NationStates Jolt Archive

[OOC: This is intended to be the beginning of relations between Azazia and Novikov, but I leave this open to whoever may respond. Simply be warned, it may not head in the direction one expects.]

-Global Broadcast of Novikov's Anual Trade Confrence-
-Prime Minister Ulyanov Speaking-

“My fellow leaders of the world,” he began in the slow, painfully precise language of a man all too accustomed with rhetoric. There was no hint of accent in his voice, though Slovak was not his first language, and that was something he had always prided himself on. “Many of you know me – I pray all have heard of me, or at least recognize the flag of the state I represent, but the time for those formalities is over. My talk today will be brief.”

He continued without pausing, the camera picking up every movement of the old man’s lips. “As the representative of the Novikovian state for over fourteen years, the issue of trade has oft been left to me, and I have found this a difficult issue to address. In a world rampant with executions, violence, and hate - a world where invasion is all too common and diplomacy all too rare – global trade has suffered with each war. The only way Novikovian authorities have found to answer the wall of blockades, sanctions and embargos now rampant is through unbridled trade abroad, with our vessels passing into the harbors of many nations, unsure of what profit they will reap there. This, we see as a problem.”

“Another,” he began, and here he stumbled, a short cough escaping his lips. Restarting, “another problem equally daunting to international efforts to coordinate trade is the unequal distribution of wealth and resources which affects many a nation, large and small. At its worse, a nation may find itself a victim of hunger epidemics or a mass oil shortage, but these are not the only problems in today’s world. Many nations do not have the material resources or infrastructure o prosper economically. Again, this problem must be remedied.”

At this point, the cameras shifted angles, showing the back of the speaker’s charcoal-grey suit. Beyond the podium, and anxious crowd murmured. Beyond the crowd, Poldi’sk harbor docks could be seen; a half-dozen ships were equally visible.

“The answer to these problems, to the de-emphasis of global trade among self-sufficient nations and to the troubling lack of resources distributed here and abroad, is to begin to coordinate trade between nations once more as our fathers once did. Many attempts have been made to organize regional trade initiatives or to emphasize trade between nations of like ideology, but all of these attempts have been but a dim reflection of what is needed. I challenge the leaders of the world to step forward just as I am doing today and announce their need to be integrated into the system of world trade. No one nation can stand alone and prosper, and Novikov has tried once and will not try again to do just that. It is therefore with a humble dignity and need that I say to you:

Novikov currently has a grain surplus almost 9.34 billion Euros [Novikovian] in value, and likewise deficit in iron, aluminum, and tin estimated at 20% of the national needs for the next fiscal year. We must reach a stable, binding agreement with other nations in order to lay these needs to rest and once again prosper, and I believe other nations must do the same. Therefore, we will make our records of production, consumption, import and export available to the world in hopes of finding one or more trading partners with which a stable trade agreement may be made. I, Fredric Ulyanov, and the whole of Novikov await the response of the world.”

-End Broadcast-

[Bumpity. I'm leaving and don't want this to be lost in the shuffle.]

Statement from the Emmitian Foreign Relations Ministry
Minister Veresi speaking on behalf of the Pirokajuon Nicanor Angelicus Victor, Emperor of Emmitia.

Aired on the Emmitian State News Network (ESNN, in English), and sent in a private communique to the Novikovian Prime Minister and nation, the squrrelly, slender man known as Minister Veresi came into view. With flashes of white and grey in his hair, he was none the less a younger and less experianced diplomat, appointed with the ascendancy of Nicanor Angelicus Victor more than a year before. Nonetheless, he attempted to hold onto his composure as a diplomat and the embassador to the Pirokajuon.

"This communique is addressed to the citizens and the honorable Prime Minister of Novikov," he began, attempting to create a moment of aristocratic formality, "and as a full Imperial response to the Annual Novikovian trade conference." The young diplomat and old man folded his hands upon the desk and looked into the camera, straight on.

"The Pirokajuon has been informed of the opening of Novikovian foreign relations and realises the need for trade beyond the Imperial perimeter. Therefore, he wishes to address the Novikovian state as an ally in trade, and draft a treaty which will allow the businesses answering to the Pirokajuon himself to trade with the resources belonging to the Honorable Prime Minister. Should the Honorable Prime Minister decide to accept and uphold such a trade agreement with Emmitia, let it be known that the Pirokajuon shall do all within his power to uphold the Novikovian government that has become so friendly with the Empire, should the unthinkable happen." He spoke these words with a sort of trailing thoughfulness, slow and deliberate, as if he thought of the word for each consequence and use.

"Furthermore, the Pirokajuon wishes to point out that the Emmitian central mountain holds a respectable amount of ferrous metals, as well as some amounts of aluminum and tin. Undeveloped in their majority, the Pirokajuon would see a greater need for development of these mountains, and thus open the gateway to fruitful trade between our two nations, for either grain or currency. Anastrata, the Emperor has Spoken. Good day, we await your answer."

