NationStates Jolt Archive

It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the Queen of France, then the Dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, --glittering like the morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh! what a revolution! and what a heart must I have, to contemplate without emotion that elevation and that fall! Little did I dream, when she added titles of veneration to those of enthusiastic, distant, respectful love, that she should ever be obliged to carry the sharp antidote against disgrace concealed in that bosom; little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fallen upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honour, and of cavaliers. I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded, and the glory of Europe is extinguished forever.

Never, never more, shall we behold that generous loyalty to rank and sex, that proud submission, that dignified obedience, that subordination of the heart, which kept alive, even in servitude itself, the spirit of an exalted freedom! The unbought grace of life, the cheap defense of nations, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise is gone. It is gone, that sensibility of principle, that chastity of honor, which felt a stain like a wound, which inspired courage whilst it mitigated ferocity, which ennobled whatever it touched, and under which vice itself lost half its evil, by losing all its grossness.
Edmund Burke – 1793

Oh, but indeed we shall behold again, Monsieur Burke.
Jacques Francois Augustine Etienne Chateauroux, Marquis de Maurepas – 2005

The Kingdom of France was perched upon the crest of a blade.

Paris seethed. The Halls of Justice were taken by force of armed mobs. Crowds formed upon the very Champs Elysees. Worst of all, le Duc de Chartres had just returned to Paris openly; by the skilled hand of Balsamo Cagliostro with his Illuminati cohorts Dominic was delivered up to the very Palais-Royale, his opulent town-mansion. At 3:45 a.m. of this day, the Eve of the Feast of All Souls 2005, the traitorous Prince du Sange had been declared President of the Sixth Republic. The intransigent nest of lawyers and vipers that were le Parlement du Paris went for everything in their attempt to claim the mantle of rulership.

Le Duc de Chartres is made President of the Sixth Republic (http://www.freinet.org/creactif/moulin/EXPOSES/HISTOIRE/REVOLTE/IMREVOLT/revolt03.JPG)


Marseilles rose in open revolt, and burned. Six full Divisions Gardes Francaises defected, bought by the foul coffers of Cagliostro and Company. The aristocratic officers were murdered by order of the foul Vizier Cagliostro himself, all four hundred of them, butchered in a flurry of mayhem lasting two hours. Some five thousand expatriate revolutionaries landed to join this force, becoming the United Front. When word reached them of le Duc’s election, they became the Army of the Republic. Time ran of swift tidings: ere the dawn this force was going to advance on Grenoble, whereupon they would capture several hundred tanks belonging to the Order of the Golden Fleece. They could then storm the Aerodrome de le Ordu du Saint Esprit gaining its squadrons of Mirages and Rafales. If this happened, all was lost.

If the Crown did not deliver the Kingdom, France would plunge from the blades edge into the abyss.

Then, as if by the very hand of God, two miracles rose from the chaos, coming to the succor of the Bourbon Monarchy in its direst hour of need.

The first event, indubitably a miracle of the first order, was the French State Television apparatus, Royal News Network (so named because the King’s brother le Comte d’Provence owned it) was able to stay on-air, proclaiming the Revolution to be a isolated rebellion of treasonous lawyers and mutinous armies. The network hub in central Paris remained secure simply because it was so close to that monarchist stronghold the Bastille. So far it managed to stay online through the whole series of riots. This was a losing situation, however: if King Louis’ authorities did not secure Paris, it was only a matter of hours before RNN’s studios were stormed and the whole world, foreign and domestic, would learn the extent of the Revolution.

The second miracle was more subtle by far, but would turn out to save the day. God’s grace was delivered up in the form of a brilliant politician and savvy tactician, le Marquis de Maurepas.

M. de Maurepas had always been a close advisor to His Majesty. Francois Chateauroux, Marquis de Maurepas, came from a lower tier of the aristocracy. He began his career as a provincial potentate, in charge of his families’ few hundred gas stations in and around Lille. Yet through his brilliance and ability to manipulate any given situation to his advantage, he rose to the very clouds below the sun. He was made an associate of the Royal inner circle in sacred Versailles itself several months before Louis XX was assassinated. He never had purposed any ideas, always content simply to guide the absolute monarch through the garden of his own thoughts. He had even counseled Louis-Auguste not to select a Prime Minister upon his ascension, to prove the strength of the Bourbon Dynasty. A river of thought able to wash and invigorate France for years lay untapped. But now, during this crisis, the time was appointed for a deluge of absolutism. O woe to Cagliostro! Little did Balsamo know his rebellion would set the stage for the most powerful and dynamic monarchist since the Hapsburg’s Metternich to perform.

Versailles was all a clamor following its reception of the ill tidings. Servants gossiped and raided the wine cellars, finding in many cases that their noble masters arrived before them. The bright and illuminated gardens were now dark and hushed, silent save for the marching of Switzers vigilant hobnailed boots. In le Grand Chateau, in the Oeil-de-Boeuf, ‘bulls-eye’...named because the magnificent ante-chamber to the King’s Apartments had a dome of glass atop it, the Ministres d’Etat waited breathlessly for the next ghastly event to brake, whatever that might be. Strained nerves and peeling powder was the order of the hour. One man, Monsieur de Vergennes, the capable Foreign Minister, sat numb. He held a cigarette, but was too shocked to even light it. Beyond the impossibly tall and gilded doors to the Kings Apartments His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste prayed for all he was worth. Then a rustle in the bulls-eye was heard---all eyes turned towards the source.

The quintessential calm amidst the storm M. de Maurepas strode into the Oeil-de-Boeuf, with courage in his jaw and a sparkle in his eyes. Ahead of him strode His Most Christian Majesties Herald of Arms, parting the noblesse with his rod of office. Soon they were admitted to the King’s Apartments, then the doors closed again. Excited whispers began to circulate, it could only mean one thing: Maurepas would be named Prime Minister, and the Kingdom would be saved!

The Invincible Louis-Auguste, by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre, Suzerain of Algeria and Master of the Colonies, Defender of the Faith, lit another cigarette at his desk. He looked out the spacious window, studying the skyline of Le Grand Parc, as if he was a man doomed, drinking in what beauty he could before the fell stroke. Upon Maurepas’ entrance, it seemed a great weight was lifted off his shoulders, and he smiled a bit.

“Oh my friend. Monsieur de Maurepas, can you save my Kingdom? I have attempted to quell this as I thought it should be quelled, but I am at a loss for, well, plans at this point,” said an introspective Louis, putting his cigarette out in a gold ashtray.

“I need you to be my advisor. No, more than that. You have been an advisor to me, now I need you to be my strength. I need you to save France, and to rescue this ship of state before it is irretrievably lost in this foul squall. Only you can put my Ministers to work in harmony for the glory of my realm. Only you can put everything back on track to stay. Mon ami, you must become my Prime Minister. Mon ami, you must become my Richelieu,” as King Louis spoke, le Marquis’ frame swelled with pride, in turn emboldening Louis-Auguste to continue until that stunning statement: …become my Richelieu.

Le Roi de France looked his new Prime Minister square in the face, “Monsieur le Marquis, I fear this rebellion is a matter of great difficulty.”

“Sire,” said M. de Maurepas “if it is but difficult, it is done. If it is impossible, it will be done.”

M. de Maurepas is made Prime Minister (http://www.freinet.org/creactif/moulin/EXPOSES/HISTOIRE/REVOLTE/IMREVOLT/revolt42.JPG)


Thus invested with the near supreme office of Prime Minister, answerable only to the King himself, M. de Maurepas immediately put his plans to save the Kingdom into quick motion. What he had in mind was a graduated process, perhaps one of the finest pieces of political doctrine ever crafted. The first stage of the process was crushing the rebellion and ensuring it would never happen again. The second stage, well…enough is enough. First thing first, hmm?

A many pronged approach, Maurepas believed, was needed the dismantle the revolutionaries. His wig removed and his feet in mink slippers, cognac in hand he sat by a merry fire which crackled and popped that evening following his appointment with the King. Staring into the polychromatic depths of both this conflagration, and the one racking the realm, his insight waxed mighty. He must move swiftly, in one deft slash, putting all the plans into motion at once. So be it. Vive le Roi, Te Deum Laudamus.

The first problem was the Parlement, both of Paris and the Provinces. It was from these legal bodies that this rebellion had found its impetus to continue. Very well. M. de Maurepas consequently issued about four thousand Lettres de Cachet, arresting every single member of every single French Parlement and clapping them away at once. If they resisted, they were to be shot on sight. Now the new Prime Minister dealt with the Estates General. Although for the most part loyal during the crisis, they were a representative body. The question was would this heretofore loyal but nevertheless representative body assent to the Parlements (with whom they had much common cause) arrest or would they attempt to further the work Chartres, secretly Cagliostro, initiated?

Unlikely, but still a possibility. Very well, the Estates General was to be dismissed at once. Some of its members would receive Lettres de Cachet for suspicious actions, but the great majority would be elevated to new positions…the shock and vacuum would be replaced as quickly as it appeared by several new institutions crafted by the deft politician.

The First Estate, the Clergy, would be re-organized into the Ecclesiastical Assembly of Notables. If anything, the Churchmen would have more power in the Kingdom than before. They were now tasked with assuming responsibility for Education throughout the Kingdom, from Primary School to the highest echelons of academe. Reading, Catholicism, and the glory of the Bourbon Monarchy would basically be the standard academic fare…along with rigorous sports programs for both maidens and youths. The churchmen had to continue their standard roles as well: taking care of the spiritual welfare of their various parishes, and administering to the Church land and industries, which amounted to 16% of all the owned property in France. They also would be given the lucrative, if not particularly effective, Royal Ministry of Health. Alone of the three estates the clergy remained absolutely faithful to Christ and King. Maurepas thought it only fitting they were made more powerful. To the Catholic peers would both of King Louis doors’ remain open in perpetuum.

What to do with the nobility? First of all, Lettres de Cachet were sent straight away to de Chartres and his ilk; to be arrested or executed, if not the former surely the latter. For the vast majority who had remained faithful, however, how to compensate them for their loss? Two new institutions were created by Maurepas specifically to deal with the Second Estate. The first was the formation, as in the Ancien Regime, of Les Gardes du Corps. Roughly translated as ‘bodyguards’, this ultra elite institution would constitute the flower of the aristocracy. Several hundred soldiers strong, these troops are another jewel of Versailles, another layer of loyalty and protection that cushion the Bourbon Rex. The King’s sacred person was secured primarily by the Garde Suisse and several Suisse Regiments; now, in addition to his excellent Switzers, he would have the youthful scions of France’s finest and most ancient families waiting upon him at all times. If the Switzers maintained the King’s life, Les Gardes du Corps maintained his gloire. To serve in the Gardes du Corps meant a future post as Minister or a lucrative appointment to the most prestigious positions. The Colonel of this sparkling guard would be none other than His Grace le Prince de Lambesc; or, known by his former name, Antoine de Chauvernay…the strapping hero of New Caledonia and warrior boy of the aristocracy.

Colonel des Les Gardes du Corps M. de Chauvernay (http://www.histofig.com/briquet/images/gardeducorps.gif)

Secondly, since the Parlements would soon be mere memory, the realm needed law. Maurepas would place the whole legal system of a given Province in the hands of an aristocratic administrator, a Grand Seigneur if you will. These Intendants as they were called would answer only to Maurepas and the King. They would rule by fiat in His Most Christian Majesty’s name, giving the realm immediate and prompt justice, and allowing the monarch to stretch a mighty gauntleted hand over the realm.

As for the Third Estate, a mixed lot was handed out. The members not arrested (interestingly enough, more nobles were arrested following the rebellion than commoners by a 2 to 1 ratio) returned to their lives in industry and investment. A few commoners who had shown unswerving loyalty to His Majesty in the face of crisis would be ennobled and rewarded for their efforts. Perhaps it would even aid the economy: cash was always turned out by ambitious new money, especially when they would get loans confiscated from the land of seized dissident noblesse.

So then, so much for the Parlements and the Estates General. What next? What could be forged to act as a clamp on the Kingdom, holding Maurepas’ reforms in place forever. In answer Jacques Francois would build a Secret State Police force, something he felt France had needed for a long time. The Ordu du Saint Louis previously handled internal cases of celebrity. However, as witnessed by recent events, the intrepid group of die-hard monarchists was few in number to stop any large movement.

And it came to pass that the Kingdom of France had its Secret State Police, recruited from monarchist stalwarts, martial fanatics, and Catholic devotees, le Marechaussee. So named because these police, literally ‘cavalry troops’, struck like lightning. Not a few of its members were ex-convicts, frightening in appearance, their clubs cruel and terrible. Some of its members wore uniforms, some black hoods, and others were completely covert in nature. They arrested, terrorized and publicly lashed those who spoke against the Crown. And, like the tentacles of a regal octopus, they would sink into every social strata of France. With agents posing from scullery maids to captains of industry and cliques of goons who roamed the roads at night le Marechaussee would clamp down like a vice on dissent.

Le Marechaussee (http://www.chielie.nl/gfx/wandelsoc/2002/van-wielik-dag_2002_rijtour_heenweg_marechaussee_groot.jpg )

Where would they be headquartered? Once M. de Maurepas had taken care of Chartres on way or another, he would house the organization in the very Palais-Royale, in the heart of Paris. Splendid!

