New Friends

[Batavië]

Vlaanderen International Airport
Vlaanderen, Batavian Capital Territory


The Kelasians would have seen from the sky the rapid growth of what was known locally as the BCT Conurbation. From the outskirts of the capital by the airport, which were constantly spreading out, from the rich suburb/township of Braamfontein, which was quickly steeling business and office space from downtown to the provincial capital of Robtwerpen, it all looked like one never ending mass of buildings and roads. (

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). The cluster of taller towers denoted downtown Vlaanderen and in the distance upon approaching the airport one could make out the smaller cluster of taller building in Robtwerpen. Yet the area connecting all of this left little room for green space. Road, railways, factories, flat blocs, warehouses...it was endless. The former communist government had not planned the city region well and the comings of capitalism fed ferociously on the idea of private land and property. (Click my sig for wiki with brief history as I know you were gone for the recent happenings.)

The Kelasian delegation was met in the terminal and taken onto a Wirbewegen made motor coach. The Batavian Capital Territory (BCT) provincial government had purchased a small fleet not only for transporting the rather frequent visits of foreign VIPs, but for the use of provincial politicians as well. The Auditor General would have a thing or two to say about that come the next time she checked the books.

With a police escort they cruised along the main autosnelweg that led from the airport to the city. Bypassing the exits for downtown Vlaanderen, they drove slightly north to Braamfontein where the caravan pulled into the lot of the Braamfontein Conference Centre. A new glass structure of four storeys, it gave impeccable views of the towers of Vlaanderen and the industrial land in-between. Southeastern Batavië was home to rolling hills, yet most of the mid and northern reaches were flatlands below sea level and home to simple farmers.

The flag of Kelas and Batavië flew side by side and fluttered in the wind as

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greeted and shook hands with every delegate that stepped off the bus. His office managed to find an interpreter that spoke Vlaams (Dutch) and Kelasian(?), but he spoke in German, rather sure that these men and women would be proficient in the wider region's most used diplomatic tongue.

'Welcome to Batavië, I am so happy to see all of you here!' he made way for the conference centre. Its lobby ran the length of the long building with a three storey high ceiling and large windows to match the height, it was bathed in sunlight. They rode glass lifts to the fourth flore, which made way for one of the many conference rooms. Van Vliet had the largest one booked and took a seat across from the Kelasians.

'Now, I realise that you have all just experienced a, what five and a half, six hour flight?' Van Vliet habitually pulled up a map of the world in his conscious, zoomed in to Northern Europe then tracked the distance from Celes to Vlaanderen where he got the rough number from.

'Not to worry. Your hotel, located here in Braamfontein, is within walking distance. Your luggage has been brought there. We'll all enjoy a simple dinner here tonight before heading off tomorrow after breakfast. I would like to outline the agenda for this visit.'

The folders with a tour itinerary and meeting agenda were sitting before each place at the table.

'We will begin with a stop in Vlaanderen before heading down the A2 to Poortstad where you can all see the industrial city of Batavië. We will then swing north and then west to Noordveld Province where our famous farms are located. Batavië managed to become Scandinavia's breadbasket even under communist times and now our crop growing techniques are only improving. Last, but certainly not least, we will visit Hilversum, the capital for the Northern Council organisation, which you will all here a lot about from me during your stay. Probably enough to annoy you all!'

They shared a laugh before Van Vliet continued.

'Opening relations, trade and the Northern Council are the main priorities in our agenda, in reverse order, of course.' They laughed again.

'We may not be quite in discussion time, but I would love to hear from your delegation before we retire for the evening.'

 

[Kelas]

MP (and newly appointed Kelasian representative to Batavië) Alyssa Jakobsdottir smiled and laughed politely and a few times with genuine mirth as she was entertained and enlightened by the Batavian delegation. The negotiations had been going well, with an arrangement for the opening of their respective markets already concluded. Batavian and Kelasian cars, household products and food would soon occupy shelves and driveways far from home.

The next day had begun with a pleasant breakfast of local origin and this morning's drive was to be a tour of Batavië's renowned farmland.

She smiled leaning close to her Batavian counterpart. German was not her strongest tongue but with its wonderful adjectives it lent itself to her present speech.

