NationStates Jolt Archive

Port Royal, Roycelandia

After discussion, real estate planning, and much fuss and preparation to boot the House of Bourbon, both the French and Algerian branches (and their Courts) arrived in the sunny capital of the Roycelandian Empire.

The first to arrive were the Garde Suisse, nine hundred strong, and Les Gardes du Corps, likewise nine hundred strong; together they formed the Royal Lifeguards, that uber-elite body that protected Most Christian King and company. They traveled in Ordu du Saint-Esprit military transports rather than the luxury liners used by the crowns and coronets. The Switzers, groomed from eight crack Regiments of the Royal Army, were arguably the finest soldiers in the world. The latter were the flower of the youthful French aristocracy, serving time in the Royal Army in preparation for lucrative and prestigious posts in the Kingdom’s infrastructure. Once they arrived, they secured the five star hotel that Louis-Auguste had in fact purchased for his stay, as well as the numerous mansions, seaside villas, and townhouses that the Royal Family and Nobility would use during their Roycelandian visit.

Then Monarch One landed, a gargantuan yet sleek Airbus 1000, followed by no less than twenty-two Airbus 340’s. Cargo planes also followed, for French sensibilities dictated that when a King et al journeyed, their furniture went with them (room was of course left for the inevitable purchases Louis and his vassals would make during their stay).

Emperor Royce would play host to perhaps the most glittering foreign body ever to arrive in his stately nexus. His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste came with Her Serene Highness Queen Jillesepone, both equipped with a dazzling ‘casual-chic’ wardrobe for the occasion. Her Highness Queen-Dowager Marie-Therese came, her first major outing since the assassination of her glorious husband. All four Princes of the Blood, younger brothers of Louis-Auguste, saw fit to attend. In order of age they are le Comte d’Artois (29), le Comte d’Provence (28), le Duc de Normandie (25) and of course the famous, or infamous, youngest son of Louis XX le Duc de Aquitane (19), known for the manage a trios sex tape which contributed to the relatively recent revolt. He, after begging his majestical brother to release him from basically house arrest at the palace of St. Cloud, was finally given permission to join the party…although his bodyguards had specific instructions not to let him anywhere near any cameras other than those of RNN and Roycelandian media. His partner (true in more than one way) in debauchery, le Vicomte de Ardenne, France’s star soccer player, was shipped off to Spyr to lead the Kingdom’s athletic team in the pan-national games. His Quinntonnian mistress had been given a mansion in New Caledonia with a healthy stipend and servants that would not let her leave. And the darling Royal Sister, the ravishing Comtesse Antoinette de France (18), was given the opportunity to use the trip as her debut to the public: more than one courtier speculated the beauty would soon be married off to the Spanish branch of the Bourbon family.

Louis I, King in Algeria, journeyed to Port Royal. He brought his wife, Her Highness Queen Yolande, too. All in all ten royals, nineteen Duc’s, thirty-one Comte’s, at least four score Marquis’s, and well over fifty Vicomte’s, Barons, Merechal’s and other peers came to the Caribbean. No doubt a point of interest for the politically savvy, Monsieur Jean-Phillipe Lesceaux traveled with the Bourbon’s. Monsieur Lesceaux, Chairman of the Walloon National Party, had just been elected President of Belgium. More than one tongue wagged that the rise in German nationalism, coupled with growing Belgium interest in the Kingdom next door, was moving the nation of Belgium closer to Versailles. In secret, more than one pair of eyes had seen Monsieur Lesceaux try on a pair of epaulets…

While the French were settling in, His Most Christian Majesty and Her Serene Highness, along with Louis I and His Queen, themselves went to go see Royce prior to the official reception that night in the Imperial Gardens. Louis-Auguste wore a simple white silk leisure suit and fedora hat. Jillesepone wore matching white, a gauze/silk dress designed by Royal Clothier Rose Bertin, and led the ladies of the French delegation in the dress style appropriate for Port Royal, dubbed a la Creole.

“My dear friend,” said Louis clapping Royce on the shoulder as they all sat down “thank you so much for inviting us.”

Following a warm round of greeting both Louis’ lit up cigarettes.

“We have much of import to discuss, mon ami, as you know. But that can wait for a bit, I think. In the mean time, my dear wife has been raving none stop about those tropical drinks you and yours are known experts at, and…”

He was cut off politely by Queen Jillesepone, daughter of the Tsar of the Russia’s Wingert himself, as she placed a cool white gloved hand on his arm and silenced him with a kiss on his powderless (it was a vacation after all) cheek..