To matters at hand now, thought Maurepas, ending the revolt. No deft statecraft would accomplish this. In the end, the crafty Marquis concluded that His Majesty would have to lead the Royal troops and crush the Rebellion and the south while the Queen and he dealt with Paris. Maurepas knew the blood of the Romanov's flowed strong in Jillesepone and though she wore silk she was eager to crush the dissent, more so even than her husband. To business. Maurepas rang his bell, sealed his propositions, and a liveried servants dashed off to deliver them to the King’s Apartments.

As dawn rose on the Feast of All Saints, 2006, His Most Christian Majesty looked over the plans with Her Serene Highness and his closest confidant, Queen Jillesepone. Line by line, Her Highness signed the propositions into law following a nod from her majestical husband. The daughter of Wingertus Lavragerianus was no stranger to politics. She was the most hard line member of the autocratic cabal in Versailles. Maurepas was wise to let her organize the seizure of Paris, or Her Serene Majesty would have whispered to papa Roi that maybe Maurepas had tainted loyalties. That, or she would poison his cabbage. In Versailles, where intrigue ruled behind the sunny throne, stranger things had been known to happen: a rumor, not incorrect, told of how Mademoiselle du Barry had celebrated a Black Mass, presided over by none other than Cagliostro and Mesmer in the very Grand Chateau de Versailles itself!, at which she petitioned Satan to make her Louis’ lover. Well, everybody knows how that turned out.

His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste and Queen Jillesepone (http://www.freinet.org/creactif/moulin/EXPOSES/HISTOIRE/REVOLTE/IMREVOLT/revolt49.JPG)

With his Queens assent, and his own clear admiration of Maurepas’ skill, the Prime Minister was given the go by the King. It began that morning at 10:00 a.m.. For the first time since the rebellion began, Louis-Auguste would give a speech (written by himself). He would use all his charisma and regalia to rally the Kingdom during a televised address to the Court at Versailles.

The Most Christian King gave a speech of heraldic fury, his voice booming and regal. The Kingdom, by the Grace of God, stood firm, as it always would. Paris would, he boasted confidently, be brought to heel by days end. As for the southern mutinies, well, Louis himself was donning armor and going to crush them.

“We now have only a few scattered clouds to wipe away, before the glory of the unconquered sun shines fully upon this Kingdom. For, Frenchman, if God is with us, then who can stand against us! The dream is near fulfilled, victory will be ours! Once more into the breach, brave souls, and the Kingdom will have a hundred years of prosperity. Frenchman, will you be lacking in courage?” concluded the King. The Courtiers, only minutes before strained of nerves and frightened for their lives, were uplifted, rolling applause and dizzying huzzahs shook the Salon de Mars where His Majesty spoke.

King Louis-Auguste rallies his court and France via national address (http://www.freinet.org/creactif/moulin/EXPOSES/HISTOIRE/REVOLTE/IMREVOLT/revolt22.JPG)

In that moment, in that brief calm before the storm, only one sound was heard all round France. Rioting insurgents, treasonous lawyers, loyal bourgeois businessmen, incensed sans-culottes, ignorant fishwives, courageous Garde Suisse, glittering nobles, and pious priests held their breath, and listened to the noise, now louder. It was a great creaking and clanking, like a mountain trying to jog. It was the sound of Monsieur de Maurepas, the royalist Atlas. Like Atlas he heaved and groaned, and with the most monumental exertion of effort held aloft the edifice of the Bourbon Monarchy. Then the sound grew deafening, this mighty Atlas not only prevented the French Kingdom from dissolving, lo! with one great shove he set the edifice aright.

Whereupon the Invincible Monarch donned his armor. The trumpets rang, sounds of tanks igniting their engines rumbled through the pleasant lime groves, and the Christian King went forth to war from Versailles. The Royal Army, a good portion of it, would sally out and crush the mutinous forces as they ungainly made their way to Grenoble. South Louis proceeded, riding armor shining, in a pennant bedecked tank, a Leopard II of the Royal Order of the Golden Fleece; the grotesque southern mutiny would end soon, by God!

Louis-Auguste leads armored cavalry to victory (http://www.ami1rc.org/images/ge1/jul%2099.jpg)

And so good King Louis did. Bushwhacked by the Royal fox, the mutinous Divisions fell apart. They had been lined in loose order of march when the Roik operated Lancaster heavy bombers came in at low altitude and covered the columns in scatter bombs. Royal Army Korean Heavy Infantry sang to fife and drum as they cut a swath of blood through the United Front, which of course was at the fore of the rebellious troops, firing their M-16’s in rolling volleys, company by company, on the hapless traitors. The armored charge into the flank of the rebel lines, led personally by the Most Christian King, shattered the seditious Gardes Francais Divisions.

For all the fire and report, however, casualties were small: His Majesty did not enjoy killing Frenchman, even traitorous ones. About three thousand rebel troops were killed at the Battle of Five Way’s south of Grenoble. One hundred and sixty Royal Army troops were lost. Upon news of the victory, the mutiny ended in Cherbourg, and a general amnesty in the Royal Navy town was ordered; after all, the sailors did, of all the revolutionaries, have valid complaints in wage and pay. They had simply protested, obeying their officers withal. It was even the King’s pleasure to grant their petition.

The rebellious Divisions were disbanded. Those who inspired the mutiny were hung, those who led the revolution were broken on the wheel. Justice was carried out swiftly only the day after the battle. Marechaussee men procured the wanted persons, and the Royal Army troops put them to their end.

Rioters arrested in Paris (http://www.freinet.org/creactif/moulin/EXPOSES/HISTOIRE/REVOLTE/IMREVOLT/revolt23.JPG”]Mutinous soldiers and revolutionaries are put to justice[/URL]

In Paris the Queen struck with no less valor than her husband. While she was knitting in the Royal Apartments with her ladies in waiting she gave le Merechal de Saxe detailed instructions on how he was to quash the Parisian dissent. M. de Maurepas smiled as he wrote it all down. The sprightly man got along well with the Queen; who, like the King, was learning that appointing Maurepas as Prime Minister did not lessen Royal Authority, but rather looked as though it would pay handsome dividends.

Cagliostro, with the foresight of a Vizier at least, slipped out of Paris minutes before the Royal Authorities swung into action. Balsamo spat as he prepared to slip into the sewers and re-hatch another conspiracy. He was disgusted as he observed Mesmer, the brilliant New Age hypnotist who had brainwashed le Duc de Chartres, drop luggage in before following shortly after. He was far from done, though. He might have moved too quickly, he thought in hindsight. So he gave the order: the Illuminati were relocating, to Algeria. A shame the Duc de Chartres, President of the Sixth Republic, had outlived his usefulness.

A good thing he made his escape precisely when he did. Having rallied, the Gendarmerie, supported by Royal Army Regiments and Marechaussee assault teams, savagely reclaimed the disturbed area. The signal to attack came from the Bastille, the twenty story concrete monolith which dominated the Pairs skyline, sharing it only with the Eiffel Tower. The Queens idea, the Bastille opened up with its howitzers, shelling the Halls of Justice with a light barrage. As the Queen knew, being a adept at in smashing revolution, the booms and thunder of the heavy artillery disoriented the rioters. The smoke and explosions broke their lines instantly, leaving the Crown troops only with a mop up operation.

[URL="http://www.msu.edu/course/pls/461/stein/_281195_300_france.jpg)

Royal Army 5th Suisse Regiment marches into Paris (http://www.sahara1.net/images/parade3.jpg)

Tens of thousands were arrested. Twas a proper purging. Le Duc de Chartres was found playing dead in the Halls of Justice, very much alive. Most of the Parlement members were taken, only about five had the common sense to commit suicide. While the fighting raged, His Majesties government decided to rid themselves of the now useless Mafioso. The Ordu du Saint-Louis agents knew their addresses, names and faces. Noble ODSL agents led teams of Marechaussee thugs straight to them. No clemency would be granted to the Red Mafia, which had played a role in Cagliostro’s plans, though they did no know it themselves, to far ends. The order came directly from Maurepas’ desk: kill all mafia members, behead them in the streets with sharp axes, their blood will atone for our subjects misdeeds. No less than 1431 Red Mafia associates were butchered following the All Saints Day Reclamation, as the victorious day came to be known. Some would surely survive, but they’d be hounded by le Marechaussee closely.

Chartres pled the Kings lieneincy, it was denied. The traitorous Duc’s blood was the last to be shed that day. He was beheaded in the Bastille’s Courtyard, to drums and fifes, and with his death the rebellion ended. His palaces and wealth were seized by the Crown, the Palais-Royale being used by Maurepas for the new Marechaussee headquarters.

The Parlementarians were not killed. They were locked away in oubliettes, dark holes of cold iron you put people in to forget about them, in the subterranean depths of the Bastille (the new version of which could accommodate fifteen thousand prisoners). Some sixty-nine thousand persons, from mutinous Gardes Francaises to United Front rebels to Parlement sympathizers would be deported to Devils Island in New Provence, sentenced via Lettre de Cachet to life imprisonment with hard labor. Yet just as many, indeed many more, were given a writ of clemency---Versailles was eager to put this unpleasantness far behind them, and restore the Kingdom.

The Royal Intendants of the Provinces, with threat of force and lawyers disappeared, got the wheels of economy slowing turning again. By the time a week had passed, the fires were put out and life on the way to returning to some semblance of normal. Contact had been re-established with Louis I in Algiers, and a Royal Delegation from Versailles was expected to depart for Algiers immediately to assess the Algerian bourbons situation in the wake of the French rebellions. Versailles spewed forth propaganda, claiming the rebellion was ended en masse. Posters were placed about France, however, with stern warnings and grandiose obsequiousness to His Most Christian Majesty.

Louis-Auguste dispatched messages to the Tsar and HIH Royce I, informing them all was well again. After two weeks the ashes of the fires had even been swept up. The trouble makers were now vanished, and in Paris the lights sparkled and the accordion player came out again to croon love ballads. To celebrate the Crowns victory, His Most Christian Majesty would celebrate a Te Deum Mass in Paris, that majestical music of a victorious monarch. With great fanfare His Majesty arrived, and was given the keys to the city by M. de Bailly, the newly appointed Mayor of Paris.

His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste receives the Keys to Paris, Colonel of the Bodyguard M. de Chauvernay to his left (http://www.freinet.org/creactif/moulin/EXPOSES/HISTOIRE/REVOLTE/IMREVOLT/revolt32.JPG)

Throwing golden coins to a clapping populace (vast sums had been ‘donated’ from the seized estates to essentially bribe the realms subjects to be happy again) the royal cavalcade arrived at Notre Dame. There the finest Te Deum Mass ever was held, four choirs and three orchestras made the whole city ring. It was a sign that the healing had begun, and that God still shed his light on the Bourbon Dynasty.

Audio of the Royal Te Deum Mass, Orchestral, please enjoy (http://stage.vitaminic.com/coro_polifonico_and_orchestra_laus_deo/singles)

The next morning, all the newspapers in France bore one headline:

Vive le Roi!

Port Royal, Roycelandia

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I was reading his usual selection of morning papers over bacon, eggs, and coffee when Wiggles interrupted, informing him that the "Situation" in France had been resolved.

His Majesty was indeed pleased, but informed Wiggles he wanted the IIS to keep an eye on things.

One other thing, he added. Should anyone escape from Devil's Island and get to Roycelandia, they would be given three options: Join the Imperial Foriegn Legion, move to The Sudan or another remote part of the Roycelandian Empire and stay there as a Settler, or be returned to France.

Children and the elderly would be allowed to remain in Roycelandia, regardless.

Persons convicted of serious offences (Murder, Multiple Rape, Paedophilia, etc) would immediately be repatriated to France, however...

Versailles

Things again were returning to their traditional cycle in Versailles, that palace of the earthly gods. His Majesty Louis-Auguste went hunting in the perfectly kept and symmetrical forest which proceeded from the Grand Parc, having good sport indeed. Her Serene Majesty Jillesepone joined the King and his Gentlemen followed by her ladies in waiting. There was a need to relax, and the shooting party filled that need well.

The Royal Shooting Party (http://www.costumes.org/history/18thcent/lacroix/chrome13.jpg)

Meanwhile, in the Chateau, M. de Maurepas continued the work of his Ministry, now indisputably the most powerful Ministry in the realm. He signed forms authorizing everything from diplomatic dispatches to propaganda efforts at home. On that note, Maurepas had just endorsed two posters which would blanket France. The first was designed to intimidate future subversives. On it, the King in regalia held a pose of authority. Opposite him, an executioner of le Marechaussee stood ready to punish treason. The caption “Vive le Roi” perfectly captured the sentiment that if you challenged the program, dire consequences would be immanent.

Vive le Roi! (http://www.michas-spielmitmir.de/bilder/vive_le_roi.jpeg)

The second mass produced poster struck a happier note. On it, His Majesty Louis-Auguste was portrayed as Sol Invictus, the unconquered sun. It was heavy with Christian allegory and despotic aggrandizement. But it conveyed the message, the King was an awesome power. Eldest son of the Church, Defender of the Faith, Master of France, Louis-Auguste was a entity to be entity worth of admiration only slightly less than the Church and its doctrine. After all, as the propaganda portrayed, the Church’s goals really were Louis’ goals.

