04-10-2021, 03:38 AM
(A collaboration with [nation]Xiomera[/nation])
Outside the Xiomeran Embassy, Lumiere, Cape Auria
Representative Sarah Berenstein, elected member of the Aurian Government, stood outside the Xiomeran Embassy, carefully considering her options. She detested that she had the one who take the risk to get the Xiomerans on board with a plan she wasn't even confident in. Still, she stood before the embassy, fidgeting with a small file. After taking one last breath, she entered, showing her ID to a security guard that stopped her.
Inside the embassy, the guard calmly checked Berenstein's ID before making a phone call. Berenstein was then shown down a long hall into an office wing of the embassy. After passing through two security checkpoints, Berenstein was finally brouught to an office with a small black and gold sign next to the door labeled *Imperial Cultural Outreach Liaison, Cape Auria*.
Inside the office, a surprisingly athletic man for a bureaucrat sat at a desk. He rose, offering his hand to Berenstein. Nyaotli's official title was indeed Cultural Outreach Liaison, his official job to educate and inform Aurians about Xiomera. Like many thing about Xiomera, however, the title was not as it seemed. The real title of the person shaking Berenstein's hand, known only in highly classified files, was Special Service Agent. He was assigned to Department G of ASI, the Special Operations Service.
"Representative Berenstein, welcome," Nyaotli said in a pleasant tone, shaking her hand and offering her a seat. After refreshments were brought in and small talk exchanged, Nyaotli decided to get down to business. "How can I, and the Empire, be of assistance to you?" he asked.
"Well, I've come to offer the Xiomeran empire a significant opportunity to gain Auria as an ally, as well as to request a trade, of sorts." She sipped her drink, making sure her voice stays level. "Now, this conversation regards certain changes to Aurian Government, and as such, must remain confidential. At least, for now. Who would I contact in the Empire to negotiate such an opportunity?"
Nyaotli smiled broadly at the thought. "We are experts at discretion, I can assure you. And I believe I know just who we should discuss this with." The ASI agent pressed a button on his computer keyboard, activating a secure video line to the Cauhloc.
After a few brief conversations in Xiomeran Huenyan between Nyaotli and other similarly athletic men and women wearing similarly forgettable black suits, the screen shifted to reveal an expansive office. A blonde woman with perfectly arranged hair and an impeccably tailored dress was sitting at a very large desk. She smiled as the call came through. "Good morning. I am Quihichua, Minister of Security for the Xiomeran Empire. I have been informed that I am speaking to our liaison in Lumiere, and to Representative Sarah Berenstein," she said in a voice as perfectly tailored as her dress. "I was told that there was a request you wished to make, Representative Berenstein. How may we be of assistance?"
Berenstein sat up, much more confident speaking to a Minister than an embassy official. "Madam Minister, I must be frank. I'm not representing the Aurian Government, but a group of very influential, and concerned, citizens. Aurian politics right now are being heated up by a rumor that our Prime Minister and his wife are spies. Now, I highly doubt it's true, and the same goes for the people I represent. However, it's created an interesting opportunity."
She got into a stride, talking slightly faster in plain, almost unaccented English. "About one-fifth of Auria believes these rumors are true, according to the latest poll. And though that's a minority, those who buy into it are angry. Protests in Dieugrand got out of hand, turning into a full on riot and almost resulting in the city hall being stormed."
"Now, the group I represent has access to the Military, Press, and Business sectors. If we support and promulgate this rumor, the results could be.... Revolutionary. But we would have trouble with the police and Intelligence forces. Plus, the masses aren't exactly tthe most supplied."
"And so, I propose a trade. The empire helps us with a... Government transfer, and the Empire gains an ally in the region. Now, the Aurian military is practically an oxymoron, so that wouldn't be much help. But I think we can both appreciate the strategic benefit that Auria provides."
"Indeed we can. And we are always eager to form new friendships and to help those seeking to bring about beneficial change." Quihichua paused. "It's important to know where this will all lead, though, to make sure we share a similar vision for the future. Why does your group wish to change the government? And how will you lead Cape Auria once you are in power?"
Berenstein thought for a moment, phrasing her words carefully. "The incompetency of the Lapointe administration has caused outrage ever since he took office in 2016, mainly due to the inconsistency. He was elected on a compromise between most of our major parties after a political deadlock. Problem is, his administration lead to a new deadlock, where no one wants to do anything for their party in fear of disturbing the deadlock. It became a battle of optics. He was barely elected in 2020, mainly because people tired of the stagnation."
"Meanwhile, everything is stagnated, and nothing can get done in either Chamber of the Parliament. This is not what I signed up for when I took my oath. We need change, and unfortunately, this is the only way that I can see political change happening.
As for how we would lead, I can't exactly say. Without your help, those dreams are just treasonous aspirations. I will say this: Cape Auria would no longer be bogged down by partisan politics. We would have a group of strong leaders at the helm, a group that'll take Auria from a joke to a nation no longer mocked by the world."
"Ah....." Quihichua said softly. "We can relate to such an aspiration. Xiomera is routinely disrespected by nations that seek to hold it back. Our recent war was, in large part, due to such machinations. We recognized from that experience that we need to have strong leaders who can restore Xiomera's power and its place in the world. We understand very well the desire for strong leadership and to be given the respect one deserves on the world stage. Providing you with Imperial assistance is something I will need to discuss with the Empress and the Prime Minister, of course. However.....I do believe we have much the same aspirations, and thus can work together to achieve them most amicably."
"I'm glad to head that. And I must ask that this conversation remains private, especially to any of my Aurian compatriots. It could end very badly for my allies and I if this gets out. I'll send a secure way of contact to the embassy so we may get in contact in the future. Thank you for your time, Madam Minister."
