January 18th 1935: Hyderabad
Samraja Brashkar II, entered the room and asked, "Gentlemen? Update me on the international situation, if you will."
"Certainly, Sire", Foreign Minister Jal Kadharni replied. "As you'll be aware from the briefing notes, our friends the Afrikaners are involved in a shooting war and by private channels they have asked for our help."
"So what our friends need?”
"Their initial concern seems to be the relocation of resources from the Indian Ocean to the War Theater could cause some problems to their regular patrolling of the trade routes."
Brashkar responded, "That is all? Assure our African friends that our fleet will take all missions needed necessary by then to ensure they could achieve their projected objectives. Anything to add from your part, Minister Chidambaram?"
The Defense Minister began, "Samraja, the Bharatiya Nau Sena could offer to deploy a Field Force to the conflict if requested but is doubtful the Afrikaners accept this offer.”
"Why not?", Brashkar asked.
"The War so far has not being more than a large border dispute, without any large scale fighting so far. I pretty much doubt the Afrikaners‘ General Staff would want to have logistical problems by trying to plug into their order of battle our troops, at least so early in this conflict."
"Still make the offer. Offering to fight alongside then will go a long way into further cementing our friendship, even if they politely decline. This will show then our willingness to spill our blood for then as they did for us during the Filipino Civil War."
"Will do, Sire", responded the Defense Minister
Brashkar turned around to face again his Foreign Minister and asked, “What is the situation in China? Seems to be that they have taken a belligerent stance of lately.” (1)
“Well Sire, they have started an aggressive naval construction program and it seems they are accelerating their modernization program of their land forces. Of course both things are being eyed suspiciously by the European Powers so far.”
Brashkar sighted and asked, “What is the opinion of the Japanese? Could you meet with then to try to gauge their feelings in regard to the Chinese’s actions?
“Yes, Sire. I will convey our concerns to the Japanese and try to gauge their feelings in the matter.”
Brashkar stood, “My apologies but it seems we will have to continue this meeting at a later date, I promised the Rana to accompany her for lunch today. You’re all excused.”
(1) This is before the actions in the Paracels.