Report no. ████████████████████
General notes: In the previous sessions leading up to the excerpt you are about to read, tensions have been mounting at a steadily dangerous pace. In over half of the sessions since the establishment of the Iron Corridor, either the Allied Nations’ representatives (usually led by the United States) or the Federal People’s Republic’s representatives have instigated altercations on the floor of the General Assembly. Oftentimes, debate has gotten so heated as to devolve to personal insults or accusations of sometimes outlandish claims.
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Session of the United Nations General Assembly
2019, August 19th
[The General Assembly meets to discuss the mounting tensions along the Iron Corridor.]
United States Ambassador: For nearly a decade now, since the withdrawal of both our forces from the so-called “Iron Corridor,” the Eastern Federation has been massing troops along the border. We of the Allied Nations have turned a blind eye, so long as none of their troops cross through the Corridor into the those nations under our protection in Western Europe. The Iron Corridor has been considered a no-mans-land, where both the Allied Nations and the Eastern Federation operated with impunity. But the Eastern Federation has been pushing the boundaries of their authority, fielding more and more troops within the Iron Corridor. Such unrestrained aggression threatens the fragile peace, pushes the world into irreversible war the likes of which we’ve never seen.
[The Federal People’s Republic Ambassador stands and addresses the floor in English.]
Federal People’s Republic Ambassador: I hope my colleague note the derision with which the United States Ambassador says the “Eastern Federation,” all the while knowing that Federal People’s Republic is the officially recognized name. More importantly, our Republic only does what the Allied Nations have done throughout the last 70 years: building strength for their own security. The massing of troops within the Iron Corridor was begun by the Allied Nations. The Federal People’s Republic only seeks to balance the scales and protect against the eventuality of Western aggression!
United States Ambassador: Ridiculous. As has always been the focus of Western Democracy, we only seek to protect those populations under our authority. We must be strong to enforce the peace, but we do not push into your territories.
[The representatives for the Eastern Federation stand as one shouting.]
Federal People's Republic Ambassador: My colleague delegates echo my feelings. Acting as if the Allied Nations have not used the Iron Corridor as their own playground since its inception is amusing.
United States Ambassador: [Looks confused and turns to his aides, who shake their head.] I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you’re implying.
Federal People's Republic Ambassador: We know what you do there. The research. The militarization of technology. The search for the unknown. We know. You are not worried about my brother nations invading your territory. You are worried about losing control of your petri dish. People live in the Iron Corridor, Ambassador. But then, colonialism comes naturally to the West, I know.
United States Ambassador: I have no idea what you mean. The United States, and the rest of the Allied Nations, only care about the security of the Iron Corridor and the protection of our citizens. If we can do some good for those people who choose to stay within the Corridor, then we do so. Maybe you refer to our many humanitarian aid missions within the territory.
Federal People's Republic Ambassador: Humanitarian! Ha! Is that what we call it when people go missing in the night and facilities are raided for their resources?
United States Ambassador: Stop trying to deflect, Ambassador. Has your Republic been increasing the number of military forces within the Iron Corridor or not?
Federal People's Republic Ambassador: If we had, then it would only be to secure our citizens and curtail the eastern expansion of your imperialist governments!
United States Ambassador: Do not intrude deeper into the Iron Corridor, for your own sake.
Federal People's Republic Ambassador: We are tired of your threats. The whole world is tired of your threats. We do not threaten. We will meet action with action. If you wish the Federal People’s Republic to stay on our side of the Corridor, you should do the same.
United States Ambassador: Enough of your showboating. What threat are you? Your technology is woefully behind ours in the West and your people are starving. If you wanted to help your people stay secure, you would welcome the West into your nations and help them help your people.
[The Federal People’s Republic Ambassador turns towards the rest of their representatives and nods. As one, more than a dozen ambassadors and their retinue rise from their desks and start exiting the assembly floor.]
United States Ambassador: Melodrama! How is this the diplomacy you wish to show the world?
Federal People's Republic Ambassador: No nation of the Republic will take part in your decadent West any longer. This has gone on long enough. As of this moment, the Federal People’s Republic withdraws from this body.
[The entire assembly erupts in shouting. Hundreds of ambassadors clamor for the Eastern Federation’s attention, but the Federal People’s Republic ambassador – the last of the EF ambassadors to remain – turns and follows his colleagues off the assembly floor.]
[They do not return.]
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Post scriptum: It is with extreme caution that we must move forward. The barely tolerated ceasefire is the foundation at which our business interests in the region stand on. We cannot risk a direct confrontation. At best, conventional warfare in the region would render our operations vulnerable - a solvable logistical issue. At worst, widespread atomic war risks the safety of command and affects our business interests globally. Not to mention the effect of radiation on the anomalies, a phenomenon missing adequate studies for the unprecedented levels that would be released.
The transcription has been escalated to the executive-level management for further evaluation.
Sources:
Grigori Karpin
