NationStates Jolt Archive

Royal Airport at Emperor’s Field
Imperium, Commonwealth Republic of New Britain

The skies over the Commonwealth were crystal clear, providing the optimum flying weather – which was welcomed with the first visit of a foreign official from Romandeos. The air lane for diplomatic flights approached the island of New Britain from the south, allowing the Homeguard coastal defence forces to provide security as well as the Royal Airforce escort fighters, which would guide the Romandeos aircraft into Royal Airport at Emperor’s Field, a private airport used by the Emperor of the Commonwealth for his own use and for the welcoming of foreign officials.

Normally it was a rather dullish place, concrete runways on a rather rare sight of green fields, however, today it was lined with flags of both the Commonwealth of Azazia and the Kingdom of Romandeos. The designated landing runway was clear and two infantry fighting vehicles patrolled the adjacent fields. At the end of the runway waited a motorcade of limousines and armoured SUVs which were detailed to escort the incoming diplomats to the Citadel.

Several miles distant, in the center of the capital, sat a squat brick complex with towers and parapets at the corners. Inside of this massive complex were concrete and glass high-rises as well as several smaller colonial-era mansions, which served as the official residences of the Emperor. Today, the Citadel’s main gates were open – a rare occurrence at best – for the waiting motorcade. Dressed members of the Royal Guard forces lined the boulevard that served as the entrance road, and although they looked purely ceremonial with their halberds and pikes, there were many unseen men with fully loaded automatic weapons standing guard.

The city itself looked resplendent in its shimmering skins of glass, blue, green, black and even some gold. Vertical towers of empire and commerce pierced the sky, rising hundreds of meters into that rich blue sky, linking the cyan waters of the islands seas and rivers to the deeper blues of the skies. The city of Imperium spread for many kilometers across the large island, it found itself on both sides of the deep inlet where it was founded centuries ago.

The pilots flying in would descend through clear skies and find a large mass of islands in almost a line, diagonal from northwest to southeast with a rounded mountain range along what could be considered a central axis. The passengers too would see islands covered in large urban metropolises, which were linked together by massive superhighways, extensive rail networks, and a series of ports and wharfs and air- and heliports with which connected the islands. And so existed in the north central Pacific almost one large breathing metropolis; there were of course some tracts of land that promoted agricultural development and open green spaces. However, for the most part the islands were mostly dependent on the hydroponic and subterranean farms. Yet actual livestock was a problem.

And this shortage of livestock was the impetus for this high-level diplomatic meeting. And both the Emperor and Prime Minister had agreed upon setting no limits to impressing the Romandeosians. It had been assumed in contacts at the level of the Foreign Ministry that the proposed trade pact would call for increased shipments of transportation vehicles, primarily that of automobiles. And with the healthy Commonwealth automobile industry the Commonwealth government had decided to embark upon negotiations that would secure foodstuffs for the people.

And so at the Royal Airport at Emperor’s Field three of the four most important men in the Commonwealth awaited the delegation from Romandeos. Sitting in the central limo sat Emperor Mikhail Barin, Prime Minister Alistair Tetley, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Valovich. The three would usher the delegation back to the Commonwealth, familiarizing them with the situation in the Commonwealth and explain the culture and history of the Commonwealth, as the ultimate goal was to forge a new friendship that existed not just in the sphere of economics. Instead, they hoped to expand the empire – through either sheer conquest or through establishing connections with friendly like-minded nations.

They hoped not to forge an empire that would send taxes back to Imperium, although they would not frown upon such colonies being founded, because they wanted a more liberal empire. The continuing strength of the Commonwealth depended upon procuring the resources necessary to maintain its growing economy, part of which meant acquiring food necessary to sustain the growing population. To continue to expand the resource base, new markets were also needed. And to that end Romandeos provided a prime target for the Commonwealth’s policy of free-trade. The Kingdom would provide necessary resources in terms of food and would also serve as a market for manufactured goods. The trade pact would serve both nations, and for the Commonwealth it would serve as an expansion of the borders of its empire, which consisted of those nations with which they traded.

And so the men waited in their vehicles for the Romandeos plane to arrive.

Royal Airport at Emperor’s Field
Imperium, Commonwealth Republic of New Britain

It was just a few minutes past Noon when the Romandeosian aircraft appeared in the sky, looking like a tiny silver speck against the immense blue background of the sky due to its high altitude. It began to approach the Royal Airport directly at a low speed, extending its landing gear as it came in ever closer. It was soon clear to the people watching that it was basically a Boeing 727 converted for diplomatic purposes, with the Crest of the Kingdom boldly displayed on both sides of the tail, the fuselage, and the wings.

“It sure does look impressive,” MFA Jamie Bladen observed as he took in the great view.

“It sure does,” said one of his aides. “Do you suppose it’s deliberate?”

“It most likely is,” Bladen replied.

“It seemed to me like it could be, but I wasn’t sure,” the aide said.