“Mon cher,” Her Serene Highness cooed “I’ve heard they’re called, well, a sex-on-the-beach?”

“Oh Yes!” chirped Queen Yolande in her affectations “do serve us some!”

"...you and yours are known experts at, and…”

“I’ve heard they’re called, well, a sex-on-the-beach?”


OOC: I'm sure Royce is an expert on that! ;)

Port Royal, Roycelandia

A visit from the French Royal Family was always a welcome social highlight in Port Royal, especially as they provided a sense of Old World pomp and glamour that the Roycelandian Emperor, for all his popularitity, media-saviness, and suave charm couldn't quite create.

His Majesty was also likely to admit to close friends that the French princesses were especially hot, and had even once said, whilst terribly drunk "I wouldn't mind showing some of them my baguette! Giggity Giggity Giggity, Oh!".

Later on, of course, during the quiet drinks on the patio at the Imperial Palace, overlooking the Palm River and Coral Bay, His Majesty summoned the Bartender by Imperial Appointment and had him whip up a round of drinks- including a number of "Sex On The Beach" cocktails, all of which were served in Traditional Roycelandian Style- ie, in a coconut half, with a cocktail umbrella and lots of tropical fruit on top.

"My friends, I am so glad you were able to take time out of your busy schedule to visit. It's always nice to have a few drinks with such delightful company." His Majesty was wearing an especially nice Loud Shirt, with a Tropical Parrot motif, along with a pair of khaki cargo pants (hand-made by the Imperial Tailor, of course), his trademark Pith Helmet, and a pair of designer sunglasses.

As drinks were served, His Majesty opened his Special Reserve humidor of Cuban Cigars and offered them to King Louis-Auguste, and King Louis of Algeria.

"... And then the Waitress says, 'Drunk? I thought he was just tired!'", and everyone had a good laugh at another one of His Majesty's amusing Anecdotes. Even Wiggles and Commander Blackadder were working their charms on some of the young ladies of the Roycelandian Imperial Court, and a good time was being had by all, with a great deal of compliments being directed to the French wardrobe and suggestions that the Imperial and Royal tailors should meet and swap notes, so to speak.

"So tell me, my friend- how are things in La Belle France?" asked his Majesty as a servant topped up the drinks and lit another cigar. "And tell me, how did you manage to get those two Quinntonian actors to do The House of Mrs. Fish? I never imagined they'd leave Quinntonia. I'll have to introduce you to the cast of Little Roycelandia and My Neighbour Is A Darkie whilst you're here... they're quite delightful and have the most amusing stories to tell!"

OOC- Hello, my friend, just a blurb to let you know Ill have something more up on this tonight.

((Just a quick note. If I post at the Tsar coronation thing before this is over, just consider it after the fact of what already happened in Roycelandia.))

His Most Christian Majesty reclined in his wicker chair as he sipped the delightful tropical beverage.

“Well, dear Royce, it was quite simple: I made them an offer they couldn’t refuse! Although, I will confide, Roseanne Barr came at the drop of a hat,” when the King gaily spoke, both Queen Jillesepone and Yolande flushed before Louis reassured them “oh, not like that, my dears!”

A round of laughter ensued. Little did they know, however, it was the truth. Yet Louis-Auguste did not expand on the situation, after all, he was a King.

“France, Sire,” said Louis, after all the tradition when Kings addressed one another was simply to call the other Sire “has never been better. My Prime Minister has restored the economy, and I hope to put it to good use in trading with you.”

Thus followed more statesmen like talks about forthcoming trade. Did the Roycelandian people wish to buy French luxury goods? Would Royce sell, or rather collaborate with the Kingdom, on new plans for elite helicopter designs. And both Louis’ wanted to start the ink drying on a massive Bell Huey sale to the Kingdom of Algeria.

Also there were humble conversations. His Most Christian Majesty wished to buy a nice island, perhaps one of the Antilles, for Royal and Aristocratic vacation purposes in the future. Additionally, the brainchild of M. de Maurepas, a student exchange program was brought up. French students would experience the delights of Port Royal, and Roik students could soak up gentility and manners in Paris and perhaps, for the recipients of the peerage, Versailles.

Most importantly, as His Majesty felt the Kingdom of France and the Roycelandian Empire to be on the basic same page, Louis-Auguste wished to sign a formal alliance, although purely commercial and defensive in nature. After all, hadn’t Versailles and Port Royal done wonderful politicking together already? The important thing was to declare open friendship, Royce would no doubt be more assured as the French basically already had what they wanted in the form of Algeria and restored world prowess.

