITICAL INTERVENTION RISK)

“Mark this incident as ‘TIER 5 – FOREIGN COLLUSION POTENTIAL’,” she said finally. “And escalate watchlists. Hatem Shammas just became a name of interest inside our borders.”

As the lights dimmed again and new trackers lit up the digital map of Madrid, one thing was certain:
Riera was no longer running from Spain. She was racing toward the heart of it.

 

[Kelly the Mad]

At the Egyptian embassy in Madrid, Ambassador Aly Kassab stared at the email on his laptop with his jaw slack. For the last few years of his tenure, Kassab had done, in effect, nothing. Nothing of real importance, anyhow. Boozing, schmoozing, meeting, and greeting the wealthy of Madrid was his primary mission in diplomacy.

Spain and Egypt were strangers up until recently, so he enjoyed his time in the quieter and not-so-poor Western Europe without much action. Now, however, a dispatch directly from staff in the intelligence branch of the government gave him instructions that made him worry. Maybe now he wouldn't be able to enjoy the company of the upper crust of Spanish society.

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To: Aly Kassab, Ambassador
From: Cairo Office of Intelligence
Subject: Emergency Protocol

Security Clearance: Government; Top Secret

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Ambassador Kassab,

Please be advised. In the coming hours or days, a fugitive militant will approach the embassy. You must make immediate arrangements with your staff to welcome her discreetly and secure her safety within the embassy. Do not, under any circumstances, invite any Spanish civilians or officials into the embassy unless cleared by intelligence.

This woman is a Catalan resistance fighter and a high-value target for the Spanish government, military, and police. Please ensure her safety by all means necessary once she has crossed the threshold into the embassy. This is your utmost priority. Be prepared for a potential breach of diplomatic protocol by the Spanish government. Have your security team on full alert. Julia Riera must not fall into the hands of the Spanish if she can reach the embassy.

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How on earth could one email upend his life so dramatically? From drinks and parties to potentially hosting a... foreign fugitive militant? He had heard, obviously, of the conflict in Catalonia, but his job wasn't to dictate foreign policy, so he had kept his distance. But now that was clearly not a choice.

Closing his laptop, still numb in disbelief, Kassab stepped out of his office to inform his security head.

"Moustafa, this is urgent. I need you to listen to me very carefully. Gather the security staff of the embassy. We are in a crisis, and you need to be prepared. I cannot explain every detail, but you must all arm yourselves. I need every entrance to the embassy to be watched. Closely. No one enters, and especially no one leaves. There will be a woman, going by Julia, if she arrives, she is to be let in immediately. The Spanish are after her. Do you understand?"

Moustafa just stared blankly back at the Ambassador. "What's going on, Aly?"

"There's no time to explain. I told you already. Just do it."

With a curt nod, Moustafa was jogging down the stairs to open the armory and collect his dozen or so security staff for a debrief on what little information he had. Sweating like a pig, he was confused and, if he was frank, scared. What on earth could have happened in the last few hours that made the Spanish a threat? Why would the embassy close down but for one person? Who was Julia? Why was she important? Would he have to fire? He wasn't ready to; he was security staff in a first-world country, not a soldier. Why was this happening?

Kassab himself stayed leaning on the banister, overlooking the lobby of the embassy. In a minute, he would be in his office, digging his old service pistol out of a lockbox in his desk. In an hour, he would be smoking in his office over local reports of the Catalan conflict and this Julia Riera personality. In two, he would be watching the front doors intently as evening settled in, watching each and every passing person with paranoia. He probably wouldn't sleep until he heard word again. His mind split with patience and impatience, knowing he would wait for her and dreading every second spent not knowing her whereabouts.

He was not prepared for this. He was not ready for this. But he would do his job.

Zak