Sol Invictus (http://www.assumption.edu/HTML/Faculty/Gallo/Louis1670.jpg)

Moving from internal affairs, Maurepas wrote a lengthy missive to HIH Royce I. assuring him that Louis in all his benevolence would never impose the quandary of an escaped prisoner on his royal brother. In other words, escape from Devils Island and its hellish quarries was impossible. Of course, no children would be in their ranks. Moreover, the new Prime Minister invited the Roycelandian government to consider New Provence, formerly known as French Guiana, as a site for work on their new helicopter program. Included was a treatise Maurepas had just completed, his agile mind never ceased to produce genius, detailing how New Provence was slated to undergo major improvements. With the increase in the penal colonies roster, le Marquis intended to begin large scale rice plantation farming, the labor being free. Surely the Roiks needed cheap labor for some stage of the project. As well, the Academie Royale with its Royal R%D programs was only a few miles north of Charlesbourg, capital of New Provence. France also wished to purchase some of the Bell Hueys Roycelandia was claiming to want to sell at a cheap price.

Maurepas did not neglect to dispatch a series of charters, granting Roycelandia a hundred year charter, identical to the one granted in Southern Algeria, for possession of French Polynesia. He hoped it would be seen as a kind gesture on the part of the French to attempt and spark Roycelandian investment in the Kingdom’s wounded economy.

Likewise, a whole cadre of Ministre’s d’Etat were dispatched to London, Ottowa, Washington D.C., Tokyo and Beijing empowered to seek new trade opportunities, to act as feelers for future commerce. Maurepas made it widely know, as well, that the Kingdom of France was moving to a less aggressive international posture, content simply to administer what His Most Christian Majesty already possesses.

The Tsar was sent a dispatch, carried by courier in a near super-sonic jet to Wingerts location. It was a proud letter from Jillesepone boasting of her assistance in smashing the rebellion. Louis-Auguste and she now sown at heroes at their court, the darling daughter said, and the strength of her Imperial father had inspired them both through the crisis. She told of Maurepas’ cunning and ambitious new ministry, which sought to well and truly heal France. Surely the Tsar, now Tsar of all the Russias, could be a excellent force in arranging voluminous trade between the Tsarist East and Royal West. On that note, both her and her Royal husband were eager to come and visit and share experiences from the last few turbulent months. When was the coronation? That would be excellent public relations for the Holy League. She ended the note on a very optimistic thought: only five minutes ago she learned, from the Royal Surgeons, that she was pregnant, again.

[OOC: Hey, not to fill this with out of character crap but what's the situation in Marseille? Since Juan technically never existed, since I completely restarted from scratch, and I'm therefore not in the HL, it leaves Bourbon King Juan Carlos II, who has considerable more power than he does in RL because the dictatorship lasted longer - albeit under a different dictator - and this would present opportunities to diplomatically reunite Bourbon Spain and France, especially if I send a few divisions to quell whatever there is in Marseilles.]

[OOC: Damn, I thought the A Team was going to get to duel with the infamous Pimpernel once again...Ah well...]

Perhaps there was something in the cold winter air of that year that made the soil of Europe so unfertile to democracy that year. The Baltics had come under the massive paw of the Russian bear, and even the bear itself soon crumbled under the blade of the Tsar. And now it was Mr. T's turn to fail as the seemingly down and out monarchy gained new verve and energy, seemingly from nowhere. Crushed and battered, the A Team vanished from the public realm and left its legions of followers to suffer a gruesome fate in the hands of brutal Royal torturers such as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. The core network, organized by Pierre simply vanished back into the shadows, as the rebellion had been crushed long before they dared come out into the open, and they returned to their normal lives, ready to fight another day.

A sorrowful and solemn Mr. T gazed upon the France that he had come to love, and vowed with a fury that he "would be back." The plane of the Russian Embassy began to lift off as its engines roared into life, and as suddenly as they had appeared the A-Team had dissappeared from the French landscape.
______________________________________________________________
The Mafiyosi who remained in Paris had been the Old Guard of the Mafiya. The once great criminal organization, unwilling to lose French support, had left France largely untouched by crime. The lack of operations, the need for negotiation with France, and the safe haven once granted by Louis XX had allowed for the foppish nation to become a retirement home of sorts for aged Mafiyosi.There they could rub sunscreen on their fat bellies as they lay under the shade of palm trees waved by young French ladies, and there they weaved through the maze of French politics.

So when the day of betrayal finally came, which many of the Mafiyosi had suspected as Putin's demise left no use for the criminal group anymore and had thus fled earlier, it was largely fat old men that the French executed in the streets.They provided little resistance (except for one codgy old fellow who utilized his gigantic harem as a private army) and so the last remnants of the Red Mafiya lay dead in the streets of France, their fat bellies and wrinkled faces splayed onto the cobblestone streets.
_____________________________________________________________
Crushed by their defeat and the overall collapse of democracy in Europe, the A-Team took a previously unthinkable step. The once great warriors of democracy who had nearly brought France to Revolution twice, dueled with the League Of The Scarlet Pimpernel, and stolen hundreds of billions of gold right under the French Navy's nose now decided to finally throw in the towel and head their seperate ways.

George W. Bush returned to Madras-Porthmadog, the city that so reviled his politics but embraced his drunken rock and roll concerts. (Even though they thought the music was largely atrocious, the Bedgellens appreciated the man's enthusiasm) Sources that lay close to that nation's pulsing hear detected certain tremors that may very well soon prove useful...

Hannibal traveled first to Africa, Nigeria specifically, and then all traces of him vanished. Rumors abound that he was met by certain men in dark suits and sunglasses and drove off in a black Volga---but these were likely just the hallucinations of a hope starved band of democratic idealists.

The Face, one of the few A Team members to never have his true face revealed to the French authorities remained in the cobblestone streets of Paris. Through charm and audacity he somehow landed a contract to act in and produce his very own reality show, The Lover, where he would in disguise scour out the most famous and beautiful women of France and seduce them. The show was supposed to succeed on its merits as erotica, but more than half the time it provided endless laughs as demanding French women brutally rejected the former commando. Whether he succeeded or not, was of course, entirely up to the French populace.

A sobbing and forlorn Murdock also remained in France, under the guise of the minor noble, Monsieur Fleur, as he simply had no other place to go. The man's entire life had centered around the A-Team, and with it gone, he withdrew into the darkest confines of his grand mansion and the most shadowy corners of his mind. Soon his medication lay piled on the floor, forgotten, as his worried wife simply sobbed when he refused to leave the dungeons for the second week in a row. All that could be heard from inside the dark depths was an endless clanking, mechanical noise...

The de facto leader of the A Team himself, Mr. T (Also known as "Malcolm T") returned to Russia with a flame burning in his heart. He thought little of what he would do in the upcoming years, and only one goal consumed his mind: to join the Russian Olympic Martial Arts Team.

OOC- AC, didnt want to seem as if I cut sort the A Teams RP, I just wanted t put France back on the table. I think theyd be perfect for leading an Algerian Insurgency, thats starting small to achieve a larger aim. Anyway, just wanted to say I didnt purposely mean to cut short the RP.

Mac, Marseilles was re-taken I think. But many other things can be arranged. Sorry, Im dead tired tonight. Ill have something up by tommorrow. If you get any interesting ideas, fell free to email me. Ditto AC. What did you all think of the pictures, and more importantly, the music? ciao

OOC: Hey, it's alright. I want Mr. T involved in the upcoming Olympics, but the Apostles can very well be involved in the Algerian Insurgency. The pics were very interesting (where they all from one movie?) but the music didn't work...

OOC- Actually there from an educational project. The actor who plays Louis XVI is how I have always seen Louis-Auguste, to a T. And Jillesepone has been brought to life well enough too. Ill see what I can do about the music.

OOC-Ah, it is good to get going once agian.
Just wanted to mention though, that we are not descended of the Romanav line, but rather the Grozney line, the original Tsars and though there is a Romamnav King of Tsarist Russia right now, he has been placed under house arrest while it is decided what to do with him.

IC-I would like it known, that Princess Adrienna, the tom-boy Commander in Chief of the Tsarist military would have gotten in contact with Louis, asking if they shoudl send assistance, and offering them safe haven should things go poorly. The Tsars owe much to the French monarchy and would do anything for them, within reason. But, it is offered that an invasion fleet could be asembled and sent at once to defend the Tsar's daughter, son-in-law and his youngest grandchildren (seeing as how the eldest, the twins from Jillesepone and Louis are being raised in Kiev, Catherine and Peter)

Also Counct Falkenstien would have marched straight from his embassy with his entire armed retinue and gottten to Louis's side any way possible, no matter how many traitors had to die to get there, and woudl have stood by him to the end.

When the letter comes to Tsar Wingert, the Tsarist Party had just won a landslide election in Russia, and Prime Minister Armand was announcing that Tsar Wingert and his descendants would be recognised as the Heads of Stae of the Divine Russian Empire.

Tsar Wingert the Great.

The Roycelandian Government has assured France that her citizens are always welcome in Roycelandia (Much like the RL system between the US/Canada and Australia/New Zealand- citizens of one can live and work in the other for as long as they like without Visas or other permits).

A delegation was winging it's way to French Guyana/New Provence (The Roycelandian habit of referring to places by their "Colonial" names being a longstanding one), but at the same time, The Imperial Trading Company, Imperial Motors, Colonial Aircraft Factory, and ImPetroCo (Like Chickenman, they're everywhere!) have all expressed interest in expanding their operations into the French arena, so to speak.

The JRP government in Japan is initially uncertain of the Ministre d'Etat who arrives in Tokyo, but Emperor Shinseiki is more than happy to advise them to establish trade relations with France. Shinseiki's previous dealings with the French aside, he advises that Japan can never have too many trading partners; the promises of a more peaceful and cooperative France eventually convince the Japanese government to open trade with Paris.

As an aside, Mitsubishi President Hamano Taiki contacts the French government to see if there are any business opportunities that they can offer to Mitsubishi in the coming months.

[OOC: http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=457863]

OOC: Not to be anal, but it's President Armand Domalewski...And it's not the Tsarist party---Domalewski simply exploited the people's loyalty to Putin by seizing the reigns of Putin's old party, the ROP...Anyhow, should have a full posting this weekend...

Versailles

Count Falkenstein was admitted to see the royal couple, Louis-Auguste and Jillesepone, immediately following morning Mass in the Chapel Royal. They assured him, and through him the Tsar, that by the Grace of God the Kingdom of France had been saved, and God willing would remain strong.

Their Majesties also had a gift in mind for the Tsar, a propos for the situation. The Kingdom of France wanted to grant His Imperial majesty Wingert I a major naval base on the Island of Corsica. Surely, a warm sea port was something the Tsars had desired since Russia existed. It would also be a handsome coronation gift, as well as providing the French government with allies close by.

The Roycelandian Government was given full license to send teams to New Provence. Additionally, Port Royal is informed that the Most Christian King, Serene Queen, and grandees of the Court would soon come pay a visit on Royce I. In a few weeks, said the Chamberlain.

Japan is informed that His Royal Highness le Comte d'Provence, owner of Renault Ltd. and brother to Louis-Auguste, would like to make substantial investments into Honda. Investing to the point where, perhaps, Renault could buy the rights to produce Honda throughout Europe, with factories in France. A summit is suggested for trade between the two nations, with the location being left to the Emperor.

King Louis-Auguste, his Queen, and their courtiers etc are informed that they are most welcome to visit Port Royal, and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I has arranged for them to stay at the Imperial Palace, overlooking the Palm River and with botanic gardens unrivalled anwhere in the Americas or the Caribbean...

Japan is informed that His Royal Highness le Comte d'Provence, owner of Renault Ltd. and brother to Louis-Auguste, would like to make substantial investments into Honda. Investing to the point where, perhaps, Renault could buy the rights to produce Honda throughout Europe, with factories in France. A summit is suggested for trade between the two nations, with the location being left to the Emperor.

The JRP government has absolutely no problem with le Comte d'Provence investing in Honda; Renault and Honda are two private corporations, after all. As a gesture of good faith, the JRP offers to put le Comte in contact with the President of Honda, Matsuo Takumi.

Prime Minister Minase states that a Japanese trade delegation could travel to France for the suggested summit.

Lille

A well-to-do peasants evening, typical of immediate re-Reclaimed France

Louis (the most common male name in France post-Reclamation) Bertrand stepped off of the train, jostled by the countless crowds also arriving at the station. The cold winter air bit flesh, snow was on the breeze, luckily Louis’ thick wool overcoat kept the warmth in. As he approached the promenade of the station he was greeted a twenty foot statue of the Holy Virgin, wreathed in roses despite the cold, bestowing a silent blessing on all who traveled below. Flanking the Holy Virgin were two massive flagpoles, proudly flying the Royal Coat of Arms.

The Royal Flag of France (http://www.costumes.org/history/18thcent/lacroix/chrome7.jpg)

Gangs of children, shepherded by their school teacher nuns, marched in orderly fashion to or from the station on various trips. Children were everywhere in Restoration France, since Louis XX took the throne the growth rate had soared to 21%. This growth was the product of vigorous prohibition of contraceptives, the cheap and plentiful fortified wines flooding the French market (some even now allowed to incorporate various narcotics) and Royal edicts encouraging commoner and noble alike to marry young and procreate copiously. Sure, the King smiled benevolently on innocent youths and lasses tumbling in the hay following a Fair, but he also expected that when the lass got pregnant it was understood that marriage and more children would follow. Needless to say, strumpets, gigolos (after the twentieth birthday the government stopped calling a lass or youth carefree, admonishing her/him to get with the program) and bastards were frowned upon by the devoutly Catholic Monarchy. Abortion was a crime punishable by death. Indeed, Louis XX made it clear that under no circumstances would the evil act be tolerated, hanging a twenty four year old Marquise guilty of infanticide (as the crime was officially listed) to get the point across.

