NationStates Jolt Archive

Captain Wall's seat shook as the plane he was on landed in British Londinium and taxied to a stop. I hope i don't make a mess of things, he thought, I never was quite as good at diplomacy as Lord Sumguy. Well, I'll have to do, he's booked for months. He exited the plane, and looked to see if there was anyone waiting for him.

A young man in a deep purple suit fiddled anxiously with his glasses as he saw Captain Wall exit his aircraft. It was his first assignment involving a foreign diplomat; for the entire six months he had worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all the man had done was write summaries of the bulletins from the Pacific and Mediterranican Affairs Bureau and forward them off to the higher-ups. And when this foreign diplomat happened to be an intimidating military officer, all the more reason to be nervous. He went over to shake Captain Wall's hand, saying, "Jack Seaver, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at your service, sir. I trust you had a pleasant journey?"

"Pleasant enough, thank you." The Captain said, shaking the man's hand. "Will I get a chance to speak with Consul Davidson while I am here?" He noticed how nervous his host was, and realized that he must be quite an intimidating figure, as he was nearly a foot taller than the man he was speaking to, and far more muscular. He did his best to look friendly and un-threatening (a difficult feat to accomplish), and backed away slightly so as to make the height difference less apparent.

"Y..yes, the Consul has said that he would like to sp-p-eak with you, sir," Seaver stammered. "Would n-now be a g-g-ood time for you?"

"Of course. No need to be so nervous boy, I'm not going to attack you." Cptn. Wall said, laughing to himself.

"Yes, sir, of course, sir," Jack said. "If you'd just get in this limousine, sir, we'll be on our way."

As soon as the pair were in the car, it sped off towards the Aedifices Parliamentarii. "Sir, I've been told you are the leader of the...Royal Guard, is that correct?"

"Yes it is. I am also Lord Sumguy's bodyguard when I am not occupied elswhere. Why do you ask?"

"Yes it is. I am also Lord Sumguy's bodyguard when I am not occupied elswhere. Why do you ask?"

"Our, er, documentation is rather sketchy regarding Sumgese nationals," was Seaver's reply. "And, to be honest, I lost my briefing folder." He laughed anxiously. "Sorry, it's the first time I've actually had contact with a foreign diplomat. I write reports, you see." Jack was spared further conversation by the vehicle pulling up at the Parliament building.

"After me, sir," Jack said as he walked into the building.

Cptn. Wall followed the man inside. "To be honest, i dont blame you for the lack of intelligence, there is a reason I only go by my last name and only two or three people on earth know Lord Sumguy's real name. In fact, most of the Royal Guard have changed their names at least once. Old habits die hard i suppose. Most of us were revolutionaries in our war of independance, had to make ourselves untraceable to survive."

"It would make sense, sir," Seaver said, leading Captain Wall to the Cabinet Chamber, a Gehry-inspired room. Jack stopped in front of the large gilded doors.

"Captain Wall, sir, the Consul and his cabinet are in there, and feel free to enter when you are ready," he said. "I am afraid that I must wait outside in the meantime."

"The entire cabinet? Is that really neccesary? Surely it doesnt take more than two people to have a conversation..." He opened the door and walked inside.

Before Wall entered the room, Jack replied by saying, "Sir, the Cabinet is there merely to observe. The conversation will be between you and the Consul only. Is that acceptable?"

"Of course." The Captain said, continuing inside.

Whilst Captain Wall might have found himself intimidating, Sir Alistair was confident that he was an imposing figure. At 1.85 metres tall, and rarely smiling unless it served a purpose, Consul Davidson was greatly feared by his enemies, and, on occasion, his allies. But today, the consul was not nearly as hostile - he knew the precarious position the Republic held in the international arena. He went to shake the Sumgese man's hand, saying, "Welcome to Kensington, Captain. It's a pleasure."

"Likewise." was the response. The Captain noticed with releif that he wouldn't have look down too much when speaking to this man, and wondered why he seemed slightly angry. "So, down to business, is there anything you wish to discuss in particular?"


