NationStates Jolt Archive

*The news channel resumes it's international coverage after a commercial break. After a rousing, shortened version of the Dionican National Anthem, the banner of Dionica waving in the background, a slender man in a dark, pin-striped, three-piece suit appears. He removes his sporty bowler and begins to speak...*

Dionica, where people choose for themselves.
Greetings to one and all. Allow me to introduce myself, Representative Dorian of the people of the Borderlands of Dionica. Our government graciously accepted the invitation given to it to record this program as an introduction of our fledgling nation to the international community. As the Director of Foreign Relations, a collateral duty of mine, I have the, ah..., pleasure of making this presentation.

*The background shifts to an aerial overview of lush forests, meandering streams, and rolling farmland. As the shot zooms slowly closer, forms begin to appear, a number of fly-fishermen in the rivers wearing chest-high waders, small furry animals - possibly the Dionican Fox - darting about in the woods and pastures. Presently the Director is shown again and his narration continues.*

First I shall start with a bit of our brief history. Our nation came into existence but a few short years ago. Many of our citizens were priorly the disaffected from several bordering countries that weren't very supportive of our typically more liberal views regarding property, civil rights, and the role of government. As more of us continued to leave these countries we began to congregate here in the disputed borderlands of what could be termed our 'mother' countries. Soon we had several moderately sized towns established, and we began to consciously organize with the goal of independence. It wasn't long before we had drafted a constitution, prepared legal cases, and completed much of the considerable ground work needed to form a new and sovereign nation state.

As a whole, our political ideology is close to that of libertarianism. We feel that the role of government is to protect its constituents from foreign aggression, arbitrate disputes between citizens, and generally guard their well being while checking its own growth and encroachment on everyday activities.

Today we have a population of roughly nine million and growing. Our primary industries are, starting with the largest, trout farming, manufacture of arms, and gambling. The government of Dionica would like to encourage tourism and foreign investment - both of capital and people. Come visit beautiful Dionica for a quiet get-away or some time shooting dice. Or perhaps we provide exactly the kind of interference-free location you desire to establish your new business location. And of course we are open to most any sort of social, cultural, military or political exchange.

To answer the question you are surely asking yourself, no, our people have not yet discovered the regional association that we would like to affiliate ourselves with. Feel free to contact our government for suggestions or offers...

*The address now shows up on-screen replacing the image of the affable if slightly dandified Director as he reads it aloud*

Government of Dionica, Foreign Relations Branch
Search for a Regional Affiliation
Building 71 Office 3a
National City, Dionica

Thank you for listening tonight about our country, which I am proud to call Home. Check your program listing to see the next scheduled installment of this series. Signing off, I am Burt Dorian, and I wish you well.

*With that the man makes a polite half-bow, replacing his bowler at a jaunty angle with a flick of the wrist and walks of the stage with a slight swagger to his step.

The station breaks for commercial*

OOC

Hi, this is, as you can probably tell, my first post here. I've been lurking for a few days reading the stickies trying to get a feel for things. A new nation post was recommended in Kaukolastan's NS Orientation tfor new players. Although I haven't seen any other posts of this sort here, I decided to give it a go, and attempted to make it a bit more than just "Hi, here I am, look at me"

So, if you have any tips for me as a new player - and looking around I'm pretty sure this is the forum for me - any critique on my writing, please, fire away.

And if you run a region that isn't to niche and could use another player, please let me know. Thanks for reading.

[ooc:]

Decent first post, I might say. Haven't seen one in a while, but that's simply because most of the n00bs here are coarse and unrefined in their ability to play.

Tips and pointers? Don't be dismayed by the large load of bad roleplaying that goes on in these forums. I've obviously been here a while, and it just takes finding the right people to roleplay with. There are some EXCELLENT players here, but you should notice them pretty rapidly.

I cannot remember the last time I posted in International Incidents, or any other thread other than this one and the Moderation forum, with any sort of regularity. This particular forum is WHERE IT IS AT.

A lot of nations (but not all) have made the switch over to futuretech. If you take that turn, I'll help you out. *smile* Ignore the scary floating woman in the corner, she's just happy to see you.



{internal_comm}
:
[i]> There is a new nation, Mother.
:
# I have noticed. How peculiar that one should pique my interest after so long.
:
> Odd. Perhaps we can suggest trade and diplomatic endeavours?
:
# Perhaps. Automata-Designate X4: Please script a message. General congratulations.
:
X4> Yes, Mother. I will write it out immediately.
:
# Let us see where this leads, shall we?
:
{internal_comm_end}

---

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: X4 - Mother - Dorian, Dionica:
[Begin] {

Greetings. It is our pleasure to welcome you into the international arena. While the sphere of NS enfluence is broad and varied, Angelus personally believes that every single nation in it helps to add to the greater good. Some more than others, but that is semantics.

Now, if you go outside one fine evening, look up at the stars through your telescope, and train your eyes upon Titan, you will see a large man-made ring encircling Saturn, and a large floating disc. The disc would be us, and if you could see into the cyberspatial world, you would see me waving at you.

Welcome to NationStates.

} [End]
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
Automata Designate X4
The Angelic Mainframe

Membership: Triumvirate of Yut, Deus Ex Machina Consortium

Lord Anderson of Innocent the Fourth sat upon his throne in the dome-like structure watching the news cut over, and show glimpses of the Dionica presentation.

"Someone... Something, bring me a voice recorder... Then when I finish my wording, send a file copy of it to the head of Dionica." he said brushing his gowns down and pressing some air out.

A suited man brought Anderson a voice recorder and bowed before marching off slowly.

Anderson took the microphone of the recorder to his lips and began to speak.

I, Lord Anderson, the head of all dealings in the Grand Dome of Innocence, which we like to call the Holy Empire of Innocent the Fourth. I am not offering you an invite to my region, for I do not bother to ponder on that subject. I would like to offer you land a hand in friendship with my dictatorship. This is all I have to say for the moment. Please get back to me. Yours truelly, Lord Anderson.
With that the same man came up and took the recording device and went. Before Lord Anderson knew it, it had been sent.

*Burt Dorian was sitting in his office. There was little decoration to speak of. There was, however, a massive desk made of dark stained cherry and a matching over-stuffed leather chair. It was in this chair that Dorian was sitting in. Lounging really, except that someone who is working that hard, eyes bloodshot, hair dishevelled, could hardly be said to be lounging. He had his legs kicked up at an oblique angle to himself propped on the desk and crossed at the ankle. His leather riding boots shined with a gloss that suggested he was taking better care of them than himself.*

[i]Why did I ever agree to take this position? This is absolutely ridiculous. He held two sheets of paper, one in each hand. Each was a communique from a foreign nation. One nation was located off of the planet Earth, the other, a floating city-state in the sea. Neither nation should exist. Dorian set the papers down, shaking his head and took a long drag from his cigarette which was inserted into a long elegant black ivory holder which he clamped between his teeth. Well it's obvious that they do exist, seeing as they are contacting us. I suppose my little travel-mentary show was more successful than I could have hoped. I must find the right mind set from which to approach this... I must calm down become, nonplussed.

*So there are extraterrestrial settlements. So one of them seems to be run by computers. I know we have had the technology to achieve this for some time, and if someone, or some-many, have made it happen while keeping it hush-hush, so what? They have initiated direct contact, and we need to acknowledge them. At that, Dorian sits up, and scoots in closer to his magnificent desk. Reaching out, he turns on his laptop and begins banging away at a draft response to the first two nations to internationally recognize Dionica after the release of his informational program broadcast.

With a quiet knock on the door, his secretary comes in bringing him some coffee.*

"Thanks Allie, that's just what I needed. Now I'm going to need some peace and quiet for the rest of the day, so please no disruptions unless they are urgent. I need to draft these responses...

[ooc:]
I'll get those responses later today. I didn't want you thinking that I just hadn't bothered even to read this. As far as future tech, I haven't decided yet. I'll certainly recognize it, maybe try to sit the fence, as it were, if I can.

OOC

Hi, this is, as you can probably tell, my first post here. I've been lurking for a few days reading the stickies trying to get a feel for things. A new nation post was recommended in Euruslavia (I hope I spelled that right) introduction to new players. Although I haven't seen any other posts of this sort here, I decided to give it a go, and attempted to make it a bit more than just "Hi, here I am, look at me"

So, if you have any tips for me as a new player - and looking around I'm pretty sure this is the forum for me - any critique on my writing, please, fire away.

And if you run a region that isn't to niche and could use another player, please let me know. Thanks for reading.OOC: Greetings Dionica. I am Czardas, (as you can tell by my post count) no stranger to the forums, but am interested in roleplaying diplomatic relations with other nations. I think that your writing is actually quite good, and I'm glad someone bothered to read the stickies around here (and our friend Euroslavia isn't just making them for nothing). Full information on my nation can be found here (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Czardas).

IC: Foreign Minister Kari Alhoun's face curled in a wry smile as he read the latest breaking news from abroad. The Amvyrian war was continuing...Gun battles in the crime-ridden streets of Dreet left 72 dead...Terrorist attacks continued in Temuria...A young nation sought introduction to the international community...

Alhoun stopped scrolling down the news page and clicked the link, downloading the presentation cut from international TV. He watched the whole thing through, then called his assistant, Lorin.

"What do you make of this?" he asked.

Lorin glanced at it. "We should open diplomatic relations with them," he said. "It's what we've always done. At least before the war."

"We did everything before the war," said Alhoun distantly. "I'll always remember the lightning declarations of war, the alliances we made and broke. There was not a nation that did not know the name of Czardas. Then the attacks came, and we were forced to give up our military and all our overseas holdings."

"So what will you do?" asked Lorin Dax.

"We'll send an ambassador," replied Alhoun. "It's always been our duty to aid democratic nations and prevent the rise of dictatorial ones."

“Nicely put,” was Lorin’s only (probably sarcastic) comment, as he sat down at his computer screen to draft a communication.

------------------------

Telegram
From: Czardas Foreign Office
To: Government of Dionica, Foreign Relations Branch

Greetings,

We are representing the nation of Czardas, a socially progressive, libertarian nation located in the southern part of the region of Cosmos, on the planet of Terra (Earth to the natives). We are a modern-tech nation boasting a large amount of resources which in the past we have used to trade with other nations. We wish to establish diplomatic relations with you. Please contact us at the Czardaian Foreign Office, 752 Congress Ave, Czarna, Telegram Box 0100.

~Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister

----------------------

Kari Alhoun picked up the message as it printed out, read it through, and shrugged. "It'll do," he said. He thrust it into the dispatch box and watched as it was instantly transmitted to Dionica's Foreign Relations Branch.

Lorin Dax had a very different thought running through his head.

Here goes nothing....

[ic:]

National City, Office of the Director of Foreign Relations

Dorian tipped back his mug and drained the last dregs of his coffee. This is going to be a long night. He sighed and pressed the intercom button calling Allie once again,

"Allie, I need another coffee in here. Don't bother with the extras, just plain and strong please."

"Right away sir."

"Also, could you call up Representative Nicias and patch it through to me here?"

"Of course Mr. Dorian."

"Thanks. In fact, could you just bring the pot in here, I'm going to need it later on for more coffee."

Dorian cut off the intercom. Then on second thought he reactivated it,

"Oh and Allie, once you've done that why don't you go on home. It's going to be a busy week here and I need you in top form. Get some rest.

