NationStates Jolt Archive

"The State of Amestria believes that only one Referendum is necessary, the Referendum on the finished product, unless there are insurmountable disagreements in structure that cannot be settled at the table… I also see no reason for a special electoral commission to be set up. Observers can already be deployed by the involved parties to monitor the fairness and integrity of the elections. A special international committee would just be redundant.”

Mitsune took a sip of water. “I find myself in agreement with the honorable Emperor of Yallak. Fifty percent of the vote plus one is simple bare bones majority rule, 60% to 65% nationally should be required for passage. Our delegation further feels that the Constitution should require a certain percentage of the vote in each region to pass...”

‘I find it curious that the Amestrian government cannot see the benefit in consulting with the Torontian people while the Constitution is being drafted during the Conventions. Not only will this involve the Torontians directly in the process but ensure that time and money is not wasted moving towards a Constitution that does not have popular support,’ explained the Grand Cardinal with a frown. 'It will be a great blow to Torontian self-determination to finally conclude the Constitutional Conventions only to have the proposed future governmental structure of Torontia rejected during the referendum.’

Lady Heather Gilda consulted briefly with one of her nearby aides, whispering hurriedly. The advisor nodded in assent as the Foreign Minister returned her gaze to the front.

‘The Xirniumite delegation is not unreceptive of the suggestion by Lord Balor that the requirement for a referendum to pass be at least two thirds acceptance,’ explained Lady Gilda. ‘I note that this will necessarily make the Constitution more difficult to amend in the future, and therefore result in a much less fluid document, though depending on your point of view that may or may not be a desirable quality. On the other hand, it will strengthen the Constitution’s claim to legitimacy via the will of the people.’

‘While on the matter of the referendum, I wish to call the attention of the august members of the Constitutional Convention to the nature of the franchise. It is the opinion of the Xirniumite delegation that voting in the referendum to enact the Constitution should be compulsory for all those eligible to vote,’ announced Lady Gilda. ‘This issue comes back, in my opinion, to popular sovereignty - to determining whether the Constitution has received the approval of the Torontian people.

One can never know the reasons for the failure of numbers of people to turn up to vote. Though their absence may be taken as rejection of the document, or possibly even alienation with the processes, it may also read as complaisance, or even approval and acceptance. The dilemma is that we cannot know for sure. Claiming that the Constitution derives its authority from the will of the people will be problematic if those who voted in the referendum to enact it did not comprise a majority of the total population eligible to vote, due to low voter turnout.'

'When all are compelled to vote, however,' Lady Gilda continued after a brief sip of water, 'this problem is not encountered. One either votes to accept the Constitution or one does not, and there does not exist ambiguity over the exact support that the document has received. For this reason I suggest that compulsory voting be used in the referendum.’

It was Major Abrams' turn to speak. "The Government of Kahanistan believes that any attempt at instituting a document which will become the highest law of the Democratic Republic of Torontia must necessarily be approved of by an overwhelming majority of the Torontian people. Anything else would smell of one of the occupiers pushing a puppet government on the Torontians."

General Levitt did not speak, she merely smiled and nodded. She had too few diplomatic skills to effectively debate policy. As for what she wanted done with the Kahanistanian military contingent, that would depend on the course the convention took. She personally would rather be taking the troops home to defeat MassPwnage, after all the Torontian military had been trained and armed by several different factions by now. She kept a wary eye on Liscel.

‘While on the matter of the referendum, I wish to call the attention of the members of the Constitutional Convention to the nature of the franchise. It is the opinion of the Xirniumite delegation that voting in the referendum to enact the Constitution should be compulsory for all those eligible to vote,’ announced Lady Gilda. ‘This issue comes back, in my opinion, to popular sovereignty - to determining whether the Constitution has received the approval of the Torontian people.

One can never know the reasons for the failure of numbers of people to turn up to vote. Though their absence may be taken as rejection, or possibly even alienation, with the processes, it may also read as complaisance, or even approval and acceptance. The dilemma is that we cannot know for sure. Claiming that the Constitution derives its authority from the will of the people will be problematic if those who voted in the referendum to enact it did not comprise a majority of the total population eligible to vote due to low voter turnout.

When all are compelled to vote, this problem is not encountered. One either votes to accept the Constitution or one does not, and there does not exist ambiguity over the exact support that the document has received. For this reason I suggest that compulsory voting be used in the referendum.’

Mitsune drummed her fingers on the table. "An interesting idea...although there is the question of how one will compel roughly 500 million people to perform their civic duty of electoral participation..."

‘It’s not a particularly important topic for the members of the Constitutional Convention to discuss at length,’ opined the Xirniumite deputy Foreign Minister, shrugging in response to Mitsune's statement. ‘Punitive measures such as the levying of substantial fines and other legal punishments usually work fairly well. Other possibilities include the threat of disenfranchisement for those who continuously fail to vote.’

‘I find it curious that the Amestrian government cannot see the benefit in consulting with the Torontian people as the Constitution is being drafted during the Conventions. Not only will this involve the Torontians directly in the process but ensure that time is not wasted moving towards a Constitution that does not have popular support,’ explained the Grand Cardinal with a frown.

‘As do I,’ interjected Balor, ‘it is absolutely necessary that each and every step we take in building the new Torontia be overseen, assessed and approved by the populous. We will tolerate nothing less.’

‘As for a greater majority making the Constitution more difficult to amend, well, that is acceptable if we are to create a worthwhile document. Amendments becoming too easy to pass can lead to situations like those we have only just pulled Torontia from.’

Balor leant forward, leaning upon the table and placing his hands around his glass. ‘We can also agree with compulsory voting. Such measures are employed within the Empire and it has worked for hundreds of years to give accurate results.’

‘It’s not a particularly important topic for the members of the Constitutional Convention to discuss at length,’ opined the Xirniumite deputy Foreign Minister, shrugging in response to Mitsune's statement. ‘Punitive measures such as the levying of substantial fines and other legal punishments usually work fairly well. Other possibilities include the threat of disenfranchisement for those who continuously fail to vote.’

Sara took a sip of her tea. "Would that not just needlessly clog Torontia's legal system? Perhaps it would be better to saturate Torontia with polling stations...the collective manpower is readily available, and keep the polling stations open for a significant amount of time...say forty-eight to seventy-four hours... During such time a holiday could be declared and public transportation made free. If there are members of the citizenry too lazy, too apathetic, too ideological or too uninformed to participate after every conceivable step has been taken to make electoral participation as simple and easy as possible...do we really want those people's participation?"

Ward, who had been quiet for the entirety of the conference, chimed in.

"I agree with the Amestrian. However, everything to make it easy for them to vote has to be done. I have a feeling in a few months after a hypothetical election ran this way is over some people who didn't vote may complain about who won. That's why we should make records of who voted: not who they voted for, open. The point remains that you can't force people to be free. A Torontian government should offer its people the freedom to be free."

The deputy Foreign Minister suppressed a feeling of irritation at the Amestrian and McKagan delegations, draining her wineglass.

‘In my opinion there is no reason to believe that compulsory voting will needlessly clog the Torontian legal system because there is no reason to believe that (with significant fines and other legal punishments acting as a deterrence to non-participation) noteworthy numbers of people who have franchise will fail to vote,’ explained Lady Sabelina.

‘As for saturating Torontia with polling stations and keeping them open for extensive periods of time, I believe such suggestions are irrelevant to the problem in question. We should, of course, provide sufficient polling locations and have them open for a sufficient amount of time so as to allow the Torontian citizenry to vote with the minimum of inconvenience and as efficiently as possible – regardless of whether voting in the referendum is compulsory or voluntary.’

Lady Heather Gilda interjected, clearing her throat. ‘If the Constitution is to draw its legitimacy from the public, it is essential that we establish definitively whether or not it has the support of the required segment of the Torontian population. All other concerns must be ancillary. Compulsory voting is the only mechanism by which to ensure that this is the case.'

The Foreign Minister continued with an example. 'If only sixty per cent of the Torontian people turn up to vote, and of those only two thirds vote in favour of the Constitution, it will mean that less then half of those who were eligible to vote expressed their support for the Constitution. Does the proposed Constitution therefore have popular support? We cannot know, for we do not know the reasons for the absences from the voting process. Should the Constitution therefore be enacted, despite not having achieved support from even a simple majority, much less two thirds, of those eligible to vote?

Clearly, such a result would at the least put into question the legitimacy of the document. Voter apathy or disinterest is not relevant, nor is it the only reason why people fail to vote. The only relevant concern is determining the support for the Constitution. This can only be indicated by voting either to support or reject the Constitution, not by refraining from voting.’

Mitsune, Clo'e, and Sara whispered among themselves. Clo'e then nodded. "The State of Amestria sees no reason to oppose the Xirniumite proposal in regards to voter participation."

Mitsune also nodded. "The TPG also has no objections to the Xirniumite proposal."

General Levitt listened to the delegates. She was not in general opposed to the referendum. But if people don't want to vote, they shouldn't bitch when some bumbling moron gets elected. At least it'll be a Torontian moron. She didn't much like the idea of compulsory voting, it was likely that an uninformed voter would just vote for the biggest dumbass on the ballot.

She did not speak, however, being more interested in discrediting Liscel, and besides, politics required compromise, and even a military officer with little political knowledge understood that. Major Abrams gave her a look that said, The mass executions are a topic for later discussions about relations with Amestria. This is not the place for your grudge with the Amestrian. Finally, he spoke.

"The Democratic Soviet Republic of Kahanistan will not oppose the Xirniumite proposal. We understand that compulsory voting may be a reasonable method for the circumstances." Compulsory voting was foreign to Kahanistan, but then, voting in Kahanistan generally meant voting for one of several candidates for public office, not a binary solution such as "yes" or "no" to the Constitution.

Josh Ward looked around. Everyone who had supported him had turned in just a few seconds. Well, fuck.

"The TLP won't oppose this motion." He said, quite simply signifying that he wasn't going to slow the conference down and set a hostile mood this early.

‘Splendid,’ declared the Grand Cardinal with a smile, glad that a consensus had been reached. Although only an ideological matter, the issue of compulsory voting in the referendum was nonetheless an important one – going to the very heart of the future Constitution’s claim to legitimacy.

‘That said, I must confess to being a little puzzled by Ms Mitsune’s previous suggestion a while ago that the referendum need achieve a certain percentage of the vote "from each region" in order to succeed,' added Lady Gilda with a slight frown. 'The Xirniumite delegation would appreciate an elaboration on this position.

What percentages in particular did you have in mind? What purpose do you think will be served by further raising the level of support needed for the Constitution to become valid, especially if it will already require a two thirds majority of the national vote?’

‘Historically, Torontia has been a unified State with insignificant cultural, ethnic, political or other variations in the populations of its different geographic regions, so would not any voting districts delineated for this purpose be artificial constructs with no sound basis in political reality? If so, then why should there be a requirement for a minimum level of support in each individual area before the Constitution can be enacted?’

Mitsune smirked. “Having lived in ‘Torontia’ my entire life I believe I would have a much greater appreciation for its variations then someone who has lived their entire life on the other side of the Atlantic. Another thing that is easily forgotten is that Torontia in its present geographical form is only about 22 years old… In its first 21 years of existence this young country has been led from one catastrophe to another by the incompetents in Seattle…be they the weak elite that let the New Order take root in the first place, Paul Kaufman, the Norton Communist regime, or Vader Tanakis and his operatic clowns. The Olympic Peninsula, were I grew up, my home, my region, is sick and tired of being commanded by whoever controls this wretched city. In your announcement Grand Cardinal you called Seattle a symbol of unity…it is not a symbol of unity, it is a symbol of tyranny and failure. It would be best for the New Constitution to establish in a new era of regional autonomy…but I will elaborate on that later. There are five regions in Western Torontia: North BC, South BC, the OP, Vancouver, and Southwestern Torontia. There are three regions in Eastern Torontia: Southeastern Torontia, Central Eastern Torontia, and North Eastern Torontia. I propose that the New Constitution must receive 40% of the vote in all the previously mentioned regions in addition to receiving a 60% national total. Seattle and Olympia will be excluded from this regional formula.”

‘What you are talking about is not a straightforward matter,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda, ignoring the woman’s smirk. ‘In effect, you are proposing federalism for Torontia.’

‘The Constitutional Convention will need to first decide if that is something which is desirable. Are these regional preferences and diversity worth accommodating? Will benefits from diffusion of power (something which you briefly touched on) outweigh co-ordination problems and duplication of functions?’

"I am not talking about Federalism, I am talking about Regionalism...although ultimately there may be only minor differences between the two..."


‘The Constitutional Convention will need to first decide if that is something which is desirable. Are these regional preferences and diversity worth accommodating? Will benefits from diffusion of power (something which you briefly touched on) outweigh co-ordination problems and duplication of functions?’

"So let us decide..."

"I am not talking about Federalism, I am talking about Regionalism...although ultimately there may be only minor differences between the two..."
Lady Heather Gilda waved her hand dismissively. ‘Federalism is a spectrum of possibilities, not a concrete formula. The concepts of Regionalism lie somewhere within this spectrum.'

"So let us decide..."
‘Very well, then,’ agreed Lady Gilda. ‘A federal State requires for its formation two very important conditions.’

‘Firstly, the people of the proposed federated State must share some common identity, they must be so closely connected by locality, by history, by ethnicity, or the like, as to be capable of bearing an impress of common nationality,’ explained the Foreign Minister didactically. ‘Clearly, such is the case in Torontia. Indeed, any regional differences between the people of Torontia seem trivially insignificant, rather it is clear that a strong national distinctiveness exists.’

‘The second condition, which is absolutely essential to the founding of a federal system, is the existence of what Dicey called “a very peculiar state of sentiment among the inhabitants of the country which it is proposed to federalise. They must desire union, and must not desire unity.” Whether or not this is the case is, at the least, debatable,’ Lady Gilda opined. ‘It is possible, as you suggested, that disaffection with the central Seattle governments of the past might have made it a reality.’

‘That said, there are definite benefits to be gained from forming a federalised Torontia State. In my opinion, the two primary guiding principles which should shape all of our decisions at this Constitutional Convention (apart from popular sovereignty, which we have already enunciated) must be the twin concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances. In effect, our task as drafters of the future Torontian governmental system is to limit the power of government, in order to prevent tyranny. The ultimate Constitution which we establish must make certain that regimes such as that of the Tanakis era are unable ever to arise again.

Viewed from this angle, federalism serves an important purpose,’ argued the Foreign Minister as she took a sip of water. ‘The division of sovereign powers between State and Federal governments acts as a kind of vertical separation of powers, and limits the strength of the central authority. The need for coordination between the states and the national government in order to effectively govern results in an important check on both levels of government.

Based on this point, the Xirniumite delegation would be willing to support the formation of some kind of a federalised State.’

‘Firstly, the people of the proposed federated State must share some common identity, they must be so closely connected by locality, by history, by ethnicity, or the like, as to be capable of bearing an impress of common nationality,’ explained the Foreign Minister didactically. ‘Clearly, such is the case in Torontia. Indeed, any regional differences between the people of Torontia seem trivially insignificant, rather it is clear that a strong national distinctiveness exists.’

Mitsune nodded.


‘The second condition, which is absolutely essential to the founding of a federal system, is the existence of what Dicey called “a very peculiar state of sentiment among the inhabitants of the country which it is proposed to federalise. They must desire union, and must not desire unity.” Whether or not this is the case is, at the least, debatable,’ Lady Gilda opined. ‘It is possible, as you suggested, that disaffection with the central Seattle governments of the past might have made it a reality.’

"Nothing good has ever come out of Seattle since the creation of the Torontian nation state. The Seattle governments have led us from dictatorship to dictatorship, from recession to recession, from destructive war to destructive war... I challenge you to find one positive thing that Seattle has done for Torontia."


‘That said, there are definite benefits to be gained from forming a federalised Torontia State. In my opinion, the two primary guiding principles which should shape all of our decisions at this Constitutional Convention (apart from popular sovereignty, which we have already enunciated) must be the twin concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances. In effect, our task as drafters of the future Torontian governmental system is to limit the power of government, in order to prevent tyranny. The ultimate Constitution which we establish must make certain that regimes such as that of the Tanakis era are unable ever to arise again.

The TPG and Amestrian delegations nodded politely in agreement. "In the past" commented Mitsune, "all a potential dictator had to do was take control of the power structure in Seattle and the country would bow before him."


Viewed from this angle, federalism serves an important purpose,’ argued the Foreign Minister as she took a sip of water. ‘The division of sovereign powers between State and Federal governments acts as a kind of vertical separation of powers, and limits the strength of the central authority. The need for coordination between the states and the national government results in an important check on both levels of government.

Based on this point, the Xirniumite delegation would be willing to support the formation of some kind of a federalised State.’

Mitsune smiled politely. "Then we are in agreement on this issue." She proceeded to glance at the other delegates, waiting for their reactions...

Too impatient to wait for the others to comment, the Xirniumite Foreign Minister forged ahead a little.

‘Perhaps I can offer a specific model for the august members of the Convention to comment on,’ suggested Lady Heather Gilda. ‘Since any federalised Torontia will be a decentralising State, the Xirniumite delegation feels that only so much fragmentation as is necessary for the purpose of federation be undertaken – preserving the role of the central authority. Too much fragmentation is dangerous, as federal government means weak government, and with cases of periphalised federalism this is even more strongly the case.’

‘With this in mind, the division of the central authority’s sovereign powers amongst the states must be considered,’ explained the Foreign Minister. ‘We advocate expressly identifying and describing the powers of the state governments and leaving the residual powers to the national government. This will hopefully result in a centralised federation, with the national government having the power to make any laws for the “peace, order and good government” of Torontia, whereas the coordinate state governments will have specific powers dealing with predominately local issues, such as perhaps roads, health care, primary and secondary education, and others that the members of the Convention feel are appropriate.

Whether the powers of the state governments are exclusive or concurrent, and what should occur in cases of inconsistent legislation resulting from concurrent use of powers by different levels of government, will depend on the specific powers in question, but we can get to that point later,’ the Foreign Minister promised with a smile.

Brovan, who had basicly snuck into the meeting finally spoke up. "Well I am in agreement with federalised states." "A decentralized government with multiple federalised States is something that will be needed to prevent this from happening again, there will be some limits on how much power a state may have, of course some things that will have to be stamped out, but this is the direction that we should take in my opinion."

‘With this in mind, the division of the central authority’s sovereign powers amongst the states must be considered,’ explained the Foreign Minister. ‘We advocate expressly identifying and describing the powers of the state governments and leaving the residual powers to the national government. This will hopefully result in a centralised federation, with the national government having the power to make any laws for the “peace, order and good government” of Torontia, whereas the coordinate state governments will have specific powers dealing with more local issues, such as perhaps roads, health care, primary and secondary education, and others that the members of the Convention feel are appropriate.

"The Police," Mitsune interjected. "Seattle has long abused its control over the local and regional police. The New Order used them as storm troopers. Of course, the local and regional police forces will have to be demilitarized, especially in BC where it is now almost impossible to tell them apart from the Armed Forces... Their militarization being necessary to maintain order, squash the pro-New Order insurgency, and contain the spread of the bio-weapon...however, since the TPLA has been swept into the dustbin of history the process of demilitarization can begin."

‘‘The police, yes certainly,’ agreed the deputy Foreign Minister, enthusiastic about the idea. ‘I do not believe, however, that it should be an exclusive power of the states, but rather a concurrent one with the federal government.’

‘There are certain areas where a federal police force would serve a useful purpose,’ elaborated Lady Eleanor Sabelina. ‘One could argue a Torontian federal police organisation would be valuable in coordinating law enforcement operations across several states, in combating illicit narcotics trafficking, people smuggling, organised crime, sexual servitude, major fraud, and other national-level crimes.’

‘To prevent the problem that you mentioned regarding the tyrannical use of the police by the New Order regime, the Constitution could be drafted so that the state level of government prevails in cases where the powers are used inconsistently. In order to ensure stability and to avoid any threat that the states might use their control over the police for secession, the armed forces could be made a power exclusive only to the federal government.’

'Another suggestion that has not yet been voiced,' added the Foreign Minister after her colleague had finished, 'is the inclusion of some kind of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. This would even further constrain the power of the Torontian government and provide an additional safeguard against tyranny. I suggest something analogous to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.’

"Regions, not States..." Mitsune corrected.

"Regions, not States..." Mitsune corrected.
'We are talking about the possibility of forming a federal republic,' explained Lady Sabelina. 'Since all the goverments at both the national and "regional" level are both sovereign and coordinate in a federation it is not incorrect to refer to these proposed political entities as "states". The term "regions" denotes a system where their governments are neither sovereign nor coordinate, or it at least leaves open that interpretation.'

Mitsune smiled. "I see no reason why Regions is insufficient. As the full legal powers available to the Regional governments and the obligations owed by the Regional governments to the National government will be fully defined in the new Constitution I fail to see what would be left open to interpretation."

"As the full legal powers available to the Regional governments and the obligations owed by the Regional governments to the National government will be fully defined in the new Constitution I fail to see what would be left open to interpretation."
‘In that case I do not see why you insist on holding this absurd semantics argument,’ retorted the deputy Foreign Minister angrily.

‘Lady Sabelina, please…’ warned the Grand Cardinal quietly. The two Xirniumite Parliamentarians held a brief, whispered conversation.

‘In addition to explicit Constitutional restraints on central power, as was mentioned by Lady Gilda, I suggest that special representation of the states at the central level would be beneficial to protect the regions’ interests,’ continued Lady Eleanor Sabelina, agreeing to ignore Ms Mitsune’s pointless interjection.

‘For example, the upper house of a bicameral legislature could serve as the state’s house.’

"Regions!" Mitsune hissed. She looked irritated.

'I find Ms Mitsune's objections to the term "state" being used by the Xirniumite delegation to be both disruptive and pointless detractions from the purpose of the Convention,' explained Torontian Constitutional lawyer Jeffery Worth as he rose from his seat.

‘The proposed political entities that the Xirniumites refer to are states by both legal and conventional English definition (the Oxford English Dictionary defines a “state” as “an organised political community or area forming part of a federal republic”, which these are). Indeed, the word "state" far more accurately describes what is being talked about then the much less clear "region" which Ms Mitsune seems to be intent on using.

I see no justifiable reason for Ms Mitsune to continue with this worthless line of argument and ask that we return to the matter at hand.’

"There will not be a Federal Government and there will not be any State Governments. There will be a National Government and Regional Governments." replied Mitsune indignantly.

Clo'e spoke. "The State of Amestria supports the TPG delegations position. There will be no Federal Government, there will instead be a National Government, and there will not be any state governments, instead there will be Regional Governments."

Sara wrote out a note and had Aela take it and show it to (but not give it to) Gilda.

The image (or illusion)of Torontia as a Unitary State must be maintained even as a different reality is being constructed.

General Levitt cast a brief glance at Major Abrams, assuring him that she would not bring up the murders of POW's. Making eye contact with Konno, the Kahanistan General spoke.

"Who gives a shit what we call the political subdivisions of Torontia?" she asked. It was her blunt nature, in addition to her short temper, that often got her into trouble. "States, regions, provinces... who cares? We're talking about a central government and numerous political subdivisions, call them what you will, there's no need for this to be a divisive issue when there are plenty of other divisive issues among us."

She looked meaningfully at Liscel. If anyone was going to disrupt the conference, it would be her, not the General. It would probably be very clear to Liscel what the "divisive issues" General Levitt spoke of were.

"There will not be a Federal Government and there will not be any State Governments. There will be a National Government and Regional Governments." replied Mitsune indignantly.

Clo'e spoke. "The State of Amestria supports the TPG delegations position. There will be no Federal Government, there will instead be a National Government, and there will not be any state governments, instead there will be Regional Governments."
‘Let us be completely clear here,’ Eleanor Sabelina began, her voice icy. ‘This conference is a serious forum for the logical debate of political and legal issues regarding Torontian Constitutionalism. You have not been invited here to make “declarations” without even bothering to attempt to justify them with any arguments. If you aren't willing to participate properly in the Constitutional Convention then feel free to leave any time.’

‘Truly, I find this argument utterly bizarre,’ added Lady Heather Gilda as she spoke about the controversy for the first time. ‘We are attempting to seriously talk about how to sculpt the future Torontian Constitution and instead the Convention is being sidetracked by the Amestrians’ childish word games.’

‘Either the future Torontian state will be a federated republic or it will not,’ declared the Grand Cardinal, clearly annoyed. ‘Ms Mitsune already agreed that a federated system was desirable, and now she has apparently changed her mind. Why? I do not know. However, in my opinion she is wasting the Convention's time. What we have proposed is a system were sovereignty is divided between state and federal governments. If the Amestrians have an alternative model then let them suggest it and spare us their silly attempts at obfuscation.’

‘"There will not be a Federal Government and there will not be any State Governments. There will be a National Government and Regional Governments,"’ Lady Gilda repeated, imitating the voice of the Torontian cruelly. ‘What on Earth does that mean exactly? Are they trying to suggest that they object to dividing power between sovereign and coordinate governments at different levels? If so then they should state their view plainly. Or is Amestria's puppet government simply being asinine for the sake of it?’

Abigail Ertha returned a message to the Amestrians written in the Foreign Minister's lovely, flowing script:

I've absolutely no intention of participating in your delegation's petty games. We will use the term that we feel best describes what is being referred to - and nothing else.

If Torontia is to be a federation then that is precisely what it will be called.

"States, regions, provinces... who cares? We're talking about a central government and numerous political subdivisions"
‘The fact that there might exist regional governments in a nation does not necessarily mean that that nation is a federated republic,’ explained Lady Gilda with seemingly infinite patience. ‘Even in cases where a national government explicitly grants the creation of autonomous governing regions the country may not necessarily constitute a federated republic, because the unitary state can retain its original sovereignty and its devolving power can be taken back.'

‘The existence of a system involving federal and state governments, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter,' contined the Foreign Minister. 'Such cases explicitly refer to a federated system - such as the one proposed by us. In this situation an arrangement is created at a constitutional level and governments at both regional and national levels are sovereign.

The terms "state" and "federal" governments are therefore entirely appropriate, indeed they are the most appropriate terms I can think to use.

I don't see why we should not call something what it is. Indeed, I cannot fathom the reason for this stubbornness at all, and I've yet to hear any logical reasoning for the position of both the Amestrians and their puppet government.’

‘The existence of a system involving federal and state governments, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter,' contined the Foreign Minister. 'Such cases explicitly refer to a federated system - such as the one proposed by us. In this situation an arrangement is created at a constitutional level and governments at both regional and national levels are sovereign……
…..I don't see why we should not call something what it is. Indeed, I cannot fathom the reason for this stubbornness at all, and I've yet to hear any logical reasoning for the position of both the Amestrians and their puppet government.’

‘That would be because they have no logical reasoning, Lady Gilda,’ concluded Balor, still clutching his glass, ‘and quite frankly such nonsense over something so petty is not only disappointing but completely unwanted at this convention.’

‘I have not taken the time away from the Provinces of the Empire to debate the relativity of certain words to governmental sub-divisions, and I would ask that Ms Mitsune hold her tongue on the matter.’

‘As for you Ms Clo'e, I would think that after abandoning Torontia, the State of Amestria would be more co-operative and respectful when given the opportunity to even have their say at this gathering.’

Balor paused, taking a mouthful of water from his glass and then placing it heavily back onto the table, though more for effect than because he was actually thirsty. As he did so he gave Lady Gilda an unimpressed glance, which clearly displayed his rapidly degrading patience with the Amestrians. He made sure to turn his head sideward to shield it from the Amestrian delegation.

‘The Empire puts its full support behind the Xirniumite proposal,’ he continued, looking back directly at the Amestrians with his typically unreadable expression, ‘of a state and federal government system.’

Josh Ward, after waiting for several minutes to take in everyones comments and not seem like he was pushing the issue, spoke in a calm, monotoned voice.

"I'm not very interested in this idea of creating 'mini-nations' inside Torontia. Setting up regions where one party almost has to be in control is simply power hungry. It doesn't do anything to help disolve the lines and maps that were put in place by former Imperialism. It does nothing to ensure that a single power will always have something to hold in the nation. It keeps the nation divided between powers who don't see the same: and that's exactly what we have now. I won't stand for that. We need an executive branch with the power to hold things together and no, of any kind, type of other divisions to hold 'mini-governments.'"

A rather angry Mitsune was about to say some nasty things to the Xirniumite delegation when she felt Sara's foot nudge her leg. Mitsune glanced back to see the Vice Minister looking at her with one eye brow raised. The Vice President visibly relaxed and took a moment to pour herself some tea.

Sara Liscel spoke in a very soft and soothing tone. "Please, I fail to see how insulting and disparaging remarks help us reach consensus..." Sara took a sip of her tea and began to jot down another note.

Mitsune, after a timid sip of her hot tea (all of the members of the TPG and Amestrian delegations are drinking tea, coffee, or water), spoke. She had a warm smile on her face and it was as if she had not heard the previous insults. "The TPG delegation has not changed its proposal in any way, shape or form. We just wish for the Central Government to be referred to as the National Government and that the coordinate governments are referred to as the Regions or Regional Governments... And by the way, my last name is Konno, Mitsune is my first name, you have all been addressing me in the familiar this whole time..." She chuckled lightly to herself at the humor and took another sip of tea.

Clo'e spoke. "The Amestrian delegation supports the TPG delegation in moving that the Central Government be referred to in the Constitution and throughout the remainder of the proceedings as the National Government and that the coordinate governments be referred to as the Regions or Regional Governments."

Sara finished her note and handed it to Aela. Aela took it and showed it (but not give it) to Gilda. It was written in a rather hurried and untidy fashion, but was completely readable.

(A little doodle of Sara looking confused with question marks of her head).

National Government = Federal Government

Regional Government = State Government

Since there roles will be spelled out completely by the Constitution it does not really matter from a legal perspective what they are called. You got our agreement for mandatory voting in the referendum. In this case we just want the Central Government to be called the National Government and the State Governments to be called the Regional Governments. If you would just drop your objections to using those terms we could get back to discussing the actual division of powers between the National and Regional Governments and the structure of the Federal arrangement.

Please... (A little doodle of Sara pouting).

"I'm not very interested in this idea of creating 'mini-nations' inside Torontia. Setting up regions where one party almost has to be in control is simply power hungry. It doesn't do anything to help disolve the lines and maps that were put in place by former Imperialism. It does nothing to ensure that a single power will always have something to hold in the nation. It keeps the nation divided between powers who don't see the same: and that's exactly what we have now. I won't stand for that. We need an executive branch with the power to hold things together and no, of any kind, type of other divisions to hold 'mini-governments.'"
‘It is not accurate to call the proposed state governments “mini-nations”. What we have suggested is not duplicating the national government at regional levels, but dividing the sovereign government power of the national government between federal and state governments – in effect, sharing it,’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘In this way power, which is often dangerous when concentrated in one area, is diffused through several sources and so serves to protect liberty. It can be considered a separation of powers, and this division of the power “between government who don't see the same,” as you put it, provides a powerful check and balance.’

‘Regarding your concerns that the former dividing lines of the Amestrian-Saint Fedski occupation areas will persist, I do not think such a position is defensible,’ opined the deputy Foreign Minister frankly. ‘We need merely define the borders of these new states so that they bare no resemblance to the past occupational divisions. Nor can I agree with you that federalism is divisive, rather it frequently results in quite the opposite. Federalising can aid stability because any regional destablising pressures can be accommodated by diverse outlets.

Federated republics also facilitate democracy, since smaller regional governments can be more accessible to citizens and provide opportunities for greater participation. They are therefore also justifiable under the principle of popular sovereignty.

Frankly, I am concerned that you want to concentrate power within a single source, the unitary Executive of a Unitary State. If we want to create a system that prevents tyranny then we need to do the precise opposite.’


The TPG delegation has not changed its proposal in any way, shape or form. We just wish for the Central Government to be referred to as the National Government and that the coordinate governments are referred to as the Regions or Regional Governments... And by the way, my last name is Konno, Mitsune is my first name, you have all been addressing me in the familiar this whole time..." She chuckled lightly to herself at the humor and took another sip of tea.

Clo'e spoke. "The Amestrian delegation supports the TPG delegation in moving that the Central Government be referred to in the Constitution and throughout the remainder of the proceedings as the National Government and that the coordinate governments be referred to as the Regions or Regional Governments."
‘So long as the Amestrians and their puppet government insist on parroting each others views, I will ask that only one of the delegations speak. The support of the other can be assumed,’ replied Lady Gilda scathingly. ‘As for your continued idiotic insistence on using terms obviously intended to obfuscate, we have made our position abundantly clear. We will not use a less precise terms for absolutely no logical reason,’ the Foreign Minister stated with finality. ‘The Xirniumite delegation will insist on referring to state and federal governments.

We ask that the remaining delegations that have not yet commented on our proposal voice either their support or otherwise for a federated Torontian republic, as the honourable Emperor of the Infinite Empire has done.’

The Foreign Minister glanced over Ms Liscel's letter and sent the Amestrian aide away without bothering to draft a reply. Nothing had been said in it that wasn't said in the previous.

Clo'e spoke. "The Amestrian delegation will support a Federal Structure, although it insists upon the Central Government being called the National Government and the coordinate governments being called Regional Governments."

Mitsune spoke. "The TPG delegation supports the establishment of what you refer to as a Federal structure, for all the reasons I stated previously when I proposed the establishment of such a structure. The Central Sovereign Government will be referred to as the National Government and the coordinate governments shall be called Regional Governments."

"...and the coordinate governments shall be called Regional Governments."
'I find your statement puzzling,' explained prominent Torontian jurist, Jonothan Major. 'Both the state and federal governments are coordinate under the Xirniumite proposal, not only the state governments as you have implied.'

"The lesser non-sovereign coordinate governments shall be referred to as the Regional Governments." replied Mitsune, correcting herself. Clo'e nodded, signaling her agreement with Mitsune's correction.

Mitsune’s statement created an uproar of animated conversation amongst the Xirniumite delegation which only ended after the Grand Cardinal raised her hand for silence.

‘Explain yourself clearly, Ms Konno,’ she ordered with a deadly serious expression on her face. The Foreign Minister's patience for games had clearly ended. ‘You’ve just stated numerous times that you support a federalised structure for Torontia, and yet you refer to the proposed state governments as “non-sovereign”.

Which one is it? If the regional governments are not sovereign then there is no federalism. What you are talking about is a unitary state. One cannot be both coordinate and lesser, that is an absurdity.

In a federated republic both state and federal governments are sovereign and equal. Federalism is a system of government which embodies predominantly a division of powers between general and regional authorities, each of which, in its own sphere, is coordinate with the others and independent of them.’

Clo'e spoke. "The Amestrian delegation will support a Federal Structure, although it insists upon the Central Government being called the National Government and the coordinate governments being called Regional Governments."

Mitsune spoke. "The TPG delegation supports the establishment of what you refer to as a Federal structure, for all the reasons I stated previously when I proposed the establishment of such a structure. The Central Sovereign Government will be referred to as the National Government and the coordinate governments shall be called Regional Governments."

‘Would you give it up already,’ Balor demanded, ‘its bad enough Amestria and the TPG are wasting time by arguing over words, are you now going to start repeating each others sentences too.’

He now folded his arms together, leaning forward across the table, glaring directly at the other two delegations. ‘There is no clearer and more definitive term than federal and state governments, when we are talking of a federal system. So, let us put aside these games and continue.’

The Emperor was clearly irritated now and found it difficult to mantain a reasonable tone in his voice.

Mitsune ignored the bad tempered Emperor as she answered the Xirniumite delegation.

"I misstated what I meant then, although I would like to point out that a State government is not equal to a Federal government... What I meant by sovereignty was 'National Sovereignty,' such as control over international trade and diplomatic affairs, the Government which other governments would recognize and whose chief executive would be the head of State... Perhaps I should have said lesser sovereign coordinate governments...by lesser it is meant smaller and purely domestic. I am not trying to be obstructive and no, despite what some must think I am not being so inane as to oppose the system that I suggested..." Mitsune sighed and sipped her tea...

although I would like to point out that a State government is not equal to a Federal government...
'In a federation it is,' the Grand Cardinal explained, clearly irritated that she was forced to explain basic Constitutional theory to a politician. 'Both the state and federal governments are coordinate, and sovereign governmental power is shared amongst equals. That these powers are different (for example, the federal government may have defence and currency while the state government may have education and roads), and that one government's power may prevail over another's in a specific instance of inconsistancy, is irrelevant, the governments themselves are both equal and sovereign legally.’

"A Federal Government by its nature has all the Nation State's diplomatic power and under emergencies can overrule the State governments...bah!" Mitsune waved her hand in irritation. "Who cares, whether a Federal Government is equal to a State Government or a State Government is defacto the lesser to a Federal Government is an irrelevant matter of academic debate...arguing about the nature of a Federal system when we have already agreed to one is absurd..." Mitsune began rubbing her temple. "I just want the names changed, that is all… Aela."

“Yes Vice President?”

“Tylenol.”

"and under emergencies can overrule the State governments"
'I think not, the federal government may only do what is allowed it in the Constitution,' pointed out Torontian political theorist Alfred North. 'And it may never take away the powers vested in the state governments by the Constitution.'

"I just want the names changed, that is all…"
Lady Sabelina laughed cruelly. "She only wants the name changed, that's all," repeated the deputy Foreign Minister, looking at the Yallakian Emperor humorously. 'I ask, why should the Constitutional Convention agree to her wish when there is no sound reason to? Why are we even wasting our time on this nonsense?'

"arguing about the nature of a Federal system when we have already agreed to one is absurd..." Mitsune began rubbing her temple. "I just want the names changed, that is all… Aela."

“Yes Vice President?”

“Tylenol.”

Balor couldn’t help but laugh quietly at Mitsune’s pathetic request for pain-killers. What? Is that suppose to generate sympathy – still, listening to her for five minutes could give anyone a headache, he though to himself before proceeding. ‘You just want a name change. Why on earth do you need that? Please explain, because as far as I’m concerned, and as you have just stated, we have all agreed upon a Federal system, which in itself consists of state and Federal governments, not regions.’

'I think not, the federal government may only do what is allowed it in the Constitution,' pointed out Torontian political theorist Alfred North. 'And it may never take away the powers vested in the state governments by the Constitution.'

‘Correct, unless otherwise done so by a constitutional amendment granted by a national referendum passed with a double majority. The same goes for the Federal government diverting any of its responsibilities to the state governments.’

Lady Sabelina laughed cruelly. "She only wants the name changed, that's all," repeated the deputy Foreign Minister, looking at the Yallakian Emperor humorously.

Balor couldn’t help but laugh again. Of all things he hated, stupidity was at the top of the list, and this entirely irrelevant request by the Amestrians and the TPG was beyond stupid. And they had yet to even give so much as a single reason for it.

'I think not, the federal government may only do what is allowed it in the Constitution,' pointed out Torontian political theorist Alfred North. 'And it may never take away the powers vested in the state governments by the Constitution.'


Mitsune sighed. "It all comes down to the powers given to the National Government in the Constitution compared to those given to the State Governments... If the Constitution allows for the Federal Government to overrule the State Governments then it is acting within the limits of the Constitution... Can we get off this futile and meaningless academic debate?"

Aela brought the Tylenol and Mitsune swallowed it.


Lady Sabelina laughed cruelly. "She only wants the name changed, that's all," repeated the deputy Foreign Minister, looking at the Yallakian Emperor humorously. 'I ask, why should the Constitutional Convention agree to her wish when there is no sound reason to? Why are we even wasting our time on this nonsense?'

"I have made my position clear." Mitsune sighed.

Lady Heather Gilda cleared her throat, having poured herself another glass of chardonnay and drunk deeply. I’m going to need something a lot stronger then wine to endure this idiocy, she thought dourly.

‘I think the Constitutional Convention will agree with me that we have heard quite enough from the Amestrians and their puppet government on the issue of the naming of the proposed governments of a federated Torontian republic,’ explained the Foreign Minister with a conclusive edge to her voice.

‘I suggest we move right along to vastly more constructive matters, such as precisely defining the powers of the federal and state governments.’ The Finance Minister smiled weakly at Lord Balor, obviously tired with the pointless circular arguing.

General Levitt was getting frustrated. She had hoped that the Convention would be discussing more important issues than what to call the central government.

"Miss... Konno? If you're worried about the federal government taking away the powers of the states... we are here to discuss ideas for a new constitution." Her voice was even, with no trace of irritation or hostility. "If the constitution specifically defines the powers of the central government and the powers of the local governments... the terminology shouldn't matter."

The delegate sat back, her substantial bust pointed straight at Liscel. She smiled innocently. "I hope that we can get ahead to more important issues... such as the level of human rights the new Torontian constitution will grant, mechanisms for ensuring fair elections, and, of course, preventing a strong central government from devolving into another New Order dictatorship. Issues such as terminology can wait for later."

Major Abrams looked at her. This woman has better diplomatic skills than I thought.

‘I think the Constitutional Convention will agree with me that we have heard quite enough from the Amestrians and their puppet government on the issue of the naming of the proposed governments of a federated Torontian republic,’ explained the Foreign Minister with a conclusive edge to her voice.

‘I suggest we move right along to more constructive matters, such as precisely defining the powers of the federal and state governments.’ The Finance Minister smiled weakly at Lord Balor, obviously tired with the pointless circular arguing.

‘Agreed,’ answered Balor, ‘on both points.’ He emphasized the last words, for he knew that he was definitely over the constant harping of the TPG delegation and the resounding echo followed by the Amestrians.

‘Does the Eternal Republic have any plans regarding the division of responsibilities?’ he asked, returning a smile to the Finance Minister.

Mitsune was also eager to change the subject. "As I have stated the Regional Governments should have the power over their respective Regional police units. As Xirnium suggested a Special National Police force would exist to coordinate the Regional police forces and enforce National Law. The next subject of importance is education. The Seattle government’s complete control over Torontia's schools has been a disaster. The schools taught whatever ideological tripe was promoted by the Seattle thugs. Under Kaufman they taught Social Darwinism, under Norton they taught Communist theory, and under Vader Tanakis..." Mitsune shuddered. "Under Tanakis Torontian children learned a gangster communist conspiracy led by Homosexuals was destroying the world... The question is how much authority the Regional Governments should have over their educational systems."

'The Xirniumite delegation proposes first determining the division of the exclusive powers of the state and federal governments,' suggested Lady Heather Gilda, 'as concurrent powers will need more careful consideration in order to determine what should occur in case of inconsistency. We suggest the following preliminary model.'

Taking a sip from her glass the Foreign Minister continued. 'The federal government shall have the residual power to make any general laws regarding the "peace, order and good government" of Torontia. For greater certainty, the federal government shall also have exclusive power to legislate regarding:

-Defence and Armed Forces
-Public property
-Public debt, national taxation and borrowing
-Postal services
-Currency and coinage
-Trade and commerce regulation
-Shipping and navigation
-Fishing
-Banking
-Patents and copyrights
-Immigration
-Public offices of the federal government
-Marriage and divorce
-Criminal law
-Correctional facilities
-Higher education

The state governments shall have the power to exclusively legislate regarding:

-State taxation and borrowing
-Public property belong to states
-Public offices of the state government
-Health
-Municipal institutions
-Licenses
-Roads and other local works
-The administration of justice
-Primary and secondary education
-Matters of merely local nature

What are the thoughts of the other members of the Constitutional Convention?' asked Lady Gilda, looking mainly at the Yallakian delegation.

