Imperial News Copenhagen -- His Majesty's Address
<Henric III> Citizens of the Imperium! I have never told you that it would be easy. I have never told you, that there would be no hard times. Indeed! I have told you that what I promise you is blood, and toil, and sweat. But blood, and toil, and sweat, for your nation! Blood, and toil, and sweat for Christ! We are a nation beset by enemies. Enemies of truth! Enemies of progress! Enemies of all that is right and good in the world. But we are not cowards. We will stand, and we will fight, and it is God's will that we shall win! You are all doubtless aware of the status of the international community's latest enemy, the "Coalition Against Norse Aggression". In my capacity as Emperor, I declare the nations within that organization persona non grata. We will hold no further negotiations with them until they accede to the rightful and just demands of this Imperium. Therefore, we find ourselves today in a state of war with the members of the unlawful coalition, designed as an international hitsquad to force the unjust, decadent order of the Franco-German Empire upon first Scandinavia, and then the world. I call on all of you to take up arms, in defense of this great nation. War is the highest calling to aspire to as a country, as a person! War is a science. War is an art. War is the fullest exhortation of the national consciousness and identity. Glorious death on the battlefield is what God requires of you, citizens! We march, not only for ourselves, but for the freedom of others. We go to war, so that all men may be free, as you, citizens, are free. And how the enemy would wish you not to be free. Service to Christ, service to country; you must all remember in this, our darkest hour, is the highest calling a person can hope to achieve. And now, I speak to the members of this "Coalition Against Norse Aggression".
<Henric III> Let it be known, we have taken every step, to negotiate with you as equals. We have respected the intentions behind your demands, admittedly admirable, or so we had thought. We meet you on the battlefield, not because we seek the path of violence against you, but because we have discovered through negotiation that your demands are unreasonable, your position untenable. First and foremost, we revealed that our reasons for war against the Sapmi were several: the Sapmi have proven themselves an obstacle to trade and commerce in Scandinavia. They have impeded the transport of Norse businessmen and goods, both through unreasonable tariffs and taxes levied on Norse goods, and physically preventing our well-dealing merchants, honorable countrymen all, from doing their business within the Sapmi Republic. They have abused Norse nationals, and stood against the rightful achievement of Norse international policies as laid down by my government. In our every dealing with the Sapmi Republic, we have worked as best we could to be fair, as we have worked as best we could to be fair with you and your fellows in the coalition. But we have seen that your terms are ridiculous, the predication for them built upon slander and lies against myself, my government, and most egregiously the Norse people and nation, and we cannot accept them. Since you refuse to comply with our most reasonable terms and conditions, we find ourselves in a state of war against you, of your own making. Your ultimatum is a farce, and you are liars and cowards, all of you.
You disgust us. I remind you all of what we so generously offered you:
1. The cessation of Norse territory in the Baltic states, as distributed to the nations inhabiting that region as considered most beneficial and necessary by the coalition's members.
2. Reparations for damages existing and potential upon trade, commerce, and quality of life in our most righteous war of justice and liberation against the Sapmi Republic amounting up to 5,000,000,000 stadtmarkes (EP).
3. Observance, from all nations making up the coalition, on the just, humane and fair way in which the Norse Imperium's armies conduct their war against the Sapmi Republic.
<Henric III> But these, extremely generous terms, were not enough for the "Coalition Against Norse Aggression", who have summarily rejected our terms, informing us that failure to "comply" with their "ultimatum" will result in a declaration of war. Then I say, let there be war! And let there be terrible, agonizing death in great numbers! For I, Henric III, Emperor of the Norse, Supreme Authority of the Norse Church, Pontiff of Copenhagen, King of Denmark, Sweden and Finland, am the arbiter of Scandinavia. And my government will determine the position, sovereign or otherwise, of all who inhabit it. And now I am to be arbiter of Europe, for like Charlemagne, I will liberate the people of Franco-Germany from destitution, from intolerance, from decadence and slavery. As if you, the so-called coalition against aggression, could force us to accede to your ridiculous "terms". I speak for myself, for my government, and for my people, when I say that we shall personally see that millions of your young men and ours go to their deaths on the battlefield before a single foreigner touches their unworthy boot on Scandinavian soil. This I vow, in sight of God and man! It shall be so.
<Henric III> Traitors, cowards, members of the "Coalition Against Norse Aggression", until you recant your conditions,
I promise you that only the dead have seen the end of war. We will ruin you. So I call on all members of the international community to damn this unprovoked aggression by the part of the members of the coalition against the person of this great nation, the Norse Imperium! Contribute all you can to the effort to bring freedom, justice and liberty as enjoyed by the citizens of the Norse Imperium, to these godforsaken countries. It is the will of God. You have displeased Him, and as His instrument, I will bring about your destruction. May He, in His infinite wisdom, have mercy on your immortal souls. I close this address with an appeal to the following.
Heads of state, legislators, and other persons that make up the government of the Kingdom of Poland. We took every consideration for your desires and goals as a nation, in our righteous war against the Russian Republic. We see this good faith in your reliability as an ally to our cause, as a friend to the Norse people and the Imperium, was misplaced. Every day you remain in this unlawful coalition is another day we rue the moment we offered our hand to your people in friendship. You have bitten the hand that fed you, and now you will suffer for it.
People of Norway. Your government has committed you to a war you cannot win, against a nation that has long been your neighbor and friend. Not so long ago, one of my illustrious predecessors as Norse Emperor, drew up a territorial agreement that created the foundation for what he in his wisdom must have thought solidified friendship between the Norse Imperium and Norway for perpetuity. Like our trust in Poland, we see our friendship and good will was misplaced. Every day you remain in the coalition is a day we regret treating you as a friend or equal. We call on you, as good practitioners of the Norse faith, to implore your government to end its involvement in this unlawful war as executed and led by the cowards who lead the Franco-Germanic Empire, or overthrow such an unlawful regime that would comply with the desires of such miserable traitors to international law.
Service to Christ, service to your nation, citizens. It is the highest calling. We shall break the enemies' armies, as we shall break their resolve. As Saint Conan said, what is best in life is to drive your enemies before you, and hear the lamentations of their women.
DEUS VULT