NationStates Jolt Archive

It is a sunny day, and the sun shines upon the beautiful beach from a cloudless sky so clear that one who looks up must wonder whether they are staring right into the depths of the universe. From the largely tranquile ocean, multiple white waves piled up against the golden sands, and broke away in streams of light blue water.

Commonwealth Senators Naomi Crandle and John Kasahama sat sipping on their coconut milks. From the conference room, the two Senators and the guests they are expecting have a full view of the marvelous scene. But the location was not selected for its dazzling presentation of natural beauty; in fact, untill very recently the Commonwealth had little regard for the environment.

The fact of life was, with the Commonwealth finding herself dragged into three major wars, Floridia - a newly acquired, supposedly war ravaged land - is the most secure site for diplomatic talks. The Senate did not want to risk anything.

On the beaches, more than 800 Commonwealth troops strolled. In the jungle that shoots out where the sands end, another 1200 roamed. Inside the building itself, no less than 600 guarded every single room. 16 F-22 fighters and 48 Commanche helicopters circled the sky. 12 Arleigh Burke destroyers and 3 Seawold Attack Subs patrolled the seas. In the unlikely even that something does go wrong, 4 Black Hawk VIP helicopters are standing by for extraction at any time.

Security here is as tight as it can ever get.

Franz Grima staggered wearily from his residential compound. Grima, a native of Bucharest, had never experienced such intense heat in all his summers living in the Balkan nation of Rumania. He dipped his hand into his pockets, searching for something to wipe the sweat from his forehead before it seeped into his eyes & stung him.

The Soviet Socialist Republic of Hrstrovokia had quickly cast off its isolationist policy after the Slovenia Crisis, which had found the SSRH unprepared to fight a host of enemies on multiple fronts virtually alone. The intention of sending Grima, a high-grade diplomat and also the Hrstrovokian delegate to the Socialist Alliance Community, proved that the government in Beograd was taking a new course in it's foreign affairs.

The agenda for the meeting in Miami was to arrange a mutual defense pact, among other things. Grima had been given plenipotentiary status, and would resolve matters without interference from Beograd, such was the respect the government had for him.

As Grima slogged forward through the complex with his entourage of assistants & bodyguards, he wondered if signing such a pact with the Commonwealth would be detrimental to the SSRH, whether it would drag Hrstrovokia into conflicts not of her making. Only time would tell.

"Welcome," Senator Crandle stood up as the Hrstrovokian representative enters the room. "I hope the temperature outside didn't bother you too much," she added, noticing the sweat that is still drying. Without another word she pressed a button on her panel, and attendants quickly brought in plates of refreshments and drinks, and laid them out on the table, careful to leave space for documents.

"Have a seat, please," Senator Kasahama said plesantly, motioning briefly to the other end of the table. "Try some of these Milk-Pearl Tea. Careful not to choke yourself on it, though."

"Haha!" laughed Grima nervously, he wasnt quite sure Senator Kasahama was joking or serious. "If you dont mind, I'll just have an iced tea for now." said Grima leaning forward and pouring an alarming amount of his favourite beverage from the pitcher provided into his glass.

The air conditioning was now in full swing as the men relaxed in the cool atmosphere. Somewhere in the distance the sonic boom of a fighter jet was heard. "Gentlemen, I hate to pry, but may I enquire the extent of the current conflict the Commonwealth is engaged in? I cannot help but notice the military prescence here, much larger than usual."

Grima bent forward again from his seat, took a lip sip from his glass and continued. "What I am really trying to say here is, is the Commonwealth only interested in signing a mutual defense pact to save its own skin whatever way it can? The Soviet Socialist Republic barely survived the Slovene conflict, and really does not need to be drawn into another war so soon. What are your intentions?"

The Senators failed to observe both the unease of their guest and the flaws in John's words, and so only smiled as Grima settled down.

However the relaxed mood cooled almost as soon as the Hrstrovokian diplomat started talking business. Both Senators, like most of their fellow Commonwealth citizens, had a profound sense of pride and honour for their nation. The implication of her inability to properly defend herself and the outright accusation that Taiwanese Islands is trying to take advantage of others quickly darkened the faces of everyone listening.

A security guard coughed and stepped forward, one hand over his pistol and the other clutching a spare magazine. His deadly eyes trained on Grima and spelt danger.

Fortunately, with a quick wave of hand Naomi calmed the young men down. Although the well disciplined carreer soldier probably wouldn't have done anything drastic anyway, the Senator didn't want to give her nation a bad image in the international community.

"Mr Grima," she said firmly, staring at the man intently without a blink at all. "The Commonwealth is under an invasion by Praetonians and Dumpsterdam forces in Europe. We serve as the only major barrier to their territorial expansions, and they are determined to wrestle the Netherlands away from Commonwealth rule.

"Recently, North America had been divided up amongst her powers. Taiwanese islands received a chain of states in the West Coast and from Maryland down to here, in Florida," Naomi continued after taking a sip at the Assam Tea she had prepared. "Although international recognition had just been achieved, the Commonwealth did not exert actul jurisdiction, and while we signed ...... treaties with the Govenors to secure our land, Golencians and Gray Hill sent naval forces to attempt blockading Taiwan. We are now in a stalemate there."

"Encouraged by this, the last state in the East - Virginia," John added, "refused to submit and launched a rebellion."

"This concludes the military entanglements of the Commonwealth. Nothing big," Naomi Crandle reassured the Hrstrovokian. "We are completely capable of defending our lands. The Virginians could launch no major offensives against us, and the Golencian ships are not faring well against our naval forces."

"What the Commonwealth actually wants," with the situation explained, John Kasahama felt that they should be as straightforward as their guests were. "Is an European ally which will form with us a line - a barrier, if you would like - against the expansionisms of the Northern European Powers."

"There are huge areas still to be claimed in Eastern Europe. The imperialists in the West have already ammassed huge territories across the globe; the Commonwealth believes that we must try to counter this force by securing the rest of Europe from them," Senator Crandle laid out everything. "We need land bases for our plans, for the Netherlands is locked away from the free territories. Cooperation with your nation provides the optimal opportunity. I'm sure Hrstrovokia will benefit from this just as much as we do."

Franz listened without any expression as Senator Crandle spoke. Beneath his skin, he boiled with rage. "What was that little demonstration with the handgun about?" Grima said exploding in fury and launching his glass at the shocked Soldier, which missed and sailed out the open window onto the grass. "Do you think you can threathen us? Do you think we feel fear? Fools! This meeting is over!" said the enraged diplomat as he strided away to the door, slamming it behind him to the astonishment of Crandle and Kasahama.

OOC: okay.....