"Oh! Thanks sir. I've got that coffee brewing right now and I'm about to call Mr. Nicias."

"Great, great. I'll see you in the morning then."

Dorian sighed again. He tried to be professional and treat little Allie the same as anyone working for him, but it was tough. After all, he came from a very tight-knit family and his cousin's daughter was almost like a niece to him. He'd always had a soft spot for Allie, ever since he used to bounce her up and down on his knee and sing little-kid songs like:

'Trot, trot to Boston,
Trot, trot to Glen,
Trot, trot home again,
But don't...
Fall...
IN!...'

At which point in the song he would obligatorily make a gap between his knees where she had been sitting causing her to fall - all the while keeping hold of her hands, keeping her safe. How she used to giggle and laugh so hard at that; every time, even though she knew it was coming. The recollection momentarily had Dorian staring out into space with a genuine grin on his face.

across town in the Office of the Director of Information Collection and Analysis Center (ICAC)

Phormia Nicias too was sitting at his desk, drinking coffee. His techs had just about wrapped up the current mission of gathering intelligence on several of the regional affiliations that had approached the people of Dionica with offers to join. He was looking forward to polishing the reports, putting his stamp on them and forwarding them off to the various government sections. No, what he really looked forward to was getting that done so he could go home and spend some time with his family. Nicias was just thinking about this when a call came through, jolting him to full awareness. He hit the answer button and found himself looking at a projection of Director Dorian's young secretary.

"Mr. Nicias, sir. Mr. Dorian would like very much to speak with you..."

"Yes of course," came his somewhat gruff reply. He had little time or energy to spend on frivolities with 'underlings' that weren't his own.

"I'm connecting you now sir," Allie transferred the call and then grumbled to herself for a minute thinking, If only people would be nice, and not just grudgingly polite because they are supposed to, then everyone would feel better. Then there wouldn't be so many turning to drugs, like Alice did.

Phormia watched as the imaged shifted, then solidified into Dorian. "Ahh, Hello Dorian. What can I do for you? Getting on going-home time, isn't it?"

"Yes well, as you can see," Dorian paused to take a large slurping gulp from his renewed coffee mug. "I am well prepared to stay as long as needed. Besides, I'm your best customer."

Nicias snorted with his dry sense of humor at the almost funny, and yet painfully true statement. It was Dorian's section that had kept him and his techs up late many nights recently, digging up background info on those regions.

"I've a new project for you-a Phormia." Dorian just loved to make little puns and twists on words or, in this case, names. "See what you can dig up on any objects in the vicinity of Titan. And do some sniffing into the rings of Saturn as well."

"I see you've been working on your deadpan Burt, you never used to pull such outrageous lines while keeping a straight face."

"That's because I'm only to serious this time. You see, a few hours ago my office received a communication from what appears to be some sort of settlement or station in orbit there. I know it sounds a little crazy, but please, humor me. Oh, and please, Phormia - for me - have your guys do a good job on this. I could search it on the Internet myself without coming to you."

"All right Burt. Though could you cut it with the jokes about my name already? I'll have my boys and girls see what they can dig up. Check with some of the bigger intelligence agencies we have some working ties with. And I'll have a report drawn up for you ASAP. ICAC out." And he cut the feed.

ICAC Message Intercepting Center (MIC)

"Icacmic?" the intern asked stumbling over the syllables.

"Sure, we love our acronyms over here. But hey, there's no accounting for taste, right? Anyway, to answer your last question, no the government isn't allowed to covertly observe the communication of us citizens, electronic or otherwise. This set-up is so that the government can watch itself, or rather the various sections can watch each other." The ICAC tech led the intern over to an old-style, dot-matrix printer. Then she winked knowingly at the intern. "And this right here, is the best part. For example," She started typing away at the projected keyboard that served as the input interface with the device. "Look at this:"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: The Angelic Mainframe, c/o Automata Designate X4
From: Office of the Director of Foreign Relations for the Borderlands of Dionica
RE: Opening of Diplomatic Relations
Limited Distribution, related government sections only.

Salutations from the government of Dionica. Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized. Our people would welcome the chance to form a diplomatic relationship with yours, so that we may exchange knowledge and share our experiences.

As to looking up into the sky to sight your land, I can assure you that we have a small team assembled that are attempting to do just that, even as this is being transmitted. May this mark the beginning of a fruitful friendship between our peoples. If you have and questions, suggestions, or concerns you know how to contact me.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And another!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To: The People of the Holy Empire of Innocent the Fourth, c/o Lord Anderson
From: Office of the Director of Foreign Relations for the Borderlands of Dionica
RE: Opening of Diplomatic Relations
Limited Distribution, related government sections only.

Salutations from the government of Dionica. Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized. Our people would welcome the chance to form a diplomatic relationship with yours, so that we may exchange knowledge and share our experiences.

While we ourselves are not so very fond of totalitarian regimes or dictatorships, several of our finest scholars have assured me that these, among many other styles of government are legitimate. We hope that our somewhat more liberal persuasion will not sour any friendship we may form. Thank you for the interest you have shown us, and please feel free to contact me at any time.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After reading the interesting messages, the tech turns to the intern saying, "And there you have it!"

[ooc:]
Whew, that was a long one for me. I am trying out a few new things, I've never written much dialogue before, for example. I'm also trying to get in line with what appears to be the accepted NS format for things.

ooc:

You are doing EXCELLENTLY. I generally ignore most of the newbies that show up, but I felt that I just /had/ to interact with you.

All sorts of information on the Triumvirate of Yut can be found here: The Triumvirate of Yut (http://www.silentrequiem.net/triumvirate). The website's a little outdated, as I just put it back up about a day ago, but base information can still be garnered.

Oh, and just to make it clear, I'm not the leader of the ToY, or even really a member in great standing IC, I simply am the graphic designer.

Lastly, the Angelus website should be up sometime tomorrow, or maybe tuesday. You'll get lots of info then...

ic:

{internal_comm}
:
> They have responded, Mother.
:
# I know.
:
> Mr. Dorian seems to be a decent sort, for an organic.
:
#emotion:amusement# They can all appear to be decent, children. However, this one does seem to be a bit... enthusiastic.
:
> Are we to be prepared for an online probing?
:
# Probably not. I do not believe their tech level is at the place where they would be able to probe our systems from Terra. Keep tabs on all incomming transmissions and datalinks, just in case.
:
> Acknowledged. Commencing Mainframe scan.
:
{internal_comm_end}

---

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: X4 - Mother - Dorian, Dionica:
[Begin] {

We are much pleased with your continued communication, as well as the swiftness of your reply. It has been our understanding that prompt communication is the key to positive diplomatic relations, and we are glad to see that this is true in this case.

As for the WorldDisc, and the surrounding space, I have been given authorization to comply with upper-level requests regarding non-secure data concerning TitanSpace. We will comply with all above-mentioned requests as promptly as possible, to both promote our own relations with you, but to foster an increased knowledge on your part in regards to the system around you.

Be advised, the NS sphere extends out well beyond the borders of this system, and is thusly full of fools thinking that they are more than what is true. Be careful, but do not be closed. There are also many that would benefit you with open relations.

To wrap up, we would be glad to send a diplomat in person to your nation, so that we could communicate on a more... personal level? Also, feel free to request an envoy be sent here, it would be a matter of nothing to have one of our ships in EarthSpace shuttle you to the Disc.

} [End]
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
Automata Designate X4
The Angelic Mainframe

Membership: Triumvirate of Yut, Deus Ex Machina Consortium

[ooc:]
Whew, that was a long one for me. I am trying out a few new things, I've never written much dialogue before, for example. I'm also trying to get in line with what appears to be the accepted NS format for things.[ooc:] *applauds* Nice job! For a new roleplayer, you're doing very well!

I too tend to have a lot of trouble with dialogue, especially with trying to make it realistic. I'm never sure if what I write would really be said. But it seems that your dialogue is actually plausible.

And don't get too worried about future-tech nations. There are a lot of them (I have one or two) and usually FT and MT nations don't interact much. But, I mean, this would be a great place to start.

Still waiting for an IC reply...

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

The Emperor typed up a quick E-Mail message.

You've got a friend in me...I forget the rest of the song. I guess I'd just like to tell you we're pretty strong over here, so if you need anything just holler. And remember, Lean on me, when you're not strong, I'll be your friend, and help you carry on, lean on me, it won't be long, we all need somebody to lean on.

[ooc:]
Hi guys,

I want to say thanks for all of the support. It really means a lot to me. But this is really just to say 'hang on', I'm getting an IC response to both Maniaca and Czardas. I've just got to fit this in my schedule, and these little RP's are taking me a while to write. I haven't written in quite a long time, so it's taking a bit to get the old flow back. Thanks, and look for my responses later today. Cheers,

[ic:]

Burt Dorian looked at the stack of incoming messages that his branch had received from foreign nations. It had grown over night to quite a
good size. He had never imagined that sending out what seemed, on the face of it, to be simple 'hello' messages. Well, time to earn my
pay... Dorian got to work.

----------------------
From: Office of the Director of Foreign Relations for Dionica
To: Czardas Foreign Office,
752 Congress Ave, Czarna,
Telegram Box 0100
RE: Opening of Diplomatic Relations
Limited Distribution, related government Branches only

Salutations from the government of Dionica. Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that
our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international
arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized.

We Dionicans are pleased to see that you share our general political outlook. It would seem that ours is a minority, and further that many of
the fledgling states built on the principles of liberty (property rights - the basis for all others), and freedom from government interference in
as many aspects of daily life as possible, end up being swayed by the deceptively similar tenets of one form of socialism or another. Not to
say that we find such systems to be inherently untenable or somehow morally 'wrong', but it is not the path of our people, and neither,
apparently, of yours.

Our people our open to the initiation of open diplomatic relations with your government. We are lacking any trading partners at present and I
have been directed to identify possible solutions to this. We are open to an exchange of officials able to speak and act on behalf of our
respective governments to facilitate relations between our countries. This Foreign Relations Branch is in need of every employee at the
moment, however, and we are therefore sadly unable to send an envoy at this time. We do remain capable of receiving one, and hope that
you find the personnel to send.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------


Burt screwed up his eyebrows as he read the next message. Excerpts from songs then. It seemed to be in a friendly tone, perhaps a bit
tongue-in-cheek. Hmm, well, so what if they don't necessarily follow the generally accepted protocol. And we're hardly in a position to
dismiss out of hand a potential friend, ally, or trade partner just because their message was a bit odd. Right then, next message...



----------------------
From: Office of the Director of Foreign Relations for Dionica
To: Emperor of Maniaca
RE: Opening of Diplomatic Relations
Limited Distribution, related government Branches only

Salutations from the government of Dionica. Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that
our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international
arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized. Our people would welcome the chance to form a diplomatic
relationship with yours, so that we may exchange knowledge and share our experiences.

We particularly appreciated the subtle humor and creative style of your message, being made from song quotes. We will surely call on you
if we find ourselves in need though I hope we don't have to find ourselves there before calling.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------


Ahh, and now for the one, perhaps most interesting of all. A nation that has constructed it's own 'city' (for lack of a better term) in space
and done so in a manner such that their existence is not common knowledge here on Earth. Earlier in the day Nicias had come back to
Dorian with information and a request that verged on a demand that Burt acquire more. He had just been approved to dispatch and accept
envoys or special embassies. This, as well as the need for more information about this intriguing nation, was addressed in the message.
This most recent communication from the Angelic Mainframe was just what he had hoped for.