"The Regional Governments should have some say in area's of Higher education and their respective public properties. I also feel that criminal law and correctional facilities should be the domain of the Regional Governments. Also, given Torontia's past history, I feel that the rights of marriage and divorce should be specifically spelled out in the Constitution and not left to legislation... The rest of the list is fine."

‘Higher education could be made a concurrent state power where the federal government prevails in cases of inconsistency,’ Lady Heather Gilda suggested reasonably. 'I must disagree, however, that criminal law should be a state matter. This would vastly complicate the justice system of Torontia - especially for interstate crimes. The administration of correctional facilities could conceivably become the exclusive domain of states, I've no great objections to that.’

‘As for marriage rights, I believe such details should be left for a Bill of Rights which we can also include in the Constitution.’

Balor took a moment to analyze what Lady Gilda had just proposed, looking at his glass as he spun it around in his hands.

‘The exclusive separation of powers seems very credible,’ he began, quite content with the Xirniumite set out of powers, ‘though may I ask what your reasoning is in placing fishing under the Federal government? I would think that, seeing as not all the Toronitian states will have coastline and hence not all will have any major fishing industry except recreation, that fishing legislature would best be left to the discretion of the state governments.’

‘In the case of inconsistency, it seems only logical that when a law of a State is inconsistent with a law of the Federal government then the latter shall prevail, and the former, to the extent of the inconsistency, will be considered invalid.’

After he finished, Balor released his glass, which by now had left several rings of condensation on the table, and leant back into his chair. He couldn’t wait to hear the Amestrian/TPG opinion on the matter.

“I also feel that criminal law and correctional facilities should be the domain of the Regional Governments. Also, given Torontia's past history, I feel that the rights of marriage and divorce should be specifically spelled out in the Constitution and not left to legislation... The rest of the list is fine."

‘Unacceptable. Laws must be standard across the entire nation, less we allow criminals to avoid prosecution by fleeing to a state which holds different standards.’

‘Higher education could be made a concurrent state power where the federal government prevails in cases of inconsistency,’ Lady Heather Gilda suggested.

Mitsune nodded. "Agreed...”

'I must disagree, however, that criminal law should be a state matter. This would vastly complicate the justice system of Torontia especially for interstate crimes.

"That depends, crimes of a purely local level, such as loitering, would be best left to the Regions."

‘
The administration of correction facilities could conceivably become the exclusive domain of states, I've no great objections to that.’

"It would be wise to establish some National correction facilities for certain high crimes defined in the Constitution, but we can get to that later."

‘
‘As for marriage rights, I believe such details should be left for a Bill of Rights which we can include in the Constitution.’

Mitsune nodded. "Agreed..."

‘though may I ask what your reasoning is in placing fishing under the Federal government? I would think that, seeing as not all the Toronitian states will have coastline and hence not all will have any major fishing industry except recreation, that fishing legislature would best be left to the discretion of the state governments.’
'It was my opinion that, since many important issues that regard fishing, such as economic problems (for example, the "tragedy of the commons") and environmental conservation matters, affect the nation of Torontia as a whole and not merely individual states, a uniform legislation regarding sea coast fishing would be desirable,' explained the Foreign Minister. 'It is not an overly important issue to the Eternal Republic and we would be willing to make it a concurrent power of the states.

"That depends, crimes of a purely local level, such as loitering, would be best left to the Regions."

’It simply won’t do. There must be a set standard of laws defined by the Federal government. The states only responsibility in this area should be the enforcement of those laws.’

‘Anything minor, that is not truly consider an offence or outlined in the Federal laws, would fall under local issues and hence be dealt with by the states authority.’

'It was my opinion that, since many important issues that regard fishing such as economic problems (for example, the "tragedy of the commons") and environmental conservation matters affect the nation of Torontia as a whole and not merely individual states that a uniform legislation regarding sea coast fishing would be desirable.'

‘Perhaps then we should consider being more general, and replacing fishing with Environmental conservation. This would then cover all areas of the issue including fishing, mining and so on.’

‘Perhaps then we should consider be more general, and replacing fishing with Environmental conservation. This would then cover all areas of the issue including fishing, mining and so on.’
The deputy Foreign Minister considered this for a moment. 'What would the Infinite Empire say, then, to the proposal of having general economic conservation an exclusive power of the federal government and making the regulation of fishing, mining and other industries concurrent state powers?' asked Lady Sabelina.

"It would be wise to establish some National correction facilities for certain high crimes defined in the Constitution, but we can get to that later."
'In that case why not merely allow all legislation of prison facilities to remain an exclusive federal power, which would greatly simplify matters?' asked Lady Sabelina.

‘That will be sufficient I believe, Lady Sabelina,’ answered Balor. ‘Finding the median is often the best way to accomplish something,’ he added, looking directly at Mitsune.

'In that case why not merely allow all legislation of prison facilities to remain an exclusive federal power, which would greatly simplify matters?' asked Lady Sabelina.

Mitsune did not answer the deputy Minister directly. She turned to one of her aides. "Will, could you put your foot on the table please." The aide (Will), put his foot upon the table. Mitsune removed his shoe. Will's foot was horribly scared and was missing several toes...

"He voiced some disapproval of the Tanakis regime and he was arrested on a bogus charge of shoplifting... While in prison they gave him a warning... The institutions of incarceration are best diversified given Torontia's past…to hell with simplicity."

‘Such thing would happen anyway if the prison authority are loyal to an insane murdering dictator. Diversifying the systems will ultimately achieve nothing, therefore we would be best to stick to simplicity.’

"He voiced some disapproval of the Tanakis regime and he was arrested on a bogus charge of shoplifting... While in prison they gave him a warning... The institutions of incarceration are best diversified given Torontia's past…to hell with simplicity."
'Forgive me, but I fail to see the relevance,' apologised Lady Sabelina, unimpressed by this latest gimmick. 'A correctly drafted Bill of Rights will be more then sufficient to avoid such a thing occurring in the future, there is no need to remove prison administration from being a federal power.'

"A bill of rights is just a piece of paper, I feel that barriers need to be erected to prevent abuses. A divided correctional system would be one such barrier." Mitsune replied. "I fail to see how a divided correctional system would make the Torontian justice system inefficient."

"A bill of rights is just a piece of paper
'What a curiously absurd statement,' noted the deputy Foreign Minister. 'A Consitution is, likewise, "a piece of paper" as are all the laws of a nation. Giving states the power to legislate on correctional facilities would likewise be something done on "a piece of paper". A Bill of Rights article protecting prison inmates will suffice, and be much more effective then needlessly complicating the prison administration system by making it a concurrent power.'

"I disagree, you have failed to give a reason opposing my suggestion other then a pure Federal System would supposedly be simpler to operate..."

Mitsune paused, then added sarcastically. "You know what else would be simpler, not having a Constitution...perhaps we should ask Tanakis to come back, he would certainly simplify things..."

'Simplicity is a good reason,' explained Lady Sabelina. 'Any federal Government willing to attempt to illegally violate a Bill of Rights would also be willing to attempt to violate a state's power to legislate on prisons, so quite frankly I do not see your point.'

”Proper checks and balances is a system where ambition counteracts ambition. Perhaps in a peaceful country with no history of continuously abusive government simplicity would be a good reason…but not in Torontia. There is no way the Olympic Peninsula is going to have Seattle run its prison’s.”

'Division of power between federal and state governments is not the only type of seperation of power possible and rivalry between the coordiante governments is not the only form of check and balance,' retorted the deputy Foreign Minister, becoming irritated.

'The proposed state governments will do exactly what the Constitution tells them to do, as will the Seattle government.'

"Then here is the reality, the Olympic Peninsula is never letting Seattle administer its prisons again... A purely Federal Correctional system is unacceptable to us." Mitsune calmly replied.

'Ms Konno does not represent Olympic Peninsula nor can she speak on its behalf at this Convention,' corrected Torontian federalist Jason Edridge. 'Her threats are meaningless, and I ask that the members of this conference continue to other matters.'

"I represent the Olympic Peninsula more then any other individual here. There will be a mixed correctional system in Torontia. Simplicity is not a reason to put aside what we feel to be an important check upon Seattle."

(OOC: Yes she does.)

"Very well," said General Levitt. "What if we put the prison system itself under the complete control of the states? As for high, i.e. federal, crimes, the sentences would be handed down by federal judges in federal courts, so none of this running off to another state. The states would simply incarcerate violators of federal law under their own system, but the length of incarceration would be specified by the sentence of the federal court."

She hoped this dispelled the impression of her as lacking diplomatic skills that she believed the other delegates had of her.

'That has already been proposed by our delegation,' explained Lady Sabelina, sighing. 'Unfortunately, everyone's favourite self-declared representative of Olympic Peninsula,' she said, sneering, 'refuses to listen to reason.'

Reaching for the written record of the day's Convention from her stenographer, the deputy Foreign Minister repeated Lady Gilda's earlier suggestion, 'the administration of correctional facilities could conceivably become the exclusive domain of states, I've no great objections to that'.

Sara summoned Aela over and whispered something into her ear. Aela nodded and silently walked over to Lady Sabelina. She discretely handed the Cardinal a pack of cigarettes.

"The Vice Minister feels you might be irritable from too little nicotine in your blood." she whispered (in a voice audible enough so only Sabelina would hear).

Aela then rejoined the Amestrian delegation.

Reaching for the written record of the day's Convention from her stenographer, the deputy Foreign Minister repeated Lady Gilda's earlier suggestion, 'the administration of correctional facilities could conceivably become the exclusive domain of states, I've no great objections to that'.

Clo'e spoke. "I for one fail to see how the establishment of a National Prison System, for certain high crimes, and a Regional Correctional System, for everything else, threatens to create over complication..."

Lady Sabelina looked at the retreating form of the Amestrian secretary with a murderous glint in her eye.

‘Calm yourself Eleanor… they resort to petty games because we have unsettled them so well,’ the Grand Cardinal whispered, inaudible to anyone but the deputy Foreign Minister. In truth, Lady Gilda was likely just as furious with the threatening and stubborn language of the Amestrians (and their puppet government) as her colleague was, but she hid her anger behind professional detachment.

‘I fail to understand the rationale behind why the Amestrian delegation wishes to complicate the legislation of the prison system (merely in order to divide the authority, between the two levels of government, for correctional facilities intended for “high crimes” and for conventional crimes),’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister honestly. ‘Simplicity could be achieved by having either the federal or the state governments legislate for both types of facilities, without any conceivable detriment.’

‘If we do decide that we want to give the federal government the power to legislate for the administration of certain types of prisons then we are faced with several problems. How do we define the type of people who are to be incarcerated there? Do we perhaps leave the definition of “high crimes” up to the federal legislature? In that case the national government could merely expand that definition to include all crimes, which is what the Amestrians and their puppet government are against in the first instance.’

‘There are other alternatives,’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘Perhaps we could define “high crimes” in the Constitution? This approach is also fraught with difficulty. Not only must this Constitutional Convention then determine the definition of these crimes, but we must also realise that changing them later will be extremely difficult, and require a referendum on the Constitution. We must also recognise that, by enshrining the definitions in the Constitution, we leave their interpretation up to the Courts (unelected judicial officials). Should their interpretation prove unsatisfactory it will not be possible for the government to legislate a change to the offences, and the definitions will remain fixed until a referendum can be held (which may not pass).

For these reasons alone I ask that the august members of the Consitutional Convention reject this proposal by the Amestrians. Clearly, they have not bothered to think it through in enough detail.’

Lady Eleanor Sabelina leaned back in her high-backed chair, taking a short sip from her glass as she regarded those present in the packed room.

‘No, Ms Konno,’ said Balor dryly, ‘you represent the Amestrian established puppet TPG. They appointed you for their own purposes, the Torontian people did not elect you and thus you speak only for your organization, nothing more.’

‘Do not for a second think that you can hold this convention and its esteemed attendees to ransom with threats of non-compliance.’

Balor sat, as he had throughout the entire conference, motionless in his chair, glaring at the TPG delegate.

‘Let me tell you the reality now, dividing the legislature of the prison system succeeds in nothing more than creating problems. As Lady Sabelina has explained, we would need to define which courts and prisons are responsible for what crimes, and any changes to these would not be easy.’

‘And for what, if another Vader Tanakis rose to power this division would achieve nothing. He took control through his own private army and the police; the justice system had no choice but to follow his ludicrous laws. It could be done again with or without these complications – so let us keep this simplified.’

‘No, Ms Konno,’ said Balor dryly, ‘you represent the Amestrian established puppet TPG.
‘I must agree with the honourable Yallakian Emperor,’ added Torontian federalist Jason Edridge. ‘Unlike the future Torontian government that will result from this current self-determination process, which will have sovereignty legally vested in it via a democratic referendum, the Amestrian puppet government in West Torontia had no such claim to legitimacy. It was the result of a foreign military's occupation, and the Torontian people were neither consulted on, nor did they give their consent for, its formation. The creation of the so-called "TPG" was therefore a violation of the doctrine of popular sovereignty, which is something that this Constitutional Convention shall seek to uphold, and as such it is an illegitimate entity.

I note also that the "TPG" is not recognised by the majority of the sovereign governments present at this Convention, with the notable exception of Amestria.

Given all these points, the simple fact is that Ms Konno does not legally represent any group save for the Amestrian puppet government which she is a member of.’

Sara Liscel did not seem the least bit impressed by the Xirnium and Yallak delegations legal reasoning. “When did the Torontian people consent to the current Xirniumite and Yallakian presence, when did they consent to the institution of Xirniumite civil law, and when did they consent to this Convention? If the Provisional Government is an illegitimate institution then all the institutions present at this Convention are similarly illegitimate as they justify their presence and actions along the exact same rational as the Provisional Government…that rational being that they are transition institutions with the power to enforce their will. One must face the facts, popular sovereignty, if there is such a thing, only exists in this room by its absence.”

Sara leisurely sipped her tea. “Anyway, this entire line of argument is pointless. Once we get into dueling legalisms and ideology all is lost. We might as well start shooting at each other… In fact,” added Sara with dry wit, “we would likely accomplish far more that way… Who’s for breaking out the guns and blasting one another?”

Sara paused, and then continued. “Let us please return to the specifics of the proposed Constitution.”

Mitsune looked as if she was about to say something but was interrupted as Sara leaned towards her, with one hand stroking Mitsune’s short brown hair, with the other grabbing hold of her left hand under the table. “Kitsune,” she whispered with a warm smile, “don’t you have something to say, I think they want an apology.”

“I…” Mitsune visibly winched in pain. “You’re breaking my finger…” she whispered to Sara.

“I know.” Sara whispered in reply, the warm smile still on her lips.

“Fine…”

Sara let go of Mitsune’s hand and leaned back in her chair. Mitsune placed both her hands on the table, tenderly rubbing her left hand. “I would like to apologize for those statements I made previously that were unhelpful or provocative...such statements were not needed. Let us return to discussing the technocratic details of the proposed Federal Structure.” Mitsune poured herself another cup of tea.

‘If we do decide that we want to give the federal government the power to legislate for the administration of certain types of prisons then we are faced with several problems. How do we define the type of people who are to be incarcerated there? Do we perhaps leave the definition of “high crimes” up to the federal legislature? In that case the national government could merely expand that definition to include all crimes, which is what the Amestrians and their puppet government are against in the first instance.’

“No, we are not in favor of giving the National Government a blank check.”

‘There are other alternatives,’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘Perhaps we could define “high crimes” in the Constitution? This approach is also fraught with difficulty. Not only must this Constitutional Convention then determine the definition of these crimes, but we must also realise that changing them later will be extremely difficult, and require a referendum on the Constitution. We must also recognise that, by enshrining the definitions in the Constitution, we leave their interpretation up to the Courts (unelected judicial officials). Should their interpretation prove unsatisfactory it will not be possible for the government to legislate a change to the offences, and the definitions will remain fixed until a referendum can be held (which may not pass).


“Throughout the world there are many countries with split correctional systems that operate just fine. Now it has been established that the National Government have total control over Torontia’s correctional system is a bad idea… The equivalent of walking up to a former psychotic just release from the mental hospital and saying ‘hi, glad you got out, hold my gun for me will you. However, although there is a need to weaken Torontia’s central authority we should not hobble it. There are some matters where a National Prison System is preferable and would be more efficient. I propose that high crimes be specifically defined in the Constitution. High Crimes would be defined as the following: Treason, Insurrection, Terrorism, Corruption, all criminal matters related to internal Military Justice, immigration/border/trade violations, violations of interregional Commerce and violations of Environmental/Conservation law. All are straight forward and can be defined so as to avoid problems; the National Prison system would most likely be very small when compared to the Regional Correctional Systems. The only tricky exception is interregional Commerce, primarily owing to the fact that in a Federal Constitution, a Commerce clause tends to serve as an elastic clause, allowing a pretext for Central expansion. The areas of this Constitution dealing with Commerce will have to be very detailed and specific…while we are on the subject of crime and punishment I think we should also answer the question of whether Torontia should retain the death penalty…”

Sara Liscel did not seem the least bit impressed by the Xirnium and Yallak delegations legal reasoning. “When did the Torontian people consent to the current Xirniumite and Yallakian presence, when did they consent to the institution of Xirniumite civil law, and when did they consent to this Convention? If the Provisional Government is an illegitimate institution then all the institutions present at this Convention are similarly illegitimate as they justify their presence and actions along the exact same rational as the Provisional Government…that rational being that they are transition institutions with the power to enforce their will. One must face the facts, popular sovereignty, if there is such a thing, only exists in this room by its absence.”
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Ministry seethed with fury, but chose to keep her anger in check after receiving a meaningful look from her colleague. ‘Let me handle this Eleanor,’ the Grand Cardinal whispered. ‘Your subtlety,’ she explained with dry sarcasm, ‘will not be useful here.’

‘I find the legal arguments advanced by the Amestrian delegation to be both crude and insulting,’ announced Lady Heather Gilda loudly, the expression on her face completely impassive. ‘The Xirniumite and Yallakian custodianship of East Torontia is a temporary occupation that shall end as soon as the new sovereign Torontian government is established – which will draw its legitimacy from the very people which it shall govern on behalf of. Amestria did not once during its bloody reign in West Torontia attempt to help facilitate Torontian self-determination, rather it imperialistically installed its own puppet government without regard for the wishes of Torontians.'

‘Ensuring that we have both the approval and participation of the Torontian people during this process of self-determination has been one of the primary concerns of the Constitutional Convention,’ continued the Foreign Minister. ‘Consent and involvement will be sought from the Torontians for the Conventions via the numerous plebiscites and ultimately by the referendum which will be held for the purpose of validating of the final governmental structure of Torontia. Contending that the Conventions will not have the support of the people is absurd.’

‘Perhaps the most insidious of all the arguments advanced by the Amestrians is their deliberately misrepresentative description of the temporary application of Xirniumite Law in East Torontia,’ argued Lady Gilda. ‘The High Ecclesiarchy does not pretend that these laws represent the wishes or aspirations of the Torontian people (unlike the silly fantasy that Amestria tries to maintain about their puppet government). However, until a national Torontian government is established which can begin to legislate on behalf of the Torontian citizenry, it remains the only means by which to protect the civil and political liberties of the Torontian people under a rule of law.

Compare the approach of the Eternal Republic (of granting the Torontian citizens in its temporary custody the exact same legal rights provided to Holy Xirnium’s own citizens under Xirniumite law) with that of Amestria, which consisted of instituting a murderously draconian and repressive system of martial law. I’m sure the members of the Constitutional Convention will largely agree which method was better,’ the Grand Cardinal opined, chuckling smugly.

‘Popular sovereignty very much exists, and the reality of this Constitutional Convention is testament to that fact.’


“I would like to apologize for those statements I made previously that were unhelpful or provocative...such statements were not needed. Let us return to discussing the technocratic details of the proposed Federal Structure.” Mitsune poured herself another cup of tea.
‘The august representatives of the Eternal Republic graciously accept the belated yet not unwelcome apology of Ms Mitsune for her unacceptable conduct,’ announced Lady Eleanor Sabelina, her voice veritably laced with maddening arrogance. Though smiling pleasantly, the Parliamentarian did not bother to hide her utter contempt for this politician of an illegitimate organisation.


Throughout the world there are many countries with split correctional systems that operate just fine.
‘Maybe so, but rarely is this done at a Constitutional level,’ Lady Heather Gilda clarified. ‘Usually, in cases were the facilitation of some manner of cooperative federalism is desired, the federal government will vest or refer certain powers in the state governments, or vice versa. This can be done via statute, so long as the Constitution allows it.’


Now it has been established that the National Government have total control over Torontia’s correctional system is a bad idea…
‘That most certainly has not been established,’ argued the Foreign Minister. ‘We have not yet heard the consensus of the remaining members of the Constitutional Convention. In my opinion, the fears of the Amestrian delegation are based on an irrational fixation with Torontia’s past, and as for your false analogy – it is the equivalent of blaming a stranger for somebody else’s crimes. The new Torontian government will not be the same legal entity as the previous Torontian governments, and is neither responsible or accountable for their crimes.’


I propose that high crimes be specifically defined in the Constitution.
‘The Xirniumite delegation must, once again, respectfully disagree,’ apologised Lady Heather Gilda. ‘The Amestrians have still said nothing to address our legitimate misgivings for the proposal of defining “high crimes” in the Constitution.

The Constitution’s purpose is not to criminalise conduct,’ explained the Grand Cardinal with a very serious expression. ‘By enshrining the definition of certain offences in Higher Law, control of part of Criminal Law is taken away from the democratically elected representatives of the electors (and therefore from the Torontian people themselves) and placed into the hands of appointed judicial officials. This poses very real problems for the doctrine of popular sovereignty, but it also means that, if the judiciary interprets certain crimes in a way that the Torontian people disagree with, the government will be unable to legislate a change. Only a difficult and costly referendum on the Constitution will be sufficient to make alterations to this section of the Criminal Law.’


areas of this Constitution dealing with Commerce will have to be very detailed and specific…
‘I am in favour at this point in time of moving the current discussion of the Constituional Convention to matters of commerce and trade,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda with a smile.

Sara wanted to just let it go, but the Gilda's statement was just full of glaring inaccuracies that had to be challenged.


‘The Xirniumite and Yallakian custodianship of East Torontia is a temporary occupation that shall end as soon as the new sovereign Torontian government is established – which will draw its legitimacy from the very people which it shall govern on behalf of.

"The TPG," Sara began, "is also a temporary institution which shall end when the new sovereign Torontian government is established. I fail to see a difference between it and Xirnium other then the TPG is a Torontian institution."


Amestria did not once during its bloody reign in West Torontia attempt to help facilitate Torontian self-determination, rather it imperialistically installed its own puppet government without regard for the wishes of Torontians.'

"Completely inaccurate, the TPG attempted to arrange National elections to form a new transitional government that would write a new Constitution. However, Saint Fedski refused to hold elections in Eastern Torontia, delaying the process. Finally the AOA, TPG, and Yallak decided to hold unilateral elections in Western Torontia. The first stage was completed, local elections were successfully held, even in BC, which was in the midst of the TPLA insurgency. The National Elections were scheduled for the following month, but then the TPLA released the bio-weapon in BC and everything had to be put on permanent hold. Ask the Emperor, his government was directly involved in the planning and preparations for the elections."

(OOC: True).


'Compare the approach of the Eternal Republic (of granting the Torontian citizens in its temporary custody the exact same legal rights provided to Holy Xirnium’s own citizens under Xirniumite law) with that of Amestria, which consisted of instituting a murderously draconian and repressive system of martial law. I’m sure the members of the Constitutional Convention will largely agree which method was better,’ the Grand Cardinal opined, chuckling smugly.

"You are comparing apples to oranges, or rather mangos to pineapples." continued the Vice Minister. "When Amestria occupied Western Torontia it faced the complete breakdown of social order, a massive outbreak of crime, violence, the looting of military arsenals, and opposition to the creation of a liberal democratic society by armed Totalitarian elements such as the TPLA and former Tanakis regime... That was before the outbreak of the BC insurgency, the bio-weapon attack, and an attempted invasion by Kraven. Martial law was the only solution, and it worked. With the defeat of the TPLA, the eradication of the Super Flu virus, and the restoration of sustainable civil order Martial law has been lifted throughout most of Western Torontia and the civil code instated. When Xirnium moved into Eastern Torontia it moved into an area that was relatively stable (even if misgoverned) and had been occupied by another power for roughly a year. Your comparison Foreign Minister is very unfair, very inaccurate, and demonstrates a significant lack of knowledge as to what actually happened."

(OOC: Also true.)

Having finished her rebuttal, Sara once again lay back in her chair, ceding the floor to Mitsune.


‘The august representatives of the Eternal Republic graciously accept the belated yet not unwelcome apology of Ms Mitsune for her unacceptable conduct,’ announced Lady Eleanor Sabelina, her voice veritably laced with maddening arrogance. Though smiling pleasantly, the Parliamentarian did not bother to hide her utter contempt for this politician of an illegitimate organisation.

Mitsune was very much annoyed by the chronic inability of the Xirniumite deputy Minister to remember her last name. "My last name is Konno Ms Sabelina, Konno, this is the second time I have had to correct you and it would be just sad if I had to correct you a third time. Calling me Ms Mitsune is the equivalent to calling you Ms Eleanor or calling Vice Minister Liscel Ms Sara." Mitsune looked at Eleanor as if she were looking at a pathetic child.


‘Maybe so, but rarely is this done at a Constitutional level,’ Lady Heather Gilda clarified.

"Moving on, has however been done at the Constitutional level before, the fact it is not a common element of Constitutional structure is not a sufficient reason for the rejection of the idea."


‘Usually, in cases were the facilitation of some manner of cooperative federalism is desired, the federal government will vest or refer certain powers in the state governments, or vice versa. This can be done via statute, so long as the Constitution allows it.’

"One should operate under the assumption that once the Constitution is ratified neither the National nor Regional Governments will give an inch. Each will try to expand their power and authority at the expense of the other and resist any attempt to diminish their own power (which is why the Regional Governments must be strong and it is important that National Government not be a cripple). There will most likely be no delegation in the near future."


‘In my opinion, the fears of the Amestrian delegation are based on an irrational fixation with Torontia’s past, and as for your false analogy – it is the equivalent of blaming a stranger for somebody else’s crimes. The new Torontian government will not be the same legal entity as the previous Torontian governments, and is neither responsible or accountable for their crimes.’

"Yes," replied Mitsune sarcastically, "since Torontia has such a long and wonderful history of rational, honest, liberal, democratic government there is no reason to be concerned about the misuse of State power. There is absolutely no need to fear a Tanakis light or a New Order light party. Torontia's short 22 year history has not included the overthrow of two democratic governments, two civil wars, fraudulent elections and a military coup."


‘The Xirniumite delegation must, once again, respectfully disagree,’ apologised Lady Heather Gilda. ‘The Amestrians have still said nothing to address our legitimate misgivings for the proposal of defining “high crimes” in the Constitution.

The Constitution’s purpose is not to criminalise conduct,’ explained the Grand Cardinal with a very serious expression.

"I am afraid I must disagree." Mitsune replied. "For example, in establishing limits to say...Executive power we are automatically criminalizing the Executive acting beyond the limits imposed by the Constitution, although the Constitution would not establish a punishment beyond removal from office. We will not be establishing punishment for the proposed High Crimes, just their definitions."


‘By enshrining the definition of certain offences in Higher Law, control of part of Criminal Law is taken away from the democratically elected representatives of the electors (and therefore from the Torontian people themselves) and placed into the hands of appointed judicial officials.

This poses very real problems for the doctrine of popular sovereignty, but it also means that, if the judiciary interprets certain crimes in a way that the Torontian people disagree with, the government will be unable to legislate a change. Only a difficult and costly referendum on the Constitution will be sufficient to make alterations to this section of the Criminal Law.’

"Sometimes what the people disagree with is actually in their best interests and sometimes what they agree with is not in their best interests. The job of the judiciary is not to please the people, it is to make the correct decisions. Also, we have frankly heard enough of your doctrine of popular sovereignty, stop waving it around like it has rhetorical weight in this particular case. The fact remains that if the courts displeased the Torontian people enough they could always amend the Constitution...and the Legislature would always have the option of appointing judges of a different judicial temperament to the bench once the old offending justices had retired... And as I have previously stated the Constitution would not define punishment, only what constitutes a high crime, if the definitions are written properly there would be no confusion requiring the aid of the courts. Punishment would be handled by the Legislature."


‘I am in favour at this point in time of moving the current discussion of the Constituional Convention to matters of commerce and trade,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda with a smile.

Mitsune sighed and nodded. "Very well, I have no objections."

"The Amestrian delegation also has no objections, although the shift in topic is rather sudden." Clo'e remarked.

Leaning back confidently into her high-backed chair, Lady Heather Gilda carefully considered the arguments of her rival, and was quick to note the flaws in her reasoning.

"The TPG," Sara began, "is also a temporary institution which shall end when the new sovereign Torontian government is established. I fail to see a difference between it and Xirnium other then the TPG is a Torontian institution."
The Foreign Minister laughed good naturedly. ‘Do not try to play the members of this Constitutional Convention for fools, Ms Liscel. Amestria’s puppet government is not a Torontian institution. It only exists because of the exercise of an act of a foreign parliament.

It is, at best, an imperial institution of the Amestrian state. That it pretends to be Torontian and to represent the Torontian people is absurd,’ opined the Foreign Minister, taking a sip from her wineglass.

"Completely inaccurate, the TPG attempted to arrange National elections to form a new transitional government that would write a new Constitution.
‘And yet curiously, at the Kurora Conference, your puppet government refused to even consider dissolving itself so that a new national government (which, I should add, was to have been the result of Torontian self-determination as its establishment would have been done with the consent and approval of the people) could be formed,’ noted Lady Heather Gilda gravely, though her warm smile had not disappeared. ‘Which, of course, shows only that Amestria’s puppet regime never intended (prior to Amestria’s humiliating pullout from Torontia, that is) to relinquish power in the first place, and therefore exposes the highfalutin claims that it ever desired the establishment of a truly Torontian government to be nought but lies.’

Smiling, the Foreign Minister clasped her hands together, regarding the gather people in the hall carefully.

Martial law was only solution, and it worked.
‘Regardless, the Amestrian military violated the rule of law by summarily executing individuals without trial or indeed without any regard to the internationally accepted standards of due process,’ noted the Grand Cardinal simply. ‘An inexcusable outrage. It was an unnecessary and needlessly bloody policy that resulted in the murder of innocents.’

Your comparison Foreign Minister is very unfair, very inaccurate, and demonstrates a significant lack of knowledge as to what actually happened."
'Rubbish, Vice Minister,' replied Lady Gilda, laughing as she shook her head. 'My comparison is untainted by Amestrian propaganda and deception, and does not gloss over the terrible miscarriages of justice committed by the Amestrian occupation with the empty words “it was necessary.” In short, my comparison does not take into consideration the Amestrian government's pittiful excuses, and places blame precisely were it is due.'

The Foreign Minister smiled. 'But why dwell on the past, Ms Liscel? What was done, was done, and it is the future that need concern us now.'

Moving on, has however been done at the Constitutional level before, the fact it is not a common element of Constitutional structure is not a sufficient reason for the rejection of the idea."
‘My… what a strangely hypocritical argument,’ exclaimed Lady Gilda. ‘It was your delegation, after all, which sought to justify your position (that the power to legislate regarding the administration of the Torontian penitentiary system should be divided between the state and federal governments) by trying to point to its regularity in other nations. If I may quote,’ Heather Gilda added, leaning over to the Xirniumite stenographer to read from the page, ‘“there are many countries with split correctional systems that operate just fine.”

Yet when I pointed out that, despite this, many countries do not have a Constitution structured as your delegation seeks to frame it in regards to correctional facilities, you dismiss the argument!

Presumably, being common is sufficient reason to accept an idea, yet not being common (which is the actual fact of your proposal) is not sufficient reason to reject an idea. How unfair.’

One should operate under the assumption that once the Constitution is ratified neither the National nor Regional Governments will give an inch.
‘That is an absurd assumption, quite frankly,’ Lady Eleanor Sabelian announced, ‘one neither supported by logic nor by history. Clearly you are not one who is overly well versed in John Nash’s game theory. In cases where some form of a continuing relationship is essential (and certainly this is the situation here, for the federal and state governments will need to work together if they are to be able to govern) mutual competition based on self-interest hurts all parties, whereas collaboration will benefit everyone. Under the principles of cooperative federalism we can expect a more likely outcome to be that the state and federal governments will work together in order to more efficiently govern.

Such a phenomenon has and does frequently occur in the real world, and there are many cases I can cite where either a state or federal government has willingly referred its powers (where appropriate) to a different level.’

"Yes," replied Mitsune sarcastically, "since Torontia has such a long and wonderful history of rational, honest, liberal, democratic government there is no reason to be concerned about the misuse of State power. There is absolutely no need to fear a Tanakis light or a New Order light party. Torontia's short 22 year history has not included the overthrow of two democratic governments, two civil wars, fraudulent elections and a military coup."
‘The past must not be allowed to dominate the future,’ replied Lady Eleanor Sabelina simply. ‘Ms Konno is trying to use the New Order as an, admitedly crude, strawman with which to try and attack our proposals. Foolishly, she expects the members of the Constitutional Convention to cower in fear at the very mention of the name “Tanakis”. I think not, Torontia’s past history of dictatorship does not provide a license for this Amestrian puppet politician to suggest needless complications of the Constitution which provide no significant benefit.’

"I am afraid I must disagree." Mitsune replied. "For example, in establishing limits to say...Executive power we are automatically criminalizing the Executive acting beyond the limits imposed by the Constitution, although the Constitution would not establish a punishment beyond removal from office. We will not be establishing punishment for the proposed High Crimes, just their definitions."
‘By “criminalising”, the Grand Cardinal was, of course, obviously not referring to the general act of making something illegal. Laws can, of course, prescribe conduct as “unlawful”, but without the imposition (or at least threat) of punishment, they cannot be described as “criminal”. Many legal norms prohibit conduct (indeed, the entire purpose of the Constitution can be argued to be the prohibition of certain types of conduct by the government), but only the criminal law has the power to impose punishment in the name of the State following a verdict of guilt.

Lady Gilda was rather referring to the policy of turning certain actions into criminal offences punishable by some punitive measure (such as, for example, incarceration or fine),' the deputy Foreign Minister clarified.

'Such things are the domain of the Criminal Law, and are therefore usually legislated on. They are not enshrined in Constitutions, for the obvious reasons which we have already mentioned.’

"Sometimes what the people disagree with is actually in their best interests and sometimes what they agree with is not in their best interests. The job of the judiciary is not to please the people, it is to make the correct decisions.
The Xirniumite delegation erupted in cruel laughter. ‘I believe that the Amestrian puppet politician has some rather strange notions about the exact purpose of the judiciary,’ replied Lady Sabelina with a condescending sneer. The deputy Foreign Minister regarded, what she considered as, the talentless fool before her with an open display of derision. ‘It is not, nor has it ever been, the judiciary’s function to make policy decisions (obviously because the poor masses don’t know what is good for themselves) about what is best, or “correct” for the people. Rather, the task of the judiciary is quite clear - it is to impartially interpret the law so as to give the fullest effect to the intentions of its drafters.

The Amestrian ideal would have the judiciary cast in the role of a policymaker, and remove the responsibility for the creation of certain areas of the Criminal Law from the democratically elected representatives of the people so as to place it in the hands of the unelected Justices of Torontia.

“Sometimes what the people disagree with is actually in their best interests” - no doubt Tanakis himself said as much. The very statement of Ms Konno is fundamentally undemocratic and an outrage to the foundational principles of this Convention. The simple fact is that, when decisions are taken out of the hands of a large number of people and placed in those of a few, an increased possibility for both abuse and error occurs.’

The fact remains that if the courts displeased the Torontian people enough they could always amend the Constitution...and the Legislature would always have the option of appointing judges of a different judicial temperament to the bench once the old offending justices had retired...
‘And here we are treated to yet another illuminating example of the twisted political theory of Amestria and its satellite governments,’ explained Lady Sabelina. The deputy Foreign Minister ignored whispered warnings from the Grand Cardinal to try and maintain some level of civility – her patience for the Amestrians and their "TPG" had dried up. ‘Basically, they advocate an interference by the Legislature in the workings of the Judicary, a flagrant violation of judicial independence and the doctrine of separation of powers. The appointment of Justices was never intended to be used as a political tool so as to sculpt judicial interpretation.

The real fact is that it would be folly to make the Criminal Law of “high crimes” so difficult to amend that it would require a national referendum. Clearly this would be detrimental, and I can see no wisdom in such a move. Such an outcome would be needless.’

And as I have previously stated the Constitution would not define punishment
‘The Xirniumite delegation is unconcerned with the levels of punishment to be applied for the offences,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda with a dismissive wave of her hand. Unlike the deputy Foreign Minister, the Grand Cardinal’s expression betrayed no inner thoughts. ‘Of far greater concern to us is precisely what constitutes these offences in the first place, and to whom we should vest the responsibility for deciding. We believe that the wise course of action is to allow the legislature to shape the Criminal Law. Enshrining crimes in the Constitution gives their definition a permanence that we feel may prove ultimately detrimental.

Defining criminal offences is beyond the scope of our mandate as drafters of the Constitution (which should be concerned only with determining how government should run).’

"The Amestrian delegation also has no objections, although the shift in topic is rather sudden." Clo'e remarked. t
‘I find it puzzling that you should consider the shift in topic rather sudden when it was you and your puppet government that broached the issue,’ snapped Eleanor Sabelina.

The Grand Cardinal cleared her throat in order to gain the attention of those present, having leafed through a substantial folder with various pages.

‘Perhaps now would be a suitable time, then, to press ahead to the issue of commerce and trade,' Lady Heather Gilda suggested with a slightly forced smile. 'The Eternal Republic has several possible templates for the feasible division of power regarding this area.

One such suggestion is to vest the state governments with jurisdiction over corporations law. Areas which would, however, become exclusive powers of the federal government include:

-Regulation of trade and commerce with other nations and between the states
-Insolvency and bankruptcy
-Copyrights, patents and trademarks
-Trade practices
-Foreign corporations
-Financial corporations
-Arbitration of interstate industrial disputes
-Bounties on the production or export of goods (though the bounties must remain uniform throughout the federation)
-Accounting and financial reporting standards

I ask the opinion of the esteemed members of the Constitutional Convention regarding this proposal.’

The Foreign Minister laughed good naturedly. ‘Do not try to play the members of this Constitutional Convention for fools, Ms Liscel. Amestria’s puppet government is not a Torontian institution. It only exists because of the exercise of an act of a foreign parliament.

“Actually,” corrected Liscel, “it created itself with the assistance of the Amestrian Military once it was realized that there was no longer any governing institutions in Torontia. Amestria’s Parliament had did not legislate the Provisional Government into existence. All Amestria did was provide them with secure transport, protection, and financial resources. The actual setting up of the TPG was done by Torontians.”


‘And yet curiously, at the Kurora Conference, your puppet government refused to even consider dissolving itself so that a new national government (which, I should add, was to have been the result of Torontian self-determination as its establishment would have been done with the consent and approval of the people) could be formed,’ noted Lady Heather Gilda gravely, though her warm smile had not disappeared. ‘Which, of course, shows only that Amestria’s puppet regime never intended (prior to Amestria’s humiliating pullout from Torontia, that is) to relinquish power in the first place, and therefore exposes the highfalutin claims that it ever desired the establishment of a truly Torontian government to be nought but lies.’

“Highfalutin???” Sara blinked. What a peculiar and coarse word. “That was because of Saint Fedski and a general feeling of constant siege.”


‘Regardless, the Amestrian military violated the rule of law by summarily executing individuals without trial or indeed without any regard to the internationally accepted standards of due process,’ noted the Grand Cardinal simply. ‘An inexcusable outrage. It was an unnecessary and needlessly bloody policy that resulted in the murder of innocents.’

“Summary executions were never ordered or consented to by the AOA or the TPG. It was never Amestrian or TPG Policy to engage in or allow summery executions.”


'Rubbish, Vice Minister,' replied Lady Gilda, laughing as she shook her head. 'My comparison is untainted by Amestrian propaganda and deception, and does not gloss over the terrible miscarriages of justice committed by the Amestrian occupation with the empty words “it was necessary.” In short, my comparison does not take into consideration the Amestrian government's pittiful excuses, and places blame precisely were it is due.'

“Your comparison lacks any connection with reality and is tainted by your own preconceived notions and ideology… Also, you conveniently forget that both the Infinite Empire and your government (for a time) supported Amestria’s policies in BC before your great forgetting. Yallak endorsed and directly participated in the counter insurgency operations that took place in BC. Yallak also participated in the counter-insurgent bombing campaign when the BC countryside was declared a free fire zone by President Burns… So perhaps you should refer to it as the terrible miscarriage of justice committed by the Amestrian and Yallakian occupation… It has always been strange, Xirnium’s silence towards Yallak’s involvement in Torontia…”


The Foreign Minister smiled. 'But why dwell on the past, Ms Liscel? What was done, was done, and it is the future that need concern us now.'

“Indeed…” Liscel replied with her own smile.


Yet when I pointed out that, despite this, many countries do not have a Constitution structured as your delegation seeks to frame it in regards to correctional facilities, you dismiss the argument!

Presumably, being common is sufficient reason to accept an idea, yet not being common (which is the actual fact of your proposal) is not sufficient reason to reject an idea. How unfair.’

“No, if a policy has been tried in many different nations and it has been successful then that should be taken into account. You are deliberately twisting what I said.”


‘And here we are treated to yet another illuminating example of the twisted political theory of Amestria and its satellite governments,’ explained Lady Sabelina. The deputy Foreign Minister ignored whispered warnings from the Grand Cardinal to try and maintain some level of civility – her patience for the Amestrians and their "TPG" had dried up. ‘Basically, they advocate an interference by the Legislature in the workings of the Judicary, a flagrant violation of judicial independence and the doctrine of separation of powers. The appointment of Justices was never intended to be used as a political tool so as to sculpt judicial interpretation.

Mitsune was quietly incensed. “You are deliberately misstating what I said. I did not advocate interference by the legislature in the workings of the judiciary. What I said was that ‘the Legislature would always have the option of appointing judges of a different judicial temperament to the bench once the old offending justices had retired...’ I was simply stating the legislature’s ability to check the judiciary, notice I said judicial temperament, not judicial philosophy or political philosophy. If a judge acts in an arbitrary, abusive, or capricious manner, when that judges term expires (whether it be a temporary or life time appointment) the legislature can appoint a more competent replacement. I was just pointing that out because the Grand Cardinal was a wailing about ‘unelected judges’ abusing their powers.”


‘And here we are treated to yet another illuminating example of the twisted political theory of Amestria and its satellite governments,’ explained Lady Sabelina.

“And actually it was not an example of Amestrian political theory,” Mitsune added,” my proposal was an anti-thesis of Amestria’s judicial system. In Amestria the judiciary must approve the appointments of the Executive and the Legislature… For example, the members of the Constitutional Court must approve the appointee before she/he can be confirmed and appointed to the Constitutional Court… Its part of their governing philosophy of Règle par des experts...Rule by Experts.”


‘I find it puzzling that you should consider the shift in topic rather sudden when it was you and your puppet government that broached the issue,’ snapped Eleanor Sabelina.

“You snap like a turtle…” Clo’e replied without looking up.