Strolling past a concrete wall outside the station decorated with posters marked “Vive le Roi!” and slogans heralding a new golden era for France Louis waited for the light to change so he could walk across to his flat. He just finished a ten hour shift at Châteauroux Petrol Station 24, where he was manager. His son too would assume the fathers wages and responsibilities, when the time came. The Bertrand family was, as per the realm’s laws, was tied down to their task for time and earthly eternity. It was not a bad job, all said and done. Sure, he was not a rich Paris bourgeois businessman, neither was he a contented abbot nor a glittering member of the Court. But he was the manager of Petrol Station 24, one of the busiest in Lille, and his family was accorded respect for that. He was a serf, to use the feudal term, of le Vicomte de Soubise, a distant nephew of the clans patriarch the Prime Minister M. de Maurepas. The respect, indeed, was good. No less a figure than M. le Duc de Normandie, Prince du Sange and third youngest brother to Louis-Auguste, roared by every weekend in his Ferrari. Louis would get the smile as he personally attended to the cars needs. Why, every Christmas he got a card from Versailles. The neighbors thusly were in awe of him, for that one simple but vital task he performed so correctly.

Everyone from the laborers to clerks to bakers to farmers in town for supplies knew good old Louis Bertrand, the manager of Petrol Station 24. They knew his wife, Goody Bertrand, and likewise knew that this fine woman was the first to Mass on Sunday, and last to leave. Her cakes and brioche were the highlight of the pan-monthly Church Feast Days. Louis’ son, also Louis, was a star track runner at the parish school, and his two daughters sang in the choir. Feudalism, in Louis increasing opinion, simply felt right. Everything had an order, not forced into place as fascism was wont to do, but uplifted from the principles of Christian virtue and chivalric noblesse oblige into a brilliant facade. Life was regular from the highest chambers of Versailles to the rich wheat fields of Anjou, and all the duchies, counties, and cities in between. As a man, a father, he was the king of his family, just as Louis-Auguste was King of France. He had a regular income, a fair employer, and set holidays. Health coverage, following the revolt, was made universal and provided by the Catholic Church, which now controlled all public health concerns in France. Louis now hoped, following this revolt and Maurepas’ promises for a steady economy at home and peace in the colonies and abroad, coupled with the good nature all Frenchmen felt for the young, kind, and fatherly Louis-Auguste, that these promises coming from Versailles would soon become fact.

As he opened the door he was greeted with the rich sent of his wife’s dinner. Rabbit stew with hot loaves fresh from the bakers, and a hearty vegetable salad. For dessert, some coffee and cakes. The television was playing one of France’s most popular programs, a real hit. Of course it was state run programming, but for that it was a smash comedy.

Le Maison de Madame Poisson (The House of Misses Fish). It starred none other than Roseanne Barr of Quinntonnian fame, joined by John Goodman, also of Quinntonnian fame. The actors had been enticed to Restoration France to act by greater profits than they could ever have made in Quinntonnia. The now spoke delightful French, intricate in puns and so forth, and had the highest ratings in modern France’s history. It was a show about family values, they had five children, and dealing with the problems of an everyday Frenchman (interrupted wages, dissent, high taxes) in a jocund manner. The family had a huge portrait of Louis-Auguste above their large fireplace, residing in a country house west of Lyons, and the father earned a living as games-keeper to the local Seigneur, who was a kind and helpful fellow. Madame Poisson drank not a little, smoked like a chimney, was shrill as a cat; and was always haranguing her well meaning but youthfully stupid children that she raised at home. A sign of its prodigious success, it had been syndicated to Estenlands. Its producers hoped soon to have access to the whole Russian market. Aside from being a superb piece of propaganda, it was generally hilarious…the Most Christian King and Serene Queen themselves watched it before bed sometimes.

Louis washed up and sat at the head of the table. He said the blessing, and he and his family commenced to eat the hearty meal. Over their fireplace, a portrait of Louis-Auguste hung with quiet dignity, and all memories of revolt drifted away against the merry light of hearth and monarchy.

Versailles

The magical palace was now getting decorated for the holiday season. As snow fell, the Court would take to sledging parties. It was a time to give thanks, thanks that France was and had maintained her King.

The Hall of Lesser Pleasures, a vast hall in the symmetrical series of palaces and Chateaus that was Versailles, was being set up for a trade conference between the Kingdom of France and the Empire of Japan. Oak tables and roaring fireplaces dotted the Hall, chandeliers hung overhead. His Most Christian Majesty wished to use all of his resources to gain good trade deals for France, specifically for his brother le Comte d’Provence who owned Renault Ltd. D’Artois would preside over the conference, which would cover many trades and tariffs, but would focus on a deal to upgrade Renault via Honda and provide the Japanese investment while giving the Kingdom of France a cheap and reliable economy car market.

The Roycelandian Embassy was informed Their Majesties and the Court would arrive in Port Royal some time following the holiday. The tour would then continue to New Caledonia and Russia to meet with the Tsar. Chamberlains would be flooding the Port Royal real estate market, purchasing town homes and renting out whole hotels for weeks in anticipation of their aristocratic masters’ visit to the Roycelandian capital.

Also in the works was a Holy League summit, scheduled to take place some time after the new year.

News of the impending French Royal Visit was big news in Port Royal society (because, if nothing else, it guaranteed a lavish banquets, endless garden parties, incredibly attractive French mademoiselles, and a lot of drinking).

The Royal Visit was going to liven up an otherwise spectacularly average Season, and some of the young lads were already taking bets on how many Frenchwomen they could get into bed, ignoring His Majesty's warning that anyone who got "Some piece of hot French ass" knocked up was getting a one-way flight to Versaille to personally explain themselves to King Louis-Auguste.

A newspaper report that shares in the Imperial Rubber & Prophylactic Company had jumped 18% on this announcement was dismissed as "probably true, but besides the point."

The weather in Port Royal was sunny, as usual, and Wiggles was in such a good mood at being put in charge of the arrangements for the Royal Visit that he was nearly run over by one of the city's numerous electric trams as he crossed the street near the fashionable Coral Beach area of town.

He was on his way to the Hotel Royale, the most expensive hotel in the City, to book out the entire Penthouse level and the one below it, and soon realised there was a problem- the Satellite TV stations on offer by the Hotel Royale didn't include Canal Internationale, the French Satellite channel with Le Maison de Madame Poisson on it.

The situations in the show were largely alien to Roycelandians, just as the French would no doubt fail to see the humour in My Neighbour Is A Darkie (Roycelandia's number one sitcom). However, TV4 was currently trying to sell the animated series Reginald Hawkman, Barrister At Law- a hilariously funny animated show in which former superhero Reginald Hawkman defends old cartoon characters with their legal problems- to overseas markets.

Fortunately for Wiggles, a few well-placed phone calls ensured that King Louis-Auguste and his Queen would not miss a single episode of Le Maison de Madame Poisson during their Royal Visit. And if he was very lucky, reflected Wiggles, he might even get to use his charms on some lovely young French Countess or Marquess...

Versailles

The Hall of Lesser Pleasures, a vast hall in the symmetrical series of palaces and Chateaus that was Versailles, was being set up for a trade conference between the Kingdom of France and the Empire of Japan. Oak tables and roaring fireplaces dotted the Hall, chandeliers hung overhead. His Most Christian Majesty wished to use all of his resources to gain good trade deals for France, specifically for his brother le Comte d’Provence who owned Renault Ltd. D’Artois would preside over the conference, which would cover many trades and tariffs, but would focus on a deal to upgrade Renault via Honda and provide the Japanese investment while giving the Kingdom of France a cheap and reliable economy car market.

Finance Minister Kihara Shirai saw the conference with the French as an excellent boost to Japan's economic fortunes; his view was shared by both Honda President Matsuo Takumi and Mitsubishi President Hamano Taiki, both of whom are drafted into the Japanese delegation. President Matsuo saw the conference as a chance to build Honda into a genuine power player of the new Japanese economy, while President Hamano planned to expand Mitsubishi's ever-growing reach into French markets.

(OOC: Assume that they've already arrived in Versailles)

Versailles

Minister Kihara Shirai and Presidents Taikai and Takumi were lodged in the Grand Chateau itself in honor of State. In the Hall of Lesser Pleasures, le Comte d’Provence, French Royal and business mogul, hosted the Japanese delegation with champagne and good spirits.

After being greeted by an invitation to Her Serene Majesty Jillesepone’s uber-haute soirees and subsequently showered with elegance the negotiations began. What the Kingdom of France was angling for was the exclusive right to distribute Honda in the European market, under the auspices of Renault Ltd. (which would afterward scrap all domestic designs in favor of home made foreign models). This meant factories in France and huge forthcoming investments in Nippon. Honda Corporation would be paid yearly tariffs for this right. The numbers are substantial, and gargantuan considering that the Kingdom of France had access to the colonial market in Algeria as well as the burgeoning Tsarist market. His Royal Highness le Comte said such a bold business venture. Economy cars for a Feudal Europe, after all, only made sense.

D’Provence was also quick to point out that such a bold strategy was necessary for the changing world, and only the beginning of a Franco-Japanese corporate conglomeration in Europe. Chiisu Suun, now Emperor Shinseiki, had always done business well with the Kingdom of France. Now there was a chance for more profit than ever.

Port Royal, Roycelandia

Advance teams of the French Court begin to arrive in the limpid Roik capital.

Members of His Most Christian Majesties Garde Suisse and Gardes du Corps are the first to arrive, securing with their Roycelandian hosts the locations at which French Majesty and Aristocracy was to stay. Following them were hundreds, soon thousands of servants: butlers, scullery and ladies maids, and of course chefs.

They occupy and make finally ready the apartments, townhouses, and even palaces in Port Royal where the French Court would stay. Furniture stores soon ran out of goods, markets would need to re-stock, and some average Roiks would here a bit of French now and then.

As soon as Louis-Auguste wrapped up with the Spanish Ambassador and Japanese Delegation, Versailles-on-vacation would arrive. Thence onto view the colonies, possibly even a Quinntonnian visit, before finally stopping for the Tsars jubilant coronation.

Needless to say, most in the know would expect the Port Royal leg of the journey to be the A item on the itinerary.

With foreign affairs personnell swamped by other requirements and not noticing the French until now, efforts are made to make up for lost time.

A communique is sent to France, suggesting the two nations begin efforts to increase economic and diplomatic co-operation.

And Versailles answers the Chinese a resounding why not!

Consulates, until this point non-existant between the two nations, are formed.

As well, China is invited to formally send an ambassadorial staff to Versailles.

((More tommorrow, ciao!))

Versailles

Minister Kihara Shirai and Presidents Taikai and Takumi were lodged in the Grand Chateau itself in honor of State. In the Hall of Lesser Pleasures, le Comte d’Provence, French Royal and business mogul, hosted the Japanese delegation with champagne and good spirits.

After being greeted by an invitation to Her Serene Majesty Jillesepone’s uber-haute soirees and subsequently showered with elegance the negotiations began. What the Kingdom of France was angling for was the exclusive right to distribute Honda in the European market, under the auspices of Renault Ltd. (which would afterward scrap all domestic designs in favor of home made foreign models). This meant factories in France and huge forthcoming investments in Nippon. Honda Corporation would be paid yearly tariffs for this right. The numbers are substantial, and gargantuan considering that the Kingdom of France had access to the colonial market in Algeria as well as the burgeoning Tsarist market. His Royal Highness le Comte said such a bold business venture. Economy cars for a Feudal Europe, after all, only made sense.

D’Provence was also quick to point out that such a bold strategy was necessary for the changing world, and only the beginning of a Franco-Japanese corporate conglomeration in Europe. Chiisu Suun, now Emperor Shinseiki, had always done business well with the Kingdom of France. Now there was a chance for more profit than ever.

The Japanese delegation was most impressed with the proposal for Renault to manufacture Honda automobiles; Honda President Matsuo Takumi eagerly agreed to the proposal, and requested that he be allowed to stay on in France to sign the relevant legal documentation. The delegation also suggested the creation of a bilateral trade commission to oversee the economic relationship between the two powers and solve any disputes which arose from trade links.

Minister Kihara also presented Emperor Shinseiki's best wishes to the French, stating that the young monarch had always regarded France with fondness and wished to see France and Japan establish a strong working relationship.

Chancellor Wilhelm of Germany wishes to hold an economic summit with France and her Allies in an attempt to open up for free trade among germany and the rest of Europe.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=459673
The Holy Republic, Deutschland (AMW ONLY)

As always, the French were impressed with the gentility, courtesy, and utter pragmatism of the Japanese people.

The Bilateral Commission on Franco-Japanese trade was given HMCM Louis-Auguste's personal stamp of approval, as was the Renault-Honda deal. The Japanese were invited to se up a formal embassy in Versailles itself.

In regards to Germany, France collectivley groaned. Two World wars at the hands of Germans were more than enough to make Frenchmen uneasy at the noise of a Germanic revival. Yet the Kingdom, for the sake of the dynasty, had to maintain cordial relations with the Holy Republic of German, regardless of its repulsive title (at least to monarchist sensibilities).

In that spirit Versailles annoounced its decision to discuss sending a delegation to such a summit. The Tsarist envoy, Count Falkenstein, was consulted as to what the Tsars opinion would be on such a matter.

Germany would no doubt get trade, but the Holy League was tightly regulated with the Bourbons eagerly awaiting a chance to have monopolies in the vast Russian market. Free trade, in modern Europe, or in any period of historical Europe, by necessity was a relative term.