The black and tan symbol of the Imperial Government flashed on the screen, as well as the signifer of Nicanor Angelicus. The screen went black, and the message was finished.

Minister Ulyanov, by now a hardened but by no means dulled man, made his response in his own fragile hand, writing a response to the Emmitian [?] broadcast. It was a habit he had taken to not recently. The all-English letter was intended to be a friendly gesture towards the Pirokajuon, yet also one which would demonstrate the learned nature of Novikov’s diplomats.

My dear sirs,

An ally in trade… It is rather presumptuous of the Pirokajuon to take such a name when speaking of the Novikovian state, yet it is not a displeasing one. I have reviewed some preliminary documents – estimates rather – of Emmitia’s material needs and resources, and have reached the conclusion that other deals may perhaps be more profitable for the people of Novikov, particularly when considering the undeveloped status of Emmitia’s resource deposits.

I will not, however, allow such an opportunity for friendship to pass away. My economic advisors have forewarned against this measure, but I feel that diplomacy is equally important as dollars. I therefore wish to extend a proposal for the exchange of Novikovian manufactured goods (non-military) in the sum of 31 million Euros (Novikovian) for an undetermined amount of purified iron ore, estimated at 198,540 metric tons by Brazilian standards (1998). The exact quality, quantity, and composition of these manufactured goods will be determined either via further communications or through a trade conference, date undetermined.

We are well aware of the difficulties of producing such an amount of iron for foreign consumption, and, if necessary, are willing to explore other alternatives to a payment strictly in iron.

Please respond in turn,
Ulyanov.

Billions of years ago, the world looked far different than today. Borders between rival powers had not yet been drawn, and if they were, the continents were a mish mash of rocks and soil in a largely inhospitable atmosphere that would not permit conferences debating such fanciful things as ideologies and economies. The world existed for small micro-organisms to consume one substance for energy to respirate and procreate, then defecate another substance in exchange. Underneath the world’s oceans cyanobacteria thrived with the carbon dioxide, exchanging it for oxygen – which would become one reason for the ultimate change to an oxygen-based atmosphere. However, at those times oxygen was poisonous to most living things, and fortunately it bonded with ferrous iron in the water, and then formed magnetite and hematite. For two billion years the oxygen bonded with the iron until the iron rand out, and the oxygen bubbled to the surface, which ultimately doomed a great number of species. Yet the magnetite and hematite would continue to sit for millions of years until the species Homo sapiens discovered the ore could be extremely useful in its daily life.

Caliz, Republic of Azazia

Enrique Montoya placed his wide-brimmed straw hat on the glass of the café’s wicker table. He ran his hand along his thin black moustache while nodding to his long-time friend and waiter of the establishment. From his seat and through his shades the middle-aged man could view the white sand and cyan ocean sitting across the street from the café. In the distance sat a mountainous island covered in soaring trees of glass and concrete. That island was Vetraz, one of the two large areas consolidated under the first Azazian king.

As he waited for his margarita, Montoya leaned back and closed his eyes. The original inhabitants of this massive archipelago were collectively called Azazians; and it was from these people that the European colonists named their new country. However, the Azazian people called home the areas near Caliz, here on the island of New Australia. Across the strait sat the island of Vetraz, whose people were conquered by the Azazians in a brutal war – made so by the introduction of a new weapon into the Azazian armoury of sorts. Iron.

The geological processes that blessed certain regions with vast resources, and cursed others with nothing but barren soil and strata, had blessed the western region of the United Kingdom with vast mineral reserves. And from an early time, the Azazian people had discovered their reserve of iron, and then utilized it to form a commercial empire that would prove a thorn in the side of the European settlers for decades. Nowadays, however, the Azazian people belonged to the United Kingdom of Azazia, which bore their name in memory of the first true “multi-national state” on the islands. Today, the small pits of men in simple coverings had been replaced by massive machinery works that drilled and excavated rock non-stop, hauling out ton after ton of base metals.

Unbeknownst to most people, for most of the nation’s history was that the Vetrazian people sat atop a rich vein of iron ore – though it lay far beneath the mountain and was thus inaccessible until modern times. Enrique Montoya owned the Montoya Mining Consortium, which had recently bought rights to a large portion of the vein. Enrique Montoya smiled at his friend from childhood as the margarita was dropped off, the waiter being unable to stay and chat because of a complaining customer at Table Twelve. Montoya also smiled, though, at the fact he was about to become an extremely wealthy man.

Office of the Prime Minister, The Citadel
Imperium, Republic of New Britain

“And so, sir, in conclusion we had another quarter of astounding economic growth, tempered by the continuing decline of our manufacturing sector.”

“Thank you, Garret.” Alistair Tetley sat comfortably in his worn leather chair. In his forties, he headed the Democratic Socialist government currently in power in Parliament. The recently concluded elections saw a dip in his previously landslide victories because the impending problems of the Kingdom had begun to become evident in certain key regions of the state.

