Mariehamn Conference (January 22nd - February 2nd)

[Jydsken-Østveg]

Mariehamn Conference
​

Delegates from the far confines of Suionian Oceania had all gathered in the small city of Mariehamn, on the outstretched arm of the big island of the Nya Västergötland colony. Called together by the Queen of Suionia, Queen Caroline II Lotta Rebecka, the conference was to establish a new national document in which to found the basis of a Suionian Oceanic nation for which the Riksdag back in Drottninggården was approve. Their approval was assuming that all things were equal and all things supplied for the strong establishment of a new nation.



The festivities had begun! Delegates had all entered the Mariehamn Grand Colonial Hotel Ballroom and began to converse amongst themselves. A violin concerto played in the background, playing the Suionian masterpieces of classical composer Fredrik Reuterswärd. The atmosphere was posh and certainly unfriendly to those without some kind of high political connections. Despite this fact not everyone knew each other well. Some delegates did not even know who their co-delegates were. The fact of this matter had to do with who was appointed to attend the conference. Several attendees were regional politicians, while others were appointed by the Crown or Prime Minister Lindeskog-Hjelmer.

The Prime Minister was actually supposed to visit should the conference still be ongoing by the time she left Cantignia. She was air bound for Cantignia later tonight.

Nya Västergötland's Prime Minster Fredriksson walked into the Ballroom with his wife attached to his arm. Wearing a white tuxedo he made his way to his dear friend and life long colleague Professor Mikael Sundström. "Representative of Southwestern Fästning Svenska, my humble greetings," Fredriksson said with a smile and nearly a laugh. "Why the formalities?" Sundström smirked in response. They two men hugged each other and began to walk towards the piano set up in the corner. Fredriksson looked over to his wife, "Elin, why don't you find yourself a drink. We have business to discuss, Micke and I..." Elin nodded, kissed him on a cheek and made her way to the toilet to freshen up.

"So what is this business you wish to speak of?" asked Sundström. "It's not so much business at the moment, as you know from my e-posts that we have a lot of work to do and not very much time. This constitutional draft will be difficult, and surely the rules in it's drafting were interesting with the Queen demanding no prior drafts be written beforehand. But no, I wanted to speak of the guest list, or rather the delegate list."

"There are quite a few interesting names on the list, many people that I do not know." chimed in Sundström quite quickly. "You are right, and there was far too much secrecy involved in the list's development. Who wanted who here and why so many people are here to begin with. It feels as though there are many who did not trust us, or if they did, then they certainly wanted power."

Sundström nodded, "Rumors have it there are delegates here that represent ideas, corporations, factions and foreign interests. I'm not sure how so, or how much but it is quite possible. I don't believe we'll fully understand until our first meeting begins." The two men continued to walk over towards the entrance as Fredriksson sighed and moved his hand across his forehead. "This meeting will not be easy Micke. We have far to much to lose. Suionia is going to sell those territories and I'm not so sure how receptive they will be when our attempt at a draft will say otherwise." Sundström put his drink to his mouth and took a quick sip before replying. "No worries today Tor. The wine is awfully nice, you should try it, it will ease your worry. I must speak to Erika. She will be important for us." Sundström patted his on the shoulder and walked towards the bar. Fredriksson nodded and walked up to the entrance podium and took a look at the list of delegates.

Nya Västergotland: Veronica Almström Mats Bergman Linus Ekdahl Torbjörn Fredriksson Hanna Hellquist Ulf Hådén Svante Ljungberg Stefan Reinhardt Mikael Sundström Helena Vikström

Nya Dalarna: Maria Björkland Britta Karlsson Göran Leijonberg Joachim Nylander Jan Olofsson Markus Persson Magnus Werner

Nya Svealand: Per Nilsson Tini Heke: Victoria Sjöberg Nikkalaokta: Stig Linderborg Savu Savu: Erik Thulin

 

[Thaumantica]

Introducing himself first and foremost to the one person observing parties from smaller Suionian-Oceanian Territories, Mats Bergman took note of a distinct deficit in native, or more specifically other-than-white, representatives amongst this whitewash of Colonists turned freedom-seekers. Bergman met each one of them with a smile, taking the extra minute to introduce each of them to his wife, Audrey Bergman, who accompanied his off-grey suit and blue tie with a petite blue ruffled-gown dress. The Bergman's thanked each of them for visiting Nya Västergotland, and for "choosing family-values and security" in this time of regional flux.

