NationStates Jolt Archive

The International Journal
Of Thunderbay
Online

With tentions mounting in the world stage. We thought we would take a new online poll of which political party or association people are supporting at present. For new voters we have given a breif overview of the major poltical parties and associations and their present party platform from last years party assemblies.

Independence Party The Party of National Independence (PNI)

The Key Issue of the Independence Party is that the people of the United Duchies would be better off independent of the Klatchian Federation. It is their argument that the Federal Government increases the national tax rate. They also point to the heavy burden that the Navy is under supplying almost sixty percent of all Joint Defense Force naval officers and Marine Personel.

In General, the Independence Party also is strongly against same-sex civil marriages and other actions which are seen as morally corrupt. They believe that the government should privitize most current state functions and focus purely on defense and montary management.

Grand Duchy Party The Grand Alliance Party (GAP)

The GAP is one of the larger parties in the United Duchies and has a stronghold in the Alconian Islands. It is especially strong within the College of Peers.

The Grand Duchy Party also has some reservations about the Federation. But favor a power balance in the States advantage with only Federal intrusion in limited and specific cases. They too are disappointed with the heavy dependence on Alconian Naval Resources by the JDF. However they feel that this is more a need to expand involvement of other States. They point out that the number of competent Benjian personnel within the Navy has increased greatly.

The Grand Duchy Party tends to believe in limited government and fiscal responsibility. They have also tended to view the role of privitization as more a way to maintain alternatives to less need responsive government programs

Union Party The Klatchian Union Party (KUP)

This centrist party is a strong supporter of the Federation and of achieving a balance with the Federal Government that allows all to flourish as they wish, and to avoid the disatsers of civil and international war.

The Union Party tends to believe that only government can do what there is no long term profit in doing. But at the same time, that the government should always allow private industry to compete with the government in providing services if priavte industry so desires.

The Union Party believes in the motto: A government large enough to facilitate our needs, but not too large too eat up our profits.

Democratic Party The Party of Alconian Democracy (PAD) - Moderate/Liberal

PAD is presently the dominant party of the nation, with Chancellor Thume leading the government.
PAD's long term goals are the creation of a true liberal democracy within the United Duchies, and an appropriate role of the hereditary monarchy.

PAD's greatest focus has been on 'empowering the poor' and ending the influence based tax system for a more traditional progressive tax base. Unfortunately a recent recession has caused severe losses to support amongst some for the party.

Progressives The Progressive Party (PP)- Liberal

The PP desires a drastic decrease in the Alconian and Federation militaries. It also supports the creation of a new lower house in the Federation based on proportional elections of national parties. The PP believes that in addition to a progressive tax structure, the government should be expanded to bring more benefits to the people. "Only Government can provide for the people a fair and equal share in the bounty of these islands."

They are also strongly for an asset tax on the wealthy, and removing the twenty percent Royal Reserve in the budget.

Republicans The Party for a New Republic (PNR) -Libertarian/Republican

The Republican Party believes that the present Monarchy his a hindrance to the growth of the State. As such they strongly believe that the Monarchy and College of Peers should be abolished and replaced with a more Republican style of government.

Economically the Republicans are worried about the trade deficits and desire economic isolationism. They also feel that the government should only be involved in matters of defense and policing.

They have little love for the Federation and are strongly for its complete abolishment off the face of the earth.

The Alliance The Alconian Alliance of Independents (AAI)
Less a political party than a service organization helping independent candidates

The Socialists The Hubarian Socialist Party (HSP) -Socialsits,
This party demands that the monarchy should be abolished and a political union made with Deylli Beybi at once. Only the fact that the party has apparently deep pockets has allowed them to be at all remotely competitive.

The Communists The Klatchian Communist Party (KCP) Communists,
Primarily die hards of Hubris who desire a return to a completely government controlled, nationalized economy where all decisions are made by an elected legislature and Prime Minister. In many respects the KCP is known for their adamant hatred of the HSP . Due to most of its members being Vaux it tends to only show up in local elections rather than national elections.