The Grand Cardinal cleared her throat in order to gain the attention of those present, having leafed through a substantial folder with various pages.

‘Perhaps now would be a suitable time, then, to press ahead to the issue of commerce and trade,' Lady Heather Gilda suggested with a slightly forced smile. 'The Eternal Republic has several possible templates for the feasible division of power regarding this area.

One such suggestion is to vest the state governments with jurisdiction over corporations law. Areas which would, however, become exclusive powers of the federal government include:

-Regulation of trade and commerce with other nations and between the states
-Insolvency and bankruptcy
-Copyrights, patents and trademarks
-Trade practices
-Foreign corporations
-Financial corporations
-Arbitration of interstate industrial disputes
-Bounties on the production or export of goods (though the bounties must remain uniform throughout the federation)
-Accounting standards

I ask the opinion of the esteemed members of the Constitutional Convention regarding this proposal.’

Mitsune pondered the Cardinal's proposal and glanced at her notes. "We feel that it is best for regulation concerning Insolvency/bankruptcy and Foreign corporations be concurrent rather then exclusive to the National Government. The Regional Governments would be the best positioned to handle the bankruptcy of a family unit or small business. Also, differing regulations concerning bankruptcy can be used as a tool of for social betterment or economic management. Concerning Foreign Corporations, Torontia exists in a highly globalized world and the majority of Torontia's economy was plowed into the ground by the incompetent rule of the Communists and the corrupt autocracy of the New Order, so Foreign Companies will play a significant role in Torontia's economy for the foreseeable future. It is important that the Regions have the authority to impose their own regulations upon Foreign Corporations, least the government's Regulations prove insufficient... Perhaps authority of Accounting standards should be concurrent as well least the National Government does not apply the law fairly, that way the Regions could defend themselves against predatory individuals with connections in the National Government."

“Summary executions were never ordered or consented to by the AOA or the TPG. It was never Amestrian or TPG Policy to engage in or allow summery executions.”


General Levitt's eyes narrowed angrily as she eyed Liscel. As she stood up to her full five foot three inch frame to speak, Major Abrams grabbed the general by the hand and forced her back down into the chair.

She looked over at Abrams. Her jaw clenched, but she said nothing. She merely pulled out a document from her bag, one of the few Kahanistanian documents she had managed to save from Kalazanov's destruction of evidence against him.

"Not now, General," said Major Abrams quietly. He wasn't going to let the conference fail because this woman was too eager to show Liscel up as a liar.

Barely whispering, but still low enough that only the aide could hear her, the General spoke through clenched teeth, "That dogshit Holocaust denier is going to Hell for this." While the idea of an ethnic Jewish officer using Nazi references as propaganda might sound wrong, this particular Jewish officer had been born in 1967, more than twenty years after the end of WWII, to North American parents who had made aliyah (emigrated to Palestine) in the 1950's. She and her family had not suffered then, so her view toward Nazism was similar to the view most Gentiles would hold.

Major Abrams took the document. "I'll give it back to you after the conference, but I can't let it fail now. You will have plenty of time to carry on your vendetta."

"Hmph." General Levitt looked at Liscel with an expression that clearly said, "You're so full of shit." But she made no further effort to confront her. We'll see who's the pissant when General Valens is President and the surviving documents go public.

Yet again, Mark Brovan had to listen to another massive accusation of how 'Evil' the crimes were of the execution of the TPLA Terrorists.

Regardless, the Amestrian military violated the rule of law by summarily executing individuals without trial or indeed without any regard to the internationally accepted standards of due process,’ noted the Grand Cardinal simply. ‘An inexcusable outrage. It was an unnecessary and needlessly bloody policy that resulted in the murder of innocents.’

You weren't there, you uppity little. He thought staring. You know nothing, you have no right to say what was right and wrong in that situation, perhaps when you watch people die from a disease that was sent in by those terrorists you would feel different.

“Summary executions were never ordered or consented to by the AOA or the TPG. It was never Amestrian or TPG Policy to engage in or allow summery executions.”
While he had no care of the issue, Brovan wanted to roll his eyes at that comment.

'Rubbish, Vice Minister,' replied Lady Gilda, laughing as she shook her head. 'My comparison is untainted by Amestrian propaganda and deception, and does not gloss over the terrible miscarriages of justice committed by the Amestrian occupation with the empty words “it was necessary.” In short, my comparison does not take into consideration the Amestrian government's pittiful excuses, and places blame precisely were it is due.'

Sure it is.

The Grand Cardinal cleared her throat in order to gain the attention of those present, having leafed through a substantial folder with various pages.

‘Perhaps now would be a suitable time, then, to press ahead to the issue of commerce and trade,' Lady Heather Gilda suggested with a slightly forced smile. 'The Eternal Republic has several possible templates for the feasible division of power regarding this area.

One such suggestion is to vest the state governments with jurisdiction over corporations law. Areas which would, however, become exclusive powers of the federal government include:

-Regulation of trade and commerce with other nations and between the states
-Insolvency and bankruptcy
-Copyrights, patents and trademarks
-Trade practices
-Foreign corporations
-Financial corporations
-Arbitration of interstate industrial disputes
-Bounties on the production or export of goods (though the bounties must remain uniform throughout the federation)
-Accounting and financial reporting standards

I ask the opinion of the esteemed members of the Constitutional Convention regarding this proposal.’


Mitsune pondered the Cardinal's proposal and glanced at her notes. "We feel that it is best for regulation concerning Insolvency/bankruptcy and Foreign corporations be concurrent rather then exclusive to the National Government. The Regional Governments would be the best positioned to handle the bankruptcy of a family unit or small business. Also, differing regulations concerning bankruptcy can be used as a tool of for social betterment or economic management. Concerning Foreign Corporations, Torontia exists in a highly globalized world and the majority of Torontia's economy was plowed into the ground by the incompetent rule of the Communists and the corrupt autocracy of the New Order, so a Foreign Companies will play a significant role in Torontia's economy for the foreseeable future. It is important that the Regions have the authority to impose their own regulations upon Foreign Corporations, least the government's Regulations prove insufficient... Perhaps authority of Accounting standards should be concurrent as well least the National Government does not apply the law fairly, that way the Regions could defend themselves against predatory individuals with connections in the National Government."

"Yes," Brovan said finally. "Each Regional government might have differnet beliefs and\or ideas for what future businesses might be within their Regional area. Also this will prevent Corporate Exploitation which often happens when a Federal Government becomes too powerful." "I approve this idea."

"Hmph." General Levitt looked at Liscel with an expression that clearly said, "You're so full of shit." But she made no further effort to confront her. We'll see who's the pissant when General Valens is President and the surviving documents go public.

Sara ignored Levitt's presence, nay; Sara ignored Levitt's very existence. She did not even turn her head when Levitt stood. Sara kept her eyes on Lady Gilda and the Xirniumite delegation.

“Actually,” corrected Liscel, “it created itself with the assistance of the Amestrian Military
‘Oh, well in that case my apologies then,’ the Foreign Minister explained, smiling superciliously. ‘The Amestrian puppet government of West Torontia exists today, not as a result of the exercise of power of the Amestrian Legislature, but rather due to installation by the Amestrian military. Regardless, it is still an illegitimate organisation which is neither Torontian nor representative of the Torontian people. Organisations cannot simply “declare” themselves governmental, they require sovereignty. Sovereignty ultimately resides in the Torontian people, and they did not consent to the establishment of your puppet regime.’

“That was because of Saint Fedski and a general feeling of constant siege.”
‘Rubbish,’ Lady Gilda exclaimed, laughing affably. She was clearly not convinced. ‘The Amestrian government made plainly clear that under no circumstances would it ever relinquish its hold on power. It demanded to endure at the least as part of a federation.

Its silly attitude quickly changed, however, after the Amestrians fled Torontia in disgrace and the so called “TPG” suddenly found itself bereft of friends.’

“Summary executions were never ordered or consented to by the AOA or the TPG. It was never Amestrian or TPG Policy to engage in or allow summery executions.”
The Foreign Minister continued to smile, however all previous traces of warmth have left her expression. ‘That is a lie,’ Lady Gilda declared. ‘The sovereign government of Kahanistan has already admitted to have been a party to the systematic Amestrian policy of summary execution in West Torontia, and has implicated the Amestrian government in having established and executed the murderous strategy in its occupied territories.

Along with credible witness testimony from those personally involved in the atrocities, the Kahanistanian government’s admissions have served to confirm the authenticity of a wealth of damning evidence which proves that the Amestrian authorities willingly dispensed with due process and the rule of law in order to murder suspected Torontian insurgents.’

“Your comparison lacks any connection with reality and is tainted by your own preconceived notions and ideology… Also, you conveniently forget that both the Infinite Empire and your government (for a time) supported Amestria’s policies in BC before your great forgetting. Yallak endorsed and directly participated in the counter insurgency operations that took place in BC.
Lady Gilda laughed cruelly at the pathetic arguments of her Amestrian rival. ‘Neither the government of the Infinite Empire nor of the Eternal Republic ever supported the Amestrian government’s sanctioning of arbitrary murder in the occupied Torontian territories. The High Ecclesiarchy was outraged upon discovering the full extent of the horror.’

“Indeed…” Liscel replied with her own smile.
‘Splendid then,’ announced Lady Heather Gilda, ‘let’s return to a more productive discussion….’

Her gaze resting on the Amestrian delegation, the Foreign Minister poured herself another glass of wine.

I was just pointing that out because the Grand Cardinal was a wailing about ‘unelected judges’ abusing their powers.”
‘I said no such thing,’ replied Lady Gilda, slightly annoyed at Ms Konno’s foolish misrepresentation of her argument. ‘My point was that, by enshrining crimes in the Constitution, you remove jurisdiction for that area of the law from the hands of the democratically-elected representatives of the people, and place it in that of appointed officials. It is a generally consented on principle that the Legislature ought to sculpt the Criminal Law. Your approach would see the Legislature stripped of that power and have it vested in the Judiciary, which would be forced to interpret the Criminal Law as best it can without direction from the Legislature.

Should the judicary’s interpretation be unsatisfactory to the Legislature or to the people (as often occurs), it will not be possible to amend Acts in order to rectify the problem. Just to be clear here, Ms Konno, this has nothing to do with incorrect use of judicial power,’ explained the Foreign Minister condescendingly and with a warm smile, as if addressing a young student with diffculty grasping basic concepts. ‘This has to do with needlessly limiting the Legislature’s ability to create law and making modifications to the law unreasonably difficult to achieve.’

“And actually it was not an example of Amestrian political theory,” Mitsune added
‘My dear, I’m afraid you entirely missed my point,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister with a patronisingly reasonable voice. ‘Both examples are troubling cases of a breach of the doctrine of separation of powers, which was the feature of Amestrian political theory that I referred to.’

“You snap like a turtle…” Clo’e replied without looking up.
‘Such insightful contributions… the Amestrian bureaucracy is truly blessed to consist of clever individuals such as you,’ noted Lady Sabelina.

"We feel that it is best for regulation concerning Insolvency/bankruptcy and Foreign corporations be concurrent rather then exclusive to the National Government
The Foreign Minister busily examined the Amestrian proposals, whispering briefly with her advisors. ‘The Xirniumite delegation does not have any objections to this suggestion,’ explained Lady Gilda.

It is important that the Regions have the authority to impose their own regulations upon Foreign Corporations, least the government's Regulations prove insufficient.
‘In my opinion, the over-complication which would result from non-uniform laws across Torontia (regarding foreign corporations) would result in a reluctance to invest in the nation,’ opined the Foreign Minister, ‘and therefore would prove counterproductive. We suggest that the power to legislate regarding foreign corporations remain an exclusive federal power.’

Perhaps authority of Accounting standards should be concurrent as well least the National Government does not apply the law fairly, that way the Regions could defend themselves against predatory individuals with connections in the National Government."
‘I am of the opinion,’ began Lady Gilda, ‘that a better method would be to clearly stipulate in the Constitution that accounting standards must remain uniform throughout the federation, which would adequately address your concerns regarding a possible unfair application of the law, while the power itself remains exclusive to the federal government. It is desirable that uniform reporting and accounting standards apply throughout Torontia.’

"Completely inaccurate, the TPG attempted to arrange National elections to form a new transitional government that would write a new Constitution. However, Saint Fedski refused to hold elections in Eastern Torontia, delaying the process. Finally the AOA, TPG, and Yallak decided to hold unilateral elections in Western Torontia. The first stage was completed, local elections were successfully held, even in BC, which was in the midst of the TPLA insurgency. The National Elections were scheduled for the following month, but then the TPLA released the bio-weapon in BC and everything had to be put on permanent hold. Ask the Emperor, his government was directly involved in the planning and preparations for the elections."

'I'm afraid you are somewhat overstating things, Ms Liscel,’ said Balor unhappily, having already had more than his fill of the Amestrian propaganda. ‘Captain Urian, to whom you refer in your statements, was in complete disagreement with both Amestria and Saint Fedski over their management of the Torontian national government election process, which may I add, never took place whatsoever.’

The Emperors expression remained solemn, but not devoid of aggravation. ‘If you were incapable of managing the elimination of a small and cornered terrorist agency while planning an election to return sovereignty to Torontia, then perhaps it is best you decided to withdraw from the area.’

Concerning Foreign Corporations, Torontia exists in a highly globalized world and the majority of Torontia's economy was plowed into the ground by the incompetent rule of the Communists and the corrupt autocracy of the New Order, so Foreign Companies will play a significant role in Torontia's economy for the foreseeable future.

‘That is ludicrous, Ms Konno,’ laughed Balor, unable to believe the shrill incompetence of the TPG delegate, ‘allowing foreign corporations to be responsible for maintaining the Torontian economy will destroy what is left of the nations businesses. Torontia will grow dependent on these foreigners, who will spread through the nation like a plague, and local business will find it near impossible to establish themselves.’

‘The only feasible way to establish and maintain the Torontian economy is to do what you failed to achieve during the uncountable months you claimed to be administering the nation of Torontia successfully – build back the info-structure and aid in the establishment of local companies.’

'after the Amestrians fled Torontia in disgrace...’

Clo'e looked up with a rather angry look on her face. "Amestria did not flee Torontia in disgrace, we conducted a strategic withdraw." Clo'e returned to reading the documents before her.


‘Such insightful contributions… the Amestrian bureaucracy is truly blessed to consist of clever individuals such as you,’ noted Lady Sabelina.

"I find myself agreeing with Minister de Villepin's assessment of you Ms Sabelina." Clo'e replied, once more without looking up.


‘In my opinion, the over-complication which would result from non-uniform laws across Torontia (regarding foreign corporations) would result in a reluctance to invest in the nation,’ opined the Foreign Minister, ‘and therefore would prove counterproductive. We suggest that the power to legislate regarding foreign corporations remain an exclusive federal power.’


"And if the National Government made a decision or law that was counter productive to the economic or social well being of a Region that Region would have nothing to fall back upon but the hope that the National Government would one day reverse that harmful degree or statute... The Regions should have the power to manage their own internal economies and Foreign Corporations will play a significant element in the internal economies of the Regions. I would further point out that the TPG has the TSU and Amestria support behind its proposal."


‘I am of the opinion,’ began Lady Gilda, ‘that a better method would be to clearly stipulate in the Constitution that accounting standards must remain uniform throughout the federation, which would adequately address your concerns regarding a possible unfair application of the law, while the power itself remains exclusive to the federal government. It is desirable that uniform reporting and accounting standards apply throughout Torontia.’

"I do not fear that the National Governments accounting standards would be selective on paper, rather I fear they would be selective in practice. Should there be institutional failures of regulation at the National level, whether do to corruption, incompetence, or just sheer apathy, it would best there be Regional institutions and statutes to fall back on. I am not proposing a legal free for all, the National Government could set the bare minimum. I will also point out that the TSU and Amestria support the TPG's proposal concerning this issue."

‘That is ludicrous, Ms Konno,’ laughed Balor, unable to believe the shrill incompetence of the TPG delegate, ‘allowing foreign corporations to be responsible for maintaining the Torontian economy will destroy what is left of the nations businesses. Torontia will grow dependent on these foreigners, who will spread through the nation like a plague, and local business will find it near impossible to establish themselves.’

The Amestrian and TPG delegations could not believe the utter economic incompetence (and Xenophobia) shown by Emperor Balor. Like a plague, indeed. The Emperor was truly making a fool out of himself with his seeming inability to grasp the nuances of the globalized economy. The Amestrian and TPG delegations simply rolled their eyes at him and said nothing.

"Amestria did not flee Torontia in disgrace, we conducted a strategic withdraw."
‘Of course you did, Vice Minister,’ replied Lady Sabelina with mocking insincerity. Noticing that her aide had finally brought to the table the whiskey which she had requested, the deputy Foreign Minister poured herself a drink.


"I find myself agreeing with Minister de Villepin's assessment of you Ms Sabelina."
‘Wonderful. Perhaps some other time you can be so kind as to tell me what that is, Ms de Me’rode,’ responded the Parliamentary Secretary with a smile, though the look in her eyes revealed profound loathing for the Amestrian bureaucrat before her. 'While we are at it, perhaps we can have a little chat about the various peculiarities of respect – such as showing the basic courtesy of looking at someone directly when you address them.'


"I do not fear that the National Governments accounting standards would be selective on paper, rather I fear they would be selective in practice. Should there be institutional failures of regulation at the National level, whether do to corruption, incompetence, or just sheer apathy, it would best there be Regional institutions and statutes to fall back on. I am not proposing a legal free for all, the National Government could set the bare minimum. I will also point out that the TSU and Amestria support the TPG's proposal concerning this issue."
The Foreign Minister did her best to try to wrap her mind around this fairly convoluted argument. ‘Institutional failures in the execution of law are possible at all levels of government,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda, ‘but how exactly would giving state governments the power to legislate regarding financial reporting and accounting standards help to address this possibilty?

In my opinion, it would simply vastly complicate the accounting law throughout Torontia, confusing firms by requiring adherence to different laws in different states. On a more practical note, it would allow certain companies to legally engage in reporting practices in one state that would be illegal in the other. The problems that this poses for consumers, investors and auditors wishing to compare the performance of various companies will be great, for different standards will be adhered to in different states.

You say a “free for all” will not result, but precisely how can this be the case when each state is allowed to legislate on accounting standards? Either the standards are uniform, or they are not. The solution to corruption and incompetance will be found in other sections of the Constitution, not in the division of powers.’


"And if the National Government made a decision or law that was counter productive to the economic or social well being of a Region that Region would have nothing to fall back upon but the hope that the National Government would one day reverse that harmful degree or statute...
‘I am unsure that we should be vesting powers in the states purely as a failsafe should the federal government happen to pass unwise laws. The states will have control over general corporations law, which will already give them a large amount of control over legislation regarding commerce in their jurisdiction. No doubt, any Act which might harm the economy of a state would be objected to long before it was passed, and some kind of compromise likely negotiated - under the principles of cooperative federalism,’ opined the Grand Cardinal.

Ward disliked the fact that he was preparing to possibly set the conference ablaze again, but he didn't really care. He was playing his cards perfectly. Staying quiet while the other powers threw everything they had to the table and let them be minimized by the opposing powers at such an early stage. He prepared to talk for a long time, and finally.... did.

"I refuse to let Torontia be divided along the same lines as it was last time, by the imperialist powers here originally. That said, I do not object outright to anything said by the Xirnium delegation. It's quite simple: The same mistakes cannot be made twice. We're all arguing over how laws will be applied, but we haven't touched on the most important issue: The state's within Torontia. It is my suggestion that Torontia be divided into only two states: North and South. This incorporates factions from both the Amestrian zone and the Saint Fedski zone into a structure where they have equal power. It keeps the TNCP Regime from holding onto power once they lose the national elections, and it shakes things up, politically, to deal away with the old problems. That said, Police Forces shouldn't be localized. There should be one main police force that local personnel are able to deploy. Futhermore, that National Police Force should be, like the military, overseen by an international council of all the powers in this room."

‘Of course you did, Vice Minister,’ replied Lady Sabelina with mocking insincerity. Noticing that her aide had finally brought to the table the whiskey which she had requested, the deputy Foreign Minister poured herself a drink.

"I am a Deputy Minister." Clo'e corrected, her irritation evident. "You can't remember Ms Konno's last name and then you forget my proper title... I suggest you refrain from the whiskey as it will only add to the failings of your memory."


The Foreign Minister did her best to try to wrap her mind around this fairly convoluted argument. ‘Institutional failures in the execution of law are possible at all levels of government,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda, ‘but how exactly would giving state governments the power to legislate regarding financial reporting and accounting standards help to address this possibility?

In my opinion, it would simply vastly complicate the accounting law throughout Torontia, confusing firms by requiring adherence to different laws in different states. On a more practical note, it would allow certain companies to legally engage in reporting practices in one state that would be illegal in the other. The problems that this poses for consumers, investors and auditors wishing to compare the performance of various companies will be great, for different standards will be adhered to in different states.

You say a “free for all” will not result, but precisely how can this be the case when each state is allowed to legislate on accounting standards? Either the standards are uniform, or they are not. The solution to corruption and incompetence will be found in other sections of the Constitution, not in the division of powers.’

"Both sides make good points." Clo'e remarked, looking straight at Gilda. "On one hand there is the danger posed to the Regions by inaction or willful neglect at the National level. On the other it is clear that giving the Regions the authority to establish their own accounting standards would most likely have significant non-beneficial consequences. I suggest a compromise. The National Government shall have the power to determine accounting standards. The Regions will have the authority to have their own accounting laws provided they do not differ from the National laws (they will be identical). That way if the National Government fails them the Regions can protect themselves. Accounting standards will remain uniform. In the event of a conflict in enforcement the National government shall have the prerogative of prosecuting entities of a national character while the Regional governments shall have prosecuting entities of a purely local nature (the entities in question are located only in the Region in question)."


‘I am unsure that we should be vesting powers in the states purely as a failsafe should the federal government happen to pass unwise laws. The states will have control over general corporation’s law, which will already give them a large amount of control over legislation regarding commerce in their jurisdiction. No doubt, any Act which might harm the economy of a state would be objected to long before it was passed, and some kind of compromise likely negotiated - under the principles of cooperative federalism,’ opined the Grand Cardinal.

"Torontia has a history of the Central Authorities and Large Corporations being in bed together." Mitsune replied. "I would rather the Regions have the ability to protect themselves from harmful National neglect. I also must point out that the Regions would be far more capable of regulating the impact that Foreign Companies would have on their local economies then the distant central authorities here in Seattle."

"I refuse to let Torontia be divided along the same lines as it was last time, by the imperialist powers here originally.

Mitsune looked a tad bewildered. "My proposal for Torontia's Federal Structure establishes eight Regions and two self governing municipal entities. Torontia is not being divided, as it is a Federal Structure, and the Regions are being drawn by Geography and the distribution of Population centers... Were you even listening?"


That said, I do not object outright to anything said by the Xirnium delegation. It's quite simple: The same mistakes cannot be made twice. We're all arguing over how laws will be applied, but we haven't touched on the most important issue: The state's within Torontia. It is my suggestion that Torontia be divided into only two states: North and South. This incorporates factions from both the Amestrian zone and the Saint Fedski zone into a structure where they have equal power.

"That," opinioned Mitsune, "is a stupid idea. Why replace one arbitrary division with another?"

Historian Shou Tucker was a little more diplomatic. "Historically conflict often arises along a North South axis...leading to civil war. The North/South curse if you will. Even if there is only minimal geographic difference disputes tend to polarize. For example, during the English Civil war support for Parliament concentrated in the South while support for the King concentrated in the North. Given that historical precedent, I must question the wisdom of arbitrarily dividing Torontia along North South lines. In addition, I fail to see any benefit to be derived from lumping the differing the populations of the OP, BC, and Northeastern Torontia together into one bloc, given their differing cultures, political orientations, and economic views."

It keeps the TNCP Regime from holding onto power once they lose the national elections, and it shakes things up, politically, to deal away with the old problems.

Mitsune continued. "First the Torontian National Congress Party will not lose the National Elections*. Second, I fail to see what the electoral status of my party has to do with the formation of this Constitution. Furthermore, given Torontia's history of distant, abusive, and unaccountable authority, I fail to see how arbitrarily restricting local governance would have any positive results. I also fail to understand your rational that it would 'shake things up, to deal away with the old problems'... Yes, it would shake things up, though I strongly doubt that such shaking would be positive..."

(*OOC: She is on National television after all, politically she has no wish for a shadow of defeatism to develop).

That said, Police Forces shouldn't be localized. There should be one main police force that local personnel are able to deploy. Furthermore, that National Police Force should be, like the military, overseen by an international council of all the powers in this room." [/I]

"We are attempting to establish an independent, democratic, sovereign Torontia capable of honest self government. I believe the Xirnium delegation will agree with me when I say that there should not be any form of Foreign Domination written into Torontia's Constitution. Also, as we discussed earlier, given Seattle's history of abusing its power over the Regional and Local police, keeping a Unitary police force would be a bad idea."

Brovan waited for the Amestiran to stop before preparing to speak.

It is my suggestion that Torontia be divided into only two states: North and South. This incorporates factions from both the Amestrian zone and the Saint Fedski zone into a structure where they have equal power.
"Are you nuts? Brovan said. "While I'm sure North Torontia won't have any problems." He said with a slight smile. "The south will not heal it's division by being forced Together."

It keeps the TNCP Regime from holding onto power once they lose the national elections, and it shakes things up, politically, to deal away with the old problems.
"It's also a great way to start a civil war." Brovan continued louder.

That said, Police Forces shouldn't be localized. There should be one main police force that local personnel are able to deploy. Futhermore, that National Police Force should be, like the military, overseen by an international council of all the powers in this room."
"After what I've seen out of almost all of you," Brovan said pratically shouting. "If you people are supposed to represent your nations then I can't trust your nations judgement at all."

Josh Ward was disgusted by the ignorance of the TSU delegate. He was simply trying to keep the TSU in power instead of actually working for Torontia. It was dumb, and it was showing.

"Are you nuts? Brovan said. "While I'm sure North Torontia won't have any problems." He said with a slight smile. "The south will not heal it's division by being forced Together."

"What makes you think the North will get together any better than the South?"

"It's also a great way to start a civil war." Brovan continued louder.

"How is it any different than having the nation divided by East and West as it is now? It simply breaks the current factions apart from their power hold and forces them to gain power by actually working for the Torontian people. I can understand how you'd have problems with that, considering you're just looking out for yourself and keeping the TSU together with its voting majority."

"After what I've seen out of almost all of you," Brovan said pratically shouting. "If you people are supposed to represent your nations then I can't trust your nations judgement at all."

"I represent Torontia. I am from Torontia. Almost no one else in this room can say that: You're all from foreign powers who are trying to carve up Torontia to fit your own political goals. I won't stand for it. Torontia is to be ruled by Torontians, not by The Lone Alliance or Amestria! If you don't like that then you shouldn't be here!"

"How is it any different than having the nation divided by East and West as it is now? It simply breaks the current factions apart from their power hold and forces them to gain power by actually working for the Torontian people. I can understand how you'd have problems with that, considering you're just looking out for yourself and keeping the TSU together with its voting majority."

Mitsune again massaged her temple. "As I said before, my proposal for Torontia's Federal Structure establishes eight Regions and two self governing municipal entities. Torontia would not be divided arbitrarily between East and West as you seem to mistakenly believe..."


"I represent Torontia. I am from Torontia. Almost no one else in this room can say that: You're all from foreign powers who are trying to carve up Torontia to fit your own political goals. I won't stand for it. Torontia is to be ruled by Torontians, not by The Lone Alliance or Amestria! If you don't like that then you shouldn't be here!"

Mitsune angrily rose out of her chair. "I am Torontian, I was born in Torontia, and I am the Vice President of the Torontian Provisional Government. I will not be insulted by some Mckagan lackey."

Mitsune sat back down and looked back at Lady Gilda. "I suggest Grand Cardinal we return to the details of the Constitution."

Mitsune again massaged her temple. "As I said before, my proposal for Torontia's Federal Structure establishes eight Regions and two self governing municipal entities. Torontia would not be divided arbitrarily between East and West as you seem to mistakenly believe..."

"Yeah... right. No matter how you try to divide it, YOU are going to try to keep the TPG and/or TNCP together so that once their reputation has actually been put to vote they have something to fall back on. I might be willing to accept a division you put forth, but I will veto (by the same means you threaten to do) any attempt at establishing a system where a party remains in power even if the majority votes them down. I'm not accusing anyone of trying to do this: I'm just making it very clear."


Mitsune angrily rose out of her chair. "I am Torontian, I was born in Torontia, and I am the Vice President of the Torontian Provisional Government. I will not be insulted by some Mckagan lackey."

Mitsune sat back down and looked back at Lady Gilda. "I suggest Grand Cardinal we return to the details of the Constitution."

"The only reason I have the support of McKagan is because the fascists that control Western Torontia wouldn't allow the TLP proper advertising because they felt we were a threat to their unstable political control. By allying with a foreign power in the theatre you get a certain degree of protection, as well. If the TNCP hadn't of tried to stop the TLP from getting the word out that there was more than a single party in Western Torontia we wouldn't be having this dispute. If the TNCP didn't have to worry about its unstable political ground falling out from under it, the TNCP wouldn't have tried to stop the TLP from growing."

Josh Ward sat down, feeling proud for, in his mind, schooling the TNCP delegation.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, please,’ asked the deputy Foreign Minister, appealing for some kind of calm. Lady Eleanor Sabelina was both slightly alarmed and annoyed that the Constitutional Convention had so quickly descended into a screaming match. Since Lady Heather Gilda did not look particularly interested in trying to resolve this latest silly controversy, the task of peacemaker inevitably fell to the Parliamentary Secretary. ‘There is absolutely no need to shout.’

‘We have not yet completely defined the state boundaries for the future federal structure of Torontia. In my opinion, a federation with only two states would be folly, regardless of how the nation was divided (be it along an East-West or North-South axis). One of the primary benefits of federalising, that of accommodating regional preferences and diversity, would be largely lost in the overly large states. Stability could also be threatened by the states becoming excessively powerful.'

Lady Sabelina drained her glass and poured another.

'As I mentioned before,' the deputy Foreign Minister continued, 'in order to overcome the previous imperialist divisions of the Amestrian-Saint Fedski occupational era we need merely define the borders of these new states so that they bare no resemblance to the past occupational divisions.’

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Ministry turned to her Amestrian counterpart. ‘My apologies, Ms de Me’rode, it was a careless oversight,’ she added, referring to her previous incorrect use of title. She inclined her head slightly in the Deputy Minister’s direction graciously.

‘Perhaps you can elaborate on these “self governing municipal entities” which you mentioned, I don’t believe that the Constitutional Convention has had the pleasure of hearing this proposal yet.’

‘Perhaps you can elaborate on these “self governing municipal entities” which you mentioned, I don’t believe that the Constitutional Convention has had the pleasure of hearing this proposal yet.’

Clo'e nodded. "Thank you. Vice President Konno will list her proposal for Torontia's Regional boundaries in full.

Mitsune nodded. "The eight regions would be the following: North BC, South BC, the Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver, Southwestern Torontia, Northeast Torontia, East Central Torontia, and Southeastern Torontia. The self governing municipal entities would be the cities of Olympia and Seattle respectively, both being the largest cities in Torontia and Torontia's largest population centers...more people per capita then anywhere else in the Nation."

Ward prepared to present the peaceful version of himself.

"I can agree to the suggested method of division. However, there's another issue with this. There's a rumor that some want it to be set up so that each 'faction' have a 'home' region where they are 'set' to remain the lead party. I don't know if that's been presented here, or is planned to be, but that's my main concern."

"I can agree to the suggested method of division. However, there's another issue with this. There's a rumor that some want it to be set up so that each 'faction' have a 'home' region where they are 'set' to remain the lead party. I don't know if that's been presented here, or is planned to be, but that's my main concern."
The deputy Foreign Minister waved her hand dismissively. ‘Since the elections will determine which exact political groups are to govern in the new Torontian states, as well as in the national government, I don’t think this is a particularly great concern,’ she explained. 'The elections will be free and fair, and unstable factionalism in Torontia will be eradicated.'

‘Regarding Ms Konno’s proposal, I suggest that the cities of Olympia and Seattle (including their greater metropolitan areas) be made into fully-fledged states. I also suggest that a new, entirely purpose-built and planned city be constructed as the future seat of power for the federal government and capital of Torontia. I further suggest that the federal government be given full state powers within the boundaries of this Torontian capital territory.’

‘Regarding Ms Konno’s proposal, I suggest that the cities of Olympia and Seattle (including their greater metropolitan areas) be made into fully-fleged states. I also suggest that a new, entirely purpose-built and planned city be constructed as the future seat of power for the federal government and capital of Torontia. I further suggest that the federal government be given full state powers within the boundaries of this Torontian capital territory.’

Mitsune nodded. "I have no objections to calling the self governing municipal entities Regions. As for the proposed construction of a new Capital I have two questions. First, where is this new capital to be built. Second, how is Torontia going to pay for it?"

‘Any number of different locations are possible for a new capital,' the deputy Foreign Minister shrugged. 'For example, we could choose the geographical centre of Torontia as a suitable location, or a position in fairly close proximity to Seattle, or some other arbitrary location. I suggest somewhere within East Central Torontia.

As for the issue of funding its construction (along with the exact planning and development of the city), that is, in my opinion, beyond the scope of our concerns as drafters of the new Constitution. It would be a matter better left to the federal government to decide.’

‘Any number of different locations are possible for a new capital,' the deputy Foreign Minister shrugged. 'For example, we could chose the geographical centre of Torontia as a suitable location, or a position in fairly close proximity to Seattle, or some other arbitrary location.

"If it is close to Seattle why not just keep Seattle the capital and leave it management to the local authorities?"


As for the issue of funding its construction, that is, in my opinion, beyond the scope of our concerns as drafters of the new Constitution. It would be a matter better left to the federal government to decide.’

"Torontia does not have much spare financial capital. The implementation of the new Constitution, the integration of the TPG’s institutions into the new Government, and the elections will be expensive enough. I am afraid that if we are going to write specific expenses into the Constitution then we first have to work out payment in advance."

Colonel Kietz, who had been quiet out of not being needed, finally spoke up.

"If funds are an issue, McKagan will gladly pay the bill for any and all expenses an international council determine need to be paid in the construction of a new city."

'Wonderful, then,' announced Lady Eleanor Sabelina, 'though the details would, of course, need to be negotiated with the future Torontian federal government and not with our Constitutional Convention. Ultimate responsibility for how the city should be constructed must rest with the government, and need not be enshrined in this Constitution or even considered by the esteemed delegates present.'

'I am loath to agree to situating the federal government in Seattle because I believe that having two governments in the very same city will lead to inevitable tensions, as well as perhaps the possibility of bias in the federal government's relationship with its states. Removing the federal government from Seattle will also serve to distance this new government from the past national governments of Torontia (most of which have been either incompetant or dictatorial), while having it situated in reasonable proximity to Seattle will mean that the city benefits somewhat from the current capital's highly developed infrastructure.

Further, I think we can agree that it would be desirable for the federal government to ultimately have the same powers in the relatively small area where it is located as the states shall within their own jurisdictions (though, of course, the federal government will be free to delegate those powers to statutory institutions for the day to day running of the capital territory).'

"Then how about Tacoma," suggested Mitsune. "Tacoma is right between Seattle and Olympia, so it benefits from both cities highly developed infrastructure while being separate from both."

"Then how about Tacoma," suggested Mitsune. "Tacoma is right between Seattle and Olympia, so it benefits from both cities highly developed infrastructure while being separate from both."
‘The problem with that suggestion,’ explained Lady Eleanor Sabelina with a smile, ‘is that Tacoma is too large and important a city. Granting the federal government the same powers as a state government would have over a capital territory that includes Tacoma would strengthen the national government's political power too much.’

I suggest a compromise. The National Government shall have the power to determine accounting standards. The Regions will have the authority to have their own accounting laws provided they do not differ from the National laws (they will be identical). That way if the National Government fails them the Regions can protect themselves. Accounting standards will remain uniform.
‘In that case,’ began Lady Heather Gilda, musing over the problem, ‘I suggest that the federal government retain exclusive power to legislate regarding accounting and reporting standards but that the Constitution grant the right for judicial power regarding accounting and reporting standards to be referred to the states. The state Courts can therefore decide to adjudicate the matters if they are of a local nature or refer them to the federal Courts if they are of an interstate or national nature,’ suggested the Foreign Minister.

Heather Gilda smiled encouragingly at the Amestrian Deputy Minister, thinking that her suggestion was quite a clever one.

‘The problem with that suggestion,’ explained Lady Eleanor Sabelina with a smile, ‘is that Tacoma is too large and important a city. Granting the federal government the same powers as a state government would have over a capital territory that includes Tacoma would strengthen the national government's political power too much.’

"Well other candidates are Bremerton and Ellensburg." Mitsune mused. "Or we could just build the proposed National City at the very center of Torontia...although that would be horrendously expensive."

‘In that case,’ began Lady Heather Gilda, musing over the problem, ‘I suggest that the federal government retain exclusive power to legislate regarding accounting and reporting standards but that the Constitution grant the right for judicial power regarding accounting and reporting standards to be referred to the states. The state Courts can therefore decide to adjudicate the matters if they are of a local nature or refer them to the federal Courts if they are of an interstate or national nature,’ suggested the Foreign Minister.

Heather Gilda smiled encouragingly at the Amestrian Deputy Minister, thinking that her suggestion was quite a clever one.

Clo'e nodded. "That would be a superior arrangement, I have no objection."

‘I strongly advocate building a new town as the future capital of Torontia,’ clarified the deputy Foreign Minister as she took a small sip from her glass. ‘In this way, the city will receive all the usual benefits for having been designed and constructed according to a plan, and will be established without any of the associated prejudices or connotations that are attached to other cities which have been suggested as possible candidates. Moving the seat of power to such a minor city like Bremerton or Ellensburg will seem strange to the Torontian people, while the founding of an entirely new city will be unlikely to encounter the same problems with having it considered Torontia’s legitimate capital.

In my opinion, the exact location of the new capital territory ought to be left to the federal government to legislate on, but should be within a certain distance from Seattle. The name of the new capital should likewise be left up to the federal government, though I suggest “Torontium” as a possibility.’

though I suggest “Torontium” as a possibility.’

Mitsune shook her head. "Uhhh, no. I think Torontium is a pharmaceutical product used to treat stiff joints..."

Clo'e spoke. "Now that the method by which the site of Torontia's future National Capital has been chosen and we have agreed on the proposed Regional boundaries, shall we move back to Commerce and Foreign Corporations, or was that issue settled as well?"

‘Ladies and gentlemen, I suggest we no longer skirt around the primary issue of this Convention, which we have so far ignored,’ began Magnus Ethwig, current party leader of the SDLT, as he stood up. The Social Democratic League of Torontia, which had been established in north-eastern Torontia prior to the Xirniumite assumption of custodianship, was one of several local political groups which had risen to prominence following the end of the draconian Saint Fedski occupation and the resulting establishment of important civil and political freedoms by the Eternal Republic.

‘I ask that the esteemed members of the Constitutional Convention consider what form the precise structure of the federal and state governments themselves should take, particularly as regards the relationship between the Legislative and Executive branches. The SDLT strongly recommends that the future government of Torontia be based on the principle of parliamentary democracy. We suggest the establishment of a bicameral legislature, with a popular lower house electing a Chief of Government from amongst its members who will then appoint Cabinet Ministers from the group of Parliamentarians in the Legislature.

In this way, a powerful check on governmental power is imposed, based on the Westminsterian concept of Responsible Government. By requiring the senior officers of the Executive to be members of, and thus answerable to, the Legislature, accountability is drastically increased and the possibility for abuse of power and tyranny is reduced.’

Clo'e looked annoyed. "Why don't I just change the subject whenever I want. Sit down." Clo'e looked over at Lady Gilda. "Is there anything more to be said on Commerce? Here is what I believe we have agreed upon:

The Regional governments shall have exclusive jurisdiction over corporate law. The Regional and National Governments will have concurrent powers concerning the regulation of foreign corporations, insolvency/bankruptcy and the enforcement of accounting and financial law. Areas that would become exclusive powers of the National government are:

-Regulation of trade and commerce with other nations and between the states
-Copyrights, patents and trademarks
-Trade practices
-Financial corporations
-Arbitration of interstate industrial disputes
-Bounties on the production or export of goods (though the bounties must remain uniform throughout the federation)
-The creation of Accounting and financial reporting standards"

‘Deputy Minister, watch the way that you talk to the members of this conference,’ the Grand Cardinal warned dangerously. The perpetually hostile attitude of the Amestrian bureaucrat had begun to irritate her. ‘Mr Ethwig made a legitimate contribution to this Convention, you had no right to try and shout him down.’

The Regional and National Governments will have concurrent powers concerning the regulation of foreign corporations
‘In my opinion, this does nothing to address the problem that you contended would arise if this area was instead left as an exclusive power of the federal government. Since I cannot see any utility in your proposal we are not in agreement here.

However, since federal legislation prevails in the event of a contradiction arising in regards to the exercise of concurrent powers, non-uniform regulations in this section of law need never result, therefore I will not object to your suggestion. I simply don't see the point of it.’

concurrent powers concerning the enforcement of accounting and financial law.
‘That is an inaccurate oversimplification of what we agreed to, Ms de Me’rode, but yes we are in agreement.’

‘Deputy Minister, watch the way that you talk to the members of this conference,’ the Grand Cardinal warned dangerously. The hostile attitude of the Amestrian bureaucrat had begun to irritate her. ‘Mr Ethwig made a legitimate contribution to this Convention, you had no right to try and shout him down.’

"One has to wait ones turn, one cannot just jump up and change the subject. If that were to constantly occur we would accomplish nothing."

‘In my opinion, this does nothing to address the problem that you contended would arise if this area was left as an exclusive power of the federal government. Since I cannot see any utility in establishing non-uniform regulations in this section of the law we are not in agreement here.’

However, since federal legislation prevails in the event of a contradiction arising in regards to the exercise of concurrent powers, non-uniform regulations in this section of law need never result, therefore I will not object to your suggestion. I simply don't see the point of it.'

"The Amestrian, TPG, and TSU delegations are in agreement that the power of regulation of Foreign Corporations is an essential component for the future economic well being of the Regions and does indeed have a great deal of utility."

"One has to wait ones turn, one cannot just jump up and change the subject."
‘There was no subject to change, Deputy Minister, we had just finished talking about creating a new capital,’ pointed out Lady Sabelina. ‘By your own logic, you should have waited your turn before requesting we return to matters of commerce and trade.’

‘There was no subject to change, Deputy Minister, we had just finished talking about creating a new capital,’ pointed out Lady Sabelina. ‘By your own logic, you should have waited your own turn before requesting we return to matters of commerce and trade.’

Clo'e glanced at Lady Sabelina. "I recall speaking before him and asking the Grand Cardinal whether there was anything further to be discussed concerning the Commerce and Trade clauses. He then jumped in before the Cardinal could give me an answer... Or were you not listening."

‘I ask that the esteemed members of the Constitutional Convention consider what form the precise structure of the federal and state governments themselves should take, particularly as regards the relationship between the Legislative and Executive branches. The SDLT strongly recommends that the future government of Torontia be based on the principle of parliamentary democracy. We suggest the establishment of a bicameral legislature, with a popular lower house electing a Chief of Government from amongst its members who will then appoint Cabinet Ministers from the group of Parliamentarians in the Legislature.

