NationStates Jolt Archive

Houston has risen in Texas to go from an oil town in the Gilded Age to an urban metropolis that dominates the Central-South of the NAR. A giant, sparkling city on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is home to more than 2 million Texans, and a popular destination for tourists-second in Texas only to culturally-sound San Antonio. At a pivotal location, Houston regulates trade from the Atlantic that flows inwards to New Mexico, Colorado, and the rest of Texas, and holds countless summits on trade, economics, stock, business, and other things every year.

An economic Mecca of sorts, Houston also has recently given rise to a number of nearby military installations in the North American Republic. Along with San Antonio, Houston has turned from just being a NASA hotbed to a DoD locale of major interest and work. An AADF, RMC, and GAR base are all nearby, and the Gulf of Mexico is in safe hands with ORN bases at Jacksonville, Miami, and Mobile-meaning Houston continues to be a center of linking the Southwest with the Southeast.

Being the pivotal Southern city of the Republic, it was a perfect spot to host a peace convention with the Republic's closest two Southern neighbors. Both the CAE and the nation of Marxikhan were sending ambassadors-and Vice Chancellor Sam Brownback and Minister of War Colin Powell were waiting at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center. Security was high-hopefully tensions wouldn't be.

The Marxikhani Ambassitors made arrived at Housten. They hoped that this would end the conflict. The Prime Minister breifed them right before they were sent on their way. There number one goal was to keep all land, money or any other reasource. They did not want to to owe, or give anything to any nation. There second goal was to end the war. The war had already taken its toal on the nation and no more lives needed to be lost. Number three, the had to try as hard as they could to ensure that they could get NAR/UR support to rebuild the country. With the recent bombings, the nations economy was devistated. There fourth and final goal was to become a member of the Entente. If things with the Entente turned bad they had a back up plan with the third alliance.They walked into the convention center with the Red Guard behind them. They hoped all four goals were met.

Brownback turned from consulting with Powell to face the Marxikhani delegates. Unlike the cheerful, outgoing Frist, Brownback was somewhat more of a reserved politician. He was an appoitment to Vice Chancellor mostly out of political motivation and winning votes-he was one of the strongest of the Neo-Conservatives of the Republican Party (Frist, on the other hand, was more of a middle-line Republican). He was a shade darker, and much more in tune to waxing and waning to find the best possible solution.

"Greetings, gentlemen," Brownback said-a deeper toned voice, but still one that carried a distance. "Feel free to take a seat; we'll be simply waiting on the Central American delegation to arrive before we can start things."

Brownback turned back to Powell, a spark in his eye. "Fortune favors the brave," he said as last prepping words before he took his own seat at the head of the conference chamber, reviewing several files.

"Hello Mr.Brownback, Hello Mr.Powell" said one of the more outgoing abassitors.

"Remeber the plan" he wispered to the other delagets. "stick with it and we should be fine"

The delagets took there seat and began to veiw there files sent with them. All of wich kept to the work at hand, though a few uneasy glance were thrown at the leaders of the NAR

OOC: Find it funny how I'm sending a Minister with the name Houston. Didn't even realise that until halfway...

Touchdown. The Challenger 300 had landed in George Bush Airport, slowing down and heading towards the hanger. The entire flight had been anything but enjoyable. Throughout the flight, most of the passengers inside, five soldiers and two diplomats, barely spoke a word. The three the soldiers were the first to get off, approaching their respectable vehicles. Following the soldiers was the Minister of Finance Richard Houston and former NAR Ambassador Peter de la Reuter prior to the war. Each of the diplomats were closly tailed by the other two more soldiers.

The ride over to the conference proved to be just exciting as the flight over to Houston. After the twenty minute ride through the Houston cityscape, the delagation had arrived at the conference centre. As they stepped out of the SUV's they could already see that the Marxikhan's delegation had already arrived. Walking towards the building, Richard forced forced a smile on his face. He wasn't particularly fond of the Americans, which was probably why Peter was with him.