The Nationalists The Party of Chawabian Nationalists (PCN)

The PCN wants Chawabian Independence from both the United Duchies and the Klatchian Federation. The Nationalists are know to believe anyone not Chawabian is inferior, and that all alliances with the Mongoloid Klatchians and their Walrus monarch are against God and the Chawabian race. They also support the banning of homosexual acts, and non-religious music. Their motto is "God First, Chawhavia Second, and the Crawfords in Hell."

It was a lovely morning in Thunderbay, capital of the United Duchies. The sun had risen to a cloudless sky, A cold front had just moved through towards the south, dropping both the heat and humidity in Thunderbay . The live oaks of the streets of Thunderbay seemed to glisten with the wet of the rain the night before It was a Thursday and almost everyone was looking forward to the approaching weekend. Workers strolled down the avenues and hesitated going down to pick up a ride on the underground. In general, the people of the city were enjoying the day. Except for Philip Thume, Chancellor of the United Duchies was having his day start out poorly.

Thume's day had started in the Privy Council Chamber of Apethorpe Palace. Where the tri-weekly security meeting was occuring. His mind had wandered again out of the octagon shaped room with its paneled walls and ornate cealings, out one of the windows and into the palace gardens beyond. The voice of the Naval Marshal dragged on in the background until a word tripped Thume back into the meeting.

"…..Saxmere situation appears to be deteriorating. There appears to be a build up of naval forces in the North Atlantic."

The Chancellor turned his eyes down to the digital screen built into the table. Images of naval assets from both Resurgent Dream and Excalbia were superimposed over a map of the North Atlantic with their locations in red and yellow. "I don't think the Feds are going to use the JDF to protect shipping so we might have to send our own boys and girls into the area to protect our own trade."

The Chancellor spoke up, "We should state that the independence movement of Saxmere is an internal problem of the Confederacy and that no matter how the conflict develops, the free flow of trade by neutrals should be supported."

The white haired man on the other side of the round table looked up. His blue eyes seemed to drill into the Chancellor. "We do not find ourselves inclined to help the Knootians in this matter." His voice was even more cold and icy than his stare.

Thume looked at Alexander III, Grand Duke of the United Duchies with a hurt expression. "Your Grace, Excalbia and Pantocratoria are attempting to place a Divine Right Monarch in Saxemere. We can't allow them to…"

"The people of Saxemere have the right to their own choices and their own government. They will soon sour to a divine right monarch and kick him back out. I have little taste for helping Knootoss at the moment."

"Tanah Burung has little or no value for us or to us. We must stop…"

"Enough!…" The Duke slammed his hand down on the table. "…My family swore to protect the people of Tanah Burung. We failed, but I will not fail the people of that nation again. My family shall remove this stain of dishonor from our past by our actions now."

"Oh no you won't. As long as I am Chancellor, you won't have enough votes on this council to authorize any kind of military action in Tanah Burung. So all you have is diplomacy your Grace."

"Mr. Thume, I may have to work with you. And I am supposed to be neutral in all political matters. But it will give me immense pleasure to see the voters of the United Duchies throw you out on your ear."

"First, you have to wait another three years. By then I will have the people's trust again…"

"Only if your coalition in the Grand Chamber holds intact for the three years Mr. Thume."

"Is there any other security matters that need our attention, Lord Marshall?" The Chancellor asked, changing the subject.

The Naval Marshall shook his head. "No, Chancellor Thume…"

"Then may I ask that this meeting of the Privy Council be adjourned your Grace?" The Chancellor was standing now and fuming at his monarch. Tensions had been rising between the two men for awhile now. But the recent discovery that a cadet branch of the Royal Family had been Regents over a large portion of the nation now known as Tanah Burung had caused things to rise to a boil.

"Yes…this meeting is adjourned."

The Chancellor turned and stormed out of the room. As the Royal Guard closed the door behind him, Alexander III dropped a bit of news. "Oh yes, I sent Baroness Winton to deal with seeing if we can extract some end to the whole Tanah Burung mess." Everyone else in the room paused, they had authorized seeking a diplomatic solution. But sending the Royal Consul to deal with the problem? They had not expected that move from their decision.

