NationStates Jolt Archive

Special Envoy James Miller stared out of the plane window onto the yellow ground passing underneath them. Handpicked by the Central Committee to become Administrator of the newly-acquired territory of Southern Egypt through an auction by Cotland. He looked over to the rest of the plane. Sitting next to him, asleep, was an ambassador of four years named Sarah Adams, due to become Deputy Administrator and to aid him in the creation of the new sector. On the other side of the plane looking over several documents was David Diggs, due to become the Main Contact to the Central Committee of Eppessenia and Co-Ordinator of Military Activities. Also in the plane with them were six Lieutenants and four Sergeants of the Presidential Private Guard, the cream of the Eppessenian military crop, assigned as protection of the three people inside the craft.

“Sir,” the pilot called out to the Envoy, “five minutes to the frontier between Northern and Southern Egypt.”

Miller nodded. “Very good.” He called out, acknowledging the information and began to prepare to disembark.

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James Miller stepped out from the stairs onto the dusty, cracked runway of the Asyut airport, located in the centre of the country, followed by Adams and Diggs and led by three of the Sergeants. Around ten metres away were three men, all formally suited despite the searing temperature. Knowing who they were, James Miller slowly approached them and offered his hand in greeting.

“Good afternoon,” Miller said to the men, loudly, “You must be the Cotland contingent, here to discuss the handover of power, correct?”

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“…In today’s news roundup, our main story is the negotiations have begun between Eppessenian and Cottish officials on the transfer of territorial rule of Southern Egypt, recently won by Eppessenia for almost 4.7 trillion Eppessenian pounds – a controversial decision the Central Committee says will benefit the average Eppessenian.

Very little information is available over the terms of the handover, but it is known that Special Envoy James Miller will become the Administrator of the territory, Ambassador Sarah Adams is assigned as Deputy Administrator and Ambassador David Diggs is to be Main Contact to the Central Committee and Co-Ordinator of Military Activities. It is also known that up to twenty divisions of the Federal Territorial Army and General Defence Force will be deployed to protect the area. Several large businesses have also bought contracts to exploit the mineral wealth of Southern Egypt, which includes petroleum, natural gas, iron ore.

Aside from this, nothing else is known of the handover, though it is expected that sovereignity will be fully given to Eppessenia by the end of week. In other of today’s news…”

OOC: can we partake at all in this? if so...tell me how...thanks :fluffle:

Henry Fitzwallace, the man in the center of the trio that greeted the new rulers of Southern Egypt, shook the hand of the Andrehervian envoy and introduced himself.

"Yes that is correct. I'm Henry Fitzwallace, the governor of Egypt. Welcome. Allow me to introduce my colleagues. This is Tim Powell," Henry said while pointing to the man on his right. "My Cheif of Staff. This gentleman here, is General Eric Lakol. The man in charge of the military contingent here."

Henry smiled while the other two shook hands with the envoys, not telling the obvious to the Andrehervians. The Cottish 'military contingent' consisted of the Cottish 4th Army, 5th Air Force and half of the 2nd Fleet, not to mention the 960 SAM and AAA sites spread out along the sands of Egypt. It had used to protect all of Egypt. Now they would concentrate it even further in protecting the northern half of the once so proud nation of pharaoes. Henry still smiled when he continued.

"So. Let's get inside a buidling with some airconditioning and get something cold to drink before we get cracking on the discussions, eh? Please follow me. We've got transportation ready, right over there."

Henry pointed them to four M998 Humvees painted in a desert-scheme and staffed with four soldiers dressed in desert BDUs. They had pistols in their belts, but no rifles, battlevests or helmets. Not too threatening, hopefully.

OOC: ???? well?????

OOC: Earth II only. See the title. Unless you're a member of Earth II, you don't have anything to do here. Feel free to read though.

OOC: I've had my nation name changed to Eppessenia, to do with a future RP with Sqournshelous. If you could refer to me as that IC it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

IC: James Miller stared out of the window to the scenery rushing past them as the four vehicles travelled quickly to the prestigious Asyut Grand Hotel (OOC: Made that up on the spot, don't be surprised if it hadn't existed before) where the transference papers would be signed. In his hand were the briefcase where the papers were held.

No more than twenty minutes later, the four vehicles pulled up to the front entrance of the Asyut Grand Hotel. Security of the 25-storey tall building was high as the six dignitaries stepped out of the vehicles and the Eppessenian and Cottish soldiers took their positions to the side, front and back of the group. Amid flashes of press photographers and the flurry of television cameras, the men walked into the hotel and headed towards the Conference Centre for the short signing ceremony and complementary drinks afterwards.

The imposing double doors of the Conference Centre were wide open and facing the doorway inside was a table, elegantly decorated with six chairs behind. In front of the table was a small barrier and five rows of twenty chairs where already seated were invited members of the press, other dignitaries and politicians to witness the occasion. A short question time would be held first, followed by the handover and a small celebration in the hotel bar. It would all be over this time the next day.

The six dignitaries entered the room. The politicians and dignitaries rose and applauded the men as the press took photos and recorded the men striding in. The double doors were closed to the outside and the group sat down on the chairs at the table as soldiers took positions between the table and the crowd, should an altercation occur. Miller opened his briefcase and handed to each person a piece of paper with the same information on them: the application of the transfer of sovereignty of Southern Egypt.

