NationStates Jolt Archive

[OCC: I hope it’s acceptable to you if I skip the transit stage, so that we can get right into the meeting. I understand some people find greetings tedious.]

After numerous unforeseeable delays, the result of international developments which Holy Xirnium had only just now managed to sort out, the senior ministers of the High Ecclesiarchy, the supreme legislature of the nation, prepared to meet with the delegation from the Empire of Dumpsterdam. The aircraft had been cleared by Xirnium airspace authorities and arrived without incident of any kind. The representatives were given a full military parade by the Xirnium Armed Forces, including the presence of a military orchestra which played the national anthems of both Dumpsterdam and Xirnium, and they were greeted by both the Defence and Interior Ministers of the Xirnium government, as well as senoir members of the Inquisiton and military.

‘Greetings from the Holy Empire of Xirnium,’ announced High Lord Nidor ( http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/Dennis134/GrandCardinal.jpg), Grand Cardinal and Chief Minister of the High Ecclesiarchy, later on as he met the foreign delegation in the wide marble-floored hallway of the Grand Basilica of the High Ecclesiarchy. ‘I apologise for the unavoidable delays we have had in organising this diplomatic meeting, I’m sure you will have heard of the minor dispute that we were involved in with Xharn.’

‘If you will come with me please, we can begin the meeting immediately,’ the Grand Cardinal and head of government of Holy Xirnium explained, indicating the ornately carved wooden doors behind which apparently a conference room of some kind must exist.

OoC: Doesn't matter to me, sometimes its good to introduce your charachters a bit. *smirk* I'm also replacing the envoy I said I would be sending, I just figured out he's already in use.

IC:

Captain Irene Steel nodded friendly at the man standing before her, the uniform she was wearing was the standard white and blue of the Dumpsterdanian Diplomatic Corps with a lightweight HERO class bodyarmour covered under her white trenchcoat.
"Well actualy." Irene started. "My intelligence reports say very little about that conflict, would you be so kind as to enlighten me?" The servitor scutteling next to her moved one of its arms to grab a holosheet and marker, preparing to make the notes its mistress would certainly want.

Behind the servitor followed six Royal Navy Stormtroopers with their visors down, in turn followed by twelve officers of the DDF. They where just here to cover the daughter of Colonel Steel should all hell break loose here, not that they were expecting any trouble, no, to most of them this place felt like...home.

The Grand Cardinal waved his wizened old hand dismissively, the rich dark fabric of his cloak (of a colour so red it was almost black) fluttering about as he did so. ‘It is ultimately of no real consequence to us here, Captain, I can assure you,’ said High Lord Nidor smoothly, ‘suffice it to say that the Xharnians payed for their transgressions against the immutable sovereignty of Holy Xirnium with their leader’s life... a potent warning to others who might think to be so bold, I might add.

‘You see, it appears the Xharnians not only felt their unclean aircraft could brazenly and without our consent despoil our airspace but also that they could presume to threaten the security of the Holy Empire itself! You can, no doubt, well imagine that the response of Holy Xirnium and her allies was quite unequivocal, and the situation has now been, to all intents and purposes, resolved. Those responsible for their unlawful threats are being tried for their crimes ( http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10049426#post10049426) as we speak. If you wish I will, of course, direct one of my aids to provide your entourage with a report of the full details of the incident, so that you may peruse it at your own leisure.’

At the Chief Minister’s suggestion two of the aids standing behind the Grand Cardinal silently scampered away in a flurry of their dark cloaks, evidently to retrieve the mentioned information ( http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10042461#post10042461) for Dumpsterdanian delegation. The shadowed Inquisitors at the back of the Xirniumite group talked in low tones, agreeing it would be appropriate to wait until after the diplomatic meeting had concluded before consulting the Inquisition archives on this Captain Irene Steel for more detailed information on her.

‘Now.. shall we move right on to business?’ Grand Cardinal Nidor asked. The Zealot Parliamentary Guards of the High Ecclesiarchy, bedecked in the dark blue and gold finery of their ceremonial uniforms, pushed open the mighty oak doors of the grand conference chamber. The Chief Minister of the Patriarchate strode inside, his footfalls echoing through the cavernous room, as his cloak billowing out behind him.

In the centre of the room was a large mahogany table, upon which were placed large flagons of Xirniumite Crimson Wine and various fine, light foods and beverages that would serve as appetisers. The chamber itself, like all of the Grand Basillica, was resplendent, covered in intricate dark baroque ornamentations, containing great and imposing pillars and gothic stone masonry which stretched high up to the vaulted ceiling of the room. Though already subtly lit by conventional lights, burning fireplaces cast dim flickering shadows and added a darker atmosphere to the meeting hall, one more appropriate for the discussion of great matters of state.

