28-10-2003, 23:27
[ooc: if you are interested only in politics and not in their backstory, please jump to the communiqué.]
--- One month ago, in a secure room of the Commonwealth Fund tower (Nea City)
4 people are around the table. They remain silent, looking at each other. The atmosphere is tense. A noise comes from the door control panel. The man sitting at the end of the table looks to a small screen, and presses a button. The door opens and a man enters.
The atmosphere becomes suddenly more comfortable.
"At last !" one of the men finally said, though a bit coldly.
The newly arrived man sat down and apologized briefly for being late, then said: "Okay. Everything seems alright. We have the Chief of Governmental Security with us. Our team is complete. They have started planning the details. It should be all prepared within 2 weeks. Then we'll have to choose when to proceed."
One of the men around the table asked: "You are sure of the whole team ? If anyone finds anything about it, we are dead."
"I know." the man replied.
The man at the end of the table looked around and whispered: "How much?"
His 4 colleagues started to look a bit embarrassed. One of them finally answered: "I think... about 25 billions..."
"Hmm... Right. And of course, there will be no failure."
The 4 guys replied at once: "Of course."
"In a month, will it be ready?"
The guy who appeared to be the 'operative' replied: "Should be. Is that your date ?"
"It is my date. Thank you."
He stood up, indicating the meeting had ended.
--- Oct. 28th, 1:50am, Presidential Office, Nea City
President Ralph Goldensilver was still in his office. He had just had a long discussion with the author of a report on his financial policy, and had decided to study some reforms that had been proposed by his Special Advisor for Economics. Everything was very quiet, he looked out the window to the lights of the Nea City CBD.
While the President was at work, a small team of 4 men sneaked into the Presidential building. They had governmental cards, and they passed the first controls easily. Actually, the building, though there were a few guards, was nearly empty at the first levels. They composed a code and entered the emergency staircase. A guard was there, and he was shot before he could see anything. They met another one, and shot him too. They finally arrived at the 12th 'Presidential' floor. They eliminated the 2 special units who were standing by the door, but lost one of the men in the action. Their main concern was the fact that the special units could have warned the security center as they were dying. The door was protected by an iris recognition system. But one of them got towards it and put his eye in front of the small hole. He composed a code. The door opened, with a voice saying: "William McCoy, Chief Security, welcome.". He was quickly followed by the rest of the team. The last problem was the President's office door. This one had no recognition system : it had to be opened from inside. But everything had been planned, fortunatly. He opened a small suitcase and took a small remote control with only one button. He pressed it. The door unlocked.
Inside, the President heard the noise and looked around. His office was perfectly isolated and normally no noise should come to and from outside. All of a sudden, before he could even realize what was happening, he was surrounded by the 3 guys. He startled as he recognized his Chief Security among the 3 guys threatening him with guns : "You !" he barked, looking at him intensely.
William McCoy could not sustain the President's look but said: "Sorry. But things have changed."
He got back to reality as he saw the little red light blinking on the security console screen outside the room : the President had discreetly alerted the security center. That was bad. He had 2 choices : take him in hostage, which would undermine the rest of the plan, or try to play a more tricky game. He chose the second option. He ordered to the 2 other guys: "Hide the special units bodies, take their place. Just as if nothing had happened. If the guards come and ask you, tell them that you haven't seen anything." He then turned to the President: "Sorry, Mr. President, but you'll have to obey me now."
He hid himself under the President's desk, pointing his gun on him and said: "The guys of the security are going to come. Tell them that you pressed the button by mistake, and that everything is OK. Otherwise you are dead."
The President was very pale and nodded.
Less than a minute later, the security guards entered the office. The President, as a good actor, played his role as planned by McCoy. He apologized to the guards who turned around quickly and got out of the office. McCoy got out of under the desk, still targetting the President with his gun. He took the phone, composed a number and said to his interlocutor: "We're waiting for you. Everything is under control."
A few minutes later a car stopped in front of the Presidential building, and 4 men got out. They took the elevator and arrived at the 12th floor. They entered the corridor, and arrived to the President's office. The President knew the 4 men. Actually, he knew very well : he had appointed them, and made them what they were now - Special Advisors. The 4 guys there were Walter Boldy, Special Advisor for Information; Michael Corner, Special Advisor for National Security; Allan Dutyful, Special Advisor for Defense; and... Jacques de l'Ile, Special Advisor for International Relations, one of his best friends, and one of the only he trusted.