Later that Day

The Chancellor sat quietly in his Office in Castle House, his offical residence. It was a large room, about 15 feet by thirty two and had bookcases built into alcoves along two sides of the room. The coresponding walls had only casement windows. The corners of the room were clipped by dark corner cabinets with glass fronts containing various nick nacks. Nothing in the space indicated that this was the Office of anyone important. Well, besides the fact that there were no apparent doors in or out of the room.

The phone on his desk buzzed. Thume looked at it for a moment and sniffed considering before hitting the flashing button.

"What?..." His mood had not mellowed from this morning. Nor had the whiskey sitting on his desk at ten in the morning done anything to brighten his mood.

The sound of his secretary pausing with the tone of his voice and talking to someone in the outer office could be heard.

"Its Yatun sir, the new Press Secretary...he wants to see you sir?"

Thume knew it was bad news. His temper had made it such that the youngest member of staff always delivered bad knews now.

"Let him in..."

Patrick Yatun was one of those new snot nosed kids that the Progressives seemed to have a good deal of. His parents had been Vaux from Teran Sphere. Of course his parents had instilled in him a desire for equality, faternity and what have you. But Patrick was good looking and a good speaker. Which made him a decent press secretary, even if Thume had been forced to hire him as a political favor to one of the Keys patrick was humping.

"Ah sir, the First Minister sent a note..."

Thume groned. Effectively the First Minister was the Chancellor's second in command, right hand man. He managed the buisness over in the Grand Chamber while the Chancellor ran the government.

Presently, Thume was stuck with George Patrick Van Orton. A man of great political skill as a Key that had proven only somewhat effective as First Minister but was constantly attempting to overshadow Thume for his run for Chancellor.

"What does he want..." The Chancellor's bitting tone had not eased up. "No wait, they should be in debate. Over that idiotic marriage bill Van Orton keeps on trying to get passed."

Van Orton had somehow gotten a bee in his bonnet about gay marriage. The various parties had reached a comprimise in which civil marriages of gay couples would be allowed, but not the more formal State marriages. Van Orton had been attempting to make State marriages open for gay couples. The problem was that independents and Alliance members saw no reason for change, and they were the swing vote. The Opposition, made up of the GAP and KUP with a few Alliance members and even the one Nationalist were using the defense that State marriages were about legitimate prodgeny primarily.

Of course Van Orton argued that offspring of a gay marriage should be legitimate as well as from a strait couple. Which was sort of a odd point to argue before most people, Gay couples having legitimate children of their own blood.

Thume did not really care that much, but had decided to support his second in command anyway.

The Chancellor hit a button on his desk, and a screen came down out of a slot above a bookcase. A moment later he was getting live feed of the Grand Chamber.

"Well then...the're not debating the marriage bill?"

"No, it got sent to vote about twenty minutes ago...failed by one vote."

"Pfft...so what..."

"They went to a Question Period..."

"Alright..."

"Mitchell asked about our relationship with Ilek-Vaad."

"Spit it out..."

"Blackwell got back about ten minutes ago...look where she is sitting."

Thume looked at the rows of Chamber Desks. There was Van Hubble his predicesor sitting as head of the Opposition. And there was Blackwell behind him, not at her desk.

"What the hell is going on, when did she suddenly go up so dramaticly in the Oppo?"

The voice of the Assistant Outer Minister was droning on about Ilek-Vaad.
"....Vaadian opinion upon those nations with monarchies is quite well known. Our attempts to create a stronger diplomatic relationship have been rebuffed through our freinds the Vrakians, so I would say that it is the Vrakian relationship and their influence that has caused this matter to be raised in the Republican Council." He stopped bowed and sat down.

Amanda Blackwell stood up. "First Minister, I would like to inform all here of my meeting with the First Republican of Ilek-Vaad. I think it would be informative for everyone..."

The camera panned to Van Orton who looked like he wanted to throw something at those blue eyes. "I am afraid that the personal exploits of a member outside of the preview of her duty..."

