NationStates Jolt Archive

(Well, finally I am getting this off the ground. I may create a new account for this nation soon.)

It had been a year since the Southern Confederacy recieved aircraft, ships, and munitions from the People's Republic of China. But since the toppling of Emperor Zhang and the formation of the ROC, political relations between China and the Southern Confederacy were in a limbo of sorts. Behind the scenes however, Chinese intelligence continued to try and find allies within the Confederacy, especially amongst the military. Relations were good, but it was necessary insurance against ineffective regimes, etc. Amongst those being courted by the Chinese was General Marco Kuerten, a man who well respected publicly and was considered the 3rd most senior military figure in the country. He was rich of course, having profited immensely from backhand dealings with the Chinese.

Today, March 4th 2007, General Marco would meet with Mr Chow from the Chinese embassy to discuss a "incredible business opportunity". Just what this 'business opportunity' was he did not know.

This may be of Quinntonian interest.

WWJD
Amen.

OOC: Don't we sort of need Franberry for this?

(Yes, I TGed him and he said it was ok, but he was no longer interest in AMW)

OOC: I think we probably need a bit more discussion before going any further with this- Franberry also bought rather a lot of military equipment from Roycelandia too, IIRC, and we do kind of regard South America as being our own backyard, so to speak...

I couldn't find any posts relating to that actually, any other objections?

Well, if Franberry's got no interest in AMW, he's abandoned his claim- meaning he really can't say whether or not it's OK, can he?

I assume not. Of course, no ones's stopping you from getting involved as well, the more the merrier.

With the recent political climate shifting away from the incumbent President, now was an excellent time to do business. Having presided over a humiliating withdrawal from the borders of Buenos aires, having to weather a mini economic depression caused by the Suez crisis, and putting his foot in his mouth over the sale of aircraft to the Holy League, voters no longer viewed him as the parliamentary monarch he was just a few months ago. The recent economic downturn had caused accusations of champagne socialism, corruption, and had thrown questions on the viability of the confederacy's centrally planned economy.

Mr Stephen Chow had just finished his proposal and General Kuerten was speechless. It turned out Mr Chow had offered him a marble statue as a gift. A grandly carved statue of himself in full military uniform, with the words "Lifetime President of the Confederacy, 2007". The hint was undeniably loud, his heartrate jumped and his fingers trembled with glee.

"Let your loyal subordinates know about this, and we'll see how we can help."

St. Paul, Free Colony of Australasia

"And this is the washroom," Captain David Palmer said, gesturing towards a door marked: Gentlemen; Caballeros. The six British officers following him feigned interest with their impeccable politeness, but Palmer didn't much care. Here he was, presiding over the handing off of his nation's local government facilities-- the legislative capital of Australasian South America! Palmer had plenty of respect for the British; he'd been on the Stormhawk when she burned at Cape Roca; he'd been saved by six intrepid Royal Marines in a dinghy. But inviting the British to absorb his country, well, that was a bit much.

His opinion wasn't exactly prevalent. After all, it wasn't as though Australasians were signing up to be imperialized. Their Parliament would be folded neatly into the British one; certain of their elected officials would ascend to posts in the Cabinet. But a Union flag was going to fly from the government buildings in St. Paul, Buenos Aires and Raleigh. Like it or not, this Act of Union business was going to turn Australasia into a colony.

"Is everything in, er, Spanish?" One of the Brits, a diplomat by his suit and tie, was looking doubtfully at a sign proclaiming la importencia de salud. Palmer gave him an arch look softened by a false smile.

"Well, you see, most of the people here speak Spanish as a first language. Most of us pick it up rather quickly here, and if you don't you'll find yourself relying upon an interpreter a fair bit of the time." Chastened, the diplomat closed his mouth. "Now then," Palmer continued. "The water cooler is just down the hall..."

Buenos Aires

"Hm... interesting." Major General Frank Richards paced the SIGINT room at Fort Wendselybury, one hand held at a right angle behind his back while the other clutched an intelligence report. The room was dark, so Richards read by pen-light. Behind him, members of his staff trailed excitedly.

"Sir?" One of Richards' staff analysts was hovering at his shoulder. "Might I ask, for the record, what is interesting?" Her job, it seemed, was to take a record of important documents. Where had Richards' longtime stenographer gone again? Ah, yes. He'd been an assistant analyst aboard one of the ships at Cape Roca. Rather dead, Richards recalled suddenly.

"Yes, quite." There was a pause. The analyst's eyebrows crept up her forehead as the seconds-- enumerated by a large digital clock display co-ordinated with the Greenwich atomic clock-- slipped away. "Go ahead, lieutenant. Ask!"

"Ah, what is interesting, sir?" Richards smiled genially.

"It seems that the Chinese ambassador to the Southern Confederacy has been making a disproportionate number of calls to Beijing, and also to the office of General Kuerten." The general paused, as if the significance of these events were roughly as obscure as the average explosion.

"Of course, sir." Richards frowned.

"You don't see the connection, Lieutenant? General Marco Kuerten is one of the most affluent and powerful men in the Confederacy, my dear, and he's been preparing to make a power grab for a while now. Meanwhile, Confederacy citizens are beginning to think that invading us here in Buenos Aires would be a good idea, and the current president's approval ratings are falling. We're about to see a change in leadership in the Southern Confederacy, Lieutenant. And after that, we're going to be attacked." He smiled widely, as if pleased with his deductive reasoning. "Do you see?"

A quick bump to try and get more involvement.