12-15-2020, 12:23 PM
The Xiomerans
Unlike the other delegations attending the talks, the Xiomeran delegation only had one high official present. The Xiomeran government, ever paranoid, was reluctant to send too many important figures abroad. Maintaining government continuity in the event of a crisis was paramount.
It was also a quirk of Xiomeran governments, and especially this one, that other officials were largely irrelevant anyway. In Xiomera, one person ran the show.
Empress Calhualyana, flanked by her team of advisors and bodyguards, walked confidently into the main floor of the Jinyu Conference Center. With a pleasant smile on her face, she approached the Laeralite delegation. "Good morning, President Liu. I am honored to meet you," Calhualyana said, offering her hand. President Liu shook the hand of the Empress, maintaining a polite smile and hiding her thoughts about the Xiomeran ruler. "I am honored as well, your Majesty," Liu said. "I am glad that Xiomera accepted our offer to hold peace talks. We are very hopeful that these talks will result in a peaceful outcome to the unrest in Huenya, and in a closer relationship between our countries as well."
"I was grateful for your offer. We hope for the same outcomes," Calhualyana replied with a warmer smile crossing her face. "Just as those on the Huenyan side wish for change, I wish to bring change to Xiomera as well - while maintaining our sovereignty, of course." The Empress paused, waving her hand at one of her advisors, who offered President Liu a handsomely decorated wooden box inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones. "It is our custom to present hosts with a gift, as appreciation for their hospitality." Inside the box was a solid gold replica of a sun stone, decorated with more precious gems, as well as jade. "This is a beautiful gift. I thank you very much," President Liu said, handing the box to an aide for safekeeping.
"It is nothing. Your hosting these talks is our best hope for a peaceful outcome in Huenya that respects the wishes and sovereignty of everyone involved. This gift is a small thing in exchange for such possibilities," Calhualyana replied. She turned to nod to the person standing next to President Liu. "Ambassador Lin, a pleasure to see you."
"Have you two met?" President Liu asked.
"Not directly, but as I was in government during his time as ambassador to Xiomera, I am familiar with his work," Calhualyana replied. "I am glad you're here - you probably understand Xiomera and Xiomerans better than anyone else here. We are....sometimes inscrutable to others. Your presence here bodes well for these discussions." Cyril Lin nodded politely to the Empress, who excused herself to join the press conference. Calhualyana nodded and exchanged polite greetings with Minmintao Johnson and the Slokaisian representatives, who were stepping away from the media area, before seating herself to take questions from the international media with the same confident air that she had entered the room with.
---
The Huenyans
The next group to arrive entered the conference center with a far different demeanor than the representatives of the Xiomeran Empire. The delegation from the Huenyan Federation entered with the demeanor of people who had been through a lot, and were ready to see their journey through to its final destination.
Walking up to the Laeralite delegation, the person at the head of the Huenyan group nodded politely, coming to a stop and leaning on a cane. Her movements were no longer as vigorous as they had once been. But her face, and her eyes, still bore the same spark that had captivated the world. "President Liu, thank you for welcoming us to these discussions." Yauhmi, cihuātlahtoāni of the Huenyan Federation, smiled as another person walked up to them. "I believe you know my son," she added with a wry smile.
Texōccoatl grinned widely as he shook the President's hand. "Indeed, the President and her country were kind enough to shelter us while we had to sit in exile. It's good to see you again, and to be back in Laeral."
"It was our honor to provide you shelter," President Liu replied. "I am glad to see you again as well, and to welcome you here as well, Cihuātlahtoāni Yauhmi. I hope I did justice to the pronunciation of your new title," she added.
"Far better than most who aren't Huenyan," Yauhmi said in a congratulatory tone. "I know that our diplomats originally advised you that our Defense Secretary, Tlanexchel, would be joining us. But given the still-unsettled situation in Zapotlán, it was deemed wiser for him to remain in Chuaztlapoc. One cease-fire has already been broken, we are reluctant to trust that another will hold," Yauhmi said, her gaze settling briefly and unkindly over Calhualyana at the press conference table. For her part, Calhualyana was pointedly refusing to even look at the Huenyan delegation as she spoke to the media.
"We did bring someone else with us, though," Texōccoatl said. "Probably a better choice anyway, not that there's anything wrong with Tlanexchel. But one of the points of our new nation is for people other than Xiomerans to be able to represent us." A third person, who had just stepped next to Texōccoatl, sighed. "It's about time, too," the man said, as Texōccoatl smiled wryly. "I am Huacue, tlatoāni of the Necatli people and a member of the Huenyan Assembly. I am honored to meet all of you," he said to the Laeralites.
"We are honored as well. It is highly promising to see that everyone in Huenya is being given a chance at leadership and representation," President Liu said.
Yauhmi nodded in agreement, before turning to Cyril Lin. "Ambassador Lin, I am glad to see you here as well. I look forward to conversing with you further, and with you as well, madam President," she said with another polite nod, before walking with her delegation to the press conference area that the Imperial delegation had just vacated. Before sitting in the chair that Calhualyana had used, Yauhmi took a small package out of her pocket. It was a travel-size package of a Xiomeran brand of disinfecting wipes. Yauhmi made a point of dramatically wiping down the chair that Calhualyana had used before finally, delicately, taking a seat in front of the recording cameras.