As Mats approached the sizable observing delegation from Nya Dalarna, Audrey whimsically broke away from her husband to the bar where she ordered herself a sparkling water. While the tender prepared her drink, Missus Bergman quickly snapped a picture of the guest list with her smartphone. "I just can't stop playing this Angry Yaks!" Audrey declared with a lovely smile and front of laughter. With her drink in hand, Audrey sent the picture file to a contact named 'Farsa'.

After a few minutes the Bergman's reunited to begin schmoozing with their own people, the Nya Västergotlanders, with a focus on those with military backgrounds and conservative upbringings. While Audrey and Mats appeared young, their choice in dress and presentation was typically Victorian or otherwise vintage. Mats Bergman introduced he and his wife to as many people as he possibly could, telling everyone that he would be speaking at some point, while Audrey Bergman engaged the women and wives of delegates with her pregnancy.

"We're not sure of the child's sex yet . . I just pray our little boy, or our little girl, is born in to a safe Oceania. That's all I can do myself, of course, hope and pray!" Audrey told the women of the Conference. Mats spoke of the state of Colonial Defense, complaining about a "disturbingly undermanned and underfunded defense apparatus" in Suionian-Oceania, he explained his vision of an "incontestable presence of Island defense". The Bergman's were not in rare form per se, but this was one of the first times they had been given this degree of exposure outside of their typical arch-fascist circles in Oceania, and they were poised to make the most of this important event.

 

[Jydsken-Østveg]

Day One
​

The circus was in Mariehamn making this conference the second best show in town. Elephants walked down the streets and people smiled on the trains as they came to see the "Greatest Show on Earth." This caused a bit of traffic and made it difficult for some of the delegates who arrived to the first day of the conference.



How shall we build Nya Västergötland? A common theme and question that raced through Prime Minister Törbjörn Fredriksson's mind. He spent most of the beginnings of this meeting jotting down long winded thoughts on his notepad.

'Will the Social Democrats demand a Republic?'
'Will the Greens urge us to follow the Oceanic model set in Cantigny?'
'Is tradition important to us still?'
'Can I save the monarchy?'

It took him awhile, but he began to notice all of his thoughts were questions. He noticed he had no answers, only questions. It made him feel as if he were beginning politics again. It was a sobering feeling, but it also didn't inspire confidence either. He felt as if the fond memories of his political career beginning might be settling, but it didn't do anything but perhaps give his mind a proverbial eye of the hurricane.

As he thought, others had long ago sat themselves in the shape of a square, setting behind desks with their everyone facing each other. White tablecloths adorned the tables, falling to the floor. Glasses of water and microphones at each delegates' location. Everyone sat in alphabetically order, bunched together with their common colonial representatives.

The current topic at hand was the opinions of the other colonies on the establishment of a Nya Västergötland nation state. This was somewhat important has it was the only voice the individual colonies would have in regards to the current situation at hand; the sale of the Geatish colonies and the position they'd have on the new nation.

The delegation from Nya Svealand was granted the first right to speak based upon the roll of a dice. Only the single representative states would speak first. It would allow them to leave soon there afterwards should they desire so.

Mr. Nilsson cleared his throat, and began after a brief introduction by the moderator. "Good morning fellow colonies, Nya Svealand enters this meeting with a heavy heart. Our colonial fatherland has offered us the ability to join Oceania. We have chosen to do so, leaving behind our countrymen and joining a new one by agreeing to the proposed sale. We move to a new country, one that will understand us, improve our standard of living and improve our defense situation. As such Nya Svealand officially relieves Nya Västergötland of her duty to provide for our common defense and officially lets His Right and Honorable Prime Minister Fredriksson of our departure from the Suionian Oceanic community. We thank you for this partnership and hope to continue to work imitately with your new nation in the future. Thank you."

The meeting was conducted much like a meeting in the colonial Parliaments. There was applause after he spoke. What he said wasn't entirely unexpected. Nya Svealand had voted in agreement to a sale, here they announced their agreement without specifically stating Cantigny, even though it was quite obvious that was the buyer.

