Gallian Summit

[Furlanìe]

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The sun was just above the Perije mountains, and cast long and wide shadows under the apple, pear and cherry trees popping up between the otherwise linear and orderly vineyards on the hills below, and under the mulberry trees delimiting the green fields of the plains further north.
The city of Circivènt, located on a gentle hill between the mountains and the large northern lake, was still cold due to the gentle breeze coming from northwest, but was already crawling with civil servants, and security.[div] style="width: 400px; padding: 8px; float:right" |

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From the town hall plaza one could hear the fast steps from the palace, the whispers all around, the noises and voices coming out of the police radios closing off and monitoring the city historical centre, and the city marching band tuning their instruments to be ready to welcome the arriving guests.
The elite "Plumâs" battalion, arrived from Udin, was divided in smaller groups and located in the palaces around the plaza, ready to neutralize any danger, while officials of the Timâf division in full dress uniform ceremonially guarded the inside of the town hall.

On the first floor of the town hall, the city council hall was refurnished to accommodate the four leaders and their entourage, a large squared hardwood table with floral carvings on the legs was put in the centre with five chairs on each side, with the central one with the name of the guest and a small flag.
The room had frescoed walls, dark parquet and a wooden coffer ceiling from which a large chandelier hung, although the light was mainly coming from the large windows on one side of the room and from a few wall lights pointing at the frescoes.

Under the town hall portico, Prime Minister Jusèp Bardassin was surrounded by civil servants, translators and police officials coordinating the last details before the arrival of the first guest.

 

[Armorica]

Joffrey Segal, the Sénéchal of Neustria, was the first to arrive. The black sedan he was riding in pulled up outside of the town hall and a party of Neustrian officials climbed out.

"Prime Minister Bardassin, how do you do? It is a pleasure to be here. Your city is magnificent and I look forward to your hospitality."

The Sénéchal moved on and greeted the other officials as his own party followed and did the same.

"How do you do? ... A pleasure to be here. ... Where is the bar, I'm thirsty!"

 

[Furlanìe]

Jusèp Bardassin smiled at the guest while shaking hands "Il plasè al è gno, siôr Segal, ben vignût in Friûl"
a nearby woman translated his words: "the pleasure is mine, mr. Segal, welcome to Friuli"

"cal vadi daûr dal gno segretàri, tal plan tiare o vin preparât un buffet cun un tic di robe Furlane e Galliàne, o rivi quant che ançe i àtris a son rivâs"
"please follow my secretary, we prepared a buffet in the ground floor with a bit of Friulian and Gallian food and beverages, I'll follow you as soon as the others arrive"

 

[Serenierre]

Elisabeth Martinique arrived next. The Serenien motorcade was flanked by considerable more security as the Serenien premier always moved with her own security detail, something which had become ever more important after the recent assassination of Prime Minister Hansson of the Two Kingdoms. The small town in Friuli was quite quaint and beautiful.

She stepped out of the car and walked to greet the Friulian PM. "Pleasure to meet you again," she smiled warmly, "Long time, no see," she joked. "I do hope that we take the positive steps which benefit all of Gallia. This summit is a wonderful opportunity."

 

[Furlanìe]

"No le viôt mai avònde, siòre Martinìc" he smiled "o condivît il so entusiàsm, e o speri ca chist biel borc al podi jessi un impuartànt prin pas par il futûr de Gallie"
"I can't ever get tired of seeing you, ma'am Martinique; I share your enthusiasm, and I hope that this nice city will be an important first step for the future of Gallia"

"A po sta chi a spietà o là dentri in tal municìpi a bevi o lichignâ qualchi robute, il siôr Segàl de Neustrie al è già rivât"
"you can wait here or get in the town hall to drink or take a nibble of something, mr. Segal from Neustria has already arrived"

 

[Armorica]

Sénéchal Segal stood, a glass of liquor in one hand, his other arm wrapped around the waist of Foreign Minister Mme Dumont.

"This business with Lars concerns me."

"Indeed, mon cher. A bloc to our east upsets my plans d'outremer. Both directions must be attended to now."

Segal's hand drifted down. "Perhaps an invasion? To take control?" He squeezed. "Mmm?"

Mme Dumont laughed. "Joff, you naughty boy. Didn't your maman teach you any manners?"

 

[Oneida]

As is the Aurarian custom, President Sanabria was the last to arrive at the Summit and was slightly late. He had been joined on the plane by the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bartolome Justeniano, who would certainly serve as a voice for Hadija Zamora, the new Consul. Aurarian politics at this point were odd as it was not entirely what spheres of influence the President and the Consul were going to carve out for one another. This Gallian Summit would be the prime foreign policy objective of the new Consul, and President Sanabria made it a point to attend as opposed to her. If her goals were to become a reality, he had to be the one to negotiate them.

"Prime Minister Bardassin," the President opened, extending his hand "Thank you for opening your country for this most critical occasion. it has been quite some time since I've been in Friuli, it is certainly a lovely country."

Sanabria pulled the full charm that the Aurarians were so known for, he had to - he was about to come face to face with Martinique.

 

[Furlanìe]

"In te bote pičule al è il vin bon, al è vêr ançe par il Friûl" said Jusèp while shaking his hand with Sanabria
"The good wine is in the small barrel, and that is true for Friuli aswell"

"A mi fâs plasè ve une man par tignî boins i amîs dal Nord" he said jokingly before inviting the guest to enter with him
"I'm glad to have someone to help me keep the northern friends at bay"

After some pleasantries, and a bit of alcohol and food to relax the guests, the four leaders and their entourage were invited to the first floor, where the meeting was going to take place.