In this way, a powerful check on governmental power is imposed, based on the Westminsterian concept of Responsible Government. By requiring the senior officers of the Executive to be members of, and thus answerable to, the Legislature, accountability is drastically increased and the possibility for abuse of power and tyranny is reduced.’

Mitsune spoke next. "Concerning Magnus Ethwig's proposal we find ourselves in agreement on the subject of the bicameral legislature. We also agree with the suggested format of the popular lower house electing a Head of Government from amongst its members who will then appoint Cabinet Ministers from the group of Parliamentarians in the Legislature. However we feel that Torontia requires a stronger Executive. I propose that the duties of Head of State and Commander in Chief be invested in a President elected for a substantial, but yet to be determined term (perhaps five to seven years). The President's additional powers shall include the vetoing of legislation, the selection of which party is to form the government, the authority to declare a state of emergency or martial law, the dismissal of Parliament and calling of new elections should there be a failure to establish a government, and a role in the appointment of ambassadors and judges."

However we feel that Torontia requires a stronger Executive. I propose that the duties of Head of State and Commander in Chief be invested in a President elected for a substantial, but yet to be determined term (perhaps five to seven years). The President's additional powers shall include the vetoing of legislation, the selection of which party is to form the government, the authority to declare a state of emergency or martial law, the dismissal of Parliament and calling of new elections should there be a failure to establish a government, and a role in the appointment of ambassadors and judges."
The Foreign Minister frowned as she examined the Amestrian proposal, scribbling some brief notes as she conversed animatedly with her aides. After some time she took a sip of water and spoke.

‘The Xirniumite delegation suggests that the Torontian President, who will act as a Head of State, be selected by secret ballot, without debate, by a Convention which shall consist of all members of the federal and state parliaments of Torontia every seven years,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda. ‘The office of President is often a dangerously powerful one, and this method of indirect presidential election will result in a Head of State who, though widely acceptable, is both insulated enough from public pressure in order to provide a useful check on the Legislature and lacking in sufficient popular legitimacy to ever threaten to undermine the other institutions of government.’

‘We agree that the duty, at least ceremonially, of Commander in Chief be vested in the President,’ explained Lady Gilda, moving down the list of proposals. ‘The President should also have the responsibility to promulgate the laws of the legislature but I do not believe that he or she should be vested with the power to veto legislation or decrees. Rather, I suggest a compromise where the President may refer bills back to Parliament for a second reading, though only once.

I don’t think that it would be useful for the President to have the power to select which party is to form government, indeed political parties need not be mentioned in the Constitution at all. Instead, the President need only appoint the Prime Minister of the Parliament, and then the remaining members of Cabinet upon the direction of the Chief of Government. Since, under the doctrine of Responsible Government, the Prime Minister must have the support of the lower house of the Legislature, there will be no fear that the appointed Prime Minister does not command the support of the assembly, and by convention this position will therefore go to the leader of the governing party.

Should Parliament pass a vote of no confidence in the President’s choice for Prime Minister, we recommend that President be bound by the law of the Constitution to appoint a successor requested by the lower house.

I agree that the President should have the power to dissolve Parliament and the responsibility to call elections immediately after this is done, but that the dissolution of Parliament may only occur after a set period of time enshrined in the Constitution (perhaps 4 years after the previous parliamentary elections) or in the case of the Prime Minister failing a vote of confidence in the lower house.

We agree that the President’s powers should include appointing federal judges and other civil servants (such as ambassadors), but believe that he or she must have the counter-signature of the Prime Minister to do so. Additional requirements will be needed for appointing the members of the judiciary, but we will get to that later.

As for the matter of emergency powers, it depends on what specific powers the members of the Constitutional Convention suggest. We will not support powers which violate in any way the rule of law, provide the power to suspend vital articles of the Constitution for whatever period of time or suspend fundamental civil and political rights.’

‘The Xirniumite delegation suggests that the Torontian President, who will act as a Head of State, be selected by secret ballot, without debate, by a Convention which shall consist of all members of the federal and state parliaments of Torontia every seven years,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda. ‘The office of President is often a dangerously powerful one, and this method of indirect presidential election will result in a Head of State who, though widely acceptable, is both insulated enough from public pressure in order to provide a useful check on the Legislature and lacking in sufficient popular legitimacy to ever threaten to undermine the other institutions of government.’

Mitsune smiled. "Lady Gilda you have the uncanny ability of improving significantly upon what I suggest. A most excellent proposal, I am in full agreement with on this issue."

‘We agree that the duty, at least ceremonially, of Commander in Chief be vested in the President,’ explained Lady Gilda, moving down the list of proposals. ‘The President should also have the responsibility to promulgate the laws of the legislature but I do not believe that he or she should be vested with the power to veto legislation or decrees. Rather, I suggest a compromise where the President may refer bills back to Parliament for a second reading, though only once.

Mitsune shook her head. "I am afraid I must insist upon the power to veto legislation. Since the President shall be insulated from public pressure by her indirect election and the Presidents role is to provide a useful check on the Legislature a veto is not threatening and in my opinion is crucial. A Presidential veto would provide a significant check upon legislative insanity and serve as a means to prevent damaging knee jerk legislation from being rushed into effect. I also must insist that the President be the actual Commander in Chief, the supreme authority for all military affairs and the only competent authority for the use of WMD*. The President's Military decisions shall be absolute as long as they do not conflict with the law."

(*OOC: The TPG has 30 N2 bombs given to it by Amestria, each capable of a one megaton blast, so Torontia has WMD, that is not a hypothetical)

I don’t think that it would be useful for the President to have the power to select which party is to form government, indeed political parties need not be mentioned in the Constitution at all. Instead, the President need only appoint the Prime Minister of the Parliament, and then the remaining members of Cabinet upon the direction of the Chief of Government. Since, under the doctrine of Responsible Government, the Prime Minister must have the support of the lower house of the Legislature, there will be no fear that the appointed Prime Minister does not command the support of the assembly, and by convention this position will therefore go to the leader of the governing party.

Mitsune nodded. "Agreed."

Should Parliament pass a vote of no confidence in the President’s choice for Prime Minister, we recommend that President be bound by the law of the Constitution to appoint a successor requested by the lower house.

"I do not agree, but I have no objection."

I agree that the President should have the power to dissolve Parliament and the responsibility to call elections immediately after this is done, but that the dissolution of Parliament may only occur after a set period of time enshrined in the Constitution (perhaps 4 years after the previous parliamentary elections) or in the case of the Prime Minister failing a vote of confidence in the lower house.

Mitsune nodded. "Of course."

We agree that the President’s powers should include appointing federal judges and other civil servants (such as ambassadors), but believe that he or she must have the counter-signature of the Prime Minister to do so. Additional requirements will be needed for appointing the members of the judiciary, but we will get to that later.

Mitsune nodded. "Agreed."

As for the matter of emergency powers, it depends on what specific powers the members of the Constitutional Convention suggest. We will not support powers which violate in any way the rule of law, provide the power to suspend vital articles of the Constitution for whatever period of time or suspend fundamental civil and political rights.’

"Much depends upon what you mean by fundamental civil and political rights. I propose that the President have the power to declare Martial Law. By Martial Law I mean the placing of a given area under military rule/law, suspend habeas corpus, and restrict freedom of assembly/travel. Of course there would be the significant restrictions and oversight by Parliament and the Courts. The President could only declare Martial Law when the civil institutions of justice in a given area no longer function, when there is a insurrection or rebellion, and of course in the event of a foreign invasion or an epidemic. Parliament could revoke the President's Martial Law Declaration with a simple Majority (needless to say the President could not use Martial Law to prevent Parliament from assembling) and the Courts could rule it unlawful if the declaration was found to be unjustified. The power to declare a State of Emergency would be restricted to a Natural disaster and simply restrict freedom of assembly and travel while giving the Military power to perform civilian duties. Parliament could also revoke this declaration and the courts would supervise. The President can also declare a curfew in a given area in the event of a State of Unrest (riots or a lack of public order). Parliament can revoke the President's curfew declaration and the Courts can rule it unlawful if it is found to be unjustified."

Mitsune paused and looked at her notes. "The President would have the power to temporally declare the unilateral administration of a Region by the National Government provided Parliament consented and the Regional Government did not contest the President's decision (either because the Regional Government agreed or there no longer was a Regional Government). During the National administration of a Region all law enforcement would be directly administered by the President and all other functions would be administered by the legislature. As soon as order had been restored they would be obligated to return authority over the Region back to the Regional Government (the courts would supervise to ensure the transfer was done in a timely manner). This of course would only be exorcised in the event of a major catastrophe or outbreak in violence (such as a Region falling into complete anarchy).”

Mitsune smiled. "Lady Gilda you have the uncanny ability of improving significantly upon what I suggest. A most excellent proposal, I am in full agreement with on this issue."
The Xirniumite Foreign Minister beamed proudly at the praise, though she chose to remain silent. Readjusting her position in her chair, Lady Heather Gilda realised that the Convention had been in progress for quite some time, several hours in fact.

Since the President shall be insulated from public pressure by her indirect election and the Presidents role is to provide a useful check on the Legislature a veto is not threatening and in my opinion is crucial. A Presidential veto would provide a significant check upon legislative insanity and serve as a means to prevent damaging knee jerk legislation from being rushed into effect.
Lady Gilda frowned, the power to withhold assent to bills that Parliament had already passed and contrary to Ministerial advice was one that she had extreme misgivings about explicitly vesting in the President. Such a thing would be a clear violation of Responsible Government (which carried the convention that the President exercises his or her reserve powers in accordance with Ministerial advice) and serve to dismantle an important check on the Executive.

‘In my opinion, having the power to refer bills back to Parliament will already be sufficient to prevent harmful forms of knee jerk legislation, or legislative insanity,’ explained Lady Sabelina, noticing (and sharing) Lady Gilda’s opposition to the proposal. ‘Perhaps I might suggest an alternative compromise to conferring veto powers on the President? In extreme cases the President, having already sent the proposed act back to Parliament once, could have the power to refer the relevant laws to popular referendum.’

I also must insist that the President be the actual Commander in Chief, the supreme authority for all military affairs and the only competent authority for the use of WMD*. The President's Military decisions shall be absolute as long as they do not conflict with the law.
‘We have agreed to the proposal that the President shall act as the Commander in Chief of the naval and military forces of Torontia,’ explained Lady Gilda, ‘however I believe the precise mechanics of the armed forces’ command and control should be determined in greater detail at another time. Specifically, important checks will need to be included on the military at several levels. Further, we feel that the President should, as with the other responsibilities, execute his or her duties with Ministerial advice.’

‘We will have to examine your proposals regarding extraordinary powers during states of emergency in greater detail,’ continued Lady Gilda with a slight sigh. ‘As you will no doubt appreciate, such areas of law are both extremely delicate and highly controversial, and therefore they require careful consideration.’

‘In my opinion, having the power to refer bills back to Parliament will already be sufficient to prevent harmful forms of knee jerk legislation, or legislative insanity,’ explained Lady Sabelina, noticing (and sharing) Lady Gilda’s opposition to the proposal. ‘Perhaps I might suggest an alternative compromise to conferring veto powers on the President? In extreme cases the President, having already sent the proposed act back to Parliament once, could have the power to refer the relevant laws to popular referendum.’

Mitsune shook her head. "I am afraid we must insist upon the President having a veto, the power to forbid legislation unless the said legislation has a two-thirds majority behind it. I would like to point out that the office of President so far has very few powers (I think we can agree that is a positive thing given Torontia's history). The President does not for instance submit the budget to Parliament (it may surprise you to know that in many countries the President has significant budgetary powers, sometimes even exclusive*). In every system there is the need to have someone insulated from public and legislative pressure, separated from the frenzy of collective action and able to yell STOP. Since we are not building a proactive President, rather a reactive one, the President must have a veto, the ultimate reactive power. A good model for the Torontian President would be Grover Cleveland, who used his veto 413 times in his first term alone, Children would sing, "a fat man once sat in a President's chair, singing veto Ve-to, Ve-to, With never a thought of trouble or care, singing Ve-to, Ve-to... Grover Cleveland once told a friend that when he died he should not have a monument to what he did 'but for the foolishness' he 'put a stop to.' Perhaps we could put procedures in place to decrease the necessity for the use of the veto. The President first would have to send the bill in question back for a second reading before using her veto. Also, if the President's opposition is centered entirely on doubts concerning the legislations constitutionality then the President can submit the legislation to the Constitutional Court for review prior to passage into law. If you are still nervous as to the possible 'abuse' of the veto, then we are willing to comprise on the President not being able to veto the budget (the most crucial piece of legislation, necessary for the State to continue in functioning). The President's only power concerning the budget would be to send it back for a second reading and/or submit it to the Constitutional Court for review prior to passage."

(*OOC: Russia being a great RL example, where the President has total power over the finances and has the power to deprive legislatures and judges of pay... Which gives you a good idea why things in Russia are the way they are).

‘We have agreed to the proposal that the President shall act as the Commander in Chief of the naval and military forces of Torontia,’ explained Lady Gilda, ‘however I believe the precise mechanics of the armed forces’ command and control should be determined in greater detail at another time. Specifically, important checks will need to be included on the military at several levels. Further, we feel that the President should, as with the other responsibilities, execute his or her duties with Ministerial advice.’

"I believe we may be able to reach agreement on this issue, but first I must know what you define as 'Ministerial advice'..." Mitsune replied.

‘We will have to examine your proposals regarding extraordinary powers during states of emergency in greater detail,’ continued Lady Gilda with a slight sigh. ‘As you will no doubt appreciate, such areas of law are both extremely delicate and highly controversial, and therefore they require careful consideration.’

Mitsune nodded. "Of course."

Mark Brovan sat fuming slightly at the stupidity of Josh Ward, I'm more Torontian than he could ever be. But still he waited.

"The president will need a veto power." Brovan finally said after listening in on the whole conversation. "Some laws may need to be completely stopped, and as much as I loathe to admit it, it must fall on the task of the President." He looked around at each delagate. "Of course we could just scrap everything we've done so far and go with the normal strong executive branch."

[OOC: Urgh, sorry people, RL takes precedence.]

After a long argument with the hotel staff and a few cabinet members of the Neo Administration, Ho finally agreed to pay for the bill for himself. As a result he was later than the other delegations, and with no one else but himself to blame, he blamed his aides and bodyguards assigned to protect him and his associates (whom pretty much all of which were sick and tired of him a LONG time ago and were hoping for that very mistake that would out weigh his efficiency as an ambassador).

He quickly sat down at a chair, without even saying "Excuse me" for politeness. His aides and bodyguards stood back to watch and take notes. Let's get down to business, he thought to himself.

"Of course we could just scrap everything we've done so far and go with the normal strong executive branch."
‘Certainly not,’ scoffed Lady Eleanor Sabelina. ‘The system that we have devised so far is a well-founded one which defends elements of the core principles of responsible government, parliamentary sovereignty and the separation of powers. It has also been designed with a formidable system of checks and balances, and therefore prevents the dangerous accumulation of power in a single source which so often results in the unitary presidential system.’

The deputy Foreign Minister took another sip from her glass and returned her look to the gathered delegates.

"I am afraid we must insist upon the President having a veto, the power to forbid legislation unless the said legislation has a two-thirds majority behind it.”
The Xirniumite delegation muttered darkly amongst themselves for some time, debating the merits of Ms Konno’s proposal.

‘The Xirniumite delegation agrees that it is important that the President be allowed to check Parliament,’ began Lady Heather Gilda at last, having finally reached a consensus with her colleagues. ‘We also agree that there are some exceptional circumstances where it might be beneficial for the Head of State to be able to wield the reserve power of vetoing the passing of manifestly unwise legislation. I find myself in agreement with all of your proposals to provide for just such a reserve power, especially the additional proviso that the President never have the power to block the passing of budget bills and therefore bring about the collapse of Parliament.’

‘That said,’ the Foreign Minister continued, removing her glasses and rubbing the bridge of her nose tiredly, ‘the fact remains that, with such extraordinary powers, the need presents itself to provide a very real and useful check, by Parliament, on the President. The most profound check available in this situation is the power to dismiss the President. We therefore suggest that the Constitution enshrine the requirement that the President must continue to maintain the confidence of the federal Parliament for the length of his or her term in office.’

‘We propose the following system in order to dismiss an incumbent President,’ announced the Grand Cardinal, running her index finger down a list of one of the many papers in front of her. ‘Firstly, a vote of no confidence in the Head of State of Torontia must secure one more seat than fifty per cent of all seats in the lower house of the federal parliament, in addition to the agreement of the leader of the house. After a delay which exceeds one month, a vote of no confidence will then be held in the upper house, to succeed if one seat more than fifty per cent of all seats in the upper house of the federal parliament vote in favour of it, in addition to gaining the agreement of the leader of the house.

After a delay no shorter then two months, a joint sitting of both houses of the legislature will be held to vote on the question of whether the federal parliament continues to maintain confidence in the current President. Should the vote of no confidence garner sixty per cent of the vote, and should the Ministry unanimously agree, the President will then be sacked from office.’

Lady Gilda smiled friendlily. ‘This, very important, check will prove useful for several reasons. Firstly, it will ensure that the President does not wield his or her powers in a manner in which they were never intended to be wielded (that is, not as a check on legislative insanity but as a tool for influencing policy, to usurp legislative function). It will guarantee the continued integrity of the vital concept of Responsible Government, by requiring that the President maintains the confidence of Government. It will further maintain the sacrosanct doctrine of Seperation of Powers, by ensuring that the Parliament need not tolerate unconstitutional interference in its affairs by an overpowerful Executive. Finally, it will serve as a means to preserve popular sovereignty, by ensuring that the President may not unduly obstruct the elected representatives of the Torontian people.

The structure of the dismissal process (in particular, the existance of mandatory delays) on the other hand will completely eliminate the concern that such a power could possibly be used at the mere whim of Parliament, resulting in a puppet President, and instead ensures that it be used only as an important check.’

Lady Gilda drank deeply from her glass of water, smiling at the Amestrian and TPG delegations. Certainly not what we were hoping for… but adequate nonetheless, Heather Gilda thought, sighing inwardly.

"I believe we may be able to reach agreement on this issue, but first I must know what you define as 'Ministerial advice'..."
‘We define Ministerial advice as the Westminsterian "Responsible Government" concept that the Head of State acts with the consent of the Prime Minister and his or her relevant cabinet ministers, Ms Konno,’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘It can be considered an internal check between two different sections of the Executive, and vastly increases Government accountability.’

"Of course."
‘At this point in time the Xirniumite delegation indicates its support for Ms Konno’s proposals as regard the proclamation of a state of emergency and to impose martial law,’ indicated Lady Eleanor Sabelina in a professional, businesslike voice. ‘We will, of course, still need to examine the various suggestions in much greater detail, however we do not foresee any problems with them at this stage.’

‘We disagree, however, with your proposal as regards the commandeering of state government powers by the federal government under extreme circumstances. We believe that, as sovereign governing institutions, the state governments must be Constitutionally unable to surrender their powers under any circumstance, even if such an act has their consent or even if they are unable to give consent because of the occurrence of some calamity. Any provision in the constitution which purports to extinguish state sovereignty would fundamentally undermine the federal nature of the future Torontian republic - and in any case we feel that the existing emergency powers of declaring states of emergency or martial law in Torontia will prove more then adequate for the types of situations where this suggested power would be implemented.

I hope that this need not become a source of contention for the Constitutional Convention,’ the deputy Foreign Minister added earnestly. Eleanor smiled warmly at the TPG delegation.

‘That said,’ the Foreign Minister continued, removing her glasses and rubbing the bridge of her nose tiredly, ‘the fact remains that, with such extraordinary powers, the need presents itself to provide a very real and useful check, by Parliament, on the President. The most profound check available in this situation is the power to dismiss the President. We therefore suggest that the Constitution enshrine the requirement that the President must continue to maintain the confidence of the federal Parliament for the length of his or her term in office.’

‘We propose the following system in order to dismiss an incumbent President,’ announced the Grand Cardinal, running her index finger down a list of one of the many papers in front of her. ‘Firstly, a vote of no confidence in the Head of State of Torontia must secure one more seat than fifty per cent of all seats in the lower house of the federal parliament, in addition to the agreement of the leader of the house. After a delay which exceeds one month, a vote of no confidence will then be held in the upper house, to succeed if one seat more than fifty per cent of all seats in the upper house of the federal parliament vote in favour of it, in addition to gaining the agreement of the leader of the house.

After a delay no shorter then two months, a joint sitting of both houses of the legislature will be held to vote on the question of whether the federal parliament continues to maintain confidence in the current President. Should the vote of no confidence garner sixty per cent of the vote, and should the Ministry unanimously agree, the President will then be sacked from office.’

Lady Gilda smiled friendlily. ‘This, very important, check will prove useful for several reasons. Firstly, it will ensure that the President does not wield his or her powers in a manner in which they were never intended to be wielded (that is, not as a check on legislative insanity but as a tool for influencing policy, to usurp legislative function). It will guarantee the continued integrity of the vital concept of Responsible Government, by requiring that the President maintains the confidence of Government. It will further maintain the sacrosanct doctrine of Seperation of Powers, by ensuring that the Parliament need not tolerate unconstitutional interference in its affairs by an overpowerful Executive. Finally, it will serve as a means to preserve popular sovereignty, by ensuring that the President may not unduly obstruct the elected representatives of the Torontian people.

The structure of the dismissal process (in particular, the existance of mandatory delays) on the other hand will completely eliminate the concern that such a power could possibly be used at the mere whim of Parliament, resulting in a puppet President, and instead ensures that it be used only as an important check.’

Lady Gilda drank deeply from her glass of water, smiling at the Amestrian and TPG delegations. Certainly not what we were hoping for… but adequate nonetheless, Heather Gilda thought, sighing inwardly.

Mitsune thought for a few minutes while she glanced at the notes taken by an aide. She then nodded. "That is a well thought out proposal that our delegation finds acceptable. We are in agreement."

‘We define Ministerial advice as the Westminsterian "Responsible Government" concept that the Head of State acts with the consent of the Prime Minister and his or her relevant cabinet ministers, Ms Konno,’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘It can be considered an internal check between two different sections of the Executive, and vastly increases Government accountability.’

Mitsune nodded. "That is acceptable, I have no objection."

‘At this point in time the Xirniumite delegation indicates its support for Ms Konno’s proposals as regard the proclamation of a state of emergency and to impose martial law,’ indicated Lady Eleanor Sabelina in a professional, businesslike voice. ‘We will, of course, still need to examine the various suggestions in much greater detail, however we do not foresee any problems with them at this stage.’

Mitsune smiled. "Good..."

‘We disagree, however, with your proposal as regards the commandeering of state government powers by the federal government under extreme circumstances. We believe that, as sovereign governing institutions, the state governments must be Constitutionally unable to surrender their powers under any circumstance, even if such an act has their consent or even if they are unable to give consent because of the occurrence of some calamity. Any provision in the constitution which purports to extinguish state sovereignty would fundamentally undermine the federal nature of the future Torontian republic - and in any case we feel that the existing emergency powers of declaring states of emergency or martial law in Torontia will prove more then adequate for the types of situations where this suggested power would be implemented.

I hope that this need not become a source of contention for the Constitutional Convention,’ the deputy Foreign Minister added earnestly. Eleanor smiled warmly at the TPG delegation.

Mitsune shrugged. "The system for temporary National control of a Region during an emergency was more a suggestion then a proposal..." Mitsune returned Eleanor’s warm smile with one of her own. "There will not be any contention."

Sara chuckled. "Now isn’t nice that everyone seems to be getting along."

Mitsune again glanced at her notes. "There are still a few minor issues that have to be addressed...all non-controversial technical details. The issue of Presidential term limits. Should the President be restricted to serving one term or two consecutive terms? Should the President not be restricted to actual term limits, but simply barred from serving two terms consecutively? Or should there be no limitations placed upon the President's ability to stand and be reelected to the office?"

Mitsune again glanced once again at her notes. "There is also the issue of Presidential succession in the unfortunate event of the President's death, incapacitation, or removal from office. Should the President, for whatever reason, be unable to serve, it goes without saying that Parliament would elect a new person to that position. There is however the question of who serves the role of Acting President in the meantime, until another Full President (if you will) has been elected by Parliament. The Prime Minister would be the obvious choice except for the fact that during the transition period between Presidents the Prime Ministers office would then become ridiculously overpowered. As I see it the best solution would be for the powers of the President to fall to the leader of the Upper House during the transition period. I also suggest that we establish the legal length of the transition period, as in how long Parliament has to select the new President, so as to prevent unnecessary delays and legislative coups*."

(*OOC: In RL South America there have been cases where the Legislature would remove the elected President from office for dubious reasons and then put one of there own into the Presidency).

‘I recommend that the President be limited to serving only one term in office,’ replied the Foreign Minister, shuffling through some papers in her folder. ‘A seven year period as Head of State is not a particularly brief time, whereas one and a half decades, on the other hand, seems overly long.’

‘We are also not unreceptive to the suggestion that the leader of the upper house assume, during the interim period following the previous Head of State's term in office, the powers of President of Torontia. Regarding the legal time period during the transition between Presidencies, the Xirniumite delegation suggests a period not exceeding six months – which should provide ample time for the state and federal governments to appoint a suitable successor.’

‘I recommend that the President be limited to serving only one term in office,’ replied the Foreign Minister, shuffling through some papers in her folder. ‘A seven year period as Head of State is not a particularly brief time, whereas one and a half decades, on the other hand, seems overly long.’

Mitsune nodded. "Agreed."

‘We are also not unreceptive to the suggestion that the leader of the upper house assume, during the interim period following the previous Head of State's term in office, the powers of President of Torontia. Regarding the legal time period during the transition between Presidencies, the Xirniumite delegation suggests a period not exceeding six months – which should provide ample time for the state and federal governments to appoint a suitable successor.’

"By transition period I meant the period after the death, incapacitation, or removal from office of the President. I suggest a transition period of no greater then two months. During the transition period perhaps it would be best to split the duties of the acting President. The Leader of the Upper House would assume all the civilian powers and duties of the President while the Minister of Defense would assume the duties and responsibilities of the Commander in Chief (which the Defense Minister would be the most qualified to fill)."

Mitsune took a bite of a cookie. "When it comes to choosing the President's successor after the serving of a full term, I feel that it would be best for the successor to be chosen in the six months before the President steps down. That way Torontia is never without a clear head of State and Commander in Chief..."

During the transition period perhaps it would be best to split the duties of the acting President. The Leader of the Upper House would assume all his civilian powers and duties of the President while the Minister of Defense would assume the duties and responsibilities of Commander in Chief (which the Defense Minister would be the most qualified to fill)."
'Agreed,' replied the Foreign Minister, nodding.

Mitsune took a bite of a cookie. "When it comes to choosing the President's successor after the serving of a full term, I feel that it would be best for the successor to be chosen in the six months before the President steps down. That way Torontia is never without a clear head of State and Commander in Chief..."
'I find it curious that you feel that Parliament should spend the six months prior to the end of term of the Torontian President deliberating on who should be his or her successor, yet you feel that two months is more then adequate in the event of the President suddenly leaving office,' noted the Grand Cardinal, raising her eyebrows with curiosity. 'In any case, we suggest three months.

Let us not forget that this individual holds office for seven years, it is important that the state and federal governments choose wisely.'

'In any case, we suggest three months.'

Mitsune nodded. "I have no objection to your suggestion, we are in agreement."

‘Wonderful,’ exclaimed the Grand Cardinal as she took another sip from her glass.

‘Perhaps we might, at this point in time, address another issue, entirely unrelated to the matter of the Presidency, which is of some concern to the Xirniumite delegation?’ suggested Lady Eleanor Sabelina reasonably as she leafed through a folder. ‘I would like to suggest that the Constitutional Convention agree to enshrining the doctrines of secular government and separation of church and state in the nation’s Constitution (as is the case in the Eternal Republic and in a vast number of other modern liberal democracies).

The benefits of separation of church and state are obvious, and range from an absence of religious interference in government affairs to promoting religious freedom within the nation. Unless there is a disagreement on the desirability of secular government from amongst the esteemed members of the conference, I will refrain at this point in time from elaborating on them the merits of secularity.

I propose that the Constitution contain a general statement that the federal republic of Torontia neither recognises, nor salaries, nor subsidises any religion and that no religious organisation shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political authority. Furthermore, the Constitution should state that no person shall be compelled to take part in any religious act, celebration, rite or practice - which is a protection fundamental to protecting the civil liberty of freedom of religion. The Constitution should prohibit the state and its organs from religious education or any other religious activity, and the government should not be permitted to make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance. Finally, members of the clergy should be barred from holding public office.

I believe that these inclusions in the Constitution will be of great benefit. The Rule of Law is strengthened and held sacrosanct because religious activities must submit to the same set of laws and regulations (such as paying taxes) as other activities (in other words, they and are not considered above the law). In any western democracy, the law must always remain supreme. Ostentatious displays of religious affiliation and conspicuous religious symbols should also be banned from public institutions (including Courts and schools) in order to reflect the secularity of the Torontian state and prevent the endorsement of any particular religion over another.’

General Levitt and Major Abrams exchanged a look. Then Levitt spoke.

"That, I think, is something that all of us can agree on."

‘Wonderful,’ exclaimed the Grand Cardinal as she took another sip from her glass.

‘Perhaps we might, at this point in time, address another issue, entirely unrelated to the matter of the Presidency, which is of some concern to the Xirniumite delegation?’ suggested Lady Eleanor Sabelina reasonably as she leafed through a folder. ‘I would like to suggest that the Constitutional Convention agree to enshrining the doctrines of secular government and separation of church and state in the nation’s Constitution (as is the case in the Eternal Republic and in a vast number of other modern liberal democracies).

The benefits of separation of church and state are obvious, and range from an absence of religious interference in government affairs to promoting religious freedom within the nation. Unless there is a disagreement on the desirability of secular government from amongst the esteemed members of the conference, I will refrain at this point in time from elaborating on them the merits of secularity.

I propose that the Constitution contain a general statement that the federal republic of Torontia neither recognises, nor salaries, nor subsidises any religion and that no religious organisation shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political authority. Furthermore, the Constitution should state that no person shall be compelled to take part in any religious act, celebration, rite or practice, which is fundamental to protecting the civil liberty of freedom of religion. The Constitution should prohibit the state and its organs from religious education or any other religious activity, and the government should not be permitted to make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance. Finally, members of the clergy should be barred from holding public office.

I believe that these inclusions in the Constitution will be of great benefit. The Rule of Law is strengthened and held sacrosanct because religious activities must submit to the same set of laws and regulations (such as paying taxes) as other activities (in other words, they and are not considered above the law). In any western democracy, the law must always remain supreme. Ostentatious displays of religious affiliation and conspicuous religious symbols should also be banned from public institutions (including Courts and schools) in order to reflect the secularity of the Torontian state and prevent the endorsement of any particular religion over another.’

Mitsune nodded. "I am in complete agreement. I assume that this strict separation also applies to the Regional Governments as well as the National Government...."

"As is the Amestrian delegation," interjected Clo'e.

"However," Mitsune added, "I feel that proposal does not go far enough given Torontia's unfortunate history. Religious Party's should also be banned (the New Order gained much of its popular support through pandering to religious fundamentalism)."

"That, I think, is something that all of us can agree on."
Lady Eleanor Sabelina couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Strange, isn’t it?’ she asked with an enigmatic smile.

“I assume that this strict separation also applies to the Regional Governments as well as the National Government...."
‘Yes, of course,’ clarified the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘Sorry for being unclear, I intended to propose that the Constitutional separation of church and state doctrine apply to all branches of government at all levels.’

"I feel that proposal does not go far enough given Torontia's unfortunate history. Religious Party's should also be banned (the New Order gained much of its popular support through pandering to religious fundamentalism)."
‘I am not sure if that is entirely necessary,’ explained Lady Sabelina as she once again leafed through her folder, pausing to glance over at the stenographer's notes for greater certainty. ‘I have already suggested that religious organisations be restricted, by the Constitution, from exercising political authority. You will no doubt agree with me that faith-based parties are a subset of religious organisations.’

‘Another possible article that we might include in the Constitution, and I hasten to add that this is merely a suggestion,’ Lady Heather Gilda added as she readjusted her glasses, ‘is to Constitutionally bar religious organisations from advocating partisan political groups (and, vice versa, to bar politicians from advocating specific religious organisations). I also would like to propose the possibility that the Constitution prohibit faith-based organisations from supporting political candidates or encouraging illegal opposition to the laws and institutions of the State.'

‘Yes, of course,’ clarified the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘Sorry for being unclear,

"It's quite alright," smiled Mitsune, "we are all rather tired. The drafting of a Constitution is nothing if not tedious."

‘I am not sure if that is entirely necessary,’ explained Lady Sabelina as she once again leafed through her folder, pausing to glance over at the stenographer's notes for greater certainty. ‘I have already suggested that religious organizations be restricted, by the Constitution, from exercising political authority. You will no doubt agree with me that faith-based parties are a subset of religious organizations.’

Mitsune nodded. "Yes, but given Torontia's history I feel that it would be best for us to be as specific and detailed as possible. Let us not leave any ambiguity in letter or intent."

‘Another possible article that we might include in the Constitution, and I hasten to add that this is merely a suggestion,’ Lady Heather Gilda added as she readjusted her glasses, ‘is to Constitutionally bar religious organizations from advocating partisan political groups (and, vice versa, to bar politicians from advocating specific religious organizations). I also would like to propose the possibility that the Constitution prohibit faith-based organizations from supporting political candidates or encouraging illegal opposition to the laws and institutions of the State.'

Mitsune nodded. "Two excellent proposals Lady Gilda. I feel those articles should most definitely be added to the Constitution."

The Xirniumites whispered amongst themselves for several moments, ignoring the rest of the conference as they debated its next stage.

‘Perhaps it would now be the correct time to address the last remaining branch of government, the judicature,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda.

We suggest that the judicial power of the Torontian federation be vested in a federal supreme Court (which shall be the final appellate Court in addition to having original jurisdiction in all Constitutional matters) and in such other federal and state courts as are created. In regards to the precise nature of the judicial branch of government, I suggest that the doctrine of separation of powers be enforced much more strongly, in the Constitution, in regards to this branch then is the case with the other branches. Keeping in mind the tyranny of the Tanakis era, firmly establishing the independence of the Courts must be considered as one of our primary goals as drafters of the future Torontian Constitution.

By "strict separation of the judicial branch from the other branches of government", I propose that the Courts only be allowed to exercise judicial power, and not executive or legislative power (for example, courts may not review cases on the merits). I further propose that the Courts be the only State institutions permitted to exercise judicial power (for example, statutory review bodies such as tribunals and arbitration commissions which examine cases on the merits should not be permitted to hold people in contempt, which is a judicial power of the Courts).

Furthermore, the judicial system of Torontia must have the powers of judicial review of legislative and executive function, so as to provide a strong check against both of these branches. The Courts should have the power to declare laws repugnant if they conflict with the Constitution and other articles of Higher Law.

I also recommend that the right to trial by jury be enshrined in the Constitution for the trials on indictment of any offence against any law of the Torontian State.

In order to further emphasise the independence of the judiciary, I suggest that all appointments of justices be made for life.’

Evan Ho chuckled slightly when he heard that.

"Dr. Gilda, I must respectfully disagree with that. The Founding Fathers of the United States of America, had never intended their nation to become a global power. Not saying that George Washington, the most well known of them all, knew what was coming in the future when he warned about America intervening in foreign issues, but having justice appointments for life can wreck stability...in the long term. Especially when the Justices mostly belive one political ideology and lean toward an administration that has the same views....look at a few of the justices under the second Bush Administration for example Keeping them for life is not neccessarily a good thing when it comes to a nation playing a major role on the international stage."

Oh dear, I think I will need a stiffer drink, thought the Foreign Minister dryly, pouring herself a glass of whiskey from Lady Eleanor’s nearby bottle and draining it in one go. Lady Heather Gilda narrowed her lovely eyes as she regarded the Southeast Asian delegate, doing her best to decipher his (in her opinion) rather confusing argument.

‘The problem, Mr Ho, that you mention (specifically the political, or arbitrary, appointment of the members of the judicature) is indeed a very serious one for us all to consider. It does not, however, have anything to do with whether or not the State in question is a “global player” or “a nation playing a major role on the international stage”, which is a non sequitur if ever I saw one - no disrespect intended.

Nor, indeed, is the term in office of the appointed justices particularly relevant to the debate at hand, in my humble opinion.

The benefits of lifetime appointments are well known, and therefore I will not waste the Constitutional Convention’s time by elaborating on them too greatly. Suffice it to say, howeverm that they enhance the independence of the judiciary by insulating judges from the other branches of government, while also protection against undue influence from outside interests. The members of the judiciary are independent because they are not subject to removal. Indeed, it is clear that judicial function is only capable of proper functioning if judges are made immune both from the influence (and certainly from the control) of the government of the day.’

The Foreign Minister paused, shuffling several papers around before continuing. ‘No, the problem that you refer to, the politicisation of the judiciary, is due to the appointment procedure used to select judges – not the term that judges may serve. Specifically, I would contend that the problem you indicate is one inherent in the method of selecting judges by Legislative confirmation of Executive nominations - which is what occurs in the US Senate with respect to Presidential nominees to the US Supreme Court (as you correctly pointed out). The drawbacks of this system are extremely serious. For example, the techniques of political campaigning often find themselves applied to the process of Legislative confirmation (an obvious problem, when we consider that it is our goal as drafters of the future Torontian Constitution to ensure that the process of selecting the members of the judiciary is not politicised). Another, quite significant, drawback of this system is that (as the real objective of the selection procedure in the first place is to seek out the best qualified people to nominate to the Courts) the process of Senate confirmation does nothing to improve the appointment system at the initial stages of selection (since it is done by the President, who is liable to appoint on political grounds).

Needless to say, I do not recommend this procedure at all,’ explained Lady Gilda, laughing.

‘What procedure do I recommend, then?’ asked the Grand Cardinal rhetorically, assuming a didactic tone. ‘Basically, I advocate establishing an appointments commission which would recommend candidates to the Torontian Attorney-General or Justice Minister for judicial selection. Under my model, the commission would provide a shortlist of possible appointees to the Executive which it must select from, though other possibilities exist whereby the commission itself could decide who is appointed.

The advantages of a commission system are many. Firstly, the commission and its activities are publically visible, enhancing credibility and transparency. Public confidence in the quality of judicial appointees is therefore enhanced, as the establishment of such a commission fosters judicial independence by providing a buffer between the senior Executive and the judiciary (thus preserving the doctrine of separation of powers). The public is protected against political appointments by the existence of an independent commission which makes decisions based on merits, not partisan issues or ideology.’

Lady Heather Gilda paused only to take a brief sip of water before continuing. ‘My system ensures a stronger scrutiny of judicial candidates and their backgrounds. Of course, the real problem is not the system itself – the principle of it is admirable. The obvious difficulty is determening the composition of the commission.

It would not serve much use to have an independent commission appointed by the President, for example,’ explained the Grand Cardinal, chuckling to herself.

‘I propose that the membership of the commission consist of seven individuals. Three are to be judges of the superior Court of Torontia (elected by the other judges), two are to be lawyers (elected by the Torontian bar association) and two are to be Parliamentarians (elected by the federal Torontian parliament). I further suggest that the members of the commission be appointed for a period of six years and that at least half be women, in the interest of promoting a more diverse bench.’

Her proposal for appointing judges to the Torontian Courts submitted to the conference, the Foreign Minister leant back comfortably into her high-backed chair, awaiting the inevitable response. Lady Gilda sighed inwardly, debate over possible changes to the judical appointment process were ever present in Holy Xirnium and the subject of innumerable law review committee reports. If consensus is ever out of reach on this subject in the Eternal Republic, what hope is there for reaching one in Torontia?

‘So what do you think, Mr Ho, are your fears now allayed?’ asked Heather Gilda, smiling to mask her own misgivings.

Ho half-chuckled once more...but slightly softer. He had detected the Grand Cardinal's misgiving, but the chuckle wasn't so insulting enough as to send their Machiavellian wrath on him. Behind the narcissistic ambassador, there would be his aides either shaking their heads or rolling their eyes. The aides that shoke their heads didn't even look up - they loathed to give him a small molecule of respect by looking at him straight in the eye at all or look at what he was doing. Even the bodyguards seemed to half twitch for a nanosecond.

"Ah...dear Doctor, this reminds me...he has a message he personally wrote for you. That self-righteous sycophant of a leader...you know his name all too well, and it should be cemented in your head if you've seen the Wachowski brothers' most famous film, all ruined due to profit gone to their heads. He and I can't along - when was the first encounter I've had with him - ah yes, in Year 9....back in 2004. He hoped that the most of the class would forget him because of he is strong-minded, and has a knack for criticism. He hoped that drinking wine would help him stand me in one of our little meetings that 'sometimes' go wrong - it backfired, the fool shouldn't have done that because he hardly drinks alcohol. Anyhow, that's beside the point of this convention - to help the Torontian people develop self confidence in themselves and assisting the drafting of constitution to distance them from Dictator Tanakis' totalitarian reign, back to that shall we?"

"I'll give his message to you later. You have interpreted my statement mostly correct. When the Justices set their own political agendas, and they are for life - is bad enough, let alone their nation wield major influence on a global scale. I agree with your concept on nominating Justices and the Westminster parliamentary system - one of the few things Neo and I agree on is our stances on the Bush family and the American governmental system. It should work, if all goes according to the plan and social factors in Torontia won't get in the way....which I hope won't."

Brovan kept sitting, this wasn't his time, he wasn't good at setting up this part, but listening in he snapped out of another one of his dazes. Interesting this Mr.Ho.

‘Perhaps it would now be the correct time to address the last remaining branch of government, the judicature,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda.

Clo’e sighed. “Well, we would prefer to finish up on the articles pertaining to secularism and the protection of the democratic system, but we can finish those up later.” Why must they constantly change the subject!

Clo’e paused. “I would like to point out that the exact structure of each of the Regional Judiciaries shall be determined in the drafting of the drafting of each of the Regional Constitutions…unless the National Constitution mandates some form of judicial structure…"

"Dr. Gilda, I must respectfully disagree with that. The Founding Fathers of the United States of America, had never intended their nation to become a global power. Not saying that George Washington, the most well known of them all, knew what was coming in the future when he warned about America intervening in foreign issues…"

"Ah...dear Doctor, this reminds me...he has a message he personally wrote for you. That self-righteous sycophant of a leader...you know his name all too well, and it should be cemented in your head if you've seen the Wachowski brothers' most famous film, all ruined due to profit gone to their heads. He and I can't along - when was the first encounter I've had with him - ah yes, in Year 9....back in 2004. He hoped that the most of the class would forget him because of he is strong-minded, and has a knack for criticism. He hoped that drinking wine would help him stand me in one of our little meetings that 'sometimes' go wrong - it backfired, the fool shouldn't have done that because he hardly drinks alcohol. Anyhow, that's beside the point of this convention…”

The Amestrian delegation listened politely to the pointless and utterly inane ramblings of Mr. Ho.

“Ok, cela était aléatoire.*” Sara Liscel remarked out loud, expressing the feelings of her entire delegation.

We suggest that the judicial power of the Torontian federation be vested in a federal supreme Court (which shall be the final appellate Court in addition to having original jurisdiction in all Constitutional matters) and in such other federal and state courts as are created.

