Groot Desseyn

[Great Engellex]

LISSER ZWARTE KUST
GROOT DESSEYN​

​

28th January 1954,
Fort Leydsaemheyt,
Lisser Zwarte Kust, Himyar

Vice-Admiraal, Paulus Roelof Cantz'laar, for all his pride at being appointed to command of all warships and vessels of the Lisser Black Coast by the Admiralty of Leidschendam, Cantz’laar was made to endure the realities of the destroyed Batavian Confederation – which included the less than appropriate vessels for his new dignity. The warships available for his departure to his new posting were confined to a single light cruiser, Hr. Ms. Vergulde Draeck, that acted as his flagship, and two destroyers, all of which were in a terribly distressing state. The Governor of Port Gouden Leeuw, Adriaan Valckenier, remarked on that fact. I did not quite expect to see such tired, diminutive vessels, Valckenier said as he inspected them. He had arrived to Fort Leydsaemheyt with a contingent of the colonial regiment and some finely liveried footman, only to find it somewhat an anti-climax given the knackered scratch which the Admiralty of Leidschendam could muster. The austerity of the kingdom, remarked Cantz’laar. But if I may lead the way, I can offer you decent hospitality within this temporary flagship of mine. Adriaan Valckenier, a slender man of excessive height, slipped into the chair at the table within the Vice-Admiraal’s cabin, and with a wave of his hand he dismissed the offering of an afternoon meal. Cantz’laar reopened the conversation. The Minister-President is not willing to challenge the stipulations of Lisser armament, said Cantz’laar. And the States-General is not willing to finance the procurement of more suitable warships at present. As I understand, they can only be moved to form an arrangement of a loan to a private enterprise. Valckenier’s eyes narrowed on the last point, a private enterprise? Allow me to express my sincere doubt that any of the companies here would be persuaded to finance a new navy. Cantz’laar nodded, then smiled, that was not my meaning – or theirs. Regardless, this vessel, the two destroyers – and what is already stationed here constitute the fleet in my command. Valckenier snorted with an almost disgust, a command with only a single light cruiser, two destroyers, and God knows what else along this coast. The Vice-Admiraal nodded and explained that the vessels shall prove exceptionally useful to my duties here, most assuredly so.

No doubt, Vice-Admiraal, said Valckenier. But I can remember the days when the Black Coast Command disposed of a squadron of sturdy battle cruisers and several battleships. Cantz’laar appeared frustrated, that was before the war, Sir. Valckenier sighed, indeed. At any rate, Vice-Admiraal, you have arrived. I have considerable amount of intelligence for you, all latest advices from Bassakusu – more recent I suspect than anything you were briefed upon by the Admiralty. The Governor produced a leather-bound file full of papers, and as he placed it before the Vice-Admiraal he entered into a rapid exposition of the military, political and economic situation in Bangala and Central Himyar. The Duke of Katanga and the Duke of Matamba were beginning to raise the argument for independence of Bangalan trade from Lisser control. It cannot be long before we are compelled to remind the King of Bangala of the reasoning to the arrangement we have, the Governor said. And I’ve been informed by the Royal Secretary of Foreign Affairs that the rustling has not gone unnoticed by Leidschendam. It remains to be seen what Bassakusu will say to that. World powers under republican ideals would turn a bitter eye upon the suppression of political enterprises for liberty, no doubt. But it hardly mattered what they had to say, as long as the Lisser Black Coast remained firm, and the imperial powers of Himyar continued in amity. The Countess of Mbamba has displayed signs of agitation, continued Valckenier, and we have evidence to support the suspicions that Hillegom has issued letters of marque since the war (August Catastrophe) to vessels along the Black Coast. Letters of marque were heavily utilized as a legitimate weapon in the war by the Batavian Confederation, causing the former nation to have its own navy obliterated and severe conditions imposed upon the sovereign rights of the successor states in respect of naval power. In this case, however, it had been suspected that a few attacks upon small and medium sized trade and passenger vessels were religiously motivated, as the occupiers of the vessels were predominantly muslim. The absence of a determination to investigate the suspicions stems from the uncertainty as to whether the sponsoring of Hillegom may actually amount to piracy, rather than privateering; additionally, the Kingdom of Lisse is not permitted to legally issue letters of marque. Duplicates are prepared for your consideration and pleasure, Vice-Admiraal, concluded the Governor. Cantz’laar thanked him, and took note of a file of complaints from mariners amongst them. Now, it should be understood that these matters, that I have called to your attention, was done informally, stated the Governor, referring to his disinclination that any of it should be put to official dispatches.

And now, Vice-Admiraal, said Valckenier, it is my duty to discuss the details of your honoured visitation to São Paulo de Loanda. I have made arrangements for an excellent programme of official calls for you, Sir. Do you speak Portuguese? The Vice-Admiraal declined with a simply no. That is unfortunate, because Portuguese is commonly spoken among society there. You will, of course, call upon the naval and regimental authorities there, and upon the Governor. There is an evening reception planned for your honour. Cantz’laar nodded, that is extremely gracious, Sir. The Governor bowed his head in acknowledgement of thanks, it is a good pleasure to me to assist in making your arrival to the Black Coast as welcoming as possible. I have here a list of the prominent people you will meet, along with brief notes regarding them and their affairs here. Now, he the Governor said standing up, I shall take my leave back to Port Gouden Leeuw. I will have the pleasure of seeing you, Vice-Admiraal, again at Governor’s House in São Paulo de Loanda. Cantz’laar expressed his obligation to the Governor for his hospitality and walked him off the vessel.

 

[Great Engellex]

LISSER ZWARTE KUST pt. 2
GROOT DESSEYN​

​

4th February 1954,
São Paulo de Loanda,
Lisser Zwarte Kust, Himyar

The interior of Cantz’laar’s Eiffellandian Mercedes-Benz 260D was of emerald leather and mahogany, the automobile was also impressively smooth, so that as it rolled over the uneven streets, it did not jolt or bounce. Yet after a good fifteen minutes, the automobile had been left idle in the unusually hot sun, the Vice-Admiraal finding himself turning a little unwell. He welcomed the halts, despite the fact that each halt meant a somewhat formal greeting with complete strangers, even the undesirable ethnic ones, the kind of meetings he disliked most heartily. He stood and gulped in the light relief from the rain, that appeared every so often, during the blessed moments between exiting the automobile and entering in under the ornate porticoes that stood to welcome him. At the Naval Office of São Paulo de Loanda he drank an excellent Madeira; the Regimental Headquarters the Brigade-Generaal gave him a heavy Marsala; at the Governor’s House he was given a tall drink which had been iced. The delicious cold contents of that tumbler disappeared rapidly, and the tumbler was as rapidly refilled. The Governor of São Paulo de Loanda, concerned that the day of calling around the city had left the Vice-Admiraal a little exhausted, reminded Cant’laar that, it is an hour before the other guests are due to arrive by their own advice, Sir. Would you care for a short rest? Asked the Governor. I would so indeed, thanked the Vice-Admiraal.

The Governor’s mansion had facilities which merited much attention, especially from a freshly appointed Vice-Admiraal who may find his own residence lacking. There was a bathing system, providing excellent overhead water, all the while he stood within a most impressive tub. It was in a corner of the bathroom, floored and walled with the most excellent Delftware. Cantz’laar stood under the deluge of cold water, reviving with every second. He made a mental note to install an exact replica of the bathroom at the Commander’s Resident at Fort Leydsaemheyt. A Himyari valet in livery stood by with towels to save him from the reheating exertion of drying himself, and while he was being dabbed a knock at the door heralded the arrival of one of his officers. I sent to the ship for a fresh shirt for you, he said. Cantz’laar put on the fresh shirt with gratitude, but it was with distaste that he tightened his belt and pulled on his heavy uniform coat again. He hung the orange ribbon over his shoulder, adjusted is glittering star, and was ready to face the next situation.

