08-08-2023, 12:47 AM
(Joint Post with Lauchenoiria)
"Kidnapping? They're actually accusing a pregnant woman of kidnapping her unborn child?!"
Minister Alice Lancaster looked incredulously at the poor courier who had placed the extradition papers on her desk. "These people are seriously deluded. How the hell do they intend to request an extradition for an allegation that's not even a crime here? Have they ever heard of the concept of double criminality?! Not to mention charging an eleven year old with espionage. Angels save me from this mess."
She rubbed her temples and nodded at the courier. "Sorry for the outburst. You may go." As he shut the door behind himself, the Minister of Diplomacy slowly spun around in her desk chair, pondering her options. I promised the Chancellor that I would manage the fallout from accepting the Robinson asylum request. So, first, I better figure out what the hell is going on.
She pressed a button on her phone, and a few moments later, one of her assistants entered the door. Alice wasted no time in rattling off orders. "First, I need a staffer to call Carmen Robinson and ask her about the espionage claim against her daughter. If she'd rather email or call me, that's fine, I just need the information. Second, as you leave, get me the office of Prime Minister Kristensen of Zongongia. Tell them that I must speak with him at his earliest convenience."
Kristensen was just settling down to finish his sandwich when the phone rang. "Sacred rocks!" he exclaimed. After his assistant told him who was calling, he was ready to upgrade them to mountains. He collected himself, and took the call.
"Good morning - or is it afternoon there? - Minister Lancaster," he greeted her. "A pleasure, as always. How are you doing today?"
"It's between afternoon and evening here, Your Excellency. And I was having a bit of a calmer day at least, until I received a package that was addressed to my office. It was an official diplomatic parcel from your government. I assume that you know what it contains, and why it might raise a few questions on our end?" Lancaster's voice sounded polite, if a little terse.
"Ah yes," he replied, though he already knew the reason for the call. "That will have been from His Majesty, King Osvald." There was a not-unsubstantial amount of sarcasm in his tone at the use of the address and title.
Alice picked up on the sarcasm and tilted her head, curious. "I see. And you do understand that there is no possible way that Eiria can honor any of these requests? We don't exactly hide our extradition policies and equivalent laws, so I was quite surprised that requests like these were even filed. Any competent lawyer or judge would take one look at these and throw them out immediately."
"His Majesty did not deem it necessary to consult with myself before filing the requests," Kristensen replied tersely. He had considered the options between making sure Zongongia appeared united to the world, and then decided that no, he was going to fully throw Osvald under the bus. If the King wanted to go behind his back, let the world know what he was up to. "I would have advised him against such a move. Indeed, the law he wishes Natasha charged under is literally from 1548."
"1548? Wow. I guess it makes sense that such a draconian law is that archaic. Still, I'm surprised to see that a law that is over twice the age of the Eirian Republic is still in use. The Royal Family must really be desperate for Natasha's return." She paused. "Regardless, I am glad that your government did not send us these requests, and that you don't expect us to approve them. It is a relief."
"I believe the oldest law still on Zongongian books predates the Valhandian conquest of Melissa; we are not as efficient as we ought to be regarding the repeal of outdated legislation," Kristensen admitted. "I will speak to King Osvald and make sure he understands that his actions here were... ill-advised."
"I'd appreciate that, so we can avoid any future misunderstandings. Thank you very much for your time, Prime Minister. Chancellor Stendē sends her warmest regards."
"You are most welcome, and thank you. Please send her mine also," Kristensen replied. He hung up the phone and exhaled. That wasn't as bad as he had anticipated. His subsequent conversation with King Osvald, however, was looking to be far, far worse.
---
As Alice hung up the phone, she looked blankly at the extradition papers sitting in front of her. They'd only be useful as toilet paper now. God, I wish that I could rip these up. With a sigh, she opened a lower drawer on her desk and pulled out a stamp that bore the seal of her office. She dipped it into an ink pad and then went through and stamped each request, before tucking them back in the folder, setting it aside, and stamping the folder once for good measure.