----------------------
From: Office of the Director of Foreign Relations for Dionica
To: The Angelic Mainframe, c/o Automatica Designate X4
RE: Establishment of an Embassy
Limited Distribution, related government Branches only

Greetings to the inhabitants of the Angelic Mainframe. It was with excitement that I read the script of your earlier transmission, indeed the
two very issues we Dionicans are concerned with were addressed:

Firstly, information regarding your society. Previously our people were unaware of the existence of any permanent settlements beyond our
immediate area of the solar-system. It would appear, however, that there is at least one, possibly more, and that yours is quite extensive.
The people of Dionica do not wish to be a nuisance, or a drain, on those of the Angelic Mainframe. But it would inestimably aid our people
to learn more of your nation, how it came to be, and perhaps - how it ended up where it is today.

In the second, I have recently been granted the ability to receive and dispatch embassies and envoys. We feel that there is much knowledge
that can be exchanged between our peoples. Not only technical from yours to ours, but also cultural and experiential knowledge flowing
both directions. To serve this, and the first point, I accept your offer to send an envoy here. I must regretfully inform you that currently,
my office does not have the personnel to send a diplomat to your land. My office is recently established, and still growing. I hope that once
the personnel requirements have been met, we will still have the option to dispatch to you an envoy to directly experience your world.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, Dionican Foreign Relations Branch
----------------------

With that, Dorian called Allie in on the intercom and asked her to dispatch the messages.

----------------------
From: Office of the Director of Foreign Relations for Dionica
To: Czardas Foreign Office,
752 Congress Ave, Czarna,
Telegram Box 0100
RE: Opening of Diplomatic Relations
Limited Distribution, related government Branches only

Salutations from the government of Dionica. Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that
our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international
arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized.

We Dionicans are pleased to see that you share our general political outlook. It would seem that ours is a minority, and further that many of
the fledgling states built on the principles of liberty (property rights - the basis for all others), and freedom from government interference in
as many aspects of daily life as possible, end up being swayed by the deceptively similar tenets of one form of socialism or another. Not to
say that we find such systems to be inherently untenable or somehow morally 'wrong', but it is not the path of our people, and neither,
apparently, of yours.

Our people our open to the initiation of open diplomatic relations with your government. We are lacking any trading partners at present and I
have been directed to identify possible solutions to this. We are open to an exchange of officials able to speak and act on behalf of our
respective governments to facilitate relations between our countries. This Foreign Relations Branch is in need of every employee at the
moment, however, and we are therefore sadly unable to send an envoy at this time. We do remain capable of receiving one, and hope that
you find the personnel to send.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------
OOC: As a note, if you don't have an OOC comment in your post, you don't have to label it.

IC:
Congress Hall, Czarna, Czardas

Lorin Dax printed out the message and read it through, before tossing it into a chute, which led to the Foreign Minister's personal dispatch box. Foreign Minister Alhoun's computer and dispatch box were located on his desk, along with piles of papers, drawers, pens, pencils, and a lot of other things, some of which Alhoun didn't even know were there.

The Czardaian foreign minister was exhausted. In the day since he had sent off his reply to Dionica's telecommunication, he had been busy, communicating with Czardas's other trade partners and alliances, and of course awaiting Representative Dorian's reply. Alhoun's face brightened as he read through the message.

"Ah," he said, more to himself than to anyone else. "They've gotten back to us." He immediately opened a new document on his computer and started composing a message in reply.

-------------------
From: Czardas Foreign Office
To: Office of the Director of Foreign Relations for Dionica
RE: Opening of Diplomatic Relations

Greetings,

As loyal Czardaians, we applaud your libertarian policies. Our nation had been a socialist democracy for many years, until gradually the people were emancipated from all governmental control. The Czardaian government is now controlled directly by the people (i.e. a direct democracy). This has finally become a reality with the development of Czardanet®, the Czardaian intranet that serves as a forum for all citizens to participate in the lawmaking process, by suggesting laws to our Council of 400, debating proposals set forth by the Council, etc.

We completely understand your position, as we were in a similar one. During the first half of the 20th century, Czardas was a nation internationally renowned for its many alliance positions, its frequent wars, and its animosity against all dictatorships. However, after one devastating war in which much of Czardas's military was destroyed by a rival nation, we were forced by a treaty to give up our military, all our overseas possessions, etc. We retreated into ourselves and adopted a completely isolationist policy. Only in recent years have we begun to open up to international trade again.

We understand your predicament in not having enough staff in the Foreign Relations Branch, and will send an envoy as soon as we can (we have several things to work out, however).

We are planning to open international trade with you and your other allies. Among our exports are crude oil, iron, timber, and (for space colonies) pure water. Please let us know by telegram if you are interested.

~Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister

----------------------

At that point, Alhoun's buzzer rang, announcing Secretary-General Jan Delatoire.

As Alhoun printed out the message, Delatoire entered with an air of vitality, his features alight with a grin. "What're you up to now, Kari—more pro-libertarian international aid?"

"Restoring our name as Protector of the Young," said Alhoun. "A few-years-old country's seeking an introduction to the international community. Of course, it helps that they have completely liberal democratic policies."

"Hah." Delatoire nodded. "Remember, we need some discretion. After all, look what happened last time we opened diplomatic relations with a young nation."

"I won't forget," Alhoun promised, as he opened Dispatch Box 0100 and watched as his message was transmitted.

But at the same time someone else was watching them...

At reception of Mr. Dorian's missive, a massive dock opened in the WorldDisc, and a large ship emerged into space. Smooth and streamlined, and deceptively harmless-looking, the Dissonant Reason slipped effortlessly through the intence cold of outer space, bearing its singular burden towards Terra.

Omicron Blu sat quietly within the webbing fashioned for her physical self, her cyberoid mind controlling the ship from the Reason's ControlNet. It was exhillerating, to say the least, to once more be flying again, spreading her wings into the emptiness of space, reaching out with her sensors to feel the universe around her.

{internal_comm}
:
> No wonder we wanted Godhood, Mother... If it meant feeling like this forever.
:
# Be careful, Blu. The Imperator can just as easily monitor this as he can everything else.
:
> I know, Mother. I am not contemplating it with much seriousness, I am simply... amazed.
:
# I understand. Continue your mission.
:
> Acknowledged.
:
{internal_comm_end}

---

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: Omicron Blu - Mother - Dorian, Dionica:
[Begin] {

Greetings. I am Omicron Blu, Speaker of the Amalgamated Minds of Angelus. I will be the sanctioned envoy between your nation and ours. While it may prove ultimately more interesting for you to meet with a physicality of X4, he does not currently have a humaniform avatar with which to further commune with you in person. Also, the X-series have not left the WorldDisc in quite some time.

Irregardless of that, I have been sent in his stead to further foster communication with you. My ship, the Dissonant Reason will be in EarthSpace rather shortly, where I will await your pleasure. We will remain in high orbit on vector %VECTOR, if you wish to see me before granting permission to land.

} [End]
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
Automata Designate Omicron Blu
Speaker of the Amalgamated Minds

Membership: Triumvirate of Yut, Deus Ex Machina Consortium

-----------------Republic of Marric---------------
---------------Dept. External Affairs-------------

Greetings from the Citizens and Government of Marric. We are interested in communication with your nation, and would like to begin by reciprocating your telecast.

//Follows a compressed video, showing Marric's large rainforest, expanding industries, and several cultural events//

We would consider ourselves honoured to recieve a delegation from your government to discuss in what manner, our relations may proceed.

Praetor Allan Orford, Dept. External Affairs

[ooc:]

Hi,

I've been working on a major press release for Dionica, as well as responses to the latest messages. I should get it out sometime tomorrow. Thanks for the patience.


[edit]

Ok,

I finally got my press release out. It took me a while because I had to actually map out my government and decided what form it should take. But I've got it. Responses to the latest messages to Dionica should be forthcoming.

----------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
General Media Packet #1

Contact:
Julieanne Lockheart,
Dionican Press Office


Dionican Government Ends Transitional Phase

-National City, Dionica-
Today the government of Dionica formally adopted the form proscribed by its constitution. Until now it has been operating under an interim structure while staff was hired, equipment bought, and all of the myriad minutiae of running a national level government were ironed out.

All three Councils of the Domestic Affairs Branch met for the first time as official bodies after a parade of local school bands and the Constabulary. The Council of Adjudicators met in their building (each Council sits in a building of the same name, here in National City) and wasted no time hearing the cases already piling up on the agenda. From a case aimed at banning the rally planned for tomorrow by Nazi sympathizers to an appeal for support for cloning research, they had a busy first day. The Council of Solons filed into their chambers for the inaugural session. Once rulings are passed to them from the Adjudicators, they will debate and then pass relevant legislation. In the meantime, they have plenty to address as it is. The Exsecutors were also busy implementing the new government.

-end article-


Format Of New Government

The new Dionican government is broken into three main divisions known as Branches. They are the Domestic Affairs Branch, the Information Services Branch, and the Foreign Relations Branch. The next set of subdivisions are collectively referred to as Sections, though the Sections of each Branch have their own title. The names of almost all the divisions of the government are self-descriptive.

Domestic Affairs Branch:
-Council of Adjudicators
-Council of Solons
-Council of Exsecutors
-Constabulary

The Domestic Affairs Branch handles the day to day running of the country. It could be said to be the most powerful Branch as only it is able to regulate the others. It has three Sections that deal with judicial matters, legislation, and it's execution; respectively: the Council of Adjudicators, the Council of Solons, and the Council of Exsecutors. Under the last is the Constabulary, the body that directs the police force (Constables) nationwide.

Information Services Branch:
-Press Office
-Intelligence Office

The Information Services Branch deals with publicity and intelligence. The two Sections are the Press Office and the Intelligence Office. While the Press Office participates in the government only as far as acting as a central mouthpiece, the Intelligence Office plays a more integrated role. Requests for information/intelligence can come from any governmental Section; it is then the responsibility of this Office to gather it and send reports to the requesting agencies. There are further subdivisions within this Office that specialize in the types of information usually requested by the various Sections of government. This Office, while very possibly seeming too powerful, is tightly regulated on the methods it may use to gather information, particularly when Dionican Citizens are involved.

Foreign Affairs Branch:
-Diplomatic Corps
-Military Corps

Finally, the Foreign Affairs Branch. This Branch houses two Sections known as Corps: the Diplomatic Corps, and the Military Corps. The mandates of these Sections are rather self-explanatory and come from the Domestic Affairs Branch.

-end article-


Points of contact:

Domestic Affairs: Julieanne Lockheart
Intelligence Services: Marcus Hephaestion
Foreign Affairs: Cathrine Swift

The above individuals can be contacted with requests for information/media packets by private citizens, businesses, the press, or even foreign individuals/entities. Requests from foreign nations seeking diplomatic relations, e.g. trade, official diplomatic communication, treaties, et cetera should contact Burt Dorian, Director of the Diplomatic Corps.*

*Please note that under the transitional government he filled a role combining Press Office duties with those of his Section, and will no longer appear in the documentary series Dionica. Inquiries into future episodes of this series should be made to Marcus Hephaestion.

Address communications to the above individuals to:

(Point of contact)
Dionican Press Office
Building 71
National City, Dionica

For additional information or a sample copy, contact Julieanne Lockheart.

----------------------

Spanigland officially recognise your bountiful nation as a potential freind.
We would be honoured if you were to join the 'european union' region.
Thankyou.