Miller looked towards the crowd, who quietened once they saw they were ready.

"Before the handover, I will briefly answer a few questions quickly if anyone has any to be answered. Just briefly, however. Anyone?"

A man rose quickly from the pack of journalists, giving the eight Cottish soldiers in the room a mild shock. One even pulled his sidearm, but quickly holstered it again. Fortunately he was standing in a dark corner and weren't too visible to the journalists and dignitaries. A sergeant quickly took aside and gave him a quiet, but nevertheless terrifying correction. The man who rose, shouted out the question to the Eppessinians, blissfully unaware of the incident occuring in the back of the room.

"Johnny Parker, Cotlandstad Daily. How will this affect the situation between Cotland and Eppessenia, and what will the situation for Cottish citizens in Southern Egypt when Eppessenia assumes power?"

OOC: No problem mate. Eppessenia it is.

"We are sure that this land trade will benefit both Eppessenia and Cotland both diplomatically and economically," Jake Miller began, "and will strengthen the ties between our two nations which were recently...damaged by the Zeeland Crisis about a month ago. As for Cottish citizens in Southern Egypt, they are free to leave if they wish, but if they choose to stay they will be secured the rights and privileges that Eppessenian citizens enjoy today. As for whatever clampdowns that may happen, such as of Operation Evenstone last November, the Cottish government will be consulted as to what to do. Be sure that whatever happens, the Cottish authorities will always be consulted."

On the left hand side of the room, another reporter rose to speak. "Stanley Oxford, Eppessenia Express. We've heard that up to twenty divisions of the Eppessenian Defence Force will be deployed to the newly-acquired territory. With our military capability stretched as it is, how will you manage to achieve this?"

"That is merely a rumour, we are still unsure about the Military Contingent that will be deployed here." David Diggs replied. "Should the need arise, however, we have enough forces to create more divisions and so you should not need to worry about the status following the deployment."

"Fred McIntyre, Epping Standard. All we've heard so far is very little. Is there any more information of the new territory you can divulge?"

Miller chuckled. "I'm sure you must be very anxious and excited to hear about the future of Southern Egypt, but I'm afraid you must wait. A press conference will be held tomorrow on the future in this territory and every change to Southern Egypt. You are all, of course, welcome to attend."

The press in the room chortled at this final remark.

"OK, anyone else?"

OOC: If you have any more questions from the press, Cotland, go and ask them. If not, we can begin the handover.

"Thank you people. As Mr. Miller said, there will be more information for you tommorrow." Fitzwallace said before he rose from the seat. The men walked out from the pressroom and headed for a conference room in the ninteenth floor.

As the men came out of the elevator, they noticed that the security here were extremely tight. Nevertheless, they headed into the conference room and sat down in the large leather chairs around the large marble table. They were given soft drinks and left to talk.

"Alright, now that we've cleared the press. What is there really left to do, other then to sign the treaty?"

"Indeed, Sir," began Miller, "Let's begin the process, shall we?" The room fell quiet as James Miller opened his briefcase and produced two envelopes with 'WARNING: CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT OPEN WITHOUT PERMISSION' written imposingly on them with thick red ink. He took a letter opener from the briefcase too and tore open the envelopes. Out of them both came several pieces of expensive paper stapled together, the final sheet having room for six signatures on it, one collection of papers for the Cottish delegation to keep, the other for the Eppessenians. Miller produced a black ink pen from his jacket with Adams and Diggs doing the same.

Miller turned to Fitzwallace. "I trust you've read the agreement we sent to you beforehand?" Given a gentle nod, Miller put his signature on the box indicated of both papers for each delegation, followed by Sarah Adams' and lastly David Diggs'. After putting the final Eppessenian pen to paper, Miller reached over and slid the two sets of paper over the table to Fitzwallace and the other two men.

"Time for you to make history, Mr. Fitzwallace."

OOC: Sorry for not replying earlier. I kinda forgot about this thread.... Also, check your TGs

IC: "Indeed Mr. Miller. It is a great day for both Cotland and Eppessinia. I'm not going to ruin the moment with a lot of talk. I just wanted to say it." Fitzwallace said as took out a ink pen of his own and recieved the papers from Miller. Quickly, he looked them over, nodding to the contents. They were all in order as agreed. Then Fitzwallace signed both pieces of expensive paper. Powell and General Lakol did the same.

When the final piece of paper had been signed, the room exploded in applause. Southern Egypt was now Eppessinian, while Northern Egypt remained Cottish. All at the stroke of a pen.

"Congratulations mister Miller. Take good care of it, or we might come and teach you some manners." Fitzwallace said with a grin on his face. "I suppose we go and break the news to the media now, and then on to the party?"

All the men and women in the room shook hands and smiled. It was a great day, but what the future would hold, only time would tell.

James Miller smiled as the six men left the room and headed towards the lift where they would head back down to the grand Conference Room and inform the waiting media of the historic agreement.

Ten minutes later, the six men arrived at a side entrance of the Conference Room and sat down at the table, left as it was when they left. The invited in the room almost immediately quietened to be informed of what happened. James Miller brought forward his microphone slightly and began to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to report that the handover went smoothly and as planned. Southern Egypt is now an Eppessenian province."

The whole room erupted in applause and cheering. The six men rose and cordially shook each other's hands before leaving to the airport under a hail of camera flashes and applause.