Ethiopia. Addis Ababa.
"The issue of rapprochement between Egypt and the USSR also worries us, Mr. Ambassador. I don't think there's any point in raising the issue of the undesirability of a communist presence on our borders," Clint said, addressing the US Ambassador. "However, I must note: despite the rapid reform of the army, our forces are insufficient to hold Egypt. Our only defense remains the buffer states. The Egyptian army significantly outnumbers ours in both numbers and training. My diplomatic efforts succeeded in turning Kenya and Somalia away from the USSR, preventing the formation of a hostile alliance."
"Nevertheless, trade agreements remain in force," the American ambassador emphasized again.
"Trade is not a military alliance. Somali ports will not become forward bases for the Soviet fleet in the region," the Goa'uld insisted. "Instead of looking for enemies where there are none, we should remember Nasser, who professes pan-Arabism and seeks to unite all the Arabs of the world under his rule. The civil war in Yemen shows that Nasser and the USSR intend to overthrow the government. Thanks to my actions, you now have a port in Somalia. I also support royalist governments. Egypt must be contained."
"We fully share your position," the ambassador replied.
Clint barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Working with these people wasn't easy. He'd just begun to organize his country's internal affairs when Nasser unleashed a civil war in Yemen, flooding it with Soviet and Egyptian troops, and on the other side, allies of the United States and Great Britain. They considered him just another petty fool who fancied himself an emperor. However, using secret communications channels across the planet, he managed to establish his own small arms production. It was important to achieve a full production cycle, even for outdated weapons, instead of relying on handouts or purchasing aircraft from countries with a developed engineering base.
Of course, Urvashi's resources could have been utilized, but the agents were partially autonomous and coordinated only the trade of Earthly goods. Fortunately, the Ethiopian imperial family's resources were sufficient for more rational management. However, they already utilized these resources, employing computers and analytical programs to calculate various scenarios. For example, they knew about Nasser's impending attack on Egypt and were preparing for it. Egypt and Syria enjoyed Soviet support, and their officers were trained in Soviet academies.
Clearly, they sought to establish a sustainable power in the region. Szareh's long-term orders were to counter any Soviet efforts to attract allies, but if necessary, they could also counter the United States, since their only priority was their own long-term interests. Szareh had allies on the planet, and ensuring their security was the responsibility of the entire intelligence agency. If anyone attempted to destroy Israel, one of Szareh's oldest allies on Earth, all others would be destroyed. Naturally, without the use of alien technology. Control over Earth was not strong enough to realize its potential, otherwise the planet would have been at risk of self-destruction or a major conflict. The tactic of slow subjugation (along with training the Tok'ra in governance) was predominant, as was the creation of powerful enclaves from insignificant countries.
"However, we would like to purchase more equipment to be able to strike Egyptian and Soviet forces in Yemen," Clint noted. "The Air Force needs to be expanded to at least two hundred aircraft."
"But there's a problem with Eritrea. It will be much easier to attack the rebel forces from there."
"Eritrea isn't such a significant problem. As soon as I backed down and granted them independence, they started deciding which party would rule. When someone is united against a common enemy, once that enemy is eliminated, all the internal contradictions of the former union will quickly overwhelm it."
This was an old Tok'ra tactic, regularly used against the System Lords—building and breaking alliances. Building a power base took time, including through various trade agreements. Urvashi's technology was certainly far advanced compared to Earth's, but that didn't mean it couldn't be resold on other planets. A small amount was sent to Yu and Bastet as trade goods. They understood the balance between divinity and technology, considering how much they could give to their own peasants. But overall, peace reigned in their domains, and they were willing to experiment.
The Tok'ra weren't particularly fond of trade with Yu, but they were as practical as Egeria, and used any means necessary to achieve their goals. Among other things, they used their vast resources to reform their country. The previous emperor had hoarded them in Swiss accounts, and Clint put them to work. Purchases of goods from abroad increased; they needed to develop their own industry, and this was being successfully accomplished. In Somalia, construction of a port to accommodate merchant ships was underway, as was the expansion of the railway network. Why didn't anyone use these resources to reform the country? No one could spend seven billion dollars on themselves, and even if they could, it would be impractical—humans don't use such a wide variety of things.