The darkness of evening was descending, but it had not brought much relief from the heat; on the contrary, the drawing-rooms of the Governor’s House were brightly lit. The Governor of São Paulo de Loanda was awaiting him. The governor’s wife curtseyed deeply in response to Cantz’laar’s bow when the Governor presented him, and made him welcome to the mansion in a Portusgalian with somewhat soft tang. A little refreshment? Asked the Governor. Not at present, thank you, Sir, responded the Vice-Admiraal. I am expecting fifty-two guests, besides your Excellency, added the Governor. Some of them you have already met during your official calls today, he continued. And there will be the Duke of Katanga and the Countess of Mbamba. Cantz’laar raised a brow, indeed? The Governor nodded, I could hardly provide for an occasion of this magnitude without inviting a few of the Zwarte Kust’s most distinguished troublemakers. The Vice-Admiraal agreed. Still, there was something a little unnatural about the prospect of meeting members of the Bangala Court on friendly, social terms, especially as the two invited were bitterly complaining about the existence of the Lisser Zwarte Kust. The Consul-General of Portusgalia will accompany them, said the Governor. And the Consul-General of Ivernia, ours of course -. The list seemed interminable; there was only just time to complete it before the first of the guests was announced. Substantial citizens and their substantial wives; the naval and military officers whom he had already met, and their ladies; the diplomatic officers; soon even the vast drawing-rooms were crowded, men bowing and women curtseying. Cantz’laar straightened up from a bow to find the Governor at his elbow. I have the honour of making two distinguished figures acquainted, he said in Portusgalian. His Lordship, George Francis O'Keeffe, the Baron of Carew, his Majesty of Ivernia’s Consul-General (to Bangala). His Excellency, Vice-Admiral Paulus Roelof Cantz'laar, Commander of the Lisser Zwarte Kust. Cantz’laar bowed, enchanted to make your acquaintance, my Lord, he said in his slight grasp of Ivernian. No more enchanted than I, Sir, replied O’Keeffe. His Excellency, Sir Pêro da Covilhã, his Most Faithful Majesty’s Consul-General, continued the Governor. Cantz’laar bowed and said again that he was enchanted. Her Most Faithful Majesty was the Queen of Portusgalia. His Excelleny, Sir Dimitrios Bouboulis, said the Governor, his Majesty of Valkany’s Consul-General. This was the representative of Valkany to Bangala. A word or two with him regarding the distresses in the Eastern Cape might be informative, but Cantz’laar had hardly time to exchange formal courtesies before another presentation was being made. It was some time before the Vice-Admiraal had a breathing space, and could look round the pretty scene, with the uniforms and evening dress, the bare arms and shoulders of the ladies in their bright gowns and flashing, glittering jewellery, and the Governor of São Paulo de Loanda and his wife moving unobtrusively through the throng marshalling their guests in order of precedence. The final arrival, the Governor of Port Gouden Leeuw and his wife, was the signal for the announcement of dinner.

The dinning-room was as vast as the drawing-rooms; the table with chairs for fifty-four people stood comfortably in it with ample room all round for the numerous footmen. Subdued candlelight existed here, but it glittered impressively on the silver and Delftware which crowded the long, wide table. Vice-Admiraal Cantz’laar, seated between the wives of both governors, reminded himself that he must be alert and careful regarding his table manners; it was the more necessary as it was quite apparent that the Governor was executing his evening to the formalities of the more stiff social rules and etiquette of the empires – the real monarchies, as they are referred. Cantz’laar’s nostrils caught the distinct aroma of lemper, which sat teasingly before him in a typical Delftware dish. This was to be a dinner served in the Batavian fashion, as it is still termed, of the rijsttafel, with its array of small dishes exhibiting the exotic abundance which the Batavian Confederation had become accustomed. The Vice-Admiraal spooned cautiously at one of the dishes, and applied himself to making small talk with his dinner partners. Dish succeeded dish, and soon he had to face in the hot room the delicate question of etiquette as to whether it was more un-gentlemanly to mop the sweat from his face or to leave it there; his discomfort decided him in the end to mop. Now, the Governor of São Paulo de Loanda was rising to his feet, and the buzz of conversation died down. He raised his glass. The Crown of Lisse, he said. Long may the great nation of which it unifies enjoy prosperity and the European amity of which this gathering is symbolic. The toast was drunk with acclaim; the Vice-Admiraal caught the wrinkled brows of some Consul-Generals who still found the new style of address for toasting the Kingdom of Lisse strange, and bizarre. The style does not refer to person, as there would not always be a person under the crown. Now Vice-Admiraal Cantz’laar was on his feet. Her Most Faithful Majesty Constança the First, Queen of Portusgalia. The toast was drunk and now it was the Governor of Port Gouden Leeuw’s turn. He stood up, glass in hand, and began, his Majesty the High King of Ivernia. The approving murmur of the company died down, and the Governor of São Paulo de Loanda climbed back upon his feet, this time the Governor completed a rather lengthy list to include all the other majesties represented here by their Consul-Generals, and the guests from the Kingdom of Bangala. At long last the Governor, and the toasts, reached their end.

The ladies were all rising, now that the Governor had sat down, and he stood again while they withdrew. The highly trained footmen swept the table clear of its accessories in a trice, and the men gathered to one end of the table as the decanter was into circulation. The glasses were filled as Valckenier, the Governor of Port Gouden Leeuw, introduced one of the chief Lisser industrialists in Bangala into the conversation concerning questions over further expansion of the great freight rails of Lisse in Bangala. It was safe ground from which to make brief and cautious sorties upon the much more debatable ground of European conditions. But only a few minutes later the butler came in and murmured something to the Governor, who turned to convey the news to the Duke of Katanga. The duke rose to his feet with an expression of irritation. Perhaps you will accept my excuses, gentlemen. I much regret the necessity, he said. No more than I regret it, Duke, said the Governor. The Duchess of Katanga finds herself indisposed, explained the Governor to the company. I am sure you gentlemen will all join me in hoping, as I said, that the indisposition is slight, and regretting that it involves the loss to us of the Duke’s charming company. There was a sympathetic murmur from the company, and the Duke of Katanga turned to the husband of the Countess of Mbamba, shall I send back the car for you, Count? The Count narrowed his eyes, perhaps it might be better if we came with you, he said. Much as I regret leaving this delightful assembly. The two Bangala men took their leave, after polite farewells. It was a great pleasure having made your acquaintance, Sir, said the Duke of Katanga to Cantz’laar. The stiffness of his character was reinforced by the almost sneer in his voice. It has been a profound experience to meet so distinguished a peer in service to the great King of Bangala, replied the Vice-Admiraal. The two Bangala gentlemen were escorted out of the dinning room by the Governor, voluble in his regrets.

Your glasses need refilling, gentlemen, said the Governor on his return. There was nothing the Vice-Admiraal disliked more than drinking large glasses of port in a hot and humid room, even though he now found himself free to discuss the Eastern Cape distresses with the Valkanese Consul-General. The Consul-General was not able to say anymore than the dispatches from the Admiralty at Leidschendam informed him, but he was hopeful of cultivating a good enough connection as to secure the Consul-General’s trust, should the Eastern Cape distresses appear to influence interests of western-central Himyar, where the Lisser Zwarte Kust lies.

Gradually the night wore on, and at last the Governor and his lady rose to their feet and the party was over. There were the last few weary minutes of awkward conversation as the automobiles were announced one by one.

 

[Portusgalia]

One of the small islands at the coast of Mbamba province is till the present day a portusgalian possession. In the past was a slave emporium. Many slaves have been shipped to Guanabara from there. Since the fall of the 18th cent it declined because of the independence of Guanabara. Finnaly in 1836, Portusgalia abolished slavery, it was a almost desert town. It is the "Ilha da Elefanta" (Island of the She Elephant). The Ilha da Elefanta, is a gastly island. Bad water, the portusgalians spend lots and lots of bleach to purify it, making it taste like shit. Mosquitoes are everyhere, there is even a local portusgalian joke about them: "Damn! Dies one hundred come to the mourning!". T he town is called "Porto Rei", and in the hill an old dusty fortress as remnants of past wars. The town has only 1000 people. The streets have no pavement, are only made of dirt. The buildings have an old look and mistreated. The town lives only for fisheries of the Sea of ​​Bangala, wich it is quit rich in fish. Even in administration it is gap! There is Prefect, a Sub-Prefect, and a Town Administrator, all in one single small island!The the lawmaker didn't care if it was a small Island, and rate it has a Province. The Prefect is a kind of feudal lord in there...

