NationStates Jolt Archive

The Incorporated States of Sarzonia is about to commemorate its 1 billionth citizen [Friday EDT IRL]. We will be holding a celebration in our capital, Woodstock.

Here's the programme for the celebration:

OPENING REMARKS:
Rebecca H. Davis
Executive Secretary to the President

WELCOME:
Nicole J. Lewis
Senior Vice President for Internal Affairs

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Michael A. Sarzo
President

PRESENTATION OF CEREMONIAL PLAQUE:
Joshua T. Williams
Speaker of the House of Delegates

Karen N. Beltran
President Pro Tempore, Senate

CLOSING REMARKS:
Michael A. Sarzo
President

NOTE: If anyone else would like to be part of the programme, please contact Ms. Davis no later than [4 p.m. EDT tomorrow]. [OOC: You may do so by posting to this thread. Please RSVP by no later than [1 p.m. EDT tomorrow].

*bump*

OOC: If there is still time to do so, I'd like to have Prime Minister Louis Cessar be part of the programme, the specifics will be at your discretion.

We'll make sure you'll never reach 1 billion! Prepare the Sarin Gas!

Just kidding.

We cannot attend the party.

To: Louis Cessar
Prime Minister, Hamptonshire
From: Becky Davis
Executive Secretary to the President, Sarzonia
Subject: Role in the programme

We would be glad to have you as part of the programme. You are welcome to give a speech after Senior Vice President for Internal Affairs Nicole Lewis speaks.

We look forward to seeing you there.

To: Becky Davis, Executive Secretary to the President, Sarzonia
From: Crown Prince Louis Cessar, Prime Minister, Hamptonshire
Subject: RE: Role in the Programme

I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your programme. It is my honor to be involved in the celebration of a great milestone for the nation of people of Sarzonia.

The banquet hall at the David Crosby Conference Center glistened in the early evening sky as dignitaries from all over Sarzonia filed in. Concealed in the seemingly calm exterior of the building, the mad dash of organizers trying to set up last-minute decorations and arrange the food provided by Sarzonia's finest restaurants.

Inside, Executive Secretary to the President Becky Davis was incredibly nervous. She had two sheets of paper in front of her and was repeating the same words over and over again. She had her watch set out as a timer and she was consistently over the five minutes she wanted her speech to be limited to.

"Damn it, I don't know why I agreed to do this," she said out loud. Senior Vice President for Internal Affairs Nicole Lewis was walking around the backstage area with her cell phone glued to her ear. President Mike Sarzo was en route from Praeton to give the speech. It was very short notice, but Sarzo agreed to give the speeches and then return straight to Praeton.

Finally, Nicole's phone rang.

"This is Nicole."

"Hi Nicole."

"Thank God Mike! When'd you get here?"

"Literally 10 minutes ago. I just got a connection on the cell."

"Are you ready to give a speech?"

"Just about."

"Miiiike!"

"You know me, Mr. Last Minute," Sarzo said. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Okay, Mike," Lewis said.

"How's Becky?"

"Nervous," Davis said, interrupting her.

"You'll be fine Beck."

"I don't know."

Finally, the time came when Davis had to screw her courage to its sticking point and she finally ascended the stairs and walked toward the podium. She adjusted the microphone to her mouth and looked out at the crowd. Some 350 people including legislators, governors, and the occasional head of state dotted the room, but Davis couldn't see much of it because the lights near the ceiling were nearly blinding her.

"Good evening. On behalf of the Office of the President and the Incorporated States of Sarzonia, welcome to Woodstock."

The crowd applauded politely.

"As you know, Sarzonia celebrated its 1 billionth citizen this morning."

More applause.

"Today is a great day in the history of Sarzonia. Tonight, you will hear from some of the people who are instrumental in our country's growing traditions, along with some of our staunchest friends. Senior Vice President for Internal Affairs Nicole Lewis, Hamptonian Prime Minister Louis Cessar, Speaker of the House of Delegates Josh Williams, Senate President Pro Tempore Karen Beltran, and last but not least, our President, Mike Sarzo."