“And as well, mon ami, the heart of my Kingdom’s scientific efforts (as well as forced labor) lay only some score miles from your shore in New Provence. Let us together launch a new R&D program in regards to long range offensive missilery.”

The Fury V ICBM was quickly becoming outdated, and the Roiks seemed to be fascinated by space age technologies.

And so talk went on until the shadows of afternoon lengthened, and the radiant garden party began…

((will resume tomorrow my friend, ta!))

Naturally, explained His Majesty, the Roycelandian people were most interested in French Luxury goods. In fact, His Majesty was prepared to allow Renault and Citroen to export cars to the Roycelandian Empire with no tarriffs or import taxes, on the condition that they were not sold for less than Roycelandian Cars and didn't try and undercut them. Also, Roycelandia people were very interested in French Art and homewares, Wine, Cheese, and the like.

Similarly, the Roycelandians had many goods that the French may be interested in... diamonds, cigars, liquor, "Gentlemen's Entertainment periodicals and motion pictures", and numerous other products, the specifics of which could be organised later.

The Long-Range missile programme was considered, and His Majesty pointed something out.

"My friend, you have to understand that the Roycelandian Empire finds itself in a difficult position at the moment. We are close friends with the French people, and we are close friends with the Quinntonians. If we were to start developing long-range missiles and rockets together, it might cause certain elements in NATO- of whom we are a committed member, with a permanent seat on the Security Council- to grow concerned and make the international geopolitical situation very uncomfortable for all of us. God only knows we've both got enough trouble with those uppity towelheads in Algeria and the Western Sahara without Britain and Hudecia deciding that our new rockets are proof of an Imperialist Conspiracy to take over the world." His Majesty took a long draft of his Cigar, before adding, with a wink, "and we've both seen enough James Bond movies to know what happens when Rich And Cultured People try and take over the World."

His Majesty took another puff of his cigar and motioned for more drinks.

"Lest you become concerned, however, we would be delighted to sign a Treaty Of Friendship with France, establishing Student Exchanges, co-operative research, and the like. It can only have benefits for our Nations, and further the forces against Progressiveness and Anti-Imperialism!"

"Finally, my friend, there is something else I would like you to see. Ladies, if would excuse us for a moment..."

His Majesty lead the French King into his office adjoining the upstairs patio, and closed the enormous French Doors. Walking over to his desk, which was covered in knick-knacks ranging from a small globe made of different coloured marble, to an old candlestick telephone, to a Mauser Broomhandle pistol, to sheafs of papers, to a brass Telescope, to an ornate Desk Clock ("A gift from Ataturk", he explained), before he found a remote control. He pressed a button, and the enormous bookcase at the end of the room slid apart to reveal a 15'x15' TV Screen, which showed a map of the world, with various colour coded dots in cities and locations all over the world.

He pressed another button, and the screen changed to show a rather advanced looking space shuttle/capsule type craft, and the title Project: Moonraker.

"I have decided, as my prerogative as Emperor, that the Roycelandian Empire must expand- not just on Earth, but also celestially. And the first step is to put a man in space, and, by 2010 at the very latest, to have a Roycelandian on the moon. And I would like the help of the French people to do it, as a co-operative Franco-Roycelandian venture. What do you think?"

The Treaty of ‘Amity and Commerce”, i.e. friendship and trade, was acknowledged as most agreeable by His Most Christian Majesty. The new Renault deal with Honda furthermore would give France the ideal opportunity to sell the Roycelandian market car models with European luxury (the Renault G-5 and Doue models as opposed to the S-1, Serf one, a one cylinder affair for French commoners) but with recently enhanced Japanese dependability. Other luxury goods, the famous cheeses and wines of France, would be made available in large quantity to Port Royal.

A friendly tone was agreed to. After all, said Louis-Auguste, no need to get the natives needlessly roiled up. The Kingdom of Algeria, and South Algeria to boot, were doing quite splendidly. No need to fuss that up. As well, the much heralded Shadewater-Algiers Transcontinental Railroad was nearing completion. Louis I was happy on his throne. His laughing from downstairs made that abundantly clear.