“A sole Cour Suprême is too simplistic. I propose the Amestrian system of Six High Courts. There would be a Supreme Criminal Court, a Supreme Civil Court, a Supreme Corruption Court, a Supreme Trade Court, a Supreme Immigration Court, and a Supreme Constitutional Court. The Supreme Criminal Court shall have final jurisdiction concerning all purely criminal matters (procedural review, review of convictions, appeals, est.) excepting immigration and corruption. The Supreme Civil Court shall concern itself with all Civil differences and controversies (lawsuits and contracts). The Supreme Corruption Court shall have final jurisdiction over all cases concerning government or judicial corruption. The Supreme Trade Court shall concern itself with all disputes concerning the regulation of commerce, domestic and foreign, by the National and Regional Governments. The Supreme Immigration Court shall concern itself with all cases pertaining to Immigration. The Supreme Constitutional Court shall have final authority on the Constitutionality of the Governments laws and actions. The Constitutional Court’s powers shall include the power to review the Constitutionality of proposed laws submitted to it by the President and to insure that the President’s Emergency Powers are not employed without cause or justification.”

Clo’e paused and stretched her neck. “The Amestrian system is far more efficient then a singular High Court system, allows greater public access in that it would be easier to receive a hearing before one of the relevant six High Courts then before a singular High Courts, and the Amestrian model creates a Judiciary of specific expertise that is ultimately less vulnerable to the sudden reversal of precedent or procedure.”

In regards to the precise nature of the judicial branch of government, I suggest that the doctrine of separation of powers be enforced much more strongly, in the Constitution, in regards to this branch then is the case with the other branches. Keeping in mind the tyranny of the Tanakis era, firmly establishing the independence of the Courts must be considered as one of our primary goals as drafters of the future Torontian Constitution.

By "strict separation of the judicial branch from the other branches of government", I propose that the Courts only be allowed to exercise judicial power, and not executive or legislative power (for example, courts may not review cases on the merits). I further propose that the Courts be the only State institutions permitted to exercise judicial power (for example, statutory review bodies such as tribunals and arbitration commissions which examine cases on the merits should not be permitted to hold people in contempt, which is a judicial power of the Courts).

Furthermore, the judicial system of Torontia must have the powers of judicial review of legislative and executive function, so as to provide a strong check against both of these branches. The Courts should have the power to declare laws repugnant if they conflict with the Constitution and other articles of Higher Law.

I also recommend that the right to trial by jury be enshrined in the Constitution for the trials on indictment of any offence against any law of the Torontian State.

“We propose that Amestrian Civil law serve as a model for the Torontian legal system. The foundations of Amestrian law are the reformed legal code of the Ancien Régime, such as the Charte des Libertés accordées aux sujets** and the Universial Loi Royale du royaume***, the Charte des Libertés accordées au citoyen**** of the First Republic, the…law code of Führer Adrien Bradley…”

“Führer Roi Adrien Bradley, Führer des Militärs, Roi de Amestria, Tête du Conseil de l'état, and Ministre Principal.*****” Liscel interuppted, somewhat iritated.

“Naturellement,” Clo’e replied tersly. “The Law Code of Leader King Adrien Bradley, called the Bradlian Code for short, all of which were written into the Constitutions of the Second, Third, and Fourth Republics (the current Republican Government within Amestria being the Fourth Republic).”

“Our delegation feels that it would be best if the Torontian National Courts were organized along the lines of the Amestrian Inquisitional System.

“The main feature of the Amestria inquisitorial system in criminal justice is the function of the ''juge d'instruction''. The ''juge d'instruction'' is a judge who conducts the investigations in the case of severe crimes or complex enquiries. Contrary to the prosecution, which is, in final, supervised by the Minister of Justice, the ''juge d'instruction'', as a judge, is independent of the powers that be.”

“The judge hears witnesses and suspects and orders search warrants or other investigations. The goal of the ''juge d'instruction'' is ''not'' the prosecution of a certain person, but the finding of truth, and as such his duty is to look both for incriminating and exculpating evidence (''à charge et à décharge''). Both the prosecution and the defense may request actions from the judge, and may appeal the judge's decisions before the court of appeal. The scope of the enquiry is limited by the mandate given by the prosecutor's office: the ''juge d'instruction'' cannot start to investigate crimes on his own accord.”

“The ''juge d'instruction'' can, with the approval of two fellow justices of equal rank, order remand (that is, imprisonment pending trial) for defendants. This power is subject to appeal.”

“''Juges d'instructions'' are used only for the most severe crimes such as murder, rape, etc., and moderately serious crimes such as embezzlement, misuse of public funds, corruption , etc. when the case has a certain complexity (in the case of corruption, it is handled by the special corruption courts).

“If the ''juge d'instruction'' decides there is a valid case against a certain suspect, he defers the suspect to a tribunal or court, where the proceedings oppose the prosecution and the defense. The ''juge d'instruction'' does not sit in the court that tries the case and is in fact prohibited from sitting on future cases involving the same defendant. The court is composed of three to five Justices, who after hearing the evidence put forth by both sides, deliberate (a unanoumous decision being necessary to convict the accused) and render their verdict. The verdicts would be either guilty, not guilty for lack of a crime, not guilty due to lack of evidence, or not guilty due to lack of jurisdiction. Such as system in our opinion is immensially superior to the adversial system’s trial by jury and its insufferable and dangerous vulnrability to popular whims, which only serve to diminish the integrity and independence of the Courts.”

In order to further emphasize the independence of the judiciary, I suggest that all appointments of justices be made for life.’

“I agree fully with your proposal Lady Gilda. A Justice who is secure in his position will not be afraid to go against the powers that be, whether they are the other branches of the Government or the concentrated feels of the populace.”

‘What procedure do I recommend, then?’ asked the Grand Cardinal rhetorically, assuming a didactic tone. ‘Basically, I advocate establishing an appointments commission which would recommend candidates to the Torontian Attorney-General or Justice Minister for judicial selection. Under my model, the commission would provide a shortlist of possible appointees to the Executive which it must select from, though other possibilities exist whereby the commission itself could decide who is appointed.

The advantages of a commission system are many. Firstly, the commission and its activities are publically visible, enhancing credibility and transparency. Public confidence in the quality of judicial appointees is therefore enhanced, as the establishment of such a commission fosters judicial independence by providing a buffer between the senior Executive and the judiciary (thus preserving the doctrine of separation of powers). The public is protected against political appointments by the existence of an independent commission which makes decisions based on merits, not partisan issues or ideology.’

Lady Heather Gilda paused only to take a brief sip of water before continuing. ‘My system ensures a stronger scrutiny of judicial candidates and their backgrounds. Of course, the real problem is not the system itself – the principle of it is admirable. The obvious difficulty is determening the composition of the commission.

It would not serve much use to have an independent commission appointed by the President, for example,’ explained the Grand Cardinal, chuckling to herself.

‘I propose that the membership of the commission consist of seven individuals. Three are to be judges of the superior Court of Torontia (elected by the other judges), two are to be lawyers (elected by the Torontian bar association) and two are to be Parliamentarians (elected by the federal Torontian parliament).

Clo’e spoke. “I also suggest elements of the Amestrian System for Judicial appointments. In Amestria for a judge to be appointed to a High Court that appointee must receive the approval from a majority of the Justices on the Court. All appointments to the lower courts must be reviewed and approved by a Judicial Council made up of select senior members of the Appellate Courts and the High Courts. This system, based off Regle par des Experts, further enhances judicial independence.”

I further suggest that the members of the commission be appointed for a period of six years and that at least half be women, in the interest of promoting a more diverse bench.’

“And I would further suggest that, as in Amestria, the new Constitution require that half the judicial appointments be women, that half the Parliament be women and that half of the Cabinet be women.” Sara interjected.

(*OOC: “Ok, that was random.”)

(**OOC: Charter of the Freedoms granted to the subjects)

(***OOC: Universial Royal Law of the kingdom)

(****OOC: Charter of the Freedoms granted to the citizen)

(*****OOC: “Leader King Adrien Bradley, Leader of the Military, King of Amestria, Head of the Council of State, and Principal Minister.”)

"Ah...dear Doctor, this reminds me...he has a message he personally wrote for you. That self-righteous sycophant of a leader...you know his name all too well, and it should be cemented in your head if you've seen the Wachowski brothers' most famous film, all ruined due to profit gone to their heads. He and I can't along - when was the first encounter I've had with him - ah yes, in Year 9....back in 2004. He hoped that the most of the class would forget him because of he is strong-minded, and has a knack for criticism. He hoped that drinking wine would help him stand me in one of our little meetings that 'sometimes' go wrong - it backfired, the fool shouldn't have done that because he hardly drinks alcohol. Anyhow, that's beside the point of this convention - to help the Torontian people develop self confidence in themselves and assisting the drafting of constitution to distance them from Dictator Tanakis' totalitarian reign, back to that shall we?"

"I'll give his message to you later. You have interpreted my statement mostly correct. When the Justices set their own political agendas, and they are for life - is bad enough, let alone their nation wield major influence on a global scale. I agree with your concept on nominating Justices and the Westminster parliamentary system - one of the few things Neo and I agree on is our stances on the Bush family and the American governmental system. It should work, if all goes according to the plan and social factors in Torontia won't get in the way....which I hope won't."
What a curious creature, this Mr Ho, thought the Foreign Minister wryly.

‘I’m glad that you agree with both my concept for appointing judges to the Torontian Courts and the Westminster parliamentary system that the Xirniumite delegation has advocated,’ explained the Foreign Minister with a polite smile. ‘Perhaps you will also agree with our concepts for a strong judicial arm which defends the rule of law, which we have yet to elaborate on.’

“Well, we would prefer to finish up the on the articles pertaining to secularism and the protection of the democratic system, but we can finish those up later.”
‘In the opinion of the Xirniumite delegation, the issue of how to create a secular government has been concluded,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister simply.

The Supreme Criminal Court shall have final jurisdiction concerning all purely criminal matters (procedural review, review of convictions, appeals, est.) excepting immigration and corruption.
‘In our opinion, this is completely unacceptable,’ explained Lady Heather Gilda, shaking her head. ‘There must be one single Court,’ the Grand Cardinal opined, raising her index finger, ‘of last resort from which no further appeals are possible.

Furthermore, the doctrine of stare decisis should apply to the Torontian legal system so that the ratio decidendi (the judge’s decision on the material facts) of the rulings of this single supreme Court constitute binding precedent on all lower Courts. Naturally, this suggests that each Court should be bound by the decisions of Courts higher in its hierarchy.’

‘The reasons for applying a strict doctrine of precedent to the Torontian judicial system are obvious,’ continued the Foreign Minister, taking a short sip of water. ‘Under the concept of jurisprudence constante, four essential attributes of law should be certainty, equality, efficiency and the appearance of justice (it is certainly not enough that justice be merely done, justice must also be seen to be done).

Stare decisis promotes certainty because the law is then able to furnish a clear guide for the conduct of individuals. Citizens are able to arrange their affairs with confidence knowing that the law that will be applied to them in the future will be the same as is currently applied. The doctrine achieves equality by treating like cases alike. Stare decisis promotes efficiency. Once a court has determined an issue, subsequent courts need not expend the time and resources to reconsider it. Finally, stare decisis promotes the appearance of justice by creating impartial rules of law not dependent upon the personal views or biases of a particular judge. It achieves this result by impersonal and reasoned arguments.’

The Supreme Corruption Court shall have final jurisdiction over all cases concerning government or judicial corruption.
‘For what reasons could these cases not be heard in a criminal Court or, at most, a specialist division of the criminal Court?’ asked Lady Eleanor Sabelina, a puzzled look on her face.

allows greater public access in that it would be easier to receive a hearing before one of the relevant six High Courts then before a singular High Courts
‘I do not see, Deputy Minister, why having a final appellate Court would make it more difficult to have one’s case heard,’ replied Eleanor Sabelina. ‘The cases would be first heard in the various lower Courts which have original jurisdiction over the matters.’

the Amestrian model creates a Judiciary of specific expertise that is ultimately less vulnerable to the sudden reversal of precedent or procedure.”
‘The branched Amestrian system appears to create a situation where determining the correct precedents to apply would be very confusing due to the multiple supreme Courts that exist. Is a contract law decision made in the “Trade Court” binding in the “Civil Court”? Assuming cases indistinguishable on the facts, it should be. Yet I am not sure that this would be the case,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minist

‘In order to ensure that this doesn’t occur I suggest a much more hierarchical system, based on one of the Xirniumite models that we have prepared. Specialist areas need not have completely new Courts created for them. If there is a real need divisions can be created within the Courts to accomodate such specialist fields or, at most, tribunals could be set up by the legislatures for them.’

“We propose that Amestrian Civil law serve as a model for the Torontian legal system. The foundations of Amestrian law are the reformed legal code of the Ancien Régime, such as the Charte des Libertés accordées aux sujets** and the Universial Loi Royale du royaume***, the Charte des Libertés accordées au citoyen**** of the First Republic, the…law code of Führer Adrien Bradley…”
‘I see no compelling reason for why Amestrian law codes should serve as a model for the Torontian legal system,’ explained the Foreign Minister. ‘We may as well argue that the Xirniumite Common Law be implemented in Torontia, or Yallakian Imperial Law, or French Civil Law, or any other number of nations' legal systems.’

“Our delegation feels that it would be best if the Torontian National Courts were organized along the lines of the Amestrian Inquisitional System.
‘Our delegation disagrees,’ apologised the Foreign Minister with a smile. ‘The adversarial method would be more appropriate for the vast majority of criminal and civil law cases. Statutory tribunals can be established by the various legislatures for specific instances where the inquisitorial approach might be useful (for instance, I suggest that the establishment of an inquisitorial tribunal might be beneficial to hear appeals against the administrative decisions of the federal government), though there must always be the possibility for an appeal to a Court where the more conventional adversarial method is utilised.

One of the benefits of the adversarial system, which is a peculiarity of Courts that follow the common law system of procedure, is that it reduces the element of bias in the decision maker. In an adversarial process such a person may make up his or her mind later and on fuller evidence than he or she would in an inquisitorial process. Another advantage is that it may lead the lawyer for a party with a weaker factual case to put forward a fuller version of the facts than he or she would in an inquisitorial context.

There is another, more profound advantage. Research shows that the adversarial process is more acceptable to the parties than the inquisitorial process. Furthermore, this has been found to be true for both individuals brought up in the adversarial process and in the inquisitorial process. The common view is that “everyone is given their day in Court”.

Remember, not only must justice be done, it must be seen to be done,’ added Lady Heather Gilda.

The adversarial method is one that gives the parties and their lawyers a great deal of control over the way in which facts are collected and presented. The role of the judge is limited to umpire and adjudicator, and does not encompass fact-finder. Since the judge is not involved in actively questioning witnesses or finding evidence, his or her impartiality is not doubted in the way that an inquisitorial judge’s may be.’

not guilty for lack of a crime, not guilty due to lack of evidence, or not guilty due to lack of jurisdiction.
‘What point is there to these distinctions?’ asked Lady Sabelina. ‘A person is either guilty or he or she is not guilty.’

Such as system in our opinion is immensially superior to the adversial system’s trial by jury and its insufferable and dangerous vulnrability to popular whims, which only serve to diminish the integrity and independence of the Courts.”
‘We disagree completely, Ms Me'rode,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister after careful discussion with her aides. ‘The use of a jury to make determinations on matters of fact is extremely important. It provides a significant check against state power, by ensuring that the defendant is provided a fairer, more sympathetic hearing. Considering the past history of Torontia, where the defenceless citizens were left at the mercy of a draconian state, I am sure you will agree with me that ensuring that the government is not overly powerful is a most worthy goal.

Juries enjoy public confidence, and inspire trust in the judicial system. The determining of matters of fact by laymen improves the perceived integrity and independence of the Courts, and ensures that justice is seen to be done. Transparency is enhanced, and the judicial system acquires much needed credibility, where once it was seen as little more then a tool of the Tanakis regime.’

In Amestria for a judge to be appointed to a High Court that appointee must receive the approval from a majority of the Justices on the Court. All appointments to the lower courts must be reviewed and approved by a Judicial Counsel made up of select senior members of the Appellate Courts and the High Courts. This system, based off Regle par des Experts, further enhances judicial independence.”
‘I am afraid we must, once again disagree,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister, smiling. ‘Such a procedure would ensure uniformity and conservatism in Torontia’s judicature, rather then diversity (which should be our true goal).’

“And I would further suggest that, as in Amestria, the new Constitution require that half the judicial appointments be women, that half the Parliament be women and that half of the Cabinet be women.” Sara interjected.
The Foreign Minister narrowed her eyes sceptically at this proposal. ‘The members of the Torontian parliaments are voted by the people and those of Cabinet are appointed by the Prime Minister on the confidence of the legislature. A Constitutional quota system is completely inappropriate for the former and perhaps also for the latter,’ Lady Heather Gilda stated flatly. 'We therefore diasagree with your suggestion.'

‘It is at this juncture that I propose a brief intermission, perhaps of half an hour, after which the Constitutional Convention can reconvene and continue our discussion of Torontia’s judiciary. The Xirniumite delegation will present its model for Torontia’s Court system at that time.’

General Levitt rolled her eyes at the discussions about the Torontian Constitution. The Kahanistanian Constitution was far simpler, provided a wide range of human rights, and had worked for over a century.

She knew nothing about the Westminster system or the French-sounding terminology the Amestrian kept referring to. Regle par des Experts... On the Amestrians and their Lies said it was a system of ensuring the nobility kept power regardless of how incompetent they were... That book is propagandistic, but it must have a kernel of truth, it did sell over forty billion copies and translate into seventy languages.

Kahanistan did just fine without quotas for elected or appointed officials. 32% of the Supreme Soviet were women, and the feminists weren't exactly clamoring for that to be closer to 50%. They voted for female candidates, but if a male candidate had the qualifications, he would be voted in just as easily. Three women and four men had run for President in the last election, but the vote seemed to have been divided more on age than gender. General Valens, the oldest of the candidates at 70, had won that election and would be sworn in as President in a few days.

The Amestrian lady had thought that by making that remark in her own native language, she could get away with it. She was wrong - Ho, while he didn't understand the Amestrian language, knew French - and that was what the Amestrian language had features from. He frowned briefly, and decided to let it pass as not to worsen the opinion of the Amestrian State on Southeast Asia, as he had been told by the Prime Minister himself along with various other cabinet members that they could sense an aura of dislike from the Amestrian government.

He decided to watch on Dr. Gilda and her conversation with Ms Clo’e. Knowing all too well the political mastery of the High Ecclessiarchy, he decided it would be best that the Xirniumites, for his own public character's safety and his nation's reputation, to keep waging their war against the Amestrians.

The Foreign Minister frowned, and briefly reconsidered her previous statement before anyone could respond. ‘Actually, before we do contemplate having a break, perhaps I should present the Xirniumite delegation’s model for the future Court system of Torontia,’ clarified Lady Heather Gilda, amending her previous position. ‘If you will all wait a moment, my aides will pass about simplified diagrams which indicate our proposal for a Torontian Court hierarchy.’

The following information was indicated on the pieces of paper which were handed out to the members of the Constitutional Convention:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/state.jpg
‘I believe that the diagrams are fairly self-explanatory, however I will elaborate briefly on them for greater clarity,’ explained Lady Gilda.

Adjusting her reading glasses, Lady Heather Gilda examined one of the charts near her. ‘Under our model, the Supreme Court of Torontia will be given general appellate jurisdiction, in addition to original jurisdiction in regards to constitutional cases,’ the Foreign Minister explained helpfully. ‘The appeals division will consist of no less then seven justices. Furthermore, I should add that litigants will not have an automatic right of appeal to the federal supreme Court (unless it is of a matter which falls within its original jurisdiction) and will instead require the Court's leave to appeal.

The Federal Court,’ Heather Gilda continued, moving down the chart, ‘will constitute either a single judge (when exercising its original jurisdiction – that is, criminal or civil matters of a federal nature) or a “full Court” of no less then three judges (when exercising its appellate jurisdiction - either from its civil and criminal divisions, or from the state supreme Courts). The right to appeal to the Federal Court’s appeal division will be absolute. Finally, the criminal division of this Court will be tasked with hearing serious indictable criminal offences including murder.

The federal Criminal Court will be the intermediate and primary criminal court of first instance, hearing the vast majority of all indictable criminal offences.

The Federal Magistrates Court will be deal with summary offences (or indictable offences triable summarily).

The superior Courts of the states will function with some appellate jurisdiction and state civil jurisdiction. The State Supreme Courts will generally hear matters with financial value above US$80 000.

The County Courts of the states will function as intermediate courts with original civil jurisdiction.

Finally, District Judges of the Magistrates’ Courts will be tasked with dealing with minor civil and purely local criminal matters within a specified geographic area. Small or trivial civil matters will be dealt with in the Petty Sessions division.

In addition to the Courts, each jurisdiction will likely have a plethora of specialist statutory tribunals, to be created by the state or federal legislatures.’

Having finished describing the chart Lady Heather Gilda looked up from her diagram. ‘Are there any questions? If not, I will leave you all to ponder our proposal.’

Josh Ward sat on the far side of the table from everyone else, minus the TLP representative. He hadn't had much reason to speak, he'd covered all of his feelings exactly. Both of them had been fairly quiet, because most of what was being addressed wasn't of their concern. All they cared about was making sure that no one person could take total control, and that no area of the nation was separated to the point that civil war was likely.

Ward began to speak.

"I think we're looking at this the wrong way. So far we're all planning on the President getting too much power and falling victim to a reincarnation of Tanakis. Has anyone ever thought about a radical ORGANIZATION taking control in much the same way that Tanakis did? It's entierly possible, and if we take away the President's veto it'll be hard to deal with legally. So far the smartest thing to come out of this whole convention is the agreement to separate church and state."

He took a sip of water.

"I also agree with the Xirnium delegations' suggestion for the judiciary. I think a major thing that should be incorporated, however, is that there is a well laid out system of REMOVING a judge from office. My suggestion is that the judge itself is slated a lifetime office; but if a President determines that judge to be too biased or not fit for office he can recommend them to the legislative branch for a 'vote of sanity.' It's simple, it's another check and balance, and it locks up the other branch of government from being taken over."

‘In the opinion of the Xirniumite delegation, the issue of how to create a secular government has been concluded,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister simply.

“In the opinions of the Amestrian and TPG delegations the issue has not yet been concluded and we shall return to it later,” Clo’e stated bluntly.

‘For what reasons could these cases not be heard in a criminal Court or, at most, a specialist division of the criminal Court?’ asked Lady Eleanor Sabelina, a puzzled look on her face.

“Corruption is a special matter as it exclusively involves those in the State’s power structure. Corruption is also one of the most invasive of crimes (it creates a parallel system within the State apparatus) and the most difficult to prove (as those in the power structure can use their positions to protect themselves). Corruption is best fought by maintaining institutions constructed exclusively for the countering of corrupt activities.”

‘The branched Amestrian system appears to create a situation where determining the correct precedents to apply would be very confusing due to the multiple supreme Courts that exist. Is a contract law decision made in the “Trade Court” binding in the “Civil Court”? Assuming cases indistinguishable on the facts, it should be. Yet I am not sure that this would be the case,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister.

‘In order to ensure that this doesn’t occur I suggest a much more hierarchical system, based on one of the Xirniumite models that we have prepared. Specialist areas need not have completely new Courts created for them. If there is a real need divisions can be created within the Courts to accommodate such specialist fields or, at most, tribunals could be set up by the legislatures for them.’

“You once again have completely misunderstood what I said” Clo’e explained. “The Supreme Trade Court would deal with matters of economic regulation and international commerce. The Supreme Civil Court would be the final authority on contract law and civil controversies. As each Supreme Court has a specific jurisdiction, a civil matter would never appear before the Trade Court and vice a versa. For example, a decision made in the Trade or Criminal Court would not affect the Civil Court because the Civil Court would not have the jurisdiction to hear or decide matters pertaining to economic regulation, international trade, or criminal law (in other words, something under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Trade Court would not come before the Civil Court). In addition, each High Court would have a separate chain of lower courts under it; there would be no ambiguities of jurisdiction. The Supreme Constitutional Court would resolve any jurisdictional conflict in the unlikely event that such conflict occurs. I therefore fail to see how determining the correct precedents would be ‘confusing’.”

‘The adversarial method would be more appropriate for the vast majority of criminal and civil law cases.’

“No.”

”One of the benefits of the adversarial system, which is a peculiarity of Courts that follow the common law system of procedure, is that it reduces the element of bias in the decision maker. In an adversarial process such a person may make up his or her mind later and on fuller evidence than he or she would in an inquisitorial process.”

“You have no knowledge of the workings of the inquisitional system and are just making up reasons to attack it. The inquisitorial system only comes to a decision once all the evidence has been collected and thoroughly examined by the court. The adversarial system allows only the evidence submitted by the parties to be considered.”

Another advantage is that it may lead the lawyer for a party with a weaker factual case to put forward a fuller version of the facts than he or she would in an inquisitorial context.

“‘It may lead the lawyer for a party with a weaker factual case to put forward a fuller version of the facts’? You are certainly aware that that makes no sense what so ever. A lawyer with a weaker factual case will seek to distort and hide the truth. That is the primary product of the adversarial system, lies. The inquisitional system seeks the truth above all else and does not depend on the tainted motivations of the parties before it in the collection and assessment of evidence.”

There is another, more profound advantage. Research shows that the adversarial process is more acceptable to the parties than the inquisitorial process. Furthermore, this has been found to be true for both individuals brought up in the adversarial process and in the inquisitorial process. The common view is that “everyone is given their day in Court”.

“I would like to see this alleged research.” Clo’e replied.

The adversarial method is one that gives the parties and their lawyers a great deal of control over the way in which facts are collected and presented.

Clo’e was indignant “Yes, the adversarial system is one that gives the parties and their lawyers a great deal of control over the way in which evidence is collected and presented, all to the advantage of the wealthy and influential and at the expense of the truth.”

The role of the judge is limited to umpire and adjudicator, and does not encompass fact-finder. Since the judge is not involved in actively questioning witnesses or finding evidence, his or her impartiality is not doubted in the way that an inquisitorial judge’s may be.’

“The Juge d'instructions is involved in pertaining whether there is enough evidence for a criminal case to be brought to trial. To restate what I said from the transcript” Clo’e took the transcript from an aide and began to read from it.

“The main feature of the Amestria inquisitorial system in criminal justice is the function of the ''juge d'instruction''. The ''juge d'instruction'' is a judge who conducts the investigations in the case of severe crimes or complex enquiries. Contrary to the prosecution, which is, in final, supervised by the Minister of Justice, the ''juge d'instruction'', as a judge, is independent of the powers that be.”

“The judge hears witnesses and suspects and orders search warrants or other investigations. The goal of the ''juge d'instruction'' is ''not'' the prosecution of a certain person, but the finding of truth, and as such his duty is to look both for incriminating and exculpating evidence (''à charge et à décharge''). Both the prosecution and the defense may request actions from the judge, and may appeal the judge's decisions before the court of appeal. The scope of the enquiry is limited by the mandate given by the prosecutor's office: the ''juge d'instruction'' cannot start to investigate crimes on his own accord.”

“The ''juge d'instruction'' can, with the approval of two fellow justices of equal rank, order remand (that is, imprisonment pending trial) for defendants. This power is subject to appeal.”

“''Juges d'instructions'' are used only for the most severe crimes such as murder, rape, etc., and moderately serious crimes such as embezzlement, misuse of public funds, corruption , etc. when the case has a certain complexity (in the case of corruption, it is handled by the special corruption courts).

“If the ''juge d'instruction'' decides there is a valid case against a certain suspect, he defers the suspect to a tribunal or court, where the proceedings oppose the prosecution and the defense. The ''juge d'instruction'' does not sit in the court that tries the case and is in fact prohibited from sitting on future cases involving the same defendant.

‘What point is there to these distinctions?’ asked Lady Sabelina. ‘A person is either guilty or he or she is not guilty.’

“Such thought is the product of an overly simplistic legal system” Clo’e replied.

The Foreign Minister narrowed her eyes sceptically at this proposal. ‘The members of the Torontian parliaments are voted by the people and those of Cabinet are appointed by the Prime Minister on the confidence of the legislature. A Constitutional quota system is completely inappropriate for the former and perhaps also for the latter,’ Lady Heather Gilda stated flatly. 'We therefore disagree with your suggestion.'

Vice Minister Liscel leaned forward, meeting Heather’s gaze. “Women make up over 51% of Torontia’s population and you oppose safeguards providing equal representation while at the same time asserting that the Constitutions referendum requires mandatory participation to satisfy your vague ideological notions of ‘popular sovereignty.’” Sara flicked her wrist and pointed an accusing index finger directly at the Foreign Minister. “The problem with you Xirniumites is that you place ideals above the reality, legalistic philosophy above the physical actuality, democracy before equality, good government, and the protection of previously victimized members of society.”

“The women of Torontia have suffered greatly under the New Order regimes,” added Mitsune. “For example, Kaufman and Tanakis both felt it necessary to ban equal pay for women. It was mandated by law that women in New Order Torontia be paid significantly less then men for the same amount of work… New Order Torontia also had no government mandated benefits, no minimum wage, and sweet shops were legal, if not encouraged, so women who remained in the workforce more often then not became menial slaves. In the school’s it was taught that women were inferior to men (Social Darwinism and Original Sin) and that ‘wives should obey the commands of their husbands.’ Torontia was a Kraven Ally after all.” Mitsune fixed Gilda with a glare. “Of course you Lady Gilda would have very little appreciation for the plight of Torontia’s women as you have lived your entire life across the ocean in safe Liberal Xirnium, where women’s rights are as secure as can be and where you have never had to make use of a coat hanger or silently prey that the morality police would not find your black market birth control pills!”

(OOC Note: Mitsune is not exaggerating.)

Liscel continued once Mitsune had finished. “It is fairly ignorant given Torontia’s history to flatly label equal demographic representation an ‘inappropriate quota system’ and to just assume that a vulnerable and victimized group can just shrug off the past, stand up, and become free. Torontia’s women have become too much like Eve, always lying on their backs underneath Adam. Torontia’s women must be taught to become like Lilith and demand the top position from time to time. I would further point out that there have been many instances in the past what you call ‘quota systems’ have been written into Constitutions. Such as in old post apartheid South Africa (ethnic quotas) and old post Taliban Afghanistan (a minimum number of seats in the Parliament that must be held by women). There are also many such clauses written into the Constitutions of modern States for the purposes of achieving demographic equality in the composition of the States leading institutions (such as in Amestria).”

“It is easy to declare liberty in theory but difficult to secure it in practice” Mitsune interjected. “The best way to secure women’s rights in Torontia is through equal representation in all three branches of the National Government.”

“This is non-negotiable,” Sara commented. Clo’e and Mitsune nodded.

-snip-

Clo’e had an aide pass a document to each of the delegates. “The Amestrian and TPG delegations have their own proposal for the structure of Torontia’s Judicial System,” she explained.

The Amestrian Proposal

Constitutional Court System
The Supreme Constitutional Court
National Appellate Constitutional Courts
Regional Supreme Constitutional Courts*
Regional Appellate Constitutional Courts*

Criminal Court System
The Supreme Criminal Court
National Appellate Criminal Courts
Regional Supreme Criminal Courts*
Regional Appellate Criminal Courts*
Regional Criminal Courts*

Civil Court System
The Supreme Civil Court
National Appellate Civil Courts
National Civil Courts
Regional Supreme Civil Courts*
Regional Appellate Civil Courts*
Regional Civil Courts*

Corruption Court System
The Supreme Corruption Court
Appellate Corruption Courts
Corruption Courts

Trade Court System
The Supreme Trade Court
National Appellate Trade Courts
National Trade Courts
Regional Supreme Trade Court*
Regional Appellate Trade Courts*
Regional Trade Courts*

Immigration Court System
The Supreme Immigration Court
Appellate Immigration Courts
Immigration Courts

*Regional Courts, the structure of which would be determined by the Regions

The State Supreme Courts will generally hear matters with financial value above US$80 000.

“Should not the Regions themselves decide what their courts can and cannot hear in regards to the financial value of the controversy?” asked the Deputy Minister.

"I also agree with the Xirnium delegations' suggestion for the judiciary. I think a major thing that should be incorporated, however, is that there is a well laid out system of REMOVING a judge from office. My suggestion is that the judge itself is slated a lifetime office; but if a President determines that judge to be too biased or not fit for office he can recommend them to the legislative branch for a 'vote of sanity.' It's simple, it's another check and balance, and it locks up the other branch of government from being taken over."

“Mr. Ward such a system will only result in a judiciary at the mercy of the whims of the President and Parliament,” Clo’e opinioned. “The question of a sitting justice’s mental competence is best handled within the judicial system, not by the other branches.”

Major Abrams spoke up. "The judiciary can determine actions of the President and Legislature to be repugnant to higher law, and is the final arbiter in how law is to be interpreted. The Legislature can oppose a President who wishes to consolidate power, and the executive can veto or refuse to sign a law passed by the Legislature. But what checks exist on the power of the judiciary? It seems to me that the court system is the only branch of government NOT to have checks and balances in the Amestrian system."

Major Abrams spoke up. "The judiciary can determine actions of the President and Legislature to be repugnant to higher law, and is the final arbiter in how law is to be interpreted. The Legislature can oppose a President who wishes to consolidate power, and the executive can veto or refuse to sign a law passed by the Legislature. But what checks exist on the power of the judiciary? It seems to me that the court system is the only branch of government NOT to have checks and balances in the Amestrian system."

“The Legislature makes the law (provided their actions are not unconstitutional), something that the courts cannot do,” answered Clo'e de Me'rode. “In addition the Amestrian System provides a significant institutional check in the form of six separate specialist court systems. A decision made by the Supreme Immigration Court for example only establishes a binding precedent concerning immigration matters, the Immigration Courts are separate from the Criminal Courts, the Civil Courts, the Trade Courts, and so on.”

“Of course you Lady Gilda would have very little appreciation for the plight of Torontia’s women as you have lived your entire life across the ocean in safe Liberal Xirnium, where women’s rights are as secure as can be and where you have never had to make use of a coat hanger or silently prey that the morality police would not find your black market birth control pills!”
‘How dare you!’ Lady Gilda demanded, clearly incensed. Her lovely hazel eyes flashed with deadly fury as she stared at the Amestrian and TPG delegations. ‘The Xirniumite government is deeply concerned with the plight of women in Torontia. We are staunchly committed to wiping out gender inequality and vastly improving the rights of all women in the Torontian Republic. I, and the Xirniumite Parliament, are very much aware of the outrages that past Torontian governments have inflicted on women, and the unacceptable societal prejudices that continue to persist in Torontia regarding the place that women should occupy at home and in the community.

That I expressed misgivings about implementing a quota system for the Torontian state and federal legislatures does not mean that I have ignored the victimised citizens of Torontia. It especially does not mean that I am not steadfastly dedicated to improving women’s rights in the Torontian republic!

I insist on an immediate apology.’

‘How dare you!’ Lady Gilda demanded, clearly incensed. Her lovely hazel eyes flashed with deadly fury as she stared at the Amestrian and TPG delegations.

Mitsune’s face formed a wicked little smile as she took pleasure in having embarrassed and successfully baited the Grand Cardinal.

‘That I expressed misgivings about implementing a quota system for the Torontian state and federal legislatures’

“In all due respect Grand Cardinal,” replied Mitsune, “you called our proposal concerning demographic equality and the protection of women’s rights ‘completely inappropriate’, labeled it a ‘quota system’ and stated your outright disagreement. You expressed more then mere ‘misgivings’.”

I insist on an immediate apology.’

“Drop your unreasonable objections to our proposal and you shall receive an apology,” replied Mitsune.

“Drop your unreasonable objections to our proposal and you shall receive an apology,” replied Mitsune.
Lady Eleanor Sabelina laughed cruelly. ‘My dear, I hardly think that the Foreign Minister will retract her objections to your proposal merely because of your amateurish ad hominem attacks.’

Lady Eleanor Sabelina laughed cruelly. ‘My dear, I hardly think that the Foreign Minister will retract her objections to your proposal merely because of your amateurish ad hominem attacks.’

Mitsune shrugged, ignoring Lady Sabelina's remarks. Mitsune continued to focus her attention upon Lady Gilda.

Heather Gilda removed her glasses and carefully placed them on the pile of papers in front of her. Sighing, she folded her arms across her chest and leant back in her seat. The Foreign Minister would stubbornly refuse to move unless she received the basic courtesy and respect that she felt she showed for the other members of the Constitutional Convention.

‘The comments made about me were unacceptable, unhelpful, and hurtful,’ Lady Heather Gilda explained in a carefully moderated voice. ‘I'd like the offensive statements made by Ms Konno and Ms Liscel retracted.’

Ms. Konno again shrugged. "Why should I apologize when you have yet to prove my statements to be in error? To apologize would be to admit I was mistaken and I am not yet convinced I was. When I stated that I believed you to be ignorant and out of touch I was simply being honest. You dismissed our proposal out of hand and continue to do so for no reason that I can ascertain other then petty ideological differences."

Sara looked up from a copy of the transcript. "I for one have nothing to apologize for, my remarks where aimed at Xirniumite legal philosophy as a whole and the Xirniumite position on the issue in question. I did not personally single out the Grand Cardinal."

You dismissed our proposal out of hand and continue to do so for no reason that I can ascertain other then petty ideological differences."

Lady Heather Gilda sighed. For the briefest moment her outward façade fell away and Mitsune glimpsed the Grand Cardinal’s tiredness, but it was quickly replaced with her typical look of steeled determination.

‘I was not dismissing your proposal out of hand…’ she explained reasonably. ‘I was merely stating my position.’

‘I was not dismissing your proposal out of hand…’ she explained reasonably. ‘I was merely stating my position.’

"And your position was no," Mitsune replied. "Not, 'I have some misgivings,' or 'let us discuss this'... No, you voiced clear and uncompromising disagreement."

‘I voiced a clear disagreement, true, but I take offence at being called "uncompromising". Unlike you, or the Amestrians, the Xirniumite delegation has never tried to assert that something is "non-negotiable."’

"Not outright, but your delegation has made its bed rock positions clear on many issues." Mitsune was clearly as frustrated, tired, and determined as Heather.

"Perhaps," voiced Sara in a reasonable tone, "everyone can agree that there was a failure of discourse and return to the facts of the proposal."

‘The insulting charge that I am “ignorant and out of touch,” however was not an example of a “failure of discourse”. I must insist that it be withdrawn,’ explained Lady Gilda for the third time.

Sara glanced expectedly at Mitsune, who in turn quickly placed both her hands on the table. Mitsune then met the Grand Cardinals gaze. "I withdraw my earlier comments which caused offense," she replied flatly.

Kietz was disgusted by the actions of just about everyone in the room.

"Could we please get back on subject?" He said in a loud voice.

"The subject is the future of Torontia and the Torontian people. While you people sit here fighting over who insulted who first, people are out there wondering who is going to rule this country, or if this country even exists! Please put your petty, ignorant, ego-based differences aside and try to do something!"

‘I have not heard you make very many worthwhile contributions to the Constitutional Convention, Colonel, so I strongly suggest that you hold your tongue,’ retorted the deputy Foreign Minister.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, please...’ interjected Lady Gilda firmly, seeking to disarm another disruptive row before it escallated. ‘We’ve debated quite a large number of issues relating to the future governmental system of Torontia, and naturally tempers are a little frayed. Such things are to be expected when so many competing political ideologies are present.

Perhaps we should at this point hold a brief break, so that we can all unwind a little and come back ready once more to work constructively on the Torontian Constitution.’

General Levitt nodded. "I second the motion. We are deciding the fate of millions of people, we should do it with a clear head."

Her aide looked at her. She's one to be talking about a clear head. But he nodded in agreement.

'Perhaps we should at this point hold a brief break, so that we can all unwind a little and come back ready once more to work constructively on the Torontian Constitution.’

Clo'e nodded. I really need to stretch my legs. "I propose an hour break."

Mitsune nodded. I'm too tense, I need to calm down. "I concur."

Sara stood up and stretched. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get out of this forsaken room. While we’re out and about be sure to have the techs pump in some fresh air.”

General Levitt and Major Abrams got up. As there was likely not going to be a Kahanistanian military presence in Torontia for much longer, (in fact, the Military Assistance Command, Torontia had dwindled to 3,000 logistical personnel) General Levitt decided there was no more reason for her to stay. In fact, she figured Liscel wasn't going to expect her to bail so soon, and wouldn't have the assassin ready for her.

"Major, you have Kahanistan's interests," she said to Major Abrams. "My role here is finished."

He knew the General's fears. He watched as she hailed a taxi to an airport in another city, where she could arrange a flight to Kahanistan within hours.

Finally, I can deal with this meeting without minding her.

Ho had enjoyed the Amestrian-Xirniumite conversation. Deep inside, he was, to use the Internet chat slang, ROFLMAO - Rolling On the Floor Laughing My Ass Off. He exited without a word, and waited outside one of the doors that would allow the delegations to exit.

A few of the bodyguards and aides that accompanied him along with the trip went to the bathrooms, while others huddled amongst themselves to walk away and forget about him, perhaps have a drink or two.

Ho slipped the Prime Minister's message out from his coat and flipped it around. The letter packaging was plain and ordinary looking, for had it been official, the general public would be strangling Neo's public character with the same material Adolf Hitler hung his enemies with: piano wire, which was made of copper. As a token of respect to Neo - which was not very often paid by Ambassador Ho - he had not opened it. Let's see how she likes it. wondered the arrogant delegation.

With the Constitutional Convention currently at an interlude, the silence that had previously accompanied the solitary orations of the delegates was replaced with the low droning sound of numerous conversing individuals. Most of the members of the Xirniumite delegation (including the two Parliamentarians) left the cavernous room, the rest conversed quietly amongst each other. Thus far, the symposium had proven fairly successful in the opinion of the Xirniumite politicians.

Heather and Eleanor conversed quietly amongst themselves as they slowly filed out of the room. Pausing briefly outside the large double doors that led to the conference room, Lady Gilda noticed the Party leader of the Torontian Social Democratic League ahead.

‘Ahh, Mr Erthwig,’ the Foreign Minister called out quietly. ‘Please come over here, Lady Sabelina and I have some matters that we wish to discuss with you.’

Once the break had officially begun most of the Amestrian delegation stood up, stretched, and fled the stuffy and increasingly restrictive air of the conference room. One or two stayed and paced around the mostly empty conference room while one aide took a pillow out of his briefcase and proceeded to rest his eyes with a quick nap.

Heather and Eleanor conversed quietly amongst themselves as they slowly filed out of the room. Pausing briefly outside the large double doors that led to the conference room, Lady Gilda noticed the Party leader of the Torontian Social Democratic League ahead.

‘Ahh, Mr Erthwig,’ the Foreign Minister called out quietly. ‘Please come over here, Lady Sabelina and I have some matters that we wish to discuss with you.’

As soon as Mitsune was through the large doors she pulled out a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, and began to light up. Sara and Clo'e followed behind talking.

"Kitsune, when did you start smoking?" Sara asked.

Mitsune inhaled and then exhaled deeply. "The moment the military transport plane carrying me back set itself down in Torontia." she absentmindedly answered

"So, roughly a year ago…?"