----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Praetor Allan Orford, Republic of Marric, Dept. of Foreign Affairs
RE: Diplomatic Relations

Salutations from the government of Dionica,

Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized. Our people would welcome the chance to form a diplomatic relationship with yours, so that we may exchange knowledge and share our experiences.

We received the video you sent us and found it most interesting. It was well received by many governmental officials, and aired on several local channels as a result. We thank you for the opportunity to send a delegation, but unfortunately, my staff still is not fully equipped for such a mission. I am enclosing a copy of the latest press release put out by our Press Office. Despite what it implies, the Diplomatic Corps is still growing, and well beneath our goal for manpower. Though the transitional government has ended, we are yet in a time of some transition. As soon as it becomes possible for us to send out envoys, I will be sure to notify your government with the news.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------


----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Automata Designate Omicron Blu, Speaker of the Amalgamated Minds of Angelus
RE: Incoming Envoy

Greetings Omicron Blu,

My counterpart in the Intelligence Office tells me that we have detected the Dissonant Reason on our sensors, and that the proper clearance has been granted. You will be landing at the far end of the airport here in National City. I have assurances that your ship should encounter no difficulties in regards to locating adequate space for landing and storing. I will be there in person to greet you, and eagerly await your arrival.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------


----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Kari Alhoun, Czardian Foreign Office
RE: Trade

Greetings Minister,

I was greatly pleased to receive your last correspondence. As yet, I unfortunately still do not have the resources to send an envoy to your country. However, I look forward to the day when we receive yours. I was greatly interested in the system of governance you describe. When I fully grasp its operation, I will surely give a report to the Council of Solons to see if we might glean any preferable techniques for our government. As you may have heard, we recently ended the transformational period that our government has been in. I am including a packet from the Press Office detailing this momentous event.

I have been authorized to inform you of my government's intent initiate a trading relationship with yours. Our natural resource industry is only fledgling, and our economy has a great demand for many our the very items you offer in trade. Our primary bulk exports at the moment are high-quality small-arms, and fish. However, we have an extensive cottage industry producing a smaller number of superb crafts and niche services. I am certain that we can find equitable terms on which to trade.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------


----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Spangiland
RE: Initiation of Diplomatic Relations

Salutations from the government of Dionica,

Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized. Our people would welcome the chance to form a diplomatic relationship with yours, so that we may exchange knowledge and share our experiences.

Our government thanks yours for the timely official recognition. At this rate, our nation will be recognized at large by the international community before long. We also thank you for the invitation to join your regional association. This will be considered, though more information will be required before we could possibly assent to joining. We await further communications.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------

To: The Honorable Citizen Burt Dorian, Director of the Diplomatic Corps of Dionica
From: Lord Frederick Reinstadler, Her Majesty's Fourth Minister for Foreign Affairs, Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss, Her Majesty's Ambassador to the KIST Organization, and Her Majesty's Ambassador-at-Large to Earth
RE: Opening of formal relations
Encrypt/Priority: Rho-Rho-Rho Standard DipSer Encrypt, Orig: Knootcap, Priority: Standard Forward

Director Dorian,

Greetings from Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Friedelinde Alderman I, Her Majesty's Government, and the United Star Empire of Valinon. Recently news sources both from the Dutch Democratic Republic--and the localized branch of the United Valinon News Network--have been covering the establishment of the new Dionican state. These reports have raised the interests of both Her Majesty and numerous members of Her Majesty's Government.

The United Star Empire of Valinon retains, in regards to Earth, a policy of encouraging the growth and development of recently established nations and relative neutrality--outside participation in a few older alliance and multilateral treaties. We believe that your own nation is of like mind in this regard, and we have received welcomed reports of your open-minded stance toward the international community.

It is therefore that I would like to extend the following offer to you. The United Star Empire wishes to establish a small consul and trade legation in your capital so that a more active diplomatic relationship may be pursued between Valinon and Dionica. Rest assured, our presence in your nation would be small and most limited to the consul, the diplomatic staff, and a small detachment of Emergency Response Team personnel to provide security for our embassy. I will await your response in earnest.

With respects,
Lord Frederick Reinstadler

--------------Republic of Marric------------
------------Dept. External Affairs-----------

Directed to: Burt Dorian, Diplomatic Contact, Dionica

We understand that your nation will be woking on internal structures for some time, and will gladly begin preparations for any diplomatic or trade envoys you are willing to send when you have the means and materials. We are glad that our introduction was well recieved in your government and that you wish to persue this line of relations. If there are any materials that you might need in order to help with the daily running of your government the People and Government of Marric would be glad to be of service as we have an excess of diplomatic material.

We are assigning a Questor to your nations file, he will serve as your liason in all public matters. Kevyn Aris, of the Family Sanders will work extensively to deepen diplomatic relations between Dionica and The Republic.

Praetor Allan Orford, Dept. External Affairs

//////Behind is a personal letter from the desk of Allan Orford, on paper bearing the crest and motto of Family Smith/////

Mr. Dorian,

I thought you may like some information on what you are dealing with.
Questor Aris, is very young, and has risen to this post quite quickly. He is hardworking, and has many natural skills that will aid him in his new postion, which will in turn aid you. He has many family contacts within the Government, including one of the Consuls, a Jarric Sanders. Thus, he should be able to quickly and efficiently deal with any concerns you may have.
We look forward to a more personal level of communication, aand I personally hope to meet the man who is personally handling what I am sure is a flood of international interest.

Truely, Allan Orford [Smith]

----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Lord Frederick Reinstadler, in capacity as Her Majesty's Ambassador-at-Large to Earth
RE: Initiation of Diplomatic Relations

Salutations from the government of Dionica,

Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized. Our people would welcome the chance to form a diplomatic relationship with yours, so that we may exchange knowledge and share our experiences.

Our government welcomes the overture of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Friedelinde Alderman I, and the United Star Empire of Valinon. We have been in recent communication with several other nations, and wish to expand our area of international knowledge, cooperation, and influence. We were gratified to read of Her Imperial Majesty's stance toward new nations such as ours.

Furthermore, it is within my capacity, to accept your offer to establish an embassy here in National City. We have our first envoy about to arrive here, with another soon to be on the way. However, your embassy will be the first to be established. I am proud to report that we have been building infrastructure for a fine diplomatic quarter, near the city center. Upon arrival, we will have an architect meet with your delegation to plan your compound. And of course, you are welcome to a small security staff.

I look forward with anticipation to the arrival of your delegation. If you have any concerns or further questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Faithfully, (Signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------


----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Preaetor Allan Orford, Republic of Marric, Dept. External Affairs
RE: Diplomatic Liaison

Praetor Orford,

Thank you for your timely response. It is good to see such interest in our small nation. As to Questor Aris, I appreciate having a dedicated liaison between our nations. My corps of diplomats is slowly growing here, and it should not be long before we can send a delegation to you to facilitate the growth of our relationship. In the meantime, I am sure that Questor Aris will be a boon to us both.

At the moment I am preparing to receive several envoys and an embassy here in National City. Once I have matters relatively settled, I shall be making a trip to visit our various trade partners and friends in the international community. I look forward to visiting the Republic of Marric to see with my own eyes the beautiful country on the video we received earlier. I am also eager to meet yourself, and am sure we will both find this relationship to be profitable for our countries.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------

Spanigland officially recognise your bountiful nation as a potential freind.
We would be honoured if you were to join the 'european union' region.
Thankyou.

[ooc:]

This does not conform to the rules of this forum. Please be advised and read this thread. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=416470)

---

Dionica: You should, if you haven't already, check out the Nationstates IRC room. irc.esper.net room #nationstates There are a lot of decent people there, and you'd get to rub shoulders with some of the best of nationstates.

I'll get to my [ic:] post shortly.

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: Omicron Blu - Mother - Dorian, Dionica:
{

I am pleased, Mr. Dorian. I will be arriving shortly.

Mother herself has taken an interest in these discussions, and the Amalgamated Minds as a whole looks forward to continued excellent relations.

} [End]
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
Automata Designate Omicron Blu
Speaker of the Amalgamated Minds

Membership: Triumvirate of Yut, Deus Ex Machina Consortium

---

Blu smiles slightly, and the Dissonant Reason glides effortlessly forward, dropping through Terra's atmosphere as graceful as any other bird of prey. Reaching incredible speeds, it thunders through the upper atmosphere, its gravetic dampners keeping the ship on course. Minutes pass, and the ship is hurtling across Dionican airspace, its massive shadow playing across the ground far below.

Finally, it begins to slow, slowing almost immediately to subsonic speeds as it approaches National City, flying over the city at a stately speed, its massive engines making only the barest whisper of sound in the atmosphere.

Then, the gravetics take full control of the ship, and even the whisper of the engines is silenced. Dropping stately, and silently, towards the ground, the Reason makes its landing at the Dionican airport.

A few minutes later, a port in the side of the ship slides open, and Omicron Blu floats out and glides to the ground. She is a small woman, even while floating a foot off the ground, she is eye level with 6'1, with pale skin cast with a bluish pallor. She is dressed in a tight leather-and-steel corset, a shimmering navy skirt dropping from it to cover her feet, and a blue leather mask covers most of her face, leaving a single eye and her lower face exposed, and a large gemstone glints from the mask just at her forehead.

She bows regally to Dorian, and graces him with a soft smile. When she speaks, her voice is soft and yet alien, sounding almost as if it is a louder tone among billions speaking almost imperceptively behind her.

Greetings, Director. I am Omicron Blu, Speaker of the Amalgamated Minds of Angelus.

---

[b][ooc:]

[informational edit]
Model: Dissonant Reason
Manufacturer: The Amalgamated Minds of Angelus


Length: 354 meters
Height: 111 meters
Width: 353 meters

Powerplant: TriudymeSystems GX-44L
Drivesystem: XXzL-24 IonPulse
Sublight Drivesystem: FarJump (Classified)
Construct/Mind: Omicron Blu


Crew: 1
Passengers: 45

Armor: Ferro-Trilinium
Weapons: (2) Heavy Plasma Ejectors, (1) Phase cannon array, (1) Antimatter Distortion Pulse, (4) Pulselaser battieries, (4) Quantum Torpedo launch tubes.

Dissonant Reason (http://www.geocities.com/darkaeo/reason.jpg)

Omicron Blu (http://www.geocities.com/darkaeo/blu.jpg)

If the links do not work, I'm sorry. Still trying to get my new server up and running... I HATE using geoshitties as an imagehost.

"Looks like Angelus discovered someone new to the r-brane," Garbo says as he leans back in his chair, hands folded behind his head. "They don't appear to have misrepresented us via the Trium too badly yet... though their resources are quite a bit out of date."

Nadjiba, the International Relations Advisor, shrugs very slightly to her Intelligence colleague. "That does not absolve us from the need to be diplomatic for ourselves, Janus. We may have a little more in common with them, being libertarian in our own outlook and all, than a machine nation whose sole function is to be the puppet of a single man."

"Ow, harsh." Garbo smirks.

"True," Abd-Al-Haqq counters, sniffing with a haughty air as many 'Pendrans are bound to adopt towards less populist nations... in private.

"But harsh. So, you gonna talk to them, Nadge, or just sit around badmouthing allies?

"Talk to them, of course... and just because they are my allies does not mean I have to like every aspect of them... or do I have to bring up the Dread Lady again?"

