NationStates Jolt Archive

Outside of Kartika, Kirav

The air was damp and lukewarm on the tarmac of Kartika International Airport. Spring was slowly edging into the overcast marine forests of Kirav's east coast. Fyren Redwood, Secriatist of State, waited next to an electric limousine. He was waiting to recieve a British diplomat, a Sèr Edward Slith, with whom he was to discuss trade and other relations between the Empire and the Second United Kingdom.

Even after nine years in Kartika, he had still not adapted to the climate of the Southeast. He was what the people here called a "Mountain Man", a native of the mountainous and forested West. He was just about to take off his heavy formal cloak when he heard jet engines in the distance. He looked around, his gaze paralell to the runway, and saw the rapidly approaching dot of an airplane.

"The British are coming! The British are coming!" joked the driver. Redwood gave him an icy glare, "Funny as that was, if you say anything while Sèr Slith is within earshot, your next commission will be from the Sanitation Department, not the Diplomatic Transport Office."

The plane touched down and taxied towards where the limousine and the Secriatist were waiting. A groundcrewman extended a boarding stair to the plane's exit. Redwood straightened his cloak, and waited for the door to open.

A serviceman opened the door and a sixty year old looking man stepped out and on to the boarding stairs. Edward Slith wobbled on his metal cane and he cursed under his breath. The British Government had hit hard times and couldn't send another diplomat to the conference. They had forced Slith out of retirement to come and through he didn't show it he was upset.

He walked down the stairs and met a man maybe from the Foreign Ministry of Kirav. He offered the man a handshake and introduced himself to the man,

"I am Edward Slith from the Foreign Affairs Department or Ministry from the Second United Kingdom. I do suggest we get down to work right away so where shall the conference take place?"

Redwood shook in return, and then said, "Welcome to Kirav, sir. I am Fyren Redwood, from the Secriat of State for the Empire. It is an honour to have you here. Now, if you'll just step into the limousine here, we'll head straight to the Diamond Building, where the conference will take place."

He opened the door of the vehicle, and motioned for Slith to get in.

Slith walked into the limousine and closed the door. He took off his glasses and wiped them while taking out papers and showing them to Redwood.

"The Second United Kingdom doesn't even know where you are on the map and we don't even know what kind of government system you have. That's why my country really wants this conference to start a good relationship with both our nations."

"Well, that's probably because of our uniquity. Kirav Proper, here, is located on an island continent in Nova, to the south of Damirez, though the Empire has colonies and territories located in other parts of the world. Our form of government, we call it a Civilocracy, though that's probably not the best term. Power is shared between a Senate, which is directly elected by the people, and and Emperor, who is indirectly elected by a clan council. You see, we have developed from cultural roots of our own. Our only ties to 'Western' civilisation, if you will, came from Christian missionaries who visited our ancestral homeland. We lack ideas like bicameralism, and even everyday things like suburban sprawl that are found elsewhere."

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"I see that explains alot too me Mr.Redwood. I must ask what is your government's foreign postition on the Second United Kingdom".

"Slightly better than neutral, sir. We've not yet had much direct contact or involvement with the Second United Kingdom, but we do have good terms with the Holy Empire of Lord Sumguy, and your close ties to it do cause us to look favourably upon you."

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