NationStates Jolt Archive

His Supreme Majesty the President Lewis of Colony West awaited the arival of the delegation visiting from Azazia. The President was eager to further develop Oceanian and Colonial relations, including possibly the purchase of several of the interceptors the Oceanians had designed. Lewis was not much inclined to buying weapons from international producers with less background than his usual purchases ((although I buy from other countries, I buy Real Life Modern Tech, just cause its easier for me to wrap my mind around how RLMT works than RPMT or PMT)), he was willing to make an exception this time as Azazia had proven quite helpful in the training of his fleet.

From the air, Colonial West appeared little different from the United Kingdom. Indeed, Colonial West appeared little different from any other country on the face of the Earth and in a moment of high-brow thought, Thomas Bexton wondered why peoples all over the face of the very same Earth could not get on with each other. Then, a quick fly past by an escorting fighter aircraft from the RAF, the roundel painted for this visit in visually striking colours, brought home the cold grey truth of reality. "And so begins the visit of a salesman," he muttered to himself.

Despite the private thought, his colleague on this visit threw a quick glance over to the salt-and-pepper haired diplomat from the Foreign Office. "You say something, Thomas?" A quick and vigorous shake of the head and the mildly intrusive man from the Ministry of Defence turned away and back to the yellowing pages of some book laid out neatly in his lap.

The two were the senior-most members of the delegation, Bexton from the Foreign Office a diplomat who would soon be eligible for the appointment of ambassador--and if the trip succeeded most likely to Colony West. The brown-haired colleague from the MoD was one Richard Ingersoll, Minister of State for the Royal Armed Services. He was to be the contact point in any sale or transferral of materiel to the Colonial West government. Together they represented the new initiative of Prime Minister Ingrahm to stimulate public and private Oceanian investment in foreign countries, especially those classified as emerging markets. Yet part of any emerging market or developing nation was building a competent security force. Even that, though, could be a lucrative trade.

As their chartered aircraft made final approach towards the Colonial capital, Bexton piled together his documents and briefs, neatly placing each in its particular folder or paperclip before placing them all inside his diplomatic bag. He had served as a charge d'affaires before, in the Verdant Archipelago when that nation and the United Kingdom began negotiating to establish their then nascent relationship. Today, both nations were richer and Bexton hoped that Colony West would follow a similar development.

With a gentle thud, the wheels made screeching contact with the runway, and with the engines pushed to their full output and flaps adjusted to slow the aircraft, the plane slowed to a crawl from which it was carefully guided to its final destination on the tarmac. Bexton un-clicked his safety belt and stood, stretching quietly before following Ingersoll to the main hatch in the front of the aircraft. Behind them in the business class were businesspersons representing various Oceanian interests from finance and manufacturing to the more esoteric including private education institutions and culinary establishments.

Bexton descended the stairs first, with Ingersoll close behind, and they smiled and waved for the local media while flashbulbs exploded and cameras rolled their film--or in both cases whatever their digital successors felt more appropriate. At the end of the steps lay a carpet and at the end of that, the stately looking President of Colony West. The middle-aged diplomat walked towards the president and when standing before him offered a broad smile and a deferential nod.

"On the behalf of His Majesty King George and Prime Minister Rodney Ingrahm, I should like to thank you, Your Supreme Majesty, for allowing us this opportunity to visit your splendid nation so recently having declared independence. Similarly, on behalf of His Majesty and His Government, I should like to present you with these," Bexton took a moment and turned behind him to an unassuming aide, who handed over a small leather folder emblazoned with the Royal Seal of King George. "These are my credentials as well as official notification of recognition of Colonial West sovereignty."

((sorry, I forgot about this thread. Bookmarked now))

President Lewis accepted the credentials from Bexton and gave him a smile. "Im glad His Majesty saw fit to you have you meet with me. Well then, there is a limousine waiting to take us to the Capitol. I have arranged for us to meet in a room in the south wing that is usually used for cabinet meetings. My minister of defense should meet us there."

"Very well, Your Supreme Majesty, I look forward to the meeting." Bexton waved the remainder of his colleagues to follow at their leisure, and then went with Lewis to the limousine, promptly entering at the President's request.

As the automobile made its way to the Capitol, Bexton looked out the window, studying the architecture. "On my way here, President Lewis, I received an," the Oceanian paused for a moment, his eyes drifting out towards the passing urban scene, "an unsettling report about a surge in Colonial xenophobia. Naturally, with Oceanian businesses quietly setting up shops and factories throughout your nation, I am hoping that our talks can help assuage fears back in Georgetown that Colony West will soon fall into a state of paranoia concerning foreigners."

Bexton's tired hands slowly folded into each other across his lap. "Regardless, I think it safe to say that your decision to allow us to deploy forces in your nation to help train your new armed forces may well be prescient beyond fortune."

OOC: actually, the way I figured time had passed in the original thread we have already received training, at least for our navy, from your nation as a year or two has passed. As such I guess you will be training the Army and Navy Air Forces.

IC:
President Lewis grimaced inwardly though he showed no outward signs of distress. I've been expecting this. "Im sure that you know much of the disturbance in Colony West has been propagated by a terrorist cell forming in our country called Green Against the Machine. The recent riots were put down and tensions are cooling. I do not mean to say that there are not still striking divides between those colonials who support Avisron and those who support New Manth, but it turns out that most of the problem arose from a very vocal minority of those who wish to do away with all foreign presence in the country and those who are opposed to industrial development. The overall threat to your citizens setting up shop in Colony West is minimal. The only groups in any serious danger of civil disobedience or terrorist attacks are Avisronian and New Manthian companies, and I daresay they can afford the extra security, especially since it was competition between said companies that developed this rift in my populace. Xenophobia," the President continued "is of course a rising concern in Colony West, but despite the recent incident sparked by the annoucnement of the purchase of uranium mining rights in the north, it is still a minimal concern and the terrorists behind it will be hard pressed to evade the special task force set on their organization much longer. Your people in Colony West are able to rest assured that xenophobia describes a few radicals, not the whole country; that colonials as a whole are embracing modernization; and that our police forces are top notch." The president paused, then with a bit friendlier look in his eyes, "As for the decision to deploy your troops to train ours, after the vital kick start your navy gave us in developing our navy and with the possibility of purchasing these Oceanian made interceptors, no nation is a better fit to turn our army and air forces into real, disciplined fighting forces.

bump

Bexton nodded sympathetically throughout President Lewis' explanation. Much like Colony West, the United Kingdom had underwent a violent upheaval in the earlier portions of the twentieth century, the result of a rising xenophobia coupled with a partial occupation by the Japanese in World War II.

He watched the scenery change as the limousine made its way to the Capitol, briefly turning to the President after a shared, knowing glance with Ingersoll. "Whilst I would have been remiss in neglecting to mention the concerns of His Majesty's Government regarding the recent spate of violence throughout Colony West, I would be equally remiss if I failed to state that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary--both briefed upon the situation--have the utmost confidence in Colonial police and internal security forces."

Ingersoll clicked open a secure, diplomatic briefcase, and handed to Bexton a bound leather dossier stamped with the seal of the Royal Armed Services. He then shuffled some papers and nodded at Bexton, who then politely cleared his throat. "While in transit, sir, it might behoove us to at least present a rough outline of the proposed arms deal."

The diplomat handed over the dossier to President Lewis with a cordial, but business-like smile. "Inside you shall find an overview of the capabilities of the Viper to peruse until we arrive at the Capitol."