Thume groaned last weeks conversation popped back into his head.

Blackwell tilted her head slightly, "As a member of the foreign relations committee it is in my perview to investigate all matters of foreign relations. Since I was going to Haven, it seemed easy enough to detour to visit Ilek-Vaad. Of course I did have your permission..."

Thume's head started to bang against the table.

Van Orton paused, "Should you not relate your experience first to the foreign relations committee or perhaps the Outer Ministry first?"

Blackwell looked about, "There was nothing in it a matter of state. I had no discussion of any diplomatic matter. As such I can not see its relevance, but I have included a memo to the Outer Ministry. But are not my fellow Keys and Rectors to know what the First Republican has to say about this discussion within their nation of becoming a fellow state of the Klatch?"

Thume pored himself another glass of Whiskey and looked at the screen.

There were murmmers throughout the Chamber. Obviously they wanted to hear what she had to say.

Van Orton wilted, "So what do you have to say upon this matter..."

"That the Outer Ministry is completely wrong about why it is dicussing the matter. The First Republican of Ilek-Vaad made it clear that this debate is nothing more than an attempt to enlighten his citizens and the Republican Council about what the Klatchian Federation truely is. It will likely not be any serious consideration of them joining the Federation anytime soon.

All of the speculation we heard today was just that, speculation. Until we formally have our own ambassador in Ilek-Vaad we will continue to have only speculation. Yet the Chancellor has not attempted to rectify this problem."

She turned around. "Ilek-Vaad defended the Klatch in a time of peril. As such we must see them as more than just enemies because they happen to have a strong dislike for Knootoss. The Knootians and their liberal lifestyle may appeal to Van Orton, but that does not mean we should be close minded towards Ilek-Vaad which they have been."

Thume turned off the screen. "She is playing to the Independents damn it. She is wooing them with those blue eyes of hers."

The First Republican sat going through the briefs of events in different governments of interest to the Free Republic, when his Chief of Staff Mr. Al Azarad entered.

"Take a look at this sir................." he handed a transcript to the First Republican.

He sat back and read over the transcript from the speech given by Miss Blackwell, he chuckled.

"So, our poor relations are the Chancellor's fault, how very interesting, I mean political." he chuckled again.

Mr. Al Azarad sat "It looks like she was using you sir, the meeting didn't matter her visit was just to highlight the Chancellors apparent inaction in diplomacy."

The First Republican nodded "Quite. Very well done, had I known before hand we could have been less gracious and more insulting, then she'd really have some rotten eggs to throw at the Chancellor."

Mr. Al Azarad noded "What do you think sir?"

The First Republican smiled "I think I see an oppurtunity. I have a plan so cuning you could brush your teeth with it. Place a call to the Shadows and have them get me the Chancellor's personal home e-mail."

Mr. Al Azarad nodded "Yes sir." he turned and left the office.

The First Republican relaxed and continued going through the briefs.

Lunch time

Van Orton was standing looking out of his office window at the city of Thunderbay and the Inner Sea beyond.

"Well if Thume wants to chew me out fine...but what are we waiting for?"

The press secretary leaned back in his seat. "We are to have lunch with the Chancellor. The fact that he had a noon appointment already scheduled..."

"With whom?"

"Who do you think?"

**********
"Its no good..." The voice called out from under the sheets. "I mean no matter how much or what I do honey your just not rising to the occasion."

Thume looked up at the cealing and swore. "F***"

The light chipper female voice replied as a head emerged from under the covers. "That isn't what your going to be doing this racquet ball session hon. Your just not up and able..."

Thume shook his head, "I can't get it up with you...oh God..."

The young woman, who looked about half Thume's age popped out of bed. Her nude body walking over to a computer on a nearby desk.

Thume looked about the small apartment. He had it for years when he just the Key for Orbita. Three rooms, a bedroom, a living dining room and a kitchen well, four if you counted the tiny bathroom.

Thume's eyes turned to look at the young nude body. "God you remind me so much of your mother at your age."