OOC: Elk, Wingert may be in charge of Russia, but unless he wants to immediately alienate his new subjects, he's not going to reintroduce a hated landmark of the post-communist Russia---monopolies. Putin's defeat of them gained him much support, and while the French ones may not be as corrupt, they'll still really irk a strongly free market populace.

The Chinese delegation that arrives in Versailles packs heavyweight diplomats such as the Minister of Finance Li Mei Chen.

Trade and foreign affairs would be most of the agenda.

"I am disgusted at the current monarchies of World, especially Europe. This barbaric, and backward revival is something we could not accept decades back, and yet somehow, power hungry individuals take on to the podium of a king. Germany shall have no king, nor queen and the Republic shall reign supreme." - Chancellor Wilhelm Heidan in response to the growing monarchies in the World.

The planned Economic Interests Summit in Germany was cancelled, and a more political themed conference was expected. Every European nation was invited, China, Japan and the United States were invited also.

using the Same Thread:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=459673

"The most compelling argument against Absolute Democracy is a ten-minute chat over coffee with the average voter."- His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I, paraphrasing Sir Winston Churchill.

Needless to say, this Bon Mot is a hit with most people in the Empire, who are firmly of the opinion that without someone like His Majesty at the helm, Roycelandia would almost certainly turn out like one of those African or Latin American places with all the Civil War and Anarchy- or worse, like that "Indian Communist lot that we had the dust-up with in the Pacific not long ago"...

OOC- point taken AC, although I must assume the Kargat has the ability to change that if the Tsar so wished. Replace 'monopolies' with 'good business' deals then. Apologies.

Versailles

"Puton le Bosch!," exclaimed a flustered Louis-Auguste, remarking to Prime Minister Maurepas as he was powdered for Daily Mass.

"Oui, Sire," replied the minister cooly "yet I should not worry too much. The West will never again stand for a militant Germany..."

His Most Christian Majesty relaxed visibly, instructing the dresser to put a little more rouge on the right cheek.

"...And Your Majesty knows full well with the Tsars attainment of Russia in toto Germanys economy is not going to threaten anybody anytime soon. Who are they going to trade with? The Swedes?!?" Maurepas' crafty and allaying conclusion staisfied the Most Christian King, who now stood powdered and took a shot of cognac before lighting a cigarette.

"Very good, Maurepas. Keep the course steady. Let the Germans have room to breath and invite guests. Nevertheless, insert several ODSL teams into Berlin. We must know what the hun is up to, hmmm?" the King was now draped in a velvet robe emblazoned with hundreds of fleur-de-lys of god.

"Oui, Sire."

"And put some teams into the Slavs new nest. I dont trust that Aidarov. Lets get some plans in the works." His Majesty began the slow walk to the Hall of Mirrors.

"Send the Japanese our thanks for the happy trade conference conclusion. Send His Imperial Highness the Emperor my personal gratitude. Tell the Roiks Ill be there, with an entourage of course, within the week. Oh, and make the Chinese happy. Get them settled into the Chateau, and get them to the Queens soiree tonight."

"Oui, Sire." Maurepas bowed as the King passed him, standing before the opening doors which cast a brilliant light on him.

"And get presents ready for my father-in-laws coronation! Does he know my wifes five months pregnent yet? Falkenstein hasnt given me a card if thats the case! See to it, Atlas!"

The King conluding with the Prime Ministers pet name, the trumpets rang, and the Royal Family proceeded to go to the Chapel Royale for Mass.

At this time of year, Berlin became a grand Christian city. It is December, and the religious Germany today began their decorations for the holidays.

Chancellor Wilhelm was to spend a day at the Berlin Christmas fairgrounds. As he was watching, a young man by the name of Niklas Reimann, an ambitous God fearing military officer still in his 20's. As the crowd cheered, so did Wilhelm, as they watched the stage performance. The drapes fell, and there was a break. "May God Bless us all!" cried the Chancellor, as the theater had responded warmly with cheers, and shouts of excitement. Niklas than comes forth and tries to place a golden crown taken from the stage. Wilhelm refuses, and the crowd breaks into a frenzy of cheers.

"Put it on, will ya chancellor!?" screamed one.

"Our new King!" cried an elderly woman.

Niklas once again comes forth and tries to place the crown on the head of WIlhelm, but WIlhelm once again refuses in a humbly and stately manner.

"Put it on, put it on!" "Wear it!" "Be Crowned!"

"It is much appreciated! However, I must not accept! This crown is no better than the symbolic hammer and sickle, nor the chains of slavery. I instead shall put on my cap, and lead Germany to glory. let us feast, and celebrate, for it is our lord Jesus' birthday." said WIlhelm, and the crowd clapped and silence fell suit.

"Niklas, you have done your and me a good favor." whispered Wilhelm.

"He did WHAT?" spluttered His Majesty as Wiggles showed him the broadcast of the events in Berlin. "He refused a shiny, shiny crown? Just to make a point? What kind of self-respecting ruler doesn't have a shiny, golden, jewel encrusted crown, all glittery and..." His Majesty trailed off. "Sorry, I was getting distracted there. Anyway, keep an eye on the Germans. I don't trust them."

To show there are no hard feelings, Versailles sends Berlin a Christmas Card.

The caption reads "May this season of Christs coming reward you with a blessed holiday. With best wishes for a New Year, Louis-Auguste and Jillesepone R et R." (Roi et Reine).

It is Versailles greatest hope that German ambitions will not affect the realm of Most Christian King nor his allies, and that all may co-exist peacefully.

(((Royce, Ill have that visitation post up immenently, Ill TG you a link when its up)))

OOC: Elk, the Germans are looking at a full military alliance with Aidarov, sworn enemy of the Holy League and eternal thorn in the Tsar's side. I don't think friendly relations are possible at this point...

If you guys have read the play by Shakespeare, Caesar, you will understand.

The Holy Alliance has always been destructive to the German economy. Germany only seeks to live with them, not among them. besides, the German army ought to be tuned up a bit.


Deutchland respects the people and government of Frankreich. Frankreich
may be the most cooperative of the Holy Alliance, and ultimately, France is favored in national surveys of the German people.


Although Germany is a republic, it has retained many of the traditions of Nationalist Germany and the Weimar republic. Gott segnen Deutschland.

Frohe Weihnachten!


http://www.hat.net/album/south_america/patagonia/024_lake_district/003_puerto_varas/11270050_german_colonization_celebration.jpg
France has been invited to represent the Holy Alliance of Europe in the Conference of the Republics.

OOC: Well, I'm not sure if you guys are busy, if you guys aren't, if it's ok and interesting enough for you, we might as well have the Conference of Republics in Berlin and see what beef we have against each other, or what sweet cakes have we made for each other.

[OOC: Well, I dunno about Germanic-Franco relations, but I was planning to 'persuade' Versailles into a full military cooperation with Spain, hopefully giving me the manufacturing base I need to begin refitting our Leopard 2A5s and Typhoon Eurofighters with more Spanish technology - although the L. 2A5 and the Typhoon did have a lot of Spanish engineering in it... so, depending on German relations with HL, there is room for cooperation in any military build-up.]

Versailles announces that not including His Imperial Majesty Tsar Wingert is a travesty and scandal that will whip about Europe. Either Germany will allow all Holy League powers to attend, or none will.

The Bourbons, French and hopefully soon Spanish, as well as the Groznys and Caesars will not tolerate a resurgence in German nationalism at the expense of a heretofore peaceful Western Europe. In that vein, HMCM Louis-Auguste re-inforces his desire to work hand in glove with His Spanish Brother, no doubt a military and economic alliance in the strongest possible terms (like the Pact Famille) will be signed between France and Spain.

The rise of a new Germany will doubtless be on the Agenda of the Roiycelandian/French vacation/summit in Port Royal. Versailles also is expected to court Quinntonnian support in an effort to keep Germany a nuetral power. Said His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste "If they're claiming to be the Wiemar Republic, and not the resurgence of Nazi and Prussian militarism they appear to be, them let Germany disarm as she has for near a half century now. Quinntonia, Britain, Roycelandia, France, Rome, Spain, and never forgetting Russia: Our Western lands have lost millions of our native sons and daughters at the expense of the Nazis and Prussians! It is incumbent upon us, the Western powers of both the Holy League and NATO, to prevent any conditions in Germany that will take us down that dark road trodden all too many times."

On the more covert level, the most gallant intelligence officer in the Kingdom of France, the Scarlet Pimpernel, is reported to have infiltrated a Berlin Ministry itself. The Pimpernel and his league, disguised master spies and fighters, will set up spy networks in Germany, much like what has been done in the SADR. The purpose is to gage the enemy threat level, and have people on the inside to stop it if it comes to that.

(((Hey Maccabees, Ill do a lengthy response on El Dorado tonight, sorry about the delay. Ciao. Oh and Royce, the visit wll be up by tonight too.)))

OOC: Spies in Germany? Germany isn't that ill-informed either. Here comessssss Himmler!

Mr. Tsar Wingert has been invited to the conference. However, if ALL Holy Alliance members wish to attend, they will attend as the Holy Alliance.

Germany will not disarm because of foreign accusations. Why not France disarm? With the the growing powers of feudal European nations, and the development of their armies, Germany must have one as well. Germany wishes to defend itself, and the ideas we believe in.

The Chinese ambassadors in Versailles were sent to talk about opening up the French economy mainly, but firstly they would have to deal with the past issues between China and France.

Relations in the past had been very cold, with the former Xiannese monarchy coming close to war with them. Getting that sticking point out of the way would be crucial to further relations.

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I is naturally concerned at the thought of German Re-Armament, especially since the last two times it happened most of Europe got turned into a facsimile of the Moon's Surface.

"Germany must be allowed to defend herself from aggressors" explained His Majesty on the TV Show This Morning, "But that doesn't mean having a military that threatens the peace and stability in Europe by it's very presence."

"Of course, it would be the very definition of Poetic Justice if the French invaded Germany, but it's not going to happen. For a start, French Women and French Cuisine are so good there's no reason for a Frenchman to want to start a War that would involve leaving in the first place!"

The German army (Bundesheer), headquartered in Koblenz, had a personnel strength of appropriately 282,000, including 133,000 conscripts. It was composed of two principal elements, the field army and the much smaller territorial army. Territorial army units were slated to be merged with the field army by the end of 1995. The field army is listed in The Military Balance, 1994-1995 as consisting of three corps and eight divisions (four armored divisions, three armored infantry divisions, and one mountain division).

The amount of troops have not change much from the 1990's. However, German law requires that conscripts serve a minimum of two years, before signing on for additional 9 months each term.

A compulsory three week military education has been approved of once a male reaches 18. (Usually, right after high school) Females will choose a attend three week military program.

The month of Fevrier, Anno Domini 2006, would be remembered throughout history as a zenith of the French Restoration, a period of remarkable French prosperity and tranquility following the “Troubles”, and the time when the House of Bourbon rose to tiers not achieved since Louis XIV.

This remarkable sequence of joyous events, which began on February 1st in what became known as White Wednesday in French History (white being an allusion to royalist sentiment, v. red for example), and soon after a French public holiday…one of the few, as most holidays in France were Catholic religious feats or royal birthdays.

On that particular Wednesday evening Her Serene Majesty Queen Jillesepone was playing piquet with the Most Christian King, and two of his bothers Princes of the Blood d’Artois and de Normandie. It was a particularly large gathering, and the Salon of Hercules in Versailles was crammed to capacity, fairy like as the beauty of its inhabitants was reflected by walls of mirrors and gold.

That Her Majesty was pregnant was common knowledge, very pregnant. She took it in stride, however, having already delivered a set of twins the heirs of Russia. Her father Tsar Wingert called often to see the health of the baby, the sex of which was not publicly known for political reasons, and the royal surgeons were not speculative in such matters. As she collected a hefty pile of gold coins with a grin, she felt it start. The baby was being born. She rose, collected herself, and whispered to her husband the King. Louis rose at once, and led her out quickly. The gossip as the doors shut behind the royal family was deafening.

Of course, in an absolute monarchy, a royal birth becomes much more than a tabloid affair. A Bourbon heir would assure a direct Royal heir for the Kingdom of France, quashing more dissent than the Marechaussee could even manage…and further more made the Crown Princes of the two most powerful countries in Europe, France and Russia, a strange and ultra-lethal breed of king: the Bourbon-Wingert.

Two hours later, after all France had been informed of the labor. At 8:45 p.m., the grandees of the Bedchamber, both Most Christian and Most Serene, were admitted to the room where the Queen was about to birth, this was an ancient tradition from time immemorial. At 9:38 p.m., all the bells in France were rung by the King’s order, and all the Kingdom would receive the announcement: This evening, Her Majesty the Queen has been delivered of a perfectly healthy Dauphin.

The squealing, red, cute tiny boy was immediately created the Duc de Barry, and given a superb name reflecting his quintessential ancestry:

Louis-Ferdinand-Wingert-Auguste-Xavier-Charles de Bourbon et Grozny, the next King of France.

He had been named in honor of Louis XX, patriarch of the Restoration, and when the time came would assume the crown as Louis XXI.

A week long holiday was declared, with all taxes being withheld for that period of time. All of France, which was happy without reserve under Louis-Auguste, who had done more to power the French economy than, well, any Frenchman ever, laughed in joy together.