The crowd applauded enthusiastically, as Davis waited for the reaction to die down. When it did, she spoke again.

"I would like to introduce Senior Vice President Nicole J. Lewis, who will welcome you on behalf of the government. Thank you."

The crowd applauded Davis's speech. Thank God that's over, Davis thought. Remind me never to give another speech as long as I live.

May I please come? (If I'm not too late)

[OOC: Sure!]

Lights sparkled all along one of the many runways at Praeton International Airport. Only a few weeks earlier a hostage situation had occured here and so the airport was unusually empty. Moreover, an entire company of Horseguards was assigned to guard the plane where Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lucius Secondus, was about to take off on a flight to Sarzonia. The plane, a supersonic jet, was surrounded by light tanks and further out, mounted Horseguards patrolled the perimetre.

Lucius was annoyed as he ran through the enclosed and bulletproof boarding ramp up to the plane. He hated all of this security, and he was annoyed that he was going to arrive in Sarzonia late. Most Praetonians seemed to be late most of the time, but that didn't mean they liked it. "How long left before the conference starts?" He asked his personal assistant, running next to him with the seven Horseguards in full ceremonial BDU.

"Seven hours," came the reply, his PA struggling for breath.

"And it takes how long to fly to Sarzonia?"

"Eight hours," said the increasingly out of breath assistant. He wan't used to running any great distance. It wasn't viewed as being dignified for Praetonian officials to do anything other than walk briskly.

"Damn!" he stumbed his toe on an ill-placed strut just as he heard that he was going to be late despite his best efforts. They had reached the plane now, and Lucius and his assistant took their seats on the luxurious sofas inside the plane. Also on board was a a kitchen, several bedrooms and a swimming pool. It was also possible to land a helicopter on the top of the fuselage, also it was best not to do so.

The Horseguards spread out around the plane. One sat next to the pilot, able to take control of the plane if need be. One stood outside each of the three doors leading out of the room Lucius and his assitant were currently in, two patrolled the kitchen and the remaining one stood guard next to the boarding door.

Lucius and his assistant settled into their seats and began to talk on various topics. Internal Praetonian politics, Sarzonia, NATO, the developing situation in the Pacific and many other less important matters. The journey would be fast and comfortable, but sadly not fast enough.

Lewis walked up to the platform, her tough demeanor betraying her nerves. She was not used to giving speeches very often, especially not when television cameras were focused on her. Sarzo usually handled most of the speeches, and one of the few times she issued statements came in the conflict against Socialist Cockroaches.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lewis began. I wish I didn't have to do this, but Becky insisted, Lewis thought. Oh well. She's done plenty for us. But I have to follow her! "It is my distinct honor to welcome you to Woodstock for the celebration of the 1 billionth citizen in the Incorporated States of Sarzonia."

A round of applause followed, and Lewis used that round of applause to compose herself for the next words of her speech.

"In our nation's short but glorious history, we have accomplished a great deal. We owe a lot of our success to our friends around the world. We have Prime Minister Oliver Yardmouth of the Royal Kingdom of Isslemere-Nieland and the Prime Minister of Hamptonshire, Crown Prince Louis Cessar. Also, a delegation from Roach-Busters is on its way."

Another round of applause followed. When it was about to die down, Lewis opened her mouth to speak again. Just then, an aide came up to her and whispered in her ear.

"Madame Senior Vice President, sorry to interrupt," the aide said.

"What is it?"

"Praetonia's Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lucius Secondus is en route to the party."

"When's he supposed to arrive?"

"In about 25 minutes."

"Should I stall for time?"

"I think the President has a presentation."

"Well, we can do a presentation on our recent history, along with asking the other delegates to give speeches if they would like."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Ok."

Lewis turned back to the crowd. "We have another guest en route to the proceedings," she said. Damn it she thought. Oh well, let's run with it.