"Did you play racquet ball with her too?"

"No, tennis a couple of times...but I was engaged by that time." He rose out of bed. And walked over to her.

"I was...hey you have a message on your personel account. I didn't think anyone used this anymore."

"I use it when ordering porn..."

"You have me now and you need porn?"

"Only when Katie was sick with cancer. Now I just enjoy you in real life...."

"Well your ready to play it seems..."

"Proper perspective...let's have a round on the couch shall we?"

"Your not going to answer your email?"

"Tonight dear...tonight...before I take your mother out, I am going to propose tonight, grab attention away from Miss Blackwell..."

*********
Amanda looked about the Club's dining room. "Will you stop hailing me please? I need to get to bed...you know the fuffy thing I sleep on."

The Independent Keys were happy, they really had no care for the Outer Minister. The present celebration was about undermining his support in the Grand Chamber.

"But what about Ilek-Vaad. I mean you told everyone so little..."

"Because I got so little...that meeting was strewn with more landmines than a god damn warzone people. If we send anyone...we better send a Fox."

"A Fox? But why? I mean....why not..."

"Only a Fox can likely keep the Ilek-Vaadians, especially the current First Republican off balance enough not to get into trouble. He is a right bastard he is."

The group started to nod. "We need someone who can damn well know where to put people..."

"I think this is time for the GAP lady to make her exit. Thanks for lunch gents..."

Amanda walked out the door waving a goodbye.

The First Republican penned a quick e-mail to the Chancellor, mainly just to let him know he was paying attention.

To: Chancellor Thume
From: Theleb Kanaan, First Republican Ilek-Vaad
Subject: Amanda Blackwell

Chancellor Thume,
I was somewhat distressed to find that Miss Blackwell used her visit to the Free Republic to apparently highlight a perceived political weakness on the part of your government and leverage it to her advantage. Had I known that her visit was would be used for Miss Blackwell's personal political gain, I would not have met with her.

I do hope that her actions do not cause undo discomfort for you and do not color your administration unfavourably with your electorate. If there is anything that I can do to help , please let me know.

Theleb Kanaan

The First Republican sent, and assumed it would be some time before he received any response. He went on about his other business.

The World Court…an idea that had been killed and resurrected more times it was sometimes referred to as Groundhog Day Court.

"Well perhaps today Phil shall get it right…"
"Your Grace?" The Royal Guard looked back at his charge with concern.
"Nothing, Tim…I am just realizing what I got…well a good number of other people involved in."

"Yes Your Grace?" The Royal Guard looked at his Monarch, Alexander the Third, Grand Duke of the United Duchies with a bemused grin. Your family has stood for justice for all people of the Duchies, Now the world will understand that There were things you just didn't say to a Crawford though.

The limousine turned through the crowd of reporters and entered the back court of the Ducal Palace of Torrhall. The tires of the heavily armored vehicle crunched on the clean gravel as it pulled up to a set of doors on the Palace.

He looked up at the building, tears forming in his eyes. The Palace was the Offical Residence of the Landgravine of Hubris, his eldest daughter and heir. He stopped on the gravel and looked down, fear, rage, sorrow, guilt all flooded him at once. "God, please don't take her from me…from my people…You took my youngest already…not her too…" Alexander leaned against the side of the black vehicle and looked up at the clock tower on the far side of the courtyard. His mind was obviously thinking about Victoria, lying in a coma from some coward's attack.

"And The Devil shall receive those that have done her harm, even if I have to glass all of the Dyellian Desert to get every last one of them…" The Duke stood strait and turned to enter the Palace.

Inside was not the house of a noblewoman in morning. The Landgravine wasn't dead yet. No, it was the buzzing hub of one of the most ambitious projects in statecraft attempted since the collapse of the Vrakian World Court.