In the spirit of the occasion, the Royal Household announced three the Princes of the Blood would be marrying. The eldest at 27, Monseigneur le Comte d’Artois, would be marrying a Spanish Princess, although not of the immediate Spanish Bourbons, La Princesa del Conti. Monseigneur le Comte de Provence would marry the Duchess of Kiev, a member of the Tsarist Court. Monseigneur le Duc de Normandie was to wed a legendarily beautiful Algerian Princess, Anastasia, and his dutiful work to the King allowed him a marriage of love rather than state. The youngest of the Kings brothers, Monseigneur le Duc d’Aquitaine, responsible for inciting a bit of chaos in the Troubles, was still single by the Kings wish until he recovered his sensibilities. In the meantime, he spent his days incognito in a Roycelandian Island in the Bahamas, racing boats and living clean for a while.

Finding this an opportune time, the Ministry of Culture under le Prince de Conde, a aristocrat with a trace of royal blood, but not enough to be in the direct family, (a newly created ministry under the cabinet changes of Prime Minister M. de Maurepas) unleashed the French Peoples Cultural Restoration Mass Movement.

King Louis-Auguste, who had studied Mao in university while in secret exile in England before the Restoration, realized the potential of inspiring the masses, providing a way to both accommodate the French people in toto with the idea of the Restoration, and using public opinion to finally make the limited resistance elements irrelevant. The Movement had several components but focused them all on their chosen apparatus: Cultural Fetes.

Four times a year, the Crown instituted the law that every province must host Cultural Fairs, and that all subjects must attend the celebrations. For example, dwellers in Paris would remove to the nearby countryside to celebrate. The Fairs were really fairs, with food and drink, but they could best be described as a time warp.

The setting was, of course, the 18th Century. Gaily colored tents dotted pristine meadows, with the village fairy tree standing out decorated with ribbons. All modern dress and technology was forbidden, indeed, violence against objects such as cell phones and blackberries was encouraged in the frenzied festivals, which lasted one full day. Commoners would attend in fine wool dressing and garb depending on their individual status, Clergymen went about: the typical medieval friar, plump and red faced smiling on all her sees. Nobles would be distinguished by adorned tricorner hats and swords at their hips, wigs and etcetera for the ladies as well. The fair would begin with a mass at the local cathedral at dawn in the morning, with the adoration of a Holy Relic. The subjects would give thanks for the Catholic Church and its Holy mysteries (excepting registered Protestants and those of the Jewish faith, who attended a different service before the festivals, but still focused of the glory of the Bourbon King), and give thanks to God for the Restoration that had saved France from the evil conspiracies that had threatened to destroy her. After Mass, the subjects would adjourn to the picturesque fields, all adorned with a massive portrait of Louis-Auguste and the Royal Family, to begin the festivities. They would be kicked off at high noon when the local Seigneur was carried in on a chair, drunk and grinning, and firecrackers were ignited.

Then the soup and mutton was served, the former via massive steaming cauldrons and the latter by long boards. Hot bread, fresh from the ovens, was handed out by besmocked bakers. Wine was poured from massive casks. The longer the festival lasted, the more potent the grade of wine became, by the end of the celebration the wine was cut with brandy and opium. After the food, there were the games, although the eating tended to last throughout the fair. Games for men were wrestling, running competitions, of course huge amounts of football, and mounted jousts for the nobles. Games emphasizing roughhousing and a tough French male ideal were played, with all men being encouraged to participate. Women adjourned to quilting and baking, some went to sing, others went to tea, most watched the men play the sports. Following the sports, great and multicolored maypoles were set up, and the music started. By this time it was late afternoon, everyone was beaming, and the wine would send one into a grinning stupor.

It would also be noticed that modernity was forgotten, and the French were slowly being unhindered of such ideas as democratic representation, and embracing the old ways and traditions of life. A pleasant glow surrounded all those who attended the movements, which were of course prime ground for the Secret State Police, the Marechaussee. The secret police would identify those who were not embracing the traditional celebrations, still using modern items, and speaking out of the ordinary subjects had their names taken down. And since all attended, it was a fine means of cataloging the populace. As well, subjects who showed zealous participation in the Fairs got a good mark, and over time if this devotion was maintained they themselves would be invited to participate in the Restoration.

As the youths and maids danced happily round the maypoles, the festival of Love and Beauty got underway. The commoners’ handsomest youth and the fairest made were declared “King and Queen” of the Fair, and subsequently would be married to one another in a public ceremony at the beginning of the festivals culmination by the beaming red faced Friar, under a religious canopy next to the festivals adored portrait of Louis-Auguste. The firstborn of each would be named Louis/Louise respectively, and the King gave his personal blessings on such unions to be a gift of France. This emphasized the Monarchies continued desire for a rising growth rate, now at 6%, by many marriages

That would increase the number of good French families.

By night the festival was at its height. Dancing in great peasant circles to violins and drums, drunk of wine and drugs, by great bonfires. Young couples frolicked in the hay (perfectly fine in the Kings view, since any pregnancies would result in another marriage and burgeoning family) and singing could be heard for miles around. Toasts, started by the Marechaussee, were given to the King in booming voices. They did not discourage one to bow to the King’s portrait. It had a more medieval character than any sort of movie.

And the next day all would return to their normal lives with modern equipment, but they would relish a return to that ecstatic fair. Thus the Restoration created a mass movement, another tool the Bourbon King could use to maintain harmony in France.

At an elated news conference, it was announced that the Godfather of the child would be Emperor in Exile Bao Dai IV, Emperor of Vietnam that is. As a gesture of benevolence, unprecedented save for occasions such as a Dauphin’s birth, His Most Christian Majesty decreed that he would pay for the transport of all Indochinese (Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese) exiles to Corsica, where they would be housed under a provisional government under Bao Dai. They would be given good work opportunities, and the government of Bao Dai would be partially subsidized by the French Crown. The French Ministry of State explained a measure of His Majesty’s generosity was in part recompense for what the King believed were erroneous actions by the French at the time in Indochine. Tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands were expected to arrive, but all would be accommodated.

Unparalleled economic prosperity was the result of French neo-mercantilism. By using Algeria as a market for only Holy League products, by trading with Tsarist Russia using an excellent gold standard, by opening unprecedented trade opportunities with the Roycelandian Empire, and by remaining open to all Western markets in part France had proven that absolute monarchy could support both a sound domestic prosperity plan as well as providing for a ambitious foreign policy. The Ministry of War had just ordered several new squadrons of Dassault-Rafales, four new Marseilles and cruisers and Nantes class attack submarines, and an entire new Battalion of Order of the Golden Fleece Mechanized Armor was to be formed. Another bit of news, the Royal Navy announced they would build a sister ship to the assault carrier Indomitable, formerly the Charles de Gaulle.

There were plans underway to build a major rail system in North Africa with the Roycelandians, and any day supersonic flights would begin from Port Royal to Marseilles. King Louis I in Algeria ruled his Kingdom well, its trade with France making the economy one of the most stable in Africa. Dissent had arisen after the troubles in France, but after Louis-Auguste restored order things in Algeria quieted down as well. His wife, Louis-Auguste’s niece Mme. Polignac, now HRH, had just announced a pregnancy as well.

The Restoration, and the House of Bourbon across the lands, and the nation and people of France, flourished, White Wednesday was to be remembered.

Versailles

As a Te Deum Mass was being sung in the Chapel Royale in thanks for the Dauphins birth, Monsieur de Saint Germain, His Majesty’s Minister of War, and Monsieur le Merechal de Saxe, the Chairman of the General Staff, issued the following instructions. As well, they hailed the newly christened 17th Ordu du Saint-Esprit Heavy Bomber Wing “Cherubim”, made up of Roycelandian made 72 Lancaster II Heavy Bombers, as they set up shop at ODSE Command in Grenoble.

His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste called for the enlistment of one-hundred thousand souls. They would serve neither in the Gardes Francaises nor the Royal Army, however. They would be something new. They would be the Royal Vanguard Legion, a force of crack marines trained in heavy jungle fighting, river warfare, amphibious operations, and helicopter maneuvers. Unlike the four year enlistment term for the Gardes Francaises and the lifetime mercenary contract of the Royal Army, the Vanguard Legion would be a ten year commitment. They would receive 30% more than standard the bounty given to Gardes Francaises troops, and would also be allotted a fine amount of acreage and means of income in the colonies following their term of service. It would be an honorable corps, with a singular opportunity to achieve a lower rank of the peerage through valorous conduct.

It would be the new French shock troops, comparable only to the Royal Dauphin Corps, that heavy infantry army supported by waves of Abrams tanks.

As soon as the news, and rumor of the bounty, went out, tens of thousands of Frenchman turned out to the Champ de Mars to register, and be shipped off to New Provence for boot camp at Ft. Kourou, in the shadow of the French/Roycelandian Space Program. With such a reward, a full quota was expected in no longer than a month. It would be a rigorous training program, but the jungle environment of New Provence was perfect for the need.

French transports had already left for the South American French Colony bearing training amphibious craft and artillery pieces, and two hundred Bell Huey Helicopters freshly purchased from Port Royal were en route to participate as well.

The Roycelandian Economy was also booming, both literally and figuratively. Several lucrative arms deals with France had been sealed, and already the positive effect on the economy was noticeable.

Additionally, the Colonial Aircraft Factory had delivered the first Assegai Supersonic Passenger Jet to Air Roycelandia, and the maiden trip- from Port Royal to Marseilles- was expected by the end of the week, and by the end of the financial year flights were expected to be operating to and from Port Royal, Port Imperial, Marseilles, Goa, and Washington, D.C.

Imperial Airways, meanwhile, have announced daily services to Marseilles, travelling Port Royal-Cape Verde Islands-Algiers-Marseilles, and Port Imperial-Cairo-Marseilles, using the Sunderland Flying Boat, abiding by the motto that "The flight should be as memorable as the destination".

Recruitment for the Imperial Guard and Imperial Airforce is also up, and there are rumours that the 5th Jungle Combat Division of the Imperial Foreign Legion and the 18th Combat Engineers (Tropical) of the Imperial Guard are in Guyana helping train the new French units.

Meanwhile, Imperial Railways have announced a major upgrade of their railways lines in Roycelandian East Africa, with the Port Imperial-Nairobi-Mombasa line being upgraded to a TGV/Eurostar type line, allowing for speeds of up to 350km/h on straight and level stretches, and for faster carriage of freight, cargo, and other goods within REA.

Depending how sucessful the upgrade is, the Port Imperial-Khartoum-Cairo line may also be upgraded, pending approval from United Elias.

The French SNCF (Societie Nationale de Chemin-Fer, or National Railways Company) will be assisting Imperial Railways in the design of the locomotives and rolling stock, and Imperial Railways are quick to assure everyone that their trademark Diesel Locomotives That Look Like Steam Engines aren't being phased out of service and will be around for a very, very long time.

The grandfather clock in His Most Christian Majesty’s council chamber had just struck five after eleven in the morning. It was an early spring day, the 26th of March in fact, and a bright sun and sweet wind flooded over the vast and incomparably luxurious Chateau de Versailles.

As chime-like grandiose bells sounded, the Most Christian King himself entered through an opened mirror panel and took a seat at the gilded oak table, easily the size of a swimming pool. At the table also, at a considerable distance from Louis-Auguste, were Prime Minister M. de Maurepas, wearing a very worried, strained look, and Ministers of State and of the King’s Household Messieurs le Compte de Vergennes et le Marquis de Miromesnil respectively. The three ministers indeed were grim, all staring down at the veneered table.

In contrast to these gentleman was the King. He wore a brand new military uniform, a mix of Suisse Garde and Royal Vanguard Legion, with a rank of ‘Supreme Commander’ in both denoted by nearly ten pound epaulets and an equal weigh of medals upon his besashed chest. He had fairly bounded in the door, a noticeable spring in his step, having come fresh from reviewing the Royal Army Sikhs 2nd Corps on maneuvers in le Grand Parc. After a morning of playing soldier, his favorite game, he was inspired. He put down a riding geld and placed a fashionably booted foot upon the table. Louis-Auguste then lit a cigarette, a nameless valet fluidly placing down (on a coaster) a chilled mug of Versailles-brewed beer. Recovered from the nuclear near catastrophe, and wish renewed hope, he grinned to his other valets sitting at the table.

He took a thirsty gulp of the beer.

“Messieurs. I have decided that we will go on a full offensive once again. We’ll simply outfight the remainder of ECOWAS and their pig communist allies.” The Most Christian King then waved a hand dismissively. “It’s as simple as that, gentlemen. Of course, we shall incur casualties more grievously and such and the economic consequences will take time to adjust for, but it will be worth it. We will win, you shall see. That is all.”

King Louis-Auguste then made to stand, but his Prime Minister prayed him sit once again, which he did. It was then the Prime Ministers turn to light a cigarette. He was eighty-two now, and it showed. His hand shook as he smoked.

“Sa majeste, I am afraid it is no longer as simple as that.”

The King’s eyes narrowed dangerously, he asked “What exactly do you mean, Maurepas?”

Messieurs de Vergennes et Miromesnil melted into their armchairs, almost disappearing from view. Monsieur le Prime Minister nearly finished the cigarette in one pull. “Majesty, there are several problems which have arisen.”

“Speak freely, Maurepas.”

“Thank you, Sire.” He took a deep breath, putting the cigarette out. It took him a minute to speak, and his voice was broken. And then he did not speak directly speak to the King, but rather read from a series of notes in a portfolio, which he opened only with a shaky hand.