Even in the military, Lisbon has long forgotten the past battles for Bangala, and the only force is a National Guard Battalion that uses the old fort has barracks. In fact, this Battalion is quite well equipped for a commun National Guard militia unit. This is mainly because the Prefect, the retired General, João de Mascarenhas e Menezes, has great contacts within the Secretary of War and managed to get good weapons supplies for there.

The Bangalans call him the "Great Zumby of Elefanta", because he is albino and resembles a evil spirit to the Bangalans, and he has pretty bad humor. Recently a group of geologists from Lisbon came out to Ilha da Elefanta to seek for "things", those men from Lisbon look strange. White kakhi clothes, several equipment, and the "Great Zumby of Elefanta" always ahead of them.

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: So?

Geologist Albert Zeiss: Well General, i think there is petroleum in here!

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: I told you so! Are you going to write that down to Lisbon or need to go to basic school!?

Geologist Albert Zeiss: Sir...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: No buts! Just yes or not young man! I know that there is oil in this rocks! See this black "inkish" like thing?

Geologist Albert Zeiss: Yes it is a natural eruption of oil to the surface...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: How many barrels!?

Geologist Albert Zeiss: Ahrrrr....

Geologist Professor Alberto Santos: It is a big deposit General, it is profitable!

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: Excelent...

Mascarenhas went back to his Prefect house, wich was also in the Fortress. He meet with his Sub-Prefect, José de Alencar.

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Damn heat...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: This mosquitos could give me a break! With so many bites like today, i will be red instead of white, and the Bangalans will call me "Great Devil of Elefanta"... Bah... Damn hicks... There is oil in this godforsaken land...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: woooow Plans, money?

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: Always my friend, always... Finnaly Lisbon will remember that we still exist...

 

[Portusgalia]

In a week Lisbon gave reply to the geological report. The Professor from the Faculty of Science of the University of Porto, Alberto Santos, reported that it was a major oil field because of the limestone formations of the island. The "Zumby of Elefanta" is happy. The government attributed the exploration to SACOR, the major Portusgalian company in the oil branch, owning the Sines and Matosinhos oil refineries.
Ilha da Elefanta, the portusgalian forgotten island on Bangala, is now the center of a turmoil shaking the economy of Portusgalia.

In the middle of the night, the "Zumby of Elefanta" is at an old bastion of the fortress looking in to Bangala shores... He is caressing an old rusty cannon, like it was a pet. The Sub-Prefect approaches, and asks why does he caresses an old cannon...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: General why are you treating that scrap like it was a dog?

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: God Damn it! I many times do I have to tell you not to come my backs without a previous warning!?

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Sorry Mascarenhas, in my house... Better my Bastion, it is so damn hot that I can't sleep...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: And you think my "house-Bastion" is better than yours?

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Man... I think no public magistrate has to live in such conditions has we do!

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: Things will change soon my dear friend...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Why are you treating that scrap like it was a dog?

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: I always come here by the night and wonder, how was the 17th century in here?Why did we lost this wonder land?

Sub-Prefect Alencar: wow damn, nightmares eh?

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: You know very well that I sleep to little, sleeping... That is worthless, i rather prefer my version of day dreaming, "night dreaming". One thing is nice in this dusty old town, at 21:00 the generator is shut down and no electricity, no lights... Just peace, while that sounds from the tribal drums in Bangala fascinate me...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: We are in the twilight of Colonialism. I know what you are thinking...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: I know... I know...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: The portusgalian colonial empire is fading long since the independence of Guanabara, we have no Ministry of Overseas... Don't dream much Mascarenhas, pass me that Tonic Water if you please... Arghhhh damn mosquitoes...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: Yes yes... Drink that it prevents fevers! I'm affraid of this Alencar, the oil field that lies beneath us...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Yes, me too... Valkany it is rising has a power in Himyar, and those Lisse crooks still make jokes about our defeat here 200 years ago... But look at them! What a fools! 3 mini war vessels! What they think they are!?

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: And what do you think we are? 350 militiamen and a dusty fortress full of rusty cannons from the 18th century... Tell me?

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Oh Jesus! Always on a bad mood... Yes, nothing, zero...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: No my friend just a shadow of the past, only a shadow...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: At least we are poetic...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: If I'm mean you complain! If I'm nice you complain! Damn it Alencar you are even worst than women!!!!!

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Jesus... Drink Gin! Damn it! Back to subject, we need to take precaution.

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: Next month it will be here a ship from SACOR to start building the hell to extract oil, and they will build a new harbour so the tankers may be loaded.

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Oh shit... Bangala will proclaim this land has theirs, or Lisse will do it... Or even Valkany will come here!

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: You are in paranoia...Calm down. Valkany, my contacts back in Lisbon say that Queen made a deal with them, they are a kind of allies now. But be quiet... Lisse, that asshole from Loanda is in a social mood, and bals. That idiot of Pero da Covilhã told me that...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: What a deuchebag!

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: Indeed... He told me that a new guy came to command the "navy" of the Black Coast of Lisse. All social freaks, let they spend their lives in those foolish high school proms. I won't go...

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Sorry Mascarenhas, those damn drums are killing my hears, and this stupid mosquitoes are makin me crazy! I will go to my side of the fortress! Have a good night, try to sleep, your Dark Under Eye Circles are very notourious...They look like make up...

Prefect General Mascarenhas e Menezes: You little brat!!!! Damn toff coxcomb... Argh! Go to hell, sleep in that cell that you call home. Good Night...

*babling*

Damn Lisbon toff... No fit for men's jobs... BAHHHH!

 

[Great Engellex]

SITTING OF THE SECOND CHAMBER
GROOT DESSEYN​

​

7th February 1954,
Leidschendam,
Bernisse, Kingdom of Lisse

Maximilien Joseph Kolkman stood to speak and be heard, the gentleman was a member of the Second Chamber of the States-General for the Lisser Liberal Union (LUL). Unlike other democracies, notably those parliamentary systems alike that in Dulwich, the Second Chamber was arranged in a semi-circular fashion to encourage more respectful and meaningful discussion between the party elements that form the chamber, while it was well intentioned, in design, it did nothing to dissuade the representative from the nerves of standing and speaking. He immediately was able to register the likeliest opposition to his words, sitting to the right of his party, in their scarlet chamber habit. The chamber habit was a fashion of clothing derived from 17th century styles and procedure that endured time in this little country of Europe. Kolkman, a liberal and protestant, appears simply though anachronistically dressed, with the attire of the protestants including a long, knee-length, fitted black coat of fine embroidery, with wide ruffles at the cuffs and an excellent flat, curve-cornered lace collar; of course, they wore those voluminous wigs with a mass of loose curls, in whatever colour was naturally their own. It was almost decidedly puritan. The Tiburan Catholics had a similar chamber habit, with the exception that their long coats were of scarlet, with obvious exquisite embroidery. There had been calls to reform the procedure of dress, to reflect the growing trend of atheistic liberals, but with the majority of parties in the chamber representing some part of the ideologue of protestant or catholic Christianity, such reforms would never pass. Nonetheless, Kolkman, registered the likely and probably Tiburan Catholic opposition, sitting unashamedly confident in their scarlet habits within the right-hand-side rows of mahogany benches that constituted the Second Chamber.

