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Relations between Porcu and the Assassins
Topic Started: Dec 2 2011, 05:13 PM (363 Views)
Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Stepping off of a private jet, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Porcu realized for the first time just how vulnerable and at the mercy of his hosts he was. Porcuian diplomatic philosophy dictated that diplomats traveled unguarded as a robust sign of their peaceful intentions and trust to their hosts. However, with the history and stories surrounding these people who had resurrected the Assassin Nation, Foreign Minister Alcesus was nervous.

Rather uncharacteristically for the Foreign Ministry, not much information was able to be relayed to Alcesus during his flights, first from Stockholm to Hong Kong and then from Hong Kong to the Australian coast and the city the Assassins had built completely from the ground.

Without much fanfare, Foreign Minister Alcesus descended and cleared his throat for his introduction.
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Assassin
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(forgive me if this post is terrible. I'm at work, posting from an iPad, on pirated corporate wifi. I just didn't want to delay this anymore. That and I'm sober.)

The Assassin host was arrayed around the aircraft, military personnel at the ready. Some were armed with assault weapons and looked on with mistrust, clearly awaiting some kind of trap or ambush. In the midst of the thickest and most heavily armed group stood Kara. She alone was unarmed, her dress flowing in the slight breeze. Her hair was tied back to keep it out of her bright green eyes.

"Minister, allow me to welcome you to the Assassin nation. It is a great honor to have you here today. Please, allow me to escort you inside so that we may begin a more formal introduction." she said with a slight bow, gesturing to a bunker behind her.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

With customary Porcuian formality and etiquette, Minister Alcesus thanked Kara and gave a respectful bow, hands by his side, nervously following her into the bunker just ahead.

Military personnel marched alongside the Porcuian Minister, alone in his travels save a timid assistant who had decided to remain aboard the aircraft and only wander out when explicitly needed by the Minister, and did not allow him to leave their sight for a single moment. Alcesus knew little of the Assassins, but he could immediately surmise that they were a people of little trust but great loyalty. Considering the scant diplomatic successes of past foreign governments, he knew that an agreement here, however preliminary, would be a powerful and proud addition to his résumé.

That thought did not settle long in his mind, for he paused to consider the fact that his hosts were men and women with a gift at sensing - sensing fears, desires, and even plots against them - and he under no circumstance wished to jeopardize his chances at a cordial and peaceful proceedings to the discussions.
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Assassin
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Kara said nothing as they walked down the corridor under heavy guard and little fan fare. The corridor was of course deserted, as all non essential personnel had been cleared for this impromptu meeting. They entered a small room, and only two guards entered with them, posted at opposite sides of the room. One behind Kara, the other behind the empty chair across from her. The room was lit from a single overhead lamp, a relic from a time long past when the bunker had been used in the defense of Assassin Australia.

"Please be seated." Kara motioned to the chair, which the soldier pulled out for their guest with a predator like smile. She waited for him to be seated, noting his apprehension for the second time before continuing. "Allow me to again introduce myself. I am Kara, the official spokes person for the newly reborn Assassin Nation and people. You have my apologies for the drab conditions of this bunker, as we were not expecting to be the host of someone as esteemed as yourself. However, we couldn't say no to such an opportunity. Please, tell me about yourself and what you hope to accomplish by meeting with me today." Kara said with a smile.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"And please allow me to introduce myself once again." Minister Alcesus replied with a nervous smile - the gesture of the guard still in his mind. "Marimus Cavo Alcesus, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Porcu." he rattled off quickly.

Clearing his throat as delicately as he could, Alcesus continued. "There is no need to apologize Ms. Kara," - a hesitation, for while Porcuian customs dictated politeness the Minister was unsure if his use of 'Ms.' was appropriate; hopefully it amounted to a slight mistake at worst - "my government is fully aware of the young nature of your refounded country. Furthermore, I would like to express my personal thanks for a prompt reception and audience with you." The Minister finished his current thought with a respectful nod of the head towards his host.

Forgetting the armed guard standing behind him, Alcesus lifted his right leg and crossed it over his left. His breathing slowed and normalized. "In short, the Republic would like to establish formal relations with your country, the Assassin Nation, and, primarily, discuss matters relating to the foundation of economic ties. Naturally, if in the course of our discussion there would be something you would like to pose to me, I would happily address such as they arise.

"Your nation is in a delicate position... - again, an official title eluded him and his nervousness returned - , yet I already sense that you and your countrymen and women are strong, innovative, and dedicated. I do not presume to dictate the trajectory of your nation in its infancy, but merely to state that whereas some nations will not welcome the return of the Assassins, the Republic of Porcu would like to take time to understand her people and, hopefully, lay the groundwork for a cooperative and constructive relationship."
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Assassin
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Kara smiled, her eyes locked on the minister as an idea began to form in her mind. "You seem nervous Minister Alcesus." She said, nearly a purr. "Please, be at ease. Surely not all of the rumors you have undoubtedly heard of our people can be true." With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the soldiers from the room. Both left in with military precision, and the heavy metal door slammed shut behind them leaving only Kara and Minister Alcesus.