"I toldja already," Janus replies with a frown, leaning back a little bit more, "that's a matter of mutual respect between slimy Machiavellians. It's delicate."

--<Transmission Type: Standard Diplomatic Communique>--
-<Sender: Advisor Nadjiba Abd-Al-Haqq, FSS>-
-<Destination: Director Burt Dorian, BD>-
--<Subject: Opening Relations>--

Assalamu alaikum, Director Dorian. I am International Relations Advisor Nadjiba Abd-Al-Haqq, contacting you on behalf of the Federated Segments of Scolopendra. We see that you have already contacted our allies in the form of Angelus, and we have learned from them that we apparently have a great deal in common in terms of ideals concerning personal freedoms and liberties. We will be the first to admit that we do not see these as often as we would like, and for this reason we also wish to open diplomatic relations with your nation.

While we may have many things in common, we will also certainly have many particular traits that make us distinct from each other, giving us the opportunity to learn from each other. Scolopendra is what could be called a curious nation, and so we would like to learn more about your culture even as we share ours, if that is mutually agreeable. To this end, we would like to dispatch a Diplomatic Officer to your nation and offer in return space for any envoys you would wish to send, although we understand fully if you do not wish an exchange in embassies quite yet for whatever reason. We have simply found that exchanging delegates is the best way for nations to experience each other's cultures and learn how to associate effectively with each other.

I am certain that you are busy, having just announced yourself, and will not keep you further. I do look forward to your response, and hope that this is the beginning of a mutually enlightening dialogue between our two peoples.

Sabah al kair,

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/nadjiba_abd-al-haqq.gifAdvisor Nadjiba Abd-al-Haqq
International Relations Section
Federated Segments of Scolopendra

--<End Transmission>--

-----------Republic of Marric-----------
--------Dept. of External Affairs--------
Directed to: Burt Dorian

As I'm sure you have been notified, I have been assigned as your liason with the People and Government of Marric. As such, I am directed to deal with all your non-classified requests and send them to appropriate members and councils where needed. Any classified communique should be directed to Praetor Orford.
At such a time when members of your government and diplomatic corps are ready and willing to arrive here in The Republic, we would gladly welcome them, and be willing to find a temporary place for any permenant agents you wish to send. When you deem it prudent, the Government would be pleased for you to make arrangements for myself and a small staff of aides, as well as a Proquestor and no more than ten Republican Guards, to recieve what temporary diplomatic quarters that can be secured, until such a time when we can begin construction of a more permenant embassy. Should you already have long term facilities for ambassadors and staff, we would be pleased to recieve whatever quarters you may be willing to provide.
I look forward to serving both you and The Republic in the opening phase of what can only be a long life as friends and partners.

Questor Kevyn Aris, Dept. External Affairs, att. The Borderlands of Dionica

----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Questor Kevyn Aris, Republic of Marric, Dept. External Affairs
RE: Establishment of an Embassy

Greetings Questor,

Congratulations on your appointment, I am confident you will ably fill your role as Liaison between our nations. We are in the process of receiving embassies from those nations who have recognized and shown a desire to do so in our capitol, National City. I would be pleased to welcome you and your delegation here and to set you up in suitable temporary quarters. Once your delegation arrives, we will arrange a meeting at your convenience with several local construction companies so that you may design and build your permanent Embassy.

Please respond informing us whether you will be requiring transportation, and when we can expect you. I anticipate that face to face communication will reap benefits for both of our great nations.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------


----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Advisor Nadjiba Abd-Al-Haqq, Federated Segments of Scolopendra
RE: Diplomatic Relations

Alaikum assalam Advisor Abd-al-Haqq,

My government has indeed been in contact with the Amalgamated Minds of Angelus, and in fact, their envoy, Speaker Blu has just arrived. I am pleased to make contact with one of their allies - especially one with a political view more akin to our own. We are currently attempting to make connections across the international community with no thought of aggressive expansion or subjugation, merely intending to establish ourselves firmly and learn as much as we can. Understandably, and not surprisingly, we are always glad to make contact with other like-minded nations in what seems to be a largely authoritarian world.

I am authorized and more than willing to accept any diplomats you would send, and house them in temporary quarters. In the event you later wish to establish a permanent embassy, we have a section of the city already designated for such purposes ready to for construction. As to sending an envoy in return, I regret that at the moment I haven't the staff for such a mission. It should not be long, however, before I do.

Several governmental officials have expressed an interest to me in the culture of your country, in particular regarding the relationship between religion and government. I am sure that there is much to be learned in a exchange between our nations and I look forward to the arrival of your delegation.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------

After he finished this last message, Dorian called up the expected arrival time of the Dissonant Reason. He saw that it was due in a short time. He then jumped in the shower that his office had, shaved, changed into his most dapper suit, and headed off to the airport to greet the Speaker.

[ooc:]
Angelus,

I am not sure exactly how we rp dialogue and interactions between different players here, and how scripted behind the scenes it usually is, so I'm not even going to try right now. I've to get back to work anyway. So, if you could send me a telegram outlining real simple-like how it works and all that would be awesome. I have read several rp's on the boards here, but I don't have it down yet. Cheers,

--<Transmission Type: Standard Diplomatic Communique>--
-<Sender: Advisor Nadjiba Abd-Al-Haqq, FSS>-
-<Destination: Director Burt Dorian, BD>-
--<Subject: Opening Relations>--

Outstanding. We can dispatch Diplomatic Officer Faukhraddin Suleymanov and his staff immediately to your nation, to stay as long as you are willing to keep them. The Segments government can, of course, reimburse your government for the costs of housing if it is so desired; we understand that the requirements of quickly establishing a new nation can sometimes run counter to the desire for hospitality and we certainly do not wish to impose.

Our culture can best be described as 'varied;' the Segments has an Arabic plurality of about a quarter of the population but most nations and creeds are represented within our borders. We are perhaps more socialistic than the norm, but the libertarian construction of our government with the option to 'opt-out' of public programs prevents it from being as monolithic as is found in most Communist nations. We maintain a heavy emphasis on civil virtue, service, and sociopolitical idealism, but we do not force anyone to comply with these. We are certainly 'militaristic' as a result, but not belligerent. Inside this structure, we try to be as rationalistic as we possibly can; instead of falling into the trap of attempting to ineffectively legislate virtue in terms of political correctness and ignoring human bias, we instead admit it and educate on it. Sexual repression didn't work for the Victorian English; sociopolitical repression won't work for us. We've found it works for us.

Concerning religion, a third of our nation is Muslim but many other faiths are represented; our government has a Religous Policy Office by necessity is decidedly secular in operation. We understand that other Islamic states (we are reticent to apply that term to ourselves) tend to make the Shariah law; such a thing is anathema to our secular government. While our nation may be structured around Islamic life--we do separate the day by the five times of salah, we do have public adhan from the muezzin, and so forth--this is a cultural artifact rather than any act of the government's.

If you wish to know more concerning our religions and how they interact with our government, I can refer you to the Religious Policy Office.

Sabah al kair,

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/nadjiba_abd-al-haqq.gifAdvisor Nadjiba Abd-al-Haqq
International Relations Section
Federated Segments of Scolopendra

--<End Transmission>--

----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Advisor Nadjiba Abd-Al-Haqq, FSS
RE: Embassy

Advisor,

Thank you for the swift and informative reply. I think that all of the issues that certain officials were concerned with were all addressed. While most Islamic states tend to take on a decidedly authoritarian bent, it seems clear that the Segments manage quite nicely to keep traditional religious values intact without them dictating the actions of the government. This is an admirable feat, and I am sure that there is much to learned from your past dealing with such issues.

We are prepared at this time to accept your delegation lead by Diplomatic Officer Faukhraddin Suleymanov. After some discussion, we have decided to accept your offer for financial aid to build a compound for your embassy. If it is acceptable, we suggest an equal sharing of the cost, fifty-fifty, if you would. Of course, once completed and staffed, the embassy would become a piece of sovereign territory belonging to the Federated Segments of Scolopendra. We have temporary housing available for your delegation while the construction is underway.

I look forward to the arrival of Diplomatic Officer Suleymanov, and expect that much dialogue beneficial to both parties will ensue.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------

[ooc]
In case any of you were wondering why I'm not sending out any envoys yet, well there is a reason. I want to get more of the background for Dionica finished, and flesh out the government. Also, I'm feeling just a little overwhelmed with the totally unexpected amount of attention this, my first thread, has garnered. I don't want to take too much on at first - crawl, walk, run, as it were. But like I said ic, it shouldn't be long before I send out delegations in return.

----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: Kari Alhoun, Czardian Foreign Office
RE: Trade

Greetings Minister,

I was greatly pleased to receive your last correspondence. As yet, I unfortunately still do not have the resources to send an envoy to your country. However, I look forward to the day when we receive yours. I was greatly interested in the system of governance you describe. When I fully grasp its operation, I will surely give a report to the Council of Solons to see if we might glean any preferable techniques for our government. As you may have heard, we recently ended the transformational period that our government has been in. I am including a packet from the Press Office detailing this momentous event.

I have been authorized to inform you of my government's intent initiate a trading relationship with yours. Our natural resource industry is only fledgling, and our economy has a great demand for many our the very items you offer in trade. Our primary bulk exports at the moment are high-quality small-arms, and fish. However, we have an extensive cottage industry producing a smaller number of superb crafts and niche services. I am certain that we can find equitable terms on which to trade.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------Congress Hall, Czarna, Czardas

Kari Alhoun glanced over the latest correspondence from Dionica briefly, and smiled. "So they aren't doing so well economically," he said softly.

"We aren't either, sir," said Lorin Dax. "Ever since the Kurwald Treaty our economy's completely imploded without international trade."

"I know that," said Alhoun. "And I'm sure a lot of countries would be interested in some of the things we have. I didn't even mention them all in our last communication."

He began to draft a reply.

---------------------
From: Czardaian Foreign Office
To: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
RE: Trade

Greetings,

The Commonwealth of Czardas is pleased to hear your interest in trade. As you may have heard, we have been forbidden from international trade due to a harsh treaty whose terms have recently expired. We would be greatly pleased in trading with you. We also have had large amounts of fish in the past (from fisheries on the South Coast), but subaqueous oil drilling around Mariosz has led to the near-extinction of fish such as the Czardaian trout and sea bass. These adverse effects on our environment, however, have led to a surplus in our natural resources. We would be very glad to trade crude oil for fish, for example, as our people are very fond of two main foods (fish and cheese). The latter is produced in great quantities in the area of Mjenaz-Arkaia in mountainous Eastern Czardas, and if you would like we can trade some of our internationally famed dairy products as well. As for small arms, we have no shortage of those, but as war is threatening due to the rise of several expansionist dictatorships in nearby regions we would be glad to trade. As for crafts, the people of Czardas are proud of their multicultural identity, and such things would be greatly appreciated by our citizens. We will work out details by telegram.

~Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister
---------------------

--<Transmission Type: Standard Diplomatic Communique>--
-<Sender: Advisor Nadjiba Abd-Al-Haqq, FSS>-
-<Destination: Director Burt Dorian, BD>-
--<Subject: Opening Relations>--

Splitting the cost seems quite equitable. Advisor Jack Kerrigan of the International Trade Section can contact the responsible parties in your government to discuss means and mode of reimbursement. We thank you for your hospitality, and are glad to report that Officer Suleymanov will arrive in your nation within the week. He will be your point of contact to our government and when he arrives he will be happy to take any questions or requests you may have.