The President was disguted by such a collective betrayal. He did not say anything but "Get out of my office.".
"Don't worry Mr. Goldensilver" Boldy said. "You will remain the President. But we are going to make small changes to the Constitution."
"What changes ?"
"Power to the Special Advisors. You will be a representative. But you won't have power over decisions." Allan Dutyful replied
"But this... this is... no ! I won't sign anything ! You are going to get out of here !"
"I don't think you are in position to negociate. If you want to stay alive, you obey us. Else, you will be killed and Jacques will be made President, and we will finally get the same result. It is best for the nation that you remain the President. Everyone likes you, and removing you would only destabilize the nation."
The President was trapped. The call for responsability towards the nation underlying in Allan Dutyful's speech had hit where it hurt.
He nodded. Allan Dutyful dialed a number on the phone, let it ring twice and hung up. A few minutes later, André R. Mandray, CEO of the Commonwealth Fund, probably the most powerful man outside the government, entered the President's office.
"Hello, Ralph." His voice was soft, and looking at him was enough to understand he was exceptionnally brilliant.
"Hello, André." His voice was cold, and his look freezing. But this was not enough to stop André Mandray.
"So you agree ?"
"I did. But since you entered this room, I have doubts. Lots of doubts."
"Do you ? I'm sure you are going to forget about this." He nodded to William McCoy, who took a small bottle in his suitcase. He made the President drink.
A few minutes later, the effect started to show up. Another 5 minutes, and the President would have signed his own death sentence.
André Mandray took a few sheets of paper in his attaché-case. The President signed.
--- Oct. 28th, 8:30am, Presidential Office, Nea City
Only McCoy had stayed in the President's Office. Being the President's Chief of Security, he did not need to justify his presence in the office at the time the secretary arrived.
The President was sleeping, partly due to the effects of the drug they had made him drink. Now he was waking up. He quickly remembered what had happened and saw the papers he had signed on his desk. He read them. It gave the decisional powers to a restricted Special Advisors group, removed the control of the Delegates Assembly over decisions, restricting the Assembly to a 'consultative' role, and created a control commission presided by André R. Mandray and composed by CEOs of the biggest corporations.
To the President, it was literally the destruction of all his efforts to keep politics and capitalism apart : even though there had to be links, political power had to control corporate power and not the other way. And it had visibly not been appreciated.
The documents had been signed, and a copy was probably already being brought to the Delegates Assembly. The delegates would not block it because they probably would have been threatened before. Or given a 'financial compensation'.
The President looked to McCoy, who was in a corner of the room. He discreetly opened a secret compartment under his desk. In it was only a very small sphere filled with transparent liquid. He put it in his mouth, looked to McCoy again and said softly : "McCoy. You needed me. It's too late. And I hope you will fail."
McCoy startled, amazed. "What did you say ?"
The President started to look bad but replied: "I said... I hope... you... will... fail..."
He had enough strength to press the hidden alarm button.
He closed his eyes. He did not re-open them.
A few seconds later, some guards were in the office. Seeing the President had died, they turned to McCoy and thought he was responsible. McCoy understood quickly and lost his calm. He tried to run away. He made 10 meters. The guards had took out their guns and fired. He took a bullet in the head. He died instantly.
** -- ** -- **
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIQUE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENDLESS ISLANDS
1. Death of the President
This morning at 8.40am, our dear President, Ralph C. Goldensilver, was found dead in his office.
The first analysis suggest he has willingly absorbed a yet-to-be-identified poisonous substance.
The government declares this day and the 2 next days National Mourning Day.
2. Constitutional Change
Before his death, the President has signed a major Constitutional Reform.
This reform includes the creation of a State Commission and appoints Mr. André R. Mandray as the President of this Commission.
The members of the State Commission are appointed by its President. Incase of the death or retirement of the President, the Commission elects a President from its members, who will appoint a new member to replace the departing member. Incase of the dismissal of the whole Commission, the Board of Advisors (government) appoints a new President of the Commission who will appoint new members.
