NationStates Jolt Archive

In the sky above Rejistania

Brigadier-General Robert Dockett perused the map displayed on the large screen in front of him with a hint of interest in his face. He wondered inwardly what were the people below on the ground - pacifist socialists, apparently – making of the monstrous black shape in the sky – and of the Air Force Jack proudly displayed on its tail, a St. Andrew’s cross with white stars on it – thirteen, like the Allanean flag, for each of the States of Allanea – or of the States whose representatives gave birth to the idea of freedom, hundreds of years before Allanea’s founding. For the socialists, he thought, the very sight of the flag – and of the aircraft that carried it - must be anathema.

But it didn’t matter. Even socialist pacifists realise that someone needs to protect them. In this case, it was Allanea. Robert Dockett’s mission was to determine what was needed to protect Rejistania and to find out what Rejistanis were willing to pay for it.

The pilot’s word’s snapped General Dockett out of his reverie.


Approaching Ratansa Sike, General!

Lyku Siheke, whose position could be best described as 'minister for interethnical relations and defense', was waiting in a small room, which was dominated by a big window to the airfield. But he was not looking to it but talking silently to the members of his staff, making sure that all is alright.

"SyLy, calm down!" said Nei Hika, the translator. "We have gone through all the preparations several times, you know the plans and the protocol as well as we." She moved her hand through her black, shoulder-long hair, which started to turn gray. She was no unattractive woman, despite her age.

"I try, but you know... this is important for our nation..." he formed a vague gesture. "This could be Seretame's leap!"

"I don't know minokaje myths as well as you, but I see your point. The problem will be whether the two nations are ready for it!" Nei Hika replied.

"Indeed! Especially for us..." Lyku Siheke stopped musing and his black hand moved upwards pointing to an airplane approaching. "I think those are the Allaneans"

Jemetasadere I Liisakaja, confirmed it.

The delegation watched the plane approach and while is was landing went through the airport. On their way, the people, who were responisble for the organisation disappeared into the background, leaving only him and Nei to meet the Allanean representative as the plane landed.

The monstrous aircraft taxied on the runway, it’s oversized engines still howling overhead. Just the noise of the six monstrosities died down, Allanean army troups – twenty-two of them – poured out of the belly of the steel monster, the like of which was probalby never seen in Rejistania before. The troops arranged themselves in two rows, one facing the other, loaded rifles at port arms, with two of them holding Allanean flags. Somewhere in the plane a sound system had been turned on, playing the Allanean Anthem.

Oil and grease and powder
A most welcome smell
Of guns and ammo a-plenty
And of thousands fired shells
Brigadier General Dockett walked down from the plane, in perfect military step. As he set foot on the soil of Rejistania, he raised his right hand to his forehead in a crisp salute.

Oil and grease and powder
Smell of tool put to work
Reminder that we're in Allanea
Not Yasmarea or Blattershpitt.

Then, Brigadier General Dockett stood and waited.

Lyku Siheke was impressed at the scenery, he could not deny it. He was told before that Allaneans have another idea of style than Rejistanians, but seeing this style being expressed was something different to him. He smiled, as he went forward towards the general. Lyku Siheke greeted him in his accented English: "In the sign of rise, I am honored to welcome you in Rejistania!" Referring to 'rise' as non-religious version of 'inikresa' was a tradition at the start of official events. They shook hands and the general replied the greeting. He said a short sentence in Rejistanian to Nei, who translated: "May this visit lead to more tolerance, peace and prosperity!" It was a small cultural statement, Lyku felt necessary after the cultural statement of the whole arrival. He pointed to the buildings and again said a sentence in rejistanian, translated as "Please follow us to the skyway!"

The skyway was a glass passage, which leads from the airport to the small train station next to it. It is about five metres above ground and the hectic of a normal Rejistanian workday was seen below. Lyku explained through his translator that the train was already waiting for them and pointed to the last platform which appeared abandonned. A modern-looking, aerodynamically shaped Hemytera train in a bright white was waiting there.

The general looked with interest as the soldiers stood still, the sun glinting off their dark-bladed bayonets. Then he spoke

“Good day, Sir. Freedom lives.”

He walked after them, escorted only by his secretary and four guards. “Quite an impressive construct, Comrade” – was that how communists addressed each other? And didn’t they have cars for at least the dignitaries? He decided to remain dispassioned. This did not matter much – the contents of the meeting did. He followed into the train.