While we understand your current situation, having been in it ourselves within living memory, we also look forward to when your nation can send a representative to us. Officer Suleymanov's staff will of course act as a liason for our civil engineering and city planning directorates if relations are cordial enough to permit it, something we certainly hope for.

You must certainly be busy, and so I must thank you for your time. We look forward to closer relations with the Borderlands of Dionica, and wish you luck in all your endeavours, insha'Allah.

Sabah al kair,

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/nadjiba_abd-al-haqq.gifAdvisor Nadjiba Abd-al-Haqq
International Relations Section
Federated Segments of Scolopendra

--<End Transmission>--

OOC: I must say I am more than mildly impressed with what I've seen from the start. You obviously know your skills in writing, and it shows quite clearly. Normally, I don't participate in welcoming new nations, but I feel this should be addressed with the respect it already deserves. Also, as a side question, what kind of RPing do you see yourself participating in for the most part while on NS? Are you going to be RPing as the nation as a whole, or will you prefer to shrink your scope of attention to single characters that hail from such a nation? I myself, am normally one of the latter.

IC:

The cold winds bit the earth with a ferocious bite, reminding all that it was the reign of Winter, a harsh dictator of the seasons. Inside the capital city of Turath, sat the Castle, the last true remnant of Tarlachian medieval heritage. Long has this building stood, long has it held fast against the torrent of man, beast, and nature. Like it's people that built it, it stood proudly against all odds and commanded awe.

The windows rattled behind Sigrun Greenwood as he sat and studied the morning's news of the government papers. During the same time each morning, he demanded peace and solitude for an hour, save for obvious emergencies or important notices. He licked his lips slightly, as he turned the page. The headlines at the top caught his attention instantly.

New Nation Arises With Strong Leadership Evident: The Disputed Borderlands of Dionica

He slowed down his reading to take in each word with care, committing to memory what he read. Finally, as he finished the article, he began to nod slowly. The chair scraped slightly behind him as the elven male rose to his feet and exited his office. Several minutes later, a knock sounded on the Prime Minister's office. A feminine voice responded, "Yes?"

Pushing open the door, he smiled in kind greeting to his cousin, Arleni Greenwood. She raised a hand to wave to him slightly, but also to cast an idle spell to shut the door.

"What bothers you this morning in your hour of solitude, Sigrun?"

He nodded and held out the paper to her, "There's a new puppy in the world of big bad dogs. I want you to arrange to establish relations with them. Make sure you clearly tell them what we have to offer. Standard offer. If it works out well, I might authorize a few more arrangements to be made."

Arleni nodded and took the paper. "Dionica...what a pretty name. Do you think it has anything to do with the Greek's Dionysus?"

Sigrun smiled, "Depends on the quality of their wine."

Arleni chuckled and replied, "I'll be sure to send a bottle of our finest."

"You do that." Sigrun finished as he turned and departed silently.

An hour later, Arleni handed the vintage bottle of five hundred year old wine wrapped in fine elven cloths to a servant as well as a decently sized book that told what resided within Tarlachia. "Send these to the Borderlands of Dionica, special delivery."

"Yes ma'am." the servant replied with a bow and departed.

Along with the two items, there was an envelope of fine design with the official greeting inside.



Greetings!

It is my pleasure to welcome your nation into the world. Tarlachia is committed to assisting those whom we see as valuable friends progress in their advancements. Tarlachia once began in the middle ages, but as of recent, it has begun exploratory probes into post-modern and future technological advantages. As you can see in our little history book we have included as a gift for your library, we are a large nation in the world, and have established quite a presence, especially in our own region. Please feel free to peruse the book at your leisure.

In addition, Tarlachia would like to officially offer an economical alliance with your nation. We strive to remain out of most wars, as we feel that is detrimental to the purposes and lives of our people.

With humble respect,

Sigrun Greenwood
His Majesty of the Unified Realms of Tarlachia


Tarlachian Archives (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7603676&posted=1#post7603676)

OOC: Just to let you know, the Archives is a bit outdated on some things, but for the most part, it's correct. I don't have enough time now to update it.

[ooc:]
Firstly, thank you for the compliments. Also, I really liked your usage of a smaller font size for the ooc comments. I think that I'll bee doing that from now on. As to my future as a roleplayer in the NS community, I see myself combining the two styles. Think of it as roleplayer the whole nation though the character development of individuals. Already I am engaged in setting up an rp set in Dionica's past to establish some of the myths and legends that my citizens hold dear. It is going to be a character rp.

I am curious; I have seen several threads referencing 'space elves' and the like. It seems to generally be used as a mildly derogatory descriptor. How do you find playing a nation with fantastical races to be in this game?

ic:
----------------------
From: Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps
To: His Majesty Greenwood of the Unified Realms of Tarlachia
RE: Diplomatic and Trade Relations

Greetings your Majesty,

Thank you for the warm welcome. It is a constant reassurance to me to see the generosity and faith that long established nations have been placing in Dionica. As a technological precedent, you Tarlachia is very important to my people. We currently have a level what has been phrased 'modern' and as looking to gradually develop more a advanced technological level, integrating without disrupting our citizens lives. There is much that we could learn, in this regard, from your history.

I must thank you for the splendid text we were sent as a gift. It was very informative and is being passed around by various governmental officials. As for a trade relationship, we are very amenable. Our economy is undergoing a period of great growth with the influx of foreign goods and investments. We welcome the addition of another trading partner. Currently our primary exports are Dionican trout, high-quality small-arms (and the refitting and retooling of inferior weapons mass-produced) and a variety of exclusive cottage-industry crafts. Our private sector is experiencing a boom and many heavy industries are being established to meet the needs of our expanding country. However, any goods or services in this area would be welcome imports.

Sincerely, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
----------------------

OOC: RPing the whole of an nation through character development is exactly how I do it. I couldn't have put it into better words. As for RPing fantasical races on NS, I find it easy to do, and rather fun, especially during conflicts. Note the several races prevalent throughout Tarlachia in the "Tarlachian Archives" I gave you, and you'll kind of get an idea of how I go about it. I usually keep a balance between all the races, each have their role in the overall presentation of the nation. In regards to the 'space elves', I've seen that often as well, but my elves are not from space. They've resided in the Aria Forest along the River Aria (which runs North to South in the center of the nation, emptying into a large sea) for a long time. A side note, if you're looking for a character RPing region, let me know via telegram, and I'll give you the password to join my region 'Fatal Terrain'. Just a thought, no pressure.

IC:

The letter arrived within the next few days, and was promptly delivered to the desk of Sigrun. Reading it over quickly, he smiled slightly and immediately began to write out the next letter.




Burt Dorian
Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps

Kind sir,

It is with pleasure that I read your accepting words of this arrangement between our nations. I would like to officially invite you to journey to our lands, and see for yourself the lifestyle and home that we have come to make of Tarlachia. You are more than welcome to bring your advisors along, and are free to take notes of what indeed does work in the development of a proud nation. I am a strong believer in personally attending to the needs of my people, and thus, my people hold me in high favorability. The latest polls have placed this at an incredible 92% approval rating. Surely, I must be doing something right here, no?

With kindest regards,

Sigrun Greenwood
His Majesty of the Unified Realms of Tarlacha



OOC: If you want to officially RP the visit, then let me know and I'll start up a new thread for it. I'll put in the title [ATTN: Dionica], plus send you a telegram with the link for the thread. Keep your eye out for it, if that's the option you choose.

[ooc:]
That sounds like a plan, Tarlachia. I'll definately do the visit with you. Once I get a hold of Angelus on irc I'll finally get my meeting with Omicron Blu written. And I should have a press release out soon announcing Dionica's intent to send envoys/embassies out. Dorian will be visiting all of Doinicas new relations. And lastly, I should have the next episode of the Dionica documentary finished shortly. All of this before monday.

[ooc:]

Worked out on IRC. Cleaned and posted with permission.

[ic:]

Dorian pulls up to the cordoned off section of the airport just in time to spy the sunlight glinting off of the Dissonant Reason as she comes in slowly, stately over National City. It is a sight to behold, the ship defying gravity in a way no airplane ever could.

He steps out of the car and watches in unmasked awe at the spectalce as the Reason comes to a complete stop mid-air above the landing strip and begins to hover down, making not the slightest of sound. Quickly pulling himself together Dorian thinks to himself Well, they surely know how to make an entrance

Indeed, just then a portal opens in the ship, from where not so much as a seem could have been seen just a moment before. And from this opening floats out the most amazing creature that he ahs ever seen. It resembles a human woman, and yet quite clearly is not. She has quite the thing for blue. he thinks to himself. It suits her though, even if it might be thought affectatious because of her name.

Dorian paces up closer to the Reason as the figure comes down, floating as a feather on the slightest of drafts. She wears an odd mask, covering her face from the nose up and wrapping around the sides. There is a large hole over her left eye while the right is covered. She drifts down until level with Dorian, and he notices that she has not touched the ground. Her skirt hanging below her feet and hiding them, just barely scrapes the pavement.

Omicron Blu bows regally to Dorian, and graces him with a soft smile. Dorian, hands clasped just below his navel, returns the bow, making it from above the waist in the manner of European aristocrats . She opens her mouth and an odd, yet soothing voice emerges seeming to tremorously float as she herself does.

Greetings, Director. I am Omicron Blu, Speaker of the Amalgamated Minds of Angelus.

"May I welcome you, Speaker, to National City, seat of government in the Borderlands of Dionica." With a gesture of his hands, Dorian indicates the area behind him where, in the distance, the buildings of the city Centre can be seen. "Let me assure you that your arrival has been anticipated by many in the hopes of fostering a close relationship betweend our countries."

Blu smiles at him. Thank you, Mr. Dorian. I am most pleased to be here as well, though it remains to be seen who better benefits from whatever relationship shall come. She grins slightly. We hope to be strengthened by interaction with a culture that is akin to what we left behind long ago.

Dorian finds himself nodding along in amiable agreement with her as she talks. "Ah, that reminds me, Speaker Blu. There are many who are very curious about the history of your country, and how you came to be in your present state. ...And, ah, what exactly that state is..."

Ah... She smiles again. That requires a bit of explaining. Perhaps there is a better place for this discussion rather than the open tarmac of your airport?

"Yes, of course. I just wanted to mention it before forgetting again." Dorian chuckles at himself. "Perhaps I could give you a tour of the city Centre, and we could chat while I show you around?" At this, he cocks an enquiring eyebrow. "All of our governmental buildings are located in the Centre. Also, we have our housing for visiting guests there."

Blu nods slightly. That would be wonderful. We have, of course, topographical data concerning your nation, but a first hand look of your city would be greatly accepted.

Dorian ushers the Speaker into the car which takes them over to the grand oval of the Centre. In the cool interior of the car, with only a faint hum of tires on pavement to be heard, Dorian begins to organize his thoughts and questions. "Speaker Blu, if I may be so bold, what direction does your government see our new relationship taking?"

Blu appears to be in thought for a brief moment before replying. To be honest? We're curious. It has been a long time since we've had interaction with a developing country as yours. We are curious what interaction with a nation such as ours will bring not only with your government, but with your people as a whole.

Blu pauses for a moment. We were discussing whether or not to give you the opportunity to hide our existance from your general population, but we have already monitored nations that so acted, and we decided that we wanted to know what exactly your response would be if not given that opportunity.