The role of the State Commission is to advise, comment and ratify the decisions taken by the government, as well as to appoint and dismiss the members of the Board of Advisors.
The President of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands is appointed by the State Commission and represents the country abroad.
The State Commission is composed of 9 members : the President, Mr. André Mandray, and 8 yet-to-be-appointed members.
3. New executive body
The State Commission and his President Mr. André Mandray are glad to give Mr. Jacques de l'Ile, Special Advisor for International Relations, the title of President of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands.
The Board of Advisors is now composed of 5 members:
- Mr. Jacques de l'Ile, President & Special Advisor for International Relations
- Mr. Walter Boldy, Special Advisor for Information
- Mr. Michael Corner, Special Advisor for Domestic Issues
- Mr. Allan Dutyful, Special Advisor for Defense
- Mr. Frank Merch, Special Advisor for Economics & Financials
4. New policy
The recent events and changes in our nation has led the Board of Advisors to revise the global foreign policy of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands.
* The Board of Advisors hereby announces the suspension of the membership of the Commonwealth in all the non-bilateral alliances it is currently in. This includes the South Atlantic Treaty Organization, the World Business Organization, the Ur Trade Pact, the Free Pacific Alliance, the South Pacific Regional Alliance.
* The Menelmacari Credit is not the official external currency anymore. The Endless Euro will be used where allowed, and is to be backed by an array of the world's most powerful currencies.
* Trade barriers are to be set up against all countries who are not currently in any bilateral trade pacts
* Controls at the borders will be reinforced against foreigners
* All countries with no special bilateral pacts are allowed a maximum of 15 diplomatic representatives in the country.
* Foreign Corporations are required to provide complete and clear accounts and are subject to stricter control from the regulation authorities. A 1% tax on all international transactions by foreign corporations is to be applied from the 1st of next month.
* Long term policy will be oriented towards isolationism, though privileged relations will be kept with selected countries
More measures will be disclosed in the near future.
Jacques de l'Ile, President of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands & Special Advisor for International Relations
André Mandray, President of the State Commission
--- One month ago, in a secure room of the Commonwealth Fund tower (Nea City)
4 people are around the table. They remain silent, looking at each other. The atmosphere is tense. A noise comes from the door control panel. The man sitting at the end of the table looks to a small screen, and presses a button. The door opens and a man enters.
The atmosphere becomes suddenly more comfortable.
"At last !" one of the men finally said, though a bit coldly.
The newly arrived man sat down and apologized briefly for being late, then said: "Okay. Everything seems alright. We have the Chief of Governmental Security with us. Our team is complete. They have started planning the details. It should be all prepared within 2 weeks. Then we'll have to choose when to proceed."
One of the men around the table asked: "You are sure of the whole team ? If anyone finds anything about it, we are dead."
"I know." the man replied.
The man at the end of the table looked around and whispered: "How much?"
His 4 colleagues started to look a bit embarrassed. One of them finally answered: "I think... about 25 billions..."
"Hmm... Right. And of course, there will be no failure."
The 4 guys replied at once: "Of course."
"In a month, will it be ready?"
The guy who appeared to be the 'operative' replied: "Should be. Is that your date ?"
"It is my date. Thank you."
He stood up, indicating the meeting had ended.
--- Oct. 28th, 1:50am, Presidential Office, Nea City
President Ralph Goldensilver was still in his office. He had just had a long discussion with the author of a report on his financial policy, and had decided to study some reforms that had been proposed by his Special Advisor for Economics. Everything was very quiet, he looked out the window to the lights of the Nea City CBD.
While the President was at work, a small team of 4 men sneaked into the Presidential building. They had governmental cards, and they passed the first controls easily. Actually, the building, though there were a few guards, was nearly empty at the first levels. They composed a code and entered the emergency staircase. A guard was there, and he was shot before he could see anything. They met another one, and shot him too. They finally arrived at the 12th 'Presidential' floor. They eliminated the 2 special units who were standing by the door, but lost one of the men in the action. Their main concern was the fact that the special units could have warned the security center as they were dying. The door was protected by an iris recognition system. But one of them got towards it and put his eye in front of the small hole. He composed a code. The door opened, with a voice saying: "William McCoy, Chief Security, welcome.". He was quickly followed by the rest of the team. The last problem was the President's office door. This one had no recognition system : it had to be opened from inside. But everything had been planned, fortunatly. He opened a small suitcase and took a small remote control with only one button. He pressed it. The door unlocked.