The moderator immediately moved forward with the next speaker.

"Hello, I am Stig Linderborg representing Nikkalaokta. We would like to say that we are unhappy with the fact no referendum was done on our island. However, it is the position our government that we would like to support this sale, and we shall echo the statement made by Mr. Nilsson and look forward to joining Nya Svealand in our new situation. Thank you."

It was a shorter message than many expected. It was estimated that many in Nikkalaokta would've rather founded their own independent nation as well, but certainly no one knew if they had the political will to move forward with that. Clearly Mr. Linderborg didn't wish to stir the pot and figured it would be better to move forward and engage in the sale. An applause followed again, and then the next delegation spoke.

"Good morning, I'm the representative for Savu Savu. We welcome our new overlords in Oceania. We depart this Suionian union with our head held high. We've been unfairly and unjustly excluded from the democratic process and thus the sooner we can leave this union the better. We approve this sale and immediately leave the protection web provided by the Nya Västergötland defense umbrella. Thank you."

This applause was not nearly as loud. The entire Moderate party representatives from Nya Dalarna and Nya Västergötland refused to applaud.

"Goooood Morning, everyone! I am the representative from Tini Heke. My name is Victoria Sjöberg. I am a Social Democrat and I was locally elected in a town hall meeting and come with a message directly from my people. We the people of Tini Heke refuse the sale of our islands to join any kind of union with another nation. We are Tini hekean first and loyal subjects of Queen Queen Caroline II Lotta Rebecka second. Nowhere does this mean we are not Oceanic subjects and unable to determine our futures. My islands have roughly 1,500 people on them and we are non-self governing. Just because we are not self-governed, does not mean we do not have local governments and our people do not wish to leave our fatherland and I am here to either continue our representation as part of Suionia or join the new Nya Västergötland nation as a territory. Thank you."

Prime Minister Fredriksson's ears perked up upon hearing this speech and stood up and applauded. This immediately prompted the rest of the Moderates to stand and applaud and even encouraged other representatives from Nya Västergötland to stand. The young woman blushed, and put her hand over her mouth in attempts to hide a smile. A change of pace to the other speeches given. The moderator gave a short recess and several delegates used this time to leave the conference.

Many used the recess time to grab some coffee, or caucus with their fellow party members.

Nya Västergotland: Veronica Almström (Green Party) Mats Bergman Linus Ekdahl (Center Party) Torbjörn Fredriksson (Moderate Party) Hanna Hellquist (Liberal People's Party) Ulf Hådén (Social Democrat) Svante Ljungberg (Moderate Party) Stefan Reinhardt (Moderate Party) Mikael Sundström (Center Party) Helena Vikström (Social Democrat)

Nya Dalarna: Maria Björkland (Moderate Party) Britta Karlsson (Green Party) Göran Leijonberg (Moderate Party) Joachim Nylander (Social Democrat) Jan Olofsson (Social Democrat) Markus Persson (Social Democrat) Magnus Werner (Center Party)

Nya Svealand: Per Nilsson (Social Democrat, Departed Conference) Tini Heke: Victoria Sjöberg (Social Democrat) Nikkalaokta: Stig Linderborg (Center Party) Savu Savu: Erik Thulin (Social Democrat, Departed Conference)

 

[Thaumantica]

With his wife in close tow, Mats Bergman capitalized on the opportunity to approach Torbjörn Fredriksson with a half-full cup of coffee and attitude. "This is quite the gathering, wouldn't you say Prime Minister? . ." Mats asked rhetorically, "It's most invigorating to put a face to the name of some of Oceania's most diverse figures." he continued. The kindness and revere the Bergman's emanated was not at all fake, the two of them held a legitimate interest in the ideas of their fellow white colonists.

Audrey Bergman meanwhile idly smiled and captured the Prime Minister's face with her minds eye. In her time studying at the Queen's College, a Christian University in Vesper, she had developed something resembling an expertise in remembering who people were and what they had been wearing at least five gatherings or parties back. Prime Minister Fredriksson's visage was likewise captured, with which Audrey also noted his demeanor - more uncertain perhaps than anyone else she had interacted with this evening.