For years, the Kingdom displayed a high growth rate with a rapidly expanding economy, amazing even for such a developed nation. However, the growth rate had not depreciated significantly in several decades, indeed for nearly a century. Increasing wealth made the state more attractive to immigrants, and to families who thought their children could be similarly well-off in their own futures. However, the land the state owned was far more finite, and was increasingly being consumed by high-rise after high-rise. The island of New Britain was now almost entirely developed with the exception of the mountain ranges and the bodies of water – although private companies were beginning to develop “sea cities” where entire cities would be built over bodies of water. Yet such small measures only helped eat away at the margins, the problem was land and resources.

The United Kingdom desperately needed more and more foodstuffs in addition to land, because the over two and a half billion people ate voraciously. Not just land, but literally grains and other basic food stuffs. Tetley realized that these limits would in time come to hinder the growth of the country, and in small remotely accessible regions of the state, land prices and food prices had begun to rise beyond the living wages of the inhabitants. It was in these areas where dissatisfied constituents voted out Tetley’s fellow party-members. The first signs of a potential collapse of the state had appeared, and Tetley and his cabinet realized the immediacy of the situation.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Imperium, Republic of New Britain

Carlton Smith headed the entire department on Novikov in the ministry. Usually, nations with whom the Kingdom held little contacts found themselves lumped into regional departments. On occasion, however, the Ministry of Defence could pressure their comrades across the street into keeping an eye on those determined to be potential adversaries in future conflicts. So it was with Novikov, who had long been known to the MoD for their adeptness at submerged combat technologies – and with a large merchant fleet providing the lifeline to the Kingdom, the Admiralty especially was worried about who might be using those subs.

Ordinarily, Smith did little but reshuffle papers and provide stamps for official documents that were mis-assigned to him and his staff of himself. Today, there was one more task to add, the review of a speech by Prime Minister Fredric Ulyanov. Very little seemed particularly pertinent to anything really, just a statement concerning foreign trade. Nevertheless, Smith gave it his official stamped of being reviewed and sent the document on its way over to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, where they could deal with potential trade agreements.

Several Days Later

Office of the Prime Minister, The Citadel
Imperium, Republic of New Britain

Dr. Garret Jackson held the post of Minister of Trade and Industry, tall and plump from the years of fine-dining with his successful manufacturing company – sold before the collapse of the manufacturing industry in the Kingdom – he stood before his much shorter and skinnier friend and boss. “Alistair, I think I have come across something that may be of some importance to you… well to all of us.”

“What do you have for me, Garret?” Tetley asked, raising his head slightly from reviewing the latest piece of legislation – this one about changes to the penal code.

“Well, sir, there appears to be a nation called Novikov, that has an abundance of grain which it wishes to sell in exchange for its own deficit of some strategic minerals – namely iron, aluminum, and tin. The offer is a few days old, but that’s because Emily’s ministry has only one man on the nation; apparently it’s one of those nations that Daniel has her keeping an eye on.”

Daniel Blair was Tetley’s Minister of Defence. Extremely capable at his post, he had a tendency to be brash and abrasive – which is why Tetley continually beat him out in party elections for the prime minister’s position. Daniel also had a propensity for side-stepping Tetley’s office and doing exactly what he wanted. “Daniel, Daniel, Daniel…” Tetley mumbled, “what are we going to do with you?”

Jackson took a seat at Tetley’s hand motion, finally given after their longer-than-usual introduction of the topic. “Alistair, I think we need to move on this, and quickly. We both know how much we need this grain, look at Ivan, he’s gone. I mean—“

“I know what you mean, Garret. Ivan was a good man, a good friend, and a good minister. He’ll be missed, but in the meantime Emily is doing a fine job. But I see your point, believe me I do.” Tetley did see his point. A student of history, he was well aware of the thinness of the razor on which the Kingdom sat. His own future, and likely that of his children was more than secure – but after that, the long-term forecast was uncertain, and its certainty hinged on decisions like this.

“Garret, how do we look on our own mineral reserves?”

Jackson nodded, and pulled another document from his black leather folder. “Sir, iron and aluminum we can easily cover. The dispute over the Vetraz vein recently settled outside of court, and we have another large deposit of iron ore. Aluminum, even after covering their deficit, we shall remain a net exporter, though significantly depleted. Tin, however, could be problematic. We export a small amount, but to meet Novikov’s needs we would need to import some additional tin from the Verdant Archipelago – which I’ve tentatively agreed with my counterpart in Jacksonton. Of course we need to concede that 5% of the vein we’re purchasing will go to the VAU, but even still we will meet Novikov’s requirements.”

“So in other words, you’re telling me we can pull this off?”

“Indeed, sir. Within the coming years we will be able to significantly alleviate our food problem.”

Tetley smiled. “Bloody marvelous news, Garret. Bloody marvelous. The next order of business will be informing this Prime Minister Ulyanov of our… fortuitous situations.”