It would have been far better to spend them on the state, strengthening their own power in the region. After all, these resources were sufficient to legally provide "loans" to other allied states under Tok'ra control—Kenya and Somalia. Eritrea would soon join this group. One of the agents had risen to the top in one of the factions vying for power, and there were already very real factors for his faction to seize power. After that, he would gain access to the "credit" line.
Part of Seth's resources, as well as funds from the Kompantai and the Third Reich, were transferred to the Emperor of Ethiopia's "secret" accounts. What can you do? Szarekh's intelligence is quite effective. They managed to invest in promising enterprises and make a profit, patenting some inventions. However, regional politics kills. Most countries, with the exception of Ethiopia, were formed from colonies where the colonizers arbitrarily drew borders, placing peoples who hated each other in the same region. A common problem. And then there's South Africa—investing resources in the military created numerous jobs, solved hunger problems, and built a hierarchical infrastructure. The entire country worked, and Clint personally punished those who didn't.
Or rather, politely nudged them. He was especially concerned about corruption. Using Hydra's surveillance network, he knew literally everything that was happening in the state, so he methodically instilled in the bureaucracy: "The Emperor knows everything; he is God's viceroy! Steal, and everything will be confiscated." Moreover, trials of officials served as entertainment for the people, distracting them enough for Clint to implement his reforms. In some ways, he would even call himself a "mad printer" (as did the entire department on Urvashi, which supported him). On the other hand, the people knew that the Emperor worked harder than anyone else. This mitigated the discontent that is always present, especially when an absolute monarchy on the planet seems absurd. Of course, there were dictators who hid behind democratic slogans, like Nasser, but absolute monarchs were few. Therefore, it was necessary to demonstrate that imperial rule was still effective.
"I'll discuss this with the Secretary of State. I don't think it will be a problem," the ambassador remarked. "If these resources are directed toward countering the USSR."
"You surprise me. How can an absolute monarch cooperate with those who murdered their own Emperor? Of course, you can cooperate with anyone, but they don't have what you—the free market—can offer. The only thing they can sell is weapons, which they generously supply to Egypt and Syria. But they, like you, will only give me light weapons, old tanks, and obsolete aircraft. You can provide a whole list of useful goods and technologies. Perhaps they could do the same, but they are less interested in money than in loyalty. The price of cooperation with the USSR is higher.
It wasn't that the US wasn't a sahiptir; everyone was: the British, the French, the Americans, and the Soviets, not to mention the Chinese, who, with their Mao, were building their delusions on the bones of millions. But it was necessary to maintain a respectable image and act methodically. Moreover, like Israel, it was collaborating with France to purchase fighters, the Mirage IIIs themselves. It wanted an air force of at least two hundred aircraft, as well as an army of one hundred thousand men, which was entirely achievable with the available resources.
Of course, without access to a coast and ports, acquiring a navy was impossible, but that was a solvable problem. Over time. The only significant adversary would be Sudan, or Yemen, if Soviet forces, like Egyptian ones, were based there. This was unacceptable, so the army was expanded and rearmed with weapons suitable for its conditions. The Mirage III is a highly modern aircraft for the current technological reality, allowing it to establish itself as a dominant force in the region. In a sense, this was also advantageous for the United States. It's good that there's a war going on in Yemen; it allows for strengthening, fearing Soviet influence there.
— Usually, any government that emerges in Africa immediately leans towards friendship with the USSR.
"There were those in Somalia who wanted to do the same. Only they died," Clint hinted at his own intervention. "I think that shows I don't need such neighbors. The same thing happened in Kenya: their government could have gone to the USSR for handouts, but I was closer."
