NationStates Jolt Archive

Edward Monjan PhD sat on the grass contemplating.
It had been a tough morning teaching students History and he had an even tougher time ahead of him in the afternoon when he would have to assist in the nasty business of ruling the country. As the High Lecturer of History within the Campus Republic, it was his responsibility to sit on the University High Council, after all.

The grass, the trees, the birds and the clear and sparkling waters. He found being close to nature most invigorating, water most of all. He looked up at the sky, pure blue with only wisps of cloud breaking its purity. He had missed the beauty and he would continue to miss the beauty. It was too perfect.
None of it was real after all, perfection could not be real.

It was all a carefully cultivated environment protected by a dome; at night it would turn transparent and project the beauty of the stars and of the various planets orbiting Sol. On a clear night, one could make out Earth.
During the day, holography would paint a beautiful blue sky.
The trees and plants were real, as was the soil, taken from Earth by the original settlers.

They had left Earth in search of a more aloof and intellectual existence among the stars and set about establishing a colony spanning a few bodies within the Jupiter-Mars Asteroid field. The colony was a work of structural and engineering mastery, especially considering it was designed and constructed by the Engineering and Mathematical students and lecturers. Artists beautified the colony making it more ascetically pleasing and Biologists, Chemists and Physicists worked ceaselessly to ensure the maintenance the population.

It was sad to him really, all this technology and higher learning. Of course, it was rewarding, but their was a toll; a sacrifice of the little things in life. Things he most definitely missed.

A device strapped to his belt, beeped. He pressed the blue button and a voice spoke to him. The personality of the voice was bland and unemotional, it was definitely automated.

"Councillor Edward Monjan, please report to docking bay 2 for diplomatic function."

He sighed and took a lift down to the docking levels.

Edward brushed off his best suit as the lift slowly descended into the depths of the Great University. It had been 2 years since he had last worn it and the perspective had hit him; he had put on weight.
As the lift progressed slowly toward the docking bay, he reviewed the previous transmission they had sent throughout the Solar System, an effort to reestablish communication with humanity. Evidently, not all that could possibly be learned could be found within the Great University. It was also necessary to secure vital resources through trade and commercial endeavors and this in turn would give the business and economy students something more to study other than historical models.
On his datapad, he punched up the recording of the last University transmission. It played, the voice distorted by the quality of the recording equipment.



"Greetings prospective friends...
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
We are the Great University, we are a nation of scholars, thinkers, philosophers, writers and scientists that have left the confines of a barbaric earth to find greatness and enlightenment among the stars.
We wish to establish meaningful relations with other peoples and cultures in order to acquire more knowledge and prestige and we wish to prosper from trade and commerce.
We would welcome any people that would seek to visit us, our coordinates are being transferred as we speak.
We look forward to a response."

He looked at his watch, it was two in the afternoon, by Earth GMT at a any rate. The lift hummed as it continued to descend.

Bump. Participation is welcome...

The young man hesitated, his hand hovering over the "delete" button. His Boss was constantly inundated with requests such as this one, and his job was to weed out the good from the bad. He didn't like hesitating, or even being forced to think. Sitting back in his chair, Dondell pulled out a half-smoked twig and quickly lit it, drawing heavily on the acrid smelling weed. He took another small puff, then pinched the end, extinguishing it. He placed the remainder back in his jacket pocket, then once again read the message. One line kept jumping out at him:

"We are the Great University, we are a nation of scholars, thinkers, philosophers, writers and scientists that have left the confines of a barbaric earth to find greatness and enlightenment among the stars."

Dondell decided NOT to make a decision, and forwarded the message to a low-level stooge working in the H4H sub-levels. He mentally patted himself on the back for being so smart.

"Greetings prospective friends...
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
We are the Great University, we are a nation of scholars, thinkers, philosophers, writers and scientists that have left the confines of a barbaric earth to find greatness and enlightenment among the stars.
We wish to establish meaningful relations with other peoples and cultures in order to acquire more knowledge and prestige and we wish to prosper from trade and commerce.
We would welcome any people that would seek to visit us, our coordinates are being transferred as we speak.
We look forward to a response."

Usually, nothing much happened out in the asteroid belt; supply ships came, ore transports went. Every so often a shipment of parts for the shipyards would come in, but overall, overseeing the Tsarainese outpost of Far Stone was a boring job.

So when something like this came in, Melach Sche'daya jumped upon it; the momentary flurry of activity - calling Star Command HQ on High Stone, and then Command on Earth, and receiving the reply that an AotE diplomat would be coming out shortly. And then it was out of the Senekhal's hands, and it was back to the normal rounds of paperwork.


Message To: To Whom It May Concern, The Great University and Governing Body Thereof
Message Fr: Office of the Arkhreifane of the Exterior, Kel Eridhant, Tsaraine, Earth
Message Re: Your offer

To the people and government of the Great University I send greetings. It is always pleasant to see a nation which values the sciences and the arts, and interesting to see nations which have, like Tsaraine, prospered in artificial environments, and I will admit to being intrigued by your nation.

I, and the Greater Ascendancy as a whole, would be most honoured if you would accept a diplomat of the Ascendancy, Diplomat-Commandant Jade Hummingbird, to discuss further relations between our nations.

Sincerely,

~ Arkhreifane Ksravi Ekina
Arkhreifane of the Exterior

Jason opened the manilla envelope with some trepidation. It wasn't a month ago that he had applied to the Ministry of Education for an temporary service waiver. His 16th birthday was comming up fast, and if he didn't find a university to take him soon, he'd be stuck learning technical schools in Wazzu's 2.5 year manditory conscription program.

The envelope tore smoothly along a pre-cressed edge, and Jason's emotions jumpped when he guiltilly checked the signature before reading the letter.


Dear Jason Santo,

I appologize for the long processing time, but your request had to be forwarded to the Ministry of Diplomacy. Wazzu has no relations with the nation of 'The Great University,' either official or unofficial. I am informed by that Ministry that Wazzu does not currently have the resources to develop a relationship.

This does not preclude your right to attend a university there. Should you be accepted, and that could be a large 'if,' your requestion for a 4 year temporary service waiver will be granted.

However, I feel it pertenant to warn you that this and many other foreign nations are unknowns. There is risk involved, physical, mental, monitary, and even educational risk in this endeavour. As a legal citizen, you and you alone bare sole responsibility for your decisions.

I wish you best of luck in whatever your decision.

George H. Brenard
~George H. Brenard
Assistant Minister of Education, Capital Bureau


Jason's heart had nearly stopped, this was good news indeed. Even knowing the date he checked his watch as if to see how much time he had left. A couple months. It wasn't much. He thanked god for electric submission, a paper application would take too long to arrive.


OOC: I understand this is a diplomacy thread, not a school/study thread, but what better way to introduce a new contact then to give him a legitimate personal reason to go to the nation? We don't need to RP classes or anything, just wanted a reason to partake. :)