Secure Diplomatic Letter

My Right Honorable Colleague
The Esteemed Prime Minister Fredric Ulyanov

My government has been made aware of your situation with relation to the deficits in iron, aluminum, and tin. To cut to the chase, the United Kingdom has reserves appropriate to your needs and can provide you with the requested minerals. In turn, we need large imports of grain to sustain our economic growth. What I propose is my government will buy the required ores from our domestic mining companies, and then sell to you the ore for the whole of the grain surplus.

While I am no expert at minerals and such technical details with finances, I can assure you that the Azazian merchant fleet would be wholly dispatched in earnest to complete the trade as soon as possible. Also, the mines in question are developed and currently producing for Azazian domestic needs and for limited export quantities, which would be purchased by my government and sold to yours for the grain surplus.

I hope this letter finds you well and in good health, I await your response,

Alistair T.

The office of Minister Veresi was relatively uncluttered by the time the hand-written letter was placed upon his desk by his assistant. From the time it was written in the People's Republic and finally arrived within the Empire's boarders, it moved with great speed towards the Foreign Minister's office. Veresi read it himself. He struggled a bit, yes. While he could speak well in English, he rarely was forced to read papers and documents in the language, and was therefore less than able to find his way through English documents.

He, however, immidiately saw the importance of such a document. Within a few moments, it was headed towards the palace of the Pirokajuon. Carried by several mail carriers through Sece Emmitia, the message found itself soon by the seat of the Pirokajuon. It was handed to a translator, as the Pirokajuon could not understand English, and the translator in turn read the letter to the Pirokajuon in the Emmitian language.

The Pirokajuon was, by the time of this, a man of the late fourties. Through the burden of command and control, his hair was whitening up, especially through his dark brown hair. He was a pale man, tall and not unreasonably built for a man of his age and activity. However, he was no diplomat, but found it best to reply to the Prime Minister in person. He shouted the command: "Deceteron! [Scribe!]" and the young man at the side of the throne room gave notice of the command and assured the Pirokajuon of his presence.

From here on, the Pirokajuon dictated a letter to the Prime Minister, all in Emmitian. By the time the letter went out later that day, below flowing script of Emmitian, was a translation of the document.

"From the Pirokajuon of Emmitia. In his own words and interpereted through an Imperial Translator for use by those who speak the English language.

'I may be the first to assure you that the representative of I, the Pirokajuon of Emmitia, had no intention to be presumptuous. It must be realised that English is not Minister Veresi's native language and that he often may say things differently than they may mean in our own.'

'However, as for the Honorable Prime Minister's decision on wishing to meet in a trade conference with diplomats from Emmitia, I can only say that we would be delighted to open our ports of the People's Republic of Novikov. I shall send diplomats to deliver this message personally and to discuss a trade agreement.'

'Should we agree upon a payment of iron, however, be aware that it may take some time to produce the required amounts. The Imperial Civil War after which I have been instated as Pirokajuon has wrecked the mines in the mountains and they have not since been rebuilt, due to 'igno ferroque' warfare used on the part of my opponent, the previous Pirokajuon. Therefore, it may take time and money in order to bring these mining operations into working order once more.'

'Best wishes from the Empire,
Pirokajuon Nicanor Angelicus Victor.'

The letter went out in a sealed envelope, with a brown and black wax and ribbon closing which bore the Imperial Signifer. Two diplomats, surnamed Nemaen and Salugon, left from the craggy airport outside of the city of Sece Emmitia. Minister Veresi had informed the People's Republic of their coming upon the order of the Pirokajuon, as to prevent a diplomatic disaster in case of the Novikovian air defenses getting too anxious and shooting down the diplomatic envoy. Veresi also requested that the emissaries meet with a representative of their nation, or an official with whom they could discuss Emmitia's role in future Novikovian trade. He had only to wait for the answer.

The diplomatic response of the Azazian nation had indeed found Minister Ulyanov in good health, or at least in the same condition as the television cameras had found him not a week earlier during the trade conference. His habbit of smoking had given him a cough which had now been diagnosed as chronic, but, between bouts with a respirator, he managed to carry out the duties of his office.

For those duties, Ulyanov had little respect. Somewhere between the Seveskian War, known in Novikov simply as The Battle of Poldi’sk or The Blitz – names which drew close parallels between the two-day air war and the historic “Battle of Britian” – and the internal struggles of the NIRC which consumed the last term of his office, he had lost the resolve and vigor of youth, simply treating his duties as duties, with no power and initiative that marked the lives greater men.

It was surprising then when the Prime Minister’s pages saw a marked increase in his activity one day, walking in to find him attacking a stack of economic estimates and reports with the gusto of his younger days. To the eyes of his pages, the treaty he was drafting looked insignificant, albeit rare, but in light of the privileged production estimates – estimated marred by a noticeable decrease in manufacturing, linked to a lack in necessary metals – the treaty was one that may well save Novikov, or preserve her economic growth for the next generation.