Nei had a hard time translating the general's sentence to rejistanian. She would have preferred if she was able to use a bit more style, but the concept of freedom is not exactly translatable and she was advised to translate the most exact. For the Allaneans it surely sounded like a series of incoherent syllables.

Lyku tried his best not to take 'Comrade' as personal insult since he left communist Rejistania when it declared semi-independence. He guessed that the very simple and totally uncluttered rejistanian architecture appeared communist to foreigners. Nei told him that in the translation that 'comrade' could also refer to a social democrat and so he simply said: "I belong to the Green Party, not to the social democrats." and smiled. He did not really understand why the general's mimic changed when he mentioned the train. It is easier to secure a railroad track then to secure a passage through the sikenian traffic - especially after a home game of Veran and even more especially after a successfull home game. He estimated that even though the match was a day ago, the amount of drunk drivers was still well above average. He then remembered how fanatic the Allaneans are about their cars and what cars they drive and so felt that a comment was required. "Traveling by train provides more comfort than a car ever could. I know no car, in which you can walk around." he waited for the translation and added: "It will be only a short way to the ministry of lik~hat." He heard it as "ministry for interethnical relations and defense" as translaion from Nei and for a moment felt glad that expressions like lik~hat exist.

The train went through the central rejistanian jungle for a while until Sike kali was reached. The government buildings dominate the city despite their understated architecture. This is partly because the Rejistanian capital is an unimpressive town of less than 20,000 people and partly because despite Rejistanian understatement this is the government. The train stopped at a small station, which was very tidy and had some texts in rejistanian letters but no advertising. he led the guest through a garden-like park to the ministry building.

OOC: slani, 4:30 am. better go to bed!

The general didn't even flinch at the reply. "I see, Sir", he said.. "I am sorry if my mistake offends you." Inwardly, he thought, 'Silly commies. They play strange powergames between different stripes of the "Faithful", not even themselves being aware of how they are all the same in essence'. To the Rejistanian, he said: "Interesting techological achievement, this train of yours. How fast does it move?" In Allanea, of course, it would have been considered a disgrace for the nation to offer a visiting foreign dignitary a train - or any means of 'public' transportation. The Allaneans believed in privacy and individualism - and so the only people in Allanea who used passenger trains where those who didn't for some reason own a car - or a helicopter.

He inspected the central station with a tinge of hidden dislike - it was a fairly spartan design, with none of the colorful banners, shop windows, or small restaurants that would be filling the Port-Allanea subway. He wondered - not out loud, of course - 'So how do those people buy a newspaper when they get off the train?'. He then followed the minister through the park, still surprised at how small the 'capital' was.

Lyku Siheke smiled as he saw the confused look of the general, not a gloating smile, but a helpful smile, as if he understands the situation. "A team from the UN was trapped 6 hours in a traffic jam after Kaletri won the league, we thought that the car is a rather suboptimal way of transport. This platform is only used for special occasions." They entered the ministry of lik~hat, a rather high building in white with big windows, which hid their inside by curtains in different shades of brown and yellow. Then they went into a conference room, which seemed to lack one wall. It was one big window, showing the park on the outside. After one managed to look away from the splendid green and into he room, one can see that the walls were decorated by 15 symbols. Rejistanis would at once understand their meaning: Every one symbolizes one ethnic group in Rejistania, for foreigners, they have a certain esthetic quality. In the middle of the room was a large round table, with a number of chairs for the general, his secretary and the 3 rejistanians, who just entered. With him they represent the biggest parties: The Greens, the WF, the Ligat and the developmentists. But also are Rejistanian specialists on defense. He introduced them and Nei translated. Ivare Meku was a bald, skinny person, who Lyku described as a retired Mekahane (Nei did not try to translate the different military ranks). Xati I Solu was a woman, in her late 50ies, her short hair is still dark black, but her face has some wrinkles especially around her eyes, she was active Mekahane Radja according to Lyku and Nei's translation. Hika~ol Ledekajamine, a tall and rather young man, only in his early 40ies, he was speaker in defense politics of the developmentist party. The all were wearing suits in a sky blue, which looks ridiculous on white skin but is fashionable for blacks. (ooc: I do not think that I have to emphasize again that the Rejis has a black majority) Lyku used some words of excuse for meeting these persons not before, but did not explain the real reason. he grimaced a bit.