I was, I confess, honourable Representatives, disappointed and surprised on the first day of this month, to learn from the Royal Secretary’s letter to the Carentanian Government that the pacification and political settlement of the Valkanese Eastern Cape was not yet in such a state as to enable the Crowned Government to assign the confident and honourable signature of this kingdom to that international treaty proposed, Kolkman said, turning briefly to his right to observe the quiet beginnings of the catholic rumbling objections. If I were at first disappointed, a very little reflection, in my own mind, allayed my disappointment; and this disappointment was more allayed when I further reflected—considering, as I do, that the proceedings, in this case, were irregular; that the delay might be considered as an auspicious circumstance, tending to make the diplomatic and political settlement of the distresses more stable to the political and commercial interests of Europe in general and to this country, and more honourable to the Crown of Lisse. Kolkman paused briefly, turning from the President of the Second Chamber to the conservative protestants on his left, as though appealing for their support. And why? For this reason. The unexpected delay occurring in the completion of these arrangements just when many nations of Europe were, enabled and invited the States-General to express its opinion, as no explanation has been afforded it of the state and origins of the Carentanian agreement, as to the principles on which it will consider the settlement of the Eastern Cape advantageous to this country, and honourable to the Crown; and I now call on you, honourable Representatives, to seize this opportunity of declaring your sentiments and recording your opinions. The Motion with which I shall conclude, will be to call on you to admit those principles which I stated on a former evening; and they are so true, that in them all your honourable Representatives must concur. At least, they are so obvious to my mind, that there is no Representative, I believe—and, indeed, no man of sound mind—who will not acquiesce in them; and it will not be necessary for me to take up much of your time in bringing you to agree to the sound principles contained in the Carentanian resolution. But it is not enough to show that these principles are true—you must also be satisfied that the situation and circumstances of Himyar, as well as the duty and interest of the Crown, make it right and proper now to act on them. I must fairly acknowledge that it is not sufficient to induce the States-General to adopt an international agreement, unless it be also shown that it be expedient. I readily admit, that more is requisite than to prove the necessity of the proposition beyond the advantageous goals of stability and commerce. Kolkman paused, arms at his sides, and allowed the simmering chatting to cease before concluding, this proposition, seeks to end, absolutely, genocide in Europe.

From amongst the growing thunder of rumbling discussions, a member of the Catholic National Party (KNP) rose to his feet, with his billowing dark brown wig and brilliant scarlet habit catching the attention of protestants and catholics alike, the latter waving papers and cheering. I should like to congratulate the Crowned Government, he began, rather boldly as though he intended to deliver in to a sarcastic quip. Upon the declaration which they had made of neutrality, as concerned the internal affairs of the Valkanese Empire, he continued, almost as a taunt to the liberals in support of the anti-genocide treaty. I do hope, however, that our legitimate influence would be used to prevent that power (Carentania) from shackling those people to their choice of immoral institutions. We ought to persuade them to adopt our own institutions. Such a gift to the Eastern Cape would be consistent with our national commercial interest, and to the greatness of the Almighty. I should like to see this chamber dismiss any degree of co-operation with such a nation (communist). The catholic representative retook his seat against the loud drum of his catholic supporters stamping their feet in approval.

The President of the Second Chamber gave way to a member of the Reformatory Political Federation (RPF), who sat on the far left. Honourable Representatives, although perfectly satisfied with the defence of the Crowned Government which the speech of my honourable friend has afforded, the unusual situation of agreement between two far sides of the chamber caused mutual laughter on both sides, and bitter dismissal from the moderate liberals in the middle who supported the Carentanian proposal. Yet, as some things have been stated since he sat down, more particularly by honourable representatives on both sides, almost in amicable agreement, I shall trouble you with a very few words upon this occasion. Honourable Representatives, the Minister-President, in his address in the First Chamber, stated to the States-General, that the Crowned Government desired to concert with regional partners a plan for the settlement of the Eastern Cape crisis, and to consider the position of the Kingdom of Lisse upon the Carentanian proposal; and it was further promised that he would shortly lay before us all the circumstances necessary to enable us to form a judgment upon the course which the Crowned Government should pursue with respect to these transactions. That was the promise, and yet the honourable Representative of the LUL (Kolkman) comes before us and tells us, "don't wait for the communication which the Minister-President has promised in his address to the States-General; don't wait for the plans, but at once adopt the proposition of the Carentanian Government.” That is the proposition which the honourable Representative makes to us, and which he calls upon us to adopt, before we know whether or not the treaty is irrevocably determined, and without knowing whether the treaty upon which you resolve will have any influence upon Lisser proceedings for the future in Himyar. The Representative paused, making a sweeping observation of the overwhelming majority of those in support of rejecting the Carentanian proposition. The Minister-President and the Royal Secretary of Foreign Affairs sat in the public gallery above the chamber, both obviously content with the direction in which Lisser democracy was taking this issue. But I ask whether this is a situation in which the Second Chamber ought to place itself? He continued, or whether it is consistent with the dignity of the States-General to come forward and enter into resolutions such as this, without knowing what agenda the Crowned Government intends to deliver to the States-General for debate? The assembled Representatives of the non-privileged were almost unanimous in shouting-up the arguments made in objection. Those of the moderate LUL dismissed the proceedings with a bitterness, and sought to make their leave from the chamber.

Before the Minister representing the Foreign Affairs Secretary was able to stand to address the various questions that were made, one way or another, the President of the Second Chamber was forced to deliver a statement with urgency to the sitting. Honourable Representatives of this Second Chamber are informed with urgency that the natural distresses of the Spaarne have failed to be contained within its banks, with emergency evacuations procedures acknowledged for Leidsebuurt. Due to the August Catastrophe, the industrial centres of Enkhuizen, Hoorn, and Zaan received considerable destruction from air raids, with both Enkhuizen and Hoorn sitting on the Spaarne with the capital, and because of a lack of government spending on the reconstruction of embankments, defences, and more importantly dredging – in favour of housing and industrial reconstruction – the winter season has caused great distresses along the main rivers of Bernisse. The States-General of Lisse sits within the Gravenzaal, a neo-classical palace built in the 18th century, which overlooks the Spaarne within the Leidsebuurt district of Leidschendam.

 

[Portusgalia]

The works for the oil well in Elefanta start. The locals are amased by the technology used, since they haver never seen bulldozers, crates and other stuff. The work on a new harbour begins, so may the tankers came by to load the precious liquid. The "Zumby" is always around like a hawk, seeing what is being done well and wrong. The small dusty town is now the center of attentions from Portusgalia. The "Zumby" is forcing the creation of a Refinery in the island, but Lisbon is vetoing it...

 

[Portusgalia]

The "Zumby of Elefanta", now feels like a great Feudal Lord. His province has oil, and from the poorest region in Portusgalia is now a "gold mine". He started making some "demands" to Lisbon, one of them was a car. He was the only Prefect in Portusgalia that didn't have a shiny new Eiffellandian Mercedes-Benz. That was a sign of man of power in Portusgalia. A cargo ship with supplies arives at Elefanta, and the "Zumby of Elefanta" is anxious like a little kid for his new car... What a let down!An ASTRA Valliant is dowloaded to land, and the "Zumby" is staring at it with a hideous face...

Costums Officer: Well sir, here is your new car that the Bureau of the Kingdom sent you! They got the best model on the factory only for you!

Zumby of Elefanta: What the hell is the meaning of this!?

Costums Officer: Sir... Ermmmm It is your new car?

Zumby of Elefanta: This rolling junk yard!? What the hell is this a joke?

Costums Officer: Sir this is a fine brand car! It is on the newest style tendencies!

Zumby of Elefanta: WHAT THE HELL!? ASTRA!? This must be a joke believe me, they only make poky little cars!

Costums Officer: No... This is the new model... Valliant!

Zumby of Elefanta: Valliant schmut!!!!!! Where is my Mercedes-Benz!? Get off with the prank now!

Costums Officer: The government cancelled the contract with Mercedes-Benz in favour of ASTRA. Now every one uses the Valliant as the official car, even the Queen!

Zumby of Elefanta: Damn country... Ok give me the kyes... Where do i sign for this crap?

The "Zumby of Elefanta" was desolate, no more Mercedes-Benz for nobody. The Neo-Septembrist where the true skinflints... The "Zumby" goes back to the Fortress in the Valliant.

Sub-Prefect Alencar: Hey hey! New car for you!? They have sent me a ASTRA Glamour! Isn't that nice!?

Zumby of Elefanta: Shut the fuck up Alencar... You're really a miserable! Are you happy with that rolling scrap metal!?

Alencar: Well, it is better than moving on foot, and now since we have almust free oil in here...

Zumby of Elefanta: What a crap... And that birdie Town Administrator!? Pires, what did he get?

Alencar: The same has me...

Zumby of Elefanta: Damn skinflints of Lisbon...

Alencar: Don't be mad at your new car, that one has a air vent sistem! It fights the heat...

Zumby of Elefanta: Stills a junk... Btw, news from Lisbon?

Alencar: Yes... They aproved our major plans for Elefanta! The pavement on roads, more support to the local fisheries...

Zumby of Elefanta: And that canning from Algarve?

Alencar: Interested in investing here a new shipping line to Himyar in can food.