—
Your relations with the local leadership, as I understand it, are quite harmonious. Have I not been informed, based on your information, of course, as to what specific contingent of mercenaries they deployed in their "liberation" campaign? However, we know for a fact that you, too, while in the midst of the army mutiny, relied on mercenaries of a very similar nature.
"Lieutenant Colonel Maine," the Emperor said after a while, "we have diverged from Britain in our understanding of political direction. That's precisely why he created his own private army, which he readily deploys throughout the world."
Handing over a man who spends most of his time not on Earth, but in orbital flights around the Tetrarchy, studying the planets, turned out to be an easy task.
- They are very effective.
"Undoubtedly, far more effective than your instructors," Clint echoed, openly revealing his distaste for those same instructors. "But that's secondary. The very existence of instructors is only necessary so you can send reports about my unpreparedness for cooperation with the USSR. So be it. However, I still cannot understand why you would want to contact mercenaries. They are certainly effective in local, low-intensity conflicts, but surely you have your own specialists? The British were able to hold Kenya, but it was your deliberate efforts to destabilize colonial policy that led to their withdrawal from that country. It would seem that Princess Elizabeth should have arrived at precisely that time. Awkward situation, isn't it? No pretty photos were taken.
"That's true, but I'm not at liberty to discuss my government's decisions. I was merely asked to find out."
– I will give you a phone number, but you should keep in mind that they are very secretive.
- We can handle it.
- Excellent. I think this concludes our meeting today.
They shook hands and parted ways: the ambassador to scribble reports, and the Emperor to immerse himself in work. After this mission, he would definitely need a vacation, for ten or fifteen years. Maybe longer.
Analysts predict that Nasser will attack Israel within four years. He has these four years to prepare his forces for a strike against both Egypt and the Yemeni rebels. Power, influence, and respect are achieved only by crushing powerful opponents, crushing them so viciously that only blood remains. This is precisely why Szarekh killed the High Lord of Apophis—to usurp his power and title. Something similar is happening here.
Other symbionts are also reforming their armies to protect themselves. Nasser was one of the most popular political figures in Africa; his influence needed to be eliminated. The existing tensions between the Orthodox population of Ethiopia and the Muslims of Egypt and Yemen could also be exploited. Egypt is becoming overly involved in the war in Yemen; despite the coup, the royalists enjoy a significant numerical superiority. Egypt would need to send large military contingents there and become deeply involved in the conflict, opening the door to a rear attack, cutting off supply lines, and destroying the Egyptian force in Yemen.
The Ethiopian Empire's purpose is to secure a privileged position in the political arena. The situation was no different from what was happening in the galaxy: if you want to achieve something in this world, break a few heads in the bloodiest possible way. The United States needs allies in this region of the planet to curb the pro-Soviet ambitions of the Arab states. At a crucial moment, the Tok'ra will replace Muhammad al-Badr, the Imam-King of Yemen. This will give them another foothold, and at the same time, their first experience governing a Muslim country.
But these are matters for the future. Right now, the primary objective is to strengthen Ethiopia's power to conduct amphibious military operations and an air offensive. If the Tok'ra are capable of gradually subjugating such a politically fragmented Earth, then in the future they will be able to subjugate the galaxy as well.
Clint worked so hard that he sometimes forgot what day it was. Only a number of technological innovations helped him, as he led forty million people out of medieval darkness… A feat practically identical to Szarekh's, though perhaps closer to Isara's. But it's achievable, which means it makes sense to work even harder, and then take a fifteen-year break.
"Get my helicopter ready. I have an inspection of the entire country to conduct," the Emperor said.
His guards took another breath. People should certainly see the Emperor as often as possible, but he flies across the country literally once a month, which borders on micromanagement, which is unnecessary. Unfortunately, Isara 2.0 didn't have Szarekh with him to advise Clint to work at a more relaxed pace. The Emperor's family was somewhat neglected, which was unfortunate, of course, but he had forty million people under his care, and there was no other distraction.