‘Apparently I’m told there will be a dinner held here after this for us, but for now I think we should deal mainly with the particulars of your visit,’ the Grand Cardinal said thoughtfully as he was poured a drink by one of the attendants. High Lord Nidor himself was not overly fond of Crimson Wine, and instead usually drank bourbon. ‘Now, as our honoured guests I think it would be best if you began by establishing the agenda, Capitan Steel,’ explained the Grand Cardinal as he regarded the Dumpsterdanian delegation with quiet interest, his features held carefully neutral.

The captain nodded as they walked the long corridor, listening, but her mind on other things. To her it seemed the men gathered here were just the same as the ones she had met at home, but it wouldn't matter.
As the man finished speaking she turned her head and nodded at two of her aides, they would see to it that the information would be brought to her personally once it had arrived from the hands of the administration, or whatever passed for it here, they scurried off as a man nearly the size of a bear came up quickly behind them. "Cap'n! Cap'n!" He yelled as the passed the guards and a dazed captain Steel.
"Yes Inquisitor Raddel, you wish to bring a matter to my attention?" She said calmly, looking at the large inquisitorial "I" that was tattooed over his entire face.
"Cap'n the security detachment is standing by outside the basilica. Just let us know when eh."
"Raddel, this is Xirnium as in the country, not the fortress in Malas. Tell your men to go back to the airfield and stop provocating the local law enforcement agencies." She chuckled as Raddel ran back down the hallway; the red on his cheeks. Irene turned back to the cardinal. "My apologies cardinal, he gets confused sometimes, please, let us proceed."

As she stepped into the room that was to hold them for the next hours, if not days she was not surprised, it was as if the entire place was a direct copy of the architecture of the Imperial Palace in Duniash. Except that the palace used white marble on the outside and was a fair bit bigger. She cautiously eyed the room and sat down in the seat that was pointed out to her, her bodyguards dispersed around the room and her staff took up seating behind or next to her when possible. None of the delegation put a hand or even a glance on the food or drinks, and the captain didn't touch any of it either, for now. "Yes, let us begin shall we?" She smiled and took the brown folder from the servitor standing next to her, folding it open and pulling out the white sheets of paper.
"By Royal and Imperial mandate, hereby gives captain Irene Steel, Dumpsterdanian Diplomatic Corps, ah here we are..." She took out a rather empty looking piece of paper, with writing big enough that even the Cardinal at the other side of the table could read it.

"PROCEED AT WILL."

Irene took her officers cap off and put it beside her on the table.
"This sheet of paper." She pushed the paper across the table to the Cardinal.
"Is the agenda, I leave it to you to pick a first subject, or if you so wish I can begin with the offer already made by the Foreign Minister, an alliance between our two Empires."

OoC:

The paper would hold something along these lines.
-the alliance already proposed.
-embassy exchange.
-weapon deals, mainly from my storefront(you can look it up quite easily, I don't have the link handy)
-trade agreements.
-troop exchange program.
-student exchange program.
-military bases.
-common enemies.
-common allies.
-and some more things I'm forgetting, feel free to add any matters.

The grim faced Inquisitors narrowed their eyes imperceptibly at the perplexing actions of Raddel. Instantly their minds shifted into a type of supra-logical hypothesising mode, processing the myriad of related known data rapidly in order to determine what, if anything, this all might mean. The sheet of paper the Captain held was easily noticed by the Inquisitors with their almost super-human perceptive abilities even from their far off vantage point, and was yet another piece of the puzzle that they added to their calculations. Was there some threat, a hidden agenda, a secret message? The Inquisitors were deadly alert, and noticed, catalogued and assessed even the most minute of details.

Though she was also aware of the curious behaviour, Lady High Grand Cardinal Heather Gilda, Foreign Minister of the Patriarchate of the High Ecclesiarchy, could see no reason for why they should not press on with the matters at hand. It certainly wasn’t as if there was a lack of over-cautious security measures already in place. ‘I suggest we begin with one of the simpler matters, Captain Steel,' said the High Lady, putting on her glasses to read the agenda in front of her, 'for example, an embassy exchange program. This would facilitate quick and efficient communications between our two states and foster understanding and a means to strengthen diplomatic relations, and is therefore always a good place to start,’ High Lady Heather Gilda said, taking a sip of the Crimson Wine as she regarded the Dumpsterdanian delegation. Taking a pen out from the folds in her cloak the Grand Cardinal made some brief notes before continuing. 'I believe there is a vacant lot in Girthia district that would make a good location for our needs,' she explained in her professional, businesslike voice.