Zumby: At least good news... It was needed to find oil in this damn land for its progress sake! Continue to give me news, now I'm going to bath on that damn fort cistern. Damn heat and mosquitoes... And now it is summer in here...

Alencar: The water in the beach is just fine! Just got out of there! And eat a good boiled lobster... This is paradise my friend! Join the good side of it!

Zumby: That is too you my friend... You are 30 years old, I'm almost 80...

 

[Portusgalia]

A boat arrives at the harbour by night... The Police makes it stop, and a man shows documents. It is a valkanian official from the Valkanian Consulate in Bangala. The Police drive him to the Fortress. They wake up the "Zumby"...

"Zumby": What the fuck is now!? The only night i could sleep good you came here and wake me up! Oh go to hell!!!!

Police Oficer: Sir, it is job duty... Go there and speak to him...

"Zumby: Duty Duty, is drinking vodka part of duty too!? Bah.... Wait there, I won't go on underpants to meet the guy!

We dresses up, a huge big time... He goes down after it.

"Zumby": Ok nocturnal guy, I don't know if you are a vampire or something, but if your people up your country don't sleep at night, I DO!!! Give me that! SCRAM!!!!!!

The valkanian was shocked... Every body already told about the nocturnal bad humor of the "Zumby"...He reads the letter...

"Zumby": Crap... Crap... Commies!? Commies!? What the fuck! ALENCAR!!!! CALL ALENCAR!!!!

Alencar, the Sub-Prefect arrives in a few minutes...

Alencar: Don't tell me you had a bad dream again!?

"Zumby": In my dreams I can't write letters... Read this?

Alencar: Bullshit... Communists in Himyar!? What the hell!? This is even worst then our... "gecko"*** neighbors!

"Zumby": To ARMS! TO ARMS! Go to the church Alencar, ring the bells! I will go to the syren!!!!

The "Zumby" goes to the syren on the Fortress and Alencar started ringing the church bells... In a few minutes the population of Elefanta and even the workers of the SACOR oil well where in the major town plaza. The "Zumby" goes to the town hall balcany and speeks to the people:

"Citizens! Good Citizens! Informations came to me that there is possibly a major communist menace to our lands and properties! We must be alert to this, and we must act! If they come, they will receive...

Picks up a SMG and points to the air...

"Zumby": THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Starts shooting to the air like a maniac...

"Zumby: This land is ours, nobody can't take it from us!!!! Constitution or Death!!!!

The people, starts giving applause, Communism is seen as a "bad thing" among the portusgalians. The town is in alert. The "Zumby" is neurotic, and doesn't sleep that night, he has a strong sense of duty and public service, and in his point of view this is very serious. The oil well, occupies his mind, he knows that it is a luxury trophy.

OOC:

***Gecko: A commun animal in Bangala. The portusgalians call the batavians "Geckos" because of the their very white skin. It is a slang insult used since the 17th century.

 

[Portusgalia]

Direct orders from lisbon force the "Zumby" to withdraw the Red Alert status.

 

[Great Engellex]

JOINT SITTING OF THE STATES-GENERAL
GROOT DESSEYN​

​

20th February 1954,
Leidschendam,
Bernisse, Kingdom of Lisse

On 20 February 1954 the President of the Second Chamber of the States-General initiated a joint sitting of the First and Second Chambers, with the session held behind closed doors. The States-General met within the temporary location of an aristocratic house on the outskirts of the city of Leidschendam, the Gravenzaal was still not liberated from the deluge of flood waters from the Spaarne. On the Himyari Black Coast the Portusgalians declared their intentions to exploit valuable resources that they assert are within the sovereign boundaries of the tiny island of Elefanta, and the States-General now were to debate how best for the Crowned Provinces to proceed. With the Commander of the Lisser Zwarte Kust, viceadmiraal Cantz’laar, in the lavish and fortified surroundings of Fort Leydsaemheyt , the principal focus of Lisser domination of the Black Coast, he wrote to the Admiraal-van-Leidschendam, My Lord van der Zaan, the reports of the declared intention of the Portusgalian exploitation of Elefanta Island, had been in circulation here for some days. The intelligence of the formal declarations having entered the circles of Leydsaemheyt, Gouden Leeuw, and São Paulo de Loanda, was received last night. The Governor of Gouden Leeuw did not appear to believe the event was probable. There now, however, seems now to remain a stand of opinion, that the Portusgalian will proceed further in this direction, as they are principally driven by resource, but that they will respect the sovereignty of the Zwarte Kust. With regard to the Crowned Government, it would not only be a wise endeavour to urge the Crowned Government to other measures of assertion than those they have already adopted; but there are no measures of a nature purely diplomatic, which could now be taken, to support the efforts of the Command’s prerogatives over the entire Zwarte Kust, if it should be brought into immediate action. What I have now principally to submit to your Lordship, is accordingly meant to apply only to the case of hostilities being actually commenced by the Lisser Zwarte Kust against Portusgalia, in the duty of Elefanta. Nothing, I imagine, need be urged to prove, that if the Command succeeds in occupying that part of the Portusgalian Himyar, the sole purpose cannot be the shutting of the ports of Elefanta against Portusgalia; there must also exist the intention of seizing that island, and of directing their resources against the interests of the enemies of the Crowned Provinces. The Crowned Government needs advice concerning the expansion of Lisser commercial and security capabilities.

The letter of the Commander was to be a source of encouragement in the join sitting. Generally, all were in agreement; with the campaign of the Revolutionary Defence Treaty Organisation spreading from Solaren, Monkecia, now to Himyar, the capabilities and asset expansion of the Crowned Provinces could not be delayed. Once circumstances have permitted the justification, the Elefanta Island will be annexed. If successful, this would provide Lisse with one of those resources that has become important to industry, and vital to the military, and with the uncertainties of the socialist-bloc and other rivals in the region, seizing the asset could not be understated. Behind the universal agreement on the island, however, lurked serious disagreements about the strategy and future of the Lisser Zwarte Kust. In fact, the joint sitting saw the stormiest session ever to occur during the coalition government of the League of Free Liberals and the Lisser Liberal Union. The single Representative for the Social Reformatory Party of Lisse strongly observed the formal policies of his party, provoking great, almost violent arguments over his defence of the Revolutionary Defence Treaty Organisation. The President of the Second Chamber formally warned the socialist representative of the closed nature of the session, implying criminal proceedings of a very high degree should anything debated leave the confines of the joint session. The staunchest opposition to the leading line of thought came from some members of the League of Free Liberals (BvVL). In their view, Elefanta Island was a sideshow toward an increasingly overbearing State, and an unnecessary drain on national and democratic resources, believing that the Crowned Government should not delay in their endeavour to privatise the Lisser Zwarte Kust – reconstituting a private trading company – thereby releasing the social and security burdens of the holdings from the State, while still enjoying the profits. Those of the Lisser Liberal Union (LUL), though, like many minority members of the other parties, was determined to delay the privatisation of the holdings until success of it was far more assured. They did not believe that the moment had come, and also had other motives for pushing forward in Himyar. Traditionally the LUL maintained the position of non-cooperation with the historical rivalries of the Batavian Confederation, and of the future unification of Batavia. They were intent on setting the International Decolonisation Agenda alight – exploiting the resistance to the domination of the RDTO, and aiming to cut the abundant supplies and resources found in Himyar, essential to the socialist-bloc, off. Many of them, government ministers, were even far-sighted enough to wish to get Lisser military assets inside the Hulstenaar Southern Himyar before the RDTO arrive there from only across the border.

Exasperated by the LUL’s reluctance to proceed full-steam ahead with the plans for the privatisation of the Lisser Zwarte Kust, the BvVL were suspicious that their coalition partner’s ambitions were motivated by imperial, neo-Batavian, interests. There had been tension between the two political parties since their entry into coalition governance, including fierce exchanges over the economic and industrial policy of Lisse, which the BvVL believing the budget for war reconstruction should only be of half the value – the other half being allocated as a fund to finance industrialists and traders through State loans – instead of the full budget being used to rebuild damaged and destroyed infrastructure. For the LUL, and the other parties, the war reconstruction budget is not up discussion. But to the surprise of the Royal Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Minister-President, the States-General provided the necessary political compromise that the Crowned Government desperately wanted. The ramifications of the closed joint sitting will no doubt affect the whole of Porto-Lisser relations for a number of decades in the future.