Mitsune nodded. "Yeah, although I have managed to limit myself to mostly one a day... I'm planning to quite."

Clo'e glanced at her watch. "I'm going to take a walk in the garden," she announced. "Ms Vice President, Vice Minister Liscel," Clo'e nodded towards the pair as she addressed them, taking her leave.

"Deputy Minister," Sara nodded, showing customary forced difference.

Clo'e walked down the hallway and turned the corner.

‘I must confess that I do not entirely trust this Magnus Erthwig...’ announced Lady Eleanor Sabelina offhandedly in a quiet tone. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she watched the Party leader of the SDLT quickly walk away down the corridor, having finished conversing with the two ladies.

‘Neither do I, Eleanor. Still… he is the leader of one of the mainstream political parties of Torontia, and will therefore likely have some place in the future government of Torontia,’ explained the Foreign Minister.

‘His Party appears to be committed to democratic accountability and the Rule of Law. That much, at least, is encouraging,’ opined Eleanor with a shrug.

The Foreign Minister merely laughed dryly. ‘I strongly doubt that the Torontian “Rule of Law” is anything like the Rule of Law as we know it,’ replied Lady Heather Gilda with sardonic arrogance.

The deputy Foreign Minister shrugged again. Fortunately, that is Torontia’s problem, not ours, she thought grimly. Removing a packet of cigarettes from within the folds of her cloak, Lady Sabelina leant with her back against a nearby wall and began to smoke contentedly.

‘You seem tired, Heather,’ noted Lady Sabelina. ‘Why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air?’ A look of vague concern for her Parliamentary colleague formed in the deputy Minister's expression.

‘I’m not tired,’ Lady Gilda replied defensively, ‘but that is a good idea.’ Heather had only been in Torontia for several days, but found herself, strangely enough, missing the frequent freezing winds and driving rain of Holy Xirnium.

After a brief nod and a ruffle of her maroon cloak the Parliamentarian was gone, walking away briskly down the length of the long corridor.

After a brief nod and a ruffle of her maroon cloak the Parliamentarian was gone, walking away briskly down the length of the long corridor.

Sara watched the Grand Cardinal begin to depart out of the corner of her eye. "Kitsune, I'm sorry, but I have something really must take care of. I shall see you later," Sara smiled. "Ms Vice President."

"Vice Minister."

Having taken her own leave Sara then "discreetly" followed Lady Gilda to the garden.

Lady Sabelina leant with her back against a nearby wall and began to smoke contentedly.

Mitsune joined Lady Sabelina in leaning back against the wall. "Too bad smoke filled rooms are out of style," she sighed absently.

Sara watched the Grand Cardinal begin to depart out of the corner of her eye. "Kitsune, I'm sorry, but I have something really must take care of. I shall see you later," Sara smiled. "Ms Vice President."

"Vice Minister."

Having taken her own leave Sara then "discreetly" followed Lady Gilda to the garden.
Lady Heather Gilda walked slowly along one of the outdoor paths of the Admiralty’s gardens, her heels clicking loudly on the ground. Despite the air-conditioning inside the conference room, the Foreign Minister felt the gentle, fresh breeze which blew through her blonde hair outside to be quite invigorating.

Heather heard someone approach quietly from behind and, guessing that the person would likely be the lovely Amestrian delegate, couldn't help but smile. Considering whether she should turn around to greet Sara, Heather decided instead to playfully pretend for the moment that she had not noticed her.

Mitsune joined Lady Sabelina in leaning back against the wall. "Too bad smoke filled rooms are out of style," she sighed absently.
Eleanor chuckled softly.

‘You should see some of the Xirniumite Cabinet meetings…’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister absentmindedly.

Heather heard someone approach quietly from behind and, guessing that the person would likely be the lovely Amestrian delegate, couldn't help but smile. Considering whether she should turn around to greet Sara, Heather decided instead to playfully pretend for the moment that she had not noticed her.

Sara quickly glanced around to make sure there was no third party present. They were alone. Perfect. Sara continued her stealthy approach. She knew that Heather could not have failed in noticing her, but decided to play along. It was a thrill to sneak up on her, even if the feeling was based on fantasy. Like a cat preparing to pounce upon an unsuspecting bird.

She pounced, slowly wrapping her arms around Heather's waist, embracing her from behind. She placed her lips next to Heathers left ear and softly whispered...

"These — cavalry, others — infantry
others yet, navies, upon the black earth
hold most beautiful. But I, whatever
you desire.
To make this clear to anyone
is most easy.
Heather, surpassing all men
in beauty, forsaking
the best of men
left and sailed away to Troy."

"I desire to see her lovely gait
the shining sparkle of her face
more than the Lydian chariots, and armoured
foot soldiers."

"She is the handmaiden of Aphrodite, shining like gold."

Sara then softly nibbled Heather's ear.

Eleanor chuckled softly.

‘You should see some of the Xirniumite Cabinet meetings…’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister absentmindedly.

"Stressful are they?" Mitsune once again exhaled deeply. "We seem to be making substantial progress. Looks like we might finish sooner then expected, perhaps we should start preparing Torontia for the referendum... We need not worry about its defeat at the hands of the public, sheep after all always follow the bell, even over cliffs or into streams to certain death."

"These — cavalry, others — infantry
others yet, navies, upon the black earth
hold most beautiful. But I, whatever
you desire.
To make this clear to anyone
is most easy.
Heather, surpassing all men
in beauty, forsaking
the best of men
left and sailed away to Troy."

"I desire to see her lovely gait
the shining sparkle of her face
more than the Lydian chariots, and armoured
foot soldiers."

"She is the handmaiden of Aphrodite, shining like gold."

Sara then softly nibbled Heather's ear.
Even though Lady Gilda had expected that Sara would probably try to startle her playfully, she still felt a thrill of excitement course through her body at the Amestrian's touch. Heather squeezed her eyes shut involuntarily as Sara finished reciting her poem and tenderly nibbled her ear, gasping quietly.

‘That was lovely, Sappho’s poetry is so beautiful,’ Lady Gilda breathed. The Xirniumite Foreign Minister enjoyed reading classical literature, and the work of the famous Ancient Greek poet from the island of Lesbos was well known to her.

‘Someone might see us here,’ Heather hissed suddenly, her reverie broken by a look of alarm.

Heather turned around and pressed the Amestrian off the garden path, away from any prying eyes. She gently pushed Sara against a nearby Oak tree, leaning in to kiss her impulsively.

‘Do you really desire me "more than the Lydian chariots, and armoured foot soldiers", Sara?’ she whispered coyly after withdrawing her lips, obviously searching for additional flattering compliments. Lady Gilda traced a line with several fingers along the Amestrian's arm as she waited for her answer.


"Stressful are they?" Mitsune once again exhaled deeply.
‘Hmpf, you wouldn't believe.’

Lady Eleanor Sabelina turned to stare at the Torontian, examining her closely. The cigarette merely continued to burn slowly in her hand for several moments while Eleanor remained silent.

‘You know, it’s quite remarkable how alike you and the Amestrians are,’ mused the deputy Foreign Minister, smiling as she finally decided to speak. ‘Your long years of self-exile in the Amestrian State have profoundly shaped your ideological perspective on governance. The mark is indelible.’

Lady Sabelina paused and inhaled deeply from her cigarette.

‘Yes, of course the Torontian people can be manipulated,’ Lady Sabelina finally replied, and it was clear that she was openly scornful of the Torontian people for this weakness. ‘It is the fault of the previous dictatorships of Torontia that this is the case.

For our purposes, it will prove to be both a blessing and a curse.’

‘Do you really desire me "more than the Lydian chariots, and armoured foot soldiers", Sara?’ she whispered coyly after withdrawing her lips, obviously searching for additional flattering compliments. Lady Gilda traced a line with several fingers along the Amestrian's arm as she waited for her answer.

“Oh yes, I follow slowly the graceful contours of your hips.” Sara’s hands lovingly caressed Heather’s delicious hips. “The curves of your shoulders, your neck, your unappeased breasts. In your white voluptuousness my desire rests, swooning, demanding the kisses of your lips.”

Sara leaned forward and kissed Heather gently on the lips.

“Aphrodite’s handmaiden you may be, but obviously she tries to keep you under lock and key, for you put the jealous goddess to shame and diminish her in everyway…”

Sara again leaned forward and once again gently kissed Heather’s wonderful lips.

“Yet O goddess of intolerable delight!
What foreign girl bewitches thee,
Who cannot even draw
Her garments neat as they should be,
Her ankles and hips roundabout?”

As she spoke Sara slowly drew up her skirt, reviling her lovely full hips and white silk panties. She braced herself against the tree, speaking not a word more. ‘Do what you want to me’ her green eyes silently declared.

‘Hmpf, you wouldn't believe.’

Mitsune chuckled. “I doubt most would not even come close to equaling the stress, aggravation and frustration of the average TPG cabinet meeting, particularly during our first month. A Parliament had been set up but in reality the only fully functioning non-military controlled state organ was the cabinet. It was mostly rule by Executive fiat. We were faced with the building of a government mostly from scratch, the reorganization of the bureaucracy, the reformation of the Torontian Military, economic turmoil, and the threat of pro-Tanakis insurrection, the possible threat of foreign invasion, and the arrest of all New Order loyalists. The Cabinet’s meetings were maddening; papers everywhere, laptops buzzing, information being read out only to get a phone call or email from the AOA informing us that that information was now obsolete; the records of thousands of police officers, civil servants, and military personnel had to be scrutinized. The law code had to be rewritten, although it did not take full effect as martial law became the norm. We had to work with the Amestrian Ministry of Finance to reestablish a working payroll system…for a while in some places it was as crude as putting rolls of currency in suitcases and then sending finance officials out under guard to personally hand people their pay.”

Mitsune puffed on her cigarette.

“We sometimes worked for over 18 hours strait. We slept on mattresses set up in spare rooms. There where two showers in the basement, both with dirty cold concrete floors and a smelly drain…and all that with the constant fear of attack from former regime elements and hostile foreign powers. It did not help that the President soon became neurotic and almost had an emotional breakdown…”

“I’d say we accomplished a great deal…” Mitsune gave the deputy Minister a brief glare. “However there are those who refuse to even acknowledge our accomplishments because of petty ideological differences.”


‘You know, it’s quite remarkable how alike you and the Amestrians are,’ mused the deputy Foreign Minister, smiling as she finally decided to speak. ‘Your long years of self-exile in the Amestrian State have profoundly shaped your ideological perspective on governance. The mark is indelible.’

“Yes, my exile in Amestria affected me, but I am not some ideological puppet if that is what you are trying to imply.” Mitsune eyes narrowed. “I am not some vase that exists solely to be filled up by others. When I helped found the TNCP I had to learn the Amestrian governmental structure in vast detail so as to successfully lobby in favor of regime change… I also studied Amestrian civics and learned the Amestrian language so I could become a citizen just in case our plans failed to come to fruition (Amestria can be quite generous to those with liberal ideals fleeing persecution). I can speak passable Amestrian…Liscel says I butcher it…”

Mitsune watched her cigarette slowly burn for a few seconds, then she continued.

“Yes, while I was doing all that I came to feel that certain elements of the Amestrian State would best be implemented in Torontia…and I absorbed a fair amount of Amestrian legal philosophy, which I found fascinating (Torontia, even before the New Order, was a philosophical backwater). However, a fair portion of the positions supported by myself and the TNCP are simply advocated to please our benefactors…nothing more.”

Mitsune took a puff of her cigarette and laughed. “Tell me deputy Minister, do you really believe that Mr. Ethwig cared for or even knew anything about your precious Westminsterian system and popular sovereignty before you established yourselves in Eastern Torontia. No, it is most likely that he assessed the situation and the attitudes of the new powers that be (Xirnium) and dusted off some old and out of date political books that somehow survived the New Order’s bonfires; then came out speaking all the right things at just the right time… And it paid off with recognition, a seat at this convention and possibly…funding…?”

Mitsune gave Lady Sabelina a wicked little smile of pure cynicism.

‘Yes, of course the Torontian people can be manipulated,’ Lady Sabelina finally replied, and it was clear that she was openly scornful of the Torontian people for this weakness. ‘It is the fault of the previous dictatorships of Torontia that this is the case.

For our purposes, it will prove to be both a blessing and a curse.’

“I’m not simply speaking of the ease by which the Torontian people can be ‘manipulated’; I am speaking of the depressing Totalitarian culture that grips Torontia…a culture of following orders and inflicting violence.”

“Yet O goddess of intolerable delight!
What foreign girl bewitches thee,
Who cannot even draw
Her garments neat as they should be,
Her ankles and hips roundabout?”
Heather Gilda blushed furiously. ‘Oh Sara…’ murmured the Foreign Minister, her voiced laced with desire, pinning Sara more firmly against the tree as she returned a tender kiss to the Amestrian’s luscious lips.

Heather had recognised snippets of Vivien, Sterling and more of Sappho in Ms Liscel’s words, while also noticing the presence of something altogether distinct. Perhaps a refrain from the lovely Amestrian herself? Lady Gilda wondered, her cheeks burning with the searing heat of her arousal. Pressed close against Sara, Heather could feel the Vice Minister’s heart beating frantically in her chest, even through the fabric of their clothing. The Foreign Minister turned Sara’s head sideways against the tree, her hand stroking the Amestrian’s hair and shapely neck while she softly kissed her cheek.

The Xirniumite Parliamentarian hesitated. Her mind was wracked with both an abject terror that she might be discovered at any moment and a frighteningly powerful yearning for Sara Liscel, for her generous, feminine curves, her delicate waist, her slender neck...

Heather noticed the Amestrian boldly bunching up her skirt around her hips. Panicked thoughts flickered through Lady Gilda’s mind, and in a moment of clarity Heather realised with panic the foolish risks she was taking. The silent look in Sara’s eyes, however, drove Heather wild…

****

Lady Gilda smoothed her business skirt and readjusted her seamed stockings, still a little breathless. The look on her face, and that of her Amestrian friend, told of complete satisfaction, a deep contentment.

Heather Gilda leant over to Sara and tenderly bit her at the base of her neck. ‘A quota method for electing members of Parliament and Courts of specialised jurisdictions in exchange for the adversarial system and the doctrine of stare decisis,’ suggested the Foreign Minister with a whisper, idly returning the topic to work.

‘You have absolutely gorgeous eyes,’ Heather noted distractedly, looking so close that their noses touched. Heather couldn’t resist another quick kiss.

‘Walk with me, Sara,’ the Foreign Minister commanded, gracefully standing up from the foot of the tree.


“I’d say we accomplished a great deal…” Mitsune gave the deputy Minister a brief glare. “However there are those who refuse to even acknowledge our accomplishments because of petty ideological differences.”
Eleanor Sabelina exhaled the smoke from her cigarette, frowning a little. ‘You can be fairly certain, Ms Konno, that when we refused to acknowledge your accomplishments (what few accomplishments you actually had) it was not for petty ideological differences.

It was, rather, for concrete political objectives. It was to discredit the Amestrian occupation and to hurt their interests, to isolate and weaken your West Torontian government. It was to expose your failures.

If you ask me, it worked admirably. There is not a single foreign power at this conference who will agree that your “TPG” has done anything useful for Torontia. The very popularity of this Constitutional Convention is indicative of a general consensus that the TPG failed. You government is to be consigned to the dustbin of historical failures, and you can be certain, Ms Konno, that there will not be lamentation at its passing, but sighs of “good riddance.”

And you can thank Holy Xirnium and its High Ecclesiarchy for that.’

“Tell me deputy Minister, do you really believe that Mr. Ethwig cared for or even knew anything about your precious Westminsterian system and popular sovereignty before you established yourselves in Eastern Torontia.
‘Maybe, Ms Konno, you think it is more credible that a party from a North American nation would be a staunch advocate of the Amestrian inquisitorial method and Civil Law? Never mind that neither your own nation (before its judicial system was dismantled by successive dictatorial regimes, that is) not its various neighbours in North America (the United States, McKagan, Canada, Halberdgardia, and so on) are all Common Law nations…’ pointed out the deputy Foreign Minister.

‘Mr Ethwig was advocating popular sovereignty, the rule of law and accountable government long before the Eternal Republic ever became involved with Torontia, at a time when you were hundreds of miles away in lovely Amestria.’

You should talk to him about it sometime.’

And it paid off with recognition, a seat at this convention and possibly…funding…?”
‘Don’t be absurd,’ Lady Sabelina scoffed. ‘The High Ecclesiarchy does not fund political Parties.’ The deputy Minister briefly imagined the firestorm of media outrage that would be generated if the Xirniumite Government was ever found to have supported a foreign, politically partisan organisation.

‘The Eternal Republic has and will continue to intentionally attempt to distance itself from the internal affairs of Torontia. We are completely unconcerned with which individuals the Torontian people chose to elect as their representatives.’

Sara felt tired but euphoric. She continued to lean against the tree, savoring every second of her afterglow, her body feeling so at peace.

Heather Gilda leant over to Sara and tenderly bit her at the base of her neck.

Sara let out a little gasp as Heather lovingly bit her neck.

‘A quota method for electing members of Parliament and Courts of specialized jurisdictions in exchange for the adversarial system and the doctrine of stare decisis,’ suggested the Foreign Minister with a whisper, idly returning the topic to work.

“Agreed, that is a very reasonable compromise,” Sara replied breathlessly.

‘You have absolutely gorgeous eyes,’ Heather noted distractedly, looking so close that their noses touched. Heather couldn’t resist another quick kiss.

“Thank you,” Sara whispered with a smile of appreciation as Heather withdrew her lips.

‘Walk with me, Sara,’ the Foreign Minister commanded, gracefully standing up from the foot of the tree.

Sara ungracefully wobbled to her feet. Upon regaining her balance she fell into step right besides the Foreign Minister. “Tell me Heather, do you consider this to be a mere fling, nothing but momentary passion and sexual desire…or something else…?” Sara’s voice was distant and she seemed deep in thought over that very question. “If tomorrow we were to leave Torontia and never see each other again…would you feel a pang of loss?”


Eleanor Sabelina exhaled the smoke from her cigarette, frowning a little. ‘You can be fairly certain, Ms Konno, that when we refused to acknowledge your accomplishments (what few accomplishments you actually had) it was not for petty ideological differences.

It was, rather, for concrete political objectives. It was to discredit the Amestrian occupation and to hurt their interests, to isolate and weaken your West Torontian government.

“The TPG was rather diplomatically isolated before your vendetta, so don’t give yourselves too much credit… and you did not weaken the TPG’s institutional hold on Western Torontia nor its military power… Which is all moot as the TPG will disband itself of its own free will once the Constitution is ratified.”

If you ask me, it worked admirably. There is not a single foreign power at this conference who will agree that your “TPG” has done anything useful for Torontia. The very popularity of this Constitutional Convention is indicative of a general consensus that the TPG failed. You government is to be consigned to the dustbin of historical failures

“You forgot Amestria… and no, Ms Sabelina, the popularity of this Constitutional Convention is indicative of a general consensus that Torontia needs a Constitution. The Torontian Provisional Government (note the word Provisional) is a temporary institution set to maintain order, restore governmental services (as in restore them to the level before the New Order’s botched privatization schemes), provide security, and facilitate the drafting of a new Constitution. The TPG was not meant to be a permanent government and only considered becoming a permanent governing institution when it appeared as if Torontia was headed towards permanent breakup (and when giving up power possibly meant losing everything we had worked for). The TPG is presently doing what it was set up to do, shepherd Torontia through its transition period and aid in the establishment of a new Constitution that would establish and safeguard Liberal Democracy.”

and you can be certain, Ms Konno, that there will not be lamentation at its passing, but sighs of “good riddance.”

“That is your perspective. From the prospective of the TNCP the TPG saved Torontia. I will remember my service as the Provisional Governments Vice President with pride.”

And you can thank Holy Xirnium and its High Ecclesiarchy for that.’

“Indeed we shall,” replied Mitsune.

‘Mr Ethwig was advocating popular sovereignty, the rule of law and accountable government long before he had even heard of the Eternal Republic, at a time when you were hundreds of miles away in lovely Amestria.

You should talk to him about it sometime.’

“Oh, I very much intend to deputy Minister. I am sure Mr. Ethwig and I will get along quite well.”

‘Don’t be absurd,’ Lady Sabelina scoffed. ‘The High Ecclesiarchy does not fund political Parties.’

“Is that so…” Mitsune remarked with fake disinterest. If she is telling the truth Erthwig and his party must be scrounging for cash… He probably doesn’t have two cents to rub together… This presents opportunities…


‘The Eternal Republic has and will continue to intentionally attempt to distance itself from the internal affairs of Torontia. We are completely unconcerned with which individuals the Torontian people chose to elect as their representatives.’

“Glad to hear that.” Mitsune took a final puff of her fading cigarette, dropped it to the floor, and stamped it out with her foot. The janitor can clean that up.

“Tell me Heather, do you consider this to be a mere fling, nothing but momentary passion and sexual desire…or something else…?” Sara’s voice was distant and she seemed deep in thought over that very question. “If tomorrow we were to leave Torontia and never see each other again…would you feel a pang of loss?”
Heather Gilda frowned at the question. ‘You think too deeply about these things, Sara,’ replied the Foreign Minister with a somewhat forced, whimsical laugh. Clearly, Heather sought to avoid the uncomfortable question. She drew the Amestrian towards her and kissed her again.

As the two walked Heather absentmindedly brushed off the dust from the Parliament cloak that she had picked up off the ground. The skirted suit she wore today was similar to yesterday’s, though this one was dark navy blue. Heather also seemed to be wearing slightly more jewellery then usual.

‘With the more contentious matters regarding the judiciary now resolved, I think we will rapidly move forwards to a conclusion. Torontia will be a Common Law nation, after all, and you, my dear, will have your concessions,’ explained Lady Gilda with a lovely smile.

With a fluid motion Heather donned her formal cloak, wearing it in such a way that it made the Foreign Minister look magnificently regal.

“The TPG was rather diplomatically isolated before your vendetta, so don’t give yourselves too much credit…
‘Hmm, I seem to recall that you and the Amestrians once had the support of both the Yallakians and the Kahanistanians,’ noted Lady Eleanor Sabelina.

and you did not weaken the TPG’s institutional hold on Western Torontia nor its military power…
‘Fortunately for your sake, Ms Konno, we didn’t have to,’ the deputy Foreign Minister replied absentmindedly, exhaling smoke from her cigarette.

I will remember my service as the Provisional Governments Vice President with pride.
Lady Sabelina laughed cruelly. ‘No doubt…

It is only too bad that posterity wont recognise your selfless heroism,’ she mocked sarcastically.

Heather Gilda frowned at the question. ‘You think too deeply about these things, Sara,’ replied the Foreign Minister with a somewhat forced, whimsical laugh. Clearly, Heather sought to avoid the uncomfortable question. She drew the Amestrian towards her and kissed her again.

Sara smiled as Heather kissed her but remained silent.

‘With the more contentious matters regarding the judiciary now resolved, I think we will rapidly move forwards to a conclusion. Torontia will be a Common Law nation, after all, and you, my dear, will have your concessions,’ explained Lady Gilda with a lovely smile.

Sara put her arms behind her back and stared at the ground. "Heather," she said softly as her eyes turned up to meet the Grand Cardinal's gaze, "I want an answer. I want to know what there is between us and how I should feel... Is this a mere escapade, sex for the simple satisfaction of desire...or is there something more intimate...? I know that it must be hard for you to answer that question, being so private, so distant from everyone else..." Sara's eyes were pleading for Heather to answer.

"I want to know if I should allow myself to become infatuated with you."

Lady Sabelina laughed cruelly. ‘No doubt…

It is only too bad that posterity wont recognize your selfless heroism,’ she mocked sarcastically.

"It all comes down to who writes the histories," Mitsune replied calmly. "Specifically the Torontian histories…"

Heather sighed, and stopped walking. ‘I…’ she began, and frowned. ‘Look, Sara… I’m a Grand Cardinal, a Xirniumite Parliamentarian. There can never be any intimacy between us,’ the High Lady explained. The Foreign Minister’s expression hardened, as if she had reached a conclusion to an internal debate.

‘We can, of course, become friends… so long as you don’t become a political obstacle to me, of course,’ she joked flippantly. ‘But nothing more.’

The Foreign Minister started to walk again, adding an edge of finality to her words.

"Specifically the Torontian histories…"
‘Albert Speer once lamented that “history always emphasises terminal events,”’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘You see, he hated the idea that what he saw as the early achievements of Hitler’s regime would be obscured by its final collapse,’ clarified the deputy Minister as she flicked the stub of her cigarette into a nearby bin.

‘No one will view you or your government as anything but a failed regime, Ms Konno, like all the rest of Torontia’s governments.’

Heather sighed, and stopped walking. ‘I…’ she began, and frowned. ‘Look, Sara… I’m a Grand Cardinal, a Xirniumite Parliamentarian. There can never be any intimacy between us,’ the High Lady explained. The Foreign Minister’s expression hardened, as if she had reached a conclusion to an internal debate.

‘We can, of course, become friends… so long as you don’t become a political obstacle to me, of course,’ she joked flippantly. ‘But nothing more.’

The Foreign Minister started to walk again, adding an edge of finality to her words.

"I see," Sara softly replied. "You’re afraid." She did not seem upset or angry. Her remark carried the air of an innocent observation.

‘Albert Speer once lamented that “history always emphasizes terminal events,”’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘You see, he hated the idea that what he saw as the early achievements of Hitler’s regime would be obscured by its final collapse,’ clarified the deputy Minister as she flicked the stub of her cigarette into a nearby bin.

‘No one will view you or your government as anything but a failed regime, Ms Konno, like all the rest of Torontia’s governments.’

"A very poor comparison, a down right awful comparison (you could have done better)... The TPG has not collapsed and left a ruined occupied country in its wake (nor was the TPG motivated by some ruthless totalitarian ideology, it was in fact fighting against a ruthless totalitarian ideology), things have significantly improved since the Provisional Government was established. In the case of the TPG there are no terminal events for history to become obsessed with. Also, a friend of mine once said 'history is written by those in power.' Does it appear to you Lady Sabelina that I will be excluded from the power structure of the future Torontian State?"

"I see," Sara softly replied. "You’re afraid."
‘I am not afraid of anything,’ snapped Heather defensively. ‘Do not presume to tell me how I feel, Sara.’

The Grand Cardinal seemed uncomfortable with the Amestrian’s question and sought to conceal her unease by looking away from Sara with pretended casualness. Heather hoped that the Vice Minister would quietly drop the issue.

"A very poor comparison, a down right awful comparison (you could have done better)... The TPG has not collapsed and left a ruined occupied country in its wake (nor was the TPG motivated by some ruthless totalitarian ideology, it was in fact fighting against a ruthless totalitarian ideology), things have significantly improved since the Provisional Government was established. In the case of the TPG there are no terminal events for history to become obsessed with. Also, a friend of mine once said 'history is written by those in power.' Does it appear to you Lady Sabelina that I will be excluded from the power structure of the future Torontian State?"
‘I was not making a comparison though, merely applying Speer’s statement to the TPG,’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘Perhaps history is, as you claim, written by those in power, but the TPG will no longer be in power. Don’t delude yourself into believing that, merely because some of the former members of the TPG will likely be elected to the future state and federal Torontian Parliaments, the TPG will somehow endure.

It will not.’

‘I am not afraid of anything,’ snapped Heather defensively. ‘Do not presume to tell me how I feel, Sara.’

The Grand Cardinal seemed uncomfortable with the Amestrian’s question and sought to conceal her unease by looking away from Sara with pretended casualness. Heather hoped that the Vice Minister would quietly drop the issue.

"I am not telling you how you feel, I know how you feel...and you are indeed afraid."

Sara slowly caressed Heather's shoulders and gradually embraced her from behind. Sara's arms lovingly wrapped themselves around Heather's waist and her cheek came to softly rest on Heather's shoulder. The hug was warm and comforting.

"Afraid of opening up, afraid of losing control...afraid of me and the affect I could have on your life. Your every action, your every word betrays you. Your answer was no answer…Heather, friendship requires intimacy…sex requires intimacy, there is already intimacy between us and…and I want to know where it will lead.”

Sara was silent for a moment.

“If it helps, I’m afraid too. I am afraid that if I develop feelings for you and you reject me then it will hurt, and yet I am afraid that if I stop myself from feeling infatuation then I will miss out on something special…something unique and beautiful. This is not how I thought I would feel when I first met you.”

‘I was not making a comparison though, merely applying Speer’s statement to the TPG,’ explained Lady Sabelina. ‘Perhaps history is, as you claim, written by those in power, but the TPG will no longer be in power. Don’t delude yourself into believing that, merely because some of the former members of the TPG will likely be elected to the future state and federal Torontian Parliaments, the TPG will somehow endure.

It will not.’

"You seem incapable of comprehending that the Provisional Government is a temporary institution. It was not set up to serve as a permanent government, so of course it will not endure, the Torontian Provisional Government will disband with the ratification of the Constitution and the formation of the National Government because it will no longer be needed. While we are on discussion the obvious let me point out that the sky is blue, fire warm, and water wet."

"I am not telling you how you feel, I know how you feel...and you are indeed afraid."
This is all moving far too quickly, panicked the Foreign Minister, disturbed by the perceptiveness of Sara's observations.

Lady Gilda become rigid at Sara’s touch, and pulled away from her awkwardly. Heather was puzzled by how reluctant she felt to leave the Amestrian’s warm embrace, but this worrying feeling served only to strengthen her resolve. I don’t need anyone, she thought with little conviction.

‘I have said I am not afraid, Sara. How dare you question me?’ she asked, pulling her cloak tightly about herself to accentuate her height. Much better, now this is something I can understand!

‘Don’t flatter yourself, my dear, I feel nothing for you,’ the Foreign Minister explained cruelly, with more hardness in her voice then she had intended. ‘You are merely a pretty little thing that I took a fancy to, that is all.’

No sooner had Heather lashed out, however, then she realised the mistake of her words. The Foreign Minister felt terrible for so heartlessly trying to hurt someone who had only just opened her heart to her, and loathed herself for it.

‘I’m so sorry, Sara,’ Lady Gilda apologised, holding the Amestrian’s right hand in both of her own. Her expression immediately softened, becoming one of understanding and remorse. ‘That’s not true at all, I do like you. I’m just uncomfortable with this whole area of discussion (I only just met you yesterday, after all). I’d rather we not talk about it.’


"You seem incapable of comprehending that the Provisional Government is a temporary institution."
‘Not incapable of comprehending, merely unwilling to believe,’ clarified the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘Remember, Ms Konno, that I was at the Kurora conference. I saw first hand what were only too clearly your intentions. The TPG always planned to endure in some form or another. I’m sure you have fooled no one but yourselves with this attempt to ascribe noble, altruistic goals to your government that it never truly had.

If you should be praised for anything at all, it should be for being able to recognise that the situation has changed and that there is no place for the TPG in the modern world.’

‘I have said I am not afraid, Sara. How dare you question me?’ she asked, pulling her cloak tightly about herself to accentuate her height. Much better, now this is something I can understand!

‘Don’t flatter yourself, my dear, I feel nothing for you,’ the Foreign Minister explained cruelly, with more hardness in her voice then she had intended. ‘You are merely a pretty little thing that I took a fancy to, that is all.’

A pained expression formed on Sara’s face, betraying the surprise and hurt she felt from Heather’s cruel remarks. Liscel felt as if she had just been slapped.

No sooner had Heather lashed out, however, then she realized the mistake of her words. The Foreign Minister felt terrible for so heartlessly trying to hurt someone who had only just opened her heart to her, and loathed herself for it.

‘I’m so sorry, Sara,’ Lady Gilda apologized, holding the Amestrian’s right hand in both of her own. Her expression immediately softened, becoming one of understanding and remorse. ‘That’s not true at all, I do like you. I’m just uncomfortable with this whole area of discussion (I only just met you yesterday, after all). I’d rather we not talk about it.’

Sara’s pained expression transformed into a warm smile and all the hurt melted away. She reached out her hand and gently began to stroke Heather’s cheek. “You want time to think everything through, I understand. For now our relationship shall remain that of simple lovers…and it being possible that we may never see each other again, let us spend as much time as we can in sensual embrace…” Sara drew herself close to Heather as she spoke, pressing her body up against hers. “Golden head by golden head, Like two pigeons in one nest, Cheek to cheek and breast to breast, Locked together in one nest…”

“I have some ideas for tomorrow morning,” she whispered lasciviously, “care to hear them?”

‘Not incapable of comprehending, merely unwilling to believe,’ clarified the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘Remember, Ms Konno, that I was at the Kurora conference. I saw first hand what was only too clearly your intentions. The TPG always planned to endure in some form or another. I’m sure you have fooled no one but yourselves with this attempt to ascribe noble, altruistic goals to your government that it never truly had.

“We were afraid, the situation was so uncertain…what with instability in the North and the possibility of a return to all out war with the East. We felt that the only safety was in clinging to power and solidifying our control...that to give an inch would lead to everything we had worked for being extinguished. Many felt that if the TNCP agreed to the premature dissolution of the TPG and its military then we would be locked out of power, maybe imprisoned or even killed. Our demands at the Kurora conference, I will admit, were a mistake in hindsight, but at the time we felt as if we had little choice.”

‘If you should be praised for anything at all, it should be for being able to recognize that the situation has changed and that there is no place for the TPG in the modern world.’

“Of course, there is no need for a temporary government once a permanent one has been established.”

“I have some ideas for tomorrow morning,” she whispered lasciviously, “care to hear them?”
‘Oh, please do tell, my dear,’ Heather replied cheerfully. Lady Gilda was pleased to see that Sara had so readily forgiven her previous outburst, and that now all seemed forgotten.

“You want time to think everything through”, those had been her precise words, Heather thought grimly. Sara’s statement filled her with unease, but she quickly forced it out of her mind.

‘We were afraid, the situation was so uncertain…what with instability in the North and the possibility of a return to all out war with the East.’
‘Isn’t it strangely ironic, then, that the very nation that has been committed to seeing your puppet government dismantled was also the one that put to rest one of your greatest fears, removed one of your most important rivals? How curious, Ms Konno, that the possibility of civil war was firmly placed into the realm of fantasy by virtue of the fact that Holy Xirnium supplanted Saint Fedski in East Torontia,’ mused Lady Sabelina.

‘Your demands were certainly a mistake, your fears ultimately unfounded. And for that, too, you should thank the Eternal Republic.’

‘Oh, please do tell, my dear,’ Heather replied cheerfully.

Sara continued her sultry whispers. "Come over tonight for dinner and stay with me. Then after we wake up, all nice and refreshed, we can thoroughly enjoy one another. I will dress up for you, show you each of my little sexy outfits, and you can decide which one you like best. I will wear some nice dark feminine makeup, which I know you'd love to see on me and love to smear all over my face... I'll lick your shoes, those precious high heels of yours, wrap my tongue around them. I have these long delightful silk scarves, which you could use to tie me up, make me helpless, and then ravish me again and again. We will be alone, so I will not have to hold back my screams...unless of course you decide that as one of your sweet tortures, make me be silent, make me bite my tongue..."

Sara licked Heather's ear and continued to whisper the erotic positions and techniques that could be used…all the while her warm voluptuous body pressing up against Heather...

‘Isn’t it strangely ironic, then, that the very nation that has been committed to seeing your puppet government dismantled was also the one that put to rest one of your greatest fears, removed one of your most important rivals? How curious, Ms Konno, that the possibility of civil war was firmly placed into the realm of fantasy by virtue of the fact that Holy Xirnium supplanted Saint Fedski in East Torontia,’ mused Lady Sabelina.

‘Your demands were certainly a mistake, your fears ultimately unfounded. And for that, too, you should thank the Eternal Republic.’

PUPPET GOVERNMENT!!!

"I wonder, could you possibly be anymore unpleasant, insulting or self-righteous... I try to have a friendly conversation with you and I end of debating almost the entire Torontian conflict and having to endure your total lack of respect for myself, my office, and my government."

Mitsune was angry. She did not show any emotional or facial signs of being angry, but the glare in her eyes and the tone of her voice revealed it. It was a calm, silent, and controlled fury. The nicotine craving in her welled up once more and Mitsune cursed under her breath. She was trying to quite and did not want another cigarette, even if it would make her feel better...

She wanted to break something, rip apart her surroundings, reduce all the furniture in the room to their most basic elements...that would make her feel better, that would help her calm down. Mitsune then realized she needed that second cigarette. She took one out, lit up, and inhaled deeply. She took the poisonous smoke into her lungs with one satisfied breath and purged it from her lungs with another.

"Lady Sabelina, is it a conscious effort on your part to get under peoples skin or does it just come naturally... The reason I ask is because I hav-had a cousin who could not help but be sarcastic, [sarcastic voice] oh, 'that is such a beautiful dress.' She did that even when she did not mean too... Then there was this man I knew in college, he would deliberately upset people just so he could see their reactions, he seemed to enjoy the resentment his behavior bred in others. Which are you I wonder...?"

Mitsune took a puff on her cigarette. She began to calm down somewhat.

snip
Lady Gilda trembled as various arousing images quickly flittered through her mind, biting her lower lip instinctively. Wild scenes of debauchery entered unbidden into Heather’s thoughts, and she imagined eliciting squeals of delight from the lovely Amestrian.

‘Oh my… what an unrestrained imagination you have,’ noted the Foreign Minister, fanning herself profusely as she blushed scarlet. Though the Xirniumite feigned demureness, her gorgeous hazel eyes betrayed a longing to have her way with Sara Liscel.

‘Anyway Sara, I really do think it is time that I got back to my staff, they might begin to wonder where I am,’ Heather Gilda explained apologetically, though in truth she had only been gone for slightly more than twenty minutes. ‘Come with me,’ the Foreign Minister demanded as she began to walk towards the entrance of the former Admiralty building.


"I wonder, could you possibly be anymore unpleasant, insulting or self-righteous..."
‘Insulting and unpleasant, maybe,’ conceded the Xirniumite Parliamentarian, reflecting seriously on her own character. ‘However, I do protest, Ms Konno, to the label of “self-righteous”. Neither I, nor my government, has ever made a claim to any kind of moral superiority. The truth is that the High Ecclesiarchy rarely concerns itself actively with affairs outside the borders of the Eternal Republic. Certainly we do not do so for “righteous” reasons, rather we do so only for our own interests. In Torontia, those interests were to strike a blow against Amestria and to dismantle their puppet government.

If I have offended you, then know that it was not by design. It also was not done with the intention of being unfriendly. If I had wanted to be unfriendly you would certainly know about it,’ Eleanor added ominously.

‘I was merely speaking frankly, and thought that you would appreciate it. Evidently not.’

"...to endure your total lack of respect for myself, my office, and my government."
‘That utterly pales in comparison to my having to endure your constant and unceasing claims to be deserving of any respect, whatsoever, for an illegitimate office and unpopular government,’ replied Lady Sabelina under her breath, though her words were deliberately left easily discernable to Mitsune.

Lady Gilda trembled as various arousing images quickly flittered through her mind, biting her lower lip instinctively. Wild scenes of debauchery entered unbidden into Heather’s thoughts, and she imagined eliciting squeals of delight from the lovely Amestrian.

‘Oh my… what an unrestrained imagination you have,’ noted the Foreign Minister, fanning herself profusely as she blushed scarlet. Though the Xirniumite feigned demureness, her gorgeous hazel eyes betrayed a longing to have her way with Sara Liscel.

Sara licked her lips at Heather’s obvious arousal and longing for her body. The Vice Minister could barely wait for the business of the day to end.

‘Anyway Sara, I really do think it is time that I got back to my staff, they might begin to wonder where I am,’ Heather Gilda explained apologetically, though in truth she had only been gone for slightly over twenty minutes. ‘Come with me,’ the Foreign Minister demanded as she began to walk towards the entrance of the former Admiralty building.

Sara followed, walking besides Heather. Sara glanced up at sky and noticed several dark clouds on the horizon. “Looks like it might rain tonight…” she commented.

“Tonight’s dinner shall be a main course of Blanquette de veau* and boiled patotos with a side dish of steamed Oysters, a fruit salad, a side plate of Camembert de Nord Rivage** served along with some scrumptious rolls, and the remainder of last nights Chardonnay. Desert can be either baba au rhum, a delectable rum yeast cake filled with crème, or Mousse au chocolat. Which would you prefer?”

Sara’s voice dropped to that of a conspiratorial whisper. “For breakfast we shall eat each other.” Sara’s voice rose back to normal. “For brunch we will both have a pouched Ostrich egg, a side of Neufchâtel***, a croissant, a honeydew melon and black tea sweetened with kluntjes and crème.”

“The dinner will once again be casual and this time you will get to see me in a lovely satin evening gown.” I hope it still fits. Her voice dropped back down to that of a whisper. “If you have any outfits or toys, bring them along.”

(*OOC: "Blanket of Veal", a white veal stew with onions and mushrooms in a thick sauce.)

(**OOC: A North Amestrian Cheese.)

(***OOC: Another Amestrian Cheese.)

‘However, I do protest, Ms Konno, to the label of “self-righteous”. Neither I, nor my government, has ever made a claim to any kind of moral superiority. The truth is that the High Ecclesiarchy rarely concerns itself actively with affairs outside the borders of the Eternal Republic. Certainly we do not do so for “righteous” reasons, rather we do so only for our own interests. In Torontia, those interests were to strike a blow against Amestria and to dismantle their puppet government.

“I understand that, but you could save the speeches for the soap box.”

If I have offended you, then know that it was not by design. It also was not done with the intention of being unfriendly.

“Ha…”

If I had wanted to be unfriendly you would certainly know about it,’ Eleanor added ominously.

“Actually, I doubt I would be able to distinguish such a change from your usual mood... I suggest if you become unfriendly that you burn me with one of your cigarette butts so I know that your mood has changed for the worse.”

‘I was merely speaking frankly, and thought that you would appreciate it. Evidently not.’

“You could sympathize, you could try to understand. But no, you condemn and throw mud, condemnations I have already heard and mud which has already been heaped upon me. It is comparable to listening to a broken record of very bad music twice.”

‘That utterly pales in comparison to my having to endure your constant and unceasing claims to be deserving of any respect whatsoever for an illegitimate office and unpopular government,’ replied Lady Sabelina under her breath, though her words were deliberately left easily discernable to Mitsune.

“One day you and your government will have no choice but to show me the respect I deserve, that is a promise.” Mitsune muttered in return, her voice was calm yet determined.

snip
‘That sounds superb, Sara, I can’t wait,’ replied Lady Gilda enthusiastically, already craving the undoubtably delectable Amestrian cuisine in addition to her hunger for the gorgeous Amestrian’s figure.

Before long the ladies had reached the large double-doors which marked the entrance to the Admiralty building. ‘Either of the desserts is perfectly fine with me,’ explained Heather Gilda. ‘To be completely honest, Sara, I’m looking forward to an entirely different treat,’ Lady Gilda added mischievously, moving closer to Ms Liscel so that she was left with no doubt as to what this “treat” might be.

Heather pressed against her Amestrian friend, grasping her lovely head in both her hands and kissing her passionately. Her lips moved to Sara’s neck, where Lady Gilda proceeded to bite her lovingly.

Having given Sara a taste of what was to come, Lady Gilda prepared to return her mind to matters of politics. ‘Until then, my dear,’ Heather said, somewhat reluctantly pulling away so that she could pass through the doors.