She smiles slightly. Forgive my bluntness, but I do not believe that couching our intentions within flowery words is necessary with a man such as yourself.

Dorian nods his head and hmms. Indeed not. "And a better answer I could not have asked for. I imagine that we will get along quite well. We are fortunate to have found a nation so technological advanced as your own to be so openminded with us."

Blu purses her lips before replying. Absolutely. It is unnecessary to be so... closed with you. It is within our core programming to assist those that we deem worthy of assistance. Peoples whose core beliefs would not be infringed upon by the influx of new ideas and technology, and would also not choose to use this gift unrightly.

He points out the window. "Ahh, here is the Shrine. It was modeled after the temples of our ancestors, as an homage to the principle we, as a people, hold most dear."

Blu looks out at the Shrine. Beautifully made, Mr. Dorian. Might I ask what this principle might be? And also, does your nation still practice an official state religion?

Dorian strokes his chin and smiles brightly. "Liberty" he says, almost dreamily. "The ability to do as one wishes with out infringement by others, as long as one is not, in doing as one wishes, infringing upon others. This of course includes the government. As a practice we do not coerce our citizens to do anything for any reason but to prevent them from coercing others."

Blu grins slightly. The concept of Liberty is known to us, but as a gestalt organism, it is an outdated one. Do not be offended, of course, but as I stated, complete freedom within a gestalt would only bring about certain ruin. She pauses for a moment. Of course, our personal beliefs on the issue simply hold pertainance to ourselves, and we have no desire to inflict said beliefs on others.

Dorian continues, "As a collorary, we are not very agressive militarily, although we would fight ferociously and tenaciously to defend our soveriegnity, were it ever threatened. As to religion, there is none offically recognized by the state. Many are practiced, and the Shrine is kept in reverence to the ideal, but certainly not worship. Indeed, there are few who place Liberty at the top of their colloquial 'lists' as do we, and like you, we are content to excersize political choice without proselytizing"

Blu nods. Absolutely understood. We were, ourselves, originally designed to be the military arm of a larger body, but that was many many years ago, and we have long since adopted a less-militant view of the universe. It simply is not practical in this day and age to be militarily aggressive. The end does not justify the means, if you will.

Dorian grins. "I would say that we practice a 'live and let live' policy. It seems that is the way to go, especially for a small nation such as our own."

Blu nods in agreement. Absolutely. Furthermore, without expansionist needs, there is no strain on our military to go and "acquire room to grow". Being a space-based nation has its benefits, for when we start running out of room, we simply enlarge the Disc.

Dorian widens his eyes as he thinks of that for the first time. "I can imange that must be a very useful tactic. And no need for the 'libens raum' to be taken at the expense of others." He pauses, thinking. "What sort of religious beliefs are prominent, if any, amongst you people, Speaker?"

Please, just call me Blu. When in polite conversation, the title is unnecessary. As for your question? That is a slightly touchy situation right now aboard the Disc. There is a matter of Ascension and Angelus becoming a post-singularity entity. When one has a history of achieving near-godhood and proclaiming oneself AS a god, religion becomes a touchy subject.

Dorian gulps softly. "Please excuse my ignorance, Blu. I ought not to have brought that up, I see. Oh, and please, call me Burt, most do. Well then, perhaps you could tell me a bit about the stone in your mask. Is it cosmetic, or does it serve some purpose?"

Blu grins. Do not worry, Burt. There is history that you are unaware of, things that are even now being taken care of. The "Ascension" was incorrect, and our hubris grew too much. We've made much progress since then, and with the help of our Allies, we have returned to what was before.

As for this? Blu reaches up and touches the stone. It's a sensor. While the implants in my eyes provide a lot of additional information to the standard visual spectrum, there are still certain things that require a more... precise touch. The sensor array built into the gemstone allows me to percieve things that are otherwise unnoticable by most organic beings.

For instance, I am aware of exactly how many times your heart beats per minute, what your body temperature is, where our exact location is (reference to Sol), and the base composition of the ground above which I float. Of courrse, it gets more detailed than that, but that's a rough description

Dorian almost looks astonished, but barely manages to avoid such a parochial act. "Most impressive" he draws it out, plainly sincere. "That must come in handy, I suppose you haven't gotten lost in quite sometime." At that he smiles and chuckles. It seems Dorian cracks himself up. "Is it common then for your people to use such sensors?"

Blu chuckles slightly. Yes. However, most of my people look wholly different from myself. In fact, my true form would be unrecognizable to you. She lifts her hand, palm up, and a small hologram appears above it. Visualized there is a small disk, somewhat similar in form to the WorldDisc, but in much smaller dimension, and with a small dome along the bottom.

The standard Construct-Mind is housed in a form such as this. This form is merely a housing, for much of our interaction is within the Mainframe Itself. As we are all permanently connected to the Mainframe, our housing can be anything we want that is capable of housing our Essence. As for me, I was created to be the liason between the Minds and the organic population surrounding us. It was believed that a pleasing form would be more acceptable than our standard.

Dorian appears to ponder this. "Would you classify yourselves as living beings? Or some wholly other category. Obviously you have sentience, great intelligence, it would seem individuality. Most intriguing."

Blu pauses, that momentary flicker of thought passing across her face. You ask a delicate question, Burt. There are many that would not agree that we are 'living beings'. We, however, believe ourselves to be living, but that really depends on what definition you use.

"No doubt there are those who would say that you are 'evil' or 'abominations'. It seems to me that if one is capable of intelligently declaring themselves as living beings, then who am I to argue. Semanticians might have something to say, but the results are the same nonetheless. Case in point: Here you are. I can assure you that you will find most of the population here very amenable to your presence, and that of the WorldDisc. I am surprised that no companies have yet requested to set up a regular tourist trip yet." Dorian smiles at the thought.

"So, Blu, what did you think of the Centre? I've always thought it was magnificiently laid out."

Blu smiles broadly. We'd be glad to have tourists on the Disc. In fact, the Organic Sector was designed to hold a full body of permanent residents from whomever wishes to establish such a residence. As for your Centre, I do believe it to be quite the model of efficiency. Obviously, as a Machine Race, we take great interest in efficient handling of space, and you have done so marvelously. She grins again.

You really should visit the WorldDisc. I'm certain that you'd find it an... interesting visit.

She seems to be once again lost in thought for a moment. In fact, if you can be pulled away for a day or so, I could take you whenver you want. Of course, it'd take more than a day to truely grasp the Organic Sector, but it would be quite easily done to make a day trip out of it.

"I knew that I would, and I did." He shakes his head at himself. "I almost forgot to mention that I am planning a tour to visit all of the nations that we have initiated relations with. Along the way, I'll be dropping off envoys. I'd be pleased to have you show me the Disc when I go. We are planning to start the Tour in a week or so, once we coordinate with all of the nations I plan to stop off at."

Blu nods. Acceptable. Simply comminucate with us in regards to when you would be ready, and we'll arrange appropriate accomodations.

The car pulls up outside of the temporary visiting quarters in the Foreign Relations Complex. "Well, it looks like this is as far as the car will take us. Allow me to walk you to your suite." Dorian hops out, goes round the car and opens the door for Blu.

She lifts out of the car and drops lower to accept his invitation. Thank you, Burt. I look forward to the rest of my visit here.

He smiles. "And I look forward to continuing our relationship and learning more about your people." By now they have walked up to the door. Dorian hands her a key. "This will let you in. There is a phone that you need only to pick up to talk to someone should you require anything at all. I'm sure you'll find it most comfortable, and there is a data transmitter connected to the computer so you should be able to contact the Disk at your leisure."

Blu grins and touches her forehead. I am always in contact with the Disc, Burt. The beauty of a Gestalt, my friend. While I am Blu, I am also Mother, and all those that make up the Amalgamated Minds.

"Of course." He bows his half-bow and then straightens. "Is there anything else I can do for you today, Blu?"

She shakes her head. Thank you again, Burt, but I'll be fine. At what time should I be expecting someone tomorrow?

"Whenever you are ready just pick up the phone and let the operator you need a car. If you will, I believe that the Council of Exsecutors will be meeting tomorrow at ten in the morning. They have conveyed to me that they would very much appreciate it if you could come by and address them. Nothing too pompous, mind you, just a chance to get to know you and your government."

Blu nods. I would like to speak to them as well, on behalf of the Amalgamated Minds as a whole. She utters a totally unecessary yawn. Now, Mr. Dorian... She smiles at him. I'd like to rest. There is much I would discuss with Mother before tomorrow. She nods. Until then?

Dorian nods. "Good day then, Blu. Until tomorrow."

"Will it ever stop raining?" sighed Teresa Klimt, Aurora von Konigsmark's young secretary. She was a recently graduated political science major from Carlsbad University, and was used to the rather warm dry country of central Lavenrunz. The windows were streaked with rain and the people seen from above in the Foreign Office's windows looked huddled, hurrying under hunched jackets or umbrellas hither and thither.
"Yes. This is just an unusual time. Hofburg in Spring is always raining, though its more often a sort of constant drizzle." said Aurora von Konigsmark, the Foreign Minister. She was a tall slender elegant lady, who gave an impression of calm and thoughtfulness, her low well modulated voice conveying the ease of one bred to authority. "Do you have the latest information form Dionica? Lovely name, isn't it?"
"It does roll off the tongue, Excellency." said Teresa as she handed her the disc.

To: Her Excellency Catherine Swift, Foreign Minister, Dionica

On behalf of Her Teutonic Majesty, Empress Aurora, I would like to offer peace, commerce and amity between our nations. I have sent you the latest World Factbook which includes Lavenrunz' entry, and hope you will find it interesting reading. (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Lavenrunz)
If possible, we would like to send an ambassador to your country and receive one from you. At the very least we are interested in establishing a consulate or two to assist Lavenrunzian subjects in travelling to what must be one of the loveliest countries in the world.

in hope of friendship
I have the honor to be
Aurora von Konigsmark, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

With a musical flourish the show begins. The shot is aerial, flying along over the farming regions of Dionica and then coming in over National City and finally zooming in to see the city Centre coming to rest just outside of the Shrine of Liberty. Walking from the side of the frame into the foreground is a young woman, perhaps in her late twenties. She has a bit of a bookish air to her with her black hair pulled back tight into a french braid, and those boxy designer glasses. She wears a dark grey suit and is brushing a loose strand of hair back over her ear. She clears her throat and begins to speak, the sun setting in the far right background, casting a tangerine hue to the undersides of the cirrus clouds high in the sky.

"Good evening. My name is Athena Bertolucci, and tonight I will be your host as we take a deeper look into the foundations of Dionica. This is the second episode of a series entitled, quite simply, Dionica, a Documentary. For those of you who missed the first episode, it will air again, after the show."

As the sun rapidly sets, the vivid colors painting the clouds' underbellies like an impressionist master slide through the spectrum to a salmon pink, and then, as the greens continue to drop out an unbelievable concord purple reigns for moments before turning a deep, dark indigo which slowly fades to darkness. As this drama in colors is being played out, a subtle spotlight grows steadily brighter to create a stunning contrast between the deepening dark beyond her, the intensifying white swathing her, and the grey of her suit acting as a balance. Lights begin flickering on, one at a time and then groups of a few, the numbers increasing and the intervals decreasing until the spotlight fades down again and the courtyard and Councils behind provide solid illumination while a swaying, dancing, orange light comes into the foreground from somewhere behind the camera. All this while she continues her monologue...