Twenty-Six Hours Later
Novikovian Parliamentary Building
1/04 Gabivkovo, Poldi’sk, Novikov

“… It is therefore with great urgency that I present this trade matter before the Parliament, but also with great hope. We seek to loose little and the gain is great, after all – we will secure to our posterior the economic bliss which once lighted our eyes.”

Ulyanov stepped down from the stand, surrounded by a faint applause, some of it halfhearted, some sincere. The applause quickly died amidst a coughing fit and an attendant quickly handed an oxygen mask to the aging Prime Minister. He was safely removed from the Parliamentary floor and within minutes, debate ensued.

Ulyanov had hoped for a victory, but realized the precarious position of his bill. The House was divided in near-equal portions between the bickering Communist, New Nationalist, Social Democrat, and Liberal Democrat Parties. He retained his position as Prime Minister by a meager three seats in Parliament after the last election. The Communists would follow the Social Democrats to the end, and, though the Social Democrats followed the Liberal Democrats on a majority of issues, they were fighting hard against recent tax cuts proposed by Ulyanov’s own party. Assuming a few independents as always, Ulyanov hoped for some 53 of the 101 voters, but that depended on things outside his control. Now, from the couch of his office, the recovering Ulyanov heard the results of the vote – and realized how wrong he had been.

Radio Report: Parliamentary Trade Vote
6 – 18 – 1605 [Novikovian Calendar] / 9:06 pm NST [Novikov Standard Time]

“In a overwhelming vote today, Parliament passed Minister Ulyanov’s Azazian Trade Proposal Bill – Parliamentary Trade Bill #423 - in a sweeping bi-partisan decision. The vote, long speculated to divide the house down the middle, passed with only seven representatives – all New Nationalists – voting nay and another three, including one Communist – Duma’s former Trade Advisor Gregoriovich – declining to vote.

Unfortunately, Minister Ulyanov was not available to witness his political victory today. He received news of the 91 – 7 vote from the security of his private office in the Gabivkovo Plaza, unable to remain on the Parliament floor. He was later transferred to Slovene Memorial Hospital where he was diagnosed with late-stage emphysema: Terrible news for our long-time Prime Minister. He is expected to resign in the coming days.

That’s all the time I have for national news, now back to music. I’m Israel Gerchinkov with the news here on 1340 AM, Novikov’s only Slovak music station. Tune in at six past the hour for my news broadcast: Israel at the six. Thank you.”

Formal Responses of the Novikovian Parliament
6 – 19 – 1605 [Novikovian Calendar] / 6:30 am NST [Novikov Standard Time]

To Our Colleagues,
Azazian Prime Minister Alistair Tetley
and
Azazian Minister of Trade Garret Jackson, PhD

The Novikovian government has received several responses to our request for bi-lateral trade agreements. These responses have come from nations large and small, and require much in the manner of technical discussion before a formal and binding agreement can be reached – as Minister Tetley so wisely pointed out.

It is therefore with acceptance of your aforementioned proposals and with an eye towards the future that we invite you or your representatives to a conference on trade being held five days from today in our Parliamentary Hall’s old wing, 1/04 Gabivkovo Plaza, Poldi’sk, Novikov. Transport can be arranges – paid for through Novikov State Airlines – and all other formalities can be worked out through nominal channels. We, on behalf of all the citizens of Novikov, apologize for the short notice of this conference – pressing matters of reconstruction require the attention of our Economics experts in the days to come. We hope this proposal is of as much interest to the Azazian government as it is to their Novikovian counterparts and will spark a relationship between our two nations deserving of more than a mere single diplomat.

-Signed respectfully,
Majority Leader Kacnerova,
On behalf of the Novikovian Parliament.

The response to Emmitia’s Pirokajuon was somewhat different. Most notably, it was written the Slovak – now the official language of Novikov – in the plain typed font of Parliament’s professional stenographer. Parliamentary Leader Kacnerova hoped that the formalities of a handwritten response could be done without and, even if that was not the case, the Emmitian leader would have to make due as Ulyanov was still being held in the Care Wing of the hospital.

To Our Ally in Trade,
Pirokajuon Nicanor Angelicus Victor

We would like very much to meet with The Esteemed Pirokajuon or his diplomats in a conference of trade, and await their arrival in Novikov. We wish it to be known that the expenses of the flight will be paid for by the Novikovian state, and that a formal escort will be provided, both for the aircraft and the diplomats once they arrive.

Likewise, we wish it to be known that the Emmitian representatives will have the opportunity of meeting with other diplomats pursuing similar trade agreements within Novikov. We however assure you that Emmitia’s place in the agreements is secure and they needn’t feel required to compete with other nations in these matters of trade.

Your concerns about the availability of Iron ore and the massive economic strain of processing such a request as we have made are noted, and one option we wish to pursue during the conference is the matter of Novikovian development of Emmitian resource deposits – likely paid for by the Novikovian state and returned to Emmitia after a said number of years. However, such trivial matters belong in the trade conference, scheduled in five days. We eagerly await your diplomats and hope that they have a pleasant stay in Novikov.