“I understand that, but you could save the speeches for the soap box.”
‘Ahh, is that what you think I am, some kind of rabid ideologue?’ asked Lady Sabelina, none too impressed with the Torontian’s statement.

"I suggest if you become unfriendly that you burn me with one of your cigarette butts so I know that your mood has changed for the worse.”
‘Charming…’ noted the Xirniumite dryly.

“One day you and your government will have no choice but to show me the respect I deserve, that is a promise.”
‘Your determination is admirable, Ms Konno,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister.

‘If your ruthlessness can match your resolve then I do not doubt that you will earn the right to be shown the respect befitting a legitimate representative of the Torontian people.’

Ho had waited for....he didn't know and he didn't care, but it he knew it was a long while and he decided to look for the Xirniumite Minister of Foreign Affairs. Damn it, I should have told her to wait outside...never mind. he thought. He decided to get a move, and turned around to get a move around the place. He started to advance his way toward the Admiralty Building's main entrance, not knowing that perhaps a little surprise and some dialogue that would be awaiting him ahead.

Having given Sara a taste of what was to come, Lady Gilda prepared to return her mind to matters of politics. ‘Until then, my dear,’ Heather said, somewhat reluctantly pulling away so that she could pass through the doors.

Sara smiled. “Until then,” she repeated to Heather. As the Grand Cardinal departed Sara took out her pocket watch, glanced at it, and then sighed. If only we did not have to have wait.

‘Either of the desserts is perfectly fine with me,’ explained Heather Gilda.

Then tonight we will have Baba au rhum, thought Sara as she happily contemplated the evening ahead.

‘Ahh, is that what you think I am, some kind of rabid ideologue?’ asked Lady Sabelina, none too impressed with the Torontian’s statement.

“You just seem rather dedicated to your government’s perspective and legal definitions. As for whether you are a ‘rapid ideologue’, I have had to deal with many rabid ideologues in my life, be they New Order or Communist, and you are not one of them. You are however stubborn and argumentative to the point of exasperation.”

‘Charming…’ noted the Xirniumite dryly.

Mitsune chuckled at the Cardinal’s dry humor.

‘Your determination is admirable, Ms Konno,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister.

“If I did not have such determination I would have stayed in Amestria where it was safe.”

‘If your ruthlessness can match your resolve then I do not doubt that you will earn the right to be shown the respect befitting a legitimate representative of the Torontian people.’

“Oh I am quite ruthless, life during the first New Order regime and the Civil War bred that quality in me. There is a saying, ‘Though they may be blessed elsewhere, here in Torontia the meek inherit nothing.’”

Lady Heather Gilda left the outer garden and found herself abruptly facing the chief Southeast Asian delegate. The Foreign Minister’s insides quickly turned to ice as she realised that Evan Ho had been about to leave the Admiralty building for the outdoor grounds, where only mere minutes before she had passionately and furtively made love together with the Amestrian delegate.

‘Ahh, Mr Ho…’ Heather managed with remarkable composure, the colour rapidly returning to her face.

"You just seem rather dedicated to your government’s perspective and legal definitions."
‘Well... bare in mind that some of those perspectives were actually drafted and certainly advocated by me. My dedication to them is a dedication to my own political position, and is therefore in my own self-interest,’ explained Eleanor with a shrug.

“If I did not have such determination I would have stayed in Amestria where it was safe.”
‘That certainly would have been more pleasant then returning to this backwater,’ replied Lady Eleanor Sabelina, not even bothering to conceal her derision for the Torontian republic. ‘For my part, I can’t wait for the Constitutional Convention to be over so that I can finally return to the Eternal Republic.’

"Ah yes," said the Ambassador in a tone that would be easily concluded as formal and businesslike. It was to disguise his feelings and personal thoughts: Okay, what exactly just happened? Did she just do something politically incorrect? Oooh, should I elevate this or should I not?

"Dr. Gilda, I was looking for you. I have a message from the Prime Minister of my nation. He said that we should discuss the letter in a more private place and what bare details he told me about this letter. What were you surprised about, my entrance or something else?"

Ho guessed the latter, but it didn't matter to him whether or not the Xirniumite politician was a lesbian or not - what did matter to him was that he got along with the individual, and getting the job down. So long as two of those tasks at hand were completed, he would respect the Xirniumite's decision of kissing the Amestrian by not telling anyone.

"What were you surprised about, my entrance or something else?"
‘Surprised?’ asked the Foreign Minister distractedly. ‘Oh that, no I was just a little startled at almost bumping into you,’ Heather lied flawlessly.

I could have been discovered… thought the Xirniumite Parliamentarian grimly, savagely reprimanding herself for such reckless foolishness. More pressing issues, however, meant that Lady Gilda had to quickly force the notion from her mind. There would be time enough to reflect on it later.

‘Right, some place more private…’ repeated Heather Gilda, searching her memory for a suitable room. ‘Of course, follow me, Mr Ho, we can talk about your Prime Minister's letter there,’ explained Heather with a disarming smile as she briskly began walking down the tiled hallway with a clear destination in mind, her stiletto heels clicking rapidly.

The room that the two entered was designed for small, informal conferences between only a handful of individuals. Picking a random office chair, the Foreign Minister sat down, crossing her legs at the knee, and gestured for the Southeast Asian delegate to sit adjacent to her. Anticipating the possible need to read a sizeable amount of text, Heather removed her glasses from the folds of her cloak and donned them quietly.

‘Well, Mr Ho, you now have my undivided attention,’ explained the Foreign Minister as she looked up. ‘What is this message that you wish to give me?’

‘Well... bare in mind that some of those perspectives were actually drafted and certainly advocated by me. My dedication to them is a dedication to my own political position, and is therefore in my own self-interest,’ explained Eleanor with a shrug.

“The cameras are in the other room.”

‘That certainly would have been more pleasant then returning to this backwater,’ replied Lady Eleanor Sabelina, not even bothering to conceal her derision for the Torontian republic. ‘For my part, I can’t wait for the Constitutional Convention to be over so that I can finally return to the Eternal Republic.’

Mitsune shrugged. It was quite clear that she shared Lady Sabelina’s disdain for Torontia. “If I had stayed in Amestria and become a citizen I would have been unable to achieve anything more then a stable comfortable Middle Class existence. There is a saying, ‘it is better to be a big fish in a small pond rather then a small fish in a big ocean.’”

"The cameras are in the other room."
‘Isn’t it most fortunate that I have you to remind me of the plainly obvious?’ asked Lady Sabelina with a sardonic smile. The deputy Foreign Minister was quickly becoming bored with this excruciatingly uninteresting Torontian politician, and distractedly brushed off a bit of lint from the sleave of her long, maroon cloak.

Eleanor was troubled by a terrible headache, and found herself increasingly irritated with Ms Konno’s constant gibe remarks. Discreetly, she removed a small, unmarked vial from somewhere within the dark folds of her cloak. Unscrewing the cap, Lady Sabelina took a quick swig of laudanum and returned the glass flask to her pocket.

The Grand Cardinal's intelligent blue-green eyes blinked several times and the splitting headache promptly faded away.

"There is a saying, ‘it is better to be a big fish in a small pond rather then a small fish in a big ocean.’"
‘That, my dear, is a matter of opinion,’ replied the deputy Foreign Minister introspectively. ‘Personally, nothing could compel me to remain permanently in this forsaken place, neither riches nor power. Torontia is a true intellectual and cultural wasteland.

Then again, I have got significant power at home in the Eternal Republic, so perhaps my perspective is not entirely neutral…’ added Lady Sabelina thoughtfully. ‘The hunger for power can be a powerful motivator.’

Colonel Kietz had spent too much time in Seattle. He loved the city, but hated the country it was in and the people who were involved in Torontia. As far as he was concerned the Amestrian's were genocidal hypocrites, the Xirniumites weren't that bad - but he still didn't like their representatives.

He'd been quiet for almost the entier conference - mainly on the basis that the McKagan envoy group had been put together so quickly that he didn't even know completely what his nation would want him arguing for. That's why the break had fallen at the perfect time for him.

After the break had been established he walked out of the increasingly hot room and followed his aid down a hallway to a small room where the other McKagan staffers were waiting. Of the six people waiting in the room most had already gotten (their McKagan State Department paid for) ASI vT9 MP3 Players out or were playing around on one of the two laptop computers they'd brought. Minus two of the staffers from the MSD who were talking about the Kravania war in the corner - nobody really paid attention to Kietz making his entrance.

"They've talked over some stuff, but they're more content to argue about who argues better than actually solve anyones problems."

The Colonel finally relaxed from his tense stance. He looking ahead at the wall to try and unwind before finishing, but another of the shady MCID/MISA/MSD officials cut him off. Her name? Alicia Carter. She'd worked at various branches of the McKagan government on internal policy and the like and was just now branching out and becoming an asset when fighting with foreign policy makers.

"I've been briefed via email from the MSD. I have orders to take your position as our representative and implement our new stance. You, on the other hand, have orders to return to Port Echo and boost the IMA's presence in Torontia. It doesn't look like we're going to be leaving for a while - given the content of the email I got a few minutes ago."

With that Carter said goodbye to Kietz as he headed for the exit in two of one of the MCID agents. He'd be picked up by a COV-12 Infantry Fighting Vehicle in a few minutes, probably.

Kietz out of the way, Carter and the aid who had been in the chamber with Kietz headed back out into the hallways to try and find a way to establish communications with one of the other representatives before heading back into session.

Brovan stood right outside the front building, he figured what most of the delagates would do, 'he suspected some would continue their conversations with other groups, some would just wait and' ... He remembered the looks some of the delagates were giving one another. 'Some would try to get to know each other.' He thought with a slight smirk. He paused and pulled a Flask from the inside of his coat and took a couple of Drinks. "I feel I'll need about a dozen of these to get through this meeting." He muttered to himself.

‘Isn’t it most fortunate that I have you to remind me of the plainly obvious?’ asked Lady Sabelina with a sardonic smile. The deputy Foreign Minister was quickly becoming bored with this excruciatingly uninteresting Torontian politician, and distractedly brushed off a bit of lint from the sleeve of her long, maroon cloak.

Eleanor was troubled by a terrible headache, and found herself increasingly irritated with Ms Konno’s constant gibe remarks. Discreetly, she removed a small, unmarked vial from somewhere within the dark folds of her cloak. Unscrewing the cap, Lady Sabelina took a quick swig of laudanum and returned the glass flask to her pocket.

The Grand Cardinal's intelligent blue-green eyes blinked several times and the splitting headache promptly faded away.

Mitsune of course noticed Lady Sabelina take the vial from within her cloak and drink its contents. She guessed it was some sort of medication or narcotic, but said nothing. She was not a stranger to little addictions.

‘That, my dear, is a matter of opinion,’ replied the deputy Foreign Minister introspectively. ‘Personally, nothing could compel me to remain permanently in this forsaken place, neither riches nor power. Torontia is a true intellectual and cultural wasteland.’

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Mitsune replied, grinning sarcastically. “Twenty-two years of incompetence, corruption, corporatism, dictatorship, despotism, war, and utopian fantasy have done wonders for this country. Torontia is an intellectual paradise and a cultural utopia. Sarcasm, ‘the last refuge of a modest and caste soul is cruelly and ruthlessly invaded’…Dostoevsky. Tanakis had all the books written by Russians banned, calling them ‘communist gangster filth aimed at the destruction of democracy, freedom, and civilization’…” Mitsune looked off into space for a moment. “I wonder if my collection of contraband is still stashed under the basement floor of my old house…”

’Then again, I have got significant power at home in the Eternal Republic, so perhaps my perspective is not entirely neutral…’ added Lady Sabelina thoughtfully. ‘The hunger for power can be a powerful motivator.’

“Especially after one has been kicked and spit upon for well over a decade… When one has been intentionally made vulnerable by those on high… You have no idea how good it feels to be in control, how good it feels to destroy those who have hurt you…it is like a starving man tasting food for the first time in weeks." Mitsune smiled. "There is an ecstasy in deciding the destiny of others.”

Alicia Carter had an agenda. At this point McKagan didn't care about the constitution of Torontia. There was no real way to stop the Xirnium political machine from pushing through just about everything they wanted - but she WAS being sent in to make sure that certain key areas of McKagan interest were upheld.

Top on the list was preserving a McKagan military interest in Torontia. The fact was simply that McKagan didn't surrender land regardless of the political matters. The politicians and military planners were confident that a small military base/city on the coastline would be adequate in terms of force projection.

Carter needed to put herself in a strategic friendship with someone at the conference. It would help her in the future for pressing McKagan's issues - among saving McKagan face if there was an outright objection. The break currently being held was a perfect change to assert herself, and thus McKagan, into a more viable position.

She'd roamed the hallways for a few moments, seeing who she could find to converse with.

The MCID had, using the wonders of international news media, provided her with a briefing on just what everyone at the conference looked like.

Eventually finding a few people, one whom she recognized as Lady Sabelina, she approached the Xirnium representative. Trying to move into whatever conversation Sabelina was having in the least intrusive way, she spoke in a simple voice.

"I'm the new McKagan representative. If it's not too much of a problem, I'd like to speak with you in private?"

“I wonder if my collection of contraband is still stashed under the basement floor of my old house…”
The deputy Foreign Minister casually lit up another cigarette and paced to the opposite side of the passage. As before, Lady Sabelina leant back against the wall.

‘Contraband?’ asked Eleanor, frowning as she shook her head (which cause her long, auburn hair to shimmer). To the Grand Cardinal, the concept of censorship was inherently repulsive, unknown in the Eternal Republic.

‘So what did you possess which was banned by the New Order regime? Apart from the works of famed nineteenth century Russian existentialist writers, that is…’ Sabelina added with a curious smile.

“Especially after one has been kicked and spit upon for well over a decade… When one has been intentionally made vulnerable by those on high… You have no idea how good it feels to be in control, how good it feels to destroy those who have hurt you…it is like a starving man tasting food for the first time in weeks."
Lady Sabelina smiled knowingly. ‘Hmm.. I suspect, Ms Konno, that you are talking as much, here, as a woman as you are as a former political dissident,’ remarked the deputy Foreign Minister, perceptively seeing through the Torontian.

‘The New Order Party, of course, was responsible for terrible outrages against women - who were relegated to the status of mere chattel by the fundamentalist religious doctrines of the regime,’ continued Eleanor. ‘I imagine that it must therefore be extremely satisfying to see that those wrongs are being redressed and that the plight of women and other persecuted groups in Torontia recognised and appreciated. It must be even more rewarding for you, Ms Konno, since you are playing a personal part in the change.’

‘I know that, for me at least,’ Eleanor explained, ‘one of the great pleasures of wielding political power is being able to implement one’s own personal socio-economic policies. Of course, my policies, my objectives, are dissimilar to yours, since the Eternal Republic is already a strong liberal democracy, whereas Torontia has a long and difficult road ahead of it in order to turn its back on the darkness of its past.

My point, however, is that everyone has their own individual view of what society should be like, but only someone with power can make such a vision reality. Am I not right?’ asked Eleanor Sabelina, though she had no doubt as to the answer.

"I'm the new McKagan representative. If it's not too much of a problem, I'd like to speak with you in private?"
‘Ahh, Ms…?” asked the deputy Foreign Minister, waiting for the McKagan dignitary to introduce herself.

‘Ms Carter, a pleasure,’ repeated Eleanor, offering her hand for the diplomat to shake. ‘Ms Konno and I were only just now discussing the nature of wielding power, perhaps you might like to share your own thoughts on the subject – at another time, of course. Right now I suspect you have more pressing, more practical, issues to discuss, hmm? Very well.’

‘If you will excuse me,’ added Lady Sabelina offhandedly to the Torontia. Gathering her flowing burgundy cloak more closely about herself, the Grand Cardinal showed Alicia Carter to a nearby conference room (similar in most respects to the one in which Lady Gilda and the Southeast Asian delegate were conversing) where they could talk in private.

Carter walked into the small room took a seat.

Giving a moment for the Xirniumite to position herself, Carter eventually started to talk.

"McKagan has concerns about the security of Torontia in the future. Not only against foreign threats - but against internal strife as well. Torontia was taken over once and very well could be again - regardless of how well our nations establish the government here. What McKagan is interesting in is establishing the area in and around Port Echo, the city and/or military base we built, as sovereign McKagan territory. We're against masses of nations dividing the nation, but that's not what it is. It's a city that is otherwise unimportant to Torontia and no Torontian's actually live there. Basically, our nation is preparing to propose that every nation involved in this has the right to declare a small military base but anymore future expansion is illegal. It solves everyones problems, wouldn't you agree? How does Xirnium feel about this?"

Before Carter's Interruption

‘So what did you possess which was banned by the New Order regime? Apart from the works of famed nineteenth century Russian existentialist writers, that is…’ Sabelina added with a curious smile.

“The Communist Manifesto, obviously, as the New Order denounced communism on a daily basis anyone opposed to the government just had to read it. I found it unimpressive; the romanticism of some supposedly inevitable revolution that would bring about an-oh-so perfect world…it is really unfortunate that opposition to the New Order gathered around the proponents of Marxist thought. If the overthrow of Kaufman had amounted to more then one fantastical fantasy replacing another we might have seen some progress.”

“There was The Secret Life of Salvador Dali and catalogs of his assorted works… I actually do not care much for him or his artwork; I found Dali’s character unpleasant and the paintings gimmicky… But when you shop for banned books on the black-market you take what you can get… I also read Machiavelli’s The Prince, Karl Popper’s The Open Society and its Enemies, whatever Nietzsche I could find…Asian Poetry…”

Mitsune listed a few more assorted titles.

My point, however, is that everyone has their own individual view of what society should be like, but only someone with power can make such a vision reality. Am I not right?’ asked Eleanor Sabelina, though she had no doubt as to the answer.

Mitsune smiled in response to the Cardinals question, but said nothing.


After Carters Interruption

‘If you will excuse me,’ added Lady Sabelina offhandedly to the Torontian.

“Nice talking to you,” Mitsune replied.

snip
The deputy Foreign Minister exhaled from her cigarette slowly, frowning as she considered what Alicia Carter had said. There are possibilities here, but we must tread carefully… thought the Grand Cardinal.

‘You know of course, Ms Carter,’ Lady Sabelina began slowly, ‘that the High Ecclesiarchy (as a foreign government and temporary custodian of East Torontia) officialy maintains that it does not have the authority to endorse the cession of sovereign Torontian territory. That territory belongs to the people of Torontia. By extension, only the democratically elected representatives of the Torontian people should have the legal authority to surrender their own sovereign land.

We will not attempt to usurp the popular sovereignty of the Torontia people, or participate in an undermining of Torontia’s territorial integrity (which would weaken its claim to sovereignty as a nation-state).

Therefore the High Ecclesiarchy will not support enshrining this type of imperialism in the Constitution. You will need to consult with the new Torontian government if you want to establish a military base here, as we plan to.’

‘Also,’ Eleanor added, ‘we must bear in mind that, currently, only the Eternal Republic and the Democratic Imperium maintain a significant military presence in Torontia. The High Ecclesiarchy does not want this status quo to change, and therefore doesn’t want to see that every nation (certain nations in particular) involved in this has the right to establish a military base here.

I’m sure you will agree that we need to limit the influence of foreign governments in Torontia. We can only do this by working together.’

snip
‘I see you’ve met our Xirniumite friends,’ announced Magnus Erthwig in quite undertones as he entered the hallway from a side passage, not bothering to introduce himself to the Mitsune Konno. As always, Erthwig wore a featureless expression.

‘I would be very careful, if I were you. One cannot trust the High Ecclesiarchy, especially that Lady Sabelina. They serve their own ends first and foremost, never forget that.’

‘I see you’ve met our Xirniumite friends,’ announced Magnus Erthwig in quite undertones as he entered the hallway from a side passage, not bothering to introduce himself to the Mitsune Konno. As always, Erthwig wore a featureless expression.

‘I would be very careful, if I were you. One cannot trust the High Ecclesiarchy, especially that Lady Sabelina. They serve their own ends first and foremost, never forget that.’

Mitsune gave her fellow Torontian a polite smile. “Ah Mr. Erthwig, I have been meaning to speak to you…and don’t worry, I did not attain my present position by being as dense as lead.”

Mitsune puffed on her cigarette

“’Irrational fixation with Torontia’s past, crude straw man…’ Your benefactors, in addition to being untrustworthy, seem to lack an appreciation for what we went through.”

Mitsune glanced at Erthwig.

“You went through a lot while in prison didn’t you?”

Mitsune took another puff of her cigarette.

“One of the few benefits of chaos is that it allows for a settling of accounts. Your torturers, did you kill them?”

Mitsune reached back into her pocket and produced her pack of cigarettes. She offered one to Erthwig.

‘You know of course, Ms Carter,’ Lady Sabelina began slowly, ‘that the High Ecclesiarchy (as a foreign government and temporary custodian of East Torontia) officialy maintains that it does not have the authority to endorse the cession of sovereign Torontian territory. That territory belongs to the people of Torontia. By extension, only the democratically elected representatives of the Torontian people should have the legal authority to surrender their own sovereign land.

We will not attempt to usurp the popular sovereignty of the Torontia people, or participate in an undermining of Torontia’s territorial integrity (which would weaken its claim to sovereignty as a nation-state).

Carter was almost angry at the fact that multiple people had taken "claim a small military base" as "carge Torontia to shit and hope no one cares." She could work with that, though.

"We're not talking about carving Torontia up like a bunch of imperialists, dear," Carter explained. "It's a military base in an area no one cared for before. I'm not asying you to make the decision to give the land away either. I'm asking you how Xirnium feels about it. Would Xirnium move to block McKagan from establishing a presense?"


"Therefore the High Ecclesiarchy will not support enshrining this type of imperialism in the Constitution. You will need to consult with the new Torontian government if you want to establish a military base here, as we plan to.’

"At least we're on the same page and trying to do the same thing," Carter added.

‘Also,’ Eleanor added, ‘we must bear in mind that, currently, only the Eternal Republic and the Democratic Imperium maintain a significant military presence in Torontia. The High Ecclesiarchy does not want this status quo to change, and therefore doesn’t want to see that every nation (certain nations in particular) involved in this has the right to establish a military base here.

"I understand that perfectly. What McKagan is worried about, however, is that these particular will label the McKagan mission to Torontia as imperialist if we have an upfront decline to their motives. The last thing the Imperium wants is another conflict in Torontia to explode and IMAF to have to engage multiple theatres at once."

"We're not talking about carving Torontia up like a bunch of imperialists, dear.

It's a military base in an area no one cared for before. I'm not asking you to make the decision to give the land away either. I'm asking you how Xirnium feels about it. Would Xirnium move to block McKagan from establishing a presence?"
Lady Sabelina closed her eyes and slowly took a deep breath, calming herself before she could say something that she might regret later.

‘Do not call me “dear” again, Ms Carter,’ Eleanor replied icily. ‘I am a member of the Xirniumite Parliament. You may address me either as Ms (or Lady) Sabelina, Grand Cardinal or Parliamentary Secretary.’

‘Now… I know precisely what you are talking about; I’m not a fool,’ she continued, her tone businesslike once again. ‘You want to safeguard McKagan’s interests by annexing land for the establishment of military bases. Regardless of how the McKagan Executive would like to portray it, this is imperialistically carving up Torontia. You don't want to rent the territory, you want to annex it. That the territory in question is one which “no one cared for before” is irrelevant, the point is that you want to infringe on the national sovereignty of the Torontian republic.

I’ve answered your question once, and I will answer it yet again. Xirnium will not consent to violations of Torontia’s territorial integrity at the Constitutional Convention. McKagan, of course, already has a presence here, so we would hardly be seeking to block it. As I said before, we support the status quo. Whatever negotiations you may enter into with the future national Torontian government are none of our concern, but this conference is.’

"I understand that perfectly. What McKagan is worried about, however, is that these particular will label the McKagan mission to Torontia as imperialist if we have an upfront decline to their motives. The last thing the Imperium wants is another conflict in Torontia to explode and IMAF to have to engage multiple theatres at once."
‘There is no possibility for an armed conflict in Torontia while the Eternal Republic remains here…’ explained the Grand Cardinal with an arrogant smile.

‘Let me ask you a question now, Ms Carter. Just out of curiosity, who precisely did the McKagan government want to allow to establish a presence in Torontia?’

”I did not attain my present position by being as dense as lead.”
‘Certainly not. You did so by being veritably amenable to your Amestrian patrons, and by ensuring that your tenure continued to serve their interests,’ replied Magnus, though his friendly smile told Mitsune that the riposte was not intended as an insult.

”Your benefactors, in addition to being untrustworthy, seem to lack an appreciation for what we went through.”
‘No, of course not. How could they? How could anyone?’ asked Mr Erthwig, seemingly lost in brooding thought.

‘I doubt however, Ms Konno, that it is as much a lack of understanding as it is a lack of concern,’ explained Magnus. ‘To the Xirniumite government, Lady Sabelina especially,’ he added, and his tone told Mitsune that he found her haughty attitude insufferable, ‘such things are completely irrelevant. They’re “the past”, of no concern.

Oh, I’m sure the High Ecclesiarchy appreciates our suffering under the New Order regime at least on an intellectual, academic, level. Since assuming control of East Torontia, they’ve captured and tried hundreds of Tanakis’ hangmen, they geuninely revile them. It’s just that they divorce themselves of this awareness when determining “matters of state” in relation to Torontia. We’re just foreigners to them, after all, we're not Xirniumites.

Arrogant bastards…’

Mitsune glanced at Erthwig.

“You went through a lot while in prison didn’t you?”
‘I did,’ Mr Erthwig replied darkly, unconsciously flexing his left hand as if he felt remembered pain. At the mention of his time as a political prisoner, Magnus instinctively became more distant and withdrawn.

‘You should count yourself lucky, Ms Konno, that you fled to Amestria, where you were safe from Tanakis’ cruel truncheons,’ the Torontian explained, the barest hint of bitterness in his voice. Unlike him, Mitsune had gone into exile and not endured the worst of the New Order’s prisons.

“One of the few benefits of chaos is that it allows for a settling of accounts. Your torturers, did you kill them?”
Mitsune reached back into her pocket and produced her pack of cigarettes.

She offered one to Erthwig.
Erthwig accepted the cigarette in silence.

‘One always imagines that revenge will wipe away one’s anguish, or that it will make up for the loss of one’s loved ones,’ replied the Torontian sagely, deliberately avoiding the question. ‘It’s not true.’

Do not call me “dear” again, Ms Carter,’ Eleanor replied icily. ‘I am a member of the Xirniumite Parliament. You may address me either as Ms (or Lady) Sabelina, Grand Cardinal or Parliamentary Secretary.’

"Sorry for any offense you may have taken from that comment. It really wasn't meant to sound as... hard spirited, as it did."

‘Now… I know precisely what you are talking about; I’m not a fool,’ she continued, her tone businesslike once again. ‘You want to safeguard McKagan’s interests by annexing land for the establishment of military bases.'

"Not military bases. A military base. I'm sorry, but you're blowing this way out of porportion."

Regardless of how the McKagan Executive would like to portray it, this is imperialistically carving up Torontia. You don't want to rent the territory, you want to annex it. That the territory in question is one which “no one cared for before” is irrelevant, the point is that you want to infringe on the national sovereignty of the Torontian republic.

"Actually, we want to protect the national sovereignty of the Torontian 'Republic,' which I may add has no functioning constitution or government. The Torontian Republic, as you call it, doesn't exist yet. Until the first elections or the constitution is ratified - McKagan doesn't see Torontia as a nation. Let's just be clear, though. McKagan is willing to pay an ungodly amount of capital upfront in order to claim this territory. It isn't as if we're taking it for nothing."

‘Let me ask you a question now, Ms Carter. Just out of curiosity, who precisely did the McKagan government want to allow to establish a presence in Torontia?’

"Anyone who already has a presense there," Carter started, "would be allowed a future presense under our plan. Anyone being here and then leaving prior to the Imperium's landing wouldn't be. Amestria and Saint Fedski would never be allowed back into the nation if we can at all stop it."

"Sorry for any offence you may have taken from that comment. It really wasn't meant to sound as... hard spirited, as it did."
‘Freely given, freely accepted,’ noted the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘Bare it no further thought, Ms Carter.’

”I'm sorry, but you're blowing this way out of proportion."
‘I do not think that such is my intention, Ms Carter,’ explained Eleanor with an exasperated sigh as she readjusted her sitting position in order to be more comfortable. ‘The High Ecclesiarchy is unconcerned with the amount of territory that McKagan wishes to annex, or the number of bases you wish to build. That is not the issue of contention at all, or at least it isn't the matter that I am highlighting for you.

Our concerns, which are purely legal concerns, would be absolutely identical regardless of whether you wanted to annex a square metre of territory or the entire western half of the State.’

"Actually, we want to protect the national sovereignty of the Torontian 'Republic,' which I may add has no functioning constitution or government. The Torontian Republic, as you call it, doesn't exist yet. Until the first elections or the constitution is ratified - McKagan doesn't see Torontia as a nation.”
‘Torontia may not have a sovereign government,’ began Lady Sabelina, ‘but this does not mean that the nation of Torontia is not a sovereign legal entity. The sovereignty of the nation of Torontia ultimately resides in the Torontia people, and is not extinguished by the mere overthrow of a government. The sovereignty of the Torontian nation is a product of the inalienable right to self-determination of the Torontian people.

If the High Ecclesiarchy did not believe this was true, we would simply have annexed all of East Torontia ourselves and incorporated it within the Eternal Republic on the very day that we occupied it,’ added the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘We would not be bothering with this long and costly procedure to draft a national Torontian Constitution.

If we can go one step, then why not fifty, Ms Carter? The relevent principles are the same.’

‘You claim that you want to protect the national sovereignty of Torontia, and yet you are advocating the violation of its territorial integrity. We won’t allow this.’

Let's just be clear, though. McKagan is willing to pay an ungodly amount of capital upfront in order to claim this territory. It isn't as if we're taking it for nothing."
‘To be completely honest, I fail to see what relevance that this has to our discussion,’ replied Eleanor with increased irritation. ‘I’m not suggesting that McKagan plans to steal the territory. I’m merely saying that this Constitutional Convention has no right to give it to you.

That territory which you want belongs to the Torontian people.’

Lady Sabelina ran a hand idly through her ginger hair. 'Look, I think I've made the Eternal Republic's opinion more then clear for you. Was there anything else you wished to discuss with me?'

‘I do not think that such is my intention, Ms Carter,’ explained Eleanor with an exasperated sigh as she readjusted her sitting position in order to be more comfortable. ‘The High Ecclesiarchy is unconcerned with the amount of territory that McKagan wishes to annex, or the number of bases you wish to build. That is not the issue of contention at all, or at least it isn't the matter that I am highlighting for you.

Our concerns, which are purely legal concerns, would be absolutely identical regardless of whether you wanted to annex a square metre of territory or the entire western half of the State.’

Alicia Carter realized that she wasn't making any real ground. But she WAS standing strong, something the other delegates McKagan had sent wouldn't have been able to do. All and all she felt like she'd made some progress in the fact that someone now knew McKagan's intentions. Her plan now was fairly simple: She wasn't going to mention carving up Torontia at the convention and then McKagan would just deal with it after the legal matter's are formed. It appeared that blocking legislation was easier than passing it - as evident in the fact that so little has been accomplished in so long.

"I think that the question isn't how much land we're talking about - but what our intentions for the use of that land are. The New Order still exists, I hate to say. McKagan CODEX teams did capture nearly all of their governmental staff - but they still have followers. As long as THOSE people exist in Torontia I don't know how you can say the 'integrity' is any better than it would be without McKagan claiming a base. With a base and certain operating rights in Torontia we'd be able to secure the nation against any New Order uprising."

If the High Ecclesiarchy did not believe this was true, we would simply have annexed all of East Torontia ourselves and incorporated it within the Eternal Republic on the very day that we occupied it,’ added the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘We would not be bothering with this long and costly procedure to draft a national Torontian Constitution.

"If McKagan was an imperialist nation out to gain land from every investment we would have kicked Amestria and Saint Fedski out of the nation and took it for ourselves."

‘You claim that you want to protect the national sovereignty of Torontia, and yet you are advocating the violation of its territorial integrity. We won’t allow this.’

"I'm advocating the building of a military base to protect the integrity of the nation from itself and from foreign agressors. The benefits of a McKagan presense in Torontia far outweigh the costs of a small dot of land."

'I’m not suggesting that McKagan plans to steal the territory. I’m merely saying that this Constitutional Convention has no right to give it to you.

"That's the best statement you've made this whole time. McKagan isn't ASKING the Constitutional Convention to give us land. We're not asking Xirnium to give us land. We're asking you how you'd feel about us taking up a position to defend the nation of Torontia."


Lady Sabelina ran a hand idly through her ginger hair. 'Look, I think I've made the Eternal Republic's opinion more then clear for you. Was there anything else you wished to discuss with me?'

"I was just starting to enjoy our conversation," Carter said in a semi-whining voice. "If you need to go, though, I'm done."

"I think that the question isn't how much land we're talking about - but what our intentions for the use of that land are.”
‘No, that is not the issue at all, Ms Carter,’ replied the Xirniumite. ‘The issue is the cession of sovereign Torontian territory. It’s really quite simple, we will not support violations of Torontia’s territorial integrity.’

“The New Order still exists, I hate to say. McKagan CODEX teams did capture nearly all of their governmental staff - but they still have followers. As long as THOSE people exist in Torontia I don't know how you can say the 'integrity' is any better than it would be without McKagan claiming a base. With a base and certain operating rights in Torontia we'd be able to secure the nation against any New Order uprising."
Lady Sabelina narrowed her lovely blue-green eyes in both confusion and mild annoyance at Ms Carter’s words.

‘What possible relevance could there be between the remnant of support for the New Order Party and the maintenance of Torontia’s territorial integrity?’ asked the deputy Foreign Minister. ‘Even if the New Order was a credible threat (and the latest XSIS intelligence states that it is not), this does not justify the annexation of land. At present Xirnium maintains several military bases throughout East Torontia and yet the Eternal Republic has not annexed any land at all, nor do we plan to.

This is all a non sequitor, McKagan does not need to annex Torontia's sovereign territory in order to safeguard Torontia.’

"If McKagan was an imperialist nation out to gain land from every investment we would have kicked Amestria and Saint Fedski out of the nation and took it for ourselves."
Eleanor laughed out loud at Ms Carter’s assertion.

‘So because McKagan did not attempt to supplant the Amestrian-Saint Fedski occupation and claim Torontia for themselves, it therefore logically follows that your desire to annex territory is not an imperialist desire?

Don't insult my intelligence, Ms Carter.’

"I'm advocating the building of a military base to protect the integrity of the nation from itself and from foreign aggressors. The benefits of a McKagan presence in Torontia far outweigh the costs of a small dot of land."
‘I’m not interested in your government's rationalisations, Ms Carter,’ replied Lady Sabelina. ‘They’re wholly beside the salient point, which are the legal objections. These legal objections would be no different whether you wanted the land in order to build extermination camps or for humanitarian aid distribution centres.

There are other, more effective, means of protecting the integrity of Torontia then by violating its national sovereignty.’

"That's the best statement you've made this whole time. McKagan isn't ASKING the Constitutional Convention to give us land. We're not asking Xirnium to give us land. We're asking you how you'd feel about us taking up a position to defend the nation of Torontia."
‘And just what the hell is that supposed to mean, Ms Carter?’ asked the Xirniumite Parliamentarian, finally losing her temper. There were far too many euphemisms and far too much intentional obfuscation in this discussion for the Grand Cardinal's liking. ‘You aren’t asking us whether you can do something... you just want to know what our opinion will be when you go ahead and do it anyway? Is that it, hmm?' Lady Sabelina asked, attempting to clarify the delegate's question.

'Tell me something, Ms Carter, just how do you think we will “feel” about that? Obviously we would object!’

'This is all a non sequitor, McKagan does not need to annex Torontia's sovereign territory in order to safeguard Torontia.’

"Which McKagan understands. That's in a perfect world, however. The Torontian government was taken over by the New Order once before. What's to say it wouldn't happen again and the new crackpot government order people off THEIR land. Certain safeguards need to be put in place. I'm sorry you're still thinking in the same politically correct terms - but the fact is that Torontia is NOT a stable place politically, economically, and militarily. OWNING a military base in Torontia brings with it things and security that RENTING a military base doesn't."


‘So because McKagan did not attempt to supplant the Amestrian-Saint Fedski occupation and claim Torontia for themselves, it therefore logically follows that your desire to annex territory is not an imperialist desire?'

"It logically means that we don't care enough about grabbing land to consider that as our only goal. We want to protect Torontian assets and McKagan investments - not get a new swimming pool or parking lot."

‘And just what the hell is that supposed to mean, Ms Carter?’ asked the Xirniumite Parliamentarian, finally losing her temper. There were far too many euphemisms and far too much intentional obfuscation in this discussion for the Grand Cardinal's liking. ‘You aren’t asking us whether you can do something... you just want to know what our opinion will be when you go ahead and do it anyway? Is that it, hmm?' Lady Sabelina asked, attempting to clarify the delegate's question.


"Could you please calm down? I'd rather not have to fear for my personal safety when discussing political matters that McKagan had the good will to bring forth to you," Carter said while breathing out heavily. She was standing her ground and had no intentions of giving in. If anything she could get the Xirniumite frustrated before the conference started again - or at least get under her skin.

"Xirnium's opinion of our potential actions means alot to McKagan. We want to know how you feel before making demands or pushing any agenda. In the end of it McKagan doesn't need Xirnium's approval to do anything. But you see, it would be better if we did. That's how allies work."

“The Torontian government was taken over by the New Order once before. What's to say it wouldn't happen again and the new crackpot government order people off THEIR land.”
‘The Xirniumite Secret Intelligence Service believes that the New Order Party has, for all extents and purposes, been effectively wiped out. It’s leadership and command and control elements have taken a terrible toll over the past year (Xirnium alone has brought to justice scores of high-level New Order members) and it has all but lost its previous popular support. In the past few months the East Torontian people have lived under the full protection of the liberal and progressive Xirniumite Common Law – they do not want to go back.

The creation of a strong, transparent and independent Torontia will do far more to ensure that a tyrannical government never rises again then carving up Torontia and placing foreign military bases on its former soil ever could.’

“OWNING a military base in Torontia brings with it things and security that RENTING a military base doesn't."
‘I’m afraid that we simply can’t agree on this point. I see no practical differences at all.

Surrendering sovereign territory to foreign governments will only ensure that Torontia never truly becomes an independent nation, free from external interference and with the chance to pursue its own future.’

"Could you please calm down? I'd rather not have to fear for my personal safety when discussing political matters that McKagan had the good will to bring forth to you."
‘I am calm!’ replied the deputy Foreign Minister, perhaps a little too forcefully. Eleanor’s pert lips reluctantly broke into a small grin in an effort to displace some of the tension in the room.

‘I’ve tried to make the High Ecclesiarchy’s opinion as clear and unambiguous to you as I possibly can. It is our belief that foreign nations have no right to annex territory belonging legally to the Torontian people, that to do so would constitute an unacceptable imperialist violation of Torontia’s national sovereignty.

The Eternal Republic and the Democratic Imperium are here as guests of the Torontian people. We are guardians of their inalienable right to self-determination, not proprietors of their state.’

“ In the end of it McKagan doesn't need Xirnium's approval to do anything. But you see, it would be better if we did. That's how allies work."
‘Any unilateral attempt by McKagan to annex Torontian territory would be a most grave mistake,’ noted Lady Sabelina ominously. ‘Remember that the Democratic Imperium is not the only nation with a military presence in Torontia.’

‘Certainly not. You did so by being veritably amenable to your Amestrian patrons, and by ensuring that your tenure continued to serve their interests,’ replied Magnus, though his friendly smile told Mitsune that the riposte was not intended as an insult.

Mitsune returned the smile. “Can it be helped if Amestria and the TNCP share many of the same interests?”

‘I doubt however, Ms Konno, that it is as much a lack of understanding as it is a lack of concern,’ explained Magnus. ‘To the Xirniumite government, Lady Sabelina especially,’ he added, and his tone told Mitsune that he found her haughty attitude insufferable, ‘such things are completely irrelevant. They’re “the past”, of no concern.

“And we are the future,” Mitsune added. “I assume you want to talk partnership...”

‘I did,’ Mr Erthwig replied darkly, unconsciously flexing his left hand as if he felt remembered pain. At the mention of his time as a political prisoner, Magnus instinctively became more distant and withdrawn.

‘You should count yourself lucky, Ms Konno, that you fled to Amestria, where you were safe from Tanakis’ cruel truncheons,’ the Torontian explained, the barest hint of bitterness in his voice. Unlike him, Mitsune had gone into exile and not endured the worst of the New Order’s prisons.

“I simply saw what was coming and got out. Luck had nothing to do with my escape.”

Erthwig accepted the cigarette in silence.

‘One always imagines that revenge will wipe away one’s anguish, or that it will make up for the loss of one’s loved ones,’ replied the Torontian sagely, deliberately avoiding the question. ‘It’s not true.’

Mitsune took out her lighter and offered Erthwig a flame.

“Killing someone will not make up for anything, it is a chore, like taking out the trash, replacing a light bulb, or wiping away the ring around ones tub. There is however…pleasure to be had in the deed…the satisfaction of accomplishment and the joy of inflicting suffering with impunity upon those who deserve it. The late Colonel Oliver Southern of the Republican Guard, for example. Before I had a bullet put in his head I assured him that his wife and children would follow and he died screaming not for his life but for theirs.”

Mitsune ran her left hand absentmindedly through her brown hair. “Of course I did not touch his wife or child, but he died thinking his entire family would be wiped out, and that’s what mattered.” Mitsune smiled. “You should have seen the desperation in Southern’s eyes as I signed the phony orders authorizing their immediate execution.” Mitsune gave a cold laugh.

“Can it be helped if Amestria and the TNCP share many of the same interests?”
‘No…’ answered the Torontian. ‘No, not so long as they continue to provide their cheques regularly and without fail, in any case. Isn't that right?’

Magnus Erthwig smiled. He didn’t need to hear her reply, he already knew the answer.

“I assume you want to talk partnership...”
‘And what makes you think that I either want, or need, your partnership?’ asked Mr Erthwig with a dry smile. ‘Perhaps I just wanted to enjoy the pleasant company of such a lovely lady as yourself.’

‘There is however…pleasure to be had in the deed…the satisfaction of accomplishment and the joy of inflicting suffering with impunity’
‘Ahh, "always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face ...for ever,"’ recited Magnus.

‘I see that you have taken Orwell’s words to heart. I’d be cautious though, if I were you. Remember what Nietche wrote, "if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."’

Erthwig gratefully accepted the light from Ms Konno, and took a puff from his cigarette. ‘Death is an extremely useful political tool, that much is undeniable. I don’t fool myself about its reprehensible nature, however. It disgusts me. Maybe after you personally order the deaths of innocents as a means to a political end you will also appreciate that.

Or maybe not.’

Carter started to speak again. She was now talking mostly hypothetically. McKagan wasn't going to go against the wishes of many other nations and declare part of Torontia its own. Sabelina was intent on pushing the point that it was, however - and Carter had to deal with this.

"Do you realize that I'm not really talking about McKagan's plans anymore? We still think the idea of purchasing land for a military base is better than simply renting it - but to do that would be so politically incorrect that no one could politically deal with it. We'll probably end up renting the city for a few years to hang around and see what happens."