"The countryside here in Batavië is as beautiful as I've been heard. When you see all those paintings by Arnen artists, you're never quite sure if they improve upon reality - but in this case I can say honestly its nothing less than I expected"

Arendaal had long been a conduit for cultural exchange in Scandinavia and its Impressionists had been an almost permanent feature in the waving fields of Batavian grain. A few conspicuously empty farm plots rolled by the window. Buildings reduced to orderly piles of rubble and new construction begun, but still reminders of the recent turmoils this nation had endured. Sparking a through in Alyssa's mind, she continued.

"Kelas - as you know - is championing a new re-evaluation of European values. It has been far to long, in many ways since the Great War, since nations reflected en mass upon what it means to be free. Democracy has become cheaply valued, become perfunctory and without soul or conviction. In some nations this merely leads to stagnation, in others it engenders corruption. In others still it opens the door for radical, rebels and violence."

She made a point of making eye contact with her listeners. That last statement had been meant in part for them. Her point made, she let her face fall into that disarming smile she'd perfected in childhood. Feeling the mood lighten, she returned to pleasantries but saw the gears whirring behind the eyes of her Batavian companions. She didn't quite know they would react, but she knew they had at least been stirred.

 

[Batavië]

Arjan van Vliet could see that Jakobsdottir was a woman of strong words. After driving through the flat farmland of Noordveld Province, the breadbasket of Scandinavia, their motor coach and caravan headed south to Poortstad where they would see the industrial backbone region of the country. The views for this portion of the ride would not be as aesthetically pleasing, but when was industry ever?

Mevrouw Jakobsdottir, I couldn't agree more. If the often painful transition from a closed market to an open one is to be done correctly, it must take into account the struggles of the common man. If there is one thing that our society in Batavië will and should hold on to, it is the belief in society helping those in need. I don't think many people in government or elsewhere in this country intend to deprive ourselves of that compassion and sense of societal duty.'

The caravan merged onto the A2 autosnelweg and the police escort ensured that other vehicles were seen out of the way.

'This is why I hope your government will seriously consider the Northern Council. Its very basis is to provide a common market and transportation group with longer term goals that will bring the people of its member states closer together. It will allow for easier movement, more job opportunities and an integrated system capable of rivalling other nearby and far-off economic powers. Not only does Kelas fit the bill perfectly, might I say, but it would seem to me as though the Northern Council's ideals are similar to your government's own. Democracy, peace, free trade, these are all hallmarks of the NC.'

Getting Kelas to join would be a huge addition to the group, for both political clout and economic. It could also dilute some of the influence that the Tysk government and lobby had within the organisation.

 

[Kelas]

Alyssa bowed her head slightly toward her Batavian colleague with a shrewed smile on her face.

"You come to the point quickly, which is something I can appreciate. Kelas indeed has aspirations to join the Northern Council which I obviously betrayed at some point since your offer was so forthcoming. Since the niceties are out of the way and we both wish this, I am authorized by my government to begin any and all proceeding necessary for Kelas' ascension to the Council. After many months of observing the Council's actions we feel of all international organizations it best represents our desires for Europe."

She shook hands with Arjan, sealing their pledge. Not just a gesture of formality, but now one of sincere friendship.

 

[Batavië]

Arjan shook Alyssa's hand with delight and a bright smile. This would surely mean good headlines tomorrow morning. Their bus finally reached Poortstad and within a few minutes they got off to walk the grounds of the port facilities. They wore hard-hats for precautionary reasons and strolled along the grey water's edge as a massive cargo ship with Franken registration moved slowly past, carrying stacks of colourful containers.

'This is the entry and exit of Batavië.' Arjan began allowing them all to take in the view of the ships, warehouses, cranes and oil storage depots. Nothing pretty, but it meant business.

'Products come in and out of here and it is quickly becoming the port of choice for Scanidnavian, Germanian and Gallian exports to Cathay and the Far East. By sailing west ships can reach Oikawa and beyond in better time then by navigating the more narrow and crowded Vostók shipping lanes. It becomes a cold journey in the winter, sailing so far north, but the time savings are worth it. Just last week a large Franconian firm singed a contract with Universal Exports, Batavië's shipping company, to export their steel products to Cathay via Poortstad. We are obviously very proud with this city and its importance in the country.'

Indeed without Poortstad the industrial heartland from Poortstad to Vlaanderen would have no escape valve to export goods and the plentiful crops of the North would never leave.

Arjan walked alongside Alyssa hoping that she too was contemplating whether or not to offer a bilateral free trade agreement. At least until the Northern Council made such a thing mandatory.