On that note Louis-Auguste was stunned by Royce I's celestial proposal. How could the French say no? Rather than simply military advances, this space project would show the Progressive Bloc that monarchs too were capable of great technological leaps. So be it, said the King, it shall be. A joint Franco-Roycelandian Space effort, which will put the peerage upon the lunar landscape! His Most Christian majesty is quick to suggest Ft. Kourou some fifty miles north of New Provence’s capital Charlesbourg, the HQ of the French Academie Royale, otherwise known as the R&D branch of Versailles, to house the project.

Ft. Kourou is one of the premier technical facilities in the Western Hemisphere, indeed in the world. Eclipsed only by Ft. Canaveral and the Kosmodome in Kazakhstan as a launch base, Kourou was one of the few Republican institutions not cancelled by the monarchy. The secluded and defensible location proved ideal for an absolute kingship which wished to build powerful weapons and science but away from the worlds prying eyes. Rather Kourou was even expanded, to become the hub of France’s military and commercial research and development. Everything from rockets, missiles, nuclear testing, chemical and biological projects, radio transmissions and satellite projects were housed behind the barbwire fences and ditches of Ft. Kourou. It was staff by brilliant scientists from all over Europe in the employ of Louis-Auguste, and protected by a whole division of Gardes Francaises and detachments from the Royal Army.

All this right next door to the core of Roycelandia, what better place to house the project. It would provide ease and accessibility for the Roycelandians, and prestige for basically a backwater of the Bourbon Empire.

Ecstatic over the day’s discussions, a vast and sprawling garden party was given that night. In the illuminated walkways it was whispered that as a gift for his excellent reception Louis-Auguste would invest Royce I as the grand Master of the Ordu du St. Lazare, a prestigious knighthood in France.

Further evidence of the good relations between the Roycelandian Emperor and French King were demonstrated that evening, at the closing act of the party. There, to the delight of the Roycelandian nobles and French entourage, His Imperial Highness Peter Louis Wingert Parma de Estenlands et France, Crown Prince of the Russian Empire and child of Louis-Auguste and Queen Jillesepone; as well as their daughter Madame Royale Catherine Therese Jillesepone Adelaide de Savoy et Estenlands et France gave a musical number to the Two Courts on a lawn of bright green. It was a duet about the failure of the recent rebellion in France, and the loving just natures of “Papa Roi” and “Mommy Jillesepone”. Needless to say, the cutest (as well as the most powerful and titled) children in the world received a round of applause for their spectacular act.

The video of the Crown Heirs of Europe, the Bourbon-Groznys Peter and Catherine, to the Roycelandian Court. (http://www.larevolutionfrancaise.com/documents/video/rm/aversailles_bd.html)

...lines it up.......bumps it!

His Majesty was very pleased with the French offer. "I must confess", explained His Majesty, "that we've undertaken quite a bit of research at Thompson's Falls in Kenya... still, I have heard good things about the Guyanan facilities. Yes, this will benefit both our Nations greatly. And it will be interesting to see the faces of the Progressives when they put down their bongs long enough to see French and Roycelandian astronauts on the Moon!"

With a round of applause that echoed in cascades throughout the packed Imperial Ballroom, His Most Christian Majesty King Louis-Auguste placed the ornate cordon jaune of le Ordu du Saint-Lazare on His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I. Then came the matching sparkling diamond broach, which was pinned to the Imperial lapel. The conference had gone so well that Louis-Auguste had not only given Royce a French peerage, he had given him the Grand Master-ship of the third most prestigious knighthood in the realm. The stars of he French Aristocracy, along with the most prestigious Roycelandians, toasted the finest champagne years seen in centuries. The room was a-dazzle with tiari, hips-on-swords, powdered wigs, glittering loud shirts, corseted mistresses, and breastplate wearing lifeguards.

As the orchestra took up a Viennese Waltz, “Roses from the South” to be precise, an overhead projector displayed the new banner of the Franco-Roik Space Confederation. Models of hypothetical space craft appeared next, along with footage of the monarchs Louis-Auguste, Royce, and Co. taken during their tour of Ft. Kourou in New Provence. Although a great amount of the effort was planned, production wise, in Roycelandian East Africa; the final stages, along with all relative testing, would be conducted in New Provence, just a stone’s throw away from the Empire’s capital. The Academie Royale had already met with Roycelandian scientists, and a vast renovation of the French space/R&D facility would soon be underway.

