Palacio Real de Madrid
Southern Wing, East of the Plaza de Armas,
Main Conference Room
7:35PM, January 15th, 1925
With a soft click, the wire-frame glasses were set down upon the polished dark wood surface of the conference table beside the progress report they'd just been used to read and Naval Division Lieutenant War Minister Carlos Emmanuel knew the Queen’s eyes were upon him. “The Fifty-K Project remains stuck upon the drawing board, I see, Lieutenant-Minister Emmanuel.” A silence fell over the conference room as the other Ministers and representatives held their peace and awaited a reply from their contemporary. “Yes,” he began, nodding slowly, “unfortunately, the design goals set by the Admiralty cannot be met within the allotted tonnage requirements nor are our domestic shipyards currently capable of constructing such a design. Simply put, to meet the goals, the vessel would likely need to be significantly larger at which point it becomes beyond our capabilities.”
“Very well, then, we shall continue with the proposed Even Acquisition Plan and place our order with the Germans for the remainder of the year,” said the Queen, her hazel eyes moving from the Lieutenant-Minister to the gruff looking fellow across the table from him, Admiral Raul Bernardo, outspoken chief proponent of the Fifty-K Project. The Admiral sighed, “This is disappointing,” he said, shooting the Minister of Finances and Allocations a look, “as much as I, and others, appreciate the aid of the Germans, it would be wise to continue our pursuit of the Project. We must prove our own ability to produce advanced vessel designs or we shall forever be relegated to German hand-me-downs.” Finance and Allocations Minister Damian Carlos quickly shot back, “Your Fifty-K Project is an unnecessary prestige project, Admiral. It isn’t a wise investment and will do nothing more than consume funds and resources that can be better spent elsewhere!”
Admiral Bernardo leapt up from his chair, jabbing an accusing finger at the Finance and Allocations Minister across the table but, before he could speak, he was cut off by Lieutenant-Minister Emmanuel, “Admiral!” he shouted, thick mustache twitching wildly in irritation, “Your beloved Fifty-K Project isn’t dead! Funding will continue for design purposes only, no slipways shall be approved, however, until the design meets the goals and requirements as it was to be originally, is that clear?” Bernardo snorted and sat back down in his seat shaking his head slowly. “Indeed, the Project is not to be scrapped, Admiral,” Queen Marian began, “it is simply to be frozen at its current state until the design meets our capabilities.” “Now then,” she paused and surveyed the present officials and officers, “what is the state of the Airplane Carrying Vessel Study?”
The meeting persisted on Naval matters for a time, the study was presented by a Rear Admiral who was ushered into the conference room to give his report and it became clear that there was interest in pursuing vessels of the type as the fleet’s current pair of Seaplane Tenders, both purchased as merchant ships from the Germans in 1918, converted, and used in the Rif War, had proven to be worthwhile investments. It was decided that a new pair of vessels were to be designed and ordered as dedicated Seaplane Carrier Ships capable of operating beside the Grand Fleet and research into the development of true “Aircraft Carriers” was to continue as a separate project with inclusion in the studies offered to the Kaiserliche Marine if interest existed in Germany to participate.
Eventually, discussion moved into the realm of Foreign Affairs, transitioning through the announcement that a Chinese Merchant ship had been sunk in the Indian Ocean during some form incident between the Shepistanis and Dominites. “..at which point, they claim to have spotted several Shepistani warships moving in that direction. All we really have to go on is intercepted wireless traffic, mind you,” said the young Naval Sub-Ministry aide who’d brought the news into the conference room. “When exactly did this take place?” asked Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Cordova, one of only two women on the Council of Ministers. “Sometime yesterday, exactly when, we can’t be certain as this is all secondhand information at best, ma’am,” replied the aide shrugging helplessly. With a quick nod to the aide, Queen Marian addressed those present, “Minister Cordova, see that this information is transmitted to the Germans and Chinese as quickly as possible with our deepest sympathies to the latter. It’s likely they’ll have better information than we by the time it arrives but it is the least we can do. Additionally, inform both that Spain stands with them and will provide aid in
any form to maintain the security of the waterways,” she added, giving both Minister-Lieutenant Emmanuel and Admiral Bernardo quick glances.
Minister Cordova nodded in understanding as the aide slipped out of the conference room at the back. Minister-Lieutenant Emmanuel spoke up, “Are we to consider some form of involvement in the Indian Ocean? It is my understanding that relations between Spain, the Grand Dominion and Shepistan ceased just prior to our Civil War, as such, we have no real interests in the region,” he said matter-of-factly. “I concur,” added Admiral Bernardo, nodding. “We may not deal with either nation, but the sea lanes must remain open to our allies and our own and that is most certainly in our interest,” said the Foreign Affairs Minister in a firm tone. “Well put, Minister,” said Queen Marian, with a single stately nod in Cordova’s direction. “At this point, however,” she began, speaking to all assembled, “we shall wait for word from the Germans before we take any form of action ourselves. If action is needed, it shall be a unified international effort, not Spanish warships gallivanting about in the Indian Ocean burning oil.”
The meeting continued for roughly another hour and thirty minutes touching on various issues including the election in Cascadia - it was decided a congratulatory note was to be sent to the President Elect from the Crown and Council of Ministers in hopes of strengthened relations in the future and the like. The Freedom Conference in Chilitina was also discussed and it was determined that a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be sent to attend and represent the nation and its support for peoples around the world opposing Communist influences.
With everything in order, the meeting was adjourned and Queen Marian saw her guests out, two Ministers, new to their positions, appearing a bit surprised at the severe height difference between the monarch and the majority of her staff. Few outside of official circles knew the glorious leader who had seen the country through civil war and sweeping social changes stood only one-hundred and fifty-two centimeters in height.
They certainly do well to make her look taller at the rallies and such, thought Renaldo Guevara, Minister of Industrial Production and Resources as he made his way across the Plaza de Armas to his waiting Impéria-Abadal Luxury Car.
Results:
- Disagreement over plans for a domestically designed 50,000 ton battleship leads to a decision to push back the plan in favor of purchaseing more German export vessels.
- Spain is interested in building advanced Seaplane Carrier ships with real Aircaft Carriers a possible future goal.
- Spain has passed on what it knows about the incident in the Indian Ocean and awaits German plans for dealing with the issue while the offer for support stands.
- Congratulations to President-Elect Stephen Garret on his victory in the Cascadian Presidential Elections, may his administration look favorably upon strong Spanish-Cascadian relations.
- Spain shall send a representative to the Freedom Conference in Buenos Aries.
- Queen Marian is very short.
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