-Signed,
Your Ally in Trade,
Parliamentary Leader Kacnerova,
On behalf of the Novikovian Parliament
and
Prime Minister Ulyanov.

[Bump before bed.]

High above, a single Vastivan OVERSIGHT satellite changed its orbital course ever so slightly - beginning the first of a long series of flyovers of the suddenly interesting nation....

Apartment of the Prime Minister, the Citadel
Imperium, Republic of New Britain

Tetley rose groggy to the soft rapping on the bulletproof glass near his bed. He lay in bed for several moments, enjoying the fleeting bliss of the unconscious mind, which even in nightmares gave him relief from the truly hellish task of running an entire nation. Finally finding the strength to push his fit body off the king-sized mattress he moved to the window and pulled back the curtains, only to find a flash and deafening clap of thunder – far more jolting than his usual cup of tea.

The prime minister resided in a large spacious apartment, contained within the walls of the Citadel. For each occupant the room appeared different, today’s walls were replete with historical maps and famous paintings acquired by Tetley during his private life; they all told a story focused on the individual whose thoughts and whims decided the course of a nation. The ochres and crimsons hinted at the antiquity behind the marble sculptures littering the spacious room. The bookshelves contained treatises and tomes of ancient works from Aristotle to Machiavelli to Locke to Smith and beyond. Many of Tetley’s contemporaries considered the Kingdom fortunate to have such a man guiding the nation as it shifted from its isolationist past to expansionist future; the fact that a humanitarian played a significant role in shaping the imperial ambitions of the country excited many when he proved their hopes correct with a democratic empire – though it controlled few territories.

Nonetheless, the job weighed heavily on Tetley’s mind. His close-cropped hair, though now in the morning greatly disheveled, belayed the slow thinning caused by the stress of politics on both the domestic and foreign level. His mission, his obligation was to safeguard the Kingdom and secure its future through whatever means legally available to him. Part of the salvation of the nation he knew to be the ever-requisite expanse of the country’s markets if not sheer territory for the economic security of his people. Accordingly he had rammed legislation through Parliament creating the United Kingdom of Azazia, replacing the old Commonwealth. The Kingdom admitted to its imperial ambitions, however liberal they happened to be, and thus gave itself the legal justification necessary to expand, and thereby survive.

He took solace in the fact, however, that the Kingdom and the nation of Novikov would begin hammering out an agreement that would alleviate a great deal of Tetley’s concerns. He expected to find a response this morning in his daily briefing, which would then become the most important business of the day – except in the event of a major war breaking out. That would certainly ruin his day, and so Tetley kept his fingers crossed.

Office of the Prime Minister

Thomas Blaine served Prime Minister Tetley as the BSO, the Briefing Summary Officer. Before Tetley, the prime minister received his morning briefings from several people: a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one from Defence, one from the Interior, and one from Finance. The briefings could take up to several hours, time which Tetley wanted spent doing rather than observing; ergo the Briefing Summary Officer, whose task it is to combine all the morning briefings, sift through the important and non-important, and then deliver them to Tetley after his daily breakfast of bagel and tea.

Blaine, of average height, build, in fact average in almost all respects, could almost always be found waiting in the office ready for his boss when he strolled in around 09:00, generally with a second cup of tea on a saucer sitting in his hand. The two nodded towards each other, the unspoken sign for Blaine to begin.

“Sir, you asked me to inform you of any official response from Prime Minister Ulyanov; and we have received a message – but from Majority Leader Kacnerova on the behalf of the Novikovian Parliament.” Blaine, seated before Tetley’s desk, handed over a small letter – quickly read by Tetley.

“Five days, eh? Did you check with Molly out front?”

“Already did, sir. You’re scheduled to meet with Gregory Kilairn, the MP from Portsmouth about naval contracts and then later that day you’re scheduled to swing by a school in downtown Imperium and give a speech on education.”

“Rescheduled?”

“Already on top of it, sir.”

“Very good, Thomas. Very good…” Tetley jotted a few notes down on the legal pad he kept at the corner of his desk. Indeed, the “Azazian counterparts” were extremely interested in listening to the Novikovian proposals.


To My Esteemed Colleague,
Majority Leader Kacnerova,

I would be more than glad to attend the economic conference in Poldi’sk via Novikov State Airlines; I would consider it an honour. I would of course be remiss in not bringing along Dr. Jackson as well as several leading members of the field – at least as many as can be arranged on such short notice, which is itself no problem, I assure you. I too hope that this conference can serve as the point of commonality for a strong bond between our two peoples, a point from which we can begin to understand our different cultures, and different ways of life.

Sincerely,
Alistair T.


Tetley, also made aware of his counterpart’s condition, penned a note specifically to Ulyanov.