It was officially called the Special Court for the Multi-National Process of Restoring Tanah Burnungi Sovereignty. But everyone was calling it The Regent's Court. The reason was an obscure event in history in which a dying Muslim Prince of one of the former nations that made up Tanah Burung had named a junior member of the Crawford Family to be his Regent for his young, female heir. Both the heir and Regent had been murdered soon after, but that bit of history had somehow sparked the Alconian Monarch into attempting to create peace and stability for the people of Tanah Burung. Of course it also didn't hurt that the Knootians were one of the United Duchies oldest and largest trading partners.

Alexander walked into the Great Salon and looked at those assembled, they all bowed to their monarch. "Admiral Phillips, what is the progress of taskforce New Hope?" The Admiral, a younger gentleman with sandy brown hair and a ruddy complexion nodded. "The ships are on their way to Burungi waters as we speak. We have 310 sky kittens aboard the Ethos ready to deploy air coverage over the area. We have five thousand Black Tabs operating as Regent's Marshalls for arrest and detainment and one hundred and twenty militia detectives assigned to investigate the Rumbiak Brigade"

"Good, Justice Guleph, what is the status of the Special Court Justices?"

"Ready Sir, most are already finding housing in Torrhall for the trials."

"Good, Good…well then time to make the announcement."

*****
[quote=KCN News]
United Duchies To Bring Justice to Tanah Burung
His Grace, Alexander III of the United Duchies has announced formally in Torrhall's Temple Square that a Special Court will be orginized and conducted in Torrhall.
"With our help, this evil rot (The Rumbiak Brigade) that has taken hold in the world will be rooted out. Allowing Burungi and Knootian to live in peace once again."

It is beleived that backroom negotiations by the Royal Envoy, Baroness Winton was partly responsible for getting negotations back on track after the Knootians were forced to repudiate the treaty due to the Saxmere Crisis.
Sources within the Government have noted that the Cheif Justice for the Special Court will be Theadore Morgan Guleph, presently a Justice on the Ducal Court of Review for Neubayern. The Justice is also known as the yonger twin brother of Lord Bothwell, the new Regent of Neo Tyr. Most feel that the one eyed Judge is quite well suited to the management of such a trial.

"Really the bugger is one of the finest oratators working today, and a hell of a man to try and fudge around in a trial. His tendency to examine witnesses and exstensive knowledge of crime lab techniques has made tenure on the Courts of Review quite remarkable." was quoted from a leading Advocate.

******
Chancellor Thume threw the computer off his desk and into a corner. "The blighter and his little b*** actually pulled it off." He stood there looking about his office, his eyes wild with anger.

He let out a deep breath, dropped into his chair and put his hands over his eyes. "What else?"

"Blackwell is sticking her damn fingers into Outer Ministry buisness again. She actually introduced a bill that would offer rebated bonds for Burungi buisnesses so they could have more equal footing in the bond market." Van Ortan offered from his chair. He was looking at the computer laying on the floor at his feet.

"A backdoor subsidy? Damn I can see where she is going with this...the Burungi get to keep their internal ownership but the captial markets can reward them for having good buisness plans and leadership over those too mired in centralized beuracracy to use the money effectively." The Chancellor mused.

"So?" The Press Secretary asked.

"She is now building her credentials as being fiscially intelligent in foreign relations." Thume added dryly.

"And appears after my post." The Outer Minister added.

*****
It was a well paved two lane road in the Outer Islands. Here it twisted and turned as the road attempted to make it's way through the narrow, twisting valley to the flat lands below. Amanda Blackwell stood quietly by the side of the road and waited. The man standing next to her held both a stop watch and a radar gun.

The two could hear the roar of the engines before they could see the car. The silver race car appeared from behind a grove of trees and pulled though the tight curve before increasing speed and hurtling past them and vanishing around another hairpin turn.

"Well?" Amanda asked...
"The car is as ready as she'll ever be it looks like..."
"So, we did it?"
"We did it perhaps time to go see if we can get into this Grand Lassic."

KCN NEWS
Press Secretary James Donaville Fired

The screen showed a view of a young blackhaired man who looked something like a deer in the headlights.
"Umm...Thank You....Thank You...I have a breif announcement, Press Secretary James Donaville has decided to resign due to fatigue. We hope that his sabatical will allow him to recover his composure...."

