NationStates Jolt Archive

[OOC: This is a closed RP. Apologies for not making certain of this in the title of the thread as is common practice.]

Dawn rose slowly, seemingly shakily as its light spilled across haze and low cloud to illuminate the entire sky. Silhouetted against this light were the smooth lines of an airliner. This airliner was of particular interest for the security services of the Russkyan Socialist Republic, for its human cargo was from a nation of interest and this nation of interest was about to engage in diplomatic/economic discussions with the People's Socialist Republic.
Geography and the geometry imposed by fuel limitations dictated that the aircraft's flightpath bring it across the busy air traffic lanes of the Zuiderzee Strait. Keeping well inside these international air lanes, the aircraft was met by a flight of Su-34MFR warplanes; large 'Russkyanized' Sukhois with a very long range. This flight took up a finger four formation on the passenger aircraft and their presence and the support of the local Alyona AEW&C kept the Me'ei People's Air Force of Liberation from dispatching a flight to photograph and possibly harass the airliner; its transponder code being unknown to them given its nation of origin and thus warranting investigation.

The Sukhois escorted the aircraft to the border of Russkya before reverting to their patrol route. The Rhodesian airliner was not left alone, however - not out of a lack of trust, but out of a concern that Me'ei curiosity would drive them to attempt penetrating Russkyan airspace again to see just what that large radar contact was - as another flight of RVVS aircraft formed up on it. They were closer, smaller Su-37R warplanes, this time within view of the airliner's windows as they took up a diamond formation, again with airliner in the lead position. They departed to orbit the airfield at altitude as the airliner made its approach to the designated runway. Once on the runway, the airliner was directed to the tarmac where it was guided into a large hangar. It was an hour before noon, the skies outside now wonderfully clear and delightfully blue.

This hangar was empty, save for a column of four cars, all of Van Luxemburger manufacture. Two pairs of both the Duca-E and Duca-VIP, with a close protection detail from the Fifth Directorate of the Russkyan Intelligence and Security Service, clean-shaven and prenaturally calm looking men in carefully tailored suits. In an equally fine suit, resisting the urge to adjust the Windsor knot of his deep red tie, stood Arkady Ill'ych Sakharov, one of the leading Russkyan diplomats. Air stairs were moved into position, the hatchway opened and Sakharov heard his aide quietly humming the theme to a recently released film. It took him a moment to recognize it, then he realized it had been played as the alien scout ship's hatch first opened.

Amusement tinted the pleasant smile he wore, the quiet hum silenced as the aide saw movement at the head of the stairway, and once the delegation reached the bottom Sakharov stepped forward with his right hand rising from his side, offering a handshake. Russkyans could often be tactile people.

"Good morning and welcome to the People's Socialist Republic of Russkya. I am Arkady Ill'ych Sakharov, diplomatic envoy and liason with your delegation." His aide for this morning, echeloned left on Sakharov as he greeted the delegation, spoke fluent Afrikaans as well as French and would serve as a translator if needed. The diplomatic service suspected that the African envoy would be fluent in English, but Russkyans were also practical people given to taking precautions in the interests of making things run smoothly.

Albert Meyers was one of the millions of Rhodesian Africans who could trace their ancestry back to the original English settlers who were lured by the prospect of building happy lives for themselves in the continent of Africa. The Meyers family had been one of the many families who enthusiastically supported Cecil Rhodes during the war of Rhodesia's independence from Britain. This, though, was something that the dignified Albert Meyers only thought about when the independence day celebrations began all across Rhodesian Africa with the usual frivolities commonly associated with them.

He had been sent immediately to Russkya to represent the interests of Rhodesian Africa once word arrived that they would be quite receptive to diplomacy despite the blatant apartheid that had existed. Meyers had grown up during the days when apartheid was enforced not for the sake of stability as the Burton Administration was trying to put across to the masses but when White nationalist tendencies were flaring all over Rhodesian Africa. The government in Meyers' childhood fully believed that they were on a civilizing mission to cleanse Africa of its savage nature. Only through the supremacy of the White man, they would tell the people they ruled, that the non white had any chance of acquiring civilized status.

Meyers didn't seem to be too concerned with the escort his jetliner was given. He knew fully well that Russkya was involved in regional tension and so he took the whole thing in stride by delighting himself with the reading of the daily mail which he smuggled onboard for his entertainment. There were classifieds for women seeking men which he mentally circled, there was an article about a man who was acquitted of murder when the jury ruled it was all in self defence, and there was a little section where he found a poem written by a twelve year old girl in Afrikaans. She was one of those girls who lived on the farms like her forefathers had. The days of the Boers were still well loved by their descendants and the Rhodesian African government often funded Afrikaner community events whenever it could.