"Minister Alcesus, you speak of forming a cooperative and constructive relationship with our people. Such things require a degree of trust, and in that we are sorely lacking. Our people have been betrayed and persecuted for decades. They call us murderers and tyrants. Dominion supporters, psychopaths, berserkers, heathens, and various other... colorful labels. Some may even be true. Would it surprise you to know that until a week ago I was a slave here? We are not generally nice people Minister, and yet here you sit in the lions den. Alone and unguarded." Kara smiled as she stood, the nervousness on the ministers face very clear.

Slowly she applauded. "I salute you Minister Alcesus. Not very many people have the stomach for sitting there as you do. Which is why I wish to offer you a chance to prove your trustworthy nature to the rest of our people. To our north we are planning an invasion. Not of any nation, but of our own that once existed. The Assassin island. However, to do so would require transports of our troops in order to secure the island. Once secured, we will be able to grow and prosper as we once did, bringing our full economic weight to the table. An economy that would require a trading partner, whom would stand to make a great deal of money. It is no secret that we require food, medicine, and various other supplies for our people. Your economy would receive a great boost. All we ask in return is a few transport ships so that we may again prosper. Furthermore, we can guarantee their safety. We have an... understanding with the local pirate forces in the area. Old friends and habits die hard you see. What say you?"
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

At the beginning of her response, Alcesus brightened, but by the end his emotions slowly slid. It was not that he did not wish to assist, or even that President Gularis would not approve, but rather that such an action could easily, and probably would, be construed as a direct violation of Porcuian principles. The Republic had stood against expansions of much less. How to reconcile that with what seemed to be necessary to even begin positive relations with the Assassins?

"Ms. Kara, though my Ministry is sorely lacking in information regarding your people I would like to make it clear that such rumors, especially those that pertain to the Dominion, have not and will not be taken seriously myself or by Parliament. My country suffered as well and though I do not wish, by any means, to draw direct comparisons between your countrymen and mine, please understand that we Porcuians are still unfairly scorned by some for what was not possible for us to control."

The absence of the tall, well-built, and intimidating soldiers did much to sooth Alcesus' accumulation of cold sweat. At the mention of being a former slave, Kara clearly caught a quick expression of surprise from the Porcuian seated across from her. As she rose from her seat and clapped, she noticed that his eyes never disengaged.

"Although no internationally recognized state exists on the island of Papua, there are indigenous peoples that live in the territory." Alcesus began, clearly aware of every word that came out of his mouth and ever careful of what came next. "You may not be aware, but allow me to explain that my country has a long standing policy and tradition of supporting and defending a people's right to self-determination.

"The Republic is quite unpopular with some regimes for this, for we have actively campaigned against them on the international stage, but in the end we believe our actions to be justified. If a native people wish to tie themselves with another, then they may count on the full support of the Republic, if asked for.

"Are there not still Assassins within Papua that would welcome reunification and be willing to express their wishes via peaceful democratic means?" Alcesus knew he was walking a fine line, but to be anything less than straightforward and honest was to risk everything unnecessarily. Besides, he had already convinced himself that his hosts were capable of sensing dishonesty. "I am not ruling out the possibility that I would be able to secure such transportation. I am simply trying to gain a better understanding of the necessity of an invasion. With regard to a referendum, I can guarantee that the Assassins would have the full support of the Parliament and People of Porcu."
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Assassin
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Kara sat again, and collected her thoughts for a moment before continuing. The man in front of her was intelligent, and seemed honorable enough. She tried a different tactic. "Let me be frank. That island is ours historically, as well as literally. The 'natives' of the island are predominately Assassins whom were abandoned by the old regime. Some perhaps even former Dominion personnel. Furthermore, that island has great meaning for the Assassin people. It is our birthplace, and is filled with ruins of our past. Former cities, centers of education, as well as various military facilities that need to be secured. Monsters or not, not even an Assassin would wish nuclear weaponry in the hands of the black market. It would be chaos, and insanity. So you see, a military reclamation of the island is the most secure, and efficient option available to us. Once the areas of interest are secured, the island will be opened to the Assassin public, as well as your own, and our military will revert to a defensive posture. I will also pledge here and now, on my life, that no innocents will be harmed during the process of our reclaiming of the island."

Kara leaned forward and decided to continue to be open and honest. "Minister Alcesus, I understand your hesitation. You do not know us, and we do not know you. However, I'm taking a leap of faith on you. Faith that you will do the right thing and help a people whom desperately need it. We do not make friends easily Minister, but this one gesture can form the foundation upon which we can build. The decision is yours."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"Nuclear weapons?" Alcesus said to himself. Repeating the word in his mind, the Minister suddenly grew excited.