Opening a folder stamped with the double-headed Imperial Eagle of Holy Xirnium, the Grand Cardinal removed a single sheet of paper which she slid across the smooth conference table towards Captain Steel.

Ambassador's name: The Venerable Archdeacon Pfernon
Amount of guards: 20 Inquisition Acolytes
Amount/type of transportation: Two Black Mercedes-Benze luxury
vehicles (bullet-proof). One black limosine (bullet-proof).

‘We suggest the establishment of a Xirniumite embassy, with the following basic details, in your nation and can offer you a similar type of embassy arrangement here,’ Grand Cardinal Gilda explained, gesturing to the paper. ‘The High Ecclesiarchy proposes full diplomatic immunity for your ambassador to Holy Xirnium so long as this is reciprocated for our own ambassador.’

Smiling briefly, Grand Cardinal Gilda waited expectantly for Captain Steel’s response, taking another sip from her wineglass. Lord High Grand Cardinal Nidor, having drained his own glass and poured another, cleared his voice and added, ‘also, once we work out our embassy exchange details, I suggest we can move on to discussing the specific details of your alliance proposal. This is considered the critical issue of these discussions by the High Ecclesiarchy, and doubtless by Dumpsterdam as well I imagine.’

Receiving a brief meaningful look from the Chief Minister, a Zealot Parliamentary Guard officer silently yet promptly left the room, no doubt on business that must be in some way related to the cryptic words that had been uttered by the Dupsterdanian Inquisitor shortly before.

Outside the grand building inquisitor Raddel hurried to a waiting group of Rhino APC's and Minera LBT's all painted in the blue and white colour scheme of the diplomatic corps. The ramp of two of the transports were lowered and he could see the white uniforms of the Emperor's Handmaidens that guarded the transports walking alongside the black and blue armoured Black Ravens.
Raddel stopped and surveyed the situation for a second, nodded to himself and shrugged of the uncomfortable feeling that this place gave him.
"Inquisitor, we are in position to strike, what are your orders?" The communication device imbedded into his ear crackled.
"Disengage and back to the transports. Do not alert our hosts, orders of captain Steel." Raddel grunted as he peered around the square, he had the feeling he was being watched.
"As you wish, Inquisitor." The static of the open line disappeared alongside the rest of the connection.
Raddel looked around the square once more before he hurriedly paced to the group of vehicles.

Captain Steel casually observed the paper and shook her head. "I'm sorry." She observed the woman for a second before continuing. "Grand Cardinal Gilda. This proposal is unacceptable in the eyes of the Empire and in conflict with our internal policies." Steel observed the people sitting on the other side of the table for a second. "Unless these troops of yours are some sort of elite you will need more then twenty men to guard the embassy complex that we have made available for you. We also do not place any restrictions on your garrisons armoury, vehicle depot or communications relay, we believe that each embassy should be able to defend itself. Do not mistake this for lack of caring on our part, embassy row itself is a fortress and a Dumpsterdanian Defence Force base is located on just three minutes walking distance from most embassies."
The captain motioned to one of her aides, who promptly stood up and retrieved a glass of wine for her. As she drank a man wearing a black overcoat took over from her.
"Ladies and gentlemen as you see the Empire is not entirely stable and we have many enemies, both open and hidden ones, we must require from you to increase your presence to at least sixty men. If you cannot, or wish not to provide these forces the Empire will gladly offer its own troops or pay for mercenaries."
Major-Overste Clayton folded his hands on the heavy table. "As for our own embassy right here, we will take whatever you wish to give us, we ask for little but the security to defend our citizens. As soon as the formalities are done captain Steel and her staff will take up permanent residence in the embassy."

Steel put her wineglass back on the table and smiled at the Major-Overste sitting next to her. "Indeed, I am also the assigned ambassador, but that to the side, I wish for nothing more then you are willing to give us."
The brown folder the captain had in front of her was far from empty, she took another piece of paper from it and scanned it briefly. “The proposed alliance, yes, a tricky subject.” She smiled. “You have already been informed of what our offer is, what do you wish to put up against it?”

Grand Cardinal Ameas Vernius, Minister for Defence, contemplated this new information thoughtfully. ‘Very well,’ he eventually answered, ‘the High Ecclesiarchy was not aware that security was such a concern in Dumpsterdam, though we can certainly sympathise with your situation, what with our own current operations to root out filthy Kraven terror cells. We can assign an entire Inquisition Acolyte infantry company, which consists of 120 of the finest regular troops in Holy Xirnium, to our embassy, and would naturally allow you to maintain a similar garrison in your own embassy here,’ he explained.

Would such an arrangement be acceptable?' asked the Foreign Minister, nodding her approval to the Xirniumite Minister for Defence.