As the nobility of both realms swayed to the cadences of the truly Imperialistic music, huge banners were thrown down, each bearing the matching Coat of Arms of both Royce I and Louis-Auguste, united with the olive branch of peace. Roses, set for the music, began to rain down on the best and the beautiful. A cameraman who got the luckiest shot of his life captured King Louis-Auguste, in a vanilla white silk affair and adorned with the cordon bleu of the Ordu du Saint-Louis standing shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Royce I, with his finest loudshirt oddly contrasting with the rigidly formal cordon jaune of the Ordu du Saint-Lazare; the monarchs were toasting a glass of champagne, smoking fat cigars, and wearing satisfied grins. Truly, nothing could better capture the situation.

OOC: A note...While the Russian space program is underfunded, dilapidated, and decayed, the basic infrastructure and many unemployed scientists are still out there...

OOC: Ahh, AC, thank you. If u please, as your IC role of Tsarist PM, send a few idle scientists to Ft. Kourou, HMCM would see that the PM's prestige went up considerably.

Roycelandia's finest minds had been allocated to the Moonraker project. Even work on the Project 2000 had been cut back to enable work on the Franco-Roycelandian space project.

The Port Royal Times had asked His Majesty who the lucky Astronauts would be, to which His Majesty winked and replied "Let's just build the spacecraft first, eh?"

Indeed, design work was well underway, with Roycelandian and French scientists flying back and forth between Africa, Roycelandia, France, and Guyana/New Provence. Roycelandian Sunderland Flying Boats were becoming a very common sight in the former French backwater, and imaginations everywhere were fired up with the possibilities that the Moonraker project would offer...

OOC: Ahh, AC, thank you. If u please, as your IC role of Tsarist PM, send a few idle scientists to Ft. Kourou, HMCM would see that the PM's prestige went up considerably.

OOC-I would be handling that.

IC-Since the Kargat took over the intellegence operations in the Tsarist Empire, they had gathered together most of the best scientists left from various Soviet programs and were trying to decide what to do with them, it was decided that "lending" them to the Roycelandian/French inititative would be the best thing.

Tsar Wingert offers the use of hundreds of the finest minds in these fields in the world, each with his own armed escort to make sure that they come back to Russia in the end, where their families remain under the watchful gaze of the Kargat.

Tsar Wingert the Great.

(Must remember to use Russia's Buran orbiters and half of their best spaceheads to put a Beddgelen in orbit. Passing and subtle note to the effect that the Igovians made-off with billions of dollars worth of Russian space-gizzmos and numerous experts after helping to rebuild some Russian industry. Fat lot of good that did us, eh? [shakes fist] :) )

OOC: Yeah, NG, to make it clear: As Tsarist PM, I only handle character RP matters. All other stuff is now Wingert's domain. (Nigeria is a weird exception, because I have to use Russian troops but Mubarrak isn't trusted enough yet to command them)

Ft. Kourou, New Provence

The Research Facility was gigantic, larger even than the French super-fortresses of Ft. St. Jean and Ft. St. Martin. Over 22 square miles of iron grid raised launch pads, tarmacs, canals, rail lines, bunkers, hangers of all dimensions, command bunkers and control towers carved a notch of the overly tropical and under populated French colony.

It was currently buzzing with activity, all the attention turning to Launch Pad A-2. There, on the Forts largest launch platform, three Ariane IX rockets were being hoisted into launch position by massive mechanical cranes. Nearby, in a citadel like con tower, both Louis-Auguste and Royce I were present, in very plush leather chairs, to witness the first test launch of the Franco-Roik Space Confederation.

Scientists from Roycelandian East Africa had arrived en masse several weeks prior, setting into motion the launch now. With a working idea of the capsules design that would land on the moon, Academie Royale and Roycelandian scientists would gauge pressure and launch data from these test launches.

Royce and Louis-Auguste reclined as the tan screens were automatically removed from the windows. Vapors spewed from the rockets as the cranes retracted now. Alarms began to ring on the field, and people scurried into shelters like mice from the vantage of the control tower.

The vapors increased to a palpable flow, and the alarms stopped. Huge loudspeakers came on, and speaking were two scientists, one French and one Roycelandian (some Russian was heard in the background). Without further ado, a countdown commenced, and liveried servants stepped forward and prepared to serve champagne with the monarchs.

“Neuf, huit, sept, six, cinq, quatre, trios, deux, un…….ignition!” boomed the excited French voice.

With a blinding flash the rockets began to leap up into space. One after the other, flaming up into the sky. Control screens showed their positions, as they moved high over the Caribbean. Champagne was brought forward, and the two potentates toasted.

Three hours later, the rockets had all moved away into orbit, dropping three capsules each south of Jamaica. The mission had been a success.