The sun entered the room through the large windows, illuminating the colourful frescoes and the crystal chandelier.
Prime Minister Jusèp Bardassin invited the guests to sit at the table and ordered a well dressed man to bring some coffee for all, and then took his place at the table, in front of the windows.
"O speri che le gnestre ospitalitât a sedi stade a le alteče dai gnestris preseâs ospits, e, se Diu al ûl, quant che chiste riuniòn a je finìde, o podarìn brindà ançemò a le Gallie, une aree geogràfiche che a viodût uèris e inimičìzis, ma che a sta dimostrant le so maturitât e classe in un mont dividût e ingredeât."
"I hope our hospitality met the high standards of our respected guests, and, if God wills, when this meeting has ended, we'll be able to toast again to Gallia, a geographic area that saw wars and enmity, but is showing its wisdom and class in a world divided and overwhelmed."
"Chist event no l'è dume un inquintri di bon vicinât, ma une oportunitât, par no, di meti di bande lis diferènčis e unîsi cuintri lis minàcis ca cerenîn i gnestris popui, o invìti lôr siòris e siôrs a concentrâsi su lis sfidis coletîvis, e a propòni liberamèntri lis lôrs idèis e tignì il çâf viart a ogni propòste o crùzie.
O fasarîn cumò un gîr seguìnt l'ordin mostrât in tal simbul dal inquìntri, šjelgût dal consèi citadîn, e quindi dopo di me a seguiràn Serenêre, Aurarîe e Neùstrie; a i domàndi di espòni lis lôrs sperančìs par chist event in chist prin gîr, cussè ca o podìn meti in sest le direšiòn dal dibatiment."
"This event is not only a meeting between good neighbours, but an opportunity, for us, to put aside our differences and unite against the threats that surround our peoples. I invite you ladies and gentlemen to focus on our collective challenges, and express freely your ideas, and keep your minds open to any proposal or issue.
We will now talk one after the other in the order showed in the symbol of this summit, chosen by the city council, so after me will follow Serenêre, Auraria and Neustria; I ask you to express your hopes for this event in this first round, so we can pave the road for the debate."

 

[Serenierre]

"Friends." Elisabeth Martinique began, "In this beautiful city, we, the primary nations of our Gallian motherland have gathered to make history. I am sure," she looked around the room, "We all appreciate the importance of a regional cooperation which weaves our economies and nations into a bond which will propel the entire length of the Gallian continent into a golden age. An age where we can forget the animosities of the past and the evils of ideological strife. An age where our nations will move together for the benefit of all Gallians."

"I make it no secret that a summit such as this has been my desire for years. The concept of Pan-Gallian unity is something incredibly close not only to my heart but to the core values of my country. For our nations to finally be presented with an opportunity to start afresh, with the old rivalries pushed into the dustbin of history, we have been presented with a grand opportunity. My dear friends. Je suis proposé an organisation which binds our nations together for the sake of economic and continental stability, peace, and prosperity."

She turned to look at the Aurarian president, "President Sanabria, what do you say?" She knew the Aurarians were upset with Serenierre and more especially with her. She had called them "bold". This had hurt the sensibilities in Solis. She had misspoken in a moment of domestic political pressurizing. But would he see, Elisabeth wanted to make amends.

 

[Oneida]

President Sanabria had been properly briefed on the dismissive tone of the Serenien with their role in causing the great humiliation that weakened Auraria’s global standing, allowed the Pohjanmaans to get away with sponsoring terrorism, and cost President Sanabria his entire domestic legislative program. He would only be president for four more years and it seemed very likely that over that time, he’d never have support of the National Court again. Under such circumstances, to hear the Serenien stand here today and speak of unity left a particular sour taste.

“The Serenien only want a union if they can be its uniter,” Minister Justeniano brief him on the plane – a man he had actually come to respect “We’re here today to weigh our options on whether or not such a setup is a net positive.”

“Thank you, Madam Martinique,” the President rose to speak “Your words speak to the heart of it. I will not waste our time with reviewing recent history – we were all here for it. The world is becoming a more dangerous place from the Post-Delegationists to the East to the Cussian Fascists in the West. No longer can the serenity of Gallia be entrusted to the voluntary cooperation of its member countries.”

“Our nations are amongst the oldest in the world. A Serenien, an Aurarian, a Friuli, a Neustrian – these are terms that been forged, reformed, molded, and expanded upon by centuries of history. While there are significant differences among us, I have always helf a sincere belief that more binds us than divides.”

“For Gallian Civilization to continue to be the world standard for civility and sensibility, for our countries to continue to define what it means for a people to truly live free – we must begin a necessary, yet uncomfortable journey of setting aside our past rivalries and come together as a single continent.”

“Madam Martinique, my esteemed colleagues,” he extended his arm to the table “When we leave this room today, this continent will forever be changed.”

“Try not to be so damned dramatic about it,” Minister Justeniano had cautioned on the plane. Sanabria was a proud Solisian, a proud Aurarian... and they knew not how to do anything without a dramatic flare.

OOC: Just in case, in my writing style – dialogue that is in italics is in the past or a thought, but in any case not being spoken out loud in the present moment.

 

[Serenierre]

"Oui, monsieur Président, I agree. Gallia will emerge fundamentally changed. However, I believe we need to understand there is a political dimension to our partnership and there is an economic element as well. Fundamentally, we must ask ourselves how far and how committed are we to these two points of partnership. What precisely are we seeking." Elisabeth paused for a moment.

"Speaking as the representative of the Serenien Government, I say, that we are clear. Serenierre seeks the closest degree of political and economic cooperation as possible by way of consensus. Prime Minister Bardassin, I believe you have very definite views and I think as the host of the summit you should share your view first."