---
Alliance of Non-Aligned Nations (ANAN)
The next group to arrive walked briskly into the conference center with a determined air about them. While they were polite enough, it was clear that they were there for business, not for elaborate diplomatic niceties.
The nation of Milintica, together with the breakaway territories of Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands, had banded together with the hopes that there would be greater strength in numbers than their small nations could muster on their own. They also had an agenda in mind that was decidedly different from that of either the Xiomerans or the Huenyans, and were there to pursue it.
The three leaders of the ANAN led their group to greet the Laeralites. "President Liu. Thank you for hosting us," President Matōchmizalo of Milintica said warmly, shaking her hand.
"We're honored to have you," Liu replied. "We have not had extensive relations with Milintica, and we're hoping to correct that."
"We hope so as well. We also hope that Laeral will be willing to work with us on our goals to get away from power blocs and great-power politics, but there will be time to discuss that later. In the meantime, we do hope that the goal of ensuring that Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands remain independent and receive help in building stable nations will be achieved in these talks. I doubt the intentions of the Xiomerans in that regard, frankly, but Milintica has a longstanding goal of helping other nations who are often subject to the whims of the larger nations of the world."
"We want to further the development of stable and democratic societies as well, so I am sure we can find things in common," President Liu replied. She smiled politely at the other two leaders. While Tanqui, the leader from Manauia Island, was easy enough to accept, Liu found it was taking all of her diplomatic skills to remain cordial and polite to the Netlcoātl Islands leader, Ahuac. Having someone who had threatened to commit genocide right after his country's independence at the talks was a bit difficult, even for someone with her experience. But, she reasoned, if she could tolerate the Xiomerans, who were often accused of horrible things, she could stomach Ahuac long enough to get the hard work of peace done.
President Matōchmizalo nodded eagerly at Liu's words. "Once these talks are done, hopefully we can find some time to have further discussions. Milintica is highly interested in ending its state of relative isolation, and Laeral has always been one of the more reasonable nations to deal with." He smiled politely, before the ANAN delegation took its leave to take up its own seat at the press conference. As the Huenyan delegation was leaving, Yauhmi greeted Matōchmizalo warmly. Tanqui and Ahuac remained aloof, standing away from Yauhmi and Matōchmizalo, before the three took up seats at the media table that the Huenyans had vacated.
Unlike the other delegations attending the talks, the Xiomeran delegation only had one high official present. The Xiomeran government, ever paranoid, was reluctant to send too many important figures abroad. Maintaining government continuity in the event of a crisis was paramount.
It was also a quirk of Xiomeran governments, and especially this one, that other officials were largely irrelevant anyway. In Xiomera, one person ran the show.
Empress Calhualyana, flanked by her team of advisors and bodyguards, walked confidently into the main floor of the Jinyu Conference Center. With a pleasant smile on her face, she approached the Laeralite delegation. "Good morning, President Liu. I am honored to meet you," Calhualyana said, offering her hand. President Liu shook the hand of the Empress, maintaining a polite smile and hiding her thoughts about the Xiomeran ruler. "I am honored as well, your Majesty," Liu said. "I am glad that Xiomera accepted our offer to hold peace talks. We are very hopeful that these talks will result in a peaceful outcome to the unrest in Huenya, and in a closer relationship between our countries as well."
"I was grateful for your offer. We hope for the same outcomes," Calhualyana replied with a warmer smile crossing her face. "Just as those on the Huenyan side wish for change, I wish to bring change to Xiomera as well - while maintaining our sovereignty, of course." The Empress paused, waving her hand at one of her advisors, who offered President Liu a handsomely decorated wooden box inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones. "It is our custom to present hosts with a gift, as appreciation for their hospitality." Inside the box was a solid gold replica of a sun stone, decorated with more precious gems, as well as jade. "This is a beautiful gift. I thank you very much," President Liu said, handing the box to an aide for safekeeping.
"It is nothing. Your hosting these talks is our best hope for a peaceful outcome in Huenya that respects the wishes and sovereignty of everyone involved. This gift is a small thing in exchange for such possibilities," Calhualyana replied. She turned to nod to the person standing next to President Liu. "Ambassador Lin, a pleasure to see you."
"Have you two met?" President Liu asked.
"Not directly, but as I was in government during his time as ambassador to Xiomera, I am familiar with his work," Calhualyana replied. "I am glad you're here - you probably understand Xiomera and Xiomerans better than anyone else here. We are....sometimes inscrutable to others. Your presence here bodes well for these discussions." Cyril Lin nodded politely to the Empress, who excused herself to join the press conference. Calhualyana nodded and exchanged polite greetings with Minmintao Johnson and the Slokaisian representatives, who were stepping away from the media area, before seating herself to take questions from the international media with the same confident air that she had entered the room with.