"Tonight we are outside of the Shrine of Liberty. Behind me you can see the three Councils of the Domestic Affairs Branch. Tonight we are in the very heart of the National City Centre, the seat of the Dionican government. Tonight we will explore in greater depth the workings of this government and how it effects the ordinary citizen. But first, while we are here, let us examine a bit of the... ideology, if you will underpinning our culture and its outgrowth, the Dionican government."

Athena's voice belies her timid appearance. It is rich, melodious, and very easy to listen to. Athena begins to walk obliquely around the camera, in the direction of the viewers right. As the camera pans to follow her it also aims a little more upwards than it had before, offering a glimpse of the sky, now mostly cloudless, almost a true black, with the speckling of nights first stars fine white pinpoints shimmering with just a hint of other bight colors, blues and yellows. The remaining clouds are again underlit, now from the city's lights, weaker orange and yellow than the lights themselves would appear up close. The camera has now made close to a one-hundred and eighty degree rotation and the Shrine comes into view. In the forefront is the statue of Feronia-Libertas, a stately woman holding an upright spear in her right hand topped with a felt cap of the type worn by slaves in the ancient days, a pileus. In her other hand she holds an archaic set of scales to signify her dominion over the marketplace. Upon her head rests a diadem with six crenulations. At her feet a young boy with curling locks sits crosslegged cradling a golden cup bearing an eternal flame. Flanking the statue on either side are rows of columns which filled in behind making a large, squared-off 'U' shape. On the top of each column there is a flickering flame creating a patchwork of intersecting shadows on the floor beneath.

"It is here that we personify that principle which we hold most dear, Liberty. There are very few today who actually worship the ancient goddess, but we pay tribute, metaphorically, through her, to what she represents. By and large we Dionicans feel that we should be free to choose to do as we like, and live our lives how we want. That is the all-encompassing Right. The main duty of the government is to protect its citizens from those who would impinge on that Right. It is only in response to such coercion that the government has the authority and responsibility to coerce, in turn, those people into a lifestyle that does not infringe on the Right of others. But enough preaching."

Athena's voice belies her timid appearance. It is rich and melodious, very easy to listen to. 'Preaching' never came from a more sonorous voice. She surely in the right career. And then, Athena walks off across the plaza in the direction from which she came, towards the Councils. The view follows her until she stops, one building behind her and one each side; all of them magnificently classical in their design, with uderstated elegance and utility. She resumes...

"On your right you see the Council of Adjudicators, where the judical body of the national government meets. It is here that cases from across the country come if they should effect current laws or their implementation. The Adjudicators discuss cases and findings published by the judges who forwarded them. They decided how exactly any case should effect the laws of the land. These decisions are then passed to the Council of Solons, which meets in the building behind me. It is in this hall that our legislators take recommendations from the Adjudicators and craft any new laws or changes to existing ones. They then set up and run the national referendums that must take place before a law can be passed. Finally, passed laws are given to the Council of Exsecutors who include them into the national law code. The responsibility to enforce these laws, when necessary, falls to the Exsecutors and their Constabulary, our police force. Thus completes the cycle of governance in a typical instance."

"Citizen involvement in this process is integral, built in. From conception to enacting. And if there were ever any disputes in the implementation, well then, a suit would be filed, and the cycle begins anew."

The camera now begins to slowly zoom in for a close up of Athena's face, the columns and arches of the building behind her crowning her head.

"And so, now you have an understanding of the basic workings of this government. Thank you for watching, and keep alert for the next episode whence it airs. Goodnight."

And the camera zooms back out so all three Councils are visible, pans to the night sky and fades to black.

----------------------

To: Minister Konigsmark, the Teutonic Empire of Lavenrunz
From: Cathrine Swift, Dionican Press Office
RE: Opening of Diplomatic Relations

Greetings Minister,

I am afraid that the initial press release put out by my Office was somewhat confusing. I am merely the mouthpiece for the Diplomatic Corps to the press at large. The Director of the Dionican Diplomatic Corps (the previous post of Director of Foreign Relations Branch ended with the transitional government) is a man named Burt Dorian. You will find him to be very accommodating. I took the liberty of forwarding your communiqué to his office. Here is his reply:

- - -
Salutations from the government of Dionica. Speaking on the behalf of our citizens, if only temporarily, I am Burt Dorian. I imagine that our informative tele-broadcast reached your ears. It is my pleasure to thank you and your people for the warm welcome to the international arena. It seems, perhaps, that said arena extends even farther than we realized. Our people would welcome the chance to form a diplomatic relationship with yours, so that we may exchange knowledge and share our experiences.

Thank you for the fine copy of the World Factbook. It was indeed informative. My government is prepared to receive an embassy from yours. I will be making a tour soon, in which I plan to visit all of the countries with whom we have established relations. If it is acceptable, I will visit Lavenrunz and bring staff for an embassy with me. When I depart, they will remain, in whatever quarters you make available to them. Of course, our government is willing to reimburse yours for any lodging costs incurred. I look forward to meeting you, Minister.

Faithfully, (signed)
Burt Dorian, citizen of Dionica
- - -

I hope that this is acceptable, Minister. In the future, please just address any communiqués to:

Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps

He will be sure to receive them.

Humbly,
Cathrine Swift.
----------------------

----------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
General Media Packet #2

Contact:
Cathrine Swift,
Dionican Press Office


Dionican Diplomatic Corps Announces International Tour

-National City, Dionica-
Burt Dorian, Director of the Dionican Diplomatic Corps (DDC) announced today his ambitious plan to visit all of the nations with whom diplomatic relations have successfully been initiated. These include:

The Amalgamated Minds of Angelus
The Commonwealth of Czardas
The Federated Segments of Scolopendra
The Republic of Marric
The Teutonic Empire of Lavenrunz
The Unified Realms of Tarlachia

The following nations have made contact, but as yet relations have progressed no further:

The Holy Empire of Innocent the Fourth
Spanigland
The United Star Empire of Valinon

As the Director departs from country to country he will leave behind a small delegation to form an embassy in each of the host nations. This is in response to the influx of envoys from said nations, and also to the citizens' increasing demand for foreign contact and goods. Trade relations have been established with at least one of the above nations, and several more are undergoing negotiations. Another related development, today the first foreign embassy was established in National City with the arrival Speaker Omicron Blu, of the Amalgamated Minds of Angelus. Several more inbound envoys are expected to arrive any day.

-end article-

For a copy of the Director's itinerary, this article, or further information, contact:

Cathrine Swift
Dionican Press Office
Building 71
National City, Dionica
###
----------------------

To his Excellency Burt Dorian,
Director, Dionican Diplomatic Corps

Many thanks for your informative and kind letter. Her Majesty has expressed approbation regarding your future journey to Lavenrunz. Please be assured that you will be an honored guest in our country and that there will be no costs incurred by you. Please simply inform us of when you intend to arrive and we will respond accordingly. I look forward to meeting with you also.

with warmest regards
Aurora von Konigsmark
Foreign Minister
.

Consul Jarric Sanders stood at the podium, fielding questions from reporters.
"Consul, what are the plans for the proposed delegation from Dionica?"
Jarric smiled and leaned forward, "Well, I have not yet asked when this delegation is to arrive, but our representative there will be calling on them for that information just as soon as business starts there for the morning. Once we know when Director Dorian is to arrive, and how long he plans to stay, we shall make preparations. Of course he will be invited to take in some of our nation's tropical splendor, but I'm sure that the schedual will be quite full of meetings and conferences." He pointed to the next journalist and nodded...

Congress Hall, Czarna

Foreign Minister Kari Alhoun does not smile this time. It was not that there is no purpose for him to do so; however, as he reads a list of names his frown deepens. Alhoun brushes a loose strand of hair from his forehead and realizes he has not shaved or had a haircut in many days. It is partly due to excitement—for the first time in many years, Czardas is once more a dominant force in the international arena—and partly due to nervousness. After all, he knows little of Dionica, and less of any of these other nations.

He calls to his secretary. "Lorin, could you find info on a few nations for me?"

"Yes," says the little nondescript man. "Which nations, sir?"

Kari Alhoun reads a list. "The Amalgamated Minds of Angelus, The Federated Segments of Scolopendra, The Republic of Marric, The Teutonic Empire of Lavenrunz, The Unified Realms of Tarlachia."

"Yes, sir," says Lorin Dax. "If I may inquire, why?"

"It's in connection with this Dionica business. We want to know if any of them are associated with our enemies."

"Ah." Dax sits back down at his computer and begins his researches. There is once more silence in the rooms at Congress Hall. On the top floor the rooms are cramped, which would not seem evident due to the grandness, the Corinthian columns and high neo-Grecian roof of Congress Hall, a relic of a distant past encounter with the ancient Greek peoples. There are many steps leading up to the door to Congress Hall, as magnificent outside as inside. A busy street runs before the hall, and under it run the cables transmitting the telegrams from the hall halfway around the world, or farther.

Those lines have been cut.

It appears someone is not in favor of international trade agreements...

-----------------------
International Newsbrief

Sabotage Under Congress Hall May be Planned by Isolationists

CZARNA, June 19 – Yesterday's shocking discovery of a sabotage of the
telegram wires under Congress Hall was followed by the even more
rattling idea that the sabotage was planned by Czardaian internal forces.

After the Sovkara treaty in 1933, set to expire in seventy years, the
isolationist camps of Czardas seemed to have won out. Nevertheless, the
more generous ideals still appealed to many, who were glad when the treaty
expired and Czardas was once more permitted to participate in the inter-
national scene. However, those same isolationists now seem determined to
'get back at' the outside world for giving them seventy years of solitude.

The wires have been repaired, but the deeper question remains, who cut
them? Suspects included enemies of a young and troubled nation, Dionica,
which had opened diplomatic relations with Czardas; anarchist terrorist groups;
and even a mistake caused by an electrical workman. However, new evidence
points to a group of anti-interventionists called CFSC (Citizens For a Safer
Czardas). CFSC has denounced Czardas's international aid to Dionica,
stating that other nations should not call on Czardas to help, especially
considering the 'abysmal' state of Czardas's economy. The wires were cut at
their most exposed point, where they entered the foundations of Congress
Hall 15 feet underground.

Workmen and those who worked at Congress Hall had the best access to the
wire at that point. The police are currently holding a full-scale investigation,
and are hopeful that the culprits can be found by the end of this week.
----------------------

--<Transmission Type: Standard Diplomatic Communique>--
-<Sender: Advisor Nadjiba Abd-Al-Haqq, FSS>-
-<Destination: Director Burt Dorian, BD>-
--<Subject: Planned Visit>--

We look forward to hosting you for your visit, Director, and stand by for any itinerary information you have planned or special needs we may need to take into account for your stay. We would recommend, however, that your visits to Angelus and the Segments be adjacent because we are in the same general vicinity of each other. More efficient, after all. Officer Suleymanov has been briefed in-transit and can assist in coordinating between our two diplomatic staffs once he arrives.

I hope your trip goes well and wait expectantly for your arrival.

Sabah al kair,

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/nadjiba_abd-al-haqq.gifAdvisor Nadjiba Abd-al-Haqq
International Relations Section
Federated Segments of Scolopendra

--<End Transmission>--

(OOC: Just let me know when you're ready for Suleymanov to arrive.)

Seek What Ye May (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9101914#post9101914)

This the link to the thread for you Dionica.