OOC: 6.07 feet tall is only really impressive in europe :P. Cptn. wall is 6' 5", or 1.96 meters.

OOC: Damn you, Lord Sumguy! It's WAR now! :p
IC:

"Yes, yes, there is, Captain," the Consul said pensively as he sat down. "Our presence within Lord Sumguy. As you are aware, we occupy about one hundred and three square kilometres of Sumgese territory, which we refer to as Sumatripte, in addition to a military complex ninety kilometres away from your capital. With the various accusations of imperialism being pointed at us, we wish to distance ourselves from this image. We wish to rid ourselves of that military complex. All of the structures and technology will remain untouched - only personnel and information will leave. In essence, Lord Sumguy will receive a fully modernized, state-of-the-art military base, stocked with weapons, ammunition, a dozen aircraft, and several tanks. In return, however, we would like to expand Sumatripte's borders to encompass, say, another seventy-five square kilometres. The area is rapidly proving to be both profitable and in our interests to maintain. I wanted to know what that was worth to you."

The Consul sipped a cup of Earl Grey tea. "Oh, I've forgotten my manners completely. Care for some?"

"No thank you, i don't drink tea. It's funny you should ask about Sumatripte, as Lord Sumguy wished me to ask if we could possibly buy some of that land back from you. I am afraid giving any more is out of the question, so we must decline the offer of the military base, as we value our citizens and our native homeland far more than any weapons that could be given to us. Would you be willing to consider our offer of purchasing small portions of Sumatripte? Such a deal may be far more profitable to your country than taking more land, and i'm sure the international community would see it as a sign that BL is not an imperialist nation."

OOC: what are you gonna do, cut his shins off? :D

The Consul sat back, thinking as he drank his steaming cup of tea.

"You present me with...an interesting offer," Sir Alistair said. "I am loathe to give up Sumatripte, though. Here, though, is an idea. If Lord Sumguy were to grant us an addition 75 square kilometres - they could even be barren fields devoid of human life, as far as I'm concerned - we will not only surrender the base, but grant this new, expanded Sumatripte the status of a "dependent nation". Whilst nominally independent, they will rely on us for defence, economic aid, and the like. But what will happen is that it will be a great step forward in terms of reintegration of our colony and your nation. Right now the area is governed strictly by Londinian martial law - which allows for some...abuses of power. But the residents of a dependent nation - residents, which, mind you, are mostly Sumgese - are protected under the same legal code that protects every citizen of British Londinium. Eventually, independency can be granted, or referendums held; either way the people can choose to reunite. Does that sound any better?"

"Allow emigration of Sumatripte citizens and open the border and i think we will have a deal. Would you mind taking desert area?"

"Not at all," the Consul said. "It will be reconditioned and adapted for future civic expansion regardless. And the border will be opened promptly. Now, is there anything else we can discuss?"

"Only one thing that we wish to speak of. Lord Sumguy wishes to re-create the Hegemony, as the main reason for it's disbandment was a tragic misunderstanding regarding the organization's intentions. It would be as before, a humanitarian organization first, and a defensive alliance second. He also wishes me to inform you that neither he nor the original Hegemony ever held any ill will toward British Londinium, with the notable exeption of the nation of Cazelia, who's actions shamed the rest of us."

"This could be allowed," Sir Alistair replied. "But we would need far more transparency, and a much more explicit and clear charter for the group, in addition to member nations singing a one hundred year mutual nonaggression pact with this country."

"All acceptable requests, they shall be fufilled, and British Londinium is welcome to send observers to whatever meetings the Hegemony council will have, assuming that British Londinium does not wish to join."

"We may or may not join," Davidson said. "As for now, we are content to observe. I do not believe, unless I'm mistaken, that we have any other issues between our nations. I pray that Aequitas guides you and Lord Sumguy."

"And may the good Lord watch over you. Goodbye then." Cptn. Wall stood to leave.

OOC: and now i am off to make the Hegemony re-creation thread.