Colonial Relations

[Burgesia]

At the cruise ship dock in Mutare Harbour, the Premier, his Executive Ministers and the welcoming party stood waiting as the gangplank of the official yacht was lowered to the shore. "I can't believe we still have to go through all this nonsense every time some toff from the FU comes down. Bloody ridiculous" mumbled Home Affairs Minister William Burges to the Premier. It was bad enough they were obliged to be on the docks at six in the morning for the Governor General's arrival, but having to wear the tight, stiff court dress expected on these occasions just made it worse.

The Burgesian military band and guard of honour stood waiting, equally agitated at the outdated rigmarole. Once thousands of people from the port city would have turned out to greet the new representative of their monarch and an entire battalion would have formed the guard, but now the government was accompanied by only a company and the only spectators were the few dockers who happened to work nearby.

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The guard of honour​

Onboard the yacht Engellish sailors began to form ranks on either side of the gangplank and as they saluted, the Earl of Cadogan - in full dress uniform - became visable on the deck. As he reached the shore the band unenthusiastically struck up the national anthem, at the conclusion of which C.B. Clifford, Her Majesty's Premier in the Free Territory of Burgesia stepped forward and stifling a yawn issued his formal greeting to the Governor General. "Your Excellency, on behalf of Her Majesty's subjects in Burgesia, I welcome you." Cadogan was introduced to the Executive, then accompanied by the Premier, inspected the guard of honour.

The formalities concluded, The Engellish peer made his way to the waiting limousine that would take him the four hour journey to the capital. Once out of sight, the Burgesian government removed their top hats and tried to make themselves slightly more comfortable in the anachronistic court dress. This accomplished, they made their way to the waiting BAF helicopters that would have him home in about an hour.


In keeping with custom, the following day the Premier and his ministers were summoned to Government House, the Governor's official residence in the capital.

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Government House, Henrietta​

Lord Cadogan was brought up to speed on government policy and briefed on the general situation in Burgesia. He in turn discussed Free Union foreign policy with the Executive and invited suggestions that he would pass on to the government at home. The formal audience over, tea was served on the South Veranda of Government House, overlooking the extensive parkland in which the opulent residence sat.

There was a certain awkwardness around the table, the Earl by now aware he was an unwanted governor and the ministers consequently uncomfortable. "Rather pleasant morning, what?" said the Governor, attempting to break the silence.
"Yes, I hear it is to get incredibly warm this afternoon", replied the Finance Minister Sir Joseph Wentworth.

Silence again descended. It was broken this time by the cantakerous Home Affairs Minister who, having finished his third slice of fruit cake, bluntly asked, "Tell me Cadogan, why the devil won't your lot back in Woolwich let us deal with our own trade? Simply contrariness if you ask me."

 

[Great Engellex]

“Own trade?” The Earl repeated quietly, sipping his hot tea. This was not going particularly well.

“Is the Free Territory of Burgesia to be left to float on the world, for any strong power to take you? And there certainly are powers possessing the pecuniary means that would covet your possession, and no long period would elapse before you would pass into possession of some other imperial power.” Earl Cadogan placed his cup down and threw his arrogant eyes upon the front page of a national Burgesian paper that sat under his nose. It reported on the disturbances, the statements of organisations within Burgesia, and also on the statements from regional powers, communist powers. “Indeed.” He muttered.

“You will be surprised to find that the Free Union is functioning in its time-honoured way, and will be astonished to find that it still dresses for the part. You can expect not to find the imperial relationship resigned to death, or that we foresee any swift and undignified departure. It would be prudent to consider the region. You are not surrounded by allied or civilised states.” He folded the newspaper and served himself a slice of fruit cake, his message was quite clear; sink or swim. And he believed the latter was only feasible with the guidance of the Free Union. The Earl was ageing greatly, becoming bored and tired of the rapid decay of civilisation in Europe, as they believed in Woolwich. If it was to be that the Free Union as it is will be resigned to the pages of history, it will be by the practice of the ars morendi.

“Now, I wish to know what His Grace, the Duke understood the trade policy for Burgesia to be? On that point His Grace had been significantly silent; and, as it was one of great difficulty, His Grace had pursued a very discreet course in saying nothing about it. Now, it is important to know what had been the recommendations of preceding governors here, at Burgesia. I do not know a single governor of eminence who presided over this Free Territory who had not recommended a continuance of the trade policy.” And then he took a swipe at the revered former governor of Burgesia, the Duke.
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