On May 15, 2004, representatives of Hongolia, Igoslavia, and Octavton formally ratified the Saragossa Accord - the founding document of the TXE. Headquartered in the Saragossa Chamber of the Terra Exortus Exchange's International Congress in Igoslavia, the TXE is hoped to replace the Neocivic Alliance (NCA).

The difference between the NCA and TXE lies mainly in the degree of solidarity between member-states. According to the Neocivic Pronunciamento of March 29 by which the NCA was formed, all member-states agreed to free trade and non-aggression pacts.

Furthermore, the NCA was designed to promote cohesion within Terra Exortus by limiting tariffs member-states could impose on each other and by prohibiting militaristic collusion with non-Exortus countries towards other member-states.

In contrast, the TXE is a much tighter association between countries. Like the NCA, member-states still agree to free trade and non-aggression pacts in addition to establishing novel chambers of commerce as stipulated by the Saragossa Accord.

However, the TXE will speak with one voice and use its aggregate commercial prowess to establish collective trade links or impose collective economic sanctions.

The TXE also has political ramifications as well. All adherents have agreed to open Congressional Parliament High Commissions, as the founding fathers of the TXE hope to establish good diplomatic relations with CP.

Many see parallels between the Hanseatic League (SPQH) of old and the TXE of new in that both involve the alignment of nations based on mutual economic gain.

But where the two organizations differ is the ideology upon which they are founded. Whereas the SPQH was originally based on proditism (generally defined as the advancement of middle powers at the expense of the great powers), the TXE's unofficial mantra is 'international communalism' - a catch-phrase coined by a prominent political science professor at Octavton University.

Put in simple terms, international communalism espouses collective regional security through mutilateral development initatives. The NCA was an early manifestation of this belief, and the TXE can be seen as a mere formalization of it.

Currently the TXE is composed of Hongolia, Igoslavia, and Octavton, with Weimar and Conton rumored to be joining soon. In the meantime, the NCA will coexist with the TXE.

The TXE is not to be confused with the plethora of other diplomatic arrangements interlocking the nascent countries of Terra Exortus. For instance, the Eastern Bloc - a strictly defensive alliance - consists of Herwan, Igoslavia, and Octavton. Some fear this arrangement may provide a militaristic Herwan with a base on which to launch future attacks.

Furthermore, Hongolia, Igoslavia, and Octavton have signed technology sharing agreements and treaties of friendship with one another that are technically outside the Saragossa Accord even though the jurisdiction of these treaties may overlap.

As a final side note, Hongolia is also a protectorate of Marcusburg, meaning that a political union within the TXE appears unlikely for the near-future. Thus the TXE should have more of an economic orientation than the SPQH.

Regardless of diplomatic complexities, one thing remains certain. However nuanced the treaties of Terra Exortus become, the rest of the Mapp has no choice but to come to terms with an emerging presence to its east.

A presence with a dynamicism and energy the likes of which the world has not seen for quite some time. And the likes of which that will surely generate waves for months and years to come.