Following this engagement, the Bergstrom's visited with the new celebrity of the Marienhamn Conference: Victoria Sjöberg. Audrey, who was willing to break protocol in this instance, said hello and introduced her husband instead of the other way around. "We were positively inspired with your zeal, Victoria, most impressive!" Audrey told the politically inspired woman. "Your sense of race, culture, and above all order is precisely what we are in need of here Victoria . . " Mats said with a reassuring nod, ". . The Greater Oceanic family has much to learn from you Miss Sjöberg, that much is certain today."

 

[Thaumantica]

All impulses and customs indicated it was Mats Bergman's time to speak. Mats took to his feet and turned fluidly to his wife, Audrey Bergman, who smiled softly and mouthed the words 'Let'em have it' as she offered up her hand, which Mats kissed gently in thanks.

As he took the podium a cascade of whispers filled his ears. The Bergman's would have never belonged in any other function of this magnitude, if not for the disruption of moderate Suionian Oceania on the part of the Can-Engellexic Covenant. Perhaps it was his reputation as a 'right-wing specter' that preceded him, a youthful figure from the fringe poised to emerge in this arena of fresh ideas.

"My Father Gunnar was a steel worker in the Old Country . . was . ." Mats Bergman began with a pouring out of emotion, "For almost twenty years he went to work every day, went to Church every Sunday, and sacrificed every moment in between for the sake of his family which he loved as the great economy of the Fatherland waned, and with it the steel mill."

"And when the Old Country no longer needed strong men with rough hands, he came here - to the colonies. His handiwork built the hall we sit in today, and many of the homes we gratefully live in as citizens of the Norsk Crown. And though my father always told me - 'Mats Bergman, never forget where we came from', he also taught me to remember what greatness our patriotic people had achieved, and to have faith that we were still capable of great things - us Suionians."

Mats held up his hands to show the representatives of the colonies, "Because of his toil, these hands do not have even half the callouses he possessed until his dying breath. Few of us do." Bergman said, letting his intellectually soft hands rest at his side. "The time has come for me to do great things for our colony, as my Father did. The time has come for me to realize that if all of us do not do something, and do something quick, my children will not grow up in a place that appreciates hard work, and great ideas."

"The Old Country can no longer defend us, that much is clear. And the same economic uncertainty that turned my Father in this direction is about to visit us. This - this is the time to turn things around for ourselves, not for the Crown and not for the Covenant. Let us put ships in the water, and text books on our children's desks. We can begin taking charge of our future for the first time, and we can do it with the good faith of the Cantigians and the Fatherland both. Progress comes in many different forms, but we have been afforded a bloodless, peaceful option that so many others have been denied in past centuries."

"My name is Mats Bergman. I am a Suionian, and I believe in an Oceania of Nations. Before the year is through, we will all live in a new, and proud nation. I merely ask of you to pray, and if you do not pray - hope, that my Father was right in believing that we are still capable of great things."

 

[Jydsken-Østveg]

The conference joined together in applause as Mister Bergman finished his speech. The real questions that bothered Torbjörn weren't really presented yet, and he felt now was the time for himself to present them. He looked back at his old friend Micke and they nodded in agreement. It was time for Torbjörn to outline his idea for the future of Nya Västergötland. He had spent the last several days with the Moderate Party leading up to this conference and as their leader it felt it was necessary that they took the lead as the leading party in Lagtinget. Taking a quick drink of water and straightening his tie he began,

"Ladies and Gentlemen, as Mr. Bergman has clearly told us, we sit upon a great precipice... we can either climb towards a brighter and better future, or quickly fall. For the sake of all our people I believe our future holds greater things. I would like to submit the plans for an independent Nya Västergötland, as structured by the Moderate Party. Our first point is that we must remain true to our roots. As such, we believe that our Governmental system shall not change. This is a point our party will not waver on. Our Head of State shall be Her Majesty, Queen Caroline Lotta Rebecka II. From here, our party believes we should look towards home. The establishment of our own Riksdag and the joining of our nation into the Karlskrona body of work. There is no reason we cannot continue with what has worked and with what shall undoubtedly continue to work."

Torbjörn did not think his plan would please everyone. In fact, many would likely object to maintaining the direct copy of the Gothic system and the failure to establish a constitution of some form. His thoughts paused his speech and he took the opportunity to take another quick glass of water.