Inside, the President heard the noise and looked around. His office was perfectly isolated and normally no noise should come to and from outside. All of a sudden, before he could even realize what was happening, he was surrounded by the 3 guys. He startled as he recognized his Chief Security among the 3 guys threatening him with guns : "You !" he barked, looking at him intensely.
William McCoy could not sustain the President's look but said: "Sorry. But things have changed."
He got back to reality as he saw the little red light blinking on the security console screen outside the room : the President had discreetly alerted the security center. That was bad. He had 2 choices : take him in hostage, which would undermine the rest of the plan, or try to play a more tricky game. He chose the second option. He ordered to the 2 other guys: "Hide the special units bodies, take their place. Just as if nothing had happened. If the guards come and ask you, tell them that you haven't seen anything." He then turned to the President: "Sorry, Mr. President, but you'll have to obey me now."
He hid himself under the President's desk, pointing his gun on him and said: "The guys of the security are going to come. Tell them that you pressed the button by mistake, and that everything is OK. Otherwise you are dead."
The President was very pale and nodded.
Less than a minute later, the security guards entered the office. The President, as a good actor, played his role as planned by McCoy. He apologized to the guards who turned around quickly and got out of the office. McCoy got out of under the desk, still targetting the President with his gun. He took the phone, composed a number and said to his interlocutor: "We're waiting for you. Everything is under control."
A few minutes later a car stopped in front of the Presidential building, and 4 men got out. They took the elevator and arrived at the 12th floor. They entered the corridor, and arrived to the President's office. The President knew the 4 men. Actually, he knew very well : he had appointed them, and made them what they were now - Special Advisors. The 4 guys there were Walter Boldy, Special Advisor for Information; Michael Corner, Special Advisor for National Security; Allan Dutyful, Special Advisor for Defense; and... Jacques de l'Ile, Special Advisor for International Relations, one of his best friends, and one of the only he trusted.
The President was disguted by such a collective betrayal. He did not say anything but "Get out of my office.".
"Don't worry Mr. Goldensilver" Boldy said. "You will remain the President. But we are going to make small changes to the Constitution."
"What changes ?"
"Power to the Special Advisors. You will be a representative. But you won't have power over decisions." Allan Dutyful replied
"But this... this is... no ! I won't sign anything ! You are going to get out of here !"
"I don't think you are in position to negociate. If you want to stay alive, you obey us. Else, you will be killed and Jacques will be made President, and we will finally get the same result. It is best for the nation that you remain the President. Everyone likes you, and removing you would only destabilize the nation."
The President was trapped. The call for responsability towards the nation underlying in Allan Dutyful's speech had hit where it hurt.
He nodded. Allan Dutyful dialed a number on the phone, let it ring twice and hung up. A few minutes later, André R. Mandray, CEO of the Commonwealth Fund, probably the most powerful man outside the government, entered the President's office.
"Hello, Ralph." His voice was soft, and looking at him was enough to understand he was exceptionnally brilliant.
"Hello, André." His voice was cold, and his look freezing. But this was not enough to stop André Mandray.
"So you agree ?"
"I did. But since you entered this room, I have doubts. Lots of doubts."
"Do you ? I'm sure you are going to forget about this." He nodded to William McCoy, who took a small bottle in his suitcase. He made the President drink.
A few minutes later, the effect started to show up. Another 5 minutes, and the President would have signed his own death sentence.
André Mandray took a few sheets of paper in his attaché-case. The President signed.
--- Oct. 28th, 8:30am, Presidential Office, Nea City
Only McCoy had stayed in the President's Office. Being the President's Chief of Security, he did not need to justify his presence in the office at the time the secretary arrived.