[CLASSIFIED TELEGRAM]

20 Feb. 194
Dear Cr. Vd. Cantz’laar,

The Lisser Adjustment standing squadron of six vessels including one crusier, the De Zeehond is still at the Gothic Sea for target practice, and the rest of the squadron, the 1st destroyer flotilla, in commission for the adjustment are mobilised about the Crowned Provinces.

The Lisser Zwarte Kust fleet will be ready for which it may be required, but there are no signs of any active, public policy being adopted at present. Only, in the case of isolated piracy from the Zwarte Kust, I presume the Crowned Government would permit something, to make a demonstration.

I can provide confirmation that the squadron will be leaving Lisser territorial waters at 01:00 21 Feb. for the rendezvous with your command at Leydsaemheyt.

Adr.v.Leid. Adr. Johannes Georgius Bruchius van der Zaan​

​

 

[Portusgalia]

In Elefanta Island, life continues its laziness typicall of a fishing port, only the well and harbour construction is at stress. The hot summer sun burns every thing in there, even the souls of men.

The "Zumby" is very disturbed and fussy. His bad humor is typicall, but this time, the man acts like a completly devil. He is seen walking around the Fortress's terraces, always looking to the sea and the coast of Bangala. He speaks to no one. Alencar, is the only one who has goats to go near by him. He is the antithesis of the "Zumby", a a cheerful, playful, and good-natured man always with a good jocke to tell. He decided to go meet the "Zumby".

Alencar: Hey old man, whats the rush! What you lost something in the fortress!? You seem fussy walking around!

"Zumby": Illiterate...

Alencar: Always the bad mood... What was it now, speak up old man! When you die, i will have to salt the grave because you have so much poison on your veins, that you will kill all the flowers in there! Comme on, cheer up! Wanna go drink a beer at the beach bar?

"Zumby": Lisbon this time done it...

Alencar: What? You still stressed by that lecturing from the Queen about the "Red Alert" status?

"Zumby": No no no no, this is worst then a "ghost invasion"! This time is for real, trust me...

The "Zumby" was starting to be so nice to Alencar, that Alencar suddenly became worried!

Alencar: At least speak to me, I was always your loyal friend in here...

"Zumby": Those diplomatic notes from Lisse regarding the Oil Field... Thats double trouble, I knew it!

Alencar: I read the Pero de Covilhã's report on that, he says there is nothing to fear!

"Zumby": That's the reason God damn it! That guy is a total jerk, he only cares about proms and casino nights! Can't you understand that? His work in Bangala is zero... nothing! He doesn't know a crap about "geckos"! That energumen is in charge there a year ago, an nothing worthwile has been done. I'm here for thirty years! Since the Integralist Regime... I was the last governor of Elefanta and the first Prefect! I know that people (dutch) very well, they are doing something...

Alencar: Like what!?

"Zumby": They will try to seize the oil field, and Elefanta... They don't care for old treaties, they regard this damn land has theirs. Do you know what is Neo-Batavianism?

Alencar: To be honest, no... But please don't lecture me!

"Zumby": No, don't get it so far! I'm no monster! Neo-Batavianism is a "revivalist" ideology regarding the "comming back" of "good old batavian times", wich means imperialism in Himyar. That is the thing that haunts me these last months, they are in power in Lisse.

Alencar: Still at blanc...

"Zumby": Do you know those radical Integralists, and their desire to restaure the old Portusgalian Empire from Guanabara to Mellarmia!?

Alencar: That mambo-jambo of Alexandre De Ville!? Oh my God, of course, is speech was regarded has a joke last week in the Sovereign Congress! You must read it!

"Zumby": Don't care about him... But yes Neo-Batavianists, are "Alexandre De Villes" and their wacko followers...

Alencar: Oh crap...

"Zumby": Acordding to what I know, they have a certain power in Lisse now. And there is something strange about the Black Coast this days, and smells fishy about it.

Alencar: We are lost Mascarenhas...

"Zumby": Not with me my friend! I can be 80 years old, but i still can walk fast and handle a gun for war! And they won't get Elefanta out of my hands, just over my dead body! Gecko sons of a bitch!

He spits in the direction of Loanda...

"Zumby": I still have 250 men on my power! The money from Sacor has been applied in weapons, they arrived yesterday, in those black boxes.

Alencar: What the hell is in there?

"Zumby": *evil smile* Valkanian helmets, valkanian Gewehr 43s, valkanian Sten SMGs, Stielhandgranates, several Bazookas...

Alencar: Shit... Does Lisbon knows?

"Zumby": I have friends in the Kingdom's Bureau... All passed up... 40 years of work in here, I'm the dean of governors, and one of the must oldest civil servants in service of this God damn nation. I wanna see their ugly gecko faces if they set foot in here! BAAAAAMMMMM

Alencar: Wasn't easier to Lisbon to get here a coastal defense regiment!?

"Zumby": Do you believe those assholes moved men to Bissao!?

Alencar: You must be kidding, right?

"Zumby": For no reason, i asked them why, and they said "It is national security issues, towards the defence of overseas provinces bla bla bla bla from communist threat" their usual rigmarole in this times. That fat bastard of Bissau must be happy by now...

Alencar: We remain with the National Guard!?

"Zumby": True... They regard Lisse has a friendly country, they don't know that they are so imperialist has the valkanians! But while the valkanians are posers, this geckos are low profile! And those Lisbon morons didn't get... No one has get it yet...

Alencar: I'm convinced...

"Zumby": Congratulations my friend! You just become the second member of the Anti-Gecko Club!

Alencar: Is there any fleet in Bissau?

"Zumby": Yes... The 1st Himyar Fleet of the Armada.

Alencar: Rusty vessels...


"Zumby": Top of line, it is even more powerful then the 2nd Himyar Fleet in Mozambia.

Alencar: If they bust us, they can get here in a few days, or less...

"Zumby": Alencar, shut up, you are a civilian, you don't know nothing about wars...

Alencar: But...

"Zumby": No "buts"! In a possible invasion it depended on the numbers deployed by the geckos on the terrain, and they strategy... If we could resist at least the time for they to arrive here, it was fine. But i doubt about that...

Alencar: Why did you tell the Town Administrator to buy so much military equipment from Valkany!?

"Zumby": At least we do not shame! And kill a lot of geckos on the way!

Alencar: This got me sick... I will go to the beach bar...

"Zumby": Careful...

Alencar: Why?

"Zumby": Maybe a submarine ride down the coast! hahahahaha

Alencar: Frankly i don't know what to fear more... A dutch submarine or the fact to hear from you your first joke!

"Zumby": Get the hell out of here! SCRAM!!!!!!

A few hours later, shouts, orders, and shots are heard from inside the fortress, the daily routine of the National Guard Battalion of Elefanta. The "Zumby" was a nasty drill instructor, but the men like him very much. They where testing the new weapons.

 

[Portusgalia]

The state of war, that was activated by decree of the Queen, did gave a true good sleeping night to the "Zumby". The people was surprised not to see him wandering around the fortress that night. In the very early hours of the next morning, when the sun was rising, the Zumby was already up, and with a joy face. He goes to his office, and do his work. He is anxious by the mail ship that does regular trips between Bissau and Elefanta. When that ship arrives to the harbour, he goes on foot to be the first to get the official mail.

What a disillusion, nothing regarding the defense of Elefanta. The "Zumby" was back in the good old grumpy mood! Goes back to the fortress, gives his typicall drill to the National Guard militiamen, and goes back to the office. Alencar, by his side, goes for his usual morning bath at the beach, drinks a Martini at the beach bar, and goes to work. A typical way of life of a dandy in vacations. He goes by the "Zumby" office...

Alencar: Hello Mr Bad Mood! How is the morning...

"Zumby": Oh Jesus! The last thing I desired was to hear from you...

Alencar: Nice to see that morning bad mood! At least you are in good health! Tell me the news...

"Zumby": Read them! I'm not your damn serf!

Alencar: Let me see... "Bissau... defense force 14 regiments of infantry shipped to there... Mozambia..." This is always the same... "Elefanta Island, nothing to report... The Prefect may ask the Black Coast governor to do a joint venture in defence"! Usual... They don't care...