‘I’m afraid that we simply can’t agree on this point. I see no practical differences at all.

"As stated - it's only hypothetical - it's really just a matter of operational security for the paranoid."

Carter decided to take the initiative. "How would you feel about McKagan renting a military base in Torontia?"

‘Any unilateral attempt by McKagan to annex Torontian territory would be a most grave mistake,’ noted Lady Sabelina ominously. ‘Remember that the Democratic Imperium is not the only nation with a military presence in Torontia

"Please stop trying to turn McKagan into the bad guy. You stated that it we (the foreign nations in Torontia) aren't proprietors of their state but you're acting as if we are. McKagan isn't going to go against everyone's wishes - but everyone has to respect McKagan or we're going to have issues."

Carter took a deep, relaxed breath.

"There's also another matter, regarding the Torontian National Congress Party and the media in Western Torontia that I'd like to talk with you about."

"Do you realize that I'm not really talking about McKagan's plans anymore? We still think the idea of purchasing land for a military base is better than simply renting it - but to do that would be so politically incorrect that no one could politically deal with it. We'll probably end up renting the city for a few years to hang around and see what happens."
Eleanor Sabelina smiled. ‘We understand one another perfectly. I’m pleased that you have seen things from our point of view,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister.

"How would you feel about McKagan renting a military base in Torontia?"
‘Well let me put it this way, Ms Carter,’ explained Lady Sabelina, leaning forward in her seat slightly. ‘McKagan already has military bases in West Torontia. So does the Eternal Republic.

If you were to continue to rent them after the new national government came to power, it would not change the status quo. Consequently we would not have a problem with it at all. I trust that the Democratic Imperium will hold a similar view about Xirnium continuing to maintain its own military bases.’

"Please stop trying to turn McKagan into the bad guy. You stated that it we (the foreign nations in Torontia) aren't proprietors of their state but you're acting as if we are. McKagan isn't going to go against everyone's wishes - but everyone has to respect McKagan or we're going to have issues."
‘I’ve not been trying to portray McKagan as a “bad guy” at all,’ explained Eleanor, appearing slightly affronted at Ms Carter’s unfair claim. ‘I merely expressed to you, candidly, the objections of the High Ecclesiarchy to your original proposal. Frank dialogue is one of the hallmarks of a successful alliance. I am very glad to see that you have decided to abandon your original proposal, and to seek instead a less contentious solution.’

"There's also another matter, regarding the Torontian National Congress Party and the media in Western Torontia that I'd like to talk with you about."
‘Ahh, now this is something that we are likely to agree on…’

‘Well let me put it this way, Ms Carter,’ explained Lady Sabelina, leaning forward in her seat slightly. ‘McKagan already has military bases in West Torontia. So does the Eternal Republic.

If you were to continue to rent them after the new national government came to power, it would not change the status quo. Consequently we would not have a problem with it at all. I trust that the Democratic Imperium will hold a similar view about Xirnium continuing to maintain its own military bases.’

"Our current plan is to continue to occupy a total of 10 military bases in Western Torontia until several election cycles have completed. The idea for a more long term military base is only in place because, obviously, we've got to pull out and allow the Torontian's to protect themselves sometime. McKagan still has a job to do here, though - which is why we're not very excited about disappearing. On the point of Xirnium maintaining its military bases - we support and encourage it. There's only so much room in Torontia for foreign powers and we'd rather share it with an ally who we see eye-to-eye with."

‘I’ve not been trying to portray McKagan as a “bad guy” at all,’ explained Eleanor, appearing slightly affronted at Ms Carter’s unfair claim. ‘I merely expressed to you, candidly, the objections of the High Ecclesiarchy to your original proposal. Frank dialogue is one of the hallmarks of a successful alliance. I am very glad to see that you have decided to abandon your original proposal, and to seek instead a less contentious solution.’

Carter was so incredibly happy that things were calming down and she could progress her agenda without waging a personal battle against Sabelina.

"Our original proposal here was never an actual suggested action. We merely wanted to see what we could get by with." Carter tried to smile.

‘Ahh, now this is something that we are likely to agree on…’

"We're sitting in this conference arguing about how to make the government when half the nation of Torontia can't even have access to more than one political party.

We helped the Torontian Liberal Party get off the ground. I was an envoy to them for a while. Do you know that they don't allow other political parties to advertise on television in Western Torontia? They claim it creates a hostile enviroment. Doesn't that sound sort of like fascist to you?

Do you know what else is interesting? They told us to advertise in the newspaper. We had several major contracts lined up to run ads in multiple areas of the country where the TLP had no prior contact and would thus be unknown.

Oddly, right before press time, we were outbid by a series of unknown investors... but it gets better. A few of the contracts went through to the areas we had no exposure in. A few days later, after those issues were to go out, we did an opinion pole there. Only three percent of the people we surveyed had HEARD of the TLP.

For starters, where does a normal Torontian get the funds to outbid a major political party supported by McKagan? Also... how do people who read a newspaper that has an add inside the front cover not hear of it AT ALL?

My working theory surrounds TNCP involvement. We think that they know they're on the way out and are trying to hold onto the only advantage they have.

To get to the point - I think that's the thing we need to focus on when the conference resumes. We've got to bring them to task."

Carter realized she'd gotten so tense during that chain of comments she felt as angry as she did when her and Sabelina almost got into a verbal fight. She relaxed - and prepared for a response.

Ho was a couple of inches shorter than the Prime Minister of Southeast Asia himself - Neo was five foot eleven, and Ho was five foot nine. (OOC: I'm assuming that Gilda's shorter Xirnium) Ho's more well built, taller frame. He formed a mauve, slight and subtle smile, knowing that there was more to her reaction than merely his appearance. Only the most timid of people would be shocked at a mere person's appearance.

He nodded his head, then spoke "Well Doctor Gilda, alibi accepted." He highlighted the word "alibi" not so hard, not so soft, as to say "I don’t believe it, but I’ll take it." Then he followed the Caucasian lady toward the room she had swiftly arranged for the two of them.

Normally, diplomatic personnel would have at least a single bodyguard (usually one for interludes while the conventional, long term ones went off duty for a short break) accompanying them. Such was the laws of the Neo Administration. Only that the Southeast Asian ambassador to the Allied States, as those that knew him all too well, was one of those arrogant, narcissistic jerks that were so efficient and talented at their work, they could keep their occupations and get away with their poor social interaction conduct. So, when the interlude safety personnel took over, their emotions weren’t so as stressed as to the point in which in became a seemingly Herculean task to show a drop of respect, let alone show a face of cold, businesslike formality—the inevitable kind of look you see at every event a high ranking official is around.

So for now, and for whoever is reading this section’s delight, let’s move onto another character’s perspective on the Southeast Asian ambassador.


Urgh…why did I chose this job in the first place? thought one of the bodyguards. Namely, was the thought of Nathaniel Lee, thirty one years old of age and of male sex, Agent Lee was a man of average European height—five feet, eight inches. Cropped light black hair, typical lean but fit, muscular outlook—most former bodyguards of national politicians in Southeast Asia had served in the all-volunteer, military at some point before entering a bodyguard career. He had thought that the day he swore to protect diplomatic personnel would be just as easy as the army. Well, he was one of those that mastered boot camp and everything else with relative ease and failed to see why it was difficult.

Then he recalled the day he swore to protect after passing the qualifications….

Some several months before….

“Do you swear loyalty to the Union of Southeast Asian Nations?” asked the inaugurator.

“I do,” responded Nathaniel, his hand placed onto the template—given the fact that Southeast Asia, thanks to the first and incumbent Prime Minister’s group, the Federal New Liberal Party, had a secular policy, the template was one that was adjustable for a variety of hand sizes.

“Do you swear to protect a Southeast Asian diplomatic unit’s life, as well as your very own?”

“I do.”

“Finally, do you swear not to take another’s life only when necessary?”

“I do.”

“Congratulations, Nathaniel Lee, may your term as a guard protecting our diplomatic personnel see nothing but benign intent and vigilance.”

Ah, that was a good day, too bad I did not know I wasn’t going to like the guy I’d been assigned to protect, Nathaniel thought as he snapped back to reality. He was in a smoking allowed area of a room not too far away…hell, he didn’t even know where it was in the entire building (though he guessed it was on the same floor), all that mattered was that he got a break from Ho. Every break he and his colleagues got seemed like they had been liberated from tyrannical oppression. Normally, he didn’t smoke—usually once or twice in every half a year. As he lay, he could hear his colleagues make jeering remarks in Malay about Ho’s conduct and jokes—he didn’t speak nor read Malay one hundred percent to perfection, but he grasped the basics enough to get it. Forming a mauve smile, he couldn’t wait till his term ended….


Now let’s return to the Xirniumite Foreign Minister’s dialogue with the Southeast Asian ambassador….

Ho took off his suit’s coat and set it around the crest rail of the chair he was to be resting on. The peeled item revealed more of his black tie—the coat had hidden the navy-blue and dark-green stripes that were on it—the former being on the front of the tie while the latter being on the behind of the tie. He also wore a plain white, long sleeved, modern day collared shirt—like any business person would. Nice and snug, the upper body part of clothing didn’t betray any of his physical features. Which, had Gilda’s sexual orientation been heterosexual, she would have found (if going by the stereotype) his lean, athletic and to use slang, “cut” physique a big attraction factor and even bigger a magnet if it were not for his arrogance and usually elitist social conduct.

“Well,” spoke the Ambassador, “Neo didn’t really go into extremely great detail of what the letter was about. I can respect that—after all, the type of letter he sent is the unofficial kind, if I recall correctly, the informal and personal kind. What is the High Ecclesiarchy’s opinion on the Neo Administration as of recent? Unchanged, I think? Anyway, here’s the letter.” He passed the item across the small coffee table across.

(OOC: Xirnium, I didn’t include the letter in this post because I feel it’s better for the details of letter to be done later, because it didn’t turn out as planned and as well as I thought after proofreading it. My apologies.

Erthwig gratefully accepted the light from Ms Konno, and took a puff from his cigarette. ‘Death is an extremely useful political tool, that much is undeniable. I don’t fool myself about its reprehensible nature, however. It disgusts me. Maybe after you personally order the deaths of innocents as a means to a political end you will also appreciate that.

Or maybe not.’

“There are no innocents.”

‘No…’ answered the Torontian. ‘No, not so long as they continue to provide their cheques regularly and without fail, in any case, right?’

Magnus Erthwig smiled. He didn’t need to hear her reply, he already knew the answer.

“I no longer have need of the pocket change that is my salary, my time as the Provisional Governments Vice President has made me a very wealthy woman. I am in the process of purchasing a suitable beach house…a place where I can relax and enjoy myself, free from the fortress like atmosphere that dominates Port Angeles and Raymond. It will be a fixer upper of course, but it is one of the few places with trees and an unpolluted beach… I am also investing in Northwestern Amestrian property, just in case things here do not work out as planned...”

‘And what makes you think that I either want, or need, your partnership?’ asked Mr Erthwig with a dry smile.

“Simple mathematics, there are presently four political parties, the forming of a government will require a coalition. Short of your party miraculously getting 51% of the seats in the lower house, you will need a partner.”

‘Perhaps I just wanted to enjoy the pleasant company of such a lovely lady as yourself.’

“I am not averse to putting my body on the table as long as you do not have a disease.”

Mitsune puffed on her cigarette and smiled.

“So do you have any interest in a political partnership or are you just killing time?”

"On the point of Xirnium maintaining its military bases - we support and encourage it. There's only so much room in Torontia for foreign powers and we'd rather share it with an ally who we see eye-to-eye with."
‘Splendid,’ replied Lady Sabelina. She smiled disarmingly at the McKagan diplomat.

‘It is in our mutual interests that we prevent any other foreign powers from gaining a foothold here, however small. I’m sure you will agree. For that we must present a united front. At present, only the Democratic Imperium, the Eternal Republic and the Infinite Empire maintain a presence of any note in Torontia - that should not be allowed to change. We must steadfastly block the entry of any new powers into the Torontian republic.’

Eleanor stood up and walked to a nearby wooden cabinet, quietly withdrawing a whiskey bottle and some glasses. She returned and poured herself a drink, gesturing for Ms Carter to do the same.

‘Kahanistan will be removed from Torontia by the end of the month. In the past they were much too willing to work with the TPG, and now they pose an obstacle to the High Ecclesiarchy’s objectives. This is all off the record, of course…’

"Our original proposal here was never an actual suggested action. We merely wanted to see what we could get by with."
‘Well I appreciate the fact that the McKagan government chose to run this hypothetical proposal by us first. Let me stress that I am always willing to discuss any matter over with the McKagan Executive,’ Eleanor replied with a friendly smile.

”My working theory surrounds TNCP involvement. We think that they know they're on the way out and are trying to hold onto the only advantage they have.
‘No doubt,’ replied the Grand Cardinal. ‘Amestria’s puppet government is like a cancer, extremely harmful to its host and resistant to attempts at eradicating it. They are extremely ruthless and even willing to violate their own laws to achieve political ends. We must match and exceed their ruthlessness.’

“To get to the point - I think that's the thing we need to focus on when the conference resumes. We've got to bring them to task."
The Grand Cardinal waved a slender hand dismissively.

‘The TPG is not long for this world, they have agreed to dissolve and will soon be replaced with a new, independent and national government,’ she explained. ‘We can certainly include important provisions in the Constitution to ensure that the reprehensible one-party state which was allowed to form in Amestrian Torontia is impossible in the future Torontian republic, but other then that I do not see how else the TPG’s censorship of the TLP would be relevant at the Convention proper.’

“There are no innocents.”
‘No, I suppose not,’ thought Mr Erthwig. ‘Only varying degrees of guilt...’

“I no longer have need of the pocket change that is my salary, my time as the Provisional Governments Vice President has made me a very wealthy woman. I am in the process of purchasing a suitable beach house…a place where I can relax and enjoy myself, free from the fortress like atmosphere that dominates Port Angeles and Raymond. It will be a fixer upper of course, but it is one of the few places with trees and an unpolluted beach… I am also investing in Northwestern Amestrian property, just in case things here do not work out as planned...”
‘I was rather referring to the Amestrian government financing your Party's activities and liquidating your political rivals... but then again I suspect you knew that, didn’t you?’ asked Magnus with a knowing smile.

“I am not averse to putting my body on the table as long as you do not have a disease.”
‘Well... I’m afraid, Ms Konno, I usually prefer that my, erm… courtesans cost me a little less than the undoubtedly princely sum I suspect I would need to pay for you,’ replied Erthwig. Magnus withdrew the cigarette from his lips and exhaled, indifferently flicking a bit of its ash away.

“So do you have any interest in a political partnership or are you just killing time?”
‘No, I am indeed interested in a political partnership,' explained Erthwig. ‘Though I must add that if I was merely killing time, then there would be fewer more enjoyable people to do so with than you,’ added the Torontian.

‘Very well, what do you propose?’

snip
Lady Gilda had not spent a very great deal of time in Mr Ho’s presence before finally deciding that she really did not like him. The Foreign Minister was unsure whether it was Evan’s self-assured arrogance, his idiotic conversational manner of speech or merely the inane quality of his pointless ramblings, but she was quite certain that, despite her utterly professional nature, she very much disliked the man.

Unlike the Southeast Asian (who had taken off his coat), Heather chose not remove her outer garment. The formal Parliamentary cloak conferred a stately, dignified aura to the Xirniumite politician.

‘As you can imagine, Ambassador,’ began Heather in a pleasant voice and with a lovely smile, ‘the High Ecclesiarchy’s view of the Neo Administration is perhaps not altogether very flattering. You will recall, no doubt, that your government refused our suggestion for an embassy exchange after taking an inordinately long amount of time to reply to our diplomatic memorandum - not the best way to commence a cordial relationship, I’m sure you will agree.

Would I perhaps be correct in assuming that part of the aim of your meeting involves an attempt to mend these strained relations?’

Heather Gilda thanked Mr Ho softly for the envelope and quietly opened it with a beautifully embellished, brass letter opener. Adjusting her glasses briefly she quickly scanned the page’s title.

OOC: I'm assuming that Gilda's shorter, XirniumOOC: Heather Gilda is about five foot seven inches without her four-inch heels.

‘It is in our mutual interests that we prevent any other foreign powers from gaining a foothold here, however small. I’m sure you will agree. For that we must present a united front. At present, only the Democratic Imperium, the Eternal Republic and the Infinite Empire maintain a presence of any note in Torontia - that should not be allowed to change. We must steadfastly block the entry of any new powers into the Torontian republic.’

"Agreed one hundred percent. The amount of chaos in Torontia is directly controlled by a few factors - foreign occupation is one of them."

‘Well I appreciate the fact that the McKagan government chose to run this hypothetical proposal by us first. Let me stress that I am always willing to discuss any matter over with the McKagan Executive,’ Eleanor replied with a friendly smile.

"One purpose for the hypothetical situation was to guage how Xirnium would feel when presented with the actual problem. If you won't let an allied nation into Torontia then it's a given that another one won't be able to walk in."

‘No doubt,’ replied the Grand Cardinal. ‘Amestria’s puppet government is like a cancer, extremely harmful to its host and resistant to attempts at eradicating it. They are extremely ruthless and even willing to violate their own laws to achieve political ends. We must match and exceed their ruthlessness.’

"Let me assure you," Carter started, trying not to give anything away about what she had been briefed on. "Within the next few weeks McKagan will be carrying out our own measures of ruthlessness..."

‘The TPG is not long for this world, they have agreed to dissolve and will soon be replaced with a new, independent and national government,’ she explained. ‘We can certainly include important provisions in the Constitution to ensure that the reprehensible one-party state which was allowed to form in Amestrian Torontia is impossible in the future Torontian republic, but other then that I do not see how else the TPG’s censorship of the TLP would be relevant at the Convention proper.’

"The issues isn't that they censored the TLP. The issue is that they have state ran media. That is unacceptble in a nation we're trying to restore freedoms in, don't you agree? I believe more emphasis should be paid, convention wide, to drafting a Bill of Rights that includes Freedom of the Media type legislation."

Carter took a deep breath and tried to sit up straight. At any diplomatic conference like this time is a valuable asset. She'd managed hers perfectly up to this point. She needed to focus more on getting McKagan mixed with its other allies at the conference, though.

"By the way, do you know where the Yallak representative went? I've not seen him in a while and I'd like to talk to him too before we go back into the conference. How long do you think that will be?"

‘I was rather referring to the Amestrian government financing your Party's activities and liquidating your political rivals... but then again I suspect you knew that, didn’t you?’ asked Magnus with a knowing smile.

"The TPG only liquidated its enemies; we co-opted or bought off our political rivals."

‘Well... I’m afraid, Ms Konno, I usually prefer that my, erm… courtesans cost me a little less than the undoubtedly princely sum I suspect I would need to pay for you,’ replied Erthwig. Magnus withdrew the cigarette from his lips and exhaled, indifferently flicking a bit of its ash away.

"I was not aware you could afford courtesans Magnus..." Mitsune playfully teased. "The economic conditions in Eastern Torontia must be worse then I initially thought..."

‘No, I am indeed interested in a political partnership,' explained Erthwig. ‘Though I must add that if I was merely killing time, then there would be fewer more enjoyable people to do so with than you,’ added the Torontian.

Mitsune smiled. "Transparent flattery will get you nowhere, I have read Machiavelli."

‘Very well, what do you propose?’

"I want to become President and I want the TNCP to play a significant part of the next government. In return you will be Prime Minister and will secretly be given vast sums of money."

"One purpose for the hypothetical situation was to guage how Xirnium would feel when presented with the actual problem. If you won't let an allied nation into Torontia then it's a given that another one won't be able to walk in."
‘There are allies, Ms Carter… and then there are allies - if you understand my meaning,’ explained the deputy Foreign Minister with a cryptic smile.

‘Suffice it to say that the High Ecclesiarchy is quite comfortable with the international situation as it currently stands, with the Infinite Empire, the Democratic Imperium and the Eternal Republic as the sole major powers in Torontia. We do not desire a change to this status quo.’

"Within the next few weeks McKagan will be carrying out our own measures of ruthlessness..."
‘Capital,’ exclaimed Lady Sabelina offhandedly, though internally the Grand Cardinal frowned as she wondered as to what these “measures” might be.

"The issues isn't that they censored the TLP. The issue is that they have state ran media. That is unacceptble in a nation we're trying to restore freedoms in, don't you agree? I believe more emphasis should be paid, convention wide, to drafting a Bill of Rights that includes Freedom of the Media type legislation."
‘I agree absolutely,’ replied Eleanor with earnest conviction. ‘A free and independent media has long been one of the defining hallmarks of western democracy. You can be certain that the High Ecclesiarchy will give special consideration to provisions guaranteeing such important freedoms when the Convention reconvenes.’

"By the way, do you know where the Yallak representative went? I've not seen him in a while and I'd like to talk to him too before we go back into the conference. How long do you think that will be?"
‘The Yallakian representative? Emperor Balor?’ asked Lady Sabelina, a little distracted by the apparently sudden change of subject.

Eleanor noticed that Ms Carter had not chosen to pour herself a drink. Shrugging internally, the deputy Foreign Minister refilled her own whiskey glass. I suppose I will have a drink for us both, then… she thought dryly.

‘I believe I saw him talking with one of his aides in the Northwest corridor, though I can’t be sure. What did you want to speak to him about, if I might ask?’

OOC: Hey all, this is just a hey im not dead post kind of thing so i can get back into the RP.

‘Ah, here it is,’ declared Solban, puling a page from his open folder and handing it to the Emperor.

As the two men traveled down one of the many corridors of the old Admiralty building, having just returned from the nearby Yallakian military base, the sound of their heavy boots echoed off the walls.

Balor took the paper and glanced briefly down at it. ‘The Senates full approval to destroy those pitiful Amestrian’s? he asked mockingly.

‘No, my Lord,’ laughed Solban, ‘nothing so interesting.’

“we co-opted or bought off our political rivals."
As you no doubt hope to be able to do to me, also… though Mr Erthwig grimly.

"Transparent flattery will get you nowhere, I have read Machiavelli."
‘If you have read The Prince,’ replied Magnus, ‘then you will know that Machiavelli’s warning refers only to the counsellors, advisors and ministers who invariably surround a politician.

It does not apply to people in hallways enjoying one another’s fine company.’

“I want to become President and I want the TNCP to play a significant part of the next government. In return you will be Prime Minister and will secretly be given vast sums of money."
Magnus Erthwig laughed.

‘Magnificent. It is not often, my dear, that the junior Party in a coalition manages to have one of its own assume the presidency,’ replied Mr Erthwig. ‘No doubt this would be a fine agreement for the TNCP, but I must admit that I have my own misgivings.’

‘Let me paint a picture for you, Ms Konno, a fairly depressing picture. It is about a Party whose illegitimate term in Government was marked with little else but war, civil strife and insurrection. A Party which was embroiled in the most damaging of scandals and which executed people without trial, depriving its own citizens of their inherent civil liberties. A Party which is widely seen as the puppet of a foreign State, mindlessly pursuing the goals of another nation’s government.

It really doesn’t matter how much of this is true, of course. This Party will be all but wiped out in the upcoming national elections. It faces opposition from at least two other major parties, the TSU and TLP, in its own heartland. Its primary rival, the SDLT, benefits (by association to Xirnium) from the praise that will come as a result of the success of the Constitutional Convention and will run virtually unopposed throughout the territories of Eastern Torontia.

Now, Ms Konno… make me a better offer.’

Erthwig smiled triumphantly.

‘I agree absolutely,’ replied Eleanor with earnest conviction. ‘A free and independent media has long been one of the defining hallmarks of western democracy. You can be certain that the High Ecclesiarchy will give special consideration to provisions guaranteeing such important freedoms when the Convention reconvenes.’

"That's about the most important legislation we could have at the moment, in my opinion at least. That should be the first new matter brought up when we re-enter the convetion chamber."

‘I believe I saw him talking with one of his aides in the Northwest corridor, though I can’t be sure. What did you want to speak to him about, if I might ask?’

"A series of high level discussions have gone on between the nations of Yallak and McKagan while we've been at this convention. At that, they've been going on since a few days before we came in here. As I understand an agreement has been reached. As I understand - I've got the job of presenting the Emperor with the official papers. I'd sort of like to do that before the convention proper restarted just to get us all on more friendly ground."

‘If you have read The Prince,’ replied Magnus, ‘then you will know that Machiavelli’s warning refers only to the counsellors, advisors and ministers who invariably surround a politician.

It does not apply to people in hallways enjoying one another’s fine company.’

Magnus Erthwig laughed.

“Your advice,” Mitsune sardonically replied, “is noted.”

‘Magnificent. It is not often, my dear, that the junior Party in a coalition manages to have one of its own assume the presidency,’ replied Mr Erthwig. ‘No doubt this would be a fine agreement for the TNCP, but I must admit that I have my own misgivings.’

“You are assuming your party will win more seats in the lower house… The TNCP could well win more seats then the SDLT, however, in such an event you would still be Prime Minister if I become President.”

‘Let me paint a picture for you, Ms Konno, a fairly depressing picture. It is about a Party whose illegitimate term in Government was marked with little else but war, civil strife and insurrection.

“Let me counter that inelegant picture with something else. It is about a Party that reestablished government in a chaotic nation, stabilized the economy, restored order, expelled nations intent on carving up the country (Red Tide for example, it is because of Amestria and the TPG that Red Tides activities in the interior were halted), crushed an attempt by the New Order to regain power, and prevented a deadly virus from killing millions. I would say that is quite an impressive picture.”

“A Party which was embroiled in the most damaging of scandals and which executed people without trial, depriving its own citizens of their inherent civil liberties.

“The TPG never executed anyone without trial; that was a lie promoted by the New Order and foreign enemies bent on discrediting us… Do you really think the Torontian people care what allegedly happened to a few New Order thugs bent on restoring Tanakis to power? As for us depriving the citizens of their civil liberties… This is the Republic of Torontia, remember when Tanakis first seized power in the coup against Norton…

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9597210&postcount=4

“Even after that enough people voted for Tanakis’s National Fascist Party to make his fraudulent victory look somewhat legitimate (over twenty to thirty percent). Under the TNCP, even when Martial Law was at its most strict (excluding BC of course), the Torontian people enjoyed far greater liberty then they ever did under the New Order regime (rather sad really). Under the TNCP people no longer had to fear the firing squad or the torture chamber for violating some arbitrary illegitimate moral decree.”

“A Party which is widely seen as the puppet of a foreign State, mindlessly pursuing the goals of another nation’s government.

“The TPG and TNCP are not puppets, do not try to confuse them with the TIG or the TLP.”

“It really doesn’t matter how much of this is true, of course.

“Actually it does, that’s the difference between damnation and a mud puddle. Fire burns, mud washes off.”

”This Party will be all but wiped out in the upcoming national elections.”

Mitsune laughed hysterically. “I’m sorry,” she managed, “please continue”

“It faces opposition from at least two other major parties, the TSU and TLP, in its own heartland.

The TNCP ‘heartland,’ the Olympic Peninsula, is a National Congress stronghold. The TNCP controls the police, owns all the media outlets (outright or through proxies), and dominates the local government. The TNCP and the TPG leadership are principally made up of Peninsulians such as myself. Our political machine will bury anyone who does not have my blessing.”

Furthermore, the TPG spent billions upon billions to expand the O.P. public sector in order to bring about a reduction in unemployment…in some cities in the O.P. unemployment is lower then before the collapse and the jobs, needless to say, pay more (all a government pork barrel spending at its worst, but it wasn’t our money we were spending). The TNCP will also be given the credit for liberating the Region once and for all from the hated incompetents in Seattle. Why would the people of the Olympic Peninsula vote against their benefactors, their own people?”

The Vice President puffed on her cigarette.

“In addition, the TSU has graciously agreed to not compete against us in the Peninsula in exchange for us not challenging their hold on BC and the TLP is of no consequence.”

“And that is without even taking into consideration our substantial war chest.” Mitsune finished.

“Its primary rival, the SDLT, benefits (by association to Xirnium) from the praise that will come as a result of the success of the Constitutional Convention”

“True, but the TNCP and I will also benefit substantially. As I recall it was I who proposed the idea for a Federal System, who painstakingly negotiated the distribution of powers, and have proposed equal representation for Torontia’s long suffering women… Every person in Torontia recognizes my face, knows who I am, knows of my accomplishments, and knows to what Party I belong.”

“and will run virtually unopposed throughout the territories of Eastern Torontia.”

“If you actually think that you are delusional. Your party’s power base is exclusively Northeastern Torontia. Outside of that Region you barely have an established presence. I know for a fact that your party was purely local until the Xirniumite occupation authorities noticed you. Seattle, Olympia, Central-eastern Torontia, and Southeastern Torontia will be wide open. The SDLT will be competing against the TSU, the TLP, and the TNCP for those four regions.”

Now, Ms Konno… make me a better offer.’

“I have offered you the office of the Prime Minister, wealth, the chance for the SDLT to form the government and lead a social democratic coalition. Pray tell what more do you want?”

"A series of high level discussions have gone on between the nations of Yallak and McKagan while we've been at this convention. At that, they've been going on since a few days before we came in here. As I understand an agreement has been reached. As I understand - I've got the job of presenting the Emperor with the official papers. I'd sort of like to do that before the convention proper restarted just to get us all on more friendly ground."
Eleanor Sabelina was fairly surprised at these newest developments, but hid any shock she might have felt behind a friendly smile.

‘Please don’t let me keep you, Ms Carter,’ the deputy Foreign Minister explained pleasantly. ‘If there was nothing more that you wished to discuss then we can now bring these proceedings to a close.’

The Grand Cardinal had already stood up and prepared to leave.

Eleanor Sabelina was fairly surprised at these newest developments, but hid any shock she might have felt behind a friendly smile.

‘Please don’t let me keep you, Ms Carter,’ the deputy Foreign Minister explained pleasantly. ‘If there was nothing more that you wished to discuss then we can now bring these proceedings to a close.’

The Grand Cardinal had already stood up and prepared to leave.

"Thank you for your time." Carter said as she too stood up. "I think I'll be on my way now."

Carter exited the room and entered the hallway again. She walked quickly, with an urgency that she was about to be part of one of the biggest moments in McKagan history.

After walking for just a few moments she was back to the MCID unit that was accompanying her.

"Ok, Sabelina knows where we stand now. She's on my side. What's the news from McKagan City?" Carter asked while she tried to catch her breath.

"The treaty has been finished. You need to go get the Emperor to sign something," the head MCID operator said while picking up a computer. He turned it so it was vertical, presenting a touch screen with a view of the treaty and a line at the bottom.

Carter, without a single word, took the tablet and walked away. She headed towards the Northwest Corridor, where the last Emperor spotting had been. She just hopped she could find him before the conference started again.

Balor and Solban continued their slow march down the Northwest corridor. They had no real idea of when the conference would reconvene, but the Emperor had plenty of business to attend to before it did. The Empire couldn’t quite run itself.

‘Any problem with the new academy program?’ asked the Emperor, as he continued his slow wander down the hallway.

‘None that I’m aware of,’ answered Solban, ‘it’s efficient and effective. I have informed the High Council to relay any concern they have to us here, but I highly doubt there will be any.’

‘Good. And have we received a reply from Mr Katel yet?’

‘Nothing official…but we made him an offer no Torontian was refuse.’

‘Well, tell your brother to speed things up. The elections are drawing close very quickly.’

‘Consider it done.’

‘And the…’

‘My Lord,’ interrupted Solban nodding his head down the corridor. At the end of the passage was a woman, who though somewhat out of breath, was quickly coming straight towards them.

‘Never mind’, the Emperor finished, looking up to see the new arrival. He didn’t recognise her. ‘This should be interesting.’

Carter knew what the Emperor looked like. Most people who worked for the McKagan Imperial State Department in recent weeks did.

The MISD had invested a great deal of its assets into pushing the alliance with the Infinite Empire through. It had used a massive public relations campaign to win over the media and population of McKagan. The Senate was in full agreement, and the last holdout (President Cavalt herself) had recently given in - seeing the benefits far outweigh the costs.

Upon seeing the Emperor and recognizing him Carter slowed to a walk as to not startle the person walking with him, who could have very well been a bodyguard, into firing upon her.

"Greetings Emperor, sir. I am Alicia Carter - the new McKagan envoy to this convention. As I understand, the treaty between our two nations, along with our application for the Infinite Empire, have been all but approved. As I also understand, we must get your signature before its official... If you don't mind, could you sign this?" Carter took the tablet PC from under her arm and put it in a more open area, in front of her.

“I would say that is quite an impressive picture.”
‘Only time will tell for certain…’ explained Erthwig portentously.

“The TPG never executed anyone without trial; that was a lie promoted by the New Order and foreign enemies bent on discrediting us…
Magnus Erthwig laughed cruelly. ‘No doubt...’ the Torontian agreed with mocking sincerity.

‘But do you seriously believe that anyone will actually believe that? More importantly, do you really think people will listen to your party’s list of achievements when the entire election campaign is dominated by the atrocities committed by your government during its anti-insurgency campaign?’

”Under the TNCP people no longer had to fear the firing squad or the torture chamber for violating some arbitrary illegitimate moral decree.”
‘That’s right, they only had cause for fear if they became a threat to the TNCP’s stranglehold on power,’ noted Magnus.

‘It matters not, your Government’s capacity for lies and cover-up, and for dispensing arbitrary justice, is already a significant area of commonality with the past New Order regime. It will likely only take the efforts of a mildly skilled propagandist before the Torontian people begin to infer other similarities.’

”Pray tell what more do you want?”
‘Full cooperation in the remaining areas of the Constitutional Convention.’

A wave of relief washed over the Emperor as the McKagan envoy introduced herself. He had had a horrible feeling that this person was going to be an Amestrian, or worse, one of their puppets from the TPG. Beside him, Solban relaxed, his right hand leaving its hovering position above his sidearm.

‘Greetings, Ms Carter, this is Lord Solban Dortrean, the Imperial Guard Commander,’ replied the Emperor, taking the tablet PC, as Solban nodded his greetings to Carter. ‘It will be a pleasure to sign this for you. I have had the required papers for McKagan’s entry into the Infinite Empire sent to your President this morning. She can sign them at her discretion.’

And with that, Balor placed his signature squarely on the bottom the ‘tablet’.

‘Only time will tell for certain…’ explained Erthwig portentously.

"I would say I have a far better record of foreseeing the future then you my dear Magnus. I have managed to avoid prison cells, electric prods, and hot irons..."

Magnus Erthwig laughed cruelly. ‘No doubt...’ the Torontian agreed with mocking sincerity.

‘But do you seriously believe that anyone will actually believe that? More importantly, do you really think people will listen to your party’s list of achievements when the entire election campaign is dominated by the atrocities committed by your government during its anti-insurgency campaign?’

"That issue will not dominate the campaign, nobody will care what happened to a few thousand pro-Tanakis terrorists in far away BC, terrorists who killed over 45,000 people with a particularly cruel bio-weapon... The Torontian people will instead focus on matters of much greater concern, their immediate future..."

"For the past 20 years the New Order elite have used their state power to consolidate their control over certain industries and properties (it was a corporate state after all). The New Order economy was founded on an industrial war economy... It was a model well suited for New Order Torontia, its isolation from the world, its nonparticipation in the global economy, its undereducated propagandized labor force, its total state... New Order Torontia is now gone and so is the industrial economy. Walk out into the streets, there is a constant anxiety about the future, Torontia's labor force lacks the education to compete globally, the service sector is feeble, the industrial sector is in tatters...kept alive only be direct government support and foreign aid (Torontias factories, East and West, continue to produce either war materials or goods that are value subtracted), and cultural resources nonexistent... The question of Torontia's economic future will dominate."

"As will the matter of property, all three past Torontian governments have used state power to confiscate property and redistribute it. Does a family who lost property during the Kaufman regime still have claim to that property 21 years later, what about someone whose wealth was redistributed by 'President Norton' and never got it back. I ask you Magnus, if all three governments were illegal, then that means that a great deal of land is in legal limbo. It does not help that during the civil war and the collapse many records were lost."

Mitsune puffed on her cigarette.

"The TPG stayed far away from this issue, choosing to head Machiavelli’s warning not to touch the property or families of the citizenry. Making sense of that mess however will be one of the top priorities for the National Government once it is formed."

‘That’s right, they only had cause for fear if they became a threat to the TNCP’s stranglehold on power,’ noted Magnus.

"We only killed those who took up arms."

‘It matters not, your Government’s capacity for lies and cover-up, and for dispensing arbitrary justice, is already a significant area of commonality with the past New Order regime. It will likely only take the efforts of a mildly skilled propagandist before the Torontian people begin to infer other similarities.’

"A few alleged deaths here, a few alleged deaths there, you forget that every single one of the Torontian people is a murderer. They are all guilty, they want to forget, and they will forget. No one had any involvement in revenge killings, no one had any WILLING involvement with the New Order (they were just trying to survive), and no one used the chaos for their own benefit. All lies, all self deceptions, all rationalizations."

Mitsune dropped the remains of her second cigarette and stomped it out.

"The Torontian people will be worrying about their future, not reflecting on an unpleasant past."

‘Full cooperation in the remaining areas of the Constitutional Convention.’

"No, your support is not that valuable, your party is not that powerful, and you are that important. If you like I could take my offer to Bovern, he would accept without any hesitation or unreasonable demands. Contrary to the private misconception that has undoubtedly shaped your behavior, the TNCP is very strong and my offer was only aimed at making things easier for the both of us. If you would like the future to be hard and uncertain then just say so."

‘Greetings, Ms Carter, this is Lord Solban Dortrean, the Imperial Guard Commander,’ replied the Emperor, taking the tablet PC, as Solban nodded his greetings to Carter. ‘It will be a pleasure to sign this for you. I have had the required papers for McKagan’s entry into the Infinite Empire sent to your President this morning. She can sign them at her discretion.’

And with that, Balor placed his signature squarely on the bottom the ‘tablet’.

"Thank you so much," Carter said with a smile. "I guess that means we're allied now. Is there anything you'd like to talk about before the convention starts again? Are we in agreement that the Infinite Empires primary goal should be to stop the Amestrian puppet regime from gaining power by any means necessary?"

"I would say I have a far better record of foreseeing the future then you my dear Magnus. I have managed to avoid prison cells, electric prods, and hot irons..."
‘That, however,’ replied the Torontian, ‘had nothing to do with my ability to see the future. Sometimes one must be prepared to suffer for what one believes in. My plight was the same as the people I hope to represent.’

"No, your support is not that valuable, your party is not that powerful, and you are that important. If you like I could take my offer to Bovern, he would accept without any hesitation or unreasonable demands. Contrary to the private misconception that has undoubtedly shaped your behaviour, the TNCP is very strong and my offer was only aimed at making things easier for the both of us. If you would like the future to be hard and uncertain then just say so."
Magnus Erthwig feigned an appearance of being affronted by Ms Konno’s remarks.

‘You offer a political alliance between our two Parties, promising an equal and mutually-beneficial relationship, and yet you react violently against any suggestion of cooperation at this Constitutional Convention,’ noted Mr Erthwig. ‘Precisely what manner of alliance did you desire, then?’

"Thank you so much," Carter said with a smile. "I guess that means we're allied now. Is there anything you'd like to talk about before the convention starts again? Are we in agreement that the Infinite Empires primary goal should be to stop the Amestrian puppet regime from gaining power by any means necessary?"

'Lets just say that that goal is somewhat high up on my list of priorities,’ replied the Emperor with a mischievous grin, ‘they should have left when the Amestrian military did.’

Balor paused for a moment, as if having second thoughts about what he was about to say, but then continued unabated.

‘I am making arrangements to secure the voting around the Seattle area and close by. The TPG will fail to take power, there is no doubt there. What happens to them after that – the public won’t care.’

'Lets just say that that goal is somewhat high up on my list of priorities,’ replied the Emperor with a mischievous grin, ‘they should have left when the Amestrian military did.’

Balor paused for a moment, as if having second thoughts about what he was about to say, but then continued unabated.

‘I am making arrangements to secure the voting around the Seattle area and close by. The TPG will fail to take power, there is no doubt there. What happens to them after that – the public won’t care.’

"We all need our fall-back plans," Carter said with a slight laugh. "The TLP is a powerhouse in the southwest. I can't see the TNCP winning there. If Yallak takes Seattle and the socialists have an upset in the north it could really limit the power of the TNCP once all the states of the Infinite Empire have their allied domestic political programs form alliances. The defining point of Torontian history will be what the TNCP does about losing - once they do lose. Wouldn't you say?"

‘It will be interesting to see,’ Balor agreed. ‘It would be one thing for the TNCP to lose the coming elections, but when faced with such an overwhelming loss against what we could call a “triumvirate” of allied Torontian parties, there actions may well fall into the desperate category.

And we all know that desperate people will do extreme things to acquire their goals. Not to mention that they are running around before the whips of their Amestrian masters.’

The Emperor adjusted one of the rolled up sleeves of his combat fatigues – the close he had been forced to change into after the sprinkler system fiasco – and then motioned for Solban and Carter to continue with his down the corridor towards the convention chamber.

As they walked, the Emperor took a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Carter. It was a copy of a brief contract between the Empire and a Seattle based political party, the Torontian National Party, listing what the Empire would do in exchange for the parties support. It was not signed.

‘We are expecting their answer sometime today,’ said Balor casually. ‘Once they accept, and as I am offering them everything a political could want in exchange for a bit of co-operation, we have no reason to assume they won’t, it will take mere hours to solidify their hold over the people of Seattle. I will use the TNP to dwarf everything the TPG and TNCP have done or at least claim to have done in a single day. Not only will it increase support for the party, and so for our coalition, but will simultaneously erode the TNCP power base too.’

Balor’s grin returned. He found political victories could be just as fulfilling as military ones. And if that doesn't work, I have just the right fall-back plan.

He knows exactly what we've got to do to knock the TNCP out of power. Carter thought as the Emperor finished his comments.

"You know exactly what you're doing," Carter said in a voice that showed she was truly happy that someone else in the Infinite Empire knew what needed to be done in Torontia. "Do you think the TNP would be willing to work with the TLP and SDLT to control the state once the elections are held?"

Carter was quiet for a few moments as she was obviously thinking.

"The TNCP has focused itself in the west too much. They'll win a few seats there regardless of what we do. However, they've shot themself in the foot in regards to other parties. The TLP will win the southwest fairly easily, and McKagan-friendly parties have a good chance at winning a good amount of the other districts. Then we'll ally after the elections and turn against the TNCP."

Carter finally started to finish.

"McKagan is planning a major trump card for election week too. You'll love it - unfortunately, I cannot mention it in any great detail here."

‘Will the TNP work with the TLP and the SDLT?’ Balor repeated quietly before answering, ‘I believe so. Besides doing whatever they can to prevent the TNCP from get to much power, their end of the bargain includes protecting Yallakian interests in Torontia. In other words, they almost work for me know.’

Balor listened quietly as Carter spoke about the TNCP’s failings. She was quite accurate – they had come very close to committing political suicide.

‘The TNCP is dying cause. While they contain themselves up in the West dishing out their bad policies and doing a whole lot of nothing, they lose the faith of many Western Torontians and concurrently strengthen others belief that ‘our’ parties are the right choice to make.’

A trump card? though the Emperor, as he quickly passed a list of possibilities through his head. Nothing immediate jumped out.

‘Well, we all have our secrets to keep, Ms Carter. I will look forward to McKagan dealing out this surprise.’