Rejected under the authority of the Minister of Diplomacy.
"Kidnapping? They're actually accusing a pregnant woman of kidnapping her unborn child?!"
Minister Alice Lancaster looked incredulously at the poor courier who had placed the extradition papers on her desk. "These people are seriously deluded. How the hell do they intend to request an extradition for an allegation that's not even a crime here? Have they ever heard of the concept of double criminality?! Not to mention charging an eleven year old with espionage. Angels save me from this mess."
She rubbed her temples and nodded at the courier. "Sorry for the outburst. You may go." As he shut the door behind himself, the Minister of Diplomacy slowly spun around in her desk chair, pondering her options. I promised the Chancellor that I would manage the fallout from accepting the Robinson asylum request. So, first, I better figure out what the hell is going on.
She pressed a button on her phone, and a few moments later, one of her assistants entered the door. Alice wasted no time in rattling off orders. "First, I need a staffer to call Carmen Robinson and ask her about the espionage claim against her daughter. If she'd rather email or call me, that's fine, I just need the information. Second, as you leave, get me the office of Prime Minister Kristensen of Zongongia. Tell them that I must speak with him at his earliest convenience."
Kristensen was just settling down to finish his sandwich when the phone rang. "Sacred rocks!" he exclaimed. After his assistant told him who was calling, he was ready to upgrade them to mountains. He collected himself, and took the call.
"Good morning - or is it afternoon there? - Minister Lancaster," he greeted her. "A pleasure, as always. How are you doing today?"
"It's between afternoon and evening here, Your Excellency. And I was having a bit of a calmer day at least, until I received a package that was addressed to my office. It was an official diplomatic parcel from your government. I assume that you know what it contains, and why it might raise a few questions on our end?" Lancaster's voice sounded polite, if a little terse.
"Ah yes," he replied, though he already knew the reason for the call. "That will have been from His Majesty, King Osvald." There was a not-unsubstantial amount of sarcasm in his tone at the use of the address and title.
Alice picked up on the sarcasm and tilted her head, curious. "I see. And you do understand that there is no possible way that Eiria can honor any of these requests? We don't exactly hide our extradition policies and equivalent laws, so I was quite surprised that requests like these were even filed. Any competent lawyer or judge would take one look at these and throw them out immediately."
"His Majesty did not deem it necessary to consult with myself before filing the requests," Kristensen replied tersely. He had considered the options between making sure Zongongia appeared united to the world, and then decided that no, he was going to fully throw Osvald under the bus. If the King wanted to go behind his back, let the world know what he was up to. "I would have advised him against such a move. Indeed, the law he wishes Natasha charged under is literally from 1548."
"1548? Wow. I guess it makes sense that such a draconian law is that archaic. Still, I'm surprised to see that a law that is over twice the age of the Eirian Republic is still in use. The Royal Family must really be desperate for Natasha's return." She paused. "Regardless, I am glad that your government did not send us these requests, and that you don't expect us to approve them. It is a relief."
"I believe the oldest law still on Zongongian books predates the Valhandian conquest of Melissa; we are not as efficient as we ought to be regarding the repeal of outdated legislation," Kristensen admitted. "I will speak to King Osvald and make sure he understands that his actions here were... ill-advised."
"I'd appreciate that, so we can avoid any future misunderstandings. Thank you very much for your time, Prime Minister. Chancellor Stendē sends her warmest regards."
"You are most welcome, and thank you. Please send her mine also," Kristensen replied. He hung up the phone and exhaled. That wasn't as bad as he had anticipated. His subsequent conversation with King Osvald, however, was looking to be far, far worse.
---
As Alice hung up the phone, she looked blankly at the extradition papers sitting in front of her. They'd only be useful as toilet paper now. God, I wish that I could rip these up. With a sigh, she opened a lower drawer on her desk and pulled out a stamp that bore the seal of her office. She dipped it into an ink pad and then went through and stamped each request, before tucking them back in the folder, setting it aside, and stamping the folder once for good measure.
Rejected under the authority of the Minister of Diplomacy.
<t></t>