The President was sleeping, partly due to the effects of the drug they had made him drink. Now he was waking up. He quickly remembered what had happened and saw the papers he had signed on his desk. He read them. It gave the decisional powers to a restricted Special Advisors group, removed the control of the Delegates Assembly over decisions, restricting the Assembly to a 'consultative' role, and created a control commission presided by André R. Mandray and composed by CEOs of the biggest corporations.
To the President, it was literally the destruction of all his efforts to keep politics and capitalism apart : even though there had to be links, political power had to control corporate power and not the other way. And it had visibly not been appreciated.
The documents had been signed, and a copy was probably already being brought to the Delegates Assembly. The delegates would not block it because they probably would have been threatened before. Or given a 'financial compensation'.
The President looked to McCoy, who was in a corner of the room. He discreetly opened a secret compartment under his desk. In it was only a very small sphere filled with transparent liquid. He put it in his mouth, looked to McCoy again and said softly : "McCoy. You needed me. It's too late. And I hope you will fail."
McCoy startled, amazed. "What did you say ?"
The President started to look bad but replied: "I said... I hope... you... will... fail..."
He had enough strength to press the hidden alarm button.
He closed his eyes. He did not re-open them.
A few seconds later, some guards were in the office. Seeing the President had died, they turned to McCoy and thought he was responsible. McCoy understood quickly and lost his calm. He tried to run away. He made 10 meters. The guards had took out their guns and fired. He took a bullet in the head. He died instantly.
** -- ** -- **
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIQUE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENDLESS ISLANDS
1. Death of the President
This morning at 8.40am, our dear President, Ralph C. Goldensilver, was found dead in his office.
The first analysis suggest he has willingly absorbed a yet-to-be-identified poisonous substance.
The government declares this day and the 2 next days National Mourning Day.
2. Constitutional Change
Before his death, the President has signed a major Constitutional Reform.
This reform includes the creation of a State Commission and appoints Mr. André R. Mandray as the President of this Commission.
The members of the State Commission are appointed by its President. Incase of the death or retirement of the President, the Commission elects a President from its members, who will appoint a new member to replace the departing member. Incase of the dismissal of the whole Commission, the Board of Advisors (government) appoints a new President of the Commission who will appoint new members.
The role of the State Commission is to advise, comment and ratify the decisions taken by the government, as well as to appoint and dismiss the members of the Board of Advisors.
The President of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands is appointed by the State Commission and represents the country abroad.
The State Commission is composed of 9 members : the President, Mr. André Mandray, and 8 yet-to-be-appointed members.
3. New executive body
The State Commission and his President Mr. André Mandray are glad to give Mr. Jacques de l'Ile, Special Advisor for International Relations, the title of President of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands.
The Board of Advisors is now composed of 5 members:
- Mr. Jacques de l'Ile, President & Special Advisor for International Relations
- Mr. Walter Boldy, Special Advisor for Information
- Mr. Michael Corner, Special Advisor for Domestic Issues
- Mr. Allan Dutyful, Special Advisor for Defense
- Mr. Frank Merch, Special Advisor for Economics & Financials
4. New policy
The recent events and changes in our nation has led the Board of Advisors to revise the global foreign policy of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands.
* The Board of Advisors hereby announces the suspension of the membership of the Commonwealth in all the non-bilateral alliances it is currently in. This includes the South Atlantic Treaty Organization, the World Business Organization, the Ur Trade Pact, the Free Pacific Alliance, the South Pacific Regional Alliance.
* The Menelmacari Credit is not the official external currency anymore. The Endless Euro will be used where allowed, and is to be backed by an array of the world's most powerful currencies.
* Trade barriers are to be set up against all countries who are not currently in any bilateral trade pacts
* Controls at the borders will be reinforced against foreigners
* All countries with no special bilateral pacts are allowed a maximum of 15 diplomatic representatives in the country.
* Foreign Corporations are required to provide complete and clear accounts and are subject to stricter control from the regulation authorities. A 1% tax on all international transactions by foreign corporations is to be applied from the 1st of next month.
* Long term policy will be oriented towards isolationism, though privileged relations will be kept with selected countries
More measures will be disclosed in the near future.
Jacques de l'Ile, President of the Commonwealth of Endless Islands & Special Advisor for International Relations
André Mandray, President of the State Commission