Accord for Restrained Arms and International Harmony
The Accord for Restrained Arms and International Harmony (ARAIH) treaty emerged as a beacon of hope after a tumultuous half-decade of escalating tensions in the early 7670s. The era witnessed the ascension of Hergom as a formidable power in the wake of the Second Coalition War. Remarkably, the brevity of the conflict spared Hergom the depletion of its manpower reserves, fortifying its position on the global stage. This newfound strength was further solidified in 7672 when Hergom detonated its inaugural nuclear weapon, signalling a new era in its military capabilities.
Globally, the response was a frenetic arms race. Nations bolstered their arsenals with increasingly sophisticated weaponry, casting a shadow of impending doom over the world. The spectre of a civilization-ending conflict loomed large, tightening its stranglehold on international relations.
In the years leading up to the treaty, the global stage became a chessboard for covert operations. Intelligence agencies embarked on clandestine missions spanning various continents, each seeking to unravel the nuclear and military secrets of their adversaries. This surge in espionage stoked the flames of misunderstanding and brinkmanship, edging the world perilously close to the abyss of nuclear conflict.
It was against this backdrop of mounting dread that the treaty was conceived. The International Council of Nations (ICoN), alongside a cadre of pacifist politicians, spearheaded the initiative, driven by a singular resolve to avert Armageddon. Notably, Livaria and the Triumvirate—comprising Kamura, Livaria, and Ithrien—voiced profound concerns regarding Hergom's escalating influence. Hergom, for its part, had embraced nuclear armament as a countermeasure to the strategic capabilities of its geopolitical rivals. Yet, despite its nuclear arsenal, there was a palpable nostalgia for the bygone era of grand, conventional warfare. Hergom's acquiescence to the treaty was motivated by a desire to mitigate the risks of nuclear conflict in future confrontations and to reintegrate its economy into the global market—an economy that, by the mid-7670s, had become virtually ostracized from international trade.
From 7673 onwards, over a span of three pivotal years, ICoN meticulously orchestrated a series of summits and confidential dialogues. These gatherings, which included the Stolvic Orderist Commonholds, the Triumvirate, Arvor, and Hergom, were meticulously designed to establish common ground and forge a consensus—a consensus aimed at defusing the palpable global tension and circumventing a nuclear catastrophe.
Despite the lingering animosity and fresh traumas among the involved nations and their peoples, ICoN accomplished what seemed insurmountable. It crafted a legally binding treaty, replete with explicit objectives and milestones, all aimed at averting nuclear apocalypse. As the negotiations evolved, the treaty's scope expanded, particularly as the powers harboured deep-seated mistrust and revulsion towards Hergom. A collective desire emerged to compel Hergom to undergo substantive reforms, reforms that were critical for liberating and uplifting the millions of individuals subjugated under its oppressive regime. Ultimately, Hergom conceded, swayed by the prospects of sanctions relief—a move that promised to end its profound isolation—and the transfer of technologies pivotal for transitioning its economy away from its reliance on forced labour.