"On top of this, we believe that this is the time for us to choose our own name and branding. We believe that the colonial names passed upon us by sailors and merchants of past are dated. We believe we should begin to choose our own colors, our own name and our own anthems and song. The time for this is now, else infighting and division will never allow for us to process on this front. I do hope that all of you can see the Moderate Party's point of view and that we can agree to these points, and found our nation just upon these points. Thank you."

Again a brief applause, but unlike Bergman's uncontroversial speech, these drew the faint sound of whispers afterwards. Some wondered if Bergman would retort with his own idea, and others wondered if darling Victoria Sjöberg would counter with her own island's ideas. A brief pause filled the air,... what would Nya Dalarna do? They had yet to really express themselves.

 

[Thaumantica]

The Bergman's played the part of shocked bystanders, contributing to the whispers and gasps of the Conference in reaction to the Moderate Party's proposition. "If it walks like a Moose!" Mats Bergman called out a little too loudly, "It calls out like a Moose, and it looks like a Moose . . " Mats looked to his wife Audrey, "Doggone it, it's a Suionian Moose!".

"We have to change, we have to evolve as a people . . I am embarrassed for that man, honestly." Audrey said to the others surrounding her. Her husband, Mister Bergman, chose not to make any more of a scene by debating the Moderates in this forum.

 

[Saxe-Friesken and Polaben]

Shortly after the commotion had died down, a new young woman had taken the floor. She wasn't too terribly tall, but her youth and blonde hair made her reasonably attractive. She spoke with a smile which was also encouraging and made her seem personable and honest. "Hello everyone. Umm, my name is Britta Karlsson, I am with the Environmental Party and I am from Nya Dalarna." She paused which let everyone suddenly realize that she no longer was going to continue to discussion that Torbjörn Fredriksson had brought up. In fact everyone's mind turned to the violent and brutal riots that engulfed Nya Dalarna after the referendum. So terrible that Nya Västergötland had to send their own security forces to aid the other colony.

Seemingly less confident after the pause, she took a deep breath with seemed to somewhat recollect her and return her smile. "I'm wishing to bring everyone's attention to the plight of Nya Dalarna and what our colony faces. As you know, we faced some of the worse rioting in the history of our colony. Not even our own local colonial basketball teams have ever been able to incite such passion and anger. The problem is, the northern half of our colony desires to join in the sale process to Cantigny. However, the southern portion, the portion I represent, is a minority and does not wish to join in the sale. This sale process has created a great deal of anger, and um,..." It was at this point it became clear that Miss Karlsson did not have a clear mind to address the topic at hand. The smile had slowly been disappearing from her face as she spoke and now with another pause her face was becoming quite flushed. "...you see, I can't..., I mean I can't, or I don't want to be the messenger of terrible news, but the people I represent have no interest in the sale. So, I'm here to tell you all that regardless of my party, and regardless of the rioting, my southern portion wishes to possibly join this new force being drafted here as part of a new Suionian Oceania." It was during this last portion that she wasn't even looking up at the people she was talking to.

At what seemed to be a logical finishing point the other delegates from Nya Dalarna began to chatter, one speaking loud enough to speak about colonial hooligans who were more interested in violence than any sort of real solutions. It matter not whether or not she was finished speaking. Unsure to the casual observer if she was finished or not, it was now that the silence was broken from the position and that Miss Karlsson said, "Excuse me, umm..." and then as if cut off by the hand of God stormed out of the room teary eyed.

Torbjörn himself sat there rather stunned. He didn't know what to make of it and he wasn't sure he even wanted to include Nya Dalarna in the project. He was curious why they brought so many delegates and clearly, why now made sense. Others starlets, such as Victoria Sjöberg then began to applaud, while others then shortly followed suit. There was a clear dividing line among those who came from Nya Dalarna, as not everyone was enthused about the position of their colony. Clearly another dividing line among the colonists arranged here. It seemed that there were three problems in Torbjörn's eyes, that Tini Heke wanted in, that Nya Dalarna didn't know what it wanted and that not everyone was as approving of his short speech as he would've liked. On top of that, the most recent speech had emotional baggage. His words would now become tabled in favor of solving the Dalarna problem. He shook his head and sighed as the drama unfolded.