The press smelled fresh meat, a young press office writer put out for the wolves. They didn't even raise their hands just started to shout questions at him like an over eager execution squad.
"Why was Mister Donaville sacked?"
"Mister Donaville resigned due to obvious signs of fatigue..."

"What were those signs of fatigue?"

"I'm sure I can't answer that kind of question, I am not a doctor but the proper individuals noticed Mister Donaville's behavior and consulted the appropriate expert...."

"So what did Mister Donaville do that made him get sacked?"

"He resigned...due to his health..."

"Yea, and Hitler was too, now why did he resign?"

"Obvious signs of fatigue..."

"What signs?"

"He made statements that may have been misinterpeted..."

"What statements?"

"That Ilek-Vaad was attepting to make up a Legue of Clown Wankers..."

"Wait when did he say that?"

"Well he didn't but some assumed that he did..."

"Oh, so..."

"The postion of this government, and of the United Duchies is that as far as we know, being that we are not onimitant, the nation of Ilek-Vaad is not, nor has been, forming a League of Clown Wankers. We appoligize to anyone, and everyone that thought the offical government response was that we did so."

"Oh, so why did the former press secretary mention Clown Wankers."

"He was making a sarcastic illustration of what we do not care about. We do not care about many things in this world. The Leauge of Clown Wankers being one of many."

"Then why mention Ilek-Vaad?"

"Because they are meeting with a gentleman from Tanah Burungi, for some odd reason the LNS reporters in the back were absolutely sure that we would have a problem with this."

"And does the United Duchies have a problem with this?"

"No, why should we?"

"Because...well because it cost the press secretary his job..."

"I think then it matters to Mister Donaville and not to the Government..."

An older gentleman with grey eyes and wispy grey hair stood and asked a question.

"Donovan Sypek, LNS News, Who exactly is in charge of Tanah Burung? The United Duchies is charged with setting up the special court to apprehend and try members of the Rumbiak Brigade, but who exactly is in power?

Are the invading Knootians in power, or has power reverted to the previous lawfully elected civilian authorities?"

In case the doe-eyed young man didn't answer directly he added a caveat even before he received an answer "I mean the United Duchies was closer to anyone in the peace process , who is in charge?"

That was the question on everyone's mind in the Free Republic. Actually everyone who cared, about ten percent.......................

The press secretary looked down at the podium, up at the cealing, and around the room for a moment. "Ah, well as far as I understand, the treaty restored the civilian government of Tanah Burnugi with the understanding of immediate disolving of said government and an elections process to begin. The Royal Family does have an oversight role in the elections process and emergency rebuilding."

He paused, "The problem with Tanah Burung in the past has been that no one has ever been completely in charge. Which seems to be the situation now. However there was a military resistance during the police action, and as long as this resistance orginization does nothing counter productive to the election or trial processes it is completely legal in Brungi Law. If there is any mechanism to create the position this fellow visiting Ilek-Vaad claims to hold, or that he has actually gone through the proper processes, you'll have to ask someone more qualified in Burngi law."

Apethorpe Palace
"Joel Rifkin..." Alexander mused at the breakfast table.
"Who?..." His wife asked
"Mr. Rifkin beleives I am in charge of Tanah Burung, see here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9316037&postcount=28) he states that the elected leaders bow and scrape to me and my aristo-fat-cats. And that I am under the delusion of actually running Tanah Burung..."

"Well it seems they got upset about you saying that this Bi Kikere person doesn't have any power."

"Actually she has a good deal of power, in the form of lots of people with guns, but she does not have the power to appoint a extrodinary ambassador, and really the entire collective presidency showed a severe weakness in dealing with matters. The fact that they are all fairly pissed at each other presently just makes things quite messy."

"Oh, so what are you going to do?"

"Hmm, I think Mr. Rifkin deserves an award for that little phrase."

On board the next crate for Ilek-Vaad from Vrak, a large crate marked
Joel Rifkin
CO: LNS NEWS SERVICE
Ilek-Vaad
Contents: One Alconian Aristo-fat-cat