Dear Fredric,

I hope this letter finds you in a state without pain and suffering. I was deeply saddened to hear your prognosis this morning, and so I write to you offering any assistance I can possibly render, either as the fellow leader of a nation, or as a man seeking to help another man. Should you request or need anything from either myself or my government, do not hesitate to get in touch with me personally, and I will see to it that whatever it is, it is taken care of. I will make sure to stop by the hospital to see you if you aren’t back on your feet and running ten miles a day when I’m in Poldi’sk later this week. Until then, rest. And chicken soup. My mother always made sure that I was eating my chicken soup. But then I never listened to her, I was always too arrogant... now look where I'm at.

Sincerely,
Alistair T.

The Imperial Emmitian Government is split into four parts. There is, of course, the Pirokajuon himself. The Emperor. Then there is the Council of Teturonte which uphold the Imperial Constitution penned by Imperator Salaen in those past years. There are, of course, the Imperial Courts, and finally there is the Imperial Senate.

A relatively new body, the Imperial Senate was quickly learning the brutal tricks of the politics trade. It was here that the Pirokajuon was spotted next, sitting on the Imperial Throne which very closely resembled a witness' bench in a courthouse. Appointed to the Senate by their wealth, the Fifty-eight members of the Senate were still nonetheless nationalistic.

A roar from the left.
"We cannot and will not allow a foreign nation to take advantage of our resources! This is the land of Emmitur. Are we whores to be sold out to the first bidder?"

Hissing and jeering from the right.
"The Imperial Civil war has ravaged us, Senator. If Pirokajuon Tetugon Tertius had not destroyed the mines, we would not be in this posit-"

"I'm fully aware of our recent history. I have, myself, served in that war. We are not arguing about what could have happened or what Tetugon should or shouldn't have done. We're arguing about what should be done about it at this moment! Under the reign of the Pirokajuon Nicanor Angelicus Victor!"

"I know what we're arguing about, Senator. If you would simply sit down and allow me to--"

"I will allow you to do no such thing! To whore out Emmitia? Nonsense!" A cheer from the left. Unsavory words and shouting from the right.

"You are turning this into something it is not. We are not 'whoring' out Emmitia. We are opening it to development. With all due respect, Pirokajuon, if we wish to turn this nation into a mighty Empire, we must be developed!"

The Pirokajuon remained silent and unassuming, as he always did in these Senatorial meetings. He simply stared ahead, as if considering every word..

"What are you talking about? We have nearly one-hundred thousand men who can be put on the front line at this moment, with logistics and support and administration that can keep it alive." Jingoistic cheering.

"Some nations can field millions." From the mouth of the right-winged Senator came the words that quieted the left with great efficiency. They had not expected one of the Senators to state aloud the weaknesses of their state.

The left-wing Senator stood up to speak again: "How are we supposed to build up an army if other nations have ou-"

A roar came from the Pirokajuon's throat. One which reverberated throughout the Senate hall. "Setecura! [Silence!]" A wave of his hand brought the steaming, angry senators back to their benches.

"We shall open trade with these Novikovians. We shall allow them to build on our soil. But we shall make it direly clear to these Novikovians that this is still our land and that they are harvesting Emmitian iron. To the Senator on the left wing: How can we develop as a nation without trade? To the senator on the right: How can we develop into an Empire without nationalism and pride? Both of you are wrong on equal ends. Anastrata! (1)"

(OOC: Anastrata: Emmitian Signifer for "The Emperor has Spoken." Used to silence the Senate, or simply state the Pirokajuon has finished speaking.)

Meanwhile, approaching the Novikovian nation: The Imperial jet had for the past number of hours been approaching the Novikovian nation. The embassadors were quickly and hurredly looking over the documents of their nation's economy and potential, attempting to get a grasp of everything before the trade conference. By the time of the debate in the Imperial Senate, however, they were likely within Novikovian airspace. By electronic communication, the Embassadors had been informed of the situation and that they would likely be escorted to the Novikovian capitol's airport.

They had also been informed of the state of the Novikovian Prime Minister, being in the hospital with late-state emphysema..

Petov Area Farms: Governmentally-Subsidized Fields
27 km North-West of Poldi'sk
6 – 19 – 1605 [Novikovian Calendar] / 2:30 pm NST [Novikov Standard Time]

Kacnerova had called Parliament to a premature close just an hour into its morning-deliberations today, citing the lack of a parliamentary leader as grounds for a premature end to discussions – she was scheduled for a tour of new agricultural facilities today. Ulyanov, for all his age, was in stable condition in the Special Care Wing; his situation had not yet worsened. For all the support he received – from Minister Tetley’s (he still had a habit of formalities, even though Alistair would be a more fitting name) kind letter to a candlelight vigil outside his window during the previous night – his mood was good and he hoped to soon be rid of the shackles of ill-health.

Kacnerova now found herself wandering listlessly through the fields on this overcast day. With her, a half-dozen analysts and economic advisors were listening intently to some technical discussion, but that concerned her not. Finally, patience drawing thin, she leaned to one of the advisors, a lanky fellow named Hartman – rare, and Angle in Novikov, though not unheard of – and asked the question that had bothered her all morning.

