Into the Unknown (Underath - Spain Summit)

Spain

Gibraltar, Spain
25th April 2022

"Mister President, we are ready to depart". It all started with a single sentence, so simple and yet so full of symbolism. Some weeks ago, Spanish satellites had discovered some sort of unknown civilization north of the Strait of Gibraltar; a discovery confirmed by a few businessmen who wanted to cut the forest down, and that departed from the same place Aguilar was departing now. What they discovered was truly amazing, and linked with the city of Atlantis, that had been discovered by the Kingdom of Spain and Inquista two years before. The huge research made finally gave some results, but Jesús thought it was more like a puzzle whose final piece had just been found. Underath was the missing civilization of Atlantis, the place many philosophers and books from all around the Mediterranean spoke about; and Spain, just like Colombus had done with America, discovered a new civilization once again, honouring its past, but also its present as good researchers.

The helicopter took off from Gibraltar's airport and crossed the small, homonymous strait towards Underath, into the unknown. Satellite technologies and the expeditionaries helped to locate Attela, the capital city of the Kingdom the Spanish President was going to visit that day. In the meantime, Aguilar started to review the content of the summit, the many topics he would treat with the King of Underath, such as history, culture, trade, investments or development. His country had to open to the open world Spain had just shown them, and the President felt responsible of helping in that task as much as he could. He reached to see the coastline, and that forest, those jungles. "Where will the helicopter land?", he asked to himself when he saw those marvellous landscapes.

His question soon was given an answer: the pilot advised the Spanish President to "get ready for landing", and ten minutes later, the President found himself in the middle of a middle ages alike village, surrounded by curious men, women and kids, that might had never seen a helicopter or something similar, apart from "that strange smoke in the sky which something released". Locals had lots of questions, and he decided to let the helicopter's captain answer them all. He shook hands with some locals, gave five with some kids and walked towards the Presidential palace. His outfit was simple, but he was pretty sure that once his friend Mikaela saw it and read where he was, she would adore it.

The walk towards the Palace did not take a long time, but Aguilar decided to walk slowly and explore the area a little bit, entertaining himself visiting the village and getting to know some villagers, their culture and seeing what the village looked like. Accompaning him today were his photographer, who would take several pictures like if an Indiana Jones film this trip was, and the person he would designate as the ambassador to Underath. When the men and the woman arrived at the Palace, they were greeted by a couple of guards, who led them through the corridors and halls the royal palace had. Soon, they arrived to the room where the King of Underath was. The Spanish delegation made a reverence, and the President spoke:

"King Zagreus, your majesty, it is a huge honour to meet you for the first time. My name is Jesús Aguilar, and I am the President of Spain, alongside me are my photographer, Julia; and the future ambassador to your dominions. How are you feeling today? May we have a seat?"

Underath

"Sit, so-called President." King Zagreus said, snapping his finger, and two servants gave seats to the Spanish. They were asked for any drink or food they would like, but they refused.

"I am very glad you came, outsiders. For centuries our humble kingdom was left alone, as we thought we were the only ones alive. So when we realized there are more, we needed quick answers."

The Spanish smiled and Zagreus stood up from his throne, taking a seat in front of them. Confused about their different complexion, he tended to ask for their history.

"Our great ancestor, warrior, and savior, Alexander, founded Underath when he butchered the savage tribes of RavenSlath, a nation that now no longer exists, and whose lands we have conquered. What great tales does your nation have and how did you come to be with such technology even Noir Himself would admire?"

Spain

The Spanish President listened to what the Underathian King had to say, before speaking once again. He looked pretty much interested in the history of the nation some businessmen from Spain had discovered by accident, and he decided to speak about Atlantis, where this people were supposed to be from according to the information that got to the President's ears: "Your Majesty King Zagreus, that backgrounds you have truly show how amazing your nation is. Two years ago, the Kingdom of Spain and The Most Blessed State of Inquista discovered Atlantis, where I was told you came from. One of my cabinet's members and an Inquistan cabinet's member were in charge of the operation, and their discoveries can now be explained thanks to your nation. When it comes to Spanish history, we have a lot to tell: a moorish invasion that was later repealed in a Holy War called "the Reconquista", we even had an Empire... It is interesting to learn about Spanish history, even if some people are trying to make us apologise and be ashamed of it."

Then, the Spanish President decided that it was time to speak about technology, investment and defence, three very important areas for this summit: "This new technology you are now able to see, your Majesty, is part of human evolution. Due to your isolation and our null knowledge of your existance until a few days ago, you have missed every single step since the sinking of the lost city, Atlantis. Sometimes, you might see white smoke coming out of objects in the sky, those are called planes and carry people from one side to another, they fly. We have phones, which allow us to speak to other humans even being separated by an Ocean, the Internet, which allows us to look for whatever thing we want to know about in a matter of seconds. The thing is, your Majesty, that you are also able to get this technology, to have planes, large boats, the Internet. And here comes Spain, to help your country and your people to adapt to the new times and the new technology you are just discovering.

The businessmen that made a visit to your territory a few days ago have informed me that your country does not have a navy, and that their equipment is not the proper one for modern day wars. Sadly for us, wars still take place in this World, and even if it is highly unlikely one could happen in Europe, your poweful men and women need to be prepared. I do have an offer for you and your people: with the sole purpose of safeguarding your country's sovereignty, Spain would like to sign some sort of defence pact with you: while your country develops the hability to get ships and capacity to control its airspace, I offer myself and my country to take care of it, protect your territorial waters and your skies from possible outside destabilising threats.