---
The Huenyans
The next group to arrive entered the conference center with a far different demeanor than the representatives of the Xiomeran Empire. The delegation from the Huenyan Federation entered with the demeanor of people who had been through a lot, and were ready to see their journey through to its final destination.
Walking up to the Laeralite delegation, the person at the head of the Huenyan group nodded politely, coming to a stop and leaning on a cane. Her movements were no longer as vigorous as they had once been. But her face, and her eyes, still bore the same spark that had captivated the world. "President Liu, thank you for welcoming us to these discussions." Yauhmi, cihuātlahtoāni of the Huenyan Federation, smiled as another person walked up to them. "I believe you know my son," she added with a wry smile.
Texōccoatl grinned widely as he shook the President's hand. "Indeed, the President and her country were kind enough to shelter us while we had to sit in exile. It's good to see you again, and to be back in Laeral."
"It was our honor to provide you shelter," President Liu replied. "I am glad to see you again as well, and to welcome you here as well, Cihuātlahtoāni Yauhmi. I hope I did justice to the pronunciation of your new title," she added.
"Far better than most who aren't Huenyan," Yauhmi said in a congratulatory tone. "I know that our diplomats originally advised you that our Defense Secretary, Tlanexchel, would be joining us. But given the still-unsettled situation in Zapotlán, it was deemed wiser for him to remain in Chuaztlapoc. One cease-fire has already been broken, we are reluctant to trust that another will hold," Yauhmi said, her gaze settling briefly and unkindly over Calhualyana at the press conference table. For her part, Calhualyana was pointedly refusing to even look at the Huenyan delegation as she spoke to the media.
"We did bring someone else with us, though," Texōccoatl said. "Probably a better choice anyway, not that there's anything wrong with Tlanexchel. But one of the points of our new nation is for people other than Xiomerans to be able to represent us." A third person, who had just stepped next to Texōccoatl, sighed. "It's about time, too," the man said, as Texōccoatl smiled wryly. "I am Huacue, tlatoāni of the Necatli people and a member of the Huenyan Assembly. I am honored to meet all of you," he said to the Laeralites.
"We are honored as well. It is highly promising to see that everyone in Huenya is being given a chance at leadership and representation," President Liu said.
Yauhmi nodded in agreement, before turning to Cyril Lin. "Ambassador Lin, I am glad to see you here as well. I look forward to conversing with you further, and with you as well, madam President," she said with another polite nod, before walking with her delegation to the press conference area that the Imperial delegation had just vacated. Before sitting in the chair that Calhualyana had used, Yauhmi took a small package out of her pocket. It was a travel-size package of a Xiomeran brand of disinfecting wipes. Yauhmi made a point of dramatically wiping down the chair that Calhualyana had used before finally, delicately, taking a seat in front of the recording cameras.
---
Alliance of Non-Aligned Nations (ANAN)
The next group to arrive walked briskly into the conference center with a determined air about them. While they were polite enough, it was clear that they were there for business, not for elaborate diplomatic niceties.
The nation of Milintica, together with the breakaway territories of Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands, had banded together with the hopes that there would be greater strength in numbers than their small nations could muster on their own. They also had an agenda in mind that was decidedly different from that of either the Xiomerans or the Huenyans, and were there to pursue it.
The three leaders of the ANAN led their group to greet the Laeralites. "President Liu. Thank you for hosting us," President Matōchmizalo of Milintica said warmly, shaking her hand.
"We're honored to have you," Liu replied. "We have not had extensive relations with Milintica, and we're hoping to correct that."
"We hope so as well. We also hope that Laeral will be willing to work with us on our goals to get away from power blocs and great-power politics, but there will be time to discuss that later. In the meantime, we do hope that the goal of ensuring that Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands remain independent and receive help in building stable nations will be achieved in these talks. I doubt the intentions of the Xiomerans in that regard, frankly, but Milintica has a longstanding goal of helping other nations who are often subject to the whims of the larger nations of the world."
"We want to further the development of stable and democratic societies as well, so I am sure we can find things in common," President Liu replied. She smiled politely at the other two leaders. While Tanqui, the leader from Manauia Island, was easy enough to accept, Liu found it was taking all of her diplomatic skills to remain cordial and polite to the Netlcoātl Islands leader, Ahuac. Having someone who had threatened to commit genocide right after his country's independence at the talks was a bit difficult, even for someone with her experience. But, she reasoned, if she could tolerate the Xiomerans, who were often accused of horrible things, she could stomach Ahuac long enough to get the hard work of peace done.
President Matōchmizalo nodded eagerly at Liu's words. "Once these talks are done, hopefully we can find some time to have further discussions. Milintica is highly interested in ending its state of relative isolation, and Laeral has always been one of the more reasonable nations to deal with." He smiled politely, before the ANAN delegation took its leave to take up its own seat at the press conference. As the Huenyan delegation was leaving, Yauhmi greeted Matōchmizalo warmly. Tanqui and Ahuac remained aloof, standing away from Yauhmi and Matōchmizalo, before the three took up seats at the media table that the Huenyans had vacated.
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