“Can we do it?”

“Yes, Monika, I think we can…”

Novikovian Airspace - 48 km from Novikov’s East Coast
Inbound towards Tolstoy International, Poldi’sk

The Imperial Emmitian jet now neared range of the Novikovian coast. For almost an hour, its progress had been tracked by Radar pickets on the islands east of the mainland, but now, as she neared the coast, the decision was made to give the Emmitian airliner a more formal welcome.

Coinciding with a radio broadcast alerting the aircraft of their intentions, a pair of sleek Mirage III interceptors, painted robin’s-egg blue and bearing the red and blue stars of the People’s Air Force of Novikov, broke from the lower cloud cover and moved within visual range of the jetliner. The gave a salutatory flip of their wings and came alongside the passenger flight, escorting it towards a runway already filled with diplomats and members of the press awaiting the arrival of these new diplomats…

---

[OOC: More coming later today. Also, should we keep the confrence here, or split it ino a diffrent thread?]

Ooc: guess I’ll keep dates on here too, for time flow things, and yeah, why not a separate conference thread, we can end this with my people boarding their planes, and then switch to the new thread[/ooc]

6-20-2005
Hamm-on-Sea, Republic of Vetraz

Montoya grimaced as the national meteorological station forecasted a strong storm blowing in off the Pacific, set to slam into the opposite side of the island in forty-eight hours time. Although Hamm-on-Sea sat astride a small but deep bay on the northeastern side, the swelling of the sea would likely make travel through the narrow straits between Vetraz and New Australia, or between Vetraz and Mersk extremely difficult and risky – not good for trade. The skies, however, hinted at nothing ominous, just some high level cirrus clouds that provided occasional shade to the tourists relaxing on the sand beaches. By the docks, where Montoya sat on the rear bumper of his hybrid car, the squawks of the gulls mingled with the raucous clanging of ship’s bells and screeching of whistles and foghorns. The bright sunny day by the island’s busiest shipping port heralded nothing but profits for the businessman, and he slowly stretched his arms to his knees, enjoying the warm sun on his back.

His brief reverie ended with a distinctive chirping emanating from his left pocket. He glanced upwards towards the sky muttering “Madre de Dios…” while fishing out his compact mobile phone. The caller ID declared that it was his main office in Caliz, specifically his secretary.

“Hóla, como estás?”

“Bien, Señor Montoya. I just got off the phone with a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they wanted to see about your availability to fly with Prime Minister Tetley and his entourage to some country called Novikov. Apparently they will be the recipients of the iron that the government is purchasing from us.”

Montoya smiled at the sudden change in fortune. Several years ago he had been a mere boy in the former Spanish colonial city of Caliz, struggling to make a living polishing shoes and running newspapers to clients. He had always had an interest in shiny rocks, having discovered pyrite – though later learning its value he dismissed the idea. Until he overheard a discussion of mining opportunities on the neighboring island of Vetraz, at which point he headed across the Strait of Caliz and began digging for rocks. With his charisma he attracted several even poorer miners, and together they began to strike pay dirt with a small silver vein. It was from that vein that Montoya Mining Consortium arose, and by obtaining the new iron deposits he would make it rich through the new government contract. Of course, it was even better that he would be not only meeting, but traveling with, and spending time with, the leader of the Democratic Socialists. Politics do go so good with beer.

“Tell them that yes, I would be glad to attend any such meetings.”

6-21-2005
Office of the Prime Minister, the Citadel
Imperium, Republic of New Britain

Tetley read the list once more. Somewhat impressive, for such short notice a few key industry leaders were joining him on the flight to Novikov. Mind you they had their own personal/corporate motives, but they would serve as an important link between the governments of Novikov and the Kingdom, and would certainly be the ones to which the real questions would be asked – especially since at least in the Kingdom the mining was an entirely private affair.

There were of course, other matters to attend to. “Blake,” Tetley called to his young aide, “what sort of suits do I have available?”

“Nothing fancy, sir. Since you’re still single—“

“Would you give it a rest,” Tetley responded in mock anger. Indeed, being single left him without the need to attend fancy balls requiring elaborate and sophisticated dress, but his taste in formal dress fit well with the current style of the people. He also knew Blake would continue to pry into his private life, which was of no real concern so long as it remained between the two. “Just bring the three piece, and several different ties. Oh, the striped one, the blue and gold one, I like that one.”

Regardless of the outcome, wished he sincerely wished to be beneficial for both parties, it was a rare occasion to visit a foreign country. And that was worth celebrating in and of itself. Especially since he could expect no less than a formal diplomatic welcome. At that Tetley smiled, it was almost a vacation. He’d just have to be working.

[ I'll save the plane landing for when the next thread is set up. Give me a heads up when it's ready to be posted on. ]

This story is carrying over to a seperate thread:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=420175