Discarding the daily mail on his seat before adjusting the collar of his business suit, Albert Meyers calmly stepped out of the jet while the rest of his group followed him with soft whispers. Meyers was not only here to meet with Russkya's top diplomats but he would be staying here as the ambassador of Rhodesian Africa to Russkya by order of the Burton Administration. As he greeted Sakharov, the woman who was destined to become Meyers' personal secretary stepped forward but didn't speak. She was just making sure that Meyers knew she was around. She was buxom, blonde, and of German descent. Meyers knew that she came from a simple family in Bloemfontein which made its living by working in various ways.

"It is a pleasure to meet you,' Meyers said with a smirk, 'and I must say that the Rhodesian African Government is very hopeful that our nations can be close friends. I am Albert Meyers, the head of the Rhodesian African delegation and recently appointed ambassador of my homeland to Russkya. It's my hope, as well, that all works out well for us."

"That is good to hear, Mister Meyers. Rather convienent, as it so happens that my government hopes for the same thing." Sakharov turned his head slightly to regard Meyer's personal assistant. Not knowing the Rhodesian African custom of introducing one's wife, he nodded in her direction respectfully. "Your wife?"

Behind him, a member of the Fifth Directorate opened car doors. Drivers mounted the vehicles but kept the engines off; in this hangar their noise would echo unpleasantly loud, making polite conversation difficult at best. And diplomacy was centered on polite conversation.

"That is good to hear, Mister Meyers. Rather convienent, as it so happens that my government hopes for the same thing." Sakharov turned his head slightly to regard Meyer's personal assistant. Not knowing the Rhodesian African custom of introducing one's wife, he nodded in her direction respectfully. "Your wife?"

Behind him, a member of the Fifth Directorate opened car doors. Drivers mounted the vehicles but kept the engines off; in this hangar their noise would echo unpleasantly loud, making polite conversation difficult at best. And diplomacy was centered on polite conversation.

Meyers smiled. "This is my secretary who will be accompanying us during our diplomatic talks and who will be later working in my nation's embassy once it's constructed. She's not my wife if you were wondering. Unfortunately, I haven't found that one special woman yet but it's probably because I keep procastinating in the search because of my work and all. Perhaps some Russkyan damsel will find me appealing but, anyways, let's get started, shall we? I assume that you know where our meeting will be held?"

Meyers' secretary stayed silent. She hadn't really concerned herself with finding a husband although she assumed her looks could bag her one if she had put herself out there in the spotlight. Needless to say, it just wasn't on her mind as much as other things had been. She made sure she had all her materials with her, uttered a word or two in German, and then began to follow Meyers.

"As for wives, I would recommend against marrying a local girl. That was my mistake," Sakharov said with a wry grin, "and suddenly I discovered she wields absolute domestic power." He continued his dry humour, finding that personal anecdotes often served to establish a connection between diplomats of any nation. "I thought the house was nicely decorated." He shrugged. "I was wrong."

While the group embarked on the provided vehicles, Sakharov was able to answer Meyer's questions. "No changes to the itinerary at present. Discussions to begin at twelve, held near the Center. Typically we like to make diplomacy happen as quickly as possible, it is best for both parties, so being close to the Government Buildings is convienent." Arkady Ill'ych didn't make the mistake that some Russkyans still did and refer to them as the Politburo Buildings, as they'd been known during the Soviet era.

The moment the last opened door was shut the powerful engines of each Duca Escort and VIP were brought to life by their focused drivers. The column moved away from the airport towards the center of government, never at a speed lower than eighty kilometers per hour, in the reserved center lane of traffic. As a result of this there was roughly twenty minutes to talk before they arrived at their destination. Given Meyer's readiness to begin, Sakharov began outlining Russkya's requirements from memory.

"In addition to the usual diplomatic overtures - exchange of embassies and staff, non-aggression pact, et cetera - the establishment of a trade agreement would be most welcome. In particular for metal ores; tin, copper, and gold. Favourable trade conditions would result in a exchange of finished goods between our two nations as part of natural economic process, as a side benefit.

"Russkya has an abundance of various materials to offer in return and with a non-aggression pact in place would also be willing to make some military hardware available to your government. In short: What do you need, and what quantities should we discuss?"

"As for wives, I would recommend against marrying a local girl. That was my mistake," Sakharov said with a wry grin, "and suddenly I discovered she wields absolute domestic power." He continued his dry humour, finding that personal anecdotes often served to establish a connection between diplomats of any nation. "I thought the house was nicely decorated." He shrugged. "I was wrong."

Meyers laughed. "I am sure that local girls aren't so bad as you would claim. My objective isn't to look for a wife - during my time in Russkya - but perhaps it'll be a bonus of the visit."