"Good Afternoon Vice Chancellor Brownback, Minister Powell, I am Richard Houston, Minister of Finances for the Central American Empire. This is my colleague Peter de la Reuter, a diplomat in your nation before this conflict had begun".

"Well good to see you, my fellow Latin American's" smiled Sec. of State Fredo Himenez(occ sorry if im misspelling that name). "Hopfully now we can get the meating started."

"Greetings, gentlemen," Brownback said from the head of the hall, all business now. "It's time to get this conference moving along."

He stood at the front, organizing a few papers for a second, before lifitng his head-two black orbs staring out to the faces of the delegates of Marxikhan and the CAE before him.

"Let me first be frank on one point: Havana is a sticky situation, a city rebuilding," Brownback said seriously, "and hotspots are now forming all over the world. What started a regional war has become a multinational affair with trickles all across the globe. We have entered a new age of terrorism-one where a shying enemy strikes from cover and runs back to the nearest nation to claim immunity."

"However, as of recent times, a greater threat has emerged-that of China. The nation has proven extremely belligerent-and hostile to any sort of diplomatic terms by any civilized nations. On the line of China, I must first poll both respective nations: what are the sentiments on the Chinese?"

"We have had relations with China, though we have heard there international comments, comments that we find a bit...hostile. We do not trust whatever they are cooking up, and any threat you see them as we will back you up"

Brownback arched an eyebrow slightly at the politically seductive comment on the behalf of the Marxikhani delegate, but said nothing to that. Was it a move to suck up somehow? However it was, Brownback knew what he wanted out of the Marxikhani delegation, and it would be easy to get. The CAE delegation might be a bit trickier.

"We had relations on them, before their government began an unreasonable act of senselessness," Brownback fired. "International sentiment is at an all-time low regarding the Chinese, and it's widely believed that they share a lot of hostile relations with both the Republic and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. However that may work out, the primary condition-not neccessarily the only, but primary-to bringing a peaceful resolution to this conflict between the Americas revolve around this nation."

Brownback paused momentarily before continuing.

"That would be simple. The complete, unrestricted cessation of trade with the Chinese nation and with the USSM and the CAE. Both do have some trade with the nation I believe, but the Entente and even the Third Alliance...though they have less to offer," he remarked disdainfully, "can completely and easily make up for such defecits, and probaly at better rates than the predatory Chinese could anyhow. It is a light demand for what the Entente could have asked from both your nations-and though it is not the only, it is the primary and most damaging to both your nations, though it can be overcome with ease."

"Is that all" began to Marxikhani Sec. of State "We jsut need to embargo them? Well then on behalf of the USSM i pledge an embargo against the People's Republic of China!"

"That is the primary concern," Brownback stated firmly, "and the one that America is most rigid about. However, regarding the USSM," he continued, "another implementation is neccessary, though not from the Republic. The Union of the Russias, in exchange for halting all aggression towards the USSM, demands the Galapagos Islands from the USSM to become a Russian territory-supposedly as a protected site."

This question was not expected. There were secret messages between the NAR and the USSM even before the UR bombings of the Marxikhani economy. There deal said that they would keep all there land and they would receive support in rebuilding the country, and all they had to do was embargo China. "Well um," stumbled the Sec. Of State. She rememberd the Prime Ministers words, don't let them take any Marxikhani land. But it was the only choice he had. "Fine we hadn over the isle's, but can we be assured that this base won't be used to launch furthur attacks on us?"

OOC: Timewarp!

"The chinese?". Richard had paused for a minute. The question itself wasn't really a much of a surprise for him. He knew the question was going to pop in sometime during the conference, just the timing of the question seemed out of place. Clearing his throat, Richard continued. "The Chinese are respected trading partners. We trade with them, they trade with us. We don't really have much else beyond that. As for the statements made by the Chinese, we show slight concerns for them. Ultimatly though, they are not the ones occupying foreign terri-"

Peter suddenly stepped in, interrupting Richard before he could finish. "We have a mutual respective with the Chinese. Their comments are a concern of the Central American Parliament but we have more pressing doemestic matters to see to first".