“Firstly, Majesty, Your Ministers forecast that within three months, under present conditions, we shall no longer be able to maintain the war effort in any suitable condition. Much less manage any more offensives, Sire. Secondly” at this point the Most Christian King’s eyes had gone from slits to wide open “, we forecast that six months to half a year following our inability to undertake a war with reasonable chances of engagement and success underground trade unions, worker movements, and the disenfranchised intelligentsia will be able to stage work stoppages. In this matter we judge it will be impossible to solve this particular problem successfully by force: for though we repress the vital engine of our economy maybe for even a decade, the end result will be a revolution that we judge will topple the dynasty. And thirdly, the le Duc de Broglie, Your Minister of War, shot himself less than an hour ago at Fte. Ste. Jeanne. Majesty, that does not bode well for our war effort.”

The King looked like a ghost, and it was not the face powder, his jaw hung absolutely slack. But Maurepas could not see him, and shaking in his chair continued to read his notes with that quivering and breaking voice.

“Sire, in Your Ministers humble opinion, the African and Atlantic War’s have crippled the autocracy’s ability to maintain absolute government as we have done for the past four years following Your Majesty’s dismissal of the Estates General. These wars have highlighted the defections in our administrative ability, and the ability to muster the population as we need to. Perhaps if this war had gone more, uh, uh, simply, Majesty, this would not have happened. Alas the war has not.” He saw the defiant sparkle in the King’s clack eyes. “Yes, overbearing and Draconian force will postpone the inevitable, but it shall, we judge, remain inevitable nonetheless.”

Louis-Auguste turned to the side, and threw up, copiously. Valets sprang forward, cleaning up the King first and floor second. His eyes staring emptily at the frescoed ceiling, he smoked cigarette after cigarette. He called for cognacs to steady his form, and he drank them. Some time later the clock struck five in the afternoon. All the men and their sovereign remained exactly as they were at eleven.

“Is there any hope for Us?” Louis-Auguste looked to Maurepas, and le Comte de Maurepas fervently returned his look.

“Of course, Sire! We may yet save the dynasty, and even salvage the autocracy. That is why we must solve this situation at once!” The Prime Minister took out another series of thickly bound notes, this time with a steady hand and hopefully purpose. “If we grant certain compromises now, Versailles will remain in firm control. By forcing the opposition underground on such a large level, we force our opponents to ally with one another and become de facto revolutionaries. If we give voice to the sub-elements of society, which we can no longer deny in the face of a war which Your Ministers are agreed we must continue, then we preclude their going underground. We then may deal with them in the open, setting the Left against the Right and Center, all the while gaining a final victory in this war. However until the war is over Your Majesty, perhaps even well beyond then, it is necessary for the Crown to grant concessions to the people. There is no choice. If we can organize a steady government now, we can retain for the monarchy every valuable power it possesses now. To wait is to invite total disaster. If the Restoration is to continue, and is to fight an African war that the communists will not relent upon, massive reforms must be made at once, while the signs of distress are only budding as opposed to in full bloom.”

After a long and heated debate, they sat in session until noon the next day, March 31st, His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste grudgingly, knowing it was the only way to save the monarchy with full power, signed the documents. They would be recorded in history as…

The April Manifesto

Proclaimed;
On the 1st of April,
Anno Domini Two-thousand and Seven,
Versailles,
HMCM King Louis-Auguste, R.G.,

Be it known the following:

In these days of great struggle with an external enemy who has tried to enslave our country for nearly two years, the Lord God saw fit to send down upon France a harsh new ideal. The developing internal hardships and external dangers threaten to have a catastrophic effect upon the future conduct of the relentless war. The fate of France, the honor of our heroic army, the good of the people, the whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war be brought to a victorious end no matter what. A cruel enemy is summoning his last strength, and the hour is near when our valiant army, together with our renowned allies, can completely smash the enemy. During these decisive days for the life of France, WE considered it a duty of conscience to facilitate OUR peoples close unity and the rallying of all popular forces in order to achieve victory as quickly as possible, and, in agreement with the Holy Catholic Church, WE consider it to be for the good to:

Constitute an Estates General.
With power to legislate on the realm’s behalf.

Enable a popular election to empower such an Estates General.

WE entrust the good of the fatherland, together with OUR sovereign power, to such an Estates General to conduct state affairs in complete and unshakable unity with the representatives of the people in the legislative institutions according to principles they will determine, and on this to take an inviolable oath. In the name of our deeply beloved homeland, we call all faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfill their holy duty to this land in obedience to King in this difficult moment of national trials and to help HIM, together with the representatives of the people, to lead the French State along the path of victory, prosperity, and glory. May the Lord God help France.

LOUIS-AUGUSTE REX

So it was that two lines of script modified the French Government in greater measure than had been seen since the Restoration itself. History would record Monsieur le Comte de Maurepas as one of the great statesmen of all time for the daunting task of organizing such a body, which was able to first meet on the 2nd of April 2007. The Estates General would convene at the formerly royal domain of le Chateau de St. Cloud, the dynasty managing to exert some force…the last thing Les Bourbons wanted was a government in the heart of things in Paris. The palace itself was some fifteen miles out of the way.

The Estates General of France as it met on April 2nd boasted some 400 representatives, divided between three estates. Above that assembly was the superior house, the State Council, which had only fifty members. The First Estate was the clergy, the Second Estate the aristocracy, and the Third Estate the commoners (the whole gambit, from rich financiers and bankers to penniless members of the intelligentsia). The first and the second estates had one hundred representitives apiece, and the third had a proportionally larger share of two hundred legislators. Votes were circulated for legislation first amongst each estate, and if passed by a simple majority therein were eligible for the Estates General vote. There too a motion would pass by simple majority, each vote being equal in the body. The Estates General was eligible to nominate the various royal cabinet ministers, although the Prime Minister remained an appointee of the King. The Prime Minister too presided over the Estates General, where he registered the vote and presented royal prerogatives to the assembly. Political parties, freed by implication in the April Manifesto, transcended each estate however. In several cases, potential representitives were begrudgingly released from the Bastille or house arrest to serve. In this new Estates General there were seven political parties:

The United Nobility. The United Nobility is by far the most vociferous and reactionary of Restoration France’s recent political parties. It was formed to defend the gentry’s property rights and domination of local politics. Seizing on the recent freedoms granted, these aristocrats, indeed the lions share of the Second Estate, stand for their own benefit over the Crown per se. They oppose anything that usurps their power under the status quo, whether the challenge comes from a centralizing monarch, left wing reformers, or right wing bourgeoisie.
Second Estate: 71 representitives.

Cadets (Constitutional Democrats). Of all the political parties to spring up in the immediate wake of the April Manifesto, no democraphilic party has more sway than the Constitutional Democrats, more commonly known as Cadets. It is full of liberal men who want a legislative parliament elected on the basis on universal suffrage, guarantees of civil rights, the democratization of local government, and more autonomy for the Kingdom of Algeria and the prospective African colonies. This is the party of the professional intelligentsia: professors, academics, lawyers, writers, journalists, teachers, and doctors. In true tradition of the twentieth-century intelligentsia they like to think of themselves as leaders of ‘the people’, standing above narrow party or class interests. Yet in their hearts, as they engage in their dinner-party conversations, they are both afraid and contemptuous of ‘the masses’.
Third Estate: 44 representitives.
Second Estate: 9 representitives.

Aprilists (League of April). The Aprilist party of course takes its name from the April Manifesto, which it sees as the basis for an era of compromise and co-operation between the King’s government and public forces and the creation of a new legal order. It attracts all sorts of officials of one sort or another, who favor moderate political reforms but oppose universal suffrage as a challenge to the monarchy, not to mention their own positions in the central and local bureaucracy. The Aprilist representatives desperately want to continue on in the ‘spirit’ of April. This is also the party of big business, and of the bourgeois heartland. If the Cadets were ‘liberal-radicals’, in the sense that they keep one foot in the democratic opposition, the Aprilists were ‘conservative-liberals’, in the sense they are prepared to work for reform only within the existing order and only in order to strengthen it. Of all the parties, for these reasons and those others implicit among them, the Aprilist party is seen as the most influential and organized, moreover respectable, political party in France.
Third Estate: 56 representitives.
Second Estate: 4 representitives.
First Estate: 12 representitives.

Defensists—Subdivision of Aprilist Party. The Defensists differ from the Aprilists in that once the war is over, they favor a more Cadet approach for the future government to take. Therefore while they may behave in a conservative manner while France is at war, at peace they have a far more liberal view during peace time. This is an ideologically minute detail however, at the moment they are staunchly allied to the Aprilist movement.
Third Estate: 14 representitives.
Second Estate: 1 representative.

Economists. Consists of socialists who have taken another name to gain the permission of the Crown to participate in the Estates General. While the hardened revolutionary communists remained locked away, the more amicable socialists were released to stand for this party. They concentrate on advancing the workers system within this burgeoning ‘Franco-royal-capitalist’ regime rather than seeking to destroy it. They believe that workers should be left alone to run their own affairs, free from the world progressive movement. Allied closely with the Cadets, they believe a reformed French government could be reconciled with socialism under more democratic conditions. They believe socialism should work within the law, in collaboration with the bourgeoisie rather than underground and in violent conflict with it.
Third Estate: 32 representitives.

Union of the French People. For the rightists in France the April Manifesto was to be the start of a street war against who they viewed as ‘revolutionaries’. The Union of the French people is anti-liberal, anti-socialist, and above all pro-monarchy; it speaks of the restoring of the popular autocracy which it believes existed in France before April 2007. The King and his supporters at the Court, who share this vision, patronize the Union. King Louis-Auguste himself wears their badge and wishes its leaders ‘total success’ in their efforts to ‘unify’ loyal Frenchmen behind the Bourbon Dynasty. The Union itself, however, is appalled by what it sees as the King’s own weakness and his feeble failure to suppress the Left. The Union of the French People resolves to suppress the Left for him by forming paramilitary groups and confronting ‘leftists’ in the streets. Alone of all the parties, for now, it possesses a paramilitary organization (tacitly approved by Louis-Auguste). The ‘King’s Men’, as the progressives called them, march with royalist banners, crucifixes, and portraits of the King; knives and brass knuckles in their pockets. The more reactionary Church elements support this group, and the Royal Family itself secretly funds this party in toto. Often encouraged by the police, the ‘King’s Men’ march through the streets beating up anyone they suspect of democratic sympathies. Sometimes they force their victims to kneel in homage before a portrait of the King, or drag them into a church and make them kiss the royal flag. Mainly its party corps was composed of people afraid of loosing their petty status in the social hierarchy due to reforms: small shopkeepers, specialist artisans afraid of multinational big business, low ranking officials and policeman; threatened by the power of democratic institutions. And, of course, bar habitués of all kinds perturbed by the sight of ‘upstart’ workers, students and leftists challenging the God-given power of the King.
Third Estate: 54 representitives.
Second Estate: 14 representitives.
First Estate: 18 representitives.

Catholic Harmony. Constituted solely by French clergymen, Catholic Harmony is devoted to bringing a purely Catholic voice to the debates of the Estates General. They intend to abstain often, and only participate when they have a chance to directly practice or assist in the implementation of the spirit of the Gospels. They are too a huge lobby in regards to the Catholic Church’s domination of education and medical care in the Kingdom of France. In a way they are akin to the United Nobility, in that they are an estate based voting block devoted to their own axiology.
First Estate: 70 representitives.

The Estates General was a legislative parliament then. But it can not enact its own laws. Its legislative proposals cannot become effective until they receive the endorsement of both the King and the aforementioned State Council, which was made up of fifty arch-reactionary aristocrats from the Bourbon’s Inner Circle.

The State Council met in the solarium hall of the grand St. Cloud palace. Its elderly members, most of them retired supra-aristocrats, generals and field marshals sat—or dozed—in comfortable velvet armchairs while stately white liveried footmen moved silently about serving tea and coffee. Its debates were not exactly heated since most of the councilors shared the same royalist attitudes, while some of the octogenarians (of which there were more than a few), had clearly lost most of their faculties. At the end of one debate, for example, a certain General Georges de Lambesc rose with the aid of a silver walker and announced he intended to vote with the majority. However, since the voting had just begun, no majority had yet been formed. General de Lambesc replied with irritation “I still insist I am with the majority!”

Thus had His Most Christian Majesty’s Prime Minister cleverly designed a system that would apparently have all the benefits of democracy without infringing on the royal prerogative. For indeed King Louis-Auguste retained most of the trump cards in this new French government. The King remains commander of the armed forces and retains the exclusive right to declare war and peace. He could also dissolve the Estates General at any time and call for a new election. According to Article 3 of the April Manifesto the King could also legislate by emergency decree when the Estates General was not in session, a useful benefit indeed.

On April 2nd, with war in Africa raging and these freedoms only days old, the Estates general came together at St. Cloud. In a remarkably functional meeting of the days old Estates General Prime Minister de Maurepas elegantly set forward the agenda: to formulate a plan for the war’s continuance and to shore up by reform and representation the Restoration Monarchy.

The first act of the constituted body was a completely unanimous vote, on both the Estates General and State Council levels, in support of the African War.

The legislative bodies also recognized the provisions of the London Conference, and with Versailles taking the lead declared the Kingdom of France’s intention to fight on ground only currently occupied. Along with the King the Estates General also expressed a desire for a final solution to the African dilemma, expressing its willingness to diplomatically resolve the issue. In order to continue the war, the Estates General, once again beginning with unanimous consent, began to design a massive overhaul of the Kingdom’s infrastructure.