While the group embarked on the provided vehicles, Sakharov was able to answer Meyer's questions. "No changes to the itinerary at present. Discussions to begin at twelve, held near the Center. Typically we like to make diplomacy happen as quickly as possible, it is best for both parties, so being close to the Government Buildings is convienent." Arkady Ill'ych didn't make the mistake that some Russkyans still did and refer to them as the Politburo Buildings, as they'd been known during the Soviet era.

"That is a good policy for the Russkyan nation to have - it's always good to be prepared for diplomatic conferences and other, similar events. Rhodesian Africa is always prepared for such events. The government emphasizes that, if my memory serves me right."

"In addition to the usual diplomatic overtures - exchange of embassies and staff, non-aggression pact, et cetera - the establishment of a trade agreement would be most welcome. In particular for metal ores; tin, copper, and gold. Favourable trade conditions would result in a exchange of finished goods between our two nations as part of natural economic process, as a side benefit.

"I am sure that we can easily procure some metal ores, the ones you specified, for your nation. The establishment of a trade agreement, along with the usual diplomatic overtures, is what my nation's government seeks to secure between us. I am sure that we can make a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Russkya has an abundance of various materials to offer in return and with a non-aggression pact in place would also be willing to make some military hardware available to your government. In short: What do you need, and what quantities should we discuss?"

"That seems acceptable to me. What does Russkya have to offer Rhodesian Africa?"

A practical people, these Rhodesians. Most definitely a good sign. Sakharov paused after Meyer's question, glancing out the window with a look focused on the mid-distance, consulting a mental list of items he'd been briefed on before the Neo-Rhodesian diplomat arrived.

"Grain immediately comes to mind. Our agriculture is entirely industrialized and the soil here is excellent, typically Russkya has surplus grain at the end of every harvest. This is despite exports to almost every other nation in the region. Finished goods, particularly industrial items in terms of export - electrical wire, piping, tubulars for use in the petroleum industry, that sort of thing. With a NAP - non aggression pact - in place, Russkyan contractors could alleviate any power concerns in Neo-Rhodesian African territories by assisting or even building outright a hydroelectric or nuclear power plant. They would also train its operators."

Arkady Ill'ych didn't mention how the average Russkyan would probably appreciate the Neo-Rhodesian system of Apartheid. While not actively racist towards any ethnicity - save for some varieties of Asian, particularly those bordering Russkya to the south - the average Russkyan was educated with an eye towards culture and society. Being informed that the African tribesman had devised systematic female genital mutiliation, for example, would be enough to make him 'race-conscious,' particularly in the presence of women.
Out of a desire to limit the perception of Russkya in the international arena as a 'racist state,' the government had thus far limited association with African nations. As a result of this there was practically no negroid immigration to Russkya, save for the few Karain natives who had come back with PRELIKAZ after the return of those operators to the homeland from Covington, part of Zanwesia, and as each of those men were nothing less than "good people" they had been accepted by the communities in which they lived despite their decidedly dark colouration. It was feared by the sociological department of the RISS that prolonged exposure to 'lesser examples' would spoil the opinion generated by these men, or that it would polarize public opinion in much the same way it had been with the Muslim population of Russkya: certain ethnicities and 'tribes' were accepted, while others were rejected completely, to the point that they were forced to emmigrate or denied immigration rights. In the case of Muslims, practically none were permitted to immigrate, particularly from the Caucasus region. There were valid historic and current reasons for this, and the Russkyan government was eager to avoid a repeat with yet another race or religion. In this sense, Apartheid was a favourable system.

Politically it made not a whit of difference; Russkyans had fought alongside Fascists in the past and would cooperate with essentially any nation if it were to the benefit of the Russkyan nation. Sakharov continued:

"Given the value my government places on these materials, as they're used in communications, electronics, weapon systems, and the like, it would be possible to arrange for the transfer of certain pieces of technology to the military of Neo-Rhodesian Africa, for example equipment capable of detecting so-called 'stealth' aircraft."

"I believe that I can sense the creation of a mutually beneficial trade deal between our peoples but let us turn the page to the section on military technologies before we discuss that further - you've said that Rhodesian Africa could recieve some pieces of Russkyan technology but could you be more specific as to what sort of technology that we could end up recieving from you? Will we recieve a variety of technologies or just some which are centered in a certain field, such as land and sea? I think that the Rhodesian Armed Forces would be pretty happy to upgrade their current look, provided that the deal that was made to ensure the upgrades was founded on solid, equally beneficial ground - because we wouldn't want one side of the deal to be afflicted by an unfair disadvantage, now would we? Rhodesian Africa and Russkya could also exchange natural resources. One of our resources is diamonds and we've been well known for the beautiful diamonds just waiting to be uncovered in our nation's mines."