Plans could never keep pace with change. The Vienna Government's original aim had been to manufacture a conflict, use military pressure against the Egyptian government, and force them into signing a treaty.
In any case, the Sinai Peninsula was not valued. Its only purpose was to serve as a buffer between them and the Ottoman Empire, while the local native tribes simultaneously accepted the authority of both governments.
The conflict had indeed been manufactured, but they had overdone it and occupied the place outright. Nor had the Egyptians taken any extreme action; they had merely come to protest.
If possible, Franz would rather the Egyptians had attacked without regard for consequences. That would have made the next steps much easier. After all, he felt no pressure whatsoever in a one-on-one fight with Egypt.
Clearly, the Egyptian government was not foolish. Rather than charging in recklessly, they had sent people to reason with them. Military threats were no longer suitable at this point.
Franz had always been mindful of appearances. Fabricating an excuse to come knocking and make trouble had already pushed the limits of his moral bottom line, and his conscience was greatly troubled by it.
Now that they had even occupied what could generously be called one of the other side's cities, going to make more trouble for them would be going too far.
The Egyptian government had let go of the entire chain of events. No matter whose fault it had been, all the parties involved were dead anyway; when a man died, his debts were wiped clean. Now they merely wanted the Austrians to withdraw, without even demanding compensation.
Franz asked with a headache, "What do you think we should do about this?"
He admitted that he was not black-hearted enough to do something so overbearing. If