NationStates Jolt Archive

On a remote island, far away from any mainland, sirens were sounding. These were not because of war, or indeed a drill. This was sounding due to the need evacuation of the surface of the island, for a gun that had never been used before was about to fire.

The gun itself was huge. And as the gun fired, a shockwave spread across the island as the sound disturbed many sleeping wildlife. A large shell emerged from the maw of the cannon as the gun fired, which soon transformed into a missile.

This was the point when things began to go wrong.

A fire broke out in one of the fuel compartments, and before long the rocket exploded, shedding its parts onto the island.

And as the scientists immediately checked their calculations for mistakes, an argument brewed in the main office, between the main proprietor of the operation, and the head of it.

“No, we can handle this. The cannon will be completed without the help of them. If we let them know what we were sending up there, they’ll get all worried…”

“That was funded with the government’s money!”

“Well I can’t bloody help it if luck doesn’t help! Be glad it wasn’t a damned rocket!”

“No, it was just a bloody satellite! You will make that damned call. Now!”

Reluctantly, the head scientist picked up the phone, dialled some numbers, and waited for the ringing to stop.

“This time, it’ll work. Because if it doesn’t, your sacked” Threatened the government’s representative. “I’ll get the FM on the line.”

The ringing stopped.

“Hello, we’ve decided to take up your head mechanic’s offer. I can assure him that Jo… sorry, our leader would seriously consider signing the pact. Yes, I can hold.”

And then, all he could do was wait.

For one government official in The Principality it was a day like any other. Files flying around, phones ringing loudly and a general paranoia regarding nukes once again in fashion.

After all it wasn't just every day that a nation with roughly the same population as The Principality was turned into glass.

Even lowly officials knew that an upgrade of the MDS systems was in order and were taking apropiate measures.

This is why when he picked the phone to say that the last thing he expected to hear on the other end of the line was the voice of a Weccanfeld representative.

"Please hold on for a second," he told to the man on the line. Quickly, with the efficiency characteristic to the government officials he contacted the party properly able to handle this call.

It was a major breakthrough in Principality - Weccanfeld relationships and they all knew it. Even the man that was admiring the photographs of an explosion on a Weccanfeld island in his office while waiting for that important call.

As the head of the project was put through to the man he wanted, he spat out the words that he had to say:

“Okay, you were right, we do need you. The best minds of the nation are more interested in mining techniques than cheaper satellite launching, so we need outside sources. In other words, you lot. The rocket ended up blowing up mid flight, but we have no damned idea what happened. We need someone who has actually built these before. I can patch you through to the FM if you want to discuss what we can do for you.”

It was not like the tone of the Weccanfeld representative was not to be expected, they always had issues when communicating with Principality officials, but somehow this man was really annoying. But personal preferences would not stay in the way of this agreement.

"Very well, put through to the FM, we'll talk about this," and with that he started waiting.

It was raining in Heahburg. Raining the trademark Heahburg type of rain; marble sized drops falling from the heavens. And in the FM's house, this could be heard all too well as the dropped smashed onto the conservatory's roof, causing a loud sound of pitter-pattering to thunder around the house.

In was in the living room, however, that the FM himself presided. The television was turned off, and on the coffee table rested a bowlful of the First Minister's breakfast of Weetabix with hot milk, alongside a mug of coffee. Outside, in the rain, a crack of thunder could be heard. It was just one of those summer storms. The ones that bred tornadoes and floods. But for now, the state leader's attention was with a phone.

As he lifted a spoonful of steaming cereal to his mouth, a Damiran's voice could be heard over the telephone. For a split second, the man would hear a faint crunching noise, as Joahn wiped his mouth.

"Good morning. You seem to have caught me in the middle of my breakfast. Anyway, to the point. I believe we are having difficulties with the HARP programme...

He paused to lift the mug of coffee to his mouth, then set it down and continued his talking.

"...due to most of the capable scientists working on mining techniques. Now, I've heard about your Rocket Scientists, which as far as I can tell are excellent. Also, you've built a supergun in the past, correct? Basically, if you help, we can provide geophysicists and other scientists to help in your endeavours in the future. Also, I am also offering a Non Aggression Treaty, and perhaps, due to a certain someone's recent use of nuclear devices, a joint Strategic Defence Programme in the near future. Anything to add?"

After he said this, we quickly shovelled another spoonful of cereal into his mouth, and looked out into he monsoon outside. He was dreading his morning run.

And wait he did. It annoyed him at times to deal with the Weccanfelds. It seemed as if they had a personal issue with him, but alas he had found out at some point that it was not so.

They just had a different system. One he didn't agree on, but nonetheless a system. That didn't meant that it made the wait more bearable. As he gently tapped his office he started counting.

"I wonder if I'll break my personal record,"

---

" ...two hundred forty four. Finally! And I was so close," he complained as he was put on line with the Weccanfeld First Minister.

"...in the middle of my breakfast," was the first thing that stuck in his mind. Great, he had to deal with the megalomaniac while he was eating. And it wasn't as if THEY were the ones calling. But fortunately, he was a reasonable man and thus managed to calm himself.

"...due to most of the capable scientists working on mining techniques."

'Oh, they actually have those?' the man had to wonder as he listened to the rest of the FM ramble. For some reason he got the impression that there was something else on his interlocutors mind. Alas, he couldn't realize just what.

Ignoring this strange impulse he quickly started formulating a reply. His government had already authorized him a lot of leeway in negotiating a Non Aggression Pact with Weccanfeld, but then again he wasn't foolish enough to just fall for the first offer.

"Well esteemed minister, your offer is certainly intriguing; after all we always wanted better relations with your country. But there is a minor problem; I trust you know why we built those supper canons in the first place, no?" at this he paused.

"How will we know you will use this technology wisely?"

"The answer is simple. You know that we do not fight in theatres we deem unecessary. Space is one of them, until recently at least."

"However, the advantages of a effective strategic shield are many, and therefore I am willing to spend money usually spent on cheaper things. Yes, I can buy giant space lasers to draw words and pictures, but that is a phemominal waste of money, when for the same price I can keep the destruction on the battlefield, rather than in the cities of home."

"I agree that destruction should be kept on the battlefields, it is unfortunate when wars expand beyond that, in the homes and cities of a country," the man replied, understanding of the FMs position.

"Yet, you must also understand our reluctance in sharing this technology with you. We agree that Weccanfeld needs protection from the threat of nuclear arms, but we would like guarantees in exchange for our aid," he added, his voice never changing once.