“It is almost always like this,” Bladen said, “Because men in ugly moods aren’t too likely to react well to requests and such, however mildly-put they may be.”

“In any case,” the aide said, “it looks like we’ll be landing in a minute or two.”

“Indeed. Here’s to hoping we succeed here.”

Both men fell silent for about five minutes after that exchange, as did everybody else who had been sent along with them on this diplomatic mission. In that short period of time, the large plane came in and completed its landing.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived,” Bladen announced as he stood up from his seat and grabbed his briefcase.

In just two minutes, everyone was ready. They opened the main hatch and then exited the big aircraft into the open air of a foreign country.

~ Romandeos.

Royal Airport at Emperor’s Field
Imperium, Commonwealth Republic of New Britain

Prime Minister Alistair Tetley sat opposite Emperor Mikhail Barin in the limousine. Tetley sat calmly, his clean shaven face, thin glasses, and close-cropped hair serving only to accentuate his young age. However, he had come to power upon the Emperor’s recommendation to the party; and so he had remained PM for three years now. He was not an overly tall man, instead being only 5’11”. Indeed, some of the local papers preferred to depict him as the small man on the leash of the even smaller Emperor, who stood a mere 5’7” – hardly imposing for the two most powerful men in an empire spanning the Pacific. But then again, Tetley always commented, their combined short statures would give one the false impression of a weak state and a weak government.

Today, Tetley wore a black three-piece suit, with a dark blue shirt and straight-red tie. He took a look at his shoes and saw they were polished and sparkling. A glance to his right ensured him that Valovich, dressed in a navy blue suit and a black tie, was also dressed to the nines. And of course there was the Emperor, who preferred black – no matter the occasion. He wore a black three piece suit as well, but with a black silk shirt and black silk tie. His tinted glasses were of a dark blue shade and he maintained his calm and collected – often confused as cold – demeanor even in the presence of two of his three most-trusted men.

Tetley didn’t mind so much, however. He had been the chief of staff for Emperor Barin and it was from that post he too learned his distantness and sense of diplomatic style. He was also aware of this being the source for his status of a puppet in the eyes of the press, again something he didn’t particularly mind as it gave him the ability to cloak his own vision and power in that of the Emperor, enabling him to have a less-tarnished if not less-independent characterization.

Then there was Valovich, an older man with balding hair and stubby fingers and large hands. His skin was treated, but would otherwise have numerous scars and moles and sunspots freckling his face. Currently he wore a smile as he read the few documents on Romandeos’ government provided by the Central Directorate, but lately the pressure of his ministerial profile were beginning to wear upon him. He had been visibly tired at several cabinet meetings, and rumours swirled about his increased delegation of tasks to his secretaries and underlings. Tetley knew that in time he would need to call for elections in order to send Valovich home into retirement, as simply reshuffling his cabinet wouldn’t be enough for his health. But for now, Tetley knew he served well, and loyally. And on his good days, like today, he was incredibly polite and diplomatic.

Tetley found himself startled out of his thoughts with a loud rapping on the black window. He found the electric button and the window slid down, revealing a dressed member of the Royal Guard. “Mr. Prime Minister, the dignitaries are arriving.”

He nodded, “Very well then, lieutenant.” Turning to face the other occupants in the vehicle, he smiled, “well gentlemen, it appears as if it is our time to shine. Shall we?”

The trio exited the vehicle and proceeded to walk over to the carpeted area where the Romandeos plane would taxi upon instructions from the tower. Regretfully to all three men the press corps had descended upon the field and was lined up behind the Royal Guard with their visual and audio recorders ready to catch all the events that transpired. In the distance flew the flags of both states and the Royal Guard Band prepared and tuned their instruments for the moment the plane opened its doors.

As the large aircraft taxied up to the assembled crowd Emperor Mikhail Barin proceeded to signal his Royal Guard Band to stand at attention with their instruments at the ready. The door opened when the aircraft sat next to the elevator, and behind it were Minister Bladen and his aides. The men walked down the stairway and onto the red carpet leading from the aircraft all the way down to the limousines. At the end of the stairway waited a corridor of the Royal Guards, armed with their ceremonial halberds. As Bladen and company walked underneath, they were saluted and the Royal Guard Band began playing the Romandeos anthem.

At the end of the corridor waited Barin, Tetley, and Valovich. Valovich took a step forward, since he was probably the most identifiable person there to Bladen. “Mr. Foreign Minister, I present to you the Honourable Prime Minister Alistair Tetley,” who then stepped forward and shook hands with Bladen, “and this is His Majesty, Emperor Mikhail Barin I.”

Emperor Barin took a step forward, noticeably shorter than the rest of the Commonwealth government. “Mr. Bladen, on the behalf of the people and the government of the Commonwealth of Azazia I welcome you to our warm shores and hospitable homeland. I assure you that your time here will be both productive and enjoyable.”