"Praetonian Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lucius Secondus is on his way. In the meantime, we have a planned speech from Prime Minister Cessar and a presentation on our history. We'd like to begin with the speech from Mr. Cessar."

A round of applause followed as Lewis went to her seat. That wasn't so bad, Lewis thought as Cessar began the walk toward the podium.

President J.L. walked into the party room, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a pair of sunglasses, a straw hat, a pair of shorts, and a pair of sandals. "Who's ready to party!?"

President J.L. walked into the party room, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a pair of sunglasses, a straw hat, a pair of shorts, and a pair of sandals. "Who's ready to party!?"

[OOC: This is the dignified part of the party right now... the more casual affair will be next morning NS time.

Got a speech ready? :p]

[OOC: This is the dignified part of the party right now... the more casual affair will be next morning NS time.

Got a speech ready? :p]

Everyone gazed at J.L. incredulously, as if he were from another planet. His cheeks flushed red, and he grinned bashfully, feeling extremely embarrassed. "Ahem...sorry." He whisked himself out of the room and returned five minutes later, wearing a suit. He clapped his hands. "So!...Who here's ready to do business?"
They continued to stare at him.

((OOC: Too late for me to join eh... blah. Nobody seems interested in my RP :())

((OOC: Too late for me to join eh... blah. Nobody seems interested in my RP :())

I don't mind if you join. It's up to Sarzonia, though.

((OOC: Too late for me to join eh... blah. Nobody seems interested in my RP :())

[You can join in. We can just RP that you're already here with your sexy self. ;)]

[You can join in. We can just RP that you're already here with your sexy self. ;)]

((OOC: It'll be an Ambassador... oh and by the way, join my RP @_@))

Ambassador Rist Ules arrived from the Sarzonian Embassy. He was wearing a suit, a black suit with a nice bowtie. Did he have a speech ready? Absolutely... not. Did he have anything ready? No, nein, niet, zip, zero, nada, nothing! He was unprepared! Oh well... he took a seat somewhere... don't know next to who... he put his elbows on his shoulder and waited for his turn.

Prime Minister Cessar confidently walked toward the podium. He enjoyed making public speeches, unfortunately opportunities for public speaking are few and far between for a Prime Minister.

Taking his place behind at the podium, he removed a small sheet of note paper from a suit pocket and put on his reading glasses. He waited for the applause to cease.

"President Sarzo, Senior Vice President Lewis, honored guests, People of Sarzonia, on behalf of Grand Duke Reginald Leopold I and the People of the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire I congratulate you on reaching this historic milestone.

The relationship between our two great nations started sometime ago as an extended alliance and friendship through Isselmere-Nieland. Through the passage of time we have grown to be closer friends and allies. It is my sincere hope that the trend continues." Cessar paused for applause from the audience.

"I considered coming here and giving a long speech filled with obtuse and vague language...after all I am a politican." the audience erupted in polite and formal laughter.

"But I realized that today belongs to Sarzonia and to all Sarzonians. There is nothing that I could possibly say that your own leaders cannot say better. This is your day, this is your time to shine."

Prime Minister Cessar then puts his note card back into his suit pocket, takes off his reading glasses, and quietly leaves the podium.

Davis then ambled up to the podium and motioned to Roach-Busters President J.L.

"The next speaker will be President J.L. of Roach-Busters," Davis said. She knew that she was trying to stall for time and Prime Minister Cessar's unexpectedly short speech didn't help matters. She knew it was now 20 minutes before Secondus's plane was set to land in Woodstock International Jetport.

She realized that she forgot to call Woodstock Mayor Mark Forrest and ask him to close the roads leading from the Jetport to their building, but she didn't realize that Lewis had already done so. That would prevent traffic from snarling the Praetonian delegation even further.

I hope Mike's got a nice, long speech ready Davis mused. For that matter, I hope J.L. does too, she said as J.L. strode up to the platform, conscious that people were still staring at him from his casual display earlier.

*bump* for Roach-Busters*

*bump*