Outside the Xiomeran Embassy, Lumiere, Cape Auria
Representative Sarah Berenstein, elected member of the Aurian Government, stood outside the Xiomeran Embassy, carefully considering her options. She detested that she had the one who take the risk to get the Xiomerans on board with a plan she wasn't even confident in. Still, she stood before the embassy, fidgeting with a small file. After taking one last breath, she entered, showing her ID to a security guard that stopped her.
Inside the embassy, the guard calmly checked Berenstein's ID before making a phone call. Berenstein was then shown down a long hall into an office wing of the embassy. After passing through two security checkpoints, Berenstein was finally brouught to an office with a small black and gold sign next to the door labeled *Imperial Cultural Outreach Liaison, Cape Auria*.
Inside the office, a surprisingly athletic man for a bureaucrat sat at a desk. He rose, offering his hand to Berenstein. Nyaotli's official title was indeed Cultural Outreach Liaison, his official job to educate and inform Aurians about Xiomera. Like many thing about Xiomera, however, the title was not as it seemed. The real title of the person shaking Berenstein's hand, known only in highly classified files, was Special Service Agent. He was assigned to Department G of ASI, the Special Operations Service.
"Representative Berenstein, welcome," Nyaotli said in a pleasant tone, shaking her hand and offering her a seat. After refreshments were brought in and small talk exchanged, Nyaotli decided to get down to business. "How can I, and the Empire, be of assistance to you?" he asked.
"Well, I've come to offer the Xiomeran empire a significant opportunity to gain Auria as an ally, as well as to request a trade, of sorts." She sipped her drink, making sure her voice stays level. "Now, this conversation regards certain changes to Aurian Government, and as such, must remain confidential. At least, for now. Who would I contact in the Empire to negotiate such an opportunity?"
Nyaotli smiled broadly at the thought. "We are experts at discretion, I can assure you. And I believe I know just who we should discuss this with." The ASI agent pressed a button on his computer keyboard, activating a secure video line to the Cauhloc.
After a few brief conversations in Xiomeran Huenyan between Nyaotli and other similarly athletic men and women wearing similarly forgettable black suits, the screen shifted to reveal an expansive office. A blonde woman with perfectly arranged hair and an impeccably tailored dress was sitting at a very large desk. She smiled as the call came through. "Good morning. I am Quihichua, Minister of Security for the Xiomeran Empire. I have been informed that I am speaking to our liaison in Lumiere, and to Representative Sarah Berenstein," she said in a voice as perfectly tailored as her dress. "I was told that there was a request you wished to make, Representative Berenstein. How may we be of assistance?"
Berenstein sat up, much more confident speaking to a Minister than an embassy official. "Madam Minister, I must be frank. I'm not representing the Aurian Government, but a group of very influential, and concerned, citizens. Aurian politics right now are being heated up by a rumor that our Prime Minister and his wife are spies. Now, I highly doubt it's true, and the same goes for the people I represent. However, it's created an interesting opportunity."
She got into a stride, talking slightly faster in plain, almost unaccented English. "About one-fifth of Auria believes these rumors are true, according to the latest poll. And though that's a minority, those who buy into it are angry. Protests in Dieugrand got out of hand, turning into a full on riot and almost resulting in the city hall being stormed."
"Now, the group I represent has access to the Military, Press, and Business sectors. If we support and promulgate this rumor, the results could be.... Revolutionary. But we would have trouble with the police and Intelligence forces. Plus, the masses aren't exactly tthe most supplied."
"And so, I propose a trade. The empire helps us with a... Government transfer, and the Empire gains an ally in the region. Now, the Aurian military is practically an oxymoron, so that wouldn't be much help. But I think we can both appreciate the strategic benefit that Auria provides."
"Indeed we can. And we are always eager to form new friendships and to help those seeking to bring about beneficial change." Quihichua paused. "It's important to know where this will all lead, though, to make sure we share a similar vision for the future. Why does your group wish to change the government? And how will you lead Cape Auria once you are in power?"
Berenstein thought for a moment, phrasing her words carefully. "The incompetency of the Lapointe administration has caused outrage ever since he took office in 2016, mainly due to the inconsistency. He was elected on a compromise between most of our major parties after a political deadlock. Problem is, his administration lead to a new deadlock, where no one wants to do anything for their party in fear of disturbing the deadlock. It became a battle of optics. He was barely elected in 2020, mainly because people tired of the stagnation."
"Meanwhile, everything is stagnated, and nothing can get done in either Chamber of the Parliament. This is not what I signed up for when I took my oath. We need change, and unfortunately, this is the only way that I can see political change happening.
As for how we would lead, I can't exactly say. Without your help, those dreams are just treasonous aspirations. I will say this: Cape Auria would no longer be bogged down by partisan politics. We would have a group of strong leaders at the helm, a group that'll take Auria from a joke to a nation no longer mocked by the world."
"Ah....." Quihichua said softly. "We can relate to such an aspiration. Xiomera is routinely disrespected by nations that seek to hold it back. Our recent war was, in large part, due to such machinations. We recognized from that experience that we need to have strong leaders who can restore Xiomera's power and its place in the world. We understand very well the desire for strong leadership and to be given the respect one deserves on the world stage. Providing you with Imperial assistance is something I will need to discuss with the Empress and the Prime Minister, of course. However.....I do believe we have much the same aspirations, and thus can work together to achieve them most amicably."
"I'm glad to head that. And I must ask that this conversation remains private, especially to any of my Aurian compatriots. It could end very badly for my allies and I if this gets out. I'll send a secure way of contact to the embassy so we may get in contact in the future. Thank you for your time, Madam Minister."
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