Portalto Abdicates
Chaos Rules in the East

The Platinum Matrix proved insufficient to pacify the Chief Hobo. Not expecting that the Prime Chancellor would see the treaty as an alliance between equals, the Chief Hobo made his intentions clear - capitulation. In the Platinum Capitulation, the Chief Hobo of Portalto completely cedes all Portlatan territory and power to Marcusburg.

The rationale behind the stunning move lies in the idealistic nature of the Chief Hobo. When the Portaltan people entered the realm of the Mapp, they had a simple life - one where they tended quietly to their rice paddies and one without the complexities and intricacies of being a Great Power.

In the Treaty of Marcusburg in which Congressional Parliament paid for structures for all existing powers, the Portaltan people fundamentally changed their docile existence. Portalto was forged into a Great Power. The people were unaccustomed to such change and decided to exercise their military might in three wars - the Weimar War where Portalto gained large sections of New Weimar; the annexation of Jamilistan; and the Pyrrhic War where Portalto gained Rattanjeetland-controlled Jamilistan. The final war met the ire of Congressional Parliament and a length embargo was imposed on the nation.

When the embargo was lifted, revolution overtook Portalto and the Dockmaster was overthrown. In his place was the Chief Hobo elected by a Council of Twelve - the first taste of Portaltan democracy. In contrast to the great diplomat and statesman the Dockmaster, the Chief Hobo was a simple man who could not face reality. While the Dockmaster faced the reality of being a Great Power, the Chief Hobo refused to accept the fact. His first act was to normalize relations with Marcusburg.

The Chief Hobo wanted to return Portalto to the days of the rice paddy and believed that through friendship with Marcusburg, he could neglect the Empire he ruled. However, when Marcusburg proved unwilling to protect Portalto with the same determination as it did with its own territory, the Chief Hobo attempted to integrate further with Marcusburg - the Phalanx Treaty Organization (PTO) provided the perfect opportunity.

When the PTO was reformed, Portalto was left out in the cold. For a month the arrangement stood until the Chief Hobo began to fear the rise of a militaristic Samchorage and sought further alliance with Marcusburg. After numerous failed attempts at becoming a Marcusburg protectorate, the Prime Chancellor reluctantly agreed to sign the Platinum Matrix by which the two powers become integrated in domestic affairs but retain individuality in foreign affairs and war.

The Platinum Matrix was not enough - separateness in foreign affairs and war concerned the Chief Hobo - and he did not want to be disturbed. Therefore on November 16, 2000, the Chief Hobo flew to Siggary where the Prime Chancellor and other heads of state had gathered for the grand opening of the Swan Spire. Once in Siggary, the Chief Hobo announced his intention to send his people into space or to starve them into submission. At this point, the Prime Chancellor and the Queen of Siggary questioned the mental sanity of the Chief Hobo.

The Chief Hobo swiftly responded by announcing his intention to capitulate. He first offered all of Portalto to Marcusburg - the latter refused. He then offered Portalto to Siggary, which refused as well. Frustrated, the Chief Hobo threatened to cede all territory to Denisia or Rattanjeetland. Alarmed by recent rumors that Samchorage and Rattanjeetland were ready to integrate much like Portalto and Marcusburg did, the Prime Chancellor could not afford to lose Portalto due to the intentions of one rice paddy-oriented head of state.

When the Prime Chancellor offered to accept the Chief Hobo's proposal, Portalto was offered to Siggary. The Queen refused reluctantly and a vote was held in the Council of Twelve - 8 members voted in favor of annexation by Marcusburg while 4 voted for Siggary. When the Gallery in Moestavern witnessed democracy in action for the first time in Portalto, the press started a frenzy. The Portaltan people got swept up in chaos - they chose sides. Some were loyalists, wanting a strong and independent Portalto; some were pacifists, wanting annexation by Siggary; some were militarists, wanting annexation by Samchorage; while still others were rationalists, wanting annexation by Marcusburg.

With deep divisions in the Portaltan people, a coup d'etat by the newly appointed Concierge in Portalto to force annexation by Marcusburg failed. There proved to be no need as the Chief Hobo abided by the will of the Council of Twelve and signed the Platinum Capitulation. Marcusburg troops are currently entering Portaltan territory although the Fletplase has yet to approve to action. Should the Fletplase disapprove, a vote of non-confidence could be held as early as Monday.

The annexation of Portalto by Marcusburg has raised the fury of Samchorage with deputies of the Samokritzg calling for war, along with the entire populace. To restore the balance of power, the Prime Chancellor released Rattanjeetland to make its own way in the world. Many call the measure "too little, too late". Some experts have called the Platinum Matrix an insincere gesture for the complete domination of Portalto by Marcusburg - now they claim the Marcusburg facade has been eroded. Other experts defend Marcusburg by claiming it was the only rational thing to do.