"Zumby": What the hell! Those guys must be illiterate, or they don't read my reports!

Alencar: That is a pain in the ass for us now!

"Zumby": It won't be for long...

Alencar: What are your plans?

"Zumby": I will send them a report about a "communist fleet" that passed the night at the Black Coast, and a airplane that was over the island flying in circles...

Alencar: Nothing of that happened...

"Zumby": God damn it! That's the point! It is a wrought report dumb head!!!!

Alencar: Thats dangerous! You can go for trial because of that...

"Zumby": Seriously? I know what i can do... I'm the dean of public administration... I already have a pilot to do the job of flying over by the night, and several fishermen will do a move next night. Several ships with lights, and dynamite exploding in the sea... It will resemble a fleet!

Alencar: Are they... people you can trust?

"Zumby": Fourty years in this island has its head, create a lot of ties to this land and their people... They are my friends and I saved them a lot of times...

Alencar: Haaaaaa ok ok ok!

"Zumby": Just shut your mouth up, and every thing will be just fine... It is a "Zumby" work.

Alencar: I'm only concerned about the geckos...

"Zumby": Don't be... If the gecko Black Coast fleet goes by, it will se they are only fishermen of Elefanta! They are used to, they don't care much about them. The fishermen are just innofensive...

That night the plan goes has expected, an airplane made a flyight for several hours over the island, and the fishermen made a large line at the sea with their ships. Dynamite started exploding, resembling cannon fire. The people was scared at Elefanta. The "Zumby" made his move, and walked all night stirring up the people, saying it was communist fleet passing by. The people took that in consideration, and heard the "Zumby". After all, he is regarded dear by the people of the island.

Next morning, a report to Lisbon. The Zumby waited... After one day, he went in his usual trip to the harbour to wait for the mail ship. He recieves the mail, and good news for him! He goes at full speed back to the beach where Alencar always is, and at the Beach Bar, they go to a far table almost nearby the water...

Alencar: News!?

"Zumby": Yes!!!!! An Artillery Regiment will come to Elefanta!!!!

Alencar: That is just good news!

"Zumby": Yes my friend! I expected them to put here a Coastal Defense Regiment, but an Artillary Regiment it is always good!

Alencar: Who are they!?

"Zumby": 12nd Artillery Regiment, they are from Cascais.

Alencar: WOWW! That is one of the best! It is from the Lisbon defense system!

"Zumby": Yes my friend! Thats why I'm happy! These guys are top of the line, in case of war, they support coastal artillery from Lisbon! It is a kind of back up artillery regiment, i know them well...

Alencar: When do they arrive?

"Zumby": Read it, it is unbelievable!

Alencar: "has soon has possible, in record time"

Nice, better get room for those fellows!

"Zumby": Don't worry... I just love Carentania and their communist bullshit in Eastern Cape...

 

[Great Engellex]

THE CRISIS OF CHRISTENDOM
GROOT DESSEYN​

​

2nd March 1954,
Leidschendam,
Bernisse, Kingdom of Lisse

It was the reasonably presumed connection of the Tiburan Catholicism with royal absolutism which would persistently dominate the politics of the rather quiet cities of the Crowned Provinces. The secrecy and perceived scheming of the Conclave within Tiburtina was usually found to be easily shrugged off by the protestant, and moderate Tiburan Catholics, with an air of almost blissful ignorance, after all the Tiburan Catholic Church seemed to be destined for an unstoppable decline in influence from within its central palace of spiritual authority, and so the summoning of cardinals across Europe to deliberate, then vote, upon a successor failed to unite any curious rumours into a full-out protest. Even with the pomposity of the Prince-Archbishop in the absolute face of all those opposed to what he is, it wasn’t enough to permit attention away from the labourings of commerce and industry. The genuine plans of Tiburtina to ascend to the mighty halls of the Tripartite Alliance, however, were quite a different matter.

These plans followed the imperial venture of the Danish Empire that had gained increasingly unpopular throughout much of Europe. Meanwhile the princely lords spiritual of Tiburan Catholic Lisse, having travelled to Tiburtina, have remained there for quite some time without a word in any national publications on the proceedings of the spiritual assembly, itself beginning to arouse fears that the Conclave and the political moves of Tiburtina are not independent of each other. Many Tiburan Catholic Representatives of the Second Chambers of the States-General strenuously denied the protestant accusations that connected their Tiburan faith with absolutism, and thus a rise in the absolute power of the Papacy. The rise of an absolute Papacy in Europe was in fact nonsense. Christendom was more divided than ever, and increasingly divided, especially given the ever greater number of splits from Tibur. But, the Crowned Government had sufficient statistics which proved to them that any alarm over growing Tiburan Catholicism was without foundation. The numbers of Tiburan Catholics in the Crowned Provinces were actually declining, as Lisse, as the Batavian Confederation before it, was becoming more and more secular. The political establishment of Leidschendam continued to view these religious matters from quite a different, almost an entirely secular, angle. Many of the congressionals in Vlistland had long complained of the Prince-Archbishop as a mere Popish instrument against the northern realms that follow the protestant directions. The Crowned Government, the First Chamber of the States-General and much else of the establishment made nothing of the Tiburan Catholic air of Prince-Archbishop’s Court in Hillegom; they permitted the Archbishopric to breath it in with enjoyment, as to Leidschendam, it had no stench of absolutism. Because of the connection between Tibur Catholicism and absolutism did not exist, the liberal and secular centres of Bernisse were absolutely unable to grasp that it played a part in the suspicions of Vlistland against Hillegom.

The political scene was further complicated by the mounting intrigues of the Prince-Archbishop, to bring about absolutism for the Tiburan Catholic Church in the Zwarte Kust and Bangala, cutting off Protestantism and Islam within western Himyar, on which he had set a great gamble where the hazard lied absolutely with Hillegom. The strategies of the Prince-Archbishop were to concentrate on the manifestly weak link in the chain of the Crowned Government’s power – the Crowned Navy. Letters of marque were issued, and various agents, or pirates or terrorists, were employed. It was the Governor of Gouden Leeuw who had first openly pointed out to the Crowned Government that the Archbishopric of Hillegom was setting the compass of aggression in the direction of the Himyari Black Coast. In his report to the Admiraal-van-Leidschendam, however, on the the subject, he had grossly underestimated the personal control of the Prince-Archbishop over the affairs of the Archbishopric. Nevertheless, this permitted the Admiraal-van-Leidschendam to sow dissension amongst the various members of the Crowned Government over the religious circumstances being projected onto the Zwarte Kust, while at the same time emphasizing the threat of the Revolutionary Defence Treaty Organisation in Himyar.

Even if the admiraal and the governor had misunderstood the wide powers remaining with the Prince-Archbishop – and who does understand the disposition of power between him and the democratic institutions in Hillegom, outside of the Archbishopric that is? It was perfectly true that by the start of March 1954 the fires of religious tension were being lit in Vlistland, to the west of Bernisse, and Hillegom, to the south-east. Money from the Count of Purmerland was also noted, by various senior members of the Crowned Government, as being dispensed with a kind of unusual generosity not usually associated with a protestant aristocrat. The inefficiencies of the treasury prevented the Crowned Government from being fully aware of where that money was being spent, all they knew, was that it was being filtered through the various congressional churches in Vlistland and Bernisse.

