On June 5, 2004, the Head Honcho of Hongolia sent out communications to the leaders of Ichiben and Soozhou, noting that they had been neglecting the development of their countries.

Emphasizing that they have the lowest standards of living on the Mapp and rapidly declining approval ratings, he gave Ichiben and Soozhou five days to respond to his communication.

Otherwise, Hongolia would spearhead an initiative to develop Ichiben and Soozhou in spite of their leaders for the sake of the people there - a policy known as Responsible Determination.

Espoused by Marcusburg (the protector of Hongolia), Rattanjeetland, and Congressional Parliament, Responsible Determination gives a nation the right to intervene in failed states where the people are suffering due to a lack of leadership.

However, neither Marcusburg nor Rattanjeetland had ever put the policy to the test. So when the Head Honcho announced to the world on June 10 at the Congressional Parliament (CP) that he was asking permission to enter Ichiben and Soozhou, the Secretary-General considered the matter urgent and diverted it to the Great Powers Forum.

Lindsholm and Marcusburg both immediately voted in favour of Forum Resolution 19. When word reached Octavton, the Principal Councillor ordered his ambassador at the CP to make a speech before the Great Powers Forum.

The ambassador explained that Ichiben and Soozhou were situated on prime real estate and handing them over to Hongolia would greatly disrupt the delicate balance of power in Terra Exortus that had worked so well for the region.

He implored the Great Powers to strike down the resolution so it could be sent for a revote in the World Parliament (i.e. in a Congress) where all member-states could cast their ballot after sufficient debate.

It worked. On June 11, Siggary voted against Forum Resolution 19. The Siggarian ambassador also argued that Ichiben and Soozhou should become mandates of Congressional Parliament (i.e. the international community should direct development of the countries).

But before Gorditas and Rattanjeetland could cast their votes, the Herwanese ambassador raced into the Forum Chambers with a signed letter from the leader of Soozhou proclaiming that it had agreed to become a Herwanese protectorate. He also claimed Ichiben but could provide no proof as the Ichibeni leader was allegedly somewhere out in the unexplored jungles that lie far east of Terra Exortus.

Shocked, the Secretary-General, with Hongolian permission, ordered Resolution 19 to be amended so as to exclude Soozhou.

The next day, the Head Honcho released a scathing rebuke of the Octavian speech at the Great Powers Forum, leading to worries that a schism had developed in the TXE.

Faced with Hongolian criticism and an expanding Herwan, the Principal Councillor of Octavton began looking for protectorates of his own. Thus on June 13, after a quick trip to Lebrianon, the Mob who rule the country there agreed to cede control of the country to Octavton.

Back in Hongolia, all eyes were on the amended Forum Resolution. Slowly but surely the Great Powers began to vote. Marcusburg and Rattanjeetland, supporters of Responsible Determination, quickly voted in favour of the Hongolian liberation of Ichiben. However before the Great Powers could make up their mind, Herwan announced another bombshell.

An emergency expedition dispatched by the Herwanese President had reached the Ichibeni leader. At noon on June 15, Ichiben agreed to cede temporary control to Herwan.

Immediately Resolution 19 was withdrawn. The news came too late for Gorditas and Siggary whose ambassadors rushed into the Forum just three hours later to vote yes and no respectively.

At the end of the day, the balance of power in Terra Exortus laid radically shifted. Herwan had gained two protectorates, Octavton one, and the country that started it all - Hongolia - had ironically acquired none.