General Constantine had called in his second-in-command Alexander. He had proven his worthiness as a great leader in the battle of Marathon, and now held much power in the Greek military staff.
Greece itself was burning. From the seaport at Athens to the fields of the farmers in Sparta, no part of Greece was at rest. Governor Octavian's bribe had worn off; Roman troops patrolled the streets to keep the citizens from abandoning Rome in the old admiration for Greek culture. As Greece struggled to control herself one again, the Romans continued to put her down...
Back to the Orthodox Church in Athens, the softened light ran in through the windows. What had progressed to become smog from the cigarette smoke and left-open wine bottles held thick in the air, and the communiques, maps, and papers of all sort curled at the edges from the moistness and the musk.
General Constantine and Alexander conversed over the communique from Rome; limited independence. Semi-autonomy. Greece deserved full life. She was a maiden of beauty, a flower that sprung up in the pile of Catholic dung that was Roman Theocracy. She would have her freedom of religion, she would have her freedom of vote (Athens is a Democracy, not a Monarchy), and she would have everything that was in her right as a people seperate from Rome.
As they spoke, they heard the clanking of wood and a crowd cheering outside the church--another Catholic Roman official had been hung.
The two began to write letters to those who might come to her aid, and in response to Rome.
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Diplomacy
To: Rome
From: General Constantine of Greece
Subj: Re: Peace
Greece will be allowed religious freedom as an Orthodox nation. We rose up against you largely because of your insistence to impress upon us the dung of Catholicism that is Roman Theocracy. We will not have arms limitations, and we will not have a forced foreign policy. Greece is her own nation, and not a Roman vassal state. You will never be able to stamp out Greek nationalism. Greek burns with its hatred for Rome and her suppression of our state. Greek burns in its opposition to religion at the sword. We will have our own state or die trying.
To: Russia
From: General Constantine of Greece
Subj: Suggestion
We would like to form a sort of pact of the Eastern Orthodox nations to protect ourselves better, and are willing to aid in any missionary objectives you might have for spreading the religion.
To: Babylon
From: General Constantine of Greece
Subj: Rome
Rome stole Anatolia from you mere centuries ago and abandoned you in your war against the Indians. Do not tell me this is unworthy of punishment! Aid us in our fight for independence so that we may loot Roman lands and split Anatolia to both of our better. Rome has no place in the Mid-East; let us make it so.
), and once we've settled it, these messages have been prepared for inhabitants that are rumoured to live there.
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