On the meantime, we would like to keep the Strait of Gibraltar under our control, in exchange of a payment to you and your country due to the enormous gratitude for letting us control it, if you wish to accept my offer. This one is different to the other one I mentioned earlier, so please consider them separately."

Underath

@Spain
King Zagreus lost his smile and got a serious look, after hearing what had been said, he took a minute to think, taking a sip of his drink, and then answered.

"I would like to know more about your history" he started
" I suppose you have it written down like we have written down ours, so that I can read it in patience. I am sure your books will have a lot to tell."

"Though, apart from that, outsider, you must watch out as you tread on dangerous waters. Underath might not have such godly technology, but we are a proud nation. You come here, explaining to me all those things you have and we don't, proposing we will go into a defense agreement for your shiny technology.

We never needed to fly, outsiders. We never needed to know everything without looking for it, without challenging ourselves. And we would never learn the value of being close to our loved ones and family if we had so-called phones. Our nation is a strong one just like it is, and should foreigners as you come, we will repel them with all we have. Should they step one foot to our maze-like forest, our arrows will pierce through them at such a speed they won't even notice until they're dead. And that might be your people one day. Coming here and promising godly techonology does not make you one of us. We are friendly and hospitable but we would never let any stranger alone with our wives and children.

And don't think you are smarter because of all those things your people have invented. That makes them smart, not you. We still know about strategy and geopolitics, and if you want something, it means it's worth it. That is why we will refrain from giving you the strait of Gibraltar until we find and conclude ourselves that we better have money than that.

For that reason, I must humbly deny both of your offers. I am a King, and a King should always think about the good of the people"

King Zagreus finally stopped talking, and sat more comfortably on his seat, waiting for the Spanish president to say what he had to say.

Spain

Jesús Aguilar looked dissappointed, and after telling the King of Underath more about Spanish history, such as the dark Franco era, the War of Independence and more, he attempted to get a more pleasing proposal for the King about the Strait of Gibraltar:

"I do very much respect your views, King Zagreus, they are truly admirable, and I shall respect as I hope every other nation will do the will of your people and yourself to keep your unique way of life. While I have heard the United Duchies has made an offer concerning the construction of a port, I would like to offer to you the construction of a tiny airport, so foreign leaders, antropologists, researchers could access this lands more easily. But I will understand your refusal if you don't want it.

Concerning the Strait of Gibraltar, I would like to make a second offer: we will create two different organizations for tax collection in the Strait of Gibraltar, so instead of splitting the revenue in two equal halves, we will instead get a profit by ourselves without relying on the other. The tax value should be harmonised in order to avoid competence and destroying the benefitial tax collection business, which is also positive for marine life and the security of our nations. That would be done in a mutual agreement between your country and mine, and Spain is ready to hear your proposals.

The Strait will also be divided in two equal halves of 7 kilometres each in its narrowest point and our military ships, once your nation gets them, won't be able to enter each other territorial waters unless you want to sign a special treaty for the area in terms of military cooperation in the Strait of Gibraltar. Spain and Underath will keep the current passage regulations until Underath is independetly able to control its waters and Spain will put all the GSSA resources as well as the Navy division in charge of security on the Strait to your disposition so your country can start enforcing the tax, protecting navigators and marine wildlife with our help. Who we let through will be decided bilaterally between your nation and my nation, in this case, between the GSSA and your tax collection agency.

I would also like to express my whole respect for the port the United Duchies is gonna build and the will to strenghthen military, commercial and good-neighbouring policies relationships. This is the best offer I can do, and I hope that it will be met with satisfaction from your side and that you accept it. I would like to remind you that Spain believes the Mediterranean shall be exclusivily reserved for the Mediterranean Nations, as we prove through the Mediterranean Union that Inquista, Gania and Spain have recently established, and that we would be glad that you joined, previous approval by the current member states. So, what do you think? Do we have a deal?"

Underath

"First of all, to get this out of the way" King Zagreus answered quickly.
"United Duchies comes after you, don't mess up the timeline. It's weird, I know, everyone is making summits with me, but anyway. An airport is a good idea, I shall consider it.

As for the rest, Ι must say that your deal sounds very nice. But, just in order to finalize the offer, I would like to tell you what terms I deem important.

The strait will be split economically in two equal parts, and we can choose on our own if we would like to give a discount on someone's taxes when they pass through, so people can choose what they prefer. Also that if a nation is blocked on my side, you can let it pass from yours and vice versa. Though if someone blocks someone the other one doesn't want to, we can talk about it but we won't have to give in to what the other says.
In any accident, in any case of marine life preservation and protection the strait would be connected. Boats from your side can come to me to save a seal or help a sinking ship.
The strait would be militarily split into two equal parts. No one's battleships have the right to enter the other person's turf.
If other nations' battleships want to pass from the strait, they can only do so with the mutual agreement of both of us.
Underath won't receive help or resources from Spain even before it has completed building its port. From the second we sign the treaty, we will act as if Underath is a modernized nation with it's own ports and ships.

Finally, I don' think creating two organizations would be necessary. Just being in the same one as co-owners, so that each one's side of the strait is treated the same by the other and each one has the freedom to do whatever they want, of course if it's in the boundaries of the things we have agreed for together.

Spain

"I am afraid we will need some time to consider this offer, your Majesty. Right now, I am unable to give you an answer right now", the Spanish President said. Some more things were discussed, but no real agreements were reached. Time after, the Spanish President left Underath in his helicopter, after going back to it through the city's streets and getting to see the locals, that lived within the unknowledge and the medieval times.

The helicopter took off and went back to Gibraltar, where Jesús had some meetings with members of the Gibraltar's Parliament and the First Minister of the Autonomous City, Fabián Picardo. The summit was over.