Gespe, questioned and answered.

Imian minister DiVal overlooks his renewed proposal to establish a claim on Gespe. It'll take longer to convince the self established state of Othkia to join, but while Rome is dealing with their own crises following the recent international turmoil, now is time to make a statement. Rome may have snatched Harren, but Gespe will not be forced to bend to the Caesarean whims.

He entered for the latest monthly expansion meeting, as the council has taken to calling it, examining the room and predicting what proposals each of his fellow ministers will put forward. He had worked during the month with Minister Jazmine on his Gespe plan, the concern of war no longer quite the same worry since the deal with Oceanion and Frezko. No doubt Ministers Lawrence and Isoy will look to expand into Tungis again, using the same reasoning. Meanwhile, Admiral Kighva was an absolute wild card. He got what he eanted in Chuuk, and very well might he retiring after next month's elections. Perhaps he'd look towards expanding Nuvobie, with the capital DuBay seemingly starting to grow into a functioning town.

Lawrence and Isoy were the first to speak. "We set aside Tungis already last session, we are taking Tungis this session." Lawrence was not gonna be happy taking no for an answer. Isoy sighed as none of his fellow ministers seemed enthralled with the proposal this month. "We agreed to go for Tungis last month, are you guys just gonna turn on that?"

Jazmine stood up, ready to make her and DiVal's proposal. "Tungis is in safer position than ever, there's no risk, no need to do this immediately. What is an immediate threat is Rome on Gespe. I know it's not a safe option and it'll heighten tensions with Rome, but honestly, Rome deserves to be knocked down a peg or two. This is the best time to stake a claim to support the people of the island."

Lawrence was fierce in rebuttal."Just like Novinn? Who decided against joining Jiqaz just last month, so we had to go with Nuvobie. Look, I respect your tenacity in challenging Rome, but that is not what direction we should go in at this time."

DiVal finally spoke up, "Respect the judgement of the council's ruling, we currently are two for Tungis, two for Gespe, the remaining vote is up to Kighva, so let's let him speak."

Kighva nodded as he stood. "Ideally for me, we would've gone further in securing Harren, but Rome beat up to the punch, and I've been wanting to put Rome in it's place since you and Isoy forced me to arrange the doomed Confederacy deal. I vote for Gespe."

Before the end of meeting could be properly performed, a nervous Roman diplomat set down two documents, the first spoke of Roman occupation of Hibernia, aka Gespe. The second spoke of Rome's ultimatums against Jiqaz and the Oceanion Empire.

Admiral Kighva was the first to speak up from the shocked council. "**** Rome, they think they can just push us around like a little toy, I will not be treated like a secondary to this inbred bastardization of a ruler."
DiVal was the second to speak, "We were so close, less than a day away."
Jazmine interjected next, "Rome knows he's surrounded by enemies, he doesn't have a leg to stand on against that, he's just trying to scare us into bowing down."
Lawrence remarked afterward, "Tungis is the only proposal left, clearly this is a sign to tske this opportunity head on. Isoy, write up the referendums. If this turns to war, we must be prepared to fight."

The referendums went as follows: Jiqaz passing by a vote of 96.3% for, 3.7% against, and Tungis passing by a vote of 85.4% for, 14.6% against.