Until now, the frustrations of religion and the revolutionary states had been completely independent of each other, again until now. The Admiraal-van-Leidschendam, Admiraal Johannes Georgius Bruchius van der Zaan, the head of the Crowned Navy, arrived at the chambers for the ministers of the Crowned Government; marching down the cold, almost Puritan in style, corridors, van der Zaan arrived bearing the full authority that his dress uniform permitted. Clutching a thin-leather folder, he was Swift in addressing the matter to the Crowned Government, another vessel has been attacked off the Zwarte Kust. Twenty-three crew dead. Viceadmiraal Cantz’laar cannot confirm the nationality of the vessel or the crew at the moment. The losses of the pirates are, well, none. Van der Zaan observed as many of the ministers sunk in their seats at the distress of the news, with the War Secretary, the Foreign Affairs Secretary, and the Minister-President resolutely aroused for an obvious course of power projection along the Himyari Black Coast. We must bring this unnecessary threat to an end at an all-possible speed, declared van der Zaan potently to the government. On the 20 February, the Royal Secretary of War, Alexander Frederik van Bylandt, and the Minister of the Crowned Navy, Frederik Alexander Adolf Gregory, upon the instructions of the Minister-President, had asked the College van Admiralen in Leidschendam (Admiralty) to investigate what options existed to send to the Lisser Zwarte Kust, as a show of Lisser resolution. The answers were rather mixed. They concluded that, within the confines of Lisser budgetary discipline, it may proof expensive, but not necessarily guaranteed as being so. The vessels already advanced to the attention of the Crowned Government for a deployment could be diverted from patrols and exercises in domestic waters, but because of the distances involved they would need to be accompanied by auxiliary vessels, fully supplied. Generally speaking, assessments of what actions were possible in the event of necessary military activity along the Black Coast relied on the limited understandings of the military positions of those immediate to the Lisse in Himyar. It was therefore considered opinion that military options were present, but within very confined time frames. Any effort had to be swift and decisive.

The Crowned Navy, potentially operating within Himyar, had as part of the Lisser Zwarte Kust Command an aircraft carrier, De Gouden Griffioen, two cruisers, eleven destroyers, and four frigates. In addition to this, the Crowned Navy had its own land and carrier-based aircraft, after all, there wasn’t a stretch of the Himyari Black Coast that was not geographically close to the Lisser holdings. These findings convinced many doves to place their confidence within the hawks. On Sunday 2 March in Leidschendam, events were quietly set in motion.

An exercise of war was being carried out by the Crowned Navy off northern Lisse, in the Gothic Sea, and some of the vessels taking part had been previously selected as possible participants of Leidschendam’s resolution to the Himyari Black Coast. Viceadmiraal Willem Haultain de Zoete, who was Bevelhebber van de Marine Luchtvloot (Commander of the Naval Air Fleet), was in command of the war exercise, which had the direction of maintaining fleet defence against air strikes, had been in a conversation with van der Zaan on the situation in Himyar. At noon, on the Sunday 2 March, De Gouden Griffioen and De Zeehond, the carrier and cruiser, had been properly detached from the exercises and ordered to load up with their war complement of armaments in Leiderdorp, Bernisse. Blauwe Arent, Leeuwin, and Vliegende Draeck were diverted from routine patrols of Lisser waters to Angeren and ordered to make ready to deploy south with their war complement and armaments, and, of course, the Beschermer and De Ochtendster also received their orders as they remained within their naval base; these five vessels were the Alkemade Class Destroyers of the 1st Flotilla. Viceadmiraal Cantz’laar attempted to call the Admiraal-van-Leidschendam at his quarters in the College van Admiralen, but was informed that van der Zaan was presently briefing the Council of State. Cantz’laar was determined not to allow the circumstance of possible adjustment to the Himyari Black Coast escape due to a mere demonstration against piracy. Unable to reach van der Zaan, Cantz’laar telephoned the Minister-President directly, who was also at the Council of State. The viceadmiraal found the Minister-President, and those in attendance, discouraged by an atmosphere of reserve. Fortunately Cantz’laar was invited to express his personal opinion of the situation, and despite the many doubts expressed by the politicians, the viceadmiraal was absolutely clear, and his clam, deliberate and forceful voice cut through the confusion and doubt. On the basis of the latest intelligence, I believe the Crowned Provinces should assume a position of expectant confrontation with revolutionary states in Himyar. The recent engagement with those states provided the necessary attention needed to realise that the Crowned Provinces remain insufficient in providing for their own resources in the event of war, and peacetime industry. If the Crowned Navy is authorised to invade Elefanta island, there is no way the garrison can put up an effective fight against what we can assemble, and, if sufficiently swift in execution, should convince the Portusgalian Empire not to escalate a deterioration of our relations with challenge. There is no effective force for confrontation, in time, to support Elefanta island. Therefore, the island, and the oil fields, will be captured.

All was not lost to the position of those of the Crowned Navy. There was growing agreement for capture of Elefanta island within the Council of State. The Admiraal-van-Leidschendam informed the assembled that, to do so would require a very considerable naval task force. I believe we should assemble such a task force now without further delay. The task force can be fully assembled in forty-eight hours. The Minister-President nodded in agreement, and soon the Council of State was quite aware of the predominant line of thought within the senior circle of the Crowned Government. They wanted to assemble a task force ready to be deployed to the Lisser Zwarte Kust for the purpose of expanding on the Lisse’s Himyari holdings. Van der Zaan and Cantz’laar got what they wanted. When the Council of State finally broke up the Admiraal-van-Leidschendam left with full authority to assemble the task force on the lines that he had proposed, but not to sail it until further instructions.

So, when on the evening on this Sunday the Minister-President and the Crowned Government had to face the fury of the States-General in a joint-closed sitting, Hans Willem Bentinck van Diepenheim van Schoonheten was able to say that a task force was being prepared and made ready to sail, and it seemed that the States-General deemed the position of the government acceptable to put down the urgency of piracy.

 

[Portusgalia]

The 12nd Artillery Regiment consolidated its position on Elefanta. The officers studied the geography of Elefanta, and toke advantage of it. The objective is to have the best shot with the less exposure to enemy fire, and the terrain is good for it.

 

[Portusgalia]

After several months in a an almost martial law that provided an almost "corporate police state" ambiance, with crime reduced to 0 almost, and no political opposition, the oil well is completely operational and ready for oil extraction. It is the beginning of "Black Gold Era" in Elefanta, the long forgotten land of the vast Portusgalian Empire. The first impacts of this are already taking shape, the small fishing town starts to have some new construction, there are several new faces in town specially the oil work force and the engineers. The local Pensão (bed and breakfast/hostel), Pensão Aurora de Bengala, is full as never it was before. Even the owner is beginning to think in several new improvements that may lead to the reclassification of it has an Hotel instead of a "Pensão".

The Zumby of Elefanta, receives the typical government report... End of day for him. He shouts from his office to is long time sidekick Alencar...

Alencar: Whaaaaat!?

Zumby: Come where boy! You know how to read "metropolitan assholean", so explain to me this thing?

Alencar: Well... They are going to declare Elefanta a "Zona de Turismo" (Tourism Zone)?

Zumby: A tourist what!? Attraction!? What the hell boy, they think we are what freaks from a freak show!?

Alencar: No... No.... No... It is the new law, that uniformities the administrative services and entities across the nation. Remember Sir the is no longer the Overseas ministry...

Zumby: What the hell do those office rats want from us now?

Alencar: They will declare Elefanta Island has a... *reading* Zona de Turismo, with the... No damn... Oh God, they have committed an error in here!

Zumby: Another one... When they do things right i fell they where mistaken...

Alencar: Well very strange, but the "Capital Parish" of the Zona de Turismo is not the urban Parish of Santa Maria de Porto Rei, but the other parish from town... the Santa Marta do Bota Fogo.

Zumby: What the beach?

Alencar: Yeap... Our beach with several bars and that old "almost fort" of Santa Marta near the old port. The bad news... The true ones...

Zumby: BOY!!!!!

Alencar: Calm down... I haven't served the dish yet... We are going to have... a Junta de Turismo (Local Tourism Board)!

Zumby: Ain't that crap from the Spa towns in Portusgalia!? Vidago?

Alencar: Nope... The Junta de Turismo is an entity to manage, direct and support tourism agents and activities within its jurisdiction area.

Zumby: Ok...

Alencar: But the members are nominated entirely by the Secretary of State!

Zumby: What the hell boy!? A parallel power!?

Alencar: Don't worry the President it is said here i will be... Nice, Gastão!

Zumby: Gastão from the Pensão? Not bad...

Alencar: It says in the law that the Prefect has the power of veto over the nomination...

Zumby: Let it stay...

Alencar: A new tax arrives here, 7% of all profit from activities related to tourism and food serving will be mandatory, and the overall profit will revert 20% for the government and the rest... For the Junta de Turismo!?

Zumby: What a hell of a money... We need some improvements certainly Gastão will work on that. That damn new bridge connecting us to Mbamba is great, there are thousands of ghekos here every day.