_______________________________________

The request of embargoing China, this question did catch Richard off guard.

"You mean a trade embargo with China? Well how would this benefit the Empire again? Or perhaps our participation in this international embargo is just a way for you to get back at the Chinese for placing tarriffs on your products in the first place. Now the Chinese is a major trading partner with the Central American Empire, and last time I checked, the tarriffs on our products haven't been raised by the Chinese yet."

Richard had paused before continuing "In fact, with these embargoes, trade between our nations would inevitibly increase. Now I'm not suggesting that we intend to further collaborate with the Chinese, but right now relations between the Chinese is a lot better then our relationship with the North American Republic. Now lets get something straight Vice Chancellor, the Central American Empire is right now in an economic recovery. A secession of trade between the CAE and China would dangerously effect our recovery. Now unless you can provide an alternative, I highly doubt the CAE would just cease trade relations between the Chinese".

This was all playing into Marxikhani hands. They did very little trading with China and after the major hit to the economy with the bombings this was a minor scratch. Besides if this meeting went well they would hae new, more powerful trade partners.

Brownback decided to answer the Marxikhani delegation first...he would be able to do so rather than face them after chewing out the Central Americans.

"The Russians have indicated their desire to turn the Galapagos island chain into a national park site. We are not exactly sure of there desire for it, but it will not become any sort of military installation."

Brownback turned to face the Central Americans.

"Now to addressed your fears..." he began. "The Central American Empire does have two alternatives, in fact. It can wait until China pulls a dumb enough move to warrant a multi-national war against it, which has come dangerously close from other than the Entente, and lose relations with China that way, or involuntarily lose relations by getting half your nation wiped out. Now, the Americans are not the only offended party by the Chinese-most of the first-world major nations have been, particularly the GEACPS due to Chinese sentiments about Asian-held Taiwan-but America has the best strike capability to knock out China."

"China only thinks it has good relations with much of the world...but it is simply deluding itself. America is friendly with much of the world, and for good reason-we have not been attacked by those who seek refuge in their country. We have even been able to help them-even non-Entente nations. However, you must be somewhat smart, you're in politics. I'm sure you can judge how your country can better develop: with the full support and economic help of Russia, India, and America, or you can try with China, and keep defying our overture of peace as Republic bombers destroy Mexico City. Pretty clear choices, and it is our only request that we absolutely must have."

An awkward silence filled the room.

"ahem, well you can tell the UR, that we will grant them the islands. Will anything be done to rebuild my nation. It will not be able to recover on its own without the support of the Entente, or the Third Alliance" The Sec of states voice trailed off while finishing the last few words...

Brownback looked up from the CAE delegation back to the Marxikhani representation.

"That is better to hear. Yes, funds and contractors will be dispatched to assist in building up the nation of Marxikhan to levels better than it was before even the initial attacks."

Brownback wasn't just trying to sweeten the deal...he had gotten word minutes before about the dealings in NYC...and how Marxikhan might fit with the Entente.

Richard couldn't help look frustrated. It has become apparent that reasoning through economics wouldn't work with the Americans, especially if they are threatning to demolish his entire country.

"I never stated that the Chinese were an ally of the Central American Empire, but from last time I checked, we had much better relations with them then the North American Republic. Or perhaps I mistook your soldiers in my country as occupiers? The Central American Parliament does hold some concerns regarding China recent aggression, however - we were a bit preoccupied with you at th time I believe. Now, the Central American Empire would much like peace with your nation again, so a boycott of Chinese products could be arranged. However I would like to ask you, what would the Entente offer the CAE in return other then our survival as a nation?"

The Marxikhani delagets could not help but smile. They were pulling a Marxikha. The young country had already gained a reputation for speaking its mind and it appears as if the CAE was doing that for them while Marxikhan hid in the corner