Freedom of the press, freedom of business, and general deregulation would soon be put forward as measures to mobilize continued support for the war and garner the funds necessary to do so. That, however, is when debates began. The Union of the French People loudly and adamantly refused to condone ‘communist and seditious underground presses’, while the Cadets demanded such freedoms as a prerequisite for African victory. The United Nobility and Economists merely glared at each other across the hall as debates spilled into argument, both emitting dire threats that unless their demands were met in regards to the propositions they would eventually withdraw their support of the war. That was when the Aprilists promptly mediated the issue, intent on getting both sides to compromise in order to swiftly end the war and set about economic reconstruction. Catholic Harmony prayed.

On the night of the 2nd, following his overseeing the creation of the legislative body he hoped would save the Bourbon Monarchy, his heart given out after a last supreme and brilliant effort, good old Monsieur le Comte de Maurepas died in his sleep. So passed the man responsible for orchestrating the Restorations greatest period of monarchical direct rule first and second its return to a government of more broad based means. Without the statesman’s steady guidance, a guidance that served both Louis XX and Louis-Auguste, it was conspicuously obviously the Estates General would not take off as smoothly as planned.

In one week two stalwart figure of King Louis-Auguste’s ruling circle and respectively committed suicide and passed away naturally. At such a critical time only one candidate for a new Prime Minister was possible, Dr. Nicholas Sarkozy.

Dr. Sarkozy was an eminent Aprilist, who formerly had been director of the Royal Arsenal in Lille. His single overarching ambition was to end the war victoriously, and then secure the ‘Dream of April’. He was a veteran of the Lavragerian War, where he had served with distinction as a Mirage pilot in the ODSE. The son of a rich banker, who followed in his fathers profession, spending several years in New York USQ, he was also a commoner. The King hesitated to give him the singularly key governmental post, yet under the circumstances only Sarkozy—an avowed monarchist indeed, if one who believed the only way to maintain the Bourbon autocracy was to distribute rights out to a popular representative—presented the role of a statesman who could balance all sides and save the situation. Nicholas Etienne Sarkozy, N.E. Sarkozy in the media, immediately set about forming a center conservative government that could first see the war through to a happy ending, and later shore up the Bourbon Dynasty by confirming the Estates General’s privileges and jurisdiction. Following his reception at Versailles before he left for St. Cloud to assume his occupation, the King congratulated him with a gold watch and encouraging words “I know you are the right man for this job.”

Only time would tell if Dr. Sarkozy was indeed ‘the right man for the job.’

Meanwhile, while reforms seemed boundless, following the death of his last Prime Minister, Louis-Auguste set about shoring up the royal edifice. Under tremendous pressure from the Court and the Royal Family he set about creating a system of force which would defend the Crown no matter what.

As all these momentous events were happening left and right, so to speak, His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste was not idle. Fearing that the reforms would waken the autocracy he believed necessary for the salvation of France, the King formulated entities which could enable heavy repression if needed. As the Estates General was created the monarchy also organized two ministries that would be beyond any Estates legislation: on the one hand creating the Ministry of the Interior and on the other hand completely absorbing the Ministry of War into the Royal Court. They both were classified in the official language as Bureaux Noirs, Black Offices, subject to no oversight at all and responsible only and directly to the King.

The Ministry of the Interior was given authority over all judicial and police forces in France, normal and secret (sic. la Marechaussee) as well as general oversight of all domestic affairs commercial, religious, and private in the kingdom. It was staffed with the most reactionary and, well, medieval bureaucrats of the aristocracy the King could find. Just in case there were any mixed signals, Louis-Auguste made his eldest brother le Comte d’Artois the new Minister of the Interior. Artois of course was noted for his penchant for repression and intimidation. The Bastille fell under its direct authority, and consequently His Most Christian Majesty was able to continue his absolute control over crime and punishment in France. ‘Dangerous Politicals’ went on being arrested, dragged off in the night, even as the Estates General sat down to debate. There were several particularly vicious raids on April 1st, where la Marechaussee detained, arrested, and imprisoned the staff on an entire primary school on the grounds they were teaching the children of convicted communists and anti-war activists algebra. One protesting teacher, a howling ‘soccer mom’ type, was beaten with clubs by the police to ‘teach her a lesson.’ No doubt the issues arising in chambers would cause some turbulence. Perhaps the Union of the French People would simply force recognition of ‘the good King’s duty’ by beating up the opposition.

The post of Minister of War, vacant since le Duc de Broglie committed suicide, was given to another Prince du Sang, the King’s third youngest brother le Duc de Normandie, and a war-hero from the African Theatre. Still in absolute control of the military, Versailles stacked the military command over and over again with loyal followers of the royal regime. Merit would get you far, but only being a member of the Court would get you to the top. Under the new de Normandie Ministry the high command was further screened to make sure only the most loyal and reactionary members of the aristocracy ever got in a position of major military power. A massive cult of Louis-Auguste swiftly descended on the armed forces, its intention to show the soldiers that their leader was in fact really “General Bourbon”, a father figure who was leading the French nation past one last bitter war on the way to boundless future prosperity. Material given to the armed forces praised the hearty King for his lifestyle and simple tastes, his accessibility to the common people, his kindness and his wisdom. A popular military short film portrayed Louis-Auguste as “the father of his people, over whose needs he keeps an earnest and compassionate watch.” The King was said to devote “special care and attention to the welfare and moral development of ‘the people’”, frequently joining with the common troops to “partake of their milk and wheaten bread.” To whit: “Thousands of invisible threads center in the King’s heart,” wrote one royal biographer; “and these threads stretch from the tenements of the poor to the palaces of the rich…and that is the reason why the French people always acclaims its King with such fervent enthusiasm, whether in Paris, Versailles, or on his way through the towns and country.

Once the Ministries of the Interior and War had been erected fully, proving to be the two new grand pillars of the April Manifesto system, Versailles created one more body to shore up the Bourbon Autocracy. Appealing to bright and vicious monarchists from the realm’s universities, even secondary schools, His Most Christian Majesty authorized the creation of the White Guards, a radical youth organization that would indoctrinate the young to ‘believe’ in the Restorations dream. Aiming for a hundred thousand members after the first year, the early novitiates swore their oath to “God, King, and le Patrie”, donned their solid white uniforms and went marching loudly in military formation through the streets…often to the cheers of the Union’s ‘King’s Men’. They sang as they marched along:

“White Guards: Gordian Knot
Of French valor.
White Guards: white Rolands
Of the French folksongs
White Guards: white stars,
Not to be crossed from the sky.
White Guards: black nails
In the ribs of the Antichrist.”

Once again French politics had gotten crazy, factional, yet somehow still grandiose and interesting. Utterly conflicted and convoluted. It is good to see things are getting back to normal in la France.

The recent rumbling from France provoked a significant amount of interest in the upper echelons within the German government. The lessening of controls by the King was perceived as nothing more than weakness and a sign of an imminent collapse. Contacts with rebel groups within France were once again contacted. Soon military supplies and money began flowing towards communist groups. All the communist groups were still being suppressed within France and they were likely angry about being excluded from participation. German supplied arms and money would provide them with an opportunity to show their disapproval with the current state of the French government.

The arms would be disassembled and placed in toothpaste, shampoos, and a myriad of normal household products. They were even smuggled in food occassionally. The amount of disassembly required limited the kind and amount of armament sent but made it virtually impossible for the French government to stop all the weapons. Soon millions of dollars worth of weapons were being sent from all kind of destinations to communist groups.

OOC- Uh, Fluer, do you plan to use a Star Trek transporter to beam them in past sealed borders? I mean, huh? We have zero relations, you and I. Thanks for the input but youd be lucky to get a honey-bee across. A more detailed and substantive response would also be greatly appreciated. Now, a glorified bump...I thought this would have provoked more of a response, but oh well.

Bastille Citadel, Paris

From a recent memo given to oubliettees of the Royalist Prison...

How to make the most of your purgative period!

1. Stay hydrated!

In a concrete dungeon, its cells made of rough stone, water may seep from the walls and up from the floor. Use a piece of cloth to absorb the liquid, then squeeze it into your mouth. If your water is rationed, drink when you eat
to help aid digestion, then take small sips at regular intervals throughout the day.

2. Catch insects for food!

Eat grasshoppers (remove the wings first), beetle grubs, termites, and weevils, all of which are good sources of protein. Cockroaches and flies carry dangerous bacteria and should be avoided as food. Do not eat rats and mice unless they are skinned, gutted, and cooked: season with ground up grasshopper wings.

3. Exercise to prevent muscle atrophy!

Even if you are manacled or chained to the wall, keep your blood flowing to your extremities by flexing against your bonds and then relaxing, stretching as far back as possible. If you are not bound, walk back and forth in the cell and do deep knee bends and push-ups to maintain physical strength.

4. Keep your mind occupied!

Keep your brain active by remembering pleasurable non-political experiences, down to the smallest details.

5. Confess!

A full confession and request for pardon frees both the soul and the body from purgatory. Cleanse your soul, love your King, and freedom will once again be yours.

OOC: Sorry NG, I think we're all just terribly busy at the moment. I know I am, with college worries...

OOC- Uh, Fluer, do you plan to use a Star Trek transporter to beam them in past sealed borders? I mean, huh? We have zero relations, you and I. Thanks for the input but youd be lucky to get a honey-bee across. A more detailed and substantive response would also be greatly appreciated. Now, a glorified bump...I thought this would have provoked more of a response, but oh well.

OOC: What our borders are closed now? Since when? You haven't responded to German threatening to increase trade to 25%. That would effectively destroy the billions of dollars of trade that travels across our borders every day. You haven't roleplayed diminishing that amount or even participated in any of the discussions around the trade issue. And now your saying that the borders are closed and have always been closed! This hasn't been roleplayed at all and think those sorts of grandiose proclamations require more roleplaying. At the very least they require a more detailed and substantive reply than just dismissing whatever I do completely out of hand.

*OOC* Dont worry Armand, any college would be lucky to have a fertile mind such as you possess. I know, c'est la vie...tommorrow and tommorrow and tommorrow...!

Fleur, the only time I rped with you was to cut off all relations vis-a-vis Rome. I was about to nuke you, due to your threats of invasion, so voila: Implication. The only countries with worse relations with France are now LRR and BG, although with the Aprilist Government even they might be more liked. I am not dismissing you at all, just trying to state the obvious. As far as Im concerned we do not trade at all, nor would we have had a history of trading at all. My main trading partners are Russia, Spain, Italy, et al.; and now with hostilities ceased the Anglos once again. So I am not dismissing it out of hand...if you never cook the potatoes how can you mash them? Ciao bella!

Well I rped earlier with you cutting off diplomatic relations but made a point to state that trade relations were definitely not cut. The sheer immensity of trade made me cringe at cutting off trade relations. Cutting off all trade between France and Germany is so momentous that if it would at the very least destroy our economies if not usher the world into a worldwide depression. I don't think a person should half heartedly and flippantly sever 75 billion dollars of trade without RPing the incredible effects it would have on your nation. If I knew that is what you intended I would have RPed the effects. I would announce that the unemployment had tripled, the currency would fall, prices would plummet, people would begin going hungry, people would begin rioting in the streets, and a whole host of other effects. I know economics isn't vitally important to your nation but c'mon!

You may think that we have never traded but that is certainly not what I thought and this is the very first time I have ever heard of it! My whole concept behind my nation was that I would be an economic powerhouse. You never participated in the numerous economic discussions revolving around the claim of Germany to be the strongest and most powerful world exporter and I am wishing you had. On basically every RP that I have been involved in I have mentioned Shutlz threatening to impose a 25% tariff on trade between Holy League nations. And I considered that a significant threat that would only be contemplated in the most serious of situations. Heck even when you went all nuke crazy I decided not to go through with it because it may have been understood to be an act of war. If your serious about cutting all the trade between our nations lets go with it but we need to start a significant RP about the effects.

But this is not what I originally wanted to discuss. If I can miraculously find time to RP in the future you wouldn't mind me RPing a minor insurgency in your country? If you want a "more detailed and substantive response" I am prepared to do it. But I don't want to prepare a long and elaborate plot if you just respond, "no, my army arrests all the rebels". I thought it could be fun to RP some alternate form of resistance to Louis-Augustue besides the Estates General and if you agree I'll let you or anyone else RP the same in my country.

**bump**

Having stuck his neck out to try and ensure that peace negotiations would come to something, Hu Jin Tao is heartened, although news of peace comes too late to revive his poll ratings.

Beijing makes a statement to the effect of "we will work with whoever the people of France nominate" and also sends a private communique to Paris, enquiring about the possibiltiy of Chinese oversight on any possible peace talks to come.

His Majesty scanned the morning briefing papers over his coffee and McMuffin, vaguely wondering if his Foreign Affairs people were once again trying to alleviate his tendency to micro-manage by glossing over or leaving out small matters.

Developments in France took up most of the space, and His Majesty blinked uncertainly a couple of times. It seemed that the French were adopting some form of limited Democracy, which only a fortnight ago had seemed about as likely as Queen re-forming with William Shatner as the lead singer.

Seeing an opportunity, however, His Majesty suggested that now might be an excellent time to start pumping some foreign aid into Africa, and also ordered a private, anonymous donation of $1,000,000 Imperial Wibbles each be made to the Imperial Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières, so they could continue their humanitarian work in war-torn parts of Africa.