"Forgive my ignorance, Ms. Kara. It is embarrassing to see myself so unprepared and lacking in knowledge regarding the history of your countrymen and women." Alcesus paused a moment before continuing. "I also appreciate your pledge."

Standing from his seat, the Porcuian Minister excused himself so that he could return to his aircraft. As Kara stood, the heavy door to the room was opened and the iron faces of soldiers greeted Alcesus once more.

"I'll have my assistant call for you after I've made a call back to Stockholm." Alcesus said with a smile before being guided out of the bunker and back into the open, his private aircraft sitting peacefully some distance away.

As the Minister approached, the door to the aircraft opened and Alcesus' assistant came out to meet him. A nervous look donned his face as he handed a small folder to his boss and watched as the Minister boarded the plane. Following him inside, Alcesus asked to be immediately connected to Stockholm and also to make contact with Regional Naval Command in Singapore. While Alcesus read over the latest news and briefings, his assistant went about setting up a teleconference. Once prompted, Minister Alcesus typed in his secure information and the image of President Gularis appeared before him on one half of the screen - the only have still blank, awaiting confirmation from Singapore.

"Good day, Alcesus." Gularis said, pushing her dark hair to the side. "It's nice to see you alive and in one piece."

In other circumstances Alcesus would have found that remark humorous, but this was not the case now. General bits of news were exchanged while the two awaited for an Admiral to join the secure network from Singapore. Once a face appeared in the other half of the screen, the meeting began.

"Madam President, it is a pleasure to see you." the Admiral said, bowing his head. "To what do I owe this unexpected conference, Minister?"

"In short, I believe there is a great deal to be gained from forging ties with the Assassins, least of all their trust." Alcesus began. "As one might expect, their current situation is tenable, but short on many fronts. While they have established themselves here in Northern Australia, they are firmly intent on reclaiming ancestral land in Papua as soon as possible."

"Who greeted you, Alcesus?" Gularis asked.

"A stunning woman named 'Kara', who apparently was a mere slave until a week or so ago. Again, as one might expect, the area was well secured by guards and by soldiers, and though I felt rather on edge at the beginning, I cannot say that I felt myself to be in any immediate danger."

"And you spoke with this Kara?"

"Yes, exclusively. I have yet to meet with any one else of their leadership and I think that is only to be expected, at least until they sense that they can trust us."

Gularis nodded her head slowly and a short silence took hold. After a moment, Gularis responded. "So, Alcesus, what is it you'd like to ask?"

"It seems that relations with the Assassins is conditioned upon our support of their coming invasion of Papua. Kara made it quite clear that they will not be stopped, but ventured to make a pledge that no innocents would be harmed."

The Admiral on the other half of the screen smirked, which drew the attention of both senior diplomats. "Assassin tendencies are well known amongst members of the military. Less is readily known to the diplomatic profession most likely due to the inherent nature of the Assassins and their culture...I would be very hesitant of believing such promises."

"And you, Alcesus?" Gularis asked, quite curious now.

"I think it would be a fatal mistake to not be trustful." Alcesus replied firmly. "Even though Kara is not herself an Assassin by blood, the fact that she has been placed in a diplomatic capacity cannot possibly slip by one's attention."

"Unless she still is a slave and the Assassins aren't really interested in talking or discussing. It's entirely possible that this is merely a game and they're trying to be polite." the Admiral responded.

"Specifically, we have been asked to provide transport ships to allow their soldiers quick access to Papua. Any Porcuian or EU naval personnel have been promised their complete safety." Alcesus continued, seemingly ignoring the Admiral's remarks. "Most importantly, in terms of justifying our actions internationally, Kara explained that nuclear weapons are still scattered on the island and some may be close to entering the black market, if they have not already. A speedy invasion of the island would allow the Assassins to assert control over key military and civilian facilities."

Gularis mulled over what had been said thus far and asked a few more questions of her Foreign Minister. In the end, she turned to the military commander, though she had made up her mind long before.

"Admiral, how many transport ships can be made available for this operation?"

"Enough, Madam President. I don't imagine the Assassins to have nearly the strength they used to possess, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous."

"I'd like a suitable number to be made ready within 72 hours. Alcesus, you may inform Kara that the Assassins have our support."

A short time later, as the Minister's assistant made his way to the two soldiers guarding the entrance in order to pass a note to Kara, final details were ironed out and Alcesus disconnected from the secure network. He sighed and sank slightly in his padded seat, looking out of a nearby window and into the surrounding landscape.

At the entrance to the bunker, the Minister's assistant handed a note to one of the soldiers and said as clearly as he could that the note was from Alcesus and was meant for Kara. The soldiers acknowledged that they understood and one disappeared inside while the other kept watch. The Minister's assistant sighed in relief but stayed in place to wait for a response.

The note was handwritten by Alcesus and read: The Republic will support your endeavors and arrangements have been made. If I may, I would very much like to share a drink with you to toast the beginning of ties between our people. I can arrange for a toast to be made outside in the fresh air, otherwise I would be happy to enter the bunker again.
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